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Minister Assures On Empowerment Through Art

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The Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation,
Mr Edem Dukeon has reiterated the ministry’s commitment towards the
sustainability of economic empowerment through art exhibition.

Duke, who was represented by the Director of Culture in the
ministry, Mr George Ufot, said this in Abuja at the opening of a 10-day
Australian Art Exhibition in Nigeria.

The theme of the exhibition is “ Message Stick: Indigenous
identity in urban Australia.”

The minister said that Nigeria and Australia had sustained
its close cultural relationship in the promotion of the unique development of
both countries.

He noted that cultural heritage was seen as a way of life by
a group of human beings passed from one generation to the next.

The minister, however, stressed that the culture of the
Aboriginal people which was an indigenous tribe in Australia had survived
because of their ability to adapt and change over time.

“The Aboriginal Australians are the descendants of Africa
whose ancestors might have been the major group that left Africa.

“This is the reason why Nigeria and Australia have to hold
onto the cultural ties as these people might also be descendants from
Nigeria.’’

Duke said that the Nigerian government had helped in
promoting art exhibitions by carrying out exhibitions in collaboration with
several other countries of the world.

He, however, promised to also take the trend of the
Australian government by collaborating with the National Gallery of Arts to
show-case Nigerian Artists to the outside world.

Mr Abdullahi Muku, the Director-General, National Gallery of
Art, said the ministry was set to create an enabling environment for Nigerian
artists to practice.

“The future of art is very great because it has been
appreciated by most people of the world.

“We are, therefore, going to create an enabling environment
for talented artists to practice so as to be useful to themselves and the world
at large.’’

Muku noted that since art was one crucial area that had
brought wealth to a nation, there was need for the sector to be developed so as
to further create employment opportunity for the people.

“ The art exhibition is to create enlightenment in art
acquisition.

“The ministry has discussed with other embassies for similar
exhibition so as to create awareness and also boost the GDP of the country.’’

In his response Mr Ian McConville, the Australian High
Commissioner, said that he would intensify efforts to connect with other
indigenous artists all over the world by promoting their work.

He stressed the need for the richness and diversity of
indigenous culture and the different languages, dialects and geographical
landscapes to be promoted.

Reports say that certificates were presented to nine Nigerian
artists who specialised in photography.

They are Godswill Ayemoba, Yunusa Abdullahi, Jonah Odah,
Patrick Amanama, Terso Gundu and Amina Muktar.

Others are Olusimi Afun-Ogidan, Ini Nya-Etok and
Abdulrrahmen Abdulaziz.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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