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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LAUDS NIGERIAN BREWERIES’ SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION AS COMPANY DONATES STAFF QUARTERS TO MALTINA TEACHER OF THE YEAR’S SCHOOL

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The Federal Government has commended Nigerian Breweries Plc for being at the forefront of supporting the development of education in Nigeria. Professor Anthony Anwukah, the Minister of State for Education, said this on Tuesday, at the commissioning of a block of Staff Quarters built by Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund at the Federal Government Girls College, Onitsha, Anambra State.

Professor Anwukah explained that by continually investing in educational infrastructure, encouraging teachers and students, the company has demonstrated an unshakable resolve to ensure the nation’s growth and development.

The Minister also lauded the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative, which he said has been able to “finance, showcase, reward, recognize, and celebrate” exceptional teachers around the country.

Mrs. Rose Nkemdilim Obi, the winner at the maiden edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year, teaches Mathematics and Chemistry at the school.

Mrs. Obi, who beat nine other finalists to the coveted prize, also got a one million naira cash prize plus another one million Naira to be paid to her annually for five years. The building of the Quarters in her school was part of the prize for emerging the 2015 Maltina Teacher- of –the-Year

Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, who was represented on the occasion by Mr. Kufre Ekanem, the Corporate Affairs Adviser explained that the idea of the school-based project was to ensure that when a teacher won, the community where he/she teaches also wins.

“In 1994, our Company decided to take a more active role in its commitment to the development of education in Nigeria when it established the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund with a take-off value of N100 million. Since then, the fund has impacted over 2,000 students across Nigeria,” he said.

Mr. Vervelde also expressed gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Education for the support and partnership with the company since the commencement of the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative. He thanked the Minister for pushing the partnership between the company and the ministry to a new height; including rearranging his busy schedule to commission the project on Tuesday.

The principal of the school, Mrs. Margaret Enonuya, expressed great appreciation and thanked Nigerian Breweries for what he described as an unparalleled support for the cause of education in the country.

“Rarely in deed has any Secondary School in Nigeria been so honoured as today to be awarded the gift of a twin three bedroom bungalow for producing a national icon, the Maltina Teacher of the Year by Nigerian Breweries Plc. We feel proud of what Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund has done, she said.

Mrs. Obi equally praised Nigerian Breweries for the gesture, adding that it takes a greater sacrifice on the part of the company to appreciate the great sacrifice and contribution of teachers to the development of the nation.

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IBEDC records 1,459 energy theft cases in January, February

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The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company said it has recorded 1,459 cases of energy theft by its subscribers between January and February 2024.

This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the firm’s Chief Key Accounts Officer, Mr. Johnson Tinuoye, on Tuesday.

IBEDC added that it is actively pursuing investigations and legal actions against individuals and businesses involved in the theft in collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences.

Identifying the cases, IBEDC said they included various offences such as meter bypass and illegal meter tampering, which resulted in significant financial losses amounting to hundreds of millions of naira for the company.

The statement read, “We want to send a clear message to our customers that energy theft will not be tolerated. Our collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences underscores our commitment to ensuring a fair and just electricity distribution system.

“Energy theft not only undermines the integrity of our operations but also deprives IBEDC of the revenue necessary to provide quality services to our customers.”

Tinuoye emphasised that under the Electricity Act, energy theft is now recognised as a criminal offense, carrying severe penalties including imprisonment stressing, “In the Osun region, two individuals were apprehended for stealing energy through meter bypass and illegal connections. Their cases have been formally charged in court for prosecution.”

IBEDC further urged customers to refrain from engaging in any form of energy theft, emphasising that the consequences can be severe, as there is no room for negotiation with the SIPTEO Task Force team, which is actively patrolling and investigating instances of energy theft for prosecution.

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Copyright Breach: NCC Drags MTN, Others To Court Over Musician’s Works

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The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has filed criminal charges against MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. and four others over alleged copyright infringement.

The charge with number FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024 filed in the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court was obtained by journalists on Monday.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the four other defendants in the case include the chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola; Nkeakam Abhulimen, Fun Mobile Ltd.; and Yahaya Maibe.

In the three-count charge, NCC alleged that the defendants, between 2010 and 2017, “offered for sale, sold and traded for business’’, infringed the musical works of an artiste, Maleke Idowu Moye, without his consent and authorisation.

The commission alleged that the defendants used musical works and sound recordings of Mr Maleke with subsisting copyright as caller ringback tunes without the authorisation of the artiste.

The musician’s musical works and sound recordings allegedly infringed upon included 911, Minimini-wanawana, Stop Racism, Ewole, 911 instrumental, Radio, Low Waist, and No Bother.

The defendants were also alleged to have distributed the musical works to their subscribers without authorisation, thereby infringing on the rights of the artiste.

In the third count, the defendants were alleged to have in their possession, other than for their private or domestic use, the artiste’s musical works and sound recordings.

According to NCC, the alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under section 20 (2) (a) (b) and (c) of the Copyright Act, Cap. C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The case has yet to be assigned to any judge, and no date has been fixed for the mention.

Meanwhile, no official statement has been released by any of the defendants as at the time of filing this report, while all efforts to get reactions from MTN by New Telegraph proved abortive.

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LASG, LCC ANNOUNCE REOPENING OF LEKKI CONSERVATION CENTRE AFTER REPAIRS

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Following the completion of extensive routine maintenance works on the Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC), the Lagos State Government and the Management of the Centre have announced that the Walkway will be reopened for public use with effect from Friday, 29th March 2024.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe confirmed this on Friday during a visit to the Centre in Lekki alongside some officials of the Ministry.

Aregbe said that he was happy to see that all repairs and renovations on the facility, including the Walkway, have been completed and would be accessible for tourism during the Easter celebration.

The Special Adviser appreciated Lagosians and tourists across the world for their patience during the thorough maintenance works carried out at the Centre in Lekki.

The Director-General of the Centre, Prof Mathew Onoja also appreciated the State Government for its intervention following the viral video, which first circulated in December as well as the swift response and efforts towards making the repairs and renovations seamless.

He noted that the Centre being a major tourism asset in Lagos State has played host to tourists from all over the world as it offers a serene environment for nature tourism and also boasts of the longest canopy walkway in Africa.

Recall that the facility has been undergoing routine maintenance since January following apprehensions arising from the damaged section of the Canopy Walkway, which had been repaired before the viral video was posted on social media platforms.

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