Accolades News September 09, 2024 Accolades As VIP Award Honours Akpevweoghene Jessa Joan's Company As Innovative Brand Of The Year

Prominent Nigerians have been honoured at the just conclude VIP award organized by JustTalk World, a group that encourages hard work and excellence through recognition.

Those recognized in the 2024 edition of the annual VIP Award are individuals who have left a footprint in humanitarian services, entertainment, hospitality and excellence in service delivery.

Those honoured include, sensational singer and entrepreneur Jessa Joan whose company bagged Innovative Brand of the year. Others are Sugar Boy, Waju, MC Miti, Avida, Deka George, Rhemzy Brown and more. 

Also honoured include, Independent TV Abuja, for its factual reportage and quality programmes. 

The recipients of the 2024 VIP Award expressed gratitude for the recognition, saying it was a call for more services. 

The event in Abuja featured entertainment to spice it up. The well attended event had the presence of Nchagbor Eyare Cynthia, a media expert and Manager of the talented singer Jessa and Joan.

Jessa Joan empire group of companies is into real estate, business consultancy, corporate firm, entertainment, fashion beauty and NGO.

Education News September 09, 2024 Unique Polytechnic, Unique College of Nursing Science and Midwifery Get Accreditation, Set To Admit Students

Unique College of Management and Technology ( Unique Polytechnic) and Unique College of Nursing Science And Midwifery have been offered provisional accreditation by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). 

This is contained in a letter of accreditation dated 6th July 2024 and signed by the Board's Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris M. Bugaje. 

"I refer to the application and subsequent Approval/Resources Inspection visit to Unique College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery, Along Badagry-Lagos Express Road, Isashi Bus stop, Badagry Local Government Area, Lagos State.

"I hereby convey the approval of the Honorable Minister of Education to establish the institution in line with the provision of Act CAP E3 LPN 2004 with effect from 6th July, 2024", the approval letter reads in part. 

For a take-off, the academic institution which promises to be a game-changer in the country's academic sphere will commence with two academic programmes, which include institutional administration and ND Nursing Sciences. 

Admission of students into the approved programmes will commence with effect from the 2024/2025 sessions, the letter added. 

Meanwhile, the Registrar of the Institution Dr Ken Idimili has expressed satisfaction with the approval, assuring that it is set to train nation-builders who will be creators of employment and not job-seekers. 

He therefore invites suitably qualified students to pick the schools as their choice for a guaranteed future.

Send Whatsapp Message to 08077055551 for Admission Enquiry

News September 09, 2024 Edun debunks rumors of VAT increase to 10%

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has refuted claims that the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate has been raised to 10% from the current 7.5%.

In a statement released on Monday, Edun clarified that the VAT rate remains at 7.5%, as outlined in the country’s tax laws.

“The current VAT rate is 7.5%, and this is what the government is charging on a range of goods and services to which the tax applies. Neither the Federal Government nor its agencies will act contrary to what our laws stipulate,” the Minister affirmed.

Edun emphasized the importance of a balanced tax system, explaining that it is built on three pillars: tax policy, tax laws, and tax administration. According to him, the government is focused on utilizing fiscal policy to drive sustainable economic growth, alleviate poverty, and support business development.

Responding to media reports suggesting a VAT hike, Edun rejected the notion that the government is seeking to burden Nigerians.

“The imputation in some media reports on VAT and the resulting opinion pieces seem to wrongly suggest that the government is making life difficult for Nigerians. That is not correct,” he stated.

He also highlighted the government’s recent measures to ease economic pressure, including the suspension of import duties, tariffs, and taxes on essential food items like rice, wheat, and beans.

In conclusion, Edun reiterated, “For emphasis, as of today, VAT remains 7.5%, and that is what will be charged on all VAT-able goods and services.”

News September 08, 2024 Another 196 soldiers reportedly quit Nigerian Army

A total of 196 soldiers stationed in various regions of Nigeria, including the conflict-ridden North-East, have reportedly submitted requests for voluntary retirement to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, SaharaReporters has reported.

Their decision comes as Nigeria’s military continues to grapple with heightened security threats across the country.

According to military insiders, a significant number of these soldiers are reportedly exploring opportunities to join the armed forces of foreign nations, including the British Army, Ukrainian forces, and other Commonwealth military units.

The soldiers involved in this mass resignation hail from multiple army formations and belong to junior ranks.

While their reasons for leaving differ, some sources indicate the soldiers have voiced dissatisfaction with the alleged corruption within the Nigerian Army.

These allegations have intensified as soldiers claim that the prolonged deployment in conflict zones, such as the North-East, without proper rotation, is exacerbating the problem.

Lt. Gen. Lagbaja has approved the soldiers’ requests for retirement, as per a list signed by Brigadier OH Musa on August 23.

While the list of resignations includes soldiers leaving on both voluntary and medical grounds, none of them have reached the retirement age or completed the mandatory years of service.

Sources reveal that the soldiers’ frustration stems from inadequate welfare, a lack of modern equipment, and declining morale.

They accuse military leadership of neglecting their needs, further complicating the fight against Boko Haram insurgents and other threats in the region.

One source noted, “Many soldiers are considering joining foreign military forces because they feel abandoned and see no future in the current system. There is a growing discontent due to the poor working conditions and overstretched assignments.”

This development highlights the ongoing challenges facing Nigeria’s military, as it continues to battle insurgency while dealing with internal morale issues.

(SAHARAREPORTERS)

Business News September 08, 2024 Dangote Refinery may dump Nigerian market, export fuel amid NNPC price clash

In a surprising turn of events, the Dangote Refinery may soon abandon the Nigerian market for foreign buyers, as tensions rise between the refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), The PUNCH reported Sunday.

The standoff stems from the NNPC’s refusal to commit as a sole buyer unless Dangote’s petrol prices undercut global rates, despite earlier claims by Dangote Group President, Aliko Dangote, that the refinery was poised to flood the local market with fuel.

NNPC’s stance, outlined in a statement by its spokesman Olufemi Soneye, has fueled fears that Nigerians will miss out on cheaper fuel, with many now watching as the refinery eyes foreign markets to stay profitable.

The oil giant’s refusal to act as a distributor or price-setter for Dangote products has cast a cloud over earlier hopes that local refining would bring relief to the country’s ongoing fuel crisis.

“The pricing of petroleum products is determined by global market forces. If prices in Nigeria remain low, there’s no reason Dangote Refinery shouldn’t sell abroad where demand and prices are higher,” said Soneye, effectively confirming that Dangote’s long-anticipated petrol might be shipped overseas.

But speaking on the Brekete Family live show on Monday, the Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, said Dangote petrol would be exported if the NNPC and other petroleum dealers in the country refused to patronise it.

Asked if the petrol would be sold locally, Edwin replied, “There has been a kind of a blockade from lifting our products within the country. The traders have been trying to blockade, and so now, we have been exporting our petroleum products. We are ready to pump in PMS as much as possible to the country.

“But if the traders or NNPC are not buying the product, obviously we will end up exporting the PMS as we are doing with the aviation jet and diesel,” he declared.

Edwin expressed surprise that the company started facing challenges it never expected when the refinery was set to commence operations.

He recalled that the philosophy initially was to add value to the raw materials available in the country, regretting that Nigeria was still exporting crude and importing refined petroleum products after over three decades.

Despite having a gantry that can load 2,900 tankers per day, Edwin disclosed that the refinery had not loaded up to five per cent of the gantry’s capacity owing to low local patronage.

As the NNPC reiterates its unwillingness to play a middleman role, black market fuel prices in states like Benue and Nasarawa have already skyrocketed to between N1,200 and N1,400 per liter.

The standoff has sparked disappointment across Nigeria, as many were counting on Dangote’s refinery to stabilize the volatile fuel market. Now, with negotiations at a standstill, the hopes of cheaper fuel are quickly fading.

 

News September 08, 2024 Nollywood actor turns plumber in Canada, says it pays better than tech jobs

 

A well-known Nigerian actor and film producer, Chris Bassey, has made an unexpected career shift since relocating to Canada.

In a recent Instagram live session with media personality Daddy Freeze, Bassey shared that he now works as a plumber, finding more satisfaction in his new profession.

He emphasized that his new career pays better than tech jobs and also gives him a more relaxed lifestyle.

Daddy Freeze asked: “I know you as a producer and actor, what career are you into this Yankee?”

Bassey replied: “I’m into construction here. I do construction; I am a plumber.”

Daddy Freeze who was surprised by the development, however questioned the actor’s transition despite his fame.

Bassey said in pidgin: “In the last seven months, the province I have visited just on weekends in Canada, even person wey dey do tech no fit afford am. For here, I don’t know about the UK or US.”

News September 08, 2024 Another state postpones schools’ resumption

 

Barely 24 hours after the Edo State government announced postponement of schools resumption, Kano State has taken a similar decision.

The Kano Government announced the postponement in resumption of primary and secondary schools for the upcoming 2024/2025 academic session in a statement on Saturday.

This decision, confirmed in the statement released on Saturday by the Ministry of Education’s Director of Public Enlightenment, Balarabe Kiru, was made due to unspecified “urgent reasons.”

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Umar Doguwa, emphasized that the postponement was necessary to create a more conducive learning environment for students.

However, a new resumption date is yet to be determined and will be communicated in due course.

“We regret to inform pupils, students, and parents that the previously scheduled school reopening on September 8th and 9th, 2024, has been postponed,” Doguwa stated.

Kiru further appealed for patience from students, parents, and guardians, acknowledging any inconvenience the delay may cause.