The Nation August 09, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Lawan: I’ll return for trial NEWS

Page 4

•Troubled Rep off to lesser Hajj

Isah Muhammad set to redeem Nigeria’s image Okoye: I’ve a lot to learn Weightlifter Steiner drops ON P AGES PA 196kg on head AND23,MORE 24, 42 & 42

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VOL. 7, NO. 2212 THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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Clark to IBB: lead talks with Boko Haram From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

E

LDER statesman and Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark yesterday challenged former Military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida to a public debate on national issues.

Gen. Babangida through his media aide, Prince Kassim Afegbua, suggested that Clark was suffering from old age for blaming the Boko-Haram insurgency on him and some leaders of the North.

The statement was issued in response to Clark’s speech at the State of the Federation lecture organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) in Abuja last week .

Clark said the comments attributed to Gen. Babangida were at variance with the very positive and patriotic feedback he received from Nigerians after the lecture.

Clark challenged Gen. Babangida to direct his energy to finding solutions to the BokoHaram violence instead of abusing him.

He said Gen. Babangida’s reaction showed miscomprehension and misconception of his opinions and the challenge thrown to the leaders of the North on the need to resolve the Boko-Haram menace.

Speaking through his Legal Adviser, Mr. Kayode Ajulo, the elder statesman recalled that he met with the Niger Delta militants in the creeks in what later led to the amnesty programme.

He challenged Gen. Babangida to organise a peace meeting with the Boko-Haram members to prove that he is a great patriot that he claims to be.

“Ordinarily, Gen. Babangida should have

•Rescuers removing a body from the rubble of the collapsed two-storey building at Dutse in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

SEE PAGE 58

Three die in Abuja building collapse

Continued on Page 59

Three Deeper Life Church attack suspects held in Edo Police arrest politicians More troops deployed Burial begins From Sanni Onogu, Okene, Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja and Joseph Jibueze

T •Pastor Kumuyi

HREE people, including a woman, who are believed to be the prime suspects in the killing of 20 worshippers in a church in Okene, Kogi State on Monday, have been arrested, the police said yesterday.

The Deeper Christian Life Ministry yesterday began the grim but inescapable task of burying the dead. The burial continues today in Okene, where a dusk-to-dawn curfew has paralysed business and social lives.

Governor Idris Wada imposed a

INSIDE •Canada, CAN condemn attack on worshippers •ACN to Jonathan: call PAGES 2-3 National Conference now •Balarabe Musa: President can’t tackle Boko Haram curfew on the town on Tuesday after another attack which led to the death of two soldiers.

Some prominent Okene politicians have also been arrested and taken to

Lokoja, the state capital for interrogation in connection with the killings.

The church’s General Superintendent, Pastor William Kumuyi, described the killings as “not only wicked, but utterly premeditated”.

Police commissioner Mohammed Musa Katsina said the three suspects were arrested in Eika Dagun, Okehi Local Government Area.

Parading the suspects, the commissioner said they were arrested at Ibillo in Edo State after a gun duel.

The Police chief said the woman suspect is an accomplice who (at

night) aided the transfer of the ring leader, who allegedly killed two soldiers, to Ibillo.

The commissioner declined to mention the names of the suspects, but said more arrests had been made.

“I cannot give their names or accurate number of those arrested, for now. They are in our custody and we have already commenced investigation to ascertain their involvement so as to deal with the situation once and for all. More arrests would be made in due course,” he said.

Continued on Page 4

•INDUSTRY P14 •NATURAL HEALTH P17 •SPORT P23 •EDUCATION P25

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

2

NEWS BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY

Canada, Deeper •From left: Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Mrs. Roli Uduaghan, when Amaechi paid a condolence visit to the Uduaghans in Warri... yesterday. Mrs. Uduaghan has just lost her mother.

•Police foil bomb attack on Sokoto PDP headquarters •Perpetrators of Kogi killings must be brought to justice, says Tambuwal

C

•Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Prof. Viola Onwuleri (left) being consoled by Minister of Agriculture Dr. Akinwumi Adesina (middle) and Minister of Science and Technology Prof Ita Okon Bassey (right) during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting held at the State House Abuja... yesterday. Prof. Onwuliri’s husband died in the Dana Air plane crash.

PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN.

•Airtel Nigeria's Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Rajan Swaroop speaking on the company's milestones and plans during a Media Roundtable in Lagos ...yesterday. With him are Director of Human Resources Jibril Saba (left) and Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director Deepak Srivastava

•From left: Chairman, Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti Branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Otunba Michael Daramola, representative of Governor of Oyo State, Mr Adebayo Olagbenro, Treasurer, Otunba Remi Olorunsogo, at the Annual General Meeting of the branch in Ibadan...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

ANADA and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday condemned the Monday night attack on worshipers at the Deeper Life Church in Okene, Kogi State.

Twenty worshipers were killed by gunmen who invaded the church with automatic rifles, firing at worshippers who were having an evening Bible Study Class.

In a statement by the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird released by the country’s High Commission in Abuja yesterday, Canada sought for cooperation among Nigerians to bring the perpetrators of crime to justice.

The statement reads: “I am deeply saddened by the cowardly murder by gunmen of parishioners who were gathered in worship at a church in the town of Otite in Kogi state, Nigeria.

“Canada urges all people in Nigeria to work with the Nigerian government to counter terrorism and bring to justice those responsible for this reprehensible crime.

“No one should have to practise his or her faith in fear. Canada will continue to stand up for religious freedom “On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those killed in these attacks, and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”

CAN urged the Federal Government to change its tactics in the onslaught against the “murderous gangs”.

The organisation urged government to provide additional military and police cover for churches in the North.

It added that the terrorists in the North want to exterminate western education with a view to imposing Sharia law and Islamise Nigeria .

The President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media and Public Affairs), Mr. Kenny Ashaka, also commiserated with the families of victims of the attack and the church.

He said: “Oritsejafor believes that from this attack in Okene, the enemies of Christians and Christianity in Nigeria have changed tactics from their Sunday attacks on Churches to an everyday onslaught. He, therefore, urges the leadership of the various churches in Nigeria to step up security around their churches as they hold their daily devotions, crusades and night vigils while also being security conscious at all times.

“The Federal Government should also change its strategies by making the various Joint Task Forces stronger through the provision of additional military and Police cover for Churches in the northern part of the country and internally stiffening its intelligence network.”

Ashaka quoted the President of

From Sanni Onogu, Okene, Augustine Ehikioya, Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja, Dele Anofi and Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

CAN as saying that Christians would not be deceived to think that they are not the targets of the “murderous gangs” just because they have started attacking fellow Muslims adding that the Muslims being attacked are those opposed to the callous activities of the gang.

While sympathising with the Muslims, Oritsejafor urged them not to be discouraged by the threats from “bloodthirsty gangs.”

According to him, CAN believes that the attacks on them are diversionary and calculated to shield their real motives from the world saying “they are to deceive Nigerians and indeed the international community that their attacks are not only aimed at Christians.”

He said: “CAN repeats without fear that the series of gun and bomb attacks are primarily targeted at Christians in the North in order to exterminate all forms of western education and enthrone Islamic law of Sharia as the universal law in Nigeria , a country with multi-religious population.

“CAN sides with the Muslims being persecuted in the North and urges them to continue to speak out against those portraying their religion as that against peace. It also calls on other religious leaders in the north to rise up against elements in their midst who are standing the real tenets of their religion on its head. They can impact the lives of their people by believing that the best form of Jihad is truth.”

But for the prompt response of the police, another explosion would have been recorded at the Sokoto State Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The attempt to bomb the PDP office was averted by the timely arrival of the anti-bomb squad of the State Police Command which detonated the substance allegedly dropped by some gunmen riding on a motorcycle.

Unknown persons suspected to be hoodlums had on Monday thrown Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at the Shagari Police Station and destroyed parts of the office. Vehicles and vital documents were destroyeds.

Yesterday failed attempt, which caused panic and apprehension amongst residents and passersby at the diplomat area location of the party’s office, occurred few minutes after noon.

The attack would have been the sixth in the series of bombings in the Caliphate.

Previous attacks took place at Tambawal, AIG Zone 10 Office at Marina, U/Rogo, Arkilla and Shagari police formations.

Eyewitness account said two persons riding on a motorcycle carrying a black polythene bag containing a substance suspected to be an explosive and approached the gate trying to hand the contents to a police guard posted to the office who refused to

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

3

NEWS BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY

CAN condemn attack on Life Church worshippers Dusk-to-dawn curfew cripples Okene

O

KENE is now a shadow of its bubbling self, following the Monday night killings at teh Deeper Life Church. The roads are deserted.

Members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) have taken over the streets.

The JTF is ensuring compliance with the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on the thickly populated nerve centre of Kogi Central Senatorial District by Governor Idris Wada.

Some families in the town now have relocated to the suburbs.

When The Nation visited the main market, smoke was still billowing from some burnt motorbikes, cars and shops.

The Ohubariki Central Market was deserted, with all the shops locked.

The gate of the main intra-city motor park at Idozumi was also padlocked.

A drive through Nagazi, Ogamnana market, Zango, Ozuwaya, Idoji, Idozumi, Inike, Etahi and Agasa showed an unusual calmness.

Soldiers mounted a road block at Nagazi with disused vehicle tyres. They searched vehicles before allowing them to proceed on their journey.

Riot Policemen at the popular Idakoyibo or Total Junction were clutching guns and horsewhips.

All the banks, motor park and usually busy shops in the area were all shut.

Only interstate commuter buses, private cars and trailcollect.

The police guard, however, promptly alerted the command which immediately dispatched the squad to the spot.

It was gathered that, the unidentified men decided to drop the bag and fled the area within seconds.

The state anti-bomb squad arrived at the scene and detonated the bomb.

Confirming the incident, Police Commissioner Alhaji Aliyu Musa said since the first incident, the command has been on the red alert, adding that “we immediately strategised to cordon the entire area while the bomb experts from the command detonated the bomb.”

From Sanni Onogu, Okene

ers were seen on the ever-busy highway.

Security forces were scrutinising occupants of vehicles and searching suspected ones.

A resident said people were forced to stay indoors or relocate to the suburbs because Boko Haram attacked the Central Mosque.

He said: “The curfew is good because it would help to prevent the situation from degenerating. If you allow people to be going up and down, there is no way you can arrest the situation.”

Another resident lamented that the people were being impoverished further.

He said: “There are people who cannot feed unless they operate the commercial motorcycles daily. There are others who cannot get any income except they open their shops in the market.

“Now all the offices are closed. Banks are not working.

People cannot move around freely. So tell me how we will be able to cope with this crackdown.”

Our correspondent observed that most students of the Federal College of Education, Okene were scrambling to board the few available commercial buses to their destinations.

The image maker of the college, Mr. Peter Obansa, said the students were not leaving as a result of the security

•The Okene market deserted...yesterday

The police chief, however, called for the public cooperation on the provision of useful information

that will assist at ensuring security of lives and property in the state.

Deputy Chairman of the party in

•Students leaving the Federal College of Education, Okene... yesterday.

situation.

“They are finishing their exams today and those who have finished want to go. According to the timetable, all the students will end their exams today,” he said.

Another source said: “We are all living in fear. We don’t know what Boko Haram wants to turn Kogi into.” the state PDP, Ibrahim Balarabe, who was shocked about the incident, said that their attention was drawn to the polythene containing the substance.

“But we thank God that the police was prompt at detonating the bomb,”he said.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal has described the killing of worshippers at the Deeper Life Bible Church in Okene Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State as senseless.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, the Speaker

said the unending violence and killings in parts of the country is worrisome.

The Speaker said “We have an obligation to come together and support our security agencies in order for them to tackle the problem.”

While reiterating the pledge of the House of Representatives to do everything within its power to ensure a more secured nation, Tambuwal tasked all groups with any grievance against the state or its citizens to embrace the offer of dialogue made by the Federal Government.

Balarabe Musa to Jonathan: you’re not fit to tackle Boko Haram

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HE Chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan is mishandling the Boko Haram insurgency.

Musa, who spoke at a news conference in Abuja, said all indications show that “he cannot deal with the menace”.

He said: “Federal Government under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan is mishandling the matter because it shouldn’t take us so long to know the Boko Haram sect. Are they an Islamic movement or agents of destruction? Up till now, Nigerians cannot determine because their greatest symbol is defined by the bombing.

The matter has become so serious that by now, particularly with the amount of money voted for security, one quarter of the budget. The government does not have the capacity.

“The President was not forced to say that there is Boko Haram in his government. How can you say that there is Boko Haram in your government and yet you cannot identify them and deal with them to satisfy Nigerians? You cannot contain them with the bad development.

“And even this talk on dialogue, you as the president you are more responsible than the leaders of Boko Haram as far as the country is concerned. The responsibility is on you to initiate dia-

T

ACN: convoke National Conference

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to convoke a National Conference on the worsening insecurity in the country.

In a statement issued in Ibadan yesterday, its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the government must admit that “it is clearly not winning the war against terrorism and as such must adopt a completely new strategy if we are not all to be consumed by the raging violence even as it condemned in very strong terms the recent needless blood letting in Kogi Sokoto Yobe and Borno states.”

The party said: “Nigerians today are not safe in their homes, offices, roads or places of worship. Terrorists, kidnappers armed robbers and arsonists have taken complete control of the country and all the government can offer are platitudes.”

The party urged Jonathan to free himself from self

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

logue which you have accepted, however, difficult it is. And it is not impossible for government to know the leaders of the Boko Haram that can be dialogued with.

“I have made several suggestions that let us assume that Boko Haram has legitimate claim of representing Muslims, then in Nigerian right now Christians and Muslims leaders are talking among

serving advisers and reach out to all leaders across the nation irrespective of political loyalties, religious or ethnic prejudices to find an urgent solution to this scourge.

It also called on all leaders, political ethnic or religious to refrain from inflammatory statements as some of these pronoucements have done nothing but fanned the ember of discord.

The party said it has watched with utter amazement the pitable and superficial approach of government to foster religious harmony, tolerance and peace. “Until and when the President invites people of all shades and opinions from all over the country to tackle the root causes of insecurity a thousand road shows or breaking of fast by Christian prelates and Muslim imams will not bring us near peaceful co-existence,”the party said.

themselves, they are taking positions on the side of the people both Muslims and Christians. Why can’t the president depend on them? To help him determine whether Boko Haram is a legitimate Islamic movement or an agent of doom and I know it, I am 76 years old and I have been active in the politics of Nigeria and I know Christian and Muslim leaders are capable of advising the president on Boko

Haram insurgence. And if he relies on them, it will kill two birds with one stone.

“What is the point of relying on his advisers who are politicians and are partisan? I am not saying that he should not rely on them but as it is now, Goodluck Jonathan is not sure of his security. His advisers are advising him wrongly. They are not giving him good advice to tackle the Boko Haram insurgence. Boko

Haram is not the only security problem. Nobody is calling on him to resign but it is up to him to decide.

“But my concern is that, his resignation and impeachment will not solve the problem. Kogi now is the latest massacre and the way it is going, it may be disastrous. May be it may spread to other states like Cross River or Port Harcourt or Abuja. There is insecurity across the country.”

On the governors calling for state police, Musa said they do not have good intentions.

The CNPP boss said: “The governors are not helping matters. If the governors are as determined and committed as the Second Republic governors, we will not have this level of insecurity. The problem on the president would have been less. Because the governors are very close to the situation but they want when it comes to their states they start crying.

“The moment we have state police the governors will use it against the opposition political parties and none indigenes. We know this. Let us continue to have Nigerian police.

Even now we can still praise the police and the Military because they are still sacrificing their lives for others. With this Boko Haram insurgence, how many of the politicians are killed daily?”

4

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

NEWS

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama and his wife Lordina, arriving to view the body of the late President John Atta Mills at the •Hundreds of mourners gather to pay respect to the late President whose body was lying in state at the parliament in Accra…yesterday parliament in Accra…yesterday PHOTOS: AFP

Jonathan for Attah Mills’ burial

Alleged $620,000 bribe: Lawan gives undertaking to return for trial

H

OUSE Member Farouk Lawan has been allowed to go for lesser Hajj after giving an undertaking to return to Nigeria for trial.

The suspended chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on fuel subsidy Regime was stopped from proceeding on the trip at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos by service operatives on Tuesday night.

But at about 11pm, he was cleared for the journey after the intervention of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki.

The embattled lawmaker said he wrote the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. M.D. Abubakar on Tuesday for permission to travel for the lesser Hajj.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

He said the permission was granted.

Lawan, who is due for trial in the cash-for-clearance scandal, was temporarily barred from the trip in order to determine his mission and secure assurance that he will return to the country after lesser Hajj.

A source said: “It is the standard practice that when you are under investigation for alleged bribery or corrupt act, the security agencies must know about your movement.

“There was no record that he sought clearance to travel.

“So, security agencies did the needful to temporarily halt the journey, until they got a solid directive from

above.

“What happened was that following fears that he might miss his flight, Lawan placed desperate calls to many people, including the NSA. “He told the NSA that he had sought permission from the IGP. He also gave an undertaking to the NSA that he would return to Nigeria after the lesser Hajj. He said he had no reason to be on the run.

“The NSA also had superior information that Lawan followed due process before heading for Saudi Arabia .

“Based on the intervention and directive of the NSA, Lawan was allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser Hajj.

“Actually, he did not miss his flight after clearance. By our records, he was the last passenger to board Emirates

P

•Lawan

Airline on Tuesday night.”

Chief Mike Ozekhome(SAN), his lawyer said Lawan will be back in two weeks’ time.

Ozekhome, who issued a statement last night, said the lawmaker also got permission from the police to travel to Saudi Arabia.

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will depart

for Accra, Ghana today at the head of Nigeria’s delegation to the burial of late the President John Atta Mills who died on July 24.

President Jonathan will participate in the funeral rites scheduled for Friday.

He will also meet with Ghana’s leader, President John Dramani Mahama, before returning tomorrow.

The three-day state funeral for Mills began in Accra yesterday, with thousands of mourners taking to the streets and lampposts, trees and state buildings draped in black and red.

Mills died at age 68 last month, after a quiet battle against throat cancer.

The casket, draped in the

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

national colours of red, gold and green, was carried by members of the Air Force and placed in a hearse brimming with flowers.

It was to be taken to Accra’s state house for public viewing, ahead of tomorrow’s burial at a park adjacent to the city’s main landmark, Independence Square.

Up to 15 regional leaders, as well as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, are expected to attend the service for the man credited with transparently managing Ghana’s new-found oil wealth.

They include President Jonathan, President Yayi Boni of Benin and Ivory Coast’s leader Alassane Ouattara.

Three Deeper Life Church attack suspects held in Edo Gunmen kill two policemen in Bauchi

Continued from Page 1

Katsina warned hospitals and traditional bullet extractors to inform the police if any person with bullet wound comes to them or face being treated as an accomplice.

“Whoever conspires with criminals to inflict pains on the people will be dealt with by the law. The campaign to rid the state of crime and criminality holds no bound,” he warned.

The police chief said they recovered one of the rifles used in the attack.

According to him, the police will enforce the curfew imposed in Okene and the restriction of commercial motorcyclists from 6pm to 6am.

The Nation learnt that some of the politicians being interrogated by the security agents in Lokoja are former officials of the Okene Local Government Council.

The politicians, besides the three other suspects that were paraded by the police in Lokoja, a source said, were picked up following the suspicion that Tuesday’s shooting was allegedly targeted at the caretaker chairman of the council.

T

WO policemen were yesterday shot dead by unknown Gunmen in Bauchi.

The two riot policemen were reportedly shot at in a morning attack on a patrol centre in Gubi village along Ningi/ Kano road. They were shot in the head.

Bauchi State Police Commissioner He said: “The gunmen did not attack the Central Mosque. Some people in the Mosque were injured as a result of stampede when they heard the shootings.

“The chairman was said to have been in the office when the gunmen arrived and started shooting. After the killing of the two soldiers who were deployed to protect the area, the gunmen fired bullets at the office of the caretaker chairman, apparently to kill him.

“He was said to have lay flat on the ground in his office while the shooting lasted.

“A former chairman of the council, who is believed to be planning a comeback is said to be among those picked in connection with the shooting.”

Muhammad Ladan confirmed the attack. He said the two policemen were rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi, after they were shot, where they died.

Ladan said investigation is on going.

He urged the public to complement the effort of the security agencies by report-

Members of the Deeper Christian Life Church who lost loved ones have begun the burial of the dead.

An unspecified number of the victims was buried on Tuesday; three were said to have been buried yesterday.

More are also likely to be buried today, according to a pastor of the church who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The source said: “Many families said they want to bury their dead. So, the church had to grant their request.

“The church also believes that burying the dead would help grieving family members to come to terms with the reality and facilitate the healing process.”

The source added: “We have no intention to carry out a re-

ing suspicious movements.

Two weeks ago, two police inspectors and a corporal were killed at another patrol post along Gombe road in the state capital.

Three civilians at Unguwar Karofi in the Bauchi metropolis were also murdered yesterday when ‘SARA SUKA’ thugs raided the place.

venge because it would be totally against the biblical injunction, which stipulates that vengeance belongs to God. “Again, since nobody knows those who carried out the attack, where do you direct your anger? So, we have decided to leave everything to God.” Additional troops were drafted to Okene yesterday to strengthen security.

Pastor Kumuyi expressed deep sadness and sorrow over Monday night’s attack on members of the church.

Pastor Kumuyi, in a statement by the Church’s Secretary, Jerry Asemota, said: “It is hard to reconcile that peace-loving people, sitting in their church, and listening to Bible Study were gunned down in cold blood by peo-

ple they had done nothing to provoke.”

He urged the government to come to terms with the fact that a large swathe of people are being sent to the grave early, even as law enforcement agents seem unable to provide the required protection for all law abiding citizens.

All these, he said, have implications for the progress, development and well-being of the nation.

He noted that these killings and destruction have been going on, particularly in the northern part of our country, for too long.

Each time they occurred, he observed, the usual condemnations are made, but thereafter, the people are left without any assurance of their security and safety.

No nation can continue this way, Pastor Kumuyi said, and called for more prayers by Christians across the nation.

The preacher said he firmly believed that when Christians pray, the Almighty God in heaven answers.

“If the body of Christians would rise up and pray, and the law enforcement agencies would intensify their efforts to combat this creeping instability, the killings and destruction in our country would be stemmed,” he said.

Pastor Kumuyi urged all Christians not to despair, adding: “In times like these, when there is so much fear across the land, all Christians must see it as an opportunity to serve God more fervently.”

He sent his condolences to the families of all those who were killed in the attack, and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured.

Pastor Kumuyi assured them that he would continue to pray for them.

“The blessings of God are not all fulfilled in 99 days, but they never fail.

“The glory of the latter house shall be greater than the former. Keep faith aglow,” the statement said.

ADVERT HOTLINES: 01-280668, 08070591302, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

5

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 , 2012

NEWS Fayemi reappoints council chiefs From Sulaiman Salaawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

E

KITI State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi has approved the reappointment of the 16 local government caretaker committee chairmen.

The approval followed the expiration of their six-month tenure as appointed council helmsmen.

A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said the development came on the heels of a resolution passed by the House of Assembly on Tuesday, endorsing the reconstitution of the caretaker committees in the 16 councils.

The chairmen are to be inaugurated soon.

Woman steals child

132 bodies of Dana Air crash victims ready for collection, says Lagos

S

IXTY-NINE days after they died in the Dana Air crash in Lagos, 132 bodies of victims the ill-fated Abuja-Lagos flight are ready for collection by their relatives, the Lagos State government confirmed yesterday.

The Dana plane Flight 0922-crashed on June 3 at IjuIshaga, a Lagos suburb, three minutes to its destination - the local wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) The confirmation followed the arrival of the bodies from the United Kingdom after the Deoxynubonucleic acid results (DNA).

DNA or deoxyribonucleic

acid is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms.

Commissioner for Health Dr Jide Idris broke the news yesterday at a meeting with the relatives of the deceased at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

Idris said: “We have got some of the results of the DNA analysis from the UK. “The experts have revealed the results and we felt it necessary to brief the victims on the processes and documentation needed to claim the bodies.

“We will release the bodies in batches of 20 in alphabetical order daily from today, to reduce the chaos and

to resolve some legal processes needed to claim the bodies.”

Idris said that the names of the already identified victims would be pasted at the Lekan Ogunshola Memorial House.

He advised the relatives to come with the appropriate documents to claim the bodies.

Also speaking, the hospital’s Chief Pathologist and Chief Medical Examiner, Prof. John Obafunwa, said that 16 other bodies were still being processed.

Obafunwa said that the corpses would only be released to their next of kin after the presentation of necessary documents.

He listed the order of priority for the next of kin as spouses, children, parents, siblings, half-brothers and sisters, grandparents, nephews and nieces.

“Idris said: The next of kin is in this order and they have to present legal documents before the bodies would be released to them.

“But, in the case where the next of kin is not available, he or she has to authorise someone else to collect the body with appropriate identification.

“The authorised person has to come with the driver’s licence, national identity card, international passport and letter of authorisation by the next of kin.”

T

HE Police in Lagos have arrested a 27year-old woman, Aminatu Sulaimon for allegedly stealing her neighbour’s three-year-old child, Rokibatu Owolabi.

Owolabi was kept in the custody of a co-tenant, Mrs Mosunmola Olusiola at 48, Isolo Road, Mushin, Lagos Mainland.

It was alleged that the suspect stole the minor while she was sleeping and took her to an unknown place.

She was exposed when the custodian and parents of the child were looking for her.

A neighbour, who saw Mrs Sulaiman while carrying the baby away reportedly hinted the family.

The matter was reported at Area D Police Command, Mushin, before it was transfered to the State’s Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba.

Chief Executive Ofiicer and Managing Director (CEO/MD) of Insight Communications Mr. Jimi Awosika (right), receiving the Golden Europe Award for Quality and Commercial Prestige from Mr. Charbel S. Tabet, CEO Otherways International Research & Consultants at the Le Meridien Etoile Hotel Paris, France

Why it’s impossible to impeach Jonathan, by Akpabio

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F the words of Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio are anything to go by, the impeachment threat issued to President Goodluck Jonathan by members of the House of Representatives is an exercise in futility.

He said the plot cannot succeed as it will not enjoy the backing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which forms the majority in the House.

Akpabio was speaking on the row between the lawmakers and the Presidency over the unimpressive implementation ofthe 2002 Budget.

He spoke to reporters at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja while returning from an Investment Summit in the United States on Tuesday night.

According to him, the President has not committed any impeachable offence.

His words: “I am not a member of the National Assembly but I can tell you that the Peoples Democratic Party, which I belong, has majority in the National Assembly and the PDP has no intention to support any plan or intention to impeach

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

Mr. President. Any right thinking politician will know that there is nothing in the offing that will warrant the impeachment plot.

There is no reality in that rumour.”

On the insecurity in the country, the governor described the Boko Haram members as a faceless set of people, who indulged in mischief under the guise of religion.

He said the President has the capacity to address the crisis.

According to him, the group would soon surrender their arms because as Nigerians, they also want to

witness peace.

He said: “Who are the members of the Boko Haram? When we see Boko Haram members, we will discuss with them because as far as I am concerned, we still have a lot of people masquerading under Boko Haram to send a lot of mischief text messages, information, among others. Mr. President has the apparatus of government to know truly who is a Boko Haram member and who is not. “ I am sure that he is taking the right security steps to address their feelings and I am very sure that very soon, Boko Haram will lay down their arms because they are Nigerians and they

would like to see peace.”

Akpabio said Nigerians believe in secularity.

He said: “The rumour about Islamisation of Nigeria is being orchestrated by people who are hiding under Boko Haram to cause crisis. It happened in the Niger Delta when we had militants and all sorts of people claiming to be Boyloaf, Tompolo and others.

“It was only after the amnesty was declared that these kingpins under militancy came around and people saw them. They were people who were being used; some people were paying money to these people who called themselves militant warlords in

the Niger Delta. They were not and clearly speaking, a lot of 419 and a lot of youths are trying to take advantage of the situation and trying to be Boko Haram.

“So, there is no truth about that; I just want to allay your fears. Don’t allow people to deceive you that they want to Islamise Nigeria. No! Nigerians believe in their secularity and the strength of this country is in our plurality and I am very happy and proud to be a Nigerian. Once the grievances of the Boko Haram sect are addressed, I am sure they will also be very happy to lay down their arms for the betterment of this country. Don’t listen to that rumour, that rumour is just baseless. “

Children thrill participants at RCCG Convention

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EMBERS of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) were yesterday thrilled by a spectacular display put up by children drawn from across the country.

The calisthenics display was part of the week-long programme of the 60th Annual Convention of the church, which opened at the Redemption Camp, Kilometre 46, LagosIbadan Expressway, Ogun State.

The welcome service began at 8.30pm with a performance by a group of uniformed elders, identified as the Redemption Chaplaincy International.

They rendered the Nigerian National Anthem and an evergreen of Roy Kenoly entitled: “Ancient of Days”.

The crowd of worshippers rose to applaud the children as they filed out to the front of the altar from various parts of the auditorium, holding out the flags of more than 150 countries where the church has its presence.

Christ the Redeemer’s Band was on standby to spice the performance with medley music.

The children, who dressed in various colours, danced around the open space to showcase their versatility in calisthenics display, forming all manner of shapes.

After the awesome performance by the children, the wife of the General Overseer of the Church, Pastor Folu Adeboye, unveiled a giant plaque, showing the RCCG logo tagged: RCCG @ 60, depicting the 60th anniversary.

Six thousand balloons were released to mark the event.

The General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who was ushered unto the altar by sax wizard Pastor Kunle Ajayi at 10.50pm, applauded the children for portraying him in a drama sketch. “We have to meet later after the programme,” he said.

The presentation of certificates to 7,600 graduands of the Redeemers Bible College and the delivery of additional 13 babies were some of the highlights of yesterday’s events.

State Police: Governors’ meeting inconclusive

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HE make or mar meeting of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) over the desirability of state police was inconclusive yesterday, as talks on constitution amendment was postponed till after the Muslim fasting.

The meeting, specifically convened on Tuesday night to discuss the contentious issue that had pitted Northern governors against their

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Southern counterparts.

It was however, learnt that the governors failed to agree on whether the constitution should be amended to pave the way for the establishment of state police.

At the end of the parley which held at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, the governors said in a twoparagraph statement that the

debate on the constitutional amendment was suspended until after the Ramadan when all members would be back from Umrah (Lesser Hajj).

The meeting recorded a large turnout of governors with representation from 29 states.

Some of the Northern states were represented by their deputies, a development viewed as a tactical

move to avoid a face-off with their counterparts for backing out of the initially agreeing jointly taking by the NGF on the establishment of state police.

The deputies in attendance had the mandate of their superiors on the issues to discuss and vote for, it was learnt.

This led to the call by some gocernors for the suspension of the meeting to a more convenient date.

The states that were represented by their deputies were Jigawa, Nasarawa, Niger, Yobe, Borno, Zamfara, Bauchi and Oyo.But the governors of Sokoto, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Benue, Kebbi, Delta, Kaduna, Taraba, Ondo, Enugu, Kano and Anambra.

Also present were governors of Plateau, Rivers, Ekiti, Imo, Katsina, Cross River, Lagos, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

NEWS ‘Covenant is Nigeria’s best private varsity’ THE Covenant University (CU), Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, has again been ranked the best private university in Nigeria.

The rating is in the July 2012 edition of the World Universities’ Web Ranking of universities across the world.

Of the 10 Nigerian universities ranked among the top 100 in Africa, CU was the only private university that made the list.

Others among the top 100 African higher institutions are the Auchi Polytechnic; the University of Ibadan (UI); University of Ilorin (UNILORIN); University of Lagos (UNILAG); University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife; and the University of Jos (UNIJOS).

The methodology used in the ranking, conducted by the largest public research body in Spain, the Cybermetrics Laboratory, considered the volume of contents published on the university’s web domains as indexed

by Google, the External inlinks that the university’s web domain receives from third parties, the number of rich files (pdf, doc, docx, ppt) by Google scholar and the academic papers published in high impact international journals.

Ibadan floods won’t stop, says expert From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

A UNIVERSITY of Ibadan (UI) lecturer in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Dr. Bolanle Wahab, has said perennial flooding in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, would not abate because of the city’s vulnerability to flooding.

Wahab was the guest speaker at a sensitisation workshop organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

He noted that the haphazard planning of the city and indiscriminate dumping of refuse on waterways make the city vulnerable during torrential rains.

Wahab said: “We live in a poor environment with poor infrastructure and poor drainages, which continue to make the city and the continent vulnerable to flood and other natural disasters.”

The varsity teacher noted that flooding has come to stay in Ibadan “because there is no proper planning, no zoning and no obedience to building codes”.

The academic identified some of the causes of floods in the country.

He said government’s lack of political will and the need for those in authority and the residents to do their part would ameliorate the situation.

Wahab explained that the residents should ensure that human activities, which cause floods, are stopped.

He said: “Ibadan is not a planned city. It does not have a blueprint directing its growth. The city is just spreading in all directions without any control.”

Ondo poll: IGP Abubakar urges politicians to embrace peace

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•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (right) receiving the keys to a medical staff quarters donated to the government by Pacesetter Club at Otan Ayegbaju from the Chairman, Planning Committee, Mr. Segun Aina (middle) and President, Mr James Popoola.

HE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday promised to ensure tight security during the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State.

The police chief warned parties to caution their members against heating up the polity, saying the security operatives would forestall a repeat of the post-election violence that occurred in the state during the 1983 poll.

Abubakar spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Officers’ Mess in Akure, the state capital.

The police chief, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) in charge of ‘G’ Department at the Force Headquarters i Abu-

Ex-UNILAG VC: leadership is bane of Nigeria’s growth A FORMER Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, has identified ineffective leadership as the bane of the Nigeria’s science and technology advancement.

He said the nation would become great when responsible leadership is institutionalised.

The academic spoke in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, when he delivered a lecture, entitled: Good Governance, Science and Technological Innovation for National Development, at this year’s business luncheon and investiture of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the patron of the Nigeria Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMECHE).

Prof Ibidapo-Obe said the Federal Government must pay attention to science and technology to make Nigeria relevant among the comity of nations.

He said: “There is nothing wrong with the system. We only need good leadership as well as good followership to

•Aregbesola advises engineers •Osun ACN hails governor

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

make things work. The solution lies in science and technology. It is the innovation in scientific breakthrough that can bring about prosperity in the economy and make life more abundant for Nigerians.

“There is an urgent need for the government to give more opportunities to indigenous engineers so that they can make more breakthroughs in science and technology.”

The former Vice-Chancellor said poverty and hunger remain the biggest challenges to the country, adding that corruption could only thrive amid poverty.

Aregbesola urged Nigerian engineers to assist in overhauling the nation’s social and infrastructural needs, which he said are in a terrible condition.

The governor said 50 years after the nation’s independence, it could not boast four hours of uninterrupted power supply.

He noted that infrastructure, such as electricity, roads and potable water, are in disrepair.

Aregbesola said this is painful and unacceptable.

The governor said there cannot be development of social amenities without engineering and science.

He advised engineers to apply their knowledge for the development of the nation.

Aregbesola said: “Let us challenge and engage the system.

Let us intervene in bringing back development to the nation. Our critical socio-economic infrastructure is in dire state of disrepair or in various stages of collapse.

“There is a chronic shortfall

in road mileage compared to our population and land area.

Even then, existing roads are in such a bad shape that besides being economic liabilities, they contribute immensely to deaths.

“Housing and potable water are for the majority of our people a distant dream. We have for years struggled to provide stable power supply to no avail; something that has virtually been taken for granted in much smaller neighbouring countries, such as Ghana.”

The Action Congress of Nigeria in the Osun State has congratulated the governor on his investiture as the patron of NIMECHE. It described the honour as well deserved.

ACN state chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, in a statement by the Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, said Aregbesola merited the honour because of his background as an engineer and his revolutionary style in governance.

Man, 30, electrocuted in Ekiti

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MAN, 30, identified as Ojo Oluremi, has been electrocuted in Odo Aremu, Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

Oluremi, an electrician, of 16 Odo Aremu Street, was reportedly electrocuted when he was reconnecting an electric cable for a neighbour at 7.30pm.

The cable had been disconnected by officials of Power Holding Company (PHCN).

An eyewitness said Olure-

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

mi, who just had a baby, suggested doing the job the following day because it was already dark.

But some of his friends reportedly insisted that the repairs must be done that night to enable them watch a football match.

A neighbour, identified as Eyinafe, said she was outside the building when she heard a

fall, followed by a noise inside.

She said she could not enter the room because the back door to where she was washing clothes was locked.

Eyinafe said when she got inside, she found Oluremi lying on the floor. In the attempt to revive him, those around him had doused him with water, she said.

Another eyewitness said the electrician was rushed to a

nearby private hospital. There, a doctor advised that he should be taken to the State University Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

The eyewitness said: “We brought him back and we were inside the house with him when he woke up again after about two hours. We gave him liquid milk and rushed him back to the state hospital. But before we got there, he died again.”

Akeredolu berates Mimiko for neglecting Akoko

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HE Ondo State governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), yesterday said the “deliberate neglect” of Akoko land by the Olusegun Mimiko administration is inhuman.

The frontline lawyer spoke during his tour of the area.

He said it was a pity that the Labour Party (LP) administration has not done anything to appreciate the economic and electoral value of Akoko people, who he said contributed immensely to Mimiko’s victory in 2007.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

The ACN candidate expressed shock over the absence of basic necessities of life in the areas he visited.

The former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President condemned what he described as callous and deliberate refusal of the LP administration to bring succour to the people.

He promised to reverse the situation.

Akeredolu said: “What I saw with my eyes in Akoko land underscores the yearning of the people for a change of government. I believe they

have made the right choice in the ACN.” The lawyer noted that the “scandalous” neglect of Akoko communities has made him to grasp the sensibilities of the elite in propagating “Akoko Agenda”. He promised to be at the vanguard for the socio-economic emancipation of the people.

He assured the residents that ACN has a social contract with them and other deprived communities to make a better change in their lives.

Akeredolu said: “I plead with all prospective voters to keep their voters’ cards close

•Akeredolu

to their chests and refuse to trade them away for any amount of money. This is the only weapon to put a government of your choice in power.”

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

ja, Mr. Abdulraham Akano, said he was among the security officials who led the police team to restore peace to the state.

He said: “We are appealing to politicians not to destroy Ondo State. You cannot be killing the people you want to rule. They are not animals. We have a history of political crisis in the state and we are not praying for any political violence again.

There will be enough personnel to provide security during the election.

“We had a successful poll in Edo State because the police have been rebranded. We are up to the task in Ondo State. We will use force on any political party parading hoodlums. Ondo State people are peace-lovers; we won’t tolerate anybody to take the law into his or her hands. You may know when a war begins, but you make not know when it ends.

“Let us have your campaign programmes so that there will not be any clash of events to prevent violence. I am using this opportunity to warn politicians to stop bringing masquerades to political events.

“We are also aware of the incident which occurred at Irele. I am promising you that the perpetrators of that evil attack will be arrested, no matter highly placed such persons are. We will fish them out and they will be prosecuted.”

ACN candidate promises agric revolution

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HE Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has promised to start an agricultural revolution, if he becomes governor in the October 20 election.

The ACN candidate spoke during his campaign tour of wards in the state.

He said his agricultural revolution would turn Ondo State into the food basket of the Southwest.

Akeredolu said this is possible because the state is agrarian with a good climate where all kinds of crops could be grown in the three senatorial districts.

The frontline lawyer promised to encourage farmers to grow from subsistence to mechanised farming by giving them tractors and other modern farming tools.

Akeredolu said he would tackle unemployment by ensuring that the people benefit from the 30,000 jobs he would create in his first 100 days in office.

According to him, job creation requires creativity from leaders to harness the potential and resources in the land for wealth creation and empowerment.

The ACN candidate said he is committed to the welfare of the aged and senior citizens, adding that their pension/gratuity would be paid without delay.

“It is painful that these honourable men and women have long been denied the care they deserve, having served the state meritoriously in their youth,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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NEWS Lawyers seek autonomy of public prosecutor

COREN laments dearth of technicians From Chris Oji,

By John Austin Unachukwu

Enugu

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ARTICIPANTS at the two-day National Conference on Criminal Prosecutions and the Second Annual Conference of the Nigerian Association of Prosecutors, which started in Abuja, yesterday, have called for the independence of the Office of the Public Prosecutor as a solution to the delay in the determination of criminal cases in courts.

They said the Office of the Public Prosecutor, Minister of Justice and AttorneyGeneral are not part of the executive arm of government.

The lawyers said they are independent offices to responsible of protecting public interest.

The Keynote speaker and former Solicitor-General of Lagos State, Mr. Fola ArthurWorrey said: “One of the problems in our democracy is the lack of clarity as to where authority lies and where the final decisionmaking lies in terms of prosecutions.

“The second issue is that most prosecutorial agencies are grossly underfunded.

Too much money is going to aspects of the process that are not fundamental.

“What every agency should do is ensure that its people are properly trained. They should be the primary resource in investigating and prosecuting cases. The police needs to reconfigure itself. They seem to have lost their bite in terms of the hard, nitty-gritty, ground-breaking kind of investigation.

“It is now occupied with Very Important Personality (VIPs) protection units and all kinds of demeaning situations - carrying bags, fighting for tickets at the airports and so on.

“We need to do something about this. It is undermining the authority of the nation.

“It all adds up to the general ineffectiveness of prosecution and we need to address it. Less than one per cent of the accused persons in criminal prosecutions in the country are convicted, because not all the cases in court should be in court in the first place.

“Many of them are filed as a response to public opinion; they are not filed on the basis of their investigative validity. We need to use the power of arrest more judiciously.”

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•Governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) addressing party leaders at a rally in Araromi Obu...yesterday.

EFCC arraigns defunct Bank PHB, others for N855m fraud T HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned the defunct Bank PHB and five others before the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, for alleged conspiracy and N855 million share fraud.

They include an Indian, Mr. Ashok Isran, and his company, Nulec Industries Limited, who are the second and fifth defendants.

The rest, Anayo Nwosu, Olajide Oshodi and Sunny Obazee, were charged as staff of the defunct bank.

They are the first, third and fourth defendants.

They were accused of defrauding Sir Daniel Chukwudozie of Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited of N855 million on the pretence of purchasing Nulec Industries’ shares

From Adebisi Onanuga,

for him.

The accused persons are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

EFCC counsel Mr. Rotimi urged the court to impose stringent bail conditions on the second defendant to ensure his presence in court on adjourned dates. Jacobs said Isran’s absence has been stalling the trial for three years.

Isran’s counsel Mr. J.A. Badejo (SAN) opposed Jacob’s submission. He said his client returned to Nigeria willingly when he

heard that the EFCC was investigating his company.

Badejo said while away in Switzerland, his client was exchanging correspondence with the agency, adding that he has evidence to back it up.

Justice Habeeb Abiru granted the defendants bail.

The judge ruled that the Chairman or Managing Director of Keystone Bank must write a letter of undertaking to guarantee that Nwosu, Oshodi and Obazee would be in court on all adjourned dates.

He ordered that a top management staff must stand surety for them in the sum of N100 million.

Should they fail to appear in court on any adjourned date, the court said Keystone Bank would pay N100 million on each of them.

Isran was granted bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties must reside and have landed property in Lagos, as well as show evidence of tax payment and proof of means of livelihood.

Justice Abiru said Isran’s travel documents should be deposited with the EFCC and none of the defendants must leave Nigeria pending the determination of the s u i t .

The case was adjourned till October 22 and 23.

NERC chair seeks executive order to stop killings

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HE Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity R e g u l a t o r y Commission (NERC) Dr. Sam Amadi yesterday sought an executive order to stop the “wanton” killings in the country.

He said it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the security of every Nigerian anywhere in the country.

Amadu spoke in Abuja during the 2012 International Youth Day Lecture organised by the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy.

He said: “Executive orders should be issued to

•Advocates reading culture From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

all law enforcement agencies to stop the extrajudicial killing of our youths by their agents or self-appointed ethical or religious enforcers.

“We should end the impunity that fuels the urge to kill the other person in wanton pursuit of crazy ideas and beliefs. As a matter of urgency, a law derived from the constitutional provision of citizenship should put it beyond doubt that every

Nigerian who has lived in any part of Nigeria for a reasonable period of time and pay taxes has full rights as any other Nigerian in that part of the country, irrespective of ethnic or religious identity.”

Lamenting the dearth of reading culture among youths, the NERC boss said: “I am haunted by the absurd logic of how a people can change their circumstances, if they do not gain insight into their predicament.

“There is little reading beyond the paltry academic reading the campuses. The few who read rarely read treaties about politics in Nigeria.

“How many Nigerian youths read books on Nigerian politics by Nigerian authors? How many engage in political discourses on the social media? How many of their postings on facebook and twitter are reasoned reflections of the existentialist challenges of modern Nigeria? How many young bloggers are delving into history to inform their today?”

Senator decries poor budget implementation

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ICE-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs Jide Omoworare has decried President Goodluck Jonathan’s inability to fully implement the 2012 Budget.

He spoke with reporters at the Oduduwa College, IleIfe, after a meeting with 5,000 beneficiaries of his summer school scholarship.

Omoworare, who represents Osun East, said: “I

HE Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) yesterday lamented the dearth of skilled artisans and technicians in the country.

It said no nation can survive by relying entirely on the technical experts of other nations.

COREN Registrar Felix Atume spoke in Enugu during a workshop organised for Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) Chief Inspectors and COREN Zonal Officers in the Southeast.

Lamenting the neglect of technical schools, Atume said: “In the past, when technical schools were well managed, the Technical College, Enugu, was a centre of excellence, but it has been abandoned and is in a deplorable condition.”

He said Nigeria would improve, if educational facilities are properly funded.

Atume said the workshop was organised to resensitise chief inspectors and zonal officers on the procedures of conducting engineering regulation monitoring.

Acting COREN President Ibikunle Ogunbayo, who was represented by the COREN member representing the Southeast, Mr. Anthony Nebo, said the workshop was an avenue to share experiences on the implementation of ERM in their respective inspectorates.

He said cases of building collapse have become worrisome and quacks must be weeded out of the profession.

Nebo said: “It is unfortunate that the performance of engineers in the execution of projects in Nigeria today is a far cry from expectation and it is our responsibility to put engineering in its proper place.”

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

have always been of the impression that Mr. President is not doing enough and I have always doubted his capacity to rule this country.

The budget is not fully implemented and that is the truth of the matter.

“At the juncture we are now in Nigeria we cannot afford not to fully implement the budget, especially the capital vote. This is not the time for

the president to be gallivanting about the world, moving from Trinidad and Tobago to Jamaica when Nigeria is battling insecurity?

“Why should we keep spending money on foreign trips? You can count the number of times senators and members of the House of Representatives travel abroad, but the president is always in the air.

“I hope he is not planning to exceed the record of former

President Olusegun Obasanjo on foreign travels.

He should sit down at home and tackle the issues of security and infrastructural development.”

The senator said his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), has not taken a decision on whether or not to support the impeachment move by the House of Representatives against President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the ACN members in the National Assembly would not hesitate to support the impeachment move, if the party’s leadership gives them the go-ahead.

Omoworare said the ACN would take a position on the issue as soon as the Senate reconvenes.

He said: “Whatever the Senate will do on the impeachment move depends largely on members’ decision when we resume.

Kano-Shuarin road to cast N4b From Dele Anofi and Olugbenga Adenikin, Abuja

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HE Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Committee has said the dualisation of the KanoShuarin Road will cost N4 billion.

Convener of the Roads and Bridges Sub-committee Alhaji Kassim Bataiya spoke in Shuarin, Jigawa State, after an inspection of the 101.365km road.

The project is being handled

by Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company.

Bataiya said the government considers good roads a critical infrastructure for easy mobility.

He said: “The Federal Government is committed to reinvesting its share of the withdrawn fuel subsidy in developing critical infrastructure.”

Bataiya urged the contractor to deliver the project as scheduled.

The Chief Resident Engineer, Kano-Shuarin Road Project, H.K. Sarjius, said 33.4 percent work has been completed.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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CITYBEATS Driver charged with murder

By Tumininu Owolabi

A 25-YEAR old man, Abas Biliyaminu, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate's Court in Ikeja for alleged murder.

Biliyaminu, who lives at No. 15, Oja-Igbo, Aremo, Ibadan, Oyo State, was arraigned on a two-count charge of murder and reckless driving. He was alleged to have murdered Akpan Godwin.

Prosecuting Inspector Samson Ekikere told Magistrate Taiwo Akanni that the accused committed the offence on July 31, about 6pm on Iju-Ishaga Road, Oyemekun BusStop, Ogba, Lagos.

Ekikere said the accused on the said date drove a mini bus with Registration No. XW 659 AKD in a dangerous manner and ran into a building and shop belonging to Idowu Alagbada. The building which collapsed on impact, fell on Godwin consequently leading to his death. The deceased, Ekikere said, was rushed to the General Hospital, Ifako-Ijaye, where he died.

He said the offence contravened Section 28(1) Cap 172 Vol. 7 of Road Traffic Laws of Lagos State, 2003.

The accused, Ekikere said, ran foul of Section 227, Vol. 27 Law II of Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused however pleaded not guilty. Magistrate Akanni ordered Biliyaminu to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the matter till October 21.

Fashola's aide, monarch harp on security

By Abike Adegbulehin

THE Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Major Tunde Panox (rtd) and Onijanikin of Ijanikin Oba Momodu Ashafa have charged Lagosians to complement the government's efforts on security.

They spoke at a security forum entitled 2012 Stakeholders Meeting on Peace and Security at the Ojo Local Government secretariat.

Major Panox said Governor Babatunde Fashola has not hidden his intolerance to insecurity.

He said: "The governor has made it compulsory that all the chairmen must hold monthly security meetings to enable us get feedbacks from the grassroots, in order to help in strengthening our security," he said. Oba Ashafa, who chaired the occasion, commended the council chairman Prince Yinka Durosinmi for the forum.

The issue of national and local security, the monarch said, is a serious one especially at a time when the nation is being threatened by the militants.

"I am happy that Ojo sees the need to organise this forum for us to put our heads together to discuss how to find solution to the menace," said the monarch.

A security expert Mr Ogunshina Ayodele who delivered keynote address said no security could be assured if the people are not reaping the dividends of democracy. Ayodele who spoke on The Prevailing Security Trend In Nigeria-A Threat to Good Governance, said: "Good governance ensures the safety and security of the people. Secured and violencefree societies are products of good governance," he said.

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08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

Court jails 32 sex workers T

HE Special Offences Court at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos has sentenced 32 sex workers to four months imprisonment for engaging in acts inimical to public interest.

They are among the 52 arrested by the Lagos State TaskForce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit on Wednesday on Toyin Street, off Opebi Road, and Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja.

The others will be arraigned soon and may face the same fate.

The convicts were sentenced according to the gravity of each of the charges.

The first count charge reads: "That you, the above named persons on 2nd day of August, 2012 between 12.01 am and 12:30 am at Toyin Roundabout, Opebi, in Ikeja being disorderly persons placed yourselves on the road for illegal

•Cross section of the sex workers in the court premises... yesterday

By Miriam Ndikanwu

purpose to wit an offence contrary to section 166 (I) (h) Criminal Law 2011 and punishable under Section 162 (2) of the same law."

They were sentenced to two months imprisonment without an option of fine.

The second count reads: "That you, the above named persons on the 2nd day of August, 2012 be-

On the third count, the victims were charged with unlawfully obstructing one Superintendent Taiwo and committed an offence punishable under Section 27 of the Environmental Sanitation Law. They were sentenced to onemonth imprisonment with an option of N10, 000 fine each.

The convicts were led to Kirikiri Prison by police and prison officials.

Man ordered to sweep court premises

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N Ejigbo Magistrate's Court in Lagos has ordered a 24-year-old man, Usman Bello, to clean the court premises and regain his freedom.

Bello was arraigned on charges of stabbing a woman who called him Boko Haram.

Magistrate M.B. Folami also blamed the complainant for provoking the accused.

Bello was said to have stabbed Mrs. Ali Esther with a sharp object on August 2, about 2pm at 6, Awori Street, Ilepo Alhaji, Egbeda, a Lagos suburb. He pleaded not guilty to the offence which is contrary to Section 171 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

In his defence, Bello said he is a “medicine man”, adding that Mrs Ali asked him and his colleague to be beaten up by seven boys.

He said:"We were going about our normal business when the accused beckoned on us to come and help her remove worms from her daughter's ears and fingers. We agreed on a fee to do the job. When we finished, she and her daughter refused to pay and a quarrel ensued.

"We told them we will return the worms back to her daughter’s body if she failed to pay us and on hearing this, her daughter started calling us Boko Haram.That was how we started fighting and her mother came and held my neck, so I pushed her away. I did not stab her with anything."

Bello said he was severely beaten by those who mobbed him.

He showed the court wounds sustained from the beating, adding that the complain-

By Precious Igbonwelundu

ant and the boys beat them up. He accused Mrs Ali of trying to inflict bodily harm on him.

"She went into her shop, brought a knife and gave one of the boys to stab me, but the knife did not enter my body. When I realised that they were actually going to kill me, I pretended to be dead for the boys to leave me and her daughter poured water on me," Bello explained.

His three phones and N6, 000, cash, he said, were collected from him by the complainant.

Mrs Ali, denied calling Bello and his colleague Boko Haram.

But she was interrupted by her daughter who admitted to the court that she called them Boko Haram.

Mrs Ali also admitted seeing two of Bello's phones, which were handed over to the police, but she denied taking his money and the third phone.

Magistrate Folami was angry that Bello was arraigned despite being maltreated by Mrs Ali. "This is a court of law and we are here to do justice. Justice is both ways, that you are the complainant in a matter does not mean you must win that matter and it will save the court's time, if issues that can be resolved even at the police station are sorted out to avoid bringing such matters before the court," she said.

She added: "Okay, you said you were at the hospital and I said you should appear before me with your hospital report, now there is none. From this whole issue, you claimed that it was your daughter's mouth that caused this fight, which you would have resolved as a mother and not blowing it out of proportion."

• Bello serving his sentence... yesterday

"If we all do our duties responsibly, this country will be better and peaceful. Why should any man call another the devil or do you not know that Boko Haram is bad?" she asked.

Mrs Folami ordered the parties to be peaceful and urged the complainant to forgive the accused.

DANA crash: Lagos starts release of 109 bodies today

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HE Lagos State Government will today start releasing the clarred bodies of the remaining 107 victims of the June 3 Dana plane crash.

The bodies will be released to

By Adebisi Onanuga

the next-of-kin at the Medical Research Centre (MRC), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Babatunde

Bank workers arraigned for 'damaging' law 39-YEAR-OLD bank that the bank was seeking firm’s property alleged worker, Olugbenga an opportunity to evict the firm.

Kehinde and Henry Omoike, 50, were yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate's Court for allegedly damaging properties of Matrix Solicitors, valued at N2.486m.

Prosecuting Sergeant Steve Molo, said the bank and Matrix Solicitors have a matter in the court. He said Matrix Solicitors occupy the sixth floor of the bank's house on Marina Street, Lagos, which the firm was asked to vacate. Molo said the

tween 12:01 am and 12:30 am at Toyin Roundabout, Opebi in Ikeja conducted yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace and committed an offence contrary to Section 166 (I) (d) of the Criminal Law 2011 and punishable under Section 166 (2) of the same law."

They were sentenced to onemonth imprisonment each with an option of N10, 000 fine each.

By Fisayo Ige

matter is still in court.

The accused, he alleged, are are working as property collectors with a bank.

A fire out-break in the building, it was alleged, led Kehinde and Omoike, to bring out some items from Matrix Solicitors office. But law firm felt it was a ploy to evict it.

Molo said the bank officials were arrested because Matrix Solicitors

The accused were charged with breaking and entering and malicious damage, which they pleaded not guilty.

The offence, according to Molo, contravened Sections 409, 308 and 348 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011. Magistrate O.A Ogunbowale granted the accused N500,000 bail with two sureties who must be gainfully employed.

The matter was adjourned till August 23.

Fashola on Legal Matters, Mr Akingbolahan Adeniran, said yesterday. He spoke after a meeting with next-of-kin and relatives of the crash victims at (LASUTH).

The meeting, according to Adeniran, agreed on a schedule for the release of the bodies.

"The schedule has been done in alphabetical order and will start at 9.00 a.m. on the specified dates," he said, adding that issuance of death certificates would begin on Monday.

The release of the death certificate, he said, was delayed till next week to allow for claims and objection by relatives.

"The next-of-kin or an adult duly authorised by the next-of-kin, may collect the death certificate from the office of the Chief Medical Examiner of LASUTH," he said.

Adeniran said: "25 whole bodies,

presumably and readily identifiable, and positively identified, have so far been released to their families for burial.

"As for the remaining 19 bodies, it is not that they cannot be identified, but it means that a lot more still needs to go into the process of identification. The idea is to involve families of the victims on how they could help in identifying them."

He said the option available for relatives who fall within this category is either a mass burial or further DNA tests, which might take more time to carry out.

The families of the remaining 19 victims would be invited soon for a meeting with the foremost pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa and government representatives, "to decide on the pros and cons of the situation."

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

NEWS Activist to SSS: stop harassing opposition members •We didn’t raid newspaper, says SSS From Leke Akeredolu and Damisi Ojo, Akure

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RIGHTS activist, Morakinyo Ogele, yesterday urged the Ondo State Director of the State Security Service (SSS), Mrs. Aruna Adoki, to stop her officials from harassing and arresting members of opposition parties.

He alleged that security operatives in the state have become instruments of intimidation, molestation and harassment in the hands of the ruling Labour Party (LP).

The lawyer recalled that on June 11, when Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), declared for the position, “men of the SSS invaded the avenue and arrested Mr Olarenwaju Kazeem and Adefemi Kolawole at 4pm”.

He added: “On June 12, they were charged with robbery. It took my chambers three weeks to bail them out, after a court found out that they were framed up and were political victims.”

Ogele said about two weeks ago, operatives of the SSS invaded the home of Akeredolu’s supporters, a former students’ leader, for holding a political meeting in Owo Local Government.

The lawyer noted that “more worrisome was last week when your men, with some hooligans of the ruling LP, allegedly invaded the Newspapers’ Distribution Centre and mopped up over 2,000 copies of last week’s edition of the Drocket News (formerly Rocket News).

Ogele said members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are also suffering from the intimidation of the SSS agents.

He warned that if SSS operatives continued their harassment, he might be forced to challenge them in court.

“It is as clear as the summer sky that if you chase people away where debates are free, you drag them to the cellar, where revolutions are hatched and nursed to grow,” Ogele said.

The activists urged the SSS to apologise to people mentioned above.

He said the service should pay N250million to the publisher of the Drocket News, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye.

Ogele added: “It is incumbent on you to apologise to those I have mentioned above within seven days. Specifically, N250 million must be paid directly to the office of the publisher of the Drocket News. Otherwise, I will not hesitate to launch a legal war on the SSS of Ondo State.”

The state command of the SSS yesterday denied a report that two of its men last Thursday led suspected LP thugs to mop up copies of the latest edition of a local newspaper, Drocket News in Akure, the state capital.

The service said its officials do not have any link with political thugs. The command urged journalists to crosscheck their facts before going to press.

•The woman and her baby at the hospital...yesterday.

Mad woman gives birth on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway A

MENTALLY ill expectant mother was yesterday delivered of a baby girl at Sanyo Junction, Ibadan end of the Lagos– Ibadan Expressway.

A woman passing by observed that the deranged woman was in labour. She moved closer to her and delivered her of the baby at 6am.

The baby weighed 2.8 kilogrammes.

A top functionary of the Oyo State Government was called in. The government official reportedly alerted the Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Mr Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, in whose jurisdiction the incident occurred.

The council chief told The Nation that though the side of the road where the baby was delivered does not fall within his council, he added that he despatched nurses to complete the delivery.

•Council picks up medical bill From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

He explained that he arrived on the scene with an ambulance an hour later and conveyed the mother and baby to the council’s hospital near the scene.

Abass-Aleshinloye said he has since picked up the bill of the two patients.

According to him, the state’s social welfare workers will take over the case as soon as the mother and child are discharged from the hospital.

The doctor in charge of the hospital, Dr Babaniji Omosule, explained that the delivery

was poorly done by the “good Samaritan” because the umbilical cord was not well severed.

The doctor said the medical team had arranged for a formula (baby food), which the newborn has been taking since birth.

He said the baby needs some essential drugs because she was delivered in an unhygienic place.

Omosule said: “We were told that she gave birth around 6am at Sanyo Junction of the expressway. The person that helped her did not cut the umbilical cord well. The child looked hungry

because she has not been fed.

The mother was too weak to feed her.”

It was learnt that the woman’s relations traced her to the hospital, saying she was a nurse.

The deranged woman was said to have lost her sanity seven years ago.

A doctor, who was managing her, died two years ago, forcing the woman to return to the streets.

It was also gathered that relations of the man that impregnated her showed up at the hospital.

They explained that the man is an imbecile and has claimed responsibility.

Oyo uncovers fraud at Housing Corporation B ARELY two weeks after a N2.9billion fraud was uncovered at the Local Government Pension Board, the Oyo State Government yesterday discovered another fraud at its Housing Corporation.

The Nation gathered that a clerical officer at the corporation allegedly stole over N7million in the last two months.

The corporation operates a project, tagged: Target Saving Scheme, to which the clerk was attached.

The project is said to have been in existence since 1980s and has helped many people to acquire property.

The suspect made the lodgments of the revenue generated for the scheme into specific bank accounts in petty cash.

A source said the clerk began to corner the funds on June 13 when he stole N1million of the N1.413,000 he was asked to lodge into the account.

He was said to have paid only N413,000 and fraudulent-

E

•Ajimobi orders audit of MDAs

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

ly added figure ‘1’ on the deposit slip. This was not discovered.

The clerk was said to have continued with his scam until two weeks ago, when a N500,000 cheque issued by the corporation was rejected.

Wondering why the cheque was rejected, the corporation’s accountant reportedly approached the bank for an explanation.

He was said to have discovered that the clerk had been stealing government’s money.

The suspect disappeared but his supervisor has been suspended. Contributors to the accounts have been instructed to pay directly to the bank account and submit their deposit slips to the corporation for processing.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi

has ordered the audit of Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies (MDAs).

But it was not clear if the government would hire external auditors to do the assignment.

Confirming the fraud, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr Festus Adedayo, said the matter has been reported to the police.

He said the police are on the trail of the suspect, adding that they are interrogating some workers of the corporation.

Adedayo said the Ajimobi administration frowns at any act of corruption.

He said it is the reason many civil servants were sacked last month.

According to him, the governor made it clear during his swearing-in ceremony, last year, that he would ensure integrity in public service.

‘Ekiti has benefited from executive, KITI State House Speaker Adewale legislature harmony’ Omirin has said the state has benefit-

ed from the harmonious relations between the Executive and the Legislature.

He said this followed the smooth relationship between the State Executive Council (SEC), led by Governor Kayode Fayemi, and the lawmakers.

The Speaker noted that “without peace, such progress, as we have recorded, would have been impossible”.

Omirin spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, at the opening of the second session of the Assembly.

The fourth Assembly’s Speaker hailed Dr Fayemi for supporting the last legislative session.

He noted that for the first time, the Executive/Legislature harmony is driving progress in Ekiti State.

Omirin hoped the understanding and mutual respect would continue “so that collectively, Ekiti could be taken to heights long longed and laboured for”.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

He said 31 Bills were passed in the first session.

The Speaker urged the members to surpass the records of past Assemblies, saying performance would be a benchmark for assessing the new session.

Omirin called for the sponsorship of private Bills.

He thanked members who initiated Bills in the last session, saying the trend should continue.

The Speaker noted that budget tracking should be strengthened to ensure accountability and openness, which he described as major pillars of democratic process.

He advised his colleagues to continue to support the state government, engage their constituents on their activities as well as engage in public enlightenment on government programmes.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

For now, what we want to communicate here is that we are going to rigorously pursue any hindrance to power supply. And to ensure that we clean up the system, we have to make sure that we deliver more reliable power to the country.

- Prof Barth Nnaji, Minister of Power

MTN in talks with US to move money out of Iran

Airtel’s subscriber base hits 20m

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M

TN Group is in talks with South African and United States’ officials about moving money out of its Iran business, as tightening sanctions have prevented it repatriating funds, its Chief Executive, Sifiso Dabengwa, has said.

Johannesburg-based MTN, which reported a 14 per cent rise in first-half profit, also said yesterday a likely devaluation of the Iranian rial - another result of the US-led pressure on Tehran, could have a "severe impact" on second-half results.

The mobile operator according to Reuters, owns 49 per cent of MTN Irancell, which contributes nearly 10 per cent of its total revenue, but has become an increasing headache, with the potential to tarnish MTN's image as a post-apartheid success story.

MTN is being sued by rival Turkcell for $4.2 billion in a U.S. court, saying it used bribery and lobbied South Africa to support Tehran's military in return for a 2005 cellular licence in Iran that was originally awarded to the Turkish firm.

MTN has denied the charges and called Turkcell's demands, "extortionate".

Dabengwa told reporters after MTN's first-half results, that it had been unable to take cash out of the business for at least six months.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$107/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N6.503 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -10.5% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $35.8b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 242.1 $ 156 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 238 RIYAL 40.472

• From left: Executive Director, Lagos & Southwest, Fidelity Bank Plc, I. K. Mbagwu; Chief Executive Officer, CitiServe, Lola Ogunbambi; Divisional Head, International Banking Group, Keystone Bank, Uchenna Okwodu and Managing Director, Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), Ade Shonubi, at the launching of CitiServe OrangeBox Point of Sale (POS) in Lagos ... yesterday.

FEC okays N4.929t in 2013 budget plan T

HE Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the fiscal framework for the 2013 budget.

It has a projected revenue of N3.891trillion and N4.929trillion expenditure.

The government said it is intensifying efforts to ensure further improvement in the implementation level of the current budget, which as at June, stood at 41.3 per cent.

The 2013 document was submitted to the cabinet by the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the weekly council meeting yesterday.

The session was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan. The theme for the 2013 budget is: “Fiscal consolidation with growth.”

She said: “Everybody has agreed that the work for Budget 2013 must start early this year. That is why we have the fiscal strategy paper this early. Once we finish here, we are going to transmit the document to the National Assembly.”

The budget is expected to be ready for presentation to

• Based on $75 per barrel From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

the National Assembly before the end of September.

However, the actual laying will be in October as members of the National Assembly are on recess.

Other highlights of the 2013 budget is the benchmark of $75 per barrel as against the $72 in 2012 and expected oil production of 2.5million barrels per day as against the 2.48 million barrels per day this year.

Projected Capital expenditure is also expected to rise in 2013 from 28.53 per cent to 31.34 per cent, while recurrent expenditure is expected to decline from 71.47 per cent in 2012 to 68.66 per cent in 2013.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala also noted that work is on to ensure a decline in fiscal deficit and borrowing from 2.85 per cent and N744.44billion in 2012 to 2.17 per cent and

N727.19billion in 2013 respectively. A further decline she said, is expected by the year 2015.

She said the government would create a N25 billion sinking fund yearly to accumulate money for paying off bonds, while another N75billion would be for debts settlement.

The minister, who briefed the press with Information Minister, Labaran Maku; Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama and Director of Budget, Dr. Bright Okongu, said the 2013 budget proposal is anchored on the theme: Fiscal consolidation with growth and job creation.

She explained that what it means is to continue to manage the budget prudently and transparently and as efficiently as we can, while loading the main resources unto that areas that will generate the most growth for the economy.

“So at the same time that you are holding the budget tight, you are loading the resources into key sectors, like infrastructure, power, roads, rails, that is fiscal infrastructure, not growth area like agriculture, water resources, but also into human infrastructure like education and health, and of course encouraging other sectors like the solid minerals with the potential to create jobs. So that is the basic outline that we will be managing prudently.”

To achieve this, she said “the resources of the country will be managed prudently and transparently while ensuring priority is given to the key growth sectors of the economy and national security.”

She stressed that the focus of the federal government’s proposals on Budget 2013 as reflected in the medium term expenditure framework and the fiscal strategy paper, is that the budget should make practical impact on the areas that matter most to the Nigerian people-Job creation, power supply, roads, rail, other infrastructure and of course, agriculture.”

Diamond Bank gets $70m IFC’s convertible loan D IAMOND Bank Plc has secured a $70 million (N11.3billion) sevenyear convertible subordinated loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and its subsidiary - Africa Capitalisation Fund.

The corporation’s direct exposure to Diamond Bank is $50million, while that of its subsidiary is $20million.

The financing, which is the first of its kind, will support growth and access to finance for smaller businesses in Nigeria by allowing Diamond Bank to expand its lending programme and ability to offer financial services to underserved market segments, including micro, small, and medium enterprises and agricultural firms.

IFC Advisory Services will also provide further assistance to help Diamond Bank enhance its range of financial services for agricultural sector clients.

Commenting on the facility, Chief Executive Officer, Dia-

By Ayodele Aminu,

Group Business Editor

mond Bank, Alex Otti, said: “This investment will help Diamond Bank better serve our clients in Nigeria’s micro, small, and medium enterprises and agribusiness sector. It also will strengthen our capital base, supporting our growth.”

He said the bank considers the dollar denominated investment, which also qualifies as Tier 11 capital, appropriate for medium and long term funding strategies given the high naira interest rates regime, dearth of long term financing in the Nigerian financial markets and the depressed equity market.

The Diamond Bank boss added that the subordinated nature of the facility also conveys the sort of confidence the IFC has in the bank.

On the bank’s expansion

strategic, Otti said that the lenders priority is to grow organically but it may grow inorganically should the opportunity arise.

IFC Nigeria Country Manager, Solomon AdegbieQuaynor, said the decision of the corporation to invest in Diamond Bank “is a stamp of approval for the Otti-led management team.”

Besides, he said another compelling need for the investment was the focus of Diamond Bank in Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

“Our strategy in Nigeria is to support banks in reaching smaller businesses, which form the backbone of the economy,’ he said. “By working with a long-term partner like Diamond Bank we can increase access to finance for those critical sectors, supporting sustainable economic growth and job creation.”

He also said that the IFC, which has over $700million in debts and equity investments in the Nigerian financial sector, will be looking at co-financing of projects in the oil and gas, infrastructure and power sectors.

Head of the Africa Capitalization Fund, Marcos Brujis, said: “The investment provides a unique opportunity for the Africa Capitalization Fund to support Diamond Bank’s expansion into key economic sectors that have relatively low banking penetration and, therefore, offer significant growth potential for investors.”

IFC’s partnership with Diamond Bank began in 2005, with an initial investment to help it expand lending to small and medium enterprises. The corporation has worked with the lender since 2001 in various areas, including providing long-term financing and advisory services to support its business.

WO years after it took over an existing network, Airtel Nigeria has grown its subscriber base by 31 per cent or additional five and half million persons to hit 20 million subscribers.

The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), RajanSwaroop disclosed the growth in the company’s numbers and improvement in other indices at a Media Roundtable held yesterday at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

Swaroop said the growth in subscriber numbers was one of several indicators of growing customer acceptance and love of the brand, adding that the growth has also come on the back of an investment of $1.2billion (approximately N192billion) within the period, innovations in marketing as well as in the network that have positively influenced the Nigerian telecommunications landscape.

Swaroop disclosed that Airtel has launched nearly 3000 3.75G sites with presence in 150 towns and cities across Nigeria. The Airtel 3G network is now the largest such network in all of Africa, he further disclosed, as the company connects rural communities with broadband services. Airtel also offers the best Internet experience in Nigeria, the CEO added.

Airtel is investing in building additional 2000 kilometres to its existing 5000 kilometre fibre transmission network to ensure even deeper market penetration and capacity to handle its rapid subscriber growth.

Govt, electricity workers on war path

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

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FRESH disagreement seems underway between the Federal Government and workers of the successor companies of the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) over distribution of severance or terminal letters to them (workers).

The management of PHCN yesterday began the distribution of letters to each PHCN staff member, advising him or her on the retirement benefits, ahead of the impending privatisation of 17 out of the 18 PHCN successor companies.

In a statement the Special Assistant to the Minister of Power on Media, Mr Ogbuagu Anikwe, said each letter, signed by the PHCN Managing Director/Chief Executive, Hussein Labo, stipulates the pension and gratuity, among other benefits, of every employee.

He said: “The workers were to study the contents of every form and look out for critical issues like possible computational errors and then return them not later than August 10, 2012, with appropriate remarks to the PHCN management.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 8-8-12

NSE slides further by 0.96%

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HE Nigerian stock market remained on the downtrend yesterday as three-day consecutive decline shaved off N113 billion from equities. Average return at the stock market dropped by 0.96 per cent yesterday, depressing the yearto-date return to 11.75 per cent.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted equities slipped to N7.374 trillion as against its opening value of N7.445 trillion.

The All Share Index (ASI)- a common value-based index that tracks changes in prices of all quoted companies, dwindled to 23,166.58 points compared with its opening index of 23,391.79 points.

Market capitalisation of equities and ASI had opened this week at N7.487 trillion and 23,523.16 points but have both remained on the downtrend as investors sought to lock in relatively

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

substantial gains in recent weeks.

There was also noticeable decline in turnover at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as investors staked N1.60 billion on 190.36 million shares in 3,926 deals.

Turnover stood at 317.2 million shares worth N2.80 billion in 4,390 deals two days ago.

With 22 gainers to 19 losers, the market was coloured by the losses suffered by Dangote Cement and Nigerian Breweries, two highly capitalised stocks.

Dangote Cement, NSE’s most capitalised stock, led the slackers with a loss of N4.50 to close at N114. Nigerian Breweries dropped by 16 kobo to N117.09.

Flour Mills of Nigeria lost N2.50 to close at N50.

PZ Cussons Nigeria dropped by 97 kobo to close at N24.03. Presco slid by 50 kobo to N15. Cement Company of Northern Nigeria lost 21 kobo to close at N4.18.

University Press lost 19 kobo to close at N4.20.

Dangote Sugar Refinery dropped by 17 kobo to close at N4.63 while Unilever Nigeria and Vitafoam Nigeria lost 15 kobo and 13 kobo to close at N34.50 and N3 respectively.

On the upside, UAC of Nigeria led the bullish stocks with a gain of 60 kobo to close at N34.40.

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria followed with a gain of 53 kobo to close at N29.55.Berger Paints rose by 34 kobo to close at N7.31. Ecobank Trans-national Incorporated added 20 kobo to close at N10.40. Union Bank of Nigeria gained 18 kobo to close at N4.73. United Bank for Africa chalked up 15 kobo to close at N4.51.

Eterna and Stanbic IBTC Bank added 11 kobo each to close at N2.44 and N6.31 respectively while Cadbury Nigeria rose by 10 kobo to close at N15 per share.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 8-8-12

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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INDUSTRY

Diesel price hike will kill firms, says MAN T

HE Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has deplored the increase in the price of LPFO (black oil) and AGO (diesel) by the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC). The hike, the Kaduna branch of MAN said, was not in the interest of the masses.

The association argued that the move was capable of crippling many companies and could have negative effects on the economy.

According to MAN, the PPMC had in a memo last week, signed by the Depot Manager Kaduna, Shettima Bukar Imam, and copied to marketers among others, said

Stories by Toba Agboola

the management of NNPC/ PPMC had approved new Ex/Depot prices for AGO N126.30/Litre (old price) to N128.92/litre (new price) and LPFO N68/litre (old price) to N85.91/litre (new price).

The memo said the prices took effect from last week, adding that ex-depot prices of PMS, DPK as well as other special products remained unchanged.

However, the manufacturers in a petition addressed to the Presidency and signed by their Chairman, Olushola Olabinri, described the sudden hike as shock-

NACCIMAseeksrolein fundsdisbursement

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HE Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has urged the Federal Government to allow it disburse intervention funds to operators in the real sector.

Its President, Dr Ademola Ajayi, said the fund would get to these that deserve it if given that.

NACCIMA/ENABLE Bi-Annual dialogue between government agencies and private sector operators, Ajayi said the talks were meant to analyse the impact of government intervention funds on the economy.

Ajayi said the dialogue created a platform for stakeholders to discuss and analyse the viability and application of intervention funds.

“Part of NACCIMA’s contribution is to create an effective forum for public-private dialogue, and for the private sector and other stakeholders to brainstorm with government officials,” he said.

Ajayi said a survey conducted

by NACCIMA showed the respondents were aware of the various intervention funds but were faced with the problem of accessibility.

“A major finding of the survey was that respondents have a fair

knowledge of available intervention funds with the generic funds for popular sectors like Agriculture, SME’s and Manufacturing,” he said.

Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BoI), Ms Evelyn Oputu, said the bank supported the Federal Government in the implementation of the various intervention funds.

Ms. Oputu, who was represented by the General Manager, Risk Management, Joseph Babatunde, said the bank had assisted in disbursing the funds.

President, Association of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Jani Ibrahim, said the intervention funds would grow the economy if poperly handled.

He praised the CBN, BoI and other deposit banks for their involvement.

“As you can see, just a few companies have been able to access the funds; it is either the funds are too few or the conditions attached to them are very rigorous.

“I would like the CBN to add to these intervention funds, and also urge the government to assist them in this regard,” Ibrahim said

Vitafoam for N2b wexpansion

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ITAFOAM Nigeria Plc spent over N2 billion to expand its plants in the last five years, its chairman Mr Sam Bolarinde has said.

The company made this known at a briefing to mark its golden jubilee celebration and anniversary promo, Bolarinde said the firm had overcome challenges to expand its operations in the country since inception.

He said the company could be said to have settled down to serious business with factories in Aba, Kano, Sapele and Jos, adding that the company had also established 10 depots across the country in support of its distribution network.

“Our journey to our present enviable position has witnessed various challenging moments. Apart from contending with vagaries of operational challenges in the harsh and unforgiving operating environment, unhealthy competition, products adulteration and low entry barrier, policies of suceeding government have not been too helpful.

“Vitafoam has been able to turn these challenges into competitive advantages by coming up with innovative business solutions, when less robust organisations tripped over,” he said.

Bolarinde expressed gratitude that the business, which started as an entity in 1962 has evolved into a conglomerate with the establishment of Vitapure Nigeria Limited, Vitablom Nigeria Limited and Vitavisco Nige-

•Firm remits N1.5b tax ria Limited, adding that the company has also established modern factories in Ghana and Sierra Leone.

He said: “We have also established our modest presence in two neigbouring West African countries.

Our effort in erecting a modern foaming factory in Sierra Leone was recently boosted when International Corporation took an informed decision to partner with us.

“The company also holds substantial interest in Vono Products Plc, a company with which Vitafoam shares very similar history.”

Finance Director, Brabindoh Ogun, said the company has in the last five years paid N1.5billion as tax to the government.

“Vitafoam for the past five years has contributed paying tax of more than N1.5 billion. On the average, we pay about N300 million every year, translating to about N1.5billion that we pay into the coffers of the government.

“In terms of expanding to Ghana, what we do in Ghana is that we send products from here to Ghana, and there is this element of Foreign Exchange inflow, rather than forex flying out from this country. We are bringing in foreign exchange into the West African sub-region and this is helping the forex market in Nigeria and I think that is our contribution”, he stated.

ing and arbitrary, calling for its reversal.

In the petition copied the Minister of Petroleum, Minister of Finance, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, MAN described the policy as draconian and superfluous, because the brunt would be borne by the masses as the cost of production of various household consumables would increase drastically.

It warned that the high cost of LPFO was making most industries to fold up and therefore appealed to the government to reconsider the situation and return to the status quo.

MAN is, however, projecting a 25 per cent manufacturing sector contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Its President, Chief Kola Jamodu said if realised it would pave the way for achieving the Vision 20:2020 objectives.

Jamodu said: “We know that the contribution of the manufacturing sector to the economy is very shallow, that is about four per cent and for Nigeria to realise its Vision 20:20:20 objective, we are thinking of growing from that stage to about 25 per cent GDP contribution to the economy.

“We have articulated programmes that will ensure that

over a period of time we will achieve that plan. MAN will continue to adopt appropriate technology and continue to produce a high quality products. We want cars made in Nigeria to equate quality,” he said.

He added that the sector will continue to remain steadfast in championing the manufacturers’ interest within the country’s economy,”he said.

“Man has come up with a blue print which is intentionally a road map that shows that the economy has brought forth intervention programme with very detailed means of implementation,” he stated.

•From left: Technical Director/ Acting Managing Director, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr. Joel Ajiga, Bolarinde and the outgoing Managing Director, Dr. Bamidele Makanjuola, at the event.

Cocoa production to hit 500,000 mt by 2015

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Y 2015, cocoa production in the country is expected to rise to 500,000 metric tones (mt) from 250,000.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Ezekiel Oyemomi, said in Abuja that the transformation agenda for the cocoa industry would help the country achieve one million mt by 2018, adding that about 390,000 jobs would be created.

He also said the government was poised to set up a Cocoa Marketing and Trade Corporation that would guarantee minimum price for cocoa in the world market soon.

The move, according to him, will also help improve the income of farmers by $450 per hectare yearly.

He said the efforts were part of the strategies to rehabilitate cocoa plantations.

Oyemomi said the government was committed to protecting cocoa farmers from the uncertainties of the mar-

ket.

He said: “Our main goal is to raise national cocoa production to at least 500,000 metric tonnes by 2015 and one million MT by 2018 from the current dismal production of 250,000 MT per annum through sustainable and better plantation management practice.

“We will also improve the means of livelihood of at least 100,000 farmers by increasing the yield per hectare and cocoa income by $450 yearly in 250, 000 farm households in the cocoa producing states over the next four years and creating at least 390,000 jobs in the cocoa subsector.”

Oyemomi said the programme was designed to bring a paradigm shift in the agriculture sector, adding that the government had been facilitating access to agro-inputs under the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme.

He said: “The ministry will remain focused on achieving its objectives of restoring Nigeria to its glorious po-

sition of the largest cocoa producer in the world by implementing the robust cocoa transformation agenda.

“The ministry is working towards the incorporation of the Cocoa Marketing Trade Corporation. This institution will guarantee minimum price for cocoa in an assured market. It will protect the farmer from the vagaries of the world cocoa market.

“Efforts are being made to rehabilitate old cocoa plantations and we are putting in place a cocoa quality improvement and branding mechanism.”

He said a fundamental principle of cocoa transformation is the strong engagement of the private sector in driving a vibrant cocoa industry.

According to him, the government has been setting up a database of cocoa farmers, adding that about 65, 525 farmers have been registered under the GES.

Minister to unveil e-governance portal

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NTERIOR Minister Comrade Abba Moro will soon unveil the new e-governance portal.

When opened, it will improve the way government business is conducted, said Mr Joel Adi, Chief Executive Officer, Anchor Dataware Solutions (ADS), provider of the system, at a briefing in Abuja.

Adi said: “This will revolutionise the way government business is conducted, as it will improve commerce and industry, create employment and accelerate the economic development of the country. It will also bring about an economic network of

opportunities on that corridor. “ Stating his firm’s readiness to deploy portal to transform the Department of Citizenship and Business in the Ministry of Interior, Adi said: “we will also provide for the integration and automation of the operations of the department and streamline its Naturalisation, Citizenship, Marriage Registry and Expatriate Quota Management System.”

“Our professional and proactive team is putting finishing touches to all installations and the required infrastructure for the overall success of the project as well as the actualisation of the noble and laudable goals of the Government.”

Adi praised Moro for the realisation of the project, describing him as a public servant with uncommon devotion duty.

He described the e-Citibiz as a system that allows data to flow among the public, service professionals, and public service agencies, adding that data from multiple regions can be quickly centralised and converted into useful information. The system, he said, would also help social service agencies manage explosive information growth by creating a simplified, seamless front end that presents a cohesive one-stop shop for constituents and effectively manage network data flow.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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NATURAL HEALTH

Natural treatment for uterine fibroids U

TERINE fibroids are a medical condition that are quite commonly found in women over the age of 30. In fact, in evaluations of women over 50, 80 out of 100 women have uterine fibroids, though they often go unnoticed. Uterine fibroids are lumps of tissue that form on the uterus, however they are rarely a cause for concern.

Causes of uterine fibroids Uterine fibroids and fertility though a large percentage of women suffer from uterine fibroids, doctors are actually unsure of what causes them to occur. What they do know however, is that estrogen and progesterone, both female hormones, contribute to the growth of the fibroids.

This means that the hormones will start to grow during the years a woman has a menstrual cycle, because it is during these years the the body produces the highest levels of these hormones. Generally, after menopause occurs and your body produces lower levels of proges-

terone and estrogen, the fibroids will begin to shrink and any symptoms that have occurred from the hormones will subside.

Symptoms of uterine fibroids While many women will never even know that they have uterine fibroids because the condition often exhibits no symptoms, there are some women that will experience certain effects from the fibroids presence. Symptoms of uterine fibroids include: • A sensation of fullness or pressure in the ab dominal area • Excessive bleeding during menstruation • Excessive length of menstruation • Extreme cramping during menstruation • Lower back pain • Painful intercourse • A frequent urge to urinate Medical treatment for uterine fibroids

In many cases, the effects of uterine fibroids are so minor that many woman use a general over-the-counter pain medicine to treat any cramping or pain associated with the fibroid tumors. Since the tumors can also cause excessive menstrual bleeding which can lead to anemia, an iron supplement is recommended if excessive bleeding is occurring.

In the medical world, the only successful treatment for fibroids is surgery. The two main types of surgery used for treating uterine fibroids are a myomectomy, which only removes the existing fibroids, and a hysterectomy, which removes the entire uterus.

A myomectomy can help to remove the existing tumors that you have, but it will not prevent the tumors from growing back (only lifestyle changes can help to balance the body and promote hormonal balance). However, this method of uterine fibroid removal is the best of the two surgery choices for those women that are still wanting to conceive a child. With a hysterectomy, you can guarantee that the tumors will not grow back. Unfortunately, there are many other side effects that can occur from a hysterectomy including early menopause, an increased risk of osteoporosis and of course, the inability to become pregnant.

Another newer procedure that is being used for treating uterine fibroids is uterine fibroid embolization. This method of treatment has proven effective at shrinking fibroids or destroying them completely, however it is not without side effects. This treatment should not be used by those women that are wanting to become pregnant, since it is known to throw the body into early menopause and can even cause infertility.

Natural therapies for uterine fibroids These herbs and supplements support the body in helping to clear out fibroids naturally. The herbs and supplements both help to balance hormones thus slowing fibroid growth and dissolving existing fibroids.

Progesterone Helps reduce fibroids and fibroid growth by balancing the excess estrogen (which makes the fibroids grow) with 40mg of natural progesterone treatment for two to three months on days 14 – 28 of the cycle (day one being the first day of your period). Natural progesterone is safe to take and is the same molecule that your body produces. Many of the synthetic estrogens and progestins are chemically modified from the natural molecule and are dangerous to use.

DIM DIM balances the hormones by breaking down estrogen and removing it from the body. Estrogen is a major culprit to many of the fertility issues women face today especially fibroids, which is an estrogen dominant condition. Supporting the body in getting rid of excess estrogens should cause the fibroids to stop occurring.

Women’s best friend Women’s best friend takes down pain and swelling caused from fibroids so you start feeling better right away. Women’s best friend goes to the source of the problem, helping to reduce excess estrogen that fuels abnormal growths, and stimulating liver activity for improved estrogen metabolism. It works with your body’s natural detoxification processes to clear congested endometrial tissues while reducing symptoms like abnormal bleeding.

Culled from natural-fertility-info.com

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

A bloody incident in the Sinai

Yet, another mindless massacre • The gruesome killings of worshippers in Kogi shows that govt has to do more to check terror

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F there was any doubt that terrorists were bent on sowing seeds of discord that would destroy Nigeria, last Monday’s massacre of worshippers in a church, and the attack on the Central Mosque in Okene, also in the state, on Tuesday, during which four persons were killed, should dispel such doubt. Though this is not the first time churches and worshippers have been attacked, this is the first major terrorism onslaught in Kogi, State.

Last Monday night, as the congregation of the Deeper Christian Life Bible Church in Okene, were engrossed in worship, gunmen bearing sophisticated weapons stormed the church, covered all entrances and fired sporadically at the worshippers.

When the shooting stopped, 16 faithful lay

‘This home-grown terrorism thrives because intelligence gathering has failed. How could the gang that attacked the Deeper Life Church, for instance, have escaped security in the town, operated and vanished undetected into thin air? It is sad that after about two years of this scourge, government has not been able to put a handle on its security and intelligence operations. Sad indeed!’

dead, including the pastor of the church.

Almost an equal number was critically injured and were rushed to the hospital.

Though the Boko Haram Islamist sect did not immediately claim responsibility, it is one of their trademark methods they had used in places like Yola, Adamawa State and Gombe, Yobe State. Hitting Okene this time, suggests that the terrorists are either inching down south or that their traditional enclaves of north-east and north-western parts of Nigeria are becoming too dangerous for them to operate in.

Whatever may be the case, the perpetrators of this dastardly act against unarmed and innocent worshippers have shown once again that they are mere rebels without a cause. They are purveyors of hate and bigotry which have no place in modern human society. They cannot be true Muslims, for this is the holy month of Ramadan, a period of peace when true faithful live in total penitence and perpetual supplication to Allah.

In the light of this, the elite of the North, Muslim clerics and the leadership of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, must not relent in speaking up and preaching against this scourge that is damaging the image of their religion and which also threatens to destabilise the country. It is trite to repeat that the constitution of Nigeria guarantees every citizen freedom of religion and worship. Besides, converts are never won by the force of arms; instead, true religions

thrive on precepts and peaceful, relentless proselytising. It is ironical that Pastor W.F. Kumuyi whose church is the recent victim of terrorists’ mayhem, has been an ardent apostle of non-retaliation

by Christians. Even when the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, seemed to be losing patience with the Federal Government, Kumuyi had insisted that there was no place for vengeance in the Christian Scripture.

We urge Nigerians to resist the temptation to be lured into a bloody religious war. Their restraint is of course not out of cowardice but like true faithful, they are simply living one of the major injunctions of their faith, that vengeance is the Lord’s.

And, for the umpteenth time, we call on the Federal Government to rise to the challenge of this band of terrorists. It is unacceptable that this largely untrained bunch would out-think and out-shoot the government and all its security agencies.

We thought that by now, there would be enough intelligence cover across the country to detect quickly any movement of large arms and ammunition over any distance.

This home-grown terrorism thrives because intelligence gathering has failed.

How could the gang that attacked the Deeper Life Church, for instance, have escaped security in the town, operated and vanished undetected into thin air? It is sad that after about two years of this scourge, government has not been able to put a handle on its security and intelligence operations. Sad indeed!

Avoidable tussle The Federal Government should honour court order on MMA2

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HAT the nation’s aviation sector is in a shambles is no litotes. More damning is the needless squabble over who controls ,and for how many years, the MMA2, between the Federal Government and Bi-Courtney Limited. The tussle has negatively impacted on the management of MMA2, that otherwise, should have been the pride of the nation, and perhaps a reference point in Private/Public Partnership (PPP).

The current administration is adamant that the duration of the original agreement signed by the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on April 24, 2003, was for 12 years. But it is challenging an addendum of February 2, 2007, that purportedly extended the tenure of the con-

‘Obviously, Bi-Courtney seems to have carried out its own bargain of the MMA2 concession agreement. The terminal was built with funds sourced by the company and it should be made to enjoy the harvest of its toil within the concession agreement’s prescribed years. It is sad that not even a coordinating committee’s decision mutually established to resolve issues between the government and BiCourtney, and court rulings that all gave verdicts in favour of the latter, could bring about an end to the matter’

cession to 36 years.

PPP is something that should be encouraged. In 2000 when the domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, got burnt and was shut down by the Federal Government, the experiment with PPP was mooted in government. This prompted the agreement signed by government with Bi-Courtney, owned by Wale Babalakin, for the re-development of the destroyed airport terminal on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.

While the envisaged desire of government to ensure systemic efficiency in infrastructural management through PPP is commendable, it should equally be pointed out that signing off the MMA2 for 36 years looks too monopolistic. But questions we may ask are; why didn’t government’s legal experts scrutinise the agreement before signing? What kind of legal advice was given to government regarding the tenure of the contract and its implication on national interest? Were the agreement documents prepared with or without their inputs? Are those currently advising the government to renege on the signed agreement not privy to the agreement ab initio? It is too late in the day for government to deny the sanctity of that agreement, if only to serve as lesson to its legal team in future, to be meticulous and to boost investors’ confidence in the system.

Obviously, Bi-Courtney seems to have carried out its own bargain of the MMA2 concession agreement. The terminal was built with funds sourced by the company and it should be made to enjoy the harvest of its toil within the concession

agreement’s prescribed years. It is sad that not even a coordinating committee’s decision mutually established to resolve issues between the government and BiCourtney, and court rulings that all gave verdicts in favour of the latter, could bring about an end to the matter.

Bi-Courtney approached the Federal High Court to enforce the sanctity of the concession agreement and got judgment.

The decision was reportedly challenged

by Arik Air, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Services Employees in court, without success.

Even the Federal Government’s appeal was thrown out on the ground that it did not abide by the rules of court that must be complied with. The initial statutory period of appeal is 60 days, but upon grant of extension of time, could be extended by the court for another 30 days.

We are aware that Babalakin’s public rating in view of his company, Bi-Courtney’s failed bid to re-construct the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway years after concessioning, has dipped.

But this official rigmarole must stop. We are bothered by the continuing contempt shown the judiciary by the administration. Recently, Mrs Patience Jonathan, the president’s wife, encroached on a land allegedly owned by Turai Yar’Adua’s foundation, despite a court order restraining her from doing so. Now, the administration is showing disdain for the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal decisions.

This is not a good way to propagate respect for the judiciary and the rule of law.

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NOTHER BLOODY incident in the Sinai peninsula has underlined the reality that one of the Middle East’s most sensitive pieces of territory has become a lawless haven for Islamic jihadists. According to Egyptian and Israeli authorities, a group of militants stormed an Egyptian checkpoint in the town of Rafah, on the border with the Gaza Strip; they killed 16 police and border guards and commandeered two vehicles, which they used to attack across the nearby Israeli border.

Israeli officials said that only fortuitous intelligence allowed its military to deploy forces and prevent an even worse incident.

Though shocking, the attack should have come as no surprise for the Egyptian military or the newly elected Islamist government under President Mohamed Morsi. After years of growing restlessness among its mostly Bedouin population, Egyptian state authority in the Sinai melted away after last year’s revolution, during which police posts were burned and left empty. As the Post’s Ernesto Londoño reported last month, the flat, arid territory between Israel and the Suez canal has been infiltrated by Islamic militants, including veterans of fighting in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Training camps have been established, and links built with jihadists based in the adjoining Gaza Strip.

The Egyptian army said Monday that Sunday’s attack was backed up with mortar fire from Gaza.

The strike presented, as probably was intended, an immediate and urgent test of the ability of Mr. Morsi’s new administration to cooperate with the Egyptian military and the Israeli government. The president has uneasy relations with both; he is more comfortable with the Hamas movement, ruler of Gaza, with which he recently agreed to ease border controls. Now Mr. Morsi will be under pressure to support a crackdown on jihadists in Sinai, to tighten the border with Gaza and to coordinate better with Israel. Israel’s intelligence about Sunday’s attack apparently was not delivered to, or not heeded by, Egyptian forces.

This will not be easy; as Mr. Morsi himself said publicly before the attack, closer cooperation with Israel is counter to his political interest. That’s one reason this situation demands a strong response from another uneasy partner of the the Cairo administration, the United States. U.S. officials have been talking for some time about finding ways to work with the government on security problems of mutual interest, starting with the Sinai. Some 200 U.S. soldiers are already stationed along the border between Sinai and Israel, part of a long-standing peacekeeping force.

Sunday’s attack should galvanize these efforts.

Perhaps some of the U.S. military aid now being misdirected into Egyptian purchases of F-16s and other weapons systems should be repurposed to support what will be, at best, a difficult and prolonged campaign to restore order in the Sinai.

Egyptians forces could benefit from training in counterinsurgency and from better surveillance and intelligence equipment. It’s difficult to think of a better cause. As this attack showed, a takeover of Sinai by Islamic extremists could quickly destabilize what for the last three decades has been a border vital to the preservation of Middle East peace.

– Washinton Post

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

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•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor

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•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: I am naturally finding it hard to pen an article for a man like Senator Ngige, not because there is nothing good to write about him. Alas what shall I not say about Ngige? That the whole Igbo race and the Nigeria as a people do not know? What colour am I permitted to apply to the blooms of his life?

The answer to the questions above is a resounding none.

Senator Chris Ngige requires no myths, little or extensive propaganda, no spin doctors, for he is indeed a household name in Anambra State.

Today, Ngige requires no formal introduction at gatherings this diminutive and handsome man of the people is said to possess the goodwill of people in his strides and disposition to the people. He is not the haughty big man, who believes that there is a natural barrier between them and the common folk, who must be treated like some pariah though some of these “big men” were sired by the same common

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

To Senator Ngige at 60 man and women.

A progressive with a first class political personality, Ngige’s emergence upon the Nigerian political platform dates back to 2003 when he was shopped out to contest the gubernatorial elections as the PDP’s candidate, at that point in time he was just what the Americans call a regular guy, a greenhorn in Nigerian politics. His emergence as governor elicited no positive response from the people as they rhetorically asked “Can anything good come from the People’s Democratic Party?”

The doubting Toms were jolted

out of their carapace of disbelief when Ngige on principle parted ways with the self-styled godfather, Chris Uba when the latter wanted to seize the resources of Anambra State. The July 10 coup was a reaction to Ngige’s refusal to do business.

Senator Ngige at 60 is a symbol of Igbo renaissance; little wonder a former commissioner of his, Chief Charles Amilo has likened him to the former Premier of the Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara. While Ngige achieved all that which endeared him to the people in a short and turbulent era of 33 months,

building roads, schools, health centres, markets and ensuring the security and welfare of its citizens, with a sum of N33 billion Naira, today’s administration cannot account for over two trillion Naira it has received as allocations to the state for six years running.

One recalls that during the Ngige tenure, certain federal roads in Anambra state were deemed as bottle necks; people suffered and spent long hours on roads which naturally shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes driving time. The Ngige administration, ever responsive swung into action with the rider that

Fayemi and infrastructural development IR: Infrastructural development is one of the key components of the eight-point agenda of the Dr. Kayode Fayemiled administration in Ekiti State.

Under the infrastructural development plan, the administration hopes to establish optimum communities that will improve citizens’ lives and attract investments by 2014.

By 2014, the administration aims to make all parts of Ekiti State accessible by major roads and make water dams functional to increase water supply by 80 per cent publicprivate partnership for independent power projects.

On assumption of office on October 16, 2010, Governor Fayemi met a very lean purse and a mountain of debt left by the ousted administration which posed a serious challenge to delivering on his agenda.

In a bid to tackle the huge challenge, the administration approached the Capital Market and succeeded in getting N20 billion bond with the greater chunk of the money earmarked for road construction.

Many of the major roads in Ekiti – both federal and state – had fallen into state of disrepair owing to long

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years of neglect and shoddy jobs done by previous administrations.

Nearly two years after assuming office, the people of the state are now reaping dividends of democracy through massive construction and reconstruction of roads going on in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital and other parts of the state.

It is a common sight to see earthmoving machines like bulldozers, excavators, other heavy equipment and construction workers on the streets of Ado-Ekiti working assiduously to meet the deadlines given to them to deliver quality roads.

Basiri-Iyin Road, Fajuyi-Teaching Hospital Road, Ori Apata-AdebayoOpopogbooro Road which lead to the main campus of the Ekiti State University are now wearing new look. The reconstruction of this important road is being done to the Iworoko-Ekiti end which leads to Ifaki-Ekiti to bring relief to commuters and motorists travelling to Kwara, Kogi, Abuja and other northern states.

Also experiencing transformation are Ilawe Road, Ijigbo and Ajilosun Road and the entire stretch of the highway which leads to Ikere-Ekiti, the second largest town in the state.

Another talking point on the road revolution of the Fayemi adminis-

tration is the construction of strong and quality road medians. The government is also construction drainages alongside the road projects to prevent flooding and make the roads last. Bridges along the roads are being reconstructed and widened to ensure free flow of traffic and tackle flooding.

The motorists plying Ado-IkereAkure Road are hailing the reconstruction work being done on one of the lanes of the busy highway which collapsed barely a year after it was constructed by a previous

administration.

The icing on the cake of the Urban Renewal project of the Fayemi administration in the state capital is the dualisation of Old GarageOjumose Road and the dualisation of Atikankan-NITEL-Baptist Road.

Government has also awarded a N767 million contract to install streetlights on the major roads in Ado-Ekiti to boost nightlife, enhance visibility and security.

• Odunayo Ogunmola Ado-Ekiti

those roads were plied by Ndi Anambra and that to continue to wait on the federal government to repair the roads while his own people suffered, to sit idle and do nothing wouldn’t have been ideal.

At 60, Ngige possesses much relevance in Nigeria’s politics; at a time when a host of Igbo politicians have tendency to dissemble and say things different from what pertains to present day realities in order to beg for one form of patronage or the other, this cannot be said about Ngige, who naturally speaks truth to power. His approach to politics is legendary and serves as a turning point in our history. Phenomenal in nature, he abhors violence, rent seeking, high handedness, dictatorship, religious and ethnic jingoism and elitism; he is a democrat fashioned out of hard steel, one at home with all irrespective of your religious or political leanings.

As Senator representing the good people of Anambra Central, Ngige can be credited with several achievements both on the floor of the Senate and in his oversight functions as vice chairman, Power and Steel and member health and education committees. Ngige as in the years past and in the years to come will act as a potent influence on the tapestry of Nigeria’s politics. We can only hope that for more years to come he will not only be present with us but will continue to thunder on so that it will become clear that the Igbos on one hand and the progressives of Nigeria on the other will find his voice the most persuasive in our time.

• Igboeli Arinze Napoleon Abuja.

African athletes have done it again!

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IR: Just in case you don’t know, it is now official that seven Cameroonian athletes participating in the London Olympics have disappeared into thin air. They have simply bolted away. Farewell to Cameroon, they seem to say!

It is no irony that since they could not win any Olympic medal, it is meet to win one by escaping the postcolonial hell hole their country has become...Who will blame these hapless athletes? Their country is under the jackboots of a puny emperor who has been in the saddle for the

past three decades. No end in sight to this home-made colonialism.

By their escape, Africa is, once again, made an object of ridicule in the comity of continents participating in the games. Joseph Conrad will be having a good laugh in his grave with his Heart of Darkness at the moment. Independent nations with dependent nationals.

One will not be too surprised if some Nigerian athletes repeat the feat of their counterparts from the colony of Paul Biya. Nigeria, too, is similar with Cameroon. The only

tangible difference is that while Nigeria keeps recycling leaders with the same mentality, Cameroon has retained the same person for the better part of her history. The two are forever united by perpetual underdevelopment and elite corruption.

To those brothers who have left the jungle of Africa for us, we shall see someday on some European streets.

That is if the Saviour tarries his coming.

• Akinboyo Temidayo Igbotako, Ondo State.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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COMMENTS

Flying to Abuja

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HEN the Dana Air crash happened, some people started wondering whether the Lagos-Abuja route was jinxed. Some even suggested that criminals may be at work in sabotaging air movement between the two cities because of deals that may have gone awry. But we can dismiss all that as old wife’s tales. Accidents can occur at any road and the number of accidents is directly proportionate to the frequency of flights. A German friend of mine says that the black clouds that always hovers around Lagos sometimes makes landing difficult and hazardous especially during rainy season. There is no doubt that the Dana crash was a tragedy of great proportion. The same can be said of the ADC flight that was approaching Lagos before it crashed and killed notably Prof. Claude Ake, perhaps the greatest Political Scientist that Nigeria has ever produced.

We also remember the terrible crash of the Bellview aircraft that was barely off the ground in Lagos before it crashed in some woods in Ogun State.

All lives are important and no life is more valuable than

‘When one was young, this country had development plans during which plans were laid out about where Nigeria wanted to be in five years. But all these were thrown away by the military who throughout their years in office abandoned careful planning for what they called rolling plans; apparently forgetting the old English saying that “a rolling stone gathers no moss”.

Now that civilians are back in government, may I call on them to bring back planned development to our country so that a Lagos-Abuja railway would be high on the pedestal of things that government must do’

W

HEN a few days ago, President Goodluck Jonathan fired his National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen Owoye Azazi, his intention was clear. He was tired with the way the general was handling security matters, especially the Boko Haram scourge. He didn’t say it the way I put it, but his body language said it all. Azazi had to go for the country to make a headway in containing the Boko Haram menace. It is not that Azazi was the problem. No, he wasn’t, but it was obvious he was not proactive enough in dealing with the Islamic sect.

Many jubilated over his exit because they felt that once he is gone, the Boko Haram menace will just disappear. Rather than disappear, it has remained with us. What is more, the Boko Harameers have broken new grounds. They have taken the fight to places hitherto considered sacred to prove the point that there is no where they cannot hit if they choose to. In the past week or two, they have hit Sokoto, the nation’s cradle of Islam, and the home state of the NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki.

It may not be Dasuki’s fault, just as it was not Azazi’s, that Boko Haram has continued to wax stronger despite all efforts to stop the group. I hate to say this, but members of the deadly group may be laughing at us now for our misplaced belief that Dasuki has what it takes to stop them. The point, the group may be taking with its two attacks on Sokoto within one week is that, it would take more than the appointment of someone from their own part of the country to rein them in.

What do we do about Boko Haram then? Do we just watch as the group continues to wreak havoc in some

that of another person. But in terms of scale of loss of lives, the Dana Air Crash was a monumental tragedy. As a nation and as a collectivity of families and individuals, we would not get over it for a long time. How can anybody forget the tragedy that struck the Anyene family in which a young couple and five children including a set of twins and the wife’s mother and relations were killed? I didn’t know many people on the plane that crashed, but at least I knew Ehimie Aikhomu, son of the late Vice President Admiral Augustus Aikhomu. This young man was like one of my sons because I saw him grow up from teenager to a young man. He and his siblings were great friends of my children. He left a young wife and children behind. In Yorubaland, an old person does not visit a house of mourning of younger people.

But I had to go over to his house in order to pay my condolences. His loss is a great tragedy for the Aikhomu family who are still mourning the loss of their father, Admiral Aikhomu.

Government must do something about the frequency of crashes on this route. Abuja the administrative capital of Nigeria and Lagos its commercial capital need to be linked not only by air alone, but by road and rail. For now, the only link is in the air. Roads to Abuja from Lagos are almost impassable. They are riddled with potholes and if one does not die in a road crash one may be waylaid by armed robbers and recently militant herdsmen along the route. For almost 10 years, we have heard that plans were afoot to link Abuja with Lagos by fast trains. Not much has happened in terms of planning, not to talk about execution. Yet the need and demand are there. If government cannot do this, it should at least facilitate the construction of rail lines either jointly with businessmen or businessmen alone. There is no major capital of a country of our potentiality that is not linked to the coast by railways. Brasilia-Rio De Janeiro (Brazil); Berlin-Hamburg (Germany); Montreal-Ottawa (Canada); Moscow-St. Petersburg (Russia); Pretoria-Durban (South Africa); New Delhi-Bombay (India); Beijing-Shanghai (China). It is therefore imperative that Lagos-Abuja by rail should be one of the topmost priorities of government.

When one was young, this country had development plans during which plans were laid out about where Nigeria wanted to be in five years. But all these were thrown away by the military who throughout their years in office abandoned careful planning for what they called rolling plans; apparently forgetting the old English saying that “a rolling

stone gathers no moss”. Now that civilians are back in government, may I call on them to bring back planned development to our country so that a Lagos-Abuja railway would be high on the pedestal of things that government must do. As for flying, all one can say is that apart from one or two companies now flying, all the others should be grounded and disJide banded for safety purOsuntokun pose. It may also be necessary for government to have its own airline restricted to local flights so that the travelling community in Nigeria do not see flying as attempting suicide. The lucrative international routes currently dominated by foreign airlines should also be controlled and moderated so as to remove the current sharp practices and inflated cost of travelling.

Since the Dana Air crash, many Nigerians have shun flying at all and the brave ones still fly because there’s no option or alternative. They now fly with the fear of God in their hearts and with rosary and tasfir in their hands and with their hearts almost jumping out of their mouths, whenever there is turbulence; and between Lagos-Abuja, this is often. This reminds me of my flight on Arik Airline on Friday, July 13, between 12:30 and 1:30 in the afternoon. We took off from Abuja in reasonably fine weather. The pilot whose name sounds like that of a Serb, Croat or Slovene and who may have been hard of hearing, barked and shouted into the loudspeakers whenever he had something to say and his behaviour needlessly frightened those of us on the plane. His descent into Lagos was so fast and jerky that most of us were frightened. But to God be the glory.

Pilots need to be advised to constantly put at rest the hearts of their passengers, so that people are not made to suffer heart attacks just for mere flying.

Who will stop Boko Haram? parts of the country? For sure, we cannot just fold our arms and allow this madness to continue.

Something must be done to stop Boko Haram before it succeeds in splitting the country. Indeed, there are two ways to resolve the issue force or dialogue. But then in a situation like this, as those who should know will say, maximum force cannot be applied because of the collateral damage that will follow.

The military has since been enlisted in the bid to find a way out of the debacle, but the troops have been cautious in their approach. In exercising caution, they are mindful of the fact that to unleash their power on the sect may lead to public outcry and invariably sympathy for the fundamentalists. The opprobrium such a military assault will attract will overshadow the current widespread condemnation of the sect’s activities. People will no longer remember that members of the sect courted trouble with their own hands and with their eyes wide open.

The coming of Dasuki was expected to bring an end to the Boko Haram insurgency. The premise of our hope was no more than the fact that Dasuki as a northerner should have the sympathy of his kinsmen, who are believed to be members of the sect. With an homeboy in charge of security matters, Boko Haram was expected to sheathe its sword just like that, and things will return to normal again in the North. Things have not worked out that way. Since Dasuki’s coming, the Boko Harameers have been more daring than ever in their dastardly acts.

‘Boko Haram should stop this bloodshed and enter into dialogue with the government on whatever their grievances are. No matter how big a problem is it cannot be split with a knife. We can only solve it through dialogue’

As if to prove that they are unstoppable, they hit the family home of Vice President Namadi Sambo in Zaria, Kaduna State, killing a cobbler and wounding others, among them policemen. They have also taken the fight to Dasuki’s homa state twice and indications are that they are not yet done there.

They may hit the state again to prove that they are independent of the Islamic caliphate under whose authority they should be as Muslims. But the Boko Haram we have come to know in the last few years acts contrary to all known Islamic norms. Its agenda too is unknown making it difficult for its grievances, if any, to be addressed.

While the nation is looking for solution to the problem, Boko Haram is unrelenting in its murderous acts. On Monday night, it hit a Deeper Life Church in Okene, Kogi State, killing 20 people and injuring scores of others. It has even taken on President Goodluck Jonathan, who it has asked to embrace Islam or resign. I believe that’s a joke because no matter how mad a dog is, it cannot mess around with its master. But this Boko Haram is beyond caring. It does not respect constituted authority nor rever traditional rulers.

Last Friday, it went after the Emir of Fika in Yobe State and nearly got the monarch if not for the hand of fate. But for the love of our country and our continued existence as one indivisible nation, things cannot continue like this. Those who know members of the sect should please talk to them to allow peace reign. They should stop this bloodshed and enter into dialogue with the government on whatever their grievances are. No matter how big a problem is it cannot be split with a knife. We can only solve it through dialogue.

Even after war, the combatants still go into dialogue to hammer out a peace deal. Why shouldn’t

that be the case in this matter? Since the government is open to dialogue, what needs to be done is to convince Boko Haram of the genuineness of the government’s intention so that we can bring to an end this sad chapter of our national life. I appeal to those benefiting from this crisis to put the nation first and subsume other interests because of its dire consequences for us all if closure is not brought to it now.

Teachers then and now

I

N the not too distant past, teach ers were demi-gods. They were the idols that their pupils worshipped. Those days, pupils dare not mess up in the presence of their teachers. For many of us, the fear of our teachers was the beginning of wisdom. Our parents too had faith in our teachers and they knew how to get us if we misbehaved. A threat to report us to our teachers will make us to sit up immediately. The stubborn ones among us were given to teachers to train. How many parents can do that today?

Teachers were the epitome of discipline. They taught and disciplined pupils to the delight of parents, who gave them a free hand to handle their children. Then there was synergy between parents and teachers and this led to the formation of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), which has today been turned into a forum for levy collection. Teachers were pseudo-parents to their pupils and they handled the kids the way they treated their own children. It was difficult to differentiate between the teacher’s children and pupils.

When we look back, many of us long for those days because of the way they helped shaped our future.

We know what our own children are missing compared to what we received from our teachers. Teachers these days are no longer the paragon of values that they were

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204

those days. Some are even worse than the children put under their care. Rather than discipline wayward pupils, they encourage them to be unruly and even teach them one or two tricks about how to pass with ease. But should we blame the teachers alone? No, we shouldn’t because parents too have a share of the problem.

Many parents push their children’s teachers to do things teachers should not be seen doing.

They induce them to pass their children and the children in turn also bring irresistible gifts to the teachers for obvious reasons. Many of our teachers today are a disgrace to the noble profession of teaching.

These are the teachers who indulge their pupils in cheating. They also go out of their way to help their pupils to pass by smuggling answered questions to them inside the examination hall. Why would a teacher sell his honour for a mess of porridge? Why? Why? The five teachers standing trial before an Ebute Metta Magistrate’s Court in Lagos should be made to pay the price if found guilty to serve as deterrence to others. In addition, they should be banned from teaching. This is the way to return our country to the path of rectitude, if we truly love our children.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

22

COMMENTS

O

UR nightmares persist because those we elected to preside over our affairs just don’t give a damn about how we feel.

That there is rot in the aviation sector cannot be news to President Goodluck Jonathan who has been vice president, acting president and now president for a total period of about five years.

And yet while most Nigerians expected his reaction to the report of Air Commodore John Obakpolor‘s Technical and Administrative Review panel on Dana Air plane crash, he has gone ahead to set up another independent advisory committee to advise him on the rot in the same aviation sector.

He probably doesn’t just give a damn in spite of all the criticism and newspaper editorials about the waste involved in the presidents’ strategy of governance by committee. And as if there is a deliberate design to prolong our nightmares, the Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, with an entourage of about 11, is embarking on a foreign investment drive which we all know is nothing but a wild goose chase. But who cares?

We are told this will involve staging of ‘Investors’ road shows’ in selected cities across China, the United States of America (USA) and Canada where ‘’Investment Baskets’’ will be the proposed four new international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.

Besides, they will also study those countries’ airspace policies and airports and compare with Nigeria’s with a view to determining the nation’s inadequacies’.

“We intend to visit a few countries and meet some investors we have had contact with. We are going to woo them to tell them that we are ready for their investments”, the minister’s special assistant said with glee, as if he was speaking to half -wits. Then you ask yourself what does the minister of aviation and others need media assistants paid by the tax payers for? They have ministry of ‘disinformation’, they have NTA and sympathetic newspapers owned by PDP members masquerading as publishers.

‘Just as we have crooks in government house courtesy a London court, crooks in the National Assembly, hooligans in the banking sector, (one was asked to refund stolen N260b), hoodlums have also hijacked the airport. The minister has more than enough to do here and not in China and America. But who really cares?’

E

ACH time we travel with Her Excellency Deaconess Roli Nere Uduaghan, to see her mother, Madam Rebecca Ayonmike, at Ugbuwangue, Warri, Mama’s smile always keeps us in a happy mood. There is an air of freedom and so much laughter.

Blessed is the memory of the just!

We remember Madam Rebecca Ayonmike in so many ways. And this gives us reasons to rejoice because she led a life worthy of emulation. Indeed, Mama was determined to show love to everyone that came her way.

A symbol of motherhood and an epitome of strength, Madam Rebecca Ayonmike was born on the 10th of November 1931 to the late Chief Oritsemogho Ayonmike of Ugborodo, Warri South West LGA, a Warrant Chief nominated by the then colonial masters to represent the people of Ugborodo and one of the most influential community leaders of his generation in the entire Itsekiri kingdom, and maternally to Ineburagho, the daughter of Egbe of Orugbo and Uwangue family of Jakpa.

Mama was undoubtedly caring, charming and had an open mind. Her kind-heartedness was legendary. You could almost touch her

‘The Governor of Delta state Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan has often said that there are three women who are important to him, his wife, his mother and Mama who is his mother-in-law. He said they are important because of their prayer life. Mama saw him as a son not as an in law. Everyone married to mama’s child automatically becomes her own. When they are faced with challenged the only word you hear her say is “let us pray, there is nothing God cannot do”’

Aviation Minister’s dubious search for foreign investors Again, you answer yourself why not? After all, governors’ wives have media assistants paid for by Nigerians. The president has a senior special adviser on the media who is of a cabinet rank. He has added a PDP stalwart who recently defended his illegal attempt to change the name of UNILAG by claiming the spontaneous demonstration by students was sponsored, as a public affairs adviser, another name for an attack dog – a digression.

The timing cannot be more inauspicious. We are going to Europe to seek investment in the aviation sector the very week, Branson, the boss of Virgin Atlantic was reported to have publicly stated that he would never do business in Nigeria because Nigerian politicians ‘are dream killers’. It is also at a time when the safety of the country airspace has become a major controversy between the government and foreign airlines who now bypass Nigerian airspace which they claimed is dotted with moribund communications gadgets (visual and voice).

The trip is also coming in spite of the minister’s unfinished war with foreign airlines over discriminatory ticket pricing. It will be recalled that not too long ago, when the media, noted for creating fake messiahs, fuelled the aviation minister unwinnable war against foreign airlines, this column reminded her of economic law of ‘demand and supply’; that the real enemies are the ministers, governors (Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo recently went with about 15 aides to the Olympics to market his state to would- be investors) and lawmakers who are in love with business class of foreign airlines.

Now we are going to fritter away at least $1m on this totally unnecessary jamboree.

Above all, the dubious search for investors is coming the same week the report on ‘Illicit Financial Flows from Africa: Scale and Developmental Challenges’ was published by African Press Organization (APO). It revealed that “Direct foreign investment especially by the multinationals operating in Africa invest about $1.5 trillion annually but repatriate equivalent amount back to their home nations” . The result is the ‘draining of hard currency reserves from the continent, stimulating inflation, reducing tax collection and deepening income gaps and promotion of continuous dependency on other regions of the world.’ But this is not enough to deter our leaders from junketing abroad to look for investors who only underdeveloped their host nations.

If we are not getting joy form the current international players in the aviation industry, as the minister’s war with foreign airlines tended to indicate, common sense will suggest that our salvation lies in looking inwards. We currently have in the country, 16 domestic airlines, owing about N325 billion to financial institutions and regulatory bodies which make it impossible for them to get necessary support from maintenance agencies. The N300 billion intervention fund provided by the federal government has been allegedly misappropriated.

The minister herself admitted during the joint Senate and House of Representative Committee investigating the Dana Airline crash that she was not pleased with the management of

Madam Rebecca Ayonmike (1931-2012): A tribute

By Alicia Ejaye cherished soul each time you encounter Mama.

But her unwavering faith in God stood her out among other virtues. Since she was introduced to the Baptist faith, Madam Ayonmike never relented in her trust and total dependence on the Almighty. Anything about worshipping God was a priority and she exemplified her service to God in everything she said or did. It was the zeal to serve that made her to join the Esther Band, an Itsekiri group of the Women Missionary Society (WMS) of the First Baptist Church, Warri with the aim of evangelizing and nurturing young women in the faith and ways of God. She is best noted for total commitment to the propagation of the gospel through the Itsekiri language. President of WMS, Mrs. Patience Ikomi recalls with fond memories that Mama was a trailblazer in many respects: “She encouraged young believers to read and memorize Bible verses in Itsekiri language.

Sunday School classes were particularly interesting because she would come to the class with at least one memory verse for everyone to recite.”

Moreover, Mama was also a strong member of the Itsekiri Intercessors of First Baptist Church, apart from pioneering the now famous Tuesday Prayer Group in the church. Insiders within the church revealed that the Tuesday Group came into being as a result of her concern for killings in Warri at the height of the ethnic crisis in the oil city.

She urged the church to pray for the restoration of peace. Yet, she was ever punctual in church activities, the climax of which resulted in her winning the special Outstanding Weekly Attendance Award of the church on May 9th 2010.

No wonder her children called her blessed and everyone that came her way also got

abundant blessings. She will undoubtedly be missed by all, especially her honest and outspoken perspective to issues. The love she showered on members of her household, especially her children cannot but be forgotten. In particular, her children and other members of her household remember with nostalgia that she was a disciplinarian who had no room for laziness, she does not tolerate discrimination in any form, “When Mama gives a task, she follows it up till it is done. The discipline she instilled on her children is seen as a beacon of light. “Nothing like a dull moment with Mama”.

Definitely Mama’s children found in her a worthy mother that should be emulated, whose lifestyle challenged everyone to stand up for the truth. A firm believer in hard work and unrelenting will to succeed in life’s endeavours, everyone agrees that Mama was a great counsellor who related to newly married couples and helped young women to cope with matrimonial stress. They similarly remember her as a woman who stoutly stood for the unity of her family.

The Governor of Delta state Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan has often said that there are three women who are important to him, his wife, his mother and Mama who is his mother-in-law. He said they are important because of their prayer life. Mama saw him as a son not as an in law. Everyone married to mama’s child automatically becomes her own. When they are faced with challenged the only word you hear her say is “let us pray, there is nothing God cannot do”.

Every one of them had one good memory about mama especially her sense of humour and her daily devotion.

Amazing stories; in the year 2011, Mama took ill but came out strong to celebrate her 80th birthday. During the celebration, she told guests of how she had a divine encounter, the Lord Jesus told her to return to the world.

This time her faith in God increased then her

the fund.

A government that cares and is sincere should lead by example not just by eating cassava bread, but by patronizing the local airlines some of which we recently empowered with taxpayers’ money. But instead, the minister has hinted that, a PDP government that ran aground Nigeria Airways and derailed the thriving arrangement with Virgin Atlantic, is again planning to float a new national carrier. In addition, government that cannot maintain existing airports, due to massive corruption is looking for foreign investors for the building of four new international airports.

The truth of the matter is that foreign investors don’t need any prodding. If they are not coming, it is because our environment only tolerates the likes of Harley Burton and of course Indian investors who know how to work their ways around corrupt Nigerian officials with three aging aircrafts, one, with bad history of near accidents. And because no one gives a damn about how we feel, when top public office holders in CBN or a state governor complained, no one cared until we declared three days of national mourning for the death of 160 Nigerians.

And by the way, how can we expect credible investor with the lawlessness and near anarchy in Murtala Mohammed International Airport which has grown from bad to worse in the last 10 years? Penultimate Friday, I didn’t know what I was getting into when I confronted the uniform guards over their failure to prevent indiscriminate parking of cars directly opposite the departure hall. His explanation that many of the vehicles belong to security men and top public officers did not stop me from insisting he was part of the problem.

Unaware of the presence of a syndicate, while still shouting at the man, two men hemmed my car at both sides insisting I had broken the law.

They dragged me to their office where they asked me to pay N5, 500 with a receipt – with the unusual name of BILAFARY ENTERPRISES NIG.LTD/FAAN. As I drove back to pick my wards, I counted 28 cars some with security personnel patronising local food and gin sellers, some neatly packed without drivers adorning the whole stretch of the departure hall and more than that number directly opposite the arrival hall.

Just as we have crooks in government house courtesy a London court, crooks in the National Assembly, hooligans in the banking sector, (one was asked to refund stolen N260b), hoodlums have also hijacked the airport. The minister has more than enough to do here and not in China and America. But who really cares?

message to everyone centred on the redemptive power of God. In her last days, Mama made sure she called all her children to come, she had a word for each of them.

During her granddaughter’s traditional marriage, Mama prayed: “I will not die; I know I will see your baby.” A request God granted.

On Friday July 6th, she carried her great grand daughter. Having accomplished her mission, three days later about 5.00pm on the 9th of July 2012; the angels came to take Mama away, she passed on peacefully.

She left behind six successful children, three men, three women, two brothers, three sons in-law, three daughters in-law, thirteen grand children, one grandson in-law, and a great granddaughter.

Her memories will be cherished forever.

May the soul of Madam Rebecca Ayonmike rest in perfect peace

• Rebecca Ayonmike

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LONDON Calling with Ade Ojeikere

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

INSIDE

Nigerian, world's best innovator NIGERIAN educationist, Mr Muyiwa Bamgbose, has emerged the world's 9th best innovator in electronic learning.

The information was conveyed on the website of the rating agency, Bob Little Public Relations, of the United Kingdom, in its third annual top 10 e-learning movers and shakers in the world.

-Page 26

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

Eight years ago, it was established with high hopes. Two campuses were planned for it. One in Kaduna and the other in Kafanchan. The university took off from Kaduna. Now the development of the Kafanchan campus of the Kaduna State University (KADSU) has pitched the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Qurix, against the Zazzau Emirate Development Association (ZEDMA), which accused him of ethnic and religious bias. But the government faults the group’s claim. TONY AKOWE reports.

Forces ranged against a VC

‘60% graduates unemployable’

THE day the new Workstation Laboratory donated by SAPETRO in partnership with DANVIC International Limited was inaugurated will remain memorable for members of staff and students of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna.

-Page 27

CAMPUS LIFE •An eight-page section on campus news, people etc

Union moves to regulate commodity prices BARELY a month after its inauguration, the Ayi Ekpeyong-led Students’ Union Government (SUG) at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has begun to exercise its powers. The union has engaged business operators on the campus to regulate the prices of commodities and services.

-Page 29

• Faculty of Social and Management Sciences. Inset: Prof Qurix

I

T was founded with lofty ideals. But eight years after its establishment, the Kaduna State University (KADSU) is embroided in crisis. The founders’ plan was for the university to operate from Kaduna and Kafanchan and everything was cleared, according to former Governor Ahmed Makarfi, who founded the university in 2004, are to be developed simultaneously.

It took all of six years to take the first step towards developing the Kafanchan campus when in 2010 former governor and now Vice President Namadi Sambo included it in the budget. But the funds for the project were not readily available, forcing the government to go to the capital market for a bond with which to finance the development and some other projects.

But Sambo could not actualise that before his appointment as Vice President, leaving his deputy and now Governor Patrick Yakowa to carry on with the project.

The utilisation of the bond to develop the campus where academic activities have begun is now generating controversy. The university leadership is accused, among others, of developing the Kafanchan Campus to the detriment of its Kaduna counterpart.

A group, which calls itself the Zazzau Emirate Development Association(ZEDMA), in a petition, accused the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Barnabas Qurix, of concentrating on Kafanchan while abandoning projects at the main campus. The petition, which alleged that the VC’s appointment by the Yakowa administration did not follow due process, also accused “him of being on a mission to Christianise” the university and undermine the interest of the Zazzau Emirate which the petition-

• Faculty of Science

It is shocking and frightening to see ‘ some groups and individuals trying to sabotage the peace being enjoyed in Kaduna State University ers claim comprises 53 per cent of the population, representing 11 local government areas.

The petition entitled: "Re: Guidelines for 2012/2013 undergraduate merit admission into the Kaduna State University and other issues: need for caution," was signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the group, Dr Isa Shika, and Sani Tanko.

It was addressed to the Chairman of the Governing Council, Alhaji Abubakar Ladan, and copied the governor and Speaker of the House

’

of Assembly.

It accused the university authorities of fashioning guidelines aimed at undermining candidates from the emirate in the 2012/2013 academic session and called for caution.

It said: "Zazzau Emirate Development Association (ZEDMA), arguably the major and biggest single stakeholder in Kaduna State, being representative of 11 local government areas with 53 per cent of the population of the state noticed with utmost dismay and disappointment

the circular on guidelines for 2012/ 2013 undergraduate merit admission.

"Accordingly, we find it necessary to document our observations on the content of the circular and to also draw your attention to the implication of the activities of the VC if they remain unchecked."

The Nation check revealed that the guidelines complained of were published on the university’s website.

The institution's also not published the list of candidates who met the benchmark on the website.

Part of the instructions to the candidates read: "Kaduna State University, KADSU Invites all the candidates and aspirants who chose the school as their first choice only and • Continued on page 26

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

26

EDUCATION •Continued from page 25

scored 180 and above in the 2012/ 2013 UTME. If you chose the institution as your preferred choice you should click the link to check your admission status. If your name is published on the admission list, which you can see by clicking the link above, you will then proceed to purchase the registration scratch card. All eligible candidates whose names have been published… are expected, and it is a must, that they should complete the online form as failure to do so will automatically empty his/her chance of being allowed to partake in the Post-UTME Screening Exercise."

ZEDMA complained that the guidelines were aimed at shortchanging the Zazzau Emirate in the admissio. Such move, it said, was capable of upsetting the peaceful and stable academic environment the institution has enjoyed since its establishment, thereby plunging the state into another chaos. It is demanding that the VC’s activities be checked, accusing him of taking decisions tainted with ethnic and religious sentiments.

The group is also not comfortable that Prof. Qurix who served as Commissioner for Works between 2010 and 2011 was appointed VC by the governor. It alleged that his appointment did not follow due process, arguing that the laws of the institution stipulate that only the Congregation, Senate and Council have the power to appoint the VC. The group claimed that after the call for applications from qualified and interested candidates to fill the position which was vacated by Prof. Aminu Mikailu, the governor unilaterally appointed the VC without recourse to the Govern-

Forces against Kaduna State Varsity VC ‘Accordingly, we find it necessary to document our observations on the content of the circular and to also your draw attention to the implication of the activities of the VC if they remain unchecked’ ing Council.

But, the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Youth Council (NYC) described the petition and issues raised as a deliberate attempt to undermine the institution’s development by those it said has a separatist agenda.

Danjuma Sarki, chairman of the chapter, told The Nation that the claims of lack of due process in Qurix's appointment was baseless, adding that it followed the same pattern used in choosing the first two VC’s, Prof. Abubakar Sambo and Prof. Mukailu, who are from the northern part of the state.

Contrary to ZEDMA's claims, he said Qurix's appointment was ratified by the Governing Council which was constituted immediately he was appointed.

This is also the position of the Commissioner for Education, Mohammed Usman, who said the Governing Council, which was appointed about the same time with the VC, approved his appointment in accordance with laid down rules.

Usman described as untrue the claim that the VC favoured the Kafanchan Campus over the one in Kaduna.

"It is not true to say the main campus has been neglected. The issue of Kafanchan was conceived in the original plan setting up the university. It was for certain reasons that

the campus did not take off at the same time with the main campus.

Government is giving attention to the Kafanchan Campus because it is part of the original plan. Anyone that takes time to visit the main campus will observe that lots of projects are ongoing. The office of the Vice-Chancellor has just been completed. The Department of Anatomy has also been completed; the Faculty of Medicine has been completed and there are lots of other projects that are really ongoing, which are in the tune of billions of naira. So, for somebody to come and say the main campus is being neglected is far from the truth".

The NYC also defended Qurix, saying: "Contrary to allegations of religious and ethnic sentiment against the VC, it might suffice them to know that Prof Qurix, after assumption of office, appointed his Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, a Muslim, from Zone I; the Dean, Student Affairs Division, a Muslim, from Zone II; and established the Directorate of Consultancy Services with a Muslim from Zone III as the head. He established the Directorate of Entrepreneurship and appointed a Muslim from Zone I the director. In fact, the director of the College of Remedial and Basic Studies, who was appointed by Prof. Qurix, is a Muslim from Zone I. What more fairness do they expect from him? It is interest-

Ex-Commissioner denies fraudulent practices

F

ORMER Anambra State Commissioner for Education Dr Kay Onyechi has denied spearheading the collection of N500 each from public and private school pupils as a mandatory fee for registering them for external examinations.

Onyechi, though, admitted that the pupils paid a fee as agreed by the Permanent Secretary and Examination Committee, she said this amount was not paid to her office.

She also admitted some qualified cyber cafés were selected to register them.

"Some cyber cafés don't have the facilities and we selected those who have the facilities. Again, I am not the chairman of the committee or the Permanent Secretary who oversees that and reports to me. The Perm Sec did it with the Director of Schools. I did not. We set up a committee that handled it ...," she said.

Following agitation from head teachers and principals (names withheld), The Nation sought to know

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

from the ex-commissioner why extortion and sharp practices were high during her tenure.

It has been alleged that over 50,000 pupils paid N500 for external examinations, such as the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), which was submitted directly to the former commissioner's office for processing.

At the end of the submission from all principals, the Commissioner allegedly hired only three cyber cafés in the state for the registration and paid them N100 for a candidate registered.

The principals and head teachers complained that they collected N500 per candidate and yet were given no imprest to run around for the registration, even when they came from far and near to submit the names to the commissioner's office.

The parents on their part said since cyber cafés are everywhere, princi-

T

By Seun Olalude

build leaders is from the classroom, but education is not given any priority in this country so there will still be bad leaders."

Addressing students, Amodu lamented their level of ignorance and poor attitude to education.

He said: "Examination malpractices also come to play because students have replaced education with home video.

There are more video clubs than readers club, book clubs and other educational clubs. Your phone is a vital tool to enhance education but many students use their phone for pinging and some naughty vices.

"It is not that you should just be in the class. It is possible to be in the class and have nothing to show for it. Many students depend on cheating and short cuts to success. Instead of reading many of you engage in 'micro chip', that itself is failure even when you are not caught."

The chairman of the occasion,

Nigerian among world's best 10 innovators NIGERIAN educationist, Mr Muyiwa Bamgbose, has emerged the world's ninth best innovator in electronic learning.

The information was conveyed on the website of the rating agency, Bob Little Public Relations, of the United Kingdom, in its third annual top ten elearning movers and shakers in the world.

According to the statement, Bamgbose joined the league of world's best 10 in e-learning for the second time.

He was 10th last year.

Bamgbose is the Chief Executive Officer, Educational Advancement Centre (EAC), Ibadan, Oyo State capital. He changed the learning system in Nigeria last year when he came up with an electronic learning method that delivers contents of subjects to mobile phones of candidates preparing for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

Named MobiLearn, the product allows candidates to study contents and attempt questions. It also marks the ques-

A • Dr Onyechi

pals should be able to register their pupils' biodata correctly without having to go to the commissioner's office.

But, the new Commissioner for Education , Dr. Uju Okeke, has put a stop to the practice as The Nation learnt that she read the riot act to head teachers and principals to shun illegal collections of any sort.

In an interview, Dr. Okeke said though new on the job, she would ensure nothing jeopardises the interest of the pupils in their learning environment, pleading for time to look into numerous grey areas.

‘Failure in govt cause of fall in education’ HE poor standard of education is caused by the poor performance of the government, Dr Akeem Amodu, a lecturer of Politics and International Relations at Lead City University, Ibadan, has said .

He said this while delivering a lecture entitled: Poor performance of students, who is to be blame? organised

by Ray Unit Forum (RUF), a group of Ibadan students.

Because education is the bedrock of other sectors, Amodu said, any problem in the sector would affect others including the government. As a result, he said bad hands would continue to head the affairs of the nation until the education system was transformed.

His words: "There are complaints over the way this country is being run and I must say there will continue to be as long as the education system is not satisfying. We will only have correct leaders if we have correct students. The best stage to

ing to know that Prof Qurix, who is a renowned architect and one of three professors of Architecture in northern Nigeria, has turned the Kaduna Campus into a huge construction site since he assumed office. He has revived numerous ailing projects, such as the multi-purpose complex and lecture theatre complex; completed the Vice-Chancellor's Office and the main gate. Furthermore, he has pushed very hard for the conversion of Barau Dikko Hospital to the University Teaching Hospital for medical students, and has ensured the commencement of academic activities in the Kafanchan Campus".

Another group that calls itself Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria host community also believes the allegations against the VC are an attempt to create confusion and disrupt peace. In a letter signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Aliyu Khalilu and Hassan Usman, they described Qurix as an accomplished academic who always promotes the unity of Kaduna State.

"It is shocking and frightening to see some groups and individuals trying to sabotage the peace being enjoyed in Kaduna State University.

They raised many allegations against the Vice-Chancellor without taking time to investigate how he is managing the affairs of the

university. All allegations on appointments and admission are baseless as the Vice Chancellor's leadership is characterised with equity and justice to all. He is doing this for the peaceful coexistence and progress of the university. Zaria local government alone has about 45 per cent of the appointments made in KADSU. Then, where is the bias".

Adamu Marshal, Secretary-General of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), said those against the VC are not being fair to him since the development of the Kafanchan Campus is part of the institution’s original master plan.

He cautioned the petitioners not to heat up the polity.

A visit to the main campus revealed that many projects have been completed and inaugurated with others in progress, including the the Multipurpose complex, Education Science Department, Agricultural Economic Extension Department and the Crop Science Department, among others.

There are also plans to establish a School of Post Graduate Studies, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and a teaching hospital for the Faculty of Medicine all within the main campus.

Qurix, it was learnt, has also established an Entrepreneurial Centre and Consultancy Services in the main campus and is working on an affiliation with Energy Commission, the Customs and Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.

Alhaji Oladokun Bashiru, listed several factors responsible for poor performance.

"The government is the first determinant because private schools are given approval without adequate facilities. There are schools that the teachers cannot write Tthe West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and pass.

Another major factor is the parents; many are not interested in their children welfare; call open day, you can't see them. There is how will you know your child's performance," he said.

The President of Ray Unit Forum, Comrade Oladokun Samsudeen, called on stakeholders to focus on improving the education sector.

He said: "The poor performance of students in their examinations has become a clog in the wheel of the education system in this country. Nigeria cannot maintain her position as the giant of Africa, when it comes to education.”

•Bamgbose From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

tions and shows areas where candidates need improvement.

Bamgbose, whose centre is in partnership with the University of Ibadan Distance Learning Centre, also introduced the external mock examination for SS3 students in public schools two years ago.

The aim of the examination, according to him, was to help the government determine who is actually prepared for the examination and enjoy the free payment for the examination by the government. The mock examination also helps schools, government and teachers identify the volume of work that needs to be done nine months before the examination.

“You want a probe in secondary schools too. Of what ... teachers’ strike, truancy and inadequate ‘pocket money’!”

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

EDUCATION

‘60% of graduates unemployable’ •Oil firm donates workstation lab

T

HE Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Prof.

Mohammed Saliu Audu, has said about 60 per cent of universities’ graduates cannot be employed.

Speaking at the inauguration of the new Workstation Laboratory donated by SAPETRO and DANVIC International Limited to FUT, he said the sad development is not the fault of the students, but that it is caused by lack of infrastructure in the universities for them to learn and compete with other students.

His words: “Sixty per cent of our graduates are unemployable not because they do not have the brain to do the work, but because of lack of infrastructure. They do not have the right equipment to study. It is because of that we have been thinking that there is need for us to collaborate with industries.

“There is need for us in Nigeria as they do abroad to have this kind of collaboration so that at the end of

From Gbenga Omokhun, Abuja

the day more than 90 per cent of our graduates will be employable even before they go for further studies after graduation. The Federal Government is very serious about that.

We are also very serious about it.

The organisations donated something to us last year and they are doing it again.”

The donation came with training for members of staff to use the equipment, which the VC admonished them to take seriously.

“I urged the teachers who will be trained on this equipment to take the training very seriously.

“Having got this equipment and you do not make good use of it or convince people that you can use it properly, then when you go abroad and disgrace us, then it means that you are not going to get other equipment.

“For the students, please when you go out there after your gradua-

•Some of the new equipment

tion, do not forget FUT Minna; you may be in a position to assist us to get more equipment not only for the Department of Geology, but also for other departments. I remember the Chemical Engineering department that is in dire need of equipment. I think other companies too should assist us. I think the Niger State government should assist us.”

The Niger State Commissioner, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Mustapha Ibrahim Lemu, said the choice of the Geology Department of FUT Minna for

the donation of the equipment could not have come by accident.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. James Odera, the commissioner noted that the action would complement the commitment of the state governor to promote science and technology, particularly through his Ministry as well as to fast-track the actualisation of state’s Vision 3: 20:20, which is to make the state one of the top three economics in the country by 20:20.

The Chief Executive Officer of SAPETRO, Martin Trachsel, said the

company believes that one of the requisites of human capacity and nation building is education and that is why his firm and Danvic supported the initiative to provide equipment software training and a world class geoscience workstation environment in Minna.

Trachsel said: “A core objective of our company and our founder and Chairman Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (Rtd) is to use the fruits of our efforts and investments in the oil and gas industry to help build a better Nigeria.”

E-library foundation to reward essayists with netbooks

T

O stimulate the interest of pupils in its new virtual library resources, a foundation, the ZaccheusOnumbaDibiaezue Memorial Libraries (ZODML) has launched an online essay competition requiring secondary school pupils to write about new knowledge they gain.

Mrs Ifeoma Esiri, who announced the competition to be held bi-monthly at the inauguration of the online-library section of the ZODML in Lagos, said the winner will be rewarded with a netbook computer and a visit to Google Nigeria to experience a day of work at the search engine company.

She said: "We have partnered with Google to help us and they have promised to take the winners of the competition to their office to show them how Google works."

The co-founder of the foundation inaugurated in 1998 in honour of her grand father, Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue, a former commissioner for

• The students during the matriculation.

T

HEVice-Chancellor Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof Abdullahi Mustapha, has told fresh students of the institution that the university is preparing them for leadership.

He spoke during the matriculation of 300 students of the TV College, Jos, an affiliate of the university.

The Vice Chancellor, who was represented by the Provost of the college, Dr. Ayo Fasan, said given the university's history of producing leaders, the students would become

ABU trains leaders, says VC From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

leaders on graduation.

"In ABU we build leaders of tomorrow, which means that in few years to come, you will automatically be confirmed leaders having gone through all the academic processes. It is on record all over the country and beyond that products of ABU are leaders and you find them in every discipline" he said.

Mustapha also warned them to

School promises unadulterated education

B

UCKSWOOD School Nigeria has vowed to ensure that its pupils received unadulterated education.

This, the school management said, would make their products stand the challenge anywhere in the world.

Situated in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, it is part of the Buckswood overseas schools in Georgia, Britain and Swaziland.

Buckswood Head of Operations Mrs Chika Nmezi, made this remark during a chat with some reporters.

"Our mission, Mrs Nmezi said, is to provide the best traditional British education for children between the ages of 10 and 18 in the country, so that a lot of our children could be exposed to international education without travelling abroad."

The school curriculum, she said, is incorporation of the Nigerian curriculum with the British's.

desist from immoralities that could put them at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS or joining of cult groups.

He said: "As fresh undergraduates, you are at your most vulnerable age, and must be cautioned on some topical health issues. In this regard, the scourge of the HIV/ AIDS easily comes to mind.

"I must warn you of the great dangers posed by this scourge which is ranging like wild fire across the

nation. AIDS is real and I am sure most of you know that. You must, therefore, do all within your power to avoid contracting this deadly disease.

"Similarly, being at your most impressionable age, it is not surprising that a number of you become easy recruit for trouble making and for cultism. You must endeavour, therefore, to resist evilminded people who will come after you."

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Flanked by Deputy Director, Academics, Mr Olusola Daodu and Public Relations Officer, Ms. Dolapo Ladipo, Mrs Nmezi lamented the educational gap noticeable in the nation's school system, hence informed the establishment of the institution in Nigeria.

She noted that the sponsors of the Buckswood School in the country were worried that traditional British education had been adulterated in the country while personalised interaction with pupils had been sacrificed with mass teaching.

"It was these gaps that the sponsors saw and they decided to bring Buckswood to Nigeria," she said.

According to her, a lot of children that were supposed to be doing well in school had been mistaken for dullards by impatient teachers and administrators.

• Nmezi flanked by Mr Daodu and Ms Ladipo

By Medinat Kanabe

Finance in his days, said the aim of the library is to encourage self-learning.

"To achieve this, we establish community and school libraries as well as provide online resources," she said.

To this end, she said the ZODML has also launched a website, www.zodml.com, which offers students and other information seekers all over Nigeria and beyond access to the online library and other learning resources including many books and novels written by Nigerian authors.

"We also have text, visuals and a one minute video on the 36 states of the federation. Short stories of those who are excelling in the communities where they are abroad, secondary school books which are in-line with their school syllabus and many other things," she added.

In the past, ZODML has set up digital libraries in schools and provided computer and internet training for their pupils. She further said the foundation has received a lot of assistance from people who have provided services at a cheaper rate, waived charges, and donated to the library.

Asked how the foundation intends to block hackers from uploading pornography on the site, ZODML said that they have an open source framework that measures security.

So far ZODML has opened digital libraries in Ikoyi prisons for the inmates, Ireti Junior and Senior Grammar Schools, Falomo Junior and Senior Grammar Schools and six primary schools around Ikoyi.

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

EDUCATION Six win AUN scholarships

AAUA FILE Second Semester begins

S

ADEKUNLE Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State has resumed for second Semester of the 2011/2012 Session.

The students have until September 22 to complete their registration before the Edu-Portal is shut.

Lectures will begin on Thursday, August 12.

Staff School ends session THE AAUA Staff Primary School ended the 2011/2012 Session session with a prize giving ceremonyThursday last week.

Head Teacher of the School, Mrs. Motilola Akinduro, appreciated AAUA Management for its contributions to the purchase of a 32-Seater Coaster bus and other facilities.

She thanked the Parent- Teacher Association of the school for its support and urged parents to complement the school’s efforts by procuring relevant books for their wards on time, ensuring their neatness at all times and instilling discipline in them.

In his opening remark, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Gbenga Adeola, a parent, called on the university management to establish a Secondary School.

The ceremony was spiced with drama presentation; rhyme and song renditions; cultural dance and choreography.

Prizes were presented to best three pupils in each of the classes.

Faculty Board gets 12 research programmes THE Faculty Board of Science of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State has constituted 12 research programmes as part of its contribution to the enhancement of research in the nation.

In a statement, the Faculty Officer, Mr. J.O. Ajayi, said the decision was reached at a meeting of the Board held on April 23.

The Board also assigned coordinators to the programmes.

The research programmes and their co-ordinators are Renewable Energy, Dr. I.A. Ololade; Environmental, Dr. N.A. Oladoja; Plant Breeding, Dr. O.F. Olotuah; Animal Breeding, Dr. F.A. Gbore; Natural Products, Dr. A. Olonisakin; Biotechnology, Dr. A.E. Gbadamosi; and Biodiversity Conservation, Dr. O.M. Akanbi.

Others are Technology Development, Dr. T.A. Adejumo; Raw Materials, Dr. O.A. Ademeso; Artificial Intelligence/ICT Development, Dr. D.D. Abajingin; Public Health, Dr. J.A. Badaki; and Stored Product, Dr. F.O. Akinwumi.

The co-ordinators have responsibilities of their research groups by recruiting requisite academic staff in the Faculty as research officers; drawing up and implementing research proposals; and identifying and exploiting all avenues of funding for their research programmes.

Ajayi expressed the hope that the programme would “help to improve service delivery to the larger community and ensure that research activities meet the needs of the environment.”

• Mrs Agusto (middle) with participants from Thomas Adewumi International College and their teacher

'Schools, parents should question ICT education' N November, ReadManna Ventures will be rewarding 13 pupils who excelled in the fourth Certiport National Competition on Microsoft Office for Students.

They add to the growing army of young ones that Mrs Edna Agusto, the chief executive officer of ReadManna, advocates get standard education in the use of desktop software applications necessary for dayto-day transactions in business environments so they can compete wherever they go.

The winners emerged among 42 who took online examinations in the Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Versions 2007 and 2010 between last December and June 15, with the final retakes holding in Abuja and Lagos on July 5 and 9.

With the mediocre performance of many of the participants, Mrs Agusto said more schools should pay attention to the quality of ICT education they provide their pupils and wants parents to question the content of ICT training many schools compel them to pay for. She underscored the importance of standard ICT education for the average school pupil without

I

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

which she said they would be disadvantaged in the labour market.

She also advised schools to invest in the training of their ICT teachers.

"The schools that are doing very well, it is the IT teachers that is are the cornerstone. Also, many principals and school owners don't understand what IT education is all about. All they do is buy computers. It is the IT teachers that go to management to make requests about specific needs of ICT education.

"The PTAs should ask questions.

Parents are paying money. What are they (pupils) doing during ICT period?

If you have a school with 500 pupils and each pay N10,000, what are they using it for? Schools are not sure of IT teachers are teaching. There are some schools that send their IT teachers to us to assess and train them," she said.

To improve performance in future competitions, Mrs Agusto said teachers of schools that did not perform well this year were invited to observe the Lagos retake.

As was the case in the previous three editions, pupils of Thomas Adewumi International College, Oko, Kwara

State dominated the medals table, winning in almost all the categories of the competition. However, another school, The Regent Secondary School, Abuja, also proved to be formidable opponents in the competition.

Esther Atoyebi of Thomas Adewumi (800/1000) won the Word 2007 category; while Adegboyega Oluwaniyi of Kith and Kin International School, Lagos (733/1000) and Emuejevoke Okandeji ofThomas Adewumi International College(700/1000), were first and second Runner up.

The Powerpoint 2007 version, was won by TomisinJenrola, a pupil of Dowen College, Lekki, who scored 867/1000. In second place was Adetunji Kayode of Thomas Adewumi International College, (Score 833).

Thomas Adewumi International College claimed the awards in the Word 2010 category with Adetunji Kayode scoring 931; Oluwakemi Ajayi, 746; and AyodejiBankole, 723.

Pupils of The Regent Secondary School, Abuja clinched the prizes in Excel and Powerpoint 2010 versions.

Armaan Dhingra and Mohammed Baba-Ahmed got 900 points; while

IX secondary school graduates from the six geo-political zones of Nigeria will be attending the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, free courtesy of a scholarship scheme launched by the university.

They were the best out of 54 that contested for the slots on May 26, the maiden AUN Day. The lucky winners are: Nneoma Jennifer Emejuru (female, Providence High School, Enugu), Chiamaka Elsie Nwachukwu (female, Cita High School, Port Harcourt), Zamiyat Ozohu Abubakar (female, May Day College, Lagos), Joseph Shwarmu'ut Dalughut (male, St. John's Vianney Seminary, Jos), Kingsley Celestine Jima (male, St Peter's Seminary, Yola) and Fatima Zahra'u Ali (female, Queens Science Academy, Kano).

The scholarship, worth about N120 million will cover full tuition, accommodation and feeding for all beneficiaries throughout their undergraduate years, provided that they make a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale yearly.

To qualify for the scholarship examination, the candidate scored at least 245 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and a minimum of 10 A's and B's in the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). The university stipulates that the result must include 4A's (preferably in English Language and Mathematics) and 6B's in the other subjects, not including Agricultural Sciences, a Nigerian language, Religion, or Home Economics.

Apart from the merit-based scholarship, which will now be offered yearly, the university has also introduced need-based scholarships for the under-served, sports and other achievement scholarships.

There are also scholarships for nonNigerians that will be awarded to 10 students; three for Cameroonians and two for Rwandans.

Meanwhile, AUN recently received a scholarship from the Peace Corps Nigeria Alumni Foundation (PCNAF) and the Friends of Nigeria (FON). This scholarship will support a female student at AUN.

'Trainee-teachers will get more practice' The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education, Prof Muhammad Junaid, in this interview with ADEGUNLE OLUGBMILA, explains why the commission has extended teaching practice of pre-service teachers by 16 weeks. He also speaks on various reforms during his tenure.

T

EACHERS are said to share part of the blame for mass failure of students in the external examinations. What effort is the National Commission for Colleges of Education making to produce quality teachers?

It is because we favour the theoretical contents than practical works.

There is so much overloading of our curriculum with theoretical contents.

The problem is the inability of many teachers to pick the right teaching skills that will enable them deliver the curriculum at the end of training in the most effective way.

That is why we have reversed the Teaching Practice (TP) from 12 weeks to a whole semester of 28 weeks. We have also included within the training a free service students' mandatory and mentoring programme. Under the scheme, about 10 students will be attached to one lecturer as their mentor who will organise school visits and spend some hours in school with them.

Previously, many students never taught in class until after graduation; so by the time they graduate and are asked to teach, they become jittery.

It's like taking someone who cannot swim to a river. It is either the person sinks or swims back to the bank. Now, we are saying the situation has to change. From the beginning of their studies, students must be given opportunity to visit schools and observe trained teachers at work. They must

ask questions and possibly take some lessons during the visit. The effort is to redress the imbalance between theories and practice. They will do this in their first two years, and in their third year will embark on a full- fledged TP that will prepare them for the real work after graduation.

What level are we on education reform at the NCE level?

We, stakeholders, at a point are craving for a reform. We have already come up with a five-year working plan to bring about the objectives of the reform which I call 'all encompassing'. It talks about all segments of the teachers' education - teachers, students, and infrastructure, among others. We have resolved to distribute the five cardinal programmes of the reform to colleges of education across the country for implementation. The take-off date is the 2012/2013 academic year, and we have now reached an agreement with all stakeholders that the reform is important and that the expansion of the curriculum is good and should be implemented.

What is your opinion on the conduct of assessment exams for in-service teachers?

The exam is as important as the teachers assess their students.

Through such tests, you will know competent teachers who are doing outstanding work in their schools. It can also be to justify their qualifications, as well to lay off workers,

whose employers consider incompetent on the job. It can also be used to detect their areas of deficiency for purpose of trainings and capacity development. When a time comes to reward good service, the results of the assessment can be one of the yardsticks. So, we also need to tie good performance to good pay.

If teachers are allowed to do what they like after employment, they will not be given appropriate value for their earnings. So, there is nothing wrong for employers to assess teachers through examinations.

How will you access the quality of teachers as per the use of (Information Communication Technology) in the colleges of education?

We are not satisfied yet and that is why we have started training teacher's educators on the use of ICT. We have trained 1,200 colleges of education lecturers across the country.

We have started another capacity building programme for teachers' educators on ICT in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Learning, UK. We have also drawn college leadership and lecturers from 12 colleges of education in the country for local and international training on the use of ICT and also on developing elearning lessons to be used in teaching at their various institutions.

Teaching in this part of the world is still seen as a last resort. What can we do to encourage the best brains into

•Prof Junaid

the profession?

I think it is time we started encouraging best brains into the teaching job.

I remember in 2006 during the education reform, some incentives were introduced for teachers and one of them is being implemented till today and this the Teachers' Excellence Award with award presentation every October 5. The major criteria that qualify a teacher for such award are good performance and behaviour. On that day, recipients of the award across the country are to receive presidential handshake. Since 2007, a car had been added as part of the gift for every winner and this is still in place today. There was also a proposal to start housing programme for all teachers, where each state is expected to link with a mortgage institution to build houses and maybe lease them out to teachers at a reasonable price.

At the moment, it is a proposal but states are free to take up the proposal for implementation.

29

VC renders account, a year after

Wining souls for Allah

‘

Page 31

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 34

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0802-4550-354 email: forcampus@yahoo.com THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has taken steps to bring down the prices of commodities and services on campus. But, some vendors are kicking against the action. EMMANUEL SHEBBS (500-Level Political Science) writes.

‘I don’t believe in certificate’

•Mariam

•Makeshift shops at UNICAL

Making life easy for students B

ARELY a month after its inauguration, the Ayi Ekpeyong-led Students’ Union Government (SUG) at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has begun to wield its powers. The union has engaged business operators to regulate prices of commodities and services on campus.

At UNICAL, it is the responsibility of the SUG, through the Students Welfare Board (SWB), to ne-

gotiate prices with the Committee of Business Operators on Campus (COBOC) for students’ benefit. But, the previous SUG could not achieve this before it was suspended by the management.

Before the UNICAL management restored the Students’ Union a few weeks ago, students had been lamenting the hike in prices of goods and services by traders.

The situation was compounded

by the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government on January 1– an action which led to a hike in the prices of goods and services on the campus. Since there was no SUG to negotiate with them, business operators increased prices without considering the effect on students.

To reverse the tide, business operators, SUG Welfare and Task Force Committee of the SUG par-

liament met last week.

Shortly before the meeting, SUG Director of Welfare, George Aniekeme, told CAMPUSLIFE: “We have been making plans to address the plight of students on campus. We have held a series of meetings with the Dean of Students Affairs as well as other key stakeholders concerning price

For some, dancing is a hobby. But for Mariam Adebisi, it is a way of life. The 20year-old Osun State indigene, who is in 300-Level Political Science Education at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), won the Nescafe Dance Competition on campus. She told KEMI BUSARI (300Level Political Science) about her plans.

•Continued on page 31

•’Dead’ student alive–P32 • LASU greets Jakande at 83 -P33

•Continued on page 30

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Three hours Pushing Out with with Adeyinka (2) Agbo Agbo IVE years ago, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States predicted that in about 10 years, Nigeria would cease to be a united country, or that it might simply become a “failed state.” Back then, many dismissed the prediction as conjecture or mere Western postulation. We even condemned it as a form of prejudice against Nigeria. Adeyinka and I reviewed the situation to see whether we are playing into the hands of these doomsday prophets.

We looked at the prediction against the backdrop that out of 120 marks in the failed states index, Nigeria got a total of 101.6. The researchers based their scores on 12 indicators. Each of these indicators is measured on a scale of 1 – 10.

Nigeria’s scores in some of them are as follows: massive movement of refugees or internally displaced people, 6.5; vengeance-seeking group grievance, 9.7; chronic and sustained human flight, 7.6; uneven economic development, 8.9; poverty, sharp or severe economic decline, 7.5; progressive deterioration of public services, 9.1; violation of human rights and rule of law, 8.6; and rise of factionalised elite, 9.8.

Any rational Nigerian would agree that these scores cannot be faulted. We came to that conclusion because widespread sectarian and ethnic violence in the North has led to the displacement of many Nigerians. A friend who visited Maiduguri recently said the town is simply a “ghost town.” In Plateau State alone, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Nigerian Red Cross estimate that over 5, 500 people were displaced after the recent attacks on villages in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Gov-

F

08052959489 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com ernment Areas which led to the death of Senator Dantong and Hon. Fulani.

The Boko Haram menace is also not helping matters. Since it started its violent campaign in Borno State in 2009, the terrorist group has killed thousands of innocent people who have no direct bearing or connection with their agitations.

Still fresh from the university with some radical ideas, my young guest traced the root cause of these developments to corruption. According to him, it is a major factor in the excruciating poverty most Nigerians now feel and the sharp economic decline in the country. “Sir when I gained admission into the university my father was gainfully employed and was doing very well with two cars, but by the time I graduated four years later, he had sold both cars to ensure I get my degree. He is presently unemployed and making ends meet is a daily struggle for the entire family.” Adeyinka said to buttress his argument.

Still amazed at his level of comprehension and elucidation of our present predicament, he said corruption is also the bane of the power sector because it has truncated the development of that critical sector, he even went ahead to mention the controversial Elumelu committee on the NIPP probe, our decaying infrastructure and why it is impossible for us to attain the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

At this point of our discussion, we became pessimistic that the prediction by CIA is gradually unfolding.

Even the National Youth Service

Corps scheme that was established to foster peace and unity in the country is being threatened as corps members have become targets of attacks by terrorists and sundry rioters, especially in the North. The situation now is such that parents and guardians no longer accept the posting of their children and wards to certain states in the North, just like the case of my guest showed last week.

Now that we are where we are what does he think his generation would do or want done so that we can forge ahead? He was unequivocal about this, according to him there is an urgent need for a conference where all the groups that make up the country should decide how to stay together, or go their separate ways if need be.

He pointed to the fact that some countries forced together like Nigeria have either gone their separate ways like Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia; or are engaged in perpetual state of war like Democratic Republic of Congo. If we do not negotiate now, he noted, Nigeria runs the risk of a violent break-up because we cannot continue to shy away from the obvious signs of disintegration and be deluded that things would sort themselves out somehow.

Since our time out was not a monologue he asked sought my opinion on the way forward. I told him that I think that at this critical juncture in our history, a fundamental building block of nationhood should entail redefining our national values and reviving or getting a new set of unifying national symbols to fit present

•Continued from page 29

Y

God has really been helping me.

I give more attention to my studies than my talent. And, so far, one has not affected the other .The only problem I have is stressing myself more than usual. The time I ought to use for leisure, I practise.

Do you see a future in dancing?

I do not intend to use my certificate to earn a living because I don’t believe it will take me to my dream place. I always have the notion that if I had not entered the university, I would have made a huge success in dancing and decoration. For me, certificate is just a means to an end. Dancing is what I live for.

What has been your challenge?

I don’t have any major challenge other than my parents’ reluctance to support me at the initial stage. Also I dislike the public opinion about dancers, most especially women dancers.

Some people still see us as prostitutes.

Where do you see yourself in 10years?

I will love to have a dance group which will recruit talents. I have the intention of giving my prospective students the best, notwithstanding their financial challenges. May7ven is my role model and it would be a great achievement for me if I have the opportunity of working with her in the next 10 years.

a leader and purge the country of this failed state syndrome. He should be more decisive on corruption and the reign of impunity currently threatening the entrenchment of the rule of law. Things have gotten so bad that Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida can bury their hatchet and cry out that our house is on fire.

Before we parted ways after a fruitful three hours conversation, I made Adeyinka understand that the FSI is not a foolproof document, even though it gave us some criteria to evaluate ourselves. Conceptually, the list creates a false dichotomy between failed states and not failed states. But states are complex, spatially diverse political units. So-called failed states have pockets of governance and progress like Lagos and Rivers States, and even stronger states have zones of failure. The index masks this spatial variation and treats the state like an on or off switch.

This kind of label also assumes the antidote to many of the developed world’s conundrums related to transnational violence and terrorism, is more state-building. Yet, not all the states that top the FSI are exporters of instability or terrorism. Often these variables run counter to one another, given that non-state actors like alQaeda require a certain semblance of order, normalcy, and predictability even to operate. In Somalia, which perennially tops the FSI’s list, the largest buildup of radical Islamist forces coincided with that country’s greatest period of law and order in recent memory–from 2006, when the Islamic Courts defeated the US-backed militias and imposed Islamic law in Mogadishu.

African scholars also fault the index’s Western biases. The FSI lumps almost all of Africa in the Critical condition, presumably meaning that the entire continent is on the verge of failing or falling into anarchy. This ignores widespread variation of stability across the region. For instance, Kenya has witnessed some political turbulence in recent years, but it is a far less unstable place than the DRC. Yet, both are painted an ominous fireengine tone of red on FSI’s map. There are virtually no Western states near the top, not even Greece or Spain with all their economic woes.

Ohenhen Aihie, 400-Level Accounting, is the outgoing president of the National University Accounting Students Association (NUASA), Benson Idahosa University (BIU) chapter. He spoke to JOYCE MARCUS (Mass Communication) about his tenure.

‘I don’t believe in certificate but talent’ OU are a professional dancer, when did you start?

Dancing is my way of life.

When I was young, I noticed that whenever I listened to music, my body naturally flowed with the rhythm even if it was on the street.

I started leading dance troupes since the age of seven. In primary school, I participated in cultural dances, choreography and miming.

Even when I finished secondary school at 14, my school still consulted me whenever the occasion called for it.

Which competitions have you featured in?

I had the chance of participating in the Maltina Street dance held in Epe and Akure last year. I was the winner in both. Also last year, I was at the Maltina Family Show but I was disqualified because the organisers thought I was underage and my birth certificate was not with me at the time.

You recently won the Nescafe Dance Competition, how did you feel about it?

I felt happy because I never had an opportunity to showcase my talent in the university until that day. Every competition I had attended so far was outside the campus. So, it was a great pleasure winning the Nescafe contest before my colleagues.

How do you balance academics with your talent?

realities. Our leaders should be more interested now than ever in the things that unifies us than in those things that divides us. We should go back to the drawing board and really define what being a Nigerian entails, and these should not be based on rhetoric, but on things people could hold on to and define.

Achieving this, I pointed out, should be predicated on a strong leadership.

I added that nations that had gone through a series of crises in the past were rescued by committed and selfless leaders. Some of us that have studied the development patterns of other nations often make reference to Singapore where it took one man, Lee Kuan Yew, to change the fortunes of the country for good. During World War II, it took the then Prime Minister, Winston Churchill of Britain, to inspire his people and confront Adolf Hitler’s Germany.

Back home in Nigeria, the role Generals Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon played in attempting to inculcate some core values in Nigerians through the war against indiscipline programme is still fresh in the memories of those old enough to remember.

I am also of the opinion that our leaders should return the country to true federalism. It is high time state governments developed their resources rather than going to Abuja at the end of every month to collect cheques from the Ministry of Finance. The government should also as a matter of utmost urgency tackle poverty, which at the national rate of 72 per cent, according to Prof.

Chukwuma Soludo, is unacceptable and contributes significantly to the crisis ravaging the country; the case of Adeyinka’s father is a pointer to this. The government can do this by encouraging the growth of private enterprise, SMEs and others which, in turn, will help in job creation.

The greatest way to generate employment is to create a favourable environment for businesses to thrive. This can be done by fixing our power sector and other infrastructure.

As the American would say, the buck stops at the Presidents table, meaning the onus is on President Goodluck Jonathan to take charge as

‘Success is a leader’s impact on followers’ •Ohenhen

M

ANY opposed your candidacy; how would you have felt if you had not been elected president?

That period was really tense. I did not know who would become the president because I had a strong opponent. I was really scared. I had the support of my close friends and they stood by me.

What prompted you to run for NUASA presidency?

During my year as a fresher, the then president was my source of inspiration. He was brilliant and highly intelligent. I admired these traits in him and this prompted me to aspire for the post. I also wanted to make a change. I wanted to serve my colleagues because leadership is all about service. So, the drive to serve was what made me run for president.

It was said that majority of your supporters were female students, was it true?

Yes, the truth was that majority of the boys, including my course-mates never gave me that complete assurance that their votes would be for me.

But the female students assured me that I would have their votes. Moreover, there were many girls in my class than male students. The most important thing was that they believed I have character and charisma even though I may not have financial prowess as my opponent.

What was driving you as president?

The drive to make a change kept me going. The passion to achieve what has not been done before, wanting to go the extra mile because success is not in the abundance of the things we have but in the impact

we make on people’s lives. As a leader, it is not what one has that matters, but what impact one makes in the lives of the followers. I don’t want students to remember me as just a president when I leave but as one who changed their lives positively.

Would you describe your tenure as a success?

From my point of view, I will say yes. We have achieved a lot even though there are challenges.

NUASA during my administration is the first to float an association magazine in the whole of Faculty of Social and Management Sciences.

We engaged in several community development tasks. Also, our classrooms are now more conducive for learning. Tutorials are held for all, including provision of past question papers.

CORRECTION In the story published on page 34 last week titled: “FUTO wins SIFE contest”, the correct order of winners is Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), 1st position; Bayero University, Kano (BUK), 2nd position and Federal Polytechnic Idah, 3rd position.

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CAMPUS LIFE

VC renders account a year after It was a busy week at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) as the ViceChancellor, Prof Chigozie Asiabaka, celebrated his first year in office.

VICTOR NWOKEDI (200-Level Polymer and Textile Engineering) reports.

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HEN Prof Chigozie Asiabaka was appointed the sixth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), expectations were high expectations from the staff and students. There were expectations that he would consolidate on the achievement of his predecessor, Prof Celestine Onwuliri, who died in Dana air crash last June.

After he assumed office last year, Prof Asiabaka had interaction with students to intimate them with his agenda for the in-

•Public Procurement Research Centre built by the VC

stitution. He said excellence would be the watchword of his administration. Asiabaka, therefore, tagged his adopted agenda as A quest for excellence.

Though, it has been over a year now since he gave that speech, but from all indication, it appears Prof Asiabaka is committed to ensuring his vision sees the light of the day. The first anniversary celebrations, which, was held penultimate, lasted for a week with participation from both the staff and students.

It began with a thanksgiving service at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Chaplaincy (STACC), FUTO. Two days after, there was an ecumenical service, held at the Hall of Mercy on campus.

The church services were followed by 19th General Assembly of the university, in which the VC addressed the entire university community. He thanked the

staff and students for their support and cooperation in the last one year. His address centered on reviewing achievements of his administration during the past one year.

Recalling his inaugural speech on last year June, Prof Asiabaka stated that some of his administation’s short-term goals had been accomplished. He enumerated the goals to include reorientation of staff and students, beautification of the campus, prompt computation of results, internationalisation of the university, improvement in power supply and water facilities in the hostels, completion of FUTO water project among others.

Aside from the short-term goals, Prof Asiabaka said his administration also embarked on infrastructural project which are installation of solar-energy bulbs across the campus, construction and furnishing of a 1,000-capacity lecture theater,

Making life easy for students •Continued from page 29

regulation.”

About 300 business operators met the Taskforce Committee members, headed by Ayara Ikemesit, a member of the SUG parliament.

Ayara told them that the SUG was not out to make life difficult for them, adding “we are here to discuss how best business operation can be conducted on campus in the interest of the students and operators themselves.”

Another member of the parliament, Paul Ekaji, who was at the meeting, stressed the need for traders to clean their environment. He said there were health challenges and illnesses arising from what students eat from restaurants.

He said: “Students have complained of picking up dead insects and similar things in the foods they bought. So, we use this medium to appeal to food vendors to ensure cleanliness; the SUG will soon carry out environmental assessment on campus.”

George said at the meeting: “All the prices will be regulated to favour the students as well as the business vendors.”

However, Chibueze Njoku, a final year Law student, who operates Ave Maria Business Centre in the students’ hostel, told CAMPUSLIFE that he was not happy with the SUG’s plan.

He said: “The SUG should understand that all these things boil down to students’ welfare. If at the end of the day, while trying to soften things and you close these business centres, it will affect the students. If you eventually fix a price which the business operators do not consider feasible, some of them may be discouraged and

•Prof Eyong

close shops. This will affect the students the more. Few of them that may stay behind may not be pleased with the new price regime. They should try to strike a balance. We are not at war with them. They should take it easy with us too.”

A food vendor, who gave her name as Ekaete, told CAMPUSLIFE that price reduction may affect the quality of food they would prepare, henceforth. “We will prepare the food in a way that we will make gains but the quality of food may not be okay.”

Chibueze urged the union to categorise the prices according to the quality of service being provided by the vendors. He said: “They should categorise the prices based on the quality of service.

There are people that should sell

at N100. There are people that should sell at N150 and there are people that should sell at N200.

The prices should not cut across board because you can‘t expect one who has invested much in his business to sell at the same price with those that invested little in the same business. The price should be commensurate with the quality of service a vendor provides.”

Also, speculations were rife that the price adjustment step being taken by the union did not go down well with some powerful people in the university. A source, who pleaded for anonymity, told CAMPUSLIFE: “I think the SUG officials are toeing a dangerous path because some big fish in the university are looking at them suspiciously; they seem not to be happy with what is happening with the price regulation.”

Another anonymous respondent said: “There is an extent the SUG officials should operate on because most of these shops on campus are owned by professors in the school. For instance, the shop I am occupying is owned by a professor who is highly placed in this school. They should know the people they are dealing with.”

Reacting, George said: “I am not aware if anybody in the management is aggrieved by our action. I have made promise to my fellow students during the campaign that we will regulate prices. We have decided to call all the business operators together so that we can hear from them. We have heard a lot of complaints from the students and now we have come to take actions. We are going to ensure that the new prices will be binding on everybody that operates business on campus.

internet access for students and eduportal solution.

Other are completion of installation of a 24-channel Closed Circuit Television facility on campus, construction of the Dental Technology Building, construction of the Optical Technology and Optometry Building, construction of the School of Environmental Technology Building and construction of the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SEET) Complex.

CAMPUSLIFE spoke with students. Nkechi Okere, 300-Level Biochemistry, said: “Given the pace of project in the school, FUTO may have been on its path to infrastructural development under Prof Asiabaka. With what he is doing now, it may not be out of place to say that in the next five years, our university will be ranked among the best.”

Another student, Kalu Kalu,

described the VC as a disciplined man, who was committed to change. The 200-Level student of Food Science and Technology said: “The VC is a wonderful person and he is really doing well. I am satisfied with what he has done so far.”

Sheryl Dayo, a final year student of Project Management and Technology, commended Asiabaka for his achievement but expected more.

James Nwokeji, who did not disclose his department, said: “The VC must also pay attention to some buildings that are undergoing structural defects on campus. Some lecture theaters have leaking roofs with no seats and this is affecting learning.”

Jacob Silas, 100-Level Environmental Technology, said: “I think the VC is doing well and he has great vision for the university, but more needs to be done in the hostels.”

CAMPUSLIFE / Africanliberty.org Essay contest results The winners of the African Liberty Organisation/The Nation Newspaper essay competition have been selected.

Remarks and result: A total of 198 essays were graded and the scores range between 0 percent and 78 percent.

The total mark was allocated into four different areas as listed below: 1) Understanding and discussion of the issues: This measures the level or deepness of understanding of the key concepts display by the writer. It also measures the extent to which the writer was able to address the key issues in the topic and the strength of the argument as relate to the topic under discussion 2) Organisation and clarity of thought: This measures the extent at which the writer was able to convey his message clearly and the appropriateness of the method of organisation.

3) Presentation and prose: This measures the flow and how the choice of word helps in conveying the message.

Broadly, the performance seems to be on the average. Some writers displayed very high level understanding of pro-market principles while some copied and submitted non-original essays.

Winners are:

•1st prize - Oluwanifise Moses Abiodun (Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria) •2nd prize - Omoh Nicholas Kelubia (University of Benin, Nigeria) •3rd prize - Dave Mankhokwe Namusanya (University of Malawi) •4th prize - Ojo Hannah Modupe (Obafemi Awolowo University-Nigeria) and Marcus Adeniyi (University of Ilorin - Nigeria) Consolation prizes: •Igono Victor Ojonugwa (Ahmadu Bello University-Zaria) •Wasswa Mattia (Gulu University-Uganda) •Wasike N. Wamalwa (Moi University-Kenya) •Julius Odeke ( Makarere University-Uganda) •Ekere Godwin (University of Jos-Nigeria) •Seid Demeke Mekonnen (Mekelle University-Ethiopia) •Egbune Onyeloni (Delta State University-Nigeria) •Nelson Custódio Raúl Vidro (Quelimane-Mozambique) •Wiredu Darlington (University of Ghana Business School).

Please get in touch with Adedayo Thomas at adedayo.thomas@gmail.com to redeem your prizes.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE

‘Dead’ student alive

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•The Corps members during the event

Corps members sensitise traders on child labour O YO State chapter of Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF), a Community Development Service (CDS) vanguard of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has held an awareness rally in Oje Market in Ibadan, the capital. It was held to sensitise traders on the evil of human trafficking and child labour.

The Corps members went into groups to ensure one-on-one interaction with the marketers, who were educated on ways a child could be abused. Prostitution and human trafficking, they said could make children susceptible to sex abuse, adding that majority of the vulnerable were liable to contracting sexually-transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. They urged the traders to only give birth to the number of chil-

From Tunmise Oladipo NYSC IBADAN

dren they could send to school. The traders asked questions, which were answered by the Corps members.

Some Corps members, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said they were happy for the success of the outreach. Oluwasegun Alao, a Batch “C’ Corps member, said: “We should be encouraged by the positive responses of the market people. We, as a vanguard, are saying that child labour and hawking which in turn leads to molestation should be stopped in our society.”

The president of the vanguard, Oluwatosin Falade, said the outreach was part of the objectives of

the group. “The United Nations UN has rated human trafficking as the third largest money making business in the world. Therefore, there is need for people, most especially at the grassroots to know about child labour and human trafficking and it is our duty as an NYSC vanguard to contribute our own quota to national development through this awareness,” Oluwatosin said.

The Corps members also donated free exercise books to the traders. The books were received on behalf of the marketers by Babaloja of the market, Chief Kareem Afolayan. He thanked the Corps members for the gifts and urged them to continue awareness that would help reduce child labour, trafficking and abuse of the rights of women and children to the barest minimum.

HERE was drama at Abia State Polytechnic (ABIA POLY) last week over the rumoured death of a student. It turned out that the student did not die. The student, Uchenna Ifejide, ND 1 Office Management, was said to have collapsed and died at a filling station.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Uchenna’s colleague (name withheld) received a text message with Uchenna’s phone number that reads: “The owner of this phone is dead. He collapsed on his way to a filling station and died as he was being rushed to the hospital.”

This “sad news” was sent to a student, who is on Uchenna’s phone contact. The student was said to have sent the message immediately to the Head of the Department, who, forwarded it to the Rector, Elder A. A. Onukaogu. The Rector, however, invited the Students’ Union president, Prince Awah, and other union members to his resi-

From Obioma Okezie ABIA POLY

dence to fetch the ‘corpse’ of the student.

When the SUG officials went for the ‘body’ of the student at the St. Michael’s Hospital, they were confronted with the truth. It took five hours for the hospital management to convince them that it was no such ‘body’.

However, on getting back to the campus, the “dead” student and his ‘’bereaved” classmates welcomed the SUG leaders. Uchenna was then taken to the Rector’s office alive.

Narrating what led to the rumour, Uchenna told CAMPUSLIFE: “I lost my phone and only God knows where. But instead of the person, who picked it, to return it to me, the person decided to declare me dead by sending messages to my contacts that I collapsed and died at a filling station.”

Five cabs for students

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HE management of Moddibo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH), Yola, Adamawa State, has donated five taxi-cabs to students to ease their transportation problem.

Speaking during the presentation of the vehicles, codenamed MAUTECH LINE, to the Transport Committee of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Dean of Student Affairs (DSA), Dr Jafa’ru Ali, said the vehicles were gifts from the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bashir Usman, to cushion the effect of high cost of transportation.

He said instead of the usual N70 being paid by students to Jimeta town from the campus, the cabs, would collect N50, thereby reverting the fare to price before fuel subsidy removal.

From Philips Ogbaje MAUTECH

Alisaid the school would start out with five cabs promising that the management would increase the number gradually. He said: “We are starting out with this five for now but the Vice- chancellor has promised that the taxis will be increased in months to come.”

The union president, Nurudeen Saleh, thanked Prof Usman for the “kind gesture” which he said was aimed at providing “safe, affordable and convenient means of transportation for students Students who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE expressed joy but urged the VC to increase the number quickly so that a lot of students can benefit from the scheme.

‘We are starting out with this five for now but the Vice-Chancellor has promised that the taxis will be increased in months to come.’

•Students registering at the admission office

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HE Federal University, OyeEkiti (FUOYE), one of the nine established by the Federal Government last year, has taken off.

Its pioneer students resumed on July 25.

The university has two campuses – one in Oye-Ekiti and the other in Ikole-Ekiti. The faculties of Agriculture and Engineering are in Ikole, the faculties of Humanities and Social Science and Science are in Oye. Orientation was held for the students between July 26 and 28 at the main auditorium in Oye. The programme, attended by the school’s body of principal officers, opened with registration of students, following which the ViceChancellor, Prof Chinedu Nebo declared the programme open.

Prof Nebo said he was happy that the university has finally taken off. He promised that in the next few years, the institution would be the best in

Varsity takes off in Ekiti From Tunji Awe and Francis Olowolare FUOYE

Nigeria and one of the best in Africa.

He also cleared the air on whether the pioneer students would be combined with applicants that wrote the 2012/2013 post-UTME. He said there would be no combination of successful applicants with pioneer students, saying the new students would be admitted after the university finished its session in the next couple of months.

The Acting Registrar, Mr D.A Adeyemo said the mission of the university was to be an institution of choice that would provide knowledge and opportunities for its students to be successful.

Dean of Faculty of Agriculture

Prof Akin Omotayo, who spoke on Examination regulations, code of conduct and computation of result, advised the students to prepare for the challenges ahead of them, saying no learner could be successful without being examined.

CAMPUSLIFE spoke to some of the students. Oluwasegun Osaloni, 100-Level Sociology, said he was happy that the school finally resumed. “I have spent months at home doing nothing, but now that we have fully resumed, I am happy that the boredom has disappeared and I can use my time to engage in productive things.”

Ebube Ikoli-Ikedi, another student, said:“I am looking forward to a hitch-free academic session.”

Omotolani Iyiola, 100-Level Biotechnology, said she would work hard to graduate top of her class.

•One of the taxis donated by Prof Usman

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CAMPUS LIFE LASU greets Jakande at 83 From Oyinkansola Sadiq-Mabeko LASU

MANAGEMENT of the Lagos State University (LASU), has visited former Governor, Lateef Jakande to greet him on his 83rd birthday.

Led by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof Omolara extolled the octogenerian. Prof Bamgboye said Jakande contributed to the development of Lagos between 1979 and 1983, adding that the elder statesman left a legacy of progressive and visionary leadership.

Jakande was presented with a birthday card and souvenirs after which prayers were said for him. The team included Acting Director, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations (CIPPR) Dr Sola Fosudo, and Acting Chairman, Ceremonies Committee Dr Adebola Ademesan.

O •Some of the students with their leaders after their election

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HE National Association of Obanliku Students (NAOS), University of Calabar (UNICAL) chapter, has elected leaders that will pilot its affairs during next session.

The students from Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State, held their election at Hogan Bassey Pavilion.

Announcing the results, the electoral committee chairman,

Association elects leaders at UNICAL From Isaac Mensah UNICAL

Solomon Awerikure, 400-Level Law, said 79 votes were cast, with five voided. He returned Theophilus Usheshe as president having polled 45votes.

Others elected were Alorye Basake, Vice President; Joseph Longe, Secretary General; Moses Okono, Financial Secretary; and Ignatius Ekpe, Director of Social.

Theophilus solicited for cooperation from members in order

to move the association forward.

Outgoing president Eric Alolo, advised the executive to cultivate good relationship with members of the association as well as the local government officials to promote the association.

Diabetics get free treatment

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HE district 9140 Rotaract Club, Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital (EBSUTH) chapter, Abakaliki, has embarked on free treatment for diabetics in Amike-Aba and Mukobe communities, which border the Presco campus and the teaching hospital.

They conducted free screening and counselling for peoples of the communities. The exercise, which took place at St. Luke’s Catholic Chapel in Presco campus, was held in commemoration of the 2012 Rotary Family Health Day. It was opened by the Abakaliki South president of the club, Dr George Ejogha.

Medical services offered by the club included the checking of weight, blood pressure test, Body Mass Index (BMI) and diabetes screening.

Before the commencement of the exercise, Dr Esther Igwenyi, a Physician with EBSUTH, lectured the participating community people on diabetes and nutrition. He advised the locals to take their health issue seriously.

She said diabetes was more clinically dangerous than HIV/AIDS. Ejogha said Rotary club was known worldwide for its hu-

•Members of the club conducting checks on the locals during the exercise From Daniel Lawrence EBSU

manitarian schemes, which was why the club reached out to the locals to wipe out diseases threatening the existence of humanity.

The priest of the church, Reverend Father Clement Osunkoweh, praised members of the club for

their initiative and urged them not to be distracted but to continue to help the cause of humanity. He prayed God blessed the club to continue to carry out its selfless programmes.

Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, expressed gratitude to the club. Mrs

Council chief condoles with NANS

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HAIRMAN of Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Mr Bolaji Robert has condoled with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and families of the Students’ Union’s presidents, who died in an auto crash on the Owo-Akure road last month.

From Damilola Olaleye LAGOS

He described the death of the student leaders as most unfortunate and disheartening. Robert said it was sad that the lives of young promising leaders to whom the country was looking forward were cut down in their prime. “But who

are we to blame God; He does things according to His will,” the council chair said.

Robert urged the families and friends of the deceased to take the incident as an act of God. He prayed God give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses. He also wished the injured speedy recovery.

Charity Okeke, a trader, thanked the club for its kindness towards the community people. She promised to keep faith to the counseling she received from the programme.

Rector advocates girl-child education From Musliudeen Adebayo TV COLLEGE

RECTOR of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Television College, Jos (TV COLLEGE), Dr Ayo Fasan, has advocated girlchild education. He spoke at the 10th graduation and 25th anniversary celebration of Air Force Girls’ Comprehensive School, Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Fasan, represented by Mr Odumu Aleichenu, a Dean in the college, said the world had passed an era when women were meant to be in the kitchen.

Women, he added, now favourably compete with men in all areas of human endeavour.

He advised the graduating pupils to prove their mettle in their careers, urging them to be inspired by the achievements of women like Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili and Justice Mariam AlomaMukhtar among others.

Dr Fasan urged parents to always go beyond paying the school fees of their wards, but also to create time to check on their children at schools, especially higher institutions.

Responding, the Commandant of the school, Wing Commander Musa Aileru, thanked parents and teachers for their relentless efforts in shaping the lives of the pupils who he described as leaders of tomorrow. The event was attended by parents and top government functionaries in the state.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

CAMPUS LIFE

Wining souls for Allah The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State University (LASU) chapter, has concluded its 1433 AH Jihad Week. NURUDEEN YUSUF (200-Level Law) and MUSBAUDEEN SHEKONI (200-Level Mass Communication) report.

Corps members under the aegis of Nigeria Christian Corpers’ Fellowship (NCCF), Anambra State chapter, visited Ozubulu on an evangelical mission. A member, AYODEJI ADESINA, writes about their experience.

Spreading the gospel

•Female Corps members assisting rural women to make their hair at Primary Health Care Centre, Nza venue for the rural rugged health and hair care services

•Some Jihadists during the week

A

S a tradition, the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) holds its Jihad Week with a procession round the campus. Last week, thousands of Muslim students at the Lagos State University (LASU) moved round Ojo campus to usher in the Jihad Week.

According to its Ameer, Abdulmojeed Olayinka, 300-Level Mathematics, the Jihad Week “is aimed at reawakening the spirit of Muslims and making firm their Iman (faith) against all evil forces on campus.”

There was a slight difference in this year’s MSSN week. The Week featured programmes that brought other branches of the LASU-MSSN to the main campus.

Also, for the first time, the Muslim students visited the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja; School of Engineering, Epe; and Adebola Adegunwa School of Communication, Ojuelegba, to fix broken doors and walls.

“It’s a splendid week,” said Ahmed Kosoko, 400-Level Law, who was the chairman of the Week’s organising committee.

The event was held at the MBA Hall, Ojo campus. Governor Babatunde Fashola was represented by Alhaji Lateef Raji, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola sent delegates.

The Chief Imam of University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof Muritadoh Bidmos, was the guest speaker. The Chairman of LASU Muslim community, Prof Rafiu Okuneye; Kazeem Alabi, who is Amir of B-zone MSSN attended the event.

Speaking on the theme: Unstoppable Certainty, Prof Bidmos described death as the only unstoppable certainty that all mortals must taste. He said: “In all our dealings on earth, death is the only unstoppable certainty that everybody will experience. After death is resurrection and then judgment when all of us will reckon all we did on earth. After this, our deeds either take us to Al-janat Fridaus (paradise) or Jahanamah (hell fire). So, we should strive for Al-janat by going good deeds.”

During the awards presentation, Aregbesola was recognised with the award of “Ogbeni Unstoppable”.

Others awarded were an ex-officio of LASU Muslim community, Prof Muhibudin Aremu and Prof Okuneye.

The Muslim students also held a youth summit tagged: “Attainment of Goals: Unstoppable You”. The participating students discussed how their set goals could be achieved. The summit was held at Julius Berger Hall, Faculty of Management Sci-

•Cross-section of corps members during the victory march at Amakwa in Ozubulu

G

•Ameer

ence.

There was also a public lecture on the open ground close to Badagry gate. The topic was “Lessons from the Middle East uprising.”

Ridwan Adisa, 300-Level Accounting, described the lecture as “food for thought.”

At a briefing, Abdulmojeed described Boko Haram sect as anti-Islam and condemned the sect’s activities. He implored the Lagos State government to revert the school fee to what indigent students could afford.

In the spirit of brotherhood, a football competition tagged “Ameer’s Cup” was organised for participating students, who represented their various faculties. The fun-filled competition ended with the Faculty of Management Sciences Muslim students lifting the cup.

The Week ended at the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja. There was another lecture organised by the students on the topic “The resilient youth”. It was delivered by Dr Taofiq Yekeen, a lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Ibadan.

Ahmed said: “The just-concluded Jihad Week was with a difference and I believe it will go a long way in changing the lives of many Muslims students on campus.”

OSPEL songs rent the air as they proceeded into the village. Shouts of Hallelujah intermittently nudged the tired members in the vehicles to join their colleagues to sing along. On getting to their destination, the visiting Corps members chorused Hallelujah as they were welcomed by people of the community.

Welcome to Ozubulu, headquarters of Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State. The sleepy town is about 25 minutes drive from Onitsha, the commercial never-centre of the state. The Christian members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) visited the community for their quarterly Rural Rugged Evangelism, which was held between Thursday July 26 and Sunday July 29 at the City High Secondary School, Nza. Over 400 Corps members under the banner of the Nigeria Christian Corpers’ Fellowship (NCCF), Anambra State chapter converged for the event with the theme “Let there be light’. They came from all the 21 Local Government Areas of the state. On Saturday, the venue for the weekend of the crusade was the outer court of Igwe of Ozubulu, Ozubulu Kingdom, which about 700 meters away from the City High School where the Corps member camped.

As has been its tradition, the NCCF mission outreach began with a victory match with the participating Corps members divided into four groups, with each group one deployed to the four villages that constitute Ozubulu Community. The four areas are Nza, Amakwa, Eziora, Ebema. The youth stormed markets and public places in the areas to preach the gospel of Christ.

They traversed the length and breadth of the community to minister to the locals dwelling in Ozubulu community, who, in turn, accepted Jesus Christ, with some rededicating their lives. On the evening of Saturday, an all-night prayer was organised by the

Corps members, who prayed for the liberation of the community people from evil forces.

They beseeched God to shine His light over the kingdom and liberate the sick, people in bondage, and those entangled in idol worshipping.

The corps members were divided again to offer physical services to the community.

Welfare materials brought by NCCF were distributed to people who came to the crusade ground. Female participants assisted the local women to braid their hair. Their male counterparts beautified the community male teenagers with clean shave of hair styles. The people of the community were ecstatic as different essential services were rendered free of charge by the Corps members.

The Batch “C” Corps members, who participated in the evangelism, described the event as remarkable because it was the last rugged they would be attending before their passing out next October. But for the Batch “B” Corps members, who came in less than week having rounded off their orientation exercise on Monday, July 23, the experience was tough.

During the Sunday gathering, one of the NCCF leaders, Olatunji Ojuola, commended the participants for their efforts and prayed that God would reward their labour. He said Rural Rugged was the core mission of NCCF, adding that it was important for the youth to always leave their comfort zones to give life to lives. “We are saved to save others,” he said.

The villagers said the encounter was meaningful. As the Corps members prepared to leave the Ozubulu community after day 4, the chairman of the Rural Rugged, Barrister Bola Oluwagbohun, prayed: “May the village not recover from the encounter.” The secretary of the Rural Rugged Committee, Lola Salami, said the evangelism was the best experience any Corps member could have during the service year.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE

Pray UNILG, pray

By Juliana Edet

S

O far, year 2012 has been defining for the University of Lagos (UNILAG). In a way, the first half of the year was, perhaps, the most challenging for the authorities and stakeholders. It’s been cases of fire and death.

These made the last six months very demanding with students and staff mourning and mourning. About three fire outbreaks were recorded, with one involving a campus taxi and two in different departments. The aftermath of these events has not been palatable. Aside the fire at the Faculty of Science, other happenings were recorded, changing the perception of people about the school.

O

N August 2, 2007, The Nation newspaper gave birth to the most incisive pages on campus issues: CAMPUSLIFE. Last Thursday, the CAMPUSLIFE pullout clocked five. The pages are the vision of the late Mrs. Ngozi Nwozor-Agbo, which materialised to what it is today. Aunty Ngozi’s passion for youths of Nigeria was the reason behind the introduction of the initiative.

She had the belief that our generation, which is deprived of so many things by the leaders, must produce virtues rather than vices. This is why the mission of the pages is to enforce discipline among Nigerian undergraduates, through the weekly Pushing Out column, which she wrote until her death last May. Over the years, CAMPUSLIFE has become the toast of all Nigerian campuses as it affords every student the opportunity of not only becoming a campus correspondent of a foremost national newspaper but also gives us the chance to create a better campus for ourselves.

Student correspondents who started earlier with the eight-page weekly pullout included Sunday Ogundugba (now Toluwani Eniola) Ekiti State University (EKSU); Hannah Ojo, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU); Priscilla Awe, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and

First was the death of the ViceChancellor, Prof Babatunde Sofoluwe, who died a few days to the commencement of the 50th anniversary of the school. He died of complications attributed to heart-related problems.

No one would have predicted the end would come so suddenly for the amiable VC was determined to fulfil his digitalisation programme and the repositioning of the university to a top institution in Africa. It was a tall dream, but he believed in it. So, he shared his optimism that such a dream was achievable.

Just two weeks after his demise, the university, again, was thrown into fresh round of mourning. A senior lecturer in the Department of Creative Arts, Chief E.A. Bassey, died on Saturday, May 19. The late creative arts guru also died of complications from stress, fatigue and heart problem.

Unlike Prof Sofoluwe, Chief Bassey, whose death saddened the institution, was never a professor but his impacts are visible on campus. Bassey’s signature is everywhere on the campus.

He was the brain behind most of the beautiful neon signs and statues adorning strategic points. He was passionate about ensuring that UNILAG sustained its beauty, aesthet-

ics and greenness.

For the golden jubilee celebration, the “Chief of Art” who served the university in various capacities is no more. The university has lost him, as death came abruptly! Today, he is no more. I don’t know if he fulfilled all his personal goals but he possibly died without fulfilling some of his dreams for the university.

His death left a question on whether an urgent need for the review of the retirement age of lecturers and civil servants is needed, and perhaps compulsory. Are regular check-ups and review of the medical profile of aging lecturers good ideas? Both academic giants died of stress and heart attack in active service.

Again, a cloud of gloominess enveloped the institution on July 16, 2012 when, like a torrential rain, death visited again, and snatched the indefatigable UNILAG Chancellor, President of Kogi State Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Aliyu Obaje, the Attah Igala Idah, Kogi State.

The Governing Council, management, staff and students are mourning. My heart is heavy too. The passing on to glory of Alhaji Obaje was least expected when activities for the 50th anniversary were in top gear.

The late monarch, who ascended the throne on November 2, 1956 as the 26th Attah Igala Idah, succeeding the late Attah Ameh Oboni was an amiable scholar. When he came for the 2009 Convocation, he came with his kingly attires and royal entourage. His speeches were full of wit and intelligence. He was a source of inspiration and strength to the professors and students. He reigned for over 56 years, making him the longest serving traditional ruler in the country. The UNILAG is counting its losses and, at the same time, commiserating with the royal family, Kogi State and the nation on the loss of the illustrious king.

The late Obaje was the first literate Attah Igala. His long reign witnessed unparalleled developments in his kingdom. Tha Attah’s palace (the seat of power in the Igala Kingdom) is in the ancient city Idah. He was among the few traditional rulers who published books and added values to literature.

This is a challenge to many living traditional rulers. Beyond the throne, Obas, Igwes and Emirs can contribute to literature, history, traditions, customs and norms. They possibly have some deeper and uncommon information that most historians may not have quick access

to. The late Attah wrote his book possibly with that point on mind.

Generally, the book documents the social, religious, economic and educational development of Igalaland during his reign and it will continue to be a good historical material that deserves a space on book shelf.

The deaths of the three personalities are too much for an institution to bear. I commiserate with the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahman Bello. But it may be wise at this period to pray for the change in the fortune of the institution. At 50, our losses should be minimal. We should be happier and more fulfilled. From the proposed change of name to the calamities so far, it is clear something is not right.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, visited UNILAG last January, and called for prayer. Everybody now knows, at this point, that the school needs prayers. We need to seek divine intervention at this point. We don’t need to wait until another personality drops dead. The institution cannot afford another loss.

I don’t know if the pedagogy and its paraphernalia’s believe in the concept of prayer but all I know is UNILAG needs to pray and seek divine intervention. Enough of these deaths.

Juliana, 200-Level Mass Communication, UNILAG

CAMPUSLIFE @ five Ayodele Obajeun, OAU. Others are Mohammed Alabi, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN); Ngozi Emmanuel, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK); Segun Adegbenro, EKSU; Opeyemi Dibua, EKSU; Musliudeen Adebayo, University of Jos (UNIJOS); Shola Ilesanmi and many other who could not be mentioned because of space constraint.

Today, CAMPUSLIFE has hundreds of reporters across campuses in Nigeria, all of whom make the pages a focal point on campus news. Corps members also sent in their reports from their various stations. Today, universities, polytechnics and colleges of education ignore the pages at their own peril.

The pullout is not only meant for institutions only, but our parents also contribute to the development of the pages through comments and reactions to news and students’ opinions.

The pages are divided into several sections which include feature pages, Pushing Out column and interviews section, news pages and opinion section. There is also a cartoon column.

There used to be Counseils, a column that discussed variety of issues on etiquette. Also, there were shouts out

and news from other lands, Ask Aunty NG and Financial Corner.

Although it is a pullout, CAMPUSLIFE is a full newspaper on its own. May and November of every year, CAMPUSLIFE organises workshops for student journalists.

The seminar is proudly sponsored by Coca-Cola and Nigerian Bottling Companies. The programme is aimed at enhancing students’ capabilities for becoming thorough-bred journalists and professionals in their various fields of study. The seminar is all-expenses paid and the sponsors must be commended for this.

Later, the sponsors added the annual award section into the workshops’ programmes. The award made its debut in November 2009 and this further boosted the skills of correspondents, who now strive to win awards by writing interesting news from campuses.

In the year the award made its debuted, Hannah Ojo won the prize for the Overall Best Reporter. The following year, Chisom Ojukwu from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) grabbed the coveted prize and in 2011, it was the turn of Gilbert Alasa, from the University of

Benin (UNIBEN) During the 2011 awards, the initiator, the late Aunty Ngozi, said she conceived CAMPUSLIFE to rediscover youth sand develop in them the right attitude to be a responsible human being. She mentioned the challenges she encountered before the Editor of The Nation, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, gave her the platform which is today known as CAMPUSLIFE. However, last May 28, the CAMPUSLIFE family was thrown into mourning with the death of Aunty Ngozi during child birth. Tears flowed freely as the news hit campuses. Why? The crowd of people that attended Mrs Agbo’s burial was the evidence that Aunty Ngozi touched lives positively. The major parting gift by students was that CAMPUSLIFE, one of those things she lived for, must continue.

During one of the condolence visits to The Nation by students, Mr Clem Ugorji, the Public Affairs and Communication Manager of Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, described Aunty Ngozi as a seasoned professional. Mr Omotoso said the late Mrs. Agbo discussed a plan to make the pullout a full-blown newspaper. All these

By Michael Adebayo

speak of the fact that Aunty lived a fulfilled life.

It is quite impossible to talk of CAMPUSLIFE without thinking about the founder; but one thing is certain, despite the wind of change and challenges, CAMPUSLIFE has come to stay.

Michael, 300-Level Computer Science, UNILORIN

Effects of social media on students

By Taiwo Isola

T

HE rapid industrialisation that started from the last century has given rise to new technologies, which are instrumental in bringing about a change in the process of communication in the world. Without communication, no individual will ever become a complete human being.

So also without the social media, an individual can never become part of the modern society. Socialisation is not an ongoing process, it is a life-long development, beginning from one’s birth. The child learns to socialise from the parents and the social group he or she belongs to. As children grow up, their loyalties change from one social group to another. Now, it seems all the traditional social groups have disappeared and what is now in vogue is the social media.

This brings us to the question: what are the social media? Social media are a group of internet applications that allow the creation and exchange of ideas and information. Social media include Facebook, Twitter, 2go, My Space and You Tube, among others.

Although attempts have been made by governments and educationists to use the social media for education purposes, but the question is: how effective are the social media in educating students? I am of the opinion that the social media have more negative influence on the lives and academic per-

formance of students. My conclusion is based on the following points.

The social media have led to students’ reduced attention to learning and retaining information as many students now rely on information on social media, specifically, and the web in general, to provide answers to class works and assignments. The effect of this is that students hardly visit the libraries for deep study and research which is gradually eroding our reading culture.

Another thing that worries me is the addiction. Students go to classes with their cell phones and at the sound of that “buzz” from their phone, one can bet that they are no more listening to the teacher. They will be preoccupied with exchange of trivial things on the phone. They are so programmed to respond to it quickly and to be in the know about what is going on with their friends that they don’t see the chat or the “buzz” as an interruption in learning. Even during private study, cell phones are kept close and a beep shifts attention from the study to the

cell phone. Obviously, it is very hard for students to excel in their chosen career with such attitude.

In addition, the ability of students to concentrate on their school work is significantly reduced by the distractions of the social media. A recent survey indicated that an average student spends seven hours on social sites daily. If another seven hours is spent sleeping, how many hours do students have for active study?

This signifies an abuse of time: a part of students’ life which can never be redeemed! Who can tell the unlimited opportunities that are daily wasted by these unserious students? The more time students spend on social sites, the less they focus on their books. Every student’s phone has become his book.

Even on religious front, it is quite disheartening that students have turned their phones to little gods. They worship it as if all of their life depends on it.

The place of God has been swapped with cell phones. The social media have also induced the spirit of violence and

immorality trait in students. Social media sites are often stocked with immoral pictures depicting sex and violence. As the mind of students can be likened to a chalk board, on which whatever one writes on it stays. It is not difficult to see reasons why students often turn out to be violent and rugged after much exposure to these materials.

To be candid, violence develops in the mind. As students continuously see these violent images, they become insensitive and may one day want to feel, touch and practice what they always see. This results in quite a number of students dropping out of school as a result of their unseriousness.

In conclusion, it is imperative to note that social media have come to stay.

But parents and teachers can curb addiction by monitoring their children and students and regulating the time they spend on these sites. Students also should take responsibility for their career and positively surf the social sites.

Taiwo, 200-Level Human Anatomy, UNIMAID

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE From Olasunkanmi Arowolo and Khadijat Mayegun LASU

Students hold symposium on poverty

T

HE National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies (NASELS), Lagos State University (LASU) chapter, has held a symposium tagged: Tackling poverty and failure among youth.

Delivering a keynote address, Prof Adeleke Fakoya, a senior lecturer in the department, who spoke on Confronting poverty, said poverty was one of the problems confronting Nigeria. He said money could not solve all problems, saying happiness was the ultimate goal of all human beings.

He charged students to control their enthusiasm. “Control your enthusiasm and always keep your confidence to yourself,” Fakoya said.

Dr Adebukunola Adedoyin, another lecturer, spoke on Why do people fail? He said many failed because they had unrealistic dreams. Also, Dr Ofure Aito spoke on Maintaining self-esteem.

Yemi Marttins, NASELS president, said: “The programme was organised to prepare our students ahead of the prevalent menace of the society.”

Onyinye Obi, 300-Level student and NASELS vice president, said the symposium would prepare students to tackle challenges as they grow up.

•Cross-section of students at the symposium

IMSU begins another semester

College elects union leaders

A

NEW leadership of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Anambra State, has emerged. The election was held penultimate week on the campus of the institution.

The college’s electoral committee chairperson, Mrs Ifeoma Chudi, who announced the results, returned Ikechukwu Williams as the new SUG president. He polled 331 votes to defeat Anderson Obidiegwu, who got 109. Ikechukwu is a student of Computer and Mathematics Education in the School of Sciences.

Other elected officials were Joy Chukwuonye, Vice President, Onyebuchi Okeke, General Secretary, Ogechukwu Ozor, Assistant General Secretary, Juliet Okparaji, Financial Secretary, Chidike Igbudu Treasurer and Mary Umeokwuibe, Public Relations Officer (PRO).

Others are Anayo Nwankwo, Welfare Director, Martins Umeh, Social Director,

•As SUG lights up lecture theatre

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu NNEWI

Onyebuchi Nwaolisa, Director of and Culture, Ambrose Onwusoronye, Director of Transport, Timothy Nwamaradi, Director of Sports and Vitalis Onwumere, Health and Sanitation Director.

Addressing the students, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Tessy Okoli, described the election as free and fair, commending the students’ comportment during and after the election. Okoye said the elections were won and lost gallantly. Ikechukwu, in his speech, promised to improve the student-staff and the management-Union relationships.

Provost of the college, Prof Josephat Ogbuagu, called on the union leaders to assist the management in fighting all forms of ills and intimidation on the campus. He advised them to be good example to their colleagues by taking their studies serious.

I

MO State University (IMSU), Owerri has commenced second semester, after the institution finished its longest semester. Already, the students of the institution have begun making commitment to their studies in order to overcome the challenges ahead.

They praised the efforts of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) led by Rex Okoro that provided fluorescent bulbs in lecture theatres and generators to power the bulbs for them to read at night. Before the SUG fixed the bulbs, students used candles and other luminous materials to read for their exams. They, however, hop the union would maintain the feat.

The Welfare Director of the union, Valentine Enyinnaya, said: “It is a known fact that power supply has been erratic on the campus for sometimes now. This is why the GUG decided to initiate the agenda of ‘operation no candle light on the campus’. The students’ union, with the help of the school management, will change the school electricity to a better one very soon

From Ekene Ahaneku IMSU

but for now we have started by using generating sets to stop the use of candles at night reading.”

Gift Nwanaga, 400-Level Optometry, said: “The provision of the fluorescent bulbs can now make many of us to read to our satisfaction at night because reading with candles has not been helping our sight. I praise the SUG for this.”

Also, students have been commenting on the just concluded semester, which was described as the longest due to some hitches that affected the school calendar making it last longer than planned.

Usward Anosike, a Medical Laboratory student, said: “I wish all semesters would be as long as the first semester if only to make students get good grades in the end.”

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•Senator Ikisikpo receiving the award from John

Ogbia students honour Senator

S

TUDENTS of Ogbia origin under the banner of National Union of Ogbia Students (NUOS) have honoured the Senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Clever Ikisikpo.

The students honoured Ikisikpo, who is also the chairman of Senate Committee on Special Duties, with an award of excellence in recognition of his commitment to educating people in the district.

According to NUOS president, John Pomari, ever since his days as a member of the House of Representatives, the senator has been at the forefront of promoting the

From Isaac Mensah YENAGOA

education of Ogbia people through his scholarship scheme.

John said the scheme has brought succour to students of the district, especially those who could not afford to go to school.

Responding, Ikisikpo thanked the students for the honour, stressing that the award would make him to do more. The award was held at the senator’s office at Ogbia, the headquarters of Ogbia Local Government Area.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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EDUCATION EKSU FILE Post-UTME conducted online HISTORY was made at the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti when this year's post-UTME screening was conducted electronically for the first time. The event held at the 3,000-seater lecture theatre of the institution.

Witnesses said the development made the exercise orderly and easy for both candidates and the invigilators and there was no room for impersonation or manipulation.

On the exercise, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Patrick Oladipo Aina, said the introduction of e-screening is a giant step towards making the university a world-class institution.

He added that soon, all exams would be electronically conducted while some activities of the university would be conducted online.

Many candidates, who participated in the exercise, which was monitored by the National Universities Commission (NUC) representative Mr A. Ayansola, described the exercise as well organised.

Medical school gets new team

• Prof Akeusola (left) being decorated by UNILAG Pro-Chancellor Deacon Gamaliel Onosode at the event.

UNILAG alumni honour Fayemi, 33 others

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KITI State Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi; Provost, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Noforija, Epe, Prof Olu Akeusola; Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, and his counterpart in Foreign Affairs, Olusegun Ashiru, were among the 34 alumni honoured on Friday last week with the Alumni Distinguished Award during the association’s Golden Jubilee Reunion and Distinguished Alumni Award Dinner.

The event, which held at Multipurpose Hall of the university was part of activities marking the university's 50th anniversary to recognise men and women who passed through the institution and excelled in their various fields.

Akeusola said he was grateful to the alumni association for recognising his contributions to education.

"A good academic must be ready to bring the town and gown together to produce good result; and

•Insist on name

By Adegunle Oliugbamila

I am happy that as the Provost, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Noforija, Epe, Lagos, I was able to bring the two together for the purpose of enhancing human capital development and touching lives.

"I am delighted that I am among those counted worthy by the UNILAG Alumni Association for this wonderful hounour. Among all the honours and awards I have received all over these years, this is one of the greatest because it is coming from the academic world,' he said.

During the dinner, the National

President of University of Lagos Alumni Association, Prof Olaide Abass, said the university has fulfilled its mandate of producing men and women to manage the nation's economic. He said the association is partnering with Guaranty Trust Bank, to build a N350 million four-storey structure to be called UNILAG Alumni Jubilee House, which will house a digital library.

"The university has been faced with serious financial challenges. I call on the alumni, especially those to be honoured today, to make generous donations so that this institution will remain a world class as rated," he added.

THE EKSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Patrick Aina, has inaugurated the Court of Governors of the College of Medicine to run its affairs.

Inaugurating the body at the Council Chamber of the University, Aina, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof Olugbenga Aribisala, advised members of the Court to work hard and make the school the best in the country.

In his address, the Provost of the college, who chairs the Court of Governors, Prof. G.J.F. Esan, promised that the team would perform creditably.

The Court of Governors, which has a four-year tenure, shall control the property and expenditure of the college, submit its financial proposals to the university, employ some non-academic staff, among other functions.

Its members include: Prof. G.J.F. Esan, Prof. Adeyinka Afolayan, Prof.

M.A. Araoye, Mrs. K.O.O. Aderiye, Dr. Dare Ojo, Mr. Kehinde Ojo, Wole Adebola, Prof. T.O. Owuamanam, Mr Olawale Jegede and Mrs. OlayinkaAjayi, who serves as Secretary.

Student excels in ICT contest OLAMIDE Tawose of the Department of Computer Science, EKSU, has excelled in an Information Communication Technology (ICT) competition organised for university undergraduates.

He came second in the competition organised by the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) of Nigeria, during its 24th National Conference held last month in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

A student of the University of Uyo came first in the competition attended by no fewer than 15 universities.

Community seeks new varsity •Omenka

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

Peace returns to Benue College

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F all goes well, the Federal Government may soon establish a University of Agriculture at Nzam in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The Nation sited a letter on the matter signed by Dr. D.A. Okolo for the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, indicating that the issue has reached the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja.

Okolo said the letter from the Nzam Development Union sent to the Minister of Agriculture by the Liaison Officer to the community, Chief Chinedu Anachuna, seeking the establishment of the university, has been acknowledged by Federal Ministry of Education.

Okolo's position was corroborated in a letter from Mr D.E. Eniaiyeju of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development by the Nzam community to the Education Minister.

The community donated 25,600 hectares of land, 10 miles square, to President Goodluck Jonathan, urging him to use the land to establish a university of agriculture to develop the area.

Obidigwe said he reminded the Minister of Education that further action on the matter was being awaited.

The letter reads in part: "I was informed that my letter of February 1, 2012 and that of my client's letter of 26/6/2011 have been forwarded to your Ministry for further actions on the wishes of our clients in response to the named subject matter".

Expressing satisfaction with the

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

• Adedoyin Owotomo, Brand Manager (3rd from left), Amstel Malta-Nigerian Breweries Plc. with (left to right) Emuobosa Orogu, Victor Chidiebere Ijeoma and Daniel Chibueze Madu, winners in the dancing, music and comedy categories in the Amstel Malta Showtime in Benin.

Students support varsity status for Oko Poly

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HE National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has thrown its weight behind calls for the upgrading of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, to a university.

The students, who presented an award to the Rector of the institution, Prof Godwin Onu, said such transformation would check the discrimination and marginalisation of polytechnic graduates.

They were led by the National Vice-President, Senior Stakeholders Chairman and the Senate President of the association, Comrades Nwagwu Liberty, Armstrong OvieAfabor and Ochei Moses.

They decried the discrepancy between graduates of universities and polytechnics, warning that it could jeopardise educational development in the country.

According to them, "NAPS mem-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

bers are victims of university/polytechnic dichotomy and marginalisation. It is unfair. So, we support and applaud your agitation for the polytechnic university status for your institution. This agitation will form bedrock for other agitations. We appeal to you not to relent in the agitation it will be a turning point in polytechnic education in Nigeria.”

Responding, Onu said Nigeria has limited number of universities compared to her population and called for the upgrading of polytechnics to polytechnic universities.

Onu said as a polytechnic university, the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, would retain its National and Higher National Diplomas, but will in addition offer Bachelor of Technology. He added that in addition to resolving the discrimination

Mac - FINAL OK

•Prof Onu

issue, it would offer lecturers the opportunity to maximise their potential.

Onu said he was humbled by the award, which he said would make him to work harder.

"The institution is the polytechnic of the future and we are in a hurry to develop it. I came in with a vision and hope to achieve it before I leave here. When I came into the polytechnic, the atmosphere was not conducive for learning because of indiscipline both on the part of staff and students. We have tackled it headlong," he said.

T

HE Benue State Commissioner for Rural Development and Co-operative Dr Jacob Omenka has said wisdom and dialogue played crucial roles in tackling the recurrent students' unrest at the College of Education, Oju, Benue State.

The institution, located in Oju town, Igede land, headquarters of Oju Local Government Area in Benue South senatorial district has been embroiled in crises with the host community - with the Idoma students pitched against their Tiv and Igede counterparts.

A bloody riot led to the closure of the college and the setting up of a commission of inquiry by the state government last year.

However, since Omenka was appointed the sole administrator of the college by Governor Gabriel Suswam, peace has returned to the institution.

Speaking with The Nation, Omenka said he corrected the imbalance in the appointment of the management staff of the college.

"For instance, I discovered that the Rector, Bursar and Registrar were all from the host community (Igede), whereas they had little number of students despite the fact that the college was sited on their soil,” he said.

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EDUCATION GRADUATION

GRADUATION

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53 pass out IT was double celebration as the management, staff and pupils of Logic International school Alagbado, Lagos, when parents, friends and well-wishers gathered for the annual end of session ceremony/presentation of awards for outstanding performance for 53 of its graduating students.

The event also provided a platform for showcasing of talents and mastery of various musical instruments and also discussions of topical issues bedeviling the nation.

The Chairman of the Parent Forum Dr. S. K.Ayanda in his paper entitled: The role of parents in child development, said the process of every child's development and what the child turns out to be, depends on some factors, the main one being the role played by parents, thus the things done by the parents are very critical to the future of the child.

Ayanda, who quoted from the Bible to support his claim, added that parents' role should include: teaching the child the fear of God, giving the child sound education; observing the kind of company the child keeps; and correcting the child whenever he or she goes wrong; doing their best to make the child fulfill his or her destiny among others.

The outgoing head boy of the school Teniola Hussein and the outgoing head girl of the school Adeshina Esther, said the school has instilled in them hardwork,humility,integrity and the determination to face life's challenges in the outside world.

School holds valedictory

By Oluwayemisi Akinyemi

THE 14th valedictory service and Prize-giving day of Good Shepherd School Lagos took a different dimension this year, with an orchestra presentation by the pupils which thrilled parents and guests.

Parents, teachers and other guests were treated to day of fun and entertainment at the event, and could not hold their joy as they watch their children perform marvelously with different musical instruments.

Its Director Dr Bayo Oyeyemi said the event was held to reward pupils who had done exceptionally well in academics, social, spiritual, physical and emotional balance; we thank our parents for being part of the journey so far.

He said: "Our desire is to continually turn out students who have been trained with the best set of academic, practical and moral knowledge so that they can fit into a world that is competitive.

“We thank God that over the years, our products have continued to prove the superiority of our unique approach by their outstanding achievements within and outside Nigeria."

To further drive intellectual improvement, the school as improved on our laboratories to make science education a worthwhile activity. We have also made use of a well-adapted curriculum, which surpasses the standards set by WAEC and NECO, and students are introduced to SAT and Cambridge syllabuses so that they can satisfactorily sit for international examinations, in anywhere in The Nation, he said.

He, however, urged the graduands to be good ambassador of the school; "always remember you are the hope of tomorrow, in higher institutions, stay true to the ideals you have learnt for six years."

GRADUATION

Embrace God,

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NE thing graduands of Wellspring College, Omole, Lagos will remember their alma mater for is the spiritual training they got during their secondary education.

In addition to ensuring they got quality academic instruction, the

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

pupils were taught to always fall back on God and be morally upright.

Principal of the college, Mrs Oluwayemisi Oloriade, she expressed joy that candidates fielded

Faith Academy to relocate to IVING Faith Church (aka Winners Chapel), owners of permanent site Faith Academy, a nursery,

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• Onyeka (left) his younger sister Sontochkwu (right) and Lawrence

Aim for the best, graduands told

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UTGOING pupils of the International School, University of Lagos (ISL) have been urged to aim for the best.

Prof Ayoka Modupe Oluseki of UNILAG gave the advice at a valedictory of the school.

She said: "You can be the best if you will," noting that nothing is difficult to the willing mind.

Oluseki said youths are influenced by parents, teachers and peer groups, among others, for good or evil.

She urged the youth to follow only good friends and run away from those who would ruin their lives. "Don't keep friends that would ruin your lives. A goat that follows a dog would eat human faeces," she warned.

She also warned them not to copy

By Joseph Esanokpe

the bad behaviour of their role models. "Even in dressings, don't copy those who are half-clothed," she added.

At the event were the school's Principal, Mrs Emily Ojo; her husband, Tunde and other principal officers of UNILAG, including the Registrar, Mr Olurotimi Shodimu, whose daughter was among those who passed out.

Shodimu advised the outgoing pupils to be disciplined. "You are entering into the real world. We have given you all you need. Carry along self-discipline. At the university, nobody will monitor your work.

You will meet a lot of people. You must be good ambassadors of your school,” he counselled.

primary and secondary school, has resolved a legal tussle over its property located in Ipaja, Lagos.

Construction on the property located in Gowon Estate in Ipaja, which was to serve as facility for the primary and secondary education, was put on hold as a result of a court injunction, which forbids further work on the project.

But news broke out at the Second Speech and Prize giving Ceremony of the school, which held at the temporary site of Faith Academy, that all legal matters on the building had been settled while the institution had clearance to possess the property.

Principal of Faith Academy, Pastor Joseph Alao, in his address at the venue disclosed that the school will resume into the property in the next academic session commencing from September.

"It gladdens our heart to announce to you that the legal tussle concerning the permanent site is already resolved and Lagos State building regulations have been met. Construction has resumed. We give God praise for answering our prayers concerning this. By God's grace, on Monday, September 10, 2012, when the next academic session will open officially, we are resuming there," he stressed.

Aside, the event also featured awards for outsanding graduands

Why education is declining, by don

T

HE Vice-Chancellor of Adeleke University, Osun State, Prof Diji Aina, has attributed the decline in education in the country to the government's indifference on one part, and laziness of students on the other.

He spoke at the17th graduation of Babcock University High Schoool, Ilishan Remo in Ogun State.

Aina, who was guest speaker, pointed fingers at government's poor funding of education and its subsequent neglect of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommendation of 27 per cent bud-

By Musa Ramat

getary allocation to education for developing countries.

Aina berated some pupils for their poor knowledge of the English Language, noting that this even reflects when the so-called 'leaders of tomorrow' send SMS. He said: 'The state is not helping matters with its poor budgetary allocation to education. A situation whereby education does not receive the right budgetary attention is not good enough. Proper structure needs to be put in place for education to thrive. It is when this is done that we will not be guilty of utter neglect.

• Babcock University High School graduands.

"Younger people are also contributing because they are always in a hurry. They cannot compose simple text messages; all they do is to use 'R' for 'are', wia for 'where'. That is how bad the situation has become."

Earlier, the school’s Principal, Elder Adetayo Timothy, had said of the graduands: ''This 157 graduating pupils are unique in the sense that the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) programme started during their set, which make them have access to computer, interactive board.

Besides, they have shown a great interest by excelling in competitions we took them to."

PHOTO: MUSA RAMAT

by management of the school.

Onyeka Kososochukwu clinched the overall best student in Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3, while her younger sister was named the best overall student in JSS1.

Efosa Lawrence went with the prize for best overall student in JSS2. Awards were also given to honour other graduands on punctuality, neatness, outstanding committment in religious activities, among others.

•Students of Logic International School, Agbado, Lagos, during their graduation/ prize giving ceremony at the school premises

Proprietor

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HAIRMAN Landmark Group of Schools, Dr Olamide Oladiji, has said if he becomes the minister of education, his first assignment would be to declare a state of emergency in education sector.

Also, he said he would overhaul the system, which he lamented, has been riddled with corruption for years.

Fielding questions from reporters at the school’s Seventh graduation and prize-giving ceremony, he condemned the activities of some officials in the ministry whom he accused of aiding examination fraud.

The proprietor blamed parents who allow their children to hire people to write examination for them, adding that others who bribe school owners to buy results for them should also be blamed.

He urged them to be change agents.

He said it was improper for parents to employ any means means for them to pass, instead of using their brains.

Guest lecturer on the occassion, Prof Akin Adeonojobi who spoke on the topic: Keep your vision alive with God, said the graduands should hope on God, adding that they should remember Him as the giver of wealth and power.

He urged the graduands to be worthy ambassadors of the school, noting that it would be a disservice to the school who has nurtured them over the years to have its name dragged in the mud because of the old students' untoward character.

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graduands urged by the school made 100 per cent in 15 subjects in the 2011 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).

However, she did not fail to remind them of this during their graduation.

"I am convinced that you have been adequately prepared by the school to face the challenges ahead of you. The school has not only exposed you to quality instruction but has also directed you to the way of the Lord. Academic prowess alone is not enough to carry you through in the every physically and morally challenging society.

“My simple advice to you is to get closer to God, eschew bad company and hold on to the virtue of integrity in all you do," she said.

Adereni Anifalaje will remember her admonition when she travels far away to the University of Ghana, Legon, where she will be studying medicine.

"I will take away all the bible

teaching and the morals. I am going to remember Wellspring for everything and I say thank you for everything they've done to put a lot in me," she said.

Mr Jackson Ekwugum, whose daughter, Morayo, also graduated said he was satisfied she got education that went beyond academics at Wellspring.

"She got total education that encompassed spiritual, academics, morals and other areas. When I looked for a school, I didn't want just one that would provide good academics but strong moral support. I wanted a school that would reinforce what we teach at home.

It has been worthwhile," he said.

The event was made colourful with the special presentations by the pupils including drama, musical renditions, choreography and cultural dances.

Highlight of the event was the special Valedictory Song presented by the 41 graduands.

•Cross section of Wellspring College graduands

Eight years after, college graduates 12

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IGHT years after it made its entrance into a serene virgin land christened Green Acres in Aiyetoro Village, Sagamu, on the Ogun State stretch of the LagosIbadan Expressway, Christ College has passed out 12 pupils, who are ambitious and well-equipped to pursue their studies further.

The college, which deploys its "strong extra-curricular programmes to stir up innate endowments, talents and interest"in many worthy endeavours including agriculture, among some of its pupils, also turned out a similar number last year.

Its Principal, Pastor Adewale Aderigbigbe, assured that they have been equipped to compete with their peers and succeed anywhere in Nigeria and elsewhere. He urged them to be "steadfast, resolute and be de-

By Mariam Sanni, Abeokuta

termined."

According to him, many challenges were encountered on the way and so were exceptional and magical moments experienced, which they would fondly remember in future.

He noted that private participation in ownership of schools in Nigeria would complement governments' efforts at making education accessible to the citizens, but adds that it is fraught with challenges. He envisaged a time when the government would assist private primary and secondary schools.

Meanwhile, Adewale described the stay of the pupils in the school, as a road that as been travelled, and celebrating the actualisation of goals attained and the acknowledgement of

success achieved.

Two of the graduands , 16-year-old Miss Sarah George Ashiru, and Miss Adeoye Esther Adejumoke, did not hide their enthusiasm and confidence when each disclosed of the determination to become a force to reckon with nationally and globally.

Miss Ashiru, who hails from Ijebu - Ode, Ogun State, wants to become a physiotherapist and the "world greatest and richest business tycoon," Adejumoke said she aspires to study law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile - Ife, Osun State, and become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) and be a First Lady.

Ashiru, who has since travelled, said she intends to study Physiotherapy at the University of North London. She hopes to impact people twith her training.

How I made it, by best student

A seeks education overhaul

By Adegunle Olugbamila

Outgoing head boy, Wahab Toheeb, urged his colleagues to remain focused and do the right things at the right time.

"Having spent four years in this school because I joined them in J.S.S 3, I can say the school has af-

fected my lives in many positive ways. First, the school has built self-confidence in me. I am bold and I can address the public anywhere I find myself. It has built leadership values in me by making me the head boy. I will miss my teachers and the junior students that I am leaving behind," he said.

Go for higher goals, students RS Dosunmu Modupe, advised Dean, Federal College of

M

Education (Technical), Yaba, Lagos has advised students to have lofty ideas, and always do the right things after they have left the school.

At the graduation/prize giving ceremony of the College’s Secondary School in the school premises, Mrs. Dosunmu said the school inculcates in the child literacy skills and cognitive knowledge, which would allow them to be rational in their thinking and behaviour.

She said: "It is my belief that you have had the basic education that is the foundation to future life achievements. Graduating from secondary school is the end of an era and what is needed is what one is going to do with the rest of one's life; and that is no small decision to make."

Principal of the school, Mrs Esther Adekunbi, told the outgoing pupils that their graduation was the end of a phase in their

S she was called to receive her awards, she smiled looking at her parents. She called on them to share in the joy of the the moment with her.

According to the master of ceremony, "Fatima Sholanke is the best outgoing pupil in sciences, best behaved female student, and one of the two to get the scholarship to study at the Hertfordshire University, Europe".

There was an applause from the audience as she walked majestically to receive the awards from Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi.

This was at the second graduation of Westerfield College, Yaba, Lagos, a school that prepares pupils for higher education. The event held at the school’s hall last week.

By Medinat Kanabe

Fatima, who wore her graduation gown with an orange scarf, said she was excited because apart from graduating, she was also one of the best.

"Right from the start in this school, my aim was to graduate as the best; so, I worked towards it by reading even at night and depriving myself some things, although I still play and go to parties to balance it up. It cannot just be book all the time."

She spoke about an experience she would never forget in a Further Maths class text, where she said it was really tough for everybody and some people failed it, but she passed.

She planned to further her studies in a university.

She commended her colleagues for

By Dawodu Olawale

lives.

"There are still very many phases and more hurdles to jump over," she warned, " adding: “All the discipline instilled in you should be indefinitely embedded. Be determined to be good ambassadors of the school and also be role models to the junior ones coming behind."

She advised them not to soil the name of the school and never to get into any untoward activity, especially as they would be going for further studies.

Mrs Adekunbi added that the only valuable gift they can give their parents is to make them happy. She reminded them to always visit the school as pioneer alumni.

She thanked parents for their endurance, for standing by them.

The event was spiced with colourful cultural performances from various ethnic groups.

•Fatima (middle) with her parents, Mr and Mrs Sholanke

their co-operation.

Her father, Mr Oladimeji Sholanke, said he felt honoured as by daughter’s success.

He said: "Fatima is from a very good family in terms of religion, moral and discipline and I believe that any child from such background will excel in life."

He said his daughter made it because she is morally sound, religious, discipline, hardworking and has God's favour with encouragement and support from her family.

Asked what advice he has for other pupils who want to excel in their academics, he said: "I always tell people that there is no royal way to success.

You need to work hard. No one deserves respect, you earn it. Distinguish yourself in all aspect of life and

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Dutse Varsity holds first matriculation

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HE Federal University, Duste, Jigawa State capital, has held its first matriculation.

Two hundred and two pioneer students took its matriculation oath.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Jibrilla Dahiru Amin, in his welcome address, congratulated the students and charged them to adhere to the oath.

The university is among the nine established by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 as part of the Federal Government's transformation agenda on education.

From Kolade Adeyemi, Dutse

Speaking on the occasion, the Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, commended the President for siting the university he described as an indelible legacy in state.

Lamido charged the lecturers to impart knowledge on the students.

He assured the university of his government's support in achieving its goals.

The four faculties of the university presented students.

Agriculture presented 18 students; Arts, 60; Social Sciences, 81

students are studying Criminology and Security Studies; and Science 43; 22 are studying Microbiology and 21 Mathematics.

In a goodwill message, the Education Minister, Prof Ruqayyat Ahmed Rufa'i, said since the establishment of the nine universities, the Federal Government has committed N1.5 billion as take-off grants and N2 billion for capital projects in each of them.

She also congratulated the students and charged them to make the university proud by excelling in their studies.

•From right: Mr Mokikan, Ms Rewane, Williams and Mr Norden Thurston, Marketing Department, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc at the briefing.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

7Up grooms leaders at Harvard

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Y the time Nigeria celebrates 100 years of independence, Seven-Up Bottling Company is hoping to have supported the grooming of 50 professionals who can fill leadership positions in critical areas of the economy through its Harvard Business School MBA scholarship scheme.

The Executive Director, Human Resources of the organisation, Mr Mr Femi Mokikan, said at a briefing on Tuesday last week that Seven-Up launched the scheme to commemorate its 50th anniversary in 2010 with expectations that values transfer from the university will prepare beneficiaries of the scholarship yearly for future leadership roles.

He said: "The scheme is tied to the development of leaders in this country because we believe we need leaders, selfless leaders, who will put themselves last and we know that if they go through the value system of an institution like Harvard, they will gain needed values to help our country."

Winner of this year's scholarship, Mr Olujimi Williams and Ms Misan Rewane who won it last year are

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

already preparing for the challenges ahead.

When he returns, Williams is hoping to help solve Nigeria's power problems and keep Small and Medium-scale enterprises (SME) in business.

"SMEs go out of business because they do not have the funds to power their businesses. My ultimate goal is to run a power company and do my bit to stamp out corruption and every other inefficiency that hinders provision of power," he said.

On her part, Ms Rewane, who earned her first degree at Stanford University, California, United States, said she hopes to impact education of less privileged children and counsel youths.

"I worked with Bridge International, an NGO that provides private education for children from low income backgrounds. We are hoping to start academies in Nigeria as well. I also run IMPACT Initiative for youths. We focus on career counselling," she said.

Explaining the choice of Harvard Business School for the scholarship

scheme, Mokikan said it is because the school ranks top among other Ivy League Business Schools globally.

"As an organisation, Seven-Up Bottling Company does not believe in half measures hence we decided that the best way to build a pool of global leaders for Nigeria is to sponsor qualified young Nigerians to a world class institution to compete and learn from others".

He added that beneficiaries of the scheme are not bonded to work for SBC after graduation.

"It is not compulsory that they must come back to work in Nigeria after graduation since some of them may end up in global organisations abroad. It is our expectation that 15 years down the line, they can return to the country fully equipped with knowledge acquired to contribute to the development of Nigeria", Mokikan said.

The 7Up Harvard Business School MBA scholarship is open to Nigerians who have been offered admission at Harvard and are resident in Nigeria.

French quiz winners prepare for trip

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HE winners of Le Quiz, a French Language Quiz competition organised by Medat Edu Concept, a consulting company with specialty in foreign language and culture promotion, will enjoy the reward of their efforts when they take a three-day trip to Cotonou, Benin Republic in December.

Police Children School, Obalende, Lagos won the primary category of the competition which had 20 schools participating, while Engreg College won the secondary category.

The managing partner of Medat Edu Concept, Mr Mohammed Saheed Abdullrahman, said the competition was organised to

By Olawale Dawodu

develop interest of learning of French language and culture in school children and help assess the quality of education they get in their schools.

"Le Quiz competition apart from testing the knowledge and skills of French learners in the country, it will help evaluate the teaching and learning of the language in schools," he said.

The competition is endorsed by the Lagos State Chapter of the National Association of French Teaches (NAFT).

Mr Dada Michael, the president of Lagos NAFT said the association endorsed "Le Quiz" because it creates platform for sensitising pupils

towards achieving the federal government's resolve to make Nigeria a bilingual nation.

If Nigeria becomes bilingual, John Abioye, a retired professor of French Language from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), who chaired the event, said it would promote friendship and economic development between Nigeria and her neighbours .

He, therefore, solicited government’s support for initiatives that promote the teaching and learning of French in Nigeria.

Runners up in the primary category were: Engreg International School, and Lagooz School; while Sunfab College and Logos Comprehensive College came second and third in the secondary category.

EDUTALK

with

Olympic blues

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HE little opportunity I have had to watch Nigerian athletes perform in the 2012 London Olympics left me heartbroken. My hopes were dashed as our flag bearers dropped out of contention one by one. I nearly cried when Maryam Usman failed in her three attempts to lift the 160kg of weight in the Weightlifting event. And, I was filled with gloom when D'Tigers was ousted from the basketball

Kofoworola

Belo-Osagie Kofosagie@yahoo.com 08054503077 (SMS only)

event because after they lost 79-73to France.

But, rather than allow the disappointment to make me sink into despair, I found solace supporting athletes from other countries, especially Africans. Ultimately, I found solace celebrating excellence irrespective of where the athlete came from.

Nigeria, the giant of Africa! How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Or am I being preposterous describing Nigeria as mighty? When Nigeria won two gold medals in the football and high jump events during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, we dreamt of a bright future for our sports on the world stage. We had so much promise. However, four Olympic games after, the hope has diminished so much it has all but disappeared.

Where did we go wrong? What did we do or fail to do. Is because we do not have the talents? Is it lack of funds or training?

Is it a lack of vision, or maladministration? It is one of the above, or all of the above?

We definitely saw it coming. For many years, our performance in football, our most prized sport, has been mediocre at best so it is no surprise that we have been woeful in other less funded sports.

Do we deserve medals? We can only answer in the affirmative if we have worked for it. The countries on top of the medals table deserve to be there because they took their preparations seriously.

Many have been on it since the last Olympics in Beijing or even before. They are already preparing for the next games because they have thousands of talents they have discovered in reserve, waiting to be unveiled.

These countries begin their search in primary schools where they identify talents who hold promise of becoming great sportsmen and women with adequate mentoring and training.

They monitor the progress of their talents by providing them with facilities for training, giving scholarships, and sponsoring them for competitions. They organise highly competitive trials to select the very best to wear the country's colours at events, and ensure that they are not neglected should they get injured.

Do we have talents in Nigeria? Yes, in abundance. But some of them are flying the flags of countries that have invested in them.

On this beat, I have covered many inter-house sports competitions during which primary and secondary school pupils dazzle with their display of athletic talents. Watching them, perform on track and field, inspires pride and hope, and gratitude to God for giving gifts to men.

They are waiting to be discovered. They are waiting until the time that funds invested for their development will not be misappropriated by unscrupulous politicians with greedy appetites. They are waiting for the time when tribalism will be relegated to the background in determining excellence. They are waiting for proper management and mentoring. Will they wait forever? Should they wait until age is not on their side? Should they wait until, out of frustration, they give up their nationality to represent other countries so they can fulfil their dream?

I look forward to the time when Nigeria will not just be big for nothing; when we will, like China, take advantage of our large numbers to dominate in various areas of human endeavour. That can only happen when we make the right investment in education; in developing the capacity of our citizens, from cradle to the grave.

‘They are waiting to be discovered.

They are waiting until the time that funds invested for their development will not be misappropriated by unscrupulous politicians with greedy appetites. They are waiting for the time when tribalism will be relegated to the background in determining excellence.

They are waiting for proper management and mentoring. Will they wait forever? Should they wait until age is not on their side? Should they wait until, out of frustration, they give up their nationality to represent other countries so they can fulfil their dream’

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MONEY LINK

O

VERNIGHT lending rates soared 10 percentage points to a more than two-year high of 35 per cent yesterday, dealers said, after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) squeezed liquidity to support the naira.

The naira closed at its firmest in two weeks, at N160.10 against the dollar on Wednesday, from N161.70 the previous day.

It is still just outside the central bank's 150-160 naira/dollar preferred trading band.

Overnight rate hits two-year high at 35% Stories by Collins Nweze

CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi, has shown his determination to support the naira in recent months, despite calls from some in the private sector for him to ease interest rates to aid the growth of the nation’s economy.

Sanusi said last month interest rate cuts weren't the answer

to spurring growth and would risk higher inflation.

He said Nigeria, Africa's biggest crude oil producer, spends too much of its budget on government and should allocate more to development and to a savings’ buffer against the risks of lower oil output and weaker global demand.

Dealers said the CBN sold N142.1 billion ($879 million)

yesterday in treasury bills and $318 million at N155.83 to the dollar at its bi-weekly foreign exchange auction to reduce naira liquidity.

The apex bank last week barred banks that borrow funds from its repo window from participating in foreign exchange auctions and lending to others on the interbank naira market.

"The market was short be-

cause many banks could not access the repo window for funds because of the CBN's new rule restricting banks from trading funds from its repo in the interbank," one dealer said.

Traders said the market opened with a cash deficit of about N120 billion as banks scrambled for available naira to fund their foreign exchange pur-

Citiserve tackles PoS hitches with OrangeBox

C

ITISERVE, a national service provider for eproducts and subsidiary of Vigeo Holdings Limited, yesterday launched the OrangeBox - a Point of Sale (POS) machine to address the connectivity challenges being raised by merchants.

Speaking at the product launch in Lagos, Citiserve Managing Director/CEO, Lola Ogunbambi explained that the OrangeBox accepts all local bank cards such as MasterCard, Visa, Genesis and Freedom. It is directly integrated into Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) network, and is National Central Switch compliant.

According to her, connectivity hitches being experienced by merchants have led to poor and delayed signals in key locations in the country. These she said have to be addressed.

“Connectivity hitches have been the most frequent reason for low adoption rate of the epayment policy especially the cash-less Lagos project. We have had over 10 years experience in testing communication signal strength to determine which

solution works best for given area,” she said.

The product, she said, also has global certifications of Europay, MasterCard and VISA (EMV) standardisation and supports multiple applications with transceiver that captures weak radio signal. The product, which has also passed the drop test, is biometric adaptable, supports multiple products and is fire tested.

Ogunbambi said that Citiserve developed the product to bridge existing gaps in epayment in areas of settlement, logistics and support, merchant issues and connectivity.

She noted that there are certain areas where traditional GPRS connectivity does not work effectively for PoS terminals. The areas include Aspanda, Compute Village, Oke-Arin and Trade Fair Centre.

“The Dual-SIM enabled OrangeBox makes use of two SIM cards from different networks. It has been enhanced to ensure that if the primary network is down for any reason, the terminal switches to secondary network in approximately

10.3 seconds,” she explained.

However, for merchants that have pre-existing wireless modem, they can switch to Wi-Fi enabled OrangeBox even as LAN enabled OrangeBox can be used to take advantage of preexisting LAN connection.

She explained that in the past, when connectivity to any of the GSM or CDMA lines fail, the merchants have to get to the payment terminal service provider (PTSP). But now, Citiserve has introduced a dual SIM, where

MTN and Glo or any other network can fit properly into a PoS machine, and it switches on to the network that has the strongest signal at a particular time.

However, Moses Adigun one of the operators in the e-payment market, said that beyond addressing the connectivity challenge, PTSP should also look at the possibility of developing epayment tools that illiterates can access. He said there is need to need to have a multilingual PoS machine that addresses needs of

‘Oil volatility may affect exchange rate’

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may be forced to adjust the exchange rate in the fourth quarter of the year, if the global oil volatility persists.

This means that the naira will move up from the bandwidth of N155-(+) 3 against the dollar at the CBN’s window.

The Executive Secretary, Financial Market Dealers Association of Nigeria (FMDAN), Mr Akinwale Abe disclosed these yesterday in Lagos.

Speaking during an

By Akinola Ajibade

economy roundtable organised by the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN), Abe said the adjustment of the exchange rate is inevitable in the fourth quarter of 2012 in view of the crisis in the global oil market. He spoke on “The Economy in H1 2012 and Outlook for H2, 2012.

He said: “The Exchange rate is predicated on the cash reserves and the international prices of crude oil. CBN has

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 8-8-12 SYMBOL

BERGER ETERNA RTBRISCOE SMURFIT UTC UBN LIVESTOCK UBA ETI GLAXOSMITH

O/PRICE

6.97 2.33 1.55 1.18 0.73 4.55 1.31 4.36 10.20 29.02

C/PRICE

7.31 2.44 1.62 1.23 0.76 4.73 1.36 4.51 10.40 29.55

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

O/PRICE 0.60 1.44 4.39 52.50 0.67 4.39 3.13 25.00 118.50 0.54

C/PRICE 0.57 1.37 4.18 50.00 0.64 4.20 3.00 24.03 114.00 0.52

CHANGE 0.03 0.07 0.21 2.50 0.03 0.19 0.13 0.97 4.50 0.02

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Dec ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 12.6%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 8-8-12

SYMBOL WAPIC ABBEYBDS CCNN FLOURMILL CONTINSURE UPL VITAFOAM PZ DANGCEM GOLDINSURE

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

CHANGE

0.34 0.11 0.07 0.05 0.03 0.18 0.05 0.15 0.20 0.53

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

OBB Rate Call Rate

T

HE Managing Director, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza has said that ethical standards supported with good corporate governance, is imperative to sustaining recent positive developments in the Nigerian banking sector.

He spoke when the President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Banking of Nigeria (CIBN) Segun Aina, and other executive members of CIBN, visited him in Lagos as part of the institute’s stakeholder engagement agenda.

Oduoza, who noted that the banking industry has been refocused on real sector growth and development owing the recent regulatory reforms, said that strict adherence to code of ethic will help sustain the recent gains.

He charged the CIBN to continuously drive the adherence to banking ethics, corporate governance and professionalism in the banking industry.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

managed to stabilise the exchange rate. In the short term, the rate is going to be where it is now. If the oil price drops globally, CBN may have to adjust the exchange rate towards the end of the last quarter of the year. But if is oil price moves up, there may not be any need to adjust the rate.

He said CBN has tried to stabilise the volatility in the economy, arguing that the problem is in the area of managing the fiscal aspect of the economy well.

Bank CEO advocates ethical banking

DATA BANK

Tenor

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

people in the rural areas especially the illiterate and unbanked.

Head e-Distribution Citiserve, Jubril Salaudeen, explained that such feats can be achieved as the company will continue to be innovative in finding solutions to different e-payment challenges being experienced by both merchants and card users. He said that applications can be written in any language by experts to reach out to more people within the population.

chases.

Traders said some banks reduced their dollar positions to get naira to meet their obligations, which further supported the local currency.

"Two energy companies, Chevron and Agip, sold $36.5 million, while some offshore investors in treasury bills brought in additional funds, which boosted dollar liquidity in the market," a currency dealer said.

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 123.15 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 107.40 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.74 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.09 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.95 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,724.31 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 8.95 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 7,936.33 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 123.01 107.29 0.72 1.09 0.93 1,723.08 8.51 1.33 1.80 7,727.45 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2011

Current 07, Aug, 2011

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

57

NEWS

Anambra hotelier denies habouring kidnappers

T

HE proprietor of Arthur Garden Hotels Limited, Ukpor, which was sealed by the Anambra State Government for allegedly habouring kidnappers, Prince Christopher Udo, has debunked the allegation.

He said the closure of the hotel was politically motivated.

Udo, who spoke to reporters through his elder brother, Prince Augustine Udo, at an-

From Emeka Odogu, Awka

other branch of the hotel said he was shocked that Governor Peter Obi, accompanied by the Transition Committee Chairman of Idemili North Local Government, Mr. Raphael Nnabuife, and led the some security agents to seal the hotel.

He said they stormed the hotel between 12 noon and 1 pm, but issued a statement that the operation was car-

ried out at 3am.

Udo debunked the report that four suspected kidnappers were arrested in the hotel and two victims were rescued.

Prince Augustine, who is a security consultant to the hotel and proprietor of USM Furnishing and Security Systems Nigeria Limited, said as a security expert, he has been educating the hotel management about the implications of harbouring criminals.

He accused Nnabuife of feeding the governor and security agencies false information because his younger brother, who owns the hotel, is one of those opposed to Nnabuife’s leadership of Nkpor Town Union.

Udo absolved the hotel’s management of any criminal act.

He was positive that they would be vindicated, if proper investigations is carried out.

Be change agents, Obi urges youths

•Obi

A

NAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi has urged youths to see

youths to stop identifying with wealthy persons, who cannot clearly state their source of income.

Stating the youth-friendly programmes of his administration, he said he would continue to protect the interest of youths.

Obi said he returned schools to the missionaries to ensure that youths are moulded to become responsible adults.

Archbishop of Onitsha Dio-

cese Valerian Okeke described youths as “the pillar of the church and the society”. He encouraged them to always see themselves as agents of Christ and try to live like him.

Archbishop Augustine Akabueze of Benin Province, Bishop Anthony Gbuji of Enugu Diocese and Prof. Pat Utomi urged youths to shun anti-social behaviour.

The event was chaired by Mr. Obinna Uzor.

Vigilance group rescues kidnap victims

A

VIGILANCE group in Ihembosi, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, has apprehended two kidnap suspects, rescuing two of their victims.

The suspects have been handed over to the State AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) at Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area.

SMEDAN, Abia sign MOU From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

T

themselves as agents of change.

He said they can change the country through positive living and the readiness to challenge societal ills.

Obi spoke yesterday during the Third National Catholic Youth Day celebration at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha.

He condemned the adoption of criminals as role models by youth.

The governor advised

HE Small and Medium Enterprises Development Association of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC) for the development of youths in the state.

Signing the MoU in Umuahia, SMEDAN Director-General Mohammad Nadada Umar said it would improve the living standard of youths and reduce crime.

Umar said SMEDAN has set the platform for the introduction and establishment of strategies that would ensure the development and growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Abia.

He said it would facilitate industrialisation. . The SMEDAN DG said: “This strategy is designed to train youths to be enterpreneurs and how to access funds.”

Umar saidxperience has shown that better results are achieved when capacity- is linked to funding.

He said it gives the participant an opportunity to contribute to the economic growth with the resultant effect of creating wealth and jobs.

The DG said when the poverty level is reduced and crime will also reduce.

It was learnt that a man (names withheld), who resides in Onitsha, came to his Ihembosi country home to pick some things in the house and was shocked to find the victims tied up in one of the rooms.

The man reported the incident to the vigilance group, which laid ambush for the suspects and apprehended them.

Our source, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Wonders shall never end. One of our town man, who lives in Onitsha gave his house key to someone to look after the

house for him.

“But the person guarding the house connived with his friend from Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government to use the place for their nefarious activities.

“When the owner of the house came home to pick up some things, the housekeeper was not around, so he let himself in with the spare key and what he saw was despicable.

“He reported to the vigilance group and the members laid ambush for the suspects. The suspects were ap-

prehended when they returned with food meant for their victims.

“We are still groaning about the kidnap of our monarch, who has not been seen in the past one year, and some people are inflicting more injuries on us. Enough is enough.”

Police spokesman Raphael Uzoigwe confirmed the incident.

He said the command has begun investigations and assured residents that the police would rid the state of criminals.

Lorry crushes man in Awka

A

LORRY yesterday crushed a middleaged man in Awka, Anambra State.

Another was injured.

The incident occurred about 2.15pm at Zik Avenue.

It was learnt that the lorry, marked XN 373 ENU, was overspeeding and it ran into the victims, who were on a motorcycle.

The injured was taken to an undisclosed hospital by officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) .

From Nwanosike Onu Awka

The body of the deceased has been deposited in the mortuary.

The Nation gathered that the driver abandoned the lorry at the sceneand ran away.

Policemen conducted traffic to prevent a gridlock.

It was learnt that the deceased, whose name has not been ascertained, is a native of Nkwelle Awka.

Flood :Anambra communities seek help

T

HE overflow of the River Niger and the Anambra River has wrecked havoc in some communities in Anambra West Local Government Area.

Many buildings have been submerged and residents have relocated to neighbouring communities.

The communities affected include Orom Etiti, UmuobaAnam, Umuenwelum and Mmiata Anam.

The over flow resulting from the heavy down pour came earlier than expected this year, catching farmers unaware.

Crops worth millions of naira, such as yam, cassava, maize, potatoes, among others, were destroyed.

The Nation gathered yesterday that no one committed suicide as a result of their inability to repay some bank loans as was earlier reported.

‘We cannot continue like this.

This has become an annual ritual. We thank God that we have not recorded any death’ The communities are calling on the World Bank and donor agencies to come to their aid.

The member representing Anambra West at the House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Okoye, urged the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) to put Anambra West on the list of environmental hazard areas in the country. he told reporters yesterday in Awka that the effect of erosion in his constituency has reached an alarming rate.

Okoye said: “We cannot continue like this. This has become an annual ritual. We thank God that we have not recorded any death.

“I read in some national dailies that some people have committed suicide. Nothing like that happened in this areas. Nobody committed suicide and I do not think it would get to that level.”

The lawmaker said he has sent Save Our Soul (SOS) letters to Governor Peter Obi, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Ministry of Agriculture and the State Ministry of Environment with video clips of the devastation attached to them.

“We need the intervention of both the federal and state governments, the World Bank, USAID, and other donor agencies because the communities, as we speak, are helpless,” he said.

VACANCY CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN A MICROFINANCE BANK We are a fast growing Microfinance Bank located in Lagos State.

We invite applications from suitably qualified experienced, resourceful and performance driven professionals to fill the following positions.

1. SENIOR MANAGER Qualifications:a.

Relevant University Degree b.

Professional qualifications will be an added advantage c.

8-10 years post-qualification experience in banking or related industry.

2. HEAD, INTERNAL AUDIT Qualifications:a.

Relevant University Degree or HND b.

Professional qualifications will be an added advantage c.

5-7 years post qualification experience in banking or related industry.

REMUNERATION:

Attractive and Competitive

METHOD OF APPLICATION Interested candidates should forward their applications with detailed Curriculum Vitae within two weeks of this publication to: The Managing Director P.O. Box 331, Ijanikin, Lagos State Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

NOTICE OF MEETING NOTICE is hereby given that the 44th Annual General Meeting of members of Scoa Nigeria Plc will be held at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Plot 903, Tafawa Balewa Way, Area 11, Garki, Abuja on Thursday, 30th August, 2012 at 10.00a.m to transact the following business: 1.

To lay before the members, the report of the Directors, the balance sheet as at 31st December 2011, with the profit and loss account for the year ended on that date, together with the reports of the Auditors and of the Audit Committee.

2.

To declare a dividend.

3.

To re-elect the Directors.

4.

To authorize the Directors to fix the remuneration of the Auditors.

5.

To elect members of the Audit Committee.

SPECIAL BUSINESS: 6.

To approve the remuneration of Directors.

7.

Special Notice having been received by the Company, pursuant to Section 256 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act CAP C20 LFN 2004, the Company gives notice of its intention to propose the following resolution; “That Mr. Henry Agbamu, the Chairman Board of Directors, who has attained the age of 70years be and is hereby approved to continue in office as a Director of the Company.”

Dated this 20th June, 2012.

By Order of the Board MICHAEL A. ADEYEMI, ACIS, MNIM COMPANY SECRETARY PROXY: A member of the company entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote in his/her place and such a proxy need not be a member of the company.

Executed proxy forms should be returned to reach the Registrars, Africa Prudential Registrars Plc, 220B, Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove, Lagos not less than 48 hours before the time of the meeting.

DIVIDEND WARRANTS: If the recommended dividend is approved, the warrants will be posted on 13th September, 2012 to shareholders, whose names are in the Register of Members at the close of business on Friday, 10h August, 2012.

CLOSURE OF REGISTER OF MEMBERS: The Register of Members and Transfer Books shall be closed between 13th and 16th August, 2012(both dates inclusive) for the purpose of updating the Register of Members.

UNCLAIMED SHARE CERTIFICATES AND DIVIDEND WARRANTS: This is to inform all shareholders that the company is holding share certificates and dividend warrants which have been returned by the Post Office as unclaimed while some dividend warrants sent to shareholders’ registered addresses are yet to be presented for payment or returned to the company for revalidation.

Affected shareholders are hereby advised to write to the Company Secretary or the Registrar for collection and or revalidation of share certificates and/or stale dividend warrants.

AUDIT COMMITTEE: Any member may nominate a shareholder for election as a member of the company’s Audit Committee by giving notice in writing of such nomination to the Company Secretary, at least 21 days before the Annual General Meeting.

E-DIVIDEND/BONUS: Shareholders are advised to open bank accounts for direct payment of their dividends (edividend), and to open CSCS accounts through their stockbrokers to facilitate direct crediting of future bonus issues (e-Bonus). They are also advised to complete the E-Mandate form enclosed in this Report and return them to the Registrars, Africa Prudential Registrars Plc, 220B, Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove, Lagos.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER, 2011: GROUP COMPANY GROUP COMPANY 2011 2011 2010 2010 N’000 N’000 N’000 N’000 Turnover 3,530,404 3,530,404 3,251,672 3,145,920 Profit/(Loss) before tax 73,707 73,707 220,541 220,025 Taxation (14,106) (14,106) (7,888) (7,888) Exceptional item 166,946 166,946 — — Profit/(Loss) after tax 226,547 226,547 212,653 212,137 Dividend 64,950 64,950 51,960 51,960 The Board shall be recommending to members the payment of dividend of ten kobo (10 kobo) per fifty kobo share amounting to N64.950 million subject to the deduction of appropriate withholding tax.

CLOSURE OF REGISTER OF MEMBERS: The Register of Members and Transfer Books shall be closed between 13th and 16th August, 2012(both dates inclusive) for the purpose of updating the Register of Members.

Dated this 20th June, 2012

By Order of the Board MICHAEL A. ADEYEMI COMPANY SECRETARY

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

58

NEWS

Berom elders urge Fed Govt to implement reports

NURTW, MOALS appeal to Fashola to relax law

T

HE National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos State chapter and the Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State (MOALS) have appealed to the Lagos State Government to relax the 2012 Traffic Law.

Addressing a joint press conference yesterday in Lagos, the unions said government should relax the law so that their members would not be thrown into unemployment.

Spokespersons for the unions, Messrs Tajudeen

PUBLIC NOTICE

ALL BELIEVERS WORSHIP CENTRE(ABWC) Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above named organization has applied for registration under part c of the companies and allied matters decree 1990.

THE TUSTEES ARE: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

Evangelist Obiora Julius Mbah Brother Isaac Odey Adaje Sister Maria Akpang Ichine Sister Margaret Olim Eneji Sister Lydia Ekumke Agi Sister Patience Achi Onyina Sister Felicia Comfort Oko Brother Isaac Odey Awusha Brother John Ogar Ahija Brother Simeon Ogar Morshor Brother Hilary Ogbudu Adie

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE The objective of the organization is to propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Any objection to the application should be forwarded to the Registrar-general ,corporate affairs commission, area 11 pmb 198 Garki Abuja, within 28days of this publication SIGNED: Barr.Gabriel M. Ogar.(Legal practitioner)

•Fashola

Agbede and Tijani Pekis said: “We are not troublemakers.

We are well-structured, registered trade unions. We are a major stakeholder in the transport sector in Lagos State.

“We appeal to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) to temper justice with mercy by relaxing the 2012 Traffic Law. We are prepared to comply with the directives of the government, provided it considers our plight. Fashola is a dynamic governor bent on transforming Lagos State. We promise to contribute our quota to make this dream possible.”

Kano approves N400m bursary, scholarship for students From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

K

ANO State Government has approved N400 million for the payment of scholarship and bursary to students in higher institutions.

Commissioner for Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sports and Culture, Prof. Umar Farouk Jibril, who was briefing reporters on the outcome of the executive council meeting yesterday, said the approval became imperative to enable the students to be paid the allowances owed them.

According to him, the prompt payment of the allowances will encourage the students to concentrate on their studies, adding that the Kwankwaso-led administration accords priority to education.

Jibril said the council also approved N130 million for the installation of lights in some strategic streets, as part of its efforts to tackle insecurity.

The executive council has approved N104 million to connect new 132kv sub-transmission to four local government areas’ sub-stations at Dangora, with the purchase of 500kva transformers for rural communities.

E

LDERS OF THE BEROM ethnic group in Plateau State have urged the Federal Government to implement the reports on the state.

They spoke after Northern elders met President Goodluck Jonathan. The meeting was convened as part of efforts to end killings in the state.

The elders, led by the former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs and Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Buba Gyang, demanded the implementation of reports on the Plateau crises.

The meeting, which took place at the First Lady’s Conference Hall in the State House, began about 9.30pm and ended late on Monday.

The elders are expected to submit a report on what they want the government to implement.

The President is expected to meet the Hausa/Fulani group tomorrow night after which they will submit their report, which will be

CHANGE OF NAME MICHAEL I formerly known and addressed as Miss Michael Temitope Mauton now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Laifa Temitope Mauton. All former documents remain valid General public should please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT The general public is hereby informed of Loss of Letter of Land Allocation issued by Land Use & Allocation Committee, Lagos State Lands Bureau with File No Ref:- LU/RES./ ISHERI- NORTH/BL./PL dated 21st May,2007 got lost in transit.It belongs to MR. MOSES POPOOLA BELLO. Lagos State Lands Bureau and General public note.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja and Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

studied before a general meeting of both communities with the President.

Berom is one of the ethnic groups involved in the crises that have ravaged Plateau State in the last four years.

According to a source at the meeting, the issue of territorial control by the indigenes and settlers and other contentious issues, including the demand by the Hausa/ Fulani for their own traditional ruler, will be discussed. The issue was said to have caused the crisis that broke out in the area during which many people, including two lawmakers, were killed.

The Gbong Gwon Jos, who spoke to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, said the crises cannot continue indefinitely.

He stressed that both ethnic groups must talk and proffer solution that will end the

wanton killings and destructions of properties.

The Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crises codenamed “Operation safe haven” has pleaded with Plateau youths to drop the ‘no go area’ syndrome to enable peace return to the state.

Commander of the task force Maj-Gen. Henry Ayoola who spoke yesterday at a parley with youths and stakeholders in the state, at the Azi Nyako Youth Centre, Dadin Kowa, Jos, said: “Your turnout for the opening of this parley has given me the impression that all of us are tired of the insecurity in the state and are prepared to seek peace.

“Wipe out your tears and let’s make use of this season of peace to make peace by forgetting the past and forgiving ourselves.”

Berom, Fulani, Anaguta, Afizere, Irigwe, Igala, Idoma, Tiv and Yoruba youths were in attendance.

Three dead, nine injured as building two-storey building collapses in Abuja under construction

A

collapsed yesterday in Dutse Alhaji in the Federal Capital Territory. Three people died and nine were injured.

A source said artisans, commercial motorcyclists (okada riders), food sellers and those who cannot afford the high cost of accommodation live in the building.

The source said the incident occurred about 3am when Muslims were preparing for the Ramadan fast.

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have been deployed to the scene of the collapse to clear the debris and bring out the trapped.

The injured are said to be receiving treatment in a hospital.

The Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Mr. Peter Yohanna, said the building located on Ademola Awosika

Road had been abandoned for many years by the owner.

The chairman, who sympathised with the families of the deceased, said N200,000 had been approved by the council for the treatment of the injured.

The Chief Superintendent Officer, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the local government, Mr. John Efere, said the rescue operation was on.

Kano market robbery: Police arrest suspects

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ETECTIVES from the Kano State Police Command have begun investigation into the robbery at the popular Kantin Kwari Textile Market in Kano city. They have arrested some workers of a textile shop.

A source said the Chineseowner of the shop invited the police to arrest his workers because he suspected them of conniving with armed rob-

LOSS OF DOCUMENT I Daramola Margaret Arinola female, Christian, hereby notify the general public of the loss of my allocation letter to block 5, flat 18A Ikorodu Jubilee Housing Estate.

The said document was loss in transit. general public note.

•STF parleys with youths

T

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

bers to steal the over N100 million stacked in Ghana-mustgo bags. The money was about to be deposited in a nearby bank before it was stolen.

According to the source, armed robbers about the same period last year attacked the textile shop and stole millions of naira.

“That the robbers struck when the N100 million was about to be taken to the bank,

just as they did last year, is an indication that there must be insiders’ connivance, hence my resolve to seek the intervention of the police to quiz the workers individually to determine the extent of their involvement and the role they played in aiding the robbers,” the owner of the shop was quoted as saying.

Police spokesman Taminu Mohammed Dutse said investigation into the robbery had begun.

Two killed in Benue over land

WO persons have reportedly been killed in a communal strife between Ijegwu and Ojantele in Obi and Otukpo local government areas of Benue State.

The lawmaker representing Obi State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Nick Eworo, said at yesterday’s plenary that there was a renewed clash over a farmland be-

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

tween two ethnic groups (Igede and Idoma). He said so far two people had been killed.

Eworo said property worth millions of naira had been destroyed. Those affected have fled the area, taking refuge in neighbouring communities.

The lawmaker said though security men were in the area,

they were not enough. He called for a reinforcement.

He urged the State Emergency Management Authority (SEMA) to send more relief materials to complement the efforts of the local government chairman.

Eworo called for the implementation of the report of the commission of enquiry that looked into the crisis earlier.

Commercial bus driver arraigned for ‘stealing’ cows

A

commercial bus driver, Ali Ayinla, has been arraigned before an Ilorin Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing two cows.

He was accused of stealing the cows valued at N240,000 with his bus at a cattle ranch in Lanwa village, Kwara State.

According to the charge sheet, Yusuf Amuda of Gbugudu Lanwa village reported to a Divisional Police Headquarters in Ilorin that thieves had stolen two of his cows with

From Samson Ademola, Ilorin

a vehicle.

The complainant alleged that he chased the vehicle and saw the accused driving a commercial bus with four male occupants. He said his two cows were inside the bus, adding that when he shouted, the accused sped off.

He said the accused was later arrested by the police with the bus and some ropes suspected to have been used to tie

the cows.

Investigations conducted by the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) operatives showed that a case of criminal conspiracy and theft had been established against the suspect and others yet to be identified.

The accused was sued on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and theft.

The offences contravene sections 97 and 287 of the penal code.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

NEWS

el-Rufai: I was held at Lagos airport •Okupe attacks ex-Minister From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

•El-Rufai

F

ORMER Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, on Wednesday claimed that he was briefly stopped by security operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

In posts on Twitter, the former minister said he was stopped as he was about to board an Emirates Airlines flight to Dubai around noon.

“The SSS at the Lagos Airport tell me they have orders to detain me and prevent me from traveling….the waiting game starts.

“I have just been stopped at Lagos Airport again by the SSS. I wonder what it is this time.

“Where is your boarding pass? This is your passport.

You can go sir” said the SSS oga that is not in a black suit and not wearing dark goggles.

“So after some 15 minutes of fidgeting and unlawful detention, I am seated in the lounge and on my way to Dubai.

“Our security agencies are a joke. Secession in Ogoni, BH (Boko Haram) killings in Kogi, war-mongering by Dokubo, they don’t do jack! But they have time (for) me..SMH (shaking my head),” he wrote.

Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, yesterday hit at el-Rufai and Pastor Tunde Bakare over their call on the President to resign.

El-Rufai had called for the resignation of President

Jonathan if he (the President) could not solve the security challenges in the country.

Dr. Okupe said: “El-Rufai is my younger brother. I have so much respect for him. But politics is more or less derailing or deranging him.

“Everybody knows that insurgency is a very difficult national problem. It is not anything peculiar to Nigeria. No responsible citizen of any of those countries affected by insurgency before called on their Presidents to resign.

“When he talks about intelligence, there is no better security in any country than by the people of the country. It is communal security that will help government and security agencies to root out insurgence. If people shielded insurgents, they make the works of security agencies more difficult . “Can President Goodluck Jonathan be in Borno and everywhere at the same time?I believe that people just want to play politics. All what you are hearing is just the manipulation of the present situation to suit their political purposes.

“I am sure that my brother, el-Rufai, is hopeful to be a presidential candidate of one of the parties very soon. What I will expect him to do with the level of intellect, intelligence and the resource that has been given to his own personal education, is to come out with some reasonable plans, some suggestions, not just criticising government for criticising sake.

“If el-Rufai was President of Nigeria, what will he do? Why can’t he say that? Or is he keeping that until when he becomes the President by which time the whole country is wiped off?

When tragedy befalls a country, responsible men and women of that country forget partisanship and rally round their nation and they try their best to help existing government to tackle that. Once that is over, they go back to politics.

“This is not time for politics.

Every man or woman who politicises this issue of Boko Haram, people should disregard and discard whatever information they hear from them.

They are not serious-minded people.”

On pastor Bakare, he said: “ Pastor Bakare also fall into that category. It is shameful. You cannot convert the pulpit to a podium.

“If you want to be a politician, please come out.

“Pastor Bakare came into politics a few years ago and he became a vice presidential candidate of a major political party.

Some of us have been in politics for 30 years and we did not even become a governor and we did not say the country must come down, that is unfair.

It is unacceptable.”

He also accused Pastor Bakare of insincerity and obviously playing to the gallery, insisting that “Boko Haram is something that evolved suddenly in the early part of the life span of this administration. Internal insurgency is not peculiar to Nigeria, it has happened in Oman, Sri lanka, Vietnam, Great Britain, Philippines, Kenya and Iraq.

“I wish to advise that if Pastor Bakare will be fair, he should come out properly to the political Arena and stop using God’s Pulpit to throw stones at Gods elect, as no leader will emerge in any praying nation like Nigeria without the blessing of God”, Okupe said.

Clark to IBB: lead talks with Boko Haram Continued from Page 4

joined many other Nigerians who applauded Chief E. K. Clark for crying out over the wanton loss of lives being experienced daily over the senseless killings of Nigeria’s women and children, Christians and Moslems alike.

“Chief E. K. Clark is committed to the unity of Nigeria and peace within its borders. This was aptly demonstrated when some youths in the Niger Delta took up arms against the Federal Government of Nigeria, resulting in the near total shut down of oil production; crude oil production which normally stood at 2.5 million barrels per day was reduced to 700 thousand barrels daily. Chief Clark led a delegation of Niger Delta leaders into the creeks to appeal to the youths to lay down arms and embrace peace.

“Chief E. K. Clark also went to the creeks with the then Vice President, now President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, particularly to Okerenkoko and Camp 5 (which was the headquarters of the militants), thereby laying the foundation for the late President Yar ‘Adua’s amnesty programme.

“Therefore, amnesty did not come on a platter of gold, but through the genuine

determination of the leaders of the Niger Delta, led by Chief E. K. Clark. Today, crude oil production in Nigeria has risen to about 2.7 million barrels per day.

“It is therefore imperative, irrespective of the name calling, to restate what was said at the NIALS lecture on the state of Nigerian federation that “Gen. Babangida and other Northern leaders must speak out, be proactive as well as demonstrate genuine commitment to address the challenges posed by the Boko Haram.’’ This is more so as precious lives of Nigerians are being wasted daily across the country in Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Kogi, Abuja, Bauchi, etc.

“Furthermore, Chief Clark’s challenge to the leaders of the North above is predicated on the misguided statements of some of the Northern opinion leaders since the inception of this administration. For example, in October 2010 during a build up to the last presidential election, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, a prominent Northern leader, promised to make Nigeria ungovernable if the President did not come from the North. And as if on cue from Lawal Kaita, several other leaders of Northern Political Leaders Forum, headed by Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, of which Gen.

Babangida is a prominent member, followed suit with similar reckless comments which might not only threaten peace in Nigeria but also Nigeria’s very existence.

“Recently in March, Lawal Kaita issued another threat to the effect that the only condition for Nigeria to be one is for the presidency to come to the North in 2015.

“It is in this vein that Chief Clark speaks to his good friends in the North, including General Babangida once again, irrespective of Gen. Babangida’s threat of litigation, that they should openly condemn Boko Haram and join hands with the Government and good people of Nigeria towards finding a lasting solution to the challenge posed by the Boko Haram menace. Any laxity on their part would, either wittingly and unwittingly, potentially put them out as accessories to the present security scourge in the Northern part of Nigeria.

“If this simple advice above is urgently heeded, it will save Gen. Babangida the need to wear uniform once again at the age of seventy one to fight for the unity of Nigeria.

“Let General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida step forward and offer his services to his Nation at this time of need. That is the road for the true patriot to tread.

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NEWS Bayelsa gets coat of arms, flag, anthem

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HE Bayelsa State Government has approved a flag, state anthem and Coat of Arms, which will reflect the colours and symbols of the Ijaw nation.

The decision was taken at the end of the seventh meeting of the State Executive Council and will be put to use as soon as Governor Seriake Dickson signs the law, which has just been passed by the House of Assembly.

A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, reads: “This decision also underscores government’s belief that this state, like any other state, is where the Ijaw, the fourth largest ethnic nationality, have as their home.

“Bayelsa is home to all Ijaws both at home and abroad. The emblem, therefore, will help serve as a unifying force and rallying point for all our people.

“Hence, once the law is assented to, the emblems will be officially unveiled to the public. The point must, however, be made clear that the step taken by the government is not in any way different from what other states have done.

“It is common knowledge that virtually all the states in the Southwest such as Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun and Ekiti State - have since launched theirs. The most recent was the North Central state of Kwara.”

Bulldozer operator stung to death From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

B

EES yesterday killed SETRACO Construction Company’s bulldozer operator Samuel Onuabuchi at a site in Ogboinama community, Bomadi Local Government of Delta State.

The deceased (44), who hailed from Anambra State, was a father of four.

An eyewitness said the late Onuabuchi was felling and evacuating trees and debris when a swarm of bees attacked him.

“The workers could not help him as they could not go close.

He was later rushed to the General Hospital, where he died.”

A management worker confirmed the incident.

Amaechi condoles with Uduaghan From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

R

IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has condoled with his Delta State counterpart, Emmanuel Uduaghan, on the death of his mother-in-law, Madam Rebecca Ayomike.

Amaechi, who led state officials, including the Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, to Ugbuwangue, Warri, yesterday, told Mrs. Roli Uduaghan and members of the Ayomike family to take solace in the knowledge that their mother lived a fulfilled life.

He said: “You must congratulate yourselves that mama lived a good and fulfilled because you are all people to reckon with in the society.

The deceased’s first son, Emmanuel Tuoyo, thanked the governor for finding time to visit the family.

•A Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) pole which fell on cars and a tricycle at Abebe Village, Iganmu, Lagos...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Airhiavbere, PDP disagree on petition

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HE candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the July 14 governorship election in Edo State Charles Airhiavbere has disagreed with the party’s leadership on the petition he filed at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

Airhiavbere, in a chat with reporters, said he was not consulted by the party leadership before a statement was issued that the party will not contest the outcome of the election.

The PDP candidate said he would not withdraw his petition.

He said as the party leader in the state, he has the final say on whether or not to go to

•‘It’ll be impossible to win’ From Osagie Otabor and Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

the tribunal .

“I was at the tribunal before the party came up with its statement.

“The election was marred by fraud, irregularities, rigging, manipulations and intimidation.”

But the Publicity Secretary , Matthew Urhoghide, yesterday said it would be impossible to upturn the outcome of the election.

He said the party would not stop members from filing a petition.

Urhoghide said some members now fighting to upturn the election result should have worked hard for victory.

His words: “The party cannot stop any member from going to court. It is their fundamental right. But the party has taken a position that it will not go to court.

“That decision flows from

the national body and that was why we issued a statement by the state chairman, Dan Orbih.

“It is only the state chairman, who is a member of the National Executive Council, and that is why I don’t want to comment much on the matter.

“It is not only Edo State that makes up the party, but anyone can exercise his rights and PDP will not stop them. There are antecedents.

“The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) said it will not go to court, following the outcome of last year’s presidential election, but its candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, went ahead with his litigation, and the party did not stop him.”

Speaking on the chances of the litigants, Urhoghide said: “What are the chances of winning at the court?

“The only charge that can probably be pursued is the certificate or no certificate issue and that is very hard to prove.

“Our own Senator Yisa Braimoh did the same thing

when he took Senator Domingo Obende to court over certificate, but did he win?

“Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswan’s election victory was challenged on the same issue; what was the outcome?

“The best we can get is nullification of results, but there is no other way PDP can say it defeated Oshiomhole at the poll.

“Some of our members, when it mattered most, did not put in their best.

“To hire a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) will cost nothing less than N50million, that multiplied by at least five of them. Pray, tell where the money will come from?”

The party’s Edo South Senatorial Chairman, Lucky Imasuen, said a disciplinary committee would be set up to check some members who supported the petition.

Imasuen said the action of the members, led by Dickson Imasogie, was an act of indiscipline, anti-party activity and gross misconduct.

MOSOP condemns Fed Govt’s approach to clean-up

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HE Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has said the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Programme (HYPREP), recently initiated by the Federal Government, may join the league of failed projects in Nigeria.

It said HYPREP was put in place, contrary to one of the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP’s) report on Ogoniland.

MOSOP said the Federal Government set up HYPREP, hoping that the broad jurisdiction would not undermine the implementation of the

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

recommendations contained in the UNEP report.

The Chairman of MOSOP Provisional Council, Prof. Ben Naanen, said this at the oneyear anniversary of the submission of the UNEP report.

Naanen said the people were concerned that it took one year for the Federal Government to respond to the UNEP’s report, which was submitted in Abuja to President Goodluck Jonathan last August.

“We received guarantees from the representatives of HYPREP and NOSDRA (the

National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency) that the UNEP recommendations on Ogoni will be fimplemented, irrespective of HYPREP’s intervention in other areas.

“The $1billion recommended by UNEP, as start-up fund for Ogoni clean up for the first five years, must be spent on Ogoni alone.

“The Ogoni people must be given first priority in the business and job opportunities connected with the clean-up.

“The UNEP report must be implemented in collaboration with an internationallyrecognised agency, such as the UNEP.”

‘Amnesty Office not responsible for attack’

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HE Presidential Amnesty Office has denounced the attack on reporters at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Warri, Delta State, by a group that called itself former Niger Delta agitators.

The Amnesty Office in a statement yesterday by the Head of Media and Communications, Daniel Alabrah, dismissed the claim by the protesters that they are being owed their monthly stipend.

The Office said the attack was part of a campaign of calumny and the attempt to blackmail the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku.

The statement reads: “For purposes of clarification, our records show that the so-called

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

protesters, who claimed to be former agitators under Phase Two of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, are not known to this Office.

“Clearly, they are impostors trying to reap from the success of the amnesty programme.

Information available to us also shows that this was the same group that attacked the Benin NUJ secretariat last week and made similar claims.”

“The Amnesty Office is not owing any Niger Delta youth under the Presidential Amnesty Programme as their stipends are paid through their banks from the 25th of every month. The payment process is computerised and no one is paid by hand.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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SPORT EXTRA LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES...LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES...

Gists from First Bank day A

S SPORTS buffs and fans look forward to coming of First Bank’s Ambassador to the London 2012 Olympic Games, Blessing Okagbare to the African Village, gist from Team Nigeria and Nigeria Olympic Committee day at the Africa Village tagged First Bank Day give insight to what villagers should expect when Okagbare come visiting *Age has not mellowed NOC President The President of the NOC Sani Ndanusa, a former Minister of Sports shows that age is not a barrier to dancing the latest Nigeria pop music as he beat even his younger staff in the

sports of dancing at First Bank day. *Not a local champion Ace comedian Gbenga Adeyinka proved at the First Bank day that he is not only capable to making Nigeria forget their sorrows with comedy; he could do the same for global audience both black and white. For hours, Adeyinka kept the multi-cultural audience that attended the First Bank Day laughing and happy with thought provoking jokes. *Oyibo like Awoff The general conception about Oyibo not going to parties where they are not invited was dismissed at First Bank Day as many white men and women,

young old and branch to dance to Nigeria music and eat free food.

Guest comfort first for First Bank For Bridget OyefesoOdusami, Unit Head, Sponsorship & Events, at First Bank there was no sitting through the events as she ensures that all the guests are comfortable and well served.

Carol Anyaegbunam, Head, Diaspora Banking is so concerned about how Nigerians in Diaspora plan for tomorrow that for about hour, she gave them lecture on how to invest for the rainy day, she also spare time for one on one lecture on personal investment

.Bukola Oluyadi, Unit Head of Internal Communications, First Bank also ensures that guest lack nothing.

Ijabiyi can excel in photography From journalism to British Council, telecommunications and now banking, Yinka Ijabiyi has made his mark . Now with First Bank Marketing Communication Department, the amiable banker show his dexterity with the camera at the African Village during the First Bank, even if it is just a hobby, Ijabiyi shows he can rival masters in profession if he decides to become a full tome photojournalists. More gists next week.

•Left to right: Goke Dokun, MD, Inspire Media Production Company; Bukola Oluyadi, Unit Head of Internal Communications, FirstBank; Engineer Sanni Ndanusa, President, Nigeria Olympic Committee; Bridget Oyefeso-Odusami, Unit Head, Sponsorship & Events, FirstBank and Carol Anyaegbunam, Head, Diaspora Banking, FirstBank

London 2012 Olympics Quotes “IT’S weird, some of the rules. I was coming in a while ago and I had my skipping rope in my bag and they said I can’t bring it in.

I was like, ‘Why?’” Usain Bolt on plans to sneak a skipping rope into the Olympic stadium.

“My mother used to tell us in the mornings, ‘Carl put on your shoes, Oscar you put on your prosthetic legs ...So I grew up not really thinking I had a disability. I grew up thinking I had different shoes.”

Oscar Pistorius nicknamed ‘Blade Runner’ because he races on carbon fibre prosthetic blades, talks about growing up playing sports with brother Carl.

“The female body is a masterpiece. Everyone likes to look at the female body, especially in dynamic, athletic sport.”

- Natalie Cook, gold medalist at Sydney in 2000, defends bikinis in beach volleyball.

“There are many people who want to start rowing because I •Usain Bolt

have come to the Olympic Games. We will start when I get back. We just have to wait for the boats to arrive.”

Niger rower Hamadou Djibo Issaka trained for just three months for the men’s single sculls.

“When baby kicks, I will breathe in and breathe out and try to calm myself down and talk to baby: ‘Behave yourself and help mummy to shoot!’”

- Eight months pregnant, Malaysia’s Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi later said she felt “three or four kicks” during 10-metre air rifle qualifying.

“My results come from hard work and training and I would never use any banned drugs.

The Chinese people have clean hands.”

- Chinese swimming sensation Ye Shiwen brushes aside doping suspicions “I said ‘The medal is there, we have to take it’. I had a super feeling. I felt something big, but now I feel something even bigger, a big pain.”

- Injured Swiss cyclist Fabian Cancellara rues a crash in the men’s road race. “‘Inspire a generation’ is our motto. Not necessarily ‘Create a generation’, which is

what they sometimes get up to in the Olympic village.”

- London Mayor Boris Johnson extols the “energy and enthusiasm” of the Games’ 10,000 athletes, to whom some 150,000 condoms have been distributed.

“We were getting rather frustrated with Transport for London at one point and discussed internally trying to get on a bus with a coffin.”

- London funeral director John Cribb expresses frustration at the special road lanes set aside for Olympic vehicles.

Thank God Team Nigeria has not won disgrace

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EAM NIGERIA first medal at the ongoing London 2012 may still be in the pipeline, but the team has stayed off scandals that have characterized many countries here. For some countries like Cameroon they have a harvest of disgrace with its athletes ‘missing’ from London 2012 Olympics amid asylum fears. Cameroon officials informed the government about the possible defections after rumours swept the Games Village, in Stratford, east London that the athletes had gone missing.

Those reported missing include Drusille Ngako, 25, a reserve goalkeeper for the women’s football and 21 year-old Paul Ekane

Edingue, who was one of two athletes representing the country in swimming.

The boxing team comprised Thomas Essomba, 24, Christian Donfack Adjoufack, 28, Yhyacinthe Abdon Mewoli, Serge Ambomo, both 26, and 27 year-old Blaise Yepmou Mendouo.

It is believed to be the biggest such defection of the Games.

But David Ojong, Cameroon’s head of mission to London 2012, confirmed officials’ fears that the group had absconded.

In an embarrassing letter to his government’s Ministry of Sports and Physical Education, he admitted the group had “disappeared” without

explanation.

“What began as rumour has finally turned out to be true,” he wrote. “Seven Cameroonian athletes who participated at the 2012 London Olympic Games have disappeared from the Olympic Village.”

Also an Ethiopian torchbearer, Natnael Yemane, 15, also disappeared after he went missing from a hotel in Nottingham.

Three Sudanese athletes were also reported missing amid claims they would apply for political asylum.

Al-Nazeer Abdul Gadir, has already applied for asylum while Sadam Hussein and Osman Yahya Omar have been confirmed to be missing.

Success and media management, lessons for the Chinese

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HE Chinese success in sports is not an overnight success.

Their drive to take over global sports started in the 1990’s and by Sydney Olympics in 2000, they had become a force, by the game in Athens in 2004 they had joined the best three in the world , and when they host the world in 2008, they won the games.

When it become obvious to the western press especially Yahoosports that China was going to win, they abandoned the tradition of counting gold which places China at top and opted for counting all the medal won which gave America the lead.

At the London 2012 Games, the Chinese are proving that their success four years ago is not due to home advantage as at today they are still topping the medal table but they have not been able to win the global acclaim and media to their side, even when they chose to report their grievances they chose the local Chinese media, instead of using the international press.

According to report monitored, the Chinese media are criticizing ‘double standards’ at the Olympics after Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli were expelled.

Chinese athletes have been victims of double standards at the Olympics, the country’s top official newspaper said while questioning the expulsion of two of its players from the badminton tournament.

The People’s Daily said that decision was made despite ambiguous rules. It also criticised a ruling depriving a Chinese cyclist of a gold medal in the women’s team sprint and unfounded doping allegations made against the swimming sensation Ye Shiwen.

“In ruling on infringements, making accusations of poor sportsmanship and raising suspicions about a genius competitor, there are double standards that have taken aim at the Chinese team and its athletes,” said the paper, the main voice of the ruling Communist party.

“This unfortunately is hard to explain as inadvertent missteps, it might be closer to the truth to see it as deliberate attacking and interference.”

The People’s Daily said the furore in the sport had been used unfairly against China. “Though there can be different understandings of the rules of competition, the Chinese delegation nevertheless voiced its respect for the punishment,” said the paper. “Yet some Western media still seized upon this to deliberately disparage the Chinese athletes and delegation.”

The paper noted the British cyclist Philip Hindes’s sprint team kept their golds, even though the rider was reported as saying he crashed on purpose – words his team later said were “lost in translation”.

“Leveling all the accusations at Chinese athletes plainly lacks fairness,” said the People’s Daily.

China’s basketball hero Yao Ming also waded into the badminton controversy, saying over the expelled players were victims although he also supported the decision to disqualify them.

While the Chinese may have some genuine reasons to complain about, making those complain in the English and other international agencies where the world will read about their pains and show some empathy would have been better. I hope other countries and states that will be participate at the upcoming National Sports Festival are reading and learning some lessons.

EKO 2012 & empty seats at Olympics venues THE organisers the EKO 2012 National Sports Festival are planning a corporate sector driven games, which is not a bad idea, as lean government resources will be used in core areas of need like health, education and others, but effort should also be made to make the games a people driven one as the British over reliance on the corporate support seem not working well.

Infact French President Hollande has questioned the need for so many corporate seats at the London Olympics many of which are now empty, saying a French version would be interested in ‘gold, not money’.

Expressing surprise at the number of empty places at the Games, President Hollande suggested that rich corporate clients were simply not turning up.

‘The problem is that there are simply too many corporate seats.

It will be up to French organisers to sort out this problem if a bid for future games is to be successful.’

With events beginning on a number of occasions in halfempty stadia, Games organizers Locog and UK politicians including Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt - are looking to address the ticket farce to pack out the venues for the remainder of the Olympics.

One hopes the Main Organizing Committee and the Local Organizing Committee are reading this.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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TODAY IN THE NATION

www.thenationonlineng.net

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 7, NO. 2212

‘‘When one was young, this country had development plans during which plans were laid out about where Nigeria wanted to be in five years. But all these were thrown away by the military who throughout their years in office abandoned careful planning for what they called rolling plans JIDE OSUNTOKUN

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

A

CONFESSION: This reporter used to be a sportsman in his school days. I played Table-Tennis at the national level and represented the University of Benin (UNIBEN) at the West African Universities Games (WAUG). I did swimming – it was compulsory at Ajuwa Grammar School, Okeagbe – Akoko, Ondo State, in those good old days of Chief Guy Gargiulo. I wasn’t talented enough to be an Olympian, but I surely know a bit of what it takes to be a champion.

A cocktail of talents, training, planning, determination and sheer will. A mixture of agility and ability. And more. Nigeria failed in most of these departments at the London Olympics. If Team Nigeria were to be a company, by now the shareholders would have called an emergency general meeting to wind it up. As of the time of writing this, Nigeria was yet to get a medal. In fact, our great athletics hope, Blessing Okagbare, had just crashed out of the long jump.

But, wait a minute, dear reader, is our performance in London not a reflection of our national life and everything that ails this beautiful country of pitiful people? Why are small countries flying high and the giant (don’t laugh at the hyperbole, please) of Africa remains a toddler, crawling, wobbling and fumbling about in the dark? Why is this country of the biggest party in Africa such a massive canvass of failure, which is always ready for a fresh paint of dishonour from those who vowed to make a Picassoesque masterpiece of it? Why? The Olympics mirror life. Isn’t it often said that you can’t reap where you didn’t sow? Or give what you don’t have? Consider the marathon. A no race for the lily-livered, it is a show of endurance, perseverance and sheer determination. How much of our national life reflects these virtues? Don’t we always see life as a 100 metres dash, with everyone sprinting like Usain Bolt, the Jamaican rocket? A man who should be in his village struggling to become a councillor is either a senator or a member of the House of Representatives, making laws for more knowledgeable people. Incongruities.

Bolt wasn’t 100% fit for that race. The world was looking up to his fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake to carry the day. By sheer determination, Bolt bolted away to a new Olympics record of 9.63 seconds.

Hard work and fighting spirit are the hallmarks of an Olympian. Here, hard work is seen as a disease. The sufferer is either pitied – by his charitable critics – or scorned for seeing life as a long distance race instead of being fast, like those billionaire fuel subsidy kids.

Winning at the Olympics is also about preparations. London promised the world a great time; it has delivered. The world-class facilities, the electrifying opening ceremony, the seamless traffic and the fool-proof security at the Games Village. And more. Here, we do not plan ahead. We hold elections every four years, yet every exercise is a subject of acrimony, with old problems coming up in more vicious ways.

Every situation is an emergency to be tackled by ad hoc committees. There is always a siren piercing our ears, with our big men rushing to keep appointments that end up in disappointments for the traumatised masses.

For years, serious countries study what oth-

RIPPLES TASK FORCE ARRESTS 52 SEX WORK-

Sex workers or SELF-EMPLOYED?

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

Nigeria at the Olympics

•Bolt

ers are doing to excel at the games. Surveillance. Vigilance. Do we spy on our would-be opponents? Don’t they take time to spy on us and find answers to whatever strategies we have? Could Boko Haram have grown this monstrous if we had been vigilant? Now,we have sent in troops to fight an unusual war against strange opponents whose greatest dream is to die fighting what they have been made to believe is a just cause.

There have been little or no arguments about officiating at the games. Everything is electronic. Precision. The races can’t just be rigged, unlike our elections in which the best candidate often loses and when he wins, his victory is questioned by those who should merely raise up their hands, surrender and go home in peace.

Imagine the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claiming to have been rigged out of the Edo election!

Winning at the Olympics is all about action; not empty promises of loquacious leaders who feel no qualms about lying. Imagine the number of workshops and summits that have been held since the Boko Haram conundrum became real. A trade summit has just ended in London, with our government officials beg-

ging the world to see the opportunities that abound here. Doesn’t the business world know our potential? It does. And it knows also that terrorism has found a home here, sitting at the head of a fiendish family of other lethal crimes, such as kidnapping, ritual killing and robbery as well as fraud in high places. Besides, the rule of law is routinely flouted and justice is denied even to those who worship in the temple of justice.

Many months after the National Judicial Council (NJC) asked that Appeal Court President Ayo Isa Salami be reinstated, President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is still dithering about that decision. Could the President spare a thought for the verdict of history?

In the end, it is all about leadership. Would our star athlete Okagbare have burnt herself out running in less prestigious races for some cash before the enervating Olympics? Where were the coaches? Couldn’t she have been assured of good remuneration to stop her from those races and prepare her for the big stage? If the leadership had been right, would she have unceremoniously lost out in the long jump?

A Nigerian, Mrs Glory Udoh, whose daughter is also competing, blamed Okagbare’s lacklustre performance on witches and wizards.

She said in a Sporting Life report: “We wept openly yesterday. You could see her struggling to get off the block. But they have failed because God has taken supremacy and control of Team Nigeria’s activities. Her name is Blessing and God has blessed her that no evil forces will stand on the way of the team again.”

Not so fast, madam. Are there no witches and wizards in Houston where you came from?

Don’t other teams have access to God and all the ethereal forces that rule the affairs of men?

The truth is as simple as ABC. Our girl was fagged out. And then the stage fright. Did she have access to a psychologist before the race?

What was she told after her loss? Why was she disqualified –strange that we didn’t protest this – from the long jump? Isn’t God doing too much for us already?

D’Tigers coach Ayodele Bakare has thrown

HARDBALL

B

Y now everyone is probably aware that on Monday Kogi State became the latest victim of terror attacks. No one has yet claimed responsibility, but some 20 people were reported to have died in the unprovoked shootings that took place in Okene town. Gradually, it appears the state is staking a pride of place on the terror map, as it graduates from making improvised explosive devices to using them. But as horrid as the shootings were, there was nothing unusual about them. There is hardly any part of the old North that has not been touched by terror attacks, whether carried out or inspired by the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, or other demented freelance aggressors masquerading as religious fanatics. What was unusual about the Okene attacks, however, was the follow-up, in particular, the visit to the afflicted town by the state governor, Capt Idris Wada.

Of course the governor did well to visit the town on short notice. This is also probably his first real encounter with substantial, headline-grabbing terrorism. It is therefore expected that in the days to come he will reexamine his visit to the stricken town, assess the appropriateness or otherwise of some of his statements to the victims and other

Kogi’s terror paradox stakeholders, and learn a thing or two about how to act in case of, God forbid, a reoccurrence. This columnist will help him.

Yesterday, when he got the day’s newspapers, Wada should have been struck by the damnifying paradox of being the only one in his entourage to wear a bulletproof jacket.

It is hard to understand what message he was trying to send. Was he so fearful of a surprise attack that he couldn’t blend with the crowd? Did it not bother him that it implied he was incapable of reassuring a people under attack, or that wearing bulletproof unwittingly suggested the situation was irredeemable, and that he cared only about his life? And would to God he had worn the flak jacket even admirably, say, under his clothes to conceal its garishness.

As a politician, whether by calm deliberateness or by giddy coincidence, Wada must begin to learn that a leader communicates not only by words but also by actions and even gestures, and that that communication

in the towel after the basketball team’s ouster.

The New York Times described the team’s efforts – the first African team to win a game at the Olympics - as heroic. Poor Bakare. He was the team’s travel agent; he found them gyms to practise and arranged their insurance. He was everything to them. Bakare need not despair.

He should return home in peace and be part of the measures the government, ever so dutiful, will take to ensure that we never suffer such losses again.

I trust the Presidency to set up a committee to probe Team Nigeria’s failure, which the authorities will describe as “unacceptable”. The terms of reference: How much was voted for the competition? Was the cash enough–remember we believe everything is a matter of cash–? What did the officials get? Did the athletes get their due? Was there sabotage? Was our failure political? What was the role of opposition parties in this matter? What are the security implications of this disastrous outing?

Was Federal character followed in selecting the team?

The committee of experts will also examine other factors that may have contributed to our failure and make recommendations on how to avert such disasters. They will have two weeks to do the job. Then the President will raise another committee to examine the report of the committee. Perhaps yet another committee; just to be damn sure we are right. The government will then start considering whose head to smash – a decision that will be left to the powerful Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to take. He may ask the EFCC or its cousin, the ICPC to charge some to court and allow others to go (no prima facie case they call it). He may choose to arraign some suspects and later withdraw the charges, saying they shouldn’t have been arraigned in the first place. A mistake.

Trust Nigerians; they are taking it all in their strides. For them, it is another avenue to ease tension. After the basketball team’s loss to the United States, a friend sent me this sms: “US beat Nigeria 156-73. Our Yahoo Yahoo boys have promised that Americans will pay dearly for this.”

Yet another sms: “Nigeria has been losing at the Olympics; where is the PDP? Where are the fixers? We learnt shooting is also one of the events; why don’t we send in the Boko Haram boys?”

Jamaicans partied all night to celebrate Bolt’s feat as the world’s fastest man. What a moving spectacle of kids, old men and women drinking and dancing in a national revelry.

What a story – of heroism and talent - of how one man’s determination has inspired a nation to unite.

Where is our hero?

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above could go a long way in portraying him as weak or as strong. In Okene two days ago, the governor completely forgot this pearl.

He probably felt merely visiting the town and commiserating with the victims were enough. No, they are not.

But perhaps more paradoxical is his visit to the palace of Dr Ado Ibrahim, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland. There he voiced his concern over the deteriorating security situation in Okene, and explained how insecurity affected development. Then, according to newspaper reports, he invited the traditional ruler to use his experience to check the situation in his domain. It is not certain whether those were the words of the governor, but the reports gave the impression his message was properly paraphrased. Even though the Ohinoyi has no security organisation to deploy, he will probably take the governor’s advice as a challenge, and will do his best to perch on the horns of a dilemma the governor is inviting him to. But in the light of terror attacks against some traditional rulers in the North, the Ohinoyi will also probably be miffed that he was being asked to take on security tasks neither the police hierarchy nor the governor himself, nor yet the president, has managed to do even partially successfully.

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