Saturday, 25 February 2017
Rep, wife, 3 kids escape being kidnapped in Edo as Gunmen attack Speaker
By Simon Ebegbulem, Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakuru
A member of the House of Representatives, Patrick Aisowieren, his wife and their three children allegedly escaped from a five-man kidnapping gang along Aruoba Road in Ebo community of Edo State.
This happened just as the convoy of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Justin Okonoboh, was allegedly attacked by gunmen.
Aisowieren, who represents Orhionmewon Uhunmwode Federal Constituency of Edo State on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, said it was the second time that kidnappers had attempted to kidnap him and that he reported the matter to the police.
The first attempt, according to him, was while driving his Wrangler SUV but without National Assembly number plate and the incident happened in June/July 2016.
Narrating how he escaped the latest attempt to kidnap him to Sunday Vanguard, the lawmaker said: “I was going to town from my home at Aruoba Road, Ebo community on the 4th of February 2017 when they (kidnappers) attempted to kidnap me and my family. They met us – my wife, three kids and I – around one school along Irhirhin Road where you have erosion control stone and they just blocked our vehicle.
“If not that my driver manoeuvred, only God knows what would have happened to me and my family.
“It was the second time they were making that kidnapping attempt on me. The first time was about six months ago, between June and July 2016, when the former Edo Commissioner of Police was in office. I reported that one at the Airport road Police Station and he (police commissioner) gave me security men.”
The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Okonoboh, who spoke in Benin-City, yesterday, stated that a Toyota Camry car, carrying some armed men, ran into his convoy, on his way from his Igueben constituency, saying gun shots from his security men scared the gunmen away.
He narrated: “ Our security men earlier warned that we should be cautious, that we had a Camry Car coming after us and the people in the car seemed to have a mission. I was coming back to Benin from Igueben my constituency where I went to settle a land dispute.
“The occupants of the car were struggling to overtake us and when my security men observed that they were armed they started shooting in the air. At this point, they were trying to block my vehicle. They were struggling with my back up vehicle but the driver ensured they did not overtake us in a manner that they will come near my car.
“Security men inside the car started shooting to scare them away but they were not deterred until my back up van pushed them away out of the road, and they almost crashed into the bush and we sped off”.
The post Rep, wife, 3 kids escape being kidnapped in Edo as Gunmen attack Speaker appeared first on Vanguard News.
Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2lcxxp8
No going back on Ondo monarch’s deposition — Kingmakers
By Dayo Johnson, Akure.
The crisis between the kingmakers of Mahin, Ondo State and the community’s traditional ruler, the Amapetu, Oba Lawrence Omowole, deepened as the kingmakers, at the weekend, insisted the monarch remained deposed.
But the Oba described his removal as null and void and a breach of the tradition of the town.
Omowole added that the process was “ unacceptable and will not hold”.
The kingmakers, in a statement after their meeting, said some traditional rulers in the area had mediated in the crisis.
They listed the peace-making monarchs to include the Odede of Igbo Egunrin, Oba Phillips Kalejaiye; the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidioma and the Molokun of Atijere, Oba Adeoye Edema
Meanwhile, they said: “We are conscious of our duties and responsibilities as custodians of the customs and tradition of the Mahin people and have no apologies for defending same uncompromisingly.
The ‘warring’ kingmakers include Urayen Ogefun of Mahinland, High Chief Akinyemi Omoyele, Asaron of Mahinland, High Chief Roju Malumi, Jadigba of Mahinland, Olibamayo Aladetan and Yasere of Mahin, High Chief Godwin Balogun.
Their statement added: “That from the very beginning and in accordance with Mahin customary Law, no one can be ruler in Aboto except he is of Mahin origin or descent, a custom corroborated by the Ondo State Government White Paper on the report of Justice Adeloye Commission of Inquiry 1999.
The post No going back on Ondo monarch’s deposition — Kingmakers appeared first on Vanguard News.
Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2lSYlyJ
N-Delta hopeful on VP’s visit, Evah tells US diplomat
By Tony Nwankwo
The political head of the American Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Martin Hardinger, has paid a courtesy visit to the Co-ordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group, Comrade Joseph Evah, to ascertain the stand of the Niger Delta people over the recent tour of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to the region.
Responding to the American diplomat and his delegation, Evah said the Niger Delta people appreciated the visit of Osinbajo.
He however said there was nothing new about the visit aside the usual promises the people have been saddled with since the beginning of this democratic dispensation in 1999.
The post N-Delta hopeful on VP’s visit, Evah tells US diplomat appeared first on Vanguard News.
Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2lT0ZV9
Buhari’s extended vacation: How long is too long?
President Muhammadu Buhari
• Markarfi: Let Constitution Be Applied • Balarabe Demands More Transparency
• Buhari Thanked Me For Holding Out Against Mischief-Makers – Adesina
For the opposition, the National Assembly must not allow the health of President Muhammadu Buhari to hold the nation to ransom, if indeed he is found to be incapable of discharging the functions of his office.
The opposition also decries the lack of transparency in the handling of information by presidential aides on true the state of their principal’s health, warning that the nation must not be taken back to the days when the health status of the late President Musa Yar’ Adua, was shrouded in secrecy.
Chairman of Conference of Political Parties in Nigeria (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa and Caretaker Committee Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, agreed that the National Assembly should be ready to invoke relevant constitutional provisions to remove Buhari from office, if he found unable to continue.
Their positions were informed by the fact that the nation must not be held hostage economically, politically and socially, while the president attends to his health in London, with no definite return date since there is a limit to the powers of the acting president.
Musa and Makarfi who were incidentally governors of Kaduna State at different periods, want the Acting President, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives to save the polity from constitutional crisis that may play out in an attempt to shield Buhari’s actual health condition from the people.
Musa described the disposition of the president’s handlers as “disappointing and not really good because they know that they were not sincere to Nigerians on this matter. This is because when he left the country, they said he went on a mere vacation. But, when he couldn’t return after the vacation they said he was now on medical vacation. Now this is deceptive. They should have come out clearly on the matter. Now it is even worse as it is no longer medical vacation, but a matter of clear sickness since there is even no fixed time for his return to the country.”
For Makarfi: “It is good to have adequate information, but even if we have the information we are not doctors. What are we going to do with it? The constitution is the answer. The constitution, at all times should be respected. But, pending the time the section of the constitution would be invoked, I think what is required is the full and unhindered transfer of presidential powers to the acting president so that no vacuum is created. Because the problem in this kind of situation is that you have pockets of president’s men who may be undermining the acting president. I don’t know if that is going on, it may be going on or may not. But, if it is the case, it is not healthy.”
Mamman Mike Osuman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said Section 144 speaks about “permanent incapacity” of the president. A mere incapacity will not lend itself to the invocation of Section 144 of the Constitution (as amended).
“In the case of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari, an attempt towards prompting his removal under the guise of Section 144 of our cherished constitution is a non se-quitur.”
Lagos Lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, is of the view that the president is only entitled to a 60-day annual leave, after which the National Assembly can invoke Section 144 of the constitution, if he fails not resume office.
According to him, “If by the end of February 2017, the president is unable, for reason of
ill-health, to resume his normal duties, then the Senate should proceed to invoke the provisions of Section 144 of the constitution to declare his seat vacant, so that the vice president will officially step into the position of president.”
Meanwhile, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, yesterday joined those who claimed to have spoken to the Buhari on phone.
In his Twitter handle, @FemAdesina, he said: “Spoke with PMB a short while ago. Glad to hear his voice. Told me he was resting, but no cause for worry. Said I should greet my family.”
In another tweet, Adesina said the president thanked him for holding out against mischief-makers. “Thanks for holding out against mischief-makers,” PMB told me during a phone call today. Said he would call again soon. Gave him best wishes.”
Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kYCdnl
NGOs, others charge FG to ignore Cross River ultimatum on superhighway
Mrs. Rosemary Archibong
The Federal Government has been charged to ignore the request for approval by the Cross River State government for the construction of the 260km superhighway until the state complies with environmental standards.
The stakeholders argued that if the approval is given without a proper Environmental Impact Assessment, as required by law, what remains of Nigeria’s 90 percent rainforest found in the state, which is one of the richest in biodiversity in Africa, investment by the National Park, United Nations’ Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) carbon credit fund and many others, will be lost while over 180 communities will be negatively impacted. Hence, the state government “should withdraw the empty threat to the Federal Government and tender apology to Cross Riverians.”
Last week, the state government had, through Mrs. Rosemary Archibong, Commissioner for Information, issued a three-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to sanction the construction of its proposed 260km superhighway, saying “the Federal Government must grant approval not later than the middle of March, 2017. We want to continue with our work. In a short time, the rainy season would set in and Cross River State is a place of torrential downpour, and we cannot wait for the rainy season while all the lofty projects of benefit to Cross River and Nigeria suffer.”
The state government said the non-approval of EIA reports for both the superhighway and Bakassi deep-sea port projects had led to the withdrawal of some local and foreign investors.
Conservationists, Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) and impacted communities have rejected the latest EIA submitted by the state and called on the Federal Government not to give approval to the project, until the needful is done, as the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Flora & Fauna International (FFI) said the EIA was faulty.
The WCS Nigeria Country Director, Mr. Andrew Dunn, in a petition to the to the Ministry of Environment, pointed out that, “this is the third edition of the EIA, yet it still fails to address our original concerns, and contains a number of new errors and false claims. The revised EIA completely fails to consider the negative impacts of the proposed superhighway and its corridor on Cross River National Park and surrounding forests; moreover it contains much data that is clearly false and makes a number of fraudulent claims. The Wildlife Conservation Society considers that the document is fundamentally flawed and should be rejected”.
On its part, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), urged the Federal Ministry of Environment to remain resolute in demanding that the Cross River State government comply with environmental standards in the proposed Calabar Super Highway project, as the threat by the state government to go ahead with the Super highway project, when its EIA is still subject to scrutiny, “is very disturbing and unacceptable.”
Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lI6ohr
Borno lawmakers cry out over shortage of food in northeast
Mohammed Ali Ndume
Advocate Increased Budgetary Provision For PCNI
Members of the Borno State Caucus in the National Assembly have cried to the Federal Government and international donor agencies for help over deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the state.
They said the liberation of the Northeast from Boko Haram insurgents have resulted in starvation, as the state government cannot shoulder the responsibility of catering for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on behalf of other lawmakers, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, noted that over 100, 000 people have lost their lives, as a result of the crisis.
They also called for a review of the proposed 2017 budgetary allocation of N45b to the Presidential Committee on Northeast Initiative (PCNI) to N100b, describing the current proposal as inadequate to cater for the humanitarian challenges in the region.
“In the 2016 Appropriation Act, only N12b was allocated to PINE to address the humanitarian crisis in the Northeast, out of which only 75 percent was released. This is less than 10 percent of the $449m contributed by international donor countries and agencies.
“In the 2017 Budget proposal under consideration by NASS, only N45b is allocated to PCNI. This is grossly inadequate to address the emergency humanitarian crisis we are faced with, compared to the $1.0b, which is equivalent to over N305b that the international donor countries and agencies are trying to raise,” they said.
The lawmakers also expressed worry over what they called the near absence of relevant government agencies in the affected areas, compared with the number of foreign NGOs or groups rendering support services for the IDPs.
The lawmakers, therefore, advocated a nine-point demands needed to save more lives and assist people in Northeast as adopted by NGOs operating in the affected areas, including, the prioritisation of the protection of civilians, an urgent scale up of the food and nutrition response and increased access to more, better and safe quality education.
Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lmIHsx
Buhari’s extended vacation: How long is too long? (Read full details)
President Muhammadu Buhari
• Markarfi: Let Constitution Be Applied • Balarabe Demands More Transparency
• Buhari Thanked Me For Holding Out Against Mischief-Makers – Adesina
For the opposition, the National Assembly must not allow the health of President Muhammadu Buhari to hold the nation to ransom, if indeed he is found to be incapable of discharging the functions of his office.
The opposition also decries the lack of transparency in the handling of information by presidential aides on true the state of their principal’s health, warning that the nation must not be taken back to the days when the health status of the late President Musa Yar’ Adua, was shrouded in secrecy.
Chairman of Conference of Political Parties in Nigeria (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa and Caretaker Committee Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, agreed that the National Assembly should be ready to invoke relevant constitutional provisions to remove Buhari from office, if he found unable to continue.
Their positions were informed by the fact that the nation must not be held hostage economically, politically and socially, while the president attends to his health in London, with no definite return date since there is a limit to the powers of the acting president.
Musa and Makarfi who were incidentally governors of Kaduna State at different periods, want the Acting President, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives to save the polity from constitutional crisis that may play out in an attempt to shield Buhari’s actual health condition from the people.
Musa described the disposition of the president’s handlers as “disappointing and not really good because they know that they were not sincere to Nigerians on this matter. This is because when he left the country, they said he went on a mere vacation. But, when he couldn’t return after the vacation they said he was now on medical vacation. Now this is deceptive. They should have come out clearly on the matter. Now it is even worse as it is no longer medical vacation, but a matter of clear sickness since there is even no fixed time for his return to the country.”
For Makarfi: “It is good to have adequate information, but even if we have the information we are not doctors. What are we going to do with it? The constitution is the answer. The constitution, at all times should be respected. But, pending the time the section of the constitution would be invoked, I think what is required is the full and unhindered transfer of presidential powers to the acting president so that no vacuum is created. Because the problem in this kind of situation is that you have pockets of president’s men who may be undermining the acting president. I don’t know if that is going on, it may be going on or may not. But, if it is the case, it is not healthy.”
Mamman Mike Osuman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said Section 144 speaks about “permanent incapacity” of the president. A mere incapacity will not lend itself to the invocation of Section 144 of the Constitution (as amended).
“In the case of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari, an attempt towards prompting his removal under the guise of Section 144 of our cherished constitution is a non se-quitur.”
Lagos Lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, is of the view that the president is only entitled to a 60-day annual leave, after which the National Assembly can invoke Section 144 of the constitution, if he fails not resume office.
According to him, “If by the end of February 2017, the president is unable, for reason of
ill-health, to resume his normal duties, then the Senate should proceed to invoke the provisions of Section 144 of the constitution to declare his seat vacant, so that the vice president will officially step into the position of president.”
Meanwhile, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, yesterday joined those who claimed to have spoken to the Buhari on phone.
In his Twitter handle, @FemAdesina, he said: “Spoke with PMB a short while ago. Glad to hear his voice. Told me he was resting, but no cause for worry. Said I should greet my family.”
In another tweet, Adesina said the president thanked him for holding out against mischief-makers. “Thanks for holding out against mischief-makers,” PMB told me during a phone call today. Said he would call again soon. Gave him best wishes.”
Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2kYJofk
NGOs, others charge FG to ignore Cross River ultimatum on superhighway (Read full details)
Mrs. Rosemary Archibong
The Federal Government has been charged to ignore the request for approval by the Cross River State government for the construction of the 260km superhighway until the state complies with environmental standards.
The stakeholders argued that if the approval is given without a proper Environmental Impact Assessment, as required by law, what remains of Nigeria’s 90 percent rainforest found in the state, which is one of the richest in biodiversity in Africa, investment by the National Park, United Nations’ Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) carbon credit fund and many others, will be lost while over 180 communities will be negatively impacted. Hence, the state government “should withdraw the empty threat to the Federal Government and tender apology to Cross Riverians.”
Last week, the state government had, through Mrs. Rosemary Archibong, Commissioner for Information, issued a three-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to sanction the construction of its proposed 260km superhighway, saying “the Federal Government must grant approval not later than the middle of March, 2017. We want to continue with our work. In a short time, the rainy season would set in and Cross River State is a place of torrential downpour, and we cannot wait for the rainy season while all the lofty projects of benefit to Cross River and Nigeria suffer.”
The state government said the non-approval of EIA reports for both the superhighway and Bakassi deep-sea port projects had led to the withdrawal of some local and foreign investors.
Conservationists, Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) and impacted communities have rejected the latest EIA submitted by the state and called on the Federal Government not to give approval to the project, until the needful is done, as the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Flora & Fauna International (FFI) said the EIA was faulty.
The WCS Nigeria Country Director, Mr. Andrew Dunn, in a petition to the to the Ministry of Environment, pointed out that, “this is the third edition of the EIA, yet it still fails to address our original concerns, and contains a number of new errors and false claims. The revised EIA completely fails to consider the negative impacts of the proposed superhighway and its corridor on Cross River National Park and surrounding forests; moreover it contains much data that is clearly false and makes a number of fraudulent claims. The Wildlife Conservation Society considers that the document is fundamentally flawed and should be rejected”.
On its part, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), urged the Federal Ministry of Environment to remain resolute in demanding that the Cross River State government comply with environmental standards in the proposed Calabar Super Highway project, as the threat by the state government to go ahead with the Super highway project, when its EIA is still subject to scrutiny, “is very disturbing and unacceptable.”
Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2kYCzul
Borno lawmakers cry out over shortage of food in northeast (Read full details)
Mohammed Ali Ndume
Advocate Increased Budgetary Provision For PCNI
Members of the Borno State Caucus in the National Assembly have cried to the Federal Government and international donor agencies for help over deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the state.
They said the liberation of the Northeast from Boko Haram insurgents have resulted in starvation, as the state government cannot shoulder the responsibility of catering for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on behalf of other lawmakers, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, noted that over 100, 000 people have lost their lives, as a result of the crisis.
They also called for a review of the proposed 2017 budgetary allocation of N45b to the Presidential Committee on Northeast Initiative (PCNI) to N100b, describing the current proposal as inadequate to cater for the humanitarian challenges in the region.
“In the 2016 Appropriation Act, only N12b was allocated to PINE to address the humanitarian crisis in the Northeast, out of which only 75 percent was released. This is less than 10 percent of the $449m contributed by international donor countries and agencies.
“In the 2017 Budget proposal under consideration by NASS, only N45b is allocated to PCNI. This is grossly inadequate to address the emergency humanitarian crisis we are faced with, compared to the $1.0b, which is equivalent to over N305b that the international donor countries and agencies are trying to raise,” they said.
The lawmakers also expressed worry over what they called the near absence of relevant government agencies in the affected areas, compared with the number of foreign NGOs or groups rendering support services for the IDPs.
The lawmakers, therefore, advocated a nine-point demands needed to save more lives and assist people in Northeast as adopted by NGOs operating in the affected areas, including, the prioritisation of the protection of civilians, an urgent scale up of the food and nutrition response and increased access to more, better and safe quality education.
Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2kYF5AP
Police kill 4 kidnappers, arrest 3 others (Read full details)
Nigerian Police
Kebbi State Police Command said its men have killed four and arrested three members of a notorious gang of kidnappers, armed robbers and cattle-rustlers.
Parading two members of the gang, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mustapha Suleiman said members of the gang had a shootout with men of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), in the process, four members of the notorious gang lost their lives.
“We recovered some cows, sheep, rifles and ammunitions from them,” the Police said.The gang, it said, was responsible for the kidnap and murder of one Alhaji Abdulkadir, whose corpse was recovered recently at Garin Auwalu area of Danko/ Wasagu.
The two suspects arrested were Aminu Jibrin and Ahmadu Muhammed. The two suspects, Jibrin and Muhammed confessed to taking part in many cattle-rustling, kidnapping and armed robbery incidents in the state.
Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2kYFkvI
Police kill 4 kidnappers, arrest 3 others
Nigerian Police
Kebbi State Police Command said its men have killed four and arrested three members of a notorious gang of kidnappers, armed robbers and cattle-rustlers.
Parading two members of the gang, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mustapha Suleiman said members of the gang had a shootout with men of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), in the process, four members of the notorious gang lost their lives.
“We recovered some cows, sheep, rifles and ammunitions from them,” the Police said.The gang, it said, was responsible for the kidnap and murder of one Alhaji Abdulkadir, whose corpse was recovered recently at Garin Auwalu area of Danko/ Wasagu.
The two suspects arrested were Aminu Jibrin and Ahmadu Muhammed. The two suspects, Jibrin and Muhammed confessed to taking part in many cattle-rustling, kidnapping and armed robbery incidents in the state.
Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lXeunx
Nigerian-Turkish school kidnapp case, another suspect arrested
Another suspect has been arrested in connection with the kidnap of officials and students of the Nigerian-Turkish School, Isheri.The suspect was also linked to last month’s abduction of the Secretary of Isheri Estate.
The latest arrest made it the eight suspects arrested by the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), led by ACP Abba Kyari in connection with the Isheri kidnap.
The new suspect confessed he was part of Turkish and Isheri abduction and he got N2million and N150, 000 respectively, which he used to rent and furnish an apartment in Ughelli town.
Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2my5CkO
Nigerian-Turkish school kidnapp case, another suspect arrested (Read full details)
The latest arrest made it the eight suspects arrested by the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), led by ACP Abba Kyari in connection with the Isheri kidnap.
The new suspect confessed he was part of Turkish and Isheri abduction and he got N2million and N150, 000 respectively, which he used to rent and furnish an apartment in Ughelli town.
Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2mqJl9m
Vision of the child art project fosters, quips young Nigerian artists…Read full details
Head, Consumer Banking, Aisha Ahmed (left); Head, Retail Banking, Robert Giles; Head, Business Development, Diamond Bank, Chizoma Okoli; CEO, Nike Art Gallery and jury member, Mrs. Nike Okundaye; VoTC tutor and judge, Mr Segun Almaroof and Project Director, Foluke Micheal, Vision of the Child art project
The 2017 edition of the yearly Vision of the Child (VoTC) art project was launched on Tuesday last week at Diamond Bank head office, Lekki, Lagos. This year’s project is specially designed to celebrate the 50th birthday anniversary of Lagos State. It would showcase the rich, intellectual resourcefulness of children and youths.
According to the Project Director of VoTC Foluke Michael, “The maiden edition, which was inaugurated in 2012, laid the groundwork for subsequent editions, each of which addressed cogent themes that touched on the socio-political and cultural realities of the country.” Adding, she said the Governor of Lagos, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, formally flagged Lagos@50 anniversary celebration on May 27, 2016 during the gala award night of the 2016 edition of the VoTC.
The 2016 edition, she said, had as theme ‘Sisi-Eko@50: Ageing Gracefully or Na So-So Pancake?’ And it produced fifty student finalists, who had emerged from over 250 contestants (from over 50 participating schools) in both Literary and Painting competitions.
In continuing the event, three outstanding winners from the previous year – Rebecca Sylvester, Victory Asaka, and Gift Aneke – were given the opportunity to read out their literary works (poems) to the audience, after which the floor was open to comments and observations from parents and teachers of the participants.
On her part, notable female artist, jury member and CEO of the Nike Arts Gallery, Mrs. Nike Okundaye, spoke encouragingly to both past and present contestants to keep up the good works, stating, “Arts is part of life and life itself is art; continue and do not stop.”
Also present was the Head, Business Development, Diamond Bank, Chizoma Okoli, who said the Vision of the Child art project seeks to promote the intelligence of children, “and it really brings out their artistic tendencies. We are happy to be part of this, as it also aligns with our corporate strategy of going beyond banking, and actually impacting lives of individuals.”
Also, Project Director, Michael, told to the audience plans for this year’s edition of VoTC, which she said would be different from the previous years. She said, past VoTC winners (2012-2016) would be required to search through Lagos State for any feature that best illustrates the festival motto ‘Enhance the Heritage; Advance the Future.’ Choices of subject that could be chosen from and but not limited to are: architectural (building or landscaping), street décor, transportation, motor park, leisure park, public or private institutions, public facilities, etc. The contestants are encouraged to be innovative and highly practical with their projects.
Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2lIqhTT