Thursday, September 14, 2017
Nakata's Blog: Meet Halimah Yacob, the Newly Sworn-in President o...
Nakata's Blog: Meet Halimah Yacob, the Newly Sworn-in President o...: Halimah Yacob Taking the Presidential Oath Madam Halimah Yacob has been named President-elect and sworn in on Thursday (Sep 14) as ...
Meet Halimah Yacob, the Newly Sworn-in President of Singapore
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| Halimah Yacob Taking the Presidential Oath |
Madam Halimah Yacob has been named
President-elect and sworn in on Thursday (Sep 14) as
Singapore's eighth President and its first female head of state.
She was the only one
of three prospective candidates to receive a certificate of eligibility
for this year's Presidential Election, which was reserved for the Malay
community. Two other presidential hopefuls, Mr Mohamed Salleh Marican and Mr Farid Khan,
had their applications to stand for the election turned down on Monday
as both did not meet a requirement for private-sector candidates to helm
companies with at least S$500 million in shareholders' equity.
The
63-year-old will be Singapore's first female President and the first
Malay head of state in more than 47 years, breaking barriers yet again
after being elected as the first female Speaker of Parliament in 2013.
THE ROAD TO PRESIDENCY
The
youngest of five children, Madam Halimah was just eight years old when
her father, a watchman, died. Her mother became the sole breadwinner,
helping out at a food stall before dawn till late at night.
"From
the age of 10, my hours outside of school were spent being my mother's
assistant: cleaning, washing, clearing tables and serving customers, and
I am a better person for it," Mdm Halimah wrote in her bio on her
website. "I have experienced poverty firsthand and know how debilitating
it can be as you struggle to survive, to put food on the table and also
grapple with the uncertainty of the future on a daily basis. It limits
your choices but also tempers your determination to succeed."
In Secondary 2, she was nearly kicked out of Singapore Chinese Girls' School for missing too many classes.
In Secondary 2, she was nearly kicked out of Singapore Chinese Girls' School for missing too many classes.
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| Halimah and her husband |
“That was one of the worst moments
of my life. But I told myself, ‘Stop wallowing in self-pity, pick
yourself up and move on,'" Mdm Halimah told Channel NewsAsia in an interview last month.
She later went on to attend Tanjong Katong Girls’ School and graduated from the University of Singapore with a law degree, subsequently obtaining her Master of Laws at the National University of Singapore.
She later went on to attend Tanjong Katong Girls’ School and graduated from the University of Singapore with a law degree, subsequently obtaining her Master of Laws at the National University of Singapore.
Her
career began in 1978 with the National Trades Union Congress, where she
served in various roles for the next three decades, eventually rising
to become the labour movement's deputy secretary-general.
She
entered politics at the urging of then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in
2001, and was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for the Jurong Group
Representation Constituency (GRC). Ten years later, she was given the
portfolio of Minister of State for the then-Ministry of Community
Development, Youth and Sports.
Prior to announcing her intention
to run as President last month, Mdm Halimah was serving as both Speaker
of Parliament and MP for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC - both roles she has
since relinquished.
Over the years, she has advocated for
women’s rights, spoke up on senior citizens and mental health issues,
and served as patron to associations such as Club HEAL and PPIS
(Singapore Muslim Women's Association).
The decision to
run for the highest office of the land did not come easy: The mother of
five told Channel NewsAsia her children initially had reservations about
being in the public eye.
However, they and her husband - her university sweetheart Mohamed Abdullah - gave their support after some discussion.
Since
her bid for presidency was made known, Mdm Halimah has repeatedly
denied allegations that she may lack independence due to her close ties
to the People’s Action Party.
"It is a gross disservice
... even (among) those who continue to hold party colours, if they put
the interest of people behind party colours," she said at a press conference last month, citing times when she disagreed with the Government both as a trade unionist and as an MP.
She
also said on Monday that her commitment to serve Singaporeans was not
affected by the fact that there is no election. "I promise to do the
best that I can to serve the people of Singapore and that doesn't change
whether there is an election or no election ... My passion and
commitment to serve the people of Singapore remains the same."
Mrs Halimah has said that
as President, she hopes Singaporeans will work together with her to
build a stronger Singapore. One of the President's roles is to act as a
unifying force, she said.
"The process may be a reserved
election but the President is for everyone, for all communities –
regardless of race and religion."
PHOTOS:
CREDIT: Channel NewAsia
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Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Nakata's Blog: Lagos to Reconstruct Oshodi-Airport Road to World ...
Nakata's Blog: Lagos to Reconstruct Oshodi-Airport Road to World ...: Proposed Design of Oshodi-Airport Road Lagos flags off reconstruction of 10-lane Oshodi to Muritala Muhammed International Airpo...
Lagos to Reconstruct Oshodi-Airport Road to World Standard
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| Proposed Design of Oshodi-Airport Road |
- Lagos flags off reconstruction of 10-lane Oshodi to Muritala Muhammed International Airport road.
- Project to be completed in 15-months with flyovers, ramp bridge, lay bys, slip roads and others.
The Lagos State government on Monday flagged off the Oshodi-Int'l airport way, with a pledge to complete the project within the next fifteen months.
Specifically, the design of the project include the reconstruction and expansion of the existing carriage to three-lane expressway in both directions, construction of two-lane Service Road in both directions, construction of Ramp Bridge to provide a U-turn from Ajao Estate to Airport, construction of a flyover at NAHCO/Toll Gate and drainage system.
Others include the removal of existing Pedestrian Bridge at Ajao Estate
and construction of Pedestrian Bridges at Ajao Estate and NAHCO/Hajj
Camp, construction of Slip Road to provide access to Ajao Estate,
construction of Lay-bys and installation of Street Lights, among others.
Speaking while flagging off the project, the State’s Commissioner
for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engineer Adebowale Akinsanya said
the commencement of the project was in line with the commitment of the
present administration to transform the entire axis, being the major
gateway to the country’s commercial nerve centre.
He said the State Government took it upon itself to undertake the
reconstruction of the road being one of the busiest roads in the State
with vehicular volumes averaging 50,000 vehicles daily, and that its
poor state was not acceptable for the status of the State as the fifth
largest economy in Africa and the nation’s commercial hub.
To fast-track the project, three group of workers will work
on the project and they would work day and night, while upon completion,
the project will be linked to the Oworonshoki reclamation project,
which is also ongoing and is aimed at transforming the corridor to a
major entertainment and tourism hub. He added.
The Commissioner, however, urged residents and motorists to
cooperate with government while the construction will last, saying that
the intention was to transform the area.
The Managing Director of Planet Projects, whose firm designed the project, Mr Biodun Otunola, also said that “The desire of the State Government under Governor Ambode is to
ensure that this whole corridor is turned into an international corridor
so that investors and the people can be proud that we have an
international gateway that we all can be proud of."
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