SATURDAY 14TH MARCH 2020

FG Boosts Economy, Releases N285bn for Capital Projects $220m for railway projects Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday to review the impact of Coronavirus on the economy, submitted

an interim report yesterday with a disclosure that N285 billion had been released to fund some capital projects in the 2020 budget.

The committee, which said another $220 million had also

Still consulting on petrol price reduction been released as counterpart funding to finance railway projects, added that it was still consulting on the possibility of reducing the pump price of fuel in view of the drastic fall in the price of crude oil

in the international market.

Briefing journalists in the State House after submitting the report, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, said the releases were made to some ministries which have

critical infrastructure projects to finance as prioritised by the federal government.

"As at Tuesday this week, we have released N285 billion to a number of agencies. We prioritise the releases to the

critical infrastructure agencies.

But we have also made the releases for education as well as health. So, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry Continued on page 5

Osinbajo Loses Rider in Accident, Cancels Trip to Lagos…Page 6 Saturday 14 March, 2020 Vol 25. No 9105

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Coronavirus: 179 Italian Contacts Declared Free of Virus

Anglican Church bans use of same cup for communion wine, handshakes, hugs Trump declares emergency

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Martins Ifijeh in Lagos The Lagos State Government yesterday stated that the 179 Nigerians who had contact with the Italian, Nigeria's Coronavirus index case, and

subsequently quarantined, have been declared free of the virus and released to integrate with the public.

On the same day, The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, banned the use of one chalice for the

sharing of wine during Holy Communion in all its churches, as one of the steps to stop the spread of Coronavirus.

Of the 179 Nigerians, who had contact with the index case, 40 of them were quarantined in Ogun State

while the remaining persons were monitored in Lagos State.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos yesterday, the Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi said the 179 contacts were put on mandatory 14

days quarantine, and only one person, who tested positive to the virus, was sent to the Infectious Disease Centre in Yaba, along with the index case.

He said today marked the 15th day since the index case

was confirmed positive to the virus. It also marked the 15th day those who had contact with him were placed on quarantine.

Abayomi said: “The index Continued on page 5

Sanusi Lands in Lagos as Abuja Court Frees Him from Detention

Bennett Oghifo in Lagos and Alex Enumah in Abuja

The dethroned Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi ll, yesterday afternoon regained his freedom, following the verdict of a Federal High Court in Abuja that ordered his immediate release, and left Awe, Nasarawa State, where he was confined, to Abuja, and then finally to Lagos.

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, who had earlier visited Sanusi in Awe, on his third day in detention, and took him to Abuja, was also at the Abuja airport to see him off to Lagos.

Sanusi prayed for his supporters at the Abuja airport before boarding the aircraft to Lagos and arrived Lagos close to midnight. He was ushered out of the Lagos airport by his friends/supporters and driven to Ikoyi.

The former Emir of Kano, Continued on page 5

STRATEGISING FOR 2023...

L-R: Former Deputy National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George; the party’s National Vice Chairman, South West, Dr. Eddie Olafeso; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, during PDP’s South West Zonal Stakeholders meeting held at Government House, Ibadan…Thursday

Facebook Pulls Down 134 Nigerian, Ghanaian Accounts... Page 54

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PAGE FIVE SANUSI LANDS IN LAGOS AS ABUJA COURT FREES HIM FROM DETENTION after his dethronement by the Kano State government on Monday, had indicated interest to move to Lagos, but was prevented from doing so by security agents.

However, his family was moved to Lagos in a private jet provided by one of his friends.

He finally reunited with them last night.

Earlier yesterday, El-Rufai on his Twitter handle confirmed that they were heading to Abuja from Awe. He also uploaded a picture showing the former Emir and himself in a vehicle.

Sanusi was moved to Awe on Tuesday by security agents, and was in confinement, but receiving state visitors and family members.

But yesterday, he stepped out for the first time to lead prayers at the Awe Central Mosque, located

within the palace of the Emir of Awe. Last Thursday, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Lateef Fagbemi had filed an exparte motion for the release of Sanusi from confinement in Awe. Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court yesterday granted the prayer and ordered the release of the former Emir of Kano from unlawful detention.

Sanusi in the fundamental human rights suit instituted in Abuja on March 12, prayed the court to void his banishment to Nasarawa State and order his release so that he could enjoy his fundamental rights as provided by law.

The former emir urged the court to restore his right to human dignity, personal

liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria apart from Kano State.

The suit was brought pursuant to section 34, 35, 40, 41 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution and Order 4 Rule 4 of the Federal High Court.

Apart from the originating motion, Sanusi also filed an exparte application, praying the court for an interim order for his release.

He also prayed for another order granting him leave to serve the enrol order of his release and the originating motion on any officer at the office of the respondents.

The respondents are the Inspector General of Police, Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), Attorney General of Kano State and

Attorney General of the Federation.

Delivering ruling yesterday, Justice Chikere made an, Interim order releasing Sanusi from detention and or confinement of the respondents and restoring the applicant's right to human dignity personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria (apart from Kano State) pending the hearing and determination of the applicant's originating motion.

Justice Chikere also granted leave to Sanusi to serve the enrol order of his release and the originating motion as well as all processes on any officer at the respondents' headquarters in Abuja and Kano State.

The judge subsequently fixed March 26 for hearing in the originating motion.

The government of Kano State had on Monday, March 9, 2020, announced his dethronement on grounds of alleged disregard to constituted authorities, disloyalty, refusal to attend council meetings amongst others.

Shortly after his dethronement, he was banished to Loco town in Nasarawa State from where he was later moved to Awe town where he was confined prior to his release yesterday.

El-Rufai’s Visit to Sanusi in Awe Governor El-Rufai departed Kaduna city for Awe yesterday morning to visit the dethroned Emir of Kano. He captured this in a Facebook post, accompanied by a picture in his car.

The governor has been a friend of the emir for decades.

He appointed Sanusi as the Pro-chancellor of the Kaduna State University and also made him the Vice-Chairman of the state’s investment board after his dethronement.

The governor was among those who went to receive Sanusi in 2014 when the latter was suspended as the Central Bank Governor by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking to the press in Awe after receiving the favourable court ruling, El-Rufai said Sanusi “can now go anywhere, including Kano.� “The High Court ruled that he can go anywhere, including Kano, but I think he wants to go to Lagos to reunite with his family,� El-Rufai said.

FG BOOSTS ECONOMY, RELEASES N285BN FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS of Works and Housing, Niger Delta, a number of ministries and agencies that have important infrastructure projects have got their funds.

"Also this week, we have been able to release to the Ministry of Transport the counterpart funding provided for in our budget that is required for the important railway projects that are currently ongoing - finances from the China EXIM Bank. So, they are the funds that have been released this week.

"So, in addition to the N285 billion, there is about $220 million that has been released this week for counterpart funding for railway projects," she said.

According to Ahmed, the five-man committee, which she chairs will submit its full report next week, pointing out that the panel is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the economy is running unhindered despite the fall in the price of crude oil caused by the outbreak and spread of Coronavirus.

She also said the committee was brainstorming on how revenue generation would be stabilised, critical infrastructure

funded and funds released to the states from the Federal Allocation Account Committee (FAAC).

The minister added that upon the submission of the full report next week, the president is expected to make some fundamental approvals expected to rejuvenate the economy, adding that details of such approvals would be made available to the press.

"This committee that has been set up by the president to review the impact of COVID-19, as well as the crash of crude oil price, had gone just now and had a short meeting with the president in which we filed an interim report and the president has directed that we should consult and come back to him with an update next week.

"What we have been mandated to do is to ensure that the business of government continues to run as much as possible normally; that government agencies are funded but there must be continuous investments in critical infrastructure that would ensure continuous growth and also concentrate on programmes and projects that will enhance employment of our people.

"We are looking at ways and means in which the revenue of government will be stabilised and that we are able to fund the states through the FAAC process at a level that is averagely expected and planned for both from the federal as well as the national budget.

"So, as we finish our consultations next week, we will be expecting some approvals and then we will be meeting with you to inform you of the specific approvals that we have been able to obtain from His Excellency the President," Ahmed said.

The minister, who said the Nigeria medical team had been commended by the international community for its diligent handling of the Coronavirus in the country, observed that the impact of the virus had been felt on the economy because China is one of Nigeria's biggest trade partners.

However, she expressed optimism that situations would return to normalcy very soon, noting that the price of crude oil, which fell to $30 per barrel earlier in the week had again risen to $36 per barrel.

The minister said even though

economic activities might be slow while the outbreak lasts, the Nigerian economy would eventually recover in the end.

"But we have seen already China beginning to go back to work. Of course, there is a lag period for what has happened.

Already, the crude oil period has moved from $30 per barrel to $36 per barrel. So, there will be a recovering. But for us, in everything, when something crashes, the recovering is not as fast as the recovery itself.

"So, we will manage the economy by prioritising what we do. During the period, there will be slow activities so that when things pick up, everything will go back to normal," she added.

On the possibility of reducing the pump price of fuel in view of the price of crude oil, the Minister of State, Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, said the committee was still consulting, noting that the pump price of fuel is usually dictated by the price of crude oil.

"On when the price of PMS is likely to be reduced considering the drop the crude oil price, as the Honourable Minister has said that this is a developing issue. We are still consulting; we

are still following it closely. Of course, usually, the product prices follow the crude oil price but we are still consulting, we’ll get back to you, please, be patient," Sylva said.

Responding to a question on whether Nigeria would consider a travel ban to check further import of the virus to the country, the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, on his part, said such decision was not considered necessary for now.

Emefiele said the measures put in place to guide against the spread of the disease in the country was more stringent than what obtained in the United States, explaining that it was better not to introduce travel ban to avoid creating unnecessary panic in the system.

"Following up from what the Honourable Minister Of Finance has said regarding the travel ban, I must say that at this time, we don't consider it very necessary that we should go for a travel ban; you all must have read and heard about the consequences of the travel ban, which the United States has imposed. It has also even dire consequences.

"However, it's not to say that

we are not taking the issue very seriously and I can say this, we have friends and relatives who have travelled to the United States recently and they tell you that on entering the borders of the United States, that the kind of checks that they see at the airport is totally nonexistent compared to the ones that we have in Nigeria.

"That is a credit to Nigeria and the minister of health has taken this very seriously and we are very happy about the response so far on that matter.

It's just good that we allow it the way it is now so we don't create more panic in the system that now has even dire consequences for our economy," he said.

Emefiele also appealed to Nigerians not to panic about the rumoured non-availability of foreign exchange in the market, describing it as a hoax created by some "unscrupulous" individuals.

According to him, forex is available for all kinds of transactions, adding that Nigerians should ignore such insinuations and proceed to purchase forex whenever they need it.

Ehanire further gave update on the case of a group of four children and their teacher who flew into Lagos from the United States recently, saying that they were promptly isolated and tested with their result turning negative.

Speaking on how the children were spotted, Ehanire said: "Prior to their arrival, Nigeria CDC was informed by US-CDC, that this group had been in the same space with a confirmed case.

We therefore sent these travelers into isolation on their arrival.

Tests were done, which came back negative for all of them.

They will stay in self-isolation for 14 days."

Ehanire assured that tthe Federal Ministry of Health would comtinue to monitor closely the global situation and work with WHO’s advice.

Aside from efforts against Coronavirus, Ehanire said the ministry had responded to the resurgence of yellow fever transmission by activating Nigeria's Point of Entry Policy on Prevention and Control of Cross Border Transmission of Yellow Fever.

He said that new measures have been put in place in line with WHO’s recommendation, adding that for all international travellers, nine months and older, arriving in areas with evidence of persistent or periodic transmission of yellow fever, must show evidence of having been vaccinated.

He said that due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the ministry had reviewed the policy to allow passengers without Yellow Fever Cards or proof of vaccinations board their flights to Nigeria, with the understanding that they would be given Yellow

Fever vaccination on arrival at the nation’s Points of Entry.

According to the minister, the effective date of the revised policy implementation was March 11, 2020.

"Consequently, the federal ministry of health has requested the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to communicate this to airlines for compliance," he said.

the sharing of one chalice to all during Holy Communion.

Other smaller communion cups should be used for individual communication. “Also, handshakes and hugs during the exchange of peace should be substituted with non-contagious gestures such as hand waving, mutual bowing, or making the sign of the cross, etc.�

Continued on page 55

CORONAVIRUS: 179 ITALIAN CONTACTS DECLARED FREE OF VIRUS case is recovering very fast. He is still with us because the virus has not totally left his system.

Once he stops secreting the virus, and his test returns negative, we will know he is safe enough to be integrated back into the society.

If he is negative, we will conduct another test within 48 hours after and if he is still negative, we will set him free. “We are close to discharging the index case, we want to be sure he poses no danger to the society anymore.�

On the Nigerian who was initially tested positive to Coronavirus for being in contact with the index case, Abayomi said he had now tested negative twice and might have been released by now. “His tests initially showed that he was positive to Coronavirus twice and now, he has tested negative to the virus twice on two consecutive tests carried out. The remaining contact in Ogun and Lagos State remain symptom-free and they have exceeded 14 days surveillance, which means that we have been able to interrupt the transmission between the index case and others. The threat of the index case to Nigeria has been eliminated. “Those isolated in Ogun State have been discharged; in Lagos, we will not follow up the contacts again because none of them had developed symptoms. We are discharging all,� he said.

In Ogun State, the state’s government confirmed the discharge of the 40 persons that had contact with the index case.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abeokuta.

Coker said since the first case

was confirmed, the state had immediately activated a multisectoral emergency operation centre to access daily interventions and analyse situations.

She also said government had strengthened its activities across the state, adding that risk communication activities were also extended to wards, local governments, schools and communities as well as worship centres.

She said: “We can safely say that Covid-19 has been contained in Ogun State.�

Italian Covid-19 Patient May be Discharged Next Week Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has also confirmed that Nigeria's Covid-19 index case is no more showing symptom of the disease and was undergoing tests preparatory to a possible discharge next week from isolation.

The minister, who gave reporters update on the Covid-19 virus, yesterday said that the federal government released about N930 million to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and N71 million to the Department of Port Health to support activities against the Covid-19 virus outbreak in the country.

As concerns mount over the intrusion of the deadly virus into the sporting world, the minister said that henceforth all sportsmen and women, including spectators at sporting events would be thoroughly screened by health officials for possible Coronavirus infection.

Speaking on the condition of

the Italian index case, Ehanire said that he is "clinically stable and is much improved," adding that a steady progress by the Italian would guide the medical team to recommend his discharge from quarantine early next week.

He also said that the second confirmed case, a contact of the index case, was testing negative for the virus, meaning he has been cleared of the virus and would be allowed to go home.

The minister said that following the declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and increasing spread of Covid-19 in countries, the ministry has begun a review of case definition.

He insisted that Nigeria has not yet placed a travel ban on any country, passport or flights, adding that health authorities merely issued a travel advisory to Nigerians, which they have been adhering to.

The minister, who disclosed that economic consideration was among reasons they decided not impose travel ban, said that the federal government has established a committee that would assess the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the country's economy.

While giving update on the measures to check Coronavirus infection, Ehanire said that between January 7 and March 12 a total of 42 people who met case definition were screened for COVID-19 in six states of Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Yobe, Rivers, Kano and FCT. He added that out of the 42 people that were tested, 40 returned negative and two were confirmed positive; the index case and a contact of the index case, but with no deaths recorded.

Anglican Church Bans Use of One Cup for Sharing Communion Wine Meanwhile, the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has stopped the use of one chalice for the sharing of wine during Holy Communion as one of the steps to stop the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus.

The church has also suspended handshakes and hugs which are hitherto used for the “exchange of peace� during the services.

The church’s General Secretary, Gershinen Dajur, disclosed this in a letter addressed to all Archbishops and Bishops of the church yesterday on behalf of the church’s Primate, Most-Revd Nicholas Okoh.

The letter read: “His Grace, the Most Rev’d Nicholas D. Okoh has directed that certain steps be taken as guides against contacting and communicating the virus among our people. “Let the church be encouraged to trust God who is well able to help us in our times of trouble (Psalms46:1). This is the time to trust and obey God than to be anxious and panic (Phil 4:6-7). “Since this virus is communicable, the church is to prayerfully put on hold

Trump Declares Emergency President Donald Trump of the United States has declared a national emergency to help handle the growing outbreak of Coronavirus in his country.

The declaration - "two very big words", according to Mr Trump - allows the federal government to tap up to $50bn (ÂŁ40bn) in emergency relief funds.

The move loosens regulations on the provision of healthcare and could speed up testing - the slow pace of which has been criticised widely.

There are 1,701 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the U.S., and 40 deaths.

Several U.S. states have taken measures to stem the infections rate, including banning large gatherings, sporting events and closing schools.

The virus originated in China last December, but Europe is now the "epicentre" of the global pandemic, the head of the World Health Organization said yesterday, as several European countries reported steep rises in infections and deaths.

Italy has recorded its highest daily toll yet - 250 over the past 24 hours, taking the total to 1,266, with 17,660 infections overall.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾MARCH 14, 2020

NEWS

News Editor Ahamefula Ogbu 08116759810 (sms only) Email ahamefula.ogbu@thisdaylive.com

REWARDING INNOVATION...

L-R: PA to the President Coscharis Group, Mr. Joseph Nwagbo; Legal Adviser, Coschcaris, Mr. Osita Mbamalu; Economic Attache, French Embassy, Lagos, Ms. Margaur Abrieu; President Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka; and General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, Mr. Abiona Babarinde, at this year’s Ernst & Young award night, held in Lagos. Dr. Maduka got the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Master category… recently

Osinbajo Loses Rider in Accident, Cancels Trip to Lagos Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Bennett Oghifo in Lagos One of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s escort riders, Inspector Ali Gomina, lost his life yesterday in an accident while leading the vice-president’s convoy to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Following the death of the rider, Osinbajo cancelled the flight and returned to Abuja

to mourn his security aide.

The vice president, who was going to take a flight to Lagos when the incident happened, is believed to be safe, and saddened by the death of his escort rider.

Though the cause of the accident was unknown as at press time, last night, but the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, said in the statement: “With

grief in our hearts, we announce the death of one of the police escort riders on the Vice President’s convoy, Inspector Ali Gomina, aged 45, who was involved in a road accident while on official duty today (yesterday).

“The accident occurred on the road to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The Vice President, who is greatly saddened by this occurrence, has aborted the scheduled trip.

“The Vice President described Gomina as a diligent, hardworking and serious-minded officer, who will be greatly missed by the team. He is survived by his wife, children and relatives.

May his soul rest in peace.”

In February last year, Osinbajo survived a helicopter crash in Kaba, Kogi State where he travelled to for a campaign rally for his and President Muhammadu Buhari’s relection.

Osinbajo, who used an aircraft owned by a private company, Caverton Helicopters, thanked the crew, in a tweet, for the deft way they handled the situation.

Although the government said it launched an investigation into the cause of the helicopter crash, the report was not made public.

However, Carveton, in a statement, attributed the crash to “unusual weather condition”, saying none of

those on board was hurt.

After surviving the helicopter crash, Osinbajo tweeted: “We are safe and sound! Thank you to everyone who has expressed concern and thank you to the crew who managed the situation well. We believe that God will continue to keep us and Nigeria safe even as we go higher. We continue #NextLevelEngagements in Kabba, Kogi State.”

You Lied, ASUU Replies FG on IPPIS, as OAU, UNDP: Nigeria either Stagnant or Regressive on Most of 17 SDGs LAUTECH Join Warning Strike Ibrahim Shuaibu inKano, Yinka Kolawole inOsogboand Kemi Olaitan inIbadan

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Kano zone yesterday faulted the claim that 55 per cent of its members enrolled into the Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS).

This is as Chairman, ASUU in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, branch, Dr. Biodun Olaniran, yesterday, dismissed Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, saying he goofed by declaring the strike by the union illegal. Their activity has already grounded the institution.

Also, ASUU, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife has aligned itself with the ASUU NEC and resolved to embark on two weeks warning strike from March 9 to 22nd, 2020 to press home its demand for renegotiation of 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement.

The Zonal Chairman of the union in Kano, Dr. Mahmoud M. Lawal told reporters yesterday that the claim of the federal government that 55 per cent of its members were enrolled into the IPPIS was false.

The Chairman challenged the federal government to provide the accurate statistics of those who enrolled into the IPPIS, pointing out that over 80 per cent from the

university strata were yet to enroll.

He lamented that the government was yet to pay its members their February, as well as March salaries, adding that non-remittance of their members deductions, was a clear indication that government was inviting another round of crisis in the university system and should not be blamed for any unpalatable consequences that may arise. ‘’The threat to stop the salaries of our members will not only make them more resolute but determined to fight this matter to a logical conclusion. Nigerians, especially the students, parents and other stakeholders should know who to blame as the situation becomes protracted and prepare for a long stay at home.’’

He also reaffirmed the union’s position on the full implementation of the 2009 Federal Government/ASUU agreement, insisting that it would not join theIntegratedPayrollandPersonnel Information System (IPPIS).

The Kano zonal ASUU office comprising,ABU, BUK, KUST, KASU, Federal University Dutse and Yusuf MaitamaSuleUniversity,saidtheASUU would continue to remain resolute on the issue of IPPIS, warning that any attempt but the government to dictate what happens in the university system erodes the

autonomy of our universities by making them incapable of delivering on their mandate of teaching, research and community service.

The union, he said has made it clear that its members would continue to resist the violation of the universities miscellaneous amendment Act through IPPIS, which was riddled with fraud, as well as a constitutional drain, on the scarce resources of the Nigerian state.

The Chairman, said the only way out of this current crises, was for the federal government to implement all the outstanding provisions in the February 7, 2019 FGN/ASUU Memorandum of Action, conclude the re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement within three weeks, as well as constitute a Visitation Panel to all federal universities and the outcome be fully implemented.

Other demands, include, to accept the ASUU ongoing innovation of a more robust system of human resource management and compensation, called the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), which will address the peculiarities of universities, including the declaration of a five-year state of emergency in the education sector by allocating at least 26 per cent of the federal government, budget, as well as the state government to education.

As House seeks partnership Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has lamented that Nigeria was either stagnant or regressive on most of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in Goal One, which is poverty.

It added that in the last five years since SDGs started, there were more people in poverty and that had to do mainly with the increase in population.

UNDP-Nigeria Resident Representative, Mr. Mohamed Yahya, disclosed this yesterday during an advocacy and partnership visit of the House of Representatives Committee on SDGs chaired by Hon. Rotimi Agunsoye to the UN office in Abuja.

He said that Nigeria was an extremely important country, saying if Nigeria does not meet the SDGs, Africa would not meet the SDGs because this was where most Africans lived.

Yahya stated: “For us, getting Nigeria to accelerate its achievement is key for the continent to meet the SDGs. Currently, Nigeria

is either stagnant or regressive on most of the 17 SDGs, especially in Goal One, which is poverty. In the last five years, since SDGs started, there have been more people in poverty and that has to do mainly with the population increase.

“So, the more your population increases without subsequent economic growth or opportunity, you tend to have more people in poverty.

If you look at the other goals like Zero Hunger, Nigeria is stagnant, Good Health and in most of the goals, Nigeria is stagnant.”

Yahya noted that the area where the country made some improvement was Life on Land and climate change; adding that the country was maintaining the work on climate change because the federal government has been very aggressive and the president is very committed to pushing the agenda around climate change.

He noted that the challenge was to inspire the country to see where it was currently and where it needed to be in the next 10 years.

The Resident Representative stressed that last year Nigeria

was fourth from the bottom in terms of the SDGs index of the best performing countries in the SDGs. He said that the UNDP was willing to partner the committee and providing it with all the data to do its work as parliamentarians on SDGs. Earlier, Agunsoye said the House would collaborate with State Houses of Assemblies to ensure the effective institutionalisation of parliamentary mechanisms on SDGs. He said the visit of the committee was in recognition of the critical roles of UNDP as an integrator, knowledge network and a purveyor of capacity and technical support for the implementation of the SDGs. Agunsoye noted that as a parliament and as a Committee vested with the functions of advocating, financing, monitoring and oversight, as well as partnerships and resource mobilisation, it was imperative to reach out to leading development partners to forge partnerships for the implementation of the SDGs and to ensure that no Nigerian was left behind.

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NEWS

In Brief I was Just Emotional, Confesses Man who Breached Protocol to Meet Buhari Rape Cases in Katsina Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Mohammed Jamilu Gunddare said sheer emotional instincts and pure love for President Muhammadu Buhari informed why he breached protocols and security to attempt meeting the President in Argungun, Kebbi State on Thursday.

The 30-year-old made the confession yesterday when he was presented to the media in Birnin Kebbi.

Gunddare caused a panic and was arrested at the Argungu Fishing Festival for lounging at the President, while the latter was posing for a photo session with other dignitaries.

His motive, before he was

physically restrained and arrested by security was reported as an attempt to attack or harm the president.

However, he said what happened arose out of emotional love, which blurted his sense of reasoning. He also apologised for the disturbances that trailed his action, saying he was simply overwhelmed seeing Buhari, whom he considered a symbol of integrity, consistency, honesty, righteousness and incorruptibility.

He said he was impressed by the President’s public service record, while from 2015 till date, no one has accused him of graft and for squandering the national resources for personal benefits. “I am very sorry and I apolo-

gise to the federal government and Governor Bagudu for the disturbance caused by my action.

It was out of emotional love for the person I consider honest and incorruptible. No one in Nigeria has ever questioned or accused him of looting any money either as a former Military Governor, Minister, the Head of State, and even now that he is the President. These instincts and values informed my action.

I want to let you know that even If I was killed yesterday, I had made and achieved my ambition which is to one day meet my president in person,�

Gunddare said.

Speaking also was the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Moham-

med. He said it was obvious Gunddare was passionate about the President and had ardently followed his political career for a long. “But all the story that he was trying to attack Mr. President is false, including the story that he has been shot by the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). The young man’s ambition was to see Mr. President and commend him for all he is doing. The only mistake he made was that he refused to follow protocol,� Mohammed said.

In his response, Bagudu made a presentation of book written on Buhari by Prof John Paden to Gunddare, whom he described as an ardent Buharist.

The first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in Katsina State, Safiya Badamasi Umar has decried the prevailing rate of rape cases and domestic violence in the state. Umar, who is the State Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice revealed this in a chat with THISDAY weekend. She said that although sexual abuse was a global problem, sexual exploitation of adolescent girls by predators is harmful and destructive to the victims and their families. The senior Advocate of Nigeria who did not disclose the number of rape cases in the state, emphatically warned that no offender would go unpunished, saying that rape, domestic violence and child abuse were crimes and must be treated as such. She said: "As a prosecutor in the Ministry of Justice, we have lots of rape cases in the state.

Support for Community Policing

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, yesterday called on Governors of the 36 States to support the police in the implementation of its community policing project. Speaking at a meeting with Commissioners of Police in Abuja, Adamu said the community policing strategy required the support of the governors to work effectively. He said the meeting would undertake detailed assessment of the implementation of the strategy as approved by government.The IG said recent incidents of armed banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery most especially in Kaduna, Niger, Kogi, Katsina and Zamfara States prompted the need for the full and speedy roll-out of the community policing strategy across the country. Accordingly, as conceptualised, formulated, and approved by the government, the current effort would be citizen-centered and driven by members of each community. "I also wish to appeal to all citizens and particularly, the state governors to continue to support and partner with us as we implement the community policing strategy across the country.

Uzodinma Bans Dredging, Appoints Aides Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has approved the immediate appointmentof ObiohaOkwuonuandAmanzeNjemanzeasSeniorSpecial AssistanttotheGovernor(SSA). Also,theImoStateGovernmentyesterday bannedallformsofdredgingactivitiesinthestate.Consequently,alldredging companies operating in the state have been directed to suspend their activities.The directive was given through the Office of the Chairman, Imo State Task Force on Dredging and Mining Activities, CP Dan Okoro (Rtd).

Okoro stated that failure to comply with the directive will attract heavy penalty and impoundment of equipment. He further advised concerned companies to visit Government House, Owerri for further instructions.

Physically Challenged Empowered

SYNERGISING FOR DEVELOPMENT...

L_R: Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma and Justice Ijeoma Agugua after her swearing-in as acting Chief Judge of the state yesterday

Illuminate Nigeria Network Anambra Police Arrest Launches Media Campaign 108 Cultists, 18-year-old Gunrunner, Others on Sanitary Pads David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

As the struggle to purchase sanitary pads among women in Nigeria remains both a social and human rights issue, the Illuminate Nigeria Development Network, a non-governmental organisation, has launched a sanitary pad media campaign aimed at drawing attention to the plight of women, especially those in the underserved parts of the country.

At the maiden launch of the campaign in Lagos on Tuesday, the Lead Consultant, Illuminate Nigeria Development Network, Anike-Ade Funke Treasure, said the sanitary pad media campaign was anchored on Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development goals which focuses on gender equality.

According to her, this goal “ basically seeks to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences. ‘’ Addressing leading female journalists and other women passionate about the welfare of the girl-child and women in Nigeria,

she explained that the campaign was aimed at ending all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere; adopting and strengthening sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.

Period poverty has been a major challenge in Nigeria, especially among girls and women in underserved communities and urban centres with some girls using leaves as sanitary pads and bushes as change spaces during their periods due to lack of toilets in schools. Some girls have dropped out of school in their bid to stay at home during their monthly period as they eventually failed to return to school after their menstruation.

As at today, individuals, celebrities and NGOs donate disposable sanitary pads to schools in the country. But, Anike-Ade Funke Treasure said this practice was at best palliative, noting that “Although NGO’s and UN agencies have done intense work regarding the advocacy for free sanitary pads in Nigeria, awareness among the civil population is still low.’’

The Anambra State Police Command has paraded over 150 suspected criminals, including 108 cultists, a 15-year old gunrunner and a four-man car snatching syndicate among others The arrests were made within last week, when the state was busy hosting the Nigeria Police Games, which saw over 3,000 police athletes participating in the game and 15,000 visitors.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Haruna Mohammed, who paraded the suspects before journalists said that the arrests had shown that even though police personnel were recreating, the agency was still alive to its duties.

Part of those paraded included; Sunday Thankgod an 18 year old boy suspected to be a gunrunner.

Haruna said: "On the 5/3/2020 at about 6:30pm, Police Surveillance Team attached to B Division Awka in conjuction with UNIZIK Security arrested one Sunday Thankgod 'm' aged 18 years of Opobo-Nkoro in Rivers State.

"Suspect was arrested with a bag containing two locally made single barrels short guns, five cartridges and dry leaves

suspected to be cannabis Sativa.

"Suspect is assisting the Police with useful information that would aid investigation after which he and his accomplices will be brought to justice."

He said 108 suspected cultists were arrested in diverse parts of the state, during raids by security agents, and that most of them have confessed to being members of several cult groups, while diverse exhibits were recovered from them.

Also, Haruna said a team attached to bridge head division while on patrol at Niger street by service lane, bridge head Onitsha also arrested a middle aged man with a bag in his possession containing two thousand (2000) pieces of live cartridges.

"The suspect is assisting the Police with useful information about the motive for bringing such cartridges and how he got them after which he would be charged to court for prosecution."

The car snatching syndicate arrested include Ikechukwu Madukanze of Umunze aged 23years and Okwudiri Ogubodo aged 26years from Enugu State respectively.

As part of efforts to take Nigerians out of poverty, a foundation, Theobarth Global Foundation (TGF) said it was set to empower over 774, 000 physically challenged persons across the country with financial grants to embark on businesses of their choice. Accordingly, each of the 774,000 targeted beneficiaries is to access N1, 000,000.00 from the foundationbeginningfromMarchthisyear.CountryDirectorofthefoundation, Theophilus Ebonyi, disclosed this yesterday in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State when speaking with journalists. Ebonyi stated that the empowerment scheme, which was meant to lift Nigerians, especially the physically challenged, will commence in Benue State to enable the physically challenged in that state stand up against the challenges before them in the society. According to the Country Director, "Most Nigerians are discouraged because of the attitude of others towards the physically challenged." He however stressed that the decision by the foundation to embark on the empowerment scheme was anchored on the fact that the physically challenged Nigerians occupy a very special and strategic place in the mainstream of the foundation.

Heineken Africa on Neonatal Deaths In order to reduce the neonatal rate in Nigeria, the Heineken Africa Foundation, yesterday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Benin Teaching (UBTH). The Heineken Foundation through its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, speaking for the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Jordi Borrut Bel, said over N42 million will be committed to equip the facilities at the UBTH to reduce the current 25 per cent of infant mortality rate of 1 in 4 to 10 percent in the hospital. Represented by Mrs. Shade Morgan, Corporate Affairs Manager of NB Plc, Borrut Bel said: "Here at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, the foundation will equip the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit with advanced neonatal care facilities and consumables worth â‚Ź103.937,94 that is, over N42m to assist with reducing the neonatal mortality rate from the current 25 percent (1in 4) to 10 per cent (1in 10) We hope that with this intervention, we would be contributing to reversing the negative index of neonatal deaths in Edo State in particular and Nigeria in general", Berrut said. He said since the inception of the foundation in 2007, the foundation has committed up to â‚Ź9.9 million in 111 different projects focused on health and water across the African continent.

PDP Membership Registration The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioneditsstatechaptersagainstembarkingonunauthorisedregistration of new members. In a statement by the National Organising Secretary, AustinAkobundu(rtd),thepartysaidthatthepurportedongoingregistration of new members in some state chapters of the party was not with the knowledge, consent and approval of the leadership of the party. PDP said that the party did not authorise any individual and or organisation to conduct any membership registration of its members under any guise.

According to the statement, "PDP is a party of due process, and one that is governed and guided by its Constitution, which prescribes that 30 days before Congresses, all Ward registers must be closed, (see Section 8(10). Therefore, it is illegal and unconstitutional to register members while congresses are on-going". The party directed all state chairmen "by this correspondence, mandated to take firm control and maintain strict supervision of our Party’s membership, issuance of valid Membership Cards, and Ward Registers".

SATURDAY MARCH 14, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 14, 2020

SUPER SATURDAY Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua

Heritage is Nigerian, Proudly Nigerian Watching the footage of boxing superstar, Anthony Joshua, deliver an emotional speech at the Commonwealth Day 2020 service in London last Monday personifies nothing short of true greatness. Joshua was among some of the Commonwealth’s top entertainers and sporting stars, who joined Queen Elizabeth and other members of the Royal Family at a multi-faith service to celebrate Commonwealth. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

Joshua

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 14, 2020

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SUPERSATURDAY Joshua: Heritage is Nigerian, Proudly Nigerian

Queen Elizabeth with Joshua

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he trending video had barely made the rounds on the blogosphere.

Little did it occur to the privileged and exclusive firsthand bearers that it will generate a flurry of praise and admiration on its subject, British Nigerian born world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua. Fans and followers in response to the post heaped praises on him, describing him with kind words like, MVP, generational talent, impressive young man. “He’s got brain to match his biceps,” another great fan posted on Twitter.

Joshua was among some of the Commonwealth’s top entertainers and sporting stars, who joined Queen Elizabeth and other members of the Royal Family at a multifaith service to celebrate Commonwealth Day. It was attended by a sizeable crowd of about 2,000 people in London’s Westminster Abbey.

Resounding in substance and style, Joshua’s speech before the Queen and Prince Philip at the service, touched on a number of issues, with an emphasis on unity around the Commonwealth. Born in Britain and a child of Nigerian parents, Joshua spoke at the service, telling the audience that he was “proud to be a child of the Commonwealth”. He asked people to remember how “our Commonwealth cousins stood shoulder to shoulder in combat” and spoke of the values of “fairness, responsibility, tolerance and diversity” which bind us.

The service also included

performances by West-End star, Alexandra Burke; and multiplatinum, multi-award winning singer-songwriter, Craig David.

Commonwealth Day has been celebrated across the Commonwealth every year since the 1970s. The unified heavyweight champion, 30, who proudly also represents his Nigerian background, was chosen to give a reflection during the celebration service considered the largest annual inter-faith gathering in the United Kingdom.

This year ’s event was centred around the theme, “Delivering a Common Future”, highlighting how the 54 member countries in the Commonwealth family are “innovating, connecting and transforming” to help achieve some of its biggest goals - such as protecting natural resources and boosting trade. The service among its attendees was the Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle in what was their final official appearance as senior royals) and the Earl and Countess of Wessex also attended the service which was broadcast live on BBC radio and television. In the event, the world boxing champion spoke about his Nigerian roots and Yoruba culture. Joshua began: “My name is Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua and, like many of you here, I’m a child of the Commonwealth.

I was born in Watford and my heritage is Nigerian. I come from

the Yoruba people, who are the largest and some might say the loudest ethnic group in all of Africa. I’m proudly Nigerian and proudly British. I join a long line, perhaps too long to count, of UK citizens of Commonwealth origin who’ve made enormous contributions to this great, multicultural society of ours. In my world, that would include names such as Joshua Buatsi, Lawrence Okolie and Ramla Ali. “Like me, so many children of the Commonwealth have two homes, two identities, two cultures and two ways of viewing the world.

Some even have more than two.

These days we hear so much about division and difference that some might be tempted to see that as a bad thing. But on the contrary, it’s a beautiful thing, a thing to be celebrated and cherished - and a great source of peace and stability.”

Joshua continued, by saying we, as a society, must work harder to move forward as one, removing all sense of division across the Commonwealth. “I feel opportunity should be there for the taking along with hard work, dedication and perseverance regardless of one’s background. We need to strive harder collectively in order to create unity. It takes a village to raise a child and in the same vein it takes a whole community to stand together to tackle some of the challenges we are confronted with today.

“In the same way boxing gave me the opportunity and framework to become Olympic champion, Commonwealth champion and now heavyweight champion of the world. I ask myself, ‘what does the

Commonwealth really mean?’ The second part of that word is key for me; a united, common future could create opportunities for our Commonwealth cousins.”

To the discerning, his heartfelt speech is not without wits, as he ended and made mention of what can probably be described as his favourtite meals fish and chips and egusi soup and pounded yam. “So, here’s to fish and chips and egusi soup and pounded yam, to the UK and Nigeria and to the children of the Commonwealth.”

Following his presentation, the two-time unified heavyweight champ was later seen conversing with the Queen. Very inspirational to young people and admired by older folk, His connection to his Yoruba heritage has never been in doubt.

The professional boxer was recently in Nigeria where he visited the nation’s capital to register for the National Identity card. He also visited Sagamu, his hometown in Ogun State, where he took pictures with traditional rulers and his young fans on the streets. Anthony is not lost. He is the type that would be described as omooluabi.

He once said in an interview: “Growing up in my household was like Nigeria when you come home.

My parents lived there and grew up there, so they know the culture.”

On the night he reclaimed his boxing titles from Andy Ruiz of Mexico, Joshua walked into the ring to the song of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti. He will defend his three world titles against Kubrat Pulev at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20.

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ÍšÍźËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

WORKING TOWARDS A HEALTH SILK ROAD To safeguard global public health, countries must join hands and stand shoulder to shoulder, writes Zhou Pingjian

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he COVID-19 outbreak poses both a grave threat to the life and health of the Chinese people and a formidable challenge to global public health security. Under the leadership and personal command of President Xi Jinping, China has given full play to the advantages of its system and mobilized national resources with concerted efforts to ďŹ ght the people’s war against the epidemic. We have done more than what we are asked to do by the WHO and under the International Health Regulations. Such efforts have resulted in a growing positive momentum in epidemic control across the country.

Standing at the forefront of the fight, China has fulfilled its responsibility for global public health as well as for its own people.

It has taken the most decisive and thorough measures to contain the spread of the virus beyond its borders. Chinese medical workers and researchers have raced against time to improve diagnostic and therapeutic solutions in an effort to raise the cure rate and lower the case fatality rate. With its quick response, China has bought precious time for the international community to enhance preparedness; with its forceful response, China has served as a strong line of defense against the spread of the epidemic. China has made huge sacrifice to slow down the spread of the epidemic to other parts of the world.

The heroic acts of the Chinese people in fighting the epidemic have won admiration and support from the international community. As President Muhammadu Buhari noted in his statement of solidarity on February 2, “China’s efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus have been exemplary, as well as the country’s collaboration with international agencies and other countries on the matter.� The President of 74th UN General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad Bande, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, also commended China’s exemplary leadership and transparency in fighting the epidemic.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres described China’s sacrifice in containing the spread of the novel coronavirus as a great contribution to all mankind. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that China’s forceful actions have limited the spread of the virus both domestically and beyond its borders. China is protecting not only its own people, but also the rest of the world.

China is by no means alone in its fight against the epidemic.

The international community has given us much valuable support.

President Xi Jinping conducted phone conversations at the instance of leaders from more than 10 countries and held meetings with the Prime Minister of Cambodia, President of Mongolia, and WHO directorgeneral during their special visits to China.

Leaders of over 170 countries and heads of more than 40 international and regional organizations have sent messages of sympathy and support to China. The United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, African Union, Arab League, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and the G77 have issued statements specifically expressing their confidence in and support for China.

Many countries, international organizations and NGOs have also lent a helping hand by donating medical supplies to China, which has played an important role in battling the epidemic. We are touched in particular to see some African countries offering us funds or in-kind assistance despite their own limited resources. “Hold a true friend with both hands.� We highly appreciate that the government and good people of Nigeria firmly stand by us in this difficult time. We will always remember the sympathy and support given to us in this battle against the COVID-19.

THE VIRUS HAS ATTACKED US AND HUMANITY MUST JOIN HANDS TO FIGHT IT; IT IS A THREAT TO ALL OF US AND WE MUST UNITE AS ONE

Virus respects no borders. It does not distinguish races or ethnicities.

It has no regard for a country’s GDP or level of development. In the age of globalization, the future of all countries is closely intertwined.

Society has become a community with a shared future where our interests are closely tied together. In the face of the outbreak, no country can stay immune. In the face of global challenges like public health security, should we stand closely together, or abandon our neighbors? Should we fight side-by-side, or adopt a “wait-and-see� attitude? Should we offer timely support, or add insult to injury?

The answers are self-evident. As Dr. Tedros has put it, “The virus has attacked us and humanity must join hands to fight it; it is a threat to all of us and we must unite as one.�

Most unfortunately however, one US media with ulterior motives falsely claims that the novel coronavirus originated in China and demands a formal apology for the outbreak. Certain American politician deliberately calls the novel coronavirus “the Wuhan coronavirus� in total disrespect of the guidelines of WHO. Nothing could be further from the truth. This stigmatization means nothing but only reveals their total arrogance, prejudice and ignorance towards China. It is preposterous and ridiculous.

First, to defeat this virus is everyone’s battle and every patient that came down with it, wherever he or she is, is a victim. What is the point in arguing that someone should apologize for it? We see people around the world joining hands to fight off this epidemic, and the WHO has repeatedly said that stigmatization is more dangerous than the virus itself. Why are certain people and media still promoting such an absurd logic? What are they up to?

Second, there is simply no basis and no reason to push China for an apology. It is yet undetermined where the virus originated. Wherever its origin may be, China and all the other affected countries are victims faced with the challenge in containing its spread. The H1N1 flu that broke out in the US in 2009 spread to 214 countries and regions, killing at least 18,449 people that year alone. I don’t remember anyone asking the US to apologize.

Third, in its efforts to fight off the epidemic, China has conducted itself as a responsible country. China’s signature strength, efficiency and speed in this fight have been widely acclaimed. To protect the health and safety of people across the world, the Chinese people have made huge sacrifice and major contributions. The international community commended China for its effective and extraordinary response and enormous sacrifice. Dr. Tedros noted that China’s forceful actions have limited the spread of the virus both domestically and beyond its borders, thus setting a new standard for the global efforts against the epidemic.

The COVID-19 is a common challenge facing all mankind. To safeguard global public health, countries must join hands and stand shoulder to shoulder. If we come to each other’s aid in this time of difficulty and fight for our shared future, we can build an “impregnable fortress� and win the battle against the virus.

Health care initiative is one of the Eight Major Initiatives of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2018. African countries are now facing high risks of imported COVID-19 cases and two confirmed cases have been reported in Nigeria. China has provided testing reagents to the AU, shared diagnostic and therapeutic solutions with many African countries including Nigeria. The Red Cross Society of China and many Chinese enterprises delivered reagents to African countries.

Dr. Pingjian is Ambassador of China to Nigeria

IMPERATIVES OF PRISON REFORM Tayo Ogunbiyi argues the need to make the prison truly a correctional institution

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rison is an institution established by law to provide rehabilitation and correctional facility for those who violated the law as a punitive measure. However, besides its punitive goal, prison is primarily meant to reform the inmates to be better people in the society.

Like every other society, Nigeria has her own fair share of prisons scattered all across the country. In 1872, the colonial masters set up the Broad Street prison with a capacity for about 300 inmates. It must be stressed that the colonial prisons were not really intended, at that time, to reform prisoners.

Rather, prisoners were mostly engaged in hard labour as dictated by the colonial administration.

It is, however, sad to note that nothing really fundamental has taken place in the outlook of the colonial days’ prisons and contemporary ones in Nigeria. In terms of being a reformation home, Nigeria’s prisons cannot be said to have arrived yet.

Welfare of prison inmates has always been an issue as most of the nation’s prisons are considered not too good for human habitation.

Indeed, there have often been skirmishes between prison warders and prisoners based on issues such as poor feeding arrangement, inadequate accommodation space and pathetic medical facility among others. Sometimes, some of the prisons have limited

number of suitable vehicles to convey inmates awaiting trial to court.

These shortcomings have resulted in poor prison conditions. Therefore, inmates face years of confinement in often cramped and dirty rooms with insufficient food allocations, inadequate minimum standard of basic hygiene and scarcity of decent clothing. A major bane of prisons across the country is overcrowding which constitutes a serious threat to the health of inmates. According to experts, cases of jail break have been partly traced to the unbearable conditions of inmates. It is not unusual to see a typical Nigerian prisoner look so frail with rashes all over the skin, among other deadly physical diseases.

While one isn’t advocating that prison inmates should be treated as Lords and Queens, at the same time, prison shouldn’t be made to be hell on earth for them.

Universally, the prison ought to train inmates in trades or vocations that could uplift them whenever they are out of prison. The idea is to ensure that they are properly integrated into the society after their sojourn behind bar. This way, they won’t likely constitute nuisance to the society. Towards this end, prisons ought to have facilities for both formal and informal education to support the various aspirations of inmates.

Ideally, the prison, aside serving as a form of punishment for offenders, is also planned to be an agent of reformation and rehabilitation. But sadly, the reverse seems to be the case as too many criminal offenders emerge from prisons worse off than they initially were. This is largely due to the fact that first time offenders are often kept together with hardened criminals and they end up being badly influenced by the latter. Consequently, they will not be able to imbibe the right values which their imprisonments were meant to inculcate.

From all indications, the prison system in our nation is in dire need of interventions from various segments of the society. Major stakeholders need to come up with ideas and initiatives that would radically alter the system. In as much as it is true that prison is in the exclusive list and not within the control of the states, it needs to be stressed that state governments should not look away at the current state of the prisons in their respective states. After all, the police are not under the state too, but the various state governments across the country have made major interventions because of the crucial nature of the police to public security matters.

Similarly, philanthropists, religious bodies and non- governmental organizations as well as corporate bodies could also assist the prisons

through donation of essential items in order to achieve the goal of actually reforming the inmates.

Also, prison officials should continuously undergo trainings, particularly in inter- personal relationships and psychology in order to attain the competence required in effectively performing their duties.

Equally, the issue of gangsterism, which makes some inmates deferential to others, should be properly addressed. Juvenile offenders should be housed separately from the adults to forestall undue influences.

It is, however, important to emphasize that in order to reduce the burden on prisons in the country, more emphasis needs to be placed on the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (A D R) method. The main objective of ADR is to encourage and promote the resolution of disagreements in a way that is devoid of legal action. It is on this principle that the Lagos State government anchors the creation of the Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC), in 1999. The initiative is to help in settling disputes without seeking redress in courts. The goal is to ensure that much strain isn’t placed on the judicial process. With this, the prison would attract lesser number of inmates.

Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

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ÍšÍźËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Realising Women’s Rights...

Anambra Police Games: The Day After

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he week-long police games held in Anambra State, and jointly sponsored by both the police and the state government, have come to an end.

Adjudged one of the best in organization by both participants and spectators, the upshot was quite impressive and did not come short of any previously held. In fact, the Inspector General of the Police - the smart looking Adamu Mohammed- called it the best. So far the IG’s observation appears inviolate as no one has contradicted it except one or two dissenting voices who prefer feeds from the social media to facts on ground.

Regardless, the games came with enthralling satisfaction from start to finish. The opening ceremonies were as fascinating as the closing ones. The competitors were determined to rake in medals while taking no prisoners. Everyone exerted themselves and strove hard to outperform one another. None staked greater claims to victory, but all pedalled to the metal. In the end, the Force Headquarters, Abuja, proved a cut above the rest and carted home most of the laurels.

But that was as far as the games went. The positive effects of the hosting have continued to redound to the credit of the state. Though Anambra was the first to host the games in the southeast zone since the more than a decade of the biennial sporting activities across Nigeria, but the just concluded event was most supremely organized and rewarding.

First, the successful hosting has shown the state as capable of organizing similar events like the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA), National Sports Festival(NSF), and as an ancillary to hosting of such mega games as the West African Games, Commonwealth, etc., without provoking doubts. Until these games, it was thought that the only states capable of hosting such events in the east are Enugu and Imo because of their obvious advantages. But Anambra has proved that even when thrown at the deep end it will overcome.

Secondly, the state can now boast of sporting facilities hitherto unavailable. It is true that the state is blessed with sports icons like Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna of the 1954 Vancouver, Canada, Commonwealth games feat, Power Mike, Mary Onyali, Francis Obikwelu, Innocent Egbunike, Albert Onyeanwuna, Paul Egonye, among others, but most of these people did not hone their sporting skills in the state. They did elsewhere.

Fortunately, the narrative has changed since the games. The Alex Ekwueme Square, formerly a mere parade ground with just a pavilion, now

Muhammad Sanusi’s Dethronement

has an Olympic-size swimming pool, basketball, handball and volleyball courts nestled in it. Ditto for other venues used for the weeklong activities.

No longer will promising athletes from the state be compelled to seek recourse to such facilities outside of the state except as a choice. It is well to remember that even as the period of the games was short it was rewarding to the extent that tourism sites in the state recorded great patronage and the economy had a shot in the arm. Curiously, while the games lasted no business activity suffered disruption as was the traffic situation.

But the greatest gain of the tournament was the confirmation of the state as one of the safest states in Nigeria. It put a lie to claims in some quarters that though armed robbery and abduction were drastically reduced, petty crimes like mugging and a penumbra of other crimes were on the increase.

Apart from the confirmation of the security in the state by the police authority, there was no security breach. There was no theft, no abduction, no mugging, and no violence of any kind. It was such a peaceful event that even known sceptics could not but applaud the good work.

Ejike Anyaduba, Abatete

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t is no longer news that the 14th emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi 11, had been dethroned and banished to Nasarawa State by Governor Ganduje of Kano State. The news of the removal of the emir was conveyed by the secretary to the Kano State government, Usman Alhaji last Monday.

The state government blamed the former emir of insubordination. Even before his ďŹ nal dethronement, many people saw his exit coming. The loquacious, brilliant and educated emir had been running a battle with the executive governor. The rift between the duo deteriorated in the build-up to 2019 general election in which Sanusi was accused of supporting the candidate of PDP, Abba Kabir Yusuf, which did not go down well with the governor.

Since then, it was series of coordinated turbulence for the deposed emir. It started with the investigation of an alleged embezzlement of emirate funds, creation of additional emirates to clip his influence and finally, dethronement. All efforts to reconcile the governor and the emir failed to yield positive result.

Now, Sanusi11 has kissed his throne a good bye.

Although during his farewell speech, the former emir accepted what happened to him in good faith and enjoined supporters to extend their support to his successor, there are lessons worthy to learn from the

T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKU 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 BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE 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 HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA TO SEND EMAIL: ďŹ rst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

life and times of this great former monarch.

First, nobody can deny the fact that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is an economist and astute banker who, besides being a lecturer, had a successful banking career. Sanusi rose to the position of managing director of First Bank Limited. He was also appointed governor of CBN by the administration of late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later retained

by Jonathan’s government. The former emir is a radical scholar who often speaks truth to power. As governor of CBN, Sanusi became a whistleblower and exposed corruption in NNPC, an action that led to his sack by former President Jonathan. Even after he ascended the throne, the gadfly emir did not stop calling spade a spade. In every occasion he was invited, the former revered monarch criticized government policies and programs that he felt are not in tandem with global best practices. In fact, Emir Sanusi became a champion for religious and cultural reforms in the backward Northern Nigeria.

His radical and liberal stance pitched him against many conservatives Northern elite. To these groups, Sanusi should have shut up his mouth like other traditional rulers.

Ibrahim Mustapha, Pambegua, Kaduna State

Nigeria`s Airy Castles

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he quality of life of a people ďŹ nds measurement in the quality of roofs spread over their heads at the end of each long, exhausting day. For many years, decent housing has been one of the defining yardsticks of how well people are faring at any given time. If at the end of each long day, people are able to retire to decent houses, then, invariably, they are living reasonably well. On the other hand, if at the end of similarly long days, people are confronted by dingy homes in overcrowded areas, then a problem immediately becomes obvious. Now, Nigeria as a country has had its fair share of developmental struggles since independence in 1960.

Some of the problems that were occasionally defined and dismissed as teething problems have shown both remarkable longevity and ability to evolve. They have continued to impede the country`s development in many deleterious ways. The effects are all too clear.

One such problem is the housing inadequacy that plagues the country like an epidemic. All over the country, a sickening majority of Nigerians find themselves cramped into houses in areas that are so tight that there is literally no breathing space. This ugly situation marks urban as well as rural areas although it appears that the urban areas with their pull of a better life are the worse affected.

Kene Obiezu, Abuja

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 14, 2020

NEWS

Lagos Assembly Sets Up Committee over Suspended Members Eddie Alegbe

PROMOTING INVESTMENTS...

L-R: Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Mariam Katagum; Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, the President, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Sir Emeka Nwandu, during the opening ceremony of the 31st Enugu International Trade Fair, held at the Trade Fair Arena, Enugu, yesterday

The Lagos State House of Assembly has set up a committee, headed by Hon. Ibrahim Layode (Badagry Constituency 1) to look into the matter surrounding the suspension of some members.

Announcing this decision after a parliamentary meeting of the lawmakers on Thursday evening, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Publicity, Strategy and Security, Hon. Tunde Braimoh, stated that conflicts were inherent part of human nature and that when they come, there were mechanisms to resolve them.

“Those who are being reprimanded are our colleagues, they are not outcasts, and we belong to the same political party.

“We are mindful that the image of the House is at stake and we want to tell you that the people affected are not outcasts, they are our colleagues.

“The committee headed by Hon. Ibrahim Layode is looking at the amicable solution to the matter.

“All the issues about offices, access and others would be

addressed by the committee,” he said.

Braimoh added at the briefing, which was witnessed by most members of the House, including the Speaker and other Principal Officers that the way the two suspended principal officers were replaced was done normally.

He stated that the only two offices that were constitutionally recognised were those of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, and that others were done in-house.

“They are nothing to worry about, they were done accordingly. All that we did were done according to Order 10 Rules 68 to 72 of the Business Rules of the House.

“We are in the process of conflict resolution. We don’t want to talk about what constitute gross insubordination and indiscipline.

“All the negativity that they are spreading about is exaggerated. “There would be conflict and this is part of any society.

That does not mean there is a sharp division or there is break down of law and order in the House,” he said.

Women In Successful Careers (WISCAR) Lagos, Nigeria, on Sunday 8th of March, 2020 hosted members of the WISCAR community and the public to the screening of Money Marriage, a documentary film, in commemoration of the International Women’s Day. Money Marriage documents the experiences of young women entrapped in the traditional harmful practice in a certain Becheve Community in Cross River State.

The abhorrent culture promotes the sale of under-age girls into marriage to offset what is often generational debt. The event focused on the central theme of this year’s International Women’s Day “Each for Equal” to celebrate women in Nigeria and dialogue on the issues of gender parity in our communities.

The documentary film screening was well attended by notable women such as Amina Oyagbola, Founder and Chairperson of the WISCAR; Bukola Smith, Executive Director FCMB and

Advisory Board Member WISCAR; Funke Adekoya, SAN, Founding Partner at Aelex; Omolara MichaelNwandu, General Manager Financial Planning MTN and many more. The evening commenced with opening remarks by the Executive Secretary of WISCAR, Fabia Ogunmekan and a formal welcome by the Founder Amina Oyagbola, where she stated that WISCAR had decided to lend its platform to the makers of the documentary to create awareness and stimulate conversations around the rights of every young girl to nurture her dreams.

Amina Oyagbola stated: “It is essential for us to remember that it is the right of every young girl to grow fully into womanhood and to self-actualize whatever her dreams maybe for herself. It is the concern of all of us and it should worry us all greatly as we push for gender parity, that a large proportion of our future generations of leaders are being disenfranchised of their basic human rights.”

Rivers’ll Use Modular Refineries to Check Soot Menace, Illegal Bunkering WISCAR Hosts ‘Money Marriage’ Screening Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Government has disclosed plans to set up modular refineries to discourage illegal refining of petroleum products, also known as “Kpo-fire” and check the increasing soot menace in the state.

Rivers State has been awash with “black soot” arising from illegal refining of petroleum products and the burning of seized products by security agencies.

Addressing a consultative meeting yesterday in Port Harcourt with leaders of Community Development Committees (CDCs) in the state on ways to end the menace in the state, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, said the state was determined to find a solution to the menace.

She said the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, had set up a

technical committee made up of technocrats on the incidence of soot in the state and that the committee had determined that the incidence was dangerous to people, plants and animals and could cause cancer and other terminal diseases.

She said the state was therefore poised to take steps to establish modular refineries to check the proliferation of illegal refineries in order to protect both residents and environment of the state.

She emphasised that the aim was not to arrest people in the illegal business but to encourage them to form co-operatives to get assistance to operate modular refineries to protect the people and the environment.

Harry-Banigo said: “We need you to come on board this vision.

We need you to buy into this policy.

We want those involved in artisanal

Uzodinma Swears-in First Female Chief Judge in Imo Amby Uneze in Owerri

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has sworn-in Justice Ijeoma Agugua as the first Acting female Chief Judge of the state since its creation in 1976.

Justice Agugua replaced Justice Paschal Nnadi, who retired on March 12, 2020.

The governor, while swearing-in the acting Chief Judge underlined the strategic role of the judiciary in the overall development of democracy, saying “Judiciary is an important arm of government, and if our democracy must grow with its attendant dividends, we must have an efficient judiciary. This is why every government must take seriously the leadership and membership of the judicial arm of government.”

On judicial autonomy, Uzodinma reassured that the judiciary would enjoy full autonomy as enshrined in the constitution under his watch.

While calling for synergy among

the various arms of government, judiciary inclusive, he stated: “I am not unaware of the little bickering here and there in the past. The past government in the state could not foster a robust relationship with the judiciary. In my own time, it will be different.”

The governor further advised all the judges, judicial and non-judicial staff in the state to commit to leadership, stating that it is through relationship that expectations of government can be actualised.

Congratulating the Acting Chief Judge on her appointment, Governor Uzodinma charged her to improve on all those things her immediate predecessor put in place and possibly drive new ideas that will take the state judiciary to greater heights.

He assured Justice Agugua of his unflinching support. “Imo Judiciary must be the best under my watch, I will give you all the necessary support to ensure that you have an outfit worthy of commendation”.

refining to know that we are doing all we can to accommodate them.

“The governor wants the best for the people of Rivers State. We want our people to be gainfully employed in a venture that will not be injurious to our environment.

“We called because you are CDC Chairmen and your committee is about development. This is an innovation, it is not something that is happening every day.

“We are ready to encourage them, we are not arresting them.

We are ready to assist them to form cooperatives or clusters and we will register them. After meeting with you, we will meet with federal agencies like NNPC, DPR and NCDMB.” Also speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Igbiks Tamuno, revealed that illegal bunkering and refining activities are going on in communities in no

fewer than 14 local government areas in the state.

Tamuno expressed regrets that an illegal activity involving about 2,000 people have put the lives of over seven million people of the state at risk of cancer.

He said: “We have called you because you are very important stakeholders in this issues. Issue of kpo-fire is with us and those involved are sons and daughters of Rivers State.

“The development is causing a lot of devastation of the environment and the health of Rivers State.

“Kpo-fire is operational in at least 14 LGAs. We have soot everywhere.

While few people smile to the bank, others are suffering health-wise. In few years to come, there will be lots of cancer-related health challenges in the state. As government we are concerned about the health of our people.

I Won’t Dethrone Royal Fathers but Punitive Action’ll be Taken, Senators Grill Fashola over Ministry’s Says Ortom George Okoh in Makurdi

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has threatened to take punitive measures against any traditional ruler in the state involved in fomenting crises in communities that has led to loss of lives and destruction of properties.

The governor also declared he would not depose or banish any traditional ruler found guilty.

The governor made this known yesterday following the destruction of houses at Ikpayongo and Ayati communities due to land feud between the people of Mbasombo and Shough Council Wards in Gwer East Local Government Area and clashes over ponds in Agatu that led to death of some persons.

The governor who handed over about seven suspects to security agents for investigation and prosecution stated that there was a code of conduct guiding the

office of traditional rulers which he expected them to adhere to.

“We have rules we use in dealing with traditional rulers who get involved in indiscipline and we won’t contemplate dethroning and banishment.

Ortom frowned at the action of communities from the two council wards, saying such would not be condoned under his administration.

The governor further directed security agents to arrest those mentioned in connection with the crisis but were not at the meeting, stressing that they must be apprehended to explain their involvement or otherwise in the crisis.

He lamented that it was highly regrettable for people who were bonded together in poverty to resort to destruction of homes they suffered to build, saying such actions would be met with severe punishment.

Budget, Housing Deficit Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has been grilled by the Senate Committee on Housing, led

by Senator Sam Egwu, which questioned him on the budget performance of the ministry in the last three years and paucity of houses for majority of Nigerians despite unoccupied buildings everywhere in the country.

Egwu, the Senate Chairman on Housing and a former governor of Ebonyi State, who was accompanied by Senators Clifford Ordia, Esan Central, Ibrahim Danbaba, Sokoto South, Lola Ashiru, Kwara South and Isah Jibrin, Kogi East, argued that shelter remains a big problem for Nigerians.

The senators who were on oversight function to the office

of the minister in Mabushi, Abuja, also sought information on why the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) had become almost emasculated and underfunded although the agency collects revenue from subscribers to its housing estates littered all over the country.

Egwu contended that despite the humongous statutory role bequeathed on the FHA, the authority now literally gasps for breath and may go out of existence soon if there is no urgent intervention. “ FHA has been almost excluded from national budgets. They are begging for existence. They have thousands of buildings, but in a terrible financial situation. What are their challenges or limitations? We are worried about this . We must get them to perform optimally.

We need to intervene,” he said.

Plus

FASHION FILE

pg. 20

GLOBAL SOCCER

pg. 29

FAIRGROUND

pg. 36

SHOWBIZFLAIR

pg. 43

Odia Ofeimun at 70 A Toast to the Health of the Master Poet

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾MARCH 14, 2020

PLUS

A Toast to the Health of the Master Poet

Odia Ofeimun, poet, publisher, editor, activist, polemicist, mentor, politician, columnist, factory worker, writer, dancedrama exponent, public intellectual, will be 70 next Monday March 16. Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, takes a profound look at the life and times of this living legend, and pays tribute to him

T

here is no better way of introducing Odia Ofeimun than pointedly stressing that “Odia Ofeimun is Odia Ofeimun!”

Enough said. Poet, publisher, editor, activist, polemicist, mentor, politician, columnist, factory worker, writer, dance-drama exponent, public intellectual, critic etc, Odia ofeimun has packed uncountable lifetimes into one tumultuous lifespan.

Born on March 16, 1950, in Iruekpen, an Esan-speaking town in Ekpoma, in presentday Edo State, Odia missed an entire year at the start of his primary schooling because, as was the practice then, his right hand could not cross his head and touch his left ear! He eventually benefitted from the Free Education policy which started in the old Western Region in 1955, under the auspices of the Action Group led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo whom Odia would later in life serve as a Private Secretary. Odia had to drop out of secondary school in Class Three due to the business failure of his father.

He had discovered the joys of reading, and thus made the library of his uncle Odigie his true home.

The uncle happened to be studying in Germany then, and the daring Odia had the audacity to inform him that he planned to become a writer even without formal university education, not unlike Nigeria’s Amos Tutuola, South Africa’s Peter Abrahams, Ireland’s Bernard Shaw, England’s Charles Dickens and America’s Ernest Hemingway.

He sent some of his early poems to the newspaper, Midwest Echo, a sister title of the Ibadan-based Nigerian Tribune, and fortuitously got employed as a cub reporter.

He wrote poems that would later be published in the Chinua Achebe-edited Okike, and Nigeria Magazine edited

by Frank Aig-Imoukhuede.

Leaving the newspaper which salary was in arrears,

Odia made to travel to Ghana to function as a writer but only ended up in Lagos where he found work as a petrol station attendant and then as a factory labourer.

He made the rounds of the public libraries in Lagos and occupied his nights writing poetry. Odia had the singular distinction of doing his A Levels in December and the O Levels in January. Curiously, Odia failed literature at O Levels, only to get a B in the subject in A Levels the very next year.

According to Odia, “Thankfully, I did not need any GCE or any formal qualifications to write… I sent some of the poems to Chinua Achebe’s Okike and some to Nigeria magazine edited by Frank Aig-Imoukhuede. They were published while I was waiting for my A Level results. It got a personal boon when Wole Soyinka was released from three years of detention. I took a trip to Ibadan to meet him. He was driving out of his compound at the University of Ibadan in an open mini-mock when I flagged him down.

He took one look at the poems, summed up my factory labourer’s dressing, my bathroom slippers, whitish nylon shirt tied up below my navel, and asked: ‘Are you sure you wrote them?’ From that moment, I knew I could call myself a poet.”

The poems were eventually published in the celebrated anthology, Poems of Black Africa edited by Wole Soyinka and published by the esteemed London publishing house Secker and Warburg.

It is indeed striking that the poems Odia wrote at 18 is still being studied by 18-year-olds doing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations.

Lack of material means could not stop Odia from taking an Upper Second in Political Science from the University of Ibadan.

Odia’s first collection, The Poet Lied, was published

by Longman in 1980 but had to be withdrawn from the market because JP Clark claimed he was the subject of

Ofeimun

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 14, 2020

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PLUS ... A Toast to the Health of the Master Poet the title poem.

Odia has thus far published well over 40 books made up of collections of his poetry, anthologies edited by him, dance dramas, collected essays, creative non-fiction, polemics etc.

His publishing outfit, the Hornbill House of Culture, is a path-finding enterprise in the cultural mill.

Lagos remains for Odia an adorable city of wonder that he celebrates thusly: “Eko, my city by the lagoon.”

To dream big makes great poetry to happen. Odia Ofeimun is the unapologetic bearer of grand dreams. For Odia, Lagos represents an entire cosmos bodying the dreams of a nation and a continent.

It is not for nothing that the street guys stress always “come to Lagos and be wise.” Nobody experiences Lagos without somewhat waxing poetic.

In the epochal anthology, Lagos of the Poets, edited by Odia, the poet undertakes a sweep that captures Lagos from the words intervolving Nigeria’s first president Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the early nationalist Dennis Osadebay, the breakthrough modernist poets such as Gabriel Okara, Wole Soyinka, J.P. Clark, down to the modern days of Niyi Osundare, Harry Garuba, Ianure Ojaide, Afam Akeh, Uche Nduka, Ogaga Ifowodo, Chiedu Ezeanah, Nengi Ilagha, Lola Soneyin, Jumoke Verissimo etc.

The icing on the poetic cake happens to be the inclusion of the maverick Afrobeat blaster Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, represented by his songs Confusion Break Bone and Go Slow.

The indomitable Odia is still hard at work on the biography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo whom he served as Private Secretary.

Odia has over the years served as the Publicity Secretary, General Secretary and President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).

For the ANA presidency post, I was one of the two candidates defeated by Odia at the Ilorin convention after I was nominated for the esteemed post “against my personal will and desire,” to quote Obasanjo.

I got the loudest ovation after my nomination such that I felt that with such popular support I did not need to vote for myself to win!

I lost woefully but you need to understand that our mourned, recently deceased Prof Harry Garuba, whom Odia had served as the best-man at his wedding, was the election umpire!

Please do not read any seriousness to my election apologia because I may have had popular support but I clearly lacked electoral value!

Odia was the chairman of our editorial board when we were practising Guerrilla Journalism in the hard days of General Sani Abacha. Odia won the internationally coveted Fonlon Nichols award for excellence in writing and human rights activism in 2010.

His landmark birthdays have always struck a reverberating chord with me over the years. At Odia’s 50th birthday party in is old house in Oregun, Lagos, my teacher Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, whom I had not seen for some time wowed the audience when he asked me: “My friend, where have you been?”

“Prof, Sir, I have chosen to remain in Nigeria to do battle with Nigerian poverty,” I replied.

Soyinka and Odia and the party had a good laugh at poor me.

When Odia’s 60th birthday was

Ofeimun

afoot, I got an early morning phone call from Odia, and he was quite straight to the point: “I want you at my house this evening.”

Odia is of course “he who must be obeyed.”

When I got to the poet’s home in Oregun I was handed an impossible task. Odia wanted to launch all of 14 books on his birthday, March 16, which was then barely a week away, and he wanted me to proof-read, fact-check and somewhat edit the manuscripts.

In the world of Odia, nothing is impossibility.

He had made contacts with printers from Shomolu to faraway Dubai, urging them to be ready to print all the books to beat the tough deadline.

I spent nights wading through words.

Unfortunately, Odia’s go-between, who sent the first three books to the printers, did not do a proper checking such that errors were made in the frontispiece of all three books.

Odia, who always insists on perfection, was left with no choice than to dump all the printed copies that consumed a huge amount.

That is Odia for you: he can cast a fortune aside in his drive for excellence.

In the end, I was not present at Odia’s 60th birthday lecture at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the festival of life at the National Theatre because I became suddenly spirited to the creeks and waters of the Niger Delta - but that is another story altogether.

Odia will mark his 70th birthday on Monday, March 16, 2020, and my prayer is to be in fine fettle to make the august event.

The Odia Ofeimun at 70 Committee of which I am a member will in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts, University Of Lagos, organise an International Conference with the theme “Taking Nigeria Seriously: A Conference In Honour Of Odia Ofeimun” from Sunday, March 15 to Wednesday March,18, 2020, at Julius Berger Hall, University Of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos.

Let’s toast to the health of the master poet and indefatigable public intellectual-cum-activist, Odia Ofeimun, at 70! It’s good to start the celebration with one of his famed poems, Lagoon: Lagoon

I let the lagoon speak for my memory though offended by water hyacinth waste and nightsoil…

I still let the Lagoon reclaim the seduction of a land moving with the desire of a sailing ship pursuing a known star The Lagoon speaks like a foetus remembering the future, listening from the depths of formless song for the Words that break against the voyages of discovery in the discovery of voyages My Lagoon speaks! gateway and storehouse; never dry, in regatta floats hauling epic seasons in floods that take over the lordly garbage of our alleys after the rains have registered their pity I let the Lagoon speak for my memory to teach me how to scoff at the lines drawn on water to divide the earth I let the Lagoon teach me to forget street names in order to gulp whole cities like a glass of kola wine.

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FAJ/JOE

Deating Rising Frustrations of Political Warlords

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t is commonly accepted as fallacy any idea that derives its meaning or position from a generalisation. So, I will not participate in equating the recent outburst of the former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, as the prevailing thought of Ndigbo in the political future of Nigeria. Yet, it is important to interrogate the gentleman’s warning (someone may even call it a threat) with the contemplation that some others may share a similar position, or may be spurred towards accommodating such.

Ezeife reportedly warned the Nigerian political establishment, and, by extension, the populace, that any action or process that is devoted to disallowing an Igbo person from succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 equals to a clear invitation for the Igbos to leave the country! That is worrisome coming from a man whose democratic credentials should ordinarily accord him statesmanship. But that is even the less troubling aspect of Ezeife’s unsubtle threat.

He further predicated his alarm on the premise that any denial of the next presidency to the South East zone would obviously translate to denying the people of that region the citizenship of Nigeria... and therefore... whatsoever the South East people do as consequences of being flagrantly politically excluded, would be justified - in the face of humanity, if not of God (last emphasis mine).

How this did not cross Ezeife’s mind as a call to disorder in lieu of 2023 manoeuvering beats me.

Historically, and with the emotive benefit of political affiliations and developments, it is a crying shame that we have not had an elected president of Eastern extraction. Of course, there are hundreds of pundits that will churn out realms of arguments contradicting the possibilities and existential obstacles that can abort the emergence of a South East president.

We are not here justifying or vilifying the emergence of such an overdue candidate, amongst hundreds that are manifestly capable, but to remind our political gladiators to dump down on rhetorics that can easily inflame nerves and topple the relative inter-religional peace we now enjoy within the space afforded us by our current insane security challenges.

We ought not to add threats of sectional or regional devastations in political retaliations for electoral choices

or selections of vested political parties. People like Ezeife should be told in certain terms that no region can foist its will and fancies, however righteous, on all other regions. Threats and insinuations of unrest and affray can hardly win any region the presidency in a nation where political and electoral calculations are fraught with all sorts of imperfections and irregularities.

Short of all major political parties agreeing to field candidates from the South East region, the prevailing rickety and cash-soaked apparatus of electioneering activities can hardly respond positively to Ezeife’s alarm. Rather than threaten and filibuster at a system malevolently designed and operated to frustrate certain political agitations, and deep-seated desires to serve in the truest form, elders like Ezeife must collaborate with like minds across regions and religions, hewing quietly and fervently at the suffocating structures and strictures erected to undermine a truly egalitarian society and functional democracy.

People who rise in anger and wilful antagonism in response to stifling and unfair political manipulations merely make the route to prosperity and political ascendancy more arduous and traitorous to generations afterwards. This should be our mantra: Build bridges - of whatever substance and span - and don’t throw fire-bombs at the tiny planks we are currently managing - or is it massaging?

Civil Servants, Stop Looking for Coronavirus!

Nigerians are unique in many ways. One is in our capacity to believe we are naturally immune from something that others dread or cringe from. Usually, our confidence is mostly based on ignorance, or foolhardiness. Remember, when HIV/AIDS started to lay waste swathe of humanity in the western world.... our people below the Savannah believed it was the White man’s disease, and therefore orchestrated efforts to promote safe sex and encourage abstinence were seen as the usual craving of the Western world to deny us the full measure of God’s blessings and directives... that man shall not be alone...that he shall multiple...flesh on flesh was divine, and no scaremongering racists were going to stop our fun and formula. Later, with gory pictures and horror stories

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)

of our relatives, friends and others flooding our mass media, we somehow fell in line.

Yet, for all our “shakara� and air of courage and manliness, we are mostly terror-stricken at diseases and ailments of epidemic or pandemic dimensions. We lose our bluster, and run under the canopy of religion, when a blaze of seemingly incurable pestilence like Ebola, SARS (not our infamous Yahoo-Yahoo ‘lovers’), Bubonic plague, Lassa... threaten to storm our comfort zones.

It is thus no surprise to hear that some of our top civil servants are still afoot all across the world, attending conferences and all what not - even as the world is battling, on different levels, to stem the surge and spread of the now dreaded Coronavirus (COVID-19) which presumably originated in Wuhan, China.

It came to light recently that the Nigeria/West Africa Director of The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS), Ismail Sani, called on President Muhammadu Buhari’s and governments of nations affected by Coronavirus to impose an international travel ban on their officials. The TIEMS Director lamented that despite the alarming rate the virus was spreading across the world, some Nigerian government officials, and their colleagues elsewhere, were still travelling outside their countries for conferences and events!

Now, what in God’s name could be the stimulating benefit of putting at grave risk your life, the lives of your family and countless others all across the world?

Estacodes? Knowledge? Service (or eye-service)? How does a diseased mind and a carrier of a booming plague be of any service to his or her society? Let the presidency immediately cancel and reverse any travel approvals, in view or ongoing, and demobilize all transit public and government officials, after they have been duly screened, quarantined (or by selfisolation for required days) if afflicted.

Do not be fooled: Coronavirus is not immune to the black man, and certainly not a Nigerian (whether on self-serving or righteous assignment)... Sit at home, and save us the possibility of contamination and distribution.

Your Marriage and Other Priorities

A

t the time you got married to your spouse, you had expectations parochially restricted to getting into a solitary confinement where only two of you could live without the interference from a third party. The third party knew what you wanted and gave you all the liberty you wanted. You were lucky your wife got pregnant within the context of your expectations and now you are both parents of children who look up to you for a greater tomorrow. Your style or thinking methodology has now transited from that of a fellow eager to explore different sex positions, all in the bid to prove a point that you are the man, to that of a concerned parent, wife or a husband desperately scouting for human and material resources to perform an obligation.

Now coming to terms with realities in their large numbers in a country where the economic variables contradict expectations; a country where nepotism is the order of the day, a terrestrial unit where hostility lives next door; a country where statistical data, accountability and planning for the basic needs of the next generation is particularly nobody’s business.

Other realities ahead will include increasing your sources of income. You would need to provide for children now going into the universities, your parents now aging and a deliberate attempt to prepare for your own retirement. Do you have an agenda for the new decade? When do you want to build your own home? Do you have a Health Insurance?

Efforts to keep your marriage and also come to terms with the reality of coping with other priorities are what qualify you as a well-rounded married personality. Invest reasonably when an opportunity presents itself, monitor your pension scheme and ensure it would be due when you need it. You could also join a Group Life Insurance.

It takes three to form a Group. You also join the Alumni of your former school. This should help you build new contacts. Be vigilant with travel advisory these days. It helps you decide where not to go. Your greatest priority these days is not falling into the hands of those trying to intrude into your marriage

Sex and Strange Occurrences

Sex, an act between the male and the female genders, is a platform for procreating and satisfying crave for emotional desires. From the moral point of view, individuals should have sex with some persons with whom they have a defined and legal relationship. However, that no longer is the case in a world where a father now sleeps with his own daughter, boys sleep and impregnate their mothers and brothers now sleep with their own sisters .This is otherwise known as incest.

It is viral in the social media that a 24 year old man impregnated his 66 year old maternal grandmother. There are questions begging for answers about how this relationship started. A 24-year old man has become the talk of the village after he allegedly impregnated his 66-year-old grandmother. According to a report by B-metro, the man identified as Normore Mudavanhu got Sazini Dube, his maternal grandmother, pregnant. “I cannot comment much because the two have not appeared in my court. However, I have heard about the embarrassing incident,� Chief Njelele, in whose jurisdiction the incident occured said. The chief further added he is not surprised by the incident as he revealed some people have been engaging in incestuous acts in secret. “A number of people in my area have a tendency of engaging in incestuous relationships. I have dealt with a lot of such cases and I think it’s high time I give tough penalties,� said Chief Njelele.

A source related to the two said the incestuous act was discovered this year. “Mudavanhu would be seen in the wee hours coming from Dube’s bedroom hut. A family meeting was called and the two were told to drop their illegitimate relationship or they risked being permanently cut off from the family,� said the source. The man and her grandmother have apologised over the disgraceful act. Dube is now three months pregnant with her grandson’s seed. Most Zimbabweans have been left shocked by the incident Also in the social media is the gang raping of a pastor’s wife by four boys .The ring leader, known to the pastor hitherto handled household chores for the family .Unknown

emma3nueld@yahoo.com sms only: 09015976380 to the wife of the pastor, his domestic worker had wished he had a carnal knowledge of her. On a couple of occasions, he had seen the wife of the pastor half naked. The Pastor’s wife reported the Incident to her husband. They were all arrested.

Also in the eye of the public through social media platforms is the engagement of another domestic worker. This fellow is in the transgender category. He dresses like a girl but has a long and a strong male organ between his legs.

While performing the duties for which he was employed, she successfully impregnated two daughters of his employer and also disvirgined the third.

It was only at that point the employer reactively did a due diligence. This particular encounter underscores who we are when we are desperately in need of achieving an objective.

We disregard due process, we do our own thing and we set aside rules and regulations. It is only when the achievement of the objective runs into troubled waters that we take another look to see if there was anything wrong in the value chain.

Consequent upon which couples are advised to do a due diligence of persons taking full or part time employment in their homes and private offices. This should include filling of a form with the attachment of a passport sized photograph, meeting with a guarantor whose name has been volunteered.

Couples are once again warned against cultural sentiments or desperation to get some persons to work in your home without knowing their health status.

Details of a foreign worker could be cross checked with the Nigerian Immigration Service or National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.

In this dispensation, where strange things occur through sexual relationship, do not allow a person not married to you to sleep or sit provocatively around you.

Authorised access to your home should be monitored to ensure people only stay within the ambit of the reasons for their visits.

23

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍźËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION/RELATIONSHIP

BY

‘Life & Property’: Fixed Entry

T

HISDAY Front Page of March 7 welcomes us today after a long break with these three incongruences: “He explained that the visit of the security chiefs to the scene was to enable them deploy additional security men to (in) the school and the community to forestall future attack.â€? You cannot forestall past or present attack! So, once you employ ‘forestall’ in whatever context, it means an attack yet to take place. In other words, ‘forestall future attack’ is a phrasal incongruence. â€œâ€Śsafeguarding lives and properties of people in the state‌.â€? Truth and reason: life and property in the state. This is a stock phrase not subject to pluralism.

Would it have been property of whom else, if not people? Maybe cows! The phrase, ‘life’ and ‘property’, is a fixed/ stock expression. In a few other exceptional or classical contexts (particularly ‘property’), both words admit pluralism.

If it were a case of safeguarding of lives and prevention of arson, we could talk of ‘lives and properties’—not just property which would be uncountable in the contrary circumstance.

This is no more news because phrasal verbs abhor hyphenation: “CJN swearsin (swears in) Justice‌â€?

Wrong: eye service Right: lip-service “Minimum wage: NLC gives Bauchi Govt (Govt.) 21 days (days’) ultimatum to resume negotiations� “EFCC to issue criminal summon (summons) against (on) Diezani�

(News around the city, March 11) Please note that ‘summons’ is singular and summonses (plural). Most times, some people think that ‘summon’ is the right context as excerpted here, just as they believe that ‘summons’ is the plural.

And this: you issue a summons on, not against, somebody. “2023: Buhari will handover (hand over) to Igbo—NUF� (South East News, March 11) Let us welcome ‘Lookout’ to this col-

umn. Its March 11 edition fumbled: â€œâ€Ś not one of these dreams have (has) been achieved after close to six decades.â€? “Martins: SWAN condoles (condoles with) family, berates LMC’ (DAILY SUN SPORTS, March 11) Simple alternative: SWAN consoles family—instead of sophisticated ignorance! “In the eyes and reckoning of every Imo citizens, there has only been two administrations in the state.â€? Every Imo citizen or all Imo citizens‌and this: there have (not has) only been two administrations in the state. “NPA commends FG over (for) port reformsâ€? (THISDAY Headline, January 27) “Nigeria’s aviation industry has witnessed some changes since the administration of late Musa Umar Yar’dua‌.â€?

(THISDAY Aviation, January 27) The administration of the late‌. “After four years of solid performance on the saddle‌â€?’ Let God’s will be done: in the saddle. “Some states have seized the opportunity to make waves‌.â€? It is only in America and Nigeria that opportunities are seized. In New (Formal/Standard) English environments, you either use or take opportunities. ‘Seize’ inseparably involves the use of some measure of force or deployment of violence. “Gowon, Jang, others pay last respect to‌â€? No news: last respects.

Yet another headline goof from the above edition: “Tantalizers fete (fetes) kids on Valentine’s Dayâ€? Tantalizers is just a company. “Post election panel is illegal and diversionaryâ€? Get it right: Post-election panel illegal, diversionary “It is perhaps in this light that the series of consultative meeting....â€? Folk (popular) etymology: the series of consultative meetings. “In this regard, one must doff one’s hat for Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. ....â€? This way: doff (also take off) one’s hat to (not for). “In the last elections, voters had to choose between three parties essentially‌.â€? ‘Between three parties’ is simply acidulous. Formal expression:

among three parties‌. “The security-men who arrested Chima were eight in number (what would ‘eight’ have been?) and arrived at about 10 a .m. in the morning.â€? Towards Standard English for readers: at 11.a.m or about 11a.m, if there is an element of uncertainty. To employ the two in one breath is irksome. How does this sound: ’10 a.m. in the morning’? This is simply embarrassing! “Of course film-makers should also watch them so that the public can be told the videos are not some Hollywood make-belief.â€? My comment: makebelieve. “Pondering over the nation is the spectra of economic corruption and a descent into (to) chaos and anarchy.â€?

Singular: spectrum and plural (spectra). “It is therefore most expedient for ex-Generals like Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida to re-examine its (their) role in government and take a honourable bow from politics.â€? A time to quit: an honourable bow. “Even now, no talk of regional or sub-regional integration is complete in this continent without an echo from Nigeria.â€? Diplomacy: on the continent. â€œâ€Śam convinced that what held the audience spell-bounded (spell-bound) and excited was the fact of an Anglophone being able to tell him in their own language.â€? “Instead, people compete and fall over one another for the crumbs and fallouts from the ‘high table’ (platform/dais/ rostrum) and even defend the indefensible.â€? ‘Fallout’ is uncountable. â€œâ€Śwe swept them under the carpet pretending that all was well when in actual (what for?) fact we were heading towards apocalypse.â€? â€œâ€Śothers point out the moral ground for such action (an action), given Labour’s antecedents in the past.â€? ‘Antecedents in the past’? This is unacceptable for obvious reasons. One of these days, somebody would write ‘future antecedents’! Delete ‘in the past’. “As at 1985 there are (were) over 36,000 dams in the world with about 18,000 in China alone.â€?

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

“Are you therefore surprise (sic) to find mediocres promoted beyond their highest level of competency.â€? The noun form of ‘mediocre’ (an adjective) is ‘mediocrity’ or ‘mediocrist’. “Statistics of African debt profile shows (show) that Nigeria owes about 15 per cent of the continent’s debt.â€? “But none of these leaders coming with large (a large) retinue of people (would it have been of dogs?) will agree that it is important to back-up (back up) their good wishes with concrete policy (a concrete policy) in the area of debt management for sustainable growth.â€? “Within the 15 years of the four military regimes under review, Nigeria moved twice from one extreme end of the scale to the other in her (its) relation with other nations.â€? Either extreme or end—both cannot co-function. “General Babangida’s emergence on the scene brought an initial soothing balm in Nigeria’s foreign relations because of his early release of a transition programme.â€? ‘Soothing balm’ is offensive to good scholarship. What else, apart from soothing, would balm do? “While the Chinese were still protesting the bombing of their embassy in Belgrade, NATO had gone ahead to bomb the Swiss embassy, causing damages (damage) to the Angolan embassy and hit (hitting) a hospital, among others.â€? “What is laying a siege on (to) public wealth and traumatizing all those who dared to point accusing fingers.â€? Delete ‘accusing’ because of its contextual redundancy. And this: point the finger (stock expression). “How does the separation of powers that are (is) discernible in Government textbooks operate in real life.â€? “Just as the banning of books and newspapers give (gives) rise to an illicit trade in them‌.â€? “Perhaps it may interest you to note that the average take home (a hyphen) pay of a fresh university graduate a month, in any of the Federal ministry (ministries), was slightly above N3,000.â€?

POLITY

BHM CEO Lauds SOLPR Academy

T

he Chief Executive Officer, Black House Media (BHM), Adekunle Ayeni, has commended the Strategic Outcomes Group for its SOL PR Academy initiative. Ayeni delivered the commendation on Thursday while serving as a facilitator at one of the academy sessions.

The BHM CEO, who spoke on the fundamentals of Public Relations, noted that the SOL PR Academy is an initiative with the potential to mold young graduates desirous of careers in the field and other aspects of Marketing Communications into good professionals through early exposure to the rudiments. “I spent two hours speaking on the fundamentals of Public Relations at the SOL PR Academy. It is a very welcome initiative by the Strategic Outcomes Group and I’m grateful to have been part of it,� said Ayeni.

The SOL PR Academy, a corporate social responsibility programme of the Strategic Outcomes Group, opened on Tuesday in Lagos. The academy is designed to prepare young graduates for careers in Public Relations and other areas Marketing Communications and media. In addition to Ayeni, facilitators, who have addressed participants are Mr, Steve Babaeko, Chief Executive Officer, X3M Ideas; Mr Olumide Iyanda, CEO, QED; Mrs. Bunmi Oke, CEO, Ladybird Limited; and Mrs. Temitope Jemerigbe,

5th from right, Bamidele Johnson, COO Strategic Outcomes Limited Group and Olumide Ayeni, MD/CEO Black House Media, anked by participants at the ongoing SOL PR Academy holding in Lagos CEO, Director, DKK Nigeria.

Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director SOL PR, who declared the academy open, said the participants will continue to benefit from top-level insight from accomplished professionals in all areas of marketing communications as well as

media as the academy progresses. “The SOL PR Academy is an idea that excites us a great deal, and the first week of the training was proof that we have graduates who are interested in our industry and have a lot of contributions and inputs that can develop the face of

marketing communications in Nigeria. “They have shown tremendous interest and commitment towards broadening their knowledge of the industry. We will continue to ensure that we help them realize their full potential,� he said.

24

˜ ˞ MARCH 14, 2020

EVENTS

O

n Sunday March 8, 2020, Lagos stood still for the former President of Nigerian Society of Engineer (NSE) and current Chairman BoT of the institute, Dr. Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi when he celebrated his 85th birthday. Surrounded by his children and associates, Dr. Shonubi looked regal and contented in his agbada attire, the event held inside the expansive Darlington Hall, Ilupeju Lagos paraded dignitaries from far and near, who trooped out in large number, to celebrate an accomplished man who has redefined how to live a simple but successful life. Here are a few of the dignitaries that graced the occasion The celebrant, Dr. Folashodun Shonubi assisted by his wife, Ajibike cutting his birthday cake

L-R: Senator Gbenga Ashafa, his wife Folashade, Mr. Taiwo Odutola and wife, Mrs. Funmi Odutola

L-R: Alhaji RaďŹ u Adisa Ebiti, Ade Shonubi and Tope Shonubi

L-R: Ms. Folake Akinleye, celebrant’s wife, Mrs. Ajibike Shonubi and Ronke Onadeko

Engr. Festus Oseni and wife, Anne

L-R: Former Commissioner of Finance, Ogun State, Otunba Lekan Bello and Otunba Deinde Browne

Alhaji Senari Daranijo

Mrs. Titi Shonubi

The celebrant, Dr. Folashodun Shonubi and Alhaja Adebisi Ebiti

L-R: Dr. Folashodun Shonunbi surrounded by his immediate family members cutting his birthday cake

Prof. and Mrs. Mabadeje

L-R: Mrs. Otuyalo and Chief Obawuye

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹ͼ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

EVENTS

L-R: The Celebrant, Dr. Folashodun Shonubi, his wife, Ajibike and friends

L-R: Pastor Dupe Irele, Mrs. Titi Shonubi, Mrs.Funmi Irele-Ladele and Mrs. Kemi Jaiyesinmi

Mr. and Mrs. Lovett Yembra

L-R: Mrs. Funmi Odutola, Mrs. Ajibike Shonubi and Dayo Shonubi

L-R: Arch. Kola Amodu and wife

L-R: Alhaja Adebisi Ebiti, former Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, Mrs. Ajibike Shonubi, Mrs. Mabadeje and others

A cross section of Government College Ibadan Old Students Association

The celebrant with religious group members

L-R: Mr. Akin Odunsi and wife

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 14, 2020

POLITY

S a nus i , Yo u D i s a p p oin ted M e!

Mariam Mohammed Maktoub

I

t is easy to jump into the fray but getting out, most often than not, is near-insuperable. So it is with what has become a tragicomedy in the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and Emir Muhammadu Sanusi affair which was three years in the running, culminating in the dethronement and subsequent banishment of the Emir to Awe Local Government of Nasarawa State on March 9, 2020.

I had restrained myself from jumping on the hysterical train owing to the fact that the issues needed to be forensically distilled and weighed on the social, legal, political and even cultural scales. Besides, taking measured steps at a time such as this saves one from engaging in historical lapses and capitulating to the vagaries of base sentiments.

Let this be known that this whole sordid drama has been an insufferable one for me as a daughter from Kano State. I have prayed against the fluid nature of the ancient city taking a dangerous turn. So far so good, I am relieved that even those who disagree with the deposition of Emir Sanusi and his banishment have allowed peace to reign and have followed constitutional measures to redress their grievances.

It is instructive to make the point that the whole Sanusi saga is not about him, neither is about Governor Ganduje. The issues are bigger than both. Kano is much more important than the duo. The city of commerce, trade, and even the most vexatious matter of Almajari, will always be higher than any Emir, governor or whatever nomenclature used to describe those that wield power, affluence and influence.

Ordinarily, I should feel no sense of loss over Humpty Dumpty-like fall of Sanusi from his royal perch, but there is this disappointment I feel as a woman from Kano state. This sense of loss is predicated not just on the former Emir’s highintellectual veneer but also the value addition he brings to the state and his strident agitation for women’s rights. Though some have sniggered at women’s campaign as a façade accusing him of not living the values of his public acclaim. That is a matter of debate and for another day.

There is no gainsaying that Kano, like most if not all northern states, has zero respect for women and the talakawas. It is little wonder that there is an army of the deprived, denied and denuded called Almajari in Kano more than in any northern city. I owe it to Sanusi that his clamour for parity was gaining traction so much so that I started nursing the idea of running for office in a state like Kano. But I am persuaded to note that as much as I respect the dethroned Emir’s intellect, he failed to stand on a utilitarian ground. Perhaps, this is the undoing of most reformers who have their heads in Utopian clouds rather than on the practicability of their Agenda for Change.

Without a doubt, there is nothing as good as somebody with

Sanusi good conscience sitting in the decision room. For someone so intelligent I expected more from him.

But what did I find? A man who sees himself as the only reasonable voice. Sanusi lacked the temperament of a royal father. He was not measured. Sometimes, I feared he sounded more like an excited child who having savoured the taste of the finest chocolate can’t help himself from drooling. As a royal, the highest standard of etiquette was expected of him. If there are those who see him as the Reformer of the North, the one who would break the proverbial yoke of a system that has stagnated development and underserved the people, then it was a failure of careful interrogation of the Sanusi persona. Fact remains that the deposed Emir did not act on the things he spoke passionately about. He spoke of women’s rights and sees nothing wrong in feasting on the innocent. Knowing that he should live the conviction of his principle, he takes the innocence and then talks about empowerment. How convenient!

It has remained a puzzle that for a man of such vaunted intelligence, Sanusi lacks the virtue of patience and reticence and the intoxicating nature of power; I mean power with authority. While he had royal authority, he was no husbandman of real power. That resided and still does with Ganduje. For too long, he teased, baited and enticed the governor with imperial punches. On several fronts he made the governor feel less capable. He covertly and openly consorted with the governor’s traducers. What temerity! As a royal father, Sanusi simply

couldn’t draw the line between partisanship and royal accommodation of all shades. He was bent on seeing the governor dance in the nude. If one governor could install him as Emir of Kano, who says another cannot upend the installation? And that is the reality.

One would have imagined that Sanusi would have learnt from the seeming unfazed nature of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, BAT. Despite the seeming provocations and ouster of his loyalists from the palace of power and the rumoured presidential smacks now and then, BAT has remained stoically focused and not given to careless bouts of verbal impertinence. Nobody can lay any charge against him of being impudent no matter how unfortunate any action against him may seem. This is because Tinubu understands the power of silence, but not Sanusi.

If he wanted to be an activist royal, he should have either given up his royal status like Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan rather than bring the whole Kano Emirate to such ridicule. Attempting to arrogantly sweep away the mores, values and defining attributes of a people without carrying those whose voices matter is dishonest and irresponsible.

To Governor Ganduje, while it remains within your constitutional mandate to enthrone kings and dethrone them, it should be after wide ranging consultation and on very grievous traditional sacrilege. However germane that the deposed Emir disrespected you, it is not enough to swiftly and magisterially send him packing including banishment.

History is littered with the carcasses of bad decisions and the dire consequences. I cannot for sure say if this was an ill-thought decision, but it is one fraught with malice and personal vendetta.

Having removed Sanusi from office, I remain to be convinced on the appropriateness of his banishment to Nasarawa state. If it is convention that “two kings” cannot cohabit within the same locale, why not allow him choose his next destination? Why infringe on his constitutional to freedom of movement and thought?

It will do well if the state government shirks itself of the manacles of authoritarianism as Sanusi has being duly served his comeuppance. Any other thing will, as already see, draw underserved pity to him.

And to the new Emir of Kano and to my dear friend, Nasiru Bayero, the new Emir of Bichi, I hope you all tow in the path of righteousness for the sustenance of the prestige, power, glory and the betterment of the Kano people.

As the weeks will peter out the febrile voices on the Sanusi saga, it is worth reminding all the cast in this epic of the words of Tony Benn that “all war represents the failure of diplomacy.” So let’s keep the conversation on, and nothing more.

––Ms Maktoub is publisher, Maktoub Magazine and Political PR consultant.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Business Transformation Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Chidum Ayeni; Corporate Affairs DirecL-R: Senior Pastor, Shepherd Hill Baptist Church, Obanikoro, Rev. Israel Kristilere; the celebrant’s tor, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Sade Morgan; Managing Director, Jordi Borrut Bel; and Human Resources spouse, Mr. Titus Eyitayo; 1st Deputy Vice President, ICAN/Celebrant, Mrs. Comfort Eyitayo; ICAN Director, Grace Omo-Lamai, during the celebration of International Women’s Day 2020 by Nigerian President, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuadigbo; and the former ICAN President, Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere, at the Breweries Plc, held in Lagos...recently 65th birthday anniversary of Mrs. Eyitayo, held in Lagos...recently

L-R: Vice Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association-Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL), Ayuli Jemide; Chairman, Seni Adio, SAN; Managing partner, ACAS-LAW, Felicia Kemi Segun; Consultant for Business Law Competency Framework, Tosin Okojie; Senior partner, ACAS-LAW, Funke Agbor, SAN; and Secretary, NBA-SBL, Dr. Adeoye Adefulu, during the NBA-SBL Business Law Competency Framework launch in Lagos...recently

L-R: General Manager, Security, FAAN, Alhaji Mamuda Zakari; General Manager, Audit, FAAN, Hajia Abiodun Ajugbe; former General Manager, Safety Services, (FAAN), Mr. Elifue Omokhugbo Agbi; his wife, Mrs. Roseline Agbi; Special Adviser to Managing Director, FAAN, Mrs. Monica Alphonse; and General Manager, Airport Operation Services, FAAN, Mrs. Olajumoke Oni; during the retirement party and 60th birthday ceremony of Mr. Omokhugbo Agbi, held in Lagos...recently

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 14, 2020

27

POLITY How Amirul Hajj Exposed Illegalities in Katsina Pilgrims Board Francis Sardauna writes on how the Katsina State 2019 Amirul Hajj, Alhaji Muntari Lawal, exposed alleged felonious acts at the state’s Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board

T

he aura of lack of transparency in the Katsina State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has been a source of concern to faithfuls in the state for the past 20 years since its establishment in 1987.

This scenario seems to have deteriorated in recent times, as prominent citizens continue to lament what they termed high level of abnormalities bedeviling the board. The illegalities are not only unleashed within the board’s jurisdiction but are also often extended to the Holy land of Saudi Arabia every year, following the inability of those entrusted with leadership position to conduct the affairs of the board as contained in the Act that established it.

This, perhaps, led to numerous impediments being experienced by the state government and pilgrims during Hajj operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The challenges includes, but not limited, to lack of befitting accommodations for pilgrims in Mecca, logistics, financial racketeering, food, transportation and changing of accommodation paid for by the state government. However, no one has been able to muster the religious courage to take holistic measures to unravel the assumed abnormalities alleged to have been orchestrated by officials of the board in collusion with external forces, until last year, when the monstrosities were unraveled by the 2019 Amirul Hajj, Alhaji Muntari Lawal, while presenting the delegation’s report to Governor Aminu Bello Masari, shortly after the completion of the holy exercise in Mecca.

Presenting the report to Governor Masari at Government House, Lawal said for the past 20 years, the officials of the board have been deluding successive governors that they have secured accommodation around the Ka’aba. He added that one of the reasons the board and the state government encounter problems with pilgrims, annully, in the holy land was because the leadership entrusted with the welfare of pilgrims do not live up to expectation.

He said: “For the past 20 years, officials of the board would come and tell incumbent governors that we have secured accommodation around the Ka’aba. It is a lie. It has never been so, it is not true. We verified this, and members of my delegation are here to testify to this. The nearest accommodation to the Ka’aba is the one on top of a hill and even a car cannot go on the hill, and from there to the Ka’aba is about 30 munites.

“The accommodation where members of the delegation were given rooms is about 50 minutes trek, and the location our women were accommodated is about 50 kilometres.

“The females’ issue is one of the worst I have ever seen in my life. The house was inhabited by rats and all sorts of insects and so, right from outside, you will not say it is a house. The house was not occupied for the past 60 years; there were no locks on the doors, the toilets were not functioning and the Air Conditions (AC) were not functioning. In fact, everything was in deplorable condition and that was where our women were given accommodation. To make matters worse, women were mixed with men in the same building and the space created to be a mosque in that place was not favorable for prayers, there was no light and the place looked like refuse dumpsite.”

Lawal, who is also the chief of staff to Governor Masari, explained that another challenge they encountered in the holy land was that of Mujamala visa, which he described as a terrible problem that befell the delegation. According to him, “I can recollect that this issue of Mujamala visa has been a

Lawal (middle) receiving 2019 Amirul Hajj Best Award from officials of Independent Hajj Reporters terrible one for all of us in the delegation. We held meetings in the mosque about two to three times on how to address this issue. I had set up committees to address this very issue of Mujamala visa but couldn’t resolve it.”

He, therefore, called on government and air carriers to come out with an arrangement that would exclude the Mujamala visa holders from state pilgrims’ area “because these are people who did not go through the pilgrims offices, they will go and make arrangements for private visa and then, they will come and insist that they should be accommodated within the state pilgrims’ area.”

He lamented: “Unfortunately, all beneficiaries of Mujamala visa are very powerful people who cannot be challenged because of their influence, but in our recommendations, we asked government in collaboration with the board and air carrier, to come out with an arrangement that will exclude the Mujamala visa holders from state pilgrims.

“The Mujamala visa holders also insist on being fed with the food of the pilgrims. They insist on being transported in vehicles of the pilgrims. And because the operators of this system feel they are so big, it creates a problem and the state government in the process, lose money because at one point in time we had about 150 pilgrims who were not accommodated. I had to talk to His Excellency asking for his approval over the phone to allow me secure an accommodation for 150 pilgrims of Katsina State which he graciously did and we accommodated them. So, this is the type of embarrassing situation that arose as a result of this Mujamala visa.” Responding, Governor Masari said: “I could have dissolved the board when they were there (Saudi Arabia) but I was mindful of the fact that it will affect the operation. If not because of the role played by the leader and members of the delegation, the 2019 hajj would have been the worst. The accommodation we paid for was not the accommodation that was provided.

When the pilgrims started arriving Saudi Arabia, Macca in particular, that was when we realised that the accommodation that was inspected, agreed upon and was paid for, was not the accommodation given to Katsina pilgrims.”

Irked by the report, the governor immediately dissolved the board and sacked its executive director. He thereafter appointed Suleiman Nuhu Kuki as the new Executive Director of the board.

Meanwhile, the courageous Lawal, born on February 2, 1951 to an illustrious family of Islamic scholars, because of his outstanding performance during the 2019 hajj exercise bagged the Independent Hajj Reporters award as the best 2019 Amirul Hajj. Lawal started his Qur’anic and primary education at a tender age in the old city of Katsina, also famed for its pioneering role in Western education in the northern part of Nigeria.

After his primary education, Lawal went to the famous Barewa College Zaria, where he started his secondary school education before moving to the North Central State College of Arts and Science, also in Zaria as a pioneer student of what has now transformed into Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, and Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria, Kaduna State.

After obtaining his secondary school certificate, Lawal proceeded to Paris, France to read International Relations/ Political Science at the National Foundation of Political Science, which was the Premier French Institution of Higher Learning for Political/Administrative Studies, for his first degree. A brilliant polyglot, fluent in Hausa, English, French and Arabic, Muntari Lawal went back to the same institution for a Master degree, specialising in Asian and African studies. He returned to Nigeria in 1978 and went to Bayero University, Kano for his NYSC programme at the Department of Political Science, after which he joined the defunct Kaduna State civil service as Senior Assistant Secretary in the Governor’s office.

Election: Ijaw Leaders Should Ensure IYC Worldwide Get it Right this Time Selky Kile Toroughedi

T

he run-up to the forthcoming national election of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide means many things for the Ijaw Nation and Its People hence, efforts should be made to ensure that the election is credible, peaceful and unified for the sake of the success of the Ijaw Struggles for the advancement, development, prosperity and survival of our people.

This is very important because for more than four years after we lost the position of the President of Nigeria, the Ijaw Nation has been in disarray and all Ijaw Socio-Cultural Oganisations were abysmally uncoordinated, politically and socially divisive in such a manner that grounded our collective struggles to a halt to the detriment of the generality of Ijaw People and has mesmerised the sacrifices of our blood, sweat and tears.

Therefore, it is highly necessary that we sustain the current process of unity across board in order to fully implement the rejuvenation of our SocioCultural Oganisations as the mothhpiece of our people and nation should be crystalised in this

2020 IYC National Election hence, Ijaw Leaders should keep personal interests aside in place of wide spread assessments and consultations to ensure that only a positively popular candidate who has the charisma and passion to work for the general good of the entire Ijaw Nation emerges as President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide.

Although, I commend the Ijaw Leaders from all Zones and Chapters who have relentlessly worked to bring about the current success however, more needs to be done. Therefore, I humbly ask for more efforts through selfless sacrifices by our leadership; Tompolo, Ateke Tom etc to buy into this venture amd ensure the sustainability of a process geared towards refining the Ijaw Struggle and setting her compass and rudder towards activities that will benefit the generality of Ijaw People.

I also wish to use this medium to call on all Leaders of the Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Leadership Forum to play advisory and mediative roles in this transition period and process of the IYC and not to engage in assauging personal pecuniary interests or allowing inducement by aspirinlts that will tip the balance of the peace and unity of which so much efforts and resources have been expended on. What is important right now is to

use our discretion to know what is right and or who is the right candidate to occupy the Office of the President of the IYC in order to bring about the much desired rennaisance in the Ijaw Nation and Niger Delta in general.

In line with the spirit of truth, I call on all delegates that will emerge from all Zones and chapters not to sell their conscience for selfish considerations and patronage to the detriment of our collective interest as a nation. The time to get it right is now, Furthermore, I will work with other leaders of the Ijaw Nation to ensure a peaceful conduct of the election in order for same to be free and fair. We have a greater task ahead but only proper coordination and organised engagements can empower us to successfully achieve those tasks. A People divided against themselves will be vulnerable and easy to conquer, they will lose respect in the committee of natural nations or ethnic nationalities hence, it is imperative that we act in manners that will attract respect to us from others and for the world to take us seriously.

–––High Chief Torughedi Aka General Young Shall Grow is the National Chairman, Niger Delta Agitators Leadership Forum and Coordinator, Niger Delta Waterways Maritime Security

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 14, 2020

POLITY

Isi Nri Museum Opens to the Public Abridged by Sam Ekpe

O

n March 13 2020, all roads led to EnugwuUkwu, the paternal head of Umunri clan for the official opening of Isi Nri Museum.

The Museum is located at Obu Okpalanakana in Uruekwo village, EnugwuUkwu. The opening of the Museum was performed by Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State and it attracted the cream of Nigerian Society from far and near.

Some historians have traced the origin of Umunri clan to Israel many centuries ago, to a man called Eri, who was the fifth son of Gad, who, in turn, was the seventh son of the biblical Jacob. Nri Kingdom is the oldest kingdom in Nigeria. It was founded around 900 AD, by the progenitor Eri, the son of Gad. According to biblical accounts, Jacob had Leah as his wife, who begot four sons for him. When Leah noticed that she had passed child bearing age, she gave her maid, Zilpah to Jacob to wife and through Zilpah, Jacob had a son (among others) named Gad. Gad then begot Eri, who later formed a Clan known as Erites, as recorded in Genesis chapter thirty, verse nine and chapter forty-six verse sixteen (30:9 and chapter 46:16), as well as in Numbers chapter twenty-six from verse fifteen to eighteen (26:15-18). Eri was therefore among the twelve (12) tribes of Israel through Gad. During their stay in Egypt, Eri became the high priest and spiritual adviser to Pharaoh Teti, the 5th dynastic king of Egypt around 2400 BC. During the Exodus, which marked the beginning of mass movement of the tribes of Israel, the tribe of Eri was among the tribes that left Egypt following the injunction from God to the Israelites as recorded in Deuteronomy chapter twenty-eight from verse fifty eight to sixty eight (Deut. 28:58-68).

Some of these tribes founded settlements in the Southern part of Sudan where they established the “NOK” culture which is similar to that of other cultures like Nri, Samoa and Jukun in Northern part of Nigeria. Others who could not remain in Southern Sudan travelled further south till they arrived at the confluence of Ezu and Anambra rivers and settled there. When Eri arrived at the confluence of Ezu and Anambra rivers, he had two wives first wife begot him five sons with Nri as the first son.

When Nri, one of the sons of Eri came of age and discovered that he was endowed with enormous spiritual powers, he decided to migrate to establish his own domain and moved from where his father, Eri lived at Obu Gad in Otutunzu Aguleri at the confluence of Ezu and Anambra Rivers and followed the Ezu River bank until he got to Amanuke in the present Awka North Local Government Area. He spent some time in Anamuke before he moved further and arrived at Nkpume Onyilienyi, a massive progenitor rock at the present UgwuAwovu Village in Enugwu-Ukwu, where one mast of Anambra Broadcasting Station’s transmitting station is currently located. It is also in this vicinity that Nri had his five sons, with Okpala-

Isi Nri Museum nakana-UkabiaNri, the father of Enugwu-Ukwu as the first son, followed by Okpalariam, the father of Nawfia; Okpala Aguiyi, the father of Enugwu-Agidi, Oruora who died without a son during inter communal war and then Ifikuanim, the father of Agukwu-Nri and Akankpisi.

Nri also had one daughter Iguedo who got married and gave birth to many children including Awkuzu, Nando, Umueri, Ogbunike etc., generally referred to as UmuIguedo. In search of more conducive area of settlement, Nri located a lake at Diodo at the present Agukwu-Nri. He then moved with his last son, Ifukuanim, close to the lake while his first son Okpalanakana and his other brothers remained at Nkpume Onyilenyi in Enugwu-Ukwu. It was from here that the two other brothers of Okpalanakana migrated, first Okpala Aguiyi moved and founded the present Enugwu-Agidi and Okpalariam founded the present Nawfia.

Inspite of this migration and dispersal, the Nri children had continued to maintain cultural affinity. For instance, in those days, the death and burial of any Nze title holder in Umunri would attract all the Nri children who would gather to perform the burial rites.

Again, the present Nkwo Enugwu-Ukwu which was then called Nkwo Nshi was named by Nri himself, provided designated sections for each linage at Umunri where they did their enterprise on Nkwo market days.

It will be recalled that in those days, major rituals activities in Umunri clan were conducted at Obu Okpalanakana. Some erudite scholars like Professor M.A Onwuejogwu, IK. Ogbukagu, Dr Ifeanyi Okafor, Rev. Fr. R.A Arazu and others in their research work on the history of Nri kingdom have acclaimed Okpalanakana, the progenitor Enugwu-Ukwu, as Okpala Umunri.

Igwe Ralph Obumneme Ekpeh, Eze-Enugwu Ukwu na Igwe Umunri since his ascension to the throne ten (10) years ago has been making concerted efforts to quicken the unity of Nri people scattered all over Igbo land and

beyond. This will start with the unity of the core Nri people of Enugwu-Ukwu Nawfia, Enugwu Agidi, Agu-Ukwu and Akankpisi. We will then extend our relationship to other Nri descendants including Dunukofia, represented by Ukpo, Amawbia, Enugwu-Ezike, Adazi Enu, Oraeri, Ogboli Ibusa, OgwashiUku, Awka, Nibo, Amesi,Akweze, Umuawulu, Nise, EnugwuAborUfuma, to mention but a few. For example there is in Uruekwo village Enugwu-Ukwu today the OfeEzike section from where the Enugu Ezike people in the present Enugu State migrated.

Recently, the Igwe-in-council and the EnugwuUkwu Community Development Union (ECDU) instituted the Umunri colloquium as part of the annual Iguaro of His Majesty Igwe Sir Ralph Ekpeh, Eze Enugwu-Ukwu na Igwe Umunri. The Umunri colloquium, a high powered intellectual and cultural discourse, brings the four sons of Nri clan into the planning, execution and participation of the event. Enugwu-Ukwu, the first son of Nri, has also built a magnificent Museum at Obu Okpalanakana. It is at this Obu, which is located at the present Uruekwo village Enugwu-Ukwuthat he settled and had eighteen male children through whom eighteen villages were established in Enugwu-Ukwu.

The Museum is expected to house artifacts and monuments that will help recreate the unique and mystic nature of Nri, through its hegemony that has spread to many parts of Nigeria. This is in addition to housing a conference centre and a library. It is important to inform Ndigbo that the significance of Enugwu-Ukwu, the first son of Okpalanakana as the head of Umunri Clan has been reflected in the fact that in 1958 late Igwe Ositan Agwuna was crowned Eze Enugwu-Ukwu. Soon after, in 1960 the traditional rulers of Umunri clan: Enugwu-Ukwu, Nawfia Enugwu Agidi and Agu Ukwu gathered at the Umunri Court Hall in Enugwu-Ukwu and unanimously elected Osita Agwuna as the Igwe of Umunri. This ceremony marked the beginning of traditional rulers of communities in Igbo land taking the title of Igwe. There was none before then.

This historic event is recorded in the Archives of the Eastern Region of Nigeria.

As the Isi Nri Museum is formally declared open tGovernor Obiano, another great son of Eri, the Enugwu Ukwu Community, traditional head of Umunri Clan pledges its willingness to avail all visitors to the historic town and Isi Nri Museum the traditional blessings of Nri our progenitor including our enduring rich customs, culture and tradition. The most significant tenet of these is that all men are born free and equal. Individual growth in the society is by personal achievement. There is nothing like slavery or Osu caste system in Umunri clan; whoever and wherever it is practiced elsewhere should come to Umunri Clan and be cleansed.

Written by a committee of Enugwu-Ukwu researchers and edited by Sam Ekpe

NCPC Announces Easter 2020 Programme Justina Uzo

T

he Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has announced the commencement of 2020 Easter pilgrimage to Israel, which will take place in April 18, 2020. This will be followed by Family Pilgrimage in August 2020 and the general pilgrimage in October.

The Commission rolled out the calendar during a thanksgiving service held at the EYN Church of the Brethren Nigeria, Utako, Abuja, organised for the successful completion of the 2019 annual general pilgrimage.

The NCPC used the thanksgiving service to give account of the wonderful things they did in the out-gone year, giving thanks to God. According to the NCPC, the commission air-lifted 5,800 pilgrims to the Holy Land with a total of 21 flights round trip among other successes recorded which included zero morbidity and zero mortality rate during the entire pilgrimage. The Director in Charge of the NCPC, Mrs. Esther Kwaghe, who disclosed at the thanksgiving service, said the NCPC didn’t change history, explaining “that it was customary for the Commission to thank God for a successful annual pilgrimage exercise.” Kwaghe also stressed that the 2019 General pilgrimage recorded tremendous success which included zero morbidity and zero mortality coupled with no single case of air mishap.

This, according to her, was only possible by the grace of God and “so it was very important to thank and praise God for a successful pilgrimage.” Head Media NCPC, Celestine Toruka, said the thanksgiving service was colourful and was attended by all management and staff of the NCPC. This, according to her, was only possible by the

Mrs. Esther Kwaghe, Director in Charge, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (middle) with some staff of the NCPC, during a thanksgiving service for the successful completion of the 2019 annual pilgrimage to Israel, Rome and Greece, at the EYN Church of the Brethren, in Utako, Abuja...recently grace of God and so, it was very important to thank and praise God for a successful pilgrimage.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who officially flagged-off 2019 general pilgrimage to Israel and

Rome at the Chapel of Christ the Light Church, Alausa, Ikeja, last year, had described pilgrimage as a spiritual journey that would transform the lives of the pilgrims forever.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

NEWS

PREMIER LEAGUE SUFFER SUSPENSION

14.3.2020

Israel Adesanya Taekwondo Doubt to UFC Champion

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾MARCH 14, 2020

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Israel Adesanya Taekwondo Doubt to UFC Champion Having not been successful in his early years in his Taekwondo , Nigerian-born New Zealander, Israel Adesanya, turned out the undisputed UFC Champion of the world

U

FC Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya last weekend retained his title with a unanimous decision victory over Yoel Romero.

While the fight was a letdown for most fans, the reigning champion was not going to let the crowd affect him during the fight. Making an appearance on The Luke Thomas Show penultimate Monday, Adesanya discussed why he wouldn’t let the crowd affect him during his fight against Romero.

“I’m cool with you guys

because you guys give me a fair shake. You have to ask hard questions, you have to be objective, but I appreciate that you give me a fair shake. You know me if this was my fault I’d be the first one to own up to it. I’d be so embarrassed. I let my team down, I let people down.’“ “Like for me, I didn’t take the stupid risk that the crowd wanted me to take. You know why? Because behind me were four other men and behind them were a whole gang of other people who put everything into me. If I just deviated from the game plan and decided to oblige for what

the crowd wanted or what the fans wanted, then I’m letting those four men down. All their hardwork they’ve put into me over the last three months I’m letting all that go to waste. For what? Because some grongos in the crowd? No. They told me beforehand they need 25 minutes of focus, complete and absolute focus to beat this guy. It’s not just about me. If it was a street fight, maybe I could get dumb enough to do that but nah, I’ve got Andre, Eugene, Twist, and Mike, and a gang of other people that put everything into me for me to be able to just like throw it all away and throw all their hard

work away.”

After acknowledging that he didn’t want to let his team down and wasn’t going to be affected by the crowd, Adesanya continued that he doesn’t feel the lack of action was his fault against Yoel Romero.

“You know if it was my fault, I’m objective in that way. I know that wasn’t on me that was on Yoel Romero and it’s his last chance he’s ever going to try and get gold, and he knows in his mind, he never went after it because he has no gas tank, he has no faith in himself. So he’s going to be the one to have to sleep at night with that thought and

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 14, 2020

GLOBAL SOCCER

Adesanya

live with that for the rest of his life.”

Meanwhile, Adesanya has labelled his much-criticised win over Romero “the weirdest fight I’ve ever been part of”.

Adesanya defended his belt against Romero in Las Vagas last Sunday in a bizarre fight that saw little action as the Cuban fighter often refused to go on the attack.

Adesanya sensibly kept his patience and worked his long-range game to see out a comfortable unanimous points decision.

The fight, in such contrast to Adesanya’s usual all-action affairs has been slammed by fans and UFC boss Dana White. Adesanya understands why.

“One hundred per cent, the weirdest fight I’ve ever been a part of,” he told ESPN with a couple of days’ reflection on the bout.

“Even for me, as a fan, it’s the most boring fight I’ve ever had, and I don’t have boring fights. That’s not my style, that’s not my gig.

“You can just check my resumé and see that I come to fight. I’m not an actor. I’m a fighter.”

Adesanya then explained his tactics to counter the strange

approach of Romero that started from the outset as he stood in the middle of the ring with his hands guarding his face for the opening two minutes.

“For me, I was just thinking, ‘Don’t give in. Don’t get frustrated,’” Adesanya said.

“So now, I thought, ‘OK.’ It sounds stupid. There’s a guy standing there, not doing anything. You should go hit him, right?

“But, he’s not doing anything. He’s a hundred per cent defense, and he’s waiting for that split second so he could unload that knockout blow.

And he did. At one point, I had my foot from the outside, I attacked with my foot on the inside.

“And then as soon as I blitz in, he lets go of that left hand and cracks me. Never rocked me, never hurt me, never dazed me, never flashed me.

But he cracks me with this… and I could feel the thud. I was like, ‘Ooh, don’t get hit by that again.’”

Adesanya felt Romero had missed his opportunity by failing to follow up that decent strike.

“When he cracked me, he hurt my eye. He compromised my eye (and) my vision,” Adesanya told ESPN. “I could see two Romeros.

When Anderson Silva, who is an older guy as well, did that in the second round of our fight, what did he do? He pressed the action. He came looking trying to finish. And I was on my bicycle and then I started countering, as well.

“If you visibly compromise someone or hurt someone, or hurt their vision, you’re not supposed to still just stand there and wait for them to come to you.

“I’m not stupid. After you just punch me, I’m not gonna be like, ‘Alright, let me do that again’.”

Adesanya now waits to see who his next title defence will be against but everything points to a fight with Brazil’s Paulo Costa, possibly in July.

As a sporting nation, New Zealand has long punched above its weight. And pride in their champions has made the Halberg awards the country’s sporting equivalent of the Oscars.

Last month, in the running for ‘Sportsman of the Year’ were shot-putter Tom Walsh, racer Scott McLaughlin (whose Ford Mustang ruled the Australian Supercars championship) and Kane Williamson, who led his team to the final of the World Cup and was adjudged player of the tourna-

ment.

In a shock to many, said achievers were overshadowed by a mixed martial artist — the reigning UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and his remarkable 2019. Last year, the Nigeria-born, New Zealand-raised fighter defeated MMA legend Anderson Silva, beat contender Kelvin Gastelum in UFC’s ‘fight of the year’ and became the undisputed champion with a sensational knockout win over trans-tasmanian rival Robert Whittaker.

The 30-year-old, who defends his title against Cuban Yoel Romero at UFC 248 last Sunday, said: “The award wasn’t for me. This is for the young generation coming up who get to see someone they can relate to.

They can feel like, ‘Man, my sport, like Muay Thai or Jiu-Jitsu or Wrestling is up there with the All-Blacks, the Black Caps, and the Tall Blacks and New Zealand’s top sporting teams.”

Adesanya was born in Lagos, Nigeria to a family of five children. His father, Femi, is an accountant and his mother, Taiwo, is a nurse. He attended Chrisland Shool, Opebi, and enrolled in its Taekwondo after-school club until he was removed by his mother due to an injury.

In early 2001, he relocated to Ghana with his family for 10 months, but due to his parents wanting their children to receive a well-recognised higher education, he settled in Rotorua, New Zealand at age 10.

At the age of 18, Adesanya started training in kickboxing, after being inspired by the Muay Thai film Ong-Bak. He went on to amass an amateur kickboxing record of 32–0 before moving to and fighting in China. At the age of 21, Adesanya moved to Aukland, New Zealand, and began training under Eugene Bareman at city Kickboxing, with other established MMA fighters.

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKWU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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GLOBAL SOCCER thing of beauty,” he said, referencing the Ghanaian’s famous in-off-the-crossbar volley for Leeds in 1995.

“It is one of the best goals he has ever scored.”

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was also effusive in his praise of Ighalo, who was a surprise January addition on loan from China’s Shanghai Shenhua.

“Odion has done really well when he’s come in and he’s enjoying himself,” Solskjaer said.

“He will improve and get better, but he has qualities that we saw in him that we needed and we’ll still need those qualities for next season so let’s see what we do.

“He is very good back to goal, you can play up to him.

Great link player, but maybe the best thing about him is his personality, so he’s got the whole lot really.

“He had three touches before his fourth, the finish. All them touches were high quality but he had to make them to create the space for himself.

“But the strike is on the halfvolley, great timing. No-one would have saved that one so anyone would be proud of that finish.”

What fans say of Ighalo

Ighalo Scores Sparkling Goal, but with No Crowd to Cheer Odion Ighalo’s sensational goal for Manchester United in their 5-0 thrashing of LASK in the Europa League was worthy of a packed house at the Linzer Stadion.

Juggling the ball from right foot to left, the 30-year-old Nigeria forward then cannoned a left-footed shot in off the crossbar from 18 yards.

But instead of the roar of a crowd, all that was audible was was a thud of boot to ball and the clang of the crossbar before

he was joined by his teammates.

It was a sparklin effort unfortunately witnessed live by a smattering of people and not the wider audience it deserved due to the coronavirus outbreak restricting the attendance to just 500.

United’s substitutes even crowded around a screen in their dug out to watch it again.

But then would Ighalo have even attempted it at Old Trafford?

Former United midfielder Paul Ince, suggested otherwise on BT Sport, likening it to the sort of potshot seen at training grounds when the pressure is off.

“Maybe he doesn’t do it in front of a full house,” said Ince.

“It reminds me of one of those that you do at training. Maybe I’m doing a disservice to him.”

However, fellow studio guest Owen Hargreaves, was a touch more complimentary.

“It is like Tony Yeboah, it’s a

Paul Murphy: Remember when we all laughed when United signed Ighalo?

Michal Koziol: Everyone who said Ighalo wasn’t the calibre United need should look at that goal over and over again. The first touch, the control, the power, everything perfect. Such a shame the stadium’s empty.

Nicholas Mills: Anything about this Ighalo loan spell reminding anyone of Henrik Larsson.

Stuart Mitchell: That goal deserved to be seen by many more people in the ground.

Stunning strike and United would do well to sign him up for next season clear he wants to play for the club.

Altaf Shaikh: Had my reservations about Ighalo, but what a start he has had, top goal, just what United needed.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 14, 2020

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Coronavirus: Premier League, EFL Suffer Suspension Champions League, Ligue 1 too All games in England’s Premier League, EFL, FA Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship are postponed.

The Premier League said play will start on 4 April subject to “conditions at the time” but BBC sports editor Dan Roan says resuming on the date is privately deemed “almost impossible”.

Matches in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also off.

England’s international friendly matches against Italy on 27 March and Denmark four days later are off.

The EFL, which hopes to resume play a day earlier than the Premier League on 3 April, said clubs were also advised to suspend “nonessential activities” such as “player appearances, training ground visits and fan meetings”.

The suspension comes on a day of widespread sporting postponements worldwide.

Late on Thursday it was announced Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had tested positive for the virus, and early on Friday Chelsea striker Callum Hudson-Odoi revealed he had been affected, while Everton say a first-team player has shown symptoms.

Earlier this week, several clubs - including Arsenal, Chelsea, Leicester City, Bournemouth, Manchester City, Juventus and Real Madrid - revealed they have either all or some of their playing staff in self-isolation.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “In this unprecedented situation, we are working closely with our clubs, government, the FA and EFL and can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority.”

The Premier League said its “aim is to reschedule the displaced fixtures”, while the Football Association said “all parties are committed at this time to trying to complete this season’s domestic fixture programme”.

In total, 10 people have now died in the UK with the virus and there have been 596 confirmed cases across the country.

On Thursday Prime Minister Boris Johnson said suspending major public events such as sporting fixtures was being considered by the government but would be a measure primarily to protect public services, rather than delay the spread.

The EFL said: “This decision has not been taken lightly, but the EFL must prioritise the health and well-being of players, staff and supporters while also acknowledging the government’s national efforts in tackling this outbreak.”

Football has also been suspended in Italy, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal and the USA. These are deeply turbulent times in English football - and across world sport - which is having to face up to a period of disruption and dislocation unprecedented in

Some fans seen wearing protective masks at Premier League fixtures

peacetime.

Privately, all parties admit that resuming matches in early April - when the initial suspension will be reviewed - will be almost impossible.

But the hope is that next week a decision is taken to postpone Euro 2020 for a year, thereby freeing up space in the calendar to reschedule outstanding matches and complete domestic league seasons across the continent at some stage.

This action goes against the government’s highly controversial advice to continue staging sports events despite mass gatherings being closed or cancelled across the world.

But Department for Culture Media and Sport officials are known to be supportive of the decision football authorities have taken, given the need to protect employees and the mounting cases of players contracting the virus.

The problem is that the outbreak is expected to be at its peak in May and June so if the suspension keeps on being extended, some clubs may start to push for the season to be declared void, a nightmare scenario for clubs like Liverpool and Leeds, who both stand on the brink of long-awaited glory.

But as it stands, there seems to be a determination to complete the

season if at all possible.

Simply stopping the season as it stands now seems unlikely given it would run the risk of legal action from clubs relegated or denied promotion.

The EFL is expected to ask the government for financial help for some of the clubs who now face even more financial uncertainty but there is no guarantee this will be possible in these extraordinary times.

Meanwhile, All Uefa competitions, including Champions L e a g u e a n d E u ro p a L e a g u e matches due to be played next week, have been postponed b e c a u s e o f t h e c o ro n a v i ru s o u t b re a k .

The draws for the next ro u n d s , s e t f o r 2 0 M a rc h , h a v e also been postponed.

In the Champions League, Manchester City v Real M a d r i d , J u v e n t u s v Ly o n , B a rc e l o n a v N a p o l i a n d B a y e r n M u n i c h v C h e l s e a a re a l l p o s t poned.

M a n c h e s t e r U n i t e d , Wo l v e s and Rangers’ matches in the E u ro p a L e a g u e a re o ff .

A l l U e f a Yo u t h L e a g u e quarter-final matches scheduled for 17 and 18 March are also off.

Uefa said further decisions on the scheduling of the postponed

fixtures “will be communicated in due course”.

European football’s governing body has invited representatives from all 55 of its member associations to a meeting on Tuesday in order to discuss a response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The scheduling of Euro 2020 will be discussed at the gathering.

More than 125,000 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus in 118 countries around the world, according to the World Health Organization. The total number of deaths is more than 4,600.

Also, Football in France’s top two divisions has been suspended immediately “until further notice” because of coronavirus.

Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) - French football’s governing body - said the decision to suspend Ligue 1 and 2 was made “unanimously” by the board of directors on Friday.

The LFP said “collective interest must be placed above everything”.

“The urgency today is to curb the epidemic, protect the most vulnerable, and avoid displacement,” it added.

Games in France were already to be played behind closed doors after a ban on all gatherings of more than 1,000 people to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Participants, FC Bulmaro crew and Okakuro during the Free Football Clinic at Saint Francis, Idimu, Lagos.

L-R: Initiator, Eradication of Malaria in Africa, Prince Ned Nwoko; Celebrant and Veteran Actor, Pete Edochie and Morocco Ambassador to Nigeria, TAGMA Moha ou Ali after the golf tournament held in honour of Pete Edochie at 73 in the Royal Golf Course, Idumuje-Ugboko, Delta State.

GOtv Boxing Night

Ghana’s Dodzi in for a Tough Time as Esepo Vows to Him Knockout If the words of Nigeria’s Taiwo “Esepo” Agbaje is anything to go by, his Ghanaian opponent, Moses Dodzi, is in for a tough time in their international featherweight challenge bout at GOtv Boxing Night 21 slated for April 12, as Esepo has vowed to crush him when they clash.

The bout, which will take place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, is one of the three international fights scheduled for the six-bout event.

Agbaje, who is famous for his all-action style, said in an interview on Friday that he is in top shape and is ready to see off his opponent within three rounds.

“This is my first international fight here in Nigeria and I am very excited and more

than ready to confront Dodzi. I have been training for the past few weeks and I am in top shape. I don’t see him going beyond round three,” Agbaje boasted.

He also thanked GOtv Boxing Night for giving him the platform to showcase his skills to the entire nation and the African continent.

GOtv Boxing Night 21 will have three title fights. The biggest bout on the night is the World Boxing Federation (WBF) International lightweight title bout between Nigeria’s Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu, the WestAfrican Boxing Union (WABU) lightweight champion, and Ghana’s Emmanuel Quartey.

The other international title fight is the

WBF Africa welterweight title between Rilwan“BabyFace”BabatundeofNigeria, the WABU welterweight champion, and Mkwalekwa Salehe of Tanzania.

There is also a national title fight as Sadiq “Happy Boy” Adeleke will square off against Tunde Olojede for the vacant national bantamweight title clash. Daniel “Big Shark” Emeka will be up against Segun “Success” Olanrewaju for a national light heavyweight challenge bout, while Alaba “Elyblow” Omotola will face Lateef Akintola in a national lightweight challenge contest.

GOtv Boxing Night 21 will be beamed live on Africa’s biggest sport channel, SuperSport, in 47 African countries.

Aftermath of Martins’ Death

NFF Sets up Committee to Investigate Remote Cause The Nigeria Football Federation has constituted a panel to look into the circumstances surrounding last weekend’s unfortunate death of Nasarawa United FC player, Chineme Martins during a Nigeria Professional Football League match in Lafia.

The committee is mandated to investigate the medical, security and administrative lapses which led to the untimely demise of the defender, who slumped during a match between his club and Katsina United at the Lafia City Stadium on Sunday and gave up the ghost before he was taken to hospital.

Dr. Peter Singabele, a former member of the NFF Executive Committee and member of the Committee on

Sports Medicine of the Confederation of African Football, is chairman of the 12-man panel.

There are also Amanze Uchegbulam, Chairman of the Imo State Football Association and former 1st Vice President of the NFF; respected technocrat and retired senior civil servant, Alhaji Abba Abdullahi Yola; Dr. Paul Onyeudo, head of sports medicine of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports; Tade Azeez, President of the Nigeria Referees Association; Isaac Danladi, Chairman of NPFL club owners and; Alhaji Salihu Abubakar, chief operating officer of the League Management Company.

Commissioner of Police Umar Baba, Mr. Oladunni Oyekale, Mr.

Francis Adejoh, Dr. Ibrahim Gyaran and Miss Kisu Remi Sulola are the other members, with Mr. China Acheru as secretary.

Paramedics at the Lafia City Stadium were unsuccessful in all attempts to revive former Gabros FC, FC IfeanyiUbah and FC Abuja defender Martins as he slumped during the game.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick has confirmed that the committee will be inaugurated in Benin City on Tuesday, March 17, at 10am, with members expected to arrive in the Edo State capital on Monday, 16th March. They are to check into Heritage Hotel, GRA, Benin City.

Heineken House Fans Decry English Teams’ Exit in Champions League

The UEFAChampions League this season has served both the good, bad and ugly as some upsets have been recorded; especially the latest ouster of defending champions Liverpool.

At the Heineken House where football enthusiasts are enjoying the ‘Better Together’ campaign, fans are now banking on Manchester City to save the day for English teams as the other competing teams have been shown the exit door just as the UK has opted out of the European Union (EU).

Manchester City are keen to make a bold statement in this season’s Champions League having recently been banned from the next two edi-

tions of the competition. City has one foot in the next round after the impressive 2-1 win away at Real Madrid.

Interestingly, it was a completely different scenario at the Heineken House last season as it was the English teams that ran the show with three out of the four teams from the Premier League making it to the semifinal before Liverpool and Tottenham pulled through for an iconic all-English final. Unfortunately, the same heroics cannot be repeated by the English teams this time; RB Leipzig edged out Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspurs,Atletico Madrid dramatically dumped

out defending champions Liverpool, and Chelsea facing a likely exit, after a disastrous first leg home tie against Bayern Munich.

The eagerly anticipated round of 16 game between Manchester City and Real Madrid have been postponed for now due to Coronavirus, but fans are guaranteed another electrifying time at the Heineken House once a new date is announced.

In the past match days, premium international beer brand Heineken has created some of the best moments that are better enjoyed together with friends. Thus spicing up this season’s battle for honours in Europe’s biggest club competition.

Kakuro Partners FC Bulmaro for School Sports Development After successful participation in the Free Football Clinic conducted by FC Bulmaro, held at Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School, Idimu, Lagos, recently, that left a memorable impact on the participants, Okakuro, a sports performance wear, known for, elegance, experience and professionalism has decided to go full blast with the young club, established as a platform for discovery, opportunities and empowerment, that has so far done incredible well both locally and internationally, in helping others live their God-given dreams, adding value to the entire human community.

Speaking on behalf of Okakuro, Idemabasi Mkpokporo, Director, Communication, Development and Growth, stated that firm had been quietly involved in novel impactful and value-adding social investment programmes and projects in area of leadership and sports, with the quest to achieve the much envisage positive revolutionary change, especially among the teeming youth population that is swelling by the day, which if not well-nurtured, encouraged, motivated and genuinely empowered would be too unease to be a part of. Thus, aside from creating employment through what we are doing, we invest genuinely in interested people, to help them in any way legally possible to make them better human beings, who in their own little ways will yield positive and impactful returns in their thoughts, words and actions, all swinging on the hinges of true charity and real love devoid of any form of bias or affiliations.

“Ours is about helping others – the helpless, vulnerables, discover themselves, exposed them to global opportunities, guiding them steadily on the path to excellence, better economic life and greatness.

“After thorough assessment and monitoring, to our greatest delight FC Bulmaro, the club, which a few weeks ago conducted trials for youths who are talented and interested in the business of playing football, has been very consistent and open in her approach in this direction. Integrity is very important this we value very highly because the brand Okakuro, is the prime minister of performance sports apparels. Though very new in this clime, but fully genuine. We are here to help ourselves, primarily growing, and to better others without any form of threat,” she explained.

She further revealed that for this season and for the Mediterranean Cup tournament in Barcelona, Spain, coming up soon, Okakuro has taken full sponsorship for the complete kitting of the entire team and the technical crew.

In his reaction, Gonzalo Dibiasi, the club head coach said that the team was not surprised about Okakuro’s interest in the young team, because the club was well structured and supervised, highly economically supported as a sustained platform of opportunities for all who were very good and talented to discover themselves, maximise on available opportunities, not only for their individual good, but for the betterment of their families and the society they live in.

“As long as our promoters be who they have willingly chosen to be - kind-hearted and truly generous, FC Bulmaro, is a platform of not only opportunities, but, equal. Be the person female or male.

Black or whatever colour, with creed or none , the club passionate quest is to see our brought ups play or lead across the world in higher and widely acclaimed sports theatres. It will be the club promoters and the crew to be a part of legendary success stories,” he emphasised.

In another development, Benjamin Ashaka, a top official of the club pointed out that Okakuro is very meticulous and smart in its approach to things, to be able to see the genuineness in what the club is doing in the area of youth development and sports, in this case schools sports and the huge potential in the club, with reference to talents discovery, development and growth. For these young folks, for us the future is assured.

“Our primary intent of berthing the club is to help others live their dreams, while enjoying ourselves in the Godly bliss of generosity.

Thus, more of this kind of partnership support will spur us to not only do more, but better, easier and bigger things. The FC Bulmaro Free Football Clinic is a nationwide project, with schools accepted to the project in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos as a landing pad,” Ashaka said.

He commended Okakuro and called on individuals and groups who have the ability and the will to invest in the children to do so, an idea, he is convinced will better the society for the good of us all.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾MARCH 14, 2020

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Faustino Anjorin A Dream Come True When he starred for Chelsea in the Carabao at 17 years, 10 months and two days, Faustino Anjorin became the youngest player of Nigerian descent to star for a Premier League side. Beyond that, however, starring in the Premier League was his dream and it came to pass when was introduced in last weekend’s Blues 4-0 demolition of Everton

P

oole-born midfielder of Nigerian descent, Faustino Anjorin has spoken of his happiness at making his English Premier League debut for Chelsea in their 4-0 hammering of Everton at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, March 8, 2020.

The England U-19 international entered the pitch as a substitute in the 71st minute to replace Willian and only a great tackle from Toffees defender Djibril Sidibe in the 81st minute prevented him from finding the net in his maiden appearance in the English top-flight.

Eleven years after Anjorin’s arrival at Stamford Bridge, he pulled on a Chelsea shirt with the number 55 on the back for the first time in the Premier League.

Writing on Instagram on Monday, Anjorin said: “I’m so happy to make my Premier League debut yesterday (on Saturday) for both myself and my family.

“It’s been a long road and I know I have further to go but thank you to the academy staff at Chelsea for helping me get this far!”

Reacting to Faustino’s debut, his proud Nigerian dad Sheriff Anjorin tweeted: “I’m not sure it’s even possible to be more proud. Stay humble.”

Fasutino Anjorin made his professional debut for Chelsea in their League Cup win Vs Grimsby Town last

September and was on the bench in the recent Emirates FA Cup win against Liverpool.

Chelsea midfielder, Anjorin made history for Premier League Club, Chelsea as he came on in the 7-1 thrashing of Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup. Anjorin became the youngest player of Nigerian descent to debut for Chelsea in a UK football competition, breaking the record previously held by Fikayo Tomori (another Nigerian), who was aged 18 years, 4 months and 26 days when he debuted for Chelsea in the Premier League in May 2016.

He was given a chance by the club’s new management team, after the teenager, enjoyed a blistering start to the season, scoring five goals in his first seven games for Chelsea’s U-23.- including a brace in the EFL Trophy win over Swindon last month.

He is currently Chelsea’s development group top goalscorer, opening his account in the UEFA Youth League, Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy.

Anjorin is a classic midfield powerhouse - who grew up idolising current Blues manager Frank Lampard.

Lampard, who has made it his mission to promote the youngsters this term has faith in the raw talent, as does his assistant Jody Morris - and the pair have been impressed by Anjorin’s rapid rise since they arrived in the summer.

His progress within the Blues academy has seen him compared to fellow graduate Ruben Liftus-Cheek, who

also impressed at the youth level.

Anjorin was born in Poole to a Nigerian father and an English mum.

He was named after the Colombian legend Faustino Asprilla who famously became the first player to score a hat-trick against Barcelona in the Champions League when he was playing up front for Newcastle.

By the age of seven Anjorin was scouted by Chelsea and invited to train in their youth set-up before officially joining at the age of nine.

It was a dream come true for the boy, who idolised John Obi Mikel and wanted to play for the same club.

By the age of 16, Anjorin, who stands at an impressive 6ft 1 in, lifted the FA Youth Cup. Not only was he the youngest player in the Chelsea side that beat Arsenal 7-1, his goal to end the rout was the icing on the cake.

Internationally, Anjorin’s form has been equally as impressive as it has for his club, and the FA have high hopes for him.

He has played for England at every junior level up to the U-19’s, but without a full cap to his name there could be a tussle with Nigeria for his services in the future.

Both-footed, Anjorin has a contract with Chelsea that doesn’t expire until 2021 but the club is already looking to tie him down to a longer deal.

Technically he’s underrated, despite his lanky frame, runs with the ball at pace and is strong in possession.

And he’s got decent vision, often able to pick out the perfect pass for a forward to run on to.

But it is his finishing that helps him stand out from the crowd.

In fact, Jody Morris once revealed he was the “best finisher at the club.”

Born in Poole on the south coast of England, Anjorin can choose to play for either the three-time African Champions or the Three Lions.

He was discovered to be very talented at a young age and it was Chelsea that beat other London clubs to the signature of the midfielder.

It can be revealed that Anjorin chose to join the Stamford Bridge outfit at the age of seven because they have the best academy in England to this day.

An England U-18 international, Anjorin has made a big impact for Chelsea’s youth teams this season, with the highlight being a seven-game scoring run, and was rewarded with a three-year professional deal in November 2018, shortly after he turned 17.

He has been utilised in the youth setup and has also debuted for Chelsea’s U-23 team as he is highly rated.

The youngster who has represented England at U-16, U-17 and the U-18 level is still eligible to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria due to his parents and he has not played for the English senior set up.

36

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍźËœ 2020

FAIRGROUND

Obasanjo Attends the Stage Play ‘Aremu’ in His Honour

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

A

s part of celebrations to mark former President Olusegun Obasanjo's 83rd birthday recently, influential theatre production outfit, the Duke of Shomolu Productions staged its exciting play, 'Aremu' at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.

The play, which was written and directed by Prof. Ahmed Yerima and was co-produced by Joseph Edgar and Ayo Aderinwale, also had as co-associate producers, Mofoluwake Edgar and Olisa Adibua. Iconic actor, Yemi Shodimu played the lead Aremu in the captivating play.

Over 1,000 people came out to share in the joy of the occasion and to witness the very first showing of the play any where in the world.

Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, members of his cabinet, top traditional rulers like the Oloto of Ota as well as other prominent Nigerians including Chief Mrs. Nike Akande and Prof Mabuogunje were in attendance.

The play, according to Edgar Joseph would immediately move to Lagos in May at the beginning of a nationwide tour that should see it move to Port Harcourt and Abuja before heading to the continent.

The play is a deep depiction of the life and times of one of the most celebrated Nigerians. The story takes off from his humble birth criss crossing the up and downs of one of the most colourful stories touching some very historic pathways in Nigeria's journey to self determination.

L-R: Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, former President Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR) and Alhaji Innua Baba, at the stage play 'Aremu' in honour of Chief Obasanjo to mark his 83rd birthday, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta. While other admirers watch

Former President Obasanjo anked by students of Baptist Boys High School, his alma mater

L-R: Mr. Mohammed Sheri, Dr. Ore Sofekun; Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Mr. Yemi Banjoko and Mrs. Fayo Williams

Cast of Aremu: Queeneth, Aisha Shittu and Akemi Bikersteth

Dancers in the stage play, Aremu

L-R: Deputy Coordinator, Olusegun Obasanjo Library, Ayo Aderinwale; Executive Producer, Aremu, Joseph Edgar; MD, Anchor Insurance Plc, Ebose Austin Osegha and Co-Executive Producer, Aremu, Mofoluwake Joseph Edgar

L-R: Yemi Shodimu; Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Adejumo Adekunle

L-R: Executive Director, Finance and Operations, Unity Bank, Ebenezer Kolawole and another sta of Unity Bank

L-R: Former President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Mrs. Nike Akande and Mrs. Bola Obasanjo

Head, Financial Institutions, Unity Bank, Marian Aniekwena

37

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍźËœ 2020

FAIRGROUND

PWC Harps on Gender Inclusive Environment

P

ricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has proffered ways to build a gender inclusive world.

At an event to mark the International Women's Day celebration, organised by the PwC, which took place last week, panelists focused more on how to ensure gender equality in Nigeria and globally.

The event was geared towards ensuring people get to the "forefront of challenging stereotypes, fighting bias, broadening perceptions, improving situations and celebrating women's achievements."

With the five-guest panelists and a host, the youth studded event was an interactive one.

One of the highlights of the one-day series of events was a presentation by the Group Head Marketing at United Bank for Africa, Dupe Olusola on building a more gender inclusive environment in Nigeria and globally. The event came to an end with a self defense technique lessons.

L-R: Mary Iwelumo, Partner PwC; Osere Alakhume, Partner; PwC, Ibrahim Salau; MD, Environmental Accord Limited, Dupe Olusola; Group Head, Marketing, UBA, Ijeoma Taylaur; Executive Council member, WIMBIZ, Mories Atoki; and Senior Manager PwC, Jide Adeola, at the International Women's Day 2020 event held by PwC Nigeria in Lagos...recently

Hampton Preparatory School Opens New Location

L-R: Head of Upper School, Dr. Roy K. Lillyman; Directors of Hampton Preparatory School- Mrs. Linda AdeyemiHastrup, Mrs. Kemi Balogun; First Lady, Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun; Director of Hampton Preparatory School, Mrs. Iyefe Oludoyi; a representative of the British High Commission, Mr. Peter Thomas Esq. and Head of Lower School, Mrs. Emma Elegbe, at the unveiling of the Hampton Preparatory Upper School

Hampton Preparatory School, recently officially opened a new location for its Upper School. Situated in Lekki Phase 1 Lagos, Hampton Preparatory School is a British Preparatory School, offering the British curriculum from the early years foundation stage through to year eight and catering for the needs of children between the ages of three months - 13 years.

Hampton Preparatory School is aimed at valuing and recognising the uniqueness and achievement of every student, with a sole mission to create a happy, secure and stimulating learning environment, where all students can grow in confidence and develop their full potential.

When asked about the mission of Hampton Preparatory School, the Directors, Mrs. Kemi Balogun, Mrs. Linda Adeyemi-Hastrup and Mrs. Iyefe Oludoyi expressed their strong belief in this statement: "The progress of every child is very important to us, we aim to nurture and support all abilities, helping every child to achieve his/her potential in all areas of learning - intellectual, emotional, physical, social, moral, spiritual and cultural."

Since inception in September 2017, the school has been able to achieve a remarkable level of success

Teachtact's Educators Bootcamp Holds in April Teachtact is an education start up in Nigeria with focus on teachers’ development. The company’s key areas include recruitment of teachers for schools, training of teachers and school improvement planning.

The organisation was officially launched in 2019 and since then have held two open successful open training for teachers and school leaders.

Reflecting on the upcoming boot camp, Teachtact is organising its founder, Adewole Fashina: “As an organisation poised to improvement of education in Africa we saw the need to train teachers on what is happening in the education space around the world. We made it a two-day program because of the feedback we got from our past training programmes.�

In their selection of facilitators they opted to blend both international and local knowledge together in order to see how to expose attendees to world standards as it is in the developed countries. They also expect to make the Bootcamp an all-rounder

by bringing a psychotherapist on board to take on emotional intelligent, a world bank consultant on education to talk more about what’s happening around the world in education in addition to the various educationists who will take various sessions on classroom teaching styles and management.

On what would be achieved during the boot camp, Fashina said: “People will learn different teaching techniques and styles, designing of lesson notes, classroom management, making mathematics fun to learn for students, emotional intelligence, managing relationships and education around the world.�

Teachtact is also involved in the recruitment of teachers for schools across Nigeria through their recruitment portals and other means using creative and convenient methods, Collaborations with foreign technology companies to build technology solutions for schools to enhance learning of students and effectiveness of teachers and a lot more.

Fashina

allowing it to further expand with the recent unveiling of their new Upper School location.

In order to commemorate this milestone, an official opening ceremony was organised. Present at the event were Her Excellency, First Lady, Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, a representative from the British Deputy High Commission, Peter Thomas Esq, Dr. Konyin Ajayi, Board of Governors - Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters and Mrs. Folakemi Fatogbe, the School’s Directors - Mrs. Kemi Balogun, Mrs. Linda Adeyemi-Haastrup and Mrs. Iyefe Oludoyi as well as parents, guests, and well-wishers.

The ceremony began with an opening prayer led

by Dr. Konyin Agayi, followed by the Nigerian and UK national anthems respectively.

In her opening address, member of the Board of Governors, Mrs Bolanle Austen-Peters stated, ‘Education is about touching the hearts and souls of each student, letting them explore their God-given talent.

21st-century education should not be centered only on the basics - Mathematics, English, Science, etc, It should also give young people the ability to think outside the box and the opportunity to explore their passion.’

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍźËœ2020

38

AUTO FG Lauds PAN, Others for Investing $1Bn in Nigeria’s Auto Industry

L-R: Director General of the NADDC, Mr. Jelani Aliyu; Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo at the event‌ recently

Auto Sector Key to Diversification Efforts by Government-NADDC Stories by Bennett Oghifo

T

he Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Jelani Aliyu, has said that the auto sector remains very key in government’s efforts at diversifying the economy.

He stated this during the week in an event put together by NADDC at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry with a display of Nigerian assembled vehicles. The vehicles cut across passenger cars, Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), Pickups, buses and heavy duty trucks.

According to him, three key areas to focus on in government’s diversification programme are Agriculture, Technology and Industry.

And the auto industry is key in this regard because of its multiplier effects in stimulating the economy and job creation.

The DG regretted that the country spends $8b annually to import about 400,000 vehicles, most of which are used vehicles.

He stated that the NADDC has been able to

establish, and at different stages of completion- cluster parks, auto testing centres and auto training centres spread across different parts of the country.

The DG added that aside collaborating with the Michigan State University, the NADDC has also penciled down Jaiz, Wema and Zenith banks for its auto finance scheme aimed at making locally assembled vehicles more accessible to Nigerians.

In the same event, top government functionaries pledged their support to the efforts of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in their endeavours to boost the volume of locally assembled vehicles in Nigeria.

Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, stated that his ministry is ready to support the NADDC in its pursuit to promote locally assembled vehicles.

According to him, there is an urgent need to enforce Executive Order 001 and the recent Presidential Order on the need to promote locally assembled goods.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Mohammed Bello, who was represented, said the FCT ministry is ready to collaborate with NADDC and investors in the auto industry in its developmental efforts.

In his own submission, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, stated that some 21 auto companies have already been registered by the procurement agency of the federal government.

According to him, the ministry will continue to support the efforts of the NADDC, even as he revealed that the number of locally assembled vehicles is going up.

The Chairman of the NADDC Governing Board, Senator Osita Izunaso, expressed his appreciation to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, for his continues support to the NADDC, especially in re-packaging the Auto Industry bill.

Also present at the event was the Permanent Secretary, FMITI, Dr. Sani Gwarzo; Chairman House Committee on Industry, Honourable Dolapo Badiru, Ambassador Usman Baraya who represented the Kebbi State government, as well as Captains of Industry.

The Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Jelili Aliyu, has commended the Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN), Innoson Vehicle Manufacturer (IVM), Stallion and other local automobile manufacturers for investing over $1billion annually into Nigeria’s Auto industry.

He, however, frowned at the over $8 billion that leaves the country annually for importation of over 300,000 to 400,000 used and old cars. The DG made the disclosure at Nigeria’s first parade of indigenous auto manufacturers and assemblers of different brands of vehicles.

While speaking at the event, PAN’s Executive Director Sales and Marketing, Mr. Shehu Sani Dauda, said the company was excited to be at the event, expressing optimism that the brand would lead others at the end of the event.

On the multi-brand variant being launched by PAN, he said: “We are now multi-brand; we brought in one of our latest buses which is overdue to come on board into our brand. It is a rugged and affordable bus. “It is built with several options like TV, USB points for every customer, creatively made to carry luggage with maximum comfort for users and customers.�

Daudu said the brand was exceptionally prepared for the Argungun rally which would kick off on Wednesday, 11 March, 2020, noting that PAN 508 was built for ruggedness and reliability.

He also expressed hope that, with the ongoing innovation and effort of the NADDC, PAN will return to higher production with patronage to take the country back to glory when it was producing 90,000 cars with 4000 employees on its payroll.

Flagging off the event, the Minister of Industry and Investment, Mr.Adeniyi Adebayo, commended the agency and manufacturers on their innovations at showcasing Nigerian cars.

He said that the President Muhumadu Buhari Administration will explore every avenue to use the auto industry for job Creation.

Cosmas Maduka Bags Multiple Awards

C

rediblerecognitionscametheway of the founder of the respected wholly-owned Nigerian conglomerate, Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka recently when he received awards on three different platforms in his capacity as an entrepreneur per excellence.

According to a statement by General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, Abiona Babarinde, the first award came from the globally respected consulting firm, Ernst & Young where Dr. Maduka was adjudged the EY Entrepreneur of the year in the Master Class category for West Africa.

The award for the Master Class category which was the ultimate award for the night was keenly contested with other tested personalities that are entrepreneurs in their own rights that had impacted in the economy but Dr. Maduka stood out to come tops according to the distinguished panel of judges made up of professionals of high integrity after strong consideration of his past contributions, present positive impact and futuristic approach to creating value for mankind in all ramifications. Presenting the award was the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Olufemi Hamzat who applauded the choice of Dr. Maduka as the Entrepreneur of the Year going by his pedigree as an established entrepreneur that has contributed immensely to the growth and development of Lagos State in particular and

The new Land Rover Discovery Sport

Nigeria as a nation.

The second award for Dr Maduka equally came from another credible body, the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture with the Chambers’ prestigious KeymanAward as an Outstanding Distinguished Entrepreneur

in the growth and development ofAutomobile / Agro –Allied Industry. The Chamber recognized his contributions overtime in the economic sector of the country especially within the automobile industry where his entrepreneurship skills has made him to build an home grown leading

automobile dealership in Coscharis Motors that exclusively represents some of the best globally respected iconic auto brands like the Rolls-Royce, Jaguar LandRover, BMW, Ford, Renault amongst others.

The third award was from the media platform when the Independent Newspapers Limited awarded him as the Real Sector Investor of the Year.

This award according to the media house was as a result of Dr. Maduka’s dynamic nature of creating value beyond the automobile industry he’s known for with inroad into the agricultural sector where he had equally invested heavily in the rice production.

The Coscharis Farms remains one of the biggest farms in the whole of West Africa with an ultra – modern rice mill. The Farms is one of the vibrant member companies that make up the Coscharis Group as an entity with others like the Coscharis Technologies, Coscharis Mobility, Coscharis Beverages, Coscharis Medicals, Coscharis Ghana, amongst others.

Commenting on these awards, the expectedly elated President of Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka who will be representing West Africa in the world category for the Ernst & Young awards at Monte Carlo in France later in the year dedicated the awards to his late mother who believed in him as a child and thought him his early days skills as an entrepreneur which has helped him to grow his businesses till date.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍźËœ2020

39

AUTO

Rolls-Royce Whispers Presents Digital World of Curated Luxury Stories by Bennett Oghifo

R

olls Royce Motor Cars has formally introduced to the world, an Application named Whispers; an innovative, digital House of Rolls-Royce.

While introducing the Application, Torsten MĂźller-Ă–tvĂśs, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said, “Whispers is completely unique. It is a digital gateway to a fascinating world beyond, where the exceptional and the extraordinary come together and are tailored to meet the demands and tastes of our eclectic and highly valued community of clients.â€? He stated further that “Whispers offers transformative experiences, rare and desirable products, whimsical treasures and exclusive Rolls-Royce previews that are curated

by Rolls-Royce and delivered directly to the fingertips of our global community.�

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Lagos, owned

by Coscharis Motors Plc., is the exclusive franchise owner for Rolls-Royce vehicles sales and service in Nigeria.

It currently has showrooms and workshops located both in Lagos and Abuja.

Rolls-Royce patrons are a unique subset of society - entrepreneurs, visionaries, heads of state, royalty, founders and the brightest stars of the entertainment

industry. These clients are global denizens, connoisseurs, patrons of the arts, philanthropists, collectors of fine and exquisite items; individuals untethered by common constraints such as time and money. These individuals have complete confidence in Rolls-Royce’s ability to delight and inspire them. However, due to their highly mobile international lifestyles, they have been seeking a means to have more regular personal involvement with the marque – more experiences, more access, and more immersion in the luxury world open to Rolls-Royce as the world’s leading luxury brand.

This is Whispers. A digital House of Rolls-Royce, Whispers acts as an entrepôt to a world that Rolls-Royce intimately and uniquely understands – a digital gateway to a curated world of luxury. Over two years ago, under a cloak of secrecy, Whispers was launched to a select group of globally distributed clients. A test-phase followed and after garnering a positive response, RollsRoyce continued to evolve and adapt Whispers in close collaboration with its users. Today, Whispers is fully deployed in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East and the United States.

Membership is limited to owners of a new Rolls-Royce motor car.

Through Whispers, Rolls-Royce offers, to the delight of its clients, access to an

Rolls Royce Phantom

amazing and sometimes whimsical collection of luxury offerings, transformative experiences, exclusive Rolls-Royce previews, inspiring articles and thought pieces, undiscovered destinations and perhaps most importantly, the ability to securely contact and privately commune with some of the world’s greatest minds.

Whispers is an exclusive, digital home for Rolls-Royce clients around the

world.

Constantly adapting and refreshing to always ensure that its content remains current, relevant and in-line with the client’s interests, Whispers draws together many of the world’s most affluent and interesting people. Private, curated, inspiring and lovely, Whispers is truly the most exclusive Members Club in the world.

BMW Rejigs Brand Communication Logo

T

he Bavarian Motor Works (BMW) recently rejigged its logo to a more transparent variant essentially for brand communication. This logo update is the sixth version since its first introduction in 1917.

This is contained in a statement

by Coscharis Motors, the exclusive franchisee of BMW brands in Nigeria with its Head Office located in Lagos and other dealership branches in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Uyo. While the rejig is more than just a design update; the layout of BMW’s new brand look and feel stands for the mobility of the future and epitomises BMW’s direction of becoming a more relationship brand.

According to Jens Thiemer, Senior Vice President Customer & Brand BMW, the new communi-

cation logo radiates openness and clarity. “With this new transparent variant, we want to invite our customers more than ever to become part of the BMW world.

In addition, our new brand design is geared to the challenges and opportunities of Digitization for brands. With visual restraint and graphic we are equipping ourselves flexibly for the wide variety of contact points in communication at which BMW will show its presence online and offline in the future.

The additional communication logo symbolizes the significance and relevance of the brand for mobility and driving pleasure in the future.�

The Brand Manager of BMW, Coscharis Motors, Aregbeshola Cletus states that BMW’s logo has been a hot discussion topic for decades.

And all because of a publicity stunt in which a BMW ad from 1929 showed an airplane with the BMW Logo in the rotating propeller. This has made many people to believe that the BMW logo depicts a stylized propeller.

Fred Jakobs, Archive Director, BMW Group Classic explains that the truth is a little different.

The first key to the meaning of the BMW logo are its colors: white and blue are the colors of the State of Bavaria in Germany, home of BMW. But they are in the inverse order (at least as far as heraldic rules are concerned, where you read clockwise from the top left).

The reason for this inverse order of blue and white in the BMW logo was the local trademark law at the time, which forbade the use of state coats of arms or other symbols of sovereignty on comBMW gets new logo mercial logos.

Is There Right of Way at Roundabouts in Enugu?

Fred Bright is not your big time standup comedian like Ayo Makun popularly known as AY, or even the grandfather of comedy Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome professionally known asAlibaba. The young man from Enugu state who practices his craft in the Federal Capital Territory is a master of the craft who always thrill me with his skills often interspersed with jokes from the South South, South East or the North and South West.

I am not here to praise his mastery of his craft but to understand why for over three years he has consistently lamented about driving in Enugu and religiously pleading with me to come over to Enugu and collaborate with him in raising safety consciousness and promote a better and saner driving culture.

Bright’s pestering did not hit my cord until I touched down in Enugu in February 2020 and saw driving reminiscent of what I saw and experienced in Port Harcourt in 2016 especially at roundabouts which to me boils down to gross impatience, arrogance on the wheels and maybe impunity. So just like I did a piece I titled, BETWEEN LAGOS AND PORT HARCOURT DRIVING sometime in 2017, I am doing the same with what I have seen in Enugu with the above caption.

In the 2017 write up on driving between Lagos and Port Harcourt, I tried to compare driving inboth cities with the conclusion that Lagos was not the only place noted for notorious driving I observed that unlike Lagos, Port Harcourt

SAFE DRIVING with Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa (Corps Commander) Corps Public Education Officer Federal Road Safety Corps. + 2348033026491 driving was weird because of the increasing traffic infractions and the absence of a strong structure to curb and to deter these driving mannerisms that daily takes the garden out of the City. I also did say in that piece that Port Harcourt, like the typical Nigerian cities boast of numerous places of worship especially churches which adorns almost every street yet daily driving rarely shows any form of piety.

Enugu reminds of Port Harcourt where residents attend religious programmes without reflecting God’s teachings that dwells more on humility, patience and respect for the law of the land including respect for traffic rules. Like Lagos, traffic in Enugu can get better; traffic in Enugu can be tamed in the same manner the Lagos state government has succeeded in deterring the average Lagos drivers from impunity driving. I also noted that there was the need to rid the roads of street trading that practically eats off part of the lanes thus restricting lanes to one in very busy roads and during rush hours.

I highlighted the incidences of overloading which wasrampant,unauthorizedandindiscriminateparking, absence of designated bus stops and parks or the absence of an agency to enforce usage, as well as the enforcement of minimum standard for commercial vehicles to rid the state of rickety vehicles with broken windshield, broken head lamps, worn-out tyres and the need to relocate markets which adorn most streets among other vices. I again mentioned that traffic issues in places like Rumuola, Slaughter, Peter odili road, Rumuokoro,NTA road all in Port Harcourt just to mention a few were nightmares in 2017. In these areas commercial drivers became a nuisance and lords unto themselves, committing all kind of traffic infraction without fear of arrest.

Despite all these mannerisms, if you ask the average motorists in Port Harcourt or even Enugu, he would prefer to blame all the crashes, the number of deaths recorded on our roads and the injuries sustained and gridlock on ignorance. Most would rather push the blame to government and its agencies.The private car driver would blame the commercial driver who in turn blames the private car owner. The parent who allows his son of sixteen to drive would hold government responsible for not clamping down on underage driving.

Thelicenceddriverwhoindulgesinexcessivespeed would blame the Ministry of Works or FERMAfor the crash and not his penchant for speeding which is a violation of the law and which is critical in the event of a crash.

The question then is why does the average motorist in Lagos,Port Harcourt and other parts of the country such as Enugu indulge in violating laid down traffic rules?Why do convoy drivers believe they are above the law that governs speed,overtaking and decent driving.?Why would such convoy drivers with VIP and armed uniform personnel whose arms are bought with the taxpayers money jump traffic lights and assault motorists for daring to question them while the government officials or very important dignitaries keep mute?The same dignitary whose life is as fragile as yours and mine?

Why would a mother or a husband or both jump into their car bought for over a million naira strap themselves with a seat belt,yet dump their lovely child at the back seat of the car without any protection even when all efforts are made to educate this same parents on the dangers of their action?Why would this same parent hear of the death of a child because the child was not strapped in a car seat and yet hide under some spirituality by declaring that ‘’God forbid,it is not my portion!!!

Why do we dare God by our actions on the wheel?God says obedience is better than sacrifice.

That same God commands that none should kill.

He never listed the instruments which means that if you kill anyone through your reckless driving,you certainly run foul of God’s commandments.

Why do we forget that of all the laws or commandments of God ,Love your neighbour is the greatest of all.Yet in our usage of the roads, rarely do we have consideration for the other motorists.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾MARCH 14, 2020

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SPORTS XTRA

Coronavirus: CAF Postpones Nigeria, Sierra Leone AFCON Qualifiers FIFA Women U20 World Cup qualifiers too The Confederation ofAfrican Football has postponed the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers between Nigeria and Sierra Leone earlier scheduled to hold on March 27 and March 31.

Also postponed is the FIFA U20 World Cup qualifiers as well as the women AFCON 2020 qualifiers.

The continent’s football regulator decided to postpone all the AFCON qualifiers scheduled from March 25-31 as a precautionary measure due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Though only a few cases have been reported in Africa, CAF argued that several players who

were supposed to play in the qualifiers ply their trades in countries severely affected by the virus and several clubs have refused to release their players to African Federations.

SeveralAfrican governments have taken strong restrictions on travels: lock down, quarantine for people coming from countries affected by the virus.

“As CAF’s top priority remains the health and safety of our stakeholders (players, officials, sponsors, broadcasters, employees), we have been monitoring closely, together with our Medical Committee, the impact of the current

coronavirus crisis,” CAF said in a statement.

“For the above reasons and after studying carefully the current situation, CAF has decided to postpone the Total Africa Cup of Nations 2021 qualifiers scheduled from 25-31 March 2020.

“We will share with you a proposal of a new calendar that will be communicated on a second step, according to the evolution of the coronavirus situation.”

The Super Eagles lead the way in Group L of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with six points after wins

against Benin and Lesotho.

Before the postponement

by CAF, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has secured a chartered flight to convey invited players from their respective bases in Europe President of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick said they are in close communication with the country’s Ministry of Health and the Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) ahead of the Super Eagles’ upcoming fixtures against Sierra Leone.

Nigeria are scheduled to host the Leone Stars inAsaba for the first leg of their 2021Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture

on March 27 before travelling to Freetown for the return leg four days later.

The Covid-19 outbreak has left various competitions across the world on hold with several clubs undergoing self-isolation as a precautionary step to prevent the spread of the virus.

In reaction to global happenings, Pinnick revealed the federation has secured a chartered flight to fly invited Super Eagles players to Nigeria.

“We’ve already started to interface with the Federal Ministry of Health and the disease control unit and we are talking,” Pinnick told Brila FM.

“At the moment we have not monitored whether there is coronavirus in Sierra Leone.

What we have done is we have already gotten a charter so we are going to reduce the number of people that will fly with the SuperEagles.Wewanttoreduce as many contacts as possible.”

However, concerning the Africa Nations Championship, CHAN, slated for Cameroon, a delegation of Caf Medical Committee is scheduled to visit Cameroon from March 14-15 to access the prevention measures put in place by the Local Organising Committee after which a decision would be taken.

Chelsea Preparing Offer for Chuwueze

Super Eagles players celebrating a goal against Lesotho

Sierra Leone Coach, Tetteh Quits Ahead of Nigeria Showdown Ghanaian tactician Sellas Tetteh has left his post as head coach of Sierra Leone’s senior national football team.

The 63-year-old, who rose to prominence after leading Ghana to the 2009 Fifa U20 World Cup title, left his position after seven months at the helm of affairs.

His last game remains a 1-0 loss to Benin in the 2021Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in November 2019.

“The Head Coach of the Sierra Leone National senior team Sellas Tetteh Teivi has tendered his letter of resignation to

the President of the Sierra Leone Football Association,” the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) said in a statement released on Thursday. “In a letter dated March 11, 2020 Coach Tetteh sighted “personal reasons” for his unexpected resignation.

“The President and Executive Committee of SLFA whiles accepting his decision expressed regret at the loss, to Sierra Leone Football, of one of Africa’s most iconic football heroes.

“SLFA wishes the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup Winning Coach great success in his future endeavours.”

Tetteh’s resignation will be an untimely blow to Sierra Leone, who are preparing for theirAfcon 2021 qualifying double-header against Nigeria on March 27 and 31.

It was his second coaching spell with the Leone Stars. The former Liberty Professionals and Ghana assistant coach also led Rwanda between 2010 and 2011.

The SLFA is expected to announce Tetteh’s replacement in the coming days.

Ahead EDO 2020

Adegoke Seeks to Extend Sprint Dominance 2018 Commonwealth Games 100m finalist, Enoch Adegoke will be seeking his third consecutive blue ribband event win in the Nigerian athletics circuit today at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) ‘Test The Track” meeting in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Adegoke emerged winners in the 100m race at the Akure All Comers competition last month and the Ekiti Classics at the start of March and the 20-year old who celebrated his birthday at the start of this week wants to make it a hat-trick of wins in Benin to lay down the gauntlet ahead of the athletcs event of the 20th National Sports Festival which starts later this month.

The meet in Benin is designed to test run the brand new tartan track at the ‘brand new’ Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium ahead of the Festival and Adegoke, the fastest

home-based athlete in the last two years will have to contend with perrenial rivals Jerry Jakpa, EmmanuelArowolo andAlaba Akintola who will be looking to upstage him. Also on the prowl to cause what would definitely amount to an upset are Uremu Idjesa and Ogho-Oghene Egwero who have have impressed so far this term in the local athletics circuit.

While the battle for the top spot will be among as many as six sprinters, all eyes will be on three women in the 400m event as the duo of Favour Ofili and Praise Idamadudu will have to be super ready for ‘old war-horse’, Patience Okon-George who will be making her debut in the circuit this season.

Ofili and Idamadudu got the crowd on their feet in Ekiti a forthnight ago when they ran neck-and-neck in the quartermile

race at the late Kayode Oluyemi Stadium with the former winning by the narrowest of margins (52.54 and 52.55 seconds respectively).

Ofili, the national leader in the event last year with the new 51.51 seconds personal best she ran at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar won the race but will have not just Idamadudu who just returned to competitive track and field action after an unjust ban and Okon-George, a member of Nigeria’s bronze winning 4x400m relay team to the IAAF World Relays in 2014 to contend with.

Anothereventthatwillsurelygetthecrowd emotionally charged is the women’s 400m where Joy Udo-Gabriel will be hoping to get backtowinningwaysafterfalteringinAkure andAdo Ekiti in the past one month.

English Premier League club Chelsea are ready to firm up their interest in Samuel Chukwueze by making a bid for the Nigeria international, according to reports.

Berlin based media company Onefootball claims The Blues are planning to make an offer for the Villarreal winger and manager Frank Lampard wants him in his squad for the 2020-2021 season.

Chukwueze won’t come cheap though as he has a release clause of 100 million euros (approximately N41 billion) which has to be activated before the Yellow Submarine can shred their agreement with the 20-year-old.

Liverpool saw their 35 million euros bid for the Super Eagles rising star rejected in the January transfer window as it was deemed insufficient.

It is believed that Chukwueze’s profile increased after he was nominated for the Golden Boy award, CAF Youth Player of the Year and Kopa Trophy.

The 2015 U17 World Cup winner has made 68 first-team appearances for Villarreal since debuting in September 2018.

Arteta Feeling Better after Positive Coronavirus Test Mikel Arteta says he is “feeling better already” a day after Arsenal announced their head coach had tested positive for coronavirus.

Arteta, the first-team squad and coaching staff have been self-isolating in line with government health guidelines. Following the news that Arteta and Chelsea forward Callum Hudson-Odoi had tested positive the virus, the Premier League and EFL have postponed all fixtures until the weekend of April 4.

Arteta tweeted in support of the news on Friday afternoon.

He said: “Thanks for your words and support. Feeling better already. We’re all facing a huge and unprecedented challenge. Everyone’s health is all that matters right now.

“Protect each other by following the guidelines and we’ll come through this together. Well done PL(Premier League) for making the right decisions.”

Arsenal’s first-team players have not been in contact with Arteta since Tuesday. The players were on a day off on Wednesday before Thursday’s diagnosis.

West Ham manager David Moyes is in self-isolation as a precautionary measure after coming into direct contact with Arteta on Saturday.

The West Ham boss has shown no coronavirus symptoms and has taken action simply as a precautionary measure.

Chelsea’s full squad has gone into self-isolation after winger Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for coronavirus, the club said in a statement in the early hours of Friday morning.

SATURDAY MARCH 14, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

Nokia Set to Launch New Smartphones HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones has released a new campaign for its soon to be released Nokia smartphones.

The firm also signed a partnership deal with a new movie, ‘No Time To Die ‘, a film produced by the iconic James Bond, as the official phone partner of the flick.

By this arrangement, the new commercial will enjoy massive airplay in the new flick which is expected to run across cinema, digital, social, Out of Home and retail media.

The commercial is part of HMD’s Global largest marketing campaign to showcase Nokia smartphones as ‘The Only Gadget You’ll Ever Need’.

The device will be fully unveiled on 19th March, 2020 ,in plenty of time for ‘No Time To Die,’ which is coming to UK cinemas on 12th November, 2020.

Other future-proof Nokia phones that will appear in the flick included Nokia 7.2, featuring a 48MP triple camera with Quad Pixel technology and ZEISS Optics .The iconic Nokia 3310 will also feature in the film.

The film partnership allows HMD Global to demonstrate its status as a global provider of Android smartphones, showcasing its commitment to security, speed and innovation,while also meeting the demands of world’s toughest customers - MI6 agents.

The video commercial is filmed against the backdrop of the distinctive London skyline featuring St Paul’s, The Shard and Lashana Lynch.

Shedding more light on the partnership, Chief Product Officer of HMD Global, Juho Sarvikas, said: “Following the announcement to postpone the movie launch to

12th November, we now have a really exciting year ahead of us in the build up to this much anticipated release. “Few cultural properties place technology at the heart of their appeal quite like ‘No Time To Die’. The film’s commitment to innovation, paired with the amazing technology built into each Nokia smartphone, making our devices the only gadget that anyone – even a 00 agent will ever need,

makes this partnership a real force to be reckoned with. “Trust, security and iconic quality design are the foundations every Nokia phone is built upon and our values reflect those of ‘No Time to Die’ and the trailblazing new 00 agent, Lynch. We take great pride in making the latest technology accessible to everyone and look forward to doing this via our latest partnership.�

World Remit Honours Africa’s Inuential Migrants In celebrating the Black History Month, an online money transfer service provider, World Remit, has unveiled the inaugural list of ‘Top Ten Most Influential Africans’ in the Diaspora.

According to the firm, the idea is to honour and recognise the contributions of Africans who are blazing the trail in America.

The month is set aside to recognise the central roles and contributions of African Americans in the U.S. as well as honour their historical and current achievements in areas like: American literature, business, science, politics, philanthropy, entertainment, sports, and their communities.

The list of ten notable Africans has four Nigerians, they are: Portrait Painter, Kehinde Wiley; Physician, Interventional cardiologist, interventional nephrologist and cardionephrologist, Olurotimi Badero; Physician, forensic pathologist, and neuropathologist, Bennet Omalu; and Non-Profit Founder & CEO of GEANCO foundation, Afam Onyema.

Most of the honorees have partnered with and are supported by top global leaders and institutions including the United Nations, Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, The Oscars, Unicef, the World Economic Forum, the Smithsonian museum and many more.

Commenting on the list, Managing Director of Americas for WorldRemit, Daniel Canning, said: “Data continues to show that black Africans in the diaspora are contributing significantly to the U.S.

economy and society as a whole, while in many cases, still supporting their communities back home. At WorldRemit, we believe that it is important for us to acknowledge and highlight these positive contributions and Black History Month seemed like the ideal time to do so.�

On the judging panel for the list were CEO & Publisher of Okay Africa, Abiola Oke; WorldRemit founder and Chairman, Ismail Ahmed, who is also an immigrant that originally hails from Somaliland and Managing Director of WorldRemit’s business in the Americas, Daniel Canning.

A report from Migration Policy Institute states that African immigrants are the fastestgrowing ethnic group of migrants in the U.S. with the U.S. African born populations reaching 49.6% in 2018.

Another report published by the New American Economy, rate African immigrants as having higher levels of educational attainment than the U.S. population as a whole. It revealed further that Africans are more likely to have earned their degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) subject. “They also make meaningful contributions to several vital sectors of the economy – including healthcare – where employers have persistent challenges finding qualified workers. In addition, African immigrants are making meaningful contributions to the American economy as entrepreneurs�, the report added.

From Left: National President, National Association of Orthopaedic Manual Therapists, Dr. Onigbinde Ayodele; Face of Mouka Wellbeing Mattresses and Nollywood Super Star, Sola Sobowale; Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Mouka, Raymond Murphy; Vice President, Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy, Dr. Nnenna Chigbo; and Chief Operating OfďŹ cer, Mouka, Femi Fapohunda; at an event organised by Mouka in commemoration of year 2020 World Sleep Day in Lagos ....recently

L-R: Executive Director, We Innovation Hub, Wole Odetayo; Executive Director, Financial Services Innovators, Aituaz Kola-Oladejo; Assistant Director, Payment System Management Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, Aisha IsaOlatinwo; and Group Head, Digital Banking, Sterling Bank, Dipo Alabede, during the Financial Services Innovators and Google Development Group Hackathon sponsored by Sterling Bank Plc in Lagos... recently

Nestle Expands in New OMD Named Global Media Agency of the Year Product Launch

Multinational food and beverage brand, Nestle has entered the market with new ‘Milo Plant Based’ version.

The latest was first launched in Australia and brought in to cater for those who preferred plant based alternatives in their diet.

The new milo serves as an alternative to the milk powder with soy and oats and packs same ingredients as the popular Milo: malt, barley and cocoa.

Providing more details on the new product, the Head of Dairy business unit at NestlÊ, Trevor Clayton, stated that the new product was in fulfilment of the firm’s promise to offer consumers food that is right for them and right for the planet.

He said: “People are looking to vary their diets with more plant-based options, including to lower their environmental footprint and for health reasons. We already have some great plant-based products and are now adding one of our biggest global brands with Milo. “Our development team worked hard to make sure it kept the same unmistakable choc-malt

taste and iconic crunch that that Australians have grown up with.� “The latest beverage drinks is lower in sugar compared to original Milo and has a combination of vitamins and minerals to support effective energy release. It gives people a plant-based option, alongside the original, reduced-sugar and extra protein versions.�

The new Milo follows on from other recent launches of plant-based beverages. NestlĂŠ in Brazil introduced oat- and pea-based Ninho Forti + on shelves from December 2019, in a ready-to-drink carton with a paper straw. The United States saw the launch of Nesquik GoodNes in January, based on oat and pea protein with the chocolate milk flavor of Nesquik.

The firm has stepped up its focus on providing more nutritious options for children, with NestlĂŠ for Healthier Kids program.

It two focus areas include accelerating healthy transformation of NestlÊ’s product portfolio in line with World Health Organisation ,WHO’s recommendations, and inspiring healthier eating with supportive programmes and services.

Omnicom Media Group Agency (OMD) Worldwide, has been named Global Media Agency for year 2020 by Adweek, a global advertising industry publication.

The accolade marks the sixth time that OMD has been named Adweek Global Media Agency of the year since 2010. Profiling the agency in its February 24th issue, Adweek noted that OMD was recognised for sustaining the stunning 2018 comeback globally that earned it the Global Media Agency of the Year title last year.

The firm also received credits for leveraging the momentum to support the continuing investments in talent, technology and process that earned it a continuous win.

A new Business Barometer report released recently by COMvergence Media Agency, OMD globally tops the ranking with $2,027M in net new business values (As defined by the standard industry calculation: wins + retentions – losses).

The COMvergence New Business Barometer completes a trifecta of first place net new

business rankings for OMD in 2019, following reports from global consultancy R3 and media agency research company RECMA, published earlier this year.

Commenting on OMD’s performance in 2019, the company Worldwide CEO , Florian Adamski, stated that the recognition would drive the company to deliver better decisions, better ideas and better outcomes for its clients around the world.

Also speaking on the award, mediaReach OMD Nigeria Managing Director, Nitinchandra Nandekar said: “OMD Design is our unique differentiator that fully came to life late last year; our staff has been fully trained to deliver better decisions, faster to our clients using OMD Design.

The design is a process which is dynamic and fully integrated to the capabilities that sit within Omni, the data platform. OMD Design guides users through every stage of the insight and planning process, democratising access to Omni’s potential across the network.�

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2Baba Takes ‘Warriors’ to the U.S. Emmanuel Ikubese Settles for Anita

pg. 48

Dbanj, Lineo Expecting Twins? pg. 50

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

2Baba Takes ‘Warriors’ to the U.S. As part of efforts to connect with his fans and music lovers across the world, as he promotes his seventh studio album, music superstar 2Baba tours the United States. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

2Baba at AfroFlava radio show in New York, hosted by Sana Kibs and DJ Jonquick

W

ith the Release of “Warriors�, his seventh studio album a fortnight ago, music superstar, Innocent Idibia, aka 2Baba, has set out on a media tour which will see the veteran connect with his fans and music lovers across the world as he promotes the new project. The move to tour media across boarder isn’t unexpected going by his status as an internationally-recognised music superstar. It’s been a hectic period already for the prince of Afrobeats/afro-pop, who just released his brand new album to rave reviews from listeners all over the world.

For the media tour, his first stop was at OkayAfrica, a digital media platform in the U.S. on February 28, where he did an Instagram Live takeover and discussed the album which was released the same day. The tour continued with the music legend being a guest on AfroFlava radio

show in New York, hosted by Sana Kibs and DJ Jonquick. He was also at V103 radio show hosted by Ossei the Dark Secret and Cassius Clay in Atlanta. 2Baba also had a hangout with journalist Ivie Ani, Christine Imarenezor and William Ketchum at Vibe in NY and also shot on an episode of My Drive on CNN. The eventful tour also featured meetings with record label executives at Tidal, Sony Music, Roc Nation, and the iconic Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Warriors currently tops the iTunes chart in Nigeria and has produced two top 10 singles “Opo� featuring Wizkid and “We Must Groove� featuring self-acclaimed African Giant, Burna Boy, with a potential for more top 10 hits as fans continue to gush about the new body of work and pick their favourites. The vibrant visual for “We Must Groove� shot by awardwinning video director, Patrick Elis, was first previewed at the well-attended album listening party held in Lagos on February 25.

It was finally made public upon the release of the album.

Expectedly, great reviews flowed right after the album listening party as expectation for the album doubled for everyone in attendance. “Warriors� is a key offering of the #20YearsAKing project which he celebrated with a yearlong event in 2019.

The 13 track record captures the hunger, work ethic and fighter mentality that has earned 2Baba over 20 unbroken years of trailblazing and industry dominance.

It pays tribute to dogged and resilient champions everywhere who keep winning through ever-changing trends and circumstances. This album comes six years after his last album, The Ascension, which was released in 2014. The album contains previously released singles like Amaka, Oyi and Important. The album shows 2Baba’s ability to adjust to industry trends as he has a different vibe from his previously released albums.

Although critics and music journalists have had their takes on the album good or bad, it is significant in ways. On Warriors, 2Baba breaks the streak of releasing albums with no title track. “This is the first time I’ll have a song in the album with the title of the album. My other albums, the title has nothing to do with the songs. After that song, Warrior, all the other songs are to enjoy ourselves. I hope you enjoy it. If e wack make you tell me, if e no wack, one love,� he said in his usual lingo during the album listening party.

It includes previously released singles like ‘Important’, ‘Oyi’ and the Peruzzi-assisted smash hit, ‘Amaka’. The star studded LP also boasts big-name collaborations and features an array of artistes including Burna Boy, Wizkid, Olamide, Tiwa Savage and Peruzzi. It also features AJ, Symeca and his daughter, HI Idibia. In this latest offering, 2Baba gives fans a little bit of everything Afrobeats, Afropop, R&B and reggae.

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Alex-Ekubo

Shay Bello

Darasen Richards’ Soft Work is Almost Ready A conman, who is every woman’s prince charming, leads a mission to steal a code in Darasen Richard’s upcoming movie, Soft Work. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

M

ovie director, Darasen Richards, has put together some of Nollywood’s favourite actors for what is described as the most dangerous heist in Nigeria commercial’s capital, Lagos. In a trailer for the upcoming movie, Soft Work, which opens with the lead actor Alexx Ekuboh’s character walking up to a man, one could figure out a thriller as it shows scenes of murder, kidnap and death threats.

There is also a scene that passes for infidelity, as the wife to the protagonist, Chief Ademuyiwa, walks in on him trying to get intimate to a female chef character and screeches: “what exactly is going on here?� to which he denies his act,

saying “Yeah we are discussing the menu‌â€? And then she asks “what menu?â€? It’s the chief’s coronation day which is as special as it is to her and so he “shouldn’t ruin it,â€? she forewarns him. Soft Work is centered on a heist targeted at Chief Ademuyiwa, an accomplished businessman with over 18 companies, whose success is attributed to a code.

One of his business rivals wants the code, so he orchestrates a plan involving a group of unwilling conmen to steal it at a coronation ceremony of the chief. “Chief Ademuyiwa has 18 companies, and he’s been successful based on a code, I want you to get it for me,� says his business rivals character who at all cost wants the code as he instructs the conmen with a deadline to deliver on the day of the mission

which is the coronation day. “He has a coronation coming up in a few weeks, which is your deadline.�

And the conman (Alexx Ekubo’s character responds: “We are not thieves; we are conmen, ordinary conmen�.

Soft Work follows Richard Daresen’s hit comedy The Big Fat Lie released in 2019 and is scheduled to open in cinemas on March 27, 2020.

Soft Work stars the old and the new like actor-comedian Frank Donga (Kunle Idowu), Akin Lewis, Shaffy Bello, Sanni Mu’azu, IK Ogbonna, Mofe Duncan, and Alexx Ekubo, who plays the lead character Dare Olusegun, an attractive conman who as the movie snippet describes him as every woman’s prince charming.

He is tall and very handsome, a perfect gentleman.

He’s got it going on. But his image is very identifiable.

The movie was written, produced, and directed by Darasen Richards, a graduate of the Lagos State University and the London Film Academy.

In 2014, Darasen wrote, produced, and directed the epic blockbuster The Antique, earning him the Multichoice Certificate of Recognition and placing him among the 100 Most Influential Writers Under 40 by the Nigeria Writers Award.

With a handful of awards including Best Screenwriter, Best Director, Best Sound Editing, Best Film, and Best Cinematography, he has made a remarkable contribution to Nollywood and job creation for the local youths. More movies by Darasen include Getting Rich in Lagos, Betrayal, The Package, The Briefcase, and Kissing Game.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍźËœ2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

TBoss Celebrates Birthday in Style Entertainer and one of the housemates in the Big Brother Naija 2017 reality television show, Tokunbo Idowu, popularly known as TBoss, was 36 last Monday.

She marked the day with a beautiful photo shoot, featuring her daughter, which she fondly refers to as “my best friend�. The reality TV star took to Instagram to share photos from the shoot. This is showbizflair’s pick from the lot.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹ͼ˜2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Elegant Lilian Esoro

Actress and mother of one, Lilian Esoro, was a year older last Monday. To celebrate, the Nollywood star, who was nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy at 2013 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, shared beautiful new photos of herself on the social media

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍźËœ 2020

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

Emmanuel Ikubese Settles for Anita For these two, it’s all fun, play and lots of love on the display with their prewedding pictures.

Their introduction then was seen as a shock to many because the First runner-up, Mister World 2014 kept his relationship to Adetoye a secret

Anita Adetoye and Emmanuel Ikubese

Ferdinand Ekechukwu

N

ollywood actor and former Mr. Nigeria, Emmanuel Ikubese, is set to walk down the aisle with his fiancĂŠe, Anita Adetoye, popularly known as “Anita Browsâ€?. The pair got

engaged in 2019. The couple recently posted beautiful pre-wedding photos via their social media handles. They shared lovely photos which they titled RoadToBae2020. Some of the photos saw Anita, a celebrity makeup artist holding her fiancÊ’s head so gently and placing a kiss on it.

As it’s been observed, pre-wedding photos are fast becoming one of the

beautiful parts of a wedding ceremony.

It is an informal way of introducing the intending couple to their friends. It also gives people a peek into how beautiful the couple is. So, for celebrities Ikubese and Anita, many people had been looking forward to the couple’s pre-wedding photos and they did not disappoint.

Anita is the Founder and Creative Director, Anita Brows Beauty. Her time

studying journalism in Dublin, Ireland, Media production at Lewisham College, London and then Marketing at Griffith College in Ireland provided her insight that she turned to her true passion, beauty.

She was one of the first Nigerian beauty entrepreneurs to properly harness the power of social media, turning to then new image sharing platform Instagram, to build a following.

The couple’s wedding is one of the most-anticipated in 2020. In the photo, the couple wore matching outfits as they posed for the camera. When in October 2019, the actor and model Anita Brows had their introduction ceremony, it was so green and beautiful, with close family members in attendance. Now, their fans and friends get to see their beautiful fun pre-wedding pictures captured by Bedge Pictures.

For these two, it’s all fun, play and lots of love on the display with their prewedding pictures. Their introduction then was seen as a shock to many because the First runner-up, Mister World 2014 kept his relationship to Adetoye a secret. The duo hardly shares pictures of each other on their social media pages. Anita Brows only shared a video of herself getting ready for the introduction on her page.

Ikubese would then share the video of the ceremony on his Instagram page Sunday night after the event.

The make-up expert Anita is prominent for working on top celebrities like Toke Makinwa, Annie Idibia and Mercy Eke, first female winner of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality TV show. She also featured as one of Forbes’ 30 entrepreneurs under 30 in Africa. The tall Nollywood actor, on the other hand, rose to fame after winning the male pageant in 2014.

Ikubese’s engagement with Anita followed a few weeks after he premiered his first project as a filmmaker, Kyaddala in Kampala, Uganda. Ikubese perfected his story writing abilities after writing some of the episodes of Basketmouth’s popular TV series, ‘Flatmates’, where he also acted alongside Yaw, Buchi, Senator, Kayode Peters, and Okey Bakassi.

Emmanuel Ikubese’s acting run has seen him paired in a sizzling role with ace Nollywood actress Iretiola Doyle in the Mo Abudu blockbuster Forty.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍźËœ 2020

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

Burna Boy’s Gold Plaque in Paris

Ferdinand Ekechukwu

G

rammy Award-nominated artiste, Burna Boy, recently received a gold plaque for his 2018 single, On the Low which went gold in France. During a dinner organised at Guise Trattoria Restaurant, Paris, France, to celebrate this tremendous feat, the gold plaque was presented to the singer for the hit single which has garnered over 15 million streams as of February 2020 in France, which is equivalent to 100,000 pure sales.

As they normally would, the plaque was prepared by his label, Atlantic Records. “On the Low� was released on November 16, 2018, as the second single off Burna Boy’s widely acclaimed fourth studio album, African Giant. The track was produced by Kel P and has since amassed over 103 million views on YouTube. The Afro-fusion singer was accompanied by his mother and manager, Bose Ogulu aka Mama Burna, and his elder sister, Ronami Ogulu.

Also present at the Gold plaque presentation was the CEO Goldmine Talent, Christina Milian, Matt Pokora and friends, and family. The Nigerian superstar recently posted a photo of the gold plaque and his mother on social media. He also thanked his fans for supporting the song which reportedly received no promotions or radio push in the European country. “On the Low� is a smooth and slower-paced love song that sees Burna Boy singing about his affection for the special girl in his life.

In the accompanying video directed

by Meji Alabi, Burna serves a number of fashionable looks (as always) while he serenades his love interest against a backdrop of diffused warm tones. In an Instagram post to celebrate the win, Burna Boy wrote, “On the low went Gold in France without any radio push or promo. Love every single one of you that streamed it over 15 million times; it’s still #FOOTONNECK2020.�

Recall that the singer was presented a plaque after his collaboration with UK rapper, Stormzy, and Ed Sheeran went platinum.

Last month, he announced that he’d be hitting the road again for his Twice As Tall World Tour, set to kick-off in Atlanta in May. The tour will see him performing across the US, Canada, Norway, France, Portugal, UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and several other locations. More recently, Burna Boy appeared in GQ Style magazine and talked about a variety of topics ranging from Fela comparisons to the comments he made during South Africa’s spate of xenophobic violence last year.

The article was written by NigerianAmerican entertainment journalist Lola Ogunnaike, and sheds new light on the often reserved artiste.

On the matter of comparisons between him and the iconic Nigerian musician Fela Kuti - a topic that sparked a debate last month when the self-acclaimed Africa Giant referred to himself as “the best since Fela Kuti� in a tweet which he later deleted - the artiste remarked that such talk actually makes him uncomfortable. “Fela is my inspiration and my childhood hero, so if you think comparing me to Fela is honorable, it’s actually not. It actually makes me feel weird.

Fela was Fela, and if it wasn’t for Fela, there probably wouldn’t be any me, so I don’t understand the comparison,� he tells the magazine.

The piece also illuminates Burna’s vision of using his music as a tool to unite the continent. “The reason for everything I do and how I do it is for one goal and one goal only, and that’s

Burna Boy

Burna Boy and his mum, Bose Ogulu show o the gold plaque

the eventual unity of Africa. One day, we’ll have one passport, one African currency, one Africa. Then and only then will my mission be complete,� says Burna.

GQ noted that by all measures, Burna Boy is on a remarkable run. With the

release last summer of his latest effort, African Giant, he cemented his standing as the reigning king of African music.

He followed the globally recognised record with a single Money Play in December 2019. Money Play is off his fifth studio album which is ready.

The singer recently released a new single titled Odogwu off the forthcoming album. In less than a year, the singer released 10 music videos, performed in 200 cities around the globe, and had his songs streamed some 600 million times.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍźËœ 2020

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

Dbanj, Lineo Expecting Twins?

Ferdinand Ekechukwu

T

here has been lots of jubilation in the air, after speculations that popular singer, D’Banj might be expecting a set of twins from his beautiful wife, Lineo Didi Kilgrow. Lovers of the “Koko master,� D’banj, have been expressing their excitement over this. Well, the speculations all started with D’Banj’s recent post on tweeter where he spoke on how God can make one lose something then gives him double of what he lost. “If God can take away something you’ve never expected losing. He can replace it with something you’ve never imagined having. Wonderful God,� he wrote on twitter. Then some of his fans on the social media platform quickly reached a conclusion that perhaps the Koko Master who had lost a son in 2018 (in a swimming pool disaster at his home) is about to be blessed with a set of twins.

Not to forget that late last year, D’Banj welcomed another son who restored his joy after he lost, Daniel Oyebanjo 111 on June 25, 2018.

Surfaced a heart-melting video of the Koko Master as he’s fondly called, and his son ‘’working out’’ has gone viral on social media recently. The video was shared by Lineo, with the caption “my boys are working out�.

The couple welcomed the baby boy last September. Two days after welcoming the baby boy, Dbanj expressed his gratitude and appreciation for life.

The music superstar would then take to his social media page tow write, ‘so grateful and speechless right now.

In fact, every show, appearance or concert I do from now on, is going to be a celebration of life’.

Lineo gave birth to a baby boy in United States of America on September 19, 2019. News of the birth triggered excitement on social media as report of the baby’s arrival filtered online. Fans and followers of the music star took to social media to congratulate him and his wife for the bundle of joy. Two months after the incident, the artiste dedicated a song to his wife.

The singer then also expressed delight that he had been able to channel the pains of losing his first son into creating god music for his fans. “I am happy that over time I have been able to channel that into my music, which is more important for me. You haven’t heard any of them yet but very soon‌ because the most important thing that I believe, and pray for, is restoration. I know that no matter how many times I tell my wife that everything is okay, God has to give us restoration.â€?

The singer recently made his Nollywod debut in Jade Osiberu’s much talked about film, ‘Sugar Rush’ which opened in cinemas last December.

D’banj style of music combines Afrobeat and Afropop to bring his sound to life with breathless enthusiasm as well as a good dose of humour. His songs are based on his life, often hilarious but with a deeper meaning which documents the struggle of a young Nigerian trying to achieve his dreams.

He performs in Yoruba, English and Pidgin English. D’banj’s debut album, No Long Thing, was released in 2005.

It yielded several singles with Tongolo as the lead single. This proved to be his breakthrough single and a hit.

It also provided his “Koko Master� persona, with the term, Koko, taking on a variety of lewd meanings.

Dbanj and Lineo

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 14, 2020

PERSPECTIVE Oshiomhole’sTravailsand 2023Calculations Nosa Ogbemudia

While Oshiomhole may have some weakness as a party leader, the fact remains that those who put his head on the chopping block are not doing it for any altruistic or patriotic reasons or even for the sake of the growth of the party. All is about 2023. It is all naked politics.

For instance, many have been saying that Obaseki, the Edo State governor, could not have had the effrontery to take on Oshiomhole the way he is doing if not because he was being goaded on by political heavyweights with coalesced interests outside the state

W

hile many have accused the embattled National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of high-handedness and hence, the need to kick him out, it is also obvious that those after him are not doing so for the growth of the party but for their 2023 ambitions.

The plot against the national chairman is as old as his tenure itself. But it was not until recently, and perhaps after his spat with his estranged political godson and governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, took a turn for the worse that the hawks joined forces, baring their fangs in a desperate attempt to get him out of office.

While the plot against the former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is national, those who want his political demise had gone to his home state, in fact, his local government, to get his suspension from the party by some political sleight of hand. It was strange that Oshiomhole’s ward would be said to have suspended him. It is is just not possible for anyone familiar with Oshiomhole’s larger than life image in Edo North politics, his alleged ward suspension a huge fraud, a grand deception with the fingers of the state governor written all over it.

Following that, a Federal High court in Abuja, on Wednesday March 4, ordered that Oshiomhole could not continue to parade himself as the national chair of the APC having been suspended by the local branch of his party in his native Edo State. According to Justice Danlami Sanchi, APC’s branch in Ward 10 in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State had on November 2, 2019, suspended Oshiomhole from the party and as a result, the former governor of Edo State could not continue to serve as the national chair of the party since his local branch had suspended him from the party.

A day later, another Federal High court sitting in Kano, headed by Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante and stay action on the issue. In other words, Oshiomhole should remain the substantive chair of the ruling party.

The National Secretary of the APC declared that the party would obey the court order. A fallout of the highstakes intrigue was that he chose the one suspending Oshiomhole as the order to obey. Pronto, the party fixed March 18th as the day it would hold its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

Those against him seem to be very formidable and unrelenting. The embattled national chair himself mentioned that some governors were against him and it all boils down to 2023 calculations. Sources close to him specifically mentioned the Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi as being the arrowhead of the plot against Oshiomhole. And the cold calculations mean that prisoners would not be taken.

The thinking within the ruling party is that Buhari has never shown the kind of interest and control previous presidents showed in the management of a ruling party.

For instance, President Olusegun Obasanjo never joked with the choice of whoever was the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at any point in time. Even the more benign Goodluck Jonathan too never joked with the leadership of the PDP. But not Buhari. He is seen as weak as far as party management is concerned. This has left the party at the mercy of different tendencies with varying intentions and interests threatening to tear it apart.

A political analyst explained, during the week, that after Buhari might have left, the party would be there for the taken. Interestingly, they are the over ambitious individuals are not waiting for Buhari’s exit. They have drawn their swords.

“After 2023, APC would not only be in disarray but would be without any recognised father figure,” he explained “But going by the way politicians think, it would be suicidal to wait till 2023 before going for the jugular of the party. That is why they want to do this as early as possible. They want to get Oshiomhole out, so that the former governor of Edo State does not have a foothold in the party.”

That analysis is spot on because most of the governors on their second terms are against Oshiomhole. To them, they would not be returning as governors again and would naturally be going for something higher (presidency) in 2023. And with Oshiomhole still in the saddle, they know it won’t be easy. Ironically, a governor in one of the Northeast states is also against Oshiomhole and he is on his first term. His own permutation is that if the presidency returns to the South in 2023, he would not mind being the running-mate to whoever is picked as the party’s presidential standard-bearer. So it’s a

Oshiomhole high-stakes game.

Some of the APC governors have accused Oshiomhole of being teleguided by an individual within the party who has a presidential ambition. This individual is no other person than former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu. One of the governors who spoke to a national newspaper on condition of anonymity said the governors were against him because of this. This was how the governor put it: “Yes, he (Oshiomhole) was right to say governors are against him. We were also the ones that made him national chairman. He was a governor and he knew how important his office was. He cannot deny that we are serious integral part of the party. So if we are working with the minister he once abused are against him, that is fine. It is also an indication that he is losing his grip on the party. We will not allow someone to de-market the APC ahead of the 2023 elections. That is why he has to go. A national chairman that is being teleguided by an individual because of ambition can no longer lead us.”

Some northern elements who are against the perceived presidential ambition of Tinubu, are automatically also against Oshiomhole. To them, Oshiomhole is Tinubu’s man in the party and with him (Oshiomhole) still running the party, Tinubu’s chances would be enhanced.

Another major accusation against the embattled national chairman of the APC is that he has brought crisis to the party and has also led the party to losses in states it should have won easily such as Bauchi and Bayelsa.

But they have also forgotten that the party has recorded victories in states like Kogi, Ekiti, Osun and Imo.

Oshiomhole himself had elaborated that some governors that were against him all because of 2023 wanted to frustrate his efforts to reposition the party ahead of coming elections. He also accused some of them of not being fully committed to the party as they have membership of more than one party and would move to those parties after destroying the APC. “They are the ones who will plot how to get rid of (Oshiomhole) because they want to be president in 2023 even when their hold on their state at the moment is doubtful if they were to go for a referendum in terms of their approval rating. But you see, whatever you do, those who want to fight you will fight you. But I know that my tenure will be defined by God and not by man,” he added.

While Oshiomhole may have some weakness as a party leader, the fact remains that those who put his head on the chopping block are not doing it for any altruistic or patriotic reasons or even for the sake of the growth of the party. All is about 2023. It is all naked politics.

For instance, many have been saying that Obaseki, the Edo State governor, could not have had the effrontery to take on Oshiomhole the way he is doing if not because he was being goaded on by political heavyweights with coalesced interests outside the state. Observers believe that he also enjoys the support of the presidency and some members of the president’s kitchen cabinet.

But with each side trying to outmanoeuvre the other in this high-stakes political battle, it may take more than that Federal High court pronouncement to kick Oshiomhole out of office. The APC is tense with suspense and the days ahead are going to be very interesting.

52

˜ ˞ MARCH 14, 2020

PERSPECTIVE

For Internally Displaced Children, Education, Bright Future Beckon Without access to education, the future of hundreds of thousands of Nigerian children displaced by the protracted insurgency in the North East and taking refuge in IDP camps around the country has been a serious concern to Nigerians and the international community. Olaoluwakitan Babatunde x-rays the new initiatives by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons to close the gaps A gloomy picture

S

alma had a big dream of becoming a nurse.

However, according to a story shared by Plan International- Nigeria, Salma, who is originally from the Gwoza area of Borno State, fled her home with her family to Madagali after Boko Haram attacked the local market in 2012, killing many and razing homes. But Boko Haram struck again two weeks after they arrived Madagali. Although Salma had fled on foot through the night to escape the insurgents, her elder brother was not so lucky as he was killed for refusing to join the insurgents.

Julius and his younger brother, Joseph, were abducted from their uncle’s house to Sambisa forest in 2014, while their uncle was executed in their presence. They had a lucky escape into Cameron from Sambisa while the insurgents were away on a killing campaign. Their mother later traced them and are receiving educational support from Plan International.

However, not every displaced child is as lucky. For every Julius or Joseph, there are hundreds of thousands of children pilling away without an iota of education in the IDP camps across the country, including Abuja. Insurgency by Boko Haram and other splinter groups affects over 17 million people in the Lake Chad Region, according to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. More than 2.2 million have been displaced, half of them children, while over 10.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Worst hit is Nigeria, the origin and epicenter of the insurgency in the region. Since Boko Haram, translated, means “Education is forbidden�, it is not surprising that schools and Western education have been the targets of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other splinter insurgent groups. And it comes with devastating consequences.

As the Country Director, Plan International Nigeria, Dr. Hussaini Abdu, rightly reasoned, without education, children are at risk of being seen as an ideal recruitment pool for extremist organisations or criminal gangs. “Today’s 15-year-olds were only seven when this conflict began,� Abdu said a few years back, noting that, “Growing up amid brutal conflict will have affected them profoundly and not having a chance to go to school makes things even worse.� “Without education, children are at risk of being seen as an ideal recruitment pool for extremist organisations or criminal gangs. In some cases, this is because their chances of employment are severely limited, which understandably makes them feel frustrated and resentful. “In other cases, both boys’ and girls’ absence from a protective environment such as school makes them vulnerable to being forcibly recruited by armed groups. In the long term, the loss of education is going to make it much harder to put an end to the cycle of violence gripping the region�, Abdu stated.

According to the International Displacement Monitoring Centre, IDMC, out-of-school children are denied not only their educational development, but also other important benefits like lack of stable nurturing and enriching environments.

Plan International has, therefore, called on government to provide accelerated learning programmes for children who have been denied education due to the conflict. This call is apt because, although there are efforts by some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), their reach has been limited, while there has not been any known government interventions to address the educational needs of children in the IDP camps.

A bright future beckons

It is, however, heartwarming that the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and IDPs is increasingly taking steps to address this critical need of internally displaced children since Fatima Mamman Daura joined the agency as the Deputy Director in charge of IDPs about seven months ago. She has been quietly putting things in place and also identifying with public-spirited organisations to give hope of a bright future to displaced children.

Preparatory to government’s full involvement in the education of internally displaced persons, Fatima Mamman Daura visited the Local Education Authority Primary School, Gwarimpa, Abuja, where some internally displaced children were enrolled by the Early Years for IDP Initiative, an intervention of Maple Leaf Early Years Foundation, Abuja.

The Deputy Director, who expressed satisfaction with the educational progress of the children, commended the school and the Early Years Initiative for IDPs for the intervention, adding that the Commission would enroll more IDP children

L-R: Deputy Director, IDPs, National Commission for Refugees, Immigrants, and Internally Displaced Persons Commission, Fatima Mamman Daura; Co-Founder, Early Years for IDPs Initiative (EYII), Ndubuisi Nwigwe; Programme Supervisor, EYII, Mrs. Aye Habila, observe the educational progress of some internally displaced children, during a visit to the LEA Primary School, Gwarimpa, Abuja, Tuesday in school wherever there were significant IDP populations in the country.

An elated Daura said: “This initiative means a lot to me because this is a private individual, who is supporting the Commission, supporting children displaced from Gwoza, Southern Borno in the North East. “Our mandate at the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced persons is to ensure that IDPs are protected and assisted. Education is one component of our mandate. We must ensure that they not only get education, but also get education that is at per with what other children get in other parts of the country. “As we keep telling people, everyone can help. Even if it is just the sponsorship of one child, it will go a long way in giving them a future beyond the IDP camps. This war on terror will not last forever. We should care what becomes of these children when normalcy returns if we fail to give them education to be responsible and productive members of the society.

It will affect them economically, socially, and psychologically. “We are open to the public, local and international organisations. They can come to our Head or Zonal Offices. We will link them up with NGOs working to carter to the educational needs of these children and even adults. They are all our children and we do have a responsibility to ensure that they receive proper education. “But on our part, I am satisfied with what they are doing here at the LEA Primary School and we are going to ensure that they enroll more IDP children in school, not only in Abuja, but also across the country where we have significant IDP populations�.

Meanwhile, the co-founder of Early Years for IDPs Initiative, Mr. Ndubuisi Nwigwe, confirmed that the organisation was now working with the Commission to set up early years centres in the IDP camps in order to carter to the educational needs of more children. He equally commended the Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI, Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed for his commitment to educating displaced children.

Providing background to their intervention, Ndubuisi said: “Two years ago, we enrolled 50 IDP children from the Durumi IDP Camp. We brought them to our Centre, where we provide them with early child education. We feed them three times a day- breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks. Many of them had never been to a formal school before we took them.

Although they are supposed to spend one year at our Centre, we prepared the older ones to get enrolled in primary school at the shortest time possible. We approached the Early Years Primary School in Gwarimpa where the Head Teacher was quite kind to admit 36 of them. The Minister of Finance, Hajia Zaiban Ahmed, is graciously sponsoring these 36.

“After school, we pick them up with our school bus and take back to our Centre where we give them lunch and help them with their homework before we take them back to the camps along with younger ones in our early year’s facility.

This is what we have done for two years now. “These kids were living their normal lives before they were displaced by insurgency. However, their displacement does not deprive them of their rights to basic education. So, we are filling that gap caused by insurgency. “We are trying to ensure that by the time they leave the camps, they would not have missed much. I am happy that the Commission is interested in what we are doing. The Deputy Director is just a round peg in a round hole. She is so dogged, down to earth, and her passion for the welfare of the IDPs is exemplary. “She has come in person to see the children and observe their progress and I am happy she is satisfied with our modest effort. Now, we plan to move into the camps to set up early childhood education centres in our second phase. That way, the children would not need to be coming to our Centre anymore. We will now provide more space in the camps so that we can reach out to more children, and in this respect, we are working with the Commission�.

A great change

Meanwhile, the Head Teacher of LEA Primary School, Gwarimpa, Mrs. Hafsat Umar-Isa, has expressed joy at the progress of the internally displaced children, noting that there was a great change. “It was not easy when they came. But now, I said how could I say no to this young man. So, even though we are already overpopulated, I decided to accept them. And am just happy that there is a great change. Even during the examinations, most of the teachers were confessing that there has been great difference. “Sometimes, I just look at them and weep because I normally wonder what could have become their fate if somebody did not take it upon himself to ensure that they access education. “I trust that the government would ensure that every displaced child gets education as she promised. I thank the Commission, especially Fatima and the Federal Commissioner for their positive steps. Watching Fatima teach and interact with these children, you would think she is a teacher or even their mother. I thank her for taking these children as her own� she stated. If morning foretells the day, it could be said that the Commission is set to walk the talk to ensure that no child is left behind, education wise, by the reason of his or her displacement.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 14, 2020

53

PERSPECTIVE

Can Nigeria’s Digitisation Journey Move Beyond Mediocrity?

Trueson Sydney

O

ne of the best things to have happened in Broadcasting is the shift from analogue to digital, which has created a whole lot of opportunities in the industry. It is not a Nigerian creation but the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). It is compulsory then that Nigeria must be involved in the process, which has greatly enhanced the way broadcasting is carried out.

While other member countries of the United Nations have since embraced the technology, Nigeria has been stuttering and bedeviled with controversy due to the selfishness of a few individuals bent on destroying or frustrating the project.

Indeed, when on the 17th day of June 2006, representatives from the 193 member states of the ITU met in Geneva, the world body came up with a binding document, which resulted in a treaty signed by members to usher in a wave of digital broadcasting for 119 countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia – to begin with – 2015, which was set as the terminal or deadline date, seemed too far off.

However, all of that long time seems so short for many countries that fall in the region marked for the first phase of the digital switchover signed by all member countries of the ITU on June 17, 2006; but for those who prepared very well and have since achieved the migration, it was time well-utilised.

For countries in the Region 1 for the digital migration, those who made it are wondering if 12 years were not too long a time, whereas those who could not make it wonder if indeed, 12 years have sped past so soon.

The Digital Switchover Over (DSO), the analogue switch-off (ASO) or the analogue shutdown, ultimately encompasses the process in which analogue television broadcast is converted to and replaced by digital television.

The process primarily involves the conversion of analogue terrestrial television to digital. However, it also involves analogue cable conversion to digital cable as well as analog to digital satellite television.

Other countries in the ITU region have since taken the giant leap and may soon jam our digital space if lack of seriousness continues on the path of authorities involved.

Interestingly, after a long while and bureaucratic bottlenecks, History was made on April 30, 2016, in Jos, Plateau State, when the federal government launched the pilot phase of the digital transmission project that kick-started the digitisation process in the country, transiting from analogue to digital television in the city which has always been a hot spot in the country’s broadcasting history.

DSO has so far been launched in six states of the federation including Plateau FCT , Kwara, Osun, Enugu and Kaduna. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, launched the pilot phase in Jos, while President Muhammadu Buhari anchored the Abuja launch in December same year.

Speaking during the switched-on ceremony in Abuja, President Buhari who was represented by Vice President Osinbajo disclosed that the local industry was already experiencing a boost from the new vista in digital economy, with several indigenous companies now manufacturing Set-Top-Boxes as he was told that many of the set-top-boxes we are using for this Abuja switchover were produced in Nigeria.

Osinbajo explained that the significance of the event cannot be lost in the world as the digital switchover becomes a reality in the capital city of Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation.

The Vice President did not hide the obvious fact that digitisation will create jobs in the area of content and software development; provide the platform for film producers and musicians to release their productions directly to households which will of course substantially cut off piracy. ‘’Even if only for the huge local and international opportunities for Broadcast, media, ICT, entertainment and education, we are right to say that we stand at the threshold of exciting times for job creation, entertainment and in general, local and international commerce. ‘’The successful launch of the pilot scheme in Jos in April has clearly demonstrated the gains of Digital Switch Over.

I am told that viewers in the pilot are able to enjoy 15 free channels covering news, sports, music and business,’’ he said.

Sadly though, since the launch of the DSO in Jos, Abuja, Kaduna, Ilorin Osun and Enugu, the whole process has been stalled with several controversies coupled with the greed of a few individuals bent on stalling the process.

During the official launch of DSO in Enugu state two years ago, on the 16th of February 2018 to be precise,

Lai Mohammed optimistic about the whole process, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State offered to distribute 10,000 Set top boxes worth several millions of naira, to low income households in rural areas to enable them access digital television. The governor described the launch as a `landmark’ in television broadcasting in Nigeria.

Since then, series of petitions have continued to trail the NBC led by the erstwhile Director General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Modibbo Kawu, over alleged corruption. After several months of being investigated on allegations of corruption, he was suspended two weeks ago by President Muhammadu Buhari. The suspension is coming months after the anti-graft agency, ICPC, urged the federal government to suspend Kawu, and 32 other public officers/civil servants undergoing corruption trial at the time.

Pending the conclusion of investigations into the allegations against him, ICPC said it is prosecuting Kawu for “using his position to confer corruption advantage.”

Kawu and two others were arraigned on May 2 over alleged N2.5 billion fraud by ICPC. The trio, who are being prosecuted on 12-count charges, allegedly conspired with each other to use the position of Kawu to confer a corrupt advantage on a few individuals and corporate entities.

Observers had earlier said that the monies to finance DSO were not used for the purpose It was meant, adding that the DSO launch project that took place at Jos sometimes in April, 2015 would have been a success story by now, but currently was faced with so many technical issues and shortcomings, with some areas yet to be covered even in the state where the DSO was launched.

Out of the 36 states in the Federation, only six states where covered with so many hiccups. A petition by Corruption Watchdogs, signed by Nari Rikoto, noted that in all the places the launch took place, “we can categorically say none was successfully executed. It is either half done or haphazardly done. It appears it is a failure. N10 billion released to the Commission in 2015 is already spent within space of one and a half year and was an outright failure. ‘’This has made many stakeholders to lose faith in the project. Of recent, Broadcast Organisation of Nigeria (BON) had cause to call a press conference to urge the Commission to come out and tell Nigerians if the scheme was not a sham. Even the federal government seems to have lost confidence in the DG spear-heading the project, the financial assistance it ought to have released for the continuation of the project is no longer attainable due to mistrust the government has on him.”

Also, concerned staff of the National Broadcasting Commission collectively decided to draw the attention of the government to the ugly development in the commission to redeem the commission from further embarrassment and ridicule.

Significantly, one of the best things President Muhamadu

Buhari has done so far is the move to restart the process of digitisation when after several petitions and investigations, he decided to suspend the agency’s DG. It could have come earlier as many thought that the problems had become bigger than the country.

President Buhari may have taken the bold step to forestall the settlement of several cases and threats that would have brought shame and ridicule to the country when viewed against the background of the fact that, SES, a major world player in the broadcast industry is threatening to cut off its services if it is not paid urgently.

The company, after several pleas, has vowed to block and withdraw its services which will be an ill wind that would destroy the entire process. The UK-based company that provides the backbone of the process is being owed several hundred millions of pounds for services so far carried out for Nigeria.

The controversy may also not have come up but for the recommendations of the NBC management and the recommendation made to Lai Mohammed that the Federal Government should pay N2.5 billion to a private company as seed money after a case was made for the NTA. While talking about the plight of set top box manufacturers, the issue should be addressed holistically, so as not to break the ranks of the association.

On the urgent need to ensure that the DSO is back, the group managing director of Gospell Digital Technology Limited, and chairman Set Top Box Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (STBMAN), Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa, at every available opportunity, has never failed to inform the federal government that fast-tracking the digitisation could boost the economy and create jobs for the unemployed.

Ohuabunwa said the digitisation process had been delayed while acknowledging the fact that the President had done well by listening to informed opinion on the way forward. He urged the Minister of Information, through the NBC, to restart the process to avoid further distractions.

More so, the President has done well by appointing a technocrat and Director of the NBC Prof Armstrong Idachaba to rejig the process and ensure the digitisation is not hampered.

Idachaba, a professor of Communication, should be empowered and equally encouraged to bring all the stakeholders on a round table to fashion a way out of the quagmire.

The federal government through the NBC should as a matter of national concern set up a timetable for the roll out in other areas outside the six states. The Acting DG with his staff has the manpower to effectively move the process forward and bring about the economic benefits of digitization Ohuabunwa said: “It is also worthy to note that since the last launch in Enugu, nothing significant has been done on DSO. The former DG could not be said to be unaware that Set Top Box manufacturers are being owed billions of naira and have the capacity to do more but yet went ahead to organise a bid for box manufacturers. Funny enough, none of the companies could meet the requirement for the manufacturing of the STBs. “There is an urgent need for a well-planned schedule and time table of the digitisation process. The federal government has done well by asking Kawu to step aside, however, there is a need for the federal government to push the digitisation process with a strong political will. We have been running the company and paying our staff for two years now, yet nothing concrete has been done in the past two years.”

Again, Areon Technology of Korea, a leading STB manufacturing firm in partnership with Gospell agreed to produce several millions of boxes to boost the process but, yet nothing is been achieved.

The Koreans are threatening to take the federal government through the NBC to court to recoup the money invested in the business worth over $24 million Dollars.

Basically, after the switch from analogue to digital broadcasts is complete, analogue TVs will be incapable of receiving over-the-air broadcasts without the addition of a set-top converter box.

Consequently, a digital converter box – an electronic device that connects to an analogue television – must be used in order to receive digital broadcasts. In most climes, the government subsidises the purchase of such boxes for their citizens.

Indeed, Since 2008, it has not been an easy journey for Nigeria to lead the Digital Switch on for Terrestrial television.

Several efforts were made to realise the migration without success. Nigeria had to move the date from 2015 to June 2017. This is 2020, with the prevailing circumstances which has surrounded the digitisation process, there is need for more commitment on the part of the federal government and NBC. –––Sydney writes from Abuja

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1THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 14, 2020

NEWS

Official Change of Baton at NNPC Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

WORKING TOGETHER ...

L-R: Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri and Hon. Ben Ololo, during a meeting with the Nembe Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Leaders, at Government House, Yenagoa…recently

Facebook Pulls Down 134 Accounts in Nigeria, Ghana

Emma Okonji

Facebook, yesterday, announced that it had pulled down 134 Facebook and Instagram accounts, including 69 pages in Nigeria and Ghana that were linked to Russia.

Head of Security Policy at Facebook, Nathaniel Gleicher, said in a statement issued yesterday that Facebook decided to pull down the accounts and pages for reason of foreign interference regarded as inauthentic behaviour that was coordinated from Russia.

According to the statement, “We removed 49 Facebook accounts, 69 Pages and 85 Instagram accounts for engaging in foreign interference, which is coordinated inauthentic behaviour on behalf of a foreign actor on Facebook, Instagram and other internet platforms. This network was in the early stages of building an audience and was operated by local nationals, some wittingly and some unwittingly in Ghana and Nigeria on behalf of individuals in Russia. It targeted primarily the United States.”

The statement further explained that the people behind the network

engaged in a number of deceptive tactics, including the use of fake accounts, some of which had already been disabled by the Facebook automated systems, to manage pages posing as non-government organisations or personal blogs, and post in Groups.

According to Gleicher, “We are constantly working to detect and stop this type of activity because we don’t want our services to be used to manipulate people. We are taking down these pages and accounts because this activity was linked to individuals associated with the Internet Research Agency (IRA) of Russia, an entity we had previously banned from Facebook.

They also used fake accounts and coordinated with one another and to mislead people about what they were doing. That behaviour was the basis for our action, not the content they posted.”

The statement said: “They frequently posted about US news and attempted to grow their audience by focusing on topics like black history, black excellence and fashion, celebrity gossip, news and events related to

famous Americans like historical figures and celebrities, and LGBTQ issues. This activity did not appear to focus on elections, or promote or denigrate political candidates. They also shared content about oppression and injustice, including police brutality.

“Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their purpose and coordination, our investigation found links to EBLA, an NGO in Ghana, and individuals associated with past activity by the Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA).

“We detected this network as a result of our internal investigation into suspected coordinated inauthentic behaviour ahead of US elections. The network was linked to the activity we had previously removed and attributed to the IRA in April 2018, July 2018 and November 2018.

Our assessment benefited from our subsequent collaboration with a team of journalists at CNN. We have shared information with our industry peers, policy makers and law enforcement and will continue working with others to find and remove this kind of behaviour from

our platform.”

The statement further said about 13,500 accounts followed one or more of these pages and around 265,000 people followed one or more of these Instagram accounts, about 65 per cent of which were in the US. It added that less than $5 was spent on ads focused on people in the US, none of which were political or issue ads. Our systems repeatedly rejected attempts by this network to run issue or political ads in the US because the people behind it were not authorised to run political ads in the US. In total, we identified approximately $379 in spending for ads on Facebook and Instagram paid for in US dollars, the majority of which were run before this operation began by peoplewhowittinglyorunwittinglyjoined this network in the second half of 2019.

“We are making progress rooting out this abuse, but as we have said before, it is an ongoing challenge. We are committed to continually improving to stay ahead. That means building better technology, hiring more people and working more closely with law enforcement, security experts and other companies,” the statement further said.

Bayelsa Safe in Gov Diri’s Hands, Says Dickson The immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson, has said that the state was in safe hands under the new leadership of Governor Douye Diri.

The former governor, who called for strengthened unity among Ijaw youths across the country, urged them to give the expected support to Governor Diri to deliver on his mandate as governor of the state and the Ijaw nation.

A statement by his Media Advisor, Mr. FIdelis Soriwei, quoted him as having made the comment while receiving the Exemplary Leadership Award from the leadership of the Central Zone of the Ijaw Youth Council led by its Chairman, Comrade Kennedy Olorogun, in Abuja, yesterday.

Dickson explained that he took the deliberate decision to

back Senator Diri for Governor because of his conviction that the Governor, who was the Pioneer National Organising Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress, had the critical understanding of the challenges of the Ijaw struggle within the Nigerian federation.

“Now by the special intervention of God through the judiciary, Bayelsa is now in safe hands and I want to urge all of you to join hands with the governor who himself understands the challenges of the struggle. And that’s one of the overriding considerations I had in my mind when I supported His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, against all odds.

“Governor Diri for me is a governor of Bayelsa State and the Ijaw nation. At the very uncertain and trying times such as the times we are managing in this country, the Ijaw nation must be together and you the youths must be at the vanguard of promoting that

unity, first amongst yourselves and then, be together to advance the collective ideals of the IYC and INC. “I call for greater unity on the part of all Ijaw youths because the objectives for which the IYC was set up years ago are still relevant and the IYC as a body will continue to be relevant as far as the struggles and challenges of our people are concerned. So we need a more unified IYC body so I call for understanding, dialogue, I call on all youth leaders to come together and contribute to putting the house together.

“I also call for support for all our leaders particularly, for the new governor of Bayelsa State, a state I have always christened the Jerusalem of the Ijaw nation.

Bayelsa is in safe hands and the Ijaw nation can now move forward.”

The former governor, who spoke briefly about his eight year stewardship as governor, said that

his administration changed the narrative of development in all critical sectors such as education, health, infrastructure among others under very challenging circumstances.

The governor, who commended the members of his team for their dedication, and Bayelsans for their support, said that it was worthy of note that states in the federation were visiting Bayelsa State to understudy its health insurance scheme which is the considered best in the country.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the IYC Central Zone, Comrade Kennedy Olorogun, commended the governor for the unprecedented appointment of youths into high and strategic offices under the former governor.

He said that the IYC leadership decided to present the award to Hon. Dickson in recognition of his exploits, his unique leadership style and exemplary developmental antecedents.

The expected reorganisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) kicked off yesterday with some Chief Operating Officers (COOs) redeployed to other new challenges.

There was no official statement from the Corporation on the reshuffle, but it was gathered that the rearrangement of positions and outright retirement of some top management staff will continue in the next few days and weeks. During yesterday’s handover, former Chief Operating Officer, Ventures, Laura Ndupu handed the baton to Roland Ewubare, a former Chief Operating Officer Upstream Ewubare now moves as Chief Operating Officer in Ventures & Business Development.

In the same vein, Ewubare handed over to Yemi Adetunji, a former COO Downstream, as the new man in charge of Upstream at the Corporation.

Adetunji, now COO Upstream,

handed over to Ms Ndupu, former COO Ventures, who now takes over the Downstream in a move the NNPC tagged “Repositioning Towards Performance Excellence.”

Ewubare, in the new position, now gets an additional responsibility of business development besides managing the group’s ventures, unlike in the past where they were managed separately.

Prior to his promotion as COO of Upstream, last year, Ewubare was the Group General Manager of Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) between August 2017 and July 2019.

He was also the Managing Director of Integrated Data Services Limited, an NNPC subsidiary, from August 2015 to August 2017.

It was further gathered that several top management staff, including Group General Managers and General Managers cutting across the entire corporation and its subsidiaries were asked to leave the services of NNPC earlier in the week to create room for fresh hands.

We‘ve Appropriated N3.4bn for SMEs in 17 LGAs, Says Ugwuanyi Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, yesterday, said his administration had appropriated N3.4 billion in the 2020 budget for the establishment of a Small/ Medium-sized Industry in each of the 17 local government areas of the state.

Ugwuanyi, who spoke during the opening ceremony of the 31st Enugu International Trade Fair, held at the Trade Fair Arena, Enugu, disclosed that an average sum of N200 million was appropriated for the project in each of the 17 LGAs. The governor explained that the rural development cum job creation initiative were both governmentdriven and stakeholder-participatory, adding that the choice of the industry would depend on each of the local government’s comparative advantage.

He also disclosed that his administration had “registered eight agricultural products brand trademarks including the Coal City Rice which would be launched soon, all in a bid to make the difference and give back to our people”.

Speaking on the theme of the Trade Fair, ‘Advancing the growth of SMEs through corporate governance for rapid economic development’, the governor pointed out that it was very apt as it captured the mood of the nation as an emerging economy. He maintained that Small and Medium-sized Enterprises/ Businesses (SME) were the most potent drivers of the economy, especially in developing countries.

While disclosing that the state government had invested a lot of time and energy to position Enugu as a destination of choice for genuine investors, the governor stated that “our administration has continued to function as business and investment enabler through the provision of secure operating environment for business/investment, consistent and favourable policies, facilitation of all bureaucratic processes for starting and doing business, friendly tax regime, professional regulatory oversight role etc.”

According to him, “our progress in this direction is self-evident in the leapfrogging of our state from

its 2014 World Bank Ease of Doing Business ranking as 27th out of 37 states (including FCT Abuja), to an enviable ranking as the 2nd State in Ease of Starting Business and 3rd State in Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria in the 2018 World Bank Ease of Doing Business sub-national ranking.”

The governor, who welcomed the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Mariam Katagum and her entourage to the event, commended the President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agricultu re (ECCIMA), Sir. Emeka Nwandu and other members of the Chamber for organising the 31st edition of the annual business programme “and showing the right sensitivity to the economic grasp of our country.”

CHANGE OF I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NNEDINMA SANDRA NWOKEJI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NNEDINMA A NWOJI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as HAPPINESS SAMUEL ETIM, now wish to be known and addressed as HAPPINESS SAMUEL UDOFIA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as DR. MRS HENRIETTA CHINELO EZEGBE, now wish to be known and addressed as DR. HENRIETTA CHINELO EZE. All former documents remain valid. Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and the General Public, please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MR OPARA CHIBUIKE BRIGHT, now wish to be known and addressed as MR OPARA HENRY. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should take note.

7KLV LV WR FRQ¿UP WKDW WKH EHDUHU of these names OTA-IMADE SUCCESS CHIOMA and IMADE SUCCESS CHIOMA refers to one and the same person. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OTA-IM ADE SUCCESS CHIOMA. All documents remain valid. The general public to take note.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍźËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

55

NEWSXTRA

Nigeria at Maximum Danger, Former CBN Deputy Governor Warns Okon Bassey Ă“Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™ The former deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, has asserted that the country was at the hour of its maximum danger and that it could no longer be business as usual.

He made the declaration in his paper titled 'The Nigerian Economy and Society Today: Why Are We Where We Are?' Presented

at a two day workshop organised

by Chief Anthony Ani Chair of Public Finance, Department of Economics, University of Uyo (UNIUYO).

Dr. Mailafia who was the lead speaker called for a coalition of patriots from different sections of the country and fields of endeavour to build a new momentum for social, economic and political transformation.

He linked the danger being

faced in the country to the part played by the foundation the colonial authorities laid and the failure of post-independent leaders to work for genuine change.

According to him, the colonial authorities, apparently deliberately, left the country with an extremely weak and externally dependent economy and a federal structure of government which “violated some of the key principles of federalism.� and was therefore

positioned to fail in due course.�

The former deputy Governor of CBN maintained that the elites that took over power from the colonial authorities “were essentially a fractious ethnic-oriented oligarchy that tended to perpetuate pre-existing structures and their entrenched privileges.�

He said “failure to create the developmental state, failure to frontally address binding constraints, the original sin of

corruption and failure to resist external meddling were parts of the failure of post-independence leaders. “We are today paying the price of these failings in the inability of the economy to create needed job opportunities and the resultant unemployment, poverty increasing criminal activities and insecurity, and generally difficult living conditions in the country.�

He said a crop of true nationalists and genuine patriots in positions of authority across

the country is needed to rebuild the economy and the society and move the nation forward.

Mailafia posited that tackling insecurity, launching a nation building process anchored on restructuring to create a more viable federation, and a frontal attack on the problems of power supply and infrastructures, human capital development, agriculture transformation, industrialisation, and inclusive growth should form the national goals for the coming decade.

You Have Nigeria's Support, Buhari Assures New Guinea Bissau President Omololu Ogunmade Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

ALL HANDS ON DECK...

L-R: Co-Founder, 17 Goals Africa, Mr. Kayode Oluokun; Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Segun Dawodu; Chairman, Advisory Board, 17 Goals Africa, Mrs. Joke Silva; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Special Adviser to the Governor on SDGs & Lagos Global, Mrs. Solape Hammond; Special Adviser, Office of Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale; and Co-founder, 17 Goals Africa, Mr. Oludeji Owoyele, during the presentation of the 2020 Global Goals Women World Cup Ball to the Governor at Lagos House, Marina...yesterday

ASUU Urges FG to Reconstitute Governing Councils of Universities Okon Bassey Ă“Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Calabar Zone has urged the federal government to reconstitute the GoverningCouncilsofUniversities whose terms have lapsed.

The Calabar Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Dr. Aniekan Brown, said this in a press conference held in Uyo yesterday.

Brown, who was flanked with ASUU leaders from the zone also called on FG to appoint Vice Chancellors into universities whose Chief Executives were on acting capacity.

"We strongly call on federal government to reconstitute the

Governing Councils of Universities, which have served their terms. "Appoint substantive Vice Chancellors in Universities whose Chief Executives are now on acting capacity.

"One of the universities whose leadership position needs to be urgently addressed is the Federal University, Dutse-Ma," Brown said.

The union also called on the Visitor to various universities which had not been visited by the traditional visitation panel in the past five years to send panel to the institutions immediately.

He added that the outcome of the visitation panel should be implemented in the interest of global health of public universities.

Brown also called on the federal government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the recent postponement of the 51st Convocation of the University of Lagos by the Pro Chancellor.

He said that the postponement had cost the university and government a huge resources in this difficult times.

"ASUU strongly appeals to the federal government to investigate the circumstances surrounding this reckless use of power and punish those culpable accordingly in the interest of the nation, and its education sector," he said.

On federal government and ASUU on Integrated Personnel

FG BOOSTS ECONOMY, RELEASES N285BN FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS He said following the unnecessary alarm raised by such individuals, who attempted to create scarcity of forex, security agencies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are on the trail of the rumour mongers and they will be brought to justice soon.

"We have released that circular to say there is no need to panic.

Anybody who has legitimate business would get foreign exchange to conduct his business. What are we saying? You want to travel, which we don't advise at this time? You will get foreign exchange to travel.

You want to conduct business,

import? You will get foreign exchange to conduct that import transaction - whatever you need foreign exchange to do.

"So, for that reason, there is no need for you to rush. Everybody wants to rush to the exchange; to that door to buy foreign exchange that you don't even require at this time thereby leading to the spike in the price of the dollars. I am happy to confirm to you that as a result of this, we have also begun in collaboration with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit as well as other security agencies. EFCC is also working with us to establish

the people who are involved and I can tell you that we will find them because they use accounts," he said.

Emefiele who also said interest rates had been reduced drastically, added that the trend would continue, assuring also that when the committee concludes its report, it will come up with a mechanism that will aid the free flow of economic activities both at the federal and state levels despite the fall in the prices of crude oil.

"In summary, let me say this group has been assigned with the responsibility to conduct an assessment. There is no need for

and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), he said that ASUU has repeatedly pointed to FG that the template for IPPIS, as it is, did not cover the peculiarities of universities.

Brown said ASUU has produced an alternative template, called the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) that would be fraud and corruption proof.

According to him, IPPIS is not corruption proven as its still accommodate ghost workers.

The union leader wondered, why in spite of this government was still using threat to force membership of the Union onto IPPIS.

Continued from Page 5. anybody to think that government - whether federal or state would not be able to conduct its activities and I can assure you that by the time we come back, notwithstanding, yes there is a drop in the price of crude, we are going to come up with a mechanism that will make it possible both for the federal and the state government to be able to conduct their businesses," he said.

The Nigerian 2020 budget of N10.59 trillion is facing implementation challenges amid the crash in crude oil prices owing to the outbreak of Coronavirus.

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja assured the new President of Guinea Bissau, Oumarou Sissoco Embalo, of Nigeria’s recognition and full support.

A statement by presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, said the president who gave the assurance while receiving the Guinean leader at the State House, told his guest that he also had the support of other leaders of West Africa countries. “It is good you have support of West African leaders, President of Senegal Macky Sall and that of Niger, Muhammadu Issoufou who is the Chairman of ECOWAS, behind you. Both leaders have the respect of their countries. “We, the leaders of West Africa have the duty of ensuring that the sub-region is stabilised politically, economically and security wise.

We will do our best to ensure that elections are free and fair and meet democratic expectations,�

Buhari was quoted as saying.

The statement said Buhari also enjoined Embalo to always place priority on his country’s national

interest. “In these days of high-tech communications, information travels very fast. Be mindful of national interest which is often reflected in economic and political matters,� he was further quoted.

According to Shehu, Buhari assured Embalo that Nigeria would continue to support him and his country, congratulating him on the process leading to his victory at the poll and his eventual inauguration as president.

He added that Embalo, in his remarks, said he had come to Nigeria to express his country’s deep appreciation to it for the support it gave to Guinea Bissau in "our most difficult moment."

The statement added: "He praised Nigeria’s role in the region as well as in global politics and urged President Buhari to continue to ensure the survival of democracy in the sub-region.

"On the seeming controversy surrounding his election, the visiting President declared that with the decision of the country’s courts to give legitimacy to his victory, all matters are now settled, and he now had the support of virtually all the political forces in the country."

AFAN South-west Oposes Inauguration of Nyako's Caretaker Committee Bennett Oghifo The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), South-west Chapter, has called for the immediate dissolution of a caretaker committee constituted by the AFAN’s Board of Trustee Chairman, Retired Admiral Murtala Nyako.

Its Chairman, Fale Oke, made the call at a news briefing in Lagos yesterday.

Oke said that the South-west Chapter of the association was not carried along in the process and therefore, would not support or recognise the caretaker committee.

Also, AFAN bemoans as prices of sesame, hibiscus crash in Jigawa.

He said the South-west Chapter was not in support of the action of the BOT chairman and the purported dissolution of the national executives of the association without due consultation.

According to him, it was with utmost dismay that we received

the news through social media on the dissolution of duly elected national and state officers of our able association, AFAN, by our BOT chairman. “At meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) held recently in Abuja for the conduct of national executives, a request was made to nominate members to act on electoral committee from the six geopolitical zones of the federation. “However, states have already conducted their elections, leaving only five states remained due to nonpayment of election fees to the national body of AFAN,� he said. Oke said that none of the stakeholders was carried along, except members that were expelled for non-performance in their various states. “We, therefore, seized this opportunity to appeal to our BOT chairman to reverse his decision and embrace other BOT members, including the stakeholders in AFAN.

Saturday, March 14, 2020

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Peter Obi on Sanusi “The removal of Sanusi as Emir of Kano has impacted more negatively on Nigeria than on the former Emir himself. His removal portrays clearly, the recklessness of our country today“ – Former vice presidential candidate of the PDP, Peter Obi, condemning the removal of Mohammed Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

The Adventures of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

F

ellow Nigerians, please permit me to start, uncharacteristically, with several preambles, rolled into one today. You will discover why in a jiffy. I’m out to establish some principles that drive and guide me. I hate any form of oppression regardless of who is concerned or affected. One of the reasons Nigeria has been in this monumental mess is due to the wickedness and vindictiveness of our leaders. Lest I forget, the followers, the so-called lumpen proletariat are not left out. Government after government seeks to outdo the other in doing evil to fellow citizens, and the hapless hoi polloi regale themselves with the tales of the unfortunate victim’s misfortune, forgetting that the dehumanisation of one person is the bastardisation of all. I often wonder why we gloat and relish in the display of rabid hatred and pure evil by our leaders, to the detriment of our sense of fairness, good and justice. However, it seems that our make-up is such that the thought of harm and bad tickles our fancy so much that we are glad to vicariously experience the power of those who wield the baton.

Our leaders spend ample time chasing irrelevances and looking for who next to destroy. We wittingly or unwittingly join them in this pursuit and by so doing encourage the damage they do to our psyche. It is as if they will ultimately obtain Olympic medals in how much pain they can inflict on their hapless victims. And we the so-called masses will collect the lesser medals by virtue of our tacit and complicit acquiescence. Shame!

The focus of my epistle today is very simple. I’m a good student of Nigerian history. If wickedness alone could build a nation, Nigeria would probably be the greatest country in the world. Unfortunately, that is the least important requirement for good governance, if at all it is. There is nothing force, or malice, can achieve that love and affection can’t get better and faster.

Let me start with my personal example. I will try to summarise the evil event that changed my life.

In 1995, July 22, to be precise. I had gone on a visit the day before to my professional godfather, Chief Olusegun Osoba, in the historic city of Abeokuta, and was returning to Lagos. The battle for the revalidation of the June 12, 1993, Presidential election, which was clearly and most definitely won

by Chief Moshood Abiola, was raging. Chief Osoba and I had spent the better part of the night chatting and ruminating over the pestilence that had descended upon Nigeria. Chief Abiola had been picked up the year before and detained in General Sani Abacha’s gulag. Not just that, Chief Abiola who was undeniably one of the most distinguished Africans of the 20th century, was kept incommunicado, for no justifiable reason. We were deeply worried about his personal safety and the state of his health. I left Abeokuta early and was looking forward to a blissful sleep on getting home because I was very tired.

But this was not to be.

Sanusi

My dream soon vaporized and evaporated.

My God, I never bargained for what awaited me. On my way home, I saw my wife’s car, which was strategically parked so as to make it easy for me to see it. That was it.

My life would change from that of a free citizen to that of a refugee, just in a matter of days, something I never wished for my enemies. My wife informed me some men had come to tip her off about my impending arrest by the dreaded secret security agents.

And anything and everything may be tried, including charging me for treason, was on their plates. I never planned to live outside Nigeria, in this my current lifetime. I had visas to several European countries but never spent beyond any booked days. On this particular occasion, things were different.

There was a new Sheriff in town who was ruthless. So, I was advised to vamoose.

No time for rigmarole. I dialogued with my feet and opened a new chapter in my book of life, rushing into the open arms of uncertainty because I had no choice.

On July 25, 1995, I escaped through the Seme border, like an inveterate smuggler. I meandered my way from Cotonou to Lome and from Lome to Accra that evening. I left Accra on July 28 and landed at London Gatwick on July 29, 1995. It was one of my saddest days on earth as I was journeying into the unknown amidst great insecurity.

To cut a long story short, I would spend the next three years in exile. But this is not the main story. The real meat is what I managed to do and achieve during that period.

Many people laughed scornfully at the supposed foolishness of my support for Chief Moshood Abiola. “Are you Kola Abiola that you want to kill yourself for nothing...?” But truth was I was not fighting because of Abiola. He had the capacity to defend himself and family. I was fighting for the rights of man. If a man as fabulously wealthy and powerfully connected as Abiola could be so easily oppressed, then we were in big trouble! I needed to put up a fight, within my limited resources, for the sake

of myself, wife and the future of our lovely children. I wish some of us woulcld have this mindset, albeit it is a bit selfish because in the end it will benefit all of us.

Many gave up on me, wrote me off, and concluded I was finally finished. But God was not done with me. He was ready to show me off to my critics as yet one of his miracles in progress. It was during this period of my excruciating travails that God handed me a beautiful and priceless gift, Ovation International magazine. And this taught me a lot of lessons, one of which is that if there is life, there is hope. Never give up on a man or woman who God wishes to favour. This has since remained my guiding principle.

Let me repeat, I hate oppression with all the fibres in me. This is why you will find me crying louder than the bereaved every now and then. Which leads me to my next preamble. Sorry, we are getting closer to our destination. I will be brief, please, because I know you can’t wait to get to the end of my salacious and sagacious tales today.

I’m sure you remember how Sanusi Lamido Sanusi launched a blistering attack on some banks and its management when he was governor of the Central Bank.

While I thought our banks needed to be sanitised, I vehemently disagreed with the modus operandi being employed by Sanusi. SLS (as he is affectionately known by his millions of admirers) was hailed by the usual pepper-them-gang. “Kill them,” they chorused in unison. I’m sorry to note and confirm that many Nigerians suffer the kill-and-go syndrome. We all complain and grumble about corruption but join them as soon as we get the opportunity to be in government. In short, we are all saints, or seeking angels from outside, until we become one of the beneficiaries of the unethical and immoral practises, we so much frown against. That was one of the major attractions of the second coming of Major General Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. We often studiously ignore the fact that nations are not governed by saints but by PERFORMERS. So, I took on Sanusi as he demolished the banks and scattered its owners to the winds. I wrote an article THE BULLY CALLED SANUSI. And all hell broke loose. Sanusi’s supporters came after me in droves. They claimed that I must have been paid by Erastus Akingbola and others.

For some who knew that Akingbola came from the same neck of the woods where I had sojourned and grown up in Ile-Ife, their conspiracy theory was fulfilled. Never mind that it had been a long time since I saw Akingbola, and I simply had no business with him. Those who had no principle whatsoever saw like minds in their mirrors and mentality. All entreaties that we must defend and protect the rights of man fell on deaf ears. All they wanted was instant lynching. But I knew today will come sometime and some day. The same impunity you employ to catch a devil would be used against the saint. Impunity

begets more impunity.

Sanusi and I would later meet inside the elevator of the Intercontinental Hotel in Lagos and he exclaimed: “Dele, your pen is very wicked, very wicked...” And everyone on the lift laughed. It was obvious he respected my boldness and audacity even if he possibly detested my guts. I was shocked when he asked his Assistant to give me his number. And that was it. I was later to learn that he never detested me at all but was appreciative of my constructive criticism. The hallmark of a true leader. I rarely contacted SLS and only sent him congratulatory and goodwill messages when the occasions arose. I later visited His Highness in the Emir’s palace in Kano. My best friend, Prince Adedamola Aderemi, and I visited him, and he gave us a first-class treatment befitting of Princes.

Let me give two more examples, but simultaneously. Here’s the story of two Mallams, Nuhu Ribadu and Nasir El Rufai. Once upon a time, they were the two hottest items, as Chairman EFCC and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, respectively. They wielded enormous powers. I wrote an article warning Nuhu Ribadu and assured him that he did not know Nigeria and Nigerians well enough.

The person whose head is used to break coconuts hardly partakes in its eating. I knew the day would come when the hunter would become the hunted. And it came to pass. Both Nuhu and Nasir absconded from Nigeria and spent considerable time in exile, like me.

Early this week, the kings of impunity came back to haunt Emir Sanusi II and grabbed him by the jugular. I was not surprised because it was a prophecy long foretold. All manner of conspiracy theories soon emerged. The most popular one was that it was a strategic stunt by the North to ease Sanusi out of the gilded cage he’s been kept in the Kano palace and it was time to set him free. The object, the false prophets proclaim, is to make him extremely popular through the dramatisation of a charade of dethronement and then lead him to the next stage of his dramatic rise to the summit of Nigeria! Who knows?

Nothing is impossible in Nigeria. All I know is that even if Sanusi wasn’t considering the Presidential contest before, the phenomenal surge in his popularity rating in the past few days must make that very tempting and possibly irresistible.

I wonder why Governor Abdullahi Ganduje couldn’t ignore nor tolerate the tantrums of Emir Sanusi, if indeed, he could classify his profound dissection of the problems of the North and the solutions he proffers as such. I still can’t fathom what Ganduje thought he stands to gain by sacking Sanusi unceremoniously. Now the cookies have crumbled. And the Governor and his friends must be wondering what happened. Nothing other than that the apotheosis of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is now assured and guaranteed. A man of adventure has been served his food, a la carte!

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