Artists and aspiring artists can now rest easy as cheaper alternatives to the costly art media have been discovered by one of their own, one of the pioneers of Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Ifeoma Perpetua Madumere.

The Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, at the ministerial platform held recently said that the Federal Government would launch its Fibre-optic Research and Education Network, connecting 27 universities to one another. However, while some have commended the Minister’s efforts, other stakeholders in the sector are skeptical about the idea.

THE Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, has lamented the non payment of the 14 months pension arrears contrary to the directives of President Goodluck Jonathan for immediate payment of the arrears of the check- off dues owed the union.

Lagos State Governor,Babatunde Fashola SAN has charged members of the Nigerian Bar Association to speak up against the culture of impunity.

An employee of Petroleum And Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Mr Douglas Atagamhen, has dragged his employer before the National Industrial Court in Lagos, following the alleged refusal of the latter to pay his entitlement after he was sacked.

THERE may be a few miscreants whom either the society have failed to imprint the right character traits in their formative years, or a downright deviant involved in such crimes. Where such exist, they can be identified, isolated and put somewhere before

Frustration, anguish and lamentation could be seen on their faces when retired military men gathered to draw public attention to their plight over non-payment of three years pension arrears. They had served the nation with youthful and productive lives fighting for the survival and unity of Nigeria.

It would be intellectually dishonest to attempt a summation of what transpired at this epic summit, considering the sheer breath and scope of the ideas which were freely exchanged at the intellectual market place. Perhaps, it would serve as a pointer to the fertility of those ideas were one to choose a typical session, the session on Law and Global Peace, integrated with Law and Public Policy, featuring such intellectual heavyweights as Professor Obiorah Okafor, an academic giant, well respected locally and internationally; Ambassador Ojo Maduekwe CFR, former foreign Affairs Minister, multiple Minister of other ministries, current High Commissioner to Canada whose intellectual effervescence and unfailing logic make even his adversaries nod in agreement; Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, elegant Senior Advocate of Nigeria and also a former Foreign Affairs Minister whose strategic insight into Law and Global Peace: Reassessing the place of the super powers was rich and illuminating; and the representative of the statisti
cian General and chief Executive of the National Bureau of Statistics, Mrs. Yvonne Odu-Thomas, who delivered a stinging rebuke to those whose failure to plan has led to failure of policies in different facets of state and national sectors of our economy.

The Yusuf Grillo Hall, Art Complex of the Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH, was filled with expectant and excited students of the College who were tired of government’s neglect and had come to take charge of their future and destinies at the Future Is Now seminar.

NEWLY elected President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Bobboi Bala Kaigama, has spoken about his determination to work with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and all TUC members as one family to lift up the living standards of Nigerian workers and other underprivileged groups in the country.