New Caledonia rejects independence from France in third referendum
Residents of the Pacific territory of New Caledonia voted overwhelmingly on Sunday to remain part of France in a third referendum that was boycotted by pro-independence groups, reports say. The result could exacerbate ethnic tensions, with the poorer indigenous Kanak community generally favouring independence over the wealthier white community. The main indigenous pro-independence movement, the FLNKS, had called the government’s insistence on going ahead with the referendum “a declaration of war”. Another referendum is expected by June 2023 which will decide on the “project” New Caledonia’s people want to pursue. New Caledonia was largely spared during the pandemic’s first phase, but have suffered close to 300 Covid-19 deaths since the Delta variant arrived.
Source:The Guardian
December 13, 2021 03:33 UTC
The blood of business – 1
In the real estate industry, it is said that the three most important words for success are, “Location, location, location.” I make bold to say that the three most important words in the success mantra of any organisation should be “People, people, people”! Simply put, the purpose of business is not profit. I wish it would be written boldly and put on every wall in the workplace, “People are NOT a factor of our business. When we talk about people, we are looking at every sphere of the business, internal and external, where human engagement is essential. In other words, it boils down to the “heart” as opposed to the “pocket” of the business.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 13, 2021 03:32 UTC
Alleged N13.8bn fraud: Court stops planned trial of ex-COAS, others
The PUNCH reported that while Minimah was former COAS between January 2014 and July 2015, Adebayo and Odi are still in service. The EFCC, therefore, filed a charge against the three before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. But on learning about the EFCC’s request for their release, Mimimah, Adetayoand Odi filed a suit before a Federal High Court in Abuja, querying, among others, their planned trial before a civil Court. He prayed the court to allow parties to return on January 14 and 15 2022 for the hearing of the motion and the substantive suit. The judge ordered parties to file and exchange all necessary processes before then.
Source:Punch
December 13, 2021 03:20 UTC
Are you leading from the heart or the head?
The first is those who believe that one should lead from the heart, while the other school’s focus is leading from the head. Leading from the headThose who lead from the head are unemotional and impersonal. They are not interested in building a relationship; their focus is to make the organisation better and improve its performance as well as the bottom line. Between the heart and the headExperts are divided over which of these two options is better; is it more rewarding for an organisation to have leaders who lead from the heart or to have those who lead from the head? Irrespective of the personality trait of a leader, combining the two will work better than just holding on to either.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 13, 2021 03:02 UTC
IITA DG, wife conferred with Aare, Yeye Afurugbin-ola title
The Director-General of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr Ntereanya Sanginga and his wife, Charlotte, have been conferred with the ‘Aare and Yeye Afurugbin-ola of the source’ title by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. While conferring the chieftaincy title on Dr Sanginga and his wife, Oba Ogunwusi said the honour was a recognition of his giant strides and dedication to innovative agricultural development in the country and Africa. Former president, Obasanjo, on his part, said the conferment of the title on Dr Sanginga was well deserved giving the giant strides he has achieved as the first African DG of IITA. On his part, the Chief of State to the Oyo State Governor, Segun Ogunwuyi, the conferment of the chieftaincy title on Dr Sanginga was a recognition of excellence and dedication. He also thanked the Ooni for finding him and his wife worthy to be recognised as deserving of the title.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 13, 2021 02:52 UTC
Omicron: FG mulls retaliation, may place UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia on red list
According to him, since they did not want citizens from Nigeria visiting their country, their citizens also have no business visiting Nigeria. “We recommend that those countries, Canada, United Kingdom (UK), Saudi Arabia and Argentina should also be put on red list, just like they did to us. “I am very sure in the next three days, between now and Monday, or perhaps Tuesday maximum, all those countries will be put on red list. “Once they are put on red list, which means they are banned, then, of course, their airlines will also be banned. The UK, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Argentina recently put Nigeria on red list due to the identification COVID-19 Omicron variant among Nigerians.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 13, 2021 02:36 UTC
Macron hails New Caledonia rejecting independence | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that “a period of transition” would begin for New Caledonia after voters overwhelmingly rejected independence, adding that “France is more beautiful” with the Pacific islands included. “A period of transition is beginning. “Tonight France is more beautiful because New Caledonia has decided to stay part of it,” Macron added. With all ballots counted, 96.49 percent were against independence, while only 3.51 percent were in favour, with turn-out a mere 43.90 percent, results from the islands’ high commission showed. Observers say the result could exacerbate ethnic tensions, with the poorer indigenous Kanak community generally favouring independence over the wealthier white community.
Source:The Guardian
December 12, 2021 23:35 UTC
We’re tormented by numerous challenges — Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday noted that numerous challenges are tormenting the West African subregion and has therefore called on the leaders to continue to work together in a pragmatic way to confront the numerous challenges facing the subregion. He said: “The challenges of the coronavirus and the catastrophic consequences posed on our socio-economic environment continues to torment us. According to Buhari, “Our subregion continues to face economic, political, security and environmental fragilities linked to coronavirus pandemic“Our democracy is being challenged in Mali and Guinea. “Furthermore, threats are looming around – environmental degradation and climate change on our farming system. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report.…
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 12, 2021 23:21 UTC
Overcoming leadership failure: Lessons from Nigerian music industry
The way Nigerian songs have seized the airwaves globally, you’d be right to say that Nigeria is now a musical superpower. Neither the US, Europe nor Asia currently has the quantum of genius, output, impact or following of the Nigerian musical Armada. All these were accomplished without an ounce of support or incentive from the Nigerian state. This begs the question: What are the secrets behind Nigeria’s booming musical industry? We have a model that is proven on a global scale in our music industry.
Source:Punch
December 12, 2021 21:15 UTC
Old students call for resuscitation of technical colleges in Kwara
Old students call for resuscitation of technical colleges in KwaraOld students of the Government Technical College, Patigi, Kwara State have expressed displeasure over the sorry state of technical colleges in the state, calling on the state government to resuscitate them to ensure technological advancement in the country. It also appealed to the state government to promote and advance the course of technical education in Kwara state. It also appealed to the state government to constitute Board for Technical Education in Kwara State, as well as rename GTC Pategi as Science and Technical College. It promised to foster unity and welfare of old students of the school. The content of the article published by these online platforms is not new; it has been recirculated several times and has been debunked.Old students call for resuscitation of technical colleges in KwaraOld students call for resuscitation of technical colleges in Kwara
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 12, 2021 20:08 UTC
Omicron: Fourth dose needed to deal with new strain, says Pfizer
The Chief Executive of pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, Dr Albert Bourla, has confirmed that a fourth COVID-19 jab will be needed to deal with Omicron. Bourla has for weeks been floating the idea of annual boosters, even before concerns about the new super mutant variant were raised. He said, “I will think we will need the fourth dose; I have said that multiple times. With the previous variants, I was projecting that it will be on 12 months after the third dose. We may need it faster.”Bourla position on fourth dose came after Pfizer on Saturday warned that two doses of its vaccine would not prevent Omicron infections but ‘may still offer protection against severe disease’.
Source:Punch
December 12, 2021 08:38 UTC
How FG’s budgetary allocations promote corruption -Wike
Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has said the Federal Government, inadvertently, promotes corruption whenever it allows paltry sums of money, in its yearly budget for a project, instead of the entire money required to complete such projects within the agreed time. He said such practice encourages variation of the value of the projects, elongates the time specified to complete such projects, and most often, leads to abandonment. That job will last in the next ten years and that is the problem we have in our contract execution,” Wike stated. He pointed out that such culture was not encouraged in Rivers State under his administration and there is no rationale for him to spend four years, for example doing a particular project. The governor added, “Now if you’re putting N2 billion each year, that means in ten years time, it’s N20 billion.
Source:Punch
December 12, 2021 07:51 UTC
Compulsory vaccination of civil servants, a wrong-headed policy —Apostle Moses
The Coordinator, Apostolic Christianity Network, Apostle Moses Oludele, has described the Federal Government’s compulsory vaccination of civil servants as a wrong-headed policy. “The present COVID-19 vaccine was developed within nine months. “Several side-effects have been traced to these COVID-19 vaccines all across the world ranging from blood clots, neurological damage, pain, rashes, abdominal pain, menstrual changes among women, and deaths. “These are the short-term effects, the long-term effects have not been investigated and unknown since these vaccines have never been used. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report.…
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 12, 2021 05:20 UTC
Justice for children victims of the killing spree | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
One is sore worried about premeditated evil acts that have turned several Nigerian states into the killing fields of the African continent. All the listed deaths are only part of a saddening spectrum of the scarce regards given to the sacredness of human life here in Nigeria. What manner of Nigeria are these leaders going to bequeath our youths, if there is no regard for their lives? While more than 180,000 people have signed petitions demanding justice for Sylvester Oromoni, let the process be transparent because of the conflicting reports trailing his death. Let the lives of our children count, because like it or not, the future belongs to them.
Source:The Guardian
December 12, 2021 03:13 UTC
GBV: Group decries increasing cases in Gombe
An alliance of 22 civil society organisations under the aegis of VAPP Alliance has decried the increasing rate of Gender-Based Violence Gombe, amid a lack of stiff penalties to prosecute such cases. According to the Coordinator, Dudu Manuga, no fewer than 83 cases were reported in May, based on statistics gathered from the Gombe State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. Another month up to 83 reported and remember more are not reported than are reported. We are in December 2021 we do not have a VAPP law in Gombe State, am not sure about Adamawa but we may be the only one in the North East with VAPP law, Borno passed their own yesterday. “With a VAPP law we can fight violence against women, we can fight violence against anybody, everybody who is facing gender based violence whether boys or girls, men or women in Gombe State.
Source:Punch
December 12, 2021 01:40 UTC