By Kunle AHONUGA
The Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), says it has empowered 500 persons through training in various skill acquisition in Nsukka/Igboeze-South Federal Constituency was part of its corporate social responsibility.
Mrs Hadiza Usman, Managing Director, said this on Thursday in Nsukka at a one-day empowerment training organised for women and youths on how to grow ginger spice, prepare ginger powder, ginger juice and starch.
She said the scheme is to empower women and youths towards self help and also to reduce unemployment.
”We will monitor the beneficiaries and will be ready to assist those who invested the start-up capital into what they learnt.
”NPA wants you to invest this start-up capital in what you have learnt today, so that you will become job creators in future,” she said.
The managing -director represented by Mr David Eze, a Senior Auditor in NPA, said what the authority had done was to compliment Federal Government’s efforts in empowering youths and women in the country.
”The training and provision of start-up capital to 500 beneficiaries is part of our corporate social responsibility.
”The empowerment is meant to assist women and youths so that they will earn a living as well as assist their families.
”This start up capital given to beneficiaries is not refundable because is not loan, but a grant to help them start business, I advise them to make judicious use of the money,” she said.
Usman commended Dr Pat Asadu, the House of Representatives member and the House Committee Chairman on Ports, Harbour and Waterways, for the manner his committee had been discharging its duties.
She told the beneficiaries that, ”It’s the good working relationship between NPA and Asadu who represents Nsukka/Igboeze-South that made this empowerment programme possible.”
In a remark, Asadu urged the women and youths in the area to make good use of the opportunity, adding that some of them would become successful business men and women in future.
”Some successful business men and women in the world started like this, but because of their hard work, they are today millionaire and billionaire.
”I attracted this empowerment to assist youths and women in the constituency as well as reduce the problem of unemployment in the state.
”My promise to those who did not benefit from this current empowerment programme is that in subsequent ones in future, they will benefit,” he said.
The lawmaker urged people of the constituency to ensure that they participate in the forthcoming general elections in order to move the country forward.
TBI Africa said some beneficiaries who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) expressed gratitude to NPA and Asadu for the empowerment programme which they said would make them job creators in future.
NIS in Enugu issued 25,400 international passports in 2018, says Comptroller
By Aliyu DANLADI
The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has said it issued more than 24,000 international passports in 2018.
TBI Africa said the Comptroller of the Command, Mr Sam Chinda, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu, on Thursday.
Chinda said that there were two types of passports issued, that which contained 32 pages and the other with 64 pages.
“For the 32 pages international passports booklet, we issued 25,036; while for the 64 pages international passports booklet, we issued 372.
“In the year 2018 under review, we did not encounter any challenge or shortfall of passport booklets at all, as we delivered on time as stipulated by the service new guidelines,’’ he said.
The comptroller also said that the command showed tremendous improvement in the human and technical aspects of the processes involved in the issuance of the passports.
“Our personnel had been professional and dedicated to their duties, which had helped to ease the process and ensure timely delivery.
“Nigerians leave here (the command) satisfied and happy with us for solving their passports and other travel service needs; as well as getting first hand answers to other inquiries.
“The Controller-General of NIS, Mr Mohammed Babandede, has made training and re-training of members staff, one of his major focuses,’’ he said.
According to him, the NIS has also deployed new advanced technologies in the command to reduce time and curb technical delays in the issuance of passports.
He said all passports issuance processes did not take more than 48 hours.
He further explained that when there were any delays, explanations were usually given to the applicant within 72 hours.
According to Chinda, the command has since his assumption of office in August, 2018, extended work hours beyond 4:00 p.m. in order to meet up with the demands of applicants.
“Sometimes, we work till 7:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. to ensure that everybody, especially people with emergencies, are attended to.
“These emergencies can be on health, school schedule, flight challenges or change, as well as other special circumstances.’’
