by Admin | Oct 20, 2016 | Blog |
Follow @NigeriaPI Sometime ago, the United Nations declared every October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child. This year’s theme was Girls’ Progress = Goals’ Progress: What Counts for Girls. Though there are 17 Sustainable Development Goals, SDG5 speaks of Gender Equality while SDG10 talks of Reduced Inequalities. The Nigerian girl-child needs both. The United Nations says: “Only through explicit focus on collecting and analysing girl-focused, girl-relevant and sex-disaggregated data, and using these data to inform key policy and programme decisions can we adequately measure and understand the opportunities and challenges girls face, and identify and track progress towards solutions to their most pressing problems”. In Nigeria, credible data are a serious challenge to national planning. More often than not, we rely on data provided by international agencies. Such data themselves might be based on projections and not actual figures, hence not totally reliable for planning purposes. Truth be told, the Nigerian girl is seriously challenged. How do I mean? The chances of a girl child realising her full potential is slimmer than those of a boy child. This is because there are more out-of-school girls than there are boys. There are also more girls dropping out of school than their male counterparts. This is largely due to such primordial sentiments as the one expressed by President Muhammadu Buhari in Germany last week when he said his wife belonged to “the kitchen, the living room and the other room.” That, unfortunately, is the belief of many uneducated parents. They see no need to send their female children to school as they are viewed as cooks and baby...
by Admin | Oct 20, 2016 | Blog |
Follow @NigeriaPI ‘We don’t want to go back’: 100 Chibok schoolgirls refuse to leave their Boko Haram captors after two years in captivity *Boko Haram jihadists abducted 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in April 2014 *50 escaped quickly but the others have been held in terrible conditions *President Buhari of Nigeria negotiated the release of 21 girls last week *His spokesman said they were hoping another 83 would be freed soon *But a community leader said 100 of the girls do not want to come back *They were forced to have babies for their captors and apparently fear the stigma of ‘Boko Haram wives’ if they return A community leader involved in the negotiations to obtain the release of the schoolgirls abducted from Chibok in northern Nigeria has said more than 100 of them are unwilling to return home. More than 200 girls were taken from a school in Chibok in April 2014 by members of the extremist Islamist Boko Haram group, who have held them in captivity ever since, forcibly converting many from Christianity. After 21 of the girls were released last week – possibly following the payment of a ransom – Nigeria’s government is negotiating the release of another 83. But Pogu Bitrus, chairman of the Chibok Development Association, said more than 100 others appeared unwilling to leave their captors. He said they were ashamed to return home because they were forced to marry extremists and have their babies. This video was released by Boko Haram in August. Some of the girls may be be suffering from ‘Stockholm syndrome’, where they identify with and feel affection for their...
by Admin | Oct 20, 2016 | Blog |
Follow @NigeriaPI The Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Rivers State Police Command received a complaint about the kidnap of one Sir Chief Samuel Iheanachor along Aba-Oyibgo Road on October 10, 2016. He was abducted by six armed men while he was driving his Toyota Highlander and taken to an unknown destination. The Commissioner of Police, CP. Francis M. Odesanya, instructed a discreet investigation into the matter. The jeep was tracked along Aba Road. It was driven by Lance Corporal Abdul Yusuf ‘m’ of the 2nd Brigade and another, both wearing Army uniforms. Both suspects were arrested. On interrogation, they confessed to the crime and led the operatives to Asarama in Andoni Local Government Area where the victim was rescued unjurt and unconditionally on October 15, 206. No ransom was paid. Three others members of the kidnap gang were equally arrested. The victim has been debriefed and reunited with his family. Further investigation is ongoing at the Anti-kidnapping Unit and the suspects will soon be charged to court. According to the Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Omoni Nnamdi, “the Commissioner of Police, CP. Francis M. Odesanya, has emphasised the commitment of the Police to protect lives and properties of the people of Rivers State. He noted that paying ransom to kidnappers is not ideal. He encourages those concerned to always cooperate with the police and provide useful information that will assist the police is getting rid of all forms of criminal acts in Rivers...
by Admin | Oct 19, 2016 | Blog |
Follow @NigeriaPI Entrepreneurship is great for so many reasons. From having more flexible work hours to being your own boss and everything in between, it’s no wonder more and more people are starting their own businesses, especially women. But running a business, no matter how big or how small, is no easy feat. Laura Miller, president of Ink from Chase, shared her tips for female entrepreneurs. Want to make sure your business is successful? Follow these five important steps. Get social … media, that is There’s no doubt that social media presence is important to a business’s marketing strategy. “Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter or even Pinterest, social media has proven to be a good conduit to business results, including sales leads, third-party endorsements and purchases,” Miller said. And if you’re not familiar with social media, Miller suggested you take online courses to understand how to use such platforms to build up your business. “Quite simply, social media must be viewed as a forum for interacting with customers and conducting day-to-day business,” she added. Use your networks Being a small business owner is stressful, so use your network to form a reliable support system. Miller said it helps to have a peer or mentor who understands what you’re going through and can help you navigate any potential problems you may face. “Joining industry groups is a good way to create a personal network of support,” she said. “Professionals within these groups can provide a great sounding board for new ideas, frustrations and genuine dilemmas.” Learn to delegate As an entrepreneur, it’s easy to take on all of the...
by Admin | Oct 19, 2016 | Blog |
Follow @NigeriaPI Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted three hundred and twenty-five thousand, six hundred and forty euros (€325,640) as well as thirty thousand dollars ($30,000), about 175 million naira being smuggled from Greece and Austria. The suspected laundered money concealed inside envelopes and shoes were seized at the Murtalla Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos during the inward screening of passengers on a Turkish airline flight. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the smuggled currencies. NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba said that the money was found during routine search of passengers saying: “During the inward screening of passengers on a Turkish flight, we discovered €325,640 euros and 30,000 dollars. Two suspected passengers, Edos Nicholas found in possession of 279,190 euros and Hallowell Prince Lovely, found in possession of €46,450 euros and 30,000 dollars were also apprehended.” hairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) has directed the director of Assets and Financial Investigation of the Agency, Mrs Victoria Egbase to take over the investigation. According to Abdallah, “this is a suspected case of money laundering. Criminal groups seek to conceal the origin of illegally obtained money. It is pertinent therefore for us to trace the origin of the money and prevent the introduction of criminal funds into the economy. Consequently, I have directed that the case be meticulously investigated”. Preliminary investigation revealed that both suspects are frequent travelers who are the target of International Drug Trafficking Organizations.Besides, their sources of income must be verified. Edos Nicholas who claimed to be working in a bakery in Austria said...
Recent Comments