All Posts in "News"

South Africa sentence Nigerian man to 3 life imprisonment terms for sex slaving 12-year-old girl

By admin

 

A Nigerian national, Augustine Omini Obono, who kidnapped a 12-year-old girl, fed her drugs and forced her to have sex with up to six men a day over a three-month period has been sentenced to three life imprisonment terms by a South African court in Gauteng.

The Gauteng North High Court handed down three life imprisonment terms for human trafficking, rape, statutory rape and sexual exploitation. Obono was further sentenced to three years for kidnapping and seven years for keeping a brothel.

The National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said in September 2016, the girl was at a park in Derdepoort for a picnic with her friends when she met a woman who asked her to accompany her to a flat in Sunnyside, Pretoria, where she would meet a man.

“The woman promised the minor that she would give her taxi money to go to Mamelodi the following morning,” he said.

When they arrived at the flat in Sunnyside, the woman handed the minor over to Obono for purposes of sexual exploitation or for her to be used as a prostitute.

“Obono kept the minor in the flat for three months,” Mahanjana said.

She said over the three-month period, Obono fed the girl drugs and forced her to have sex with between five to six men a day.

“In December 2016, the minor eventually managed to escape and went to her uncle’s place in Mamelodi. When she arrived, she informed her uncle of what had happened. The uncle reported the matter to the police and the minor pointed out the flat where she was kept,” she said.

When the police went into the flat, they found Obono and arrested him and he has been in custody since.

South Africa, like Nigeria, is considered to be on the “Tier 2 Watchlist” for human trafficking. Tier 2 represents countries whose governments do not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA)’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards

Patoma Admin by — May 2, 2021 in Human Angle 0
51m Nigerians enroll for NIN–FG * Total SIM registration hits 189m * Says those without NIN risk 7 or 14-yrs imprisonment

By Favour Nnabugwu

THE Federal Government said 51 million Nigerians have so far completed their enrollment in the ongoing National Identity Number, NIN in the country

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, who disclosed this during the ministerial organized by the Presidential Media Team at the State House, Abuja, said 189 million Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) have been registered in the country.

The Minister said ut of the number, 150 million have completed registration while the remainder have problems of improper registration.

The Minister warned that those yet to obtain their NIN, risk seven or 14 years imprisonment as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution.

He noted that while obtaining a SIM card maybe optional, NIN is mandatory, stressing that a lot of transactions in the country was not supposed to be carried out without NIN.

He explained that NIN will determine the total number of Nigerians that have registered because of the unique number.

He assured that in the next two years the administration would have a complete data base of every citizen and residents in the country.

He even said by law it was an offence for any one to collect pension or voters card without having the NIN.

Pantami said while owning a SIM card is optional, the NIN is mandatory as a lot of transactions are not supposed to be carried out without NIN.

The registration became mandatory following the federal government’s directive asking telcos to block sum cards that are not linked to NIN.

The federal government had extended the deadline to January 19, 2021, for subscribers with NIN to link it with their SIM, and February 9, 2021, for those without NIN.

The deadline has now been extended to April 6.

Patoma Admin by — April 1, 2021 in News 0

The Director General World Trade Organisation, WTO, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said that the share of Nigeria’s global trade stands at 0.33 per cent was too small to boost the country’s economic aspirations. and 19 percent African trade.

Okonjo- Iweala who made this known at the office of the Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Mr Adeniyi Adebayo at the Ministry and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama in Abuja, noted that it is a small fraction of what the country can achieve.

The WTO boss said that Nigeria has more paths to thread in areas relating to trade, logistics, agriculture and finance.

She added that the country must step up action on its economy, maintaining that trade can be instrumental if Nigeria can add more value to its products and improve its infrastructure to deliver trade.

According to her, “Nigeria is 103 out of 167 countries in logistics and that means we have a long way to go. For me that is a potential area we can invest to improve our logistics so we can take advantage of trade within the Africa Continental Free trade Area.

“We have difficulty and challenges with our economy, we have to move fast, we have potential to do so much better and trade is a very strong part of that story”.

The Director General, however said in world trade, Nigeria is active in areas of agriculture and joint Statement initiatives.

“Trade negotiations on agricultural issues are very important to us and we are very active there. Nigeria is a leader on issues of e-commerce, services domestic regulations, investment facilitation, micro small and medium enterprises and women in trade”, She noted.

Okonjo-Iweala, said that the WTO will work with Nigeria to help deliver support directly with its resources in technical assistance, training and quality upgrade but also with other institutions in unlocking some of the bottlenecks that confronts the country.

She said “The WTO is about supporting investments and supporting infrastructure in technical assistance, it is not a financial institution but it works with financial institutions.

“It is one of the economic institutions that were created with the World Bank and the International Monitory Fund, IMF, these are three powerful institutions that working together can deliver a lot.”

The WTO Boss expressed hope that Nigeria will take a very active supportive role in helping her deliver on some of the mandates.

“The WTO faces many challenges and also needs its own reforms to deliver results, the organization has not delivered a multilateral round of negotiations in quite a number of years and we have the unique opportunity of delivering the fishery subsidy negotiations.

“The dispute settlement system that is paralyzed we have to discuss with all members including the United States on how to make this work again, because the rules based organisation cannot continue to make rules if the dispute settlement system does not work”, she maintained.

In his remarks, the Minister, Industry Trade and Investment, congratulated Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as the Director General WTO, hinted the DG on some of the country’s expectations regarding engagements in ongoing negotiations and discussions.

According to him, “On the ongoing agriculture negotiation, Nigeria expects balance and equitable outcome that addresses structural causes of food and livelihood insecurity in Net Food Importing Developing Countries NFIDC and Least Developed Countries LDC.”

“On the Fishery Subsidy Negotiations we look forward to outcomes that result in reduction in over fishing and unsustainable fishing practices with effective differential treatment that allows a sustainable development of developing countries.”

Speaking also, the Minister of State for Industry Trade and Investment, Amb Maryam Katagum urged the DG WTO not to forget the commitment to sustain and enhance the ongoing dialogue and action on ‘women in trade’, as a firm believer in the power of trade to lift developing countries, including Nigeria out of poverty.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama in his office assured DG of WTO of the Federal Government support in dealing with trade Nationwide and the world at large.

Patoma Admin by — March 15, 2021 in News 0

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala assumed office amid high expectations among stakeholders of the global trade body. She was confirmed DG of the trade body on February 15.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala emerged the shoo-in after her final challenger to the position, South Korean Trade Minister and candidate, Yoo Myung-hee, announced her withdrawal. Ms Yoo made the decision after discussions with the U.S. and other major nations. She also took various issues into account “comprehensively” including the need to revitalise the multilateral organization.

The World Trade Organisation had selected Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and Ms Yoo to advance to the final round in the race to lead the Geneva-based trade body last October.

Reception

On Monday, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala was received into office by officials of the trade body and a few journalists at WTO’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The DG was dressed in African wax fabric material with her trademark head tie.

On its official Twitter handle, the trade body welcomed the new DG Monday morning.

“Welcome to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala @NOIweala on her first day as WTO Director-General!” the trade body said in a tweet. “She makes history as the first woman and first African to take up this post.”

Patoma Admin by — March 1, 2021 in News 0
6 Nigerians make UK Royal Academy’s 2021 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation Shortlist

Six Nigerian innovators have been shortlisted among 10 others for the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation (APEI), UK Royal Academy of Engineering.

This year’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation shortlists includes the creators of a low-cost ventilator powered by water instead of electricity, a digital financial services solution that audits users based on their online social profiles, and sustainable packaging developed from banana stems to help battle plastic pollution and deforestation.

The Africa Prize, run every year by the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering, awards crucial commercialisation support to ambitious African innovators who are transforming their communities through scalable engineering solutions.

The 2021 shortlist represents nine countries including, for the first time, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Ethiopia and the Gambia. Six of the 16-strong shortlist are female innovators.

Below are the six Nigerian innovators who made the list:

Elohor Thomas

Elohor Thomas created CodeLn, an automated tech recruitment platform that helps companies looking to hire people in the software engineering field. It is also an accessible learning tool, allowing novices and professional programmers alike to improve their coding skills, with special functions for those with additional needs, such as visually impaired and neurodiverse coders.

Faith Adesemowo

Faith Adesemowo developed Social Lender, a digital service that provides immediate access to formal financial services to those with little to no previous access.

Jacob Azundah

Jacob Azundah developed Aevhas, a high-efficiency garri processing machine, used to process the tuberous roots of the cassava plant into garri – a powdery flour and diet staple across West Africa.

Olugbenga Olufemi Olubanjo

Olugbenga Olufemi Olubanjo created Reeddi, an energy system used to provide clean, reliable and affordable electricity to households and businesses operating in the energy-poor communities of sub-Saharan Africa.

Taofeek Olalekan

Taofeek Olalekan developed RealDrip, a medical device that simplifies essential intravenous therapy, used especially for pregnant women during drip and blood transfusions.

Yusuf Bilesanmi

Yusuf Bilesanmi developed ShiVent, a low-cost, non-electric and non-invasive ventilator for patients with respiratory difficulties, available at a fraction of the cost of mechanical ventilators. Its simple design enables it to be operated by unspecialised healthcare workers.

The programme has a track record of identifying engineering entrepreneurs with significant potential, many of whom have gone on to achieve greater commercial success and social impact.

A unique package of support – running from December 2020 to July 2021 – is being provided to the shortlisted innovators to help them accelerate their businesses. The benefits of selection include comprehensive and tailored business training, bespoke mentoring, media and communications training, funding and access to the Academy’s network of high-profile, experienced engineers and business experts based in the UK and across Africa, as well as access to the alumni network after the programme concludes.

This year marks the first fully digital programme, providing intensive expert guidance and community support through a mixture of an online group and one-on-one sessions.

Emma Wade Smith OBE, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa at the UK Department for International Trade said: “It makes me very proud to be part of this initiative that demonstrates so clearly and practically the power of partnerships between Africa and the UK.

The range of innovations and innovators in this years shortlist offers an insight into Africa’s extraordinary diversity and talent and illustrate the importance we all place on nurturing and supporting Africa’s self-starters to create and scale sustainable and inclusive products and services that will help us rebuild our economies to be greener, cleaner and more resilient.

The Africa Prize helps to accelerate entrepreneurial capacity and ecosystems. I am excited to follow the progress of this year’s cohort, and am certain we will see many of these inventions go on to create and sustain jobs and benefit our societies, as so many of the previous participants in the Africa Prize have done.”

Following this period of support, four finalists will be selected and invited to pitch their improved innovation and business plan to the judges and a live audience. A winner will be selected to receive £25,000, and three runners up will receive £10,000 each.
2021 shortlist includes innovations that provide exciting solutions for key challenges addressing most of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, including reducing waste, improving healthcare efficiency, and a range of digital solutions to improve business productivity.

The companies range from transforming banana and plantain stems to biodegradable paper packaging products, a low-cost biowaste processing machine for farmers to manage biowaste, a high-efficiency machine used to process Garri, and bioplastic made from biomass which dissolves in water.

The entrepreneurs have also developed a cost-effective 3D printed prosthetic hand for people with upper limb amputations, 3D printed orthopaedic equipment for patients and healthcare workers, a low-cost non-electric and non-invasive ventilator for patients with respiratory difficulties, a device that uses artificial intelligence to simplify intravenous therapy, and a digital healthcare platform which manages the medical data of patients to ensure continuity of care.

Patoma Admin by — February 20, 2021 in News 0
Nigeria’s GDP grows by 0.11% in Q4 2020

By Favour Nnabugwu

The nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew year-on-year (y/y) by 0.11 percent in the fourth quarter of last year (Q4 2020) aggregate GDP stood at N43.6 billion.

This represents the first positive growth in the last three quarters of the year where GDP stood at 1.87 percent, -6.10 percent and -3.6 percent respectively..

In its Nigerian Gross Domestic Product Report (Q4’20), released today, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) noted that the positive growth reflected the gradual return of economic activities following the easing of restricted movements and limited local and international commercial activities in the preceding quarters of the reviewed period.

The report stated: “Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 0.11 percent(y/yr) in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2020, representing the first positive quarterly growth in the last three quarters.

“Though weak, the positive growth reflects the gradual return of economic activities following the easing of restricted movements and limited local and international commercial activities in the preceding quarters.

“As a result, while the Q4 2020 growth rate was lower than growth rate recorded the previous year by –2.44 percent points, it was higher by 3.74 percent points compared to Q3’20.

“On a quarter on quarter basis, real GDP growth was 9.7 percent indicating a second positive consecutive quarter on quarter real growth rate in 2020 after two negative quarters.

“Overall, in 2020, the annual growth of real GDP was estimated at –1.92 percent , a decline of 4.20 percentage points when compared to the 2.27 percent recorded in 2019.

“In the quarter under review, aggregate GDP stood at N43.5 billion in nominal terms. This performance is higher when compared to the fourth quarter of 2019 which recorded a GDP aggregate of N39.5 billion, representing a y/y nominal growth rate of 10.07 percent. This growth rate was lower relative to growth recorded in the fourth quarter of 2019 by –2.26 percent points but higher than the preceding quarter by 6.7 percentage points with growth rates recorded at 12.3 percent and 3.4 percent respectively.”

Patoma Admin by — February 18, 2021 in News 0

By admin

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is currently holding a private funeral service for his late father, Sir Arthur Okowa at Owa-Alero in Ika Northeast Local Government Area of the State.

Governor Okowa took the first Bible reading as invited guests gathered to lay the late patriarch of the Okowa family to rest.

Sir Okowa was the Ojenyangbe of Owa kingdom and the Okparan of Idumebor quarter.

Recall Governor Okowa had announced a bipartite funeral arrangements for his late father.

The ongoing funeral service is part of the bipartite arrangement.

Governor Okowa said an elaborate celebration of life event will take place on August 21, 2021 in what is the second burial in honour of the Governor’s late father

Sir Okowa died aged 88 on January 28, 2021 after a brief illness

Besides family members at the private funeral, Archbishop of Bendel Province, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Cyril Odutemu; Deputy Governor of Delta, Mr Kingsley Otuaro; former Governor James Ibori and former Deputy Governor Benjamin Elue were at the ceremony.

Others included Chief Jide Omokore, Sen. James Manager, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Chief Judge of Delta, Justice Marshall Umukoro and Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori.

Governor Okowa in his speech during the funeral service in the home of the late octogenarian, thanked Nigerians for their show of love, saying that because he had announced that the ceremony would be private for the family, “those who came are truly family members”.

He said that as a teacher, his late father fought for the ordinary man and suffered victimisation for daring to stand for the truth.

“On behalf of my siblings, I welcome you to my father’s home. He is no more, he has just been laid to rest.

“He has been a strong pillar in my life and obviously we wished he had lived longer, but it pleased God to call him at this time.

“Our father was a good man who fought for the church, the children and the ordinary man, especially as a teacher and suffered consequences for standing by the truth and at the end, God vindicated him.

“We thank God that he played his role in the community. He was very passionate about the development of Owa-Alero and I am glad that he saw all we did for the community.
He did not compromise his faith even as an Okpara-Uku of his quarter and that, we can attest to as his children,” he said.

The Governor apologised to those who couldn’t attend the funeral because he had declared it a family burial.

“We do not know when it is best to die but we thank God he took our father at a ripe age.

Patoma Admin by — February 16, 2021 in News 0

By admin

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s finest economist has been confirmed the first African and the first woman to head the WTO as Director General (DG) by the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Her appointment was confirmed on Monday as she assumes office on March 1, 2020

WTO is the intergovernmental organization that is concerned with the regulation of international trade between nations

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala makes history as the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO.

In a congratulatory message, President of the European Council (EC), Charles Michel said Okonjo-Iweala can count on the full support of the European Union (EU).

“My warmest wishes to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala @NOIweala on your appointment as Director General of @wto. You bring a wealth of experience and expertise at a time when the WTO needs reform. Count on full support of the EU,” Michel tweeted.

Okonjo-Iweala prevailed over several other candidates in the months-long WTO leadership race, including South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung Hee, her main rival.

Okonjo-Iweala emerged victorious in the contest over Ms Yoo Myung-hee by a wide margin. She polled 104 votes from 164 member countries to defeat the South Korea’s trade minister at the final stage of the race.

The South Korea trade minister later stepped down paving the way for Okonjo-Iweala, whose today’s confirmation at a meeting of envoys from the 164 WTO member countries has been considered a mere formality.

The previous U.S. administration of President Donald Trump had tried to block Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment by opposing her.

Okonjo-Iweala is set to succeed the Brazilian Roberto Azevedo, who left the WTO before the end of his term in August.

He has joined U.S. beverage giant Pepsico as an executive.

Responding to the confirmation of her appointment, Okonjo-Iweala said she work closely with members to recover the devastating effect of Covid-19.

She said, “I am honoured to have been selected by WTO members as WTO Director-General. A strong WTO is vital if we are to recover fully and rapidly from the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic”.

“I look forward to working with members to shape and implement the policy responses we need to get the global economy going again”.

“Our organization faces a great many challenges but working together we can collectively make the WTO stronger, more agile and better adapted to the realities of today,” Dr Okonjo-Iweala said.

Patoma Admin by — February 15, 2021 in News 0

The National Youth Service Corps has shortlisted 110 corps members for the President’s Honours Award based on their exemplary performance and Community Development Service projects.

The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier-General Shuaibu Ibrahim, who stated this while briefing journalists in Abuja, noted that the award was meant to encourage diligence among corps members.

Ibrahim said that a national selection committee comprising of eminent Nigerians made a final decision on the 110 award recipients after screening the nominees forwarded by the 36 States and the FCT.

The NYSC DG added, “Corps members are not allowed to go and borrow money to execute projects, because the President’s Honours Awards is the highest category of recognition given to corps members who have distinguished themselves during the one year national service.

“Usually, those recommended for national awards are those that have won a category of awards mostly at the State level.

“The national selection committee screened the 110 award nominees forwarded by the States and made a final decision.”

Ibrahim also said that corps members whose national service were suspended in 2020 due to COVID-19 would be included this year.

“We just have some remnants of Batch A 2020 that we had cause to suspend their orientation because of coronavirus in March last year. I promised that they would all return to complete the training. They have been returning and would be included this year,” the NYSC DG said.

He stressed that the Scheme had not recorded among corps members any fatalities from coronavirus related complications owing to the support of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and other stakeholders.

Patoma Admin by — February 10, 2021 in News 0

The Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting has approved the establishment of 20 new private universities in the country.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, made this known at end of the 32nd virtual council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday..

The Minister said the approved universities will get their provisional licenses from the National Universities Commission (NUC), which they will use for the next three years while monitoring and evaluation will go on.

The approved universities are: Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State. Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara State, Maranathan University, Mgbidi, Imo State, Ave Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa State, and Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, Kano State.

Others are Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State, Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River State, Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo State, NOK University, Kachia, Kaduna State and Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau State.

Also approved are James Hope University, Lagos, Lagos State, Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano, Kano State, Capital City University, Kano, Kano State, Ahman Pategi University, Pategi, Kwara State, and University of Offa, Offa, Kwara State.

Others are Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa State, Edusoko University, Bida, Niger State, Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja, Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa State and Anan University, Kwall, Plateau State.

Nine of the private universities are located in North Central, three in South South, two in South East, five of them in North West and one in South West.

Patoma Admin by — February 3, 2021 in News 0