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Quintessential role of the visual arts and communication enterprise came to the limelight recently at Yaba College of Technology as Artists, Collectors, art Critics, Journalists, Academics and Gallery Managers reiterated the strategic position occupied by visual arts as means of tackling the growing unemployment and poverty rates in Nigeria, particularly amongst the nation’s huge youth population.

The group exhibition organized by Yaba College of Technology School of Art, Design and Printing at the institution’s Yusuf Grillo Gallery provided platform for teachers in the department to showcase different form visual arts form while also motivating many unemployed Nigerians to explore untapped commercial opportunities in visual arts towards increasing the growing enterprise in Nigeria’s visual art industry.

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Ayoola Sodade, Abdulrasheed Afolabi, Hakeem Adeyemo, Olubunmi Adetayo, Emma Idiong, Tajudeen Adeyoola, Taiwo Akinwande and Taiwo Sorunke are artists and print design specialists whose creative concepts added colours to the visual art exhibition.

The arts exhibition according to Mr. Abdulrasheed Afolabi, a graphic communications lecturer, exhibitor and one of the coordinators of the group art exhibition titled “Visual arts, Communication and Creativity”, t was a huge success, judging by the attendance and excitements generated by issues raised at the exhibition. His book, titled Visual Communication; A Guide to media Production was also exhibited.

“Visual arts and communication are twin allied area our industry that are yielding money and helping to build enterprise development. For example, graphic art is an aspect of visual arts that deals with production of designs for the purpose of visual communication. Development and production of logos, posters, billboards, handbills, books, catalogues and banners are some of many by-products of the print media. Textile and fashion designs are great reference. Other creative enterprise like photography, painting, sculpture, textile and ceramics are great avenue for self employment”, he explained.

Ayoola Sobande, exhibitor and assistant curator described the one-week exhibition as a huge success because of new vista of opportunities it opened his eyes and those of his students who came in heir numbers for the exhibition. His painting titled Olori- The Headmaster received wide accolades. The abstract works communicates human aspirations to be the best despite all odds.

A textile artist, Adeyoola Tajudeen who uses dye and fabrics to bring value to fashion and lifestyle stood out with some of his works that communicates nature and environment.

For olubunmi Adetayo, a printing technology lecturer and exhibitor described the exhibition as a very good outing, “At least, for the first time, artist, industrial design and printers are coming together to showcase their works”. She explained that her publication, ‘Print Quest Workbook”, a curriculum based resource book for graphics and printing industry, is essential for students and professionals who wants to have deeper knowledge about graphics and printing.

Efforts of the organisers was further achieved with works exhibited by an experienced artist, Akinwande Taiwo, who deploys serigraphy and paint making to pass message of unity and Nigeria’s rich culture of traditional dance and Aso-Ebi.

BIG STORY

Federal Government Terminates Julius Berger’s Contract For Abuja-Kaduna Highway Rehabilitation

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The Federal Ministry of Works has instructed Julius Berger, the contractor responsible for the rehabilitation of Section One of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, to vacate the project site.

This follows the issuance of a 14-day final termination notice on Monday, making it clear that no further negotiations would be entertained.

The ministry cited non-compliance with the revised cost, scope, and terms of the project, along with a halt in work and the company’s refusal to remobilise to the site as the reasons for the termination.

It was noted that despite ongoing negotiations over several months, there had been no meaningful progress.

A statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, on Monday in Abuja, confirmed the decision, which was made during a management meeting at the ministry’s headquarters.

Recall that the works ministry had in the last 13 months been in constant talks with the company, in order to reach an amiable position on the said alignment but to no avail.

The latest development follows an earlier threat by the minister to revoke the contract that was awarded to the company in 2018 when former President Muhammadu Buhari was in power.

While the Kaduna-Zaria section has been completed and the Zaria-Kano section is almost done, the Abuja-Kaduna section has recorded 27 percent progress in six years.

At an event penultimate week, Umahi accused Julius Berger of playing politics with the highway to make the current administration look bad.

Despite these efforts, an agreement was not reached between both parties, with the construction company not attending the scheduled meeting on Monday.

The statement read in part, “Based on non-compliance with the reviewed cost, scope, and terms, stoppage of work and refusal to remobilise to the site, as directed, the Federal Ministry of Works has issued a 14-day Notice of Termination to Messrs Julius Berger Plc for the Rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway in FCT, Kaduna and Kano States, Contract No.6350, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna), today, November 4, 2024.

“Nigerians may wish to know that the Contract for the Rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, which was divided into three Sections was awarded to the company on December 20, 2017, and flagged off by the former Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, Babatunde Fashola at an initial sum of N155.75bn on June 18, 2018. Sections II (Kaduna – Zaria) and III (Zaria – Kano) were partially completed and handed over during the twilight of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Since then it has been one variation and augmentation or the other and finally, the present Minister of Works directed the redesigning and re-scoping of the Section I of the contract. The alignment was divided into two with one phase redesigned to be on continuously reinforced concrete pavement, while the remaining with asphaltic pavement.

“Approval for Section I, Phase 1 for a length of 38km on the concrete pavement was given to Messrs Dangote Industries (Nig.) Ltd, while the remaining 127km remained with the substantive contractor. Phase 1 was flagged off on October 17, 2024, with a 14-month completion period.”

Mohammed further explained that a request to rescope the project was approved by the Federal Executive Council but the contract’s terms were not agreed upon by the contractor.

He added, “Due to the stalemate of the contract and, most importantly, the desire of President Bola Tinubu, as encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda infrastructure initiative, to see to the completion of this laudable project, also to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians plying the road, the ministry re-scoped it and got the approval of the Federal Executive Council.

“The award for the Re-scoping and Downward Review of Contract for the Rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway in FCT, Kaduna and Kano States, Contract No.6350, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna) in favour of Messrs Julius Berger Plc from the sum of N797.26bn to N740.79bn was granted by FEC on September 23, 2024, and conveyed to the company on October 3, 2024.”

With the latest development, this means the Works Minister, David Umahi has revoked 11 contracts in 16 months.

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BIG STORY

Peter Obi Makes U-Turn, Says Position On Church Vigils Distorted

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Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, on Sunday, said his recent suggestion to convert ‘church vigils into night shifts’ has been misrepresented.

The former Anambra State governor, faced intense backlash after his interview on the Honest Bunch podcast aired on Saturday.

He stressed that Nigeria’s poverty and unproductivity stem from two major factors: politics and religion.

Specifically, Obi argued that Nigerians spend too much time attending church services from Monday to Friday, which sparked mixed reactions.

While some saw his statement as an attack on religious practices, others viewed it as a call to balance faith with productivity.

Reacting via a statement issued by his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, in the wake of the outrage, the former governor said his account was twisted and blown out of proportion.

The statement partly read, “Our attention has been drawn to a huge twist in his recent media interview, saying erroneously that he called for the dismantling of churches in Nigeria.

“By the headline given to the interview, the import of Obi’s message has been greatly overturned and grossly distorted to serve a mischievous end.

“The Labour Party leader is well known as a man of strong faith who has enormous respect and love for every religion and tried in the referenced interview to bring to Nigerians how religion can be more effective in their lives.

“Obi, in the interview, was merely underscoring what Apostle James said in ‘Faith without Works is unhelpful.’ When Obi said that he would turn night vigil into production night, he was only stressing the importance of worshipping God through work.

“Even Jesus Christ never picked any of his 12 disciples where they were praying but where they were working as fishermen and tax collectors, among others.

“What we are doing in Nigeria, which Obi’s interview is highlighting as wrong and should be discontinued, is exchanging work for prayer when the two should go together.

“There is no evidence in the scripture that Jesus blessed an idle person. The problem In some of Nigeria’s worship communities is that they are not following St James advisory that we should be doers of the words.”

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BIG STORY

EFCC Arrests Former Delta Governor Okowa Over Alleged N1.3trillion Fraud

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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Monday in connection with the alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion.

The N1.3 trillion is said to represent the 13% derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.

Sources within the EFCC confirmed that Okowa was taken to the agency’s office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he was subsequently detained.

One of the sources stated, “Okowa was at our Port Harcourt office following an invitation from investigators probing the allegations against him. He was then arrested. The commission is investigating him regarding the N1.3 trillion 13% derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023

“He is also accused of failing to account for the funds, as well as another N40 billion he allegedly claimed was used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas. He reportedly bought shares worth N40 billion in one of the country’s major banks, representing an 8% equity stake, to support the offshore LNG project. The funds are alleged to have been misappropriated for other purposes.

“Investigators are also examining the alleged diversion of funds by the former governor to acquire estates in Abuja and Asaba, Delta State. He is currently being held at the EFCC facility in Port Harcourt.”

When contacted, EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrest but declined further comment on the matter.

“He is with us,” Oyewale simply said.

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