Leadership epaper 15th april 2018

No. 636

N300

15.04.18

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Intense Lobby As Reps 4 Jostle For Dep Leader’s Seat Opposition lawmakers scheming to dump PDP for APC

L-R: Former Senate president, David Mark; chairman of the occasion and former minister of defence, Gen Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) and Senate President Bukola Saraki during a dinner to mark David Mark’s 70th birthday in Abuja, at the weekend.

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Sunday, April 15, 2018

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our stand

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Stemming The Tide Of Fake Certificates

T

he extent to which some unscrupulous Nigerians indulge in certificate forgery to secure job or attain public office has assumed a frightening dimension.

Although the news about certificate forgery is being discussed in hush tones, it is clear to most Nigerians that the menace exists and is prevalent in both the public and private sectors.

Recently, the federal government through the ministry of education constituted a committee to commence the screening of certificates obtained by Nigerians from some foreign countries to ascertain their authenticity.

The16-man committee is saddled with the responsibility to screen over 40,000 degrees obtained by Nigerian students who claimed to have studied in foreign institutions.

While inaugurating the committee, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said the screening was necessary to detect cases of fake foreign degrees obtained, particularly from substandard institutions in Africa and beyond.

Adamu said preliminary assessment by the Ministry of Education showed that no fewer than 40,000 Nigerians were either holding such certificates or currently studying in various tertiary institutions abroad.

He said the ministry had already identified degrees from questionable institutions.

“There arose the need to assess the quality of foreign qualifications obtained by Nigerians in order to determine the Nigerian equivalence for the purpose of further studies and employment” Adamu noted.

Allegations of fake certificates are rampant due to craze for paper qualifications even as some Nigerians patronize substandard schools most of which are not even licensed to operate by regulatory authorities of their countries.

The concern over proliferation of fake certificates or certificates obtained from substandard institutions whether within or outside a country is a general one.

Recently, in the UK, Higher Education Degree Datacheck (HEDD), an agency set up to investigate issue of fake degree, closed no fewer than 40 websites awarding fake degrees to UK students following crackdown.

The sites closed included those selling authentic-looking certificates using the names of real British universities.

In Nigeria, perhaps because of the over-emphasis on paper qualification and the inordinate desire to cut corners, some students, even aided by their parents or guardian, often rush to substandard universities to obtain degree certificates.

Some foreign countries lured Nigerian students with degree programmes that fall short of even the basic requirements as they are short, sharp and attractive to those willing to cut corners.

There are reports that Nigeria has the highest number of students pursuing different degree programmes on various courses from universities that are neither licensed nor accredited.

Some of these universities admit students irrespective of how poor their transcript is as they are primarily after the financial gain.

More worrisome is the fact that some of the universities operate in rented apartments including those claiming to offer science-based and

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CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Dele Fanimo

POLITICAL DIRECTOR/ STATE HOUSE Jonathan Nda-Isaiah Ag EDITOR Bukola Ogunsina DEPUTY EDITOR Victoria Omuya Usman ASSOCIATE EDITOR Christiana Nwaogu GENERAL EDITOR Silas Ezeugwu

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Christian Ochiama

ASS. MANAGING EDITOR George Agba COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD Suleiman Abdullahi

GROUP LTD CHAIRMAN Sam Nda-Isaiah GMD, LEADERSHIP GROUP Abdul Gombe GMD, LEADERSHIP HOLDINGS David Chinda GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Felicia Ogbonlaiye Geoffrey Essien HR DIRECTOR Solomon Nda-Isaiah CHIEF PROCUREMENT & ASSETS OFFICER Mrs Zipporah Tanko DIRECTOR, HAUSA PUBLICATIONS Mubarak Umar GENERAL MANAGERS Ibrahim Halilu Femi Adekunle Ebriku John

LEADERSHIP is a national paper symbolically embedded in the nation’s capital.

We shall stand up for good governance. We shall defend the interest of Nigerian people even against their rulers, and we shall raise our pen at all times in defence of what is right. These are the values by which we intend to be assessed.

We shall never, ever for any reason forget the noble reason of our coming into being:

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medical courses.

There is no gain restating the fact that proliferation of fake certificates breeds mediocrity as it raises high, the tendency for us to have in the work place, people who do not have the requisite academic skill needed for the jobs assigned to them.

It is clear that there are so many questionable certificates being paraded by some unscrupulous Nigerians including persons holding high offices.

Indeed, the danger such poses to the system can better be imagined.

It is an established fact that in most ministries, agencies and parastatals at states and the federal levels, persons with fake certificates are holding sway and calling the shot, even when competent and qualified persons abound.

A worker who got into the system by presenting fake academic credentials wouldn’t have the requisite skills needed for the job.

More so, he/she would not have the passion for excellence.

Of course, any nation that through error of omission or commission, makes it possible for persons with questionable academic credentials to hold public office does so at its peril.

As a nation, we must put in place measures that will ensure people with doubtful moral and academic pedigree do not have access to holding office whether as workers or elected office holders.

Sometimes last year, Tanzania sacked more than 10,000 civil servants for having fake education certificates.

Like the common criminals, those who occupied positions having fake certificates rob the nation and they must be exposed for who they are.

It is indeed unpardonable for us to operate a system that makes it possible for persons with fake certificates to have employment while those with genuine certificates and perhaps more qualified, roam the street in search of jobs.

Without any iota of ambiguousness, we commend the federal government for the bold initiative which is obviously aimed at cleaning the Augean stable.

Although the screening ought to have begun long before now, we applaud the foresight of the ministry for this noble initiative. As it is often said, it is better late than never.

Beyond the screening, government must ensure all those found to be parading fake certificates are made to face the full wrath of the law.

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Sunday, April 15, 2018

Intense Lobby As Reps Jostle For Dep Leader’s Seat

BY ADEBIYI ADEDAPO, Abuja

Members of the House of Representatives from Kwara and Kogi states are fiercely engaged in intense lobby for the position of deputy majority leader of the House, which is zoned to the north central geo-political zone.

LEADERSHIP Sunday recalls that the position of deputy majority leader became vacant following the death of Hon Umar Buba Jibrin, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Kogi State.

It was learnt that a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Kogi State is also lobbying for the position, which is an exclusive preserve of the majority political party in the House.

A principal officer who confided in our correspondent confirmed that the Kogi lawmaker, who chairs a very sensitive committee in the House, approached the Speaker about his interest and offered to defect to the ruling APC to clinch the position.

“The PDP lawmaker from Kogi State seriously lobbied to become the

Dogara

deputy leader due to his closeness to the Speaker. He offered to defect to the ruling party to get the position, but the Speaker declined on the grounds that APC members from the zone will feel

short-changed,” he said.

Checks by LEADERSHIP Sunday revealed that barely one week after Buba Jibrin’s death, lawmakers from his home state and neighbouring Kwara State locked horns over his position.

Although almost all the ranking APC members from the north central showed interest, it was those from Kogi and Kwara states that were in the forefront to replace the late Jibrin.

Other members who lobbied for the position include Hon Bago Mohammed Umaru (Chanchaga, Niger State), Hon Yusuf Tijani (Okene/Ogori-Magogo, Kogi State), and Hon Zaphaniah Jisalo (AMAC/ Bwari , FCT).

The duo of Jisalo and Tijani had recently defected from the PDP to APC and announced their defection on the floor of the House the same day.

Also, Hon Aliyu Ahman-Pategi (Edu/Moro/Pategi, Kwara) and his counterpart from Wase, Plateau State, Hon Idris Ahmed, lobbied for the position and were both favoured by the power brokers in the House.

Although, media aides to the Speaker denied knowledge of the development, a source within the Speaker’s office

confirmed the development, but said Dogara was not in a hurry to announce Jibrin’s replacement.

The source disclosed that Dogara favoured Hon Ahmed from Plateau, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character, and Hon Pategi from Kwara State.

According to the source, the leadership of the House seem likely to settle for Ahmed over Pategi because more principal officers favour his state for the position.

“I can confirm to you that the leadership of the House has settled for Hon. Idris Ahmed. Although, Hon Pategi was considered till the last minute, he was later dropped because he is from the same state with the Senate president.”

He further disclosed that the Speaker had informed Hon Ahmed about the development and directed him to prepare his handover note as the committee chairman within three weeks.

“The Speaker has informed Hon Idris Ahmed to prepare his handover note in readiness for the new position,” the source added.

2019: Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi Urges Followers To Obtain PVC The leader of Darikar Tijjaniya Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, has urged his followers to register and obtain their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) ahead of 2019 general election.

The cleric gave the directive at the 42nd Annual Maulud and Special Prayer for Nigeria, which was organised by Darikar Tijjaniyya Movement yesterday in Abuja.

According to Bauchi, the PVC is the

most sophisticated weapon that could be used by the electorate to choose whoever they wanted to direct the affairs of the country.

He called on his followers to use their PVCs wisely and vote for people who had credible record and ability to satisfy their yearnings and aspirations.

He noted that voter registration was the right of all eligible citizens to participate in the affairs of their government and also one of the

cornerstones of democracy.

Bauchi disclosed that the objective of the Maulud was to celebrate the legacies of the famous leader of the movement in Africa, Sheikh Ibrahim Niyass of Senegal, who, he said, has contributed immensely to the development of Islam worldwide and left enduring legacies to the Islamic world.

He also said that the event was also organised to pray for the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the country,

LEADERSHIP Group Bags ABU Alumni Corporate Award

BY TUNDE OGUNTOLA, TARKAA DAVID, Abuja

LEADERSHIP Newspaper yesterday bagged the 2018 Corporate Award of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Alumni Association.

The award was presented at the 2018 dinner and award ceremony of the Alumni association in Abuja.

According to the Alumni, the award was in recognition of the newspaper’s show of professionalism in reportage and its numerous contributions in deepening democracy in Nigeria.

LEADERSHIP Newspaper was described as a unique brand for policy makers which also offers unique content for the common man.

The awards ceremony is the climax

and one of the components of the 2018 Annual Public Lecture, dinner and recognition awards which provides a platform to honour some outstanding record of performance both in the public and private sectors.

The choice of awardees, according to the organisers, was not influenced but based on their immense contribution to national development.

Africa Bids Winnie Mandela Farewell Thousands of mourners gathered in South Africa’s Soweto Township on Saturday to bid farewell to anti-apartheid heroine Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in a funeral ceremony that united the nation as people from various political divides celebrated her life.

Madikizela-Mandela’s death on April 2 at the age of 81 after a long illness was met by an outpouring of emotion across the country, with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties holding memorials in remembrance of her courage in the struggle to end whiteminority rule.

The official funeral service for the exwife of the late Nelson Mandela took place yesterday morning in Soweto, a Johannesburg township at the forefront of the battle against apartheid where she lived.

Mourners sang and cheered as

Madikizela-Mandela’s body was brought into the Orlando Pirates stadium where the funeral service took place.

The 40,000-seater stadium was filled to capacity, with many mourners clad in the green and yellow colours of the ANC. Member of the leftist party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), also attended in large numbers.

“I appreciate many things about her.

Even though I didn’t know her in person, we love our mother. She represents a fighting spirit because even though she lived through the apartheid era, she never gave up. I’m very grateful to be here today,” said 20-year old college student, Gift Mokale.

Also present at the service were South Africa’s former presidents, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, as well as foreign dignitaries from Kenya, Namibia and Lesotho.

During Mandela’s 27-year incarceration for his fight against apartheid, Winnie campaigned for his release and for the rights of black South Africans , for which she underwent detention, banishment and arrest.

For many South Africans, the most memorable image of Madikizela-Mandela is her punching the air in a clenched-fist salute as she walked hand-in-hand with Mandela out of Victor Verster prison, near Cape Town, on February 11, 1990.

For husband and wife, it was a crowning moment that led four years later to the end of centuries of white domination when Mandela became South Africa’s first black president.

“Mama Winnie and her spirit must be with us all the time. She means a lot to everyone, old and young,” 72-yearold pensioner and ANC member, David Mantambo, said. (NAN)

adding that prayer was the solution to all challenges facing the country.

Speaking earlier, President Muhammadu Buhari commended leaders of Darikar Tijjaniya for their contribution to Islamic scholarship and for their prayers for the enhancement of peace and harmony in the country.

Buhari, who was represented by the minister of education, Malam Adamu Adamu, admitted that Niyass had contributed greatly to the development of Islam in Africa, Asia and in Europe through his write-ups.

The president also gave the assurance that the federal government would continue to support the activities of the movement for enduring peace in the country.

He, however, appealed to the leaders and followers of the movement to intensify prayers for the progress and development of the country. (NAN)

CHOOSE YOUR TIMES WISELY It can be tempting, when we are winding down after a busy day, to want to discuss everything with our partner in bed, or perhaps with friends via an online chat or the phone. Discussing your worries is a great idea, but it is best done earlier in the evening. Choosing to start a serious conversation about a topic of concern, such as health or finance, shortly before your planned time to go to sleep, will keep the subject fresh in your mind and may interfere with your ability to fall asleep and enjoy restful sleep. Instead, make a mental note to talk about it the next day, when you are feeling awake and refreshed.

– Culled from “50 Tips To Help You Sleep Well”

April 15, 2018

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NEWS 5

Chibok Girls @ 4: Nigerian State Is Sick, Says Bakare

BY CHIKA MEFOR, Abuja

As Nigerians commemorate the fourth anniversary of the mass abduction of Chibok girls, Pastor Tunde Bakare has decried the continuous assault on the girlchild in the Nigeria, describing it as a clear indication that the nation is sick with a malady that needs to be diagnosed.

LEADERSHIP Sunday recalls that the students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, were abducted by the Boko Haram sect on April 14, 2014.

While 107 have come back home, 113 are still in the hands of their abductors.

On his part, Speaker Yakubu Dogara has urged the executive arm of the federal government to do all within its power to free the remaining girls in captivity.

However, Ahmad Salkida, a journalist with access to information on the terror group, Boko Haram, has claimed that only 15 of the remaining 113 girls are still alive.

Pastor Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos, who was General Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in the 2011 presidential election, made this comment during the Second Chibok Girls Annual Lecture in Abuja yesterday.

He said the fact that the Dapchi schoolgirls’ abduction occurred four years after the Chibok incident and one year to elections, just as it was in the Chibok case, was evidence of an alarming national malady.

“There is something wrong when a nation is twice beaten, yet never shy with respect to the safety and security of its girl-child. There is something undeniably wrong when the girl-child repeatedly becomes the bargaining instrument in negotiation deals between the government and terrorists.

“There is something absolutely wrong when the girl child becomes a pawn in a political chess game in which the major political parties seek to score political points.

“One of the key indicators of stability, or the lack thereof, in a nation is the state of its girl-child because she is often the most vulnerable in a destabilised polity.

The problematic issues encountered by the girl-child in any society are symptoms of an underlying malady which must be diagnosed,” he said.

The outspoken pastor described the day the Chibok schoolgirls were abducted as a dark chapter in the history of the nation which has cast a long shadow over the gains in girl-child education, particularly in Nigeria and West Africa.

“We praise God who has, thus far, brought back alive a total of 107 of our daughters. I welcome our beautiful daughters back home and I congratulate their biological parents, the Bring Back Our Girls movement, the entire nation, and well-wishers around the world,” he said, even as he saluted all those who spoke out against the abduction.

“Let me, therefore, use this opportunity to salute the courage of everyone who stood up to be

counted in the global outcry that followed the heinous abduction of our Chibok girls. I salute our global village for holding on to the values of our shared humanity. I salute the Nigerian people across the nation for becoming co-parents of our precious daughters and, in so doing, affirming the African tenet that it takes a village to raise a child.

I also salute the Nigerian military for the gallant role it has played in the past four years in the quest to bring back our girls.”

He added that the abduction of the students in Dapchi showed that the dark chapter that was opened four years ago was still open and prayed for the safe return of Leah Sharibu and the other Chibok girls still in the hands of the insurgents.

“The Nigerian government must do all that is necessary to bring her back alive. Our hearts go out to her parents and our prayers go out to her wherever she is at the moment, and we affirm, in the spirit of hope that, very soon, we will see her safely returned to us,” he said.

LEADERSHHIP Sunday recall that Miss Sharibu was not released along with the other Dapchi girls for refusing to convert to Islam.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Towards a Just and Good Society: Renewing our Commitment to the Girl-Child in Nigeria,’ Bakare called on the nation to adopt the two principles of equality and affirmative action in order to guarantee the girl-child equal protection under the law, and to ensure that particular attention is accorded to the protection and preservation of the girl-child due to the historical injustices she has suffered.

He called for cultural intervention that respects, protects and empowers the girl-child; a structural intervention to liberate the Nigerian woman and the Nigerian girl-child; a constitutional intervention with clearly speltout protective provisions for the Nigerian girl-child and leadership intervention to ensure that competent women are encouraged to participate in politics in the country.

In her address, the chairperson of the event and first female northern senator, Najatu BalaMohammed, attributed the escalation of the crises in the North East to irresponsibility on the part of politicians and some military personnel in the country.

“We all know what started Boko Haram. It was started in Borno by former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.

We have to look at the root cause before we proffer solutions. Sheriff armed and used them for his political ambition; he even made one of them a commissioner, but they became too powerful.

“The military came in and cashed in, and they have turned the North East into a cash cow. Military budgets are unaccounted for.

“Remember, Jonathan was spending N2 billion every day but there was no security; thousands of our people were slaughtered. And we also know that the Army, more than anything, in Borno and Yobe, has contributed to the so-called

Bakare

terrorism; it has become a multibillion dollar industry,” she said.

For the crises in the North East to abate, Bala-Mohammed called for a total overhaul of the military, indictment of people found guilty and the reviving of the Lake Chad.

Only 15 of the 113 Chibok girls still alive – Salkida A Nigerian journalist, Ahmad Salkida, has claimed that only 15 of the about 112 Chibok girls believed to be still in Boko Haram captivity are alive.

Mr Salkida, who is believed to have access to credible sources within the terror group, made this disclosure yesterday on the fourth anniversary of the girls’ abduction.

Salkida wrote extensively about the abductions on Twitter, partly as follows: “Today, my painstaking investigations on the #Chibokschoolgirls revealed that just a handful of the 113 #ChibokGirls are alive,” he wrote.

“Many of the girls have died as a result of cross-fire and bombardments of the security forces that, no doubt, were intent on rescuing them.

“I regret to state here that only 15 out of the 113 #Chibokgirls are alive today, based on my investigations in the last three months and we have already seen some of them in a video, which I exclusively obtained and was published on SR website.

“What is the status of the remaining 15 girls as far as negotiations are concerned? My investigations also revealed that they are no longer under the

control of #AbubakarShekau.

According to sources, they are now ‘married’ and only their ‘husbands’ can decide their fates.

“If they are divorced, or the men are killed, that is when Shekau’s decision takes precedence; and in this instance, since the girls have been indoctrinated, their leader has no right to negotiate for their release, no matter the ransom offered, reliable multiple sources said.

“It will be unbearable to share the names of the 15 that are alive here; this is the responsibility of government. When I was involved, I regularly provided proof of life.

Government must demand that to prove me wrong or stop negotiating for many of the girls that don’t exists.

“The secrecy around the condition of the #ChibokGirls and, most recent, #DapchiGirls’ debacle by those involved is the reason people like me are out of the picture. The fact remains that under the present circumstances, there is NO room for peace settlement.

“The way out for these girls is a military rescue or negotiate with individual captors to release their ‘wives’ in return for some kind of deal, but this will mean death to these fighters because the terror group now sees the girls as part of their own and must be protected.

“How come there is little or no information about the girls and both the parents and campaigners are in the dark? Because government resists independent reporting of the crisis; most of the reports are choreographed and Nigerians are also not ready to hear the truth or stand by it.”

Dogara Calls For Rescue Of Remaining Chibok Girls, Leah Sharibu Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has expressed sadness that all the abducted girls have not been accounted for, while urging the executive to intensify efforts towards providing adequate security in schools across the country.

He made this statement to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the abduction of Chibok schoolgirls.

He also called on the executive to intensify efforts for the release of Leah Sharibu, the Dapchi girl who was not released along with other abductees, reportedly for refusing to renounce her faith.

Hon Dogara said, “It is unfortunate that four years after, all of our daughters have still not been accounted for. This underpins the need to take swift action when such incidents occur and to provide adequate security, not on a temporary basis but permanently, so that such tragedies can be prevented.

“Nigeria has an alarming number of children out of school and if we genuinely want to solve this challenge, then we must make our learning institutions as safe and secure as possible.

“One can only imagine the amount of grief that parents whose daughters are yet to be rescued have to cope with on a daily basis. While we may offer words of support, the fact remains that nothing will put them in better spirits than to be reunited with their children.”

Speaker Dogara called on President Muhammadu Buhari, as the father of the nation and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, to put an end to the parents’ sorrow by freeing their daughters from captivity, even as he called for the release of the remaining Dapchi student.

“We must also remember Leah Sharibu and her remarkable bravery, and intensify efforts as a nation to bring her home.

All others who were taken by these terrorists against their will must also be reunited with their people. The security of lives and property is the foremost function of government and we must fulfil this responsibility because the Constitution makes it binding upon us to do so.

“We must ensure, as a nation, that attacks on schools and on our children are brought to an end; for there is no better way to safeguard the future than to guarantee access to education,” the speaker said, adding that the parliament would continue to seek their release.

“We will not forget the Chibok girls and everything that they represent, and we in Parliament will not cease to push for their rescue,” he concluded.

6 NEWS ACROSS THE STATES

Sunday, April 15, 2018

A/Ibom Newspaper Celebrates 3 Decades Of Uninterrupted Publication

After Years Of Blackout, Electricity Restored In C/River Community

BY BERNARD TOLANI DADA, Uyo

RICHARD NDOMA, Calabar

The people of Esuk Ekpo Eyo Community, Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River, broke into jubilation following restoration of electric power supply to the community during the weekend after decades of blackout suffered by residents of the community.

The community has suffered poor power supply for over a decade, despite its being located about 10km away from the Calabar metropolis where the seat of government is.

With the help of the law maker representing Akpabuyo, Bakassi / Calabar South federal constituency at the National Assembly, Essien Ayi, the community now has a 300KVA substation, which the experts at the project site claimed is expected to power over 100 homes.

While commissioning the project at Esuk Ekpo Eyo village, Ayi stated that hopes of the people of the community that were dashed in the past will be rekindled, given the fact that the renewed electric power supply will bring a lot of economic transformation in the area.

Ayi, who doubles as house committee chairman on Niger Delta and party caucuses at the National Assembly said, “Electricity brings a lot of development, infrastructure, factories and so many things.”

L-R: Vice Chancellor, Amhadu Ballo University (ABU) Zaria, Prof Ibrahim Garba; national president, ABU Alumni Association, Prof Ahmed Tijani Mora; member of Alumni association, Mrs Ngozi Akande; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh and Pro-chancellor and chairman, governing council of ABU, Malam Adamu Fika, inspecting an exhibition during the Alumni association’s 2018 lecture, dinner and recognition awards in Abuja, yesterday.

Don Advocates Academic, Financial Autonomy For Tertiary Institutions

BY TARKAA DAVID, Abuja

As Tertiary Institutions suffer paucity of funding and government undue interference, Prof Iya Abubakar, has called for academic freedomn and autonomy for tertiary institutions to address resource constraints for advancement, transmission and application of knowledge.

Prof Iya, who is a former vice chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria said that the autonomy will protect the institutions from interference by government officials in the day to day running of the institutions, interns of students’ admission, appointment and removal of academic staff.

Prof Iya stated this in a lecture delivered at the 2018 Ahmadu Bello Alumni Association lecture, dinner and recognition award events titled; ‘Relevance of Tertiary Education in Contemporary Nigeria.’

He reiterated that academic freedom is fundamental for the institutions to fulfill their responsibility of educating students and advancing knowledge, adding that without autonomy, there will be no academic freedom.

“The Academic Staff Union of tertiary institutions have always insisted on the sanctity of autonomy and academic freedom, which implies that states’ responsibility in the area of funding should not translate into government meddling in institutional affairs,” he said.

He further stated that increased autonomy will allow for the introduction of cost-recovery measures such as the levying of fees for services offered by the institutions, adding that cost sharing should be introduced in federal tertiary institutions with the implementation of tuition fees and or selective user’s charges.

“To address resource constraints in public tertiary institutions, it is suggested that government gives serious consideration to financial autonomy or support the creation of public private partnership. Encouraging the role of function and involvement of private sector in this manner could mobilise additional resources and encourage improvement in the quality and relevance of tertiary education.

Court Remands Man Over Alleged Violence Against Children

BY BLESSING BATURE, Abuja

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Number 28 sitting in Apo, Abuja, has remanded a 40-year-old man, Alex Okafor in prison custody for an alleged act of violence and for inflicting injuries on his three children. The three children (names withheld) are aged 8, 10 and 11 years.

A statement made available to LEADERSHIP Sunday, yesterday in Abuja, by the head, press and public relations unit NAPTIP, Adekoye Vincent, said his remand was sequel to his arraignment by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and his inability to meet the bail

conditions granted him by the court.

The defendant was dragged before the court on a three-count charge under the provisions of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015. He was arraigned in the case of FRN vs Alex Okafor with charge number CR/161/18.

Okafor, a staff of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) resides at 47 Sector F, Pipeline Road, Bazango Layout, Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

He was charged with willfully inflicting physical injury on his three children (two daughters and one son) using horsewhip (koboko) and electric wire,

thereby committing an offence punishable under section 2 (11) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.

After the charges were read over to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the counts in the charge sheet. His counsel, Maxwell Alaeto, moved an application before the court relying on a nine-paragraph affidavit and a written address to support his request.

The prosecution, led by Offiah Sam, opposed the motion for bail with a 20 - paragraph counter affidavit on the ground that the defendant constitutes a threat to the children whom he constantly unleashes terror on.

Ruling on the bail application,

the presiding Judge, Honourable Justice Valentine B Ashi, ruled that since there was nothing in form of attachment to justify the oral submission on the alleged act of violence being committed by the defendant against the children, the court must uphold his fundamental right to bail.

The court therefore granted him bail in the sum of N500, 000 and two sureties in like sum, one of which must be his Pastor and another person a civil servant.

The defendant could not fulfill the bail conditions and was thereafter remanded in Kuje prison pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions.

Further hearing on the matter has been adjourned to 19th June, 2018.

A/Ibom To Partner Investors On Renewable Energy Sources

BY BERNARD TOLANI DADA, Uyo

Government of Akwa Ibom says it is open to partnering investors in renewable energy sources with a view to making electricity available at a lower cost to the people.

The State Commissioner for

Science and Technology, Prof Nse Essien, who disclosed this in Uyo when representatives of Green Energy Nigeria Company

Limited, a subsidiary of an energy company based in Poland, visited him, said the Palm Kernel Shell (PKS), is an energy source and is being wasted here and if it can be harnessed to generate electricity and produce fertilizer as byproduct, it will be a welcome development.

He assured that his ministry will institute meaningful engagement with them to explore areas of

collaboration for the benefit of the state.

Earlier in his presentation, the leader of the group, Mr Darek Poteralski, harped on the use of Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) to produce electricity by feeding the kernel shells and water into a plant and burning them to steaming level to turn the turbines to produce electricity.

He said that as a source of renewable energy, this method is

cheaper than solar energy, safer and easier to maintain because of ready and available raw materials in our localities, as the palms continue to bear fruits almost in perpetuity.

Mr Poteralski said his outfit is ready to partner the state to see to the fruition of the project if given protection of its patent and a conducive environment to operate.

The longest surviving state government-owned newspaper in Nigeria, The Pioneer, published by the Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation (AKNC), has celebrated three decades of uninterrupted publication.

Gov Udom Emmanuel, at the event, congratulated The Pioneer on the feat, noting that the medium, since inception, has been telling the Akwa Ibom story and has also helped in defining and redefining the Akwa Ibomcharacter and identity, struggles and achievements.

He saluted the management (led

by Mr Umoette Umoette) for not deviating from the mission of the newspaper and expressed delight that The Pioneer was not only still standing strong but thriving due to the courage and dedication to duty by the past and present management as well as staff of the establishment.

Represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo, the governor called on the media community to partner the state government on its development strides.

He warned against criticisms that were based on malice and with the intent to destroy.

“Let us disagree on policies without adopting the kitchen sink approach, let us build our state irrespective of our political leanings, let us celebrate our common values and where there is need to disagree, let us do with love and mutual respect”, he stated.

The commissioner for information and strategy, Mr Charles Udoh, observed that The Pioneer has been playing pivotal roles in information dissemination, maintaining that it has contributed greatly to the growth and development of both the state and the country.

The information boss lauded the progenitor of the Newspaper, Mr Moses Ekpo, the current deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State, who was the commissioner of information during the military administration of Col Tunde Ogbeha in Akwa Ibom State which established the Newspaper, adding that it was pleasing for him to share in the euphoria today, while on the saddle as the number two citizen of the state.

The member for Onna State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Mr Nse Essien, noted that The Pioneer, which was established on the basis of leadership and service, has not deviated from the vision of its founding fathers and called on other media establishments to emulate the newspaper for responsible press as against yellow journalism.

The chairman of the occasion, Professor Enefiok Essien, said at 30, the medium has done great things and congratulated the staff for their hard work and dedication to service.

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Sunday, April 15, 2018

NCC Boss Bags Kano Heroes Award, Tasks Youth On Patriotism

BY ABDULLAHI YAKUBU, Kano

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo being received on arrival at the airport

by Togolese president, Faure Gnassingbe, for the Emergency ECOWAS summit in Lome,

Chibok Girls: Salkida’s Information Is Unknown To Us – Presidency

BY JONATHAN NDA- ISAIAH, Abuja

Following the numerous press enquiries on the information contained in the series of tweets by Mr Ahmed Salkida, the presidency yesterday insisted that the information is not known to the officials of the Buhari administration either from the captors of the Chibok girls or the international intercessors who are working with them.

The senior special assistant on

media and publicity to the president, Mallam Garba Shehu, said that Mr Salkida is not involved, on behalf of the Nigerian government in the processes leading to the release of the over 100 Chibok Girls that have returned to their families so far and is not involved in the current processes to secure the release of those still held in captivity.

According to him, If there is any information he has concerning the remainder of those girls, he has, up till this moment not approached the

government Nigeria with it. All press enquirers on the subject should therefore be directed to Mr. Salkida.

He said, “The facts as known to our officials and the international contacts assisting this process are that the remaining Chibok Girls are there and we are not relenting on getting their release.

“As stated by President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, the government is not relenting.

We will continue to persist, and the

parents should please not give up.

They also advised not to lose faith in this government’s ability to fulfil its promise, that the girls will not be abandoned or forgotten. Salkida had claimed yesterday that only 15 out of the 112 missing Chibok girls are still alive.

He said he had negotiated for the release of the girls on the behalf of the government noting that several opportunities to have them released were missed.

The executive vice chairman of National Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Dambatta, yesterday in Kano, accused the Nigerian youths for not exhibiting high sense of patriotism as well as being productive in their chosen endeavours.

Dambatta, who was among prominent Nigerians that received Kano Heroes Award 2018, held in Coronation Hall, Government House, organised by Destiny Channels Broadcasting Network, advised the youths to brace up to the challenges of the time and remain focused so as to succeed in whatever goal they set out to achieve.

He further urged them to engage in productive ventures that will enable them become self-reliant and useful to themselves and the society.

According to him, there was need for the youths to emulate the footsteps of achievers and leaders in the society so that they can take up the mantle of leadership.

Speaking to reporters on the progress made so far in NCC, he said, “on account of the progress we are making, we have facilitated broadband penetration up to 22 per cent which has enabled 45 million Nigerians access to high speed internet facility.

We have a target of 30 per cent to reach by the end of this year.

Ekiti Guber: PDP Stakeholders Unite 14-year-old IDP Shot Dead In Benue Why I’m Eyeing

BY HEMBADOON ORSAR, Makurdi victim was dumped at the Daudu Ahead Of Primaries police station near the IDPs camp while National Assembly

BY CHIBUZO UKAIBE, Abuja

All critical stakeholders in the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have resolved to work together to ensure the victory of the party in the July 14 governorship election in the state.

This came on the heels of assurances by the Prince Uche Secondus National Working Committee (NWC) to ensure a level playing ground for all aspirants in all processes leading to the primaries for the party’s governorship candidate.

These resolutions were reached at the end of a meeting, in Abuja, between the party’s leadership and critical stakeholders from Ekiti State.

Speaking at the meeting, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche

Secondus, reiterated the commitment of the party leadership to ensure transparent, free, fair and credible primaries in Ekiti State and urged all stakeholders to work together for the victory of the party in the election.

According to a statement by the national publicity secretary, Kola Olagbondiyan, Secondus insisted on providing a level playing ground at all levels of the process and charged all contenders to be ready to unite immediately after the primaries to present a common front for the election.

“Consequently, the national leadership will visit Ekiti State early in the week to meet with other stakeholders in the state to ensure that the PDP family works together for the victory of the party.

The Nigeria Mobile Police officers deployed to the Internally Displaced Persons camps in Daudu, Guma local government area of Benue State to help maintain peace and order in the crisis between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers yesterday, shot dead, a 14-year-old displaced girl staying with her mother in the Daudu camp.

The girl, who was identified as Queen Zoho, was killed as a result of a sharp discord that ensued between motorcycle riders in the area, popularly called ‘Okada’ and the uniformed men.

Our correspondent gathered that the late Queen was shot alongside two other men, who however did not die but are in critical conditions and wallowing in pains.

As at press time, the corpse of the

the injured were later reportedly rushed to the nearby hospital for treatment.

LEADERSHIP Sunday also gathered that the deceased had been staying in the IDPs camp since the outbreak of the crisis and has since not been able to return to her ancestral home as the Fulani insurgents have taken over their communities.

Sources from the scene of the incident told correspondent that the killing, which ignited serious tension within and outside the vicinity of the camp, started when a man, identified as Ornyiev, conveying a passenger on his motorcycle to a village in Daudu for a wake, was intercepted by the mobile policemen at a road block they had mounted.

Why Some APC Hawks Are Fighting Odigie-Oyegun - BoT Member

BY CHIBUZO UKAIBE, Abuja

A fresh revelation has emerged over why national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is being antagonised by some sections of the party.

It was learnt that OdigieOyegun’s refusal to agree to call a meeting of the APC National Executive Council (NEC) when President Muhammadu Buhari was out of the country on health grounds, is largely responsible for the objections to his continued stay as chairman of the party.

This was revealed by a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Hajiya Fatima Mohammed, who said the motive behind the botched NEC meeting was going

to affect the interest of President Buhari.

Speaking exclusively with LEADERSHIP Sunday, Mohammed said, “Some people wanted OdigieOyegun to take decisions that will affect Baba (President Buhari) but he resisted. When Baba was outside the country, when he was ill, some people wanted him to call NEC meeting. But he resisted because the leader of the party was not in the country. And you can’t call a meeting without the leader’s approval when he is still alive.

Oyegun doesn’t need to explain everything, he carried the entire burden and all these people have since turned back to fight him.

Maybe if they had held that meeting, they might have taken a decision that was not favourable to him.

“There is a sitting president, so you have to be cautious of doing things.

So, all those critics are fighting Oyegun because of Baba, because he is protecting the interest of Baba and that is what any loyal person has to do. You have to protect the interest of your president. You can’t be chairman and be on a different page with your president. It can’t happen. But anybody who tells you that Odigie-Oyegun is not competent, is just trying to be selfish,” she said.

The BoT member however hailed Buhari’s declaration for second term, adding that he will emerge the consensus candidate of the party ahead of 2019.

She said, “There is no debate about whether or not he should be adopted as consensus

candidate. He is already the consensus candidate. We are all on the same page. Those ones that are ambitious of contesting for president are already saying that if he will contest, they will not contest. He is father of all APC members.

“In APC, I know of only one challenger and that is Sen Musa Kwankwaso and he has openly said if Buhari, his principal, is going to contest the 2019 presidential election, he will not contest it. So, I don’t think anybody will like to contest with Mr President in APC and we will beg everyone not to contest against him. We will also beg every one to join hands and support him to finish his constitutionally guaranteed eight years and the good work he has started,” she said.

Seat- Kida

BY HUSSAINI JIRGI, DAMATURU

An aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Sadiq Tijjani Kida, has given reasons why he is contesting for a seat for the House of Reps to represent Askira/ Uba/ Hawul federal constituency, Borno South.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP Weekend in Damaturu, Yobe State, he disclosed that, his ambition was made by the people of his constituency, who deemed it fit for him to contest from their area with a view to representing them strongly in the National Assembly and help tackle their social challenge.

He added that, “I was called by my people in my constituency and they told me that I should come and represent them, because they believe I will help tackle the many problems they are facing in the constituency.

It is because of this that I have no other option than to contest and work for my people in the state which is my constituency and where I come from,” said Kida.

According to him, those representing their people have failed to fulfill their promises, adding that there are a lot of areas that still need to be addressed with a view to bringing succour to them.

Kida assured that should he get elected, he would focus on developmental areas that have direct bearing on people living in the area, water, health, agriculture, roads, youths and women empowerment and security.

The political aspirant added that, the state government did fulfill its pledge to farmers but assured that his representation in the National Assembly will add more bite and will go a long way in improving social amenities for the people of his area which comprises Hawul, Askira, He also urged youths in his constituency to support the Borno State governor, Hon Kashim Shettima and his deputy for developmental agenda for the state and the development of the nation as a whole.

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Sunday, April 15, 2018

FG To Repatriate 67 Illegal Migrants

BY CHRISTIANA NWAOGU, ABUJA

The Comptroller of Immigration, Niger State Command, Mrs Hornby Amadi Onimin, has revealed that the ‘Special Border Corp’, a unit carved out of the service and specifically deployed to patrol the border flanks of the country, has apprehended 67 irregular migrants from Niger.

The illegal migrants, who were apprehended at the border in Niger State, have since been profiled and will be repatriated back to their country.

The Illegal migrants, who were intercepted and refused entry into the country, according to a statement by the national public relations officer (PRO) of the Immigration Service, DCI Sunday James, were arrested following the recent launch of community participation programme of the service as ordered by the Comptroller General, Muhammad Babandede.

According to the statement, “This arrest is coming barely few months after the Comptroller General, Muhammad Babandede’s strategic meeting with zonal coordinators of the eight zones of the service and state command comptrollers and those of formations at

the land borders, airports and seaports in Abuja.

The statement further quoted the Niger State Comptroller as expressing satisfaction with the proactive response from border patrol officers under her watch, recalling that, “We were recently charged to return to our duty base with a new vigor to ensure that ‘Non Nigerians are not permitted to vote and are not voted for’ in line with our Constitution and ensure safe corridor along the border communities by evolving what the CGI Operationally described as Community Border Patrol.”

The statement by James explained further that the Immigration boss, had, in a bid to halt illegal migration and checkmate terrorism, ordered top management team of the service to commence immediate partnership with host communities, to enable them get first hand information that will help them identify and apprehend illegal migrants.

The statement noted that the CG, Babandele charged other senior heads and key management team of the service to emulate the giant stride attained by Hornby and the special border patrol operatives attached to her, stressing that they gave justified and balanced government investment with result.

12 Corps Members To Repeat Service Year In Bayelsa

BY OSA OKHOMINA, Yenagoa

Twelve Corps members from the 2017 Batch A Stream were on Friday, sanctioned and will repeat the mandatory one year National Service under the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in Bayelsa State over alleged misconduct.

According to the NYSC in Bayelsa State, the 12 Corps members were sanctioned over alleged abandonment of Service and various disciplinary measures.

Four of the corps members will repeat the service year for absconding from service, while eight others will have their service year extended by various months for various disciplinary offences.

Speaking yesterday at the terminal parade held at the Peace Park in Yenagoa, the State Coordinator, Mrs Loto Bolade said the 1516 corps members that successfully passed out had scaled through the four cardinal programmes of the scheme.

Loto disclosed that three corps members, who carried out notable community development projects, scooped the state honours award.

The State Coordinator, Mrs Lori Bolade, appreciated the corps members for their services to the nation and urged them to be good ambassadors of the scheme.

She also advised them to use the knowledge they acquired through the NYSC skills acquisition programme, to engage in entrepreneurship ventures in order to be self-

employed.

In her words, “wherever you find yourself, you must bring to bear the ideals of patriotism, commitment to duty, hard work and respect for the rule of law”, she stressed.

The state governor, Hon Seriake Dickson, who declared the service year closed, described the NYSC scheme as a laudable vision to unite and integrate all sections of the country.

Gov Dickson, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Kemela Okara, commended the corps members for services in enhancing community development across state.

He urged the corps members to be exemplary citizens and join hands in enhancing the unity and integration of the country.

Senator Binta Masi Garba cutting her birthday cake with orphans in Yola, Adamawa State, yesterday.

Troops Kill 7 Boko Haram Terrorists In Multiple Ambush

BY FRANCIS OKOYE, Maiduguri

Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, conducting blocking and clearance operations to track down and neutralise boko haram insurgents fleeing from the Sambisa forest, have yesterday killed seven Boko Haram insurgents in multiple ambushes sprung against the fleeing rebels by the gallant troops.

According to a statement issued to newsmen in Maiduguri yesterday, by the deputy director, Public Relations Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col Onyema Nwachukwu, the troops, yesterday, successfully sprung an ambush against pockets of boko haram insurgents, who had escaped troops’ onslaught in the

Sambisa region.

“The insurgents, who were escaping through Kusheri Ardodam, along Magumeri in Borno State, were engaged by troops, who killed two of them.

The troops also recovered two AK 47 rifles, three magazines and 18 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO type ammunition.

“In a related operation, troops have also successfully staged an ambush against fleeing elements of the boko haram terrorist group along a remote track in Mafa, neutralising two insurgents and recovering one AK 47 rifle, two magazines and one bicycle.

“Troops also successfully ambushed the fleeing insurgents

The Founder and Creative Director of Creo Hub Designs, Mr Ifeoluwa Sopeju has emerged as the winner of the maiden edition of the Designers Arise Contest (DAC) Live Edition in Lagos.

The DAC Live Edition, a one-day design competition, had designers converge and they were assigned a brief by Wakanow to be executed in two hours.

The event, organised by Ellae Branding Agency, was borne out of the need to create

boko haram terrorist group”, Col Nwachukwu said.

He added that the ferocity of the ongoing Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency Operations to rid the North East of boko haram hideouts and enclaves, has further suffocated the terrorist group, hence its resort to suicide attacks on innocent civilians.

“It is crucial therefore to draw the attention of the general public to the terrorists’ callous resort to the use of diverse types of Improvised Explosive Devices to attack vulnerable civilians in their bid to instill fear and awe amongst the populace in order to remain relevant.

“Members of the general

Buhari’s Gaddafi Comment: You Can’t Gag Nigerians, PDP Replies Presidency

BY CHIBUZO UKAIBE, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday berated the Presidency for insulting Nigerians who criticised its handling of insurgency as well as the governance of the nation.

The national publicity secretary of PDP, Kola Olagbondiyan, added that it is shocking that rather than being penitent and responsive to the views of the citizens, the Presidency has resorted to abusing majority of Nigerians, who had put their trust and confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari,

but today, are expressing disappointment with the fact that his administration has failed abysmally.

Olagbondiyan, in a statement, said the question Nigerians are asking is whether the President’s declaration in London, that marauders ravaging our people are deserters from Libya, is about semantics.

“Nigerians hold the Buhari Presidency directly responsible for the handling of security challenges vis-a-vis his 2015 campaign promise to oust insurgency in our country.

“Rather than offering explanations, the Buhari

Branding Expert, Sopeju Wins Design Award, Trip To Dubai

BY EBRIKU JOHN FRIDAY, Abuja

in the general area of Multe Lawanti, South of Furfur in Damboa, Borno State.

During the ambush, troops killed three boko haram insurgents and recovered one AK 47 rifle, three motorcycles, two bicycles, spanners and clothings.

“In a sting operation, vigilant troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, yesterday, arrested a member of the boko haram terrorist group while transiting along Cross Kauwa in the northern region of Borno State. Modu Chari, was on an espionage mission when he was nabbed by troops.

Further investigations revealed that Modu is an active member of the El Barnawi faction of the

a community for Nigerian graphic designers, giving them an avenue to interact and learn from one another, while exposing them to local and international opportunities.

Ellae, Wakanow, Guaranty Trust Bank and Red Bull Nigeria sponsored the competition, whose theme was, “Let’s Design Together”.

The organisers chose Sopeju, as the grand prize winner, receiving N100, 000 plus flight ticket to Dubai from the organisers.

Announcing Sopeju as winner of the maiden edition, a statement

from the organisers, revealed that “over 300 designers applied for the live edition, submitting a number of their works, but only 40 topnotch designers were selected and invited to participate in the live event.”

The agency, through the CEO, Mrs Noella Ekezie, said “The Designers Arise Contest will be a quarterly event, and is expected to address every aspect of the design field and draw graphic designers from around Africa. Our aim is to project Africa to the world through designs and to provide an enabling platform for creative talents to showcase their work and get discovered by the global

Presidency, in the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s usual arrogance and disdain, opted to insult Nigerians, including federal legislators as well as the institution of the National Assembly.

“But Nigerians are still demanding for answers. If the Buhari administration knew, in the course of the last three years, that the nation has been invaded by forces from outside or even deserters from Libya, why has it continued to

admonish Nigerians to learn to live peacefully with their neighbours?

“If, in the course of investigations, it (Buhari Presidency) discovered that the insurgents were from outside Nigeria, why is the government reportedly paying ransoms to them and even considering amnesty options? Is it part of governance to pay ransom to invaders? These are the questions that Nigerians expect the Buhari Presidency to answer.

US, UK, France Launch Massive Attacks On Syria

BY OMONU NELSON, Abuja

The United States, United Kingdom and France have launched what experts call unprecedented attacks on Syrian government facilities.

US President Donald Trump hailed the overnight military strike on Syria as “perfectly executed”, adding: “Mission Accomplished”.

The attacks were on government sites, targeting what they said were chemical weapons facilities.

More than 100 missiles struck in response to a suspected deadly chemical attack on the town of Douma last week.

Russian President, Vladimir

Putin, said he condemned the Western strikes “in the most serious way”.

Russia, Syria’s main ally, had threatened military retaliation if any Russian forces had been hit.

In early morning tweets from Washington, President Trump thanked France and the UK for “their wisdom and the power of their fine military”.

A Pentagon briefing on Saturday said the strikes had “set the Syrian chemical weapons programme back for years”.

The wave of strikes is the most significant attack against President Bashar al-Assad’s government by Western powers in seven years of Syria’s civil war.

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Sunday, April 15, 2018

ZL Global Alliance, Others Bag Africa Best World Class Quality Award

BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna

Environmental waste management company, ZL Global Alliance (Nigeria), limited has emerged Africa’s best world class quality waste management services company of the year 2018.

ZL Global Alliance engages in integrated waste management, waste containerisation, revenue collection system, dumpsite and landfill management, recycling and material recovery and distilling of drainage and rivers.

The award, which was presented

by World Quality Alliance, was also awarded to other organisations that bagged same award in other categories. They include, Nigeria Security, Minting and Printing Plc (NSMP), Lagos Water Corporation, Premier Seed Nigeria Limited, Africa Global Medicare, Agrited among several others.

The award presentation, which took place at the Nicon luxury hotel, Abuja, was part of the activities that marked the World summit and Africa quality order of merit award 2018 by the World Quality Alliance.

Speaking on the award, the country director, World Quality Alliance, Esorougwe Desmond, said, ZL global alliance emerged winner of the award among several others in the waste management category based on innovations which the company brought into waste management in Nigeria.

Kaduna To Employ 42 Part-time Teachers For Capital School – Commissioner

BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna

The Kaduna State government has promised to offer full employment to 42 part-time teachers of Capital School, Kaduna.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Ja’afaru Sani, made the promise in Capital School, Kaduna, while interacting with the school management, teachers and the school’s old students’ association.

Sani, however, said that the affected teachers would be subjected to competency test, adding that only those who scored the minimum points would be fully employed.

He said the ministry would liaise with the relevant bodies to ensure that the exercise was conducted before the resumption of schools.

“All necessary efforts are being taken to equip teachers with the needed skills for quality teaching and learning.

“Needs assessment will soon be carried out to ascertain the manpower the facility needs, including laboratories in schools in the state for prompt action.

“The step will ensure that quality is maintained to prevent the exodus of students to private schools. Our desire is to restore Capital School to its glory of being the best in the region.

Insecurity: Zamfara Residents Scamper For Safety

BY ABBA KABARA, Gusau

Persistent bandits’ attacks in Zamfara have forced residents of over 20 communities in Anka local government to flee from their homes for fear of brutal massacre by killer bandits.

A traditional figure, the Wazirin Anka, Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa, disclosed this to the press last Friday at the Anka emir’s palace.

This development is coming in the aftermath of recent

sequential bandits’ attacks on two communities of Bawan Daji and Kurukuru both of Anka local government, killing about 100 peasant farmers.

The most recent occurred in Kurukuru village where the bandits attacked a mining site when mining activity was going on, and shot four persons to death. An hour later, when some of the community members walked to collect the four bodies, the bandits, who were still lurking in the nearby bush,

suddenly appeared and killed 20 more on the spot The Aziri regrets that hundreds of peasant farmers were displaced and have moved to Anka local government headquarters, narrating that, “hundreds of victims have taken refuge in primary schools, the council secretariat, while others are squatting in the residencies of friends and relatives”.

“We are now working to re-settle the victims” he said, observing that most of them comprise of women

and children who could not locate or even know the whereabouts of their husbands or parents, just as he fervently appeals to the federal government for more security in the area.

The Information Commissioner, Alhaji Muhammad Danjari, who symphatised with the victims, urged them to accept the calamity as a divine trial from God and maintain prayers for peace and stability in the area in particular, the state and Nigeria in general.

L-R: Chairman, House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, Hon Timothy Golu and MD/CEO of Kefiano Global Concert, Kefas Ropshik, after a meeting in Abuja, at the weekend.

Taraba Alleges Sudden Withdrawal Of Military

BY NAN

The Taraba State government on yesterday expressed shock over alleged sudden withdrawal of military contingent deployed to enforce peace and security in southern part of the state.

In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Gov Darius Ishaku on Media and Publicity, Mr. Bala DanAbu, the government lamented what they described as “unceremonious withdrawal of soldies from the

operations.

“The surprise is that no reason was given for the withdrawal and the government was not aware.

“At the moment the reason for the withdrawal of the soldiers is not known to us,” the statement added.

Also the Chairman of Donga Local Government Council, Mr Nashuka Ipeyen told newsmen, in an interview, that soldiers deployed to troubled spots in the local government started pulling out around 1:00am on Saturday.

Ipeyen explained that on receipt of the information he quickly contacted the Commanding Officer, 93 Battalion Ada Barack Takum, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Gambari who said he ordered the withdrawal of the soldiers.

“I complained to him over the withdrawal of soldiers because we received information that some villages were going to be attacked, but he told me he would not risk the lives of his soldiers.

“The Commanding Officer insisted

that he was withdrawing the soldiers until the state government write an undertaking that it will take responsibility if any of the soldiers is attacked or killed.

“I don’t know why the state government would have to do that for the soldiers when the attackers are killing civilianson daily.

“However, I have made arrangement with the commissioner of police who has since deployed three trucks of mobile police personnel to provide security for the people,” he said.

Edo Teachers To Commence Teaching With ICT Tools

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

Special adviser to Edo State governor on Basic Education and acting chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Joan Osa Oviawe, has said that teachers in selected public schools in Benin metropolis, will commence teaching with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools from April 23, 2018.

Oviawe, disclosed this to journalists during the training of teachers at the Samuel Ogbemudia College in Benin City, Edo State capital.

She noted that some of the gadgets to be deployed are computer tablets and smartphones fully loaded with up-to-date curriculum and other software that enhance learning outcomes.

According to her, “At the end of the two-week training programme

for the teachers in the use of ICT devices for teaching, they will be prepared to commence teaching with tools from April 23, 2018.”

She said the teachers are being trained on the use of ICT and modern classroom management techniques, noting, “The two weeks training which will end on April 19, is the pilot phase. Over 2000 teachers from selected schools are prepared to kick-start the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation

(BEST) programme.”

Dr Oviawe added that the training on how to use ICT tools for teaching at the basic level of education is part of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s initiatives to reposition the basic education subsector.

Participants in the training programme include headmasters and headmistresses drawn from 300 schools, in the basic education sector across the state.

Masari, Akande, Others Bag 2017 Zik Prize Awards

BY ANDY ASEMOTA, Katsina

The year 2017 Zik Prize Awards, are set to follow the noble tradition of recognising service excellence as Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State; Chief Bisi Akande, former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some personalities, who

emerged winners of the prestigious awards in various categories, will be conferred with the honours today.

Masari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, will have another feather added to his cap at a coveted ceremony tonight in Victoria Island, Lagos, as he is honoured with 2017 Zik Prize for Leadership in Good Governance

for his people-oriented restoration projects cum dynamic service across Katsina State and dogged commitment to entrenchment of democratic ideas in the Nigerian polity.

LEADERSHIP Sunday checks revealed that some recipients of the prize in the past included, former South African President,

Dr Nelson Mandela (2000), former Ghanian Presidents, JJ Rawlings (1999) and John Agyekum Kuffor (2008), former president of Sierra Leone, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (2011), former Nigerian Senate President, David Mark, and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

10 NEWS ACROSS THE STATES

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Environmental Sustainability, Major Pillar Of Obaseki’s Administration - SSG

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

The Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq, has said that environmental sustainability is a major pillar of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government, and will sustain the weekly environmental sanitation exercise as part of the strategy to ensure a cleaner state.

Ogie, who doubles as Head, Project Clean Up Edo Committee, disclosed this during the monitoring of the April 14 sanitation exercise across major streets and markets within Benin City, the state capital.

He said, “Now that people are beginning to key into the exercise and requesting that government make the exercise continuous, the state government will not relent but continue with the exercise on a weekly basis.

“The state government will get more people to support the drive for a cleaner state through enlightenment programmes on the importance of cleaning their environments.”

Noting that the programme will be retooled to meet the needs of Edo people, he said, “The state government will continue to review the exercise to address areas that need to be improved. When we observe the need for change in certain areas, we will not waste time to make those adjustments. More waste-bins will be procured and distributed across the state capital to encourage people to imbibe the culture of properly disposing refuse for pick-up by waste managers.”

Institute Lauds Oba Of Benin, Obaseki On Human Trafficking The Institute for Security Studies, Abuja, has commended the synergy between the Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II and the Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, in the fight against human trafficking, illegal migration and modernday slavery in the state.

The directing staff and syndicate supervisor of the Institute, Mrs Angela Oleseni, gave the commendation at a dinner organised for members of Course 11 Team from the Institute, at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State.

Mrs Oleseni, who led the team on a one-week study tour of the state, said “The efforts of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II and Governor Obaseki, to curb illegal migration and human trafficking in the state, are highly commendable.”

“The Institute is aware that the curse placed on traffickers by the Oba of Benin is part of the collaborations between the traditional institution and the state government to curb human trafficking in the state.

“We, however, appeal to people in the state to support these initiatives to curb human trafficking and illegal migration,” she added.

Oleseni noted that the report of the study carried out by the delegates from the Institute, will be made available to the state government to direct or fine-tune policy making, adding, “A representative of the state government will be required to sit with the delegates during the compilation of the report in Abuja on April 18. After receiving details of the state government’s efforts to curb the menace, the delegates went out to do their own findings, which were used to substantiate the claims of the state government.

R-L: Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yusuf Sulaiman Lasun and Hon Umar Ballah after plenary at the National Assembly in

Court Restrains Parties On Disputed Kaduna Eye Centre Land

A High Court sitting in Kaduna has issued an interlocutory injunction restraining all parties from further taking action on the disputed land located at National Eye Centre, pending the ruling of the substantive matter before the court.

In his ruling, Justice DS Wyom of court 5 of the Kaduna High Court saids in the spirit of justice and fairness to both parties, “there

shall be no building, structures temporarily or permanently, mortgaging, renting or selling the disputed land located at National Eye Centre pending the ruling of the substantive matter before the court.’’

Wyom adjoined the matter for 21st May, 2018 to hear the amended motion by the plaintiff”.

Speaking after the ruling, the defense counsel for Federal Ministry

of Health, Barrister Emmanuel Ochum said, “We are grateful today for this ruling. Once again, the Court has spoken clearly. What

the Court just said, is that status quo should remain. So for now, the ruling is that there should be no activity whatsoever on the disputed land.’’

Also commending the ruling, the director of Administration of

the National Eye Centre, Mallam Alhassan Ungo, maintained that, “We had expected this long time ago. This ruling will stop the incessant trespassing you see every day on our land, building and blocking of the road. The ruling does not stop what we are doing as an institution. So, it’s a good one.”

Firm Accuses BPP, NPA Of Complicity In $44m Port Contract

BY ADEBIYI ADEDAPO, Abuja

Legal Adviser to Dredging Atlantic Limited/Westmintser Dredging and Marine (DAW), a multinational company, Mr Liborous Oshoma has urged the National Assembly to withdraw $44million contract awarded to Dredging International Services Limited (DISL) by the federal government.

The company alleged that the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Ministry of Transportation and the Nigeria Ports Authority, have violated the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007, in the award of the contract for remedial works at Escravos Channel.

The contract includes replacement of navigational aids and minor dredging at the Delta Port, in Warri, and is worth about $44million.

Oshoma, in a petition, urged the National Assembly to prevail on the agencies, which awarded the contract, to disqualify DISL from executing the contract.

According to the petition, the said contract was awarded to Dredging International Services Limited (DISL), one of lowest ranking bidders, in a process manipulated by the three government bodies.

A copy of the petition, signed by the company’s legal adviser, Mr Liborous Oshoma, alleged that the BPP ignored an official complaint made

by DAW, and hurriedly concluded the administrative review of the bid process.

It also alleged that NPA manipulated the process and publicly announced tender figures of DISL for the contract bid.

WHO Assures Borno Of Healthcare Services To IDPs

BY FRANCIS OKOYE, Maiduguri

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that it will work with the Borno State government to provide healthcare services to the internally Displaced persons (IDPs) in their respective communities following their return.

WHO also said that it would expand its

various humanitarian assistance such as vaccination and surveillance to trapped persons in all the inaccessible areas of the state through the help of the security agencies.

The WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated this yesterday, when he led three regional directors and three deputy regional directors of WHO on courtesy

visit with Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima at Government House in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Dr Ghebreyesus said that in view of the humanitarian assistance that has been going on in the state by team of WHO, he and his entourage visited the state to get first hand information and see how they can further support the

state in tackling some of the health challenges caused by the years of insurgency.

The first African to be made DG of WHO appreciated the level with which peace has returned to the state, adding that the Borno State government, has tried a lot in the area of infrastructural development as seen in the capital city, notwithstanding the

800,000 Students Write 2018 Unity Schools Entrance Exam

BY CHIKA MEFOR, Abuja

About 800,000 students have participated in the 2018 National Common Entrance Examination for admission into the 104 Federal Unity Colleges in the country yesterday.

Speaking while monitoring the examination yesterday, the minister of state for Education, Prof Anthony Anwukah, expressed satisfaction with

the conduct of the examination.

The minister, who monitored the examination in progress at the Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3 and Government Secondary School, Tudu, stated that the environment was conducive and the logistic was good.

Also speaking, the registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO), Prof Charles Uwakwe, revealed that the enrollment for the examination was quite

satisfactory.

Uwakwe, who attributed the increase of the enrollment to the directive by the

minister of Education, Adamu Adamu for the registration to be extended, added that the

doors are still open.

“The enrollment is quite satisfactory, as the minister has directed as a matter of principle, that we keep the doors open. In the northeast, we do not have a problem at all because they already have a head start.

“By Wednesday, the team had left and is doing close monitoring. I have spoken to

the zonal director and we are satisfied on how things are going. “ I am satisfied with the enrollment.

This is because the minister had directed that we should keep the doors open for our children and that is exactly what we have done, and we are hoping that everything goes as

planned,” he said.

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11

NNPC headquarters

Expectations High As NNPC, Private Firms Flag Off New Pipeline Project

Going by a recent statement from the NNPC, the groundbreaking of the AKK gas pipeline will take place in the days ahead. FESTUS OKOROMADU writes on the economic importance of the initiative.

The management of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC) last week announced that plans has reached advanced stage for the historic groundbreaking of the 40inch x 614km Ajaokuta - Kaduna – Kano (AKK), gas pipeline and stations project in the weeks ahead.

The development is seen in some quarters as a tonic that would set the stage for economic growth and development.

According to NNPC the project is expected to be completed 24 months from now, but more significantly, the AKK gas pipeline would enable connectivity between the East, West and North, currently nonexistent.

It therefore would create an enabling environment for gas supply and utilization to key commercial centres in the Northern corridor of the country with the attendant positive spinoff on power generation and industrial growth.

Perhaps the importance of the project can better be comprehended with a recall to experts persist call for strategic utilization of gas as a driver of the Nigerian economy. For instance, back in July 2015, a former Managing Director of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Chima Ibeneche hinted that the potential for major

growth and direct impact on the economy is far greater for gas than for oil.

Ibeneche, who spoke at a meeting of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) in Lagos, stated that gas is certainly complementary to oil in driving Nigeria’s economy.

Highlighting the key role of investment in harnessing it, he said, “All natural gas is stranded in nature and normally requires investments to turn it into a useful resource by linking the gas in the reservoir to a consumer in a viable market. The requisite investments usually include policy changes that help create economic justification for gas exploitation; exploration investments to identify and quantify the gas reservoirs; gas field development investments for construction of production wells and for gas conditioning; distribution investments required to transport the gas from the well head, or gas gathering station to the consumer.”

Although, the AKK gas pipeline project may have come a little late as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, recently revealed that it has been on the table for over 13 years, the uninterrupted progress recorded so far on the project under current Group Managing Director (GMD) of

NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, has continued to draw applause from stakeholders.

Prior to the latest development, appeared to have run into troubled water last October when a controversial memo written by Mr. Kachikwu to President Muhammadu Buhari dated August 30, 2017, alleging breach of due process in the award was linked to the public.

However, the government in its wisdom quickly put the controversy to rest as the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its 46th meeting on 13th December 2017 approved the contract valued at over $2.8 billion. This paved the way for the new developments.

The AKK Project According to the NNPC, the corporation finalized agreements for contract execution covering the engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and financing for Lots 1&3 of the 40inch x 614km Ajaokuta - Kaduna - Kano gas pipeline and stations with a consortium of indigenous and Chinese companies under a 100 per cent contractor financing model.

Under the terms of contract, Lot 1 with total length of 40inch x 200km stretching from Ajaokuta to Abuja Terminal Gas Station was awarded to the

OilServe/Oando Consortium.

Lot 3 which runs from Kaduna Terminal Gas Station (TGS) to Kano TGS with total length of 40inch x 221km was awarded to the Brentex/China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau (CPP) Consortium.

The corporation said it envisaged that contract agreement for Lot 3 which covers 40inch x 193km stretching from Abuja to Kaduna will be executed in the weeks ahead.

According to a statement for the corporation, Dr. Baru, was reported to have explained at the contract signing ceremony in Abuja that the AKK Gas pipeline was a section of Trans-Nigerian Gas Pipeline under the gas infrastructure blueprint designed to enable the industrialization of the Eastern and Northern parts of Nigeria.

Dr. Baru noted that the AKK section has suffered setbacks due to scarce resources for government to fully finance the project, hence the adoption of the contractor financing model.

“The two other pipelines, the OB3 & ELPs 2 in the Gas Master Plan blue print, are currently at various stages of completion and are being financed directly by the Federal Government,’’ he said.

Providing details of the ➔ CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE

Under the terms of contract, Lot 1 with total length of 40inch x 200km stretching from Ajaokuta to Abuja Terminal Gas Station was awarded to the OilServe/ Oando Consortium

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Expectations High As NNPC, Private Firms Flag Off New Pipeline Project ➔ FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE

With the growth in infrastructure, gas, hitherto inaccessible and flared, is now being utilized,” as it potent the prospect of feeling that it has arrived

contract awarded to consortium of indigenous and Chinese entities under a 100 per cent contractor financing model, the NNPC said Lot 1 with total length of 40inch x 200km stretching from Ajaokuta to Abuja Terminal Gas Station awarded to the OilServe/Oando Consortium had a contract value of about $855million.

Lot 2 whose contract agreement is yet to be executed covers 40inch x 193km, stretching from Abuja to Kaduna with contract value of about $835 million.

The NNPC said Lot 3 which runs from Kaduna Terminal Gas Station (TGS) to Kano TGS with total length of 40inch x 221km was awarded to the Brentex/ China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau (CPP) Consortium under a contract value of about $1.2 billion.

The above brought the total value of the entire project to over $2.8billion as approved by the Federal Executive Council at its 46th meeting on 13th December, 2017, Dr. Baru stated.

The Need for Gas Utilization According to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria loses approximately $10 billion of revenue through gas flaring.

The alarming figures is attributed to the country’s inability to commercialise the abundant natural gas reserve put at over 187trillion cubic feet.

Programme Manager, National Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP), Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Justice Derefaka who disclosed the loss noted that the resources can help turnaround the economy if harnessed.

According to him, the flared gas is properly exploited, it has the potential to create 300,000 jobs, produce 600,000 MT of LPG per year and generate 2.5 GW of power from new and existing IPPs, as approximately 700mmscf/d is flared at 178 flare sites in Nigeria. This is in addition to the health and environmental improvement that comes along side.

Derefaka who spoke at the Nigerian Norwegian Chamber of Commerce (NNCC) Q1 2018 Business Roundtable Seminar held recently in Lagos, on “The Monetization of Gas: Perspectives and Opportunities in the Nigerian Gas Industry”, further revealed that Nigeria currently utilises almost 700mmscf/d of gas for power production, which could be doubled.

But doing so can only become realistic through investment in infrastructure, this why the AKK gas pipeline deal is expected to bring real economic value.

According to Derefaka, capturing and commercializing flared gas is key to the nation’s economic growth and development, stressing that

Kachikwu

about $3.5 billion worth of inward investments is required to achieve the country’s flare gas commercialization targets by 2020.

Similarly, the Managing Director, Midstream, Seven Energy, Ian Brown-Peterside who also spoke at the event noted that the productive utilization of the nation’s gas reserves is critical to Nigeria’s future.

“A robust and viable Gas-toPower sector in Nigeria is critical to Nigeria’s future economic growth, constant power supply will lead to growth across all sectors” he said.

He further stressed that lack of capacity in power generation, compared to other countries, makes it very difficult to attract new investment and retain existing investment in the broader economy, noting that just 25 per cent of Nigeria’s circa 12,000 mega watt of installed generation capacity reaches the end user.

Still speaking to negative implecations of the nation’s utilize the gas resources to drive the power sector, BrownPeterside noted that current electricity consumption of 144kwh per capita in Nigeria compared to the global average of 3104kwh is alarming, and wholly inadequate to support the economic development goals of the country.

However, the AKK project seem to be a move to correct some of these lapses. As it stated in one of its press release, For so long, “NNPC had activated an aggressive gas reforms and implementation drive, requiring accelerated implementation of gas pipeline infrastructure development with specific focus on critical pipeline infrastructure to power plants and industries.”

“Between 2010 and today, almost 500km of pipelines had been completed, commissioned and now delivering gas. Some of the completed pipelines

Baru

included the Oben-Geregu (196km), Escravos-Warri-Oben (110km), Emuren-Itoki (50km), Itoki-Olorunshogo (31km), Imo River-Alaoji (24km) and Ukanafun-Calabar pipeline (128km).”

“In addition, there is ongoing construction of the strategic East-West OB3 pipeline (127km), scheduled for completion by Q3 2018 and the expansion of the Escravos-Lagos Gas Pipeline System scheduled for completion later in 2018.”

With the growth in infrastructure, gas, hitherto inaccessible and flared, is now being utilized. Nigeria had seen the most aggressive drop in gas flaring from a peak of 2500mmcf/d few years ago to about 700mmcf/d currently and reducing.

According to Brown-Peterside, gas policy is not always clear and consistent; further sector challenges include commitment to payment terms in the gas to power business, noting that critical factors like cooperation and alignment between stakeholders, proper risk allocation across the chain to preserve investment, as well as clear fiscal incentives to unlock investment are required to enhance the potential and viability of gas to power.

The Place of Fiscal Policy One may not agree with the NNPC when it said in a statement, “With the growth in infrastructure, gas, hitherto inaccessible and flared, is now being utilized,” as it potent the prospect of feeling that it has arrived.

The truth remain that there is much lift to be done in the sector.

For instance, a legal practitioner with Partner at Adepetun Caxton- Martins Agbor & Segun (ACAS Law), John Chibueze while reviewed the efforts made

by the government to date in boosting the exploration, development, production and sale of natural gas, at the NCC Q1 2018 Business Roundtable submitted that there remains a glaring lack of fiscal and regulatory cohesion to support the infrastructure investment required to significantly increase the country’s reserve production ratios.

Meanwhile, Derefaka explained that a ‘Flare Gas (Prevention of Waste and Pollution) Regulation 2018’ is being finalized and will be issued shortly to underpin the implementation of the NGFCP, as gas flare reduction is a priority in the suite of Federal Government programs for improving the environmental, health, social, economic and security problems in the Niger Delta region.

He stressed that the solution must not only benefit Niger Delta communities and positively contribute to the Nigerian economy, it must also present a bankable market opportunity for investors and lenders alike.

However, the government and the NNPC most not only be commended for the bold step taken towards actualizing the AKK gas pipeline project but most be encourage to play it’s part of the terms of the contract agreement.

The minister of state for petroleum resources most also be commended for initiatives that now encourage the private sector to finance huge project such as the one under review.

Finally, States and local government which the project will benefit must put on their thinking caps to harness the huge economic prospect the project is set to offer.

This is the only way the economy can be diversified to the optimal good of all Nigerians.

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NEWS

L-R: Li Baisheng, Deputy Managing Director, China Gezhouba Group International Company Limited; Ye Shuijin, President, China Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria (CCC); Chiedu Osakwe, Chief Trade Negotiator/DG Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN) and Zhang Wenfeng, MD/CEO China Harbour Engineering Company Limited during the presentation of Office Equipments by the CCC to NOTN recently in Abuja

13

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MTN Gives Assurance On Planned IPO, Shareholding Diversification To Nigerians

BY GODDIE OFOSE, Lagos

MTN Nigeria has given assurance on planned IPO and shareholding diversification to Nigeria. This was made known after the telecoms strategic session in Abuja recently.

The past few days have seen a high-powered delegation from MTN Group hold planned strategic sessions in Nigeria solely to underscore the African multinationals commitment to the country. The sessions were also geared towards the planned listing of MTN on the Nigeria Stock Exchange as well as finalizing an unprecedented partnership with Ecobank Group on the provision of mobile financial services across Africa.

While in the country, the delegation which included Chairman, MTN Group, Mr. Phuthuma Nhleko; Group Chief Executive Officer, Rob Shuter and Board Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Pascal Dozie, on Monday, April 9, 2018 met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Aso Rock Villa.

The visit was used to express MTN Group’s commitment to Nigeria, and also to give assurances on the planned IPO and diversification of shareholding to Nigerians.

Other MTN Nigeria board members at the meeting were

Colonel Sani Bello (retd); Chief Victor Odili; Mr. Tunde Folawiyo; Mr. Gbenga Oyebode; CEO, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ferdinand Moolman and the Corporate Relations Executive, Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo.

The MTN directors also met with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, and CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, after which they visited the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, who commended MTN for the incredible work it is doing in the communication sector and reiterated the commission’s commitment to the growth of the sector.

MTN Nigeria is the largest subsidiary of the MTN Group and Africa’s largest and most sophisticated telecoms network with over 53 million subscribers and a network coverage that spans 77.19 percent of Nigeria’s land mass servicing 89.39 percent of the population in 3,833 cities, towns and villages nationwide.

The telecommunications giant employs over 500,000 Nigerians directly and indirectly; and to date has invested over $13 billion in fixed assets and facilities nationwide to build the most expansive network in the country.

Nigeria’s Evolving Commitments In Global Trade Partnerships International trade drives the economy of every nation through partnerships knowing that no country has a monopoly of products.

MBAKAAN KWEN writes on how events of such partnerships have stirred the affairs of the Nigerian economy.

Trading globally gives consumers and countries the opportunity to be exposed to new markets and products. Almost every kind of product can be found in the international market like food, clothes, spare parts, oil, jewelry, wine, stocks, currencies, and water.

Services are also traded like tourism, banking, consulting, and transportation. International trade is the exchange of capital, goods and services across international borders or territories. In most countries, such trade represents a significant share of gross domestic product (GDP). While international trade has existed throughout history, its economic, social, and political importance has been on the rise in recent centuries.

Industrialisation, advanced technology, including transportation, globalisation, multinational corporations and outsourcing are all having a major impact on the international trade system.

Increasing international trade is crucial to the continuance of globalisation. Nations would be limited to the goods and services produced within their own borders without international trade.

International trade is, in principle, not different from domestic trade as the motivation and the behavior of parties involved in a trade do not change fundamentally regardless of whether trade is across a border or not.

The main difference is that

international trade is typically more costly than domestic trade.

This is due to the fact that a border typically imposes additional costs such as tariffs, time costs due to border delays, and costs associated with country differences such as language, the legal system, or culture.

The Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, has over time ensured the diversification of the resource base of the economy by promoting trade and investment with special emphasis on export of non-oil and gas products that would lead to wealth and employment creation, reduction in the rate of poverty and also ensure enhanced service delivery in a manner that would stimulate the growth of the domestic economy for self-reliance, whilst making it more export oriented and integrated into the global market.

It is worthy of note that Nigeria has over the years developed in leaps and bounds in its global trading with other countries.

Although the main focus of its international export trade was petroleum products, the recent recession has driven Nigeria back to other important areas like agriculture, mines and steel that need to be explored.

Just recently, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has had partnerships with other countries to enhance development and diversification of the economy.

The recent partnership with the Tunisian business community promises to boost regional trade and investment in Nigeria in areas like integrated animal husbandry agriculture, industrial parks, hotels and tourism development.

This would open up more opportunities for job creation and employment and expose the tourism component of the country to the outside world.

Last month, the president of ACCI, Prince Kayode Adetokumbo, had described the economic and diplomatic ties with China and Nigeria as one that has impacted positively on both nations emphasising that it must be maintained.

“China-Nigeria bilateral trade cooperation hit a record of $2.7billion as at 2017 which make Nigeria the third largest economic partner of China in Africa. However the next stage of economic engagement between Nigeria and China must be about practical industrial development.

We are ready to partner with China to establish industrial parks for various industrial sectors all over Nigeria,” he said.

Republic of Cuba equally made its intention to strengthen economic relations with Nigeria when her ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Treso Saso , made the declaration emphasizing the need to galvanise resources for more joint economic activities in the health industry, medical tourism, pharmaceuticals,

agriculture and sports business. The Cuban government also indicated interest in the manufacture of critical vaccines in Nigeria, to tackle endemic ailments like hepatitis, B and C, meningitis, lassa fever and diabetes as well as establishment of Cuban-Nigerian joint venture hospitals in Abuja.

These steps have set Nigeria on the right pedestal of development.

It is on this backdrop that the Japanese government offered to send a research mission for the recovery of the deteriorating power station in Apapa, Lagos State because of its crucial importance of providing electricity to the major economic hub in Lagos.

The CEO Bank of Tokyo in Africa Mr. Masahiro Kuwahara, said Nigeria provides the largest market for Japanese businesses in Africa and remains Japan’s largest business partner in the continent in the oil and gas sector. This shows how important and significant international trade partnership means to any country around the globe.

To indicate the importance of global trade and partnership, Minister of national planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, had told the USAID Nigeria mission director, Mr. Stephen Haykin, that US can contribute to the speedy recovery and growth of the Nigerian economy by increasing the volume of Nigeria’s oil imports as well as allowing more Nigeria’s exports into the United States.

“This could encourage its manufacturing companies to take advantage of the proposed special economic zones to set up industries in Nigeria just as they are doing in the far east Asian countries, particularly since Nigeria is closer to the US and has a huge market.”

Between 1975 and 1998, Nigeria had recorded a total of $131.2 billion on exports and $115.4 billion on imports. As at Q4 2017, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), revealed that total imports for full year 2017 stood at N9,562.7 billion which was 8.5 per cent lower than the 2016 trade import value of N8, 817.5 billion.

Conversely, total value of export at N3,910.6 billion in Q4 2017 grew by 9.35 per cent over Q3 2017, and by 31.27 percent over Q4 2016which brought a total exports of N13,598.2 billion at Q4 2017which is 59.47 per cent higher than for 2016 with a value of N8,527.4 billion.

It is clear that foreign trade on imports has declined which shows a positive sign that Nigeria is trading less on imports of goods and service into the country and has increased its volume for export through trading and partnerships with countries like India, USA, Netherland, France and Spain. There is this optimism that the jinx of relying totally on import products has been broken and with the current rate of global partnerships Nigeria has with various countries, the effect would soon be visible.

14 BUSINESS INTERVIEW

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Passion Is The Key Driver Of Cable Manufacturing – Onafowokan Coleman Cables is a leading cable manufacturing company in Nigeria. TAIWO OMILANI in this interview with the managing director of Coleman Cables, Mr. George Onafowokan, examines the manufacturing sector, the challenges and what his company is doing on local content sourcing.

The federal government has been harping on backward integration, how has that helped companies like yours in local content sourcing?

faking, adulteration, has become the bane of the industry not only for Coleman. Basically what we try to do is push for availability of our high quality products as best as we can to make sure that our products are seen and available to fight adulteration. This means your capacity must be capable of feeding the actual market. If the products are scarce, the adulterated ones come in to fill the gap. Secondly, we are always carrying out market surveys to know what is happening out there.

Today, our percentage of local content, after recession, has improved greatly. We have gone from 80 to 85 per cent local content in our product due to the backward integration in the last three years. Copper is now available locally which accounts for 80 per cent of our product and it is still growing and about three additional manufacturers are coming up this year that is making us locally sufficient for copper.

Aluminum is also coming up, it will be produced locally this year and that will improve local content to about 95 per cent. That has greatly changed the dynamics of cable production in Nigeria, which I would say started about more than 55 years ago. For us today, we are proud to say local content is more than 80 per cent in our product.

How are manufacturers thriving amidst the tough operating environment?

The infrastructural problem of Nigeria has never ceased to be a bane to the industry or sector in Nigeria. Nevertheless, I think in the last two years, it has been worsened by devaluation and policy inconsistency, but things are gradually turning around which is good. But for us, what drives the business is the passion for what we do as manufacturers of cable and we have been in this business for the past 22 years and I have been in the business for 16 years.

We have grown from a small company to be the biggest player, not only in Nigeria, but in West Africa. When you leave this country and see what industrialization is all about in other countries, it gives you a sense of pride actually by bringing those technology into your country and you apply them here and you see Nigerians get trained in it; because we are a company that believes more in local content in terms of raw materials and in terms of the people. If we do not train our people, we cannot really say we have local content.

In Coleman today, we normally invite expatriates to train our people, but we put them on a short period, they must train our people. So, we depend almost 99 per cent on locals for our production. We are a highly technology-based industry and

Do we say the importance of your product contribute to your sustainability?

Onafowokan

that gives us the greatest pride that we are not only local content in terms of raw materials, but we are proud that we are one of the Nigerian companies that believe in our people.

It was hard for manufacturers to get foreign exchange during recession, how did you cope?

We did not cope with it well; I must be sincere with you. During the recession, we lost a lot and we were down in capacity of about 95 per cent and producing five per cent. We were down in staff strength by almost 40 to 50 per cent at a point. So, it did not go down well with us in terms of exchange rate, but the good thing today is that there is a bit of stability in the exchange rate, but the best part is that we moved from 95 per cent dependence on importation to 85 per cent local dependence.

We are only having an exposure of less than 20 per cent of our business to foreign exchange which is far better when your business totally depends on import and that has changed the dynamics of how we think also locally. As much as exchange rate is high today, we are not too perturbed by that because it is only a minor part of our business that is still imported. I think in the next one year, we expect that

to drop to five per cent. The recession in its way was positive because it forced backward integration in our industry, although it is expensive in the beginning, it has become more reasonable to buy today.

At what cost did you generate power since that is one of the problems militating against manufacturers?

The cost of power is so high.

Power today is one of the major reasons industries have not grown the way they should because we depend on power for cable factory. We are one of the countries in the world that run drawing machine on generator, this machine is heavy on power. One single machine can use 500KV to run not to talk of the rest factories. In those places, this type of machine runs on power. This makes it heavy on investment.

Our business is so heavy on power. If you look at it today, in Coleman, in terms of diesel power, we are generating in excess about 10 megawatts and eight megawatts in gas. That is two separate investments in power plant. Power accounts for almost 30-40 per cent overhead cost in your capital expenditure.

How are you coping with substandard products?

Coping with brand imitation,

Of course, people cannot do without cable because electricity is a vital part of development in any country. The main sustainability is our own structure, which has been survival based on long term views rather than short term gain. In businesses, what I have seen over the years is that as Nigerians, we do not invest in ourselves, but we spend too much time looking at our profitability and how we will enjoy the money rather than long term view of reinvesting.

I will say for Coleman, in the last 15 years, we have reinvested almost 95 per cent of our earnings back into the business. It is very few companies that can tell you they have done that consistently for 15 years. You rarely find those that have done it for two years and that is why we grew so fast because we kept reinvesting majority of our earnings. To me, it’s a long term view. Where do you see the company 10 years ago and where do you see the company 10 years from now rather than where we see ourselves in two years.

Nigeria has always faced crisis and this is not our first recession, but the key is how you survive crisis. Your business strategy must be right, especially in the industry and it must be long-term based because what happens when policy goes wrong and you have not equipped yourself to handle the fall out? Most businesses close down during this period. This happens almost every five years; it is calamity in one way or the other. The key thing is what you did in between the five years to prepare yourself for the next calamity I hope we don’t drive ourselves into calamity, but we must put our business first, take a long term view of our business and strategically that will keep us from issues when they happen.

Most businesses close down during this period. This happens almost every five years; it is calamity in one way

Sunday, April 15, 2018

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zonal watch

15

NIGER STATE KWARA STATE KOGI STATE BENUE STATE NASARAWA STATE PLATEAU STATE FCT ABUJA

Saraki To Church: Pray For Nigeria’s Peace, Development

BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin

Kebbi State governor, Atiku Bagudu (right); Ogun State commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Adepeju Adebajo (left); chairman, Fullmark Group, Mr. Sriram Venkateswaran and group head, Commercial Services, Notore Chemical Industry, Mr. Tijjani St. James at the AgroNigeria High-Level Rice Conference in Abuja.

Benue To Privatise 11 Companies

BY HEMBADOON ORSAR, Makurdi

In a bid to revive moribund industries in Benue, the state government has penciled 11 companies for privatization.

The Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Prof. Tersoo Kpelai who disclosed this in Makurdi while briefing newsmen said, one of the present administration’s economic policy focus is to develop an agricultural driven industrialisation that will provide value added inclusive economic growth in the state.

He stated that the decision to privatized the companies was taken by the State

HEADS FROM THE ZONE

Alh Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the appointment of new provosts, registrar and bursar for three state- owned tertiary institutions

“Privatization has therefore, become the only option since government currently has developmental challenges with slim resources,’’he stated.

According to him, privatizing these enterprises would bring about efficiency and effective performance as investors would bring capital, new technology, skills and better management expertise. ‘’These enterprises if run profitably will provide job opportunities for our teeming youths, create wealth, boost the state internally generated revenue and create value chain across the diverse sectors of the Benue economy,’’ he said.

Factional NNPP To Merge With SDP In Nasarawa

BY DANJUMA JOSEPH, Lafia

The Kwara State Governor

Council on Privatization and Commercialization of Public Enterprises in order to revive the state’s moribund companies and those that were performing below average. ‘’It may interest you to know that all the 11 enterprises listed for privatization were established for over a decade but most of these enterprises are not operational in the last six years. ‘’Even the ones that are sparingly operational do so by incurring losses without making any profit you can look at the case of Benue Links which has not make any single profit in the past 14 years.

A splinter group of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) in Nasarawa state, has threatened to dump the party and join forces with Social ,Democratic Party (SDP).

The factional NNPP in a statement signed by its convener, Azizi Mercilinus Mathew, accused the other faction of fallen off the track of the tenets of the party.

The statement said NNPP under the leadership of Matthew Usman, lack credibility and transparency.

The statement further accused Mathew Usman’s leadership of being “inconsistent, not trustworthy” and in addition, it has lost focus.

The faction also accused the leadership of the party of allowing egocentrism to becloud it’s sense of judgement.

“We wish to bring to the notice of the general public about our decision to abandon the sinking ship of NNPP in Nasarawa state.

When we stated NNPP in the state, we thought we were relating with people who were reasonable, rational, cultured, democratic, faire minded, respectable and politically conscious people. Little did we know that we were dealing with people with nothing but negative character traits” “It is a common knowledge that the political train of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) in Nasarawa state, has fallen off the track even before reaching its

destination” “The NNPP in the state has unfortunately derailed under the leadership of Mathew Usman, before reaching its last station.

This happened because the NNPP political track continued to shift and gaps were therefore created along the NNPP political rail lines” “The unfortunate situation had created internal crisis that has practically consumed the attention and sizeable proportion of the party members in the last few months. What we have seen is a repeat of past misdeeds by politicians of old” “Today, we wish to declare that not only are we moving out of NNPP, but we have joined the social Democratic party (SDP)” the statement said.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has appealed to churches and Christian leaders in the country to keep praying for Nigeria’s peace and sustainable development at all times.

He said such prayers are needed for the nation to overcome its socio- economic, political and security challenges.

Speaking at the second session of the 15th synod of Anglican Diocese of Kwara state held at St. Barnabas Cathedral, Ilorin,Kwara state, Saraki said that all Nigerians have a role to play in nation building and good governance.

“As a spiritual body, I will further urge you not to relent in your prayers and intercession for our nation as we all do not have any other place to call our own. The National Assembly, the Senate in particular, we seek your support and the need to work together as our doors are opened for your advice and consultation. It is high time we embraced our unity in diversity, respect for one another, eschew that tenets that will divide us”, he said.

Represented by his deputy chief of staff, Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola, the Senate president also said that there is a light at the end of the tunnel if all Nigerians could work together.

“Let our message from this synod be a message of hope, love and unity. Let us celebrate that which binds us together as people and as a nation and Nigeria will be better place for all of us and generations yet to come.

“Over the years, the Christian community in Kwara state has played a vital role in sustaining the peace, unity and coexistence of our great state, hence this has helped us as inhabitants to live and relate harmoniously even in the face if socioeconomic and political challenges. Several times, our peace and unity has been tested but to the Glory of God, we are still standing tall”, he said.

Also speaking, the Kwara state governor, Alh Abdulfatah Ahmed, who said that current challenges facing the country were huge, quickly added that, “but with divine prayers, our collective will and determination, we shall definitely overcome them and make our country great”.

Ahmed charged religious leaders to continue to uphold virtues of love, unity, peaceful coexistence and good neighbourliness, saying that they should encourage their followers to do same.

“We should always advise them to shun acts capable of causing disunity and religious intolerance. Without doubt, our diversity remains of one of the things that make us unique as a nation, and we must do everything within our power to promote religious and ethnic harmony, tolerance and understanding”, he said.

In his charge at the synod, themed, Finishing Strong”, Bishop of the diocese of Kwara, Most Reverend Dr. Olusegun Adeyemi, called on the federal government to find amicable and long lasting solutions to, what he called, unnecessary bloodletting confrontation in Benue state among the state government, farmers and herdsmen.

“This country belongs to all of us. The law of the land should be obeyed by all. If peace is to be long lasting, every sector of the community should be disarmed”, he said.

16 ZONAL WATCH (NORTH-CENTRAL)

Sunday, April 15, 2018

PROJECT REPORT

NEWS BEHIND THE NEWS

Ahmed Appoints Provosts For 3 Institutions

BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin

The Kwara state governor, Alh Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the appointment of Dr. Abdulrahim Yusuf as the new provost of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.

This was contained in a statement by the permanent secretary, ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Musa Dasuki. He explained that the tenure of the current provost, Dr. Saka Opobiyi will elapse at the end of April, 2018.

Dasuki also announced that Governor Ahmed has also approved the appointment of Dr. Muhammed Ibrahim as the new provost and Mr. Oyedele Joshua Olugbenga as the new registrar of the Kwara State College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi. He stated that the governor also approved the appointment of Imam Abubakar as the new provost of the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Ilorin.

The permanent secretary added that Barrister Saka Kayode and Mallam Tajudeen Mahmoud have been appointed as Registrar and Bursar of the College, respectively.

Media Group Urges N/ Central Govs To Support Buhari’s Second Term Bid

The mud and the new building

NGO Builds Home For 100 Year Old Woman

BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin

One of the major projects so far executed through her ‘‘crowd funding’’ strategy on social media, was the construction of a self contained apartment for a widow simply called Mama Ikirun in Ago Oja

A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) - the Grass root Aid Initiative based in Ilorin, Kwara state has built a well furnished house for an old woman of about 100 years who previously lived in a dilapidated mud house at Ago-Oja in Asa local government area of the state.

The organisation equally wants government at all levels to focus on development of technical education in order to reduce the challenge of rural dwellers and make them have a sense of belonging. The Executive Director of the NGO, Dr Kahdijat Kadir ‎noted that the government’s attention must be shifted to grassroots in order to uplift the standard of living of rural dwellers.

Kadiri , a lecturer in the department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin has a passion for photography, which has driven her through her NGO to positively turn around the lives of many rural dwellers by using photography to expose their plight to the public.

One of the major projects so far executed through her ‘‘crowd funding’’ strategy on social media, was the construction of a self contained apartment for a widow simply called Mama Ikirun in Ago Oja, Asa local government area of Kwara state.

The house which was constructed in the year 2017, cost the NGO N1.2 million and was raised from social media followers of the organisation.

The university of Ilorin photojournalism lecturer said the organisation has been operating

and telling people stories with pictures on various social media platforms, but now wishes to involve professional journalists as social media alone cannot do it.

Kadir said her mission is to improve the welfare of the rural dwellers as a voice for the voiceless because government cannot do everything alone. ‘‘During our visit to some of the rural areas we discovered this old woman who lives in a dilapidated house, we took pictures of four corners of her house, shared it on our various social media handles, then our kind followers came to our rescue by donating N1.2Million used to build a befitting house for her,” she stated.

The non- profit making organisation which started its charity works in March 2017 to improve welfare of people at the grassroots, had organised malaria campaign, conducted test and provided other malaria preventive materials to some rural dwellers in the state.

According the executive director, the NGO had also executed water project at Ago Oja ‎in Asa local government area and awarded scholarships and distributed educational materials to 20 pupils.

She added that four other persons acquired scholarships varying from higher institutions, secondary and primary levels all from Oke Ose, Ara of Moro local government area.

Kadir added that a hundred widows and kids were fed by her organisation last December. While advocating better living conditions for rural dwellers, the director

urged government to shift their concentration to rural areas so as to decongest urban areas.

This, she said could be done by providing jobs in agricultural sector, set up a technical training school without involving foreign instructors. Kadiri stated that with the provision of technical education mechanised farming and other pressing needs in rural area, they would have a sense of belonging, stressing that government should not concentrate on urban sector.

Giving a background to the organisation’s activities, the university teacher recalled ‘‘the initiative started with an antimalaria campaign in Ago –Oja in Asa local government area of kwara sate on 29th of April.2017, where we conducted malaria drugs to people who were tested positive to malaria and afterwards malaria nets and repellent creams were provided .In the same community, we created a borehole to ameliorate the effect of water problem they were having .The borehole was launched on 27th of May . ‘‘In June 2017,TGAI distributed clothes and shoes to kids and young individuals in the village of Ago-Oja in the local government of Kwara state. TGAI went a step further to build a one bedroom apartment for an old woman of about 100 years who was living in a dilapidated building in Ago-Oja ,Kwara sate .This project which was titled ‘makemamaikirunsmile’ was the toughest project we embarked on, but we were able to demolish and rebuild a new house in less than 2months of the campaign .

BY DANJUMA JOSEPH, Lafia

The North Central Media Support Group for Buhari, has urged governors in the zone to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term bid.

A statement signed by the group’s national coordinator, Ahmed Tukur, said that Buhari’,s decision to re-contest in 2019 is a step in the right direction.

Tukur said that governors of the zone and other stakeholders should give the president the necessary support to ensure that he succeeds.

He maintained that the support from the north central zone is a support from the country because the zone constitutes a mini Nigeria.

“We are confident that the north central will give the president every support that is why we are urging our governors to go to support his second term bid with one voice,”it said.

The statement added that Buhari, as the leader of the All Progressives Congress( APC) deserves every commendation for his effort at placing the country among comity of nations that respect rule of law and the constitution.

Buhari

Sunday, April 15, 2018

ZONAL WATCH (NORTH-CENTRAL) 17

NEWS BEHIND THE NEWS

Herdsmen/Farmers Crises: Varsities Proffer Solutions

BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, ARCHOR ABIMAJE, Jos

Rural banditry is becoming the norm in the Nigerian hinterland and has been transformed into a vicious criminal activity

Ilorin,

Disturbed by the wanton destruction of lives and property in parts of the country as a result of incessant bloody clashes between farmers and herdsmen, the academic community has taken upon itself, the task of finding a lasting solution to the problem.

In the past two weeks, two Nigerian universities, desirous of finding an enduring solution to the menace, have organised symposia on the debacle, bringing eminent Nigerians of diverse backgrounds together to brainstorm on the causes of farmers/ herdsmen clashes in some parts of the country and proffer appropriate solutions.

The universities that blazed the trail in this worthy endeavour are, Kwara State University, Molete (KWASU) and the University of Jos in Plateau State.

At a symposium organised by the Department of Agriculture at KWASU, eminent Nigerians converged to deliberate on the topic, “Pastoralists and Crop Farmers’ Crisis: A Discourse on Proactive Measures to Prevent Conflict in Nigeria’’.

The lead speakers and participants took turns to dissect and appraise the adverse effects of the frequent conflicts between the farmers and herdsmen and proffered practical solutions in bringing the menace to a halt.

In his lead paper, a former minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, regretted that the crisis between farmers and herders has grown and heightened over the years, warning that it has posed a threat to the existence of the nation.

“Pastoralists/farmers’ conflicts in Nigeria have grown, spread and intensified over the past decade and today, pose a threat to national survival. Thousands of people have been killed, communities have been destroyed and so many farmers and pastoralists have lost their lives and property in an orgy of killings and destruction that is not only destroying livelihoods but also affecting national cohesion and food security.

“Each day, we witness more reprisal killings that are simply making the possibilities of peaceful resolution more difficult. Rural banditry is becoming the norm in the Nigerian hinterland and has been transformed into a vicious criminal activity. The result is that the scale of loss of both herds and human life has been escalating and the victims are on all sides- subsistence farmers, commercial farmers and pastoralists.

Nonetheless, proffering solutions to internecine crises has become urgent”, Gambari said.

The former Nigeria Ambassador to the United Nations, identified politicisation of requisite legal framework as one of the challenges confronting the establishment of grazing reserves, which could be used to end hostility between herders and farmers.

“One of the greatest difficulties in addressing and resolving issues surrounding pastoralism is the politicisation of legal regimes and

blockages to the enactment of or implementation of laws that can redress the key challenges posed.

“In 2016 for example, a bill was proposed- “A Bill for an Act to establish Grazing Reserve in each of the states of the Federation of Nigeria to improve agriculture yield from livestock farming and curb incessant conflict between cattle farmers and crop farmers in Nigeria”.

“The National Assembly, on the basis that the Bill appeared to be seeking to favour one particular profession carried out by mainly one ethnic group, the Fulani, threw it out. The problem is that if we cannot have grazing reserves and if pastoralists cannot move, how do we expect the 19 million cattle grazing in the country to survive and how do we protect our constitutional principle of free movement”, he queried.

Blaming phenomenal increase in population of Nigeria as putting enormous pressure on land and water resources used by farmers and herders, the political scientist called for revival of 1965 grazing reserve law based on section 315 of the 1999 Constitution in the 19 northern states He also said the revival of the law should be complemented with a national review and protection of traditional stock routes.

“The demographic increase has led to an expansion in cultivated farmland and a reduction in available grazing land for pastoralists that is characterised by competition over dwindling resources. In the far North, the impact of desertification, as well as the crisis of energy, which has resulted in deforestation, coupled with climatic uncertainty and lower rainfall, have made it more difficult to sustain increasing populations, pushing many farmers and pastoralists with livestock Southward. This has happened gradually over a period of decadeswith an apparent increase over the past decade- and has added to pressure on land and water in central and southern Nigeria.

“One of the outcomes of this process has been the blockage of transhumance routes and loss of grazing land to agricultural expansion and the increased southward movement of pastoralists, has led to increased conflict with local communities.

This is particularly the case in the Middle Belt- notably in Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Taraba and Adamawa States. The conflicts often have localised dynamics, but primarily involve Fulani pastoralists and local farming communities”, he said.

To end the lingering skirmishes, Gambari, who is also the Chancellor of Kwara State University, Molete among other suggestions, called for the establishment of commercial ranches in some of the sparsely populated zones in the North East and North West, adding that business community should also be encouraged through policy measures to invest in the establishment of modern dairy farms.

Corroborating the position of Gambari, an Ilorin based legal luminary, Mallam Yusuf Ali, who also presented a paper, advocated

Ahmed

development of a new policy framework that would be mutually beneficial to pastoralists and farmers, cautioning that any policy that does not take cognisance of the welfare of both sides, would fail or meet resistance by either side.

Ali, who called for the establishment of grazing reserves, canvassed abolition of indigene/ settler syndrome, which he described as unhealthy ethnic-based divergent interests.

“Once a person has settled in a place for a specific number of years, he should enjoy all the rights and privileges enjoyed by the indigenes.

This is the practice in all developed countries of the world. Since the settlers have some responsibilities they render to the societies, they should also be made to enjoy the privileges like others.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria warned against selective application of the law in the case of anyone found to have committed crime.

“Sanctions for offences committed should be applied accordingly. Where a pastoralist kills in the course of grazing, he should be treated as a murderer. No one should be allowed to escape justice. Laws should be applied irrespective of colour, tribe or religion”, he said.

The Vice-Chancellor of KWASU, Professor Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, said the essence of establishing universities was to bring about peace and development, which informed the decision to convene the symposium.

He stated that the institution was determined to ensure that Nigeria has peace, saying there would be no development if clashes pervade the society.

Na’Allah, identified as a tragedy, the situation where farmers and herders engage one another in violent clashes, adding that the nation’s food security is threatened if the crisis continues unabated.

In his address, the Provost, College of Agriculture of the University, Professor Olawale Mashood Aliyu, said the symposium was organised, owing to its urgency, importance to food security and threat to national survival.

He noted that pastoralists and crop farmers’ conflicts have been on the rise and are spreading at a disturbing rate, pointing out that

Lalong

no agrarian community is immune from the crisis, if proactive measures are not taken to abate the problem.

Senior government officials and monarchs, including Elerin of ErinIle, Oba AbdulGaniyu Ibrahim Olusokun; Olosi of Osi, Oba Saliu Abdulkareem Adasofegbe; Emir of Okuta, farmers and leadership of Miyetti Allah across the state, attended the symposium.

At the forum, organised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Jos branch, Prof Omotoye Olorode, noted that the conflict between the needs (and the practitioners) of livestock agriculture and arable-crop agriculture, is not unique to Nigeria although, it has escalated in Nigeria recently for various reasons.

According to him, overtime, and in different parts of the world, various methods have been adopted to address the needs of pastoralists.

These, he said, include free-range grazing, enclosure livestock husbandry, and various mixtures of both.

The symposium had as its theme: ‘Herdsmen/Farmers’ Clashes Today: Ecology, Class and Categorical Politics of Contemporary Nigeria.’

The don added that it has also been suggested that unimpeded access to free pasture (extensive husbandry) is more economically viable, especially in locations like Nigeria where many consumers of animal products are also low-income populations.

Consequently, ecological factors (climate change, increased aridity, vegetation decline, diseases and removal of ecological constraints) and other factors that limit or enhance access to free and better pasture, are bound to affect the economic behaviour and movement of pastoralists, although ecological crisis is one of the fundamental causes.

According to him, the effect of climate change in far northern Nigeria, has assumed such magnitude that the minimum vegetation cover in Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe, Maiduguri, Taraba and Adamawa States respectively, has already fallen below 10 per cent as against the ideal requirement of 25 per cent ecological cover recommended by UNEP to support Fulani herdsmen and their cattle.

18 FOR THE RECORD

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Analyzing The Relevance Of Traditional Institutions And The Concept Of Modernity: The Appointment Of Lt Gen AB Dambazau (rtd) As The Baraden Kano Dear Sir

M

ore than ever before, the interwoven relationship between modernity ( herein defined as moving with the dynamics of times) and the traditional institution is consolidating itself on daily basis. And this has manifested itself in many ways. In other words, the need to harness the enormous potentials that abound in modernity and apply them to the ever changing world and exigencies of traditional institutions is increasing.

And this probably explains why traditional rulers are looking for talented and experienced people of modern outlook to add value to the traditional institution they lead. This, in itself is an attempt to reflect and satisfy the yearnings of the people.

It is in this context that an attempt will be made to examine the appointment of Abdul rahman Bello Dambazau as the Baraden Kano by His Highness, Muhammadu Lamido Sanusi, the Emir of Kano, himself a product of modernity and the traditional institution.

Who is Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau? Simply answered he is the former Chief of Army staff of the Nigerian Army, a Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology, a renowned author of Criminology with five internationally acknowledged publications, many scholarly articles in professional magazines, an international security consultant and an academic of international repute, a Professor in Harvard University, USA, a visiting Professor at Igbinideon University, Okada, and the current minister of interior.

What does the title of Barade signify? It signifies Valor in warfare, defense and security matters. As a son of a retired army warrant officer, Abdulrahman was one of the four army officers produced by his father. Two of them were army generals while two reached the rank of colonels.

So we can see the hidden and apparent motivations that made His Highness, Muhammad Lamido Sanusi to appoint Abdulrahman the Baraden Kano. Earlier on, he was made the Ochaya (Barade) by a community in Imo State.

The budding propensity to serve his people of Kano started manifesting itself when some years ago the Barade’s traditional house in Sallare, Kano served as as “refugee camp” whenever there were religious crises. People resorted to his house in large numbers seeking refuge and safety and the Barade always added comfort to the demands of the displaced persons by providing food and other basic requirements until they left after normalcy returned.

In 1992 I and a friend of mine

Dambazau

visited Abdulrahman in Ikoyi Hotel, Lagos. They were holding a meeting of Kano state indigenes in Lagos . Alhaji Aliko Dangote was in the meeting with many others.

And the Barade stressed the need for them to help get admission for Kano state indigenes into higher institutions. Much later, when he became Chief Of Army staff, I was the Head of Marketing Department in National Trucks Manufacturers, Kano Those who knew my relationship with him brought so many requests for their children to be enlisted into the Nigerian Army. And a lot of Kano state indigenes were enlisted through my intervention.

I can remember the case of a Lt. Col from the state who was to be relieved of his appointment for not reaching the post of Colonel.

With my intervention he was promoted. He is an indigene of the state.

One of the Barade’s qualifications and experiences is in educational administration. He was the Registrar of the Nigerian Defense Academy during whose tenure the Academy started giving out degrees. It was primarily among his biggest contributions to the development of scholarship.

Currently, he is using this background to help the Northwest University, Kano of which he is a Director to fashion out modern curriculum for the state.

As the Minister of Interior where he superintends the Police, Immigration, Civil Defense, Fire Service, and Prisons the Barade’s security experience can assist his people tremendously in this era of security deficit in the country.

Recently when President Buhari visited Kano state, His Highness discussed the problem of drug

abuse which he noted was rising even among women. And with recent security development like herders and farmers conflict, the Barade can add value to the impact of traditional institution in the state.

One of those personality traits of the Barade is his integrity consciousness. For any person who is close to him he will testify to what I am saying. In 1996 the Barade wrote the first Criminology literature in Nigeria: Law And Criminality in Nigeria.

In preparation for the launch of the book we visited one of the Chief Launchers in Kaduna. The man offered a blank cheque as his contribution but The Barade refused to accept the offer. My attempt to intervene proved abortive. This was when the Barade was a Lt. Col in the Army. Earlier on when I was the U.A.C Senior Company Representative I offered to give GBO dealership to his father. He declined the offer noting that anything could happen in the supply chain process that could tarnish his family image.

The fusion between academics and the army tradition by the Barade did not happen by accident.

The Barade had developed interest in the army as a cadet in Barewa College Zaria . The college had one of the best cadet training systems in country. It gave young boys a preparatory disposition of the basic ideas of the army as a philosophy and as an institution.

When in 1975 the Barade got admission to go to Nigerian Defense Academy 17th Regular Course ( that prepared him to become the 17th Chief Of Army Staff) the Barade consolidated both his academic and military trainings in Barewa College to

become one of the greatest army officers and academics of our time.

At a time he was able to weave the interface between the too His PhD supervisor in Keele University UK, Professor Cohen, wanted him to be more of a professional academic but The Barade successfully reconciled both callings and in each case reaching the apex of each.

Some years ago, after considering The Barade’s contribution to the State and Nation building, I wrote to the Kano State to government to consider a befitting honor by naming a street after him. If this hasn’t been done, I would like the State Government to consider naming the current Katsina road after Barade, Dambazau.

This is because this was the road that he used to lead him to his first appointment to the Bukavu barracks as a 2nd Lieutenant.

Philosophically, it was the road that led to his military and academic successes.

In closing I would like to congratulate both the Emirate council and The Barade for this achievement. The changing times require the traditional institutions to offer high value services to the people. This, in turn implies that the calibre of people that are appointed to such Councils has to be as dynamic as the time. I call on the Barade to use this opportunity to offer his best to his community and to the nation at large. It is an investment here and in the hereafter.

By Umar Afro (MD Barewa Consults Ltd).

32 Kauna Avenue Abakwa GRA Kaduna Tel 08035888894

➔ CONTINU

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Sunday, April 15, 2018

CEOConfidential April 15, 2018

Dr. Bala Bello is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer

PRIORITISING MODERN TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING

22

CEOConfidential

Sunday, April 15, 2018

THE CEOCONFIDENTIAL INTERVIEW

About TINKA POINT TINKA POINT is a Nigerian company with expertise in structural,civil and environmental engineering with its headquarters in Gombe state. It has branches in Northern Nigeria, and is a multidisciplinary and general civil engineering company that has been operational for nearly twenty years.

It commenced as an ordinary business name before fully being registered as a limited liability company in 1996 with Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Years of steady growth have followed, during which TINKA POINT has grown to become the dynamic Nigerian Company it is today. Throughout this time, it has deployed progressive construction methods to ensure that innovation and quality are prioritised for the benefit of its clients. The company’s scope covers all areas of construction, including the pre and post phased. Success is built on the strategy of having vertically

TINKA POINT IN SHORT Bello obtained his first school leaving certificate in 1980 from Bubayero primary school, Gombe.

He attended the famous Teachers College, Gombe , between 1980 and 1986.

He holds a National Diploma (ND) in Agriculture from Bauchi State Polytechnic.

He later attended Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.

His business career began in 1991, when he moved to Federal Capital Territory to establish his Company “TINKA POINT LIMITED.”

construction equipment and so we relied on lease to do our jobs. The major challenge we had was in the year 2000 integrated operations, which when the then Gombe improve efficiency and timelines of state government’s project execution. regime of Abubakar At TINKA POINT, a dedication Abu Hashidu awarded to technically challenging and us some contracts. practical solutions is central to The then minister our client service approach. We representing Gombe pride our selves and our smart was allover the media service approach projects. In mocking us that we everything we do, we utilise all the were doing roads latest technologies and computer construction with software in our design process, brooms and watering which ensures our clients obtain cans which was not the optimal outcome possible. true. But because we The company recorded several were just starting it development achievements since became a very big its inception in 1995 with few challenge for us but manpower and equipment. with the help of God and the then Gombe How has the company fared in state governor who the last two decades.. kept on supporting So far, we thank God for his and encouraging mercies in the past twenty years us, we were able and also for the wisdom he has to overcome the given us to grow from a small challenge and since sub-contracting firm in 1998 to then we have not had become a real giant construction any serious challenge. company in the North Eastern Our company is part of the country.We started as heavily capitalised. a sub contractor with IMPRESIT We have all the BAKOLORI Ltd during the late necessary equipment Abacha’s regime when they were required for road handling Lot 6 and 7 projects in construction, bridges the North East as contractors and erosion control to PTF where we were doing sub hence we don’t have to contracts for them. We started hire any equipment. with a contract of N50mn then But the major problem but today we are handling is that when you are contracts worth billions of awarded contract by naira for federal,state and local government,it takes governments and even individuals. time for payment to I think we have done well in be made and this has twenty years. kind of affected our growth and progress.

Challenges since inception of the company...

Coping in a highly You can never run a business competitive without challenges, especially from terrain.. the begining.

It would interest you When we started, we had no to know that Tinka

51

TINKA POINT NIGERIA

Prioritising Modern Technology In Engineering Dr. Bala Bello is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, TINKA POINT Nigeria Limited. In this interview with LEADERSHIP, he speaks on starting from sub- contracting firm to a roads construction giant, using the latest technologies and computer software in design process to ensure efficient service delivery.

CEOConfidential

April 15, 2018

Point is tagged the ‘Julius Berger of Gombe state’

because of the quality of our work which enables us to be able to compete with foreign construction companies. If you come to the North East axis you will see the kind of road construction we have carried out.We tender for jobs so it’s not as if we are given jobs just like that.

We go through all the processes and sometimes we beat major construction companies to get jobs.Since it is quite competitive we ensure we perform well by putting in our best.

That is why we are still existing and we are still being patronized by both federal and state governments.

Contributing to economic development in Nigeria.....

In 2005 Tinka engineering scholarship came into being to cater for Gombe state indigenes studying engineering in higher institutions across the country.

We started without a single tipper or grader but today we can boast of over 12 graders,10 bulldozers,over 40 tippers and 6-10 water tankers.This is a great achievement for a company that started with little or nothing to get to where it is today.

We have more than fifty (50) aged men and women on monthly allowances for their up keep, and in every farming season, we distribute over 100,000 bags of fertiliser to farmers in Gombe State. We have been to employ up to 420 direct staff and over 2000 casual and daily paid workers.

a single equipment that is worth over N200million.

We have almost all the equipment required for roads construction.This is a great achievement for a company that started with little or nothing to get to where it is today.

Also Tinka Point limited gave birth to other subsidiaries Regionalising our such as Matrix activities...

International Academy Actually we decided in Gombe which to regionalise our uses the British / activities because of Nigeria curriculum capacity. We don’t system with a very want to take more serene environment than we can handle and all the facilities so that it won’t affect required. We also our performance. We have Matrix Medical just finished a road Centre which is about project in Tsanyawa to be completed. local government We also have Tinka in Kano state and farms.Our staff are we are currently well remunerated handling another we pay the highest one in Kaduna,Zaria salaries among and Kuja’ma in the construction Kaduna state.The companies within the project was awarded North East.This is a by the Kaduna state great achievement government.Mostly we in the past twenty localise our activities years and it is worth within the North East celebrating. for accessibility and proper management.

Projects carried out so far...

TINKA’s Biu - Gombi achievements so road,Gurore Mayo far...

Balwa,Zing Mayo Tinka Point, like I said Balwa road,Numanearlier, we started Jalingo,Gombe-Bauchi without a single roads.These are all tipper or grader but federal government today we can boast projects.We are of over 12 graders,10 currently handling bulldozers,over 40 Gombe-Biu road.We tippers and 6-10 water have also handled so tankers.We have an many state roads that asphalt plant and are too numerous to crushers.We have mention.

Sunday, April 15, 2018

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updates Banking

First Bank Earmarks N15bn For Collateral-free Loans To Schools

Emefiele

First Bank has set aside N15bn for loans to schools in Nigeria to acquire attractive educational facilities to support their business.

The First Edu loan: targeted at private Nursery, Secondary and A-Levels schools offers opportunity for private schools to access flexible funding to meet urgent cash flow needs, replace old furniture and equipment, as well as refurbish dilapidated buildings and classroom blocks.

With this product, school owners/proprietors can now stay ahead of competition in providing educational services and support to the target population as well as maintain acceptable standard infrastructure at all times.

This product allows the customer access up to N20 million with no tangible collateral required apart from the domiciliation of school fees collection account with the Bank. This certainly reduces the cost of borrowing to the customer and eliminates the challenges posed by the provision of additional demanding collaterals.

FINANCE

Access Bank Introduces Loan USSD Code With a N1.99 trillion loan book, Access Bank is working on providing quicker and instant access to loans for its customers, as it launched a special USSD code *901*11#, a strategic tool for the recently-launched PayDay Loan product.

Unveiled in partnership with Remita, PayDay Loan requires no collateral or guarantor, enabling customers to obtain loans instantly without visiting the bank – thereby enabling customers to meet their urgent financial needs before receiving their salaries.

In a statement released by the Bank, executive director, Personal Banking, Victor Etuokwu said, “Acquiring loans in Nigeria has always been known to be limiting – either due to access, collateral issues, including the duration of the approval process. With our obligations to our customers especially during difficult economic periods, we are emphasizing Access Bank’s position in offering lifestyle products and services that meets their financial needs.”

Access Bank’s PayDay Loan product offers customers and noncustomers easy access to a unique platform that gives them access to loans against their next salary payment, and enables customers to obtain a loan instantly by simply dialling a USSD Code *901*11# on their mobile phones. The PayDay loan can also be obtained to fulfil any financial and personal requirement to enhance their quality of life.

The product is unique as recipients only have to be diligent salary earners who will now be able to obtain instant loans without stress or involving a guarantor. The bank’s 2017 full year financial showed that it’s loan book had grown from N1.809 trillion in 2016 to N1.995 trillion as December 31, 2017.

BUSINESS Agribusiness: CBN, Banks Commence N26bn Pay Out To SMEs The disbursement of credits under the Agribusiness Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS) an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria in collaboration with Deposit Money Banks has commenced yesterday.

The Bankers’ Committee at its 331st meeting held on February 9, 2017, came up with the AGSMEIS as an initiative to improve access to affordable financing for MSMEs, particularly those operating in the informal sector of the economy and to support the Federal Government’s efforts and policy measures to promote sustainable economic development and employment generation.

All deposit money banks, voluntarily agreed to set aside and contribute 5 percent of their Profit After Tax (PAT) annually to finance eligible projects under the Scheme.

Speaking yesterday at the launch of the program, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele said “the size of the Fund stands at about N26 billion as of today and this is expected to exceed N60 billion by June 2018.”

“I am therefore very delighted that we have come to this stage where we are ready to begin the disbursement of these funds to deserving beneficiaries. These beneficiaries are youths who have been trained on various entrepreneurship, vocational and management skills across the country by Entrepreneurship Development Institutions and Centres, such as Fate Foundation, Lagos Business School, House of Tara and Thrive Agric.”The governor said.

What differentiates this initiative with the past once, Emefiele said upon completion of their vocational training by the beneficiaries, the specific implements needed to practice their vocations, are procured under the scheme. The beneficiaries’ details including their Biometric Verification Numbers (BVN) are forwarded to the deposit money banks to confirm that they are their customers before accessing the fund.

CEOConfidential 23

OIL & GAS

Non-Oil Export Gets N500bn From CBN Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, said the Apex Bank has finalised arrangement with Nigeria Export-Import Bank to assist local manufacturers who are interested in non-oil exports, according to its governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The CBN Governor announced this at a seminar for Finance Correspondents and Business Editors, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom on Monday.

He was represented by the Deputy Governor and Head of Corporate Communication of the apex bank, Edward Adamu.

Emefiele said the bank had repositioned itself to improve the economy after exiting recession.

He said: “In order to continue our gains in local production and help boost non-oil exports, we are in the process of finalising the creation of a N500 billion fund with the Nigeria Export-Import Bank to assist local manufacturers interested in non-oil exports.

“In the area of Development Finance, the bank will continue to provide access to much-needed credit to sectors with the potential to create jobs on a mass scale.

“In this regard, we will explore opportunities to expand the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme to other crops and states.’’

He added that the Monetary and Exchange Rate Policy of CBN would sustain the tight policies that have helped reduced inflationary pressures.

According to him, this is the reason the CBN has kept the Monetary Policy Rate at 14 per cent.

He said that the inflationary pressure would continue to ease, stressing that this might return to very low double digit or high single digit levels during the year.

He assured that foreign reserves would continue to grow following recent accretion to about US$50 billion later this year.

Earlier, the Branch Controller of CBN in Uyo, Okafor Nwokoro, said the bank had been in the forefront of advancing the frontier of knowledge in all spheres of national life and promoting sustainable economic development.

According to him, the CBN has ensured monetary and price stability, maintain external reserves to safeguard the international value of the legal currency.

He said that the bank intervention in anchor borrower’s programme has revolutionised the production of rice in the country.

TECH

TECNO May Consider Assembly Plant In Nigeria Having established smartphone assembling plant in Ethiopia, serving the African markets for TECNO brand, the mobile phone manufacturer may consider establishing a second plant in Nigeria. The idea to establish smartphone assembling plant in Nigeria is coming on the heels of the call from Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, who saw the huge opportunity for TECNO and for the Nigerian government, if TECNO situates smartphone assembling plant in Nigeria.

Shittu had at the launch of the latest smartphone duo - the CAMON X and CAMON X Pro in Nigeria by TECNO, called on the mobile phone company to consider establishing smartphone assembling plant in Nigeria.

Shittu, who congratulated TECNO for its accomplishments in Africa, appealed to the company to set up a production line in Nigeria just as they have done in Ethiopia in other to serve not only her almost 200 million population but also the West Africa sub-region and consequently create jobs for her teeming youths.

“I want to appeal to TECNO Mobile that we are ready to partner you. We will assist you in every possible way to encourage you,” Shittu said.

The General Manager of TECNO Mobile, Stephen Ha, reemphasised the brand’s willingness to look into setting up local production lines in Nigeria, but highlighted a couple of bottlenecks in the process. TECNO decided to choose Nigeria to launch its revolutionary smartphones across its African operations because of the large size of the Nigerian market that has continued to raise the sales of TECNO brand of smartphones.

The new CAMON duo are the latest smartphones in the CAMON family and they both debut revolutionary camera advancements and design.

24

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AN APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE 11-year-old Jamila Needs N5m For Stem Cell Transplant

A

t the tender age of 11, pretty Jamila Umar Mohammed is battling with sickle cell anaemia and more than ever before needs the assistance of kind hearted members of the public.

Born with sickle cell anemia and her parents getting to know about it when she was about six months old, Jamila suffers severe body pains and organs disorder anytime the ailment begins.

This entails that she has to be admitted to the hospital a couple of times in a year to be treated for hand-foot syndrome occasioned by swollen hands and feet.

Miss Jamila who is currently undergoing treatment at Celltek Healtcare Limited in Benin City, needs N5 million as hospital bills for transplantation and one year drugs post transplantation.

According to her father, Umar Mohammed, while Jamila needs N10 million to be treated, he has been able to raise the sum of N5 million through the benevolence of some members of the public, with which she has successfully undergone stem cell transplant at Celltek Healtcare Limited in Benin City while the results are awaited from Basel University, technical partners to Celltek Healthcare.

“We are seeking the help of public spirited individuals to help us raise the balance of N5 million to cover for the cost of transplantation and one year drugs post transplantation”, Mohammed noted in a letter he sent to LEADERSHIP. He further noted that the family has expended all its funds; hence, the appeal to the public to further assist.

He said willing donors could support by contributing their widow’s mite.

Donations could be sent to the following bank account: Account name: Umar Mohammed.

Bank: Zenith Account number: 1003926359 For further enquiries, please contact Mohammed on: 08035888894

sunday politics

Politics Editor Sunday: MUYIWA OYINLOLA

Sunday, April 15, 2018

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Masari

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Shema

2019: PDP, APC Prepare For Show Down In Katsina

A lot has changed in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State since 2015 elections which produced President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Aminu Bello Masari. The recent mega rallies of both parties have disparaged the impression that 2019 polls would be a one horse race and portrayed a clear testimony that the parties are set for war without blood in Katsina, ANDY ASEMOTA writes

S

ince inception of the present democratic rule in 1999 in Nigeria, as a political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), fared well at the polls by winning most elections into governorship, Senate House of Representatives and State House of Assembly sects in Katsina State.

In 2015, the party suffered a serious setback losing the general elections in the state which has been one of its strong holds in the North West geo-political zone.

Ahead of 2019 elections, there is much hope among the leaders and supporters of PDP that the party will do well at the polls; following the performance of the party during Mashi-Dutsi Federal Constituency re-run election which was eventually won by the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP is optimistic that it would reclaim the Katsina State Governorship seat and sweep votes during next year’s elections.

National Chairman of the opposition party, Prince Uche Secondus, who led chieftains of the party across the country to its North West zonal rally held in Katsina penultimate Saturday, said the party would not only rise to the occasion of matching the ruling party in Katsina State fire for fire but would overwhelm the APC in the governorship and other elections.

Extolling the PDP, Secondus said the 16 years of its rule in the state and country, from 1999 to 2015,

would be remembered with nostalgia as an era of peace, unity and transformation. He said it was disheartening that the APC led government which could not tackle the socio economic setbacks of the nation had been busy campaigning for a second tenure.

He argued that allowing the present administration to continue in office beyond 2019 would amount to loss of hope in the nation’s unity and Nigerians’ ability to defeat hunger in the land.

He also took a swipe at the national chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, for denigrating the PDP, saying the statements of the APC chairman is easily dismissible giving the mammoth crowd of PDP faithful that converged on the party secretariat complex in Katsina for the zonal rally.

“Is PDP dead in Katsina,” he queried. Following the crowd’s response, he went on: “PDP is alive in Katsina and will defeat APC in Katsina. We will bring unity to the country and we will put food on your table. PDP will win Katsina”.

Also speaking, the Chairman of PDP Governors forum and Ekiti State Governor, Peter Ayo Fayose, said since APC Government has not done enough to address widespread hunger and socio-economic set back being witnessed across the country, so it does not deserve another mandate next year.

The fiery politician, who emphasised that he made bold to say in

Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was co-incidentally spending a two day private visit to the state in his Daura country home at the time, that the plights of Katsina and their compatriots nationwide has seen no improvement since Buhari became number one citizen.

He insisted since hunger and poverty knew no political divide, its harbingers should not be trusted with power again.

Suffice to say that both the opposition party and the ruling party in the state are getting ready for 2019 general elections. The power play for 2019 polls has begun across the state and observers may skeptically wish to ask this question: Can PDP defeat APC in the state considering the fact that Katsina is the home state of Buhari?

A cross section of ruling politicians and political pundits in the state joined issues with PDP indirectly early this week when they expressed their views on Buhari’s declaration of his intention to re-contest in 2019 general elections.

The Katsina Chairman of APC, Alhaji Shiitu Shitu, said the APC led administration in both the state and federal levels have been scored high in the areas of security, fight against corruption and efforts to re-position the nation’s economy.

Shitu opined that Nigerians believe in the focus of Buhari and his ➔ CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE

Buhari’s 2nd Term Will Consolidate Nigeria’s Greatness – Fatima

Can PDP defeat APC in the state considering the fact that Katsina is the home state of Buhari?

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2019: PDP, APC Prepare For Show Down In Katsina ➔ FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE

There is no gain saying that in Katsina, loyalty to the APC and the leadership of the party is a very strong attribute of many. They believe their interests are being met holistically

commitment towards re-positioning the critical sectors of human and economic development of the country, saying the masses nationwide are just waiting for the President’s declaration of his intention to re-contest in 2019 for them to demonstrate their gratitude and loyalty to him.

He maintained that the present administration came into office courtesy of the goodwill of the average electorate who is now anxious to re-elect the President and the APC for a second term.

According to him, the predicament that befell the country before 2015 general elections was quite pathetic considering the level of insecurity, corruption and economic down turn. He quickly added that that critical era is over for good.

He however agreed that unlike 2015 when many political office seekers rode on the acceptance of Buhari into their present position, the electorate would examine the performance of their elected political office holders next year.

In their separate remarks, the APC zonal chairman in Katsina Central Senatorial zone, Alhaji Mamman Yaro Batsari, and his Katsina South Senatorial zone counterpart, Alhaji Bala Abubakatr Musawa, said already the leaders and other faithful of APC in the state have endorsed Buahri and Governor Masari to re-contest the forthcoming 2019 elections.

According to the duo, the masses across the length and breadth of Nigeria would not be deceived by hollow promises to abandon Buhari whose performance in areas of agricultural revival, fight against insecurity and corruption which have been the bane of mostly the less privileged in the country.

In another vein, Saidu Aliyu, a business man in Katsina, is optimistic that APC is closer to the Katsina electorate than any other political party because it has Buhari as its leader and presidential hopeful for a second term.

“I am optimistic that APC will perform well in 2019 polls across the state. Secondly, I can assure you that APC is now under full guidance of Governor Aminu Bello Masari in the state. I wish to tell those that have bad intention against Katsina people and APC that no amount of campaign of calumny against Buhari or Masari or the party over 2018 elections will prosper.

“We will use over voters cards, thanks to card readers of INEC, as a weapon to resolve once and for all whether we want a peaceful, prosperous and strongly united country. In Katsina, the masses would like to see Buhari and Masari stand the test of 2018 polls in a stronger position to ensure that on-going change stands the text of time,” Aliyu told LEADERSHIP Sunday unequivocally.

There is no gain saying that in Katsina, loyalty to the APC and the leadership of the party is a very strong attribute of many. They believe their interests are being met

Secondus

holistically.

Since the inception of his administration, Governor Masari had been striving relentlessly to improve the well being of Katsina people. In the estimation of many people in the state, this has wooed many key members of the opposition party to the ruling party.

Usman Mani, a school teacher in Katsina, believes that so long politics remains a game of numbers; APC is still the party to beat since it still enjoys the largest followership that appreciates the state governor’s track record.

“No matter how you look at it, you cannot count APC out. You may see few people joining PDP, but a lot more people have defected to APC and you will see a lot more turning their backs on PDP. “Virtually all the people who are defecting to APC or are already staunch members of the party are pledging their loyalty to Governor Masari and that in itself is a good omen. I am hopeful that we will have President and the governor retaining their seats but we may not have all the 34 members of the State House of Assembly and the members of National Assembly members from Katsina coming back in 2018.

“I can see a situation where about 10 members of the Katsina Assembly may not come back into the fold. We have come a long way since 2015. We should not deceive ourselves, the bitter truth is that the few law makers who betrayed their electorates may not even get the party’s ticket for a second team,” he opined.

Mani said he has no iota of doubt that even if the selfish legislators move away to other parties, they would not make any major dent to the fortunes of the ruling party. He however noted that giving the APC ticket to such politicians, whether automatic ticket or through primaries, would be sending wrong signal to the electorate that would pass a vote on it.

“But voting out such law mak-

Oyegun

ers won’t affect the numerical strength of APC in the legislature.

After all only a handful of the state assembly and the House of Representatives members have had their coming back foreclosed for slacking or shirking their responsibilities. Our people are no longer gullible as some may wish or think.”

The 2019 elections, in the preview of many pundits in Katsina, are still too close to call in a democracy that is still without clear cut political party demarcation. They however agreed that even if PDP is determined to reclaim its lost glory in the state, it should look back to 2015; taking the overall development in the nation into consideration, especially as the ruling party is still touted by most citizens of the state and country as a party committed to the good of the masses.

Ahmed Galandachi, a health practitioner in Katsina, who said the assertion of National Chairman of PDP that the party will defeat APC in Katsina next year lacks merit, argued that PDP that was yet to recover from the loss it suffered in 2015 should not boast of wiping out the fortunes of the ruling party in Katsina next year.

Galandachi advised that PDP should first and foremost strive to put its house in order, saying the truth of the matter is that some politicians don’t mind building their castles in the air, after all it is free. Nevertheless, the Katsina PDP zonal rally in Katsina held and had everyone aspiring to lead the nation and the state respectively in 2019 on the platform of PDP, were in attendance.

The presence of the representatives of presidential hopefuls like former vice president Atiku Abubakar was keenly felt at the event as bottle water brand in his name and PDP logo were lavishly doled out to thirsty PDP loyalists.

The Katsina State capital literally sprang to life penultimate Saturday as it hosted the teeming array of politicians from all walks of

life and excited supporters of all those who have their eyes on Buhari’s job in 2019. The foot soldiers of Alhaji Sule Lamido, exgovernor of Jigawa State; Mallam Ibrahi Shekarau, former governor of Kano state; Ahmed Muhammad Makarfi, former PDP national caretaker committee chairman and ex-governor of Kaduna State and Atiku painted Katsina red with their well branded vehicles, posters and placards.

Similarly, the supporters of those with ambition to lead Katsina State in 2019 in the party thrilled the august visitors and residents of Katsina with spectacular display of dances and posters at the event.

Highpoint of the colourful rally which attracted the governors of Akwa Ibom, Emmanu Udom, his Gombe State counterpart, Hassan Dankwambo; ex- governor of Katsina, Ibrahim Shema; former governor of Niger State Dr. Babangida Aliyu, and many dignitaries from far and wide was the defection of one time former governorship hopeful of CPC in Katsina in 2011 and ex – governorship candidate of PDM in 2015, Senator Lado Yakubu Damarke, and a host of others.

The followership of APC, PDM and other parties in the state was depleted as many of their faithful who reportedly defected to PDP at the grand rally were received into the fold of the party by the national leadership of the major national opposition party.

Checks by LEADERSHIP Sunday revealed that the fact that APC lost some of its supporters to PDP did not imply that the party was about to lose control of the state to PDP. The rally may be part of the efforts of PDP to brace up for the challenges of 2019 polls but the new entrants to PDP definitely are not enough to swing the pendulum in favour of PDP, Shehu Safana, a health worker in Katsina submitted in an interview with this reporter.

52 INTERVIEW

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Buhari’s 2nd Term Will Consolidate Nigeria’s Greatness – Fatima Hajiya Fatima Mohammed is a Board of Trustees (BoT) member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). She was former national financial secretary of the defunct All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP). In this interview with CHIBUZO UKAIBE, she speaks on the significance of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term bid, his chances and what it portends for the APC ahead of 2019.

You were the first APC chieftain who called on President Muhammadu Buhari to recontest in 2019 barely months after he assumed office in 2015. In fact, you had threatened to lead a protest by women to make him contest again. How do you feel now that he has declared to seek re election in 2019?

I feel really great. I celebrated his declaration to run again for the seat. I celebrated because I believe in Buhari and I see the light in him.

What convinced you that he should go for a second term that early in his administration?

I was convinced because I know that what we need in this country now is somebody like him to help us return to a path of glory and development. He is not corrupt. He is honest and knowledgeable on Security and development. He was one time min- Fatima ister and governor. When he was Head of State we saw how he leaders who spent years in ofhandled the country. I have been fice without doing things coma believer in President Buhari mensurate with the abundant since 2003 because of his desire, resources available at the time. dedication and capacity to make But President Buhari has done Nigeria a better place. I will keep some fundamental things that believing in him because Nige- they couldn’t not do in a short ria needs someone like him to period of time. But it is unforgrow and develop. Where we tunate that critics are not seewere as a country was shameful. ing the light of what Buhari is So many smaller African coun- doing. But I have come to realtries are doing better than us be- ize that they choose not to see cause of corrupt actions of past it, they have closed their eyes leaders. Some past corrupt lead- to the great things Buhari is doers almost killed Nigeria. But I ing. Former President Oluseam happy that things are now gun Obasanjo spent eight years, changing. But we need someone late President Umaru Musa Yar’ to revive Nigeria and that per- Adua spent a short time, and so son I believe is President Buhari. we couldn’t full assess him. ForBut Nigerians have to be patient mer President Goodluck Jonaand corporate with him to serve than, spent six years and even for eight years as required by the the little that Obasanjo left beconstitution so that he can fully hind was squandered and derevive the country. So I urge Ni- stroyed. Then there were acgerians to give him support to cidents due to bad road; there finish his constitutional tenure were barricades on the road beso that he can make Nigeria far cause approved contracts were not executed. But we thank God greater than where he met it. for President Buhari. We can see But what do you say to those the massive transformation that who allege that the president has taken place in governance. has not met expectations?

There is massive road construcYou asked me this same ques- tion going on now, from Gombe tion back in 2016 and I told you to Adamawa, kano to Maiduthat when Buhari assumed office guri, Sokoto to Kaduna and from people thought he is going to do Abuja to Kebbi. All over there is magic. They thought he was go- massive road construction going ing to turn things around within on with less amount of money minutes. But we all know that is that was spent under the PDP not possible. I remember telling years. In the past PDP would you then that when you acquire have looted the money despite a new house, it takes you some the fact that the contract would time to settle down and acclima- have been overbloated. But what tise in it. So imagine same sce- we have today is a massive work nario in a state or country, espe- on the exact budget. So while the cially one like Nigeria with her critics have refused to see it, Nihuge size and population. So it’s gerians see it and they apprecia gradual process. We have seen ate him.

Buhari has also being criticised on the three key fronts he campaigned on in 2015, namely security, economy and corruption.

Do you think the president has done well on these three fronts so far?

The President has done very well. The herdsmen and farmers clash has been politicized.

Some of the herdsmen are not politicians. I am from Adamawa State and we have Fulani herdsmen and farmers as well. But we have never heard of clashes between them until the issue became politicized. But the herdsman that come from outside Nigeria, popularly called ‘Bororoji’ even attack our own Fulani herdsmen. On the economy, we have seen lots of empowerment programs like the N-power scheme which is empowering our youths, there is also the agriculture revolution going on. But I think the problem we have seen is that we used to see massive looting and squandering of the treasury. But now if you want money you will have to work for it. There is no free money in Nigeria anymore, that era is gone.

So definitely people will feel the impact of that. But we are urging them to go and look for hard earned money. In my state people have gone back to farming.

Last rainy season, many people I never dreamt would take to farming, made a lot of harvest from their farms. One of my political daughters gave me a bag of onions as gift. When I asked where she got it from, she told me it was part of the harvest from her farm. Some peo-

ple have imbibed the honourable need to utilise their energy to get what they want. This is unlike the past where Ghana must go bags are used to loot monies. Nigeria is no longer for lazy people. There is no food for a lazy man in today’s Nigeria. But whoever wants to work will get money. They have also talked about the anti-corruption war. But as we all know the president cannot be the court judge at the same time. The situation we have today is that people who have massively stolen state funds and don’t want to be caught will definitely fight back. So I will advise the government to setup a special court to try alleged corrupt person. The special court should be setup in each state of the federation. It should not be made a central prosecution issue. For instance, since I am from Adamawa, if I commit any act of corruption there I should be taken there to face my corruption charges. The same should apply to other persons in other states so that the pace of corruption trials will be faster. What we have now is one judge having up to 100 cases and we therefore see long adjournments. So I will advise the president to setup courts specifically to try alleged corrupt persons.

But do you think Buhari is still as popular as he used to be in 2014?

I can tell you that President Buhari is more popular today than he was in 2014. The day he declared for second term, we celebrated just like the day he won the election. I got a lot of calls and messages over his declaration. However as we continue to pray for him, we will work hard and double our effort. But I want to appeal to the media to report accurately and not overheat the polity. The media should be mindful of not being used or deceived by politicians to cause havoc in the country. More investigative reporting will help the country. Facts and not tissues of lies from someone’s bedroom should be reported.

For instance, the herdsmen and farmers clash is being exaggerated by the media. What is happening is not what is being reported. The media and Nigeria are partners in progress. So we need reportage of facts on every issue that way the country can develop well.

Do you think the health challenge of the president will be an ➔ CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE

There is no debate about whether or not he should be adopted as consensus candidate. He is already the consensus candidate.

We are all on the same page

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INTERVIEW 53

Buhari’s 2nd Term Will Consolidate Nigeria’s Greatness – Fatima ➔ FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE

issue ahead of 2019?

Which health issue are you talking about? Can’t you see a sound and health president? He is stronger than ever. He can push down a tree now. In an earlier interview, I told you that President Buhari has never been a sick person. I have been working with him closely since he started his political life in 2003 and I have never heard of him being sick.

Something happened somewhere but we thank God for him today. When you are alive you see many challenges but that is behind us now. But I can tell you that he is hale and hearty.

And like he has dared journalist once to a marathon race, this time around he is so healthy that he will be able to engage you in a boxing match.

Do you agree with those who say President Buhari should be adopted as consensus candidate of the APC?

There is no debate about whether or not he should be adopted as consensus candidate. He is already the consensus candidate. We are all on the same page. Those ones that are ambitious of contesting for President are already saying that if he will contest they will not contest. He is father of all APC members. In APC I know of only one challenger and that is Sen Musa Kwankwaso and he has openly said if Buhari, his principal is going to contest the 2019 presidential election, he will not contest it. So I don’t think anybody will like to contest with Mr President in APC and we will beg everyone not to contest against him. We will also beg everyone to join hands and support him to finish his constitutionally guaranteed eight years and the good work he has started. My desire is for my children and grandchildren to enjoy a better and prosperous Nigeria in future even if I don’t enjoy it today.

Looking at APC, do you think it is still as strong as it used to be before 2014 to engage the 2019 general election?

We are united but only the greedy ones will have issues. For those of us in the legacy parties that merged to form the APC, we know ourselves. We are still united. Our support for the party is not about appointment or money but about our belief in its ideology which is built around making Nigeria a country of our dreams; one that is developed caters for its citizens and respected in the comity of nations. So any genuine APC man or woman believes in APC. Any person who comes out to talk

Fatima

against the party is not a party man or woman from the onset. So we are united behind our president and our national chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun. He will contest and win again as chairman of our party. Thank God they have been granted waiver to recontest. He is uniting the party and we are supporting him.

But Odigie-Oyegun has been accused even by some party chieftains of not carrying all the political leaders and influences along?

That is not true. The issue is that most people want the chairman to join them to fight persons that are their political rivals. But you won’t be able to run a party that way as chairman. OdigieOyegun is a father to all. Because you are having differences with me doesn’t mean you should expect him (chairman) to fight me.

You don’t play politics that way, he is an elderly man, he has seen it all. Don’t forget he was permanent secretary, a governor and an intellectual. Before he takes decisions, he has to do a lot of consultations. Definitely that will not suit some people.

But I worked with Odigie-Oyegun in ANPP and I am still working with him as a BoT member and close ally. I know his capacity. So I don’t think we can get anybody better than him for this position.

Some people wanted OdigieOyegun to take decisions that

will affect Baba but he resisted. When Baba was outside the country when he was ill, some people wanted him to call NEC meeting. But he resisted because the leader of the party was not in the country. And you can’t meet without the leaders approval when he is still alive.

But Oyegun doesn’t need to explain everything. But he carried all the burden and all these people have since turned back to fight him. Maybe when they call meeting they might take a decision that may not be favorable to him. There is a sitting president so you have to be cautious of doing things. So all those critics are fighting Oyegun because of Baba because he is protecting the interest of Baba. And that is what any loyal person has to do.

You have to protect the interest of your president. You can’t be chairman and be at different page with your president. It can’t happen. But anybody who tells you that Odigie-Oyegun is not competent is just trying to be selfish.

Doesn’t the reversal of the NEC decision which earlier approved tenure extension for the NWC and others, translate to a vote of no confidence on OdigieOyegun’s leadership?

No. That it is not true. You don’t know President Buhari. He is someone that believes in the rule of law. He will reject any illegitimate act even if it will favour him. When they did the tenure

extension, maybe the way they portrayed it to him was not how he thought it to be. But like he said himself he later consulted some senior advocates of Nigeria, including the Vice President and they cited the federal constitution and that of the party, and made him see the position of the law on the issue. They pointed out that there is nothing like tenure elongation. However you know that Obasanjo spoilt the concept of tenure elongation. Anything tenure, long or short, evokes reference to third term. However, initially we didn’t look at the technical side of the tenure extension.

We were rather bothered about the short time we had to conduct primaries and congress. And you know anytime a party does congress there will be grievances. So we were driven by a need to avoid those grievances. We wanted to go as a united party to face our opponents, not just the PDP but also the third force and the SDP. I can tell you that SDP is even stronger than PDP now because people are leaving PDP to SDP. But Mr President knows that this issue of tenure elongation can be challenged in court so he doesn’t want anything illegal. That is why he called back the NEC. Moreover, that is the work of the NEC. If there is any issue the NEC can convene as many times as necessary to resolve them. When we were doing the merger arrangement then, the NEC of defunct ANPP was meeting every three days, while the working committee was meeting every day. So there is no crime if the NEC is called everyday as long as we have issues to resolve.

But we have resolved that issue now. The bottom line is we are going to do the right thing even though people don’t want to fight each other. We will manage ourselves.

PDP has repeatedly said APC members will defect soon does that give your party cause for concern?

That is a mere exaggeration. The question is which serious APC member will decamp to PDP? If not that the five PDP governors in 2013 did what they did because of circumstances, have you ever seen PDP members defect when they were in government?

The defections in PDP then were because of the rejection of Former President Goodluck Jonathan when he refused to allow the North have their turn to produce President going by the zoning arrangement. That was what destroyed PDP. Other than that situation, did you ever see a PDP governor defect to the opposition? So forget about people telling you that 10,000 APC members have defected those are all lies.

54 POLITICS ANALYSIS www.leadership.ng

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Nwodo

Rochas

Nwodo And The Burden Of Renewed Crisis In Ohanaeze Ndigbo NNAMDI MBAWIKE, writes on the brewing political squabbles within Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural body

W

The chant by the women started immediately Nwodo stated during his speech that what Igbo wanted was restructuring and not secession

hen a former Minister of Information, Nnia Nwodo, was elected as the President General Of Apex- Igbo Social Cultural Organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, many people heaved a sigh of relief as they concluded that he would use his wealth of experience to nip in the bud, the protracted tussle in the organization.

After his emergence, close followers of happenings in Ohanaeze Ndigbo concluded that the hope of Ndigbo would soon be restored as they believed that he has the antidote to their years of neglect.

Although there was a suit pending in court challenging his emergence, many still believed that Nwodo and his team members would bring the Igbos out of the ocean of political, economic and socio-cultural crossroads they appeared to be swimming in. Besides, many believed that Nwodo and his team would provide a strong platform for the emancipation of the Igbos.

Prior to his emergence, his predecessor, Chief Gary Igariwe, faced many challenges including litigations that almost grounded Ohanaeze to a halt. The intervention of Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha at the tail end of Igariwe’s tenure helped in no small measure in rescuing the body.

Unfortunately, recent happenings in Ohanaeze Ndigbo appear to indicate that the Igbo Apex Social cultural Organization has gone back to its ugly past following another crisis that engulfed the organization in recent times. It appears that things have fallen apart under the Nwodo led executive and the

center can no longer hold as many groups have continued to attack Nwodo over some of his actions which they regard as arbitrary.

Nwodo’s trouble was compounded last year when the founder of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Biafra Independence Movement (BIM), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike made it open that his groups no longer recognizes Nwodo as the leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Uwazuruike, who spoke to newsmen in Anambra State stated that their action was necessitated by Nwodo’s meeting with MASSOB leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, whom he (Uwazuruike) claimed was expelled from MASSOB. “It was a deliberate move by Nwodo to spite my person, as the leader and founder of MASSOB/ BIM. That was why he (Nwodo) invited one Uchenna Madu to a meeting, in Enugu, yesterday, knowing very well that Madu had been expelled from MASSOB. “Nwodo is fully aware of his intentions; knowing very well that the Madu is no longer a MASSOB member and he invited him for a meeting as MASSOB leader, when the said Madu does not have executive members or followership.

“For this singular action, members of MASSOB/BIM across the whole world, of which I am the leader, have, from August 30, 2017, denounced John Nnia Nwodo as the leader of Ohanaeze,” said Uwazuruike.

But, Nwodo reacted swiftly by saying that Uwazuruike spoke out of ignorance as none of the seven pro-Biafra groups which attended the Ohanaeze meeting was of-

ficially invited just as his position as Ohanaeze president barred him from occupying any political position.

“There were seven pro-Biafra groups that attended Ohanaeze meeting on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 in Enugu, none of these groups, including Uchenna Madu was officially invited for the meeting.

“They all came on their own and after their presentations; the leadership of Ohanaeze advised them to be peaceful and law-abiding in their actions and dealings”, he said.

Early this year, some women allegedly booed Nwodo while he was making a speech.

The incident allegedly took place during the gathering in Enugu tagged, ‘Handshake across the Niger.’ The chant by the women started immediately Nwodo stated during his speech that what Igbo wanted was restructuring and not secession.

The women opposed Nwodo’s call for Nigeria’s restructuring, rather than attainment of Biafra, adding that they were not sponsored by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

As if that was not enough, the Ohanaeze Youth Congress (OYC) issued a statement recently, accusing Nwodo of mortgaging the interest of Ndigbo.

The statement, which was signed

by OYC President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the Secretary General, followed a meeting of the Youth Wing of Ohanaeze which took place in Enugu.

During the meeting, OYC passed a vote of no confidence on Nwodo and accused him of sidelining oth-

er members of the Ohanaeze National Executive Council.

“It is with great sense of dismay and clear picture of the present debased Ohanaeze politics that we the fledgling members of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, summoned an emergency security meeting and met today, April 2nd, 2018 being Easter Monday, because it has dawned on us and every other conscious Igbo that the President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo has not only lost leadership mantle but veered out of the way and is hell bent to push the Ohanaeze and Ndigbo to a political cul-de-sac.

“We averred that it is high time Ndigbo rose up before Nwodo commits political suicide that would burn our hands and identity and it will only need articulate youths and wise elders and technocrats to rescue Ohanaeze Ndigbo from Nwodo’s clique and thereby, save Igbo Nation from plausible political suicide.

“Out of 24-man executive of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nwodo uses an illegal organ of Forum Of States’ Presidents against the Constitution Of Ohanaeze to subdue, intimidate and humiliate other Ohanaeze Ndigbo executive members and thereby, forming a cabal and constituting a menace against the democratically elected members of Ohanaeze youths and women.

“In view of the foregoing, we the Ohanaeze Youth Wing, OYW presently at the receiving ends of Nwodo’s political forays and not in a haste to adopt or support any presidential candidate to avoid a repeat of the Igbo’s 2015 fate choice, that he pressures for, hereby, passed ➔ CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE

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FEATURE 55

As Kaduna Govt, MTNF Partner On Improved Maternal Healthcare

In this report, Chima Akwaja, who was in Kaduna looks at efforts being made by the state government, in partnership with MTN Foundation, to give women more access to maternal healthcare.

The maxim that health is wealth has proven true for ages, especially because there is a strong connection between the development of a nation and the health of its citizens. Perhaps, it is for this reason that foremost English author, lord chesterfield said that good health is the first and the greatest of all liberties.

Maternal health is an integral part of the health of any nation and demands serious concern and thorough attention. This is because maternal health is one of the major worldwide health challenges, bringing untold pain and sorrow to a large number of women and their families. Currently, the worrying statistics of maternal mortality are a common subject in global health and development discussions. Although some countries have made A cross section of mothers at the MTNF Yellow heart launch in Kaduna remarkable progress, half of the maternal deaths in the world still support the Kaduna State govern- hinder women and children from take place in Sub-Saharan Africa ment on this initiative, Director, accessing healthcare services in the where the level of progress made MTN Foundation, Alhaji Danladi society”. is less than impressive.

Mohammed said that the foundaWhile appreciating the FoundaFatima a resident of Jema’a lo- tion is indeed excited to go into a tion for the yellow heart initiative, cal government, who commend- partnership that brightens the lives Commissioner for Health in Kadued the effort of the Kaduna State of people, especially within the na State, Dr Paul Dogo, said that government in providing primary community where it operates. His the state is very happy to partner health care, maintained that more words: “We take out time to iden- with the foundation on the initiaattention needs to be directed to- tify with the plights of members of tive, the commissioner who was wards improving maternal health the community where we carry out represented by the Permanent not just in Kaduna but in the coun- our operations and we are sensitive Secretary, Kaduna State Ministry try at large “Many pregnant women to these plights. It is because of this of Health, Alhaji Shehu Usman said in the country still trek for miles to that the foundation created a man- that the initiative is aligned with get to a health facility while some date to spend towards improving what the Kaduna State Governothers endure labour for days the state of healthcare, education ment is doing to improve healthcare in the state. which may lead to birth complica- and economic empowerment. tions” she maintained.

“For the first time in the histo“Kaduna state is part of the six Fatima was among the hundreds states selected for the MTNF Yellow ry of the state, we have a Governof pregnant women who gath- Heart initiative, it is a laudable ini- ment that is equipping and renered at the Ariwa House in Kadu- tiative and we are looking forward ovating 255 healthcare facilities na State, Thursday, when the MTN to a healthy collaboration with the across the state, when the govFoundation partnered the Kadu- government and the good people ernment came on board the first na State government to launch its of Kaduna State. We hope to use bill that was passed was the bill to MTN Foundation yellow heart ini- the Yellow Heart initiative to ad- have primary health care under one tiative in the state. dress predominant issues such as roof, that is through an integratSpeaking on MTNF’s decision to attitude and cultural practice that ed approach. Since then the state

Kaduna state is part of the six states selected for the MTNF Yellow Heart initiative, it is a laudable initiative and we are looking forward to a healthy collaboration

Government has created specialized hospitals to cater to the varying healthcare needs of the people.

These are some of the initiatives of the state Government towards improving healthcare in the state and we are happy about the yellow heart initiative which we promise to give our best support”, he said.

The Yellow heart launch in Kaduna featured a workshop where experts encouraged mothers and expectant mothers to exclusively breastfeed their newborns and ensure adequate routine immunization for them to protect them from preventable childhood diseases.

Aminat, a mother of two in Kaduna, said she would have lost her second baby during delivery. “I was in labor for two days. on the third day I was told that I had no choice than to opt for CS, even though I thank God for safe delivery, I know that so many other persons in my situation may have lost their babies in the process.” I’m grateful to MTN Foundation for an intervention like this, Today I have learned a lot about family planning options and why giving birth at the hospital doesn’t make you a weak woman as opposed to the widely held belief in this part of the country”, she said.

Commenting on what the partnership means for the state, Wife of the deputy governor of Kaduna State, Madam Ladi Barnabas, said that the initiative would immensely help to improve the health and survival rate of women and children in Kaduna State. She urged women to come out en-masse for the health awareness walk scheduled for Saturday, 7th.

Kaduna is part of six other states selected for the MTNF Yellow Heart initiative, after its launch in Abuja. The other states are Ogun, Oyo, Abia, Niger and Cross-River.

Nwodo And The Burden Of Renewed Crisis In Ohanaeze Ndigbo ➔ FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE

votes of no confidences on Chief Nnia Nwodo and his Ohanaeze Ndigbo presidency and we give him 7 days to appear before the Ohanaeze Disciplinary committee to explain and answer for his political infidelity against Igbos.

“Why did he go against the Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s tradition and Constitution and abused his office by paying loyalty to Alh Atiku Abubakar immediately after his election on 10h January 2017, and after he was queried by his NEC, he told them that his 1st official visit to Atiku,a Northerner, was to discuss the ill-health of President Buhari, who he believed is in bad condition; “He has rendered the office of the secretary General Impotent, which according to Ohanaeze Con-

stitution is the engine room of the organization and custodian of Ohanaeze Secretariat. He carefully appointed Director of Administration without Ime Obi approval thus assuming the powers of Secretary General through his political appointee, Director of Administration; the statement alleged.

The Youth Wing further Alleged that “He has closed down the Publicity Department of Ohanaeze by not giving the Publicity Department the liberty which his friend the spokesman of Afenifere enjoys, rather he is now the President General and Publicity Secretary using his media aide against the official spokesman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo; “He has failed to audit the accounts of Ohanaeze within the last 12 months against the Ohanaeze Ndigbo constitution, which recom-

mends for a periodic audit and accountability.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a social cultural organization but he has converted it into a political organization; he already has a presidential candidate from the Northeast and is trying to impose him on Ndigbo through his deceitful message on restructuring, and will subsequently bring his brother as the running mate; “The height of disgrace was at the handshake Across the Niger; in the history of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, no President General has been humiliated like him; the obvious outrage by our women going naked in an event that had chieftains of Afenifere, Middle belt, PANDEF and others, it is a clear testimony that he has soiled the premium position of President General of Ohanaeze and must step aside;

“The loss of confidence from Igbo youths, especially the Biafra agitators who have threatened to burn down South East if Nwodo hosts any public function on restructuring, is the height of elder’s rascality and to avert any public disturbances in any town by the threat of Biafra agitators, and consequently declare state of emergency in any state in South-east, because of public loss of confidence on Nwodo, he should step aside.

“Therefore, we the teeming Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths passe vote of no confidence on Nnia Nwodo and call Ndigbo and Nigerians to ignore him; he should not speak for Ndigbo again until he clears himself of these constitutional breaches he committed. We also call on the federal government and state governors to be wary of Nwodo.

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Sunday, April 15, 2018

sunday interview Kano LG Election Most Successful, Under Me – Ganduje

The governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, recently spoke with select journalists on the contentious issue of the recent local government elections that held in the state, the governing APC and 2019 general elections.

Kano State has surprisingly been out of the news in terms of the general security issues facing the northern states. How has your government been able to do this?

Nigerians were inundated with images of underaged voting in your state. What really transpired in the recently conducted local government elections in Kano State?

We have been able to move forward, for those who felt we should be able to continue like that, we said no and Mr, President finally hit the nail on the head that he is not in favour of any elongation because it is undemocratic

For the sake of clarity, that local government election in Kano was the most successful local government election ever held in Kano state. Not because we won all the seats. After all, previous administrations also won all the seats. When you have a local government election where nobody was killed, nobody was hurt, no building was burnt and had a large turnout of voters, we are bound to say that it was a successful election.

I have been around in Kano for a long time and can say in some cases Local government election was not held at all because of insecurity and some local government secretariats were burnt. I am still reconstructing some of such secretariats burnt during previous administrations.

In our own, nobody was hurt, nobody was arrested and nothing happened. We had a smooth local government election because of the level of public enlightenment we carried out.

Regarding the clip you are talking about, let me say that it was totally hypothetical. How can you see a queue of all children with no single adult? That was hypothetical because it was arranged in an artificial election arena that was created. We did not use any card reader for the election and the child was holding a card reader.

So, you can see that it was a photo trick. There was no underage voting in Kano. Yes, INEC set up a committee and they came to Kano.

The chairman of our electoral commission showed them our records and proved to them that the clip was taken some years back.

We used our ICT experts to find out the first time that clip went into the internet. We discovered that the clip first went into the internet in 2015 because you can always verify that.

So, I want to assure you that there was no underage voting in Kano. It was a kind of blackmail and anybody who is in doubt about the credibility of the election should go to court.

Your party, the APC was recently bedeviled by the tenure extension debacle for its elected officers. Give us an insight to what happened?

Yes there was controversy on

Ganduje this, but we have been able to put the controversy to rest. But let me tell you the issues involved.

Those who are advocating for tenure elongation are advocating on the premise that when we hold congresses and conventions, there will be a lot of problems which may longer into election period. Well, that is a perception and it could be that way and it could be that some people wanted to remain in power and so, that reason could be advanced, however, I don’t belong to that school of thought. The constitution of our party has made provision for four years and we have to hold congresses and convention and the Nigerian constitution has also provided for that.

So, we have no reason whatsoever not to hold convention. If you say there will be some problem, you should realize that problems are

part of the ingredients of politics.

There is no way you can practice democracy in a developing country and run away from problem. There must be problems, divergent views and disagreements. There will be never be a time when you have one hundred percent normal period. So, even if there is problem, it is part of democracy. We have been able to move forward, for those who felt we should be able to continue like that, we said no and Mr, President finally hit the nail on the head that he is not in favour of any elongation because it is undemocratic and may lead us to litigations which may not be good for the party and we are happy that we were able to convince the few governors that were for elongation and they are convinced and now, a time table for congresses at all levels will be out.

Yes, when we came in, it was the hay days of Boko Haram and so, we had to work round the clock with security agents. I think what is important is the coordination among the security agencies.

That helped a lot in improving the security situation. There was a good coordination among the security agencies and a good coordination with the communities and that brought out a lot of information from the communities. I am sure you heard that a lot of Boko Haram commanders were arrested in Kano because Kano was a good hiding place for them, as a mega city where you can easily blend among others.

With modern security gadgets, the security agents are able to fish them out. We are working hand in hand with the communities. Also, we have addressed the problem of cattle rustling and we discovered that the fulanis themselves were part of the problem because they were also snatching cattle from the brothers. We sat down with them and I was able to provide them with some empowerment. Since we entered into that agreement, we have not had any issue of cattle rustling in Kano. We appointed a committee that worked round the clock to ensure that all the cattle that were stolen are returned. We have the Falgore forest which is as big as the sambissa forest. I told the President that I wanted the military to use the place for training and he agreed and I also met with the Chief of Army staff and he agreed and right now, the military are using the place for training.

The state government will contribute to the development of some facilities in the forest to make it a permanent training ground. The issue of kidnapping has also reduced. We also are working with the security agents to enact a law setting up a neigbourhood security which will include all the stakeholders in other to maintain peace and stability in such areas. We have bought a number of vehicles for the security agents and hold constant security meeting to access the security situation in the state.

SUNDAY INTERVIEW 57

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Kano LG Election Most Successful, Under Me – Ganduje ➔ FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

very effective. It goes into the civil service and even into the private sector and nobody is being spared.

So, I am happy to say that Kano has been rated as having the best anti corruption outfit. I agree with you that corruption is fighting back at the national level and even at the state level. We have People hide under the guise of politics to be attacking the government because we want them to return what they have taken from the government.

Of course everyone know how it is at the national level and that corruption is fighting back. But we have to be persistent in the fight.

What is important is to refine the system so that those who want to loot government fund will find it difficult to do that. The issue is that our institutions are very weak. We must have a very strong institution so that am junior officer can tell you, sir, this is not in accordance with the rules and regulations and you accept what the junior office is telling you and abide by it because it is not an offence. So, unless our institutions are strong institutions, the anti corruption fight will be difficult. I believe that Mr. President is doing a lot in the area of fighting corruption.

We will continue to pray because sometimes, it is the issue of accident which you cannot avoid.

You recently invited Herdsmen to relocate to Kano. What is the rationale behind this invitation?

This is a national security problem. In Kano, we are blessed with some dams and grazing areas.

You must know that the middle belt is more blessed with grazing areas and that is why the problem is concentrated in the middle belt because the climate is different.

The climate is more friendly there than in the extreme north. We have started providing some facilities and have identified five grazing areas and we are discouraging our herdsmen from going outside the state. We want to use the falgore forest especially now that the security situation has improved.

We have designed how to construct some dams. We had to start with feasibility study and that is what we are doing. There are some rivers and dams in the forest which we have to harness to provide some facilities for herdsmen. That is why we are inviting them to come. When we launched our free vaccination, we vaccinated over one million for free.

We also sponsored the children of herdsmen to go and be trained in artificial insemination. The first qualification for that training was that you have to be the child of a herdsman because we didn’t want a situation where we train you and you abandon the trade.

We sent 70 of them to Turkey for training and right now, they are practicing artificial insemination.

We constructed two modern artificial insemination centre where modern animal husbandry is being practiced. It is a programme we have taken seriously and it is a programme that will be a blessing to Kano state if they can come to Kano and we are able to provide them with some facilities that will sustain them. We know that ouir environment is not the best for herdsmen. But since the Isrealis can convert the desert to one of the best irrigation in the world, we can do the same in Kano. It is not that we have the best environment for herdsmen.

Your administration has been passionate about Kano Economic City.

What is the state of things as regards the project?

Today, this is a reality. That project was initiated some 12 years ago by the Shekarau administration. But because it was not properly handled, it broke down. There was litigations and counter litigations. During the previous administration, we were not able to solve the problem. When I came in, I decided that I must solve the problem. Som I engaged those development partners and had to prove to them that they cannot undertake that project and so, we negotiated and revoked that agreement peaceful and advertise for new investors. We got Brain and Hammers, they came in and we provided them with land with

What is the Pension situation in Kano under your administration?

Ganduje

certificate of occupancy, we paid the remaining compensation that was not paid. They are investing about N65 billion on the Kano Economic City and I can assure you that work is going on right now.

We have provided the land in the eastern part of Kano metropolis and they have the construction. As wW are having an economic agreement with Lagos, it Kenneth of the areas we shall sit down and see how investors from Lagos can come in there and how foreign investors can also come in. But what is important is that work is already on.

Did your administration inherit White elephant projects, and what are you doing to them?

I will not like to describe any project as white elephant project.

Of course, because of the change in economic situation in the country, there are some projects that cannot be completed as earlier perceived.

But we are working very hard in that. There is the housing project on the fringes of Kano. Those houses are very costly and there is a lot of liabilities on them. Even if we sell all of the houses, the money will only be enough to pay the contractors that has not been paid. We are battling to solve the problem.

But I can say that it has added to the infrastructural development of the city. But because of the economic situation we are in right now, I can tell that it is a project we are pushing forward with tears. What we have decided to do in other to come out of the woods is that’ because the houses cannot be purchased even at the production cost, is to bargain with the contractors to buy the houses and we will now see who will balance who. I will not call it white elephant project, but

a project that require fine tuning before you are able to get out of the wood. They Hydro electricity project is an economic project which we inherited and we believe that it will improve the economic activities of the city and the state because it will produce electricity which is good for our industries and so, we consider it a very important project for the socio-economic development of our state.

Recently you lost a commissioner to alleged corrupt practices. What is your government doing to check graft in Kano state?

Yes, corruption is fighting back.

It is one of the cardinal principles of our party. Mr. President made it very clear during his campaign to improve the security situation in the country, improve the economy and fight corruption. We have taken a cue from what Mr. President said during his campaign and since we came in, the security situation in Kano has improved, the economy is improving. We have taken the issue of corruption seriously and established an anti corruption commission. We employed what we called a junior Magu who is fearless. He is an activist who does not fear anybody and because of his activities, I lost a Commissioner, some permanent Secretaries had to leave and even my Accountant General had to leave and is facing some charges. I gave that commission a free hand. We are constructing anti corruption offices in all the 44 local government areas and we have sent five of our officers to the EFCC for training.

We are sending some others to ICPC for training. Our law is on ground and the commission is independent and the commission is

We pay our pension and salaries as and when due. When we came in, we found a huge backlog of pension.

But e drew a line and started paying them. Some of the money was taken and houses constructed with the money. Part of the houses is what we are finding it difficult to dispose of right now and the pension people are looking for their money.

However every month, we do the deduction we are supposed to do to pay them and we are encouraging them to invest and they are doing that and getting some returns.

That is how we are managing the situation.

Earlier in the life of your administration, you lamented about paucity of funds. What was the debt profile when you came in and what is the situation on the ground?

We inherited about N300 billion as debt. That was what was reported by the transition committee and I knew that it might create a problem.

So, I addressed a press conference where I said that it was not a crime to leave a debt behind by previous administration because you cannot get a clear cut expenditure like that. Therefore, I said that the government will be a government of continuity. We shall continue paying the debt and completing the projects which by implication, will take care of paying the debt. I am happy to inform you that we are managing that very well. We did not allow that to prevent us from embarking on new projects.

I remember that I had to pay an outstanding certificate of over N500 million on the longest flyover before the contractor agreed to come back to site. What is important is how to manage it instead of wasting time shedding tears on something that I can manage.

I lost a Commissioner, some permanent Secretaries had to leave and even my Accountant General had to leave and is facing some charges

58 POLITICS INTERVIEW How do you feel as a former coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme?

I am grateful to God and President Muhammadu Buhari for the Opportunity given to me to contribute my quota to the development of the Niger-Delta region. I am satisfied that I have served my father land to the best of my ability during my tenure as the coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. Peace building is a collective responsibility, it is not what one person can do, all hands must be on deck to make sure that peace return to the region in order for development to take place. As it is today, I am a very happy person, most of the plans I had for the region were carried out under my watch, though there were some hitches which one cannot rule out but in all I will say we did our best as team. I also felt victorious when I succeeded in convincing beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme not to go into the creeks to vandalise pipelines that brought a lot of stability to us as a country because of the role crude oil plays in the revenue base of the country. The former Amnesty Boss said that as a seasoned military security personnel been given a sensitive programme like PAP to manage, he was able to adequately establish peace and stability in the Niger Delta Region.

Sunday, April 15, 2018

No Amount Of Time, Efforts, Resources Expended For Peace Is Too Much – Boroh Former coordinator of the amnesty programme, Gen Paul Boroh in this interview with select journalist noted no amount of time, efforts and resources expended for Peace is too much and also spoke on his experience and efforts in sustaining peace in the Niger Delta. JONATHAN NDAISAIAH presents the excerpts.

How did you receive the news of your removal from office as SA to the president on Niger Delta and coordinator of the presidential Amnesty Programme?

I am grateful to God and to Mr. President for the privilege given to me to serve. You see the President is the commander in chief he is the one steering the ship of the country, he has the power to hire and fire.

Don’t also forget that someone was removed for me to come in, so when the time came for me to leave I also left for someone else to come in. Let me tell you the day you enter into an office start preparing for your exit, that’s life “soldier go soldier come barracks remain” so I took in in Good faith knowing that I did my best in office. Nobody stays in an office forever, whenever given the opportunity to serve do it diligently because that’s what people will remember after you have left that office. I can boldly tell you that my work will speak for me, those that passed through the programme under my watch will not forget our modest contributions to make sure the Programme continued so in summary I would say it was worth it.

A lot of people feel the government is spending too much money on restive youths of the Niger- Delta. What’s your take on this?

During my watched I have always said no amount of time, efforts and resources expended for Peace is too much. What can you do without peace, like the saying goes no development takes place in the absence of peace.

Former president Umar Musa Yar’ Adua who started the Programme and his cabinet then knew the importance of peace in the region to the development of Nigeria.

The beneficiaries of the amnesty Programme were once agitators who believed that destroying national assets and vandalizing pipelines was the only way they could convey their grievances to the government

Boroh

about the perceived negligence of the region. But under my watch, we were able to improve on what our predecessors did in office, we strengthened the leadership capacity of ex-agitators and youth, we impacted communities affected by conflicts and violence in the Niger Delta, our Agricultural intervention Programmes in line with the Economic diversification policy of the present administration is doing well. Our goal As an intervention programme is to empower youth with peace-building and conflict management skills, life-skills as well as digital skills to help build a network of young leaders able to strengthen their communities and agents of nation building.

What would you say is the impact of the various trainings and skill acquisitions for these Ex- agitators?

In addition to restoring peace in the Niger Delta, the beneficiaries received support to build social community businesses in agriculture, agribusiness, construction, and retail sector. The Programme has also successfully developed leadership skills for many beneficiaries who have become advocates and leaders in the region, which when we looked back we are thankful to God almighty for ensuring the success we recorded so far.

What would you say are your major achievements in office as the special adviser to the President on Niger Delta, and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme?

The relative peace the region

During my watched I have always said no amount of time, efforts and resources expended for Peace is too much

experienced during my tenure is one of my greatest achievements.

Like I would always say ensuring sustained peace in the Niger Delta is a panacea to development. You know all my life even in the military has always been about peace building as an Experience Peace Practitioner & Management Consultant since January, 1990, I was involved in the resolution of the Liberian conflict between 1994-1995, and the resolution of the Sierra-Leone conflict in 1999-2000, I worked under the United Nations (UN), Peacekeeping Mission in 20092010. I served as a the Chief of Staff, United Nations Mission in Liberia Between 2010-2012. I also served as Commandant of the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre in Kaduna state, Nigeria. I also Conducted peace support operations training for the Nigerian military and induct them into the United Nations mission in Darfur. So you see where I am coming from. But for the sake of this interview let me mention some key areas where we excelled in the Programme.

One of the greatest impacts I have created in the last one year is the re-orientation of beneficiaries to agriculture and aquaculture as an alternative to revamping the ailing economy. I had youths who went through advanced agriculture technological training in these fields making sure the nine oil producing state governments in the region made lands available to them for extensive farming or have promised to do so. We designed a Model Farming Initiative that provided 5,000 sustainable jobs in the region; that keyed into Mr President’s programme of creating employment and wealth through farming as well as ensuring food security.

In the areas of Academic Programmes under my watch the PAP office deployed over 1,294 delegates to various universities in the Nigeria. I recorded more than 700 graduates with 14 of them graduating with First Class and 84 with Second Class Upper. In fact, the Benson Idahosa University retained four of our students as lecturers, who had First Class.

The performance of the students abroad was stunning as many of them graduated with first class and second upper.

During the period under review, the Amnesty Office empowered over 1,453 delegates with various starterpacks including shop rents, while 966 of them were taken through refresher training.

All these we did was mainly due to the winning strategy of President Muhammadu Buhari’s hands-on approach to the region. the visits of the Vice President to most oil producing states, with the full participation of the state

governments and people, was also a winning formula under my watched. those visits solidified the relationship between the region and the present administration that would never stop speaking in the lives of the people of the region.

A few months before you left office there were various accusations that you were corrupt, some interest groups within the Niger Delta region Protested coupled with Rumours that you are being investigated by the EFCC. How would you react to that?

You see when you are heading an intervention Programme like the Presidential amnesty programme, you meet with the bad, the good and the Ugly. Not everyone was happy about our modest achievements in office, a few days before I left office I was always ee echoing it that the Presidential Amnesty Programme was not a political Programme where you share money to people, you know the president’s stance on corruption and this did not go well with so many people who felt they were entitled to resources meant for the rehabilitation of ex agitators. So those protesters you saw are handy works of our distractors. I was appointed to deliver and that was what I did during my time as coordinator of PAP As for the EFCC story making the rounds, I am sure you would have seen the statement issued by the EFCC spokesman so that says it all. Yes my house was searched in compliance with the directives of Mr. President, nothing was found those peddling rumours that 9 Million US Dollars was found cash in my residents were only acting a script given to them.

My advice is that journalist should not allow themselves to be used to propagate falsehood. Journalism is a noble profession and those practicing should always try to get their facts correctly by speaking to those involved for Fairness and balance reportage.

As the immediate past coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme what would you say are the challenges facing the Programme?

Like other Programmes of the government, inadequate funding is a challenge this has resulted in failure to pay tuition fees of local and international students as at when due which was moderately addressed under my watched. Beneficiaries that were affected were mainly in the UK, USA, Philippines, Belarus and South Africa. Also, training in most of the vocation centres stopped on different occasions and thus affecting delegates which led to the swell in the number of those projected to be trained in 2017 which was 4,770 persons. Inadequate funding also limited the capacity of the Office to empower delegates and exit them from the Programme during My watched.

INTERVIEW 59

Sunday, April 15, 2018

My Motivation Was To Carve A Niche For Myself – Opetuga Mr. Ademola Opetuga, a graduate of the Universities of Lagos and Ibadan, is the Chairman/ Chief Executive of Scarlet and Snow Oil and Gas Limited, a company specializing in the sales and distribution of lubricants. He explains what prompted his journey into the world of lubricants distribution in this interview. OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU brings excerpts.

How did this business, Scarlet and Snow Oil and Gas Limited begin?

I lost my father in 1999. My father was a gentle man, he did not like women, but he only had five wives and 11 children. When he died, the burden of taking care of my siblings now became mine as the first son, and everybody in the family agreed that I should take over the Filling Station he was running, that was AP Filling Station, Western Avenue, Surulere, Lagos.When I got there, I decided I was not going to be an inheritor, but I was going to carve a niche for myself and I quickly zoomed in on lubricants which people just sit back in the filling station to sell, and they just get by. I saw an opportunity in the Igbo traders as resellers, and with the Peugeot 404, which my father had then, we started navigating Ikeja axis, selling the AP brand of lubricants to them at that time.At that time, the vehicle would die on the Ikorodu road; it would remain there for like two days, before we would be able to tow it back to the filling station. Thank God, it is not the Ikorodu road of nowadays, the car would have been towed away before I got back and whatever products in the vehicle would have gone.That was how we started with the rickety 404 Peugeot, and within a short space of time, it proved a good idea. We discovered that there was a market which was hungry for supply; a market that was laid back, where they were used to sitting down in their shops, waiting for somebody to deliver goods to them. And by the grace of God, we did so well; three years into the business, I got an award as the best distributor in Nigeria, in terms of volume trade in a lubricant, and we got that award, three years back to back. That was it. From the onset, I decided to create a niche for myself; I knew the filling station business was for a while, and I was able to educate five, six of my siblings; but thereafter, with the lots of pressure and harassment, I decided to hands off the filling station.

Any other person would have sat down and be contented with the filling station, but you decided to branch out, what was the motivation?

The motivation was that I decided that I was not going to be an inheritor, but that I was going to be a creator. It was so clear to me that I had to carve a niche for myself. As for the name Scarlet and Snow, I had a father in the Lord, I went to see

him for prayers and the man of God picked up the Bible, and he opened it and said, ‘This is the message of the Lord to you, if your sins are as red as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow’. Two years after that encounter, I went back to see the man of God again, he prayed for me; he picked the Bible and he read the same message. So, when the business started, and I was thinking of a name, I initially thought of Genesis, by the time we went to search at the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, the name Genesis was not available.

Then, it just struck me that why don’t I use that name that came by the unction of the Lord? And that was how the name came to me: Scarlet and Snow. How smooth or easy was the transformation from AP brand to Mobil brand, considering that there were other competitors?

It was very smooth, well, I had identified the track, I had identified the route, I had identified the consumers, who were just sitting down in their shops, but who had the money, and would love the products to be delivered to them. So, it was like riding on a perfected route that I now continued with the Mobil brand. I told the consumers that I now do Mobil and these are people who sell multiple brands; so, they welcomed the Mobil brand, and that is how the story has been until last year, when we became number one distributor of lubricants in Mobil Nigeria Plc. Why did you choose Mobil when AP was having problem and what makes Mobil different from AP?

Well, maybe because I worked with an international company, Unilever; and Mobil, being international company, I have become used to some ethical standards and some modicum of ethics that are associated with multi-nationals.

So I knew that going to Mobil, I was going to meet some essential standards that are high and ethical; for example the chairman of Mobil addresses Mobil employees and distributors worldwide every two years and the message is: ‘the result is as good as the process’; that is, ‘we don’t want you to take shortcuts, we don’t want you to bribe, we don’t want you to cut corners, in your business, be straightforward’ and that is why Mobil worldwide is never involved in scandals.

They would rather pack out of a country, than bribe or get involved

Opetuga

in scandals or dirty shady deals.

So, I enjoyed that kind of environment, that kind of thinking, that pervades such environment and that was why I latched on to Mobil and Mobil was very exciting, because they always show concern about product availability.

They do ‘missed product list,’ every year, where they analyse what the consumers asked for during a particular year and they were not able to produce. You can imagine an organization that reasons that way. So, they will calculate what are the things the customers missed and what are the things the organization missed. After coming up with the good result and good profit for the shareholders, they will still bother to look at the things they missed; and say, ‘we missed opportunities doing this or that,’ and the regret makes them to work better for the New Year.

How has what you gained from working with a multinational company impacted on your business?

It is the person that you associate with that will define you. Because I love ethical controls, and the way the organization works is ethical and very open, it has had great impact on my own business concern. For example, whatever we do, we make sure that we declare to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, every day, so it removes a lot of headaches. We don’t have to look behind our shoulders that somebody from FIRS is coming to check our books, because we don’t wait for them before we declare our account open to them.

What challenges have you face in the course of this line of business?

The major challenge is the Igbo traders. The Igbo traders would want to be the number one distributor and as such, are ready to sell the product below the cost price; so you find out that over discounting is one of the problems that we face.

People will sell a product of N3000 with N20 or N30 and when FIRS comes, they will be overwhelmed. When they see a million-naira turnover, their eyes will pop out.

Another major problem is adulteration of the product. There was a time we contracted a trailer driver to take the product to our customers in the North. When the guy got to Mobil, he saw Mobil lubricants and he was excited and said, ‘This product is in Aba, there was a place where I have loaded this product.’

Yet, Mobil maintains only one production outfit in Nigeria.

In fact, the guy had to insist that we open the carton for him to verify, and when we opened the carton, he said, ‘yes, this product, I have loaded a full trailer before at Aba’. So, you can see the fakers are into business and this is one of the issues we face in the business.

Unfortunately, the law allows it, because if you are caught faking, all the law says is that the penalty is N250,000 and or six months imprisonment. So, somebody who is faking a multi-million naira product, you catch him and you fine him N250,000, he would just pay instantly and return to faking.

Looking back from the point where you started, is there anything you wish you had done differently, is there any regret?

Well there are no regrets; maybe there are usual mistakes one make here and there, but one is getting wiser by the day, so we will keep on modulating our systems and controls to ensure that things are well harnessed. We try to use technology to improve the system and business transaction and the dynamics. We have braches in Ilorin, Akure, Ibadan and Lagos, so it takes some logistics to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Scarlets and Snow is a one-man business, is it a family business?

Yes, my two sons, one is an accountant and the other is a business administrator and computer scientist. And in actual fact, they are bringing their wealth of knowledge to bear on the business. The computer scientist is designing systems and controls for the business, and I have found that very exciting and he has made things to move straight forward and so easy, technology is the key to any business.

My two sons, one is an accountant and the other is a business administrator and computer scientist.

And in actual fact, they are bringing their wealth of knowledge to bear on the business

60 POLITICS INTERVIEW

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Ikpeazu Has Dwarfed Abia Opposition – Appolos

Mazi Enyinnaya Appolos is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. In this interview with CHIBUZO UKAIBE, he speaks on status of the opposition parties in the state in light of the second term endorsements enjoyed by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu ahead of 2019 governorship election Governor Okezie Ikpeazu seems to be enjoying massive endorsements across Abia state, as his Chief Press Secretary, are these endorsements from his party and do they represent the true position of Abians?

You are very correct. The Governor is enjoying massive endorsements across the state, not just from our party-the PDP, Abia is a PDP state.

So the support and endorsements asking the Governor to re-contest in 2019 is from Abians from various political and religious leaning. What Governor Ikpeazu has done so far in Abia is unheard of since the creation of Abia that is why Abians are asking for continuity. Abia for the first time since creation has seen the first flyover that will soon be completed at Osisioma junction at Aba. Since the creation of Abia, we have seen dualized Faulks Road with the perennial Ifeobara problem permanently solved. Abians are seeing the making of a 6 lane Port Harcourt road that was abandoned for more than 12 years. Why will they not ask for continuity? So the support and endorsements are real and from Abians at home and in the diaspora.

But the opposition are alluding that the endorsements were bought over by the governor and as such, they are driven by inducements. What is your take?

What do you expect from a defeated opposition? When you go round Abia on your own and interact with the people, you will draw your conclusions as to whether the endorsements are bought or not. May be I should agree with them that Governor Ikpeazu bought the endorsements with his hard work, humility, transparency and people-oriented leadership style.

Abia today has a Governor that they can call their own. A Governor they can reach him when it is necessary. A Governor who lives with them in Aba and Umuahia. They see, feel and can relate with him. In fact, some people are of the opinion that Governor Ikpeazu has over simplified the office of the Governor through his humility and hard work.

Are the opposition saying that the endorsements from the people of Bende LGA were bought? Or that the endorsements from the people of Umunneochi LGA were bought? Or will they say that the endorsements by the people of Ukwa-Ngwa which makes up nine out of the 17 LGAs in the state was also bought?

The fact is that Governor Ikpeazu’s achievements in Abia has destabilised and disorganised the opposition parties in the state. They are so frustrated and disorganised that the only thing they can think of doing now is to tell lies. Again, Abians are not ready to buy or listen to their lies because Ikpeazu has opened their eyes. Those who had the opportunity to make Abia great when they served as governor and in other very highly political offices but failed to do so, what will they be telling Abians now?

You can understand why Abians have constantly rejected some of them even with the endless effort to be lawmakers. Our advice to our people in the new Abia where Governor

Ikpeazu is in charge is: don’t be like them. Make positive impact in any opportunity of service given to you so that more will come. So when we see failed politicians masquerading around, trying so hard to reinvent themselves by jumping from one place to another in the name of campaigning for others, we will always remind them of their past and ask them what they did with opportunities given to them in the past, whether in public service and in private sector because a lot of them have questionable integrities that no amount of image laundry can help them. Nobody should hide under President Buhari or anybody else, come to Abians with your scorecard.

If you want to get the true situation about what is happening in Abia, ask Abians on the street, as those in Ariraria market and those at various markets in Aba, whatever they tell you, verify it with what we tell you and what is on the ground, then you can draw your conclusions.

But if you asked those failed opposition elements they will lie to you, and look for ways of criticizing Governor Ikpeazu. And unknown to them that they are making Ikpeazu profile more popular because they more they talk about him, they more people ask questions and they get to know about him and they things he has achieved for Abians.

What do you say to those who are concerned that opposition in the state appears to be shrinking as most key opposition figures have defected to PDP and have endorsed the governor?

The defection of key opposition leaders like Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba, Chief Damian Ozurumba, Chief Tony Onwutoebe, Chief Tony Ukasanya and many others, is an indication that there is something Governor Ikpeazu is doing very right. These were people that stood against the election of Ikpeazu in 2015, but since 2017, they have been spearheading the call for Ikpeazu to contest again in 2019. When you engage these individuals, they tell you that the only thing that attracts them to PDP is the achievements of Governor Ikpeazu.

After the 2015 election, APGA had 11 out of the 24 members in the House of Assembly, but today they have only three members. Seven joined the PDP and one went to APC and PDP lost only the impeached former speaker, Martin Azubuike to APC. Like I told you before, the achievements of Ikpeazu are attracting more members to PDP while what is left of the opposition keeps getting frustrated.

There are also claims that the governor is yet to fulfil campaign promises he made in 2015 and now he has thrown his hat into the ring for 2019. How do you react to that?

The Governor has not told anyone that he will contest again. Despite the massive calls for him to seek re election, like he said, he will respond to the calls, but he has consistently appeal to Abians to ensure they have gotten their PVCs. If anyone says that the Governor

Appolos

has not fulfilled his 2015 promises to Abians, it is either the person is not in Abia, not in touch with realities in the state or the person is among the frustrated insignificant opposition elements, whose stock in trade is to tell lies always. Otherwise the question should be, what were the 2015 campaign promises of the Governor? And if anyone says he has not fulfilled the promises he made in 2015, the appropriate questions will therefore be: who took 30 Aba shoes makers to China for training in automated shoe making? Who built the Abia Investment House in Umuahia? Who built Umuola Road, Ebere Road, Ukaegbu Road, Ovom Street, Ochefu road, Weeks street, Owerenta street, Owerri road, Kamalu road, Umuatako road, Umule road, Umuehilegbu road, Umuocham road, Dr Chima Nwafo road, Omeni Drive, Adventist close, Ugwunagbo road, Ekwereazu Ngwa-Nto Edino road, Owoahiafo-Onicha Ngwa road, Umunkpeyi-Umuehim road, Umuocheala road, Egbelu Mbutu road, Abiriba Ring road, Nkporo road, Okobo bridge in Arochukwu? If you answer these questions sincerely, then you will know if Ikpeazu has fulfilled the promises of 2015 or not.

Again, who is building the first flyover in Abia at Osisioma? Who is building Port Harcourt Road after 16 years of its abandonment?

Who is constructing and dualizing Faulks Road and Brass street in Aba? Who is reconstructing AbaOwerri road? Who is reconstructing and dualizing Ururuka road? Who is rebuilding Enyimba Stadium?

Who is reconstructing Aba Road in Umuahia? Who is constructing Umuode road? Who has found the permanent solution to the Ifeobara perennial flooding challenges?

He has introduced tele-health

Initiative in Abia where you can dial a doctor direct from your home or office when you feel you need a Medicare. Who introduced homecare for the aged? Who introduced emergency medical service in Abia? Go and find out who did all these things I’ve mentioned. If it is Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, then you will answer whoever tells you that he has not fulfilled his 2015 promises to Abians.

In Abia of today under Ikpeazu, we don’t play politics with our development. We promised to tell our people the truth and they know we have kept our word. Ikpeazu has certainly moved Abia away from where he met her in 2015, and today Abia is on the move again.

But nonpayment of workers’ salary which seems to be a trend across the states, to what extent are Abia workers owed?

It is a trend because there seems to be a fundamental defect in the nation’s economy. Today even the private sector is finding it very hard to pay workers’ salary. As a journalist, I am aware that many of our colleagues have not been paid for years not even months. There is no justification for non-payment of salary. But to Abia workers, the story is not as bad as other states.

Apart from primary and secondary school teachers and pensioners, who have backlogs of two months for primary schools teachers and four months unpaid salary for secondary school teachers.

Pensioners are above five months, workers in Abia are up to date with payment of salary.

Governor Ikpeazu is not happy about the situation, as he is doing everything to ensure that the backlog is cleared.

Go and find out who did all these things I’ve mentioned. If it is Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, then you will answer whoever tells you that he has not fulfilled his 2015 promises to Abians

Sunday, April 15, 2018

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INTERVIEW 61

Nigeria Must Prioritise Science And Technology To Grow Its Economy – Okoigun An engineer of about 40 years experience in Petrochemical engineering, Mr. ALFRED OKOIGUN, who was inducted into the Nigerian Academy of Engineering(NAE) as honourary fellow on Thursday in Lagos, is also the Founder/Group Managing Director of ARCO Group Plc. In this interview with ZAKA KHALIQ, he spoke on the need for the country to invest in science and technology for rapid economic growth and development just like what is being witnessed in China, Israel, Malaysia and so on.

How do you feel to be inducted as the only fourth honourary fellow since the inception of the Nigeria Academy of Engineering(NAE) 21 years ago?

This induction means a lot to me.

When I got the call that I was going to be honoured, it came to me as a very big surprise because this honour is not given every year. The last one was given about eight years ago and four honorary members inducted in 21 years of this academy.

So, I feel very proud and happy to have been recognised this way. For me and for those who have known me over the years, I am deeply passionate about engineering and science and technology.

I developed this in my secondary school days, when we went for an excursion in Shell company, where I knew that through science and technology, we can extract crude oil from the ground, process it into various products for nation’s growth and development.

And that was the reason for my love for engineering. When I went abroad, the first time in 1977, I saw the great work of science and technology and what we can do with it. But then also, I disagree with some school of thought in the olden days that people can be held down by witches and therefore, they can’t progress in life.

To people that still believe in this, I will advise you that you go abroad and you will know that is not true.

With science and technology, you can get to the peak of your career faster and that is what has happened in other parts of the world. So, with that in mind, and especially, the way I went to abroad, the same feeling when I was told my name was among 12 students Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) selected to go abroad on scholarship in 1977, I am having the same feeling now.

When I got the call from the academy, I was very elated because I knew the value of people in this academy. These are people who have worked to the peak of their career and now, they are given back to the society. These are people that are never tired, because they want to make contribution to the growth and development of science and technology in Nigeria as well as the development of our nation. So, who am I not to partner with this great academy.

I knew the value of people in this academy.

These are people who have worked to the peak of their career and now, they are given back to the society

Why is it that Nigeria has not really progressed in science and technology like other countries?

Why Nigeria has not progressed the way it should is because we fail to recognise the roles of science and technology to national growth.

Other nations such as China, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Israel knew this and their respective country is better for it.

In those days, Malaysia, Singapore, China were aback, but immediately they started to embrace science and technology, you could see the impact it has made on their respective economy.

Let’s take China as an example; where was China 30 years ago? But today, China is competing with America. Why? This is possible because of science and technology.

And how did they do it? They started by encouraging the youths, that once a time

They don’t know how to solicit for or beg as they believe they have got the knowledge and you will be the one to seek them. This is the principle all over the world.

China is doing it, America has done it many years ago. In China today, if you have a Phd, from top universities in America, China will just give you $60,000 to $80,000 annually and research grant of about $200,000 to $250, 000. You don’t solicit for it. That is promotion. We are not there yet, but these are the things we will want us to imbibe.

Where do you want to see Arco Petrochemical Engineering Company in the near future?

First and foremost, at Arco, we are looking at a company that will outlive not only the founder, but anyone who works at Arco. That means, we are talking about sustainability and growth. We are working on that and that is the focus.

In any event, there must be challenges, but the important thing is to believe in where you are going to build your goal.

And if that goal is to build a sustainable company, then, those challenges are irrelevant.

The youth in engineering don’t seems to be challenged to be able to innovate. What will you want to advise the institutions who chunk out these graduates year in year out?

The youth should not be moved by the immediate luxury, let them believe in building their future. They should be committed to their beliefs, be honest in dealing with themselves and others and if they can have these values, there are many avenues to which they can come out. Don’t be limited by challenges, if you believe in yourself, you will do it. Have your idea, believe in it and then push it. But when you say Mr. A makes more money without doing so much because he knows A, B, C and D, that is a path that is not sustainable .

Okoigun had travelled to study in universities in America and U.K and are already working there, to return home.

There were a lot of Chinese going to study in higher institutions across America and Great Britain then, and when they finished their study, America hired them, which is what is happening to Nigeria today. Top brains in Nigeria go abroad and they are not coming back. Go to any sphere in the world today, these Nigerians are doing great jobs but they are not encouraged to come back.

But what China did was to encourage Chinese to come back. How much are they paying in China? Maybe 60,000 dollars a year. The country said, if you come back to China, we give you $60,000 to $80,000 a year and in addition, we will also give you research grant of $200,000 to $ 250,000 a year. With this incentive, 80 per cent of those who were in America came back to China and the country’s development started with a serious leap.

That is also similar to what happened in Israel, a country populated by 8.5 million people. Today, Israel is the number one in startup engineering business. They are next to America. So, that is what science and technology can do for you.

But the thing is, those in this field of science and technology did not know how to beg or lobby and in Nigeria, if you don’t beg or have somebody, you are not going anywhere. We have to change that concept.

So, therefore, what I am going to do going forward, is to support and continue to support the academy in advocacy on the good things science and technology can do.

As you know, I have interest in science

and technology and I want to contribute more to the growth and development of engineering. Arco petrochemical engineering firm has been encouraging our youths and we will continue to do it.

Do you think Nigerian engineers have what it takes to compete with their colleagues globally?

I will tell you without any doubt that we have top quality Nigerian engineers and as you too may know, we have them performing well in other parts of the world, doing excellently well, but unfortunately, they are not doing so in Nigeria. This is because of the challenges of the environment. But this is what we want to break now. We are trying to encourage them, that inspite of all the challenges, let create a posisibility that they can do as much as what their counterparts are doing across the world. They have the brain, the knowledge, but sometimes, environment can be influential.

With the challenges you mentioned earlier, how will you advise relevant stakeholders to rise up to their respective responsibilities?

For example, in Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE), we are already doing that and Arco Petrochemical Engineering Company is partnering them on this.

What we want to do is to begin to assist some of the young engineers who are doing tangible things, who, ordinarily are unable to bring their expertise to the open market. We want to make effort to look for them because one thing about engineers is that they don’t know how to make noise.

Now that the federal government is trying to fix some of its refineries and with private individuals, such as, Dangote coming to float refinery, what does this portends for the petroleum sector and the nation’s economy?

My advise to the government this time around is to challenge Nigerian engineers by asking Nigeria Society of Engineers(NSE) and NAE to proffer solutions to the challenges facing the petroleum sector.

For some of us who are in the business, we will rally round together. We must believe in Nigeria, that is the only way we can do it. We must reduce our appetite for foreigners and believe in our local capacity.

In the past, everybody patronises foreigners and the local engineers are not recognised, but things are changing for the better. The President has just signed its law now, that is, the executive order on local content in science and technology and with that, it will be another encouragement for the local engineers.

Are players in the engineering sector complying with the local content act?

We are making some efforts. There was a time it was not there, but now, its there.

So, let’s hope that we will do better to make sure it works.

And your advice to the government?

My advice to the government is let’s believe in ourself. Nobody can do it for us, let’s build our capacity. Indians have done it, Chinese, Malaysia, Koreans have done it. Lets believe in ourself, we must promote Nigerian brands.

62 FEATURE

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Katsina Power Supply: Abandoned Projects Breathe Life Katsina State is home to about a dozen almost abandoned federal government funded power projects. With the return of some of the contractors to sites and a few others set to resume after long period of time, ANDY ASEMOTA examines the Katsina power infrastructure and their prospects.

F

Out of the 11 projects, I think so far, we have the 60 MVA in Funtua completed

by TCN. That was late December, last year. And on Daura transmission line that has been ongoing for over 15 years

or many business people, traders, artisans and industrialists in Katsina State, the biggest obstacle that stands on their road to success is power supply that has eluded them for many years. Not a few businesses have gone into extinction in the state.

And this is not because of lack of managerial skills, but because operators couldn’t stomach the high running cost mainly from providing alternative power.

Musa Ali, 45 had to abandon his machine rolling factory in Funtua for welding business because the running cost of his 100kva generator put him on the lost side of his accounts. “I had to abandon the business for welding because of cost of power. I used less diesel and a smaller generator to work. Power supply is a major challenge for small business people in this part of the country, I love my machine rolling business but the cost of staying in business is very high and putting me at a loss,” Ali said.

Many like Ali have either switched trade or gone out of business owing largely to the erratic and sometimes lack of power that has beclouded the economy of Katsina State.

This among other things the state government had to grapple with in providing quality life for the people. Conscious of this, the Katsina State government has to rise to the challenge especially having the opportunity of hosting about a dozen power projects started by previous governments but later abandoned and now rotting away.

No fewer than 11 of the power projects inherited by the administration of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, suffered unprecedented delay stalling the projects for about a decade. The projects were initiated by former President, late Umaru Musa Yar’adua who hails from Katsina State.

Even though the projects are outside the ambit of the state government, the determination of the Katsina State government to improve power supply in the state has seen the

completion of two of the projects.

To facilitate the projects, Katsina State governor Aminu Bello Masari, appointed a special adviser to take charge of the department of power and energy. He facilitated the completion of two of them while a third may come on stream in the near future as he gives the necessary push to the focus of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration to ensure the completion of ongoing projects.

Checks by LEADERSHIP Sunday reveals that the department of power and energy created by Masari led government to liaise with relevant federal government’s agencies to see how to shore up power poverty in the state have been making efforts to see the state lighted in no distance time.

“Out of the 11 projects, I think so far, we have the 60 MVA in Funtua completed

by TCN. That was late December, last year. And on Daura transmission line that has been ongoing for over 15 years, we have been able to get a single line to Daura on 132

KV line. There is also a transmission sub-station there with 40 MVA a transformer. I think that is an achievement. Then, the 16 MVA here in Katsina, along IBB Way Katsina, the Katsina sub-station, which will also be commissioned soon. That will give us enough capacity to take more power,” Engineer Mansur Mamman Musa, the special adviser to Governor Masari on Power and Energy, told our reporter.

Musa, who lamented that funding was essentially the major source of the problems delaying the power projects, affirmed that “we are talking to financiers, the owners of the projects: the Federal Ministry of Power and the TCN. We are even talking to the contractors; they tell us their issues, their problems and we try to see how we can influence some payments”.

He reiterated that some of the contractors have been mobilised and they have started to bring in equipment for the different aspects of the projects.

Some residents of Katsina who spoke with our reporter expressed worry that almost all the power projects started by the administration of the ➔ CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE

Sunday, April 15, 2018

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FEATURE 63

Katsina Power Supply: Abandoned Projects Breathe Life ➔ FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

We are talking to the Federal Ministry of Power and TCN because it is essential to the project

late President Yar’adua of blessed memory stopped soon after his demise.

Idris Aliyu, a consultant to one of the contractors said, “These projects just stopped; the past administration did not fund them well, so may be, that was why they could not be completed but now, I think, there is a new thinking. I think some funds have been provided to the various contractors and the jobs are ongoing now but very slow. At least, some of the contractors are back to site in some areas.”

Aliyu applauded the promise of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Lambar Rimi Wind Mill Plant would be completed before the end of 2018 and dismissed critics concern that the wind mill contribute barely 10 MW on completion. “They say its contribution will not be much, but at least, it is an addition to what we have already. If that one can come on board this year, we will be very happy,” he further stated.

It is largely believed that President Buhari seems to be walking his talk in works on the first phase of the wind powered project which is believed to have reached an advanced stage following his declaration. Similarly, there are positive signs that the 30 KVA transmission line project from Kano to Katsina will take off again, LEADERSHIP Sunday’s investigations reveal.

According to Mamman Musa, the paper works had resumed and he believed that the project financiers were talking to the contractors just as his department was also pushing for the project to be completed, saying, “We are talking to the Federal Ministry of Power and TCN because it is essential to the project.”

The energy expert, who admitted that the 30KVA transmission line, was dear to his heart, said its installed capacity of 250 MW would be enough to meet the power need of the state for now if it can have all of that.

“To have the capacity is one thing but to have power is another, but we are sure of at least 100MW in Katsina if that project is completed. If you look at what we are having now, it is may be 20 to 30MW. You can compare that with about100MW. I think it’s about three to four times over what we are having now. I think that will bring in some development,” he

Fashola

said.

He however commended the effort being made towards making the Lambar Rimi Wind Mill a success after a long period. On why the plant is significant, Musa said the plant will provide the state with renewable and clean energy, arguing that is where the world is going and it is, perhaps, the first of its kind in the country.

Beaming, searchlight on the prospects of the projects, he was confident that if all the ongoing projects could be realised, Katsina would leap frog forward after few years because of the development that will come along with availability of power.

Further investigations revealed that the Masari administration had envisioned the production of power through solar plants as he had given land to solar power developers and many of them had promised to build between 80 to 100 mw plants in the state.

Going by the focus of the federal and state agencies and the promise of the private solar power developers, if all the projects come on stream and the bridge is complete, the power and energy experts believes Katsina would have to export power.

“We will not be able to consume all of these when they come on board. So, my view in terms of power is that in the coming years, Katsina will be exporting power. So, that is exactly where we would be in three to four years if the projects are realised,” Musa enthused.

Masari

On what to expect as gains at that stage, he described them as endless. “If we have power to export, definitely industrialists will all come to Katsina to establish firms and that will lead to creation of thousands of jobs and there will be hundreds of thousands of indirect jobs.”

“That is enough benefit because once you have that, crime rate will drop, youths restiveness will be ruled out and there will be economic activities and I think these are things dear to every society,” Musa added.

Another expert, Yusuf Danbaba, an engineer and civil servant in Katsina, however expressed worry that only government is still expending a lot of money in building power infrastructure.

“The investment of the company that took over defunct PHCN’s assets is not quite visible to us. In Katsina, it is government that is doing most of the work. It’s providing transformer, building lines across voltages: 415 volts, 11,000 volts and 3,000 volts. It’s still the government that is building most of the infrastructure.”

He argued that if the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) would equally invest as the government had been doing, the Katsina would had been able to overcome problem of overloading of transformers and the underserved areas would have also received attention.

LEADERSHIP Sunday also learnt that the challenge posed by vandals is another key issue facing the power and energy sector.

Speaking on the lessons

he has learnt since he assumed office about five months ago, Governor Masari’s aide, Mansur Mamman Musa, lamented that the challenge of vandalism was ever present threat in the provision of capital intensive power infrastructure.

“Vandalism is still ongoing.

You will finish a project, commission it and the next thing is the operation of some elements will come vandalise it. This has to be curtailed by both security agencies and the general public,” he emphasised.

Contrary to the common perception that key stakeholders in the state, particularly members of the National Assembly, were not making any effort to fast track the completion of most of the power projects in the state, Musa was of the view that the representatives were doing their best in complementing the effort of the government through the provision of transformers in the state.

“They also try as much as possible to ensure funds are allocated to these projects and they are also released but what we call on them to do now is to rededicate their efforts to see that funds are not only made available in the budget but they are also released as at when due to the contractors. That will be of great help.

“I think if they do that and with the effort of the governor of Katsina, we are really going to realise these ongoing projects in no time because most of them are supposed to be completed within 18 months but, as I said earlier, some of them are 10 years old and they are yet to be completed. Some are even yet to take off apart from their perimeter fencing,” he stressed.

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Sunday, April 15, 2018

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi

The Study Of God’s Word info@deeperlifeonline.org

Salvation For Many Through The Uplifted Christ John 12: 20-36,1,12; 1 Corinthians 5:7 “And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.” (John 12:20-21) “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32). Here was the response of Christ to the people that said they wanted to see Him. These people had come to Jerusalem to partake of the Passover feast. Though they had worshipped, been ministered to by the priest, having been taken through circumcision as Greeks to come to be allowed to come to Jerusalem and partake in the Passover, yet they felt empty not having seen Jesus.

They felt all they had done and gone

through have not allowed them to see the way to glory because Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Light to glory. Hence they desired to see Jesus. “The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus” (John 12:21).

They came to Philip because they saw something in him. As people look at you, can they tell whether you have the right connection or not, whether you have met Jesus yourself or that you have the ability or capacity to lead them to Jesus? They saw something in Philip as one who has been with Jesus and they respected and honoured him calling him, Sir, and requested to see Jesus. Let Jesus be seen in you. As you come to the Bible Study tonight the passion of your soul and desire of your heart

should be to get something from Christ, and make connection to see Jesus, understanding that except you see Jesus, all the Study, all the worship, and the denominational attachment are all in vain. Except you see Jesus, the real purpose of Deeper Life, the Study and worship will not be fulfilled in your life. So Philip told Andrew, because Andrew is known for bringing people to Jesus. What do people know you for? Do they know you for evangelizing, connecting people with Jesus, reading the Bible, or for a spiritual and dynamic life that attracts other people to Jesus?

Andrew was known for bringing people to Christ – he brought Peter, that lad, and others to Christ. Are you like that, somebody that helps others to come to Christ, or do you hinder them from seeing Jesus.

Andrew was a helper. Be a Helper and a Doorway to Jesus, connecting enquirers, sinners, seekers, and worshippers to Christ. Your life, teaching, work and service in the church, your singing, and smile, are they connecting others to Christ? We have come to be connected to Christ, and then we will connect others to Him. Are you connecting strangers to Christ – strangers to God, to Christ and unfamiliar with the gospel and salvation, who need somebody familiar with Christ to connect them? …..Sir, we will see Jesus. What did they mean by that? They wanted to see Jesus, the Messiah, the Passover Lamb as revealed by John the Baptist, the Saviour like the Samaritans have known and seen Him, and the Teacher as Nicodemus knew and saw Him – Jesus, the Teacher abo.

Impactful View

with REV. D. O. NWODE

revdonwode@yahoo.com;

Phone: 08036496439 (text only)

The Way To Salvation “… And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house,” (Acts 16:30, 31).

The body needs food to be healthy, function properly and to stay alive physically. Food also can affect the way many people respond to spiritual things. Many find it hard to be spiritual without food. Salvation is far more necessary to man than food and any other thing of this life.

Everyone needs salvation that only Jesus Christ gives.

Salvation (Gk soteria) means deliverance. It is to be made whole, made or kept safe, preserved from danger and destruction. The way of salvation is clearly stated: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved and thy house,” (Acts 16:31). There is ONLY ONE WAY of salvation for everyone, everywhere and at all time or age. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

The crucial question is not the need for religion. Man is inherently religious. There are many religions with different claims and practiced by different people. Religion can serve a useful purpose of moral reformation; and in building a peaceful society and a harmonious

social order. That through Christ and Him alone there is salvation or deliverance is not an unbiblical exclusivism, fanaticism and bigotry.

It is an irrefutable and inexpugnable truth that resonates throughout the scriptures (Acts 4:12; John 14:6), and proved through human experience throughout the world.

Salvation through Jesus Christ means the following: Salvation is the deliverance from sin. Sin is not pleasure and not life to be lived. The Bible condemns it. God hates sin. Sin separates a person from God. Sin is an obstacle between a person and God. A sinner cannot have a relationship with God. A sinner is a slave to sin. No one can free himself from the power of sin.

Sin does not rule over a person that is saved because the power of sin over his life has been broken by God through the work of Christ on the Cross. In Rom. 6:6-14 Apostle Paul told us three truth about a saved person: (i) A saved person has died with Christ, he is therefore, freed from sin; (ii) The body of sin or the power of sin having been destroyed on the Cross, a saved person should no longer serve sin; (iii) Sin has no more dominion over a saved person.

Salvation is the deliverance from the consequences of sin – death (Rom. 6:23). A saved person may die physically, but he is delivered from spiritual death (the separation

from God while on earth) and eternal death (the separation from the presence of God to eternal damnation in the lake of fire).

Salvation is the deliverance from Satan and his demons and evil spirits. The Bible speaks of those who are the children of the Devil.

Jesus says a liar is a child of the Devil. Satan controls those who belong to him. They are his slave and he is their master. When a person receives Jesus Christ the Devil loses control of the person.

Salvation is the deliverance from the power of Satan. After his conversion Pau was commissioned: “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:18). Salvation is the deliverance from the powers of demons, evil spirits, witches, wizards and all diabolical evil men.

Salvation is the deliverance from spiritual death, untimely physical death, and eternal death after this life. It is the deliverance from fear and trepidation and from the spirit of worries and anxiety. It includes the deliverance from poverty and the demonic power in-charge of poverty; the deliverance from curses - ancestral, parental, etc.; the deliverance from dangers, troubles,

bad or hard lucks, calamities and losses; and the deliverance from sicknesses, infirmities and spirit of infirmities.

Salvation is spiritual and eternal deliverance. Spiritually, when a person receives Jesus as his own Lord and Saviour, God forgives him of all his sin and frees or liberates him from Satan, and makes him God’s own child (John 3:18-19).

Then a living and happy relationship is established between the person and his God. And the person begins to enjoy lively and practical fellowship with God through the indwelling Holy Spirit. What a glorious and happy experience to be saved, hallelujah!!! Eternally, a saved person is free from eternal damnation (John 3:36). He will not go to hell anymore. He will spend eternity with God in heaven.

In conclusion, for you to be saved, you must accept that you are a sinner; believe in Jesus Christ; and repent of your sin. If you are prepared to do this now say this prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God and that you died on the cross for me. I repent of all my sin and now I give my life to you. Come in now. Make me a true child of God. Wash me of all my sins. Write my name in the book of life and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I promise to serve you all my life. Thank you for saving me in Jesus name. Amen.

Sunday, April 15, 2018

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Dubai: Beautiful City Of Merchants (2)

Recently, some team of aviation writers were taken to Dubai for a 5-day familiarisation trip. ANTHONY AWUNOR who was among the select journalists that attended the event writes about his experiences.

Team at Dubai Parks and Resorts

Burj Khalifa From the EAC, we moved on for lunch at the Dubai Mall and from there went to the top famous Burj Khalifa.

The team went as far as 124th floor. At 828 metres (2,716 feet), Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. We visited the main observation deck and outdoor terrace on level 124 which offered 360 degree views of the city.

We were later picked up from Burj Khalifa to the Address Boulevard. After some minutes rest, we then went for dinner at KIZA Restaurant

Here they practice how to jump and how to instruct their customers to jump. They will be having different scenarios, they will be told that they have crashed either in the desert or water.

KIZA African Restaurant At the ground floor of Emirates Financial Towers along Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, United Arab Emirates lays the KIZA Restaurant and Lounge popularly known as the only pan African Restaurant in the Middle East.

To a new visitor, the premises adorned with map of Africa immediately reminds one of the African continent, right from the entrance to the varieties of authentic pan-African cuisine. A recent visit to KIZA shows that the cozy and large restaurant has become a platform through which premium African artists like David Adedeji Adeleke, aka Davido and Innocent Idibia, popularly known as Tuface and many other African artistes have performed in Dubai.

Apart from mere eating and drinking KIZA equally offers bestin-class pan-African hospitality and entertainment services, spanning across dining, music, fashion, art and entertainment.

While we were still eating and dining, CEO and Managing Partner of KIZA, Joseph Osawaye informed that KIZA brand was established in 2012 as a casual dining and entertainment brand, quickly developing a unique market position across all of its segments.

Also receiving the Emirates media team at KIZA was the Operation’s Manager, Glen Vambe who urged the

visitors to experience KIZA’s warm African hospitality.

To Vambe, KIZA is the first authentic pan-African restaurant in Dubai, just as he pointed out that their menu consists of a selection of popular dishes from across the continent.

“This is the only pan African restaurant around. We try to offer cuisines that encompasses African choices and options”.

According to Vambe, KIZA is a multi-cultural outfit as they have been able to employ workers cutting across Africa nations like Nigeria, Cameroun, South Africa, Ghana and even non Africans.

Others who were at the dinner at KIZA restaurants were Emirates PR team, including Smita Natalia Deans, Bardees Badr amongst others.

Delicious African cuisine such as pounded yam with egusi soup, Ghanaian kele wele, goat meat pepper soup, special BBQ chicken wings, peppered chicken, beef or gizzards, dulet, Sudanese Tamiya. All these were complimented with KIZA wide range of African inspired cocktails and mocktails.

There were also peri-peri prawns, tilapia fillet, princess KIZA, KIZA BBQ

ribs, red snapper fillet and others Spice, Golden Souk/Sundowner On the third day we were picked up at abut 11:00am for Dubai city tour.

Led by our wonderful tour guide, Amira of the Arabian Adventures, we stopped

by Dubai’s most famous landmarks and had an Ara ride through old Dubai to the spice souk and golden souk. We returned to the hotel at about 1:00pm and was again picked up by 4:00pm for sundowner to enjoy an evening in the desert. At sundowner, we had desert safari and also had the opportunity of watching the sunset while dune bashing, camel riding, falcon show and Bedouin style dinner was had in the desert. Our tour guide had earlier warned us to come along with sweater to ward off the dangerous desert cold.

Here, I was tempted to try out shisha at the smoking area while the belly dance was going on. It was real fun.

Dubai Parks and Resorts Dubai Parks and Resorts is an interesting place to be. It was our major location on the fourth day.

Staying there for about three hours, we enjoyed and explored Dubai’s newest theme park which includes: Legoland,

One of the Emirates Airlines representatives, Smita Natalia Deans (2nd right) making a point while Bardees Badr (first right) and KIZA’s Operati

TRAVELOGUE 65

Bollywood Park and Motion Gate Park.

We had lunch at about 1:30pm before returned to the hotel. Later in the evening, we were picked up from hotel to Le Perle by Dragone experience at the Habtour City. At the park, one thing happened. After enjoying the environment coupled with swimming and all that, some of us had our dresses wet. At that point we were asked to go and dry our dresses in a well-built small hut made like a cubicle. Here it costs about AED 20 Dirham to do that. But we refused after checking the equivalent of 20 Dirham when compared to Nigerian Naira which is about N1, 600 approximately.

Burj Al Arab After a long day at Dubai Parks and Resorts, we also drove to Burj Al Arab, meaning a tower of the Arabs. Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is the third tallest hotel in the world and stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) from Jumeirah beach and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. The shape of the structure is designed to resemble the sail of a ship.

It also has a helipad near the roof at a height of 210 m (689 ft) above ground.

Before we approached the beautiful beach, our tour guide had also warned us not to trespass areas outside the relaxation area. According to her, we were to be careful of interacting with the local ladies so that we would not contravene the laws of the land. To her, the local Emiratis are seen as sacred individuals and are well respected by immigrants coming into the city because their forefathers own the land originally.

La Perle by Dragone La Perle by Dragone is the region’s first permanent show, located in the heart of Dubai at Al Habtoor City and brought to Dubai by Al Habtoor Group. La Perle features a breathtaking fusion of immersive artistic performances, imagery and technology and it is influenced by Dubai’s rich culture, vibrant present and aspirational future, which is brought to life by awe-inspiring stunts and special effects that will leave viewers speechless. La Perle ended at about 8:00pm after which we returned to the hotel.

Back Home At day five, we were already missing Nigeria despite the treats by Emirates Airlines in conjunction with JSP Communications. With a warm whether of temperature varying between 22 and 29 degree Celsius, there was no difference between Nigerian and Dubai whether. The city was really hot but inside the comfort of The Address Boulevard, heat has no impact because the airconditioner works 24/7 year in, year out. At about 6:30 am, Arabian Adventures team came and drove us away from the hotel straight to the airport. It was on a Sunday and I was surprise that Sunday was a working day in United Arab Emirates’ city. In fact, there were traffic gridlock because of the number of people rushing to work. We got to Dubai airport and waited for a Nigerian pilot flying Emirates Boeing 777, Mr. Ambrose Ojobo. We had a brief chat with him for 10 minutes before we boarded flight EK783 flight from Terminal 3 back to Lagos.

We touched down at exactly 2:55 at the Murtala International Airport in Lagos on the 25 March, 2018. It was a mission accomplished.

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FEATURE

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Some women rummaging through leftovers

Alaroro: Tales of Extreme Struggle For Survival By Scavenging Women At the mention of scavenger, what readily comes to mind is the picture of a vulture or any other creature that feeds off dead organic matters or wastes. ISA BEST OMOREGBEJI writes that hungry women, mostly widows who can hardly put food on their table scavenge major markets in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs, especially the popular Orange Market in Mararaba for survival.

I The Weze and Delali are predominantly men.

Whereas, the Share-Share and the Keshi (helpers) under them are the labourers, mostly women who help wholesalers do the retailing and the selling

n the quest to earn an income for their survival and that of their families in this harsh economic situation, these female scavengers popularly known as ‘Alaroro’ enter the major whole sale fruits markets and dumpsites during the early part of the day, roving and looking for discarded rotten tomatoes, onions, pepper, oranges, carrots, popularly called ‘Bajeh’ in local parlance, resale them to waiting patronisers at very cheap rates, thereby making profits.

Customarily, waste bins or dump sites whether in the markets or home are considered the end points for wastes and are usually perceived as no-go areas for humans because of their foul and dirty nature. However, throughout the big cities in Nigeria such as Abuja and especially the fruit market a.k.a orange market in Nasarawa these dumpsites and waste bins are increasingly transforming into goldmines as these poor and shameless women and old men depend for their livelihood on what they gather at the dumpsites.

While it remains a fact that scavengers are not refuse workers and they are not concerned with waste management. They enter into the trade for socio-economic reasons, and their relationship with waste is as a resource, they only collect the materials for which there is a market to sell them.

Narrating the success story of how she makes a living for herself and sponsors her siblings and kids Mrs

Unyamongyong Adie, a widow said, “I pick up rotten tomato and pepper and Onions that litter the orange market, resell them to waiting customers to make a living. Although, most people see the job as dirty, I am feeding my family from it”.

According to her, “There are several people the trade helps. “Waste recycling is a business that if you decide to go into it today, you are sure of making money. The fun of it is that you might even decide to start now with nothing and still make more money from the business,” The’ Fruit Market’ popularly known as Orange Market, Mararaba is known for many things including the relatively cheap prices of food commodities as well as the freshness of all kinds of vegetables one could imagine. This popular market patronised by residents of the FCT and its environs has put food on the table of the very hungry who struggle extremely for survival through its recognition of the Alaroro system.

Alaroro is a Yoruba word translated as Stinginess or meanness. It is often used by the rich in the society to describe buyers of cheap and spoilt farm produce or items generally, predominantly women who seek to buy cheap and undesirable, left over commodities with the hope of finding something edible or sellable in spite of the embarrassment. Most times Alaroro is used to refer to the poor and penniless people scavenging for whatever falls on the floors of the Market as buyers and sellers transact

businesses.

On realising that most operators of eateries and restaurants, caterers and many other individuals in the food industry patronise this fruit scavengers, LEADERSHIP Sunday visited this famous market, spoke to some of the women who narrated their ordeal, success story as well as the embarrassment that greets them while carrying out the lucrative business and the designed structure .

Couch Mabo, a vegetable trader explained the structural divisions of the market saying, “first among the traders in the market is the Paleke made up of traders or middlemen who bring these goods from farms or who travel with the goods from places like Jos, Maiduguri and other locations to the market. The Weze (wholesalers) who buy through middlemen stationed in the market called Delali (Agents). The Weze and Delali are predominantly men. Whereas, the Share-Share and the Keshi (helpers) under them are the labourers, mostly women who help wholesalers do the retailing and the selling.

He said,“Alaroro women are not one of us; they just come to pick what falls to the ground. They rarely buy from us; they are scavengers picking only the bad items. At times they help us do some shading and selling and at the end we give whatever is left of our sales to them at a very cheap rate.

They are good and bad Alaroro, some of them can steal from the main stock and clean produce while claiming to be assisting, but it’s their way of

surviving.

Mabo noted that the Alaroro women only buy the almost spoiled vegetables some of which they take home for food and to sell to augment for other household needs “. He said A scavenger, Abubakar Abdul said, “The reason why I delved into the business is because I don’t have a job. As a poor man, there was no help from anywhere. I started scavenging since I was a bachelor and from the little money I’m making, I feed my family. It is not good if I sit at home doing nothing and allow hunger to destroy my family. I’m appealing to government to help us improve our living condition. Hunger is striking so hard despite all my efforts. I’ve a wife and six children and it is only from this picking of waste products that we feed. Sometimes, we will not have food to eat just because there is no money.” he said.

LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that in spite of their resolve to make ends meet through this garbage business, the operators yet face societal stigmatisation amidst other unfriendly attitudes. Narrating his ordeal, Abdul said people sometimes look at them as insane.

Wale Olofin, 30 said: “I started this business when I was 15 years old and since then, I’ve not recorded any tangible gain from it other than to feed. I desperately need a wife but no woman has ever agreed to marry me because of the nature of my job. I ➔ CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE

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FEATURE 67

Alaroro: Tales of Extreme Struggle For Survival By Scavenging Women

Madam Mercy, one of the food scavengers in the market ➔ FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

It is painful that the idea of registration was even started by some of us who thought it was necessary to reduce the number of Alaroro women in the market

impregnated a girl with the aim of marrying her but she ran away with the notion that she can’t marry a scavenger. She even said we are not different from pigs,”Olofin lamented.

Madam Blessing, an indigene of Egumale in Benue State commended the Alaroro System, disclosing she survived from it during her trying period. Her words, “I was trading vegetables between Egumale and Otukpo. The highest I went was Makurdi, one day someone told me a particular vegetable called ‘Anhara’ was selling very well in Abuja, that I could make it big if I brought the vegetable from Egumale. I discussed it with my husband, he warned me but I thought it was my opportunity, so I travelled with very large quantity of the Anhara leaf to sell in Orange Market. I discovered the leaf was sold for just N100.

My dear, I realised I was deceived into taking that trip, whereas we use to sell it as high as N200 a bundle in Otukpo. I refused to sell believing the price will improve, but it was worse as the day passed by, the leafs depreciated so I sold them off at giveaway price but was stranded. I started joining some group of women to do Alaroro, picking remains of other commodities that other traders brought to the market to resell, in a day I made up to N800 or even more.

Many poor people and even some food vendors patronise us. This was how I gathered the fare back to the village.”

Mercy Ibrahim, who survives through the booming Alaroro business said, “I am from Anyigba local government of Kogi State; I am merely surviving by God’s Grace. I have five children, my husband is

‘I am jobless I lost my husband in 2013 aside having rent to pay in Aso B where I reside, I must confess that scavenging is not totally to the rescue.

It is not everybody that allow us pick from around their stands. We wake up as early as 4:00am and head to the market. If you’re lucky you’ll pick so much from the fruit and vegetable deport out of which you can sell some. I paid N5000 just to scavenge, yet some people will not even allow us pick from the ground but other good hearted one’s use to have pity on us and allow us pick.

She said, ‘One of the greatest challenge I face in carrying out this dirty but rewarding trade is language barrier. I don’t understand Hausa, if I go to pick in some locations in the market my inability to speak Hausa becomes a problem as they easily allow the Hausa speaking Alaroro to pick and send English speaking ones like me away. I must say that over 500 registered Alaroro women come to scavenge for what to survive on. Those who register can both pick and then sell, but if you’re not registered you cannot stay back to sell at the market”.

Ifesinachi Okorie from Ogu Local government of Enugu State lamented that after the death of her Husband the bread winner of the house. “My shop closed down and I was left to look elsewhere. I use to see some of my neighbours leaving the house very early and coming back very late. I got to know they do Alaroro business, so I joined them. The very first day, I made N100. I said to myself - the suffering was too much. I stayed back for two days and later resolved to resume Alaroro in full because of my situation, since then I have been coming to scavenge and whatever comes out of it I use it to feed my family”.

Mama Cynthia who runs a restaurant around the market said, “at times i patronise the Alaroro women because of the relatively give away price of their commodities. They can even supply me and come back the next day after I have made sales to collect their money. By the way, it is not all the goods that these women sell that are bad, we wash whatever we buy from Alaroro and it really help us cut down on production cost so we can

sell very cheaply too. She said.

Disturbingly, though the Alaroro business has helped carter for the needs of many dying families, it has also raised severe health questions.

A Nutritionist, Dr. Chinenye Okechukwu of the Federal Medical Centre in Mararaba, advised those who patronise them to ensure proper washing before consumption stressing that most of the vegetables bought may have fallen unhygienic places and may parade a very high level of bacteria contamination.

She warned that ‘It’s not just the scavengers that are at risk, healthwise but the customers too. This goes to explain the root causes of some illnesses and diseases like cholera, hepatitis and of course worms infestation in many patients. If people must patronise sources like this they need to rigorously wash and properly cook the foodstuffs to be sure all the germs are dead before consumption”.

She said.

Mr Adamu Musa, Dealer’s General Secretary who spoke on behalf of Baba Aliyu Ibrahim Nana, the Market Chairman said “only God knows the number of people this market is sustaining, from the commercial motorcycle riders, to traders, to the Alaroro women and even himself. About the registration fee, it is not the market authority that imposed the fee on the Alaroro women but their unions. Even the union explained how they use the funds realised, sometimes they use to help themselves when any of their members is bereaved. Before the market was moved to this permanent site, we advised their unions to reduce the fee, it used to be as high as N15000. The market authority is aware of how significant the Alaroro system is, it gives poor women an opportunity to pick whatever they can pick and sell to survive in this hash economy.

The Alaroro women hope that someday fate will smile on them if government cut to size whatever structural development plans they have, to begin to look at the direction of providing relieve services and aids for the poor of the poorest of women who have dedicated themselves as

working for an Indomie company here in Abuja and they have not paid him for over 3 years. So I here daily to pick food items from this market to sell and have what to take care of my children. Like the Ugu’ vegetable you saw me picking, if am able to gather more than a hand full I will sell it, but from whatever I pick for the day, I usually reserve what we call ‘take away’. At times some strict marketers who envy our trade do not allow us pick. This sort of characters make bold to flog us with cane in a bid to scare to scare us. In spite of this humiliation, through our determination to stop our kids from dying of hunger ensure the pains but wipe in the secrets.

She said, rather than venture into prostitution or stealing, I rather come here to scavenge to survive. I cannot pay my children school fees as all of them have dropped out of school.

Other women use to bring their own children here but I thought this is not the life I’m wishing my children so I don’t allow them come with me. As it is today, the poor is gradually being schemed out of our usual means of survival, as even the Alaroro women are now being made to register with N5000 each. The Union people claim they use the money to maintain the market. Some of our women who cannot afford to pay risk embarrassment if they continue to come to pick from the market. It is painful that the idea of registration was even started by some of us who thought it was necessary to reduce the number of Alaroro women in the market. For me it should have being left the way it was since the idea is to enable the poor survive”.

Precilia Peter, a widow who hails from Okporku Local government of Benue Stat lamented that she has four kids to carter for. She says, A woman at the market, going through some of the food

68 OPINION

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Gov Abubakar And The Vanguard’s Award

BY ISMAIL MUSA BAUCHI

Leadership is by far a game of performance than that of appearances as philosophers will have us believe. It is almost impossible for the dogged efforts of selfless leaders who have made it a duty to assuage the pains of the masses through viable policies and important projects to go unnoticed. Although, leaders need not wait for praises from their people for doing the job they have been elected to do, however, in a democracy such as ours where leadership has been reduced into an avenue for self-enrichment and aggrandizement, appreciating the good works of leaders who have chosen servitude over rulership becomes very important. If not for anything, to help them see beyond the sycophant ramblings of opportunists and the bitter criticism of opponents.

It is on the strength of this that I join other well-meaning Nigerians to congratulate Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, my governor for bagging the prestigious Vanguard 2017 Governor of the Year Award in recognition of his many peopleoriented programmes that are transforming the fortunes of the people of Bauchi. Anyone who is familiar with the Vanguard Awards knows that it celebrates only the

best who have made it a point of duty to better the lot of their people.

The awards have developed into the barometer for measuring the performance of Nigerian governors that have gone the extra length to put the people first. One only needs to look at the performance in office, of all the past winners to understand that Vanguard maintains a strict vetting code and this makes the award prestigious. It represents duty and is undoubtedly presented only those who have been unquestionably outstanding in delivering dividends of democracy to the people of their state.

Without question, Governor Abubakar represents everything that the people of Bauchi have been lacking in a governor since the return of democracy in 1999.

His clear approach to governance is legendary. Except from enemies of Bauchi state, probably the camp of those still licking their wounds for the sound beating they received from him at the 2015 polls which brought an end to the inglorious looting era, it will be hard for any right-thinking human being not to commend the efforts of Governor Abubakar in transforming the fortunes of the state despite the paucity of funds.

Bauchi is today wearing a beautiful look all thanks to the

massive investment in road development that has seen the construction of numerous roads within the Bauchi metropolis, and those linking the capital and the rest of the state.

The story is the same with all other critical sectors of the state. In education for instance, since embarking on a state-wide tour where he was brought face to face with rot in the sector, governor Abubakar declared a state of emergency in the sector.

A stroll around Bauchi state and the environs today, will reveal public schools that have been wholly transformed from their hitherto sorry state and have been galvanized to provide only the kind of education that the governor believes will help the children of Bauchi compete favourably with their counterparts all over Nigeria and even beyond.

This strong momentum has been retained in other sectors such as health where huge counterpart funds have been contributed into International Organisations’ assisted initiatives that have provided the needed health covers to the teeming people of Bauchi for whom access to health has previously been completely absent.

Other areas like power, human capital development, security, etc. have also been touched by the Midas limbs of the indefatigable

governor and so, it didn’t come as a surprise to all of us in Bauchi who are actually after good governance that the governor has also caught the eye of a reputable newspaper organisation such as Vanguard.

The truth is, records don’t lie. Anyone in doubt about the impact of the governor since assuming office in 2015 need just board a vehicle to Bauchi and see for themselves the wonders of a man whose calling we believe was truly echoed by God; a man who has crashed all the planks of follies that past administrations have positioned as parameters for the measurement of their non-existent impacts. The most interesting thing about our Mohammed Abubakar is that he goes about delivering on his mandate in the humblest of manners. Never does he point fingers at the past nor does he bare down on the present. This perhaps is the reason why all his lieutenants have also been wired tick to his approach and can be seen working diligently to support their principal to give to the people that which is due them.

The award this year which I contend is the most keenly contested also gives the governor a certain kind of elevation among his peers. To beat the likes of H.E Okezie Victor Ikpeazu of Abia, H.E Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of

Kano, H.E Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and H.E Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba state considering their stellar performance in 2017, governor Mohammed must have performed excellently.

Let me assure the governor that the people of Bauchi on whose behalf he has performed the deeds that have brought him this recognition are proud of him. They are very happy that the world has seen what he has brought to them and are only too happy to repay his trust come 2019.

We in Bauchi are only waiting patiently to return His Excellency come 2019. No electorate will be careless enough to allow a rare gem such as you to pass through their fingers. We have seen the lies of those contending for your office and I assure you that the people are poised to reject them.

All we ask and pray is for you to take this award and use it as the needed motivation to continue doing that which has endeared you not only to the people of Bauchi, but reputable organisations like Vanguard.

It is my sincere belief that with you at helm of affairs in Bauchi, only good things that border on the all-round development of the people and infrastructure will be attributed to the state.

– Musa write from Bauchi State

Buratai And The Human Side Of The Military

BY ADETOKUNBO COKER

Bad news spreads like wildfire.

A growing body of evidence illustrates the human tendency to prioritise negative over positive news content. But why is this?

“Humans may neurologically or physiologically predispose towards focusing on negative information because the potential costs of negative information far outweigh the potential benefits of positive information.” Professor Stuart Soroka.

The above aptly describes the news of the Nigerian Army abandoning wounded soldiers fighting the insurgency in the North East. Some days back I saw the picture of a Nigerian soldier in need of urgent medical help avoid losing his sight after a significant accident with his weapon somewhere in the northeast. It was such a gory sight. The report stated that he needed a Cornea Implant to save his sight. The report indicated that this incident happened in Buni Yadi, Yobe State, from where he was transferred to 7 Div Military Hospital Maiduguri, from there to 44 Army Reference Hospital Kaduna and finally to the Indian Thelish Hospital Kaduna.

I found that report somewhat curious because I was in the know of the case. The individual that posted the picture apparently did out of ignorance, because the wounded soldier in question has been given the needed medical attention at private eye facility in Kaduna.

For the records, to say that the soldier was abandoned is quite uncharitable and the height of mischief. I dare to say that nothing of such happened. Even the mere sequence of events would suggest that the soldier was never abandoned. This incident occurred in Yobe state; he was moved to the 7 Div Reference Hospital in Maiduguri Borno State. After examination, the soldier was again transferred to the 44 Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna for further care.

It was on the strength of the medical advice of the medical director of the hospital that the soldier was moved to a private facility for specialist care. Now tell me, if the Nigerian Army were not interested in his case or abandoned as the writer posited, would he end up in a private medical facility?

Your guess is as good as mine. I think we must be careful not to whip up unnecessary sentiments especially on the social media space. I am quite convinced that the writer didn’t do enough research on this case. If not, he won’t mislead the public.

As someone who is conversant with military operations, I think I can tell a significant difference between the Army of then and now under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Turkur Buratai. You could question everything about the chief of Army staff, but you cannot doubt his commitment to the welfare of his soldiers been an infantry general himself. Are we not witness

to situations where he regularly organizes get-together events for wounded soldiers during festive periods like Sallah, Easter, and Christmas to motivate the soldiers who were fighting the insurgency, and also an expression of love to the wounded soldiers and their families? Are we even aware that only in January 2018, the Nigerian Army proposed the establishment of a Military tertiary hospital in Sokoto state to handle complex military medical cases? These are many more are the hallmark of the Nigerian Army under Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.

I dare say that the welfare records in the present administration are quite enviable. I will give some examples of care for wounded soldiers. Seven injured soldiers referred to the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital (NARH), Yaba, from the Northeast, were flown abroad for advance treatment this year. Also injured soldiers from the 44 Army reference Hospital Kaduna were also slated for advanced medical treatment. In my opinion, this has just been the norm under Lt. Gen T.Y Buratai. For him, it comes naturally. One could say government procedures are always slow, but again in the words of the Acting Medical Director of 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba Lagos, it doesn’t take up to a week for the chief of army staff to approve medical cases that reach his table.

“If there is an issue with personnel, he can equally be

evacuated to Kaduna, where they(doctors) do the needful, and the paper works starts immediately.

Sometimes, the process of setting up a board that will examine the soldier and determines his condition takes five days or one week. Once that is done, the recommendation is sent to the office of the Chief of Army Staff who approves the patient to be flown abroad for treatment. I don’t remember anyone that was sent to him (COAS) by the headquarters of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps that he declined.”

The above statement captures the commitment of the COAS to the welfare of his officers and men.

For cases that can be handled in Nigeria, attention is given, for cases that are complicated, the wounded are evacuated. Like I mentioned earlier, the COAS regularly pays an unscheduled visit to Nigerian Army personnel wounded in action from the northeast on hospital admission, and he has always made it a point of duty to visit troops recuperating in the hospital whenever he visits any military location. This is a fact that can be verified.

And just another demonstration of the commitment of the COAS to the welfare of his troops in the northeast, only some days ago, he graciously approved special promotion for 3,729 military personnel fighting insurgency in the northeast. In 2017, the COAS approved the exclusive promotion of 6,199 soldiers fighting the

insurgency in the northeast. Even though I know that sometimes some mischief makers are always out to defamed, castigated, persecuted and even insult his person, I still admire him because, yet his spirit remains unbroken and resolute, waxing stronger against enemies of his fatherland.

If you call the COAS a rare breed, you won’t be entirely wrong because, since his appointment as the COAS in July 2015, the tide was turned against the Boko Haram insurgents. Lost territories were recaptured. Roads that were hitherto closed were opened; the once dreaded Camp Zero in Sambisa Forest was captured and turned to a military facility that successfully hosted the 2017 Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship (NASAC).

The passion of the COAS for not only the professional development of the troops but also providing for their welfare within the available resources is motivating to say the least. The Army has been reinvigorated since he assumed leadership. Little wonder why he is dubbed the soldiers general. As a general, the COAS sure knows how to keep the morale of his soldiers high. And one of them is never to abandon them in times of need. And not when it is a medical case. For the COAS, it is a case of a General and his Soldiers. Let no man put asunder.

– Coker is a medical practitioner based in the United States of America.

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69

Dunne Surges Into Spanish Open Lead Irishman Paul Dunne claimed a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Spanish Open with an enterprising second-round 65 on Friday, while home favourite Jon Rahm stayed well-placed for a weekend charge.

World number 76 Dunne, who is playing his first regular European Tour event since January after a successful stint in the United States, poured in nine birdies in his seven-under-par round to take the overall advantage on 13-under.

“My game is in good shape, I’m feeling good. I see a lot of birdies around this course if the weather stays like this so hopefully I can make them,” Dunne told europeantour.

Giroud

com.

“I think it’s been training the right way for a while and I’ve got a nice run of events here in Europe over the next few weeks as well, so I’m looking forward to that and hopefully just keep doing what I am doing.”

The 25-year-old made his name when he tied for the lead after three rounds of the 2015 British Open as an amateur, and claimed his first professional title at last year’s British Masters.

After back-to-back top10 finishes on the USPGA Tour, Dunne leads by

kickstarts Chelsea career with Southampton fightback Olivier Giroud hopes to have kickstarted his Chelsea career after coming off the bench to inspire an eight-minute turnaround from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Southampton on Saturday with his first Premier League goals for the club.

The French international striker has largely struggled to make an impact since his deadline day move from Arsenal in January, putting his place at the World Cup at risk.

“I’ve been through some difficulties in my career, but I always try to come back stronger and it happened today,” said Giroud.

“The most important thing is to never give up, believe in our quality, play our game and I am proud of what we have done today.”

Defeat is another body blow to Saints’ chances of avoiding relegation as they remain rooted in the bottom three when for so long they seemed set for a first home win in the Premier League since November.

Dusan Tadic and debutant Jan Bednarek put the hosts in command, but Giroud struck either side of Eden Hazard’s equaliser to cut the gap on Liverpool and Tottenham in the fight for a top-four finish and Champions League football next season to seven points.

“As long as it is mathematically

possible we will believe we can reach the top four,” added Giroud. “We have got five finals to play, after that we will see.”

The two sides will meet again in the FA Cup semi-finals next weekend, and Southampton will do well to raise themselves for cup glory with their place in the Premier League next season looking ever more precarious.

“As has been the case all year apparently we’ve got a soft underbelly,” said Saints boss Mark Hughes, whose three Premier League games in charge have now all ended in defeats. “When the momentum shifts against us we can’t get a platform and wait until the momentum swings our way again.”

Monte Carlo: Nadal Faces Possible Djokovic Clash World No 1 and defending and is drawn Alexander Zverev,his whoopener won two champion RafaelMasters Nadal could face Austrian titlesfacelast to season, starts Dominic old rival Novak against Djokovic in the in the third round Gilles MullerThiem or a qualifier, Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinals as the 12-time as the 20-year-old German looks toGrand Slam next week after Friday’s champion plays his first bouncedraw. back from last week’s Davis The top-seeded Spaniard, who tournament since splitting Cup loss to Nadal. claimed his 10th Monte Carlo title from coach Andre Agassi. last year, has a bye for the first round Australian wildcard and will open his tour claycourt Thanasi Kokkinakis, who season against either Slovenia’s stunned Roger Federer Aljaz Bedene or a qualifier. at the Miami Masters “I have won the Monte Carlo last month to see Nadal Masters 10 times, that’s a good retake the number-one number. But one more victory, ranking, is a possible why not?” said Nadal, who played third-round opponent his first matches since January’s for the 16-time major Australian Open in Spain’s Davis winner.

Cup quarterfinal win over Germany Second seed last weekend.

Marin Cilic will kick The 31-year-old first won the off his campaign Monte Carlo tournament in 2005 in the second and has beaten Djokovic twice in the round against final, although the Serb is the only either Fernando player to topple Nadal in a final with Verdasco or a straight-sets win in 2013.

Uruguay’s Pablo Djokovic takes on a qualifier in Cuevas.

three strokes from the trio on 10-under of Nacho Elvira, Brett Rumford and Callum Shinkwin.

World No 4 Rahm, who finished fourth at last week’s Masters after a thrilling weekend surge, added a four-under 68 to his opening 67 and is four strokes off the lead.

The big-hitting Spaniard eagled the opening hole, but a double-bogey on the 12th stalled his charge.

Defending champion Andrew Johnston signed for a second successive 68 and is only a shot further adrift in a tie for ninth.

70 SPORTS

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Sunday April 15, 2018

3SC Unveils Football Academy With 170 Kids Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan has unveiled its Football Academy with 170 kids enrolled into Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 categories at the event held inside the main bowl of Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba Ibadan, yesterday, chairman of the traditional club-side, Alh Gbolagade Busarithanked the parents for believing in Shooting Stars’ institution and demonstrating their dreams of having their wards becoming football stars by coming out in-large numbers to register their kids to the academy.

He however urged the parents to allow the kids to imbibe football culture by monitoring their wards to be prompt with their training programmes, while assuring them of safety and proper handling of their wards by the cream of experienced youthful coaches led

by Edith Agoye, and opportunity to promote the exceptional ones into the main team.

The Commissioner for Youths and Sports in the State, Barr Abayomi Oke in his speech at the gathering said the program is self funding and does not have any financial input of the government, but the idea of the management of the club.

“The good idea about this academy is that it would allow us to have accurate personal data of all the kids which we believe would forestall the persistent age cheat that always associated with football.

“I’m also happy to announce that about five private schools in the State, which includes: ICAST, Asegun Group of Schools and Brightville Schools have partnered with us to be giving educational scholarship to the

exceptional players of the academy”, Oke noted.

Among legends of the club that are invited to grace the event was Dr. Felix Owolabi, Mutiu Adepoju, Coach Niyi Akande, Dr. Biodun Salami of the

University of Ibadan.

Photo captions: (L-R) Chairman 3SC Alh. Gbolagade Busari, Commissioner for Youths and Sports Barr. Yomi Oke, Mutiu Adepoju, Niyi Akande and Dr. Felix Owolabi.

Nigeria Drops In Medal Table, Second In African Teams After South Africa Team Nigeria ended day 10 of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in the ninth position in the medal table It was a fruitful day for Team Nigeria as they concluded events on Saturday with one gold, three silver and one bronze medals but the team dropped from the eighth position they held on Friday.

The Nigerian team now have nine gold, eight silver and six bronze medals, making them the second highest-ranking African team in the table.

Aminat Adeniyi picked up Saturday’s gold medal in women’s wrestling; the three silver medals were won by Melvin Bibo in men’s wrestling, Faith Obazuaye in women’s TT6-10 singles (table tennis), women’s 4X400 metres relay, while women’s 4X100 metres relay won bronze.

South Africa leads the African countries. The Rainbow Nation is in the fifth position overall after amassing 13 gold, 11 silver, 13 bronze; Kenya is 13th with four gold, seven silver, six bronze. In 15th spot is Botswana with won three gold, one silver, one bronze and Uganda in 16th on three gold and two bronze.

Namibia is in joint-25th on one gold while Cameroon is 32nd on one silver, two bronze. Mauritius is in joint-34th with one silver while Ghana and Seychelles are in joint-39th position with one bronze each.

Host Australia continues to lead the standings with 75 gold, 55 silver and 57 bronze medals.

England is in second with 42 gold, 40 silver and 41 bronze; India in third with 25 gold, 16 silver and 18 bronze and Canada fourth with 15 gold, 39 silver and 27 bronze.

Mikel Obi ends goal drought, surpasses English Premier League record

City trio, Salah, Kane nominated for Player of the Year Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane and David Silva lead a six-strong cast that also includes the prolific Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane for the 2017-18 Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award.

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is the other nominee.

Despite blowing the chance to seal the Premier League title in a thrilling 3-2 derby defeat to Manchester United last weekend, City still boast a 13-point lead at the top

of the table heading into Saturday’s match against Tottenham.

De Bruyne is expected to be City’s leading candidate having contributed a league-high 15 assists and seven goals from midfield as Pep Guardiola’s have marched towards the title.

However, the Belgian may be beaten to the award by Salah’s free-scoring form.

The Egyptian has scored 39 times in all competitions, including in each leg as Liverpool dumped City out of the

Champions League quarter-finals 5-1 on aggregate.

Salah leads the way in the race for the Premier League golden boot with 29 goals to Kane’s 25.

Sane and Kane are also on the shortlist for the Young Player of the Year award alongside City goalkeeper Ederson and forward Raheem Sterling, Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford and left-back Ryan Sessegnon, who has starred in Fulham’s push for promotion from the Championship.

The Super Eagles skipper who ended a 12-month goal drought now has more goals than he managed for more than a decade in the English top-flight John Obi Mikel scored his second goal in the Chinese Super League as Tianjin Teda fought back to seal a 2-1 win over Guangzhou R&F on Saturday.

The Nigeria international who last scored a league goal in April 2017 helped his team come back from a goal deficit with his first effort of the season.

Guangzhou’s Chen Zhizhao broke the deadlock eight minutes into the encounter at the Teda Stadium but the former Chelsea player restored parity for the hosts in the 27th minute.

Two minutes later, Frank Acheampong assisted Hui Jiakang for the match-winning effort that gave the Tianjin Tigers their second win of the campaign.

Mikel has now surpassed his goal record in the English Premier League - where he notched just a goal in 249 league appearances for Chelsea.

The 30-year-old who has provided two assists and a goal in six appearances this term will be aiming to maintain his form to help lift Uli Stielike’s side, currently placed eighth in the league table with eight points from six games.

Sunday, April 15, 2018

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SPORTS 71

CL Semifinal: Bayern Munich Boss Fears Ronaldo’s Factor

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes admitted he fears Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, after his side were handed a Champions League semifinal against the holders in Friday’s draw.

Last year, Ronaldo scored a second-leg hat-trick as Real edged out Bayern in a thrilling quarterfinal after extra time.

“I hope Ronaldo does not have a good day,” said the 72-year-old Heynckes, who coached Madrid to Champions League glory in 1998.

Real are bidding for a recordextending 13th European Cup and third in a row, while five-time

champions Bayern were the last side to lift the trophy three years on the spin 42 years ago.

Heynckes said that tradition is more important than spending power, pointing to the exits of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

“Look at Paris or Manchester City,” he said. “You can’t buy the Champions League these days.

You need time and patience to grow. The players must know each other and respect each other.”

The two teams have never gone head-to-head in a final, but this will be their 12th meeting in the knockout stage of the

competition and their seventh semifinal clash.

“Real again? Incredible!” midfielder Thiago Alcantara told the Bayern website.

Bayern have won four of the six previous last-four ties between the two clubs, starting with a 3-1 aggregate victory when the clubs first met in 1976.

Forward Thomas Mueller looked back to Bayern’s last victory over Real, saying: “I recall the last time we met Real in the semifinals under Jupp Heynckes in 2012. We won. For me, that’s an omen.”

Sergio Ramos, Kaka and

Ronaldo all missed as Bayern won a penalty shoot-out six years ago, only to lose the final on home soil to Chelsea.

Just before the draw, Bayern announced that Niko Kovac will take over from the outgoing Heynckes as coach at the end of the season.

Heynckes, who led Bayern to the 2013 title with a 2-1 final victory over Borussia Dortmund, knows that the final in Kiev on May 26 would be the last match of his fourth stint in charge.

Club chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insisted Bayern, who have already clinched the

Bundesliga title, are underdogs against a Real side lying fourth in La Liga.

“We are meeting the winner of the last two years,” Rummenigge said. “We already know who are the favourites.”

Club president Uli Hoeness, who played alongside Rummenigge in the Bayern outfit that won the 1976 title, added: “If you want to win the Champions League, you have to beat the best.”

Veteran Dutch winger Arjen Robben, a former Real player, called the clash “a delicacy for all football lovers”.

Abara Eyes Go Round Scalp Niger Tornadoes will go into today’s game on the back of a 1-0 win over Rangers FC in Minna last weekend, which sees them move to 5th spot on Nigeria Professiona Football League (NPFL) standings with 23 points and they will be hoping to go all out against the newly promoted Go Round FC of Omoku.

Hamza Abara’s side are 6 points clear above the new member of the Nigeria Professional Football League Go Round FC with a game at hand against Enyimba FC of Aba and 15 games played so far this season, but despite their current form and position on the league standings Abara is refusing to take the next three fixtures lightly.

He said: “Because our opponents are new in the elite league of Nigeria Football, that shows, that they are strong to be in the league” we should not look at their current position, but we should look at their home record” “We need to be focused on Go Round, Yobe Desert Stars and then MFM FC.But now, we face Go Round, because they have a good home record, we will be ready for that game.”

Go Round are on 17 points and are still fighting to guarantee Nigeria

Professional Football League survival, but coach Ngozi Elechi is not expecting any hangover from Niger Tornadoes’ impressive win over Rangers last weekend in Minna.

Team Manager of Niger Tornadoes, Usman Alfa is however full of hopes for his team to go all out against Go Round FC in Omoku.

Team News The duo of Olufemi Oladapo and Solomon Owello had a light training with the rest of the team, but included in the line-up that will face Go Round this weekend, while the third most goal assists in the Nigeria Professional Football League Ibrahim Babawo will not be in action due to national assignment with the flying eagles of Nigeria camp exercise in Abuja.

Opponents Go Round FC have a good home record, as they have not lost at home but the recent result sees them in the 16th position in the Nigeria Professional Football League standings with 17 points Previous Meetings This is the first time both Niger Tornadoes and Go Round FC will meet each other in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

CWG: Team Nigeria Rakes In More Medals Nigeria registered its name at the podium of XXI Commonwealth Games by winning silver and bronze in women’s 4X100m and 4X400m relays at Carrara Stadium, yesterday.

In the 4×400 metres, Nigeria finished second with a time of 3:25.29 behind Jamaica’s 3:24.00 while Botswana came third finishing with 3:26.86.

In the keenly contested final, England came fourth finishing 3:27.21 while the host, Australia came fifth finishing 3:27.43.

Nigeria’s Patience OkonGeorge, Glory Nathaniel, Praise Idamadudu and Yinka Ajayi did the nation proud at the event.

Nigeria also got bronze in the women’s 4X100m relay behind England and Jamaica.

Joy Udo-Gabriel, Blessing Okagbare, Tobi Amusan and Rosemary Chukwuma represented the nation.

Chukwuma anchored the race at 42.75 behind England 42.46 and Jamaica’s 42.52.

Murphy Adaji, coach, Kids N Play, an FCT athletics club

that produced Chukwuma said: “I give God the glory for her performance.

“Chukwuma could not participate in women’s 100m because they said she had not acclimatized but God still shows His greatness in 4X100m relay.

“If Nigeria continues to look out for genuine talents like this, we will soon get back to glorious days,” he said.

Nigeria has already got nine Gold, eight silver and six bronze in the fiesta which will climax, today. NAN

AMUSEMENT PARK

DISTANT RELATIVES ARE THE BEST KIND AND THE FURTHER AWAY THE BETTER

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

— KIN HUBBARD

15.04.18 No. 635 N300

Guest Columnist MOHAMMED ISMAIL

W

h a t s t a r te d like a dream, precisely five years ago, has blossomed into a full blown reality and an enthralling success story.

The rise of Maryam Abacha American University Niger to arguably one of the fastest development universities in the west African sub region, did not come to many as a surprise because right from its inception, the founder of the institution has set for himself, the audacious target of attaining nothing but academic excellence.

Without doubt, the university, has in the few years of its existence became a force to reckon with having exerted a reputation of being a paragon of learning, a fountain of knowledge, a centre of research, an embodiment of discipline and an indispensable pedagogical juggernaut.

The birth of the university which was

SPACE FOR SALE

Maryam Abacha American University At 5

archetypal to the trajectory of the rising sun was a good omen for educational development in the region as it has evidently and manifestly changed the fortunes of education for the best within a short space of time.

The dream of imparting quality education at par with what obtains in developed nations at an affordable cost was the underlying motive behind the establishment of such a budding academic centre. That mission has apparently come to fruition in view of the quality of knowledge acquired by students and the comparatively affordable amount being dispensed.

With the coming of Maryam Abacha American university, Niger, the people of the region especially the teeming youth have been assailed with a unique and golden opportunity to access quality education with no qualms.

That is why since

Maryam Abacha

its inception, the university has been growing from strength to strength resulting in remarkable academic feats which translate into a meteoric rise in student's enrolment, a feat ascribed to its superlative performance.

The result of such an enchanting trajectory made the university to become the cynosure of all that seek to have a quality education at an affordable rate.

The managers of the young and promising citadel of learning have acquitted themselves over the years, as they have shown that through ćommitment, dedication to duty, and hardwork, one can move a mountain of obstacles.

In the few moments of its existence, the university has established for itself, a reputation of being a household name in the region. It is in this respect that despite being in Maradi, Niger republic, the university has continued to draw leviathan patronage from countries within the region with Nigeria becoming its strong foothold.

The phenomenal strides being recorded by the university did not occur by accident but the result of a diligent, calculated and pragmatic approach of the handlers to ensure that the university is placed on the right pedestal.

It is also a manifestation of the vision, foresight and the philosophy of the president/founder of the university, Prof Abubakar Gwarzo to bequeath a legacy that will outlive him in the annals of educational development in Africa.

In order to achieve such a sterling legacy and inscribe his name in gold in the sands of time, Gwarzo has arguably invested all his energy and resources in the landmark project in order to ensure that the future of the next generation is not only guaranteed but absolutely secured.

That is why he handles the affairs of the university with utmost care to the extent one could say with absolute certainty that the life of this enigmatic entrepreneur depended on the success of his pet project, Maryam Abacha

American University.

Even at that, he is not making such gigantic sacrifice for personal or pecuniary gains but for the development of humanity as attested by parents and students of the institution.

The achievements recorded by the university were aptly captured and amplified in a speech delivered by Professor Adamu Abubakar at the second convocation of the university where he noted that the university has earned a number of international plaudits following its consistent and superlative performance over the years.

He noted that "MAAUN has received plaudits and approbation by sundry world standard education bodies such as UNESCO, the United Kingdom based Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges and Universities (ASIC), the US based Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), membership of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), membership of the British Quality Foundation (BQF) and membership of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA).

Gwarzo noted that the birth of MAAUN heralded the establishment of the first English university in Niger Republic which was also the first approved bilingual university in sub-Saharan Africa.

The result is that the university has consistently produced graduates with exceptional skills who according to records, have

been performing well in their various fields.

It is for this singular reason that the university attracts children from diverse backgrounds in Nigeria and beyond to its nucleus which is a testimony to its acceptability and rising profile.

The graduation of Mustapha Sani Abacha, the youngest son of late head of state General Sani Abacha was a case in point.

The fact that the popularity of the university has continued to soar was glaringly evident at the second convocation of the university on April 7, 2018 in which 480 students including the first batch of masters degree holders successfully accomplished their various courses.

More grease to our young, dynamic and enigmatic citadel of learning at this auspicious moment.

GHANA MUST GO Court stops EFCC from confiscating $8.4m, N9.1bn Patience Jonathan's money

— News

Chai!

• LEADERSHIP (ISSN 0331-328X) is published in Abuja by LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Off Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Way, Utako District, Abuja. Advert: 08184934934 (Abuja), 08033257681 (Lagos) News: 08034722406 P. O. Box 9514, Garki II, Abuja. Lagos Office: 34/36 Adegbola Street, Anifowose, Off Oba Akran, Ikeja. E-mail: info@leadership.ng, advert@leadership.ng, newsroom@leadership.ng

LEADERSHIPSTYLE A PUBLICATION OF LEADERSHP NEWSPAPERS

VOL. 1, NO. 13, SUNDAY APRIL 15, 2018

Hamza Bala Lawal

Native Wears Make Me Look Outstanding – Hamzat

content

Tiwa Savage New Designer Crush is Fendi!| Page 4

LEADERSHIP style

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

Model Nneoma Anosike wins N10million suit against Wema Bank |Page 3 High Protein Vegetables Beneficial for You! | Page 8

Cover| Page 1

The Team Editor LEADERSHIP STYLE Ruth Tene NATSA 08065083417 Style Consultants/ Contributor: Oluwatoyin AGUDA Milicent Arebun ONUOHA Editorial Director, Style: Nkarenyi UKONU 08029030427 EDITOR LEADERSHIP SUNDAY Bukola OGUNSINA

Essential Things To Note In Dressing For An Occasion | Page 18

group CHAIRMAN Sam Nda-Isaiah

5 Things You Should Consider Before You Say I Do!| Pages 14

GMD, LEADERSHIP GROUP Abdul Gombe MANAGING DIRECTOR Obi Azuru EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Christian Ochiama You can write us via: Styleleadership@gmail.com Follow us on

@leadershipstyle

leadershipstyle page

@leadershipstyle

Dear Readers, Hello and welcome to another exciting edition.

It is the third week of April and we are daily reminded of how little time we have on the earth and as such are advised to use the moment fully, rather than wait for tomorrow.

For our cover personality this week, we feature one of today’s young and very versatile activist who takes us through his journey of becoming a known name in most communities, Hamzat Bala Lawal For most active social media followers today, you would have come across the young activist and co-founder of Follow the Money International and Chief Executive, Connected Development (CODE), who has made a mark for himself and various communities promoting various development campaigns.

He reveals his aspirations as a person, very interesting.

Our regular features of Arewa stars, features some of the hottest Single Kannywood stars, while Celebrity profile features one of Nigeria’s best Nollywood Veteran, Ace Actress, Producer and Fashion glamazion, Investor and closet Philanthropist Rita Uchenna Nkem Dominic popularly known as Rita Dominic Our style star profiles one of Nigeria’s best in the history of beauty pageants in Nigeria and one fashionista you would pay to follow if given the option. The profile reveals fashion-prenuer and exbeauty queen Enemaya Lawani, CEO of the Enemaya brand and Milliner, designer of turbans, Abayas and ‘throw on’ jackets.

As it is usual, in this edition, there is something of interest for everyone, irrespective of your preference.

Our health, relationship, beauty, fashion and entertainment pages remain a must read for readers.

So sit back, grab a copy and relax into the new week

r’s o t i d E rner Co

2

LEADERSHIP style

Fashion News

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

Model Nneoma Anosike wins N10million suit against Wema Bank

STORIES BY OLUWATOYIN AGUDA

A US-based Nigerian model, Nneoma Anosike, has just won herself a sum of N10million ($27,778) after slamming a copyright suit on Nigeria’s Wema Bank.

According to the court’s judgment, Wema bank was found guilty of breaching Anosike’s privacy by using her photograph in a campaign material without her consent. The Nigerian Bank was also directed to tender a letter of apology to the young woman, and to publish a written apology in two dailies in the US and in two national newspapers circulating around Nigeria.

Nneoma, a Nigerian model in the US was a 2014 brand ambassador of Pepsi Cola Nigeria.

Kim Kardashian collaborates with Mario Dedivanovic Kim Kardashian West has partnered with Mario Dedivanovic, the makeup artist who created her most iconic beauty looks, as the duo will be releasing their first-ever makeup collaboration under Kim’s KKW Beauty line. The collection will include eye shadows and lip products. The eye shadows are notably the first non-neutral makeup shades to come out of KKW Beauty.

Sophie Hulme launches bags produced with recycled wastes Sophie Hulme studio, one of UK’s most popular bag brands has launched ‘The Project’, an initiative aimed at founded on the principles of responsible design. The first collection explores the issue of preconsumer waste and re-using surplus skins from previous collections. It is a sustainable approach to fashion and the industry’s responsibility to urgently address the repercussions of overconsumption on both the environment and human life.

Sharon Ojong launches clothing line

Style influencer, Sharon Ojong has launched her own clothing line. Sharon who came to limelight through the Koko Mansion reality programme started out her career in the fashion industry as a model, a fashion blogger and then an Image Consultant alongside.

She has added more feathers to her cap as she launched her clothing brand, Rekana.Co. The event held at the Ayo Van Elmar Fashion Cafe where guests were treated to wine and light food.

Nine West to file for bankruptcy

The US fashion footwear company intends to file for bankruptcy, with a plan to sell the intellectual property of its flagship brand to Authentic Brands Group. The proceeds from the sale will pay down some of Nine West’s approximately $1.5 billion in debt, increasing the chances that the company will emerge from a planned bankruptcy.

3

LEADERSHIP style

society gist

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

Tiwa Savage New Designer Crush is Fendi!

STORIES BY MILLICENT AREBUN ONUOHA It’s a designer frenzy season for popular Nigerian Songstress Tiwa Savage evidenced from the fashion logo mania in her outfits recently.

From Gucci to the recent love for all things Fendi, Tiwa has been spotted multiple times recently wearing the brand and sharing the images with her over four million fans on Instagram with catchy captions guaranteed to turn the ‘Tiwa army’ to die-hard Fendi fans.

Stepping out for a concert recently. Tiwa shared her Fendi outfit with the caption ‘Offensive in Fendi’ and shared another just a day later wearing a Fendi double-F logo t-shirt, a matching pair of black tights and completed the look with Fendi contrast sling-back pumps from the SS18 collection.

‘Not A Rigid Definition Of A Person’ – Denrele Edun for GQ France Controversial extrovert and popular media personality Denerele Edun sexually, gregarious personality and flamboyant gender blurring outfits have been a major source of debate and avid interest since he exploded on our Tv scene as a VJ for Soundcity Music Channel. In his dar-

ing unconventional way, Denrele has finally addressed the buzz about him in a post on his persocial social media announcing his feature in French GQ Magazine’s latest issue.

Denrele shared photos from the editorial shoot on his Instagram page with the caption: Denrele Edun for @ gqfrance courtesy @ anastyboy_ (As written by @sophie_bouillon and captured by @benedicte_kurzen).

Not a boy or a girl, not any binary, rigid definition of a person. Just ME. À lire dans GQ Magazine numéro 118, en kiosques.

Everyday society tries to tell me that I don’t exist, because it believes in only two genders. Every day, I very quietly give society the finger, by simply continuing to EXIST!

Lagos Bridal Fashion Week 2018 Debuts This May

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By MILLICENT AREBUN ONUOHA It’s fashion season and the city is filled with style cheer and lots of fashion news and goodies. Taking its place of pride amongst the its peers in the fashion week business, is the debut of Nigeria’s first Bridal fashion week tagged ‘LAGOS BRIDAL FASHION WEEK 2018’.

Call her Classic will host a first of its kind experience for brides and groomsto-be, bridal stylists, buyers and other key stakeholders, under one roof at federal Place Victoria Island Lagos. The three-day experience will feature a curated list of Pan-African bridal designers for the daily runway shows and brands at the LBFW Bridal Boutique. The boutique

will house a collection of vendors retailing bridal (and wedding) items as well as private rooms for consultations with designers and bridal stylists.

According to Call Her Classic team ‘Lagos Bridal Fashion Week is responding to the growing demand and patronage for indigenous brands with regards to bridal fashion. This shift in the narrative is welcomed as it supports local businesses and their revenue-generating potential, and as such, it should be encouraged. It is for this reason Lagos Bridal Fashion Week was created – a platform that aims to promote Africa’s finest brands as well as facilitate an environment for commerce’.

LEADERSHIP style

editor’s fab weekly picks

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

Must Read: The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma The Fishermen is a debut novel by Chigozie Obioma and tells the story of Four middle-class Nigerian brothers, Ikenna, Boja, Obembe and Benjamin, who decide to go fishing without their mother’s knowledge, hiding their fishing gear when they returned Their career lasts six weeks before they are discovered by a neighbour, who tells their mother. One day at the river they meet the local oddball, Abulu, who has the power of prophecy, and who predicts that Ikenna, the eldest, will be killed by one of his brothers; by a “fisherman”. It is from this simple, almost mythological conceit that Chigozie Obioma’s debut novel grows, gaining complexity and power as it rises to its heartbreaking climax.

The Fishermen mixes the traditional English novel form with the oral storytelling tradition, dramatising the conflict between the traditional and the modern. But The Fishermen is also grounded in the Aristotelian concept of tragedy, which mostly goes: a good and noble-minded man shows hubris and is brought down by the gods for it. Here, the hubris is shown by the fishermen’s father, Mr Agwu, who aims to be better than his neighbours by siring six offspring and saying: “My children will be great men … They will be lawyers, doctors, engineers

Must Listen: “Lil Snowman” by Mariah Carey As much as we love cozying up to old-time Christmas classics or belting out to modern holiday staples, it doesn’t hurt to add a few refreshing additions to your list of festive favorites. Below are a few of the best from 2017 so far. Check this space for more updates as December 25th approaches.

The music icon might not be a fan of her nickname, Queen of Christmas, but she’s not done pumping out holiday tunes, either. Her latest installment of festive music is from The Star, an animated film on the Nativity story. Carey belts out the title song in the soundtrack, a contemporary ballad with goosebumpsinducing riffs and key changes.

In another animated film soundtrack, All I Want for Christmas Is You, presented by Carey herself, the singer delivers another holiday original (with an incredible title). Unlike “The Stars” dramatic melody, “Lil Snowman” adopts a retro rock ’n’ roll feel. It’s just another testament to Mariah’s versatility, especially when it comes to Christmas music.

Must Visit: Kabyek Tityong (Matsirga) Waterfalls Also known as Southern Kaduna’s Untapped Goldmine cascades from nigh 30 meters into a still and deep gorge that is supported by rocks.

Located in the outskirts of Kafanchan, Matsirga Waterfall fall exhibits a lush powerfulness of nature where water gushes, tumbles and drops from 30 meters. The scenic beauty, warm ambience and reinvigorated breeze around the waterfalls are soothing and tantalizing as tourists and visitors engage in merriments.

Moving towards the waterfalls, one hears earsplitting sounds from the falls. One also notices sparkling bubbles of water flowing from atop hard rocks and striking severe at its base to form a pool that flows down the slope. At the point of contact downstream, the cascading showers of the fall create a rainbow-like mist which appears and disappears ‘mysteriously’ (when the sun passes above the water, it produces rainbow colours, though the locals believe there is some mystery surrounding the waterfalls).

A natural rock shelter at the river bank forms a screening and a resting gauge for picnicking. Also, at the bottom of the rock is a 500 meter cave which gets submerged by the flood at the peak of the wet season.

Must Watch: Bandits Bandit tells the story of Fred who is willed an ‘ugly’ painting by his late very rich Uncle after he suddenly dies.

As the unlucky individual that he is, his friends sell the painting for a cheap amount only to discover that his Uncle left him a 90 million Naira cheque behind it.

He tries to recover the painting, consequently, he has to try to get the painting back from a third party, after the gallery he sold it to, had already re-sold.

Bandits produced by Muyiwa Aluko is a comedy,Romantic Dramas,

5

The comedy which was debuted November 17 stars Joke Silva, Senator, FunnyBone, Chigul, Linda Ejiofor, Funky Mallam, Gbenga Titiloye and John Ukpe.

LEADERSHIP style

arewa corner

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

Meet Kannywood​’s Top Stylish Actors As fashion takes center stage among celebrities globally, your favourite Kannywood stars are not left behind, as they daily continue to dazzle their followers with their unique styles and fashion trends.

Kannywood actress, ​Zainab Booth and is known for her role in Gani GaKa among several other movies.

3​. Nafisa Abdullahi: The 2016 Kannywood ​Best ​A​ ctress of the ​Y​ear is also ​ a ​unique fashion freak. ​A natural beauty who ​is not known for heavy make​-​up​​ like her contemporaries, nonetheless, stand​s​out with her unique ​style.

According to an Industry’s analyst and movie promoter, Hassana Dalhat, “It is like a competition now as Actors and actresses are always on their Instagram pages sharing pictures of their new looks”.

As presented by some media, the industry’s top five most stylish actors and actresses were picked based on photographs recently displayed by the artistes on ​their social media​platforms.​ LEADERSHIP Style 1​. ​Rahama Sadau – The elegant​actress is no doubt the industry’s number one when it comes to fashion sense.A relatively newcomer in ​ Kannywood, Rahama has displayed the most stylish ​images of herself on her Instagram page, @Rahama Sadau.

The Petite but beautiful Rahama who made news following her suspension from the industry, over allegedly violating the Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria’ rules and regulations has returned with a bang.

Beautiful Rahama own​s​a ​b​eauty ​s​hop in Kaduna and is known for some outstanding movie​s, including Ana wata Ga wata and Sabuwar Sangaya.

2.​Maryam Booth – Maryam Booth is unarguably one super actress ​who ​ is making waves at the moment in Kannywood.

The beautiful Actress stand​s out in her fashion, style and beauty.

Maryam is the daughter of veteran

The beautiful actress is known for her roles in several movies including Ummi; zango; Ya daga Allah; Yar Agadez; Addini ko Al’Ada; Ahlul Kitab; Alkawarina; Alhaki Kwikwiyo; Alhini; Allo (film); Auren Tagwaye; Baban Sadik; Badi Ba Rai; Ban Kasheta Ba; Blood and Henna; Cikin Waye among others 4​. Adam Zango – Adam Zango is rated the most fashionable male actor in Kannywood.

According to Hassana Dalhat, “Anytime you see Adam Zang​​o​, he is looking good and well​-​dressed. The multi​-​talented Adam ​Zango ​could be such because he also doubles as a musician and you know musicians like fashion”.

The Award Kannywood stars is known for his role in several movies including Fataken Dare , Ga Duhu Ga Haske , Ga Fili Mai Doki , Gaba da Gabanta , Gambiza , Gamdakatar , Gwamnati · Gwanaye and Jamila among several others His​images tell more about him @AdamZango.

5. Fati Washa – ​Fati also has many beautiful p​hotographs on her Instagram wall. @ FatiWasha She is also known for several movie roles, including ‘Ya daga Allah ,Yar Tasha, Ana Wata ga Wata, Mr. da Kura and Make Da Bake among others

6

foodie

LEADERSHIP style

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

Recipe for Bitter-leaf Soup (Ofe Onugbu)

By Ruth Tene Natsa Bitter-leaf soup remains one of the most traditional soups in Nigeria.

Though native to the Igbos of Eastern Nigeria, with the medicinal and health benefits of bitter leaf, it has become a national food, eaten by all tribes, across Nigeria.

For the ultimate pleasure of getting the taste of Ofe Obugbu, LEADERSHIP Style presents the local recipe as prepared by the Igbos The name is quite misleading in that a well prepared Bitterleaf Soup should not have even the slightest bitterness. This is achieved by washing and squeezing the bitter leaves (and changing the water at intervals) till all traces of bitterness have been washed off.

Ingredients Washed and squeezed bitterleaf - A handful 10 small Cocoyam(not the type for eating but for soups) 3 cooking spoons Red Palm Oil Assorted Beef: Includes best cut, shaki (cow tripe) Assorted Fish: Dry Fish and Stock Fish, Pepper, salt and ground crayfish (to taste) 3 stock cubes 1 teaspoon Ogiri Igbo (traditional seasoning) Notes on the ingredients: If you are outside Nigeria, you can use dried, washed and squeezed bitter leaves but you need to first of all make the bitter leaves soft and fresh again before adding them to the soup.

If you cannot buy cocoyam corms where you live, you can use cocoyam flour. An alternative to cocoyam flour is potato flour.

Ogiri Igbo is optional, it gives Bitterleaf Soup a traditional taste.

Before you cook Bitterleaf Soup

Make sure that the bitter leaf is well washed, such that there is no trace of bitterness left. If not, wash and squeeze it more. If the bitterness cannot be completely washed off (which is usually the case with most washed bitter leaves sold in the market), boil it for about 15 minutes and wash in cold water.

Wash and cook the cocoyam till soft. Remove the peels and use a mortar and pestle to pound the corms to a smooth paste Cooking Directions Boil the shaki (cow tripe), stock fish and dry fish in 1 litre of water till they are well done.

First sign of a done shaki is that the cuts will start curling on itself.

Wash the beef and add to the pot of shaki etc. and continue cooking.

When the meat is done, add 3 cubes of Maggi/Knorr and cook for 5 minutes. how to add cocoyam to the soup Add pepper, ground crayfish, bitter leaves (if they have not been parboiled) and cook for 10 minutes. Then add the cocoyam paste (in small lumps) and the palm oil then go to step 5.

Note: If the bitter leaves were parboiled to remove the bitterness, then for step 3; add pepper, ground crayfish, the cocoyam paste (in small lumps), the bitter leaves and the palm oil. In other words, add all the ingredients at this stage.

Cover the pot and leave to cook on high heat till all the cocoyam lumps have dissolved. You can add more water if you feel that the soup is too thick.

Add salt to taste and the soup is ready Serve with Garri (Eba), Semolina Fufu, Amala, Cassava Fufu or Pounded Yam.

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LEADERSHIP style

health

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

High Protein Vegetables Beneficial for You!

OLUWATOYIN AGUDA

to most commonly consumed vegetables

Eating a wide variety of plant foods is important for good health, and eating plant foods in both raw and cooked form will provide you with the adequate nutrients your body needs to function. One of the important nutrients the body requires is protein, as it helps keep your muscles strong and healthy and is required by each and every cell of the body. The truth is that it is not only fish and meat that supplies the body protein; here are five vegetables that are good sources of protein.

Potatoes

Peas Green peas are low in calories in comparison with beans, another legume, they also contain healthy amounts of fiber, which helps clean the system. They serve as natural antioxidant well known for fighting infection, preventing colds and flu, and building up disease resistance. Green peas are a rich source of many minerals such as calcium, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese, for those watching their weight, peas are low in fat and has no cholesterol.

Spinach Spinach either raw or cooked are excellent sources of iron, containing twice as much as other leafy greens.

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Spinach is loaded with nutrients and antioxidants, and considered to be very healthy. Eating spinach may benefit eye health, reduce oxidative stress, help prevent cancer and reduce blood pressure levels.

Broccoli Broccoli is high in many nutrients, including fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron and potassium.

Broccoli also contains more protein than most other vegetables. Broccoli can be enjoyed both raw and cooked, but recent research shows that gentle steaming provides the most health benefits. Broccoli is relatively high in protein compared

Potatoes are low in calories a medium-sized baked potato contains only about 110 calories.

They are a good source of vitamins C and B6, manganese, and phosphorus, calcium and zinc. Vitamin A, fiber, and protein are three health benefits of sweet potatoes that can potentially help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar, lose weight, and reduce insulin resistance.

Cabbage Cabbage is packed with nutrients as it is packed with Vitamin C. It may help keep inflammation in check, improve digestion, keep your heart healthy and lower blood pressure. Cabbage is also an excellent source of vitamin k.

LEADERSHIP style

wellness

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

9 Natural Remedies For Removing Dark Spots

BY MILLICENT AREBUN ONUOHA Dark spots are horrible problems found mainly in young adults and these spots are mainly on parts of the body that has been exposed to sun light such as our faces, hands, legs and neck. This can reduce our self-esteem or confidence in one’s self. Panic no longer because all you need to do is to try these natural remedies to erase those dark spots and unveil smooth beautiful looking skin.

1. Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera has different healing functions it gives to the body and performs wonders in erasing dark spots and healing dead particles found in the skin.

on affected areas. Leave on for thirty minutes and voila!

2. Sugar cubes: Use Sugar cubes to get rid of dark spots on your face by rubbing the cubes on the affected areas for ten minutes. In doing so, the dark spots will erase naturally. This works perfectly because of the acid present in Sugar.

9. Pawpaw: pawpaw is used for treating various kind of skin

3. Castor oil: castor oil is a precious oil that has many healing properties which helps to get rid of the dark spots. All you need to do is soak your cotton ball in the oil and apply on the affected areas. This should be done twice in a day for effective result.

4. Turmeric: Turmeric contains a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals and helps in removing dark spots from the skin. All you need to do is add milk to your turmeric and lemon juice to make a paste that lighten dark spots and brighten your skin. This should be done twice in a day for a flawless skin.

5. Potatoes: potatoes are wonderful vegetable that gives us nutrition. Potatoes removes dead skin cells and help the growth of new ones. Vitamins, zinc and phosphorus are minerals that awakens the production of new skin. Cut your potatoes into tiny slices, then add a bit of water to the sliced potatoes to make them wet and place it on the affected areas of the dark spots. Try this for two weeks and you will get a sparkling and smooth skin.

problems, it has powerful enzymes in it that helps treat dark spot, acne and other

6. Onions Juice: onion is known for its effectiveness in treating dark spots on the skin. Onion is acidic in nature, you can rub some raw onions directly onto the dark spots on the skin and there will be a positive difference in the affected areas. Don’t forget to always wash the area well after the application in order to prevent smell.

7. Lemon Juice: lemon juice is one of the best remedy for getting rid of dark spots present in the skin. It is naturally acidic and contains heavy agents that will erase the dark spots on the skin. Just get a fresh lemon juice and add water to dilute, get a cotton ball then add to the affected areas. This should be left for twenty minutes before rinsing with cool water.

8. Tomato Juice: tomato juice extract is active in removing dark spots on the face. A bit of lemon juice should be added to the tomatoes juice then applied

skin diseases. Pawpaw should be grated and applied directly to the dark spots on the skin and left for thirty minutes before washing.

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cover

LEADERSHIP style

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

Native Wears Make Me Look Outstanding – Hamzat Meet Hamza Bala Lawal, the Co-Founder, Follow The Money International and Chief Executive (CEO) Connected Development (CODE). The young environmental activist, who has made a mark for himself promoting various development campaigns, gives an insight into his personality, in this exclusive interview, with LEADERSHIP STYLE EDITOR, RUTH TENE NATSA, this is even as he reveals that native wears makes him stylish and smart.....excerpts.

What is your best form of style?

My native and my cap. I really like it because it makes me look big, I am a smallish person, even though I am young, but my native makes me look outstanding and smart.

How do you relax?

The only way I relax is when I travel and I fly. It is only in the plain that I get time to relax, reflect. Also like playing snooker, I play Volleyball, I hike and I like movies a lot, they actually keep me relaxed.

What is your best food?

I like jollof rice, plantain and goat meat Best travel destination?

Nairobi Kenya, because, I love their weather, their food and they are really nice people, I have so many friend there.

Tell us about yourself‌ My name is Hamzat Bala Lawal. A graduate of Political Science from the prestigious University of Abuja. Born to a simple family, from Okene local government area of Kogi state How did you get into activism?

I have been involved in a lot of projects, my civil society activism

career path, started when I was in primary school and when I joined the boys scout movement. I graduated from primary school as a boys scout leader, where I under took lots of environmental projects, raising awareness in environment and sanitation. I recall that as young and small as I was then, I undertook a lot of environmental projects by raising awareness on environmental sanitation. I also remember when I was little, I use to go door to door to ask families and households to come out and clean up their environments and why that was important. I also joined the boys scout in my secondary school and graduated as a scout leader.

In my senior class I was appointed the Utility prefect. I got involved in climate change activism when I use to work for the International Center for Energy, Environment and Development (ICEED). At first my role was information technology and communications, but then I grew to become and Executive and worked for 5 years. While I was with them we ran a lot of climate change campaigns, particularly focused on high level policies and decision makers, where we influenced the passage of the Climate Change Commission Bill which at that time was passed by the National Assembly and harmonized by both the Senate and House of Reps, even though

the then President did not sign the bill into law. As, while working for ICEED, I founded the Nigerian Youth Climate Action Network (NYCAN) which brought youth groups and individuals working around climate change advocacy to collaborate more.

What are some of the Campaigns you have been involved in?

I would say the turning point for me was when I started the Save Baggega campaign in 2012, that was the Lead poisoning incidence that affected the Baggega community, where over 400 children died and over 1500 children lives

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LEADERSHIP style

cover

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

“

I would say the turning point for me was when I started the Save Baggega campaign in 2012, that was the Lead poisoning incidence that affected the Baggega community, where over 400 children died and over 1500 children lives were at stake

were at stake. I was the one who ran the save Baggega campaign and brought both government and international community’s attention to Baggega community, in Anka Local government area of Zamfara state where the then President approved the sum of USD5.3m (Over N850m).

As a result the children got health care intervention, the community now has an access roads, potable drinking water, furnished classrooms and so on. Also, I have been involved in so many other projects, because my Follow The Money campaign evolved into an organization a Non-governmental Organization (NGO) called Connected Development (CODE) and so far, I have ran series of campaigns across Nigeria and recently launched a chapter in Kenya and The Gambia working with amazing young people.

Also I was part of the largest youth movement in Africa, called the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC), before now, I was

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part of the leadership team, but now I am on the Executive Board of the Organization, advising on communications strategies and implementing on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of the Leadership team I was involved in projects in over 40 African countries and that gave me the opportunity to travel to all the African Countries, meeting with inspiring young people and mobilizing, educating and also sensitizing young people around the effects of climate change and running climate change related campaigns across the continent. I was also involved in the United Nations Environmental

Programmes (UNEP), the African Union and other international and bilateral organizations I also got involved with the Not Too Young To Run campaign as a Co-convener, and this is the campaign that influenced the introduction and consideration of the constitutional amendment process in age reduction and with this campaign I was able to leverage like

always on social media platforms to organize, mobilize and educate young people on the need for them to take leadership and declare their intentions to also vie for public office,

because over time, we keep hearing we are the future leaders and now I have got children, 4 to be precise and I tell them they are the leaders of tommorrow and I just wonder what I am now. So for me I believe the future is now and we are the custodians of the present and future and So I am involved in the Not Too Young To Run Campaign and in the spirit of intergenerational equity, we also started a movement called the New Nigeria 2019, where we hope to shape the debate

around the 2019 general elections, just

to ensure good governance, transparency and accountability and ensure young people can enjoy the dividends of democracy while getting into public office, both elective and

appointive.

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LEADERSHIP style

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018 people as a challenge as an opportunity not a problem and the smiles I put on people’s faces, particularly people in rural communities are the things that keep me going and inspired.

How have your activities impacted communities you have

been involved in?

My activities have impacted various communities, religious groups and also empowered citizens economically where government are now being responsive and where citizens can now hold government to account.

What have been the challenges on the paths you have chosen?

I think my challenge so far has been, I think I see most challenges as opportunities, but accessing information has been one of the biggest challenges, not having enough time to do what I want to do and also having so much energy and passion.

”

Tell us about your wife, what made you chose her of all the girls that must have chased you?

I married the love of my life, her name is Ummi and I dated her for over 7 years and now she has be-

“

I married the love of my life, her name is Ummi and I dated her for over 7 years and now she has become my wife. We have been married for close to 3 years

What are your aspirations, going forward?

Ultimately for me, I aspire and would like to

be the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), I want to lead that anti-corruption campaign and place handcuffs on the hands of people that stole our collective wealth as a country and as a nation and have deprived us of development. I want to also be the Chairman that got prosecution and put corrupt politicians and public officials that stole our collective wealth behind bars. I also hope to retire as a university

What would you say are you greatest successes?

My greatest success has been being happy and feeling fulfilled and also impacting and touching lives

lecturer to inculcate the experience and knowledge I have gathered over the years to younger generation and inspire the other young people to become campaigners’ activist to undertake humanitarian activities, to contribute their own little quota to Nigerian growth and development ultimately.

What has inspired them and what inspires you continually.

I think I have been inspired by my immediate environment, my immediate community and the fact that, I am inspired by seeing issues that affect

come my wife. We have been married for close to 3 years. I chose her for her kindness, she is really kind, supportive. When I started my organization 6 years ago, she was the only one who stood beside me supported me financially, morally and encouraged me. She is really kind and she puts others before herself. She is just lovely. I think I chose her or rather I think she rather chose me not even me chosing her, even if I had many girls before I got married.

Your advice for today’s youth.

My advice to them is to be consistent in what they do. They also need

to be focused and most importantly, they need skills. Beyond getting a university degree, you need skills to contribute towards societal growth and development

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style star profile

LEADERSHIP style

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

STYLE STAR PROFILE: Enemaya Lawani

By MILLICENT AREBUN ONUOHA Our style profile of the week is none other than fashionprenuer and ex-beauty queen Enemaya Lawani, CEO of the Enemaya brand and Milliner. This longest reigning beauty queen in the history of beauty pageants in Nigeria, is one fashionista you would pay to follow if given the option. Her unique personal take on fashion and vogue trends since she came to limelight in 2004 has been nothing short of eclectic. Designer of turbans, Abayas and ‘throw on’ jackets, Ene’s sense has garnered her a cool over 49k plus followers on Instagram. This growth was fuelled by her style she opines is eccentric chic, classic and elegant.

According to Enemaya ‘I love adding a tinge of eccentricity to my outfit’. This is evident in almost all her style post on social media or style sightings by pressmen at different events home and aboard. From her dynamic mix of colours, prints and trends to her signature ‘one hue combos’ Enemaya Lawani is certainly one we are delighted to follow ardently anyday.

The self-acclaimed perfume freak and girlfriend of businessman, John Obayuwana advise to young fashionistas globally is to, dare to be different and ‘always carve a niche for yourself’. Her favourite way to relax is to indulge in spa treatments which she admits on record, she indulges in a lot!

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relationship

LEADERSHIP style

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

5 Things You Should Consider Before You Say I Do! OLUWATOYIN AGUDA

Getting married is a very special moment for women, however, many get so engrossed in wedding preparations that they forget to pay attention to vital elements that make a marriage work, you should consider if you and your spouse are prepared in certain areas.

Here are 5 points to consider: You need to be sure you are really in love with him Women are sometimes caught up in relationships where they don’t truly love the man. You may have given in to the relationship because he is nice, he treats you right and all, but spending forever with someone is such a long time that you can’t afford to use it as compensation.

Do not say yes because you suppose or because you are caught up in bridal excitement, or because it seems like the logical next step or because everyone you know is tying the knot. You need to be sure he is the one you want, and not just because you want the Mrs. Title.

You need to know his financial strength Beyond what he pulls down in salary, you should know how much he has in savings, how much debt he is carrying, if he is repaying a loan e.t.c. You need to ask these questions before you are married so you have an understanding of what caused any problems and how to prevent them from happening again, you don’t want any surprises after marriage.

Your aspirations for 5 to 10 years

There is need to have goals even though you don’t need to have your whole life planned out, know what matters most to you, have a roadmap that can help you achieve your goals and dreams.

Also know your partner’s own and be ready to get involved, but not while you forget your own dreams.

Know how to manage your finances In as much as it is believed that a man should take up most financial responsibilities, a woman has to plan for her financial future as well. Money matters may not be fun, but being able to handle your own money means you are less likely to be financially handicapped by the loss of a job, divorce or the death of your spouse.

You also may not need to be stuck in a violent or bad marriage because you can’t support yourself.

Financial dependence is why most women remain in abusive relationships and marriage.

How to manage a home Even if you are a career woman, you need to know how to put a home together. It isn’t about changing the door knob, or turning to an electrician overnight. You however need to know how to plan and organize even though you have people who can help with chores around the house. Knowing how to cook is also important, it doesn’t reduce your value as woman, but you should be able to make great meals for your family.

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LEADERSHIP style

entertainment

BY CECILIA OGEZI

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

Top Male Wrist Watches

The type of wrist watch a man wears says a lot about him and his style.

Besides being used for practical reasons wearing a watch is what makes a male dressing complete because it adds colour to the outfit ,it is therefore necessary to dress your wrist up and give it the attention it deserves.

Wearing the right watch adds a little something to your wrist and allows you to make a statement without having to try.

We are looking at the classic wrist watches for this season and even beyond great classic silver and gold watches, as the watches keep changing, quite

drastically, in shape and size,the face to fit your outfit is something else to keep in mind when shopping for a watch.

Here are the top 12 wrist watches for 2018 1.Mavado “ Large bold” bracelet watch.

2.Skagen Ancher chronograph mesh strap watch.

3.Nixon Gold changer bracelet watch.

4.Ted Baker “Connor” leather strap watch.

5. Michael Kors large Lexington chronograph bracelet watch.

6.Shinola “ The Runwell” leather strap.

2 1 5 3

4

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6 7.Nixon Men’s Rotolog Darkwood( water- resistant watch) 8. Jack Mason Brand Nautical chronograph NATO strap watch 9.Invicta Men’s pro driver Analog Swiss chronograph Black polyurethane watch.

10. Tissot couturier chronograph leather strap watch.

11.Gucci Black stainless steel bracelet watch.

12. Movado Navy Edge Watch with black rubber strap.

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LEADERSHIP style

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

hygiene

Ensuring Good Hygiene During Menstration

BY CECILIA OGEZI Menstruation, refers to the monthly flow of blood in women, also known as a period or monthly, it is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina.

When a girl has a period for the first time, it is a distinct step into womanhood. As it indicates that any engagement in sexual inter course without protection can lead to pregnancy.

Most women go through their periods very secretively and don’t really bother to figure out if their practices are hygienic or not. At times, women may wear the same napkin for a whole day. Women in villages and smaller towns still use reusable unhygienic cloth during their periods. And since periods are considered unclean, they are not even allowed to use detergent for washing the soiled cloth well in some households.

For good menstrual hygiene its important for women and adolescent girls to use a clean menstrual management material to absorb or collect blood that can be changed in privacy as often as necessary for the duration of the menstruation period, using soap and water for washing the body as required, and having access to facilities to dispose of used menstrual management materials.

Until recently, the development sector including WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) had not explored and attempted to address the challenges related to Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), an important issue affecting the health, dignity and privacy of millions of girls which will help understanding of the monthly period in women.

Menstrual Hygiene is an important aspect for every woman. Handling and maintaining yourself during the periods can be a tough thing. A lady has to go through mental and physical torture that keep her restricted in her bed. Despite the challenges you cannot stop your life altogether.

Here are some tips to maintain hygiene during your periods, some of which you may not know about: 1. Choose your method of sanitation: Today there are a number of ways including the use of sanitary napkins, tampons and menstrual cups to stay clean. In India, most unmarried girls prefer to use sanitary napkins. If you do decide to use a tampon remember that it is essential to choose one that has the lowest absorbency rate for your flow. While there are some women who choose to use either different types of sanitary napkins on different days of their periods or different methods of protection (like a tampon and a sanitary napkin), there are some who prefer to stick to one type and brand. The best tip here is to try and use one brand for one type of protection for a while to know if it helps your needs.

Frequent switching between brands can make you uncomfortable since brands are as unique as you, they suit everyone differently.

2. Change regularly: Menstrual blood - once it has left the body - gets contaminated with the body’s innate organisms. This rule applies for even those days when you don t have much bleeding, since your pad is still damp and will have organisms from your vagina, sweat from your genitals, etc. When these organisms remain in a warm and moist place for a long time they tend to multiply and can lead to conditions like urinary tract infection, vaginal infections and skin rashes.

The standard time to change a sanitary pad is once every six hours, while for a tampon is once every two hours. That being said, you have to customize the changing schedule to your needs. While some women might have a heavy flow and would need to change more often, others will need to change less frequently. There are a few instances where your sanitary napkin or tampon might not be completely used usually on days when you have a lesser flow but you must change at regular intervals.

In the case of tampons it is very important because, if left inserted into the vagina for long periods of time it can cause a condition called TSS or toxic shock syndrome a condition where bacteria infiltrate the body leading to severe infection that can send to the body into shock that requires emergent treatment and can lead to serious complications and even death.

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3. Wash yourself regularly: When you menstruate, the blood tends to enter tiny spaces like the skin between your labia or crust around the opening of the vagina and you should always wash this excess blood away. This practice also tends to beat bad odour from the vaginal region. So, it is important to wash your vagina and labia (the projecting part of female genitals) well before you change into a new pad. If you cannot wash yourself before you change make sure to wipe off the areas using toilet paper or tissue.

4. Don t use soaps or vaginal hygiene products The vagina has its own cleaning mechanism that works in a very fine balance of good and bad bacteria. Washing it with soap can kill the good bacteria making way for infections. So, while it is important to wash yourself regularly during this time, all you need to use is some warm water. You can use soap on the external parts but do not use it inside your vagina or vulva.

5. Use the right washing technique: Always wash or clean the area in a motion that is from the vagina to the anus. Never wash in the opposite direction. Washing in the opposite direction can cause bacteria from the anus to lodge in the vagina and urethral opening, leading to infections. Read about urinary tract infections.

6. Discard your used sanitary product properly It is essential to discard your used napkins or tampons properly because they are capable of spreading infections, will smell very foul. Wrapping it well before discarding it ensures that the smell and infection is contained. It is advised not to flush the pad or tampon down the toilet since they are capable of forming a block and can cause the toilet to back up. More importantly it is imperative that you wash your hands well after you discard your used napkin since you are likely to touch the used portion of the pad or tampon while discarding it.

7. Beware of a pad rash A pad rash is something that you might experience during a period of heavy flow. It usually occurs when the pad has been wet for a long time and rubs along the thighs causing it to chaff. To prevent this from occurring, try to stay dry during your periods. If you do have a rash, change your pads regularly and stay dry. Apply an antiseptic ointment, after a bath and before bed this will heal the rash and prevent further chaffing. If it gets worse do visit your doctor who will be able to prescribe you a medicated powder that can keep the area dry.

8. Use only one method of sanitation at a time Some women who have heavy flow during their periods tend to use either (i) two sanitary pads, (ii) a tampon and sanitary pad (iii) a sanitary pad along with a piece of cloth. This might seem like a good idea, but it actually is not, changing regularly is a better option. Using two pads or a tampon and a sanitary pad is bad because the two pads absorb the blood and you don t see that they are completely used up you are unlikely to change at regular and healthy intervals. This can lead to rashes, infections and in the case of tampons even TSS. Another consideration is that if one does use a piece of cloth as extra protection that cloth may not be the cleanest thing to put next to your private parts. Lastly, the whole two pad structure is extremely uncomfortable and can leave you with a bad rash and an even worse temper.

9.Be ready with on-the-go stuff during your periods When you have your periods it is important to be ready. It is important to have extra sanitary pads or tampons properly stored in a clean pouch or paper bag, a soft towel, some paper tissues or towels, hand sanitizer, a healthy snack, bottle of drinking water, a tube of antiseptic medication (if you are using one).

Changing your pads/ tampons regularly is essential, so you will need extra. More importantly storing them properly so that they don t get contaminated is as important as changing. Pads or tampons that remain in your bag without a clean pouch to protect it can also lead to infections like UTI (urinary tract infection) or vaginal infections. The soft towel can be used to wipe your hands or face if you wash them. Paper towels are the important to wipe off the excess water after you wash your private parts. It is best you don’t use toilet paper for this as it tends to shred and tear when it touches water. Your hand sanitizer is a very important factor here. You will need it to clean your hands and you can use it to clean the flush knob and tap faucet as well.

LEADERSHIP style

Celebrity Profile

Rita Dominic

BY MILLICENT AREBUN ONUOHA Our celebrity profile for the week is none other than Nollywood Veteran, Ace Actress, Producer and Fashion glamazion, Investor and closet Philanthropist Rita Uchenna Nkem Dominic popularly known as Rita Dominic. Rota has graced and dominated the Nigerian TV screens since 1998 garnering for herself millions of dedicated fans throughout the African continent and beyond.

Rita Dominic won the Best Actress in Nigeria at the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards 2015 for her role in the blockbuster movie “The Meeting” which she also co-produced.

EARLY LIFE AND BACKGROUND Rita Dominic was born on 12th July, 1975 to the Royal Waturuocha family of Aboh Mbaise local government area in Imo State Nigeria. Her late parents were medical practitioners; her father was a medical doctor and her mother a nursing officer. The youngest of four siblings Rita completed her primary school education in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria and obtained her First School Leaving Certificate. She obtained her secondary education at the prestigious Federal Government College Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, before gaining admission to the University of Port Harcourt, where she graduated with a BA (Honours) Degree in Theatre Arts in 1999.

CAREER AND AWARDS One can opine that acting was always in Rita’s blood despite her obvious medical genes for she started demonstrating and honing her legendary acting skills at a very tender age, performing in stage dramas, appearing in school plays and children’s television shows in Imo State, Nigeria.

In 1998, Rita Dominic joined the Nigerian movie industry (Nollywood) and landed her first role in “A Time to Kill”; a movie that brought her to limelight. Less that six years later Rita Dominic won took home the award for Most Outstanding Actress in Nigeria at the City People Entertainment Awards 2004. From then onwards, its been its been a joyride of movies, fame, success and all the accompanying headaches and heartaches that goes with the territory.

Rita Dominic has featured over a hundred movies and produced two movies and a TV series as at April 2018. Rita Dominic is alleged to be one of the highest paid actress in Nigeria and rightly so.

Rita Dominic award roll call won constrain us for page space. Suffix to say to she has bagged and been nominated for numerous awards both home and aboard during the course of her illustrious career. Some of her awards includes, Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, Most Outstanding Actress in Nigeria at the City People Entertainment Awards, Most Prominent Actress in Nigeria at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards and Best Actress in Nigeria at the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards 2015 for her role in the blockbuster movie “The Meeting” which she also co-produced.

FASHION BEAUTY AND STYLE Since her movie debut on our Tv screens Rita

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

has consistently captured and dominated the fashion scene with her signature red lipstick, big hairdo and ever evolving style personality.

The beautiful actress seems to have discovered the magic immortality beauty elixir of the gods, evidenced by her ever-glowing skin, fit form and unaged looks. At 42, Rita could easily be mistaken for someone in her twenties. She attributed her fit physique and flawless skin to a strict exercise and beauty regime that she has discipled herself to follow religiously. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Rita Dominic’s classic fashion forwardness is obvious by her fashion style evolution over the years. Today she enjoys fashion icon status which has garnered for her a whole new genre of fans dedicated to her every style move. One wonders if this year, she will follow the trend of global celebrities and add fashionprenuer to her many accomplishments.

SCANDALS, HEARTBREAKS AND 2018 PROJECTS Naturally, fame comes with a cost and for Rita, one of the cost has been the societal pressure and barely disguised scorn for any young unmarried adult female. Despite her many accomplishments, apparently to majority of Nigerians and global fans, they all pale in comparison to the ultimate society archaic accomplishment which is ‘getting married’. This has made her the butt of unpleasant jokes, outright personal attacks on her social media, snide comments on popular websites and sensationalized headlines by new media in the country and beyond. Despite been linked to various popular males in various industries in ranging from Nollywood to football, the Actress has never publicly claimed to be in a relationship with anyone. In a recent interview the actress disclosed she would have been married a long time ago but the relationship didn’t work out.

Despite Rita’s best effort her discretion in her personal life has lead to rabid speculations and allegations of lesbianism which has continued to trail her anytime she is spotted multiple times with a female friend.

Recently Rita willingly started a social media war cum dram all by herself by demanding that Hollywood filmmakers match the quality of their work to the quality of the hype. In a Instagram post the actress addressed the worrying issue with the caption. “Let the quality of work match the hype!! #nollywood #noteverymovieshouldbeincinemas,” the actress said in the caption. In less than an hour the hastag #noteverymovieshouldbeincinemas was trending with sides taken and all weapons aimed and ready to fire at the slightest provocation.

Speculations was rife on who the caption was aimed at specifically and the Lilian Afegbai’s latest film Bound was dragged into the war. So far Rita seems to have stayed out of the fray satisfied that her message has been passed and heard. Rita Dominic’s fortunate is alleged estimated to be over 950 million as at 2017.

This April Rita’s will once again grace our screens in the new movie ‘Light in The Dark’, a film directed by AMVCA winner, Ekene Som Mekwunye and Produced by Riverside Productions.

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LEADERSHIP style

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

Fashion Essentials

Essential Things To Note In Dressing For An Occasion

BY CECILIA OGEZI There are a few things to note in dressing for an occasion, be it a wedding ceremony, a naming ceremony,party or a business people’s get together.

And it is import to also know there are outfits to wear to suit every occasion and being able to nail it each time you dress up for an occasion is a sign of good fashion sense.

And we are looking at someone who has managed to do this each time she shows up for an occasion.

This is no other person than Nollywood screen diva Rita Dominic,the sultry actress who is in her 40s has shown good fashion sense showing up at each event looking gorgeous.

The screen beauty who has only aged with grace like fine wine through the years has managed to keep us wanting more of her flattering gowns and well tailored pants that obviously have been tailored just for her.

And as mentioned earlier the actor only goes for colours and fashion pieces that compliment her body and her complexion and has done that so well.

This week we are going to be showing you a few of her outfits that have over time registered her as one among the best dressed female actors but i guess she might just be the best dressed female actor.

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LEADERSHIP style

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

Vogue Shoes For the Modish Woman

By MILLICENT AREBUN ONUOHA SHOES are every fashionista best friend, for they can transform your style ensemble, from flash to drab or grunge to Rockstar in a few minutes. Deciding, which shoe is best with your outfit can be quite tricky, for instance which shoe are in season, which are fashion no-nos and a whole host of other myriad Achilles heels, that can trip even the most fearless of fashionistas.

This season shoes styles have gotten better, higher, sexier, edgier, funky, and more retro, with our designers from all over the world creating more daring divine heels, platforms, boots, sandals, slippers, pumps, pointy toes et al; ensuring we look and feel, at our most beautiful and sexy when we step into their divine shoes. Like everything fashion, there are keys to maximizing the appeal of these shoes, while wearing them with our outfits. Don’t know which platforms, boots or sandals are in season now? Here are some of this season best. Enjoy!

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Budget Friendly Fashion

LEADERSHIP style

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

BY MILLICENT AREBUN ONUOHA

PHOTO CREDIT: Bella Naija

Looking good is good business but the wise fashionista knows that he/she doesn’t have to go hungry to look good. Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day the same theory applies to building your style wardrobe of a lifetime with all the coveted high-end designer fashion staples. It doesn’t happen in a day even for the super-rich kids of Beverly Hills, Banana Island or Maitama Nigeria.

Everyone has a budget limit and you can look great on a one thousand or hundred-millionnaira budget. The tricks to achieving this seeming impossible feat are 1. Set a budget limit for yourself 2. Commit and discipline yourself to never exceed your budget limit 3. Know your shopping centers, la petite markets and Vintage treasure hotspots 4. Know and constantly browse your local budget market until you become a pro at spotting unique fashion treasures buried in fashion debris.

5. Become a pro bargain genius 6. Never be ashamed of looking good for less The Nigerian budget limited fashionista has no excuse for looking less than great and trendy always, as the fashion budget friend market are found in almost all states of the country.

Lagos the commercial beehive of Nigeria is more blessed than others in the budget friendly market locally known as okirika markets. The advent of online stores like Jumai Nigeria, discounted bargain sites like dealday.com , pop up bargain markets like the monthly la petite Market by la’space, fashion trade fairs/ exhibition and more, no fashionista has any excuse for looking untrendy.

If you are still in doubt, befriend a Unilag fashionista and get her to reveal the love affair they have with ‘VINTAGE BUYS”

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Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

The Midi Skirt OLUWATOYIN AGUDA The midi skirt is one fashion piece that trendy women would love to rock.

Be it the sleek or voluminous style, the midi skirt or mid-length skirt is one fashion piece that should be in every woman’s wardrobe. Depending on how you choose to combine this amazing fashion piece, you can wear to work with loafers and a button-up shirt or casually with pumps and a jacket.

Pleated midis can be great if you don’t carry a lot of weight in the tummy area because pleats can add bulk over the tummy. One way to wear pleated skirts with tummies is to look for pleats that are few inches below abdomen area. This will guarantee flatness.

The waist line is important in this piece. To bring a balance outfit, therefore you could bet your top.

A heel can add proportional height for those who are small framed or who have shorter legs and an ankle strap is fine for those who have slimmer ankles and calves. A tank top with strapped sandal will give a casual look when rocked with the midi skirt. A coach hand bag will give a perfect finishing to the outfit.

WHAT TO WEAR WITH MIDI SKIRTS Blouses or jackets that are too long give an entirely awkward look on the midi skirt. Hence, extra care needs to be paid to what you wear with this piece. Slimmer, shorter pieces and fitted tops will create a fabulous look.

One last tip is combining flats with full midi skirts. If you are going to wear them make sure that the hem of your skirt does not end at the widest part of your calves.

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LEADERSHIP style

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

Celebrities Turn Out for John Boyega’s Movie OLUWATOYIN AGUDA Accelerate TV hosted a day out with Hollywood star, John Boyega for the viewing of Pacific Rim Uprising, a movie he co-produced and featured in over the weekend.

Kemi Adetiba hosted the Question and Answer session with the British-Nigerian star where he shared stories about his early days as an actor and some of his plans for the Nigerian movie industry.

The event had in attendance many celebrities including Kunle Afolayan, D’banj, Dr Sid, Toni Tones and Stephanie Coker.

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entertainment

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

Lola Maja

Toni Tones

Kemi Adetiba

Jemima Osunde

Colette Otusheso

Deyemi Okanlawon

Olumide Oworu

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DBanj

Deyemi Okalawon and Kemi Adetiba

John Boyega

LEADERSHIP style

entertainment

Vol. 1, No. 13, Sunday 15, 2018

Hollywood A- Listers Step Out for SAG Awards

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rom the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards to the Oscars scheduled to hold in a month’s time, we can say the awards season is officially here. The 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) held on Sunday, 21st January, 2018 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles,

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California. The award which celebrates the ‘who is who’ in Hollywood and recognizes outstanding performances in film and prime-time television was hosted by actress Kristen Bell.

Hollywood’s A- Listers looked fierce and stylish as they stepped out on the red carpet.

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