CRIES of agony, desperation and helplessness, yesterday, echoed from the debris of the four-storey building that collapsed at 4, Mogaji Lane in Ebute Ero area of Idumota, Lagos Island as trapped victims tried to reach out to their relations on the other side of the collapsed building.

Eight new ministerial nominees from President Goodluck Jonathan were, yesterday, formally unveiled in the Senate. The presentation of the new nominees came as the Senate also, yesterday, screened and confirmed eight of the nominees earlier sent to it as ministers-designate.

GOVERNOR Gabriel Suswam of Benue State yesterday raised an alarm that the state was currently under intense pressure to rehabilitate the over 6,000 displaced persons from both Benue and Nasarawa states, following recent clashes between Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen.

Having slightly recovered from the grand illusion of an expected radical cabinet, following a robust election in which the presidential candidates promised political and economic transformation, I am now faced with reality. The truth of a federal cabinet, many of whose members are re-cycled ministers and party loyalists, to be driven by the hands of father destiny.

A Lagos High Court has awarded N275 million damages against Spring Bank Plc, in favour of S & S Wireless Limited, Mrs. Tope Olusola and Mr. Seinde Olusola, whose fundamental rights were violated, following police and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arrests.

ADMIRABLE efforts are always being made to resuscitate the National Sports Festival, but it is clear the days of the National Sports Festival, as a productive venture are shortening. The increasing low standards, cheating, corruption, poor officiating and can only turn the festival into a huge ceremony with all the trappings in place. We are witnessing one in Port Harcourt.

Disagreement among members of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, on who should pick the position allocated to its members in the House of Representatives has stalled the announcement of who would be the Deputy Minority Whip, Vanguard investigation has shown.

The travel and tourism industry _ the golden child of global economic sectors _ has been credited for many things. Employment. Earnings. Investment. Trade. Identity. Environmental sensitivity. Economic empowerment. And social unity.

Given the huge unserved and under-served demand for micro finance in Nigeria, Oceanic Bank has introduced a new product targeted at micro enterprises tagged ‘Oceanic Group Hybrid Account.

Renowned enterprise systems integrators Signal Alliance in partnership with Microsoft Nigeria have just concluded a series of workshops titled “Business Productivity at its Best” based on the new Microsoft SharePoint 2010 platform.

Alhaji Zubair Jibril, the Emir of Birnin Gwari,in Kaduna State, has urged farmers in his domain to resist the temptation to migrate to maize to groundnut production.

THE plan to create a new 26-nation liberalised trade zone for Africa, spanning the length of the continent from Cape to Cairo, could open up more possibilities for South-South cooperation that would benefit Africans.

Airtel Nigeria and the Government of Cross Rivers State has signed an agreement for the provision of integrated telecommunications solutions.

IN order to boost industrialisation in line with President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda in promoting industrialisation as a vehicle for creating wealth and job opportunities, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO, and the Bank of Industry, BOI, have strengthened their partnership to develop the industrial sector in the country.

To keep advertising practitioners abreast with current developments in the marketing communications industry, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, has instituted a mandatory professional training for advertising practitioners across the country.