LASU VC harps on laptop, as institution matriculates 1600 students for Sandwich Programme

Success Damian:

Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, has harped on the usefulness of the laptop as a tool for academic work; this is as the institution matriculates 1600 students for Sandwich Degree Programme for 2019.

“The laptop is a friend that you must have. It contains about one quarter of the information you will need in the next four years. Google is the common friend you and I need to survive especially in the university. Today, you can learn practically anything online. That is the instrument you need to survive. Where there is no teacher, you need a laptop,” Fagbohun stated.

The Vice Chancellor was represented at the Matriculation ceremony which took place at Ojo by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) Prof. Olumuyiwa Noah said. He informed the students that the institution has excelled in all fronts saying “LASU is the Best State University in Nigeria. She is also Africa Centre of Excellence for studies in STEM courses; also the Best in Badminton in Africa University; Best in Debating; It is to our credit that we have not had any downtime in the last four years”

Fagbohun reminded the matriculants that they should realize that it is not all who matriculate that gets to convoke, he therefore posed three cogent questions for the students “I have three questions: What is the attitude expected of a matriculant?  What tool does he/she need? What are the key ingredients needed to go through to the point of Convocation?

Stressing the importance of Attitude he encouraged the students to amongst other things have the right attitude. “It takes more than reading in the classroom to survive and get to the next stage of convocation.”

On the right tool to work he said “The laptop is a friend that you must have.”

He urged the matriculants to have 'can do' spirit of the Lagosians; you also need the 'never say die spirit' of the Nigerian, and you need the 'never say never spirit' of the black man, If you have these then, you are likely to make it to Convocation.”

Fagbohun added that the students must be able to work very hard. “They must be armed with what is called digital age Bible, that is the laptop, and then they must have the correct attitude, Lagos is not a small place, and the spirit is this ‘I can do it’”

Director, Sandwich Degree Programme of the institution, Prof. Olusola Oladipupo, while interacting with the media stated that in all about 1600 students were given admission for the 2019 Modular year for the Sandwich Degree Programme of the University.

On how prepared the university and Sandwich department is to run a quality programme Oladipupo said “We are ready for whatever challenge that will come our way, we have an approved calendar by the University Senate, and what we ensure every time is to adjust to what have been approved, this particular session started as far as September, and we are in December now, we have been having series of classes since September till date.”

Her message to the matriculants she said, “I would advise them that lasu is not a child’s play, whatever they want to do they should key into the vision of the university, they should be ready to face the task ahead, the most important thing for them is to attend their lectures, they should abide by the rules irrespective of who you are. In as much as they give us their own part of the bargain, we are ready for them, to keep our own part of the bargain”

NITRA wins Telecoms Industry Support Award

Success Damian:

Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has honoured Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) with the Telecoms Industry Support Award in recognition of its efforts at sustaining the telecoms industry and charting proper course through the platform.

The award was presented at a recent ceremony attended by several industry stakeholders in Lagos. According to the award organisers, NITRA won the award for its contribution to the telecoms industry since it was inaugurated in 2017, having been in operation since 2015.

NITRA received the award at the 20th Anniversary/Awards Nite of ALTON on Friday, November 29, 2019 at the Shell Hall, MUSON Center, Onikan, Lagos.

While receiving the award, NITRA Chairman, Emma Okonji, said the award is an indication of the immense work done by the Association to smoothen the operations of the telecoms industry across the country. 

Okonji thanked the organisers of the award for the Association’s recognition for the prestigious award and promised that NITRA will always ensure that its members give their best to the industry for the operators, regulators, customers and other stakeholders to offer and get excellent services.

“We feel honoured for this award from ALTON. Beyond being a close partner with ALTON, we have been in the forefront of issues concerning the telecoms industry. This gesture is a spurring symbol for NITRA to contribute more to the industry and the country,” Okonji said.

The award ceremony was witnessed by Rear Admiral Alison Madueke (Rtd) who was the Chairman of the award; the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, who was represented at the event, among other industry stakeholders.

In his remarks in honour of NITRA, ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, commended the NITRA for her doggedness in setting agenda for the industry through the members’ objective reportage.

According to Adebayo, ALTON, which is an umbrella body of all licensed telecoms operators, would continue to protect telecoms investment in Nigeria and ensure telecoms expansion across the country. 

NITRA, under the purview of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, is an umbrella body for journalists reporting Information and Communications Technology in Nigeria.

In commemoration of its 20 years Anniversary, ALTON celebrated the achievements and milestones recorded in Nigeria telecom industry so far.

Adebayo noted that 20 years after the liberalisation of the telecom sector in Nigeria, the section has attracted over $68 billion Foreign Direct Investment and contributed over N15 trillion to Nigeria economy.

He said the country has moved from one cellular mobile network with limited coverage and 26,500 connected lines to 4 GSM operators, 2 VoIP operators, 4 Fixed Wired operators with 172.9 million mobile subscriptions and teledensity at 123.5 percent.

“After 20 years, Nigeria boasts of over N15 trillion contribution to its economy, over 123 million internet subscriptions across various technology platforms (e.g. VoIP, GSM & Fixed Wired), with sector contribution to GDP at 11.4 percent and over USD68 billion Foreign Direct Investment. This is worth celebrating,” he said.

He added that Nigeria is today Africa’s largest telecoms market in terms of subscriptions, stressing that beyond growth in sheer numerical terms, telecoms have evolved from being a sparsely-available public utility to becoming a ‘social overhead capital.

Ikota Shopping Complex turns over N5.5 billion every month, flags off trade fair

Success Damian:

Latest revelation has indicated that Ikota Shopping Complex in Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos being the biggest shopping complex within Lekki/Ajah and Victoria Island axis turns around about N5.5 billion every month.

The complex has also kicked off her 2019 End of Year Trade Fair in grand style with a promise of huge discounts.

These revelations were made by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ikota Shopping Complex Owners and Operators Association (ISCOOA), Umezurike Austin Umezurike, while addressing a world press conference to mark the commencement of the ISCOOA 2019 End of the Year Trade Fair on Monday.

Speaking on the uniqueness of the Ikota Shopping Complex Umezurike said “In this place we have all kinds of businesses; all the banks and financial institutions are in this complex. We are guided by Standard Operation Procedure (SOP), there are thing you cannot do here, you don’t display your market outside; it will interest you to know that Ikota turns around about N5.5 billion every month. People park their cars and go into the shops to do their business. Everybody can buy here, just as I said every budget works here.”

Umezurike who spoke in company of the Treasurer of the association, Mrs. Paulette Iyorah, disclosed that ISCOOA 2019 Trade Fair is made popular with the slogan ‘Ikota Must Flourish.’

On discount rate giving to customers during the fair he said “Of course there is a price slash, some people give 30%, some 50%, some others give as high as 70% depending on the owner; we don’t compel anybody here. All the traders understand what to do. You see, when you do business from January to December you would like to sell off old stock so that new ones can be brought in.”

He said the trade fair is expected to run for 14 days starting from Monday, December 9, 2019.

While stating that the trade fair would bring about high volume of sales for the traders, Umezurike said ISCOOA is expecting a minimum of 1million customers within the 14 days duration of the trade fair. 

Umezurike said the trade fair is being organised by Ikota Shopping Complex Owners and Operators Association (ISCOOA), adding that this year’s trade fair is unique and unparalleled in many ways. “There is a new administration in place that signals and symbolises a complete and total new dawn, with the mantra: Ikota Must Flourish.”

Umezuruike maintained that the mantra of Ikota Must Flourish is a renaissance that is new ideological revolution which is a representation of a paradigm shift from the old order, “with new, effective security system, rehabilitation of otherwise dry bones, upgrading electricity and its tenets of operation, transformation of Ikota to an international market that it has always been, putting orderliness in place, and above all, ensuring that our operators /owners achieve their prime objective of business flourish. I will be compiling a compendium to outline our forthcoming active visions in their total perspectives.”

He went further to state “We have business/purchases available for all types of budgets. So I call on our esteemed customers to shop, shop and shop, for that is the spirit of Yuletide. I equally thank these esteemed customers and new ones for their massive patronage without which we will be out business.

“I wish to crave the indulgence of corporate Nigeria, business community, captains of industries, investors, to feel free to partner or form synergies with us to leverage their brands, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and greater return on Investment,” Umezurike stated.

Umezurike also used the opportunity of the press conference to wish stakeholders a merry Yuletide “On behalf of ISCOOA Exco, I wish all of us a healthier, bigger, merrier, and better season so that ISCOOA must flourish eternally.”

On the readiness of the complex to service the free trade zone and the emerging businesses around the Lekki Epe axis, Umezurike said “It may interest you to know that we have done that already because Ikota is servicing the zone. Let me tell you something, we have all the banks, and if you move from here to free trade zone you won’t find more than seven banks so what are you talking about. We are positioned already but that does not mean there is no room for improvement.”

Umezurike also stated some of the challenges being faced by the members of the Shopping Complex and appealed to relevant agencies to come to their assistance “Our Challenge here is the natural Nigerian Challenge. But there is one that is disturbing us so much outside the traffic problem within the Lekki/Ajah axis; we have a very serious issue and we have been trying to engage government to see how we can address it; we needed direct access to the complex. If you are coming from Lekki you have to go to Ajah to turn, I know how difficult it is, so we wanted a place to turn into VGC and see how we can negotiate it to the complex. He said he wanted the government to come and see what they can do to solve the problem.

The PRO used the opportunity to appeal to the Lagos State governor to assist the complex in repairing the pedestrian bridge in front of the complex to ameliorate sufferings of members of the community and customers who in an attempt to cross the road, most time, are knocked down by fast moving vehicles. He also said the abandoned pedestrian bridge has constituted a security threat to people of the shopping complex as hoodlums use it as their abode.

He also appealed for the construction of good drainage system within the area.

Umezurike also called on the Power authorities to provide the plaza with regular electricity supply as the complex is spending heavily on power, “You can see a couple of generators everywhere, we have requested for prepaid meter but they are not responding, so we are making special arrangement from approved vendor to get the meters.” 

When informed that there is advertisement for availability of prepaid meter in Nigeria, he said that advertisement is not working for the complex and challenged the power authorities that they should immediately supply the complex with 700 to 800 3-face and single-face of 1400 meters, making 2200 meters if they are serious.

Danjuma donates N5b to Anglican Diocese of Lagos to build Centenary City

Success Damian:

The dream and vision of the Diocese of Lagos (Anglican Communion) to construct what it called a Centenary City in commemoration of the 100 years of existence of the church, became a reality on Monday when General T.Y. Danjuma (retd) made a whooping  donation of N5 billion towards the project.

Danjuma made the donation at an Award and Gala Night for the Centenary Celebration and Fundraising for the Centenary City which was held at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The donation by Danjuma, which represented the highest donation at the event, will be deployed for the development of the Low Cost housing Estate in the Centenary City.

Another illustrious son of the nation, Chief Tunde Afolabi also made a huge donation of N500 million towards the Youth Empowerment centre to be established in the Centenary City.

Among the crème de la crème that graced the occasion with their presence were Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency , Babajide Sanwo-_Olu, APC leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, His Excellency, Governor Dairus Ishaku, Governor of Taraba State and Chief Tunde & Engr (Mrs) Oluseyi Afolabi, Chairman & CEO of Amni International Petroleum Company and many other dignitaries.

The Centenary City was conceived by the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, the Rt. Rev (Dr) Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye to give an enduring legacy back to the society as the Diocese marks 100years.

The city was designed to accommodate Youth Empowerment and Development Centre, St. Luke's Global Hospital, Games Village, low‐cost housing estate, Convention ground, Women Empowerment Center, Rehabilitation Center, Amusement Park, Gethsemane Garden and many more.

The Gala and Award night was one of the events put together to celebrate the 100 years of the Diocese, which will be concluded on Tuesday, December 10, with a Thanksgiving Service at the Cathedral Church of Christ Marina, Lagos.

The Award and Gala Night was also supported by the former Bishop of the diocese and his wife, the Most Revd (Dr) Ephraim Adebola and Mrs Oluranti Ademowo OON and other Bishops across the Nation.

Highlights of the event include the investiture of the Grand Patron of the Centenary Celebration on the General, TY Danjuma. There were also other awards and unveiling of Heroes and Legends of Anglican Diocese of Lagos and cutting of the Centenary Cake.