Zamalek plan to beat Rangers in Enugu, arrive in Nigeria Thursday

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Zamalek’s Ayman Hefny (right) celebrates his goal against Enugu Rangers when the teams clashed in the first leg of their CAF Champions League qualifier in Cairo…at the weekend. PHOTO. ENGLISH.AHRAM.ORG.

• Flying Antelopes plan Barcelona-like comeback
Egyptian giants, Zamalek, who defeated Enugu Rangers 4-1 in their CAF Champions League first leg last qualifying round, began training for the second leg of the tie yesterday with the intention of beating the Nigerian champions in Enugu on Sunday.

Zamalek are expected to arrive in Nigeria on Thursday for the tie in which the over all winners will move to the group stage of the CAF Champions League.

Speaking before his team began their training session for the return leg yesterday, Zamalek Coach, Mohamed Helmi warned his wards to stay vigilant for the away match.

Helmi told the club’s official website that “victory is just a step towards qualification, which will require effort and focus in Nigeria.”

The five-time Champions, who will visit the Nigerian league holders for the return leg on Thursday, gave an outstanding performance in the first leg, winning the praise of critics and fans.

“Zamalek played a great game. I deeply thank the players for the great show,” football director, Ismail Youssef, said after the game at Cairo’s El-Salam Stadium.

However, while Zamalek have already started looking beyond Rangers in their dream of winning the Champions League trophy, one of the Nigerian champions’ star, Edoh Ocheme, believes his side can upturn the huge deficit. But he agrees the task is enormous.

“I’m still confused how we conceded those number of goals… I think the goals are simply too many. I never thought we could concede more than a goal in the encounter. I wept profusely when the goals kept coming that we were three goals down in the first 45 minutes.

“Well we have come to accept the outcome as it’s as no amount of crying could change the result of the match,” he said.

“Right now we have our jobs well cut out as we must score at least three unreplied goals to progress to the next stage of the competition.

“The task looks daunting but not insurmountable once we are able to do the needful as well as prepare adequately for the reverse fixture clash.

“All hopes are not lost as we are quite capable of scoring the three mandatory goals in the first 45 minutes just as Zamalek SC performed at their backyard in Cairo.

“At least we have role models in Barcelona to copy as well as look up to as we get ready for the reverse clash.

“Barcelona have shown that in football nothing is conclusively done and dust until it’s completely over.

“That’s the mentality we will bring into the second leg coupled with some self-belief I’m sure we will upturn the disadvantage to advance to the next stage of the competition.

“Nigerians should not write us off, we have a second chance to make amend and we will do it to the cheering of our teeming fans,” the former Giwa FC star said.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mm2R5s

Can the Vice-President be Acting President Until 29 May 2019?

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Nigeria's Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

With President Buhari’s announcement upon his arrival from vacation/sick leave that he would be returning to the United Kingdom for another round of tests on his yet to be disclosed ailment, the focus of constitution watchers has shifted again to the law surrounding succession to the presidency and cessation of office due to incapacitation by infirmity.

In reality, there is no constitutional crisis yet. The rules for handing over prior to going on vacation have been followed and the Acting President has performed the role with aplomb. However, the fact of 2 presidents in the palace, notwithstanding President Buhari’s clarification that the Acting President would remain in charge, is something of a novelty, and it raises certain questions. The President has been constrained from performing his statutory duties for about 7 weeks. In spite of the garbled and unconvincing reports of pristine health from his media team, he has been quoted as saying he cannot remember ever being so ill. He has also said he will return for further treatment in 3 weeks’ time. At what point, one might ask, does it start being untenable for a poorly leader to remain or be allowed to remain in office? The answer lies with the constitution and who it empowers to raise red flags about the President’s health.

In some countries, like Ghana and Zimbabwe, the legislature can pass motions declaring the President incapacitated by infirmity of body or mind, following which investigative panels will be constituted and, depending on their report, another legislative motion passed to remove the president from office. Nigeria has followed the model of the 25th amendment to the American Constitution, however. In Nigeria, the process is that the Vice-President and at least two-thirds of the Federal Executive Council may pass a resolution that the President is incapable of discharging the functions of his office. They communicate this resolution to the Senate President (although the constitution does not quite say how – perhaps by letter) and then the Senate President is required to constitute a medical panel to verify if indeed the President’s infirmity renders him permanently incapable of discharging the functions of his office. If the medical panel’s report confirms this, then the President shall cease to hold office.

Even in the most neutral or balanced of democracies, it’s hard to see how this procedure would happen seamlessly. It has never been invoked in America. In Nigeria, where ethnic and regional considerations and access to the seat of power trump everything else, turkeys will never vote for Christmas, and it is safe to assume it will not happen either, unless the person in the office of the President goes street crazy Nollywood-style. Even at his most incoherent following his plane crash, the former Governor of Taraba State for example was neither allowed to resign nor his executive council allowed to declare him incapacitated.

What’s more, while the constitutional provision empowering the Vice-President and the Federal Executive Council talks about the president being incapacitated, the medical panel must certify the incapacitation as a permanent one. There is no question of a permanent disability at the moment. Safe to say then, that it will not be happening.

Where does this leave the country? The president has given absolutely no indication of when he might be ready to resume his duties and under the current circumstances, it would not be far-fetched for Professor Osinbajo to remain Acting President until May 2019. Can this possibly be what the constitutional intention is, to have a situation where the president can turn himself into a ceremonial president? What is the minimum amount of executive time we expect from the person we put in office over the course of his term? How seriously do we, as a people, and our elected representatives take the public trust in the executive offices of government?

It is true that anyone can take ill at any time. Indeed, I have recently lost a very good friend to illness. However, Aso Rock is not a nursing home. It is time for our National Assembly to take another look at the sections of the constitution that deal with the ability of executive office holders to perform their functions. The first step should be a stipulation that if the President (or a Governor) hands over to the Vice-President (or Deputy-Governor) for medical reasons, or for reasons that include medical ones, and is away for longer than a month, then it should be compulsory for the President to formally disclose his diagnosis and prognosis in sufficient detail to enable a decision be taken about his fitness to continue in office. The President is not a private individual and his health is not just a matter for him and his family. It is beyond ridiculous to keep being asked to pray for the President on the one hand, while being told on the other that he is hale and hearty.

Obviously, this would upset the extra-constitutional elephant in the room that is zoning, but maybe it is time to fully recognise it. Let the constitution recognise the 6 geopolitical zones and provide for an “in-zone” replacement to complete the term, instead of the Vice-President, if infirmity or death prevents the President from completing his term. This would probably also mean that the Presidency is rotated between the zones, but these are topics for another day.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2ni2L3E

Court shifts ruling on Shell, Agip applications to Friday in Malabu deal

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PHOTO:WIKIPEDIA

Federal High Court, Abuja, has moved ruling on two separate applications filed by Shell Oil Exploration Nigeria Limited and Agip Oil, seeking to vary an order made on January 26, till Friday, March 17.

The order had granted temporary forfeiture of the Oil Prospective Licence (OPL 245) bloc to the Federal Government.

The ruling could not go on as earlier scheduled by the court following three fresh applications filed by Malabu Oil, seeking to be joined in the matter as well as for an opportunity to be a party in the already heard applications filed by Shell and Agip.

Counsel to Malabu Oil, Abdullahi Haruna, informed Justice John Tsoho that the applications had been served on parties and that they have responded accordingly.

He also stated that the joinder application was aimed at reopening hearing to accommodate Malabu Oil on the applications made by Shell and Agip.

The purpose, Haruna explained to the court, was to enable Malabu Oil join others as respondents.

But counsel to Agip and Shell, Babatunde Fagbola and Muyiwa Balogun, respectively had opposed the applications and urged court to dismiss them summarily.

Fagbola described the application as frivolous and consequently urged the court to dismiss it summarily from the bench.

He argued, “when a court hears a matter and adjourns for ruling, party(ies) cannot pull back the hands of the clock.”

On his part, Balogun reminded the court that at the last adjourned date being February 27, “counsel to Malabu Oil drew attention of the court to his applications that were yet to be filed and served, but that the court ruled that the proposed applications should be in abeyance.”

“By this applications, Malabu Oil is asking the court to sit on appeal over its own ruling.”

Balogun therefore asked the court to dismiss the applications summarily.

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Johnson Ojogbane, did not file any application but rather left the issue at the court’s discretion.

However, Haruna, pursuant to Order 27, Rule Six of the Federal High Court Rules, filed what he described as “innocuous application” by way of motion on notice, introducing a further affidavit (criminal charge filed against the defendants) by the Federal Government before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja.

In his ruling on that, Justice John Tsoho, granted leave and deemed the further affidavit as properly filed.

Though Shell and Agip had told the court not to accord any probate value to the further affidavit (criminal charge) because it was not yet filed when their applications were argued and date fixed for ruling.

But after taking submissions of counsels, Justice Tsoho, who expressed dismay over the applications, remarked that even though Malabu Oil’s application was irritating, “in the interest of fair hearing, an application before a court must be heard.’’

He consequently adjourned ruling on Malabu’s applications to March 17.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mm3ImB

At London auction, Nigerian master, Enwonwu sets world record…Read full details

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The late iconic artist, Ben Enwonwu, at work in his studio

On Wednesday, a unique edition of an iconic sculpture, Anyanwu by famous Nigerian artist, Ben Enwonwu (1917-1994) was sold for an auction world record price of £353,000 at Bonhams Africa Now – Modern Africa Sale in London.

Estimated at £150,000-200,000, Anyanwu, however, exceeded the target and gave the late modernist master his world record.

A statement from Bonhams put the total sale of the 2017 Africa Now auction at “more than £1.4 million.” Other sales that boosted the auction included ‘The Duet,’ by Yusuf Grillo which sold for £87,500; ‘Negritude’ by Enwonwu, which made £83,750; ‘The Glory of Ancient Benin,’ ‘Song of the City’ by Enwonwu sold for £75,000 against an estimate of £70,000-100,000; and ‘Adam and Eve’ by Prof. Uche Okeke, which sold for £56,250, but estimated at £20,000-300.

Provenance of Anyanwu: Widely considered the artist’s masterpiece, the 6ft 10 high statue was first conceived in 1954, when Enwonwu was commissioned to create a work marking the establishment of the National Museum in Lagos, which still stands the edifice at Onikan, Lagos.

He made a number of versions of the statue in different sizes over many years – subtly altering the concept with each edition – but this was the first full-sized cast to come to auction. It is from the second edition cast in 1956, and is believed to be the only one of this size from the second edition in existence.

Though a shift from the yearly May date of the sales at Bonhams, the African Now Modern 2017 is, however, sustaining its usual display of quite a lot of artists from Nigeria and other African countries.

Ahead of the auction, Bonham’s modern African art specialist, Giles Peppiatt, was in Lagos, Nigeria, where he briefed select guests. Peppiatt argued that “Ben Enwonwu was the first important Nigerian artist to reflect the sculptural traditions of his people in his work.”

With the results of the 2017 Africa Now Modern auction, Enwonwu has confirmed his spot as one of Africa’s leading modernists in the international art market. “Nowhere is this more spectacularly displayed than in his masterpiece Anyanwu. As the result achieved indicates – this is a new world record for an Enwonwu sculpture – there was fierce bidding to secure the right to own this exceptional and moving piece,” Peppiatt stated after the auction.

As “the third largest auction house in the world,” Bonhams, according to Peppiatt, has been in the forefront of showing Nigerian art to the European market. He boasted that modern Nigerian art was shown to a wider market “for the first time in 2008,” when Africa Now auction made its debut.

Indeed, it is noteworthy that there was a striking coincidence in 2008: Lagos-based Arthouse Contemporary actually made its debut with Nigeria-organised auction in the first quarter of the same year, followed by Bonhams’. For the first time in the history of African art, dedicated auctions for modern art of the continent unearthed high market value courtesy of Arthouse and Bonhams.

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‘We won’t accept all manner of sponsors in 2018’…See full details

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All Kenyans….First set of marathoners racing towards the Eko Atlantic finish point in the second Access Bank Lagos City Marathon last weekend. Photo: Ayodele Adeniran

With the euphoria over the 2017 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon still spreading, the event’s Main Organising Committee (MOC) has said that its doors for more partners would only be opened to corporate bodies that can complement its effort in keeping the event world-class.

The second edition of the marathon, which attracted over 55,000 runners from different parts of the globe, took place last weekend with Kenyan athletes sweeping the top prizes in both male and female categories.

While many companies are already jostling to be part of the 2018 edition, some are said to be embarking on what an official described as ‘ambush’ marketing.

However, the Executive Director, Personal Banking of Access Bank, Mr. Victor Etuokwu, who headed the MOC for the marathon, told The Guardian that as much as they want more sponsors to be part of subsequent editions, they would continue to thread with caution. “We are mindful of the standard we have already set and where we are going. The second edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon was a remarkable improvement on the first edition, and we hope to keep the momentum. It will be much better in 2018, and one of the ways is to make sure that only those who can make it a world-class marathon will be involved. The kind of partners we need are those who can ‘run the race’ in accordance with our laid down procedures.”

Speaking further, Etuokwu said that organizing a world-class event like a marathon race usually comes with its big challenges. “Governor Ambode made it clear from the beginning that our aim is to make the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon among the top 10 in the World. It has the potential to promote sports as well as tourism, fitness, competitiveness and healthy living.

“Lagos, being the Center of Excellence, should be emulated by other states. I want other state governors and political leaders in Nigeria to take a cue from Governor Ambode and arrest unemployment, solve problems of criminality and generally engage our youth with road races and marathon.

Etuokwu also spoke on the challenges of organizing the marathon: “You cannot organize something of this nature without having one or two challenges. The major challenge, especially in this part of the world, is being able to have the right tools and equipment to organize a world-class event. Most of the equipment is not easy to find, and if you find them, they are a bit expensive to organize.

“The second is funding, although the sponsors answered the funding question, while the third is just having to educate the people about it, how to prepare for the marathon and how to organize yourself for a marathon. So, a lot of effort was put in planning from the start point to the finish.

“The massive turn out of runners comes with huge logistics, and the right people to manage it. It was nothing really out of the ordinary, but we thank God that we had the right people, the right partners, and we had the right host, the Lagos State Government and especially the governor, who was personally involved and personally interested in ensuring that Lagos made the best out of it. As you know, the governor is keen on making Lagos a travel destination and making Lagos the best city in the world. That can only happen when you have the right partners and the right people working with you either as a committee or directly,” he stated.

According to a study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Regional Economics Applications Laboratory, in 2013, the Chicago Marathon generated $253.49 million in total business activity to the Chicago economy, which is an equivalent of 1,742 full-time jobs and $85.94 million worth of wages and salary income.

The 119th Boston Marathon of April 20, 2015, and surrounding Marathon-related events, including the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo and the B.A.A. 5K, was estimated to have enriched the city with $181.9 million (USD), according to reports.

The London Marathon generated £110.1 million worth of economic activity in the United Kingdom last year, while spending in the capital by marathon runners, spectators, organizers and visitors was worth £31.7 million, according to a report.

For Etuokwu, however, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, though still at infancy, has a lot of economic benefits for the state and the people, particularly the health implications of the marathon.

Etuokwu said: “Health they say is wealth. A healthy nation will definitely be productive and by extension prosperous. We want Lagosians to always stay healthy. By organising this marathon, Governor Ambode is not only promoting sports and tourism but also ensuring he governs a healthy community of people.”

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Ministers’ aides treated me like common criminal, says Bash Alli…See full details

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Bash Alli receiving treatment in hospital

‘He is seeking attention’
Former World Cruiserweight boxing champion, Bash Alli, has accused Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, of luring him to his office to assault him and treat him like a common criminal. But the office of the minister has denied the allegation, saying Alli is seeking attention.

Alli had in a text message to The Guardian alleged that the minister lured him to his office to conclude plans with officials of the Bank of Industry (BOI) on his pet project, the Guinness Book of World Record boxing bout to be staged in Nigeria.

“After waiting for over three hours, I and six members of the LOC went to remind his personal assistant that we were still waiting when a European identified as an ambassador came and was ushered in,” Alli said.

He alleged that when he tried to find out why the European was being given preferential treatment, rather than educate him on the procedure, “the police behind hit me in the head with the butt of his gun and the other police hit my back. I collapsed and was revived at the ministry’s clinic.

“Now, I am on admission at the Trauma Ward, National Hospital, Abuja.

All he is pleading is for Nigerians to find out from the minister or his aides what offence he has committed to warrant such treatment.

Reacting to Alli’s allegation yesterday, the Special Assistant on Media to minister, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, described the text message as an unsubstantiated claim with intent to deceive the public.

According to the SA Media: “Ali came to see the Minister and was told to wait at the minister’s waiting room with the 10 people who accompanied him.

She said: “The Hungarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Prof. Gabor Ternak who had an earlier appointment for 2.00 p.m. arrived a few minutes later and was ushered in by the Protocol officer. Bash Ali barricaded the entrance to the office of the minister with the men who accompanied him as he questioned why the ambassador would be allowed to see the minister while he, who came earlier was not given access.

“The uniformed security tried to persuade Alli and his men to leave the minister’s secretary’s office but to no avail. The boxer who was carrying a file and mobile phone carefully went to the secretary’s table to drop his valuables and then fell flat on his back across the doorway.

“Bash Ali was neither touched, shoved nor manhandled by security operatives of the minister. He feigned that he had been beaten up but we challenge him to produce physical evidence of assault, gun butt bumps, and bruises, swelling or otherwise as being presented to the public.

“He has a record of such antics following his despair to defend a world boxing title at over 60.

“In 2013, he alleged that he was beaten up by security operatives of the then Minister of Youth and Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.  In 2015, the WBF cruiser weight boxing champion was detained in Kuje prison following an altercation with the MD of a bank over funds for his title fight.”

Anibeze described Ali as an attention seeker who would stop at nothing to get funds for a purported World Guinness book of records fight.

“He needs to find alternative means of raising money for this World Guinness book of records title fight as government is finding it difficult to sustain programs on the sports calendar of sports federations at this time of recession let alone a title fight by a professional boxer.

“His allegation of assault by security personnel of the minister is cheap blackmail and won’t fly. Moreover, his forceful attempt to stop the Hungarian ambassador from gaining entry to the minister’s office is a national embarrassment by a legendary boxer like Bash and he should tender an unreserved apology for his public misbehavior,”Anibeze said.

The incident has already been reported to the police while other security agencies have been duly notified.

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Saraki, Dogara, others visit Buhari in London (Read full details)

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President Buhari receiveing Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Senate Leader Senator Ahmed Lawan on Wednesday in London

• Senate pledges to reflect stakeholders’ views in 2017 budget
• Calls for sack of FERMA boss over poor state of roads
The National Assembly leadership of Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara and others, yesterday left for London on a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, undergoing a medical vacation.

According to National Assembly sources, President Buhari was said to have invited Saraki over to London. But Saraki, the source said, was not willing to undertake the trip alone and therefore reached out to Dogara and others.

The lawmakers were said to have left Abuja yesterday morning and arrived London in the afternoon.

Saraki and Dogara had last week disclosed that they had telephone conversations with Buhari amid speculations about the state of his health.

While Saraki said he spoke with Buhari, Dogara on his part said the president called him and discussed issues affecting the welfare of Nigerians with him.

Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Appropriations yesterday assured major stakeholders of its commitment to incorporating submissions made by them during its three-day public hearing in the 2017 Appropriation Bill.

The Chairman of the Committee Senator Danjuma Goje disclosed this at the end of the public hearing in Abuja that the submissions made by the stakeholders were very germane to tackling the current economic challenges including recession.

He added that the committee would write a report from about 44 submissions made by over 60 stakeholders, who attended the public hearing.

Meanwhile, for not utilising the N10 billion voted for road rehabilitation across the country, the Senate and House of Representatives’ joint committee on federal roads maintenance yesterday called for the removal of the Acting Managing Director of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Peter Ibu.

The problem for the FERMA Acting MD started when a member of the committee, Magaji Aliyu, representing Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal constituency drew the attention of other members to the non-utilisation of the N10 billion released to FERMA for road rehabilitation across the country last year in spite of poor condition of federal roads generally.

Aliyu blamed the agency for the huge cases of road accidents and deaths on the highways.

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Security agents disrupt pro-Buhari rally in Abuja

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A rally in support of President Muhammadu Buhari administration organised by the Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative in Abuja …yesterday.<br /> PHOTO: LUCY LADIDI ELUKPO.

• President will outlive enemies, says SGF

A rally held yesterday in Abuja in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was disrupted by over 100 security personnel.The protesters, comprising young and old people, had converged on the Unity Fountain in Abuja, from where they later marched to the Presidential Villa to register their support for the government of Buhari.

The development underscores the support of many Nigerians the president still enjoys despite the protests against his administration across the country last week over the state of the economy.

The protesters were, however, stopped just before the first gate of the villa by heavily armed security agents who insisted the rally must not go beyond the vicinity of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) where they were forced to stop.

While an argument, which ensued between the conveners and the security personnel lasted for about two hours, more soldiers and armoured police vehicles were drafted to the scene. But this could not deter the protesters as they insisted to be addressed by the authorities in the villa.

Shortly after, they made a return to their takeoff ground at the Unity Fountain where a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Mallam Garba Shehu addressed them.

Shehu had not completed his solidarity speech when the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Babachir Lawal also arrived at the scene, apologising for the action of the security personnel.

While addressing the rally, Lawal said: “President Buhari will outlive those wishing him dead.” He attributed the anti-Buhari protests to those who looted the nation dry and are now bent on causing confusion despite the president’s efforts to redirect the country on the path of genuine development.

“The government of the day is encouraged by such support from patriotic Nigerians. With such solidarity, the government is being gingered to do more in the interest of all.”

He told the people that Buhari did not anticipate the degree of the current challenges bedeviling the country, expressing optimism that Nigerians would start reaping the full dividends of democracy in every form in a year’s time, even as he called for more support for the government to fight corruption to the finish.

The convener of the rally, Moses Abdulahi described the gathering as the most patriotic stance taken by those present, saying it couldn’t have come at a better date.Abdullahi attributed the current economic hardship to the level of corruption witnessed under the previous administration.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lJ5dzG

‘Goverment must focus on strengthening SMEs to promote financial inclusion’

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DDMFB vows to support entrepreneurs

Chairman of Davo Dani Microfinance Bank Limited, Austin Enajemo-Isire, has said the Federal Government must be focused and sustain its policies to strengthen the Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.
    
This will boost the country’s economy and tackle the challenges faced by the over 17 million entrepreneurs, who must be encouraged to add meaningfully to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which has been crippled by revenue shortfall.
  
Speaking in Lagos on Monday at the unveiling of a new branch of the bank, Enajemo-Isire said government has realised the need to provide the necessary support to entrepreneurs, noting that this could only become practical if policies are sustained.  

  
He lauded government’s commitment to tackle the gap in financial inclusion, particularly for SMEs, stressing, “I wish that the will power to drive through this policy is being firmly held to realise the full objective.”
  
Lamenting that very few SMEs have financial freedom, the chairman argued that the sector needs to embrace the services of microfinance banks to gain financial freedom.
  
He said the firm is focused on aligning its services with the policy of the government to ensure that government achieves its promises on financial inclusion.
  
Enajemo-Isire, who was the Managing Director of Standard Alliance Life Insurance for over 13 years, also said the bank has concluded plan to tap into the financial options provided by the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Centre Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to increase its lending capacity.

The chairman added that a well articulated credit appraisal system has been put in place by the bank to ensure its portfolio at risk continue to perform.
  
The Managing Director of the bank, Odey Ndoma, said the organisation would not retreat   on product innovation and customer focused services.
Ndoma said the bank already has about 20,000 customers and currently making efforts to upgrade its operational profile to reach more entrepreneurs.
  
He vowed that the financial institution would continue to support entrepreneurs, disclosing that the bank prioritised the need to perform exceptionally to distinguish itself.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lONfry

Senate asks agency to verify Ezeibe’s claim on HIV/AIDS cure

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AIDS

Panel queries minister over poor revenue from culture, entertainment sectors

The Senate Committee on Primary Healthcare, Communicable and Non Communicable Diseases has asked the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to verify the claim of Prof. Maduike Ezeibe that he had found a cure for Human Immuno Virus (HIV).

Chairman of the committee, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP, Abia) made this request yesterday during the budget defence of the agency in Abuja. Ohuabunwa expressed misgivings over the manner the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) dismissed Ezeibe’s claim.

According to the senator, “Coming out with a disclaimer immediately is not the right thing,” Ohuabunwa said.However, Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said they were satisfied with the stand taken by NACA and the Centre for Disease Control.

Shuaib said anyone announcing cure for any disease must follow some rigorous steps to test the findings. “That process has not been followed by the professor. It is strange.”

The Senate also yesterday subjected the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed to intense questioning over poor revenue generation from the culture and entertainment sector.

At a budget defence session with the minister and other officials of the ministry yesterday, the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism declared that it was unfortunate that the ministry presented only N620, 000 as total revenue generated in 2016.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, noted that the budget should not only be about expenditure, but also about the revenue profile. He said the Senate frowns at the said amount of N620, 000.00, saying it was too low.

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WHO backs tax on sugar-sweetened beverages to reduce chronic diseases

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WHO

The World Health Organization supports the consideration of Government of South Africa of introduction of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) to help reduce excessive sugar intake. This is one of interventions proposed in the Strategy for the prevention and control of obesity in South Africa 2015-2020.

WHO has supported introduction of such taxes since it was proposed by the National Treasury in August 2016.WHO’s Representative to South Africa, Dr. Rufaro Chatora, took part in a parliamentary hearing held on January 31, 2017, to discuss the proposed SSB tax. During his presentation, Dr. Chatora highlighted the evidence and the impact of SSB tax. Experience from other countries which implemented the same tax demonstrates its potential to reduce consumption of sugar and raise revenues that can be used to prevent and control diabetes, obesity and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

In recent days, the WHO Executive Board was held, during which Board members asked the WHO Secretariat for more information on a range of policy options and cost-effective interventions proposed by WHO to prevent and control NCDs, including the use of taxation on SSBs, before the next World Health Assembly (22-31 May).

There has been no “veto” of such interventions proposed by WHO or its Executive Board, including SSBs, despite industry statements and media reporting based on such statements. WHO Member States have asked for more information on these interventions ahead of the upcoming World Health Assembly.

“WHO stands ready to support the Republic of South Africa, and as well as other countries, in protecting and improving the health their citizens and offering effective, technically sound and feasible measures to promote health for all people, no matter age, gender or background,” says Chatora.

Taxation on SSB is just one of a range of cost-effective measures proposed by WHO to curb the threat of NCDs, responsible for the deaths of 16 million people every year before the age of 70. Other interventions targeting obesity include nutrition labelling; marketing restrictions of unhealthy foods and beverages to kids; fruit and vegetable subsidies; physical activity policies and social marketing campaigns. WHO member states around the world, including South Africa, have committed to halt the rise of obesity and diabetes, reduce premature deaths from NCDs by 25 per cent by 2025 and one-third by 2030, the latter target in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

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Simons pays homage to America at Calvin Klein debut…Read full details

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Designers Raf Simons (L) and Pieter Mulier walk the runway at the Calvin Klein show at New York Fashion Week on February 10, 2017.<br />Angela Weiss / AFP

Raf Simons, considered one of the finest designers of his generation, made his debut for Calvin Klein on Friday, offering an homage to America in one of the most eagerly awaited New York shows in years.

A-listers Gwyneth Paltrow, Oscar-nominated British actress Naomie Harris, former Calvin Klein model Brooke Shields and Sarah Jessica Parker, perhaps the American actress who more than any other personifies fashion in New York, were among those sitting in the front row.

Other guests were film director Sofia Coppola and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour at the label’s Garment District headquarters, which reportedly archives every Calvin Klein item ever designed.

The 49-year-old former creative director for Christian Dior sent out men’s and women’s wear in what the program notes called an homage to America inspired by American artist Sterling Ruby.

Simons, a Belgian with roots firmly in Europe, offered an outsider’s take on the diversity and myriad influences that make up the contemporary United States as part of his mission to revive and re-imagine the iconic New York label best known for its racy underwear ads decades ago.

There was sharp suiting, denim, bat-wing style shoes for women, plastic coated outerwear and dresses finished with feathers, an array of workwear, western wear and handcrafted quilting.

It closed with David Bowie’s track “This Is Not America” — hard not to see as throwing shade on President Donald Trump and his administration’s assault on immigration.

It was a look that channelled modern urban America, not the blue collar America that voted for Trump.

– Past and future –
“All these different people with different styles and dress codes. It’s the future, the past, Art Deco, the city, the American West,” wrote Simons in the program notes.

“Not one era, not one thing, not one look. It is the coming together of different characters and different individuals, just like America itself. It is the unique beauty and emotion of America.”

Simons emerged at the end to wave to the packed crowd with Pieter Mulier, his long-term colleague and former right-hand man at Dior, before being mobbed backstage by well-wishers.

From the ceiling hung distressed fabrics and balls of wool, in what the program notes said was an artwork by Ruby, who was born on a US military base in Germany to a Dutch mother and American father, and who today lives and works in Los Angeles.

Ruby has cited, among his influences, hip-hop, urban gangs, graffiti, prisons, globalization, violence, art history, consumption and waste, “together with American domination and decline.”

His brief for the installation was to imagine a work appropriate for Calvin Klein. He imagined America, the program said.

– Changing of guard –
The label announced Simons’ appointment in August 2016 as its new chief creative officer responsible for the creative strategy of the entire brand, uniting all its clothing, underwear and jeans under one vision as it seeks to grow to $10 billion in global retail sales.

Simons, who also runs his eponymous label, spent more than three years at the helm of Dior before quitting in 2015.

“Not since Mr Klein himself was at the company has it been led by one creative visionary, and I am confident that this decision will drive the Calvin Klein brand and have a significant impact,” said CEO Steve Shiffman at the time.

“I really liked it,” Imran Amed, founder of the London-based Business of Fashion website, told AFP after the show.

“It’s quite a departure. When you change creative directors, part of the reason you do that is to get a new energy, a new direction, and I think they very successfully achieved that,” he added.

The Calvin Klein invitation included the white bandanas being promoted by the website in order to promote diversity and tolerance in the wake of Trump’s election and inflammatory first three weeks in office.

Simons is perhaps best known for stabilizing Dior after British designer John Galliano was fired in 2012 following an outcry over anti-Semitic insults he made in a Paris bar that were caught on camera.

One of his most famous dresses was the pale pink bulb-skirted gown worn by Jennifer Lawrence to the 2013 Academy Awards when she famously tripped before collecting her first Oscar for best actress.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2l3ufrS

Afreximbank harps on strong legislation to boost factoring

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Afreximbank

For the umpteenth time, a strong legislative framework by African countries towards fostering the growth of factoring has been canvassed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).

The move will enhance the continent’s Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) access to the elusive and much-needed finance.In factoring, an exporter or supplier sells his accounts receivable or invoices at a discount to a third party, called a factor, in exchange for immediate cash with which to finance continued business.

So, factors are business agents, merchants that buy and sell on commission basis, especially those that buy manufacturers’ invoices at a discount and takes responsibility for collecting the payments due on them.

Afreximbank’s sensitisation seminar on Model Law on Factoring in Nairobi, Kenya, at the weekend, drew together the financial community, legal practitioners and legislators in Africa to find the best ways to develop legal frameworks for factoring.

The seminar brought together over 40 representatives of central banks, regulatory bodies, legislative authorities, commercial banks, law firms and factoring companies as well as members of parliament from the East Africa region.

“Strengthening legislation is critical to promoting the growth of factoring,” the Managing Director of Afreximbank’s Intra-African Trade Initiative and Chairman of the Africa Chapter of Factors Chain International (FCI), Kanayo Awani, said.

Held as a knowledge-sharing platform and expected to lead to the development of clear road maps for the implementation of national factoring laws, the seminar follows earlier sensitisation seminars organised in Abuja and Abidjan.

According to her, factoring can be the game-changer in terms of addressing the issue of limited access to finance faced by Africa’s SMEs.Awani, who noted that a key part of Afreximbank’s Intra-African Trade Strategy was to facilitate greater contribution by SME’s to Africa’s regional value chains, said that the objective of the seminar was to present the salient provisions of the model law and to share ideas on the best approach for its adoption in East African countries.

Partner at the London office of the Squire Patton Boggs law firm, Edward Wilde, outlined the concepts of factoring and discussed current international practices and evolving trends.

Awani provided details about technical support, advisory services and funding facilities available from Afreximbank to national banks and accredited factoring companies in order to increase the use of factoring as an alternative trade finance instrument available to SMEs in Africa.

She said that since 2011, Afreximbank had approved about $100 million for factors in Africa and that the bank was currently reviewing $122 million worth of credit lines for factoring institutions in Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Mauritius, Tunisia and Zambia.

But Dr. Enga Kameni of the Afreximbank Legal Services Department said that significant provisions of the model law could be adapted and applied in various ways to refine local legislation on factoring.

The Afreximbank Model Law on Factoring was launched on October 23, in Cape Town, South Africa, during the seventh Annual Meeting of the Africa Chapter.
It aims at serving as a benchmark against which African national legislators will be able to compare, contrast, improve or enact new legal, institutional and practical arrangements in order to create enabling environments for the growth of factoring activities in their respective jurisdictions.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lebZd2

Osinbajo meets Presidential Task Force on food security

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Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo(right) in a meeting with the Food Security Task Force members at the Presidential Villa yesterday

Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday met behind closed doors with members of the Presidential Task Force on the rising cost of food items in Nigeria.

All members of the group attended the meeting, which took place at Aguda House, the official residence of the acting President.

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the setting up of the task force as part of efforts to enhance affordable food prices across country.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the task force is to urgently consider measures that would ensure a steady flow of produce to the market and reverse recent price increases, as well as explore options to promote availability and affordability of food items to Nigerians.

The task force, which is expected to submit its interim reports on February 8, has Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Mrs. Kemi Adeosun (Finance); Dr. Okey Enelamah (Industry, Trade and Development); Mr. Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation); Alhaji Suleiman Adamu (Water Resources); and Dr. Chris Ngige (Labour and Employment) as members.

Nigeria’s consumer prices rose by 1.1 per cent in December last year, against November’s 0.8 per cent increase.

The inflation figure for the period was 18.6 per cent, the highest since October 2005, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, which the inflation was fueled by higher prices in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2jNaSPw