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Stakeholders Want Two-Year Extention Of RUFIN

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11 years ago

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Some Stakeholders in the Micro Finance Sub-sector have called for the extension and duration of Rural Finance Institution Building (RUFIN) programme by two years.
They made the call in separate interviews with The Tide source on the sidelines of the 9th supervision mission of the programme holding in Lagos.
They said the extension would enable the rural poor to benefit more from it.
RUFIN is being implemented in 12 states across the six geo-political zones of the country, with two states from each zone.
The states include: Lagos, Anambra, Edo, Bauchi, Zamfara, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa and Katsina.
The programme enjoys financial assistance from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a UN agency.
It is being implemented over a seven-year period and specifically targets marginalised groups such as women, young people and those with physical disabilities.
The objective of the programme is to strengthen micro finance institutions and establish linkages between them and formal financial institutions.
It lays the foundation for the long-term development of a sustainable rural financial system that would eventually operate throughout the country.
By reaching out to the rural poor, the programme ensures that they gain access to financial services and can invest in improving productivity in agriculture and small businesses.
Mr Godbless Afor, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Non-Bank Micro Finance Institutions of Nigeria (AMFIN), said RUFIN had provided training and capacity building programmes, logistics and technical support to the association.
He said though RUFIN programme would be completed in 2016, there was need to extend it to consolidate structures it had put in place.
“RUFIN has done so well, but I think it is not time for RUFIN to go; if the impact is to be fully felt, two years should be added to the project duration.
“They will be able to handhold AMFIN and take it to a level that it would deliver improved quality to the Micro Finance sector,” Afor said.
Also speaking, Mr Matthew Olayinka, Coordinator, Marketing and Credit department, Bowen Micro Finance Bank (MFB), Ikorodu, said they were working with seven groups mentored by RUFIN.
He said RUFIN was doing a great job. “I don’t want RUFIN to go because of the mutual benefit of the work they are doing.”
EOO/AMY

Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and Communication Rivers State, Mrs Cordelia Peterside (middle) with Directors of the Ministry in the bidding of 2015 Calender/Diaries at the Ministry on 5th December 2015. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson

Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and Communication Rivers State, Mrs Cordelia Peterside (middle) with Directors of the Ministry in the bidding of 2015 Calender/Diaries at the Ministry on 5th December 2015. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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2 weeks ago

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June 27, 2025

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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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2 weeks ago

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June 27, 2025

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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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2 weeks ago

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June 27, 2025

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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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