Day: June 19, 2023

Amb. Abiodun Adejola, Chairman, Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), on Sunday pledged to showcase African continent to whole world during his tenure.

Adejola, who is the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, said this while speaking with journalists in Geneva, Switzerland.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria was elected as the ILO Governing Body Chair at the just concluded 111th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) of the ILO.

The conference was held from June 5 to June 16.

Adejola, who is Chairperson of the ILO Governing Body would chair the 2023-2024 session of the ILC.

He said that during his tenure, African countries would be brought together and be showcased to the world.

He also said he would support the vision of President Bola Tinubu-led administration for country.

According to him, I do believe that we are here to assist the enormous work going on in Nigeria and you will recall that in the last 15 days, a number of things have been done in Nigeria, particularly with the massive efforts of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu.

“So we are here to actually ensure that we support his vision. We support his drive and then taking the world to Africa and indeed from Nigeria.

“You know, the ILO is a very unique body, that sits on the tripod, the constituents, so we can’t neglect anyone so we have to find a way to bring together the government, the workers and their employers in moving Nigeria forward.

“We need to ensure that we involve all constituents specifically,” he said.

He, however, said that as the Chairman of board of the ILO, he would ensure not to neglect workers and their welfare.

He said he would continue to build on the enormous work done by Dr Chris Ngige, former Minister of Labour and Employment.

According to him, Nigeria is a potential awaiting to happen.

“It is a massive country. I do believe that President Tinubu will make it a workstation where all hands will be on deck and no dull moment.

“It is also to ensure that we move our country to the next level,” he said.

Adejola, while chairing his maiden meeting, commended the Delegates for nominating and confirming Nigeria to preside over the affairs of the decision making and agenda setting body of the ILO.

“As Nigeria accepts the responsibility of continuing from where Chile handed the baton, we are confident that our two Vice Chairs will extend their warm cooperation and support to us to sustain the accelerated progress of our predecessor.

“We will count on the goodwill and support of all government members of the Governing Body to move the stake of our organisation higher.

“As we are no doubt aware, the demand for greater supervision, provision of technical assistance and share of quality research findings from the ILO as the leading authority in the world of work is greater now than ever,” he said.

He added that the soaring level of unemployment, disruptive impact of technology, the devastating effect of climate change and regional demographics are the stark realities staring us in the face.

He said that the agenda in future meetings should take on board the challenges, to confront and shape global discourse as a matter of urgency.

Our policy outcomes and decisions should inspire hope for a better quality of life and new opportunities.

“We are ready to deliver on the mandate entrusted to us, prepared to serve, listen and to align with our common goal of leaving no one behind.

“Together, we will harness our potentials and draw strength from our unique tripartite governance structure to consolidate on our post-centenary and pandemic gains. Our mutual and healthy respect, tolerance and maturity for contrary opinions will be helpful.

“Our diversity in economic development and vast tapestry of perspectives should enrich and balance our conclusions,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has pledged his support for the real estate sector in Edo and Nigeria at large.

The pledge is contained in a statement by Mr Iguobaro Osaigbovo, the Chief Press Secretary to the Oba on Sunday in Benin.

The statement said that Oba Ewuare spoke with the President of Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Mr Johnbull Amayaevbo, during a courtesy visit to his palace.

The king attributed the success recorded in real estate businesses in Edo to the abolition of Community Development Associations (CDAs) some years ago.

“When CDAs were vibrant, nobody could anything. Once in a while when I drive around, I see billboards, real estate this, real estate that. People can now build.

“They are doing surveying, they are doing evaluations now,” he said.

The king also pledged his support for the professional body, ahead of its Triennial Delegates Conference scheduled for Edo in 2024.

Earlier in his address , the president of the institute commended the king’s fatherly disposition, which he attributed to the growth of investment in real estate in the state.

Amayaevbo also commended the king for the donation of parcel of land to the institute for a proposed secretariat in the state years ago.

He therefore further solicited for royal blessings and prayers.

According to him, “Your Royal Majesty, I am very much aware of all that you have been doing not just for the people of this state, but for the entire country, especially in our sector.

“The real estate sector of Nigeria. We know the actions that your have taken in this kingdom which have led to rapid real estate development.

“We are also very glad and happy that some years back, the palace gave our professional body a land,” he said.

Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of a plaque and souvenir to Oba Ewuare in recognition for his support for the 54-year-old.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Commandant National Defence College (NDC), Rear Adm. Murtala Bashir, says the ongoing crisis in Sudan may aggravate the already dire security situation in African continent if not properly and promptly handled.

Bashir said this at a One-Day Roundtable on Sudan Crisis organised by the Center for Strategic Research and Studies of National Defence College on Monday in Abuja.

The theme of the roundtable is “Sudan Crisis: Implications for National and Regional Security”.

The commandant said that Sudan had witnessed a lot of crisis such as the two civil wars between the then central government and the southern regions and the ongoing crisis in the western region of the country.

He said the crisis had so far claimed the lives of about 200,000 people, in addition to the millions of people that had been displaced and taking refuge in neighboring countries.

According to him, there has been massive destruction of infrastructure and facilities in the country as well as the ongoing crisis that has claimed so many lives and further displacement of people in the country.

“We should realise that we are yet to get over the shock and the effects of the crisis in Libya.

“So with this recent developments in Sudan, it is definitely going to aggravate an already dire situation not only in the sub region but continent and probably outside the continent.

“That is why as the apex military institution in the country, we felt it is necessary for us to organise this roundtable by inviting very esteemed resource persons with the requisite knowledge, experience and exposure so that we can come and brainstorm, interact and see how we can propose strategies for Nigeria, African continent and maybe international organisations.

“We want to see how this conflict could be resolved as quickly as possible.

“Already some countries and organisations, countries like Saudi Arabia, United States and some countries in Africa have intervened, but we felt as a think-tank of the country and for the armed forces of Nigeria, we need to organise this roundtable,” he said.

Bashir said the resource persons would have an an in depth analysis and interrogates the crisis in Sudan and generates practical and enduring strategies that would hopefully help to put an end to the crisis.

He said the college would continue to see how it could develop strategies that would help to address security issues in the country, the continent and globally.

He promised to ensure that the findings were articulated and forward to the appropriate security authorities for action.

While giving the background to the Sudan crisis, Dr Victor Akran, of the Department of History and War Studies, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), said that Sudan had over the years witnessed series of conflict since colonial era.

Akran said that there was the perspective of the European powers involvement in the exploitation of Sudanese and their resources as far back as 1821 and the Egyptian control.

He said the purpose of their involvement was to procure slaves for slave labour and extract the natural resources of Sudan.

He said that the British conquest of Egypt opened the way for European nations’ penetration into Sudan, adding that the country had continued to face crisis since during and after independence.

According to him, how the current crisis is going to end depends greatly on the involvement of the African leaders.

“Of course, Africa has experienced several of this type of crisis but the closest to Nigeria was in Libya.

“Africa refused to act in time, and the Libyan crisis has become what we know it and today, Nigeria is at the receiving end,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria