The upcoming GDPR rules due to apply from 25th May 2018 will affect all hirers and supply agencies, introducing a raft of new data protection requirements.

The upcoming GDPR rules due to apply from 25th May 2018 will affect all hirers and supply agencies, introducing a raft of new data protection requirements.

“Ensuring that data is protected in the way required by these new rules is critical for all parties concerned”, said John Randall, engagement director at Standards in Recruitment (SiR) “and is likely to be of interest for HR and hiring organisations using supply and introduction agencies as well as being relevant to candidates looking to use compliant recruitment businesses”.
SiR accreditation requires adherence to data protection rules and validates GDPR compliance, amongst other areas relevant to recruitment. “This is unique”, says Randall. “Our legal and onsite audit not only looks at documents such as a privacy statement used by a business, but also comprehensively checks that what is claimed by the business is also being carried out in practice, and that suitably protective technological measures are in place. I do not believe that any other accreditation can provide this level of assurance for hirers and candidates, and SiR certification again distinguishes accredited businesses from others. GDPR compliance is a key part of recruitment governance.”
SiR was launched in 2015 and is the UK’s only independent accreditation for recruitment businesses. It operates to standards set by hirers and agency stakeholders.

hyundai and kia probed by USA

Safety regulators in the U.S. are investigating air bags in certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles that failed to deploy in frontal collisions linked to four deaths and six injuries.
As many as 425,000 automobiles made by the South Korean manufacturers may be affected, according to an investigation report posted on the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website. NHTSA is investigating whether vehicles made by other carmakers also may be at risk. Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. shares fell.
The crashes were reported in the past six years and involved Hyundai Sonatas and Sonata hybrids made in 2011, and Kia Forte and Kia Forte Koups made in 2012 and 2013. Hyundai on Feb. 27 recalled almost 155,000 Sonatas after determining that an electrical overstress failed to inflate the air bags during collisions. Hyundai is looking into the product supplier, ZF-TRW, for a possible cause for the electrical problem.
Air bags already are linked to the largest and most complex auto-related recall in U.S. history -- the one that ultimately led to Japan’s Takata Corp. to seek court protection from creditors after its devices were linked to at least 17 deaths. Unlike the Takata situation, which involved exploding air bags with shrapnel, the latest probe involves devices that failed to deploy at all.

Shares Fall

Shares of Hyundai declined 3.8% in Seoul, the biggest drop in more than two months. Kia lost 3.5%, the most in more than six months.
“This is just the start of an investigation -- we don’t know how much it will be expanded yet,” said Lee Hang-koo, a senior researcher at state-run Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade in Sejong City, South Korea. “It is surely bad news for Hyundai, which is already seeing sluggish sales in the U.S.”
The federal agency said it will work to determine whether any other automaker use air-bag control units that are the same or similar to those supplied by ZF-TRW, and whether those units behave the same way in similar crashes. A safety expert said that’s critical to determining how widespread the problem is and whether it’s just a Hyundai and Kia issue.
“If there is a component in the module that is used by other systems as well, that number could increase significantly,” Keith Friedman, automotive safety researcher at Friedman Research Corp. in Austin, Texas, said in a telephone interview Sunday. “If it has to do with the way this particular module has been manufactured, it could be localized to these particular vehicles.”

Automakers Cooperating

The Korean companies said they’re cooperating in the probe. Hyundai is “announcing this recall now to ensure the safety of our customers,” the company said in a statement. Kia said it will work closely with NHTSA, including monitoring crash reports and conduct more crash tests as needed.
The Sonatas and Sonata hybrids made in 2011 that were sold in Hyundai’s home market of South Korea don’t have ZF-TRW air bags, said Koh Sung-woo, deputy director at the country’s transport ministry. About 30,000 Kia Forte cars produced in South Korea have ZF-TRW air bags, though those have different ways of deploying air bags than in the U.S. cars, he said. The ministry will wait for the result of the U.S. probe and see if there are any similar consumer complaints in South Korea, he said.
ZF-TRW was formed when closely held German company ZF Friedrichshafen AG bought U.S.-based TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. for more than $12 billion in 2015.
Takata last month agreed to pay as much as $650 million to settle claims in 44 states and the District of Columbia for defective air bags that can explode in car crashes, sending metal shards flying. The company has recalled millions of air bags, the largest in history, that had been linked to the deaths and spurred lawsuits leading to more than $1 billion in settlements from automakers including Honda Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., Subaru Corp., Mazda Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and BMW AG.
Last week, U.S. consumers filed class-action complaints in Miami federal court to recover costs against units of General Motors and Volkswagen as well as Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz and Fiat Chrysler. The complaints allege that the automakers deceived the public about the defects and associated dangers.

Ahead of this week’s meeting of the G20 finance ministers in Argentina, the OECD has published an interim report on the implications of digitalisation for taxation, and says its inclusive framework on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) is working to achieve a consensus approach by 2020

The interim report builds on the 2015 BEPS action 1 report. It includes an in-depth analysis of the changes to business models and value creation arising from digitalisation, and identifies characteristics that are frequently observed in certain highly digitalised business models.
The report identifies the positions that different countries hold, and includes an analysis of the UK’s move to introduce a diverted profits tax.  It looks at the factors which drive their approach to possible solutions, and describes the potential implications for the international tax rules.
The OECD points out in the report that these approaches range from those countries that consider no action is needed, to those that consider there is a need for action that would take into account user contributions, through to others who consider that any changes should apply to the economy more broadly.
While agreeing to work towards a long-term solution by 2020, some countries believe that there is a strong imperative to act quickly and are in favour of the introduction of interim measures, while other countries are opposed to them and consider that such measures will give rise to risks and adverse consequences. Those countries in favour have identified a number of considerations that they believe need to be taken into account to limit the possible adverse side-effects.
The OECD says the interim report lays the ground to move forward towards a long-term multilateral solution in the next phase of work.
Specifically, inclusive framework members have agreed to undertake a coherent and concurrent review of the ‘nexus’ and ‘profit allocation’ rules, which the OECD says are fundamental concepts relating to the allocation of taxing rights between jurisdictions and the determination of the relevant share of the multinational enterprise’s profits that will be subject to taxation in a given jurisdiction.
The OECD says members will consider the impacts of digitalisation on the economy, relating to the principles of aligning profits with underlying economic activities and value creation, and that the aim is to maintain a single, relevant set of international tax rules.
OECD secretary-general Angel Gurría said:  ‘We have underlined the complexity of the issues, and highlighted the importance of reaching international agreement, both for our economies and the future of the rules-based system. The OECD stands ready to accompany countries as they seek to build a common understanding of the issues related to the digital economy and taxation, as well as the long-term solutions.’
The interim report also looks at how digitalisation is affecting other areas of the tax system, including the opportunities that new technologies offer for enhancing taxpayer services and improving compliance, as well as the tax risks, including those relating to the block chain technology that underlies crypto-currencies.
Alenka Turnsek, UK head of digital tax at PwC, said the diversity of views reflected in the OECD’s report suggests that reaching an agreement will require ‘comprehensive international engagement between governments and businesses’, in order to ensure a degree of certainty, avoid double taxation and prevent an increase in cross-border disputes.
‘The OECD report does not make recommendations in respect of short term measures, citing a lack of consensus on either the merit or need for these measures. It does advocate a range of issues that ought to be considered before the introduction of revenue taxes or other rules.
‘While the absence of recommendations on interim measures is consistent with previous OECD thinking, it differs from the approach of the UK government, which confirmed this week it would explore a turnover tax until a permanent solution could be found. A co-ordinated, long-term approach will be crucial to prevent businesses facing the prospect of having to navigate a mish-mash of different tax rules,’ Turnsek said.

108 Nigerian Police Personnel Withdraw from UN Mission in Liberia

The last batch of 108 Nigerian Formed Police Unit (FPU) deployed to Liberia under the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) have withdrawn after five years following the conclusion of their mission.
UNMIL said the last remaining 108 Nigerian FPU officers, the last UNMIL uniformed contingent remaining in Liberia, withdrew as part of the UN mission’s termination.
The batch of 200 Nigerian peacekeepers had also withdrawn from Liberia in February as part of the termination of the mission’s mandate, scheduled on March 30, the mission said.
“The Nigerian contingent has been deployed in Liberia since UNMIL was first established in 2003. Nigeria has been a main contributor of military and police to UNMIL.
“The UNMIL has been a steadfast partner to Liberia for the last 15 years.
“It has supported security and security sector reform, rule of law, efforts to disarm, human rights and sustainable peace.
“The Mission will complete its mandate on March 30.
“UNMIL was established in September 2003 with 16,475 uniformed personnel to monitor a ceasefire agreement in Liberia, following the conclusion of the Second Liberian Civil War”.
An official farewell ceremony was held in February in honour of the last departing 689 uniformed personnel – 404 military and 285 police personnel – who had served with the Mission.
This symbolised the end of UNMIL’s military and police operations in Liberia, more than 14 years after UNMIL was deployed in compliance with Security Council resolution 1509 (2003).
Nigeria’s Maj.-Gen. Salihu Uba is the Force Commander and Head of  UNMIL’s Military component of men and women from various countries including: Nigeria, Pakistan and Ukraine.
Uba was Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command of the Nigerian Army before his appointment as the Force Commander for UNMIL by the former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Jan. 9, 2015.
The Formed Police Unit composed of Nigerian and Chinese personnel and since 2003, 61 contingents from various countries had served in Liberia, UNMIL said.
According to Uba, the mission’s uniform component military and police have taken greater stride towards strengthening peace and security, rule of law, governance among others in Liberia.
The Force Commander stated that it was not all roses particularly for the military which had the highest fatalities of 138 personnel while the police lost 21 persons.

European impressed number of young voters in Russian presidential election

The Russian presidential election had an excellent turnout, especially among young people, with many voting for the first time on March 18, Janice Atkinson, the vice president of the Europe of Nations and Freedom group in the European Parliament, said Monday.
On Sunday, Russia held its presidential election.
About three-quarters of all voters backed the re-election of Russian President Vladimir Putin according to preliminary CEC figures.
“What struck me was the amount of young people that were voting, and those that were voting for the first time. A lot of proudness among those people…
“You’re going out and doing your civic duty, so I was very heartened by that. You had an excellent turnout.
“We’d love to have that in the UK. On average we get 60 to 65 per cent at the general election,” Atkinson told reporters.
Atkinson also praised the turnout in Crimea, which rejoined Russia in March 2014 via a referendum.
“It was interesting to see the turnout here. I think in the end it was about 80 per cent. Putin got a fantastic turnout in Crimea, which I think says an awful lot,” Atkinson said.
Atkinson compared the Russian presidential election to the elections in the United Kingdom, stating that the UK should adopt electronic voting systems similar to those used by Russia to save time.
“It all seemed to work very well – your electronic voting system. We don’t have that in the UK. We have a piece of paper and it’s ‘mark the box,’ and it takes hours and hours to count.
“So I think the way forward is electronic systems in my country,” Atkinson said.
Atkinson added that voter fraud could be prevented in the UK if it used Russia’s system of providing identification before casting a ballot.
The number of ballot paper processing systems was doubled to almost 13,000 for Sunday’s election, with around 1,000 touch-screen voting systems installed.
About one-third of voters used these electronic voting systems.

News EFCC director drags Magu to court

A director in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ayo Olowonihi, has accused the commission’s acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu of injustice.
The complainant, in the suit marked: NICN/ABJ/347/2017, wants the court to declare his demotion as well as the processes that led to it as illegal and null and void.
A director in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ayo Olowonihi, has accused the commission’s acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu of injustice.
The complainant, in the suit marked: NICN/ABJ/347/2017, wants the court to declare his demotion as well as the processes that led to it as illegal and null and void.

Led in evidence by his lawyer, Prof. J.O Amupitan (SAN), he told Justice Sanusi Kadu of the National Industrial Court in Abuja that he was appointed as Head of Training on grade level 16 Step 1 in 2005 and later Commandant of the EFCC Academy in March 28, 2012.
Olowonihi disclosed further that after he sat and passed the commission’s promotion examinations conducted by the Public Service Institute, he was promoted to the rank of Detective Commander on August 29, 2013.
He claimed that Magu, on November 19, 2015, summoned him into his office, accusing him of being behind some online publications on the activities of the commission and against the person of the chairman (Magu).
He said on Magu’s directive, he was interrogated, his official computer taken away, while his two phones were seized, adding that his office, after being thoroughly searched by a team of detectives and policemen, was sealed up.
A director in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ayo Olowonihi, has accused the commission’s acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu of injustice.
The complainant, in the suit marked: NICN/ABJ/347/2017, wants the court to declare his demotion as well as the processes that led to it as illegal and null and void.

Led in evidence by his lawyer, Prof. J.O Amupitan (SAN), he told Justice Sanusi Kadu of the National Industrial Court in Abuja that he was appointed as Head of Training on grade level 16 Step 1 in 2005 and later Commandant of the EFCC Academy in March 28, 2012.
Olowonihi disclosed further that after he sat and passed the commission’s promotion examinations conducted by the Public Service Institute, he was promoted to the rank of Detective Commander on August 29, 2013.
He claimed that Magu, on November 19, 2015, summoned him into his office, accusing him of being behind some online publications on the activities of the commission and against the person of the chairman (Magu).
He said on Magu’s directive, he was interrogated, his official computer taken away, while his two phones were seized, adding that his office, after being thoroughly searched by a team of detectives and policemen, was sealed up.

The complainant said further that while interrogation was still on, Magu demoted him as Commandant and redeployed him from the EFCC Academy.
He said while the letter was purported to have been issued by the management of the commission, he was not aware of any management meeting where such decision was taken being a management staff.
Olowonihi disclosed that he received a query on December 22, 2015, accusing him of breaching certain section of the commission Staff Regulation Handbook and replied on December 29, 2015, denying all the allegations, but was surprised to receive that same day, a letter of indefinite suspension from work without pay with immediate effect.
He stated that since his suspension over two years now, he was never invited to appear before any panel nor were there any communication until November 16, 2017, when he was served with a letter of reinstatement dated November 15, 2017, demoting him and forfeiting his salaries and emoluments.
A director in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ayo Olowonihi, has accused the commission’s acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu of injustice.
The complainant, in the suit marked: NICN/ABJ/347/2017, wants the court to declare his demotion as well as the processes that led to it as illegal and null and void.

Led in evidence by his lawyer, Prof. J.O Amupitan (SAN), he told Justice Sanusi Kadu of the National Industrial Court in Abuja that he was appointed as Head of Training on grade level 16 Step 1 in 2005 and later Commandant of the EFCC Academy in March 28, 2012.
Olowonihi disclosed further that after he sat and passed the commission’s promotion examinations conducted by the Public Service Institute, he was promoted to the rank of Detective Commander on August 29, 2013.
He claimed that Magu, on November 19, 2015, summoned him into his office, accusing him of being behind some online publications on the activities of the commission and against the person of the chairman (Magu).
He said on Magu’s directive, he was interrogated, his official computer taken away, while his two phones were seized, adding that his office, after being thoroughly searched by a team of detectives and policemen, was sealed up.

The complainant said further that while interrogation was still on, Magu demoted him as Commandant and redeployed him from the EFCC Academy.
He said while the letter was purported to have been issued by the management of the commission, he was not aware of any management meeting where such decision was taken being a management staff.
Olowonihi disclosed that he received a query on December 22, 2015, accusing him of breaching certain section of the commission Staff Regulation Handbook and replied on December 29, 2015, denying all the allegations, but was surprised to receive that same day, a letter of indefinite suspension from work without pay with immediate effect.
He stated that since his suspension over two years now, he was never invited to appear before any panel nor were there any communication until November 16, 2017, when he was served with a letter of reinstatement dated November 15, 2017, demoting him and forfeiting his salaries and emoluments.

In the reinstatement letter, the complainant was accused of breach of confidence by the Senior Staff Promotions and Disciplinary Committee.
He, however, claimed that he was never invited by the committee to defend himself of the said allegations or any other misconduct.
Olowonihi insisted that the commission Staff Regulation Handbook 2007 on which he was queried, demoted and asked to forfeit his salaries and entitlements and purported reinstatement, has not been approved by the commission or its board.
While claiming that it is only the commission that has disciplinary powers over a management staff, he said the federal government was yet to constitute the commission/board since 2015.
Olowonihi said based on the above, he rejected the conditions of his reinstatement in a letter dated November 22, 2017.
However, counsel to the defendant, Ibrahim Audu, during cross-examination, asked the complainant to confirm to the court if he was still a director in the commission and commandant of the Academy.
Responding, Olowonihi answered in the affirmative, claiming that he has already written to the commission rejecting his demotion as he was never found guilty of any offence.
Responding also to question on the validity of the commission’s regulation handbook on which disciplinary action was taken against him, he insisted that the regulation was not valid because it has not been approved by the commission, adding that some staff of the commission who have been punished have been challenging the validity.
Olowonihi said he played a major role in the drafting of the regulation, adding that the work of the drafting committee ended at the doorstep of the director of organisation who was to transmit it to the board for approval. He however said he cannot tell if that was done.
He also said by the mandate of the Academy, promotion examinations and other examinations are to be conducted by it, but the examinations were outsourced to the Public Service Institute and JAMB.
Olowonihi claimed that the promotion examination he wrote was conducted in the Academy but not by the Academy.
After cross-examining the complainant, Audu asked for an adjournment to enable the defendant call its witnesses.
Justice Kadu, adjourned till April 30, 2018, for continuation of trial.

Federal Government Pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), have called on the National Pension Commission (PenCom) asking for the payment of pension entitlements of workers, who retired from January 2017 till date.

They noted that the Federal Government and the Commission had promised them prompt payment of pension immediately after retirement, or at most, three months after, but have not kept to their word.

The pensioners, who spoke under the auspices of the Association of Federal Contributory Scheme Pensioners, Oyo State chapter, insisted that the government ought to keep its promise in order to preserve the life of pensioners as well as their family members and dependants.

The pensioners said: "We wish to demand further that some of our members have not even received any of their retirement benefits, especially those who retired from January 2017 to date. Their retirement benefits have not been paid to them, and this is causing serious problems in the life of members who are affected."

Moreover, the pensioners' association, in the letter signed by its President, Amao Shittu, and its Secretary, Prince Akingbade, also criticised that the total amount being paid to federal pensioners under the new pension scheme as take home, after various deductions for Annuity or the Programmed Withdrawals, are nothing to write home about.

They said this has further impoverished pensioners given the prevailing economic condition in the country.

Speaking on the accrued interests arising from the Accrued Pension Benefits Bond with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), they disclosed that no federal government pensioner has been paid the interest accrued from this bond since the inception of the new pension scheme in 2004, and thereby, called for payment of the entitlements.

"The Federal Government through the Central Bank and PenCom still owe all categories of contributory pensioners the accrued interests on their initial entitlements since inception from July 2004, which was deposited with the Central Bank as Bond. Therefore, we are demanding the calculation of all accrued interests (on all monetised amounts) as at July 2004, at the government's official interest rate," they said.

PenCom Spokesman, Peter Aghahowa, who confirmed the non-payment of pension entitlements to federal government retirees since 2017, however said the government had released money for settlement up to February, but was yet to release for those who retired from March 2017 till date.

Earlier, the Chairman, NTA Association of Contributory Pensioners, Gbadebo Omolaja, accused PenCom of not being proactive to the complaints and observations of pensioners on the shortcomings in the system, adding that many pensioners were yet to receive their entitlements almost a year after retirement from service, and called on the Commission to address the issue.

While appealing to government to challenge PenCom on its responsibilities to pensioners, they equally implored the National Assembly to extend its oversight function to the Commission with regard to the welfare of contributory pensioners, and make necessary amendment to the Pension Act, based on all the observed shortcomings.

They said: "It is our hope that PenCom would be alive to its responsibilities and the welfare of the contributory pensioners, because the secrecy under which PenCom operates is unexpected and worrisome."

UNDP Completes 608 Houses in Borno Communit

Maiduguri — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has handed over 608 housing units built for Ngwom Community to Borno State government.

The housing units are part of efforts at rebuilding about 20 destroyed communities by Boko-Haram in 2014 and 2016. About 370 households were affected while 2,300 residents were forced to take refuge in camps in Maiduguri.

UNDP Resident Coordinator, Edward Kallon disclosed this in Maiduguri at the handing over ceremony in Ngwom. He said because of the commitment to rebuilt Borno State, UNDP, Japan, the Switzerland and other development partners are in Ngwom to give back hope to school boys and girls, including old women in the community.

Speaking on the UNDP integrated rural development, the Commissioner of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), Prof. Babagana Umara said the EU has earmarked 20 million euros for rebuilding 20 destroyed communities in the state.

shehu sani reaction

Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central has reacted to the attack on humanitarian workers in Rann, Borno State.
The lawmaker stated that the attack on Rann showed that the insurgents’ capability to kill has not been extinguished.‎

He took to his twitter page describing the act as cruel, appealing for safety of victims of attacks in IDP camps.
He wrote “The Government and security agencies were blamed for failing to stop the abductions in Chibok; And now evasively, ghosts,unicorns,mermaids and other imaginative,illusive and phantasmic extraterrestrials are blamed for the Dapchi abductions.
“Rann: No one should be left in doubt on the evil,cruelty and barbarity that dastardly attack represent;And no one should be left in doubt that the insurgents capacity for atrocious Murder has not beingextinguished.My condolences;@unhcrnigeria @UNmigration@ICRC
“When victims of violence or war are unsafe in the humanitarian camps as they were unsafe in their villages and towns,it becomes a situation of being saved to be killed.We appreciate the service and sacrifice of@unhcrnigeria @UNmigration@ICRC.”‎

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the incident.
He said the attack on humanitarian workers more than ever shows Boko Haram insurgents as godless, brutish, and utterly to be despised.

Alphabet's John Hennessy talks about helping international students with scholarships

 
For Solomon Oyakhire, the call from Palo Alto came during dinner time The Nigerian student was alone, eating dinner in his apartment in Lagos.
On the other line was John Hennessy, a former President of Stanford University and the co-founder on the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship, congratulating him on winning a scholarship to study at the prestigious California university.
Oyakhire is one on 49 applicants selected from 3,601 applicants, who received a personal phone call from Hennessy to come study at Stanford. Each scholar receives full financial aid for three years to pursue a graduate degree. Applicants are admitted based on academic excellence, civil mindset and demonstrated leadership ability.
"When the call came, I was completely overwhelmed. I felt humbled, excited, and inspired to be considered worthy to join the family on scholars" said Oyakhire, who will be pursuing a PhD in chemical engineering.
The scholarship's funding comes from deep Silicon Valley pockets. With an endowment of $750 million, it benefits from the generosity of Phil Knight, a co-founder of Nike and Stanford alum, who by himself donated $400 million in 2016 to start the scholarship fund with Hennessy.
Earlier this month, Hennessy replaced Eric Schmidt as chairman of tech giant Alphabet, Google's parent company. "My main gig is teaching" Hennessy told CNBC recently, jokingly referring to Google as "my side gig."
The Silicon Valley veteran co-founded the semiconductor company Mips Computer System, and sold it for a little over $400 million in the early 1990s. In 2011, Hennessy's Atheros Communication, a semiconductor company for wireless chipset, was acquired by Qualcomm for more than $3 billion.

SpVVK | Getty Images

Stanford University

As demonstrated with the scholarship that bears his name, Hennessy also takes a personal interest in education, which plays a big role in the tech sector. He told CNBC that there is a lot on pressure on the federal government to help finance higher education — something Hennessy stated needs to change as student debt burdens soar.
"I think it is a mistake to let the burdens of the federal government budget fall on, disproportionately, on people under the age of 25," he said, even as he called higher education "a good investment."
Still, federal loans for graduate students are limited — hence the reason why students like Oyakhire can benefit from funding like the Knight-Hennessy scholarship.
The environment for international students getting a U.S. education has gotten tougher. In 2017, the rate of international graduate students coming to the United States dropped by 7 percent. According to a survey of 500 college campuses done by the Institute of International Education, 45 percent of campuses reported a drop in international student enrollment.
"I think what you are seeing is some of the rhetoric aimed at international visitors and international students, maybe makes them less comfortable coming to the U.S.," Hennessy told CNBC. "They would rather go somewhere where they feel more welcomed," he said, emphasizing that America still has the best higher education in the world.
He also suggested that President Donald Trump's immigration policy could affect Silicon Valley in a negative way. "You just look down at Silicon Valley and at the string on companies that have had at least one on their founders born outside on the United States," he said. "Intel, Google, Yahoo, they all had someone from their founding team born outside the U.S."
Abuzar Royesh, a Knight-Hennessy scholarship recipient from Afghanistan who plans to study international relations, told CNBC that "it's important to have different people with different backgrounds be a part on shaping the discourse."
Hennessy said if the U.S. loses the ability to bring and attract immigrants "it will hurt all on our ability to be the leader in the future."
This year's class of scholars come from 20 different countries. Next year, the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship program will accept 75 student from around the world.

Advice by Babangida

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), has affirmed that Nigerians must come together, irrespective of political or ethnic affiliations to frontally confront the issues that challenge the unity of the country.
He spoke at the launch of a book, “In the belly of vultures,” written by veteran journalist and erstwhile Managing Director of Daily Times of Nigeria, Tola Adeniyi in Lagos yesterday.

General Babangida, in his remarks, added that a united Nigeria would afford everyone the opportunity to discuss challenges and possible solutions to the country’s problems.
The former Head of State, who was represented by ex-Minister of Communications, Major-General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (retd), said: “All Nigerians must not lose the ability to discuss national issues calmly and respectfully regardless of party affiliations and other differences.”
“We must come together as a unified entity to solve our collective problems. Therefore, we must not allow hate speeches and fake news destroy the fabrics of our national cohesion,” he said

Us secretary of state to nigerian president next week

US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson would visit Nigeria and four other African countries from March 6 to 13.
Spokesperson for the Department, Ms Heather Nauert said Tillerson would also travel to Addis Ababa, Djibouti, Nairobi and N’Djamena.

During his visit to Abuja, Tillerson is expected to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and other top government functionaries.
Nauert said: “On his first official trip to Africa, Secretary Rex Tillerson will travel to N’Djamena, Chad; Djibouti, Djibouti; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Nairobi, Kenya and Abuja, Nigeria, March 6-13, 2018.
“Secretary Tillerson will meet with leadership in each country, as well as the leadership of the African Union Commission based in Addis Ababa.
“This is to further our partnerships with the governments and people of Africa.

“In particular, he plans to discuss ways we can work with our partners to counter terrorism, advance peace and security, promote good governance, and spur mutually beneficial trade and investment.”
During his trip, Tillerson will also meet with the country’s Embassy personnel and participate in events related to U.S. government-supported activities.

reason of attacking igbo leaders in enugu

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Thursday, February 1, 2018, explained why some Igbo leaders were attacked during the Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, gathering in Enugu State.

IPOB said the protest was against the “one Nigeria project,” adding that Igbos have been subjected to apartheid under the current “Fulani Nigeria regime of Muhammadu Buhari.”

The leadership and family members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) worldwide wish to clarify that events that took place at Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) gathering in Enugu on Tuesday February, 27 is regrettable and unfortunate under the circumstance because it happened in the presence of the two most distinguished and respected elder statesmen we have in Professor Ben Nwabueze and Chief Mbazuluike Amechi. For this we respectfully and unreservedly apologise to both elders and the leadership of ECA for how the ceremony came to an end. Regardless of who was involved, we are all indigenous persons from Biafra. Everybody, as long as you are indigenous to the territories comprising Biafra, is IPOB. So we view and have always viewed our highly regarded elders like Prof. Ben Nwabueze and Chief Mbazuluike Amechi as our own.

What transpired at the said gathering is a protest against them or ECA but an indication of the level of loathing, anger and resentment against everything Nigeria amongst all right thinking indigenous persons from the East. We respect our honest elders like Prof. Nwabueze and Chief Amechi and will continue to do so. What happened was a protest against one Nigeria project not them. Nobody in tune with his or her senses will endorse the form of apartheid being visited on Biafrans by the current Fulani Nigeria regime of Muhammadu Buhari. What ordinary Biafrans are witnessing in Nigeria today is worse than what blacks experienced in South Africa that gave birth to the anti apartheid movement the world over. We would like the world to view the outburst at Enugu as sign of what is to come in the near future. Our people and a majority of other people that wish to be referred to as Nigerians are all tired of the one Nigeria experiment and wish to go their separate ways.
It should not be forgotten that the said event was going smoothly but for the occasional boos that accompanied any mention of Nigeria. Chief Mbazuluike Amechi was cheered to the rafters after his speech though this aspect has received little or no press coverage. What precipitated the collapse of the event was the announcement of an award for Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who is seen by all as the sole architect of the monstrous one Nigeria project that have brought untold shame, misery and consumed over 3 Million Biafran lives and still doing so till today. Had Nnamdi Azikiwe been blessed with the same parochial mind-set as Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Obafemi Awolowo then Nigeria would have evolved differently from this blood sucking, corrupt evil monstrosity that is the laughing stock of the world.
What happened at Enugu should serve as a warning to any person or group promoting the continuation of this apartheid murderous one Nigeria project anywhere on Biafran territory. IPOB it must be said has made it very clear; we are not interested in a restructured Nigeria, all we want and prepared to settle for is outright independence, which can only be ascertained via a referendum. Anybody talking about restructuring is risking the anger of the people. With the notable exception of ECA and Ala-Igbo Development Foundation all other groups like Ohaneze Ndigbo favored by Abuja were the same people, alongside South East governors, that invited the murderous Nigerian Army under the guise of Operation Python Dance II to kill and slaughter innocent men, women and children for daring to demand to be free from Nigeria. They felt their pocket money from Aso Rock will dry up with the emergence of IPOB.
Why not condoning the activities of the few that brought the event to a premature end, we must understand why they did it. The public rejection of Nnamdi Azikiwe and everything he stood for within Nigeria is a warning to those planning to hold similar restructuring gathering on the 16th of March 2018. It will be in their best interest to refrain from holding such event anywhere in Biafraland. Anything that could be seen to endorse the continued existence of one Nigeria will be peacefully resisted. Ohaneze Ndigbo is hereby warned to reorganise their event to focus on referendum and not restructuring. If they insist on discussing restructuring within Nigeria, they will encounter a worse fate.
There are hundreds of innocent Biafrans in prisons and illegal detention centres all across Nigeria for no reason whereas not a single Fulani man has been incarcerated for the killing thousands of people by their herdsmen Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association. A society, nation or country that condones the persecution of the innocent- in this case Biafra agitators, whilst rewarding cold blooded murderers like Fulani herdsmen, does not deserve to exist.

obasanjo coalition fg over abduction of dapchi schoolgirls

 
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Coalition for Nigeria Movement has expressed surprise that the abduction of female students of the Government Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State could happen when the military was already celebrating the supposed total defeat and extinction of the Boko Haram sect.
The coalition, which strongly condemned the abduction, maintained that the solution to the issues that bedevil the country lied in the entrenchment of good leadership, governance, development and values across all levels of government and we shall not relent until this is achieved.

The spokesperson for the coalition, Omoruyi O. Edoigiawerie, revealed in a statement yesterday that: “This dastardly act is not only an attack on the country but also an attack on our collective future and the development of our educational institutions especially as it relates to girl-child education. As a country, we deserve to live in a country where every Nigerian, no matter who they are, where they live, their tribe or religion has the ability to live a secure, safe and healthy life.”
The coalition described the attack as an affront on the country’s common humanity and the right to a future.
“Our youths are no longer the leaders of tomorrow but the drivers of their future and they deserve the freedom and opportunity to shape their future in an enabling environment
“While we empathise with the parents of our dear daughters and we pray that they are rescued and reunited with their families, we call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to intensify its fight against terrorism and all forms of extremism and criminality. This cannot become a norm.

“Our resolve to push for a Nigeria that typifies socio-economic development, social justice, equity, equality of opportunity, human security, human rights and most importantly good governance and the general well-being of all its citizens and inhabitants remains unshaken.
“We realise that the solution to the issues that bedevil our Nation lie in the entrenchment of good leadership, governance, development and values across all levels of government and we shall not relent until this is achieved,” it added.

ERPG focus labs to deliver quick results

Udoma said this in a statement by Mr Akpandem James, his Special Adviser on Media on Thursday in Lagos.
Udoma, who gave the assurance at sensitisation luncheon with investors, said that the labs would start on March 12.
He said that the process would deliver quick results to citizens by identifying actionable projects, removing roadblocks and developing an enabling framework for the sector.
According to him, the lab process is just one of the several initiatives by the Federal Government to drive the implementation of the strategic objectives of the ERGP.
Udoma said that government would be conducting focus labs in three selected areas within six sectors to deliver quick and fast results on investments and job creation.
The selected areas are Agriculture and Transportation, Manufacturing and Processing; Power and Gas.
He said the labs were intended to drive new investments for critical projects and resolve complex inter-agency problems that inhibited private sector investment.
The minister said that the labs would specifically target the identification of projects which would increase investments and create jobs for the citizens.
“The labs will consider existing projects, as well as big new ideas and projects, provided that they have immediate enhancements in impact on the economy and create jobs.
“They are meant to remove roadblocks by ensuring that all enablers for high potential projects are relieved of the encumbrances that could stall their smooth operation,’’ he said.
According to him, the labs’ target is to mobilise 25 billion dollars investment.
“One hundred and twenty six potential entry point projects have already been identified, including 74 in Agriculture and Transportation, seven in Power and Gas and 45 in Manufacturing and Processing.’’
Ms Yewande Sadiku, the Executive Secretary of NIPC, said the commission was glad to be associated with the project.
Sadiku said the commission was glad to be associated with the project not only as a member of the labs focus group but in partnering to mobilise the business community towards its success.
Sadiku, who was represented by a Director in the Commission, Hajia Ladi Katagum, said the labs would also help the commission actualise its mandate.
“ It will assist in solving some of the complex issues potential investors have been grappling with,’’ she said.
The luncheon was organised by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning in collaboration with the NIPC (NAN)

Workers killed in Boko Haram attacks

Four aid workers were killed in a Boko Haram attack in Rann, in northeast Nigeria, the UN said on Friday, in the latest violence to hit the remote town.
The attack happened "after dark" outside a camp housing some 55,000 people displaced by the conflict and appeared to target the military, said UN spokeswoman Samantha Newport.
A civilian militia source in Rann, which is some 175 kilometres (110 miles) from the Borno state capital of Maiduguri, and a senior military source gave an identical death toll.
They also said eight soldiers were killed in the attack but there was no immediate official confirmation.
Newport said: "Four aid workers were killed, one aid worker was injured and one aid worker is missing, feared abducted.
"Of the aid workers that were killed, two worked for the IOM (International Organization for Migration) in camp management; and one was a medical doctor working as a third party consultant for UNICEF," the UN children's agency, she said.
No details were immediately available for the fourth but Newport said the injured and missing were both women. All those involved were Nigerian, she added.
Boko Haram fighters killed nine people from the Rann internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in September last year, as they worked on farms just outside the town.
In January last year, a botched Nigerian air strike intended to hit jihadist fighters killed at least 112 people as aid workers distributed food.
Commanders at the time called the bombing a mistake and blamed "the fog of war".
An air force board of inquiry later blamed "lack of appropriate marking of the area" for the bombardment and an unexpected gathering of people at the location.

kidnapper suspect

The Delta State Police Command, Thursday, confirmed the death of a kidnapper as well as the arrest of six others and recovery of arms in Oko-Ogbele Community, near Asaba.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP. Muhammad Alhaji Mustafa made the confirmation in a statement signed by the Acting Police Public Relations Officer,DSP Andrew Aniamaka.

The Commissioner of Police Stated that the suspect “sustained some degrees of injuries” in an attempt to escape during cross fire with the police.
“He was rushed to Hospital but was later confirmed dead by the Doctor on duty,” he said.
CP Mustafa said the remains of the suspect had deposited at Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, while the Police recovered One Pump Action and one cut to Size Locally Made Pistol from the kidnap syndicate.
CP Mustafa also added that one Sgt. Emeka Otu also sustained some injuries during the cross fire with the kidnap syndicate.

 
The arrested six suspects include: Onyedika Okolie 22yrs, Uchegbunam Gabriel 21 yrs, Stephen Michael 23yrs, Uzor Chukwuemeka Henry 23yrs, Obi Onyekachi Gerald, 20yrs and Chukwuemeka Awogu, 24yrs old.
CP. Mustafa stated that some time in 2017, a kidnapping syndicate made up of five men, instructed Obi Onyekachi Gerald to monitor any person who is of ransom value for purpose of kidnap.
According to him,”Obi Onyekachi Gerald monitored the victim, named Josephine Anomfueme, 44yrs old and disclosed her identity to his kidnap syndicate.
“On the 9th February 2018, the kidnapping syndicate led by one Stephen Michael aka “leader” jumped into the victim’s compound through the fence and tied down the security man.

“The hoodlums damaged a water tap very close to the victim’s bed room and water over flooded the compound. When the victim came outside to check the water tap, the kidnappers surrounded her and ordered her into the house on gun point, stole her phones and whisked her into her Toyota Corolla and drove to Oko-Ogbele where the victim was later rescued.
“Her vehicle was recovered and four suspects were arrested. On interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and implicated one Onyedika Okolie and Chukwuemeka Awogu and others now at large as members of their kidnapping syndicate.
“On 10th February 2018, while the investigating team was on their way for search and recovery of arms, they ran into the ambush of kidnapping gang who attempted to rescue the suspects.
CP Mustafa stressed that it was during the cross fire that ensued that one Sgt Emeka Otu sustained some injuries, while the deceased suspect died.

Boko Haram release a video of execution of drug dealers

 
The Abubakar Shekau-led faction of the Boko Haram sect has released a video of the execution of drug dealers.
The video showed some men bounded by the sect while being whipped mercilessly amid cheers from a local crowd.

Before their final execution, the leader read their offences and sentences before the crowd, who cheered him in excitement.
The were asked to face the earth and were shot at close range, while the crowd chorused ‘Alahu Akbar’ (God is Great).

Lack of Commitment

 
The Kogi State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has decried the apparent lack of commitment by Nigerians to collect about eight million permanent voters cards (PVCs) in centres across the country.
Bishop John Ibenu, who is the CAN Chairman in the state, expressed this reservation when the association paid a courtesy call on the Kogi State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lokoja yesterday.

He said there was need for INEC to step up sensitisation campaign on the need for people to collect their PVCs ahead of the 2019 elections.
“We read in the dailies that about eight million PVCs have not been collected, largely 70 to 80 per cent of which are from the Middle Belt down to the South South.
“I remember that in the last elections, Borno State, where the Boko Haram insurgency was prevalent, the rate of collection of PVC was 89 per cent. We want you to do that magic for us; the magic that the insurgency did not stop them from collecting their voters’ cards,” he said.

Buhari Welcome Private Investments

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday welcomed the rise in foreign private investments in the country.

The President made the government’s position known at a meeting with a Qatari business delegation led by former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani at the State House, Abuja.
President Buhari described Federal Government’s economic agenda as one designed to move the country from over-reliance on crude oil and food importation to increased domestic production.
He added that the policy had in the past two years turned Nigeria into one of the most attractive investment destinations in Africa.
He said “our administration’s main economic agenda is to move away from over-reliance on crude oil and food importation.
“Nigeria is a blessed country. We have fertile land. We have young and energetic population. And we have a very strong legal and regulatory system that protects capital and investments, both local and foreign.
“As you are aware, Nigeria just exited its worst recession in more than two decades. We have more than doubled our foreign reserves.”
The President noted that his administration was winning the war against corruption, and developing the nation’s infrastructure, as well as enforcing the rule of law.
He said: “as a result of this, we are seeing significant growth in the non-oil sector which is creating thousands of jobs across the country.”
He cited the current strategic partnership between Moroccan and Nigerian fertilizer companies as part of the success stories.
He said “`today, due to this alliance, Nigeria has over 13 functioning fertilizer blending plants with another four in the pipeline. This is purely driven by private sector.
“In 2017 alone, we saw significant commitments and agreements by major global organisations in infrastructure projects such as the proposed nine billion dollars Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical complex in Lagos.
“Also, there was the completed 600 million dollars Lafarge Plant in Calabar; the proposed rail stock; the proposed 1.3 billion dollars public private partnership with General Electric on Rail Track Development and the proposed ENI/Agip rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Refinery.”
He noted that “these were clear indications that foreign private companies were coming back to Nigeria and making massive investments within the nation’s existing legal and regulatory framework.”
In his remarks, Sheikh Al-Thani said the global opinion on Nigeria as an investment destination had been boosted by President Buhari’s strong standing against corruption and adherence to the rule of law.
He expressed his delegation’s interest in investing in Nigeria’s oil, railway, aviation and power sectors.
The former Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassin Bin Baber Althani, was also part of the Qatari business delegation in the country. (NAN)

INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained that contrary to people’s believe that the National Assembly had fixed the dates for election, it they only fixed the sequence of elections.
DAILY POST reports that there has been a controversy trailing the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act recently passed by the National Assembly currently awaiting the Presidential assent to become a law.

But, INEC’S Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said the proposed amendment should not create anxiety within the polity as the basic principles were still the same.
“I want to explain to Nigerians that we are dealing with the sequence of election not dates of elections. They still reserve the power on the commission to fix dates for the elections,” he said when featuring as a guest on Channels Television’s News At Ten last night..
However, Osaze-Uzzi added that Electoral Act (Amended) Bill, when assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, would have an impact on the 2019 general elections.
According to him, the electoral body will be forced to add another day to the poll should the bill become a law.

“If it becomes law, obviously it would have an effect if the total number of elections or days set aside for election are three days, then all we have to do is add another day.
“If it becomes law and it is operational, then we add another day. The second election will come two weeks after the first. The commission may look at it and say the third election might come a week or two after,” he said
Osaze-Uzzi’s comments come a week after a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, had stressed that INEC has the sole right to fix dates for general elections in Nigeria under the current dispensation.
Falana told Channels Television that the amendment made by the legislature in 2010 in sections of the Electoral Act to the effect that the National Assembly would have the last say on elections is illegal.

“It is the height of legislative absurdity to stipulate that the constitution of the country which is the granum will be read subject to an act of parliament, it’s the other way round,” he said while reacting to the controversy trailing the election sequence in the country.