TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Vol. 30, No. 12,816
www.ngrguardiannews.com
N150
N’Delta leaders want confab of ethnic nationalities • Say panel’s proposal shuts out minorities From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt EADERS of the Niger Delta Lrecommendations yesterday opposed the of the Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) on the proposed national conference, warning that they were designed to shut out ethnic minorities. They rejected the proposal that allows the 36 state governors in the country to nominate delegates to the conference. Leaders of the region like a former President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Kimse Okoko; a former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ledum Mitee; a former Federal Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Mofia Akobo; and the Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action, Nnimmo Bassey, spoke at the Pan Niger Delta Conference (PNDC) with the theme, “The Niger Delta and the National Conference “in Port Harcourt yesterday. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
President, Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa (left); Chairman, Inter-party Advisory Committee, Dr. Yunusa Tanko; former Senate President, Sen. Ken Nnamani and Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Maria Brewer; Special Adviser to the President on Inter-party Affairs, Sen. Ben Obi (left); the Country Representative, International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Gloria Richards-Johnson and director, Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership and Development, Prof. Ebere Onwudiwe, at the opening of National Stakeholders Forum on Electoral Reform in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: NAN
Protest as Jonathan visits Yola From Emmanuel Ande and Karls Tsokar, Yola RESIDENT Goodluck P Jonathan’s visit to Yola, Adamawa State, yesterday provoked the ire of some residents who protested against the disruption of their commercial activities. The President’s visit was the first since he assumed office. He was in Yola to commission an Air Force Secondary School of about 50 students. The school was established by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alexander Badel, an indigene of the state. Hundreds of market women took over the streets along Mohammed Mustafa Way about 10:00 a.m.,
• Half-nude women demonstrate over disruption of business • Air Force men stone journalists at venue • President warns service chiefs against rivalry • Explains choice of Badeh as CDS protesting against the closure of their shops over the visit of the President. They were chanting different songs condemning the President for spending public funds
on a trip that constituted economic problems to the residents of Yola. In a statement on Monday by the Army Public Relations Officer, Captain Nuhu Jarfaru, he stated that from
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. yesterday, the busy Numan road, Galadima Aminu road, which house all the commercial banks in the capital and Jimeta-Yola Road would be sealed off.
A woman who identified herself as Mrs. Ijeoma John, a vegetable seller at Jimeta modern market told The Guardian that Jonathan’s visit was not only anti-Yola residents, but that it was de-
Students’ ex-leader, Segun Okeowo, dies at 73 – Page 5 UN backs force, sanctions in Central Africa Republic – Page 9
signed to inflict more hardship on the already suffering residents of the state capital. “ I’m shocked by this kind of attitude by the soldiers. They cannot fight Boko Haram, it is us harmless civilians that have become their target. They should face Boko Haram and leave us alone to continue with our suffering that the PDP government is inflicting on Nigerians”, she stated. The women who were walking half-naked protesting against the military who closed down the busy market located along Galadima Aminu Way, urged the President to resign if he had no trust in those that voted CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
2 | NEWS Wednesday, January 29, 2014
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Court strikes out NLNG’s objection to NIMASA’s appeal By Joseph Onyekwere HE Court of Appeal, LaT gos division has struck out an objection filed by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) against the decision of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to appeal against the refusal of the Federal
High Court, Lagos to discharge an order of interim injunction against the Agency. In a bench ruling delivered by the appellate court presided over by Justice Sidi Bage, the court held that objection by NLNG was premature and it could not stand. The court also held that all necessary materials like the ruling being appealed against and the notice of appeal of NIMASA were not placed before it by the NLNG. The appellate court, which also had Justices Rita Pemu and Chinwe Iyizoba as members of its panel consequently overruled the NLNG and threw out its objection. Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos had in June 2013
granted an order, restraining the AGF, NIMASA, Global West Vessel Specialists Nigeria Limited (GWVSNL) and other government agencies from further detaining or preventing the chartered vessels of the NLNG from carrying out import and export of gas through the Bonny channel or elsewhere in Nigeria. The lower court had also held that the order would subsist pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed by the NLNG. Dissatisfied with the ruling counsel to NIMASA, Mike Igbokwe (SAN) appealed against the decision, urging the appellate
court to vacate the order. But NLNG through its counsel, Wale Akoni SAN, filed a notice of preliminary objection asking the court to strike out the Notice of Appeal filed by NIMASA for being incompetent and/or a nullity in law. Igbokwe had countered the objections of NLNG on the grounds that the company failed to attach to its objection the necessary materials such as the ruling being appealed, notice of appeal and NIMASA’s Motion on Notice, arguing that these are essential materials the Court of Appeal must consider in deciding its objection. He also argued that by re-
ferring to these essential materials in its arguments, the NLNG was flirting with and veering into the domain of facts, which it could not properly do without an affidavit in support of the objection to which it must have attached the essential materials. While arguing that it was premature for the NLNG to object to NIMASA’s appeal when the appeal had not yet been entered in the Court of Appeal, Igbokwe opined that NIMASA did not require the leave of court to file the appeal because it was constitutionally appealing as of right against the refusal of the Federal High Court to discharge the order of interim
injunction made against it. Counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Fabian Ajogwu SAN and that of Global West Vessel Specialists Limited, Mr. A.J. Owonikoko SAN, both aligned themselves with the arguments of Mr. Igbokwe SAN. However, the case before the Federal High Court has been adjourned till February 6 for the hearing of an application brought by Global West Vessel Specialists Limited to stay further proceedings in the suit before Justice Idris, pending the hearing and determination of its appeal and the appeals filed by NIMASA and the Attorney General of Federation.
N’Delta leaders say confab panel shuts out minorities CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
At the conference, which was organised by Social Development Integrated Centre to harmonise the positions of the ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta, Okoko said that representation at the conference should be based on ethnic nationalities as opposed to the position of PAC that delegates should be selected from the existing federal constituencies. Okoko said that the PAC’s recommendations that were submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan were primarily designed to shut out ethnic minorities in the country from expressing their views about the Nigerian State during the conference. Accord-
ing to him, the PAC’s recommendation that the outcome of the conference should be woven into the 1999 Constitution amounts to an imposition of a fraudulent constitution on Nigerians again. He explained that rather than relying on the recommendations of the PAC, which would do the country no good, the Federal Government should collate the various submissions of ethnic nationalities and other groups in the country as a basis for the national conference. According to Akobo, Nigerians should not make a mistake about the concept of a failed state, because it is not a myth. He pointed
out that many countries in recent times had failed and had remained so because of the failure to address some critical issues affecting their statehood. Akobo observed that Nigerians had been working on the Lord Lugard’s experiment. He explained that the quest of ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region for self-determination, spurred some of them to approach the United Nations for limited-administered position before the death of Gen. Sani Abacha. He said that this peculiar position of the Niger Delta people on their existence in the Nigerian State had not changed. On his part, Mitee urged
the ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta to embrace the conference, which according to him offers yet another opportunity to discuss the inherent contradictions of the country since its amalgamation in 1914. He insisted that the outcome of the conference should be acceptable to the various ethnic nationalities in the country, which should ratify them and not the National Assembly. Addressing the participants at the conference, Bassey said Nigeria had reached a stage where indigenous people should be allowed to control their natural resources. He also canvassed the creation of a Niger Delta environmental and survival fund.
Half-nude women demonstrate over disruption of business CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
him into power. “Even during the late Gen. Sani Abacha’s dark days there was nothing like this, but in a democratic government our President we laboured for to win an election is today denying us our daily bread. It is very sad”, one of the women said. Journalists working with different national media organisations in the state yesterday also got a share of the pains of Jonathan’s visit. They were stoned out of the venue by men of the Air Force on an order from an officer suspected to be the head of the school Jonathan visited to commission. Trouble started for journalists at the venue of the occasion when the Public Relations Officer of 75 Strike Force, Yola, Flying Officer Ishaku Abdullahi, asked journalists to wait in one of the classrooms for their accreditation. Little did it occur to the waiting reporters that trouble was looming. An officer with a nametag A.A. Dogo, suspected to be the head of the school slated for commissioning came and asked who directed the reporters to sit inside the classroom. But after an explanation from the chairman of the correspondents’ chapel
Mallam Umar Dankano, of the Peoples Daily Newspapers, the aggressive officer left without a word. A few minutes after, another man dressed in a rough suit with a name tag SPA Emmanuel C. Anita, came and ordered the reporters who were waiting to be accredited to get out of the venue, saying that their presence was not needed. But before Dankano could offer some explanations, some men of the Air Force started throwing stones on the reporters. It took the intervention of some military officers from the 23 Amour Brigade Yola to rescue the helpless journalists out of the venue. While commissioning the school, Jonathan warned that the hitherto rivalry among the services would no longer be tolerated. He said the insurgency would be better tackled with synergy among the service chiefs. “I urge you all to cooperate... there has been some mutual competition among the service chiefs and personnel, this time around, we will not tolerate any unnecessary competition... “We charge you to work together... and believe that we would no longer experience
any unpleasant situation we had in the past because of some obvious lapses,” he said He said the National Assembly along with traditional institutions could form the bedrock on which “we can move our country to the next level.” Commending the initiative of the school as a foundation for the development of scientific and technological innovation, he said it would also fill the void created by the closure of schools in the area as a consequence of the Boko Haram menace. Jonathan said the appointment of Badeh to the office of the Chief of Defence Staff was because of his ability to manage allocated resources for the development of the Air Force, where he was the chief before his elevation. He said that he could use that quality for other services as their head. “One of the reasons for lifting the CDS from the Chief of Air Staff is, I noted carefully that in terms of managing resources, I believe that he tried. “I believe that for him taking charge now, as CDS, he can work with other colleagues and properly brief them on how to do it, then the Nigerian Armed Forces will be different Armed
Forces”, he stated. The CDS along with other service chiefs according to the President would be decorated soon after the National Assembly screening within the week. While tracing the historical evolution of Air Force schools in the country, Badeh said the intention was to ensure that quality education was brought to the doorsteps of staff’s children and others within the communities they were based. According to him, he noted that with the commissioning of the Comprehensive School in Yola, all the six geopolitical zones now have one each. Earlier, Jonathan paid a courtesy visit to the Lamido Adamawa, Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu Mustapha, who urged the President to fast-rack the restoration of normalcy in Yola and the entire state. The paramount ruler said the curfew imposed on the state had crippled socio-economic activities completely, such that “business no longer thrives here because of the restriction.” He also asked the President to consider the reconstruction of some of the federal roads linking the states with its neighbours to facilitate easier access and trade.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 | 3
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News Court rules Feb 26 on APGA leadership From Leo Sobechi (Abakaliki) and Ezeocha Nzeh (Abuja) FEDERAL High Court, Abuja, has reserved February 26, 2014, for ruling on an application for stay of execution of judgment delivered on January 15, 2014, which removed Victor Umeh and Alhaji Sani Shinkafi as national chairman and secretary of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The two former APGA officials had approached the court through their counsel, Mr. Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), seeking a stay of execution and an injunction restraining Mr. Maxi Okwu and all other officers elected with him at the party’s national convention on April 8, 2013, in Awka, Anambra State, from assuming their respective offices pending the determination of the matter at Court of Appeal. In his pleading, Ikwueto urged the court, presided by Justice Abdulkadir AbdulKafarati, to grant the application, stressing that a person who lost a litigation is entitled to seek the court’s leave to make a preservative order. He urged the court to grant an order maintaining status quo pending the determination of the appeal already filed.
Death toll in Borno attacks hits 85 Clerics condemn violence
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From Dele Fanimo (Lagos) and Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri) facts emerged yesterFlastRESH day that the death toll in Sunday’s Borno attacks by
President Goodluck Jonathan (left); Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh and Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako at the commissioning of the Nigeria Air Force School in Yola during the President one day working visit to Yola... yesterday.
Our senators did not flout party directive, says APC
From Anietie Akpan (Calabar), Adamu Abuh, Azimazi Momoh Jimoh (Abuja) and Leo Sobechi (Abakaliki) CHOING misconception, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as quite misleading yesterday’s media reports that its senators flouted the party’s directive to its members in the National Assembly to withdraw co-operation with the executive until the restoration of law and order in Rivers State. Meanwhile, a member of House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, Mr. Linus Okorie, has called on APC leaders to gallantly withdraw its “anti-people and diabolical directive, swallow their collective pride and apologize to Nigerians.” In a related development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Ahmadu Adamu Muazu, yesterday declared that the APC would soon suffer serious defection as his party had perfected strategies to beat the opposition to its game of poaching. In the same vein, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal has reaffirmed that despite the crisis rocking his ruling PDP, he will not defect to any other party. In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said the reports were borne out of the gross misunderstanding of filibustering as a veritable democratic tool to impede legislation by obstructive tactics. It said that the slant of the reports, that the APC senators’ presence and participation at the screening of the military
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Rep faults order, PDP to intensify poaching chiefs on Monday represented a rejection of the directive by them, could not have been farther off the mark, as non-cooperation does not mean nonparticipation. ‘’We never directed our members in the National Assembly to boycott the chambers’ sessions, whether it is screening of appointees or plenary. What we said is that they should block Executive Bills. In any case, a senator or an Honourable member can only filibuster when he is in attendance. Filibuster does not equate to boycott or nonattendance,’’ APC said. The party said it was fully aware that its members in the Senate would attend the screening of the military chiefs, ‘’just as we are sure they will be part of any debate on the issue, and we have no
problems with that. After all they were elected to attend the National Assembly sessions and fully participate in its activities. But their contributions will help swing things one way or the other. That is the crux of the matter.’’ APC reiterated the propriety of its directive, which it described as pro-people, democratic and aimed at saving Nigeria from sliding into anarchy, saying the directive has already succeeded in dousing the tension in Rivers where those who have been subjected to ceaseless harassment by hoodlums aided and abetted by the police can now stage their rallies in peace. The party also said its directive will not only benefit APC members but indeed all Nigerians as well as national institutions, including the
National Assembly itself, which the President has tried to rubbish by totally ignoring its resolutions calling for the redeployment of Rivers Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu. ‘’In this respect, the National Assembly itself should own and commend our directive, instead of a few exhibitionist legislators rushing to the media to make uninformed comments. As far as we are concerned, we acted rightly in issuing our directive, which is meant to end the impunity in Rivers, save our democracy from descending into anarchy and protect national institutions which are being rubbished and manipulated by the Presidency,’’ APC said. Okorie who expressed joy that APC members in the
Senate played up their patriotic spirit to join other members to screen service chiefs, said Nigeria was at a phase where love of country is in contest against vainglory. In a statement made available to The Guardian, Okorie, said he was taken aback by a statement issued by Lai Mohammed reiterating the directive of the APC NEC despite the unanimous condemnation of the order from all segments of Nigerian polity. Okorie lamented that “some representations contained in the statement raise deep imperatives about the party and those that take its decisions and the potentialities of their governance outcome,” adding that “this feeling of concern is necessitated by the otherwise triumphant assertion, that the directive ‘is a product of deep thinking and robust debate within our party’s NEC.”
suspected Boko Haram gunmen in Kauwuri Village has hit 85. Meanwhile, Christian and Islamic leaders yesterday met in Abuja where they unanimously condemned the Sunday killings in Borno and Adamawa states. Also, Chairman of the Christian Elders’ Forum of Northern States (NOSCEF), Olaiya Phillips, has called on the new Service Chiefs to quickly wade into the terrorism crisis in the country. At a one-day interactive conference on Peace, Unity and Justice with the theme, “Think Nigeria”, the religious leaders reaffirmed the need for religious tolerance, respect and harmony. In his speech, convener of the meeting and the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, noted that the country was experiencing serious security challenges and other social vices, which in most cases, had culminated into destruction of lives and property, disrespect for religion of others and infringements on other people’s rights. In a statement, the NOSCEF chief described the attack as most dreadful, stating that it was sad that such act of utter violence could still be visited on innocent Christians who were in church. NOSCEF maintained: “Every citizen of our country has the right to worship, free from the threat of violence and intimidation, free from attacks by terrorists and gunmen. “We all have the right to expect that the security forces will work to find and prosecute the perpetrators, as well as restore safety and security to communities across northern Nigeria. “This is further evidence of the war that these criminal insurgents are waging against the Christian community in the North and must be seen as a warning to the government that an immediate, robust response is necessary.”
Catholic bishops, others hail anti-gay law From Nkechi Onyedika (Abuja), Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu (Benin City) and Joseph Okoghenun (Lagos) ORE commendations M have continued to trail President Goodluck Jonathan’s signing of SameSex Prohibition Act as the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has hailed the legislation. Also, constituents in EdoNorth Senatorial District have lauded Senator Domingo Obende for sponsoring the Anti-Gay Bill in the Upper House. However, worried by the supposedly deafening silence of the National Human Rights
• Activist petitions NHRC’s chief over legislation Commission (NHRC), gay activist and Coordinator of the Campaign Group Nigerian LGBTIs (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals) in Diaspora Against Anti-Same Sex Laws, Yemisi Ilesanmi, petitioned the Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Chidi Odinkalu, on the SameSex Marriage (Prohibition) Act. In a statement yesterday in Abuja, CBNC President, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, noted that President Jonathan’s decision, in conjunction with the National Assembly not to bow to international pressure in
the promotion of same-sex union, is a courageous one and clear indication of the ability of Nigeria to stand shoulders high in the protection of Nigerian and African most valued cultures of the institution of marriage and protection of the dignity of the human person. The statement read in part: “We commend you for this courageous and wise decision and pray that God continues to bless, guide and protect you and your administration against the intention of the developed world to make our country and continent the
dumping ground for the promotion of all immoral practices that have continued to debase the purpose of God for man in the area of creation and morality”. In Ikin, Owan-East Local Council, a leader in the area, Shagari Oni, told Obende: “You did us proud by sponsoring the anti-same sex marriage bill, which has just been signed into law by Mr. President. All over the world, the passage of the bill into law is still being celebrated. Who can forget the negative posture of those who wanted despicable homosexuality to be legalised in Nigeria? That it was an Afemai son, who spon-
sored the bill, is an achievement we should all be proud of”, In the letter, which was addressed to Odinkalu and obtained by The Guardian in Lagos on Monday, Ilesanmi wondered why NHRC, under the leadership of Odinkalu, has kept “quiet in the face of such blatant injustice perpetrated against Nigerian lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals (LGBT)?” She added: “Odinkalu, I am a Nigerian bisexual woman, lawyer, human rights activist and a former national student union leader who has now been forced into exile by this draconian law.
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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com
NEWS Thursday, January 30, 2014
Rep gives N3.6m scholarships to indigent students
Abia to spend N405m on airport, seaport
From Anietie Akpan, Calabar
From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia
EMBER representing Calabar/Odukpani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Nkoyo Toyo, has in Calabar awarded N3.6 million scholarships to indigent students in her constituency. Speaking at the presentation ceremony held in Akim Qua Town, Toyo disclosed that the scheme was meant to address the financial needs of indigent but committed students within locality. The N5 million annual scheme, which targets at least 100 students, she hinted further, has an internship component linking beneficiaries to some community activity or service. The 82 beneficiaries of the scheme, which include a few non-indigenes, cut across tertiary, secondary, as well as primary institutions who were duly screened and qualified to enjoy the financial aid.
BIA State government has A in this year’s budget proposed N270 million and N135
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Residents look on as French soldiers of Operation Sangaris patrol in Bangui yesterday. Gunfire erupted yesterday in Bangui, still plagued by looting despite the security operations of French and African soldiers, now awaiting the reinforcement of a European force. The UN security Council on Tuesday gave European troops backing backing to use force in Central African Republic amid a new international push to end deadly chaos in the country. PHOTO: AFP/ISSOUF SANOGO
Court to hear Igbo relocation suit on Feb 19 By Joseph Onyekwere FEDERAL High Court, LaA gos, yesterday said it would hear the suit filed by seven Igbo relocated by the Lagos State government on February 19 over inhuman treatment. The plaintiffs are Joseph Aniebonam, Osondu Mbuto, Osondu Agwu, Nnenna Ogbonna, Emily Okoroariri, Friday Ndukwe and Onyeka Ugwu, suing on behalf of 76 others. Joined as respondents are the Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State. When the case was mentioned yesterday, counsel
representing the plaintiffs, Ugo Ugwunnadi, told the court that the case was coming up for the first time. He informed the court that he had only been served with the processes from the first respondent (AG Lagos) and was yet to receive any process from the second respondent. He, therefore, applied for a date for hearing. Counsel representing the Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr. Tayo Odupitan, in response, told the court that he had filed a counter-affidavit, written address and an exhibit, all in response to the plaintiffs’ suit. He, however, informed the court that the Attorney Gen-
eral of Lagos State, Mr. Ade Ipaye, has indicated his intention to defend the suit personally. Meanwhile, counsel to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sam Adebeshin, told the court that he was yet to regularise the processes on behalf of the second respondent. Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned the case to February 19 for further mention. In their motion, the applicants want the court to declare that as Nigerian citizens, they were entitled to their fundamental rights as enshrined in the constitution. They are seeking a declaration that their arrest and de-
tention in various camps in Lagos and subsequent relocation to Anambra on July 24, 2013, for no offence, amounted to a serious breach of their fundamental rights. The plaintiffs also seek an order mandating the respondents to tender a written apology to them by publishing same in three national newspapers continuously for 30 days, for unlawful and gross violation of their constitutional rights. They also want an order directing the Lagos State government to re-integrate the applicants into the state and a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents,
ENSION is building within T the 26-member Imo State House of Assembly arising from the intrigues over plans by some members to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). House sources, however, revealed that six lawmakers, who differed, may be heading to the court. Since Tuesday, increased police presence have been noticed in the Assembly premises, a situation, which has given indications that all is not well in the 26-member Assembly. Sitting scheduled to take place to herald the resumption of members to plenary after Christmas and New Year festivities could not hold on Tuesday. The first bell rang for members to get set at the Assembly floor, but the second one was not repeated as statutorily demanded. Yesterday, no sitting also took place as at time of filing this report, but sources told The Guardian that authorities of the Assembly got wind of the alleged plans of the aggrieved members to change guard of
• Atiku in Edo meets Oshiomhole, Ikimi, others over 2015 leadership of the House, headed by the Speaker, Benjamin Uwajumogu (Ihitteuboma) and abruptly halted resumption (sitting). Assembly sources told The Guardian that six members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Owerri-West, Innocent Eke (Owerri Municipal), Victor Mere, Dan Ikpeazu (Owerri-North), Ekwesileze Igwe (Ideato-North), Victor Ndunagu (Mbaitoli) and Greg Okemili (Oru-East), have approached the court to seek protection from being sanctioned by other members in the Assembly following their “Uturn” from their initial defection from the APGA to the All Progressives Congress (APC), then back to the APGA. Sources say they were to be suspended by the authorities of the Assembly. The Guardian gathered that the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, had allegedly given directive that the lawmakers should defect to the APC, which he presides, as the leader in the state. But the said directive did not go down well with all the lawmakers. As it stands, the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), which used to be the minority in the Assembly, is now the majority. At a meeting held with the lawmakers on Monday evening at the Government House, Owerri, Okorocha had urged members of the state Assembly to embrace APC. Meanwhile, the build-up to the 2015 general elections gathered momentum yesterday as former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, began consultations with his political associates/stakeholders on whether to (for the second time) dump the PDP for the APC. Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole; his Deputy, Pius Odubu; National Leader of the APC, Chief Tom Ikimi and other party officials, received Atiku in the Government House. While commending the governor on his performance in the state, which Atiku said, was being appreciated nationwide, noted: “I am in Edo State precisely to consult with my stakeholders from the entire South-South political zone. You will recall that on December 18, 2013, the leadership of
the APC led by General Muhammadu Buhari, the party chairman and also Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other chieftains of the party, visited me in Abuja to ask me to come back home. I told them I would take my time and consult nationwide with my political associates and stakeholders. And apparently, I have them on both sides of the divide, both in PDP and APC and so on. So, the purpose of this visit is to consult with those stakeholders from the South-South geo-political zone and I look forward to doing that this afternoon and then proceed to Lagos.” In his response, Oshiomhole wished the former Vice President fruitful consultations, just as he insisted that a liberal democracy needs two strong parties for proper deliberations. “That you are now in the process of that consultation shows that you are keeping your word. I am convinced and I think every democrat will agree that in every true liberal democracy in the world, you will have two broad political parties because there are two broad political ideologies that guide governance. Usually you
Nekede Poly expels 26 students, sanctions 23 others From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri
their agents and officers from further relocating or refusing them free entry into Lagos. In addition, the applicant is demanding the sum of N1 billion against the respondents jointly and severally, as general damages for breach of their rights. Meanwhile, Lagos State government, in its counter-affidavit, contended that the relocation was not borne out of malice, but out of genuine intention to re-unite the applicants with their families. They further averred that the government assisted the applicants to re-join their families after pleading that they had no homes, relatives or businesses in Lagos State.
Tension in Imo Assembly over plans to defect to APC From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu (Benin City) and Charles Ogugbuaja (Owerri)
million on the proposed airport and seaport projects. The state governor had proposed a 2014 budget estimate of N149,600, 000,000 comprising N87.5 billion for capital and N62 billion for recurrent expenditures. The state legislators are yet to begin debate on the 2014 Budget tagged: “Budget of Legacy Consolidation,” which breakdown, the Finance Commissioner, Dr. Philips Nto, presented before the House of Assembly on Monday. The commissioner told the lawmakers that the main objectives of the 2014 Budget are to ensure efficient and effective revenue collection process, as well as the prudent utilisation of resources for the sustenance of the overall growth of the state economy.
could have fringe parties who just because of who they are, believe that between the left and the right, there is a space at the centre and they still find way to navigate. “In Nigeria today, it is about who believes what is happening and they are satisfied and those who do not who want change and changes between parties can’t take place if there is no fair balance of forces to allow people make informed and meaningful changes. I believe it is not about any person, it is about our country, our future and the country is bigger than any of its citizens. “The beauty of democracy is that the citizens will have the government they deserve at any point in time, My hope and belief is that we who are politicking recognise that it is all about Nigeria and Nigerians; how best to deliver and how best to effectively manage our resources such that the paradox is resolved. I hope that as you go about your consultations, God guides your thoughts, God guides your consultations and that the decision you finally arrive at will be one the will be beneficial to our nation”, the governor noted.
HE Federal Polytechnic, T Nekede, Owerri, Imo State, has expelled 26 students from the institution for engaging in examination malpractices and unethical academic practices. Also, 22 others have been rusticated for one year, one directed to retake examinations on some courses, while five others hitherto made to face a disciplinary panel, were set free. A statement issued by the institution’s Registrar, Mr. Matthew Aligbe, yesterday said the sanctioned students were among those hitherto accused of various acts contrary to the school’s regulations, which include examination malpractices, unethical academic practices. He added that after examining their cases, the above decisions were taken by the authorities of the institution.
Man jailed five years over illegal drug deal By Joseph Onyekwere USTICE Rita Ofili-AjumogoJCourt, bia of the Federal High Lagos, yesterday convicted and sentenced a man, 18 to five years’ imprisonment for dealing in 500 grammes of marijuana, a narcotic drug. The convict, Mustapha Mohammed, pleaded guilty to one-count charge of drug trafficking preferred against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Ofili-Ajumogobia sentenced him after hearing the review of facts made by the prosecutor, Mr. Orji Kalu. The prosecutor told the court that an NDLEA official (name withheld) arrested the convict when he was selling some dried substance suspected to be Marijuana. Kalu said the substance was subsequently examined and it tested positive. He had told the court that the convict committed the offence on July 4, 2013, at AgboMalu, Apapa area of Lagos.
Thursday, January 30, 2014 NEWS
THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com
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Oshiomhole cautions aides on 2016
Ethanol plant for commissioning today
From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City
OVERNOR Ibikunle AmoG sun will today commission a multi-billion naira
DO State governor, Adams E Oshiomhole, yesterday cautioned political appointees against campaigns for 2016, saying it is too early and that only God can decide the future and not man. Also referring to those who may be interested in running for one political office or the other in 2015 but are still serving in his administration, Oshiomhole said they must ensure that they balance politicking and their current mandate which, according to him, is service to the people, or they resign their appointments. He gave the warnings yesterday during the swearing-in of the new Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Chris Okaeben. Oshiomhole said: “In Edo State, under the All Progressives Congress (APC), we must not forget that we must first use the current mandate in such a way that people will urge you to continue to preside. That is to say, therefore, that we must never subordinate governance to politicking. To do so is that we have abused the trust that the electorate have on us, and it is tantamount to taking the electorate for granted.
Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau (left); Speaker, state House of Assembly, Mr. Titus Alams and the acting Chief Judge, Justice Pius Damulak, at the swearing-in of the Damulak in Jos… yesterday
What cut Rivers internal revenue, by Amaechi From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt
Ile-Ife indigenes seek more LCDAs From Tunji Omofoye, Osogbo OMMUNITY leaders in IleC Ife, Osun State, have urged Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the House of Assembly to address their grievances on the planned creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) before a bill on it is passed into law. The Ile-Ife leaders are demanding for eight more LCDAs in addition to the three proposed for the area by a committee saddled with the responsibility to create the LCDAs. Alleging marginalisation in the current proposal by the state government to create 27 LCDAs, which had been forwarded to the House of Assembly for approval, the Ife people said they deserve more LCDAs due to large population and landmass of the four councils in their area.
ethanol manufacturing plant in Igbesa, Ogun State. The ceremony will also have in attendance former President Olusegun Obasanjo, captains of industries and other eminent persons. The plant, built by Allied Atlantic Distilleries Limited, a subsidiary of Lexcel Group, is the first of its kind in Africa to produce ethanol, a major component in the production of wines and spirits using cassava. In a statement, Managing Director of AADL, Mr. Anurag Dhiman, said the new plant would herald a new dawn in the manufacturing of wines and spirits in the competitive Nigerian market. The factory has installed capacity for 10 million litres per annum of ethanol requiring approximately 240 tons of cassava per day at an average of 10 tonnes per hour.
IVERS State Governor Chibuike Amaechi yesterday blamed 2015 politics for the deteriorating security situation, which has in turn resulted in dwindling internally-generated revenue of the state. Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has set up a three-man committee to file a petition to the United Nations (UN) against the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, for alleged human rights violations. Amaechi spoke when officers and students of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, paid him a courtesy visit in Port Harcourt, the state capital. He noted that the insecurity in the state has worsened because desperate politicians resorted to power play at the national level ahead of the 2015 elections. He also blamed the situation on al-
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• APC to petition UN over Mbu leged influx of political thugs and miscreants that were chased out of the state when he assumed office in 2007. According to the governor, the prevalent insecurity in the state has forced some companies to now begin to operate outside Port Harcourt, thus preventing the state’s internally-generated revenue from hitting the projected N10 billion monthly. “If not for the insecurity in the state, and if all companies that were here before had remained to operate their businesses, we would have generated up to N10 billion. Like you know, most of the companies ran to Lagos and some of them came to Port Harcourt, and later also ran back. Things were improving before now with the Army, Police and the State Security Service (SSS), which enabled us to arrest the inse-
curity in the state. But, recently, because of the power play at the national level ahead of the 2015 elections, the security of the state has degenerated badly, that one is wondering whether we should not differentiate between politics of election and politics of leadership. “So now, people are being kidnapped like in recent times; some of my colleagues in government, like a lawyer I met this morning, was kidnapped and kept for eight days, but he was just released on Friday. You are also aware of the bishop that was kidnapped. These issues were not there after I assumed office in 2007, but because of the elections, the Abuja front has released all the people we chased out of Port Harcourt back into the state again. Now, you have young men carrying arms like soldiers. Even at that, we don’t expect those whose
duty it is to protect us and serve the people to be the same people who will bring them back to create insecurity. This has also impacted on our internally-generated revenue and has emboldened those doing oil theft”. The governor alleged reckless disregard for the protection of lives and property in the state by men of the Nigeria Police as a serious lacuna. He said there has been a running battle between the state government and the police. According to him, prior to now, the government had strong mutual relationship with all security agents, but there has not been security meetings recently because the respective security agencies are taking instructions from Abuja. He lamented that a state in Nigeria could be allegedly rendered helpless in terms of security, just because of the 2015 elections. Leader of the Armed Forces
Command and Staff College, Jaji, Brig.-Gen. Gbolahan Oyefesobi, said students of the college were in the state to have first-hand information on the socio-economic projects, including security challenges in order to find or produce workable solutions. The three-man petition committee is headed by Andy Nweye, with Eze Chukwuemeka Eze as secretary and Emeka Bekee. The committee is saddled with the responsibility of compiling a comprehensive list of human rights violations by the Commissioner of Police since he assumed office in Rivers State in February, 2013. Inaugurating the committee in Port Harcourt, the state APC Interim Chairman, Dr. Davies Ikanya, said the members were chosen based on merit. He expressed confidence that they would do a good job. The committee has two weeks to complete its work and submit its report.
PDP govs charge Muazu to bring back defected colleagues From Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna) and Azimazi Momoh Jimoh (Abuja)
• Abubakar Umar scores Jonathan’s administration high
EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) governors visited the party’s national secretariat yesterday, asking the National Chairman, Ahmadu Adamu Muazu, to persuade all the five governors, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to return in a week. The governors were in Wadata House PDP Secretariat in Abuja to pay Muazu a solidarity visit. Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, who spoke on behalf of other governors, said they expected the new leadership of the party to put measures in place to bring back the defected governors. “We are now 18 governors in this great party, which used to have 23 senators. But it is our hope that the number will increase next week. Since you assumed office as national chairman of PDP, things have changed dramat-
ically, even to the admiration of opposition political parties. So, it is our expectation that within one week, you will bring back all our colleagues who defected to the opposition. “We are here to show our support to you, as well as display our unalloyed loyalty to the President who is the leader of the party,” Akpabio said. Muazu acknowledged the role of the governors as the party’s “garrison commanders” in the states. He appealed to them to be patient with the party, adding that they should be very careful about the action they take over what they hear. “I appeal to you to be patient with us at this moment. You may see and hear anything you do not like, but be careful in your reactions,” Muazu said. Also yesterday, the Tanko Yakasai-led Northern Elders Council (NEC) decried what it
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called attempts to destabilise the country through careless and inciting statements. Briefing journalists in Abuja yesterday, Yakassai said the threats to peace in many parts of the North motivated the setting up of the council. “The current situation in the country has made it imperative for us as elders to sensitise our people, articulate and define our positions on vital national issues. “As elders, we cannot shy away from call to duty, neither can we abdicate our collective responsibility in the face of daunting challenges threatening the unity, stability and cohesion of our dear country,” he said. Meanwhile, erstwhile Governor of Kaduna State and human rights crusader, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd), has said that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has put the nation on the path of democratic growth contrary to the criti-
cisms by some notable Nigerians who have scored the government low. Umar, who spoke in an interview yesterday in Kaduna, pointed out that contrary to the views expressed recently about the government of Jonathan by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other critics, President Jonathan has demonstrated and recorded an impressive human rights record and moved the nation on the path to growth through the initiation of various policies. However, Umar pointed out that it was “part of Jonathan’s misfortune that he assumed the Presidency when the country faced its worst security challenge since the civil war”, saying that the escalation of the intractable and distracting Boko Haram insurgency and worsening Niger Delta militancy and oil theft was a draw-back on the administration’s good plans for the nation.
“Coupled with these challenges, the President faced strident opposition from a group that would not even concede his constitutional right to serve as Acting President when the former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was clearly incapacitated. His (Jonathan) decision to contest the 2011 election was considered sacrilegious as it was said to entitle only a northerner to contest”. Said Umar: “I have always wondered at the fate of this zoning formula had Obasanjo become incapacitated before the completion of his first term. Would then Vice President Atiku Abubakar forgo the opportunity to contest 2003 and for a second term in 2007 since the Presidency was zoned to the South for eight years, starting from 1999?” The former governor said that “it is surprising to see that some of the most vociferous agitators of the right of the North were senior members of the Sani Abacha regime, which denied the winner of June 12, 1993, elec-
tion, Chief MKO Abiola his mandate and incarcerated him till death”, noting that Jonathan “finds himself bogged down in this battle for legitimacy”. But, Umar further stated that Jonathan “is an easy going person who has a tendency to do anything to protect his friends, most of whom have taken advantage of him”, stressing that “he is also easily intimidated by bullies; and unfortunately, this easy personality can be transformed into a dictator by pressure from both the opposition and hawkish handlers”. Criticising the previous administration under this democratic republic, Umar explained that “unlike President Obasanjo, Jonathan has proven so far to be a more authentic democrat”, stressing that “this is evident in his consistent respect for the wishes of the electorate in all elections in which his party the PDP, was defeated”. He cited the examples of the gubernatorial elections in Ondo, Edo, and Adamawa.
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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com
NEWS Thursday, January 30, 2014
Oritsejafor sues Lagos govt over church property, demolition By Joseph Onyekwere HE Word of Life Bible T Church (WLBC) has filed an action at the Lagos High Court, Igbosere, seeking an order halting the demolition of structures at its headquarters on Plot 21E, Abdulraman Okene Close, Victoria Island Annex, Lagos and praying the court to declare the state government’s action illegal. This comes as the General Overseer of WLBC and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsajefor, yesterday appealed to Governor Babatunde Fashola to respect the rule of law and halt the demolition of structures in his church. Joined as defendants in the suit are the Lagos State Government, its governor, attorney general, Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, La-
gos Building Control Agency and Lagos Physical Planning Permit Authority. They are also praying for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, servants, officers, privies or howsoever from demolishing, destroying, dispossessing or forcibly ejecting the claimant from, or continuing to take steps or in any other manner engaging in any activity detrimental or inimical or contrary to the rights of ownership or possession of the claimant in respect of the land registered No.34 on page 34 in Volume 2081 of the Register of Deed, kept at the Lagos State Land Registry. They are equally asking for N90 million penalty, of which N20 million serves as cost of the action. At a press conference held yesterday on his behalf by the resident pastor in Lagos,
Segun Braimoh, the cleric asked the Lagos State Government to allow them reap the maximum benefit of the land they bought legitimately, stating: “Lagos State Government should grant our church all necessary approvals as has been done for others.” He explained: “We bought the property over 10 years ago and perfected the titles on April 30, 2003. Our construction work was stalled since 2005 because Land Bureau would not issue us clearance letter to perfect our building plan approval despite that we have submitted all relevant documents and paid all statutory fees for building approval. “We have sought audience with the authorities, including the past and present government of Lagos as to why the clearance letter and approval we sought were being
denied since 2005, (but) no explanation was given to us. The current governor requested the physical planning department to look into our complaint following high-level intervention via our letter of 27/6/2010.” According to him, “the Department of Physical Planning wrote to inform us on 27/7/2010 that all efforts to trace the file for application No. IV04/DO/208/68A in the office had been unsuccessful. We were then enjoined to resubmit all documents to enable the processing of our application. “We have since reproduced all the documents as directed, except the clearance letter from the Land Bureau. We reapplied for the renewal of the clearance letter issued to us by the Land Bureau on October 15, 2010 – it is one of the documents specified by physical planning to enable
them process and grant approval of our building plan. “The Land Bureau, in its wisdom, has refused to renew the clearance letter. It is pertinent to note that it is renewal we need now as the bureau had issued one clearance in 2010 after all due diligence.” According to Oritsejafor, following another appeal letter to Governor Fashola dated February 19, 2013, they were asked to liaise with Land Bureau for the clearance letter, but the bureau has failed to issue the letter even after complying with all the processes. However, “on January 20, 2014, we got a notice and the next day, January 21, a demolition notice. On January 23, we saw the Lagos State Building Agency Enforcement Department with a team of armed policemen, bulldozers and caterpillar pull down our gate and part of our fence.”
Court remands nine over Edo community fracas From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City N Igarra Magistrate Court A yesterday remanded in prison custody nine persons alleged to be involved in the shooting of two persons during the celebration of Ekuochi festival, which was said to have been banned since 1989. The nine accused are facing a three-count charge of felony, conspiracy and attempted murder. The prosecutor, Cpl. Samuel Obeze, told the court that the accused committed the offence on January 15, 2014 at Ufa quarters in Igarra, Akoko-Edo council of the state. He further said that the offences contravened sections 516 and 320 of the Criminal Code Vol 1, Laws of the Defunct Bendel State, as applicable to Edo State. No plea was taken while the Chief Magistrate, Mr. Oare Mutere, ordered the accused to be remanded at the Auchi Prison and adjourned till February 17 to await the advice of the State Director of Public Prosecution.
Agency, Education Ministry to hold awareness forum
Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri (right); Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Paul Lolo; his deputy, Ambassador Peter Iyamabo and Director, Corporate Services, NEPAD, Bankole Adeoye, all Nigerian delegation at the 30th meeting of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee in Addis Ababa… yesterday. PHOTO: NAN
Gombe raises the alarm over influx of Boko Haram victims From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja
• Receives clinic from Chevron
is causing the state government serious concern, as it lamented yesterday that population explosion was causing the state a lot, especially in the provision of adequate healthcare and security. According to the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ishaya Kennedy, the influx into Gombe of people from the war-torn North East states has shot its population from three million to over four million and is straining the state’s limited resources. Kennedy, who represents Governor Ibrahim
Dankwambo during the hand over of the 10-bed chest clinic, built and equipped by Deepwater Petroleum Limited and the Agbami partners at the Zambuk General Hospital in Abuja, noted that the state was currently overwhelmed by the rush for the treatment of infectious diseases from non-indigenes. Earlier, the Director of Corporate Affairs at Chevron, Gbenga Alukor, who represented the Director of Deepwater Oil and Gas, Jeffrey Ewing, said the chest clinic, was part of its corporate social responsibility. He disclosed that the partners have instituted special-
HE Japan International T Cooperation Agency HE influx of persons dis(JICA), in collaboration with Tplaced by the Boko Haram the Federal Ministry of Edu- terrorism into Gombe State cation and other stakeholders in the basic education sector, will hold a SMASE sensitization forum on February 4, 2014. The forum is being packaged to take stock of the progress made in strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) Nigeria Project. Invited guests include the Supervising Minister of Education, Ezenwo Wike, head of agencies from the various education stakeholders and all executive chairmen of State Universal Basic Education (SPEB) boards, among others.
ized education scholarship programmes in support of health and manpower development in Nigeria through targeted support for medical, nursing, laboratory science and engineering students, adding that as at last year, about 18 students from Gombe have benefitted from the scheme. Meanwhile, he disclosed that the Agbami partners decided to hand over the project in Abuja instead of Gombe because of insecurity in the North East. He stated that the hospital was equipped with a standard xray machine, wards and treatment rooms, as well as
gene expert machine. The state government is expected to provide manpower and electricity. Alukor explained: “We have many general hospitals, but the present government in Gombe State has singled out one out of the many in the state as an infectious disease hospital, which treats only people with infectious diseases. “With this added gift from the Agbami partners, there will in turn be an added responsibility on the state government in the management of infectious disease, especially the chest clinic. What we are going to do now is to train and put in more personnel in the sector.”
Suntai denies rumoured resignation From Charles Akpeji, Jalingo HE recuperating DanT baba Suntai has denied ever granting interview to any media organisation to the effect that he has resigned as governor of Taraba State. Reacting to a video clip, which was recently aired to the public by an online medium and further published in some national newspapers (not The Guardian), the governor regretted that some media organisations could jettison media ethics and not crosscheck facts. In a statement by his Secretary to the State Government, Gebon Kataps, which was made available to journalists yesterday in Jalingo, Suntai declared his readiness to resume office as soon as possible. He urged the public to disregard the publication, which he observed was not from correspondents in the state, wondering why the “Lagos-based” newspapers that reported the said story never reached out to their correspondents in the state to verify it. “We wonder if the Lagos-based editors noticed the superimposition of voices on a funny caricature of a video clobbered together by desperate politicians, who we know very well and who want Suntai removed from office by all means necessary,” Kataps said. The statement noted: “For the avoidance of doubt, Suntai did not at any point grant such interview to any reporter in Jalingo. If and when he grants it, it would be with known reporters and not a faceless reporter as carried in the tale.” The video “is a desperate item taken out of context and manipulated to further deceive Nigerians. Even a green horn in such propaganda stunt can see through this ‘monetized’ gambit. The truth, though, is that in most of his public appearances lately, Governor Suntai has continued to assure the state that he would return to office.” He added: “The current tale is that Suntai can’t resume work because of his disabilities. We want to put it on record that this is just a malicious media campaign paid (for) with Taraba State’s tax payer’s money to hoodwink the teeming supporters of Suntai.” The said report, which was posted on Youtube and published by some newspapers, claimed that Suntai in an interview admitted that he was not capable to carry on his responsibilities as governor.
Thursday, January 30, 2014 NEWS 7
THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com
Abia lawmakers, senator fault northern elders on Ihejirika
Minister seeks collaboration for success of aviation masterplan By Gbenga Salau HE Minister of Aviation, T Stella Oduah, at the Aviation Masterplan stakeholders’ buy-in forum in Lagos on Tuesday, has stated that making the sector Africa’s enviable regional hub is not negotiable but would take collective effort. While presenting the Aviation Masterplan to stakeholders, the minister gave an insight into what she met on ground when she came in, what she has done and the plan for the future in terms of safety and security, facilities, regulations and policies, and domestic airline operations. She disclosed that the ultimate goal of the masterplan was to make the sector self-sustaining and contributing substantially to the economy, noting that the masterplan aimed at making Nigeria the regional hub for training, commerce and maintenance. Oduah revealed that the plan was built on three thrusts: develop Lagos and Abuja as regional hubs, develop requisite infrastructure, and change the business model of the industry into a self-sustaining one with no budgetary input. More so, efforts at setting up a national carrier are to ensure that it is truly national, efficient and owned by all by being a quoted company, she noted. Meanwhile, a keynote speech delivered by Mr. Sam Ikoku on visibility within the sector noted that transformation in the aviation sector had not come easy in the last two years in Nigeria.
From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia ITH a unanimous vote, W the Abia State House of Assembly has condemned
Business Solution Manager, Computing and Storage, Resourcery, Amechi Okonkwo (left); District Manager, EMC West Africa, Ola Jimoh; Managing Director, Resourcery, Tani Fafunwa, and Channel Manager, EMC West Africa, Emmanuel Uduoise, during Resourcery/EMC Customer Event in Lagos …yesterday. PHOTO: GABRIEL IKHAHON
Lagos to prosecute suspects in Ejigbo torture By Bertram Nwannekanma USPECTS in the Ejigbo market torture and abuse, which led to the death of one of the victims, must be prosecuted to stamp out impunity from the state, the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, vowed yesterday. A woman and her stepdaughter were subjected to unbelievable acts of torture and brutality sometime last year for allegedly stealing pepper at the Ejigbo Market. Ipaye, who spoke at the press briefing to highlight the achievements of the state’s justice ministry in 2013, regretted that such incidence, including the recent lynching of two people at Badagry, could take place in Lagos in spite of government’s efforts to prosecute criminals in the state. According to him, the Office of the Public Defenders
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(OPD) is on top of the situation and will soon commence prosecution of the culprits, who he said are well known, as soon as police investigations are completed. “We became aware of the Ejigbo incident rather late,” he said. “The Director of OPD suggested that to force the people in the area to surrender the suspects, the market should be closed, and it was that pressure that made those people to bring forward the accused persons. “Currently, the case is being handled by the police and we just stand ready. As a state government, we have taken up the case. We are just waiting for the police to conclude their investigation and hand over the case file to us. “But I can assure you that if there is any case we are very much interested in, it is this case. That is because we want to discourage that ugly act from happening again in
this state.” The commissioner, who said the OPD was able to handle over 7,186 cases free of charge in 2013, admonished Lagosians to desist from taking laws into their hands but to report cases to the various government agencies in order to get justice. According to him, some of the state’s agencies set up to protect the rights of citizens and ensure justice include the OPD, Directorate of Citizens Right (DCR), Lagos State Public Interest Law Partnership and Directorate of Civil Litigations, among others. Ipaye, also disclosed that the state has developed a better working relationship with other stakeholders in the criminal justice sectors through the regular Criminal Justice Stakeholder’s meeting, to find lasting solutions to issues affecting
WITNESS for the new A owners of Newswatch yesterday admitted before a Federal High Court, Lagos, that the publication went out of the newsstands for better packaging. The witness, Mr. Bankole Makinde, who is currently the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of National Mirror Newspapers, while being cross-examined by counsel to the minority shareholders, Adekunle Oyesanya (SAN), said the operations of the magazine were halted in order to repackage it. “The new management, led by Ibrahim, didn’t stop operations of the magazine, but the publication was suspended for only one month so as to better repackage same”, he declared. Makinde disclosed that he joined Newswatch Communications Limited (NCL) in August 1993 as group editor. Makinde, who explained that he was not a member of the board as at the time Ibrahim and Global Media Mirror Limited came into
“There were modifications after the takeover. New vehicles, computers, tables and other modern equipment were purchased to be able to meet up with modern journalism practice in Nigeria.” When asked if he has formerly resigned from NCL, the witness maintained that there was no time he resigned, but rather he was redeployed to the National Mirror Newspapers. Newswatch, pointed out that there was an agreement between Ibrahim and the minority shareholders. “I was involved in the negotiation that led into the agreement which has to do with the sale of 51 per cent shares of Newswatch Communications Limited to Ibrahim and Global Media Mirror Limited,” he stated. Makinde also informed the court that the operations of the magazine were moved from its Oregun office to its current office at Broad Street 15 months after takeover. He added: “There were modifications after the takeover. New vehicles, computers, tables and other modern equipment were purchased to be able to meet up with modern journalism practice in Nigeria.” When asked if he has formerly resigned from NCL,
the witness maintained that there was no time he resigned, but rather he was redeployed to the National Mirror Newspapers. Earlier, Makinde had, while being led in evidence by counsel to the respondents, Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), affirmed his statement on oath dated September 27, 2013, just as he prayed the court to adopt same as his statement on oath. Makinde is testifying in the suit filed by two minority shareholders of (NCL), Mr. Nuhu Wada Aruwa and Prof. Jibril Aminu, challenging the acquisition of majority shares of the magazine by Ibrahim and his firm. The petitioners had also alleged that the new management team led by Ibrahim assumed control of the company illegally through a Share Purchase Agreement
UK-based S’South indigenes urge Jonathan to declare for 2015 From Willie Etim, Yenagoa
Ibrahim suspended Newswatch to repackage it, witness tells court By Joseph Onyekwere
the reported threat by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) to sue the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, at the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing it as mischievous, contentious, provocative and capable of chaos in the country. The motion, moved yesterday by the Deputy Speaker, Alwell Asiforo Okere, as a matter of urgent public importance, held that Ihejirika should rather be commended and honoured for rendering selfless service to the country, not vilified. Their resolution followed the call by a former senator and legal practitioner, Mr. Emma Nwaka, on President Goodluck Jonathan to redress, at his earliest convenience, the anomaly of leaving out the South East region in his recent appointment of new security chiefs. Nwaka told The Guardian in Umuahia on Monday that redressing the imbalance was necessary “given the multiethnic diversity of the nation and the crisis of confidence among the ethnic groups.” He noted that the present constitution of the high echelon of security agencies is skewed against the South East, with the Ministry of Defence portfolio also likely to go to the North, which currently has the Inspector-General of Police, National Security Adviser, Chief of De-
IGERIANS of South-South N origin based in the United Kingdom have called (SPA). At the last hearing of the matter, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch Newspapers Limited (NNL), Mr. Moses Jolayemi, had informed the court that Newswatch had returned to the news stands a better product after a brief pause for repackaging. Jolayemi, who was then being cross-examined by Oyesanya, said it was not correct to suggest that the magazine had been suspended indefinitely and no longer exists. The MD, who had tendered as exhibits three documents sought to be tendered in evidence and which were accordingly admitted as exhibits by Justice Ibrahim Buba, said NNL had held a board meeting since he assumed office as the MD on two or three occasions. The minority shareholders are urging the court to, among others, set aside the SPA, the basis of which Ibrahim assumed majority shareholding in the company. Further hearing in the matter has been adjourned till February 27 and 28, 2014.
fence Staff and Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, whose personnel now bear arms.” Nwaka, who is the current chairman of Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), further faulted the northern elders for not finding it fit to caution the Fulani herdsmen, whose mindless clashes with host-communities across the country often lead to avoidable loss of lives and property. He warned that the next major security challenge Nigeria might face would arise from the impunity of the Fulani herdsmen unless the federal authorities and opinion leaders in the North took urgent steps to arrest the situation. However, the state lawmakers commended President Jonathan for appointing Ihejirika as COAS from 2010 to 2014, stating that the ex-army chief acquitted himself even as he led the army in fighting Boko Haram and other forms of terrorism to ensure peace and security in the nation. In his motion, Okere pointed out that all security agencies participated in the military actions against Boko Haram, especially in North Eastern Nigeria, where state of emergency was declared. To that end, the Chief of Defence Staff should be held accountable for the actions of the security agencies, not the COAS. The lawmakers recalled that there were military operations in Abia against kidnapping, Odi in Rivers State, and Zaki Biam in Plateau State to restore peace, wondering why the northern elders did not consider these.
on President Goodluck Jonathan to shun the antics of the opposition political parties against his intention to contest the 2015 election, stating that his right to run for second term is constitutional and divine. According to the group, though the faulty rating of his performance and the distorted judgment of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is unhealthy and provocative, Jonathan has divine obligation to Nige-
rians to run for a second term in office. The group, comprising professionals and technocrats, under the aegis of SouthSouth Peoples Assembly, said Jonathan should remain focused on his administration’s transformation programme. In a statement sent via e-mail and signed by its Chairman, Comrade Igho Derek Emuobome, the group said that though criticisms and healthy appraisals of an administration is needed for growth, the ongoing verbal attacks and attempts to deface Jonathan’s achievements were wrong and should be stopped.
8 | PHOTONEWSEXTRA Thursday, January 30, 2014
THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (right); Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa and Prince Osamor Erediauwa (backing camera), when the governor paid the Oba a condolence visit in Benin
Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), George Uriesi (fourth left); Manager, Akure Airport, Sheeba Victoria; Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah and Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, with contractors and staff during the inspection tour of the remodelling terminal project and construction of a new perishable cargo terminal in Akure.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (second right) flanked by the Team Leader of Team Seven of Senior Course 36 of Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Brig.-Gen. Olubunmi Oyebade (right); Team Coordinator, Captain Anthony Nweke (second left) and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Segun Abolarinwa, when the team students paid a courtesy call on the governor in his office in Ibadan.
Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State (middle) with top government and management officials of Distell Worldwide during the laying of the foundation of the initial N8.5 billion facility of Distell at Ozubulu, Anambra State.
Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi (right) receiving a plague from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Jos, represented by Brig. General Gbolahan Oyefesobi, when officers and students of the college paid a courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt.
Benue State, Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Orduen Abunku (right); Head of Corporate Affairs, Bio-Organics Nutrient Systems Limited, Grace Beke; Head of Technical, Bio-Organics Limited, Ayo Tella and Benue State Nutrition Officer, Catherine Anger, at the official launch of the Enrich MNP product in Benue.
Director of Commerce, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Hakeem Adeniji (left); Chairman, Scientific Committee, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Bartholomew Brai and Managing Director, Nutricima Limited, Suneel Vasudevan, at the launch of Nutricima Mega Cash Promo in Lagos.
Chief Marketing Officer, MTN, Larry Annetts (left); General Manager, Innovation and Product Development, MTN Nigeria, Ugonna Nwoye; Director, WA Hosting Dept., Huawei Technologies, Paxtong Wang and Founder, Level5Lab, Chika Nwobi, at the MTN-HUAWEI SDP Developer Conference in Lagos. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI
Thursday, January 30, 2014
THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com
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WorldReport Conflicts, humanitarian crises top agenda as AU leaders’ summit begins S African heads of state A and government begin their 22nd summit today in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, conflicts and humanitarian crises rather than growing economies and development may top the agenda of the two-day meeting. And ahead of the two-day meeting, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom reasoned that the war in Central African Republic (CAR) and South Sudan are key priorities. The meeting’s official theme is “agriculture and food security”, but nations will be bogged down yet again trying to resolve conflicts in fel-
• Equatorial Guinea may host summit in June • Dlamini-Zuma denies leaving post for ANC low member states. In another development, officials said African leaders and western diplomats will hold a pledging conference on Saturday to raise cash for the African Union-led MISCA mission in war-torn Central African Republic “What we hope is strong support for MISCA, to enable it to implement its mandate more effectively,” the director of the AU peace and Security Council, El-Ghassim Wane, told Agence France Presse (AFP). Wane said additional sup-
port was needed to “speed up the restoration of security and create conditions for successful completion” of MISCA’s mandate. Also, Equatorial Guinea is likely to host the June-July yearly summit of the African Union (AU) following a decision taken during the week in the run-up to the 22nd summit of this pan-African organisation, a diplomatic source told Xinhua. This year’s summit will come just two years after Malabo, Equatorial Guinea’s capital, hosted a similar sum-
mit in 2011. This was one of the resolutions adopted during the 24th ordinary session of the Executive Council, an AU ministerial consultative platform that has been meeting in the Ethiopian capital since Monday. Meanwhile, AU Commission chief, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, said yesterday she would stay on in her post, dismissing reports she was standing down to represent the ruling ANC in parliament in South Africa. “I have no intention of not finishing my term,” she told reporters at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Libyan deputy PM escapes assassination HE Deputy Prime Minister T of Libya Sadiq Abdulkarim yesterday survived unhurt after gunmen fired on his car in Tripoli in an attack reflecting the violent chaos plaguing the North African nation two years after Muammar Gaddafi’s fall. The Libyan government is struggling to contain dozens of unruly militias, former rebel brigades and militants who kept their guns after the NATO-backed revolt against Gaddafi in 2011. Abdulkarim said he had been attacked on his way from the Interior Ministry to the General National Congress assembly. He is
also interim Interior Minister since the previous minister quit several months ago. “I tell those who did it that Libya is bigger than you and Libya’s men will not be threatened by bullets, guns or rockets,” Abdulkarim said a two-minute statement on television. The state news agency said he had not been wounded in the attack. Abdulkarim, who appeared healthy in his television appearance, said he had returned to work afterwards. The identity of the attackers was unclear, an Interior Ministry official said.
Police kill three protesters in South Africa OUTH African police have Stesters reportedly killed three prowho attacked a police station during public violence in northern South Africa. A report by Xinhua quoted Police Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi as telling Times Live that security agents opened fire at protesters who attacked the police station in Relela outside Tzaneen in Limpopo Province. Two protesters were killed, bringing the death toll to three since violence erupted after the mutilated body of a woman was found in the area. Two people were taken in for
questioning over the murder, but were later released because of lack of evidence. This infuriated community members who responded by burning down the homes of the suspects. In ensuing violence, a 15year-old boy was shot dead on Friday allegedly by police. In the escalated violence, 15 police officers were injured, three critically, and 19 police vehicles were damaged, said Hangwani. Earlier this month, four protesters were also killed by police during a protest over poor service delivery in a black township north of Johannesburg.
S’ Sudan frees detainees accused of coup plot Sudan has freed sevShadOUTH en political figures who been arrested on suspi-
U.S. President Barack Obama with supporters, local politicians and store employees after repeating some of the same policy proposals from his State of the Union speech the night before at Costco in Lanham, Maryland…yesterday. PHOTO: AFP
Obama vows to bypass divided Congress over inaction what was termed as trywill I. So, wherever and whenIhisNingsecond to breathe new life into • Unveils executive orders, decisions ever I can take steps without term after a trou- Obama declared his inde- est, collectively amounting to legislation to expand opporbled year, President Barack Obama has in a State of the Union address vowed to bypass a divided Congress and take action on his own to bolster America’s middle class. Addressing the House of Representatives chamber before lawmakers, Supreme Court justices and VIP guests,
pendence from Congress by unveiling a series of executive orders and decisions – moves likely to inflame already tense relations between the Democratic president and Republicans. A report by Reuters stated that while the U.S. president’s rhetoric was high flying, his actions were relatively mod-
an outpouring of frustration at the pace of legislative action with Republicans in control of the House of Representatives and able to slow the president’s agenda. “I’m eager to work with all of you,” Obama told the lawmakers gathered for the yearly speech. “But America does not stand still - and neither
tunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do.” Obama’s orders included a wage hike for federal contract workers, creation of a “starter savings account” to help millions of people save for retirement, and plans to establish new fuel efficiency standards for trucks.
Merkel rebukes Washington, Britain over surveillance HANCELLOR Angela C Merkel of Germany has issued a strong rebuke to the United States and Britain over sweeping surveillance and spying activities reported by fugitive IT contractor Edward Snowden. In a major speech to parliament ahead of talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry tomorrow, Merkel said that Western powers sacrificing freedom in the quest for
security were sending the wrong signal to “billions of people living in undemocratic states”. “Actions in which the ends justify the means, in which everything that is technically possible is done, violate trust, they sow distrust,” she said. “The end result is not more security but less.” Merkel, whose own mobile phone was allegedly monitored by the U.S. National
Security Agency (NSA), is planning to travel to Washington in coming months for talks with President Barack Obama. Tomorrow, she will hold talks with Kerry “on the transatlantic partnership and global political issues”, her spokesman Steffen Seibert said. Merkel stressed that “Germany could not wish for a better partner than the
United States” but also conceded that the allies remain “far apart” on the “ethical question” of freedom versus security in state surveillance. “Is it right that our closest partners such as the United States and Britain gain access to all imaginable data, saying this is for their own security and the security of their partners?” asked Merkel.
cion of plotting a coup, partially meeting a rebel demand at peace talks focused on ending weeks of fighting. Reuters stated that the seven, who were handed over to neighbouring Kenya, were among a group of 11 detained after fighting broke out in South Sudan’s capital in mid-December and spread across the world’s newest country. “We don’t feel bitter, we don’t feel the president is our enemy,” one of the freed men, South Sudan’s former justice minister John Luk
Jok, told reporters in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. A major donor, Norway said Uganda should start withdrawing troops from South Sudan, where they have been backing government forces against rebels, to avoid worsening a crisis in the world’s newest state. The comments were the clearest statement of concern from a member of the troika of South Sudan’s main Western backers about the impact of Uganda’s military presence. South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir accused his former vice president Riek Machar of starting the fighting in a bid to seize power.
‘Africa a hothouse forcannot extremist groups’ effectively counter
Africa had SforUB-SAHARAN turned into a “hothouse” extremists staging lethal
terror attacks, United States (U.S.) intelligence chief, James Clapper, warned lawmakers yesterday. Presenting a yearly threat assessment, Clapper said America’s spy agencies believed Sub-Saharan Africa would “almost certainly” experience more security turmoil in 2014. “The continent has become a hothouse for the emergence of extremist and rebel groups, which increasingly launch deadly asymmetric attacks, and which government forces often
due to a lack of capability and sometimes will,” said Clapper, according to a prepared text. He also said that countries in the Sahel region faced the threat of terror attacks due to their backing of a French military intervention in Mali launched a year ago. “Governments in Africa’s Sahel region – particularly Chad, Niger, Mali, Mauritania – are at risk of terrorist attacks, primarily as retribution for these countries’ support to the January 2013 French-led international military intervention in Mali,” he said.
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Thursday, January 30, 2014 www.ngrguardiannews.com
Pauline Nsa, MD/CEO FBN Microfinance Bank
The Agric-YES Scheme bungalows at Epe
Lagos, bank’s novel partnership to tackle graduate unemployment farming etc at their well-built farm settlement in Epe. The trained farmers form themselves into cooperative groups to access the fund. We disburse the fund to them in stages, at the point of acquiring the needed equipment and at the point of getting, for example, day-old chicks in the case of poultry. Our bank’s function is basically to monitor the progress of the agric projects, recover the money from the farmers and remit same to the government so that the fund can be revolving. Do you disburse the money to individual beneficiaries or to the cooperative groups? We disburse the funds to the cooperative groups, which in turn releases it to their members. What is the duration or tenor of the loans? Seven years with one-year moratorium to serve as gestation period for the various agric projects before they start yielding returns. How are the loans to be repaid? Is it on installment basis or in lump some? It is on installment basis as the projects involve several production cycles within the prescribed tenor of seven years. However, before the projects start yielding returns, the beneficiaries are paid monthly salaries to support their day-to-day living. Research has proved that Nigerians have a poor loan repayment culture. How do you intend to address this in the management of the government fund put under your care? We have a branch in Epe, which, apart from serving our customers in that area, also focuses on the monitoring of the projects. All the What role does your bank play in the Agric- cooperatives involved in the projects are mandated to open business accounts with us Yes scheme? The Agric-Yes scheme is about young gradu- from where disbursements, salaries and ates that were trained on various agricultur- repayments are made. It is important to note that in handling this al farming endeavours by the Lagos State project, we apply the same approach with Government. The project is commendable and I think other states should emulate it to which we do our normal business. This includes proper assessment, verification of keep unemployed youths off the streets. both the beneficiaries and their guarantors. Our role is to disburse N500 million to the Agri-YES beneficiaries. The fund was released We also ensure that the money for equipment required for the projects is paid directly to us late last year and we have since been to the vendors upon presentation of acceptdisbursing it to the beneficiaries. However, able performance bonds. Thereafter, we comwe delayed making it public until the projmence disbursement and monitoring. ect was launched by His Excellency, GoverThe fund is released to us through the Lagos nor Raji Fashola (SAN). State Microfinance Institution (LASMI). We Under the scheme, the Lagos State Governmonitor its use to ensure it is paid back. ment trains the graduates in various agric The intention of the government really is to fields namely, poultry, fishery, vegetable AGOS State Government recently gave FBN Microfinance Bank half a billion Naira to fund the States’s Agricultural Youths Empowerment Scheme (AGRIC-YES). Under the scheme, the State Government had trained not less than 400 graduate farmers, who engage in aquaculture, poultry and crop cultivation, among others, using modern, fully automated equipment. The youths were provided a modern farm settlement in Araga, Epe area of Lagos. The programme is aimed at creating a generation of modern farmers, while providing job opportunities and promoting food security. The fund given to FBN Microfinance through the Lagos State Microfinance Institution (LASMI) is for on-lending to the beneficiaries to acquire inputs, tractors, crops and other essentials to set up their own farms in the fully residential agric settlement, where the government recently inaugurated 200 units of two-bedroom apartments to improve the living standards of the participants. In this interview, the Managing Director/CEO, FBN Microfinance bank, Mrs. Pauline Nsa, provides insight into the modalities of the fund and the role FBN Microfinance bank plays in the scheme. She also spoke on the license the Central Bank recently granted to the bank to operate a National Microfinance Bank. Mrs. Nsa spoke to Godfrey Okpugie, Deputy Lagos City Editor. Excerpts.
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ensure that the fund revolves so it can be assessed by others in future. We send quarterly reports to the government through LASMI. The project is very important to us because we believe its success shall motivate other State Governments to replicate the model in their states and thus emulate the Lagos State Government that is always first in initiating laudable and sustainable projects. At what rate do you give out the loans? At a single digit interest rate determined by Lagos State Government/LASMI. Now let’s go to the new licence granted to you some weeks ago by the CBN, could you tell us more about it? The revised microfinance banks’ policy from the CBN stipulates three categories of microfinance banks namely, unit, state and national. FBN MFB’s conviction of the huge potential in the sector got its Board to approve the enhancement of its Licence from State to National to tap the opportunities existing in other parts of the nation. This has also resulted in raising its paid up capital from N1billion to N2billion. Equipped with the National licence and additional capital, we are prepared to cautiously expand our services to other states in the federation, beginning from the first quarter of 2014. Also, due to the success of our operations in Lagos State since 2009, we have had potential clients across Nigeria clamouring for the extension of these services to other parts of the nation. In fact, our plan is to impact the country’s micro entrepreneurs such that we become a reference point in the sector and fulfill our vision of being the microfinance services provider of ‘first choice’. So, the national licence CBN just granted is moving us to the realization of our dream. What does your bank stand to gain in shifting focus from operating in one state to all over the country? Firstly, expansion of our services and by implication more impact and profitability. Secondly, as a member of FBN Holdings Plc; people have associated the group with integrity and reliability over the years. We believe we can leverage on our brand loyalty and impact our nation positively. This explains why many micro clients prefer to do business with us. Before you decide to expand to other parts of the country, you must have been making profit from your operations in Lagos state. To what can you attribute your success in Lagos where
“The Agric-Yes scheme is about young graduates that were trained on various agricultural farming endeavours by the Lagos State Government. The project is commendable and I think other states should emulate it to keep unemployed youths off the streets. Our role is to disburse N500 million to the Agri-YES beneficiaries… The fund is released to us through the Lagos State Microfinance Institution (LASMI). We monitor its use to ensure it is paid back… to ensure that the fund revolves so it can be assessed by others in future.” many of your competitors have been closing shop due to harsh operating environment? Our success is largely based on the foundation that was laid before the business took off. Microfinance is a hands-on business. This means one has to be actively involved. So you need things like IT that can support the business and enable the capturing of those small transactions involved. You also need trained staff to manage the business and monitor transactions very closely. The other important factor is that we have a very strong brand – the FBN brand – which has been tested and trusted and is truly dependable. The brand has very loyal customers. Some customers are doing business at the upper level and the smaller ones come to us. We have leveraged on this over the period. In summary, our success has been based on the group loyalty, trained staff, adequate preparation and a robust IT that is able to capture all our transactions. What about the interest rate on loans to your customers; does that also contribute to your success? Yes! Our interest rate is relatively lower in the industry due to our funding source. We have always had funds. While some microfinance have liquidity challenges resorting to borrowing very expensive funds, liquidity has not been an issue with us. Our interest rate has been relatively lower than many microfinance banks that have to go to commercial banks to borrow to on-lend. As a successful microfinance bank, do you intend to avail infant competitors of you professional skills to nurture them to contribute their quotas to poverty alleviation in the country? Oh! Sure. The market is quite large given the percentages of the population in the sector. The more developed the sector the better in terms of credibility and long-term sustainability. We are an active member of the MFB Association and get involved in its activities like training, experience sharing and other advisory services. There is a huge opportunity in this sector, we believe the microfinance market is large and it will be in our interest to have other microfinance banks operate sustainably to create credibility in the sector. By the time we have a more spacious Head Office, we shall be involved in training some of our competitors as the more effective the sector is the better.
THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com
Thursday, January 30, 2014
This is Lagos
Compensation calls reecho at 12th bomb blast memorial By Tope Templer Olaiya, Assistant Lagos City Editor T long last, victims of the January 27, 2002 bomb blast have not died in vain, particularly for the hundreds that drowned at the Oke-Afa canal while trying to escape the thunderous sounds of explosive device that horrific Sunday. First, they got a befitting well-managed cenotaph built at the mass burial site, then the street adjoining the canal was renamed January 27. Every year since the catastrophic disaster, markets around the Jakande/Oke-Afa axis are shut on January 27, while families of victims congregate to pray for the repose of the souls of their lost ones. During the 10th anniversary in 2012, Lagos State government responded to calls for compensation and handed cheques of N250,000 each to 70 surviving victims. Also, a healthcare centre built by Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), which initially bore the name of the governor, Babatunde Fashola, was renamed January 27 Health Centre when the governor commissioned the facility for use. The ceiling came at the 12th memorial on Monday when a much-needed link bridge connecting Ejigbo to Ajao Estate was named January 27. It was a fitting acknowledgement of the sacrifices of those who perished at the spot, as it would keep their memories in perpetuity. Monday’s commissioning of the January 27 two bridges and four roads, however, did not put an end to clamour for compensation by some of the victim’s relatives. Nurudeen Oyegbemi, who led the Ikeja bomb blast victims to the venue of the commissioning, said the state gov-
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Officials of the Lagos State Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) on a routine patrol arresting some men for urinating in an open public place at the Adeniji end of the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos in defiance of the provisions of the state law on environmental sanitation... on Tuesday.
LAGOS ASSEMBLY DIARY
Fashola proposes new bills on education, sports fund By Wole Oyebade OVERNOR Babatunde G Fashola (SAN) on Tuesday proposed a bill on Lagos State Examinations Board and another on Sports fund to the State House of Assembly for consideration and passage into law. They are ‘a bill for a law to provide for the establishment of the Lagos State Examinations Board and other connected matters’ and ‘a bill for a law to provide for the establishment of the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund and a board of trustees to manage the fund. In a related development, the House urged land owners in the State to perfect the registration of their land titles in the bid to end land frequent ownership tussles in the state. The Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, among others, made the call at the public hearing on a bill to harmonise all laws relating to land ownership in Lagos. A letter written by state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, read on the floor of the Assembly, noted that the Executive Council, at its meeting on January 13, 2014, resolved to present the Lagos State Examinations Board bill 2014, occasioned by the need to establish the existing Exami-
•House holds public hearing on land ownership law nation Board by law and align its activities to the demands of modern and professional assessment bodies. Ipaye noted that the board had been in existence since 1979/80, when the federal government directed that all states of the federation should set up examinations board to conduct and certify all categories of examinations for their state. The proposed bill, therefore, seeks to develop and provide quality assessment and examination services for all the State’s public schools and private educational institutions requiring such services from the board. Section 8 of the bill, among others, empowers the board to make rules that would regulate the conducts of examinations, withhold or cancel the results of all the candidates involve in examination malpractices, engage offices in the educational sector to assist in the administration of examinations conducted by the board. In a similar letter written by Ipaye, the Executive Council presented the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund bill 2014 to the House for consideration. Currently, the Lagos State sports endowment fund law 1990 provides that the fund shall be managed by a body known as
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the Management Committee for the Lagos State Sports Endowment Fund. The bill, however, proposes that the fund shall be managed by a body to be known as the Board of Trustees for the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund. On land matters, Ikuforiji noted that the House was putting the law in place to combine four existing laws on land matters in the State, which would make the people to live together in peace. He said: “Our resolve is to make the process easier and rancour free because we want our people to live in peace.” In his overview of the bill, Sanai Agunbiade, representing Ikorodu I constituency, explained that the bill was meant to protect the interest of land owners, adding that if passed into law, the bill stands to curb the activities of land grabbers and also reduce the stress of acquiring land property. Agunbiade also added that the bill would make transitions of land very easy. The Permanent Secretary of Lands Bureau, Hakeem MuriOkunola, in his contribution said the bill would in no way contravene the existing land use charge, adding that landowners need not re-register any land property with existing certificate of occupancy.
ernment left out 84 people when it handed out cheques during the 10th memorial. “The state government has the full list of victims numbering 154, which was published in the national dailies when the incident happened. We did not just assemble ourselves to defraud government. It would be unfair to leave out 84 of us. What the governor has done is heart warming, but the exercise should be completed,” he said. Oyegbemi took a swipe at the Federal Government for abandoning their responsibility to families of victims 12 years after. “It’s sad that the Federal Government, who should take all responsibility for the disaster, has abandoned us to our fate. “In 2003, they set up a committee, headed by then Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Ufot Ekatte, to look into our matter. We were attended to at the former House of Assembly complex at Race Course, Onikan. Since then, we have not heard from them. Several letters have been written to concerned ministries in Abuja with no response.” In his address at the commissioning to traditional rulers, community leaders, politicians, party stalwarts, residents and corporate citizens, which included the Ojon of Ejigbo, Oba Moruf Ojoola; Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka; and managing director of Chi Limited, Roy Deepanjan, Fashola said he was willing to bring a closure to the issue of compensation for victims’ families. “I still hear that there are issues of compensation. As willing as we have been to pay compensation to survivals of victims, there is no amount of compensation we pay that can bring back the lives we have lost. You must assist us in a way that helps us to verify who the
real beneficiaries of compensation are and we cannot have compensation every anniversary. “I am ready to pay compensation to anybody we may have missed out, but you must give us a very clear basis for verification so we can put a closure to it.” The governor berated the Federal Government for failing in its duties and causing the avoidable death 12 years ago. “It was because a national government led by the PDP failed to do its duties. It was their responsibility to manage bombs and the military. “Since then, they have pretended as if nothing was wrong. But the Lagos State government responded by rebuilding the schools and hospital damaged in Ikeja cantonment. That is not our responsibility but the people who suffer and live in this community are our responsibility. “In the same vein, my predecessor promised that a bridge would be built to link the two communities; I have come here to fulfill that promise. We not only now have a bridge; we have two bridges and four roads. “The reason you have two bridges is because there were houses on the alignment and instead of demolishing the houses to build one bridge, we decided to redesign the project to preserve your properties. It cost a little more but it shows the character of our government that unless there is no other way, we will not touch your houses.” Fashola used the occasion to address the issue of lingering Iyana Ejigbo road repair. “Our contractors are on that road. The problem, which the Commissioner of Works has briefed me, is finding a major drainage solution that if we do not solve and we attempt to do the road, it would not last. Be patient with us,” he pleaded.
Kudirat Oyenekan Street, Oke-Afa, Ejigbo...road leading to the newly constructed January 27 Bridge linking Ejigbo to Ajao Estate and built in memory of the bomb blast victims.
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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Politics 2015: Muazu says no automatic ticket in PDP From Adamu Abuh and Terhemba Daka,
HE national chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Adamu Muazu has said no member of the party holding elective office in the country would be given automatic ticket to re-contest. Speaking with journalists at the end of a closed door parley with members of the House of Representatives caucus of the party, he noted that it would be undemocratic to hand out tickets to members of the party without adhering to due process. Muazu who was accompanied to the parley by members of the PDPGovernors’ Forum and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party observed that, “Automatic tickets are given by parties that are undemocratic. The PDP is not one of such parties. We have a democratic process and those that deserve it would surely be there.” At the start of the parley held at the National Assembly complex, the House Majority Leader, Mulikat Akande-Adeola had demanded automatic tickets for her colleagues noting; “Members of this honourable caucus would want to be reassured on the party’s promise of automatic tickets in the forthcoming elections, their welfare and opportunity to nominate membership of various committees from their respective constituencies whenever the need arises.” Acknowledging that the PDP had gone through trying periods in recent time, she described the parley which is the first time in the history of the National Assembly as a welcome development. Urging the Executive to keep their promises to members of the National Assembly, she remarked that the parley would serve as a beginning of the process for continuous dialogue on issues affecting the party and the members. Mu’azu who took turn to exchange banters with the lawmakers described the parley as the dawn of a new era, adding that it was unfortunate there had been a disconnect between the party leadership and the PDP caucus in the National Assembly. Reminiscing how the PDP was formed, he enjoined the lawmakers to remain loyal to the PDP which gave them the tickets that took them to where they are today. I will appreciate your loyalty to the party. “This House is a big house, it gave you the platform to be here and you owe it a duty to the party to remain loyal. We know that loyalty
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Muazu who was accompanied to the parley by members of the PDP-Governors’ Forum and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party observed that, “Automatic tickets are given by parties that are undemocratic. The PDP is not one of such parties. We have a democratic process and those that deserve it would surely be there.”
• Mimiko, Obi at PDP parley with Reps
Tambuwal pays. I can read from your body language what you need.” At the occasion attended by the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and other principal officers of the House, Muazu faulted the notion that the parley was initiated out of panic by a recent directive by the opposition All progressive congress (APC) to its members to block the passage of the 2014 budget and other legislative proposals from President Goodluck Jonathan. Last week. The APC had at the end of its NEC meeting in Abuja specifically directed its members who boast of a commanding numerical strength at the National Assembly to block the passage of the 2014 Appropriation Act, the confirmation of the Service Chiefs and the new ministerial nominees until the spate of impunity and lawlessness allegedly being perpetrated by the Presidency in Rivers State and other parts of the country are brought to an end. Many view the visit by Muazu as a panicky measure aimed at using all feasible means to avert the possibility by members of the APC from carrying out their threat which could shut down the nation’s economy. The parley is believed to be aimed at strengthening the resolve by members of the PDP and their colleagues of like minds in the Labour, Accord and All progressive grand alliance (APGA) parties who had threatened fire and brimstone if their APC colleagues dare make the move to carry out the directive on the blockade of Bills which include the 2014 budget. Spokesperson of the group, Mr Bitrus Kaze (PDP/Plateau) who met under the aegis of the National Unity Group particularly threat-
Muazu ened their APC counterparts that they “would be met with robust resistance” if they dare stand the way of any legislative proposals, including the 2014 Appropriation Act. Kaze had warned that members of his group were left with no option but to stand up against the APC’s antics of plunging the country into economic and political crises. Noting that the APC’s latest directives are acts of provocation and as far as legislative maneuvers are concerned, adding that the APC members will once fail in their antics. He thereby declared that his group has resolved inter –alia: *That any attempt to tamper with the 2014 budget and hence the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan administration, would be met with robust resistance; no Nigerian anywhere will stand by and watch an opposition greedy with mischief and power lust, frustrate the hopes of tens of millions of Nigerians with regard to health care, schools and universities, agricultural grants and projects, foreign investment promotion, water supplies, road works, utilities and other infrastructure including electricity, solar street lights and a dozen other necessities and obligations of Nigeria as a responsible nation whose duties are enshrined in Chapter II of the 1999 Federal Constitution. If this budget is not passed soon, there will be hunger in the land, and the APC plan for anarchy will have succeeded. *We in the Nigerian Unity Group of the House of Representatives, wish to add our voice to those calling for peace over the tension in Rivers State as mentioned above, and in Ogun State as well as Ekiti. Where
APC factions have violently engaged themselves as sitting APC governors try to foreclose challengers. We are also hoping the situation in Kwara, Borno and Kano occasioned by APC thugs forcibly taking measures against the PDP. *Given the wrong premise upon which they are operating, we dispute the bogus claims of majority status by APC and call on our colleagues in the opposition to always strive to advise their colleagues to obey judicial pronouncements, no matter how unpalatable to their political dreams and ambitions. Section 68 is clear about elected members and their parties – you don’t cross-carpet when and how you like. *That further, we call on those purporting to act as spokesmen of the House to always endeavour to wear the toga of non-partisanship and to always be sure what they are feeding the public are based strictly on House resolutions rather than their partisan ends. *That we fully commend the leadership of the House for the skilful handling of a difficult set of circumstances and continue to urge them to continue to put the interests of the nation ahead at all times. Kaze insisted that the PDP believed to be at par with the APC in the House of Representatives with a membership strength of 171 on both sides still has an overwhelming majority to go it alone without the APC based on the recent court ruling. However, Muazu noted that there was nothing panicky about the parley which he described as a family meeting aimed at forging a common bond among members of the party.
At the occasion attended by the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and other principal officers of the House, Muazu faulted the notion that the parley was initiated out of panic by a recent directive by the opposition All progressive congress (APC) to its members to block the passage of the 2014 budget and other legislative proposals from President Goodluck Jonathan. Niger state Governor, Babangida Aliyu who spoke in the same vein remarked that the emergence of the APC which is a good omen to the PDP do not constitute a threat in any manner to the PDP. He asserted, “If for any reason other people do not want to come back no problem. You see it is a good development that people have an alternative to be able to say look I am moving to another party. If you remember when all these merger talks came up, I was happy because I knew it would put our party on its toes to be able to get things right and we have started that way now. Mulikat Akande also dismissed the APC threat in the House of Representatives noting: “APC threat: not at all. The PDP is the biggest party in Africa. There is no threat. The problem was that we have had our challenges in the party and you know that you can’t have such a party without a bit of problem. What we are doing right now are steps in the right direction to ensure that the party gets back on track.” Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Godswil Akpabio who incidentally was accompanied by his colleagues from Ondo and Anambra States, Olusegun Mimiko and Peter Obi to the venue of the parley expressed readiness to ensure a harmonious relationship between the PDP leadership, the Governors’ Forum and members of the party in the National Assembly. Noting that the crises that dogged the PDP would have been averted if there was such a cordial relationship, he assured that whatever pact reached at the parley will be adhered to by all the parties concerned. Akpabio described the presence of Mimiko and Obi, who left the parley barely five minutes after showing up, as an unspoken and uncommon appearance and noted that “whatever we seal here will remain Abuja Accord. We Governors will go as Field Commanders to seal the pact.” In attendance at the parley were the PDP Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, PDP Women Leader, Kema Chikwe, Delta State Governor Emmanuel Oduaghan, Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State, Theodore Orji of Abia State, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, and the Deputy Governors of Kogi and Jigawa states
Thursday, January 30, 2014 13
THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com
TheMetroSection Briefs Umeh Kalu Bar Centre for commissioning
Abandoned to their fate...!
N line with the celebration Ianniversary of 2013 Law week and 12th of the Ohafia
• Inside LASUTH Surgical Emergency Ward, four-month-old twins, others seek help By Wole Oyebade
MERGENCY units in hospitals E around the world are special departments known for resuscitation of dying patients. In fact, a pro-active government like Lagos State has created ambulance services to bring patients into its hospitals for emergency services. But the receiving facility –Surgical Emergency Ward of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja – may actually be doing more than stabilize the critically ill patients in Lagos State. Today, the surgical emergency unit is fast becoming a home for abandoned patients as well as destitute, handpicked by the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS). A visit to the section was very revealing. Right from the terrace of the burglary-proof protected entrance, the pungent smell and voice exchanges would tell of another overstretched facility. Besides LASAMBUS ambulances, it is Afinjuomo with her babies not unusual for taxis, tri-cycles (other- hospital, without family members or wise called Keke-Maruwa) even the relatives to call on. much-restricted Okada to rush dying One of Afinjuomo’ twins, Kehinde, patients to the Emergency unit. suffered a third-degree burns on the Two security officials, stationed at foot. The four-month-old twin has lost the gate, are usually the first responone foot while the other is still heavily dent to patients upon arrival. After a strapped. quick inspection on the casualty, they Afinjuomo, 35, told The Guardian would say “make una wait o… we no that the burns were as a result of a fire get bed for inside… just wait…” More accident in her one-room apartment critically ill patients start receiving at Badore, Ajah, Lagos. It was during a treatment from the terrace. night some couple of days before The delay is often not unconnected Christmas. According to her, sparks with the situation inside the emerfrom loose electrical cables lit the bed gency ward, which is chocked with and pillow where she and the twins patients as well as officials. Sections were sleeping. unoccupied are little office-spaces re“The fire started at 2.00a.m.,” she served for attending medical officers. said, “and it caught the pillow, burnA newcomer would hardly want to ing Kehinde’s legs.” breathe from the suffocating air! “I was fast asleep when it started Therein are some patients who and didn’t know on time.” have been abandoned to the facility The baby’s cries of agony from the for over three months. Often brought burning fire did not wake her until it in by LASAMBUS, the patients have no was already bad. The scar would forrelatives or friends to look after them. ever stare her in the face, should the They are at the mercy of public-spirboy survive it. ited citizens and organisations. Afinjuomo who hails from Ilaje, One of them is Funmilayo AfinOndo State, noted that her husband, juomo, and her twin boys. Afinjuomo, identified as Omotuyole, who she met mother of three, is stranded at the in Badore, had abandoned her since
Lawyer dragged to court for refusing to pay rent By Yetunde Ayobami Ojo AGISTRATE M.R Osho-Adebiyi sitting in Magistrate’s Court, Isolo has fixed February 24, 2014 for hearing in a suit filed by Mrs. Beatrice Egboh against a lawyer, Mr Igwe C. Igwe, who allegedly refused to deliver up possession of the three bedroom flat apartment he rented from her. At the resumed hearing of the matter Tuesday, the claimant’s counsel, Mr. Abdulmajid Hassan told the court that the matter was adjourned for hearing and the defendant was absent in court. “At the last adjourned date, the matter was slated for hearing today, defendant was absent again. It has been his tactics to delay this matter. I didn’t get his letter that he will be at High court for another matter today. He was in court at the last adjourned date.” Magistrate Osho-Adebiyi said the defendant has sent letter asking for a further date. She, therefore, ordered claimant counsel to serve on
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him (defendant) the hearing notice and subsequently fixed definite hearing till February 24, 2014. The claimant in his writ delineated MCY/5017/13 filed before the court stated that the defendant (Igwe C.Igwe) rented the plaintiff’s three bedroom flat apartment situated at Block 439, Flat 3, Low Cost Housing Estate, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos under a yearly tenancy and which tenancy was determined by notice to quit on July 31, 2013. “The claimant did serve on the defendant a notice in writing of her intention to recover possession of the said three bedroom flat apartment. Defendant refused and neglect to deliver up possession till date.” Also, claimant claims “immediate possession arrears of rent of N750, 000.00 at the rate of N250,000.00 per annum from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2013 and mean profits at the rate of N21,000.00 per month from April 1, 2013 till possession is given up.”
Ganiyu he last visited the twins some days after they were birthed. She had been sustaining the family from proceeds from the sale of smoked-fish and goodwill of good Samaritans, before the fire incident. She summoned courage to go to a hospital several days after the fire incident. Her first port of call was Gbagada Trauma and Burn Units, Gbagada. She said: “I don’t have money to pay for treatment and no one to help me, so I was treating the wound at home.” When she finally did, one of the foot was already beyond repairs and had to go. It was from Gbagada that she was transferred to LASUTH, riding on the goodwill of the unit till date. Now, with nowhere to go or anyone to turn to, she needs help from well-meaning Nigerians. Another indigent patient, who only identified himself as Ganiyu, is also in the emergency ward. Ganiyu has head injury and was brought into the facility by officials of LASAMBUS, after he was picked at Jibowu, Yaba area of the state in November 2013. Brought in unconscious, he was resuscitated and has since said nothing
PHOTOS: WOLE OYEBADE
more than identified self as ‘Ganiyu’. When he is not sleeping, he is crying for food. Though Ganiyu has been streamed on the television once, no one has shown up for the patient. A slightly different case from Afinjuomo and Ganiyu’s is a 76-year-old grandmother (names withheld) who has been in the ward since November 2013. She was also brought in by LASAMBUS. She has fractures on her limbs after an encounter with a hit-andrun driver at tollgate, on Berger axis of the state. She has since been crawling on the floor, unable to walk. Several efforts by officials to reach out to her family members in Agbowa and Sagamu, Ogun State since November 2013 only yielded fruit some days ago, when someone eventually showed up on her behalf. While officials of the facility were unrelenting in caring for the sick at the ward, they said result-oriented care services would be possible with assistance from families and relatives of patients.
In Ekiti, female student escapes ritual killing From Muyiwa Adeyemi (Head South West Bureau Ado Ekiti) HERE was palpable fear among the students of Government Science College, Iyin Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Council as suspected ritualists stormed the school on Tuesday night and escaped with a female student (names withheld). The 14-year-old victim was said to have complained of headache during the prep and went to the hostel to sleep but her colleagues who left her in the hostel later raised the alarm when they did not see her. While the staffers of the school and the community leaders organised a search team to look for her, the students were said to have gone into a marathon prayer for the young girl described to be “easy going.” But the victim was on Wednesday morning found
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naked and unconscious in a classroom of a Nursery and Primary School located on the outskirts of the town. The Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Kehinde Ojo, who expressed shock over the strange incident, explained that the victim’s housemaster had visited the hostel at night and inquired about the girl’s whereabouts, which her friends could not vividly explain, except that she told them she was sick and left the class that evening. The commissioner said the teacher immediately alerted other colleagues and set up a search party to comb the surroundings of the school that night, but the victim was not found. Ojo explained that the victim was later discovered at a remote section of Femi Balogun Nursery and Primary School in Iyin Ekiti in the early hours of Wednesday
by the school proprietor who reported the incident to the police and the girl was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti for treatment.” Ojo said: “Preliminary investigations have shown that the girl was neither raped nor hit by any hard object, though she is gradually regaining her consciousness because she is responding well to treatment.” The Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Babayemi, said the 14-yearold student got missing during prep time on Tuesday and was later found naked in a private school the subsequent day. Babayemi, however, said nobody has been arrested in connection with the heinous crime, but assured that the culprits would be apprehended.
branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abia State, the Umeh Kalu Bar Centre built and donated to the branch by the Abia State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Umeh Kalu, will be commissioned tomorrow by the governor of the state, Chief Theodore Orji. According to Kalu, the construction of the Bar Centre is my little way of showing appreciation to the profession that has given me relevance and my contribution to the ongoing efforts by the Chief T. A. Orji- led administration in the provision of needed infrastructure in the justice delivery sector in the state. To grace the occasion is the governor of Abia state, Chief T.A Orji, Guest speaker, Augustine Alegeh (SAN) Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) Highlights of the event include the unveiling of ultramodern Bar Centre, the conferring on awards on some prominent Nigerians including Miannaya Aja Essien, OCJ Okocha (SAN) and others.
Ogboru to deliver public lecture at UNIJOS today PUBLIC Lecture, entitled: A Episiotomy of Nigeria’s Economic Malady: “Its Depth And The Way Out “to be delivered by Prof. Ishmael Ogboru, Professor of International and Development Economics, Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Jos holds today at the multi-purpose auditorium, University of Jos under the distinguished chairmanship of Prof. Hayward Babale Mafuyai, Vice Chancellor, University of Jos.
Ogboru
Adeboye prays for first born HE General Overseer, the T Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye prays for all first born, on Sunday, February 2, 2014 at the RCCG, National Headquarters, Throne of Grace, Ebute-Metta, Lagos at 8.00 a.m. According to the Assistant Pastor in Charge of Province 1 (Corporate Social Responsibility), who also doubles as the Overseer of the National Headquarters, Bode Olaniyan, the programme with the theme: “Born to Excel” is meant to reposition every first born to live according to God’s pronouncement that every soul created in His image and after His likeness at the beginning must be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth, subdue it and have dominion over other things God created.
TheGuardian
14 | Thursday, January 30, 2014
www.ngrguardiannews.com
Conscience Nurtured by Truth
FOUNDER: ALEX U. IBRU (1945 – 2011) Conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it. Uthman dan Fodio 1754-1816
Editorial Governance, politics and 2015 Anno Domini EAR 2015 is a measly distance away and for Nigerians, it will be a testy year of general elections. Given previous electoral shortcomings and the attendant brinkmanship at a great cost to the polity, it is appropriate to view 2015 with trepidation. Already, some elements in the United States had predicted that Nigeria would have its century-old painful unity dissolved. Secondly, the re-alignment of political forces in the country around the two dominant parties in the plural political environment, namely the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) has also become worrisome due to the way politicians are going about it. The immediate impact is already being felt in the polity with governance being relegated and genuine national affairs being discarded. Only bellicose rhetorics fill the airwaves and antipeople actions reign across the land. These are unsavoury trends that must stop. Senate President David Mark, at the resumption of sitting of the country’s upper legislative chamber, the Senate, from its end of year recess, drew attention to this shifting dynamics in the polity. All over the country, governance has taken a backstage while desperate “political maneouvres and feverish permutations aimed at outflanking one another ahead of the 2015 general elections” have become the order of the day. These activities, of course, are being carried out in ways that show that the actors have learnt nothing from the nation’s checkered political history. Indeed, the struggle for political power by various parties has reached unnecessarily desperate heights and has without doubt manifested grim consequences for governance. While governance may mean self-aggrandisement and all forms of primitive accumulation of capital to many political players, to the long-suffering people of Nigeria, governance means purposeful delivery of public goods in ways that make life meaningful to all. This is the reason governance is about the people. The ongoing frenzy has certainly not been about the people, and how to make them a priority in the polity, but merely the scramble for power for its own sake. Nothing is more disheartening. It is therefore, important to ask political gladiators across party line what exactly they have achieved since the last elections. Apart from soapbox rhetorics and pronouncements, none of the parties has any clear-cut and well articulated idea by which Nigerians can judge it. On individual level, the political landscape is very rich in the poverty of statesmen or even ideas men. They all have sound bites such as the ‘transformation agendas’ and ‘abolition of poverty’ and ‘provision of infrastructure’ which are vacuous and meaningless. Three years on, there is nothing concrete on the ground to justify the democratic mandate. Electoral promises have amounted to nothing and it is appalling that public office holders have fared far below the electoral promises and programmes which they set for themselves. In a bid to hoodwink the electorate, bogus projects and initiatives are now being announced. The fourth mainland bridge will be constructed; more roads will be built even with unexploited bitumen deposit and many construction technology. Not only that, a social security policy is being touted by government at all levels which are failing in payment of salaries. Some of the policy pronouncements and inauguration of new projects are inherently contradictory and, typically, mere gimmicks. What is troubling is the financial flow accompanying the pronouncements and hardly thought-through projects. It is therefore, no coincidence that the nation’s treasury has recorded a huge depletion in both the Excess Crude Account and the foreign reserve, with dire consequences. Governance is simply being turned into the impoverishment of the people and impunity as well as pursuit of inordinate ambition by selfseeking politicians. Indeed, there has been no real governance output for a while but this is now being made worse by politicking. While it may be argued that the politicians are working, the point is that the country which ought to be doing 2000 kilometres in its development stride is barely doing 100 kilometres. Politicians may do themselves and the country some good if they expend what is left of their time to remedy the deficits in the political process and strengthen the haphazard and whimsical policies they have initiated. Equally, this is the time for the people to shake off their lethargy and hold their leaders accountable for their actions and inactions.
Y
LETTERS
Anti-gay law, a crime against reason President Goodluck StheIR:Jonathan has assented to bill that criminalises homosexual relationships in Nigeria. The law stipulates lengthy jail terms, both for same-sex marriage and public expression of same-sex intimacy, despite pressure from local and international social rights and public health advocacy groups. There have been criticisms of the law in Nigeria, where antipathy towards homosexuality and LGBT people, stoked by a convenient alliance of the state, the clergy, and the rump of the mainstream media, runs deep. We, the undersigned, wish to ally ourselves with these voices of reason. We unreservedly condemn the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Law and urge civil society and human rights groups to start a campaign that we hope will soon result in its abolition. We also urge the eminent personages across the world who have condemned the socalled law to go beyond diplomatic gestures and put pressures on the Nigerian government wherever they can. Specifically, the United States and the United Kingdom should, forthwith, impose diplomatic sanctions (e.g., denial of visas) on all Nigerian functionaries, including journalists, the
clergy, and policymakers associated with the passing of the law. There are many reasons why every right-thinking person should oppose this law. First, it is based on a spurious, uninformed and onedimensional reading of ‘African culture.’ Second, it criminalizes a section of Nigerians for nothing other than their natural sexual inclination. Third, it ignores the fruits of many decades of scientific researches which prove decisively that homosexuality is as natural as heterosexuality. Fourth, the law threatens to reverse the gains made by programmes aimed at fighting the HIV-AIDS epidemic in the country. Fifth, it is absurd in terms of the jail time it stipulates for those who associate with LGBT people. Sixth, it casts Nigeria in a bad light for no good reason, putting it in the vulgar company of other countries where homosexuality is criminalized. Seventh, it gives law enforcement agents an open check to go after innocent Nigerians in the name of upholding the law. Finally, the law impinges on Nigerians’ freedom of speech and association, and expressly violates the rights of minorities in a free and democratic society. It is not the business of any
state, let alone the Nigerian State, to interpose itself in the private affairs of two consenting adults. Any human act or practice that does not infringe on the freedom of others cannot and should not be criminalized. Homosexuality does not harm us as a society and people. It is the hypocrisy, venality, and corruption that pervade our society that are the source of our problems. Signed: • Ebenezer Obadare, Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Akin Adesokan, Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Wale Adebanwi, Davis, California, USA; Lola Shoneyin, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Jude Dibia, Lagos, Nigeria; Jeremy Weate, Abuja, Nigeria; Chido Onumah, Abuja, Nigeria; Amatoritsero Ede, Ottawa, Canada; Mojubaolu Olufunke Okome, Brooklyn, New York, USA; Olufemi Taiwo, Ithaca, New York, USA; Tejumola Olaniyan, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Ike Anya, London, UK; Kunle Ajibade, Lagos, Nigeria,; Moradewun Adejunmobi, California, USA; Sean Jacobs, Brooklyn, New York, USA; Adeleke Adeeko, Ilorin, Nigeria; Olakunle George, Providence, Rhode Island, USA; Wendy Willems, London, UK; Ikhide R. Ikheloa, Maryland, USA; Rudolf Okonkwo, New York, USA; Jide Wintoki, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
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Opinion Our intolerant ‘democrats’ By Anthony Akinola HE military boys have become some kind of poT litical lepers most discriminating Nigerians would not want to touch! This, indeed, has been good for our “democracy” so far. In the not-too-distant past, the military boys would have been called upon, or invited, to expel the politicians whenever their nuisance infuriated us or them. For instance, Nigerians would have prevailed upon the military to terminate democracy when former President Olusegun Obasanjo engaged in a “political brawl” with his deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the latter half of his second term in office. The process of political governance suffered, while everything was about an Obasanjo-Atiku imbroglio – something Reuben Abati tagged the “bolekaja presidency”. The quarrel, we are told, was about Obasanjo’s extra-constitutional “third term agenda” clashing with Atiku’s “first term” ambition or aspiration. Again, what would have been the right timing for the desperate or ambitious coup plotter came when President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was dying and his loyalists would want to make us believe he was merely holidaying! The fear that the presidency could be shifting to another region of the Nigerian federation, meant Yar’Adua would continue to be “patched up” even when it had become apparent that he was incapacitated. If it were possible, his death could have been denied! It required the intervention of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), an ad hoc interest group, for reason to pre-
vail and the reins of political power to be transferred to Yar’Adua’s deputy, Goodluck Jonathan. Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency, following the 2011 election especially, has been grappling with insecurity problems. The escalation of violence in the North-Eastern geo-political zone, the Boko Haram insurgency in particular, could have compelled the prospective coup plotter of old to get the marshal music playing. The crisis, escalated as it was in the aftermath of Jonathan’s election, was believed to be politically motivated. However, the military did not intervene and democracy struggled on. In all of this, we must thank the regimes of Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha. The annulment of the presidential election of June 12, 1993, during the regime of the former and the madness or tyranny in governance during that of the latter, meant politicians had earned the licence to continue to misbehave in their customary tradition. The military would appear to have been thoroughly discredited and this might have been the saving grace for the democracy of today. It became clear to all and sundry that the military boys are equally as corrupt and purposeless as the political cobwebs they once swept from the corridors of power. However, it would be too presumptuous to assume that the current licence – a licence to loot and misbehave – cannot expire or be withdrawn. The return of the politics of intolerance, with the police and security agents seemingly compromised, portends great danger to the
peace and political fortunes of Nigeria. The Rivers State, where political personalities and their “spouses” have continued to engage in a show of power, could replicate the Western Nigeria of the 1960s. The arbitrary detention of individuals even when all they did was to make “odious” but non-violent statements, runs against the prerequisite of freedom of speech as one of the basic tenets of the democratic culture. Warning all and sundry about the implications of rigged elections in 2015, hardly threatens our collective peace. It could only have been those planning to rig the election who should be worried! There are not a few who would remind President Goodluck Jonathan and our security agents of their seeming endorsement of “violent statements” when made by those sympathetic to the “current dispensation”. For instance, the threat of violence should Goodluck Jonathan not be reelected in 2015 blackmails Nigerians collectively. One would have thought our President, being one democrat, would condemn such a statement publicly. An independent and professional security apparatus could also have had cause to question those who issue threats of violence against the state and society. There is this thing I call the “blackmailing influence of oil”. The fear of militants in the oil producing region seems to have gripped the entire nation as well as compromised the sense of honesty and judgement of our leaders and elders. President Goodluck Jonathan himself is in a kind
of dilemma. Even if he had agreed with others that he would not be seeking re-election in 2015, the fear of the militants means it is one agreement he might renege upon. He could be “disowned” by his own immediate constituency or castigated a “coward”, if he were to fail to throw his political cap into the ring, which means honour and integrity could be secondary in this matter; we will wait and see. The putative 2015 election would hardly make a difference from previous ones. The utterances of politicians promise that customary primordial sentiments would always conspire. The series of defections we have been witnessing, especially with latter-day progressives swelling the rank and file of the All Progressives Congress (APC), could have been about Jonathan and the rejection of his suspected ambition. A rigged or disputed 2015 election, if history were to repeat itself, could mean there would be more jobs for diggers of mass graves. A pessimistic scenario, this would seem, but not when those we have as leaders lack the talent to work towards peace and accommodation. The prediction of doom, made by foreign busy bodies who very much wished the worst to happen, could have got genuinely patriotic leaders vowing that it would not happen – not just in words but in their collective deeds. There are those who have benefited from Nigeria but whose spirit somehow revolts against her. • Dr. Akinola, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Oxford, United Kingdom.
The role of catalytic philanthropy By Abia Nzelu LTHOUGH Nigerians desire a transformed nation, most have A given up hope of this transformation taking place any time soon. With the apparent failure of successive governments, the cynical attitude of Nigerians is understandable. However, there yet remains a ray of hope. Our country could be transformed, if the private sector would take the lead and the initiative, instead of waiting for government. To accelerate national transformation what Nigeria needs is a private-sector led revolution, fueled by catalytic philanthropy. Here are three examples of catalytic philanthropy: Corporate philanthropy: the Tata group, the largest Indian conglomerate which accounts for 3.2% of India’s GDP, devotes twothirds of its profit every year to philanthropy. See previous article in The Guardian Newspaper of 30th and 31st of December, 2013. Family philanthropy: every year, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation devotes as much funds to global health as the World Health Organization! Individual philanthropy: Warren Buffett said, “More than 99% of my wealth will go to philanthropy during my lifetime or at death.” He not only committed himself to this ideal but also convinced more than 40 of U.S. billionaires to take his “giving pledge,” by committing at least 50% of their total wealth to charity. Although there are many Nigerians who have a philanthropic disposition, one would be hard-pressed to find any Nigerian individual or organization that is willing to invest in the community in the scale of these three examples. However, our concern is not merely with the volume of Nigerian philanthropic giving, but the strategy of giving, and the catalytic potential of philanthropy in Nigeria. The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECPNigeria) is a Nigerian adaptation of the CECP which was first established in the United States of America. It is a private sector led initiative aimed at seeking and implementing high-impact solutions to societal problems through the establishment of tripartite (private-social-public) partnerships. As you may be aware, every society and every economy has three sectors – the public sector, the private sector and the social sector. The first sector (also called the public sector or formal sector) is the government of the land whose major responsibility is to regulate and empower the other sectors; the second sector (also called the private sector or for-profit sector) is the business world whose primary role is to create wealth and prosperity; the third sector (also called the social sector or voluntary sector) is made up of the non-profit organizations whose primary vocation is to provide care and nurture in society. Of late, the idea of first sector/second sector partnership also known as public-private partnership (PPP) has gained ground in Nigeria; many instances of for-profit PPP initiatives abound all over the nation. While PPPs could meet the needs of those who can pay at the market rate, there is the risk that the services/amenities provided by PPPs may be beyond the reach of millions of poor and underprivileged Nigerians. The goal of the CECP-Nigeria is to provide an institutional and enduring plat-
form for promoting tripartite partnership which involves all three sectors (private-social-public partnership). The tripartite partnership would help us to establish national institutions that would make quality services/amenities accessible and affordable to the masses of Nigeria. To solve major societal problems, such tripartite partnership would weld the passion and dedication of the social sector, to the wealth and efficiency of the private sector and the authority and influence of Government especially with regards to policy-making. A major tool of this initiative is the promotion of the practice of synergistic and catalytic philanthropy in Nigeria which is the focus of this article. Interestingly, two catalytic practices implemented by leading donors across the world that are largely absent in Nigeria include capacity building of the social sector, and measurement of ultimate social impact beyond evaluating programme performance and short-term outcomes. The Nigerian social sector scene is characterized by lack of coordination, lack of cooperation, lack of synergy and ultimately lack of real impact. Many of our Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are barely surviving, because of poor funding and lack of committed volunteers. The UK Department for International Development (DFID) defines small NGOs as those with an average annual income of less than £500,000 over the past three years. Using this criterion, how many Nigerian NGOs have crossed the small NGO mark? The more sustainable approach is to build the capacity of genuine and effective NGOs which have the potential to professionalize, specialize and scale up. This is the practice in more mature environments, where the social sector is robust. For instance, the American Cancer Society, a voluntary health organization which played a pioneering role in the fight against cancer in the United States, has three million passionate volunteers, and an annual budget of one billion USD, raised mainly through these volunteers and private philanthropists. No wonder then that there has been a significant improvement in the US cancer survival rate, with nearly 14 million cancer survivors currently in the United States alone and more than 400 lives being saved each day from cancer. Indeed, it is now obvious that issues such as health, education, poverty, and climate change are influenced by large, complex, and interdependent systems, including private sector, social sector, and government agencies that no single organization could possibly solve alone. What is required is a collective effort to align the work of different organizations/ sectors towards achieving common goals. The evolution towards catalytic philanthropy in Nigeria can be addressed in a seven-fold dimension: First, Nigerian philanthropy can more meaningfully contribute to helping solve the country’s enormous social problems if more big time donors would shift from traditional charitable approaches (“giving back”) towards more catalytic ones (“solving social problems”). Nigerian philanthropists should recognize that no single organisation can solve society’s most challenging social problems alone. This will require moving away from the current focus on passive grant-making or operating its own programmes to taking the lead in facilitating collective multi-sectoral efforts. The most valuable contribution donors can make
to advance significant societal change is to extend their practice of philanthropy beyond financial gifts and volunteered time to also leveraging nonfinancial resources such as their clout, connections, business know-how, and political sagacity to create systems-level change across sectors in support of the cause. In this regard, the Private Sector Health Alliance in Nigeria (PSHAN) is a step in the right direction provided that the stakeholders adopt catalytic approach. Second, a broader set of critical social issues should be considered for primary funding focus such as poverty alleviation, maternal and child mortality, malnutrition, diseases like cancer, malaria, Tuberculosis and diarrhea, and environmental sustainability. This can be facilitated by increasing the availability of support services that can provide donors with research and information as well as identification of effective non-profit partners to implement the work on the ground. Third, the issue of social sector professionalization needs to be urgently addressed by building the human resource and administrative capacity of NGOs. The traditional donor mindset of minimizing “overhead” expenses had led to the starvation of organizational and professional capacity in NGOs. Nigerian philanthropists should look beyond the typical funding given for scaling of programmes, to also fund scaling of organizational capacities such as human capital, leadership and governance, strategic and business planning, financial and sustainability projections, IT and physical infrastructure, as well as monitoring and evaluation. Fourth, catalytic philanthropists should be pro-active in seeking out effective and experienced NGOs in their specific fields of interest, rather than merely supporting only those that bring in proposals. Fifth, catalytic philanthropy requires donor-friendly government policies. Changes to several existing policies could serve to remove barriers to giving in Nigeria. These include the current limited/ lack of tax rebate on charitable contributions. Sixth, Nigerian philanthropists can accelerate their effectiveness by increasing the sharing of meaningful impact data and philanthropic practices with peer donors locally and globally. The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP-Nigeria) could be enabled to create similar platforms for cross-fertilization among donors in Nigeria and across the world and serve to accelerate philanthropic advancement. Finally, there is need to build volunteerism into the Nigerian educational system and workplace. Formal education is not an end in itself but a tool for service; the best way to teach this fundamental truth is to make the practice of volunteerism part of the syllabus of Nigerian schools at all levels. For example, a student in a university should be required to carry out a certain amount of volunteer work as part of his or her continuous assessment. Likewise, the practice of volunteerism as part of corporate culture (as, for example, MTN’s 21 days of care) should be adopted by all companies in Nigeria. However, instead of one-off or episodic campaigns, companies should encourage their employees to become committed long-term or life-long supporters of causes. • To be continued tomorrow. • Dr. Nzelu is Executive Secretary of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP-Nigeria).
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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Opinion Wave of attacks on Catholic Church By Chris Anyanwu INCE the provoking outburst of Pastor Chris SholdOkotie, the general overseer of the Houseof God Church, last year, against the sacred institution of the Universal Catholic Church, as well as his verbal abuse on Pope Francis, the visible head of the Catholic Church, many had expected a formal response from the Catholic Church in Nigeria. Pastor Okotie was quoted as saying inter alia that “All Catholics in the world will go to hell because they worship Satan and are led by an antiChrist Pope who is a friend to the devil. They are not Christians and have never been. They don’t know Jesus. ...” When Okotie made his baseless remarks, a formal response was not necessary at the time since he has been at the receiving end of attacks in the social media, from Catholics and other Christians...as if to say he has some scores to settle with Catholics and their Pope. But when hired writers continue the work of Pastor Okotie in running the universal Catholic Church and the Pope down, by feeding the public with lies and heresies; silence is no longer golden. One of such, Justus Nwakanma in his article titled Between Chris Okotie and Pope Francis (The Guardian on Sunday, January 12, 2014; pg 53) embarked on further derogatory remarks about the Catholic Church and the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis. Justus Nwakanma’s entire piece was an attempt to justify Okotie’s early position against the Catholic Church and the Pope. To start with, Nwakanma tried to equate Pastor Okotie’s position as an overseer on spiritual matters of Household of of God Church, with that of Pope Francis as a head of Catholic Church on doctrinal matters. According to Nwakanma, “Every Christian must be worried and concerned with the recent postulations of Pastor Chris Okotie and Pope Francis on Christianity, Catholicism and Hell. In Christendom, when words are wrongly spoken by the supposed respositories of ecclesiastical knowledge, and interpretations are misplaced or ill-conceived, history as an impartial arbiter, will record such resonating defiance of wrongful and misleading thoughts, as well as the deceitful silence of the elect.” For Nwakanma the “repositories of ecclesiastical knowledge”, are Okotie and Pope Francis. This comparison is most uncharitable to
Catholics, nay all Christians. Since when can Okotie who we know as a “one time street dancer” turned a pastor overnight be equated with Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ and epitome of a tradition that has lasted over 2,000 years; as well as the universally accepted visible head of all Christians? How can we refer to a self-acclaimed pastor as a repository of ecclesiastical knowledge? Today, in Nigeria, anybody can wake up any day and assume the role of a pastor/founder, evangelist, bishop, archbishop and so on etc.; premising the mission on an imagined divine call, particularly now that church founding has become a commercial venture. The pertinent question one can ask is ‘who called you?’ Unfortunately, many are not observing the biblical injuction –“No one takes this honour on himself, he needs a call from God, as in Aaron’s case (Heb 5:1-4). Many today are taking ecclesiastical honour and title as an avenue to exercise power, status or to enhance their financial positions. It is wrong to refer to such people as “repositories of ecclesiastical knowledge.” Again, Nwakanma variously quoted what he claims Pope Francis said in many instances out of context without telling us when he said them and on what occasions he said them. The random quotations of Nwakanma’s interpretations of Pope Francis sayings were not placed in the context and occasions when they were said. They were mere assumptions. Even Nwakanma indirectly acknowledges that he is not sure if Pope Francis made such statement when he wrote: “Concerns have been raised as to whether this rift of revolutionary irrationalism coming from the Pope is real or fake. But since there has been no official denial (to the writer’s knowledge) from the Vatican, it is reasonable to conclude that whether he is speaking ex cathedral, or not, Christendom should not at all be silent or relaspe in mutted applause of a seeming infraction of its principles teachings.” From all indications, Nwakanma lacks indepth knowledge of the Catholic Dogma and teachings of the Church and thus cannot decipher between a reported speech or commentary of another person and the verbal statement of the actual speaker; in this case Pope Francis. The statement being authoritatively quoted by Nwakanma above was not only absolute
falsehood but a satirical blog posted on the internet by people of likeminds of Nwakanma and his mentor. In his posting of January 5, 2014; on HOME ARCHIVED; Carl Olson, editor of the Catholic World Report refered to the misrepresention of the Holy Father’s remarks under the headline Pope Francis Just Concluded Vatican III and declared:”All Religions are True.” Below is the full text of Olson’s posting: Funny stuff, right? It is, I suppose, except that some people have apparently taken this December 5, 2013, “story” quite seriously, even though the first few lines should have set of the spoof alarms: For the last six months, Catholic cardinals, bishops and theologians have been deliberating in Vatican City, discussing the future of the church and redefining long-held Catholic doctrines and dogmas. The Third Vatican Council, is undoubtedly the largest and most important since the Second Vatican Council was concluded in 1962. Pope Francis convened the new council to “finally finish the work of the Second Vatican Council.” While some traditionalists and conservative reactionaries on the far right have decried these efforts, they have delighted progressives around the world. The Third Vatican Council concluded today with Pope Francis announcing that Catholicism is now a “modern and reasonable religion, which has undergone evolutionary changes. The time has come to abandon all intolerance. We must recognize that religious truth evolves and changes. Truth is not absolute or set in stone. Even atheists acknowledge the divine. Through acts of love and charity the atheist acknowledges God as well, and redeems his own soul, becoming an active participant in the redemption of humanity.” I first heard of this satirical piece, published on the Diversity Chronicle site (which carries this descriptive/disclaimer: “The original content on this blog is largely satirical”), about two weeks ago. A friend forwarded me the link, and explained that several of his non-Catholic friends and co-workers were touting it as real “news”. Was there, he asked, a response to this nonsense? In a better world, it wouldn’t be necessary to respond to nonsense, save uttering a loud and long laugh. But anyone who has spent time involved in apologetics knows that there is much nonsense to be addressed, especially when it becomes an impediment to understanding what the Catholic Church really teaches (and doesn’t teach) and has really done (or not done). Jimmy Akin, senior apologist at Catholic Answers,
has addressed this bit of nonsense in a January 2 column for the National Catholic Register, pointing out that Snopes has posted about it. Since we’re on the topic of strange and surprising stories, the New York Times recently published a piece about Francis, the “Radical Pope”. Why is it surprising? Because the author, Robert Calderisi, rightly points out that while Francis has done some unusual things, he actually “represents an essential continuity in the Roman Catholic Church’s mission.” The above clearly clears the air on Nwakanma’s falsehood. One expects that if Nwakanma, a journalist, is not sure that Pope Francis said those words, charity, clarity and ethics of his profession demand that he should have cross-checked those assertions before publishing them. And there are many ways of cross-checking facts on the Catholic Church. Nwakanma would have consulted relevant Church authorities to acertain the true facts and positions of his assertions. In these days of the internet, nothing is hidden under the earth. To put words into Pope Francis’ mouth or interpret what he did not say is to say the least, a calculated attempt to mislead Christians, especially Catholics who are about 1.2 billion in the world and who have confidence in the leadership of the Pope. The Catholic Church as an institution is the foremost Christian body established by Our Lord Jesus Christ himself, over 2,000 years ago; and in the spirit and mission of Christ the redeemer of the world; has continued the mission of uniting all Christians in response to the injunction of Christ that “They may all be one.” This ecumenism is being vigorously and sincerely pursued by all Christian bodies in the country. Also, in keeping with the belief of all human beings are in the image of God, the Church has also extended the olive branch of love and peaceful coexistence to non- Christians – Moslems and other religions in the world, including the African Traditional Religion. At the long run, it does not really matter what the likes of Pastor Okotie and Nwakanma think or say about Pope Francis and the Catholic Church. Theirs, are but mere personal opinions that have no weight. It is important to reiterate the fact that the Argentine-born Pope Francis who has been declared as Time Man of the Year, is a gift to the Church and the entire christendom in this century. • Father Anyanwu is the Director of Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja.
Dear President, corruption is the problem By Theophilus Ilevbare “Corruption is not the cause of all the problems confronting Africa. In terms of security, Boko Haram is the biggest challenge we (Nigeria) have at the moment.” – President Goodluck Jonathan “For Mr. President to have said that corruption is not our number one problem that must be the misstatement of the century.” – Itse Sagay (SAN) HE first quote was the remark of President Goodluck T Jonathan at the just concluded World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, while making his contribution to a televised debate titled, “Africa’s Next Billion.” The President erased any doubt that he has a thorough grasp of critical issues like the prevalent endemic corruption now crippling governance that demands his urgent attention as President of Nigeria and frontline leader on the continent. A statement like that is the least expected from the President of one of the most corrupt countries in the world. President Jonathan would have been dead right if he had said every problem confronting Nigeria and indeed Africa is the result of corruption. Any argument in the contrary is like saying there are evils not traceable to the devil. It is unfortunate that our President seizes every speaking opportunity to make excuses why he cannot fight corruption. Such prevarication will not help the anti-graft war, they only serve the purpose of encouraging more corruption. On September 29, 2013, he said that Nigeria’s corruption was merely a perception which is grossly exaggerated. He ought not mistake effects for causes. Corruption diverts capital from legitimate purposes to making wrongheaded policy decisions which deprive the country of a pool of finances. The country
needs a consistent and dogged fight against this monster. The root cause of the present wave of terrorism ravaging the North East is the result of decades of corruption and impunity of perpetrators coupled with the failure of successive governments to provide quality, affordable education to Nigerian children. Graft goes beyond misappropriation of public funds. How can Boko Haram insurgency that affects a few local governments be rated above a hydra-headed monster that has eaten deep into the entire Nigerian fabric cutting across all sectors of the economy and all levels of government, stifling development? The Islamic insurgency has its foundation in corruption. Government of isolation or exclusion which breeds injustice and disaffection is corruption. The country might be having a tough time combating the insurgency of Boko Haram, it does not in any way imply insecurity has overtaken graft. Government malfeasance is the result of dilapidated infrastructure such as roads, health care, collapsed educational system and poor electricity. The failure of our security operatives to effectively deal with the Boko Haram insurgency is also attributable to graft. For example, a former Inspector General of Police is still standing trial for diverting police funds. Terrorism is no doubt a major problem, even globally, but fighting the root causes and other issues that promote the culture of violence requires a holistic approach. Some of the probes that show an evident lack of political will to decisively deal with the menace of corruption include: The KPMG report that indicted the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for corrupt practices; The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) audit report exposing 10 years of corruption in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry; the probe of the Pension Fund Management by the Senate Joint Committee on Public
Service and Establishment, State and Local Government Administration; the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) probe that exposed alarming revelations of corruption in the capital market; the probe of the oil subsidy regime by the Ad hoc-committee of the House of Reps; the non-prosecution of those indicted in the Halliburton LNG bribery scandal, the recent Stella Oduah BMW scandal and the unsatisfactory explanation the NNPC has given for the $10.8 billion of crude oil earning the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) declared missing. It is safe to say every problem we have in Nigeria today has its roots in corruption. The President should roll up his sleeves and concentrate on fixing Nigeria by fighting corruption frontally. He cannot wish the problem away. Judicial officers blame the absurd rulings on corruption cases on the outdated provisions of our antediluvian law – like plea bargains, which allow wealthy Nigerians to get laughable sentences for gargantuan corruption. Such laws need amendment, else criminality and corruption will continue to flourish. It is why corruption has become a raging monster. Regrettably, there are no serious efforts to review these laws. Justice delay is another variant of graft. Add that to looting, political desperation, nepotism, impunity, electoral fraud, perjury and you get a snippet of what corruption is. There is no better time to step up the fight and stem the tide of sleaze than now. Year 2014, to Nigerians, is not just another year, but the end of a century of national existence and the beginning of another. When the centenary celebration begins, it should be time for sober reflection on how far we have come. One of the numerous national questions that will continue to reverberate in our minds will be: how did we find ourselves in this abyss of monumental corruption? • Ilevbare is a public affairs commentator.
THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com
Thursday, January 30, 2014
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Business Nigerian firm sues Samsung, Total over $3.8 billion FPSO project By Ade Ogidan, Business Editor HE Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) has taken Samsung Heavy Industry and its allies to court, over alleged plots to exclude the former from a $3.8 billion (N608 billion) Egina Oil platform project which it jointly won late last year. Also joined in the suit at the Federal High Court before Justice Aneke on Friday, January 24, are, Total Upstream Nigeria Limited (Total), Nigerian Content Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and the Minister of Petroleum Resources. The $3.8 billion facility, located 130 kilometres offshore was conceived by Total Upstream Nigeria Limited in collabora-
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•Alleges local content default, threat to 50,000 jobs tion with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and is expected to take off by the end of 2017. The Egna platform will be the first of its kind in Africa with a projected production capacity of 200,000 barrels per day (b/d) and a storage capacity of 2.3 million barrels. Findings revealed that aside from the potential consequences of Nigeria losing a colossal $200 million dollars earmarked to promote the local content aspect of the project, an expected creation of over 50,000 jobs would also be jeopardized, due to the contract infringement. In the proceedings which were issued for LADOL by
Professor Fidelis Oditah QC, SAN, the company is seeking 19 reliefs against Samsung and other defendants, asking the court to make a declaration that a contract awarded by Total to Samsung on or about 15 March 2013 for the construction and installation of a floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO) at Total’s Egina oilfield in oil mining lease (OML) No 130 in deep offshore Nigeria (the “Egina FPSO Project”) is subject to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010. Other reliefs being sought by the company includes a “declaration that the Egina FPSO project contract was awarded
by Total to Samsung, with the approval of the Nigerian regulatory authorities including NNPC, NAPIMS, NCDMB and the Ministry of Petroleum, on the basis inter alia that a significant proportion of the steel fabrication and the integration of the FPSO topsides would be carried out at LADOL’s yard in the LADOL Free Zone, Tarkwa Bay, Lagos. “A declaration that the Egina FPSO Project contract was also awarded by Total to Samsung on the basis inter alia of Samsung’s representations and assurances to the Nigerian regulatory authorities that Samsung would build and operate training Facility in the LADOL Free
Member, Bonny Chiefs Council, Capt. Reginald Abbey-Hart (Rtd.) (left); Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Ms. Evelyn Oputu; Chairman, Bonny Chiefs Council, Chief Amin Manilla-Pepple; another member, Chief Abel Attoni; and Chief Tam Allion during the Council’s visit to the Bank of Industry in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: GABRIEL IKHAHON
NASENI targets export market, INEC for solar panels From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja IGERIA is set to join the N league of countries that produce solar panels for export, as the National Agency for Science and Engineering (NASENI), which from records have produced more than 2,800 pieces of solar panels, has concluded plans to initially commence export of the commodity to many African countries. The solar panels were produced in the plant situated in Karshi, an outskirt town in Abuja, in September, 2011 and according to officials, production has soared with great success while building capacity and transferring technology to Nigerian engineers and small and medium scale enterprises. Executive Vice Chairman of the agency, Mohammed Haruna, stressed that NASENI, whose board is chaired direct-
ly by President Goodluck Jonathan, established the plant through government funding. He noted that the plant, reputed to be the first of its kind in West Africa with an initial capacity of 7.5Mega Watts, had since grown with the capacity to produce over 15 Mega Watts of solar panels in a year. He told newsmen in Abuja yesterday that: “reports, indicated that 60 per cent of Nigerians do not have access to national grid, most of which are from rural communities. The cost of installing a grid system to some communities has mostly being the barrier for access to national grid. This depends on the system used, length of connection required, topography, usage pattern and the load factor of the supply point. “Consequently, grid connection has become less popular
and less economically viable for electricity generation in rural areas. “Solar energy has the potential to tackle this challenge. In view of this abundant sunshine all year round, the location of the country within the humid tropical region and the characteristic isolated pattern of human settlement, solar PV technology is particularly well suited for use in Nigeria.” He said the establishment of the solar plant in Nigeria was envisaged to accelerate the development, application, adaptation and diffusion of PV technology in the country. “If used in the country for rural electrification, it can serve as a ‘game changer’ to develop our rural areas within a very short period. NASENI Solar Energy Limited is therefore, critical to the development of the ailing power sector in the country,” he added. He stressed that the plant
had been equipped with state of the art facilities that meet up to international standards, stressing that if the ongoing discussions with the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) pull through, NASENI would design solar power kits for INEC polling units across the country and INEC ICT Centres in state offices. He stressed how fund constraints, low patronage by the same government that set it up was constraining Nigeria’s quest to become exporter of solar panel. Haruna said the solar panel manufacturing plant would need $96 million to double its capacity. He stressed the need to encourage local content in the power sector through the deliberate utilization of locally produced solar technologies and other power equipment.
Zone for the training and education of Nigerians. “A declaration that the Egina FPSO Project contract was bidded for and obtained by Samsung on the basis of a joint venture and/or arrangement between Samsung and LADOL for the development, construction and operation of an offshore fabrication yard and FPSO integration facilities in the LADOL Free Zone for the purposes, amongst others, of
the Egina FPSO Project (Joint Arrangement). “A declaration that having bided for and represented to the Nigerian regulators that LADOL was its local content partner and on the basis of the Joint Arrangement, obtained the award of the Egina FPSO Project contract, it is not open to Total and Samsung unilaterally to exclude LADOL from
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N10b cassava bread fund ready for disbursement From Joke Falaju, Abuja HE Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, (NCGA) - an umbrella body of cassava farmers in the country, has confirmed that the N10 billion intervention fund for cassava bread production promised by the Federal Government, is ready for disbursement. Already, the Allied Atlantic Distillers Limited will today commission its ethanol plant, using cassava as raw material. National President of the association, Segun Adewumi, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Nigeria’s cassava project yesterday in Abuja. He explained that the association through its executive council and all state chairmen had agreed to access the fund
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for the incoming rainy season. Adewumi stated that the fund has been deposited at the Bank of Agriculture and the Bank of Industry for cassava growers and processors respectively. “The fund is ready for disbursement, and has been deposited at the Bank of Industry for bakers and processors and at the Bank of Agriculture for growers. “We were at the Bank of Agriculture in Kaduna and we all reached an agreement is that we will not to give the funds out until the rainy season comes. 50 per cent of the money is a grant while 50 per cent will be paid back by individual farmers in form of loan,” he said. The association also
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Thursday, January 30, 2014
THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com
BoI partners community on skills acquisition, employment generation By Femi Adekoya HE Bank of Industry (BoI) has partnered the people of Bonny Kingdom as part of efforts to empower them with requisite skills that would aid employment generation and also increase the number of entrepreneurs in the country. The bank’s Managing Director, Ms. Evelyn Oputu said the partnership would enhance the breaking of new grounds for sustainable partnerships for development in the community and the country at large. Oputu, who stated this while receiving a council of chiefs of the Bonny Kingdom in Lagos, yesterday, added that one of the reasons why youths in the country are restive was due to the fact that they were unemployed. "We want to partner with them in areas of training to build their capacity because one of the causes of youth unemployment is lack of skills to find jobs that are relevant. “We are also looking at areas to empower members of the community with skills to make them self-reliant. We would also be looking at areas where they have comparative advantage over other communities and develop them to be an economic zone that will be of benefit to them outside the natural resources they have which include oil and gas," she added. She further said: "This is going to be owned by them and this is something that will make them self-respecting citizens that would have impact on the society They have come with one of their partners
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which is one of the communities in the society, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) who have demonstrated their interest to work with the people and see them change. We are also going to bring our development partners to enhance this partnership. The BoI boss however commended the chiefs, saying: "We have situations in our nation where people have not actually cared enough for their people. This is why we have restiveness that has been happening for quite a while. I want to say that I am really quite impressed with the initiative but I am no surprised because your kingdom as you say is very well known. “You have a leadership that is enlightened and I am very pleased and proud of your people for taking this initiative to pass it on to others rather than waiting for problems to arise. You are being proactive even till date and I wish other communities would borrow from this initiative. You have decided to look beyond your natural resources through this initiative. "We are going to talk about developing your people. This is what the bank is all about. For sustainability to take place, we need to look at what you have that the bank can develop. We want you to tell us the areas where you feel your people have the comparative advantage. According to her, BoI has already started work by sending some people to the community pledging her support to partner the. Kingdom. "I want to also say that we are
ready to partner you as far as you want to go and we would go every step of the way with you. I want you to be rest assured here that as NLNG has come to partner with you, it makes our job a lot easier. We have told you about the work we do with State governments and we have started moving away from there to individuals". She said.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 expressed joy that one of the off-takers of cassava as raw materials will today open for operations in Ado-Odo, Ogun state. “Let me announce here that a multi-billion naira ethanol plant, owned by Allied Atlantic Distillers Limited
(AADL), first of its kind in Africa, will be commissioned today at Ado-Odo in Ogun State. This plant will mill over 300 metric tonnes of cassava daily, in addition to the existing facility in the old site that mills 270 metric tonnes daily,” Adewumi said.
would work with our team with the framework we have to offer which you would choose from," she stressed. Also, the Chairman, Bonny Chiefs Council, Chief Owen Manilla-Pepple said the community was looking for sources of funding to develop its people and kingdom in a sustainable way that would translate to economic growth
and development potential for the country. "We had a visit from BoI and UNIDO to seek areas of partnership. We believe in development that is sustainable as the only way to move Nigeria forward. We have come here to further see ways of collaborations to move our kingdom forward," he said.
Director, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute of Information Technology and Exhibition (IITE), Dendev Badarch (left); receiving the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) award presented to the UNESCO IITE at the National Software Conference & Competition Tinapa 2013 from event Keynote Speaker, Prof. Emeritus Tapio Varis in Moscow, Russia.
Firm alleges local content default, threat to 50,000 jobs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
Govt to disburse cassava bread fund
She said the first step was to build the capacity of the people through training while stating the different models developed by BoI to boost agribusiness among women and youths. "We are going to go through all our processes one after the other together with an officer from you. We would want a situation where someone
the execution of the said contract”. LADOL, said to be the only wholly Nigerian indigenous oil and gas service provider is further seeking a declaration that the purported exclusion of the company from the execution/performance of the Egina FPSO Project contract by Total and Samsung is a violation of the Act and consequently is of no effect whatsoever. Also being sought are, “an
order, pursuant to section 68 of the Act, cancelling the Egina FPSO Project contract, on the basis that the purported exclusion of LADOL from the performance/execution of the Egina FPSO Project contract and Samsung’s failure to build a training school in Nigeria (as it had promised it would) are a violation of the Nigerian National Content law”. The company further wants a disqualification of Samsung from bidding for or participating in any capacity whatsoever in any projects, operations, contracts or subcontracts in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. While appealing to the court to restrain the defendants from excluding it from the execution of the Egina FPSO
Project contract, the company further wants the Nigerian authorities similarly restrained from approving any other person as the Nigerian local content partner or local content solution of Samsung in respect of the work scope (fabrication of steel structures and integration of the FPSO topsides) allocated to it in respect of the Egina FPSO Project. Government, it prayed, should also be restrained from authorising, approving or condoning the performance abroad of any aspect of the work scope (fabrication of steel structures and integration of the FPSO topsides) allocated to LADOL in respect of the Egina FPSO Project. LADOL is also seeking an
injunction restraining Total from paying to Samsung or anyone else any money in respect of any aspect or part of work scope (fabrication of steel structures and integration of the FPSO topsides) allocated to LADOL in respect of the Egina FPSO Project. At a hearing of the case on Friday, Mr Justice Aneke ordered the parties to maintain the status quo and not to take any steps to replace LADOL as the local partner of Samsung on the Egina FPSO project,pending the hearing and determination of LADOL’s application for interlocutory injunctions, which was slated for Friday 7 February 2014. Findings revealed that the collaboration between LADOL and Samsung began in early 2010, when Total announced its intention to begin the development of its Egina oilfield. The lucrative oil project was immediately embraced by many large South Korean and Chinese shipbuilding companies including Hyundai, which at the time was building the FPSO for Total’s USAN oilfield in the same OML 130. Subsequently, the Nigerian Oil and Gas Content Development Act 2010 was signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan in April 2010, thus providing a new framework for Nigerian content as well as set out detailed schedule of Nigerian local content requirements. Industry sources said since there were no existing facilities in Nigeria for onshore FPSO integration and fabrication, many interested foreign contractors and shipbuilders were looking for a suitable location to build such a facility and for Nigerian companies with whom to partner when
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Shell cuts stake in Brazil’s oil project with $1 billion sale to Qatar IL firm Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) is selling a stake in a Brazilian oil project to Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) O for $1 billion, in line with this year’s plan to ramp up disposals.
Singapore banks tighten e-communication scrutiny BS Group Holdings Ltd. about their positions, execut(DBS), Southeast Asia’s ed their own trades before D largest lender, restricted client orders and sought to access to chat rooms, while Singapore rivals United Overseas Bank Ltd. (UOB) and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. increased scrutiny on electronic communications. “In line with evolving industry practice, we have restricted access to chat rooms and enhanced our guidelines to further strengthen governance and controls,” DBS said yesterday in an e-mailed statement. UOB said it tightened guidelines and OCBC said it put monitoring protocols in place. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, UBS AG, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup Inc. are among banks that have banned or curtailed employees’ participation in chat rooms involving other banks. That curbed the multidealer conversations used by traders to agree on transactions, share gossip and exchange tips on business flows. Bloomberg News reported in June that dealers used chat rooms to pool information
manipulate benchmark rates by pushing through trades around the 60-second windows when they are set. Investigators from Switzerland to Hong Kong are examining the markets. The Monetary Authority of Singapore, the central bank in Asia’s biggest foreignexchange center, said in October that it has been in touch with foreign regulators over the issue of currency manipulation. Singapore’s monetary authority censured 20 banks including the three local lenders in June for trying to rig benchmark interest and currency rates. It ordered 19 of the companies to set aside as much as S$12 billion ($9.4 billion) at zero interest pending steps to improve internal controls. OCBC (OCBC), Southeast Asia’s second-largest bank, said in an e-mailed statement that all of its employees are guided by a code of conduct that aims to promote integrity and fair dealing.
Shell said on Wednesday it was selling 23 per cent of the Parque das Conchas or BC-10 project off the coast of Brazil, leaving it with a 50 per cent interest. It will continue to operate the 50,000 barrels of oil per day project. Earlier in January Shell sold a stake in a gas project in Western Australia for $1.14 billion as part of its drive to improve return on investment, days after it had issued a shock profit warning for the fourth quarter. Analysts and shareholders said the company’s weak results would push the world’s number-three investor-controlled energy firm to keep a tighter control on costs after it said 2013 capital expenditure would peak at about $45 billion.
Oil-Rig
Shell had already said last October that it would significantly step up disposals in 2014 to keep cash flowing in. Recent media reports have suggested the company’s divestments could total $15 billion this year, equivalent to around 6.5 per cent of its $228 billion market capitalization. QPI, the global arm of Qatar Petroleum, which is the world’s largest liquefied natural gas exporter, has to date undertaken only limited expansion overseas but the Gulf state’s energy minister told Reuters in October that QPI wants to expand its reach. Shell, which said the Brazilian disposal was subject to regulatory approval by that country’s authorities, is due to release its fourth-quarter results yesterday.
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Appointments Nigeria to increase manpower support globally From Niyi Bello, Akure new vista of engaging A Nigerian experts in providing manpower supports for the international community by exposing those enlisted to global best practices and reduce unemployment at home, would soon be explored by the federal government, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammed, has disclosed. That according to the minister was aimed at increasing Nigeria’s presence and activities in global engagements to improve the country’s diplomatic ratings, through effective collaboration with international agencies participating in volunteer services across the world. To this end, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Directorate of Technical Aids Corps (TAC), an agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in charge of deploying Nigerian experts to assist needy countries in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions, tackle their manpower shortages, to explore the possibilities. The minister who disclosed this in Akure, Ondo State capital recently, also disclosed that the new vision was in line with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that the country signed with
the secretariat of the Commonwealth of Nations. Muhammed spoke at the opening ceremony of the 14th Orientation Programme organised by TAC for the about 1, 500 volunteers selected by the agency prior to their deployment to countries that sought Nigeria’s assistance in manpower support. The Commonwealth MOU, according to the minister who was represented by Akin Rockson, the director of Consular Administration Services, “calls for the provision of Nigerian expertise to needy member states under the Commonwealth Technical Assistance Programme and to be managed by the TAC Directorate with funding from the commonwealth.” Specifically the minister said, “new collaborations are being sought with International agencies such as the United Nations Volunteer Service, the Japanese Agency for International Cooperation and the Canadian International Agency. “Only recently, the directorate was involved in the effort by the African Union in forming the African Union Volunteer Service to help in rebuilding African nations coming out of conflict situations.” The Director-General of TAC, Dr. Pius Olakunle
Osunyikanmi, who justified the establishment of the agency as a very important vehicle of foreign policy and a platform of opportunities for Nigerians to explore the world, said that the number of volunteers on deployment list has moved up from 200 last year to about 1, 500 now. Osunyikanmi said that the quantum leap in the number of volunteers was made possible by the support of President Jonathan who saw the scheme as part of his administration’s transformation agenda.
He added that the new involvement in global collaboration was a departure from the traditional mandate of the scheme and that the new role requires “high level manpower that is needed to bring countries that have passed through conflicts and crisis to the path of development.” He disclosed that about 15, 000 volunteers have been deployed since the directorate came into existence in 1987 and “a substantial part of this figure has moved up the ladder either through engagements with
PECIAL Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, has said that the Niger Delta youths who were not chosen for the last special scholarship for overseas formal education failed the prequalification examinations as against allegations that his office was partial. Kuku gave this explanation on Tuesday at a pre-departure orientation in Abuja, which was held for 42 delegates going to study in the United Kingdom and Malaysia. He noted that those alleging nepotism against them did not get up to 30 per cent in the prequalification examination. “Those who failed the examination have been raising one false allegation or the other. But there is no man-know-man in all we do. Those selected were based on merit. We gave a mini-
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mum of just 30 per cent pass in the pre-qualification test and yet some people couldn’t make it. “We have been accused of various wrongdoings and some of our staff got threat text messages on this issue. But we can defend our actions in terms of the process of selection of delegates for educational programmes. “How can we send someone who does not know how to read and write to study abroad?” Kuku explained. A statement from the Head of Media and Communication, Daniel Alabrah read that the Technical Assistant to Kuku, Lawrence Pepple, who represented him at the occasion, described the activities of the office at the greatest sacrifice to humanity in building capacity without fear or favour. “The schools you have
the 2014-2016 batch, charged them to be good ‘ambassadors’ in the respective countries they are posted to. He said: “I urge you all to market the nation and the continent well wherever you are posted to. Educate yourself and you must understand the global financial and economic architecture and how it is not designed in favour of Nigeria and the developing economies and therefore find creative and ingenious ways to self-actualise within it.”
Director General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Nteranya Sanginga (left), Senior Programme Officers, Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation, Vasey Mwaja, Lawrence Kent and Project Leader, IITA, Alfred Dixson at the Sustainable Weed Management Technologies for Cassava System in Nigeria Project-Kick Workshop at IITA Ibadan. PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM
Kuku explains selection process for overseas study From Abosede Musari, Abuja
global bodies or exploring opportunities in the countries where they served.” Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko who declared the orientation open said, “the scheme has helped in fostering partnerships with the ACP countries, and has also helped in exposing participating youths to new ideas and varying experiences to face emerging challenges of national development at home.” Mimiko, who expressed his excitement over the number of volunteers recruited for
been enrolled in Malaysia and the UK are highly rated internationally. Those who go to frolic and misbehave would be brought back in shame. Those who take the programme serious and excel in their studies will come back as shining stars,” he added. Earlier, the Chief Security Officer to the Amnesty Programme, Colonel Adewale Adekoya, counseled the delegates on the special scholarship not to engage in vices that would tarnish the image of Nigeria. Also speaking, the director of Jim Business School, an educational training facilitator, Oje Aferhuan, said that the process of selecting the delegates was rigorous. He disclosed that 76 prospective delegates were granted visas for the programme but only 41 were successful in the pre-qualification examination, which they wrote on January 18,
The pre-qualification examination became necessary to determine students that are really grounded to study degree programmes going by the experiences of the past where students on getting overseas found it difficult to read and write very well.
with the cut-off mark set at 30 per cent. “The pre-qualification examination became necessary to determine students that are really grounded to study degree programmes going by the experiences of the past where students on getting overseas found it difficult to read and write very well,” he explained. The 42 delegates are to undergo degree and postgraduate programmes in Software Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Nursing, and Business Management among others in the UK and Malaysia. Pepple used the opportunity to dismiss the claim by a group of youths claiming to be Bakassi Freedom Fighters, who recently staged a protest in Calabar, Cross River State, over alleged unpaid stipends. He maintained that no genuine former agitator in the Niger Delta captured in the programme was owed even a month’s stipend, saying, impostors, who had devised all manner of trickery to be part of the amnesty programme, could only make such claims.
Access Bank partners SIDA, others on capacity building By Yetunde Ebosele O sustain the culture of T capacity building in Nigeria, Access Bank Plc recently collaborated with Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, (SIDA), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Focal Point South Africa, and Thistle Praxis. According to the bank, a capacity building session, tagged “G4 Sustainable Reporting Guideline Training Workshop”, held in Lagos recently was designed to empower participants with the requisite knowledge of sustainability reporting. The bank explained that the session was designed to help participants manage the reporting process and benefit from the transparency of adopting such standards. Also, a statement issued by the bank explained that the programme provided a strategic opportunity for advancing the shared mission of mainstreaming sustainability reporting into business practices in Nigeria and Africa “as well as enhancing the presence of the Global Reporting Initiative in Nigeria at the national and regional levels” Speaking at the occasion, Group Managing Director of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe,
said: “ the collaboration with GRI, SIDA and Thistle Praxis presents the Bank with another opportunity to demonstrate its leadership in the areas of responsible business practices and sustainability”. Represented by the Bank’s Chief Risk Officer, Gregory Jobome, Herbert explained that issues around the subjects of sustainability and responsible business practices are important to the bank and consistent with its pedigree in championing and supporting sustainability initiatives across Africa.” Speaking at the event, the GRI Focal Point South Africa represented by Douglas Kativu, encouraged Nigeria to step up the standard in the practice of sustainability reporting, adding that the global business community should consistently review business decisions and their environmental impact to make the earth truly sustainable in the long term. Chief Executive Officer, Thistle Praxis Consulting, Ini Onuk explained that the presentations demonstrates linkages between strategies and commitment to sustainable global economy as well as help organizations measure, understand and communicate their economic, environmental, social and governance performance accurately.
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ActionAid unveils five-year strategy to tackle poverty From Emeka Anuforo NTERNATIONAL developIActionAid, ment organisation, has lamented that despite Nigeria’s recorded growth, the poor in the country were still in poverty and misery. This assertion is coming as the body officially launched its Country Strategy Paper for the year 2014-2018. The document entitled: Take Action: End Poverty, aims, among other things, to strengthen people’s capacity for action to hold government and corporate bodies to account and enhance people’s access to quality services, enhance internal governance structures to provide strategic and effective oversight, and strengthening systems and enhancing synergy for quality programme delivery. Describing Nigeria as a case of poverty in the midst of plenty, ActionAid noted how Nigeria’s case had become a paradox of growth with increasing poverty, unemployment and inequality. The document noted: “Nigeria is the second largest economy in subSahara Africa. IT is next to South Africa and has been projected to surpass South African economy in the next few years… “This growth is yet to impact positively on the lives of the poor.” Noting how government’s priority intervention in the agriculture sector had been to channel huge resources to large-scale farmers, the organisation observed that small holder farmers, particularly women farmers, in most poor communities were finding it difficult to access land, credit facilities, extension services and other essentials. “Similarly, access to markets is a crucial challenge due to poor state of transport infrastructure, lack of transport storage and processing facilities, corruption and exploitative activities of middle-people.” The strategy seeks to advance the rights of women and girls, including promotion of their safety and participation in public and private spaces, advance the rights of children and support young people in building a just, democratic and inclusive society; and enhance human security and livelihood for the poor and excluded.” Country Director of the organisation, Dr. Hussaini Abdu, said that their commitment to poverty eradication was borne of the fact that poverty is man-made and that the same man that created it must tackle it. He said: “For us, this strategy is very important. It is part of the little actions we are taking and the title was chosen out of our desire for change and which is intended to move our people out of poverty. For the people to move to the next level and become advanced the only thing that can be make that
happen is to fight poverty.” ActionAid took a swipe at the political class, stressing that ex-military officers or people who were actively involved in previous military regimes were still driving the present political dispensation. “Although formal democratic institutions are in existence and to some extent active, politicians have shown less commitment to democracy and some of them work to undermine it through different forms of political subterfuge and outright lawlessness. The polity is thus characterised by a continuously shrinking democratic space, over-centralization, lack of accountability and
increasing culture of political repression at all levels of government,” the group said. And despite the existence of a Freedom of Information Act, ActionAid observed that much of government businesses were still shrouded in secrecy, while the public finance management process has remained a closed space. It added: “Politicians, with the connivance of bureaucrats, devise various means to subvert the Public Procurement Act (2007), Security agents wantonly abuse the human rights of citizens. While these abuses have remained grossly underreported, reported cases are perpetrators are not held to account.”
FCT technical students empowered for training, employment From Abosede Musari, Abuja IANT electronics G maker, Samsung has donated an engineering academy to students in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where they will be trained in repairs and maintenance of electronics. According to Managing Director of the company in charge of West Africa, Brovo Kim, the facility costs about $48,000 (N7.4 million). He noted; however, that the important thing about the workshop was the knowlege and employment that the students will gain from the gesture. Located at the Government Science Technical College, Area 3 Garki, the workshop is equipped with the latest
Samsung system air conditioning equipment to be used for practicals by the students. Kim noted during the commissioning recently, that the FCT centre was the second in Nigeria, the first being in Lagos. He added that the initiative would be extended to Ekiti State soon. “What’s important is the value of the training that will be delivered to the students and the service that will be delivered to the end users through them. The students will be able to get good jobs and we will try to help them get good jobs,” Kim said. Speaking on the new air conditioner solution, Femi Oni of Samsung said that it operated on Digital Variable Multi Systems (DVMS) and could serve
facilities with numerous air conditioning units from a single system. According to him, the solution could serve facilities such as hospitals, schools, event centres, hotels and homes from a single unit. The Education Secretary for FCT, Kabir Usman who commissioned the facility expressed delight at the gesture of the electronics maker saying it meant a lot to the FCT education secretariat. “It will provide opportunity for students in the territory to have access to train with latest equipment. “More schools will have their practicals here. And Samsung told me that they would soon introduce radio and television workshops too,” he said.
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APPOINTMENTS Thursday, January 30, 2014
Minister tasks boards on technology promotion From Kanayo Umeh, Abuja HE coordinating Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson has charged the newly inaugurated members of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, NOTAP and Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology, NISLT to provide policy guidelines for the operations of the agencies in relation to the technological needs of Nigeria. She emphasised the need to provide technology related services to industries, entrepreneurs, innovators and researchers in other to enhance the positive impact of technology in the country. “I advice that the governing boards members should provide policy guidelines for the operations of the agencies so that they can continue to render technology related services to industries, entrepreneurs, researchers, inventors and innovators as they relate to their mandates. “At the same time, members of the governing boards must be conscious of the imperative to be guided at all times by the principles of integrity, accountability, transparency and the need to function in the overall national interest at all times,” she said while inaugurating the board members in Abuja. The minister said that the boards members were
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selected on account of “proven integrity, unwavering patriotism, and uncommon sense of duty” to discharge the national assignment. The boards inaugurated are expected to carry on from the “lofty” heights where their predecessors left, and consolidate on their achievements by taking the agencies to the next level. “This would require total commitment and diligence of the highest order,” said Omobola,
expressing confidence that the board members will epitomise on the duty. The permanent secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta in her speech said that the inauguration of the boards were geared towards strengthening the agencies to play effective role in the implementation of the Science, Technology and Innovation, STI policy. “Science and technology hold the key to the industrial and economic development of any nation.
…No nation has developed without placing high premium on science and technology,” Jimeta who spoke on behalf of the boards also said. The minister had earlier told the boards that Nigeria takes pride in her historical strides in arts and culture, traditional medicine, meteorology, agriculture, industry, machinery among others, stressing, “these accomplishments by our people were based in science and technology.”
SURE-P partners Anambra industrialists on unemployment From Chuks Collins, Awka HE Subsidy T Reinvestment and E m p o w e r m e n t Programme (SURE-P) has commenced partnership with the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in Nnewi, Anambra State to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country. This was made known recently by the Project Technical Adviser for community service, women and youths empowerment, Ifeanyi Odenigbo during an interaction at Nnewi between SURE-P officials and selected Nnewi-based industrialists and manufacturers. According to him the oneday interactive session was to sensitise the industrialists to key into the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) of SURE-P. He revealed that according to the package, about 50,000 unemployed grad-
uates were expected to be empowered annually across the federation with quality work experience. He also revealed that the SURE-P would provide a group insurance cover for the period, and a monthly stipend of N25, 000.00 to each approved and certified beneficiary. They were meant to be attached to a company in their localities so as to remove the pressure of transportation from them. Odenigbo told the stakeholders that it was only the industries and organisations that were registered with SURE-P and other relevant governmental institutions that would participate. It is mandatory, he emphasised, for the interns to work within the standard working hours of the firm, organisation or institutions that request for their service. While commending the
efforts of the federal government towards providing gainful employments to jobless youths, he claimed it was aimed at reducing crime and criminality in the nation. The Anambra South senatorial zone Coordinator of SURE-P, Ofili Nwosu said that about three thousand people were employed by SURE-P last year and that five thousand more would be empowered before the end of March in the area. Nwosu encouraged the industries in his zone to quickly rise up to take advantage of getting skilled and well-trained people work for them for free which he noted would enhance their productivity and profit margins. Emeka Nzewi who spoke on behalf of the Nnewi Chamber of Commerce commended SURE-P for the novel initiative.
Unijos to host WARIMA annual conference From Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos NIVERSITY of Jos has been U given the hosting right of this year’s seventh international annual conference of the West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA). WARIMA is a professional body of research managers in the West African sub-region, which was established in November 2006. The Vice Chancellor of the university who is also the secretary general of WARIMA, Prof. Hayward Mafuyai, disclosed this in a chat with journalists in his office. He said that the theme for this year is: “Networking: A Key to Advancing Research Management and Innovation in West Africa.” The conference, according to Mafuyai, would be taking place at the Hill Station Hotels, Jos between March 2 –7. He said that the conference was open to vice chancellors, deputy vice chancellors, directors of Research Institutes, provosts and deans of Faculties and Colleges. Others who are qualified to attend the conference include senior academics and researchers from universities and Research Institutes, Research Administrators, Policy makers in government, parastatals and non-governmental organisation (NGOs),
adding that other categories of individuals, including early-career researchers, who were desirous of acquiring skills in research management could also attend the one – week conference. According to the line up of programmes, delegates are expected to arrive on March 2 while a pre-conference workshop for participants will be on March 3. The vice chancellor said that there would be an opening ceremony for which the State Governor, Jonah Jang, would declare open, adding that there would be a conference dinner and a city tour organised for the participants. Mafuyai pointed out that
conference registration fee is $250, or $350 for late registration, maintaining that accommodation had been reserved at the hostel adding that there were various safe hotels surrounding the conference venue. He revealed that already contacts had been made with various organisations both nationally and internationally, pointing out that the National Universities Commission (NUC) is a major participant and sponsor of the conference as well as the Plateau State government which he said has shown interest. “We request all interested staff in the categories listed
and research students (post graduate students) to phase attend the conference and provide support to as many relevant staff in the area of research management and innovation. “The staff should send abstracts relevant to the theme and or attend the conference as participants.” The vice chancellor disclosed that they had estimated N10 million for hosting the conference while N3.5 million had already been given by NUC while he was still expecting donations from other institutions. The vice chancellor was sand witched by staff of the institutions.
Federal Neuropychiatric gets new provost By Gbenga Akinfenwa HE federal government T has approved the appointment of Dr. Akinwande Owuladewa Akinhanmi, as the substantive provost and medical director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta. According to a statement from the hospital, his appointment, which is for a term of four years, took effect from Friday, January 24, 2014. Until his appointment, Akinhanmi was a consultant psychiatrist
(Special Grade 1) and Director of Research and Training of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro (WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health) Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. He was born on March 1, 1956, and had his secondary education at the African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta and Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro. He had his undergraduate medical education at the University of Ife, (now Obafemi Awolowo
University) Ile-Ife, from where he qualified in 1981. He is a fellow of the West African College of Physicians and also holds the Master of Psychological Medicine degree of the University of Liverpool, England. The new provost and medical director is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Temilade Akinhanmi, a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and the marriage is blessed with children.
Delta donates two buses to female transporters From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba S a way of empowering A women, two female transporters have benefited from the Delta State Government State Urban Mass Transit Scheme. The beneficiaries, Mrs. Edafe Joy Alele and Madam Philomena Monyei were given two 18 seater mini air conditioned buses in place of the old buses which they were using. During the hand over ceremony last week in Asaba, the Commissioner of Transport, Mr. Ben Igbakpa remarked that he received their application letters with excitement and promptly invited the women tranporters for an interview them. According to Igbakpa the gift was in line with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s policy of uplifting the womenfolk, adding
that women that are capable and proven should be given the opportunity to participate in the scheme. The Commissioner also handed over a cheque of an undisclosed amount of money to both beneficiaries from the governor as an additional encouragement. He charged the women to always remember the rules guiding the operators of the Urban Mass Transit Scheme, adding that they should always observe and obey all road signs and to be careful at all times. In separate remarks, the beneficiaries thanked Uduaghan for keeping to his promises of reaching out enterprising women. A beneficiary, Alele, a widow who had been plying Asaba–Onitsha route on a rickety bus for the past one year showered encomiums on Uduaghan for touching the lives of women.
POWA plans empowerment programme for police wives, children From Karls Tsokar, Abuja HE Police Officers Wives T Association (POWA) has revealed a new strategic work plan with the focus of empowering women and children of policemen across the country. The president of POWA in her first visit to the Inspector General of Police said that it was her vision to depart from the old order of “shopping malls, markets” and such usual activities and do something new that would be strategic and as well as rewarding. Mrs. Zahra Bunu-Abubakar made this known when she led a delegation of POWA members on a courtesy visit to the IGP in Abuja. She said that the plan was to make POWA, “become an effective, sustainable organisation that actively enhances the quality of life of women and
children and serve as a recognised resource for community partnership, post conflict rehabilitation and youth empowerment.” She said that a road map was already in place to empower wives and children of policemen through skills acquisition programmes and training in small-scale business. Bunu-Abubakar said that POWA had been known to be involved in markets, shops and malls all around the country, but argued that most police wives could not afford these shops and were still unable to sustain their lives. The POWA president also proposed a pilot phase for a youth empowerment centre at the Dei-Dei Police Barrack in Abuja, which she said would be equipped with a computer centre and sports
Adeyeye faults Fayemi’s anti-poverty method From Muyiwa Adeyemi, (Head Southwest Bureau, Ado Ekiti) EOPLES’ Democratic Party P (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prince Dayo Adeyeye has decried Governor Kayode Fayemi’s poverty alleviation measures. Adeyeye, who was addressing some students, who visited him in his Ise-Ekiti residence, said if he becomes governor, there would be decent jobs for them so that they would be able to feed their parents. He described as unacceptable, a situation where a state governor and his wife went about sharing cooked rice to aged women, saying: “What government should do is to provide opportunity for people to be able to feed in their homes not sharing cooked food to the people like almajiri.” “We won’t give you N10, 000 per month employments because that is celebration of poverty and we are not going to further impoverish our youths by creating jobs in which graduates will be paid N10, 000 per month.”
He described Ekiti as a wellendowed one that can take care of its people, adding: “As chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), we promised that we were going to stop the practice of public school pupils carrying furniture to school and also build storey building classrooms, we did it. “For instance, we have said that we are going to make Ekiti State the education hub of Nigeria and you can imagine the number of employments that will be generated if we have more tertiary institutions (both government owned and private) in the state. In the state today, Afe Babalola University alone has provided more than 5,000 direct and indirect employments. Now imagine if we have five more private tertiary institutions in Ekiti State. “Apart from the education sector, we are also going to make the agricultural sector viable and create jobs through establishment of agro-allied industries, especially food processing.”
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ScienceGuardian Scientists probe belief in immortality
*Immortality.... Studies have found that both children and adults believe that bodily needs, such as hunger and thirst, end when people die, but mental capacities, such as thinking or feeling sad, continue in some form.
By examining children’s ideas about “prelife,” the time before conception, researchers found results which suggest that our bias toward immortality is a part of human intuition that naturally emerges early in life. And the part of us that is eternal, we believe, is not our skills or ability to reason, but rather our hopes, desires and emotions. new Boston University, A United States, study led by postdoctoral fellow Natalie Emmons and published in the January 16, 2014 online edition of Child Development sheds light on these profound questions by examining children’s ideas about “prelife,” the time before conception. By interviewing 283 children from two distinct cultures in Ecuador, Emmons’s research suggests that our bias toward immortality is a part of human intuition that naturally emerges early in life. And the part of us that is eternal, we believe, is not our skills or ability to reason, but rather our hopes, desires and emotions. We are, in fact, what we feel. Emmons’ study fits into a growing body of work examining the cognitive roots of religion. Although religion is a dominant force across cultures, science has made little headway in examining whether religious belief-such as the human tendency to believe in a creator-may actually be hard-wired into our brains. “This work shows that it’s possible for science to study religious belief,” said Deborah Kelemen, an Associate Professor of Psychology at Boston University and coauthor of the paper. “At the same time, it helps us understand some universal aspects of human cognition and the structure of the mind.” Most studies on immortality or “eternalist” beliefs have
focused on people’s views of the afterlife. Studies have found that both children and adults believe that bodily needs, such as hunger and thirst, end when people die, but mental capacities, such as thinking or feeling sad, continue in some form. But these afterlife studies leave one critical question unanswered: where do these beliefs come from? Researchers have long suspected that people develop ideas about the afterlife through cultural exposure, like television or movies, or through religious instruction. But perhaps, thought Emmons, these ideas of immortality actually emerge from our intuition. Just as children learn to talk without formal instruction, maybe they also intuit that part of their mind could exist apart from their body. Emmons tackled this question by focusing on “prelife,” the period before conception, since few cultures have beliefs or views on the subject. “By focusing on prelife, we could see if culture causes these beliefs to appear, or if they appear spontaneously,” said Emmons. “I think it’s a brilliant idea,” said Paul Bloom, a Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science at Yale who was not involved with the study. “One persistent belief is that children learn these ideas through school or church. That’s what makes the prelife research so cool. It’s a very
clever way to get at children’s beliefs on a topic where they aren’t given answers ahead of time.” Emmons interviewed children from an indigenous Shuar village in the Amazon Basin of Ecuador. She chose the group because they have no cultural prelife beliefs, and she suspected that indigenous children, who have regular exposure to birth and death through hunting and farming, would have a more rational, biologically-based view of the time before they were conceived. For comparison, she also interviewed children from an urban area near Quito, Ecuador. Most of the urban children were Roman Catholic, a religion that teaches that life begins only at conception. If cultural influences were paramount, reasoned Emmons, both urban and indigenous children should reject the idea of life before birth. Emmons showed the children drawings of a baby, a young woman, and the same woman while pregnant, then asked a series of questions about the child’s abilities, thoughts and emotions during each period: as babies, in the womb, and before conception. The results were surprising. Both groups gave remarkably similar answers, despite their radically different cultures. The children reasoned that their bodies didn’t exist before birth, and that they didn’t have the ability to
think or remember. However, both groups also said that their emotions and desires existed before they were born. For example, while children generally reported that they didn’t have eyes and couldn’t see things before birth, they often reported being happy that they would soon meet their mother, or sad that they were apart from their family. “They didn’t even realize they were contradicting themselves,” said Emmons. “Even kids who had biological knowledge about reproduction still seemed to think that they had existed in some sort of eternal form. And that form really seemed to be about emotions and desires.” Why would humans have evolved this seemingly universal belief in the eternal existence of our emotions? Emmons said that this human trait might be a by-product of our highly developed social reasoning. “We’re really good at figuring out what people are thinking, what their emotions are, what their desires are,” she said. We tend to see people as the sum of their mental states, and desires and emotions may be particularly helpful when predicting their behavior. Because this ability is so useful and so powerful, it flows over into other parts of our thinking. We sometimes see connections where potentially none exist, we hope there’s a master plan for the universe, we see purpose when there is none, and we imagine that a soul survives without a body.
ASTRONOMY With J.K. Obatala
Stars, planets, clusters herald dry season (6) XPLORING the eastern E sky, at this time of year, is rather like visiting a traditional compound in Nigeria—where the dead, the living and the unborn share the same space. This is especially true in Orion constellation, but also in nearby Taurus and Gemini. We will investigate objects in all three constellations, beginning with those at or near the end of the life-cycle Hans Bethe alluded to in his Nobel Lecture. These are the short-lived super giants, whose high luminosity and large size help give the constellations their defining features. This includes the red, blue, white, yellow and orange motif that makes the firmament aesthetically appealing. Actually, the colourful collages arise largely from variations in stellar temperatures—which, in turn, reflects differences in the mass and chemistry of individual stars. Modern astronomers have identified 88 distinctive patterns in the night sky, which the International Astronomical Union recognizes officially as “constellations”. Other striking stellar configurations, such as the “Belt Stars” in Orion and the Hyades “V” in Taurus, are called “asterisms”. Both asterisms and constellations are, for the most part, man-made—i.e., the stellar “patterns” are largely in the eyes of the beholder. In quite a number of instances, the stars have no spatial proximity at all. They only appear to be near each other, due to comparative brightness and visual alignment. Do keep this stored in your memory card, while I quickly conduct a familiarisation tour of Orion, Taurus and Gemini constellations— where the objects we will visit are located. Mentioned famously in the book of Job (38:31), Orion is the 26th largest of the official star-groups and the best known. Seven very bright naked-eye stars, mostly supergiants, form its box-like configuration, which is centred on the three Belt Stars. It is easiest to observe, from January to March. Within the constellation, Wikipedia notes, there are 81 stars bearing either Greek alphabets (Bayer designations) or whole numbers (Flamsteed designations)—10 of which are known to have planets revolving around them. Our celestial excursion will encompass its brightest stars, Betelgeuse and Rigel. If you are into astrology, then “Taurus” rings familiar. It is among the 12 signs
of the zodiac. Although astronomers reject astrology as a pseudo-science, they have retained the zodiacal constellations, largely for historic reasons: The zodiac is one of the earliest attempts of Western man, to organise the sky. Taurus (Latin for “Bull”) is the 17th largest constellation, with 132 Bayer/Flamsteed designations, nine of which are candidates for solar system status. It contains two nakedeye clusters—the Hyades and the Pleiades—which are also on our itinerary. Gemini is another ancient zodiacal constellation. Its name means “twin” in Latin. Look high overhead and northward later tonight, and you’ll see why the “twin” symbolism has stuck. Gemini’s two brightest stars, Castor and Pollux, are the most prominent naked eye objects in the constellation. In the 1960s, the U.S. Space Agency selected the Gemini symbol (which originates in Greek mythology) for phase-2 of its manned flight programme. NASA’s Gemini capsule was the first to carry two astronauts. The Gemini constellation ranks 30th in size and has 80 Bayer/Flamsteed stars, eight with planetary systems. But we will only concern ourselves with Pollux and Castor, since a telescope is required to see most of the other interesting objects. Please be apprised that, when I cite the number of Bayer/Flamsteed stars in a constellation, this does not include all the stellar objects in that area. These are merely the main stars, which have long been identified and catalogued. Powerful orbiting and Earth-based telescopes can see many other objects. This tentative celestial reconnaissance should have prepared us, somewhat, for our final departure from the Sirius system, in Canis Major. We will now affect the long awaited jaunt to Rigel, in Orion constellation—our first port-ofcall. You can’t miss this beautiful supergiant. Just look in the lower right hand corner of the four-star box that encloses the Belt Stars. What the naked eye cannot see though, is the intriguing science, hidden behind Rigel’s radiance. As a supergiant, Rigel has a problem similar to that of the teenager, who recently died of “old age” in New England, U.S.A.—due to a genetic condition called Progeria, which caused him to age prematurely. To be continued.
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30 | SCIENCE GUARDIAN Thursday, January 30, 2014
‘How to prevent frequent strikes by health workers’ Dr. Olatokunbo, Awolowo-Dosunmu is the newly inaugurated chairman Lagos University Teaching Hospital’s (LUTH) Management Board. Awolowo-Dosunmu, a former Nigeria’s ambassador to the Netherlands and executive director of Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, on Friday, January 24, 2014, commissioned the new Surgical Skills Training Centre and the Assisted Conception Centre & Colonoscopy Unit at the institution. However, the commissioning and the inaugural meeting of new members of the LUTH Management Board, which include President Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele, Director of Hospital Services at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Dr. Patience Osinubi, among others was almost marred by altercation and open protest by members of the striking LUTH branch of the Medical & Health Workers Union under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU). Awolowo-Dosunmu after a short meeting with the protesting workers, which ended in an agreement prayer, led by one of the Hospital workers, gave a blueprint on how she plans to improve on the fortunes of LUTH. CHUKWUMA MUANYA was there. Excerpts: UTH has been in the news Lsons.recently for the wrong reaThe workers are protesting alleged gross mismanagement by the authorities and poor working conditions. They are presently on strike and are threatening to shut down the whole Hospital. How do you intend to address the situation? LUTH is one of the leading teaching hospitals in Nigeria. So it was only to be expected that in any agitation or crisis perhaps because of the visibility of a centre as LUTH, the focus of the agitation would be situated in LUTH for maximum impact. The fact that this has taken place here today, on a day when the Board was sup-
posed to meet and has invited the press to cover something we should all applaud. I expected it to happen in view of the ongoing crisis. To talk about the way forward, there is a short term, medium term, and long term strategies. In the short, the only thing you can do in a negotiation is to negotiate and to see where you can meet the workers’ demands reasonably. The hope is that both parties in negotiation will give and take; will understand that the negotiation necessarily includes compromise in certain areas. On this occasion, I have used my influence if you like. It is not a lot but I just advised management and they complied
Awolowo-Dosunmu with my advice to meet with the workers, to meet their demands. And we met the vast majority. As I said before during the meeting, payments have been made; any payment that has not been made is due to the fact that the claims were not received on time. This was said in the presence of the leaders and they accepted that and said they would go and make a redress. In the short term they will continue the negotiation in a peaceful manner with a larger picture in mind, remembering that there are patients
involved here and the survival of the institution is at stake. Let us remember that LUTH is not the only hospital involved, it is nation wide thing. So I am speaking to all the local and state chapters. Negotiate and reach a compromise and go back to work. Demands will always crop up from time to time. It is an ongoing thing and you make your demands, negotiate, get what you want and then you move on till the next one. In the medium to long term, I believe the time has come for policy makers, govern-
ment, management to put very clear guidelines in place that will govern the conduct of both the managers of the hospitals, the conduct of the employees so that everyone knows what is what. Everyone knows how many positions are available in a particular cadre, so that we do not all feel that because we have been on the same level for five years, we are all entitled to move on to the next level. I do not think there is any organization that works like that. There is always a structure and I think that structure needs to be clearly set out. So that the whole house does not crash down over everybody’s head. I think that has to be done. I have a hubby horse, which is clinical governance and I believe it is the way to go. Clinical governance sets out policies and very clear guidelines about what happens. There are policies on every issue imaginable, employment policies that everyone signs up to immediately they get employed. It is not just rules and regulations, it is also about the development of every individual within that organization, their training, their development, setting goals annually, looking back, doing an appraisal, seeing how far you have come with your goals and then finding out why you didn’t reach your goal or whether you reached your goal or what other goals you want to set for your self for the next one year. And that way, every body gains. You gain in knowledge, self-confidence and
move on and not everybody has to be the boss. Of course it is important to equip the hospitals to the best standard that we can and to provide the training to the people that will use the equipment to guarantee the best job satisfaction and best quality treatment for the patients that come in. We just need to revamp the healthcare sector. What will be your blueprint for the next one year? What are your immediate plans on how to improve services in LUTH? That is what I have said. I want to work on this issue of clinical governance. That is what I want to do. I really believe I it and it is not just a LUTH thing, it is something that should be nationwide and should involve all the regulatory bodies, the medical dental council of Nigeria (MDCN), the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), they set up the guidelines. For example on this issue of promotions I hear that the NANNM council has said that certain positions should be reserved for only those who have Bachelor Degree in Nursing, not just any Bachelor Degree in Nursing. If you do not have that, you don’t get those positions. I think this has to be more global and holistic and address every area of practice so that everyone knows where they stand and therefore in any situation you can refer to the Rules and Regulations, which are very clear. So you don’t go wrong and you don’t cut corners.
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NaturalHealth Fresh concerns over GM foods new study by Egyptian A researchers has found that Bt corn is not substantially equal to non-genetically modified parent corn and is actually toxic to rats after barely three months. Meanwhile, a second study, which examined the effects on rats on a diet containing the GM corn, found that it caused untoward changes in body organ function and weight, as well as blood biochemistry, which indicated possible toxicity, according to a summary by GMWatch.org. The site also reported that a third study, a histopathological examination, was carried out on the rats fed the genetically modified corn. Researchers found clear signs of organ pathology in the group fed GM corn versus a group fed with non-GM maize. This study found obvious signs of pathology, especially in the liver, kidney and small intestine. Also, an examination of the testes revealed tissue necrosis (death) and desquamation (shedding) of the spermatogonial cells, which form the foundation of sperm cells and, as such, male fertility, and only after 91 days of feeding. In particular, researchers tested Monsanto’s Ajeeb YG (YieldGuard), which was genetically modified to be insect-resistant. According to an abstract of the studies: For the last decades there has been a growing interest from the food crop industry to construct and produce genetically modified (GM) crops with the primary goal to significantly increase the yield and avoid the use of pesticides. At present, GM crops are grown and consumed by humans in many countries, for example corn expressing the insecticidal gene. Scientists note that an important requirement in any toxicological experiment involving GM crops is the ability to assess the effects of “xenobiotics,” which is a chemical found in an organism that is not normally produced or expected to be present in that organism. For many organs, this testing is done through macroscopic examination of the organs - measuring organ weight, as well as conducting a histopathological examination of the tissue. “Organ weight can be the most sensitive indicator of an effect of an experimental compound, as significant differences in organ weight between treated and untreated (control) animals may occur in the absence of any morphological changes,” said the abstract. “Biochemical analyses are useful in chronic toxicity studies because in-
vivo effects of clinical treatments are reported. When certain types of cells are damaged, they may leak enzymes into the blood, where they can be measured as indicators of cell damage.” Researchers say that clinical pathological evaluation is one method utilized to gauge the efficacy and safety of “novel food sources” when they must be examined to determine whether they are safe ingredients for human consumption. In this vein, liver and kidney function tests, along with serum blood contents, were utilized to evaluate safety. Serum protein and albumin are also used often to evaluate toxicity and such. Obviously, the genetic modification of Bt corn showed significant differences from the conventional counterpart, where, the total protein, crude fat, crude fiber & total saccharides showed significant increase in Bt corn as compared to non-Bt corn. Whereas, the starch content showed significant decreased compared to non-Bt. The mineral content were also affected, where calcium & sodium were significantly decreased in Bt corn, while phosphorous increased dramatically in Bt corn. Researchers went on to say that all fatty acids were detected using various values in Bt corn, as compared to non-Bt corn, with the exception of palmitoleic acid and octadecenoic acids. “Thus, it may be concluded that the genetic modification process caused several alternation in the chemical composition in corn that may be toxic to the human food and the animals feed.” Numerous studies have claimed that GM crops and associated herbicides can lead to anything from cancer to Parkinson’s and other serious ailments in both humans and animals. A recent study conducted by Australian and US researchers found that pigs that were fed a diet of genetically modified grain showed significantly higher rates (20 per cent) of stomach inflammation than pigs that were fed conventional feed. The study, which was published in the Journal of Organic Systems, was conducted over 22.7 weeks using 168 newly weaned pigs in a commercial piggery located in the U.S. Earlier last year, a peerreviewed report published in the Scientific Journal of Entropy concluded that residues of glyphosate -a key ingredient in Monsanto’s popular herbicide Roundup - has been found in food. Roundup is designed for use on
Monsanto’s Roundup Ready GM crops, which have been engineered to withstand the herbicide. Evidence in the report suggests that glyphosate and indeed Roundup, could be linked to a range of health problems and diseases including Parkinson’s, infertility and cancers. In addition, over two million people participated in a worldwide protest against GM giant Monsanto in late May highlighting the alleged dangers of GM foods and the environmental damage caused by their production. Meanwhile, the prospect of genetically modified purple tomatoes reaching the shelves has come a step closer. Their dark pigment is intended to give tomatoes the same potential health benefits as fruit such as blueberries. Developed in Britain, largescale production is now under way in Canada with the first 1,200 litres of purple tomato juice ready for shipping. The pigment, known as anthocyanin, is an antioxidant which studies on animals show could help fight cancer. Scientists say the new tomatoes could improve the nutritional value of everything from ketchup to pizza topping. The tomatoes were developed at the John Innes Centre in Norwich where Prof Cathie Martin hopes the first delivery of large quantities of juice will allow researchers to investigate its potential. “With these purple tomatoes you can get the same compounds that are present in blueberries and cranberries CONTINUED ON PAGE 32
Genetically modified foods
Taking multivitamins linked to miscarriage OMEN who take multivitW amin tablets while trying to become pregnant are more at risk of having a miscarriage, research shows. A study of 35,000 mothers-tobe found they were 32 per cent more likely to lose their baby early on if they had taken the supplements regularly in the six weeks before conceiving. Millions of women rely on the pills to boost their body’s stocks of vital vitamins and minerals and so increase their chances of having a successful pregnancy. The researchers say in the International Journal of Epidemiology: ‘Women are advised to take multivitamins
when they plan to conceive, believing it can do no harm. “We found a modest but consistent increased risk of early foetal death in multivitamin users, especially in women with a regular preconceptional intake.” They said the finding ‘causes concern’ but were unable to explain why multivitamins raised the risk. The NHS supplies women with multivitamin tablets after the ten-week point of their pregnancies as part of the Healthy Start scheme. They contain vitamins C, D and B9 (also known as folate), which helps protect babies from spina bifida.
Many women begin taking pills while trying to conceive. But official advice warns only against consuming too much vitamin A. The universities of Southern and Aarhus Denmark, Pittsburgh in the U.S conducted the latest study, which is the largest of its kind and focused on mothers-to-be in Denmark. Taking folate supplements on their own or multivitamins while expecting had a slight beneficial effect. But the study isolated a particular risk of miscarriage among those who took the all-in-one tablets several weeks before conception, around a third of the women.
‘Exercise halves death risk in cancer patients’ E all know exercise is W good for us but now scientists have found that physical exercise significantly increases the life expectancy of cancer survivors. Men who beat cancer and who burned more than 12,600 calories a week exercising, almost halved their risk of death, a new study found. The research supports a previous study that found the most physically active cancer survivors are much less likely to die of cancer and heart disease. Scientists from the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine studied 1,021 men with an average age of 71 who had been previously diagnosed with cancer. They found that men who burned more than 12,600 calo-
ries per week by exercising, were 48 per cent less likely to die than those that did little exercise and expended less than 2,100 calories a week, Medical Express reported. Co-author of the study, Dr. Kathlee Wolin explained that many cancer survivors are living longer because of early diagnosis and better treatment. “Physical activity should be actively promoted to such enhance to individuals longevity,’ she said in the study, which was published in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health. While there has been plenty of research that shows regular exercise boosts the life expectancy of healthy people, this study is among very few that show exercise also extend-
ed the life of cancer survivors. Scientists used data from Harvard’s Alumni Health Study, which surveys male alumni who attended the university between 1916 and 1950. In 1988, participants detailed their exercise habits in a questionnaire that quizzed hem how often they went walking, climbed stairs and participated in sports. The exercise of the same men was updates in 1993 and they were followed until 1998. The study found that men who burned more than 12,400 calories per week were 48 per cent less likely to die of any cause following cancer treatment and their findings were adjusted for age, weight, smoking and early parental mortality. A previous study revealed that
the most physically active cancer survivors were 38 per cent less likely to die of cancer and 48 per cent less likely to die of cardiovascular disease after their cancer treatment. Male cancer survivors who burned more than 12,600 calories per week by exercising were 48 per cent less likely to die than those that did little exercise and expended less than 2,100 calories a week. Scientists studied 1,021 men with an average age of 71 to come up with their findings. A previous study found that the most physically active cancer survivors were 38 per cent less likely to die from the disease if it was to strike again. They were also 48 per cent less likely to die of cardiovascular disease after their cancer treatment.
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GM corn toxic to body organs, study finds CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 that give them their health benefits - but you can apply them to foods that people actually eat in significant amounts and are reasonably affordable,” she said. The tomatoes are part of a new generation of GM plants designed to appeal to consumers - the first types were aimed specifically at farmers as new tools in agriculture. The purple pigment is the result of the transfer of a gene from a snapdragon plant - the modification triggers a process within the tomato plant allowing the anthocyanin to develop. Although the invention is British, Prof Martin says European Union restrictions on GM encouraged her to look abroad to develop the technology. Canadian regulations are seen as more supportive of GM and that led to a deal with an Ontario company, New Energy Farms, which is now producing enough purple tomatoes in a 465 square metre (5,000sq ft) greenhouse to make 2,000 litres (440 gallons) of juice. According to Prof Martin, the Canadian system is “very enlightened. “They look at the trait not the technology and that should be a way we start changing our thinking - asking if what you’re doing is safe and beneficial, not ‘Is it GM and therefore we’re going to reject it completely’. “It is frustrating that we’ve had to go to Canada to do a lot of the growing and the pro-
cessing and I hope this will serve as a vanguard product where people can have access to something that is GM but has benefits for them.” The first 1,200 litres are due to be shipped to Norwich shortly - and because all the seeds will have been removed, there is no genetic material to risk any contamination. The aim is to use the juice in research to conduct a wide range of tests including examining whether the anthocyanin has positive effects on humans. Earlier studies show benefits as an anti-inflammatory and in slowing cancers in mice. A key question is whether a GM product that may have health benefits will influence public opinion. A major survey across the European Union in 2010 found opponents outnumbered supporters by roughly three to one. The last approval for a GM food crop in the EU came in 1998. Martin hopes that the purple tomato juice will have a good chance of being approved for sale to consumers in North America in as little as two years’ time. She and other plant researchers in the UK hope that GM will come to be seen in a more positive light. Earlier on Friday, scientists at Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire announced that they were seeking permission for field trials for a GM plant that could produce “fish oil”. In a parallel project, they have been cultivating a type of GM wheat that is designed to release a pheromone that
deters aphids. Prof. Nick Pidgeon, an environmental psychologist at Cardiff University, has run opinion polls and focus groups on GM and other technologies. He says that a legacy of distrust, including from the time
of mad cow disease, will causing lasting concern. “Highlighting benefits will make a difference but it’s only one part of the story which is quite complex. “People will still be concerned that this is a technology that potentially interferes
with natural systems - they’ll be concerned about big corporations having control over the technology and, at the end of the day, you feed it to yourself and your children and that will be a particular concern for families across the UK.”
“To change that quite negative view that people had 10 to 15 years ago will take quite a long time - it’ll take a demonstration of safety, a demonstration of good regulation and of the ability to manage the technology in a safe way. And that doesn’t happen overnight.”
How mouthwashes worsen heart attack, strokes • Antiseptic gargles kill good bacteria that help keep blood pressure down SING mouthwash is a ‘disU aster’ for health, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, scientists are warning. Swilling kills off ‘good’ bacteria that help blood vessels relax – so increasing blood pressure. When healthy volunteers used Corsodyl, a brand containing a powerful antiseptic, their blood pressure rose within hours. Professor Amrita Ahluwalia, who led the study, recently condemned the widespread use of antiseptic mouthwash. She said: “Killing off all these bugs each day is a disaster,
when small rises in blood pressure have significant impact on morbidity and mortality from heart disease and stroke.” More than half of British adults regularly use mouthwash, creating a market worth £180 million a year. The study compared blood pressure levels in 19 healthy volunteers who started using Corsodyl twice daily. Their blood pressure rose by between two and 3.5 units (mmgh). This effect ‘appeared within one day’ of using the mouthwash, researchers wrote in the journal Free Radical
Biology And Medicine. For each two-point rise in blood pressure, the risk of dying from heart disease rises by seven per cent, according to separate research. Such a rise also increases the risk of dying from stroke by 10 per cent. Prof. Ahluwalia, from Queen Mary University of London, said: “We are not telling people to stop using antiseptic mouthwashes if they have a gum or tooth infection – but we would ask why anyone else would want to.” Corsodyl contains 0.2 per cent by volume of the antiseptic chlorhexidine. Other
antiseptic mouthwashes made by Boots and Superdrug contain the chemical in the same concentration. It kills microbes needed to help create nitrite, essential for blood vessels to dilate properly. But the mouthwash caused nitrite production in the mouth to fall by over 90 per cent, and blood nitrite to fall by 25 per cent. Not all mouthwashes contain chlorhexidine: Listerine, for example, does not. However, Prof. Ahluwalia said: “Other mouthwashes could still disrupt the healthy bacteria.”
‘High-protein diets increase kidney disease risk in rats’ N experiment done in morphological markers, ments with a 45 per cent cent. A rats by scientists at the the study suggests. protein level. The control The results of this study University of Granada, Spain, shows a high-protein diet increases the chance of developing kidney stones and other renal diseases. High-protein diets, like the popular Dr. Dukan diet, increase the long-term risk of developing kidney disease and have a negative effect on renal urinary and
What’s more, they may promote serious pathologies like nephrolithiasis (calcium kidney stones) because they drastically reduce urinary citrate (an inhibitor of calcium salt crystallisation) and urinary pH, and increase urinary calcium (to compensate for the metabolic acidity caused by excess protein). University of Granada scientists have demonstrated this in an experiment in rats that examined the effects of a high-protein diet on renal urinary, plasma and morphological parameters. The researchers studied 20 Wistar rats, divided into two groups of 10. The first groups were fed a high-protein diet of commercial hydrolysed protein supple-
groups were fed a normal protein diet. The experiment lasted 12 weeks, which is the equivalent of nine years in human terms. The results showed that the rats on a high-protein diet lost up to 10 per cent of their body weight over the 12 weeks with no improvement in their plasma lipid profile. Moreover, urinary citrate in these rats was 88 per cent lower and urinary pH was 15 per cent more acidic. In the animals fed a high-protein diet, kidney weight increased by 22 per cent, glomerular area — the network of capillaries that filter blood in the kidneys — by 13 per cent, and the mesangium — a collagen structure surrounded by these capillaries — by 32 per
lead the principle author, Dr Virginia A. Aparicio of the University of Granada Department of Physiology, to stress the need to closely monitor anyone on a highprotein diet. The Dukan diet, and others like it, may have serious long-term adverse effects on their health, if the rat study results are applicable to humans. She warns that the negative effects of high-protein diets on the kidney also depend on the presence of other nutrients in the diet. “Eating large amounts of fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of kidney stones forming — probably due to their high potassium and magnesium content, which compensates for the acidity of the high-protein diet,” Dr. Aparicio concludes.
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Participants during a one-week training in Lagos organized by Population Council for healthcare providers ahead of the acceptability study for new user controlled contraceptive for breastfeeding women in Nigeria, Progesterone Vaginal Ring (PVR), … recently
Population Council plans acceptability study on new contraceptive for breastfeeding women By Chukwuma Muanya S part of effort to provide A more contraceptive options for women in Sub Saharan Africa, the Population Council is set to begin an acceptability study on a new user controlled option for breastfeeding (lactating) women in Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal called Progesterone Vaginal Ring (PVR). Until now, several studies have shown PVR to be effective as a contraceptive in breastfeeding women who need a better method of spacing pregnancies, and previous clinical trials of one-year duration demonstrated its efficacy to be similar to that of the Intra Uterine Device (IUD) during lactation. The duration of lactational amenorrhea is significantly prolonged in PVR users in comparison to IUD users with fewer median numbers of bleeding/spotting (B/S) episodes and B/S days. Population Council, established in 1952 and headquartered in New York, is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization, which confronts critical health and development issues—from stopping the spread of Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) to improving reproductive health and ensuring that young people lead full and productive lives. Senior Programme Manager Reproductive Health at the Population Council Office in Abuja, Dr. Salisu Ishaku, told
• Trains healthcare providers on modalities journalists in Lagos during a one-week training for healthcare providers ahead of the PVR acceptability study in Nigeria: “We are here to actually introduce the service providers on how to dispense the PVR as the new method of family planning for breastfeeding women in sub Saharan Africa. You know this technology has been around for over 20 years and has been used in many countries across the world. Specifically about eight countries in Latin America, it is registered and is already in use by the population. Unfortunately, it is not available in Sub Saharan Africa. You will agree with me this is one of the places with the highest unmet need for family planning. So we need to make sure that all innovations are also available in this part of the world.” Before now there have been lots of family planning methods. Why this new method? Ishaku said: “You know there is not an ideal family planning method. An ideal family planning method is one that satisfies the need of every woman and you know it is difficult to have that one. So when you have mixed up of methods, you will see that one method that is not good for one woman will be good for another. “Researches have shown that the more method mix you have the more likely women are likely to use family plan-
ning because they have other options to choose from. So that is one of the area of focus in the effort to promote family planning, uptake and continuation; to make sure that many methods are available for women to choose from. But when you have one or two methods available, they may not be conducive for a particular woman.” On why lactating women are targeted, he said: “That is how it was designed because we know that women who are breastfeeding by nature should not ovulate especially if the breastfeeding is exclusive. If they ovulate they are not going to conceive. But then that is not perfect so this PVR auguments that lactational amenorrhoea method to make sure that within its imperfection there is something to support it to make sure that so long they on it they are not going to ovulate or conceive.” How far with the acceptability study planned for centres in Nigeria? Ishaku explained: “We are going to involve 63 women in two sites- University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Oyo State, and Wuse General Hospital in Abuja. We have up to five centres in Kenya and about six in Dakar Senegal. We have only two in Nigeria because of our population. UCH can actually handle all the women that can be seen in Dakar. We have about 17 million in Lagos but the whole of
Senegal is about 12 million population.” When is the study kicking off? The Population Council’s Senior Programme Manager said: “We have already got the permission to do it from the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and from the various hospitals. So what is delaying it? We have already imported the rings. It here in Nigeria but the providers needed to be trained on the research ethics.” So the method is not yet available anywhere in the market in Nigeria? “It is not available anywhere in the market in Nigeria,” he said. How soon will it be available for public use? Ishaku said: “That will be informed by the result of this acceptability study. Once we see that it is acceptable to the women, they like it, they are going to use it when it is available, then the next step is to make sure that it is now available in Nigeria both in the public and private sector.” You said that it had been in use in other parts of the world especially Latin America. What are the likely side effects prospective users should expect? He explained: “The active ingredient in PVR is natural progesterone and there are many hormones that we use right now in Nigeria for Family Planning that are also
synthetic form of progesterone. So similar side effect experienced by women on these synthetic progesterones is what is expected and most of the symptoms are not trouble some. They are symptoms they are used to especially when they are counseled from the beginning like expect that when taking this contraceptive you may have irregular menstruation, expect some headaches, and so on. “The only difference is that since PVR is going to be residing within the vagina it is going to cause local effect. You cannot rule out that one but no previous study has shown that. But there is the possibility that is there is a breach during the introduction through the vagina and the conditions are not asep-
tic, the woman may introduce infection into herself. Because it is a foreign body, if not properly handled there will be infection or it may cause irritation of the vagina wall. All these are possibilities but all our previous studies in Chile, Egypt, India there are no adverse effect.” Ishaku further explained: “Breastfeeding has been shown to provide very effective contraception for new mothers. However, once her infant is six months old or a woman begins supplementing her infant’s diet or has her first postpartum period, the contraceptive protection of lactation decreases. A woman who does not want to get pregnant must then consider safe contraceptive alternatives to avoid unintended pregnancy.”
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Health implications of same sex marriage, by civil society groups *Ban does not deny access to HIV treatment, other medical services, says NACA By Chukwuma Muanya
RESIDENT Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on January 13, P 2014 signed into law the
Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013, effectively making the provisions of the Act operative law in Nigeria. This has led to castigation and stigmatization of Nigeria by some members of the international community. The law has also generated much debate and anxiety on the implications of the passage, especially as it affects Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) programming for the Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) says the provisions of the Same Sex Marriage Act 2013 do not have any negative effect on the HIV/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) prevention, treatment, care and support programmes or any other such programmes currently in operation in Nigeria. A coalition of Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) of Nigeria say debilitating illness, chronic disease, psychological problems and early death are the legacy of homosexuality. The CSO coalition include: Foundation for African Cultural Heritage (FACH), Project for Human Development (PHD), Global Pro-life Alliance (GPA), Doctors Health Initiative, Happy Home Foundation, Association of Concerned Mothers, Nigerian Life League, Islamic Education Trust, Association of Catholic Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria, Knights of St. Mulumba, Blissful Life for Youth Empowerment, Nigerian Association for Women Advancement, Catholic Lawyers Association, Sympathy Worldwide Organization, Life Choice International Initiative, Good Parenting and Youth Empowerment Initiative, Foundation for Marriage and Family. Dr. Nkechi Asogwa of the Foundation for African Cultural Heritage at a press conference organized in Lagos last week by the CSO coalition said: “We owe it to ourselves as a society to institute policies that promote the health and wellbeing of the citizens.” She concluded: “Although homosexuality is presented to society as a healthy-and sometimes even superioralternative to heterosexuality, the truth is that homosexual behavior represents a serious threat to individual and public health. Homosexuality, particularly among males, is associated with dangerous behaviors and increased rates of disease ranging from certain cancers to a long list of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS. As recent studies show, many homosexuals continue to engage in highrisk behaviors that ignore the very real consequences to their health and the health of others. The public deserves honest information about the sexual realities of the homosexual lifestyle and the serious health risks that
Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu
President Goodluck Jonathan
Although homosexuality is presented to society as a healthy-and sometimes even superior- alternative to heterosexuality, the truth is that homosexual behavior represents a serious threat to individual and public health. Homosexuality, particularly among males, is associated with dangerous behaviors and increased rates of disease ranging from certain cancers to a long list of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS. come with it.” Director General of NACA, Prof. John Idoko, said: “No provision of this law will deny anybody in Nigeria access to HIV treatment and other medical services. “The Government of Nigeria remains fully committed to improving the health of Nigerians and preventing all AIDS-related deaths, and therefore will continue to ensure that Nigerians have access to the requisite services that they may require as guaranteed by the constitution.” Until the 1970’s homosexuality was seen as a psychiatry illness. The two pioneers involved in the movement for a search for a gene that causes homosexuality, Dr. Robert Spitzer and Simon Le Vay, have since changed their positions. They have evidence-based proof that therapy can be given to successfully to these individuals. According to the American Psychological Association, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor(s). The CSO’s in a press statement said: “Therefore we reject ‘Born that way Fallacy’. There is no such gene as a homosexual gene!” The CSO coalition said despite its success at making homosexuality appear socially acceptable, the gay rights movement cannot sever homosexual behavior from the serious health risks associated with it and the related public consequences. These, they said, include: Anal Cancer. Homosexual men are at an increased risk for anal cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, risk factors for anal cancer include: Human papilloma virus (HPV), which causes anal and/or genital warts; multiple sexual partners; and anal intercourse. Anal cancers are potentially fatal if the anal-rectal tumours spread to other body organs. The incidence increases to 37 fold in
Homosexuals. Immunological studies carried out shows that the reason for this increased risk is that seminal fluid contains substances known as immune regulatory macromolecules that send out signals understood only by the female body. When deposited elsewhere, these signals are not only misunderstood but cause sperm to fuse with whatever somatic body leading to cancer or malignancies. STDs: Compared to heterosexual men, homosexuals are at an increased risk of contracting a number of dangerous STDs, including HIV/AIDS. According to the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA), these STDs include: “urethritis, proctitis, pharyngitis, prostatitis, hepatitis A and B, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, genital warts and HIV infection.” Recent studies indicate that some STDs, such as gonorrhea and syphilis, are increasing among homosexuals. For example, gonorrhea diagnoses for homosexuals increased from four percent in 1988 to 20.2 percent in 2004, according to the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC). The syphilis rate among homosexuals has also increased in cities such as Chicago, New York and Seattle. After reaching an all-time low in 2000, the overall rate of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis has increased for the fifth year in a row, mainly among men. According to the CDC, increased rates of syphilis among homosexuals “may be largely responsible” for this. The CDC estimates that more than half of P&S syphilis cases in recent years occurred among homosexuals. In addition when these individuals who may bisexuals have sex with women, they readily pass on the virus (HPV) or the bacteria like gonorrhea which causes Cervical cancer or infertility respectively in women.
Homosexuals also have a higher risk of contracting STDs that cause liver disease. According to the CDC, liver diseases such as Hepatitis A and B “disproportionately affect men who have sex with men.” About 10 percent of all new Hepatitis A (HAV) infections in the US are to homosexuals. The CDC says that HAV is primarily spread by the “fecal-oral route through close person-to-person contact, such as household or sex contact with an infected person.” According to the CDC, Hepatitis B (HBV), which is spread through infected blood, is also higher in homosexuals, who experience 15-20 percent of all new HBV infections. Risk factors of HBV for homosexuals include: multiple partners, unprotected receptive anal sex, and a history of other STDs, as well as injection drug use. HIV/AIDS. Despite efforts by gay activists to disassociate homosexuality from the spread of AIDS, homosexual behavior, particularly among males, is associated with an increased risk of HIV. Although HIV can be transmitted through both vaginal and anal intercourse, receptive anal sex without a condom is at least 10 times more risky for contracting HIV than vaginal sex without a condom. Not surprisingly, homosexuals experience the majority of HIV/AIDS diagnoses. According to the CDC, homosexuals accounted for 72 percent of all HIV infections among men in 2005 (this includes men who have sex with men and inject drugs). Among all individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 2005, homosexuals accounted for 53 percent of cases Recent studies in cities across the U.S. show an alarming increase in HIV infection among homosexual men, particularly in young homosexuals. The CDC reports that the number of HIV/AIDS diagnoses for homosexuals (including homosexuals who inject drugs) increased by 13
percent from 2001 to 2005. In May 2007, the FDA renewed its 15-year policy banning men who have had sex with men at any time since 1977 from donating blood. The FDA’s explanation for the policy includes the following facts: • “Men who have had sex with men since 1977 have an HIV prevalence 60 times higher than the general population, 800 times higher than first time blood donors, and 8000 times higher than repeat blood donors.” • “Homosexuals also have an increased risk of having other infections that can be transmitted to others by blood transfusion. For example, infection with the Hepatitis B virus is about five to six times more common and Hepatitis C virus infections are about two times more common in men who have sex with men than in the general population.” Psychiatric and Psychological illnesses associated with homosexuality include depression, loneliness leading to suicidal tendencies and suicide, addictions and violence because of the overtly exploitative nature of this relationship. Gay Bowel syndrome: inflammation of the rectum (proctitis), colon (proctocolitis) and small intestine (enteritis). Scientists believe that the increased number of STD cases is the result of an increase in risky sexual practices by a growing number of gay men who believe HIV is no longer a life-threatening illness. Despite two decades of intensive efforts to educate homosexuals against the dangers of AIDS and other STDs, the incidence of unsafe sexual practices that often result in various diseases is on the rise. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 1994 to 1997 the proportion of homosexuals reporting having had anal
sex increased from 57.6 percent to 61.2 percent, while the percentage of those reporting "always" using condoms declined from 69.6 percent to 60 percent. The CDC reported that during the same period the proportion of men reporting having multiple sex partners and unprotected anal sex increased from 23.6 percent to 33.3 percent. The largest increase in this category (from 22 percent to 33.3 percent) was reported by homosexuals twenty-five years old or younger. A study presented July 13, 2000 at the XIII International aids Conference in Durban, South Africa disclosed that a significant number of homosexual and bisexual men with HIV "continue to engage in unprotected sex with people who have no idea they could be contracting HIV." Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco found that thirty-six percent of homosexuals engaging in unprotected oral, anal, or vaginal sex failed to disclose that they were HIV positive to casual sex partners. A CDC report revealed that, in 1997, 45 percent of homosexuals reporting having had unprotected anal intercourse during the previous six months did not know the HIV serostatus of all their sex partners. Even more alarming, among those who reported having had unprotected anal intercourse and multiple partners, 68 percent did not know the HIV serostatus of their partners. Following in the footsteps of the generation of homosexuals decimated by AIDS, younger homosexuals are engaging in dangerous sexual practices at an alarming rate. A Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health study of three-hundredsixty-one young men who have sex with men (MSM) aged fifteen to twenty-two found that around 40 percent of participants reported having had anal-insertive sex, and around 30 percent said they had had anal-receptive sex. Thirty-seven percent said they had not used a condom for anal sex during their last same-sex encounter. Twenty-one percent of the respondents reported using drugs or alcohol during their last samesex encounter. A five-year CDC study of 3,492 homosexual males aged fifteen to twenty-two found that one-quarter had unprotected sex with both men and women. Another cdc study of 1,942 homosexual and bisexual men with HIV found that 19 percent had at least one episode of unprotected anal sex--the riskiest sexual behavior--in 1998 and 1997, a 50 percent increase from the previous two years. Homosexual Promiscuity. Studies indicate that the average male homosexual has hundreds of sex partners in his lifetime: A.P. Bell and M.S. Weinberg, in their classic study of male and female homosexuality, found that 43 percent of white male homosexuals had sex with 500 or more partners, with 28 percent having 1,000 or more sex partners.
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Experts disagree over e-cigarette safety •Lagos, pubs, restaurants others ban smoking By Wole Oyebade(with agency report) c D O N A L D ’ S , Wetherspoons, The Slug and Lettuce are some of the latest international outlets that have banned e-cigarettes, as the debate about their safety rages on. While some people maintain that electronic cigarettes are infinitely preferable to traditional cigarettes, others are deeply concerned about the long term effects they could have on people’s health. It shows that on one side some cancer experts think the electronic alternative to cigarettes could save millions of lives, while other people are seriously worried about them. Apparently not unconcerned about safety arguments, Lagos State House of Assembly banned e-cigarettes, among other forms of smoking in designated public places in the state. In its No-Smoking bill, recently passed by the House, and awaiting State Governor’s assent to become law, the House prohibits smoking in public places like libraries, public toilets, hospitals and healthcare premises, crèche, all schools including tertiary institutions, public transport vehicles within the state, private vehicles with more than one person in it and school buses among others. While deliberating on the bill, one of the two medical doctors in the House, Rasak Balogun informed his col-
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leagues that though e-cigarette was like a placebo for addicted smokers that wants to quit, but there are fresh arguments linking the practice to health risks. Balogun, who is also the Chief Whip of the House, said if the bill was aimed at safeguarding health of nonsmoking public, “non-inclusion of e-cigarette in the prohibition list would be another way of promoting smoking and its injurious effects on the public.” Though e-cigarette practice is till unpopular in Nigeria, an estimated 1.3 million people in the UK are thought to use e-cigarettes. The majority of them buy products that are manufactured in China where there is very little regulation of their production. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of an e-cigarette company in Shenzhen, Southern China, Long Xiaobing makes 10 million e-cigarettes a year. He said: “Currently, lots of products in this market are not regulated and products vary in quality.” Another e-cigarette maker, Hua Ou, added: “There is no standard available to regulate them. So the market is in a bit of chaos now. “Currently many e-cigarettes are quite made similar, with low quality. These are very serious problems.” Both manufacturers insist their own products are good quality, yet they are well placed to make judgments on the wider market. The World Health
Organisation is also extremely concerned about the growing popularity of e-cigarettes. Glenn Thomas of the WHO said: “We still need more research to know and understand what sort of impact on health and people these ecigarettes are having. We know that a lot of the toxins which are consumed through e-cigarettes have not been adequately researched.” The WHO looked at 85 countries and discovered that, currently, more than a third have a total ban on e-ciga-
rettes, almost 40 per cent won’t allow them to be sold to children and only 15 per cent of countries have conducted scientific research into them. Despite so many countries showing concerns about the devices, some experts believe they are a lesser evil when compared to traditional cigarettes. Prof. Robert West, from Cancer Research UK, said: “Cigarettes at the moment are killing in the region of six million people every year. “Can you imagine if every
one of those cigarette smokers used an electronic cigarette instead - we would see the death toll drop. “You are talking about potentially saving millions of lives a year - a public health benefit we could hardly have dreamed of years ago.” He added: “While you get people say that we don’t know yet whether e-cigarettes are safe, the answer is we know what the ingredients are that are within them and we know that those are, nothing is perfectly safe, but compared with a cigarette they are 100 times safer if not more.”
Kingsley Wheaton from British American Tobacco said: “We agree there needs to be more long term studies of the use of e-cigarettes. We believe that as they are today and we believe that there are various part of the scientific community that would agree with us - that they provide a substantially safer alternative to smoking a traditional cigarette.” Regardless of the health impacts, many of Britain’s biggest companies have felt required to ban e-cigarettes because they look too similar to the tobacco versions.
Executive Director MTV Base, Ms Georgia Anorld (left), Director General the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Prof. John Idoko, the United States (US) Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, James Walstine and Mrs. Walstine at the Shuga Naija Premiere in Abuja… recently
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Ogun tackles high blood pressure in pregnancy, HIV From Chukwuma Muanya GUN State government has launched a campaign towards preventing pre-eclampsia among pregnant women across the state, even as it has restated its commitment to reducing the spread of Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Speaking during the official launching of Community Level Intervention for Preeclampsia (CLIP) programme in Abeokuta, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka said the State Government has designed the programme to increase the knowledge and understanding of pregnant women in the community on measures to be taken at guiding against pre-eclampsia. According to the commissioner pre-eclampsia is a large rise in blood pressure and failing kidneys. He added that it is an obstetric condition that occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy in a woman, which is characterized by high blood pressure, saying that it is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria presently. Also, Soyinka, at the inauguration of a multi-sectoral
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GAIN, WHO partner on malnutrition
HE World Health T Organization (WHO) today welcomed the Global Alliance
for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) into official relations. After consideration by its Standing Committee on Nong o v e r n m e n t a l Organizations, the WHO Executive Board confirmed GAIN’s position in support of WHO’s nutritional policies, including those on infant feeding and the promotion of complementary food. GAIN Executive Director Marc Van Ameringen said: “We are delighted to receive confirmation from the World Health Organization of our new relationship status and look forward to strengthening our partnership with WHO.” The WHO decision concludes a week of recognition for GAIN’s achievements within the UN System to address malnutrition. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced the World Food Programme’s ‘Hunger Hero Award’ to GAIN Executive Director Marc Van Ameringen for his efforts to combat world hunger and malnutrition. Marc Van Ameringen said: “We enjoy a close partnership with WHO, for example, by supporting WHO’s efforts to promote adequate nutrition in populations through advocacy and technical support, with a focus on the critical first 1,000 days of life from conception to two years. “We look forward to working even more closely in the future and deepening existing relationships with groups such as Codex Alimentarius. In partnership with WHO and the global community, we believe it is possible to end to the scourge of malnutrition within the next twenty to thirty years.”
State Management Team (SMT) on the President’s Comprehensive Response Plan (PCRP) on HIV/AIDS in Abeokuta said the state is prepared to key into and support all interventions that could make this intention a reality. PCRP is a tool designed to address priority systems and service delivery challenges facing HIV response in the country. Soyinka said: “The State Government would leave no stone unturned at providing good and qualitative health care delivery to the people of Ogun State not only at preventing clip but in every other aspect of health issues in the State.” Declaring the programme open, Chairman Local Government Service Commission Alhaji Olatunde Okewole pointed out that the disease kills at least a pregnant woman at
every 11 hours of the day, saying that pregnant woman with pre-eclampsia experiences body system damage such as kidney failure, lung disorder, high blood pressure among others. In his presentation, the Principal Investigator Officer for the programme Professor Olalekan Adetoro explained that pre-eclampsia is now a clearly and common disease in Nigeria that could lead to death in pregnancy enunciating that its causes could be traced to poor health infrastructure, limited resources and inadequate health personnel. Prof. Peter Von of PI PreEmpt University of British Columbia Van Couver, Canada said over 287 out of 100,000 pregnant women died through the diseases, saying that pre-eclampsia symptoms does not stop at low or high blood pressure
alone but can also cause hypertension and paralysis of half of the body system. On the PCRP, Soyinka further explained: “The wellbeing of our people remains paramount to this administration. Government is therefore ready to do its part to ensure that the potentials of the PCRP are harnessed towards reducing the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the State to the barest minimum.” He added that the Plan would support efforts to accelerate the implementation of key interventions over a period of two years to bridge existing gaps, address key financial, system and coordination challenges as well as promote greater responsibility for HIV response in the State. The Commissioner expressed optimism that at the end, the Plan would achieve landmarks in the
fight against the epidemic including a drop in new infections by 24 per cent, increase in the number of people on anti-retroviral therapy by 50 per cent and an early reduction of AIDS related deaths by 17 per cent among others. He therefore charged members of the SMT to build on existing structures on the fight against HIV/AIDS in the State towards ensuring that the State benefits maximally from the set objectives of the PCRP. Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Health, Dr. Jibola Amosu described the PCRP as a timely development in addressing HIV challenges as it is coming at a time the country is experiencing donor fatigue. Amosu added that with the inauguration of the SMT, the State has been posi-
tioned to benefit from the Plan aimed at providing prevention services for 500,000 Most at Risk People (MARPS) and four Million young persons among others. Systems Strengthening Technical Adviser, Enhancing Nigeria’s Response (ENR), Dr. Temitope Fadiya highlighted the responsibilities of the SMT to include strengthening a sustainable systembased approach to delivering cost effective, prevention and treatment, care and support services for continuous improvement of recipients. The members according to him are also to provide guidance on scaling up of response to HIV/AIDS in treatment and prevention aspects of HIV/AIDS interventions through joint planning and execution
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Senate charged on early passage of Health Bill •Contentious areas taken care of in new draft From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja
S the National Assembly resumed for legislative A activities this year, the law making body has been charged to accelerate action on the National Health Bill and see to its passage to enable the Presidency sign it into law before the end of this quarter. The charge came from the Health Sector Reform Coalition yesterday. The coalition led by the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) declared the year 2014 as year for the passage into law of the National Health Bill. The bill aims to coordinate the health sector with responsibilities clearly allocated. Executive Secretary of HERFON, the group that championed the formulation of the health bill in the first place, Dr. Muhammed Lecky, told newsmen in Abuja that some of the contentious issues had been taken care of in a new draft developed after some of the public hearings held last year. He said contentious areas like Clause 51, which hitherto made provision for cloning, had been expunged, and cloning prohibited in Nigeria, going by
the new draft being discussed at the Senate. He said: “We recognize the fact that on resumption from recess, the legislators will be busy with activities towards the passage of the 2014 budget and the Appropriation Bill. However, we urge them not to relent on the ongoing momentum at the Senate towards the passage of the National Health Bill. The feelers from the House of Representatives encourage us that they are eagerly awaiting Senate passage for a quick conference and a joint passage of the Bill for transmission to Mr. President to sign into law. “Nigerians have awaited for too long for this basic fundamental human right to quality healthcare. Lives have been lost and continue to die. Children, women, the poor and the vulnerable have continued to die. Every Nigerian has an inalienable right to quality healthcare. The passage of the National Health Bill is critical to rising challenges of better health for all Nigerians and a task that must be done. “It is this everybody’s business, every Nigerian regardless of status,, gender, and position in life is a stakehold-
SHI empowers persons living with HIV in Abuja From: Emeka Anuforo, Abuja
HE Sustainable Healthcare Initiative (SHI) has empowered 82 women and men living with HIV in Abuja. Country Director of the organisation, Dr Mike Omotosho, who spoke to some media men in Abuja, stressed that organization had also set up the SHI Foundation Support Program for people living with HIV/AIDS. He described the Foundation as an intervention initiative by Sustainable Healthcare Initiative, designed to encourage and empower the people living with HIV/AIDS to have the skills to either run their own businesses or engage in cooperate services managed by their own company and also give them reasons never to give up. He said, “One of the major causes of HIV infection and other deadly health issue in our country is Economic challenge. People living in poverty have to make decisions they never would make if not desperate. When someone is living with HIV/AIDS, keeping his/her job can be a huge challenge; stigma in the workplace is often a reality. Employers may dismiss HIV positive people if their statuses become known. If face with such health struggle and time off is needed for doctor’s appointments, which may lead to someone losing his job. “For instance, in the last quarter of 2013, SHI Foundation identified and supported “Talent Support Group Initiative”, based in Abuja with membership of over 150 people. The purpose was to encourage and empower members with knowledge and skills to help themselves and their families.” He said Phase1 of the
T
empowerment program featured vocational skills acquisition programs for the group. “A total number of 109 people obtained and filled SHI Foundation Support forms, but a total of 82 persons were trained,” he stressed. Phase2, which is provision of microcredit to qualified members of the group, he noted, started with signing of Memorandum of Understanding between SHI Foundation and Bam Microfinance Bank Ltd where SHI provides the funds and Bam MFB, administers the funds with minimal interest. The first set of beneficiaries, he added, would receive their funds soon. He stressed: “Sustainable Healthcare Initiative (SHI) is a non-governmental organization that focuses on strengthening mechanisms that promote sustainable healthcare in Nigeria. Our areas of core strength are in supply chain management, training, behaviour change communication, monitoring and evaluation, procurement and warehousing. “In 2000, world leaders came together to adopt the United Nations Millennium Declaration with the goal of meeting eight time-bound targets for 2015 commonly known as the Millennium Development Goals. SHI is committed to doing what it can to help Nigeria meet its Millennium Development goal for Combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases. SHI is focused primarily however, on the combat against Malaria. Over the years, our reputation for excellence in our key service delivery areas (in Malaria as well as other health sectors) has made the SHI brand highly reputable and recognizable.”
er in the passage of the health bill, hence everyone must rise and speak with one loud voice in demanding the passage of the Health Bill and make it a litmus test for all our leaders at all levels, starting at local, state and up to the national level. This is not a matter to be left lone to the National Assembly. We need to all collectively strategize to reengage stakeholders to awaken groundswell support for the passage of the Bill. This is because health is a key driver of development, economic growth and security. Achieving universal accesses to quality health service sis a worthy investment towards public good.” The Bill, ‘An Act to provide for a framework for the regulation, development and management of a national health system and set standards for rendering health services in the federation’ made copious provisions for responsibility for health and eligibility for health
services and the establishment of national system. Experts say the bill represents the first attempt to provide legislative classification and funding sources to support primary health care for all Nigerians. It includes provisions for a national primary health care fund; and when passed, is expected to significantly increase government financing for primary health care. It targets universal coverage with at least basic services. The bill was initially passed by the National Assembly in 2011, but failed to get President Goodluck Jonathan’s assent because of agitations from several interest groups who kicked against several portions of the bill. Noting that the different interests groups on the bill were involved in a reconciliatory meeting called recently by the Delta State Government where contentious issues were said to have been resolve.
Senate President, David Mark
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SCIENCE HEALTH Thursday, January 30, 2014
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‘How to make health insurance work in Nigeria’ R. Babatunde Fakunle Manager is the Regional Community Health, HR and Corporate Community Health for Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). Fakunle, a consultant public health physician in this exclusive interview with The Guardian gave reasons why the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and most of the Community Health Insurance Schemes (CHISs) in the country have so far failed to deliver on their promises of universal access to health services. He, however, revealed how the SPDC is effectively driving a new model of CHIS introduced in Obio Cottage Hospital Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The Hospital located at Rumuobiokani in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area (LGA) is one of the 27 health facilities supported by the SPDC in six Niger Delta States in its community health care scheme. CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes.
D
HY is everybody advoW cating for CHIS? There is no alternative to a
form of pre-payment scheme for healthcare. There is no country in the world that has achieved good quality care without some form of health insurance. There are different methods for setting up sustainable health financing but the objectives are the same; to eliminate out of pocket expenses. How did you make CHIS to work in Obio Cottage Hospital and what have been the challenges? Shell as you know is not in the business of healthcare, we are in the business of producing oil and gas but we believe that whatever we do we have to do it in a socially responsible way. We looked at the healthcare. In Nigeria today, the health system is really very weak. There are 194 World Health Organisation (WHO) member countries and when they assessed their health systems, Nigeria’s health system was ranked 187 out of 194 WHO member countries. So our health system is really very weak. As I said Shell is not in the business of healthcare but we believe that health is wealth and health is too big for one sector to handle alone. We believe that all the sectors need to come together and see what we can do to support the system. That is why we are into this. How did we make it work? In my department and that is also in alignment of our company’s business principles. Before we do any programme we talk about sustainability. What does sustainability mean? So people talk about exit strategy, when you are building something for the community what is your exit strategy? We don’t use that word exit strategy we use the word sustainability strategy. Our definition of sustainability is if a donor is supporting a proggramme and that donor withdraws managerial support, technical support, financial support and that programme is still able to add value to the beneficiaries then that is what they call sustainability that means that programme is sustainable. So we ask before we start any programme, how can we make this programme sustainable? Are the pillars of sustainability in place? There are five pillars according to the way we look at sustainability. The first one is co-ownership. If you want to do something for some people there must be ownership, they must see it as their own. If they see it as Shell programme it is going to fail. As you must have seen the people have embraced this programme as their own. In fact some of them will tell you that they came up with the idea. So there is ownership but it is a Public Private People Partnership (PPPP) not Public Private Partnership (PPP). The people are the
beneficiaries so they also have to be part of that ownership thing that we are talking about. So the people that owns this programme, we as the private sector, the government of the day that is the Rivers State government, the Local Government, and then the people themselves we are all in this together. So this is not a Shell programme, this is our programme. So any of these stakeholders can talk to you about this project; any of these people, if you go to the Commissioner of Health now he owns it 100 per cent. We went to him when we wanted to start this programme and said ‘look Commissioner we are thinking of having this CHI programme because we believe that one of the reasons why people don’t have quality care is because they have to pay out of their pocket to access care, so if you can take that out of the place, then healthcare should be available and affordable to the people.’ He immediately said, ‘Dr. Fakunle, Government does not have money. We don’t have money to do health insurance.’ I said ‘I am not asking you to put money down, I am just asking you for two things. The first is when we are launching the programme I want you to come out and deliver a speech and say whatever we are doing is not against the policies and practices of your government. If you believe that what we are doing is good for your people come out and say this is something the government supports.’ The second thing is that if you go to that Hospital there is a mix of staff there. We have four groups of workers there and again that is part of the ownership thing we are talking about. We have government workers there, they are about 20 per cent of the workforce and the government pays their salaries and everything. Then we have workers that are employed directly by the Hospital and the Hospital pays them their salaries and allowances. Then the third group of workers are the volunteers. There are people who volunteer their time and skills and do not collect salaries from the Hospital. The fourth group of staff you see there are two very senior doctors from Shell. They are not Shell staff, they are from the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), they want to spend one year to do sabbatical research here with my team. We say okay can you as part of your work provide capacity building for the workers there. So they are not working in the Hospital. They are not Hospital staff, they are not Shell staff but they do capacity building. They transfer knowledge and skills to the workers there. So this mix of staff is what you have there and are still part of the ownership thing we are talking about. The volunteers are serving a particular purpose. They are
Fakunle
There is no alternative to a form of pre-payment scheme for healthcare. There is no country in the world that has achieved good quality care without some form of health insurance. There are different methods for setting up sustainable health financing but the objectives are the same; to eliminate out of pocket expenses. sending a message to people that are working there that there are people who are ready to do this work for nothing, who are not on salaries but are one of the best workers there. That sends a message to people who are on paid employment that if I mess up somebody is there to take over my job. They passed what we call the test of commitment because they are ready to work for nothing. Although the volunteer programme is just for six months, after six months they have to leave and by that time most of them have found jobs elsewhere. We also give them a strong letter of recommendation. Some of my colleagues will say ‘Dr. Fakunle we need workers, please can you tell Obio to send us some of their volunteers.’ They have passed the test of commitment. They are usually the best workers. That is one pillar of sustainability that is co-ownership. The second pillar of sustainability is what we call the commercial mind set. You need to look at it as a business. You see when you do social programmes people think that because it is a social programme you would not be thinking about profit or just be pouring money into it. No, we are a business, Shell is a business, it is for profit business. If you don’t manage it like that, the business would have disappeared long ago. So the founders of the place
had placed a strong business model long ago and that is why we have Shell in over 150 countries in the world and for Obio as well or any programme we do, although social programme, it is not suppose to share profit but it is suppose to be profitable; we know what we put in, we know what comes out. You must have a viable business model even though it is a social programme for it to work. That is the second reason why that programme is sustaining. If call the accountant of the Hospital now and say how much did you make yesterday, he will tell you. How much did you spend yesterday? He will tell you. There is a strong financial accountability. So we know what is going on there. Actually there is an auditor. The third one is capacity building, training, you need to train people. People think that you build the hospital by building structures, no, it is the people inside it. You need to have the workforce in the right quantity and in the right quality. That is why we take capacity building very seriously and we invested a lot of money in that, the people. Some of them are supposed to resume by 8am but by 6am or 7am they are working. You cannot get that any other place. I don’t go their very often. In fact I cannot remember the last time I went there. So you need to invest in manpower training and that was why we sent two senior doctors there to
build capacity. They are not always there, they don’t work there as a I said. The fourth one is what I will call zero tolerance to corruption. Any system that tolerates corruption or that allows it or that does not put the right checks and balances there, that programme will collapse. There is a zero tolerance to corruption and we have put measures in place to help people not to steal money. I read a book that says a gentleman is a thief who does not have opportunity to steal. A thief is a gentleman who was caught. So based on that principle we say people will steal money if they have the opportunity. Maybe I will steal money if I have the opportunity but if I steal money from this company they will catch me. Shell is very with money. So we put systems in place that helps people not to steal money. The last one is what is called monitoring and controlling or monitoring and evaluation. The project manager will call it monitoring and controlling, the public health people will call it monitoring and evaluation. We have a programme, you must monitor what is going on there. Monitoring is a daily thing, it is a constant thing. Evaluation is periodic, monitoring is continuous, constant, what is going on here? So you need to have systems for monitoring. There are several methods we use there. Sometimes we have mystery patients. People go there and they say they are sick. But they are not sick, they just want to test the system. So they go through the system to see whether somebody asked them for money, whether they delayed them, whether they will find any wrong doing. Then evaluation is periodic, so you bring in external people, people who are not part of my team, a specialist, go to that place and check, what did you see? And in checking they will talk to all the stakeholders, the beneficiaries, the government, the workers, they will look into their books and they will give us a report and recommendations. So based on the report and recommendations then we can tweak the design of the programme and we are still tweaking it. For example people pay N7,200 per person per year, we started in 2010. But based on monitoring and evaluation report for last year we looked at financial suatinability of the programme. So we are going to tweak it a little bit. We will raise the money to about N10,000 and people can still afford to pay, people are rushing that programme. Based on what the facilities offers it is still very good price. So these are the five pillars of sustainability that are working for us in that place. How do you intend to address the issue of space
constraint and increased waiting time due to the fact that more people are patronizing the facility? It is already a big problem, which we have also observed. Before the waiting time in that Hospital was worse. When people go there in the morning they don’t expect to leave till evening. To see a doctor you have to get there 5am and you may not leave till 4pm or 5pm. So went in there with some people working with the staff. We have been able to look at some processes and we will use LEAN method to try and reduce the waiting time to as low as reasonable but the queue is still long. So it is something that we will continue to look at every time. There is a full time staff there who is in charge of quality assurance, quality assurance manager. She was a doctor, she left and somebody has taken over now. It is full time job. When you talk about quality healthcare there are about six or seven things to look at. One, is it safe? Do you have workers there who can provide safe services? The answer is yes. The Hospital has only recorded one death in the past 15 months and they see a lot of patients. That is a record anywhere in the world. It is a record we are proud of, about over 5000 deliveries, one death, one maternal death. That is quality; that is safe care. The other thing is timely. People wait for too long. So it is something we are working on. We quickly built a new wing and we are doing another Obio in Rumuokoroche. Maybe that will help. We started it and we will launch it in March. We think that will ease it. We are talking to the government to make it a statewide programme so that this facility will not be over loaded. There is a bungalow there that people are living there. We have told them to go and look for like four flat building outside so that we can convert that apartment to expand the Hospital. We are also thing of knocking down the Hospital and making it a high rise this year. It has to be safe, timely, efficient, effective, equitable. If you don’t have money can you access care? Equitable talk about fairness, about people having access to the care they need irrespective of their pockets and I think it is reasonable equitable. Is it patient focused? Yes. Every time is about patient care. Is it emphatic? Yes. So these are what is called the qualitiessafe, timely, efficient, effective, equitable, patient focused, emphatic. So that quality assurance person is supposed to make sure that all these are in place. There is a safety officer there in that Hospital, it is a full time job, to ensure that the Hospital is safe for everybody, both the workers and patients.
Thursday, January 30, 2014 NATURAL HEALTH 45
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Strategies for living disease-free lives (3) ATER - the most imporWFinally, tant nutrient in the body. the state of disease
begins to set in. The cell, (the body), is no longer at ease. Certain symptoms herald this state of unease and the first of these is pain. Headache, migraine, dyspepsia, arthritis in its early stages and almost all kinds of pain anywhere in the body are signs of regional dehydration in those regions of the body where the pain is felt. This was my concluding statement last week Thursday and I promised to continue this week by looking at other diseases that can be caused by dehydration and the management of such diseases. Be that as it may, permit me to emphasize the difference between disease and disease. If you have a car and there is a fault in the engine, a red light could begin to blink somewhere on the dashboard. This is a warning sign that
all may not be well with the engine and a call for you to take the car for a check up. If you disconnect the wires to the red light or ignore it, in a short while the car will packup completely and you will have to spend a lot more money to fix your car. This is exactly what happens in a state of dehydration and how diseases develop in the body. In the early stages of dehydration, such symptoms as pain are nothing more than the red light on the dashboard. If nothing is done by way of drinking more water, the condition gets more serious and what was a disease becomes a disease and more difficult, more expensive, to manage. Other diseases caused by dehydration, apart from those listed above include, hypertension (with its complications), peptic ulcer, diabetes, colonitis, diverticulitis, polyps, haemorrhoids, asth-
ma, arthritis anywhere in the body and over 80 per cent of cancers in the body. The way these different diseases arise as a result of dehydration may vary slightly from one to the other, but for most of them, it is as a result of the redistribution of water in the body. There are five organs in the body that are usually referred to as vital organs and these are the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys and the liver. These must always have sufficient water for their function and wellbeing. The effect of dehydration therefore can either be seen in the organ receiving the water, against osmotic gradient or in the organ being deprived of water. For example, when the body goes into the redistribution mode, the first neurotransmitter that is secreted in large amounts is histamine. Histamine is a known
broncho-constrictor, it constricts the air passages in the lungs. When these get severely constricted, the disease condition known as asthma ensues. Management of dehydration If the primary cause of these diseases is dehydration, it may be right to refer to them as symptoms, more so at the early stages when they are said to be a disease, such as the warning light on the dash board of a car. At this stage, the management would simply be to drink water and continue to drink it. A lot of people are dehydrated today for lack of sufficient intake of water. Think of the simplicity of water; as cheap as it is and we are not drinking enough. If an individual continues in that state of dehydration and gets treated for the symptom, (more often than not,
the underlying causes are not treated) the disease state will eventually give way to a full blown disease with different complications. When you get to this stage management becomes more difficult and expensive. Let me now conclude by stating that you need to drink eight to 10 glasses of water daily (approximately four to five sachets of “pure water�) so as to live a diseasefree life. The type of water you drink is also very impor-
tant. The preferred choice of water is one that has minerals in it. Alkaline water, which I always recommend, is most suited for rehydrating the body and for it’s optimum performance. Yes, I know from working with a lot of people, that drinking all that quantity of water is not easy, but please start with an additional 2 or 3 glasses of water daily and gradually increase. You will be glad you did.
46 Thursday, January 30, 2014
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Thursday, January 30, 2014 | 47
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Education
Prof Obafunwa
LASU crisis: The motive was to eliminate me, says Obafunwa OUR students have adduced two versions for Y last Thursday’s violent protest. One is that, they could not register for courses because the University refused to open up the portal. The second is that the students said the fees charged by the university are too high. What is the true position? You will agree with me that when you come into any serious academic society, when you come into a university, apart from paying your fees, you are supposed to indicate the courses you’re taking in a particular semester, and then, you register for those courses. And by registering for the courses, the Heads of Departments would know how many students are taking a particular course. They will know how many students they have to teach, how many students would be examined, how many scripts are to be marked and how many results are to be made available. While it is imperative for the teaching staff to address all these issues and make results available within a specified period, they can only do this, if the students themselves register and indicate what courses they are taking at the right time. Unfortunately, in LASU (Lagos State University), we had a situation where students were not registering for courses. Only a few used to do that (register for courses). But then, on the day of the examination, when the respective Heads of Departments and lecturers would have been anticipating that 100 students would sit for an examination, you could have 500, 1000 students turning up. That had been the unfortunate thing in LASU. Then, examinations are taken, and when the students now get their results and see which paper they passed or failed, they would now go and register, in arrears, for those courses they passed. They call it ‘add’ and ‘delete.’ So, the courses that you (student) passed, you add. The ones that you failed, you delete. And we said, no, you (students) cannot do that. You must register for your courses, so that we’ll know what exactly you are going to sit for
On a day when some national newspapers praised two Engineering students of the Lagos State University (LASU), for inventing an electronic voting application, that was successfully used in an election that produced new Students’ Union officials, some of their colleagues chose the otherwise auspicious moment to unleash terror and disrupt academic activities, leading to wanton destruction of properties. However, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oladapo Obafunwa told ROTIMI LAWRENCE OYEKANMI at the weekend in Lagos that contrary to certain allegations being peddled by some students over what took place on January 23, the real intention was to achieve certain objectives. Excerpts: in an examination. If you fail, tough luck. If you pass, goodluck. And I recall that even in the first semester, apart from the fact that students had been given several extensions (to register for courses), they still came and said, please extend, and the University reluctantly bent backwards, telling them, this will be the last time, and that was in March 2013, when we had to open the portal again and over 600 students registered. We said then that ‘this will never happen again.’ For the second semester, the portal was opened from the 13th of May to the 24th of May for students to register, and many of them did. Some students still came back again, requesting that we should give them an extension and this was done for one month, which ended on the 28th of June. Yet, they (students) made another demand and the University granted yet another extension which ended on the 7th of July. So, you can see that the University bent backwards again and again, after telling them in March, in the first semester, that this sort of thing would never happen again. But it shows one thing: insincerity, lack of discipline and that cannot be encouraged in any decent society. If you are given the instructions to do something, then you have to comply. At the end of the registration exercise, out of about 12, 800 stu-
dents, over 11, 500 had registered, with about 1, 292 students, about 10 per cent on the total, who did not register. And I tell you one thing: even if you leave the portal open permanently, a number of these students will never register. There are those who knew that they would not pass examinations. There are those who would not even come for lectures.
And I recall that one of them, upon drawing aside the window blind and identifying me, told his collaborators, ‘he is inside.’ And he (attacker) said: ‘Obafunwa, say your last prayers because you will not see another sunrise.’ We heard that they were armed. And after this, the intensity to gain entrance to where I was increased. And it was when they were about to get to my office that the police officers decided to act and tear gas was released. After that, the police brought in an armoured carrier and I was assisted out of the building, and eventually out of the University.
So, the truth of the matter is that, these people (students that did not register) were given ample opportunities, but they never took advantage of it, because they did not want to do it. And there should orderliness in any society. What happened on that day (January 23) went beyond the issue of portal or no portal. You will notice that some students were even trying to bring in the issue of school fees, which is over two years old. That (school fees) had been finalized and decided long ago. So, we understand the political dimensions to it. It is also a fact that people from outside joined them (students) because it was not just a portion of damage, there was looting as well. The magnitude of the destruction that took place tells anybody that it goes beyond the issue of portal or no portal. The other thing I need to point out is this. The students even appealed to the governing council on this matter, and the governing council studied the whole thing, realized that the university management had bent backwards, even previously, and this time around, extensions were given repeatedly and people still did not register. And governing council rightly felt that we should not condone indiscipline in the University. It won’t happen in any decent society and people need to get the message. Even the Students’ Union president, at the (Lagos State) House of Assembly last Friday, admitted that. As part of our preparations for the examination, the University had to look at the list of the students we had registered. We had to prepare what we refer to as examination dockets, like a pass, which is a document that is laminated. You have your name, matriculation number and a host of things on it, that would allow you to enter the examination hall. And if you have to open up the portal every now and then, you will never be able to properly organise the examination. That was another major reason why we said no, you cannot be making endless requests for extensions. You have to do what you have to
CONTINUED ON PAGE 48
48 EDUCATION
Thursday, January 30, 2014
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‘Students admitted that hoodlums joined the protest’
Remains of Prof Obafunwa’s car after the mayhem CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47 do at the right time. How did the crisis unfold on that day (January 23) and how did you manage to get out? I was in the campus as early as 7.30am last Thursday. We anticipated that there might be an attempt to disrupt the examination and the Police were brought in during the early hours. A lot of patrol vehicles were inside. The DVC (Deputy Vice Chancellor), Academics and I visited various (examination) centres. We were at the Faculty of Management Sciences and people were being allowed into the examination hall. In fact, at two locations, examination had started. Students were busy writing their examination. We were at the Faculty of Social Sciences, examination had started there too. We went to the MBA hall, students from Arts were entering. At the Faculty of Law, students were seated and were about to start. When we got the Faculty of Science, examination was in progress. Some people were loitering, claiming to have papers later in the day, which was fine. So, the DVC (Academics) and I went back to the office and we had to meet an accreditation team from the National Universities Commission (NUC), because the process for the accreditation of our School of Transport was commencing. We finished the meeting and handed over the NUC team to the Acting Dean of Transport and that was when we started getting reports that some people were trying to go round the halls to disrupt the examination. Unfortunately, our internal security men allowed these people to come in. Why that happened, your guess is as good as mine. Yes, we had some RRS (Rapid Response Squad) people around but I would not want to comment on whatever mandate they were given, but naturally, they would not want to actively engage the students. The DVC and I went out again went out to look at places, particularly the Faculty of Science. A group of people tried to come and cause disruptions, and I said to them, sorry, you cannot do this. They were throwing water sachets and stones, but they stayed at a distance. I even called our security marshals to come around. You would have expected that our internal security people would have been there all the while and that some of these groups would have been rounded up and handed over to the police, but this never happened. We decided to hold meetings with the deans of various faculties to re-strategise for the afternoon papers. Some students actually finished up at some centres, some were stopped at about the time they were to submit their papers at other centres due to the disruption and I think at one other centre, nothing really happened there. Some windows were broken. We went back
Upturned and severely damaged car belonging to the Vice Chancellor’s Personal Assistant. to the deans in my office to discuss and it was agreed that they (Deans) were going to talk to the students. But when they tried to get out of the Admin Block to talk to the students, they (Deans) were attacked and they quickly ran back and the place was secured. It was then that the students commenced the damage to properties. They did not only damage my Personal Assistant’s car, they also turned it upside down. My personal car was completely wrecked. They destroyed the big chain used to secure the gates leading to the Vice Chancellor’s complex, using sledgehammers, as those who were outside told me. They ransacked the office of the Director of Academic Planning, that of the Centre for Information, Public Relations and Press, then they went upstairs, smashing the louvres leading to the vice chancellor’s office and they tried to gain entrance into the vice chancellor’s office. At that time, we had some reinforcement but it was only my personal security detail that was with me in my office, in addition to the DVC (academics), dean of students, dean of education, the representative of the dean of management sciences, one or two lecturers and some staff of the VCs office, when these individuals, possibly cultists mixed with students, tried to break into the vice chancellors office, smashing all the window louvres on both sides, and attempting to bring down some entrances not normally used. And I recall that one of them, upon drawing aside the window blind and identifying me, told his collaborators, ‘he is inside.’ And he (attacker) said: ‘Obafunwa, say your last prayers because you will not see another sunrise.’ We heard that they were armed. And after this, the intensity to gain entrance to where I was increased. Eventually, a team of policemen arrived, I think about three or four of them, apparently they negotiated their way through and came to my office and tried to offer some protection. But the intensity again increased outside and the students actually brought down the first steel door toward the anteroom to the VC’s office. Again, a lot of looting and damage took place. And it was when they were about to get to my office that the police officers decided to act and tear gas was released. After that, the police brought in an armoured vehicle and I was assisted out of the building and eventually out of the University. Now, when you put all these together, it becomes clear that it was not just about the issue of portal or school fees. Is there any hidden agenda? Are there some people who feel that the present administration has been trying to expose some activities? Are there some people who feel threatened by some revelations that could be made? Is there some other political interest? There are so many other considerations. Would anybody want to see the demise of the Vice Chancellor so that an end could be put to certain things? But we thank God. I wish
The unfortunate thing is that the academic calendar is going to the disrupted, because after the ASUU strike, the university called an emergency senate meeting, again in the interest of the students, and we took some outstanding results, so that people could graduate. Normal graduation would have been in February. We decided to push it to March, so that those whose results we took on January 3 could go for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. We were walking on a very tight rope, in their interest. But now, with the disruption, what will happen is that, by the time they sit for examination and results are taken, they are not going to meet the NYSC batch. They have used their own hands to destroy the whole thing them luck. You appeared before the Lagos State House of Assembly last week. What transpired there? At the end of the day, it was clear that nobody was going to tolerate indiscipline. They (legislators) knew what was happening and I came out of the house with the understanding that they fully appreciate the dimensions. The students were asked to apologise. Even the students said whatever they were doing was hijacked by hoodlums. Of course, we know that at least two buses, not the usual blue shuttle buses, came into the campus from outside. Security reports showed that while we were in the Vice Chancellor’s office, two yellow buses came in with some individuals inside them. Even the student leadership admitted that some hoodlums joined them. We know that some people invited or imported them. If we didn’t have a certain template in place already, some other thing would not have been added to it. The legislators agreed that the University had bent backwards several times and also in the past. And on the January 25, they visited the University to assess the damage. It was very glaring that the situation was not just a simple one. However, they made a request that the University, for the very last time, should grant a 48-hour window for people to register; that it would be the last time and that it (extension) would never happen again. Well, that would make it the third last time. We are supposed to quickly assess and quantify the damage, quickly fix all the things that were damaged, and after that, reopen the university. Of course, it is also a question of funding. If the fund is there, we should be able to do all this within the next two to three weeks after which we could reopen. The unfortunate thing is that the academic calendar is going to the disrupted, because after the ASUU strike, the university called an emergency senate meeting, again in the interest of the students, and we took some outstanding results, so that people could graduate. Normal graduation would have been in February. We decided to push it to March, so that those whose results we took on January 3 could go for the
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. Same for the students that would be finishing their examination with the semester ending on February 28, so that those that passed would be able to graduate and join the second batch of the NYSC scheme in June. We were walking on a very tight rope, in their interest. But now, with the disruption, what will happen is that, by the time they sit for examination and results are taken, they are not going to meet the NYSC batch. They have used their own hands to destroy the whole thing. Will the University allow those who destroyed properties on campus go scot-free? One of the resolutions of the House of Assembly is the setting up of a panel that would look into all these things and identify who is identifiable. We have images. We have information and I know some arrests were made in the early hours of that day, by our internal security men. Those people have to be produced. I’m sure that eventually, the perpetrators will be identified. Are you discouraged by what happened, considering that fact that you could easily have been seriously harmed? It’s not just that I could have been harmed, the motive was to actually eliminate me. That is the blunt truth. But God has a way of doing things. Am I discouraged? No. Will it stop me from doing what I have to do? No. Do I feel bad? Yes. I feel bad because, here you are, trying to project a good image of LASU, trying to say to the outside world, the potential employers, that we have a new breed of students. But unfortunately, some of the students are still bent on destroying themselves. You cannot but feel bad that, despite the fact that you are trying to do so much, some people continue to give a negative picture. Now, how will a potential philanthropist view LASU, somebody that may be thinking of putting down money? Or an organisation that wants to provide a grant, and you have a university where you cannot guarantee that the session would run? You probably want to take your money elsewhere. Putting all these things together, I felt very bad, but I am not discouraged.
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Federal varsity, Otuoke connects to 33 online library databases From Willie Etim, Yenogoa HE management of the T Federal University, Otuoke, has fully registered with 33 World Class On-line library databases to enhance easier access to data for research and self-development activities in the university. The University Librarian, Mr. Hundron Kari who disclosed this recently in Yenagoa, expressed satisfaction at the achievement, adding that the feat was remarkable because staff and students can now access data for academic work from numerous online databases. Notable amongst these online libraries is the Health Inter Network Access to Research Initiative (HINARI), which is the world’s largest collection of biomedical and health literature with up to 12,700 journals in 30 different languages. Kari said there is Research Papers in Economics (REPEC), a website that links over 1,200,000 full text articles to enhance the dissemination of research in Economics with over 1,500 journals and over 3,300 working paper series. According to him there is also the Online Access to Research in the Environment (OARE), which is the world’s largest collection of Environmental Science Research with over 4,150 peer-reviewed scientific journal titles owned and published by over 350 (OARE) partners. This website was established by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 2006. “Access to Research for Development and Innovation (ARDI) is a scholarly online access to journals from diverse fields of Science and Technology. Providing access to over 10,000 journal titles, books and reference works from 17 publishers. It was established in 2009 by World Intellectual Property Organisation.” he said. World Bank Open Knowledge Repository (OKR) is the World Bank’s official open access repository for its research outputs and knowledge products. Since its launch in April 2012, the OKR has grown to more than 13,000 research works. Worldwidescience.org is a global science gateway that comprises of National and International databases and portals designed to accelerate scientific discovery and progress by accelerating the sharing of scientific knowledge. Mr. Hundron Kari disclosed that the username and password for the online library databases have been provided to students and staff adding that they will be enlightened on the rules and regulations of the online libraries to ensure that the terms of agreement are honoured. Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Otueke, Professor Mobolaji Aluko, has inaugurat-
ed an Energy & Environment Research Group for the institution. The research group which is essentially multi-disciplinary, comprising of seasoned professors and scholars drawn from various disciplines ranging from Energy & Environment, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Hydrology, Geophysics, Physics Electronics & Power, Mathematics & Statistics, is set to be one of research arms of the university with a mandate of engaging in collaborative and applied research in Energy and Environment to address some of the perennial problems rocking the power sector in N i g e r i a . Aluko while inaugurating the body, stated that, typically universities, apart from their primary focus of teaching and research, are supposed to be harbingers of change by proffering solutions to problems confronting societies. The Vice Chancellor had reiterated that energy is the basic necessity for the economic development of any given society and pointed out that lack of development in Nigeria is traceable and directly linked to the inadequacy in the power s e c t o r . His words: “in modern times, the barometer for measuring a country’s growth and development is its per capital energy consumption, of which Nigeria terribly falls short at the moment. The greater the per capital consumption of energy, the higher is the standard of living of a given count r y ” . He then charged members of the research group to collaboratively use their individual specializations and expertise to come up with ideas that can mitigate the energy problem not only in the Niger-Delta where the university is located but in Nigeria as a whole. Disclosing the rationale behind formation of the group b e i n g multi-disciplinary in its composition, Professor Aluko pointed out that electrical energy cannot be produced without its input energy resources, which can include: fuels (coal, petroleum products, natural gas); renewable energy (wind, solar and water), nuclear fuels, etc. In the light of this, he reasoned that, for the group to succeed in its task, it would be required that ideas from different professionals with diverse background and research interest be fused together towards the common goal of achieving success for the g r o u p . Prof. Felix Dayo, the Coordinator the group, lauded the vision and foresight of the Vice-Chancellor in setting up the group and thanked him for the faith he reposed in him to lead the team. He said the group’s focus will be on power, oil & gas, renewable energy and energy systems planning & managem e n t .
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Corona honours diligent teachers, non academic staff By Ujunwa Atueyi HE month of January T means a lot to the management and staff of Corona Schools Trust Council (CSTC), because it is the month when both the academic and nonacademic staff members are appreciated and rewarded. This year’s celebration, held in grand style recently in Lagos, was not an exception, with various types of fashion genre on display. While staff members who distinguished themselves in 2013 were honoured, with those who received long service awards, overall winners for the nursery, primary and secondary categories were also crowned. Christened – the Corona Model Teacher, Mrs. Morenike Aniette-Joseph, emerged the Model Teacher in the nursery category. Mr. Babtunde Sunday Olomo came tops in the primary category, while Mr. Oladapo Alor clinched the coveted award in the secondary category. The visibly overjoyed Olomo, a primary-one mathematics teacher said: “I’m overwhelmed with joy. In Corona, all our teachers are
exceptional. Singling me out is a surprise because I know the capabilities of my colleagues as the Trust Council always gives us the opportunity for self-development. But I thank God.” The Council’s Executive Director, Mrs. Olufunto Igun, said the Council organises the event to reward deserving staff members for their loyalty, commitment and dedication, ensuring that the school continues to remain a learning community that consistently delivers world-class education to the Nigerian child. She added: “It is also to host a friendship and team bonding forum in appreciation of each staff’s contribution to the common goal. Those who took advantage of the immense opportunities within the system and excelled in their career, creativity, commitment, ethics and self-development, are specially honoured. The overall aim is to appreciate the importance of staff in the way they mould the world and influence the lives of many people as reflected in our theme “Impacting Our World.”
Former Education Minister, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili (middle); Vice Principal, Ifako International Secondary School, Mrs. Y. G. Osasona (left); a teacher, Mrs. F. O. Lawal; Vice President, Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW), Mrs. Modupe Ehirim; President, NNEW, Mrs. Fayo Williams and the Lagos State Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Sola Oworu, with a cross-section of students at a seminar organized by the NNEW in Lagos recently.
Japan awards N18.1m contract to boost Oyo’s primary education From Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja HE Japanese government T has awarded a contract worth N18.1million under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), to boost primary education in Oyo State. The contract is for the con-
Queen’s college’s PTA needs N114m to complete hostel project By Ujunwa Atueyi REQUENT accommodaFfronting tion problems conQueen’s College, Lagos, may soon become history, if the public, old girls, corporate bodies and prominent fellows of the college could grant a request made by the school’s Parents, Teachers’ Association (PTA) recently. At a briefing in Lagos, the association’s chair, Mrs. Beatrice Akhetuamen, who pleaded with good spirited Nigerians to come to the school’s aid, also regretted
that issues affecting the girl child were not receiving top priority in the country. She said: “Over the years, accommodation has been a major problem facing this college. Then in 2012, the PTA embarked on this project tagged, PTA Hostel Building Project, a three-storey building and dining hall with a capacity for 600 students. So far the past executive has spent N120 million. Since my inception in June last year, we have spent N48million, and now, we need N114 million to complete the entire project and hand it over to
the college. “We have more than 300 girls that require accommodation, and soon, the admission process will commence. Parents are no longer comfortable with the frequent levies. They have all tried, the building has been roofed but a lot still needs to be done for its completion. If we get funds now, in the next 28 days, the building will be completed. Queen’s College has produced eminent Nigerians and we are pleading with them and the Lagos Stare Government to come to our aid.”
struction of a Local Government Education Authority Primary School, at Oke Ogbere, in Ona Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State, and was awarded to the Olajumoke Akinjide F o u n d a t i o n . Speaking at the contract signing ceremony in Abuja recently, Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ryuichi Shoji, pledged the Japanese government’s commitment to the development of grassroots education and empowerment in Nigeria. He regretted that despite efforts by the Ona Ara Local Government Authority and the school’s Parent/Teacher
Association, they could not improve on the deplorable condition of the school. He declared that a situation, where 700 pupils shared only six classrooms and lacked simple hygiene was not conductive for learning. He said: “Though the pupils are full of energy and have the desire to learn, the environment does not allow for full concentration on their study. In view of this, the Embassy of Japan decided to implement this project to improve the learning environment of these young children”. In her response, the foundation’s Executive Director, Mrs. Uche Nwafor,
said the grant would go a long way in improving the wellbeing of children and teachers. She said that the foundation was founded in 2005 to promote Education for All ( E F A ) . She added: “The grant donated to us by GGP is in line with our goal. It will go a long way in improving the wellbeing of children and teachers, by providing a conducive and enabling learning envir o n m e n t ” . The Japanese government has so far, awarded the total of $692, 076 under its 2013 fiscal year, which lapses in March. The assistance began in 1998 with a total contract sum of $305,691
Don unveils new book on English language By Mary Ogar O help students and other learners acquire proficiency in both spoken and written English, a Chief lecturer at the Yaba College of Technology, Mr. Adebowale Adegbuyi, has written a book titled: A Compendium of the Fundamentals of English Language. Launched recently at the institution, the new book captures the fundamental elements of grammar, essay writing and presentation, including oral speech production among others. Speaking at the event, the author described the book as a reference reading text in which the very fundamental topics of the English Language are identified and discussed, with comprehensible examples in non-aristocratic everyday expressions.
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Adegbuyi He explained that the book has also been structured to provide a good foundation and exhaustive insights into the major units of grammar, phonetics, creative thinking and writing. Besides, the book contains the parts of speech and their grammatical uses; how phrases and clauses function in sentences, structures of sen-
tences and other varieties including the elementary rules of sentence construction. The author said the book also highlights key areas where students need to demonstrate competence in the use of the English language. Chairman of the event, Mr. Bayo Oshinyemi praised the author for his effort, stressing that the book would provide a more straight forward insight for learners of English. He also commended the management of Yaba College of Technology for giving the author the opportunity to publish his work. Canvassing for more literary work by Nigerian authors to solve the problem of dearth of good books in Nigeria, he noted that the book would further help teach students about the rudiments of grammar.
Edumark’s schools’ exhibition begins Feb 6 colleges, foreign university ARENTS and schools are set their children. The Dean of the Faculty of consultants, private universiP for an exciting time at this year’s Edumark’s Education, University of ties in Nigeria and other International schools’ exhibition, scheduled for Oriental Hotel, Lekki and Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja both in Lagos, between February 6 and 7. According to Edumark’s Project Coordinator, Mrs Fisayo Balogun, the event has been designed to provide a forum for parents not only to meet good schools, but also to listen to tips from experienced counselors on the ideal educational path suitable for
Lagos, Prof. Mopelola Omoegun is billed to speak on the topic: Creating The Right Academic Plan For Your Child. Balogun also stated that parents would be able to have one on one sessions with counselors to guide their decision making process. Some of the leading international schools in Nigeria, Benin Republic, sixth form
institutions are expected at he event. Balogun explained that the exhibition’s main objective is to assist parents in making informed decisions about the academic future of their children. She said: “The event would provide a platform for institutions to also listen to parents and exchange ideas on how they can create a better environment within their institutions.”
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Aggrieved parent debunks private schools’ social service claim, proprietress disagrees By Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi R. A, a legal practitioner, M with 18 years experience, has just pulled his two children – one in JS2 and the other, SS1 – out of one of the elite private secondary schools in Lagos, where the former’s school fees amounted to about N575, 000 and the latter, N675, 000 per term, totaling N3.75 million per annum. An apparently aggrieved Mr. A explained why he took the decision to The Guardian recently. “I was persuaded to send my children to that school (name withheld) by my wife’s friend, who vouched for the quality of teaching and other things. I enrolled my first daughter in JS 1 in 2010, and my second daughter in 2012. “I was an active member of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), and I was also a member of two committees that looked after some of the school’s affairs without being paid for it. Our meetings were fixed for Saturdays, so I used to miss important social events. We would tax ourselves to support the school during inter-house sports competitions, valedictory/graduation ceremonies, Christmas parties and different fairs. I used to donate generously. “But last year January (2013), I suffered serious financial crisis and I became heavily indebted. My practice suffered because of a bad investment decision and I was in deep trouble. I couldn’t meet up with my financial obligations and I couldn’t give my wife even the housekeeping allowance. We managed to pay for the second term, but after the Easter holiday, my children resumed for the third term in April without my being able to pay the fees. “I was shocked when I received a letter barely a week after resumption from the school administrator that I should pay the fees of my two children by the following week, or else, my children would be stopped from attending classes. “Surprised, but thinking that there was a mistake somewhere, I called the school’s administrator to plead for a little more time. After all, I had never failed to pay my children’s school fees and I had been actively involved in the school’s activities, donating generously for the school’s good causes. “But I was shocked when the administrator told me with a rather cold voice that the letter I received was in order, and that I could call the school’s proprietress if I needed other clarifications. I promptly called the proprietress with the hope of getting a respite. But I was wrong. She also told me that I would have to pay by the deadline in the letter if I didn’t want my children stopped from attending classes. I couldn’t believe my ears. I had thought that I had a stake in the school, and I had invested my time and money over a long period and I expected the school to show some understanding at that critical period of my life. But the school didn’t. “The following week, my children were told not to come to school without their payment tellers and I was heartbroken
because I didn’t have money to pay. For the first time, my children could not go to school for more than a month because I couldn’t pay the fees. It was very painful for me. My wife had lost her job the previous year and she was yet to secure another one. Eventually, my wife told her mother about our predicament when she could no longer bear watching our children stay idle at home. My mother – in – law quickly raised the fees and followed my wife to the school where the fees were paid. My children resumed school almost half way through the third term. And throughout the several weeks that my children were absent, neither the school proprietress, nor the administrator called me once to ask after my children. I was very, very bitter and it then dawned on me that private schools are strictly business entities, whose only motive is profit and nothing more. Forget their claims of providing social service. There is nothing like that. What they are looking for is the money you have to pay, and once you can no longer pay, they would turn their back on you. “At that point, I recalled that every year since I enrolled my children in that school, there had been increment in the fees under dubious guises, without any added value. And anytime the school wanted to raise funds or hold any event, parents would become important and appeals for donations would become very loud. There was a time I donated N150, 000 for the school’s cultural day. Other parents donated huge sums too. All that amounted the nothing when I had problems. “Thank God that shortly after my mother – in – law paid, my financial situation improved and I promptly reimbursed her. I then told her that I no longer saw any sense in paying over N3 million per annum as fees for our children to a school, whose proprietor has no human feeling and who had no qualms about sending my children out of their classes just because I could not pay their fees for one term. “Our children have now been enrolled in another good school (name withheld) where we paid less than N120, 000 as fees (per term) for both of them. My wife, who is not easily impressed, has expressed satisfaction with the quality of teaching so far. Our children are now always engaged with the assignments they bring home. Recently, my younger daughter forgot to take her home work to school and can you believe that, her class teacher called my wife the same day to remind her to put the homework notebook in my daughter school bag the next day. I was impressed. The former school never did that!” But Mrs. B, a school proprietress, disagreed with Mr. A’s conclusion. “I know it can be very painful to experience what he experienced, but not all private school behave that way. In fact, as we speak, in my own school here, parents owe close to N90 million in unpaid school fees, over the last two years. “Yes! Some parents would simply not pay up when their children resume school. When
Minister of State for Education, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike handing over a tool box to the Acting Principal, Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, Mrs Magdalene Nwankwo during the presentation of 50 Tool Boxes in Five Vocations to principals of the 21 Federal Science and Technical Colleges across the country on Monday in Abuja. we call them (parents), they would give excuses, make part payments after much pressure with promises to pay at a particular time, but when the time to pay comes, you will not see them. “Some even issue dud cheques. Yes! There was a time many cheques paid into our accounts in various banks by some parents were returned
and we had to call a PTA meeting, where it was decided that only bank drafts would be acceptable. Soon after, some parents complained that the charges for the bank draft were too much, and we then asked them to pay cash in. Still, some parents will not pay. “But you see, we also have bills to pay. Our teachers, non-
academic staff must get their salaries. We have school buses; we must put fuel in them and also carry out maintenance regularly. Then, the Lagos state government is imposing heavy taxes on us. The state and local governments, send bills to us, which we must pay. If we default, they will threaten to close down the school and
we cannot afford that. There are times that we have had to borrow from the bank to meet up with our expenses, at exorbitant rates. The banks are not helping matters at all. So, we have many challenges and I wish he (Mr. A) could just have a glimpse of what we are going through.”
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Govt, private schools urged to take advantage of free online learning tools By Mary Ogar
ITH persistent shortages Intel unveils new e-learning solution W of qualified teachers, textbooks, instructional active learning resource just tive learning materials such materials and non existing libraries, still constituting a major challenge in the education sector, in addition to complaints by parents over the unending hike in fees charged by private schools, stakeholders have called on governments at all levels and owners of private schools in Nigeria, to move away from the traditional classroom setting and embrace the “technology phenomenon.” Rather than installing between five and 20 computers just for publicity stunt, experts are calling on administrators to explore the learning opportunities available through other learning resources. For instance, while making a presentation during the launch of Opon Imo an electronic tablet that incorporates three major contents – textbooks, tutorials and practice questions in Osun state last year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) Country Director, Prof. Hassana Alidou revealed that many children in sub Saharan Africa were emerging from schools without acquiring writing, reading or numeracy skills. Okeoluwa Femi-Lawrence from Ilesa Grammar School, who was exposed to an inter-
within two months, admitted that she now finds reading much easier like never before. According to her, students whose parents could not afford textbooks would find digital textbooks and learning resources very useful. From Baptist High School, Deborah Olayemi, a Commercial SS2 student said, “our parents can only try to buy some textbooks because they cannot afford to buy all the textbooks. I have now improved in subjects such as Commerce, Economics and Accounting.” ICT teacher, Mr. Ade Fashina explained that most Nigerian schools were yet to effectively utilize the opportunities available through elearning. According to him, schools across the country must begin to focus on how to deplore technology in virtually every aspect of learning. He said schools could take advantage of easily affordable textbooks and learning resources online to keep abreast with current and modern trends in teaching and learning. Meanwhile, processing chip manufacturers, Intel Nigeria, recently came up with a solution, designed for learners of all ages, and which provides rich, interac-
as books, examination papers, instructional videos and podcasts for students from the elementary to more advanced classes. The Intel Explore and Learn Marketplace, a new education solution that provides access to a vast repository of free and low-cost digital text books and interactive learning resources, is intended to bring free engaging contents to Nigerian learners. Speaking at the unveiling of the solution, Intel’s Regional Sales Director for Turkey, Middle East and Africa, Ms. Cigdem Ertem explained that the solution “seeks to provide a resource hub, where learners can find relevant content to boost their studies, while at the same time, giving content providers access to a platform that enables the sharing of rich content. Highlighting the opportunities available to countries such as Nigeria if concerted effort was made to bridge the digital divide, she said: “As a company that’s been active in the education space for the last 40 years globally, we’ve seen how technology can drive clearly improved learning results and assist teachers by providing access to information and quality engaging content.”
Chairman, Executive Trainers Dr Ayo Ogunsan (left), Vice Chancellor, University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. Prof Geoff Layer, CEO, Executive Trainers, Mrs Ajoke Ogunsan, and Deputy Rector, Yaba College of Technology, Dr Moruf Adebakin, at the Sheraton Hotel Abuja, during the VC visit to the ETL/UWBS Alumni recently. On the flexibility of the new platform, the Country Manager, Intel West Africa, Mr. Bunmi Ekundare said: “For us at Intel, we are not just focused on emerging technologies, but also on the best way to deploy these technologies to ensure that they are relevant to all stakeholders involved. This has informed our collaboration with Rancard, an Africanbased organization that provides cloud-based software for mobile content discovery and delivery.” Also speaking on the col-
laboration, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Rancard, Mr. Ehizogie Binitie noted that the challenge in the education sector learning outcomes still constitutes a major challenge across the continent. According to him, the platform being deployed together with Intel for the African market “is an important step in solving this challenge.” Some teachers who confirmed using the platform attest to the fact that the content provided is relevant and match the Nigerian educa-
tion curriculum adding that the platform is user-friendly, interactive and engaging. Students and educators can gain access to the Intel Explore and Learn Marketplace solution on Android or Windows devices with an internet connection. Users can visit www.intel.com/exploreandlearn to access the application download page. Once the application is downloaded, they can find and acquire both free and for sale textbooks, instructional videos and exam preparation materials.
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MarketReport EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY
AS AT 29-01-2014
PRIMERA AFRICA www.primera-africa.com
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MARKET INDICATORS
AS AT 29-01-2014
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Equities sustain sliding profile on the Exchange By Bukky Olajide
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HE All-Share Index [ASI] on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, yesterday, dropped by 0.64 per cent at 41,650 points, sustaining the losses being recorded in the market since Monday, as investors continued to take profit. Also, stocks fell by 1.38 percent to a one-month low, driven mainly by price depreciation in the banking and energy sectors. At the close of trading, a total of 44 stocks recorded price depreciation while only 16 rose, against 17 gainers and 44 losers recorded the previous day. The losses dragged the Nigerian Stock Exchange Index down by 1.11 per or 460.48 basis points to close at 41,189.66 basis points, down from 41,650.14 basis points on Monday. Similarly, the market capitalisation of the listed equities was down by N148 billion or 1.11 per cent to close at N13.204trillion, compared to a fall of N81billion recorded in the previous session, which saw it close at N13.351trillion. A review of the sectoral performances showed that the NSE Insurance Index
posted the best performance for the day after it rose by 0.35 per cent to close at 150.34 basis points. A decline of 2.59 per cent saw the NSE’s banking index ending the day as the worst performer as it closed at 418.87, down from its previous 430.00 basis points. Costain (West Africa) Plc topped the gainers’ table, rising by 9.94 per cent or 18 kobo to close at N1.99 per share, followed by IPWA Plc, which rose by 4.69 per cent or three kobo to close at 67 kobo per share. Vono Products Plc was up by 4.61 per cent or seven kobo to close at N1.59 per share, while TransNationwide Express Plc gained 4.52 per cent to close at N2.08 per share. UBA Capital Plc, on the other hand, topped the losers’ table, shedding 9.29 per cent or 21 kobo to close at N2.05 per share. Oando Plc and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Plc followed, falling by 7.55 per cent and 4.94 per cent to close at N23.28 and N15.96 per share, respectively. Overall, 921.135 million shares worth N5.921billion were traded in 6,350 deals.
Oando to increase share capital to N7.5 billion By Helen Oji ANDO Plc has O announced plan to seek board approval for the
What Happened? The NSE All-Share index declined by 97bps (0.97%) and closed at 40.792.07. This represents a year-to-date performance of 1.30% Market Capitalisation also depreciated 0.97% to close at N13.076 trillion. Total value traded decreased 41.32% to N2.91 billion and total volume traded decreased 36.62% to 258.69 million units. Where? At the close of trading, the banking sector represented 55.81% of the total market value traded, while the breweries sector represented 10.21% The Top 5 stocks as a % of total market value traded were: GUARANTY (11.38%), ETI (10.18%), ZENITHBANK (8.91%), NB (8.58%) and ACCESS (6.68%). On a volume basis, the Top 5 most traded stocks for the day were: COSTAIN (24.80m), TRANSCORP (21.71m), ACCESS (21.26m), ETI (18.26m) and DIAMONDBANK (14.30m).
authorized share capital of the company to be increased from N5 billion to N7.5 billion. In view of this, the company has concluded arrangements to hold an ExtraOrdinary General Meeting (EGM) on Tuesday, 18th of February, 2014 The move, according to the company, is a key component of Oando’s overall strategy to reduce its reliance on debt and loans. Commenting on the capital raise, Oando Plc’s Group Chief Executive, Wale Tinubu said, “As we contemplate our world post the acquisition of Conoco Phillips (COP) Nigerian business unit, which will undoubtedly provide significant growth in size and scale in our Upstream business, our mature Midstream and Downstream Units continue to retain dominant positions in their market space whilst not requiring material equity infusion. In our bid to maximize long term shareholder value, it is necessary to optimize our balance sheet by funding our operations where necessary through equity as opposed to expen-
sive sources of debt.” The first facet of this long term plan, according to him would seek to raise further capital by way of rights of N50 billion expected to be concluded by end of Q2, 2014. The company explained that the proceeds of this Rights exercise will be utilized towards debt reduction and Oando’s immediate working capital needs, with none of the proceeds raised allocated to the closure of the COP acquisition. Oando has also indicated that it does not envision any additional equity issuance in 2014. Tinubu reiterated the company’s commitment to its three pronged approach of transformation, debt reduction, and substantially increasing shareholder value. “We are working arduously to provide the ideal platform to ensure our readiness for further transformation, as we undoubtedly will generate stronger cashflow, but we also realize the need to minimize our cost of capital to increase our returns to our shareholders. We implore all shareholders to continue to offer their full support as we continue to build sub-Saharan Africa’s leading energy company together.”
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Intellectual Property: Govt launches first IPAS in 100 years From Itunu Ajayi, Abuja HE Federal Government, T has recorded a milestone in its effort to transform the
Nigerian industrial landscape with the launching of the first Intellectual Property Automated System (IPAS) in 100 years. The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, who kicked off the IPAS at the Registry of Trademarks Patents and Designs of Nigeria in Abuja, said it was commendable that after 100 years of manual service, Nigeria was rolling out, for the first time, what would be the biggest IPAS system in Africa. The IPAS, which went live on Tuesday, is a world acclaimed system of automated processing of applications for the registration of Trademarks
Patents and Industrial Designs. The minister said: “The inauguration of the IPAS is a big milestone in the transformation agenda of this administration. This is even more significant because it is the first of its kind in 100 years and, as the representative of the World Intellectual Property Organisation has said, it will be the biggest in Africa. “With the Implementation of the IPAS, Nigeria will join 16 countries, out of the 53 on the African Continent, who have deployed the Service. For investors, the services will be more efficient, quicker and cheaper and there will be transparency and accountability.” He added: “The introduction of the IPAS will further improve and uplift the integrity and standards of all
applications that emanate from Nigeria. It will enhance the confidence of both the local and international communities and further encourage local and foreign direct investment in the country. This is about consumer and investment protection and it is a very good development for the country. “The IPAS will enhance the quality of examinations, decisions and services offered to applicants and the general public. The better services will further improve the image of Nigeria, while encouraging investors, international companies and the international community to register their Industrial Property assets, in line with international best practice, in Nigeria.” The Director, Commercial Law, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ms.
Salman Mann, noted that the Nigerian public would benefit from a more efficient system, which would create wealth and more jobs for the people. The Project Manager, WIPO, Hisham Fayed, corroborated the fact that the IPAS would be the biggest in Africa, adding that the computerisation programme would help in improving the speed of the application for patents trademarks and industrial designs. “This will reflect on the quality of the service that will be provided to the applicants. It will also enhance the image of the ministry and that of Nigeria and give investors more confidence to come and invest in Nigeria,” he noted. The minister, however, added that the launch of the IPAS would complement the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan.
CPC tasks electronics manufacturers on trade-in-policy From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja HE Consumer Protection T Council (CPC) has urged all electronics and automobile manufacturers in the country to introduce a Trade- In policy in view of the present day fast changing product models. Director General of the council, Dupe Atoki, who stated this at the unveiling of Samsung Electronics West Africa Customer Service Plaza (CSP), also advised them to establish manufacturing plants in Nigeria to reduce the cost of the products, create employment for Nigerians and grow the nation’s economy. Represented by a Deputy Director in the agency, Shamm Kolo, the CPC boss pointed out that electronics play a significant role in our lives, adding that CPC would ensure that consumers have value for their money and must protect the consumers to ensure that their rights are not infringed upon. She urged manufacturers to build good customer service relationship and never take consumers fro granted as they are the ones that keep you in business and advised consumers to get clarified information on any product they want to purchase before committing their money. Also speaking, the Managing Director of Samsung, Brovo Kim said that Samsung was committed to providing total quality service at the highest pedestal to its customers, stressing that plans are on to increase the numbers of Samsung Service Plazas across the country in order to reach as many consumers as possible.
He said that Samsung had enjoyed overwhelming support from its consumers over the years and is always looking forward to any opportunity to improve on their experience of their products and brand touch-points. “Today, we are happy to deliver the first custom built Samsung Customer Service Plaza in Abuja, which has been equipped with the latest infrastructures and software to meet the need of our discerning customers. We have always prided ourselves as a customer-centric organisation; the customer always comes first with Samsung. Our consumers in Abuja and its environs can now be rest assured that the service plaza, now in their neighborhood, is more than capable to respond to their needs. And we have embarked on a plan to roll out more customer service plazas in strategic locations across Nigeria.” Kim said. Commenting on the quality of spare parts and technicians at the plaza, the Service Manager, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Raymond Olatokun said: “The plaza is manned by highlytrained engineers drawn from Samsung Engineering Academy who are constantly refreshed during strategic quarterly trainings for all the Samsung Service Centre Engineers across West Africa. The plaza stocks genuine Samsung spare parts for a range of mobile handsets, television sets, microwave ovens, air conditioning units, refrigerators, audio visuals among other high technology appliances.
Revenue allocation: Nigeria running pseudo-federalism, says Fayemi From Muyiwa Adeyemi (Head South West Bureau, Ado Ekiti) KITI State Governor, Dr E Kayode Fayemi has described as worrisome the revenue formula, which gives bulk of the resources to the central government at the expense of the federating units which generate the resources, saying that this shows that the nation runs a pseudo- federalism. The Governor stated on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti, while receiving participants of the Course 36 of the Armed Forces Staff College, Jaji who are on a study tour of the state with focus on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Fayemi, who spoke on the theme said that IGR is important to the independent survival of the federating units in a multi-ethnic federal entity like Nigeria, saying that the “question of who gets what and who spends what and who generates what and how you spend it is a perennial one that is very central to the survival of federalism itself”. He added that if federalism is about relative autonomy of the federating units, then there is need to create a condition for the federating units to generate the bulk of the resources they are going to spend and to be responsible for spending it while being accountable to those who have provided the resources. “Majority of our federating units suffer a high degree of
dependence on the federation account. When you have a federal entity by their very nature, they are supposed to have a level of autonomy that allows them to generate resources to run their federating unit. “There is a sense in which we can argue that we are a pseudo federal entity and when you are not a true federal entity, sometimes it is difficult to also have expectation of real federalism in a pseudo federal entity. In the first republic, at least we used to operate a 50 per cent derivation principle and we used to generate from the resources that accrue to you”, he said. While stating that IGR is a viable option for the survival of States, the Governor explained how his administration improved on the revenue generation from N109 million in 2010 to N600 million in 2013; adding that government has moved from a position where it’s IGR was less than five per cent of its allocation to 25 per cent. Fayemi who stressed that government has justified the revenue by putting in place regenerating infrastructure for the use of the people added that the infrastructure has made the state a destination of choice for investors even as no fewer than 40,000 people have visited Ikogosi resort, with at least 10 state of the art hotels have been established by private individuals while telecom giant, MTN has made no less than N1 billion monthly from the state.
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Sports Glo Nigeria Premier League
Don’t sell your teams cheap to sponsors, LMC tells clubs • Enyimba drawn against Sunshine Stars in opening game From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja HE League Management Company (LMC) has advised the 20 clubs in the 2013/2014 Globacom Nigeria Premier League to stop selling their clubs cheap to sponsors and urged them to involve the LMC in every of their sponsorship deals. LMC Chairman, Nduka Irabor, who made the appeal during a seminar for the stakeholders in the league, disclosed the resolution of the league management body to sacrifice its percentage of the sponsorship deal provided the clubs involved them fully in the bargain for the deal. He noted that the seminar, organised to equip the league managers for the new season, would not only benefit the clubs, but also the referees, match commissioners and club captains and other stakeholders, who would use the seminar as guide as they prepare for the season. He said, “I have continued to use all avenues I could to urge the clubs to stop selling themselves so cheap to the sponsors. When clubs collect N12 million from a sponsor to brand their jerseys, there is nothing difficult for another club to demand N50 million or N75 million from the same sponsor. We are planning to meet with the clubs regarding this issue. “I have suggested to my members and they have bought the idea. There is a rule that compelled the clubs to give the LMC 10 per cent of every sponsorship deal they signed. But, we have agreed to sacrifice our percentage of the deal. We have told the clubs to keep it but they should allow us to guide them appropriately. “Last season, we had one bottling company sponsoring five teams for less than N75 million, but while should I pay N75 million for five teams when another is paying N500 million for all the teams. A company might as well join in sponsorship of five teams with N75 million and end up paying N300 million for all the teams. “What it means is that we have to bargain collectively to improve the value of each clubs. We want to urge the clubs to work closer with the LMC for the same interest. It hurts when people fail to understand the efforts we put to rebrand the league.” Delivering his keynote address before the 20 clubs
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captains, media officers, chairmen, supporters club, media and other stakeholders at the seminar, the LMC boss had noted, “those, who had had previous experience had told me that this is perhaps one of the best turnouts of major actors in the business of running the Nigerian league. “This is how it should be because we are dealing with the very essential elements in the whole picture. Without the supporters, the footballers, media and managers, there will be no football. We all have a role to play in getting our league to a high pedestal,” he noted. Meanwhile, the LMC has threatened to expel any club that defaults in the payment of the agreed N150, 000 minimum wage for Nigeria Professional football League (NPfL) players. The Chief Operating Officer of the company, Salihu Abubakar, said during the draws for the 2013/2014 season that adequate measures would be taken to ensure clubs comply with the agreement. ‘‘We will be conducting spot checks on the clubs during the season; that means that we can go and ask for their books and confirm if the players have been paid. ‘‘We can dissatisfy the club if it fails to pay its players during the season,’’ he said. At the draws on Tuesday, pre-season football tournament winners, Enyimba were paired against Sunshine Stars of Akure in the opening day star game, while Enugu Rangers would host Nembe City. The NPfL matches expected to begin on february 21 would see league debutantes Giwa fC host Kano Pillars, while Warri Wolves welcome El Kanemi Warriors of
Zimbabwe’s Danny Phiri (left) battles with Libya’s Elmehdi Elhouni during the 2014 CAF African Nations Championships semifinal match at Free State Stadium…yesterday. PHOTO: MTNFOOTBALL
Nigerians expectant as FIBA’s set to announce wild cards ITH just two days to the W announcement of the four successful bids for the wild cards for the 2014 fIBA Basketball World Cup, Nigerian basketball family are pregnant with expectations as the Central Board of the world body meets in Barcelona, Spain on Saturday. The Nigeria Basketball federation (NBBf), along with 15 other federations, met the October 30, 2013 deadline for submission of bids for the wild cards for their national teams and NBBf President, Tijanni Umar said in an interview in Abuja that the federation expects to be among the successful bids. He stressed that Nigeria’s basketball would be greatly honoured to be the first African side to bag a wild card for the World Cup following
the country’s failure to qualify directly at the 2013 Afrobasket held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Umar argued that the national male team failed in Abidjan “largely due to a depleted roster caused by major injuries and the players are itching to redeem the team’s profile.” Still advancing reasons Nigeria should get a wild card for the World Cup, the NBBf president said, “our team has a pool of sustainable talent in some of the best basketball leagues around the world that can perform and compete against the best at the highest levels of the game (i.e. the Olympics and the fIBA Basketball World Cup),” adding that the country’s best players have committed to play in the fIBA Basketball
World Cup if the bid is successful. Asked how competitive he expects the Nigerian team to be and whether he is confident the team will feature all its leading/best players, Umar retorted, “if given a wild card, our team will present its best-ever roster for maximum impact and our team captain has written a commitment letter on behalf of his colleagues which is enclosed in our bid document.” The countries jostling for the four available wild cards alongside Nigeria (ranked 18 in the world) are BosniaHerzegovina (57), Brazil (10), Canada (25), China (12), finland (39), Germany (14), Greece (5), Israel (37), Italy (21), Poland (40), Qatar (42), Russia (6), Turkey (7) and Venezuela (28).
Lasisi ready to scuttle Bash Ali’s Guinness Book of Records bid IKE a bolt from the blues, former African light heavyweight champion, Joe Lasisi, has thrown a challenge to fight Bash Ali in the ‘Guinness World Book of Records’ title fight. Lasisi, 60, a former world number one light heavyweight contender, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that ``Ali should accept my challenge if he really wants to prove he deserves to be in the record
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book. ``I have decided to come out of retirement; I am fit and ready and Ali should accept my challenge and let us see who is truly Nigeria’s great.” The National Sports Commission (NSC), on January 7 in Abuja, inaugurated a Local Organising Committee for the proposed Bash Ali Guinness World Book of Records title fight. Ali will be 58 on february 27. Lasisi said if Ali accepted his
challenge, he would remind Nigerians of the ``dazzling display” that earned him his reputation as one of the country’s best boxers. Lasisi was at different times the National, African and Commonwealth light heavyweight boxing champion before he retired. Responding, Ali said he was willing to accept Lasisi’s challenge on the condition that a contract would be signed for ``a winner takes all battle.”
Ali boasted that he was ready for any opposition, adding that his only concern was that Lasisi could decide to pull out of the contest. ``A fight with Lasisi two years ago would have been good, but he chickened out of it because he was scared. I believe I can conquer any opponent. ``Lasisi can come with everything he’s got, I’m ready for him. But we must sign an agreement before the fight will hold,” Ali said.
Bloemfontein Flakes
Bastion Street, Nigerians’ haven in Bloemfontein From Adeyinka Adedipe, Bloemfontein f you are visiting Itime, Bloemfontein for the first the place to see is Bastion Street, where there is a heavy presence of Nigerians. Some engage in buying and selling, while there are others looking for deals that would make them rich. However, both sets mix freely with the hope that they would one day fulfill their hearts’ desire. This street can compare to West Street in Johannesburg where Nigerians also hold sway. Ijeoma, the thrift collector No one would have thought that the thrift collecting business could be a source of livelihood in South Africa. But a young man called Ijeoma has made it a big business. When The Guardian met Ijeoma collecting money from some traders and boys around Bastion Street, he explained that he is simply a thrift collector. His modus operandi: He collects the money from his fellow Nigerians who have no residence permit to open an account, he takes the money to the banks and take the interest from the bank. He also gets a percentage of the money that he saves from each contributor. He says it is a legitimate way of cashing in on the predicament of his compatriots.
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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com From Adeyinka Adedipe, Bloemfontein HE Super Eagles have T become increasing unpopular among South
South Africa’s Tefu Mashamaite (left) contests with Nigeria’s Zango Umar during the 2014 CAF African Nations Championships Group A match at Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town last week. PHOTO: MTNFOOTBALL
Bloemfontein Flakes
Bastion Street, Nigerians’ haven in Bloemfontein Adeyinka Adedipe f you are visiting Bloemfontein for the first time, the place to see is Bastion Street, where there is a heavy presence of Nigerians. Some engage in buying and selling, while there are others looking for deals that would make them rich. However, both sets mix freely with the hope that they would one day fulfill their hearts’ desire. This street can compare to West Street in Johannesburg where Nigerians also hold sway. Ijeoma, the thrift collector No one would have thought that the thrift collecting business could be a source of livelihood in South Africa. But a young man called Ijeoma has made it a big business. When The Guardian met Ijeoma collecting money from some traders and boys around Bastion Street, he explained that he is simply a thrift collector. His modus operandi: He collects the money from his fellow
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Nigerians who have no resident permit to open an account, he takes the money to the banks and take the interest from the bank. He also gets a percentage of the money that he saves from each contributor. He says it is a legitimate way of cashing in on the predicament of his c o m p a t r i o t s . Remember the son of whom you are After a heavy meal at a restaurant owned by an Igbo man yesterday, the manager, who identified himself as Nobert, said he was sad to see Nigerians wasting away their lives in South Africa. He said most of the Nigerians come in with the idea that money flows in the Rainbow Nation, but sadly, end up in illicit businesses that further dent the image of Nigeria. Most of these migrants, Norbert revealed, do not have roofs over their heads, but find it difficult to return to Nigeria because they want to be seen as failures.
AFCON, CHAN experience will enhance Eagles’ performance in World Cup, says Obuh By Alex Monye ORMER Flying Eagles Coach, John Obuh believes the Super Eagles will draw on their experiences at the African Nations Cup held in January in South Africa, the brazil 2013 Confederations Cup and the on-going African Nations Championship (CHAN) to excel at the 2014 World Cup slated to kick off in June. Hinging his optimism on the belief that the Eagles would continue to improve on their technical discipline and show more commitment to national duty, the Rangers of Enugu coach told The Guardian that the performances of the players in the competitions were enough for Coach Stephen Keshi to discover the lapses in his team and also select the best legs for the World Cup. Obuh said Keshi was able to transform the Eagles because he made his players understand that determination and hard work could win
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matches for a team irrespective of the caliber of opposition, but he wants the Eagles’ boss to continue giving the foreign and home-based players equal opportunity in the team. ‘‘Keshi has all it takes to excel in Brazil. The major success of the Eagles can be attributed to the way the coach handled the team when he took charge. If you observe every game the Eagles have played under Keshi, you will see that they get better with every match. This spirit was with the Eagles last year in the Africa Nations Cup and up till the ongoing CHAN championship,’’ he noted. According to Obuh, ‘‘if Keshi keeps making his players understand they need to get better with every tie, Nigeria would surprise the world in Brazil. “From my own point of view, the AFCON victory has motivated our players to be more committed when confronting any opposition.
African fans at the Africans Nations Championship (CHAN), as most of them have expressed their desire to see the Nigerian team fail in its quest to lift the trophy. From Cape Town to Bloemfontein, the situation is the same, as they are still bitter that the Nigerian team accounted for their team’s first round ouster. But when reminded that the South Africans could have done their aspiration a lot of good by beating Mali in their second game of the group stage of the 1-1 draw, one of the fans, Moshoe, disagreed and said he would want Nigeria to go home without the trophy. “Nigeria has a good team but I don’t want the Super Eagles to win the championship. They beat Bafana Bafana and stopped South
South Africans pray for Eagles’ fall Africa from moving into the quarterfinal. They have beaten our team several times and also won the African Nations Cup, so another country should win this one,” he added. Many of the fans, however, agree that Nigeria has a lot of talents to rule African football. The recall the exploits of Austin Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, who
dazzled the continent with their skills in the 1990s and early 2000s. But Super Eagles’ success so far in the competition has given Nigerians a new reason to flaunt their Nigerianness. They are happy that the Eagles have done well in the competition despite losing their first game of the competition against Mali.
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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth
By Nchedolisa Anammah Continued from yesterday PPLIED in a broader sense, we see strands of this kind of complacency in one of the greatest barriers to our progress as a continent; Ethnicity. Perhaps the greatest atrocities committed against mankind have been committed in wars driven by racial or ethnic ideologies, namely; the Holocaust, the Rwandan genocide, Congo wars and the Nigerian Biafran wars. Through these manmade catastrophes, history has pointed out time and time and again that a society bent on emphasizing differences, rather than nurturing unity, is destined for failure yet across our continent we see that the major and most significant forms in which we tend to mobilise ourselves, even more increasingly in times of unrest, are around ethnic lines. Ethnicity, in turn helps to nurture tolerance for mediocrity. The dictators of our continent have relied on sustenance of patron networks consisting mainly of individuals from their places of origin, to maintain their grips on power. By so doing they create an atmosphere that condones incompetence for the mere sake of honouring ancestral roots. We, as civilians are also implicated in this. Often when we head for the ballot boxes, our tendency is to vote for the candidate that shares ancestral roots with us, disregarding whether or not he or she possesses the ability to fully execute the responsibilities of the position the candidate is vying for. During election campaigns, we repeatedly fall prey to empty promises eschewed by these politicians who offer them in a manner which seems as if they are doing us a favour and not the responsibilities they are obligated to fulfill, all in the hope of winning over the masses. Borne out of our tendency to embrace mediocrity is our failure to realise that the problems of our continent have reached an emergency stage. Time, unfortunately is not on our side. Our past leaders have lost the 20th century putting our nations dangerously close to the edge of destruction. We can only start now or never to regain ourselves in the 21st century. Earlier this year, a Nigerian senator was accused of marrying a 15-year-old Egyptian girl. He finagled his way out of the accusations by an all too popular escape route; invoking religion. What really struck me when the news of the whole sordid affair broke out was not so much the bestiality of this happening and Senator’s cohorts who backed the move, but the widespread silence of the Nigerian population at large. In this case the senator emerges as the winner and the unfortunate teenage girl the loser. That leaves a majority of the Nigerian population as the bystanders. With our silence we encouraged this senator to be more brazen with his appetite for young girls. Later on this year, news broke
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Borne out of our tendency to embrace mediocrity is our failure to realise that the problems of our continent have reached an emergency stage. Time, unfortunately is not on our side. Our past leaders have lost the 20th century putting our nations dangerously close to the edge of destruction. We can only start now or never to regain ourselves in the 21st century
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out that he divorced the young teen. With our silence we killed the dreams of two naive young girls; the former as a result of her pregnancy and ties to the senator has been cast into a despondent life. We have become so desensitised to the preponderance of injustice in our society that we have nurtured an environment devoid of a
moral compass. The fate of such a society is left to the whims of what the diabolical minds ruling our society can possibly conjure up. Another route by which we tend to mobilise is through religion. Unfortunately, what is supposed to be a blessing has proven to be a hindrance to
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the success of our nations as a result of wrong application. Perhaps one of the greatest impediments to civilians of our continent rising up against the tide of injustice is the unfounded belief held by many that our success and change for the better will originate from the benevolence of a greater Divine being who will bestow success and development onto our bosom without us getting our hands sullied. History has proven to us through countless heroes such as the Great Madiba that change is enacted when individuals willing to defy the odds rise up to stand for what they believe in. Upon attending the Redeemed camp convention this year, I was utterly dumbstruck by the masses that flocked to this venue. The event greatly exceeded capacity. I got to thinking that if Nigerians could drop whatever obligation, travel the distance on not very secure roads and be present on time (a very challenging feat for us Africans) just to hear the words of the highly revered Pastor Enock Adeboye, then why do they find it so difficult to rally up and begin to demand answers from their government. Perhaps, the worst of these crimes is committed by the well-educated individuals, who have been privy to top institutions in the developed world. They live a life well insulated from the plight of the millions who are not as fortunate to afford a life sculpted by their own will and wealth to back up that will. This educated class betrays the nation by the mere awareness of the possibility of an alternative life to the ones the millions in Africa live, a life replete with a functional public transit system, responsive and accountable governments, reputable higher institutions and the many more benefits that they enjoy in the developed world. They are well aware that these benefits did not originate in the form of manna from a higher power but were the fruits of the work of dedicated and visionary individuals who sacrificed personal advancement for the bettering of the country as a whole. They are aware of all this yet choose to fold their hands and watch from a distance as their nations move closer and closer into disrepair. They, unlike the millions suffering at the hands of corrupt and mismanaged governments, have not been accustomed to a life of disorder and know what it takes to create a society that applauds merit and denounces incompetence, they are aware that such a society requires the efforts of both the government and the populace. Perhaps their indifference is due to their hearts having long given up on the possibility of a strong, united and flourishing Africa. Leaving the shores of Africa, they shed the responsibility they owe to themselves, to their country and to humanity as a whole, using their acquired skills to invest in already developed societies, robbing the motherland the chance of a brighter tomorrow and debasing the sweat and toil of our ancestors who liberated us from our colonial oppressors. Friends, brothers, sisters, I implore you, let us reflect and objectively analyze the ways we have directly or indirectly hurt our nation with our silence and indifference. Our forefathers have relinquished the reins of our nation from colonial hegemony. They have made their marks in the history of our continent. Now, it is time for us to make our own. We have delayed to the point where our situation is now extremely critical. We cannot afford to be aloof and keep our shoulders and backs turned, as we owe to the future generation, a continent free from ineptitude, tribal warfare and social injustice. • Concluded. • Nchedolisa writes from Boston University.