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Alumni Association Donates Audio-visual Library, Others To Its Alma Mater.

Rhoda Onuzulike
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Alumni Association Donates Audio-visual Library, Others To Its Alma Mater.

The Victory Alumni Association Worldwide of Victory Primary School in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State has donated an audio-visual library and a sick bay to its alma mater.

Alumni, Andrew Agenmonmen, who was a student of class 1982 of the school, donated the facility on behalf of the association at the launch of the audio-visual library, sick bay and the Dame Agatha Agenmonmen 2021 annual prize for mathematics quiz for primary school pupils in Benin City.

While Speaking at the inauguration of the facility, Agenmonmen said the gesture was to invest in the future, adding that a better foundation laid for pupils would go a long way to determine what they become in time to come.

He, therefore, urged other alumni associations across the state to emulate the Victory Alumni Association and contribute to the transformation of education in the state and Nigeria at large.

Narrating how the idea was conceived, he said: “During the children’s day celebration, we were invited by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and it was decided that every primary school should have a sick bay and a library.

“So, I took the message back to my alumni association, and today, I am grateful we are inaugurating this project. This effort is to develop the children because they have a better future. It is an investment for scientific discovery, good healthcare, among others, for the future.”

He stressed the importance of teachers in the development of the society, noting that: “Teachers are undervalued and underrated professionals in our society.

“The other event I am very proud of today is that I am what I am because of teachers. They contribute to the success of every student. To recognize the efforts of teachers, we have created a special award in honour of Dame Agenmonmen, the number one teacher in my life; and this will be an annual event.”

The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Ozavize Salami, on her part, commended the alumni association for the support, just as she said the initiative was in line with what the Edo State Government is doing under the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme to support teaching and learning.

Salami, represented by Jerry Ogah, an official of the board, said: “We are extremely excited that the alumni have decided to support us. As we know, teaching and learning in schools is not what we will leave for the government alone.”

The Head of Local Government Administration and acting chairman of Oredo LGA, Kessignton Osifo, in his remarks, said: “This is a paradigm shift and it is in our vision for the transformation of education in Edo State which is the EdoBEST.”

Earlier, Osaga Mercy expressed gratitude to the alumni for contributing to the development of the school.

Meanwhile, schools that won the mathematics quiz competition conducted among public primary school pupils in Oredo LGA are Government Model Primary School with a cash prize of N30,000, while Community Primary School (N20,000) and Victory Primary School (N10,000) came second and third position, respectively.

Brazilian Envoy Suggests Cultural, Scholarship Opportunities for Students

Rhoda Onuzulike
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Brazilian Envoy Suggests Cultural, Scholarship Opportunities for Students

The Consul-General, Consulate of Brazil, Lagos, Ambassador Francisco Soare Luz, has called on stakeholders in the Nigeria-Brazillian bilateral relationship to harness the opportunities provided for trade, cultural and educational agreements, for the benefits of citizens.

The Envoy also appealed to students of the Lagos State University (LASU) to take advantage of scholarship opportunities offered by the South American country to further their studies at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Speaking at the 2021 annual lecture of the LASU Centre for AfroBrazillian Studies (LASUCAS) titled ‘Brazil/Nigeria: Historical Relations and Future Opportunities’ recently, Luz highlighted the scholarship possibilities in Brazil for eligible Nigerians.

“In the education sector, there is an agreement between Nigeria and Brazil which allows Nigerian students to come to Brazil on scholarship and study for either undergraduate or postgraduate courses,” he said.

The programme for undergraduate is PEC-G, while that of postgraduate is PEC-PG. The Programme for Partner Undergraduate Students (PEC-G, in the portuguese acronym) is a cooperation programme between Brazil and countries in Africa, Latin America and Caribbean.

The ambassador said its goal is to give young students from these countries an opportunity to undertake their full undergraduate studies in Brazilian universities.

He added that leveraging on these opportunities would help to actualise the potential of development in the countries.

The chairman of the occasion, Chief Teju Philips, affirmed that continuous engagement between Nigeria and Brazil would usher in sustainable growth and development, with a promise to champion the effort.

In her remarks, the Vice- Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, said the university would not only be instrumental to the promotion of Brazilian studies, but would become the authority in the study of subjects around Brazil in Africa.

“LASU was established, among other objectives, to serve as a creative custodian, promoter and propagator of the state’s social and cultural heritage and other resources. Therefore, LASUCAS was established to foster this objective of the university.

“The main objective of the centre is to engage in and promote in-depth research on the Brazilian cultural, archaeological and architectural relics in Lagos Statep in particular and Nigeria in general.

It is also aimed at bringing scholars, intellectuals and policy makers from Brazil and other countries to Nigeria providing them with an enabling environment in which to pursue their academic research on issues.”

She expressed hope that the centre will grow to become an authority and a recognised voice on Afrobrazilian issues and one of the international faces of the institution.

The Director of the Centre, and Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof. Tayo Ajayi, said the lecture was part of the centre’s efforts to improve relationship between Nigeria and Brazil, while appealing to the students to take advantage of the scholarship offered by Brazil by enrolling for short programmes in the centre.

More Felicitations As PDP’S Valentine Ozigbo Congratulates Soludo

Angel Gimalo
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More Felicitations As PDP’S Valentine Ozigbo Congratulates Soludo

I have just called Professor Chukwuma Soludo and congratulated him on being declared the winner of the Anambra State governorship elections, 2021. I wished him well and prayed for his success.

Let me also use this opportunity to congratulate all the men and women who contested our dear state’s governorship this year. You all have shown a determination to see that Anambra is better. It was an honour to run this race with you.

Two years ago, I decided to go into active partisan politics with a number of objectives in mind.

First, to use Anambra to set an example of excellence in governance. The second was to unify Anambra and Ala Igbo around a shared vision of greatness. The third was to inspire more professionals to go into politics. I believe that attainment of these would go a long way in changing the story of black men and women in this world for the better.

Pulled by the vision of a better and brighter Anambra, we set out on the quest for governorship, resolute on taking revolutionary steps to address the decay and decline in security, infrastructure, education, healthcare, the environment, and all other social systems meant to serve the people.

As laid out in our Ka Anambra Chawapu Manifesto, we planned to transform Anambra into the most competitive sub-national economy in Nigeria by opening up public, social, and commercial spaces leveraging on the strength of our youth and women. Ultimately, to make Anambra the pride of Nigeria.

Given where we started and where we are today, we consider ourselves winners. Our Ka Anambra Chawapu message has permeated the consciousness of Ndi Anambra, and the nation at large. It is the strongest message that has come out of Anambra 2021, and it continues to beat in the hearts of Ndi Igbo.

On unifying Ala Igbo, I believe that every Igbo person now understands that they have a voice in me because I will forever speak in the interest of the Igbo Nation and the rest of the marginalised and forgotten in Nigeria.

During this journey, especially in the last months, I have met many professionals who have been inspired into politics by our message and asked me how I got to this level in my first attempt. I urge them to keep the faith. Don’t ever let the candle that has been lit in you dim. Our country needs your active participation in her affairs.

We documented our grand vision for a brighter and better Anambra and presented it to our people with the energy to implement it. Though we may not have the opportunity in the immediate to get it started, we will be holding the government in power accountable to ensure that the welfare of the people is foremost in their actions at all times.

I acknowledge that we could not have done this alone. I am a child of Grace. I thank the Almighty God who chose me for this mission for His abundant mercies and love.

I thank all the courageous men and women who first believed in me, many of them without knowing me well. You are the heroes of our Ka Anambra Chawapu Movement. I also thank everyone who believed, even without meeting me, who heard our message and came out in full support.

I am grateful to every single person who joined our movement and contributed in one way or the other.

The thousands who showed us so much love, from youths and women in the grassroot, to those in the diaspora, to the Non-Indigenes, various church groups across all denominations, market women, civil servants, artisans, and many more.

Thank you for your prayers, your material, financial, and intellectual contributions. May the Lord reward you abundantly.

I thank the leaders and pillars of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the national (especially the PDP Governors), state and ward levels who stood by us and worked tirelessly to win the mandate of Ndi Anambra. I appreciate your amazing support and friendship.

Most importantly, I thank the entire Ndi Anambra – home and abroad. The openness, love, and enthusiasm with which you received us, especially as we campaigned across the state, is one that my wife, my running mate and I will cherish forever.

This election was fraught with a lot of short-comings on the part of various government institutions.

The security agencies failed to provide a peaceful environment for campaigns to hold. On election day, they were absent from many polling centres leading to elections not holding or held in situations that allowed for chaos and fraud.

The national electoral commission presented untrained and poorly trained staff who could not operate the voting machines in many places. They failed woefully in providing logistical support for their staff and so elections started very late in many places and did not hold in many others.

The use of government funds and resources to corrupt, coerce, and intimidate voters, PDP party agents, and electoral officials was a major factor in determining the outcome of this election.

All of these led to the disenfranchisement of the greater percentage of voters and staining the course of democracy. I will be dedicating time to champion the positive change we need to ensure that future elections are truly free and fair and that the will of the electorate prevails.

Denominational politics was also a factor. We need to do a lot more to ensure that competence is never sacrificed on this altar, and that democracy is practiced in line with its truest tenets.

In all, I am more determined to working for a better future for our children by remaining in active politics and rebuilding our party to be more united and more robust for those who come after us. Ka Anambra Chawapu.

May God bless you all and bless Anambra State.

Thank you.

Valentine Ozigbo

Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra 2021

Nigeria Convenes Investment, Security Summit In Paris

Elizabeth Williams
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Nigeria Convenes Investment, Security Summit In Paris

The Federal Government is organising the Nigeria International Partnership Forum (NIPF), a high-level event to accompany and strengthen Nigeria’s participation in the Paris Peace Forum.

The one-day NIPF will bring together the Nigerian and French governments and private sectors in wide-ranging discussions focused on security, regional stability, trade and industrialization. It aims to attract investment to Nigeria, and bridge existing infrastructure gaps.

the Summit in France, aimed to attract investment to Nigeria, and bridge existing infrastructure gaps, the statement stated.

Additionally, it would spotlight Nigeria’s immense trade and investment opportunities, reset false and distorted narratives about Nigeria, and shed light on the efforts, initiatives and successes achieved in both the public and the private sectors, as the country charted a trajectory of recovery from the COVID-19 induced global economic downturn.

Speakers and panelists at the NIPF, included top Nigerian and French government functionaries, ministers and heads of MDAs as well as Nigerian and French private sector operators.

Other participants included the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations (UN); Directors General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and French Development Agency; Presidents of the African Development Bank and African Export Import Bank; the French Minister of Foreign Trade and Economy; and the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Munguno (rtd).

Transmission Line To Interconnect Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Benin At Implementation Phase

Angel Gimalo
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Transmission Line To Interconnect Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Benin At Implementation Phase

The West African Power Pool (WAPP) North Core Project, a transmission line that will link Nigeria to three countries, will be completed in 2023, Chairman, Executive Board of the regional body, Dr. Sule Abdulaziz, has said.

Abdulaziz, who is also the Acting Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), made this known at the 52nd WAPP executive board meeting which took place as part of the 16th Session of the organisation’s general assembly in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

While highlighting key project implementation updates, the WAPP head said that the scheme which seeks to interconnect Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and Benin was at the implementation phase with the procurement process underway.

The project, he said, is expected to be completed by 2023 and is part of efforts of the WAPP to integrate the power systems of West African countries by delivering priority projects, which would ensure that all 14 countries in the mainland are eventually interconnected.

Other projects undertaken within the West African Sub-region he added, include the construction of the 330kV Volta (Ghana) to Lome (Togo) – Sakété (Benin) interconnection line that has been completed and will soon be energised and the WAPP Cote d’Ivoire – Sierra Leone – Guinea (CLSG) line also to be commissioned soon.

He noted that WAPP has continued to make giant strides towards the effective operationalisation of the regional electricity scheme by continuing to harmonise the market rules and agreement by market participants on regulatory issues.

In his comments, Secretary-General of WAPP, Mr. Siengui Appolinaire KI, at the hybrid meeting urged members to be resiliencs despite the several challenges.

“We must at all costs continue our journey towards the ultimate goal of our institution, which is the implementation of a competitive regional electricity market. We absolutely must redouble our efforts to this end, the goal being more than ever within reach,” he said.

He noted that new rotating members of the executive council, who will have to sit for the next two years and a new vice-chairman would be elected, as the former vice Chairman, Mr. Hamidou Traore had been re-designated.

Earlier, while welcoming participants to the meeting, Mr. Ahmed Coulibaly, the Director-General of Sonabel, the power firm hosting the meeting, called for more commitments.

“In our sub-region, the stakes in the electricity sector are so high that we must rigorously ensure that the decisions are implemented on time,” he maintained.

Taiwan Government Faces 5 Million Cyber Attacks Daily – Official

Elizabeth Williams
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Taiwan Government Faces 5 Million Cyber Attacks Daily – Official

Taiwanese officials have said the island faces millions of cyberattacks every month, with around half of them believed to originate from China.

Taiwan’s government agencies face around five million cyber-attacks and probes a day, an official said Wednesday, as a report warned of increasing Chinese cyberwarfare targeting the self-ruled island.

Speaking in parliament, cyber security department director Chien Hung-wei said Taiwan’s government network faces “five million attacks and scans a day”.

A scan in cyber security refers to an attempt to locate weaknesses in a server.

“We are strengthening the government’s defensive measures and collecting relevant data for analysis in a bid to stop the attacks when they are initiated,” Chien told lawmakers.

Taipei has accused Beijing of ramping up cyberattacks since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who views the island as a sovereign nation.

Beijing views democratic Taiwan as part of its own territory and has vowed to one day seize the island, by force if necessary.

The ministry’s information security and protection centre detected and handled around 1.4 billion “anomalies” from 2019 to August 2021 to prevent potential hacking, according to the report.

In July, Taiwan’s police launched an investigation after the Line messaging app reported abnormal account activities to the authorities.

Millions Of Accounts Affected By Robinhood Systems Cyberattack

Elizabeth Williams
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Millions Of Accounts Affected By Robinhood Systems Cyberattack

Financial and trading services company Robinhood disclosed that it had been the victim of a cyberattack earlier this month. The company said that the data breach had affected millions of accounts on its platform.

Robinhood said hackers breached its systems on Nov. 3 and obtained information on millions of its customers. The hackers later demanded that the company send a payment for the return of the stolen data.

The online trading platform stated that hackers had obtained a list of email addresses for around 5 million people and complete names for another group of about 2 million people.

The company said the names, dates of birth, and zip codes of a small number of accounts, about 310 people, were stolen. Robinhood said detailed information of around 10 accounts were also obtained. Robinhood did not say what types of information from those 10 people were stolen.

Robinhood said it was able to halt the intrusion and stop the hackers from stealing more data. Once it stopped the breach, the hackers reportedly demanded an extortion payment. The company did not say if it had complied with the demand. Robinhood said it immediately contacted law enforcement to inform them about the incident.

The hackers were able to access  Robinhood’s customer support systems by impersonating a customer service representative over the phone. Robinhood said it is working on properly notifying affected customers about the breach, and it is continuing its investigation with the assistance of security company Mandiant.

Technology: Nigeria, Cuba To Deepen Ties On STI Development

Elizabeth Williams
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Technology: Nigeria, Cuba To Deepen Ties On STI Development

Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu said that Nigeria and the Republic of Cuba will strengthen cooperation in the area of biotechnology development.

Dr. Onu said this when he received the Cuban ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Clara Polido Escandell, in his office in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.

The Minister said that the relationship between both countries will include research in vaccine production, medicine production and development of biotechnological materials. He added that the collaboration will be a mutually beneficial one.

The Minister further said that Cuban researchers and innovators have been able to produce medicine to manage diseases such as Meningitis which affects tropical African nations.

Dr. Onu who described the relationship between both nations as “warm and strong”, further assured the Cuban diplomat that Nigeria would stand on the principle of justice and will continue to be a dependable ally.

He used the opportunity to call on the Organised Private Sector (OPS), to invest more in STI, as Nigeria has all it takes to be a world power in scientific innovations.

She said her country is willing to provide expertise and assistance to Nigeria in the development of STI.

She used the opportunity to appreciate Nigeria as a dependable and strong ally, especially at the international stage.

Australian Technology Company, SAO Group Partner To Power Over 10,000 Nigerian Households, Health And Digital Literacy Centers

Angel Gimalo
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Australian Technology Company, SAO Group Partner To Power Over 10,000 Nigerian Households, Health And Digital Literacy Centers

Okra Solar is an Australian technology company using advanced digital monitoring, billing and mesh-grids to make electrification more affordable to underserved communities in Africa and Asia.

The company recently signed an MoU with SAO Group, one of Africa’s leading social impact investment and multi- competency advisor firms to energize community households, Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC) and Digital Literacy Centers (DLC) in South West of Nigeria.

This new alliance will see both parties work together to structure a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will secure finance for the scale-out of Okra mesh-grids in Ondo and Kwara State.

SAO and Okra Solar will be responsible for raising 6M USD for this SPV that will bring electricity to severely impacted communities, some of whom have been without electricity for 3 years despite being connected to the grid.

Currently SAO has agreements in place with the Kwara state government for the electrification of up to 1,000 schools, and an agreement with the Ondo state government for the electrification of up to 584 primary health care centers.

“There are more than 150,000 unelectrified households in the proximity of schools and PHCs in these areas that would be suitable for electrification through Okra’s mesh-grid technology,” said Indranil Roy, Business Development Manager, Okra Solar Nigeria on the selection criteria for the pilot project.

“Visiting the communities in Kwara that we considered for the pilot, it was clear that in addition to powering the households, we need to be connecting the schools and Primary healthcare centers as well.” He added.

Speaking further on their plans, Ayodeji Sotinrin, Chief Executive Officer of SAO Group shared that, “As a company that takes pride in our reputation for quality work across many sectors of Nigeria’s environment, we are delighted to have partnered with Okra for the roll-out of clean and very affordable energy solutions, starting in rural communities, where households are primarily dependent on imported fuels or have no energy at all.

This programme will ensure every household is given access to energy, our primary health facilities are no longer faced with operating under torchlight and our schools have the required supply of power to enable the introduction of Information Technology systems to its curriculum, allowing for enhanced education, increased employability and better livelihoods to all.”

As part of SAO Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda, the group will finance two pilot projects that will provide 24-hour energy to 198 households, 2 schools and 2 PHCs.

This will also validate the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) within the SPV business model, and furthermore, act as a showcase to attract funding from national and international donor organisations.

This pilot project is aimed for commissioning in March 2022 and is eligible under the NEP program supported by the REA, World Bank and African Development Bank.

It is a showcase of a new technology and business model being introduced to the Nigerian off-grid electrification ecosystem.

Thousands Protest Against Covid-19 Vaccine Mandate In New Zealand

Elizabeth Williams
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Thousands Protest Against Covid-19 Vaccine Mandate In New Zealand

New Zealand’s parliament is on high alert as thousands of anti-vaccination mandate protesters gathered in Wellington demanding the government repeal obligatory vaccination.

As mostly unmasked demonstrators marched through central Wellington and gathered outside parliament, all but two entrances to the building, known as the Beehive, were sealed off in the presence of unprecedented levels of police and security officers.

Approximately 2,000 protesters had assembled in central Wellington as of early Tuesday. The Speaker of the House, Trevor Mallard, told local news outlet Stuff that it was the most significant boost in parliamentary security he had seen since his election in 1984.

While the protest was peaceful, many people were spotted waving signs and placards that read “Freedom” and “Kiwis are not lab rats,” as well as yelling slogans demanding that the government repeal obligatory vaccination and remove limitations.

“I will not be forced to take something I don’t want in my body,” a protester stated outside parliament.

When challenged about the government’s stance on forcing the vaccine, another protester yelled, “Treat us like people!”

This year, New Zealand claimed inorder to contain a highly contagious epidemic of the Delta variant, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shifted from an extermination strategy based on lockdowns to a plan of living with the virus and increasing vaccinations.

In October, Ardern announced that teachers and workers in the health and disability sectors would be required to be completely vaccinated against COVID-19, and that restrictions would be lifted only when 90% of the eligible population had been vaccinated.

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