Nigeria Introduces Newly Designed Naira Notes

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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October 26, 2022

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The Central Bank of Nigeria is set to introduce newly designed naira notes.

This was announced by the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele at a news briefing in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The Governor said Circulation is to begin December 15 2022, while old notes remain valid until January 31, 2023.

All holders of the old notes are to begin returning them immediately, and Bank charges for cash deposits are also suspended.

Emefiele said the bank’s decision was due to”persisting concerns we are facing with the management of our current series of banknotes, and currency in circulation, particularly those outside the banking system in Nigeria.”

In recent times, Emefiele stressed, currency management has faced several daunting challenges that have continued to grow in scale and sophistication with attendant and unintended consequences for the integrity of both the CBN and the country.

These challenges primarily include:
Significant hoarding of banknotes by members of the public, with statistics showing that over 80 percent of currency in circulation are outside the vaults of commercial banks;

Worsening shortage of clean and fit banknotes with attendant negative perception of the CBN and increased risk to financial stability;Increasing ease and risk of counterfeiting evidenced by several security reports.

The CBN governor said: “Indeed, recent development in photographic technology and advancements in printing devices have made counterfeiting relatively easier. In recent years, the CBN has recorded significantly higher rates of counterfeiting especially at the higher denominations of N500 and N1,000 banknotes”.

The CBN Boss explained that although global best practice is for central banks to redesign, produce and circulate new local legal tender every 5–8 years, the Naira has not been redesigned in the last 20 years.
“On the basis of these trends, problems, and facts, and in line with Sections 19, Subsections a and b of the CBN Act 2007, the Management of the CBN sought and obtained the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari to redesign, produce, and circulate new series of banknotes at N100, N200, N500, and N1,000 levels.

“In line with this approval, we have finalized arrangements for the new currency to begin circulation from December 15, 2022. The new and existing currencies shall remain legal tender and circulate together until January 31, 2023 when the existing currencies shall seize to be legal tender.”

The Apex Bank therefore directed all Deposit Money Banks currently holding the existing denominations of the currency to begin returning these notes back to the CBN effective immediately.
“The newly designed currency will be released to the banks in the order of First-come-First-serve basis”.

“Customers of banks are enjoined to begin paying into their bank accounts the existing currency to enable them withdraw the new banknotes once circulation begins in mid-December 2022. All banks are therefore expected to keep open, their currency processing centers from Monday to Saturday so as to accommodate all cash that will be returned by their customers.”

The CBN also directed that bank charges on deposits be suspended. “For the purpose of this transition from existing to new notes, bank charges for cash deposits are hereby suspended with immediate effect. Therefore, DMBs are to note that no bank customer shall bear any charges for cash returned/paid into their accounts.

“Members of the public are to please note that the present notes remain legal tender and should not be rejected as a means of exchange for purchase of goods and services.”

The Governor reassured the general public that the CBN would continue to monitor both the financial system in particular, and the economy in general, and always act in good faith for the achievement of the Bank’s objectives and the betterment of the country.

Lagos Govt Sponsors 890 Graduants From Film Academy

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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October 26, 2022

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The Lagos State Government on Tuesday graduated 890 youths it sponsored at the African Film Academy (AFA), after six weeks of free intensive training.

The 890 youths were beneficiaries of the ‘Film in a Box’ programme by the AFA, in conjunction with the Lagos State Government, to train and empower young people in the creative industry in three different centres, namely – Alimosho, Epe and Badagry.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony at the Lagos Theatre, Igando, Alimosho, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, expressed commitment to collaborate with stakeholders in the entertainment industry.

Sanwo-Olu said that the government would continue to train creative minds to acquire skills that would give livelihood to them.

He said that his administration’s THEMES agenda was to make life a lot easier and beneficial to all Lagos residents, especially the youth.

According to him, government will ensure it uses entertainment and tourism to connect with the future, so that Lagos can be a one-stop shop in the world.

He, therefore, urged those in the creative industry to harness the opportunities provided to ensure a better and greater Lagos, as well as taking the state and Nigeria to an enviable position.

Sanwo-Olu urged the graduants from AFA and other creative initiatives by the state government to take advantage of the Lagos States Employment Trust Fund and the State Film Fund, to become self-employed and employers of labour.

The graduates were trained in acting, art directing, light and lighting, editing, sound production and post production, among others.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, said that the initiative was to make the youth agents of change in the creative industry.

Akinbile-Yusuf said that the training would enable them break new grounds and to become self-reliant.

She said that the concept of the training had been expanded to develop arts and culture for optimum performance, to stimulate economic growth, skills and job creation and to bridge the gap in the state creative industry.

The commissioner, while congratulating the graduates, assured them that the state government would continue to monitor their growth and assist them in producing competent creative works in the industry.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of African Film Academy, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, while commending the doggedness of her students, urged them to explore the creative industry with training received in the academy.

Anyiam-Osigwe said that though the mandate was to train 600 people, 890 students were trained by the academy in Epe, Alimosho and Badagry.

According to her, some of those trained in the academy have got jobs already, as they are also taught the business side with the creative side.

She said that some of the students during the period of their training made films, adding that one of the films they made ”Akanji” would be shown in the cinema, as it portrayed Alimosho to the world.

Anyiam-Osigwe commended the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration for the huge investment in the entertainment and creative industries, and for equipping the Badagry General Hospital to respond to emergencies, especially when a facilitator fell ill.

A filmmaker and veteran in the creative industry, Tunde Kelani, thanked the Lagos State Government for investing in the entertainment industry, which he noted would curb youth restiveness in Lagos and make young people to be entrepreneurs.

Kelani commended Sanwo-Olu on the proposed film city in Lagos, saying that the name of the governor would not be forgotten.

He also urged the graduands to imbibe teamwork, read, and not to forget their mentors.

Fire Guts WAEC Office In Lagos

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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October 26, 2022

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There was panic around Jibowu area of Yaba in Lagos State early today (Wednesday) as the multi-storey office complex of the West African Examination Council ( WAEC ) went up in flames.

Firefighters and other emergency workers were still battling the fire as at the time of filing this report.

LN247 gathered that the fire might have started from an electric spark from one of the appliances in one of the offices in the building.

Men of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and other emergency responder were present at the scene to put out the raging fire and help rescue the trapped victims.

2023: 48 Nigerian Varsities Top World’s Best in Subject Rankings

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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October 26, 2022

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The Chairman of the Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee (NURAC), Prof. Peter Okebukola has commended the performance of Nigerian universities in the Times Higher Education 2023 Subject Rankings released on Oct. 25.

This is contained in a statement issued by Okebukola in Abuja on Wednesday.

Okebukola, who is also a member of the international advisory board of Times Higher Education World University rankings, said that in the 2022 rankings, only five Nigerian universities featured in four subjects.

He said that in the 2023 ranking, 48 Nigerian universities were cumulatively listed among the world’s best in 11 subjects/disciplines.

He listed the subjects/discipline as arts and humanities; business and economics; education; law; social sciences; computer science; engineering; clinical and health; life sciences; physical sciences and psychology.

“Noteworthy is the impressive ranking of Covenant University, the only private university in the league tables, featuring prominently in business and economics, social sciences, computer science, engineering, and physical sciences.

“No state university is on the league tables. The federal universities with impressive rankings are University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta.

” Others are the University of Ilorin, Obafemi Awolowo University, Federal University of Technology Akure, Bayero University Kano, and University of Benin,” he said.

Okebukola released details of the results as Arts and Humanities (University of Nigeria Nsukka=601+); Business and Economics (Covenant University=401-500; University of Lagos=501-600; Obafemi Awolowo University=601-800 and University of Nigeria Nsukka=801+.

Others are Education (University of Ibadan and University of Nigeria Nsukka=501-600); Law (University of Nigeria Nsukka=251+); Social Sciences (Covenant University=251-300; University of Lagos=401-500; University of Ibadan and University of Nigeria Nsukka=601-800; and University of Ilorin and Obafemi Awolowo University=801+).

Also in the list are Computer Science (Covenant University=401-500); Engineering (Covenant University=401-500; Federal University of Technology Akure and University of Ilorin=601-800; University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria Nsukka and Obafemi Awolowo University=1000+).

He said for Clinical and Health (University of Lagos=151-175; University of Ibadan=201-250; University of Nigeria Nsukka=501-600; Bayero University Kano, University of Benin and Obafemi Awolowo University=601-800; University of Ilorin and Nnamdi Azikiwe University=801+).

Also in the list are Life Sciences (University of Ilorin=601-800; Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Federal University of Technology Akure, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria Nsukka and Obafemi Awolowo University=801-1000).

Okebukola listed Physical Sciences (Covenant University=401-500; Federal University of Technology Akure and University of Ilorin=501-600; Bayero University Kano=601-800; Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta and University of Lagos=801-1000; University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria Nsukka.

Also Obafemi Awolowo University has1000+); and Psychology (University of Nigeria Nsukka=301-400).

Speaking further on the results, Okebukola expressed appreciation to the Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu and the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed for setting up NURAC and for the commitment they continue to show to improving quality in the Nigerian university system.

“Professor Rasheed is one individual who will not rest until the old glory of Nigerian universities is fully restored”, Okebukola noted.

“We assure Nigerians that with the ongoing implementation of the Blueprint for the Rapid Revitalisation of University Education in Nigeria, the days of consigning Nigerian universities to the group of non-performers will soon be over,” he said.

NASU Confidence FG Will Pay 4-months- Unpaid Salaries

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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October 26, 2022

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Despite the Federal Government insistence that it will not pay university workers salary within the period they were on strike, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, on Wednesday, expressed optimism that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige will facilitate the payment of the outstanding salaries.

Recall that Senator Ngige has invoked the ‘No work, no pay”, policy of the government when the four university based unions failed to call off the strike.

The four unions are NASU, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT.

Speaking to journalists on the margins of NASU National Executive Council, NEC, meeting, in Abuja, the General Secretary of the union, Prince Peters Adeyemi said the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU called of its strike to give room for implementation of agreement reached with the Federal Government.

Prince Adeyemi said the unions were mindful not to collapse the education sector through strikes.

He, however said the JAC of NASU and SSANU expect the Federal Government to make arrangements for payment of salary arrears for the four months their members went on strike.

He contended that since all parties within the university system had suspended their industrial actions, it behooves on the government to start reviewing those hard stances it took while the tertiary institutions were under lock and key.

He said a moratorium given to the Federal Government which elapses by November 2022, should serve as a veritable opportunity for the government to sit down and begin to address the existing demands by the unions, one of which is the salary arrears.

Adeyemi pointed out that under no circumstance would the government sweep the issue under the carpet, especially when the government obliged the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, similar gesture after they suspended their two months strike in 2020.

Asked if the Federal Government is still disposed to offsetting the salary arrears, going by its initial stance of ‘no work, no pay’, Adeyemi responded, “That is the next issue, you see they say that if there is fire in the house, you first of all have to make sure that you that want to put off the fire must be safe first, if you get consumed in the fire, you can’t save anybody.”

According to him, “Now the process of talking about unpaid salaries will start, nobody will say the schools are closed, this is the ideal time to begin to appeal to those who have taken those hard stances and we believe that those hard stance were as a result of the fact that the schools were under lock and key.

“I have confidence as a union person that those salaries will be paid, because it has been paid to the guys in the health sector, two months, this Minister of Labour and Employment facilitated the payment and he is still there, I am confident he will facilitate this payment.”

JAMB Warns Varsities Against Skipping Sessions Over Strike

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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October 26, 2022

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As public universities resume for academic activities across the country following eight months of industrial action declared by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU,the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has warned against jumping of academic sessions.

The nation’s tertiary institutions admission body,said admissions offered in 2020, 2021, 2022 to 2023 sessions were all still in effect, insisting that they must not be skipped.

Even as it said it has no control on admission processes by universities, JAMB however, said it has not directed any institution to cancel any admission.

The Registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede disclosed this shortly before he declared open the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

Explaining further, he said the affected universities, polytechnics or colleges of education must find a way to streamline all the existing academic programmes prior to the strike which the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) had embarked on but called off recently.

Oloyede said students admission lies in the individual universities administrations, noting that about three different sessions are being run by various universities concurrently and must be concluded within their own stipulated timeframe.

According to him, while some universities are still in their 2020/2021 academic session, some other ones are in the 2021/2022 academic session and others in their 2022/2023 academic session.

He said candidates seeking admission have to interact with the respective institutions they applied to study to know the particular session being ran at the moment.

He maintained that JAMB has not cancelled any admission for any session and that no admission by the board has elapsed or will elapse, stressing that admission for any particular session would- be determined by the Senate of the various universities.

He said, “Now that some normalcy is being restored in our tertiary institutions, particularly with regards to the Universities, many people have been asking which session is being run, how do we get students back to campus. Please the onus of recruiting, engaging, admitting students lies virtually in the respective institutions.

”JAMB is a coordinating centre, JAMB cannot and will not determine how universities conduct their admissions.

“You are aware that some universities and some special institutions are still on their 2020-2021 academic session, some are on 2021-2022 academic session while some are in 2022-2023 academic session, so we have three academic sessions running concurrently in different parts of the country.

“So my advise which I want to send through you is that candidates should interact with their respective institutions, know which session is being run, which session is being patched and contact JAMB only for making sure that all their claims are validated.

“What I mean is that no admission has been cancelled for any session for any school, we except the Senate of that university, we have all admissions going on, they have not lapsed and it is now for the institutions to determine which and how to go about it. I want to use this opportunity to appeal to not only parents but to just contact the institution of their children to know where they are and then contact JAMB for whatever is necessary for proper documentation of their admission processes”.

Exploring Suilven, A Unique Mountain In The United Kingdom

By

Angel Gimalo

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October 26, 2022

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Suilven, also known as Sula Bheinn, is one of the most recognizable mountain that can be found in Scotland, and it is located in the northern part of the island of Great Britain, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Even though it is only 731 meters (2,398 feet) high, the mountain rises almost vertically, and with its remoteness it is very attractive for climbers to come and “conquer” this small rocky giant.

The unique outline makes it certainly one of the finest mountains in the country, and as there are paths which lead throughout the routes to the top, the highest point is Caisteal Liath, better known as Grey Castle, founded at the northwest end of the ridge.

When seen from the sea, Suilven resembles more like a large grey pillar, hence the name, while from the inland resembles more like a steep-sided pyramid.

Considered to be formed from a Torridonian sandstone, there is some sort of erosion around it which might have occurred during an episode of glaciation, nonetheless, when climbed atop, the most remarkable is the landscape view of the entire surrounding around Suilven.

In conclusion, this lonely grey mountain has been known for many centuries, and nowadays it gets bigger attention from enthusiasts who would like to mark Suilven on their list as a mountain they conquered.

Once Upon A Time – October 26 – 1863 – Football Association Forms In England, Standardizing Soccer, Splitting With Rugby

By

Angel Gimalo

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October 26, 2022

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1850 Robert McClure sights the fabled Northwest Passage for the first time (from Banks Island towards Melville Island)

1861 Pony Express (Missouri to California) ends after 19 months

1863 International conference begins in Geneva aimed at improving medical conditions on battlefields – beginning of the Red Cross

2019 Raid by US Special Forces kills ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Syria

MORE HISTORICAL EVENTS

OCT 26 IN FILM & TV

1984 “The Terminator” directed by James Cameron, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton is released in the US

OCT 26 IN MUSIC

1919 Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85, his last notable work, premieres at Queen’s Hall, London

OCT 26 IN SPORT

1863 Football Association forms in England, standardizing soccer, splitting with rugby

MORE FACTS…

1881 Gunfight at the OK Corral: The most famous shootout in the Wild West occurs, between lawmen (including Wyatt Earp) and the Cowboys, with Tom and Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton killed

1901 First recorded use of “getaway car” occurs after holding up a shop in Paris

FAMOUS WEDDINGS

1789 Lexicographer Noah Webster (31) weds Rebecca Greenleaf

1953 Tennis champion Tony Trabert (23) weds beauty queen Shauna Wood at the Salt Lake Country Club in Salt Lake City, Utah

1963 Actress Elizabeth Montgomery (30) weds director-producer William Asher (42) in El Paso, Texas

Prof. Adewole Says Nigeria On Track Toward Eliminating Cervical Cancer

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

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October 26, 2022

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Former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, says Nigeria is on track toward eliminating cervical

cancer with various interventions employed by the Federal Government, World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Commonwealth.

Adewole, who was the Minister of Health from 2015 to 2019, said this on Tuesday in a telephone interview with newsmen. He said the establishment of cancer treatment centres across the country, W.H.O’s approach to eliminating cancer globally and Commonwealth’s international task force on elimination of cervical cancer in commonwealth countries are responsible for the progress made.

He added that “what we know is that many more people are reporting in the hospitals simply because of heightened awareness and because we have established more treatment centres in the last couple of years.

Adewole also said that current statistics shows that Nigeria records about 15,000 cases of cervical cancer annually and lose about 10,500.

This, he said, translates to a case fatality of about 75 per cent or 0.7 per cent, indicating seven deaths out of every 10 cases.

He added that it was a worrisome figure as it happened to be the highest in the world as Latin America, South-East Asia and North America record a case fatality of under 0.4 per cent.

Explaining why more cases were presented in hospitals, he said it had to do with the heightened attention globally, “as everyone has now keyed into the international agenda to beam searchlight on the disease.

The former minister said that the most popular form of testing is the PAP Smear, but added that there are other more effective techniques such as visual inspection and the use of HP DNA testing.

Adewole disclosed that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) is scheduled to start HPV vaccination in 2023, to become part of the nation’s routine immunisation.

He also said that the signing of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) bill earlier in the year into law is a welcome development as it will ease the burden of cancer treatment on patients.

According to him, one of the basic packages of care in the schedule of the NHIA is cancer screening.

On treatment for those who have already contracted the disease, Adewole said there are quite a number of outlets to assist those who have cervical cancer in Nigeria.

He added that some Non-Government Organisations are already at the forefront of rendering help and the Federal Government also established a cancer health fund, made available if patients visit any tertiary hospital.

He said that the programme is being piloted in six tertiary facilities and that patients with cancer have started accessing support and are given a minimum of N1 million to help them with treatment.

NMA Calls For Support On Flood Victims

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

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October 26, 2022

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The Nigerian Medical Association NMA, has called on well-meaning Nigerians to show empathy to flood victims across the country.

The National President of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Uche R. Ojinmah, made the call in his address to the 2022 Physician’s Week, held in Abuja.

He also called on Governments at different levels to work together in helping victims recover quickly and urged the Federal Government to actively initiate measures to avert another flooding.

He said that the NMA in sympathy for flood victims had to shelf the all glamorous activities for its 2022 Physician’s week.

“Let me start by informing you all that NMA had to shelve this year’s Physicians’ Week National opening ceremony and razzmatazz as a result of the massive flood affecting Bayelsa and some other states of Nigeria with attendant loss of human lives and properties thereby dampening the mood of the nation. We have from our meager resources sent some relief materials to Bayelsa state which was worse hit; we also encouraged our branches in affected states to roll out medical outreach programs and sent solidarity messages to the state Governors and some dignitaries in the affected states”. Dr. Ojinmah said.

He noted that Nigeria is at a turning point and that everyone is charged to stand as compatriots to obey the call of Nigeria.

“Our beloved country is passing through difficult times but I know that if we persevere and continue being the best that we can be, there is light at the end of the tunnel”, he said.

The NMA President also said that Nigerian doctors are poorly paid, overworked, lack necessary work tools, and have become a target for kidnap.

“We as Nigerian doctors have been taken from the lofty heights of nobility to nothingness by the neglect and possible disdain for the health sector by successive governments. The penchant of State governments for seizing or slashing our salaries and paying it piecemeal at their convenience without interest has become a subject of folklore and hence cannot be allowed to continue”, he said.

At an event by the NMA FCT, the Chairman of NMA FCT, Dr. Ugochukwu Uwuanyi, said that as the 2023 general election draws nearer, there was a need to ask presidential candidates the right questions concerning their plans for the health sector.

He said that the NMA FCT is holding medical outreach to attend to indigent citizens of the Federal Capital Territory.

Dr. Igwuanyi also lamented the effects of brain drain in Nigeria.

“Currently, Nigeria has the third highest number of foreign doctors working in the UK after India and Pakistan,” he said.

The theme of this year’s Physicians’ Week is Nigeria’s Healthcare Delivery System and the 2023 Democratic Transition: A Time to Change the Narrative.