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If the nation is still searching for the alibi of the audacity and professional ability of Software Nigeria, to effectively deliver world class solutions for the economic advancement, constructive development, national security and global competitiveness of Nigeria, the search stops here with Treasury single account, TSA.
The one year old Treasury Single Account (TSA) national project initiative is a digital knowledge infrastructure powered by developed by Systemspec developers and solutions provider of the Remita IT Infrastructure. Remita is a distinct technology know-how statement and signature of the potentials of Software Nigeria. After one year of its deployment – in line with global quality standards and best practice, the TSA initiative has now been acknowledged around the world, as a monumental success. There are many similar Software Nigeria solutions yet to be discovered.
According to the recent pronouncement by the Accountant General of the Federal – Mallam Idris Ahmed in Abuja, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has N5.224 trillion as at February 2017 – after its successful deployment in September, 2015. Therefore, it is safe within the context of evaluating development methods for national Software, to state that the Remita Solutions is a Super Financial Banking Consolidation Application.
This success clearly validates the long-held and recognized fact, evidence and professional perception of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), that Software Nigeria Applications comply with major characteristics of global software trustworthiness. Also, the advent of TSA represents a quality index to measure the capability, functionality and eminence of software Nigeria in general. Then, what is responsible for the continued myopic crazy for foreign software in Nigeria? Policy Makers must understand the is acute danger (leading to digital enslavement) in allowing the unregulated deployment of foreign software in key Federal Government institutions, functions and operations domain to foreign applications software. The goal of this write-up is to encourage and promote the establishment of a National Software Development Strategies as a Policy Framework and encourage the mandatory inclusion of the patronage and protection of indigenous software empowered by concrete legislation –IT Bill to enact a National Software adoption Act.
This will serve to improve the level of the nation's computer knowledge maturity levels, innovation, creative content competitiveness, as well as promote and spread the development, relevance and use of indigenous applications software and services in governance, education, health, business and industry, agriculture, transportation, public administration, law and justice, entertainment and national security. Recognizing Software Development as a new productive knowledge frontier and potential instrument for economic empowerment and creation of wealth, Government in 2005, decided to launch a nation-wide awareness campaign – based on the technical report submitted to it by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on National Software Development Initiative (NSDI) with Jim Ovia as Chairman. Currently, our knowledge-base and technology environment of the "new economy" is greatly influenced, undermined and controlled by foreign information system, Application Software and Databases. Software plays a fundamental roll and globally viewed as the backbone and ultimate currency for modern wealth creation, national prosperity and security.
Setting a national software development strategy, policy and awareness agenda therefore, is also against the backdrop that consciously building and systematically developing huge software capacities presents immense economic opportunities for sustainable nation building. Suffice to state that Nigeria can earn a minimum of $10billion USD in foreign exchange annually from the local content-centric software industry. Indeed, a strategic national software strategic policy and related legislation should ensure that within the next 3 years, a major knowledge and wealth creation movement should happen by compelling all the Banks in Nigeria to migrate to indigenous banking application software. Before that line of thought is crucified and for the records, Indigenous Banking Application Software in the 90s had an installed base of over 80 Bank branches before the Bank mergers policy by Professor Chukwuma Soludo – former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria.
This policy, as much as it is commendable, grossly overlooked the local content technology maturity implications. The aftermath is that it virtually killed indigenous software companies who were getting ready to deepen innovation of their solutions. The resultant effect is that is created a floodgate to the ubiquitous spread of foreign banking application software in Nigeria banking system. To date, there is still no level playing field for indigenous application software to fairly compete in the Banking and Finance Ecosystem.
What indeed is Indigenous Software? Indigenous Software (Software Nigeria) is hereby defined as "All Types and versions of Software developed in Nigeria by a company(ies) and its Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) owned by Nigerians, in Nigeria, where funds repatriation out of Nigeria is not required" Why Indigenous Software? First, the secret and future of all national development progress lies in the mastery of information systems, where software is the heart and oxygen! However, with a very poor Research, Design and Development (RD&D) platform and un-structured technology incubation and development culture, Nigeria is at best, described as light years away from mastering heavy industries, as experiences in the Industrial Revolution has portrayed – making us currently incapable of manufacturing such common technology products as an automobile, Airplane/ or even a simple motorbike or bicycle! Above all, importation of foreign software currently costs Nigeria more than $5billion USD (five billion dollars) in foreign exchange, some of which constitute a colossal waste and national security issues.
Today, the range of ICT-related concerns facing policy makers has increased dramatically in recent years: communications infrastructure, procurement for government automation and e-government programs, intellectual property, government-sponsored research programs, incubators and technology parks, engineering education, foreign investment and, of course, the potential for export revenue. Software is a relatively low-investment, environmentally friendly, high-growth global industry – a good target growth industry for many countries. But it has also become the most critical and expensive element of the government and business systems that every nation must build for itself. As Stanford Professor Edward Feigenbaum put it while serving as Chief Scientist for the US Air Force, we now live in a "software-first world" (Clark et al., 1998). The increase in global demand that makes software exports a growth industry is driven by the continued consumption of software at home and then by other countries and business enterprises.
What Nigeria Must Do? Good strategic planning about government automation projects and investment incentives to domestic Software Developers can have a positive impact on the growth of a country's software exports compared to relying on market forces alone. Establishment of massive Software-Knowledge Academies requires urgent attention. Above all, retooling of the national workforce is imperative. Creation of a National Software Board and establishment of Regional Software Engineering Institutes as well as Software Development Bank are now mandatory.
Furthermore, creating certain types of software exports requires coherent long-term planning and investment strategies to complement and augment market-driven activity. Every country software-development Ecosystem has evolved a unique industry, shaped by its own resources and situation and by the particular local opportunities presented at the time. That indeed was the case of Microsoft.
The current shape and dynamics of the software industry should, therefore, inform ICT strategy, planning and policy, no matter the country's stage of economic development. With TSA, the Software Case for Nigeria dictates that Nigerians are very capable in engineering and developing global standard software. The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has over the years advocated for the need to establish a progressive national strategy and responsive policy for software acquisition, development, application and use, due to its very complex nature. Systemspec is a dignified member of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) and deserves a national honour for its technology assiduousness and leadership through Remita.
Abuja – Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, has narrated how he missed the President's phone call on Saturday.
The presidential aide, who made this known on his Facebook page on Saturday, said the Buhari originated a call to him from his London abode after he (Buhari) had spoken with some members of the presidential media team.
He, however, revealed that he received a text message from the President after missing the call.Garba Shehu
According to him, the President had earlier spoken with the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
He said: "A day for the Presidential Media Team.
"We are thankful to the President, Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) for sparing the time to make calls to the Media team.
"The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed and the Special Adviser, Femi Adesina responded to the calls, exchanged greetings and thanked him for calling.
"I had an SMS from him thereafter because I missed my call! I humbly join them to say thank you, Baba Buhari!!
"We are together with other Nigerians of all faiths, in praying for his safe return.''
Femi Adesina had earlier published his phone conversation with the president, on his Facebook page, on Saturday.
Adesina said: "And President Buhari called at 2:43p.m
"At exactly 2.43 p.m today, Saturday, February 25, 2017, my phone rang. Who was at the other end? Tunde Sabiu, personal assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari.
"Hold on for Mr President," Tunde said.
And in a matter of seconds, the very familiar voice came:
"Femi, how are you?" (He calls me Adesina most times, but today, he opted for Femi)
I screamed :"Mr President, I have missed you. How are you sir?"
He first laughed. That familiar laugh. Then he said: "I am still resting. Thank you for holding out against mischief makers."
I said it was my duty, the very least I could do, adding how happy I was to speak with him.
"How is your family?"
I said we were fine, and he asked me to extend his greetings to them.
"I hope to call you again, " Mr President said, and I bade him farewell, adding: "Best wishes, sir."
"It was a defining moment for me. For more than a month, I had always spoken with aides who are with the President in London.
"Not once did I ask them to take the phone to him, deliberately so, because I didn't need to speak with him to validate the fact that he was alive. And since he was on vacation, he had a right to his privacy.
"Of his own volition, President Buhari spoke with me. It made my day. Even if he hadn't done so, he would have remained my President, my leader, and my man. Any day.'' President Buhari had proceeded on a 10-day vacation and a routine medical check in UK on Jan. 19.
In a letter he sent to both arms of the National Assembly the president said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would act as president pending his return.
The president, who could not make it back to the country on Feb. 6, transmitted another letter to the Senate requesting extension of time to complete his medical check-up in London.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted moderate haze conditions with horizontal visibility range of two to five kilometres over the central states of the country on Sunday.
NiMet's prediction is contained in a Weather Outlook released by the Central Forecast Office on Saturday in Abuja.
It also predicted that Zaria and Kaduna might have visibility less than or equal to 1000m with day and night temperatures of 34 to 39 and 18 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.
NiMet predicted that Southern states would experience partly cloudy conditions over the inland cities and the coast in the morning hours with hazy conditions over the inland of the South East later in the day.
It also predicted localised thundery showers over Lagos, Ijebu-Ode, Yenagoa, Port-Harcourt, Eket, and Calabar during the afternoon and evening hours with day and night temperatures of 36 to 39 and 23 to 26 degrees Celcius respectively.
According to NiMet, Northern states will experience moderate dust haze conditions with visibility range of two to five kilometres.
"Katsina, Kano and Gusau may have visibility of less than or equal to 1000m during the forecast period with day and night temperature of 32 to 37 and 16 to21 degrees Celsius respectively.
"Dust haze condition is expected to still reduce horizontal visibility within the range of two to five kilometres over the northern and the central cities.
"Partly cloudy skies are anticipated over the Southern cities with prospects of thundery showers over the coastal areas later in the day,'' NiMet predicted.
This group of boys numbering about 50, suspected to be political were arrested by security agents in Ulakwo Ward 13 for allegedly trying to disrupt the on- going legislative election in Etche. The boys were seen sitting on the ground on Saturday, surrounded by some military and policemen.
A Cross Section of suspected thugs arrested by the Nigerian Army at Olakwo II Etche during the Rivers Federal and State House of Assembly Re-run Election for Etche and Omuma Constituency being taken into custody by the Army Saturday. Photo: Nwankpa ChijiokeL-R Ag. Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Ahmed Magaji and Police Public Relation Officer, Nnamdi Omoni addressing journalist over the arrest of the suspects. Photo. Mwankpa ChijiokeA Cross Section of suspected thugs arrested by the Nigerian Army at Olakwo II Etche during the Rivers Federal and State House of Assembly Re-run Election for Etche and Omuma Constituency being taken into custody by the Army Saturday. Photo: Nwankpa ChijiokeA Cross Section of suspected thugs arrested by the Nigerian Army at Olakwo II Etche during the Rivers Federal and State House of Assembly Re-run Election for Etche and Omuma Constituency being taken into custody by the Army Saturday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke
Dutse – The Buji Local Government Council of Jigawa says it has procured 80 cartons of sweet to woo children into accepting to be administered the oral polio vaccine.
The Information Officer of the council, Alhaji Ali Safiyanu, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Dutse.
According to Safiyanu, 42,850 children are expected to be immunised in the area during the exercise, taking place from Feb.26 to March 2.
He said the council had received enough doses of Oral Polio Vaccines (OPVs) to cover the targeted number of children during the five-day exercise.
The spokesperson added that 250 ad-hoc staff would be engaged to conduct the exercise in the area.
He said that the council's Manager of National Program for Immunisation (NPI) had sought the cooperation of religious and traditional leaders in the area towards the successful conduct of the exercise.
Three people were hurt Saturday when a car ploughed into pedestrians in the southern German city of Heidelberg, said police, who reported the driver was arrested.
“A man drove into groups of people, three hurt, the suspect arrested and wounded,” police wrote on Twitter, without saying whether the driver acted intentionally.
Germany has been on high alert since a Tunisian allegedly rammed a truck into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin in December, killing 12 people, before being shot dead days later by police in Italy.
The Berlin carnage evoked memories of the July truck assault in the French Riviera city of Nice, where 86 people were killed by a Tunisian Islamic State group-sympathiser.
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Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking.
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Nerveless Fabinho chipped in a late penalty winner as Monaco beat Guingamp 2-1 away on Saturday to move clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table once again.
Kamil Glik gave the principality side the lead in Brittany and Fabinho netted with a “Panenka” from the spot with four minutes left before Etienne Didot pulled one back late on for the hosts.
It was a welcome return to winning ways for Monaco after their 5-3 defeat to Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in midweek.
Leonardo Jardim’s side are three points clear at the summit from Nice, who came from behind to beat Montpellier 2-1 on Friday with a brace from substitute Mickael Le Bihan in his first appearance in 17 months after injury.
Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain are six points behind the leaders in third place before they visit bitter rivals Marseille on Sunday evening.
Monaco were without the banned defensive duo of Benjamin Mendy and Andrea Raggi at the Stade du Roudourou as Jemerson, Almamy Toure, Joao Moutinho and Valere Germain all came into the side.
Guingamp had won just one of their previous eight games but beat Marseille, PSG and Lyon at home this season and they had the ball in the net in the 21st minute.
However, Moustapha Diallo’s headed effort from a Yannis Salibur cross was disallowed for offside.
Monaco took the lead just three minutes later as a Thomas Lemar free-kick was inadvertently helped on by Guingamp captain Jimmy Briand and Polish stopper Glik was there at the back post, stretching his leg to turn the ball in.
Radamel Falcao almost doubled the lead from an overhead kick before the interval but the Colombian was off the field by the time the second goal did arrive.
Teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe, on from the bench, was put through on goal by Fabinho but was brought down by ‘keeper Karl-Johan Johnsson and a penalty was awarded.
Falcao missed from the spot against City and also squandered a penalty against Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League earlier in the season.
Fabinho, though, has a superb record from the spot and he scored his 11th penalty out of 11 taken in Ligue 1 in style.
Didot’s crisp finish from the edge of the box had Monaco hanging on for the last few moments, but they held on for the win and are now unbeaten in nine league outings.
Chelsea surged 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League as Pedro inspired a 3-1 win over Swansea, while Leicester’s gloom deepened as the troubled champions plunged into the relegation zone on Saturday.
Antonio Conte’s leaders won for the 17th time in their last 20 league games to push them a step closer to the title.
Cesc Fabregas, restored to the team in place of Nemanja Matic, was making his 300th Premier League appearance and the former Arsenal star marked the milestone in the 19th minute with his 46th goal in the competition.
Picked out inside the penalty area by Pedro’s cut-back, Fabregas nimbly adjusted his stride before clipping his shot past Lukasz Fabianski.
Despite being out-played for much of the first half, Swansea snatched an equaliser seconds before the interval at Stamford Bridge.
Gylfi Sigurdsson’s long free-kick caught the Blues napping and Spanish striker Fernando Llorente rose to head powerfully beyond Thibaut Courtois.
But Chelsea’s dominance was rewarded in the 72nd minute when Pedro’s routine long-range effort slipped past a weak attempted stop by Fabianski.
Diego Costa wrapped up the points when he finished off Eden Hazard’s pass in the 84th minute for his 17th goal of the season.
“For sure we dominated the game. We showed great character in the second half and deserved to win,” Conte said.
“Now it’s important to look at ourselves and continue with great focus and concentration.”
With second placed Manchester City’s scheduled derby against Manchester United postponed due to their rivals’ League Cup final date with Southampton on Sunday, Chelsea have opened up a huge lead at the top.
Third placed Tottenham can trim Chelsea’s advantage to 10 points if they beat Stoke on Sunday.
While sacked boss Claudio Ranieri was saying his farewells at the club’s Belvoir Drive training base on Saturday, Leicester’s fight for survival took a turn for the worse without the players even kicking a ball.
– Bad news –
Still digesting Ranieri’s stunning dismissal on Thursday, Leicester don’t play until Liverpool’s visit to the King Power Stadium on Monday.
Amid reports a player revolt had led to Ranieri’s exit, several Leicester players took to social media to praise the Italian, although none expressed disappointment at his exit.
But there was bad news for the malcontents from Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace’s 1-0 win over Middlesbrough left Leicester one point from safety in 18th place.
Palace had lost six of their last seven league games and their previous five league fixtures at Selhurst Park all ended in defeat.
But Sam Allardyce’s side climbed above Leicester thanks to Patrick van Aanholt, who notched his first goal for Palace since his January move from Sunderland with a cool finish from the edge of the area in the 34th minute.
Middlesbrough are without a win in nine league games and lie one point above the bottom three.
“There’s never been a bigger win than this all season,” Allardyce said. “The two-week break helped us refocus and that showed.
“The three points are important as it puts us out of the bottom three.”
Everton pushed their former manager David Moyes closer to relegation with a 2-0 win over bottom of the table Sunderland at Goodison Park.
Ronald Koeman’s team went ahead when Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye fired into the roof of the net in the 40th minute.
Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku sealed the points for seventh placed Everton in the 80th minute to leave Sunderland three points from safety.
Hull missed a chance to climb out of the relegation zone with a 1-1 draw against Burnley at the KCOM Stadium.
Tom Hudderstone’s 72nd minute penalty, awarded for Michael Keane’s handball, put Marco Silva’s second bottom team ahead.
But Burnley, embarrassedly beaten by non-league Lincoln in the FA Cup last weekend, equalised through Keane four minutes later.
The visitors held on for only their second away league point this season despite Ashley Barnes’ late red card for elbowing Andrea Ranocchia.
Bournemouth are just five points above the relegation zone after losing 2-1 at West Bromwich Albion.
Eddie Howe’s side took the lead after five minutes when Josh King converted a penalty awarded for Allan Nyom’s foul on Ryan Fraser.
But Craig Dawson equalised in the 10th minute with a deflected long range effort before Gareth McAuley’s close-range finish won it in the 22nd minute.
The Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Prof. Christian Anieke, says the institution has discovered fake or adulterated yam flour products in the Nigerian market.
Speaking on Saturday during the 4th Convocation of the institution, Anieke said that the discovery was made possible through the exploits of the institution in Biotechnology.
He said that the institution had a massive project of DNA analysis and sequencing of tropical fishes, plants and yam species in the community led by Prof. George Ude.
"For the first time, a lot of unknown fish types in our community have been identified, analysed and entered in the DNA world data bank.
"This is one service we have rendered to place our country on the world map of fruitful research results.
"The sequencing of various yam species has helped us in separating the sheep from the goat by discovering a lot of fake yam flours of adulterated yam flour products with the DNA sequencing tools," he said.
The vice chancellor said that the institution wished to partner with relevant government agencies and factories in the project to achieve good standard in food production.
"If we really want to achieve good standard in food production and make agriculture a big foreign exchange earner, we must address the issue of fake products.
"Our institution is ready to work with our government agencies in the analysis of farm products to ensure their sanctity and harmlessness," he said.
Anieke said that the institution would leverage on its partnership with International Institute for Tropical Agriculture to produce new cassava species with better yields.
"We have continued to develop our palm tree for palm oil production and planning to increase the number of our palm trees to 15,000 trees.
"With this increase we hope to meet partly the demand for palm oil in our state.
"We, therefore, plead with the state government to give us wings to fly by doing the road that leads to our main campus at Ugwuomu Nike as this will hasten the development of the university farms.
"May the Ugwuomu Road not end up in the waste basket of unfulfilled promises," Anieke said.
Newsmen report that 281 graduates participated in the convocation with nine First Class honours awardees.
Enugu – The Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Prof. Christian Anieke, says the institution has discovered fake or adulterated yam flour products in the Nigerian market.
Speaking on Saturday during the 4th Convocation of the institution, Anieke said that the discovery was made possible through the exploits of the institution in Biotechnology.
He said that the institution had a massive project of DNA analysis and sequencing of tropical fishes, plants and yam species in the community led by Prof. George Ude.
"For the first time, a lot of unknown fish types in our community have been identified, analysed and entered in the DNA world data bank.
"This is one service we have rendered to place our country on the world map of fruitful research results.
"The sequencing of various yam species has helped us in separating the sheep from the goat by discovering a lot of fake yam flours of adulterated yam flour products with the DNA sequencing tools," he said.
The vice chancellor said that the institution wished to partner with relevant government agencies and factories in the project to achieve good standard in food production.
"If we really want to achieve good standard in food production and make agriculture a big foreign exchange earner, we must address the issue of fake products.
"Our institution is ready to work with our government agencies in the analysis of farm products to ensure their sanctity and harmlessness," he said. Anieke said that the institution would leverage on its partnership with International Institute for Tropical Agriculture to produce new cassava species with better yields.
"We have continued to develop our palm tree for palm oil production and planning to increase the number of our palm trees to 15,000 trees. "With this increase we hope to meet partly the demand for palm oil in our state.
"We, therefore, plead with the state government to give us wings to fly by doing the road that leads to our main campus at Ugwuomu Nike as this will hasten the development of the university farms.
"May the Ugwuomu Road not end up in the waste basket of unfulfilled promises," Anieke said.
The 281 graduates participated in the convocation with nine First Class honours awardees.
A leader of the All Progressives Congress APC in Delta State, High Chief Michael Johnny has condemned both Christians and Muslims praying for the death of President Muhammadu Buhari, describing such an act as ungodly and demonic.
Johnny, who is also Chairman of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, said: “It is shameful and unfortunate that Christians and Muslims in Nigeria who claimed to be children of God could pray for the death of their fellow human.
Buhari
In the Bible our Lord Jesus never told Christians or taught them to pray for the death of their fellow human. Even in the Quran, Muslims were never taught to pray for the death of their fellow brother”.
In a statement by his media office in Abuja, he advised those who had wished Buhari death to return to God for forgiveness, noting that Buhari became President of Nigeria by the divine power and grace of God Almighty.
“The President could be sick now but his illness does not in any away stop the good work that God has started using him to do for the country. President Buhari had already laid a good foundation for the country”.
He pointed out that ” at Buhari’s age, no right thinking human will wish his or her father of that age to die, so, I do not see any reason why some persons who would not pray for the death of their fathers should pray for the death of President Buhari, who is also somebody’s father”.
Kogi State Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello has urged Nigeria and South Africa to "lock themselves down in bilateral engagement" in order to find "a lasting solution to the alleged xenophobic attack on Nigerians in South Africa".
The Governor made the call through a statement by his Director General on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo in Lokoja, Friday, saying the two African giants cannot afford strained relations.
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State
"Reports of xenophobic attacks in South Africa are of grave concern to Nigeria and Nigerians. As the two African giants, diplomatic engagements must be immediately switched on by the two nations to douse growing agitations over the unfortunate incidence.
"The two nations can achieve a lot working together and South Africa must also believe they have business interests across Africa. The world has become a global village and Nigerians must be as safe in South Africa as South Africans are in our nation.
"We are aware of efforts by the South African authorities to douse the rising tension between citizens of the two countries, which is a clear indication of the fact that the government and people of South Africa recognize Nigeria's leading role in the war against apartheid. Together, we are stronger".
The Governor also urged Nigerians to show the world an example in "diplomatic restraint", assuring that the Federal Government will do everything within its powers to protect Nigerians anywhere around the world.
"We are the giant of Africa and we must show great diplomatic restraint in addressing sensitive issues such as the xenophobic row between Nigeria and South Africa. We cannot afford to plunge the continent into crisis when we have worked to restore peace around the world.
"Attacking South African interests in Nigeria will not solve the problem of xenophobic attacks. We believe dialogue and public orientation in South Africa will help enlighten their people on the need to see Nigeria as a partner in progress. Our people are highly industrious anywhere they are and they have contributed immensely to the progress of South Africa".
He called on the international community to lend their voices to the call on South Africans to see xenophobia as "another form of injustice against fellow humans".
LAGOS is definitely an exciting place," said this charming lady I recently sat next to at a birthday bash. "My husband has just been transferred to Lagos from the Abeokuta branch of his office and I dreaded the things that could happen to my social life in Lagos. I needn't have worried," she said enthusiastically.
"Before now, outings in our town house had been strictly for couples. Single girls seldom show up at social functions alone and whenever we had tiffs, my husband would rather dig his feet in the living room rug than take me to a function that I had spent weeks planning and looking forward to as a sort of punishment.
"It, therefore, came as a breath of fresh air when we moved back to Lagos and discovered that not only did ladies saunter in and out of heavy parties in each other's company, they always out-numbered and outsprayed the men and stayed as late as they wished without worrying their pretty heads about how their husbands felt. For all you know, such 'husbands' are either non-existent or are out with other interesting
'discoveries'. No matter what criticisms you have against this type of freedom, it is still good for the female psyche. You go out to let off steam and not necessarily to be mischievous as most men want to believe."
"The fun of going out on your own or with your friends is to flirt with the opposite sex when the opportunity arises", declared Gladys, a business woman who's been married for years but prefers to go out alone. She assured our JJC friend to the Lagos Social circuit that the best was yet to be. That though she goes out alone, but when it is a
family affair, her better half rears his useful head. "My family is comfortable" she continued, "so food and booze are never the consideration when I go out. My friends enjoy healthy gossip and we revel in that. Also, we meet a lot of interesting men who have successfully jettisoned their wives or partners and we all get together to 'rap'. The
men say a lot of rubbish they dare not repeat in the presence of their wives and we tease them endlessly on how relaxed they are away from their matrimonial shackles.
'My husband wouldn't even think of me talking in such a brazen way. I'm always on my best behaviour when he is around and this could be quite a yawn. What man in his right senses would flirt with a lady who has a scowling partner, what we girls refer to as an ADC, by his side when there are other intelligent, attractive and fancy-free women to
talk to? And you never know who you run into. Most of the business cards we get are promptly thrown out of the car windows on the way home or conveniently left at the party. The few interesting ones you tuck into a corner that only you have access to. Who knows what could develop from such cards?
"Such ADC less outings could go awfully wrong at times though. At a retirement party sometimes ago, a socialite and multi-millionaire came in and saw this lady radiating charm, elegance and rare beauty. He was knocked for six. He arranged to be seated near his object of fancy. The gods were on his side too – power failure had just done its stuff and Sir Galahad sat, looking at the girl, enthralled. Once in a while, as he whispered sweet nothings to her, he mopped sweat from her lovely face. He even hijacked another lady's hand-fan for the lucky girl's benefit. What a good diversion from the unease the power failure had caused! Most eyes were on the couple, wondering where all these would lead to. A few hours into the party, the seemingly love birds were still going at it as if they were on stage.
Then this sprawling man came in, looking a bit lost. "May I help you?" asked the celebrant. "Yes," boomed the man for all to hear. I"ve come to collect my wife". Of course, the wife heard the determined ring in her husband's voice and shot out from her seat. You guessed right – it was "Juliet', the man had come for. Romeo's face was comical as he watched his jewel being whisked away by her rightful owner.
For a moment, you could hear a pin drop. Then some of the men who'd been green with envy, started crackling and sniggering, their wives became a bit more relaxed and slightly sympathetic towards the poor Romeo who didn't know where to put his face. "What a fortunate man' he grudgingly admitted, "in my days, no man walked away with a lady I was talking to, be he her husband or father!".
One thing you don't assume, when you run into unaccompanied women at parties is that they live alone. This was a lesson Larry, an older member of the bench learnt to his chagrin. He totally sympathised with lover-boy as he too recently experienced a shock with a lady he took home. "She never gave me the impression that she was a third
'wife' living on the largesse of her "husband' when I met her at a cocktail party." He said of his recent experience from his latest "find'. "When she told me she didn't have transport, I almost did a happy jig. Naturally, I offered her a lift and saw her to her door. Unfortunately, her "husband' had already let himself in. He was livid when he saw me and because I was a bit tipsy, my reflexes were not as sharp as they used to be. Before I could gather my wits about me, he pounced on me and was really pummelling me. 'By the time I'm through with you', he threatened, you will never go after another man's wife again'. The blows continued to fall. 'Hey, man you've got it all wrong', I yelled. I had no choice but to defend myself.
"Minutes later, when I staggered downstairs, my driver who was already relaxed expecting a long wait, took one look at my tattered agbada and hurriedly started the car without saying a word. You win some and you lose some, but no man wants to be surprised! If we'd had one or two outings, the bashing I got that night might be worth the bother! But to have to go through that baptism of fire for committing no offence really, rankled!"
How To Nail The Five-Year Itch
The seven-year itch used to be the time when you should start noticing the rut in your marriage and by to revamp it. The period has now been reduced to five years. According to one multi-university study, unhappy married couples who stuck it out and worked through their
problems reported being happier five years after a rough patch than couples who threw in the towel. Here are tips to help you stay the .-course. "
Embrace Change: Over time you and your spouse will each evolve. Acceptability that change is inevitable makes it easier to be flexible and help you to focus on big picture bonding points like building a strong family.
Expect that there will be hard times: Many couples think "if we were right for each other, it wouldn't be this difficult". But that isn't accurate. Love temporary cools.
Marriage is like the stock market. Troughs and normal, and it is usually best to ride them out.
Fight Right: It's not what you argue about but how you argue it. Avoiding name calling (it is disrespectful); put compromises ahead of the need to be right (harmony out-ranks "winning"); be quick to forgive – and quicker to say, "I apologise".
Remind yourself why you married him: Remember how your pulse raced the first time he kissed you? Calling up positive memories like that during less-than blissful moments can be an effective attitude adjuster.
By Abdallah el-Kurebe SOKOTO – The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has said that Nigeria was under policed because the police was under funded, a development, according to him had impeded the improvement of security in the country.
He made the statement in Sokoto when Government Secondary School, Farfaru Old Boys Association (FOBA) honoured him and seven others.
Idris disclosed that the Force was working with the National Assembly for better allocation. “The Police is largely underfunded which is why Nigeria is also under-policed.”
Aware of the deplorable state of Police quarters, he promised that these would be renovated, adding that “we are partnering with private developers to build 25,000 new houses for our personnel across the country. This will include the Shelter Afrique, which is an arm of the African Union.”
Donating a building to the school on behalf of those honoured, IGP Idris said that government could not do it alone. “Private individuals and corporate organisations must must give their widows might in order to augment governments efforts.” Honoured along with the IGP were Dr. Mahe Dange; Mallam Muhammadu Zauro; former Director General of NIPS, Prof. Tijani Bande; Dr. Bello Aliyu; Dr. Ahmed Achida; Prof. Faruk Haruna and Alhaji Muhammadu Zagi.
By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA – A political pressure group within the Gombe state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Inuwa Organization Network, has described Saturday’s local government election in the state as fraudulent, demanding for its cancellation.
The group described what happened in the state as a "heavily compromised arrangement by the State Independent Electoral Commission SIEC in the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state”.
A statement signed by the spokesman of the group Kabir Mohammed, and made available to Sunday Vanguard in Abuja stated that election did not take place due to non availability of voting materials, result sheets and other sensitive materials meant for the exercise across the state.
The organization, therefore, called on the state Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) to fix another date for the exercise.
“Contrary to earlier assurances by the GOSIEC Commissioner for Public Affairs, Mr. Kalagar Kudi Lubo, it will not withhold sensitive election materials to deny opposition political parties to participate in the election, the reverse is the case today in Gombe.
“GOSIEC leadership has successfully allowed themselves to be used by the PDP. This is not surprising, election manipulation is a trade this dying party understands the most”, the group noted.
While giving a catalogue of irregularities which characterized the exercise and why such election could not stand, Mohammed said “the obvious absence of Result Sheets in all the polling units across the state, is a threat to free and fair election.”
He also queried “why sensitive materials passed the night in some police stations? Are the materials under arrest or safe keeping?.
“The fact that the major instrument of election being the sensitive materials and the result sheets are not made available, there is need for the LGA election to be cancelled.”
While calling on all lovers of democracy to call GOSIEC to order and do the right thing, the group said “duplication of sensitive materials by the state electoral empire undermines the essence of democracy”.
Two medical specialists have identified lack of medical equipment and dearth of trained specialists as major reasons forcing many medical experts to travel abroad for more training.
They stated this in Lagos that after the training overseas, such persons settled there for plush jobs.
Prof. Akinyinka Omigbodun and Dr Olutola Olutosin spoke in separate interviews on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Permanent Secretariat of the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) at Yaba, Lagos.
Isaac-Adewole
Omigbodun, the WACS President and a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, said the country did not have all equipment that matched the skills that many medical experts had acquired.
"Many of us have trained in other parts of the world with sophisticated equipment.
"The equipment is not available here; we therefore cannot practise in full-fledged what we have learnt as specialists,'' he said.
Omigbodun, however, said that WACS had attracted support from well-wishers and Foundations from outside the country "but now we are beginning to have support from within Nigerians''.
"We have philanthropists, who are supporting surgical education and health care for all population, because funding from public sector alone cannot be sufficient to provide many of those equipment,'' he said.
Also, Olutosin, a Consultant and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Anaesthesia, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, said foreign trips by Nigerian medical specialists was affecting the intensity and quality of training at home.
Olutosi, who is the WACS Secretary, told NAN that lack of equipment and inadequate trained specialists made a lot of people to seek medical treatment abroad.
"It is true that majority of us travel abroad for greener pastures but our training programme are well subscribed by majority of products from our medical schools.
"Medicine or postgraduate training cannot be an island in the ocean of challenges that are facing this nation,'' he said.
The specialists, however, appealed to the Federal Government to increase funding of the health sector, especially the training unit for medical education to be better.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who was also present at the event, said that the Federal Government was committed to improving funding for health sector.
Adewole said that N11.7 billion was set aside in the 2017 budget for revitalisation of seven tertiary health institutions in the country.
bY Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor, Abuja – Apparently shocked by the escalation of attacks in Southern Kaduna despite increased security measures put in place by the government, Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has summoned the Inspector General of Police to the Aso Rock Villa for explanations.
A top source in the Presidency, who is privy to the summons of the police leadership, told Sunday Vanguard that the Presidency was unhappy with the fresh killing of 21 persons in the troubled Southern Kaduna last week.This file photo taken on September 23, 2015 shows Nigeria’s Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo during a meeting as part of post-coup talks in Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou
The source said that Osinbajo wanted explanations from the police chief and what needed to be done to halt the spate of atrocities by unknown elements in the area.
The meeting between the Acting President and the IGP came amidst reports that the Presidency has ordered additional security measures, including a total deployment of 15, 285 policemen by the Nigeria Police Force in Southern Kaduna with immediate effect.
One of the top sources conversant with the meeting said, “The immediate outcome of the IGP's meeting with the Acting President was the intensification and adoption of a set of additional security measures that would help contain the situation.
“Besides, deploying over 15000 cops to the area, It was also learnt that the police high command has now concluded arrangements for the establishment of a new Police Squadron in Kafanchan, Kaduna, as part of broad measures adopted to curb the violence.
“A total of 18 Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) and a unit of Belarus-trained police Special Forces have been deployed to Southern Kaduna. “The police, in addition, have now increased helicopter surveillance in the entire area to prevent a recurrence of violence in the communities.
“Besides, the police have so far arrested 38 suspects linked to the violence while 29 firearms have been recently recovered,” the official hinted. The IGP, the source said, has further assured that there will now be stronger police presence and security in Southern Kaduna. It will be recalled that no fewer than 21 persons were killed in the latest attacks that has devastated several communities and displaced many people in Southern Kaduna. The Army recently announced the formation of a new unit to be stationed in Southern Kaduna, all in a bid to contain the attacks.
In a similar development it was learnt that the Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Tukur Buratai, has briefed the Acting President on the situation in the Northeast where the Nigerian military is said to now hold an effective control of the area and actively mopping up remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents on a “regular and constant basis.”
Sources close to the Office of the National Security Adviser also disclosed that plans were underway for a major briefing on the overall security situation of the country for the benefit of the Nigerian public.
Musawa (Katsina State) – Sen. Abu Ibrahim (APC- Katsina) on Saturday in Musawa, his home town, organised marathon prayer sessions for President Muhammadu Buhari, who is on medical vacation in London.
The prayers, which were offered in batches, were led by reputable Islamic scholars from 11 local government areas in the senatorial district with thousands of residents in attendance.President Buhari
Ibrahim, who is the Senate Committee Chairman on Police Affairs, said President Buhari needed prayers not only for good health, but for divine guidance and protection as well. President Buhari He said as far as the President's health was concerned, there was no cause for alarm.
He said based on available information, "the President is in high spirits''.
Ibrahim requested preachers, scholars, school teachers, women and community-based groups to continued to pray for the President.
The senator said he decided to join others to organise the prayers for the President based on his realisation of the need for citizens to continually pray for their leaders.
According to him, the nation is undergoing positive change under Buhari's leadership.
He said as such, Buhari "needs our encouragement, support and prayers for him to succeed in building a better Nigeria".
Ibrahim announced a donation of 100 copies of the Holy Qur'an to each of the 11 local government areas in zone to facilitate constant prayers for the President and offered scholarship to 30 children from each local government area in zone.
He also said that he had begun the drilling of 750 wash bores to facilitate irrigation, adding that 750 water pumping machines would be distributed to selected farmers across the 11 local government areas.
The senator said he had provided 82 motorcycles to be distributed to supporters and sewing machines to be distributed to female Islamic school tutors to enhance their capacities.
He added that three persons would be selected from each of the wards in the district to go for skill acquisition training after which they would each be given N20, 000 marching grants.
Ibrahim also inaugurated the treatment of 2,000 persons with eye-related illnesses.
He said 500 of them would get recommended glasses while 300 persons would undergo glaucoma surgery.
According to him, a committee chaired by the Zonal Chairman of APC, Alhaji Bala Abu, would be responsible for equitable distribution of the items donated.
In his remarks, the state governor, Aminu Masari, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Alh. Bello Mandia, applauded the senator for his courage.
He said the state government planned to organise similar prayer sessions for the President in Katsina.
