Tourism Professionals Institute Gets Quality Management System Certification

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November 23, 2021

The Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria, (ITPN) has received Quality Management System Standard certification from the Standard Organization of Nigeria, (SON).

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of SON, Farouq A. Salim made the presentation in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

He said, “With the issuance of the Certificate, ITPN has joined a few privileged class of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certified organizations in the tourism sector in Nigeria, adding that this milestone achievement in the pursuit of excellence in service delivery is commendable and worthy of emulation by all service providers in the country.

“It also attested to the Institute’s ability to formalize its operational system via document processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives recommended by the standard which further strengthened the Institute’s process of efficiency, organizational culture, regulatory compliance, optimize continuous improvement efforts and adopt data for evidence-based decision making that ensures customer satisfaction.”

Salim further noted that “Implementing the ISO 9001:2015 system certification is a demonstration of ITPN’s management system of conforming to internationally acceptable standard requirements and the ability of the Institute to get it right the first time and always.“

“Being one of the very few certified Institutes in Nigeria, he observed that the challenge in this endless journey to excellence, calls for a re-direction of efforts towards delivering of consistent customer satisfaction, and appealed to all other private and public organizations that are yet to embark on the journey of certification to embrace the ISO management approach for the overall benefits of all.“ he added.

The Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN) is a vocational and tertiary level professional organization, established to furnish the tourism industry with professional personnel that provide education and membership structure aimed at guaranteeing excellent standards of service within the tourism and related industries as well as promoting professional ethics and efficiency in tourism administration and practice.

Students Protest Varsity No School Fees, No Exam Policy

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 23, 2021

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Management of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Akoko in Ondo State, shut down the institution indefinitely following violent protest by the students over the ‘No school fees, No examination’ policy by the school council.

The Registrar of the institution, Olugbenga Arujulu in a statement announced the indefinite closure of the institution and urged the students to vacate their halls of residence with immediate effect

Plans by the school authorities to enforce the No school fees, No examination’ policy, sparked off the protest by students of the school.

The students, chanting various solidarity songs, barricaded the Owo-Ikare Expressway causing gridlock for several hours as business and economic activities in the university community were paralysed during the protest.

Many of the students, yet to pay the new tuition fees, insisted that the fees be reduced, while the management insisted that the examination would commence.

Following the breakdown of law and order as a result of the protest, the first-semester examination, scheduled to commence on Monday, was put on hold as the student shunned the examination hall.

Speaking on the protest, the President, Students Union Government of the institution, Kolade Ogunsanmi said the protest was against the no school fees, no examination policy of the university management adding that the school management has reversed the policy.

Meanwhile, the management of the institution, in the circular signed by the Registrar of the institution, Olugbenga Arujulu, sent to staff and students, said the students would be allowed to write the examination, following the plea made by the students union government of the university.

The circular read, ” The management received and considered the passionate plea of the student union leadership on the above subject matter. Management has directed that all students be allowed to sit for the first semester examinations for the 2020/2021 academic session.

“For emphasis, 100 level students who are yet to complete the processes of getting their matriculation numbers are to use their JAMB Registration numbers to sit for their examinations.

“However, all students are still enjoined to complete their registration processes before conclusion of their examinations.

The purpose of this circular is to bring the above to the attention of all students for their information.”

UNIBEN Appoints Tor Tiv As New Chancellor

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 23, 2021

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The Tor Tiv of Benue Prof. James Ayatse, was on Monday in Benin installed the 10th substantive Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

Recall that Ayatse succeeded the deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

In his acceptance speech, the new chancellor announced prize for best well-behaved student of the institution, beginning from 2022 academic session.

Prof. Ayatse commended President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the visitor of the University for finding him worthy of the position.

“This new assignment is a familiar terrain and I promise to work diligently with the management of this institution to take the University to a greater height.
“I am not unaware of the oblivious challenges confronting public Universities in Nigeria. I assure that I will use my influence to take UNIBEN to greater heights,” he added.

Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Lilian Salami, said the school was proud to have such a distinguished academic and traditional ruler as Chancellor at a time when the wisdom and experience of reputable leaders are needed.

Afreximbank Signs $825m Deal With NEXIM Bank

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Elizabeth Williams

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November 23, 2021

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The African Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Nigerian Export and Import (NEXIM) Bank in Durban, South Africa, signed a total of $475 million project financing and a grant of $350 million.

A breakdown of the financing shows that the $350,000 grant is to be used to dredge the Niger-Benue River to help move goods from the seaports further into the land port.

The second agreement was Afreximbank’s support to Nexim with a $50 million facility to boost fleets. More importantly, there was another $400 million to help expand inland ports as well as existing ports to support intra-African and regional trade. This is the first deal to be signed between the two institutions. To ensure that Afreximbank can work together with Nexim to promote the ceiling projects.

Also embedded in this, was a $25 million facility, referred to as the pandemic trade impact facility, which is to be disbursed to NEXIM to help make its support to its clients who are into the import-export business in Nigeria. The facility will help Nexim’s clients mitigate the impact of the COVID and the pandemic on their businesses and ensure that they can bounce back and quickly get out of the adverse effects of Covid-19.

Speaking on the sideline of Nigeria’s day at the ongoing 2021 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), Benedict Oramah, (professor), president, Afreximbank, said, “why we do this country day event is to receive information on the trade and investment opportunities in the countries that win the bid to host country days. We also use it in the case of Nigeria to test the reach and diverse culinary and cultural endowment of the country”.

He said Nigeria has demonstrated resolute support to Afreximbank and the Intra-African trade fair. This has been underscored this year by the participation of President Buhari at the opening ceremony. This year also, Nigeria is participating with a very strong contingent of about 1,500 as of today (Thursday).

“Afreximbank is most grateful for the support we have been receiving from Nigeria. We are grateful for the support we have received during this trade fair, which has a long history of fund support Afreximbank has received from the government and the people of Nigeria since it was created,” Oramah said.

It is that support that propels Afreximbank’ intervention in Nigeria. For instance, Afreximbank’s cumulative direct financing support topped $26 billion by the end of 2020.

LCCN Announce Plans To Establish University In Nigeria

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 23, 2021

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The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, LCCN, has announced the progress made in its quest to establish the Lutheran University, with the attainment of some of the requirements laid down by the National Universities Commission, NUC.

The President of the Lutheran World Federation, Archbishop Musa Panti Filibus said in a letter to the over 2 thousand church congregations across Nigeria, that the church had obtained 161.9 hectares of land in Demsa, Adamawa State for the University, as well as the traditional and local government certificates of occupancy while anticipating the Certificate of Occupancy of the Adamawa State Government.

Archbishop Filibus said Environmental Impact Assessment on the Land had been conducted and awaiting the certificate from the Federal Ministry of Environment.

“Industrial boreholes will soon be in place and moulding of blocks about to start. Key documents required such as Academic Brief, University Law and Masterplan are ready,” He added.

The Archbishop attributed the achievements to the effort, commitment and support of the church congregations in Nigeria, LCCN partners and friends towards the actualization of the University Project.

Archbishop Filibus while highlighting the vision and purpose for the establishment of the University, the level the church had reached in the implementation process, stated that for about 108 years, the LCCN has been providing quality education.

He said the need to establish a Lutheran University had become urgent, going by the numbers of school leavers LCCN Schools were producing every year.

Motorists missing after mass Nigeria abduction

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Henry Williams

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November 23, 2021

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Police in Nigeria’s north-west state of Kaduna say an unknown number of people have been kidnapped and one person shot dead by suspected armed gangs along a highway linking the state to the capital Abuja.

The Sunday afternoon incident has triggered tension in the country’s capital and neighbouring states.

Videos emerged on social media showing several empty vehicles stranded on the highway – it is feared their occupants were kidnapped.

Kaduna state police spokesman Mohammed Jalige told the BBC that security forces have been deployed to the location after a team of government officials visited the scene of the attack on Monday.

The police declined to give the figure of those kidnapped.

But eyewitnesses said at least 40 people were kidnapped, and five others killed near Katari village.

FG to procure N10m gas cylinders for Nigerians, says Adesina

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Henry Williams

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November 23, 2021

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Federal Government, yesterday, promised to procure 10 million gas cylinders for marketers for onward distribution to end-users. The units would be exchanged with old cylinders from various homes.

This was made known by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on LPG, Mr. Dayo Adesina, at a two-day LPG sensitisation and awareness campaign organised by the National LPG Expansion Plan, Office of the Vice President in conjunction with Delta State Government held in Government House, Asaba.

He said there was no reason anyone should use firewood, kerosene and charcoal for cooking, especially when the country was blessed with an abundance of gas.

Adesina identified Delta State as strategic to the National LPG Expansion plan in view of its contributions to oil and gas development in the country and commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for setting up four training centres for manufacturing of low emission stoves in the state.

Napoli’s Osimhen to have operation on Tuesday

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Henry Williams

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November 23, 2021

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Napoli striker Victor Osimhen faces an operation on Tuesday after suffering multiple face fractures following a clash of heads during the weekend defeat at Inter Milan, the Seria A leaders announced on Monday.

The Nigerian, who had to spend Sunday night under observation in a Milan hospital after the match at the San Siro, “will return to Naples in the evening” on Monday, Napoli said on its website.

The 22-year-old managed to walk off the pitch, clearly dazed and with a swollen face, after being flattened in an aerial challenge with Milan Skriniar. Tests revealed “multiple displaced fractures of the left eye socket and cheekbone”.

Senate alleges N16b padding of 2022 budget

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Henry Williams

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November 23, 2021

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The Senate Committee on Environment, yesterday, said it had discovered some N16 billion included in the 2022 budget of the Ministry of Environment for servicing of debts believed to have been collected by state governments.

Chairman of the panel, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, made the revelation during the presentation of his committee’s report before the Senate Committee on Appropriation in Abuja.

He claimed that about N6 billion was also added to the ministry’s 2021 budget, for which it was queried by the committee, stating, “only for it to be brought back in next year’s budget, this time to the tune of N16 billion.”

Ekweremadu explained that the loan was exclusively approved by a global institution for the state governments with a moratorium of 10 years.

He wondered why the ministry kept reflecting the facility in every budget cycle.

Ramaphosa urges men to end violence against women

By

Henry Williams

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November 23, 2021

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked South African men to play a greater role in preventing gender-based violence (GBV) in the country.

Mr Ramaphosa’s comments follow the release of the latest crime statistics by the police, which indicate an increase in rape cases, domestic violence, and child murders.

Between July and September this year, 9,556 people, mostly women, were raped. This is a 7% increase from the previous reporting period.

The president urged South Africans to work together to ensure that this year’s 16 days of activism against GBV, which kick off on Thursday, “is meaningful” and “moves beyond mere words”.