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NDDC Trains 30 Abia Youths On Skills Acquisition

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The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) yesterday commenced its two-week skill acquisition and empowerment programme for Abia youths living with disabilities.
The facilitator of the programme, Mr Kenneth Amogu, said that the programme was being sponsored by NDDC, in conjunction with Bonnadum Development Foundation.
Amogu said at the opening of the training in Umuahia that 30 people living with disabilities (PLWD) would participate in the exercise.
He said that the beneficiaries were drawn from the 17 local government areas of the state for the first batch.
He said that they would be trained in eight skills, including photography, GSM repairs, confectionery making, shoe and bag making, bead making, wig making, head tie and auto-gelle and make up (manicure and pedicure).
Amogu said that the objective was to impart the skill in the beneficiaries to enable them to become economically self-reliant and also contribute their own quota to the development of Abia and Nigeria.
He said that the programme would also help to discourage many youth from engaging in social vices since they would be gainfully engaged to earn a decent living.
He gave the assurance that the trainees would be given starter packs at the end of their training by NDDC to enable them to take off.
Earlier, Amogu urged the participants to take the training seriously in order to acquire the skill and be able to compete favourably in the global market.
He also promised to channel the concerns of the trainees to NDDC on the need to make the training residential.
Reports say that some of the participants had expressed disappointment that there was no plan to provide them accommodation for the period of the training.
They said that commuting from far-flung communities, including Ukwa East and Arochukwu, to the training venue in Umuahia for the two-week exercise exposed them to risk.
Some of the trainees expressed gratitude to NDDC for sponsoring the programme, saying that it would help to change their socio-economic status.
Miss Grace Eke, a blind Mass Communication graduate, who said that she had remained unemployed since she graduated in 2015, said she was excited to be part of the training.
“I have yearned seriously for this kind of opportunity for a long time because I like to learn a craft. So I am very excited and grateful to NDDC,” Eke said.
Messrs Ngozi Nwaguru and Nwanosike ThankGod, who are members of the Joint National Association of People with Disabilities, applauded the programme and urged NDDC to ensure that all their members benefitted from it.
They also appealed to the commission to fulfil its promise to give them the equipment to start their own business at the end of the training.
“The training is practical and if after the exercise we are not equipped to start practicing what we learnt then the training will be meaningless,” ThankGod said.

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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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