The price of de-stoned local rice has dropped marginally by between six and 10 per cent in Enugu markets, causing many residents to shift patronage to the brand.

Report says that dealers in the commodity attributed the positive development to the harvest season for local rice.

A trader at the popular Ogbete Main Market, Mrs Rose Nwakwo, said that a 50-kg bag now goes for N78,000 as against N84,000 in November.

Another dealer at Garki Market, Enugu, Mr Chidi Orji, said that a five liter paint container goes for N6,500 as against N7,500.

Orji urged the residents to buy as much as they could before the price would shoot up again.

Daily Asset also observed that most rice retailers and hawkers, who sell in cups and bushels, are currently stockpiling the commodity.

Mrs Eunice Madu, a grain seller in Mayor Market, said that she was only stocking bags of the brand for the Yuletide.

“I must confess we are selling out almost all our available bags of de-stoned local rice, popularly known as ‘Abakaliki rice’, ahead of the Yuletide.

“Most people are turning to it due to its price drop and improved processing and de-stoning qualities,” she said.

Meanwhile, a buyer, Mr Edwin Okoh, expressed joy over the price drop, saying that his salary could get him more than a 50-kg of the brand for his family.

“It is a thing of joy that the price has gone down to some extent, at least I can get more than a bag for me and my extended family during this Yuletide,” he said. (NAN)

The Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB) has called for increased budgetary allocation to improve
access to information and education materials for visually-impaired persons, in line with the Marakesh Treaty.

The association made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a two-day stakeholders’ meeting on the status of the implementation of the Marakesh Treaty
in Nigeria.

Report says that the Marrakesh Treaty was adopted on June 27, 2013 in Marrakesh, Morocco, to form part
of the international copyright treaties administered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

The goal of the treaty is to create a set of mandatory limitations and exceptions for the benefit of the blind, visually impaired, and otherwise print
disabled (VIPs).

It is also to ensure that books are made available globally in accessible formats, such as Braille, audio and large print, and DAISY1 formats, as well as

facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled.

The former President of NAB, Dr Ishaku Adamu, therefore, explained that the treaty is an agreement signed by the Federal Government
to improve access to published works for people with print disabilities.

Adamu added that the treaty seeks to remove all legislative barriers that prevent access to those materials, whether across national and
international borders, which Nigeria has domesticated and ratified.

He, however, said that less than one per cent of national budget was allocated for the provision of accessible education materials for visually impaired students.

According to him, poor implementation of the treaty has further affected access to education, level of participation and exclusion from information for visually impaired persons.

He said “we should be able to engage these agencies to set aside certain percentage of their budget, Federal Ministry of Education and other key ministries to ensure that those books are being provided in accessible format.

“Less than one per cent of such materials is accessible to our people, affecting the level of our education, the level of our participation and other things.

“So, it is very critical for us to engage because we know that government is budgeting, but we want to know what they can do to ensure our people have access to these materials.”

He said the stakeholders meeting was to strategise on improved access to information not only in braille, but also in soft copy, audio, large print and other version, media space, as well as employment opportunities for visually impaired persons.

Earlier, the NAB President, Mr Stanley Onyebuchi, said the engagement would enable stakeholders to review the implementation of the Marakesh treaty and proffer action plans that would enhance implementation.

Onyebuchi said “this treaty is key to those of us that are print disabled, that is those of us that are blind to access publications that will enhance our education, research and others.”

On the implementation of the treaty, he said “I don’t think Nigeria has gone far in implementing this treaty because some of the websites of many organisations, even the government agencies, are not even accessible.

“Although the Nigerian Copyright Commission has done a lot and has been part of this struggle for the domestication of this treaty in Nigeria, other government agencies have not done much
in that regard.”

Also, Mr Abdrahman Auwal, the National PRO of NBA, stressed the need to create awareness about the importance of the treaty.

He said “a lot of people don’t even know about it, so, a lot of publishers are there and still stick to their previous copyright law, not knowing that it has been amended.

“We need the media to propagate this in the news to stimulate questions and people will learn about it, which will all be transformed.”

Dr David Okon, a resource person and Consultant, said the meeting was to ensure full implementation of the treaty for the benefit of persons with reading disabilities.

Okon, who is the Executive Director, Total Inclusion, an NGO said “knowledge is acquired through information. And if we are not going to be informed, we are deprived of information, then it means we are deprived of knowledge.

“It also means that we are deprived of literacy and the power to make wealth, power to recreate ourselves and other things.”

Report says that in attendance at the stakeholders meeting were representatives of various disability groups, NGOs, CSOs, among others, to suggest ways toward
full implementation of the Marakesh Treaty.(NAN)

The National Population Commission (NPC) for Edo has appealed to the state government to key into the ongoing nationwide electronic birth registration for children of zero to five years.

Dr Tony Ayejina, National Commissioner of NPC for Edo on Thursday blamed the low enrollment rate on alleged lack of buy-in from the immediate past government in the state.

Ayejina said that the state was yet to reach 20 per cent of its enrollment target while other states in the country were close to 100 per cent.

“The case of Edo is obvious because of the election.

“The whole of August and September, was used for electioneering and (Godwin) Obaseki used that as an excuse not to even listen to anybody or give any support expected of him like it had happened in other places.

“We waited till the new government was sworn-in on Nov 12. Even at that, the man has not settled down to give us attention.

“I was in Edo to set a template to rip off the process. We are getting close to 20 per cent which is not a pass mark,” he said.

The national commissioner explained that his efforts to enlist the support of the local government chairmen to drive the exercise yielded no result.

According to him, the Chairman of the state chapter of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has been evasive.

“The Commissioner for Local Government has not been appointed, they asked me to see the Permanent Secretary in the ministry.

“The Permanent Secretary did a letter to all the local governments, but that has not yielded anything too.

“The 192 councillors we have in Edo ought to make it a responsibility and join, but that is not the case.

“I presented all the necessary information and papers to the ALGON chairman in Edo, yet no desired results,” he said .

On the implications of the low enrollment, Ayejina said it meant Edo children would be left out of the Federal Government and UNICEF plans for the state.

“Our people should know the implications of what we are doing. If there is no census, it is this survey and other things that we do, that the government will use for planning purposes.

“Every child must have a legal identity. if they do not have an electronically generated birth certificate, they don’t have legal status.

“I did jingles, I went to the EBS (Edo Broadcasting Service). I used my personal money just for a few airing. No money to do additionally.

“In other states, they do pro bono services for this kind of thing.

“UNICEF is paying N300 per registration for ad hoc staff, but unfortunately, this amount does not resonate with the Edo people.

“In the Northern part of the country, the government augmented and they paid double and everybody does this thing with excitement. Some have attained 100 per cent completion.

“We have till Dec 31, but beyond that, Edo can ask for an extension so that children can be registered,” he said.

He urged Gov. Monday Okpebholo to quickly look into the commission’s request before him, so that the state would not be left out in the scheme of things.

He said there was a request before the government, which if Gov. Okpebholo supported, the state could request for an extension to reach it target in the important children registration exercise.

The exercise started on July 29 and was expected to end on Dec. 31. (NAN)