Day: June 2, 2023

Former Golden Eaglets coach, Manu Garba, said on Thursday that the Flying Eagles deserved more accolades after they knocked out hosts Argentina from the ongoing Under-20 FIFA World Cup.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Flying Eagles, against all odds, produced two classical goals to defeat the South American team in the round of 16 match played on Wednesday night.

Garba told NAN in an interview on Thursday that beating Argentina was like winning the World Cup, considering the challenges involved in playing a host country in any tournament.

He also said that the Technical crew, led by Ladan Bosso, worked on the grey areas noticed in previous matches, especially at the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nation (AFCON) which produced Senegal as Champions.

“The Flying Eagles deserve all accolades to have come out from the group to beat host Argentina which have won the Under-20 World Cup on six occasions.

“Most importantly, the coaches worked on the grey areas of the team so to speak. The team deserves praises because you can see that the Senegalese team who are the African Champions, did not progress from their group.

“Right from the time of the draws, the Flying Eagles group comprising of Brazil, Italy and Dominican Republic was tagged ‘the group of death’.

“Just like we had in the Under-17 in 2013 when we had in our group defending champions, Mexico and Sweden playing in the final and third-place match.

“Nigeria went ahead to win the Under-17 World Cup with Mexico winning the silver and Sweden, third; all from the same group.

“We now have the three teams in the Flying Eagles group making it to the quarter-finals which means that their group was truly the strongest,” Garba said.

According to him, Bosso deserves more accolades having headed to advice of many stakeholders and dropping some players after the Under-20 AFCON tournament.

Garba, however, disagreed with the argument that the Flying Eagles players displayed individual talents and strength against Argentina as there was no technical input from the coaches.

“You know they dropped some players after the AFCON tournament, especially in the midfield and the attacking line.

“In coaching, selection of players is part of the coaches input and they must be reading the match as it progresses, so one cannot say that the team depended only on the strength of the players.

“Though Argentina didn’t qualify for the World Cup from South America, they qualified as the host nation, but all South American team are technically good.”

He urged the players and their coaches to do their best in winning their encounters in the regulated period to avoid penalties.

He noted that with penalties, the game can go to either side.

Garba also urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the team for more victories.

“Government should try and motivate them further. They need more motivations and I know NFF will do just that.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has approved new appointments into his cabinet few days after inauguration.

Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representative, is the new Chief of Staff to the President, while Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, a former Jigawa state deputy governor, is the Deputy Chief of Staff.

This is disclosed by Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director Information, Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity on Friday in Abuja.

He said that the president also appointed Mr George Akume, the former Governor of Benue, as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, on Friday laid foundation for the construction of the Naval Officers Wives’ Association (NOWA) Event Centre in Admiralty Estate, Navy Town Asokoro.

Gambo also inaugurated NOWA Shopping Complex in Navy Barracks Kuje.

He said that the projects were part of the NOWA’s giant strides and numerous contributions to the well-being of the service and wider society.

Gambo identified one of the landmark projects of the organisation as the ongoing 200-bed Women and Children Hospital that NOWA commenced construction in June 2022.

“Again, today we are here on 1.9 hectares of land to initiate the construction of NOWA event center at the Admiralty Estate, Asokoro.

“I consider this project and others as direct interventions in support of Nigerian Navy’s welfare objectives,” the CNS said.

He added that the state-of-the-art event center would provide comfortable and secure environment for personnel and their families when completed.

“In addition, the edifice on completion is expected to provide affordable and accessible facility with associated services to meet personal needs.

“Fortunately, various welfare projects of NOWA are enduring legacies which have endeared the leadership of the association to well-meaning and good spirited individuals across Nigeria, especially as a key contributor to national development,” he said.

The naval chief added that the center would boost socio cultural interactions that would enhance the morale of personnel and their families, as well as civilian population.

Gambo also hailed the association’s commitment to providing quality education and vocational training, as well as charitable and economic empowerment programmes for women, orphans and children.

In her speech, the President of NOWA and Wife of the CNS, Hajiya Nana Gambo, said the projects were conceived to promote socioeconomic life, love, harmony and well-being of wives of naval personnel and their families.

She said that when completed, the centre would host weddings, concerts, corporate and nonprofit events and meetings, as well as skills development programmes.

“Accordingly, here we are starting heavy investment projects that will certainly express and define an important landmark in the life of the NOWA family.”

The centre being built on 1.9 hectares of land will have the capacity to host 1,200 people, and will have lounges and skills development centre.

Mrs Gambo who acknowledged and appreciated the support of the naval chief, said that the shopping complex in Kuje would boost economic activities in the barrack.

The President, Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association, Mrs Salamatu Yahaya, congratulated the NOWA President for conceptualising the projects to boost socio-economic activities

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB) has directed all licensed Microfinance Banks (MFBs) nationwide to update it on their recapitalization status for assessment and follow-up actions with the regulatory authorities.

The Executive Secretary of the NAMB, Mr Shikir Caleb, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

The decision is coming barely a week after the revocation of 179 MFBs licences by the monetary authorities and the negative implications for its financial inclusion drive.

Caleb said that the decision was taken in Abuja at an emergency meeting of the leaders of the NAMB after vigorous deliberations on the latest licence revocation action of many MFBs by the CBN.

According to him, the meeting had in attendance the Board of Trustees, the Past Presidents and members of the National Working Committee.

He said that the meeting had its main agenda the revocation of the licences of the affected MFBs and how to proactively forestall future negative occurrence in the MFB sub-sector of the financial system.

“Following the review and deliberations on the licence revocation matter, the top leaders of the NAMB directed that the various state chapters should categorize the affected micro lenders into MFBs that have fully re-capitalised but yet to be approved by CBN.

“MFBs that have not been fully re-capitalised but had ongoing discussions for funding; MFBs that were yet to re-capitalise; and MFBs that have long closed shop”.

According to Caleb, the leaders further advised any MFB that had fully re-capitalised but yet to be approved by CBN to present its submissions to the Secretariat with a summary of its recapitalization status as at date.

He stated that thereafter, the leaders also agreed that the association would review the submissions and have a meeting with all MFBs this Thursday in Abuja “with a view to collating all submissions for engagement with the management of CBN.”

Commenting on the licence revocation the NAMB National President, Mr Joshua Ukute, rued the ugly development and promised that the “leadership of the association will continue to intensify its self-regulation activities in all MfBs nationwide to forestall this type of occurrence.

“We have also mandated the Secretariat of the NAMB to do more by enlightening the public, especially all stakeholders in the association’s financial inclusion drive value-chain with the aim of building confidence in the MfB sub-sector of the financial system.

“As you all know, the MFBs have over the years remained at the forefront of the financial inclusion strategy agenda’s implementation and they will continue to do their best to deepen financial services, especially in remote communities that the big players are not ready to go,” the banker added

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Plan and Development Minister Fitsum Asefa stressed the need for bringing everyone’s effort on board to sustain the ongoing effective development activities of the agriculture sector and ensure the growth and prosperity of Ethiopia.

Recall Ethiopia has been making extensive investments in the agricultural sector to catalyze the country’s development and prosperity ambition.

As part of the nation’s effort in the sector, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed opened Agriculture and Science exhibition at the Science Museum in Addis Ababa on 7th May 2023 under the theme “from the lab to the field.”

Thus far, various sections of the society, government officials, students, teachers and others have visited the agriculture and science exhibition at the Science Museum.

The exhibition was also visited by high level federal and regional government officials yesterday, including Finance Minister Ahmed Shede, Planning and Development Minister Fitsum Asefa as well as chief and deputy chief administrator of Sidma and Southwest Ethiopia People regions respectively.

Parallel to the Agriculture and Science exhibition, the officials also opened an exhibition that showcases the achievements of Yelemat Tirufat, (bounty of food in basket), a development campaign, which focuses on food crops and vegetables with high nutritional values in Sidama and the Southwest Ethiopia People’s regions. Yelemat Tirufat exhibition showcased fish, honey; various agricultural products, including fruits and vegetables, spices, and animal products.

Minister of Planning and Development, Fitsum Asefa stated that effective activities are being carried out in spheres of Yelemat Tirufat , wheat production and green development programs.

She also said that together with the growing mechanization of cluster farming, we are witnessing that Ethiopia is on the right track for food self-sufficiency.

Ethiopia has been substituting imports of wheat and the commencement of supplying wheat to the international market is a clear indication of its effectiveness, Fitsum pointed out.

Therefore, everyone should be on board to ensure the growth and prosperity of Ethiopia by sustaining the effective development activities being witnessed in the agricultural sector.

Engineer Negash Wagesho, Deputy Chief Administrator of Southwest Ethiopia People’s region said on his part that the agricultural exhibition is a good demonstration that the agricultural sector can be successful if it is supported by knowledge and technology.

Mentioning the vast agricultural resources in the region, especially coffee, sesame, spices, honey and animal products, he stated that if they are properly developed, they will contribute to the nation’s development.

Chief Administrator of Sidama region, Desta Ledamo said that the development works being carried out in the agricultural sector have given great hope for the development of the country and improvement of the living conditions of the citizens.

As Sidama region has enormous potential resources, he noted that development work will be strengthened towards contributing to national economy beyond the region.

More than 50,000 people have visited the agricultural and science exhibition, according to the Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amente.

The minister added that this agricultural fair has achieved great results in strengthening the agricultural sector adding that the interest and motivation of the visitors was more than expected.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency