BusinessDay 18 Oct 2020

‘I don’t call the youths the leaders of tomorrow, they are leaders of now’ Page 16-17

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Erosion: Umuanunu Nsu, Imo community, on the verge of extinction Page 7

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Why I am fighting for the girl child – Wife of Kogi Speaker Page 18

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Dozie, Maduka, Ubah, 67 others to be screened for Igbo Business Leaders’ Hall Page 24 of Fame, Award

ActionAid Nigeria advises FG to adopt bottom-up approach to budget creation

Page 4

#EndSARS:

How high unemployment rate, poverty fuel youths’ outrage See page 2

The scares of SARS: Protests in South-south, South East target only SARS, add some jamboree

26 Goodnight J. P. Clark: The astute literary icones

L-R: Peter Rufai, a former Super Eagles goal keeper; Taribo West, ex-Super Eagles player; Jonathan Akpoborie, ex-Super Eagles player; Siju Iluyomade, founder/convener, Arise; Hadassah Ibinying-Allaputa, Miss United Nation, and Janet Adetu, head of Ikoyi, Bourdillon Cluster, at the Arise Walk for Life 2020, #StayingAlife, in Lagos, yesterday.

Pic by Olawale Amoo

29 Real Madrid in pole position to sign Mbappe

Party affiliation destroys regional economic integration in Nigeria OBINNA EMELIKE

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oing by the fast pace of development in the First Republic, it was obvious that the leaders of the regional governments made judicious use of the resources sourced mainly

from the regions.

The harmony and cohesion among the components that constituted the region was also laudable as all hands were on the deck by each region to outperform others.

Sadly, the collapse of regional government and introduction of federalism brought an end to the

healthy rivalry among regions across the country.

But in recent times, efforts are being made by the politicians to reunite, form blocs and work for the interest of their once-cherished regions.

There have been quiet economic and regional agitations from blocs such as BRACED, the South-South

regional integration bloc of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross-Rivers, Edo and Delta states; Development Agenda for Western Nigeria tagged The DAWN Commission; SouthEast Nigeria Economic Commission (SENEC), Northern Nigeria Continues on page 14

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Sunday 18 October 2020

#EndSARS: How high unemployment ...

Source: NBS, Proshare Research

OBINNA EMELIKE (Lagos) and VICTORIA NNAKAIKE (Lokoja)

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t the gate of one of the nation’s universities in the country is an inscription boldly written, “To restore the dignity of man.” That is the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State, South East geopolitical zone.

In the thinking of the founders of UNN, and other institutions of higher learning in Nigeria for that matter, the training gotten from the Ivory Towers and the certificate issued after one is “found worthy in character and in learning”, should be a meal ticket for anybody that has passed through such system.

But it appears that the original aim has been buccaneered by bad leadership that has reduced graduates of Nigerian universities to mere beggars and has perpetually tied them to the apron strings of their struggling aged parents.

This accounts for the lingering #EndSARS protests in many parts of the country as myriads of youths who are out of job have found in the protests, an avenue to let out steam.

On March 15, 2019, the social media was awash with news of the ordeal of Michael Alachenu in the hands of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) at Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos.

Alachenu, an undergraduate of Benue State University, who was returning from Makurdi to participate in a family thanksgiving service in Lagos, was arrested by some officers of SARS for routine search.

He was brustalised in their custody on the suspicion of being a ‘yahoo boy’, until his well-connected uncle intervened, while his tormentors went on the prowl again for other innocent victims, who may not have any person to intervene in their case.

Sadly, most of the victims of SARS’ brutality are youths, including those that live large, undergraduates and the many unemployed among them.

Over the years, the anti-robbery squad, which was created late 1992 to deal with crimes associated with robbery, motor vehicle theft, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and crimes involving firearms, became notorious for extrajudicial killings, extortion, torture, framing, blackmail, among other assaults targeted at the youth.

Regrettably, the sustained onslaught on Nigerian youths by SARS is peaking at a time unemployment rate is soaring; a sad situation that is pushing some youths into crime.

Observers said that the protests were beyond police brutality as they are said to be protesting against too many ills in the society allegedly being perpetrated by government, its officials and agents.

“The protests are not just about #EndSARS or #EndPoliceBrutality, but they are also about #EndUnemployment; #EndPoverty in Nigeria; #EndCorruption; #EndMaladministration; #EndBadGovernment; #EndOppression; #EndInjustice, and #Endkillings. These are the ills that have continued to feature prominently in the system despite promised ‘Change’ and ‘Next Level’.

“The issue of youth unemployment has become so problematic that many families who have spent huge amount of money to send their children to the university are lamenting. At 35, 40 years these youths are still living with their parents and feeding off their parents when they were supposed to be the ones to take care of their parents.

The Nigeria story is such a pathetic one,” Andrew Oke, a concerned parent, told our correspondent.

Oke further said: “It is the high level youth unemployment in the country and the general poverty in the land that have provided a fuel for the protest. What do I mean, if half of the youth protesting were gainfully employed, they would not be seen at the venues today. Some other youths that are said to be recruited as thugs by anti-#EndSARS protest elements, to disperse the protesters, are themselves jobless, and easily lend themselves to people who give them peanut to cause

havoc in society. Head or tail, it is about high level youth unemployment and equally the high poverty rate in Nigeria that are fueling the protests.”

Lamenting the country’s unfortunate high poverty rate, Ene Obi, Country director, ActionAid Nigeria, an anti-poverty non-governmental organisation working to combat poverty and promote social justice, noted that report from World Poverty Clock has shown that Nigeria has overtaken India as the poverty capital of the world and the most vulnerable groups include women and children.

According to her, “Nigeria currently has more than 82million of its people dwelling under poverty.”

As at the second quarter of 2020, the National Bureau of Statistics report revealed that the rate of unemployment in the country stood at 27.1 percent, indicating that about 21,764,614 (21.7 million) Nigerians are unemployed.

However, the youths remain the hardest hit with over 13.9 million (out of the 21.7 million total) people aged between 15 and 34 years unemployed.

Moreover, going by the National Bureau of Statistics report, Nigeria’s unemployment rate has more than tripled in the last five years, and some economists predicted that it would only get worse.

The economy experts based their prediction on the fact that as at the third quarter of 2018, unemployment rate was 23.1 percent, representing an increase of 4 percent between then and the second quarter of 2020.

Another sad reality for Demola Oke, a human resources director at a Lagos-based multinational company, is that about half of the university graduates in Nigeria cannot find jobs.

“Universities keep graduating students, but we the employers have few openings. There are no jobs anywhere and the unemployed youths have to find a way to survive, which is often crime-related”, Oke said.

In same vein, WeLearn, an education outreach organisation,

estimated that Nigerian tertiary education institutions produce up to 500,000 graduates every year, excluding other Nigerian graduates returning after their studies abroad to compete for jobs in the already saturated labour market.

According to a survey by Jobberman, a leading recruitment agency in West Africa, about 47 percent of the country’s university graduates are unemployed, sadly in Africa’s largest economy.

Considering the above realities and the consequent negative possibilities, Helen Gualo, coordinator of WeLearn, noted that crime rate is expected to increase as unemployment soars because youths with a lot of energy will find a way to exert their energy in positive or negative ways.

“Nowadays, the positive energies are seen less while negative expressions by youths are more because of the lack of opportunities to positively engage the youths”, she explained.

But Monday Akaniro, a lawyer, thinks that the rising rate of unemployment is a massive slap in the face of the Buhari administration, which promised to boost job opportunities for the youth.

“Where are the jobs promised twice during political campaigns?

The present administration is promising jobs, but putting in place measures and policies that kill the private sector and small scale businesses.

You cannot eat your cake and have it, government should remove the many huddles businesses face in Nigeria in order to boost sustainability, create more jobs and even collect more taxes”, Akaniro said.

In defense of the government, an anonymous source at the Federal Ministry of Labour, noted that governments across the country are making efforts at creating jobs, but that the harsh economic realities, coupled with the dwindling revenue are slowing some employment generation projects down.

The source maintained that unemployment rate is being contained as Nigeria is not among the top 10 countries with the highest unemployment rates.

“The fact that Nigeria is not among the top 10 countries with the highest unemployment rates means we are making efforts at tackling it or else we would have been number one on that list,” he said.

Also toeing the defense line, Bitrus Yohana, a civil servant, observed that crime rate is lower in Nigeria than in some countries with even higher unemployment rate.

“With 30.1 percent unemployment, crime rate in South Africa far outnumbered Nigeria’s rate. It means that some Nigerian youths are pushed to crime as a last resort, and would have a change of mind if something tangible and legal comes their way,” Yohana said.

Meanwhile, Omotayo Ige, a father of four, thinks that the anonymous source spoke well for his masters in order to earn his salary, while querying the number of jobs the

present administration has created since its first term in office.

“My children all graduated with good grades, but two of them are running small businesses due to loss of interest in searching for jobs after several unsuccessful hunts.

The other two are still searching for jobs and I pray they get jobs because an idle hand is a devil’s workshop,” Ige said.

Ibiwari Damiete, an angry youth, lamented that unemployment is killing youths softly, noting that “You lack everything when you are unemployed; no money, no security and no friends”.

“It is painful to see your fiancée being taken by another man because you do not have a job to raise the needed fund to actualise your marriage dreams. This painful situation can drive some people to crime and government, which did not give scholarship or job will use its SARS to further frustrate the youths,” Damiete lamented.

Though one cannot justify the reason for crime, Damiete noted that unemployment is forcing more youths into crime because it seems the last resort, shortcut and consolation for those who see their classmates from rich homes in big jobs amid injustice in the land.

“It is unfair to see your classmate who struggled to graduate with third class in NNPC, LNG, CBN and other plum jobs all because of their parents’ connections, while with your first class; you cannot get even a factory job. It is sad and the unfairness is what pushes my folks into crime”, Damiete explained further.

Venting his anger on government, Chike Awah, an unemployed youth, noted that there had been no consistent efforts and determination from government to sustain job creation in the last 10 years.

According to him, many medicine, law, and engineering graduates are now developing passion for fashion, arts, music among others due to lack of jobs.

“It was unheard of in the 60s and 70s that law graduate or medicine is teaching in a private secondary school because the jobs were there then. But the situation is worse today as many are dumping their hard-earned certificates for menial jobs or crime,” Awah said.

The above, according to Awah, are top among the reasons for the rise of ‘Yahoo boys’ who defraud many people through internet scams and other cyber and financial crimes.

Again, the youths are angry because their folks who are doing well in the arts, music or entertainment industries are often targeted by SARS because of their dressing.

“Government did not provide any job and some of us dumped our certificates to develop passion for the arts and someone, who is intimidated by our success is witchhunting us because he has gun.

Who said every youth who wears dreadlocks, earrings or barbs Galax is ‘Yahoo Boy’. That is very wrong,” Awah said.

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Sunday 18 October 2020

Leadership crisis brews in Bayelsa oil community

Pharmacists warn ministry against escalating quackery in health system

Samuel Ese, Yenagoa

Ngozi Okpalakunne

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crisis is brewing in Bilabiri 1 community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State over leadership tussle in the Mien Cluster Development Board ( C D B ) t h at a d m i n i s t e r s funds from Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC).

Bilabiri 1 community has p et it ione d L aw rence Ewhrudjakpo, deputy governor of Bayelsa State that a recalled representative of the community on the board, David Otitis was still being recognised by SPDC and Bayelsa State Government.

The petition said the Mien CDB was inaugurated in October 2018 for a five-year tenure, but the recall process for Otiti commenced on July 14, 2020 less than two years into the five-year tenure.

In a letter to the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, sighted by our correspondent, the intervention of the state government would nip the brewing crisis in the bud and preserve the existing peace for oil and gas exploration in the state.

The letter, signed by Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman, David Bazigha, Otiti Miebiotu, paramount ruler of Bilabiri 1 and the youth president, Elijah

L-R: Prof. Virgy Onyene, chairperson, Local Organising Committee; Prof. Oluwole Familioni, deputy vice chancellor, University of Lagos, presenting a cheque of 50 thousand naira and a plague to the first position from Wesley Girls Senor Secondary Yaba, Okongwu Mmasichukwu Emmanuella; Lukumon Adeoti, chairman, UNILAG Alumni Association Lagos State Branch; Okeke Florence, publicity secretary, and Sangoyale Oluwamajokun (teacher), during a Quiz Competition for Secondary School Students in Educational Districts II and IV (Lagos State) organised by the University of Lagos Alumni Association Lagos State branch held in UNILAG.

Obon is seeking government intervention to avert the crisis and preserve the existing peace in the area.

The community urged the state government to prevail on officials of the state Ministry of Mineral Resources to effect the decisions of the community by invoking the recall as spelt out in the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) without further delay.

They warned that if their demands were not met within seven days, they would be left with no option than to

shut down oil facilities at the Estuaries Area oil field operated

by SPDC despite the industrial harmony they have maintained since July when the recall process started.

The letter read in part: “Having met all conditions required for the recall, the people and leadership of Bilabiri 1 Community have resolved to shut down oil facilities within 7 days if the ministry officials continue to dilly-dally in carrying out its duties as required.”

According to the

community, it is regrettable that since the community unanimously recalled Otiti and communicated same to the Ministry of Mineral Resources, officials of the ministry were yet to act to enforce the recall.

They alleged that officials of the ministry have been compromised to take steps to undermine the power vested in the community by virtue of the convention and the Operating Principles and Procedures Guidelines (OPPG) of the GMoU between SPDC and the community.

ActionAid Nigeria advises FG to adopt bottom-up approach to budget creation VICTORIA NNAKAIKE, Lokoja

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ctionAid Nigeria, an anti-poverty non-governmental organisation working to combat poverty and promote social justice in the 36 states and the FCT for 20 years, believes that poverty can be eradicated if rights, redistribution of resources and resilience are prioritised.

It is in line with this belief that ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has followed with keen interest the implementation of the 2020 budget and the presentation of the 2021 budget proposal to the joint sitting of the National Assembly on Thursday October 8th, 2020.

In a press statement issued to journalists in Lokoja and signed by the Country Director, Ene Obi, it disclosed that the total budget of N13.08tn with an aggregate revenue projection of 7,886tn were perceived very ambitious, adding that the downward spiral trend of the economy compelled the Federal Government to review the 2020 budget, in which total Federal G over nment exp enditure was revised downwards from N10.594 trillion to N10.523

trillion. Likewise, key benchmark revenue assumptions were revised downwards. Crude oil price benchmark price was revised to $25 pb from $57 pb, crude oil production to 1.94 mbpd from 2.18 mbpd and average exchange rate adjusted from N305/$ to N360/$1. This revision of the 2020 budget was announced during the Federal Executive C ouncil (FEC) meeting which held on the May 13th, 2020.

She stressed that there has been continued shortfall in revenue from oil due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which may render Nigeria incapable of meeting her 2021 revenue targets.

“A b u d g e t d e f i c i t o f 5.19trillion is expected to be funded through loans from both the international and domestic institutions. This constitutes about 24percent of the total Appropriation Bill. With the dwindling revenue occasioned by falling oil prices, nonremittances, leakages etc, the tendency that borrowing will continue in 2020 to fund the budget is likely. This is a major concern as the debt profile keeps pilling and to substantiate this, the Debt Management Office (DMO) showcases the nation’s

total debt stock at N31.009 ($85.897b) as of June 30th, 2021”.

Ene equally pointed out that the Health, Education and Agricultural sectors were not yet given the attention required given their strategic importance in pioneering the economy, adding that report from World Poverty Clock, has shown that Nigeria has overtaken India as the poverty capital of the world and the most vulnerable groups include women and children.

Nigeria currently has more than 82million of its people dwelling under poverty.

Ac t i o n A i d t h e r e f o r e , recommended that “Ministries, Departments & Agencies ( M DAs ) s h ou l d a d opt a bottom-up approach to budget creation. States and Local Governments should aggregate their own budgets, to exert deeper developmental impact in the rural communities.

Above all, the budgetary process should be participatory and encompassing”.

According to the group, “The budget allocations in the 2021 budget to these 3 key sectors should be reviewed upwards, given that they are already falling below the international benchmarks. For

ssociation of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has advised the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) not to permit Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors Licence (PPMVL) holders to handle fresh dimensions of Family Planning services.

A statement, which was personally signed and made available to BusinessDay Sunday by the chairman of APCN, Sam Adekola stated that authorising PPMVL to handle services such as sales and dispensing of both oral and injectable contraceptives in Nigeria will escalate quackery in the health system.

“Today as it stands, any plot or scheme to involve untrained hands in the sale and dispensing of high grade medicines like steroidal preparations under the hypocrisy of accessibility to health or some other availability expediencies to provide unprofessionally inclined services to consumers of health will only make them more vulnerable to morbidity and mortality which of course aggravates our well known negative health indices”, the statement added.

It therefore, stressed the need for FMoH and the international NGOs to engage the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) which registers PPMVL holders in Nigeria.

The statement reads: “Such rules of engagement will confirm that the number of registered PPMVL holders in Nigeria

will be lesser than 50,000 which confirms even the pool of available registered PPMVL will not provide the huge network the FMoH and the NGOs anticipate in the execution of this unholy implementation plan.

“Government that seeks to redress the damage inflicted on the image of our presently-rated 187 out of 191 health systems globally should know this cannot be a route to ameliorating the permanent disorders and chaos in our healthcare sector.

“To amplify this position is that the typical unresponsiveness of government is what allows the existence of about 2 million unregistered PPMVLs which are common-place all over Nigeria. Except if government decides to legitimise the illegitimacy of the unregistered itinerant medicine sellers, there can be no impact by PPMVL holders in this concept of opening up Family Planning Services in Nigeria.

“In a very strict sense, it will amount to a monumental breach of both the PCN and NAFDAC Act for the supervisory FMoH to contemplate handing over the use of specialised care-products to persons who are not designated to do same under the laws earlier referred to.

“The condition precedent to earn a PPMVL in Nigeria today is to be above 18 years old as well as an ability to read and write.

How reasonable will it then be to allow such persons to inject consumers of health with any drug at all in view of the attendant risks?”

Fayemi commissions government-owned Asphalt Production Plant in Ekiti example, for agriculture, the international recommended benchmark is 10%, according to t he AU 2 0 0 3 Maputo Declaration. Unfortunately for Nigeria, Agricultural allocation is mere 1.73%, health 4.16% and education 7.54%. Further reduction will exacerbate poverty and inequality in the country”.

“A coordinated framework should be established to ensure that funds allocated to Health, Education and Agriculture are properly administered, ensuring value for money and an integrated approach.

“The budget should be devoid of vague and abstract terms, the budget information s h ou l d b e c ompl e t e an d c o n c i s e . A l l a l l o c at i o n s should be channelled towards concrete deliverables, targeting human and infrastructural development”.

“The Nigerian Government should open up public debate before entering loan contracts and should enhance its capacity to offset these loans before obtaining more of the same.

Furthermore, loans should not be used for recurrent expenditures such as salaries, traveling allowances,” Obi further recommended.

REMI FEYISIPO, Ibadan

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he Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, at the weekend inaugurated the state owned multimillion naira Asphalt Production Plant and its office complex in Ado Ekiti.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Fayemi described the successful completion of the project as a landmark achievement of his administration which is in line with his promise to ensure safety of lives and properties through the provision of good and well maintained road network across Ekiti State.

He said the provision of the office complex for the staff of Public Works Corporation is in line with the administration’s commitment to the welfare of the people through the provision of comfortable office accommodation in a more conducive environment to promote productivity and enhance good health The Governor pointed out that the Asphalt Production Plant would not only help in the road maintenance, but also generate employment for the vibrant youths of Ekiti State by engaging them at various levels of operation in the Corporation.

He said, aside from putting food on their tables, it would also make them self-reliant.

Governor Fayemi said further that the asphalt produced from the plant has been used to fix many of the failed portions on the roads in Ado Ekiti and some other locations within the state.

He disclosed that there are plans to expand the plant and equip it more as it would not only serve the state but other individuals as well as government of neighbouring states that needed its production, thereby boosting the state’s Internally Generated Revenue.

The governor however, commended the Director General of the Corporation, Sunday Olayinka Awoyomi, for his ingenuity in ensuring that the project was completed at much reduced cost and on time.

He also commended the brilliant efforts of the leadership and staff of the Public Works Corporation, who, after long years of abandonment of the project by the past administration, made the resuscitation of the asphalt production plant possible adding that his administration has brought up a law that prevents subsequent administration from abandoning projects in Ekiti State.

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Omo-Agege urges S/South governors to foster regional economic integration ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

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eputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege has urged governors of the South-South region of the country to foster regional economic integration by investing in infrastructure.

Omo-Agege made the call in his goodwill message at the second Annual General Meeting of the Forum of South-South Chamber of C ommerce, Indust r y, Mines and Agriculture (FOSSCCIMA) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Godwin Anaughe, the Deputy S e n at e P re s i d e nt u r g e d governors of the region to build superhighways and railways to link the BRACED states.

He also asked the governors to invest in the power sector and gas, adding that such infrastructure and facilities will ginger economic activities, growth and enterprise in the region.

‘It is against this backdrop that I find the theme for this year’s lecture ‘Economic Integration of the SouthSouth Region - A panacea for Economic Growth’ apt and timely. ‘’One important lesson of the Covid-19 debacle is that it can no longer be business as usu a l. T he C ov i d - 1 9 pandemic and the subsequent global economic downturn have also accentuated the importance of economic integration as engines of growth and development, in

L-R: Bosede Oyekunle, national publicity secretary, Association of Professional Women Engineers (APWEN); Sylvia Kelechi, member; Elizabeth Eterigbo, vice president APWEN; Funmilola Ojelade, APWEN president, and Chinyere Igwegbe, general secretary, during a press briefing heralding 2020 APWEN national conference tagged, ‘Dynamics of Engineering Education for Sustainable Economic Development’ held in Lagos.

many economies of the world. ‘’For the South-South region, the need for economic growth calls for economic integration that would help set the entire region on a more prosperous growth path. I wish to make it very clear, however, that the economic integration of the South-South is not a short term answer to the current socio-economic problems of the region. ‘’Rather, it is the longterm answer to the question of South-South economic g row t h , d ive rs i f i c at i on , competitiveness, enterprise and jobs,” he said.

Omo-Agege, who hailed the coming together of the six states of the region to form BRACED some years back, however, noted that the idea behind its formation has not

been achieved due to lack of commitment. ‘’The quest for regional economic integration in the South-South is not new. Over a decade ago, the governors of the region floated the same idea and sought to forge closer economic cooperation and integration among the six states of the South-South geo-political zone namely Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross-River, Edo and Delta (BRACED). ‘’ The BRACED states s ou g ht to d e e p e n t h e i r collaboration in the areas of education, human capacity development, information and communication technology, infrastructure development, agriculture and investment. ‘’Regrettably however, this bold attempt at regional

economic integration aimed at pooling of resources together, stimulating production, trade and investment which would have alleviated poverty failed as the BRACED Commission established to drive the process remained ineffective,’’ he said.

The highp oint of the occasion was the investiture of Okon Emah as the new president of FOSSCCIMA).

The new FOSSCCIMA president in his acceptance speech called for the diversification of the region’s economy as crude oil revenue could no longer sustain the region.

Emah said the region should revert to tapping the agricultural potentials in oil palm, kernel, mineral resources and the development of its seaports.

Group calls for teachers’ empowerment, retooling for better post-Covid-19 school management SEYI JOHN SALAU

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s schools set to reopen fully on Monday, October 19, following the seven months’ forced lockdown occasioned by the outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the Human Development Initiative (HDI) has called for teachers’ empowerment and retooling to upskill their class management towards reducing pupils/teachers ratio and the overall school management system post Covid-19.

The group at a sensitisation programme held in Lagos for stakeholders in the basic education subsector, said it was important teachers get

retrained to keep touch with modern realities of teaching.

Appealing to government to increase its workforce and look into the welfare of teachers to boost learning, the group stressed that it was counterproductive to match teachers with many pupils than they can handle.

“We want to encourage the government to support and empower more teachers, give them palliatives, training and retraining,” said Johnson Ibidapo, the project coordinator, HDI. According to Ibidapo, HDI is appealing to the Lagos State government to employ more teachers to reduce the current level of pupils/teachers ratio in the state, especially at the basic

education level. “...for teachers to be caring for 120 students every day, that teacher might not know when a student is not in school. Fine, the teacher is paid to teach but that does not mean they should have more students than they can handle,” said Ibidapo.

HDI noted that while government plays its part in ensuring conducive learning environment and teachers’ welfare, parents should ensure enrollment of their children or wards in school.

It also called on community based groups, religious leaders, community leaders, parents and individuals to partner with government in reporting shady deals and ensure that awarded school projects are

properly carried out.

“We are talking to them ( s t a ke h ol d e r s ) on b a s i c education management and administration, one of the very critical roles is ensuring enrollment of pupils who are of school age; that’s one and two; we are also trying to make them see their responsibility in managing and monitoring of basic education projects,” Bolanle Dare, HDI senior programme officer, said.

According to her, HDI is empowering stakeholders with the handbook of the action plan that Lagos State is currently implementing. The 2018 action plan currently being implemented by Lagos State contains all the projects for basic education in the state.

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Sunday 18 October 2020

Experts push for collaboration to tackle investment gaps in adolescent mental health KELECHI EWUZIE

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he coronavirus pandemic which ravaged economic activities in the entire globe has laid bare Nigeria’s failed investment in management of adolescent mental health issues over the years.

Statistics across the globe show that an adolescent mental health remains a neglected issue, often at the periphery of health and development agendas. as a recent study estimates that development assistance for Adolescent Health accounts only for a meagre 1.2 percent of all support between 2003 and 2016.

In Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria comprehensive sexual education is limited or restricted, and many young people are denied access to information to help protect themselves from unintended pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections and to avoid situations that put them at risk of domestic or gender-based violence or sexual exploitation.

These issues have raised serious worries in the heart of both private and government sector players in Nigeria, who in a webinar session put together by Olashore International School (OISA) foundation joined voices together in brainstorming on ways around the increasing issues and challenges on the mental health of youths and young adults in Nigeria.

The session which is the 3rd in the series hosted medical and health professionals who spoke on the theme, ‘Mental Wellness: A Central Pillar of Adolescent Wellbeing.’

Coronavirus pandemic has severely disrupted education provision, undermining the development of adolescent social skills at a critical time when adolescents are unable to attend schools and gain other experiences, according to Executive director, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), World Health Organisation (WHO), Helga Fogstad.

“Suicide is one of the top

five causes of adolescent death in some regions of the world according to World health organisation data. Now on top of all that our current generation and adolescence also had to navigate a global pandemic that is causing unprecedented harm to health and damaging the social and economic fabric of countries worldwide”, Fogstad said.

In her keynote address, ‘Perspective of World Health Organisation on adolescent mental wellness, global best practices’, Helga Fogstad observed that Mental health of adolescents and youth is crucially important, adding that every generation grapples with that difficult transition from childhood into adult life, dealing with family and friends, physical and emotion changes and managing multiple expectations and making crucial decisions about their future.

Abubakar Suleiman, managing director, Sterling Bank, who was represented by Temi Dalley, chief Human Resources Officer, lauded the board of Olashore International School for joining the global conversations to raise awareness about mental wellness in adolescence through this annual conference.

Dalley quoted a World Health Organisation data which indicated that as of 2019, Nigeria had over 7 million sufferers of depression. That’s roughly 3.9 percent of the nation’s population.

“Psychiatrics say about 15 percent of children adolescent have mental health disorders or conditions., nearly 50 percent of mental disorder starts to affect children by the age of 14”.

Other speakers at the webinar who gave both Nigeria and global perspectives to the challenges of Mental health at the conference include; Oluwayemi Ogun, managing director, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba Lagos; Tolulope Bella-Awusah, Head of Department, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University College Hospital, Ibadan.

Others are Tobi Odunsi, Psychiatrist and founder, Mental Status Quo and an old student of Olashore International School.

Okitipupa Oil Palm postpones AGM over litigation KORETIMI AKINTUNDE, Akure

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he 19th to 30th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Okitipupa Oil Palm (OOP), plc scheduled earlier for Tuesday October 13, has been postponed indefinitely following a suit instituted at the Federal High Court, Akure by some land-owners who are also stakeholders in the company.

Okitipupa Oil Palm, in a statement by the firm’s Act-

ing Company Secretary, Yusuf Adeleke, apologised to the shareholders and other stakeholders for the postponement, which he said was in deference to the court which ordered that everything about the meeting should be held in abeyance pending the hearing of all applications relating to the suit before the court on October 22,2020.

Adeleke assured all stakeholders that a new date for the meeting would be released as soon as the court granted the firm permission to hold the AGM, which were in arrears.

Sunday 18 October 2020

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Bad road: Road transporters send SOS to Abia governor UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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he Nigerian As s o c i at i on of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Abia State branch, has sent save our souls (SOS) message to the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, to urgently intervene and fix the bad portions of the Abia axis of Aba - Port Harcourt road.

The Union noted that the bad portions were responsible for several accidents that had claimed lives, caused incalculable damage to their vehicles, as well as loss of goods worth millions of naira.

Amobi Ohaeri, Abia State chairman of NARTO, who made the appeal while addressing newsmen in Umuahia, said that the governor’s intervention

would help save lives and make life easier for motorists and other road users.

“Our humble appeal is for our dear governor to assist us by filling the major broken down spots of Aba to Port Harcourt axis of the expressway to save us from unquantifiable losses that occur almost on daily basis,” Ohaeri said.

He pointed out that bad roads pose serious threat to investments of their members in the transport industry.

Ohaeri noted that though the road belonged to the Federal Government, the major users were Abians, hence the need for the governor to assist in making the road passable, pending when the Federal Government would rehabilitate the failed portions. “ NA R T O i s a m a j o r stakeholder in the transport

sector of the economy. Our investments centre foremost on trucks that lift both dry and wet cargoes and passengers also, to various destinations across the country.

“The magnitude of ou r i nve s t m e nt on ro a d transportation business is dreadfully threatened by dilapidated federal roads across the country. We are hereby appealing to our dear governor to help us save our vehicles from the menace of regular damage and loss of goods and property worth millions of naira occasioned by constant fall of our trucks on these highways,” he said.

“Our plea is particularly on the Aba-Port Harcourt axis of federal road which is currently at the worst state. We have severally lost our vehicles as some will fall and catch

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fire, goods and, sometimes lives, will go with it, while in rare occasions, our drivers, conductors and passengers will sustain major injuries or even die,” Ohaeri further said.

The Abia NARTO leader s p e c i f i c a l l y c om m e n d e d Ikpeazu for his efforts in bu i l d i ng an d re bu i l d i ng road infrastructure which had impacted positively on transportation in the state and also congratulated the newly appointed Commissioner for Transport, Godswill Nwanoruo.

Ohaeri used the opportunity to express gratitude to God for healing the governor when he tested positive to Covid-19.

Contributing, the State Secretary of NARTO, Evidence Obi, commended Ikpeazu for his “dogged pro-active response and interventions to save Abians and other residents from the ravaging coronavirus, adding the governor’s “swift fatherly approaches, precautionary measures and interventions did the magic of low death rate in Abia State.”

Erosion: Umuanunu Nsu, Imo community, on the verge of extinction Our Reporter

News

Onu to headline 4th Nanotechnology conference by Lautech Nano+ group SEYI JOHN SALAU

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he Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, will on Tuesday, October 27 address the plenary session of the 4th annual workshop/ conference on nanotechnology at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (Lautech), Ogbomoso, Nigeria, tagged ‘LAUTECH NANO 2020’.

The Nanotechnology Research Group (NANO+) is a frontline research group on nanotechnology in Nigeria.

The conference theme, ‘Human Existence and Resource Utilisation: Extending the Frontiers through Nanotechnology’, has been crafted in view of the current challenges imposed

by Covid-19 pandemic which calls for rational utilisation of resources to ensure the continuous existence of man.

According to organisers, the theme for this year’s conference is expected to draw scholars, policy makers and participants from within and outside Nigeria in agriculture, life sciences, physical sciences,

environmental sciences, engineering and medical fields to discuss research activities that can engender development in through the multidisciplinary field of nanotechnology.

Ag b aj e L ate e f , h e a d, NANO+ Group and Professor of Microbiology, said concerted efforts are needed to see to the realisation of a national roadmap on nanotechnology and its proper funding in Nigeria.

According to him, for Nigeria to derive maximum benefits from nanotechnology research, government at all levels and stakeholders must increase funding to education sector.

The group calls on technocrats, industrialists, funding agencies and government to support its quest for innovative research in nanotechnology for the benefit of the nation and humanity at large.

The impacts of the global Covid-19 pandemic has necessitated that the LAUTECH NANO 2020 Conference be conducted via Zoom. Expectedly, the conference would be declared open by the ViceChancellor, Prof. Michael Olufisayo Ologunde.

Social worker drags Jos Disco to court over estimated bills

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ife is now a nightmare for t h e p e op l e of Umuanunu Nsu, a farming community in Ehime Mbano, Imo State because of the devastating impact of persisting erosion.

The community, which is bordered by six other bigger ones, is on the edge of collapse due to the heavy flooding from the communities, all channeled to its small landmass, and making obvious its disadvantaged position.

Over the years neglect, the community resorted to selfhelp, paid voluntary workers to manage the high flooding in a way that houses are still standing, farmlands safe and roads still passable.

But the community regrets that since the former administration of Rochas Okorocha, the situation has become worse with deep gullies across the community that can swallow a three-storey building.

The worsening situation is making life more difficult for the people as most roads are now impassable.

S a d l y, s o m e o f t h e community residents now make arrangements with the uphill villages where they park their cars as gullies have eaten up theirs.

Regretfully, Umuanunu people have continued in the suffering for more than 35 years, as successive governments kept promising without action.

One of such promises was the loud one from Governor Okorocha, which was never fulfilled till date.

“Okorocha would have allowed us to manage the erosion in our usual way rather than awarding the contract to a

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A file photo of erosion in an Imo community

contractor who came only to use bulldozers to destroy the road and creating more problems for us”, some aggrieved members of the community decried.

They further lamented that the contractor abandoned the road without any reason and cannot be identified or located till date.

Confirming the contract issue, a former House of Assembly member representing Ehime Mbano LGA under Rochas Okorocha’s administration, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted that the contract was awarded and the contractor abandoned it.

For him, the f looding ravaging the area is so alarming that once there is a signal for rainfall, people will relocate to other places or enter their house with fear.

It is lamentable that the government has abandoned the road, which also link to Onicha Uboma, one of the agricultural hubs of the state, as well as, links the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.

With Hope Uzodinma at the

helm of affairs in the state, the community is hoping for respite soon as they claim to have voted for the governor.

The community has since sent a “save our souls” message to the governor in this regard, and is also calling for political inclusion as none of their sons and daughters has been appointed in any position in Imo State in the last 30 years.

They urge Governor Uzodinma to reverse the ugly trend, insisting that it would help to at least attract government attention.

While still at the peak of the rainy season, they think that government needs to speedily come to the help of the community.

R e c e n t l y, a t e a m o f independent reporters visited the site and could not believe what they saw and were unanimously asking when government would be visiting the community.

From the analysis, the community has tried some palliatives in the past on environmental degradation in

the area, but its effort alone cannot arrest the erosion.

The question on the lips of many concerned citizens is; when will the people feel the presence of government?

Over the years, Ehime Local Government has produced House of Representatives members and senators, who only come to seek people’s vote, but abandon them as soon as they are voted into power.

The community is appealing to Governor Uzodinma to quickly visit Umuanunu before erosion sweeps it into extinction.

On another note, most indigenes of Ehime Mbano local government regret that despite having three members at the various houses, there is nothing to show for their representation.

“It is disheartening that the politicians and representatives we have are invariably representing their families, erecting gigantic buildings in safer places, and rubbing their wealth on the faces of the poor,” an indigene of the erosion-ravaged community lamented.

Jos-based Social Wo r k e r, He n r y Chike Okonkwo has dragged Jos Electricity Distribution Company to court over alleged exorbitant estimated bills.

Okonkwo, a former Public Relations Officer (PRO) National Association of Social Work Students (NASOWS) University of Jos chapter, sued the electricity company for the consumption of electricity via an electronic meter that he claimed to be functioning, but the defendant failed to pick the readings of the meter before he was billed.

The suit of action in the High Court of Justice 2 in Jos, Plateau state capital between Okonkwo and the electricity distribution company has been instituted by the plaintiff, Okonkwo.

Before the course of action was instituted, the plaintiff had sought to dialogue and did dialogue with a feeder manager in charge of his district on the issue.

All efforts to resolve the matter proved abortive after the plaintiff had requested that he would need a prepaid meter as an alternative, but was told by the feeder manager that the prepaid meter was not available.

The feeder manager later went on by compelling the plaintiff to pay the bills immediately or be disconnected.

It was from that point that Okonkwo gave the power of attorney to his counsel on the matter.

A letter was written and

served to the company on 10th May, 2019 to that effect, but the company failed to respond, thus carrying out their threat of disconnection.

A reminder letter was written and served to the company on the 28th May, 2019 but the company also failed to respond before the matter was instituted in the Court.

A writ of summon was served on the company to that effect, even though the defendant failed to show up in court.

After which, the defendant then entered suit under a conditional appearance before filing a counter affidavit in response to the motion on notice, with their statement of defense.

Thence, a further and better affidavit was then brought forward by the plaintiff and the motion on notice for the reconnection of light of 27th January, 2020 was moved by the plaintiff ’s counsel on the 29th day of June, 2020.

However, Head, Corporate Communication of the company, Friday Elijah when contacted said that he was not aware of the case.

Elijah however, said he would refrain from speaking on a matter that is pending in the court.

“I am not aware. I am just hearing it. If it is a case that is pending in the court, as journalists, we are not to comment on pending case in court, but, between me and you, I am just hearing it. I don’t have power to comment on a matter that is pending in court,” he said.

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SARS: Beyond name change

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n the last 10 days or more, Nigerian youths have been on the street, protesting, calling for the scrapping of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS), an arm of the Nigeria Police. The protest, which is fast assuming the features and stature of a revolution, has not only been total and comprehensive, but also very effective.

The protest is not just an expression, but an outpouring of long-bottled up hatred, frustration and apparent loss of confidence in the special police unit, especially in its mode of operation which has presented the unit as a killer-squad.

The protest, which has been largely peaceful, is also the only way the youths are telling the Police authorities and, by extension, the Nigerian government that they have had enough of the nuisance SARS has become unfortunately.

At inception, SARS was a noble idea and to be called to the squad was dignifying.

Today, it is disheartening that such a good initiative meant to assist the police effectively and efficiently crack down on hardened criminals and notorious armed robbers

has been hijacked by crooks in the police force.

A squad that used to be the pride of the police and one that used to send shivers down the spines of die-hard armed robbers, especially through their sting operations, is now being dragged in the mud by its own acts of omission and commission.

Perhaps, a significant aim of the protest has been achieved, or so it seems, with the Federal Government causing the police authorities to disband the notorious SARS whose stockin-trade now is brutalising innocent Nigerians, especially the youths who they brand all sorts of names in order to extort or kill them mindlessly.

With the speed of light, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, disbanded SARS, but no sooner had he done that than he came up with Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) which is an acronym for Special Weapons and Tactics, thereby raising both concerns and questions.

The thinking around town is that SARS has not, strictly speaking, been disbanded, but has simply undergone a name change which, in our view, does not translate to anything dependable or trustworthy.

We are of the view that name is simply a badge and it is not enough

in the present circumstance. Name change does not transform the character, behaviourial pattern or innate qualities of an individual or an organisation like SARS. Changing the name of a shrew to a squirrel, for instance, does not change or even reduce the offensive ordour it is known with.

We believe that changing SARS to SWAT will not make any fundamental difference in the wicked make up of the individuals in the squad. Therefore, we are calling on both the government and the police authorities to look beyond the name change, because that is not enough.

There should be a new thinking and fresh orientation of the SARS in particular and the police force in general. It is not difficult to see, even without looking deep, that there is something ethically and professionally wrong with the Nigeria police force.

Despite all the unprintable things they have done and the many ignoble names they have been called in the past couple of weeks, we still share the belief of some Nigerians that SARS is still relevant in the country’s security architecture, but that is to the extent that the squad should be reoriented and also reformed.

That SARS, as presently constituted, has lost the full respect of well-meaning Nigerians is just an understatement, especially

with the way most of the operatives now go about their duties, behaving like area boys and mobs.

Their mode of dressing sometimes makes it difficult for the public to distinguish between them and armed robbers.

These, arguably, are strong grounds to believe that this squad has been infiltrated and hijacked by “bad eggs” in the police force, who have turned the squad into another terror group, inflicting pains and sorrow on innocent Nigerians.

At any encounter with innocent Nigerians the SARS operatives exhibit raw power and arrogance.

They have suddenly turned themselves into another cult group within the police, assuming greater powers than even the Area Commanders, meaning that there is something in them that needs to be corrected.

It is no longer news that SARS has assumed undue powers to harass, detain, maim and, in some instances, extra-judicially kill people they claim to be investigating.

Cases abound of innocent people across the country that have been murdered by SARS. Nigerian youths are calling for the scrapping of both SARS and SWAT, contending that the name change which the killer squad has undergone is not enough. We cannot agree more and, for us, the time for IGP Adamu to take that action is TODAY.

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Greedy Nigerian professors and their fat salaries Oludayo Tade Dr. Tade, a sociologist, sent this piece via dotad2003@yahoo.com

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hat we are saying is that if the Federal Government would reduce its profligacy and cut waste, there will be enough money to pay teachers in public universities, as well as fund research and upgrade infrastructure in such institutions. Hungry teachers can neither teach well nor carry out research. And poorly-taught students can neither excel nor propel their nation to great heights (APC Interim National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, Daily Post, August 21, 2013).

The perennial onslaught on public education has been taken to the next level by this administration with the statement by Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba that the bulk of the national budget on education is used to pay the salaries of 10,500 Professors in the public University system. In his interview with the Punch newspapers, Nwajiuba averred that strike by University lecturers is a major factor driving students abroad and to private universities. In this piece, I provide available facts to put the records straight with regards to the salary of lecturers; and go further to argue as to why lecturers deserve appropriate wages that will guarantee value commensurate with what they give to the academic system and the society.

In 2012 when the federal government carried out the needs assessment of the Nigerian universities, it was found that out of the 37,504 lecturers, 28,128 of

Adeola Adejokun Adeola Adejokun writes from Lagos

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any personalities and institutions are showing strength amid Covid-19 disruptions and the Ake Arts and Book Festival is not left out.

Like many other projects journeying into the air since the pandemic has polluted the land, the festival will hold online between October 22 and 26. It will be a pragmatic way of asserting its ‘African Time’ theme, as writers, publishers, scholars, artists and corporate players from different parts of the world will converge on the virtual arena for the ever-rich and incisive feast it offers.

Nigeria is a peculiarly tough environment for art and culture festivals to germinate and endure but the Ake Festival is proving that when there is will and resourcefulness, trees will flourish even in a desert. It may be too early to put the festival in the iconic perspective but the waves it has made in the eight years of its existence is symbolic enough to not only acknowledge its impacts but also highlight the factors that have accorded it sound footing.

Among such is its often-thematic assertiveness and diversity. This is in line with the festival’s manifesto of, according to its founder Lola Shoneyin, creating “a place where intellectuals and thinkers can come together and talk about African issues on African soil.” Year after year, the festival discusses fundamental issues that cut across disciplines, ethnic boundaries, and races. Although its primary focus is cultural, artistic educational development,

them were full time and pensionable.

Since then, there has been no major recruitment of academic staff despite the usual attrition on account of resignations, retirement and demise.This is what forced few academics to take up the burden of work meant for many lecturers necessitating the issue of earned academic allowances in the ASUUFGN agreement of 2009. From 2013 to 2020, government owes lecturers Billions of naira but these lecturers have no right to complain over their duly earned entitlements in the wisdom of the government. The ASUU-FGN agreement of 2009 stipulated that a lecturer I is to be paid N15,000, Senior lecturer (N20,000) and Professor (N25,000) per annum per student for supervision.

The lecturers now described as selfish and gluttonous are yet to be paid for several years of supervising students.

An external examiner is supposed to be paid N80,000 for a Master dissertation and N105,000 for Doctoral examination. The internal examiner for the same purposes ought to be paid N45, 000 and N65, 000 respectively but these only exists in the agreement and have not been implemented for eleven years! In Nwajiuba’s wisdom, these are not issues to go on strike for.

University Lecturers are overstretched and least paid when compared with lecturers in polytechnics and colleges of Education despite the fact that ninety seven percent of UTME applicants prefer University Education to Polytechnic or Colleges of Education.

In 2018, 1,558,686 of UTME candidates chose University, 24524 (NCE) and 69712 (Polytechnic). Less than ten percent of degree pursuing applicants chooses private varsities. In 2009, both the Federal Government and ASUU came up with two salary tables (I and II). Table II was called the African average salary payable across the continent but government pleaded that the Table I which undervalues intellectualism should be used to pay lecturers till

such a time the government is able to raise funds to meet the African average salary. ASUU’s altruistic disposition made the body agree to receive less while doing more work. Unfortunately, it is now eleven years of receipt of slave-like wage which assuredly will make colleagues in Ugandan public varsities universities cringe! The salaries of the selfish Nigerian lecturers by cadre are as follows: Assistant lecturer (N118,277 -N137, 334); lecturer II has a doctorate degree (N129, 724 – N153, 563);Lecturer I has at least three years post-PhD experience on the job (N160, 809 – N203, 778), Senior lecturer with at least six years experience on the job (N222,229 –314, 159), Associate professor (with at least nine years experience on the job: N277, 179 – N350, 169) and a Full Professor with twelve and more years experience on the job (N332, 833 – 416, 743). They get these after tax and other deductions. Before deductions, a newly appointed Full Professor has N437, 499 and after deductions he is paid N332, 833 monthly. A Professor “at the bar”, is one who has spent ten years as a professor and that is when he/ she can earn consolidated pay of N555, 351 and following deductions their net pay comes down to N416, 743 monthly!

In Ugandan public varsities, Assistant Lecturer earns $1,631; Senior lecturer ($2,432), Associate Professor ($3,891) and Professor ($4,054) per month respectively. In University of South Africa, Junior lecturer earns (N10, 453, 326 - N17,427,663), Lecturer (N12,547,744-N20,910,248), Senior Lecturer(N16,272,983 - N27,891,819), Associate Professor (N20,224,232 – N32,564,902) and Profess or (N22,325,844 – N37,209,741) per annum. Does this explain why we can hardly attract any international scholar to our public varsities? Mind you, the mix of international scholars and students is among the items considered in ranking universities internationally. Are you still wondering why South Africa

almost always occupies the top spaces in varsity rankings in Africa? In South Africa, scholars have research votes and funds set aside to support participation in international conferences. For every publication in rated journals, a lecturer in the orange country is incentivised so also is the Department and the Faculty towhich the scholar belongs. So no one jokes with a productive and NRF-rated scholar in South Africa. They also pay for their scholars to publish in high impact journals to increase citations.

In Nigeria, such funds do not exist in practice. That the University of Ibadan, for instance, still ranks among the best in the world is largely the outcome of the personal sweat of committed scholars in the institution and not because there is any special incentive system in place.

Lecturers are even sometimes forced to take loans to attend international conferences because their institutions shockingly include it as a condition for promotion. It thus usually feels awkward to tell colleagues from institutions where conference funding is provided that you as a scholar from Nigeria borrowed money to attend a conference. Such is the character of the parasitic Nigerian system where the knowledge economy is relegated and personal interest is elevated. Is it not difficult to imagine that the former Interim National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress, who is now Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed who uttered the opening excerpts of this piece is part of a government that does not believe in what he said in 2013?

While South Africa voted 396billion Rand to education in 2020, President Buhari’s2021 budget allocated 691.07billion to Education representing 6.7percent of the entire budget, a gross shortfall to the UNESCO prescribed minimum of 26percent. Unlike the lie of the Minister of State for Education that the bulk of the Education budget is used to cater for 10,500 Professors, the 691.07billion is to cater for 28

education parastatals, 37 federal Universities, 25 federal polytechnics, 21 federal colleges of education and 104 Unity schools! Know your leaders and what to believe from their statements.

The government that cannot fund research also actively frustrate funders from supporting Nigerian researchers with their policies. Rather than releasing funds to researchers promptly, Bursars often have to go to Abuja for approval to withdraw. I am aware of grant funds that are yet to be paid for a year due to the bottlenecks of Treasury single account!

Interestingly, lecturers with their poor wages now make contributions in order to donate printing papers to run their Departments. No functional internet, dilapidated lecture rooms, laboratories that parade equipment of the 1980s and comatose power supply all of which hinder delivery of qualitative teaching and research. The ruling class know this and train their children in the global north. At their return, they reserve jobs for them in NNPC, FIRS, and Central Bank. For the children of the poor, they are expected to join community policing recruitment exercise of the Inspector General of Police where recruitment will still be hijacked by the same political class. Whichever way, the masses are short-changed.

Only the children of the rich and those in government can go abroad not the children of the masses. Many of the latter write JAMB yearly but they want of space and dilapidated infrastructure as well as insufficient lecturers cannot make UI for instance take more than around 3,000 instead of about 12,000 which is the quota it has. Is it not sensible to reckon that with improved infrastructure, space for admission will increase and more people will get admitted? IPPIS is a distraction and not the reason ASUU is on strike.

There are two options: support ASUU for the improved conditions of service and revitalisation of public varsities or support government to destroy public universities.

The choice is ours!

Reflecting on swift growth of Ake Arts and Book Festival it is never shy of interrogating issues in governance, business, gender, and all. Last year, for instance, it explored various aspects of humanity under the theme, ‘Black Body, Grey Matters’.

Another key factor in the swift evolution of the Ake Festival is the expansive voice it gives to women and other segments of society who are often marginalised. The festival accommodates all genders, but it seems to appreciate the fact that society tend to suppress some. It has thus been able to promote such while also engaging the voices and passion of others, whom other similar festivals might have isolated. In this sense, it has positioned itself as a festival of all cultures, sub-cultures, philosophies, and ideas.

Youths are the jokers of the future. Any idea that they buy into has a date with history and the future. The disposition of the festival organisers exemplifies this thought.

It commands the attention of many young writers, poets, artists, and enthusiasts, who exude a sense of belonging when they attend each season. This is one trait that is a big plus for its essence, compared to some other book projects in Nigeria, which appear to subsist on the participation of what some would describe as the ‘core’, conservative veteran stakeholders.

The Ake Arts and Book Festival is also ‘blessed’ in terms of the dynamism of its sponsorship. Unlike some other similar outfits that depend on lone funders, it

boasts several, though some are more major than others. It has enjoyed support from governments, especially the government of Ogun State. But equally pragmatically backing the festival are corporate groups and international organisations, which lend it credibility and depth apart from other forms of concrete support they might be giving. Compared to the now suspended Garden City Literary Festival, which flourished for about seven years when a government favourable to it sponsored it, but has been suffering lull since the coming of a new government, Ake is balanced in the diversified sponsorship equation, a feature that should be instructive to similar future initiatives.

Shoneyin and her team will particularly find precious the commitment of its principal partner, Sterling Bank, which is prepared to continue to be with her. During the 2019 edition held at the Goethe Institute, Ikoyi, Lagos, the bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Suleiman Abubakar, recalled how it (Sterling) bought into the dream, saying the journey had been mutually fulfilling as arts were significant and encompassing.

He said, “People treat art as if it is what we do when we have done everything else or in some way what we do when everything else has failed. But I disagree with them. I think and I am truly convinced that everything we know about ourselves and our history is the work of the creative

specialists. Everything we understand is understood in context sand that context is the work of our creative people.

“Take away the context and the story changes completely. Last year, I spoke a little bit about how the greatest storytellers in the world were able to give us the Bible and the Quran because those who told the stories told such compelling stories that, centuries later, our everyday life is being determined by the stories they presented.

Stories are still a reason for people to go to war today, the reason for people to give up their wealth. They are still the reason for people to do other important things. So, truly, storytelling is much more than what we do when we have done anything else.

“As we sit here tonight, let us understand this: we are not writing stories just to entertain people. We are writing stories that will lead to peace or war, lead to poverty or prosperity. The stories we write today will form the foundation for everything that the rest of us will do. So, I beg you all, even as we hold ourselves accountable, let us create stories that will inspire Africa to the highest height that it can be.”

While the festival, on its website, identifies Google also as a partner, it lists Annoying Logo, Goethe, and Nikon as sponsors, just as it describes Kryolan as a supporter.

It is against this background that many are eagerly awaiting the commencement of this year’s edition. It will be another time to savour vibrant debates and gauge

challenges and opportunities in the sector, with the organisers promising a great deal even as the programmes will unfold online. They noted in a statement: “Now in its 8th year, the Ake Arts & Book Festival has brought over 700 artists, writers, poets, musicians, dancers, actors, filmmakers and thinkers together to dialogue and celebrate creativity on the African continent through panel discussions, art exhibitions, workshops, storytelling, book chats, poetry performances, a concert, stage play and unforgettable films.

“Our world has changed forever. And when the world turns, we turn with it. The magnitude of recent world events cannot be ignored so we have changed the theme for the 8th edition of Ake Arts & Book Festival.

In 1918, African nations were in the clutches of imperial forces that denigrated our stories, culture, history, language, and belief systems. A century later, a new pandemic finds Africa struggling with the colonial hangover of poor leadership and a predatory global order.

“Africa must reject the old normal and seize the opportunity of the moment to recalibrate and break the cycle of betrayal by those elected to lead. This may be our last chance to shape Africa and define the continent of our dreams.

It may have come later than expected but, for the children of Africa everywhere, this is African Time.”

Sunday 18 October 2020

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Sunday Politics

Democracy without internal democracy is counterfeit – Onuegbu IGNATIUS CHUKWU, Port Harcourt

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erhaps, one of the most influential labour strategists in Nigeria today, Rivers-born Chika Hygenus Onuegbu, who just bagged a Distinction at Masters Level in Commercial law from a UK university, has warned Nigerians to choose between revolution or military rule of moneybags continue to block the masses from being equal members of major political parties.

Onuegbu of the Osi Royal House of Mgbutam in Emuohua in Rivers State, who is member of the Emuohua council of chiefs, has urged the judiciary to return power to the ordinary Nigerians by giving standard ruling that would restore internal democracy so that moneybags would no longer impose candidates at elections and block out the members.

The Egwurugwu 1 of Emuohua Kingdom (Egwurugwu is rainbow which signifies arrival of peace wherever there is strife) who led in negotiation and reconciliations mechanisms to enthrone peace in Nigeria as head of industrial relations of the most powerful unions in oil and gas industry.

The two-time TUC chairman in Rivers State said he had vehemently rejected any suggestion of joining politics due to its dirty form in Nigeria but said after garnering huge insight and strategic knowledge in academic and training/grooming institutions around the world and working in Shell, a top human resource honing organisation worldwide, he is under huge consideration of changing his mind.

Our hopes in 1999 have been dashed Problem is how to uproot these people blocking true democracy.

On whether he would change his mind after four years of saying never, he said: I have been reflecting on your question and over the weekend, I have been asking the youths to join politics. I was among those as a students’ union leader who fought for this democracy.

We had hopes that democracy was going to solve our problems and impact on our lives, but that is not the reality on ground. We no longer know the difference between democracy and military rule in terms of development. I am now beginning to think like the Claude Ake (then lecturer in the Uniport) did whether we should make a choice between democracy and development. Is democracy the issue or is it the crop of people in charge of democratic institutions that are the problem? If the people are the problem, how do we uproot them so democracy would become real?

So, we may have to have a rethink, to actually join politics instead of running away.

Chika Onuegbu

Judiciary must fight for internal democracy to save Nigeria That is why we enjoin the judiciary to focus on internal democracy in political parties because without this, only money bags would prop up candidates in the major political parties and silence the voices of the majority. That is why I have always supported any struggle that would ensure that internal democracy remains supreme.

Again, how can people participate and make impact without internal democracy? In the US, without internal democracy, Barack Obama wouldn’t have emerged because even in Kenya where he was born which has no internal democracy, he would not emerge president.

Religious leaders must act now What I am doing now is to appeal to the youth to join politics. I appeal to religious leaders who say participation in politics is evil to have a rethink.

The Bible said the people rejoice when the righteous come to power.

If the righteous do not participate, how would they rule? King David was a political leader. The Israelites had worship of God by their kings.

This means if you have righteous leaders in Nigeria, the rest of the people would embrace righteousness as a way of life. The opposite is the case when you have sinners.

The Bible placed a curse on sinners (righteousness upholds a nation and sin is a reproach to any people).

You cannot remove Nigeria in the comity of nation from reproach.

You can see clearly that why we are in that situation of reproach is corruption or sin. So, it is reason why religious leaders have to join this struggles. Let them look at History because wherever there was change, religious people partnered with the people to bring it. They want people to go to heaven. It is easier for people to go to heaven if they are not overburdened by what to eat and how to take care of basic needs.

We are talking about basic comfort. If the people are still talking of healthcare in a system that is deplorable where somebody

“

The Bible said the people rejoice when the righteous come to power. If the righteous do not participate, how would they rule

takes N30,000 minimum wage in a forex regime of N450 per Dollar, obviously, inflation is very high.

Clearly, it will be very difficult for any person to remain righteous.

The religious leaders have reason to support change by encouraging their members to troupe out to join parties and play active roles in the parties.

Don’t allow us go back to the military We do not want to go back to military rule. If what is happening continues, either a revolution with unknown outcome or military rule would emerge. If they come, people would jump up to celebrate them, only to regret some months later.

Way out is for good people to join politics now. So, I am re-evaluating my position to stay out of politics but for now, I am only mobilising people to come out. I may remain silent but I may also change my mind and come out and bring my experience to better the lives of our people.

When people gather all that they gather in corruption, what can they eat in a day? If you eat too much, you fall sick. If you may go for many houses but you cannot sleep in more than four feet space at a time. Covid-19 has taught us a lesson; people cannot travel abroad to treat themselves. We are all locked down here. Nigerians should wake up and forget their differences and look for good governance and look for internal democracy. Without internal democracy, it defeats the

idea of joining a political party and make change because the moneybags would make decisions. That is why when the courts take a decision in support of internal democracy, I rejoice. I hear the lords say it is their internal matter, but that means they do what they want. The courts should save democracy from the notion that it is their internal matter.

The court should examine why political parties exist; to select candidates and win elections. If the process is corrupt, how do we trust them to bring the changes the society needs. The system that brings them must be decent, open and transparent to encourage every person to join and aspire.

This must concern the judiciary.

If their role is only to try those who stole or committed crime but refuse to address some of the root causes why those evils happen, then that is bad. People should stop caging the judiciary and look at in terms of what the intended objective was.

Why was that law made? The law for election was not made to allow political parties to bring rotten fingers to choose. If that were so, the objective is for the parties to be the model the society wants to be. Then they present people that are models for us to choose. If they fail to do this, I expect the judiciary to get angry and hammer them on the head and force them to do the right thing.

Book and radicalism He stated: “Academically, I studied in the University of Port Harcourt (Uniport) and I had different uncles each goading me to choose one profession or the other. I personally wanted to be an engineer, my father wanted me to study medicine, but my uncle wanted me to be an accountant, and some others with their own choices, all for me.”

It was by the whiskers that the radical Chika Onuegbu managed to graduate in the Uniport going by the daily surge of radicalism in the university during those military years.

He went on: “After my graduation in accounting, I joined Akintola Williams (now Deloitte) and later became a chartered accountant. I later became a chartered tax practitioner. I worked in various organisations and along the line, I started a Master of Business (MBA) in Uniport, but another of my uncles met me and asked me if I was learning anything new at the MBA level in accounting. Hearing that I was not learning much new, he advised me to do an Msc Economics to learn new things. That was how I abandoned that programme and did Msc Economics at the University of Calabar (Unical) when job took me to Calabar as a Resident Continues on page 13

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Sunday 18 October 2020

Edo, Ondo governorship polls show how e-voting can engender credibility in Nigerian elections

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JAMES KWEN, Abuja he September 19 Edo and October 10 Ondo governorship elections have shown that electronic voting (e-voting) can engender credibility in the country’s electoral process, especially in the management of election results.

This is as the deployment of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC RESULT VIEWING (IReV) that enabled Nigerians to view Polling Unit results real time as the voting ended in Edo and Ondo alone proved to have reduced the incidences of results manipulations.

The introduction of IReV which was first experimented in the August 8th, 2020 Nasarawa Central State Constituency byeelection and subsequently the Edo and Ondo polls, according to INEC was to further strengthen the transparency in the election result management system which has remained a major source of mistrust in Nigeria’s electoral process.

As INEC truly observed, the issue of result management exacerbated by manipulation of results has always been the bane of the electoral process in Nigeria which attracts wild condemnations and criticisms both at the local and international levels.

For instance, at end of the 2019 general elections, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in its final report on the 2019 decried that lack of transparency and inconsistent numbers during the collation of results by INEC cast a long shadow over the integrity of the elections.

EU EOM report among others said :”Numerical discrepancies and anomalies on polling unit results forms were identified and were mostly corrected by collation officers on the spot but without a clear system of record -keeping. Inconsistent numbers during collation, lack of clear checks and explanations and insufficient public information undermined the integrity of the elections.

Similarly, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in its report lamented that: “There were differences between the number of accredited voters and the total number of votes cast in many Polling Units. The Independent National Electoral Commission operations fell short of its identified roles”.

However, the deployment of IReV in Edo and Ondo has at least put these issues to rest, except for other electoral malpractices such as violence and vote buying that were common particularly in Ondo gubernatorial

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu

Governor Godwin Obasek

polls.

At the end of the Edo governorship election, even the worst critics of INEC and the electoral process, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) applauded the use of virtual portal

by INEC to upload results directly from the polling unit as it said the application made it impossible for electoral violators to hijack the electoral process.

If the use of the viewing portal (IReV) alone could reduce to the barest minimum, election results manipulation, the full automation of electoral process such as e-voting which Nigerians have always clamour for would enhance the credibility of polls in the country, hence the electorate votes would count.

This position has been buttressed by the umpire body itself at different fora even it is making frantic efforts to achieve evoting as evident in the recent demonstration of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) by 40 companies with the Commission key staff.

Also, the INEC Chairman, Yakubu Mahmood called on lawmakers to amend the Electoral Act to give backing to the use of technology to improve the electoral process as he alluded to the fact that the IReV for instance helped in quick collation of results and reduced manipulation in the recent polls.

According to him: “A lot has been achieved aboard with a

simple application of technology. So, the encumbrances to the deployment of technology in the transmission of election results should be removed as part of this process”.

Speaking to BusinessDay on the importance of the deploy-

“

A lot has been achieved aboard with a simple application of technology. So, the encumbrances to the deployment of technology in the transmission of election results should be removed as part of this process

ment of IReV and its positive impact on the Edo and Ondo governorhip elections, Idayat Hassan, Director of the Centre for Demo and Development (CDD) said the timely upload of the results on the platform reduced collation challenges.

She insisted on the need to introduce more technology into the elections and called for a holistic amendment of the Electoral Act, adding that a combination of the card reader and the IReV has gradually reduced fraud in the last elections.

Idayat said the CDD report indicated: “In the case of the Nassarawa State Constituency Election and the Edo Governorship Election, the immediate uploading of results improved the transparency of INEC’s result management process, in preempting attempts to introduce changes or alterations at other levels of collation, beginning from the ward or Registration Area (RA) level.

“The uploading also enabled stakeholders to track the progress of result uploads and project the outcome of the election before the final declaration. In the case of the Ondo election, the results were processed within about 5 to 8 hours of the close of polls.

“CDD recommends that, going forward, INEC should continue to enhance not only the results management process, but also the electoral process in general.

Towards this end, it will be important to begin focusing on the need for the replacement or upgrade of equipment such as the SCRs, or, look for better, multifunctional equipment that can encompass the entire process from the registration of new voters through to the processing of results”.

Also, a Political Scientist at the Nnandi Azikiwe University in Awka, Christian Okeke said the uploading of unit level election results on INEC’s IReV portal witnessed in the last governorship elections is a welcome development.

He noted that: “Election results are beginning to gain credibility.

Expectedly, contesting election results will begin to diminish.

This is an end-product of strategic reform needed to strengthen election credibility, and which is yet to be faulted. Such an initiative is the way to go.

“This should be followed by full deployment of electronicvoting enabler so as to totally leverage on the window of opportunity provided by the ICT, just as the use of card-reader system is being advanced.

“However, while optimizing those low-hanging fruits, stakeholders need to eliminate other challenges besetting the electoral process. Electoral Act amendment and subsequent implementation are obviously needed to address the challenges of election”.

Sunday 18 October 2020

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Sunday Politics

Aftermath of Ondo guber poll: Is Agboola Ajayi going into political oblivion?

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RAZAQ AYINLA & KORETIMI AKINTUNDE, Akure t was no longer news that Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has been re-elected for a second term in office after the just concluded gubernatorial election that was held last Saturday in the state with 292,830 votes to defeat his closest rival, Eyitayo Jegede of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 195,791 votes as well as Agboola Ajayi of the Zenity Labour Party (ZLP) that polled 69,127 votes.

A number of civil society groups such as Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and YIAGA Africa, among others, had in their reports, indicated that vote-buying by party agents across polling units in the state was a major factor which contributed to the victory of Governor Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Our Correspondents, who were on ground and visited three Ondo Senatorial Districts, namely, Ondo Central, Ondo North and Ondo South during the poll, also observed that political parties spent whopping sums to buy votes, sharing between N5,000 and N10,000 in addition the 3kg domestic gas cylinders to electorate in order to corner their votes, this was very common among the three major parties that contested the election - APC, PDP and ZLP, but that of the ruling party was most pronounced.

Eyitayo Ajayi

Besides, majority of people in the state, also indicated the role of vote buying across the 3,009 polling units last Saturday, saying without that sharing of money and 3kg domestic gas cylinders - APC would not have won at the poll. This is a clear case of Biblical sales of birthright between Jacob and Esau as the people of Ondo South, who always complain of being marginalised and shortchanged despite being the oil-producing area of the state, could not vote for their own - Agboola Ajayi of ZLP, who

didn’t win just a local government area out six in the Ondo South Senatorial District.

Yiaga Africa in its reports observed, “In clear violation of the Electoral Act, political parties engaged in the distribution of money and gift items in a bid to curry the support of voters. The campaigns were a contest of the highest spender as opposed to debates on policies and manifestoes.

“In most cases, the parties were negotiating with the voters on the

amounts to pay on election day for their votes. Voter inducement was prevalent in 12 LGAs namely Akoko South West, Akoko South-East, Akure North, Akoko North West, Okitipupa, Akure South, Odigbo, Ese-Odo, Irele, Ifedore, Ondo East and Ilaje LGA.” It was the case of sectional celebration in Ondo state after Governor Akeredolu was declared winner

by INEC as only Owo and adjoining towns in the Ondo North Senatorial District where Governor Akeredolu hails from, jubilated as many people particularly in Akure, the state capital and Ese-Odo where Eyitayo Jegede of PDP and Agboola Ajayi of ZLP respectively hail from, were not happy with the outcome of the election process, according to them because their sons, lost the elections; they were rigged out by the ruling party.

Although 17 political parties were registered to contest the election, only the APC, PDP and the ZLP had the mettle and the widespread support for the challenge as the final results as declared by INEC showed that Akeredolu win with 292,830 votes (51.1%). He was being followed

by Jegede, who scored 195,791 votes (34.2%), while Ajayi, the deputy governor and ZLP candidate came third with 69,127 votes (12.1%).

According to the INEC, the total accredited voters for the election were 595, 213, which represent 31.6% turnout of voters. The total

valid votes however stood at 572,745.

Also, 18,448 votes were rejected, while about 16,000 votes were cancelled.

No doubt about the fact that Akeredolu was able to win the election because of the powers at his disposal as the incumbent governor of the state. Besides, all the APC guber aspirants, who didn’t make it at the end of the day, worked together for his re-election, unlike what happened with the PDP candidate who was not supported by some aspirants in the build-up to the election.

Another major factor that contributed to the victory of APC in Ondo is the intervention of the government at the federal level which gave its full support to the incumbent governor, having also used some serving and former governors of APC to disguise as friends to the embattled deputy governor, Ajayi, to plead on him not to join PDP’s Jegede despite the intervention of former President Olusegun Obasanjo as they promised to support his ambition with funds which they didn’t later do.

Indications of financial and logistical supports in big time, even the conspiracy of security operatives at polling units that facilitated vote buying could be listed as part of the federal support.

Belief of many people in the state before the poll was that with the matching up of Jegede and Ajayi Continues on page 21

Democracy without internal democracy ...

Continued from page 11

Control Officer (Auditor).

“It was while I was studying Economics that I saw the concept of Veracity Effect which tried to explain why developing countries like Nigeria hardly achieved economic development. It teaches that this is because institutions that drive development are weak while groups with interests grow stronger. By this, if one really wanted to make impact, going to become a professor would not aid one because institutions are weak. You should join any of the platforms that make impact in such societies and use it to make change.”

A journey in social unionism I had decided never to join unionism or politics after my first degree in the Uniport because of a lot of distractions and many burdens some of us carried, but after reading the Voracity Effect theory, I decided to join the union (Trade Union Congress, TUC) leadership, the idea being to bring positive change to the workers, the corporate world and to the society. That is why I embraced

social unionism; not just looking for welfare of workers alone but in the socio-economic landscape of the country.

For instance, if you have bad roads, it impacts on welfare of workers; poor educational standards would affect the welfare of workers such as taking their children to private schools or abroad. If the healthcare system is very poor, the workers may die or spend too much to survive. What it means is that the welfare of workers (contrary to expecting the labour leader to focus on salaries), hinges more on other factors within the economy than salary or money at hand. Money is basically the store of value, but money is useless if you can’t exchange it with worthy goods and services such as housing, education, health, etc.

What it means actually is that trade unionism should not just be about salary, about naira and kobo issues of workers, but about total package especially good governance. If there is good governance, the average cost of living per person would be small because of efficient provision of goods and

services (power, transportation, healthcare, excellent educational system). The worker would not have much to do with cash. Even those who steal in Nigeria justify it with fear of what would happen to them in the society if they didn’t have enough cash because of state of infrastructure and common services. The danger is that when they start stealing, they forget that their actions deteriorate the same malady they wanted to avoid.

That is why we say corruption is violence, too.

That is what motivated me to deviate, after obtaining Masters in Economics, having been trained

by Amsterdam Institute of Finance and some of the best schools in the world. Now, instead of using that strategic knowledge for myself, I decided to bring it to the services of the union.

I am not surprised whether I would be victimised or not because I have placed that knowledge at the disposal of the society. That is why I agreed to serve as chairman of PENGASSAN/NUPENG on PIB even after I retired, pro bono. It is very important to me. That is why

as chairman of TUC, I was not always talking of workers salary but issues of the common man. If the common man is angry, the workers would be impacted; insecurity, social vices, etc. it is this realisation that drove my participation almost as if it’s a religion.

Having joined the union and done all this, I sought to improve my knowledge. As a leader, the knowledge of Economics helped me to understand actions of government, actions of individuals, etc. The definition of Economics I like most is ‘Economics as the study of man or woman in the ordinary business of life.’ This brings down the study of Economics to everybody.

When I became TUC chairman, Rivers State, I sought to improve my knowledge of leadership, but I was looking at what leadership I would focus on. You know there is Management and Leadership.

Leadership is about vision, about bringing your vision to reality.

It is about directing and making people to join you on that difficult journey and help you realize your vision of moving the people to

higher heights. That drove me to do a Masters in Innovation and Change in the UK. So, leading the Rivers State TUC and being National Industrial Relations Officer of PENGASSAN gave me the opportunity not only to study those things but apply them in real life. That helped my knowledge. Now, how do I bring innovation into the union business, how do I drive the union, drive change, and make sure that at the end of the day, we achieve what we want to achieve as a group? I completed the programme and the knowledge impacted on the position. I am sure everybody and TUC national leadership could attest to the progress TUC Rivers achieved during that period.

Within that period, I became an associate and later Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in 1978 and in 2009 I made Fellow of Institute of Taxation. The FCA is like the SAN in law. This way, you have got to the peak, and the same in taxation as a fellow. When I am doing analysis, I move from accounting to Economics and to taxation; all are related.

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News Extra World Food Day: Abiru rates FG, LASG high on food security Iniobong Iwok

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he candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for senatorial by-election in Lagos East, Tokunbo Abiru Friday commended the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), an initiative of the Federal Government aimed at achieving food security in the country.

Abiru, the immediate past Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank Limited, also endorsed the Lagos State Government for tackling food insufficiency and youth unemployment in the state through its Agricultural Youth Empowerment Scheme (Agric-Yes).

He made these remarks in a message he personally issued on Friday in commemoration of the 2020 World Food Day under a theme, ‘Grow, Nourish, Sustain Together: Our Actions Are Our Future.’

According to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Day is calling for global solidarity to help all populations, and especially the most vulnerable, to recover from the crisis, and to make food systems more resilient and robust so they can withstand increasing volatility and climate shocks.

In this same spirit, the APC candidate said the Anchor Bor-

rowers’ Programme and Lagos State Agricultural Youth Empowerment Scheme (Agric-Yes) “are steps in the right direction to make food accessible, affordable and available to every home.”

Abiru said: “We are in support of Anchor Borrowers Programme and other initiatives of the federal government aimed at ensuring food security.

“We also endorse the Agricultural Youth Empowerment Scheme (Agric-YES) initiated by the Lagos State Government to tackle food insufficiency and youth unemployment in the state.”

If and when elected on October 31 as a senator representing Lagos East, Abiru promised “to support such pro-people initiatives and programmes conceived to achieve food security objectives nationwide.”

Abiru, a former Commissioner of Finance in Lagos State, noted that the 2020 World Food Day celebration, should be an opportunity for all stakeholders to step up efforts at attaining food sufficiency and banishing hunger He said: “As we mark the #WorldFoodDay today amid rising inflation and economic turbulence, I am aware that getting daily food requirements greatly impacts household budget of the people, not just in Lagos East and Lagos State, but also in Nigeria.

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Business group moves to fight poverty in Ogun, empowers 500 people Ayinla Razaq

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s part of moves to fight poverty and create employment opportunities for the jobless in Ogun State and its environs, a Business Group, Possibility Specialists Foundation (PSL), has trained and empowered 500 people in various vocations, empowering them with required tools.

BusinessDay SUNDAY gathered that about 500 people, mainly women and youths underwent practical industrial training and empowerment on production of foods, beverages, cosmetics, paints, household products, fertilizers and other business opportunities, courtesy of Possibility Specialists Foundation (PSL).

Speaking about the empowerment at a get-together and graduation of the participants held in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State on Friday, Abraham Egona, the Leadman, Possibility Specialists Foundation (PSL), said that the Foundation is poised to fighting poverty and unemployment through its various empowerment programmes aimed at helping Nigerians to achieve financial freedom.

He said: “PSL is an empowerment organisation with strategic ideologies to make all those who become members to achieve financial freedom.

I have no fear in this calling

by God, the reasons being that

we’re doing things right, PSL is certain, we are giving thanks to God that we are growing, this is journey of over two decades to support the government in empowering people”.

Egona said, asides various empowerment programmes of PSL, members of the Association with a minimum donation of N100,000 and above will also receive 20% of their donations monthly for 15 months among other benefits, as part of their investment commitments to the Foundation.

Also, speaking during the ceremony, the legal adviser to the foundation, Theresa Obi noted that PSL is a charity foundation with transparent agenda.

“This foundation is sent

to Nigeria through Father Abraham Egona, being a legal adviser, I made sure that the foundation is well registered with government, this is a very sincere empowerment platform which Nigerians need to know about, free from selfish political and religious interest.

“There are many platforms out there with no purpose but only for their pockets; PSL is all about charity, it caters for the less privileged, it’s just unfortunate that we have selfish leaders in this country who will pretend not to see a man like him making so much glaring differences in lives of thousands of Nigerians, people like him are worthy of national honors but reverse is the case. If we could have 4-5

like Father Abraham of PSL, the story of this nation will change”, she stated.

One of the beneficiaries, Stella Iortim, a Benue statebased retired teacher could not but share her testimony and experience as she said that PSL had changed her life and family beyond imaginations.

Iortim said: “My journey with Possibility Specialists Foundation started in 2019 through my daughter, all our family has now joined PSL, I am a retired civil servant from Benue State, with PSL, I can’t remember when last I asked for my pension, this foundation has wiped away tears on our faces and freed us from financial challenges”.

L-R: Ronke Soyombo, special adviser on education, Ogun State; Bolanle Oluomo, wife of speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly; Bamidele Abiodun, first lady, Ogun State; Tomi Coker, commissioner for health, Ogun State; Kike Longe, commissioner for industry, Ogun State; Bose Ogunleye Permanent Secretary, ministry of education, Ogun State, with the girl-children in Abeokuta celebrating the International Girl Child Day.

How party affiliation destroys regional integration in Nigeria Continued from page 1

Governors Forum, and Middle Belt Forum.

However, political interests and party affiliations have been top among challenges to successful regional integration and consequent development since the collapse of regional government.

While the South West Nigerian bloc under The DAWN Commission seems to be doing better than other blocs, especially with the successful formation of Operation Amotekun, its regional security outfit, to address insecurity across the region, political affiliation had earlier threatened the integration of the region.

It would be recalled that during the Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, Lagos State was denied federal allocations due to the creation of additional local governments by Bola Tinubu, the then governor.

The scenario that played up then was because President Obasanjo was in the ruling party PDP, while Tinubu was in the opposition party.

However, the South West bloc seems to have overcome its differences by uniting in the establishment of Op-

eration Amoteku despite the fact that a governor belongs to the opposition party, fights among governors in the ruling party to be closer to presidency and godfathers.

Of course, the Northern Governors’ Forum has been a force in the northern part of Nigeria, fighting and insisting on developmental interests of the north.

In spite of their strength and unity, the north has not fared better in terms of development, when compared with other regions.

Yet, issues such as religion, insecurity, especially in the North East, the killings in some states and banditry have pitched some governors against others, breeding discord like in the case of Southern Kaduna, Plateau and Taraba.

Of course, the BRACED bloc is making effort to rise, especially in making demands for the development of their oil-rich region, but political will, allegiance to party affiliation and selfish interests have made the bloc to make little progress since its formation.

The bloc is still fighting to get the Federal Government to stop deducting the 13 percent federal derivation at source before the revenue

is shared out.

But the off-and-on nature of the bloc has made it a seeming toothless dog as Federal government always throws bait to the bloc, to at least, delay discussions or change its focus.

In one of the meetings, when the bloc was really agitating for its rights, Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta State, the host of the meeting, said: “We need to stress that in any allocation that is being done, 13 percent derivation must first be taken out of the funds that come from oil revenue before the rest of the funds is shared out. This 13 percent is supposed to be for the oil-producing states and that has not been the situation for a very long time.”

But nothing has happened since then.

During the second Annual General Meeting of the Forum of SouthSouth Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture(FOSSCCIMA) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege noted that ‘’For the South-South region, the need for economic growth calls for economic integration that would help set the entire region on a more prosperous growth path. I

wish to make it very clear, however, that the economic integration of the SouthSouth is not a short term answer to the current socioeconomic problems of the region.”

Omo-Agege also pointed out that ‘’The quest for regional economic integration in the South-South is not new. Over a decade ago, the governors of the region floated the same idea and sought to forge closer economic cooperation and integration among the six states of the South-South geo-political zone namely Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross-River, Edo and Delta (BRACED). ‘’The BRACED states sought to deepen their collaboration in the areas of education, human capacity development, information and communication technology, infrastructure development, agriculture and investment.” ‘’Regrettably however, this bold attempt at regional economic integration aimed at pooling of resources together, stimulating production, trade and investment which would have alleviated poverty failed as the BRACED Commission established to drive the process remained ineffective,’’ he said.

Comparing The DAWN Commission and BRACED, the former is more coordinated and formidable in its demands or else the Operation Amotekun would have been a mere dream.

However, the problem lies with the South East bloc, which seems to be the least in terms of seriousness with the integration, setting agenda and pressuring government to get its interests met despite neglect of the bloc.

The South-East Governors Forum has never been a cohesion force, and the South-East Nigeria Economic Commission (SENEC) takeoff has not been as anticipated at the launch of the forum.

But the region, which has suffered setback from the Civil War should have been at the forefront of integration in order to lift the region, neglected over the years for obvious reasons.

The poor state of industrial development in the zone reflects the underlying lack of coordinated economic, institutional and infrastructural development, which the economic forum or bloc should ordinarily address.

So, far the South-East bloc has been under same political house for a long

time, hence party affiliation has little to do with their lack of harmony and integration.

However, Rochas Okorocha, a former governor of Imo State, never agreed with his folks at the South East Governors’ Forum because of his party affiliation, so also, Hope Uzodinma, the present governor of the state, and the only APC governor in the bloc.

But David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi State, and chairman, South East Governors’ Forum, has severally been accused of tilting more towards APC despite being a PDP governor, a development that has allegedly affected fruitful discussions for integration. The Anambra governor also does his things differently, neglecting the bloc, which Peter Obi, his predecessor, upheld even while in another party.

Obi believes in the interest of the region no matter the party a governor belongs.

Well, as party affiliation matters a lot to politicians, integration is only possible when governors uphold state and regional interests above party’s demand. Until then, only blocs that are ‘united in diversity’ can make progress, and the South West bloc seems to be the leading light.

Sunday 18 October 2020

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Focus

Rivers new ANA chairman wants English Literature made compulsory in schools …Adi Wali says ethical re-orientation is overdue …Calls for control of social media use to save young persons IGNATIUS CHUKWU

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new state chairman has emerged in Rivers State to head the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), and he has come smoking, carpeting social media and demanding for English Literature (Litt) to be made a compulsory subject in Nigerian schools.

Adi Wali, a chief in Aluu, host community to University of Port Harcourt, who is known as Elechi Amadi’s kinsman, wants the government to set up a directorate as an independent commission to promote reading and writing.

In an exclusive interview with BusinessDay in Port Harcourt, Wali, an editor in Press Unit of the Rivers State Government House who was the founding editor of the Government House monthly publication, (Rivers Informant), admitted that government cannot do it alone. “So, there should be endowments by rich individuals and corporate bodies to encourage reading culture. There should be a directorate as an independent commission to promote writing. Handwriting is an important subject. Most young men do not know how to write these days.”

He said reading should be encouraged by setting up an award on it saying, if you don’t read, you won’t learn. Turning to individual, the literary expert and author of over six books said; “Keep an eye on your children. You must mind what they do, who they follow; even what they wear is a message. There is need for proper orientation. Do not say it does not concern you. It does because when your neighbour’s child carries gun, it will concern you. Let institutions come together to get things done in area of cultural revival and ethical reorientation.’

He said his reason for calling for study of English Literature compulsory is because it would boost capacity of literary students. “I advocate for making it compulsory in colleges as alternative English. This is because if you want to go for English or Law, Literature is made compulsory. It is to make you read because you do not read in English Language, which is a specified subject. It is about grammatical codes but in Literature, you have to read books and review them.

That is where the study is. I will beg educators to see how they can make English Literature compulsory just like English Language.

“I have found that Literature is the key. In English Language you talk about rules of grammar and codes.

Literature will bring people to read.

You will have books to read, no time to play the moment Literature is made compulsory. Children will begin to read and reading culture would return.

“Our ministries of education would have to ensure that Literature is deepened. That is my mission. I

Adi Wali, State chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors, Rivers State branch

will also push for teenage writers series. There is Africa Writers Tribe as a platform to promote writing.

We will ensure that people are busy with cultural intellectualism that is educative.”

He put an appeal to the media to help out because authors alone cannot do this. “Each media organisation should help to create literary pages and sections to promote writing and reviews can take place, across board.’

Oral literature is almost extinct, he lamented. “So, schools should return to it; folklore, storytelling. The stories about tortoise, lion, etc, made our children to develop native intelligence and be prepared them for any challenge. Most of the chorusing in African folklores is musical.

There is always a big message; disobedience, honesty, value, respect, consequences of rebellion, humility, leadership responsibility, etc.”

Failed state or failed leaders?

His latest book is ‘Kolou My Country’, is political commentary, a fiction-message. He said it’s like ‘There was a Country’. It discussed the civil war. It is like a failed state.

“We do not have failed states but failed leaders. When a state is failing, hunger begins to bite, amenities begin to collapse, government becomes unrecognised because people begin to do what they like. You may still parade as a sovereign but you lose the four things that make you a state; specified population, territory, government and capacity to provide for the people. Kolou My Country is a country that was vibrant after colonialism but the leaders who took over began to plunder the country.”

He wondered how persons who studied in dilapidated schools with you would get to power and forget all of you and the past and begin to abandon the same institutions that brought all of you up. “Even the clinic where most of them were born, they abandoned. At elections, they come back with beastly cars and bags of rice to bribe the people. So, who failed?”

He said the only hope could be the people in the Diaspora who could contribute to rescue the country, because no matter where you go, home is home.

Wali described his elevation as the peak of one’s writing career, the biggest thing that has ever happened to him as a writer.

The challenge to true education: Reading is the key to education and success The new ANA boss in the state stated that Nigerians do not read, and that is the biggest challenge.

“That is why we need the media to critically address this issue. The media must be firm, but the media must be properly remunerated. It is a thankless job; no holiday, no rest, nothing.”

This era of super-tech seems to have dissuaded the new generation from reading. He said; “Reading is the key to success. ICT is not a bad thing but when children stay late on phones, a parent should know what they are doing, especially the underaged ones. Kids on facebook and whatsApp may be good but its often abused.”

He denounced what he called mass attention on social media, saying it is not increasing writing and reading

culture. “The grammar on social media is horrible. English Language is being murdered on social media. It is embarrassing. I wonder if people take time to read their posts.

“Often on social media, people delve into what they do not know.

They use symbols they do not understand and seem to create a language that is arbitrary. There has to be proper monitoring. If there can be a technology to detect what the youths do on phone, better.

“It brings us to the issue of whether or not a social media practitioner is a journalist. What is happening is not the best; except if the social media space is taken over by trained media practitioners. The rural areas where the bulk of our people dwell do not have phones. So, this is an elitist facility because the ordinary man is struggling to buy ‘stomach data’, not phone data.

“Many students in the university now cannot write simple message.

So, who form their audience because every message has audience? Have they defined what social media is, so who do they socialize? Do people investigate what they post? This is what people should think about.

“Countries get what they want.

You and I know that even Europe and America are not the best because there is apartheid or racism in the US and UK, but they do not amplify this in their media. But, we know about the ‘Hooligans’ and beggars in Europe. The essence of any media is to focus; heritage, duty, the people, governance, etc. The people driving the social media seem to be the wrong persons. It should be properly monitored so that people can properly get their stories and bring it down to the people.”

He said social media is not deepening or improving the standard of education. “It has been thrown to the dogs. There should be a system such as digital teaching even though not many persons can benefit from online learning due to very poor electricity in the country. Many do not have computers to learn with.

Ordinary electoral process with card readers did not work because the batteries broke down.

He said people using social media to criticise should focus on policies not on individuals. “It’s not only about criticising, what do you suggest, what do you bring to the table, the alternative? Is your job only to criticise? That is how we see a lot of people who criticised governments years back but when they were brought in, they failed. If you take time to review social media, you would reaslise it should be classified, the gatekeeper system should be introduced. There is need for censorship. For now, you can wake up one morning and abuse anybody and this abuse will be in the public domain. Even pornography is out there in the public platform. Has anybody asked why rape is on the increase?

Can you see what people post these

days? Children have access to these things. Check out the musicals these days. So, we have to start somewhere.”

Adi Wali’s style Wali, who celebrated his birthday September 24, 2020 with bookreading and poems has six books to his rack. His core area is African folklore. “I am a core African. Apart from some biographical works I have done, my core area is deepening African folklores which are almost extinct; the works of Chinua Achebe, Elechi Amadi, Cyprian Ekwnsi.

These writers are gone. These are writers that protected and promoted African culture and heritage. We are like in a new writers’ age, writing about street fighting, gun running, etc. Militancy is the in-thing now.”

He admitted that there is no country without crisis, but that there are certain genre that should be amplified.

“I am trying to see how I can drink from African literature, our culture and tradition to better and reshape the economy and society; to reshape the country and educate people.

He declared; “Africa is the cradle of civilisation. We have a duty to reinvent African mechanism to deepen our socio-cultural and economic standing.

A typical African man does not like to steal because he has a name to protect.

Its not about law but culture is what used to stop a man from stealing. Now, its about the law. These days, people steal and throw the money around and get praised. We must rather begin to celebrate credibility.”

Mission in ANA He declared; “What I will do as the chairman of ANA in Rivers State is to deepen discipline and encourage literature as a normal way of life. I will encourage people to write. Idleness is one of the problems. When people are idle, they look for alternative economy. I will encourage the reading culture. I will get across segments of the society, all professions, all careers, inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary associations, academia, etc.

“Writing is important, even when you are singing, drawing, scribbling normal writing, they are all writing and authoring. This includes drama, prose-drama, etc. We will reach out. I know that literature is our alternative English. If you read, you write better. My duty this time is to interface, partner and synergise with various agencies, individuals and groups to deepen literature in Rivers State.

“We must ensure that every culture is respected. We will ensure that people publish and we will advocate for indigenous writers and ensure that indigenous books are read.

“We will also look into what is churned out to the public. We will watch what you write before we allow it go to the public. We will go to the publishers and printers as well as to the educational institutions.”

If half of what Wali proposed can be met, the literary world would spring back to life.

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Women’s World

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Sunday 18 October 2020

Why I am fighting for the girl child – Wife of Kogi Speaker This year’s International Day of Girl Child marks 25 years of the Beijing Declaration and a yardstick for working towards empowering girl child and protecting their rights globally. International Day of Girl Child is a day set aside by the United Nations to celebrate the girl child. It holds every 11th day of October every year. This year’s theme ‘My voice, our equal future’ focuses on inclusion, gender quality and listening to what girls want, their dreams and aspirations.

In her interaction with Kogi State chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), ZANIAB ESTHER KOLAWOLE, wife of Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, pointed out, among other things, that the voice of girl child is always silenced. VICTORIA NNAKAIKE, our correspondent in Lokoja, brings the excerpt:

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M

ay we know your vision towards indigent girl child in your domain?

“I have a vision to give hope to the hopeless. I have a plan to have an NGO (Building the Girl Child -BGC) to help the girl child that was what prompted me to celebrate the girl child in my constituency during the girl child Day Celebration.

What really is your drive towards such honourable cause?

There are lots of cases out there, that in one way or the other they have been accused. We try to advocate for them. That is one of the objectives of my vision. We give them money to start up something. There are lots of children that want to continue their education not that their parents do not have money but because they discriminate. They prefer to train the boy child than the girl child.

Our mission is to advocate for them at the home front and see how we can persuade their parents to support them and there are some their parents want them to go to school but there is no money to do that; we support them and see how far they could achieve their aim. And there are some of our girls that dropped out of school and believed that they can’t go further again and assumed that there is no hope; we give them hope.

We tell them they can still go back to school. I learnt of an old woman from Ghana that went back to school; that is still trending on social media.

We tell them even though you are married or given birth to children you can still go back to school. I heard also about a woman who was an office assistant that went back to law school; she is now a barrister; age is just a number.

Like I said earlier on, it is not everybody that will go to school; some will go vocational. So, what we do, we help them to go to vocational training and we get equipment for them to start one business or the other.

Girls need to have a voice in every stage of life- in government, secular places of work. When you give them a voice they bring out their potentials.

Girls are so talented; at time they are not allowed to choose courses of interest in higher institutions. Late Aritole is also a typical example of giving a girl child a free hand to choose her career. If her parents didn’t give her a free hand she wouldn’t have ended up being the first female Combatant pilot in Nigerian history. Give a voice to the girl child in doing so you see Ni-

Government and security agencies, need to beef up their plans; when a girl child complains about abuse, they should not to be ignored; they are also not to be ridiculed. Some parents would say ‘I don’t want it to leak out; it may tarnish my image’

Esther Kolawole

geria will go far, our local government areas will equally go far. Women have knowledge.

There are some people who think women’s rights or campaign for equality has to do with competing with their husbands at home. What do you think?

Looking at the adage that says ‘what a man can do, a woman can do even better’, it is good but let it not get into our heads in our homes. In Africa, we believe that men are the head of the family. We have to give due respect not minding our ranks or social status; we should just know that we have to be submissive to our husbands.

And our husbands should not enslave us either. A lot of women out there are dying because of submission. A

woman has to be submissive and the man has to show love to his wife because if the husband fails, she finds it difficult to submit. One woman died recently because of the trauma she was going through. The wife has a duty to submit and the husband has a greater duty to love. If the husband is not showing love to his wife, it will be hard for the woman to be submissive.

Husbands, love your wives to the point that you can die for them and naturally, love will flow. If you can defend her to death, you prefer that any evil thing that will happen to her should happen to you. Naturally, submission will flow. But if you are ill-treating her, you are not sensitive to her emotions, submission will not come. She might keep quiet, either

she dies in silence and you become a widower or she packs out of the house and make you a wifeless man or some can do some things that I don’t want to mention here.

My advice to fathers and husbands is that they should not look down on their wives when they give birth to only females. We all know that girl child has more compassion than they boy child. When God gives you females, don’t think that is the end for you. That female child can take your name to places than you expected.

Support your wives; don’t drive them out, take care of the girls and help in training them.

When your wives show interest in furthering their education, support them. When a woman has a vision don’t truncate it; help her to build it. If Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala didn’t get support from both parents and husband, she would not have achieved her dream or be where she is today. We equally have other women who have excelled in their chosen endavours, but am using Okonjo-Iweala as a case study.

But don’t you think that things are changing now as regards the treatment of girl child in society?

The way we are going now things are improving unlike in the olden days when a girl child was seen as a

kitchen material and of course, the material of the other room. But now things have changed; government is supporting us; they are trying. And we are doing all our best to support them academically and vocationally as we have come to know the value of the girl child. It is not everybody that will go to school. I think the girl child has a future and we have people out there to encourage them. The likes of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala have really encouraged us. If we can support the girl child, give hope to the hopeless girl, in the near future, we will see our girls becoming governors; some of them are senators already. One of the things I really appreciate about my governor and his dear wife, my principal, is that they are empowering women and girl child. Recently, I learnt that every local government area chairman in Kogi must have a female as vice chairperson; in no distant time we will soon have a female President.

How best do you think government can tackle the lingering problem og girl child molestation in society?

Mothers have a lot to do about the girl child. I think what we need to do is that we mothers have to come together and pray to God to take control. They must give the girl child a complete sex education. Tell them where to go and where not to go and again know when to send your child on an errand. I can’t send a girl child on an errand after 7pm and that is my rule in my own house. When they go to school they know where to be; when to go out at a particular time.

Government and security agencies, need to beef up their plans; when a girl child complains about abuse, they should not to be ignored; they are also not to be ridiculed. Some parents would say ‘I don’t want it to leak out; it may tarnish my image’. When a girl child reports that something has been done to her, security agencies and government should take it up immediately; they should not entertain aiding and abating of the crime in question.

What are the major challenges you encounter in the empowerment of girl child in your area?

The major challenge so far has been that some people when you give them equipment, they sell it off and go back to their normal way of life. That is where we need to pray, at times, the devil, wouldn’t want somebody to be somebody even if they have someone to help them. A man can do nothing without the help of God.

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TheWorshipper

CAN, Church leaders stand with Nigerian youths …Demand total overhaul of nation’s policing system SEYI JOHN SALAU

T

he Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and some church leaders have called for total overhaul of Nigeria’s policing model to meet international standard.

The church leaders called on the leadership of the Police Force to listen to the legitimate public outcry against the excesses of some officers, the brutality and harassment of the youth population by “men in black”.

They said it was sad that those empowered to provide security and ensure peace and order had now turned against the people they were meant to protect.

On the several reports and accusations of extra-judicial killings by the now disbanded SARS officials, the church leaders said it was incredibly sad and troubling.

Accordingly, they are of the view that the only way of assuaging the anger in the land now was to ensure that guilty police officers were brought to face the law, and justice seen to have been done, because such heinous crimes must not be condoned or allowed to continue.

“We are aware of the circumstances that led to the agitation which included but not limited to alleged extra-judicial killings, unlawful arrests and detentions, extortion, tortures, and disappearances of detainees,” said Samson Ayokunle, the CAN president.

He however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, for being sensitive and responsive to the clarion call for the scrapping of SARS. The CAN president equally ac-

Pastor Godman Akinlabi: Great pastoral response today with my friend @yemidavids as we join the #SarsMustGoNow campaign to walk from Lekki toll gate to the @PoliceNG force headquarters onikan in solidarity with the younger generation of Nigerians who are tired of #PoliceBrutality #badleadership

knowledged the spontaneous nature of protest nationwide but regrets the loss of lives and the destruction of some property in the cause of the mass action.

“Uniformed men and women should cherish the rare opportunity the country gave them and the trust of handling the security of the nation by behaving responsibly. They should make us to be proud of them,” said Ayokunle.

Alfred Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, on his part said the recent increase in allegations of

police brutality, particularly SARS operatives, against Nigerians, mostly youths across the country was not only a breach of professional conduct but also showed wickedness and lack of respect for the citizens for whose welfare they were set up in the first place.

Martins in a statement signed by the director of social communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, reiterated the need for a total overhaul of the present structure of the Police Force in the country and the reorientation of the personnel to make them more efficient and accountable for their actions.

“In recent times, we have received several reports and seen many online videos alleging that some personnel of the Nigerian Police Force, especially SARS operatives, have been involved in various acts of brutality and extortion against innocent citizens of this great country.

“One wonders why this is the case.

Inability to bring them under control gives room for people to insinuate that the top echelons are themselves compromised. It would be sad if this is found to be true,” said Martins.

In order to restore the integrity of the Nigerian police, Martins called on President Buhari to prevail on the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to commence a thorough and realistic review of the entire structure of the Police Force.

“It would not be fair to the hardworking and thoroughbred professionals among the officers whose integrity have been put on the line unless a permanent halt is put to the rot that has been festering in the system over the years,” Martins said.

Enoch Adeboye, general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), in a show of support for the protest on his official Twitter handle said: “The Redeemed Christian Church of God identifies with Nigerians presently protesting against police brutality and the abuse of power by the very institution established to protect them.

“Our daughters will not be able to prophesy and young men will not see visions if we don’t keep them alive. I support the youths in this peaceful protest as they ‘speak up’ to #EndPoliceBrutality #EndSARS #ENDSWAT,” Adeboye stated.

The clergyman also calls for the reorientation and total overhaul of the police force. “While noting that many innocent lives have been lost through unnecessary brutality and wrong application of force, the church calls on the government to not only restructure the police but to also re-orientate the officers towards modern ways of policing”.

Adeboye equally states the position of the church on the protest by saying, “The church declares its understanding and appreciation of the concerns and grievances of the youths and the generality of Nigerians and calls for an immediate end to police brutality in the country.

“The church welcomes the disbandment of the SARS, and notes the establishment of a new outfit called the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) but advises that it should not become a case of old wine in a new bottle,” said Adeboye.

A Port Harcourt-based preacher, Rev Shedrack Charles, the zonal coordinator, Church of God Mission International (CGGMi), Nkpolu Rumuigbo Zone, PH, said the protest should be for a better Nigeria.

He therefore, urged Nigerians to protest for a change in our systems, processes and mindset. “If we get it right there, then Nigeria and all its component parts will be a better place”.

If the FG has already disbanded the police unit in response to the massive protests what’s the need for more protest on the same issue? ....by Rev Charles .

According to him, the current agitation is not about SARS, FSARS or any agency or individual; “it’s about the system that churn us out. The system that makes us who we are, the Nigerian production process,” said Charles.

PFN restates its long-standing call for restructuring

Onochie lacks the character to occupy position of unbiased umpire in national elections - CAN

...calls on government to assuage fears, concerns of Nigerians

…condemns her appointment, …calls on Senate to stop executive recklessness

SEYI JOHN SALAU

T

he Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has restated her call for restructuring, which has now become even more urgent, given the increasing push on the part of different groups towards tendencies that favour division rather than unity.

“We note, with concern, the restiveness in different parts of the country and we are of the opinion that concerted efforts have to be urgently made by the government to reassure Nigerians that their interests will continue to be guaranteed within the Nigerian entity,” said PFN in a statement signed

by Simbo Olorunfemi, on behalf of Felix Omobude, the National President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).

The statement was made after the joint meeting of the national

advisory council and the national executive council at the Bishop’s Court, PFN National Headquarters in Lagos.

The umbrella body of Pentecostal churches in Nigeria posits that the calls validate the long-standing position of the PFN and her consistent appeal, over the years, to the government to pay attention to the callers and activate the necessary mechanism for it.

PFN therefore, restated her belief in the unity of Nigeria and a commitment to one Nigeria where people of different faiths and tongues can continue to live together as one. However, we call on the government to do all it can to assuage the fears and concerns of everyone and ensure the practice of federalism in its true form.

“We urge the government to pay attention to the calls for restructuring and find a way to push for further devolution of powers, while adopting an all-inclusive approach

to governance and development in the country,” PFN stated.

The PFN therefore, urged government to do more in responding to the heightened level of poverty in the land and institute further measures to address the hardship being faced by the people, especially in the face of the downturn in the economy made worse by Covid-19 pandemic.

“The PFN is concerned about the allegations consistently made about apparent lopsided appointments into sensitive positions by the Federal Government, alleged to favour one part of the country over the other.

“We urge President Buhari and the Federal Government to adopt an all-inclusive approach, not just in the manner of its appointments, but to ensure that there is a noticeable balance across ethnic and religious divides so as not to exacerbate the increasing mistrust along ethnic and religious lines in the country,” it further said.

T

he leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned in strong terms the nomination of a Presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie as a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing it as an executive recklessness, a dirty slap on the populace, and a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended).

“When President Muhammadu Buhari said he wanted to leave a legacy of free, fair and credible election behind, all right-thinking Nigerians were happy and CAN has been praying for God to grant him the grace to do so.

But the nomination of his personal aide to such a sensitive position may have revealed the type of electoral legacy the President is working on,” said CAN. In a statement signed by Pastor Bayo on behalf of the president of CAN, Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, the group urged the Senate to reject the nomination of Onochie as a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Christian body said although the President has power to appoint members of INEC whenever there are vacancies, he is expected to abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in doing so.

“He is required to consult with the Council of State as stated in Section 154 (3) of the Constitution and we have no record that this had been done before forwarding Onochie’s’s name to the Senate,” CAN stated.

According to CAN, if the observation is correct, then the President erred in law by forwarding her name to the Senate as demanded by Section 154 (1) of the Constitution which says the appointment of the members of the Independent National Electoral Commission shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.

As far as CAN is concerned, Onochie suffers objectivity, justice and fairness that are mandatory for every member of INEC as a result of her partisan membership of a political party and by being an appointee of the ruling party.

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TheWorshipper Inspiration God is not mocked...You reap what you sow With Rev. Yomi Kasali

info@yomikasali.com

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y teenage daughter has been overtly passionate about the End SARS movement and seriously challenged me into sharing my thoughts a few days ago before the Government decided to Disband the terrible crime fighting organization.

It seems like nobody had any good thing to say about SARS but horrible stories and fright-

ening experiences.

The protests have gotten worldwide attention with global celebrities joining through their social media handles and international news organizations doing special reports on the stories emanating from the cruelty of SARS. My son narrowly escaped the jaws of death in the hands of those monsters that call themselves Anti robbery policemen a few months back, I remembered shedding tears (I usually don’t cry) when he narrated his gory experience in their hands.

Let me quickly say that I’m sure that there will be exceptional anti robbery policemen in SARS that are equally bruised at this point, it’s like the bad apples have poisoned the other ones. Suffice it to say that those ones are now stained as well because they didn’t stop the menace of their colleagues in the past. It’s very clear that they are some of the most hated men in Nigeria now.

However, we have to take a look at scriptures and draw Inspiration about the Way Forward for our great nation when you consider the fact that we just celebrated our 60 years of independence about some days ago and now protesting

about Police Brutality in the land that has become a scourge of some sort. The scriptures that comes to mind is from Gal 6 v 7, ‘Be Not Deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that shall he reap.’

My daughter sent me a video footage of some beautiful believers praying for Nigeria and using 2 Chron. 7 v 14 as scripture reference, a very apt one for repentance and healing for any land...the part that we all conveniently skip in that passage is, ‘…if my people... shall humble themselves pray...

TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS...’ I don’t know what gives us the impression that we can throw scriptures at God and He will just accede to our requests even if we don’t fulfill His conditions.

Nigerians need to learn that until we ‘Turn from Our Wicked Ways’, things may continue to be like they are now. Ending SARS is one of the good things that has happened but there are many more things we must End after SARS...

5 THINGS TO END AFTER SARS End prayers for corrupt politicians: We must question the clergy men that pray for corrupt politicians and help them launder their loot. God is not mocked, whatever we sow is what we shall reap. We can’t continue to play lip service worship with God and do not hate corruption yet expect healing in the land.

End reckless driving and

ipNX partners Oyo on free internet supply to public schools Anthony Nlebem

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igeria’s pioneering information, communications and technology (ICT) company, ipNX, has partnered with the Oyo State government to provide free high speed broadband internet connection to two public secondary schools in the State in a bid to improve access to technology for students and teachers.

The initiative is in continuation of ipNX’s broader CSR for Education Programme and Oyo State Internet

Programme for Schools.

With access to high speed broadband connection from ipNX, teachers and students of Government College Ibadan and Bishop Phillips Academy, Monatan –– the first set of Oyo State schools selected for the project –– are empowered to fully appropriate the benefits of modern technology in the classroom.

The facility was handed over to the two institutions in Ibadan on Thursday October 8, 2020, at a ceremony which had in attendance Chief of Staff to the Oyo State Governor, Chief Bisi Ilaka, Commissioner for Education, Science

L- R: Bimpe Olaleye, group executive director, Commercials ipNX; Olasunkanmi Olaleye, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Oyo State; Bisi Ilaka, Chief of Staff to the Governor of Oyo State; Folashade Efiong-Bassey, group executive director, HR & Corporate Services, ipNX, and Bayo Akande, Special Assistant to the Governor of Oyo State On ICT & E-governance, at the handover ceremony of free high-speed broadband internet connectivity to public secondary schools in Ibadan, Oyo State.

and Technology, Barrister Sunkanmi Olaleye, Special Adviser (SA) on ICT and E-Governance to the Governor, Bayo Akande, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Alhaja Atere Aminat Bamidele, Chief Technology Architect, ipNX Seun Oluboyo, as well as Principals and students of the schools.

The schools will enjoy individual 10Mbps (Megabit per second) internet service free for five years in the first instance, and renewable thereafter.

According to Group Executive Director, HR & Corporate Services, ipNX, Folashade Efiong-Bassey, “With ipNX’s superior broadband infrastructure, we are providing Oyo state public secondary schools within our path of fibre coverage, with free high speed internet connectivity to enable thousands of students and teachers appropriate the benefits of technology in the classroom.

“We believe this will facilitate the goals of the State in improving the education, science and technology sectors, which is a vision of the administration of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde. Moreover, this initiative complements the recent Federal Government intention to implement Zero-rating for education websites as part of efforts to ameliorate the impact of Covid-19 on Nigeria’s education sector.”

As an organisation, a major portion of ipNX’s corporate social investment has been dedicated to education, and since 2011, the company has provided free internet service to 55 public secondary schools in Lagos state.

lawlessness: Most of those who break traffic laws in Lagos and beyond are religious people, yet we are hoping the country will be as good as Dubai. What an expectation! We need to be more honest in our evaluation of our lawlessness and End Reckless and Lawless driving after we End SARS. End tribal sentiments and ethnic bigotry: This is the most appalling in my opinion, it is even evident in the house of God, we seem to have perfected the art of tribalism to the point that we have Igbo only church, Yoruba only Assembly etc. I hope we all know that there is only One Heaven and there is no denomination and tribalism there. Let us joyfully End Tribalism in Nigeria after Ending SARS. End legislative recklessness and impunity: My father in the Lord shared his pain with me earlier on the phone about what the protesters should really be doing, he feels like I do, that we should March 1 million Nigerians to the National Assembly to protest their impunity and demand a cut in their wages. The police are poorly funded and grossly underfunded, yet we put AK47 rifles in their hands to protect

us while the legislators live large in the same country. We must End Legislative Recklessness after we End SARS. End social media madness: This is the controversial point, but I’ll share it as perhaps the most potent one. We need to End Social Media Madness where anything goes in the name of freedom of speech.

I’m totally for Freedom of Speech in this country but frown at Hate Speech with all my strength. Don’t let us burn this country with Hate Speech in the name of Freedom of Speech. End Social Media Madness after Ending SARS. I hope the above has Inspired you and I look forward to getting a response.

Drop me a note of acknowledgment and encouragement and also follow me on my Social media handles below: Instagram: @yomi_kasali Twitter: @yomi_kasali Facebook: www.facebook. com/revyomikasali Youtube: www.youtube. com/revyomikasali Be Inspired!

Rev Yomi Kasali is Senior Pastor, Foundation of Truth Assembly (FOTA), Surulere, Lagos.

Lexon Capital announces annual scholarship fund for women at Wavecrest College of Hospitality IFEOMA OKEKE

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n a bid to support and improve the education of young women in Nigeria, Lexon Capital has announced the Lexon Capital Education Fund.

For Lexon Capital, gender parity is at the forefront of its philanthropy. The organisation will also announce a fund to support technical skills acquisition for non-graduates.

Lexon Capital’s annual scholarship fund will support the education of five young women for full-time programs at the Wavecrest College of Hospitality. The first recipients of this fund will commence from the 2020-2021 academic session.

Lexon Capital provides funding for infrastructure and real estate transactions. Recently, the organisation indicated interest in angel investments for the technology sector, particularly the fintech sector.

Ifeyinwa Umunnakwe-Okeke, Lexon Capital’s Chief Executive Officer, stated that the organisation’s decision to move into angel investments for start-ups is driven by its determination to empower the youth and offer opportunities for young people to succeed.

“Environmental, Social and Governance principles are at the heart of our business and ‘statistics show that empowering women increases the development of communities. We develop communities when we develop women.’

“Wavecrest College of Hospitality is a private monotechnic located in Lagos, Nigeria. The institution offers OND and HND programmes in Hotel and Catering Management. It continues to deliver world class training for Nigeria’s Hospitality sector workforce.

In 2018, it received the Pyne Awards for the Best Institution for the Development of Women in Nigeria. The institution has produced over 2,500 graduates,” Umunnakwe-Okeke stated.

Lexon Capital’s Founder, Ifeyinwa Umunnakwe-Okeke has over 20 years of combined work experience in international corporate law, investment banking, and private equity.

She is a qualified solicitor in England & Wales and holds a Master’s degree in Finance, Regulation and Risk Management. Umunnakwe-Okeke’s vast experience from her roles as a corporate lawyer in a top City law firm in London; an investment banker at IBTC in Nigeria and in private equity has steered the growth of Lexon Capital in Nigeria’s challenging business terrain.

She founded Lexon Capital in 2009 to meet a growing need for funding of infrastructure and real estate projects.

Regarding these scholarships, Ifeyinwa Umunnakwe-Okeke says “We are excited about this new initiative and look forward to supporting Wavecrest College in its pursuit of excellence in the hospitality industry.”

Applicants are advised to apply for the Lexon Capital Annual Scholarships on the Wavecrest’s website.

Sunday 18 October 2020

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Interview

Government must provide amenities for businesses to thrive - Nwokoro Chima Nwokoro runs a consultancy company, 5TT Partners Limited that supports foreign companies seeking to either enter or grow market share within the sub-Sahara African region, as well as facilitating an enterprise (5TT Profit Club) that supports everyday people to take control of their lives for peak performance with a focus on financial responsibility, again with a major focus on Africa. In this he speaks about 5TT Partners helping businesses and foreign organisations grow sales.

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hat is 5TT Partners Limited about?

5TT Partners is a business development consultancy company but I also run another outfit 5TT Profit Club for my investment and trading arm of things.

What is the company’s goals and vision and how do they align with demands in today’s business world?

My goal is to transfer knowledge, skills and experience from people who are doing it. For me, the drive is that Africans should not look for help anymore. We should collaborate with other people. So instead of being needy, let us collaborate. I heard this statement that touched me and made me think, and it is ‘countries that do business together would never go into war.’ They may fall into trade wars but would not fight with ammunition. They may disagree on a lot of levels, but they would never bomb themselves because there is too much at stake.

How do 5TT Partners help businesses and professional organisations seeking to extend their products, services and operations within Africa?

There are two arms to this.

Initially, it’s to help foreign companies who are trying to break into the African market to help them understand our market and to see where their products can sell, or if their product can sell and then to help them see how they can structure a sales channel within the region.

So that is one part of it, from foreign into Africa. Then within Africa to others is my EWW - Enterprise Without Walls. We are saying to the SMEs and the individual business owner like a shoemaker, that they should not only sell their products within Nigeria, rather they should be able to sell to Ghanaians, South Africans, British and Americans. So we are helping people to be able to do that without necessarily having to create all the overhead the traditional business model creates for you. But being able to show them that they can attract these clients on the internet space and make use of existing logistic channels to be able to ship these products to anywhere you need them to go.

First of all, is getting that person who is making the shoe to see that he can, from Aba, get his shoes to Kaduna without necessarily having to go to Kaduna himself to market because we are in a global

“

I heard this statement that touched me and made me think, and it is ‘countries that do business together would never go into war.’ They may fall into trade wars but would not fight with ammunition

Chima Nwokoro

society. Through the Internet, he can put his shoes in front of me and let me see his shoes and I can make a choice whether I want to buy the shoe or not. By clicking a button I can place an order. He can then use the local logistics company and pay them a fraction of what I paid him to deliver the shoes to me. Again from inside to outside is EWW, and from outside to inside is bringing foreign companies to open the market, understand and research the market.

Who are your target markets?

And what are the services your organisation offers to clients?

It depends on what part of my business you’re talking about.

For EWW, business development coaching, my targets are professionals and small business owners.

The one that involves bringing investors outside or into Africa, my target clients will be multinationals or big companies that are outside trying to look for a client base. So I’m looking at existing

businesses needing the services or the existing businesses of services abroad. For the 5TT Profit Club side, I target persons, individuals seeking to take advantage and be in control of their finance.

When did you commence 5TT Partners and what success stories have you recorded since you commenced the organisation?

5TT Partners Ltd started in 2018 when I decided to have some focus in Africa. Then, I decided to move my way back from the UK. Talking of success stories, a major client of mine which is a German company; we’ve been able to establish not just a Nigerian supply contract for them, but a global contract for them as well. Now we can also supply to South Africa, Singapore and the UK. We have been shipping products into Nigeria since June. We have several other success stories.

What are your major challenges and how have you turned some of these challenges to op-

portunities?

We have got to start at it to make it. I have a client in Nigeria; it took me 14 months going in and out some times every single day just to be able to get approval for a business deal. You can’t help it the way things are done in Nigeria. It is just that whole process where people expect it to belong. And you wonder why things take so long in Nigeria. The system isn’t efficient.

What policies do you think the government can enact to support the consultancy/marketing industry?

In my opinion, these three things are needed - people, land and resources. Nigerians are industrious generally, where the government is failing us is being able to provide the basic amenities. Because where the amenities exist, business, marketing and consultants would thrive. If we are not making things, we cannot be opening offices. You consult for offices that need to find ways to save money or more efficient ways to get things turned around.

For us to help them achieve this, then some of these basic things like the right policies for business, environment, tax policies, infrastructure like power, rail and water transport that should help them move the product, should be in place.

Aftermath of Ondo guber poll: Is Agboola Ajayi going...

Continued from page 13

against Akeredolu, it would change the government, but this did not happen and Akeredolu won, eventually.

It is now very clear that zoning arrangement would not shift to southern senatorial district after another four years tenure of Governor Akeredolu who hails from North.

It is believed that since Olusegun Mimiko who is from the central zone had completed eight years administration, the northern zone should have the same portion of the grace and this was the reason why the southerners according to some political analysts gave Akeredolu full support with the hope that it would be their own turn when his tenure expires in 2025.

According to these political analysts, South and North zones didn’t want Jegede to win because his zone, Central had been taken by his former boss and benefactor, Mimiko’s administration.

Besides, it would be recalled that Akeredolu himself had told Jegede to wait for another 12 years before contesting for the governorship position saying “when I complete my next four years in the north senatorial district, it will go back to the south.

“The south will rule for another eight years and after that, it will come back to the Ondo Central senatorial district. So, it is not yet the turn of Akure, Ondo Central they should go and wait for their turn.”

Meanwhile, political analysts are now disturbed with the aftermath of the guber poll with the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, who lost on all grounds having fallen out with his boss, Governor Akeredolu.

Recall that Ajayi complained of being sidelined by his boss which prompted him to dump APC and went to PDP, but when he lost PDP’s governorship ticket to Jegede, he moved to ZLP and it finally lost the election without winning a local government.

Now, his days at the Alagbaka Government House are numbered and Governor Akeredolu had said during his visit to Aso Rock Villa to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his support during Ondo governorship poll, that Ajayi should resign honourably and he if didn’t resign, his days are numbered.

But as a response to Governor Akeredolu’s statement, Agboola Ajayi said through his Media Adviser, Allen Sowore that, “I have been a politician right from my youth days, and I will continue to be a politician.

“This just concluded election is not a big deal, that victory was procured. But I will continue to provide good leadership for my people and show courage. I still remain in ZLP.” The question on the lips of many is, will Agboola complete the tenure as a deputy governor of his boss turned foe with shame as Governor Akeredolu said, or will continue in order to position himself ahead of 2024 when the table of informal zoning arrangement will turn to Ondo South Senatorial District? Only time will tell.

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Interview

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‘We aim to have our own fully automated rice mill within the next one year’ Gbenga Eyiolawi, is the Founder and Chief Trader at Titan farms, an AgriTech company that trades on agrocommodities across the country. In this interview with DIPO OLADEHINDE, he spoke on expansion plans and role government can plan to further develop the sector.

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ow much have you invested in your farm so far?

We have invested about half a billion naira into this project, Titan farms is an AgricTech company where we trade in agro-commodities from one part of the country to another.

This business started this year and we have gained the confidence of a lot of people as partners and distributors, hence the sporadic growth and presence of our brands in the towns in which we are present.

We buy rice paddy from farmers, process and bag them after which we sell to distributors. We do this week -in, week-out and at the end of the day, we and our partners smile when the company shares profits.

Why are you not present in the south-east and other markets in Nigeria?

Titan farms started this year; it’s our mission to be in every part of the country. We started in the south-west and as the popular saying goes ‘`charity begins at home’’.

We have started here in the southwest and we plan to reach every part of the country and even Africa at large.

Presently we have distributors in Port Harcourt which is an indication of our growth and we are open to more distributors across the country.

We have amazing packages for all our distributors and every package, there is a rebate system that gives them good return and margin.

What are your expansion plans in the next five years?

We plan to feed as many people as possible by offering affordable quality food. We also have a food club where people can also order for raw food and get them delivered to their various homes if they want, these people can pay as they earn and when their money is complete, they get to collect their food stuffs.

Titan farms will also be organising various agricultural programs for youths to encourage them to go into agriculture while grants will also be given to students. We will also have processing plants for agricultural products, with these plants we can service more of our market and spread faster. We aim to have our own fully automated rice mill within the next one year.

In what areas do you think the government can assist rice farmers like Titan?

Gbenga Eyiolawi By breaking monopolies. Most of those in Rice production business in large scales met favourable government incentives like tax relief, provision of land and funding of machineries. For new entrants like

Titan, this is a challenge as we are still looking forward to the government to open more opportunities to us.

To be fair, the ban on importation on rice is a big boost to all of us in the industry as that is what brought most of us into the industry, I would say a big thank you to President Muhammad Buhari.

In addition, there is a paddy Aggregation scheme funding opportunity by the CBN for Rice processing and trading companies.

So, I will say they have done super well to encourage us to push even harder.

That is not to say everything is perfect.

Our Government can do better by ensuring the security agencies on the road understand the difference between Nigerian Rice and Foreign Rice and not clamp unnecessarily on innocent Nigerian Rice traders moving their merchandise from one part of the country to another, hence leading to delays in the transport of goods.

The government can also help by providing more resources to farmers so they can expand and increase their output gradually.

There is also need for state gov-

Focus

Hayat Kimya’s integrated commercial planning confab aims to boost productivity KELECHI EWUZIE

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etermined to improve business output, productivity among workforce despite the challenges in the economy, Hayat Kimya Nigeria, a global player in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry, has organised its annual three-day Integrated Commercial Planning Conference.

The annual conference heralds the company into its strategic planning for the New Year. The event seeks to evaluate business practices in the past year and seeks to arrive at key learning input into the next year in a way that.

The event further seeks to consolidate brand, channel, customer, and field sales plans.

Doruk Emiroglu, managing director, Hayat Kimya Nigeria while speaking at the Integrated Commercial Planning Conference themed ‘House of Champions - New Heights’ announced that regardless of the challenges 2020 brought, the company currently controls over 65 percent of the diaper market.

Emiroglu, commenting on the com-

pany’s performance in 2020, stated that the organisation would not rest on its achievement, adding that the management of the company will dig deeper and be more strategic on how it can develop its brands further for the benefit of our consumers.

“We believe there is an opportunity in each and every challenge and we are trying to be better than yesterday. We call our company house of champions and we believe we can overcome each and every challenge together,” Emiroglu said.

Motayo Latunji, sales director, Hayat Kimya Nigeria speaking to staff in attendance opines that every year, the Commercial Team come together to review the outgoing year and plan for the incoming year. Nothing happens by chance so we must always plan ahead.

According to Latunji, “In 2021, we look forward to ‘New Heights’ since we already attained ‘Great Heights’ in only 5yrs of entering the Nigerian market. Our goals and strategies for 2021 are very clear to us and we have communicated passionately to our teams during this conference.”

“It has been a wonderful atmosphere here; our teams are motivated and ready

for the next chapter. Already, we have achieved another set of credible results in 2020 despite a turbulent year, and now, we are well prepared for the future. We shall continue to add value to the lives of our consumers and businesses of our customers, as we grow year on year.”

On her part, Roseline Abaraonye, marketing manager of the company, speaking during her Marketing session said: “Innovation keeps a business alive and strategic planning is a key ingredient to success. I am proud of our team in our efforts in ensuring that despite

the unique challenges of the year, Hayat Kimya Nigeria remains a House of Champions. We utilise this time each year, to review and strategize for the next year. We will take our learning from 2020, as we prepare to strengthen our brands, further expand our reach with new & more exciting offerings and generate value for Nigerian families” The remaining sessions on days two and three consisted of Sales, HR, Finance, Supply Chain, and Marketing sessions that covered all Hayat Kimya brands currently in the Nigerian market,

Sunday 18 October 2020

ernments to work more on promoting the growth of Rice especially in the south so we can have rice at good prices around the country, not just by going to the North.

Some state governments in the south set up rice processing plants but the question is, where are the farms in that state supplying them paddy? Little wonder some of these plants are redundant or at best, have low production output. The way forward on this is for us to have massive rice farms across the country, in places where the land can grow rice.

Another challenge is the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration. This is a major problem for most agribusiness as the process is too slow and we all know no supermarket will buy or display products that do not have NAFDAC number, neither can such products be exported.

Can you explain more about Titan foundation?

Titan foundation is my personal way of giving back to society. Basically, it is in three categories such as rewarding veterans in the entertainment industry, sponsoring the less privilege, and adopting some orphanages in Ibadan.

Educating the less privilege in Nigeria society is a right and not a privilege, if we fail to do so, it spells down for society. Educating these children will make them become useful citizens who will use the education acquired contribute meaningfully to society.

Most of these children have been forced by their parents and guardian to engage in petty trade and most of the income will not reach them.

namely; MOLFIX, MOLPED, FAMILIA, BEBEM, and PAPIA. The three-day conference came to a close with a team bonding session on Saturday, October 10th, 2020. It was a time for the staff to unwind and bond through fun and games. It was a powerpacked conference that left the attendees with so much passion to succeed as an aftermath of the training, motivational speeches, and an award ceremony for the field sales team.

Recall that Hayat Kimya Nigeria successfully launched its flagship diaper brand in May 2015, into the Nigerian market. Five years later it still poses a verifiable success. Despite the tightlycontested market space, it rapidly attained the position of the number one brand within the diaper category such as “Best Baby Diaper of the Year’’ at the African Product Awards 2016, awarded by the Institute for Government Research Leadership Technology.

In 2018, the brand emerged as the Global most leading premium quality baby diaper brand of the year, awarded

by Global Quality Awards. It was also awarded the “Brand of the year’’ by ADVAN in 2018. The brand further garnered mind-blowing awards to its name as follows; “Brand of the year” awarded

by Brandcom 2019, 1st positions in experiential marketing, and in corporate social responsibilities (CSR) awards, to mention but a few.

Sunday 18 October 2020

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SundayBusiness Talking Mortgage

Are CBN and PMBs still coming with My Own Home scheme?

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nybody with a good sense of history will surely have many questions to ask about the numerous schemes that have been initiated in the housing and mortgage sector which have either been suspended or abandoned. One of such schemes is the federal government’s My Own Home.

The federal government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has been intervening in the housing sector with programmes, policies and initiatives that are aimed at getting more Nigerians, especially the low income earners, on the property/homeownership ladder.

Besides the Family Home Finance (FHF) and the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH), there is also the new My Own Home scheme which is an offshoot of the Nigeria Housing Finance Programme (NHFP) set up by the Federal Government and implemented by CBN with the support of the World Bank.

The housing and mortgage markets are still waiting for the CBN and the selected primary mortgage banks (PMBs) for the implementation of this scheme which holds out hope for mortgage borrowers and home seekers.

The beauty of this scheme, according to the government, is that it offers mortgage guarantee that allows borrowers with insufficient or no equity contribution to access mortgage for home ownership.

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Besides, it will increase lending to low-income earners in the formal and informal sectors through microfinance banks for incremental housing construction or improvement.

Government believes that this scheme has the interest of every Nigerian, but being a new initiative, there is still no statistics to quantify the response of Nigerians to it. It still needs some time to take firm root and have imprint on the minds of the public. But it seems to be taking forever for this to happen Expectation, at inception, was that this product would provide a platform for potential mortgage clients who do not have the required equity contribution, that is, initial deposit of 20 per cent of the value of a property, for a mortgage but have the capacity to make the regular payments, to access a mortgage on the basis of a third party guarantee.

The good news then was that homeowners with insufficient or no-equity contribution could approach their lenders for a mortgage guarantee and the mortgage guarantee firm would insure only the equity contribution required so that the lender could advance the full value of the mortgage loan for the property.

There were fears, however, that the country’s unfriendly investment climate, which is affecting the mortgage industry, could impact this scheme negatively. High and volatile exchange rate, traditionally

stringent operational guidelines for mortgage banks and general difficulty in doing business in Nigeria are potential risks along with issues of Foreclosure Law and inhibitions from the Land Use Act 1978.

But it remains to be known if these fears and potential risks are responsible for the inaction and silence that the housing and mortgage markets are getting from the promoters of the scheme.

It also remains to be seen that part of the federal government’s plans for the housing sector is to introduce public private partnership scheme that seeks to increase access to housing finance.

To implement this scheme, the CBN selected recently 34 primary mortgage banks (PMBs) and four commercial banks to facilitate access to housing finance for lowincome earners in the formal and informal sectors.

The plan was these banks along with nine other micro-finance banks to drive the My Own Home scheme whose main objective, in line with the parent NHFP, is to catalyse the growth of the housing sector through de-risking the housing finance value chain and improving access to finance.

The 34 selected PMBs and others are to benefit from a Housing Micro-finance Fund estimated at $15 million, and also from a $10million Technical Assistance Fund, with LAPO Microfinance Bank as pivot of the pilot scheme in the housing sector. Unlike the

with CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com)

conventional mortgage, My Own Home allows beneficiaries to use the loan for purchase of land, incremental building or renovation.

The scheme has broad-based stakeholders and partnerships that include the Federal Government of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria, World Bank, Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing, Federal Ministry of Justice and Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN).Others are mortgage originating institutions such as Mortgage Lending Banks (MLBs) that are participating in the scheme through equity/investment in Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC).

There is need now, more than ever before, for strengthening the housing sector by setting up sustainable framework by mortgage originators such as financial institutions to access long-term refinancing and NHFP is expected

to create the enabling environment for that. It is also expected to scaleup mortgage and housing finance awareness through mortgage literacy, customers’ right, responsibilities and education.

Adeniyi Akinlusi, the MBAN President, is of the view that the scheme will revamp the housing finance sector and also make access to housing finance a lot easier.

He told BDSUNDAY that NMRC would be providing long-term refinancing of mortgages and standardising mortgage procedures.

According to him, most initiatives that are solely funded and run by the government as social housing programmes are usually not successful and sustainable. “My Own Home, being a PPP is likely to succeed going by our experience with other PPP programmes such as NMRC, infrastructure provision and even the pension scheme reform, which also have private sector stakeholders.”

Bridging the housing deficit in Nigeria Festus Masajuwa

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ne sector of the Nigerian e c onomy t hat has experienced rapid growth despite facing several challenges is the real estate sector. Even in the face of a recent economic downturn, the sector has been developing in leaps and bounds with several buildings springing up, especially in new locations predicted to become prime destinations in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

According to World Bank, Nigeria housing deficit is estimated around 16 million units and it requires more than N56 trillion to provide the 16 million housing units to bridge the housing deficit at a conservation cost of N3.5million per unit in the country.

To solve the present housing challenges and to proffer a lasting solution, International Trans Oil

Energy Inc USA and her Partners in Europe and Asia recently in Lagos, signed a joint development Proposal with Rock of Ages Properties PLC (Subsidiary of Chicason Group).

Rock of Ages Properties Plc has made remarkable commitment in the development of the Rock City scheme, an affordable housing programme aimed at delivering 100,000 housing units in different cities in Nigeria to bridge the over 17 million housing deficit.

With the understanding to develop a sustainable and af ford able housing programme for Nigerian workers, t he s cheme is commencing in Abuja with the delivery of Rock City, Lugbe, FCT. Femi Amos, The African Vice President of the group disclosed this after the understanding was reached with the management of Chicason Group with the chairman of the group, Alexander Chika Okafor

(OON) in attendance.

Ac c ord i ng to Fe m i, Nigeria’s real estate sector is one of Africa’s greatest potential while also representing the continent as a major competitive player in the global real estate market, thus appealing to investors as a destination for investment.

Despite the expansion, the growth being experienced is far from solving the over 17 million housing deficit experienced in the country.

Therefore, if Nigeria mu st s olve it s h ou s i ng deficit issues, it must look at the issues holistically and develop concrete plans that will address basic needs that will promote equal growth in all its urban locations.

It is only normal for investors to purchase property in areas where there is good road connectivity, proper urban planning and development, etc. This is the reason the gap between the poor and the rich in Nigeria keeps widening because even

a child that is born today can tell you areas that are meant for the rich.

Sadly, some areas that experienced a decline in house price used to be seen as highbrow areas back in the days. However, the Nigerian system is such that when there is a new location that the government is paying attention to, the affluent and well-to-do immediately move out from where they reside to the new location.

As long as the government is not paying attention to these issues, it is not creating an enabling environment to have an emerging middle class like in most western e c on om i e s . T h e m o d e l should be such that when the affluent staying in those areas choose to move to a new location, the old locations should not be abandoned but maintained and adapted for the emerging middle class.

And such areas should be well-maintained even as the government is making sure

the needed infrastructure is in place.

Why can’t the government evenly distribute the important projects across the state and not just focus on one area? What plans does the government have in making sure that the emerging middle class whether being a government or a private-sector worker have access to mortgage f i n a n c i n g ? W hy i s t h e government not investing in building affordable housing themselves just like it is done in the western world?

Everyone is happy about the prop os ed increas ed budgetar y allocation for housing and infrastructure.

Have we asked if the government has any visible plans on the ground to make sure the increased allocation affects the lives of low-income earners and the middle class?

There are so many other questions and important issues that need answers if the government wants to

solve the housing deficit in the country. Right now, all the government’s attention is on new locations and that cannot help the country.

These and many other questions will be practically answered with International Trans Oil Energy Nigeria headed by Femi Amos, a seasoned entrepreneur and vast in various aspects of investments both within and outside the shores of Nigeria.

Wi t h t h e c u t t i n g e d g e solutions Amos is bringing on b o ard t h e Ni ge r i an housing space, there is hope and succour that our housing predicament will soon be a thing of the past. According to him, it is his hope that the mass population will seize this unique opportunity that will be offering Nigerians to put a roof over their heads without necessarily compromising standards for a descent shelter.

•Masajuwa, a public relations expert, writes from Lagos

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Economic potentials of chocolate industry in Ondo Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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hen in September 2020, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) t he i nc u mb e nt governor of Ondo State, commissioned the N9billion Chocolate Factory in Idanre, it was a bold statement on rejuvenating the cocoa industry particularly in the ‘Sunshine State’ and Nigeria in general.

Though the factory was initiated by his predecessor, in partnership with a United States-based firm, Spagnvola Chocolatiers, it was completed by the Akeredolu-led administration.

The factory, estimated to produce 2.8million tons of chocolate per annum will no doubt generate employment, increase economic empowerment for all the stakeholders and boost food security. It will have spin-off effects on the immediate environment and increase the demand for cocoa production. And it has come at the right time because of the paradigm shift of the government from crude oil to agriculture.

On that momentous occasion Akeredolu stated: “Let me assure all

the good people of Ondo State that this factory shall run independent of politics. It shall be run in line with global best practices. To guarantee constant supply of cocoa beans to the factory, the Oda Cocoa Plantation, which is over 1,744 hectares, has been resuscitated and made functional with over 250 cocoa farmers upscaling daily production from the farm. I will never rest until we win the battle against unemployment in our state through industrialisation, agriculture and technology”.

Up p i n g t h e n a r r at i v e , t h e administration has established a modern cocoa farm at Ijugbere Camp in Ilale, Owo on 8,400Hectatres of land.

It has the capacity to accommodate 2,000 youths who would be resident on the farm with a minimum of four hectares of land per person.

Being proactive, in July this year, the Ondo government distributed 20,000 cocoa seedlings to farmers in Isua Akoko. Titilayo Adeyemi, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development who facilitated the programme emphasised that the seedlings would further boost the economy of the area and by extension that of the state. She enjoined the indigenes to position themselves to key into the programme for economic empowerment.

It would be recalled that in 2017 President Muhammadu Buhari expressed regret over the neglect of the cocoa sector over the years. Apart from his timely call to action, he resolved that his administration will work to re-position it and other nonoil export commodities. The statement was made then by Audu Ogbeh, the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, at the First International Cocoa Summit. It was organised by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment in collaboration with the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) which held in Abuja. The theme of the conference was: ‘Cocoa, a strategic

Commodity for National Economic Development’, It is worthy of note that the country’s annual production of cocoa declined from 420,000 tonnes in the 60s to 192,000 tonnes in 2015. Currently, the position of the country has dropped from being the fourth global cocoa producing country after Ivory Coast, Indonesia and Ghana to the seventh.

This is not in sync with the new drive for the diversification of the country’s economy.

But good enough that JeanMarc Anga, the Executive Director, International Cocoa Organisation, has promised that the organisation would assist the country in the implementation of its action plan on cocoa. “This sector is apt because we will arrive at a document to upscale Nigeria cocoa production.’’ Also, the President, Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), Sayina Riman, said that a five -year strategic plan would be formulated at the end of the conference to move the sector forward.

Cocoa was a major foreign exchange earner for Nigeria in the 1950s and 1960s. In fact, revenue from cocoa export was largely responsible for the great achievements made by the late Obafemi Awolowo-led Western Region.

These included stable infrastructure, with ample evidence of well-constructed roads, the Cocoa House, the first television house in Sub-Sahara Africa, the Liberty stadium and of course, the laudable Free Education policy.

But in 1970 the country was the second largest producer in the world but the oil boom era of the ‘70s led to the decline of Nigeria’s share of world output. For instance, in 2010, cocoa production accounted for only 0.3percent of agricultural GDP. Average cocoa beans production in Nigeria between 2000 and 2010 was 389,272 tonnes per year, rising from 170,000 tonnes produced in 1999.

The need to walk the talk cannot be overemphasised. For instance,

the former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko spearheaded a similar conference with the theme, ‘Commodity exchange, a platform for enhancing opportunities for the Nigerian cocoa industry’ between November 1 and 3, in 2016. It was facilitated in partnership with private partners and other top national and international cocoa industry practitioners, investors, researchers, bankers and thinkers.

Notable speakers at the event included the CEO Africa Commodity Exchange, Malawi, Kristian Moller, Gideon Onumah of Natural Resources Institute, Greenwich University United Kingdom and Adam Gross of Partner GMEX International. The objective of the conference tagged: ‘Nigerian Cocoa, Global Product’was mainly to identify existing opportunities in the production, processing, marketing and export of cocoa beans and products from Nigeria to the international market and create new ones.

It was meant as a platform for global brainstorming to effectively ensure comprehensive multi-level, multisectorial linkages. The focus was to make the discourse more integrated and profitable with impactful interaction between all stakeholders and players in the Nigerian cocoa industry.

But according to an expert in the field, Gbenga Osinaike many foreign investors have taken advantage of government’s policy inadequacies and somersaults to wreak havoc on the Nigerian economy. Also, the processing of cocoa beans should be done before they are exported.

Some efforts at processing cocoa beans in the past were frustrated.

A clear instance is the lukewarm attitude that greeted the foremost cocoa processing factory in Nigeria, said to be the first in Africa, Cocoa Industries Ltd (CIL) Ikeja, Lagos. It has long stopped production, with the facility now turned into a warehouse for imported goods and motor vehicles!

Yet, when the firm was in production it had about 19,000 people in its employ.

As at 2009, there wereabout 17 cocoa processing companies in Nigeria out of which only nine were functional.

Worrisome too is that most of the people engaged in the importation of cocoa products are foreigners!

In Osinaike’s words: “Nigerians who are in the business cannot in any way compete with these foreigners because the foreigners get bank facilities at about six percent from banks in their home countries while Nigerians who are in the same business with them painstakingly obtain similar loans at about 22 percent interest rate.

Obviously, they do not operate on a level playing field, yet get the same reprieve from exporting cocoa”.

The way forward is that Akeredoluled Ondo State government should sustain the laudable initiative it has started. Other cocoa producing states should take a cue. Cocoa farmers should have access to improved hybrid, earlymaturing, disease-resistant and highyielding seedlings, modern machinery for production, processing and linkage to the international market through the Export Promotion Council (EPC).

Government should stop subsidizing export of raw cocoa. Instead, with the partnership of the private sector there should be more value addition by way of processing, preservation and marketing.The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should come up with policies for the processors to enjoy access to foreign exchange and tax relief at the beginning.

There should be a determined drive to encourage local consumption of cocoa-based beverages. Many jobs will be created for the unemployed youths to galvanise economic growth, as the Akeredolu-led administration is currently championing.

strapper who battled wrenching personal and family obstacles and made it to the top through his own efforts.

“We shall look at upbringing, paying special attention to their parents’ socioeconomic status. Orphans, victims of child labour and menial jobs, those who faced abuse, served prison terms, discrimination, sexual abuse, survived war or were known targets of government intimidation or lawlessness will get extra points.

Female entrepreneurs, because of the daunting obstacles they face, will similarly get extra points.”

Mbanefo further said that the highest consideration would go to candidates who forged their own path using entrepreneurial capitalism to attain a vast fortune because they exhibited the Igbo can-do spirit, adding that he hoped the prize would spark a conversation about Igbo men and women of wealth, visionary entrepreneurs with deep pockets and their commitment to the public good.

“As this is purely merit-based, we shall request these shortlisted candidates to send written confirmation of their willingness to be vetted by our researchers who will also interview their employees, community mem-

bers, mentees, and peers. Most importantly, we shall review important documents such as personal income and company tax clearance certificates – this is the topmost criterion - and testimonials of charitable giving.

“Because we are determined that the best candidates, best ideas, regardless of where they come from, should have a chance to be heard and to change the world. Winners shall be encouraged to take thought leadership positions and bring the best new ideas directly to public attention,” he further said.

He revealed that the award committee would estimate every candidate’s total lifetime giving, from the testimonials from beneficiaries, press reports and determine the percentage of wealth a candidate has given to charity.

“A candidate must have invested a minimum of USD $10million in his community and other charitable causes to be considered for this award.

We believe mindful entrepreneurs will be inspired by our prize to lead their businesses in ways that help our communities. We want them to see social value as a currency,” Mbanefo explained.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media ayobaje@yahoo.co.uk; 07068638066

Dozie, Maduka, Ubah, 67 others to be screened …For Igbo Business Leaders’ Hall of Fame, Award Iniobong Iwok

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rominent Igbo business leaders and entrepreneurs have been scheduled to be honoured at the maiden Igbo business leaders’ hall of fame and award event slated for December 5.

Among those shortlisted to be screened are Paschal Dozie, Vincent Maduka and Ifeanyi Ubah.

The event is to be celebrated in an exclusive gala in Enugu and is to be chaired by former president Goodluck Jonathan.

Ifeanyi Igwebike Mbanefo, organiser and president of the Champion Court, said that ten formidable Igbo entrepreneurs, screened from a long list of 70 by a panel of economists, business analysts, researchers, and journalists, are in contention for the maiden award.

Mbanefo said that the award was created for Igbo entrepreneurs because despite the region’s colourful political history and numerous outstanding achievements in literature, arts, music, sports, science and technology, the Igbo is defined mainly by business, industry and resilience.

On the shortlist of individuals to

be honoured are, Cosmas Maduka, Innocent Chukwuma, Cletus Ibeto, and Ifeanyi Ubah.

It was noted that these individuals did not have formal university education when they ventured into the world of business.

But Leo Stan Ekeh, Arthur Eze, Stella Okoli, Paschal Dozie, Samuel Onyishi, and Allen Onyemawere were all university graduates before they became entrepreneurs.

Among the silver-spooners are Eze, scion of the Dunukofia royal dynasty who came from a wealthy family; Okoli’s parents trained her in University of Bradford and University of London for her graduate and postgraduate degrees; and Dozie, who founded Diamond Bank and owns substantial shares in MTN Nigeria was educated at London School of Economics.

“We recognise that they were not all born of the same pedigree. We acknowledge that some individuals have travelled further in their life’s journey than others. There are scions who inherited family wealth. There are those who came from upper and middle classes. There are people who grew up poor and overcame

significant obstacles in their climb to the top,’ Mbanefo said.

According to him, “There are people who did not get any education. And there are those who got little education and were self-taught.

So, the Award Committee, comprising economic editors from select national newspapers, shall discriminate between silver spooners and bootstrappers.

“Someone who inherited significant fortune, who had a headstart in life will score a little less than a boot-

Ifeanyi Igwebike Mbanefo

Sunday 18 October 2020

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Oyedemi canvasses regulation of real estate in Lagos …As Nathaniel Bassey attends Luxury Estate’s ground breaking

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t was a glorious day in Lekki Lagos when N i g e r i a’s g o s p e l music icon, Nathaniel Bassey, led three other ministers of the gospel to perfect the ground breaking of C edar wood Luxur y Apartments and Terraces powered by PWAN Plus and Business Concerns, recently.

For the Managing Director of the leading estate real estate outfit, Julius Oyedemi and his hardworking staff, the day was a mixture of spirituality and an occasion for showers of accolades as Bassey released some sounds of jubilee and pronounced aggressive anointing on the PWAN Plus squad.

Perfecting the ground breaking, the gospel artiste also eulogised Oyedemi, describing him as a Christian brother who takes special interest and care of other people’s business with a high sense of responsibility.

During an interview with journalists, Oyedemi said that until Lagos State regulates its burgeoning real estate sector, the state government would continue to lose huge income that should accrue to it from the sector.

He expressed the view in support of Lagos State government’s recent expression of intention to regulate the real estate sector in the state. He said: “It’s a dream come true, a good one. You cannot overlook the real estate industry in Nigeria, especially in a place like Lagos where we have over 20 million people occupying the land space. There are housing deficits, I learn from a reliable source that real estate is contributing a little to the GDP of Lagos State.”

Oyedemi, however, added

that if there was a properly regulation of what he described as “the robust activities of estate developers in the state”, real estate contribution to the state’s GDP would definitely increase far and above what it’s currently doing.

He believes that the current showing is infinitesimal; and attributable to poor data collation regarding real estate activities and players in the state.

His words: “What this (regulation) will do is that the state government can collate the data of all players in the state; data will also be available and it can also improve the state’s revenue generation from the real estate sector.”

“For me, it’s a welcome idea; because it will stimulate a rapport between the government and the stakeholders, who are the private developers. If both p ar t i e s are n ot c om i ng together things may not go in the proper direction,” Oyedemi added.

The real estate whizkid a l s o e x pre s s e d wor r i e s , saying, “Our own expectation

is that government should do it without being biased.

They should do it well and give the necessary support because we also have our own complaints. We have our itches, we have our disturbances; we have the taxes, omo oniles, title issues and all of that. So, collaborating with private developers is a welcome idea because this will help in the smooth running of real estate affairs of Lagos State.”

He added that his own concern is primarily getting the industry right. “If we can’t develop Lagos in the right way then what ever the certificate issue is, it’s all irrelevant,” he stressed.

Oyedemi said the ground breaking event was a special day to PWAN Plus Business C oncern. “C edar wo o ds Luxury Apartments Terraces is located at kilometer 35 Ajayi Apata Town in Sangotedo area of Lagos State. As you can see there are a lot of people; buyers and realtor are here to witness the ground breaking. You can also observe that a client is already building and quite a

lot is happening. This is the beginning of a new dawn for us; another record setting in reducing housing deficit,” he explained.

Cedar wood Luxur y Apartments and Terraces sits on 10,500 square kilometers.

The estate consists of 18 units of terraces, 32 units of apartments (16 units of one bedroom, 16 units of two bedroom); and 8 units of three bedroom Terrace buildings.

“What we are building here are apartments and terraces and our apartments are very affordable. We also have few service plots here and for those who want to build personal homes the option is very limited.

“It is actually a turning point because it is shooting us into the real deal, taking us into fulfilling our vision which is making home ownership a reality. Now, we are building it, we hope and we know that this will serve Nigerians really well. Like I said, we are very affordable because we want people to own homes without stress,” the PWAN Plus boss further explained.

L-R: Julius OyedemI, managing director of PWAN Plus; Fred Okpaje; Okey Nwachukwu; Nathaniel Bassey, and Afam Okonkwo, managing director, PWAN Homes, at the ground breaking ceremony in Lagos, recently.

TFM trains social entrepreneurs on funding options for sustainable impact

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he Funding Magnet (TFM) is training social entrepreneurs across African on various funding options to help them build thriving nongovernmental organisation (NGOs) that deliver sustainable impact.

According to the organisers, the training is aimed at helping social entrepreneurs fund their vision of a better future for the continent without solely relying on foreign aids or funding.

“No longer will NGOs across Africa rely solely on foreign aids and foreign funding to fund the vision of a better future for the continent,” Omotola Akinsola, lead at TFM said.

She noted that a lot of social entrepreneurs are clueless about various funding options and that is why TFM is hosting a coaching programme to train them on how to find nurture and steward individuals donors through the signature programme.

To bring about sustainable funding for NGOs, Akinsola and her team are focused on helping NGOs scale, using three key fundamental elementsstructure, proper documentation, and programme design and delivery.

She believes that the NGO sector is a critical sector that has been overlooked and underfunded in time past but has the potential to improve various sectors within the African economy.

She called on NGOs to take advantage of the principles that High Net-worth Individuals (HNWIs) practise- using multiple streams of income.

“The same way that High Net-worth Individuals take advantage of multiple streams of income to attain their wealth, it is also essential for NGOs who want to thrive and be fully funded to have multiple streams of funding sources.”

MIPAD recognises Nigeria’s foremost performance coach, Abiola ‘Champ’

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he Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) 2020 has recognised Ab i o l a ‘C h a mp’ S a l a m i , Nigeria’s Foremost Capacity Development and Performance Coach, in its recently unveiled Class of 2020. Salami received double recognition f rom the prestigious network in the Humanitarian, Activism & Religious category and in the Outstanding MIPADian category for going over and beyond.

Speaking about the re cog nit ion, Sa lami s aid “Building and empowering a global network of Champions in Africa is an honourable call and I am honoured that MIPAD recognises the work that my team and I have done.

I am committed to a journey of impact and this recognition proves that”.

Abiola ‘Champ’ Salami is a Capacity Development Coach and a High Performance Accelerator dedicated to increasing the productive capacity of organisations & governments by designing and executing cost-effective strategies. He is a Managing Consultant at iamaCHAMP Limited, a total capacity development firm focused on designing and delivering high impact inter vention for Workforce Productivity, Wo m e n E m p o w e r m e n t &Youth Leadership. Under his leadership, the firm has inspired over 10 million people across 30 countries for increased productivity and leadership.

His commitment to workforce productivity, youth and women empowerment as well as leadership development led him to publishing books, audio and visual content as well

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as and implementing programs towards achieving the relevant Sustainable Development Goals.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Salami championed a campaign that reached over 1 million people in Handling Panic in the Wake of Coronavirus. He also released a free eBook on How to Enjoy Sound Emotional & Mental Health during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

He was one of the few personalities that was recognised twice on the global list of 100 Most Influential People of African Descent as part of the United Nations 75 General Assembly. MIPAD identifies high achievers of African descent in public and private sectors from all around the world as a progressive network of relevant actors to join together in the spirit of recognition, justice and development of Africa, its

people on the continent and across its Diaspora. This is in support of the International Decade for People of African Descent, proclaimed by United Nation’s General Assembly resolution 68/237 and to be observed from 2015 to 2024.

Over the years, notable names have made the global list

Abiola Salami

including Meghan - Duchess of Sussex (2018), Tyler Perry (2019), Béyonce Knowles-Carter (2018), Simone Biles (2019), Kendrick Lamar (2019), Yemi Alade (2018) and Davido (2018) amongst others.

In the 2020 edition themed “Representation Matters”, another 100 names were unveiled. Salami was recognised alongside Burna Boy (Nigeria), Tiffany Callender (Canada), Alan Soares (Brazil), Ebuka ObiUchendu (Nigeria), Monali Shah (KENYA) and Bukky GeorgeTaylor (Nigeria),etc. He was also recognised alongside South Africa’s Vuzi Thembekwayo and Teresa Clarke of Africa.com in the Outstanding MIPADian Categor y for going above and beyond. He has indeed gone over and beyond and according to him “In CHAMP, such recognition gives more inspiration, tools and gusto to

Omotola Akinsola

“Contrary to popular opinion, there is more than one pathway to getting your NGO fully funded. The majority of NGO founders and leaders in Africa are prone to believe grants, especially international grants are the only or major means of funding their impact work.”

Speaking about various funding sources NGOs can tap into, she said: “There are, at least, seven different funding pathways. These sources include grants, government contract/partnership, corporate sponsorships, individual donor giving, board membership, income-generating products/ services, and online crowdsourcing.”

According to her, “Individual donation is one of the underutilised funding sources that most NGOs do not take advantage of. Individual donations are not just for ‘Emergency Fundraising’! If properly used, this funding source can bring thousands of dollars in giving towards the impact work of an NGO. The ‘100 Perfect Donors’ programme will equip founders and leaders in the NGO sector with the tools, templates, and tips to create an army of passionate and committed givers in 10 days or less.”

our team. This recognition has just fueled our drive to achieve all we have set out to do for our continent and its people”.

Abiola ‘Champ’ Salami is a Performance Coach committed to raising world class leaders and improving the productive capacity and brand perception of organizations and governments.

He is an alumnus of Harvard University, Lagos Business School, American Government’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and a member of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria.

He is the author of Get MAD! You can Make a Difference (Foreword by Dr. Christopher Kolade, CON), Who Says It’s a Man’s World? (Foreword by Dr. Mo Abudu), and his latest work The MAGIC of Emotional Intelligence (Foreword by Prof.

Dana H. Born of Harvard University).

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The scares of SARS:

Protests in South-south, South East targets only SARS, adds some jamboree

...Protests lasted one day ...Hearing from governors seen as great feat ...No sponsors but entertainers led the marches in some states

“

IGNATIUS CHUKWU, GODFREY OFURUM, Aba; SABI ELEMBA, Owerri; MERCY ENOCH, Asaba; ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo; SAMUEL ESE, Yenagoa; REGIS ANUKWUOJI, Enugu; IDRIS MOMOH/ CHURCHIL OKORO, Benin; EMMA NDUKUBA, Awka; MIKE ABANG, Calabar

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he #EndSARS protests rocking the nation especially Lagos and Abuja did little in south-south and south-east state, according to reports from Correspondents in the two geopolitical zone.

The protests demanded only for end to SARS and police brutality and ended there. The protesters went back home. They rather enjoyed some jamboree with their music idols leading in the cheers.

Instead, merely coming out to walk was seen as great achievement while making it to the Government Houses in the states appeared to be the bigger objective. It is only in Calabar that the protests seem to continue to Friday. They did not come close to the seat of power either where the governor was said to be prepared to address them.

There has been no sign of sponsorship of unseen support to the protesters while there seemed to be little or no anger.

Also, in the two zones, the demand has stopped at the call to end SAR (Special Anti-Robbery Squad) while the order by the highest police authorities to pacify people from the two zones, apart from some social media rants hailing the protesters in Lagos and Abuja for persistence and for changing the demand to other slogans.

In most of the states, the march began at the advertised locations and ended at the government houses. The protesters dispersed after this. The protesters in Lagos are seen with logistics support such as vans with food and water whereas hints have spread that there is N16million made available while some foreign hands have been mentioned in

the sponsorship. No Correspondent in the states in the south-south or east has heard of any sponsor.

Port Harcourt: Did Wike play double game? ..As Chima, Ikokwu 5 re-echo The host governor began as villain but ended as hero. Everything in Port Harcourt takes different turns. On the eve of the Port Harcourt march, the governor, Nyesom Wike, announced a stern ban on any protests in the city. He ordered stern-looking policemen to take over the advertised meeting point for the protesters.

The Civil Society Coalition in the state insisted and called on the people to come out and march, not minding whatever orders the governor issued. Tension rose immediately. The next morning, as early as 6am, the protesters began gathering at a location close to the advertised Pleasure Park.

The protesters numbering over 200 marched to the Brick House unchallenged and demanded that the governor must address them.

The world waited to see how a governor that banned a rally would come and address it.

Wike soon emerged and later became the hero of the protest. He

swam with swagger and told how he was the only governor that fought SARS (which is true) and how he never liked them (true, too, because they represented a threat to his reelection).

Many said they saw staunch Wike boys and wondered what really was happening; would Wike boys ig-

Popular musicians led the show and thus, the dancing and gyration was the most important success of the day. They were addressed by the police and the speaker of the House but the governor did not show up.

The protest lasted for two days and ended without any incident.

Yenago: More concerned with

nore his order? Many felt the governor banned the protest but must have worked underground to show support, but if anything bad happened, he would be exonerated.

However, demand for justice for Chima Ikwunado and the Ikokwu 5 re-echoed. The police (E-Crack) that killed Chima are now in court but indications look like nothing much would come out of it. Nothing is being done for the injured ones.

Enugu: Dance and gyration to seat of power The protest in Enugu began at Okpara Avenue and marched to the police headquarters, House of Assembly and Government House.

flood threats The people of Bayelsa State, according to our Correspondent, have their eyes on flood threats. The state lives below sea level and with less than 20 percent on land.

Some have wondered if they do not have scares of SARS over there but the floods may have given bigger threats. Our Correspondent however, reports that the state is playing catch up. The organisers of #EndSARS and #EndPoliceBrutality protests in Bayelsa State had planned a mega protest for yesterday (Saturday, October 17). The protests will be preceded by a candle light vigil Friday from 7.00pm till dawn at Tombia Roundabout, Yenagoa in

The peaceful protest resulted to traffic congestion around the city centre, kept motorists on the spot for longer hours, hindered workers and commuters plying the roads to their respective destinations

honour of those who have lost their lives to police brutality. No violence has been recorded so far just as the organisers and sponsors are still shrouded in mystery.

Benin: We come in peace - placard The Edo protesters even made it clear they came in peace. In Edo State hundreds of residents, particularly youths last Tuesday trooped out in Benin City to protest the alleged attacks and brutality on youths by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police.

The peaceful protest resulted to traffic congestion around the city centre, kept motorists on the spot for longer hours, hindered workers and commuters plying the roads to their respective destinations. The youths who came out in their numbers marched round King’s Square, Sapele road, Airport road and other major streets of the metropolis, including the palace of the Oba of Benin. The protesters were received at the Oba’s palace by Ehondor D.A, the Obahiagbon of Benin, who promised to draw the attention of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, to their request.

Speaking with journalists in Benin City, Aisabor said changing the name from SARS to the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, is not the solution to the demands by the Nigerian youths in ending high cases of police brutality and extortion by the unit.

“There is no need for ending SARS and replacing it with Special Weapon and Tactic (SWAT), withContinues on page 28

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#ENDSARS protests may bring down APC in 2023, Experts warn

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INNOCENT ODOH, Abuja & INIOBONG IWOK, Lagos

efore the 2012 #Occupy Ojota protest over fuel price increase, Nigerians were getting back to life after the economic recession of 2008/2009, things were hard, the economy was not doing well. It took that decision by the Goodluck Jonathan to attract the ire of Nigerians, particularly members of the opposition party at the time. From that point, the Jonathan administration consistently lost the support of many Nigerians and it fell out of grace as it were. That culminated in the disastrous defeat by the then budding All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015 presidential election.

Economists say that by 2023, the Nigerian economy will be smaller than what it was in 2015. The permutation is that if what is happening now, with the #EndSARS protest, which many say is an offshoot of years of bottled-up anger over the unfortunate state of affairs in the country, like the #OccupyOjota set the tone for Jonathan’s and PDP defeat in 2015, the #EndSARS could dovetail into APC sack in 2023.

It is interesting to note that the current protest is coming three years the next general election, and it was also about three years to the 2015 election when the protest took place in 2012. It is just some difference in months.

Observers say that since 2015, it is the first time a protest of the magnitude it is happening now would take place against the current government. Before now, there was that mortal fear that a huge and ubiquitous civil disobedience of the type we are seeing was not possible; today it has proven to be possible.

But by far, the current protests may have triggered a deeper disaffection and accumulated in anger against the current status quo and especially the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which experts feared may suffer a collateral electoral damage in the 2023 general election.

President Buhari, to whom many have placed their trust, appears to have failed to address the problems he inherited from his predecessor and things have steadily worsened in the last five years in spite of the many promises of the Buhari government.

Second Republic lawmaker, Junaid Muhammad has warned that judging by the groundswell of frustration in the land following increasing hardship the Buhari and the APC government might not survive up to 2023.

He said: “Nigerians are today very angry lots, angry on a number of fronts and angry for a number of reasons. First, I think it is clear that the Buhari administration has failed in solving the problems of the country. He has not delivered on

what he promised.

“APC lacks ideas and the Buhari administration is a very fertile ground for low-key pre-revolutionary to revolutionary activities and anything can happen because clearly the man who is the Nigerian President today is not in charge.

The security services particularly the armed forces and the paramilitary are not in charge, the economy is in tatters and there is massive corruption in government, mismanagement of our resources and the arbitrariness in government.

So, I am not sure the government can survive from now till 2023.”

Public Affairs analyst and columnist, Majeed Dahiru said the protest is not an end in itself, it might be a means to a bigger end. He said that some of the demands the protesters are making such as the reform of the police, the disbandment of SARS and bringing to justice the people that committed crime against humanity as well as the call for the increment of the salaries of police officers are things that cannot be done by a stroke of the pen.

“These are options can only be

carried out thoroughly by an equally reformed government processes.

So, I am beginning to feel that probably the #ENDSARS movement might be a movement towards putting pressure for the overhaul of governance system. That might be the ultimate aim of the #ENDSARS movement,” he said.

He added that the #ENDSARS protest is also a euphemism for calling for real change, stressing that there is pent up frustration and anger. When asked whether the protests might lead to the downfall of the APC Government, Dahiru answered in the affirmative.

He said: “Whenever there is a movement like this, it is always directed at the government of the day even though some of the things they are protesting against might not be the making of the government. This might be the heralding of an armada of opposition against the government towards 2023.

“The only difference is that the people seem not to trust any of the existing political blocs the APC and the PDP. Unlike the way the APC took advantage of the 2012 protests

against Jonathan and gradually sustained the pressure that eventually led to the ouster of the former President, I am afraid the current PDP might not be able to convert the current movement into a formidable political capital.

“Probably, this is the right time for a third force to really emerge and see if they can harness this positive energy to birth a new political movement. There might be a paradigm shift from what we see now.”

In his view, Wale Ogunade, national leader Voters Awareness Initiative, said: “I think the protest is born out of the state of affairs in the country, hopelessness; you can see for yourself. No one is happy with this government. #EndSARS protest is justified. A lot of us have experiences to share about the operations of those people; but it all shows the failure of this government. If they had carried out the reforms they promised in 2015, we would have made progress and people would be happy.

“Nigerians are tired, both old and young and they have shown that they are tired, and are no more tim-

“

“I think the protest is born out of the state of affairs in the country, hopelessness; you can see for yourself.

No one is happy with this government. #EndSARS protest is justified

id when it comes to protest. If this would lead to end of APC I don’t know because they would contest election and see the result. But I can tell you Nigerians want change.”

Ogunade further said: “They want police reforms, why can’t the right people be recruited into the police? Their remuneration be good, and may be community policing; so that they would not bring somebody from somewhere who doesn’t understand the people and their culture which is part of the problem.”

Mike Omotosho, a former national chairman of Labour Party, said it was too early to say if it could affect the APC in future.

“I think it may be too early to say that, but what is obvious is that Nigerians are agitated and it is an opportunity for the APC government Continues on page 28

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Sunday 18 October 2020

Protests in South-south, South East...

Continued from page 26 out training and retraining. It is just a change of name.

“Disbanding SARS is not the solution, what they need is training and retraining of the officers so that they can meet the purpose it was set up,” he said. These are the things the government has promised and started. That could be why the region dropped the protests because they feel they have succeeded.

Uyo: Hints of sponsorships and disputes over sharing of money The Uyo protesters may have got some sponsorship to do theirs.

Hints emerged that support came to help make placards. These are youths who are highly skilled in protest management perfected due to NDDC matters and protests over the years.

Hundreds of youths on Tuesday staged the #ENDSARS protest in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, in solidarity with their counterparts in other states of the federation.

This may show that they were only helping other parts of the country.

The youths marched from Nwaniba Road through Oron road to Wellington Bassey Way towards the Governor’s office.

The youths had earlier said they were suspending the protest following the decision of the Inspector General of Police to dissolve the outfit but it was gathered that money changed hands leading to the protest. It was gathered that the protest was bankrolled by politicians as disagreement occurred in the sharing of the proceeds from the protest. It also learnt that the protesters were supported by politicians who provided funding for the purchase of the placards.

Addressing the youths, Governor Udom Emmanuel lauded them for being peaceful and pledged to convey their message to the appropriate authority.

Asaba: Okowa addresses protesters, guests at Govt House What is significant in Asaba is that it is the first time that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa personally addressed any protester. This was therefore, seen as a sign that the governor attached much importance to the issues relating to youths, security of lives and property of its citizens as well as the economy. The protest first began in Ugheli the previous day before getting to Asaba at 9am, lasted beyond 6pm despite the assurances of the governor that a 5-man Police Complaints Committee that would include two youth representatives as members, would be constituted to look into the issue of police brutality.

The Spokesman of the protesters, Emmanuel Udezua, had told the governor that the youths across the nation were in pains over brutality of policemen on them and urged him to use his good offices to prevail on all stakeholders to end the excesses of police personnel.

Okowa released one bullet at the familiar enemies. He blamed the protests on what he called leadership failures. There wouldn’t have been need for the protests if leaders were accountable to the people

#ENDSARS protests may bring down APC...

Continued from page 27

even as he told the protesters that as youths of the nation, they had every right to organise themselves to protest societal ills.

Spread to Warri, Effurun Despite Governor Okowa’s assurances to the youth who protested in Asaba on Tuesday, October 13, those in Warri and Effurun axis took to the streets of the twin cities on Wednesday, October 14, to protest the formation of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu.

The protesters took over BojiBoji areas and their seemed to last longer.

Aba: Justice to Chima Ikwuna-

assured that President Muhammadu Buhari, through the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, is handling the Special AntiRobbery Squad issues in the overall interest of the citizens.

Owerri: Stuck to end of SARS The Owerri protesters wanted only SARS to end. Recall that Owerri is a yahoo city and SARS and EFCC do battles there a lot. The gathering started about 9: 30 am on Tuesday October 13, 2020 with about 200 youths, a number that seems to be targeted in the southsouth and east as enough. They gathered at Bank Road and ended at Government House. There was no challenge, no violence. Governor

do killed in PH by E-Crack The demands for ending SARS and police brutality added justice for Chima Ikwunado, a mechanic tortured to death in January 2020 in Port Harcourt by a special squad called E-Crack. The Aba protests started by 10am and lasted till 2pm.

It also took place in Umuahia with a total of 300 in both cities (Umuahia had about 100 youths, while Aba had more than 200 youths led by Ruff Coin and other local artists).

Place of gathering- in Umuahia, the youths protested along major roads in the State capital including Azikiwe and Bende roads and ended their protest at the State House of Assembly, situated at Igurube layout.

For Aba, they also moved round major streets, starting from Azikiwe Road, East Street to Ogbor Hill and ended the protest at NTA, Aba on Ikot Ekpene road. There was no violence or resistence to them. The protest was for one day, 2pm. In Umuahia, the protesters were addressed by Chinedum Orji, Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly who

Hope Uzodimma assured them that their grievances would be taken to President Muhammadu Buhari.

They dispersed after the protest.

Calabar: Protesters didn’t go to Government House The protests started on Monday by 10 am with their five-point demands. Over 2000 youths participated in the rally with placard inscription #EndSARS, #EndPoliceBrutality, want good governance, want immediately actions, and justice for all brutalised citizens. Monday rally paralysed economic and social activities as the rally prevented smooth traffic at MCC and High Way. The rally was still going on Friday afternoon as at the time of filing this report as the EndSARS is moving from major street in Calabar and Marian Market to terminate at 11, 11 a major entry point of Calabar Carnival.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ben Ayade, Christian Ita, told newsmen that the governor was ready to address them, but since they didn’t come to him he could not go to them and address them.

to respond and prove us wrong on their skill of governance and we would see what happens in the coming days,” Omotosho said.

He however, noted that “Their response, I mean, how they manage this protest would determine what happens to them in future elections in Nigeria. So, it is an opportunity for them to redeem their image or worsen it. You can see the people are not happy with Buhari; it is not only about SARS, but more deep, their future is in their hands really.”

For Professor Soji Adejumo, leader Yoruba Consultative Forum, “Nigerians grievances are clear and the government should act and listen to them. This administration’s popularity is waning and if I were them, we would act fast.”

“They know they are no more popular, the signs are there, Nigerians want reforms, the suffering is too much; how much is the naira to the dollar now? What about the economy? The way forward is restructuring of the country which some of us have been agitating for,” Adejumo said.

Adelaja Adeoye, ADP, National Publicity Secretary, believes that the protest is a clear message to the political class that the youths are gradually waking up.

“As you can also see, they have been pushed to the wall by the notorious SARS officers across Nigeria.

“

Of course, this very #ENDSARS protest is bigger than the #OccupyNigeria of the 2012 over fuel subsidy that abruptly saw an end to the PDP era, but this particular one is not targeting any political party to be honest

Many Nigerians such as Deji Adeyanju, Segun Awosanya Segalink, myself have led various protests in this regards but what makes this one bigger is the fact that people can no longer take it, and they kept trooping to the streets to defend their lives,” he said.

According to him, “No person, political party or government can stand in the way of this organic protest. I led a protest against police brutality at Fela’s Kalakuta in Ikeja, when Johnson Kolade was gruesomely killed by trigger-happy police, so I know what is going on now.

“Also seeing the atrocities being perpetrated by many of the SARS officers such as the notorious one called James Nwafor, who has been sacked by the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, and people are demanding for his immediate arrest and prosecution.

“Of course, this very #ENDSARS protest is bigger than the #OccupyNigeria of the 2012 over fuel subsidy that abruptly saw an end to the PDP era, but this particular one is not targeting any political party to be honest.”

Adeoye further recalled: “We all know the story of #OccupyNigeria of 2012, that it was a pro-opposition politicians-induced protest unlike the #ENDSARS that started off in 2017 by both Deji Adeyanju and Segalink as public advocacy group against police brutality. Nigerians just keyed in, and it went bigger on its own.

“Most of the people you see on the streets just want police to be reformed, then have better governance, and a country they can call their own. There is no need to politicise it, as you can even hear most of the protesters saying they don’t want any politicians near them, evidently in the way they chased Sowore away from their protest.

“However, the protest may affect the popularity of the government of the day, if the youths and elites in the country can use this same energy to support maybe a fresh political platform in the future elections. I say this because, you can see a lot of coordination in the way this protest is being carried out, the youths are techies, using majorly social media to call their fellows to actions.”

“This generation are obviously waking up and not falling for the tricks of the political class any longer, hoping that they will sustain the energy because that is what can truly transform the country as their movement will help to throw up the best amongst them into politics,” he further said.

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29

Art

Goodnight J. P. Clark: The astute literary icon OBINNA EMELIKE

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n October 13, 2020, the Nigerian literary community was greeted with the sad news of the demise of John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo.

Popularly known as J. P. Clark, the foremost poet, playwright and professor, is one of the last standing literary giants in Africa.

He is notable for his outstanding works across different literary genres, while some of his works are viewed controversial, especially by the West.

The uniqueness of the late literary icon is that he dealt with the topical issues through interweaving of indigenous African imagery and the Western literary tradition.

However, his works featured topical themes such as violence and protest, as in Casualties; institutional corruption, as in State of the Union; the beauty of nature and the landscape, as in A Reed in the Tide; and European colonialism as in Ivbie in the poems collection.

As well, inhumanity of the human race was the central focus in Mandela and Other Poems.

Clark was most noted for his poetry, including poems such as: (Mbari, 1961), a group of 40 lyrics that treat heterogeneous themes; A Reed in the Tide (Longmans, 1965), occasional poems that focus on the Clark’s indigenous African background and his travel experience in America and other places; Casualties: Poems 1966–68 (USA: Africana Publishing Corporation, 1970), which illustrate the horrendous events of the Nigeria-Biafra war; and A Decade of Tongues (Longmans, Drumbeat series, 1981), a collection of 74 poems, all of which apart from “Epilogue to Casualties” (dedicated to Michael Echeruo) were previously published in earlier volumes.

Clark’s other poetry works include;

State of the Union (1981), which highlights Clark’s apprehension concerning the sociopolitical events in Nigeria as a developing nation; Mandela and Other Poems (1988), which deals with the perennial problem of aging and death.

Clark also excelled in the drama genre. His dramatic works includes; Song of a Goat – a tragedy cast in the Greek classical mode, which premiered at the Mbari Club in 1961; The Masquerade (1964), a sequel in which Dibiri’s rage culminates in the death of his suitor Tufa; The Raft (1964); Ozidi (1966); The Boat (1981) and The wives revolt (1991).

He translated Ozidi Saga (1977), an oral literary epic of the Ijaw that in its local setting would normally take seven days to perform; and also published a critical study je

titled The Example of Shakespeare (Evanston: Northwestern University Press, 1970), in which he articulates his aesthetic views about poetry and drama. His journalistic essays were published in the Daily Express, Daily Times, and other newspapers. He is also the author of the controversial America, Their America (Deutsch, 1964; Heinemann African Writers Series No. 50, 1969), a travelogue in which he criticizes American society and its values.

While the uproars generated by the book, as well as, Casualties, his other book, catapulted him into the international literary limelight, but not without damage. In his defence, Clark maintained that he merely portrayed events as he saw them.

Meanwhile, critics of his works grade his poetic career in three stag-

es: the apprenticeship stage exemplified by simple works such as “Darkness and Light” and “Iddo Bridge”; the imitative stage, where he appropriated Western poetic conventions such as the couplet measure and the sonnet sequence, exemplified in lyrics like “To a Fallen Soldier” and “Of Faith”; and the individualized stage, in which he attains the maturity and originality of form of such poems as “Night Rain”, “Out of the Tower”, and “Song”.

Moreover, Clark’s literary career was dotted with honours and recognitions too. In 1991, he received the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award for literary excellence and saw publication, by Howard University, of his two definitive volumes, The Ozidi Saga and Collected Plays and Poems 1958-1988.

To honour the life and career of Professor John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo, on December 6, 2011, a celebration was held at Lagos Motor Boat Club, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, for the publication of J. P. Clark: A Voyage, The definitive biography of the main animating force of African poetry, written by playwright Femi Osofisan. The launch was attended by the ‘who is who’ in the literary community, including Wole Soyinka, the Nobel Laureate.

In 2015 the Society of Young Nigerian Writers under the leadership of Wole Adedoyin founded the JP Clark Literary Society, aimed at promoting and reading Clark’s works.

Born on April 6,1935 in Kiagbodo, to an Ijaw father and Urhobo mother, Clark received his early education at the Native Authority School, Okrika (Ofinibenya-Ama), in Burutu LGA (then Western Ijaw) and the prestigious Government College in Ughelli, and his BA degree in English at the University of Ibadan, where he edited various magazines, including the Beacon and The Horn. Upon graduation from Ibadan in 1960, he worked as an information officer in the Ministry of Information, in the old Western Region of Nigeria, as features editor of the Daily Express, and as a research fellow at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan. He served for several years as a professor of English at the University of Lagos, a position from which he retired in 1980. While at the University of Lagos he was co-editor of the literary magazine Black Orpheus.

In 1982, along with his wife Ebun Odutola (a professor and former director of the Centre for Cultural Studies at the University of Lagos), he founded the PEC Repertory Theatre in Lagos.

A widely travelled man, Clark held visiting professorial appointments at several institutions of higher learning, including Yale and Wesleyan University in the United States.

Seun Kuti tackles Nigeria’s socio-political malady in his new single OBINNA EMELIKE

L

ike his father, Seun Kuti, the youngest son of FelaAnikulapo Kuti , the late Afrobeat pioneer, has once again added his voice intackling the socio-political malady in Nigeria with the release of his newsingle titled, ‘Theory of goat and yam’.The music video of the new single was recently released andnow available on Seun Kuti’s official YouTube channel.According to Ayo Moses Ogedengbe, Seun’s manager, the songpicks its title from the parable told by Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, formerNigerian president, during a presidential media chat on February 11, 2015.According to the manager, Jonathan addressed the question ofcriticism against corruption in his administration, stating that, “Theissue of corruption in Nigeria is like a case of Goat and

Yam”. The parable, according to Ogedengbe, basically saw the Nigerianpeople as the ‘yam’ and cor-

Seun Kuti

rupt politicians as the ‘goat’, which stubbornlyrefuses to stop being corrupt and continues to steal the

commonwealth of thenation.”In the month on February 2018, Seun Anikulapo Kuti andThe Egypt 80 Band literally performed a story at Jazz a la Villette that heldthe audience glued to the stage in a mix of rapt attention, entertainment, andaccording to many, it was an inspiration for a better Africa.”Seun Kuti creatively analysed the reason the Nigerianpeople continue to suffer.

In the analysis, he asked, “If the goat is eatingyam, what then are the owners of the goat eating?”, Ogedengbe said.Speaking on the new single, Seun Kuti said, “The theoryexplains the erroneous concept of ‘chopping life’, which is a common mentalitywith Nigerians who believe in the idea of ‘chopping life’ to the point thatcorrupt politicians, public and private sector leaders do not mind eatingNigerians as a way to justify their corrupt opportunity to ‘chop life”.Seun Kuti, as an Afrobeat artist, has spent most of his lifepreserving

and extending his father’s political activism and musical legacy asthe leader of the Egypt 80 Band, Africa’s longest surviving band.Born in early 1983, Seun showed interest in his father’smusic from the age of five, and at nine, he began to open Fela’s shows, singinga select group of songs with Egypt 80 before his father took the stage.

As adeveloping saxophonist and percussionist, he entered the formal ranks of theband before he was 12.Fela passed on in 1997, and in fulfillment of his father’swishes, Seun assumed the mantle as head of Egypt 80 Band, and has since takenthe band across different continents of the world.In 2018, as evidence of his great work ethic, the afrobeatartiste, who has been working for almost26 years, came out with his ‘Black Times’ album, which earned him a nominationin the World Music category at the 61st Grammy Awards.

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Nigeria’s undeveloped coastline: Another goldmine lying waste Stories by OBINNA EMELIKE

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ith the persistence fall in oil price in the global market, there is urgent need for the diversification of the Nigerian economy from its crude oil mainstay.

While tourism or rather the ‘blue economy’ presents itself as the lowest hanging fruit for economy diversification, the country has continued to neglect the huge potential of the sector, especially the over 853 kilometers of coastline that is lying waste across the country.

Sadly, the Gambia has built its economy on tourism, using its well-developed 48 kilometers coastline to attract over 300,000 tourists annually, especially Europeans, amid huge foreign exchange and infrastructure development.

It is disappointing when European holidaymakers visit Gambia, Ghana and even Senegal for holiday instead of Nigeria, a supposedly giant of Africa.

The reality is that smaller West African countries, especially those that do not have crude oil, are latching unto tourism because of its huge revenue earning potential, and they have also learnt to upgrade their tourism facilities in order to woo foreigners in good numbers.

For instance, the sand, sun and beaches, which Gambia sells as major tourism offerings to European visitors are also abundant in Nigeria, but the difference is the packaging, presentation, marketing, and maintenance.

Of course, Kenya, the East Africa tourism powerhouse, is making fortune from Mombasa, its famous coastal city dotted with wonderful shorelines.

Last year, Kenyan travel and tourism grew by 5.6 percent to contribute Sh790 billion and 1.1 million jobs to the Ke-

dar-es-salaam nyan economy, a development that beat the average global growth of 3.9 percent and the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 3.3 percent.

Nigeria can learn from South Africa, which engaged private investors to develop the 6-kilometer Golden Mile; the popular stretch of beachfront along the India Ocean in the city of Durban, that contributes over R12 million (about N300 million) from foreign tourists and R3 billion (about N80 billion) annually from domestic tourism, as well as, Cape Town’s Victoria & Alfred Waterfront that attracts more than 23 million visitors a year and generates over R4 billion annually.

Then, Dubai’s Atlantis and other world class attractions built on the shoreline, are earning millions of Dirham monthly to the United Arab Emirates city.

Huge earnings from tourism is not rocket science, it is attainable. While

it may be difficult developing the over 853 kilometers of coastline, Nigeria can start with Lagos coastline.

At present, Lagos State harbors about 180 kilometers coastline, which is lying fallow.

Sadly, the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service plans to rake in N73.86 billion monthly in internally generated revenue (IGR) in 2020, to enable the state finance its numerous developmental projects.

However, tourism experts have said that the state could earn more if conscious efforts are made at developing the 180 kilometer coastline that is currently lying fallow.

The experts noted that the neglected coastline, which could earn over N10 billion annually, was due to lack of interest, incompetence of indigenous investors and not necessarily funding.

Citing instance with Mombasa fortune shoreline and Gambia’s well-de-

veloped 48 kilometer coastline that has boosted tourism in becoming the country’s second highest earner of foreign revenue, tourism experts noted that if developed, the Lagos coastline with its mild features that enable beach outing would contribute over N10 billion annually to Lagos State Government through taxes from hotels, restaurants, resorts and related business along the coastline.

According to Wanle Akinboboye, president, La Campagne Tropicana Resort, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, the revenue accruing to government from developing the coastline would even grow more with the Lekki Free Trade Zone by the corridor of the coastline that is expected to woo global investors.

All government need do, according to him, is to woo the right investors to take advantage of the coastline for tourism infrastructure development in areas such as resorts, hotels, theme parks among others.

Greg Onwukwufo, a destination manager and hotelier, noted that the fallow coastline can become goldmine if the environment is favourable enough for investors like in other climes, amid safety and security of their investments.

“The stress and cost of land acquisition, high tariff on imported tourism equipment/products, poor infrastructure, especially electricity and roads, insecurity among others, need to be tackled in order to truly woo investments that would develop the coastline”, he insisted.

Besides the tourism purpose, the coastline doubles as the Coconut belt of Lagos State but still do not give its maximum coconut yield and harvest as coconut growers take less advantage of it.

Failing to maximise its comparative advantage of the 180 km coastline for the development of coconut industries, Gbolahan Lawal, former, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, once noted that the state

Sunday 18 October 2020

loses N6.47 billion yearly from poor returns from coconut.

Due to its all-round revenue potential, Akinboboye called on Lagos State Government to see the development of the coastline as core to its megacity project and a boost to its internally generated revenue drive.

Apart from Lagos, Mike Amachree, proprietor of Brooklyn Tourist Centre and Port Harcourt Tourist Beach Resort, noted that Niger Delta offers several kilometers of shoreline that are untapped.

Amachree, who is regarded as the father of Nigerian tourism, insisted that there is no excuse for the neglect of the goldmine as peace has been restored in Niger Delta and investment in coastline in the region is as good as investing in crude oil well because of the revenue earning potential of tourism, especially on the coastline.

Udeme Akanimoh, a tourism expert, also pointed out the potential along the Akwa Ibom coastal corridor. From Oron, Abak, and to Ibeno, he noted that beaches surround the state, but are not developed to woo more locals and even the world.

He suggested that government should create foreign direct investment platform to woo the right investors and local partnership that would collaborate to lift the tourism goldmine that has been laying fallow for decades as witnessed in most destinations with huge waterfronts.

“Government can get serious with the development by identifying and partnering credible investors, providing incentives such as infrastructure, low tariff on tourism equipment, adequate security and formulating tourism-friendly policies that would ensure safety of investments on the coastline”, Akanimoh said.

Besides the revenue accruing to government from developing the coastline, tourism experts disclosed that developing world class tourism infrastructure along the coastlines across the country is imperative going by the less than 10 percent foreign patronage of Nigeria’s domestic tourism.

“A well-developed coastline will boost domestic offerings, create many job opportunities, encourage skill development, woo foreign patronage and most importantly, lift tourism industry to a sustainable revenue earner”, they concluded.

Stepping up support for sustainable tourism recovery as millions of jobs are at risk

T

ourism is a major driver of the world economy, accounting for 7 percent of international trade.

Globally, tourism generates directly or indirectly one in every ten jobs. The COVID-19 crisis has devastated the tourism economy, with unprecedented effects on jobs and businesses. Tourism was one of the first sectors to be deeply affected by the COVID-19 containment measures, and with the ongoing travel restrictions and the looming global recession, it also risks being among one of the last to recover. Strong and coordinated action is required to save millions of livelihoods.

With a 60-80 percent decline in international tourism foreseen for 2020, and a drop of between US $910 billion and $1.2 trillion in exports, today over 100 million direct tourism jobs are at risk. Apart from this direct impact, the tourism economy is also linked to many other sectors including construction, agro-food, distribution services and transportation, all of which exacerbate the size of the shock. COVID-19 has revealed the macroeconomic importance of tourism in most OECD and G20 economies. According to Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general, United Na-

tions World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), many businesses across the sector are fighting to survive, with a disproportionate effect on women, young people, rural communities, indigenous peoples and informal workers – groups that are more likely to be employed in micro or small tourism businesses. The crisis is also creating an even greater hardship for low-income and developing economies, and their local communities, which disproportionately depend on tourism and hence face a serious risk of higher poverty.

Pololikashvili noted that the current crisis has also exposed gaps in government and industry preparedness and response capacity. Policy action at national and international levels, as well as, heightened coordination, are urgently needed across sectors and borders to restore traveller and business confidence, stimulate demand and accelerate tourism recovery.

Turning crisis into opportunity: working for a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient tourism sector The crisis is an opportunity to rethink tourism development. The recovery must involve transforming the sector, re-inventing tourism destinations and businesses, re-building the tourism ecosystem, and innovating and investing in

Eiffel_tower_from_trocadero sustainable tourism.

At its heart, tourism is about experiences, including the tastes of local food, the exploration of local landscapes, and the sights of historical significance. But it is mostly about people – be they local guides, accommodation operators or other service providers who make your journey special or help you to do business

and reach international markets. As such, our collective response must put people first and live up to the pledge of leaving nobody behind. The crisis should be an opportunity to ensure a fairer distribution of tourism’s benefits and advance the transition towards a carbon-neutral and more resilient tourism economy.

On the eve of the G20 Tourism Minis-

ters meeting on October 7, 2020, under the Saudi Presidency, as the leaders of the OECD and UNWTO, global tourism leaders called for strong and urgent action across three fronts to sustain millions of livelihoods.

First, strengthened multilateral cooperation and robust support are critical to reactivate travel. Collaboration and consistency of travel regulations at bilateral, regional and international levels are the stepping-stones that will allow tourism to restart safely, accelerate economic recovery and provide hope for millions of people. This includes strengthening safety and security for travellers and workers and facilitating safe cross border travel, as well as building more resilient destinations. It is vital to reinforce global co-operation and aid to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on travel and tourism and to help accelerate both the economic and social recovery.

Getting the tourism ecosystem back up and running will require a coordinated and integrated approach. It is because of its cross-cutting nature that tourism has become a key pillar of the Sustainable Development Agenda and why tourism also forms part of the UN’s socio-economic response to COVID-19.

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31

Sports

Blow for Barcelona as Ter Stegen ruled out of El Clásico

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arc André Ter Stegen will miss El Clásico on 24 October at Camp Nou. Barçelona boss Ronald Koeman disclosed the news in a press conference as the Catalan side play Getafe on Saturday. The Dutch coach stated: “I don’t believe he will be ready for next week, there is no return date but we will just have to keep an eye on his line of recovery”.

The German stopper returned to individual training earlier this week and sources at the club believe that the player will miss at least the next

three weeks of action which could see the keeper also miss the key Champions League game against Juventus on 28 October but could be ready for a comeback against Dynamo Kiev on 4 .

Marc-André Ter Stegen decided to put an end to the ongoing issues that he had been having with the patellar tendon in his right knee and underwent an operation on 18 August with the recovery process from the operation taking longer than was originally anticipated. Brazilian Neto Murara has been deputising for the German in his absence.

Premier League rejects project big reform plan Stories by Anthony Nlebem

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he Premier League or England’s Football Association will not adopt the Project Big Picture, the world’s most popular domestic circuit announced following a meeting by stakeholders.

The Premier League said in a statement that all 20 of its clubs, including United and current champions Liverpool, the country’s two most successful clubs, agreed that the proposal “will not be endorsed or pursued” by the Premier League or the FA. “Further, Premier League shareholders agreed to work together as a 20-club collec-

tive on a strategic plan for the future structures and financing of English football, consulting with all stakeholders to ensure a vibrant, competitive and sustainable football pyramid,” the news release read.

Billed as a financial parachute to help lower-division English Football League teams survive the economic dire straits that many have found themselves in amid the coronavirus pandemic, “Project Big Picture” contained a $325 million bailout for clubs in the second, third and fourth tiers.

But it also would have consolidated power at the top of the English game by eliminating the Prem’s “one club, one vote” system, giving disproportionate power to the richest and most

popular teams, a small group that obviously would have included the Reds and Red Devils. The plan, understandably, therefore was viewed as more of a naked power grab than a good-faith effort to ensure the viability of the sport at all professional levels as the health crisis continues to deprive teams of badly needed gate revenue.

English soccer resumed in June following a three-month shutdown. A month into the 2020-21 season, spectators still aren’t allowed to attend matches.

At Wednesday’s meeting, a rescue package worth $65 million was approved for clubs in the third and fourth tiers. Combined with a previous bailout, the aid tops $100 million.

Real Madrid in pole position to sign Mbappe

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s their pursuit of PSG star, Kylian Mbappe, approaches its crucial phase, Real Madrid remain in pole position to land the France striker next summer.

Given that the signing of Mbappe is a crucial part of Madrid’s future plans and will only be successfully brokered if the matter is handled flawlessly, club president Florentino Pérez is overseeing the process personally. It’s a deal that will require the utmost diplomacy, as the key to the transfer is not in Paris, but in Doha.

Pérez has been treading carefully in his dealings with PSG’s Qatari owners for a few years now, allowing him to steal a march on his competitors in the battle for Mbappe’s signature.

Also working in Los Blancos’ favour is that the player idolises Madrid head coach and compatriot Zinedine Zidane, a figure he sees as a mentor.

As Mbappe prepares to head into the final 18 months of his contract at PSG - a club who have tried, and failed, to persuade him to sign a new, five-year deal worth 150 million euros after tax - his list of suitors is growing. The latest interest in the 21-year-old has come from Barce-

lona presidential candidate Víctor Font, who is keen to steal the star from under Madrid’s noses.

Having made contact with Mbappe’s camp, however, Font has been left in no doubt that the footballer only has eyes for Real Madrid and Zidane, and has been eager to play for Los Merengues ever since meeting the club’s current coach when he spent a week training at Valdebebas as a 13-year-old.

In February, Mbappe remembered the experience in an open letter in The Players’ Tribune that was a declaration of love for Madrid and Zidane. “Right before my 14th birthday, I got an incredible surprise,” he wrote. “My father received a call

from someone at Real Madrid, inviting me to come to Spain for a training session over the holiday break. It was a shock, because they actually told my father, ‘Zidane would like to see your son.’ At the time, Zizou was the sporting director. Of course, I was over the moon. I was desperate to go [...].

“I will never forget the moment that we arrived at the training center from the airport. Zidane met us in the parking lot by his car, and it was a really nice car, of course. We said hello, and then he offered to drive me over to the field for training. He was pointing at the front seat, like, ‘Go on, get in.’w

EFL clubs say no Premier League’s £50m bailout offer

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nglish Football League (EFL) clubs have rejected a £50million bailout package offered by the Premier League.

EFL clubs met to discuss a £50m offer - believed to consist largely of interest-free loans and grants - from the top-flight that applied only to those in Leagues One and Two, with discussions said to be continuing with regard to further financial support for Championship outfits.

Such a package was offered after the controversial ‘Project Big Picture’ - which included an immediate £250m bailout for the EFL and a 25 per cent annual share in any future Premier League media revenues but also concentrated considerable power in the hands of the Premier League’s so-called ‘big six’ - was dismissed by Premier League clubs, who instead agreed to undergo a strategic review.

In an official statement released on Thursday evening, the EFL said that the “conditional” offer fell “some way short” of the money needed to address lost gate receipts from the lack of fans in stadiums during the coronavirus pandemic.

The League also said there was a “strong consensus” that any rescue package must “meet the requirements of all 72 clubs before it can be considered in full”.

“EFL Clubs have today met by division to discuss the conditional offer put forward yesterday by the Premier League in respect to the financial support required as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The need for continued unity across the membership base was fundamental to discussions across all three divisions, and therefore there was a strong consensus that any rescue package must meet the requirements of all 72 Clubs before it can be considered in full.

“The League has been very clear in its discussions of the financial requirements needed to address lost gate receipts in 2019/20 and 2020/21, and while EFL Clubs are appreciative that a formal proposal has now been put forward, the conditional offer of £50million falls some way short of this.

“The EFL is keen to continue discussions with the Premier League to reach an agreeable solution that will address the short-term financial needs of all of our Clubs and allow us the ability to consider the longerterm economic issues in parallel that specifically look to achieve a more sustainable EFL for the future.”

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Rage of Nigerian youth and the people’s power

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er true-life tale of tragedy is not only tear-jerking and heart-rending but would make even the heavens to weep! The sordid story recently went viral on social media at the heat of the nation-wide #ENDSARS protests, with concerned Nigerian wondering if it could really be true. As the post relating to the unnamed lady from Enugu stated it: “Her three brothers were killed by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in one day!”

In fact, “One of them returned from abroad on that fateful day. She sat on the lion statue, refused to fly the Nigerian flag and cried till she passed out”. But her ordeal is one out of many of such beastly bravado from the SARS operatives to innocent Nigerians.

For the talented and beautiful Nollywood actress, Nsikan Isaac her story rings a similar terrifying tone.

She is finding it one bitter pill too hard to swallow or ever forget, as she recounted the brazen brutality of policemen which led to the death of her father and brother!

Recently, she had this to state on her Instagram page: “22years ago I lost my dad to stray bullet from a police officer. 20years later I lost my elder brother to a gunshot in front of my parent’s house from the police too.”

“I am lending my voice because I have faced the pain of losing loved ones to the so-called people who are meant to protect us. I have had my silent cries but I have picked myself back up. It took a while but thank God the revolution has begun!”

On the part of iconic Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji she was compelled to write a letter to Mister President. She recounted a bitter experience where her 13-year-old niece was harassed by SARS operatives simply because she had a laptop in her possession!

Without mincing words she chastised President Buhari for the sort of leadership he has provided and is still providing to Nigerians. She concluded her letter by saying that she “is getting weary and tired of being optimistic about change”.

Responding to the above-stated stories someone wrote this: “May the heavens and nature be cruel to

‘’The children of the poor you refused to train will never let your children live in peace…”

-Chief Obafemi Awolowo (a former Premier, Western Region) all SARS officers involved in the killing!!!” And another admonished that: “Enquiry and investigation into the murderous activities of men of the defunct SARS must begin immediately. To be followed by all officers of the Police Force as a whole”.

The #ENDSARS protest may have come like a bolt out of the blues. But it has since spiraled across the globe, with tacit supports from celebrities such as P. Diddy, Kanye West, Drake, Trey Songz, Sean Don and Stefflon Don to mention but a few.

And coming back home it has made legends out of the fearless human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu. So also the likes of Falz, Runtown, Tiwa Savage, Paul and Peter Okoye of P-Square, Small Doctor, Odunlade Adekola, Toyin Aimaku Ajeyemi have kept the flag flying high. While Wizkid was out there in London drumming support for it, Davido was in Abuja doing same and going as far as having a heart-to-heart talk with the Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu on the way forward.

Unfortunately, former presidential aspirant and Chief Executive Officer of IPI Group Limited, Adamu Garba II, attacked the founder of Twitter, Jack Patrick Dorsey for lending his voice in support of the protest in Nigeria. But Nollywood star actress, Kate Henshaw took him to the cleaners. She tweeted: “How does it look for you to warn @jack about tweets on an app he created that gives you &I the opportunity to interact?” This should be food-for-thought.

Not left out, the world-renowned Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in his support for the protests tweeted: “Our daughters will not be able to prophesy, and young men will not see visions if we don’t keep them alive.

I support the youths in this peaceful protest as they ‘speak up’. So, what do all these response translate into?

Here we are, as ordinary citizens who find ourselves under a pseudo-democratic dispensation that has those in government exhibiting great disregard for the sanctity of human life by the outright violation of Section 14, (2) (b) of the 1999 constitution, as amended. Indeed, those of us lucky to be alive and safe know little or nothing about the deep pains, the swath of agony and the inner cries of relatives of the voiceless victims of terrorism, killings by Fulani herders and bandits, left behind.

We are fed up with waves of condolences, reeled out virtually on daily basis that have petered into a recurring cliché. We are always assured that: “the government is ontop of the situation” after billions have been spent on combating insecurity. But months roll into years and nothing is heard about thepunishment for the criminals again. In fact, some so called repentant killers are rehabilitated with public funds!

The bitter truth is that the swelling outrage

by Nigerian youth over the senseless harassment, brutalization, extortion and killings of those caught by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is understandable. What is their crime for carrying laptops, iPhones or wearing dreadlocks?All these lead to the pertinent question: What could be the underlying reasons for setting up SARS in the first instance?

It was founded in late 1992 by former police commissioner Simeon DanladiMidenda. The major reason SARS was formed was when Col. Rindam of the Nigerian Army was killed by police officers at a checkpoint in Lagos in September 1992, later leading to the arrest of three officers.

When the information reached the army, soldiers were dispatched into the streets of Lagos in search of any police officer in sight. The Nigerian police withdrew from checkpoints.Due to the absence of police for two weeks crime rate

Ayo Oyoze Baje Baje is Nigerian first food technologist in the media and author of ‘Drumbeats of Democracy’

increased and SARS was formed with only 15 officers operating in the shadows without knowledge of the army. But why descend on defenceless youth out on the streets for jobs? Something must be wrong somewhere.

As rightly noted by former Senator ShehuSanni,“The political class have for long toyed with the lives and future of our youth who were left with no option but to revolt.Systemic plunder and theft of the national resources, mass unemployment, collapse of public education… and the poor and stupendous and brazen display of wealth by the children of the rich … inflame the anger of the revolutionary youths on the streets”.

The unfortunate development is that though the government acted quickly to ban SARS, the speed with which it came up with the Special Weapons and Tactics Team, (SWAT) borrowed from the United States, as a law enforcement unit has undermined its sincerity of purpose. Hence, this has given room for lack of the basic element of Trust from the youth bent on going further with their protests.

Another worrisome dimension is the reported support for the already banned SARS by the Northern state governors. All these have opened up the cracks in the walls of our fragile unity. The way forward is to bring the former SARS operatives involved in sundry crimes to speedy justice. The holistic restructuring of this country, should follow, allowing for community policing. The time to stop further self-deceit is now.

Ending SARS: What and why are Nigerians celebrating?

Ikeddy ISIGUZO .Isiguzo, a major commentator on minor national issues, writes from Abuja.

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N a furious week of popular protests and caustic condemnations of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, (SARS), the listening government of President Muhammadu Buhari “ended” SARS as demonstrators had demanded.

It is a pyrrhic victory.

Mohammed Adamu, Inspector-General of Police, surprised many Nigerians, with the announcement of the dissolution of SARS whose officers are to be scattered in various units of the police. The sketchy Sunday statement skirted issues around SARS. It was the obvious indication that government either did not know what to do about SARS or was unwilling to confront an issue that has been before it for more than two years. In that period, chaotic, conflicting conversations about SARS showed that the government did not solve the problem - it expected it to go away.

SARS grew on the wings of the unsupervised, mainly misappropriated, powers of security agents. Nothing is about to be done about it.

Nigerians would be glad to see the government prove them wrong.

Why are Nigerians celebrating? What comforts does Adamu’s vacuous statement provide?

Was SARS the challenge Nigerians faced or the completely out of span police?

Thousands of Nigerians are detained in SARS facilities. Adamu was silent on their fate.

He had the same treatment about officers who had been accused of abusing their powers.

Yet Adamu found opportunities in the policing crisis to make audacious claims about community policing, another matter that should have been for another day.

Is the SARS that a mere Inspector-General of Police “ended” not the same one that Acting President Yemi Osinbajo speechified into a changed outfit in August 2018? Nigerians applauded. More SARS brutalities and killings followed.

What Osinbajo directed was closer to a serious action on SARS, and the police.

Osinbajo as Acting President in a press statement of Tuesday 14 August 2018, which Laolu Akande, his media aide authored, which The Punch, among other media published, stated these: “Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special AntiRobbery Squad that border on allegations of human rights violations, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has directed the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS and ensure that any unit that will emerge from the process will be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more.

“The Acting President has also directed the IGP to ensure that all operatives in the emerging unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Human Rights Law and the con-

stitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects.

“The operatives should also bear proper identification anytime they are on duty.

“In the meantime, the Acting President has directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a special panel that will conduct an investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS in order to afford members of the general public the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to ensuring redress.”

President Buhari tweeted his receipt of a report on reforming SARS on 3 June 2019.

Was the report the product of the directives of the Acting President? We were not told.

The buck ended on the President’s desk.

The same President and the same Osinbajo have led Nigerians in circles in the past weeks with claims of their concerns and cares over the same SARS. There have been no mentions of their failed efforts Has the current outcome not proven that the former initiatives were only impulsive responses to appease the public? Is there even an attempt to solve a problem?

None, as the government is delighted by its cosmetic approaches to issues. Is the President unaware that SARS is only a fraction of the same police that get away with all manners of maltreatment of Nigerians? Who treats cancers successfully with pain killers?

The police need to be reformed from the recruitment processes through training to binding Codes of Conduct on police officers. It would be just a beginning. There is an undisputed impression that the police are purpose-trained to unleash their frustrations on ordinary Nigerians.

Central to unprofessional policing and the SARS it spawned is the enthronement of torture as the strategy for dealing with suspects, and anyone so liberally designated. Offending officers are never punished because constitutional provisions against torture and sanctity of life are not being enforced.

Some police officers are celebrated as experts in torture and extortion. How did we get to a point that police officers take their victims to ATMs or “kidnap” them until families paid hundreds of thousands of Naira? Some bear POS machines for the same purpose. Those who are unable to pay are termed armed robbers.

Other security agents have enshrined torture in their operations. They are emboldened by the knowledge that they would suffer no adverse consequences for their illegal actions. Some victims do not survive.

If government does not end torture and unpunished mis-conducts of security agents, there would be more protests after “ending” SARS. When the military, civil defence, and officers of other security agencies brutalise, extort, and kill Nigerians, should we be grateful that it was not SARS? What chimpanzee is replacing the monkey we called SARS? What happens to the “SARS” in other security agencies?

President Buhari can be different. Leaning on constitutional provisions, he can solve the problem in more meaningful ways. He has not.

Any pondering of the implications and importance of Section 14, 2 b of the 1999 Constitution - “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government” would return the verdict that our governments have not only failed Nigerians but SARS and the police.

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