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FG, UNESCO Ready To Take Nigeria To STI Destination

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9 years ago

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The Minister of Science
and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has said the Federal Government and UNESCO would partner to take the nation to its desired destination in Science, Technology and Innovation(STI).
Onu said this at the just concluded two-day National Workshop on Development of a Second Project Plan for the Reform of Nigerian STI system in Abuja.
The minister said that President Muhammadu Buhari was determined to take the nation to its desired destination in Science Technology and Innovation (STI) at all costs.
“ STI holds the key to development of any nation; its level of acquisition determines whether a nation develops or not as nation’s growth is measured by factors like increase in Gross Domestic Production(GDP), power supply and food security .
“President Muhammadu Buhari is determined and working very hard to take the nation to where it should be in STI development.
“Nigeria has enormous human and material resources but it needs to move the economy from being resource-based to knowledge-based nation and innovation -driven economy.
“We cannot continue to pay lip service to the role technology can play in nation building hence the need to invest heavily in STI and research like other developed nations in the world,” he said.
Onu said that Nigeria’s cooperation with UNESCO on STI development started in 1999.
“The first phase of the project started effectively in 2004 and ended 2015 with some achievements including review of Science Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP).”
Onu, however, noted that the nation was too far away from where it should be in technology development.
He therefore urged the workshop participants to put Nigeria’s interest first in everything they did.
Onu called on researchers not to rest on their findings until their works got to market places and compete favourably with other products and services.
Also speaking at the occasion, Dr Benoit Sossou, the Director, UNESCO Regional Office, gave assurance on the readiness of the organisation to support the nation in STI development.
“UNESCO will continue to provide technical assistance, play advisory roles and collaborate with FMST, Federal Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies in promoting STI for sustainable development
“Phase 1 of the joint projects; tagged: ‘Assistance for the reform of Nigerian STI system’ was to provide assistance to the Federal Government in strengthening national system on Innovation.
“The project was reported to have built science and innovation management capacities in the country, while providing high level policy advice which culminated to the 2012 Nigeria STI policy.
“ I look forward to Nigeria-UNESCO Phase 2 project document,” he said.
The Director also urged participants to use acquired knowledge from the summit in promoting STI for sustainable development.
The Tide recalls that the Phase 2 STI Project which started last year aims to help the nation in achieving Vision 20:2020 and 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), AU-STISA 2024 among other national and international agendas.
Participants at the workshop include members of the academia, representatives of research institutes in the country, representatives of FMST parastatals and international resource persons on STI.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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1 week 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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1 week 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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1 week 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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