Thur 14 Mar 2013 The Guardian Nigeria.

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Vol. 29, No. 12,495

N150

www.ngrguardiannews.com

FRANCIS IS PEOPLE’S POPE Bergoglio: The making of a pontiff ORN in Argentina on DeB cember 17, 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis I, becomes the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the first Jesuit, following his emergence after five days of meeting by the conclave of cardinals.

“It seems my brother cardinals went almost to the end of the world (to choose a pope),” he told the crowd in St Peter’s Square in his first address, stating earlier in his tweet after his announcement as pope that he was

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From Oghogho Obayuwana (Abuja) and Bola Olajuwon (Lagos) (with agency report) S the heavy drapes of the A balcony at St Peter’s Basilica parted, a man wearing a slightly bemused mien stepped forward, waved with his right hand and greeted the crowd below in a deep voice, saying: “Good evening brothers and sisters.”

And the crowd roared in cheers.

The man, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, with a crucifix dangling slightly to the left of his considerable but still-erect frame, continued : “As you know, the duty of the conclave was to appoint a Bishop for Rome. But it seems my brother-cardinals have chosen someone from far away, so

• ‘I didn’t think I would cry...’

• Archbishop of Lagos greets new Catholic head • Obama, Ban, others task the new Pontiff • Pope, Catholics and the Vatican here I am”, to which the crowd, estimated in tens of thousands, cheered even more loudly.

That was how one of the five children of an Italian railway worker and his wife introduced himself as the new Catholic Pontiff, taking the name Francis 1.

Those first few minutes may have set the tone for the papacy of Pope Francis onto whom the more than 1.2 billion Catholics will look for guid-

ance in the wake of the uncertainties generated by the resignation of his predecessor, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. But, there is already so much hope trailing his election.

MORE ON PAGES 2, 4 &9 It has not gone unnoticed that he is the first Pontiff to take the name Francis. He is also the first Pope to ask the people to first bless him before he gives his Apostolic Blessing to

the Catholic faithful.

His first prayers at the balcony were for his predecessor, Emeritus Pope Benedict. He is the first Pope after the first Catholic Pontiff, St. Peter, to emerge from outside Europe.

He immediately made it known that he wishes to be known as Pope Francis the First.

The new Pope’s first duty yesterday was the summoning all catholic faithful to commence praying for the world

and himself. He was hailed by the mammoth crowd who had beseeched St Peter’s Square at the Vatican also known as “the Eternal City.”

Interestingly, the new Pope was outside of the 10 cardinals listed by Vatican watchers as frontrunners for the job.

These were the President of the Pontifical Council for Culture Gianfranco Ravasi (Italy), Head of Congregation for Bishops Marc Ouellet (Quebec), Joao Braz de Aviz (Brazil), Leonardo Sandri (Argentina) and the Archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan (American). Others were Archbishop of Sao Paulo Odilo Scherer (Brazil), Christoph Schoenborn (Austria), Angelo Scola (Italy), as well as Luis Tagle (Philippines) and Ghanaian

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Two police officers feared killed in robbery at Lagos airport — Page 6

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

2 NEWS

A cross-section of the crowd in St Peter’s Square after white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel announcing that Catholic Church cardinals had elected a new pope.

Archbishop of Lagos greets new head of Catholics

By Chris Irekamba RCHBISHOP of the MetA ropolitan See of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, has joined other Catholics worldwide to congratulate the new pope.

In his reaction to the emergence of the new pope, Martins said: “We are excited that we have a new pope.

We have been praying that God will give us a man according to His own mind and heart. We believe that God has answered our prayers and whoever is there is God’s own plan for the church.

“He (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) began his ministry by praying with the people and asking them to pray for him too. That shows that he is a man of faith. He talked about evangelism and we are truly delighted that God would use

him to expand the church.”

Asked whether he expected an African pope to

emerge, Martins said: “I was expecting the best person to emerge and God has given us

the person He wants to be there, so we are happy.”

Obama, Ban, others congratulate new Pope CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Archbishop of Cape Coast, Peter Turkson, who happens to be the general secretary of Synod for Africa.

Apart from being known as a voice of conscience, the new Pope had been a leading voice in Argentina on economy and reform. He is also seen as a reconciler.

White smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney in the Vatican had earlier announced to the world that cardinals gathered inside have elected a new Pope to head the Catholic Church.

Crowds in St Peter’s Square cheered and bells rang out as the smoke appeared.

The 115 cardinals had been in

isolation since Tuesday afternoon, and had held four inconclusive votes. At least 77 of them, or two-thirds, would have had to vote for a single candidate for him to be elected Pope.

Crowds with umbrellas massed in the Square flying flags from around the world.

The Catholic News Agency said people were running through the streets of Rome, hoping to reach St Peter’s Square in time for the appearance of the new Pope.

A troop of Swiss Guards in full regalia marched to the Basilica in preparation for the announcement, as military bands played.

Turkson was the only African on a frontrunners list of can-

didates believed by papal chroniclers and the media, including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), to belong to the core from which the new Pope would emerge. Seen as moderate theologically, with a down-toearth manner and sense of humour, Turkson had both pastoral and curial credentials.

As the voting time neared, the Nigerian contenders and members of the cardinal council, Archbishop of Abuja Cardinal John Onaiyekan and Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie of the Lagos Diocese are now largely expected to be just part of the elite corps of clergy that had gathered in Rome to elect the new Pope.

Bergoglio: The making of a pontiff CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “immensely happy to be the new Pope, Francis I.” According to agency reports, pundits did not see him as a favourite for the job of succeeding Benedict XVI and his advanced age - at 76 he is just two years younger than Benedict at the time of his election in 2005 - may surprise those expecting a younger man as the 266th pope.

However, he appeals to both Church conservatives and reformers, being seen as orthodox on sexual matters, for instance, but liberal on social justice. He was quoted by the National Catholic Reporter as saying at a gathering of Latin American bishops in 2007: “We live in the most unequal part of the world, which has grown the most yet reduced misery the least.

“The unjust distribution of goods persists, creating a situation of social sin that cries out to heaven and limits the possibilities of a fuller life for so many of our brothers.”

Bergoglio adopted the name of Francis. He becomes the first pope from continental America, as previous popes are from Europe. Prior to his election, Bergoglio served as an Argentine cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He has served as the Archbishop of

Buenos Aires since 1998 and was elevated to the cardinalate in 2001.

Early life: Born in Buenos Aires, he is one of the five children of an Italian railway worker. After studying at the seminary in Villa Devoto, he entered the Society of Jesus (SJ) on March 11, 1958.

Bergoglio obtained a licentiate in philosophy from the Colegio Máximo San José in San Miguel, and then taught literature and psychology at the Colegio de la Inmaculada in Santa Fe, and the Colegio del Salvador in Buenos Aires.

He was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969, by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano. He attended the Philosophical and Theological Faculty of San Miguel, a seminary in San Miguel, where he attained the position of novice master and became professor of theology.

Impressed with his leadership skills, the SJ promoted him and he served as provincial for Argentina from 1973 to 1979. He was transferred in 1980 to become the rector of the seminary in San Miguel, where he had studied. He served in that capacity until 1986. He completed his doctoral dissertation in Germany and returned to his homeland to serve as confessor and spiritual director in Córdoba.

Bergoglio succeeded Cardinal Quarracino on February 28,

1998, and was concurrently named ordinary for Eastern Catholics in Argentina. Pope John Paul II summoned the newly named archbishop to the consistory on February 21, 2001 in Vatican City and elevated him with the papal honour of a cardinal. He was named to the Cardinal-Priest of Saint Robert Bellarmino.

Life as a Cardinal: As cardinal, he was appointed to several administrative positions in the Roman Curia, serving in the Congregation of Clergy, Congregation of Divine Worship and Sacraments, Congregation of Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Congregation of Societies of Apostolic Life. He became a member of the Commission on Latin American and the Family Council.

Bergoglio became known for personal humility, doctrinal conservatism and a commitment to social justice. His simple lifestyle contributed to his reputation for humility, as he lives in a small apartment, rather than in the palatial bishop’s residence.

He gave up his chauffeured limousine in favour of public transportation, and he reportedly cooks his own meals.

Upon the death of Pope John Paul II, Bergoglio was considered papabile and par-

ticipated in the 2005 papal conclave as a cardinal elector, the conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI. A widespread theory says that he was in a tight fight with Ratzinger until he advised, cryingnot to be voted.

He participated in the funeral of Pope John Paul II and acted as a regent alongside the College of Cardinals, governing the Holy See and the Roman Catholic Church during the interregnum sede vacante period.

During the 2005 Synod of Bishops, he was elected a member of the Post-Synodal council.

An unauthorised diary of uncertain authenticity released in September 2005 confirmed that Bergogolio was the runner-up and main challenger of Cardinal Ratzinger at the 2005 conclave. A diary of anonymous cardinal claimed that Bergoglio received 40 votes in the third ballot, but fell back to 26 at the fourth and decisive ballot.

On November 8, 2005, he was elected President of the Argentine Episcopal Conference for a three-year term (2005–2008) by a large majority of the Argentine bishops which, according to reports, confirms his local leadership and the international prestige earned by his performance in the conclave.

He was re-elected on November 11, 2008.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

3

News Security agents kill four in Sokoto From Eric Meya, Sokoto O fewer than four people including a woman were killed in Sokoto yesterday when a joint security team made up of the army, air force, police and department of State Security Service (SSS) raided a house believed to be a criminal hideout at Bado Quarters along Abubakar III International Airport road.

The Commander of 1 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Muhammad Tasiu Ibrahim, said at a press briefing that the operation, which took place in the early hours of yesterday, followed a tip-off from the intelligence service, which tracked down the precise location of the hideout.

He said that as soon as the operation started, the soldiers came under heavy fire from rocket-propelled grenades.

According to him, “the firing from the adversaries did not deter us as we went on to comb the area”.

N

EFCC arrests Atuche Ambassador of The Netherlands to Nigeria, Berth Ronhaar, Gloria Ita-Ikpeme, manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and others during a visit by the envoy and his team to the plant in Bonny, Rivers State…yesterday

Senate okays ‘State of the Nation Address’ law From Bridget Chiedu Onochie and Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja

To review rules over ministers

O ensure accountability, T the Senate yesterday passed a law, which would compel

the assignment of portfolios to ministerial nominees appearing before it for confirmation.

‘State of the Nation Address’ Bill was first introduced in the sixth National Assembly (2008 in the Senate and 2009 in the House of Representatives).

However, legislative work on the bill continued in the 7th Assembly and is going on simultaneously in the two chambers with the need to harmonise it.

The Senate, while considering report of Senator Dahiru A Kuta’s led Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Gov-

any sitting President to deliver a ‘State of the Nation’ address to Nigerians through the National Assembly.

The new law stipulates a specific time during which the President can give the address.

But where the President fails, neglect or refuses to render account of his stewardship within the given time, Section one of the bill empowers the National Assembly to compel him to do so.

Also, the Upper Chamber has begun the process to amend the constitution to provide for

ernmental Affairs, approved that without prejudice to the presentation of annual budget by the sitting President, the President shall also present State of the Nation Address to a joint sitting of the National Assembly yearly on the first legislative day of July.

Issues of focus in the address include national security, economy, foreign policy and social justice. The address would consequently be debated and resolutions communicated to the President within 60 days from the date of debate.

The upper legislative chamber, however, resolved that

the President shall not delegate his responsibilities under this Act to any subordinate or aide.

Titled, Bill for an Act to Provide for the Assignment of Portfolios to Ministerial Nominees Appearing before the Senate for Confirmation and for other Matters 2013, efforts by lawmakers to read the bill for the second time and debate it before referring it to the appropriate committee suffered set back.

Senate President, David Mark, however, ruled that it was a constitutional amendment concern and as such, should directly be referred to the Committee on the Review of 1999 Constitution.

Mark maintained that so far

as the Chamber was unanimous on the need to amend Section 148 of the Constitution, which gives power to the President to assign any portfolio he deems fit to a ministerial nominee, it was only right to refer the Bill to the appropriate committee.

“My layman interpretation of this is for us to amend the constitution and not to take the second reading and do the debate. We have accepted that this is constitutional amendment concern and as such, we should refer it to the Committee. That has been the style. To start a second reading and debate whether we are accepting it or not amounts to waste of time.

‘New party will promote democracy’

HE Congress for ProgresT sives Change, (CPC) has warned that it would be ready

try was a step in the right direction.

The CPC was reacting to reports that INEC may advise the merging group to adopt another name, following claims that it had earlier received request for the regis-

to mobilise Nigerians against the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP) should they connive to deny the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a related development, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has accused the PDP of either suffering from crass ignorance or engaging in palpable mischief by saying the leaders of the APC should have registered the name with INEC before now.

Meanwhile, the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) yesterday doubted the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its alleged plan to register a shadowy APC. In the same vein, former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar yesterday declared that the formation of the APC by a coalition of opposition parties in the coun-

tration of the African Peoples Party (APC) from a different group.

The CPC insisted that it would not change the name of the APC, while accusing INEC of conniving with the ruling PDP to frustrate the registration of

APC. Speaking in an interview with The Guardian yesterday in Abuja, the CPC’s National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin insisted that INEC was igniting fresh crisis in the country by its declaration on the APC, warning that the commission was just acting the script of the PDP,

which he noted would be resisted by the merging parties.

While wondering why INEC has refused to release the identity of those behind the African Peoples’ Congress, Fashakin, maintained that no amount of collaboration from INEC and the powers-that-be would stop the APC’s registration.

Court dismisses govt’s bid to stop N37.6b compensation for Odi From Anietie Akpan (Calabar) and Kelvin Ebiri (Port-Harcourt)

Group urges compliance

EGAL moves by the Federal Government to stop the exeLcution of N37.6 billion judg-

the Federal Government to implement the recent court judgments, which ordered N78.8 billion compensation for Odi and Zaki-Ibiam communities in Bayelsa and Benue States respectively.

Counsel to the Federal Government, Mr. Michael Nomeh, who held brief for Ade OkeayaInneh (SAN), had urged the court to grant his client’s application for a stay of execution on the N37.6 billion damage the court awarded to Odi community pending the determination of their appeal.

ment, which ordered it to pay compensation for Odi community in Bayelsa State, was yesterday stalled as Justice Lambo Akambi of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt dismissed the suit.

He said the application was frivolous and smacks of rascality, pomposity while the dead in Odi are crying in their grave for justice.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) urged

Nomeh explained that the request for a stay of execution was predicated on special circumstances, which the Federal Government intends to disclose at the Appellant court. He stressed that the Federal Government fears that if N37.6 billion was released to Odi community, it will be dissipated immediately and in the event of the government’s appeal succeeding, it will be difficult to recover the money.

But counsel to the Odi community Lawal Rabana (SAN), who was accompanied by the lead counsel, Lucius Nwosu (SAN) and, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN),

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) T yesterday in Lagos arrested former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the defunct Bank PHB, Francis Atuche.

He was apprehended for alleged forgery and attempt to smuggle forged board resolutions into Keystone Bank, the successor to Bank PHB. Commission’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren disclosed in Abuja that Atuche was arrested alongside two other suspects, Nnosiri Joachim and Uguru Onyike; who are both employees in the Central Sharing System Centre of Keystone Bank Limited.

“They will all be charged to court soon”, Uwujaren said.

Airline workers’ strike stalls operations

By Wole Shadare and Chika Goodluck-Ogazi PERATIONS were yesterday grounded at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2) as Areo Contractors workers began strike.

When The Guardian visited the airline counter at MMA2, early morning yesterday, it was deserted as there was no workers to attend to passengers, who either came to buy tickets or to check –in As a result of the strike, the airline’s flight operations were affected and this created a rift between passengers and the airline’s management, as none of its flights was able to take off.

At the corporate headquarters, the aggrieved passengers, who became rowdy, were challenged by a detachment of police from the Domestic Airport However, Aero’s Media Consultant, Mr. Simon Tumba, stated that, “the management is on a re-organisation drive to ensure a more efficient, dependable, reliable and safe workforce, which the unions are resisting and unwilling to sit and talk. It is a known strategy of unions to use blackmail to achieve undesired goals and this should be rebuffed in line with the law.”

O

CPC threatens protest over APC’s registration, ACN, ANPP kick From Adamu Abuh (Abuja) and Iyabo Lawal (Ibadan)

From Abosede Musari, Abuja

urged the court to disregard the Federal Government, which he insisted will not suffer any disability or disadvantage if it pays the money to the community.

Rabana argued that it will be inhumane for the Federal Government, which makes well over N37.6 billion per day and collects revenue from crude oil exploration in Odi, to thwart the release of the money to the community whose citizens have been refugees in their motherland for 13 years and their schools, homes, churches, ancestral shines have been destroyed by rampaging federal troops.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

4 NEWS

‘I didn’t think I would cry but I guess the adrenalin’s taking over’ T was indeed a long wait.

IWith Hours, then days, flew past. bated breath, even the heavenly beings may have peeped at the earth to observe what the conclave would unveil.

Black smoke billowed from the chimney above the Sistine chapel in the Vatican on the first day of voting on Tuesday.

Then yesterday, the second day, the suspense was broken.

White smoke flowed from the chimney.

A new Pope emerged!

According to agency reports, the white smoke flowed from the chimney shortly after 7.00 p.m. signalling that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, one of the candidates for the pontificate, had obtained the necessary two-thirds majority for election.

The new Pope, who takes the name, Francis 1, is from Argentina. Bergoglio became the first ever Pope from the Americas in the history of the Church.

French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran made the announcement from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. Bergoglio, 76, was believed to be the runner-up to Benedict XVI at the last con2005. in clave As is customary, the identity of the new Pope was not immediately made known. And the crowd in St. Peter’s Square was waiting expectantly for him to appear on the huge balcony that runs across the front of St Basilica.

Peter’s The fumata bianca – the white smoke signal that marks the successful conclusion of a papal conclave – arrived after five ballots on the second day of voting. The smoke that poured out of the comignolo, the copper and steel chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, was greeted with cries of delight and applause from the crowd below.

Soon afterwards, the bells of St. Peter’s rang out, confirming that a new Pope had taken over the spiritual leadership of the world’s 1.2 billion baptised Catholics.

Inside the Sistine Chapel, after the final vote was cast, the most junior of the cardinals, James Harvey, a former prefect of the papal household, called in the secretary of the college of cardinals, Monsignor Lorenzo Baldisseri, and the master of papal liturgical ceremonies, Monsignor Guido Marini, to witness the new pope’s acceptance of one of the most daunting jobs on earth. The most senior of the electors, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, approached the pope-to-be and – in accordance

with time-honoured tradition – asked him, in Latin: “Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff?”

Having obtained his consent, he will have asked him: “By what name do you wish to be called?” The master of ceremonies, acting as a notary, will then have summoned two of his staff to act as witnesses, and prepared the document that certifies the new pPope’s acceptance.

Newly elected popes are taken to be robed in the so-called Room of Tears, its name an indication of the reluctance with which most approach the task for which they have been chosen. The last holder of the office, Benedict XVI, introduced a change into the ritual that allows for the new Pope to pray before he is announced to the world.

The 76-year-old conservative emerged from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to the cry of “Habemus Papam!” (“We Have a Pope!”), as tens of thousands of pilgrims clambered over barriers and broke down in tears, overcome with emotion after suspenseful prayer vigils worldwide.

Bergoglio, who is the 266th Pope in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history, retired to a chamber known as the “Room of Tears” immediately after the nomination to don his papal vestments and then prayed in the Pauline Chapel.

Bells pealed in churches across Italy to celebrate the announcement and residents of Rome could be seen racing to the floodlit 17th-century Vatican plaza, running out of their homes and cafes to reach the square in time.

Cardinals have been locked up behind the Vatican walls and cut off from the outside world since Tuesday, meeting in a sublime Renaissance chapel swept for recording devices and installed with scramblers to prevent any communication.

The historic election after Benedict’s abrupt resignation last month was being followed around the world on live television as well as through social media and smartphone apps — this is the first ever tweeted conclave.

“I didn’t think I would cry but I guess the adrenalin’s taking over!” said Rebecca Hine, a student from Canada who had waited two days in the rain.

“I’m overjoyed!” said a tearful Veronica, a nun from Botswana.

“I’m so emotional I can hardly speak!”

A breathless Ruud, a 31-year-old Dutch tourist, said: “We were

New Pope Francis having dinner nearby and heard a roar, and raced here to see for ourselves.”

Benedict’s eight-year papacy was riven by scandals and the new Pope will face immediate challenges — stamp his authority on the Vatican machinery and try to bring back a Catholic flock that is deserting churches across the West.

Benedict’s style was often seen as too academic and he was never as popular as his predecessor. Many of the cardinals have called for the new pope to be a better communicator, able to reach out particularly to young people.

Conclaves are usually only held after a pope dies and are sometimes decades apart — the last one was in 2005, the one before that 1978. A popular Italian expression for things that happen very rarely is “at every death of a pope”.

The 85-year-old Benedict broke with tradition, becoming the first pontiff to resign since the Middle Ages. He has said he will retire to a former nunnery inside the Vatican — an unprecedented and delicate situation for the Church.

In one of his last acts as pope, he issued a decree allowing cardinals to bring forward the date of a conclave in cases of papal resignation — a move seen by many as potentially setting a precedent for future ageing pontiffs.

The scandal of hushed-up sexual abuses of children by paedophile priests going back decades has also cast its shadow over the conclave.

The US group SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) called for over a dozen cardinals to be excluded from the conclave either for covering up abuses or for making tactless remarks about the scandals.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi on Wednesday de-

fended the cardinals and accused SNAP and other activists of showing “negative prejudices”.

“None of us are surprised that they have tried to take advantage of these days to repeat their accusations and give them greater resonance,” he said.

Benedict abdicated on 28 February, saying that he was no longer able to cope with the burden of his office. He was the first pontiff to resign voluntarily since Celestine V in 1294.

The world’s Catholics will be looking to his successor to provide not only spiritual inspiration but also firm leadership.

The new pope was chosen against a background of turbulence and strife unprecedented in modern times. He takes on the leadership of a church whose faithful have been shocked by a proliferation of clerical sex abuse scandals throughout the rich world and dismayed by events in and around the Vatican.

The day for the 115 cardinalelectors began at about 6.30am local time in the Casa Santa Marta, their simple but comfortable – and highly protected – residence in the walled city state. After breakfast, they made their way to the Apostolic Palace, the home of the popes, for morning mass in the Pauline Chapel. By about 9.30am, they had settled themselves into the Sistine Chapel for prayers and the resumption of voting.

Benedict’s startling decision to resign came after years of mounting tension and discreet but venomous infighting in the Roman Curia, the central administration of the Catholic church. Last year, some of the pope’s correspondence, pointing to bitter rivalries and maladministration – or worse – in the Vatican was published in book form.

Benedict’s butler, Paolo Gabriele, was tried and imprisoned for leaking the documents, but the journalist to whom the papers were passed has said that his source was part of a much broader network of disaffected Vatican employees and officials. Gabriele’s arrest coincided with a renewed controversy over the Vatican bank, whose chairman was summarily dismissed last May. The scandals – and a string of controversies over the pope’s own declarations – distracted attention from what was expected to be the central theme of his papacy. Benedict came to the leadership of the Catholic church as the pope who would begin the process of re-evangelising an increasingly secular western world.

That too will be an important challenge for his successor. In the approach to the conclave several cardinals said they wanted a great pastor for the world’s biggest Christian denomination.

No indication of how or why the new pope was chosen was expected to emerge. On Tuesday, before the start of the conclave, the cardinal-electors took an oath of secrecy, as had those Vatican employees and officials involved in the election.

Additional precautions included a sweep of the Sistine Chapel to ensure that no listening devices had been planted inside and the use of electronic jamming techniques.

White smoke poured from the roof of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday and the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica pealed, signaling that cardinals had chosen a new pope to lead the troubled Roman Catholic Church after only five ballots.

The decision by 115 cardinal electors came sooner than many faithful expected because of the large number of possible frontrunners identified before the vote to replace Pope Benedict, who resigned in February.

The secret conclave began on Tuesday night with a first ballot in the Renaissance splendor of the chapel and four ballots were held on Wednesday. The white smoke indicated the new pontiff had obtained the required two thirds majority in the fifth ballot.

Following a split ballot when they were first shut away amid the chapel’s Renaissance splendor on Tuesday evening, the cardinal electors held a first full day of deliberations on Wednesday. Black smoke rose

after the morning session to signal no decision.

Cheers arose from hundreds of people sheltering from incessant rain under a sea of umbrellas in St. Peter’s Square as the white smoke billowed from the narrow chimney.

The cardinals had faced a tough task in finding a leader capable of overcoming crises caused by priestly child abuse and a leak of secret papal documents that uncovered corruption and rivalry inside the Church government or Curia.

The wave of problems are thought to have contributed to Pope Benedict’s decision to become the first pontiff in 600 years to resign.

The last four popes were all elected within two or three days.

Seven ballots have been required on average over the last nine conclaves. Benedict was clear frontrunner in 2005 and elected after only four ballots.

The cardinals were shut inside for the secret election under Michelangelo’s luminous frescos on Tuesday after a day of religious pomp and prayer to prepare for the task.

The initial inconclusive vote about two hours later was seen as a way of filtering the choice down to frontrunners for discussions among the supporters of the various candidates.

No hint emerged before the pope was chosen. The Vatican had taken precautions, including electronic jamming devices, to prevent any leaks from inside the conclave.

The new pope will take up a burden that Benedict declared in February was beyond his physical capabilities.

Apart from many child abuse scandals and the “Vatileaks” case, the Church has been shaken by rivalry from other churches, the advance of secularism, especially in its European heartland, and problems in the running the Vatican bank.

The former head of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger Mahony, is attending the conclave despite calls for him to stay away because of a sex abuse case that led to his censure by his successor Archbishop Jose Gomez in January. He was stripped of all public and administrative duties as punishment.

On Tuesday, lawyers for the victims in four sex abuse cases said the diocese, Mahony and an expriest had agreed to pay nearly $10 million to settle. Mahony was accused of helping a confessed pedophile priest escape prosecution.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

News 5

Fire guts Ogun governor’s house

Gunmen kill three in Warri, escape with suspected kidnappers

From Charles Coffie-Gyamfi, Abeokuta

UT for the quick intervenB tion of men of the Ogun State Fire Service, the private resident of Governor Ibikunle Amosun in Abeokuta would have been totally razed by fire yesterday.

The fire was said to have started from the four-bedroom bungalow located at the GRA, Ibara, at 12:30 p.m. The house is being occupied by the governor’s elder brother, Alhaji Abidoye Amosun and his immediate family.

When journalists visited the scene at 12:55 p.m., fire-fighters had already put out the inferno, but not until one of the bedrooms, with all personal effects, and the kitchen were completely burnt down.

Journalists’ attempt to enter the house to assess the extent of damage was fiercely resisted by armed policemen. As argument ensued between them and the newsmen, the policemen seized the mobile phones belonging to the BusinessDay and News Agency of Nigeria correspondents.

Ajimobi re-registers, urges unity in ACN OVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State yesterday particiG pated in the ongoing re-registration exercise for members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, harping on unity among members of the party in the state.

The governor did his registration at his Odo-Ona Ward 12 in Ibadan South-West council area. Ajimobi, while addressing party members shortly after the exercise, appealed to them to remain united, stressing that the strength of the party lies in unity.

He also stressed the importance of the ward, which he said had always recorded highest number of votes in the council area, urging feuding members to resolve their differences amicably in order to sustain the feat recorded by the party in past elections.

He assured members of even distribution of democracy dividends, explaining that the first 16 months of his administration was devoted to project execution and provision of infrastructure for the benefit of the people.

Robbers attack bullion van, kill policeman, banker

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Chairman, Rivers State chapter of Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Mr. Edward-Festus Abibo (middle) addressing fellow pensioners and government officials during a peaceful protest over non-payment of their pensions in Port Harcourt…yesterday

Reps move to stop banks’ ATM maintenance fee From Terhemba Daka, Abuja

HE House of RepresentaT tives yesterday adopted a motion urging banks to immediately halt the planned introduction of N100 monthly maintenance fee on Automated Teller Machines (ATM) cards.

It also tasked its Committee on Banking and Currency to investigate all approved bank charges on all accounts and compliance by banks and report back to the House. It also urged the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and other relevant authorities to urgently look into the issue and act as appropriate.

Sponsor of the motion, Aliu Babatunde Kazeem, had raised the alarm on the development he described as “ungodly,” just as he disclosed that the Bankers’ Committee, during a meeting in November 2012, had scrapped the N100 inter-

bank charges on the use of ATM cards.

Kazeem argued that if the Bankers’ Committee had abolished the interbank transaction charges, there was no justification for the introduction of other charges through the back door. He informed the chamber that First Bank of Nigeria Limited was on the verge of commencing a monthly deduction of maintenance fee on its cards with effect from this month.

The lawmaker reminded the House that the CBN governor had said that customers would no longer pay N100 on withdrawals on ATM whenever they use banks other than theirs, starting from December 17, 2012.

“If this maintenance fee is introduced, it will cause untold hardship for bank customers,” he said, adding: “If this maintenance fee is introduced, it will reduce the patronage of ATMs, thereby

affecting adversely the financial inclusion strategy of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

Contributing, Abiodun Awoneye pointed out that the introduction of N100 monthly maintenance fee was a ploy by the banks to exploit the customers in clear contravention of the cashless policy introduced by the CBN. Other lawmakers, including Linus Okorie, Hussain Namadi, Aminu Sulaiman and Hassan Sale, argued in separate submissions that banks in the country were already introducing sundry phoney commissions and miscellaneous charges, which they said, were not made known to customers.

Though some members, including Godwin Elumelu, Friday Itula, Austin Ogboburo and Hamid Akinlade, kicked against the motion when put to question by the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, it was adopted by overwhelming majority of voice votes.

Northern Christians, emir oppose amnesty for Boko Haram From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief criticism yesterday FtanRESH trailed the plea by the Sulof Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, to the Federal Government to grant amnesty to Boko Haram members.

This time, the condemnation came from the Emir of Anka, Zamfara State, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad and the Northern Christian Elders Forum (NORCEF).

The Sultan, who is the President-General of Nigerian Muslims, had during the yearly Central Council meeting of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam in Kaduna asked Jonathan to use the opportunity of his recent visit to Maiduguri to grant total amnesty to the insurgents.

But during a three-day workshop on peace building and conflict management for sustainable development organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday, Anka said: “Amnesty is for

From Niyi Bello (Akure) and Chido Okafor (Warri) IKE a scene from a Hollywood movie, daredevil gunmen armed with sophisticated assault riffles yesterday ambushed Nigerian Prisons Service wardens in Warri, Delta State, as they were taking suspected kidnappers and other awaiting trial inmates to court, killing two wardens and one awaiting trial inmate on the spot.

Four other inmates being taken to court were also severely injured. In a similar fashion, armed robbers on Tuesday afternoon attacked a bullion van belonging to a new generation bank, killing a banker and a policeman in the process and wounding several others along Igbokoda-Okitipupa Road.

The Warri incident took place at about 8:45 a.m. around Esisi Road Junction on Okere Road, a few metres from the Air Force Officers’ Mess and the Delta Naval Base. The gunmen shot sporadically into the air to scare away people and succeeded in whisking their two colleagues away.

The armed gang operated in a Camry car and Lexus Sports Utility Van earlier parked at the ever-busy Okere Road, unknown to the prisons officials. The two warders, who reportedly sustained various degrees of injury from gunshots, are now at the Intensive Care Unit of the Warri Central Hospital.

Confirming the incident, Warri Area Commander, Mr. Hussaini Rabiu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said available information showed that two prison wardens and an inmate, who were on their way to an undisclosed court in the district, were killed instantly when the gunmen attacked.

According to him, three other prison officials, who sus-

those people you know. How can you give amnesty to the people you don’t know?”

According to the emir, “where were our leaders when the Boko Haram were going to receive training outside the country? Let us check ourselves, if there must be justice, we must go back to the basics.”

Saying that the elite and politicians often spark off crises in the country, Ahmad insisted that they (elite and politicians) had no respect for human life.

“As a traditional ruler who lives with the people, I have come to a conclusion that if the so-called common man is left alone, there is going to be peace in the land. But any place you find crisis, just look around, you must find the involvement of these two classes – the elite and politicians,” he added.

Members of NORCEF warned the Arewa leaders against an imminent revolution in the North, following years of recorded injustice and marginalisation by politicians

and Muslim leaders in the North leading to the security challenges in the region.

They also faulted the calls by prominent leaders of the Arewa on President Goodluck Jonathan to grant Boko Haram amnesty in order to put the insurgency to a halt, pointing out that the insecurity in the region was as a result of past actions of some of the northern leaders.

NORCEF Chairman, Mathew Owojaiye and Secretary, Yusuf Illiya, condemned past actions of some Arewa leaders who they said had sown seeds of discord in the North and instituted poverty in the region, which incidentally were responsible for the security challenges.

In a statement, Owojaiye said: “The North is in a big mess and we know it. Revolution looms in the North and it will consume a lot of people. The elders already see the revolution coming and they themselves are talking about it.”

Advising all Arewa elders to retrace their steps and pro-

mote equity and justice in the region, Owojaiye said: “It is not too late to prevent a bloody revolution, stop blaming Jonathan, come together and do the right thing.”

According to the Christian elders, “if you grant amnesty to Boko Haram members, then two million people can claim to be members looking for benefits.

“What compensation will government pay for innocent people killed? What compensation will government pay for the injured?

What compensation will government pay for those whose businesses were ruined?

What compensation will government pay for those who were displaced and/or traumatised by Boko Haram? All who claim to be Boko Haram should present their names, passport photographs, telephone numbers and places of abode and states of origin.

Those who have committed murder, arson or terrorism will be tried.”

According to him, three other prison officials, who sustained gunshot injuries, were receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the area, adding that three of the prison inmates, who fled with the attackers after the encounter, have been re-arrested and handed over to the Prisons Department in Warri tained gunshot injuries, were receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the area, adding that “three of the prison inmates, who fled with the attackers after the encounter, have been rearrested and handed over to the Prisons Department in Warri.”

Meanwhile, the bullion van robbers were said to have met an empty van as the convoy was coming from Igbokoda, where the money had been off-loaded. The bank official, whose name was given as Steven Adu, was said to have been felled in the crossfire between the police security and the robbers.

Spokesman of Ondo State Police Command, Wole Ogodo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who confirmed the incident, said men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) were already on the trail of the hoodlums.

A source, who disclosed the name of the banker, said there were five armed policemen with the deceased in the twovehicle convoy. Ogodo disclosed that only the banker was killed in the operation while the robbers ran away with bullet injuries as the police over-powered them.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

6 | NEWS

Lagos shops for N26b to tackle ocean surge

Govt pledges support for American investors over rural electrification From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja HE Federal Government yesterday tasked investors from the United States of America to take advantage of the nation’s ongoing privatisation programme to invest in the rural electrification programme.

Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, who spoke at a meeting with some American investors who visited him in Abuja, assured such investors of government support.

The trade mission team from the United States of America was led by Mimi Alemayehou, Vice President of Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).

The minister drew attention to the poor state of electricity supply in the rural areas, and urged investors to tap into rural electrification, stressing the enormous potentials in it.

The minister said, “Without power our children born in the rural areas would be marginalised for life, as they would not have access to electricity and other modern technologies”.

He said there were incredible opportunities for investment in power as contained in the transformation agenda of the administration, and therefore, called attention to the need for the private sector to consider investments not only in power generation but also in transmission, renewable energy and solar.

Describing the present situation in which the country finds itself as pathetic, the minister added: “As at today because of lack of power a number of small and medium scales businesses have closed shops as they cannot break even with high cost of running generators and procuring diesels”.

Giving instances with the revolution of the telecommunication sector, Nebo recalled how people realise the enormous opportunities in the sector, noting that from “humble be-

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We must deliver power to Nigerians. We must also be mindful of our growing population so, we must explore solar, hydro, wind and other renewable energy options, investors are therefore encourage to invest ginning in 1999 of less than I million GSM lines, today over 100 million lines of GSM are active and in use, this development can only be said to be astronomical, unbelievable but real.”

Nebo stressed how rural electrification was essential to the proposed electronic examination by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) by 2015.

According to him, the rural populace could be dis-enfranchised from participating in the electronic examination due to poor power supply to power computers and other devices required for the scheme.

Minister of State for Power, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi said that 2013 is the target year set for the turn around, while giving a pathetic picture of inadequate and low access to electricity.

She said only 40 per cent of Nigerians have access to electricity, which is not even reliable and efficient.

Her words: “We must deliver power to Nigerians. We must also be mindful of our growing population so, we must explore solar, hydro, wind and other renewable energy options, investors are therefore encourage to invest.”

Kuchi encouraged investors to take advantage of the potentials in renewable energy.

Alemayehou assured of the readiness of members of the team to assist in reversing perennial problem of power shortage in Nigeria within the shortest possible time, if given

By Kamal Tayo Oropo and Isaac Taiwo AGOS State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said the state would require about N26 billion in the next three years geared towards finding lasting solution to the frequent ocean surge as well as protecting the state’s shoreline against overshooting its boundary.

The governor, who was speaking yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 5th Climate Change Summit, held in Lagos, recalled his experience on the ocean surge, which hit Kuramo Beach last year.

He said the state government was taken unawares by the surge even as there was no budget towards mitigating its effects and consequences in the 2012 fiscal budget of the government.

“In the implementation of last year’s budget, we did not conceive that the uncompleted part of the Eko Atlantic City would be overrun by the ocean.

The Kuramo surge late last year came and took away walls of properties from the end of Ahmadu Bello Way right down to Alpha Beach.

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Non-Academic Staff Union from all research institutes in Ibadan in a peaceful protest over the non-payment of salary arrears ... yesterday.

NAN

Two police officers, bandit feared dead in Lagos airport robbery

By Wole Shadare T was an irony of sorts that while billions of people worldwide were excitedly awaiting the emergence of a new Pope yesterday , dare devil robbers were unleashing terror at, the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

At the end of their dastardly operations, two police inspectors, fell to the robbers’ bullets. However, one of the bandits was not lucky as he

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was killed in the operation.

The incident occurred at about around 7.45pm inside the car park of the International Wing of the airport.

An eyewitness told The Guardian that the robbers raided illegal currency dealers as carted away huge amount of money in different currencies.

The source said panicstricken passengers and other airport users ran helter

Terrorism may hamper 2015 presidential polls, says Fasehun

By Abiodun Fanoro RESIDENT of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredrick Fasehun has warned that the Boko Haram insurgency may hamper a successful conduct of the 2015 presidential election and therefore, called for urgent efforts to avert it.

Fasehun said his fear was based on the likelihood of the insurgency directly or indirectly preventing southern presidential candidates from going to the North to campaign and canvass for votes.

Urging those at the helm of affairs to take a dispassionate note of what could be a dangerous fallout of this increasingly dangerous security situation, Fasehun said the threat to the election could be completed in a likely reprisal move by elements from the south who may want to prevent northern presidential candidates from campaigning in the south or such candidates staying away for fear of reprisal.

His words: “Let us warn that the 2015 polls are fraught with danger because southerners may not be able to travel up North for votes.

And in reprisal, the South may create an unhealthy atmosphere for northerners to campaign in this part…Northern politicians must lead the battle for peace in their region and put insurgents on the leash. Otherwise no one can predict the hostile reception awaiting Northern politicians when they attempt to campaign in the South in 2015.”

The OPC chief, who spoke at

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his quarterly interaction with journalist in Lagos yesterday also called for immediate revocation of licences of all the already allocated oil blocs with a view to allowing equitable re-allocation of same along Federal Character policy.

The Yoruba leader called for “open bidding for all oil blocs and reallocate them on the basis of equity, transparency, due process and Federal Character.”

skelter for their lives as sporadic shooting lasted for more than 20 minutes as many visitors to the area were also said to have abandoned their vehicles and took to their heels to avoid the cross fire between the police and the marauders.

Spokesman for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Yakubu Dati in a statement yesterday said, “Men of the Nigerian Policemen foiled an attempted robbery attack at Ikeja near the perimeter fence of the Murtala Muhammed Airport”.

Despite the announcement

by FAAN that it had installed CCTV cameras inside the terminal building, departure, arrival, airline counters and air side, many believe that not all areas of the airport are captured by the devices.

A security consultant who preferred anonymity said it is possible that the car park, which also houses the bureau de change offices where the robbery took place might have been left out of CCTV coverage.

Makinde laments insecurity, cautions against taxing churches

By Isaac Taiwo HE Prelate of Methodist Church, His Eminence, Sunday Ola Makinde, has expressed concern over the spate of insecurity in the nation and lamented that an average Nigerian could not boast of safety in his own country while insecurity of foreigners could also not be guaranteed.

In his message at the 2nd Annual Synod of the Diocese of Lagos-North, Methodist Church of Nigeria, with the theme: “What if the Lord had not been on our side”, which ended yesterday, Makinde said no theme could be more appropriate to Nigeria’s pathetic situation.

He asked the government to investigate the claim of Ansaru members posted on the Web that they have killed seven foreigners, employees of Setraco, a Lebanese Construction Company in Bauchi State.

Makinde also warned that the Federal Government should not be deceived by the so-called ceasefire of Boko

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Haram sect, describing same as a trap.

“While innocent Nigerians, especially those living in the northern part of the country, had been living under the persistent menace of Boko Haram, there is again insurgence of kidnapping and claim of killing foreigners.

Cases of armed robbery had also continued to be of concern to all and sundry, which require government’s urgent attention. Tackling the biting problem of unemployment could be seen as one of the solutions to all the menace.

“However, as regards the damages caused by Boko Haram, it is only fair that if the government rebuilds their mosques, it should equally rebuild bombed churches, homes of innocent victims, as well as compensate the families of those who lost their loved ones and the maimed.

“The government should not give the impression that a ‘group’ is greater than other Nigerians or the government itself”, he said.

FG moves to improve laboratory services From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja N line with global best practices, the Federal Government is re-engineering and transforming medical laboratory services in the country.

Registrar of the Medical Laboratory Science Council (MLSCN), Prof. Anthony Emeribe, who spoke at a medical laboratory science education workshop in Abuja yesterday, stressed that the council was also modernising the skills of assessors who assist it in the discharge of its duties He said the council is also harmonising the processes, procedures, yardsticks and parameters deployed by those who represent it in the conduct of its programmes.

“As council staff alone cannot do it all, nor do they have monopoly of knowledge, this workshop is both to ensure that resource persons potentially have the wherewithal to perform creditably; that they effectively and seemingly key into Council’s high quality standards; and that they form part of Council’s database of highly skilled facilitators. I have no doubt that we shall in the end achieve these laudable goals.”

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NABTEB releases results, seeks early vocational training From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City HE National Business and T Technical Education Board (NABTEB) yesterday released its 2012 November/December National Business Certificate/National Technical Certificate (NBC/NTC) and Advanced National Business Certificate/Advanced National Technical Certificate (ANBC/ANTC) results.

It advocated for early vocational training in schools by “catching them young” to encourage technical and vocational education.

Registrar of the board, Dr. Olatunde Aworanti, while announcing the release at its secretariat in Benin City, said the three-tiers of government should embark on youth empowerment through which some of them could learn a trade for a living.

News 7

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

Church marks 60th anniversary

Emulate Chavez, Oyebola tells Nigerian leaders HE Chairman, Movement for Nigeria’s Total Transformation, Areoye Oyebola, has urged Nigerian leaders to emulate the late President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, who endeared himself to the people by executing policies and programmes that enriched their lives.

In a tribute to Chavez yesterday, Oyebola, author, publisher and economist, said if compared to Chavez, 95 per cent of Nigeria’s leadership would be consigned to the ‘rotting garbage heap of history for their misrule and excessive greed.

“While Nigeria’s leaders raised the price of a litre of petrol from N65, then the highest among the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Chavez sold petrol for N9 per litre in his country.

“Furthermore, Venezuela allocates 10 per cent of its refined petroleum products to the poor at a reduced price. Interestingly, Venezuela provides free education up to university level for its citizens while provision of other social amenities was paramount to the government of the late Hugo Chavez”, Oyebola said.

He lamented: “Nigeria’s rulers do not appreciate what constitutes true fulfillment in public life and have, therefore, made selfishness, greed and unbridled corruption their watchword, unlike Chavez, who embraced sincere service to his people and will, therefore, live forever in the hearts of his people and the rest of the world.”

O celebrate 60 years of its T existence, Methodist Church Nigeria, Cathedral of

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FG okays development of FESTAC Phase II HE Federal Government T yesterday approved the development of Phase II of the FESTAC Town in Lagos under a public-private partnership arrangement.

According to a statement, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ama Pepple, made this known while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

She said the proposed Phase II FESTAC project, which would yield N25.7 billion to the Federal Government, would involve the development of the remaining 1,126 hectares of land out of the 2,000 hectares acquired for ‘FESTAC 77’.

She noted that only a portion of the land initially acquired was developed while the remaining was abandoned due to lack of funds, adding that this prompted the ministry to move to develop the phase II through the new arrangement.

“Council approved that we can concession the area we call FESTAC Phase II to a company called New FESTAC Property Development Company.

“The area involved is 1,126 hectares and we estimate that when it is completely reclaimed and sand-filled, because it’s swampy, we will be able to create at least 7,000 plots,” she said.

Secretary to Oyo State Government, Akin Olajide (left); former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, University of Ibadan, Prof.

Arinola Sanya, during Atiku’s visit to the university…yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Blessing, Palm Avenue, Mushin, Lagos is set give thanks to God with special activities which include a threeday (March 14-16, 2013) crusade at its premises.

The celebration ends with special thanksgiving services on Sunday March 17 at 8.00am and 10am.

According to its Presbyter, The Very Reverend Kolade Odu, “ the Cathedral to the glory of God since its creation 60 years ago has been able to achieve a lot of great things in terms of spiritual growth and expansion. Church planting which impacts directly and spiritually to immediate environs of wherever a church is established has been one of the success factors of the Cathedral”.

Presidency defends pardon for Alamieyeseigha, Diya, others From Iyabo Lawal (Ibadan), Azimazi Momoh Jimoh (Abuja) and Bertram Nwannekanma (Lagos) MID mounting opposition to the presidential pardon that was allegedly granted former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, erstwhile Chief of General Staff, Lt.Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd) and others, the Presidency yesterday rose in stout defence of the Federal Government’s move.

This came as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) absolved itself from involvement in the move by the Federal Government and Lagos-based right group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) threatened national and international legal actions to challenge the alleged presidential pardon.

The group said the legal action was also to challenge “this flagrant abdication of legal and moral responsibility to combat corruption, which can only ensure that high ranking corrupt officials profit from their crime.”

In a statement by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, SERAP called on the government of President Goodluck Jonathan to “rescind without further delay the alleged state pardon granted former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, and former head, Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama.”

The Senior Special Assistant for Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, yesterday morning questioned the overwhelming condemnation that greeted the state pardon granted Alamieyeseigha and other exconvicts by the National Council of State.

The Senior Special Assistant, who was a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, said Nigerians should respect a decision taken by those in position of authority whether it was favourable or not.

“It is like a parent, it is not every decision a parent takes that is palatable or acceptable to the children,” he said.

The National Council of State reportedly on Tuesday granted state pardon to Alamieyeseigha and other ex-convicts, including Oladipo Diya, Maj. Bello Magaji, Mohammed Lima Biu, Maj.-Gen. Abdulkareem

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PDP absolves self, citizens protest, threaten legal action Adisa (post-humous), Maj. Segun Fadipe and former head of the Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama.

Okupe had told Channels Television he had no apologies for the decision which was taken by an institution created by the Nigerian constitution, asking: “What is wrong in giving a remorseful sinner pardon?”

At the end of the meeting of the National Council of State in Abuja on Tuesday, where the pardon was reportedly granted, State House correspondents were not briefed but sources confirmed that the former governor was granted presidential pardon alongside some others whose names were presented to the council.

“Yes. It is true that presidential pardon was approved for the former governor at the meeting,” one of the state governors at the meeting, who pleaded anonymity, said.

But that position was contradicted by one of his colleagues, Murtala Nyako from Adamawa State who claimed that no former governor’s name was mentioned at the meeting though he confirmed that the issue of “state pardon” was discussed.

Nyako had told some journalists that the council deliberated on the possibility of granting state clemency to a certain category of offenders both at state and federal levels.

“No such issue was discussed and I didn’t see the name of any governor. But we considered the issue of state pardon for people who committed certain offences.”

This development has brought to mind events that led to the resignation of Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe who was the Chief of General Staff under Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

Sources then said Ukiwe had allegedly demanded from Babangida why and how Nigeria became a member of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) since the matter was not discussed at the Supreme Military Council (SMC) meetings where it would have come up for deliberation.

Infuriated at the seeming un-

derhandedness with which the decision to join OIC was taken, Ukiwe was said to have resigned.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Committee in Oyo State has also condemned the presidential pardon.

In a statement made available to reporters in Ibadan by the vice chairman, Lekan Salawu, the students said the ‘so-called’ pardon had once again demonstrated the inability of the Federal Government to fight corruption.

“At a time when corruption has become a ceremonial jamboree, it is unfortunate that President Jonathan can still go ahead in celebrating corrupt Nigerians. Nigerian students in Oyo State doubt the genuineness of the intention of the Federal Government on this action.”

“President Jonathan should have detribalised himself by not including the former governor in the list of those that will be pardoned if really the pardon is not ethnic and politically-motivated. We want to make it clear to Mr. Jonathan that if all these actions are in the interest of his 2015 election, no doubt this is a failed calculation.”

The students lamented that with the recent development, it would be a matter of time for the likes of the convicted PDP chief, Bode George, as well as erstwhile Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun, alongside others to be pardoned.

The students called on the Federal Government to stop disrespecting Nigerians before the international community and put politics aside in the discharge of its constitutional duties.

Briefing reporters at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh, declared that members of the party’s leadership read the news of the pardon on the pages of the newspapers like other Nigerians.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has not discussed the issue of the pardon. We read as other Nigerians read it. So, we have no comment on it for now,” Metu said.

The party also announced the

commencement of its nationwide reconciliatory tour to all six geo-political zones, which it said, would facilitate party cohesion.

Metuh said that the tour would start tomorrow in the South- West in Ibadan and end March 24 in Abuja.

“The reconciliatory tour is meant to reconcile all interests, groups and contending issues in the party that posed

threat to party’s unity and cohesion,” he said.

He condemned what he called a desperate attempt to blame the PDP for the failure of the All Peoples Congress (APC) to properly organise itself for registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Metuh accused APC of being desperate to wrestle power from the PDP without any concrete plan to provide good governance for Nigerians.

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

POPE FRANCIS I ELECTION

Obama, Ban Ki-moon, others congratulate, task the new pope EW hours after the Fpope announcement of the new yesterday, United Nations (UN) leader, Ban KiMoon, called on Francis I, to build on efforts to improve relations between the world’s different religions just as United States (U.S.) President Barack Obama offered ‘warm wishes’ to the first world Catholic leader from the Americas.

“As a champion of the poor and the most vulnerable among us, he carries forth the message of love and compassion that has inspired the world for more than two thousand years, that in each other we see the face of God. “On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I offer our warm wishes to His Holiness, Pope Francis, as he ascends to the Chair of Saint Peter and begins his papacy,” Obama said in a statement issued by the White House.

Continuing, he added: “His

selection also speaks to the strength and vitality of a region that is increasingly shaping our world, and alongside millions of Hispanic Americans, those of us in the United States share the joy of this historic day.”

“Just as I appreciated our work with Pope Benedict XVI, I look forward to working with His Holiness to advance peace, security and dignity for our fellow human beings, regardless of their faith.”

Argentina’s President Cristina Kirchner and the European Union (EU) also lauded the election of the Pope.

The EU offered its “sincere congratulations” to the newly-elected pope, urging him to promote peace, solidarity and human dignity in a rapidly changing world.

In a statement welcoming the election of the new pontiff, Ban said he was certain that Francis I would “build on

the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, in the promotion of inter-faith dialogue.”

The UN secretary general offered his “heartfelt congratulations” to the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina.

“I look forward to continuing cooperation between the United Nations and the Holy See, under the wise leadership of His Holiness Pope Francis,” he said.

Ban said the United Nations and the Roman Catholic Church shared the “common goals” of promoting peace, social justice and human rights, and the eradication of poverty and hunger.

“We also share the conviction that we can only resolve the interconnected challenges of today’s world through dialogue.

“I am certain that his holiness will continue to build on the legacy of his predecessor,

Pope Benedict XVI, in the promotion of inter-faith dialogue which is at the heart of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative.”

The Alliance of Civilizations is a UN-led effort that aims to ease tensions between the western and Islamic worlds.

Moreso, the Vatican also commended the “courage” of cardinals in electing the first Latin American pope at an historic conclave in the Sistine Chapel.

The cardinals “had the courage of crossing the Ocean and widening the perspective of the Church,” Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told reporters.

However, the EU President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission head, Jose Manuel Barroso, said in a joint statement after the naming of the church’s first Latin American pontiff that “on behalf of the European Union, we convey our sincere con-

Argentina’s Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I (middle) waves from the window of St Peter’s Basilica’s balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church at the Vatican…yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP / VINCENZO PINTO

How cheering crowd awaited new pope’s identity ENS of thousands of people T cheered as they waited in St Peter’s Square yesterday for the identity of the new pope to be revealed after he was elected after two days of voting.

However, before the announcement of the new pope, a panorama of multicoloured umbrellas massed on St Peter’s Square in the morning as hardy pilgrims braved tempestuous conditions to take up their chimneywatch vigil.

Some carried bedraggled national flags and were backing their country’s favourites.

Others clasped rosaries in their hands and prayed quietly for peace and unity in the church.

There were gangs of students, families with prams, guide-book clenching tourists and a lot of nuns.

Many huddled in dripping plastic ponchos – it has been a bumper time for street-hawkers selling plastic sheets and cheap brollies.

Eyes darted between the rust-

And then the white smoke had billowed from a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, signalling that 115 cardinals meeting in a conclave had reached a decision after five ballots, prompting cries of Viva il Papa! (Long Live the Pope) coloured chimney stack on the Sistine Chapel and the big screens dotted around the square.

Lisa Shepard from Virginia and her sister Mary Uhrig are in Rome on a tour arranged late in 2012. Excited to be at the Vatican during historic times, both had firm favourites in the papal election.

“I’m hoping for the Filipino cardinal, Louis Tagle,” said Ms Shepard. “He’s young and great with technology so he’d be good for communicating the Church’s message to the world.”

For her part, Ms Uhrig was backing Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson. “He’s strong and spiritual and would be a great guide for the young,” she said.

Standing by the barricade facing the balcony from which the new Pope will be introduced to the faithful, Adrie Asselin said he didn’t mind who was elected Pope, as long as he opened the Church up to the whole world.

“I want a Pope who understands that women can play a role in the Church, because currently it just sees things through the eyes of men,” said the 73-year-old Canadian.

And then the white smoke had billowed from a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, signalling that 115 cardinals meeting in a conclave had reached a decision after five ballots, prompting cries of Viva il Papa! (Long Live the Pope).

Despite the rain that had fall-

en for much of the afternoon at the Vatican, a surge of anticipation passed through the crowd waiting for the new leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics to emerge onto the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.

“I didn’t think I would cry!

But I guess the adrenaline’s taking over!” said Rebecca Hine, a student from Canada who had waited two days in the rain to see white smoke.

Marching bands moved into position on the square ahead of the first appearance of Benedict XVI’s successor, as children raced to get the best view of the balcony.

“We were having dinner nearby and heard a roar, and raced here to see for ourselves,” said Ruud, 31, from the Netherlands.

Brazil’s Odilo Scherer, Canada’s Marc Ouellet and Italy’s Angelo Scola - all conservatives similar to Benedict in outlook but different in style were the three favourites but papal elections are notoriously difficult to predict.

gratulations on your election.

“We wish you a long and blessed Pontificate, which will allow your Holiness and the Catholic Church to defend and promote the fundamental values of peace, solidarity and human dignity.

“They are essential signposts in a world facing numerous challenges and undergoing deep change.

“We are convinced that your

Holiness will continue to further with determination and strength the work of your predecessors by bringing the world’s people and religions closer together.”

Bergoglio, 76, was named as leader of some 1.2 billion Catholics after five rounds of voting in the Vatican – one more than when predecessor Benedict XVI was elected in 2005.

Pope, Catholics and the Vatican HE newly-elected Pope T Francis I may be leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics but he only has absolute sovereign powers over the Vatican City, the world’s smallest state.

According to a report by Agence France Presse (AFP), the Vatican’s unique status was officially recognised in 1929 after the signing of the Lateran Accords between pope Pius XI and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

The pope reigns over an area of 44 hectares (109 acres), which is entirely surrounded by the city of Rome and is made up of palaces and churches but also a petrol station, a supermarket and a post office.

More than a third of the Vatican consists of immaculately-kept gardens.

Vatican City is a third the size of Monaco, the principality on the northern Mediterranean coast, which is the world’s next smallest state.

Until 1859, the popes ruled a kingdom spanning over 1.8 million hectares of central Italy with a population of more than three million people.

The Vatican’s current population numbers around 600 people, including cardinals, diplomats, gendarmes, Swiss Guards and household staff.

The justice system – made up of three civil courts – is based on Italy’s 19th century laws and capital punishment was only abolished in 1960.

The pontifical state was established to guarantee freedoms and spiritual independence for the Roman Catholic Church, following Italian unification.

The Roman Curia, the central government of the Catholic Church, is composed of the Secretariat of State, nine congregations and 12 pontifical councils.

The Vatican has its own official newspaper, L’Osservatore

Romano, a radio station, a television channel, a museum, a pharmacy, as well as its own private army – the Swiss Guards – a corps of 110 men founded in the 16th century.

Salaries paid to lay employees of the Vatican – in euros – are low but untaxed.

Trade unions are not permitted in the Vatican but healthcare is free for Vatican employees and the state guarantees medical assistance around the clock.

The Vatican’s bank, the Institute for Religious Works, which has been at the centre of several financial scandals, has cash machines in the pontifical state that communicate in Latin – the Vatican’s language for formal documents.

The bank handles the assets of Catholic religious orders and clergy.

Its management is separate from the Holy See but the oversight is conducted by a committee of cardinals — a system that is currently being overhauled as the Vatican tries to comply with international rules against money laundering.

The Vatican state employs around 4,700 religious and lay people and those salaries combined with renovations make up a large part of its expenses.

The Vatican is also one of the biggest property owners in Rome and benefits from rental revenues, as well as regular payments from national churches.

The pope also receives payments known as “Peter’s Pence” — often in the form of cheques or valuable objects — from Catholic faithful around the world.

In 2011, the last year for which figures are available, the Vatican’s budget had a deficit of 14.9 million euros ($20 million), returning into the red due to the effects of the global financial crisis after a surplus in 2010.

Argentina: The new pontiff’s home country RGENTINA, newly-elected A Pope Francis I’s country, is located in South America, bordered by Chile to the west and south, Bolivia and Paraguay to the north and Brazil and Uruguay to the northeast.

Argentina claims sovereignty over part of Antarctica, the Falkland Islands (Spanish: Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The population is 40,764,561 as at 2011.

The country is a federation of 23 provinces and the autonomous city of Buenos Aires, its capital and largest city.

It is the eighth-largest country in the world by land area and the largest among Spanish-speaking nations.

Argentina is a founding member of the United Nations, Mercosur, the Union of South American Nations,

the Organization of IberoAmerican States, the World Bank Group and the World Trade Organisation, and is one of the G-15 and G-20 major economies.

A recognised Southern Cone power, Argentina is Latin America’s third-largest economy, with a “very high” rating on the human development index.

Within Latin America, Argentina has the fifth highest nominal GDP per capita and the highest in purchasing power terms.

The Legatum Institute have argued that the country has a “foundation for future growth due to its market size, levels of foreign direct investment, and percentage of hightech exports as share of total manufactured goods”, and it is classed by investors as middle emerging economy.

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

Politics APC is dead on arrival, says Graham-Douglas Chief Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) and former Minister of Aviation, spoke to Joe Adiorho on the prospect of the emerging All Progressive Congress (APC) and President Jonathan’s bid for a second term in office.

• ‘Nobody should take Jonathan for granted’

OULD you confirm that you are still a member C of PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT)? Why were some members removed?

I am still a member of the PDP Board of Trustees.

I am also a permanent and founding member.

On why some members were removed; the Professor Jerry Gana committee, which consists of a number of important party stalwarts who were founding members, was set up. It went into records and through categorisation, they selected those who were the permanent founders, or original founders, those who came by statutory consideration and those nominated according to the party constitution.

They also looked at various political zones and states and came out with a unanimous acceptable board. So, whoever is complaining may be doing so without knowing the reasons for the actions. It was through a committee that took a periscopic view of the structure, and the tenure — some of them have been there for a quite period.

How do you assess the emergence of Chief Tony Anenih as the BoT chairman and the method of his selection?

Anenih is one of the founding members of the PDP and he is a very experienced political leader.

Over the period, he has worked for the country and the PDP. Even though many people showed interest, the temperature of the greater number of the party members tilted towards him. That is why, instead of creating confusion of going to vote and bringing dissension, the party felt that a lot of them that showed interest should, by consensus, nominate and elect one of them.

So, all the competitors met with the party chairman, the president and other stalwarts of the party and eventually Anenih emerged by consensus, which settled acrimonies and certain political ambitions.

The Court has cleared President Jonathan for a second term. Based on his performance so far, does he merit another term?

That question tends to be offensive. People tend to forget the trend of Jonathan’s emergence. He was the Vice-President to the late Alhaji Umoru Musa Yar’Adua. And in accordance with the Constitution, he completed the tenure of Yar’Adua.

He sought his own mandate, which other Nigerians contested and he, from the SouthSouth, had the opportunity to contest and won the election.

So, you can conveniently say that presently, the presidency is zoned to South-South. And if that is the case, Jonathan being the president, this is his first term. And after the first term, he is entitled to a second term. The PDP constitution allows for a second tenure. I do not see how the performance and the court are factored into this. The truth is that Jonathan has the right to contest for the second term.

You mean he is entitled to a second term whether he performs well or not?

The issue of performance is very subjective in the sense that he is a very humble, unassuming, peaceful technocrat. Nigerians have the bane and it is impatience. We are very impatient.

Everybody wants everything very quick. But state governance needs patience.

Over the last 16 years, many presidents had come and gone. They all sowed seeds. Some sowed on the rocky ground, some sowed on the sandy ground and he is now sowing a transformation seed on a fertile ground.

Let us take one aspect that he has been emphasising, which is power. Without power, you cannot have industrial revolution, job creation, and move any aspect of the system. If today, for the first time in the history of the country, you can see the power sector being given such a high magnitude of attention and we are now having a bit of stability and breakthrough and people are beginning to go and invest in the industrial areas, he should be commended.

So, if you are talking in terms of performance and you are judging him based on power alone, you will see a spillover to other areas.

Graham-Douglas On the issue of economy, experts are running the economy and from indices and the publication that have been made on the cost of living and inflation factors, you can see that there is a growth in the economy. We are now running the type of universal system as it is done in the developed nations and mark you that there is now a yardstick of where we want to reach in 2020.

Therefore, when people talk about performance and non-performance, it is very subjective; and for me, the young man is doing his utmost best.

But many people say he has squandered the people’s goodwill through his actions and inactions…

Again, this is subjective. A man may be an extremist — and in this country, those who were rulers and took extreme positions; you remember what happened to them?

He (Jonathan) might be an introvert, taking his time without blowing his trumpet and waiting for the fruition of the seeds that he has sown.

Yes, I agree with you that there is some plummeting of his popularity from the time of his election to the present time and you can ascribe it to a number of factors. A hungry man is an angry man; there is a lot of unemployment in the land, and the cost of living is not in consonance with the aspiration of the people.

In those days when the young ones complete their education, they would want to help their parents, but today, the jobs are not there to enable them accomplish that.

Also generally, with the conspiracy and manipulation of politics and opposition wanting to unseat him, they propagate all manner of stuff to try to demean his efforts and perception.

Do you know the man, Goodluck Jonathan, personally and can you vouch for him as a performer?

I know Jonathan very well because I was one of the architects in 1999 in producing the governors of Rivers and Bayelsa States. I know him to be a technocrat and given the time, he may be a bit on the slow side, but going by the rules and regulation and precepts of governance, I think he is on the path to succeeding. He will succeed.

Only one year of handling a country like

Nigeria, you cannot really, with all certainty, evaluate a man’s ability and performance. This is one year for a race of four years, with three years to go. To erect a building or an edifice, you must have a foundation. It is only when the foundation is very strong that you then bring in the block.

The fact is that I can vouch that he is definitely going to succeed. Things at this time may look as if he is slow or that things are not happening, but one thing I want to warn or advise people on is that nobody should take Jonathan for granted. You might think that he is slow or weak, but do not take him for granted.

Where Jonathan came, the people there have these characteristics of being humble and nice, but at the same time, they could be resolute and determined. Now he is on the soft side people are talking; if he changes tomorrow and exerts his right — the president has a lot of powers — the same people that are today talking will start to complain.

They are already complaining that Jonathan is baring his fangs and assuming the mien of a dictator…

No, he is not a dictator and he cannot be a dictator. He has a very noble and humble background and I know the people of the place that he came from; they are cautious people, peaceful, humble but they are unpredictable.

How do you perceive the quarrel between Jonathan and Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State?

I can describe myself as the elder statesman from the two states and I know the two persons very well. I can also say that in 1999, I was instrumental, one way or the other, to their emergence in their positions: Amaechi as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and Jonathan, Deputy Governor to Diepreye Alamieyeseigha in Bayelsa.

I think it is wrong to assume that there is quarrel between them. There is no quarrel whatsoever. If for anything — and I still say it, without contradiction, that there are political conspiracy, intrigues and manipulations of those who are not sympathetic to the prevailing situation, heating up the relationship.

The election that we held was in 2011, right?

Amaechi was, perhaps, one of the most devoted loyalists to Jonathan. His state got 98 per cent of the votes cast for the presidential election and nobody, including the PDP, spent any money in Rivers State. To me, that was his loyalty.

Now, if he becomes the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and he is dancing to the tune of the music played by everybody and maybe trying to exert and exhibit himself as a strong chairman and create the atmosphere of confrontation or a seeming parallel line with the Federal Government and some embarrassment comes out of it, it does not in any way indicate that Amaechi is quarrelling with Jonathan.

Jonathan is seen as a father to the nation, the Pater familias of the entire nation and I do not think that he is going to quarrel with any governor, not to say Amaechi. Those of us that are in the Jonathan camp will not allow him. I will be one of the first to fight Amaechi if I realise or ever doubt his loyalty to and support for Jonathan.

Isn’t the election of the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum (PDP-GF) a ploy to whittle down Amaechi’s powers and checkmate his perceived unbecoming conduct?

Your semantics, I do not accept. Yes, the Governors Forum was taking a dimension that was unbecoming and to the general public, it was presented as it was an opposition to the Federal Government and yet, PDP has the highest number of governors in the Forum.

The opposition has its own forum and holds its own meeting; why can’t PDP also have its own forum to be able to meet before the general meeting of the NGF? Immediately he was elected, the PDP Governors Forum’s chairman, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, said there were saboteurs and blacklegs in the party, who would be cleared out. Was that warning warranted?

Well, this could be from his perceptions and accessibility to information and security reports as governor. I wouldn’t know; I am never a governor, I am only an elder statesman.

But let me tell you, as a member of the Board of Trustees, as a founder and an active member that interact with all concerned, that the PDP is a family that was generated as a mass movement with abiding brotherly love and whatever problems they ever have, they have a way of resolving them.

What do you make of the discordant voices in the party threatening to move to the developing All Progressive Congress (APC)? Is PDP at the verge of going under?

The APC is died on arrival. In this embryonic stage, you can see people with enthusiasm and zeal coming together, but when it gets to the test of time, when you are getting nearer to elections, setting up national councils and committees, and making nominations, are they going to exhibit the same maturity and accommodation?

Who is going to be their presidential candidate and who are going to occupy various party and elective positions and offices? They have not gone through the test of time. So, I believe that what separates them is greater than what unites them. I believe strongly that it is only a camouflage.

How would label the presence of Boko Haram members that have been killing, maiming and destroying properties in the northern parts of the country?

People have not bothered to look very closely.

How did members of Ijaw group act? We had reasons of marginalisation and deprivation and we were not treated like Nigerians and our younger youths lost confidence in their elite and took up arms against the Nigerian nation. They established that you could not produce 98 percent of the wealth of a nation and people were begrudging.

By the time those boys took the action, the oil production dropped from nearly 2.3mbpd to barely 700,000bpd. The country lost nearly $80 billion, and thank God that we had a man like the late President Musa Yar’Adua, who intervened and brought the Amnesty Programme and today, there is peace and quiet and some attention there (Niger Delta). And out of it all, we had Jonathan coming out.

Now, Boko Haram have not told Nigerians their aims and objectives and why they are fighting, but generally, you can say maybe they are frustrated against their leaders and that is an internal matter to solve.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

TheMetroSection ‘We don’t have teaching aids and materials’ Rivers school for the physically -challenged pupils cry for help

Briefs Firm holds exhibition VATAR Media and TechnolA ogy will hold its Easter exhibition tagged: “Ijebu Market fair and entertainment” from Wednesday, 27 to Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at the main car park of the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos.

The exhibition would attract different products from manufacturers and entrepreneurs within the country to showcase their products.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Segun Ogunlana said “the fair is a quarterly shopping and recreation platform for entrepreneurs to leverage for cost-effective promotion while customers get great value for each product they buy.”

Church begins convention Some of the students

The entrance to the school

From Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt

We do not have special education teachers. We do not have teaching materials. You know this is a special school, so we cannot teach without teaching aids or materials HE insecure and deplorable premises of the School for the Special Needs in Rivers State attract deep sympathy.

The school, which was established in 1986, comprises three categories of handicapped students including the deaf, blind and mentally retarded.

Located in Borokiri, along Creek Road in Port Harcourt Local Council, it was expected that the school would have received priority attention from the state government considering the fact that it is the only special school in the state.

Moreso, knowing that construction and renovation of schools remain one of the giant strides of Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s administration, nothing less than a modern equipped structure was expected for these special students.

But a visit to the school premises showed a dilapidated environment.

Some of the roofs had collapsed thereby causing leakages in the classrooms, large potholes with flood were also sighted and that perhaps, poses serious challenge for the blind students.

Investigations also revealed that there were no teaching aids for the students, books and seats among others.

Some residents told The Guardian that

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they were disappointed at the deplorable state of the school, arguing that the school was supposed to receive firstclass treatment from the government due to its relevance to the society.

The Vice Principal Academics of the school, Mr. Eli Onisokein, in an interview with The Guardian, expressed sadness over the situation stressing that the school, being the only special needs school in the state, requires quality attention.

His words: “We expected that since it is the only school in the state, government is supposed to pay priority attention to the school. Here we have three categories of handicapped students. We have the deaf, the blind and the mentally retarded. In all, we have a small hostel for the deaf with only 24 occupants: a lot of parents do bring their children but because of lack of infrastructure, we could not take them.”

“Our hands are tied in terms of accommodation, teaching aids and seats; the good chairs you saw here were brought by the parents and some individuals.

When they came, there were no seat, so they went and bought some seat, another parent came and saw it and felt it was good and went and bought more,” he added.

Apart from non-availability of teaching aids, the school also lacked special education teachers.

The Vice Principal added: “We do not have special education teachers, we do not have teaching materials. You know this is a special needs school, so we cannot teach without teaching aids or teaching materials.“ Onisokein also expressed worry over the failed state of the school premises. While

pointing out that the blind students need a smooth surface to walk on, he regretted that the compound was filled with potholes, making learning difficult for the students.

He also stressed the need to encourage the teachers, noting that other states pay the special needs teachers what is called a “special education allowance” regretting that there was nothing like that in Rivers.

He said there was urgent need to renovate the school and provide teaching aids, special books and tools used in the blind department for the students. “ In the Blind Department, we need a guide skill, it enables the student to navigate through the environment but we do not have it, so they manage to use their hands but we hope something urgent would be done before the rain comes because, when it rains, everywhere is flooded.”

The Vice Principal, however, commended the Keeping It Real Foundationa Non Governmental organization, which he noted, has rendered immense help to the school through the provision of teaching aids, seats and vocational training.

He added that some persons from the State Ministry of Education visited the school penultimate week with an assurance to commence work on the premises, hoping it would not be only promises as usual.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the foundation, Bitebo Gogo, said she was appalled by the state of the school when she visited the school last year.

She said:“ We noticed that the roofing was dilapidated and was leaking and whenever it rains, the whole place is flooded and we realized that the children

do not have teaching aids, books and most of them looked very discouraged and after speaking with the Principal, we were surprised that since the State Government was going around renovating the schools across the state, this one has been left in a deplorable condition.”

“So, one of the first things we did was to engage with government and government told us it had been here three years ago and planned to work on the school but due to some logistics reasons, it could not do that. It also told us that they were going to move them to the greater Port Harcourt City area.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Education had promised to commence renovation work very soon.”

“I often tell people that these children may have disabilities but their brains are not impaired. So that those who cannot further their education would not become liability to their parents, we started vocational training with them, it is disheartening that we have 19 million people living with disability in Nigeria and 60 per cent of that population are young people,” Gogo said.

When contacted, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Education, Mr. Richard Ofuru said plans were underway to renovate the school premises.

His words: “The government has planned to build a brand new school for the special needs students. What caused the delay was an earlier plan to pull down the existing structure but later the idea was re-considered because the design for the new structure was bigger than the site, the design for the new structure is ready and work will commence soon in the Greater Port Harcourt area.”

OR allegedly wandering around Lagos State University, Akoka, 26-year-old man, Durojaye Adeleke, was docked before Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ikeja

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Adeleke and others now at large, were arraigned before Magistrate Oshodi Makanju on one-count charge of wandering. He pleaded not guilty.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Samson Ekikere in-

formed the court that they committed the offence on February 28, 2013, around 8.00p.m.

According to him, Adeleke was found wandering in the premises of UNILAG Campus, Akoka in such a

manner that lead to conclusion that he was there for an illegal and dishonesty purpose.

Ekikere said “the offence is punishable under section 166 (1) (h) (2) of the Crimi-

nal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.”

Makanju, therefore, granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the matter till May 4, 2013.

Church condemns NYSC for decamping corps member

By Gbenga Akinfenwa IQUED by the flagrant injustice meted by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to a corps member, Ekundayo Tolulope Damilola, deployed to Ogun State for the on-going orientation exercise, who was last week decamped, the Faith Revival Apostolic Church (FRAC) has condemned the action of NYSC. The church described the action as an infringement on her fundamental human right.

At a press conference held at the church’s headquarters in Lagos on Tuesday, its President, Apostle Paul Taiwo Adenuga, said the corps member was sent out of the Sagamu orientation camp at about 11.00p.m. in a brigand manner on Friday, March 8, 2013, due to her refusal to put on trousers because of her belief and faith.

He lamented that the manner through which the NYSC decamped the girl in the dead of the night with-

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hold its yearly convention at the convention ground, I, Tejuoso Street, Surulere, Lagos at 4.00p.m. on Friday, 9.00a.m. on Saturday and 8.00a.m. on Sunday.

The theme is “ Ask and it shall be given unto you”

Missing person RS. Blessing Peter of No. 7, M Holy Mary Street, Iyana Iyasi, Ota, Ogun State, has been reported missing. A report made to the Police by her husband, Mr. Eneche Peter said “the 34-year-old is fair in complexion. She can speak English, Yoruba and Hausa Languages fluently and was last seen on March 4, 2013. ” “She left the Crownfit Hospital for her house to prepare food for her sick child, since then, she has not been in found,” the statement read.

Any information on her whereabouts should be given to the nearest police station.

Peter

Man, 26, arraigned for wandering

By Yetunde Ayobami-Ojo

HE Apostolic Church, SuT rulere Area will from Friday, March 15 to Sunday, March 17,

out considering her safety was an act of gross irresponsibility on the part of the handlers.

“When does the expulsion at midnight constitute a disciplinary measure of the camp? It is surprising to see the people that we committed the lives of our children into during this laudable programme are not responsible and are heartless,” he stated.

The cleric stressed that the Nigerian state as a nation professes the secularity of the nation in the constitution but the running of the Nigerian state had been coloured with religious bias and sentiments of its people.

“It is necessary to ask whether Miss Tolu Ekundayo is the only Christian in NYSC camp, or has no other Christian passed through the scheme since inception?

She is not the only Christian in camp neither is she the first Christian to pass through the scheme. Some are intimidated into the culture of silence…” he said.

He appealed to Nigerians not to only jointly condemn what he described as ‘barbaric and bestial’ act but to engage in constructive dialogue with the concerned authority for the change of such policy.

The victim, who narrated her ordeal said before she was sent out of the camp that her meal ticket, transport allowance and all her kits were taken from her, saying it was only through the grace of God that she was able to get to Lagos around 1.00a.m.

When the Head of Press and Public Relations Unit of Ogun NYSC, Mrs. Tarkighir Diana, was contacted on phone, she revealed that the corps member wrote a letter to voluntarily leave the camp because she was not allowed to put on skirts.

Diana, who denied that the victim brought skirts to camp, said though there was no law in NYSC constitution on trousers, the NYSC does not have provision for skirts for corps members.

Ogunmola, 33, is missing OLASHADE Ogunmola, 33, of FAkowonjo, No. 18, Anuoluwapo Street, Lagos has been reported missing.

Extract from the Police report said “she is fair in complexion, can speak Yoruba and English fluently, and was 5.2 ft tall.”

She was said to have left home on Friday, March 1, for the Redeemed Camp, at Mowe, Ogun State and has since not returned. Any information on her whereabouts, please call Opeyemi on 08038477508 or Kayode on 07034698583.

Ogunmola

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

Foundation laments plight of women

By Isaac Taiwo EDERAL, state and local governments and their agencies in Nigeria have been urged to take more seriously issues concerning women in view of the strategic role they play in nationbuilding.

Speaking during activities marking United Nations International Women’s Day in Abuja, Founder/President Asabe Shehu Yar’ Adua Foundation, Ambassador Asabe Shehu Yar ‘Ádua lamented the fate of women in the country. She said there are homes where women had become sole breadwinners, some by virtue of premature broken marriages, others as a result of the poor financial ability and capacity of their husbands.

“But the most disturbing trend is the rising cases of distressed women owing to violent crimes in the country. Women and children are usually the main casualties. The underlining factor in all these situations is the fact that a lot of Nigerian women are now subjected to all

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forms of indignity and abuse. Many now engage in menial jobs to survive and cater for their children. A lot of women depend on debasing their womanhood in order to remain alive.

“Many others still serve as house maids even at homes, where they are treated like rags and slaves in their own country, especially by a few privileged expatriates.”

She said records indicating high rate of pregnancy among Nigerian women further showed the important role, challenges women face in the country .

Continuing, Asabe Yar’Adua said: “More importantly, the figures amply justify the strategic place of Nigerian women in nation-building”, she said adding however that “the government and its ministries, departments and agencies, as well as the corporate bodies need to pay greater attention to the plight of women.

“They must come up with more realistic way of empowering the women so that the nation could fully and truly benefit from their immense potentialities.”

Council proposes N3b for Lagos Island

By Tope Templer Olaiya HE Chairman of Lagos Island Local Council, Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni, yesterday presented the 2013 budget of N3, 040,900, which he promised would give adequate attention and priorities to projects and programmes in areas that would bear direct positive and sustainable impact in the lives of Lagos Island people, such as roads and related infrastructure, health and education.

At an event held at the Banquet Hall of Bola Ahmed Tin-

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Photonews

ubu Multi-Purpose Centre, Lagos Island, Eshilokun, who tagged this year’s budget “Path to Enduring Legacy,” sought the cooperation of residents and corporate organizations in fulfilling their civic responsibility through prompt payment of taxes.

According to him, the laudable projects contained in the budget could only be achieved when the local council generates the required revenue within the fiscal year.

A breakdown of the figure showed that recurrent expen-

diture stood at N1,930,674,811.47 billion and expected capital of N1,110 billion, while the fiscal year’s budget is expected to end in a budget surplus of N225,188,335 million. The budget will be financed from: Internally Generated Revenue of N419,450 million, Statutory Allocation from Federation Account N1,146,450 billion, Statutory Allocation from State Account N200 million, Value Added Tax N1 billion, and Special Allocation of N275 million.

Programme Co-ordinator, Jibe Ologeh, the husband, Duncan Ologeh, Guest Speaker, Professor Grace AleleWilliams and The Managing Director, Our Daily Manna at Mother’s Day Fiesta organized by R-Wells Media at The National Theatre, Iganmu-Lagos ...on Sunday PHOTO: ISAAC TAIWO

Ejigbo introduces emergency toll-free service for residents FFORTS by Ejigbo Local Council DevelopE ment Area in Lagos State to improve its primary healthcare services received a boost last week, when the Council Chairman, Kehinde Bamigbetan, launched an initiative called Tele-medicine, that would allow residents having emergency health problems call certain toll-free lines from their homes, in anticipation of getting quick medical assistance from the council’s doctors and nurses.

During the launch in Ailegun Primary Health Centre, where a sizeable number of residents were in attendance, the chairman

explained that the idea first crossed his mind after a particular sad incident occurred last year, where a woman lost her four-day-old baby, who was diagnosed with jaundice, simply because nobody took cognizance of the fact that there was an ambulance available that could be used to convey the child to the nearest general hospital for further treatment.

He used the occasion to appeal to the nurses and other health service providers to be friendly and courteous with residents when residents call the lines.

Principal Queen’s College Yaba Lagos, Mrs E. Martha Osime [right] Ambassador Emmanuel Ihegaranya and Dr John Nwaiwu during the Guard of honour at the 51st Annual Inter-House Athletic Competition of Queen’s College in Lagos…at the weekend.

PHOTO: PAUL OLOKO

Reddington Hospital wins quality award LEADING medical centre, A Reddington Hospital, has been accredited by the Council for Hospital Services Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA) The hospital, by this achievement, becomes the first independent medical facility in Nigeria to be so accredited by COHSASA For accreditation purposes,

COHSASA using a team of seasoned international experts evaluated Reddington Hospital against about 1,440 criteria, which included clinical governance, primary and specialty care, radiology, laboratory, pharmacy, food handling, health/ safety, infection control and many others.

Presenting the award at a

ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa, the Chief Executive Officer of COHSASA, Prof.

Stuart Whitaker, said the hospital achieved overall score of 96 out of 100.

The Chief Executive Officer of Reddington Hospital, Dr. Adeyemi Onabowale said: “It has been a rewarding and exciting experience for all of us at Reddington Hospital.

Bauchi bans commercial, private motorcyclists From Ali Garba, Bauchi HE Bauchi State government has banned private and commercial motorcycles from carrying passengers from 6:00p.m. to 6:00a.m.

According to a press release signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Mr. Ishola Adeyemi Michael and made available to The Guardian, he said that there had been a lot of calls from concerned citizens of the state for the out-

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right ban of the use of motorcycles, especially in Bauchi metropolis.

He said, instead of banning it completely and end the means of their livelihood, government decided to place some restriction on the use of the motorcycles.

Ishola explained that, “it is a matter of great concern that in spite of numerous security measures put in place by the present administration to-

wards check-mating criminality and maintenance of law and order in the state, we are regrettably experiencing some intermittent incidences of criminal activities especially in Bauchi metropolis.”

He said reports reaching them indicated that most of the criminal activities that occurred in Bauchi metropolis and parts of the state, were committed by persons riding on motorcycles.

Vice president, Operations, Unilever Nigeria Plc., Mr Anil Gopalan (left), star winner of a Picanto car, Ikemefuna Isioma and Marketing Director, Unilever Nig Plc, David Okeme during the presentation of the keys the winner PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU inthe Lipton Switch on and win promo in Lagos ..at the weekend

Bishop Mike Okonkwo (left); Pastor Tunde Bakare; General overseer of Glory Christian Ministries, Dr. Iruofagha James and Bishop John Osa-Oni at the formal dedication of Glory Christian Ministries in Lagos ...

PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Sales Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Hubert Eze (left); Managing Director, Nicolaas Vervelde; National Champion of the Distributors Award, Chief Executive Officer, Magulf Global Enterprise, Mary Agbonifo, her husband, Godpower Agbonifo and Nigeria artiste, Tuface Idibia at the presentation of the awards in Lagos PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

14 | THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

TheGuardian 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 Saving NITEL or what is left of it HE abandonment of the privatisation process of the Nigerian T Telecommunications (NITEL) by the Federal Government while its assets worth billions are rotting away in different parts of the country is to say the least, scandalous, even criminal. The Federal Government should do the right thing, save what is left of NITEL by reactivating the exchanges or put them up properly for sale without further delay.

Reports indicate that 80 per cent of various NITEL offices and facilities have been overgrown by weeds. In Lagos and its environs, for example, some of the abandoned offices have reportedly been turned into warehouses or abode for miscreants. The story is the same for NITEL offices in Ondo, Ogun, Imo, Abuja, Kano, Katsina, Bauchi and indeed, all over the country. The prestigious 34-storey NECOM House building on Marina in Lagos, though reportedly sold in a questionable manner is disintegrating rapidly. This state of affairs makes Nigeria a laughing stock.

As it is, the extent of depreciation of NITEL can’t easily be quantified. Could it be that the abandonment is deliberate so as to dispose of the assets at ridiculous prices to vested interests?

NITEL’s privatisation began in 2001, when the strategic equity stake was sold to International Investors London (IIL) consortium for $1.3 billion. The bid was later cancelled after IIL failed to pay the balance of the fee, with the consortium forfeiting its $131 million deposit.

In 2003, the Federal Government appointed Pentascope, the telecoms consulting arm of Netherlands-based operator, KPN, as part of a management contract with a view to eventually selling NITEL to KPN. Again, this effort failed with the contract terminated within a year, amid allegations of mismanagement and incompetence, while government on its part cited failure to meet performance and roll-out targets.

Thereafter, the privatisation of NITEL went through a number of additional bidding processes in 2007 and 2009, with such players as China Unicom assessing the possibility of purchasing the operator. In 2008, the Nigerian conglomerate, Transcorp, purportedly bought NITEL/MTel for $750 million.

Unfortunately, none of these worked. The proposal to liquidate NITEL in 2012 was reportedly hampered by among other things, N500 billion in various litigations, unpaid workers’ salaries and arrears, depleted assets and other “social challenges”. Besides, infighting and intrigues have also contributed in stalling the progress towards total privatisation of the company. Today, NITEL is moribund with its assets depreciating at alarming rate.

It is regrettable that this is the lot of NITEL at a time when foreign companies are making huge profit in telecom services in Nigeria.

Last year alone, Nigerians reportedly paid a whopping N2.4 billion on phone charges. After about 10 years of mobile telecom operation, conservatively, Nigerians would have paid no less than N15 billion at an average of N1.5 billion a year. A large chunk of this money would have accrued to the economy if NITEL were alive.

The company had started mobile phone services with its subsidiary Mobile Telecommunications (MTel) on the 0804 platform, which was receiving good patronage. Everything blacked out as the company went down in the thicket of intrigues and corruption.

The Federal Government should be bold to summon core Nigerian investors with a view to re-activating NITEL. NITEL has the potential to compete with any foreign company.

The facilities are there and Nigerians need a national carrier. A revived NITEL will provide employment for thousands.

Government could even float NITEL as a quoted company for people to invest in. Nigerians need a landline provider as no country depends solely on mobile telephony.

NITEL can leverage on NigCom-3 satellite for effective coverage.

There is a lot of money to be made. Foreign companies are capitalising on Nigeria’s huge market and the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) owes Nigeria the duty of getting NITEL into safe hands and profitability.

LETTERS

Presidential pardon is official jailbreak IR: I have just learnt from very with him he will have us, ing but common crooks who Ssources credible and knowledgeable Nigerians whose resources deserve to be in jail. In my view, it that the Council of State has been requested by the President to grant pardon to some convicts, including Mr. Diepreye Alamieseigha, the former governor of Bayelsa State who was convicted for acts of corruption perpetrated while in office. One cannot put such unthinkable gambit beyond this government or our elite, knowing their lack of interest in waging any war against corruption, serious or otherwise. So it is better to act before the rumour becomes reality and we start licking our wounds as a people.

If the plan is indeed afoot, one can only advise the Council of State not to dare. If it dares, Nigerians will have no choice but declare their own war against the government and the state in general. Presidential pardon to those who were convicted, not of political offences but for dipping their dirty fingers in the common till, and pauperising hardworking Nigerians in the process is nothing but jail break by the state. It will signal the end of the existing phony war against corruption. Unless the government wants to be remembered as the one that officially institutionalised corruption, then the most honourable thing for it to do is to withdraw the provocative and shameless proposal before the Council of State.

I can assure the President that if he succeeds in getting the Council of State to go along

the convicts looted and personalised, to contend with.

The government and its members will certainly live to regret the irresponsible decision. That is a promise.

Civil society groups will do all in their power to show the whole world that those who claim to govern us are noth-

is better to fling open the gates of all our prisons and ask all the inmates to walk out into the warm embrace of their relatives than pardon those who force otherwise decent Nigerians to take to crime as a way of life. A word is enough for the wise.

• Bamidele Aturu, Lagos.

Meeting Pope Benedict XVI IR: Ever since I heard about extreme hot weather of those Sresign the Pope’s decision to days and the impetuous energy from the Chair of St. Peter, I’ve had one desire, which has been foremost in my mind. That desire has been to write a few lines for the man who has had a lot of influence in my life even in the absence of any physical contact.

I remember I was able to follow closely on EWTN the days of the last World Youth Day in Madrid. It was really touching to see all those youth from different parts of the world united with one aim, that is, to spend the days with the Holy Father. Looking at him during those days, it was very easy to notice his warm and fatherly affection for the youth all over the world, both those in Madrid and the ones that couldn’t make it there. I saw a man well on in years but who was full of the desire of giving himself more each time to the work that God has entrusted to him. Regardless of the physical tiredness due to age, the

and noise of all the youth gathered around him, he never showed any sign of discomfort or impatience. He is really a true father.

The Holy Father, Benedict XVI is a man who exudes an aura of peace, serenity and holiness. His writings reveal a rare combination of an intellectual genius harmonized with a deep humility and gentleness. He is a model for all the intellectuals of our time.

My wish has been to have the privilege of placing my lips on the ring of Pope Benedict XVI. Although this may never be possible again, I am firmly convinced that whatever decisions he has taken is entirely for the best and with that I will continue to pray for him wherever he goes and also for the future Pope.

Thank you Holy Father and May God bless you!

• Joanann Ilozumba, Lagos.

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Business Appointments P27 At training forum, govt pledges to tackle security challenges Minister tasks cashew producers on value-addition he Minister of Trade and T Investment, Olusegun Aganga, has tasked stakeholders in the cashew industry to increase efforts towards processing and value addition of cashew products in order to aid job and wealth creation in the country.

According to him, for Nigeria to be one of the super powers in cashew Industry, efforts must be geared towards the processing of the products.

Speaking at the flag-off of the yearly national cashew season organized by the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) in Lokoja, Kogi state, recently, Aganga commended the stakeholders on the efforts made at promoting the product, while urging them to develop the export potential of the product.

He said: “Stakeholders in the cashew sub-sector have embraced the new order in the cashew business. As you are aware, cashew has nonetheless, assumed a very prominent position in the country’s commodities export and this is because of the diligent efforts the association has put in, as well as the remarkable potentials of this very important agricultural commodity. It is my sincere hope and believe that the cashew season would offer stakeholders in the industry the opportunities to make cashew export in the country as competitive as other agricultural commodities such as cocoa.

Governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada, noted that the state considers agriculture as a business rather than a mere developmental programme, therefore employing a combination of agricultural technologies, policies and institutional arrangements that would lead to better access to raw materials for Agro based industries.

National President of the association, Tola Faseru, said: “The nation’s annual production for just the raw cashew nuts is put at 120,000 metric tonnes valued at N23 billion or $153 million. However, based on the support from the Federal Government in the activities of NCAN in line with the national agricultural transformation Agenda, we expect to increase our volume from 120,000 tonnes to 240,000 tonnes within the next six years.

“The cashew Industry in Nigeria provides livelihood for over 300,000 families and has created over 600,000 jobs.

Nigeria is home to 15 cashew processing factories with combined production capacity not enough to meet even the local demand. With a population of over 160 million people, the market for edible cashew kernel is very huge and this makes the case for serious move to grow cashew business in the country.”

Publicity Secretary, Cocoa Processors Association of Nigeria, Simon Conway-Jarrett (left); Chairman, Dimeji Owofemi; and Executive Secretary, Felix Oladunjoye, during a press briefing on cocoa processing in the country, held in Lagos, on Tuesday.

IEA projects lower crude oil export from Nigeria in March

By Roseline Okere Energy IoilNTERNATIONAL Agency (IEA) expects crude export from Nigeria to fall this month, due to rising cases of theft on pipeline network across the country.

IEA, in its March monthly report released yesterday, said that the resurgence in oil theft and illegal bunkering along pipelines and increased sectarian violence continued to destabilise the country’s crude oil export.

According to IEA, in January, production was down to two million barrel per day

• OPEC realises $112.75bn from petroleum blends in February Force majeure on Qua Iboe crude exports was lifted in December, but ExxonMobil said in early February that cargoes would be delayed due to ongoing pipeline repairs. Nigeria has increased the operations of its security forces but militant and terrorist activities remained a major problem for operators. (mbpd), partly due to lingering technical problems following the shut-in of major crude streams in recent months.

“Force majeure on Qua Iboe

crude exports was lifted in December, but ExxonMobil said in early February that cargoes would be delayed due to ongoing pipeline repairs.

Nigeria has increased the

operations of its security forces but militant and terrorist activities remained a major problem for operators.

“Total moved its staff from Nigeria’s capital, Abuja following the kidnapping of a French national in December, which was the first time staff were repatriated from the country”, the report stated.

Meanwhile, the reference basket of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reached $112.75 billion in the month of

February, representing a gain of $3.47 over the previous month. As at March 11, the reference basket stood at $106.96 billion.

OPEC, which made this disclosure yesterday in its March monthly report, put the January reference basket at $109.28 billion.

OPEC reference basket is a weighted average of prices for petroleum blends produced

by OPEC countries.

OPEC reference basket is currently made up of Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

CBN admits rising technological risks in banks

By Chijioke Nelson HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has admitted technological risks in banks, due to the increasing level of electronic transactions.

Meanwhile, the apex bank has concluded plans to ensure that the nation’s lenders are Basel II compliant in 2014, with Basel III closely following it.

The Director of Banking Supervision, CBN and President of Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), Lagos Chapter, Mrs. Agnes Olatokunbo Martins, made the declarations at the first yearly conference on Audit and Regulatory Examination of Banking Technologies, in Lagos, on Tuesday.

She said that given the latest incident of hacking in banks in United States and Russia, there was need for banks to be encouraged to attend confer-

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• To make banks Basel II, III compliant next year ences of this nature, where technological risks that are emerging or on the horizon are exposed.

Martins lamented that despite the urgency and magnitude of the issues associated with banking, only three banks were able to make a representation at the opening of the conference.

“I totally agree that there is high risks of hacking in the finance world today and that is why we are encouraging conferences of this nature.

Banks should not miss opportunities like these, because it is at this forum that they can actually know about the risks that are emerging or on the horizon.

“We cannot sit down and feel that we are protected in our tiny space, because we might just discover that at one push of the button, everything may

have gone.

“The industry is just beginning to attach the importance required on banking technologies and the good things they can do, as well as the bad and unintended outcome from them too. The awareness has started, but we still have much further to go.

“As you know, the banks use various technologies and they are not stagnant as they keep changing in variant versions. One of the challenges we have had was keeping the banks’ examiners up to speed and that is what we are working on. CBN is keeping itself in tune with the technological challenges through its IT department and recruiting specialists for the industry,” she said.

On the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification as a precondition to

become bank examiner just as in United States, she said that it is not something that can be done in the immediate future, because the industry

is evolving and U.S. did not get there in one day.

“We have released a new regulatory framework to the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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16 BUSINESS

‘Govt to raise Nigerians’ participation in upstream oil industry’

By Taiwo Hassan HE Federal Government has unfolded plans to promote indigenous players in the country’s oil and gas sector, with specific focus on upstream operations.

Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Ernest Nwapa, who made this known at the Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce Breakfast meeting in Lagos on Tuesday, said that the board was ready to assist any local manufacturer or player operating in the sector to float a manufacturing company that would develop human capital development, especially creation of job opportu-

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nities for Nigerians.

According to him, the law allows the board to collect one per cent in upstream oil and gas project.

He noted that since the passage of the local content bill in 2010, the fees collected by the board has hit $150 million and the fund was set aside to ensure that indigenous players get oil and gas jobs in the country.

Nwapa lamented that indigenous oil companies’ involvement in the sector was not up to 10 per cent in term of assets, adding that it was time for Nigerians to move into manufacturing sector in the petroleum industry, especially in the production of pipes, machines, steels and

other fabrication equipments, if the country wants to boost her capacity base in the sector.

He however said that current performance index from the NCDMB indicated that about 90 per cent of jobs are being given to Nigerians in engineering, 50 per cent in fabrication, and about seven per cent in manufacturing sector.

“Nigeria has a robust foot print. We are focusing too much on importation and that is why it is not impacting on our GDP positively. We cannot claim to be a great oil and gas nation and we lack zero capacity in manufacturing and infrastructure.

“So it is time we start looking inward on how to start manu-

facturing oil and gas equipments in-country and also making sure that our graduates who are engineering specialists stop looking for jobs in Ministries, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service, if we are keen at developing the economy. So it is better they get jobs within the oil and gas sector and develop the human capacity aspect of this sector,” Nwapa added.

He however said that the NCDMB has increased job offerings to Nigerians in the oil and gas sector through its robust policy thrust, adding that about $6 billion of oil and gas jobs were being done incountry in terms of fabrications, engineering and other related services.

Business Solution Manager, Data Security Resourcery, Adewale Oniyide (left); the Public Relations Specialist Resourcery, Onome Okwah and the Territory Business Manager, CISCO Nigeria, Jideofor Onwuemelu, during the company’s pre-event media briefing in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: GABRIEL IKHAHON

CBN to make banks Basel II, III compliant next year CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 industry on our migration to the Basel II and III. By 2014, according to our timetable, the banking industry should be Basel II compliant.

“The Basel II is about improved capital base, better capital buffers to protect the banks against losses, which would make them more resilient.

Earlier, the Chairman, Audit Committee Institute of Nigeria, Christian Ekeigwe, noted that the country has gotten some things right with regards to importation of IT audit manpower.

He noted also that Nigeria is not the worst in cybercrime statistics, while there is a rise in professionalism in the number of heads of audit and examination related functions, who are members of

ISACA and CISA certified.

“Despite the march of progress, the inevitable increase in the adoption of technologies in banking creates legitimate audit and regulatory concerns about how these technologies amplify banking operations risks and impact on the safety and soundness of banks.

“Both internal audit functions in banks and examination officers in regulatory agencies want to determine whether audits and examinations provide reasonable assurance that IT risks are being addressed by appropriate risk management programmes, actions and reviews, in a manner that

ensures safety and soundness of operations.

“That is why the conference will focus on the key issues of banking technology risks, how auditors must face them with assurance and the proposition that technology risks to the distress in the industry,” Ekeigwe said.

OPEC realises $112.75bn from petroleum blends in February CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

Also in the report, OPEC leaves 2013 global demand growth unchanged at 840,000bpd; trims economic growth forecasts for US, Eurozone; sees US oil supply reaching 28-year high this

year.

OPEC said that the global oil demand growth could fall short of forecasts in 2013 due to economic weakness and US supply will hit its highest in three decades, curbing the need for oil from the 12-member producer group.

OPEC, in a monthly report left its forecast for growth in global oil consumption unchanged for now, still expecting an expansion of 840,000bpd this year.

“However, there are a number of downward risks to this growth. The euro’s instability could lead to even deeper recession in some Mediterranean countries.

“And the potential impact of a full budget cut in the US could drag down the world economy, consequently reducing oil demand,” the report added.

OPEC expects the US economy to expand by 1.7 per cent in 2013, down from the 1.8 per cent previously thought.

Growth in the eurozone is now seen contracting by 0.2 per cent, having earlier been

expected to expand slightly.

According to the report, while the US economy continues recovering, it is mainly the sustained uncertainty about the budgetary negotiations in Congress that are holding back the momentum to continue at its full potential.

“The eurozone seems to continue to be significantly entangled in its sovereign debt crisis.”

OPEC, in the report also trimmed forecast demand for its own crude in 2013 by 70,000bpd due to rising supply from outside the 12-member group.

The non-OPEC supply growth will again be driven by the US, which is enjoying a shale energy boom. OPEC expects US oil supply to rise by 580,000bpd to 10.59mn bpd in 2013, which it said would be the highest since 1985.

OPEC’s own production rose by 74,000bpd in February to 30.31mn bpd, according to secondary sources cited by the report, led by higher output in Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

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Odumodu tasks workers on standards’ enforcement, productivity

By Femi Adekoya S part of moves towards A enhancing the implementation of product standardization, the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Dr. Joseph Odumodu has tasked workers in the agency on the need to uphold SON’s resolve on zero tolerance to fake and substandard products in the country.

In a press statement made available to The Guardian, Odumodu, while speaking at

the opening ceremony of the 2013 SON Management Retreat with Theme: “Standards Organisation of Nigeria Growing its Relevance to Business and Society” charged staff not to relent in their efforts, rather they should put in their best in order to achieve the mission and vision of the organisation, of improving life through standards.

Odudmodu explained that SON was poised to take Nigeria to the next level through the promotion and development of standards and quality assurance activi-

ties which will in turn boost the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) seen as agents of economic change, adding that SON’s Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) will be reviewed in line with the present realities.

He further said that the agency would do its best to ensure that businesses in Nigeria are promoted in such a manner that the society is not adversely affected, pointing out that programmes such as the Zero Tolerance to sub standard products, E –

Product Registration, rejuvenation of SONCAP, sensitization rallies, opening of market desks among others, are part of the initiatives put in place to support the idea.

The Director General urged staff to create a busi-

ness environment that will create possibilities for the country and bring about the desired development and change required of SON, as Nigeria’s apex bureau of standard.

He then commended the

staff of SON for their initiatives and expertise, and enjoined Nigerians to be part of the drive as standardization is a task for all if Nigeria must be relevant in global economy.

Jewellers fault Lagos fair facility’s concessioning scheme IVE years after relocating Fmence out of Idumota to comoperations at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, the Association of Progressive Traders of Nigeria (APT) has decried the concession of the complex to new owners by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) despite existing arrangements.

In a statement made available to The Guardian, recently, the President of the association, Jude Okeke decried the concessioning of Trade Fair complex to Aulic Nigeria Limited, citing it as a major challenge facing the multibillion-naira investment in the complex.

According to the association’s Secretary, Obiora Chijioke, the traders are contesting the

fraudulent acquisition of trade fair complex with no regard to their investments, which existed long before the concessioning.

“As you can see this is the APT’s plaza. It is a wholesale market where you find the best and finest grades of jewelries and accessories at the cheapest price. So far the market is worth more than 10 billion naira in terms of buildings and infrastructures, and we are still expanding. Work will soon begin at our new offices complex and everything here is world standard.

“We had an agreement with the then Federal Ministry of Trade and commerce that the already commercialized portions should be excluded from privatization. Despite all the effort by the consortium of

Osun plans biotechnology summit on food security MAJOR biotechnology A stakeholders’ summit sponsored by the State Government of Osun is to hold very soon to enable farmers and industrialists tap the benefits accruable from scientific innovations for the achievement of the food security target of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration.

Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Agriculture and Food Security, Festus Agunbiade, who also called on industrialists and researchers to take a cue from the decision of the management of International Brewery Plc, Ilesa for introducing a cassava-based drink to members of the Nigerian

public assured that the summit would hold as soon as machinery was put in place for it.

The Special Adviser made this disclosure during a visit to the brewery, noting that the cassava drink being introduced was a major utilisation channel for the marketing and consumption of cassava tubers produced by farmers who have followed the invitation of Governor Aregbesola to engage in large scale farming.

The drink, he stressed has ensured that cassava farmers now have a ready and steady market that would utilise their farm produce and enhance the proceeds from farming.

traders operating in the complex to receive fair hearing during the concessioning process, the BPE still went ahead and sold the entire complex to Aulic Nigeria Limited.

“We are calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria to please protect the right of traders as responsible citizens by revoking this fraudulent acquisition of Lagos Trade Fair Complex by Aulic Nigeria Limited”

Grand Prize Winner, Sterling Bank Savers’ Promo, Homa Amadi-Nna (left); Chief Finance Officer, Sterling Bank Plc, Abubakar Suleiman; Regional Business Executive, South South two, Emmanuel Ekpenisi; and Regional Service Coordinator, Mrs. Mena Sidahome; at the commissioning of the bank’s retail branch at Adeola Odeku, Victoria Island, in Lagos, at the weekend.

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Appointments At training forum, govt pledges to tackle security challenges From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief HE Director-General of the T National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri, has pledged the commitment of the Federal Government to tackle the various security challenges ravaging some parts of the country.

Omeri, who was speaking to officers attending a one-day capacity building forum for social justice officers, drawn from the Nigerian Legion, Road Transport Workers and officials of the judiciary in the Northeast and Northwest zones, said,“it is generally agreed that there is need for social justice in Nigeria and the people must be made aware of the need to promote and encourage to defend it”.

He explained that any absence of social justice in any society would only lead to chaos and insecurity.

Omeri argued that social justice could not exist in a society where there was gross inequality in the distribution of income and wealth, abuse of office, mass poverty, oppression of women, children and negligent of the disabled.

He said: “We cannot have a social justice while we are working towards breakdown of law and order, disrespect for the rule of law over the years, the vast majority of Nigerians have been committed to social justice. This commitment has been expressed in the various struggles of the people to be independent, united and generally have a better life, but if the leader-

ship did not see anything right in this by ensuring that the people enjoy social justice, then we may not be seeing the end of the insecurity onslaughts.”

While highlighting the attributes of the concept of social justice, Omeri further remarked, “in a country that there is a social justice there must be sovereignty of the people, national integration, peace and unity, good governance and the rule of law, security and welfare of the people as primary duty of the government, participation in government by the people taking into account the multi-national character of Nigeria and economy based on equal access of all the citizens to the means of production, and distribution, with reward based on need and input rather than exploitation.”

To address the problem of social injustice in the country, he stated that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) “is working on re-orientating Nigerians through Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR).

“This process is to educate Nigerians that negotiations which involves direct discussion or communication between parties with a view to resolving their differences, meditation in which an impartial third party usually called, a mediator is invited or intervene to facilitate the resolution of a dispute by agreement of the parties, conciliation where a third party intervenes to assist the parties to resolve their disputes

Deputy High Commissioner, Republic of The Gambia in Nigeria, Brigadier-General Ebrima Bah, Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Gambia in Nigeria, Angela Colley, and Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Government Research & Leadership and Technology, Moses Essien, at the 48th National Day Celebration of The Gambia in Abuja. and arbitration which is the process where disputants appoints arbitrators to hear their evidence and decide the dispute for them. If these are functional in the country today, many of the combatants would have laid down their arms”.

Meanwhile, Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero in an address to the participants, explained that the access to social justice in Nigeria would remain elusive without a systematic adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

mechanisms.

The governor who was represented by the Commissioner of Economic Planning, Timothy Gandu pointed out that court systems were increasingly being reformed to promote access to justice by mainstreaming ADR in jus-

tice delivery.

The governor advised the agency “to establish more community justice centres and restructure them in a way to fit into the large context of the multi-door courthouse which indeed is long overdue.”

NERC assures electricity workers of fair deal under new owners From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja HE Nigerian Electricity T R e g u l a t o r y Commission (NERC) has assured electricity workers that it would stand behind them in ensuring that they got fair wages and good conditions of service when the new owners of the electricity utilities would take over in full.

The commission said in

Abuja, recently that through what it described as ‘fair regulation’, it would ensure that workers in the sector were treated fairly and that their interests were sacrosanct at all times.

NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, made the pronouncement after a meeting with officials of the National Union of Electricity Employees.

“I must commend labour

for a violence free struggle unlike what we have seen happen in some other countries where privatisation has occasioned massive unrest,” said Amadi.

He added: “As a regulator, NERC is committed to ensuring that operators in the new electricity industry pay fair wages to workers and provide a safe and healthy working environment that promotes productivity.”

Meanwhile, Amadi has reiterated the central role of his agency in the electricity industry.

In the latest edition of N E R C ’ s newsletter PowerWatch, Ama di recalled how the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSR) gave his organisation the power to be independent of undue influence from the government, the market operators or the consumers.

Labour leader faults youth employment scheme From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan ATIONAL Coordinator, N Teachers’ Welfare and Economic Programmes,

Olu Abiala has condemned efforts by some state governments to create jobs for unemployed graduates and pay between N8, 000 and N10, 000 monthly.

Abiala described the development as nothing but labour abuse and a violation of National Minimum Wage Act 2011.

Abiala at a lecture organised by the Department of Sociology of the university of Ibadan (UI) declared that the youth employment scheme of some state governments offered no

employment but instead has only succeeded in opening the youths to corruption.

He said: “The scheme has exposed the youths to public opprobrium of abuses and curses in their course of destruction of peoples means of livelihood in the name of beautification without a ready alternative to those affected.”

Speaking on the topic: “That the Toothless Bulldog May live: Trade Unionism through changing times in Nigeria”, Abiala said that the current effort by some state governments to engage university graduates on N8, 000-N10, 00 monthly pay

is unacceptable.

Abiala called on federal and state governments to put a sustainable social security programme on ground as a means of engaging the youth with a view to arresting youth restiveness.

“It is regrettable and unfortunate that our labour leaders now compete in the conferment of undeserved ‘meritorious’ awards on a chief executive who had played ignoble roles in the fragmentation of union leadership and in the denial of workers welfare and rights.”

Abiala expressed regrets that some union leaders offered to openly defend

corrupt and non-performing governors adding that this had made union leaders a laughing stock and a sell-out to their members.

He warned labour leaders to stop praising chief executives who did not care for workers’ welfare saying such survivalist strategy was both unfortunate and insensitive.

‘The labour as the quintessential national conscience must remain in the shadow as an opposition not interested in forming government but committed to offering alternative, proactive and democratic options for national development.’

According to him: “The regulator will not be independent if it wittingly or unwittingly comes under the influence and control of any of the stakeholders. The relationship between the regulator and the government is trickier. The regulator is supposed to work together and harmoniously with the government agency with responsibility for formulating broad policies. They are supposed to focus on achieving the overall objective of the sector reform.

But where, like in Nigeria, the law has clearly articulated roles and responsibilities, the objective is not realised if the regulator allows itself to be dictated to by the government.

“Market participants will consider such unhealthy rela-

tionship as additional risk which will be a disincentive to invest in that sector. So, the art of effective regulation is to know how to relate well with other government agencies, including those with oversight responsibility, without coming under their control.

This is very important because investors are characteristically very concerned about likelihood of political interference with regulatory activities.

“This is even more so in the electric industry which is very capital intensive. The wouldbe investor is concerned that the regulatory landscape is stable and certain. He would not bet on such stability if the regulator is controlled by cabinet officials in making decisions.”

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

APPOINTMENTS

SNEPCO skills programme graduates first Nigerian female abseiler, 19 others

By Anthony Chidubem Nwachukwu IGERIA’S drive towards N the promotion and utilisation of local content in all major oil and gas projects got a boost when the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO)’s sponsored Offshore Support Skills Acquisition Training Programme graduated a batch of 20 trainees, including a female, Okwusa Anwulika, who became Nigeria’s first rope abseiler,

while the overall best trainee is Egre Prosper.

The graduates took part in the theoretical and practical courses offered in the fields of abseiling (rope access technician level 1), rigging, scaffolding, painting and blasting, and small hand tools usage.

Okwuosa was not just the only female among the 20 but also emerged the best graduating trainee in abseiling, which until now seemed a male-only field due to its

technicalities and particular difficulty since it entails the use of ropes in the whole gamut of oil and gas maintenance sector. According to her, it was stressful and difficult at first, but with determination, she succeeded.

Already assessed by the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA), the 11 persons in this group will get their certification soon.

Meanwhile, the Manager, Nigerian Content Development, SNEPCO, Mr.

Peak Professional Services join Kreston International

By Bukky Olajide EAK Professional Services of Nigeria Chartered Accountants has been admitted as a member of Kreston International, the global network of independent accounting firms.

The firm, which operates from Lagos, with branches in Port Harcourt and Asaba, provides clients with the full range of professional accounting services and has a particular niche in the Maritime and Oil and Gas industries.

Recruiting a firm in Nigeria has been a priority for Kreston to further develop its interests throughout Africa.

Having recently added leading firms in South Africa, Rwanda and Burundi, Kreston, the holders of the 2012 International Accounting Bulletin Global

P

Award “Rising Star Network” is now present in a total of 24 African countries with a resource of 700 professional and support staff.

In the words of Managing Partner, Andrew Uviase: “We have been looking to move to an international network that offers truly global reach with a culture built on quality service and the development of effective and trusted relationships between the member firms. Kreston meets all our requirements and we are delighted that our application was accepted.

We look forward to working with our Kreston colleagues to serve both our client base when international assistance is required and those international clients looking to invest and trade in Nigeria”.

At the signing ceremony, Kreston’s Chief Executive

Officer, Jon Lisby, said: “Colleagues of mine in the profession have worked with Andrew and his team for a number of years and have been impressed with the consistency of the high quality audit, tax and consulting services the firm provides.

“The firm works to international standards for quality control, ethics and audit and we are delighted that Peak Professional decided to move its international network membership to Kreston.

“We are experiencing a growing volume of clients looking to expand into the continent, including those from China and India and we remain keen to secure further high quality member firms West, East, Central and Southern Africa to complete the Kreston’s coverage,” he said.

Austin Uzoka, has urged them to look beyond their certificates but work to get relevant experience by taking maximum advantage of the opportunity offered by the trainers to attain their level 2.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dimeji Bassir, the Operations Vice President of Ofserv Nigeria Limited, which partnered SNEPCO and NCDMB to deliver the training, has urged players in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, particularly the international oil companies (IOCs), to avail these graduates the platforms to make their skills relevant to themselves, their families and the national economy.

According to him, the only constraint to the huge success of the policy is if relevant companies shy from employing the products.

However, he expressed hope that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010 (NOGICD), which required companies to utilise upward of 60 per cent Nigerian labour as man-hours for services involving rope access technologies, would be to their advantage.

Ofserv Nigeria Limited works with SNEPCO and NCDMB to deliver world class training programmes geared towards effective knowledge acquisition, retention and readying the trainees to be absorbed into oil and gas industry, as well as other sectors, locally and internationally.

29

NLNG bags oil, gas company of the year award HE Nigeria LNG Limited future progression.”

The announcement was T (NLNG) has been named the Nigerian Oil and Gas made by CWC at the dinner (NOG) Company of the Year at the just concluded Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference/Exhibition (NOG) in Abuja.

According to CWC, organisers of the conference, NLNG emerged the company of the year, “For ensuring that Nigeria has significant presence in the export market since 1999 with over $10 billion.

NLNG has tripled its capacity: supplying about 22 million tonnes per annum to global markets. The first LNG export project in Nigeria, NLNG successfully aligned the NOC and IOC parties and has continued to modernise the commercial practices to add value and to ensure

marking the end of the event.

“I am delighted by this significant achievement for NLNG, being an award which underlies our mission as a global company in the country helping to build a better Nigeria.” said Babs Omotowa, managing director, Nigeria LNG Limited.

The Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, opened this year’s Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference/Exhibition (NOG), which took place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja from 18th through 21st of February 2013.

ASAPN tasks govt on quality policies in aluminium industry

By Tunde Eso TAKEHOLDERS in the Aluminium roofing industry have called on the federal government to evolve policies that would be favourable for the growth of the sector.

Chairman, Association of Secondary Aluminium Producers of Nigeria, Mr. Adebanjo Adeyoju while speaking with journalists recently in Lagos, said that the association, a body comprising mainly of over 7,000 small Nigerian businesses operating in the production and distribution sector were therefore imploring the government to resist the plan to stifle competition and good

S

business practices in the industry.

According to him, government should further evolve policies that were broad based and structured to retain the current surge in the local participation of Nigerians in the aluminum industry.

Besides, he noted that having good policies in the industry would on the long run have a welcome effect on the overall well being of the economy, particularly its goals of creating employment, increasing import revenue and accelerating the realisation of its policy of affordable housing for all Nigerians.

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

ScienceGuardian Vast flood plains beneath Mars surface CIENTISTS have discovered Sfloods” evidence of “gigantic on Mars within the

3-D printing process that binds granules of an inert polymer with a laser has allowed researchers to create customized pieces of skull (shown). In an example not pictured, scientists recently replaced 75 percent of a man’s skull with a custom prosthetic. Credit: Oxford Performance Materials

Plastic implant replaces 70 per cent of human skull Mice get brain boost from transplanted human tissue ‘Cured’ of lung cancer with gene therapy

By Chukwuma Muanya with agency reports URGEONS have replaced 75 per cent of a man’s skull with a custom-designed polymer cranium constructed with a 3-D printer.

The surgery took place on March 4 and it is the first United States case following the Food and Drug Administration (FDA’s) approval of the implants last month. The patient’s reason for needing such extensive replacement surgery has not been revealed.

Similar surgeries may follow in other cases where sections of the skull are removed because the brain has swollen during a surgery or after an accident, said Scott DeFelice, president of

S

Previously, the researchers had transplanted human glial progenitor cells into the brains of mice that had a genetic disorder mimicking multiple sclerosis. The glial progenitor cells healed the mice, allowing them to live a normal life span.

That result held promise that such cell transplants might help people with neurological disorders Connecticut-based Oxford Performance Materials, the company that created the prosthetic.

Technicians used Computed Tomography (CT) scans to get images of the part of the skull that needed replacing. Then, with computer software and input from surgeons, engineers designed the replace-

ment part. A machine that uses lasers to fuse granules of material built the prosthetic layer by layer out of a special plastic called PEKK. While inert like titanium, PEKK is riddled on its surface with pocks and ridges that promote bone cell growth, DeFelice said.

Such implants have value as a brain-protecting material, said Jeremy Mao, a biomedical engineer and co-director of Columbia University’s Centre for craniofacial regeneration. But doctors will need to keep an eye out for longterm problems. The skull isn’t just a box for the brain but a complicated piece of anatomy linked to connective and soft tissues.

Meanwhile, a new study has shown that transplanting human brain cells into mice makes the mice smarter.

But the smart-making brain cells are not the nerve cells most people think of as controlling thoughts. Instead, they are part of the supporting cast of brain cells known as glia (Greek for “glue”).

Scientists have long seen glia, including a subset CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

past 500 million years.

The red planet is thought to have generally been a cold and arid environment for the past 2.5 billion years, but buried channels identified beneath the surface point to massive flooding in more recent times.

A 3D reconstruction of Marte Vallis, the largest channel detected on Mars, found that it is twice as deep as previously thought and was likely the site of extensive flooding less than 500 million years ago.

Researchers are now examining the channels to determine where they came from, how extensive they were and whether they could have sparked climate change on the planet.

The underground patterns were spotted in the Elysium Planitia, the planet’s youngest volcanic region consisting of vast plains along the equator.

Most of the region is covered with lava due to hundreds of millions of years’ worth of volcanic eruptions, meaning clues to its geological past are buried beneath the surface.

Using the Shallow Radar on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft, researchers generated images, which revealed what lies beneath the lava.

They found that the buried channels were surprisingly deep and the floods, which created them most likely originated from a concealed section of the Cerberus Fossae system of fractures.

Researchers from the Goddard Space Flight Centre, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Southwest Research Institute and the Smithsonian Institution carried out the study, published in the Science journal.

Dr. Gareth Morgan, who led the study, said: “Our findings show that the scale of erosion was previously underestimated and that channel depth was at least twice that of previous approximations.

“The source of the floodwaters suggests they originated from a deep groundwater reservoir and may have been released by local tectonic or volcanic activity. This work demonstrates the importance of orbital sounding radar in understanding how water has shaped the surface of Mars.”

Comets could have seeded life on Earth, new evidence suggests T’S among the most ancient Iorigins of questions: What are the of life on Earth? A new

necessary for life.

“It is fascinating to consider that the most basic biochemical building blocks that led to life on Earth may well have had an extraterrestrial origin,” said UC Berkeley chemist Richard Mathies, coauthor of a paper published online last week and scheduled for the March 10 print issue of The Astrophysical Journal.

While scientists have discovered basic organic molecules, such as amino acids, in numerous meteorites that have fallen to Earth, they have been unable to find the more complex molecular structures that are prerequisites for our planet’s biology. As a result, scientists have always assumed that the really complicated chemistry of life must have originated in Earth’s early oceans.

In an ultra-high vacuum

African, the Nigerian in particular.

It is essentially a study in generational regression. The modern Nigerian has lost both ancestral knowledge (not to mention wisdom!) and, most pathetically, knowledge of his ancestors and their achievements.

History is almost completely ignored, academically and intellectually.

Yet our ancient forefathers were astute observers of the night sky. This much is evident from the achievements of the Black Egyptians in mathematical astronomy (which gave the Western world its calendar) and the Borana’s sophisticated timekeeping system-each requir-

ing celestial observation.

By contrast, the contemporary Nigerian rarely ever looks up, except when lightening or an aircraft distracts him. Any other celestial occurrence, such as an eclipse or a meteor, is shrugged off as the Creator at work. “Isn’t God wonderful?!” is a characteristic reaction Hearing this vapid refrain evokes images of Taharqa, the Pharaoh from Meroe, who aligned his pyramid with the heliacal rising of Sirius.

I envision a pitch-black face, watching in despair and dejection: Painfully aware of the intellectual vacuity and lethargy, which the “piety” of his progeny conceals.

experiment simulating conditions in deep space reveals that the complex building blocks of life could have been created on icy interplanetary dust and then carried to Earth, jump-starting life.

Chemists from the University of California (UC), Berkeley, and the University of Hawaii, Manoa, showed that conditions in space are capable of creating complex dipeptides — linked pairs of amino acids — that are essential building blocks shared by all living things. The discovery opens the door to the possibility that these molecules were brought to Earth aboard a comet or possibly meteorites, catalysing the formation of proteins (polypeptides), enzymes and even more complex molecules, such as sugars, that are

ASTRONOMY

Sirius, the African timekeeper (9)

By J.K. Obatala OUGHLY speaking, the R number “3” represents the feminine and Divine worlds.

It is the symbolic number of Roog, the most exalted deity.

In the Serer belief system, Roog created the universe through powers derived from a feminine principle.

“Number 3,” notes Wikipedia, “evokes the celestial world and is represented by a circle. In the Serer home, the 12 rods arranged in a circle around the stele of Roog symbolizes the space enveloped by the powers of the Divine”.

The number “4,” it offers, denotes the masculine world

(the masculine principle) as well as the creation of humans generally. It symbolized the human and terrestrial realms (visible, concrete reality). This Earthly aspect is represented geometrically, by two crossed lines facing the four cardinal points.

Conceptually, the synthesis of the various principles and precepts, subsumed under “3” and “4,” accounts for both abstract and concrete reality—for the celestial and terrestrial environment as well as the spiritual and material dimensions of the Serer universe.

Since “7” is the sum of “3” and “4,” the Serer consider it a perfect number. “Seven” symbol-

izes, for them, balance and harmony in the universe and all that is divine in humanity.

Depicted schematically, Wikipedia says, in “Creation Myths,” the Serer universe has three realms: The invisible world above; the diurnal terrestrial world; and the nocturnal world. A geometric representation of these three aspects, form the Serer star.

The Serer star, Yoonir, is a diagram derived from superimposed triangles, whose crossing lines pinpoint the axis of the universe, which is the passageway of all energies.

Illustrated at the top, is the point of departure and conclusion-the beginning and the end of time.

So sacred is the star Sirius, the Internet encyclopedia reports, that, among the Serer who cannot read or write the Western alphabet, it is very common for a person to sign official documents by sketching the figure of Yoonir, which also represents good fortune and destiny.

As I close this serial on “Sirius,” it is saddening and disconcerting to contemplate the differences between the intellectual prowess of our ancient ancestors and ourselves: Between the astronomers, mathematicians and philosophers of pre-Semitic (Black) Egypt, Meroe, Namoratunga and Sine Saloum and today’s

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SCIENCE & HEALTH

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14 , 2013

Lagos PSN seeks speedy implementation of health sector harmonisation report • Reconstitution of Pharmacy Council • Modification of health bill to reflect input of other professionals

By Chukwuma Muanya ORRIED by the continW ued bickering between members of the health team, poor regulation of the practice of pharmacy in the country and poor contribution of other health professionals other than medical doctors to the National Health Bill (NHB), pharmacists under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have called for speedy implementation of the twenty seven declarations of the report of a presidential committee on the harmonisation of the health sector.

Chairman, PSN, Lagos State Branch, Akintunde Obembe, in an exclusive interview with The Guardian said that the society had notified the government about some sections of the NHB to be modified or to be out rightly deleted before passage by the National Assembly.

Obembe also urged the federal government to set up the Council of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), that is the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), without further delay.

Obembe said: “We are becoming very restless especially those of us in the pharmaceutical sector. The federal government should know that those who are supposed to act on the report of harmonisation of all the workers in the health sector are not doing anything.

Honestly this is not in the best interest of our profession and even all other sectors that are involved in this health care delivery.

“So what we are saying in effect is that the federal government should please act with outmost urgency to please release the declaration in this report. There are 27 of them and honestly if this reports are implemented there will not be any acrimony in the health care delivery in this country.

Needless to be itemising these things to say this is this, this is that and so on.

We want government to go into that report and please implement them as fast as possible.”

The pharmacist said that the (NHB) had become a very contentious issue which should be appropriately addressed. He explained: “We have all been saying it loud and clear that the health bill as it is presently structured cannot help health care delivery in this country and we have notified the government about some sections to be modified or to be out rightly deleted and so on and so fort. If we are saying we want holistic health care delivery that the masses of this country will benefit from, I think the contribution of all other members of the health team should be looked into very comprehensively so that we can all move forward.”

Obembe said that the reconstitution and setting up of the dissolve board of the Pharmacy Council would help to sanitise the practice of profession in the country.

He said: “As it is now the government has been folding arms as if nothing is happening and Nigerians are the worse for it. Because as it is, we don’t have a council in

Obembe

We have all been saying it loud and clear that the health bill as it is presently structured cannot help health care delivery in this country and we have notified the government about some sections to be modified or to be out rightly deleted and so on and so fort.

If we are saying we want holistic health care delivery that the masses of this country will benefit from, I think the contribution of all other members of the health team should be looked into very comprehensively so that we can all move forward place and because we do not have a council in place our activities are suffering. Yes the activities of PSN vis-a-vis the practice of pharmacy in all areas are suffering.

“We are saying enough is enough that government should come out with utmost dispatch and constitute our council within the next few weeks because the situation might get to a state of recklessness in the profession. Because when there are no people to direct the affairs as it expected to be, people take laws into their hands.

“We have so many of such issues in our hands now.

There is no disciplinary committee as expected to have been put in place by the council; there is no ethics and other committees that are supposed to be there. As a matter of urgency we want the federal government to please set up the Council of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) without further delay.”

The PSN Lagos State had in a communiqué released at the end of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last week Friday in Lagos, appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to reconstitute the Governing Council of the PCN to save pharmacy practice from being further denigrated.

The AGM lamented attempt to manipulate the appointment of a registrar and

imposed a regime of increased statutory fees through illegitimate and unlawful processes and declared that the absence of a legally constituted Governing Council for about seven years now encouraged the exploitation of practitioners as pharmacists continue to contend with a “sole administrator” who is not interested in a functional inspectorate system and this is detrimental to the public health interest.

The pharmacists appraised the activities of the Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee (PIC) in the State over a period of twenty years, 1993 to 2013, and came to the conclusion that the periods: 1994 to 1996, 1999 to 2003 and 2004 to 2009 witnessed tremendous progress in the areas of inspection, monitoring and control of pharmaceutical premises.

They, however, noted with dismay that since the chairmanship of the PIC was ceded to the State Ministry of Health in 2010, no reasonable effort has been made to monitor and control the preponderance of illegal pharmaceutical outlets in the state, which are conservatively put at 200,000 outlets.

The AGM passed a vote of no confidence on the chairman of and the head of the zonal office of the PCN in Lagos for undermining the activities of PIC.

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

NaturalHealth Drug from red wine ingredient ‘could help humans live 150 years

Coffee, tea during pregnancy affect fetal growth RINKING just two cups of coffee a day is associated D with the risk of low birth

RUGS that could combat D ageing and help people to live to 150-years-old may be

weight.

Researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have conducted a study on 59,000 women in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Expectant mothers who consume caffeine, usually by drinking coffee, are more likely to have babies with lower birth weight than anticipated, given their gestational age.

Researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, conducted a study on 59,000 pregnant Norwegian women in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

“The correlation between intake of caffeine and fetal growth was established even among women who followed the official recommendation that they limit caffeine consumption to 200 milligrams a day (two cups of coffee),” researcher Verena Sengpiel says.

The medical term used in this connection is “small for gestational age” (SGA), which is associated with an elevated risk of morbidity and death.

The new results are consistent with previous international studies but are based on a considerably larger cohort. The participants were healthy and had uncomplicated pregnancies until delivery, while the results were adjusted for age, smoking, body mass index, nicotine consumption, alcohol use and other variables that affect fetal growth.

Cancer patients embrace herbs, faith healing

Secondhand smoke linked to early heart disease, study finds

Despite the acceptance of natural medicines by over 65 per cent of cancer patients and their proven efficacy especially in animal models in treating the disease, medical doctors and nurses questions the contributions of herbs, faith/prayer healing, aloe vera, Forever Living Products, medicinal tea, and Blackstone in the management of cancers. CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes.

ERBS and faith HE more you’re exposed H healing/prayer house T to secondhand tobacco healing are the most comsmoke, the more likely you are to develop early signs of heart disease, a new study indicates. The findings suggest that exposure to secondhand smoke may be more dangerous than previously thought, according to the researchers.

For the study, the investigators looked at nearly 3,100 healthy people, aged 40 to 80, who had never smoked and found that 26 percent of those exposed to varying levels of secondhand smoke -as an adult or child, at work or at home had signs of coronary artery calcification, compared to 18.5 percent of the general population.

Those who reported higher levels of secondhand smoke exposure had the greatest evidence of calcification, a build-up of calcium in the artery walls.

After taking other heart risk factors into account, the researchers concluded that people exposed to low, moderate or high levels of secondhand smoke were 50, 60 and 90 percent, respectively, more likely to have evidence of calcification than those who had minimal exposure.

Bitter leaf

Aloe vera

mon forms of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) used by no fewer than 65 per cent of cancer patients in Nigeria.

CAMs also popularly called natural or ‘herbal’ medicine in the country are defined as medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not currently considered an integral part of conventional medicine.

A study by medical doctors and nurses at College of Medicine University of Nigeria (CMUN)/University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, found that the most frequently used CAMs were herbs (51.9 per cent), faith/prayer healing (49.4 per cent), aloe vera (23.1 per cent), Forever Living Products (16.3 per cent), medicinal tea (14.4 per cent), and Blackstone (12.5 per cent).

The study titled “Use of complementary and alternative medicine by cancer patients at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria” was published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

The researchers concluded: “The prevalence of CAM use in cancer patients in Nigeria is

one of the highest in the world. While it tends to be less common in females, it is not affected by age, marital status, socioeconomic status, or level of education.

“Herbs and faith healing/prayer house healing are the most common forms of CAM. Most of the patients expect to be cured and are disappointed with the results of CAM. A majority of the patients who used CAM did not volunteer that information to their doctors, primarily because the doctors did not ask about it.

“We believe that every clinical oncologist should be aware of the prevalence of use of CAM in his/her environment. The physician should find out the composition of the various therapies and know which ones are harmful to patients. Patients should routinely be asked about CAM and its use as part of every cancer patient’s evaluation.”

However, previous studies published in credible scientific journals showed that natural products have promise in preventing, treating and managing cancers without adverse side effects. Top on the list are scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum), bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina), sausage plant (Kigelia africana/pinnata),

pawpaw/papaya (Carica papaya), and cannabis/marijuana (Cannabis sativa).

Scientific evidence does not support healing as a treatment for cancer. But some studies seem to show that it can increase peace of mind, reduce stress, relieve pain and anxiety, and may strengthen the will to live. Some people say that it helps them to feel better and helps them to cope with cancer symptoms.

Scientific research shows strong immunomodulatory and antitumour properties for aloe vera polysaccharides.

That means the gel helps boosts immune system function while destroying cancer tumors. One study published in International Immunopharmacology (1995) showed that aloe vera polysaccharides exhibited potent macrophage-activating activities including producing increased volumes of nitric oxide (which has antitumor potential).

According to the American Cancer Society, available scientific evidence does not support the claim that aloe is safe and effective in treating people with cancer. In fact, several people with cancer have died after getting aloe injections.

Animal and laboratory studies have found mixed results.

Forever Living Products

International, Inc. (FLPI) is a Scottsdale, Arizona, United States-based multi-level marketing company that sells aloe vera-based drinks and bee-derived cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and personal care products.

According to a study published 2006 in Life Sciences, several epidemiological studies have shown beneficial effects of green tea in cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases.

The health benefits associated with green tea consumption have also been corroborated in animal studies of cancer chemoprevention, hypercholesterolemia, artherosclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other aging-related disorders.

However, the use of green tea as a cancer chemo-preventive or for other health benefits has been confounded by the low oral bioavailability of its active polyphenolic catechins, particularly epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most active catechin.

More than 50 epidemiologic studies of the association between tea consumption and cancer risk have been published since 2006. The results of these studies have often been inconsistent, but some have linked tea consumption to reduced risks of cancers of the colon, breast, ovary, prostate, and lung.

The inconsistent results may be due to variables such as differences in tea preparation and consumption, the CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

available within five years, following landmark research.

The new drugs are synthetic versions of resveratrol, which is found in red wine and is believed to have an anti-ageing effect as it boosts activity of a protein called SIRT1.

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline has been testing the medications on patients suffering with medical conditions including cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

The work published in Science proves that a single anti-ageing enzyme in the body can be targeted, with the potential to prevent agerelated diseases and extend lifespans.

As each of the 117 drugs tested work on the single enzyme through a common mechanism is means that a whole new class of anti-ageing drugs is now viable, which could ultimately prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes.

Genetics professor David Sinclair, based at Harvard University, said: “Ultimately, these drugs would treat one disease, but unlike drugs of today, they would prevent 20 others. In effect, they would slow ageing.

The target enzyme, SIRT1, is switched on naturally by calorie restriction and exercise, but it can also be enhanced through activators.

The most common naturally-occurring activator is resveratrol, which is found in small quantities in red wine, but synthetic activators with much stronger activity are already being developed.

Although research surrounding resveratrol has been going on for a decade, until now the basic science had been contested.

Despite this, there have already been promising results in some trials with implications for cancer, cardiovascular disease and cardiac failure, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, fatty liver disease, cataracts, osteoporosis, muscle wasting, sleep disorders and inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, arthritis and colitis.

Sinclair said: ‘In the history of pharmaceuticals, there has never been a drug that tweaks an enzyme to make it run faster.’

The technology was sold to GlaxoSmithKline in 2008.

Four thousand synthetic activators, which are 100 times as potent as a single glass of red wine, have been developed - with the best three being used in human trials.

Writing in the journal Science, Professor Sinclair, who suggests the first therapeutic to be marketed will be for diabetes, said: “Our drugs can mimic the benefits of diet and exercise, but there is no impact on weight.”

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

Cancer patients embrace herbs, faith healing CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 types of tea studied (green, black, or both), the methods of tea production, the bioavailability of tea compounds, genetic variation in how people respond to tea consumption, the concomitant use of tobacco and alcohol, and other lifestyle factors that may influence a person’s risk of developing cancer, such as physical activity or weight status.

Several clinical trials have investigated the role of tea and tea polyphenols in cancer prevention. However, few trials have examined the effects of tea or tea polyphenols on cancer incidence or mortality.

Blackstone is also known as Black Jasper. Blackstone is a highly protective stone that is excellent for grounding the energies of one who may be experiencing spaciness. It can help in connecting one’s higher vibrations to the earth.

Blackstone is useful in relieving pain and helps stomach ailments and foot problems.

The Blackstone is said to bring inner peace and dissolve negative energy into love, according to Wishgiving.com. This powerful grayish black stone has been used for centuries as an alternative form of healing. Its history dates back to ancient Egypt when the stone was used to stop blood flow and remove poisons from the body.

Meanwhile, according to the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine study, 160 patients were interviewed; 68 (42.5 per cent) were males and 94 (57.5 per cent) were females. Ages ranged from 13 to 86 years. Breast, urogenital system, gastrointestinal system, and soft tissue cancers predominated.

The researchers wrote: “The prevalence of CAM use among

all cancer patients varies widely, even between reports on the same population. Figures have ranged from seven per cent to 83 per cent, but the average rate across adult studies has been 31.4 per cent. Our own prevalence rate of 65.0 per cent is one of the highest reported in the literature. “… The most commonly used form of CAM in Nigeria is herbal preparations, followed by faith healing/prayer house healing. Singh, et al. recorded that herbs and spiritual healing were the two most common forms of CAM used among Indians in South Africa. In the United States (US), relaxation techniques, herbal medicine, massage, and chiropractics were the most commonly used forms of CAM within the general population. Among cancer patients, spiritual practices, vitamins and herbs, movement and physical therapies, and mind/body approaches were most commonly used.

“Herbal preparations have also been reported to be the leading CAM used among cancer patients in Turkey. In the UK, the most common forms were healing, relaxation, and visualization.

Traditional African communities have always used herbs to cure diseases. Thus, it is not surprising that this practice has persisted and even extended to include newer preparations of biological products, such as aloe vera products, Forever living products, GNLD (Golden Neo life Diamite) products, medicinal tea etc.

“The high prevalence of faith and prayer house healing among Nigerian patients mirrors the attachment of people of African ancestry to spiritual and transcendental beliefs. Some of the patients rely completely on prayers and faith for their healing.

Such patients are usually

brought to the hospital when the disease is widely metastatic or locally advanced. Deaths in such cases are inevitable, but also reinforce the belief that Western biomedicine is not helpful in treating cancer.

Religious affiliations appear to influence the pattern of use of CAM in our population, but not at statistically significant levels.

“More of the Pentecostals in our population used CAM compared to other groups and this is accounted for mainly by use of faith/prayer house healing. The high proportion of Catholics among our study population explains the increased prevalence in the use of religious relics and items such as black stone, olive oil, and mustard seed.

“Most of our patients expected CAM to directly treat or cure their cancers (63.5 per cent). Similar findings were observed among cancer patients in the U.K, and Turkey. In contrast, cancer patients in the US use CAM primarily to improve quality of life, boost the immune system, and relieve symptoms with only one-third of patients expecting a direct curative treatment from the CAM. The high rate of disappointment (68.3 per cent) that our patients expressed about the performance of CAM in cancer is explained by the fact that most of them were hoping for a direct treatment/cure; it also explains their reluctance (79.8 per cent) to recommend it to someone else or use it in the future for cancer treatment…”

Meanwhile, Ocimum gratissimum is of the plant family Lamiaceae is commonly called scent leaf or tea bush.

Ocimum gratissimum is a shrub commonly found around village huts and in

gardens. It is known as efinrin ajase in Yoruba, ebavbokho in Bini, aai doya ta gida in Hausa, nchuanwu in Igbo.

Chinese, United States, and Nigerian scientists from Department of Biology Jackson State University, Jackson and College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, P.R. China have explored the cancerfighting potential of scent leaf extracts.

The study is titled: “ Potential Cancer-fighting Ocimum gratissimum (OG) leaf extracts: Increased Anti-proliferation Activity of Partially Purified Fractions and their Spectral Fingerprints” was published in Ethnicity & Disease, Volume 20.

The researchers wrote: “In previous in-vitro studies, we have shown that the aqueous extracts of the medicinal herb Ocimum gratissimum (Og) inhibit the proliferation of several cancer cell lines, especially prostate adenocarcinoma (PC-3) cells. Therefore, Og leaf extracts may harbor novel cancer-fighting compounds that need to be isolated, purified and characterised.

“In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferation activity of Og leaf extract on prostate cancer (PC-3) cells invitro, because we believe that Og leaf extract may contain novel cancer-fighting compounds. Our results show that aqueous Og leaf extract inhibits proliferation of treated PC-3 cells in a concentration dependent manner.”

Scientists have also found that the sausage tree (Kigelia africana/pinnata) could be effectively used to treat cancers.

According to ethnobotany and recent scientific work of Professor P. J. Houghton of the Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories, Department of

Pharmacy, King’s College London, “experiments into the effect of Kigelia extracts and some of the pure compounds contained therein, on micro-organisms and cancer cells have shown that the traditional use of this plant is given considerable justification. In addition, there exists evidence for its anti-inflammatory reputation.”

Investigation into the biological activity of Kigelia pinnata has focused on its antibacterial activity and its cytotoxic effects against cancer cell lines. These are related to the traditional uses of bark and fruit extracts for treating diseases caused by micro-organisms and as a remedy for skin cancer.

Also, a Nigerian born professor of biology, Ernest Izevbigie has patented a formula made from bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina).

This bitter leaf-based formula is a proven anti-diabetic and anti-cancer formula in laboratory and clinical trials. This formula product can also benefit HIV/AIDS patients. It has been patented: U.S. Patent 6,713,098 in 2004 and the second 6,848,604 in 2005.

Izevbigie said: “We found that in using the plant material (from Vernonia amygdalina), some compounds from the extracts were able to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Later through collaborative research, we found they were also effective in other tumor cells.”

Izevbigie explained that evidence from cell culture and animal studies research and reports from individuals reveal that bitter leaf formula supplement may abate or improve the health conditions or symptoms of Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients including abrosia

(wasting away), nausea and vomiting, compromised immune systems etc. Bitter leaf supplement-induced stimulation of the immune system offers hope to many suffering with AIDS related diseases.

The professor further explained that available data shows that bitter leaf extracts might be effective against herpes virus, and against Kaposi sarcomas (KS), a tumour caused by Human herpes virus 8 (HHV8).

Some of the principal chemical compounds found in the bitter leaf herb are known as steroid glycosides – type vernonioside B1. These compounds possess potent antiparasitic, anti-tumor, antiinflammatory, and anti-bacterial effects.

Also, researchers have found that pawpaw leaf extract and its tea have dramatic cancer-fighting properties against a broad range of tumors, backing a belief held in a number of folk traditions.

University of Florida, United States researcher Nam Dang and colleagues in Japan, in a report published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, documented pawpaw anticancer effect against tumors of the cervix, breast, liver, lung and pancreas.

The researchers used an extract made from dried pawpaw leaves, and the effects were stronger when cells received larger doses of pawpaw leaf tea.

Dang and the other scientists showed that pawpaw leaf extract boosts the production of key signaling molecules called Th1-type cytokines, which help regulate the immune system.

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14 , 2013

Malnutrition, hidden hunger increase with population growth, says Ojimelukwe From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia ALNUTRITION and hidden hunger are said to be on the increase in Nigeria and follow the population growth rate says a professor of Food Chemistry and Toxicology at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUA), Abia state, Dr. Phillipa Chinyere Ojimelukwe.

Ojimelukwe while delivering the 17th Inaugural Lecture of the university held last week at Senator Anyim Pius Anyim auditorium said that for Nigeria to improve her food security situation, her food habits and agricultural practices need to be modified.

Hidden hunger refers not to the overt and obvious hunger of poor people who are unable to afford enough to eat, but to a more insidious type caused by eating food that is cheap and filling but deficient in essential vitamins and micronutrients.

A World Health Organisation (WHO) report pointed out recently that this problem is widespread, in particular in the Third World, where families may fill themselves with cheap rice, say, but be unable to afford the fruit, vegetables and meat needed to provide a balanced diet.

Malnutrition is the condition that results from taking an unbalanced diet in which certain nutrients are

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lacking, in excess (too high an intake), or in the wrong proportions. A number of different nutrition disorders may arise, depending on which nutrients are under or overabundant in the diet.

In most of the world, malnutrition is present in the form of under-nutrition, which is caused by a diet lacking adequate calories and protein.

Ojimelukwe said that the 17th Inaugural Lecture which topic was “ Close To Nature”, “reminds us that nature is God’s gift to man and should not be highly valued.”

To her, achievement of food security is feasible and that a close intelligent clue from nature can advance man’s pursuit for food security and self sufficiency adding that “policy issues and lack of implementation of policies affect the food security situation in Nigeria.”

Ojimelukwe urged the government to play a more dedicated role in implementing policies that affect food insufficiency, food security and poverty alleviation. She said that diverse foods are available as raw materials for the sustenance of an active healthy life.

“There are many Nigerian crops traditionally used as foods, which have been abandoned for incomplete adoption of western culture.”

Ojimelukwe who is an ‘Alexander von Humboldt

SFH donates malaria diagnostic kits to Abia, Imo states From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia HE fight against Malaria and its control has taken a new turn in Abia and Imo states following its boost last week by the Society for Family Health (SFH) which donated to the two states 18 and 28 sets of laboratory kits comprising microscopes and consumables that would last each of the health facility they are distributed to for six months.

SFH Nigeria is a public health Nigerian non-governmental organization that implements its programmes in reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention and control, maternal and child health and water purification within Nigerian communities and works in collaboration with the government through the support of donors such as the Global Fund, USAID, British Department for International Development (DFID), The Bill Gates Foundation etc and has also been partnering with the two states Health Ministries in carrying out health programmes on, not just malaria, but HIV and others.

While the Abia State Kits were handed over through the Health Commissioner Dr. Okechukwu Ogah on Tuesday in Umuahia, those for Imo state were similarly handed over Thursday through the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Obi Njoku, who was represented by the Ministry’s Director of Administration and Finance

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(DAF) Mrs. Mercy Osuji.

Handing over the kits to the states, the SFH through the Coordinator of Global Fund Malaria for Abia and Imo states Dr Ngozi Noel Ogamba in an address said that facts established show that in Nigeria children under the age of five years suffer from malaria between two and four times a year and 50 per cent of adults have the illness at least once a year, with malaria accounting for about 300,000 deaths every year , three in every 10 children’s death and one in every 10 maternal mortalities.

According to her, SFH has through the Global Fund Malaria Round 8 project done series of activities in Abia state to see that the fight against, malaria makes a headway in Abia state by training individuals, healthcare providers and civil society organizations numbering over 800 between July 2010 – March all in a bid to get everybody involved in the fight against malaria.

Noel Ogamba further explained that a health facility and a tertiary one in each LGA in the two states will be provided with a microscope and consumables that could last at least six months of laboratory services depending on the patients flow to the facility with febrile condition and gave the value of each kit supplied to each health facility at $3,600.00.

Fellow,’ told the university community and the public lecture that some of these abandoned food crops are very rich in nutrients.

The Vice Chancellor of MOUA and Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Hilary Odo Edeoga, was represented by Prof. John Ibeabuchi of the College of Animal Science and Animal Production, Ojimelukwe added: “The present food culture and habits in many parts of Nigeria do not meet the nutrient needs of individuals. Nigeria has the natural resources to meet her food security needs and achieve food self-sufficiency.”

Adding that post harvest loss is still very high, she said “seasonality affects the nutrient intake of the populace because adequate food preservation methods are not practiced.”

According to her, deliberate research progress is being used to advance the knowledge of the scientific nature of many local and un-utilized foods.

“Microbial systems which are simpler to manipulate are also being used to engineer metabolites in the way they can be used to fuel human systems optimally.”

She, however, said that the country is not there yet in this regard citing facility constraints and enabling environment s as factors that “continue to constitute challenges”.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Lagos State, Dr. Femi Olugbile; Guest Speaker and consultant psychiatrist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr. Rotimi Coker; and Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Kayode Opeife; during a ‘’Drink IQ’’ workshop for Health journalists and Nollywood Stars at Renaissance Hotel, Alausa in Lagos recently

Regular aspirin intake reduces skin cancer risk 33.3 per cent in women SPIRIN could help protect the wonder drug, with a may be why using aspirin A women from skin cancer, recent study claiming that it may lower your risk of devela study claims. Researchers cut the risk of stomach and oping melanoma.” She said found that the longer the painkiller is taken, the lower the risk of developing melanoma.

The study of data from almost 60,000 women over 12 years found that regular aspirin users were 21 per cent less likely to develop skin cancer than non-users. But those who had taken it for five or more years were 30 per cent less likely to develop melanoma. Data for men was not part of the study.

Aspirin has been dubbed

bowel cancers by around 40 per cent in regular users.

However, long-term use has been linked with stomach bleeds and ulcers.

The research of women aged between 50 to 79 was published in the Journal of Cancer and formed part of the Women’s Health Initiative – a major US investigation into links between lifestyle and the disease.

Study leader Dr Jean Tang said: “Aspirin works by reducing inflammation and this

other painkillers, such as paracetamol, did not lower melanoma.

Ministers will this year consider whether some patients should be prescribed the drug as a preventative measure.

Aspirin has already been shown to be particularly effective against bowel cancer – one of the most common forms of the disease – particularly if patients have a family history of the illness.

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Expert advocates national laboratory for public analysts *As IPAN inducts 21 new members

By Wole Oyebade

N expert in the pharmaceutical industry, A Michael Paul on Tuesday advocated for creation of a standard National Public Analysts Laboratory for certified public analysts in the country.

The goal is to avail standard laboratory facility at affordable cost to the analysts, who are mandated to ensure the safety and quality of food, drug, chemicals and medical devices for the health of Nigerians.

Paul, who is also the chairman/ Managing Director of Mopson Pharmaceutical Limited, Lagos, said this at the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria’s (IPAN) investiture of fellows and induction of 21 new members in Lagos.

Paul, who chaired the occasion, said a national analytical facility was long overdue for the profession and a country faced with severe health challenges.

While he commended IPAN in producing quality laboratory scientists for pubic and private sectors in Nigeria, he said an analyst institute without a national public laboratory open to all qualified professionals was incomplete.

According to him, “We all know the issues of counterfeit, faked and expired products in our public places, covering all areas - food, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals and medical equipments.

But these are issues that these public analysts can help resolve with quality laboratory services, if they are given necessary facility to work with.

“I believe IPAN has nothing to lose if they can do this. Yes, they have funding challenges, but an appeal can be made to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) to fund this project as one whose fund can be recovered. The laboratory will make the profession complete; having people that are certified to practice and also given the facility to use,” he said.

IPAN, a parastatal of the FMoH, is the professional regulatory agency of Public Analysts established by IPAN Act Cap. 1.16 LFN 2004, to train, examine and register public analysts and regulate their practice.

Apparently in agreement with Paul, Registrar of the Institute, Prof. David Oluleye said the project was already on course and the institute is aiming to expand existing lab to train public analysts.

“The lab that we have presently is mainly for postmarket surveillance. That is, we pick products in the market and do their analysis to see whether they conform to the stated standard.

“It is high capital intensive to establish a lab. Some of the equipment required may cost as much as N24million that individuals or private facilities cannot afford.

That is why as an institute, we want to bring in a stop-

President, Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), Balogun Ganiyu Sanni (Right); Chairman of the occasion and Managing Director of Mopson Pharmaceutical Limited, Lagos, Michael Paul; Registrar of the Institute, Prof. David Oluleye and Registrar, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN), Lagos, Dr Samuel Ntem at the investiture of IPAN fellows and induction of new members in Lagos recently PHOTO: WOLE OYEBADE

gap measure between what the private and the public facility can do, so the public analysts can do analysis at a reduced cost,” he said.

IPAN President, Balogun Ganiyu Sanni urged the members and new inductees to further collabo-

rate with fellow practitioners and maintain standard in the practice.

He said all members must be mindful of Section 14 (2) of IPAN Act, which provides that “a person registered as a member shall be eligible to practise the food, drugs,

We all know the issues of counterfeit, faked and expired products in our public places, covering all areas - food, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals and medical equipments. But these are issues that these public analysts can help resolve with quality laboratory services, if they are given necessary facility to work with

cosmetics and medical devices and a certificate issued under the hand of a registered member shall constitute sufficient evidence as to the validity of the contents in any court of law or tribunal provided that the laboratory where the analysis was effected has been designated, registered and fully licensed by the appropriate authority, which is IPAN.” Sanni added that provisions of the law are clear, and put a lot of responsibility on the analysts, coupled with severe penalties for defaulters.

Guest speaker at the event, Dr Samuel Ntem urged the inductees to strive for excellence, “which involves developing not only technically but also in the areas of communication, interpersonal relations, ethics and more.”

IPAN Fellows that were investitured at the event are Prof. Folahan Adekola; Aliyu Angara; Prof. Herbert Coker; Prof.

Babajide Elemo; Adindu Ogamba; Prof.

Olanrewaju Ogunlana; Prof.

Olugbenga Ogunmoyela; Prof. Kehinde Olayinka and Titilope Owolabi. They have all been members of the institute for over 13 years.

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Scientists ‘cure’ lung cancer in mice with gene therapy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 known as astrocytes, as support cells that feed neurons, mop up excess neurotransmitters and generally help hold the brain together.

The new study, published March 7 in Cell Stem Cell, shows that glial cells also influence memory formation and could change how scientists think the brain works, says R. Douglas Fields of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. “It’s a paradigm-shifting paper,” said Fields, who was not involved in the work.

In the new study, researchers led by neurologist and stem cell biologist Steven Goldman and neurobiologist Maiken Nedergaard of the University of Rochester Medical Centre in New York implanted human cells called glial progenitor cells into the brains of newborn mice. Glial progenitor cells are a type of stem cell

that is poised to make several varieties of glia, including astrocytes.

Previously, the researchers had transplanted human glial progenitor cells into the brains of mice that had a genetic disorder mimicking multiple sclerosis. The glial progenitor cells healed the mice, allowing them to live a normal life span. That result held promise that such cell transplants might help people with neurological disorders.

The researchers also noticed something curious in the brains of mice that had received human cell transplants.

“The shocker was that all the glial progenitors were human and had completely taken over the mouse progenitors,” Goldman said. The finding made the researchers wonder what effect human cells might have on otherwise normal mice.

Although many neuroscientists essentially ignore glia, it is becoming clear that the cells — which make up about 90 per cent of the brain — are more important than some people believe. Astrocytes are required for nerve cells, or neurons, to make connections, called synapses, with each other. While neurons pretty much look and behave the same from species to species, human astrocytes are much larger and more complex than those from other species, leading some scientists to wonder whether the

cells are at least partly responsible for the human brain’s computing power.

To find out, the Rochester researchers tested human glial progenitor cells in the brains of normal mice. By the time the mice were six months old, the human cells had pushed out the mouse progenitor cells and replaced many of the mouse astrocytes with human astrocytes. Some mice got a transplant of mouse glial progenitors instead of human cells to make sure any effect was due to the action of human cells

Although many neuroscientists essentially ignore glia, it is becoming clear that the cells — which make up about 90 per cent of the brain — are more important than some people believe.

Astrocytes are required for nerve cells, or neurons, to make connections, called synapses, with each other

and not to having extra brain cells.

Astrocytes use calcium to communicate. In lab dish tests, human astrocytes passed calcium signals three times faster than mouse astrocytes did. And the human astrocytes helped forge stronger synapses between mouse neurons than the mouse’ own astrocytes did.

The researchers also put mice through a battery of tests, probing the animals’ ability to learn mazes, distinguish new objects from old ones, and learn that a certain sound portends a mild electric shock. It took normal mice and mice with mouse cell transplants several tries to pick up on the association between the sound and the shock. Mice with human astrocytes “pretty much picked up the association immediately and got more fearful,” Goldman said.

Since the mice have their own neurons, the memory boost must have come from the human cells, the researchers concluded. While evidence points to the astrocytes as the source of the enhancement, the researchers couldn’t rule out that undeveloped progenitor cells might also contribute.

In any case, the results indicate that human cells not only aided in learning and memory, but also do it better than their rodent counterparts do.

“It’s a stunning result. It provides the first unequivocal evidence that astrocytes may well have been one of the evolutionary drivers of human capabilities,” said Bruce Ransom, a neuroscientist at the University of Washington.

“As completely outrageous as it sounds, I think the evidence is such now that we have to take that very seriously.”

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

44 NATURAL HEALTH

‘Moderate coffee intake promotes life expectancy’

By Wole Oyebade ORE findings by local researchers have shown that there is a link between moderate consumption of coffee beverages and increase in healthy life expectancy.

An average of two to five cups of coffee (about 200 to 300mg of caffeine) per day will reduce the risk of cancer, stroke, heart diseases, Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, liver cancer, liver cirrhosis, gall bladder disease, among other diseases that shortens healthy lifespan.

The local researchers under the aegis of Ignite, a science based programme on coffee and health, recently shared their findings with stakeholders in the health sector, stressing that abuse or misuse of the widely consumed substance account for health problems often attributed to the substance.

Consultant Cardiologist at the Lagos University Teaching

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Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, Dr Akinsanya Olusegun noted that coffee, the most pleasurable hot beverage in the world, is also one of the most controversial beverage with long history of being blamed for many ills.

He, however, noted that recent studies indicate that coffee may not be so bad after all and may impact positively on healthy life expectancy, “as the antioxidant effect of coffee is becoming increasingly known.”

Akinsanya observed that a May 2012 study by the New England Journal of Medicine found that coffee drinkers “who drank at least two or three cups a day were about 10 or 15 percent less likely to die for any reason during the 13 years of the study.”

The result, according to him, further corroborated earlier studies that had shown that coffee moderately reduces the incidence of dying from

cardiovascular disease, based on a large prospective cohort study published in 2008.

Also, a 2009 prospective study in Japan following nearly 77,000 individuals aged 40 to 79 found that coffee consumption was associated with a reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

Moderate consumption of this beverage had also been shown to reduce the risk of developing heart failure.

Continuing, Akinsanya said, “Besides, scientific studies have found that regular coffee consumption lowers the risk of Type 2 diabetes by up to 67 per cent. This appears to result from reduced levels of blood glucose, increased insulin sensitivity, and

decreased storage of both fat and carbohydrate.

“Scientific studies show that coffee’s compounds lower blood pressure over the long term, decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. This is believed to be a result of the beneficial action of chlorogenic acids on the arteries.

“A meta-analysis of the available prospective studies from 1966 to 2011 shows that moderate coffee consumption is associated with lower risk of stroke. In the pooled analysis, habitual moderate coffee consumption was associated with decreased risk of stroke,” he said.

Nutritionists with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Dr

Recent studies indicate that coffee may not be so bad after all and may impact positively on healthy life expectancy, as the antioxidant effect of coffee is becoming increasingly known

Bartholomew Brai, though noted that coffee was still poorly understood in this clime, but scientific evidences are suggesting that coffee has several bioactive properties that account for the health benefits.

He observed that the potential bioactive are caffeine, polyphenols, which are antioxidants, diterpenes, cafestrol and kahweol found in the oil. Coffee also contains fiber and micronutrients.

“Antioxidants (that protects from free radicals that damages DNA and cells and triggers cancer and other chronic diseases) are natural in coffee and it is the highest source of antioxidants among diets of fruits, tea, wine and so on.

Also, for every cup of coffee (240ml), there is chlorogenic acid of 70 to 350mg; magne-

sium of 7 to 24mg; Potassium of 34 to 116mg.”

Public Health Physician, Dr Kemi Odukoya, however, stressed that it is not advisable to consume coffee in gallons, but in moderate form because excessive intake, like any other substance, would be deleterious.

She said complaints of restlessness, agitation, awareness of heartbeat are attendant effects in very high consumers of >5 cups of coffee/day.

“But, these are almost negligible in low consumers <2 cups of coffee/day, and moderate consumers 2–5 cups of coffee/day. Coffee drinking is not intended to replace other healthy life style behaviours like exercise, smoking cessation, reduced salt and fatty meals,” she said.

How plant-based foods boost immunity genes Lack of sleep ‘switches off’ genes Exercise key to good sleep ATING greens may be even more important that preE viously thought, with the discovery that an immune cell population essential for intestinal health could be controlled by leafy greens in the diet.

The immune cells, named innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), are found in the lining of the digestive system and protect the body from ‘bad’ bacteria in the intestine. They are also believed to play an important role in controlling food allergies, inflammatory diseases and obesity, and may even prevent the development of bowel cancers.

Dr. Gabrielle Belz, Ms Lucie Rankin, Dr Joanna Groom and colleagues from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute’s Molecular Immunology division have discovered the gene T-bet is essential for producing a population of these critical immune cells and that the gene responds to signals in the food we eat.

Belz said the research team revealed T-bet was essential for generating a subset of ILCs which is a newly discovered cell type that protects the body against infections entering through the digestive system.

The research was published in the journal Nature Immunology.

Belz said that the proteins in green leafy (cruciferous) vegetables are known to interact with a cell surface receptor that switches on Tbet, and might play a role in producing these critical immune cells. “Proteins in these leafy greens could be part of the same signalling pathway that is used by T-bet to produce ILCs,” Dr Belz said. “We are very interested in looking at how the products of these vegetables are able to talk to T-bet to make ILCs, which will give us more insight into how the food we eat influences our immune system and gut bacteria.”

ILCs are essential for maintaining the delicate balance between tolerance, immunity and inflammation. Ms Rankin said the discovery had given the research team further insight into external factors responsible for ILC activation. “Until recently, it has been difficult to isolate or produce ILCs,” Ms Rankin

said. “So we are very excited about the prospect for future research on these cells which are still poorly understood.”

ILCs produce a hormone called interleukin-22 (IL-22), which can protect the body from invading bacteria, Belz said. “Our research shows that, without the gene T-bet, the body is more susceptible to bacterial infections that enter through the digestive system. This suggests that boosting ILCs in the gut may aid in the treatment of these bacterial infections,” she said.

Meanwhile, scientists claim one week of bad sleep can “switch off” hundreds of genes and raise the risk of a host of illnesses including obesity and heart disease.

Getting fewer than six hours’ sleep per night deactivates genes which play a key role in the body’s constant process of self-repair and replenishment, according to a new study.

Human bodies depend on genes to produce a constant supply of proteins which are used to replace or repair damaged tissue, but after a week of sleep deprivation some of these stopped working.

The findings suggest that chronic lack of sleep could prevent the body from fully replenishing itself and raise the risk of a host of diseases, researchers said.

Scientists from Surrey University divided 26 volunteers into two groups, one of which slept for less than six hours per night for an entire week, and one, which slept for ten hours per night.

At the end of the week each group was kept awake for 40 hours and donated blood samples, which were studied to examine the effects of their sleep regimes.

The week of sleep deprivation was found to have altered the function of 711 genes, including some involved in metabolism, inflammation, immunity and stress.

Inadequate sleep also interfered with genes, which are designed to become more or less active at certain points in the day, by throwing off the body’s 24-hour internal clock.

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Govt moves to strengthen local ownership of HIV/AIDS response From: Emeka Anuforo, Abuja HE Federal Government T has called on state and local governments to step up their support for the delivery of primary health care services.

On its part, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said it has intensified its activities and would work more closely with communities, local councils, states and other federal government agencies to strengthen primary health care systems in each state and local government area to ensure country ownership of Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) response.

Executive Director of NPHCDA, Ado Muhammad, said at a media parley in Abuja yesterday that access to

HIV/AIDS services at the primary healthcare level was is to efforts at the national level to scale up HIV services. He said the goal was to ensure zero transmission of HIV from mothers to children in the Midwives Services Scheme.

He spoke of the federal government to actualize the integration of basic HIV/AIDS services at the primary health care facilities, noting that through the Programe for HIV/AIDS Integration and Decentralization (PHAID), the agency had completed a series of five trainings in 18 states of the federation.

Ado stressed: “Because secondary and tertiary health facilities in Nigeria are already saturated and limited in capacity, ensuring that people have access to HIV/AIDS services at the primary health care level is key to national efforts to scale-up HIV services. There is better access to

services delivered at the PHC level. Hard to reach areas are reached as PHCs are in all the political wards in Nigeria.

This is why NPHCDA decided to train health workers and managers at the Midwives Services Scheme (MSS).”

He said this structure provided by the Midwives Services Scheme and the SURE-P would ensure the decentralization and integration of HIV services to the PHC level in line with national policy.

He went on: “Ultimately, this strategy which is being implemented through the Program for HIV/AIDS Integration and Decentralization (PHAID) will strengthen the capacity of Nigeria’ primary health care system to deliver not only HIV/AIDS, but other priority health interventions at the PHC level such as maternal, newborn and child health, tuberculosis, malaria, and other areas of sexual and

Stakeholders step up fight against maternal mortality From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja IGERIA’S quest to drastically reduce the number of women dying during pregnancy and childbirth is receiving further boost, as government and some stakeholders have accelerated work in this direction.

The latest effort, led by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), is working towards reducing the problem to ensure that mothers enjoy the period of their pregnancy and delivery.

The work is being supported by other stakeholders, who on Monday started the process of validating report from the MDGs Acceleration Framework’s (MAF) technical session.

In a speech at a validation workshop in Abuja, yesterday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Dr. Precious Kalamba Gbeneol stressed: “As you well know there is a significant urban-rural divide in estimates, with rural areas doing considerably worse. Again as you know, there is significant regional variation: maternal mortality estimates in the North East zone are very

N

high, compared with low estimates in the South West zone. In order for Nigeria to succeed in achieving Goal 5 by 2015, a concerted effort is required to mitigate this growing in-country divergence.”

Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, stressed that the MAF initiative is a needed initiative.

He said: “It remains our expectation at the Federal Ministry of Health that the application of MAF to MDG 5 will lead very quickly to additional gains and performance improvement. We must never lose sight of the fact that we must do all within our power to further save the lives of our mothers and children.”

Chukwu said stressed how government and all stakeholders in the health sector need to work together to transform words and documents into definitive accomplishments and implement the agreed action plan.

MAF, as a strategy is designed by the United Nations to increase the efficiency of attainment of the MDGS through the identification of bottlenecks and barriers to progress in the run up to the 2015 deadline.

At the moment, MAF is being applied to goal 5 as the first of the Goals to go through the acceleration process and targeted at reducing the occurrences of maternal mortality by the Federal Government in partnership with the United Nations Country System in Nigeria and United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID).

The validation workshop of the MAF action plan is the culmination of a threemonth painstaking process that has seen the aggregation of nationwide expertise and experience in this area from across all the states of the nation, from all levels of society including actors who function in all areas of health care provision for mothers through the pregnancy and birth process.

Participants at the workshop include representatives from MDGs related MDAs, United Nations system in Nigeria, DFID Health sector practitioners among others.

According to Gbeneol, MAF has been successfully implemented in a number of countries across Africa.

reproductive health.

“With support for the project coming from the United States government through the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NPHCDA leads a partnership with Solina Health Limited and the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) to implement the project which commenced in January 2012 with pilot assessments, trainings and community engagement in Nasarawa State.”

According to him through PHAID, his agency built the capacity of PHC workers and managers at the state and local government levels in 18 states with the highest HIV prevalence between October and December 2012.

“In all, NPHCDA trained 953 state and local government data officers in each state and select PHC staff in each of 18 priority states. The training focused on how to complete the national data tools, and on data demand, analysis, interpretation, presentation.

NPHCDA also trained 1519 PHCs workers on how to deliver integrated clinical services with modules incorporating HIV/AIDS tuberculosis and malaria services within the PHC facilities in addition to sexual and reproductive health and the treatment of childhood illnesses.”

He said his agency and its partners would continue to support the implementation of HIV/AIDS services at the PHC level in Nigeria.

“The implementation will follow the hub and spoke model, with linkages between PHC and referral facilities as in the Midwives Service Scheme,” he added.

He noted: “NPHCDA maintains a central electronic database of all the PHC health workers and managers who have trained as part of PHAID for the purpose of tracking where these health workers are based. These are the first steps in ensuring that our PHC system has the capacity to implement the decentralization agenda of the federal government of Nigeria. Our partner will deliver HIV services in the states where they have a presence, and for others, we are in discussion with other United States Government funded organizations in each state to directly engage the MSS facilities in the provision of HIV services.”

A cross section of participants at the stakeholders consultative meeting on co-ordination of satellite aided search and rescue services in Nigeria on Tuesday in Lagos

Mimiko commends NPHCDA scheme in Ondo NDO State Governor, Dr. O Olusegun Mimiko has applauded the National Primary Health Care Development Agency’s (NPHCDA) health personnel intervention schemes in the state.

The Governor gave the commendation, when he received the Chief Executive of the Agency, Dr. Ado Muhammad in Akure recently.

Mimiko, who described the scheme as “a great idea that deserves commendation”, observed that the posting of Midwives and health extension officers has gone a long way in assisting the state government to provide manpower in the their health institutions.

The Governor told the delegation that his administration was committed to providing the necessary infrastructure to its people and expressed the state’s readiness to collaborate with both Federal Government and International donor Agencies in ensuring that it achieves this.

Muhammad, while

responding, said he was in the state to attend an appraisal meeting with World Bank officials on the World Bank health assisted projects in Ondo State, adding that he would use the opportunity to carry out advocacy visits to the remotest parts of the state to see their workers who are assigned to the various healthcare facilities.

Muhammad commended Ondo State Government for the success of its World Bank health assisted programmes and described the structures and health facilities, equipment provided by the state government for its people as Godly.

While he also applauded the State Government on the establishment of the State Primary Health Care Board, he called on Mimiko to erect a focus management team to move the State Primary Health Care services to a great height.

The team also visited the new ultra modern cold chain facility built by the State Government and Mother and Child Comprehensive Hospital in Ondo town.

Beetroots fights cancer, boosts endurance, lowers blood pressure ITH its sweet, earthy taste and ruby-red interiW or, beetroot is a favourite of foodies, but there’s far more to it than that.

The majority of beetroot’s benefits stem from the unusually high levels of nitrates it contains -gram for gram it possesses about 20 times more than most other vegetables.

Nitrates have suffered a bad reputation because of their use as a food additive.

Animal experiments had linked their commercial use to cancer and in the Sixties the World Health Organisation set upper limits on their use. However, recent studies have shown that nitrates in beetroot lower blood pressure.

A 2010 study carried out by Queen Mary’s University in London found that drinking just one 250ml glass of beetroot juice a day dramatically lowered blood pressure for several hours.

It also found that the higher the blood pressure, the greater the drop observed.

A new study carried out by the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia, found that a 500ml glass of the juice led to a significant drop in blood pressure after six hours. If beetroot juice was consumed widely, researchers say we could see a ten per cent reduction in death from cardiovascular disease.

Nitrates lower blood pressure because bacteria in the mouth and gut convert it into the gas nitric oxide, which relaxes and widens the blood vessels, allowing blood to circulate more freely.

Studies carried out by the University of Exeter have shown that nitrates not only lower blood pressure but improve stamina too.

A 2010 study found that adults who drank 500ml of the juice a day could exercise 16 per cent longer than those given a drink supplement with nitrates removed.

“Nitrates work in synergy with the other antioxidants that beetroot contains to

reduce the oxygen needed by muscles,’ says Stephen Bailey, who worked on the study. ‘This enables them to work more efficiently and slows fatigue.”

Indeed, disabled athlete David Weir put some of his gold medal-winning success at the London Paralympics last summer down to a regular intake of beetroot juice.

England rugby player Ben Foden as well as marathon runner Helen Davies also rate the drink as a great endurance booster.

A 2011 study carried out by Wake Forest University in North Carolina found beetroot may slow the progression of dementia.

It is thought this is because nitric oxide boosts blood flow to the brain.

Beetroot’s high folic acid content – approximately 75 per cent of your recommended daily allowance (RDA) in just two or three small beetroots – may also play a role as previous research has suggested the nutrient protects against Alzheimer’s.

Betacyanin, the pigment that gives beetroot its rich hue, is a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to possess anti-cancer properties.

In 2011, a study carried out

by Howard University in Washington, USA, found that betacyanin slowed tumour growth by 12.5 per cent when exposed to prostate and breast cancer cells.

More research needs to be carried out to see if consuming beetroot would have a similar anti-cancer effect.

Nutritional therapist Dr. Elisabeth Philipps recommends the vegetable for digestive troubles.

“Beetroot is high in fibre and a 100g portion – about two or three small beetroot – contains ten per cent of your Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA), which helps regulate bowel movements,” she says.

“It also contains a substance called betaine which normalises stomach acid secretion.”

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Education Our greatest challenge is getting qualified academic staff, says Amin The vice chancellor of the Federal University of Dutse, Jigawa State, Prof. Jibrilla Amin, spoke to journalists including JOHN AKUBO recently on how far the institution has gone since inception two years ago: Excerpts: About the University The Federal University, Dutse is one of the nine new universities created by the Federal Government in February 2011, to improve quality and access as well as ensure equity in the distribution of federal agencies in the country. It is strategizing to ensure that it does not fall victim of the problems bedeviling older universities, which robbed off on the educational standard of the country.

The university will not offer diploma programmes but would rather concentrate on undergraduate programmes that will lead to providing high level manpower for the country.

The bane of academic excellence in the older universities is not unconnected with the preponderance of diploma courses.

Most of the older universities delved into diploma programmes with the aim of generating revenue for the universities, but ended up creating more problems for the system. Since the polytechnics were established to cater for the training of middle level manpower, there will be no need for the university to delve into such programmes, which will be unnecessary distraction.

The National Universities Commission had given the Dutse varsity the mandate not to admit more than 200 students at inception. Hence, it would be a disservice to the people and the institution that is expected to produce high-level manpower, to get into training middle level manpower.

How are you dealing with accommodation challenge?

The other challenge, which bedeviled older universities was the lack of accommodation for students which has prompted us to appeal to private investors to come on board and build hostels in partnership with the institution to avoid similar setbacks. We are building a 100-bed hostel to accommodate more students, but this will not be enough for our students. We are therefore appealing to the private sector to come and augment our efforts as well as build staff quarters for renting.

We have been reaching out because government has asked us to reach out to private establishments. In fact we are not supposed to build any hostel going by government’s guidelines as at the time the university was established because the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) does not allow people to build hostel

Amin or staff quarters with its funds. But because of the pressure we mounted on them, they allowed us to renovate the existing hostels, which we had and this is why we are able to build this additional 100-bed hostel and we have been looking for partners that will come and build additional hostels and operate them.

But the good news is that even the Government has realized the importance of building more hostels, at least in the new Federal universities, and they have promised to build a 500-bed hostel. But then, if you add our 205 students to the new intakes of 506, you will see that we still need more hostel accommodation.

What progress have you made in the last two years?

The proclamation of the Federal University, Dutse by the Federal Government was done in February 2011 and the University formally took off on March 10, 2011 when the Hon. Minister of Education, Professor, ruqayyat rufai introduced the Vice Chancellor and the registrar, Malam Yusuf Adamu to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.

Since then, we have been planning, designing, building, transforming, remodeling and working assiduously in many ways to actualize the vision of our proprietors.

The Jigawa State Government later donated the Dutse Model school as the takeoff site as well as 500 hectares of land behind the takeoff site as the university’s permanent site. We are now in our second year. We have completed the first academic session 2011 – 2012. We are starting the new session 2012-2013 in April 2013. In our first year,

we admitted 205 students. In the new session, we are expecting 506 students.

In the first session we started with the following programs; English, mathematics, microbiology, Agriculture and Criminology and security studies.

How has the funding been like?

We have received adequate personnel grants from the inception, so that has not been a problem. And for the take off, the TETFund gave each of the nine new Universities N1.5b that we have spent and are still spending. In 2012, we were put on the Federal budget and we were allocated N277m for capital projects. But as you know, the Federal Government has not fully funded the capital projects. It is what we used to create a few roads.

At the permanent site, we have started the university farm. You are aware that the problem between the National Assembly and the Federal Government in terms of implementation of budgets. You will see the wall we have started that we couldn’t complete. Some of our roads, car parks and even the farm are affected.

We are hoping that they will give us the money but by God’s grace, we will complete them with the 2013 allocation so this is the situation.

We receive about N7m for overhead monthly, and it covers everything that is not capital; from electricity to water, vehicle maintenance, if we are to travel, about 11 or 12 items.

What are your greatest challenges?

My greatest challenge is getting qualified lecturers with doctorate degrees (PhD). We have a few with Master’s, and we don’t want to make

the mistake of older universities. Even now, we are yet to get even one application from a person with PhD in microbiology. We have been advertising.

The greatest challenge facing Nigerian Universities today is that there are many of us and we need teachers to adequately cover the Nigerian Universities. Qualified academic staff is my greatest challenge.

Extracurricular activities Currently, our students are engage in one-week community service in Jigawa State. About 105 will be involved in a tree planting exercise; 44 students will serve in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development; 33 will be in Dutse and Birnin Kudu Prisons; while 25 students will work at the Jigawa State Judiciary.

Linkages One of the significant achievements of the Federal University, Dutse is the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the North Dakota State University, USA to develop the institution’s programmes. The objective of this linkage is to share knowledge, develop collaborative research, education, exchange and professional development programmes for students, staff and faculty, and also to conduct seminars and research. e-Library The University has initiated an e-library as recommended by the NUC. This is in addition to the conventional library, which has been stocked with upto-date books and journals to facilitate research and learning.

The university has also completed a spacious and well-furnished Physics, Chemistry, Computer and Biology laboratories for students’ practical engagement. We also have a functional computer centre with complete Internet facilities for the use of staff and students.

We plan to move from the Dutse rural grid to Dutse Urban grid from the 2013 federal budget. The university has acquired eight standby generators, some of which have been installed and fully functional to ensure constant power supply, thereby complementing supply from the national grid (PHCN).

A functional water system with several boreholes and two reservoirs of about 90,000 litres are also in place to serve the students and staff of the university. We are also drilling more boreholes and more storage facilities to ensure adequate water supply all year round.

A designated business area is now available for students to patronize for their daily needs, plus a sprawling students’ centre in the last stages of completion.

The university has engaged private individuals to provide quality and affordable meals to students in the cafeteria. The university monitors the activities of the cafeteria operators to ensure that they comply with our standards in their service delivery.

Fountain varsity graduates 128, Sambo, Adegunwa, Olasupo receive honorary awards

By Mary Ogar rO Chancellor and chairP man of Fountain University’s governing council, Prof Nimbe Adedipe, has described the need for the federal government to support private universities as “compelling” and “necessary.”

But his views, which tally with several others, expressed variously by private university administrators on the need for the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to also include private universities in its budget, is unlikely to sway the federal government. Such a shift in TETFund’s mandate would require an amendment of its law, a complicated process, with an assured strong opposition from the Academic Staff Union of

Universities (ASUU).

Nimbe, who was the pioneer vice chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUAAB), spoke at the university’s recent second convocation ceremony, where 128 graduating students received their certificates. Twelve of them made the first class, 39 had second class upper, 61 made second class lower while 16 had third class degrees.

Besides, honorary degrees were conferred on three eminent Nigerians: Wife of the Vice-President, Hajia Amina Sambo, a banker and Chairman, the Nasrul-Lahi-LFatih Society of Nigeria’s (NASFAT) Board of Trustees, Alhaji Lateef Olasupo, a business magnate and philanthropist,

Alhaji Suleiman Adebola Adegunwa.

Adedipe was of the opinion that the six-year old institution, which has a current student population of 761 tailored towards its required carrying capacity, has been consistent with its academic activities, responded to its physical and infrastructural needs, and had instituted a virile policy of staff development since inception.

On academics, he said: “the university has been doing well in the area of accreditation, which is reflected in the fact that the university has not been denied any accreditation status by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and efforts are also at an advanced stage for the pro-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 56

A cross section of graduating students of Fountain University, Oshogbo, Osun State during the 2nd convocation ceremony held recently.

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Shun negative friends, dream chokers, Jolley tells varsity students

By Mary Ogar N spite of the high unemIeconomic ployment rate and tough situation in the country, an international motivational speaker, Willie Jolley has challenged Nigerian youths to step forward and make the best out of life, against all odds.

Jolley, who authored the book – A Setback is a Set Up for a Comeback, spoke at the maiden edition of the First Bank Youth excel series, organized for undergraduates in federal higher institutions, as part of the bank’s youth empowerment initiatives recently.

The motivational speaker and expert on “ Attitudes of excellence” and “ Comeback,” who was in the country under the sponsorship of First Bank, shared life-changing experiences with students, drawn from the Universities of Lagos (UNILAG) and Ibadan (UI).

In an interview with The Guardian at the UNILAG edition, Jolley, who encourages people to rise above their circumstances and maximize their potentials, said his reason for coming to Nigeria “is to give Nigerian youths a positive mindset that would inspire them to forge ahead.”

He said: “I want the youths of Nigeria to know that there will be challenges. But in spite of these challenges, their failure or success would be as a result of their mindset. So, I want to help them develop a new positive thinking mindset; a new thinking skill set and help them see that the possibilities are unlimited, despite the challenges here in Nigeria. even with unemployment and other pressing challenges all around, that they can make it. They can succeed and that

they can prosper.”

He continued: “I was the speaker that Fords Motors company in 2006 when they were at the brink of bankruptcy. I had to work with them between 2006 and 2008. They were able to take my message and transform the business and the country and now, Ford has grown to be one of the biggest companies in America.”

Jolley encouraged the undergraduates to adopt what he described as “five simple steps” to make the best out of life. His words: “First, I want to share with them the power of having big dreams. Then you have to make some tough decisions and then, you have to take action. You must have great desire and then you have to pursue excellence in everything you do. When you do all these, opportunities would come, pathways would open up and you would begin to see success.

Money would not be something you would run after, but money would run after you and jump in your pocket.”

On human capital development in the country, he argued that government was limited in what it could offer to help youths reach the zenith. To that extent, he charged the youths to set visions for and set themselves apart, no matter the setback, circumstance or situation.

“Sometimes, the government would help you in determining your destiny,” he averred, “but it is you who must do the work to determine your destiny. If the government comes, great, but still, you cannot wait for government. You have to go about making it happen because this is your time, your life, your future and

Community hands over land, documents for NOUN’s Study Centre He Limeri of Awa-Ijebu in T Ijebuland, Ogun State, Oba Amos Awobajo, recently handed over documents and particulars, including the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), of a 30-acre-piece of land he and his community donated, for the construction of the National Open University of Nigeria’s (NOUN)’s Study Centre in Awa Ijebu.

According to a statement by the institution’s Head of Media and Information dept, Dr Ronke Ogunmakin, the monarch, before handing over the land to the university, revealed that the 30 acres were part of a total of 94.5 acres of land his community was willing to donate to the NOUN, as its contribution towards the advancement of education among the people of the community.

“The donation of the land to the university is based on the belief shared by the community on the vital role of education in national and personal developments of any nation and her citizens,” the monarch said. explaining how the donation came about, Awobajo said: “Ladies and gentlemen, you will recall that in 2009, when deliberations were on about the siting of the National Open University of Nigeria in Awa-Ijebu, the Awa Community promised to donate 30 acres of land for the purpose. It is with great joy that I give God the glory

for making it possible for us to make good our promise.

The land, which is a choice one, is located along the popular Ibadan – Ijebu-Ode Highway.”

The Kabiyesi, while expressing his subjects’ firm belief in education as a catalyst for growth, enjoined young and adult Nigerians to embrace NOUN to rekindle their long lost hope of higher education through the Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode.

Receiving the transfer document from the Limeri, the Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Vincent Ado Tenebe, thanked the people of the community, noting that the gesture, through the cooperation and understanding of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, the Local Government Area, monarch, and the entire people of AwaIjebu was commendable.

The Vice Chancellor, accompanied by top management staff of the university, urged Nigerians who are desirous of further education to do so by embracing NOUN’s programmes, noting that the institution “is not just a federal university, but also an international institution.”

In a related development, NOUN has just published its first 2013 admission advertisement for admissions into its various academic programmes for the 2013/2014 academic session. The first 2013 e-examination of the university is also ongoing.

your possibilities. I hope the government helps, but what happens when they (government) don’t? Does it mean you will stop? You have to keep going and set a vision for yourself.”

On First Bank’s initiative, he said: “First Bank worked really hard to bring me here. This is a bank that truly cares about the people of Nigeria and I want people to support them. This programme is what people would be talking about for a long time because against all odds, we are going to win. For all those who have experienced one setback or the other, this is the time for a comeback.”

At the University of Ibadan edition, which also attracted students from The Polytechnic, Ibadan and emmanuel Alayande College of education, the theme: “Against all Odds” was an inspiring session, as even the physically challenged students were not left out.

Jolley, who told the students about his humble beginnings, said: “I did spend some time in clubs as a jazz and jingle singer to sponsor my education. For one to be successful in life, there is need to have a dream, which is the drive to success. Those who are successful in life are those with a recipe for success. It is not about money, but dreams. Money does not make one a success; what makes success is what draws money to you and that is

Cross section of undergraduates at the First Bank Youth Excel Series, which featured motivational speaker, Mr Willie Jolley, and held at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State recently. your big dream.”

He enjoined the youths to be on the look out for dream destroyers just as he explained that while a dream “is the key to success, there are still some chokers of a good dream, such as negative thoughts and hanging around negative friends.”

First Bank’s Head of Marketing and Corporate

Communication, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney said the initiative was designed to motivate, inspire and encourage Nigerian youths towards their dreams. She said: “First Bank is the first to introduce this kind of product in the area of youth empowerment as an integral part of its corporate responsibility. Our goal is to remain a strong supporter of efforts geared

towards equipping the youths with the skills and tools, required for socio-economic empowerment.”

Jolley also authored several books, including: It Only Takes a Minute to Change Your Life; A Setback Is A Setup For A Comeback; Turn Setbacks Into Greenbacks and An Attitude of Excellence, endorsed by Stephen Covey.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

52 Education

12 NCCE workers acquire accreditation certificates WELVE National T Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) staff members have received Certificates in College Accreditation, after a training done in collaboration with the Education Sector Support Programme (ESSPIN), a British Government funded programme.

According to a statement by ESSPIN’s Communications and Knowledge Management Coordinator, Bankole Ebisemiju, the awards, recognized by the British Accreditation Council, were given after an intensive period of training and rigorous assessment, in accordance with international best practices.

The programme is part of measures being introduced by the NCCE to improve the quality of basic education in Nigeria. The statement noted that a new accreditation toolkit, to be used in accrediting colleges of education, has been developed. Only qualified assessors will henceforth be members of accreditation teams.

Both the Executive Secretary of the NCCE, Prof.

Mohammed Junaid, and ESSPIN’s National Programme Manager, Kayode Sanni, con-

gratulated the staff members for their achievement.

The commission announced that more training programmes, which would be open to both the NCCE and non-NCCE staff members, were underway. Already, a second batch of seven NCCE and eight college staff members have attended training and passed the Stage 1 written assessment. They now have to demonstrate competence during an accreditation visit, using NCCE’s new toolkit and undertake a viva in order to qualify.

The commission intends to conduct extensive awarenessraising programmes among the colleges of education, on the new accreditation arrangements and also to encourage improved quality assurance procedures in the colleges themselves.

Before the presentation of the certificates, NCCE’s Deputy Director, Ugwuanyi Chukwuma on behalf of the group, ceremonially presented a set of the new Accreditation Toolkit documents, developed by the NCCE from the Commonwealth of Learning (COL0 model, with the support of ESSPIN, to the Executive Secretary.

Group petitions legislators over UNIOSUN VC selection process GROUP, the Justice and A Integrity Forum, has asked the Osun State House of Assembly to “urgently” intervene in the current vice chancellor selection process being undertaken by the Osun State University’s governing council.

In a petition addressed to the Speaker, Mr Najeemdeen Salam, the group registered its objection to the shortlisting of four out of the seven applicants, on the premise that the four “had exceeded the statutory age for the post.” The group insisted that going by what it described as the “golden clause” in the university system, candidates who would have attained the age of 60 at the resumption of duty “need not apply.”

The group alleged that one of the shortlisted candidates is 66 years old and a “contract staff” in one of the federal universities; another is already above 63 years; yet another is 62 years and two months, while the last one is also above 62 years old.

The group observed that one of the shortlisted candidates was also a member of the search committee, insisting: “it is certainly improper for an interested party in the vice chancellorship race to also serve as a member of the search committee.

It continued: “We wish to observe that the selection process for the appointment of UNIOSUN’s second vice chancellor is a queer one. It is surprising that the Council had opened all applications for the post and shortlisted some over-aged candidates before setting up a search committee.

Insisting that the on-going selection process contravened the university’s law, the group implored the state house of assembly to ensure that all those who applied are given a fair chance. The group also asked the house to

look into the technical disqualification of some candidates on the basis of age and experience. It added: “We pray the house to make express declaration on the retiring age of university professors under Osun State University Law of 2006 and determine whether professors between the ages of 62 and 66 could be offered substantive appointment as vice chancellor and yet have a single term of five years as stipulated in UNIOSUN law.

However, a knowledge source told The Guardian that the real problem was not whether the retirement age was either 65 or 70, but a regulation that all applicants for the post of vice chancellor must have been appointed a professor for at least 10 years.

“You see, that petition and others before it are the handiwork of some of those who were disqualified from the race, because they have only been professors for between six and eight years.”

He continued: “People need to understand that Prof Sola Akinrinade was appointed the first vice chancellor of UNIOSUN when there was no governing council in place. What we had at that time was the Implementation Committee.

That committee made all appointments, from the vice chancellor, to Registrar, Bursar, up to the messenger without the governing council in place. So, what is the problem? If the present governing council has now decided to obey what is expressly written in the university law, that all applicants for the post of vice chancellor must have been appointed a professor for at least 10 years, why should anybody query that?

The governing council is doing the right thing. That requirement is in the university law. Let all those who are not yet qualified wait for their turn.”

Lagos city poly graduates deplore discrimination against HND

By Mary Ogar MIDST the euphoria of A completing their studies against all odds, some of the 1226 graduating students, who participated in the Lagos City Polytechnic’s seventh convocation ceremony held recently, have expressed deep worry over the country’s high rate of employment.

They also want the federal government to put concrete measures in place, to check the glaring discrimination between holders of the Higher National Diploma (HND) being awarded by polytechnics, and degrees being awarded by universities.

Mr. Gabriel Odede, who graduated with a distinction from the department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, said it was shameful that expatriates with no academic qualification are brought into the country to take up high positions, just by virtue of their being trained abroad. His claim could, however, not be verified.

He also condemned what he described as “the attitude” of private and other multinational companies, which, according to him, also relegate Nigerian graduates with high academic qualifications to the background, “while placing foreigners in top positions.”

His words: “Our best brains are making waves abroad and that is because they are not being encour-

age here at home. It is our government that kills our dream. We have young Nigerians that have come up with great ideas and inventions, but they were never given any chance. They will kill your dream even before it takes off. So, the current setback we face in the country and the education system as a whole, has nothing to do with the youths but the government.”

Another graduate, Isaac Obembe, warned that Nigeria would continue to produce idle graduates if the discrimination between the HND and university degree graduates is not effectively resolved.

His words: “The government is guilty of this. The mindset that the ND or HND graduate is inferior needs to be changed. The HND graduate is practically oriented and trained. Students from Mechanical and Electronics Engineering of the Lagos City Polytechnic came together and produced an electronic car. I don’t think that has ever been done by any institution in Nigeria.”

Obembe also charged both the government and private sectors to look at the practical capabilities of polytechnic graduates and explore their problem solving abilities, to facilitate development in all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The Chairman, Governing Council, Mr. Babatunde Odufuwa argued that little attention was being paid to

the youths in the current drive to promote entrepreneurial education. He said: “the tendency has been either to subsume the youth into the general adult population or to ignore their effort to forge a livelihood through enterprise activities. And this has resulted in the lack of understanding of the potential benefits of youth entrepreneurship as a means of improving youth livelihood”.

For Lagos City Polytechnic, he confirmed that the students have demonstrated creativity and skills by designing and building an electric car powered by solar energy, designing and conceptualizing another version of “Facebook,” including paint production, academic gowns, shoes and bags among others.

Reiterating the need for qualitative education at all levels, he described education as a prime mover of any modernizing society, stressing that the natural resources and accumulated capital of the country will invariably remain dormant unless its human resources are adequately developed and utilized to exploit the non human resources and transform them into consumable articles.

Odufuwa also expressed regret that despite 52 years of development efforts after independence, the quality of life for majority of Nigerians is still deteriorating. To improve the quality of life of

Nigerians, he noted, the country must generate indigenous knowledge, diffuse and transfer information, and utilize the knowledge in productive activities.

Besides, he emphasized that if Nigeria wishes to participate in the knowledgeintensive global economy, it must be able to produce large numbers of technologically literate, innovatively receptive, highly adaptable and problem solving people, with a pre-disposition to life long learning.

The keynote speaker and Managing Director, Lagos state Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) Mr. Muhammed Taofeek Oki who was represented by Mr. Babajimi Benson spoke on the theme “ Human Capital and National Development: The Role of Polytechnics. He explained that although, polytechnics were modeled to be institutions where multiple skills are taught, but for reasons ranging from underfunding, mediocrity, corruption, wrong prioritization and lack of vision, Nigerian polytechnics have lost their natural role and are now the alter egos of universities.

“They are now fallbacks for students who are unable to obtain admission into universities to read business course. Expectedly, after graduation, these products are regarded as inferior to their university counterparts,” he said.

$38 billion needed yearly to achieve basic, junior secondary education, says UNESCO EW calculations by N UNESCO’s Education for All Global Monitoring Report have revealed a US$38 billion annual financing gap, to achieve basic and lower secondary education of good quality for all children in poor countries and ensuring the most marginalized are reached.

According to a statement

by UNESCO, a study released by the Global Monitoring Report team, ahead of the 2015 deadline for the Education for All (EFA) goals, shows that filling the finance gap for basic education and achieving new ambitious education targets post-2015 is possible, if governments and donors prioritize allocating resources towards education, and specifically towards those most in need. This revealtionis coming ahead of the Global Meeting on education in the post 2015 development agenda, scheduled for Dakar, Senegal, between March 18 and 19.

Consultations held in all regions ahead of the meeting reflect broad support for including the achievement of universal lower secondary education in the post-2015 development framework.

According to EFA Global Monitoring Report calculations, the financing gap per year to achieve basic (pre-primary, primary and adult literacy) as well as lower secondary education for all stands at US$38 billion.

About US$26 billion is needed annually to achieve basic education in poor countries. This gap has

widened from US$16 billion, calculated in 2010 by the EFA Global Monitoring Report.

This is primarily due to stagnating aid to basic education, which currently stands at only US$3 billion per annum, denying millions of children an education.

“While US$26 billion sounds like a large gap to fill, the EFA Global Monitoring Report’s analysis shows that it is possible to raise the resources needed to get every child into school by 2015,” said Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO. “In 2000, donors promised that no country would be prevented from achieving Education for All by a lack of

resources. They must now step up their efforts alongside governments, and make sure finance is not the obstacle standing in the way of helping the remaining 61 million children go to school.”

The paper presents possible solutions that would help make basic education affordable by 2015. If governments and donors directed one fifth of their budgets to education and prioritized pre-primary and primary education, some US$11.5 billion would be raised: US$7.5 billion from governments and $4 billion from aid donors. Currently around one quarter of donors’ direct aid to educa-

tion US$2.4 billion never even leaves donor countries and is instead spent on scholarships given to students from developing countries to study in donor countries.

This money could instead be sent to support children in the world’s poorest countries and help them make it to primary school.

Fulfilling commitments already made would also help fill the gap: If those donors who pledged to allocate 0.7 per cent of their gross national income to aid kept their promise, a further US$1.3 billion a year would be made available for education.

Director, Greensprings School, Lagos, Mrs. Olayiwola Koiki (left); Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim and Head, B2B Division, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Ayodele Adegboye with Greensprings’ pupils, at the launch of Samsung’s Smart School solution at the school in Lagos.

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Why physical education is important, by Okuneye

By Ujunwa Atueyi

nent.

Lagos State University (LASU) Professor of Exercise Physiology, Rafiu Okuneye has called for a legislation that would make the provision of an adequate space, conducive for Physical Education (PE) compulsory, for all applying for license to establish private schools across the country.

Delivering the institution’s 50th Inaugural lecture titled: “Human Body, Human Wellness: The Perpetual Antidotes,” recently, Okuneye insisted that education was not all about speaking English or other foreign languages. He asserted that education must also engage children to use physical activities as a means of acquiring skills. Knowledge and attitudes, “which contribute to the optimal development of man.”

To that extent, he observed the current practice, where some individuals convert a one-storey building to a nursery and primary school would be discouraged. He argued, in his 41-page lecture, that for man to survive, he must move from one place to another, adding that the concept of PE, which includes the economy of movement, entails this crucial compo-

His words: “Never again shall any Governor cancel Physical Education as a school subject in this country; or any agency, whether federal or state, remove or step down the status of PE in basic education syllabus. Such an action is a disservice to human development. Physical and Health Education in basic education should be given more attention, due to its numerous benefits in skill acquisition and human wellness.” “ The Primary school is the only social institution where a greater number of children could be reached with the immense benefits of PE to the physical, mental and socio-emotional health, and also as an antidote to unproductive citizenship. And so, space and adequate facil-

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ities must be available for pupils to vigorously engage in physical activity during recess or break time.”

He continued: My findings revealed that PE is not regularly taught in the class while practical classes are almost neglected. Most teachers in primary schools are women, who strive to remain radiant the whole day and as such, not ready to change into and out of sports dresses. Consequently, practical classes suffer great setbacks; teachers in primary schools do not possess sufficient requisite skills to teach and evaluate PE. They usually complained about lack of space, inadequate facilities and equipment.”

To this end, he charged the federal government to embark on an effective mon-

Never again shall any Governor cancel Physical Education as a school subject in this country; or any agency, whether federal or state, remove or step down the status of PE in basic education syllabus. Such an action is a disservice to human development. Physical and Health Education in basic education should be given more attention, due to its numerous benefits in skill acquisition and human wellness

itoring of the teaching of physical and health education in Nigerian schools.

He noted that more campaign was required at the community, state and national levels, in creating awareness on the benefits of regular physical activities to the well being of man.

He averred that the perpetual antidote to the occurrence of hypokinetic and chronic diseases, lies in man’s ability to prioritize wellness and avoid the abuse of human body. “Our wealth cannot guarantee our wellbeing, rather our body and wellness guarantee our wealth,” he stated.

According to him, hypokinetic diseases are related to lack of physical activity, which usually become chronic. They include, he said, obesity, diabetes, cancer, stroke, heart attack and hypertension. He said: “Others are atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, cirrhosis of the liver and chronic low back pain. People are unaware of most of the diseases until the point when they cause major complications and in the worst cases, death. But results of various studies have proved that hypokinetic or chronic disease hardly strive in individuals who habitually engage in exercise.”

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Toyota, Elizade varsity to collaborate on automobile engineering From Niyi Bello, Akure HE giant Asian automobile company, Toyota Motor Corporation Japan, has expressed its readiness to collaborate with Elizade University , Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State on imparting practical automobile engineering knowledge to students of the institution According to the Registrar of the institution, Omololu Adegbenro, the initiative, which came at the instance of the Asian company, would entail practical training for automobile engineering students from the institution at the company’s assembly plants in Japan and South Africa and provision of needed instructional materials for the institution.

Adegbenro, who made this disclosure in a chat with The Guardian during the visit of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, said the collaboration with the Asian company would make the yet-to-take-off automobile engineering department of the university, the best in Africa .

He said: “It is a shame that university-trained mechanical engineers in the country go to roadside mechanics to fix their cars. This is one of the problems of our human resources that Elizade university has come to address with this initiative, where first hand practical knowledge would be made available to our engineering graduates.”

The university, which has just begun academic programme in the current academic session with two faculties and designed to chart a new direction for Nigeria’s university system, was established by Chief Michael AdeOjo, the chairman of Elizade Motors and Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL).

The proprietor, who was on hand to receive Adeboye, his friend since the University of Nigeria , Nsukka (UNN) days in the early sixties, however called on the Federal Government to allow “a measure of freedom” in the way private universities are being run in the country.

He lamented the inhibitions being put on the path of private university administrators by handlers of the education

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sector at the federal level “particularly in the operations of some laws that are hindering the development of private universities.”

According to him, “we should be allowed to realize our own dreams the way we planned.

All these laws are standing on the ways of smooth academic activities and we should, for instance, be able to bring in anyone we want from anywhere in the world.

“If we are all complaining that our university system is not good enough and that we should do something to revive the sector, why then are some of us who want to bring the desired change, being restricted and confined into doing things in the old ways.

“The truth is that if we continue to face all these inhibitions and we continue to be forced to do things the usual Nigerian ways, sooner there will be no difference between the old universities with their problems and challenges and the new ones which are set up to correct those problems.”

Adeboye, who was conducted round the university facilities by the institution’s management, led by Ade-Ojo, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Valentine Aletor and others before holding a short prayer session with the university community charged members of the academic communities in Nigeria particularly staff and students to imbibe the spirit of Godliness “in order to live a fulfilled academic life.”

The cleric who said there is a clear difference between a professor who knows God and the one who does not added that no matter how brilliant one is in the realm of academics, “without God, such a person is a fool and there are many fools out there who claim to be professors”, and urged the staff and students to embrace God alongside their academic pursuits.

The cleric who noted that everyone who is impacting knowledge on others also require God’s divine wisdom to excel said, “There are so many educated people who are fools. No matter your level of education and knowledge, you are a fool if you don’t know God because wisdom is the application of knowledge which comes only from God.”

Govt relocates UNIABUJA engineering students Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja S part of the moves to perA manently resolve the accreditation saga rocking the Engineering Faculty of the University of Abuja, the federal government yesterday took the bold step by distributing the affected students into six federal universities with subsisting accreditation in the country to enable them complete their degree programmes.

The decision is coming just as the engineering students plan to stage a massive protest on the National Assembly today to register their displeasure about the university’s management to go ahead with the severallypostponed second semester examinations scheduled for Monday, next week.

The faculty, along side Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture and Health Sciences were suspended in April last year, following their failure to meet accreditation requirements of their respective professional bodies. Besides, attempt to relocate the students on the heels of violent protest that trailed the suspension of the

programmes were rejected by both the students management of the institution, with the latter claiming that the issues could be resolved in six months.

The universities where the students are expected to complete their programmes, according to the National Universities Commission (NUC) yesterday included Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi; Modibbo Adama University of Technology, (MAUT), Yola, Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna; Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and University of Ilorin.(UNILORIN), Already a tripartite meeting involving the Vice Chancellors, Deans of Engineering Faculties of the affected institutions, management of the institution as well as the Task Team constituted by NUC to help resolve the UNIABUJA crisis met yesterday for than four hours to take the final decision on the matter. Yesterday’s meeting followed an exploratory meeting held on February 18,

where details of the students involved were to be made available yesterday.

But briefing newsmen after the meeting the Chairman of the NUC Task Team, Prof.

Felix Chiedu Mafiana, said the decision to allow the students go the other universities was taken when taken into cognizance the fact that the students had stagnated for a long after several failed attempts to get the professional body, the Council of Registered Engineering of Nigeria, (COREN) to accredit the programme.

Going by the figure released by Mafiana 334 engineering students would be involved in the movement. A break down showed that at least three sets of final students would be moving to FUT Minna to complete their programmes after one year of “rigorous” practical work, while the remaining 300 and 400 level students would be distributed to the remaining five universities.

To ensure that genuine students were offered the window of opportunity, Mafiana said the Task Team would ensure that the results transcripts of all the affected stu-

dents would be transferred to the universities concerned.

Similarly, he said committee would screen all particulars of the students to ensure that they met the requirements for admissions into the degree programmes, which include five credit passes in Mathematics, English, Physics, Chemistry and another science subjects Besides, he acknowledged the fact that prior to the crisis, the university offered remedial programmes to enable some candidates to remedy their deficiencies as a result they did not secure admission through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) but not that, a channel of discussion had been opened with JAMB with a view to regularizing their admission process.

He also indicated students who did not meet the required subjects for engineering studies, but who wanted to change their course of study within the university would be offered a window of opportunity to do so within extant laws of the institution.

Participants at the My Education Quiz Play, held at the Dream Factory Studios, Ikeja, Lagos recently.

Fountain varsity graduates 128, Sambo, Adegunwa, Olasupo receive honorary awards CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49 posed College of Arts, being the Phase Two, as outlined in our Academic Brief.”

On the choice of honorary doctor degree recipients, he noted that the Council and Senate of the university approved the three recipients, based on their antecedents in lending support and assistance towards the development of the university and the nation.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof, Bashiru Raji disclosed that the university would soon be announcing a new strategy aimed at helping it to better adapt to the rapidly developing geopolitical and technological changes. Part of the strategy, according to him, would include the expansion of the university’s activities in value and range, while also reinforcing the necessary resources, developing its outreach technique, through the establishment of a formal programme in education studies, humanities and improvement of internet based techniques to promote e-learning.

He said that the university intends to create a desk to specifically seek new funding and support opportunities for its learning, teaching and research efforts.

His words: “Our quest is to pursue high quality education and to nurture good morals and Godly character. In the near future, Fountain University will be a gathering place for great minds. I see this institution as a place that breeds and promote exercises of critical thinking, that is needed in all circumstances, related to responsible and effective decision making

in Nigeria”.

According to him the university is vigorously pursuing infrastructure and utility development with the completion of a 160 bed-space hostel for male students. The construction of a new multi-purpose hall with blocks of offices and another 320 bed- space hostel is in progress.

In line with the promotion of staff welfare, he explained that not less than 24 teaching and non-teaching staff of the university have been promoted, in addition to recruiting a Professor and three Readers to boost the quality of the faculty.

He said: “We continue to internationalize our operations with linkages and collaborations with sister Universities in Malaysia and other African countries. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently signed between the University and the International Islamic University of Malaysia. Under the agreement, academic staff of the University will be offered admission through an exchange program. The papers of the first set of would-be beneficiaries are currently being processed.”

Apart from funds set aside for staff development program, he affirmed that University also benefitted from Zakat Funds set aside by NASFAT for this purpose. “We continue to strive for excellence among our students by the provision of scholarship to “FUO Scholars,” who continue to maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.5. We also have the Wosilat Aregbensola Scholarship scheme for the best

students in each Department,” he added.

In his address, NASFAT’s National President, Mr. Sheriff Yusuf expressed joy over the very high rating and evaluation by employers of the first set of graduates that left the institution in 2011. He commended members of NASFAT whose financial and material contributions provided the pool of resources invested in the setting up and running of the university till date.

“For achieving this much in the FUO project, we must now go back and mobilize to brace up for more work that needs to be done to further boost the standing of this university” he said.

With Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.88 out of a possible 5.0 to bag a first class degree in microbiology, 23-year-old Mariam Murtala did not only make first class but also emerged the best graduating student.

After being called to the podium nine times to receive her cash award totaling N80, 000 for the Chancellors prize for most outstanding student of the year, Pro-Chancellor’s prize for most outstanding student of the year in the Sciences, best graduating student in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, best graduating student in department of Biological sciences, Prof Nimbe Adedipe’s prize for best graduating student, Prof O.K Alausa’s prize for best graduating students in Microbiology, Late Alhaji Abdul Yakeen Adesina’s prize for overall best student and Dr Rasaq Atata’s prize for the best graduating stu-

dent in Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Miriam Murtala’s performance captured the hearts of most women present at the event.

Mrs. Sambo, and wives of four serving governors, Hajia Jummai (Niger), Hajia Nana Kashim (Borno), Hajia Adama Dankwambo (Gombe) and Hajia Hauwa D. Suntai (Taraba), each made a donation of N125, 000 each. Another Sambo’s friend, Mrs. Farida Dantata, also made another N100, 000 cash gift to totaling N600, 000 Murtala described the money as God-sent as her parents who are retired civil servants may find it challenging to raise money for her to pursue her Master’s degree immediately.

She said: “I will use the money to further my studies. I want to thank the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Sambo and I really appreciate the wives of the governors of Niger, Taraba, Gombe and Bornu for their kindness. I also thank Mrs. Dantata for her generosity. The money will help me to do my Master’s degree as it will lessen the financial burden on my retired parents,” The fifth child in a family of six, she attributed her success to her lecturers and the conducive learning environment at the university. “The students in the university are disciplined while the lecturers have the fear God. There is no sexual harassment and all relationships that I was involved in were purely academic.”

Highlight of the event was the convocation lecture, delivered by the Central Bank Governor, Dr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. It was titled: “Islam and the Culture of Education.”

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NigeriaCapitalMarket NSE Daily Summary (Equities) PRICE LIST OF SYMBOLS TRADED FOR 13/3/2013

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CAPITAL MARKET

NSE Daily Summary (Equities) as at 13/03/2013

PRICE GAINERS

LOSERS

NSE to establish ASM to attract SMEs’ participation in capital market

By Helen Oji

.To introduce issuers’ portal for enhance information accessibility

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has unveiled plans to revamp its second-tier market to an Alternative Securities Market (ASM), to enable Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that are emerging to participate and access finance from the Nigerian Capital Market.

Besides, the Exchange has concluded arrangements to introduce the first ever Issuers’ Portal in the Nigerian Capital Market known as XIssue that will allow online information submission for enhanced interaction between the Exchange and listed companies.

The Head, ASM, NSE, Franklin Nwaubani told journalists yesterday that the Exchange has put structures in place to ensure that these companies sustain growth and would eventually list on the stock market..

He said the platform would help these companies to formalise business operations, increase visibility and integrity as well as become vibrant enough to create wealth, redistribute wealth and re-allocate wealth.

“We are revamping what we used to know as Second-tier market . We are re-christening it the alternative securities market and we are using the avenue to bring in SMEs

that are emerging and showing good growth potentials to access finance from the capital market .

“We have put structures in place to ensure that these hope comes to operation that these companies would eventually grow and become big companies that can list on the Exchange with other bluechip companies.”

The Managing Director, Partnership Investment Company, Victor Ogiemwonyi explained that the Exchange is doing everything within its powers to attract more local participation and IPOs to the market.

“We are interested in local participation because they are the key drivers of the market. The prospects are too good and confidence is definitely returning in the market. We are doing everything to encourage local participation and some of the things worried in the past are being reformed.

“Many people are eager to issue securities, even some companies are here who want to be sure that there is a level of confidence and participation that would ensure that when they bring IPOs in the market, it would be successful.

On the new issuers’ portal, the Head, Listings Regulation

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of the NSE, Mrs. Josephine Igbinosun, explained that XIssuer is a secure on-line portal through which Issuers will submit financial and other information to the NSE and the market from the comfort of their offices.

She noted that the portal will not only encourage transparency and accountability but will expedite the discharge of Issuers’ post-listings obligations relating to structured and continuous disclosures.

She also stressed that X-

Issuer will eliminate leakage of price sensitive information because of the minimal time between submission by the issuer and release to the market.

Igbinosun explained that the portal will offer unique benefits of data capture, form submission validation and other ancillary services such as submission notification mechanisms and tracking of submitted information. With this, listed companies no longer need to submit hard copies of information to The

Exchange by post, hand delivery or courier The Listings Regulation boss further stressed that the XIssuer will facilitate comparison of data by international and local investors and analysts, giving issuers’ greater visibility in the market. The mandatory electronic submission will put in place better coordination that will ensure information from companies is released to the market accurately and in a timely manner.

In a bid to enhance the overall user experience, the Exchange commenced a User

Acceptance Test (UAT) with a number of listed companies, providing training to build capacity and requisite knowhow of the new electronic submission system, as quality and knowledge transfer are key success factors.

“At The Exchange, we intend to be well-positioned to adapt our business to meet the needs of our clients for overall operational efficiency. X-Issuer once again demonstrates our commitment to building an African Institution that competes effectively in the global,” Igbinosun added.

Nestle assures shareholders of improved returns ESTLE Nigeria Plc has N assured that it would create more value for its shareholders.

Addressing stockbrokers in Lagos on Monday, the Managing Director, Martin Woolnough explained that the company was committed to invest in areas that would help promote business activities in Nigeria, adding that the company has invested N100 billion in Nigeria, between the years 2005 to 2012.

He added that N5.4 billion Ultra Modern distribution centre would enhance the company’s profitability and increase its shareholders’ val-

ue.

He said the project would further strengthen Nigerian role as the largest manufacturing operation of Nestle in the West and Central African region.

According to him, the company recorded gross earnings of N116 billion in its 2012 result, from N98 billion posted in 2011, which represents 19 per cent, increase when compared to the previous year’s performance.

The increase in revenue may however be attributed to the company’s investment in business expansion.

He said the result reflects a

continued progress with the company’s strategy to strengthen route to market by shifting focus to cities across the country for its product distribution with increased focus on retail sales driven model to improve coverage.

He added that it would also continue to maintain the high level of corporate governance that exist in the company and post impressive results in its financials.

“In Nestle, we focused on making a plan and delivering a plan. We would continue to work hard to deliver what we promised, even at a reduced cost. Sometimes, it means

reducing cost and tightening our belt in a proper way, not in a silly way in order to still retain value to shareholders because we are vey strong at all levels.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Oscar Onyema explained that the company was one of the few listed companies that is included in NSE Pan African index.

Onyema, commended the high level of corporate governance that exist in the company, adding that the company was the first, out of the 128 listed companies to submit its financials for the year ended December 2012.

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Opinion Reflections on party combinations (2)

By Edwin Madunagu HE impression should not be created, as is T being created now, that the type of political party combination that has just resulted in the birth of All Progressive Congress (APC) has been the only type of significant party combination seen in the country since independence in 1960.

We had, in concluding the first segment last Thursday, listed four earlier major party combinations of the APC type: the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) (First Republic), the Progressive Parties Alliance (PPA) (Second Republic) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) of the Babangida Transition. Each of these party combinations was more populist and to the left of the incumbent ruling party or the non-ruling, but opposing party (as in the case of SDP).

Beyond the party combinations described above, there were at least two other types of combination: one to the right and the other to the left of the political spectrum. First, the right: the response to the UPGA of the First Republic from the right was the Nigerian National Alliance (NNA).

There was also a response to the PPA of the Second Republic; but that response did not involve the creation of a new name. For, as PPA was being formed, the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was absorbing fractions of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP), and even of Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) and Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) – as predicted by Tai Solarin in his November 4, 1979 Sunday Tribune article, The stolen presidency. Current opposition leaders and activists would also add that the NPN was absorbing the electoral commission and coercive institutions of state.

The third type of party combination is the one that takes place in the Left of the political-ideological spectrum. To this spectrum belong radical socialists of various tendencies, radical sociopolitical movements and the trade union movement, which, in the historical context, had no reason and still has reason not to be radical and leftist. Anyone going through the history of the Left, as very loosely defined here, will be struck by the fact that the Left has probably produced more combinations than the Right since independence in 1960 or even since the start of organized radical politics in the mid-1940s. I would, however, definitively add that in Nigeria

left or radical ideologies are older than ideologies emanating from the Right.

Of course, under colonialism, any person or group asking the colonialists to go or – at the minimum – respect, or accord some rights to, the “natives” would appear progressive or even radical. But we know that in the mid1940s when the Left, organized mainly in the trade unions and the Zikist Movement, was articulating and fighting for freedom in clear socialist and popular-democratic terms, the Right was under the tutelage of the colonialists.

We have therefore had three types of what I have called political party combination in Nigeria: two involving ruling class political parties (one combination more populist than the other) and the third involving radical Left groups and formations. We may now look at them together and historically. To do this we have to bear in mind that party combination and its opposite, dissociation, cannot be separated. This is so not just because, logically, combination is negative dissociation and conversely but also because every major combination of mainstream ruling class parties produces combinations or/and dissociations in other mainstream formations and sometimes also in the Left formations. It may also be stated here that historically, the Nigerian Left or more correctly, the tendency in the Nigerian Left to which I belong, had reacted most vigorously to “bourgeois combination” when it wanted a particular party or combination to be defeated and not necessarily when it desired the victory of a particular party or combination. This strategy may remain, or rather, re-assert itself, depending...

The following abridged version of our narrative can be divided into five broad historical periods, starting from 1945, which I designate the beginning of militant nationalism, properly so-called. It was also the year of the colonial Richards Constitution and the year of the General Strike that announced the arrival of the Nigerian working class as a liberating political agency. The periods referred to are: (1945 – 1952), (1959 – 1965), (1979 – 1983), (1989 – 1993) and (1999 – 2013). The first period, (1945 – 1952), witnessed the following party or group combinations: the alliance between the Zikist

Movement, the Labour Movement (or rather its radical – leftist wing) and a quasi-religious group called the National Church of Nigeria; the alliance between the Zikist Movement and the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC); and the alliance between the Labour Movement (radical – leftist wing) and the NCNC. Beyond all these, however, is the fact the NCNC, which emerged in 1944 and other “constitutional” parties that emerged towards the end of the period under consideration, including the AG, the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) and Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) were mergers or alliances or federations of small groups. Some notes here: The Zikist Movement was not a youth wing of NCNC. The youth wing of NCNC was the NCNC Youth Vanguard. Although the formation of the Zikist Movement in 1946 was inspired by what the youthful founders saw as the need to protect Nnamdi Azikiwe, the NCNC leader, from colonialist witch-hunt and propagate his new message of freedom and (African) racial pride, the relationship between the two organisations – the NCNC and the Zikist Movement – was characterized most of the time the latter existed (1946 – 1950), by turbulence, frustration and sometimes, bitterness and a feeling of abandonment and even betrayal.

At the root of this was what the young Nigerians in the Zikist movement saw as NCNC leadership’s rightist, constitutionalist and accomodationist slide at a time the Zikist Movement was becoming more radicalized by colonial persecution.

The 1959 Federal Elections, which took colonial Nigeria to independence on October 1, 1960 was a three-cornered fight between the NPC, the NCNC and the AG. With each of these parties were its allies. In strict terms, therefore, we would say NPC bloc, NCNC bloc and AG bloc. The NPC bloc won a plurality, but not a majority, of seats in the Federal House of Representatives. In the parliamentary system that was handed down by the British, a coalition government was therefore inevitable in the circumstance. There were four possibilities: an NCNC – AG coalition or an NPC – NCNC coalition or an NPC - AG coalition, or a na-

tional government embracing the three blocs. An NPC - AG coalition was ruled out ab initio. The ideological gap between the two parties was simply unbridgeable. Some political historians had suggested that there was, in fact, a fifth possibility: the NPC “buying off” some members of parliament from the AG and the NCNC to acquire a majority.

It is difficult to believe that this last option was seriously or ever contemplated; it would have threatened not only the approaching independence but also the very existence of a nation that was yet to be born. One other option, an NCNC–AG coalition (a coalition that excluded the NPC) would have been only a degree less dangerous to the colonialist – guided road to independence than the option of “buying off”. The critical point in the entire manoeuvre is that the Action Group leadership’s strong ideological stance in this matter of coalition severely limited the perimeter of bourgeois manoeuvre: the party categorically ruled out both a national government and an AG – NPC coalition. So, only one practical possibility was left: NPC –NCNC coalition.

That was exactly what happened, and it ushered in a series of events – AG crisis, treasonable felony trials, census crisis, formation of UPGA and NNA, 1964 federal election crisis, “reprieve” from national disaster, death and farcical recreation of coalition, the 1965 Western Regional Elections, descent to chaos again, and the January 15, 1966 inconclusive coup d’état.

What happened between January 15, 1966 and October 1, 1979 when an NPN – Federal Government was born under President Shehu Shagari is not part of the subject – matter here. The Second Republic (1979 – 1983) saw the birth of Progressive Parties Alliance (PPA) and unannounced alliance between the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and fragments of opposition parties. Our narrative then takes a leap from December 30, 1983 to October 1989 when General Ibrahim Babangida’s military regime created the “little to the left” Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the “little to the right” National Republican Convention (NRC).

Someone has referred to the newly-formed APC as the “new” SDP. Yes, there are a couple of elements in common. But there is at least one more requirement for the APC: It has to show that not only is the status-quo totally bankrupt (which is the case), but also that the APC is a historically progressive way forward at this moment, and that it is the only one.

• Concluded.

Jonathan’s ambition, good mix

By Theophilus Ilevbare HE pesky ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan to seek a T second term in office has got the green light from an Abuja High Court ruling. Though he has remained coy – a loud silence to me – on his ambition to seek re-election, his body language, actions and inactions have suggested he is set to run for a second term. He seems to be fully persuaded for 2015 by the trappings of Aso Rock, the lure of power, fame, a horde of sycophants and hangers-on whose only interest is another four years of the continuous milking of the cash cow – Nigeria.

We all can recall, on January 1, 2013, at a time Nigerians were trying to grapple with the stale air of his administration, residents in Abuja woke up to behold the posters of Jonathan in their neighbourhood, the strongest indication of the new year that he will contest in 2015. It was no mistake that the same posters resurfaced in Abuja, less than 24 hours after the election of Tony Anenih as the BoT chairman of the PDP. No one will believe the tale that Mr. Jonathan will not contest the forth-coming election. The recent repositioning of the PDP field marshals and foot soldiers in the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the PDP Governors Forum, carved out of the NGF, are strong indications that the ground is being prepared in the forth-coming elections. The unanimous election of Tony Anenih to double as the chairman of the money spinning Nigeria Ports Authourity (NPA) and BoT of the PDP on one hand and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, loyal servant of the PDP as the chairman of the newly formed PDP Governors Forum, on the other hand is a loud political statement in itself. The formation of the PDP-NGF was in a bid to whittle down the influence of the chairman of the NGF, and Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi. The PDP wing of the NGF was apparently formed to promote the interest of Jonathan’s second term ambition within the ranks of the PDP governors. With the PDP machinery in motion, and more billions needed to keep it steamrolled, we should expect more frivolous white elephant projects in the coming months. Unsurprisingly, a diffident President Jonathan in 2011 has shown lately, with his deft political alignment that he knows his way around his party and he is capable of playing politics dirty.

Advertently, his rumoured ambition has been amplified in decibels from the ruling party. The chairman, Bamanga Tukur has been effusive about it, declaring he is free to contest the election on the platform of the party. With the appointment of the PDP election machinery to key government agencies, multi-billion naira projects awarded and those on the cards, deliberate non-implementation of budgets, the party is sure to be armed with a war chest for 2015.

For incumbent President Jonathan to renege on a gentleman arrangement, written or verbal he entered with his PDP cohort from the north raises integrity and credibility questions. The fact that Mr. Jonathan has not denied the existence of an agreement speaks volumes.

Needless to add, I am not a proponent of zoning. Over time, zoning has become insidious and the aftermath disastrous for our fledging democracy. The likes of Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu should realise that zoning as a political philosophy is as of today, pernicious and inconsistent with the changing political landscape and must be jettisoned. For second term seekers, performance in office, character, proven track record and merit should be subject to competitive forces that will throw up a competent winner at the polls. The office of the president or any other elective public office is nobody’s birthright; everyone has the right to contest. The way to eliminate mediocres from leadership positions is to create a level playing ground for all aspirants where the worst prepared and least capable candidate is weeded out by the most competent aspirant.

The jostling for 2015 is uncalled for. It has overheated the polity, breeding unnecessary tension. The NGF has been polarised along party and regional lines, the PDP is a house divided against itself, the National Assembly is crossed with the executive. In the months to come in Jonathan’s administration, all hope is virtually lost on his ability to deliver on whatever remains of the dividend of democracy that was promised.

Nigerians, and particularly the opposition must be vigilant and not get carried away with the perpetual contrived internal crisis in the PDP. Make no mistake about it, they aren’t fighting just yet, ignore the Nollywood movie playing out between the presidency and the NGF. Sooner, rather than later, Jonathan will have dinner with the governors like he did with Obasanjo.

With the benefit of hindsight, it is practically impossible to stop a Nigerian political office holder from running for a second term. It is futile dissuading Jonathan from contesting. Cast your mind on Obasanjo’s second term debacle in 2003 for a better understanding of the scenario playing out this time around.

For a president who was quoted as saying one term is enough to make meaningful impact on the lives of the people, it is not so difficult to see why even his kinsmen are opposed to his second coming. Convincing the rest Nigerians to vote him again will be an uphill task, even those who said they voted for Jonathan rather than PDP in 2011 will have a rethink. Opposition parties should rather start mapping out strategies on how to defeat him at the polls.

In the light of his poor performance, unfulfilled promises, the slow pace of his administration, his preposterous fight against corruption and the growing apathy of Nigerians against the PDP for their failure to bring the country out of the wood since 1999, it makes Mr. Jonathan an easy candidate to beat in a free, fair and credible elections. The opposition and those opposed to his candidature need not lose sleep, but close ranks to sensitise and strategise on how to oust him through the ballot. With the new drift towards a two-party system like what is obtainable in advanced democracies, political analysts are predicting a keen contest, maybe the most keenly contested in recent time.

Jonathan should indeed be allowed to run for 2015 presidency, his scorecard should speak for him. The changing political terrain and the seeming uncertainty the emergence of APC has brought to the mix will deepen our democracy and strengthen the opposition parties when dynamic democratic forces throw up the best candidate; the people will ultimately be the better for it. There is nothing to fear about the incumbent’s candidature, as it will not be the PDP against the numerous minor opposition parties, as it was in time past, but an epic battle between two formidable political parties.

The die is cast, the race has begun in earnest with Jonathan as a presidential aspirant! The only option left for the opposition is to raise their game. Their alliance has already changed the political terrain, disturbing the “smooth sail” the PDP would have had.

• Ilevbare wrote from Abuja.

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Opinion Creoles: Going back to the roots

By Eric Teniola watched the second inauguration of the Iroma President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Earnest Bari Ko(59) on television recently. Dr. Koroma who is of the Temri tribe was the former Managing Director of Reliable Insurance Trust Corporation in Sierra Leone. At the inauguration, held in Freetown, the central government in Nigeria sent a high-powered delegation. Leaders of other various political parties in Nigeria were present. Nigeria and Sierra Leonean relationship dates back to over four centuries.

While we classify some countries in the sub region of West Africa as competitors, we regard Sierra Leone as our big brother. In Sierra Leone there are four major tribes namely Temne, Mende, Limba and Creole but Yoruba is freely spoken in Freetown.

From 1983 when the British captured slave ships and freed them in Freetown, Nigeria and Sierra Leone has had a special bond. These ‘Recaptives’ came to dominate the population of ex-slaves of all sorts who were called Creoles. While slave-trading flourished very near Freetown in the Gallinas estuary until the 1840s, very many slave ships went from further east and shipped Yoruba people, so that many of the Creole Recaptives were Yoruba or “Aku”. Others were Ibo, “Congo”, Hausa, etc.

From the time of Governor Charles MacCarthy (1816-24) the Recaptives were helped and educated by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and other Protestant missions. Thus a remarkable community grew up of Creoles of very diverse origins (which were not forgotten), increasingly educated, literate, with European surnames and speaking English and a form of Pidgin called Krio. Most became Christian though some Creoles were always Muslims. Children of the Temne and other local peoples were brought up in Freetown and absorbed into the Creole society. That society showed great enterprise, above all in commerce.

In my hometown, Idanre, in Ondo State my former principal and father-in-law, Chief Francis Olafioye Oladipo (1920-2006) who attended Fouraybay College in Freetown used to tell us stories of how friendly and civilised the Sierra Leoneans were. He eventually married a Sierra Leonean woman, Iris Jaykay Banya 60 years ago, from Kailahun in eastern Sierra Leone whose mother Humunatu Agbaje is from Ibadan in Oyo State.

I have been to Freetown severally and I love the beauty and the tidiness of the city.

The former Chairman of Ikoyi Club, Yanju Scott and his brother Folly both used to be proud always of the richness of the Sierra Leonean blood in them any time we meet.

In AFRICA TODAY published by Ralph Uwechue, the old bond between Nigeria and Sierra Leone was highlighted. According to the publication, official British government interest in Nigeria dates back from 1849 when John Beecroft was appointed Consul for the Bights of Benin and Biafra, “to regulate the legal trade between the ports of Benin, Brass, New and Old Calabar, Bonny, Bimba, and the Cameroons”. The extension of British authority quickly met the resistance of King Kosoko of Lagos, who also resented British interference with his lucrative trade in slaves.

Beecroft and his aides then aligned with King Kosoko’s adversaries, deposed him, and on January 1, 1852 installed his nephew Prince Akintoye as King of Lagos. After his installation, King Akintoye was made to sign a treaty with Britain agreeing, among other things, to abolish the slave trade and allow freedom of trade to British people.

In August 1853 the deposed King Kosoko, supplied with arms and ammunition by Portuguese traders, led a rising in Lagos in an attempt to regain his throne, but was repulsed with the help of British troops. King Akintoye died in September 1853 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Prince Dosunmu. Under pressure from the British government, King Dosunmu and four of his senior chiefs, on August 6 1861 signed a treaty ceding to Britain “the port and island of Lagos with all the rights, profits, territories”. Lagos was declared a colony in 1862. From 1866 to 1874 it was administered from Freetown.

If you get to Lagos Island today one would notice that the Island is split between the descendants of Sierra Leone and those from Brazil. The Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Muyiwa Adejokun who is more of a Lagos Islander than me, is fond of telling me anytime we organise the fanty carnival in Lagos Island that it is a “war” between the descendants of the Brazilians in Lagos and the Sierra Leoneans. He is from Lafiaji area on Lagos Island.

In his book titled, “Globalisation and its impact on the emergent states: An analysis of its

problems and prospects on Brazil and Nigeria,” the late Professor Ayo Akinbobola, a Senior lecturer, Department of Political Science, University of Lagos highlighted the old relationship between Brazil and Nigeria, citing how in some parts of Brazil today Yoruba is freely spoken. It should be noted that Sir Adeyemo Alakija (1884-1952) who was of Egba origin named Assumpcao of the Brazillian descendant, contributed to Nigerian politics, including the formation in 1945 of Egbe Omo Oduduwa of which he became the first President. He was a prominent freemason and the first Nigerian to become the Grand Master of Free Mason.

Sir Adeyemo Alakija died on May 10, 1952. His widow, Lady Alakija, was for years afterwards an active Director of the Daily Times of Nigeria Limited and a living link with its early days under her husband. As for the Sierra Leoneans descendants in Lagos they are too many. They include Nigeria activist in the Pan-African Movement Dr. Mojola Apebi (1860-1917). He is also renowned as a newspaper man who edited several publications in Lagos.

A Nigerian journalist, Sir Kitoyi Ajasa (18661937) is also one. He was originally named Edmund Macaulay, and was the son of Thomas Benjamin Macaulay, a Sierra Leone “Recaptive” (slave freed from a slave ship) of Dahomean birth who died in Lagos in 1899. He went to Dulwich College in London and then to the Inner Temple (London), where he was called to the Bar in 1893. He won a case in a British court before returning to Lagos and setting up a legal practice there.

A Nigerian doctor, Curtis Crispin AdeniyiJones (1876-1957) is also a Sierra Leonean descendant. He was born at Waterloo in Freetown, Sierra Leone, of Yoruba (“Aku”) parents of the Creole community. In 1940, on the death of Olayinka Alakija, a member of the Nigerian Youth Movement contested a byelection in Lagos. When it was again said that he was not a Nigerian, he said, “of course I was born in the Sierra Leone, in the village of Waterloo, and I am proud of it. And prouder still that I was born there of pure Yoruba parents”. He was defeated by Jubril Martin (18881959). Adeniyi-Jones did not contest any election after that. He died in March 1957 in Lagos, where the Adeniyi-Jones family is still prominent.

A Nigerian business man, Richard Beale

Olamilege Blaize (1845-1904) was one of the richest Africans in Lagos in the early 20th century. Born in Freetown, son of the merchant John Blaize (an important Creole “receptive”), he went to Lagos in 1862 and worked first as a printer for Robert Campbell, editor of the Anglo-African. In 1863 he started work for the Government Press of Lagos colony, where he was head printer for 12 years. In 1857 he resigned from the government service to set in private business. He married Emily Cole (died 1895). Their daughter Charlotte Olajumoke Blaize (1872-1952) married Dr. C. Obasa and was a businesswoman in Lagos.

A Nigerian educationist Chief Henry Rawlingson Carr (1863-1945) was the son of a Sierra Leonean emigrant of Egba origin, Amuwo Carr and Rebecca Carr. Nigerian churchman, Bishop James Johnson was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, so also was his brother Dr. Obadiah Johnson (1849-1920). Dr. Obadiah Jonson was responsible for the publication of the History of the Yorubas written by his brother Samuel Johnson (1846-1901).

A Nigerian surveyor, Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay (1864-1946) was the President of NNDP, which fought for Nigeria’s independence. He too was of a Sierra Leonean blood.

Chief Christopher Alexander Sapara Williams (1855-1916) and his brother, Dr. Oguntola Odunbaku Sapara Williams were also Sierra Leonean descents. If we are to believe Mr. Trevor Clark, the Briton who wrote the biography of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, he claimed in his book that the father of Nigeria’s first military ruler, General Johnson Thomas Umanakwe Ironsi (1924-1966) is from Sierra Leone.

The Nigerian clergyman, celebrated first African bishop of West Africa, Bishop Ajayi Crowther, was born in 1806 in Osogun village in Abeokuta. His family were sold into slavery in 1821 but were intercepted on the journey to the Americas by a British anti-slavery patrol force and resettled in Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone. Ajayi was placed under the care of a Christian Missionary Society (CMS) schoolmaster of the Freetown region in Sierra Leone.

He was converted to Christianity, learnt to read the bible and was baptised on 11 December 1825 with the adopted name of Samuel Crowther. It is to be hoped that the bond between Nigeria and Sierra Leone will continue to flourish.

• Teniola, a former director in the Presidency, now lives in Lagos.

APC: Things will never be the same again!

By Joe Igbokwe FEW weeks back, I wrote that since the coming of All ProA gressives Congress (APC), there has been great panic in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) family. I recounted the rush to appoint the overused and exhausted Chief Tony Anenih, Nigeria’s Mr. Fix It noted more for his expertise in cooking political chicaneries, to head the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT). Any time Chief Tony is called from the reserve to come on board, Nigerians know it is for fixing elections and adopting crude and senile tactics to manipulate electoral outcomes. But considering his age now (80) and the shameful and suffocating defeat he suffered from Governor Oshiomhole in Edo State, his home State in last year’s governorship election where he was roundly defeated by Oshiomhole and the ACN, I think the master rigger is finished politically in Nigeria.

To go back to resurrect a deadwood to help PDP in troubled times shows the depth of worries in the hand of the shakers and movers of PDP. This is indeed troubled times for the ‘biggest party’ in Africa. I also pointed out in my last piece that the tragic crisis in the Governor’s Forum is a fall-out of this panic that has bedeviled PDP since the emergence of APC. PDP Governors now govern their states from Abuja because of the series of meetings upon meetings they have to be summoned to devise the best possible way the party can meet the APC challenge. Governors are pitted against each other, party men against each other, all in a bid to see how the PDP will grapple with the enormous pressure exerted by the coming of the APC. Jittery leaders of the PDP have been going to retired and overused members to beg them to return to the fold to save the

sinking ship. It is just like recalling retired Generals in the Army to return to active service in times of war. PDP is at war with itself and this war is fierce, deadly and dangerous. The war is stoked by the fear of the unknown, which the raging APC challenge poses to PDP in such a war with a disoriented and clearly confused idea of the nature of the battle. It is obvious that casualties will mount as the fight for control, now holding the PDP gets messier. The sure thing is that all the casualties will be from the PDP and Nigeria will be better for it.

What of the frightened corrupt contractors and foot soldiers of the party? They have now seen the handwriting on the wall that the coming of APC is now irreversible, irrevocable, fait accompli and a done deal. In panic they have been massing their looted funds together to buy whoever has a price tag on his shoulder within APC family. In panic they are pulling their illgotten resources together thinking that they will buy 2015 Presidential elections with rotten money. My friend tells me that the worst form of blindness to deal with is deliberate blindness. The truth of the matter is that APC has in one fell swoop altered the political equation in Nigeria and things will never be the same again. Open the pages of newspapers, go online, go through the international media, get the mindset of world leaders and you will then run away with the obvious and cheery fact that APC has come to stay. Sure Nigeria will be better for this!

I am overwhelmed by the unimaginable support Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora have thrown behind this great party. Political pundits predict that there is bound to be exodus from PDP into APC and I hope APC leaders are prepared for this. I hope APC leaders are prepared to manage this great

success, knowing fully well that it is better to manage success than failure.

What APC leaders need to do now is to open its doors and flanks very wide and seize the moment, make entries into the party less cumbersome, reach out to those ostracised by PDP and embrace them with both hands. There should be no flippancy here, no arrogance here and no patting on the back until the ultimate success is achieved; that ultimate success is when Nigeria is finally freed from the enervating stranglehold of the PDP in 2015. There is job to be done. We should have our gazes fixed on the big picture and how best to realise it. The ground is wet, the soil is rich, the harvest promises to be a bumper considering the suffering Nigerians have endured in the hands of the PDP in 14 years of horrendous leadership.

The PDP is waiting to celebrate bickerings within APC when they settle for sharing of offices. Please prove them wrong that this time Nigeria should be placed above all other considerations. Having failed in their hope and anticipation that the APC will never come this far, the party knows that its redemption and hope of surviving the gathering storm lies in sowing insurrection in the APC when offices are to be shared. We must once again disappoint them and that is the challenge the ranks and file of APC must look out for. Open your eyes very wide for blacklegs and moles within APC that may come in to cause disaffection and division and flush them out. Nigerians are waiting anxiously to change our political history through the ballot box in 2015 and the only thing they are asking us to do is to make this platform a reality. We must not fail them this time around. This is our chance!

• Igbokwe wrote from Lagos.

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

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For The Record African Americans and Africa: A lecture in celebration of black history month Being text of a lecture delivered by Ambassador Walter Carrington at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on February 14, 2013.

T is an honour to be invited to speak at the UniverIguished sity of Lagos and to be accompanied by a distingraduate of one of your rivals, the University of Ibadan - my beloved wife, who stood so valiantly beside me during a time of military tyranny, – Dr. Arese Carrington. Her role during my ambassadorial years has often been underappreciated and any credit I have been given belongs in equal measure to this treasure I stole away to distant and colder shores.

This is the month dedicated in the United States to the celebration of Black History. It is a tradition, which traces back to the pioneering efforts of the second black man to receive a PhD from Harvard (the first was the iconic W.E.B DuBois.) Dr. Carter G. Woodson was a distinguished historian who made his life’s work the propagation of the contributions of African Americans to the history of the United States. He established Negro History Week in 1926, a seven day period in February which spanned the birthday of Abraham Lincoln (February 12th) and the greatest black leader of the Nineteenth Century – the abolitionist, Frederick Douglass (February 17). That week has since morphed into a month and its title from Negro to Black. I think it serendipitous that UNILAG has invited me here during the week originally set aside for the commemoration of the history of Africans in America. It is a period of tribute usually chronicling the accomplishments of some of the race’s most significant figures. Those African American achievements focus almost entirely on our relationship with America. Little or not attention is paid to our connection with Africa other than our forcible removal from its shores four centuries ago.

I think it is altogether appropriate here in the halls of one this continent’s foremost Universities to speak about the history of the ever-evolving struggle of the African Americans to reconcile their American presence with their African roots. Or, as DuBois famously stated it in The Souls of Black Folks, in a slightly different context: “One ever feels his two -ness – an American and a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body…”

It also fitting that this occasion takes place so soon after the second inaugural of Barack Obama, America’s first black president. This son of an African student has become an inspiration and a unifying figure for black people the world over.

“What is Africa to me?” the poet Countee Cullen wondered nearly a century ago Copper sun or scarlet sea, Jungle star or jungle track, Strong bronze men or regal black Women from whose Ioins I sprang When the birds of Eden sang?

One three centuries removed From the scene his fathers love?

Spicy grove, cinnamon tree, What is Africa to me?

To the poet, Cullen, a leading light of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s, Africa was a romantic Eden lost. His was perhaps the most idyllic of many images of Africa that black Americans have offered – or had forced upon them – since the first enslaved Africans set shackled foot on American soil in 1619.

It is important here to understand the uniqueness both of the United States and of its indigenous black population. America is distinctive among the countries of the world. It is a country of immigrants. No race of people, with the exception of its diminishing Native American inhabitants, can claim the nation as their ancient homeland. All came from elsewhere.

Anyone born in our land is automatically a citizen, with the single exception of the children of accredited diplomats. Any one naturalized a citizen immediately is vested with all the rights and privileges, but one, of a native born American. They can hold and have held every political office in the land. Only the Presidency is denied to them and there are many who think that constitutional barrier, enacted to preclude an Englishman loyal to king George, should be removed.

It is the manner of their arrival that sets blacks apart from all other groups that immigrated to America.

Soon after their arrival in the new world, Africans were stripped of all remembrances of the land of their birth. They were detribalized, forbidden to speak their native languages or to practice their traditional religions.

To succeeding generations of African-Americans, Africa became a distant memory. It was a place to

Carrington

which they could never return and in time would have little desire to permanently live, even if they could discover the nation, tribe or village from which their ancestors has been uprooted. And if they could trace those roots would they, as the renowned writer Richard Wright did, look their lost kinsmen in the eye and wonder if it had been the African’s great great grandfather who had sold the African-American’s great great grandfather into slavery. Or, more importantly, would there remain, among the memories passed down from generation to generation, anything of the events, which had separated their ancestors from the continent of their birth.

The great Nigerian poet and writer, JP. Clark was kind enough to give me, during my ambassadorial tenure, a copy of his seminal lecture, A Peculiar Faculty, delivered in 1996 before the Nigerian Academy of Letters. The title referred not to what many University students sometimes think about those who instruct them but rather to the propensity of Africans to develop what he called a case of “collective amnesia” concerning “the most devastating historic event to have happened to African people in this millennium.” He relates that he “… brought the subject to the attention of colleagues, friends and relatives, whether in their communal lore or personal experience, they know of any memory of the slave trade that devastated our land for centuries. Almost in unison, there seems to be no remembrance of this tragedy that has possibly made us the people we are today…” “Ironically, while we have no direct access to evidence of the fact from the communities that stayed at home, it is from those of the victims, carried into slavery across the sea that we have knowledge of the event side by side with the copious log books kept by those who bought them.”

It is disheartening to note that, on the one hand, the descendants of the Africans shipped to America have little knowledge of where on the continent their ancestral roots are. While, on the other, the descendants of the left behind in Africa seem to have had no lore handed down to them through oral or written history with any mention of the searing depopulations of their ancient villages and towns. It is estimated that 18 to 20 million were enslaved and taken away – three to four times as many Jews as were killed in the Holocaust. Yet it is as if, in the African collective consciousness, there never was a slave trade emanating from Africa.

But many African Americans now four centuries removed can trace their family trees in the United States by their own oral traditions and written records many generations back with some certainty. But how and from whence they came to those shores remains shrouded in mystery. And so American’s black history, in spite of Alex Haley’s inventing tale, Roots, can only authentically be traced back to the 250 years of enslavement. Beyond that lies only conjecture.

The crusade to abolish slavery was centered in my home state of Massachusetts. The Abolitionist Movement became the most successful radical movement ever to arise in America. One of its leaders, Wendell Philips, vowed to make the street of the capital city, Boston, “too pure ever to bear the footsteps of a slave.” But the campaign was long and many free blacks despaired that they would ever be able to live in dignity and equality in a country in which the slave holding states of the southern part of the nation were ex-

panding their political power and influence.

Those free blacks most pessimistic about their future in America sought a solution in emigration back to Africa. On the other hand, those who felt that blacks had as much claim upon America as did whites, saw emigration as a shunning of their major responsibility – the freeing of their brothers in bondage. Thus was joined the intellectual argument that has raged ever since: was identification with Africa a diversion from the central issue of the black man’s role in America, or, a compliment to it?

The leadership of the emigration movement was taken up by one of the first black graduates of the Harvard Medical School. The Black Nationalist strain in American intellectual thought can be traced back to Dr. Martin R. Delany. In an age when black was considered anything but beautiful, Delany preached race pride. Fredrick Douglass, the greatest AfricanAmerican leader of the Nineteenth Century, summed him up best: “I have always thanked God for making me a man, but Martin Delany always thanked God for making him a black man.”

Central to Delany’s thought was the belief that blacks formed a nation within a nation, “a broken nation” as did the poles in Russia, the Hungarians in Austria, and the Welsh, Irish and Scots in Britain.

“The claims of no people,” he argued, “are respected by any nation, until they are presented in a national capacity…”

He wished to see a great state built in Africa, “a nation, to whom all the world must pay commercial tribute.” Towards that end he led an exploring party in 1859 to what is now Nigeria, sailing abroad a ship owned, by three African merchants. His one-year stay resulted in the signing of treaties with western Nigerian Chiefs giving American blacks the right to settle in their areas. The treaty, signed not far from here, with Egba leaders stated: “That the king and Chiefs on their part agree to grant and to assign unto the said Commissioners [Martin Robison Delany and Robert Campbell, of the Niger Valley Exploring Party], on behalf of the African race in America, the right and privilege of setting in common with the Egba people, on any part of the territory belonging to Abeokuta not otherwise occupied.”

In consideration for this grant the black Americans promised to “provide the Egba people with education and knowledge of the arts and sciences, agriculture, and other mechanical and instructional occupations.”

The agreements were never followed up because the American Civil War broke out just as Delany returned to the United States. He put aside his emigration schemes and joined the Union Army in order to contribute as best he could to the defeat of the secessionist slave holding states. After the war ended, Delany took advantage of the new amendments to the United States constitution, which ended slavery, made the former slaves citizen and gave the newly freed men the right to vote. In 1874 he ran on successfully as a candidate for governor of South Carolina.

The abolition of slavery and the Fourteenth amendment grant of citizenship gave hope that they might be a future for blacks in America after all and put to rest for half a century any major efforts to return to Africa. The words of Fredrick Douglass spoken before emancipation became the credo of the newly freed slaves: “Our minds are made up to live here if we can, or die here if we must… here we are and here we shall remain.”

While colonisation and emigration strategies were generated by concern over the Negro’s future in America, a different nineteenth century movement concentrated on improving the spiritual and temporal condition of Africans. A deeply religious black American population came to believe that they were part of a “providential design”, brought to America

by God, so Bishop Henry McNeal Turner of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church preach, to acquire education and civilization which they would then take back to Africa.

Unwelcome in white churches blacks formed their own denomination and christened them African. At first, these new black churches saw their relationship with Africa only in terms of helping to Christianize their brethren in Africa; by the late nineteenth century, however, black churches began to champion the grievances African held against their colonial exploitation. American blacks took the lead in protesting Belgian atrocities in the Congo and British and French designs on Liberia.

Along with blacks in other parts of the Diaspora, they formed the Pan-African movement and safe the Garman colonies from being swallowed up by the

victorious Allied Powers at the end of the First World War. Thousands of Africans came to black colleges in the United States to receive an education often denied to them at home. The list of future leaders trained at Historically Black Colleges and Universities is impressive. Lincoln University in Pennsylvania graduated two of the most important African nationalists of their time -Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and, of course, Nnamdi Azikiwe. Meharry Medical School trained Hastings Banda of Malawi.

In more contemporary times blacks move the American government away from complicity with the Apartheid regime in South Africa and towards greater relief to the drought stricken Sahel and Horn regions. The impetus toward an African identification which has been elite driven in the nineteenth century had become, by the end of the Twentieth, more and more sparked by the rank and file. Even as they were struggling to hold unto the gains they themselves had made during the Civil right Movement of the 1950s and 1960s black Americans were determined to help their mother land in spite of warnings from both home and abroad that they had too many problems in their own backyard to go meddling in others. They championed the cost of democracy in Southern African even though neither they nor most of their East and Western African allies in the liberation struggle had ever visited there.

When President Clinton, on whose transition team I had served as a senior advisor on Africa, announced that he was going to appoint me as ambassador to Nigeria, I was thrilled. Moshood Abiola had just been elected president. I would be presenting my credentials to someone who was a leading Pan-Africanist whom I had met several times. The stealing of his mandate and his later imprisonment had brought about a great uproar from the black members of Congress and groups like TransAfrica which had led the fight against U.S. policy toward the apartheid government of South Africa.

The Abacha military regime spent considerable sums of money to get prominent blacks to serve as praise singers for the government. They were largely unsuccessful but they did persuade a few including a pair of strange bedfellows the leader of the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan and the head of the very conservative National Baptist Association, Henry Lyons.

I met with several groups who travel here under Abacha’s patronage and reminded them that they were betraying the Pan African tradition which had led black Americans to oppose regimes which denied their citizens their democratic rights and that they were swimming against the tide of black American opinion in back home. That majority opinion was reflected by those who led in the anti-apartheid struggle and who were then turning their attention to countries under military and autocratic rule. The Congressional Black Caucus, made up of elected African-American member of the United States Congress and pressure groups like TransAfrica strongly influenced the direction of American foreign policy towards Africa especially in Democratic administration. It was their efforts that turned the tide of American opinion and in policy regards to South Africa and Haiti. It is they who kept the pressure on the Abacha regime.

Those other groups, co-opted by Abacha to come and bear false witness to progress here, had little influence within the black American community. I saw in the four years I was here no success they had in laundering the dictatorship’s woeful image.

My ancestors may indeed have become in Nigeria and elsewhere on this continent what JP. Clark regretted – “the forgotten kin.” But their descendants continue to remember and search for those ancient roots which the slave traders and plantation masters were so determined to deracinate. They still, in yearning, singing the ancient spiritual– “Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, a long ways from home.”

Before he became President, before he was imprisoned by Abacha, Olusegun Obasanjo bestowed upon me the nick-name I still proudly bear- Omowale – the child who has returned.

When Africa recovers from its “collective amnesia” and recalls the details of the catastrophe from whence I and the other children of Diaspora have returned in spirit if not always in body –then we shall be orphans no more.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 201

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For The Record RMAFC, let Nigeria go Being a piece by Adaighofua Ojomaikre HE Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal T Commission projects itself larger than life. The commission was established in 1989 “to monitor the accruals to and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account (FA).” However, the RMAFC, which has been headed by engineers for a long while, has assumed the roles of interpreter of the country’s Constitution and interloping enforcer of the use of the naira legal tender currency selectively regarding government oil earnings. In the process, the commission has not only smeared the Constitution by citing so-called constitutional requirements as smoke screen behind which it hides its leanings toward perpetuating inherited contra-economic practices for draining away the country’s oil earnings but also induced over time growing loss of public confidence in the naira.

In the 24 years of the commission’s existence, the naira has depreciated by over 95.3 per cent. That length of time was roughly what it took Singapore, our quondam economic peer, to transform from Third World to First World economy. But since its establishment, the Nigerian economy has been held down by the enfeebled legal tender and has remained stunted. Today, dollarisation (the use of foreign currencies alongside the legal tender in domestic transactions) is waxing menacingly. Oil dollar earnings preemptively withheld from FA beneficiaries by the commission supposedly to enforce use of the naira are freely released

by CBN to bureaux de change for resale on the streets thereby fuelling dollarisation and harming the economy. Thus hamstrung by the commission’s ill-informed preferences, the CBN has increasingly been unable to deliver a legal tender that commands public confidence, which raises the prospects of monetary policy management ultimately slipping into the hands of a currency board with the US dollar supplanting the naira as in Zimbabwe where the zimdollar has succumbed to the US dollar.

Sections 16 and 162 of the 1999 Constitution did not envisage an RMAFC championing national economic ruination. The unsatisfactory state of the economy perfectly reflects the fiscal and monetary measures that are attributable to the commission’s insistence on the use of naira funds prematurely in the dollar revenue stream. Indeed, the recent press statement by the Jonathan administration (it is riddled with egregious contraeconomis practices) in response to Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili’s lecture at the 42nd Convocation Ceremony of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, confirmed the bane of the economy to be the ruinous quality of the bulk of the finances of the three tiers of government down the years. If the commission thinks otherwise, it should sidestep the horde of appointees planted by the double-dealing IMF/World Bank in our corridors of power and send the press statement to the impartial Nobel Economic Prize Committee for advice.

And now, to the baneful handling of government oil earnings which are being replaced with dross!

Ordinarily, oil proceeds (earned and duly stated in dollars) are quasi-revenue whose exact naira value is known only after conversion in the open foreign exchange market where the exchange rate could vary by the minute. But the press statement affirms that FA dollar earnings slated for disbursement automatically become CBN’s external reserves. To fill their place, the commission steps beyond its statutory duties in order to mobilise naira deficit funding (NDF) made up of freshly printed money. The NDF amounts are based on a unilaterally CBN-set naira exchange rate and wrongly dubbed naira equivalents. To use NDF is an unwarranted and premature introduction of the legal tender into the oil-derived revenue stream. For by that step, the FA dollar accruals are neither monetised correctly nor converted to

The commission should eschew its all-knowing posturing and accept the fact that, for the sake of national economic good health, there exists a dividing line between when to designate foreign earnings in foreign currencies as earned and when to convert the foreign earnings to the domestic currency. Therefore, to emphasise, FA export proceeds should be rightly stated in dollars, shared without prior altering and credited to CBN (or any CBN-delegated bank) accounts until FA beneficiaries get to the point of crossing the dividing line and have cause to spend dollarderived revenue for domestic transactions.

Ojomaikre

naira but are instead withheld and substituted with NDF. The substitution bloats money supply volume, creates excess liquidity and spawns all the well-known attendant negative economic features. It should be noted that the withheld FA dollars are not genuine external reserves. In other words, the NDF, firstly, is not revenue; secondly, did not accrue to the Federation Account; and thirdly, represents ultra vires and unconstitutional altering of the content of the FA by the commission. Bear in mind, too, that with the so-called naira equivalent disbursed, the CBN’s external reserves are deemed spent and unavailable for subsequent release to any tier of government. It is as if the country did not generate any oil earnings: the oil proceeds end up as booty to be looted and misapplied as experience has shown.

To ensure that government oil earnings have the desired economic impact, the RMAFC, consistent with its enabling law, should let FA oil revenue stream flow in currencies as earned to all tiers of government. This is because, technically, the FA beneficiaries are exporters and are not required to surrender ownership of their export proceeds to the CBN. Thus, suppose FA dollar accruals are lodged in a single CBN account monitored by the commission. Disbursements from the FA should be credited by CBN in dollars to 37 Federal and State Government accounts or 811 Federal, State and Local Government accounts that have been opened as per Subsection 27(b) of the CBN Act. In the process, there is no addition to money supply to destabilise the system. Also there is no breach of the 1999

Constitution. At this point, the RMAFC’s responsibility of monitoring disbursement from FA accruals comes to an end.

Pertinently, at a Senate Banking Committee briefing in mid-February, CBN Deputy Governor Suleiman Barau disclosed that RMAFC has advised against the apex bank’s plan to designate funds shared from the excess crude account in dollars because the Constitution only recognises the naira as the unit of account. It would be straightforward if the naira were an accepted currency for international trade with Nigeria’s oil exports being paid for in naira by foreign buyers. But that is not yet the case. So the commission should eschew its all-knowing posturing and accept the fact that, for the sake of national economic good health, there exists a dividing line between when to designate foreign earnings in foreign currencies as earned and when to convert the foreign earnings to the domestic currency. Therefore, to emphasise, FA export proceeds should be rightly stated in dollars, shared without prior altering and credited to CBN (or any CBN-delegated bank) accounts until FA beneficiaries get to the point of crossing the dividing line and have cause to spend dollar-derived revenue for domestic transactions.

It is intra vires and the statutory responsibility of the CBN to issue and enforce guidelines regarding the operation of the 37 (or 811) FA-fed government domiciliary dollar accounts, which for convenience may be transferred to deposit money banks (DMBs) freely chosen by FA beneficiaries. In line with the suspended August 2007 proposal, the guidelines should preclude withdrawals in dollar cash in order to prevent both unofficial diversion of dollars for corrupt purposes and dollarisation through paying for domestic

To ensure that government oil earnings have the desired economic impact, the RMAFC, consistent with its enabling law, should let FA oil revenue stream flow in currencies as earned to all tiers of government. This is because, technically, the FA beneficiaries are exporters and are not required to surrender ownership of their export proceeds to the CBN. Thus, suppose FA dollar accruals are lodged in a single CBN account monitored by the commission. Disbursements from the FA should be credited by CBN in dollars to 37 Federal and State Government accounts or 811 Federal, State and Local Government accounts that have been opened as per Subsection 27(b) of the CBN Act.

transactions in dollars. Next, the various governments should enjoy unfettered access to desired balances in the accounts for purposes of directly importing goods and services for government business provided such imports fall within officially recognised eligible transactions. And critically at the stage of domestic spending by the various governments, the CBN guidelines shall stipulate and make all payments and settlements in Nigeria obligatory in naira legal tender. The FA beneficiaries should (as and when necessary) convert desired balances in their domiciliary dollar accounts to naira funds through DMBs only.

DMBs are the banks of first resort in all economic transactions by all economic agents including governments. This condition is necessary in the fiat money system for effective liquidity control.

Clearly, with roughly 80 per cent of the budget revenue of all tiers of government derived from FA dollars coupled with the ample inflow of autonomous foreign exchange all primed for conversion to naira funds required for domestic transactions, the ensuing high demand will leave the legal tender walloping the dollar. There will be no cause for the apex bank to defend the value of the naira as contained in the press statement because DMBs will instead sell surplus dollars to the CBN for naira funds even at a premium over the open foreign exchange market-determined rate just as the CBN accumulates genuine external reserves in the process.

This outcome facilitates the realisation of other CBN objects, namely, to ensure monetary and price stability for the promotion of a sound financial system. These are the necessary preconditions for the actualisation of the country’s economic objectives as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. In a misguided instance of being more Catholic than the Pope, the RMAFC has embraced preferences regarding disbursement of so-called naira equivalent funds prematurely substituted for FA dollar accruals with serious implications. The RMAFC should therefore fully understand and keep within the limits of its innocuous statutory powers, unchain our sleeping giant country and let Nigeria go.

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Sports Ahead Brazil 2014 World Cup Qualifier

Keshi defends Babatunde, Ogu’s invitation, dismisses Kenya’s threat From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja UPer eagles Chief Coach, Surged Stephen Keshi, yesterday nigerians to trust his judgement when he invites players to the national team, saying the criticism of his call up of Ukraine’s Kryvbas Kryvyi rih attacker, Michael Babatunde, and his Academica du Colombra of Portugal counterpart, John ogu, is uncalled for.

The duo are expected to debut for the national team next week in a Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifying match against the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Calabar. reacting to reports that some nFF Technical Committee members have queried the invitation of the players, and the team list, which was made public without the coach defending before the Committee, Keshi said he has continuously followed the players’ performances in their teams and believed that like their colleagues in camp, they have something to offer the national team.

Insisting he has no issues with the Committee, Keshi said he compiled his list and submitted it straight to the nigeria Football Federation

(nFF) because he heard that the technical committee was yet to be reconstituted.

Keshi stressed that he would continue to give opportunities to more young nigerian players good and ready to play for the country, adding that he must not be compelled to call up all the 23 players that featured at the nations Cup because they won the trophy.

“I think they have quality and I believe they have something to offer to nigeria, that is why I invited them.

“Moreover, they are nigerians and they are doing well in their teams. We have seen them play on many occasions. I have watched Babatunde Michael and he is a fantastic player. The same with John. We have a lot of them outside and as I said, I have to continue to bring in new and young players that are good and hungry to play for the country, and we must give them that opportunity.” on the threat from the Kenyan camp that they will wreck the eagles with two of their key players, Stephen Mariga and Victor Mwanyana, the coach emphasised that they are not focusing on the two players alone, noting that every player in the Kenyan team is good.

Report to camp on Tuesday or stay away, coach tells players From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja oACH Stephen Keshi has instructed all the invited foreign-based players to report to the Super eagles camp on or before Tuesday or stay away from the team.

Speaking during the weekly media parley in Abuja yesterday, Keshi noted that the players have to play together for some days before the crucial game, adding that he would not tolerate any form of late arrival from the foreign-based players.

He disclosed that he has been in contact with all the invited players and has

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received positive words from them about their arrival date.

The coach also disclosed that the home-based players in camp would relocate to Calabar on Monday, where they would be joined by their foreign-based counterparts to continue preparations for the match. on the latest move by obafemi Martins to join Seattle Sounders in the United States Major Soccer League, he said he has no problem with the move, adding that the player is protecting his career and is mature enough to know what he wants.

Super Eagles’ Sunday Mba on his way to netting Nigeria’s winning goal against Cote d’Ivoire in the quarterfinal of the South Africa 2013 CAF Nations Cup. Mba is the subject of an ownership tussle between Enugu Rangers and Warri Wolves.

PHOTO: AFP.

Please save my career, Mba pleads with Rangers, Warri Wolves From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja Africa 2013 CAF SMbaoUTH nations Cup hero, Sunday has appealed to both enugu rangers and Warri Wolves to consider his plight and come out with an agreement that will free him to concentrate and play his football.

Mba, who has been at the centre of an ownership row between rangers and Warri Wolves, told The Guardian yesterday in Abuja that the disagreement between the two clubs was responsible for his not making use of the last transfer window to join any of the clubs that showed interest in him after the nations Cup.

Keshi releases players for CAF games The player, who revealed that he would want to move to Spain as soon as the row is settled, said he believes that what is happening to him now will soon end, adding that he may not stay with rangers till the end of season if he is finally cleared to play for the enugu side.

“I am not surprised, issues like this come up at times, but I am worried that the whole issue has lingered for a long time.

“But I believe that everything happens for a reason. I wish the two clubs will come to an

agreement and free me on time to concentrate of my future. I do not want to believe that this is the way to pay me back after the whole thing God has used me to do for the Super eagles and the country in South Africa,” he said.

Meanwhile, Coach Stephen Keshi has released Gabriel reuben, Zango Umar and Papa Idris to Kano Pillars for their African Champions League second leg match this weekend in Kano.

Also allowed to join his club is emeka eze, who is expected to play for rangers in another

CAF Champions League game at the weekend.

Confirming the players release yesterday, Keshi noted, “the good thing with Kano Pillars is they are playing at home, so they play on Saturday and immediately after the game, the boys will come back.

But for rangers, they are playing away and they only have one player, emeka eze and we have released him since yesterday.

“We could not release Sunday Mba and Chigozie Agbim to them because they have not settled their ownership isssues with the other club. They are all here and will be working with us until we move to Calabar.”

Stakeholders urge minister to bar ‘failures’ from federations’ polls

By Christian Okpara onCerned stakeholders in nigerian sports have urged C Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, to ensure that only those federations’ presidents that raised the profile of their sports are allowed to contest the forthcoming elections.

The federations would go to the polls next month to elect new officers for the boards.

Speaking in Lagos on how the country could regain its status in international sports, the stakeholders said nigeria would continue to stutter “if politicians and estacode-hugging” people are not barred

from the boards.

“We have to define the caliber of people we want to manage our sports because the success or failure of the sports depend on the people running the federations.

“What we have now is a situation where a clique sits down to select one of their type to run the federations in their own interest instead of the country’s interest.

“We have to define those eligible to vote for the board members and their qualifications.

There must be a system that should ensure that the candidates and the voters are people with the interest of the country

at heart,” the stakeholder, who pleaded anonymity, said.

Also writing on the state of nigerian sports and the forthcoming elections, former international athlete, rashid Balogun, said the onus is on Abdullahi to weed out all these federations board members for lack of competence, failure to cater for athletes’ welfare or simple lack of ordinary (administrative) skills of communication on behalf of athletes.

“I really think the London olympics was not just a wakeup call but the death of old (remnant) military style administration of our sports. Media people that once handle propaganda

for nSC are now branded enemy of the state and for that alone I say athletes have won but we still need to throw away those federations’ Board members and those that brought them in.”

Another stakeholder, who pleaded anonymity, pointed at the tennis, handball, table tennis and volleyball federations as bodies that need fresh impetus to rise from their current state.

He said, “We were a prominent player in the davis Cup, but since the current board came to office more than 10 years ago, the game has dwindled to such an extent that we no

longer feature in that prestigious competition.

“We have had the same people in Volleyball for also more than 10 years, and the result is that we no longer feature in the event at the All Africa Games.

The same thing for handball.

“In table tennis, we have been overtaken by egypt and other countries, yet the same board wants to return. Something must give for us to get back our lost prestige in sports,” he said.

The news Agency of nigeria (nAn) reported yesterday that the national Sports Commission’s (nSC) SouthSouth Zone 11, has joined in the clamour for only credible peo-

ple to contest the elections into the various national sports federations.

The report says the nSC Zonal Coordinator, Yemi Usikaye, revealed that sports directors in the zone unanimously reached the decision at a meeting they held with the zonal coordinator in Benin.

“We all agreed that those to be voted in should be those who have the interest and passion for the various sports.” “only persons who will take the sports to greater heights should be nominated and voted into the national federations,’’ Usikaye said.

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

Football needs a united front to thrive, says Temile Eagles former winger, SfiedUPER Clement Temile has identilack of synergy among the government, technocrats and the corporate organisations as factors hindering the proper growth of football in the country.

The Cote d’Ivoire 1984 Nations Cup star said in Lagos yesterday that the stakeholders must come together to lift the game if the country desired to be among the best nations in football.

Temile, who recently quit his coaching position with an English Club, Kentish Town, said he was back in the country to use his international experience to develop its football potential.

“I have always wanted to come back home and contribute my own quota to the growth of Nigeria football. I was never in a hurry that is why I have had to equip myself adequately and I think the UEFA certificate I have in coaching will speak for me,” he added.

Temile acknowledge the abundance of football talents in the country, saying that only the concerted efforts of the experienced coaches, in collaboration with government, would help to further develop the game.

“Football is not developing the way it should in Nigeria because there was a lack of synergy between the government, technocrats and corporate entities,’’ he said.

The defunct NNPC of Warri, and Enugu Rangers star in the 80s and early 90s, said he would organise regular football competitions with the state governments.

“This, I believe, will help to bring back the country’s lost glory in football and also help me to give back to the game that has made me,’’ he said.

The Grade A licensed coach with the European Football Association likened his programme to that of Shuaibu

Amodu and Mike Idoko with the Edo and Ondo State governments, respectively.

He said he liked what Amodu and Idoko were doing for the

ITY of David (COD) United’s quest for promotion to the Premier League continues on Saturday, with the Coach, Bode Awakantutored side meeting Bendel Insurance in one of the games of the Nigeria National League (NNL).

With its 100 per cent record at the Onikan Stadium, the team will be aiming to continue its excellent run with Coach Awakan saying his lads are ready for the challenge of Insurance FC. “We are more than prepared to take on Insurance.

The players know that our home form is the reason why we are riding high on the table and we have to maintain that till we get that valuable away win which I am still very hopeful of, “ says Awakan.

“The management has been excellent in terms of support for the team and the fans have been excellent as well. We feel at home here in Onikan and we would do our best for the fans, as well as, all Lagosians,” he added.

Aside the beautiful display the fans will be treated to this weekend, the spectators will also be treated to great

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HE Athletics Federation of T Nigeria (AFN) says the first leg of the national relays earlier scheduled to hold in Sagamu has been moved to the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu Ode. The Co-ordinator of the All Nigeria Relays, Yusuf Ali, confirmed yesterday that

the date of the meet remains Saturday, March 16 with the same events earlier listed.

“The first leg of the All Nigeria Relays will hold in Ijebu Ode instead of Sagamu. We had to make the switch for logistic reasons,” observed the former

Team Nigeria captain, whose national long jump record of 8.27m remains unbeaten for over two decades.

Some of the events listed for the Ijebu Ode meet include over-distance races like 150m, 300m, 600m and 3000m in both men and women categories.

The relay events include 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m and the 4x800m relays.

Ali hinted that the national relay team will also compete at the Ijebu Ode event as part of the nation’s build up to qualify for the World Championships later in the year.

“As part of our build up for the World Championships in Russia, our relay teams are going to compete in all the legs of the All Nigeria Relays. It will begin with the first leg in Ijebu Ode this weekend,” stressed Ali. Ogho-Oghene Egwero, Obinna Metu, Peter Emelieze and Benjamin Adukwu are all expected to enliven the Ijebu Ode race.

Meanwhile, the second leg of the event is expected to hold in Warri, Delta State on March 23 at the refurbished Warri City Stadium.

It is part of the dress rehearsal for the African Youth Athletics Championships billed to kick off on March 27 at the same venue.

NTBBC workshop holds in Lagos S part of its efforts to proA mote taekwondo, the Nigeria Taekwondo Black

Athletes competing in the relay event at 18th National Sports Festival, tagged: Eko 2012.

National handball coach rates youth tourney high

By Adeyinka Adedipe ATIONAL team coach, Baba N Issa has predicted a bright future for Nigerian handball after watching the talents on display at the on-going National Under 12 and Under

COD United continues quest for promotion, set for Bendel Insurance

By Olalekan Okusan

Edo and Ondo State governments, just as he appealed to corporate organisations to partner with him for the success of the project.

AFN moves national relays first leg to Ijebu Ode

music, as well as other attractions with lots of prizes to be won through a raffle draw.

The excellent performance of the team has attracted dignitaries to turn up to watch and support the team with the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Wahid Oshodi being among the leading personalities that has watched the team on several occasions.

Also, former Minister of Works, Oluseye Ogunlewe, was the special guest of honor at the last home game against Gabros FC. “I am pleased that C.O.D United is bringing pride and glory back to football in Lagos and I am happy to see a Lagos team doing so well. I have read and heard a lot about their progress and I decided to come and see for myself.

“I am quite impressed with what I have seen because the team is playing good football and they seem well organised. I’ll be really glad if they make the premier league and bring premier league football back to Lagos. They can be rest assured that I would do all I can to support them,” Ogunlewe said.

15 Championship holding in Isanlu, Kogi State.

Issa told The Guardian that most of the players displayed qualities that would make them world-class players if properly monitored, adding, “I must commend some of this youngsters that I have watched here. They have shown that they know the rudiment of the game and I am very impressed. It shows that we can get to the top again.”

The former Niger United coach said some of the games have been closely fought, which showed that all the states were doing all within their reach to produce young talents.

He also called on states’

coaches to continue developing the game as they strive to take handball to the top again.

Meanwhile, hostilities continued yesterday at the championship with Lagos under-15 boys team moving closer to the semifinal with a 20-18 points victory over host, Kogi.

In the under 12 boys, Niger and Sokoto have qualified for the semifinals and are now waiting for the two other quarterfinals to know their opponents as the championship enters the crucial game.

Also in the under 15 boys category, Niger defeated Anambra 34-4, Ondo beat Yobe 29-13 while the game between Kwara and Borno game ended 17-17.

Team Imo in and Kaduna jostling for points during the handball event of the 17th National Sports Festival, tagged Garden City 2011.

PHOTOS: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Borno under 12 boys defeated Kano 9-5 while Kogi defeated Borno 20-13. Thirty-two teams from 14 states are currently battling for honours with 357 players accredited for the event.

The under 15 girls category has the most number of accredited players with 122 girls, followed by the under 15 boys with 108 players cleared to take part in the event.

Seventy-seven players were cleared in the under 12 boys category while the under 12 girls has 50 players representing four states.

Belt College, in collaboration with Lagos State Taekwondo Association, is staging a oneday training course in Lagos.

According to the organisers, the training holds on March 23 at the Molade Okoya Indoor Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium and it is tagged: “Training with the Kick-Master.”

The organisers disclosed that the NTBBC President, George Ashiru would handle the training, which will focus on the basic techniques, as well as, taekwondo philosophy.

“All participants will get certificate for being part of the training exercise and it is free,” they said.

NASCOM pledges support to Greensprings Kanu Football Camp O help give national out- to promote and encourage T look to the yearly young people to take part in Greensprings Kanu Football sports,” he said.

Camp, Chairman of Nigeria Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM), Yemi Idowu has pledged the body’s commitment to the clinic.

The camp, which is the brainchild of Lagos-based Greensprings School, is in its second edition and it is being organized in collaboration with Super Eagles former Captain, Nwankwo Kanu.

According to Idowu, the body would support any initiative that would encourage sports in schools and with what Greensprings is doing, they are ready to collaborate with the school.

“We are impressed with what Greensprings is doing in sports. What the school is doing is commendable and they should be encouraged and NASCOM will be happy to identify with the school, as well as, support it in it quest

Idowu, who is also the proprietor of Lagos-based Nath Boys FC, believes other schools should take a cue from Greensprings.

“We believe Greensprings has become a shinning example for others to follow and if a school can be organising camp that will cater for young people, I think it worth’s emulating,” he added.

For Greensprings’ Director of Education, George Hickman, the support from NASCOM would go a long way to encourage the school to do more.

With the registration for the second edition of the yearly Greensprings Kanu Football Camp ongoing, Hickman charged students willing to be part of the camp to register.

The camp will hold on April 7 to 13 at the Lekki Campus of the school.

76 SPORTS

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

UEFA Champions League

Barcelona’s Argentine forward, Lionel Messi (centre); vies with AC Milan’s Colombian defender, Cristian Zapata (left), and midfielder Riccardo Montolivo during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Tuesday.

PHOTO: AFP

Everything worked out perfectly for Barca, says Messi IONEL Messi has voiced LBarcelona’s his delight with 4-0 win over AC Milan in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 encounter and feels everything went perfectly for the Blaugrana.

Two goals from the Argentine attacker gifted Barca a two-goal lead at halftime, before David Villa and Jordi Alba poured more salt in Milan’s wounds after the interval to erase the 2-0 loss from the first leg at San Siro, and help the Catalans to the quarterfinals of the competition.

“Really, we needed a night just like that not only to get

through but to erase that result in Milan. Everything came off perfectly,” Messi said, according to the official UEFA website.

“We did it. From the fifth minute when we got that important first goal, we just went after Milan in every moment.

“We wanted that opening goal as soon as possible in the match not only to cut the deficit but to make the fans feel it was going to happen. It was a really lightning quick movement of the ball to get it to me and, happily, I put it away.”

The prolific attacker then went on to stress that

Barcelona were back to their usual best again after a number of difficult games.

“Perhaps in the last few matches we’ve lost a little of our form. We knew, however, that to go through this tie all we really needed was to get back to being ourselves. We envisaged what kind of performance this needed to be and how to produce it. This is the Barca that we and our fans want to see every game. This is the kind of performance we’ve been producing for years.”

The draw for the quarterfinals takes place in Nyon tomorrow.

Schalke outplayed Galatasaray twice, Howedes insists ENEDIKT Howedes Galatasaray scored more very bitter because we were B believes that Schalke only goals today and deserved to very unlucky to lose,” said has itself to blame for its go through. The things, Champions League exit at the hands of Galatasaray as he feels his team was the better side in both legs, yet failed to take its chances.

The Konigsblauen held Gala to a 1-1 draw in Istanbul in the first leg, but failed to book a ticket for the quarterfinals on Tuesday as the Turkish giant recorded a surprise 3-2 away win in the return.

“It’s an enormous disappointment. We had enough chances to win the game, and we gave them their goals. We can only blame ourselves for not having given absolutely everything in the first half. It wasn’t enough,” Howedes was quoted as saying on the official UEFA website.

“When you look at both legs, then of course the disappointment is all the greater. We were the better team in both games, but

which have made us strong in recent weeks, were missing a little today. In spite of that, we’ve played a great Champions League campaign and can take many positive things from it.”

Schalke will be looking to return to winning ways on Saturday when the club takes on Nurnberg.

Meanwhile, Coach Jens Keller has insisted that Schalke’s elimination from the Champions League will not get them down as they now focus on returning to the competition next season.

“There is no need for us to fall into depression,” Keller told Sky television. “Of course we are disappointed. If you look at both matches together then we are very, very unlucky to go out.

“But we lost it in the first half of this second leg. We were not aggressive enough. It’s

midfielder, Julian Draxler.

“I think the second half still confirmed the good progress we have been making in recent weeks and the team believed in it to the end.”

Gelsenkirchen-born Hamit Altintop’s first-half goal proved to be the turning point in the match and his celebrations left many Schalke fans open-mouthed in shock.

However, he insisted it was not an affront but rather a duty towards his new club’s supporters, who made up a large proportion of the crowd inside the Arena AufSchalke.

“Of course I am still a Schalke fan, even if nobody wants to believe me,” he said.

“I now play for another club and the Galatasaray fans deserve my celebration and my passion, which I showed.

I hope that doesn’t mean the Schalke fans will be angry with me.”

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

SPORTS 77

UEFA Champions League

Allegri thumbs up Barcelona’s quality EAD Coach, H Massimiliano Allegri claimed he had no regrets after watching AC Milan’s Champions League dream ended by “the best team in the world,” but his postmatch analysis gave him away.

The Rossoneri had admitted they would need Lionel Messi to have an off night but it was not to be, as the Argentinian forward singlehandedly cancelled out Milan’s two-goal advantage inside 39 minutes at the Nou Camp.

And with M’Baye Niang missing a gilt-edged chance to score an invaluable away goal for the Italians in between Messi’s strikes, Milan had no subsequent answer to goals three and four from David Villa and Jordi Alba after the break, with Barca wrapping up a 42 aggregate win to reach the quarter-finals.

Milan’s exit may be galling for Allegri but the 45-yearold is now free to focus on chasing down Napoli and second place in Serie A. He told acmilan.com, “we did well in the first leg but Barcelona’s potential hasn’t changed. They’re the best team in the world with that trio of Messi, (Andres)

Iniesta and Xavi.

“Milan played a worse game than we did in the first leg and in the first 30 minutes of the match, they didn’t allow us to play.

“We made a lot of technical mistakes and then when they slowed down, we had a chance through Niang. If Niang had scored that chance we’d be here talking about a completely different result.

“Sometimes, matches are decided by centimetres and this time it was the post that kept the ball out. Myself and the players have nothing to regret, though. Barcelona deserved the end result but getting through to the next round would have been a big achievement for us.

“I’m very sad for the players, for the fans and for the club as well.”

Rossoneri defender, Ignazio Abate, however, did not try quite as hard to hide his disappointment.

The full-back is now eager to cure his European hangover with victory over Sunday’s opponents Palermo, who will be eager to impress new coach Giuseppe Sannino by reigning in a five-point gap on 17th-placed Genoa.

“There’s a bit of bitterness

Terim proud of Galatasaray ALATASARAY Coach, Fatih G Terim paid tribute to his players after they overcame Schalke in a Champions League thriller to reach the last eight of the competition.

With the tie poised at 1-1 heading into the return leg in Gelsenkirchen, Roman Neustadter gave the German side the lead but they were ultimately undone by strikes from Hamit Altintop and Burak Yilmaz just before the break.

Although Michel Bastos levelled just after the hour, Gala made sure of their progress 43 on aggregate thanks to Umut Bulut’s injury-time effort.

Terim felt it was a night to

savour for Turkish football.

“The first half made all the difference and we could have scored even more,” he said on www.galatasaray.com. “I kiss my players on the forehead and send my congratulations. I am so proud of them.

That was an important victory and we are among the last eight teams. We want our supporters to live this excitement and I thank all of our fans.

“At times you play well and other times you don’t but we achieved this by putting in the effort. This pride, this excitement throughout Turkey. The country will congratulate us on our amazing achievement.”

Schalke’s Joel Matip (left); contests with Galatasaray’s Ivorian forward, Didier Drogba, during the UEFA Champions league match at the Veltins arena in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany on Tuesday.

PHOTO: AFP

as we could have managed things better in the middle of the field,” he said.

“It’s a shame as we had the chance to do them some damage. This season we had a real chance to go further in this competition by knocking them out.

“But the main objective is the league and we can’t drop our guard, Palermo have changed their coach and Sannino will play with 11 men in defence. There are about five teams within a five-point distance of each other and we can’t give up.”

Allegri echoed those sentiments, adding, “given the young age of the squad that we have now, there’ll be time to get to another Champions League semifinal or even the final.

“Sunday is another game and we shouldn’t look back.”

AVID Villa believes the hisD toric comeback win in the Champions League against AC Milan has banished any doubts about Barcelona’s recent form.

Striker Villa, 31, scored as his side became the first in the competition to overturn a 2-0 first leg away loss. That setback in Italy was followed by back-to-back defeats by Real Madrid but Villa said, “when you go through that, the bad days are forgotten. We do not care, who we get in the quarter-finals.”

Barca had started the season in record-breaking form under manager Tito Vilanova before his absence due to cancer treatment coincided with a run of results in which they went 13 games without a clean sheet, were knocked out of the Spanish cup by rivals Real and lost to Jose Mourinho’s outfit in the league.

The criticism that had been directed at them under the

Barca’s win banishes doubts, says Villa control of stand-in coach Jordi Roura was answered in a stunning round-of-16 secondleg display which began when Lionel Messi scored the first of his outstanding double in only the fifth minute.

This was later added to with two expertly crafted secondhalf strikes from Villa and rampaging left-back Jordi Alba.

“We have seen the return of the old Barcelona and now we need to continue in the same vein,” Alba said.

“With what remains of the season we need to keep playing with the same enthusiasm, intensity and hunger we showed today.”

The scale of Barca’s victory has seen them reinstated as leading contenders for the Champions League but Roura attempted to calm expectations.

“Before we weren’t so poor and now we are not so great and I wouldn’t describe our-

selves as favourites for the competition,” Roura said.

“At any stage of the game until the final goal we could have gone out if we had conceded, and I would have said the same, that we played well and were composed.”

Although disappointed to go out after his team’s exploits at home, AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri was circumspect in his evaluation of the tie after he had been left with an inexperienced squad following the summer exits of leading players such as Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“It has been an extraordinary match from Barcelona but this is not the disastrous result it will may be depicted as, but a chance to grow,” the 45-year-old said.

“To lose and go out after the first leg we produced at home upsets all of us but the lads shouldn’t beat themselves up.”

78

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, March 14, 2013

79

TheGuardian

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Dr. Udendeh Ijiirvihi Gabriel Continued from yesterday

Global outlook OST private universities are modeled after their mentors overseas, for instance, Covenant University, Ota and Landmark Universities, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, both mirror Oral Roberts University, U.S; Pan African University, Lagos, looks up to the University of Harvard also, in the U.S. Bowen University, Iwo, University of Mkar; Babcock University, Ilesan, Remo, etc, all look up to educational institutions established by legacy mentors for emulation.

The aspiration to achieve the academic feat and laurels attained by the mentor institutions often accentuated by exchange programmes reiterates the need for consistent improvement as a matter of principle.

Promotion of entrepreneurship Virtually all the private universities in Nigeria emphasise entrepreneurship, while others have gone a step ahead to offer degree courses in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In universities like Covenant, they even engage graduating students in a programme known as “total man concept” which is designed to take them through all the challenges of real business situations to enable them have a fore knowledge of the real life situation. The growing unemployment in the economy underscores the imperative of self-employment and this early recognition by these institutions to strategise against it is a step in the right direction.

Place emphasis on discipline The private universities have, to some large extent, eradicated the culture of indiscipline associated with public universities, especially cultism menace, examination sorting, sexual harassment, indecency, alcoholism, absenteeism, examination cheats, assault, etc. Bishop Oyedepo (2009) says Nigeria has a great number of graduates but most are not employable on account of indiscipline. This perhaps, informs his Covenant University’s apparent rigid rules of discipline.

Challenges facing private university system in Nigeria: Use of single regulator The use of a single regulator (NUC) for both private and public universities tends to limit innovative tendencies of private universities in Nigeria. The orientation of the private universities is fundamentally different from that of the public sector as the former is driven more by market demand than the orthodoxy of the traditional university setting. The use of government regulator may slow down this process.

Irrationality in regulation In developing countries like ours, government has more resources than the private sector and therefore, sets the pace and standards for institutional developments. For the private sector to compete with the government they need friendly policies, grace period to evolve, and facilitative regulation, but this does not seem to be the philosophy guiding the university regulator in Nigeria. In 2012, over six private universities were suspended over some allegations bordering on inability to operate within set standards, while their public counterparts with apparent lower standards were allowed to run.

Centrality of the regulator Both private and public universities are spread all over the country and to locate NUC centrally in Abuja makes it difficult for effective monitoring given its budget constraint, personnel and other logistics. In the last Dana Airline crash of June 3, 2011, NUC lost a good number of staff who were on accreditation assignment, which regional officers would have handled if the agency were co-located (well-spread out).

Admission constraint by JAMB Private universities continue to rely on Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for admission of their students. This has rendered the imperative of sourcing for the right candidates quite challenging, which informs the strategy of post-JAMB test by the private universities (now copied by even the public universities). The argument of the private universities has been that the candidates that score high in JAMB find it difficult to cope with academic work upon admission.

Poor infrastructure Private universities face huge challenges developing infrastructure like hostels, cafeteria, recreational facilities and laboratories, especially those ones that do not enjoy the support of their faith-based owners. It is highly recommended that the physical planning and development department will liaise closely with the Infrastructure Development Commission and Estate Agents to develop policies that attract participation in this direction.

Self-imposed limitations University education entails total orientation of a human being to pre-dispose him or her to transform the society for the common good.

The freedom to explore one’s environment, latitude to experiment with life situations or human tendency to exploit life opportunities, is all part of the suite of activities to achieve this.

M

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Enhancing environment for private university contribution to economic development in Nigeria (2)

Prof. Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary, NUC However, most faith-based institutions do not seem to leave enough room for these expeditions. This might be due to the tender ages of some of the undergraduates who really deserve institutional protection and pious indoctrination. However, this orientation often renders them less prepared and illequipped to face societal realities.

High fees The desire to improve or at least, maintain services compels private universities to charge high fees well beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians. Experience shows that the most brilliant students come from poor families.

The implication of this is that brilliant but indigent students cannot attend these universities, while the institutions are denied the opportunities to attract the first class brains because of unaffordable fees.

Exclusion from access to grants The government policy through private universities is unfriendly. For instance, in 2011 the government passed a law extending the retirement age of professors in public universities to 70 years and PhD holders to 65 years. The reason given was that those crops of academics retired at 60 years only to go back to the private universities. This is discriminatory to say the least. At present, research grants, project funded under education tax fund or appointment to committees for the reform of education are denied private universities notwithstanding that the same JAMB conduct their examinations and they are all subjected to NUC standards.

Paucity of academic staff

The recent directive by NUC that all university lecturers must possess a PhD puts many strains on the private universities, as those who possess PhD prefer government universities due to the opportunities highlighted in the foregoing.

Part of the NUC regulation is that universities should not produce higher degree graduates until they have organically gone through the process of graduating first degree candidates.

This has limited local production of PhDs. Undue focus on market-driven courses The greater emphasis being placed on marketdriven course such as accounting, economics, banking and finance and computer science is also, unhelpful to the private universities.

Unfortunately, despite the growing demand by movie industry in Nigeria, most of these universities have not deemed it necessary to run courses in theatre arts and performance. This may not be unrelated to the religious background of most of the private universities.

Experience of other jurisdiction shows that courses in humanities, natural science or civil engineering do not command high commercial appeal but hold great prospect for societal development in view of their ability to recognise, situate and analyse issues. Professor Wole Soyinka read English but he is one of the greatest minds of his generation.

Absence of pressure group The private universities at present do not have any pressure group to provide advocacy to influence government policies towards achieving their objectives. Most private universities in the United Kingdom and the U.S. have admission or marketing officers that champion their

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search for new intake without necessarily going through a central admission scheme. This does not make their graduates less important than their JAMB administered graduates. The NUC accreditation criteria need to be more transparent, while a programme of university development should be in place for every new university to ensure that it overcomes teething challenges.

These cannot come easy with a strong advocacy by the private university itself.

Prospects of private university system: Given the cursory analysis, which suggests that over 700,000 candidates that deserve university education do not get the opportunity, one can see a great opportunity for private university development in view of its market potentials.

Other prospects include: • Attraction of direct foreign investment to establish and manage private universities in Nigeria; • Improved service due to keen competition will usher in quality teachers, new quality improvement strategies, new discoveries and innovation and ultimately a better management of the economy; • With high quality, African states, Middle East and Asians will see the need to patronize our local universities, which will broaden our foreign reserves; • With a robust local research and teaching, our education will find relevance in the local economy to open a vista of other opportunities; • This may lead to self -employment, innovation and creativity; • Private university system appears set to eliminate the stigma of poor quality graduates in the country; and • Students – teacher relationship will become mutual thereby eliminating social vices.

Summary and conclusion: The emergence of private university in Nigeria in less than 12 years has made tremendous differences. Although at infancy stage, private universities hold the key to education revolution in Nigeria. The establishment of over 52 private universities in a pace of 14 years shows how earnest Nigerians had been looking for the opportunity.

Viewed from the perspective that an educated person understands the virtues of moral principles, cultural values and political sentiments with its economic incentives, there is no gainsaying that Nigerians quest for higher education is to create a room for more constructive engagements in the society. Effective higher education enables the individual to foster societal transformation by laying a strong moral foundation for life endeavours. It is for this that one cannot agree more with (Awe, 1998) who identifies five objectives of a university education as including: • Raising a next generation of intellectuals to provide future direction; • Expanding the scope of learning to diverse disciplines; • Developing high caliber manpower to meet the needs of an evolving economy; • Encouraging individual student to develop their full potentials; and • Studying the cultural heritage to sustain and transform its values.

President Jonathan realised this imperative when he directed the establishment of federal universities in all the states of the federation even in states where governors were still dragging their feet over the issue. One expects that the same spirit driving the establishment of public universities would drive the policy for the establishment of private universities in terms of easing up the process without compromising standards to encourage participation. In a similar vein, the Federal Government is expected to resist the temptation to implement policies that put private universities at a disadvantage such as the recent retirement age for professors and PhD holders, which sought to discourage migration of such academics to the private universities. The NUC should be more transparent by publishing their requirements for university assessment, while bearing in mind that its oversight function is even-handed to facilitate rather coerce weaker partners in the education development equation. Everyone is a stakeholder with a common objective, which is to develop the university system in Nigeria to anchor economic development.

Private universities should form pressure groups such as committee of private universities, registrars of private universities, proprietors of private universities, etc. to press for policy favours. After all, pressure groups are a cardinal principle of democracy. JAMB should make room for flexibility in admission administration to enable private universities get their right candidates even where it is beyond the shores of Nigeria. At the end of the day, the private universities, not JAMB, will be assessed on the quality of their graduates. Finally, there should be more collaboration among private universities, including exchange programmes, transfer of students and sponsorship for higher degree programmes.

Concluded.

• Dr. Udendeh Ijiirvihi Gabriel is a management consultant and trainer based in Abuja.