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DTAC Advances Pres. Tinubu’s Soft Power Diplomacy Initiative as DG Visits Uganda, Meets TAC Volunteers, Minister, VCs in Kampala

By Biola Lawal

Kampala (Flowerbudnews): Pres. Tinubu’s Soft Power Diplomacy Initiative received a boost in Uganda as Director General of the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps, Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub Uganda, met TAC Volunteers, Uganda Minister, VCs in Kampala.

Speaking during the visit, Hon. Buba Yakub emphasised the wisdom and enormous advantages that soft power wielded over coercion in nation-to-nation relations, a statement by Nkem Anyata-Lafia,
Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the DG, DTAC, disclosed.

Hon. Bube met separately with Volunteers serving in the TAC Scheme, Vice Chancellors of Universities hosting the Volunteers in Uganda as well as the Minister of Education and Sports of Uganda.

The DTAC Director General said that the Technical Aid Corps Scheme remained an instrument of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy through which President Tinubu Administration wished to continue to deploy soft-power diplomacy to countries of Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific in line with the Nigerian President’s 4-D Agenda.

Hon. Buba Yakub acknowledged the strong bilateral ties and relations existing between Nigeria and Uganda even before the establishment of Country Missions in their both capital cities.

He reminded his diverse audiences that Nigeria recognised early enough, her immense potential in human and natural resources, necessitating her big-brother roles.

Hon. Buba Yakub noted that Nigeria took an Afro-centric stance to contribute to the development of sister- African countries as well as countries with sizable black populations across other continents in what is generally known as South-South co-operation.

The DTAC Boss said that the provision of manpower to such African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries was a deliberate move to bridge the gap in capacities that were lacking in those nations and also help develop the needed skills among such host nations towards the attainment of self-reliance.

He said; ”Uganda and Nigeria have come a long way., I recall that the first Chief Justice of Uganda, Justice Udo Udoma, was an eminent Nigerian jurist from today’s Cross River State.

”It is no wonder,therefore,that when the TAC Scheme came on board with the establishment of the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps in 1987, Uganda became one of the first countries to receive Volunteers and benefit from the Scheme in 1988.

“About 35 years after, I am happy to observe that we have continued to deploy quality Volunteers to Uganda. These Volunteers, from what we have gathered in the course of this visitation and from what University authorities have, specifically, told us,have continued to discharge their duties with dexterity and knowledge’:

Hon Buba Yakub said further;”the volunteers have been adjudged by all as worthy Ambassadors of the Nigerian nation,who have exemplified character, conduct and learning wherever they are currently serving”.

Earlier, during interactions with the Volunteers at the Nigerian Mission in Kampala, where they had gathered to receive the DTAC delegation, the Volunteers expressed appreciation for the benefits the TAC Scheme has provided to them to contribute to global development and to return to Nigeria better.

Most of the 75 Volunteers ranged from Senior Lecturers, Associate Professors and Professors, among whom are Faculty Deans, Heads of Departments and Directors of Schools in the four Universities where they are serving in Uganda

Hon. Buba Yakub and his delegation also interacted with the authorities of the four Universities where the Nigerian volunteers are serving.

Those who attended the session with the Nigerian delegation were, Vice Chancellor of Kampala International University, Prof. Muhamad Mpezamihigo, that of Canvendish University, Prof. John Mogisha as well as Associate Prof. Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda of Islamic University in Uganda( IUIU) and the representative of the Vice Chancellor of Kabale University, who is also Dean , Faculty of Engineering in the institution, Prof.Moses N. Twesigye-Omwe,

The DTAC delegation was enthralled at the level of encomiums poured on the TAC Scheme Volunteers in the four citadels of higher learning where they are serving.

The authorities of the various schools expressed their desire to receive more Volunteers and also stated their wish to retain some of them whose two-year service tenure are nearing completion.

The DTAC Delegation was elated to note that Ugandan Hon. Minister for Education and Sports, the Hon. Minister of State for Primary Education, a Medical Consultant, Dr.Joyce Kalucha, who stood in for her colleague in the Higher Education section of the Ministry headed by Janet Museveni, the nation’s First Lady that also doubles as the substantive Minister of Education and Sports, was herself trained by a Nigerian Volunteer in the TAC Scheme in the early years of the Scheme.

The Ugandan team, which apart from the Hon. Minister of State, also comprised the Commissioner for Higher Education,Timothy Musoke Ssejjoba;the Director, Higher Education;Dr.Sophia Museene and Mpyangu Godfrey Andrew, Senior Assistant Secretary,among others,informed the Nigerian delegation of ongoing reforms in the Ugandan education sector.

The team requested support from DTAC in order to bridge the identified gaps in such areas as:Oil and Gas Engineering/Technology, Aviation Engineering/Technology, the Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, among other areas.

The DTAC delegation,led by the DG, Rt. Hon.Buba, and comprising Amb.Mohammed Mohammed,Director of Programmes; Mr.Idris Saidu,Ag.Director, Finance and Accounts and Mrs Rahila Ayuba Kaura,Ag.Director, Monitoring and Evaluation,also met with the Permanent Secretary, Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs,where commitment was also elicited for more collaboration, co-operation and strengthening of existing ties in areas relevant to the TAC Scheme. (Flowerbudnews)

November 9, 2023
Lagos, EnterprisNGR Take Center Stage in London

Sanwo-Olu, Aig-Imoukhuede lead delegation to Lord Mayor’s Show to attract foreign investment

Arrangements have been concluded by the Lagos State Government and EnterpriseNGR; an advocacy group that promotes the growth and development of Nigeria’s Financial and Professional Services (FPS) sector as a catalyst for economic development, to take part in the Lord Mayor’s Show in London. (more…)

November 8, 2023
Female lawyers sensitize traditional rulers on violence against persons prohibition law in Osun

The International Federation of Women Lawyers(FIDA), Osun State chapter has sensitised traditional leaders in the state on the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law.

The association addressed the traditional rulers during their monthly meeting held at the Government Secretariat, Abere in Osogbo, the state capital. (more…)

November 8, 2023
ARK of Light for All Nations opens November 11

The Ark of Light for all Nations, a multi-billion Naira project envisioned by Dr. Isaiah Macwealth, will be opened on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at the Church premises, Plot 11C, Kudirat Abiola Way, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

The 10,000 capacity project will serve as the international headquarters of Gospel Pillars International Churches, and a base for missions and help projects around the world. (more…)

November 8, 2023
Banks may thwart Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, says Salis

A New York-based lawyer and chartered accountant, Chief Owolabi Salis, has advised the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to closely monitor the activities of the nation’s banks for economic recovery. (more…)

November 8, 2023
Climate Change: D-G urges South-East residents to adopt environmental-friendly, cost-saving cooking

By Flowerbudnews
Enugu: The Director-General of National Council on Climate Change, Dr Salisu Dahiru, has urged South-East residents to adopt an environmentally-friendly cooking stove to preserve the vegetation and forests of the zone.

Dahiru made the call at the South-East women sensitization on Climate Change and Atmosfair Save-80 Clean Cookstoves in Enugu on Wednesday.

He noted that millions of households in the country, including those in the South-East, cook at least once a day, two or three times daily; and most households do the cooking depending on fire-wood or charcoal from trees.

According to him, apart from the individual hazards this cooking does to the health, family pocket and immediate surrounding; in the long run and collectively it leads to depleting and eroding away of our forest and natural vegetation.

He said: “This is the leading cause of soil breakage, erosion and gully erosion as well as landslides in the country especially in the South-East.

“Again, the soil in Enugu State and some parts of the zone are fragile soil, which can be washed away at any time if we negatively expose the vegetation by excessive cutting down of trees, shrubs and under-growth plants.

“All these negative tendencies that lead to exposure of our people and their environment to negative climate change consequences are mainly due to using fire-wood and charcoal to cook. However, Atmosfair Save-80 Clean Cookstoves is here with solution”.

The director-general said that Save-80 Clean Cookstoves, when adopted by all homes both urban and rural in the country, would practically reduce fire-wood/charcoal usage to 80 per cent per home; thus conserving the vegetation and forest ecosystem.

“You will only need to use about 20 per cent of the normal fire-wood used for cooking a meal at home when you use this environment-friendly; and 80 per cent cost-saving if you do buy fire-wood for cooking.

“The stove produces very little smoke; thus, being environmentally-friendly and conserving the health of the cooking mother or cook; and the stove can be used outdoors even when it rains,” he said.

Speaking, Amb. Faruk Malami-Yabo, the Chairman, Board of Advisory of Atmosfair and former Nigerian Ambassador to Jordan, said the environmentally-friendly stoves would positively enhance cooking experience and save the environment from the negative effects of climate change.

Malami-Yabo said that the stove was built through German technology to last for over 10 years, while it can withstand daily extensive rugged use for the household.

“It is good we start taking conscious steps to address issues of climate change in our various localities by sensitising our people on it and adopting smart climate change technologies and procedures,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries of the sensitisation, Mrs Onyekachi Ugwu, thanked the Council and Atmosfair for the sensitisation on climate change as well as the demonstration on how the clean and smart cooking stove would be used.

“This stove and its wonder pot is better and produces fast cooking results even as I wish that it can get to every household in the South-East,” Ugwu said. (Flowerbudnews)

November 8, 2023
Agency leadership dissolution: Court begins contempt proceedings against Wike, others

Abuja: A National Industrial Court in Abuja on Wednesday began has a contempt proceedings against FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and others over alleged disregard of series of court orders.

The court affirmed Alhaji Faruk Abubakar as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML).

The development was sequel to the decision of the minister to include AMML’s MD in the list of heads of agencies dissolved on Sept. 27.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wike had, on Sept. 27 in a statement, relieved the heads of 21 parastatals, agencies and government companies of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) of their appointments with immediate effect, including AMML.

The contempt charge, filed by Alhaji Abubakar also joined FCTA, AMML and Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL) as 2nd to 4th defendants respectively, including the former acting MD of AMML, Engr. Yakubu Abbas.

In the Form 48 marked: NICN/ABJ/62/2023 dated and filed on Nov. 3, the application was titled: “Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court.”

It was brought pursuant to Section 72 Sheriff and Civil Process Act, 2004; Order IX Rules 1-3 of the Judgment Enforcement Rules and Under the inherent jurisdiction of court.

The application reads: “Take notice that unless you (the defendants) obey the orders and directions contained in the judgment of court on July 20 and the order of this Honourable Court made on July 26, you will be guilty of the contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

NAN reports that Abubakar’s counsel, Faruk Khamagam, had, following the dissolution, written to Wike on Sept. 28, to inform him about the peculiar situations that surrounded the agency’s headship and the legal tussle that preceded his appointment as minister.

Khamagam, in the letter, told Wike series of court judgments that affirmed Abubakar’s status as substantive MD of AMML.

The contempt proceeding was against the allegation that the minister and others are acting in disobedience to the orders of the industrial court made on July 20, restraining them from giving effect to the purported letter of termination of the employment of Abubakar as the AMML’s MD.

Justice R.B.Haastrup had restrained the defendants from giving effect to the termination of the employment of Abubakar Usman Faruk as the M.D of AMML, which was contained in their letter dated July 17 until the hearing and determination of the counterpart motion on notice.

The judge also ordered the defendants not to,in any way, interfere in the management, business and corporate affairs of the AMML and that status quo ante be maintained until the counterpart motion on notice was heard and determined.

NAN also reports that Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, had, on July 10 in a judgment, restrained the FCT Minister, the FCTA and others in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/499/2023 from dissolving and reconstituting the Board of AMML by political fiat or press statement, without first following the procedure of CAMA, 2020.

The court declared that doing so is ultra vires the powers of the FCT Minister and the FCTA.

The court also affirmed Abubakar as AMML’s MD.

Khamagam, who said the AICL and FCTA had continued to insist on the termination of Abubakar’s employment as contained in their July 17 letter, also said that Abbas had been parading himself as AMML acting MD against valid court orders and judgment.

“Engr. Yakubu Abbas himself, has been parading himself as the acting MD of AMML and has been signing and issuing documents in that capacity, in the name of AMML from unknown locations,” he alleged.

The AMML Legal Adviser and Secretary, Mr Felix Edache, also alleged that on Monday, the policemen from various commands stormed AMML head office in Gudu on the order of the FCT commissioner of Police.

Edache said the officers, led by DSP Bello Adamu, said they were deployed to ensure peace and workers’ safety.

“When I resumed, I saw a flood of armed policemen all over the premises.

“Upon getting to the office, I was told that they had come to ensure safety of the place but I told them that I am not aware that AMML made any complaint to the police to that effect.

“In fact if there should be any of such complaint, it should have come from me,” he said.

According to him, the real agenda unfolded later in the evening when they provided a memo from the FCTA signed by the General Counsel, Salman Dako, purportedly written on behalf of the FCT Minister asking the CP to prevent the MD, Abubakar, and the Legal Adviser from gaining entrance into the office.

“Although, the memo by Dako cited the termination of Abubakar’s employment as the eason for the request, it did not say why the police is being asked to prevent me from entering the office.

“We are law abiding citizens. We will never do anything to subvert the law.

“However, any attempt to trample our right would be resisted with every legal tool.

“It is time for the Minister to reassess his legal team at the ministry so that they don’t end up misleading him into running foul of the law which he also swore to protect as both lawyer and public servant.

“I am hopeful that the minister will act accordingly,” he said.(NAN)(www.mamnews.ng)/Flowerbudnews

November 8, 2023
Women’s participation in peacebuilding crucial for national security, says NSA

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Abuja The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, says women’s partcipation in peacebuilding at the community level is critical to strengthening national security.

Ribadu stated this in Abuja on Tuesday at the 2023 Women’s Peace Forum (WPF) with the theme “Strengthening Women’s Strategic Engagement in Climate-Focused Peace Making in Nigeria”.

Ribadu was represented by Head of Strategic Communications, Office of the NSA, Zakari Mijinyawa at the event organised by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) in partnership the Government of Canada.

For this, he said, the Federal Government was putting in place special measure to mainstream woman into peac building activities.

“As you are aware, the renewed hope agenda has one of its key pillars as strengthening national security. The plans for police reform and also moving millions of Nigerians out of poverty cannot be done without empowering woman.

“Woman are victims, and also contributors to peace at community levels. So it is a key pillar of national security that at every level, women are involved.

“Indeed, the federal government is taking special measures to mainstream women into peace building activities.

“So that is why we thought it is very important to come in and participate and also to contribute in shaping the resolutions of this programme,” Rbadu said.

On rehabilitation efforts in the North-East, Ribadu said both the federal and state governments have been supportive to persons impacted by the impact of violent extremism and terrorism.

He said that the federal government under President Bola Tinubu has expanded the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs to include poverty alleviation and to meet the needs of those affected by conflicts and insecurity.

”In Maiduguri and in most of the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, women are involved in both peace building and in addressing their needs in the areas of health, psychosocial support, and also in rebuilding communities.

“ So this is at the heart of recovery going forward,” Ribadu said

Speaking, the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong said that the current peace and security challenges in Nigeria, have devastating effects, particularly on women and girls and other vulnerable groups.

This according to Eyong includes climate change vis-a-vis the farmer-herder crisis, cybercrime, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery and incessant attacks by the insurgents, among others.

She said there was need for the patricians to deliberate further on those challenges during this conference to identify sustainable solution

“It is evident that while climate change continues to put pressure on the wellbeing and livelihoods of many communities and individuals in Nigeria and beyond, as its impact is not gender neutral.

“Women and girls continue to be disproportionally affected by environmental degradation and climate change.

“ Women tend to be more reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods compared to men, and often have limited rights to information and participation in decision-making, including conflict prevention and peacemaking, at all levels,’’ eyong said.

The Country manager of HD, Dr Chris Agoha, observed that as communities migrate from climate-related crises, women were more vulnerable to security threats and violence.

Agoha decried that woman who play a significant role in small-scale farming and food supply in Nigeria, they were not usually part Nigerians making policies about food security.

He said that the conference was to see how climate change was adversely impacting on women in terms of carrying out their daily activity, especially women with farming as their source of livelihood.

“There is a big climatic conditions, all about global warming and all that. So this climate change is affecting every aspect of our life, particularly women in terms of what they do.

“It’s bringing conflict, depletion of natural resources. If you look at the crisis in the middle belt, there is this problem of farmer herders clash.

“ It’s been exacerbated by climate change. There’s shrinking grazing space and land is being contested,’’ Agoha said.

During the panel session, the Director-General of the Benue Peace and Resolution Commission, Mrs Josephine Abba said:”until Nigeria begins to accept that women are critical participants in the society, nothing can be achieved in the area of peace and food security.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

November 8, 2023

Those with Better Looks Are More Likely to Be Single – JD Survey

Survey by JD – JustDating: Those with Better Looks Are More Likely to Be Single

Hong Kong People Meet in Person After Only 3.2 Hours of Online Chat: Technology and Aviation Industry Professionals Show Higher Willingness to Date

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 7 November 2023 – With the annual Singles’ Day approaching on November 11th (11/11), some singles are eager to escape singledom on this day, while others, humorously self-proclaimed as having a “perpetually single” disposition, continue to embrace solitude. In light of this, the popular dating app “JD – Just Dating” conducted a survey specifically targeting single users in Hong Kong. The findings were astonishing, with a staggering 77% of single men and women expressing the belief that simply shopping on the streets during Singles’ Day is not enough to fulfil their psychological needs. Instead, they actively seek companionship and the opportunity to “date” on this special day.

The age group of these singles eager for dates ranges from 27 to 33 years old. They enjoy initiating conversations and invite online friends for in-person dates after chatting online for 3.2 hours on average. Those working in the technology and aviation industries are most willing to go on dates, and surprisingly, good looks have become a significant contributing factor to their single status.

Hong Kong Singles Meet for Dates to Soothe Loneliness After Just 3.2 Hours of Chat

The popular dating app, “JD,” conducted a statistical survey on the topic of “2023 Singles’ Day.” The survey took place from October 5th to 25th, 2023, and involved 1,300 users aged between 22 and 45 in Hong Kong. The analysis of the data from this user group found that a substantial 77% of single men and women believe that on Singles’ Day, they must engage in “pseudo-singleness,” actively inviting online friends for face-to-face dates to break free from the single life. This group of singles, eager for dates ranges from 27 to 33 years old, sending up to 20 dating invitations to friends on the app every day.

To successfully date on Singles’ Day, they have minimal expectations for suitable dates, valuing compatibility in personality and shared interests as the most important factors instead. On average, they would arrange in-person dates after chatting online for 3.2 hours. However, males aged 28 to 32 are the least content with solitude, initiating date invitations after chatting for an average of 2.5 hours and are willing to cover all date expenses for romantic dining experiences.

Better Looks May Increase the Likelihood of Being Single – Technology and Aviation Industry Professionals Are the Most Willing to Meet in Person to Escape Singledom

Could better looks be a reason for remaining single? According to a survey conducted by “JD,” individuals with good looks, both male and female, tend to stay single. An analysis of data from the app’s top 100 most popular users found that 71% of these users have been mistaken for being “in a relationship,” only to reveal the opposite, leading to a surprising result where individuals with better looks are single. Furthermore, nearly half of these users stated that they had been told by others that their “good looks make people feel insecure in a relationship,” which led to breakups. These individuals have long been troubled by the stereotype that good-looking people are always in relationships. Therefore, as the upcoming Singles’ Day approaches, these attractive single men and women are actively seeking to break free from singledom, eager to meet more online friends and arrange dates.

When it comes to professions, those in the technology and aviation industries in Hong Kong show the highest willingness to date. On average, they accept dates from four out of six online friends, which exceeds 60%. Public servants and healthcare professionals also actively seek to expand their social circles. It’s worth noting that 38% of the “JD” users prefer to have dates on Mondays over enjoying a full-day date on the weekend, believing that Monday evening dates are the best way to alleviate “Monday Blues.”

“JD – JustDating” offers hassle-free dating services that allow users to date and meet online friends anywhere, anytime. With unique location and dating features, young men and women can find their matches quickly and accurately. “JD” has members across the USA, Mexico, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and various parts of Asia.

November 8, 2023