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THIS SPACE IS FOR SALE £9.8 miilliion to confrront knife crimee and gang cultture
Jémima Masika was infected with Ebola and survived. © UNFPA DRC - Brigitte Kiaku
ommunity-backed projects in 21 areas across England will each receive a share of £9.5 million to help families who are vulnerable to the devastating effects of knife crime and gang culture, Communities Secretary James Brokenshire MP has confirmed. The Supporting Families Against Youth Crime fund will enable keyworkers, community groups, teachers and other professionals working with children and young people at risk, to intervene early and help stop them from becoming drawn into gang crime, serious violence and the youth justice system. A further £300,000 will also be available for local authorities across England to train frontline staff on how to tackle childhood trauma. This follows evidence that many who are vulnerable to serious violence and youth crime have experienced childhood trauma that has affected their mental health and confidence. Knife crime continues to be a real concern for communities across the country and this Government is determined to act and keep our streets safe. These latest preventative measures form part of the Government’s ongoing Serious Violence Strategy. Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, said: “Carrying a knife should never be a rite of passage. For too long, it has been normalised behaviour for too many teenagers in our communities. “Every violent incident, every injury, every young life lost is a tragedy that has devastating consequences for all involved. “The early intervention strategies set out by the projects we are funding offer real alternatives to
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Surviving Ebola: “I was so afraid to die and be put in a body bag” This is the country’s tenth Ebola outbreak – but it is the first time the densely populated province of North Kivu, an active conflict zone, has been affected STALLIONS AIR Ipanema Travel Ltd
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By Aimee Manimani with reporting from Brigitte Kiaku Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo hen Jémima Masika, 26, lost her parents to Ebola in August, she thought the deadly virus was a myth – then she fell sick herself. “I did not believe in the existence of Ebola,” she Continued on Page3
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Surviving Ebola: “I was so afraid to die and be put in a body bag” Continued from Page 1<
said. “Like many, I took the disease for a [story] made up by politicians.” The Democratic Republic of the Congo is no stranger to Ebola. This is the country’s tenth Ebola outbreak – but it is the first time the densely populated province of North Kivu, an active conflict zone, has been affected. Ms. Masika contracted the disease while taking care of her sick aunt.“I was helping my aunt, and she was vomiting a lot. I had to clean after her several times. Then, after, I began to feel unwell. I was having the same clinical signs as the ones that my aunt had,” she explained. When Ebola strikes a conflict zone The outbreak started in August, striking the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. More than 800 cases have been identified, and more than 500 people have died. Women and girls, as traditional caretakers for the sick, face an increased risk of exposure. According to the World Health Organization’s most recent report about the outbreak, about 58 per cent of Ebola cases have been female. And Ebola’s impact spreads far
beyond those infected. Strained health-care systems have left many without access to life-saving services, including sexual and reproductive health care. UNFPA has been working with partners to prevent the spread of the virus, and to help ensure sexual and reproductive health services remain available. In September, UNFPA donated 10 tons of medical equipment intended for 20 health facilities in Beni, enough to assist 31,000 people for 6 months. Included in these materials were supplies that allow women to give birth without risk of contracting the disease. UNFPA is also helping midwives exercise precaution while tending to mothers and newborns. But efforts to respond to the outbreak have been hampered by instability in the region, which has put humanitarian teams at significant risk. Community mistrust has also been an issue. To address this, UNFPA has been engaging the community with information about the virus. “We are delivering a comprehensive response to the Ebola epidemic that includes outreach to provide
communities with essential information for preventing and controlling the disease,” said Sennen Hounton, UNFPA’s representative in the country. A long road to recovery “We were told about Ebola and what to do if you were feeling certain symptoms. So as a precaution, I went to the Ebola treatment centre,” Ms. Masika recalled. She was quickly diagnosed with Ebola and admitted for treatment. “I was so afraid to die and be put in a body bag, just like my parents were,” she said. She was bedridden for a month. “Nurses and doctors were battling to save my life.” Finally, she recovered. Few had expected her to pull through. “I found out that my family had given away all my belongings, as they thought I was not going to recover,” she said. Upon discharge, Ms. Masika received a UNFPA dignity kit, which contains essential hygiene supplies. Hygiene plays a critical role in preventing the spread of the virus. “As a cure for Ebola, I have committed myself to help others by
sensitizing them on how they can observe the rules of hygiene, in particular by washing their hands to protect themselves against the disease,” Ms. Masika declared. Vaccines, motorcycles and football More than 77,000 people have been reached with a mass vaccination campaign since August. UNFPA provided supplies for this effort, including 10,000 syringes. UNFPA also helped fortify water, sanitation and hygiene services in affected areas, and it provided more than 50 motorcycles as well as software to support contact tracing – the monitoring of people who have been in contact with infected persons. And UNFPA has sponsored a football tournament, theatrical activities and a march of more than 1,000 students, all activities supporting the health ministry’s awareness-raising campaign “Ebola not at home.” * Credit: https://www.africanewsroom.com/press/surviving-ebola-iwas-so-afraid-to-die-and-be-put-in-a-bo dy-bag
£9.8 million to confront knife crime and gang culture Continued from Page 1<
children and young people who may otherwise become involved in gang crime.” This new funding will help enable the voluntary and community sector to intervene earlier to help young people develop the personal resilience to withstand peer pressure and make their own positive life choices The areas and projects being funded have expressed both an existing need and or evidence of emerging needs and cover a range of positive interventions. Some are heavily school focused, working with children before they make the important transition from primary to secondary school. Whilst others will work with smaller groups of young people already at high risk. The funding will also back more in-depth work with parents, carers and professionals to help them fully understand the risk factors and the dangers of their children being
will also see the launch of the next exposed to gang culture. It is intended that the learning phase of #knifefree. The campaign, derived from each of the projects aimed at young people, looks to will be shared nationally. Guidance inspire them to pursue positive will also be produced that can be alternatives. used to demonstrate how this proven approach can reduce Bubble In Christ Music Band levels of need following intervention. Tackling the impact of For your Music band with violent crime is an absolute classic rendition for all priority for this Government occasions, with traditional, and we have taken urgent and contemporary African unprecedented action. international and Gospel filled The announcement with professional decent continues the work of the Presentation. ambitious programme of work backed by £220 million of More Musicians, Singers, funding which puts greater Instrumentalists, handy men, focus on steering young people away from a life of crime. Music directors band coThis includes a £22m Early ordinators, Audio and/or video Intervention Youth Fund which technicians, Drivers, will be spent over two years. Marketing Personnel are and a £1.5 million Anti-Knife welcome. Crime Community Fund. As Contact: Olugbenga on part of these further measures to intervene early, this spring 07438 264613
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Sierra Leone High Commissioner presents credentials to the Queen he new Sierra Leone High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland - H.E Tamba James Sylvanus Lamina, has presented his diplomatic credentials to the Queen. They discussed her special interest in Sierra Leone and the struggles to overcome its development challenges. Following the ceremony, the High Commissioner delivered a speech declaring the break of “a new dawn” in Sierra Leone’s history. High Commissioner Lamina underlined the increasingly shared view that “the Athens of Africa is rising again” and sent an open invitation to anyone interested in helping the country realise its “golden goals and glorious dreams.” Speaking on the long standing historical link between Sierra Leone and Britain, the High Commissioner acknowledged Britain’s positive role during Sierra Leone’s testy times – such as the civil war and Ebola outbreak. Also present at the ceremony was his wife Mrs Salma Lamina; The Deputy High Commissioner - Mrs Agnes Dugba Macauley and her husband - Mr. Charlie Ojukutu Macauley; Her Royal Highness the Queen’s Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps; and Patricia Scotland, the first female Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations. There were several other high profile guests including Sierra Leone’s Minister
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Concert to pray for Commonwealth’s future on March 9 gospel concert to pray for the future of the Commonwealth takes place in London on Saturday 9 March 2019. The Commonwealth Gospel Concert which will feature a host of gospel artistes, youth groups and choirs will take place at the Emmanuel Centre, 9-23, Marsham Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3DW. There are three concerts scheduled for 10am, 2pm and 6pm. Organisers say that “there will be preachers, singers, Bible readings and choirs,” and that it is an opportunity to “Come and lift your hearts, lighten your load, and brighten your future.” The concert is hosted by 2020 London Mayoral candidate - Winston McKenzie. Further details are available at: www.commonwealthgospelconcert.uk
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Sierra Leone High Commissioner presents credentials to the Queen
of Information - Honourable Rado Swaray, and Honourable Haji Kella, the Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs. Both previous Deputy High Commissioners at the Sierra Leone’s UK mission – Mr. Tamba Ngegba and Mr. James Alie were also present.
To demonstrate his country’s inclusive agenda, the High Commissioner invited about 150 Sierra Leoneans from every walk of life to be part of this ceremony, organised to honour a milestone in the history of Sierra Leone’s diplomatic mission in the UK.
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People
Beaming Searchlight on Nigeria’s Forgotten Hero
By Martins Ifijeh THISDAY
Emmanuel Chukwu, one time Liberia’s richest foreign businessman worth $89.405 million at the time, singlehandedly saved over 1000 Nigerians during the 1989 war in Liberia by sacrificing his two ships for their evacuation into Nigeria at the expense of his investments. That humane decision cost him his wealth, businesses, health of his wife, and three decades later, he is currently at the verge of becoming homeless in Lagos. No thanks to Nigerian government who promised to repay his gesture but defaulted. Martins Ifijeh chronicles his journey Emmanuel and Tobi Chukwu
f there is one man that has sacrificed everything he has to protect the lives and properties of fellow Nigerians in a far away country, it is the unsung hero; 75 years old Emmanuel Chukwu Collins, who against all odds, gave up all the things that mattered most to him so his countrymen do not get beheaded or burnt alive during the 1989 civil war in Liberia, as Nigerians were major targets. Chukwu was a middle aged man when he left Nigeria for Liberia at the instance of the then President of Liberia, William Tolbert, who saw him as vast and knowledgeable in business. He soon became a dependable ally of the government and doors of opportunities were thrown open to him. Within a few years, he had become a big importer of rice and other commodities to Liberia. And with each move, his reach, network, bank accounts and investments began to swell. Soon, Chukwu became a household name in Monrovia and other cities in Liberia. It was in the heat of this that late President Tolbert was overthrown and subsequently killed in a coup d’état by the then new President, Samuel Doe. But because Chukwu had become a huge asset to the country, Doe drew him even closer. Every government cherished having him around because the business world in the country revolved around him. In no time, he was appointed by Doe as the Top Priority Agent to the only cement company in Liberia. By
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1989, his investments in Liberia were already worth $89.405 million; that is N2.8 trillion in today’s money. Things Fall Apart But that was the best of the dreams he lived in Liberia. War soon broke out and Samuel Doe’s presidency was under threat by a rebel group led by Charles Taylor. Unfortunately for Nigerians in the country, Taylor’s men intercepted a truck load of ammunitions which the Nigerian government had secretly sent to the president to defend his government. Angered by this, Taylor then declared the Nigerian government and President Doe’s government as his enemies. A move that made him hunt for Nigerians for execution. To him, for every Liberia killed by Doe’s government, five Nigerians will be beheaded or burnt alive. Things soon began to fall apart for the Nigerian community in the country. Every one that crossed the part of the rebels was killed, including two Nigerian journalists who were covering the war. “At this point, the Nigerian Ambassador to Nigeria ran to me, and we put our heads together and then decided that we should involve our government so they can evacuate our people out of the country,” said Chukwu who was a rallying point for the Nigerian community in Liberia. But surprisingly, the Nigerian government did not act on the demand; leading daily to the killing of Nigerians by Taylor and his men. As the fight became intense, Taylor’s
men were increasingly becoming more powerful, while Nigerians were suffering the most attacks, and Doe’s government was gradually falling apart. Evacuation This was the point Chukwu ordered for two ships so he could take most of his assets out of the country, including the remaining cements and other commodities. Even though each ship was a giant one, what he had in the country would require a minimum of two giant ships to evacuate back to Nigeria, except for the factories and buildings which were not transportable. In no time, his vessels arrived and were ready to take all he had, including his family to Nigeria, but there was a problem. The ambassador begged him not to abandon the Nigerians there. Chukwu was then torn between evacuating his multi-million dollar investments or evacuating over 1000 stranded Nigerians out of the country. “I had no choice other than to agree because these are my country men and women. So the ambassador gave all Nigerians in Liberia four options; run to the United Nations building, run to churches, run to Nigeria Embassy or move straight to my two vessels already at the port of the country. “Over 1000 went along with their belongings to the ships, many ran to the UN building and the other two places. Unfortunately, all those who
ran to the other places were killed. The rebel group struck these three places and beheaded many of those captured,” explained Chukwu. Left Behind But as a kind hearted man that he is, he first allowed everyone to find their way to the vessels. By the time he was ready to access the vessels as well, it was already late. The rebels had taken over streets and strategic locations in the city. The man who brought in the ships could not even access his own ships. At this point, the ambassador and other Nigerians were already at the ship, and he was told to find a way to get to Nigeria since if he attempts to move towards the ships the rebels might take him and his family out. “That was how the ships left without me, because the ambassador had given me his word that the Nigerian government will not take my sacrifice for granted,” the one time business mogul explained. Stroke of Luck At this point, Chukwu and his family were living at the mercy of soldiers. They were only wishing that their worst fear do not come to reality. The only option they had was to risk their lives and move to the airport, but flights had been banned from either coming into the country or leaving. Besides, the roads leading to the airport were manned by the rebels, who, at this point, were going to oust Doe any moment obviously. “I didn’t have a choice than to tell Continued on Page 8<
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Beaming Searchlight on Nigeria’s Forgotten Hero Continued from Page 6<
my wife and four children to brace up for the unknown. We packed our bags, and headed for the airport. I had with me sums of money with which I bribed my way through the road blocks until I got to the airport,” Chukwu said. While he wasn’t sure if they will ever get a flight to Nigeria since flights had been banned and insurance firms had placed a 300 per cent risk on any ship or flight to Liberia, he believed pushing his luck was the only option. They got to the airport and realised soldiers were placed in strategic positions, just waiting for orders until they level the public institution. “I was scared for my family. So I kept on praying for a miracle. Within two hours of helplessness, we saw a flight from Cote d’Ivoire, landing at the airport. It was a test run flight which was just repaired. The owners only tested it to that airport with no knowledge of the situation of things in the country. I earnestly yearned that that same flight would take us out of Liberia. Considering that all workers at the airport including their managers knew me, they gave my family priority and we entered the plane so it could bring us to Lagos.” While these negotiations were going on, the soldiers were looking at them. They had no order yet to stop anyone. But 10 minutes after the plane had taken off, the order came and the airport was levelled down. By the time they reached Murtala Mohammed Airport in Ikeja, the city had fallen to the hands of Charles Taylor, and Samuel Doe was subsequently killed. A Futile Attempt to Recoup Loss When we got to Lagos, it dawned on me I didn’t enter the country with a dime. Then the journey to recover my investments through the federal government started. “I located the ambassador at the foreign affairs office here in Lagos, and he took me to see General Ibrahim Babangida, who thanked me for saving the lives of Nigerians. He immediately referred me to the
Secretary to the Federal Government who then asked me to write down all I needed to settle down in Nigeria. “I told them I would need a house, a school for my children, some money, and then my goods in Liberia should be allowed free duty. I presented these because they told me they won’t be able to pay in cash what I had lost.” These were the beginning of another journey for Chukwu. He started chasing all the things the Nigerian government had approved for him, all without success. He was broke, without a car, his children dropped out of school, and he started to live the kind of life even his former cooks would not live. He pursued all these from Babangida’s time all through to Obasanjo’s and now President Muhammadu Buhari. The more he tries, the more things remained the same. The one time business mogul said: “I approached Okonji-Iweala, the then Minister of Finance who told me the government will not give me duty waiver for the importation of rice, which was one of the things government approved for me. She advised me to take oil, as that was what they had in record for settling debts like mine. I didn’t have a choice, I accepted even if I didn’t have market for crude oil.” Since then, nothing concrete has happened. He approached Senator Ike Ekweremadu who is the lawmaker representing his constituency. He then approached Hon. KGB Ogakwa of the House of Representatives, who took it up in the House. The House deliberated on it and requested he go renew the paper with the president of the day. But as typical with the Nigerian system, the people around the president made it absolutely impossible for Chukwu to see him. “After all the frustrations, I went back to the House and they wrote the then Information Minister, Dora Akunyili to take me to the president so that he can hear me out and renew it. But as we speak now, nothing has been done. This is three decades since then and I am still pursing this.”
Loss of Sight While he was pursing all these in penury, his wife who had diabetes began to fail in health. She managed her diabetic condition well in Liberia but began to lose her sight as she was no longer able to afford treatment and the food regimen needed to put her sugar level in check. As at today, Mrs. Tobi Chukwu is a blind woman. “We noticed she was gradually going blind. At some point her left eye could only see shadows. So I managed to raise money through my children and few friends and we took her to Dubai for surgery. After which we went to India for another one, from where they told us to come back in four months time so they could perfect everything. But we didn’t have money to go back. At this point she had lost the left eye completely and the right one was just starting to deteriorate. “Through divine providence, Senator Hope Uzodinma heard about our plight and sponsored her treatment in Mayo Clinic in Minnesota in the United States. It cost $35, 000. Prior to then, we never met Uzodinma. He is not even the law maker from my constituency, but he helped. Unfortunately, the surgery was unsuccessful and my wife went totally blind. I hear there is retina transplant available, and I am hoping one day I will take her up for treatment so she can regain her sight back,” he said. Tobi, who interjected her husband’s conversation with THISDAY, said the lack of money was what took her eyesight as she would have been able to prevent it if there was money. “I can’t wait to regain my sight back. Every day I keep asking people if research has shown a damaged retina can be replaced. Some people say outright eye transplant can give me my sight back. I am looking forward to this,” she said. The loss of his wife’s eyesight isn’t the only thing he lost. The cerebral business man lost his younger brother who was killed while rebels were looking for him. He lost $89, 405 million, which in today’s money is about N2.8 trillion, an amount that easily could place him as Nigeria’s richest man. He lost
30 years of not doing business. He lost a good life and today, he is a shadow of his former self. Chukwu believes now that he is still alive, government should do the needful and give him all that he is entitled to. He is of the view that when the presidency, politicians, the business community, and kind hearted Nigerians read about his journey, they may be touched to either prevail on the government to settle him what he is entitled to, or be given a philanthropic gesture to be back on his feet. In saner climes, Chukwu would not have only been given all that has been approved for him by the federal government; he would have been given a national honour for saving the lives of over 1000 Nigerians at the expense of all that mattered most to him. He should have been regarded as a special citizen, especially now that he is in his old age, where he can no longer work as usual, as was the case when all Liberian presidents were all over him. Homelessness Looms When THISDAY visited him in his three bedroom apartment at Jakande Estate, Oke Afa, Isolo, he presented a quit notice he has been given by his landlord for failing to pay his house rent over the years. He is currently living from hand to mouth and by next month may become homeless, along with his blind wife. If such an act of sacrifice for ones country cannot be rewarded in Nigeria, how then can other Nigerians show patriotism to this country? Chukwu, one of the greatest business moguls Nigeria never had, can be reached on 2348083840570 and +234805549455. His account details are: Account number – 2009273674; Account name – Emmanuel Chukwu, Bank name – Zenith. * https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.p hp/2019/02/27/beamingsearchlight-on-nigerias-forgottenhero/
Trumpet Manchester
FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 12 2019
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Blue Rinse - Fashionably saving the environment
By Chantelle Tindall
here better to run a fashion recycling and up-cycling business other than Manchester, a city steeped in textile history?
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Manchester’s Northern Quarter is a Mecca for vintage clothing and it easily draws you in by being so hip. A treasure trove and an Aladdin’s cave of hard to find gems in a metropolis otherwise full of big High Street stores. Fashion finds that transport you back to different eras: 1950s, 60s, 70s and right up to the 1990s, and all in one location. Paradise then for any fashion enthusiast. Blue Rinse was my destination, and its neon signpost soon beckoned, instantly grabbing my attention. Currently situated next to each other are both the old shop and the new space. The old space is closing down, giving way to an environmentally-friendly new one. A funky upbeat very urban vintage space. Uniquely decorated with vibrant colours and an equally intrigiung mix of colourful old silk shirts arranged in a mesh cage that evokes an artists‘ brush strokes by playing with layers of colours. It is like capturing the rainbow and storing it. This space sends a very different vibe to its original store next door, one that is vibrant and full of positive energy.
Look closely and you will find that one off piece never available anywhere else which makes it a joy to visit each and every time. It is noteworthy to take into consideration the dangers of fast fashion to the environment, especially when we look at the fight to promote sustainable fashion from the big designers like Stella McCartney, Vivian Westwood , and organisations like the Ellen Mcarthur Foundation etc. Blue Rinse and other vintage shops like it, should also be applauded for their effort to save the earth and also protecting the environment in their own small way. Vintage fashion from eras past are mostly recycled and up-cycled to create the new from the old, thus reducing fashion waste which are sadly non biodegradable. The fashion industry is generally cited as a chief culprit for exposing the environment to hazardous waste materials, water wastage and much more. The staff stated that response to vintage clothing has been quite encouraging. According to the manager, Blue Rinse has been in the area for six years which is why moving into a bigger space is now necessary. Staying true to their environmentally friendly theme, the walls of the new space are painted with recycled paint from Seagulls Reuse, a company which specialises in recycling leftover paint by creating new and unique colours that encourages less waste thrown into the environment. Manager - Oliver Newton also feels that the customers share similar concerns, noting “people are becoming aware of how much the environment needs saving, they are more aware of carbon footprints, sustainability and how ethical their clothing should be. So vintage shopping is one great avenue of doing their bit to saving “mother earth.“ Bee - a member of staff, also stated that vintage fashion are also “collectibles” as
they are not found anywhere else. Speaking to two very young customers Tiggy and Harriet on the reason they buy vintage fashion, their responses were for “uniqueness”, and “the love of all things from ages past and saving the environment.” Finally, Callum - another staff member, proudly declared: it is a “wonderful company to work for.”
Leaving Blue Rinse with a unique find that put a big smile on my face, I‘m encouraged to believe that vintage fashion is here to say. Second-hand fashion from yesteryears will play a very pivotal role in the fight to reduce fashion waste. No matter how small it may seem, its impact will be strongly felt.
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Opinion
So that ASUU and Nigerian University system will rise again T By Gbolahan Gbadamosi and Akintokunbo A. Adejumo
his piece arose from a conversation we had that dragged on and on. We have a combined experience of and exposure to university education in Nigeria and an active interest, including one of us being previously an academic staff of a federal university for a substantial time and active ASUU activist. The discussion started with a view that we do not take ASUU seriously anymore. That they have lost the essence of the struggle and that much of ASUU’s problems are self-inflicted. Many of the university leadership in Nigeria are stealing their universities blind, thus not different from the politicians they condemn. We are presently in that season of yet another ASUU strike which may shortly be called off, so it is timely to revisit this malady. Government incompetence seems to fuel the inglorious system that we currently have in place. Yet, there is a solution to the current ASUU’s inveterate that can make the Nigerian university system stable for at least the next decade, but the government lacks the will to impose this simple and indeed democratic solution. There is need to play the game of union memberships and strikes as it is played in Europe and many other Western countries. It also requires the will to enforce our own extant laws on unions and strikes. Presently, Nigerian government indulge ASUU by allowing academic staff to be automatically registered as members of ASUU. Let us make membership voluntary and see how it helps. Contract in, rather than contract out. So ASUU will only have people who willingly register with them and pay membership fees directly to them as members. ASUU would need to convince academic staff that there is
value in their membership and the membership dues will be transparently used. Furthermore, there must be a membership vote before any strike and majority must support the strike before it can take place. In addition, universities should not collect union dues on behalf of ASUU. ASUU must collect their own dues directly from their members. That is the standard practice worldwide. We cannot want democracy and freedom of association publicly and practice something else privately. Once this is done, only academics convinced of the value of membership will remain members and the union will strictly be negotiating with their employers. ASUU will become restricted to the issues that affect the welfare of their members, going back to strictly trade union matters and becoming less political. Presently, ASUU seems trying to run the university system through the back door so to say. That is not their job. Unfortunately, the government is often irresponsible. They freely enter into an agreement and often fail in their duty to comply with or implement same agreement. Government does this with impunity and often without any consultation with ASUU. If as an employer you perceive a problem with an existing freely negotiated agreement or some problems with its implementation, the fair and sensible thing to do is call a meeting to update the other partner – in this case ASUU. This would result in a modified timeline and ASUU will be well informed and would be less agitated and clearly have much less grievance. They would brief their members and would feel like serious partners in the business of higher education. When
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government deliberately ignore ASUU and renege on signed agreements, a fair description of their action is arrogant and irresponsible. This has been the practice since 1992 from the Babangida years when the very first serious long-term agreement to improving higher education was signed between ASUU and government. One often wonders what exactly the senior civil servants in the relevant government ministries contribute to this failure of governance. There are some Directors and Deputy Directors and even the Permanent Secretaries of the Education and Labour ministries who must be aware of these agreements and the responsibility and obligations of government in fulfilling them. Before one call them out for blame, the real issue is do they give their principals the right advice and guidance on what is correct and appropriate? Do the relevant Ministers often ignore such advice? Politicians will come and go, and we need not argue that many of them are often more interested in the office and the money they can make from their positions than the success or indeed sustainability of government policies. Yet, the success of most Western countries lies within a strong, vibrant and highly professional civil service. Western countries often attract and retain their best brains to work for government. Nigeria used to, but not anymore. Perhaps that would even get worse before it gets better. How is our civil service positioned to support the country’s progress and development?
Perhaps, like the politicians the top civil servants are also more interested in the “goodies” of office and choice properties in Abuja, London and Cape Town? But we digress! Now back to ASUU. Every discussion between government and ASUU where the alternative funding question has been raised has been jeopardised by ASUU. ASUU is often quick to insist there is no alternative to the current way our educational system is funded, but there’s always an alternative solution to every problem. So, there is nothing new here. Different versions and suggestions of an alternative to our current system have been on the table from successive governments since 1992. We are not arguing here they have all been impressive proposals, but they are proposals nonetheless and often contain ideas we could twist, tweak and turn as we go along. It was part of this alternative funding proposal that brought what we know today as TETFund. TETFund scheme was formed originally as a product of the Education Tax Act of 1993, now Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment, etc.) Act, 2011. ASUU suggested that with a 2% education dedicated tax payable by companies, all our education problems will disappear. Several years down the line, TETFund is announcing that billions of Naira set aside for research is not being applied for year on year. The body says the money is lying fallow. Research funds never get unused in serious countries, they are Continued on Page 11<
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never enough! What has ASUU ever done about this? Is it not a shame of some sort? Seriously, our politicians know how to use such funds. Houses will be bought in Banana Island and Asokoro to start with. However, the governments of Presidents Jonathan and Buhari have perhaps made the most serious arguments about the need to change the funding system of higher education in Nigeria. The only reason it has not materialised is because since 1992 ASUU has consistently said NO! If any Nigerian-based academic is not familiar with ASUU’s stance on this, they need to talk to their local union. They need to ask to get full briefing. Ask why government offers, and suggestions are not tabled for full discussion at branches. One suggestion was for government to bring in a large seed sum into higher education to jumpstart a process where students would take loans to pay fair fees and some
participating banks will loan the money to students. When students begin to work, they then pay back. This system obtains in countries like the UK and South Africa but ASUU says, no – education must be free! Government proposed to give bursaries and other forms of grants and supports to indigent students, ASUU have also been suspicions of this, perhaps rightly so! ASUU’s rather clever and commendable suggestion of 1992 has worked well to a large extent. This is what led to the 2% tax on businesses which presently funds TETFund. Businesses have been paying this tax since 1993, yet it has not solved the problems in higher education. Should ASUU not own up that there is a more fundamental change required in our educational system? It is not rocket science to investigate and find out that Nigeria remains one of the few countries in the world where no effort has been made to tweak education funding despite our challenges. A cursory evaluation of
many African countries will reveal that many have made modifications in policies they consider no longer working or meeting the challenges of contemporary times. ASUU need to reconsider its rigid stance, ASUU needs to consult more openly and more transparently with the broad membership. The dominance of ASUU’s leadership by successive hard-line leftists employing arguments and postures disguised as “radical” needs to be open to scrutiny. Succeeding ASUU leaders have been cleverly positioned to replace each other by the radical left. Gladly, both authors here are more sympathetic to the left and left leaning, but ASUU should be freed of strong accusation of being a “left cult”. A lot of anomalies are rampant in higher education in Nigeria. Academics are often looked up to as the simple, honest, contented and trusted ones. This is what informed the choice of Vice Chancellors as Returning Officers for elections since 2015 introduced by Attahiru Jega,
himself a former ASUU national president, at INEC. Yet, when one looks around reports of university leadership being arraigned in courts for all forms of fund misappropriation abounds. Many former VCs, Registrars and Bursars and other senior management team are reported very rich – often owning properties far in excess of their legitimate earnings. Nobody is asking them the source of the wealth. EFCC are too overwhelmed with cases of corruption all over every sector and section of Nigeria, they have limited personnel and resources and just cannot cope. A change in the funding system that would make students and their sponsors have a significant financial investment in their education will change the face of higher education. If students were to pay, for example, students and their sponsors will take more active interest in monitoring the quality of the service delivery. Academics will no longer be able to miss classes unhindered, less able to Continued on Page 12<
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harass female students or sell handouts. The existing unchecked freedom to “misbehave” will be curtailed to the benefit of tertiary education. Moreover, universities, if financially independent, will have to survive on good management. They will no longer be able to hide incompetence. There would be competition. A careful look at the more successful private universities in Nigeria will give you an indication of where we might be headed. ASUU has always argued in favour of university autonomy. A shift in their current rigidity and support for a fundamental change on how higher education is funded will be putting their money where their mouth is. For a time after Nigeria’s Independence, the few Nigerian universities we had were semi-autonomous. They charge some fees, oversaw their individual students’ intake and were even able to appoint their own Vice Chancellors and other Principal Officers. It is true they were largely funded by government. Since the Federal Government took over these universities, their autonomy was completely lost. A change in the funding system will expose academic impunity in our universities, but it will also bring the academic freedom ASUU has always asked for. Universities will be more competitive and more transparent. Each will develop at its own pace, find its own level. But more importantly academics will be more accountable. Is this what really brings fear down the spine of ASUU officials and some academics? There is a serious claim that ASUU leadership operates like a cult. That if they were to open up what goes on entirely at their negotiation to the membership, they will lose support and followership hence the secrecy and manipulation. Government may soon release some money and ASUU will call off the strike. That would end this year’s “ASUU’s annual yam strike festival”. When it is time for new yam next year or the following year, they would go back on strike again. It is all in the interest of the system according to ASUU. The view expressed thus far may be perceived as anti-ASUU and conservative, even bourgeois. Yet, we are also passionate about ASUU’s
Labour & Employment Minister - Chris Ngige and ASUU President - Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi
success and more importantly the success of our universities. People who hold views like these are often quickly misunderstood. To be fair being based abroad is a reason not to bother about these issues unless you have that Nigeria bug in you like some of us. What we need more now is for Nigerian academics who are active ASUU members to begin to speak up within ASUU. Not necessarily speak up against ASUU but speak up for common sense. The emergence of a parallel body “The Congress of University Academics” (CONUA) is a proof of a need for this common-sense approach. CONUA emanated from the intransigence of ASUU leadership. We do not welcome this divisive politics at OAU, Ile-Ife; a hitherto strong bed of ASUU. ASUU need to reunite its membership and come out of this mess stronger. Academics are the masters of selfcriticism through peer review, so they are used to critical feedback from their writings before getting published. There is a need for more ASUU members to not just face the same direction. Right now, ASUU is just facing one direction. There are always alternative ways to solving most problems. What is needed presently is for more people to insist that we cannot
destroy a system we belong to before we improve it. ASUU has become part of the problem than the solution. We need people to ask ASUU simple questions. For example: why are these prolonged strikes not happening in other countries? We are not the only African or developing country with poor funding of universities, but we are the only one with these repeated and regular prolonged rounds of strikes. We embarrass our graduates when they go abroad as they often must explain the long strikes and the impact on the quality of their education. Academics need to tell ASUU’s obstinate leadership we are better than this and certainly more intelligent than APC and PDP combined; so why are we not making progress in these fights? How can we fight it differently? University education is not the most serious problem of education we have in Nigeria. Primary and secondary education pose much more serious, more urgent and more fundamental problems. It is not suggested that academics should quit ASUU – that would be wrong. They should stay but must have a voice. They must clearly affirm that ASUU needs reform in its approach and its struggle. Part of the rapid progress University of Ilorin made in global ranking and worldwide reputation is
the stability in the academic calendar, enhanced research output, global collaborations and particularly the no strike policy of many years. In whatever list you look at, University of Ilorin is there – near the top in Nigeria. Covenant University, a private relatively new university has also recently made big advancement in global ranking. Granted the ranking has its various problems, it remains the “eyes” people use to judge universities around the world until a better option comes along. And to be honest, there is a simple solution government can apply that will kill ASUU with a stroke of the pen. Hopefully ASUU will not force government to take that route. And one is not talking about a ban on ASUU as a ban on ASUU would be a lazy government option. Nobody needs to ban ASUU to kill it, but ASUU must reform. There is a more workable approach which we do not want government to take. Nigeria university system will rise again and ASUU will be stronger with it. * Both writers are based in the United Kingdom. Gbolahan Gbadamosi can be reached at gbola.gbadamosi@gmail.com and Akintokunbo A. Adejumo can be reached at akinadejum@aol.com
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