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CRSG To Host International Trade Exhibition, April

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6 years ago

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The Cross River State Government has concluded arrangements to host International Trade Fair after three years of abandonment.
Briefing newsmen in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, the Managing Director of Summit Hills, Mr Joseph Ede, said the fair with a theme ‘Market Square’ will have business clinic, business mentorship and business innovations.
“We’ll be hosting a business clinic as part of the trade fair to keep participants in the know about best business practices, business innovations and the role of technology. Pitch contest and business mentorship for small businesses among others will be the core focus of the business clinic,” he said.
“Summit Hills is a state owned agency and is organising the fair in collaboration with the state Ministry of Commerce and Calabar Chamber of Commerce. The fair will take place in Calabar between April 15 and April 20, 2020.
“The Summit International Trade Fair tagged ‘Market Square’ is not just a trade fair for only physical goods and services but an opportunity for providers of digital/virtual goods and services to market their products and services,” Edet stated.
He said both big local manufacturers such as Innoson Motors and international companies which had been contacted by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) were expected to showcase their products at the fair which will have 1,000 stands.
Edet also disclosed that traders in Ariaria market in Aba as well as owners of medium, small and micro scale enterprises had been contacted to come and showcase their goods and services at the fair.
He said products from the newly established industries in the state will be on display, adding that some of the highlights of the trade fair are business clinic, entertainment and summit marathon.
Edet regretted the inability of the Federal Government to provide security and power (electricity) in the country which will drive businesses.
“Basically, our country is a vast one and we have a lot of problems, to be very frank. I think, leadership is one of the real cause of poor business environment.
“Our leaders are supposed to provide and proffer solutions for business to thrive. If the environment is good, if leadership is good, if leaders provide conducive environment, businesses will grow. “With these, adequate security and power made available, the country will have a lot of businesses spread across board but when the environment is hash, for example, the cost of starting a business will be too much”, he said.

 

By: Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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22 hours ago

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September 22, 2025

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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22 hours ago

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September 22, 2025

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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22 hours ago

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September 22, 2025

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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