Thursday, September 6, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Dame Jonathan: Twist over cause of illness Our Correspondent

new twist emerged last night over the ‘continuous incarceration’ of the First Lady,

Vol. 2 N0. 442 AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST,

KUNLE AZEEZ AND INUSA NDAHI

bout 25 base transstations, ceiver BTS, belonging to telecommunidifferent cations companies were yesterday bombed by suspected terrorists in some parts of the North. Also, four persons, suspected to be southerners were also killed in Gwange CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Dame Patience Jonathan in Germany. National Mirror reliably learnt last night that the First Lady might not be suffering from either food

CBN spends N125bn on currency printing in three years P.6

poising or ruptured appendicitis as widely claimed after all. The Presidency source said that “the wife of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

Okonjo-Iweala

Thursday, September 6, 2012

N150

Terrorists bomb telecoms facilities

...MTN, Airtel, Globalcom offices, base stations affected Four persons killed in Maiduguri

Abubakar

Navy rescues oil vessel hijacked by pirates

P.6

L-R: Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi; Vice-President Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan; River State Governor Rotimi Amechi and President, Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, during the President’s visit to the Super Eagles at the National Stadium in Abuja, yesterday.

Work on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway begins soon –FG

Cynthia: NTDC plans to sue hotel management

...as FEC approves contracts for roads,FCT projects

P.4

FG lifts suspension on Dana Air

Ola Vincent for burial today

P.5

P.6,7

President heads new committee on P.2 power

News

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Jonathan heads new committee on power ROTIMI FADEYI AND WALE IGBINTADE

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday took charge of the power sector when he named himself as the Chairman of the Presidential Action on Power. This is to ensure the success of the ongoing reforms in the power sector following the resignation of the former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji. Also yesterday, President Jonathan announced the re-composition of the Presidential Task Force on Power. The President also said that he would soon send the names of nominees to fill the vacant positions of the ministers of power and that of defence to the National Assembly as soon as the lawmakers returned from recess. He, however, added that while the Minister of State for Power, Mr. Darius Ishaku would be in charge of the ministry until a substantive minister was appointed, the committees would meet regularly to brainstorm on the progress made in the power sector. Jonathan said: “Before this time, in terms of power, we were meeting every two weeks, there were two committees on power but we stopped meeting because the former minister of

power was the head of the technical team and when he moved across, we have not been able to meet but Nigerians are happy with government because power is getting steady and I don’t want us to relapse. “But whether the minister of power comes or not, we want to reconstitute the two teams because Nigerians will not be happy if we relapse and I believe that as we progress from now till December, if Nigerians can go home in December and do their parties without generators and can drive to their states without gutters on our roads stopping them, I think the rating of government will improve. “So, we must work hard to get to this level,” the President added. Members of the Presidential Action on Power include the Vice-President Namadi Sambo as Deputy Chairman; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Ali Sali; the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomen, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Muhammed Bello Adoke and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. Others are the Ministers of Labour and Productiv-

ity; Petroleum Resources; National Planning; the Minister of State for Power; the Chief Economic Adviser to the President and the Special Adviser to the President on Performance Monitoring and Evaluation. The rest are the Director-General of Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP; the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC; the Chairman, National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC; the Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power, Engr. Renox Dagogo-Jack, while the Permanent Secretary

of the Ministry of Power will be the secretary. Members of the Presidential Task Force on Power headed by Dagogo-Jack include the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, CEOs of TCN, GACN, NGC, the MD NDPH, the market operators, CEO of the generating companies-Geregu, Ughelli, ECOGENCO, Abuja Distribution Company. President Jonathan explained that the committee had to be re-constituted because there were a lot of conflict between Nnaji, who was the chairman and his own Special Adviser who happened to be the secre-

tary of the committee. The President said: “We have done it this way because the other time when Nnaji was the chairman, the secretary was my special adviser, so there were a lot of conflicts between two of them because they say two captains cannot drive a ship. “This time around, we just want one captain and others will work with him. “When we look at the team, anybody that does not fit in we will begin to weed off. “Already, the team is working but we are only formalising it today so that

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ment that the telecommunication industry was one of their targets. National Mirror gathered that the MTN regional office located at the WestEnd area, along Baga Road, Maiduguri, was set ablaze about 2a.m. yesterday. The office houses all the communication facilities of the GSM operators in the country. Also torched were the telecommunication masts in Dala, Bulunkutu, Bayan Quarters, Gwange, Sulimanti, Bolori, Adam Kolo and Bulabulin wards of the metropolis. An eyewitness who did not want his name mentioned told National Mirror that the Bulumkutu mast was burnt by some armed youths about 8p.m. on Tuesday.

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L-R: Minister of Agricuture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina; his counterpart in Education, Prof. Ruquayyatu Rufa’i and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Terrorists bomb telecoms facilities ward of Maiduguri metropolis. It was gathered that the telecoms towers, belonged to different telecommunications networks, including MTN, Globacom and Airtel. In addition, the regional office of MTN was set ablaze by the rampaging hoodlums in what appeared as a new dimension to terrorist activities in the country. The latest assault came one week after men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, in Maiduguri raided the home of suspected key Commander of the Boko Haram sect where they recovered 54 assorted SIM cards and arms and ammunition. It will be recalled that early this year, the Boko Haram sect had issued a state-

everybody knows the leadership. “If they continue to work very hard and when the minister joins them, I believe that we will continue to improve and Nigeria will know that we will not relapse.” Meanwhile, President Jonathan yesterday said Nigerians deserved uninterrupted power supply, just as he gave assurance that he would not disappoint Nigerians. He stated this in Lagos at the Third Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Lecture organised by the Gani Fawehin-

Also in Kano, security was beefed up around installations of the service providers following attacks on MTN and Airtel masts yesterday. Suspected terrorists in the early hours of the day attacked MTN masts in Hotoro and Airtel installations in Sharada. Police sources said the attacks were carried out by men on motorbikes. They said the damage on the installations was not serious, adding that security personnel had been deployed to all installations of the service providers. . The State Security Service, SSS, yesterday held a closed-door meeting at the Giginyu headquarters in Kano with the operators, apparently on the development.

The terror gang had threatened to attack the service providers over their alleged role in the successful onslaught on their members by security agents. Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Majiya Magaji, declined comment on the development, saying the Commissioner, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, was the only person that could comment on the issue. The development, it was learnt, had affected quality of service in the region as interconnection among the operators had been impacted negatively. The Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, confirmed the development in an interview yesterday.

Speaking with National Mirror, Adebayo said: “We received what I will call for now unconfirmed reports about some telecoms sites being destroyed by some agents in some parts of the North. “The details are not clear yet but we have been told, according to the reports, that a number of operators’ sites were affected and they appeared as willful damage to those infrastructure. “We were told that some sites were bombed and they belong to different operators which means that the act cuts across many networks.” The Corporate Services Executive of MTN, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, also confirmed the development yesterday. “It is true because we

received reports today (yesterday) that telecommunications towers of major telecoms operators were being bombed. However, I cannot tell you, for now, how many of our base stations or other telecoms infrastructure were affected because information available to us is still scanty,” he said. Goodluck, however, noted that security agencies had commenced investigation on the situation and extent of damage, which he said, would be made available as the matter for accurate reports. National Mirror gathered yesterday that the development had caused serious panic among the staff of the telecoms companies working in the affected arCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PAGE

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Good Health

Who says you don’t need salt? ... moderation is key SAM EFERARO

he Table Salt, also referred to as sodium in scientific parlance is ubiquitous in foods and consumed in relatively constant amounts in our diets. It’s a universal food item which has been used worldwide for iodine fortification to prevent mental retardation. As popular as salt is, it has been linked with some health conditions which has marked it for global alert on the need to reduce its use in our daily diets. But can we really do without this essential sweetener? According to the Salt Institute, a North American based non-profit trade association dedicated to advancing the many benefits of salt, salt is essential not only to life, but to good health. In fact, the body’s salt/water ratio is critical to metabolism. “Salt maintains the electrolyte balance inside and outside of cells” the Salt Institute says. It is important to hydration in our bodies. After exercise, it is critical to replace both water and salt lost through perspiration during exercise. When diarrhoea dehydrates the body, we use oral rehydration therapy (ORT) to restore fluids (and health); ORT uses salt, sugar and water and, because of the prevalence in many societies due to inadequate public health, has been termed by the British Medical Journal to be “the most important medical advance of (the 20th) century.” In our homes, salt makes food delicious … and so much more. In fact, there are more than 14,000 uses of salt, many of which involve helping us with our household tasks. For instance, salt has been used for centuries as food preservation and for cleaning household utensils. More uses are still daily being discovered for this very important food item. Just how much salt do you consume each day? As important as it is, especially as a food sweetener, salt has also been linked with some medical ailments, especially cardiovascular-related conditions such as high blood pressure – and this could be due to its overuse in most homes. If experts are to be believed, chances are that you are eating far more salt than current health guidelines recommend. Indeed, the American Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says no fewer than nine out of 10 Americans eat too much salt. This is not far from

the situation in Nigeria. According to a renowned cardiologist and head, Department of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Professor Solomon Danbauchi, most people eat between 2,500 and 5,000mg of salt per day, whereas the body requires only 2400mg per day. Because of low awareness, most people do not even know that the processed foods, especially snacks and canned foods contain more salt than they need. Prof. Danbauchi says while many people in the western world are gradually withdrawing from consumption of high salted foods, Nigerians seem to have forgotten their tradition and now consume more processed food. According to him, 77 percent of dietary salt is from processed foods. He called for a reduction in the consumption of processed foods and urged people to eat more of vegetables and fruits instead. Also, he said Nigerians should cultivate the habit of reading labels of processed foods before consumption.

“Sodium is one of the things that increase HBP and we eat between 2,500 and 5,000 milligrammes per day. One teaspoon of salt is equivalent to 2,000 milligrammes. What we need is 2,400 milligrammes of salt.” Another cardiologist Dr. Amam Mbakwem, a senior lecturer/consultant cardiologist, College of Medicine, University of Lagos agrees. According to her, low salt intake as an important lifestyle modification to curb the incidence of hypertension. “In salt restriction patients should avoid added salt and over salted foods (processed foods, fast foods). Please note that salt is the same thing as the common salty spices. This must be duly communicated to patients. As a general measure, hypertensive patients should be advised to eat more fruits and vegetables (4-5servings or 300gm)/day, eat more fish reduce intake of cholesterol and saturated fat. Counseling may be required by a dietician,” she says. Conclusion? Enjoy salt but use it in moderation.

YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

Migraines hurt your head but not your brain

igraines currently affect about 20 percent of the female population, and while these headaches are common, there are many unanswered questions surrounding this complex disease. Previous studies have linked this disorder to an increased risk of stroke and structural brain lesions, but it has remained unclear whether migraines had other negative consequences such as dementia or cognitive decline. According to new research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), migraines are not associ-

ated with cognitive decline. This study is published online by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on August 8, 2012. “Previous studies on migraines and cognitive decline were small and unable to identify a link between the two. Our study was large enough to

draw the conclusion that migraines, while painful, are not strongly linked to cognitive decline,” explained Pamela Rist ScD, a research fellow in the Division of Preventive Medicine at BWH, and lead author on this study. “Compared with women with no history of migraine, those who experienced migraine with or without aura did not have significantly different rates of cognitive decline,” explained Rist. “This is an important finding for both physicians and patients.”

TB outbreaks could be ‘solved’ by DNA tracking, scientists say

econstructing the spread of killer diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) from person to person using DNA sequencing quickly identifies the origin and movement of pathogens. This approach is directly informing public health strategies to control infectious disease outbreaks, says a scientist speaking at the Society for General Microbiology’s Autumn Conference at the University of Warwick. A team from the British Columbia Centre

for Disease Control in Vancouver, Canada used whole-genome sequencing to analyse the bacterial DNA in samples from 36 of 41 infected individuals in a TB outbreak. They were able to track the pathogen’s movements through the community in British Columbia, including where it started and who infected whom. From this they could identify key persons, places, and behaviours that contributed to the spread of disease. They showed how

the social structure of a community contributed to the rapid spread of TB and that a rise in crack cocaine use in the area may have triggered the outbreak. Earlier epidemiological tools analysed some -- but not all -- of the DNA in infected samples. This gave too little information to accurately reconstruct an outbreak and scientists could only make informed guesses at how a pathogen spread through a population. –ScienceDaily

Photo News

Thursday, September 6, 2012

L-R: Retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Bola Babalakin; former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; President, Ogunsheye Foundation, Prof. Adetowun Ogunsheye and former Chairman of the defunct Peoples Bank, Prof. Akin Mabogunje, at a book launch on late Ayo Ogunsheye in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

L-R: Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh; Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar and DIG ‘F’ Department, Mr. Atiku Kafur, during the inauguration of SEC’s Police Unit in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola; Presiding Pastor, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Bishop Mike Okonkwo; his wife, Peace; Guest Speaker, Prof. Anya O. Anya and his wife, Inyang, during the 13th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA

L-R: National Chairman, National Conscience Party, Dr. Tanko Yinusa; former General Secretary, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Comrade Frank Kokori and Comrade Ayodele Akele, at the 3rd Memorial Lecture for late Chief Gani Fawehinmi in Lagos, yesterday.

National News

:RUN RQ Lagos-Ibadan Expressway begins soon –Minister FEC approves contracts for roads, FCT projects

DAYO AYEYEMI AND ROTIMI FADEYI

he Minister of Works, Chief Mike Onolememen, has said that the rehabilitation of the Lagos - Ibadan Expressway was a major task that must be achieved by the Federal Government. He also disclosed that talks were still going on between the government and the concessionaire, Bi-Courtney Limited. Briefing State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting yesterday, Onolememen said the government was determined to rehabilitate the road to check carnage on the road. He said: “The Federal Government through the Ministry of Works is determined to finally ensure the full implementation of the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Lagos - Ibadan dual carriageway. It is a task that we must accomplish.

“Consequent on that resolve, we began engaging the concessionaire and that engagement is ongoing. But I want to assure all Nigerians that everything is being done to ensure that immediately after the rain, there will be full reconstruction work on that particular road. “No matter the method we will employ, it is important that road is reconstructed and finished in order to address the senseless carnage on that expressway. “We are committed to doing that and we don’t really care how that is done. We are engaging the concessionaire. The Federal Government on its part is also ready. At the end of the day, when the final action plans are reached, we will let you know but plans and preparations are underway.” Speaking on the Benin - Sagamu Expressway, Onolememen disclosed that FEC approved the reconstruction of outstanding sections of Benin –

Ofosu – Ore – Ajebandele – Shagamu Expressway Phase III. The minister disclosed that the contract was awarded in favour of Messrs RCC Nigeria Limited for N65,223,155,642.34, with a completion period of 36 months. He said the outstanding sections of the road were in disrepair, adding that there was need for reconstruction to ease traffic flow. The minister said the road, when rehabilitated, would not only improve the socio-economic activities of the area, but would also reduce vehicle operating costs, travel time and accidents. Onolememen explained that the project, when completed, would provide employment for Nigerians and impact positively on the informal sector of the economy. Also speaking at the briefing, the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ms Olajumoke Akinjide, said FEC approved the

construction of Southern Parkway in the FCT. According to her, the construction of the Southern Parkway from the Christian Centre S8/S9 to Ring Road 1 comprising 10 lanes would complement the existing Northern Parkway. She said when completed, the project would reduce the heavy traffic being experienced in the city, particularly in the Southern parts of the FCT and within the corridors of developed districts like Central Area, Garki, Gudu and Durumi. Ms Akinjide said FEC approved the construction of Southern Parkway for N10.901bn thereby bringing the total contract sum to N16.235bn. She added that FEC also approved N2.835bn for Phase II contract for the provision of infrastructure to Apo Estate layout, bringing the total sum of Phase I and Phase II to N5.755bn. The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, also disclosed at the briefing that following a

memo tabled by President Goodluck Jonathan, FEC approved the purchase of various search and rescue operation items for the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA. The items are GSSI Life Locator by Messrs DAMSA Nigeria Limited for N161,406,388; rapid intervention vehicles by Messrs DAN-CLINTON Nigeria Limited for N400,551,272; fully equipped emergency rescue vehicles by Messrs B.T.L Brothers Limited for N251,680,000; and 328 sets of helmets, harness, lanyards, absorbers, descenders, fall arrestors, ascenders, aluminium, and steel carabineers to Messrs DOM Communications Limited for N120,227,377.64. Meanwhile, Messrs BiCourtney Highway Services yesterday denied report that the Federal Government had taken over the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway over non-performance. Denying the report carried by a national daily last Wednesday, the Head of Public Affairs of the

concessionaire, Mr. Dipo Kehinde, said the story was not true. Instead, he said the Federal Government and BiCourtney had been doing a lot lately to clear all the hurdles on the path of the project. The Lagos - Ibadan Expressway, a prime road in the country, was consessioned to Bi-Courtney Highway Services in 2008 for major expansion and reconstruction to modern highway with all furniture. But up till now, the concessionaire has not been able to deliver the project. When our correspondent called to confirm the story from the Federal Ministry of Works, a source in the ministry said: “I don’t know my brother. I read it the way you did.” But while fielding questions from journalists in Lagos last month, Onolememen had said that a decision would be taken on the Lagos - Ibadan Expressway concession in two weeks and that the government was analysing all issues related to the contract.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Thursday, September 6, 2012

FG lifts suspension on Dana Air TOLA AKINMUTIMI AND OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he Federal Government yesterday lifted the suspension order on Dana Air, 10 weeks after it was grounded. The suspension followed the crash of one of its aircraft in a Lagos surburb in June 3 killing all 153 passengers and crew members as well as five persons on the ground. The lifting of the suspension of the operating licence of the airline was sequel to government’s satisfaction with the air-worthiness of the airline after a technical, operational and financial audit. A statement issued by the

Special Assistant to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, explained that in view of the development, Dana Air could now resume its normal commercial flight operations. It added, however, that government would “continue to strengthen its oversight and regulatory functions to ensure that all airlines operating in the country, including Dana, adhere strictly to safety procedures as required by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act and all other relevant local and international regulations that ensure and promote sustainable air safety.” In the last few weeks, industry experts had mounted pressure on the government to lift its order on the airline

in view of the negative signals it might send to investors, particularly potential foreigners who were already showing interest in the development of the aviation sector. Meanwhile, families of foreigners and some foreignbased Nigerians killed in the crash have sued the airline in their various home countries for negligence. There were over 20 foreigners from United States, United Kingdom, China and others nations that died in the crash. Our correspondent also gathered that none of the 153 people involved in the crash had made a will before the accident, making payment of compensation rather complicated. Revealing this yesterday

to newsmen at the headquarters of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, were the DirectorGeneral, Dr. Harold Demuren, and the Deputy Commissioner, Technical, National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, Mr. Ibrahim Hassan. The airline is expected to at least pay $350m as compensation to the families of 153 victims on board the airline. The amount, however, excludes those who were killed on the ground by the aircraft. Demuren said that some of the foreigners, Nigerian victims, had gone to court to press charges against the airline, stressing that until that was settled, the families

L-R: Flag Officer Commanding,Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ameen Ikioda; Brazilian Defence Attache, Col. Marcelo Oliveira and Commanding Officer, Brazilian Ship Amazons, Lt. Commander Giovani Correa, during the visit of Amazons in Lagos, yesterday.

Terrorists bomb telecoms facilities CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

eas, who feared that their offices might be the next target of the suspected terrorists. It was learnt that the telecoms workers, gripped with anxiety, had called their respective head offices in Lagos for necessary actions to safeguard their lives. Confirming this, the Chief Technical Officer, Globacom, Mr. Aremu Olajide, said: “We have received calls from our staff working in the North as they are already expressing great fear.” Though it was not certain yesterday whether the telecoms firms would order their offices located in the affected areas to be shut until normalcy returns, a top management source of one of the telecoms firm, who did not want his name mentioned, said the option could not be ruled out.

“It is clear that services in the areas would have been disrupted as we speak, because, ordinarily, the affected base stations don’t carry traffic again and it will take some time to bring the damaged facilities back to life. “Also on the existing base stations that were not affected, I am sure the staff of telecoms firms responsible for maintaining them would be scared to go to the sites for maintenance. “That fear can also make those base stations run out of service over time and some telecoms firms may opt for partial or total shut down of their offices in the affected areas,” he said. The bombing happened as key stakeholders in the telecoms sector and security agencies converged on Lagos to brainstorm on solutions to the frequent

damages to telecoms infrastructure and to chart the way forward. The forum was chaired by the former Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Mr. Ernest Ndukwe, with other top captains of the industry in attendance. The forum in its preliminary communiqué yesterday called on the Federal Government to declare telecoms facilities as Critical National Security Infrastructure, pending the time necessary laws would be enacted to protect Information and Communication Technology infrastructure such as cables and towers owned by the government or private orgainsations. Meanwhile, four people were killed when some terrorists invaded a house occupied by Yoruba and Igbo

traders in Maiduguri. A neighbour of the four slain people told newsmen that they had a strange voice in the house as some of the deceased were crying for help but no one could help as the 9p.m. curfew was in force. He said it was on Wednesday morning that news filtered out from the house that four people were killed by the hoodlums. JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, confirmed the burning of MTN office and some masts in Maiduguri, but denied any killing in the state. “I can only confirm to you that some telecommunication masts and MTN regional office were set ablaze by suspected Boko Haram sect members, but I am not aware of any killing in Gwange, please give me time, as soon as I get details I will communicate to you,” Sagir said.

could not be compensated. The NCAA boss insisted that the aircraft was adequately insured as at the time of the crash, adding that there were enough funds on ground to pay the families. Demuren explained that

only 62 families had been paid the initial $30,000 compensation, which is 30 per cent of the $100,000 full compensation provided for by international convention so far, due to the stringent measures involved in assessing the funds.

Jonathan heads new committee on power CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

mi Memorial Organisation (GAFAMORG) in honour of the late lawyer and human rights activist who died on September 5, 2009 at the age of 71. President Jonathan, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Civil Society and International Media, Mr. Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr., described the power sector as the foundation for building the economy. He noted that that there had been reports of improvement nationwide, adding that his government would continue to improve. The President maintained that power availability would further improve living conditions and bring happiness to the people. He added: “At inception, this government made a commitment to the Nigerian people. We will fulfill our promises. “In the power sector, which is the foundation for building the economy, there have been reports of improvement nationwide. I want to assure Nigerians that we will sustain this improvement. Nigerians deserve uninterrupted power supply. “Power availability will improve living conditions and bring happiness to our people. “Nigerians from all walks of life worked hard to bring me to this humbling seat of service as President. I will not disappoint our citizens.’’ He described Fawehinmi as a patriot who fought strongly for democracy and the rule of law, adding that the deceased was “a champion of all champions who fought vigorously for an untrammelled rule of law.” The President acknowledged that his administration was a beneficiary of Fawehinmi’s struggle, adding that that was the reason he signed the Freedom of

Information, FOI, Bill into law. He said his administration would not condone injustice, abuse of power, oppressing the poor, the powerless and the defenceless, stressing that “this government will not compromise on its respect for the rule of law. Gani will be happy in heaven if this and every government after us respects the law.’’ While calling for a greater collaboration between the government and civil society groups, Jonathan said constructive criticisms were vital to shaping government policies and enhancing the welfare of the people. In his lecture titled: “Oil subsidy regime: Myth or reality’’, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West, advised government to stop the importation of petroleum products. He said the money being used in importing fuel was enough to build up to 20 refineries and for repairs of existing ones. “Until we stop the importation of fuel, this country will not be able to move forward,” he stressed. Human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), called for a thorough prosecution of all persons indicted in the fuel subsidy fraud. “All those who looted the treasury and paid monies to their friends, including the officials of CBN, NNPC and Ministry of Finance, all of them must be dealt with under the law,” Falana said. Earlier, the coordinator, GAFAMORG, Mr. Ayodele Akele, said the late legal icon deserved to be immortalised for his positive contributions to the nation. Akele also stressed the need to rename the Abuja office of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, as “Gani Fawehinmi House.”

National News

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Dame Jonathan: Twist over cause of illness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

President might have gone for full body work that included tummy tuck in Germany.” Abdominoplasty or “tummy tuck”, according to Wikipedia, is a cosmetic surgery procedure used to make the abdomen more firm. The surgery involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen in or-

der to tighten the muscle and fascia of the abdominal wall. This type of surgery is usually sought by patients with loose tissues after pregnancy or individuals with sagging after major weight loss. A wife of a former president underwent similar medical treatment a few years ago. The President is said to have been informed about

the new twist and may have given his nod for a socialite and wife of a retired top military officer, who is a close confidant of the First Lady, to be questioned. A source in the Presidency said the socialite woman, who is a confidant of Mrs. Jonathan, might be questioned over her role

in the medical state of the First Lady. “Mr. President is worried about the role of a friend of his wife in the whole health saga. The woman knows so much and she may be questioned on her role and involvement in the health status of the First Lady,” a source

said. The First Lady is currently recuperating in a German hospital, Horst Schmidt Klinik, in Wiesbaden. The late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was treated for kidney ailment at the same hospital before he eventually died.

“All I can tell you is that Mrs. Jonathan undergone surgery and he is in a stable condition. She is out of medical danger,” a Presidency source told National Mirror yesterday. The Presidency still kept mum on the nature of Mrs. Jonathan’s ill-health and whereabouts.

EFCC accuses NGOs of aiding money laundering OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs) of providing avenue for money laundering and sponsorship of criminal activities. Head of the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) of the EFCC, Angela Nworgu, made the accusation in Abuja during the annual seminar for Designated Non-Financial Institutions (DNFIs). The theme of the year’s seminar is “Strategic partnership Amongst DNFIs for Effective Implementation of AML/CFT Regime in Nigeria”. Nworgu said that research by the Financial Action Task Force indicated that money launderers “used NGOs to carry out layering of stolen wealth through several countries.” She stated that the essence of the seminar was

to expose compliance officers to their obligations and responsibilities in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. The participants, drawn from various DNFIs such as Bureau De Change, Hotels, Law firms, jewelers, etc. were taken through the provisions of the Money Laundering Act 2011, KYC (know your customer) principles, Anatomy of CTRs/STRs, implication of the CBN circular on AML/CFT compliance, among others. One of the resource persons, Emma Igbodekwe, told the participants that the newly amended money laundering prohibition Act, 2011 was more robust with strict punishment for its violation. He said: “That does not invalidate its application on culprits who might have committed the offence long before it was passed into Law, because it’s provisions also encompasses all the provisions in the Money Laundering prohibition Act, 2004”.

Wreckage of a taxi cab crushed by train at Jibowu area of Lagos State, yesterday.

CBN spends N125bn on currency printing in three years JOHNSON OKANLAWON

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that it spent N125.3bn to print currency notes and coins in three years. The bank, in a statement entitled: “False rumours on currency restructuring,” said N47.1bn was spent in 2009, N45.5bn in 2010 and N32.6bn in 2011.

FG promises to address NHIS challenges MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

he Federal Government has expressed its decision to proffer solution to the challenges confronting the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Acting Executive Secretary of NHIS, Dr. Abdulrahman Sambo, stated this yesterday at a seminar for enrollees into the scheme in Abuja. Sambo said at the seminar, which was aimed at creating awareness for ben-

eficiaries, that the enrollees were being short-changed by the health institutions handling their enrolment as a result of their seeming ignorance of the scheme. He said: ‘’Most of the

President Goodluck Jonathan

enrollees are cheated, short-changed and segregated against by health institutions providing health insurance as a result of enrollees short knowledge. Many want to capitalise on their lack of knowledge to short change the beneficiaries.’’ He said the scheme would progress to ‘’ensure improvements in service delivery to enrollees and foster enabling environment for robust interactions necessary for the smooth operation of the programme.”

An analysis of the amount showed reduction in the total cost of printing all denominations of currency during the respective years. According to the bank, under the new currency structure in which the N5, 000 denomination will be introduced, the projection is that the total volume of currency to be produced

will drop and the total cost of production will drop consequently. The CBN said: “Given that the total cost of printing in 2011, for example, amounted to N32.6bn. It is evidently false that a single high value denomination (N5,000), which will be printed in a relatively small quantity, will cost N40bn. “The proposed currency

notes will not all be introduced at the same time but phased, and both the old and new currency notes will circulate side by side for an orderly withdrawal. “The proposed N5, N10, and N20 coins will also circulate side by side with notes of the same denominations until such a time when we are assured that the coins have gained wide acceptability.”

Nigerian Navy rescues Singaporean oil vessel FRANCIS EZEM

he Nigerian Navy has freed a Singaporean oil tanker vessel, MT Abu Dhabi, that was hijacked on Tuesday night by pirates. The Director of Information of the Nigerian Navy, Commander Kabir Aliu, who confirmed the development yesterday, said that the vessel was escorted to the Lagos harbour after the rescue operation. According to him, the vessel was hijacked around 14 nautical miles from the entrance to Lagos Port, and

the 23 crew members hid themselves in a safe room on the ship to avoid being hurt by the pirates. Aliu said: “MT Abu Dhabi has been rescued by the Nigerian Naval Ship, Zaria. On sight of the naval ship and naval helicopter, the hijackers escaped and there was no exchange of fire. “All the crew members are safe, the rescued ship will anchor within the Lagos harbour under naval protection until investigations are completed.” The naval spokesman was, however, silent on whether the contents of the ship are still intact or not,

but there are speculations that the pirates may have emptied the vessel. It was learnt that the fuel-laden vessel was sailing into the Gulf of Guinea, an indication that its contents was to be offloaded into a waiting vessel and subsequently sold on the illegal fuel market thriving in the region. The Deputy Director in charge of Public Relations of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Hajia Lami Tumaka, also confirmed that both the vessel and the crew are safe, adding that the content of the ship was intact.

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SEC gets police enforcement team O MEIZA A JAYI

he Nigeria Police yesterday inaugurated a team to be seconded to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to assist it in the enforcement of its mandate. Inaugurating the team at the Force Headquarters, Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, also reiterated the resolve of the force to combat crime, stressing that fraudulent activities would no longer be condoned in the organisation. The team, led by Babakura Mohammed, is a unit of the police in the Securities and Exchange Commission that will assist the commission in its enforcement activities. Abubakar, who said without safety and security, development is not guaranteed, said that the partnership between the police and SEC will go a long way in curbing crime in the stock market. He pledged the support and assistance of the police in ensuring that SEC carries out its functions effectively. Abubakar also charged the officers to be good ambassadors of the police as well as remain committed and dedicated to the organisation in the discharge of its responsibilities. Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Arunma Oteh, said the unprecedented decline in the Nigerian stock market and the drive to ensure a speedy resolution of cases, prompted the commission to approach the police for the deployment of officers to jointly work with its staff in investigating criminal issues in the capital market. Oteh also expressed optimism that the synergy with the police will eradicate fraudulent activities in the market.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Lagos to prosecute transport union leaders for Okada robbery MURITALA AYINLA

orried by the continued operation of commercial motorcyclists in some of the prohibited 475 routes in the state, the Lagos State government yesterday vowed to hold commercial transport operator union leaders responsible for any motorcycle robbery in the state. The state government,

which also frowned at the continuous collection of fees and levies, despite the prohibition of touting on highways, said any operator found on the banned bridges and roads would be dealt with according to the law. Meanwhile, the operators are calling on the state government to limit the ban to highways and bridges, saying banning of 475 routes would automatically force them out of business. They also appealed for extension

of the enforcement date. Speaking at an emergency meeting with the commercial transport operators and stakeholders, the state Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, who made the disclosure, said that the state would no longer condone illegality constituted by the development in spite of the enactment of the law. Opeifa said the state is being magnanimous by not completely banning Okada in the state like

L-R: Former Minister of Industry, Chief Nike Akande; widow of the deceased, Adenike and Mrs. Funke Popoola, during a condolence visit to the family of late former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr. Olatunde Vincent, in Lagos, yesterday.

some other states in the federation, adding that the operators and the leaders must abide by the law. “The beauty of the law is that we have not banned you as other states have done. We are only telling you to keep off prohibited roads. You can operate from where people can’t get buses to where they can board commercial buses. Chairman of the Lagos Taskforce on the Environment, Bayo Sulaiman, added that the union leaders should abide by the law in its entirety, saying the police and other law enforcement agencies are worried seeing commercial motorcyclists still violating the law unperturbed. His words: “Do not say you enforce some parts of the law and leave others unimplemented, we don’t want to start pouncing on you in the name of enforcing the law. “By the time we commence full enforcement, you may not like it. That is why government is calling on you and other union leaders to warn your members before we start enforcement properly.”

Alison-Madueke denies ill-health speculation

inister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has denied speculation making the rounds that she is sick and hospitalised in a London hospital. The minister was reported to be sick and in “a potentially serious” condition. “The minister’s diagnosis is for a condition related to abnormal cell development in her body. The doctor declined to disclose if the diagnosis was a form of cancer,” one source was quoted in an online publication. But reacting in a Facebook post, the minister said: “Contrary to recently published articles concerning my health, I haven’t been hospitalised in London. Both my family and I are well.” Close aides, including her personal assistants declined to comment on the development. The Director of Press in the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Kingsley Agba, who spoke with National Mirror on telephone asked for time to confirm the development. When National Mirror called back a few minutes later, Agba declined to make any comment. “I am sorry. I am not in a position to confirm that now as I am equally sick.”

Ola Vincent for burial today SAM OLUWALANA

T L-R: Former President, Chattered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Mazi Okechukwu Nnegu; past President, Mrs. Juliet Madubueze; former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Chief Joseph PHOTOS: OLUFEMI AJASA Sanusi and widow of the late Vincent, Adenike.

250 to attend Uyo editors’ conference LEONARD OKACHIE

t least 250 Nigerian editors in the electronic, print and on-line media will converge on Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, for four days beginning from September 12, 2012, for the eighth annual All Nigerian Editors’ Conference (ANEC). The conference, which is organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE),

will see an assemblage of editors, comprising of men and women, whose media outfits have always set the agenda for national discourse, brainstorming and analysing a topical issue: The Nigerian Editor and National Security. According to a statement by the GeneralSecretary of NGE, Isaac Ighure, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd), will deliver the keynote address, while

the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), will present a paper on the topic; Architecture of Terror. Other topics slated for discussion and eminent Nigerians to give a treatise on each of them are: The Cost of Insurgency, Prof. Etannibi Alemika; Understanding Anti-terror laws in Nigeria, Chief Femi Falana (SAN) and Reporting Safe, Rufai Ibrahim, a veteran journalist.

he former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Pa Ola Vincent (CFR), who died on Monday September 3, will be buried today. His interment will take place at the Ikoyi Cemetery, Obalende, while the preceding funeral church service will hold by 11.00 am at the African Church Cathedral (Bethel), 59, Broad Street, Lagos. Reception of guests shall be at the Havillah House of Events, Chief Yesufu Abiodun Way, by City of David Church, off Ligali Ayorinde, Victoria Island. The last funeral rite which is the outing service has been slated for the African Cathedral on Sunday by 10.00 am with the family hosting the guests again at the Havillah House of Events. Meanwhile, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State

yesterday mourned the passing away of the former CBN governor, describing him as a foremost banker who lived his life for the service of his fatherland. The governor, in a statement issued in Ibadan, by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said the demise of the former CBN boss was a great loss to the country. “It was with rude shock that I received the news of the passing away of Pa Ola Vincent in a Lagos hospital. Even though he died at the ripe age of 87, nevertheless his death is very unfortunate and a great loss to Nigeria. “He was a world-class economist, distinguished banker and public servant. He was an illustrious son of Nigeria,” Governor Ajimobi remarked, adding that his tenure as the CBN governor witnessed rapid economic growth owing to his sound economic policies and administrative dexterity.”

South West

HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

en of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a man over the killing of his friend who was lured from Lagos to Erusu-Akoko in Akoko North West local Government Area of the state, to appease the gods. The deceased, Mr. Olufemi Ogunkorode, was said to have been tricked by three of his childhood friends to the town last Saturday on the pretext that one of them

Thursday, September 6, 2012

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Man killed by friend to appease gods was going to bury his late mother, but ended being used for rituals. The suspects include; Chief Babatunde Olumofe, a staff of 7Up Bottling Company Limited, Ijora, Lagos; Mr. Sunday Akeju and one other simply identified by his nickname, Eso, who all attended Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti, with the victim. It was gathered that trouble started some three years

ago when Ogunkorode was invited by his childhood friends to Erusu when Olumofe was to be honoured with a chieftaincy title. National Mirror gathered that Olumofe, who was honoured with the title and Ogunkorode allegedly carried out certain traditional rites together which the traditionalists in the town considered sacrilegious. The source told our correspondent that the tradition-

alists had since been mounting pressure on Olumofe to re-invite his friend for necessary rites to appease certain gods in the town. Olumofe, however, lured his friend to Erusu on the pretext that he was burying his mother and was said to have bought a new cloth for the deceased which he presented as the uniform for the occasion. Further investigation by our correspondent revealed

that no sooner than they arrived in Erusu-Akoko that the suspects allegedly handed over the victim to the traditionalists who killed him (Ogunkorode) to appease the gods. The victim’s body was said to have been dumped on the highway while his friends claimed he was killed by armed robbers and the case was reported to the police at Erusu-Akoko police post.

OBJ urges biographies to guide Nigerian youths KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

Scene of a fire incident at Ogunpa Market in Ibadan, yesterday.

However, when the case was transferred to the OkeAgbe police station, the suspects twisted the story and told the divisional police officer that the deceased merely slumped and died before help could get to him. The families of the deceased, not satisfied with the mystery behind his death, vowed to get to the root of the matter, which was said to have sparked off a cold-war between the people of Erusu-Akoko and Ilu Omoba Ekiti, the country home of the deceased.

ormer President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday made a case for more biographies and records of works of the nation’s heroes and professionals, saying such can serve as effective guide for Nigerian youths in pursuing self advancement. He said this yesterday at the University of Ibadan, during the formal presentation and launch of the biA trader, identified as Sarafa, who lost valuables to ography of late university the fire, being consoled by colleagues in Ibadan, don and industrialist, Prof. yesterday. PHOTO: NAN Ayo Ogunsheye titled “Ayo Ogunseye: The Workers’ Economist.” The former president He, however, exonerated will take place in all the while lamenting that the those involved of carrying 3, 009 polling units across culture of hard work and out illegal voters’ registra- the 18 council areas of the integrity is fast disappeartion as alleged and equally state, urging each of the ing among youths, said exexonerated INEC officials participating parties in the posing them to records of in the state of conniving election to obtain forms life and service of notable with those accused of car- for their agents that will personalities in the country represent them in each of could encourage them to be rying out such exercise. He said the state INEC the polling units across the serious. cannot access the data base state. He also appealed to of the voters’ register, not to think of tampering or youths in the state to channel their energies well, supaltering it. FEMI OYEWESO Orebiyi said the October port peaceful and violent- ABEOKUTA 20, governorship election free election. gun State government yesterday said it has spent N3.2bn Addressing the delega- on power generation and a smooth ticket for a second tion, Governor Amosun distribution since assumpterm in office. Makinde, who stated this said his administration has tion of office in May, 2011. yesterday in Abeokuta, when no intention of taking over State Commissioner he led a delegation of the schools, but rather give pro- for Special Duties, Prince Methodist Church of Nigeria prietors of private schools a Lanre Tejuosho, said this to the governor, said it would run for their money through during a fact-finding visit by not be hard for people to vote the kind of schools his ad- members of the state House Amosun for a second term ministration intends to con- of Assembly’s Committee in office as his work would struct in the state. on Energy, Water Resources, Amosun, who said his life Rural Development and Spespeak for him. “Today, we all remember was also moulded by a mis- cial Duties to his ministry in Awolowo because of his sion school from African Abeokuta. performance while in office. Church Grammar School The commissioner, who in Owu, Abeokuta, said the said a total of 204 transformOnce you meet the needs of the people through the pro- government has only re- ers of the 500 units procured vision of social amenities, quested for some time “to by the government have you will not need to do much sort out itself so that the been distributed to various to get a second term, be- over 20, 000 children roam- communities across the cause your work will speak ing the streets, would go three senatorial districts of back to school”. for you”. the state, said the gesture

He extolled the virtues of Ogunseye, saying; “I want to urge family members of good Nigerians whose records we like to have but we have not, to work towards documenting their history and achievements. “This will help in putting in perspective the history of our country. It will also help to impact on the younger generation who are the leaders of tomorrow. “It is necessary, particularly now that we have a country where anything goes. The moral value was very high in the country in the not so distant past.”

INEC clears air on illegal registration in Ondo HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

ndo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Akin Orebiyi, yesterday cleared the air on the controversy surrounding registration of voters in the state. Orebiyi spoke in Akure, the state capital, during a forum sponsored by the International Foundation for Electoral System for all stakeholders in the forthcoming governorship election. The REC said what was done by the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and the Ondo State government was to capture the biometric of workers and not a registration exercise. He, however, said that the exercise was ill-timed, condemning the rationale behind it by the institution and the government, especially when the governorship election was fast approaching. He said no political party in the state has been discovered to have carried out any form of registration

that could be misconstrued for INEC’s voters’ registration exercise. His words, “What we know is that authorities of the Federal University of Technology, Akure conducted biometric registration of their students and the state government also carried out a similar exercise for its workers in the civil service, but INEC had no link with both exercises.”

Methodist prelate charges Amosun on second term FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

he Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, yesterday charged Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, to allow his administration be guided by performance rather than by the goodies attached to the office of the governor. With reference to the provision of social amenities, the Prelate charged the state governor to aspire to meet the needs of the people in order to enable him secure

Obasanjo

Ogun spends N3.2bn on power generation, distribution

has continued to enhance socio-economic activities in the benefiting communities. In her comment, the General Manager of the state Water Corporation, Engr. Monsurat Agboola, told the House committee members, who were in the ministry as part of their oversight functions, that the agency was committed to the provision of water supply in the state. She also said that the agency has embarked on the rehabilitation of Ifo Akinsinde Water Scheme project, adding that the project will be completed towards the end of 2013. The general manager, who noted that N26.9 million has so far been expended on water projects in the state, assured that the Ilaro and Ela Water Projects would commence soon.

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South West

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Fire razes market, houses in Ibadan KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

raders at the popular Labaowo market in Ogunpa area in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State were unable to control their emotions yester-

day, with many of them breaking down in tears as property worth millions of naira were destroyed by fire at the market. It was gathered that the fire, which started about 9am, gutted four houses - three bungalows and a storey building - and de-

stroyed over 50 shops. The roofs, windows and ceilings of the buildings were badly affected by the inferno while the chemical section of the market and sections of those selling keys, padlocks and paints were razed by the fire. It was learnt that before

the arrival of the men of the Oyo State Fire Service, sympathisers, who thronged the area, tried to put out the fire but failed as the fire spread. The fire fighters, who arrived at the scene about one hour after the fire broke out, combated the fire for almost two hours

before they put it out. The men of the state fire service, who complained of shortage of water, came with four fire engines. Speaking with journalists, the state Director of Fire Service, Mr. Kareem Oyegunle Gafari, said the cause of the fire was yet to

be determined. He promised that his men would investigate the incident. But a witness, who refused to disclose her name, said the fire broke out when one of the traders was pouring a chemical gum into a jerrycan.

INEC will review Ekiti voters’ register soon –REC ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

L-R: National Vice-Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Segun Oni; a member of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Bunmi Oriniowo; former Deputy Governor, Chief Abiodun Aluko; former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran and former PDP state Chairman, Chief Bola Olu-Ojo, during the church service marking Oni’s 58th birthday at Ifaki-Ekiti, yesterday.

Election violence: Police, NOA must collaborate –Ex-Commissioner KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

former Commissioner for Information in Oyo State, Alhaji Adegboyega Arulogun, yesterday called on the National Orientation Agency, NOA, the police and the state information ministries to wage a join war on election violence in the country. His call came as the Special Adviser to the Oyo State governor on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, urged journalists and information managers in the state to embrace on-line journalism as a new trend in media profession. The two personalities spoke at the opening of a two-day workshop on “Strategic communication: The driver of change and mass mobilisation at the grassroots,’’ organised by the Ministry of Information and Orientation for local government information officers and community development officers in all the 33 councils in the state. The former commis-

sioner, who delivered a keynote address at the event, said everything necessary must be done to prevent violence before, during and after elections to ensure the emergence of credible candidates. According to him, democracy works best when people have all the information that the security of the country permits. He said: “No one should be able to pull curtains of secrecy around decisions which can be revealed without injury to the public interest, as hoarding of information may ignite rumours and chaos.’’ Adedayo, who spoke on the restoration, transformation and repositioning agenda of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration, harped on the effective use of the media as a veritable instrument of actualising the agenda. Adedayo listed the various factors which had assisted the administration in salvaging the state from the rot inherited from the past administration as good governance, integri-

ty, quality service delivery and execution of projects that had direct bearing on the lives of the people. He then stressed the need for information and community development officers to key into the new trend in the communication world which, according to him, is the emergence of online journalism and its attendant advantage of quick

information dissemination and ability to reach out to the mass of the people. Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Bosun Oladele, said the training was organised as an integral part of human capital development upon which the Ajimobi administration was based.

he Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said preparations were on for the update of register of voters before the conduct of the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State. The state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Alhaji Hussaini Pai, said the review exercise would enable those who had recently attained the age of 18 years and those who had recently relocated to the state to register. Pai told journalists in Ado-Ekiti yesterday that the review of voters’ register was necessary before the conduct of any election so that no eligible voters would be deprived of their right to perform the civic exercise. The REC said that additional polling units would be created in wards and constituencies in the state to avoid a situation where about 2,000 electorate vote in a unit. He said: “Such a plan is in the offing. But it is

not for local government creation. Local government creation is a constitutional matter which has its distinct processes and INEC is not involved in local government creation.” Pai also raised the hope of politicians agitating for delineation of constituencies, saying “at the appropriate time, a committee will come to the state for the purpose. The stakeholders will make their preparations and show proofs. Then the appropriate thing will be done”. The REC said the body had resolved to prioritise manpower development through a strategic plan of training of staff from one election to the other. This, according to him, is to plug the loopholes observed in previous elections and as well enhance their performance. He urged the National Assembly to consider the benefits of electronic voting in terms of speed in the process of dissemination, cheaper cost and credibility and approve it for the conduct of elections in the country.

LASTMA official’s murder: Lagos files fresh charge against female banker CAROLINE CHUKWUKA

he Lagos State Government yesterday filed a fresh charge before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court against a female banker, Mrs. Yinka Johnson, for alleged reckless driving. An official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASMA, Mr. Hameed Balogun, was said to have lost his life while trying to apprehend Mrs. Johnson for driving against the traffic in the Ajah area of the state. At the resumed hearing of the suit yesterday, the

police prosecutor, Chukwu Agwu, applied to withdraw the earlier charge and to substitute it with a new one. The old charge, filed under the Lagos State Road Traffic Law 2003, was replaced with the new Lagos State Road Traffic Law 2012. The new charge reads in part: “That you Yinka Johnson on August 10, at about 8:30am at Mega Chicken, Ikota - Ajah Expressway, Lekki, Lagos, did drive your Land Rover Jeep with registration No: CY 276 LSD on the highway recklessly by driving your vehicle against oncoming

vehicles and without reasonable consideration for other road users and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 7(b) of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law 2012.” But the defence counsel, led by Mr. Emeka Okpoko, reminded the court that various publications in national newspapers gave the impression that the law was yet to take effect as the government planned to carry out public enlightenments on the said law. However, the trial Magistrate, Mr. Jacob Adegun, ruled that the prosecution had the right

to substitute the charge under the new law. Shortly after the charge was substituted, the prosecutor informed the court that the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, had called for the case file and urged the court to adjourn the matter until the DPP issued further detectives on the matter. When her plea was taken, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against her. Adegun granted her bail on the earlier conditions and adjourned the matter till September 28 for mention.

South East

Thursday, September 6, 2012

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Obi supervises demolition of kidnap kingpin home

•Ohanaeze Ndigbo lauds exercise NWABUEZE OKONKWO AND CHARLES OKEKE

overnor Peter Obi of Anambra State yesterday personally supervised the demolition of a two-storey building belonging to a suspected kidnap kingpin,

Olisa Ifejika, at Ifite village in Ekwusigo Local Government Area. The demolition, which attracted commendations from the community, is coming barely 48 hours after a police team from Onitsha arrested Ifejika and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from an

under-ground armoury in his house. Ifejika was alleged to have masterminded the abduction of two monarchs - Igwe Robert Eze of Ukpo and Igwe Okoli of Ihembosi communities. The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ballah Nasarawa, had

said in a press conference on Tuesday that 27 AK 47 riffles, one rocket launcher, 13 rocket grenades, 17 rockets, one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), a total of 12,800 rounds of AK 47 live ammunitions and a K2 rifle were recovered during the raid of Ifejika’s residence. Ifejika reportedly owns three five star hotels, one

in Ghana and the other two in Umuahia and Port Harcourt. Reacting to the demolition, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Director of Publicity in the Diaspora, Mr. Louis Sunny Okafor, an indigene of Oraifite, commended Obi’s action. Okafor said that for long, the suspect had been a thorn in the fresh of

the people of Oraifite and Anambra people in general. He said: “The people in the area know that Ifejika is a criminal and a kidnapper, but could not report him to security agencies out of fear”. The President General of the community, Chief Ralph Nwike, said God has finally rescued the people.

CD, CLO want Imo Speaker removed for alleged incompetence CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

he Campaign for Democracy (CD) and Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) have accused the Imo State House of Assembly of underperformance and poor representation. The groups, therefore, called for the removal of the Speaker of the House, Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu, for alleged incompetence. Speaking yesterday in Owerri, the state capital, the CD Chairman in the South-East, Dede Uzor A Uzor, called for the Speaker’s removal because of his alleged shielding the excesses of the executive arm of government. Uzor said the inability of the lawmakers to check the alleged excesses of the executive was responsible for the executive recklessness and near anarchy situation in the state.

He said that the Imo House of Assembly has failed in its functions as the watch dog of the executive, saying: “The lawmakers are just rubber stamps that have connived with the executive to perpetrate illegalities at the detriment of the masses who voted them into power. “The lawmakers have not made any law that impacts positively on the people, but have been engulfed in partisan politics.” Describing the lawmakers as the executive “lap dogs,” Uzor said that for the government to be accountable to the people, there should be checks and balance. “The legislative arm of government should play the role of watch dog to ensure that executive powers are not abused, but in Imo State is fusion of power and the lawmakers frolicking with the executive at the detriment of the state,” he said.

Anambra Head of Service rues poor quality of Nigerian graduates CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

he Anambra State Head of Service, Chidi Ezeoke, yesterday deplored the poor quality of graduates being churned out by Nigerian universities and other institutions of higher learning. Speaking at an interactive session organised by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) for chief executives of corporate organisations in Awka, the state capital, Mr Ezeoke condemned the situation whereby Nigerian graduates are not employable, even as many who were lucky to get jobs do not make meaningful contributions in their vari-

ous places of work. The Head of Service, who also frowned at the low level of practical skills among the graduates, urged the ITF to adopt advocacy and enlightenment programmes in its drive to enhance the country’s economic development. Earlier, the DirectorGeneral of the ITF, Prof. Longmas Wapmok, said that since 1971 when the Fund was established, it has trained about 12 million Nigerians under its various programmes. Prof. Wapmok stated that development of technical and vocational skills by graduates is key to the realisation of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi (middle), with police chiefs during the demolition of Ifejika’s residence at Ifite, yesterday.

Enugu communities flay govt’s ‘indifference’ to oil wells DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

ome communities in Enugu State are not happy with the designation of Anambra as an oil producing state by the Federal Government. President Goodluck Jonathan had, during his commissioning of Orient Petroleum Plc at Anambra last week, declared it an oil producing state. But members of the three communities in Enugu State involved in the oil wells dispute have vowed to protect the oil in their place with the last drop of their blood. In a statement made available to journalists yesterday in Enugu, the communities - Ojjor, Iggah and Asaba - all in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area flayed the state government for what they called “its obvious indifference to safeguarding the oil wells in our communities.” In the statement signed by Mr. Jude Ibeagha, Stan

Madubia and Chris Okpe on behalf of the three communities, they accused the Enugu State Government of watching helplessly while Anambra claimed the oil wells domiciled in their area. The statement reads: “We are indeed shocked and pained as it concerns the recent happenings revolving around the oil wells located in our place. “We describe as a glaring injustice and bare faced gangsterism a situation where Anambra politicians, through Governor Peter Obi, have arm twisted our people and claimed ownership of oil wells located in Enugu State. “For the avoidance of doubt, the oil wells in the three oil blocks in Ojjor, Iggah and Asaba, communities in Enugu State, provide the bulk of the crude oil supply to the Orient Refinery. “Our anger is even more against the Enugu State Government over

its nonchalant attitude in safeguarding the oil in our place. Like a man who pursues rat while his house is on fire, Enugu State Government has continued to treat this issue with levity as against the seriousness it deserved.” Vowing to defend what belongs to them if the government cannot do so, the Enugu communities said their patience and maturity should not be misconstrued as cowardice. They said: “We want to state that we are not afraid or incapable of protecting the oil wells, but we are exercising patience owing to assurances from some highly placed government officials that the matter is being sorted out. “However, the recent designation of Anambra as an oil producing state is an obvious indication that Enugu State Government never made any serious move in the first instance.

“It is equally noteworthy that unlike her Kogi counterpart, no serious public statement had come from Enugu State Government concerning this matter. We are compelled to think that there is a serious gang up and compromise in many quarters. “We are giving the Enugu State Government two weeks to take concrete steps on this matter, else we shall mobiliSe our people to occupy the affected areas. The occupy protest shall be the first stage of our struggle, after that we shall enter the second stage, which we shall make known soon.

Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime

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South South

Thursday, September 6, 2012

We won’t suspend strike until … –RSUST lecturers

he Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it will continue its strike until Governor Chibuike Amaechi appoints a new Vice-Chancellor for the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST). ASUU chairman in the university, Dr Felix Igwe, disclosed this on Tuesday to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt. Governor Amaechi had told NAN on September 1, 2012 in Berlin, Germany, that ASUU should take his administration to court if it was convinced that it breached the law. Amaechi said it was his prerogative to appoint a vice-chancellor for the university. Igwe, however, said Amaechi breached the law by appointing Prof. Barineme Fakae as ViceChancellor of the univer-

sity. He refuted a statement credited to Amaechi that the university was governed by the state law and could not be dictated to by union’s national leadership in appointment of a vice-chancellor. Igwe said: “The visitor (Amaechi) is not a member of staff of this university; the visitor’s responsibility to appoint the vice-chancellor is indicated in the university law which says that the visitor will appoint the vice-chancellor acting on the recommendation of the selection committee from Senate and Council. “He cannot just appoint anybody he wants; he will not go to Mile Three Market and pick anybody and appoint as vice-chancellor; this is an educational institution for God’s sake. “The process was started according to the law and the process concluded according to the law.”

Policy makers advised on education planning CHINEDUM EMEANA PORT HARCOURT

he Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Alice Lawrence-Nemi, has called on education planners and policy makers across the country to design programmes and curricula according to the needs and development levels of states and communities. Mrs. Lawrence-Nemi made this call yesterday at a workshop entitled: “Strengthening Rivers State Education Sector for Strategic Investment Case,”organised by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with UNICEF in Port Harcourt, the state capital. Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Richard Ofuru, she expressed dismay over the inability of the planners to consider the disparity while packaging the programmes, urging them to consider the socio-cultural, political, economic and geographic backgrounds of the children during their decision-making processes.

The commissioner commended UNICEF for its effort at ensuring that the nation’s education planners get the technical expertise and tools for designing the children’s education development programmes.

Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan presenting keys of two ambulances and a towing truck to the State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mrs. Susan Ajenge, in Asaba, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Robbers kill two, injure policeman in P’Harcourt

he Rivers State Police Command said yesterday that armed robbers killed two people and injured a policeman in Port Harcourt. The police spokesman, Mr. Ben Ugwuegbulam, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the robbery took place between 8:0am and 9:am

along the Isaac Boro Park fly-over in the city. He said no arrest had been made, but that the police had begun investigating the matter. According to him, the policeman was injured while responding to a distress call to foil a robbery operation with some other policemen. Ugwuegbulam, however,

Degradation: Ogoni demands compensation from FG, Shell SAM OLUWALANA

he people of Ogoni in Rivers State have demanded compensation from the Federal Government and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) for what they called irreversible devastation done to their environment, health and livelihood. This was part of their position during a visit to President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja. The visit was sequel to a letter by the Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe, requesting President Jonathan to grant the people audience with a view to chart ways

of addressing issues concerning them. Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Senator Abe said; “Considering the irreversible devastation done to the environment, health and the livelihood of the Ogoni by the petroleum industry as scientifically demonstrated in the UNEP report, the Ogoni people hereby ask for compensation from the Federal Government and Shell without delay.” He solicited support of the Presidency and National Assembly in the quest for the creation of Bori State, saying that Ogonis see the creation of the state as a necessity, since according to him “the people are economically viable with abundant natural resources”. Senator Abe said: “State

creation has been a major tool for enhancing a sense of belonging and promoting development by groups that feel marginalised. It is an important means of strengthening federalism, though economic viability should also be an important criterion. “Such a state will include other ethnic groups in the South-East Senatorial District in Rivers State and will also complement the national economy as the oil and gas resources of the area will enhance the national budget.” He called on the Federal Government to engage Ogoni youths in the surveillance of petroleum pipelines and other oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta region.

said the robbers got away with their loot, but promised that the police would track them down. The police spokesman said the victims of the robbery were conveying an undisclosed sum of money in a commercial vehicle when they were attacked. NAN recalls that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr

Muhammad Indabawa, on August 31, told a news conference that no fewer than13 policemen were killed by robbers between April and August this year. Indabawa said the police, in return, shot dead 36 armed robbers and kidnappers as well as rescued 17 kidnap victims during the period.

3,642 youths for amnesty programme provocative –Group EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

ational Chairman of the Third Phase Amnesty, Tonye Bobo, yesterday faulted the approved list of 3,642 youths for the next amnesty programme for former militants in the Niger Delta. Bobo urged the Federal Government to have a rethink on the statement made by the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Committee, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, on the proposed number of former militants to be trained, stressing that the list was provocative and bias without proper consideration and verification. He said in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, that the amnesty committee should enroll at least

20,000 youths for the training programme in order to the beneficiaries have a sense of belonging. Agitation for the third phase amnesty by the former militants began in 2010 after they surrendered their arms and ammunitions to embrace the amnesty programme initiated by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2009. Bobo said the amnesty committee should wear a human face and live up to expectation by verifying the total number of genuine disarmed youths and their followers in the third phase amnesty programme to avoid a polarisation of the scheme. He said: “In order to reduce youth restiveness in the Niger Delta, the enrolment of at least 20,000 youths is a fair deal for the people of the region.”

North

Thursday, September 6, 2012

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National Economic Council didn’t discuss N5,000 note –Suswam O BIORA I FOH ABUJA

overnor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has said that the planned introduction of the N5,000 note by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, was not discussed at the National Economic Council meeting. He also warned that such economic policy

could not address the country’s economic woes. Suswam, who spoke with journalists shortly after leading political leaders from his state on a courtesy visit to members of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja yesterday, said like most Nigerians, he too was also confused

over the benefits of the CBN’s restructuring programme. He said: “Economically, I do not support that. I am not an economist; I do not know what informed that. But quite frankly, that means Nigeria’s Naira will be devalued. I don’t know how it will address the economic issues that are confronting us by printing the

N5,000 note. But I said I am not an economist and so I do not know the nuisances of printing N5,000 note. “If we are saying that we will present a cashless society and in the same vein we are printing N5,000 note that can make it possible for somebody to carry N10m in his pocket, I am a bit confused about that. But I expect

that the issues would have been addressed at the National Economic Council meeting, we never discussed it at any point in time and so I am as confused as the man in the street.” Speaking on the controversies surrounding the state police, the governor also distanced himself from the decision of the Nigerian Governors Forum.

FUT, Minna: Host community threatens war over VC’s appointment

Many Nigerian languages face extinction –Institute JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

risis may soon erupt between the Federal University of Technology, FUT, Minna, and its host community over the appointment of a new vice-chancellor for the institution. The representatives of the host community have threatened a showdown with the university, if the Governing Council failed to install one of their own as the new VC, at the expiration of the term of the incumbent in November. They called on the FUT Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mohammad Audu, to immediately proceed on a sabbatical leave to ensure justice and level playing ground for those aspiring for the position. The leader of the representatives, Alhaji Usman Nagogo, said at a media briefing in Minna yesterday that the immediate past VC, Prof. Tukur Sa’ad, and Audu came from other states of the federation and as such did not really understand the host community. Since the inception of the university 30 years ago, the institution has had five vicechancellors while only two of them were from Niger State. “This must not be allowed to be repeated for the third time. Let the injustices done to us be reversed and let a Nigerlite be considered for the post of Vice-Chancellor,” the leader of the community said. Nagogo explained that a situation where members of the host community were forced to take to the streets to demand their right from the university would neither be in the interest of the management nor the Governing Council.

Suswam said he was opposed to state policing as it would be abused by the state governors. He said: “Right from the beginning, I am totally opposed to state police. It is a position I took from day one. If you ask any governor, he knows that I am the only person who has been opposed to state police by giving reasons.”

Delegates of Labour Party on a queue during the party’s primaries for Plateau North Senatorial District by-election in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Unpaid salaries: Give account of Benue finances, CNPP tells gov HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

he Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, has expressed fear over the inability of the Benue State Government to pay workers’ salaries and clear debts owed contractors handling projects in the state. It also called on Governor Gabriel Suswam to explain what happened to the money accruing to the state. The state CNPP Chair-

man, Mr. Baba Agan, who addressed journalists in Makurdi yesterday, frowned at the situation, saying the workers were facing financial predicaments as many of them could not afford three square meals and could not pay their house rents. He said: “We are witnesses to what is now happening in Benue State; workers are being owed backlog of unpaid salaries in the various ministries and parastatals, no new projects are being

executed. Even the ongoing projects are not being financed. “Projects have been abandoned across the state because contractors are not being paid as at when due and the state is now in limbo without any form of meaningful economic or developmental activity. “The truth is that economic activities in the state are gradually grinding to a halt and the people are suffering, yet all stakeholders are pretending that all is well

with our state, when in actual sense nothing is working anymore. “Why we are calling on the state government to give account of what has happened to all the revenues that have been accruing to the state in the last five months; we demand an explanation.” Agan also said that despite the economic crunch, top government functionaries had continued to make foreign trips while the civil servants walloped in abject poverty.

Northern youths destroying their future –CP JAMES ABRAHAM AND AZA MSUE

he Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Diipo Ayeni, yesterday cautioned northern youths against destroying their future through violence. Ayeni gave the warning while hosting officials of the National Association of Northern Youths for Advancement of Peace, Harmony and Development in his office in Jos, the state capital.

The association led by its National President, Comrade Melvin Eje James, was in the commissioner’s office to seek partnership with the police on a proposed youth’s advocacy programme in the state. But the commissioner said: “I have organised a series of peace advocacy programmes among the youth in the state and I will not hesitate to support and collaborate with any organisation that has the capacity to talk to the youth. “This is because from the way the youth in the state and other states in the

North are going, I fear they are the ones destroying their own future by allowing themselves to be used for violence. “It is true that the group of youth involve in violence in the northern region are those between age 30 and below, there is the need to identify this age group and talk to them. They need to be told that they are destroying their own future.” Earlier, James had said: “The association, which draws its membership from the 19 northern states, was initiated in response to the rising violence in the

region.” Meanwhile, the new Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State, Mr. Olufemi Adenaike, has started peace talks with community and traditional leaders across the 46 police divisions to tackle security challenges in the state. During his familiarisation tour and meeting with leaders of the communities and other security stakeholders at Kawo police divisional headquarters yesterday, Adenaike said his mission was to ensure peace and security in the state.

nless something is urgently done, many indigenous Nigerian languages, which are endangered daily, will become extinct in the next three decades. The Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO, Dr. Barclays Avakoroma, said this yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme in Katsina State. Avakoroma said the satiation whereby many of Nigerian languages were becoming extinct was not acceptable to NICO, hence the need to embark on an intensive language programme by the institute. He said the programme would, in the long run, address what he described as the “disheartening situation concerning the status of languages” in the country. Avakoroma disclosed that the programme was designed to create awareness on the need to speak and create a sense of pride in “our indigenous languages thereby fostering national pride and identity”. The programme, according to him, will encourage the need to preserve the indigenous languages and promote Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy objectives. He added that the institute, as part of preserving and creating awareness on local languages, was organising a quiz and essay competition as well as an international secondary school debate on indigenous languages. Avakoroma, however, appealed to Nigerians to support the language revitalisation effort, with a call on government at all levels to “encourage use of indigenous languages in legislative business, education and the media”.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Yoruba in search of true identity amidst marginalisation

14&15

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Politics

Plot against me, a conspiracy cy de against the people – Gemade

N5,000 note’ll further impoverish Nigerians – CNPP

• Says ‘It’s a plot to sabotage 2015 elections’ FELIX NWANERI

he Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has slammed the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the Federal Government’s Economic Management Team for their insistence on introducing the N5,000 note despite nationwide condemnation and rejection

of the plan that is a covert attempt to further devalue the naira. CNPP said the planned denomination has all the makings of a plot to sabotage Nigeria for class interest ahead of the 2015 elections since it could serve the double purpose of using inflation to impoverish the populace while at the same time providing an easy means to move slush money around. A statement issued by

the Secretary General of the conference, Chief Willy Ezugwu, yesterday, said it is now obvious that the present government has decided to further worsen an already inflationary trend as part of its strategy to keep Nigerians impoverished by issuing a denomination that will take looting of public funds to a new high. He said: “The decision of the CBN, as endorsed by the so-called Economic Team, flies in the face of

reason, especially when all the explanations and analyses that these clueless officials have so far given are reminiscent of the sing-song they engaged in January during the illconceived removal of fuel subsidy. The assurances given at that time turned out to be false as Nigerians feared because today we all know that the quality of life has worsened since the partial removal of subsidy while most of the supposed

palliative buses have vanished into thin air.” The group further said previous experiences have shown that any denomination that is issued as coins is usually rejected thereby leading to its extinction, in addition to the fact that goods are no longer sold for such amount, wondering why earlier plan to redenominate the naira is giving way for the N5,000 note. “The CBN under Prof. Chukwuma Soludo once proposed a redenomination of the naira by dropping off two decimal places; Ghana did the same and followed with sound monetary and fiscal policies that have led to a measure of stability.

Soludo’s plan was put on hold and the heavens did not fall, so that leaves us to wonder why the cabal gives the impression that the nation will fail if the N5,000 is not issued. The fact that a contract for the printing of new notes has already been crassly awarded does not mean that there are no exit clauses that allows Nigeria to call it off. CNPP urged the Senate and House of Representatives to do more than they did with the fuel subsidy removal by ensuring that the CBN and the executive as typified by the Economic Team are not allow to railroad the country into economic crisis.

Kogi: Lawmaker cautions against change in leadership

A The Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and Zhu Yanfeng of the Chinese government during the opening session of the 2nd Global Economic Leaders’ Summit in Changchu, Jilin Povince of China, yesterday.

Involve legislators in economic policies, Tambuwal tells govt FELIX NWANERI

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday advocated the involvement of parliamentarians in determining the kind of economic policies their countries implement, saying such measure will bolster global economic growth and defend weaker nations against exploitative tendencies. Delivering a paper at the opening of the second Global Economic Leaders’ Summit in Changchu, China, Tambuwal said it is not enough for governments, especially those of developing nations and their donor counterparts to drive indi-

vidual countries’ national development strategy without active involvement of national parliaments. He said doing so will limit the ability of the lawmakers to improve the effectiveness of these policies to reflect the needs of their citizens. A statement issued by the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam, quoted him as saying that recent experiences in both Africa and Europe have shown that many parliaments are increasingly reluctant to pass laws that will permit their governments to honour international obligations because they feel they will harm their people.

He said: “It goes without saying that if parliaments are carried along throughout the initial process of negotiations, they will be more willing to support majority of the decisions. It is therefore appropriate that the Global Economic Leaders’ Summit, in trying to explore the best industrial development strategies for different countries and regions, has decided to examine the role of parliaments in global economy.” The Global Economic Leaders’ Summit (GELS), which opened in the Chinese city of Changchun, aims to integrate international economic resources and strengthen international economic cooperation. Participants at the

summit are global industry and business leaders. The summit also attracts influential figures in the fields of politics, economics and science.

member of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Mr. Henry Ojuola, (ACNYagba East) yesterday warned that current agitation for a change in the leadership of the House was unnecessary. Speaking to newsmen in Lokoja, Ojuola noted that the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, and other principal officers had discharged their duties well. Ojuola expressed worry over “the rush to change the leadership of the house,’’ after barely one year in office, blaming the move on external forces.

He called on his colleagues to borrow a leaf from the House of Representatives, which he said, had been enjoying stability after choosing its leaders. The ACN member noted that the House was able to pass several bills into law because of the support the Speaker was enjoying. He urged Bello to remain focused in providing good leadership for the house and advised those canvassing a change in the leadership to desist and allow the House to continue to meet the expectations of the electorate in the state.

PDP faults Aregbesola’s calisthenics OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

he recent calisthenics display organised and sponsored by the Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has been described as an unnecessary distraction that would not in any way change the people’s perception of the injustice and poor administration engendered by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)-led

administration in the state. This was the position of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which challenged Aregbesola to tell the people of the state how much of the scarce resources of the state were spent on hosting the “cosmetic show.” Speaking through its Director of Media and Strategy, Diran Odeyemi, the PDP in a press statement in Osogbo yesterday said: “The calisthenics show, which

was celebrated by the ACN government was used by Aregbesola to siphon money which is not different from the N651 million earlier spent on fireworks and another N4.7billion spent on decoration in December.” The party stated that the event would have made more sense if the importance attached to the calisthenics is also directed towards the education of the 800 students selected for the cosmetic show.

Politics

August 30 witnessed the gathering of Yoruba sons and daughters both at home and in the Disapora to brainstorm on how the peace and unity of Nigeria can be preserved while at the same time addressing the marginalisation of the race in the scheme of things at the centre. KEMI OLAITAN writes on the development.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

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Yoruba in search of true

t the inception of the present democratic experiment in 1999, the South-West, which produced the President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was seen more or less as a frontrunner to the other zones in the country. But 13 years down the line, the story had changed for the worse for the region, with its people now crying over alleged marginalisation. In crying out as well as making case for a way out not only for the region but also the country as an entity, prominent groups in the region have at one time or the other organised fora at which sons and daughters of the region came together to deliberate. It was towards this that all roads, last Thursday, again led to the Parliament Building in Ibadan, the political headquarters of the entire race, as prominent Yoruba sons and daughters both at home and in the diaspora converged for the Yoruba Assembly 2012; a forum designed to brainstorm on continuous search by Nigerians for lasting peace and stability. Indeed, few hours to the commencement of the forum scheduled for 10a.m., one needed not to be told that the sons and daughters of Oduduwa from Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti, Lagos, Kwara, Kogi states as well as their Itsekiri kith and kin of Delta State were more than committed to the reign of unity and oneness among the entire people of Nigeria, given the large turnout of delegates. By 10.30a.m., one can conveniently say that most of the movers and shakers in the South-West political, economic and social spheres including governors, traditional rulers and prominent politicians were on ground for the business of the day with the Convener of the Assembly and former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. General Alani Akinrinade (rtd), welcoming his Yoruba kinsmen to the venue of the crucial meeting with emphasis that the forum was a baby of necessity. The former NADECO chieftain, while stating the reasons behind convening the meeting said: “I am Alani Akinrinade, a Yoruba and Nigerian patriot. I believe in the unity of our federation and have spent most of my adult life lending credence to that assertion. I have, after wide consultations with elders and leaders in Yorubaland, called this family meeting to reflect on how to make Nigeria conducive to the development of Yoruba civilisation. Today’s meeting is not to do or say anything that will detract from the unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is intended to allow us, as Yoruba sons and daughters all over the federation, to rob minds on the way out of the country’s crippling underdevelopment with emphasis on the parlous state of affairs in the South-West.” Akinrinade wasted no time in going down memory lane on the need for the Yo-

A cross section of traditional rulers at the event.

ruba as well as other Nigerians, to look for possible ways of returning Nigeria to its normal track as it was between 1952 and 1962, during the regional system when each of the regions in the country had the right to develop at its own pace which eventually resulted into monumental development in those regions. He said: “At independence in 1960, the Federal Government was taking loans of substantial amounts from the government of Western Nigeria. Unfortunately, today, the truth is that apart from Lagos State, our region has become a mendicant region that waits for limited droppings from the table of the Federal Government in Abuja. A distant Federal Government has become an overlord that has unnecessarily attracted itself the charges of marginalisation from the constituent nationalities. “It is the structural problems thrown up against our security, general well-being and the future of our children that motivated me to convene this family meeting. If some parts of Nigeria or even the rest of Nigeria have no problem with the current constitution and political structure, and I am sure they do, that should not stop us from raising issues with a system that daily traumatises, impoverishes and completely degrades our people. We must not continue to look askance, at a political constitution which continues to deny us our place in the sun as it completely rubbishes our freedom to develop at our own usual pace as eloquently demonstrated in the days of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his team, when each region had the authority and the freedom to grow as it wished. I believe this should not be a matter that divides the country or even the region into warring groups. It is ordinarily, a contestation that should be civil and peaceful, being basically constitutional which can therefore be approached in the most respectful manner amongst the various people making up Nigeria.” Akinrinade emphasised further that

while analysts are still battling with the cause of Nigeria’s underdevelopment close to 60 years after independence, “we are duty bound as a people to come together in a non partisan manner, such as we are doing today, to interrogate the various issues militating against our well-being and together look for a solution. “May I suggest that in place of brick battling and hard line mudslinging pervading the Nigerian atmosphere, giving the impression that it is impossible to sit together and dialogue peacefully, we turn to civility. We should come to terms sooner than later, that science and technology is drifting to the realm of negotiation with death and it may remain only taxation that is not ne-

gotiable. All maters including the unity of Nigeria are negotiable.” He continued: “Today’s family assembly is therefore convened, to think together on how to ensure that our children do not remain unfed, that our roads are safe for our people to move around and for business, that our streets are safe for citizens and residents and that generally, our region does not remain underdeveloped. In other words, we need to examine the structure of the polity together and make recommendations on how to facilitate the overall economic development of the country and the South-West geopolitical zone in particular. We need to brainstorm on how to make sure that the architecture of governance (to bor-

Demands of Yoruba nation The General Assembly is pushing 15 proposals: •A new Nigeria consisting of a Federal Government and six geo-political zones operating federal and regional constitutions respectively. •A single legislative list which will be the Exclusive Legislative List consisting of only 30 items. •The Westminster model of parliamentary government. •Value Added Tax, Sales Tax, Stamp Duties and other taxes – except Customs and Excise Duties, Petroleum Profit Tax and other levies associated with mineral resources – should be levied, collected and retained by the regions and an agreed percentage remitted to the central government on the basis of responsibilities. Petroleum Tax should be levied and collected by the Federal Government while 25 per cent of oil revenue receipt by the Federal Government should be remitted to oil producing regions. •A regional and state police force structure’ •The establishment of a constitutional court with jurisdiction over inter-gov-

ernmental cases and petition from elections to the National Assembly. •That all public officers who currently enjoy absolute immunity be made amendable to court processes on charges bordering on commission of crimes. •An informal role for traditional rulers in the political structure. •The removal of the registration requirement for political parties. In addition, prior to elections, political parties must maintain self-financing status. •The adoption of the open-secret ballot system for voting in elections. •All election petitions must be expeditiously disposed of before the swearingin of the declared winners. •The abrogation of the Land Use Decree. •Constitutional Affirmative Action provisions for the inclusion of women in public affairs, i.e. members of the executive, National Assembly, judiciary, civil service, etc. •An awareness of the role and significance of civil society organisations in the polity as the core of national civic education at all levels.

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

identity amidst marginalisation

L-R: Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, his counterpart from Osun, Rauf Aregbesola and the deputy governor of Ogun State, Segun Adesegun.

row a phrase from Chief Emeka Anyaoku), is designed to strengthen the unity of the country through a constitutional system that favours restoration of regional autonomy that made it possible for our region to create the largest pool of manpower in sub Sahara Africa, half a century ago. “This Assembly has also been called to allow us to help Nigeria optimise the potentials of its cultural diversity and to enhance its unity through a clear headed re-engineering of its observable structural imbalances. We can provide leadership for other regions in the search for the proper structure that can sustain democracy, development, and unity in our diversity.” With the opening speech by the Convener, it was the turn of prominent Yoruba leaders in the six states of the South-West as well as Kwara, Kogi and Delta states and in the Diaspora to share their own thoughts. Many of them did not mince words in analysing reasons why the peace and unity of the country should be jealously guided at this particular period in the history of Nigeria, hence the need to critically and carefully consider issues associated with the clamoured for regional system (federalism), especially that of establishment of state police. Contributors openly expressed mixed feelings on the ways they consider better to finding lasting solutions to the mirage of unresolved issues in the land, particularly the issue of the marginalisation and underdevelopment of the Yoruba race. The immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Oladimeji Bankole, in his contribution, said the establishment of state police in Nigeria at this particular period will surely be a major disservice and constitute great dangers to the nation’s growing democracy, considering the fact that it will be abused and mismanaged by majority of the state governors to achieve their selfish political ambitions. Bankole emphasised that the fact that state police was once introduced into the nation’s polity and succeeded then should not be used as the major yardstick upon which the ongoing clamour for its establishment should be based upon. Pointing

A member of the Organising Committee, Mr. Kunle Famoriyo; Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) and Convener, Lt.-Gen. Akinrinade.

out that with the present insecurity problem facing Nigeria, there was no basis for the creation of state police so as not to add more to the problem already on ground. His words: “They (the governors) cannot be trusted with such a sensitive security issue such as the creation of state police. It is glaring that the present crop of politicians in the country would without wasting little or no time turn the state police to an object to harass their political opponents thereby threatening the nation’s democracy. We must still recall in recent time past, there was a state governor, who despite not having a state police used the present police structure to close down the state House of Assembly for more than one year. And despite the intervention of prominent Nigerians, including Prof. Wole Soyinka, he refused to bulge. With this sort of a thing, where do we go with state police?” But the governors of the South-West states, in their position presented by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, allayed the fears of the antagonists of the creation of state police, on the ground that there would be constitutional provisions that would guide against its abuse. He pointed out that as long as there were laws guiding the operations of state police, those who have expressed their opposition to it should be assured that it would not be subjected to

abuse. The governors lamented the lack of the much-needed unity among the Yoruba race, resulting in the clear marginalisation of the race and called on all to be more aggressive in the fight against marginalisation and the need to be more united. He said: “The problem we are facing is the uncooperative attitude among the Yoruba, we must all fight for the course of the Yoruba. “We need to be more aggressive. The late sage, Chief Awolowo was so bold and courageous in his fight against marginalisation and in ensuring the progress and development of the Yoruba nation. It is unfortunate that we Yoruba, who used to be preoccupied with the progress of our race, have now deviated. What we are more concerned about nowadays is acquisition of wealth and material things. This is why we have found ourselves in the present situation. The course of the Yoruba should not be politicised. We may not all be in the same political party, but our goals and aspirations should be for the progress and development of the race. The issue is majority in unity. If we are all united, things will definitely change for the better for us in Yorubaland.” At the end of the meeting, a 14-point communiqué was issued which clearly

identified major issues militating against the growth and development of Nigeria, the way out and the demands of the Yoruba Assembly. Attributing the failure of the Nigerian federation to meet the challenges of building a modern multi-ethnic democratic state to factors such as absence of a negotiated constitution by citizens, existence of a constitution that erodes the pre-military federal character of the Nigerian state, political and bureaucratic corruption as well as the menace of religious and cultural intolerance, the assembly said in the communiqué: “In particular, the 1999 Constitution on the basis of which the country is governed today is seen as a source of tension between federating units, the constitution imposes a unitary model of government on a country with diverse cultural and religious orientations and values, thereby putting most of the powers and resources to develop the federation in the hands of government at the centre, the farthest government from the citizenry.” The communique further read: “On the basis of the evidence, the failure of governance in the country has grown with the transfer of powers from the federating units to the central government. We affirm the urgency to restructure the polity at a national conference of federating units chosen by citizens strictly for such purpose, which will produce a new constitution to be ratified through a national referendum. Agreed that the process of restructuring should start with the federating units, which must in their own space first discuss and determine the type of relationship they want between their region and the central government and relationship between states and the region in which they are located. For us, the Yoruba, the country Nigeria is a forced marriage of diverse ethno national groups, struggling to find form and shape and limiting promises and possibilities. “The best way to sustain unity in a culturally diverse polity and society is to organise the politics and economy of such country on the basis of a federal system of governance. Nigeria’s cultural diversity is too pronounced for the political elite to pretend that a unitary constitution can be substituted for a federal constitution that is generally designed to respond to diversity and optimise the benefits of diversity for peace and development.” With the presentations, deliberations, views, submissions and even the communiqué produced at the end of the one-day forum, it will not be out of place to affirm that Nigerians, including the Yoruba, as fully represented at the Assembly, are well committed into ensuring and sustaining the peace and unity of the entity called Nigeria and are as such determined to work together with others and even be in the lead, while realising that its much-desired restructuring, being the only antidote for the betterment of the country and its people, becomes a reality. However, political analysts and stakeholders are on the lookout for the next step after the Ibadan Assembly. Will it galvanise a structural change in the polity or will it remain a jamboree for relevance-seeking individuals?

Politics

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘PDP poised to take over Lagos in 2015’ We agree that the ACN’s inconsistencies are evidence of the fact that they talk rather than work. The Lagos PDP has however challenged the party to lay public its indices for asserting Lagos as working when even the wife of Governor Fayemi admits that Lagos State is the most expensive state in the federation. We pay exorbitant taxes with no commensurate development and get huge allocations with nothing to show for it, but we advise Governor Fashola to stay clear of sycophants if he must succeed at all.

Barrister Taofik Gani is the Publicity Secretary of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU, he speaks on the inadequacies of the Lagos State government and the PDP’s plan to govern Lagos in 2015. Excerpts: Since 1999, the fortunes of the PDP in election have been dwindling in Lagos State. How is the party strategising towards 2015? By the special grace of God, come 2015, Lagosians will support the PDP. They will give us their votes and push out the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government from the Government House. In fact, they should just start packing by now. We are going to put in our best .We are not going to reveal our strategy to the public. I tell you, like we promised during the local government election and which we fulfilled considering the numbers of local council and councillorship seats we won. We are going to tell Lagosians the reasons why they should vote PDP for governorship election in 2015. I am already strategising on how to keep up my constructive criticism of ACN’s Fashola administration. We don’t just criticise, we have solutions to the problems. And by the special grace of God come 2015, we will dedicate the governorship victory to our leader Chief Bode George George has been accused in some quarters of installing non-performers as members of the state executive council, how true is this? That is pure blackmail. George, being the leader of the party, naturally fields qualified and credible candidates. So, why should we blame him if the individuals refused to perform? He gave them opportunity but they were not at par and as such when the time came to change guards, they were replaced accordingly. If we are blaming him,

Gani

that means we may be blaming God too for creating mankind, giving us all the choices of being faithful to Him or otherwise. The choices we make are products of our freewill. He should be commended. He is indeed a leader who means well for the party and its teeming members, hence, the inefficiency of others should not rub off his hard work. Recently, the ACN declared that Fashola is the only performing governor in Nigeria. What in your opinion is the implication of this remark? It simply means that Rauf Aregbesola, Kayode Fayemi, Abiola Ajimobi, Ibikunle Amosun and Adams Oshiomole have not performed at all. Fashola is the only performing governor because they dip their hands into the purse of the Lagos State government for jamborees and propaganda.

There are allegations that the Lagos State government wants to privatise the state-owned university. Do you think this is possible? That allegation is circumstantial. The report can be proven circumstantially in the sense that if you go and read recent publications in the papers you will find out that the Lagos State University Staff school was put up for sale. They requested for bidding. Even if it is a public private partnership thing, the fact that private partners come on board, that means that the pupils will be at the mercies of the new managers. So if the school within Lagos State University is being advertised coupled with the astronomical increase of tuition fees among others, then that could better be strong indications that they have such plans in the offing. What do you think should be done to give the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) a human face? We reiterate again that the LASTMA as presently organised is not professional to manage traffic without causing accidents in Lagos State. This is so because the outfit is given revenue target to meet up and also because 85 per cent of its officers are persons who were hurriedly recruited as compensation for their support to the ACN. If you give a man a target that is almost impossible, then you put him under pressure and consequently you should take blame for his mistakes. Governor Fashola is thus advised to suspend the activities of LASTMA pending the proper overhaul of the agency to meet international standards.

Plot against me, a conspiracy against the people – Gemade Those who go out and make unguarded statements like this are detractors who want to destroy the system and I believe nobody will allow them to do so and they should be totally disregarded and ignored.

Engr. Barnabas Gemade, a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) represents Benue North East in the Senate. In this interview with HENRY IYORKASE, he speaks on the plot against him ahead of the 2015 election. Excerpts: Do you intend to go for a second term after four years at the National Assembly as a senator? Under normal circumstances, I would say that it is inappropriate to begin to talk about elections of 2015 because one is only one year into the tenure that began in 2011. And I would have not commented on the happenings in Katsina-Ala which led to someone speaking on behalf of his committee of friends, urging the governor to contest the 2015 Senate seat for Benue North East Senatorial Zone, but because we are all politicians and events of this nature demand a response. I consider this development as a conspiracy against the people. Standing for an election is a personal decision of individuals who wish to stand elections. And history has it very clear that recruiting people to stand election has always been a total failure. Example abound where people drafted for such business never won such elections. It is therefore laughable for anyone at this time to get up and begin to draft someone into an election which he himself has not spoken about. Be that as it may, I also believe that it is a mischief perpetrated by someone who is always having tricks to do some things. As for me, I consider the elders of Zone A in many respects as very reasonable people of integrity. And from that stand point, and also from

Are you saying you are not giving the 2015 election a thought because of the time? There is nobody involved in this matter that is starting a new journey. We are already in a political journey. I am already a senator and Gabriel Suswam is already a governor. We are in the political journey and at the appropriate time when decision of which step to take and which direction to follow, it will be well made clear. We are not talking about somebody who is now coming in for the first time to come and register in this political party.

Gemade

the investigations I made, the majority of the genuine elders of Benue North East Senatorial Zone that were assembled in that event had no idea that such an agenda was in the offing and that is why I called it a total mischief. And if they did not know about such a subject, how did it come about and why would anybody wish to make a statement about such an event at the time when both myself and Governor Gabriel Suswam are just beginning the second year of the tenure of the positions that we hold now? As seasoned politicians and experienced men in office, we all know that such matters cannot just be spoken about irresponsibly or carelessly. These are issues that must first be tabled in caucus and properly discussed so that the party hierarchy and the party solidarity are preserved.

The man that made the statement is said to be your inlaw and is always in the forefront of bringing up issues like this. What is the problem between the two of you? As a disciplined person, I have always been careful in commenting on actions of individuals especially when they are related to me. But it has come to a point where I can no longer just shy away from questions like this. Atoza is a man of very strange behaviour and character whose general desire is to pursue evil agenda and that is what I have come to know of him after almost 40 years of marriage to my sister. His anger with me dates back to1999 when he wanted to be elected for the House of Representatives but Suswam secured the party’s ticket for Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal constituency. All this while, he has not been in good terms with the governor until now that he is coming out to tell Suswam to take the Senate seat from me. Atoza should stop deceiving people.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Thursday, September 6, 2012

The North and national power equation THE NORTH THAT IS EXISTENTIAL HUMANISM

FRY

NDUBUISI fryndubuisi@nationalmirroronline.net (08023016709 SMS only)

former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawan Kaita and a chieftain of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) Alhaji Bashir Tofa, were recently quoted as advising Ohanaze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural political group, to forget 2015 presidency, saying that nursing such ambition is ‘mere wishful thinking”. Alhaji Kaita maintained that the North would not allow itself to be shortchanged again after what happened in 2011. There have been lots of claims and counter claims on the 2015 presidential battle. There have been claims in a section of the national media that the South East has already endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for second term. Debunking this, Ohanaze has stated that its support for Jonathan presidency in 2011 was predicated on his promise that he would have only a single term of four years. The secretary general of the apex Igbo group, Chief Nduka Eya, stated that the Igbo supported

SO ANXIOUS TO GRAB POWER IN

2015 HAS

CUMULATIVELY RULED THE COUNTRY FOR

37 YEARS

Jonathan in 2011 knowing full well that he was the only person from the South South aspiring for the national number one political seat. President Jonathan, for the umpteenth time, has said that he does not want to be drawn into the argument of what 2015 portends for him as his pre-occupation now is his transformation agenda. In the face of caustic criticism of his administration’s lackluster performance, politics seems to be the least in his agenda now. Be that as it may, it is critical for the nation to start getting ready, security wise, in view of the prediction that the 2015 elections would be bloody. It is remarkable that Col. Sambo Dasulki (Rtd), the National Security Adviser, hinted on this at the opening of a workshop on security challenges in elections management, organized by INEC in collaboration with Frederick Ebert-Stiftung Foundation. One could recall that the post 2011 elec-

tions violence consumed innocent lives, including corpers on national service. Power struggle at the centre is at the root of all the troubles in Nigeria. The North has enjoyed power so much that it has come to see it as its birth right. Anytime the zone is out of power, it begins to act like a fish out of water. That is understandable, but it also important the region should become more realistic and cultivate a sense of fairness in its quest for power. In the political history of Nigeria, President Jonathan is the first South South politician to occupy this coveted political office. The Igbo of the South East, in the real sense of it, had only a brief stint as the nation’s leader when Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe AguiyiIronsi was military head of state after the collapse of the First Republic on January 15, 1966. The ill-fated regime lasted only about six months before it was sacked northern soldiers. The Yoruba of the South West have a different interest than the struggle for centre’s power, at least for now. What they have consistently called for is decentralization of centre’s power to diminish the deadly struggle for power at that level. That was the thrust of the argument at the recently concluded conference of Yoruba National Assembly. The high point of the communiqué issued after the conference is the imperative for the restructuring of

the country, a sin qua non for sustainable development and unity, arguing that overconcentration of resources at the centre has become counterproductive. “The best way to sustain unity in a culturally diverse polity and society is to organize the politics and economy of such a country on the basis of a federal system of government”, was how the issue was put in perspective by Yoruba National Assembly. This is just the gospel truth, but unfortunately there has been a strong resistance to decentralization of centre’s power. Instructively, the North that is so anxious to grab power in 2015 has cumulatively ruled the country for 37 years, most of the time under military dictatorship. The problem of a defederalised Nigeria was caused by the military. The North thus has no reason to be so feverish about getting back to power in 2015. It is quite in order for good candidates from the North, just like good candidates from other regions of the country, to aspire to the highest political office in the land, but there should not be any desperation about it. Such do or die attitude to power is responsible for political violence in Nigeria. Ultimately, the elixir to the mad struggle for control of the nation’s centre is true federalism. Our immediate challenge now should be how to go about it. Prof. Ndubuisi, an attorney at Law, is of the Dept of Philosophy, UNILAG

On the sorry plight of physically-challenged people

he carried a heavy load of assorted junks on her unshaven head. Her attire was a dazzling spectacle of colour riot. She donned a buba top of ankara over an old woolen skirt that was held in place by an improvised “belt” of rope procured from ancient forest. The entire medley combination was not only torn in many places, but also overlaid with dirty smelly rags. With a white canvass shoe in one leg and a brown rubber slipper in another, Ajoke (not real name) quickened her zig zag pace on the tarmac of the major expressway as she hummed some incoherent songs to herself with unfathomable happiness. She was in a hurry in a desperate bid to arrive at her destination on time – A destination that is, of course, nowhere! Ajoke is a mentally challenged person. She is one of those persons our callous societies have abandoned to their fate; those that have been sentenced, through no fault of theirs, to a boring, stressful, and terrible existence of eternal aimless street roaming till death calls. A proverb in local parlance summarised the attitude of our people to this category of humanity: Were dun wo, ko see bi l’omo! Meaning, it is a fairly entertaining pastime to watch a madman and his antics on the street but to have such being as a child is a depressing calamity. What an insensitive attitude! These are human beings like us suffering from vicissitudes that no one is really immune to, but to majority of the people, they are just objects of laughter, taunts and amusement. Sadistic callousness apart, we need to

combat a lot of ignorance on this subject too. Many people still believe that mental diseases are afflictions of the gods through demonic possessions rather than just a neurological disorder. Thus, some people think helping mad people would constitute an affront to an incensed deity, who is meting out just punishment to erring mortals. Well, it diminishes our common humanity to have mad men and women prowl our roads naked or in subhuman conditions in the 21st century. It speaks volume of the kind of leaders we have in Nigeria. Most of our leaders see these people and shrugged with callous indifference. Ajoke is a human being like you and me, and there is no reason why her condition should be permanent if given adequate medical treatment. She can still contribute her quota to national development. But cured or not, can’t these people be taken into asylums to be tended and treated like human beings? An infinitesimal fraction of the public money stolen by our politicians could build hundreds of befitting and well equipped asylums. Any nation that allows fellow compatriots, nay any human being, to be roaming naked on its street on account of mental illness, is not civilised. Let us shift the attention to other category of people – the physically challenged. There are some parts of the world where those without hands or legs, paraplegic, the dwarfs, the visually impaired etc still live life to maximum, almost to the same degree with their more fortunate counterparts. But in Nigeria if you are unfortunate to be afflicted with any such handicap, it is like

MANY PEOPLE STILL BELIEVE THAT MENTAL DISEASES ARE AFFLICTIONS

KAYODE

KETEFE

OF GODS THROUGH DEMONIC POSSESSIONS

kketefe@nationalmirroronline.net 08032147720 (SMS only)

RATHER THAN JUST A NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER your entire life has collapsed! In this part of the world, the moment a person becomes physically disabled in whatever form, the next expectation from the society is for the person to become a beggar! Thus all our major cities boast of thousands of beggars. Many of these socalled beggars are very mentally sound and intelligent people who only need minimum intervention in form of empowerment to become productive members of the society. But in a country where even non-challenged educated young people are seen as a burden and neglected by the government, what do you expect the plight of the challenged people to be? On the institutional level, how many companies and establishment have facilities that are conducive and adapted for physically-challenged persons? In some other countries there are structures all over the places that address the special needs of the challenged peoples. This has little to do with a country being

developed or otherwise, it is just a question of recognition of the needs to cater for others, and its concomitant strategic planning and policy mainstreaming. Unfortunately, currently there are incorporations of programmes for persons with disabilities in virtually all the Federal Government’s planning and projections like Transformation Agenda, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) or Vision 20:20:20. The ongoing Paralympic Games in London have once again afforded an enlightening insight that illustrates the rich goldmine we have continually allowed to lie fallow by neglecting our physically challenged humanity. This shows that there is nothing our so-called challenged people cannot do if properly motivated and empowered by the government Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.netmirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Editorial

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, OFR PUBLISHER

STEVE AYORINDE

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YELE AKINROLABU

ED OPERATIONS

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LANRE OYETADE

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KAYODE BALOGUN JNR

SM, STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

FRANK OBOH

HEAD, GRAPHICS

Stripping convicts of National Honours R

eports credited to The Presidency lately indicated that President Goodluck Jonathan has made moves to withdraw National Honours bestowed on some eminent Nigerians convicted or indicted for criminal acts. Jonathan was said to have already given directives to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, to compile the names of the affected persons for necessary action. We recall that on July 19, the House of Representatives passed a resolution asking the president to strip some former bank chief executives tried or convicted for their roles in the 2009 banks’ collapse of the honour done them by the Federal Government. “…all former bank executives who are recipients of National Honours and who are currently being prosecuted for crimes and unethical practices which led to the collapse of their banks (should) be stripped of their National Honours… in line with Section 7 of the National Honours Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) and international norms… The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission/Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission and

the courts should hasten their prosecution to serve as deterrent and to help restore investors’ confidence in the(capital) market”, the report of the House Committee on Capital Markets Collapse as endorsed by the Reps stated. By the same token, three main opposition political parties, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) had similarly challenged the Jonathan administration to demonstrate its commitment to its anti-corruption campaign by withdrawing the National Honours from all discredited beneficiaries. Should the Presidency wield the big stick as is being clamoured for, those likely to be affected would include such ex bank chief executives as Cecilia Ibru (Oceanic Bank); Erastus Akingbola (Intercontinental Bank MD) and Barth Ebong (Union Bank). Likewise one time Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strong man, Bode George, who was jailed in 2009 for improprieties committed while he held court as the Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); and a former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, found guilty of money

IT IS DOUBLE TRAGEDY FOR THE COUNTRY; WHEN CITIZENS WHO

SQUANDERED PUBLIC TRUST ARE ALLOWED TO REMORSELESSLY PARADE THE STREETS WITH THE NATION’S FOREMOST MEDALS THEY SCARCELY DESERVE laundering in 2005, among others. The National Honours range from Order of the Niger (OON), which represents the least, to Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), which is the highest. We support the argument of the opposition that the FG’s inability to tame festering corruption in the land may not be unconnected with the link between huge election funds received from some of the discredited National Honour beneficiaries. The honour done them, therefore, could represent more of compensation for loyalty and financial support than merit. And like the National

Publicity Secretary of the CPC, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin canvassed, if the country’s Constitution could forbid ex-convicts from holding elective offices, then it seems logical and, indeed, morally justified, too, that such people should forfeit the National Honours conferred on them. National honour should be given to whom it is due. National honours were instituted by the National Honours Act No. 5 of 1964, during the First Republic, to honour Nigerians from all walks of life that rendered special and outstanding services in their various endeavours to the benefit and progress of the country. The Act demands of recipients conducts that would always cast them as role models. Last year alone, about 365 Nigerians benefitted from the national recognition. Morally and constitutionally therefore, convicted beneficiaries ought to cough up what they earned for betraying the country and failing to be beacons of integrity. We think the FG is on the right track. For, it is double tragedy for the country; when citizens who squandered public trust are allowed to remorselessly parade the streets with the nation’s foremost medals they scarcely deserve.

ON THIS DAY September 6, 2009 The ro-ro ferry SuperFerry 9 sank off the Zamboanga Peninsula in the Philippines with 971 persons aboard, all of whom perished except ten that were rescued. SuperFerry 9 was a ferry owned by the Philippines-based carrier, Aboitiz Transport System Corp (ATSC) and operated by their SuperFerry division. About 9am on Sunday September 6, 2009, the ferry travelling from General Santos City sank off the south-west coast of Zamboanga Peninsula.

September 6, 1997 The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales took place in London. Over a million people lined the streets and 2.5 billion people around the world watched the event on television. The public funeral started on September 6, 1997 at 9:08 am in London, when the tenor bell sounded to signal the departure of the cortege from Kensington Palace. The coffin was carried from the palace on a gun carriage. The Union Flag on top of the palace was lowered to half mast.

September 6, 1966 In Cape Town, South Africa, the architect of Apartheid, Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd, was stabbed to death during a parliamentary meeting. Verwoerd (1901 – 1966), commonly identified as H.F. Verwoerd, was the Prime Minister of South Africa from 1958 until his assassination in 1966. He is remembered as the man behind the conception and implementation of apartheid, a system of racial segregation dividing ethnic groups in the country.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Education Today ‘Ogun won’t recruit graduates with grades below Second Class again’

ilyaminu Belllo from Sokoto State is a 300 level student of the Computer Science Department, London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, who left Nigeria about three years ago in search of quality education. According to him, he had applied to the university based on its popularity and acclaimed credibility. He had had other alternatives even within the UK, which, according to him, even required cheaper fees, but he chose to commit about N5 million to enrol into the university, to be on a the safe side. Today, after three years in the system, Bilyaminu, who is also the President of the Association of Nigerian Students at the university, is in search of another university in the UK within the 60-day ultimatum before he is forced out of the country. Yakub Adan is also another Nigerian student in the university. He was in transit to his third year before the UKBA hammered his university. This situation has forced him to apply to Brunel University, another London university, which has insisted that rather than admitting him to his deserved 300 level, he would have to resume to 200 level. The Brunnel University’s decision, according to another Nigerian and Vice President of the London Metropolitan University’s Students’ Union, Bello Lukman, would mean that Yakub would have to cough out another two or three million naira “for an extra year he does not deserve in the first place.” Bello, a Masters student of Finance and Corporate Investment in the university is lucky because his graduation comes up this month and would, therefore, not be affected by the new order. But as a students’ union leader, he believes that an injustice to one is an injustice to all. He has, therefore, urged his colleagues not to give in. Omololu Philips, an undergraduate Law student and Owobiyi Francis, a postgraduate student in International Law are also part of the 400 Nigerian students in need of respite. In a reaction to the development, one of them who preferred anonymity said; “The announcement from the UKBA has left me incredibly stressed and worried. I have had trouble sleeping and don’t know what I should do. I can’t imagine being able to continue my course anywhere else and the thought of losing the thousands of pounds I have paid is extremely worrisome. I really don’t think what the UK Government and the Home Office is doing right now is fair.” Adnan Pavel from Bangladesh is the Vice-President (Media and Campaign) of the university’s students’

VARSITY CRISIS:

400 Nigerian students face deportation from UK

•Seek FG’s intervention

Last week, the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) revoked the sponsor licence of London Metropolitan University, London, leaving the fate of the institution’s 2,600 international students hanging in the balance. Out of this figure, are 400 Nigerians who have just about 60 days left to be absorbed by another university or vacate the UK. MOJEED ALABI reports:

Nigerian Bello Lukman (right) with other students during one of their protests.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE UKBA HAS LEFT ME INCREDIBLY STRESSED AND WORRIED. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE SLEEPING AND DON’T KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO union, who also said the last five days have been awful for him. “I have personally been contacted hundreds of times by worried students, their parents and family, asking what will happen to them. I cancelled my flight back home this week because I’m worried if something happens while I am away I would not be allowed back into the country.” They are the likely victims of the United Kingdom Border Agency’s recent revocation of sponsor’s licence earlier granted the London Metropolitan University to admit international students to study in the institution. UKBA had, in the last few months, beamed its searchlight on some higher institutions in the country, which it al-

leged of running foul of the laws governing admission policies. As a result, the Home Office had issued a 60-day ultimatum to either relocate to other Universities or face forceful eviction. However, the students are challenging this decision, which they described as highly discriminatory and have resolved to engage the UK’s members of parliament to look into the matter to force the agency to retrace its steps. Last Friday, a letter by the university’s students’ union, which is headed by another Nigerian, Ayoola Onifade, was addressed to a parliamentarian, Ms Rushanara Ali, asking her to use her good office to urge the parliament to look into the matter. Similarly, the Nigerian students

have also written to the Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Dalhatu Tafida to wade into the matter and rescue the affected students from the impending ejection from the country. At the home front, when National Mirror contacted the Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Nigerians in the Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, she said her office was awaiting further information before taking necessary steps. Meanwhile, the boarder agency has defended its action by making available the details of the new law which states that; “if it believes that students were actively involved (complicit) in the circumstances which led to the licence being revoked, for example, if the student agreed that the institution would arrange a non-existent course for them so they could come to the UK UKBA will immediately cancel their CONTINUED ON PAGE 24>>

Education Today

Thursday, September 6, 2012

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Holiday coaching: Omoworare’s investment in students

conomists have argued that it is the highly educated that drives a country’s economy and according to Babajide Omoworare, a senator representing Osun East Senatorial District in the upper chamber of Nigeria’s legislative arm, until a large chunk of the Nigerian population is educated, making them available in abundance, he said the country’s economy will continue to remain in shambles. In his words; “The latest Senior Secondary School Examination result released by the West African Examination Council (WAEC), has revealed a slight improvement in the students’ performance chart. This progress report WAEC said could be linked to efforts of some state governments and I am bold to say Osun State must be one of them. “It is therefore part of the efforts to complement what Governor Aregbesola is doing to revamp the education sector in the state that we believe by getting the students meaningfully engaged during this long vacation period would add value to their lives. And having inspected them on one or two occasions I think they have impressed me greatly. Both in terms of attendance and performance in classrooms, reports say they are doing very well,” Omowarere explained. The initiative, which is in partnership with the National Ife Descendants Students’ Association (NIDSA), the umbrella body of students of Ile-Ife origin in different higher institutions across the country, has also in a way got the association’s members engaged during the period. Though it is not a new devel-

To my best

TEACHER M

Determined to make imprints on the sands of time, Senator Babajide Omoworare, representing Osun East Senatorial District in Osun State, has partnered the National Ife Descendants Students’ Association (NIDSA) to organise the ongoing holiday class for secondary school students in the four local government areas of Ile-Ife town. MOJEED ALABI reports the impacts of the initiative on the educational development of the state.

Omoworare addressing the students during his visit

opment as the association had always in the past offered the students such opportunities, this year’s experience is different because the token usually demanded from the participants has now been paid by the senator. According to the association’s President, Waheed Omisakin, the dimension this year’s summer school has taken is very interesting and inspiring. “Do we talk of the massive response of

Mr. Adewusi

former Account Teacher, United High School, Ikorodu, Lagos State

r. Adewusi, it would interest you to know that one of your former students at United High School, Ikorodu, Lagos, Solomon Adebayo Idowu,

Idowu

the students or even the interest expressed by the community towards the exercise? We have never recorded this kind of massive turnout in the history of the summer school and the material support from Senator Omoworare has also been wonderful.” He further expressed his gratitude to the senator for the kind gesture and pledged on behalf of the association that the dream would not be allowed to die off.

whom you taught Account, has described you as his best teacher while he was a student in the school. Idowu was in the school between 1979 and 1984 and was a member of the school’s Literary and Debating Society. He was that student usually singled out for his clean and well ironed uniform, which he said you also used to admire and commend him for. He is now a teacher and currently the Proprietor of Uncle Bayus College in Ikorodu. Below is his message to you: “Mr. Adewusi taught me Account and I can categorically say he was one of the very few teachers, who really impacted on me. Apart from his dedication to work during the school hours, this man would still organise extra mural classes for us without collecting a penny. He would gather interested students together for the lesson and was always ready to offer useful pieces

Addressing the participating students and teachers during one of his visits, Omoworare enjoined them to make good use of the class to improve their knowledge and be of good behaviour during the six weeks duration of the school. He went further to challenge them to perform excellently as such will be duly rewarded and that as the future of the nation, they must take their studies seriously as the

of advice on academic and other issues. Religion was not considered in his relationships and dealings with students. I knew him to be a devoted and true Muslim and I could say whether that was the reason he kept long beards. He always sees as hardworking and brilliant students his favourites. We preferred to confide in him our shortcomings than to any other teacher because of his wise counsel. Today, he is a role model to me and his style of relating with students is what I have adopted to deal with my students and by the grace of God, it is helping me in no small measure. I have come to understand that part of the reasons students do perform poorly in their studies is the unnecessary fear teachers instill in them. Some teachers are not approachable. That was not the likes of Mr. Adewusi. You are free to ask him questions on topics in focus during lessons and he would answer them satisfactorily.

only weapon to face the future challenges. At the end of the six-week exercise, the senator promised to reward the best students in each of the classes. He said, academics, moral values and leadership qualities would be considered for the selection. He also promised a get-together party for all the participants at the end of the exercise as a way of boosting their morale.

Though it is a bit long I saw him, I am sure he is still doing very well. He is from Ikorodu in Lagos and I hope I will be able to check on him one day and ask after his welfare. Before then, it is my prayer that he will reap the fruits of his labour abundantly. May his children receive the blessings of God and may they also excel in their chosen careers. He has sown good seeds and for those who have done such should also expect the favour of the Lord.” If you can read this, then you have a reason to be grateful. Show your appreciation to your best or favourite teacher in this column. Send us a ‘Thank You’ note, including your full names, current status and the years you were taught by your teacher. You can also send us your current picture plus that of your teacher where possible. Write to the Editor, To My best Teacher Column, National Mirror, P.M.B. 10001, Marina Lagos or e-mail: eferaro@yahoo.co.uk

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Education Today

Thursday, September 6, 2012

‘Ogun won’t recruit graduates with grades below Second Class again’ Dr. Tunji Abimbola, Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Education was a senior lecturer at the Lagos State University, Ojo, before he left for the UK in 1990. While in the UK, he worked, among others, with Northbrook Church of England School, London, where he taught Biology. In this interview with TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE, Abimbola, a PhD holder from the University of Ibadan, speaks on the state government’s efforts towards revamping the state’s education sector. Excerpts: What exactly is the requirement for the establishment of a private school in Ogun State? When you talk about private schools, there is a minimum standard requirement for them in terms of the number of classrooms you should have and the number of students in a class. Normally the maximum number is 40 but most private schools have up to fifty students in a classroom. The healthy environment is also important. Many of them have no good structures, no science laboratories, no toilets and no staff rooms, among others. When a school wants to register, it will be given two years to move from its temporary to a permanent site. But some are 10 years old and still operating in temporary sites that are not conducive for learning. Those in that category are not fit to continue to exist. They will have to be shut down. The quality of education in private schools has to be beyond what you see in a public school. We carry out regular inspection of our private schools to know their levels of standard. We can’t focus our attention only on public schools. It is not that government is seeing private schools as a way of making money for the government but rather as partners to complement what government is doing so that at the end of the day, quality assurance is high on the agenda. But most of the public schools don’t also fare better in this regard. What is your reaction? That is true but then that was the condition this administration met on ground when it came on board and the government is practically addressing it. But that shouldn’t be an excuse for private schools that are collecting huge fees to operate in a similar terrible condition. On public schools, I personally visited many of them and I was shocked to see many of them in a state of total disrepair. For instance, I must say that the condition in Ijebu-Ode Grammar School is unbearable. We lack maintenance culture in Nigeria and because of that, we watch and look at government property to spoil completely before we begin to think of rebuilding them anew. So, we are where we are today as a country due to our own doings.

Now what is the government doing to fix these problems? The government is approaching it holistically but by addressing the problems one after the other. The state has about 1,500 primary and 480 secondary schools and almost all of them are in a state of disrepair. Some do not have science laboratory, some do not have good classrooms, some have no decent or no toilets at all and so on. I wonder how a school will be built without toilet facility. There are also some boarding schools where students bath in the open. The problem is a big one but the government has started to, address them, as I had earlier said one after the other. We recently renovated 200 schools in various parts of the state and we are also looking at a way we can address the toilet issue. We have identified the schools with or without toilets to address the problem. We are also working out a modality where wealthy individuals, who are indigenes of the state, can adopt a school, even if it is by providing toilet facilities. During the unified exams which the state conducted for the secondary schools, we saw some students sitting on the floor to write their papers. How will students in such condition perform well in their studies? That is how bad things are in our public schools. So we are gradually putting things in order. Now we have another round of 100 schools penciled down for rehabilitation to start from this September. Similarly on science labs, we find out that to refurbish and provide equipment in each of them will cost government between N2 and N6 million depending on their state and size. If we are to provide a well-equipped lab for each of the 480 schools, the government will not be able to bear the cost. Because of that, we have decided to cluster schools around schools that have structures on ground to develop and equip their science, as well as ICT labs and then get about five or six schools to share them on a rotational basis. The challenge in the education sector is enormous such that if the whole Ogun State budget which is about N200 billion is put into education, it would not solve the problem. We are also looking

Dr. Abimbola

IF YOUR TEACHERS ARE GOOD, THE QUALITY OF YOUR EDUCATION SYSTEM WILL ALSO BE GOOD at a way that corporate organisations will partner the state in the provision of basic facilities in our public schools or make available their facilities for the use of our students in technical colleges. Ogun State is one of three states in the country and only one in the south-West without a board for technical and vocational education and this has hampered the state from having standard technical and vocational education. Now, we are addressing the issue. We want to see our technical schools producing graduates that will become self-employed upon graduation. Currently, one of our technical colleges in IjebuOde has started making furniture for the use of students and teachers. They make tables, chairs and notice boards. We want to promote such initiative among our technical colleges with their students well equipped, trained and retrained, as well as refocused so that they can become a big partner with the government in providing furniture for schools in and outside the state. The whole idea is to spread it across the local government areas in the state. We also want to convert about five existing schools into model colleges. They are big schools with many abandoned projects. We want to complete those projects and give the entire schools a new look. The abandoned projects we won’t touch in those schools are the

ones with legal implication probably a company obtained loan to build them but defaulted in the repayment. But any abandoned project that has to do with either the past administrations or the parent-teacher associations will be completed. This will bring us to the standard we want to build in our state. What does government have in stock for teachers? I am a trained teacher, who also worked in the classroom for over three decades. So, I see teachers as my colleagues. Now the quality of your education system can never exceed the quality of your teachers. If your teachers are good, the quality of your education system will also be good. If your teachers are poor, you can expect poor education system. Quality of schools and that of the students is a function of quality of teaching and learning. So, that is the area the government is looking at. But I am not that happy with the quality of resource persons in this regard. We have seen cases where people who bring proposals to train our teachers have no classroom experience themselves. Many are also not even trained as teachers, yet, they want to train teachers and at a very high fee just because it is the government they are dealing with. It is surprising when you hear our resource persons in the

country quoting N30 to N40 million to train teachers and at the end of the whole exercise, nothing tangible to show for it. So, we have to be very careful on how we spend government money. So, we are trying to rebrand our teachers’ training programmes. We will use both local and foreign experts on this. For instance, the school I worked with while in the UK, one of their teachers, an English teacher and former deputy head of the school is coming this month as a volunteer to train our English teachers. We will also train teachers in other core subjects including Mathematics and Biology. We want to engage foreign experts because we will get value for their training. So, these foreign experts will come to train them and observe them in their classes and then develop a programme that will make the project sustainable. We don’t also want to be recruiting just anybody as teachers but those who will add value to the system. Now, Ogun State will no more employ graduates with a grade below second class lower as teachers. We will also be organising training and retraining programmes for the school administrators. If I have my way, there won’t be automatic promotion of teachers, especially from the classroom to become an administrator. One thing is to be a good teacher; another thing is to be a good administrator. What about their conditions of service? A happy teacher is a good teacher, no doubt. It is on record that they are not being denied their salaries and other benefits so far. But then, government will look at other ways to make them happier so that we can always get the best out of them. For our teachers who are posted to rural areas, especially the riverside communities, where there is no power supply and so on, such teacher should be able to go with a generator set and other things that will make him comfortable. This will inspire many teachers to go to remote communities. So those who are also due for promotion will be promoted as soon as the state has financial wherewithal to accommodate that. What is the latest about the government plan to return mission schools to their original owners? The government is still sorting things out on the matter and will come up with a statement at the appropriate time. We can only tell operators of those schools to exercise more patience, with the government. But then it is only schools that will not jettison standard that will be returned.

Education Today

Thursday, September 6, 2012

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Ogun teachers tasked on syllabus coverage TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

econdary school teachers in Ogun State have been asked to teach strictly according to subjects’ syllabus in or-

der to give students needed leverage for good performance in their examinations. The state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Segun

Odubela stated this when he met with the state’s technical committee in charge of the production of unified syllabus for secondary schools in the state. According to him, it is

necessary for teachers to have a good knowledge of the work expected of them and do them before the students go for examinations. “It is only through this that students’ performance

can be assessed correctly,” Odubela said. While noting that the recently introduced unified examinations for public secondary schools in the state would lead to healthy competition

among students, the commissioner added that the government would soon come up with a statement on whether or not private schools would be included in the unified examinations.

Foundation launches book to preach peace, advocates improved reading culture MOJEED ALABI

T L—R (front row): Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Kabir Mashi; Chairman Board of Trustees, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Dr. Musa Babayo; Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’I; Executive Secretary, TETFund, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood and company representatives at the 2012 Taxpayers’ Forum organised by TETFund in Lagos recently. Photo: Tunbosun Ogundare

OAU Arts faculty holds leadership conference, calls for papers MOJEED ALABI

n its response to the leadership crisis facing Nigeria, the Faculty of Arts of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, in Osun State, has decided to hold an international conference on leadership values and virtues to achieve practicable solutions. According to the organizing committee headed by Dr. David Ògúngbilé of the Department of Religious Studies, leadership, viewed from the local, national, and global perspectives is crucial to the level and rate of development of any community; thus the need for a holistic appraisal of the situation is very crucial at this time. “The problem of

leadership in Nigeria is really endemic and continues to stagnate the nation in several and diverse ways and at different levels of local, national and international engagements. Contemporary leadership poses challenges to economy, democracy, security, and other developmental and social issues in Africa. There is therefore a growing need for scholars in diverse fields of the humanities to assess and re-assess the state and practice of leadership in Nigeria, from the traditional to the modern,” the committee said. The proposed conference, which has the renowned Professor of Law, Akin Oyebode of the University of Lagos as keynote speaker is expected to provide a forum for scholars, administrators,

politicians, and religious practitioners to engage in critical appraisal of leadership from knowledgebased orientations. The organizing committee has called for papers from interested participants in areas of subjects such as; Theoretical and conceptual issues in leadership, traditional authority and leadership, the academia and the intellectual leadership space, leadership, ethnicity and the making of a nation, ethics of leadership in Nigeria, civil society and national leadership, among others. All submissions according to the committee are to be received by September 15, 2012 while authors of accepted abstracts would be informed by September 22.

he African Refugees Foundation (AREF) in conjunction with another non-governmental organisation - Pax Nigeriana, has launched a book on peace studies, conflict resolutions and neighbourhood principles as part of its efforts to contribute to crisis resolution in Nigeria. The book, which is titled: React, Reflect and Save Nigeria, and written by Mr. Ezeoba Okoroafor, is part of the 19th anniversary celebration of the Foundation, which was founded by the late Ambassador Olusegun Olusola as part of the

peace process across the African region. According to the author and founder of Pax Nigeriana, Ezeoba Okoroafor, improved reading culture would enable Nigerians to understand the realities in other parts of the country and would afford them basic knowledge about other people “so that they can follow the path of peace.” ‘’Go to the Eastern part, the youths who are the leaders of tomorrow are not ready to go to school, they are all pursuing money, involving themselves in one business or the other, they have dumped their books for menial jobs and this is not

L-R ; Aremo Taiwo Alimi, former DG NTA, Dimeji Owofemi, CEO Multi Trex foods, Elizabeth AinaScott, Prof Bola Akinterinwa, Engnr Iyke Ejizu and the author, Ezeoba Okoroafor

Interswitch supports education with computer scheme KUNLE A ZEEZ

n integrated payment and transaction processing company, Interswitch, has created an educational programme that exposes secondary school students to computer programming, robot design and construction. The company said the initiative, the Exposure Robotic League, which is

part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) drive, was driven by a passion to help mold a generation of students that would acquire technical specialisation and be ready to compete in the global market place. The Managing Director of Interswitch, Mr. Mitchell Elegbe, in a statement, stated that the decision to support the programme was borne out of the company’s

passion to support educational development and entrepreneurial pursuit, which, he said, was is in line with company’s CSR goals. According to him, “The current educational system in the country places emphasis on memorization of topics taught in order to pass examinations. As such, students forget all they have learnt once the examinations are over and, this does

helping the country to develop,’’ he said. He said education helps to build a total human being “but it is a pity that people are not seeing it in that light as many allocations to local government chairmen are not judiciously expended especially as corruption has taken over everywhere.” Okoroafor said his book speaks about peace in the country and provokes a thought on how to save the country from its present chaos. He also called on Nigerians to do their bits and stop heaping blames on the government adding that all hands must be on deck to move the country forward.

not add any value to the students beyond the attainment of grades.” He said the initiative encourages students to apply classroom knowledge to real world scenarios, thereby ensuring that this knowledge is part of them and can be applied to every area in life. Elegbe stated that supporting the Exposure Robotic League programme, offered the

company an opportunity to give back and help nurture future leaders in their prime, thereby enabling them fulfill their dreams and providing them with an edge to compete globally with their counterparts. According to him, the six-weeks intense summer programme follows the standard by the world-renowned United States-based First Robotics League.

“Therefore, the impact of the our initiative, ranges from critical thinking, problem solving, computer programming, robotic design and construction, applied math and physics, leadership to teamwork, communication, creativity among others. The programme also exposes the students to a series of comprehensive robotics engineering programme,” he said.

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Alma Mater

Thursday, September 6, 2012

‘Government Teachers’ College, Wushishi, impacted greatly on me’

overnment Teachers College, Wushishi, in Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State has produced many Nigerians, who today are successful in their chosen fields. One of such personalities is Prof. Mohammed Yahaya, a former lecturer at the University of Ibadan, former Secretary to the Niger State Government and currently, the Chief of Staﬀ to Governor Babangida Aliyu. PRISCILLA DENNIS writes on his secondary school days’ experience. Mohammed Yahaya was 12 years old when he gained admission into Government Teachers College (GTC), Wushishi, Niger State, where he spent five years from 1975. He was one of the pioneer students of the college after he had completed his primary education a year earlier at Kuchi, near Doko in Lavun Local Government Area of the state. His choice of the school, according to him, was not his decision. It was a new college with virtually nothing in terms of facilities on ground but students had to be posted there for commencement of academic activities. “So, there was nothing I could do when I learnt of my posting there. The college was like an emergency arrangement with students drawn from different parts of the state,” he recalled. Despite that, according to Yahaya, the school paraded many qualified teachers, who really did much for students academically and morally. “We had many brilliant, committed and passionate teachers, who were always desirous of our success in academics, as well as other areas of life,” he said, adding: “The pioneer school principal, Mallam Haza Zungeru, was also fantastic. He was a disciplinarian. He was not only my teacher; I learnt about the spirit of servant leadership as a child from him. As a matter of fact, I owe a lot to him. ” Yahaya said this background really impacted on his person and also contributed significantly to what he had achieved so far, noting that based on his excellent performance in the Grade Two Examinations, he won a scholarship award for further studies. However, he noted that aside the college being a centre for academic excellence; it

was also for character development, where hard work, discipline and honesty were held in high esteem. Many of Yahaya’s classmates today are also in top positions in and outside the country. They include the former Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Isah Kawu; Mr. Danjuma Mohammed, a senior lawyer with the Federal Ministry of Justice; Mr. Aliyu Scatter, the late national Hockey captain, among others. He’s still in touch with most of them. Academically, young Mohammed did not do badly. He was among the average students and he often answered questions in class. He recalled an experience where he won one Naira as a prize from his English teacher and mentor, Mr. Jibrin Daudu, for answering a question correctly. “Though it was a rough naira note, I kept it for a long time before I spent it,” he said. Yahaya’s best subject was English language, which he had developed interest in right from when he was in Primary III as a village school boy. “But out of all the subjects, I didn’t like Integrated Science just because I saw it as a regimented subject that does not give room for creativity,” he added. Naturally, Yahaya loves sport – football and hockey in particular, which the school was known for, but because of his smallish stature, he couldn’t make the school team.” Unfortunately, his busy schedule had not given him time to personally visit the school. But his continuous love for it has greatly influenced his active participation in the activities of the school’s old boys association. “Through the association, we had refurbished some dilapidated structures in the school and we will still do more. Recently too, we organized a get-together party and invited the governor of the state, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, his deputy, Hon. Ahmed Ibeto and many other top government officials for the celebration.” One special memory that humbled him was the student protest he participated in while in the school. This was when they protested their deployment to school

Prof. Mohammed Kuta Yahaya

fields for clearing by the school authority. “When we got to the principal’s lodge very early in the morning on that fateful day and presented our grievance before him, he simply replied us that he too was a labourer and we couldn’t do anything again. That was how we were dispersed and that settled the matter permanently,” he said. “That experience really humbled me till date.” If given the mandate to make input towards reforming the education sector of

the nation, Prof. Yahaya said his priority would be to restructure the teaching scheme. “Without education, you cannot get things right and once the teachers get it right, the students will also get things right and through that we will get the best out of our educational system. So, teachers are a vital part of education and they need to be properly trained to enable them discharge their duties effectively,” he explained.

Jobless youths are time bomb, VC warns BIYI ADEGOROYE AKURE

ice Chancellor of Achievers University, Owo, in Ondo State, Prof. Adebayo Odebiyi, has urged the Federal Government to address the issue of youth unemployment and develop the nation’s educational system to avoid youth restiveness which has ravaged Arab nations in recent times. Commenting on the influx of foreign universities and other schools in the country, and the possible action of returnee Nigerians who studied abroad, Prof. Odebiyi warned that he saw “… another kind of “Boko” but this Boko are educated Nigerian youths who are knowledgeable about the world and know their rights, they can see what you are doing, they are the time bomb and they are roaming around town now

without jobs who are the time bomb for education revolution in this country.” He said: “If you notice what is going on in the Arab world including Israel, people are beginning to question the way they live and seeing the rulers are just a handful of people they are beginning to claim their rights. So, those ones are there and you are training another group in another level.” The former Entomology lecturer of the University of Ibadan, said; “when we returned from abroad, we did not have most of the facilities with which we studied there in Nigeria, but we adapted; we had to adapt to our situation and see how we can survive within our own situation and we did. And to the glory of God we made our name in the academic world.” Odebiyi also warned that the plethora of foreign schools and universities

in the country is capable of undermining the nation’s educational system, leading to imposition of foreign cultures and values on Nigerian students. While he acknowledges that the National Universities Commission has the minimum requirement for academic standard with which all universities must comply, Odebiyi, however, warned that Nigerian students could be cleverly indoctrinated in such a way that would start to view everything that comes from the country as inferior, thereby denigrating them. Odebiyi stated that the preference for foreign schools and universities in the country was a reflection of the same colonial mentality whereby imported products are presumed to be better than locally-manufactured ones. He said the foreign schools receive great patronage, because of the na-

tion’s hunger for education and advised the federal government not to ignore this trend in the interest of the nation. On whether the lecturers are better educated than their Nigerian counterparts, he said: “I think we are trying to run away from realities; we are not facing the problems at hand. No matter where we came from, we all carry the same brain. Nigerians lecturers have once been in classes with all these people and the only edge they have over us is that their system work.” Adebayo said the difference was that these countries “appreciate education and they invest in it, the resources are there for them. Hence they boast of very conducive learning environment as well as modern educational equipment - a reason many people prefer to travel abroad for education.”

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FROM OTHER LANDS

Dutch teenager convicted of Facebook murder reports STORIES BY: FAMUYIBO BANKOLE WITH AGENCY REPORTS

15-year-old Dutch boy has been sentenced to a year in juvenile detention after he confessed to killing a schoolgirl over a row that appears to have begun on Facebook. Jinhua K. was 14 when he fatally stabbed Joyce “Winsie” Hau” at her home. A teenage couple will appear in court next month charged with ordering the killing. Jinhua was also convicted by the court in the eastern city of Arnhem of attempting to kill his victim’s father. As well as a year in youth detention, he faces up to three years’ detention in a psychiatric institution. The court heard that the row started when school friends CONTINUED FROM 19

Polly W and Joyce “Winsie” Hau fell out over comments Joyce had posted on Polly’s Facebook wall. According to reports in Dutch media, Polly W and her boyfriend gave Jinhua a note with the victim’s address and let him know when she would be home. Jinhua, whose surname is not given under Dutch law, apologized to the court for his actions. He had argued that he had been put under pressure by the girl and was unable to disobey her. Experts said he was suffering from a severe behavioral disorder with psychopathic tendencies. The judge told the court that the consequences of the murder had caused “an enormous shock in the neighborhood, the city and the country”. The victim’s father said that while he had lost a daughter, her killer had received only one

year in custody. “That’s a very big difference,” he was reported

as saying.

Culled from: BBC…

Joyce

400 Nigerian students face deportation from UK

permission to stay in the UK and they will have to leave the UK or face enforced removal.” “But if it believes that students were not actively involved in the circumstances which led to the institution’s licence being revoked, UKBA will reduce their

permission to stay in the UK to 60 calendar days to give them a chance to find a new sponsor. If a student has less than six months’ permission left, UKBA will not cancel it. When their permission expires, if they have not found a new sponsor they will have to leave the UK or face enforced

removal,” it added. In this circumstance therefore, the 2,600 international students in the university risk being forcefully ejected if they do not find other universities to absorb them before the 60-day ultimatum expires.

...London Metropolitan varsity reacts

he London Metropolitan University has reacted to the suspension of its sponsorship licence calling it an attack on the university and the higher education sector in the United Kingdom. In a release by the institution and signed by its Vice-Chancellor, Malcolm Gillies and the Chairman, the university’s Board of Governors, Clive Jones, the institution said it has instructed its lawyers, Penningtons Solicitors LLP, to commence urgent legal action to challenge the revocation of its Highly Trusted status for sponsoring international students, so that its students can return to study as a matter of urgency. “Following the leak of the UK Border Agency’s (UKBA) decision some days ago, which ‘announced’ the revocation, the university has now had the opportunity to read the report. Working with its advisors, the university has conducted a thorough review of UKBA’s ‘evidence’, and in the strongest possible terms challenges the outcome. “Greater detail of the University’s challenge will be announced later this week, but in the meantime we can confirm that: there is no evidence of systemic failings, as claimed. The evidence that we provided to UKBA clearly shows on fileafter-file that we were taking every

reasonable measure we could to be compliant. The UKBA’s claim that London Met “did not address serious and systemic failings that we identified six months ago” is simply not true,” the statement read. It added that the university has been conducting checks on its international students, specifically in relation to English language and educational ability, who not only meet UKBA’s published requirements, but exceed those requirements in a number of key areas. Also, that its staff has been diligently performing stringent checks to try and ensure that all

Caribbean students in their uniform

Cambridge University investigates hacking claim

individuals who are studying at the university are legally entitled to do so. “UKBA has not provided any constructive advice to the sector on this matter, despite being asked to on numerous occasions.” The revocation, announced on 29 August 2012, affects up to 2,600 continuing international students who will have until December 1, 2012 to find an alternative sponsor or face deportation. The revocation could result in as much as a £30 million annual loss to the institution. The Vice-Chancellor has said the UK has a long-standing reputa-

tion of educational excellence and for attracting genuine students from a diverse international market. “It is not in anyone’s interests for there to be a system in place which constantly changes and which forces universities, their management and their staff automatically to treat students with suspicion until proven otherwise. London Metropolitan University is concerned that the current immigration policy is creating confusion across universities in the country and irrevocable damage to the UK’s globally-recognised education sector.”

he University of Cambridge has launched an investigation after a group claimed to have hacked into its software systems. The group named NullCrew said it had targeted several university departments and broken into databases. The NullCrew group published details of what appear to be university user names and passwords online with the message: “There is much more where this came from, and don’t think this is the end. “NullCrew, along with the whole Anonymous movement, isn’t near finished with you. And we never will be, until the right thing is done with Julian Assange. “Next time it will be worse, we guarantee it.” A spokesman for Cambridge University said: “A group calling itself NullCrew claims to have obtained login details for some web-based resources hosted on university systems. “As a preventative measure these have been taken offline while IT staff investigates the claims. “The hacking group itself has not claimed to have compromised the email login details of members of the university, and there is no evidence to substantiate such a suggestion. Culled from BBc..

Caribbean school moves against short skirts

aute Vallee school in St Helier on the Channel island of Jersey says it will “smarten pupils’ clothing and stop inappropriate dress”. A school is going “skirt-free” because staffs are worried the uniforms are too revealing. Caryl Lewis, head of Haute Vallee School in St Helier on the Channel island of Jersey, says it will “smarten pupils’ clothing and stop inappropriate dress”. She said the school aims to be skirt-free by 2015 following concerns that some skirts were too short and skimpy others were being rolled up to make them shorter. She said the rule would be phased in over the next three years and did not apply to pupils already at the school for boys and girls aged 11 to 16. “Sometimes you have so many variations and skirts can become too short and that is inappropriate in the work place and our school is a work place” she said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Education Today

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Akpabio, Aturu, others for awards in UI ABRAHAM OLADIPUPO AND TOYIN ADEYEMI with Mojeed Alabi mojeedalabi2@yahoo.co.uk or mail@mirroronline.net

YABATECH students celebrate colour carnival CAROLINE CHUKWUKA

t was a strange scene to behold at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, last week when students of the institution’s Department of Arts and Design wore crazy look and painted themselves in mixed colours to celebrate this year’s edition of its annual colour carnival. The event otherwise known as “Aro Day,” witnessed massive turnout from both students and nonstudents of the departments as participants were decked in rags that had been soaked in paints and dressed in

awkward manner to attract audience and passersby. Some wore wigs while others acted like pregnant women and mimicked different characters like pastors, mad men as they rallied round the campus carrying banners with inscriptions announcing the details of the carnival. The Head of the Department, Mr. Pious Ehiolamean in his address to the celebrants said he was particularly impressed with the good arrangements made by the leadership of the departmental association. He enjoined them to be cautious and ensure they do not disrupt

activities on the campus. The President of the Arts and Design Students’ Association, Adegun Samuel said the carnival, which was introduced in 2007 as a form of creativity to ease the usual stress attributed to the department due to the volume of works they do. Also commenting, a student of Graphics Department, Adeleke Ajishefinni, said the importance of the event is to let people know that without the use of art and design, the world would be blank “because art and design bring people’s thoughts to reality.”

overnor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, the social critic and lawyer, Bamidele Aturu and renowned Professor of Language, Akinwumi Isola are three of the five people to be honoured with awards by the students of the University of Ibadan, in Oyo State. The students on the platform of Association of Campus Journalists, University of Ibadan chapter, have, according to its leadership, penciled down these individuals for the honour for what they described as their longstand-

PHOTO: CAROLINE CHUKWUKA

Camerounians, Rwandans join American University of Nigeria MOJEED ALABI

ine Camerounians and two Rwandans became students of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Adamawa State, during the Fall 2012 Convocation and Pledge Ceremony held at the university last week. According to the institution’s management, 17 more Rwandans will be joining their compatriots in the next couple of days. One of the Camerounian intakes, Gregory Tanyi, scored the highest on the Advanced-Level GCE, a standardized test, which was part of the requirements for admission. “The two Rwandan students are settling in

beautifully. We are so pleased to have them with us,” said Dr. Margee Ensign, President of the University, last week. Officials of the Rwanda Education Board (REB) have confirmed that 17 more enrollees will join AUN within the next week to pursue degrees in the oil and gas programme, otherwise called Petroleum Chemistry. A Rwandan official, who benchmarked the arrival of the second group of 17 Rwandans, said passports were already secured for the entire group as at last week. “We are now processing visas for them. We expect to receive application forms via courier from the Rwanda High Commission in Kampala, who are in

touch with the Nigeria High Commission,” the official was quoted saying. Sponsored by the Rwandan government, the group of 19 scored the highest possible marks on their senior examinations last November. The university has already offered two scholarships to Rwandan students and is committed to making sure Rwandan students who meet the university’s strict admission guidelines are admitted. The authorities of the institution have said the partnership with Cameroon and Rwanda is part of a grand new initiative that will open up a pathway for Africans to experience the university as Africa’s only “development university.”

programme of the union has been incorporated into the grand finale to be held in the evening of Saturday, September 15.” The awards ceremony is fashioned after the mainstream media awards whereby Individuals who have distinguished themselves in different fields of human endeavour are honoured for their selfless contribution to their society and Nigeria at large. The other two men to be honoured are Prof. Phillip Oyelaran of the Department of Archeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan, and Prof. Festus Adesanoye of Communication and Language Arts Department.

VC advocates more focus on Mathematics, Science studies HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

The students during the carnival

ing records of achievement and contributions to socioeconomic and political development of Nigeria. The event, which is tagged distinguished personality award ceremony and scheduled to hold between Monday September 10 and Saturday 15, is billed to feature lectures, seminars and workshops on contemporary issues. Speaking on the programme, the Vice-President of the association, Toyin Adeyemi said; “This year is the Silver Jubilee anniversary of the association and it has to be celebrated in grand style. To achieve this, the Famous Five Awards which is supposed to be another

ice Chancellor of Kwararafa University, Wukari, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu has disclosed that the university would take a practical approach to research on how to promote Science Education and Mathematics in order to enhance the knowledge of science subjects in Taraba State. Ochefu, who spoke with reporters in Makurdi, the Benue State capital noted the importance of research to the development of education, assuring that the research proposal to be developed by the institution would be innovative and creative enough to attract funding. “We are taking a very pragmatic approach on research and how to promote Science education, Mathematics in Taraba State where the pass rate

including other Science subjects is very poor. If you don’t drive Science and technology, engineering and Mathematics education, our efforts at playing at the global big league would be seriously limited because there are two main things that are driving the world right now; one is science and technology, the other is creativity in terms of what you can think like music, films and soft ware,” Ochefu noted. He also said the institution, though relatively new, was running courses that are not being run by most conventional universities in the country like Physics and Renewable Energy, Security and Intelligence Studies, Geographic Information System, among others. The introduction of the above courses into the curriculum of the institution, he said, was

geared towards bringing the intellectual resources of the institution to bear with the host community thereby providing solutions to science, especially Mathematics education, poverty reduction, conflict management and to harnessing the talents of the young adults. Although the institution is presently facing shortage of senior academic staff, the vice-chancellor said he would use the association of commonwealth universities’ retired academic database to access retired but active senior staff in foreign countries like Canada and Australia to close the gap. He also said the institution would train its current staff, use technology to engage lecturers from other parts of the world including sabbatical placements for senior staff from older universities.

Students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Lagos study centre during their awareness rally in Lagos, recently. PHOTO: OLUWASEGUN IJABIKEN

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

GEJ: Still on impeachment threat…

HE NATION ON SUNDAY Front Page Banner of September 2 exhibited carelessness: “Impeachment threat: Presidency in race to beat Reps deadline” Truth in Defence of Freedom: Reps’ deadline “Police detonate bomb in Kaduna” (DAILY CHAMPION, June 14) As irredeemable as our policemen are, they cannot publicly detonate a bomb! What they do is to defuse it. Both the print and electronic media are guilty of this malapropism. ‘Detonation’ cannot be used in the reported circumstance: “Men of the Anti-Bomb Disposal Squad of the Kaduna State Police Command yesterday recovered and detonated another bomb at one of the gates leading to NNPC staff quarters….” “More greaze (sic) to your elbow” Beyond the spelling error (grease), it is ‘more power to somebody’s elbow’, but you can grease somebody’s palm if you have corruptive tendencies! “Glo’s associates relieve Man U-Barca match experience” (Nigerian Compass Headline, June 12) Have a lovely day: relive. Even as an ardent supporter of the topmost English team, that was a mismatch now worsened by this local language poverty! “Ondo police discovers illegal arms factory” Police: plural verb always. “But coming within a shared calender space of one another (a comma) it pointed to one fact….” This way: calendar. “The Nigerian bank helped liberalised (liberalise) the supply end of the financial market.…” “For a party and leadership that had barely swim (swum) out of the blemish of the Dimeji Bankole’s corruption scam.” Furthermore, there is no need for ‘scam’ in the extract because of its dysfunctional input as it is clearly otiose: the Dimeji Bankole corruption. “From indications, many elected political leaders in our democracy are still basking in the thrills of election victories, copious weeks after they’ve (they’d) been sworn in.” “An irate Nigerian wondered why the honourable members were not made to refund the N4,000 daily sustainance allowance.…” Get it right: sustenance. “Shortage of such materials as stationeries for printing order papers....” Some of the words that are uncountable: statio-

MORE GREAZE (SIC) TO YOUR ELBOW” BEYOND THE SPELLING ERROR (GREASE), IT IS ‘MORE POWER TO SOMEBODY’S ELBOW nery, furniture, cutlery, heyday, jewellery, equipment and loot. “In another incident, six suspected armed robbers, including a military personnel....” ‘Personnel’ is a collective noun. ’Rite it right, as Dr. Adidi Uyo will write: a military officer. “...that you will be sent to jail to rotten and regret the day you embarked on those inglorious acts of perjury and forgery.” Adjective: rotten; verb: rot. “The embarrassing development, according to a principal engineer who inspected the damages….” On Guard: ‘damage’ is uncountable except in legalese or other reparative circumstances. “Importers and customs agents may have deviced a new strategy to pay lower tariffs….” Noun: device; verb: devise (in British Standard English usage). The excerpted muddle is the American version of it. The same thing applies to ‘advice’/‘advise’ and ‘practice’/‘practise’, among many other entries. “This practice which makes the government to loss (lose) substantial revenue….” “Therefore, confronting robbers who are armed with superior arms and ammunitions is only being irresponsible and foolhardy.” ‘Ammunition’ is non-count. “Less than 5 per cent of Nigerians have assess (access) to telephone–even public telephony.” “If two towns in every local government in the country is (are) provided with telecommunication facilities every month, within four to five years, the project would have been completed.” “Philosophers literarily (literally) threw metaphysics through the front door and bolted it.” “Firewood could just as well had (have) served as handsets.” “Often, a simple telephone call could save lives that are needless (needlessly) shed on our highways daily.” A poser: is it lives that are shed or blood? “A few weeks ago, an Abuja-based pa-

per has (had) alleged that....” “These brazen acts of banditry is (are) also enveloping secondary schools.…” ‘Even when he was answering questions from newsmen, he was still beaming with smiles.” Would the man have ‘beamed with a frown’? Please, delete ‘smiles’ to avoid oil subsidy complicity! “Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan is not responsible for the marginalization of Igbos (sic)” Reported speech: Goodluck Jonathan was not responsible for the marginalization of Igbo. “He observed that the September 22 OPEC meeting would be a break-or-make event that would determine the way the price goes.” Fixed expression: make or break. “In any case, there is no doubt that the actions and perhaps inactions of Goodluck Jonathan since May 29 has (have) been giving a sizeable part of the South West serious concerns.” “…force his friend to comply to (with) his own desires at the pains of being bundled into their horrendous gang.” THE NATION of June 21 circulated two headline solecisms: “Customs intercept $110,060 at Lagos Port” Get it right: Customs intercepts. “Why are matured ladies still single?” Where are the bridegrooms? Mature (not matured) ladies are choosy! “In actual fact, the Nigerian police has (have) constituted itself (themselves) into a terror gang, perhaps because of the protracted military rule.” “He does not bother them that about six kilometers (kilometres) to (from) their station….” “During the electioneering campaign that ushered in the present regime, many stories were bandied….” Strike out ‘campaign’ in the interest of tautology-free writing. “They are therefore teaching in the so-called satellite campuses of sister universities or in evening classes to supplement their wages.” Get it right: on (not in) campuses. “Senate President David Mark, in response to a question, has (had) jokingly said.…” “Armed robbers paid him a non-courtesy call at about 7.30 p.m.” Back to the basics: either at 7.30 p.m. or about 7.30 p.m., depending on the level of exactitude. By the way, do bandits pay courtesy

calls? “As it was remarked sometimes (sometime) ago….” “…at least not in any way that the day had given him any hint of what the day had in stock (store) for him.” “It is make belief ” This way: makebelieve. “…it cuts in from the next street whether along the very busy New AbaUmuahia Road or at the outskirts of the city.” Travelogue: on the outskirts of the city. “The sweet look of the cards do (does) not give any inkling of a country nearly three decades old.” Wordsmiths call it error of attraction. “Beside the African Union dastardly act which shocked and outraged the Nigerian society….” There is a world of difference between ‘beside’ and ‘besides’ (which applies here). “In fact, a dangerous development such as cultism should not be treated with a kid’s glove.” Get it right: kid gloves. “The impression I was given was that IBB had morbid fear of the wild, wild west, and would never cross the River Niger again, talk less (let alone) coming to Lagos.” “Anything to create a reasonably safe distance between us and the military administrator’s siren was alright.” Current form: all right, if you subscribe to formal (Standard) English. ‘Alright’ is an unacceptable spelling except in the US. “But rather than see the move as an affront against (to) the military....” “What this therefore calls is (are) clear-cut criteria for determining who goes and who is retained at the end of the pruning exercise.” What is the function of ‘exercise’ here? And this: criterion (singular); criteria (plural). “If each civil servant had at least a two-bedroom house in Abuja, very few Nigerians could have raised any eyebrow on the furniture allowance for lawmakers as was done.” Our mandate, their meal ticket: raise eyebrows (fixed expression). “...and that money spent on the comfort of the executive and legislative members of government does not extend into (to) the pockets of civil servants or other members of the civil society.”

JAMB advocates inclusive education IJEOMA EZEIKE ABUJA

he Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has described education as a fundamental human right, which should be accessible to all people, regardless of disabilities. Making a presentation at the just concluded Association of Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA) conference in Botswana, on behalf of the

board, Dr. Yusuf Lawal and Grace Onoja observed that there were various groups of challenged people in the society that require special needs including education. A statement in Abuja by JAMB’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Timothy Oyedeji, quoted the duo as saying the board as an examination assessment body, strives to strike a balance of fairness and equity. Dr. Lawal specifically said the board had created a special platform from the point of registration,

examination to the conduct of admission of the visually impaired, albinos and prison inmates. According to him, the board has designed and developed a method to adopt in treating candidates equally and fairly irrespective of their personal characteristics such as disability and other circumstances. He noted that people with physical disabilities would be posted to examination centres that will be convenient for them.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

FIBA Champions Cup: Financial woes prevent Hoopers from tourney 30

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Truly, there are a lot more people with their eyes on me, who are hungry and want to beat me - British athlete, Mo Farah

Beat Japan, win bronze, NFF charges Falconets

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday in Abuja urged the Falconets to win the third place match in the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. In a statement signed by NFF’s Media Officer, Ademola Olajire, its Chairman of Media and Publicity Committee, Emeka Inyama, said they should not be deterred by the semi-final loss to the US on Tuesday. Falconets were denied the ticket to the final of the competition by the USA, with a goal each in the two halves. “Of course, the team was not disgraced. The players put up good fighting spirit and gave it their all, but it was not their day. They created more chances than the Americans, had greater ball possession and had more actual playing time than their opponents,” the statement said. “We want them to go all out for the bronze medal on Saturday in or- Ideye in Super Eagles’ colours. der to console football fans and the generality of Nigerians who have supported the team ever since. It is something they can do against the rown Ideye has promised to mark his Japanese, by being well-organised return to the Super Eagles after a twoand disciplined,” Inyama added. year absence with goals in the Africa Inyama said the NFF was working hard to discover more players Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia in for all the women teams, saying Monrovia on Saturday. The on-form Dynamo Kiev of Russia striker that the Falconets’ performance in Japan means there is hope they told MTNFootball.com that he was looking forcould form the nucleus of the new ward to transferring his goal scoring form at senior national women’s team, the his club to the Super Eagles. Ideye, who has averaged one goal a game Super Falcons.

I will score against Liberia –Ideye B this season, also disclosed that he was delighted to be back in the Eagles after almost two years in international wilderness. “The dream of every striker is to score goals whenever he is on the pitch. That is my aim this weekend, I hope to transfer my club form to country because we all know how important this game is to Nigeria and as a team we are to go get the result in Monrovia,” said Ideye, who scored Dynamo’s all-important goal that en-

Ambassador visits Flamingoes FIFA ranking:

igeria’s Ambassador to Portugal, Her Excellency (Mrs.) I.E.C Bristol, was in the team camp of National U-17 side, the Flamingoes yesterday morning to formally welcome the team to Portugal. The team, which had a long 14-hour flight, had left Nigeria aboard a Turkish airline on Monday night to Istanbul before connecting their flight to Lisbon, Portugal. Head of Chancery at the Nigerian Embassy, Portugal Mr Pascal Onwordi, with staff of Browns Sports and leisure club had earlier welcomed the team at the Lisbon Airport. “I am happy to formally welcome you girls to Portugal on

your Training Tour. I see you all as ambassadors representing our great country, Nigeria and I enjoin you girls to behave like worthy ambassadors and make sure you represent our country well” “Playing in a World Cup is an important thing for every player, and to be picked to represent your country is an honour which no player should play with” “I implore you to go to Azerbaijan and make Nigeria proud. I also believe that this team can go all the way to the final and lift the trophy” said Bristol. The Flamingoes had their first training yesterday evening without any hassle.

Eagles remain 58th

igeria failed to make any appreciable improvement in the latest FIFA ranking released yesterday, as the Super Eagles retained their July 58th position. The country’s failure to gain any point at the recent ranking could be traced to the team’s failure to play international friendly matches that aid the world football governing body in the exercise. World and European champion, Spain, retained its number one position,

followed by Germany and England with Portugal occupying the fourth position while Uruguay emerged as the highest ranked South American country by occupying the 5th position. Euro 2012 finalists, Italy moved six places up to occupy the sixth position while Brazil which dropped from the first top 10 since the beginning of the ranking in 1993 further dropped from their 11th position to 12. Cote d’ Ivoire which is the highest ranked country in the continent retained its 16th position followed by Ghana in the 31st position, Mali 32 and Libya 36.

sured they qualified to feature in this season’s UEFA Champions League. “I am happy to be back. It’s my first time under Coach Stephen Keshi and I must confess I am happy with what I have seen in camp.” Former Nigeria U-20 star Ideye was first capped by Nigeria in 2010 and was a late replacement for injured Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi, to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

NPL: Heartland throws gate open IFEANYI EDUZOR

anagement of Heartland FC of Owerri has announced that it will throw open the gates at the Dan Anyiam Stadium tomorrow as the home side engages Akwa United in the last match of the season. General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Heartland, Chief Fan Ndubuoke, said after a meeting with the board yesterday in Owerri that the decision was to encourage a full house at the venue. “We are happy with all those who supported us even when we thought we were having a turbulent period. We feel the need to give back to our fans,” Ndubuoke said. “After securing a ticket for the CAF Confederation Cup campaign next season, we would still like to finish the league on a very respectable position hence we want fans to troop in and support the team against Akwa United,” he added.

Sport

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SuperSport, Arsenal for Soccerex

EPL briefs…

Balotelli Manchester City striker, Mario Balotelli, could miss the Premier League champion’s next match against Stoke after undergoing laser-eye surgery in Italy. Balotelli, 22, returned to his homeland for yesterday’s minor operation which he needed after suffering from conjunctivitis associated with wearing contact lenses and his surgeon suggested he could return in about10 days.

AFOLABI GAMBARI

rganisers of the Soccerex Seminar scheduled for September 27 and 28 in Lagos said yesterday that General Manager, SuperSport Nigeria, Mr. Felix Awogu and Partnership and Development Director of Arsenal FC England, Felicity Croft, will join Head of Sponsorship, Group Corporate Affairs at Standard Chartered Bank, Simon Mould, to speak on “The Business of Football” session at the two-day event. National Mirror learnt that the session would be essential to getting a sense of the various revenue streams surrounding Nigerian football, including broadcasting and sponsorship. Interestingly, SuperSport, Arsenal and Standard Chartered Bank are three of the biggest brands in Nigeria as well as at the forefront of football development in West Africa. Awogu, who doubles as a FIFA-licensed players’ agent, joined SuperSport in 2006 as a presenter and was appointed Operations Manager in 2007 before becoming General Manager for Nigeria in 2009 with a mandate to commercialize the Nigerian Football League. “SuperSport is committed to the development of football across Nigeria and this event provides us with the perfect opportunity to network with the whole of the football industry,” Awogu said. Meanwhile, Arsenal recently toured Nigeria to promote the club’s partnership with a malt drink. “The Soccerex Seminar Lagos provides us with the ideal platform to interact with all the relevant stakeholders from the region to support our long-term vision,” Croft said yesterday.

Awogu

Owen

Former England striker, Michael Owen, is relishing the next chapter in his career after joining Stoke City yesterday on a one-year contract. The 32-year-old has joined the Potters as a free agent, subject to Premier League approval, following his release by Manchester United at the end of last season.

File photo of the opening ceremony of Paris 2011 Homeless World Cup

Homeless W/Cup 2012: Nigeria draws Brazil, Argentina AFOLABI GAMBARI

igeria will play in the women’s Homeless World Cup in Group B alongside Brazil, England, Argentina, India, Canada and Kyrgyzstan. Host Mexico, United States, Colombia, Netherlands, Chile, Hungary and Paraguay will jostle for honours in Group A.

National Mirror learnt yesterday that the coaching pair of German Helen Schonbrodt and former Nigeria international Jide Oguntuashe will lead the Nigerian team which will be represented by Sarah Iloduba, Toyosi Alogba, Nimot Ahmad, Omolara Kolawole, Sudan Abidoye and Peace Ozehudu from Lagos who will be joined from Calabar by Edikan Udoh, Regina Otu and Glory Henshaw. Rita Monday, Funmilola

Adediran, Ololade Fadoyin and Damilola Omotosho from Lagos, as well as Ruth Unwana and Uduak Jimmy from Calabar are on stand-by. The Nigerian camp said yesterday that final training for the Homeless World Cup would hold at the Astroturf 2000 Osborne Road, Ikoyi Lagos from September 10 to 28 before departing to Mexico where the annual event will hold between October 6 to 14.

Gusau set for Shekarau U-20 meet

Enugu hosts Let’s Play cricket

IFEANYI EDUZOR

IFEEANYI EDUZOR

he Federation of Youth Soccer Clubs (FEYSOC) says football will receive a boost this month as arrangement has been concluded for the 2nd Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau National U-20 football competition scheduled to kick off on September 20 in Gusau, Zamfara State The competition, organised in honour of the former Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, unearthed talented players during its maiden edition. National Executive Secretary of the Youth Soccer Clubs, Alhaji A.S Luya, told National Mirror yesterday in Lagos that Shekarau had agreed to host the event owing to its impact on youth development.

Gov. Shekarau

“The competition is open to all clubs in the 36 states of the federation and clubs have already indicated interest to participate in the tournament after the benefits they derived from last year’s event,” he said. “Zamfara State Football Association is working to ensure a successful hosting of this year’s edition,” he added. The first edition was last held in Minna where Kano State defeated Niger State 2-1 at the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium to cart home the trophy.

uperSport has launched the Let’s Play initiative in Enugu State with the introduction of cricket to children at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Marketing Manager, SuperSport Nigeria, Mr. Bede Chidozie-Nwokoye, who spoke at the event, said that the initiative was designed to relaunch the outdoor play culture among children and develop their mental and physical ability through sports participation. “We designed this initiative with the aim of getting children between the ages of 7 and 16 years not only to be interested in sports, but also become active participants. “As the first time we are introducing cricket to kids in Nigeria, we want to ensure that we harness the talent of these young minds,” Chidozie-Nwokoye said. About 120 children from different primary and secondary schools in Nsukka participated in the two-day programme organized in collaboration with “Kiddies Delight” Club, a non-governmental organization based in the university town focused on encouraging socialization amongst kids in the campus environment.

Distin

Everton defender, Sylvain Distin, feels the club is in a good position to compete for something interesting this season. Manager David Moyes started his summer business early, bringing in Steven Naismith and re-signing Steven Pienaar before adding £6m forward Kevin Mirallas, as with Bryan Oviedo, 17-year-old Kilmarnock winger Matthew Kennedy and midfielder Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe on loan late on.

‘Man United didn’t want Neymar’

razilian club Santos yesterday denied reports suggesting that Manchester United tabled a big-money bid for Neymar on transfer deadline day. It has been suggested that the Premier League outfit put a £38m offer to Santos prior to the summer window slamming shut. Having missed out on Neymar’s countryman Lucas Moura to Paris St Germain, United manager Alex Ferguson reportedly turned his attention to a player who has attracted interest from Europe’s biggest clubs. The 20-year-old Brazilian has long been linked with a switch to Spain, with Primera Liga sides Real Madrid and Barcelona prepared to battle it out for his signature.

Neymar

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Sport

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Paralympic crumbs…

Courageous athletes The spirit permeating the Paralympic games has been incredible. One is stunned to silence by the fierce determination of athletes who have one form of disability or the other to succeed. Of course, the most touching is the apparent support the ‘losers’ have received from the audience. One of such cases is the example of Djibouti’s Houssein Omar Hassan in the men’s 1500 T-46 who was two laps behind his opponents but for the entire time that he slowly ran the rest of his race as a result of injury, the crowd stood up to support him with their applause. He eventually finished in 11; 23.60 as against the Algeria’s Samir Nouioua’s winning time of 3; 57.27. Nevertheless he received more ovation than the winner which is to suggest that all of the participating athletes are being regarded as winners, having braced all odds to compete despite the limitations posed by their physical disabilities.

Africa hauls record medals

o fewer than seven African countries have continued to improve on the standing, wining 40 medals in six days of competition at the ongoing London 2012 Paralympic Games in London. The medals are made up of, 11 gold, 13 silver and 16 bronze medals won so far by the seven African countries led by Nigeria. The seven are: Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Namibia. Nigeria had been leading the pack with six gold, five silver and a bronze medal. Nigeria is followed by South Africa with two gold, four silver and four bronze medals, while Egypt has two gold and four bronze medals. Others are Tunisia with a gold, two silver and a bronze medal, Morocco with a gold and a bronze medal, while Algeria has a silver and five bronze and Namibia a silver. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria won most of its medals from powerlifing. Among the medalists on Monday were powerlifters Victoria Nneji, 67.50kg (silver) and Folashade Oluwafemiayo, 75kg (bronze).

Maps everywhere One of the first items a visitor receives upon entry to the UK is a map and if not careful, one would be tempted to believe that you can find your way by simply receiving directions. Despite already having a map, each time I need to ask for directions from an attendant or volunteer, the person first consults the nearest map available or better still, arms me with another map, making it seem that the country has an endless supply of maps. They have been placed at every bus stop, inside the buses, every train station, inside the trains and Grace Anozie celebrating her gold medal feat yesterday G any other place you can think of. However, since I’m yet to fully understand how to read a map, I have to keep asking for directions despite having maps of he powerlifting event National Mirror shortly after different sizes in my posof the ongoing Para- clinching the gold. session. “I am so happy and I give lympic Games ended Special treatment yesterday as Nigeria’s Grace thanks to God, my family and for ‘special’ people Anozie won gold in the wom- the team. I thank God I have Based on my observation en’s -82.50k event at the Ex- gold. I’ve been fighting for from the point of entry into gold for years. In Athens I got cel Arena in London. the UK, it is clear that the Her result ensured that a bronze, in Beijing 208 I got a society holds its disabled citiNigeria maintained its top silver and now I’ve got gold. In zens in high esteem. Special means of transportation have spot on the powerlifting table Beijing I was robbed; I felt so been created to ease their with six gold, five silver and a bitter so I vowed that I will get movement from one point gold today.” bronze medal. of the airport to another; The 35-year old also called Anozie won a bronze medal sections of the roads have in Athens in 2004, silver at the on President Goodluck Jonabeen demarcated for their Beijing Olympics and was than to give the athletes a befituse while the conventional means of transportation have ecstatic about winning gold ting welcome following their been adapted to suit them. It in London as she overcame exploits in London. is no wonder a large number “In any disability there is Egypt’s Heba Ahmed (140kg) of physically challenged and Perla Barcenas from ability. I know the Nigerian people have turned out for Mexico (135kg) with a supe- government will focus on our the games, no doubt to cheer their colleagues and to rior lift of 162kg in her second success and support us. I’m derive inspiration as well. It attempt. Her first and third at- expecting the President Jonais no wonder some of them tempts were adjudged ‘no lift’ than to welcome us all the way prefer to be called “special” from the airport. The whole by the referees. as against the term “dis“I feel so great and on top team has been through stress abled.” Nigeria definitely has a lot to learn from this. of the world,” Anozie told and hell. They asked us to de-

Athletes face medal pressure

Anozie wins Nigeria’s 6th gold

liver and we have delivered.” Anozie, who commended her colleagues for what she called a job well done at the Paralympic Games, said: “God made it possibility as we trained hard. Straight after this competition, we’ll be going back into training. We don’t give up. It’s the first time in history the team has got so many world records.” Team captain, Obioma Aligekwe, however failed to make it to the podium in the men’s -100kg event where he finished fifth. Sixteen lifters represented the country at the games with 12 of them winning medals. Egypt finished second on the table with four gold, three silver and four bronze medals while China placed third with three gold, six silver and six bronze medals.

igerian athletes featuring in track and field events at the ongoing Paralympic Games are under pressure to win medals, following the outstanding performance of their colleagues in powerlifting. The athletes will resume action today at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford and will be praying for a change in fortune as they seek to end the medal drought that has characterized their outing thus far. Three of the nine medals won at the Beijing Games were won in the track and field events but the athletes have failed to repeat the feat thus far. Shot putter, Nnaji Patricia was sent packing from the women’s shot put earlier this week while Uwak Unyime finished sixth in the final of the women’sT-46 400 over the weekend. Olusegun Rotawo who featured in the men’s category of the T-11 200m finished last in his heat on Monday despite the fact that he was ranked fourth in the world prior to the games.

He will also take part in the T-11 100m where he is ranked eight and athletics coach, Joseph Unuareokpa was confused about the team’s predicament. “I don’t know what went wrong with Segun because his training went well and he had a good ranking prior to the games. Perhaps he had stage fright. We had hoped that he would at least win his heat or finish among the top two but all hope is not lost,” Rotawo told National Mirror. “We still have more events to feature in and have athletes who have the potential to do well. We expect the best,” he added. Another official who pleaded anonymity declined to make any comment pending the athletes’ medal hauling exploits. “You know that we are yet to win a medal so I wouldn’t want to talk now. We are all feeling the pressure, going by what the lifters have done so you would have to wait for us to win something before asking for an interview,” the official said.

Sport

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SLAMMING AND E-mail: folashayoezekiel@yahoo.com Phone: 08027536696

DUNKING

With SAYO OGUNDEJI

Oyeniyi tips Pillars for glory

odan Warriors of Lagos player, Abayomi Oyeniyi, has said that Nigeria’s representative at this year’s Africa Champions Cup Zone-3 Qualifiers in Liberia, Kano Pillars have the potential to qualify from the zone. Pillars are the only team representing the country after the withdrawal of Nigerian champions, Roya Hoopers of Port Harcourt due to financial problems. Pillars that lost the final of the Final 8 Tournament to Hoopers, made an impressive start to the championship after they defeated hard fighting Uhuru Kings of Liberia by 84-42 points with Pillars winning the four quarters, 25-08, 2510, 15-13, 19-11. The former Hoopers’ player believes Pillars have the experience and quality to see off any opponent at the tourney, adding that the experience garnered by

their coach who was with the senior nationa basketball team to the just concluded will prove valuabe. “Pillars have started the tourney on a good note and I believe they have the pedigree to beat any opponent provided they keep the winning spirit and play to their full potential,” “Having a coach senior team participated in the basketball event in London 2012 is an added advantage because he will definitely bring his experience to bear on the team and I wish them the best,” the forward, who represented Hoopers at the tourney last year, added. Oyeniyi however regretted the inability of Hoopers to take part in the tourney, saying their inclusion would have brightened the country’s chances of not only picking the tickets but also winning the tournament.

ACCMW Qualifier Results ABC

50-43

First Deepwater

First Bank

94-27

K-Delta

Kano Pillars

84-42

Uhuru Kings

ABC

20-00 (Walk over)

Royal Hoopers

Heat may add Josh Harrellson

ormer New York Knicks backup centre Josh Harrellson is in the mix to be for the Miami Heat. Dealt in the offseason to the Houston Rockets in the Marcus Camby sign-and-trade and later released, Harrellson auditioned for the Heat recently and is on the verge of doing so again. Monday, on his Twitter account, Harrellson posted, “Kentucky it’s been fun! Glad I got to see everyone! Now heading to Miami for hopefully the next 9 months.” Harrellson was drafted out of the University of Kentucky with the No. 45 pick of the 2011 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Hornets, with his draft rights then traded to the Knicks. Harrellson later re-tweeted a reply to his Twitter account emphasizing the “hopefully” part of his original post.

Kano Pillars’ Usman Abubakar shielding the ball from Royal Hoopers of Port Harcourt players during the Final 8 tournament at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

FIBA Champions Cup: Financial woes prevent Hoopers from tourney

espite winning the Nigeria Premier Basketball League for the second time in a row, Royal Hoopers Club of Port Harcourt failed to appear at the ongoing Africa Champions Cup Zone-3 Qualifiers in Liberia due to financial problems. Hoopers defeated Kano Pillars to emerge champions of the Nigeria league few weeks back and were expected to flag the country’s flag at the championship alongside Pillars but unavailability of funds from the state government has scuttled their ambition. Nigeria is represented only by Kano Pillars in the male category while First Deepwater who won the women league and first runners up, First Bank are flying the country’s flag in the female category. Reacting to the development, Coach Ogoh Odaudu, described the development as unfortunate, adding that his side was prepared and ready for the tournament but for the unavailable funds which he believed should have been given to them by the River State government. According to the ex-international, their efforts of winning the league have not been appreciated till date, saying such gesture from the government does more harm than good to the psychology of the entire team who he said have labored so hard to bring glory to the

state. The coach said, “We have done our part by putting the name of the state in gold after winning the premier basketball league for two consecutive seasons and the best thing to do is to honour us but the reverse has been the case. “We defeated Kano Pillars to emerge champions but Ironically, Pillars are in Liberia while we are here in Nigeria not being able to compete despite our preparations for the championship and this demoralizes not only the players but the coaches and the entire staff of the club.

“The team has not even gotten a well-done message or an ordinary handshake from the appropriate authority praising and appreciating our efforts and to miss such a big competition is quite embarrassing. “We have missed the opportunity of representing not only the state but the entire country at the tournament but the state government will do us whole lots of good if they can at least reward everyone of us who have toiled to put the name of the state in gold to serve as a morale booster as we prepare for the new season,” Odaudu submitted.

Lakers honour Abdul-Jabbar, O’Neal

he Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and retire the jerseys of Shaquille O’Neal and Jamaal Wilkes during the upcoming season. The statue of Abdul-Jabbar will be unveiled in Staples Center’s Star Plaza on November 16, joining statues of Magic Johnson, Jerry West and broadcaster Chick Hearn. The NBA’s career scoring leader won five of his six championship rings during 14 seasons in Los Angeles. Wilkes’ No. 52 jersey will be retired on Dec. 28, and O’Neal’s No. 34 jersey will be retired on April 2. Wilkes spent seven seasons with the Lakers and was elected to the

Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year. O’Neal spent eight seasons in Los Angeles from 1996-2004, winning three NBA titles.

Abdul-Jabbar

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business & Finance Mr. President has set the transformational economic agenda for our country and our role is critical to the success of that agenda. We must ensure that we play our own part in delivering sustained economic growth and jobs.

Broadband Internet availability in Nigeria remains high in the priorities of the Commission Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah

MINISTER OF TRADE AND INVESTMENT, OLUSEGUN AGANGA

ID card scheme: French firm fined N98m for bribing Nigerian officials Sacked NIMC workers threaten court action

FRANCIS EZEM

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

rench aeronautics and defence group, Safran was fined 500,000 euros (N98m) yesterday by a Paris court for bribing public officials in Nigeria to win a contract in 2000/03. Investigating magistrates found that the bribes had helped Safran win a 170 million euro contract to make more than 70 million identity cards, under the National Identity Card project, Reuters said. Safran, which is 30 percent state-owned, said it would appeal, adding: “Safran would like to point out that it is deeply attached to the strict respect of anti-corruption rules”. Foreign corruption rulings against big French companies are rare in France. A report from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development that was leaked in July said French authorities lacked the resources to fight possible corruption in big export contracts. Prosecutors had originally sought to have the Safran case dismissed, but did not lodge any formal request at the trial in June. The court let off two of the company’s executives, for whom prosecutors had sought a suspended

sentence of up to 18 months and fines of 15,000 euros each. Like all members of the OECD, France is part of theits convention against the bribery of foreign officials, which requires that the practice be a criminal offence. The scandal claimed many casualties in Nigeria including a minister who was fired by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, while the project was eventually put on hold. Meanwhile, a crisis might be

looming over the decision of the National Identity Management Commission to sack over 4,000 members of staff without following laid down procedures under the relevant labour laws. The NIMC was established to create a comprehensive database for Nigerians and eventually assign each individual with a unique number similar to the social security number in the United States, under a scheme that is seen to be a huge improvement on the Nation-

he Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), has condemned plan by the Central Bank of Ni-

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L-R: Workshop Committee Member, Mr. Abayomi Sanya; 1st Vice President, Mr. Emmanuel Ohanwusi and President/Chairman, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr. Ariyo Olashekun, at a media briefing on the institute’s maiden annual national workshop in Lagos on Tuesday.

ICAN kicks against introduction of N5,000 DAYO AYEYEMI

al ID card project. A competent source close to the commission disclosed that out of the sacked 4,000 workers spread across the federation. about 80 were sacked at the Lagos office. The sack letter dated August 15, 2012 from the office of the acting state coordinator in charge of Lagos and signed by Mrs. Winifred Ojei on behalf of the Director General of the commission is entitled: RE: Declaration of redundancy in the National Identity Management Commission-Disengagement from service.”

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

geria to introduce N5, 000 note to the country. In a statement signed by its President/ Chairman in Council, Mr. Adedoyin Idowu Owolabi, the institute said plan by the CBN to restructure the existing profile and redesign the Nigerian currency at a time the size of government deficit is about 2.8 per cent of GDP and intention to spend the sum of N40billion on the exercise will amount to a waste of

scarce public resource and misplace of priority. Set against the claimed benefits by CBN, Owolabi said the proposed expenditure of N40billion will add little or no value to wealth creation in the country. He said, “The subsisting budget deficit, financed largely with domestic borrowing at an unsustainable rate, and therefore crowding out available credits to the economy, can further be re-

duced by this huge expenditure of N40billion, if redirected to the funding of infrastructural development.” In spite of benefits, the president of ICAN said the institute is not persuaded that N5,000 denomination should be introduced. Rather, he pointed out that the introduction of N5000 note would eventually alter the pricing structure of products in the market leading ultimately to the permanent disappearance of the 5, 10, 20 and 50 naira notes from circulation.

Boosting women entrepreneurship via ICT

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Business & Finance

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

IGP assures on protection of capital market investments TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday sent warning signals to perpetrators of fraud and other vices in the nation’s capital market to desist from such practices or be ready to face dire consequences of their acts of economic sabotage. Abubakar, who gave the warning in Abuja at the formal inauguration of police investigators seconded to the Securities and Exchange Commission, explained that the police would do all it takes to ensure that the economy of the nation is protected by ensuring that the capital market is given all the support it requires to function effectively. “Without safety and security, Nigeria cannot be developed in whatever way. We will therefore not fold our arms and allow criminals to do whatever they want to in this country. They should either desist from their criminal ways or get caught and face the consequences”, Abubakar said. He also charged the newly inaugurated officers to be good ambassadors of the Nigeria Police, urging them to

be dedicated, honest and fair in the discharge of their responsibilities to the Commission. Earlier in her remarks, Director General of SEC, Ms. Arunma Oteh, said the SEC has the responsibility of regulating and developing the Nigerian capital markets to ensure investor protection, enhance efficiency and support private sector growth, job creation and economic development, adding that the support of the security agencies in fulfilling the Commission’s mandate is indispensable. According to her, the commission’s activities are guided by the Investments and Securities Act of 2007, Section 304 of which requires the capital market regulatory institution to refer matters of criminal nature to the appropriate crime prevention and prosecuting authorities, including the Nigeria police. “Some of these infractions include fraudulent disposal of investor assets, illegal fund management, wonder banks, insider dealing, and corporate accounting fraud and share price manipulation. “In addition to the global financial crisis, the unprecedented decline in the Nigerian stock market between

Maize, soybean prices to rise this year –Expert MESHACK IDEHEN

irector, Centre for Community-Based Farming Scheme (COBFAS), Dr Joe Atungwu, has said farmers, especially those in the Southwest, can begin an aggressive second cropping of maize soon, in order to make money in the international market. He said that Nigerian famers can benefit from the United States of America maize crop failure, adding the failed maize crops in the USA is now driving commodities’ prices at the world market and threatening food security. According to him, the massive production of the commodity is required worldwide for stock to be replenished and for prices to drop, following the climate change which has affected food production in some parts of the world. He told journalists on Wednesday, that when compared to other countries that Nigeria has good soil to produce maize in abundance that this would boost farmers’ profits, saying further that

maize is selling for an average of $8.50 per bushel, while soybean is selling for $17.50., and that these are among the highest-ever prices for grains. Previous forecasts by experts have indicated that maize may reach $10 and soybeans may go as high as $20 in the coming months. “For Nigeria, this presents new opportunity. Most of the world production of the commodities is used as either food or as food industry input. Both commodities also serve as main raw materials in animal feed manufacturing. The United States is expected to produce under 100 million tonnes this year of maize as a result of the crop failure”, he explained. Atungwu said Nigeria has the capacity to produce enough maize for the global market, even if there was no crop failure, adding that agriculture which is the foundation of the nation’s economic growth in the past, has taken the back seat due to many years of neglect and a shift of emphasis in favour of crude oil.

L-R: Regional Sales Manager, West, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. Adekunle Adenuga; winner in the DStv Knock and Drop promo, Mr. Akin Ojo Olatunji and Churn and Retention Supervisor, MultiChoice Nigeria, Miss Dayo Otinwa, during the draw in Lagos, yesterday.

2008 and 2009 was caused by excessive risk taking and various market abuses. In light of this, and to ensure the speedier resolution of cases, the commission approached the Inspector General of Police

for the deployment of officers to jointly work with our staff in investigating criminal issues in the capital market”. The SEC boss commended the police boss on his commitment to crime prevention generally but

particularly, criminality in the capital market where, she said, he has demonstrated through the ongoing reforms in the force and the deployment of some of the best and highly specialised personnel to the commission.

Airline operators, others urged to share information OLUSEGUN KOIKI

n a bid to promote safety and security in the Nigerian aviation industry, airline operators and other users have been urged to cultivate the habit of information sharing among themselves. The Manager, Safety and Quality Department of Aero, Mr. Victor Dauda gave this advice yesterday at the Safety Week organised by the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) at

the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos. Dauda said that information sharing among the players would further enhance security of air passengers and even the users of the country’s airports. He noted that safety was a process of eradicating hazard at work place, stressing that in the sector globally, duties of airlines and even the ground handling companies interface. He said, “The aviation industry is an environment where

different peoples’ work are interfacing, every sector must learn to manage the risk inherent in its part and when we do that, we have eradicated the risk inherent in it and make our environment safe to work in. “Managing safety involves a systematic approach, which includes accountability, policies formulation and procedural process. For safety to be paramount, every task must be performed safely at all times.”

NSITF boss tasks Jonathan on social insurance for unemployed ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI

he Board Chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, has said there is need for a workable social security framework for Nigerians as obtained in advance economy. She said this recently while appraising the efforts of government on ensuring that the socioeconomic welfare of most disadvantaged Nigerians is adequately secured. Olojeme said that Nigeria is ripe for a welfare system to take care of underprivileged segment of the society. Prompted by the call to

strengthen security across the nation, Olejeme posited that ensuring a sound economy for citizenry is a precursor to a safer and more secured society. “We are determined as a government to go the extra-mile for Nigerians in terms of securing lives and property and also providing a balanced economic system that will close up the widening middle class. We must all share in some ways the common wealth of Nigeria and that is what this government is bent at doing” Olejeme said. She noted that NSITF has a mandate from President Goodluck Jonathan to perfect a social insurance system that will secure the interest of Nigerian workers

and also work out modalities for social security for unemployed and economically disadvantaged Nigerians. “President Jonathan appears determined to halt the trend of neglect’, she said. “Studies are being conducted throughout Nigeria to capture the social needs of those outside the formal sector,” said the Chairman of NSITF, adding that government is doing everything possible to guarantee workable social insurance program to all categories of Nigerian workers and need based Nigerians. NSITF also facilitates social insurance scheme in workplace through what it called the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, (ECS).

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Business & Finance

Thursday, September 6, 2012

he Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) on Wednesday said that it would begin issuing music licence in the FCT this month. Mr Segun Awosanya, the FCT COSON project consultant, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria NAN, urged commercial music users to comply with the copyright law and obtain licence for the use of music in public places. He said that there has been zero compliance from commercial music users and it was not encouraging. He noted that the basic challenge was getting people to buy into the idea and comply with the society’s objective. “We try to manage the relationship between COSON and the commercial music users in

the FCT, it has been challenging but we hope that this month we will start licensing.’’ According to Awosanya, the lack of compliance is due to the fact that people claim not to understand why they should pay to use music or the need to obtain licence. He said that getting people to comply with the law which compels them to obtain licence before playing music in public places was difficult as people were Intransigent. “People fear change and so they have refused to buy into the idea.’’ He said the society would continue to advise and encourage people to obtain licence as demanded by the law, adding that as a last resort, legal action would be taken against

those who disobeyed. Awosanya said that the society had filed a suit before the Federal High court, Abuja, against Transcorp Hilton which should serve as a warning and eye opener to other music users. It will be recalled that the society had filed a suit against Transcorp Hilton, Abuja demanding the payment of more than N3billion for unauthorised copying and communication to the public of musical works belonging to its members. Awosanya therefore called on all commercial music users to obtain a license as it would begin issuing licences this month in order to prevent any legal action being taken against them.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Enterprise Bank restates commitment to efficient service ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI

he Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Bank Limited (EBL), Mallam Ahmed Kuru said the bank has overhauled its operational channels and invested heavily in personnel to serve every customer of the bank efficiently and satisfactorily. Kuru, who addressed hundreds of customers of the bank in Onitsha, during the bank’s customer forum, affirmed that, the bank is now “a strong financial institution with asset base in the excess of N200bn and in the last one year, we have spent a lot of time and resources to put suitable infrastructure in place just to serve you better. We have sharpened the system and hastened our speed of service delivery because we value our relationship with you.”

He explained that the Customer forums being held across the country was to interact with customers and stakeholders on ways that would be mutually beneficial. “Now that we are in Onitsha, we want to hear you, reason with you and reassure you that we are here to serve you better. Onitsha is critical to our business because our history will not be complete without a trace to Onitsha and the East. So we are passionate about our business in the region”, he said. Expressing satisfaction about the huge turnout, the Chairman of the bank, Mr. Emeka Onwuka, who described the Onitsha event as the “biggest response to all our previous customer fora,” also reiterated the fact that Enterprise Bank has overcome every inhibition and is now cruising.

IITA, Jigawa sign agreement on agricultural devt

L-R: Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, Director, Mr. Wale Goodluck; Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai and Speaker, Taraba State House of Assemby, Hon. Istifanus Gbana, at the presentation of security patrol vehicles by MTNF to Taraba State in Jalingo, yesterday.

FG tasks public sector accountants on IPSAS, IFRS adoption TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he Federal Government yesterday advised accountants in Ministries, Departments and Agencies to provide themselves with technical and other operational skills required for hitch-free adoption of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) as well as the implementation of the ongoing International Financial Reporting Standard Standards in the country. Giving the charge in Abuja, the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Yerima Ngama, explained that a Standardised Uniform Chart of Accounts, Budget and General Purpose Financial Statements was required in order for Nigeria’s MDAs to meet international best practices as required by IPSAS. He was addressing key officers in the accounting departments of both Federal and States’ MDAs, including Commissioners Finance and Economic Development in

the North-Central geo-political zones, at a two-day Sensitisation Workshop organised by the FAAC Sub-Committee on the Roadmap for adoption of the IPSAS in the country in Abuja, Describing the adoption of the IPSAS as one of the strong platforms to drive the ongoing transformation agenda for a better Nigeria, the Minister urged the participants to consider the workshop as an interactive avenue for experience sharing and contributions that would fast-track the IPSAS implementation process at all tiers of government. He said: “The Sub-Committee has successfully held similar sensitisation workshops in Kaduna for the North-West, Enugu for SouthEast, Port-Harcourt for SouthSouth, Ibadan for South-West and Bauchi for the North-East zone as part of the strategies to achieve the implementation process. “The Sub-Committee expects that at the end of the implementation process, it will deliver to the

nation, a Standardised Uniform Chart of Accounts, Budget and General Purpose Financial Statements that will meet international best practices as required by IPSAS. “This will assist in peer review mechanism of Financial Reports among the three tiers of government. Indeed, the adoption of IPSAS by the country will no doubt serve as a foundation for a better Nigeria”. In his remarks at the forum, the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla, specifically pointed out that the commitment accounting officers give to the implementation process would go a long way in the success of government’s current transformation agenda, adding that this therefore requires all accountants in the MDAs should build the needed technical skills to help them in understanding the operational principles of the IPSAS and by implication, the IFRS.

he International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Jigawa State government have formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding, opening a fresh chapter of transfer of agricultural innovations from IITA to that state. According to an IITA statement yesterday, the agreement aims to facilitate collaboration between the Jigawa State government and the Institute towards rapidly improving food production, food security, and value addition and marketing of agricultural products in that north eastern state. “The signing of this MoU further demonstrates our resolve to work with partners,” said the Director General of IITA, Dr Nteranya Sanginga today. The deal to work with Jigawa

State came after a visit by Governor Sule Lamido to IITA on July 6, 2012. Governor Lamido who was impressed with innovations at IITA in Ibadan subsequently invited the Institute to come and help his state boost agricultural production. Dr Sanginga said IITA was impressed with the response by Jigawa State government, adding that the signing of the MoU was a ‘clear message to governments across the world that IITA is willing to help.’ The Jigawa State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Rabiu Isah Taura said the agreement signpost ‘the level of commitment on the part of the state to collaborate with IITA with the aim of uplifting the standard of Jigawa State farmers.

Bi-Courtney names new CEO for MMA2

i-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, operator of the Murtala Mohammed Airport Two (MMA2) yesterday announced the appointed of Mr. Christophe Penninck as the new Chief Executive Officer for the terminal. A statement signed by the Public Relations Manager of the company, Mr. Steve OmoleAjulo stated that Penninck, a Belgian and Polish, is joining the organisation with a wealth of experience, spanning over a decade in global aviation, including airport operations, passenger safety, as well as airline and safety management in different countries. Omole-Ajulo added that Penninck is a graduate of

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (also known as the Harvard of the Sky), Daytona Beach, United States (U.S.), and multiple award winner in the global aviation industry. The statement said that he has a passion for aviation that has earned him several senior management positions in various airlines, such as Swissair/Sabena Belgian World Airlines, Kenya Airways, Menzies Aviation in Dakar, Senegal and Johannesburg, South Africa, Qatar Airways and Aero Contractors in Lagos, among others. In a similar vein, Starcomms Plc has also announced the appointment of Mr. Olusola Oladokun as the Interim Chief Executive in succession to Mr. Logan Pather.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Info Tech

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Boosting women entrepreneurship via ICT With a recent report indicating that over 75 per cent of women entrepreneurs are willing to use value-added mobile services to address their core business challenges, stakeholders have re-echoed the need to leverage information Technology tools and services, as demonstrated by Nokia through the launch of its Nokia Life Tools platform aimed at boosting women’s economic empowerment in the country, reports KUNLE AZEEZ.

ver the years, various studies and reports have pointed to the need to deploy the Information and Communication Technology tools to improve economic empowerment for women enterprrneurs. Perhaps, the import of such studies informed the decision by the International Telecommunication Union, the global ICT regulatory arm of the United Nations, to enshrine gender equality and women’s empowerment in its Charter, which it said can be advanced in several ways through ICTs. Reinforcing this, the ITU Director General, Dr Hamadoun Touré, said, “ICTs are tools that can help accelerate progress towards achieving the target of using the power of ICTs to provide new digital opportunities to women globally.” In the same vein, Nigeria is recognised as a growing hub for enterprises in Africa with more people depending less on paid employment and looking to starting up their own businesses in order to thrive both on the level of small scale and large scale enterprise. Of this growing numbers, women constitute a significant proportion of people who are becoming entrepreneurs in the Nigerian society. For instance, a study by a women entrepreneurship advocate, Phillips Koelllinger, showed women have lower propensity for entrepreneurship compared to men. This may be attributable to the inherent constraint women face in their entrepreneurial ability which continued to be a stumbling block for their entrepreneurial growth and success. A similar survey carried out by the Department of Business Admin and Management, Kano State Polytechnic using 30 samples of women entrepreneurs within Kano metropolis showed that women running businesses faced similar challenges which were centered on cultural challenges, family responsibilities, lack of funds, and lack of access to enabling information. According to the study, 76 per cent of the respondents noted that if they had access to knowledge that could help them start or grow their enterprises, they would be better off as opposed to the 45 per cent who cited finances as their major challenge. Recently, stakeholders called for increased efforts aimed at bridging the gap of women empowerment in Nigeria, especially in the area of deploying ICT tools and services to provide relevant information that could empower women in taking business decisions. The initiative was undertaken by Nokia, in partnership with the Cherie Blair Foundation recently, as the global IT company, to launch a service for women which works on the Nokia Life Tools Platform. The service is targeted at women in rural areas who may not have access to internet services but who make use of mobile phones. The service runs through a short message service (SMS) which is available to everyone using a mobile device and enables them to receive information which could educate them on how to better manage their business concerns. The Nokia service for business women was launched at a ceremony in partnership with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women chaired by the wife of the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair. The partnership was formed with the aim of achieving

Minister of Comm. Technology, Omobola Johnson

WITH NOKIA LIFE TOOLS INFORMATION SERVICE FOR WOMEN, WOMEN IN RURAL AREAS WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO FINANCIAL INFORMATION WHICH WOULD HELP THEM TO BETTER PLAN FINANCES AND OVERCOME FINANCIAL CHALLENGES Nokia’s goal of development through access to information as well as empowerment of women in business which is also the main focus of the foundation. The service is also facilitated by MTN on the network side. Hopefully, more networks will come aboard this new innovative service from Nokia. With Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) accounting for over 90 percent of Nigeria’s employment, industry watchers predict that assisting more women in the country run successful and profitable businesses is a great way of empowering and enabling personal improvement that benefits not just the individual, but their children, family and society in general. Founder, Ms Cherie Blair of CBFW stated that women entrepreneurs are faced with significant barriers to scaling up their businesses, including access to affordable resources, marketing channels and training inputs. According to her, the new information service aims to address this imbalance by providing essential entrepreneurship tips, delivered via SMS to mobile phones with the Nokia Life service. “Women entrepreneurs present at the launch of the service expressed optimism that the new information service would assist them in overcoming some of the social and economic barriers preventing women from reaching their economic potential,” she said. Research conducted by the CBFW, supported by the ExxonMobil showed that 93 per cent of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria were willing to use value added mobile service to address the core challenges they face in their business and 75 percent of them felt that addressing these challenges would lead to a significant increase in value of their business. “Giving women the chance to become financially independent and make the most of their talents is the key to higher living standards for them and their families. With the extensive reach of businesswomen through Nokia Life and content tailored especially for Nigeria women entrepreneurs, this new service has the potential to empower

Rutherford

thousands of women business owners.” A restaurateur in Lagos, Mama Joy, said the Nokia Life Tools Information service had helped her in taking certain strategic decisions which helped her to manage her finances and grow her business. Speaking on the development, Chairman of WIMBIZ, a women’s organisation dedicated to recognising and supporting women in business, Ms Adeola Azeez, said that with proper information, other barriers facing women entrepreneurs can be surmounted. According to her, with the Nokia Life Tools Information Service for women, women in rural areas would have access to financial information which would help them to better plan their finances and overcome financial challenges and also how to better position themselves in the ever-changing competitive marketplace.” Nigeria was the first country in Africa to benefit from the Nokia Life Tools which is aimed at emerging markets across the globe. The Vice President of Nokia West Africa, Mr. James Rutherford, said, “Nokia Life is by far the world’s largest mobile information services suite helping consumers in emerging markets learn, live, and share information better.” According to him, the information services has over 6.3 million users in these markets with services which cover healthcare, agriculture, education, entertainment and more recently, advisory information for women. Rutherford stated that Nokia was committed to aiding development within the ecosystem in which it finds itself, adding that women are integral to the development of any society and empowering women through information is the first step in bridging the gap in entrepreneurship. “There are over 101 million active mobile phones in Nigeria out of which only a third of this number are smartphones. The Nokia Life Tools seeks to connect with this large population of mobile phone users and give them the opportunities that they ordinarily cannot access without a smartphone.” Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olajide Idris, has commended Nokia for its Life Tools software application embedded in its phone, which helps deliver useful information on health, education and entertainment to Nigerians. “This is a great initiative aimed at deploying ICT tools and services to grow women entrepreneurship in our country and I must say that corporate organisations should follow in Nokia’s footsteps by pioneering activities and initiatives which create an enabling environment for women to actualise their business potential,” he said. Other stakeholders have said with the continued efforts of the government and corporate organisations like Nokia, through its mobile service, Nokia Life Tools, the future of women as entrepreneurs and leaders in the business world looks bright.

Info Tech

Thursday, September 6, 2012

FG lauded over approval of new ICT policy STORIES: KUNLE A ZEEZ

he Joint Action Committee on Information and Communications Technology and Development, JACITAD, has commended the Federal Government for the approval of the new National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy noting that it will complement the national economic growth aspirations. JACITAD, the umbrella professional body of ICT Journalists in Nigeria said that its membership cutting across newspapers, magazine, online and key ICT media institutions also said it would partner stakeholders across the industry ecosystem towards actualising the vision of the new policy. National President of JACITAD, Mr. Shina Badaru, said that, “our association is encour-

aged by the news of the recent approval in principle granted by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Federal Executive Council which we believe represents the administration’s commitments to leverage ICTs for overall national growth and economic development.” According to him, with the new National ICT Policy, Nigeria has defined a new roadmap for its aspiration to be a key player in a connected global economy and fast-paced globalisation while also showing that government has heeded industry advocacy that government promotes true convergence running the entire gamut of its policies and across regulatory institutions as well. Noting that the Ministry of Communication Technology has said that the policy was developed to complement the development goals of Nigeria’s

Vision 20:2020, Badaru said with a vision to make Nigeria a knowledge-based and globally competitive society, the new policy hopes to fully integrate ICTs into the socio-economic development and transformation of the country into a knowledge-based economy. “Our commendation also goes to Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, for painstakingly pursuing the formulation of the new National ICT Policy within record time following her appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan on July 17, 2011,” he said. It would be recalled that the minister had on August 25, 2011 set up an ad-hoc committee to harmonise all existing policies for the different sectors in ICT including telecommunications, information technology, broadcasting and postal services.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tech Box LG L Series mobile phones

Smartphones with stylish craft

G Mobile, one of the world’s leading and fast growing mobile communications companies has introduced its new range of mobile phones into the Nigerian market. The devices are the LG Mobile L Series comprising of the LG Optimus L3, L5 and L7 mobile phones. The devices launched recently are adjudged as smartphones with stylish craft which compliments everyone’s unique style and also comes in prices which makes it affordable to persons of various class. Presenting the Optimus L3 Dual-SIM E405, one of the phone models, the Marketing Manager, LG Mobile, Mrs. Bukola Arabome, stated that the phone, which allows for the use of two SIMs, thus, giving its user a choice of network, also offers huge set of features and is one of the best buys in its categories. “LG Optimus L3 Dual functions on an Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system and its users will be able to

download l a t e s t apps and software as its speed is boosted up by an 800 MHz CortexA5 proc e s s o r, ” she said. The device she further noted “offers a comfortable view with its 3.2-inch TFT touch screen display and 240 by 320 pixels camera resolution and also comes with 1 GB internal data memory which is expandable to 32 GB and also comes loaded with a 3.2 MP Primary camera and a WiFi option”. With 1,500 mAh battery strength and powered by a 384 MB RAM,Arabome stated that the new LG Mobile L series which takes its look & feel from the PRADA phones also comes with pre-loaded LG Smart World applications.

Beats by Dr Dre headphone

Designed with superb audio quality

L-R: Principal Manager, National Lottery Commission, Mr. Bassey Effiong; Nollywood ace actor, Mr. Moses Armstrong, one of the winners of Hyundai ix35 SUV, Rev. Sopetu and Progressive Segment Manager, MTN, Mr. Joseph Ogbuka, at the 6th prize presentation of the ongoing MTN Goodwill Automania promo held in Cross Rivers State recently.

Firm introduces e-learning platform

company focused on developing Information Technology solutions for driving education, Sinbol Nigeria Limited, in collaboration with AYP Consult, has introduced an e-learning solution platform for the nation’s educational sector. The e-learning solution, Learn4Change, is a full-service, centrally hosted, scalable distance education platform and is arguably the largest on-line educational provider in Nigeria presently with its rich niche market which is characterized by over 4,000 courses in a multi-sectoral grouping. Group Managing Director, Sinbol Nigeria Limited, Mr. Bolade Daranijo, said the idea is to improve and deepen the scope of teaching and learning. According to him, modern technology has made it possible to gather and present in-

formation economically and efficiently and Learn4Change is leading the effort to marry technology and information dissemination. He said this will be achieved through four major modes of deployment which include academic institutions, professional bodies, mobile network operators and individuals. “Due to Nigeria’s growing population and the ever increasing demand for the provision of education at all levels which creates an overwhelming challenge to the present educational frame work, the need to embrace and explore technologically driven solutions that will deliver education beyond physical borders and limitation has become inevitable. “Over the years, the infrastructural, financial and administrative requirements for the expansion and creation

of additional physical institutions to cope with the increasing population have remained an arduous task,” he said. Daranijo said to this end, a new revolution in the educational sector which guarantees open and qualitative access to e-learning for all categories of learners including professionals, students and adults has been introduced in Nigeria through the Learn4Change. He said e-learning provides the needed leverage to reach the vast population of youths and other professionals alike who yearn for educational/ career development and the opportunity to reach for greater heights. “This global solution provides wide-reach convenience and the required flexibility to deliver qualitative and affordable learning over the internet with minimal administrative, financial and infrastructural implications.”

rom users’ accounts of Monster Beats by Dr Dre headphone, a new set of audio devices currently making waves in the market, the devices are indeed designed with superlative audio quality. Unless on has been hiding indoors for the last 12 months, one will probably have noticed a lot of people walking around wearing headphones with a distinctive ‘b’ logo on them. Monster’s Beats by Dr. Dre headphones are a triumph of marketing. After the launch in 2009, they are now stocked in almost every high street in the United Kingdom and gaining entry into other developed and developing African countries. The trademark red audio ca-

bles that come with Beats headphones have become almost as iconic as Apple’s white iPod cables in just a short space of time. Those who have used the devices have confirmed that the packaging they come in screams ‘premium’ and the build quality of the headphones themselves is second to none. Even before you put them on your head, they look and feel the part. They fold up nicely for easy transportation, and come with a padded carry case. With ControlTalk, user can use the inline remote on the cable to play/pause your music and toggle volume up and down without putting his or her hand in the pocket. This requires the presence of an Apple iPod, iPhone or iPad though. There is also an inline microphone so a call to your iPhone mid-song will result in music being paused and you being able to have the conversation through the headset itself. It all works marvelously, and in many ways it’s a flawless product. It’s just a shame they don’t sound half as good as they look.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Brands & Marketing

Before you go web advertising A

lthough traditional media has been proven by study to retain impact inspite of new media, web advertising, a marketing tool that uses the Internet to target and attract consumers is reported to have significant reach which can be maximised to yield large returns. An online ad has been observed to take many forms, including but not limited to pop-up, mobile, banner, floating, rich media, and interactive advertisements. The goal of the ad is usually to promote either branding, the awareness of a product in the minds of consumers, or direct sales, the immediate purchase of a product or service. The market for web advertising according to experts is potentially limitless and has many benefits. For example, advertisers can successfully reach a large audience by placing informative and interesting ads in high traffic areas of the Internet. Study reveals that most web advertisements are delivered by an advertising network, whose job it is to match websites that run ads with companies looking to place ads. Ad networks are grouped as either first-tier or second-tier and then further divided into targeted, representative, and blind networks. An ad server stores the ads and distributes them to consumers via websites, adware, or some other

As web media and advertising continuosly claim significant control of business target markets, ELLA OLAMIJU writes on how businesses can build on the gains and what consumers need be aware of.

L-R: General Manager, GTBank, Mr. Dare Adeyeri, Executive Director, Mr. Wale Oyedeji, Associate Partner Phillips Consulting, Mr. Wole Ogundare, and Managing Director Right Click Nigeria, Mr. Bolaji Finnih at the award presentation for Overall Bank Website Effectiveness to GTBank Nigeria by the Web Jurist team recently.

format. In some cases, the web server can even provide helpful data to the advertiser regarding the effectiveness of the web advertisement. First-tier networks include many of the major search engines. They tend to have their own advertisers, publishers, and online traffic. Second-tier

Unilever to launch chain of branded tea shops STORIES: ELLA OLAMIJU

he global Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) firm Unilever is hoping to “transform” the global out of home tea market and is preparing to launch a “new concept” for cafes serving tea that could see the launch of a chain of branded cafes, according to a job spec for a global manager to lead the operation. The company which owns the Lipton brand and claims it is the world’s best known tea brand, also has PG Tips, Lan-Choo and Irish tea brand Lyons in its stable. Unilever has form in branded cafe operations and has previously launched a chain of Bru World Cafe coffee shops in India under its instant coffee brand Bru. It cites the “Starbucks and Nespresso effect” for changing perceptions of coffee in terms of value, range and quality, over

the past 20 years. It now wants to mirror this in the tea market by creating “the definitive tea experience”according tojob spec Nespresso operates a chain of branded coffee “boutiques” selling its espresso drinks in the UK, Europe and the US, as well as a successful ‘at home’ machine system while Starbucks has expanded its coffee shop brand into at-home coffee products. Unilever declined to provide any further details about the concept but it is due to launch in selected countries this year ahead of a global roll out from 2013, with full roll out expected by 2017, according to the job spec. The concept will be part of Unilever Food Solutions division, which supplies restaurants and the catering industry, but will form a new strand of the business.

STUDY REVEALS THAT MOST WEB ADVERTISEMENTS ARE DELIVERED BY AN ADVERTISING NETWORK, WHOSE JOB IT IS TO MATCH WEBSITES THAT RUN ADS WITH COMPANIES LOOKING TO PLACE ADS networks do not have as many advertisers or publishers of their own; their main job is to organise web advertisements for other networks using ads and traffic from firsttier networks. Representative networks give full disclosure

to the advertiser about the ad and where it will be placed while blind networks offer discounted ads but no control or information about where the ad will run. Targeted networks use contextual and behavioral advertising to

capture and follow a specific audience’s buting patterns. Each of the networks deals effectively with a particular corner of the advertising market. According to Majon International, “ Pricing for web advertisements can vary among the different networks. However, the most common classifications are CPV (Cost Per Visitor), CPI (Cost Per Impression), and CPC (Cost Per Click). CPV is based on a targeted visitor traffic, CPC is regulated by the number of clicks linking to the advertiser and CPI is allocated by the number of impressions.” Other lesser known pricing strategies include Cost Per Conversion, the cost of obtaining a customer, and Cost Per Action, which is used mainly in the affilate marketing sector. Consumers need to be aware that, while the majority of advertising is genuine, not all of it may be. Malicious adware, which are called spyware, can be extremely harmful to consumers. Not to be confused with legitimate and ethical advertisements, these applications are according to web experts are usually installed onto the system without the consent of the user. They have the capability to change computer settings and capture personal data and are often characterized by endless pop-up ads and the redirection of web browsers to undesirable websites.

Starcomms appoints interim chief executive

tarcomms Plc has announced the appointment of Mr. Olusola Oladokun as Interim Chief Executive in succession to Mr. Logan Pather. Oladokun has held the position of Finance Director at Starcomms since December 2011 and will for the next few months combine the responsibilities for both roles. Logan Pather decided to leave Starcomms after 12 months as Chief Executive. He has remained in his post until August 31, to ensure a smooth handover to the new Interim Chief Executive.

Chairman, Starcomms, Chief Maan Lababidi said: “On behalf of the board, I want to thank Logan for his contribution to Starcomms. He has led the company during a very challenging period for the Nigerian CDMA industry and has played an invaluable part in helping to secure Starcomms’ future, not least by strengthening our relationships with customers and suppliers and successfully reducing the cost base of the business. “We are delighted that Olusola Oladokun has agreed to lead Starcomms at this diffi-

cult time and strongly believe that he has the right skills and experience to successfully continue the work done by Logan Pather.” In his response Oladokun stated that, “Starcomms is a fantastic brand and a great company with high caliber staff and an exciting future and I look forward to contributing to the repositioning of the company as Nigerias’s leading high speed mobile data provider.” As part of Oladokun’s new role, he will also become a Director of Starcomms and take a seat on the Board of Directors.

Brands & Marketing

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Domino Pizza for launch in Nigeria

t a time when Nigeria is seeking for foreign investors and the expansion of its economy to create more employment for her citizens, Domino’s Pizza - world’s renowned leader in pizza delivery is set to launch into the Nigerian market. The opening and running of the Domino’s Pizza brand will be championed in Nigeria by Eat’n’Go Ltd as local franchise partner The company will commission the first outlet in Victoria Island, Lagos to give Nigerian consumers that pizza experience they have never had. The company has a precise development plan to open more outlets nationwide. In a statement issued by the company, the Managing Director, Eat’n’Go Ltd, Mr. Eric Andre, said that, Domino’s Pizza is a world recognised brand that has provided long lasting pizza

experience to a whole lot of consumers around the World. Through its primarily locally-owned and operated franchised system, Domino’s Pizza operates over 9,000 franchised and company-owned stores in the United States and over 60 international markets. During the second quarter of 2011, Domino’s Pizza had global retail sales of over $1.6 billion, comprised of nearly $793 million domestically and over $810 million internationally. The company had global retail sales of over $6.2 billion in 2010, comprised of over $3.3 billion domestically and over $2.9 billion internationally”. Andre added that, with all this fantastic records in providing consumers with the best of pizza production and delivery that is second to none, Eat’n’Go is proud to announce the arrival of Domino’s Pizza in Nigeria.

Eat’n’Go is a restaurant group dedicated to bringing the best F&B brands to Africa. Our Domino’s Pizza Nigeria store is opening soon and our team is in Miami at the moment exploring the international flavor and learning International quality with tasty delicious local flavor. “Eat’n’Go is keen to excite your taste buds and wet your appetite with diverse F&B brands. So far our growing family consists of Domino’s Pizza and Cold Stone Creamery. “We are on a mission to become the premier food operator in Africa. We bring Africans the best brands. The brand core values includes: putting people first, demanding for integrity, striving for customer loyalty, delivering with hustle and positive energy, winning by improving result every day.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cocacola crowdsources with 50m Facebook fans

oca-Cola is inviting its 50 millionstrong Facebook community to crowdsource ideas to help make the world a happier place, an initiative the social network is dubbing, “the next step in fan culture”. The soft drinks giant, which uses the strapline Open Happiness in its marketing campaigns, is to identify individuals that are creating ideas to help increase giving to others, enable people to become active, be social or other activities associated with making people happy. Coca-Cola’s Facebook fans will then be invited to shape the ideas and rally their own communities to support their favourite new social innovations. The outcome will be piloted in 2013, with Coca-Cola providing the inventor of the idea with access to the company’s relevant teams. Coca-Cola’s Chief Marketing and Commercial leadership officer, Mr. Joe Tripodi, says the initiative extends the brands’ wider pledge to bring “simple moments of happiness to people around the world every day”. Facebook’s chief operating officer, Ms Sheryl Sanberg, said the programme is the “next step in fan culture”. “Coca-Cola understands the value of communicating directly with its most ardent supporters in an authentic way that helps make the world more open and connected,” she said. Coca-Cola currently has the largest brand page on Facebook. The page was originally created by two fans of the brand outside of the company in 2008, but was later taken over by its in-house team and agencies.

Momas System, Learn Africa, others bag awards

M L-R: Account Manager, Proximity Communications, Ms Vivian Okorie, winners 2012 Cowbell Chocolate summer camp programme, Malik Hassain, Darasimi Portes, Brand Manager, Cowbell Chocolate, Mr. Abiodun Ajiborode and Associate Director, Proximity Communications, Mr. John Abhulimen , during the 2012 Cowbell Chocolate summer camp funfair, held in Lagos, recently.

3 Internet Marketing Tips To Always Keep In Mind

nternet marketing takes time and effort, but it’s definitely not rocket science. What follows next are some tried and true IM business strategies that absolutely will help you be more successful. Most marketers would tell you to build your own in-house mailing list, for email marketing, if you want to see serious profits. If you’ve been around at least a little bit, then that is something you’re sure to have heard before. List marketing is one of the few ways you can use to see extreme profit increases in your business. All very highly successful online marketers will tell you that their business didn’t really take-off until they built a list. Instant money, personal ATM’s, money on demand… those are a few descriptions often seen when people talk about the power of an email list. But you’ll still see scores of marketers just

going for the one-time sale. It’s a fact that your business is much less stable if you don’t have an email list. Your aim with Internet marketing is to create a business that gives you an income on the long term. An email list will give you the privilege of long-term growth with some built-in stability. The other aspect is that a list represents the greatest source of targeted traffic that you can have at your disposal. Besides that, your aim here is to get the lifetime value of your customers and this can only be possible when you have them on your list. Your subscribers who have bought something from you statistically will buy more easily again from you in the future – so that’s a great thing. A tip that is worth remembering is that out of the box thinking can set you apart from the rest of the crowd. Don’t

ignore any out of the box ideas that you may have; test them and if people respond you can choose to develop it. The majority of the marketers who aren’t able to succeed with their campaigns is because they are doing what the thousands of other people are doing. Just think, you decide to implement one crazy ideas that you have every once in awhile and it skyrockets and becomes an internet phenomena. There aren’t many secrets to succeeding online, but one that people miss is to get very good at a few proven techniques, and to do things that others aren’t. If the majority of marketers are not list building then you can start and learn how to do it effectively so your subscribers will stick around and purchase from you. The idea here is to be different than the others, so that your customers have a reason to buy from you.

omas System Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s leading indigenous metering service provider, AFE Babalola University, LEARN Africa, others recently bagged the African Governance and Corporate Leadership Awards 2012. The 2012 edition of the award organised by the Institute for Government Research and Leadership Technology which was held recently at the prestigious NICON Luxury Hotel in Abuja to recognise individuals and companies for their contributions to the nation’s development. Speaking at the award ceremony, the Chairman-in-Council, Institute of Government Research and Leadership Technology, Dame Priscilla Kuye noted that the award was given to the recipient in recognition for their immense contributions to the nation progress and development over the past years. In his reaction after receiving the award, the Chief Executive Officer, MOMAS System Nigeria Limited, Engr. Kola Balogun described the award as a significant and symbolic recognition of the company’s contribution to the nation’s development especially in the area of electricity metering solutions. Balogun disclosed that the award would further spur the company to strive harder in its contribution to the development of the country.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Brands & Marketing

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Microsoft and Nokia to benefit from Apple Samsung ruling

icrosoft and Nokia could benefit from the United States court ruling that found Samsung copied Apple’s smartphone and tablet designs, as it could encourage other handset manufacturers using Android to move towards the Windows Phone platform to avoid similar legal battles. Nokia, which opted for the Windows platform last year after forming a partnerships with Microsoft, saw its shares rise on Friday following the ruling. Its Lumia Windows phone was highlighted by Apple during the case as an example of a smartphone device that looks significantly different to its products. Microsoft and Nokia are expected to launch the latest Windows 8 phones in the US in September. Senior Director of Marketing Communications for the Windows Phone Division at Microsoft

Mr. Bill Cox had tweeted shortly after the verdict: “Windows Phone is looking gooooood right now.” Google has said that it hopes the ruling will not “limit” innovation in the mobile market around its Android platform. In a statement, the internet giant said: “The court of appeals will review both infringement and the validity of the patent claims. Most of these don’t relate to the core Android operating system, and several are being re-examined by the US Patent Office. “The mobile industry is moving fast and all players - including newcomers - are building upon ideas that have been around for decades. We work with our partners to give consumers innovative and affordable products, and we don’t want anything to limit that.” Samsung, which is the largest manufacturer of Android

phones, will appeal the ruling and has already hit out at Apple, calling on consumers to boycott the tech manufacturer. In an internal memo posted on Friday the company said: “History has shown there has yet to be a company that has won the hearts and minds of consumers and achieved continuous growth, when its primary means to competition has been the outright abuse of patent law, not the pursuit of innovation. “We trust that the consumers and the market will side with those who prioritise innovation over litigation, and we will prove this beyond doubt.” Apple, meanwhile, has named the eight Samsung devices of which it is seeking sales bans. The Galaxy S 4G, Galaxy S2 AT&T model, Galaxy S2 Skyrocket, Galaxy S2 T-Mobile model, Galaxy S2 Epic 4G, Galaxy S Showcase, Droid Charge and Galaxy Prevail will be at the heart of a hearing due on September 20.

L-R: Head, Events and Sponsorship, Etisalat, Ms. Modupe Thani; Director, Marketing Segment and Strategy, Mr. Oluwole Rawa; Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Steven Evans; Manager, Public Relations, Ms. Chineze Amanfo, and Manager, Tele Centre Segment, Ms. Chinelo Mbanefo, at the Etisalat FC Barcelona Press Conference/Novelty Match held at Fun Turf, Lekki recently.

Brands should touch lives

have observed over the years that people do not forget good deeds in a hurry. In the same vein, when brands are socially responsible, such brands maintain a quantum edge above others. Brands need to maintain an identity that resonates among the target audience. Brands that connect with their environment become relevant to the consumers. This is because brands should better the lot of the society to retain a strong pedigree amongst the target audience. Brands that connect with the target audience by touching lives of people in concrete terms create an identity and develop a touch point that remains an enduring experience in the minds of consumers. Brands should create touch points that make consumers contact with the brand and adding value to the society is one

those touch points. A brand should stand for something and make difference in the lives of the people. That is why brands need to create positive associations with the consumers in particular and the society in general. Brands should equally generate visible perception among the target audience. This is a long term investment as reputation is build over a considerable length of time. The Indomie brand stands tall in the market place today as a result of solid brand building activities as a good corporate citizen. The brand has been involved in nutrition programme, road safety enlightenment, educational upliftment and others. The Indomie brand has clearly been positioned over the years as one that promote the common well being of the people. I shared my views in a differ-

ad VA NT AG E icon

unmi Onabolu has 27 years of intimidating experience in what he described as 360 per cent marketing communications, and for 13 years and six months of those years he was Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at renowned Nigerian advertsing agency, Insight Grey. His depth and finesse as a professional stands him out amongst equal and his strong optimism, passion and integrity are trade marks that many in the advertising world admire and seek to emulate. A graduate of Literature in English from the famous Obafemi Awolowo University with a first love for broadcasting, Onabolu’s admirable focus and loyalty traits is seen in the fact that his 27 years rich marketing communications experience is shared only between two foremost agencies, Insight Grey and Cosse Ltd where he joined in 1996 and presently presides over as Group Managing Director. On how he has been able to achieve so much with such unique finesse and professionalism, he admitted in an interview that, “My number one mentor is God. The Bible is the number one best seller in the world. It is not a mistake I believe. There must be some good values in it. If you look at the best business practices you find them in the Bible. If you go to the Proverbs you will find a lot of management skills there. I can always keep tapping on God’s knowledge that is the interesting thing.”

Brand X-Ray with Ayodeji Ayopo Tel: 08023448199 E-mail: mayomipo@yahoo.com ent column about Dettol “wash your hand” campaign. The brand utilised a potent platform to drive visibility and acceptance. The brand chose to visit schools to educate and enlighten students on the dangers posed by germs. The Dettol brand immersed the children target in a very strong way and the result was overwhelming. From my own personal experience, we had to switch as a family from using Delta soap to Dettol soap. Why? Our children based on the enlightenment they obtained from Dettol educators, changed our bathing soap brand immediately. This is despite the fact that we regularly use Dettol liquid antiseptic. The key learning here is that the brand

has contributed in no small measure to enlighten school pupils on personal hygiene. The Maclean tooth paste brand also did an outstanding activity a little while ago. The brand provided free dental checks for people and had sampling of the brand for over 1,000 participants. All the brand was communicating is its commitment to environmental fortification and assuring consumers of quality product. It is also aimed at improving the quality of human life. The brand also underscored the need to protect and educate Nigerians on the importance of taking care of their oral cavity. The truth is that when a brand does well to the society, it main-

Onabolu

MY NUMBER ONE MENTOR IS

GOD. THE

BIBLE IS THE NUMBER ONE BEST SELLER IN THE WORLD With strong veterans as Winston Churchill, Ogilvy, The Saatchi brothers, Biodun Shobanjo, and Akintola Williams, it is not a surprise that Onabolu rose through the ranks through dedication and hardwork to become president of Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria ( AAAN) in 2010. Onabolu’s interests lies in complete Marketing Communications, Brand Activation, Direct Marketing. research amongst others; and is concerned about deploying simple but effective solutions to marketing communications challenges. tains a visible positive rating in the eyes of the target audience in particular and the society in general. Brands through their social responsibility initiatives build huge good will in the society. People do not forget when a brand sinks a borehole in their community or when a brand renovates a class room block and provide books for students. Brand managers need to develop an effective brand strategy that focuses not only on customer purchase but also adding value to consumers’ lives. Brand should adopt strategy to promote the general well-being of the consumers. When brands champion the causes of consumers, such brands remain etched on the tablets of their hearts. What the brand does in the society reflects the image the brand intends to project amongst the target audience. It is important that brands create a unique perception in the minds of the consumers.

Global Business

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Poland holds rate at three-year high as growth slows

oland’s central bank kept borrowing costs unchanged for a fourth month at the highest level since 2009 even after the economy expanded at the weakest pace in almost three years. The Narodowy Bank Polski left the benchmark seven-day interest rate at 4.75 percent, the highest since January 2009, in line with the expectations of 27 of 28 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. One economist predicted a rate cut to 4.5 percent. The bank will comment on the decision at a news conference at 4 p.m. in Warsaw. The zloty pared its decline against the euro after the announcement while bonds were steady. The central bank, the only one in the European Union to raise borrowing costs this year, increased the benchmark in May after keeping it unchanged for almost a year. While policy makers said Poland’s expansion in the face of Europe’s debt crisis allowed them to focus on inflation, growth slowed more than economists forecast in the second quarter, bolstering the case for monetary easing. “The recent data should be sufficient to lead to a gradual softening of the MPC’s tone,” Piotr Kalisz, chief economist at the Polish unit of Citigroup Inc.,

President Bronislaw Komorowski

said before the decision. “The economicgrowth slowdown increases the chance of a rate cut in November, and in the next 12 months rates will fall by around 1 percentage point.” The zloty traded 0.3 percent weaker on the day to 4.2057 per euro yesterday. in Warsaw, after touching a six-week low

of 4.2176 earlier in the day. Two-year government bond yields increased one basis point, or 0.01 percentage point, to 4.01 percent, according to generic data compiled by Bloomberg. Gross domestic product rose 2.4 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, the slowest pace since the third quarter of 2009 and down from 3.5 percent in the January-March period as companies and consumers scaled back spending amid the debt crisis. Poland sells more than half its exports to the 17- nation euro region, where the debt crisis is crimping demand. The government, which has kept its target for 2.5 percent growth this year, yesterday lowered its prediction for 2013. GDP will rise 2.2 percent instead of a previously estimated 2.9 percent, according to a new 2013 draft budget. While central banks across the world are undertaking the broadest cut in borrowing costs since 2009 to avert a global slump, the Narodowy Bank Polski has kept rates at their highest since 2009 for a second year. Still, the bank has now changed its “policy bias” and prospects for cutting rates have increased, Governor Marek Belka told Radio PiN in an interview on August 28.

Bank lending stress holds at 14-month low in Euro money markets

uropean banks’ reluctance to lend to one another held near the lowest in more than 14 months, according to a money market indicator. The difference between the euro interbank offered rate and overnight indexed swaps, known as the Euribor-OIS spread, was 20 basis points, or 0.2 percentage point in London, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The gap is the smallest since June 20, 2011. Three-month Euribor, the rate banks say they charge each other for loans, was set at a 0.269 percent, a record 48 basis points below the European Central Bank’s refinancing rate. Euribor, derived from a daily survey of lenders for the European Banking Federation, has fallen for 23 days to the lowest ever. One-week Euribor was set at a recordlow 0.089 percent from 0.090 percent yesterday. The London interbank offered rate, or Libor, for three-month dollar loans fell to 0.410 percent, the lowest

since Oct. 18, 2011, from 0.412 percent yesterday. Libor is published by the British Bankers’ Association. The cost for European banks to borrow in dollars held at the lowest since June 22, 2011. The three-month crosscurrency basis swap, the rate banks pay to convert euro interest payments into dollars, was unchanged at 27 basis points below Euribor. The one-year basis swap was little changed at minus 34. The European Banking Federation’s euro overnight index average, or Eonia, of unsecured lending deals was set at 0.102 percent yesterday from 0.108 percent the day before. The Eonia swap, an estimate of average overnight borrowing costs over the next three months, was at seven basis points from 7.2 yesterday. Lenders increased overnight deposits at the European Central Bank yesterday, placing 342 billion euros ($429 billion) with the Frankfurt-based central bank from 341 billion euros the day before.

Mario Draghi

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Spain to surrender rank of 12th-biggest economy to Australia

Rajoy

ustralia, driven by the biggest resource-investment expansion since the 19th century, is poised to overtake debt-laden Spain as the world’s 12th largest economy, measured by gross domestic product. Australia’s $1.379 trillion economy will probably supplant Spain’s $1.386 trillion GDP this quarter, data compiled by Bloomberg from the national statistics agencies of both countries show. The International Monetary Fund projected in January that Australia’s economy would be $3 billion smaller than Spain’s by the end of this year. “This is a nice microcosm of the structural shifts in the global economy away from the old developed core to the emerging and peripheral part of the global economy, in Asia particularly,” said Richard Yetsenga, head of global markets research at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. While the Iberian nation struggles to extricate itself from a recession, government data today showed Australia’s economy expanded 3.7 percent in the three months to June 30 from a year earlier, marking 21 consecutive years without a recession. Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy said this month his country is unable to fund itself at the current cost of borrowing and needs sacrifices such as higher taxes to restore its national standing. Australia, which is aiming to return its budget to surplus this financial year, has the top debt grade from all three main ratings companies, while Spain is ranked as low as Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, the lowest investment-grade rating. That means one more downgrade would see Spanish bonds categorized as junk debt by Moody’s.

Thailand holds policy rate as prasarn resists calls to ease

Shinawatra

hailand’s central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged for a fifth straight meeting after the economy rebounded, resisting calls from Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government for lower borrowing costs. The Bank of Thailand held its oneday bond repurchase rate at 3 percent, it said in Bangkok yesterday. The decision was predicted by 18 of 21 economists in a Bloomberg News survey, while three expected a quarter-point cut. Only five members of

the seven-person policy committee attended today’s meeting, with three voting to hold rates and two preferring a cut. The central bank has refrained from adding to its November and January rate reductions as the country recovered from its worst floods in almost seven decades. Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong has urged lower borrowing costs and a weaker currency, putting Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul in the same position as counterparts from the euro re-

gion to Japan and the U.S. in facing pressure from politicians to shore up growth. “Thailand did benefit from reconstruction” after the floods, said Frances Cheung, a strategist at Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong, who predicts the policy rate will be kept stable until the end of the year. “But if the external environment continues to weaken, then some stimulus would be needed.” The Thai baht fell 0.3 percent to 31.29 per dollar yesterday in Bangkok.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Index rises 1.4% as bullish run persists JOHNSON OKANLAWON

he bullish run in equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange entered its ninth consecutive day yesterday, the highest this year, with the trend not showing any sign of retreat in the interim. The banking and NSE 30-index recorded significant gains of 1.94 per cent and 1.45 per cent to close at 380.15 points and 1,141.10 points respectively, supporting the All Share Index to return 1.44 per cent, its 4-month highest. Lotus Islamic index rose by 1.76 per cent to close at 1,435.41 points,

while consumer goods index appreciated by 0.81 per cent to close at 2,060.58 points. But the oil and gas index dropped 0.10 per cent to close at 165.70 points. According to analysts at Meristem Securities Limited, a research firm, the market breadth widened relative to the preceding day, indicating investors’ optimism in valued counters. The value of 37 stocks increased, while 14 declined. The analysts pointed out that major market metrics are trading at their respective year high, as the local benchmark which closed at 24,358.62 points on

Wednesday has returned 17.5 per cent year-todate. Market capitalisation gained N110bn to close at N7.75trn, higher than the increase by N47bn recorded the preceding day to close at N7.64trn. NAHCO Plc led the gainers’ table with 28 kobo or five per cent to close at N5.88 per share, followed by Union Bank of Nigeria Plc with 28 kobo or 4.99 per cent to close at N5.89 per share. Dangote Sugar Plc gained 22 kobo or 4.99 per cent to close at N4.63 per share, while WAPCO Plc rose by N2.20 or 4.99 per cent to close at N46.31 per share. Flour Mills of Migeria Plc ap-

preciated by N2.88 or 4.99 per cent to close at N60.65 per share. On the flip side, Arbico Plc dropped 57 kobo or 4.96 per cent to close at N10.93 per share, while Longman Plc dipped by 10 kobo or 4.93 per cent to close at N1.93 per share. DN Meyer Plc shed four kobo or 4.71 per cent to close at 81 kobo per share, while Eterna Oil Plc lost 11 kobo or 4.56 per cent to close at N2.30 per share. UTC Plc declined by three kobo or 4.35 per cent to close at 66 kobo per share. A total of 254.3 million shares worth N2.20bn were exchanged in 4,292 deals.

Source: NSE

NIBOR QUOTES 4 SEPTEMBER & 5 SEPTEMBER 2012 25.00 24.00 23.00 22.00 21.00 20.00 19.00 18.00 17.00 16.00 15.00 14.00 13.00 12.00 11.00 10.00

4-Sep-12

5-Sep-12

Market indicators All-Share Index 23,105.05 points

Market makers begin operation September JOHNSON OKANLAWON

he management of the Nigerian Stock Exchange has announced September 18, 2012 as the commencement date of its market making programme. As part of activities heralding the commencement of the programme, the Exchange has concluded arrangements to facilitate a market-wide workshop on September 11, 2012 to intimate market stakeholders with the rules and operational guidelines for the programme.

A statement from the Exchange yesterday quoted Head, Transformation and Change of the NSE, Mr Olumide Lala, as saying the workshop will bring together experts in market making, securities lending and short selling with other key capital market participants such as settlement banks, pension fund administrators, insurance companies and companies listed on the Exchange to name a few. Offering an insight on the initiatives, he explained that the market makers will play a central role in the provision

of two-way quotes (comprising of buy and sell prices) for the securities that they are making markets on. He said, “Leveraging the Securities Lending process, Market Makers will be able to borrow securities in order to settle ‘buy order imbalances’ from customers. A ‘hybrid’ market, allowing both market makers to provide two way quotes and licensed broker/ dealers of The Exchange to submit orders as is currently done, will be operated from the commencement date of this key initiative.” On the importance

Facebook falls after Morgan Stanley report

acebook Incorporation closed at a record low yesterday after Morgan Stanley, a lead underwriter of the company’s initial public offering, cut its price forecast on concern that the social network is struggling to reach mobile users with ads. Facebook fell 1.8 per cent to $17.73 at the close in New York, the lowest closing price since the Menlo Park, Californiabased company went public at $38 a share on May 17. As more users access Facebook’s site over smartphones and tablets,

they’re exposed to fewer ads, Scott Devitt, an analyst at Morgan Stanley in New York, said in a note to clients on Wednesday. Facebook’s desktop site shows about 30 times more ads per user each day than its mobile counterpart, he said. Devitt now expects Facebook shares to reach $32 in the next 12 months, down from his previous projection of $38. The company, which has lost more than half its value since May 17, has been suffering as analysts and researchers temper expectations for revenue growth. Douglas Anmuth, an

analyst at JPMorgan Chase and Company said in a separate note yesterday that the company may not be able to make as much money from games as he previously thought. “The dynamics around social gaming have changed, leading to lower monetization for Facebook,” Anmuth said in the note. “Web games now operate in a more competitive space, and users are rapidly shifting to mobile devices where Apple and Google control app distribution and payments.” Still, Facebook’s advertising revenue should increase more quickly in the

of securities lending, he said that it would provide for lending and borrowing of securities which in return will enable investors earn returns on their ‘idle’ stocks whilst contributing significantly to market liquidity and price efficiency through legitimate investment activity in covered short selling. According to him, over 300 participants are expected to take part in the workshop and they will be drawn from various professional bodies, associations and key stakeholders in the market.

second half of 2012 and into next year as it boosts the use of sponsored story ads, said Anmuth, who rates the stock overweight. Last week, advertising researcher EMarketer Incoporation lowered its revenue estimate for Facebook. The company expects Facebook to post $5.04bn in sales this year, less than its projection in February of $6.1bn. Growth in advertising, which makes up the majority of Facebook’s sales, will slow to 34 per cent in 2012 and 29 per cent in 2013, from more than 68 percent last year, New York-based EMarketer said.

Market capitalisation 7,354 trillion

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

NAHCO

5.60

5.88

0.28

% CHANGE 5.00

UBN

5.61

5.89

0.28

4.99

DANGSUGAR

4.41

4.63

0.22

4.99

WAPCO

44.11

46.31

2.20

4.99

FLOURMILL

57.77

60.65

2.88

4.99

CADBURY

19.67

20.65

0.98

4.98

INTBREW

9.24

9.70

0.46

4.98

ASHAKACEM

10.20

10.70

0.50

4.90

CCNN

4.12

4.32

0.20

4.85

MAYBAKER

1.45

1.52

0.07

4.83

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

ARBICO

11.50

10.93

0.57

-4.96

LONGMAN

2.03

1.93

0.10

-4.93

DNMEYER

0.85

0.81

0.04

-4.71

ETERNA

2.41

2.30

0.11

-4.56

UTC

0.69

0.66

0.03

-4.35

IPWA

0.73

0.70

0.03

-4.11

LIVESTOCK

1.38

1.33

0.05

-3.62

REDSTAREX

2.67

2.58

0.09

-3.37

IKEJAHOTEL

1.15

1.12

0.03

-2.61

FCMB

3.05

3.01

0.04

-1.31

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Day

32,970.71

14.10

6-Sep-12

182-Day

50,000.00

15.49

5-Sep-12

364 -Day

60,000.00

9.05

6-Sep-12

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

48 Days

7,302.20

14.39

13-Sep-12

118-Day

50,282.86

14.08

30-Aug-12

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$200m

N/A

$200m

5-Sep-12

$200m

N/A

$200m

3-Sep-12

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at September 5, 2012 1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

1st Tier Securities No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

I work hard ney for my money –Denrele Africa’s eccentric red carpet host and VJ of South Africa based music station, Channel O, Denrele Edun, was overwhelmed when he was announced On-Air Personality of the Year (Television) at The Future Awards. The former Soundcity presenter known for his weird fashion spoke to LEONARD OKACHIE, stressing that his ‘madness’ is for a purpose: Excerpts: How do you feel winning The Future Awards? I cannot describe it now. Honestly, I was not expecting it because I have been nominated for the award since 2007. I talked to myself, “will this finally get to me?”In 2007, ‘The Future Awards’ gave me ‘Producer of the Year’. I feel really honoured. It shows my work is not in vain. Did you ever dream seeing yourself in the entertainment industry? Yes, I knew from time that I will be into entertainment, but I was not sure what I was going to do. As time went by and I went into self realisation and actualisation, I discovered it has to be in showbiz. I began presenting in 2005, and when I started, they did not give me any programme. I was just hustling and writing scripts. But as God would have it, right now, I represent Channel O Africa, and I did the Big Brother finale. What more could I ask for? I want to say a big thank you to a ‘The Future Awards’. This is the best feeling ever. Even if I did not win, I would have gone home happy. The fact that when they were calling for nominees, people were shouting my name and that was enough. Your appointment at Channel O was like a miracle. How did it happen? What is yours will be yours. If God decrees it, it will be. I never thought they will pick me. Sincerely, I will say that, I am one of the faces for the channel and I know there is more to come. This is just the beginning. Have you changed since joining Channel O? I am the same person. The person that has started this process will be the same person that will end it. I will never grow wings because of my awards or

Denrele

erance, but he didn’t do that, he just left me. I think he saw that this was going to happen to me.

because of the money. People who know me, will tell you that I do not discriminate or compromise. Nor do I have celebrity status. I do what I have to make people happy and I like to be part of people’s success stories. How did it all begin? I actually started in television in 1995. Then I went into modelling. I used to dance for artistes like Ruggedman, 2Shot, Lexxy Do etc. I went into presenting in 2005.I will say that this is my 18th award and I feel good because I wanted and got it. What is your advice to younger artistes? There are two ways to know your personality: the way you behave when you have everything and the way you manage when you have nothing. I have had nothing in life and I have lived like I have everything and I could make everything happen. This is an industry where there is space for everyone. If people come to you for help, please help. You never can tell what you are doing in the life of such a person. I have so many success stories and I think this is the law of distributive justice. Which aspect of Nigeria do you represent on Channel O? I represent the Nigerian culture and music because Nigerian music is taking over the African music industry. I am an advocate and proud to be part of that movement. In as much as we are one Africa, one continent, “Naija no dey

I’M NOT WORKING TO WEAR GOOD LOOKING CLOTHES AND ALL

OF THAT;

I WORK SO HARD BECAUSE I AM BREADWINNER IN THE FAMILY

What is your background? My father is Yoruba from Ogun State. My mother is part Indian and Mauritian. I was born in Hamburg Germany. So I don’t even know where I am from. I am the first and only son. I have two younger sisters. I don’t like to say this but you know how crazy it can be. I’m not working to wear good looking clothes and all of that. I work so hard because I am the breadwinner in the family and I say this anywhere. I’m not working because I want people to notice me.I have family to feed and this is a testimony to the fact that I’m working very hard.

carry last.” Are you a mad person? “Na the madness dey put money into my bank account.” Yes! I’m positively mad. What encouragement do you get from your parents? A lot of people look at me and feel I don’t have parents. Or if I have, what are they doing? Of course, when I have children, they will have the freedom to express themselves as my parents gave me. Considering the fact that my father is Nigerian and family members used to complain everyday. I was pulled out of the church. My father would have locked me up or taken me out for deliv-

Why do you always distinguish yourself? I think it is by grace of God and the fact that I don’t drink and smoke. I’m naturally high. You can’t help but notice me. Even if they hide me under the table, you must see me. I am die-hard. If I see something I want, I go for it. I don’t accept no for answer. That it is my perseverance and spirit. How much do spend on your make-up? I don’t spend the money on myself. Everything you see on me is for free. Like I said, it is the grace of God that I don’t pay for anything. And when you know where you are headed, let no one stop you.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Church 4 Real holds concert for youths STORIES: LEONARD OKACHIE

oised to engage young people and young at heart, Church 4 Real, a branch of Church of God Mission International, is organising an annual musical programme tagged “The Rev Concert.” The concert holds on Saturday, September 8, 2012 at the Sports Recreation Centre, Anthony Village, Lagos. Briefing the press, Senior Pastor, Rev. Odi Okudaye, said this year’s edition, the third in the series, will feature Midnight Crew, Eben, Kore, Threadstone, BNG, Basketmouth, Onyebuchi, Pastor J, Heaven Whispein’, Just Like David (JLD) and several others. The concert had its debut in July 2010, and has featured notable artistes including Samsong, Rooftop MCs, Frank Edwards, BNG, Onos, Bossman NOSA, as well as trail blazing comedians like Buchi and Bovi. Okudaye said: “The Rev Concert is an

opportunity to share the joy and love of God. We can talk about it all day, but if we don’t share it, then it is not beneficial to anyone. It is also to engage Antony Village as a community on a musical level. We want to showcase the finest gospel talents that we have. We engage Anthony Village in other levels, but this one is music. The aim is to glorify God, to make His praise loud. “We involve young people because they are the future. If you do not engage them, then you do not have a right to complain when they are behaving badly. If we have a way to turn their energy to productive purposes, then we have to engage them. The Bible says “the glory of a young man is his strength.” We want to make sure they have a say and opportunity to express their selves. We want to find way to teach and make them learn, so they do not feel the only time they are remembered is when something negative happens in the society.”He said the concert, which is free, is to be telecast online.

Birthday girl, Waje launches new singles A frican soul sensation, Waje has hit the airwaves with two singles off her upcoming album, the self titled WAJE [Words Aren’t Just enough} are the brand new single Oko Mi and the previously leaked heartbreaker I wish. The songs, which were officially released on September 1, as birthday gift, received munificent review, spending the whole day as one of the trending topics on social networks, Twitter and Facebook. The song also currently enjoys airplay on radio stations in the country. From a catchy chorus, Toju mi baby, oko mi toh sure, the singer brings up sweet lines with I no wan wake up, if this na dream then let me sleep… "Oko Mi is the song every girl, every woman wants to sing to the man she is in love with,” Waje explains. For I wish, the singer digs deep into her darker side with deeply emotional lyrics fused with a slow tempo ragga beat. This song, which was leaked few weeks ago, has enjoyed massive airplay, topping radio and online charts alongside major official releases. With unforgettable lines like I wish I didn’t have a heart, na only stone fit dey inside, the song hits all the sad notes! “For every heart that has been broken, I wish is a song that says I’ve been there, I will survive," Waje explains Waje

simply. It has been a busy period for the multitalented singer; she co-hosted The Future Awards on August 26. Last weekend, Waje outdid herself in New York in her trademark show-stopping style as she performed at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards. Recently, she was nominated as 'Best Female Vocal Performer' for the Headies. Waje celebrated her birthday with friends in New York.

A cross section of contestants in ankara outfit at the 2012 Charming Kids Festival held at Best Southern Hotel, Lekki, Lagos on Sunday. PHOTO LEONARD OKACHIE

Cross River to implement Child-Rights Law

he Cross River Government said yesterday in Calabar that it would always enforce the implementation of the Child-Rights Law, which has been domesticated in the state. Gov. Liyel Imoke stated this at the 16th graduation ceremony of Girls Power Initiative (GPI) and the inauguration of Amanitare Sexual Rights Network’s National Advocacy Campaign with the theme: "My Health, My Life''. Represented by Mr. Ntufam Peter Oti, Special Adviser on Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations, Imoke said government had consistently made adequate budgetary provision for activities and programmes that would ensure the welfare of children. "The Cross River State Government is not only gender-sensitive but child-friendly. This is clearly expressed in the domestication of the Child-Rights Law and its implementation in the state.We will also continue to initiate programmes that will provide a brighter future for the girl-child and children generally,’’ he said. Imoke said the theme of the national sexuality campaign was appropriate in view of the quality of the graduating

girls, who had undergone the three-year intensive and comprehensive sexuality programme at the GPI. He also lauded the GPI for successfully undertaking the campaign against the continuous adoption of negative traditional practices that were either harmful or not in the interest of the girl-child. "I salute the courage of the founding fathers of GPI for complementing the efforts of government in the campaign to lift the status and well being of the girlchild. "GPI directors have consistently created a pivot, which has launched our young girls into social prominence; this value re-orientation needs to be sustained in the years to come,'' Imoke said. In her address, Prof. Bene Madunagu, the Coordinator, GPI, Calabar centre and Chairperson, GPI Executive Board, said the advocacy campaign was meant to accelerate the right to sexual and reproductive health services for women Africa. She said that the AMANITARE, a regional campaign project, which started in Nigeria in 2010 also runs in Mozambique, Zambia, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

SCIENCE FOR KIDS

Why do refrigerators leak water?

n the defrost cycle that takes place in the refrigerator, the water is melted from the coils of the evaporator via a tube into a pan which is kept underneath the refrigerator. Normally, the water evaporates while most of the time the pan is taken off and cleaned. If this tube that drains away the water is blocked or clogged, the water will accumulate in the backside of the refrigerator and travel outside into the drawers. The tube blockage has to be cleared to drain the water before it becomes stagnant. The water condenses in the refrigerator outside the coils of the freezer. Due to the self-defrosting mechanism, this water will be released through a tube. The coil that is present inside the refrigerator will release some water into a tube line that sends this water to the pan from where the water will evaporate. In the case of very humid

areas, the condensed water will form faster than the water that is evaporating. Sometimes, it is necessary for the pan to be removed and drained instead of depending on evaporation. The water that is travelling through the refrigerator and from the freezer might sometimes leak at some stage or the other. To identify the type of leak, one needs to check all along the tube in the entire refrigerator and check whether all the connections are tight. The ice that is formed inside the freezer will turn into water by the functioning of the defrost heater. This heater will liquefy the ice into water which has to get drained away from the system. Otherwise, the appliance will necessitate repair. The reason for the water to form is because the ice is formed in the freezer, and the ice formed has to be cleaned and drained out periodically. Source: Knowswhy.com

Media

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mediacraft, Mobil train journalists

Participants and officials of Medicraftcraft Associates and ExxonMobil company after the training.

A one-day workshop for selected journalists, sponsored by Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, was recently organised by Mediacraft Associates Limited in Lagos. The programme emphasised the importance of social media to the continued relevance of the Fourth Estate of the Realm to societal development. MOJEED ALABI, reports.

ofoworola Bello-Osagie is a household name in education reporting among print media in the country. The prolific journalist anchors the education desk of The Nation Newspapers, but for reasons of insecurity and distraction, she does not update her status on Facebook. The recent murder of Cynthia Osokogu, a 25 year old postgraduate student at the Nassarawa State University and daughter of Major-General Frank Osokogu(rtd), who her assailants claimed they met on Facebook, was one cogent reason. However, in his response to Kofoworola’s submission, the Publisher of Technology Times, Nigeria’s first and leading online technology publication, Mr. Shina Badaru, said there are always two sides to a coin “and for the fact that online medium makes breach of personal security does not negate its importance and relevance to achieving excellence in journalism”.

Badaru boasted that in the not so distant future, hardcopies of newspapers will be hard to find as everyone is already getting connected to the Internet, turning them to “citizen journalists.” He, however, insisted that people only gain access to information the owner wishes to offer, as he said there are enough security measures to curtail the public from having access to enclosed information. The former staffer of ThisDay newspaper did not agree that it was Facebook that turned Cynthia prey, but condemned the deceased for making herself too cheaply available for the “bad boys.” In his own presentation, a medical doctor-turned Internet guru, Dr. Anderson Uvie-Emegbo, explained that no journalist would succeed in the future without good knowledge of the web. The Pan African University lecturer traced the evolution of the online medium and credited its success to accuracy, immediacy, reach and access.

In a more practical way, the third presenter, Mr. Qasim Akinreti, did not only teach participants how to open personal blogs, he enjoined all to get involved in the use of Twitter as one of the easiest access to information. “Apart from the opportunity you would have to save your used and unused stories online, the traffic on your blog would earn you unsolicited funds from online giants such as Google. And unlike yesterday’s journalists who usually wait till their retirement before compile their writings into a book, today’s journalists

have greater opportunity of documenting their works and making them available to more audience through the online medium,” Akinreti explained. Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of Mediacraft Associates, Mr. John E. Ehiguese, said the reality of how the New Media is impacting the contemporary practice of journalism, makes such training very imperative. “The influence of the New Media has become all-pervasive in our world, such that all major media organizations have become connected to the Internet. The Internet offers tremendous opportunities for extending the frontiers of journalism practice.” On his part, the General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arinze, said the desire to give back to the society, particularly a critical stakeholder group like the media, was responsible for the company’s funding of the training. Arinze, who was represented by the Manager, Media and Communications department of the company, Mr. Nigel Cookey-Gam, added that the purpose of the training was to expose journalists to the opportunities and benefits of using the new media as a tool to better discharge their responsibilities, as well as meeting the ever rising demands of 21st century journalism. “The world is changing and we believe we should be part of the process where our friends in the media could be better equipped for current professional demands. It is part of our corporate citizenship strategy.” Participants were health and education correspondents from major newspapers in Lagos. Speaking on his experience, a Punch newspapers’ correspondent, Mr. Segun Olugbile, appreciated the company's gesture, but urged the sponsors to introduce a second phase that will be based mainly on practicals “since the new media is so broad it could not be exhausted in a single day of training.” For the training, which held at the Protea Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, participants agreed would always keep them on their toes to meet up with the challenges of the new age.

Edo NUJ exco dissolved

he leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has dissolved the working committee of its Edo State branch. The national secretary of the NUJ, Shuaibu Usman Leman, said it was dissolved as tenure of the executive has expired, adding that the union has set up a four-member interim management

committee to run the activities of the council. Chairman of the interim committe is Tunde Egbremole of Observer Newspapers while Vanguard Newspapers’ Simon Ebegbulam is secretary. Also in the committee are Beauty Eghobamien of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and Friday Isewede.

L-R: The National President of the National Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ), Mrs. Asabe Baba-Nahaya; Minister of Information's representative and the Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mrs. Oluremi Oyo; Chairman, Lagos NAWOJ, Mrs. Dupe Olaoye-Oshikolu; Lagos Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Adefulire, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Risikat Akiyode; the Editor of the Sunday Sun and the Chairman of the occasion, Mrs. Funke Egbemode and the Community Affairs Manager of Coca-Cola Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Mba at the launch of the NAWOJ quarterly journal: "Positive Thinkers" during the NAWOJ Family Week in Lagos recently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Media

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Media Abroad

Facebook's nude tributes to Prince Harry

hatever the royal family may think of his exploits in Las Vegas, many Britons can barely hide their support for Prince Harry, posting their naked photos online in tribute. A Facebook group entitled "Support Prince Harry with a naked salute!" - featuring people posing in various states of undress saluting the third-in-line to the throne, has won 13, 000 members and is still growing. The group sprang up after Harry, 27, was photographed naked with a mystery woman during a game of "strip billiards" in a Las Vegas hotel suite. The images, first published on a US website, rapidly went viral and caused a furore in Britain. But supporters have posted a flood of images of themselves

Khumalo

on DStv services Summit social media migrate to new role in govts satellite Oct 1 H LEONARD OKACHIE

ultichoice has announced that it will migrate its DStv services, from the current IS10 and IS7, to a new satellite, IS20, from October 1, 2012, to provide more capacity and offer more channels and services in the future. General entertainment channels with international content will be located from channel 101 to 143, whilst general entertainment channels with local content will feature from channel 144 to 169. Documentaries and lifestyle channels will sit from channel 170 to 190 and the free-to-air channels such as SABC and eTV will be on channel 191 to 195. The SuperSport channels in HD and SD will be housed from channel 200 onwards. The IS20 satellite has a Southern Africa footprint and is expected to have a lifespan of approximately 15 years. It has 24 C-band and 60 Ku-band transponders. The company will use the Kuband for its direct-to-home television services. The satellite was launched on an Ariane rocket from French Guiana in South America on August 2, 2012. "We have made a significant investment in this satellite and we will continue

to invest in new technology. We constantly innovate to improve the DStv viewing experience as we want our customers to have access to the best entertainment delivered through the best technology available," said Collins Khumalo, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa. He continued: “We want to give our customers the best entertainment experience possible, which is why we are excited to be adding more HD channels. Our focus is on continually improving the viewing experience for all our customers and we believe that as of 1 October, that experience will truly be so much more.” The increased capacity on the new satellite will enable it to expand its high definition (HD) offering and add more channels and services. Six standard definition (SD) and seven HD channels will be added to DStv on October 1, 2012, bringing the number of HD channels on DStv to 14. The additional HD channels include two from NBC Universal: Studio Universal and Universal and five MNet Movie channels. DStv will be embarking on an extensive communication and marketing campaign leading up to October 1, 2012, ensuring all its subscribers are informed of the upcoming changes.

ow governments can use social media for effective internal and citizen communications will be the focus of an upcoming summit in Dubai. According to tradearabia.com, the GCC Government Social Media Summit will take place from September 17 to 19 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The summit brings together case studies from US Department of State, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, New Zealand Ministry of Interior, UAE Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior, and other organisations from Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The summit acknowledges that government communication is a dialogue and not a monologue by providing many examples of ways to foster two-way communication between government and citizens. Dan Slee, who leads UK’s local government social media initiative and a widely respected blogger, is addressing the summit. “Social media is playing a more dominant role in various walks of life, and governments are acknowledging this evolution. Hence, progressive governments are now planning to harness social media to facilitate more direct interaction with their citizens, in a manner that is both time-saving and cost-saving,” said Slee. “For instance, the UAE

saluting, while in various states of undress, often with strategically placed props including Union Jack flags, backpacks and teddy bears. The Sun newspaper published photographs of what it said were British soldiers serving in Afghanistan, posing naked and saluting Prince Harry. Harry, an army officer and a trained Apache helicopter pilot, served in Afghanistan for ten weeks, but was pulled out in February 2008 after a media blackout broke down. The Sun is the only British newspaper to have published the nude snaps of Harry, in defiance of orders from the royal family to respect the prince's privacy and restrain from printing them. The online show of support

for Harry came as it was announced that he will be the patron of a charity race to the South Pole between three teams of wounded servicemen from around the world. Harry, who last year joined a group of injured soldiers as they trekked to the North Pole, is supporting the Walking with the Wounded South Pole Allied Challenge 2013. Troops from Britain, the US and the Commonwealth who suffered physical or cognitive injuries while serving will take part in the four-week expedition next year. Royal officials said it was "far too early" to tell whether Harry would join the group for the gruelling trek. Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge

WAN-IFRA elects new Board members

N Dan Slee

has championed the social development through innovative platforms like MyGov, which aspires to revolutionize the way people interact with their government. More inventive organizations will monitor where they are mentioned online, analyze what triggered both positive and negative comments, and pinpoint where to improve. “It is no longer about attracting the most followers, but answering their questions and engaging them with an open mind without getting defensive. Sometimes this necessitates a less ‘official’ voice and a more ‘down-to-earth’ one." He added that governments are leaning towards social media, partly because it offers tremendous savings: “A Facebook page is free to set up. However, we're not that good at working out how much time investment we'll need and we're also not great at reporting back the benefits accrued.” Shane Dillon, from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said: “Consumers are demanding engagement from government social media. In the early days of social media you might have got away with simply broadcasting information using social media channels.

ewspaper executives from four countries were elected Sunday to the Board of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) during the organisation's Annual General Meeting in Kiev, Ukraine. The WAN-IFRA Annual General Meeting, taking place on the eve of the World Newspaper Congress, elected H. Van Campenhout, CEO of the Telegraaf Media Groep, to represent NDP Nieuwsmedia in The Netherlands; Theodore Zahov, co-owner and chairman of the Board of Directors of Economedia AD, to represent the Union of Publishers in Bulgaria; Giulio Lattanzi, director general of RCS Quotidiani SpA, to represent the Italian Federation of Newspaper Publishers (FIEG); and Conrado Carnal, managing director of Grupo Zeta, to represent the Spanish Newspaper Publishers Association (AEDE). H. Van Campenhout became CEO of the Telegraaf Media Groep in 2011 and has had a long senior executive career with leading media companies in The Netherlands. A Bulgarian Internet entrepreneur, Theodore Zabov became chairman of the Board of Economia in August 2010. He previously was CEO of Spectrum. Net, an Internet and telecommunications company. Giulio Lattanzi has been managing director of Italy's RCS Quotidiani since April 2010. RCS Quotidiani publishes Corriere della Sera, the leading national newspaper and Gazzetta dello Sport, the leading sports daily, together with City, a free newspaper. Conrado Carnal joined Grupo Zeta nine years ago and previously worked in a number of diverse industries, including steel and railroads. The Barcelona-based Grupo Zeta is a leading newspaper, magazine and Internet publishing group.

Cocktail

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Oddities

Scorpion sting leaves Arizona woman with huge bill

n Arizona woman is wondering what hurt more: getting stung by a scorpion or seeing her hospital bill after treatment. Marcie Edmonds says the bill from Chandler Regional Medical Center was more than $83,000. That includes two doses of anti-venom at nearly $40,000 per dose.

The Arizona Republic says Edmonds’ insurer has paid more than $57,000 and the suburban Phoenix hospital is asking Edmonds for the balance of about $25,000. The 52-year-old Ahwatukee (ah-wha-TU’kee) Foothills resident was stung in June while opening a box of air conditioner filters in her garage.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Casino cooks up record 1-ton cheeseburger

Minnesota casino has cooked up a world-record bacon cheeseburger that’s 10 feet in diameter and weighs more than a ton. The behemoth burger was served up Sunday at

the Black Bear Casino Resort near Carlton. It tipped the scales at 2,014 pounds. Guinness Records representative Philip Robertson verified the record for biggest

burger. He called the feat a result of “remarkable teamwork” and said the burger “actually tastes really good.” Black Bear’s burger included 60 pounds of bacon, 50 pounds of

lettuce, 50 pounds of sliced onions, 40 pounds of pickles and 40 pounds of cheese. It took about four hours to cook the patty. A crane was used to flip it.

1.5 carat meal: Man swallows diamond in Sri Lanka

man visiting a gem exhibition in Sri Lanka’s capital swallowed a 1.5 carat diamond in front of the owner and was taken by police to a hospital, where an X-ray showed the $13,000 stone inside him. Exhibitor Suresh Wijekoon said the man was behaving suspiciously at his stalls and when he reached closer to the suspect, the man suddenly swallowed the diamond at his hand before Suresh alerted police at the exhibition venue. Chou Wan, a 32-year-old from China, is in custody pending further investigation, police spokesman Ajith

Rohana said. An X-ray proved the diamond was inside Chou’s body, said hospital director Dr. Anil Jasinghe at Colombo National, where the suspect was taken for the test. Suresh, owner of Belgrade International Pvt Ltd, said the diamond weighed about 1.5 carats. It was worth 1.8 million Sri Lankan rupees ($13,636), Rohana said. Sri Lanka does not mine diamonds but is renowned for other highly treasured gems. Facets Sri Lanka 2012 is the island nation’s annual largest gem and jewelry exhibition and it attracts a large number of local and foreign buyers.

People examine a bacon cheeseburger measuring 10 feet in diameter and weighing more than a ton at Black Bear Casino Resort near Carlton, Minn. The behemoth burger, served up Sunday at the Black Bear Casino Resort, tipped the scales at 2,014 pounds. PHOTO: AP/BLACK BEAR CASINO RESORT

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror “The world today is troubled; there are cries of infrastructure decay and insecurity in Nigeria.”

MASSOB accuses soldiers of brutalising chieftain

MINISTER OF INTERIOR, COMRADE ABBA MORO

FCT farmers get N250 million loan OMEIZA AJAYI

he Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has advanced a loan facility of N250 million to 385 communities across the six Area Councils, as part of its empowerment and agriculture enhancement initiative. Minister of State in the FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide, stated this when she led some top management of the FCT Administration on inspection tour of farms in Kuchibuyi and Guita Communities of Bwari Area Council. The Community Empowerment Agriculture Initiative is the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, Project Support of the FCTA under its Department of Economic Planning, Research and Statistics, EPRS. Akinjide who met with farmers, explained that the initiative was aimed at empowering women and youths in 385 poor communi-

ties identified by the FCT MDGs Baseline Survey of 2008. She recalled that N60 million was provided in 2010 in the community empowerment agriculture loan scheme, N120 million in 2011 and N60 million in 2012. She said, of the N250 million made available to farmers, including women and youths, N120 million has been accessed by communities through four microfinance banks (MFBs) which she listed as EWT Microfinance, Fims Microfinance, Hasan Microfinance and Credit Link Microfinance banks respectively. “We are supporting the poor and rural communities through capacity building in modern farming techniques and agricbusinesses to address the issues of poverty, unemployment and gender equality among the rural populace, thereby improving their income and quality of life. This initiative started with 60 communities across the six Area Councils in 2010 and by 2011, the

initiative was scaled up to 180 communities, with FCT UNDAF II supporting 60 communities. Presently, the scheme is in 236 communities while the others will be covered before the end of 2013,” she said. Director, Department of Economic Planning, Research and Statistics, Ari Mohammed, said the scheme was designed to boost agricultural production, create employment and reduce poverty in the FCT. According to him, agricultural

inputs such as tractors, improved seeds, pesticides and fertilisers are provided for the communities for cultivation, while extension workers are also deployed to supervise the various stages of production. “The scheme will help promote value addition technology in agro processing, packaging and quality control and also revitalize the rural economy in these communities”, hesaid. Chairman of the MDGs Farmers Cooperatives, Mr. Marks

Thomas, said the scheme has increased their income level from N10, 000 and N20, 000 to over N100, 000, urging the FCT Administration to extend the timeline of the scheme to three years from the current one year. “This initiative has strengthened farmers and it has encouraged many others to take to agrobusiness because of improved income level. We are pleading that the scheme should continue and the timeline for repayment of the facility extended.

Ex-convict docked for stealing phone CAROLINE CHUKWUKA

22-year-old ex-convict, Koffi Olumide has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court sitting at Tinubu for allegedly stealing a T50 phone. The defendant was also charged for wandering, with intention to cause public disorder. On arrival in court, the defendant was identified by an officer of the Lagos State Youth Development Correctional Services Centre, as having escaped from the remand home in 2011 and had earlier been jailed in 2010 for another offence. Police prosecutor, Inspector Martins Owumi, argued that the offence is punishable under section 285 and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011. When the charge was read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge and urged the court to grant him bail in liberal terms.

Ruling on his bail application, presiding Magistrate O Kusanu (Mrs.) granted him bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum. Both cases have been adjourned till September 25, 2012 for further hearing. Meanwhile, a 23- year- old man, Abubakar Abass has been arraigned before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing two 3.5KVA Honda generating sets belonging to one Mr.Efe Edokpa. The defendant was said to have committed the offence on August 29, 2012 at No- 2 Fadahunsi Close, Thomas Estate, Ajah in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State. When the charge was read to him, he pleaded guilty, saying ‘’it was the handiwork of the devil’’. In a related development, a middle-aged man, Huseni Umoru has been arraigned before a Tinubu Chief Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly defrauding one Obi Sylvester of N.5 million, under pretence that he intended to buy eight motor cycles for resale in Kebbi State.

A driver’s licence applicant undergoing eye est during the vision test exercise by an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Lagos.

Council boss urges security consciousness FRANCIS SUBERU

he Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, has urged Nigerians to be more security-conscious in view of the prevailing security challenges in the country. Delivering a keynote address at a stakeholders’ forum at the council’s secretariat, the local government boss said, the essence was to address the issue of environment and security challenges in the LGA, even as he stated that the meeting would avail them the opportunity to of getting first hand, the developmental strides of his administration. According to him, the LGA has

constructed 14 roads with more to come, as a way bringing dividends of democracy to the door steps of the people as well as provide security to all in the community. He said for the roads to last long, trucks of more than five tons will be banned in Festac Town, as he emphasized that tax payment is compulsory, for the council to execute developmental projects in the local government. Later, President General of Association of Trucks and Allied Motors Dealers of Nigeria and president of captains of industry in Festac Town, Chief Philip Nwoji, thanked the chairman for a job well done, as he reiterated that the administration under Adewale has excelled in the area of infrastructural development, stating that his members are ready

to partner with the LGA to bring more socio-economic development to residents. Dignitaries at the meeting include: the Executive chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, Secretary to the Local Government, Miss Folashade Ajao, The council manager Mr Segun Ajayi, council treasurer, Mr. Micheal Fajunmo, Chief Philip Nwoji, President General Association of Trucks and Allied Motor Dealers of Nigeria, Mr Tony Asiadiachi, General Manager of Denca Termina, Barr. Linus Akaolise (Legal Adviser) Association of Trucks &Allied motors Dealers of Nigeria (ATAMD), Mr Rapheal E.J Okafor CEO/ MD Chuks Jackson , Trucks & Equip limited amongst others.

Community Mirror

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

MASSOB accuses soldiers of brutalising chieftain NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

he Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has accused soldiers of brutalising their Regional Administrator for Onitsha, Chief Arinze Igbani, who is just recovering from a frac-

tured leg, arising from an auto-bike accident. MASSOB said such an ill treatment is capable of pushing them into a reprisal reaction if the trend continues, adding that a situation where security agencies attack innocent members of the movement is becoming all too rampant, even as it called on

the authorities to call the soldiers to order in the interest of peace. In a statement issued in Onitsha, by MASSOB’s National Director of Information, Uchenna Madu, it narrated how soldiers from the 302 Artillery Regiment attacked Igbani on his hospital bed in Onitsha, dragged and beat him severely, for

no justifiable reason. Madu narrated how about 25 soldiers arrived at the hospital where Igbani was receiving treatment for an auto accident and beat him up, thereby further fracturing his broken leg. He alleged that the soldiers had arrived in three Hilux cars and with-

out provocation attacked Chief Igbani, dragging him out of the hospital bed, stripped him naked and beat him mercilessly. He therefore warned that MASSOB had taken enough humiliation from soldiers in Onitsha, and may be compelled to react against persistent provocation, stressing that the

Okorocha pays compensation to displaced landlords CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

he Imo State Gover nor,Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has released the sum of N30 million to the fourth batch of landlords whose buildings were demolished along the Green Belt area of Owerri , the state capital, saying that the demolition was carried out to avert floods from over running the city. Represented by the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Hon. UcheN-

LG uncovers inflated wage bills ADEMU IDAKWO LOKOJA

ore than N35million in inflated salary wage bills have been uncovered in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State. Chairman of the Interim management Committee,TMC, Hon. Isah Ameh, stated this in Lokoja while picking his nomination Form for the December 8, local government elections in the state. He said the local government was running an inflated monthly salary of N75million due to ghost workers, leaving only a meagre amount for capital projects. Hon. Ameh who promised that if elected, would create more employment opportunities, admitted that the issue of youth restiveness can only be tackled through employment generation. Earlier, the Commissioner for Local and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ndamodu Ali, commended the interim chairman for his commitment to the welfare of the workforce,even as he called on chief executives of other local governments to emulate him.

wosu, Governor Okorocha, assured the landlords that compensatory plots would be given to them by September to build their houses. Nwosu, stated that the demolition exercise was not done in bad faith, but to maintain the original master plan of Owerri and to avert problems of flood, erosion and blockage of drainages. The commissioner pointed out that the amount was not for the value of their property, but assistance to secure alternative accommodation pending the availability of the compensatory plots. Speaking on behalf of the landlords, Mrs. Ajoku, thanked Governor Okorocha for his magnanimity in settling them, and expressed happiness for his achievements so far in office, while praying that God gives him the vision to govern the state aright.

A thriving fish market with buyers in Lagos. PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

organization has the resources and wherewithal to cause more damages than Boko Haram if the provocation continues. He wondered what Igbani who had been confined to bed since the past three months, could have done to warrant the humiliation by soldiers. Madu said that although Igbani was removed from the hospital ward to a private house, his presence there never caused any harm to the neighborhood. Condemning the action of the soldiers, Madu expressed dismay that 18 other persons who were visiting the MASSOB chieftain were also arrested, electronic gadgets, other personal effects and five motorcycles belonging to the visitors were seized. According to him, “Is it because Arinze is an Igboman and the soldiers who carried out the distardly raid were Hausa and Fulani? All their actions were borne out of pathological hatred for Ndigbo because they see in him a representation of Biafra which they do not want to hear”. He said it was absurd for soldiers to exhibit such “negative gallantry” on a helpless civilian, while the Boko Haram continues to tear the nation apart by their terrorist acts. He called on the soldiers to immediately release Chief Igbani and 18 others from their guard rooms, without further delay.

Club to invest N9milion for facilities TAI ANYANWU

he Club Arcade of Nigeria is to invest N9million to upgrade its facilities. This was announced by the club’s president, Alhaji Tajudeen Ekemode, at a recent chat with press men in Lagos. Ekemode, who is also the Managing Director of Stable Cleansing services, a Lagos Island waste management and environmental firm said the honour of being founder of the club goes to Architect Fola Alade, the Chairman of Ekiti Parapo. “His initial task was to build a national monument to play the historic role of hosting Nigeria’s Independence Day, where the Brit-

ish Union Jack was lowered for our national flag to flutter, on October 1st, 1960. In the course of the job, the architect, thought it worthwhile to create a recreational facility where city residents could relax and unwind. From that moment, the club became the hub of entertainment, sports, relaxation and recreation for the growing Lagos elite, the club president said. Ekemode recalled that during the military era, and while Lagos served the dual roles as Nigeria’s capital as well as seat of Lagos State, top military officers, civilians, diplomats and captains of industries found the Club Arcade most suitable for

relaxation, after a hard day’s job. The club exclusive role of catering for very distinguished members meant that Nigeria’s Heads of State, service chiefs, ambassadors, Federal ministers, permanent secretaries, top industrialists and other leaders of thought graced its membership. “There was a great influx into the club. More eminent Nigerians craved to find a place on the club’s membership list as a result. Till this day, the club retains membership of distinguished Nigerians , such the Senate President, David Mark, former president,Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who is the club’s Grand Patron and

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos as patron. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinibu, former Governor of Lagos and, General Alani Akinrinade(rtd), General Adyinka Adebayo(rtd) and other top Nigerian leaders are also members. “While the federal seat of government has moved from Lagos to Abuja; the club lives on,” he noted. The Club Arcade of Nigeria still beckons on whoever is desirous of an ideal place for relaxation and recreation after a hard day’s job; to come and explore the pleasures. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the current executive council, Ekemode explained that his leadership would re-

store the club’s past glory. He called on all inactive or past members to revalidate membership as part of contributions to revitalise the Club Arcade of Nigeria. “We are committed to resurrect the past glory of our dear club; and we have clear goals and strategies to take it to the next level. As Lagos progresses in its journey to attain a mega status, the club intends to renovate the Squash court, lawn tennis, billiard board to Olympic standards. For this reason, we are embarking on provision of other innovations that would stimulate maximum relaxation and recreation within the premises,” he further said.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

Germany and Israel mark Munich massacre in ceremonies

“Barack knows the American Dream because he’s lived it, and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity”

– Wife of US president, Michelle Obama

Mauritania deports Libyan spy chief SAM OLUWALANA

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

ibya has promised a fair trial for Mr Senussi, accused of crimes allegedly committed during Col Gaddafi’s rule. He fled Libya after last year’s uprising. He is also wanted by France and the International Criminal Court. “Abdullah al-Senussi will have a fair trial according to international standards for human rights, the rights from which Libyans were deprived,” Prime Minister Abdurrahim el-Keib told reporters in Tripoli. A spokesman for Libya’s attorney general said Mr Senussi had undergone a routine medical check-up and was in good health. He added that the prosecutors would begin questioning him as soon as possible. BBC Middle East editor, Jeremy Bowen says a key question is what he might reveal about extraordinary rendition - the process under which jihadist enemies of Col Gaddafi’s Libya were sent back to Libya by the US and Britain. Some footage shot at a prison in Tripoli shows a heavily bearded man emerging from a helicopter to a crowd in military uniform

Abdullah al-Senussi stepping down from a helicopter

chanting: “The blood of the martyrs will not go in vain.” It is in stark contrast to the clean-shaven, hardened face many Libyans grew accustomed to for decades. Abdullah al-Senussi’s extradition to Libya will set aside fears by many that he will not face the justice so many are seeking. The Libyan PM has made it clear that Mr Senussi will face trial in Libya, saying it will be fair and will meet international standards.

Both his extradition and any future trial are an opportunity for the new authorities to show that they are in control of security matters. Mr Senussi was arrested on his arrival in Mauritania in March, sparking repeated requests to the west African nation from the Libyan government for his return. “He was extradited to Libya on the basis of guarantees given by Libyan authorities,” a Mauritanian government source told Re-

uters news agency, without giving details. According to reports, Mr Senussi was delivered to an official Libyan delegation headed by the minister of justice. The BBC’s Jon Leyne in Cairo says Mr Senussi’s extradition to Libya is a blow for the ICC. Not only has the court been trying to win custody of Mr Senussi, he says, it is also arguing that Col Gaddafi’s son Seif al-Islam should also be brought to justice at the court.

3,000 striking miners protest in South Africa

bout 3,000 stick-wielding workers at South Africa’s violence-hit Marikana mine have marched to gain support for their wage strike. It is the biggest demonstration at Marikana since police shot dead 34 miners last month, sparking outrage. Some protesters broke a barricade and entered the Lonminowned mine, but withdrew after appeals from church leaders mediating in the conflict. About 50 miners controversially charged with the murders were freed on Monday. About another 220 still in police custody are expected to be released today. Expelled ruling African National Congress (ANC) party youth leader, Julius Malema is due to lead a bigger march in Marikana to coincide with their release, the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko in South Africa’s main city, Johannesburg, says.

Mr Malema, who was expelled earlier this year following a series of disagreements with President Jacob Zuma, has called on workers to make mines “ungovernable” if their demands are not met. Senior ANC officials have shares in many mines in South

Africa. During Wednesday’s demonstration, police helicopters circled overhead as protesters, holding long sticks, marched through Marikana town. The protest took place as church leaders continued to broker talks between Lonmin,

South African miners burying dead colleagues

the world’s third biggest platinum producer, and worker representatives in an effort to negotiate a peace accord. Lonmin said worker attendance at Marikana was less than 5% on Wednesday. “We expect that employees are waiting for the outcome of the peace accord meeting,” it said in a statement. A man at the head of the demonstration waved a placard which said, “We want 12,500 rand ($1,480; £935) - nothing else.” Meanwhile, a week-long strike by 12,000 workers at mining firm Gold Fields’ KDC mine near Johannesburg is due to end on Wednesday night following talks with top leaders of the National Union of Mineworkers (Num), the company said. Workers protested against compulsory funeral cover deductions from their salaries and called for the resignation of Num leaders on the mine.

WORLD BULLETIN Morocco bus crash leaves many dead At least 42 people died when a bus plunged into a ravine in southern Morocco, officials say. More than 20 others are reported to have been injured, some seriously. The bus, travelling between the cities of Marrakesh and Zagora, left the road near the town of Zerkten in Haouz province and fell 150m (490ft), local officials said. Most of the passengers are believed to be Moroccan. It is not clear if any foreigners are among the casualties. “We are still in the process of identifying the bodies, as well as the injured,” a local official told AFP news agency. The accident happened in a mountainous area in the early hours of Tuesday, the official news agency Map reported. The cause is not yet known but an official in Haouz said an inquiry had been launched.

Egypt football fans attack association for resuming league Hundreds of football fans in the Egyptian capital Cairo have attacked the headquarters of the country’s football association, in protest at plans to resume the premier league. Protesters threw petrol bombs and other missiles at the association’s building. The fans of Cairo’s al-Ahly club are angry that the league will restart while a trial concerning deadly stadium riots seven months ago continues. More than 70 people were killed during February’s riots in Port Said. There have so far been no reports of any casualties inn Wednesday’s violence. February’s stadium riots were the worst in Egypt’s footballing history and led to the suspension of the league. They also sparked riots in Cairo during which a further 16 people were killed.

Zulu King wants palace for sixth wife South Africa’s Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini wants the government to spend $700,000 (£450,000) on a palace for his sixth wife, officials say. Queen Zola Mafu, who is his youngest wife, is sharing a palace. The KwaZulu Natal government, one of nine provincial administrations, has already budgeted about $6.9m for the royal family this year. Opposition parties have previously accused the king, his wives and more than 25 children of lavish spending.

World News

WORLD BULLETIN Longer working week suggested for Greece Greece’s international lenders have suggested measures including increasing the maximum working week to six days. It is one of several unofficial proposals to liberalise the labour market and increase government revenue, contained in a paper seen by the BBC. The proposals were not included in the original bailout agreement signed with the Greek government. Inspectors from the EU, IMF and European Central Bank, known as the troika, are due in Greece this week. They are writing a report, due in October, that will decide whether Greece receives its next instalment of bailout funds. Greece needs the next payment of 31.5bn euros ($39.6bn; £24.9bn) to allow it to continue servicing its debts.

Deepwater Horizon: BP accused of gross negligence The US Justice Department has accused BP of “gross negligence and wilful misconduct” over the Deepwater Horizon disaster, claims which BP denies. The allegations came in papers filed in the federal court in New Orleans. The Deepwater Horizon rig had been leased by BP. It exploded on 20 April 2010, killing 11 workers and spilling millions of gallons of crude oil. If the government can prove gross negligence it can triple the damages BP may have to pay to $21bn (£13bn). The case is due to go to trial in New Orleans in January 2013, although talks are underway between BP and the US government to try to settle the claims. “The behaviour, words, and actions of these BP executives would not be tolerated in a middling size company manufacturing dry goods for sale in a suburban mall,” the government said in its 39-page filing.

‘Actor Duncan died of natural causes’ Green Mile actor Michael Clarke Duncan died of natural causes, a US coroner has confirmed. The 54-year-old died at CedarsSinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Monday. He had not recovered from a heart attack he suffered in July. Meanwhile, tributes to the actor have continued to pour in. Bruce Willis, who starred with Duncan in Armageddon, called him “a great human being”. He added: “I will miss Big Mike in a big way.” Duncan had credited Willis for recommending him to The Green Mile director Frank Darabont. He was later nominated for an Oscar in 2000 for his role as a death row inmate in the film. Willis and Duncan went on to star in another three films together including The Whole Nine Yards and Sin City. Director Michael Bay, who gave Duncan his first major role in Armageddon, penned a lengthy tribute about the actor’s time on set, which was posted on his official website.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

erman ministers have joined Israeli survivors of the Munich Olympics massacre at an air base near the city to mark 40 years since the event. The audience at Fuerstenfeldbruck heard Christian and Jewish prayers, spoken against a backdrop of the faces of the victims, 11 Israelis and one German. Wreaths were laid earlier inside the Olympic Village where Palestinian gunmen seized the athletes. Most of the Israelis were killed by their captors at the airport. Israeli fencer Dan Alon, who was part of the 1972 team, said he hoped such an attack could never happen again. A petition by widows of the victims to remember the dead with a minute’s silence at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics on 27 July was rejected by Jacques Rogge, head of the International Olympic Committee. Instead, a minute’s silence was observed at a ceremony headed by Mr Rogge inside London’s Olympic Village. Flags at half-mast German, Israeli and Bavarian flags were lowered to half-mast at the beginning of the solemn ceremony at Fuerstenfeldbruck base. Relatives of the victims lit candles in their memory. Prayers and addresses to the

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Germany and Israel mark Munich massacre in ceremonies

Flowers were laid at a plaque in the Olympic Village

sion of freedom and peace for all human beings.” Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich and other German officials, including the head of the country’s Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, were present as was Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom. Among the Israelis expected to attend was the manager of the 1972 Olympic Delegation, Mr

Shmuel Lalkin. A tree was to be planted to remember the victims and an exhibition of photos depicting the massacre and its aftermath was being unveiled. ‘Warnings ignored’ On 5 September 1972, eight gunmen burst into the Israeli athletes’ quarters, killing two immediately and taking nine athletes and coaches hostage.

Democrats hammer Romney over Swiss account

France shooting: Bodies found in ‘UK car’ near Annecy

itt Romney’s Swiss bank accounts and Cayman Island investments were hot topics on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, with several leading Democrats hammering the Republican presidential candidate about them in their speeches. “Mitt Romney has so little economic patriotism that even his money needs a passport,” charged former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland in his fiery speech Tuesday night. “It summers on the beaches of the Cayman Islands and winters on the slopes of the Swiss Alps. In Matthew, chapter 6, verse 21, the scriptures teach us that where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. My friends, any man who aspires to be our president should keep both his treasure and his heart in the United States of America. And it’s well past time for Mitt Romney to come clean with the American people.” Romney previously had a Swiss bank account and has millions invested in funds based in the Cayman Islands. “Instead of safeguarding our seniors, Romney and Ryan would end the guarantee of Medicare and replace it with a voucher in order to give bigger tax breaks to billionaires,” said Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley. “Instead of investing in America, they

audience were interspersed with singing and music, including a muted piece by a jazz orchestra, played before an audience of at least 500 people. “That day wasn’t an attack against Israel, wasn’t an attack against Jews,” said Charlotte Knobloch, head of Munich’s Jewish community. “It was an attack against us all. Against the Olympic idea, the vi-

hide their money in Swiss bank accounts and ship our jobs to China. Swiss bank accounts never built an American bridge. Swiss bank accounts don’t put cops on the beat or teachers in our classrooms. Swiss bank accounts never created American jobs!” “Governor Romney, just because you bank against the United States of America doesn’t mean the rest of us are willing to sell her out,” O’Malley said. “We are Americans.” Women’s rights advocate Lilly Ledbetter also joined in, noting that women still earn just 77 cents for every dollar men make. “Maybe 23 cents doesn’t sound like a lot to someone with a Swiss bank account, Cayman Island Investments and an IRA worth tens of millions of dollars,” Ledbetter said. “But Governor Romney, when we lose 23 cents every hour, every day, every paycheck, every job, over our entire lives, what we lose can’t just be measured in dollars.” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) continued his attacks on Romney for his refusal to release his more information on his taxes. Romney has released his 2010 tax returns and an estimate for 2011, although he has promised to disclose his 2011 return this fall. He has refused to follow the example of his father and release 12 years of his tax in-

Mitt Romney

formation to the public. “Never in modern American history has a presidential candidate tried so hard to hide himself from the people he hopes to serve,” Reid said during his speech at the convention. “When you look at the one tax return he has released, it’s obvious why. It’s obvious why there’s only been one. We learned that he pays a lower tax rate than middle class families. We learned he chose Swiss bank accounts and Cayman Islands tax shelters over American institutions. And we can only imagine what new secrets would be revealed if he showed the American people a dozen years of tax returns -- like his father did.”

our people have been shot dead in peaceful surroundings close to Lake Annecy in eastern France, say reports. The bodies of two women and one man were found in a Britishregistered BMW car near Chevaline, in the Haute Savoie region, say media reports. A cyclist was reportedly found dead nearby. A critically injured girl under 10 years old was also found. The lake is a popular tourist destination known for its swimming and water sports. The cyclist who came across the grisly scene at about 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT) is said to be in shock. The area has now been sealed off by some 60 police, who have started a criminal investigation into what they are calling a multiple murder.

‘No theory yet’ The girl was reported to have died of her injuries but Agence France-Presse later said the prosecutor who had announced her death, Eric Maillaud, had issued a correction. He now says she is in a critical condition in intensive care, the news agency reports, after being taken by helicopter from the scene.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Commissioner challenges ASUP on polytechnic education IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

Kebbi State Governor, Usman Dakingari (right) and others, during the launch of the Peoples Democratic Party’s local government campaign in Birnin Kebbi, recently.

Concerned citizens ask House to impeach Niger governor PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

group under the auspices of Concerned Citizens of Niger State has petitioned the state House of Assembly to commence impeachment processes against Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, over alleged misappropriation of public funds in the state. Speaking shortly after delivering copies of the petition to the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Mohammed Kagara, Chairman of the group, Alhaji Mohammed Usman, told journalists in Minna that Governor

Aliyus’ administration has become a nightmare to the citizens of the state. He listed some key areas of observations to serve as guide to the House in its final decision and the impeachment process to include state budget, IGR, federal allocation to the state and the 25 council areas, joint account, education, youth employment, as well as works, housing and tourism. Usman said for the past five years of Aliyu’s administration, the state has accessed N8bn while the 25 local governments collectively got N11bn with visibly nothing to show for it.

He said aside that, the state government borrowed N6bn from the capital market to embark upon infrastructural projects without properly utilising the funds. The chairman also accused the house of allowing easy passage of annual budget without properly scrutinising it before passage, adding that it has dented the image of members of the Assembly. “These budgets, since the past five years, have remained unimplemented by Aliyu’s government. The cardinal question is that what has happened to the House Committee on Fi-

Kogi Speaker escapes impeachment ADEMU IDAKWO LOKOJA

peaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly and other principal officers yesterday escaped impeachment on the floor of the assembly. The move, which was initially termed a rumour, was eventually punctured by majority members of the house in a closed-door meeting. Our correspondent reliably gathered that some members were allegedly sponsored to impeach the Speaker, Hon. Abdullai Bello and other principal officers of the house without any serious allegation against them. The move was said to have been thwarted by

members who believed that the Speaker and other principal officers have done well to lead the house without any crisis. One of the members, Hon Henry Ojuola, representing Yagba East, on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) confirmed the move to journalists. Ojuola described the move as not only needless, but allegedly motivated by some powerful forces in the state. The lawmaker, who was a running mate to the ACN gubernatorial candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, in the December 3, 2011 governorship election, said the Speaker has been piloting the affairs of the house to the admiration of majority of

members and wondered why the hurry to substitute him. He used the House of Representatives as a case study, saying that the house must be allowed to choose and sustain its leaders without any external influence. He said because of the overwhelming support the

nance? Has the committee seized to function?” On the next course of action should the house failed to act, Usman said, “The house is now on break and will be back on September 18. We will give them two weeks after resumption and failure to act, we will go on a peace protest in the town.” Asked if the group has confidence in the house, the leader of the group said; “We have delivered our petition, though we have little confidence in the assembly, because within five years, the governor has changed speakers six times.”

speaker enjoys from members, the house has passed several votes of confidence on him and urged him not to be deterred. “The speaker as at today controlled majority support in the house and I am advising those canvassing for his removal to exercise restraint in order to avoid anarchy,” he said.

asarawa State Commissioner for Education, Husseini Abubakar, has challenged the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to rise up to the challenge of improving polytechnic education by engaging in research and publication that would lead to useful discoveries. The commissioner threw the challenge at the fourth ASUP conference in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, organised by the Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia. He said discovering the world through research and development would go a long way in adding value to what nature has provided for the development of mankind. He, however, commended the ASUP local chapter

for exhibiting a high sense of understanding during their seven-day warning strike and assured that the state government would continue to provide an enabling environment through aggressive training and provision of infrastructural facilities to enhance teaching and learning. Earlier, Comrade Kwakipi Akodos Egga, ASUP branch chairman, said this year’s conference, with the theme: “The Imperative of Polytechnic Education and the Challenges of Insecurity in Nigeria”, was organised as part of ASUP’s objectives of promoting education and training of its members. He noted that it was a platform for discourse on prevailing issues of concern to the citizenry as well as to assist members to present papers on ways to avoid national calamity.

Team of experts in Katsina to fight polio JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

team of international consultants under invitation by the Katsina State government, have arrived in the state to help publicise and sensitise the eradication of polio disease in the state. The state, according to the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA), has one of the highest cases of the disease in the country with no less than eight so far recorded from January to date. Speaking shortly after arrival yesterday, leader of the team, Dr. Chris Boris, said the team was in the state “for massive enlightenment and total eradication of the disease.” Boris, who led consultants from other countries,

among representatives of several donor agencies, said the team was worried with rising cases of polio in the state. He said they were in the state to “assist and contribute to the enlightenment and total eradication of polio,” with a call on stakeholders to give their “support and cooperation” to achieve total eradication of the disease.

Gov. Shema

OPC arrests Lagos car thief in Ilorin WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

embers of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Kwara State have arrested a man said to be a notorious car thief who operates between Lagos and Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The alleged car thief, one Kehinde Adewumi, a native of Ikirun in Osun State, was apprehended on Monday following a tip off. Reports said he was an expert in snatching Volkswagen Kombi buses known as Paragon, which he takes to Ilorin to sell. He was also said to

always deploy a way of changing some parts of such vehicles before transporting them to his market in Kwara, where he was said to have readymade clients. State Coordinator of the Congress, Comrade Maruf Salam, who briefed journalists in Ilorin, said his members

devised a method of sending a woman who pretended to be in love with Kehinde and by so doing, got close to him to get details of his activities. Salam said the lady was only able to trace the residence of his father and mother in Lagos, but could not trace his own residence.

Insight

Thursday, September 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Makoko: Distrust, accusations trail

Makoko community before demolition.

It has been more than a month since the Lagos State Government turned its bulldozers on structures at the Makoko waterfront, leaving thousands of residents homeless, even as it claimed that the eviction was for their own safety. But few weeks after sacking them, rumours have it that the hasty eviction was informed by plan of the government to turn the area into an exclusive estate for the super rich. MURITALA AYINLA looks at the unfolding development and reports.

ore than five weeks after the Lagos State Government demolished shanties at Makoko in Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), the mood of those still staying in the area has been gloomy as many of the residents are yet to come to terms with the sudden collapse of their world. The atmosphere has remained charged after the sudden eviction even though some have taken temporary refuge under the Third Mainland Bridge. Life remains unbearable for these fishermen and women. Before now, they were the major suppliers of dried fish to Lagosians, given that the women are noted for selling different fish species in many parts of Lagos. Although it may be difficult to ascertain whether all of them are Nigerians, but it is evident that majority are predominantly Yorubas, Eguns, Ilajes and Ijaws, whose lifestyles, occupation, culture and identity are intricately connected to dwelling on open water for fishing and transportation. Prior to the eviction, the residents who held sway on the waterfront were at ease with their environment. But they got the boot through a letter dated, July 12, 2012. The state government in the letter, had expressed concern on the presence of theses slum dwellers on the water front, saying their continued habitation constitutes “environmental nuisance, security risks, impediments to economic and gainful utilization of the water front such as navigation,

entertainment, recreation, etc” Part of the letter read: “The Lagos State Government is desirous of restoring amenity and value to the waterfront, protect life and property, promote legitimate economic activities on the waterfront, restore security, improve water transportation and beautify the Lagos coastline to underline the mega city status of the state and has decided to clear all illegal and unauthorized developments on its waterfront and water bodies. Therefore, notice is hereby given to you to vacate and remove all illegal developments along the Makoko/Iwaya Waterfront within 72 hours of receipt of this notice”. Acting on this , the government sent truck loads of armed soldiers and police to invade the Makoko/ Ilaje waterfront to effect the quit order that has displaced more than 5000 people, given that the demolition exercise was extensive. For many of the residents, the biggest headache is where to lay their heads, as some have no choice than to convert their fishing boats to make- shift beds. These residents who likened themselves to “ fishes out of the water” are now at the mercy of the scorching sun, rain and mosquitoes, as they wander aimlessly in their wooden canoes. They however lamented the short notice given to them by the government, as some were caught unawares by the sudden demolition exercise as few were able to save their belongings. Amidst tears, Mrs Awasu Asinji, told National Mirror how her house was broken

ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER ALL OF THEM ARE NIGERIANS, BUT IT

IS EVIDENT THAT MAJORITY ARE PREDOMINANTLY

YORUBAS

into and reduced to rubbles by government agents while she was away to the local market. Her words: “I arrived 30 minutes after our house was demolished on July 16. On way home from the market, I heard sporadic gunshots and this made me to rush towards my home where I had earlier left my three children . Few metres to our house, I saw some soldiers patrolling the premises. After they had left, I moved closer, since my concern was the safety of my children. “On getting to the house, I saw them hiding inside the boat after tying the anchor to pillars holding the structure.” Speaking in the same vein, Mrs. Janet Kiki said: “I received a phone call from my neighbours, who told me that my house has been demolished by government officials. But I could not get to the house because they shot tear gas canisters to prevent anyone trying to disrupt the exercise.” A resident, who identified himself as Mr. Samuel Othoro, said the eviction has

truncated the education of their children who hitherto attend school in one of the shanties sited in one of the areas of the settlement around the lagoon, saying the development could affect the lives of poor children whose parents are struggling to give them education in spite of their plight. The Commissioner for Water Front and Infrastructure, Prince Oniru, debunked allegation of short notice, saying prior to eventual eviction on July 16, the government held series of meetings with stakeholders in the community. He said: “It is true the state government issued notice to them to quit the water body and their shacks on the water. But prior to that, we had meetings with the community leaders a month ago and they were informed. They knew what the government was planning for the area. Beyond that, the LCDA leaders in the area also held meetings with us and were equally informed of government’s plans. They got a quit notice from the government before we embarked on the demolition exercise”. He insisted that the eviction was a strategic plan to avert looming disaster in the area, saying “it is to clear the environment and entire vicinity of the danger looming. I am talking on the rise in water level, global warming and the danger with regards to thunder storm and heavy rains we are witnessing in that area and Lagos in general. If you look at that area now, you will see there are electric cables running over the shanties. Any little spark would cause major catastrophe. We all live in Lagos and are witnesses to the thunder storm and lightning we have been experiencing. So, what we are doing is to protect lives of the people living on water.” Oniru added that the place is unfit for habitation, saying continuous existence of a slum does not befit a state gearing towards a mega city status like Lagos.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insight

Thursday, September 6, 2012

demolition of water front settlement

A woman with her children in a canoe.

He added: “Now, should they be there at all? The answer is “NO”. It is not a fixed address for anybody. If you ask me what plans we have for them? Where we are relocating them? My answer is that these people came from somewhere. They did not grow up on that water body. Wherever they came from, they can easily go back. That area is not safe for anyone to reside,” he said.

When the bubble bursts Unarguably, the last straw for the slum dwellers was the killing of one of the leaders of the community, Mr. Timothy Huntoyanwha, who was shot dead by Marine Police officer, Corporal Boma Peddle on July 20, 2012. He was killed while making efforts to resolve the already volatile issue of forceful eviction, when policemen deployed to keep the peace shot him. Agitated by the development, thousands of angry residents, stormed the Government House at Alausa, paralyzing all activities as they barricaded the entrance to Government offices for hours, demanding for an audience with Governor Babatunde Fashola(SAN). They accused him of calling them foreigners after they had voted him in for a second term in office, even as they called on Fashola to rescind the eviction order or return their votes. Responding to their plea, Governor Fashola said government is not comfortable with the continuing expansion going on around the waterfront, adding that it is ready to allocate land to anyone who applies. Fashola said: “For most of you, we have no problems, indeed we are working to provide schools, water, library and so on, but those who have just come to live there will leave, that is the reality, it’s a very difficult situation, the troubles you have are limited, and if this place must be sustainable, we would have to put a stop to building on the lagoon.

Makoko residents protesting the demolition at Alausa, Ikeja.

THEY ACCUSED HIM OF CALLING THEM FOREIGNERS AFTER THEY HAD VOTED HIM IN FOR A SECOND

TERM IN OFFICE, EVEN AS THEY CALLED ON

FASHOLA TO RESCIND THE EVICTION ORDER OR RETURN THEIR VOTES We have land in other parts of the state, if the community wants it , they can apply and we would allocate them, you can’t build on the lagoon, it’s the natural lagoon that God has given us in this state and we have to preserve it.” He stressed that the government would not tolerate continuous expansion of shanties, lamenting that the lagoon is shrinking and it remains the only place where the drains are channeled during rainy season. On allegation of illegal immigrants, Fashola said: “There are foreigners from Cameroun, Benin Republic and Togo who have no papers, there are illegal immigrants there, as we are looking for a solution to the boundaries, , we will not allow expansion, we owe you a duty but we also owe a greater part of Lagos a duty too”. We have held three meetings with your representatives and Okobaba’s representatives. Okobaba people are ready to move, and we are preparing a suitable place for them to continue their work in Agbowa area of the state. We intervened because we saw daily expansion on the lagoon and this has to stop.”

Government’s plan

Addressing the crowd of protesters, the governor botched any hope of ever retuning back to the place to live, disclosing that government’s plans for the waterfront will only materialise when there is no extension on the water body. He said: “I am working with people there and outside this country, to see how we can expose that place as part of our culture and that can only be done in a very clean environment. We want to build an African Venice and I still remain committed to that idea but will not allow it to grow further. But it cannot continue to expand. We won’t allow expansion beyond the boundary. That is the only issue. I’m sorry this has brought so much discomfort and the earlier we talk to each other rather than talk at each other the quicker we will find solution.”

Human right activists Vs Lagos While the state government is claiming the eviction is for the good of former Makoko residents, other right activists flayed it, describing it as undemocratic and inhuman. According to Environmental Rights Action/Friend of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), the demolition of Makoko settlement is insensitive, anti-poor and undemocratic. The group Executive Director, Nnimmo Bassey, described the government‘s action as violation of the people’s rights to shelter as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution. He said the plans to use the site for the megacity project, indicated the exercise is a “calculated attempt to seize the space for the convenience of the mega rich at the expense of the urban poor.” His words: “It is sad and in bitter taste, that in a democracy, the Lagos State Government would become a nemesis of the poor rather than alleviate their sufferings. We totally oppose the forced eviction and demolition of structures without alternative accommodation or

plan to replace the means of livelihoods that will follow. This is an unacceptable tradition,” This is a reminder of the Maroko forced eviction exercise of 1990 under the Raji Rasaki administration that uprooted thousands of people who had lived all their lives there”. But Governor Fashola and the commissioner for Infor mation and Strategy, Lateef Ibirogba, had lambasted the rights groups, accusing them of “feeding fat from Makoko residents’ woes”. Fashola said: “Everybody has selfinterest in what is going on here. Those who want to sensationalize it, those who want to say that two million people have been displaced and it is a human right issue and of that everybody has an interest. The truth must be told, some people are benefiting from your difficulty in the guise of being your friends, purveying all sorts of lies, purporting to help you, but it never gets to you. “ Ibrogba said the gover nment owes a duty of ensuring safety of lives of all citizens in the state, insisting the eviction was to improve the living standard of the residents and save them from looming danger. “We all know that water is a good conductor of electricity, you know what that means to residents. The people will blame government for the disaster. We can’t fold our arms for that to happen. There is health hazard in living on the lagoon. A lot of people have taken advantage of them, pretending to be helping, perhaps getting money from the United Nations Organization. But the state government did not get these monies. So, who is getting the monies, since the residents are not getting them? Rather, they pay the lawyers who pretend to be helping them. We are still negotiating with original residents of Makoko and their leaders”. He disclosed.

WORLD RECORD

Largest species of camel Vol. 02 No. 442

N150

Thursday, September 6, 2012

The largest member of the family Camelidae is the dromedary or one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius), with a head and body length of 2.3-3.5 m (7 ft 6 in–11 ft 5 in), a tail length of 55 cm (21 in),a shoulder height of 1.8-2.1 m (6 ft–6 ft 10 in) (maximum 2.4 m 7 ft 10 in) and a weight of 450–690 kg (992–1,521 lb).

Marketing Jonathan, its challenges

r. Goodluck Jonathan must be worried stiff that his image as the weakest and most ineffective leader Nigeria ever had continues to go worse by the day. It was not surprising to hear him lament recently that he is the most criticised president in the world. Of course, he is. This is simply because he is the most confused and least performing president there is in the world. He made his case the more pathetic when he tried lamely to argue that he did not create the problems Nigerians want him to fix. This pronouncement from a ‘leader’ shows the shallowness of a President’s understanding of his job. Leaders are made by their people so that they solve existing problems. People are elected into office to solve problems on ground. The core essence of leadership is the ability of a leader to solve the problems he did not create! We did not have electricity because peo-

anchester United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has offered Olympic champion Usain Bolt the chance to play for Manchester United in the club’s annual charity match against Real Madrid legends. Bolt, who is lifelong

Guest Columnist

Tola

Adeniyi

ple hitherto entrusted with the task of providing power chose to put currency notes in their mouth. They simply ate the money meant to provide infrastructure. Nigerians then allowed themselves to have a leader rigged into their sphere in the hope that whichever way such a leader emerged, he would solve their problems and end their nightmare. They reasoned that the new leader might perhaps not like the smell of currency notes and might therefore not be a gormandiser of money. Now Jonathan is in a dilemma. He is worried about his image. He tried the most expensive perfume made in France; it did not seem to have worked. The more doses of Giorgio Armani from Italy he splashed on his body, the worse the smell of his Resource Control Suit. Our President’s handlers are now having sleepless nights. They have a very bad product on their laps. How does anyone make orogbo sweet? What quantity of honey can an orogbo be laced with that will obliterate the bitter taste of orogbo or kola nitida or kola accuninata? We have reached a stage that even if the Presidency gathers the combined strengths of Moses Ihonde, Prince Saka Aleshinloye, Alex Nwokedi, Duro Onabule and Mrs Remi Oyo and link them up with the public relations wizardry of Alex Akinyele, the sum total will still be zero! Every elementary student of marketing knows that the first principle in marketing is about the product. The product must be

THE CORE ESSENCE OF LEADERSHIP IS THE ABILITY OF A LEADER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS HE DID NOT CREATE! good, appealing and credible. And in Public Relations, the brand to be laundered must be properly packaged, appealing and trustworthy. If you have a non-credible and unpackageable product, no amount of marketing or public relations gimmicks can make such a product or brand fly. The problem with the image of our amiable President has nothing to do with his dress sense, or the use or misuse of language, or his occasional rushing to conclusions without proper evaluation of events, or his obvious reduction of the Presidency to local government level, it is more with his style and the obvious lack of being in charge. Mr. President allows too many people to be posing as his face. The obvious result is that the real or true face of the president is no longer recognizable. As things stand today, Nigerians are not sure whether it is Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who is running this country or Dezeani Alison-Madueke with her frightening lights behind her glasses,

or the imperial Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who sees the CBN, nay the national treasury, as an extension of the palace he is said to be eyeing. Mallam Sanusi behaves as if he is greater than the President of Nigeria. And nobody can blame him. If I happen to be working for a President that does not seem to understand my portfolio, I will assume his functions and make a dwarf of him. Worse still, if I work with a National Assembly that can be pocketed with tonnes of currency, I will surely ride them roughshod. It is very difficult to market President Jonathan. The reason as stated earlier is very simple. You simply don’t know what to market! Or put bluntly, you do not have something to market. No properly articulated policy. No properly executed project. No convincing performance. And the character of those who surround him does not lend itself to any human relations. We have a country where over 90 percent of the people are groaning under the weight of crushing poverty, we have a country where most of the stories we read daily are of rape, kidnapping, murder, armed robbery and large scale looting of the treasury, and yet you see people who are supposed to be leaders swimming in odious opulence and lavish display of stolen wealth. But the situation is not irredeemable. It is still possible for President Jonathan to recover some of his lost honeymoon with the Nigerian people. Dr Jonathan is a good person. He is humble. He is simple. He is a decent human being. There is also no denying the fact that the unprecedented billions of naira lavished on propaganda and brain-wash did secure the admiration of certain segments of the Nigerian masses for likeable personality prior to the elections in 2011. Akogun Adeniyi is the Jagun Oodua of Yorubaland and former chairman, Daily Times of Nigeria

Sport Extra

Bolt gets Red Devils look-in Manchester United fan, has already been to Old Trafford since his triple gold medal-winning exploits, telling the crowd ahead of last month’s 3-2 win over Fulham to per-

suade Ferguson to sign him, although it was an impossibility. But Ferguson has raised the possibility of Bolt fulfilling his dream in a rather different way.

“Usain has been to Carrington a couple of times and he did help Ronaldo with his sprinting,” Ferguson said yesterday. “He’s a big United fan and it’s interesting he says

he would like to play in a charity game. Ferguson owes Bolt a favour after he took a rather personal interest in the Jamaican’s stellar performances at London 2012. “We will bring him in next year and see how he does,” Ferguson submitted.

Usain Bolt

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