Flowerbud News

Author: Lara Olaniyi

  • World Economic Forum endorses Buhari’s social investment programmes

    The Schwab Foundation, a sister organisation of the World Economic Forum (WEF), has endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari’s National Social Investment Programmes(N-SIPs).

    Justice Bibiye, Communications Manager, National Social Investment Office (NSIO), in a statement on Monday, in Abuja, said the foundation conferred the prestigious Public Social Intrapreneur award on Mrs Maryam Uwais, Special Adviser to President on Social Investments.

    Bibiye said that efforts by the  Buhari administration to reduce poverty in Nigeria through its various SIPs had continued to receive thumbs up from well-meaning individuals and organisations within and outside the country.

    He said Uwais and 40 other individuals selected from different countries received the award on Monday in New York in recognition of their innovative approach and potential for global impact.

    “The list includes start-up founders and chief executive officers, multinational and regional business leaders, government leaders and recognised experts who are working to address social and environmental issues with innovation, in areas ranging from water purification to financial inclusion to combating hate.

    “For more than 20 years, the Schwab Foundation has recognised social entrepreneurs as a new breed of leaders, values-driven, inclusive, compassionate and entrepreneurial, developing new sustainable models for business, human development and environmental initiatives – and embedded them in the platforms of the WEF.

    “The 2019 awardees were formally inaugurated during the WEF’s Sustainable Development Impact Summit held on Sept. 23,  in New York, U.S.”

    Bibiye said that Uwais, in a goodwill message to the global gathering, described the award as an International endorsement of efforts by Buhari”s administration to address poverty and unemployment through the faithful implementation of the N-SIPs.

    He said, however, that Uwais was unable to attend the event in New York.

    The communications manager quoted Uwais as saying that the recognition was a call to action for the Federal Government to commit more resources to tackling poverty.

    Bibiye said that Uwais assured of continued transparency, efficiency and dedication in achieving the task of taking 100 million people out of poverty within 10 years, in line with the target set by President Buhari.

    “I am truly encouraged by this International endorsement of our efforts, through the structures and processes we have put in place towards ensuring that we drive implementation and set standards at Sub-National level in Nigeria (where the work is primarily done).

    “This award acknowledges that Nigeria is serious about reducing poverty and unemployment, while improving our human capital indices.

    “It is also a testament to the willingness of our legislators (at the National Assembly) and the Governors in the States to cooperate and partner the Federal Government in its bid to uplift the conditions of its hitherto less privileged citizens.

    “The close collaboration from the Federal Government,  ministries and agencies, as well as the governors and officials of the states and local governments, has enabled us to work towards our objectives, as one united and indivisible country.

    “I am humbled by this recognition and thankful to the Almighty for this opportunity to serve my country and its citizens.

    “I am also grateful to the team that has worked assiduously towards achieving our modest successes; it has been a collective effort, personally led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,” the statement quoted Uwais as saying.

    The Schwab Foundation provides a veritable platform of expertise, knowledge and resources, and a network we can engage with, for the work ahead.

    It is a privilege for me to be able to learn, share and engage with the very best in social entrepreneurship, for the benefit of Nigeria and its citizens.

    Uwais, whose appointment as Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment was recently renewed, has since 2016 been in charge of the NSIO, a portfolio of the Federal Government which coordinates all components of the NSIPs in an inclusive manner.

    No fewer than 10 million pupils in 32 states across the country are currently benefiting from the School Feeding Programme, while close to 650,000 poor and vulnerable households in 27 states are enrolled onto the National Cash Transfer Programme.

    This is in addition to over two  million people who have benefitted from interest and collateral-free loans through Marketmoni, Tradermoni, and Farmermoni facilitated under the Government Economic and Enterprise Programme GEEP.

    The N-Power, a job enhancement Scheme, has profitably engaged over 540,000 young people across all local government areas of the country.

  • Ganduje pledges unflinching support for attainment of universal health coverage

    Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State has declared his unflinching support for the implementation of all health sector reforms towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the state.

    Ganduje, represented by Nasir Gawuna, the Deputy Governor of Kano State, made the pledge at a three-day workshop for all states’ social health insurance agencies on Monday in Kano.

    He said the workshop was timely and had come when the Nigerian population was clamouring for access to affordable and qualitative healthcare.

    Ganduje said Kano state had commenced the implementation of contributory healthcare scheme over one and a half years ago and had become successful with over 370,000 enrollees accessing healthcare.

    “The scheme is currently operating in 245 healthcare facilities, comprising l34 primary healthcare facilities, 37 secondary healthcare facilities and 74 private healthcare facilities.

    “We have provided the legal framework for the scheme, renovated and furnished the Agency’s office accommodation, amounting to N85 million.

    “We have also approved a grant of N250 million for the provision of ICT infrastructure and released Nl00 million as necessary requirement for Kano state,’’ he said.

    Ganduje noted that the contributory healthcare scheme population coverage throughout the country had remained low.

    He added that this had challenged most states of the federation to domesticate the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) based on their religious beliefs and traditional value system.

    The governor however said access to affordable healthcare had continued to be a challenge for most households due to the high level of poverty and significant reliance on out-of-pocket expenses.

    Ganduje further explained that the participation in Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), in line with the state’s policy, drove to strengthen the state’s health system.

    He said five per cent of the state’s internally-generated revenue and one per cent of the local government areas’ statutory allocation have been dedicated to the health sector under the Kano State Health Trust Fund (KHETFUND).

    “The state is considering scaling up its free Maternal and Child Health programme by covering additional vulnerable groups, particularly, pregnant women, children under five and retired civil servants, under the Kano State Contributory Health Scheme.

    “These are part of government’s intervention towards a sustainable health system that will drive the process of achieving UHC by ensuring all Kano State residents have access to effective, quality and affordable health care,’’ the governor said.

    The Executive Secretary of NHIS, Prof. Mohammed Sambo, while speaking, said the workshop was aimed at aligning State Health Insurance Schemes to the NHIS.

    He said this was highly necessary, “because, in the year 2000, Nigeria was ranked 187 out of 191 in performance in health care systems globally”.

    Sambo noted that this was not good enough for Nigeria’s image among the comity of nations.

    He said the global target of attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 became a national momentum  generated to confront the challenges.

    “One of the viable options was to develop a National Health Bill that would transform the health sector so as to be more responsive to meeting the yearnings and aspiration of the citizens.

    “It took more than a decade to get this Bill passed into law, which became the current National Health Act that we are all celebrating today.

    “One appealing feature of this Act is the provision, that not less than one per cent consolidated revenue shall be dedicated to the health sector, out of which half of that fund is intended to improve financial access to health care services to the citizens through the National Health Insurance,” the NHIS executive secretary said.

    He further stated that the programme had become a reality, adding that many states lagging behind had successfully keyed into the programme.

    Sambo said NHIS disbursed the first tranche of N6.5 billion  of Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to 15 states and FCT in the last two weeks.

    He added that NHIS intends to develop a comprehensive coordination platform between it, states’ agencies, partners and other stakeholders in order to make health insurance the best programme in Nigeria.

  • Dangote Cement in Tanzania now runs on gas turbines

     

    Management of Dangote Cement has revealed that its Pan African sales increased by 2.7 per cent to nearly 4.7 million tons for the six month ended on June 30th 2019.

    To the delight of its investors, the company also revealed that its Tanzania Plants now runs on gas turbines, just as sales volumes from its Senegal Plants are more than 100% of its rated capacity.

    All in all, these surely are good signs of better days ahead for the company’s investors. It would be recalled that the company paid a whopping N272.6 billion as dividends to its shareholders last financial year, translating to N16 per 50kobo share,, an increase of 52.4 per cent against total dividend of N178.9 billion or N10.50 per share paid by the company for 2017 financial year.

    Chairman of the company, Aliko Dangote had recently said its cement terminals in Lagos State and Onne, Rivers, would be concluded before the end of 2019, as a way of further improving its market share.

    He promised that the terminals, which were delayed by equipment suppliers, would rake in about $700 million in foreign exchange through cement exportation to sub-Saharan Africa.

    He said the company would be opening export facilities within the terminals to export clinker and cement to its existing facilities both in Cameroun and other African countries.

    According to him: “Later in 2019, we will open export facilities in Lagos and Port Harcourt that will enable us export clinker initially to our grinding facility in Cameroun and then to new grinding plans we are building in West Africa…Not only will these generate useful foreign currency for Dangote Cement to support other expansion projects outside of Nigeria, they will also help to increase the output of our Nigerian plants,” he said.

    He further revealed that the company would be exporting cements through the terminals to Ghana, Cameroun, Sierra Leone and Congo, among others and as such make Nigeria the biggest exporter of cement in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Noting that the project will improve job creation and increase prosperity of the country, he said the company’s capacity will also increase on the completion of the terminals.

    Dangote Cement is Africa’s leading cement producer with nearly 46Mta capacity across ten countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. A fully integrated quarry-to-customer producer, it has a production capacity of 29.25Mta in Nigeria. Its Obajana plant in Kogi state, Nigeria, is the largest in Africa with 13.25Mta of capacity across four lines; its Ibese plant in Ogun State has four cement lines with a combined capacity of 12Mta, while its Gboko plant in Benue state has 4Mta.

    Through its recent investments, Dangote Cement has eliminated Nigeria’s dependence on imported cement and has transformed the nation into a net exporter, serving neighbouring countries that lack the limestone necessary for cement manufacturing.

     

  • Venezuela urges World leaders to stop Trump’s economic blockades

    (NEWS INVESTIGATORS) The Venezuelan Government has called on World Leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to stop Trump’s illegal sanctions of Economic blockade on Venezuela, Cuba and other countries.

    Ms Lidice Altuve, Director, Coordination of Culture and Solidarity of the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    She spoke to NAN on the sidelines of the 6th African Continental Conference of Solidarity with Cuba holding in Abuja from Sept. 23 to Sept. 25.

    Altuve said that the call from the Venezuelan government to the UN was a bid to protect the sovereignty, democracy, human rights of the people of Venezuela and Cuba.

    She said that the delegation from Venezuela to the Conference was to join voices with that of Cuba in a global solidarity to stop the U.S economic blockade imposed on Cuba for over sixty years and recently on Venezuela.

    “We came in this delegation to participate in this African Continental Conference of Solidarity with Cuba and we are representing our government here.

    “It is a platform where twenty nine African Countries are working in solidarity with Cuba and one of the expected outcomes of the meeting is specific solidarity with Cuba from Africa.

    “This meeting is a common struggle against the economic blockade of Cuba, fundamentally in two key points including to denounce criminal blockade against Cuba.

    “And secondly is the legitimate demand of Cuba territory of Guantanamo illegally occupied by the U.S Military.

    “Venezuela is joined to this group and talking about this blockade not just on Cuba but to Venezuela which is a violation of the international rule of law and the human rights.

    “Venezuela and Cuba are under attack, we are a victim of unconventional war against our government, our political system and the UN Assembly will be the place where we defend our sovereignty, our peace, political system.

    “This economic measures against our countries is above the international rule of law and a violation of our rights.

    “Nigeria is very powerful in solidarity movement and always on the front line playing a special role in this kind of movement especially from the labour movement, that is why we appreciate Nigeria’s support.

    Altuve said that Venezuela was a peaceful country and can resolve its problems without the intrusion from countries like the U.S, adding that there was already a peaceful resolution with the government and opposition groups.

    Also speaking to NAN, Ms Anahi Arizmendi, Director, Bicentenary Front of Women in Venezuela, said that the conference was an important forum for Venezuela to show its support to Cuba because of their historical ties.

    Arizmendi said that was important for the United Nations to rule against U.S economic blockade on other countries and to tag it a criminal action against people.

    She said explained that if one county is allowed to governise the world with actions like this, it would make the world ungovernable.

    “For the Venezuelan Woman Movement, this conference is very important because we are very grateful to Cuba, with all the social support that they gave to our revolution.

    “That is why when there is a solidarity meeting with Cuba, Venezuela will be there because we have a historical relationship.

    “We have deep relations with all the countries of Africa and because women are constitutors of peace, we build peace, we do not want war in the World.

    “So when we see aggressive actions of the government of the United States not only to Venezuela but against the world, women are in the front line so we are calling for the respect of the International Law.

    “What happened now is very dangerous and when you block countries like Venezuela, that is why we also come to this meeting because we are both countries that have been criminal blocked and it has affected our nation.

    “And affect principally woman because woman is the maker of the family, so now the blockade makes it difficult to get access to food, health and we have to work together and raise our voices to the United Nations.

    “Blockade is not only violating woman rights but a humanity crime and that is why it is important for the people to know the truth of our nation and in the case of Venezuela, we are a peaceful people.

    In his remarks, Mr Jhonny Gutierrez, Coordinator, Pan-African Movement of Venezuela said that the historical relations with Cuba, Venezuela and the African Continent cannot be overemphasized.

    Gutierrez explained the relationship as the reason for the solidarity of Africa against the human crimes of the U.S against Cuba and Venezuela which has affected the people and economy of both countries.

    He commended Africa’s support for Venezuela and Cuba at such a trying time adding that the relations between the countries of the Caribbean and the African Continent would continue to wax stronger.

    NAN reports that on Oct. 19, 1960, the U.S placed an economic blockade on Cuba and on Aug. 6, President Donald Trump announced the total U.S economic blockade of Venezuela

    With the U.S economic blockade, all entities within the United States, whether individual or government are prohibited from engaging in any economic, commercial or financial transaction with Cuba and Venezuela. (NAN)

  • IE University Hosts First Digital Solutions Venture Day In Africa At Zone Tech Park, Lagos

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS)  IE University, a leading global higher institution based in Madrid and Segovia,
    Spain held its first African Venture Day in Lagos State on Friday the 20 th of
    September.

    Themed Growth and Scalability in Business: Crafting a Winning
    Strategy, the event was put together to help further support startups dedicated
    to providing innovative digital based solutions to everyday problems faced by
    African businesses.

    The Lagos Venture Day which held at Zone Tech Park in Gbagada Lagos,
    commenced with a welcome address from the Lagos Consul General of Spain, Mr.

    Juan Antonio Moreda Otero. According to him, “IE University, Nigeria and Spain
    are three clear dots joined by three lines which are entrepreneurship, knowledge
    and commitment”. This was followed by a keynote address delivered by the MD,
    Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL), Dr. Amy Jadesimi.

    An intellectual panel discussion on Business in Tech and Sustainability was
    deliberated on where Managing Director of BPL Nigeria Limited Ajibade
    Oluwabiyi also advised founders to think 10 years into the future when starting a
    business. “When looking for that first customer, it’s advisable to keep your cost
    very low,” advised Adedeji Oduntan – Co-founder of Gokada. Other members of
    the panel comprised of founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria Limited, Dr Ola Brown;
    Senior Venture Analyst at Climate and Innovation Center, Adamu Garba; and
    Associate Director of Portfolio for Acumen (West Africa) Oluwatoyin Emmanuel.

    The insightful panel was moderated by CEO, Concept to Market, Funmi Odusola.

    Onyekachi Eke, Director of IE University (West Africa) and Sabine Yazbeck Director
    of IE University; (Middle East & Africa) shared the goals of IE which encompasses
    offering a dynamic, transformational learning environment that shapes the
    people who will go on to shape the world.

    The spotlight of the event introduced startups who pitched their innovative
    solutions to the jury made up of leaders in the tech and finance industries
    including Associate Director of IE Business School; Hans Kristofer Munthe-
    kass, Founder of TrainQuarters Stephanie Obi, Social Impact and ESG
    Manager at Alithea Capital, Temilade Denton; Programme Head, Accion
    Venture Lab Ekene Agu and; the Deputy Managing Director of Afrinvest; Victor
    Ndukauba.

    The five competing startups which had been selected based on their originality,
    financial viability and positive impact on major business challenges battled for the
    star prize of an all-expense paid trip to Spain to participate in a week long IE
    startup bootcamp and the South Summit start-up conference in Spain, 5
    million Naira cash, $15,000 promotional credits courtesy Amazon Web Services
    and 50% scholarship for any IE University’s High Impact Online Program
    (HiOP) of their choice.

    Social Lender; an organization which offers lending services to low-income
    earners who cannot provide collateral emerged winner of the Venture Day after
    being pitched by Mudiaga Ogboru. Monify; a platform which provides financial
    advisory services emerged runner-up. Other competitors included InventOne
    (pitched by Oluwatobi Oguntade) which helps users and tech enthusiasts to
    create things with little or no tech expertise, E.Farms (pitched by Victory Israel)
    dedicated to funding, training and providing digital solutions to farmers and Get It
    Done (pitched by Akinwunmi Olayemi) an app that encourages users to get things
    done on time. The audience were also given the power to select a people’s choice
    startup winner via a Twitter poll with Social Lender still emerging as winner.

    Speaking on whether the ideas from the Venture Day would profit Africa, Dr Amy
    Jadesimi said, “Nigeria should be at the core of driving growth throughout Africa
    and young people are going to be at the forefront of that. The people in this room
    today are equally instrumentally changing waves in Africa to contribute to the
    economy”
    IE hosts several events annually connecting entrepreneurial communities all over
    the world. The institution has been over time dedicated to providing solutions
    and prior to the Lagos Venture Day, held an event titled African Solutions, Global
    Problems earlier in June this year. The event featured a keynote of intellects from
    various areas such as banking, law, Fintech, technology, civil service with speakers
    presenting solutions they had applied to solve global challenges.

  • Ikwuano union hails Rep. Onuigbo for peaceful, fruitful politics

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) The lawmaker representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Sam Onuigbo has been commended for bringing peace and direction to politics.

    The leadership of the Ikwuano Development Union (IDU), Abuja branch, gave the commendation when they visited the lawmaker in his office at the National Assembly Complex.

    Speaking during the visit, the President of the union, Comrade Damian Mgbaramuko, commended Rep. Onuigbo for for attracting the contract for the reconstruction of the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene federal road.

    He pointed out that Onuigbo always sought the opinion of the union in whatever he was doing with a view to identifying any challenges and seeking soutions to them.

    He therefore said that  that it became imperative for the union to visit the lawmaker to congratulate him for his victory and the polls and tribunal and to thank him for all his efforts.

    In their separate speeches, patrons of the union, Mr. John Chinasa, Elder Bright Oriaku, and Chief Mark Okezie, commended Rep. Onuigbo for bringing a burst of fresh air to politics in Ikwuano with his people-oriented projects.

    They thanks him for being a different type of politician, describing him as a dogged politician who was able to break the jinx of one-term representation.

    They therefore pledged their total and unwavering support and that of Ikwuano people to him, in all of his future endeavours.

    Vice President of the union, Mazi Ken Ikeokwu Mbagwu, stated that since Rep. Onuigbo joined politics, Ikwuano has had relative peace and focus politically.

    He said that it is clear that those following in his footsteps will bring so much more to Ikwuano because Rep. Onuigbo is raising an empowered and bolder crop of Ikwuano leaders.

    He commended the honourable member for being more interested in impacting lives than personal gains, and promised him that Ikwuano people were completely behind him.

    Earlier, His Royal Highness, Eze J.I Nwagbara, the Eze Udo 1 of Lugbe, thanked Rep. Onuigbo for attracting the contract for the reconstruction of the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene federal road.

    He advised the lawmaker to identify viable projects that he can carry out in the four clans of Ikwuano.

    Responding, Rep. Sam Onuigbo thanked God for his re-election and victory at the tribunal.

    He recalled that the primary election that gave him the ticket to contest under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) was a very tough one, but God heard the prayers of Ikwuano people, despite all the challenges.

  • Buhari congratulates Anglican Primate-elect Archbishop Ndukuba

    (flowerbudnews) President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Most Revd. Henry Ndukuba on his emergence as the Primate-elect of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

    Archbishop Ndukuba was elected at the Episcopal Synod of the Church of NIgeria, Anglican Communion, which held in Asaba, Delta State on Tuesday, September 24.

    In a statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), the President also felicitates with members of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria on the successful election of a new spiritual leader, who will by the grace of God direct the affairs of the church in the next ten years.

    “President Buhari appreciates the role of the Anglican Church in promoting interfaith dialogue, peace, stability, education and social welfare in the country.

    “With a long and distinguished vocation as a priest for 30 years, bishop for 20 years and archbishop for two years, the President counts on the Primate-elect, who is at present the Bishop of Gombe Diocese & Archbishop of Jos Province of the Anglican Communion, to continue in propagating the qualities that epitomises the ministry of Jesus Christ, who taught his followers love, compassion and humility.

    “President Buhari also commends the outgoing Primate of the Church, His Grace, the Most Rev’d Nicholas Okoh, for his dedication, service and leadership, recounting the invaluable support this administration has received from the Church.

    The President wishes Archbishop Ndukuba a successful tenure as he begins a new phase of ministry as the fifth Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

  • Putin, Maduro hold talks in Moscow

    (flowerbudnews) Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, in Moscow amid the ongoing political crisis in the South American country.

    Maduro arrived in Moscow on September 24. Russia has been one of Maduro’s rare steadfast allies in the face of what it has described as U.S. efforts to undermine him.

    Despite Venezuela’s extreme economic and political crisis, Moscow has kept supporting Maduro with generous loans.

    Neither Putin nor Maduro spoke about any financial aid in their opening remarks. But Putin said Russia has invested so far some $4 billion in Venezuela.

    Putin told Maduro that Russia backed dialogue between the government and opposition to find a way out of Venezuela’s political crisis.

    Separately, Russian news agency Interfax reported that Russia planned to supply up to 600,000 tons of grain to Venezuela this year.

    Maduro’s visit also comes the day after U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a warning to Venezuela, denouncing Maduro in his speech at the United Nations.

    Venezuela’s opposition said earlier this month that a dialogue mediated by Norway to try to resolve the crisis in Venezuela had ended, six weeks after Maduro’s government suspended its participation.

    Maduro’s representatives walked away from the table in August to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s tightening of sanctions on Caracas.

    Meanwhile, diplomatic sources in Brussels, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the European Union had approved sanctions on seven more Venezuelan officials over torture and other human rights abuses, as the bloc seeks to keep up pressure on Maduro.

    Ambassadors from the 28-member bloc gave their backing to the measures in a meeting on September 25, bringing to 25 the number of Venezuelan officials under EU travel bans and asset freezes.

  • Prince Harry, Meghan visit oldest mosque in South Africa

    Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are keeping busy on their royal trip to South Africa.

    The Duke and Duchess of Sussex  paid a visit to the country’s oldest mosque, the Auwal Mosque, in the Bo-Kaap section of Cape Town. It was built in 1794.

    For the visit, Meghan ditched the denim jacket she wore earlier in the day and donned a cream-coloured headscarf. Harry changed out of his casual-collar shirt to a light-grey suit with no tie.

    Earlier in the day, the couple paid a visit to Monwabisi Beach on behalf of Waves For Change, a nonprofit that promotes surfing and also provides mental health services.

    “Their Royal Highnesses were able to hear how the sessions are building trust, confidence, and belonging,” read a caption describing the meeting on the Sussex Royal Instagram page, with a gorgeous photo of Meghan smiling.

    “And they also got to join in as children took part in ‘power hand’, which teaches them how to keep calm down [and] reflect on strengths.”

    During the outing, the two royals complemented each other’s parenting skills, though little Archie was nowhere to be seen on the second day of the family’s trip (as he may have been resting up and recovering from a little jet lag).