Edited by Frank Meke
- Forced labour abolished centuries ago, is creeping back into global reckoning as over 50 million people have been found living in modern slavery. According to latest estimates, 28 million people were in forced labour while 22million were in forced marriage. About 86 percent Cases of forced labour were found in the private sector, while commercial sexual exploitation represents about 23 percent of the lot with every four or five of those in the bracket, are women or girls.children in state imposed forced labour accounted for about 3. 3 million.
*** Professor Peter Okebukola, former executive secretary, National universities Commission, says technology remains the economic growth stimulus of any country. He headlined the technology factor at UNESCO powered skill training program for secondary school students in Ogun State.
*** Alhaji Nasir kwarra,. Chairman, National Population Commission, says the 2023 cenus effort, will be digitally driven. This process is to guide against any manipulation of the head count across the country.
*** Forex turnover in the investors and Exporters window rose to about 34 percent, totalling 27 billion dollars in nine months. CBN data on foreign exchange in the first quarter of the year, stood at 11.9 billion dollars, which declined in the second quarter to 30 percent quarter to quarter to 8. 33 billion dollars and in third quarter slide to 16 percent, which is about 6. 93 billion dollars.
*** Feeding over 200million Nigerians through mechanised agriculture, may hit the rocks due to foreign exchange scarcity, poor irrigation system, and adverse microeconomics environment, says Dr Muda Yusuf, CEO, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise. He advocated for favourable policy environment to address the issues.
*** A young man in Kwara state,. north central Nigeria, accidentally shot his younger brother dead in a bullet charm of protection efficacy test. After taking his sibling through the ritual, the two boys, children of a famous hunter, engaged in what ended as fatal exercise. All those who believe in charms for protection, should beware.
** The World Health Organization says an estimated 12 billion work days, costing the global economy about one trillion dollars are lost annually due to depression and anxiety, impacting productivity. COVID-19 powered about 25 percent increase in cases of anxiety and depression worldwide. Only God knows how many university lectures and students in the ongoing varsity strike, maybe found within the depression and anxiety bracket?
** The Abuja, Minna highway has collapsed, forcing motorists to spend endless hours, navigating through bush parts to avoid the ugly situation.
