To show continued support for promoting and growing Nigerian products, a group of young Nigerians, led by Seyifunmi Adebote is to stage ‘Bridging The Future 2.0.’
The idea of Bridging The Future is to use existing social media platforms – Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to promote and increase the visibility of Nigerian startups.
The Bridging The Future project is a little way of encouraging and putting smiles on the faces of hardworking entrepreneurs by promoting their brands, at no cost.
According to the project spokesperson, Oluwa Omoyele, “Bridging The Future initiative is birth with the sole aim of reaching out to as many people as possible to patronize Nigerian products and service in providing daily needs.”
“The project hopes to boost productivity for the selected brands and at the same time increase public awareness that bridges the gap between those in need of products or services and those who provide it.”
Media partners include itsallisay.com, sagagist.com.ng, infoafriq.com and Tahzan Media. Interested brands can mail allisay@itsallisay.com their business briefs which will be scrutinized by panelists; whereby 20 brands will be selected for the project. The project will run from 1st of January to 20th of January, 2018.
Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has assured the people of Bauchi State in northeast of the country that he will protect and defend their interest in arriving at any political decision ahead of 2019 general election.
The Speaker stated this at a reception organised by his constituents in Bogoro local government area to mark his 50th birthday anniversary.
Alluding to political developments in Bauchi State, Dogara said that “wherever the interest of majority of the people dictates that we should go to, that is where you will find me, by the grace of God.”
Dogara allayed fears expressed by the Member representing Lere/Bula in the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Mohammed Aminu Tukur, who expressed concerns over rumours of political realignment and reconciliation in the state and said that as a leader, he will never betray the trust of the people of Bauchi State.
Dogara maintained that the he will be guided by public interest and assured his political associates and followers that they would be consulted and carried along before taking any decision ahead of the 2019 election.
“As a leader, I’m not going to put a rope on anybody’s neck to drag him anywhere, never,” he said.
“But as leaders, our overwhelming concern should be the interest of our people, the development of our state and how we can better the lot of everyone in this state.”
“That being the case, it means that we will always have to protect the interest of our people first and not our own interest. And I believe in consensus, we are going to sit down as brothers and sisters on a table of brotherhood and all our stakeholders will be involved. Even if it is agreeing to disagree, let us agree to disagree”.
“That is a commitment, we will work on the project, and the project is that of our people. Wherever the interest of majority of the people dictate that we should go to, that is where you will find me, by the grace of God.”
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has enjoined Nigerians to review and renew their resolve and commitment to the unity and progress of the country as a people of common destiny in the new year.
In his New year message to Nigerians, the Speaker urged the people to draw on the lessons learnt in 2017 to strengthen the bonds of unity, solidarity and peace amongst them.
Dogara, who commended the resilience and determination of Nigerians in the midst of daunting challenges, expressed optimism that better days were ahead.
“The new year presents an opportunity for stock taking and a strong resolve to sustain the gains of Nigeria’s exit from economic recession. Improvement of Nigeria’s economy, security and welfare of Nigerians must remain our priority in the new year.”
He also urged Nigerians to continue to demonstrate love and exhibit compassion towards one another and extend hands of support to the less privileged and vulnerable members of the society.
“As a people, we must continue to imbibe the spirit of togetherness and love for one another. We must also support government at all levels by contributing our quota in the generation of wealth and alleviation of poverty in the land”.
“Although employment generation and wealth creation remain priorities of our APC led administration in its change agenda, it is imperative for us to create more employment opportunities for our youths and women in order to underscore our drive for economic recovery and growth”.
“We should also endeavour to attend to those needs that have direct bearing on the lives of the people and dire consequences on our nation, as democracy cannot succeed where poverty thrives”.
On our part in the House of Representatives, we will continue to pass laws that will better the lives of Nigerians, create conducive business environment for investment and secure the lives and properties of Nigerians.
The Speaker wishes Nigerians a happy and prosperous new year.
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has said that the level of devastation in the northeast region would take more than 20 years to repair.
The Speaker made the remark just as he attributed the achievements he has recorded as a member and Speaker of the House of Representatives on the trust his constituents reposed in him.
Speaking at a reception in his constituency to celebrate his 50th birthday, the Speaker said the people of Bogoro, Dass and Tafewa Balewa gave him the opportunity to become Speaker by re-electing him against all odds and that placed him in a position where he could influence projects of impact to his constituency, Bauchi State and north east region in general.
He also thanked God for making it possible for him to achieve as much as he has, saying he is more propelled by opportunities to be of service to the people, than to occupy positions.
“I’m not interested in position, I’m interested in service. Position is useless to me, I just want to serve the people.
Whenever my work as a member is finished, God will move me to a position where I can serve my people more and more.
“If it were not for God, it wouldn’t have been possible to achieve these things and that is why we are here, to thank God for using you to make this happen. Not because of my birthday, but to thank God.
“If it wasn’t for your investment, there is no way you will drive from here to Bauchi without any pothole; 82km of solid asphalt road, I wasn’t even a speaker then. That job is beyond the job of a member and it is God that made it possible.
“Because of the trust you reposed in me, today we have produced a speaker, it is a thing of pride to us. Because of your investment, we have been able to produce someone close to where the late Tafewa Balewa occupied. I am happy that God has rewarded the sacrifices he made.
“On account of your investment, today, we have the North East Development Commission. If I had not been speaker, that wouldn’t have been possible.
“Anytime you see the NEDC, know it is the sacrifice of the people of this constituency, the people of Bauchi, that brought it.
“Because of your investment, we have raised over N300m to address plight of IDPs in the northeast and other regions of Nigeria. Nobody is going to touch one naira from that money.”
“The level of devastation caused in years of violence will take more than 20 years to address”, he observed.
In an article published on Saturday, Dr. Abati described the Speaker’s biography written by Dele Momodu, A Reed Made Flint, as “a story of influences and how environment, personality and values shape both the personal and the public”, gives a detailed account of Dogara’s life right from childhood to the present and highlights his journey from being a brilliant student to his determination to study law, his strong bond with his Christian faith and his eventual foray into Nigeria’s murky political terrain.
To highlight the importance of family background in shaping the lives of every individual for leadership and greatness, Abati attributed the Speaker’s determined search for excellence and unwavering commitment to the best practices to his father, Pa Yakubu’s famous exhortation to his children to “go out there and show that you are a Ganuwari”, a challenge meant to spur them to greatness irrespective of how dire or tough the circumstance is.
This guiding principle, according to the former Presidential spokesman, was evident in all of Yakubu Dogara’s endeavors till date, and one of such instances was in his refusal, in the face of great pressure, to bribe judges when his now deceased opponent, Alhaji Barau Shingiri, challenged his victory at the polls in 2007.
Dogara’s background, his resolve, and confidence in his abilities as shown in his insistence to study law despite having to sit for UTME after previously graduating from a Teachers’ College, demonstrates, according to Abati, that “accidents do not always happen, people become leaders through a process of preparation and Dogara seems to have been well-prepared for future leadership.”
He further extolled the virtues of the Speaker such as his business acumen, and described him as “a gifted legislator, a bridge-builder who enjoys the confidence of his colleagues, a committed and dogged champion of the interests of the people that he represents and a convinced opponent of the politics of settlement and mischief.”
He encouraged other political characters to toe the path of Speaker Yakubu Dogara by telling their stories in order to “open up the leadership elite to further public appreciation and scrutiny and promote a necessary conversation about values, politics and people.”
The book ‘A Reed Made Flint’ which was launched as part of celebration of Speaker Yakubu Dogara’s 50th birthday, will soon be available in bookstores nationwide.
Gombe (Nigeria) – Minister of State for Power, Housing and Transport, Suleiman Hassan Zarma has secured the release of 36 inmates from Gombe prison in northeast of the country.
Zarma disclosed this on Saturday to Journalists in Gombe shortly after the release of 24 inmates, where he paid various sums of money as fines for them.
The remaining 12 inmates are however awaiting courts to resume after the public holidays to order for their release.
Zarma advised them to turn over a new leaf by seeking to become better citizens having looked back at their experience while incarcerated.
The Minister said he was motivated to take the step following the release of 500 inmates in Kano by President Muhammadu Buhari
All the prison inmates released, according to prison officials, committed civil offenses.
He said unless the influx of persons into the prisons were addressed through reforms, Nigerian prisons would remain congested and inhabitable.
“In the first place, it is public knowledge that our prisons are over congested. This facility was built for about 393 people but now host over 1000 people.
“Some of the persons we secured their release today committed minor offences with very small charges. We think government would have no business keeping them here and feeding them at a cost possibly higher than what they supposed to pay as fine,” he said.
The minister added that even though some of the released inmates may not be from Gombe State, he remains duty bound to secure their release in order for them to start new lives as well as relieve the burden on the prison facility.
“They can go and start their lives again so that they can be better citizens and contribute more to national growth. You can see most of them are not up to 30 years old, they are young people with potentials to make their mark in life given proper orientation,” he said.
Zarma said even though the situation has persisted for long, there is the urgent need to address issues relating to the judicial system as well as committing more resources towards ensuring the desired reforms.
“We have to be fair to government. This thing has been long for so long, whatever effort is done now will be dissipated. There are so many issues around decongestion of prisons. There is the judicial process and then there is the financial aspect of it. All of these will have to be looked at again and then choose what better model to use so that we can make the place a better place for them,” the minister said.
He however appealed to spirited individuals to cue in with the effort of President Buhari by securing the release of prisoners in order not to only decongest the prisons but also relieve the burden of upkeep of inmates on government.
Also Speaking, the Deputy State Comptroller of Prisons, Ibrahim Gide disclosed that 36 inmates regained their freedom after the minister paid their fines. He described the gesture as a welcome development.
Gide advised the released inmates to go back into the society as useful citizens.
One of the released inmates, Daniel Ambrose, an indigene of one of the local government areas of the State, described the moment as a miracle while expressing gratitude to the minister.
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Nigerian Breweries Plc, one of the leading breweries in the country has commissioned some projects in Kaduna in furtherance of its Corporate Social Responsibility, to host Communities to mark the city’s Centenary.
The projects include an ultra-modern scanning machine at St. Gerald’s Catholic Hospital Kaduna and the construction and donation of two blocks of hospital Ward, bole-hole, toiletries, Hospital beds to the Primary Health Centre (PHC), in Kudenda, all within the State capital.
At the occasion, Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-rufai, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Paul Dogo said, ‘’Nigerian Breweries Plc is complementing Kaduna State Government in Education and Health.
In Health, Kaduna State is working towards restructuring the Primary Health Care delivery such that every child, every woman would have access to good medical facilities and this is where the role of Nigerian Breweries has become even more significant and the Government of Kaduna State acknowledges this contribution.
“The Government, on its own is working towards the actualization of Two hundred and fifty-five Primary (255) Health Centres situated in all the Council wards of the State.
The Nigerian Breweries has helped Government actualize its goal of Primary Health Care delivery‘’, he said.
Earlier at the commissioning and handing over of the Ultra-modern scanning machine at St. Gerald’s Hospital, the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Johan Doyer represented by the Brewery Manager for Kaduna.
Abbey Ajayi, said that ‘’Heineken Africa Foundation was established by our parent company, Heineken International of the Netherlands, to enhance the quality of health of the people who live in sub-Sahara African communities where Heineken is active by financially supporting relevant health projects and health related education.
‘’By providing this Ultra-Modern X-Ray machine to St. Gerald’s Hospital, NB Plc is trying to improve the Health Care delivery service in the State. This way, we aim to save more lives by elevating the standard of medical care in this great hospital.’’ Ajayi said.
At the Kudenda Primary Health Center, Abbey Ajayi affirmed that ‘’the entire Kudenda Community is very dear to Brewery, being our host community in which we operate our business without any hindrance.
So we should reciprocate by identifying with the cause of the well-being of our good host community.”
‘’It is my believe that this project, coming as we celebrate the Centenary of our dear State, will be historic to the health center, and would be put into good use for the great people of Kudenda as well as to mankind, going by the important nature of this facility in saving lives, the project which we are commissioning here today, are construction of two blocks, renovation of one block and toilet facility, supply of hospital furniture and provision of borehole’’, Ajayi stressed.
Giving the analysis of Nigerian Breweries health interventions to Kaduna State in recent times, the Public Affairs Manager, North, Danjuma John-Ekele, said ‘’In 2009, Nigerian Breweries built and donated a fully furnished hospital ward at the VVF Centre at Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, in Zaria, Kaduna State, to improve Healthcare delivery in the Northern region. In 2011, a mini-theatre facility and a female orthopaedic ward, were donated to St. Gerald’s Catholic Hospital Kaduna.
“In 2013, we donated a CT Scan machine. Today, we handed over an ultra-modern X-ray machine at St. Gerard before coming here for the commissioning of another health project.
“Like our other health sector interventions across the country, it is our hope that these gestures would go a long way in providing succor and further take care of the increase in the number of patients in the hospital and also help in reducing the number of referred cases in the Kudenda community.”
Commending Nigerian Breweries Plc the representative of Chikun Care-taker Chairman, Emmanuel Abashia, who is the Director Health Services in the local Government, Chief of Kudenda, Gabriel Galadima and Kudenda’s women Leader, Deborah Galadima among others, hailed Nigerian Breweries, urging other companies to emulate their kind gesture, and furthermore.
Five hundred and twenty six women and men from 20 local government areas of Bauchi State, in northeast Nigeria have concluded an empowerment programme sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
The Speaker also presented each of them with cheques of a hundred thousand Naira to start a business from the skills they acquired.
The presentation of certificate for the participants, who were drawn from across the state, took place at the National Open University of Nigeria hall in Bogoro local government area.
The cheques were attached to the certificate of each participant. They are to present the cheque with the certificate at the specified bank to cash it.
The empowerment programme was on building entrepreneurial skills and the participants were taught how to add value to food crops such as beans and rice and how to package them properly for onward sale to earn income.
Some of the participants demonstrated the skills they learnt to the Speaker and all present at the event.
In a vote of thanks delivered on behalf of all the beneficiaries of the empowerment programme, Uwaliya Inuwa from Dass local government promised to apply the skills they acquired make judicious use of the opportunity granted them by Speaker to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.
Speaking at the event, the Speaker said the programme is part of his efforts to reduce poverty from the grassroots, saying no democracy can succeed when poverty thrives.
He also disclosed that so far, through the support of his friends, N300m has been raised from donations at a birthday charity football match and book launch for onward presentation to internally displaced persons in Nigeria.
“In that event, just for you to know we are not just blessings to you but from this constituency we are raising resources to address poverty and internal displacement in Nigeria.
That event has generated about N300 million and I believe it will be more because people are still pledging more.
“The credit belongs to all of us because if you had not supported me this wouldn’t have been possible,” he told them.
Thanking them for supporting him to be able to make these happen by re-electing him, he assured them that he will provide support for all, irrespective of those who didn’t vote for him because he does not discriminate along any line.
Hon Dogara, noted that his goal is to raise people from the ashes of poverty to a glorious destiny, he appealed to them to make good use of the money presented to them to do businesses that will provide income for them and their families.
He said, “What we are doing here today is not politics. We are here to attend to those needs that have dire consequences on our nation. I have said it several times that poverty is a threat to our democracy and the only way we can address it is from the roots.
“Democracy should go with prosperity, we are not here to do any campaign. We are not here only for the training but to put resources in your hands and hope you won’t allow these resources to dry up.”
