Day: May 20, 2024

The Evergreen Musical Company has begun the construction of a musical museum in Ikeja, Lagos.

Its Managing Director, Bimbo Esho, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said the museum upon completion would be called ‘Evergreen Music Heritage Foundation’.

Esho said that the museum would help to upscale the promotion of music of yesteryears with sound moral values.

She said the idea was to also bequeath to future generations a strong philosophy on music while appreciating the sheer artistic genius of Nigeria’s renowned musical talents, many of whom had been forgotten.

According to her, the project was birthed following the collaboration between Chief Femi Esho, Founder of Evergreen Musical Company and Dr Daniel Olukoya, Founder of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry.

She said the edifice would accommodate a music museum, music library, gallery showcasing head burst of artistes, display of over 1,000 pictures of Nigerian musicians from 1914 till date.

She explained that there would also be relics
of the musicians’ costumes, old musical instruments, an event centre for music concerts, cinema theatre, recording studio and so much more.

According to her, Olukoya, an ardent lover of good music had been of huge financial support to the project.

She noted that the founder of Evergreen Musical Company would remain the chairman of the foundation while Olukoya had been selected as the Patron.

‘The project is a massive one, it is a historic landmark project that will stand the test of time and outlive all of us.

‘Dr Olukoya has been more than supportive to our cause. He has been magnanimous and we remain eternally grateful to him for his love and support for this dream. But there’s still plenty of work to be done.

‘This magnificent edifice is situated at Oyedele Ogunniyi street, Anthony Village, Ikeja, Lagos. We are still calling on all music enthusiasts, lovers of Nigerian music all over the world to come support this dream.

‘It will be a contribution to a legacy that will be sustained for generations t
o come, all of the enduring morals and intrinsic values that our music of yesteryears taught us, all of which is lacking today.

‘The edifice is a place the youth can come to enjoy quality music and research into the past musical history of some of Nigeria’s most accomplished musicians of the 50s, the 60s down to the 90s,’ she said.

Esho said that the construction should be completed before the end of the year.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Mariya Mamoud, has advised workers in FCT Administration to invest in intellectual development for improved productivity.

The minister gave the advice in Abuja on Monday, at the maiden edition of the FCTA’ maiden Book Exhibition, organised by the Department of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement (RCandSI).

Mahmoud, who was represented by Hajiya Asma’u Mukhtar, Permanent Secretary, Social Development Secretariat, FCTA, said that the move would translate to sustainable growth and development of the territory.

The minister identifying books as windows to the world, offering insights, knowledge, and perspectives that transcend boundaries and time, stressed the importance of continuous learning for self-development.

She called on the FCTA workers to equip themselves with the necessary tools and knowledge to enable them navigate complex challenges.

This, she said, would enhance FCA’s commitment to providing quality services to the residents of
the territory.

‘This book exhibition serves as a testament to our commitment to fostering a culture of learning and growth within our administrative framework.

‘It is a reflection of our belief that investing in the intellectual development of our staff is not just a noble endeavour, but a strategic one.

‘The diverse array of books on display covers a wide spectrum of subjects, ranging from public administration and governance to urban planning, sustainability, economics, and beyond.

‘Each volume holds within its pages the potential to inspire, educate, and empower us to become better leaders, decision-makers, and agents of positive change,’ she said.

In his remarks, the Head of Civil Service, FCTA, Dr Udo Attang, said that books have always been a cornerstone of knowledge and wisdom.

Attang, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, FCTA, Mr Adetoyi Kolawale, argued that reading books would help in shaping and reshaping workers’ minds and skills, and impact on their pro
ductivity.

The head of service said that the theme, ‘Enhancing Intellectual Capacity for Effective Service Delivery’, underscores the critical link between knowledge and performance.

‘As public servants, educators, and community leaders, we understand that the quality of our service delivery is directly proportional to the depth of our understanding and the breadth of our skills.

‘Intellectual capacity is not merely about acquiring information; it is about nurturing the ability to think critically, solve problems creatively, and make informed decisions that benefit our communities,’ he said.

He thanked the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and Mahmoud for their tireless support towards building a productive workforce for the FCT.

Earlier, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, the acting Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvements, explained that the exhibition was organised to promote professionalism among workers.

Ahmadu said that the effort was in line with the 6th Pillar of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Imple
mentation Plan 2021-2025.

According to her, investing in the intellectual development of workers will not only enrich the workers, but also enhance their value as individuals and impact FCTA in the long run.

‘By embracing life-long learning, we equip ourselves with the tools necessary to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead,’ she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Managing Director, Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr Akintunde Sawyerr says students in federal tertiary institutions would first be considered in the roll out of the scheme.

Sawyerr disclosed this in Abuja on Monday, at a news conference on pre-application sensitisation on the loan scheme.

He said that the Fund would roll out its obligations to federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education which had completed and uploaded their students’ data on their dashboard.

Sawyerr stressed that uploading of students’ data on the Fund’s dashboard by their schools was the only means through which the students would be eligible to apply for the loan.

He said NELFUND had partnered with the institutions for seamless upload of the students’ data and the loan would be paid 100 per cent to the beneficiaries through their institutions.

Sawyerr called on federal tertiary institutions, yet to upload details of their students to do so.

‘The loan application will be opened on May 24. We are startin
g with the federal tertiary institutions, but the loan will, eventually, be rolled out to state institutions too,” he said.

Sawyerr added that the beneficiaries would be made to pay the loan, two years after completion of their National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), on condition that the individual had secured employment.

According to him, the repayment is expected to be made by the beneficiaries regardless, of where they get their job after their NYSC.

Speaking on what becomes of the scheme in cases of death, mental and physical illness of the beneficiaries, he said the fund is looking at an insurance model that will address bad loans.

He also noted that the NELFund establishment Act has made case for debt forgiveness.

‘The first thing we are doing is to try to make sure that we have adequate information about the application for the loan, as much as possible.

‘We need to know that those who applied for the loan are bonafide Nigerian citizens and they are of good standing and we have various ways to know
that.

‘We are working with security agencies to ensure the people who are applying for this loan are not people who may want to defraud the system.

‘We will also follow up on the beneficiaries each year they apply and ensure we are in constant communication with them.

‘We are looking at an insurance model to ensure loans that are bad, are handled. This will help to protect tax-payers money,’ he said.

He urged students to apply by logging into its portal through www.nelf.gov.ng and create an account using their existing credentials.

Sawyerr said the students would also be required to document their information such as their JAMB admission letter, NIN and BVN.

He listed other required information to include, personal details, academic information, and financial needs.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria