WEDNESDAY 13TH JUNE 2018

Moshood Kashimawo Abiola: A Life Fulfilled

Dele Momodu

Say what you will, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola has finally achieved apotheosis. Not many humans are so lucky, or that endowed in life or in death. It is common to hear ordinary mortals say, in moments of deep frustration, Abiola should not have joined politics. In theory,

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such proponents believe he would be alive today. That is normal, because no one likes to lose a loved one, no matter how old. But there is never a cast-iron guarantee about life and death. No one ever

chose when to be born and when to die. Abiola’s life was a stuff of fairy-tale, and eerily mythical. He was the 23rd child of his dad when he was born on August 24, 1937, to the family of Salaudeen Abiola, in the Gbagura compound

of Abeokuta, Ogun State. All 22 children born before him had died in infancy under varying and mysterious circumstances. His parents doubted if Moshood would stay or go the way of the other 22 children, the reason he was promptly and grudgingly

named Kashimawo. But as fate would have it, Moshood not only stayed, other children born after him also enjoyed the same grace, making him a harbinger of good tidings. As was the norm in those days, his parents were not economically buoyant, but

Buhari Signs 2018 Budget Today... Page 10

they nevertheless struggled to send him to school. Abiola showed much promise early in life. He was gifted with a magnetic brain, and photographic memory, and also had an unusual ability for entertainment. Indeed, his musical performances enabled him get money that helped Continued on page 8

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June 12: We Are Sorry, Buhari Tells Families of Abiola, Other Heroes Says recognition not meant to reopen but heal wounds

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja apologised to the family of the winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Bashorun MKO Abiola, over the injustice done to him by the annulment of the election and his eventual untimely death. Buhari also apologised to the families of others who lost their lives in the struggle for

the actualisation of June 12, 1993 presidential election. "Accordingly, on behalf of the Federal Government, I tender the nation’s apology to the family of Late MKO Abiola, who got the highest votes and to those that lost their loved ones in the course of June 12 struggle," the president said in a speech that drew loud applause from the Continued on page 8

Another Former Governor, Dariye, Bags 14 Years Imprisonment for Corruption Alex Enumah in Abuja and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The war against graft scored another victory yesterday when former governor of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye, got a 14-year prison term for fraud. His conviction came less than one month after the imprisonment of former governor Jolly Nyame of Taraba State.

He was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment also by the same Federal Capital City (FCT) High Court, Abuja that put Dariye behind bars. In her judgment yesterday, Justice Adebukola Banjoko found Dariye guilty on 15 of the 23-count charge and sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment. The court found the former Continued on page 8

Ekiti Elections Will be Difficult to Rig, Says INEC... Page 12

HONOUR FOR THE HERO... New statue of the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, late Chief Moshood Abiola, unveiled in Lagos yesterday by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. It is now the tallest and biggest statue in Lagos (See more pictures on pg. 48)

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PAGE EIGHT JUNE 12: WE ARE SORRY, BUHARI TELLS FAMILIES OF ABIOLA, OTHER HEROES distinguished audience. The election, described as the freest and fairest in Nigeria's electoral history was unjustly annulled by the former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.) on June 23 same year. Consequently, Abiola who in search of his mandate, declared himself as the country's president on June 11, 1994 at Epetedo, Lagos, was arrested and imprisoned by the despotic ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha. Abiola passed on in mysterious circumstances on July 7, 1998 while still in detention. However, Buhari had in a move to pacify the Southwestern region where Abiola hailed from, on June 6, 2018 acceded to the region's long agitation for the declaration of June 12 as a public holiday. He also announced the conferment of the highest honour of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Abiola as well as the conferment of the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) on Abiola's running mate, Baba Gana Kingibe, and a posthumous conferment of GCON on the late foremost rights crusader, Chief Gani Fawehinmi. At the investiture yesterday, Abiola's honour was received by his eldest son, Kola, while Fawehinmi's medal was received by his wife, Ganiyat. In his speech during the investiture in the Conference Hall of the Presidential Villa, Buhari who said the event was not meant to open old wounds but rather to right the wrongs of the past, tendered an unreserved apology to the family of Abiola on behalf of the entire country. The president who also lamented that the election was nullified despite its clarity that Abiola had won, said the events of the conferment of the national honours and

the recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day were clear expressions that the country acknowledged the error committed. Buhari also threatened that henceforth, similar perversion of justice would no longer be tolerated, adding that the decision was also necessary to heal festering wounds in the spirit of national interest and national reconciliation. According to him, on June 12, 1993, Nigeria conquered various obstacles militating against unity and nationhood and voted irrespective of ethnic and religious beliefs as he urged the family of Abiola to accept the situation in good faith. Submitting that the victory of June 12 would ever be celebrated, Buhari said it would not only be celebrated by this generations but would continuously be celebrated across generations. "The recognition is not an attempt to open old wounds but to put right a national wrong,� the president said, adding, “Nigerians of their own free will voted for Abiola and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, the presidential flag bearer and running mate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 1993 elections.� Saying the government of the day inexplicably cancelled the elections when it was clear who were going to be the winners, he added, "We cannot rewind the past but we can at least assuage our feelings; recognise that a wrong has been committed and resolve to stand firm now and in the future for the sanctity of free elections. Nigerians would no longer tolerate such perversion of justice.� He said the retrospective and posthumous recognition was only a symbolic token of redress and recompense for the grievous injury done to the peace and unity of our country. According to him, "Our

decision to recognize and honour June 12 and its actors is in the national interest. It is aimed at setting national healing process and reconciliation of the 25-year festering wound caused by the annulment of the June 12 elections. I earnestly invite all Nigerians across all our national divide to accept it in good faith. "Our action today is to bury the negative side of June 12, the side of ill-feelings, hate, frustrations and agony. What we are doing is celebrating and appreciating the positive side of June 12. The June 12, which restate democracy and freedom. The June 12 that overcome our various divide and the June 12 that produced unity and National cohesion. This is the June 12 we are celebrating today and we will nurture it to our next generation.� At the conclusion of his speech, Buhari led the gathering to observe a minute silence in honour of Abiola and others who lost their lives in June 12 struggle. In his own speech, Mustapha described yesterday as a new dawn in the annals of the country's political and democratic progress, observing that June 12, 1993 marked the first time that Nigerians put aside tribe or creed and voted on the basis of their convictions. According to him, Abiola paid the supreme sacrifice while attempting to actualise his mandate, insisting that June 12 unlike any other day, was the symbol of various sacrifices made by various citizens of this country and opened a new chapter in its political history. He listed groups which he said played pivotal roles in June 12 struggle to include civil society organisations, organised labour, the political class and the press. He said the tragic consequence of the annulment of June 12 election threatened the corporate existence of Nigeria to its foundations,

broke relationships and pitted citizens against one another. In Abiola's family acceptance speech, his daughter, Hafsat Abiola-Constello, said she was touched by Buhari's apology to her family. Consequently, she also apologised to Buhari on behalf of her father over any harm he did to him in his lifetime, observing that both of them didn't have a remarkable relationship. According to her, it was incredible that Buhari would be the instrument in God's hand for the recognition of Abiola and June 12, adding, however, that Buhari should pursue the struggle that Abiola died for to a logical conclusion. She said the struggle would only come to an end when Nigerians can seize the full control of their country from few people whom she described as landlords who have been lording it over them. Recalling that she also lost her mother in the struggle for the actualisation of June 12, Hafsat disclosed how her mother had told her about the rehearsal by his late father of his proposed acceptance speech as the results were coming in, being fully sure that he was coasting home to victory. However, Hafsat said Abiola whom he described as a giant recognised all over the world and who loved Nigerians from all parts of the country, never lived to deliver the speech he conceived in his mind. Also speaking, Mohammed, the eldest son of Fawehinmi, described Buhari as the first Nigerian head of government to be sensitive and reasonable by not only listening to the voice of the people but also acting accordingly. He described June 12 as the foundation of democracy, pointing out that the recognition of Abiola as the winner of the election was worth celebrating. In the same vein, Kingibe who was the only one physically present among the

three who received national honours yesterday, said June 12, 1993, election redefined Nigeria through the ballot box. He said Buhari's recognition of June 12 was an act of courage and conviction, adding that it had shown how it is possible to rediscover the values of Nigerian unity. He also said it showed the president's commitment to justice, fairness and democracy. In his goodwill message, Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, challenged Buhari to stop creating confusion in the minds of the people by recognising Abiola on one hand and on the other hand, praising Abacha in whose hands he said Abiola was also tormented. According to Soyinka, who described Abacha as a corrupt ruler who ought to be standing international trial if he were alive, hall of shame ought to also be inaugurated for people of his kind, but for Buhari's apology. He said, "Mr. President, since we are honouring heroes of democracy today, l like to request that you manage to stop creating confusion in the minds of Nigerians. It is not possible to honour MKO Abiola in one breadth and admire his tormentor in another breadth. Loyalty is all very well but loyalty can become perverse if that loyalty is retained to an individual who if he were alive today, would be before the International Court for Crimes against humanity. "The one who broke the laws of Nigeria, international laws, pauperised this nation, it is confusing if professional loyalty is carried so far as to be accorded such an individual.� In the same vein, rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, who recalled how he was left in detention by Babangida, thanked the president for recognising June 12 but was swift to also challenge the president to direct all security agents to respect the

fundamental rights of Nigerians by putting paid to mindless killings of Nigerians. In his own goodwill message, former Senate President Iyorchia Ayu, reminded Buhari that those being honoured yesterday upheld democratic tenets. Therefore, he challenged him to have a large heart, describing his worst enemies as people around him who portray every other person as his enemies. “Those recognised stood for ideals. Respect democracy tenets, rule of law. Have a heart that the opposition is not an enemy in democracy. People have impression that you are unforgiving. I believe you have a large heart by this act. Your worst enenies are people around you who turn everybody your enemy,� Ayu said. Others who spoke at the occasion were former leader of Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), Ayo Obe, labour union activist, Frank Kokori, former Plateau State governor, Fidelis Tapgun and his counterpart, Olusegun Osoba. Others were Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Bayo Onanuga; Director-General of Abiola Campaign Organisation, Dr. Jonathan Zwingina; former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu; two former Senate presidents, Iyorchia Ayu and Ameh Ebute; as well as former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Agunwa Anekwe. But former President Olusegun Obasanjo sent his apology for his inability to make it to the meeting, saying he was attending a meeting in Norway. In the same vein, Babangida sent his apology for his absence at the meeting over what he described as health issues, while former Chairman of National Electoral Commission, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu also sent his apology, saying he was out of the country.

ANOTHER FORMER GOVERNOR, DARIYE, BAGS 14 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR CORRUPTION governor guilty of criminal breach of trust and sentenced him to 14 years jail term, while handing him another two years on each of the count relating to criminal misappropriation. The sentences, according to her, are without the option of fine, and would run concurrently. Dariye was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 23-count criminal charge of diversion of ecological fund meant for Plateau State. According to the EFCC, the former governor diverted the funds into the account of Ebenezer Retina Venture, which was alleged to be one of the companies through which he allegedly siphoned public funds. The court in the judgment held that Dariye as a public servant entrusted with and having dominion over N1.1billion ecological funds for Plateau State, was guilty with the manner the cheque

was cleared and disbursed contrary to the real intent of the fund. The judge in addition, found Dariye guilty of causing his state a loss of over N600million out of the N1.6billion ecological fund. She found that only N550million out of the N1.6billion was paid by Dariye to Plateau State Government. He was found to have diverted N160million to Ebenezer Retina Ventures, a company owned by him. While the court dismissed eight counts for want of evidence, it found him guilty on 15 counts including counts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7, among others. Before his sentencing, his counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN) pleaded with the court to be lenient with his client but counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, urged the court to hand down the maximum punishment for the crime so as to serve as a deterrent to others. Dariye clad in white agbada

and white cap was driven away in a Toyota Hilux vehicle with registration number HH 433 ABC, Abuja along with a retinue of security men to prison. Dariye has become the second former governor to be convicted and sentenced for embezzling state funds within the last few weeks. Only two weeks ago, the same Justice Banjoko had handed down a 14-year jail term without an option of fine to former Taraba State Governor, Nyame, after convicting him on corruption charges The court said the imposition of the maximum sentence was to serve as deterrence to public office holders. Dariye, a serving senator, was first elected governor of the state in 1999 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was re-elected in 2003, but later impeached by the state House of Assembly in November 2006.

He was elected a senator and re-elected in 2015 but defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2016. Following judgements of the Appeal and Supreme Courts nullifying his impeachment however, Dariye was ordered to complete his tenure in 2007. At the expiration of his tenure in May 2007, the EFCC arraigned him on a 21-count. According to the anti-graft agency, the former governor used his office to siphon money out of the country, through various accounts. Ahead of his arraignment in 2007, Dariye challenged the competence of the charges against him, but failed at the trial court. Subsequently the ex-governor approached the Court of Appeal where he also failed in his attempt to stop the trial. Dariye, who had secured an order for the suspension of his trial at the lower court, also proceeded to the Supreme Court with his appeal. He was, however, made to

continue the trial following an order of the apex court in 2015, after stalling the case for over seven years. There were bitter reactions to Dariye’s imprisonment in Jos, capital of the state yesterday with residents expressing sadness that President Muhammadu Buhari did not intervene on his behalf. The former governor had decamped to the ruling APC for refuge like many others that had found cover in the party. Mr. Moses Kim, a kinsman to the convicted senator said: "We on the Plateau and the Middle Belt know that President Buhari hates us as a people; if Dariye were an Hausa Muslim, and decamped to the APC like he did, Buhari would have shielded him.� Although the state government has not issued a statement regarding the conviction, THISDAY gathered that the feelers in the Government House was moody and sad, with staff gathered in groups and discussing in

of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. He worked briefly abroad before returning home to work at various companies, including University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, Pfizer Nigeria Limited and eventually, ITT Corporation where fortune and fame smiled on him. His was a

meteoric rise from grass to grace because of his boundless energy, prodigious brilliance, great tenacity, never-say-die attitude, clear-headedness and uncommon ability to make and keep friends, in low and high places. He rose to

MOSHOOD KASHIMAWO ABIOLA: A LIFE FULFILLED him and other siblings fund their education. The beginning of the great entrepreneur that he was to become was already sowed, and germinated, from such business dexterity. Abiola did not allow his under-privileged pedigree to affect him. His thirst for knowledge was insatiable. He

spent his most formative years at the famous Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta. That was where he encountered Christian teachings and assimilated the Bible alongside his Koranic background. He became a versatile man who never discriminated against anyone on account of tribe

or religion. After secondary school, he worked briefly as banker with Barclays Bank in Ibadan. Thereafter, he proceeded to Scotland in search of the golden fleece and obtained a First Class degree in Accountancy from the University of Glasgow and a distinction from the Institute

Continued on page 10

low tones. Dariye had decamped from the PDP to the APC in the state, throwing his weight behind Governor Simon Lalong and President Buhari. In fact, the former governor was one of the persons who paid glowing tribute to Buhari during his two-day visit to the state earlier this year. Many of his kinsmen had castigated him for praising the president during his visit while herdsmen were killing in Bokkos, Dariye's village.

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Buhari Signs 2018 Budget Today Obinna Chima in Lagos and Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Barring any last-minute change, President Muhammadu Buhari will today sign the 2018 Appropriation Bill into law, THISDAY learnt yesterday. In fact, but for the June 12 activities, including the investiture of late Chief Moshood Abiola, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe and late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, the president would have signed the bill yesterday, to bring to a close several months of delay in the promulgation of the nation’s financial estimates, an impeccable presidency official told THISDAY. The president had last November laid the 2018 Appropriation Bill before a joint session of the National Assembly. However, it was not until May 16 (six months after), that the National Assembly passed the bill. Afterward, it took them another 10 days to transmit it to the president. The source explained the delay in presidential assent, saying the president had a window to go through the fiscal document before signing, noting that the president has not yet exhausted the window. However, he disclosed that barring any last-minute change of plan, he was confident the president would assent to the budget today at the State House. If the president had assented to the 2018 Appropriation Bill yesterday (June 12, 2018), it would have amounted to a repeat of the 2017 Budget, which was also signed by the then acting President (now Vice President), Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on June 12, 2017 after it was passed by the National Assembly on May 5, 2017.

Buhari Buhari had laid a proposal for N8.6 trillion but the federal legislators had raised it to N9.1 trillion, an additional N508 billion, they explained was applied to critical sectors of the economy, including the reduction of the budget deficit, security, health and power, works and housing. The increment had triggered fears that the executive might decline assent, replaying the altercation over the 2017 budget. But the THISDAY said although the executive had reservations, similar to those of last year, explaining that it was preferred that increase in revenue occasioned by the rising price of oil be used to reduce the deficit in the budget, the president was advised to sign it to avoid further delays that might further injure the economy. “Just like last year, the president was

advised to assent to the bill and seek resolution of the grey areas later,� the source said. Nigerians had expressed strong worries over the delay in the passage of the money bill, warning that it could worsen the precarious state of the economy. One of the very vocal critics of the legislative sluggishness over the bill was the Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, who warned against delaying the budget further. He advised the president to ensure that the budget was signed into law immediately, saying the delay was hurting the economy. He said, “But why the delay? If the president has objections to what was passed by the National Assembly, then he ought to have engaged the legislature to resolve because the delay is causing the economy a lot of money and is hurting the economy. “This was a budget that was submitted in November, but now we are almost in July, which is about seven months. So, it is incredible.� On his part, the Chief Executive Officer, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, said what was surprising to him was that some of the ministers and members of the National Assembly had said the amendments, particularly the adjustment in the budgeted amount, was done in consent with the executive. “So, I wouldn’t know why the delay,� he asked, adding, “I also think as a country we need to be more serious with the timelines that the government has in implementing a previous year’s budget.�

1981, because they saw the grave threat he posed to their obsession for power, as control freaks. He had set his eyes on the Chairmanship of the party as a launch-pad to his Presidential ambition. He was told in unambiguous terms that the Presidency was not for sale. He went back home to lick his wounds with equanimity and waited to fight another day. But he was already a marked man who was being keenly watched by the Nigerian Mafia. He had occasional brushes with the government of his supposed best friend, President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who dribbled and waltzed his way through the labyrinth of power and left everyone dazed with his wizardry. Babangida’s transition time-table was as confusing as it was befuddling. But everything is for a season! Abiola resolutely had his sight on the Presidency but bided his time patiently. Before he took the leap of faith in January 1993, he had made wide and extensive consultations and was reasonably assured that President Babangida was ready to hand over power, finally. Abiola bought the assurance hook, line and sinker and took what turned out to be a kamikaze plunge. He fought with everything to upstage both Alhaji Babagana Kingibe as well as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, his two main rivals within the Social Democratic Party. He won the ticket eventually but had to contend with the Governors of his party who were rooting for Kingibe. He ended up with a Muslim/Muslim ticket but his charisma, panache, affluence and legendary generosity meant that he got away with this huge risk and gamble, in a religiously volatile country. He won the June 12 Presidential elections convincingly and resoundingly. Although the results have never been formally declared by NEC, the full details were before the High Court which ordered NEC to declare them. The military responded with such savagery and bestiality that nobody could have predicted or anticipated. Abiola had managed to get very close, in fact too close, to touching distance of his holy grail when the military top brass struck and annulled the election, the first of its kind in Nigeria, because it was free and fair. The annulment was as audacious as it was reprehensible. Abiola and his civilian army of supporters pushed hard against an obstinate and vicious military that ostensibly had nowhere to go, and

Y JUNE 13, 2018

NEWS Oshiomhole: If I Were Buhari, I’ll Jail

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Abuja Edo State governor Former Edo State received more endorsements from the national to investigate and jail Oshiomole, has Governor, Adams leader the former said he would of the party, president arrested and have Bola Tinubu, president, should he be prosecuted former as well as governors found to wanted for two terms and President Olusegun elected on the have dipped his hands he endorseme to do a third platform in public a nts from Tinubu, he were President Obasanjo if national of the party ahead of the treasury. cockroach licking term because well as as State, but governors palm oil would convention of Muhammadu Speaking at the he dismissed Buhari. the party. platform of the elected on the state event in honour never lick enough.� the parallel Oshiomhole, of late Chief executive party. who weighed Oshiomhole This is coming Speaking to in chaired by MKO Abiola’s family added that when describing it led by Foud Oki, as the former over the faceoff between Femi Falana, Oshiomhole he was accused as a President after he led journalists shortly Buhari and Obasanjo, by Obasanjo “Anybody cannon-issue. behaving urged Buhari also praised Chief Frank Kokori of solidarity other governors on open a bank branch visit to standing up to for president; as if I was an alternate dictatorship when Campaign Officethe Oshiomhole whetheranywhere but it depends and he was running it mattered most. its ATM card at Aso Drive, NLC like a parallel the can work,� he said. government Asokoro in Abuja, Tinubu “He should that wanted said: has committed be arrested if he governmen to overthrow his “My presence here symbolises Kebbi State solidarity and t. Atiku Bagudu, Governor, Alhaji arrested many any offence. He unity Alex Enumah The who spoke of former to us. continue to build of purpose mission So, if we are governor further in Abuja celebrating Chief of the governors on the stated: “The a progressive Gani Fawehinmi party that will United States to the campaign we have compelling carry Nigeria , smiling not late Abiola would be progressive of America on The Federal Governmen on in a queuing office, said they were historic achievemen just for the honour reasons the manner and encourage t of Nigeria behind the former all done good has congratulate t made at the so. In all of these, we didn’tto do him by the president, “Kim governance with and Trump Summit, State governor Edo any money but that pay both the Unitedd the leadership of earlier courage and held defended to Gani or Falana. They Kokori who was very youngFrank commitment. next national to emerge as the yesterday June, deployed the (USA) and the States of America Singapore, us pro chairman. 2018, “There is no instrumentality then, Democratic Peoples “I believe all of “Gani is not bono. leading to the in workers doubt that of oil Republic of us here today, signing of joint Korea (DPRK) but mission to support the progressive have endorsed his candidacy. I of Oshiomhole. All are in support hosting a successful for two leaders;a statement by the his spirit is here. Falana of the civil our colleagues have worked I are happy is here and today, with emphasising summit, establishme with this developme describing the He said: “It is society. I have any doubt?� him, should Our the the presidentI am standing. Even not nt. party is looking achievement. feat as a historic building nt of new relationship who was in charge you occupy but the the position forward On whether ; then, he an enduring role that he feels he can the chairmanship of Oshiomholto is now complainin play that will The federal peace define your placeyou work well with Oshiomole, g that e. “He has had government stability; the denuclearisation and they want to harass in a statement Tinubu experiences efforts harassing in the Korean him. He was history. This man was never in said: “Yes, I can Peninsula as work with him, various aspects of national in NLC president spokesperson signed by the as recovery me and he an I have well but no of the Ministry got and doubt.� arrested. he life me we are all confident is the only and repatriation unionist invited Foreign Affairs, of Prisoners When asked of that the to the investiture. party is “He thought said the joint Tope Elias-Fatile, in Action of War (POW)/Missing “So, we just consulted Oshiomole wasif the endorsements for the a structure that is necessary statement signed not be arrested?he himself would ourselves, (MIA). continuous evolution both President by few of us who among party leaders willgetting from key maintenanc If I were the Nigeria said Donald and president the success of not Trump historic from Gani’s leadership benefited other e of democracy I would arrest of the USA the are all and Kim Jong contestants anddiscourage collective experiences and his him. We instrument summit by using the Nigerians. I remember demonstration is a of commitme is a demonstration make convention of the law to of one exercise more the past as the governor in the recent nt by the relevant day I told him, I to world peace. their commitment parties said ‘President evil leaders...at the NLC, confront a rubber stamp, of Edo State, like one of towards de-escalatio Obasanjo, the we most so were democracy Tinubu said we made you According n of You president. tooefficient at causing troubles to him, “The tension in the Korean of trade union successful leaders is all about winning. did not make Federal Governme but poor to procure movement Peninsula “In politics, you the services of nt of Nigeria and a consolidation of “’You are our me a Nigerian. legal congratulates seek to win. democratic activist all his life;and a Chairman Kim achievement made the earlier your creation. creation; I am not but titans like Gani and Falana Have you seen anyone qualities would these Jong Un of Democratic who wants during who would always You must to lose? It is Inter-Korean in achieving the be brought to bear about wining, Summit of April the he thought he would listen’. But defend us come and People’s 2018, Republic of ideals of the APC,� about choice pro bono. So, 27, be in power Korea resulting and we just haveit is he said. we felt that on the eve of President Donald (DPRK) and Declaration in the Panmunjom forever and he tried to accept that,� to take us on his investiture, the way Trump of the The governor he said. between the should gather we leaders reluctant to Zimbabwe. He was believed that of the Koreas. Tinubu was also and a asked to react Oshiomhole will be Head of State, In another celebrate him.� to the outcome a leader became Oshiomho development, of the recent APC who will be the embodime congresses, especially le has received the spirit of the nt of more to the party, saying parallel congressas it relates experiences will help him the in Lagos the make party central to governance .

Nigeria Comm ends US, North Korea over Successful Summ it

Jonathan: PDP Don’t Just Talk Governors Projects, They About Do It

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

“What the governor has done in three years is quite Former President, The quantum commendable. of projects Jonathan, has Dr. Goodluck scattered across the state. are governors elected boasted that year, Last I was here to inaugurate of the Peoples on the platform the second Nkpogu Bridge (PDP) do not Democratic Party today, and I am here to only talk about projects but actually inaugurate a execute projects road to the hinterland. that positively He said everyone � impact the people. He also declared believes in Wike Governor, Nyesomthat Rivers State projectsbecause of his efforts at delivery. Wike, merits the title of ‘Mr. In his remarks, Projects’ because PDP Wike said the of his pro-people governors projects. Speaking before the developme are committed to nt of their states. the 22.3 kilometres inaugurating He said in Rivers Airport-Ipo Omademe State, his -Ozuoha road - administration has executed projects Ikwerre Local Government Area in in urban and rural communities the state yesterday, of L-R: Running mat Jonathan said for the benefit of the the titl f ‘ t B l

HONOUR FOR HEROES OF DEMO

EDITORIAL Extra Year For Graduates?

AY, JUNE 13,

At a recent retreat organised by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the governing councils of federal universities, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah expressed concern over reports that many graduates being turned out by Nigerian universities were not employable. T Page 15

2018

EDITORIAL

15

EXTRAYEAR

FOR GRADU

ATES?

It will be an unnece ssary gamble . The univers

A

ities should be t a recent retreat adequately funded organised by National Universit the ies Commission (NUC) for the governin councils of federal g amount to nothing universities, the Minister but another of State for EducaInstead of embarkin organised tion, Prof. Anthony g on such misadvenwaste of time. federal governm expressed concern Anwukah fallen standard ent should trace the root ture, the over reports that many of Nigeria’s turned out by to revamp it. of education and make decisive Nigerian universiti graduates being As long as the able. And to steps es were a solution to government address that the fails to ďŹ nd challenge, he not employaddition of an environment funding problem, create proposed the extra year for for a conducive ates before their skill acquisitio students being learning, enhance the quality n National for graduYouth Service But this is a proposal of high academic admitted while engaging that makes little Corps (NYSC). lecturers of be discarded Nigeria will standards, the quality of sense and should . continue to be education In the reasoning hampered. Besides, in as strict academic of Anwukah, vice-chancellor, as long a former is not entrenche environment with sound d in the tertiary moral values to the one-year the additional year would university continue to churn institutions, be law similar training upon by law they out unemplo students as wellprogramme embarked yable graduates will as the housema . n the days lecturers AS LONG AS nship that THE lived medical up ing, to their names students GOVERNMENT it was unimagin and callable for dergo. But this unthem to ask FIND A SOLUTIOFAILS TO for an upward students to dare accost was ill-concei idea N TO review of their after failing ved THE FUNDIN marks because keeping G PROBLEM, nowadays as a course. But the reverse poor is the case CREATE A CONDUC the students on become effective marks (genuine or contrived IVE campus ENVIRONMENT tools in the hands ) have for longer periods lecturers to negotiate of unscrupulous LEARNING AND FOR for sex and money. is not a guarante scandals are ENHANCE prevalent in e THE QUALIT virtually every Today, such for improved higher learning Y institution of BEING ADMITTOF STUDENTS knowledge, production of in the country. The resultant a effect is the given the operating QUALITY OF ED, THE that Onwuka vast battalion of unemplo EDUCATION yable now environment. WILL CONTIN However, we wants to remain on campus.graduates So, UE TO BE must also note that the challenge T H I S DAY education in HAMPERED the standards of the private universiti EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI moment is not the DEPUTY EDITOR and so is the es are relatively of DAVIDSON quality of their spent in school MANAGING IRIEKPEN better the number about universities not graduates. Many DEPUTY MANAGINGDIRECTOR ENIOLA but the quality BELLO acquired. DIRECTOR KAYODE of the education of years CHAIRMAN their students only retain diligent lecturers, of these EDITORIAL KOMOLAFE being BOARD OLUSEGUN acquire the requisite EDITOR NATION’S they help Indeed, there ADENIYI useful in the CAPITAL IYOBOSA are several pertinent skills that MANAGING job market after UWUGIAREN from this proposal EDITOR JOSEPH of discipline questions arising graduation. Thewould be USHIGIALE but two will both atmosphere far higher than for students and the lecturersstandards would the students sufďŹ ce. First, under what what obtain year? Second, are also in the public Meanwhile, will the trainers be trained for the extra T H I S DAY universities. or would they N E W S PA P be brought EDITOR-IN-C begins with the trouble with tertiary ERS be the same the education GROUP EXECUTIVE HIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKAL I M I T E D lecturers who from abroad them for four OBAIGBENA have connectio admission of unqualiďŹ ed or had ISRAEL IWEGBU, DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, students who ns in the institutio KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ever way one ďŹ ve years in the ďŹ rst instance?taught IJEOMA NWOGWUGW DIVISIONAL qualiďŹ ed looks at it, the DIRECTORS ns at the ones who know PETER IWEGBU, U, EMMANUEL EFENI to attemptin minister’s proposal WhichANTHONY OGEDENGBE no one in the expense of to push his/her g to DEPUTY DIVISIONALBOLAJI ADEBIYI school hierarchy , leprosy. Proposincure ringworm while overlookiamounts DIRECTOR OJOGUN from the norm admission through. This g an extra year SNR. ASSOCIATE ng VICTOR DANBOYI is a departure any plan to overhaul ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC for students strictly based when admissions into schools DIRECTORS OJEH without CONTROLLER the entire education on S ABIMBOLA PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED were ment is concerne merit. So, if indeed the TAIWO, UCHENNA ADEYEMO al system will DIRECTOR, federal PRINTING PRODUCTION DIBIAGWU, NDUKA in Nigeria and d about the fallen standard governCHUKS ONWUDINJO MOSERI TO SEND EMAIL: is of education ďŹ rst name.surnam must sit down committed to restoring e@thisdayliv its and e.com fall and decisively explore various factors lost glory, it leading to its address them.

I

Letters to the Editor

Letters in response to speciďŹ c readers may TO OUR READERS send such letters publications in THISDAY opinions on topical along with their should be brief local, national (150-200 words) 1000 words). and internatiocontact details to They should and straight be sent to opinion@nal issues providedopinion@thisdaylive.com. to the point. Interested We also thisdaylive.com they are well-written and should alsowelcome comments and along with the not be longer email address than (950and phone numbers of the writer.

CHILD LABO

he Greek philosophe neglects education, r, Plato, once said: “If a man he walks lame life.� to the end of his The need for an African child led to the agitation to of nearly 10,000 stand up tall in life who black students, protest against marched the streets of Soweto, South 1976. Towards the low quality of their Africa to education, honouring the on June 16, and injured in the two weeks young students who were killed celebrate the protest, countries day all over the According to of the African Child yearly world stati ti

POLITICS A Curious Police Investigation

UR IN NIGE RIA: MATTE RS ARISING

ing number of educated youth but standard compared to other regionsstill have the poorest education Experts in the field of developme of the world. Child to be the reasons able nt have highlighted for high rate time be of serviceto maintain a healthy of out of include: conflicts, family and some at the same cultural factors school children in Nigeria of Education they to humanity. the girl-child that prevent to say is fundament to growth of a children al to national the education go to school as well as society, therefore the inadequate particularly development sector. help reduce and funding of The African the rate at which it is an important factor Child has oth reaching th which can children d e l fi

MIDWEEKPOL ITICS

A quick check in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital and other parts of the state reveal a swelling emotion in support of their son, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki who has his back against the wall, once again, on account of A political persecution. Page 18

THE NE WSM

T H I S D AY

Ëž WEDNESDAY,

JUNE 13, 2018 Group Politic s Editor NSEOB ONG OKON Email nseob -EKONG ong.okoneko ng@thisdayli ve.com 0803348212 0 SMS ONLY

AKER A Curious Po lice Investiga tion

The Nigerian Police must do to the Offa bank robbery, is notthe needful to convince Niger politically motiv ians that linkin ated, Shola Oyey g Senate Presid ent Bukola Sarak ipo writes i

IGP Idris

quick check in State capital Ilorin, the Kwara (mainly Saraki of the state and other parts simply created by the police reveal authorities) the beginning emotion in support a swelling is to answer of yet another For this reason, questions related Senate President of their son, Democrat leaders of new media trial. killings to the spate across the country , Dr. the Peoples ic Party of treatment A group loyal the wall, once Saraki who has his back Bukola the All Progressiv (nPDP), who defected and to former to representi allegedly meted to the inhuman Alhahi persecution. again, on account of against out of the plannedes Congress (APC), Rabiu Kwankwa Kano State governor, the lawmaker ng Kogi West, political governme pulled meeting with so, Kwankasiy what insinuate Senator Dino Apparentlty This feeling the federal nt. ya, posted Melaye. vindictive is d that the the IGP Idris, disturbed by the resolution he is involuntareinforced by yet another For the same executive may ly instituted a reason, former be , members. targeting some critical police; though ry made to experienc ordeal National Chairman legal action acting PDP Federal High Court, “Saraki is behind opposition e by the in the Dino he is and Abuja, to invalidate not quite off the Conduct Offa bank is the hook at APC, Alhaji Kawu Baraje a chieftain of the May 9, 2018 resolution of the murderer.a gun runner and Shehu robbery, of the Senate of members him “an enemy where various Conduct Tribunal (CCT) alleged persecutio Waiting for Sani is a declaring using state charges were trial OBJ’s decorativ Kwankasiyya security apparatusn hold any public of democracy and him. Saraki According unfit to e tag,� to Baraje, has continued brought against powers wrote on Twitter.� office within . Nigeria To Torchy Okwara, “We recognise the attack on to maintain and outside the ABJ/CS/The IGP, in his suit that investigatof the police to conduct “This is Nigeria. he emerged him stems from the marked FHC/ is a criminal.� Everybody 554/2018, ions, but by time that as last week, rushing to criminal court to bar with The Olofa of the permutat the Senate President prayed the the public the Senate Offa, Oba Mufutau ions of certain against tered the issue even when Esuwoye steps from in the All Progressiv they have access vested with regard taking further Gbadamo II , did not to a resolution es Congress interests Assembly to the leadership of the unfet- on May absolved Saraki, mince words. si political party. 9, wherein suggests an (APC), his National He of any complicit it purported it reached robbery attempt to undermin caricature vote of no Similarly, he incident. The ly passed a and y in the confidence first class traditiona ruler, in a statement on him. the legislatur humiliate the institution e, cares to listen has continued to tell In an affidavit whoever e.� of applicatio l filed in support Private Secretary signed by his robbery was that linking him to Another aspect n seeking the of his also , Dr. Tajudeen Principal of the matter the court’s The suspicion orchestrated to soil his Offa suspicion is said, Offa permissio generating to file a substantive Oloyede, the fact name. raised people will suit to challenge n to anything for the kind that Saraki may be singled not be a party an alarm on that Saraki had earlier resolution, Idris that would the said the conduct out may plans to frame He Dino Melaye of treatment meted to ridicule Saraki. him up. It the Senate and its President of both to therefore called on the Senator to be argued also that there of Kogi West was heightene its responsib ascertain foul police senatorial , Dr Saraki, is no evidence the proceedings leading ility and avoid to be alive in sensationa as their “legislativ to what he spokesman, d last Monday whendistrict, pointer is the play with the police. unnecessa lism in the described The only manifest hostile Police between e judgment handling investigat ry commissionerJimoh Moshood, an � was borne into the robbery incident. relationship out of hatred and “undisgu assistant General the lawmakers ion The king appeared be questione of police, said Saraki Public opinion ised contempt of Police (IGP) and the Inspector d for alleged would is not generall .� of som to have th the Poli by fi Mr Ib h The p li crimi l f fh

FEATURES Countering Violent Extremism

FEATURES

World over, the issue of violent extremism is a boiling issue and what better way to counter it than bring in journalists, researchers, scholars, government officials and communicators from regions to rub minds together on ways to counter W such issues using their media messaging strategies. Page 20

T H I S D AY

˞ ˜

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Group Featur es Editor, Chiem Email chiem elie Ezeobi elie.ezeobi@ thisdaylive.c om

Countering Violent Extre Chiemeli Internatio e Ezeobi who was the mism media cannal Visitors Leadershi 2018 recipient of the

MOSHOOD KASHIMAWO ABIOLA: A LIFE FULFILLED become Vice President of ITT in Africa and the Middle East and Chairman of ITT’s Nigerian subsidiary. Abiola’s business interests were humongous. He was more than an octopus with long fingers in many pies. He had substantial investments in telecommunications, oil and gas, media, music, farming, shipping, banking, sports, real estate, bookshops, airlines, bakery, bulk deliveries, printing, and so on. In his time, Abiola was probably the largest employer of private labour in Nigeria, with offices and homes in several countries abroad. Abiola was the quintessential philanthropist and a most generous giver who gave unconditionally to people, organisations, institutions, communities and societies of different persuasions. He contributed to building many churches and mosques across Nigeria, water projects, medical facilities, libraries, sports facilities and so on. On a single day, he donated N1 million each to 30 Nigerian universities, an unprecedented and most remarkable move that endeared him to students and parents nationwide. Abiola changed the stature and status of journalists in Nigeria by elevating them from Press boys to gentlemen of the Press through incredible wages, training, exposure and incentives. Abiola was a self-appointed Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of the black race. He championed the causes of Black people all over the world by leading a ceaseless campaign for Reparations from the Western world for the many decades of slavery. He was specially recognised by the American Black Caucus and was awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree by Tuskegee University, USA. He was a special friend of Lords and Royals and met many world leaders in recognition of his leadership and statesmanship. He was one of the most decorated Africans ever and possibly the man with the highest number of Chieftaincy titles on the continent of Africa. Abiola’s foray into politics was never an accident. It was clearly planned and meticulously orchestrated. He had been a member of the National Council for Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) at the age of 19. He was therefore not a tyro when he rejoined politics in the late seventies. However, he was soon frustrated out of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) by the shenanigans of a powerful cabal in

Two-Minute BrieďŹ ng

rigidly insisted that it was not ready to go. A lot of water passed under the bridge and Abiola went through so much trauma trying to retrieve his stolen mandate. The world community watched in total bewilderment and anguish as Nigeria went through its season of anomy. Unknown to Nigerians, and friends of Nigeria, Abiola was on his road to Golgotha. World figures came from the United Nations and the Commonwealth Office but neither Dr Kofi Anan nor Chief Emeka Anyaoku could convince Abiola to forget his mandate. He chose to die fighting like a man, a brave warrior in the forest of a thousand daemons, after all, he was the fabled and fabulous Aare Ona Kakanfo, the generalissimo of the Yoruba race. He had crossed the Rubicon and could not afford to let down the Nigerian people. The Generalissimo is not expected to shy away or run away from a fight. Abiola’s wit and wisdom were surreal. His courage and devotion to the cause of Nigeria were never in doubt. His humility and generosity were clearly unparalleled. In short, in his own inimitable way, Chief MKO Abiola was nonpareil! Abiola was last visited by two august visitors from America on July 7, 1998, Thomas Pickering and Susan Rice, and the unexpected happened. They announced that Abiola had died of “apparent heart attack.� That was it. Abiola instantly became a martyr for democracy. Abiola left the world in a dramatic fashion, just as he came. The shockwaves of his death reverberated across the oceans to far flung places. Abiola was physically out of circulation, but the spirit and soul of June 12 was very much alive. Every effort to kill it remained abortive and aborted and could not be obliterated. Abiola’s mandate stood ramrod for 25 years. Justice was delayed, but this one was never denied. President Muhammadu Buhari was probably haunted by the ghost of June 12, privately, as are a lot of others, both military and civilian. For whatever reason, or possible motives, he did the unthinkable, by recognising Abiola as the true winner of that watershed election. He recognised that it has never been the case of a presumptive winner, but that of an outright and undeniable winner. He finally brought the ghost to rest yesterday, in Abuja, and got a thunderous ovation for his courage and vision.

The IVLP team

p Prog prest counter viole nt extremism ramme, writes that igious United States it was targeted using diverse at how the messaging strat egies

at the White

House in Washington

DC

orld over, the

issue of violent extremism is a boiling issue from Montenegro, the and what Digital Editor, Daily better way Vijesti; KundrateDirector and Online to a senior counter it Dace from Latvia, Alyce Hill, whose than bring expert, NATO in journalists, maternal guidance Strategic Communi to use often researchers, tions Centre of Excellence times. was put scholars, officials and ; Ljimani Salji careport on illegal government Macedonia, the advisor, from Project or abusive actions rub minds communicators from Municipality groups, politicians descriptions together on regions to Malagic Admir from Bosnia, of Tetovo; by extremist issues using ways to counter relations expert advisor, For the multi-regi Another critical , criminals or corporatio their such Ervina and spokesman, Ministry public ns. onal project factor was From battling media messaging strategies. Binte that the project which is on helped to assess the of Security; 'Countering Violent Extremism East to Boko ISIS and Al Qaeda in Berita Harian; from Singapore, journalist Messaging - Media and counter-measures and impact of governme the Strategies, Oueslati Sami terrorism and Haram in Nigeria, to Middle manager it started on messaging through ntal media and from Tunisia, from March 12, 2018 for training domestic school shootings Monday, new communic project and stopped social States, to radicalisat on Friday, March in support of democrati ation technolog in the United African Centre for the and Assistant Director, 30, 2018 and cut across ion Training of Journalists ies phenomenon in Europe, six Communicators Department c traditions. the Project Team states. The U.S. State measures to has given rise to nations global from Pakistan, (CAPJC); Shamsi Amber and together A tale of six was the duo that put the programm counter seeking an anchor/sp Rahim Hall, cities e limited to security such narrative of Monica ecial correspond From Washingto while that is not Dawn News; Vladimir ent, of World Ann Driscoll and Shie and Tina to Baltimore n DC to Arlington Snidl Slovak reporter with As part of such moves. Saad Chaudhry Learning Project Republic, a Dennik N; in Virginia in Maryland measures, the Department Vejvodova outlined the to Minneapo United States Czech Republic,an Assistant Petra intricacies of Team handled and Minnesota to Portland lis in project under of State, set up a multi-regi of security the day Colorado to in Oregon, On Professor and from the Internation Denver in Houston in onal of Political and strategic studies, head (DC), arrival in Washington, Districtto day event. to Programme al Texas Visitors New the team was (three Department Leadership Science, Masaryk York, there (IVLP) tagged of Columbia housed was no stoppingsplit cities) Extremism: Ofir from where 'Countering train. Media and the daily trips at Donovan House Violent Nati from Israel, a research University; Winter the IVLP A M lti Mes i A f ll Th l

BUSINESS Value of Insurance Stocks Fall 15% on

New Pricing Methodology The aggregate value of insur- ance stocks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has depreciated by 15 per cent since the Exchange introduced a new pricing methodology and par value rule on January 29, 2018. Page 23

CITYSTRINGS Rainstorms Wreak Havoc in Ilorin

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Essentuki Super Eagles players are to have their last training in Essentuki this evening before flying out to Kaliningrad tomorrow morning ahead of the team’s opening game against Croatia on Saturday. According to Media Officer of the team,Toyin Ibitoye... Page 54

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Quick Takes Ecobank Suppor

BERGER PAINT S TAKES STOC K

L-R: Non-Execu Chairman, Dr. tive Director, Berger Paints Oladimeji Alo; Nigeria Plc, Mr. Company Secretary, Abi Mrs. Oluseun Allison Ayida; Managing Oluwole at the Director/CEO, annual general Berger Paints, meeting of the Mr. Peter Folikwe; company in Lagos‌re cently

Value of Ins New Pricingurance Stocks Fall 15% on Methodology

ts Financial Ecobank Nigeria has commence Inclusion in tertiary institution d a youth s across Nigeria engagement program deepen ďŹ nancial as titled: “Ecobank inclusion by banking the part of eorts to youth. The initiative Xpress Campus students of tertiary institution Storm,â€? is expected Ecobank Xpress to avail s the opportunit y to open the documentation, account, a digital account minimum balance that requires downloading no or paperwork the Ecobank , simply by According to Mobile app. the would be able bank, with the Ecobank Xpress to access ďŹ nancial account, students up, funds transfer and bill paymentservices such as airtime Parents and top from their mobile guardians would their children devices. also be able or without a card wards‘ Xpress accounts to transfer money to which they can at any Ecobank withdraw “The ďŹ rst phase ATM of this initiative or Xpress Point. polytechnics will cover 24 and colleagues universities, the bank explained. of education across the country,â€? “This initiative is segment. We one of the ways we are connecting will with the youth Corner’ across set up free WiFi centres the students these campuses and there tagged the ‘Xpress to win exciting are bank added. prizes during opportunities for the activation,â€? the LSETF Partne

rs Jobberman, The Lagos State Employment Others a partnershi Trust Fund (LSETF) p with Jobberman has gone into independent and ATC (one owner, of Nigeria’s leading broadcast communicaoperator and developer Goddy Egene of wireless tions real estate) Owing to this and to partnership, they graduated enhance employment. Makoko community CAPITA L MARKE 62 trainees The aggregate in Lagos State 44 per cent job and succeeded within the T Trust Insurance Plc; ance stocks value of insurin attaining The partnershi placement for them. on UNIC Diversified Stock Exchangethe Nigerian The According Holdings at training and p, which kicked o in October worth of the to him, while Plc; some (NSE) has providing job insurance sec- Veritas Kapital Assurance depreciated insurance tor has within the various placements for of 2017 was aimed by companies have strong since the Exchange15 per cent billion dipped from N159.432 Plc and WAPIC Insurance unemploye kicking o with communities in Lagos fundamentals Plc. have to N133.974 Also, most of introduced State, with the d youths a new pricing and put in place billion. the stocks are About Youths, who Makoko. initiative possess deliver improvedstrategies to and par value methodology insurance 15 of the over 25 trading between 60 receive an intensive a minimum of SSCE per rule and cent on returns stocks 16 January exchange per cent lower sharehold 29, 2018. certiďŹ cation to training in life on the their information will than investors ers, most potential skills, entreprene are trading and The new par below Marketyear’s opening prices. are not aware urship and includes digital communication technology value rule 50 kobo par value, while of such analysts said prospects. specifies that about 13 are marketing as skills such as graphics and (ICT). The training although the price of well every their trading at a prices below the lower prices offer share listed web When as photograp designs, digital Commenting on the exchange years’ opening hy and videograph entry opportun new pricing introducing the new on shall be determine value. ities in some y. methodol Those trading Mr. Akintunde the initiative, the Executive d by the Oyebode said Market Surveillanogy, Head, market forces below their of stocks, investor apathy in the minds “The Makoko Secretary of LSETF, insurance stocks and equities par value are: African for vestigation ce and Inof youth has been may now Alliance Insurance are basically living conditionsLagos residents as the s Departme trade poster child entrench nt, NSE, Mr. erstwhile price below the Hallmark Plc; Consolidated caused by two major of indigent “So as change and lack of opportunit factors. said Abimbola Babalola “Investors’ ies. agents, kobo per unit. floor of 50 Cornersto Insurance Plc; had Makoko is straight our choice of starting for insurance low demand the it was aimed at making ne Insurance this THISDAY checks market more forward. We stocks stemmed Equity Assurance Plc; very heart of aim to make initiative with efficient. showed Insurance where that the new Plc; Guinea mostly from their poor The are most manifestethe problems of poverty an impact in the porate cor- pricing amendments to the Plc; Internation has impacted pricing system ergy and unemploym d.â€? al En- often performance, which methodol Insurance Plc; ent makes them to the introducti ogy rule led negatively, insurance stocks Assurance LASACO Mr Chef Unveils depreciating to pay on of a new Plc; and Mutual low dividends price group market capitalisa the Benefits Seasoning In a bid to create Besides, – “Group C.â€? low awarenes . Assurance sector by N25 tion of the morevalue forit “It should Plc s about th Limit d Oth b bill i

CITYSTRING S

T H I S D AY

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Rainstorms Wr eak Havoc in writes on how rainstorms wreak Ilorin ed havoc

Hammed Shitt u

T

he commence ment of rainy every year season in the life of any community is always heralded with joy, hopes and the year would aspirations that benefit to the be of a tremendous that communit socio well-being y. This belief of make many however at communities times of such season to mark the beginning of life would with enthusiasm that a new come to their of various programm doorsteps in lease view es especially outing that agricultural would new rainy season herald the beginning of the But, this belief in the New Year. however recently when was turned of Ilorin, the the people of the ancient sour Kwara State town tears and sorrow capital burst following the into accompanied down pour that houses and rainstorms which blew damaged several off their several millions property worth The residents of naira. who had gone in search of the golden fleece out in the morning but after returning on that fateful day home late in that fateful the evening day of the rainstorms met their houses blown off by were soaked as all their rooms and apartments with household utensilsuncontrollable water. Clothes, among others away by the were swept water. The effect of the rainfall almost one and half hours which lasted for has also made on that fateful many of day community homeless as the residents of the many are now with friends, and churches relatives and even in residing mosques blown off theirdue to the rainstorms that had Apart from houses. the residential by the rainstorms buildings damaged metropolis were , some schools within Ilorin also affected, Elizabeth Secondary especially Queen School where school's roofs some of the top Areas badly were blown off. include, Taiwo affected by the rainstorms Road, Adewole, Ogidi, Ita- Amidu, Alore, Oloje, Okolowo, Basin Sango among The damaged Road, and bill boards and others. telecoms facility Also, a mast erected within at Taiwo Area, Zenith Bank, Ilorin the premises Unity Road of also fell on the houses beside the roofs of The rainstorms bank, causing serious damages. including places also damaged several buildings, of the state capital. worship in various parts of The state governme nt's heavily billboards along mounted also destroyed, Upper Taiwo Road, Ilorin while one of a moving Mazda the billboards were trapped sustaining injuries.taxi car with the passenger s The rainstorms residential housesalso blown off roofs located at Sultan of many Ibrahim Taiwo Road, off Road, while poles were shops and electricity also This incident destroyed. to the residents has brought untold hardship of the communit community y as th i

INTERNATIONAL Trump’s Vow to End Military Drills with Seoul

SPORTS Eagles toTrain Behind Closed Gates in

ORLD

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The commencement of rainy season every year in the life of any community is always heralded with joy, hopes and aspirations that the year would be of a tremendous benefit to the socio well-being of that community. Page 36

Stuns the Region US President DonaldTrump rocked the region with the stunning announcementTuesday that he was halting annual US-South Korean military drills — and wants to remove the 28,500 US troops stationed in the South... Page 47

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BUSINESSW MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

DNESDAY JUNE

13, 2018 Ëž T

in Ilorin, the

Kwara State capital

H I S D AY

INTERNATIO NAL

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email:foreigndesk Trump’s Vow @thisdaylive.com to End Military with Seoul Stun Drills s the Region Trump, Kim claim big summi

t success but

US President rocked the region Donald Trump absolutely critical. announcement with the stunning Trump was halting Tuesday that he adopted has now essentially set for August. annual US-South the standard US forces in South Korean military North Korean Korea wants to remove drills — and exercisesline, calling the military has “received no updated said it guidance troops stationed the 28,500 US of moneya “provocative� drain on the execution or cessation of a deterrent againstin the South as would and announcing they training exercises� and will The Associated North Korea, talks stop while he continues to coordinate with South continue with Kim, Press reported. Korean This was as whom he partners and maintain the repeatedly current North Korean both Trump and negotiating praised as a solid posture until it receives an updated guidance from partner. Un claimed leader Kim Jong the Departmen His statement success at of Defence t whirlwind summit and their portrayed by criticswas quickly Command or the Indo-Pacific Singapore . left unreciproc as a major, Tuesday, praising ated Trump’s concession to their face-to-face a questioned comments will be progress toward country that only last ridding the Korean by many in South year was threatening Seoul Korea and Washington and beyond, with some nuclear weapons. Peninsula of with nuclear war. seeing in them an effort Yet, Trump by North It also seemed to leave officials drive a wedge between Korea to questions at homefaced pointed completely Seoul and Washington. off guard in he got little and about whether Korea, South North Korea — including gave away much troops where the presence of US regularly calls an agreement has long been halt US military described as the military exercises provocative to exercises with necessary to maintaining preparation South Korea. peace on invasion, s for a northward the peninsula. His offhand comments,surprise, almost and many of the scariest Seoul’s presidentia standoffs news conference made during a The Associated Press l office told Korean in recent years on the after his summit Peninsula have with North that it was trying Korean happened Jong Un, seeminglyleader Kim The to parse Trump’s comments. when the drills were being South Korean upended military seemed Outside analysts believe staged. decades of the similarly surprised. US the North objects to the on the Korean defence posture drills because “At this current Peninsula. it must spend The remarks need to discern point, there is a war precious resources on its own games and troop the exact meaning countless previous contradicted and movements. intent by US political declarations comments, of President Trump’s North Korea also insists that the US troop and military � officials over Ministry said, Seoul’s Defence as well presence in the South, the adding as its drills are routine, years that the have been no discussionsthat there over allies nuclear “umbrella� defensive and Seoul and Tokyo, yet Washington are on modifying with part of America’s “hostile� policy drills toward the North.

details are scant

Stranded Migr ants: Macron Aquarius Ship Scold Italy over Migrants to be taken French President has accused the Emmanuel Macron of “cynicism Italian government and irresponsib for refusing to ility� let a stranded rescue ship packed with in Italy, according migrants dock to BBC. A charity looking after the 629 migrants on the off Malta, says Aquarius, stranded will help take two Italian ships them to Spain’s of Valencia. port But three days’ sailingSpain is at least away. Macron said Italy was “playing politics� with the migrants. They

to Spain

Among the migrants are seven pregnant women, 11 young children and 123 unaccompa nied minors. The minors are aged between

13 and 17 and come Ghana, Nigeria from Eritrea, and Sudan, according to a ship, Anelise journalist on the Borges.

WEDNESDAY SPORTS

WORLD

CUP COU NTD

OWN

T H I S D AY

h with Nigeria

Ëž WEDNESDAY,

JUNE 13, 2018

Group Sports Editor Duro Email duro.ik hazuagbe@th Ikhazuagbe isdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Eagles to Train Behind Closed Kramaric insis Gates ts clas

24 HOUR S TO KIC K OFF

in Essentuki

Duro Ikhazuag be Organising Super Eagles Committe (LOC) have their players are to arrival officials conductede Andrej Kramaric, has Essentuki thislast training in administrmeetings with the that Saturday’s openingwarned be 6pm in Nigeria. Group flying out evening before three-timeative officials of the D match against Nigeria It will be the first-ever Kramaric believes define his team’s will meeting tomorrow to Kaliningrad at their African champion the game is a crunchy outing between the team’s training one for of the team’smorning ahead Hotel Sanatorium Istochniks World Cup in Russia. at the countries at full two team base international studded team, who his star- Saint Petersbur ground in Saturday’s against Croatiaopening game Essentuki qualified camp in Kaliningr for Russia 2018 match in level as Croatia only on Saturday. . “That game g. became playoffs. an independ through the ad will kick According Ibitoye confirmed ent country off at 8pm local time, or the closingis for us opening of the team, to Media Officer that in of which will 1992. “Nigeria for hundreds of further me is the most Cup. So, we will the World public and Toyin Ibitoye, the Russian According to excited have full media ScoreNigeria, difficult and most importan concentra football will be present allowed the first fans were opponent,� t Argentination on that game.� 15 minutes to watch he said at the morning and Iceland the other session while of Eagles training. the Super teams in Groupare the second training the The training D. in the evening which lasted will be behind two hours was rounded Before the closed doors. up with handlers are training, Eagles between a two-a-side game to have session what looked with sportswri like ters on the the likely starting XI team’s preparatio against ns for the Croatia. Skipper John tournament. Mikel Obi and Ahmed Musa After the six on target for were the likely from Austria hours flight while Joel Obi opened starters, to the Russian city on Monday scoring for the hopefuls. evening, Eagles trained Eagles at 5pm local opening game time (3pm Nigeria) yesterday Group D is to hold at of evening. 35,000-capacity the Kaliningrad Earlier, FIFA and Local Arena. Meanwhile, Croatia striker,

will define Croa tia’s progress

in Group D

MultiChoice Exten ds Customer Call Service Hours for Russia 2018

With the 2018 FIFA World Cup only a improved our service MultiChoice few days away, in a significant way. delivery announced an Nigeria has customers Now have more timeour Call Centre extension of its reach to from 8am tilloperating hours any us when they encounter until the 16 midnight daily, and hitches with our services be assured extension will July, 2018. This resolution of prompt Eagles . at training on its DStv andallow customers “We are continually evening training in Essentuki, Russia have access GOtv platforms our yesterday. After business to respondshaping the Morning as they enjoyto quality service customers training, newsmen every moment ’ needs andto our of the tourname and fans are includes service this nt. not allowed Previously operating efficiency. into the Great customer service is a key from 8am to 9pm, daily componen extension will the three-hour provide t of our strategy to President of the Nigeria more time to give customers delivery end-to-end solutions, Football Federation contact and (NFF) and fifth time to host the world’s customer care representa biggest single-spo customers,� support to our Member of the CAF Executive he said. Committee, Mr. rt fiesta, and bids were ratified to be issues such tives on varying “DStv as subscripti Amaju Melvin has launched a compact voted three on following payment, reconnect on can nowand GOtv customers Pinnick, and the in the publicatio bid which all host heads n Mexico. Canada and three in reach cities are withinin of the Bid Evaluation ion the content schedulin MultiCho and customer of radius of remaining 210 a by Report maximum two g. care representa ice association member by Morocco’s Speaking hours Taskthe 2026 Bid Evaluation daily tives s of the air travel. Force. world believed to candidacy is development,on the recent until from 8am till midnight football-governing In contrast, the be strong with the 16th of July, body, FIFA In the unlikely will USA-Cana support Director, MultiCho Managing today 2018. da- the Congress expected from in Moscow decide Mexico bid spans event that “In addition, ice Nigeria, Mr. John a toll free the host candidate North American the entire to choose decides not majority of African countries numbers are for the in full FIFA World extension is Ugbe said the and Cup finals. 2026 and could present continent, candidate either of the two and the European confederati available onoperation have access for customers to network s, FIFA will All 211 USA hosted host cities to quality service the FIFA on. launch a fresh then providers. Themajor of FIFA member associations that are the farthest apart as they watch will vote procedure by Cup in 1994, while World the history free in toll Mexico hosted in on DStv and the World Cup for lines are 09090630333 68th Congress at the body’s that began of the competition inviting all interested member 1970 and 1986. Etisalat, 070806303 in the GOtv. associations in 1930. The Canada “By (outside the 2026 33 for capital to choose Russian finals will Airtel, 081136303 increasing four the Worldhas never hosted operational our and 081498603 33 for Glo African candidate between 48 teams be the first to have already involved) in the second Cup hours, we have phase. in attendanc Morocco, Olympic Gamesbut staged the e. concludes th 33 for MTN � and the joint bid of th On Sund in 1976 St l d h US C U

Pinnick, 210 Oth ers

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WEDNESDAY JUNE 13, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

11

NEWS

News Editor Ejiofor Alike Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Oshiomhole: If I Were Buhari, I’ll Jail Obasanjo Tinubu, Akande, APC governors rally support for former governor Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomole, has said he would have arrested and prosecuted former President Olusegun Obasanjo if he were President Muhammadu Buhari. This is coming as the former

Edo State governor received more endorsements from the national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, as well as governors elected on the platform of the party ahead of the national convention of the party. Oshiomhole, who weighed in over the faceoff between President Buhari and Obasanjo, urged Buhari

Nigeria Commends US, North Korea over Successful Summit Alex Enumah in Abuja The Federal Government of Nigeria has congratulated the leadership of both the United States of America (USA) and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) for hosting a successful summit, describing the feat as a historic achievement. The federal government in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tope Elias-Fatile, said the joint statement signed by both President Donald Trump of the USA and Kim Jong is a demonstration of their commitment to world peace. According to him, “The Federal Government of Nigeria congratulates Chairman Kim Jong Un of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and President Donald Trump of the

United States of America on the historic achievement made at the “Kim and Trump Summit, held earlier yesterday June, 2018, in Singapore, leading to the joint signing of a statement by the two leaders; emphasising the establishment of new relationship; building an enduring peace and stability; the denuclearisation efforts in the Korean Peninsula as well as recovery and repatriation of Prisoners of War (POW)/Missing in Action (MIA). Nigeria said the success of the historic summit is a demonstration of commitment by the relevant parties towards de-escalation of tension in the Korean Peninsula and a consolidation of the earlier achievement made during the Inter-Korean Summit of April 27, 2018, resulting in the Panmunjom Declaration between the leaders of the Koreas.

to investigate and jail the former president, should he be found to have dipped his hands in public treasury. Speaking at the event in honour of late Chief MKO Abiola’s family chaired by Femi Falana, Oshiomhole also praised Chief Frank Kokori for standing up to dictatorship when it mattered most. “He should be arrested if he has committed any offence. He arrested many of us. So, if we are celebrating Chief Gani Fawehinmi, we have compelling reasons to do so. In all of these, we didn’t pay any money to Gani or Falana. They defended us pro bono. “Gani is not here today, but his spirit is here. Falana is here and today, I am standing. Even the president who was in charge then, he is now complaining that they want to harass him. He was harassing me and he got me arrested. “He thought he himself would not be arrested? If I were the president I would arrest him. We are all Nigerians. I remember one day I told him, I said ‘President Obasanjo, we made you president. You did not make me a Nigerian. “’You are our creation; I am not your creation. You must listen’. But he thought he would be in power forever and he tried to take us on the way to Zimbabwe. He was a reluctant Head of State, became

president for two terms and he wanted to do a third term because a cockroach licking palm oil would never lick enough.” Oshiomhole added that when he was accused by Obasanjo of behaving as if I was an alternate president; and he was running the NLC like a parallel government that wanted to overthrow his government. The former governor further stated: “The late Abiola would be smiling not just for the honour done him by the president, but that Frank Kokori who was very young then, deployed the instrumentality of oil workers to support the progressive mission of the civil society. He said: “It is not the position you occupy but the role that you play that will define your place in history. This man was never an NLC president but he is the only unionist invited to the investiture. “So, we just consulted among ourselves, few of us who benefited from Gani’s leadership by using the instrument of the law to confront evil leaders...at the NLC, we were so efficient at causing troubles but too poor to procure the services of legal titans like Gani and Falana but who would always come and defend us pro bono. So, we felt that on the eve of his investiture, we should gather and celebrate him.” In another development, Oshiomhole has received more

endorsements from Tinubu, as well as governors elected on the platform of the party. Speaking to journalists shortly after he led other governors on solidarity visit to the Oshiomhole Campaign Office at Aso Drive, Asokoro in Abuja, Tinubu said: “My presence here symbolises solidarity and unity of purpose to continue to build a progressive party that will carry Nigeria on in a progressive manner and encourage good governance with courage and commitment. “There is no doubt that I have endorsed his candidacy. I have worked with him, should I have any doubt?” On whether he feels he can work well with Oshiomole, Tinubu said: “Yes, I can work with him, I have no doubt.” When asked if the endorsements Oshiomole was getting from key party leaders will not discourage other contestants and make the convention exercise more like a rubber stamp, Tinubu said democracy is all about winning. “In politics, you seek to win. Have you seen anyone who wants to lose? It is about wining, it is about choice and we just have to accept that,” he said. Tinubu was also asked to react to the outcome of the recent APC congresses, especially as it relates to the parallel congress in Lagos

State, but he dismissed the parallel state executive led by Foud Oki, describing it as a non-issue. “Anybody can open a bank branch anywhere but it depends whether its ATM card can work,” he said. Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, who spoke on the mission of the governors to the campaign office, said they were all queuing behind the former Edo State governor to emerge as the next national chairman. “I believe all of us are in support of Oshiomhole. All our colleagues are happy with this development. Our party is looking forward to the chairmanship of Oshiomhole. “He has had experiences in various aspects of national life and we are all confident that the party is a structure that is necessary for the continuous evolution and maintenance of democracy and his collective experiences in the recent past as the governor of Edo State, one of the most successful leaders of trade union movement and a democratic activist all his life; these qualities would be brought to bear in achieving the ideals of the APC,” he said. The governor believed that Oshiomhole will be a leader who will be the embodiment of the spirit of the party, saying the experiences will help him make the party central to governance.

Jonathan: PDP Governors Don’t Just Talk About Projects, They Do It Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has boasted that governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) do not only talk about projects but actually execute projects that positively impact the people. He also declared that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, merits the title of ‘Mr. Projects’ because of his pro-people projects. Speaking before inaugurating the 22.3 kilometres Airport-IpoOmademe -Ozuoha road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state yesterday, Jonathan said the title of ‘Mr. Projects’ is not an exaggeration as facts on ground attest to it. He said: “The whole country calling Wike ‘Mr. Projects’ is not an exaggeration. It is not political. “PDP governors don’t just talk about projects, they do projects.” The former president said if any opposition politician refuses to see the numerous projects in Rivers State, it is his choice. Jonathan said he lived in Rivers State after his secondary school days up to 1998, pointing out that the outstanding transformation of Port Harcourt is obvious. He commended Wike for reaching the hinterland through the Airport-Ipo-Omademe-Ozuoha road, adding that he deserves the support of the people. According to him, “Whenever Wike invites me for a project inauguration, I am happy. The governor is an example of a good leader, a committed leader.

“What the governor has done in three years is quite commendable. The quantum of projects are scattered across the state. Last year, I was here to inaugurate the second Nkpogu Bridge and today, I am here to inaugurate a road to the hinterland.” He said everyone believes in Wike because of his efforts at projects delivery. In his remarks, Wike said the PDP governors are committed to the development of their states. He said in Rivers State, his administration has executed projects in urban and rural communities for the benefit of the people. The governor said several projects have been lined up for inauguration in different local government areas, while more would be flagged off soon. He said: “I am happy that we are delivering projects across the state. This is a continuous process. We started from Port Harcourt and Obio/ Akpor Local Government Areas because majority of our people live there.” While describing Jonathan as the father of peace and democracy in Nigeria, Wike thanked him for supporting the process of the emergence of New Rivers State. He said: “We are happy because you stood by us and we have not disappointed you. This is to let you know that those you supported are performing.” Former state Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, said AirportIpo-Omademe-Ozuoha road has opened up the area and would improve the agro-based economy.

HONOUR FOR HEROES OF DEMOCRACY…

L-R: Running mate to Bashorun Moshood Abiola, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President Muhammadu Buhari; Abiola’s son, Kola; and wife of Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Ganiyat, during the investiture of Abiola, Kingibe and Fawehinmi as national award holders by the president in Abuja… yesterday Godwin Omoigui

UK’s General Privacy Protection Law Comes into Effect June 27 Emma Okonji with agency report The United Kingdom Foreign Secretary has declared that the provisions of Part 1 of the 2016 Act of the UK General Privacy Protections will come into force on June 27, 2018. The regulations bring into force provisions in the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, relating to the interception of communications and equipment interference. The law allows UK authority to monitor all conversations on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, among others. Regulations 8 to 10 and 12(e) bring into force on June 27, 2018, the provisions necessary for such

warrants to be issued. They also bring into force the provisions relating to the modification, cancelation and renewal of warrants, the duty not to make unauthorised disclosure, the exclusion of matters relating to interception from legal proceedings, and in the case of bulk warrants, the selection for examination safeguards. Regulation 8 also brings into force the other forms of lawful interception in chapter 2 of Part 2 of the 2016 Act. This provides lawful authority for interception in certain limited circumstances, for example where interception takes place with consent, where it is carried out by an authority for a purpose connected to certain of its functions. Regulations 2 and 7 bring into

force general privacy protections in Part 1 of the 2016 Act, so far as relevant to the other provisions coming into force. This includes an offence of unlawful interception, the power of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner to impose monetary penalties in relation to certain unlawful interception, and civil liability for certain unlawful interception. Regulation 11 brings into force provisions giving the Investigatory Powers Commissioner oversight of the exercise by public authorities of the statutory functions relating to equipment interference, and requiring the reporting of errors by an intelligence service or the Ministry of Defence in relation to interception or equipment interference. Regulation 11 also

brings into force amendments relating to interception and equipment interference in relation to the jurisdiction and procedure of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. Regulation 14 brings into force section 13 of the 2016 Act which requires that equipment interference conducted by the intelligence service must be authorised under the Act in certain circumstances. Regulation 14 also brings into force the repeal of provisions of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, such that from August 8, 2018, the heads of an intelligence service and the Chief of Defence Intelligence will not be able to apply for interception warrants under Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA.)

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WEDNESDAY JUNE 13, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Ekiti Elections Will be Difficult to Rig, Says INEC God will punish whoever plans violence, says Fayose Ernest Chinwo inPortHarcourt and Victor Ogunje inAdo Ekiti Barely one month to the governorship election in Ekiti State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that the poll would be free and fair, stating that it had put in place measures that would make it impossible for the exercise to be manipulated. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Prof. Abdulganiy Raji, gave the assurance in Ido Ekiti during a Town Hall meeting tagged : ‘Vote not Fight’ to sensitise the youths,

said INEC had gone digital and that the voting would be monitored electronically. He told the people to be vigilant and insist on their votes being counted. The Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, was also of the same charge, saying God will deal with whoever planned to plunge the state into crisis during the July 14 governorship election. Speaking yesterday, while presenting the candidates of his party, Prof. Kolapo Olusola and Mr. Kazeem Ayodeji Ogunsakin, to the Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Aladesanmi Adejugbe, the governor stated that the state

Dickson Calls for Renegotiation of Derivation Formula Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, yesterday called for a renegotiation of the 13 percent derivation formula, describing the principle as a mockery of the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta. He argued that the 13 percent derivation was not enough to radically change the face of the region, insisting that the complex nature of the area makes it difficult to develop with the way the formula is currently enforced. A statement issued by

Dickson’s spokesman, Mr. Francis Agbo, said the governor made the assertion yesterday during a live media chat in Ijaw language in Government House Yenagoa. Dickson argued that only restructuring would guarantee sustainable peace, stability and development in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country. He lamented that the people of the region particularly the Ijaw were being treated as second class citizens in the country as their Godgiven resources were expropriated by the federal government and its agencies.

deserveds peace. “Anybody that brings violence to this state would come under the judgement of God. Anybody that attempts to manipulate this state would come under the judgement of God. We handed the state over to God and we pray that anybody, including myself and any other politician, that brings violence to this state would face the judgement of God,” he said. Fayose explained the reasons why he threw his weight behind the deputy governorship candidacy of the 39-year old Ogunsakin, predicating this on the enormous support he got from Ado Ekiti people, who gave him the largest votes in 2014. “Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have supported Ogunsakin but for the fact that he has performed admirably well as Chairman of

Wike accuses electoral body of fraud

Ado Local Government Area and hails from the town, which gave me highest votes to re-elect me in 2014,” he added. Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that INEC and the Police are responsible for electoral fraud in the country. Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday when the new INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Mr. Obo Effanga, paid him a courtesy visit, Wike said if the police and INEC played by the electoral rules, elections would be credible and peaceful. While urging INEC to conduct credible polls in 2019, the governor stated that conflicts arise from elections when INEC fails to do the right thing and bows to the

pressure of politicians from the ruling party. He charged the Resident Electoral Commissioner to resist any attempt by leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government to prevail on him to rig the elections on their behalf. “If you resist it and conduct free and fair elections, every elected officer will have no other choice then to perform. If the person does not perform , the person knows that re-election will be difficult. You should use this opportunity to avert electoral crisis in Rivers State by conducting credible elections. We are heightening projects delivery because we want to build the confidence of the people that their mandate is not taken for granted.

If we are relying on INEC, we will not work for the people,” Wike said. He said the PDP in Rivers State would not bring any pressure on INEC because of the high performance of his administration. “We don’t have any pressure to bring to you. We have no business to pressurise you. Our business is on the field - to work for the people. Those who are doing nothing, but who believe they are in power and they must rig elections are those that will bring pressure to you. Resist that pressure and conduct credible polls,” Wike said. Wike alleged that the immediate past Rivers INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aniedi Ikiowak, was used by the APC-led federal government to steal the people’s mandate and print fake electoral materials.

PDP Campaign Funds: Court Stops Shekarau from Performing Lesser Hajj Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar of the Federal High Court in Kano yesterday refused an application by a former Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, for the release of his international passport to enable him travel to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj. Shekarau approached the court with a motion on notice dated May 28, 2018 praying the court to direct its Deputy Chief Registrar to release his international passport to enable

him travel to Saudi Arabia from May 30 to June 23, 2018, for lesser hajj. In response to the motion, counsel for the respondent, Johnson Ojogbane, filed a nine-paragraph counter affidavit opposing the motion. When the case came up today for hearing, counsel to Shekarau, Abdul Adamu, moved his application and adopted the written address attached to the application in his argument.

Ojogbane on the other hand moved his nine-paragraph counter affidavit, urging the court to refuse the application. JusticeAbubakar in her ruling held that “after due consideration of the motion of the defendant applicant and the counter affidavit of the respondent, I deem it unnecessary to release the passport of the defendant applicant as it is one of the conditions in the grant of his bail.” She subsequently refused and

dismissed the application for lack of merit. Shekarau was arraigned by the EFCC alongside two others, Aminu Bashir Wali and one Mansur Ahmed, for allegedly conniving to collect the sum of N950,000,000 part of the $115,000,000 allegedly distributed by the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Deizani Alison-Madueke for the purpose of compromising the 2015 general election.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JUNE 13, 2018

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018

COMMENT

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

WORLD CUP: THE DIE IS CAST

Who wins the World Cup? Sonnie Ekwowusi writes that it is anybody’s game

I

n less than 48 hours it will be World Cup. In the opening match, first time host country Russia will be slugging it out with seemingly lessfancied Saudi-Arabia at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow at 4pm in what promises to be an exciting opening match. “Russia, here we come”, is the sing-song everywhere! World Cup in Russia. Russia for World Cup! All roads lead to Russia. With effect from tomorrow to July 15 when a new world FIFA football world champions would have emerged, Putin’s Russia will be the cynosure of all eyes. The die is cast. Football can be fascinating. Only football can hold the world spell bound. Only football is capable of uniting the whole world. The feat the United Nations could not accomplish, football is accomplishing. When the British were exporting the first organised modern football to the rest of the world, little did they know that they were changing the face of the earth. Today football is no more the entertaining sport it was originally meant to be: it is now the religion, a way of life, a unifying instrument and the new opium. Some 22 funny-dressed men chasing roundish leather object within a marked-out space yet so thrilling and exciting. We live as though politics and politicians are the fundamental principles. We exert energies discussing politics and politicians. In Nigeria we exhaust ourselves discussing Buhari, Saraki, Melaye, Atiku, Obasanjo, APC, PDP, nPDP or whatever they call themselves. But life is definitely richer than politics and politicians. Look at the football players. They neither speak any political language nor wield any political power yet no political heavyweight in all his splendor can command greater respect or pull more crowd than them. What do the Messis and Ronaldos of the 21st Century possess that endear them to so many people in the world? The magic is their football boots. That is why from tomorrow June 14 to July 15 the whole world will literally be shut down as the World Cup in Russia takes the centrestage and captures the attention of all. For example, two will be in bed at night, one will abandon the other to watch the World Cup matches. Many establishments and institutions will suffer from low productivity because their staff who are supposed to be working will be busy watching or discussing the World Cup matches. The expressways will be deserted as many motorists, danfo drivers, Keke drivers and cyclists will glue their eyes to the TV watching the World Cup matches. Under the pretext of attending a very important corporate meeting, CEOs will sneak out of their respective offices and go home to watch the matches. Of course, idle civil servants will stay awake in the night to watch the matches and come to the office the next day to start sleeping and snoring. Armed robbers, petty thieves, 419ners, and kidnappers will be on ‘sabbatical’ during the World Cup. But I doubt if the Boko Haram terrorists and Fulani herdsmen terrorists will agree to a cease fire during the World Cup. Anyway as I scribble this, the whole world, from North Pole to South Pole, is at the feet of Russia. If you listen carefully you will hear the shouting, howling and hallucinating noises of football fans across the world. English football hooligans numbering about 10, 000 have just arrived in Moscow and are higgledy-piggledy forcing their way into the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow ready to do harm to whoever prevents them from gaining entrance into the stadium. From the look on their faces it is obvious that that they are on a revengeful mission to Russia. Alcohol ban or no alcohol ban, they are battle-ready to pay back the Russian football hooligans in their own coins for beating up three English soccer hooligans at the European Championship three years ago in France.

TODAY FOOTBALL IS NO MORE THE ENTERTAINING SPORT IT WAS ORIGINALLY MEANT TO BE: IT IS NOW THE RELIGION, A WAY OF LIFE, A UNIFYING INSTRUMENT AND THE NEW OPIUM

Draped in the Nigerian national colour of green-white-green the Super Eagles Supporters’ club led by the masked Lagbaja are sighted at the far end of the street leading to Luzhnik Stadium drumming and chanting away cheerfully: ‘Ask Argentina, ask Brazilia, when it comes to soccer, Nigeria loko iya won’, “God of miracles, na ma papa o,! God of miracles, na ma papa o”. “When Nigeria beat Brazil, When Nigeria beat Brazil o, Bebeto come dey cry, when Nigeria beat Brazil”, “Give Peace a Chance” . Nigeria is paired in Group D with Argentina, Iceland and Croatia. Reeling from their 1-0 loss to Czech Republic in their last pre-World Cup friendly, the Super Eagles are poised to prove their mettle in Russia. President Buhari has told them to go to Russia and win the World Cup. So, the Super Eagles, now 48th best in FIFA recent ranking, are battle ready. Super Eagles’ handler Gernot Rohr believes that no country in Group D is invincible. Nigeria plays Croatia at Arena Baltika (Kaliningrad) Stadium on June 16. But the Nigeria V Argentina on June 26 is a match that promises to be a duel of two arch-rivals. Having lost 2-4 to Nigeria in November last year in a friendly although without Messi, Argentina will be approaching the match with grit and determination to restore their battered image. Apart from Iwobi, Moses, Mikel Obi, Rohr is reposing much confidence in comparatively undiscovered Wilfred Ndidi. Rohr is overjoyed by the return of the 21-year old Leicester City midfielder to action with the Super Eagles. What formation will the Eagles be playing at the World Cup? Rohr says the style of play of Super Eagles will be dependent on the style of play of their opponents. I don’t know what he means by that. Considering the deficiencies of the Super Eagles during their Pre-World Cup friendlies, I will suggest that the Super Eagles should play the 4-2-3-1 formation. Despite having some dependable defenders, the Super Eagles’ defence is still porous. Therefore it should be fortified. Rohr should get the team to do more attacking football with fleet-footed Iwobi and Mikel in complete control of the midfield. The Super Eagles goalkeeper is jittery at the post. Rohr should work on him otherwise Nigeria’s outing in Russia will be disastrous. Brazil, Germany, France and Spain are obviously World Cup 2018 favourites. The Germany squad is unbeatable. Spain is star-studded. France always has a World Cup winning team. Ditto for Brazil. But soccer legend Pele has cast doubt on the Selecao winning abilities in Russia 2018. Neymar has returned to action from injury. He scored against Croatia in Brazil friendly against Croatia. He scored again last Sunday in Brazil friendly against Austria. But soccer legend Pele says that even though Brazil has some talented players it has no team. Brazil plays Switzerland on June 17 before playing against Costa Rica and Serbia in Group E. Unpredictable Italy will be missed at the World Cup in Russia. For the first time in 60 years Italy has failed to qualify for the World Cup. That, for me, is a big tragedy for the Italian football. Of course, Egypt is coming to the World with a darling team. Why is the Egyptian team a darling team? Because of the inclusion of Mohammed Salah in the team. After suffering shoulder ligaments damage and leaving the field during the last Champions League final, Salah is going to the World Cup to play out his heart in order to compensate his numerous fans for painfully missing him at the Champions League final last month.

PENSIONERS, REFORMS AND OBLIGATIONS Lagos State is committed to the welfare of pensioners, writes Akintola Benson-Oke

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he Lagos State Government under the leadership Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has long demonstrated its unalloyed commitment to its pensioners, to the government’s pension obligations and to the implementation of all the provisions of the Pension Reform Act of 2004. I want to re-state the continuing and irrevocable commitment of this present administration to the welfare of pensioners, the dutiful discharge of pension obligations, and the regular reform and retooling of the governments’ pension systems from time to time and as the exigencies of the times may demand. I want also to offer congratulations to officers of the service who are scheduled to retire in the second half of year 2018. It is no mean feat to reach the age of retirement in health and to retire honourably from service. I am certain that you can take pride in your contributions to the development of our dear state over the years. Our dear state is much better because you served, and your services are deeply appreciated. Furthermore, it is appropriate to commend the leadership and staff of the Lagos State Pension Commission for faithfully and diligently pursuing its mandate as a regulator and manager of the pension obligations and assets of the Lagos State Public Service. LASPEC is the vehicle through which the Lagos State Government has severally demonstrated its virtuous moral compass. Over the years, LASPEC has dutifully carried out the objectives of the Lagos State Contributory Pension Scheme Law. LASPEC’s stewardship of the trust assigned to it has been chiefly responsible for the several accolades and awards that Lagos State has won over the years. Furthermore, LASPEC has also been responsible for the fulfilment of the wider

objectives of the law as espoused under section four of the law. These include: the assistance of all persons in the employment of the state government to save towards their retirement; ensuring that persons who leave or retire from the public service of the state receive their terminal or retirement benefits as and when due; establishing and monitoring the adherence to the rules and regulations for the administration and payment of retirement benefits in the public service of the state; establishment of the group life policy in respect of death benefits for employees who die while in service; administration of retirement bonds for employees with past service benefits; and the establishment and maintenance of the redemption fund from which the liability of the bond payments would be made. The Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, operating through LASPEC, remains committed to pursuing not only the objectives of the law setting it up but also the welfare of the officers of the public service for whose benefit the law was made. I wish to briefly reiterate the convictions that ought to be deeply appreciated and kept in view by all the stakeholders in the pension administration system. These convictions relate to the holistic and multiplier benefits that a properly managed and administered pension system has to offer all stakeholders. I propose, therefore, to briefly address in a panoramic manner, the general benefits of the enabling law that anchors the Lagos State Government’s award winning pension system. First, the Lagos State Pension Reform Law allows for the maintenance of a retirement savings account by each employee, which gives the workers responsibility over their retirement savings. Pensioners will no longer be at the mercy of employer,

and participants are assured of regular payment of retirement benefits. Furthermore, workers could choose how to allocate their retirement savings and diversify their investments over a range of investment instruments. It is also argued that personal accounts would provide all workers a higher rate of return than can be paid under the direct benefit plan. This approach also affords participants an opportunity to pass wealth to survivors in the event of death. In addition, RSA maintained by millions of workers tend to generate massive long-term funds, which are available for investment. Owing to economies of scale, the cost of investing such funds tends to be relatively lower than if an individual worker were to undertake the investment on his or her own account. Finally, having a pension scheme that pays out benefits in the form of a life annuity affords workers with protection against longevity risk, by pooling mortality risk across others. On a holistic note, the provisions of the law encourage labour market flexibility. The worker is free to move with his account as he/she moves to another place of employment and/or residence. In this way, it is an important tool for enabling workers and employers to adapt to changing circumstances especially in a global environment in which change is a constant aspect of social and economic life. The government also stands to enjoy benefits under the law. The law will stem further growth of pension obligations and provide a platform for addressing this liability. It will also impose fiscal discipline in the budgetary process because pension obligations would be accurately determined. Also, the health of the economy is always a major concern of the government. Thus, aside from the

law’s potential to promote national savings and by implication, economic growth, funded pension schemes have the capacity to promote capital market development. Moreover, it is often argued that funded schemes have the capacity to promote economic reforms generally. In the implementation of the schemes by the Lagos State Government through LASPEC, it is on record that the following successes, among others, have been recorded: One, in spite of the onerous funding obligations under the contributory pension scheme, the administration of Governor Ambode has been dogged in meeting the funding obligations; two, the state government has never failed to remit monthly contributions into the retirement savings account of workers and has paid more than N37 billion so far into the RSA of those that have retired since the inception of this administration; and three, the Lagos State Government has also been consistent in setting aside funds for the payment of accrued rights as provided for in the pension reform law such that about 9,045 have had their accrued pension rights paid. With the institution of such elaborate schemes by the state government, it is not surprising that retiring public officers now look forward to retirement with more confidence and joy. This is how it should be. Furthermore, the Lagos State Government through LASPEC will continue to ensure that public service retirees not only get what is due to them statutorily, but also continue to receive, through other agencies and programmes, further and additional support and assistance that will add value to their lives in retirement. Dr. Benson Oke is Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018

EDITORIAL EXTRAYEAR FOR GRADUATES? It will be an unnecessary gamble. The universities should be adequately funded

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t a recent retreat organised by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the governing councils of federal universities, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah expressed concern over reports that many graduates being turned out by Nigerian universities were not employable. And to address that challenge, he proposed the addition of an extra year for skill acquisition for graduates before their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). But this is a proposal that makes little sense and should be discarded. In the reasoning of Anwukah, a former university vice-chancellor, the additional year would be similar to the one-year law training programme embarked upon by law students as well as the housemanship that medical students unAS LONG AS THE dergo. But this idea GOVERNMENT FAILS TO was ill-conceived FIND A SOLUTION TO because keeping the THE FUNDING PROBLEM, students on campus CREATE A CONDUCIVE for longer periods ENVIRONMENT FOR is not a guarantee for improved LEARNING AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF STUDENTS knowledge, given the operating BEING ADMITTED, THE environment. So, QUALITY OF EDUCATION the challenge of the WILL CONTINUE TO BE moment is not about HAMPERED the number of years spent in school but the quality of the education being acquired. Indeed, there are several pertinent questions arising from this proposal but two will suffice. First, under what atmosphere would the students be trained for the extra year? Second, will the trainers be brought from abroad or would they be the same lecturers who had taught them for four or five years in the first instance? Whichever way one looks at it, the minister’s proposal amounts to attempting to cure ringworm while overlooking leprosy. Proposing an extra year for students without any plan to overhaul the entire educational system will

Letters to the Editor

amount to nothing but another organised waste of time. Instead of embarking on such misadventure, the federal government should trace the root of Nigeria’s fallen standard of education and make decisive steps to revamp it. As long as the government fails to find a solution to the funding problem, create a conducive environment for learning, enhance the quality of students being admitted while engaging lecturers of high academic standards, the quality of education in Nigeria will continue to be hampered. Besides, as long as strict academic environment with sound moral values is not entrenched in the tertiary institutions, they will continue to churn out unemployable graduates.

I T H I S DAY

EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE, BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

n the days lecturers lived up to their names and calling, it was unimaginable for students to dare accost them to ask for an upward review of their marks after failing a course. But the reverse is the case nowadays as poor marks (genuine or contrived) have become effective tools in the hands of unscrupulous lecturers to negotiate for sex and money. Today, such scandals are prevalent in virtually every institution of higher learning in the country. The resultant effect is the production of a vast battalion of unemployable graduates that Onwuka now wants to remain on campus. However, we must also note that the standards of education in the private universities are relatively better and so is the quality of their graduates. Many of these universities not only retain diligent lecturers, they help their students acquire the requisite skills that would be useful in the job market after graduation. The standards of discipline both for students and the lecturers are also far higher than what obtain in the public universities. Meanwhile, the trouble with tertiary education begins with the admission of unqualified students who have connections in the institutions at the expense of qualified ones who know no one in the school hierarchy to push his/her admission through. This is a departure from the norm when admissions into schools were strictly based on merit. So, if indeed the federal government is concerned about the fallen standard of education in Nigeria and is committed to restoring its lost glory, it must sit down and explore various factors leading to its fall and decisively address them.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (9501000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

CHILD LABOUR IN NIGERIA: MATTERS ARISING

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he Greek philosopher, Plato, once said: “If a man neglects education, he walks lame to the end of his life.” The need for an African child to stand up tall in life led to the agitation of nearly 10,000 black students, who marched the streets of Soweto, South Africa to protest against the low quality of their education, on June 16, 1976. Towards honouring the young students who were killed and injured in the two weeks protest, countries all over the world, celebrate the day of the African Child yearly. According to statistics by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), one out of five children in sub-Saharan Africa between the ages of about six and 11 are out of school, while one out of three between the ages of about 12 and 14 are also not enrolled in school. Almost 60% of youths between the ages of 15 and 17 in that part of Africa, their finding shows, are not in school. Localising these facts better shows that Nigeria has the highest number of out of school children in the world. A fact that has also been espoused by the data given by the government last year. The Federal Ministry of Education through its Permanent secretary Adamu Hussaini, last year revealed that 10.5 million children are out of school in Nigeria , with a larger percentage of girls, street children and the children of nomadic groups. Despite the heavy fundings allocated to assist the education sector by the World Bank, the UNESCO and other non-profit organisations across the world, Africa do not only have a high ris-

ing number of educated youth but still have the poorest education standard compared to other regions of the world. Experts in the field of development have highlighted some of the reasons for high rate of out of school children in Nigeria to include: conflicts, cultural factors that prevent children particularly the girl-child to go to school as well as the inadequate funding of the education sector. The African Child has other numerous challenges ranging from, early marriages, subjection to violence, child labour, exposure to child prostitution, drug trafficking, conscription into militias and criminal gangs. This year the theme of the Day of the African Child is “Leave No Child Behind for Africa’s Development.” Quality education seems to be the key to put every other vice affecting African child to an end. The engagement of a child in any work that deprives him or her of the ability to attend regular school is referred to as child labour. It is disheartening to see children hawk items on the street when they are supposed to be in school. Some of them who go to school hawk till late at night. Education of the African Child, if well managed, is an effective component of any effort to eliminate this exploitative act that is rampant in Africa. All African countries are faced with the challenge of child marriage. The act, which affects both boys and majorly girls, is mostly caused by pressure from poor parents and relatives, with lack of alternatives. A way to put an end to the menace is to educate the African

Child to be able to maintain a healthy family and at the same time be of service to humanity. Education they say is fundamental to national development and growth of a society, therefore it is an important factor which can help reduce the rate at which children drop out of school before reaching the final grade of primary education in the country. We need to invest in the education of our children so that they can be equipped to face any form of challenges ahead. The youths are the most vulnerable assets in our societies. They are the present and the future of our world. It is important for all African countries to show genuine interest in the plight of the African child by ensuring adequate funding and implementation of policies that will make qualitative education affordable to all. The underlining causes of this high rate of out of school children such as conflicts which has been a threat to the continent should also be addressed effectively. Government and its security apparatus should be more proactive on the issues of conflict. But beyond the government all stakeholders involved in the socialisation process of the African child must work together for the plight of children in the region to improve. Parents, religious leaders, media must join hands with government on this matter. We should ensure no child is left behind for the good of Africa’s development.

Sesan Sodunke, Oke-mosan, Abeokuta

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͱ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JUNE 13, 2018

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018

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MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG Email nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com 08033482120 SMS ONLY

THE NEWSMAKER

A Curious Police Investigation The Nigerian Police must do the needful to convince Nigerians that linking Senate President Bukola Saraki to the Offa bank robbery, is not politically motivated, Shola Oyeyipo writes

IGP Idris

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quick check in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital and other parts of the state reveal a swelling emotion in support of their son, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki who has his back against the wall, once again, on account of political persecution. This feeling is reinforced by yet another ordeal he is involuntary made to experience by the police; though he is not quite off the hook at the Conduct of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) trial where various charges were brought against him. Saraki has continued to maintain that the attack on him stems from the time that he emerged as the Senate President against the permutations of certain vested interests in the All Progressives Congress (APC), his political party. Similarly, he has continued to tell whoever cares to listen that linking him to the Offa robbery was orchestrated to soil his name. The suspicion that Saraki may be singled out for the kind of treatment meted to Senator Dino Melaye of Kogi West senatorial district, was heightened last Monday when Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, an assistant commissioner of police, said Saraki would be questioned for alleged criminal indictment by five suspected gangsters involved in the April 5 bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State. Saraki was told to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team in Guzape, Abuja to clear the air on allegations againsthim by the suspects who purportedly said they were political thugs used by the Senate President and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State. Though Saraki earlier said he was ready to honour the police invitation, he was later given an option to present a written defence. Statutorily, the biggest obligation of the police is to forestall all forms of criminality in the society. That is the only way to facilitate security; in a society where no one is above the law. The Senate President is not above the law. It is not out of place for the police to invite him for questioning. In the present circumstance, however, there are curious indications that leave room for doubts. The revelations and allegations against the governor and the Senate President by the self-confessed robbers are still in the realm of assumptions. Legal eggheads around the duo would have in place a well-articulated defense. So, the on-going buzz on the issue

Saraki

(mainly created by the police authorities) is simply the beginning of yet another media trial. For this reason, leaders of new the Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), pulled out of the planned meeting with the federal government. For the same reason, former acting PDP National Chairman and a chieftain of the APC, Alhaji Kawu Baraje alleged persecution of members using state security apparatus. According to Baraje, “We recognise the powers of the police to conduct criminal investigations, but by rushing to the public with the issue even when they have unfettered access to the leadership of the National Assembly suggests an attempt to undermine, caricature and humiliate the institution of the legislature.” Another aspect of the matter generating suspicion is the fact that Saraki had earlier raised an alarm on plans to frame him up. It may be argued also that there is no evidence to ascertain foul play with the police. The only pointer is the manifest hostile relationship between the lawmakers and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris. The police boss had ignored calls to appear before the senate, for the third consecutive time. It was at the peak of that face-off that Saraki raised the alarm that the police boss was trying to implicate him. At plenary, Saraki told other lawmakers: “My distinguished colleagues, there is an issue which I need to bring to your attention very urgently. My state governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed revealed to me an information at his disposal that a group of suspects who had been in police cells for several weeks for cultism and whose investigation had been concluded with prosecution about to commence under the state law based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Ministry of Justice were ordered to be transferred to Abuja.” He pointedly alleged that the plot was part of the strategy by the IGP Idris to settle scores over the declaration by the Senate that he is not qualified and competent to hold any public office, within and outside the country and that he is an enemy of Nigerian democracy based on his usual disrespectful conduct towards lawful authorities. The Senate arrived at this conclusion after Idris’ repeated refusal to appear before it

to answer questions related to the spate of killings across the country and the inhuman treatment allegedly meted to the lawmaker representing Kogi West, Senator Dino Melaye. Apparentlty disturbed by the resolution, the IGP Idris, instituted a legal action in the Federal High Court, Abuja, to invalidate the May 9, 2018 resolution of the Senate declaring him “an enemy of democracy and unfit to hold any public office within and outside Nigeria The IGP, in his suit marked FHC/ ABJ/CS/554/2018, last week, prayed the court to bar the Senate from taking further steps with regard to a resolution it reached on May 9, wherein it purportedly passed a vote of no confidence on him. In an affidavit filed in support of his application seeking the court’s permission to file a substantive suit to challenge the resolution, Idris said the conduct of both the Senate and its President, Dr Saraki, in the proceedings leading to what he described as their “legislative judgment” was borne out of hatred and “undisguised contempt.” Public opinion is not generally favourable to the Police. A quick check, particularly on the social media shows that the many Nigerians think that there is more to the matter. The natural ruler of Offa disagreed with the police over the matter. For instance, Wale Adetona, like most others, took to Twitter to air his views on the matter and according to him, “This Offa bank robbery and Saraki indictment is dirty politics gone too extreme.” Sola Kuti said: “If I were Saraki, I would get my lawyer to inform the police that I would only be available on Tuesday at 4pm. Tuesday morning I would impeach Buhari and Osinbajo…then become acting president and arrest the IGP for murder of Kano REC.” Funsho Samuel sees no reason Saraki should take the matter seriously from the beginning. He said: “...And you think he (Saraki) will honour such invitation? The Senate invited the IGP more than three times to appear before it but he refused. So why should Saraki honour their own invitation?” Alawode James-Jumoke, on her part, felt the police was leaving its vital responsibility of protecting lives and property undone while putting effort on the Saraki issue. “While the IGP is investigating Offa bank robbery; can we start arresting the criminals killing people daily in Benue and Taraba?,” she asked.

A group loyal to former Kano State governor, Alhahi Rabiu Kwankwaso, Kwankasiyya, posted what insinuated that the executive may be vindictively targeting some critical opposition members. “Saraki is behind Offa bank robbery, Dino is a gun runner and Shehu Sani is a murderer. Waiting for OBJ’s decorative tag,” Kwankasiyya wrote on Twitter.” To Torchy Okwara, “This is Nigeria. Everybody is a criminal.” The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II , did not mince words. He absolved Saraki, of any complicity in the robbery incident. The first class traditional ruler, in a statement signed by his Principal Private Secretary, Dr. Tajudeen Oloyede, also said, Offa people will not be a party to anything that would ridicule Saraki. He therefore called on the police to be alive to its responsibility and avoid unnecessary sensationalism in the handling investigation into the robbery incident. The king appeared to have the support of some of his subjects. The President and Secretary of the Offa Defendants Union (ODU), Alhaji Najimdeen Yasin and Mrs. Wosilat McCarthy, who spoke on behalf of Offa people, said the people want a detailed investigation devoid of bias and politicking. The group’s statement read in part, “The attention of the community has been drawn to claims by the police that some of the suspects arrested in connection with the robbery, which occurred in Offa in April, have implicated Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Senate President. While we do not want to prejudice the ongoing investigation by the Police on this case, the community will appreciate thoroughness to ensure equity and justice on the matter. “Dr. Saraki, a two-term former governor of this state and the President of the Senate, has always considered Offa as a second home. Offa people are well bred citizens and are always appreciative of his kind gesture and immeasurable benevolence. The community, therefore, holds the Senate President in high esteem. This is not to distract or disturb the investigation by the Police,” ODU stated. Though no one can say for sure where the pendulum will eventually swing in the matter, it is advisable that the police authority handle this matter with professional precision to avoid making the investigation look as though it was politically motivated.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018

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PERSPECTIVE

Was Ikedi Ohakim ‘Swept Away’ In 2011?

Sam Amadi

By Collins Ughalaa

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t has become imperative to take more than a cursory look at the 2011 governorship election in Imo State with the view to finding out whether His Excellency Dr. Ikedi Ohakim was ‘swept away’ as armchair, delusional, egocentric, maniacal and emergency activist, Mr. Sam Amadi, one of those posturing for governorship in Imo State and making governance in the state a déjà vu, claimed. Writing under the heading: ‘Governance Challenge in Imo’, Amadi, chose not to credit the administration of Ohakim for the reason that his warped mindset cannot be disciplined at all to give honour to who it is due. After noting Ohakim’s masterstroke in education and wealth creation, he concluded that Ohakim’s administration was a failure. This has become a boring refrain and cliché. Amadi obviously does not know anything about governance and he does not have the requisite experience to be governor as his highest public office was the chairmanship of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), where he left Nigeria in darkness and without meters, despite the huge investment made by the government and the huge sums of money paid by the people for the exercise. Instead of taking his time to study the well-articulated projects and programmes of the Ohakim era, his over bloated ego and hatred for truth and facts will not allow him. To appreciate Amadi’s ignorance and deceit, here is an excerpt from his article: “The Rochas Okorocha administration has turned what was the fastest industrializing state under Mbakwe into both a basket of case and the exemplar of ‘leadership as theatre’”. Nigerians and Imo people in general know that Okorocha did not take over from Mbakwe and that Mbakwe left office in the early 80s. The people also know that Okorocha took over from Ohakim in 2011. And if Okorocha met “the fastest industrializing state” it goes to show that what was started by Mbakwe was sustained and enhanced by his predecessors, particularly Ohakim from whom Okorocha took over. This is the only logical way to explain that Okorocha thwarted this industrial growth. Okorocha could not have thwarted Mbakwe’s policies/projects or their impacts if he did not meet them when he took over, and he could not have met them if his immediate predecessor, Ohakim, did not preserve and enhance them. Critical infrastructures such as good roads, water and electricity are required for any state to grow industrially. In these areas, the Ohakim administration performed marvelously. Despite that water was part of the MDGs target, Ohakim knew that industries could not flourish in the state if there was no water. He did not destroy the water pipes laid by the Mbakwe era with borrowed money but rather went ahead to renovate Mbakwe’s water projects that had become moribund and also built new 1,395 water schemes both in the rural and urban communities. The water board known as Imo State Water

Ohakim

Development Agency (IWADA) operated with good equipments and highly skilled manpower. Today, IWADA is gone under Okorocha and there is no water in the whole of Imo State. This, no doubt, has thwarted the development of industries and put human survival to greater risk in the state. Ohakim also saw that good roads were pivotal to the growth of industries in the state. To address this challenge, he constructed 450km of roads while 325km others were at various stages of completion before he left office in 2011. Through his Imo Roads Maintenance Agency (IROMA), he rehabilitated 270km rural roads and committed N150 million to tarring them under RAMP before he left office. This opened up the rural communities and linked them to the urban areas in order for industries to survive, resulting to a robust economy under Ohakim, despite the biting world economic meltdown. On the other hand, investors will not come if there is no strong legal framework in place, especially if the Governor who is the Chief Executive of the state does not commit himself to the rule of law and due process. Not only did Ohakim impressively stick to the rule of law and due process, he was very transparent in government transactions and obeyed court rulings. He attacked frontally the dysfunctional judiciary he met on ground by not only renovating the high courts in different parts of the state, especially the State High Court in Owerri where he also tarred the road, the magistrates and customary courts, he also made sure that the judges and other judiciary workers had good working environment. Ohakim brought the Appeal Court to Owerri to ensure quick dispensing of Justice. Ohakim’s framework for a robust economy in Imo that opened the space for sustained industrializing also led to the establishment of the Nigeria Stock Exchange in Owerri with their office opposite the government house. He also created the Imo State Investment Promotion Agency (ISIPA) under the chairmanship of Chief Ernest Ebi who was the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and now the Chairman of Fidelity Bank PLC. He also held the first ever Imo Investment Summit in Owerri. Regrettably, while Amadi would give

It was not the “people” that declared the Oguta election with more than 25,000 votes for Ohakim inconclusive. Only the federal government did, and it was a PDP-led federal government. This is why the PDP has been the dog that feeds on its puppies

Okorocha

credit to states like Anambra and see them as role models, he forgot that Anambra State copied her Anambra State Investment Promotion Agency (ASIPA) from the Ohakim administration, including her education template. It is obvious that Amadi has not been around in Imo State and has enjoyed his armchair activism for too long that it now beclouds his judgment, leading to his twisting the facts. But the people know those in desperation; ready to twist or bury the truth. For example, while acknowledging that Ohakim built the Imo State Internally Generated Revenue to N5.8bn by 2011, from the miserable position he met it in 2007, he refused to acknowledge that the Ohakim administration was a delightful success story. Amadi should be well educated to know that government is never a profit making venture but a catalyst for economic growth, and that a government balances the welfare of its people, security and economic growth in arriving at decisions. This may be the reason that irrespective of the astronomical increment to N300,000 for land registration and letter of identification from N1,000 to N5,000 in Imo State by Okorocha, the outcome has been a report that Okorocha’s administration was only able to add N100 million to the state’s IGR. Ohakim deliberately built a robust economy for Imo state. Berthing his industrial clusters initiative, he banned commercial motorcycles (okada) in Owerri and introduced commercial tricycles (keke), engineered investors confidence in the government and brought back the middle class by not only creating the conducive atmosphere for small scale businesses and local contractors (whom he called development partners) to thrive but also keeping to the terms of the contract. He also created the cleanest and healthiest environment for investments. These deliberate actions of the Ohakim administration led to the huge N5.8bn IGR of the state in 2011 (while still in a recession), better than most neighboring states in the south-east. And if in the opinion of Amadi “IGR tells the story of the quality of leadership in the state” and “An entrepreneurial administration will generate wealth...”, then what stopped him from awarding credit to the administration of Ohakim? From where did he manufacture his claim of “Ohakim’s slightly deranged leadership”, or the wrong conclusion of “the political economy of Ohakim’s failure”, if not that he desperately wanted to obscure the truth? Such cheap people do not have the leadership criteria to stand for an election with Ohakim and should only take notes when he is talking. Disgruntled and desperados did not allow Ohakim’s massive signature industrialization projects see the light of the day. Ohakim had set up the Imo Refinery and had concluded all the processes, including securing the 250 hectares of land at Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, signed the MoU and got provisional allocation of a marginal oil field, concluded the processes for the takeoff of the light seaport at Oguta, began work at Oguta Wonder Lake and Conference Center complex before he left office. He had secured funds from the Capital

Market to finance these projects. When he left office, he handed over more than N20 billion to Okorocha. Today, the same people who thwarted the industrial growth of Imo State are crying hypocritically and casting blames. Shamelessly, they applaud governments elsewhere for daring to scratch what the Ohakim administration did or initiated. Evidently, only disgusting people can claim that Ohakim’s political economy was a failure or disoriented. Lifting the 15-year embargo on employment in the state’s civil service, Ohakim employed thousands of qualified Imo sons and daughters, capping it up with his novel 10,000 jobs employment scheme which gulped monthly $450 million or N5.4 billion annually. Through the Imo Job Centre and Finishing School, the Ohakim administration placed over 2,000 job seekers on jobs within and outside the state while it also trained and secured jobs for another 300 graduates. This is aside the over 8,000 youths and engineers employed under IROMA, ENTRACO, Agro-Nova, etc. These sterling results can only be the scorecard of a successful administration anchored by a brilliant and selfless leader. However, it is very painful that though he knows the truth, Amadi chose to feed Imo people with lies about the 2011 governorship election. Though some unguarded politicians have continued to appropriate the credit of Ohakim’s exit government house in 2011 to themselves or interpreted same to mean the exercise of the people’s power against him, it must be stated that they goof each time they make such claim. This reinforces the need to ask the question: Did Ohakim really lose the 2011 governorship election? Did Imo people sweep him away? The facts on ground show that Ohakim was not swept away by Imo people, rather Imo people loved him and still love him. Ohakim could have been “swept away” by Imo people in the first ballot but he was cruising to victory in the election until he was stopped by some elements in the PDP-led federal government who have since learnt their lessons the hard way. They found some willing collaborators among some top politicians from the state and beyond who thwarted the people’s victory song and forced a supplementary election on them in order to stop the winning Ohakim. There was nothing that was not done by the enemies of the people, including the kidnapping of the Returning Officer for Ohaji/Egbema LGA, Mr. Ngozi Nwoko, from the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, who had the more than 34,000 votes from the area and kept him in a hotel in another state; the militarization of the governorship election, the declaration of the Oguta council election result as inconclusive on two occasions. This led to the ugly scenario where Oguta did not have a member in the state assembly for almost four years. – Collins Ughalaa, is Chief Press Secretary to Dr. Ikedi Ohakim NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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Group Features Editor, Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com

Countering Violent Extremism Chiemelie Ezeobi who was the 2018 recipient of the prestigious United States International Visitors Leadership Programme, writes that it was targeted at how the media can counter violent extremism using diverse messaging strategies

The IVLP team at the White House in Washington DC

W

orld over, the issue of violent extremism is a boiling issue and what better way to counter it than bring in journalists, researchers, scholars, government officials and communicators from regions to rub minds together on ways to counter such issues using their media messaging strategies. From battling ISIS and Al Qaeda in the Middle East to Boko Haram in Nigeria, to domestic terrorism and school shootings in the United States, to radicalisation in Europe, the global phenomenon has given rise to nations seeking measures to counter such narrative that is not limited to security moves. As part of such measures, the United States Department of State, set up a multi-regional project under the International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP) tagged 'Countering Violent Extremism: Media and Messaging Strategies. A Multi-Regional Project’. For the 2018 IVLP, the Defence and Crime reporter for THISDAY Newspaper, Chiemelie Ezeobi, was nominated by the United States Government to represent Nigeria. The participants The participants were drawn from different regions given that it was a multi-regional programme and they include Bukar Babagana Wakil from Nigeria, who is the Head, CVE desk for Dandal Kura Radio International; Caveiro Da Costa Campos Rodrigo of Brazil, the Assistant International Editor for Correio Brazilense; Edward Jonathan from Malaysia , a journalist at Malay Mail; Farroukh Mahmoud from Palestine, the Editor-in-Chief, Dunia AlWatan; Gabor Portia Sonia Adoley from Ghana, News Anchor, TV3; Hope Marcia from Trinidad and Tobago, who is the Manager, Corporate Communications, Ministry of National Security; and Kehal Hamza from Algeria, a reporter and anchor at KBC TV. Others include Khan Jeelani from India, the Chief Bureau of Uttar Pradesh; Kosovic Srdan

from Montenegro, the Digital Director and Online Editor, Daily Vijesti; Kundrate Dace from Latvia, a senior expert, NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence; Ljimani Salji from Macedonia, the advisor, Municipality of Tetovo; Malagic Admir from Bosnia, expert advisor, public relations and spokesman, Ministry of Security; Ervina Binte from Singapore, journalist from Berita Harian; Oueslati Sami from Tunisia, project manager for training and Assistant Director, African Centre for the Training of Journalists and Communicators (CAPJC); Shamsi Amber Rahim from Pakistan, an anchor/special correspondent, Dawn News; Vladimir Snidl Slovak Republic, a reporter with Dennik N; Vejvodova Petra from Czech Republic,an Assistant Professor and head of security and strategic studies, Department of Political Science, Masaryk University; Winter Ofir from Israel, a research fellow, Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and Zidan Aishi Irene Ester from Finland, Middle East Correspondent, Yle. The liaison ofďŹ cers Whilst the trip was facilitated from the Nigerian end by Mr. Aliyu Ibrahim and Mr. Tayo Famutimi, with Darcy Zotter, the Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Consulate overseeing the team, this reporter left the shores of Nigeria on February 9, 2018 to Washington. On arrival, the liaisons on ground included Brittany Lynk, Robert Glick, Barbara Junge, who is also a legal practitioner with a soft spot for IVLP participants and of course, Ms.

One must make sure they talk about the government's resolve in tackling all forms of violent extremism. Also note that more positive speech counters hate messages

Alyce Hill, whose maternal guidance was put to use often times. Project descriptions For the multi-regional project which is on 'Countering Violent Extremism - Media and Messaging Strategies, it started on Monday, March 12, 2018 and stopped on Friday, March 30, 2018 and cut across six states. The U.S. State Department Project Team that put the programme together was the duo of Monica Shie and Tina Hall, while Ann Driscoll and Saad Chaudhry of World Learning Project Team handled and outlined the intricacies of the day to day event. On arrival in Washington, District of Columbia (DC), the team was housed at Donovan House, from where the daily trips were made and back. According to the project objectives, violent extremists have used promotional and social media in their attempt to undermine democratic principles and subvert populations to advance their own ends. Thus, the project for journalists and specialists was to support the U.S. Department’s strategic goal of countering violent extremism and supporting democracy by exploring the relationship between government and the media in countering violent extremism. During the programme, the participants examined the roles and influence of professional journalists who keep democracies vibrant by contributing accurate, timely, and verifiable information to the body politics. We also examined the roles and responsibilities of a free press in a democracy and the principles and laws governing the press in the United States; as well as gained an understanding of the evolution, current status, and trends in a variety of media in the United States, including blogs and social media. The project also explored ways in which governments and professional media influence communities, policies, laws and regulations; which led to the understanding the role that professional journalists play in U.S. society to raise awareness of issues of social concern and

report on illegal or abusive actions by extremist groups, politicians, criminals or corporations. Another critical factor was that the project helped to assess the impact of governmental counter-measures and messaging through social media and new communication technologies in support of democratic traditions. A tale of six cities From Washington DC to Arlington in Virginia to Baltimore in Maryland to Minneapolis in Minnesota to Portland in Oregon, Denver in Colorado to Houston in Texas (three split cities) to New York, there was no stopping the IVLP train. The first stop took the group to Washington, District of Columbia, where the first programme on the itinerary was a tour of the city including the White House, the National Assembly and monuments of American past heroes and leaders. On Monday, the professional part of the Programme kicked off with a visit to the World Learning Centre where the trio of Shie, Driscoll and Chaudhry led the group through what was expected. The next programme took the team to Arlington, Virginia, on Tuesday where Dr. Jeremy Mayer, an Associate Professor, took the class on American Federalism at Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. We also visited the national cemetery where the bodies of soldiers were buried. The next meeting was with Mr. Michael Koliska, an Associate Professor on communication, culture and technology programming, who delved into 'Journalism in the U.S.: Development and Trends'. On Wednesday, the group spent the day at the Newseum, a private, non-profit museum, which is targeted at increasing public understanding of the importance of press freedom. The next port of call was on Thursday at World Trade Centre in Baltimore, Maryland, which houses the National Public Radio. Also visited was the Baltimore Sun, where Ms. Catherine Rentz took us through her journey in covering hate crimes.

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The IVLP journey took the team Congresswoman Frederica Wilson office at the Capitol where they were engaged on boiling issues across the globe. But of particular interest was Nigeria because the congresswoman has been very passionate about the issue of Chibok girls, so more focus was placed on Nigeria. Graciously organised by Barbara Junge, the congresswoman who was unavoidably absent sent her representative, Cheyenne Range, to meet with team and she took us through the work they have done. Afterwards, the team was also graciously given passes to sit through a session to hear the lawmakers flesh out details about a bill to be passed. But prior to that meeting, this reporter was opportune to cover the March against gun violence by school kids as they protested the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, as they called for safety in schools. On Friday, the team had a meeting at the U.S. Department of State, where Irfan Saeed, the Director of countering violent extremism talked about the power of the media, adding that ISIS understands this power and that is why they pass a message that resonates. On ways to counter their radicalisation messages he said the media has to visually tell the stories, partner local and private sector in driving the narrative. Kareem Shora of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, noted that terrorism was not such on a large scale until 911 happened, adding that since then, they have taken great strides in protecting the nation. He said in messaging strategies, one must make sure they talk about the government's resolve in tackling all forms of violent extremisms, adding that more positive speech counters hate messages. Still that day, a meeting was scheduled at Global Engagement Centre, where they talked about their work with different countries by reaching out to their local partners, thus helping to change the narrative on violent extremisms. They are charged with leading the U.S. Government's effort to counter propaganda and disinformation from international terrorist organisations. The next move was to the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) of the office of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where John, explained the role the agency played in Nigeria after the Chibok girls saga. Predominantly based in the North-east, he said the agency has succeeded in giving youths an alternative to joining Boko Haram by setting up local income generating ventures like cash for work and entrepreneurial trainings. Those series of meetings rounded off the Washington phase as the team flew down to Minneapolis in Minnesota where we were received by Laurel Draine, the programme officer for Global Minnesota. The theme was focused around building strong communities and the Minnesota Somali-American for communities. The first meeting was held with Mohammed Amin Ahmed, popularly known as Average Mohammed, a cartoon character he created to counter ISIS messaging of radicalisation. The Minneapolis resident uses cartoons to reach kids before Al Qaeda and ISIS does. He spoke about the role of social media in extremist recruiting of young Somalians and other Muslims and how that same tool can be used to counter their recruiting efforts. After him was that of the Centre for Multicultural Mediation and Restorative Justice (CMMRJ), which was founded in 2008 as a second chance programme targeted at the youths. This means that the offender accepts their fault and seeks for ways to amend it through community service. From the Somali American Police Association (SAPA), we had Officer Mohammed Farah, who explained how they work to improve relations between the police department and the Somali American communities. The next day, Michael O'Donnel, the Chair, Communications and Journalism Department of the University of St. Thomas, spoke on the ethos of journalism, harping on transparency and dedication to truth. Also speaking was Mr. Fred De Sam Lazaro of St. Thomas University, the Director of Untold Stories Project, which produces news and documentaries for public media round the world. He offered a comparative look at American journalism practices and discussed the challenge of bringing the under- reported international stories to the attention of the mainstream U.S. media.

The IVLP countering violent extremism class of 2018

Ezeobi at World Learning

Asli Ashkir of Wellshare, an organisation that provides health and health education services to Somalis living in the U.S., talked about their challenges in countering the anti-vaccine misinformation that measles vaccination causes autism. The next meeting was with the Centre for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking (CRJP), where we were told how the Ummah Project mediation was used in the courts in helping individuals in addressing conflicts. The next meeting for the city was with Professor Jane Kirtley, who spoke on U.S. journalism and the law, harping on right of privacy, libel cases, media literacy and right to shied sources. Also, we visited the World Public Radio where Mr. Mukhtar Ibrahim talked about the importance of reporting facts. Although Minneapolis was a full section of meetings and talks, the team still found time to visit the Minihaha Falls, a natural beauty of snow frozen falls, where we engaged each other in a snow fight. From Minneapolis, the team was split into three cities; Denver in Colorado, Portland in Oregon and Houston in Texas. This reporter went to Denver alongside Marcia, Salji, Sami, Amber, Petra and Admir with our liaison officer

For the media to counter their radicalisation messages, they have to visually tell the stories that drive the narrative

as Brittany. We were received by World Denver. The first visit was to Overland High School. The visit to the school was important because in 2014, three students of the school were stopped by authorities from travelling to Syria to join ISIS. In this school, the students were well informed as they asked hard biting questions about terrorism and its attendant effects. The next move was to the office of the U.S. Attorney General, District of Colorado, where we met the attorney, Bob, who lamented on the absence of domestic terrorism law. Also on the meeting were Ms. Hetal Dosha, who gave an overview of extremists recruiting in Denver, while Ms Jenny Presswalla, the Denver-based regional director for strategic engagement expressed concern about terrorist and white supremacist. We were presented honorary medals before we left. The next day being Saturday, we went to the Counter Terrorism Engagement Lab popularly known as the CELL, where our tour guard took us through the labyrinth of terrorism and its motivation. I again also covered the nationwide March for our Lives Protest to canvass against gun violence. The next day was a free day and our liaison officer recommended a hiking trip. So that morning, we set off to hike the Red Rocks. After navigating the windy rocks, we headed downwards. Not done, we visited the amphitheater where we had our picnic before heading to the Little Bear Saloon to unwind. On Monday, we visited the Colorado Muslim Society where Imam Shafi, took us through how they resist radicalisation recruiting by extremists and educate their members on the dangers of terrorism, while promoting interfaith dialogues. We also met Dr. Annie Miller, the co-director, Colorado Resiliency Collaborative, who focused

on radicalisation and the need for the media not to under report it. With that, we rounded off our visit. We soon set of to New York, where were all reunited. Our first meeting was billed at Sesame Street office, where they took us through how they prepare educational programmes that help kids grow smarter, kinder and stronger. We moved on to have our post team city sharing session with Prof Colette Mazzucelli. The next move was to the Brennan Centre for Justice at New York University School of Law, where an interactive session was held to examine the various aspects of CVE. We soon moved to the panel discussion at the New York Foreign Press Centre, where a joint presentation was held with Dr. Shuki Cohen from John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Daisy Khan of Women Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality as well as Humera Khan, ex-director of Muflehun Resource Centre, which specialises in countering hate, extremism and violence. We also visited the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. We also spent our cultural activity at Ethel Barrymore Theatre where we watched a musical titled 'The band's visit. With that move, what was left off was our evaluation with Ms Shie and Ann, which was handled and our observations noted. That signaled the official meeting end of our training and exposition. After New York, the trip wound off on the 30th of March as we tearfully said our goodbyes to our liaison officers, colleagues, World a Learning Team and the U.S. Department of State. Although the three weeks training was jam packed with events, one cardinal lesson picked was on the importance of the media in churning out counter narratives to the already portrayed attraction of terrorism and other vices. About IVLP International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Each year nearly 5,000 exchange participants come to the U.S. on the International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP). More than 200,000 International Visitors have engaged with Americans through the IVLP, including more than 500 current or former Chiefs of State or Heads of Government. Launched in 1940, the IVLP helps strengthen U.S. engagement with countries around the world and cultivate lasting relationships by connecting current and emerging foreign leaders with their American counterparts through short-term visits to the United States. About world learning World Learning is a non-profit organisation that empowers people and strengthens communities and institutions around the globe through education, sustainable development and international exchange programmes. For more than 85 years, the organisation has focused on developing human connections to solve local problems and empower future generation of leaders.

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Quick Takes Ecobank Supports Financial Inclusion

Ecobank Nigeria has commenced a youth engagement program in tertiary institutions across Nigeria as part of eorts to deepen ďŹ nancial inclusion by banking the youth. The initiative titled: “Ecobank Xpress Campus Storm,â€? is expected to avail students of tertiary institutions the opportunity to open the Ecobank Xpress account, a digital account that requires no documentation, minimum balance or paperwork, simply by downloading the Ecobank Mobile app. According to the bank, with the Ecobank Xpress account, students would be able to access ďŹ nancial services such as airtime top up, funds transfer and bill payment from their mobile devices. Parents and guardians would also be able to transfer money to their children or wards‘ Xpress accounts which they can withdraw without a card at any Ecobank ATM or Xpress Point. “The ďŹ rst phase of this initiative will cover 24 universities, polytechnics and colleagues of education across the country,â€? the bank explained. “This initiative is one of the ways we are connecting with the youth segment. We will set up free WiFi centres tagged the ‘Xpress Corner’ across these campuses and there are opportunities for the students to win exciting prizes during the activation,â€? the bank added.

BERGER PAINTS TAKES STOCK

L-R: Non-Executive Director, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, Mr. Abi Allison Ayida; Managing Director/CEO, Berger Paints, Mr. Peter Folikwe; Chairman, Dr. Oladimeji Alo; Company Secretary, Mrs. Oluseun Oluwole at the annual general meeting of the company in Lagos‌recently

Value of Insurance Stocks Fall 15% on New Pricing Methodology Goddy Egene The aggregate value of insurance stocks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has depreciated by 15 per cent since the Exchange introduced a new pricing methodology and par value rule on January 29, 2018. The new par value rule specifies that the price of every share listed on the exchange shall be determined by the market forces and equities may now trade below the erstwhile price floor of 50 kobo per unit. THISDAY checks showed that the new pricing system has impacted insurance stocks negatively, depreciating the market capitalisation of the sector by N25 billion or 15 per cent since its introduction.

CAPITAL MARKET The worth of the insurance sector has dipped from N159.432 billion to N133.974 billion. About 15 of the over 25 insurance stocks on the exchange are trading below 50 kobo par value, while about 13 are trading at a prices below their years’ opening value. Those trading below their par value are: African Alliance Insurance Plc; Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc; Cornerstone Insurance Plc; Equity Assurance Plc; Guinea Insurance Plc; International Energy Insurance Plc; LASACO Assurance Plc; and Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc. Others are: Niger Insurance Plc; Regency Alliance Insurance Plc; Sovereign

Trust Insurance Plc; UNIC Diversified Holdings Plc; Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc and WAPIC Insurance Plc. Also, most of the stocks are trading between 60 per cent and 16 per cent lower than their year’s opening prices. Market analysts said although the lower prices offer new entry opportunities in some of stocks, investor apathy for insurance stocks are basically caused by two major factors. “Investors’ low demand for insurance stocks stemmed mostly from their poor corporate performance, which often makes them to pay low dividends. Besides, low awareness about their operations equally discourages investors from the sector,� a stockbroker, Mr. Ayo Oguntayo said.

According to him, while some insurance companies have strong fundamentals and have put in place strategies to deliver improved returns to shareholders, most potential investors are not aware of such prospects. When introducing the new pricing methodology, Head, Market Surveillance and Investigations Department, NSE, Mr. Abimbola Babalola had said it was aimed at making the market more efficient. The amendments to the pricing methodology rule led to the introduction of a new price group – “Group C.� “It should be noted that the new Group “C� consists of equity securities that are Continued on page 24

Analysts Seek Expansionary Policies to Stimulate Economy Obinna Chima Analysts at FSDH Merchant Bank Limited have advised the federal government to implement expansionary policies that would stimulate economic growth. Looking at the recovery path in the first quarter 2018 Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the firm revised its GDP growth forecast for this year to 2.78 per cent, down from its previous forecast of 3.16 per cent. According to a report by FSDH, major sectors that would lead the recovery in

ECONOMY 2018 are: mining and quarrying, agriculture, manufacturing, trade, and information and communication. “We believe there are financing and investment opportunities in these sectors. The major downside risk to the recovery is the security challenge in some parts of Nigeria. “The expected growth in government spending in the second half of the year, once the 2018 budget has

been signed into law, should increase economic activities, with positive impacts on the income of households and firms,� it stated. In addition, it stated that the federal government would not be able to sustain the current rate which it borrows from the local debt market, saying yield would increase as the implementation of the 2018 budget commences. The Head of Research at FSDH Merchant Bank, Mr. Ayodele Akinwunmi added: “FSDH Research also believes the yields on the NTBs may

drop marginally from the current levels. However, the yields on the FGN Bonds may increase from the current levels as government begins the implementation of the 2018 budget. Consequently, yields on FGN Bonds may trend higher.� He also said the government would have to pay higher coupon to raise funds to finance the 2018 budget from foreign debt market as investors would prefer to invest US bonds, which are safer than Continued on page 24

LSETF Partners Jobberman, Others

The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has gone into a partnership with Jobberman and ATC (one of Nigeria’s leading independent owner, operator and developer of wireless and broadcast communications real estate) to enhance employment. Owing to this partnership, they graduated 62 trainees within the Makoko community in Lagos State and succeeded in attaining 44 per cent job placement for them. The partnership, which kicked o in October of 2017 was aimed at training and providing job placements for unemployed youths within the various communities in Lagos State, with the initiative kicking o with Makoko. Youths, who possess a minimum of SSCE certiďŹ cation will receive an intensive training in life skills, entrepreneurship and information and communication technology (ICT). The training includes digital skills such as graphics and web designs, digital marketing as well as photography and videography. Commenting on the initiative, the Executive Secretary of LSETF, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode said “The Makoko youth has been entrench in the minds of Lagos residents as the poster child of indigent living conditions and lack of opportunities. “So as change agents, our choice of starting this initiative with Makoko is straight forward. We aim to make an impact in the very heart of where the problems of poverty and unemployment are most manifested.â€?

Mr Chef Unveils Seasoning

In a bid to create more value for its consumers, Sweet Nutrition Limited, makers of Mr. Chef seasoning and cubes has re-launched its brand.The unveiling ceremony which took place in Lagos recently saw the ďŹ rm re-launch its cubes and seasonings to delight of its customers and consumers. The Managing Director, Sweet Nutrition Limited, Mr. Kumar Venkataraman in his speech said the materials used for the product were imported and locally sourced. He thanked everyone for honouring the event even as he described the event as a well-deserved recognition for their trade partners as well as the consumers for their continued patronage of their favourite seasoning cube and seasoning powders. Venkataraman also stated that mobile kitchens had been put in place where the company would be going to strategic places towards creating awareness for the newly relaunched seasonings and cubes. He pointed out that Mr. Chef seasonings, which were ďŹ rst unveiled into the Nigerian market in 2009 before the re-launch was done in order to continue serving the interest of their valued consumers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers respectively.

“The federal government remains committed to the industrialisation agenda and shall continue to put in place fiscal policy measures to protect local manufacturers and stimulate the growth of the economy�

Minister of Finance,

Mrs. Kemi Adeosun

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VALUE OF INSURANCE STOCKS FALL 15% ON NEW PRICING METHODOLOGY priced below N5.00 per share, for at least four of the last six months, or new security listings that are priced below N5.00 per share at the time of listing on the NSE. The minimum pricing increments and minimum quantity traded for equity securities will no longer be the one-size-fits-all of One Kobo (N0.01k) which has been used in the market for all equity securities.� According to the new rule, a trade of at 10, 000 units is required to move the price of equities trading at N100 or above (Group A) by 10kobo. A trade of at least 50,000 units is required to move the price of equities trading at N5 or above but lower than N100 (Group B) by five kobo, while a trade of at least 100,000 units shall be required to move the price of equities trading at N0.01k or higher but below N5 (Group C) by one kobo. ANALYSTS SEEK EXPANSIONARY POLICIES TO STIMULATE ECONOMY Nigerian debt instruments. “The expected growth in government spending in the second half of the year, once the 2018 budget has been signed into law, should increase economic activities, with positive impacts on the income of households and firms,� he explained further. He predicted that the federal government may source for about N1.05 trillion from the domestic bond market, despite its resolve to scale down its local debts and adding that it would all borrow about N901bn may from the international market to fund the budget deficit. “FSDH Research believes that the FGN will finance the deficit through issuance of bonds (local and foreign) and this may put upward pressure on yields,� he maintained. According to Akinwunmi, demand from foreign investors caused the country to experience the lowest Monthon-Month (M-o-M) growth rate in its external reserves since July 2017 last month.

NEPC, ITC Partner to Empower Female n Entrepreneurs Jonathan Eze The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has gone into a partnership with the International Trade Center (ITC) to launch the Nigerian chapter of the SheTrade Commonwealth Project (SCP). The launch was to make women significant contributors to nation’s economy. The SCP aims to drive increased trade, productivity and competitiveness for women entrepreneurs and women owned companies to ensure they play an important role in international trade. It is part of the ITC global SheTrades initiative where through intensive training and mentoring activities, the goal is to strengthen the capacities of over 3,000 women-owned businesses with a view to generate sales worth £28 million by 2020. The Executive Director/ CEO of NEPC, Olusegun Awolowo, who was at the SCP implementation workshop in Lagos said the initiative was to integrate women into the economic fabric of Nigeria through connecting them to global trade. Awolowo said the partnership was intended to correct the gender disparity that prevails when it comes to

accessing resources for business start-ups and expansion by women entrepreneurs, saying women face challenges in getting credit and loans while their businesses have fewer employees and shorter business longevity. He added: “Over the years, there has been international discourse on the need to mainstream women in economic activities to curtail dysfunction that could degrade family incomes and wellbeing. “It has also been argued

that women contributions to the national economic building are hardly noticed since they are prevalent in the less productive sectors and are largely invisible in the global supply chain.� He observed that in Nigeria, women supply approximately 70 per cent of agricultural labour, 50 per cent of animal husbandry related activities and 60 per cent of food processing, yet they have access to only 20 per cent of available agricultural resources.

The initiative was officially launched in April and funded by United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and endorsed by UK Prime Minister, Theresa May during the opening of the Commonwealth Business Forum in London. Senior Programme Officer at ITC’s Women and Trade Programme office, Nicholas Schlaepfer said the programme would ensure that women entrepreneurs in Nigeria receive support

tailored to their specific needs allowing them to propel their existing market representation and secure greater access to global trade. SheTrades Initiative aims to connect one million women to market by 2020 and rallies stakeholders around the world to work together on seven actions to address trade barriers, create greater opportunities for women entrepreneurs and will be implemented by ITC over two years from April 2018 to March 2020.

LIGHT UP NIGERIA

L-R: Snr. Technical Adviser (Gas to Power) to the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Gbite Adeniji; Director, Gas Power Systems (Nigeria) at General Electric Power, Mohammed Mijindadi; Associate Director PwC Nigeria, Abimbola Banjo; CEO, Falcon Corporation Limited, Prof. Joe Ezigbo; Managing Partner/CEO, Brandzone Consulting LLC and Convener, #LightUpNigeriaConference, Chizor Malize; Executive Director, Operations, SEPLAT Plc, Effiong Okon; Executive Vice Chairman, Techno Oil Limited, Nkechi Obi; and Chairman/CEO, M E Consulting Limited, Mr Victor Eromosele, at the #LightUpNigeriaConference, organized by Brandzone in Lagos‌recently

‘Providing Guarantees for Farmers Will Extend Gains of Presidential Fertiliser Initiative’ Jonathan Eze The Chairman of the Federal Superphosphate Fertilizer Company, Kaduna, Abullahi Kanti Mohammed, has called on the various tiers of government in Nigeria to provide strong and reassuring guarantees to cover the volume of crops produced by registered farmers in the country as a sure means of making the most gains out of the current Presidential Fertiliser Initiative of the Federal Government. Kanti said such a guarantee became necessary following records of improved crop

production as a result of the successful PFI programme that had enabled farmers to access fertilisers early in the planting season and at affordable prices. Kanti, who made this known in a statement, expressed concern that farmers may soon begin to face fresh wave of challenge bordering on lack of offtakers for their output and believes that by providing a government guarantee, the farmers would be able to concentrate on growing output and not worry about the consequences of a growing inventory. “The federal government

has correctly fixed the problem of fertiliser production and distribution in Nigeria and the complaints by farmers of lack of inputs appears to have been permanently solved. “But I foresee a bigger future challenge, which is how to secure the farmers increased output to enable him concentrate on production and not worry about marketing and his mounting inventory. “What I want the government to do, in addition to what we have seen so far in the PFI programme is for there to be a mechanism through which whatever the

farmer grows are purchased by the government. “Believe me, if you do that, farmers’ output per year will continue to double and even triple in some cases. As it is now, most farmers, after a year of bountiful harvest, would find it difficult to sell their products at a price that are reasonable,� he stated. Reminding the government of how farming was becoming a lot more attractive following the availability of affordable high quality multi-nutrient fertilisers in Nigeria, he pleaded for efforts to be put in place to avoid a pos-

sible future situation where people who were attracted to farming as a result of the PFI programme would begin to face frustrations when they begin to find it hard to reduce their inventory. “Government has a critical role to play here. I have heard people talking about the return of the Commodity Boards and I think that will be a welcome development. But we must ensure this is given the right political leverage as an insurance for continued increase in productivity by Nigerian farmers,� he said.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima (

Capital Market Editor

ÙÎÎã Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă? AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ äĂ? Comms/e-Business Editor

Ă—Ă—Ă‹ Ă•Ă™Ă˜Ă”Ă“ Senior Correspondent

Ă‹Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă— Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ ĂœĂ™Ă•Ă? (Labour) ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ (Cap Mkt) ÔÓÙĂ?Ă™Ăœ Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? (Energy) Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă?ÔÙ (Nation’s Capital) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă?Ă‘Ă’Ă? (Money Market) Ă™Ă?Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă•Ă’Ă&#x;ÙÑÓĂ? (Maritime)

Proton Energy Seals Deal for Delta Sunrise Project Proton Energy Limited has signed a project award agreement for the 150 megawatts power plant construction planned for Sapele, Delta State. The company’s Executive Vice-Chairman, Oti Ikomi, the General Manager, CMEC China, Cha Quin and the President, Global Power & Gas Sales, Siemens, Karim Amin, signed the agreement in Beijing, China. According to a statement, the agreement was

signed on the sidelines of the Siemens organised Belt & Road International Summit held in Beijing, China recently. This project award agreement followed the site ground-breaking ceremony for Proton Delta Sunrise Project, a gas-fired power plant in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, recently. The Proton Delta Sunrise project is part of

efforts to improve electricity generation in the country by Proton Energy Limited a power plant development company. Ikomi, had disclosed during the site groundbreaking ceremony that the project with $250 million of foreign direct investment would enhance economic growth in Delta and the country at large. “This project will be attracting close to 250 million US dollars of

foreign direct investment into Nigeria, assisting industrialisation, business and job growth in the country, in Delta State and in particular here in Sapele where up to 1000 jobs will be utilized during construction,� he had said. He stated that the target of the project was to contribute to the national infrastructure growth by adding over 1,500MW over the next five to eight years.

According to him, the plant would be upgraded to 500megawatts in the second phase. He explained that the project was based on the collective desire of the management of the company to make meaningful contributions to the development of the country and the realisation of the need for sustained private sector-led independent power plant development for the country and to tackle the energy deficit.

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Group Empowers MSME Operators Kehinde Lawal The Nagode Foundation in collaboration with the Field of Skills and Dreams (FSD) has empowered its graduating students with financial support for their micro businesses. The graduating students were fashion designers, caters, hair stylists, among others. Speaking at a ceremony in Lagos, the Managing Director, Nagode Industries, Sandeep Kapoor, said the financial support to the students would support their respective businesses and impact positively on the country. He also stated that it create employment opportunities. In her remarks, the Founder of FSD, Mrs. Omowale Ogunrinde, said the Foundation would continue to create more

entrepreneurs. She also stated that the goal of the Academy has always been to empower people with skills in order to set up their own businesses or to work in industries. “The training programme organised by the Academy will help the trainees get knowledge on how to start their own businesses. The success stories are verifiable, and they are amazing,� she added. Ogunrinde further pointed out that the partnership with the Foundation was aimed at removing people from the streets. Ogunrinde added: “People always come to us because of the quality of our work, we are not expensive, and the skills we offer are measurable. We keep

professional vocational training, leaving the street and coming to us, your life has to change.� Also speaking at the ceremony, one of the beneficiaries and graduate of the Foundation, Mrs. Abidoye Temitope, who cited the integrity and discipline of the institute as one of the things the students benefit. “I want to appreciate Nagode and FSD and all their staff, the factors that helped me here were discipline and integrity. “There was a time I got fed up and told my instructor that I can’t cope, I wanted to leave, she encouraged me and today I can draft out a lot of styles that look difficult then and make the design and I even make corrections to others,� Temitope added.

Women in Finance Promotes Financial Inclusion Women in Finance ng (WIFng), an advocacy, development and networking platform for women in the Nigerian financial sector and in finance roles, have concluded plan to hold its second quarter (Q2 Breakfast Meeting and Induction Ceremony in Lagos on June 27, 2018. The group said in a statement that the breakfast and induction ceremony would host distinguished panelists and speakers, including business leaders, finance professionals and tech experts to discuss the theme “The Future of Financial Inclusion: Key Considerations for Women in Finance.� The Managing Director of

Fortis Microfinance Bank Plc and a member of the WIFng Executive Council, Mrs. Bunmi Lawson will deliver the keynote speech. The panelists include: Managing Director, STL Trustees Limited, Mrs Funmilayo Ekundayo; Managing Partner, Sefton Fross, Olayemi Anyanechi; Chair, Women in Technology, Chinwe Sophia Onuorah; Head of Banks and Broker Dealers, Africa, Standard Chartered Bank Limited, Yemisi Tayo Aboaba, and Group Chief Information Officer, United Capital Plc, Joseph Onyema. “There will also be an induction ceremony for new WIFng members. This further solidifies

the mission statement of the group; to advance the cause of women, pursue financial inclusion and financial literacy for women, and promote gender parity in the country,� it said. Wifng leaders include: Group CEO, United Capital Plc, Mrs Toyin Sanni as Chairman, Head, International Corporates, Global Banking at Standard Chartered Bank, Yemisi Tayo-Aboaba; Ekundayo, Lawson, Managing Director, Coronation MB Trustees Limited, Oghogho Osula, and Managing Director, United Capital Trustees Limited, Tokunbo Ajayi, and Chairman of Africa Prudential Plc, Chief Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi, who is on the Advisory Board.

Access Bank Holds CEO Awards Access Bank Plc recently held its annual Chief Executive Officer (CEO) awards to celebrate the achievement and commitment of its staff members. The Afro-infused black tie event which held in Lagos, according to a statement showcased great performances from staff of the bank, PanAfrican cuisines and traditional performers with talking drums, men on stilts, among others. Access Bank’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Herbert Wigwe who commended staff for their zealous work throughout the year, congratulated recipients of the various awards in different categories. He said: “We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already; we

have the power to imagine better. “You all carry the power within each of you to help us succeed most especially as Access Bank is determined to be Africa’s Gateway to the world. Each year, we move several steps closer to that goal� Commending and inspiring all present at the event, Wigwe said: “We do it by all of us here today playing individual and collective roles towards the achievement of the bank’s goal as well as ensuring our customers’ expectations are constantly surpassed. “We must all continue to be relentless in our pursuit of excellence.� The statement explained that the event was designed

to celebrate employees who had “done the extra to enhance the quality of service provided by the bank and project its image rightly.� “The award program enhances employee morale, loyalty and increases organisational productivity. “The program also supports the bank’s recruitment campaign, employee engagements and recognises the efforts of its high performing employees,� it explained. The awards ceremony was witnessed by many of the country’s industry leaders, public servants and politicians including President of Dangote Industries, Aliko Dangote; the Chairman of Forte Oil, Femi Otedola, Tunde Folawiyo, and several others.

Lekoil Targets 20,000 Bopd at Otakikpo Oil Field by 2020 Ejiofor Alike Lekoil Limited, an Africafocused oil and gas exploration and production company with interest in Nigeria and Namibia, has stated that it would focus on scaling up production volume and productivity at its Otakikpo oil field. The company, which currently produces 8,000 barrels of oil per day at Otakikpo field, said it plans to raise production to 20,000 barrels of oil per day

by 2020. According to the company’s audited results for the year to December 31, 2017, Lekoil achieved revenue of $30.8 million. Following this performance, it is planning an aggressive production boost and was already in the process of securing extra funding from industry sources to finance a second phase of development. Besides, the company also

added that it was planning a two-well appraisal drilling programme at Ogo field, with long lead time items such as wellheads already ordered. This is as it awaits government’s approval on its acquisition of an additional 22.86 per cent stake in OPL 310 which will take its total interest in the asset to 40 per cent. Once that is all sorted, Lekoil expects to finalise its funding plans for the drilling programme.

ELEVATING TO THE NEXT LEVEL Marie-Therese Phido

Female Executives, Let’s Up the Ante I had a great time this weekend talking to senior female executives from various segments of the Nigerian economy on personal branding and maximizing their impact as executives. It was clear that some of the challenges I have gone through resonated with most of them. It’s not easy being a female in the “Boardroom�. Here boardroom is defined according to Mashawn Evans, the author of S.K.I.R.T.S. in the Boardroom, as a place of power. It stands for any place, opportunity, or forum that is traditionally male dominated. A place where big things happen, decisions are made, deals are done and where you show what you are made of. The boardroom is where the good old boys network also flourishes. Unfortunately, many women do not have this network and our entrenched cultural values that have bestowed men with leadership halos and put them in charge does not help matters as women are meant to be nurturing, take care of all and be nice. This nurturing expectation I see most times I attend business meetings with men and women in attendance. You see the women cowering waiting to be invited to the table and being the ones to offer tea and coffee despite the fact that some of the ladies are senior to the men in the room. I have had to tell the ladies to stop serving tea and coffee and told the men to serve themselves, since everybody is meant to be a professional and not a server. I know this comment is not liked because anything that signals that a woman is not nice, subservient and nurturing creates a negative impression despite the fact that these attributes are not the reasons for employment but competence. This bring us to the issue of competence. If a woman is competent she is not liked and if she is viewed as being nice she is not respected. You can see the double whammy here. We debated on the need to balance competence and likeability. We concluded that acting in the stereotypical feminine way will not help you reach your career goals and have the same opportunities as men. But, your competence will pave the way for career advancement because a lack of competence and respect is a deal breaker in the first place. However, this bias indicated above is at

the core of why many women are held back. For men, professional success comes with positive reinforcement at every step of the way. Many women have to work three times more than men to get positive reviews on their performance and when they do, and excel, it is often negatively viewed by both men and women. Women who excel are called all kinds of negative names – Margaret Thatcher was called “Attila the Hun�, Golder Meir, Isreal’s first female Prime Minister was called “the only man in the cabinet�, Indira Ghandi, “the old witch�, Angela Merkel, the “iron frau�, Hilary Clinton, “ambitious, controlling and dishonest�. I have been accused of being overly ambitious, arrogant, aggressive, emotional, and sensitive. Other adjectives used by women excelling in their jobs by peers and co-workers across both spectrums are “not liked by her peers�, “not a team player�, “political�, “difficult�. I remember being called difficult once and finding it so unfair, because I was in a job that required me to coordinate my seniors and ensure they achieved results that were strategic and not urgent. It required a lot of tenacity, follow up and doggedness. Though results were achieved, I was still negatively branded, which would not have been the case if I had been a man. A man would have been praised for achieving results. The examples, above reverberated with the Executives because as senior women, we have been in similar positions at one time or the other where the system has been stacked against us because of our gender. We also talked about the ‘introvert’ and ‘extrovert’ tags that some have been given. Especially, the negatively held bias against being an introvert. The advice here was for every woman to be authentic to who they are and to use this authenticity to achieve their objectives. We all bring a strength and value proposition to the table and these strengths and values should be harnessed and used for progress. Trying to behave like the next person, will not take you far, but researching and being at the top of your game and contributing this value with impact and consistency will elevate you to the next level. We agreed, that it appeared that as women, many of us will be punished for our success and competence. Irrespective of this, we must dig in, and not begin to doubt ourselves nor our abilities. Personally, my competence and abilities have been questioned many times, but this fact has not deterred me. I have never allowed it to slow me down. I have observed that in order to protect ourselves from being disliked and held back, many of us have downplayed our achievements and allowed people’s negative vibes hinder our abilities. I remember being invited to speak on CNBC, Africa and having to hide it from a senior female colleague and boss, because I knew she would have felt I was undeserving of such visibility and killed it. Despite the fact that my boss who had jurisdiction over such matters had approved it. Many times, women are their greatest enemies. Stanford Professor Deborah Gruenfeld makes the case, “we need to look out for one another, work together, and act as a coalition. As individuals, we have relatively low levels of power, working together, we are fifty percent of the population (not sure about Nigeria, but I am sure close) and therefore have real power. Sisters, let’s start supporting one another and lifting the younger ones up and not feel threatened by them. Together, we can make a real difference! . .

If a woman is competent she is not liked and if she is viewed as being nice she is not respected. You can see the double whammy here. We debated on the need to balance competence and likeability. We concluded that acting in the stereotypical feminine way will not help you reach your career goals and have the same opportunities as men. But, your competence will pave the way for career Marie-Therese Phido is Sales & Market advancement because a Coach Strategist and Business lack of competence and Email: mphido@elevato.com.ng tweeter handle @osat2012 respect is a deal breaker TeL: 08090158156 (text only) in the ďŹ rst place

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Orjiako: Seplat Committed to CreatingValue for Stakeholders The Chairman of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Mr. ABC Orjiako spoke to journalists on the operations and future plan of the company shortly after its annual general meeting in Lagos last week. Goddy Egene presents the excerpts: We have also promised shareholders capital growth, that is why we are focusing on making that our shares trade well and the fundamentals are right. That is why we make a very strong policy about giving a dividend. So, apart from capital growth, we also put money in their pockets.

You have been talking about inorganic expansion plans. When are you looking forward to closing a deal in that respect? Seplat remains focused about our growth plans both organically and inorganically. Organic growth is what you are seeing today in our increasing production in oil and gas. We have increased production in terms of oil and gas. Another area you are seeing in terms of our inorganic growth is the diversity we have been talking about. Diversity in terms of geography, location, and competencies and that is therefore driving the kind of acquisition we are going to have. So the company remains focused and I cannot tell you specifically about the acquisition. But you will be seeing us very active in mergers and acquisitions both for assets as well as corporate acquisitions.

Will you say your plan for capital growth was what delayed payment of dividends? When we look at capital growth for shareholders, you are looking at their cost per share and the real value of whatever quantum of shares they have. We want to make sure that if you came in with one dollar, the value of your one dollar should be trending higher. And when you look at the dividend, the reason we did not pay till 2015 was because we wanted to be a prudent company. There are companies that go to borrow money to pay dividend. At the time we did not pay dividend, if you look at our net cash flow, it was positive but we felt it is important as a board to remain prudent. Now we decided to pay dividend and because we have very enlightened and educated shareholders, we make sure that we do what is best for them. If we had paid them dividend when the company was making losses, I bet you, many of them would have asked questions. But our policy favours consistent dividend payment.

But are you in talks with any organisation presently? None that I am in a position to tell you now, but we are continuously looking at all of those areas that fit into our vision for growth, acquisitions and any mergers that are valuable to owners of the company and shareholders and all the stakeholders. You said it is more lucrative to put gas in the domestic market and the company is doing between 25 and 30 per cent currently. Are you comfortable with that range? I did say before that we are the highest indigenous producer in that area and we can only improve on it. And if it is profitable to do this both in terms of the revenue we make from it as well as a Nigerian company supporting the power development in Nigeria, that is really what we are focusing on. Gas contributed about 27 per cent to your revenue in 2017, do you hope to do more in 2018? Gas is major area of expansion, so we will see that ratio continue to grow. From our perspective, if gas can do 50 per cent, we are happy to have it. If you look at the gas price in domestic market, it is more stable than the global oil price that has remained very volatile. So, the more gas you produce, the more consistency you exhibit in that sector and the better for shareholders. So, we are focusing on that area very well. There is the need for local refineries in order to boost supply of petroleum products to the domestic market. Is Seplat planning to set up a refinery? We are a very dynamic company and we are looking at the very broad spectrum of the value chain of energy not just oil and gas. So at this point, we are not going to make any categorical statement to say we will not invest in refinery. But at this point, we do not have any investment in refinery. It is a wide spectrum we are looking at. But for today, we are focusing on one area that we know that we can consolidate on our strength and that is oil and gas production. We are doing well in that and we need to consolidate on that. You have a partnership agreement with Azura, are we looking at more of such agreements going forward? Definitely, there are many companies making enquires and we are negotiating with a good number of them. And many of them who have track records of delivery have been approaching us and we are looking at having more willing buyers and willing sellers. Seplat had a good outing in the first

Orjiako

quarter of 2018 and apart from the rising crude oil price, what other factors contributed to the improved performance? One thing we do is to ensure that we remain a low cost producing company. And all things we have done during this period are to give the assurance and guarantee to make sure our production comes to the market. That is why you hear about the

Normally, when oil price is high, there is this mistake oil companies make and that is once oil price goes high, you just go spending. But at Seplet, we keep our eyes on cost. If you look at the cost of a barrel production, it one of the lowest in the country and we continue to improve on it regardless of oil price

alternative export route. Most of these we initiated either from beginning to the end or we are part of. There is hardly any export route that is working very well that Seplat is not involved in and that is the main reason while we will continue to achieve success and increase revenue. Oil price is trending well, what price will enable Seplat break even and assuming the current price remains, what will that mean to your earnings? Normally, when oil price is high, there is this mistake oil companies make and that is once oil price goes high, you just go spending. But at Seplet, we keep our eyes on cost. If you look at the cost of a barrel production, it one of the lowest in the country and we continue to improve on it regardless of oil price. That is what makes our business profitable in the long-term. And this is what you see consistently. If we can save any dollar, any kobo, we will make sure we save and so our cost reduction is not just based on oil price. What I can tell you is that this company is in a profitable business. We have continued to deliver profit year-on-year and we will continue to do that in a very long future. Remember, what we have consistently told our shareholders and stakeholders is that this company will grow in revenue, we will grow our reserves and we will grow our production. We will commercialise gas and make all of these profitable. We are going to deliver value to all stakeholders and these are things we continuously do every year and that measures our success.

What will be is your capital expenditure plan over the medium term and how do you intend to deploy these funds? Most of our capital expenditure will to gas. We are also going to have capital expenditure in drilling wells in the coming years. On our production guidance we very optimistic of meeting it but we do not take production guidance in isolation. When we increase production, we also ensure that there is an increase in our reserves. So really, in taking the guidance, we are looking at reserves production ratio. What this means is that we do not want to produce oil today and do not reserves for tomorrow. We make sure we balance it not only just balancing because we want to be extremely professional in the way we operate, but we want to make sure that revenue streams of the company are sustained in the long term. Now with Oben 11 completed, are expecting Oben 111? Obviously, you know we looking to improve on Sapele gas but the ANOH gas project is the key for our gas development in the immediate term. A lot of the things and there is engagement with the communities. One of the experiences and that is what Seplat has been doing, talking to the communities, once you engage and manage the communities well, they are extremely reasonable and cooperate well. Most of the things we hear about the Niger Delta is because of inadequate engagements and inappropriate relationship. These people require respect, both for themselves, the environment and the way you conduct your business. Once you get this done, you find them very amiable and cooperative. Will Seplat raise capital in the near future, especially now that you have acquisition plans? We do not raise capital in isolation and whenever we have a need for more capital, we know what to do. One of the things we are happy about is our strong balance sheet. We have a very good business going on and whenever we are going to have any project that we will put on, experience has shown that our access and ability to raise capital within very short time is assured.

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Ali-Zarah: Nigeria Needs to Rely Less on Oil Revenue The General Manager, Information Technology, National Petroleum Investment Services (NAPIMS), Muhammad Ali-Zarah, in this interview speaks on efforts to curb illegal oil bunkering. Nume Ekeghe presents the excerpts: Can you tell us about innovations your division has introduced so far? I joined NAPIMS in 2005 as a manager and then progressed to become the Manager Information Technology (IT) NAPIMS and then in September 2016, I was appointed as the first General Manager of IT in NAPIMS. Earlier, there were a lot of issues on IT devises that were not working while the staff and management of NAPIMS were getting frustrated in the use of technology because the technology was almost not functioning. The IT division department at that time was under the procurement department whereby they were just procuring computers and there were no value addition. So, management asked us to come up with a blueprint on how to move NAPIMS forward. And part of the things we did was to engage all the staff. We worked across all the divisions to know what they needed to be efficient. So, after getting all the information we required, we then did gap analysis on what the problems were. We then identified two critical things, one of which was the network. But the network wasn’t the problem, the problem was power. So, what we needed to do was fix the power and once that is stable, the devises on the network would be okay. So, we attacked that by resolving the issue of power. Currently, we have almost 300 KVA uninterruptible power source (UPS) that powers the two buildings in 36/38 Gerard roads and then we provide an Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) that would do power resolutions and face corrections to ensure that the UPS are not using corrupted powers. After stabilising the power, we started working on the network . Speaking on the network today, we are comfortable and we have stabilised and can say we have the best technology in the whole of NNPC’s subsidiaries and Strategic business unit (SBU). We have latest devises and we also introduced video communication across the formation. In terms of network with the physical communication across the corporation, we are interlinking with the corporate and other SBUs. The next phase was we went on to do a Hybrid cloud or an on-premises cloud by deploying an infrastructure that can house all the business applications NAPIMS has today. We also went ahead to deploy a print solution so that security is embedded on the print solutions we have. We are ensuing that we have a state of art technology in our training facility. We have upgraded our training centre and it would be an e-training environment. And so with all this, we have accelerated NAPIMS to be an IT driven organisation.

For me, the oil and gas industry should be secondary to Nigeria. Because the mono -economy we have been running would not help the systems. DiversiďŹ cation in certain areas need to be encouraged because even our neighbours -Niger, Chad and Ghana now have oil. So, we are no longer going to be the big brother in terms of oil and gas in curbing these thefts? Recently we had a discussion with our Group General Manager ITD, and we are looking at surveillance systems and we are deploying technology to aid the use of surveillance systems. We are looking at having drones that have satellite installed in it to hover around the Niger Delta for us to get information sent real time of the activities across the pipelines.

Ali-Zarah

How has this impacted on your organisation? IT is now embedded in everything in NAPIMS as against what we had initially. The management in their own wisdom are very supportive because when you don’t have a management that isn’t supportive to your innovations or initiations, it dampens people’s moral. But we have a management that is so anxious to have NAPIMS at the level comparing us with other international oil companies (IOCs) so they were able to give us much support and they were able to back their support with a budget so it makes thereby making my work a little bit easier. But specifically how has the innovation impacted on the oil and gas sector? NAPIMS focuses on the investments in the oil and gas industry and it was

very difficult for some of us to get to get across in terms of collaboration with the IOCs that are more IT driven. But today collaborations are being done across the industry with the infrastructure we were able to deploy. And going forward, we are planning to start having E-meetings instead of having face to face meetings with all these facilities on ground. Are there new innovations you are hoping to adopt in the near future? We are currently developing an application called the Budget Cashcall and Performance Monitoring (BCP Pro). We are deploying this so that across the industry, things would be done and collaborated via technology. Illegal oil bunkering is still a major problem in Nigeria and is once again in the news, can technology play a part

What progress have you made in that regard? Currently we are still at the initial stage. We are developing the IT strategy on the Enterprises Architecture (EA) of the surveillance system in terms of monitoring the pipelines. We have gotten two vendors that are working with us on that and they are coming sometime next month to make a presentation to the Group IT Division on it. The two consultants showcase their technology by showing us how their technology works. One of them has deployed this technology in Qatar and they were also able to deploy and monitor the Dubai international airport. So, the NNPC wants to see how it would help the NNPC at large. Going forward, what are your thoughts on the oil and gas industry? For me, the oil and gas industry should be secondary to Nigeria. Because the mono -economy we have been running would not help the systems. Diversification in certain areas need to be encouraged because even our neighbours -Niger, Chad and Ghana now have oil. So, we are no longer going to be the big brother in terms of oil and gas. Nigeria needs to move away from this mono economy and look for more revenues elsewhere rather than relying on oil and gas.

Lemo: Nigeria Must Tackle RisingYouth Unemployment Nume Ekeghe The Chairman of the Federal Roads Management Agency (FERMA) and a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Tunde Lemo, has warned against the effects of the rising rate of youth unemployment in the country. He said this while speaking at the Risk Management Association of Nigeria (RIMAN), 18th annual international conference

and training that took place in Lagos recently. According to Lemo: “Recently Canada was seen to be the beneficiary of skilled labour in Nigeria. As our youths continue migrate in droves once the opportunity arises. “This coupled with the lingering unemployment rate in the country, making external investments both monetary and in terms of human capital, more

attractive. “The worst hit sector used to the medical field, but more recently we are seeing this trend in the financial sector of the economy.� He, however, said there was need for polices and procedures to encourage human capital development. He added: “Nigeria is not immune to socio-economic risks and factors such as income, education and occupation affect risk management strategies and

our ability to meet our objectives in our area of works. “As a matter of fact, given our circumstances including growing population, ethnic and religious diversity, our exposure to such risk far exceeds others in sub-Saharan Africa. “We have been unable to realise our potential in the past as a result of effects of such socio-economic risks.� Earlier in his speech, the President of RIMAN, Mr.

Jude Monye said the Nigerian economy, like many others was faced with socio-economic risks that affects businesses and the lives of citizenry. He said it had become imperative for captains of industries, subject matter experts, policy formulators and thought leaders to gather at the event and proffer ways of navigating the uncommon terrain in the journey to a greater, better and prosperous Nigeria. According to Monye, RIMAN

has been at the fore front of the best practice risky management in the country for over 17 years, noting that in building capacity in risk management, the association in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Nigeria (CIBN) has professionalised risk management in the country. He urged corporates and risk managers to take the Certified Risk Manager (CRM) professional examinations.

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Redefining the Future of Insurance Sector Ebere Nwoji writes that the industry has embarked on a rebranding project aimed at redefining the future of the industry The Nigerian insurance industry operators, in their bid to redefine the future of the industry through creation of mass awareness on the relevance of insurance, recently kicked off an industry rebranding initiative targeted at selling the industry to Nigerians. The rebranding initiative was mused by the industry leaders few years back but only came to fruition last week. Among the key drivers of the initiative were: Leadway Assurance; Custodian and Allied Insurance; Consolidated Hallmark Insurance; AIICO Insurance Plc, NEM Insurance, among others. Their effort was supported by the regulator and in particular the educational arm of the industry, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria(CIIN) . Investors in the industry were not left behind in the initiative. Over the years, the insurance industry, has occupied the least position among other subsectors of Nigerian financial services sector. Though the operators have been struggling to wriggle out of the over shadowing effect the banking sector through various activities and strategies, these have not yielded the desired results as the industry’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the economy has remained below one percent. Besides, the abysmal performance of most of the operating firms year-in-year out remained unabated. The reason for this is not farfetched. Most Nigerians are ignorant of relevance of insurance to their day to day lives as such many jettison insurance. Indeed, in the scale of preference of an average Nigerian, insurance ranks least and is always the first item to be deleted anytime there is need for adjustment in their list of expenses. The compulsory insurances like Motor third party insurance, is often purchased from fake operators. But thanks to the industry’s data base launched few years ago which has, to a reasonable extent, checked the activities of the fake operators and enlightened Nigerians on how to purchase genuine motor insurance. Against this backdrop, the industry, few years back, set to break the wall alienating Nigerians from insurance by resolving to embark on massive awareness campaign that will bring Nigerians and insurers at a common market place, first by making them understand what insurance can do for them. The regulator initiated a similar idea in 2009 when it launched the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative(MDRI), which saw it launch the five compulsory insurances in the six geopolitical zones of the country. The CIIN followed by championing the course of awareness creation and repositioning of insurance in the minds of Nigerians especially the youths. The institute, has in this regard been distributing insurance text books to secondary schools in the country free as well as collaborating with the senate of various universities for the establishment of insurance departments in both private and government owned universities. It also prevailed on the Federal Ministry of Education to include insurance as a subject of study in senior secondary schools with the result that currently, senior school certificate examination candidates write insurance in the West African Examination Council. To coordinate the activities of various fragmented groups in the industry, NAICOM, last year, formed a committee tagged: ‘Insurers Committee,’ which is similar to the bankers’ committee of the banking sector, to serve as a forum where the industry operators including the underwriters, the insurance brokers, the loss adjusters the educational arm CIIN will speak with one voice and take a long lasting decision that will protect the interest of these fragmented groups and take decisions that will position the industry better. The committee has six different sub- committees assigned with functions that will reposition the industry.

Hassan - Odukale

The Publicity Sub-committee, chaired by the Managing Director, Leadway Assurance, Mr. Oye Hassan-Odukale, is the one charged with the responsibility of rebranding the industry. The committee last week commenced the rebranding project aimed at advertising the industry and ensuring that every Nigerian, irrespective of age and class, has one insurance policy or the other. At the launch of the project, which the committee said would come in two phases, Odukale, stated that middle class, lower class and individual citizens of Nigeria needed insurance more than corporate citizens who are currently major buyers of insurance services. According to him, the first phase of the project which the operators had budgeted N300 million for publicity,will last for three years after which they will kick off the second phase. According to the Vice Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Publicity of the Insurers Committee, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, during the first phase of the project, the industry will focus attention on showcasing Nigerian insurance industry as one entity and the names of the operating firms, their chief executive officers and their addresses. She said through the project, the industry wants to capture individual citizens of the country and put them under insurance cover by first of all making them know the benefits of insurance. She noted that insurance penetration is still low in Nigeria because most Nigerians don’t know the benefits. Nwachukwu, who is also the Managing Director, NSIA Insurance Company Limited, noted that the industry, has conducted an

extensive research into the project before embarking on it adding that the project is expected to transform insurance operations in the country. Nwachukwu also maintained that rebranding project is in line with the seven goals set by NAICOM, in partnership with insurance operators, adding that the rebranding project will vigorously pursue the goals. On the project financing, she said NAICOM has contributed N40 million while most companies have also made their contributions towards the initiative. Earlier, insurance operators had agreed to raise 50 per cent of the funds for the project from companies’ gross premium income, and the balance of 50 per cent, shared evenly amongst themselves. The initiative, according to her, will be driven via social media, print and electronics, adding that greater attention would be on the social media due to the youth population. Also speaking, Odukale said the rebranding project was not a new one but a project that will show Nigerians that insurance is a standardised business. He said the industry paid huge claims including that their oversea counterparts, who before the local content law of the federal government often hijack, thought that they could not pay. He said hardly do people know about this but that through the rebranding project, the industry has determined to sing its song to make Nigerians see insurance from positive perspective. He said advertising the industry to the Nigerian public became necessary because

despite Nigeria’s huge population, insurance penetration was still very low as efforts have over the years been concentrated on public sector and corporate business while ignoring individual citizens. He described this as a wrong strategy, adding that foreign investors were attracted to the industry not because of corporate or public sectors, but because of the individuals who make up the huge population of Nigeria. He noted the individual citizens need insurance most to secure their hard earned assets. Insurance underwriters, who spoke to THISDAY on the project, described it as one that would transform the industry to a trillion naira market. The industry’s overall premium is a little above N400 billion whereas during the launch of the MDRI by NAICOM, it was targeted that by 2012, the industry will be transformed to a trillion naira market. Unable to achieve this, the regulator gave second chance of achieving the trillion naira market margin by the year 2017. Their failure to achieve this compelled the operators to embark on earnest search for solution on how to open up the market for mass patronage hence the idea of the Rebranding Project. But some members of the insuring public, who spoke to THISDAY on the rebranding project, said the insurers’ efforts in this regard would be boosted by their willingness and ability to pay claims promptly especially individual claims which is currently characterised by arguments and delays by some insurance firms.

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Pencom: Expanding the Pension Scheme Wale Suleiman The acting Director General of the National Pension Commission(Pencom), Aisha Dahir Umar, is hardly in the news. But Pencom is making news lately, pushing the pension figures upward. Pencom is extending the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), to underserved sectors of the economy through the creation of a Micro Pension Scheme. The initiative is in line with the Commission’s strategic objective of extending coverage to under-served sectors and the continuous increase in the number of persons joining the scheme. The number of people on the pension platform rose from 7.5 million on March 31st 2017, to 7.9 million as at February 28, 2018.This has pushed the net asset of the fund up from N7.52 trillion to N7.79 trillion as at February 28, 2018. Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), have also increased their yield on investments of the balance on the Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA), leading to the formation of the Pension Enhancement Programme. By next month, a multi-fund investment structure for all contributors under the CPS will also take off. Under the new fund structure, all active young contributors under 49 years would be under Fund 2, with about 60 to 70 per cent of contributions to be invested in bonds and treasury bills. The balance would go into money market and other instruments. Fund 3, which is a pre-retirement fund, would be for those in the 50 to 60 years old bracket, with 80 per cent of the funds to be invested in bonds and treasury bill, while the 4th fund would be a retirees fund set aside for those aged 60 years and above. The introduction of the multi-fund investment structure for Retirement Savings Account (RSA) funds would address

Dahir-Umar

the varying risk appetite of contributors, as the different funds are tailored to fit the ages and risk profiles of contributors. Expanding the scope of allowable investment instruments and fund classes available to contributors would also improve returns on pension funds, as minimal limits have been set for variable income instruments which generally gives higher returns over a given period.� Apart from boosting returns on pension funds, the initiative would help resolve the challenge of asset- liability risk management by pension funds by better aligning the risk return expectations of contributors, better matching of pension assets and liabilities and diversifying pension fund portfolios. The acting DG recently revealed that increased pension fund assets now amounts to about N270 billion following enrolment of the CPS by over 390,000 contributors, from 7.50 million as at March 31, 2017 to

7.90 million as at February 28, 2018. The commission is also putting in place measures to guard against money laundering by enacting relevant provisions, while plans were on to settle outstanding pension liabilities. The commission has also been working with the government to ensure all outstanding allowances are settled. PenCom served as a member of an InterMinisterial Committee that was set up by the President to ascertain the total pension liabilities of the Federal Government under both the CPS and the Defined Benefits Scheme and advise the government on the amount required to be provided in the budget to cover the pension obligation. In a country where pensioners are owed up to 10 years arrears, pension liabilities have become a huge challenge for Pencom and the government. But somehow, things appear to be falling into place and pension arrears may soon become a thing of the past. The current management has prioritised payment of pension liabilities in a way that retirees need no longer nurse apprehension about life in retirement. The outstanding accrued rights of federal government employees who retired in 2017 as well as the amount due to those retiring in 2018, have been submitted for appropriation in the 2018 budget, and everything been equal, it is a faith accompli. The acting DG said government was committed to settling outstanding pension liabilities, and this was demonstrated in April 2017 when the federal government released about N54 billion for the payment. Therefore, the acting DG and the management team must be given credit for the fresh energy in the commission. The Acting DG had carefully restructured the management to ensure it delivers on its mandate. This has no doubt led to some decision considered by some staff of the commission as controversial. For instance, the management has increased the number of General Managers from 10 to 17 while severance

pay for staff has been increased by 300 percent. The management also reviewed the earlier recruitment exercise(s) to: ensure compliance with Extant Laws and due process. The action was taken also to ensure recruitment is within approved manpower establishment; and to make provision for required infrastructure to accommodate new appointees. These developments have not gone down well with some staff of the commission who criticised the management for alleged insensitivity to the plight of those employed but yet to be absolved by the commission. Some have also condemned the increase in exit pay as going against the current economic realities of the country. PenCom has also been responsive and flexible. Last month, in response to complaints by retirees that their monthly pension was too meagre to meet their obligation, the commission reviewed the 50 per cent lump sum given to retiree as gratuity through a revised template to Pension Fund Administrators to ensure that the retiree get 50 per cent of his last salary on retirement for some years. The monthly 50 per cent pension is calculated and deducted from the RSA and the balance is what is paid as gratuity to a retiree as gratuity. What it means is that lump sum as gratuity means low pension while big monthly pension means low gratuity, The move became necessary following complaints by retirees that their monthly pension was not enough to meet their obligations. Retirees were initially entitled to 50 per cent of their RSA as lump sum (gratuity) after retirement but because of complaints by retirees, PenCom reviewed the template to enable the retiree get 50 per cent of his last salary on retirement as his monthly pension. Suleiman wrote in from Lagos

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͱ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JUNE 13, 2018

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EDUCATION Enhancing Boys’ Knowledge through the Power of Science For over 35 years, Helmbridge Study Centre, Lagos, a project of Educational Cooperation Society, a non-governmental organisation managed by the Opus Dei (an institution of the Catholic Church) has been giving hope to boys in secondary schools and imparting knowledge in them through its science challenge, which recently produced a team of winners. Funmi Ogundare reports Since 1982, Helmbridge Study Centre, a project of the Educational Cooperation Society (ECS), a non-governmental organisation managed by the Opus Dei (an institution of the Catholic Church) through its science challenge assists secondary school students, especially boys to be well grounded in the area of science and boost their study habit. The science challenge, which ran for five weeks, tested participating students in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and General Knowledge. For participating schools, there must be a team of students comprising eight members, four each from senior secondary one and two, who must be accompanied by an official and a small group of supporters. For the 2018 edition, 20 public and private schools in Lagos participated and Gbaja Boys Senior Secondary School, Surulere emerged winner. The representatives received a trophy, cheque of N150,000, a set of books donated by Chelis Bookazine, as well as certificate for each member. St. Gregory’s College, Obalende and St. Michael’s Anglican School, Coker came second and third respectively and got trophies, a cheque of N100,000 and N50,000 respectively, as well as a set of books and certificates for each of the members. The Director of the centre, Chris Itua said with the quality of questions and organisation, schools are beginning to take the challenge seriously with their teachers getting involved in the preparations. He likened the science challenge to a world cup match saying, “when more schools get involved, that means we are going to screen more and once you have many schools, the organisation becomes more difficult because in spite of the games they play, we will have many rounds.� He said over the years, the contest has made positive impact on the academics of the students; made them to cultivate the reading habit; as well as produced people that have made their marks in different fields of endeavour. “People do say that the system of education has dropped, but we don’t agree. What the boys learnt can’t be compared with what obtained 20 years ago. They are better. So it is to get them to study so that they can improve in their academics. “We have experimented it many times even when parents complained that their children were not doing well. It has been 100 per cent success. We have also monitored their academics even to the university level. “The quiz master represented Eric More School some years ago. The time-keeper, who made first class in Chemical Engineering in the university, represented Penny College, some years back and his school then won the competition nine times. We still follow them up and it has been 100 per cent, even a principal sent me a letter that the competition has helped the boys to cultivate a reading habit. “They can now study on their own without you forcing them and they are studying to be one of the best in their class. This year, I created a level playing field for those that have been coming; they have an idea of how to play the game. I also shared the experiences of those that have won with them. “A teacher in St. Gregory’s College said they study from 7pm to 10pm every day, even during the mid-term break, many

The winning team from Gbaja Senior Secondary School, Surulere, with the representative of the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Vincent Ezenwajiaku and their Chemistry teacher, Mr. Shakiru Jimoh, during the Helmbridge Science Challenge in Lagos‌ recently schools did that. Imagine if you go through those processes, studying will not be any problem for you.â€? Reacting to the notion that students have phobia for science subjects, Itua said: “The boys usually don’t have fear for the subjects, but for the girls it is true. What I have noticed is that students who are art oriented read a lot, unlike the science students. There are few of the science students that read. Once a student has interest in Mathematics, he/she will automatically be a science student. “What schools should work on to promote science is to get good teachers that can teach Mathematics very well so that students can fall in love with it. Maths and Physics are related, but once students are scared of calculations, they will not like it.â€? On the challenges the organisation faced in putting the programme together, the director highlighted bureaucratic bottlenecks on the part of the government to approve the letters sent to its schools for students to participate; questions being wasted by schools that are educationally disadvantaged; as well as funding. “When the schools are not good academically, they fail the questions and that means it is wasted so I ended up setting more questions. We had to set new questions till midnight. If the questions are not fresh, they will not be challenged enough. We were also trying to avoid the problem of repeating questions. “Another challenge is raising funds; before we were not giving them anything and we felt that participation and the morale of the students were going down. In fact, they would have preferred to go for another competition. So we had to raise the prize money; we had to ask some of our friends for sponsorship and they threw their weight behind it.â€? He expressed concern that most organisations prefer to invest their money in music and entertainment rather than

education, saying, “just like the Big Brother Africa show, music sells and many people watch it. But in education, people are not interested. Individuals may be interested if their children are in such competitions. Education that will benefit the general populace, people are not interested in investing in it. “Once the standard of education is going down, people start sending their children abroad for those that can afford it. They should be investing in education. The problem of this country is not leadership but education. There is an attack on the family so when the family is weak, the society will be weak, that is why corruption is everywhere. Moral, academics and cultural education, as well as our history are there, we can’t do without them. “Aside just investing money into it, we still have to monitor it. The former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola tried investing in education and even paid the teachers well, so why wouldn’t you have interest in teaching? He also renovated the schools through public private partnership (PPP) to bring back the glory of public schools. You can see the effect now but they are running it down again because there is no continuity. So if you must invest in education, you have to monitor it.� In his remarks, a former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi expressed delight about the challenge and encouraged the winners to continue to work hard. Obi, who was represented by a former Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Vincent Ezenwajiaku, said during his administration, he always supported such science competitions, adding that science is the bedrock of technology in the country. “Investment in science and its impact cannot be overemphasised as this will go a long way in improving people’s knowledge.� He expressed regret about the Big Brother

Africa show, saying that the sponsors of such programme should invest in things that would educate the youths and develop the human resources of a country. “The programme is not teaching any moral. I don’t see any impact in terms of engaging the youths to be better tomorrow. There is no other way to improve the lives of students other than engage them in science that will bring out the best in them and that is why it is always good to support them,� Obi said. A former quiz master, who had once participated in the contest, Mr. Omatseye Ogisi appealed to the students to be the change that the country needs, as that is what creates the champion. He commended all the teams that participated in the competition, saying that it takes a lot to set the questions. The duo of Fuad Hammed and Sebastian Daniel, who spoke on behalf of the winning team, expressed delight about their success, saying that when they participated in last year ’s competition and got knocked out before the quarter finals, they were encouraged to study harder. “From our experience last year, we learnt that there were things we ought to do to come out tops, so we studied our books and did research on the internet. Thanks to our Chemistry teacher, Mr. Shakiru Jimoh, who emphasised on continuous practice for us.� They advised the centre to continue to encourage students to participate in the contest by increasing the prize money. Asked how he prepared his students, Jimoh said he spent extra time with them by using textbooks that adopts the Nigerian and British curriculum to equip them with the knowledge. He also expressed delight about their success, saying that the family, the school and the students themselves have roles to play in bringing out the best in them.

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EDUCATION

FMEN Launches Foundation, Organises Inaugural AGM Ugo Aliogo The Foundation for Montessori Education in Nigeria (FMEN) has been launched as part of efforts to make an impact in Montessori education in Nigeria using the Maria Montessori’s philosophy. Speaking during the launch and inaugural annual general meeting in Lagos, the Chairperson, FMEN, Bimpe Pogoson said the foundation was registered as a non-governmental organisation in January 2018 and in April, it was signed as the affiliate society of the Association of Montessori Internationale (AMI), the body established by Dr. Maria Montessori in 1929. She said the foundation would be having its first training for Montessori assistants in July, adding that there is the AID to Life programme, which it is also organising to assist parents with children under three years old to know how they can support the children’s development, movement, communication, independence and self-discipline. Pogoson expressed delight about the launch, saying that it was an opportunity to meet and network with people from orphanages and charity organisations that have a goal to support children. She said the foundation is looking at visiting the grassroots and starting from there. “We are looking for ways we

can support teachers not just in private schools, but public schools. There are those that are already doing this work such as the Director General Office of Education Quality Assurance, Lagos State, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo and others.� In her remarks, the Secretary, FMEN, Noyenum Emafo said from latest available data, it was estimated that there are approximately 81 million children in the country between the ages of 0-14 years from good families and are getting a good education either from private schools or from public schools. She added that the foundation aims to contribute and support the work the government is already doing with the 81 million children. “Our mission is to promote integration, enlightenment and development using the Montessori framework for the benefit of the society and the child. Our vision is to be recognised as an inclusive entity and a point of dispersal for Montessori values in Nigeria with the aim of supporting the child in finding his place in society as the builder of tomorrow in Nigeria and the world. “We all know that education is the key to the elimination of physical and mental poverty. Indeed, the growth of any society is determined by the quality of its educational institutions.

UNICEF Expands Access to Basic Education through CTP Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expanded access to basic education in four states through its programme, Educate-a-Child-Cash Transfer Programme. The UNICEF Education Specialist, Abuja Office, Ms. Azuka Menkiti in her presentation on the overview of the cash transfer programme during a two-day media

dialogue in Sokoto, said the programme became imperative after documented research had revealed that poverty and sociocultural barriers are the main factors impeding the growth of education among children. She said the programme, which is executed in four states: Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Niger, is targeted at children within the age of 6-15 and with selected caregivers who are given N5,000 each in the case of girl-child education.

Menkiti said the disbursement which is in cohorts will be paid twice and so far, 23,655 girls in Sokoto and Niger States have benefitted from the programme as against 41,499 which is the targeted figure for boys and girls. “Poverty is one key factor that has kept children out of school. Socio- cultural barrier is another reason. Cash transfer reduces it especially in the lives of girls’ enrolment and their retention in schools. Education

is officially free but there are educational related fees referred to as indirect cost. “When household incomes increase as a result of the unconditional cash transfer, it is assumed that households will increase their expenditure on human capital investments such as sending their children to school. Poorest families receive cash to counter the direct and opportunity costs of education, thereby reducing economic hardships.�

L-R:The CEO, Hope for Women in Nigeria Initiative (HOFOWEM), Mrs. Oyefunke Olayinka; the founder and wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; the Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Guniyu Sopeyin; and Board Secretary, Mrs. Abosede Adelaja, during the launch of Project 2018 Bright Step for 10,000 primary one pupils of Lagos State, at Cherubim and Seraphim Primary School, Ikorodu‌ recently kola olasupo

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Chinedu Eze

Funmi Ogundare

A security summit has advanced strategies for the reduction and ultimate prevention of criminal acts in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The three-day summit organised by the International Centre for Executive Security Training and World Certification Institute recently held at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar with the theme ‘Crime, Fear and Insecurity in Tertiary Institutions: Challenges, Impact and Prevention Strategies’. The summit was aimed at examining the causes of crimes in tertiary institutions and mapping out preventive strategies to ensure a safer and quiet environment for learning, teaching and research in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The keynote speaker, Professor O.B.C Nwolise of the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan and other resource persons, including Professor Rowland Ndoma-Egba, former ViceChancellor, University of Ife and Professor Michael Faborode, former Secretary General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors proffered practical solutions on the way forward. The speakers observed that crime wave in Nigerian tertiary institutions has become serious threats to life and property, as well as dedicated learning, teaching and research. They identified

some of the causes of insecurity such as cultism, drug abuse, untrained security personnel, poor funding, ill-equipped libraries, accommodation, sporting, workshops, laboratories, poor family upbringing and faulty character building curriculum. The summit recommended that government and the society should give urgent attention to trending crime wave in tertiary institutions to mitigate the impact. In addition, there should be a well-designed dedicated curriculum for character moulding for students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria to balance the curriculum that is currently only academic focused. The participants stressed the need for parents and the society to take the socialisation of their children and the youths more seriously, as it will enable them to know early enough unacceptable behaviours that are detrimental to their development. They called on government and owners of private tertiary institutions to adequately fund their institutions and provide facilities relevant for interesting learning and teaching. “The government should use intelligence personnel to fish and flush out cultists and criminals from tertiary institutions, as well as create a database for students expelled from any tertiary institution to be shared by all such institutions.�

The Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo has stressed the need for the government to allocate funds for research and development that will take care of gifted children. She said the move would empower them and benefit the society positively. Erogbogno, who made this known recently while briefing journalists on advocacy for technical education in the state, said it has helped in providing quality technical skills to Nigerian youths in diverse areas of the economy. “Embracing technical and vocational skills acquisition

by young people in Lagos will address the skills gap in the economy, as well as provide the means for them to be selfrelevant.� Erogbogbo said the training offered through her board has so far ensured adequate skills training of empowering young people, preparing them for the world of work, providing job opportunities and keeping the youths off the streets. She disclosed that the Ambode administration is proposing three additional technical colleges in the state, which will be situated in Meiran, Ibeju-Lekki and Badagry. “This is yet another opportunity for this government to demonstrate its renewed commitment to revamp Technical and Vocational Education (TVE)

in the state. “We have chosen to champion TVE as it focuses specifically on providing job-related skills for students while also preparing them to be positioned to develop new enterprises. In the 2018 budget, the construction of the three new technical colleges has been recognised and we have already taken possession of the land.� She dismissed the notion that technical education is for push-over or drop-outs in the society, saying that aside the technical skills, the students are also required to learn Physics, Biology, Chemistry, English Language and Mathematics as a prerequisite for NABTEB final examination. Erogbogbo appealed to parents and secondary school leavers

to embrace technical education, saying that parents especially should encourage their children to learn a trade and get skilled up for the future. “Technical education is the bedrock of any developing economy like Lagos and Nigeria. The days of white collar jobs are gone and we should go out and tell people that the days of blue collar jobs are here, and what does that mean? We should encourage our children to learn a trade. “There is hardly a day you don’t need an electrician or plumber to do some jobs for you. Even our architects or engineers can’t do without those with technical know-how because they bridge the gap.

Oxford, Cambridge Club to Launch Endowment Initiative for QualiďŹ ed Nigerians Oxford and Cambridge Club of Nigeria are set to launch the 2018 endowment initiative that will enable qualified Nigerians attend Oxford or Cambridge Colleges. The President, Timi AustenPeters said the club is a nonprofit association consisting of alumni from the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge that are either of Nigerian descent or currently living in Nigeria.

“Over 30 years ago, the club was established by a group of prominent Nigerians who attended either of the two universities and wished to create a forum to encourage social, economic and intellectual debates in Nigeria. “Throughout the year, the club hosts events which anyone can attend, ranging from the May Ball (traditionally held in June) and the Spring Lecture. More

recently, we have added the Oxbridge Debate to our annual schedule,� said. “This year in particular, we intend to use the May Ball, which will hold on June 23, 2018 to launch an endowment initiative that will enable qualified Nigerians to attend Oxford or Cambridge as we believe limited resources need not be a barrier to academic development. Money from

the fund will also be used to upgrade the infrastructure of two chosen public primary schools every year.� Austen-Peters added: “2018 promises to be an exciting year for the club with a mixture of intellectual, business and social events to look forward to as the club continues to build a reputation for intellectual thought leadership, attracting leaders from the businesses.�

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Accolades as Corona Secondary School Graduates Class of 2018 Uchechukwu Nnaike It was a festival of awards and accolades at the graduation and valedictory ceremony of the Class of 2018 of Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Ogun State recently. The class did not only record excellent results in local and international examinations, it also produced the first and only secondary school students in the country to pass the foundation level of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA). The two students are Charles Uwadia and Cherechi Uruakpa. Highlighting the achievements of the graduating class, the Principal, Mrs. Chinedum Oluwadamilola said: “They gave us an inkling of what to expect by smashing the Standardised Aptitude Test (SAT) in December 2017 and went on to give us the best IGCSE result in the school to date, where some of them made A*s in all the subjects they wrote. The class of 2018 ‘humiliated’ UTME (JAMB) with 10 students scoring above 300, over 75 per cent of them making 250 and above and one of the students scoring the second highest in the country.� In her paper titled ‘The Best is in You’, she said success is a relative term, which can be applied to measure the quality of the positive change one engenders in the lives one touches and the relationships one builds. “Titles such as ‘teacher’, ‘doctor’ and ‘president’ are only what they are: mere nomenclature where the holder may add

no value to humanity; indeed, it is in the impact you bring to bear does the world find value in the title you hold. This is evidenced in the several ties recorded in the voting for the teacher of the set by the students.� She urged the graduating students to find purpose in the insights they have gained- a veritable arsenal of knowledge with which they must stride to face the challenges of the times. “I urge you, therefore, worthy ambassadors of a school renowned for excellence, to go forth and blaze forth like stars that light the night. As agents of transformation, be sure to lead lives worthy of emulation and in all your future endeavours be guided by truth. Go and accomplish the extraordinary for only the very best is good enough for you.� “Life is a gift that has been given to you. It is in your hands to make the best out of it- dare to believe that you can. Through the ups and downs, you will find a lesson to learn that will make you a better person. Every experience, good or bad, makes you grow. Get along with life and surely, things will become easier for you.� In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, who was the Chairman of the occasion and the guest speaker, congratulated the graduands for the impressive performance, saying that they achieved success because they persevered. In his paper titled ‘Nothing but the

Best in Life’, he told them to always bear in mind that the road to success is always under construction. To be successful even after their secondary education, he advised them to learn to take small steps at a time; surround themselves with good people that will always encourage them; they must know that setbacks will come, but they should turn stumbling blocks to stepping stones; and be good managers of their minds and be focussed. Ogundipe also advised them to speak positive words concerning their lives; learn to touch people around them and influence people positively; increase their level of exposure and awareness; be dedicated to whatever they are doing; to keep preparing themselves because the journey is far; and above all to be the best they can be so as to fill their lives and the lives of others with happiness. The highpoint of the event was the presentation of academic awards and special prizes to outstanding students. The overall best graduating student and valedictorian was Oluwakorede Akande, who enjoyed scholarship throughout his time at the school for emerging the best in the entrance examination into year seven. The second best was Stephanie Agana, while the third best was Omobolanle Alashe; to the admiration of their family and friends, the outstanding students were called out many times for their prizes. The school also honoured two outstanding teachers, Anthony Ilobinso and Ademola Adelekan.

‘The Problem with Us...’ ËŤ Ă’Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ă— åÓÞÒ Ă&#x;Ă?˛˛˛ˏ Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă’Ä€ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ËŞĂ? ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ?ĂœĂžĂ™Ă“ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă–Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ë› Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂŁ Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“Ă?Ă•Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă? Ùʼ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂŒĂ? Ă“Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ù×ÚĂ?ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă™Ăœ äĂ?ĂœĂ™Ě‹Ă?ÞÒÓĂ?Ă?Ëœ Ă™Ăœ Ă™Ă? ĂšĂ™Ă™Ăœ Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă– ËʾÓÞĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ËŞĂ? Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă™Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂŽ Ă™Ă? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă™Ăœ Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ÍŻÍŽ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă˜Ă™ĂĄËœ Ă‹ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă?ĂŽ Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂžËšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ÞÓ×Ă?Ă?Ë› Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă&#x;ĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;ĂžĘ¨ĂžËœ Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ę¨ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ?ĂŽ åÓÞÒ Ă&#x;Ă? Ă‹ Ă–Ă“Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂĄĂ’ĂŁ Ă’Ă?ËŞĂŽ ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?×ÚÖÙã Ă‹ Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?ĂŽ ĂĄĂ™Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ë› Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ?ĂŽË? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ĂœĂ?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÓ×Ă? Ùʼ ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ëž Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? ÞÙ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă? ÞÙ Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ÒÙÖÎ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ëž Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ăž ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă—ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? åÓÞÒ Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ“Ă?Ă?ĂŁ ĂŽĂ&#x;ÞÓĂ?Ă?Ëž ĂšĂ™Ă™Ăœ ĂŽĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ù××ÓÞ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ÒÙ×Ă?Ě‹Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă˜ĂžËž ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă?ÖÓÒÙÙÎ Ă™Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂœĂ?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÓ×Ă? Ùʼ ÞÙ Ă˜Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™ Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă’Ă“ĂœĂžĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă?×ÚÖÙã×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽËŞĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?ĂŽ ̙ÖÓÕĂ? ÞÒĂ? ÚËĂ?Ăž Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ěš Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜ ÞÙ Ă“Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ ̙ÒĂ?Ăœ Ă?×ÚÖÙãĂ?ĂœĚš åÓÞÒË? ĂœĂ?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ–ĂŁ Ă?Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă? ÞÙ Ă?ã×ÚÞÙ×Ă? ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă’Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ‹Ă?Ă’Ă?Ëœ Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă– ĂšĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ëœ ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ’Ă?Ă‹Ëœ ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂŁ Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă—Ă‹Ă–Ă‹Ă“Ă?Ă? ̙ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă“Ă?Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ–Ă?Ă?Ă?̚˛ ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ?ĂŽËœ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă‹Ă‘Ă? ÞÙ Ă‘Ă™ Ùà Ă?Ăœ ÞÙ Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ăž Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă• ×ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ăœ Ă?ËÞÒĂ?ĂœËž ĂœĂ?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ăž ÞÓ×Ă? Ùʼ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ‹ĂŒĂŁĚ‹Ă?Ă“Ăž Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœËŞĂ? ÖÓʾÖĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ–ĂŁ Ă?Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÓ×Ă?Ă? Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂžĂ?Ăœ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ? ÞÙ Ă‹ĘľĂ?Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă’Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă’ Ă?Ă?ÖÖÙåĂ?Ă’Ă“ĂšĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ëž ĂœĂ?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ăž ÞÓ×Ă? Ùʼ ÞÙ ʨâ Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂœĂ™Ă™Ă? Ă™Ăœ ĂŒĂœĂ™Ă•Ă?Ă˜ ĂŽĂ™Ă™ĂœË›Ë›Ë› ËŤ Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă˜Ă™ Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?âĂ?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?ËŹ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽË› ËŤ Ă?Ă• Ă’Ă?Ăœ ÞÙ Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă Ă?Ë ËŹ ĂĄĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă‘Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽË› Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“Ă?Ă•Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂŽËœ ËŤĂ˜Ă™ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă“Ăž Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ă— åÓÞÒ Ă&#x;Ă?Ë ĂžËŞĂ? ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ă— åÓÞÒ Ă‹Ă–Ă– ÙʊĂ?Ă? Ă?ÞËʼ Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă˜Ă™ĂĄĂ‹ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă“Ă– ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂ?ĘľĂ?Ăœ ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂŽĂ™Ă˜ËŞĂžË› ÞËʼ ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ÞÒĂ? ÚËã ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž ĂĄĂ™Ă˜ËŞĂž ĂšĂ&#x;Ă–Ă– ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂĄĂ?ÓÑÒÞ˛ ÙÞ Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÓ×Ă? Ùʼ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă? ̙ËĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă Ă?Ěš Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă?Ă‹Ă ĂŁĚ‹Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽË› Ă˜ Ă‹ĂŽĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ ÞÒÓĂ?Ëœ ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ’Ă’Ă™Ă–ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? ÚËã Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ? Ùʼ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• Ě™Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ěš Ă“Ă? Ă Ă“Ă?ĂĄĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă?Ă•Ă?ĂŽË ËŹ Ă™ ÒÙå ÞÒĂ?Ă˜ ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ&#x;Ă˜ Ă‹ ÑÙÙÎ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?ËŁ Ùå ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă Ă?Ăœ ĂŒĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă• Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ Ă™Ăœ ĂŒĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă˜ ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ę¨ĂžĂ?ËŁ Ă? ÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ùà Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽËŞĂ? Ă?ÞËÞĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă?Ă•Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă Ă?ĂœĂ“Ę¨Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ Ă‹ ÖÙÞ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?×ÚÖÙãĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă? Ă?ÞËʼ ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ě‹Ă™Ă Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă“Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă‹Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ë› Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ËŞĂž Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă— ÞÙ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ę° Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽËŞĂ? Ă?ÞËÞĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă‹Ă–ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂŽĂŁ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ ÞÙÞËÖ Ă™Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ͹͎ ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? ÒÙÖÓÎËãĂ? Ě™Ă™Ă˜Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă? ÎËÞË Ͱ͎ͯ̚͜˛ Ă? Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă&#x; Ă™Ă? ÞËÞÓĂ?ÞÓĂ?Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă–Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ăž Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ăž ͡˛;Ͳ ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍł Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă“Ă˜ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍ´ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă?Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? ÒÙÖÓÎËãĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă– ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž åÓÞÒ ÍŻÍł ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ? ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ?ĂŽĂ–ĂŁ Ă™ĂŒĂ?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ÒÙÖÓÎËãĂ? Ă“Ă˜ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍł Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍ´ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă?Ă–ĂŁË› Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂœĂ?Ă Ă“Ă?ĂĄĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? ʨÑĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă‹ĂŽĂ”Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ăž ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?ÞÓ×ËÞĂ?ĂŽË› Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™ ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂšĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă? Ę¨Ă˜Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? ÒÙÖÓÎËãĂ? ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă˜Ă?ÑËÞÓà Ă? Ó×ÚËĂ?Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ě‹Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă? ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ? Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă–Ă– Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ÞÓà ÓÞã Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? ĂŽĂ?ĂžĂœĂ“Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ‹Ă– ÞÙ Ă?ÞËʼ˪Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÙÖÖĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă? ËʾÓÞĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă? ÞÙ ĂœĂ“Ă‘Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă–Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;ĂœËœ Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ?Ă–Ă– Ă‹Ă? ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁËŞĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžË› Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÒÙÖÓÎËãĂ? Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă?ÞËã ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă? ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĚ‹Ă“Ă˜ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĚ‹Ă™Ă&#x;ĂžËœ ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă˜ ÞÙ ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă• Ă™Ă? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ? ÞÙ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă‹ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ĂŽĂ“Ă–Ă“Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂŽĚ‹ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ëœ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă? Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă˜ ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă˜ ĂŽĂ™ ÞÙ ÙÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ?ĂŁËŞĂŽ Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? ĂŽĂ™Ă˜Ă? ÞÙ ÞÒĂ?Ă—Ë›

Ě‹ Omoru writes from the UK

L-R:The Principal, Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Mrs. Chinedum Oluwadamilola; CEO, Corona SchoolsTrust Council, Mrs. Adeyoyin Adesina; 2018Valedictorian, Oluwakorede Akande; Director of Education, Corona SchoolsTrust Council, Mrs. Amelia Dafeta; and the Chairman, Agbara/Igbesa LCDA, Ebenezer Oniyide, during the presentation of gift to Akande at the graduation and valedictory ceremony of the Class of 2018‌ recently

‘Academic Competitions Promote Research, Unity’

Rivers, Abuja Record Perfect Scores in Cowbellpedia Exam Results

Bassey Inyang in Calabar

Three perfect scores from two schools highlighted the release of the qualifying examination results of the 2018 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show by the National Examinations Council (NECO). According to the results, the students with 100 per cent scores are from the junior category. They are Favour Okarike and Benny Sampson from Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; and Chiedozie Uzochukwu of the Nigerian Tulip International College, Abuja. Candidates are expected to check their results on the Cowbellpedia portal at www.cowbellpedia.ng About 40,000 students sat for the examination, which held on February 17, 2018 to participate in the competition sponsored by Cowbell, the flagship brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited. The junior category had 21,000 candidates, while the

remaining were senior secondary school students. At the end of the qualifying round, 108 students (54 each for junior and senior categories) will proceed to the second stage, which is the television quiz show. Ogun State is leading with 15 candidates in the second stage; Rivers State followed with 10 candidates; while Osun State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have five candidates each. Further breakdown of the result shows that Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State, which produced champions in both categories in 2016, topped the school chart with nine students in the second stage, while Graceland International School, Port Harcourt came second with seven students. The second stage will involve the candidates going through the preliminary, semi-final and final rounds. The show will be broadcast in 13 weekly episodes

in major television stations across the country. The Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Anders Einarsson acknowledged the support of NECO, state ministries of education, school principals, teachers, the media and partner agencies on the initiative over the years. He said the company has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to the project by increasing the prize money for winning students and their teachers. This year, the winner in each of the categories will be rewarded with N2 million plus an all-expense paid educational excursion abroad, while the first and second runners-up will receive N1.5 million and N1 million respectively. The teachers of the winners will get N500,000, while those of the first and second runners-up will receive N400,000 and N300,000 respectively.

The Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Matthew Emuekpere has stated that academic-based competitions among Navy schools in the country were designed to inculcate the habit of research and constructive reasoning for national unity and development. Emuekpere, who made this known during the closing session of the 2018 annual Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Debate Competition for Navy Secondary Schools, said the event was part of the Navy’s contribution to youth development in the country. “It is aimed at reducing youth restiveness in parts of the country. “It is also designed to expose the students intellectu-

ally through research and to give them the opportunity to make contributions on topical issues affecting the society.� Emuekpere, who was represented by the Logistic Officer, Commodore Bala Idris, stressed the need for the students to make strong recommendations that would help those in authority in formulating youth-friendly policies. Also speaking, the representative of the Director of Naval Education, Navy Headquarters, Olusegun Owolabi, said the schools qualified for the final stage of the competition after the marathon elimination series that started in March. He said the competition was to stimulate learning among students and to enable them socialise with one another.

35

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍąËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Court NulliďŹ es Expulsion of ATBU Student Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi A Federal High Court of Justice sitting in Bauchi has set aside the expulsion of a student of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi. In fundamental rights enforcement suit number FHC/BAU/ CS/24/2013, Mr. Victor Oboh Alom, a 300 level student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering had approached the court challenging the university’s decision to expel him. The student was sometime in 2013 wrongly expelled on allegation that he entered the examination hall with foreign

materials after the invigilator drew his attention to which he in surprise shouted Jesus. The student said they were asked to bring their personal steam tables to the examination hall, despite paying the university management refused to provide them for the students and asked them to come with their personal ones to the examination hall. Alom said when the invigilator asked for the steam table, he removed his from his bag and handed it to him, unknown to him, he forgot the sheets he used to solve past question papers inside the steam table.

He said he explained to the invigilator, but the invigilator insisted that he must sign the examination malpractice form, adding that it was three minutes into the examination and he had not written anything apart from his registration number. The student said he refused to sign the form, but the examinations officer, a professor advised him to sign so that he could testify before the senate what transpired in the hall. He said he discovered that he had only 30 minutes to the end of the examination so he decided to write the paper and signed the form so that

he would be allowed to write the examination. After proper investigation by the Examination Misconduct Committee of the School of Engineering, he said he was not found guilty of examination malpractice. He was later invited by the Senate’s Examination Misconduct Committee, which after investigating the case also did not find him guilty of examination malpractice, and seeing the negligent of the school management to provide the examination material, recommended a warning letter to the student for disturbing in the examination hall.

The student said after the warning letter, he discovered that his safety was no longer guaranteed and sought for transfer to the University of Agriculture Makurdi. When he took the transfer form to the supervisor for endorsement, he said the supervisor not only refused to sign, but also told him that he would not escape, that he (the supervisor) will petition the decision of the senate and make sure that he was expelled. Alom explained that the supervisor not only sat on his transfer form until February 18, 2013, but he was issued the expulsion letter.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Shitu Abubakar declared the expulsion null and void and without effect and ordered the university to immediately reinstate the student with full rights and privileges as a student of ATBU. Justice Abubakar then ordered that N1 million should be paid to the student by the university as general damages. Acknowledging the judgement, counsel to the plaintiff, Chinenye Nwogu hailed the verdict as a vindication of his client’s innocence, saying that indeed the court is the last hope of the common man.

‘Decline in Education Traceable to Poor Reading Culture’ Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta An author, Mrs. Ikimot Azeez has identified poor reading culture among students as a major factor responsible for the declining standard of education in the country. Azeez, the author of ‘Your Health: A Prior Responsibility’ and ‘A Guide to Practical Biology and Microbiology’, regretted what she described as decay in book reading at the launch of the two books in Abeokuta, Ogun State recently. She expressed concern that students are becoming lazy in reading and assimilating, saying that the trend has affected their performance in their various course of study. Azeez, a lecturer at the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) insisted that thorough reading culture and understanding of books which are currently missing in the country’s education system could help in producing brilliant graduates, adding that students must be more interested in imbibing the reading culture. “Honestly, the decline in the reading culture of the country is

affecting standard of education and it is not good at all for us. Most students don’t read again. Government and parents must encourage their children to read their books by providing the enabling environment.� The author explained that in a situation where there is no good infrastructure in place, students would find it difficult to read or imbibe reading culture and appealed to governments at all levels to do more in helping to procure modern books for schools, while parents should make sure their children read their books at home. On the two published books on health, the author said, “the health book is based on health issues and management and things that are pertaining to health. But the main thing that motivated me in writing the book, was because of an incident that happened one day when I went to my Opthamologist and I noticed that a lady ran out of the clinic and she was really crying and panting and the next thing I heard was that the nurses were saying assuming she gave her health a prompt action, it wouldn’t have gotten to that stage.�

Foundation Awards Scholarship to Indigent Students Funmi Ogundare A non-profit and nongovernmental organisation, Jandour Foundation has awarded scholarships to 21 indigent undergraduates of various higher institutions in Lagos State to enable them complete their studies. The students, selected by coordinators of Community Development Councils (CDC) from 20 local government areas of the state, were screened to ascertain their backgrounds. Speaking on the criteria for selection, the founder of the foundation, Mr. Olajide Adeniran said many people applied for it, but the condition must be that candidates’ parents cannot afford to sponsor them through school, aside the fact they must have gained admission. He said the scholarship will cover tuition fees for the next four years, adding, “the

foundation will be making a draft payment directly to the institutions they have been admitted into. Their duty is to study hard and become somebody that can be reckoned with in future.� He described education as a key that makes countries develop, while advising the students to make the best use of the opportunity that has been given to them. “This is the time to focus on your education. This phase is for you to decide whether you will stand where I am today and also give back. Your road will be rough, but it is to prepare you for where you are going.� A former Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Rural Development, Cornelius Ojelabi commended the founder for investing in the lives of the less privileged saying, “we should emulate what he is doing in Lagos State.�

Delegates of the International Executive Development Programme (IEDP) at the Lagos Business School... recently

Firm Launches LMS to CurbYouth Unemployment Worried about the rising rate of youth unemployment in the country, a recruitment platform, Gr8jobsng has launched the Learning Management System (LMS) to improve the level of employability among jobseekers and to help employers get the most suitable candidate for job roles. Speaking at the launch in Lagos recently, the Managing Director of Gr8jobsng, Mrs. Omomene Odike, a human resource expert with over 14 years industry experience, said the LMS comprises over 40 courses assessable via the www.Gr8jobsng.com and it covers a wide range of assess-

ments from interview skills, how to search for a job, writing a good CV, business writing skills, customer service, critical thinking, sales and marketing, leadership, time management, among others. She said the objective is to prepare and make the jobseeker more appealing to potential employers through short and interactive courses on the go. “Candidates who take the assessment on the training programmes would be able to view their scores and have a certificate issued which can be printed out directly from the Gr8jobsng platform and presented at interviews.�

Odike stressed that in today’s digital age, Learning Management Systems are here to stay as more and more organisations are adopting it as it is providing a solution that is attractive, reliable and cost effective. She said having run a HR consulting firm for over 14 years, she understands the recruitment process and how it is important for employers to get the right employees. She called on all Nigerian youths to embrace the initiative and start developing themselves through LMS courses and stop complaining that they cannot get jobs, as Gr8jobsng has taken a call to action in

reducing unemployment in Nigeria through the launch of the LMS programmes. She said the courses will appeal to secondary school and university students, job seekers, entrepreneurs and other members of the public that are interested in acquiring skills to better their lives. Also speaking, the Head, e-Commerce at Gr8Jobsng, Mr. Victor Chibundu said the Launch of the LMS was initiated out of the company’s passion to help reduce the “threat� of unemployment among the many youths in the country.

World Bank to Partner Kwara on Technical Education Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The World Bank and Kwara State Government have concluded plans to partner in the area of technical and vocational education to create a platform for unemployed youths in the state to be empowered on entrepreneurship and vocational training. This they said would help in reducing unemployment among youths, thereby making them self-reliant instead of looking for white collar jobs. A Senior Education Specialist with the World Bank, Dr. Tunde Adekola disclosed this during the World Bank’s working visit to the International Vocational, Technical and Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC), Ajase-Ipo. Adekola, who spoke with journalists shortly after the

World Bank team was conducted round the facilities and departments in IVTEC, expressed satisfaction with the facilities at the college, saying that the state government’s effort at reforming technical and vocational education is in line with the World Bank’s agenda in building human capital development. He said the visit was to explore opportunities to support the state government in the area of skills development and technical and vocational training. He said the visit was to return Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed’s visit to World Bank sometime last year, when he indicated interest in the areas of technical and vocational training. Adekola said the World Bank is ready to widen the scope

of innovations to improve technical training in Nigeria, particularly in Kwara State with a view to increasing the base of technical and vocational training to accommodate more students that would add more value to the society. He added that the level of support the bank would give relates with the level of creativity and innovative values the benefitting state had put in place. “The most important thing is that you don’t force development on the people, but the people must make up their minds that they want to develop, and that is what your governor did. We did not come here in the first place, but the governor came to us with a blueprint to set up a centre for excellence in skills development;

that is why we are here. “This visit is to appreciate the governor for his visit to World Bank and it is also a way appreciating the governor for recognising that there is a problem in technical and vocational skills and taking necessary actions to address the problem. Our role is to now partner the government to explore areas in which we can add value and strengthen the government system.� He expressed confidence that the partnership would go a long way in creating jobs for youths in the state. In her remarks, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Bilikis Oniyangi expressed hope that the World Bank would integrate what it met on ground.

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CITYSTRINGS

ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ăš Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœËœ Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă? äĂ?Ă™ĂŒĂ“ Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ë›Ă?äĂ?Ă™ĂŒĂ“ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

Rainstorms Wreak Havoc in Ilorin Hammed Shittu writes on how rainstorms wreaked havoc in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital

T

he commencement of rainy season every year in the life of any community is always heralded with joy, hopes and aspirations that the year would be of a tremendous benefit to the socio well-being of that community. This belief however at times make many communities to mark the beginning of such season with enthusiasm that a new lease of life would come to their doorsteps in view of various programmes especially agricultural outing that would herald the beginning of the new rainy season in the New Year. But, this belief however was turned sour recently when the people of the ancient town of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital burst into tears and sorrow following the down pour that accompanied rainstorms which blew off their houses and damaged several property worth several millions of naira. The residents who had gone out in the morning in search of the golden fleece on that fateful day but after returning home late in the evening of that fateful day met their houses blown off by the rainstorms as all their rooms and apartments were soaked with uncontrollable water. Clothes, household utensils among others were swept away by the water. The effect of the rainfall which lasted for almost one and half hours on that fateful day has also made many of the residents of the community homeless as many are now residing with friends, relatives and even in mosques and churches due to the rainstorms that had blown off their houses. Apart from the residential buildings damaged by the rainstorms, some schools within Ilorin metropolis were also affected, especially Queen Elizabeth Secondary School where some of the school's roofs top were blown off. Areas badly affected by the rainstorms include, Taiwo Road, Adewole, Alore, Oloje, Ogidi, Ita- Amidu, Okolowo, Basin Road, and Sango among others. Also, a mast erected within the premises of Zenith Bank, Unity Road also fell on the roofs of houses beside the bank, causing serious damages. The rainstorms also damaged several buildings, including places of worship in various parts of the state capital. The state government's heavily mounted billboards along Upper Taiwo Road, Ilorin were also destroyed, while one of the billboards trapped a moving Mazda taxi car with the passengers sustaining injuries. The rainstorms also blown off roofs of many residential houses located at Sultan Road, off Ibrahim Taiwo Road, while shops and electricity poles were also destroyed. This incident has brought untold hardship to the residents of the community as the whole community is now experiencing blackout due to the damage of the electrical installations by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution company (IBEDC) supplying electricity to various parts of Ilorin. The Regional Communication Officer of IBEDC, Mr. Asaju Kolawole in a chat with journalists in Ilorin on the ugly development, said that the rainstorms also damaged over 20 electricity poles.

The effect of the rainfall which lasted for almost one and half hours on that fateful day has also made many of the residents of the community homeless as many are now residing with friends, relatives and even in mosques and churches due to the rainstorms that had blown off their houses

The damaged bill boards and telecoms facility at Taiwo Area, Ilorin

Roof blown o in Taiwo Area, Ilorin

According to him, “The rainstorms crashed the network of Baaboko which supplies power to larger part of llorin." The Communication Officer, who did not specify when electricity would be restored, said that the company’s engineers were working day and night to restore power supply to the affected areas. Kolawole, while describing the incident as unfortunate, appealed to residents of llorin to exercise patience. Also, some of the residents whose houses were blown off by the rainstorm told journalists that, their last hope remain on government and other well-meaning Nigerians that can assist them on their plights. Alhaji Isola Bello said that, "I don't know where I will get money now to roof the blown off house."

He added: "I want to tell you that, this house was built 25 years ago now and the rainstorm has blown off the house and with the present economic situation in the country, I don't know where the money would come from." Bello who looked dejected however appealed to well to do Nigerians and the government at any level to assist so as to return life to his family. In her save our soul message, Mrs. Zenabu Iyanda said that, "In fact, I don't know where to start now because I am finished and frustrated with this blown off of my house." She said, "My husband died almost seven years ago now and I am the one responsible for the upkeep of five children and now the house that we are living is also blown off by the rainstorm." Iyanda, however, called on the well to do Nigerians and the government at any level to

rise to her needs so as to bring new lease of life to the family. The senator representing Kwara Central senatorial district at the National Assembly and Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has appealed to the federal government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to come to the aid of the victims of the rainstorm incident so as to return life to them. The Director General, Abubakar Bukola Saraki constituency office, Ilorin, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi who spoke with journalists during the assessment tour of the various places affected by the rainstorm in Ilorin metropolis said that, the rising up of the government would cushion the effect of the incident in view of the damage that had been done to the property and buildings of the victims. Saraki who expressed his sympathy to the victims also said that, he would continue to

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CITYSTRINGS

The rainstorms destroyed part of Ilorin Sports Stadium

Roof blown o in Okekere Area, Ilorin

Roof blown o in Anifowose Area, Ilorin

be his brother's keeper describing the incident as unfortunate one and would not relent in its efforts at adding values to their socio well being irrespective of their political affiliations in the state. Saraki who called on the victims to see the incident as an act of God said that, he would do everything possible to support them so as to return their life. In its reaction, the state government has sympathised with the victims saying that, "it is an unfortunate incident that came sudden at this point of the nation's economic situation. The state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed in a statement issued in Ilorin on the ugly development however assured residents of

Ilorin, affected by heavy rain of government’s support. The governor in a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and

The rainstorms also blown off roofs of many residential houses located at Sultan Road, off Ibrahim Taiwo Road, while shops and electricity poles were also destroyed

Communication, Dr. Muyideen Akorede described the destructing of buildings as unfortunate. Governor Ahmed who sympathised with the victims of the rainstorm, said government has commenced disaster assessment and evaluation of the damage done to determine the extent of assistance required. According to the statement, the assessment was done by the Office of Emergency Management and Relief Services, in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, led by its secretary, Mrs. Adaran Motunrayo. Ahmed also called on residents to refrain from indiscriminate dumping of refuse and erection of structures on waterways, which he noted is capable of causing natural disasters, especially

flooding. Places visited by the Emergency Office are; Unity, Taiwo Isale, Taiwo Oke, Oko-Erin, Sultan Road, Stadium Road. Others are Adeta area, Agbo Oba, Mubo street, Harmony Estate, Sango, River Basin and Fate area. By and large, with this ugly incident that happened, the victims of the incident are now waiting for the government assistance as promised so as to bring new life to them. It is also imperative for the National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant agencies saddled with the management of the disaster of all sorts to complement the state government's efforts on this incident as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the rainstorm in the state.

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018

38

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

CBN Injects Additional $210m into Forex Market The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday sustained its intervention in the foreign exchange (forex) market with the sum of $210 million so as to meet customers’ requests in various segments of the market. A breakdown of the intervention showed that the central bank offered $100 million to authorised dealers in the wholesale segment of the market, while the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) segment got the sum of $55 million. According to figures obtained from the bank, customers needing forex for invisibles such as tuition fees, medical

payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others, were also allocated the sum of $55 million. The CBN recently approved an upward review of the trading margin available to operators of Bureau De Change (BDC) in the country, allowing BDC operators to buy the greenback from the CBN at N357/$1 and sell at N360, thereby leaving them with a positive margin of N3 per dollar sold. Meanwhile, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department (CCD), Mr. Isaac Okorafor yesterday reiterated the bank’s commitment to

continue to intervene in the interbank foreign exchange market, in line with its pledge to sustain liquidity in the market and maintain stability. Okorafor reiterated that the CBN would sustain its strategic management of forex, with a view to reducing the country’s import bills and halting depletion of its foreign reserves. The bank had last week intervened to the tune of $210 million to cater for requests in the wholesale segment of the market. The naira continued its stability, exchanging at an average of N362/$1 in the BDC segment of the market.

Group Calls for Greater Inclusion ofWomen in Clean Energy Access Udora Orizu in Abuja A social enterprise group, Solar Sister Nigeria, in collaboration with Solar Nigeria programme has called for increased role by women in clean energy access, especially in undeserved communities across the country. Speaking at a media advocacy/workshop in Abuja, the Country Manager, Solar Sister Nigeria, Olasimbo Sojinrin stated that Nigeria in particular and Africa as a whole, were faced with energy poverty with 600 million people in Africa living without electricity, 728 million depending on fuels such as charcoal and firewood for cooking while over 10 million businesses are affected by lack of power.

Sojinrin said: “What we have in Nigeria is that one in three people is actually not connected to the national grid and so they are in perpetual darkness, half of the population lives in rural areas in which one in four people have access to electricity, the huge majority of 70 per cent of people affected by energy poverty are women and girls. “Families spend 30-40 per cent income on household energy (USA average is 5%), over 2/3 of Nigerians are dependent on biomass for cooking and indoor air pollution is the 3rd highest killer in Nigeria. So, what solar system does is to give them access to modern, clean energy which they can use

to light their homes as well as cook. “Solar Sister produces durable and affordable lights, cook stoves, lamps and so on. So, the beneficiaries of this organisation have been able to impact the lives of the communities in which they stay, thereby people don’t have to be in darkness. “If you go to these communities you find out that activities stop around 7.00pm but with the introduction of solar lamps, you find out that businesses are opened till longer, we have lot of economic activities which has been impacted just by simple solar lamp which the life changing effect of light in their communities,” she said

L-R: Managing Director, Prestige Assurance Plc, Dr. Balla Swamy; Representative of the Chairman, Mr. Muftau Oyegunle; and the Company Secretary, Mr. Abayomi Odulana, at the company’s 48th annual general meeting in Lagos... recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

MARCH

Broad Money (M2)

24,303,049.86

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,912,604.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,668,378.21

---- Demand Deposits

9,244,225.90

-- Quasi Money

13,390,445.76

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

15,619,134.18

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

8,683,915.68

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

C & I Leasing’s Bond Offering Oversubscribed C &I Leasing Plc’s N7 billion Series one bond which opened on Monday the 21st of May and closed on the 4th of June 2018, has recorded an subscription of 133 per cent. The debt instrument, which is a 5-year bond will mature in December 2023. This was revealed at the issuance signing ceremony which held in Lagos. The ceremony was attended by the Board of Directors of C & I Leasing, the issuing houses, trustees and other stakeholders involved in the process. The bond, which is the first series in a N20 billion debt issuance programme, is a senior secured bond with a fixed rate of 16.54 per cent

and was issued at a price of N1,000 per unit. According to the Managing Director of Planet Capitalthe lead Issuing House, Efe Akhigbe: “The offer was very successful because of the track record of C & I Leasing as a business with over 25 years of operations in Nigeria. “The company’s investment in marine assets serving oil and gas companies in various mid to long term contracts, which was attractive to investors, in addition to the timing of the issuance was instrumental to the success of the bond which was largely patronised by top pension fund managers and insurance companies.”

Also speaking at the ceremony, the MD/CEO C& I Leasing, Mr. Andrew Otike -Odibi stated that the N7 billion raised would largely be invested in business expansion and restructuring of the company’s debts over a period of five years, therefore relieving the current debt profile on the group’s balance sheet while increasing profit margins and returns for shareholders. “The success of the bond is indicative of the market’s confidence in our business, they have seen our structure, focus and consistency with corporate governance in 27 years of operations and they can tell we have a good story unfolding.

Transcorp Appoints Ezeafulukwe ED Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) has appointed Mr. Christopher Ezeafulukwe as Executive Director. The appointment becomes effective from July 1, 2018. A statement from Transcorp explained that Ezeafulukwe, currently the Group General Counsel and Head, Business Development of the company, will in his new role, focus and drive the development of new commercial interests as well as the optimisation of Transcorp’s existing investments in the power and oil and gas sectors. Ezeafulukwe brings to this role over 19 years’ experience in business development,

legal advisory and company secretariat roles amongst others, in a career spanning several industries. He holds an LL.B degree from the University of Lagos, a B.L (second class upper division) from the Nigerian Law School, an LL.M from the University of Lagos and another LL.M in Energy, Environmental & Natural Resources Law from the University of Houston, Texas. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) and until recently a member of the Execu-

tive Council of Association of Power Generation Companies of Nigeria. Commenting on Mr. Ezeafulukwe’s appointment, the Chairman, Transcorp, Mr. Tony Elumelu, welcomed him to the board and noted that: “Chris is an invaluable member of the Transcorp team. His insights, drive and commitment to business execution are exemplary. His appointment will deepen and open new doors of commercial opportunities for Transcorp and all our stakeholders as we pursue our goal of providing power in every home, school, hospital and business enterprise in Nigeria.”

(MILLION NAIRA) 2018

Month

26,267,136.53

---- Credit to Government (Net)

3,823,345.45

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

5,433,209.43

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-1,609,863.98

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

22,443,791.08

--Other Assets Net

-17,583,220.85

Reserve Money (Base Money)

6,746,646.49

--Currency in Circulation

1,668,378.21

--Banks Reserves

4,357,551.58 • Source - CBN

MANAGED FUNDS Month

MARCH

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55 • Monetary Policy Rate - 13%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT, MON, 11 JUNE , 2018 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $73.96 a barrel on Monday, compared with $74.22 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela). SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018

39

MARKET NEWS

NSE Capitalisation Adds N117bn on Continuing Bullish Trading Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie

at 39,167.39. As a result, the year-to-date (YTD) growth has improved to 2.4 per cent. Yesterday’s performance was influenced by gains in Dangote Cement Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc and Seplat Petroleum Company Development Plc. In all, 27 stocks appreciated while 21 depreciated. Seplat led the price gainers with 8.1 per cent on as

The value of the Nigerian equities market rose N117 billion to close at N14.2 trillion on continuing bullish trend. The bargain hunting in heavy weight counters also led to a growth of 0.84 per cent in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) to close

investors increased their stake ahead of improved returns. The company hd last year returned to profitability last year and consolidated on the performance in the first quarter ended March 31, 2018. The Managing Director of Seplat, Mr. Austin Avuru last week told investors at the company’s annual general meeting that the company

ws well equipped to deliver long-term value for shareholders. “I am pleased to report that Seplat made a return to full-year profitability in 2017, registered strong cash flow performance and significantly strengthened the balance sheet. In a year of contrast, we were plagued throughout most of the first half by force majeure at the Forcados terminal…Our

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED AS OF Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR PREMIUM BOARD SECURITIES FINANCIAL SERVICES S/N 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94

COMPANY ACCESS AFRIPRUD AGLEVENT AIICO AIRSERVICE ARBICO BERGER BETAGLAS CADBURY CAP CAPHOTEL CAPOIL CAVERTON CCNN CHAMPION CILEASING CONOIL CONTINSURE CORNERST COURTVILLE CUSTODIAN CUTIX CWG DAARCOMM DANGCEM DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR DEAPCAP DIAMONDBNK DUNLOP EQUITYASUR ETERNA ETI ETRANZACT FBNH FCMB FIDELITYBK FIDSON FIRSTALUM FLOURMILL FO FTNCOCOA GLAXOSMITH GUARANTY GUINEAINS GUINNESS HMARKINS HONYFLOUR IKEJAHOTEL INFINITY INITSPLC INTBREW INTERLINK JAIZBANK JAPAULOIL JBERGER JOHNHOLT LASACO LAWUNION LEARNAFRCA LINKASSURE LIVESTOCK MANSARD MAYBAKER MBENEFIT MOBIL MRS MULTITREX MULTIVERSE NAHCO NASCON NB NCR NEIMETH NEM NESTLE NIGERINS NPFMCRFBK NSLTECH OANDO OKOMUOIL PORTPAINT PRESCO PRESTIGE PZ REDSTAREX ROYALEX RTBRISCOE SCOA SEPLAT SKYEBANK SKYESHELT SOVRENINS STACO

PCLOSE 10.85 4.30 0.53 0.65 4.50 4.79 8.55 87.35 12.50 36.80 3.10 0.33 2.25 26.50 1.98 1.61 32.00

OPEN 10.70 4.30 0.51 0.68 13.00 2.22 2.00 1.68 -

HIGH 10.75 4.30 0.51 0.71 13.00 2.22 1.99 1.68 -

LOW 10.65 4.30 0.51 0.65 13.00 2.22 1.90 1.68 -

%SPREAD 0.93 8.45 4.52 -

CLOSE CHANGE 10.65 -0.20 4.30 0.51 -0.02 0.65 4.50 4.79 8.55 87.35 13.00 0.50 36.80 3.10 0.33 2.22 -0.03 26.50 1.99 0.01 1.68 0.07 32.00 -

%CHANGE -1.84 -3.77 6.15 4.00 -1.33 0.51 4.35 -

TRADES 111 42 5 67 2 2 13 10 12 7 3 2 24 33 26 18 27

1.44

-

-

-

-

1.44

-

-

6

0.35 0.20 5.02 3.14 2.54 0.48 235.80 10.65 19.90 0.48

0.34 3.02 238.80 10.65 20.10 -

239.00 10.70 21.10 -

238.80 10.65 19.50 -

0.08 0.47 7.58 -

0.35 0.20 5.02 3.14 2.54 0.48 239.00 10.70 19.50 0.48

3.20 0.05 -0.40 -

1.36 0.47 -2.01 -

4 1 7 24 3 1 87 54 157 1

VOLUME 2,510,523 49,573,930 279,555 4,099,470 10,000 105 60,524 3,780 138,009 3,539 11,880 5,200 814,862 220,909 1,325,097 318,400 43,272

VALUE 26,889,858.80 213,159,087.97 142,641.84 2,825,249.65 43,000.00 501.80 494,300.60 315,300.00 1,786,399.75 123,865.00 35,640.00 1,664.00 1,806,367.95 5,788,580.15 2,574,394.28 522,426.20 1,380,618.90

14,000

20,490.00

83,709 27,855.06 10,000 2,000.00 157,121 825,441.71 401,342 1,264,754.14 2,600 6,886.72 6,000 2,760.00 2,186,951 522,669,704.70 498,697 5,320,234.55 56,886,870 1,185,035,004.90 100 46.00

1.62

1.60

1.68

1.59

5.36

1.60

-0.02

-1.23

94

6,561,391

0.30

-

-

-

-

0.30

-

-

1

1,666

10,676,824.54 483.14

0.21

0.21

0.22

0.21

4.55

0.22

0.01

4.76

7

1,100,000

240,500.00

6.25 20.00 4.55 10.85 2.40 2.34 6.00 0.40 33.00 37.00 0.20 19.20 41.60 0.38 99.75 0.28 2.31 2.53 1.42 0.76 41.75 3.61 0.66 0.33 27.50 0.55 0.36 0.86 1.44 0.87 0.87 2.49 2.45 0.35 174.30 34.25 0.40 0.20 4.20 24.00 118.00 6.30 0.63 2.50 1,450.20 0.26 1.65 0.48 6.90 82.00 2.05 73.70 0.64 20.75 5.95 0.34 0.46 3.25 711.10 0.76 95.00 0.27 0.48

5.97 11.20 2.33 2.37 33.00 0.20 41.50 97.00 0.29 2.35 2.65 43.70 0.34 0.37 0.88 2.50 0.34 174.30 23.95 117.50 0.63 2.55 1,495.00 0.27 1.68 6.95 2.05 0.61 0.35 745.00 0.79 0.26 -

5.97 11.25 2.33 2.36 33.00 43.60 97.00 0.29 2.35 2.61 0.34 0.37 0.88 2.45 0.34 183.00 23.95 117.50 0.63 2.62 1,495.00 0.27 1.72 6.95 2.05 0.61 0.35 769.00 0.79 0.26 -

5.97 10.95 2.30 2.29 32.30 41.00 97.00 0.29 2.35 2.61 0.34 0.37 0.88 2.45 0.34 174.30 23.10 117.10 0.63 2.55 1,495.00 0.25 1.72 6.70 2.05 0.61 0.35 769.00 0.76 0.26 -

5.97 20.00 4.55 2.67 11.20 1.29 2.30 2.97 2.30 6.00 0.40 2.12 32.30 37.00 0.20 19.20 5.96 41.50 0.38 97.00 0.29 2.35 2.61 1.42 0.76 41.75 3.61 0.66 0.34 27.50 0.55 0.37 0.86 1.44 0.88 0.87 2.49 2.45 0.34 4.75 183.00 34.25 0.40 0.20 4.20 3.55 23.10 0.34 117.10 6.30 0.63 2.67 2.62 - 1,495.00 7.41 0.25 1.72 0.48 3.60 6.90 82.00 2.05 73.70 0.61 20.75 5.95 0.35 0.46 3.25 769.00 3.80 0.76 95.00 0.26 0.48

-0.28 0.35 -0.10 -0.04 -0.70 -0.10 -2.75 0.01 0.04 0.08 0.01 0.01 0.01 -0.01 8.70 -0.90 -0.90 0.12 44.80 -0.01 0.07 -0.03 0.01 57.90 -0.01 -

-4.48 3.23 -4.17 -1.71 -2.12 -0.24 -2.76 3.57 1.73 3.16 3.03 2.78 1.15 -2.86 4.99 -3.75 -0.76 4.80 3.09 -3.85 4.24 -2.90 -4.69 2.94 8.14 1.32 -3.70 -

25 23 1 255 83 139 14 1 82 20 2 6 286 2 32 28 24 19 3 1 21 1 12 28 10 1 14 2 9 4 6 4 28 7 19 25 1 3 13 65 138 1 12 38 32 20 10 1 103 14 5 9 8 14 5 7 1 1 54 35 1 11 1

1,004,783 6,003,633.84 83,589 1,672,135.20 150 652.50 11,299,790 125,459,137.75 4,048,598 9,418,422.90 8,565,372 19,963,618.39 42,500 242,700.00 10,000 3,900.00 667,140 21,885,312.20 42,652 1,538,599.95 14,105 2,821.00 4,553 90,596.20 45,275,658 1,916,920,925.30 120 44.40 2,356,052 228,750,513.30 1,324,553 384,120.37 640,726 1,505,555.41 350,900 936,076.80 200 270.00 100 76.00 67,781 2,846,151.85 50 180.50 158,958 106,550.86 2,515,766 855,360.44 18,087 483,442.20 2,484 1,316.52 276,106 99,465.22 2,200 1,892.00 110,203 160,995.35 261,500 230,120.00 41,700 35,514.20 10,970 27,524.00 1,052,711 2,580,639.13 631,000 214,540.00 54,324 9,646,933.90 86,836 3,021,779.10 2,500 950.00 20,200 4,040.00 85,079 351,479.96 1,583,001 37,050,927.40 541,556 63,604,177.30 400 2,400.00 1,245,208 782,530.80 1,753,192 4,500,561.25 60,494 90,434,922.10 1,469,583 379,588.18 306,270 512,423.10 7,000 3,220.00 2,185,331 14,964,497.15 41,428 3,464,183.65 306,150 627,607.50 14,742 1,049,173.20 315,711 193,625.71 111,181 2,204,225.45 25,090 151,932.50 321,371 111,756.58 12,460 5,482.40 50 154.50 60,322 44,198,197.20 2,520,296 1,938,309.56 20 1,806.00 382,000 99,605.00 300 138.00

proactive and decisive management coupled with the strong underlying fundamentals of the business have seen us emerge from an exceptionally challenging period a much fitter and stronger business that is well equipped to deliver long-term value for our shareholders,” he said. Double 11 Plc closed as the second highest price gainer with

A S AT 1 2 / 0 6 / 2 0 1 8

4.9 per cent, NEM Insurance Plc and Equity Assurance Plc garnered 4.8 per cent and 4.7 per cent in that order. Conversely, Prestige Assurance Plc led the price losers with 4.6 per cent, followed by Eterna Plc with 4.4 per cent. FCMB Group Plc shed 4.1 per cent, just as Niger Insurance Plc and A.G Leventis Plc went down 3.7 per cent.

41

˾ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018

MARKET NEWS

CBN, FMDQ Boost Trade Settlement in Fixed Income Market Goddy Egene FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange with the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the FMDQ dealing members (banks), has successfully deployed a fixed income market straight through process (STP) settlement solution. The settlement solution was deployed through exchange’s proprietary market system – FMDQ’s Q-ex – a customised fully-integrated multi-asset trading system with post-trade services capabilities.

“FMDQ’s Q-ex has been integrated with the CBN’s Scripless Securities Settlement System (S4) to provide STP capabilities for efficient settlement in the fixed income market, improving the efficiency of the trading, reporting and settlement processes, whilst further developing, in no small measure, the Nigerian financial markets,” FMDQ OTC said in a statement. According to the company, Q-ex provides an unrivalled means through which trades executed by its dealing

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return. An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

members are reported and subsequently settled, with minimal to no human intervention, via the respective channels. The exchange explained that the deployment of the solution operated by FMDQ Clear Limited, a whollyowned subsidiary of FMDQ, will essentially streamline business processes to reduce friction along the fixed income trades settlement value-chain, boost productivity of the market participants and promote efficiency of post-trade services.

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 11Jun-2018, unless otherwise stated.

The Nigerian fixed income market has not been performing at its optimum, as the market has been marked with bouts of low productivity, inefficiency and invariably, settlement defaults, all of which would likely have marred the market’s integrity and significantly lowered investor confidence. But FMDQ OTC said with integrity being one of the key ingredients for a successful market, as adjudged by global counterparts, the achievement of STP in the fixed income market via the integration of

Q-ex and the CBN’s S4 could not have come a moment too soon. Commenting, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FMDQ OTC, Bola Onadele.Koko, said: “The development of FMDQ’s Q-ex and its subsequent linkage to the CBN’s S4 is one of the key medium- to long-term initiatives of FMDQ, aimed at making the Nigerian financial market operationally excellent – delivering on the “O” in FMDQ’s GOLD Agenda. With the continued collective

efforts of the CBN, the Securities & Exchange Commission and indeed, other key regulators and stakeholders, we at FMDQ, are confident that the potential of our domestic markets, acting as a catalyst to propel economic growth, shall be realised. To build and sustain a well-functioning market, it is hoped that all hands remain on deck even as FMDQ continues to re-affirm its commitment to promote a world-class financial market operating in alignment with international best practices.”

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors. Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return. NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 187.29 188.85 5.62% Nigeria International Debt Fund 245.24 246.83 6.34% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.84 0.85 1.87% ACAP Income Funds 0.64 0.64 6.44% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.20% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 19.76 20.36 8.15% ARM Discovery Fund 416.06 428.60 6.94% ARM Ethical Fund 29.47 30.36 7.86% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.27% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 152.68 153.75 0.65% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.82% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.30% Paramount Equity Fund 12.09 12.40 9.04% Women's Investment Fund 104.43 107.52 3.98% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.01% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.14 1.16 8.58% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.12 1.15 8.24% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,161.93 1,162.63 1.21% FBN Heritage Fund 148.13 149.42 6.25% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.01% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $112.97 $113.32 -0.03% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $112.84 $113.18 -0.05% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 178.41 181.14 10.88% FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Equity Fund 1.37 1.40 5.24% Legacy Debt Fund 3.05 3.05 5.88% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,183.77 3,215.71 6.62% Coral Income Fund 2,629.75 2,629.75 7.46% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.00% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.22 2.24 5.18% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.54% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 120.63 121.01 4.89%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.19 1.21 3.61% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,073.39 1,073.39 6.44% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 13.91 14.02 5.72% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.58% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.35 1.37 12.96% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.72 11.79 6.25% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.72% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 127.57 129.79 -0.95% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.59 1.59 6.99% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,386.54 2,406.08 6.39% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 185.68 185.68 5.23% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.06 1.07 5.45% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 236.81 236.87 7.53% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 184.59 186.57 3.04% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.41% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,009.23 10,145.73 3.51% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.10 1.10 3.32% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.31 1.32 -1.80% United Capital Bond Fund 1.65 1.65 5.42% United Capital Equity Fund 0.95 0.97 3.99% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.51% United Capital Eurobond Fund 106.27 106.27 3.28% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.14 1.15 5.16% ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD info@zenith-funds.com Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 13.21 13.40 5.22% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.83 13.99 4.89% Zenith Income Fund 20.31 20.31 7.33% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.57%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 136.00 103.70 51.30

1.01% 2.67%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.30 154.20 114.18

12.40 157.41 116.26

1.46% 7.94% 4.49%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund Union Homes REIT

0.92%

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.93 9.15 18.18 19.92 146.39

4.97 9.23 18.28 20.12 148.39

3.95% -4.36% 3.74% 1.26% 6.90%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

˾ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018

40

Nigeria Daily Stock Market Report:

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

d,/^ z &Z/Es ^d ϰϬ KEd/Eh dK KhdW Z&KZD E^ ^/ Θ E^ ϯϬ /E y dŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ Ă LJĞĂƌ ĂŐŽ ;:ƵŶĞ ϱƚŚ ϮϬϭϳͿ ĐŽŶƐŝƐƟŶŐ ŽĨ ϰϬ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐƵƚ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ^ƚŽĐŬ džĐŚĂŶŐĞ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ͕ ƚƌĂĚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ;ŇŽĂƚͿ ĂŶĚ ƐŝnjĞ ;ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶͿ͘ ŽůůĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϵϰ͘Ϭй ŽĨ ƚŽƚĂů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂƉƉƌŽdžŝŵĂƚĞůLJ ϰϮ͘Ϭй ŽĨ ƚƌĂĚĂďůĞ ŇŽĂƚ͘ Ɛ Ăƚ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ͕ ϭϮƚŚ ŽĨ :ƵŶĞ ϮϬϭϴ͕ ƚŚĞ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϰϴй ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϲϯϴ͘ϳϱ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ŝƚƐ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƌŽƐĞ ƚŽ ϲ͘Ϯй͘ dŚĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ƐƵƌƉĂƐƐĞƐ ƚŚĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ E^ Ͳ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ Ϯ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ E^ ϯϬ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ϭ͘ϲй͘ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ŐĂŝŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ǁĂƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;нϯ͘ϭйͿ͕ E' D ;нϭ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ & E, ;нϯ͘ϮйͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚƐ ĨŽƌ ϮϬй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ DĂƌŬĞƚ ĞůůǁĞƚŚĞƌƐ ƌŝǀĞ ƵůůŝƐŚ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ͙ E^ ^/ ƵƉ Ϭ͘ϴй dŚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ďŽƵƌƐĞ ǁĂƐ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ E^ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ; ^/Ϳ ƌŽƐĞ Ϭ͘ϴй ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϯϵ͕ϭϲϳ͘ϯϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϯ͘ϰй͘ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŽĨ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ ůĂƌŐĞ ĐĂƉ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ Ͳ E' D ;нϭ͘ϰйͿ͕ E ^d> ;нϯ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ ^ W> d ;нϴ͘ϭйͿ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Eϭϭϲ͘ϲďŶ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ƚŽ Eϭϰ͘ϮƚŶ͘ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϰϯ͘ϰй ƚŽ ϯϰϭ͘ϱŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ͕ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ϯϯ͘ϲй ƚŽ Eϱ͘ϮďŶ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ h W ;ϴϮ͘ϳŵͿ͕ E'^h' Z ;ϱϲ͘ϵŵͿ ĂŶĚ &Z/WZh ;ϰϵ͘ϲŵͿ ǁŚŝůĞ 'h Z Edz ;Eϭ͘ϵďŶͿ͕ E'^h' Z ;Eϭ͘ϮďŶͿ ĂŶĚ E' D ;EϱϮϮ͘ϳŵͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ ƵůůŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ĂƐ Ăůů ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƐĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁŚŝĐŚ ůŽƐƚ ϰďƉƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ ^^ ;Ͳϭ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ 'h Z Edz ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĞŶ͘ dŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ŽƵƚƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ;ƌĞǀĞƌƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶͿ͕ ƵƉ ϰ͘ϵй͕ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ^ W> d ;нϴ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ DK /> ;нϱ͘ϬйͿ͘ dŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ƐƵŝƚ ĂƐ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ E D ;нϰ͘ϴйͿ͕ Yh/dz ^^hZ ;нϰ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ t W/ ;нϰ͘ϮйͿ ƉƵƐŚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž Ϭ͘ϵй ŚŝŐŚĞƌ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƌŽƐĞ Ϭ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϰй ĂƐ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŽĨ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ E' D ;нϭ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ E ^d> ;нϯ͘ϭйͿ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ŽŌĞŶƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ƐŽŌĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϯdž ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϱdž ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞĐĞĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ ϯϳ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ĐŽŵƉĂƌĞĚ ƚŽ Ϯϭ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǁĞƌĞ ^ W> d ;нϴ͘ϭйͿ͕ DK /> ;нϱ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ E D ;нϰ͘ϴйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ WZ ^d/' ;Ͳϰ͘ϳйͿ͕ d ZE ;Ͳϰ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ & D ;Ͳϰ͘ϮйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ƵƉďĞĂƚ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ƚĂŬĞ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ŝŶ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďĞůůǁĞƚŚĞƌƐ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ Ăƚ ĂƩƌĂĐƟǀĞ ĞŶƚƌLJ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ͘​͘

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Ticker

(A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

Current Price

Previous Current Price Weighting Change

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 1,638.75

0.48% -0.2%

Price Change YTD

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

6.2%

63.9%

19.4%

7.0%

7.8x

1.0x

5.1%

10.5%

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

1

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

41.50

20.5%

1.8%

2.3%

32.6%

5.2%

6.7x

2.3x

6.5%

14.8%

2

Zenith Bank PLC

27.20

-0.4%

13.0%

6.1%

4.9%

26.3%

3.6%

4.6x

1.2x

9.9%

22.0%

3

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

117.10

-0.8%

7.4%

-13.2%

-13.3%

17.4%

8.3%

29.4x

5.0x

3.5%

3.4%

4

Nestle Nigeria PLC

1,495.00

3.1%

7.3%

-3.9%

-3.9%

73.3%

18.9%

34.9x

22.2x

2.8%

2.9%

5

Dangote Cement PLC

239.00

1.4%

6.1%

3.9%

3.9%

22.7%

12.0%

20.7x

4.8x

4.4%

4.8%

3.2%

6

FBN Holdings Plc

11.20

6.6%

27.3%

27.4%

6.7%

0.8%

8.1x

0.6x

2.2%

12.4%

7

Access Bank PLC

10.65

-1.8%

4.3%

1.9%

0.5%

12.7%

1.5%

5.2x

0.7x

6.1%

19.1%

8

United Bank for Africa PLC

11.10

1.4%

4.5%

7.8%

6.6%

15.9%

1.9%

4.9x

0.8x

7.7%

20.4%

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

20.00

0.0%

3.6%

17.6%

22.9%

12.9%

1.0%

6.6x

0.9x

10

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

769.00

8.1%

3.6%

22.8%

22.8%

22.3%

13.2%

3.9x

0.8x

2.4%

25.4%

0.2%

15.1%

11

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

48.60

3.2%

17.1%

18.8%

30.8%

4.1%

9.2x

2.5x

1.0%

10.9%

12

Unilever Nigeria PLC

55.00

0.0%

3.2%

34.1%

36.8%

19.2%

8.0%

29.4x

4.0x

0.9%

3.4%

13

Guinness Nigeria PLC

97.00

-2.8%

2.2%

3.2%

3.2%

15.4%

6.1%

18.5x

2.5x

0.7%

5.4%

14

Lafarge Africa PLC

39.00

-0.1%

1.3%

-13.1%

-13.1%

-36.8%

-7.7%

2.2x

3.8%

-15.8%

15

Fidelity Bank PLC

2.30

-1.7%

1.1%

-6.5%

-10.9%

10.4%

1.4%

1.8x

0.4x

4.8%

55.3%

6.90

0.0%

16

Oando PLC

1.4%

15.2%

15.2%

10.3%

1.5%

8.6x

0.5x

17

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

19.50

-2.0%

1.1%

-2.5%

-4.2%

45.0%

20.0%

5.8x

2.2x

12.8%

17.2%

18

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

82.00

0.0%

1.2%

21.1%

21.1%

39.7%

29.4%

8.2x

2.8x

3.7%

12.2%

19

International Brew eries PLC

41.75

0.0%

0.6%

-23.4%

-24.1%

24.6%

7.4%

43.7x

9.9x

20

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

32.30

-2.1%

0.7%

11.4%

11.4%

13.1%

3.0%

6.7x

0.8x

2.8%

14.8%

21

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

11.7%

11.2%

2.3%

1.46

-1.4%

0.6%

0.0%

-1.4%

11.2%

2.5%

8.9x

0.9x

1.4%

0.0%

0.5%

-13.0%

-13.0%

1.5%

0.6%

23.9x

0.6x

4.4%

22

UAC of Nigeria PLC

14.70

23

Diamond Bank PLC

1.60

-1.2%

0.5%

6.7%

1.9%

-5.8%

-0.7%

24

Total Nigeria PLC

193.30

0.0%

0.4%

-15.9%

-15.9%

25.0%

5.3%

9.3x

2.2x

8.6%

10.7%

25

FCMB Group Plc

2.30

-4.2%

0.7%

45.6%

5.8%

0.9%

4.4x

0.3x

4.3%

22.8%

183.00

5.0%

4.4%

15.2%

0.2x

4.2% -45.7%

26

11 PLC

0.4%

-6.0%

-6.0%

38.8%

15.7%

6.6x

2.2x

27

Forte Oil PLC

37.00

0.0%

0.4%

-14.9%

-11.9%

17.6%

1.6%

20.0x

3.1x

28

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

20.75

0.0%

0.4%

0.7%

-1.9%

10.7%

5.0%

19.7x

2.0x

2.4%

5.1%

29

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

13.00

4.0%

0.3%

-17.0%

-16.7%

2.0%

0.8%

60.7x

2.1x

1.2%

1.6%

30

Presco PLC

73.70

0.0%

0.4%

7.6%

7.6%

35.8%

24.8%

3.1x

0.9x

2.7%

32.7%

31

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

23.10

-3.8%

0.4%

24.9%

20.2%

52.3%

19.7%

10.9x

4.9x

6.5%

9.2%

10.00

0.0%

0.8x

7.2%

5.0%

32

UPDC Real Estate Investment Tr

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

33

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

6.10

4.3%

0.2%

-21.8%

-18.8%

5.3%

1.1%

8.8x

0.6x

34

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

27.50

0.0%

0.3%

-1.8%

-1.8%

17.3%

1.8%

7.6x

1.2x

3.6%

13.1%

35

Sterling Bank PLC

1.38

1.5%

0.3%

27.8%

22.1%

10.7%

1.0%

4.1x

0.4x

1.4%

24.2%

36

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

10.70

0.5%

0.2%

-11.9%

-11.9%

1.4x

1.9%

37

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

19.20

0.0%

0.2%

-11.2%

-11.2%

4.4%

2.8%

30.3x

1.3x

39.1%

3.3%

38

Chemical and Allied Products P

36.80

0.0%

0.2%

8.2%

3.1%

66.2%

30.2%

17.2x

11.5x

5.9%

5.8%

39

Beta Glass PLC

87.35

0.0%

0.2%

70.2%

70.2%

18.4%

11.9%

12.3x

2.1x

1.3%

8.1%

40

Transcorp Hotels Plc

7.45

0.0%

0.1%

3.3%

3.3%

5.3%

2.9%

19.5x

1.0x

1.8%

5.1%

T o p 10 G a i n e r s T ic k er

11.4%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

SEP LA T

769.00

8.1%

UC A P

82.7

4.4%

M OB IL

183.00

5.0%

D A N GSUGA R

56.9

-2.0%

N EM

2.62

4.8%

A F R IP R UD

49.6

0.0%

EQUIT YA SUR

0.22

4.8%

GUA R A N T Y

45.3

-0.2%

UN IT YB N K

0.92

4.5%

UB A

13.6

1.4%

UC A P

3.29

4.4%

FB NH

11.3

3.2%

P ric e C hg %

C ILEA SIN G

1.68

4.3%

F ID ELIT YB K

8.6

-1.7%

UB N

6.10

4.3%

WEM A B A N K

6.6

-2.7%

NP FM CRFB K

1.72

4.2%

D IA M ON D B N K

6.6

-1.2%

WA P IC

0.50

4.2%

T R A N SC OR P

5.3

-1.4%

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s

T ic k er

Value

P R EST IGE

0.61

-4.7%

GUA R A N T Y

1916.9

-0.2%

ET ER N A

5.97

-4.5%

D A N GSUGA R

1185.0

-2.0%

T ic k er

P ric e C hg %

FCM B

2.30

-4.2%

D A N GC EM

522.7

1.4%

N IGER IN S

0.25

-3.8%

UC A P

262.7

4.4%

0.51

-3.8%

GUIN N ESS

228.8

-2.8%

N A SC ON

23.10

-3.7%

A F R IP R UD

213.2

0.0%

SOVR EN IN S

0.26

-3.7%

UB A

150.8

1.4%

M B EN EF IT

0.34

-2.9%

FB NH

125.5

3.2%

GUIN N ESS

97.00

-2.8%

N EST LE

90.4

3.1%

0.72

-2.7%

NB

63.6

-0.8%

A GLEVEN T

WEM A B A N K

Afrinvest Securities Limited (RC 603 315)

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Eronmosele Aziba | eaziba@afrinvest.com

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WEDNESDAY JUNE 13, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Trump’s Vow to End Military Drills with Seoul Stuns the Region Trump, Kim claim big summit success but details are scant US President Donald Trump rocked the region with the stunning announcement Tuesday that he was halting annual US-South Korean military drills — and wants to remove the 28,500 US troops stationed in the South as a deterrent against North Korea, The Associated Press reported. This was as both Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claimed success at their whirlwind summit and left Singapore Tuesday, praising their face-to-face progress toward ridding the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons. Yet, Trump faced pointed questions at home about whether he got little and gave away much — including an agreement to halt US military exercises with South Korea. His surprise, almost offhand comments, made during a news conference after his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, seemingly upended decades of the US defence posture on the Korean Peninsula. The remarks contradicted countless previous declarations by US political and military officials over the years that the drills are routine, defensive and

absolutely critical. Trump has now essentially adopted the standard North Korean line, calling the military exercises a “provocative” drain of money and announcing they would stop while he continues talks with Kim, whom he repeatedly praised as a solid negotiating partner. His statement was quickly portrayed by critics as a major, unreciprocated concession to a country that only last year was threatening Seoul and Washington with nuclear war. It also seemed to leave officials completely off guard in South Korea, where the presence of US troops has long been described as necessary to maintaining peace on the peninsula. Seoul’s presidential office told The Associated Press that it was trying to parse Trump’s comments. The South Korean military seemed similarly surprised. “At this current point, there is a need to discern the exact meaning and intent of President Trump’s comments,” Seoul’s Defence Ministry said, adding that there have been no discussions yet with Washington on modifying drills

set for August. US forces in South Korea said it has “received no updated guidance on the execution or cessation of training exercises” and will continue to coordinate with South Korean partners and maintain the current posture until it receives an updated guidance from the Department of Defence or the Indo-Pacific Command. Trump’s comments will be questioned by many in South Korea and beyond, with some seeing in them an effort by North Korea to drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington. North Korea regularly calls the military exercises provocative preparations for a northward invasion, and many of the scariest standoffs in recent years on the Korean Peninsula have happened when the drills were being staged. Outside analysts believe the North objects to the drills because it must spend precious resources on its own war games and troop movements. North Korea also insists that the US troop presence in the South, as well as its nuclear “umbrella” over allies Seoul and Tokyo, are part of America’s “hostile” policy toward the North.

Stranded Migrants: Macron Scold Italy over Aquarius Ship Migrants to be taken to Spain French President Emmanuel Macron has accused the Italian government of “cynicism and irresponsibility” for refusing to let a stranded rescue ship packed with migrants dock in Italy, according to BBC. A charity looking after the 629 migrants on the Aquarius, stranded off Malta, says two Italian ships will help take them to Spain’s port of Valencia. But Spain is at least three days’ sailing away. Macron said Italy was “playing politics” with the migrants. They were picked up off Libya’s coast. The migrants, mainly subSaharan Africans, were found in inflatable boats at the weekend. They are now being looked after by Doctors without Borders (MSF) and the Franco-German charity SOS Méditerranée aboard the Aquarius. Macron’s spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said the French president recalled that “in cases of distress, those with the nearest coastline have a responsibility to respond”. “There is a degree of cynicism and irresponsibility in the Italian government’s behaviour,” he quoted President Macron as saying. Most migrants who survive the perilous voyages from North Africa end up in overcrowded Italian camps, and Italy says its EU partners must ease the burden. The plan is for the Aquarius to be joined by an Italian coastguard ship and a warship, which will take on board most of the migrants. Then all three vessels will head for Valencia. SOS Méditerranée tweeted photos of fresh supplies arriving on board on Tuesday. Earlier the crew said the ship could not sail to Spain while it was overcrowded, and conditions at sea were deteriorating.

Among the migrants are seven pregnant women, 11 young children and 123 unaccompanied minors. The minors are aged between

13 and 17 and come from Eritrea, Ghana, Nigeria and Sudan, according to a journalist on the ship, Anelise Borges.

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LIFE & TIMES OF MKO ABIOLA

L-R: Kola, Simbiat, MKO Abiola and a relation

Abiola and Simbiat

Abiola, a traditional ruler and Pa Ajasin

Inauguration of Concord Press of Nigeria Limited

Abiola and Kingibe

Abiola during the June 12, 1993 election

Abiola and Azikiwe

Abiola and Abacha

... Beginning of the end

photos: ovation international

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WEDNESDAY JUNE 13, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

JUNE 12 CELEBRATION....

JUNE 12 CELEBRATION....

Nigeria’s Democracy Built on the Supreme Sacrifice of Abiola, Says Ambode Our Correspondents The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has stated that the democracy Nigeria is enjoying today was built on the supreme sacrifice made by Chief Moshood Abiola, stressing that honouring him on June 12 is the least the nation could do to appreciate this worthy national figure. Speaking yesterday while unveiling the 37-feet tall Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola’s statue at the Abiola Garden Memorial at the Ojota interchange in Lagos, Ambode disclosed that work on the statue and that of Chief Gani Fawehinmi actually began in 2016 when the state government could not have known that Abiola would be honoured by the federal government . He told the large crowd, including the Abila family led by Abiola’s wife, Dr. Doyin Abiola and his son, Mr. Abdulmumuni Abiola, who thronged the Abiola Garden venue of the unveiling that although Abiola was from a neighbouring state, he lived all his life in Lagos and that he contributed immensely to the economic and socio-political institution of Lagos. Earlier, Abdulmumuni had thanked the state government on behalf of the Abiola family for the honouring his father. He told Ambode that the entire family would have been at Abiola Garden to witness the event but for the conferment of the Grand Commander of Federal Republic (GCFR) award ceremony taking place at the State House, Abuja. Meanwhile, in a symbolic commemoration of the June 12 general election, pro-democracy groups and some of the actors who participated in the struggle for the de-annulment of the result gathered at various places to mark the date. Prominent members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), including former military governor of Lagos State and Chairman, All Purpose Committee, NADECO, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd); NADECO spokesperson, Chief Ayo Opadokun; Mr. Fred Agbeyegbe, Col. Tony Nyiam, Mr. Emeka Ugoji, Mr. Tokunbo Ajasin and others converged on the Ignite Africa Library, Oregun Lagos to mark the date. NADECO, in an address signed by Kanu and Opadokun and delivered at the event, appreciated the declaration by Buhari, but insisted that the government must make some amends in the polity to facilitate national unity. According to the group, the June 12 annulment “killed” the prospect for national unity. “Nigeria must start to work now to convince all Nigerians that they are joint stakeholders in project Nigeria,” he said.

FG to Consider More People for National Honours, Says SGF

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said President Muhammadu Buhari has granted approval for the conferment of National Honours on more distinguished Nigerians for their role towards the enthronement of democratic governance in the country. The SGF made the announcement yesterday at the investiture ceremony for the conferment of national honours on heroes of democracy and the commemoration of June 12 as Democracy Day. Mustapha said the names of the individuals being considered for the honours and their investiture date will be revealed at a later date. He eulogised several groups, individuals, civil society organisations, organised labour, the political class, members of the press for the pivotal roles and resilience in the struggle for the enthronement of an uninterrupted democratic process in the past 19 years.

Obaseki Hails Sacrifice of Abiola, CSOs, Others, Lauds FG on Declaration

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has hailed the federal government’s decision to recognise the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, noting that the gesture restores hope in democratic ideals. In a statement, the governor said that the declaration is a turning point in Nigeria’s history as it recognises the yearnings of Nigerians for democratic society, which the struggle of Abiola and other civil society organisations symbolizes. According to him, “On behalf of the good people of Edo State, I salute the wisdom and courage of President Muhammadu Buhari, in recognising and declaring June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day to honour Chief Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential elections.”

Now a Symbol of Democratic Value, Says Osun Speaker

Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Dr. Najeem Salaam, has said that June 12 has turned symbol of democratic value, where the will of majority prevailed over primordial sentiments, noting that all the antics of the revisionists to bury the instrumental value of that day have proved abortive with the recognition accorded it by the federal government. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Goke Butika, Salaam declared that the spirit of June 12 has taught the people how to summount courage by using their votes to punish those who pushed the country to relegation in the comity of nations through high scale corruption, nepotism and mismanagement of collective resources. He further charged Nigerians to be vigilant, saying men of yester-years

L-R: Human rights activist, Mr. Debo Adeniran; Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa; son of the late Chief MKO Abiola, Abdul-Mumeen; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga; and human rights activist, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, during the Democracy Walk, in Abeokuta... yesterday who pushed Nigeria to the edge have not rested on their oars, because they feed fat on crisis and instability; urging the people against their ploy designed to promote what divides the people instead of what unites the people.

National Honour on Abiola Vindicates Us in SDP, Says Kawonise

Former Commissioner for Information and governorship aspirant on the platform of Ogun State chapter of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr. Sina Kawonise, has praised the doggedness and sacrifices of Chief MKO Abiola who was yesterday conferred with the highest honour in the country, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR). In a statement signed by acting Director, SK Media Office, Mr. Doyin Owobamirin, Kawonise said it was in recognition of the pro-people stance of Abiola and the genuine progressive contents of the party with which he won the 1993 presidential election that galvanised leaders of SDP to re-register the party as the vehicle to get our people out of the current mis-governance at all levels in Nigeria. According to Kawonise, “Before the eventual recognition of the iconic MKO Abiola, current leaders of SDP had seen his greatness and the unequaled sacrifices that he made for democracy and for Nigerians. We studied the constitutions and manifestos of different political parties and singled out those of SDP that won the 1993 presidential election for Abiola and chose it as the genuine progressive platform to adopt in galvanising our people for rapid development and all-encompassing democratic order.”

Emulate Abiola to End Hunger, Family Urges Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to do all he could within his capacity to end hunger in the land. Family of late Moshood Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election, and civil society organisations made the call at the Abiola’s family house located at Oke-Ido, Gbagura in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, on Tuesday after a democracy walk that started from June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta and terminated at the family house. The democracy walk was led by the Ogun Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga who represented the governor and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa. In his remarks, Alhaji Muritala Abiola, Head of Abiolas family, expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari’s gesture for, at the end of the day, given recognition for their bread winner, as the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.

APC Group Harps on Democracy, Insists on Party Supremacy

A political pressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, the Rivers Unity House, yesterday held a lecture in Port Harcourt, to mark the June 12 Democracy Day recently declared by President Muhammadu Buhari, and declared that for democracy to survive in the country, party supremacy must be upheld. Speaking at the lecture tagged, “June 12: Our Pain, Our Gain”, Chairman of APC in the state, Hon. Ojukaye Flagg-Amachree, who said the party is passing through a test in the state, expressed the hope that the party would come out stronger from the test. Flagg-Amachree, who was represented by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Finebone, said: “The APC in Rivers State is presently passing through a test but from my own assessment, the party is emerging stronger from the test we are passing through.” In his lecture titled: ‘Unity and Party Supremacy,’ former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Leyii Kwanee, said party

supremacy was necessary to maintain discipline among politicians and ensure the success of democracy in the country. He noted that human beings, being free moral agents, nurse different and conflicting aspirations as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, but added that there was need for the party to control their aspirations.

Honours: Wabara Lauds Buhari

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Sir Marc Wabara, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the conferment of national honours on Chief M. K. O. Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1983 presidential election. Describing the award as “significant in many ways,” Wabara noted that the gesture “is an act of statesmanship geared towards national healing and cohesion,” adding that “History will be kind to President Buhari for having the courage to redress this long-standing smear on our democratic landscape.” The Abia South senatorial aspirant and former bank chief executive stated that aside from the closure the awards and declaration of June 12 as a national holiday have brought to June 12 activists and Nigerians generally, “The honours will go a long way in cementing our democratic ethos, leading inevitably to national unity, growth and development.” He described the honours as “long overdue,” commending former National Electoral Commission (NEC) Chairman, Professor Humphrey Nwosu “for his steadfastness, courage and integrity. He is indeed deserving of appropriate honour alongside other June 12 activists.” Wabara stated that President Buhari has by the awards “shown high leadership ideal and the political will worthy of emulation by current and future leaders.”

Nigerians Commend FG on Abiola

As Nigeria yesterday commemorated June 12 as the nation’s Democracy Day yesterday, most Nigerians agreed that the decision of the federal government to honour Chief MKO Abiola and other heroes of the struggle for democracy in the country is a worthy gesture. According to the factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Mr. Fouad Oki, “the action today is actually the beginning of the real effort to heal the wound of the struggle. It is the commencement of the process to bury the negative side of the struggle, the frustrations and anger and injustice.” Oki stressed that the wounds of the June 12 struggles would only be healed finally if the federal government can “erect a cenotaph and lay wreaths in honour and memory of all those who lost their lives in the struggle of June 12 1993 before we can truly and fully have peace in the country.” “Their spirit has continued to torment our system and political process; we must therefore collectively honour them. These truly are the unsung heroes and heroines who paid the supreme price for us to have democracy in our Country. Until the government releases the Justice Oputa Panel report and implement its recommendations, we are not likely going to truly forgive one another.” Similar sentiment was shared by another chieftain of the APC in Lagos state, Mr. Dayo Bush who said that although the acknowledgement of the supreme sacrifice of Abiola is coming 25 years after, the action of the federal government is praiseworthy. Bush who prayed that no other person would ever need to make such monumental sacrifice said that the only compensation is that he did not not die in vain. Also speaking, Chief Samuel Ogbuku said that June 12 will remain a remarkable date in the political history of Nigeria. “It represents patriotism, when Nigerians for the first time trooped to the polls to vote for their choice of candidate devoid of ethnic inclination. Hence, it’s termed the most credible election in Nigeria.”

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WEDNESDAY JUNE 13, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Nigerians Not Fooled By Buhari’s Image Laundering in Morocco, Says PDP Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the praises showered on Nigerians by President Muhammadu Buhari before his host, the Moroccan Prime Minister, Saadeddine Othman, as a cover-up for his deep-seated disdain for Nigerian youths. The opposition party said Buhari was making a vain effort to launder his image and reverse the public opprobrium he earned himself for his “lazy youths” comment. It also described the president’s speech as “a poorly packaged deception to sugarcoat his deep-seated disdain for Nigerian youths.” In a statement issued by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said Buhari’s sudden praise-singing for Nigerian youths in faraway Morocco was only a desperate afterthought aimed to reverse the public criticism he earned himself for his “lazy youths and lovers of freebies” comment, and not borne out of genuine regard for our youths. According to the statement, “He should simply come to

terms with the fact that the only expectation Nigerians require of him is to tender a direct apology for his abysmal performance and get prepared to leave the stage for a more innovative, and people-oriented president which Nigerians will elect on the platform of PDP in 2019. “Unfortunately for the president, our youths now know better and can no longer fall for his tricks. Every Nigerian is aware of President Buhari’s disdain for our citizens and sees his reported comments in Morocco as inconsistent with his known beliefs and dispositions.” PDP said Nigerians should recall that in a most recent gaffe, the president had described the members of our National Assembly as idle and unproductive, just as he dismissed the Nigerian youths as unfit to run for presidency in 2019, even while signing the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ bill into law. The party added: “Perhaps, this explains why his handlers resorted to heavily edited statement on the Morocco visit. “President Buhari should

know that a visit to Moroccan Prime Minister cannot wash away the disgraceful invectives he openly poured on the energetic and vivacious Nigerian youths at the Commonwealth Heads of

Government Meeting (CHOGM), where most of the world leaders were present. “He would need another CHOGM in London to remove his lazy and lover of freebies

stamp on our youths. The PDP is aware of the desperate bid by President Buhari to stop at nothing to beguile the citizens once again that election is around the corner.”

The party stated that it was important to inform the president that Nigerian now know his true colours and would reject any design to take them on a second ride to nowhere.

HONOURING ABIOLA Ambode: Fiscal Federalism L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule; wife of late Chief Moshood Abiola, Dr. Doyinsola Abiola; Governor Akinwunmi his wife, Bolanle; and Chairman, June 12 Coalition, Comrade Linus Okoroji, during the unveiling of Abiola’s statue at the MKO Only Path to True Nationhood Ambode; Abiola Garden, Alapere, Ketu, Lagos...yesterday Unveils Abiola’s 37-feet statue Gboyega Akinsanmi Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday said Nigeria’s democratic experience would never be an ideal model without entrenching fiscal federalism, noting that a true federal system “is the only path to nationhood.” The governor has also unveiled a new 37-feet statue of the presumed winner of the June 12 election, Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola at Alapere, Lagos. As a federating unit, Ambode noted that the government of Lagos State “stands for a restructuring process that will lead to fiscal federalism and devolution of power.” He stated this at a public lecture the state government organised yesterday to mark the 25th anniversary of the June 12 presidential election held at the Lagos TV complex in Agidingbi. After the public lecture attended by many pro-democracy leaders, Ambode unveiled a new 37-feet statue of Abiola. At the lecture titled: ‘Restructuring: Antidote for Ineffective and Ineffective Politics’, the governor noted that the country’s democratic experience might still be far from ideal without entrenching fiscal federalism. He added that fiscal federalism “is the only way to achieve true nationhood. “We are absolutely convinced that it is the right way to go for us to realise the optimum potential and prosperity of the federating states and the country.” Ambode said since the annulment of June 12, the struggle for its actualisation had continued until President Muhammadu Buhari pronounced the day as Democracy Day and conferred posthumous

award on Abiola, Chief Gani Fawehinmi and others. By this singular act of the president, Ambode said he “has written his name in gold in the political history of Nigeria. “This formal recognition is a crown of victory to the struggle that had taken the lives of so many nationalists and patriots.” He commended leaders of the June 12 struggle, which included retired Gen. Alani Akinrinade, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Walter Carrington, Justice Dolapo Akinsanya, Chief Frank Kokori, retired Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu and Hon. Olawale Oshun among others. Also at the public lecture, Special Adviser to the governor on Civic Engagement, Hon. Benjamin Olabinjo, said June 12 stands as a universal pact for all Nigerians. He added that Lagos State had never lost sight of the importance of identifying with the struggle and the defence of democracy and the universal right of all individuals to actualise their maximum potential. The guest lecturer, Dr. Dele Ashiru, called for special status for Lagos being the commercial nerve centre of the country and also called for the restructuring of the country. Ashiru, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, said a situation where a behemoth sat at the centre and distributed resources to others was an anathema to federalism. Abiola’s son, Abdulmuminu, lamented that for 16 years, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) failed to honour his father, and commended the All Progressives Congress (APC) for honour accorded his father. He thanked Ambode and the state government for building a bigger statue in honour of his father.

Saraki: Senate is Committed Towards Eradication of Child Labour Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has reiterated the commitment of the Senate and indeed, the National Assembly towards the eradication of child labour in the country. Saraki, in a statement issued in Abuja, yesterday to mark this year’s World Day Against Child Labour, said over 10.5 million Nigerian children are currently out of school He therefore canvassed for the promotion of integrated strategies to end hazardous child labour; ensuring quality education for all children and addressing the vulnerabilities of children and

their entry into child labour. “Today, we reiterate our stance on eradicating child labour in Nigeria. Globally, according to the International Labour Organisation, over 152 million children are engaged in child labour, while UNICEF estimates that in the poorest countries, one in four children are engaged in child labour. “From what we know, Nigeria has over 10.5million out-of-school children-the highest in the world-which implies that millions of children across the nation are engaged in child labour-hawking on our streets and working under appalling conditions instead

of being in school. This is not acceptable. “This eighth Senate will continue to remain committed to issues of child’s rights, violence against children and child labour. This is why since we took office, we have worked on reversing this trend by collaborating with the state Houses of Assembly to push for the domestication of the Child’s Rights Act across the country. “What is more important is that as we work towards the domestication of the Child Rights law at the state level, we must also push for better law enforcement of the existing legal

frameworks and work towards raising more awareness about our obligation to defend the rights of children,” Saraki said. He also stated that the Senate, through its oversight powers, would continue to work towards ensuring more effective coordination among the ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government that deal with the issues of children, child labour and human trafficking. “We remain concerned and we remain committed, protecting our children from abuse and all forms of exploitation must be a priority of all public office holders,” Saraki further said

Court Fixes Ruling On EFCC’s Suit against Ex-Katsina Governor, Shema Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Katsina State High Court is to commence ruling on the matter brought before it by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over alleged money laundering levelled against the former Governor of the state, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, to the tune of N11 billion on July 9 and 10, 2018. The presiding Judge of the Court, Justice Ibrahim Maikaita, reserved the ruling on the issue yesterday after intense arguments by the legal teams of the EFCC and that of the former governor and three others. During the proceedings, a witness in the case who is the

state’s former Auditor-General, Ibrahim Dabo, was called to the witness box to give evidence. However, the EFCC lead Counsel, Sam Ologunorisa SAN inquired whether Dabo was given an appointment letter to serve as Chairman of the Investigative panel set up by Governor Aminu Masari to probe the finances of local government councils in the state and that of State Universal Basic Education Board. But Dabo answered the question in affirmative by producing the letter which was tendered to the court as exhibit and his EFCC statement to court. Meanwhile, Shema’s lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN

and that of other three accused asked the court not to recognise Dabo’s documents including the letter appointing him as the Chairman of the Investigative panel that probe the finances of local government areas in the state. Daudu, who enumerated several portions of the Evidence Act, told the court that it was Dabo’s oral evidence that should be admitted. Justice Maikata, however overruled their objections and allowed Dabo to read his EFCC statement to the court. It was a dramatic proceedings when Ologunorisa SAN, sought to tender the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the report of the

Commission of inquiry set up by Katsina State Government on Shema’s administration as further evidence against the accused. The plea that Daudu objected and insisted that the report was also the work of other people rather than that of Dabo who was its chairman. He alleged that no evidence was attached to the report urging the court to reject the report. Ologunorisa admonished the court to overrule the defence counsel’s objection to the admission of the report as further evidence. After listening to both parties, Justice Maikata adjourned ruling to July 9 and 10, July, 2018, promising to commence trial immediately after the ruling.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 13, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSEXTRA

NERC Reawards Power Licences on Disputed Ariaria Market to New Operator Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday made a controversial regulatory declaration, stating that it had awarded to a new operator licenses to generate and distribute electricity within the disputed Ariaria Market in Abia despite the existing license to distribute electricity in the market still under contention. With the new licences, NERC indicated it might no longer regard an existing licence held by Geometrics Aba Power for electricity supply to Ariaria, or that of Enugu electricity distribution company (Disco) which has contested Geometrics rights over the market for years now.

In a statement signed by its Head, Media Unit, Mrs. Vivian Mbonu, and sent to THISDAY in Abuja, commission said it took a decision to re-award an operational licence over the market to a new operator - Ariaria Independent Energy Distribution Network Limited, for the generation and distribution of 9.5 megawatts (MW) of electricity because it was protecting the interests of the public. It explained it did this in line with Section 71(6) of the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005, adding that the licences to the new operator would address the challenges of power supply to the market. “The NERC in pursuit of overriding public interest has

Ekweremadu Frowns at Relegation of Women in Governance Deji Elumoye inAbuja The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has frowned at the seeming relegation of women to the background in the country’s political dispensation. Ekweremadu, who spoke in Abuja yesterday at a stakeholders’ forum to improve the representation of women in politics. lamented that despite the active participation of women like late Kudirat Abiola, Ayo Obe and Joe Okei-Odumakin in the evolvement of Nigeria’s democratic dispensation “women continue to be relegated in the governance of the country. “Ours has been a case of one step forward, two, and sometimes, three steps backward. Our women have been held down by factors ranging from the cultural to religious, economic and political. “Our society wrongly believes that the role of the woman is that of a fosterer and in the kitchen. There is the wrong notion that women are not meant to lead, thus placing a glass ceiling over them. Those who vie for leadership positions are viewed as overambitious and deviants. Ekweremadu observed that while Nigeria ranked 168th in women in politics globally, Rwanda ranked world’s number one “Women representation in parliament where major policies are discussed and given legal backing is very poor. “According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Nigeria places a very distant 168th position in women representation in national parliaments worldwide as at May 2018. Nigeria is just slightly better than a few countries like Thailand, Kuwait, Lebanon, Haiti and Oman. “Conversely, Rwanda is first in the world, while Namibia is 5th. Ironically also, other African country’s such as South Africa, Mozambique, Ethiopia and Senegal are among the top 20,” he added. The deputy Senate president recommended an amendment to Section 42 of the Constitution and a change to proportional representation to boost women representation in governance. He explained: “You cannot confer any special political advantage on women under the 1999 Constitution as amended because Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution clearly provides that

you cannot discriminate against any Nigerian by the reason of his or her community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion. “Therefore, the first step is to amend Section 42 of the Constitution to provide for an exception and also a special quota for women in line with the 35 per cent Affirmative Action. “What Rwandans did was to amend the country’s constitution in 2003 to provide for a minimum 30 per cent quota for women in all the decision-making bodies and organs, including the national parliament and political parties’ leadership. Today, Rwandan women not only control the majority in the country’s national parliament, Rwanda is also the first country with women majority in a national parliament. “However, a constitutional provision for a quota for the women in elected positions will be difficult to achieve under our current first-past-the-post voting system. We need to adopt the proportional representation system in which each political party will eventually be allocated parliamentary seats in proportion to the votes they garnered at the polls. That way, they will effectively be in a position to distribute the seats in a way that honours affirmative actions in favour of women, minority groups, the physically challenged among others.” Ekweremadu observed that leading African countries in women representation in parliament such as Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Mozambique operate proportional representation voting system. Citing the last constitution amendment effort during which the proposal to reserve 35 per cent of the appointments into the federal and state cabinets for women was defeated, Ekweremadu warned that “Nigeria may never get to the Promised Land until Nigerian women occupy their rightful place in governance,” noting that “they have the integrity, knowledge and empathy to build a better future.” In his presentation, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State, Nwachukwu Orji, said while the retrogression in women representation in Nigeria was quite unexpected, progress was possible if Nigeria adopted the right policies and legal reforms.

granted a 9.5 megawatts embedded electricity generation licence to AriariaMarket Independent Power Plant Limited and an Independent Electricity Distribution Licence to distribute same within Ariaria Market to Ariaria Independent Energy Distribution Network Limited “The licences, issued in line with Section 71(6) of the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005 were granted after careful consideration of the applications in public interest to promote access to common goods and to promote commercialisation and industrialisation for which Ariaria, a leading commercial hub in the country is reputed for,” said the NERC in its statement. It further explained: “Both licences granted to Araiaria were affirmation of the Commission’s commitment and response to the long-time yearnings of the

market for a stable, reliable and sustainableelectricity supply to improve quality of goods and services by Nigerian enterprises and entrepreneurs.” Ariaria and Aba had been under contention since the privatisation of the power sector in 2013, with Enugu Disco laying claim to it despite a reported 2005/2006 agreement the federal government reached with Geometric Power Ltd for it to build a 188MW power plant in Osisioma Aba, and exclusively distribute to Aba and Ariaria within a specific period of years. Both Geometric and Enugu Disco have however beenin court over the dispute, but were in 2016 asked to settle out of court through the intervention of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. The out of court settlement, THISDAY learnt had not been concluded before the federal

government through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) contracted a new operator to build an embedded power plant in Ariaria. The construction of the embedded plant was equally challenged by Enugu Disco before the NERC granted the new license to Ariaria Independent Energy Distribution Network Limited. THISDAY however tried to reach a former minister of power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, who owns Geometrics Power, for his comment on the development, but could not reach him as at the time of filing this report. However, an official of Geometrics who spoke on condition of anonymity informed the paper that the NERC may have reneged on its promise to be fair in dealing with the issue when it was presented to it. The official explained that both

Geometrics and Enugu Disco had intimated the commission on the development and were invited to a meeting where the REA and Ariaria Independent Energy Distribution Network Limited reportedly failed to show up. He noted that the NERC promised to set up a fresh meeting with the REA and the new operator to iron out the issues but then went ahead to grant a licenses for the embedded power plant. The official expressed his concerns with the development but did not state what line of action Geometrics would likely take. The two business units of Aba and Ariaria, were previously owned by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) but handed over to Enugu Disco on November 1, 2013, following the privatisation of the PHCN assets despite Geometrics reported agreement with the government over them.

COMMUNAL EFFORTS

L-R: President, Arepo Community Central Development Association (ACCDA), Mr. Kehinde Adeyemo; Chairman, Shalom Estate, Arepo, Mr. Shina Shitu:General Secretary (ACCDA), Mr. Friday Erabor; and Chairman, Sofolahan Estate, Mr. Sani Bello, during the Arepo Community Central Development Association road fund raising, held at Arepo, Ogun State....recently Sunday Adigun

Buhari Reappoints FRSC Corp Marshall, Others into Federal Agencies Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, has reappointed the Corp Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboye Olayemi Oyeyemi, for a second and final term of four years as the Chief Executive Officer of the agency, with effect from July 24, 2018. A statement issued yesterday by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olusegun A. Adekunle, said Buhari approved the renewal of the tenure of Oyeyemi and five other CEOs of federal agencies. The statement added that the

president, similarly, approved the appointment of two new Chief Executive Officers of federal agencies and one Senior Special Assistant. The other renewed appointment is Dr Jafaru Alunua Momoh, as the Chief Medical Director, National Hospital, Abuja, who was appointed for a second and final term of four years, with effect, from 5th July, 2018. Dr. Nwadinigwe Uwatoronye was named the Medical Director, National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu State for second and final term of four years, with effect, from May 30, 2018. Others include: Director

General, Energy Commission of Nigeria; Prof. Eli JidereBala; DG, National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Mohammed Jibrin, and Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Prof. Mohammed Haruna. The new appointments approved by the president are Dr Ali Adamu as the Provost Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, Gombe State, for an initial period of four years with effect from 25th May, 2018 and Dr. Yaya Baba Adamu, as the Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarrawa State.

Adamu’s appointment is for an initial period of four years with effect from 1st April, 2018. The Presidency has also approved the appointment of Ambassador Yahaya Lawal as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. The Appointment is with effect from April 1, 2018. The president charged the appointees to live up to the high expectations of the public for prompt, conscientious and self-less service at all times. He urged them to regard public offices as trust that should not be betrayed.

Kukah, Akpabio, Okeke, Adesina, Others for Newspaper Launch Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Chairman, Swiss Spirit Danag Port Harcourt, Chief Daniel Chimezie Okeke and Special

Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina are among key dignitaries who will on Friday June 15, at the Banquet Hall of the Sheraton Hotel & Towers Lagos to

formally launch The New Narrative Newspapers, a first of its kind governance newspaper in Nigeria. According to a statement by the Publisher/CEO of the

newspaper, Mr. Kalu Okoronkwo, The New Narrative Newspaper is a new publication that promotes transparent leadership and accountability of public office holders.

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Boko Haram Razes Adamawa Community Over 13 houses in Kaya, a village close to Gulak headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State were yesterday morning razed down by Boko Haram insurgents. Confirming the incidence, the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly (ADHA), Hon. Emmanuel Tsandu, who is also the lawmaker representing the area, said the insurgents were repelled

by the troops of the Nigerian Army. According to him, the soldiers killed one member of Boko Haram, one of the vigilante men was injured by the insurgents and rushed to the federal medical centre Yola. “We thank God no life was lost,” he said. Also confirming the attacks, the Chairman of Madagali Local Government, Hon Mohammed Yusuf, said the soldiers played a

Traditional Ruler Killed, Houses Burnt as Tension Grips Enugu Community Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu Tension gripped residents of the sleepy Ogbosinne community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State yesterday following the gruesome murder of a traditional ruler, Igwe Stephen Nwatu. The tragic incident has led to the burning down of about 25 buildings in the community by irate youths, even as most residents of the area have already abandoned their homes. THISDAY checks revealed that the traditional ruler was mobbed by his subjects when he allegedly wanted to prevent them from attending a scheduled meeting with the state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi last Monday afternoon. In the ensuing fracas, the monarch was alleged to have ordered his driver to overrun his subjects, who refused to yield to his orders to return home. Apparently obeying his master’s orders, the driver had reportedly driven into the crowd, knocking down one elderly man and breaking his legs in the process, while others sustained different degrees of injuries. The man is now receiving treatment at the Federal Orthopedic Hospital in the state. Following the attack on the crowd, it was gathered that the people had rather descended on the traditional ruler and not only beat him to pulp but stripped him

naked. He was later rushed to Enugu State Teaching Hospital where he was said to have died in the early hours of yesterday. The Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area, Henry Okenwa, confirmed the unfortunate development when contacted by journalists. “I was informed about the incident last Monday afternoon and I rushed to the Parklane Hospital where I met him unconscious. He was later revived and he spoke with me. So, I left the hospital to allow him to stabilise,” he said. “Regrettably, around 1 a.m., I received another call that the traditional ruler has passed on. I equally rushed back to the hospital where I found it to be true. We made efforts to deposit him in the mortuary, he said. “Since last Monday night, police have been battling to ensure that there was peace. The burning of houses probably started after the police left the community and I have briefed the governor. As we speak, I am with the commissioner of police discussing the situation,” he said. Also, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Ebere Amaraizu, a Superintendent of Police confirmed the death of the royal father. Amaraizu said: “The command through the operatives of the state intelligence and investigations department has commenced a full scale investigation into the incident with a view to finding out the circumstances surrounding the incident as well as those involved.”

very good role in repelling the insurgent. He commended their effort and

A fake army officer who bears the name Bartholomew Paul, and specialises in smuggling cars into the country, has been arrested by the Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). It was alleged that the accused was posing as an army officer in the state. The suspect was paraded yesterday along with seven others for their alleged involvement in pipeline vandalism, vandalism of telecommunication cables, illegal dealings on transformer cables and illegal possession and dealings in firearms and ammunition. Parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Lokoja, the state Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Everestus Obiyo, said the alleged impersonator was arrested at the Nigeria Army check-point at Ayere in the Western part of the state.

Paul, according to the commandant, has been smuggling cars from Seme Border using the military uniform. In his statement, Paul told journalists how he was caught by security agencies in Kogi State. According to him, “I am a driver who usually buys cars for people. At the military checking point, the soldiers stopped me because the car that I drove was tinted. They asked me who the owner of the vehicle was, quickly I responded that I am not the owner but it belongs to my brother. Then, they insisted that they are going to search the vehicle. When they searched the vehicle, they discovered where I kept the military uniform inside the boot with my fake military identity card. My friend advised me to do the fake military identity card to prevent security men from stopping me on the road while smuggling fairly used cars into the country. I used to smuggle car from Kotonou.” The suspect alleged that one Sergeant Sanni Bello attached to 323

LGAs as there are still pocket of attacks being recorded. He lamented that more than

half of the people who are farmers largely depends on farming activities to survive.

Enugu Doctors Drum Support for Ugwuanyi Medical doctors in Enugu State for the first time in the history of the state yesterday paid a solidarity visit to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the Government House in appreciation of his entrenchment of peace and good governance. The doctors, who came out in their numbers expressed support for the governor saying that the decision was based on his strong commitment to God and their objective assessment of his sterling performance in spite of the country’s economic challenges. They observed that besides regular payment of salaries on 23rd of every month, massive infrastructural development across the three senatorial districts, and other numerous people-oriented programmes in all spheres of development, Enugu State through Gov. Ugwuanyi’s meticulous

financial management and commitment to public expenditure transparency, has been rated high as “among the only three states that have fulfilled obligations to their workers”. The doctors added that Enugu is “one of the few states that can survive without federal allocations”, among others, saying: “We have come to identify with you; to tell you that we are happy and proud of you; to say that you have done well and we are in solidarity and in support of your administration to continue beyond 2019”. In their remarks, the Chief of Staff to the Governor and Commissioner for Health, Festus Uzor and Fintan Ekochin, described the visit as “unprecedented in the history of Enugu State”, stressing: “it was a clear indication that the

governor is doing well”. Uzor therefore, advised the governor that “whatever you have been doing to earn this rare solidarity and support, may you continue to do it”, adding that “this visit will serve as a tonic for you to do more and much better”. Responding, Gov. Ugwuanyi, who expressed gratitude to the doctors for the show of support and solidarity, highlighted the various achievements of his administration in the health sector, especially in the rural areas and assured them that he will not take such gesture for granted. Some of the doctors present at the event, comprising elders in the medical profession, professors, consultant surgeons and physicians, resident doctors etc include, Dr. Arthur Chinedu

Idoko (Coordinator Doctors for Gburus 2019); Prof. Hyacinth Onah (CMD Parklane Hospital Enugu); Dr. Chukwuemeka Ogbuabor (Chairman House Committee on Health); Dr. Ifeanyi Agujuaobi (Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Enugu State); Dr. Hillary Agbo (Executive Secretary SPHDA); Dr. Agu (Executive Secretary ENSACA). Others were, Dr. John Chukwuani (Health Administrator SHB); Dr. Martins Chukwunwike (Former Commissioner for Health); Dr. Eric Oluedo (Director VEC); Prof C.B Eze (Former CMD Parklane Hospital); Prof Ezegwui (Dean of Medicine UNTH, Enugu); Prof Ugochukwu (Provost College of Medicine, Parklane Enugu), Prof. Frank Ezugwu (Dean of Medicine, Parklane Hospital, Enugu); Dr. Barth Ezugwu, among others.

One Feared Killed, Another Missing in Suspected Herdsmen’s Attack in Nasarawa Emmanuel Ukumba in Lafia Barely a month after vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, assured the fleeing Tiv people of Nasrarawa State of their safety during his recent visit to the state, suspected herdsmen were yesterday reported to have killed a Tiv farmer in Gada-Biu village of Obi Local Government Area. This was even as one person was also reported missing following the attack at the early hours of yesterday. An eyewitness told THISDAY in Lafia that the victims, who were in company of other farmers, were surrounded on their farm by the suspected Fulani herdsmen and butchered the unsuspected victim. The eyewitness, who is a journalist but prefered anonymous, lamented that the incident took place at about 6:45a.m. yesterday. “The Tiv farmers went to their

Fake Army Officer Specialised in Smuggling Cars Arrested in Kogi Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

called the attention of the federal government to beef up security in Madagali LGA and the surrounding

artillery brigade in Akure, Ondo State, helped him to make the fake identity card. “Sergeant Bello said I should keep the identity card and the military uniform inside the vehicle so that wherever I am, there won’t be problem with security officers stopping me on the road,” the suspect added. Items recovered from Paul are Black Lexus SUV, full military uniform, two number of military uniform passport, dependent military identity car and two number identity cards, bearing different name. Other suspects paraded by the command for pipeline vandalism and illegal possession of fire arms and ammunition are Mohammed Adamu, Abubakar Abdulkareem, Hafiz Musa, Faruk Ibrahim, Oseni Yau, Adamu Asuba, and Gideon Isaac. All the suspects, according to the commandant, will be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

farm to cultivate thier farm this morning when the Fulani people surrounded the farmers and butchered one Aondovihi Tuur who died immediately, while Virlumun Atsagba is presently missing as over

twenty others are severely wounded and are receiving treatment in the Agaza Primary Health Care Centre in Obi LGA of the state”, he claimed. All attempts to get reaction from the state police command on the

recent attack were not fruitful as the Police Public Relations Officer, Ismaila Usman, promised to get back. But as of the time of filing in the report, the PPRO was yet to respond.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018

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WEDNESDAYSPORTS

WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

24 HOURS TO KICK OFF

Eagles to Train Behind Closed Gates in Essentuki Kramaric insists clash with Nigeria will define Croatia’s progress in Group D Duro Ikhazuagbe Super Eagles players are to have their last training in Essentuki this evening before flying out to Kaliningrad tomorrow morning ahead of the team’s opening game against Croatia on Saturday. According to Media Officer of the team, Toyin Ibitoye, the public and media will be allowed the first 15 minutes of the morning session while the second training in the evening will be behind closed doors. Before the training, Eagles handlers are to have session with sportswriters on the team’s preparations for the tournament. After the six hours flight from Austria to the Russian city on Monday evening, Eagles trained at 5pm local time (3pm Nigeria) yesterday evening. Earlier, FIFA and Local

Organising Committee (LOC) officials conducted arrival meetings with the administrative officials of the three-time African champions at their Sanatorium Istochnik Hotel team base camp in Essentuki. Ibitoye confirmed further that hundreds of excited Russian football fans were present to watch the Super Eagles training. The training which lasted two hours was rounded up with a two-a-side game between what looked like the likely starting XI against Croatia. Skipper John Mikel Obi and Ahmed Musa were on target for the likely starters, while Joel Obi opened scoring for the hopefuls. Eagles opening game of Group D is to hold at the 35,000-capacity Kaliningrad Arena. Meanwhile, Croatia striker,

Andrej Kramaric, has warned that Saturday’s opening Group D match against Nigeria will define his team’s outing at the World Cup in Russia. Saturday’s match in Kaliningrad will kick off at 8pm local time, which will

be 6pm in Nigeria. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two countries at full international level as Croatia only became an independent country in 1992. According to ScoreNigeria,

Kramaric believes the game is a crunchy one for his starstudded team, who qualified for Russia 2018 through the playoffs. “Nigeria for me is the most difficult and most important opponent,” he said at the

team’s training ground in Saint Petersburg. “That game is for us opening or the closing of the World Cup. So, we will have full concentration on that game.” Argentina and Iceland are the other teams in Group D.

MultiChoice Extends Customer Call Service Hours for Russia 2018 With the 2018 FIFA World Cup only a few days away, MultiChoice Nigeria has announced an extension of its Call Centre operating hours from 8am till midnight daily, until the 16 July, 2018. This extension will allow customers on its DStv and GOtv platforms have access to quality service as they enjoy every moment of the tournament. Previously operating daily from 8am to 9pm, the three-hour extension will give customers more time to contact customer care representatives on varying issues such as subscription payment, reconnection and content scheduling. Speaking on the recent development, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe said the extension is for customers to have access to quality service as they watch the World Cup on DStv and GOtv. “By increasing our operational hours, we have

improved our service delivery in a significant way. Now our customers have more time to reach us when they encounter any hitches with our services and be assured of prompt resolution. “We are continually shaping our business to respond to our customers’ needs and this includes service efficiency. Great customer service is a key component of our strategy to provide end-to-end solutions, delivery and support to our customers,” he said. “DStv and GOtv customers can now reach MultiChoice customer care representatives daily from 8am till midnight until the 16th of July, 2018. “In addition, toll free numbers are in full operation and available on major network providers. The toll free lines are 09090630333 for Etisalat, 07080630333 for Airtel, 08113630333 for Glo and 08149860333 for MTN,” concludes the pay TV channel.

Eagles at training in Essentuki, Russia yesterday. After the Morning training, newsmen and fans are not allowed into the evening training

Pinnick, 210 Others to Decide World Cup 2026 Host President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Member of the CAF Executive Committee, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, and the heads of the remaining 210 member associations of the world football-governing body, FIFA will today in Moscow decide the host candidate for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. All 211 member associations of FIFA will vote at the body’s 68th Congress in the Russian capital to choose between African candidate Morocco, and the joint bid of the USA, Canada and Mexico. Morocco is bidding for the

fifth time to host the world’s biggest single-sport fiesta, and has launched a compact bid in which all host cities are within a radius of maximum two hours by air travel. In contrast, the USA-CanadaMexico bid spans the entire North American continent, and could present host cities that are the farthest apart in the history of the competition that began in 1930. The 2026 finals will be the first to have 48 teams in attendance. On Sunday, at the 7th meeting of the FIFA Council (formerly known as FIFA Executive Committee), the two

bids were ratified to be voted on following the publication of the Bid Evaluation Report by the 2026 Bid Evaluation Task Force. In the unlikely event that the Congress decides not to choose either of the two candidates, FIFA will then launch a fresh procedure by inviting all interested member associations (outside the four already involved) in the second phase. Styled the ‘United Bid’, the candidacy of USA-CanadaMexico says it potentially has 23 host cities, with 17 of these located in the USA. There are

three in Canada and three in Mexico. Morocco’s candidacy is believed to be strong with support expected from a majority of African countries and the European confederation. USA hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1994, while Mexico hosted in 1970 and 1986. Canada has never hosted the World Cup but staged the Olympic Games in 1976, the Under-17 World Cup in 1987, the Under-20 World Cup in 2007 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015. The 2022 FIFA World Cup finals will take place in Qatar.

Mikel Obi: I Was Born Michael but Ended up with Mikel Tag Super Eagles Captain John Mikel Obi is not the only player to have fallen a victim of inheriting the name he was not given at birth. A prominent footballers like Emmanuel Amuneke who was tagged Amunike suffered same fate until lately as a retired footballer. Both players were destined to face the fate the new names will bring to them playing for the national football team. In this report, Mikel revealed to FEMI SOLAJA how he embraced the new name till date. Excerpts... Dateline was 2002, when the Golden Eaglets technical crew had assembled young crop of players in preparations for the African qualifying matches to the FIFA U-17 tournament in Finland in 2003. The young Obi was among the aspiring talents aiming to soar to greater height with the tournament as stepping stone. According to Obi, “my real name is John Michael Obi unfortunately, somebody mis-spelt my name and since then I have being living with it without any regret. “I did not notice it in the first place because my desire to represent Nigeria at international competition

was uppermost in my mind. Although we crashed out in the group stage, the event was a ladder for me to reach the top following offers from abroad. All I did was to consult with my dad and he did not see anything wrong in my adopting the name, Mikel and since them I’ve moved from glory to glory,” Mikel revealed to THISDAY before the team departed Port Harcourt for the Mundial. The Tianjin Teda FC midfielder who is leading Nigeria at the Mundial in Russia said the tournament is special to him considering the fact that his girl friend is from Russia. “I am at home

here in Russia and it will be a unique thing playing before my in laws,” he remarked with a smile. “My girl friend is delighted that I’m leading the Nigerian team to her homeland and you know that family comes first in anything we do. She has been very supportive and she knows my desire to lead Nigeria to glory here in Russia, hence the issue about her allegiance does not come even if Nigeria happens to face host, Russia in the course of this tournament,” Mikel remarked. On the chances of the team to progress into the next round considering the fact

that Argentina, Croatia and Iceland are in the group, Mikel insisted that Iceland is the team to watch out for considering the fact that they are the minnows but with hearts of lions. “Look at what they achieved at the Euro 2016 and the qualifying series to the World Cup is an indication that they have a lot to offer but most people are looking in the direction of Croatia and Argentina. “Our target is to get positive result in the opening match and this will inspire the team in the subsequent matches even against our perennial World Cup opponent, Argentina,” he

pointed out. Although Mikel sees Lionel Messi as a better player to Cristiano Ronaldo in all ramifications, he however believes it’s high time he banishes the ghost of always losing to the Argentine. “It’s been long story dating back to 2005 when Flying Eagles of lost 1-2 to Argentina in the final match of FIFA U-20 Championship in Holland and since then nothing has changed. I think it is time for me to get my revenge considering the quality and determination of the present generation of players in Eagles. “Lionel Messi, no doubt is

world best footballer and he has won and lost matches playing for the national team except Nigeria. He has stole a lot from me and I want to assure Nigerians that the judgment day is here in this World Cup tournament in Russia,” Mikel boasted. THISDAY recalls that the only time Nigeria defeated the Argentine national team was the last International friendly in Russia late last year, unfortunately both team captains were missing in action and thus set another opportunity for them to meet at the forth coming World Cup finals in Russia.

Ëœ ÍŻÍąËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś Ëž T H I S D AY

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WEDNESDAYSPORTS WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN

24 HOURS TO KICK OFF

Defending Champions Germany Hit Town Reigning champions Germany arrived in Russia yesterday to join the World Cup party as Belgium downplayed an injury scare over star player Eden Hazard in their final warm-up match. Gareth Southgate’s youthful England team are also due to touch down as excitement

mounts ahead of tomorrow’s opening fixture in Moscow between host nation Russia and Saudi Arabia. Germany, aiming to join Brazil as five-time winners of the World Cup, landed near Moscow, ahead of their first match against Mexico on Sunday.

The Germans are among a select group of favourites alongside Spain, France and Brazil but there are lingering questions over their form. Joachim Loew’s side went five games without a win before labouring to a 2-1

victory over Saudi Arabia in their final warm-up and first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been injured and hardly played since September. But the Germans have made at least the semifinals in each of the past four World Cups

and have a habit of finding form when they need it most. The defending champions open their World Cup against Group F opponents Mexico in Moscow on June 17. They also play Sweden and South Korea.

Loew warned Germany’s rivals had all made strides since 2014. “There will be a high standard of opposition. Spain have improved, while Brazil and Argentina are up there,� he said.

Pitana to OfďŹ ciate Russia versus S’Arabia Opening Match Argentina’s Nestor Pitana has been assigned as the referee for the Opening Match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup between Russia and Saudi Arabia on tomorrow 12 June at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The Argentine officiated the semi final match Nigeria lost to Germany at the men’s football event of the Olympic Games in Sao Paolo, Brazil two years ago. Samson Siasia and his wards eventually won the bronze in the Third Place match which turned out Nigeria’s only medal from the Games in Rio de Janeiro. Pitana is to be assisted by compatriots Juan Pablo Bellati and Hernan Maidana, with Sandro Ricci from Brazil designated as the fourth official. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team is made up of the following referees; Massimiliano

Irrati of Italy (VAR); Mauro Vigliano of Argentina (AVR 1); Carlos Astroza of Chile (AVR2) and Daniele Orsato, Italy (AVR3). Pitana is set to become the second Argentine referee to participate in two World Cups after Norberto Coerezza, who oversaw two games in 1970 and one in 1978. Pitana is one of South America’s most experienced referees. He made his debut in the Argentinian league in 2007 and officiated his first international match in 2010. At the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, he oversaw four fixtures including FranceGermany in the quarterfinals. Apart from the Nigeria versus Germany clash in Sao Paolo, in 2017, Pitana was involved in another semi-final, in the FIFA Confederations Cup between Germany and Mexico.

FACTS‌ Player and Coach Only 3 men will have won the World Cup as a player and a coach Didier Deschamps leads France to glory. The former defensive midfielder, who captained his country to the title in 1998, would emulate Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer.

Oldest Player 45 years and five months is what Essam El-Hadary will be when Egypt begin their campaign against Uruguay. If he plays in Russia he will break Faryd Mondragon’s record (43 years and three days) to become the oldest player in World Cup history.

Captain’s Record

The German Machines revving up for an encore in Russia

Neymar is Star Attraction as Fans Swarm Brazil Brazil attracted an army of excited youngsters – including one who managed to break onto the pitch for a selfie – as they held their first training session on Russian soil ahead of the World Cup. Around 5 000 locals turned out to watch the relaxed session at the Yug-Sport Stadium, next to the Brazilian squad’s hotel in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi. Tuesday June 12 was a national holiday in Russia and

many fans opted for vantage points along the road leading to the stadium, while others filled the stand. One young boy broke through security barriers and managed to get close to a group of Brazil players including Neymar, taking a photograph before being led away. However, most fans contented themselves with chanting the name of the world’s most expensive

player, who arrived with his teammates in Russia in the early hours of Monday fresh from scoring in a 3-0 friendly win over Austria in Vienna. Members of the Selecao also had a treat in store for Philippe Coutinho, marking the Barcelona midfielder’s 26th birthday by pinning him to the ground, breaking an egg over his head and covering him in flour. Those who started the final

pre-World Cup warm-up against Austria spent most of Tuesday’s session apart from the rest of Tite’s squad, while Manchester United-bound midfielder Fred was not involved as he continues to nurse an ankle injury. Brazil play their opening game at the tournament on Sunday, when they take on Switzerland in Rostov-onDon. They will also come up against Costa Rica and Serbia in Group E.

6 goals as captain is the World Cup record belonging to Diego Maradona. Argentina skipper Lionel Messi requires three to break his former coach’s milestone.

Amstel Malta Inspires Support for Super Eagles

Highest Scorer

Joining millions of Nigerian voices to inspire and wish the team well, the official malt drink of the Super Eagles, Amstel Malta – the premium malt drink has released a statement saying, “We are proud to announce that Amstel Malta together with over 180 million fans, is getting behind our best – The Super Eagles�. Nigerian Breweries PLC signed a partnership deal

5 Goals in three World Cups is what Thomas Muller is bidding to become the first player to register. The 28-year-old, fellow German Miroslav Klose and Peruvian Teofilo Cubillas are the only men to have scored more than four times in multiple editions of the tournament. Klose, on 16 overall, holds the record for the most World Cup goals, with Muller six shy.

Oldest Coaches 135 years and three months will be the combined age of Oscar Tabarez and Fernando Santos if Uruguay and Portugal meet in the Round of 16 – the oldest combined age for two coaches in a World Cup game. The current record is the 133 years and nine months Greece’s Otto Rehhagel and Nigeria’s Lars Lagerback had between them at South Africa 2010.

with the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) in February 2018 conferring the right of “Official Malt Drink of all the Nigerian National Football Teams on Amstel Malta�. The Super Eagles through the Nigeria Football Federation will enjoy marketing and promotional support courtesy Amstel Malta. According to the Portfolio Manager, Non-Alcoholic Brands - Ngozi Nkwoji

“Amstel Malta is proud to be associated with the Nigeria Football Federation and by extension the Super Eagles�. The brand also promises to provide support to players and create delightful experiences for football fans leveraging the football event. She added that Amstel Malta will join fans and consumers to cheer the Super Eagles and the other national football teams before, during and after their

international matches. The brand, which is notable for consistently delivering great quality and inspiring people to be their best, will continue to galvanize support for the Super Eagles through its partnership with NFF, and create exciting football-themed activities across the country with the aim of celebrating the true Nigerian spirit fueled by patriotism, passion and desire for victory.

Madrid Appoints Spain Coach Lopetegui as Zidane’s Successor Real Madrid has confirmed Spain coach Julen Lopetegui as Zinedine Zidane’s successor, the 51-year-old taking over Los Blancos after the World Cup. The veteran manager has signed a three-year deal at the Bernabeu, just weeks after extending his contract with the Spanish national side to the end of the 2020 European Championships. Lopetegui is one of very few players to feature for both Real Madrid and Barcelona in his club career, and coached Los

Blancos’ B team around a decade ago. Speaking just three weeks ago after signing his new Spain contract, the former Porto boss said: “I’m grateful for the confidence placed in me and in my staff. “I wasn’t losing any sleep regarding a new contract as we all know that football is uncertain. We are very happy with what we have done so far. We’ve worked very hard the past two years and we will continue to do so.�

UniďŹ ed teams in a group photograph at the end of the exhibion match to kick o the 2018 Special Olympics Nigeria National Games at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos... Sunday

Wednesday June 13, 2018

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MISSILE

Oshiomhole to Other Aspirants “Nobody should should seek to lead if you don’t have a level of understanding of what the challenges are because you can’t do prescriptions without diagnosis. Fortunately, I have been a founding member” – Former Governor of Edo State and top contender for the office of National Chairman of APC dismissing threats from other chairmanship aspirants.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1974

A Great Moment for Nigeria “A great man is not a hero in the sense that he can stop, or change, the natural course of things, but in the sense that his activities are the conscious and free expression of this inevitable and unconscious course. Herein lies all his significance; herein lies his whole power...” – George Plekhanov (1856-1918)

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ntil yesterday, you would probably be right to say that official apologies for wrong- doing were alien to the Nigeria’s political culture. Rulers would rather deny the reality or rationalise injustice as a step taken in the “national interest.” The arrogance of power of those who have ruled this troubled nation is an element of their political culture. A symptom of this malaise is the refusal to acknowledge the sore points of the nation’s history and apologise to the aggrieved as part of the healing process. Yet it is an indubitable truth that the land needs an honest and efficacious healing process for many reasons. However, President Muhammadu Buhari changed all that at the yesterday’s Special National Honours Investiture in Abuja. As he honoured the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Bashorun Moshood Abiola, with a posthumous award of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), the president unambiguously apologised to the family of Abiola and those who have lost their people in the June 12 struggle for the injustice done by the Nigerian state.

Abiola Buhari surprised not a few at the solemn ceremony when he declared: “On behalf of the federal government, I tender the nation’s apology to the family of late MKO Abiola, who got the highest vote [in the election], and to those that lost their loved ones in the course of the June 12 struggle. “This event is not to open old wounds, but to put light on the nation.” The wounds were inflicted 25 years ago when Abiola won the presidential election, but was stopped from becoming president. The results of the election were “annulled” by President Ibrahim Babangida, who launched and implemented the transition programme to which the election of

Abiola could have been the jewel in the crown. General Sanni Abacha who later emerged as the Head of State amidst the profound crisis provoked by the annulment incarcerated Abiola for the last four years of his life. Abiola courageously refused to renounce his mandate before his death 20 years ago. Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka said rightly at the occasion yesterday that Buhari’s unexpected action “is only the beginning.” The apology is certainly a significant step towards a closure in this tragic history. A great moment has been provided for a positive reconstruction of history. Indeed the atmosphere of the investiture was suffused with greatness in many dimensions. For instance, the posthumous award of the second highest honour of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) to the exemplary people’s advocate, Gani Fawehinmi, is nothing short of greatness. Gani was detained 32 times by the agents of the Nigerian state in various prisons and detention centres between 1969 and 1996. In fact, a former president once said jokingly that his administration had to detain Gani simply because every government before him detained the people’s lawyer. Doubtless, this Buhari’s action would be open to different interpretations depending on the interpreter’s perspectives. Many would wonder why previous presidents and heads of state could not muster the courage of conviction to do what Buhari did yesterday. And virtually all those who

spoke at the occasion described Buhari as “the least expected” president to take this important step in the healing process. Just as the greatness of the moment in the nation’s history could not be denied so also could the greatness exhibited by Buhari on this issue not be denied even by his most ardent critics. Why others elected to ignore the reality of the enormous injustice embodied in the June 12 story, Buhari has striven to come to terms with it. This unprecedented act of official apology should provoke further reflection on the role of the individual in history. Liberal motivational speakers are wont to harp on “building strong institutions and not strong men.” Well, this recipe may not be helpful enough for a nation grappling with a huge leadership deficit, political underdevelopment and poor governance. Strong institutions and men of strong character are important in the circumstance. After all, the institution of the presidency imbued with the powers of executive orders was available to the past presidents who studiously ignored the injustice of June 12 before Buhari. It was the strong character of leadership to make the institution work that was sorely lacking. The role of the leader as an individual comes into a sharp focus again in this context. It is the choice of the leader to play a negative or a positive role in history. On this occasion, the logical thing to do is to at least concede that Buhari seized the historical moment yesterday on the lingering June 12 Question.

Akanbi: The Incorruptible Judge Bolaji Abdullahi In retrospect, it is now so easy to see that Mustapha Akanbi’s career started at its very end. Even though he had had a highly accomplished career at the bar and the bench, retiring as the President of the Federal Court of Appeal in 1999; it was for his role as the pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) that most Nigerians would remember and revere him. But the ICPC job was only a crowning glory and recognition of a life of honour, service and integrity – Akanbi was drafted to fight corruption because he was the Incorruptible Judge. This was 2000, and Nigeria was just coming out of military rule. In addition to all other malaise that sixteen years of military rule had afflicted on the country, corruption had become a National identity. It was therefore, clear to President Obasanjo that if Nigeria must shed its pariah status and be truly readmitted into the comity of decent nations of the world, able to enjoy development support and the all-important objective of debt forgiveness; we must demonstrate a strong commitment to tackling corruption and promoting accountability. Ironically, the newfound freedom that democracy brought to the country was mistaken by so many politicians of that era as freedom to loot. Akanbi came to fight corruption armed only with his certificate of incorruptibility and his immense power of advocacy. This proved inadequate – you cannot shoo away a pack of hyenas with a mere walking stick of personal integrity! Despite his best efforts, corruption was enjoying great prosperity at a scale that made the military boys look like mere pickpockets. This was a time when vaulting ambition collided constantly

with massive ego. It was only a matter of time before the fight against corruption became a mere appendage to the politics of survival at the highest level of government. The old anti-corruption czar soon realised that the man who gave him the job had moved onto other priorities. If Akanbi was not complaining about poor funding to the commission, he was busy justifying to the National Assembly why ICPC was important and must continue to exist. If he was not lamenting about political interference that made prosecution difficult, he was crying over deep corruption at the very temple of justice, which had turned the courts into injunction-vending machines. Sometimes in October 2002, Mustapha Akanbi was the keynote speaker at the Africa Leadership Forum workshop on anti-corruption. He lamented how senior lawyers were helping corrupt politicians to escape justice, among other things. His conclusion was a clear evidence of what the ICPC was being reduced to – a mere advocacy agency. He said: “No matter its limitations, the ICPC is very significant because it provides the only basis on which the rest of the world could see that we are serious about this corruption problem; that we are willing to tackle it. The only basis on which we can hope that someday, we too can drop corruption as a way of life. We may not have succeeded in prosecuting any big thief yet, and government at all levels may still be populated by herds of sacred cows. But ICPC has provided us with a structure to talk about corruption and to re-stigmatize this behaviour that has been so normalised over the years.” Instead of fighting corruption, Akanbi found himself fighting for the survival of the ICPC itself. By the end of his first tenure in 2005, he decided he had had enough. He returned to his humble abode in Ilorin and to his loving

wife who, despite all his accomplishments, still referred to him simply as “Lawyer”. If it had simply stopped at this stage, he would have thanked the Almighty Allah for a life well spent. But not Mustapha Akanbi. He now appeared rather in a hurry to pack as much as possible into what was left of his years. He established the Mustapha Akanbi Foundation and built the African People’s Hall. He soon built the Mustapha Akanbi Library and Resource Centre, the Nana Aishat Academy and the Ma-Assalam Islamic Foundation in memory of his beloved wife, Alhaja Mufaat Aduke, who died in 2014 in Saudi Arabia while on Hajj in company with her husband, who was the leader of the Kwara State contingent that year as the Amirul Hajj. His work after this second retirement exemplified everything that he truly cherished. He was an intellectual, whose love for knowledge knew no bounds. He was at home with Shakespeare as he was with Karl Marx or Lenin, the Bible or the Qur’an. He was a unionist and a PanAfricanist, who remained especially proud of his Ghanaian heritage. He was born in Ghana, where he studied, joined the Africa independence movements, worked, played football and did some boxing. Not surprisingly, the African People’s Hall is decorated with portraits of some of the leading lights in the fight for the liberation of the African continent: His hero, Kwame Nkrumah, Emperor Haile Selassie, Ahmad Sekou Touré, Julius Nyerere and, Nelson Mandela. I think I also saw Bob Marley. Despite his Pan Africanist view, Akanbi somehow, managed to cope quite well as a community leader. In Ilorin, where he held the traditional title of the Wakili; I never met the gate to his house locked. Everyone came and left as they wished. For a former judge and

anti-corruption czar, who must have stepped on more than a few toes, I feared that he was taking an unnecessary risk by not having a single security at the gate. Once, I brought this up with him. He grabbed my hand and declared, “Bolaji, if anybody killed me now, that person would only be doing me a favour by taking my sins upon himself. Besides, nothing can happen to you except what has been decreed by the Almighty.” Few minutes later, I understood even more why he would not lock his gate. His wife looked in to inform him that someone had arrived. It turned out that the person was a young lady, an extended family member, who had been having issues with her husband. If he locked his gate, how would people like that have access to him? He was the one to worry about the fate of Nigeria and still concern himself with the business of someone else’s child who was behaving badly or not doing well in school. In a community that is prone to deep divisions along the lines of political affiliations; Akanbi was the uniting force around which everyone gravitated. He never stopped being the judge in whom everyone reposed implicit confidence. Like his fluffy white beard, his impartiality was a trademark that everyone could see. When he finally retired on Sunday June 3, all the people that he had opened his gates to trooped ceaselessly to his house. He was to be buried at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, but if you arrived at 10 o’clock in the morning, you would struggle to find a parking space. Hundreds abandoned their vehicles and walked long distances just to honour in death, the man who honoured all in life. May the Almighty Allah forgive his sins and admit to His presence, this humble servant of God and humanity - the quintessential Omoluabi.

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