Workers Day: Ajibade expresses dismay over the plights of workers

A legal practitioner, Barrister Hassan Ajibade has called on Nigerian leaders to show serious concern to the plights of workers by raising their standard of living.

Barrister Ajibade made the call today in Saki, Oyo State in a statement to commemorate the twenty-sixteen world workers day.

The legal practitioner who shared in the pains of an average Nigerian workers said there was nothing to show for their dutiful and dedicated service to the country.

He called on labour leaders to guard against undue infiltration of its ranks by selfish and heartless leaders for the general good and wellbeing of members.

Barrister Ajibade urged workers to remain committed and dedicated to service of the fatherland despite various challenges.

Medical students to spend seven years, not 11 – NUC

The National Universities Commission has described as erroneous and misleading the news making the round that Nigerian medical students will now spend 11 years to obtain their first degree.

The NUC’s Head, Information Department, Mrs. Adebukola Olatunji, said in a statement on Monday that medical students will only spend seven years in school, rather than 11 years which was widely reported in the news.

Olatunji said newsmen misrepresented the NUC’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, who was quoted to have announced the 11-year training period for medical students while giving the keynote address at the matriculation and inauguration of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, on March 12, 2016.

She said nowhere in the keynote address, entitled, “Development of Medical Education in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges,” was 11 years mentioned or implied.

According to Olatunji, what Okojie explained was that the NUC’s basic minimum academic standard for Medicine and Surgery had been reviewed such that anyone wishing to study Medicine and Surgery and Dentistry will first have to study any of the four-year basic medical science courses, such as Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry and Physiology, before proceeding to the clinical training that would run for three years.

She said, “Although, the so-called ‘11-year Medical Programme’ stories have been credited to the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie’s keynote address, titled, ‘Development of Medical Education in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges’, which was delivered at the Matriculation and Inauguration of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, on Saturday, March 12, 2016, nowhere in that lecture was 11 years mentioned or implied.

“Prof. Okojie, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary l, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, had explained that the new curriculum provides for a seamless seven-year programme.

“With the new curriculum, a medical student would be expected to graduate in Basic Medical Sciences, with options in Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry and Physiology in the first four years, before proceeding for the clinical training that would run for three years.”

Culled: The Punch

Medical students to spend seven years, not 11 – NUC

The National Universities Commission has described as erroneous and misleading the news making the round that Nigerian medical students will now spend 11 years to obtain their first degree.

The NUC’s Head, Information Department, Mrs. Adebukola Olatunji, said in a statement on Monday that medical students will only spend seven years in school, rather than 11 years which was widely reported in the news.

Olatunji said newsmen misrepresented the NUC’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, who was quoted to have announced the 11-year training period for medical students while giving the keynote address at the matriculation and inauguration of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, on March 12, 2016.

She said nowhere in the keynote address, entitled, “Development of Medical Education in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges,” was 11 years mentioned or implied.

According to Olatunji, what Okojie explained was that the NUC’s basic minimum academic standard for Medicine and Surgery had been reviewed such that anyone wishing to study Medicine and Surgery and Dentistry will first have to study any of the four-year basic medical science courses, such as Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry and Physiology, before proceeding to the clinical training that would run for three years.

She said, “Although, the so-called ‘11-year Medical Programme’ stories have been credited to the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie’s keynote address, titled, ‘Development of Medical Education in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges’, which was delivered at the Matriculation and Inauguration of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, on Saturday, March 12, 2016, nowhere in that lecture was 11 years mentioned or implied.

“Prof. Okojie, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary l, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, had explained that the new curriculum provides for a seamless seven-year programme.

“With the new curriculum, a medical student would be expected to graduate in Basic Medical Sciences, with options in Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry and Physiology in the first four years, before proceeding for the clinical training that would run for three years.”

Culled: The Punch

Nuclear Security Summit: Buhari, Ahmed, others leave for US

President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja for Washington DC tomorrow, Wednesday, March 30, 2016 to join President Barack Obama and about 60 other world leaders and heads of international organisations at the 4th Nuclear Security Summit which opens there on Thursday.

At plenary sessions of the summit which is dedicated to reinforcing international commitment to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, President Buhari will insist that while Nigeria will continue to sustain that commitment, world powers must respect the right of other countries to the peaceful use of nuclear energy for development purposes.

The President will reaffirm Nigeria’s stance that international efforts to ensure greater security of nuclear materials should maintain a balance between nuclear non-proliferation obligations and the indisputable right of Nigeria and other countries to harness nuclear energy and technology for socio-economic development.

It will be recalled that at a meeting with him in Abuja earlier this month, President Buhari told the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr. Yukiya Amano that the Federal Government will welcome greater support from the agency for Nigeria’s aspiration to begin the generation of electricity with nuclear energy.

While in Washington DC for the Nuclear Security Summit, the President and his delegation which includes Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) and the Director-General of Nigeria’s Nuclear Regulatory Agency, Prof Lawrence Anikwe Dim, will also hold bilateral meetings with other participating Heads of Government and high-ranking United States Government officials.

President Buhari will depart Washington DC for Abuja on Sunday.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 29, 2016

Medical students to spend 11 years in varsity − NUC

The National Universities Commission has declared that any student who wants to study medicine will henceforth spend a minimum of 10 years in the university.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie made the declaration in a lecture delivered at the maiden matriculation and inauguration of the University of Medical Science, Ondo, Ondo State.

In a lecture titled ‘Development of Medical Education : Prospects and Challenges‘, Okojie, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, said the development was imperative in order to enable the students mature psychologically for the profession.

He said the 2015 document for the training of medical students made provision for students to spend the first four years in studying basic sciences in university after which they would proceed to the medical school to spend another seven years.

Stressing the need for adequate funding of medical training and practice, the NUC Executive Secretary admonished the management of the institution to ensure that the money earmarked for the development of the institution was used for the purpose it was meant.

The Visitor of the school and Ondo a State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, in his speech said the university was expected to leverage on the benefits of the medical complex around the institution to advance efforts in medical research and training.

He expressed optimism that the institution would be a leading internationally-recognised platform for raising crops of professionally-competent individuals in the various disciplines of the health care industry.

“It is our hope and belief that it will provide sound scientific, technological and professional training to address identified health needs and problems, solve them within the context of community and national needs and sustainable development,” Mimiko said.

In his address, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Friday Okonofua, said the that the university would achieve the objectives for which it was established, appealing to all well-meaning Nigerians to render assistance to the varsity by contributing to the  ‘Friends of UNIMED Funds’ initiatives which was targeted at raising N1billion for the school .

He lauded the initiative of the Ondo State government for the establishment of the university describing it as the most creative and innovative idea that has taken place in the development of tertiary education in the country

Culled from PUNCH

52nd NMGS International Conference begins in Ilorin

The Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) is to assist the Federal Government to add value and concretise its vision for an expanded and diversified economy.

Similarly, the Society has offered to create attention on opportunities in Kwara State solid mineral sector in order to attract investors.

Addressing newsmen in Ilorin ahead of the week-long 52nd annual international conference and exhibitions of the Nigeria Mining and Geosciences Society, the President of the society, Professor Olugbenga Okunlola expressed optimism that Nigeria would experience change in mineral exploration with the economic policy of the current administration.

Professor Okunlola disclosed that Nigeria has forty-four mineral types in eight hundred locations across the country which he said could be explored to create employment and wealth for the masses.

He charged state governments to develop political will to harness opportunities in the solid mineral sectors in view of the dwindling oil revenues.

The National President who called for the diversification of Nigeria's economy advised government at all levels not to rely on mono-product economy in order to solve Nigeria's ailing economic problem.

Professor Okunlola disclosed that over 1000 Geoscientists from Nigeria and other African countries are expected at the conference with over 200 papers to be presented by members from Universities, industries and public service.

The President added that the Senate President, Doctor Bukola Saraki, Ministers of Solid Mineral, Science and Technology, Water Resources and Education are expected in the conference while the Kwara State Governor will be the Chief host.

The theme for the NMGS 52nd International conference is: Economic diversification through sustainable mineral resources development.

Governor Ahmed: Thinking Outside the Box

Undoubtedly, the year 2015 will remain a memorable year in the minds of many across the globe with its good, bad and ugly sides, particularly from political and economic spheres. From economic front, oil which serves as main stay of the economies of many countries, Nigeria inclusive , witnessed an all-time shock in global market as crude oil price dropped from $110 per barrel as at December, 2014 to below $30 per barrel now in the global oil market with no end in sight to its instability. ‎

Consequently, many economies which are built around proceeds from oil could not absorb the shock from the persistent fall in global oil price. The worst hit are countries with monolithic economies like Nigeria which its mainstay has been oil over the  decades.

Nigeria's economy since the neglect of agriculture in 1970s has been largely driven by proceeds from oil while the global oil price remains a platform of drafting the annual budget.

However, the persistent fall in oil price has dealt a big blow on Nigeria's  economy in the year under review. This has led to the rise in unemployment rate, abandonment of developmental projects across the country, non payment of workers' salaries  when due as well as increase in poverty level. 

Today, many states in Nigeria which  hitherto relied on monthly hands-out, courtesy of oil revenues could not survive in even paying wage bills not to talk of meeting other obligations in infrastructural development. This is indeed embarrassing in a country with over 170 million population with abundant human and natural resources. 

It is an open secret that in many states of the federation, developmental projects have largely been abandoned owing to the current economic realities while many state governors are incapacitated to initiate any new projects as promised during their campaigns while projects encapsulated in budgets could not be executed as planned. 

In Kwara State, there are ongoing projects which ought to have reached completion levels but could not be executed and completed as planned owing to lack of funds. Such projects include but not limited to the Ilorin Water Reticulation project, provision of equipment and take off of the International Vocational Centre, Ajase Ipo and road constructions in Ilorin, Offa, Arandun,  Rore, Arobadi-Megida among others. 

Others are the establishment of the two campuses of the State University at Ilesha Baruba and Osi, construction of phase one of Kishi-Kaiama road, dualisation of Zango-UITH road, dualisation of Michael Imodu, provision of eight hundred and sixty transformers and rehabilitation of the Indoor Sports Hall of the State Stadium Complex ,Ilorin. 

Addressing some stakeholders recently at the Banquet Hall, Opposite Government House, Ilorin, Governor Ahmed did say that projects and programmes encapsulated in the 2016 budget would be  executed with improved revenue. 

But for how long will state governments rely on federation allocations? For how long will state governments seek bail out from the federal government in times of financial crisis? For how long will state governments  resort to commercial banks and capital markets for loans and bonds  to pay salaries and finance capital projects? Not for too long, says Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed. 

His perspective on the issue:  any serious government must  think outside the box and devise means of alternative sources of revenue to meet its wage bills and other commitment in infrastructural development and provision of social amenities. 

In Kwara, Gov. Ahmed is walking his talk as another vista has been opened in the annals of the State with the establishment of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) and subsequent commissioning of the Revenue House of the Service with the charged by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to rake in five billion naira monthly, N60 Billion annually.  

The new IGR drive is a bold effort in looking inwards for enhanced revenue generation and restructuring in the face of shortfalls in earnings from crude oil sales. Consequently, the drive is seen as a platform towards reducing reliance on oil proceeds, plugging  leakages in revenue collection processes and growing the  the economy. 

Other money spinning sectors which hitherto have been neglected or under-exploited must be given the necessary impetus and incentives towards opening up opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths and diversify the state's economy with a view to stimulating the economy. Particular reference is the huge but immensely unexplored and exploited tourism potentials across the State. If Owu Water Falls in Owa Kajola is transformed into tourists haven value adding economic activities will not only sprout along that axis of the state its IGR will be greener. 

The free fall of the federal allocation which snowballed into the current economic challenges is highly embarrassing, considering the human and material resources the God Almighty blessed this dearing country with. In fact, all resources are in abundant in Nigeria!

Kwara must be drifted to economic prosperity through opening up of other opportunities that could raking in huge revenues. This, if done, will no doubt insulate the state from its age-long over reliance on monthly federal allocation which largely comes from oil proceeds. 

Without shadow of doubt, Kwara State is blessed with natural resources which include Gold, Kaolins, Colombite, Tantalite, Marble, Silica Sand, Granite (Black and White) Sand, Gravel, Talc, Tourmalines, Mica, Gypsum, Garnet, Emerald, Clay, Aquamarine, all of which could be exploited to form the base for industrial development in the state. All these items present opportunities for milling companies and firms looking to use these raw materials as inputs. 

Already, there is a plan in the pipeline to categorise artisan miners into clusters for coordination and assistance. However, the State government must develop the will to design a blueprint in partnership with the Federal Government on ways to harness the mineral deposits in the state. Importantly, the Federal Government must come up with a clear policy direction synergising with state governments in exploiting abundant precious stones and metals in the country. 

No doubt, Kwara is agrarian community and farmers could be supported to make agriculture more attractive to them and even graduates. The Kwara State Government should as a matter of urgency review all its agricultural policies in order to match input with output if the state must be truly seen as pace setter in agribusiness. It is important to get supplements and other incentives across to genuine farmers at appropriate farming seasons rather than unintended beneficiaries. Again, diversifying the economy to agriculture, solid minerals and tourism is a sure-way to stimulating the economy, create employment opportunities and guarantee shared prosperity.

Residents of Kwara State should equally assist the government in building viable economy through regularly payment of taxes and reduction of reliance on white collar job to small and medium enterprises and agriculture which are believed to generating wealth if right incentives are given by the government. 

The Federal Government must also wean Nigerian economy from the increasing import bills which made the country to import all sort of items from toothpicks, pencils to foods that could be produced locally. Relying on locally made items will in no distant time stimulate the economy, create employment opportunities and preserve foreign exchange earnings. 

Equally, the human capital flight need to be checked by assisting entrepreneurs and artisans with capital or grants as a way of boosting local economy and activate Kwara's huge potentials. The already established micro-credit scheme of the state government needs to be rejuvenated to accommodate more artisan groups and encourage more youths to go into farming, solid mineral, small scale production in order to reduce reliance on white-collar jobs and alleviate the growing poverty in the land.