The Nation December 01, 2011

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

News Why Ojukwu’s body ‘ll remain in London, by Umeh P4 Sport I miss Russia, says Eagles star Odemwingie P24 Business Obasanjo under fire as Senate debates BPE report P11 www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 1961 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•Police promise ‘safe, secure election’ •PDP has failed Nigeria, says Buhari •ACN urges security agents to be fair

KOGI 2011

•COUNTDOWN TO THE DECEMBER 3 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IN THE CONFLUENCE STATE

Reps okay N98b for Jonathan

•AND MORE

•PAGES 10,43&44

I am happy this has come to an end. The ‘attempt to rubbish my name based on unsubstantiated charges, as I said, would fail. After my time in political office, I should enjoy my rights of going into personal business

’

•’We didn’t take N2b bribe’ From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

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HE House of Representatives yesterday did a surprising volte-face to pass the controversial N98.4 billion virement requested by President Goodluck Jonathan,.

The House had stood the virement down on October 30 on the premise that it was fraudulent, coming just a few months to the end of the fiscal year.

However, the bill hurriedly passed through second reading on the floor of the House after a one hour closed session by the members amid allegations that the lawmakers received N2 billion from the Presidency to pass it.

The leadership of the House of Representatives, however, denied the collection of a N2 billion bribe to smoothen the passage of the N98.4billion virement for nine ministries.

Speaker AminuTambuwal, announced afContinued on page 4

•Asiwaju Tinubu after the verdict ... yesterday.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Tribunal: Tinubu has no case to answer Ex-Lagos governor discharged on foreign accounts charges

F •Justice Umar ... yesterday

ORMER Lagos Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s integrity remained intact yesterday, with the Code of Conduct Tribunal freeing him of the threecount charge brought by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

The National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was charged with allegedly operating foreign accounts while in office.

Tribunal Chairman Justice

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

Danladi Umar said the charge constituted an abuse of court process, judging by the manner the prosecution withdrew it and filed an amended charge. This, he said, robbed the tribunal of jurisdiction.

The three-man panel also quashed the amended charge for not disclosing any prima facie case against Tinubu.

Justice Umar said the CCB failed to meet the condition precedent laid down in the Act establishing the tribunal.

He said the prosecution could not prove that they duly invited Tinubu to either deny or admit in writing the allegations against him.

Besides, he pointed out that no affidavit or exhibit was attached to the charge to establish prima facie.

The Tribunal arrived at the decision

after upholding Tinubu’s preliminary objection as argued by his team of lawyers, led Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).

Also for Tinubu are former NBA President Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Charles Edosomwan (SAN), Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Dele Belgore (SAN), Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Kabiru Turaki (SAN), Emeka Ngige (SAN), Continued on page 2

•INDUSTRY P13 •SPORT P24 •EDUCATION P25 •POLITICS P43 •N/HEALTH P45

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

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NEWS CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL’S ACQUITTAL OF TINUBU

Fashola, Argbesola, Fayemi laud tribunal over Tinubu’s acquittal

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OVERNORS Babatunde Fashola, Rauf Aregbesola and Kayode Fayemi yesterday hailed the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), for quashing charges against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Fashola, who spoke with reporters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on arrival from Abuja, said the acquittal has once again proved that the judiciary is always on the side of the people.

The governor said: “I think the greater benefit here is for the Nigerian people that there is still the capacity for the judiciary to independently assess matters brought before it in a way to ensure that the rights of citizens are not trampled upon.

“One of the findings that the tribunal made was that there seems to be a persistence of harassing the applicant with a series of processes, charges and this is not sustainable in a constitutional democracy.

Of course, you will also see that the

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor and Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

court was particularly assisted by counsel who appeared on both side.”

Aregbesola said: “The way the tribunal carried out an in-depth and dispassionate analysis of the case has shown that the Nigerian judiciary could be trusted to do justice to all, no matter the issue.

“I salute the men of courage who delivered this landmark ruling that has shown the green light that Nigerians should trust the judiciary to do it right all the time.

“I want to say that the ruling marked a new era when citizens can be rest assured that justice would flow from the Temple of Justice without fear or favour.”

Fayemi, who had earlier described the trial of the ACN leader as “judicial lynching” which may not be unconnected with the 2015

elections, said, in a statement, that the ruling has shown clearly that the case had no basis.

The governor said he had always known Tinubu as a true democrat who has utmost regard for the rule of law, hence would not do anything that will run foul of the law of the land.

“It is absolutely impossible to build something on nothing, hence I am not surprised that the entire case has collapsed like a pack of cards, because really, there was no basis for the trial.”

Fayemi, who said the ruling has vindicated the former Lagos Governor, said the development is a further proof that it is still possible to serve in Government and leave a good name.

He said that there is still need for a comprehensive review of some of the laws of the land that appear primitive.

•Tinubu’s legal team: Rotimi Akeredolu SAN(left) Wole Olanipekun and Prof.

Yemi Osibajo (SAN)

Tribunal: Tinubu has no case to answer ‘I thank God, my legal team’

Continued from page 1

Deji Sasegbon (SAN), Dele Adesina (SAN), Mrs. Jumoke Anifowoshe and Dr. Tunji Abayomi.

Others are: Mr. Femi Falana, Alh. Lai Mohammed,Tunde Braimoh, Muiz Banire, Oye Akintola, Funso Olukoga, E. Okara, Dapo Akin Osun, M. I Komolafe, Toke Benson Awoyinka, Sola Iji, Onuora,Yakubu Gana Haruna,Lanre Obadina, Bimpe Awogbomogun, R.O Oloyede, T.C Okafor, Aisha Ali, Abdulmajid Oniyangi, Samuel Abba, Gbenga Adeyemi, Soli Olowalafe, Joshua Alogbu and Uche Onyeagocha.

Governors Raji Fashola (SAN), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Ibikunle Amosu (Ogun) were at the session. So also were Senators John Akpanudoedehe and Olorunnimbe Mamora as well as many ACN chieftains. ustice Umar said: “I have painstakingly considered the argument of the counsel.

The prosecution claimed it invited the applicant. The invitation extended to the applicant presupposes the importance of the invitation. The allegation by the accused/applicant counsel was made openly in this court. It is my opinion that it is a condition precedent to invite an accused to make a written admission or deny it.

“The accused ought to have been invited. This is missing in this case and the prosecution has no evidence that it did. The intention of the legislator in inserting the condition in Section 3d cannot be overemphasised. I hereby resolve the issue in favour of the accused.”

Pronouncing the entire proceedings an abuse of court process, Justice Umar referred to the applicant’s submission that there is a pending appeal on similar issues at the Court of Appeal, which is not pursued by the complainant.

Said Justice Umar: “It was in this court that we actually received the amended charge. To me the complainant did not follow the due procedure. If you wanted to amend your charge, you should have submitted a copy of those charge you wanted to add for analyses, after which if we go give a go-ahead, you file the charge. Then the accused will now know he is facing a three-count charge, not one count charge. I strongly believe you cannot do justice by ambushing ...

“In view of my decision on issue two, I’m of the opinion that the charge herein is an abuse of

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ORMER Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has reacted to the verdict of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) which discharged and acquitted him of charges the Code of Conduct Bureau brought against him. Below is the full text of the reaction: I thank God for today and for this judgment in my favour. Today’s verdict shows there is still hope for this country. That the judiciary can still dispense justice with judges on the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

They are courageous judges who dispensed justice without fear or favour.

I thank my legal team, led by the indefatigable Wole Olanipekun, SAN, for their brilliant work. I am happy this has come to an end. The attempt to rubbish my name based on unsubstantiated charges, as I said, would fail. After my time in political office, I should enjoy my rights of going into personal business.

I will, however, take appropriate actions after consultations with my team because my reputation was smeared and the lives of my wife and daughters were disrupted. In fact, my daughter’s account with just 3, 500 Pound Sterling was closed in London because of these unproven allegations: a young girl and her banking transactions stopped.

Today’s judgment opens a new chapter in the dispensation of justice for our country. No one should ever be judged guilty of flimsy charges again. court process. When a court discovers that its process has been abused, the proper order to make is to dismiss same and it is hereby dismissed.”

Justice Umar stressed that there was the need to make a pronouncement on other issues raised before the Tribunal to set the record straight.

Dismissing the argument by the applicant’s counsel that the proper place for the Tribunal to sit is Lagos and not Abuja, Justice Umar said: “There is no geographical boundary for the tribunal. It is one tribunal with no division like the Federal High Court. Its jurisdiction is nationwide.”

On the allegation that Tinubu operated foreign accounts, the Tribunal said there was no prima facie case established against the former governor.

It observed that there were other names different from Tinubu’s that are on the foreign accounts allegedly operated by him.

Faulting the prosecution, Justice Umar said “the amended charge against the applicant does not include operation of foreign accounts by proxy”.

He wondered why Tinubu should be made to answer cases on accounts which are not bearing his name, with the prosecution failing to establish the link between the person(s) mentioned with Tinubu.

Besides, he said the amended charge did not receive the tribunal’s blessing before it was

brought, adding that it has no exhibit or affidavit in support.

“It is the law that an amended charge constitutes a new matter altogether, different from the one the tribunal initially summoned the accused/applicant to come and defend. The effect is that an amended charge has effectively wiped out the earlier order to come and defend the one count charge, which is now substituted by a threecount charge.

“How on earth can it be said that a prima facie case has been made when there is no proof of evidence before this tribunal. In fact, the learned Senior Advocate for the complainant is not brave enough to say that there is a new affidavit and summary of evidence attached. How on earth do we expect the accused/applicant to be tried on this defective charge. The fact that it was this tribunal that initially ordered the accused/applicant person to appear before it, pursuant to the initial charge, cannot constitute the precipe on which the tribunal should proceed to hear the case without proof of evidence.

“The right of the accused person to fair hearing is inseparably tied to the proof of evidence required to prove the allegations against him. In this case, the summary evidence of Salisu Garba attached to the initial charge cannot resurrect the new charge, having been buried under the rubble of the amendment sought for by the complainant and duly granted by the honourable court.

•Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, (middle), with other member of the CCT ...yesterday

•Senator Ganiyu Solomon with Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa

“I take final liberty to take a look at the amended charge itself.

I say emphatically that there is no sufficient basis to proceed against the accused/applicant. The amended charges claim that the applicant engaged himself in the operation of several foreign bank accounts.

“The new charge did not say that the accused/applicant operated foreign accounts by trustees or by proxy.” he judge held that the com plainant failed to supply proof of evidence to enable the accused/applicant prepare for the charge.

“It is the law that the argument of counsel, no matter how beautiful, cannot constitute an evidence.

Argument of counsel, however presented, cannot replace evidence not pleaded.

“In the circumstance, no prima facie case has been made against the accused. The filing of the amended charge without any affidavit ...

“It is only when this is shown with the statement of the account that a prima facie can be said to have been made against the accused/applicant. The non-filing of an affidavit pursuant to the amended charge there is no basis to believe that the accused/applicant actually misinformed the

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Code of Conduct Bureau about his financial dealings.

“In the circumstance and based on all the findings, I have made out earlier, I hold that this tribunal has no jurisdiction to proceed to try the accused/applicant and the amended charge is hereby quashed. The accused applicant is hereby discharged.”

At the last sitting, Olanipekun had argued that the CCT lacks the jurisdiction to try Tinubu.

He contended that the applicant was not invited for questioning by the CCB as was in the case of other former governors who had been excluded from trial.

The CCB Chairman, Mr. Sam Saba, had on September 27 told reporters in Abuja that some of the former governors earlier accused of breaching the oath of public office had made some refund, hence their exclusion from trial.

The Prosecution had on September 21 withdrew the one-count charge and filed an amended charge of three-count charge with the same particulars.

In the motion brought pursuant to Sections 36(6) (a) (b), 36 (12) and paragraph 15 of the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution; Section 3 and paragraph 1 of the third Schedule of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act,

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

3

NEWS CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL’S ACQUITTAL OF TINUBU

‘Justice has been dispensed’

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

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•ACN National Secretary, Sen Shuaib Lawan (left) ACN Chairman Lagos State, Henry Ajomale, ACN chieftain, Alh Yusuf Alli and Alhaji Musa Gwadabe

•Musician Azzey

•From left: Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, Hon.Femi Gbajabiamila, Asiwaju Tinubu, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Senator Gbenga Ashafa... yesterday

her members

•ACN Benue State Chairman Comrade Abba Yaro(left) with Hon Wale Oshun

PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•Member House of Reps, Ajagbe Adetunji (left) with Dr Olu Agunloye

Olanipekun argued that the amended charge constitutes an abuse of court process.

He urged the panel of three Justices to quash and/or strike out the three count amended charge filed on September 20 against Tinubu by the Complainant/Respondent.

He also prayed for *An order discharging the Applicant (Tinubu), and for such further order or orders as the Tribunal may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

In the application, which was accompanied by an 11-paragraph affidavit and predicated on 10 grounds, Olanipekun said that the complaint stated in the charge by the Complanant is not known to the 1999 Constitution.

Besides, he argued that the condition precedent before a person could be charged before a Tribunal had not been met.

Olanipekun referred to Section 3 of the CCB and Tribunal Act, which states that “where the person concerned makes a written admission of such breach or noncompliance no reference to the Tribunal shall be necessary”.

“What the prosecution is doing is to put something on nothing; they want it to stand, it will not stand; it will collapse like a pack of cards,” he said, adding: “Where a person can make a

written admission, there will be no need for trial, the applicant must be invited; there is no shortcut about this, it is paramount, it is fundamental. The CCB said it invited those other governors. If it is good for the goose of those governors, it must be good for their gander’.

“Your lordship will have to make findings; was he invited?

The CCB does not have a coercive power; what it has is interactive power. Was he invited? On what day and who was the courier?

“Please, take note of the word several times’ stated in the counter-affidavit of the Complainant.

They have not made any infraction of time.

“In their counter-affidavit, the deponent said ‘I was informed by the Complainant through another person’, but the Complainant, which is the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a jurisdiction entity and not a natural person. It is only a natural person that can inform.

Federal Republic of Nigeria is you and I; it is only a natural person that can inform and you believe.

Nigeria cannot be an informant; the informant must bear his father’s name.”

Arguing further, Olanipekun said “as at the time the Applicant came to the court, there were two

charges against him”.

He described the amended charge as an abuse of court process.

Criticising the manner the Complainant withdrew the first charge when the amended charge had already been filed, Olanipekun said: “One does not sit within the confine of his office or home to say ‘I withdraw’. Withdrawal has to be formal; there has to be pronouncements; then there will be a formal order either striking out or dismissing it. They cannot withdraw in our absence. This notice of withdrawal constitutes an abuse of court process; they filed it after receiving our motion.” he applicant’s counsel also challenged the venue of the trial-Abuja. According to him, trial should be in Lagos, the place where the alleged offence was committed.

Olanipekun also argued that the charge disclosed no nexus between the people mentioned on the charge sheet and disclosed no information on the status of the foreign accounts referred to.

“It is amorphous, nebulous; it is at large. There is nothing in it.

When was the account opened, when was it operated. Looking at the charge, they mentioned some names, ‘we don’t know them’.

Criminal trials is not a hide and

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seek game, there cannot be trial by ambush. There is nothing in the charge before you showing the relationship between those mentioned in the charge.”

But the Prosecution counsel, Alex Iziyon (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the application.

He argued that jurisidcition is an administrative matter, adding that it is premature to say we have not disclosed the nexus of the names on the charge.

According to him, the CCB has the discretion on whether to charge an accused to Tribunal after making a written admission, adding that the Bureau is not under compulsion.

On the amended charge, Iziyon said what the Applicant through his counsel ought to have done is to challenge the leave granted to prefer the amended charge.

But the Tribunal Chairman, who overruled him, said the Complainant could not have been aware since it was done in the chamber.

Replying on point of law, Olanipekun urged the tribunal to discountenance the submission of the Complainant.

He submitted that there was nothing to show the form the Applicant filled and submitted to the CCB, stressing that it is not the duty of the applicant to do so.

HE Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria has lauded the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for dismissing the charges brought against former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The party said ruling has demonstrated that justice is still obtainable even in an atmosphere of petty politics.

In a release in Lagos by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party said the court ruling was a vindication of its National Leader.

The statement reads: “We are gladdened that the Code of Conduct Tribunal has dispensed justice without fear or favour in this frivolous case, meant to slow down the desire to do away with the misrule of the PDP. We see this as a reinvigoration of that desire and state that nothing will stop our great party from its determination to replace the PDP, which has led the rapid degradation of governance in a well endowed country as Nigeria.

“By dismissing this frivolous case, nurtured and cooked in the chambers of vindictive and petty politics, the Code of Conduct Tribunal has shown a desire not to be employed as a hatchet to prosecute the selfish partisan battles of the PDP, we are happy that the tribunal is showing that signal at a crucial stage of our national life when the nation longs for a fresh air from 13 years of unmitigated misrule.

We salute the courage of the members of the tribunal and we state that by this ruling, the tribunal has shown the way on an impartial approach to issues.”

It’s victory for democracy, justice, say senator, Reps

By Yusuf Sanusi

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HE victory of the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal has been described as victory for democracy, justice and fairplay.

Senate Minority Whip, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, a member of the House of Representatives, James Abiodun Faleke; Lagos lawmaker, Wahab Alawiye-King and chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Kamal Bayewu, noted that the ruling of the tribunal indicated that the judiciary is still the last hope of the common man.

Solomon said: “The Tribunal ruling in favour of Asiwaju Tinubu is a victory for democracy, justice and fairplay. Once again the Nigerian judiciary has proved that it is anchored on the truth, justice and rule of law. We are happy at this ruling which has rekindled our hope in the judiciary of this country.”

The Senator added that the victory will serve as encouragement to Tinubu in his fight for the emancipation of Nigerians and institution of good governance.

Faleke said:“It is a victory for democracy. I congratulate Asiwaju Tinubu and I know this victory will serve as the needed tonic for him to continue his struggle for the enthronement of good governance and true federalism in the country.

I also congratulate the Nigerian judiciary.”

Alawiye-King and Bayewu stated that the judiciary has again proved its importance to the survival of democracy in the country.

Alawiye-King said: “This is not only a victory for Asiwaju Tinubu but also a victory to the judiciary.

We are happy that eventually justice and truth prevail.”

4

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

NEWS

Reps okay N98b request Continued from page 1

•From left: Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola at the Code of Conduct Tribunal Abuja, after Tinubu’s discharge ... yesterday.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

ter the Executive session that security issues were discussed at the closed door session.

After the virement proposal was presented by House Leader Mulikat Adeola, it passed through second reading with all the members, who had opposed the proposal backing its passage.

Some of the aggrieved lawmakers during the previous presentation of the virement request had kicked against the debate on the 27-page proposal, which showed the virement of contentious money appropri-

ated in the 2011 Appropriation Act in the document generated by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

These include N25,676,910 for maintenance of horses; N29,068,200 for maintenance of dogs; N10,658,340 for maintenance of the Police Band; N995,524,472 for fuelling of motor vehicles, with additional N1.08 billion for vehicle/transport; N945,540,000 for local travel and transport; N484.47 million for electricity bill; N1.944 billion for uniforms and other clothing as well as N520.33 million for stationery/ computer consumables and

Why Ojukwu’s body ‘ll remain in London, by Umeh

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HE remains of former Biafran leader Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu will remain in London for security reasons and proper care, it was learnt yesterday.

They won’t be brought home only when the burial rites are to start.

All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) National chairman Chief Victor Umeh broke the news to reporters at Ojukwu’s Casablanca Lodge Enugu home on his arrival from London.

Ojukwu’s children are expected home today, his wife, Bianca, will return to the country on Saturday, Umeh said.

The APGA chairman, who gave the indication that Ojukwu will be given a Christian (Catholic) burial, said extensive consultations will take place before the funeral.

“It is very clear that the burial of Ojukwu is not just like any burial. Certainly in this part of the world, it will be a burial nobody has ever seen. He was a man so many people are interested in his burial rites,” Umeh said.

According to him: “The short meetings we had in

From Victor Oluwasegun, Dele Anofi (Abuja), Nwanosike Onu (Awka) and Chris Oji (Enugu)

London and the ones they had at home require that more consultations will be made before a final date for his burial will be announced.

Once the body is brought home, the burial rites will commence.

“The decision is that we still leave his remains in England for proper care and for us to get back home and work. You know the family will be involved. The people of Nnewi will be involved. The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) will be involved. As you can see, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, MASSOB leader, has been here receiving guests.

“The two governments under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) - Anambra and Imo - will be fully involved. All the governments in the Southeast region where he was military governor in the 60s will be involved. The President, who has shown immense concern for our leader in the past one and half years, will also be involved in the planning. So also other leaders across the nation.

“It will surprise you that in

England, Ojukwu’s former colleagues in the school, people he went to Epsom College with, indicated interest that they want to be involved in his burial. So, it is something that you have to prepare very elaborately to accommodate all interests.”

Nnewi, Ojukwu’s home town, was in turmoil yesterday, following the invasion of the commercial city by members of the Biafran Zionist Movement (BZM).

The group, led by its President Benjamin Onwuka, stormed the Nkwo Nnewi triangle, singing war songs and waving Biafran flags.

However, it was not a lucky day for the crowd, numbering over 500, as they were dispersed by the police.

The president of the group, who lives in the United States, was arrested by the police.

Anambra State Police spokesman Mr Emeka Chukwuemeka, denied the arrest.

He said the people were making noise and sharing pamphlets and the police advised them to stop. They complied, he said.

But a member of the group told our reporter that their leader was whisked away by the police to an unknown destination.

Onwuka earlier told reporters that they were working to actu-

alize Biafra.

He said: “Though we are still mourning our leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, we are not going to allow Ojukwu’s idea to die.

“America and other parts of the world must be part of the struggle, and some of the reasons why Biafra must be actualised include: creeping Islamisation of Biafrans, marginalisation of Biafrans and Islamic Banking and Economic System.”

Others according to him, are the neglect of infrastructure like Oji Power Dam and River Niger Bridge, lack of an international airport in the East and bad roads, which include Oba to Okigwe road, Onitsha to Enugu Expressway and Aba to Enugu expressway, among others.

Workers and some dignitaries have been scrambling to sign the condolence registers provided in strategic parts of the state.

When our reporter visited the secretariat, the House of Assembly Complex and the Government House where registers are open, the queues were long.

The House of Representatives yesterday asked the federal Government to immortalize Ojukwu.

The lawmakers said the late

Biafran leader paid his dues to the political and economic growth of the country, in spite of being exiled as a result of the civil war, he never did anything to undermine the corporate existence of the country.

A delegation has been mandated by the House to visit the family of the late elder statesman.

The lawmakers’ position followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Uche Ekwenuife and 58 others, where the need to immortalise the late elder statesman was justified.

In her argument, Ekwenuife said, “last Saturday was a black day for us from the Southeast and for majority of Nigerians.

He died at a time Nigeria needed his contribution for the stability of the polity.

“It is no gainsaying that the Ikemba was a historic figure with an outstanding family pedigree, who, despite his rich background chose to carve a niche for himself by joining the Nigerian Army after school in London”.

Her prayers that the late Biafran leader be immortalised by the Federal government and for the House to send a delegation to commiserate with the family was unanimously supported.

N137.394 million for food stuff/catering material supplies in the Police budget.

President Jonathan, in a letter sent to the Speaker, explained that the virement will help focus on some key priority areas of his adminstration.

Speaking in support of the virement, John Enoh, chairman, House Committee on Appropriation,explained that it will go a long way in the implementation of the Appropriation.

He noted that over 7,000 projects had been abandoned across the country.

Tambuwal, who presided over yesterday’s plenary, referred the bill to the House Committee on Appropriation and other relevant committees for further legislative input.

The Speaker, however, noted that in the past, the Executive did not seek the National Assembly’s approval before diverting money.

House spokesman Zakari Mohammed denying the N2 billion bribery allegation after plenary, said: “As far as I’m concerned, I’ve not received anything. I’ve not seen it. I’ve not collected it. So, it’s far from it.”

He challenged any lawmaker who has got the largesse to make it public.

“I think we need to get certain facts very right. The Majority Leader made us to realise why the virement had to go and we are represenatatives of the people.

“Whether we like it or not, we are not in any competition with the Executive. The only thing is that things must be done constitutionally. If the President is bringing such thing to the House, it was referred to the appropriate committee. Allow it to go through second reading, let the appropriate committees handle it; then bring the report back.

“We are not taking it on its face value; we will now see those things that we will knock off and those things we think can be sustained.”

Boko Haram: US considers tough action as SSS parades suspects

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NITED States is considering taking a tough stance on Boko Haram, it emerged yesterday.

The US House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security released a report yesterday on what it termed the emerging threat from Boko Haram, according to Huffington Post.

Boko Haram piqued the interest of some Capitol Hill lawmakers when it bombed the United Nations House in Abuja in one of a series of attacks.

The report by the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, chaired by Rep. Patrick Meehan, warns against underestimating Boko Haram’s intent and capability to attack the U.S. homeland.

It urges the State Department to investigate whether the group should be designated a foreign terrorist organisation.

It also recommends increasing intelligence gathering on Boko Haram, including reaching out to Nigerian immigrants in the United States and boosting U.S. government support for Nigerian efforts to counter the group.

In Abuja yesterday, the State Security Service (SSS) paraded

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

members of four syndicates, who allegedly specialise in sending threat telephone calls, text messages and emails to prominent politicians and foreign embassies for the purpose of extorting money from their victims.

Four members of one of the syndicate groups operate from Suleja, Niger State and Zuba in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). They are Stanley Ochuwa, Emmanuel Chinonyerem, Onyedikachi Akpasue and Mathias Akuegbo.

Operating under code names of Col. Murphy, Col. Adams, Col. Mordi and Engr.

Emma Nwachukwu, the men confessed to sending to prominent citizens and politicians messages to instill fear and cause panic.

They send the messages warning their victims that they have been marked for assassination and that they would spare their lives, if the victims could pay a ransom into specified bank accounts.

Among the GSM lines used are 08033832929 and 07038867338. The men claimed that they usually ob-

tain the telephone numbers of their victims from documents and complimentary cards taken from refuse dump sites of government ministries, departments, agencies and on the Internet.

SSS spokesperson, Ms Marilyn Ogar said some highly placed Nigerians, including an unnamed senator, have fallen victim to the syndicates.

Another member of a different syndicate, who operates from Kaduna, Haruna Alhaji Hassan (a.k.a Alhaji Madu Gana) allegedly threatened a former governor, now a senator, a Federal Permanent Secretary, a woman party leader in Maiduguri and a party chairman in Bauchi.

According to Ogar, Hassan introduces himself as the secretary of the dreaded Boko Haram sect and usually asks his victims to donate money for the purpose of propagating Islam or risk being bombed.

Ogar added that Hassan had received various sums of money, ranging from N30, 000 to N100, 000 from some of his terrified victims through a Union Bank account.

A sample of some of his messages from his operational

GSM number 08052611833 reads: “We are still aware with you and we will soon get to you. Insha Allah, expect us.”

Another suspect, Maurice Efe Lawrence, who hails from Delta State operates from Calabar with three GSM numbers – 08100428701, 08080468686 and 070383912813. He scares victims by threatening to bomb some cities, the SSS said.

He usually lists cities, such as Abuja, Port Harcourt, Jos, Katsina, Damaturu, Maiduguri, Lagos, Dutse and Akure.

One of his text messages to a director in the Ministry of Information reads: “A bomb attack is to take place on Friday and I have every detail even if you don’t want to be involved, send me the number of any SA or PA to Information Minister.”

Lawrence was also said to have claimed through text messages that he has information on plans to assassinate a governorship candidate in Kogi State and an armed robbery in Ondo State.

He was also caught with telephone numbers of some prominent politicians, public servants and private indi-

viduals which he claimed to have got from the Internet.

Another one, Chiwendu Josiah, from Imo State, who works in a cyber cafe in BeninCity, allegedly by sends threat e-mails to foreign embassies, alerting them of pending bomb attacks.

The SSS spokesperson said from investigation, it was established that Josiah was the author of the security threat messages that prompted some foreign embassies to issue travel alerts during the last Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

He sends his messages with a cloned GSM number 081881816038 and e-mail addresses; engrwendy.netguescyber @hotmail.com, book-haramalgaedas@hotmail.com, materp4pee@rmail.com and materp411@yahoo.com.

His text messages: “We are Boko Haram, we are coming for you”; “The brotherhood remains one indivisible entity.

There is no split and there is no splinter group. Stories of split are tissues of lies by the State Security Service to discredit us. Call on all true faithful who believe in our cause to join us by enlisting as a follower and become a member of the brotherhood in our

•One of the suspect ... yesterday

site.”

Josiah is said to have confessed to have been involved in Internet scams since1998.

The SSS stated that criminal elements have taken advantage of the current security situation in the country to cause panic and extort money from prominent members of the society.

Ogar advised top government functionaries and prominent citizens to be careful how they dispose used documents and other materials containing their vital details.”

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

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

5

NEWS WORLD AIDS DAY Nigeria explores local manufacture of HIV kits

For no choice of theirs, they are infected with HIV. They got the disease from birth. Reports say there are over 70,000 of such children in Nigeria, writes JOKE KUJENYA

Children at the mercy of HIV

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha

THE Federal Ministry of Health and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) are exploring ways to support the local manufacture of HIV test kits in order to increase availability for HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) and achieve the target of testing 80 per cent of Nigerians by 2015.

Director General, (NACA), Prof John Idoko said: “While we have noticed a reduction in HIV prevalence in Nigeria, the high rate in some states is still a source of concern to the National HIV Response. The National Agency for the Control of AIDS has begun consultation with the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC) of the Federal Ministry of Health to enable the agency secure license for the establishment of an HIV/AIDS Research Ethics Committee (HREC).”

‘HIV death rate has dropped’

By Nneka Nwaneri

EXPERTS yesterday said the rate of deaths from HIV/ AIDS has dropped.

They spoke at an event organised by the AIDS Prevention Initiative Nigeria (APIN) to commemorate the World AIDS Day (WAD).

AIPN Clinical Director, Dr Ernest Ekong said there is need to focus on campaign to effectively combat the epidemic, stating that 2.6 million people around the world have been infected with the virus since 2009.

In a lecture entitled “30 years of HIV/AIDS, The Harvard/APIN Experience and the Contributions to the World and National Response,” Ekong said many men, women and young children have little or no control against the risk of contracting the disease, adding that the HIV death rate has dropped by 75 per cent.

L

AST week in Surulere, Lagos Mainland, Mrs. Gloria Bolatale, a civil servant, was called from her office and informed that her four-year-old son, Noah, had taken critically ill. The boy’s health had since the last two years deteriorated to his parents’ consternation. Mrs Bolatale rushed home from the office and with a few of her co-tenants took the boy to a nearby private hospital in one of her neighbour’s cars.

At the hospital, a doctor, after administering some treatment on the lad, came out to the outer hall where the mother and her concerned residents were waiting. He then openly announced to the mother that her little boy was infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) causative agent.

One after the other, each of the neighbours left her without saying bye. As if that was not enough, by the time she got back home later that evening, the story had spread like wild fire.

Besides, a gang-up had been formed against her and her entire family. They were evicted from the house where they had lived for almost ten years by the landlord who suddenly dubbed them ‘dangerous’.

Her fate in her work place also hangs in the balance.

On Monday in Abuja, the Director-General, National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (NACA), Prof.

John Idoko, at a press conference on the 2011 World AIDS Day with the theme “Getting to Zero –Eliminating the Mother-Child Transmission”, announced that over 70, 000 children born annually in the country are infected by HIV. He ascribed the prevalence to the fact that more women in Nigeria are living with HIV due to inequity in the social,

political and economic status of several women in Africa.

A United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report also shows that across the world the number of children affected by the HIV pandemic is rocketing high, breaking all the limits.

The report noted: “This is directly having an impact on the child mortality rate.”

UNICEF Head of AIDS Programme, McDermott, also added: “Approximately 2.3 million children, all below 15 years have this almost incurable virus form in their blood. And none of these children is receiving any kind of treatment: hardly one to four percent has an access to the antiretroviral drugs, which is their only saviour.”

McDermott noted that it is rather shocking that in about 90per cent of the cases, “the child is being infected by their own mother’s blood while still in the womb and the rest while taking the mother’s milk.”

As at the end of 2009, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that about 2.5 million children were living with HIV. Of the number, about 2.3 million of them are said to be resident in sub-Saharan Africa.

Most of these children, the WHO said, acquire HIV from their HIV-infected mothers during pregnancy, through vertical deliveries at birth or breastfeeding adding that: “Every six seconds a person is infected by HIV and every 10 seconds a person dies somewhere of the disorder.”

The health body however noted that the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission can be reduced to 2 per cent. However, such interventions are still not widely accessible or available in most resource-limited countries where the burden of HIV is highest, and

an estimated 1,000 children were newly infected with HIV each day within the last three years.

When The Nation visited the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) yesterday , scores of women, with some carrying their babies, were being attended to by health officials.The large turnout is usually that way because the APIN usually bears the cost for HIV/ AIDS treatment while those infected only pay for their ante-natal cares and deliveries.

Consultant Haematologist with the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Assistant Coordinator, AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN), Dr. (Mrs) Titilope Adeyemo, said: “Here, we do everything we could to prevent vertical transmission from mothers to their babies. Sadly, we see some of them coming when they are already in labour. But we still try our best. It is just that at such times, the chances get slimmer to fully prevent the foetus.”

The doctor, who said she has been with the department since year 2003, added: “For the HIV-positive pregnant women we take care of here, or for those who have been positive and we have been taking care of them before they get pregnant, we do all we could and required to prevent ‘Vertical Delivery’ so their babies would not be infected at the point of birth which is what we call “Mother-to-Child Transmission.

“And I can confidently that you that for those we handle and give birth here with us, the rate of their babies getting infected have been less than one per cent.

So, less than one per cent of

Osun Speaker preaches against discrimination From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

S •Dr. Adeyemo

the women who come for care and take treatment here have their babies infected.

Another thing is that, majority of the women we take care of here are in their reproductive stages of life between the ages of 18 and 45.

That means, more than about 80 per cent of the women we see are highly susceptible and they also constitute the majority of people with HIV/AIDS. “The problem with majority of them is ignorance, misinformation and lack of education.

“I believe that the about 400 women we handle in this tertiary institution daily, are just a tip of the iceberg.

“We all need to know that babies can be prevented from getting the HIV, if their mothers start attending ante-natal treatments early enough. We must make that a collective effort and help the innocent babies live HIV-free lives. Early stages of pregnancy is the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, the first three months; every pregnant woman must have been fully tested and checked to see if there was anything wrong anywhere.

It is best to be sure that the woman and her baby are fine before the seventh month so the baby can be protected.”

PEAKER, Osun State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam, has said that people living with HIV/AIDS deserve better living.

He spoke during a public hearing on a bill that was sponsored by the Deputy Leader, Dr. Afolabi Atolagbe, at the chamber of the parliament in Osogbo.

The speaker said the bill would benefit people living with HIV/AIDS. He said the bill if passed would end stigmatisation.

Salaam enjoined the government to look into how the victims could be meaningfully engaged for them to have a better living standard.

129, 695 persons living with HIV/ AIDS in Niger From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

N

IGER State recorded a paltry one percent reduction in the prevalence rate of the HIV/ AIDS infection last year, putting the number of persons living with the disease at 129,695.

The Commissioner for Health and Hospital Services, Mallam Yahaya Dansallau, at a press conference to mark this year’s World’s AIDS Day, said for the first time, the state’s prevalence rate was below that of the national prevalence rate of 4.1 percent.

The commissioner spoke through his Permanent Secretary, Dr Chindo Bissalla.

Prevalence rate in 2010 was put at 5 percent. It fell to 4 percent this year.

•From left: Oloye Lekan Alabi, Mrs Ibukun Siwola Nee Fagunwa (chairman) and Chief Olu Falomo at the •Members of the Panel of Enquiry, Institute of Management and Technolpress conference on the 5th Annual D.O Fagunwa Memorial Lecture at Muson Centre Lagos. ogy Enugu taking oath during the inauguration of the Panel in PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA Enugu...yesterday

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THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

NEWS Reps restate opposition to fuel subsidy removal From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

The House of Representatives has restated its determination not to let Nigerians down on the proposed removal of subsidy from petroleum products by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, said Nigerians should have faith in the House on the matter, adding that the President must present it to the National Assembly.

Mohammed addressed reporters at an interactive session with members of the House.

He said the President would have to explain to Nigerians details of what is expended on fuel subsidy as against what was appropriated by the National Assembly.

Mohammed said: “The position of the House is that we don’t even know the amount spent on fuel subsidy. All oil producing countries in the world subsidise and we said if last year we spent half a trillion, this year we are talking about over a trillion, there is a problem somewhere.

“We are saying: where is this money going? We told Mr President at the last meeting we had with him to go after the cabal. ‘You are empowered; if it is on that, we are supporting you to unravel the economic saboteurs’.

“We are still on that page.

Until we are convinced, we will not do anything to betray the confidence of the people. We have closed this matter for a while. We are on it and we have not concluded on it. What we are saying is that the appropriate government agency, right from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and others, should give us information.”

Actress arraigned for alleged murder

By Adebisi Onanuga

Nollywood actress Bimbo Akinsanya was yesterday arraigned before a Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ikeja on charges of attempted murder of the Reverend Pat Ogechi Dennah.

The Nollywood star actress, who features majorly in the Yoruba genre of films in the industry was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony, wit murder.

The Police prosecutor, Mr, Barth Nwokedi alleged that Bimbo Akinsanya and others now at large, conspired to commit felony by shooting their victim, Reverend Dennah in front of her church at 20, Samuel Street, Akowonjo, Egbeda, Lagos on October 28, 2011.

Barth Nwokedi said the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 338 sand 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap, C 17, Vol. 11, Vol. 11, Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Alleged N3.3b theft: Okereke-Onyuike, others justify absence in court F

ORMER Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Ndi Okereke-Onyuike, yesterday justified her continued absence from the hearing of a criminal case against her and some others by the Lagos State Government.

She told the court, which queried her continued absence from court since the case was first mentioned earlier this year, that her presence was immaterial at the current stage of the case.

The state had, in July, filed two charges against OkerekeOnyuike and seven others, accusing them of stealing about N3. 3billion.

Named in the charges are Alhaji Lance Musa Elakama, a former senior official of the NSE, and Uzoma Henry Onyekuru. Five companies -

By Eric Ikhilae

Creative Financial Services Limited, Mining System Limited, OPDC Properties Limited, OAK Business and Finance Company Limited and Kingdom Securities and Finance Company Limited – are also named.

The accused are facing charges of conspiracy and stealing, contrary to Sections 516 and 390 (7) of the Criminal Code of Lagos State Cap C17, Vol. 2 Laws of Lagos State 2003.

Justice Christopher Balogun, yesterday directed the parties to address him on whether or not the presence of the accused was necessary while the court was

considering their applications challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case and the competence of the charges.

Lead defence counsel Robert Clarke (SAN) contended that the accused persons’ presence in court was unnecessary since the trial was yet to begin.

He argued that under Section 208 of the state’s Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), 2007 (as amended in 2011), an accused person’s presence is only required during trial.

Relying on Appeal Court’s decisions in the cases of Gani Fawehinmi vs the AttorneyGeneral of Lagos, reported in 1989 3 NWLR Part 112 at page 707,

and the case of Ezezi and Others vs the State, Clarke argued that the accused persons’ presence before the beginning of trial was unnecessary.

“Based on both decisions, it is a settled law that it is absolutely unnecessary for the accused to be in court for the purpose of determining their applications challenging the charge and seeking to quash it,” he said.

Clarke argued that the application to quash a charge does not amount to a trial, but one which challenges whether there should be a trial. He assured that his clients would be in court at the commencement of trial.

Lead prosecution counsel Lawal Pedro (SAN) agreed with Clarke’s submission, noting that but for the accused persons’ preliminary objec-

tion, he would have, relying on the provision of Section 56 of the ACJL, applied that a bench warrant be issued on the accused. He urged the court to first determine the accused persons’ preliminary objection before seeking their attendance.

Justice Balogun drew the lawyers’ attention to the recent Court of Appeal’s decision in the case of Alintah vs the state, reported in 2010 6 NWLR part 1191 at page 508 and directed them to address his court on the Appeal Court’s decision on that case in relation to whether or not the accused persons’ presence was required before trial begins.

The judge adjourned till December 9 for the adoption of the parties’ written addresses. A date would then be fixed for hearing.

•Edo community women in Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom protesting the neglect of social obligations by Septa Energy Company constructing a gas plant in the area…yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Senate committee steps into airport fee row

T

HE Senate has stepped into the row over the implementation of N2,500 processing fees at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two in Ikeja, Lagos.

There is a major disagreement between the Ministry of Aviation and the operators of the terminal, BiCourtney Aviation Service Limited, over the charges.

Officials of the ministry said the operator got the approval to raise the fee from N1,000 to N2,000, while the operator insists it got the necessary approval.

An attempt to raise the charge to N2,500 last month was rejected by Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella OduahOgiewonyi.

The Senator Hope Uzodinma-led Senate Committee

on Aviation is expected to begin an investigation today.

The operator in a letter dated November 3, 2011 to the Committee, signed by Kabir Akandi, said it would start implementing the processing fees from this month.

But it was gathered that the ministry has instructed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure that Bi-Courtney does not raise the charge, saying no approval has been granted.

Special Adviser (Legal) to the Minister of Aviation, Mr Marc Jacobs, said a $15 approval was granted when regional operations were going to take place at the terminal.

He said the ministry at that time wanted to protect Bi-Courtney and to open an

avenue for the firm to recoup its investment, stressing that the $15 fee was not for domestic passengers or operations.

Jacobs said Mrs OduahOgiewonyi is concerned about the hardship the N2,500 levy will have on passengers.

In a letter to the Senate in response to the petition by BCourtney, the ministry stated: “Under the Concession Agreement between the Federal Government and BiCourtney, Bi-Courtney is meant to liaise with FAAN, which is the Federal Government Agency in charge of dayto-day running of all federal airports in Nigeria, and in particular, Terminal 2 (the subject of the concession). Bi— Courtney was supposed to have applied to FAAN for the

increase and FAAN will consider the Concessionaire’s request and make appropriate recommendation to the Ministry of Aviation for approval. It is only upon the recommendation of FAAN that the Ministry of Aviation can give approval to the Concessionaire (Bi-Courtney) to charge the relevant fees.”

FAAN, in a letter dated July 25, addressed to the ministry, said an approval granted on $15 to Bi-Courtney as Facility Maintenance Fee implies that at every positive change in Dollar rate, there will be an automatic increase in the Facility Maintenance Fee. “The $15 at that time translated into N2, 475. We also mentioned that the Airport Tax of N600 by Bi-Courtney is a duplication of the Facility Maintenance Fee.

Falana hails Jonathan for dropping Elechi as ICPC Chair

R

IGHTS activist Femi Falana yesterday hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for preventing Francis Ugochukwu Elechi from assuming office as the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Reports had shown that the Presidency, in a last minute change of mind, prevented Elechi from taking the oath of office.

Falana noted that the decision, which came on the heels of the dismissal of Mrs.

By Eric Ikhilae

Farida Waziri as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is commendable.

He said the Federal Government has the opportunity to retool ICPC and EFCC and reactivate them for the fight against corruption.

The frontline lawyer urged the National Assembly to review the laws establishing both institutions and related agencies to strengthen them for the challenges ahead.

In a statement in Lagos, Falana said: “The nomination of Elechi as ICPC Chairman was greeted with strident criticisms by a number of civil society organisations and concerned individuals.

“In particular, I pointed out that Mr. Elechi’s appointment was likely to further whittle down and compromise the anti-corruption crusade of the Federal Government because of his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State; more so that he has never associ-

ated himself with the campaign against corruption in the country.

“In commending President Jonathan for dropping Mr Elechi as the Chair of ICPC, after removing Mrs Waziri as the EFCC Chair, (it is noted that) the Federal Government appears to be determined to rejig the fight against corruption, which has been derailed due to corruption of anticorruption officials and incompetence as well as undue interference from the Executive.”

Fed Govt, National Assembly to revive Unity Colleges

T

HE Federal Government and the National Assembly will collaborate to revive unity colleges, it was said yesterday.

The Minister of State Education, Ezenwo Wike, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, spoke during the facility inspection of Federal Government College, Tambuwal, Sokoto State.

The minister said there is need for the Executive and Legislative arms of government to work together for the revival of facilities in federal unity colleges.

He said: “We need the support of the National Assembly to drive home the total transformation of facilities at our unity colleges to make them centres of excellences.”

A statement by the Special Assistant to the Minister (Media) Simeon Nwakausu quoted Wike as saying the visit by the leadership of the House of Representatives to a unity college would enable them to understand the challenges the schools were facing.

Tambuwal assured that the House would work with the Federal Ministry of Education to revive unity colleges.

The Chairman, House Committe on Education, Farouk Lawan, urged all stakeholders to improve the quality of education to Nigerian children.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

7

NEWS UK DFID to integrate ex-militants

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

T

HE United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) is to re-train exmilitants in community reintegration upon completion of their offshore vocational training.

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters Kingsley Kuku said this is part of the contributions of the international community to bring peace to the Niger Delta.

Kuku spoke at the pre-departure orientation in Lagos, where 194 ex- militants were sent to Poland, United Arab Emirates, Israel and Trinidad and Tobago.

They will be trained in marine technology, crane operations, heavy equipment, automotive services, instrumentation and industrial maintenance as well as pilot and cabin crew.

“The British Council is funding a project through the DFID, they are collaborating with the Federal Government and the Amnesty Office to provide training for the ex-militants to re-integrate them.

“This is because the exmilitants may face some animosities when they return.

“The British Government is providing a template of training for reconciliation, to train them to be accepted back into their communities.

It is a kind of community healing,” Kuku said.

Blame yourself if you fail, ACF tells Jonathan

N

ORTHERN leaders yesterday told President Goodluck Jonathan that he should blame himself, if he fails to deliver on his electoral promises.

Speaking under the aegis of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the leaders said the allegations that they were the sponsors of Boko Haram was unfounded.

The ACF is organising a peace summit later in the year.

ACF spokesman Anthony Sani said: “Do we say that with the kidnappings in the Southeast eastners are making the country ungovernable or do we say because of the oil bunkering in the Southsouth, southerns are making the country ungovernable for the President?

“I have often challenged people, especially from the South to point out anybody in the North who said he will make the country ungovernable for Jonathan.

“The truth is that we have a problem on our hands and what matters right now is

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

the ability to handle the situation.

“The North has nothing to benefit from sponsoring Boko Haram.

“In any case, whoever says he will make the country ungovernable for the President is not a democrat.

“He has been elected by Nigerians and they are the ones to reap whatever benefit there is.

“If he is good, they will reap the benefit and if he is bad, they will also reap the benefits.

“Nigerians have spoken by electing Jonathan and there is nothing anybody can do about that.”

Speaking on Boko Haram and efforts by the ACF to address the crisis, Sani said: "I agree that northern leaders should have done more than they have done. The ACF is not a government organ, but an NGO.

‘The North has nothing to benefit from sponsoring Boko Haram. In any case, whoever says he will make the country ungovernable for the President is not a democrat.’

“We cannot give directive on what should be done.

What we can do is only to offer suggestions and put pressure on government to make things happen.

"We have made efforts to ensure peace in the North.

We have visited all crisis areas as a body and this is based on moral authority because we do have any instrument

of coercion. Boko Haram is a national malaise that should be addressed by the whole country.

“The ACF has submitted a memo to the President on the issue and we will continue to make efforts to ensure that the situation is brought under control. So, we cannot say that we have done enough.”

Speaking on the peace conference, Sani said it is common knowledge that the nation is facing difficult times characterised by kidnappings, militant activities, ethno-religious crisis and recent incidences of bombings by Boko Haram.

He noted that apart from the untold hardship by way of loss of lives and property caused the people, such problems of insecurity impede the socio-economic development of not only the North, but the country.

He noted that the ACF was organising the conference towards attaining permanent peace not only in the North, but also across the nation.

A

•From right: Guest Speaker Oba Otudeko; Akintola Williams; Chairman of the occasion Arthur Mbaneto and Chairman Board of Trustees, Akintola William Lecture Series Tony Kayode at the lecture at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos...yesterday .

PHOTO RAHMAN SANUSI

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Reps query MDGs office over N25b consultancy fees

HE House of Representatives has queried the N25billiom allocated to consultancy in the N54billion budget for constituency projects in 2008 and 2009 by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) office.

The lawmakers advised the MDGs office to re-evaluate its consultants’ register as a result of sleaze and extortion.

Speaking at an interactive session, the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the President on MDGs, Dr. Precious

From Victor Oluwasegun projects, reports show that our electorate has not enjoyed the and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Gbenol; Chairman House Committee on Constituency Outreach Aisha Dahiru Ahmed said the meeting became imperative as a result of the poor level of constituency projects across the country.

“This has to a large extent put us in bad light against our constituents because rather than benefit from the

services these projects are supposed to offer.”

She said petitions from some lawmakers showed that most projects were either uncompleted or non functional.

Ms. Gbenol advised that lawmakers, in whose constituencies the projects were located, should be involved.

The SSA said they were not to select contractors but to offer solution to location, com-

Creation of 20,000 jobs by Ajimobi thrills ACN

T

Abuja

A NEW policy that will encourage the use of cassava to complement wheat is underway.

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday urged Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the economy Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, ministers of National Planning, Dr. Shamusideen Usman, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Ayodeji and the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Prof. Nwanze Okidegbe, to come up with policies to encourage the use of cassava flour for confectionary.

The President said the initiative would save the country foreign exchange.

Besides, he said it would create jobs and lead to price stability.

The country spends N656 billion on importation of wheat yearly.

President Jonathan spoke at the presentation of cassava bread yesterday shortly before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

The bread is made of 40 per cent cassava and 60 per cent wheat.

From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

From Augustine Ehikioya, Enugu

HRILLED by the scheduled inauguration of the 20,000 jobs scheme for youths in Oyo State, the state chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday hailed the Governor Abiola Ajimobiled administration.

Code-named the “Youth Empowerment Scheme, Oyo

From Vincent Ikuomola,

Anglican Primate hails Senate

UNICEF seeks child-friendly budgets S federal and state governments prepare their next year’s budget, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is seeking increased funding for sectors that impact on children.

UNICEF Social Policy Specialist Maryam Abdu spoke yesterday at a two-day workshop in Enugu on child friendly budgeting.

According to her, reduction of allocations for health, education, water, sanitation, environment adversely affect children in Nigeria.

She regretted that where adequate provisions for the children-related sectors in the budgets, the programmes are mostly not implemented.

She said 24 states have domesticated the Child Rights Act .

The UNICEF official called for implementation of the content of the Child Rights Act and domestication of the Act in states where it is not yet recognised.

New policy on cassava coming

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

(YES-O), the scheme will be flagged off today at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, by the governor.

Ajimobi had promised during his campaign to employ 20,000, youths within the first few months of assuming office.

The first set of beneficiaries were drawn from across the 33 local governments of the state.

They are to be deployed to the education, the environment and traffic management sectors.

A statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Dauda

Kolawole, yesterday described the inauguration of the project as a sign of good things to come to the people for voting for the progressive party during the last election.

He urged residents to continue to support Ajimobi’s government in its bid to transform the state to a place of “our dreams.”

munal and environmental challenges.

A lawmaker, Razak BeloOsagie, regretted that the progress report presented by the MDGs office showed that N25billion was expended on consultancy and rental fee of warehouses across the country.

Another lawmaker, Tijjani Abudulkadir, said the problem of consultants who extort money from contractors before the issuance of certificates has become endemic.

Deputy Chairman of the committee Pally Iriase urged the MDG Office to liaise with the committee to proffer solution to the paucity of fund traced to the Federal Ministry of Finance that has been affecting the work of the organisation.

Ms. Gbenol apologised for the misleading figures in the report, pointing out that the N25billion was not meant for consultant fees and warehouse rental alone but included the actual cost of the project.

THE Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Communion of Nigeria, Rev Nicholas Okoh, has commended the Senate‘s decision to prohibit same sex marriage.

He said the lawmakers were able to uphold the nation’s moral integrity, despite intimidations.

The cleric spoke yesterday after the dedication of St. Andrew’s Church Building, Bishops Court and Cathedral International Centre in Kubwa, Abuja.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan should also endorse it without much delay.

Africa loses $28.4b to lack of water

By Miriam Ndikanwu

THE United Nations Educational and Scientific Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) yesterday revealed that Africa loses about $28.4billion annually due to lack of access to clean water.

The organisation’s Assistant Director-General for Strategic Planning, , Hans d’Orville, made this known at the opening of the first Africa Regional Water Conference.

The conference was organised by the Africa Leadership Forum (ALF) in collaboration with the Melody for Dialogue Among Civilisations Associations (MDACA) in Ota, Ogun State.

The event, which was chaired by Micheal Omolewa, was attended by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chairman UN Water/Africa Group, Dr. Stephen Donkor.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

8

NEWS Street traders sentenced in Lagos

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HE Ministry of Environment in Lagos State has prosecuted over 92 environmental offenders in the last few days.

The offenders were given non-custodian sentences by the court. This includes washing of public toilets, sweeping of major highways or cleaning up dumpsites.

Commissioner for Environment Mr. Tunji Bello said the government is determined to eradicate street trading and indiscriminate dumping of refuse, as well as maintain a clean environment.

Bello said: “The implementation of the non-custodian sentences is meant to serve as a deterrent to offenders, as well as bring about environmental sanity.

“The enforcement exercise is continuous and will be sustained until the major highways and streets are clean and free of hawkers and all forms of street trading.

“I also warn those who patronise hawkers to desist from this act, as both buyers and sellers are culpable under the law.”

Ondo will join progressives in 2013, says Agunloye

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CHIEFTAIN of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State, Dr. Olu Agunloye, has said Ondo will join the progressives in the Southwest in 2013.

Agunloye lauded the ideals and philosophy of the ACN, adding that it is the only party that can provide the dividends of democracy to the electorate.

He said the recent influx of new members into the ACN at his Erusu-Akoko home town shows that the Labour Party (LP) adminis-

Daniel fails to stop Ogun Truth Panel ORMER Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, for the second time, failed yesterday to stop the Ogun Truth Commission from enquiring into assassinations and abuses between January 2003 and May 29, 2011.

On October 27, Daniel’s counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, got an injunction restraining Governor Ibikunle Amosun and members of the panel from probing or asking Daniel and any member of his administration to appear before the commission for questioning.

Yesterday, Daniel, through his counsel, Dr. Yemi Oke, prayed the commission to adjourn indefinitely, pending

F

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

the determination of an appeal filed before the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The panel, headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Justice Pius Aderemi, threw out the application at its inaugural sitting yesterday, saying it lacked merit.

The commission’s counsel, Mr. Olubunmi Koleowo, urged members to discountenance the application, arguing that he has not been served any process.

Koleowo said: “An appeal does not operate as a stay of proceedings. Daniel is not a

party before the commission and has not been cited as a respondent before it.”

Amosun set up the panel on September 14 to look into unresolved cases of assassination and abuse of some Ogun State indigenes between January 2003 and May 29, 2011.

Members of the commission are Mr. Pius Aderemi, Mr. Abdulahi Mustapha, Mr. Dalopo Akinsanya, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, Mr. Tunji Onabamwo and Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju.

The panel is to also identify individuals, institutions and groups, whose activities resulted in killings or abuse, identify victims, ascertain the extent of damage to the prop-

erty of such victims and offer appropriate measures and sanctions against the perpetrators, conspirators and master minds of the acts.

The panel is expected to look into the killing of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate in the 2007 governorship election, Otunba Dipo Dina; the disappearance of Animashaun Lemomu; the killing of 65 supporters of Amosun between 2005 and 2009; the assassination attempt on Daniel’s former Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Wale Adedayo; and the harassment and threat to the life of former Ijebu East Local Government Chairman Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

tration has lost its popularity.

The former minister said: “You can see what happened last week in Erusu-Akoko, when the entire community, including masquerades and traditional worshippers joined ACN.” The ACN governorship aspirant lamented that the Governor Olusegun Mimiko administration neglected Akoko in favour of Ondo central and urged the people to vote for ACN in 2013.

Judge’s absence stalls EFCC’s case HE absence of Justice against Fayose

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Emmanuel Obile yesterday stalled the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC’s) case of fraud against former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, at the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Justice Obile, who was suspected to have gone on an ad hoc assignment, had, on October 19, complained that his

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

residential tenancy had lapsed.

At the last hearing, the issue of jurisdiction, raised by Fayose’s counsel, Otunba Kunle Kalejaye (SAN) stalled the case.

Both counsel fixed the next hearing for February 23, next year.

Ondo gets three APCs

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HE Ondo State Government has taken delivery of three Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to help the police curb crime.

In a statement yesterday, Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr. Kayode Akinmade said the lack of sophisticated equipment by the police has been hampering effective crime

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS This is to notify the general public of the loss of the original copy of the deed of conveyance dated 28th august 1961 and registered as no 56 at page 56 in volume 1537 at the lagos state land registry office,ikeja covering all that property at no 7 Ajibola street,ketu mile 12 Lagos State belonging to madam Sinatu animashaun.General public to please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS This is to notify the general public that Certificate of Occupancy belonging to Mr.Ewemade Osa-Bob of flat 26,Ribadu road, Ikoyi Lagos with No. 56/56/ 2004z, dated 15/10/2004 issued by lagos state government is missing all effort to trace it proves abortive. If found please return to the nearest police station or address above.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

control.

Akinmade said the APCs would be placed in strategic locations across the state to ensure prompt response to emergencies.

He urged residents and banks to go about their daily activities without fear, adding that the era of robbery is over.

However, banks in Akure, the state capital, hurriedly shut down at about 9am yesterday, following unconfirmed reports that robbers were operating near the Government House in Alagbaka.

Residents, including commercial motorcyclists and cab drivers abandoned the roads.

Robbers attacked a bank in Akure last Tuesday, killing several persons.

•Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (middle) and his deputy, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka (left); handing over newly purchased Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olayinka Balogun...yesterday

Aregbesola urges conversion of polytechnics to varsities O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has advocated the conversion of polytechnics to universities.

He lamented that polytechnic graduates are treated as inferior to their university counterparts by the society.

Aregbesola spoke yesterday while delivering the 27th Graduation Lecture of The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

The lecture, entitled “Polytechnic education in Nigeria: The shape of things to come,” took place at the main campus of the institution.

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

Represented by the Chairman of Osun Tour, Mr. Abimbola Daniyan, Aregbesola said: “Many polytechnic graduates go ahead to get university degrees, so that they would not suffer any of the indignities visited on polytechnic graduates.

“Polytechnics do not get as much funding as the universities; their lecturers do not get as much pay as their university counterparts; and their

teaching staff will not likely attract the best brains, since they would naturally prefer to go to the universities.

“This anomaly of subordination is self reinforcing and self perpetuating. It will only get worse.

“The reality of this absurd situation is that we must consider the future of the products of these institutions and how the present imbalance affects their destiny. This is not about competition; it is about relevance and relative utility.

“Two things may have to be

Lagos Speaker decries dearth of legislative trainers

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AGOS State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji has decried the dearth of experienced legislative trainers in the country.

Ikuforiji spoke at Golden Tulip Hotel in Festac, Lagos, at the opening of a fiveday retreat with the theme “Good governance through legislative performance and effective budgeting.”

The retreat, organised by the Lagos Assembly for its lawmakers and staff, was also attended by lawmakers from other states.

Ikiforiji said: “It is very unfortunate that

By Oziegbe Okoeki

though Nigeria’s democracy is growing, having been allowed to run freely for the past 12 years, there is scarcity people skilled in legislative business to train and retrain legislators and their aides.

This poses a great danger to the development of the nation’s fledgling democracy.

“It is necessary for us to ensure that more skilled Nigerians specialise in legislative matters in order to train future legislators and their aides. This is the surest way to develop our democracy.

“You will all agree with me that firms that specialise in legislative matters are scarce in Nigeria, unlike what obtains in developed democracies. “ He said the Lagos Assembly will continue to train its members and staff regularly.

Ikuforiji urged his colleagues to be determined to record greater achievements than past assemblies.

He said: “We must successfully fight poverty and underdevelopment in the country.”

done. Polytechnics may have to be scrapped altogether or converted into universities.

The first is not feasible, given that a mission of comparable weight must be found for the infrastructure they are going to leave behind.

“But we can upgrade them to universities, whose focus will remain the provision of technical education, application of science and centres for skill acquisition. This is what happened to the polytechnics in Europe and America.

We can learn a lesson or two from this.

“The time has come to critically look at polytechnic education and decide what direction it should go.

“No level of education has been as controversial and unstable as the polytechnic, but no one can deny its contribution to manpower development.”

The governor, who is an alumnus of the institution, said the standard of education in the country has fallen, whether university or polytechnic, and “there is no wisdom in comparing two rotten apples.”

9

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

NEWS Sokoto: Sylva treatment likely for Wamakko From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

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HERE is uneasy calm in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the alleged plot to disqualify Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Magartakada Wamakko from recontesting.

The election is scheduled for March next year. But there is tension over plans to give Wamakko what a source described as “Timipreye Sylva” treatment.

Besides, it was gathered that some strategists of President Goodluck Jonathan have prevailed on the Minister of Sports Suleiman Yusuf to run for the seat.

Yusuf, who obtained his nomination form yesterday, is believed to be a neutral candidate in view of the division which Wamakko and Senator Abubakar Gada’s ambition has caused within the state chapter of the party.

Investigation showed that Wamakko had been running from pillar to post to survive because of the petitions against him before the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP. A source said: “The governor is fighting a political battle of his life. He has been running to emirs to save his political career.

“A major hurdle before him is how to survive the PDP screening which will hold soon.”

It was gathered that beside allegedly working against President Goodluck Jonathan before the presidential primary election in January, Wamakko allegedly “sponsored” opposition parties in Zamfara and Kebbi states against the PDP. Jonathan suffered defeat mostly in the Northwest during the primary, a development which made the choice of Vice-President Namadi Sambo a liability.

Although the governor has been flying to Abuja in the last two weeks to clear himself of all the allegations, it was learnt that some strategists advised the presidency against giving him a “second chance”.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The National Secretariat of the PDP has received petitions against Wamakko with security implications.

“The party will look at the petitions any moment from now before it begins the screening.

“Depending on the weight of the allegations, the party may disqualify Wamakko.

But the allegations are certainly grievous.”

Asked to name some of the allegations, the top party source added: “We will release these to the public at the appropriate time.

“Some of the allegations border on anti-party activities and security issues.”

Yusuf, who was at the National Secretariat of the PDP to collect the governorship nomination ticket received a warm welcome.

A nominee of an influential Emir in the cabinet, Yusuf is highly favoured to clinch the ticket.

Another source said: “Yusuf is more or less the candidate of the President and the revered Emir. I think Wamakko has a slim chance.”

Federal Executive Council approves N18.7b contracts

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HE Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday, after its weekly meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, approved contracts worth N18.7billion.

The contracts cover power, transport and emergency services.

Power took a large chunk with the contract for the supply of gas to the Papalanto power plant put at N1.02billion and $20.234million. The contract is to be completed within seven months.

Information Minister Labaran Maku, who briefed reporters in company of Ministers of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji; Education, Prof Ruqayyat Ahmed Rufa’i; and Culture, Chief Edem Duke; said the initial contract was revoked due to the inability of the former contractor to deploy and main-

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

tain sufficient resources on the project.

FEC also approved the supply of Aluminum Conductor Composite Core Reinforced (ACCCR) for re-conductoring of the Itu-Calabar 132KV line for $1,627,464.00 payable at the prevailing exchange rate, at the time of payment, with N24,853,002.74.

Maku noted that this is because the Itu-Calabar 132KV is overloaded with a maximum wheeling capacity of only 60MW. The contract has a delivery period of 32weeks.

The Council approved N6.63 billion for the purchase of textbooks on different subjects for primary one and primary two pupils; and library resource materials for junior secondary

schools in 34 states.

This is to be executed by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) while funding would be from 15 per cent of the two per cent Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government.

The primary school textbooks are on English Language, Mathematics, Basic Science and Technology, and Social Studies. The books and library resource materials are for public schools in the 34 states.

Bauchi and Lagos states, according to Maku, were exempted from the project because they had provided such books to their pupils.

Also, Maku announced the approval of a N5.61 billion contract for the supply and installation of new communications solutions for the eastern section of the Nigeria Railway

Corporation in line with ongoing rehabilitation efforts and to conform with the latest technology and best practices in railway signaling and communications.

The FEC also approved for the procurement of 1 Bell Search and Rescue Helicopter Model 429 DFIF

EMS, configured with Emergency Medical Ambulance Services for the use of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for component payable at the exchange rate at the time of payment and N508,394,035.50 as the local currency component.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

10

NEWS KOGI 2011

PDP, ACN trade words over destruction of campaign billboards

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HE Kogi State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday alleged that some thugs working for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) destroyed its campaign billboards.

In a statement by the Chairman, Media Sub-Committee of Idris Wada Campaign Organisation, Mr Faruk AdejohAudu, the party alleged that the publicity materials were defaced “in the last 48 hours.”

It said ACN sent men to destroy the billboards because it claimed its signs were ear-

•It’s a lie, says ACN From Joseph Jibueze, Lokoja lier destroyed by PDP agents.

The statement reads: “We hear that Audu said his billboards were destroyed first, that is why he is destroying our own. We didn’t order anybody to destroy any billboard. We don’t know Audu’s intention but we don’t think he is interested in contesting election.

“They are not denying it.

What they said is that PDP

Ringim promises ‘safe and secure’ election in Kogi

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HE Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, has said security agencies would ensure that Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State holds without violence.

According to him, the election will be “free, fair, safe and secure.”

Ringim spoke in Lokoja, the state capital, when he led heads of other security agencies to receive 63 Hilux vans donated to them by Governor Ibrahim Idris.

The police chief said they would work together “to serve and protect the good people of Kogi State.”

He added: “The vehicles will help us police the state effec-

From Joseph Jibueze and Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja tively. We’ll not allow criminals to take over. We’ll make sure Saturday’s election will be free and fair.

“I want to assure you that each and everyone of us will do the very best that we are required to do in order to ensure a free, fair, safe and secure election.”

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) had alleged that the vans were purchased to transport Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs, fake soldiers and policemen on Saturday, but Idris said the claim was wrong.

Buhari: PDP has failed Nigeria

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ORMER Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) presidential candidate, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a failure.

He said those who assumed power on its platform have done little to improve the lives of Nigerians at the federal and state levels.

According to him, evidence of failure is seen in epileptic electricity supply, bad roads and dysfunctional rail system; corruption, failed health system, falling standards of education and misuse of public funds, among others.

Addressing the grand finale of CPC’s governorship campaign in Lokoja, the state capital, Buhari urged the people to vote the party’s candidate, James Ocholi (SAN), and his running mate, Abdurazaq Yusuf.

A vote for them, he said,

From Joseph Jibueze, Lokoja

would guarantee development and what he called zerotolerance for corruption.

Buhari said: “To what level has the PDP government taken you in the area of infrastructure, such as good roads, electricity supply, health? Why are so many people out of jobs?

“Where are the roads despite huge sums allocated for them?

Where are the railways?” Buhari asked.

The former Head-of-State said his party’s leadership would fully back the prosecution of any of its governors who steal public funds.

“No CPC governor will be larger than the party. None will be allowed to misuse public funds. Anybody who steals public funds will go to jail.

This is going to be a new Nigeria. Anyone who does not want to work with us is free to

destroyed their billboards first. But it is not true, because we have our people under control. ACN has admitted that they gave the order that PDP billboards should be brought down.

“Where was the billboard of Audu that was destroyed?

How many billboards did he mount in this town? He wants to provoke an all-out violence, which we are not interested in.”

But Audu denied the allegation.

His Media Officer, Sanni Ologu, said: “We have prepared our formal reaction, which we will make public at the appropriate time. But for this purpose, I want to say that even Adejoh-Audu knows that everything concocted in his advertorial on Tuesday, accusing the ACN of violence, is a tissue of lies which can only emanate from a sick and deluded mind.

“Every Nigerian can attest to the fact that ACN is not a violent party like the PDP. As such, all their accusations have failed to hold water.”

Fashola seeks support for ACN candidate

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

LAGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday urged the people of Kogi State to support the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its governorship candidate in the December 3 election.

He noted that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has nothing to show for ruling the state in the past eight years.

Fashola, who addressed airport reporters on arrival from Abuja, said : “I am optimistic and I think that the PDP will have an uphill task in a free and fair election to persuade people to keep it in office, given its persistent record of failure across the country.

“Look at the economy, which is stuttering and floundering. Look at the way the national economy is and at the percentage of the economy that is in the control of the PDP.”

ACN raises security concerns

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Kogi State yesterday alleged plan by security agencies to work against its interests in Saturday’s governorship election.

It urged them to play their roles fairly and without prejudice.

The Director-General of the Prince Abubakar Audu Campaign Organisation, Mr Abdullahi Ibrahim, said the party got information that the head of a security agency in the state met with National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who are to work as Presiding Officers, urging them to work against ACN. Ibrahim, in a statement by

From Joseph Jibueze, Lokoja Audu’s Media Officer, Mr Sanni Ologun, said the security chief specifically told the corps members that ACN is a “troublesome party” and that the security agencies are out to deal with the party “decisively”.

ACN said it got information that some of the security agencies would soon begin massive clampdown on its loyal and strong members and its agents for the election.

Urging the security agencies to secure the life and property of residents without partiality or political consideration, Ibrahim said

any attempt to undermine ACN’s chances in the election would not be in the interest and progress of the state.

He noted that security agencies were supposed to play their roles without regard to personalities or government in power in any political contest, adding that it would be unfortunate for them to engage in such anti-democratic activities.

He said: “We have information that the state government, on Monday night, distributed AK47 rifles to thugs in the three Senatorial districts to scare and intimidate voters during the governorship election.”

•From left: Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Rural Development, Alhaji Ahmed Yahaya Makama and Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Alhaji AbdulRaheem Adedoyin, taking oath of office during their inauguration at Government House, Ilorin...yesterday.

Three children, lecturer die in fire

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HREE children of Mr and Mrs Nduka Ahibuke were on Tuesday night killed in a fire in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.

A lecturer with the Department of Continuing Education of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Dr. Mohammed Shettima Larduma, also died in a fire at his guest house, Yesmeen Guest Inn, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Other lodgers were said to have escaped before the fire razed the hotel.

It was learnt that a lodger lit a candle following an outage.

The candle reportedly burnt the wooden table on which it was placed, resulting in the fire, which spread to other rooms.

The children – Chichi (eight);

From Eunice Bosua, Dutse and Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri Chidebere (five); and Kelechi (two) - were reportedly left behind when their parents went to work.

Mr Ahibuke said he works at a restaurant and that his wife is a hotel receptionist.

The fire, which started at 7.30pm, engulfed the Ahibukes’ self-contained home with the children inside.

It was learnt that there was no power supply in the area when the fire started.

Neighbours said the cause of the fire was unknown, but police spokesman Abdul Jinjiri said it might have started from a candle the children lit before they fell

asleep.

Mr Ahibuke said he received a distress call from work and ran home to find his children burnt to death.

“I met my three only children burnt completely to ashes. I couldn’t recognise my own children, apart from their sizes. It was a shock of my life. I couldn’t believe it,” he said, crying.

Dr Larduma was said to be in the room next to where the fire started. It was not clear why he was unable to escape as other occupants did.

The guest house, located at Gomari, behind the university, has reportedly been on generators following incessant outages in the area. But the generator was said to have broken down.

Appeal Court to hear Kwara ACN case Dec 5

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HE Appeal Court, sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, will on December 5 begin hearing on the appeal filed by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) senatorial candidate for Kwara Central in the April election.

ACN’s Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe is challenging the ruling of the National/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal which upheld the election of Senator Bukola Saraki.

The party, on November 4,

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

filed its notice of appeal containing 13 grounds.

It is asking the appellate court to determine if the tribunal was right in not applying the principles of severance between the criminal allegations, such as ballot snatching and violence, and civil allegations, including non-counting of votes and non-accreditation, contained in its petition as allowed in civil proceedings

SSS raids ‘illegal’ NYSC orientation camp in Niger

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HE State Security Service (SSS) in Niger State has smashed a syndicate operating an illegal National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Minna, the state capital.

It arrested a suspect and 34 victims of the camp.

The Nation learnt that the raid followed a tip-off by the state Director of NYSC, Hajiya Fatimatu Mohammed, to the Director of SSS. Parading the victims, comprising 21 ladies and 13 men, yesterday in Minna, the NYSC State Director, Dr Larry Obiagwu said his operatives raided the illegal camp situated in the precincts of Kinkin Primary School, Bosso, a suburb of Minna, last Wednesday.

Obiagwu, who spoke through Essien Okon, an Assistant Director, said part-time programme graduates of six tertiary institutions from the

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

Southeast were arrested with Kelechukwu Osinomumu, a member of the gang.

He noted that the gang collected money, ranging from N120,000 to N350,000 from the victims and brought them to the illegal camp with a promise to integrate them into the NYSC scheme and help them secure the Corps’ discharge certificate.

Twenty-five of the victims were said to be graduates of University of Calabar Consultancy Services, Cross River; four victims from Nnamadi Azikiwe University Akwa, Anambra State; and one each from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus; Enugu State University of Technology and Institute of Management of Technology (IMT) Enugu.

like electoral matters.

The tribunal had categorised the allegations in the ACN petition as criminal in nature, adding that the petitioners needed to prove them beyond reasonable doubt.

ACN wants the Appeal Court to determine whether the tribunal was right in not subtracting votes wrongly computed in favour of Saraki and for failing to add the votes found wrongly deducted from Oloriegbe’s score.

Speaker blames Fulani herdsmen for killings From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

Benue State House of Assembly Speaker David Iorhembba has blamed Fulani herdsmen for the recent killings of some Tiv in Guma Local Government Area.

Iorhemba accused the herdsmen of provoking Tiv, who are predominately farmers, by allegedly destroying their farms with the cattle.

Addressing reporters in his office, the Speaker said Fulani herdsmen have, in the past two weeks, killed over 20 persons in Guma Local Government Area and burnt many homes.

He urged the Federal Government to provide grazing areas for the Fulani nomads.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Naira falls at interbank, gains at auction

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HE naira weakened against the United States’ dollar on the interbank market yesterday, but strengthened at the biweekly auction after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cleared all demand for the greenback at its official window.

The local currency according to Reuters News, closed at N161.20 to the dollar on the interbank market compared to N161.10 to the dollar on Tuesday.

Traders said the currency weakened to as N161.55 to the dollar at the interbank market intraday on strong dollar demand, but firmed to close stronger after the CBN and some oil companies sold dollars to selected lenders.

Dealers said local unit of Exxon Mobil sold around $50 million, while Royal Dutch Shell sold about $100 million to some lenders, which helped to calm the market toward the close of trading.

The Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is a potent tool of investment capital that will fast-track economic growth and development.

-Mr Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment

BPE probe: Obasanjo may divide Senate

Shell 115,000 bpd oil field shut

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HELL said yesterday it shut down its offshore Nigerian EA crude oil field, which can produce 115,000 barrels per day (bpd), on November 9 for several weeks for planned maintenance work.

“We shut down the FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading), so there will be no production,” a Shell spokesman told Reuters by phone. “We shut down on November 9 for several weeks. It is planned maintenance.”

EA crude oil exports were averaging around 80,000100,000 bpd prior to the maintenance, according to loading programmes.

RESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo’s decisions on privatisation and commercialization of public companies flared passion in the Senate yesterday. The senators opened debate on the report of its ad-hoc committee on the probe of the activities of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ahmed Lawan, took time to defend the report following what was described as misguided comments by some of those indicted in the report.

Senate President, David Mark, warned that partisan politics should not be brought into the consideration of the report.

He commended “the courage and patriotism” of members of the ad-hoc committee.

He said: “We went through a lot of pressure. My prayer is that we remain focused and patriotic. That we don’t bring partisan politics into consideration of the report so that we don’t derail from the jour-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor ney we have started so well.”

Virtually all the Senators who contributed to the discussion of the report agreed that recommendations of the committee were far-reaching and “commendable.”

Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Ekiti North) said the probe provided paradoxes which should not be ignored by the Senate.

He said: “We have a former leader of this country who swore under oath to preserve the laws of this country and this leader took Executive decisions to sign off about 47 companies in disregard of the laws guiding the privatisation and commercialization exercise.

He said former President Obasanjo superintended over “a prodigal sale of the commonwealth of Nigerians.

“It is not just enough to reprimand former directors-general of BPE, the Senate should go beyond the reprimand and find out who gave directive for

them to do what they did,” he said.

Chairman of the ad-hoc Committee, Senator Lawan, insisted that the recommendation urging the National Council on Privatization (NCP) to revoke the sale of Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN) to Folio Communication is in tandem with an earlier court ruling stripping Folio of the ownership of the DTN. He explained that the recommendation of the committee is based on the court order which recoginized a new ownership of DTN. The explanation followed observation by Mark that Folio had gone to court to defend its ownership of the DTN. Lawan also defended the committee’s recommendation that the Share Purchase Agreement of VON Automobile Nigeria Limited should be rescinded.

He said: “What we saw at the company were massive warehouse full of imported groundnut oil, imported rice, cartons of imported sugar and

assorted types of used vehicles.”

Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West) lauded the leadership of this Senate for allowing the probe to go on in the first place.

He said, “If you look at this report, you come to the conclusion that privatization as a concept is good but its implementation, to a large extent, was against the national interest.

“The Indians who bought Ajaokuta Iron and Steel, rather than turn it around, dismantled the equipment and exported them to India. Today, we are importing the same steel from India,” he said.

Other Senators who contributed to the debate included George Sekibo, Abdul Ningi, Nkechi Nwaogu, Kabiru Gaya, Suleiman Adokwe, Atiku Bagudu, Abu Ibrahim, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Dahiru Kuta, Paulinus Nwagu, Abdullahi Adamu, Barnabas Gemade, Shaaba Lafiagi, Pius Ehwerido.

They all commended the report.

Oando plans Canada listing

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ANDO Plc said yes terday it plans to list its shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange in January and it will be producing 10,000 barrels per day of oil sometime next year.

“Our primary listing is on the Nigerian stock exchange. We have a secondary listing on the Johannesburg stock exchange and as I mentioned in the future ... Our hope is to be listed on the Toronto stock exchange by early January,” Pade Durotoye, the Head of Exploration and Production, said at an investor conference in the commercial-hub Lagos.

Durotoye told Reuters News that Oando had so far invested $250 million in its upstream oil business in the country.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$115.3/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 -10.3% 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 $32.820b CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

-

FOREX

0.2958 206.9 242.1 151.8 1.9179 238 40.472

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N125b treasury bills auction soon

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HE Federal Govern ment plans to auction treasury bills worth N125.09 billion ($776.72 million) at its regular debt auction next week, the Central Bank said on yesterday.

The regulator, according to Reuters News, said it will sell N30.09 billion in 91-day paper, N45billion in 182-day treasury bills and N50 billion in 364-day bills next Wednesday, using the Dutch auction system.

“Each bid must be in multiples of N1,000 subject to a minimum of 10,000,” the Central Bank said in a public notice.

Nigeria issues treasury bills regularly as part of measures to reduce money supply, curb inflation and help lenders manage their liquidity.

Fed Govt to reintroduce PIB to House

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• From left: Executive Director, Operation, Bank of Industry (BOI), Alhaji Mohammed Alkali; PR Manager, Africa Cashew Alliance to (BOI), Xenia Defontaime and President, Africa Cashew Alliance (ACA) to BOI, Idrissa Kilangi, during courtesy visit of executives of Africa Cashew Alliance to Bank of Industry in Lagos.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

Telcos oppose proposed Telecom Listing Bill

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HE umbrella body of telecoms companies in Nigeria, the Association of Licenced Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has criticised the proposed bill by the House of Representatives to mandate shareholding in telecoms companies.

The body insisted that, the bill, if passed, will hinder Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in the country.

ALTON’s stance is that the decision to sell telecoms shares to Nigerians should not be subjected to a legislative enforcement, but should be the commercial decision of the telcos concerned to get listed in the nation’s bourse or remain as a limited liability company.

This is coming on the heels

By Adline Atili

of the House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market’s position that the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operators-MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat-and the oil companies should be made to sell shares to Nigerians on the floor of the nation’s stock exchange.

Speaking with The Nation on the issue,ALTON’s President, Gbenga Adebayo, said there was no ground for compelling telecoms operators to sell shares to Nigerians.

Adebayo said the decision to be listed on the nation’s stock exchange is a commercial decision of the telecoms companies and does not require subjection to any legislative debate.

He said: “There is no ground to compel operators to list their shares on the NSE. It is unheard of. The world over, such a decision is purely commercial and I don’t think it should be subjected to legislative debate in order not to discourage foreign direct investment into the country. We have never heard that any telco has been compelled to sell shares in their countries of operations.

“We don’t believe that because of the perception that operators are making huge profits, they should be mandated to be listed on the stock exchange, without taking into cognisance the fact that they also spend a large chunk of their profit in network expansion and infrastructure roll out, with attendant challenges in an economy such as Nigeria.

“ALTON strongly stood against the House of Representatives Bill on Telecommunications (Equity) (HB173) in 2009. This bill set to mandate shareholding in telecommunications companies. Our position was submitted to the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) in May 2009.”

He said the body’s position was that if the bill is passed as drafted, it will fundamentally alter the Federal Government’s Foreign Direct Investment policy and negate the role of NIPC; as well as amount to reenacting of the Indigenisation Act of 1972.

Adebayo stressed that the position of the operators remains the same. “We don’t need any law to compel us to sell shares on the NSE,” he said.

HE Federal Govern ment will send a pro posed law to regulate the country’s oil and gas industry to the National Assembly a second time after a previous bill stalled, Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke said.

“We will re-present the bill to ensure that the right and final version is given,” she said yesterday at a conference in Lagos. “We expect that we will move more quickly than now.”

The first bill sent to lawmakers in 2008, which sought to give Nigeria more control and a greater share of hydrocarbons revenue, according to Bloomberg, was opposed by international energy companies that said its fiscal terms would’ve made investing in the country’s deep-offshore fields unprofitable. Communities in the Niger River delta, home to the country’s oil industry, also criticised the bill for not addressing their demands.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp., Total SA and Eni SpA run joint ventures with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that pump most of the country’s oil.

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BUSINESS NEWS Airtel crosses 50m customers mark

Dangote stakes $7.7b in Rivers Energy City

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HE President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has directed his investment gaze to Rivers State with an initial $7.7 billion (N1.2 trillion) stake in the state’s emerging energy city.

Rivers Energy City is part of the mega city concept known as the Greater Port Harcourt City, which cuts across eight local councils, including Ogu/Bolo, the host council of the energy city.

Dangote, according to African Business Community, has already made open visits, having inspected the large expanse of land beside the waters at Okpokiri in Ogu/Bolo near Okrika Jetty along with the state governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. The energy city is on the other side of the multi-billion dollar Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone. A bridge is being constructed already to link the free zone and the energy city.

Dangote’s visit was a highlight of the recent Rivers Investors’Forum, which attracted international leaders and investors, including the immediate past prime minister of Britain, Gordon Brown, and the agric investment magnate in Belgium, Pierre Vendebeeck, the Chief Executive of Siat NV. A source at the Government House, Port Harcourt confirmed the decision of Dangote to invest in the energy city, saying thist would span the petrochemical industry including methane, ethanol and fertiliser sub-sectors. Thousands of jobs are expected to gush

B

By Daniel Essiet and agency report

out of the energy city project while subcontractors and suppliers as well as revenue sources for government are expected huge sizes.

Dangote would not be lacking competitors in his striving to venture into the petrochemical industry. There is the proposed $6 billion petrochemical project said to be the largest in Africa being floated by both the NNPC and a Saudi Arabian conglomerate, Xenel. There are also two proposed fertiliser plants by the Federal Government through the NNPC for $4 billion with Indian partners (Nararjuna) each with 1.3 million tons per annum.

Also, Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Company Limited (EPCL), which has successfully pioneered the petrochemical sector, is busy building a $2 billion fertiliser and ethanol plants at its present location as part of an expansion project in the face of rising global demands.

The Rivers State government is said to be keen on cushioning Dangote’s landing in the energy city, and this may include revising of economic policies to attract more investors.

The governor said at the investors’ forum that one of such areas is the public-private partnership (PPP) law already enacted, which he said, provides the regulatory framework for collaboration between the state and the private sector.

•The President Goodluck Jonathan oficialy launching the Cassafa Bread at the Presidential Villa yesterday PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

HARTI Airtel Limited (Airtel), one of the leading telecoms services providers with operations in 19 countries across Asia and Africa, yesterday said it had acquired its 50 millionth mobile customer in Africa.

The telecoms firm in a statement said it achieved this milestone in just 17 months of acquiring Zain’s mobile operations in 16 African countries and added 14 million new mobile customers during this period.

“This milestone demonstrates our continued dedication and commitment to Africa,” said Mr Manoj Kohli, Chief Executive Officer (International) and Joint Managing Director, Bharti Airtel Limited.

“We would like to thank our customers for reposing their faith in brand Airtel and we are committed to serving them with worldclass services. I would also like to thank the governments and regulators for their support and would like to reiterate that we share their vision of bridging the digital divide with affordable telecoms services.”

CBN to pay salaries, contractors electronically

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will make electronic payment to government suppliers and contractors from January.

Also to be paid electronically are salaries, taxes and pension, the apex bank said yesterday during the one-day public sector stakeholders’ enlightment programme.

Head of Domestic Payment, Mr. Emmanuel Obaigbona, said the initiative is in regard to the Presidential directive in 2009, that

from January 2012, all payments by the government and parastatals must be done electronically.

Obaigbona said in regard to the objective of National Payment System Vision 2020, the initiative tends to develop a payment system that is nationally utilized and internationally recognized.

He said, in as much as other stakeholders are in support of the initiative, the CBN has the responsibility to approve licensed qualified e-payment, bodies, have the

oversight function over other banks, and ensure compliance with guidelines concerning e-payment services.

He said the system will reduce corruption in banks and public sectors and save them from exposing their money in cash to armed robbers.

You know there are a lot of problems with cash, corruption for instance, it will help to reduce corruption in the system and the frequency of robbery attacks on banks bullion vans will stop”, he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

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INDUSTRY

Nigeria earns N240b from non-oil exports in six months

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IGERIA’S non-oil export earnings between January and June this year was $1.5 billion (N240 billion), the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), has disclosed.

The earnings were from the exportation of cocoa; sheep and goat skins leather; sesame seeds and oil; rubber; plastics; cotton yarns and woven fabrics; aluminium; cashew nuts and edible fruits; gum arabics; tobacco products; prawns; shrimps; fish and crustaceans and others.

In the non-oil export statistics presented by the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the council, David Adulugba, at a press conference, he said the various products’ sectors have contributed significantly to the country’s non-oil export earnings.

According to him, cocoa and cocoa preparation contributed $533.4 million to the country’s non-oil export earning in the period under review, sheep, goat skin and leather, $247.2 million; sesame seeds and oil, $104.4 million; rubber, $148.4 million; and plastics, polybags and plastics, $41.7 million.

Others are cotton yarns and woven fabrics, $60.7 million, aluminium and articles, $42 million;

•AGOA law yet to be signed 11 years after

By Toba Agboola and Franca Ochigbo

cashew nuts and edible fruits, $44.7 million, gum Arabic, $16 million; tobacco products, $35 million, prawns, shrimps, fish and crustaceans, $25.6 million, while other products accounted for $196.3 million.

He said the agency’s efforts were specifically channelLed towards making every Nigerian conscious of the nation’s non-oil export potential, as well as drive the increased activities as a key to diversifying the nation’s productive base.

Adulugba lamented the inability of entrepreneurs to maximise the benefits of African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), 11 years after it was signed into law.

According to him, market access to the United States was not the only problem militating against African exports to the country, but also lack of infrastructure.

Hi words: “At the 10th AGOA forum in the US, it was agreed that market access to the United States was not only the problem militating against African exporters to the

US, but lack of infrastructure.

“It is anticipated that future AGOA policies will address problems of production costs, weak transportation, infrastructure, among others, to stimulate growth in sub-Sahara African countries including Nigeria.

“Part of the strategy we intend to sell to the Federal Government is to propose a special incentive package for the over 500 trainees who graduated from the Human Capital Development Centre (HCDC). Such incentive package, will among other things, aim at establishing businesses for the trainees, creating jobs for our teaming school leavers, and generally elevating our standard of living”.

“However, part of the strategy

we intend to sell to the government is to propose a special incentive package for the over 500 trainees who graduated from the Human Capital Development Centre aim at establishing businesses for the trainees, creating jobs for our teeming school leavers and elevating our standard of living.

“The Council has outsourced the management of the centre to a consultant in line with the government policy on Public Private Partnership (PPP). I believe that when the centre becomes operational, it will not only enhance export competiveness for apparel exports, but also help in empowering our teeming unemployed youth through skills acquisition, wealth

and job creation as well as poverty alleviation.

“The Council’s partnership with Organised Private Sector (OPS), among other multi-lateral institutions, has yielded significant results.

Only recently, the council in partnership with American International Chamber of Commerce held a business forum and non-oil export trade show in Atlanta, US, while an investment conference and trade mission was held in the United Kingdom in collaboration with the Nigeria- British Chamber of Commerce.

“This outing did not only generate better awareness on Nigeria’s market potential, it helped to enhance the image of the country. This has also helped to reposition the sector for better performance.”

Delta, BoI sign MoU on job creation, infrastructure

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HE Delta State government and the Bank of Industry Limited (BOI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to empower the youth, and other indigenes of the state through the human capital development project by creating industries in every local government in the state.

While signing the MoU at the BOI office in Lagos over the weekend, the Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, said the partnership was not just geared towards funding, but to empower the indigenes of the state.

According to him, “The essence of this relationship with BOI is to assess where we are in the state and how BOI will help us to move from where we are to where we ought to be. We want every local government in the state to have an industry using the comparative advantages that exist in the state.

“In creating jobs, there are small

By Toba Agboola

scale, medium and large scale industries. The industrial part is for large industries which might take about 10 years to attract investors but due to the few time we have to empower, we decided to get experts like BOI to help in fast tracking industrialisation,” he said.

The Managing Director/Executive Officer of the BOI, Ms. Evelyn Oputu,in her response, said the BOI has rules and regulations and some of the small industries don’t have the competent knowledge is required in a bank.

“Some of these small industries have access to micro finance banks and commercial banks but they find it tedious to work with them.

“We, the Bank of Industry, will try to rejig our model,quicken it to reach more depth to ensure that the Delta State government’s request and bank standard are met immediately and the changes will begin from January next year,” she said.

•From left: Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian-Export Promotion Council, Mr David Adulugba and Director, Trade Information (NEPC) Mr Aliyu Lawal, at NEPC’s press conference at MAN House, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: BADE DARAMOLA

Firm to establish $20m factory in Nigeria

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HINA’s leading electronic company, Hisense is planning to invest $20 million to build a factory in Nigeria.

The electronic giant, which has already set up factories in Algeria and Egypt, sees Nigeria as a gateway to countries West Africa.

General Manager, Hisense, Middle East and Africa, Alex Zhu, disclosed that his company which produces air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, wind puller, blender and micro waves, among others, would capture the African market in the long term.

“We desire to establish a manufacturing base in Nigeria to serve West Africa in the short term, after which we will expand our scope.

Our company will invest about $20 million in the project,” Zhu said.

Zhu, who is confident about the project, said talks are on with the Federal Ministry of Industries and other relevant bodies to achieve the dream.

“We want to end the era of importing finished goods to Nigeria by establishing the factory which I believe will add value to Nigeria market, create jobs for Nigerians

and add to the GDP,” Zhu added.

To achieve the dream, the Chinese-owned company found a good partnership in a Lagos-based Airflow Engineering Works with a view to providing employment, impacting technical knowledge for teeming Nigerians.

Managing Director of Airflow, Sola Giwa, said the prevailing circumstance in Nigeria had necessitated the arrangement which he said would aim at making the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grow.

“This partnership is borne out of adequate research and we are convinced that Nigeria will benefit immensely,” Giwa, whose company began operation in 2002 after a 10-year lull necessitated by what he called negative government industrial policy, said.

“With all modesty, I think most of the companies here do only trading. But we are determined to move a step further by not only manufacturing and involving the people, but also spreading our products across the length of West Africa, exploiting the functional ECOWAS liberalisation policy,” Giwa said.

•The new Lafarge WAPCO plant to be opened soon

‘Only 10 SMEs, 270 firms have ISO certification’

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NLY 10 Small and Medium Scale Enterprises have the international quality certification mark from the International Standards Organisation (ISO).

Speaking at the workshop aimed at encouraging Nigerian SMEs to become internationally certified in quality and food safety, the Director of International Stand-

ards and SMEs, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr Robert Okiyi, said 270 firms have the ISO certification mark in the country,.

Okiyi, who represented SON’s Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said: “We are extremely pleased at the high level of interest and enthusiasm shown by our small businesses in using standards as a way of improving

their competitiveness.”

The event featured presentations from the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Canadian consulting firm assisting SON. Nigerian companies shared their experiences and ideas, and exchanged views on the ways in which they can use standards to boost Nigeria’s competitive position.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

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INDUSTRY

Budget should focus on power, agric, says Lagos Chamber

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HE 2012 budget should reflect national priorities for economic development focusing more on power, agriculture and there should be a drastic reduction of recurrent expenditure and budget heads.

Speaking at the chamber’s Fourth Quarter Review of the economy in Lagos, the President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI),Otunba Femi Deru, said if there is steady and effective power supply and better agricultural production, every other area of the economy will become productive, adding that some of the funds allocated to budget heads and the N542 billion allocated to debt service in the current budget could be saved to help areas that are more productive.

On the on-going debate on fuel subsidy, he said the government should adopt policy options that will allow for unfetted private sec-

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Stories byToba Agboola

tor investment in the downstream sector of petroleum industry, advising that the reform of the downstream sector is inevitable.

Putting an end to the menace of multiplicity of agencies and poor work ethics at the ports, Otunba Deru said the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okojo-Iweala, should be firm in resolving the problems as NAFDAC and SON would be invited to the cargo examination bay to examine relevant cargo.

“Also, all major government projects in all sectors must have local content clauses for the engagement of indigenous manpower and the utilisation of locally made materials. This would help in tackling the problem of unemployment.”

“For instance, we must encourage agricultural partnerships and our local farmers instead of spend-

ing trillions of naira year on the importation of rice. Bringing the partnership into place in Nigeria to encourage our agro-allied industries will do us a lot of good,” he said.

On the challenge of insecurity, he said: “Perception of insecurity in a society increases the risk of investment and naturally discourages investors from bringing in their capital. All security agencies should work hand in hand with emphasis on intelligence security and there must be a network of training among them”.

Deru urged financial institutions to make funds available for small and medium enterprises instead of only investing in bonds and other government securities, concluding that the chamber will continue to intensify advocacy pursuits to get desirable results in Federal Government decisions.

Fed Govt targets 26m jobs through industries clusters

HE Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has unveiled plans to help in the creation of about 26 million jobs and over 15,000 small scale processing industries across the country in the next 10 years.

Peter Onwualu, Director-General of RMRDC, said this in Abuja when the House Committee on Science and Technology led by its Chairman, Akinlade Abiodun, paid an oversight visit to the agency headquarters in Abuja.

He stated that the council in its blue print is aiming at helping in creating at least one key raw materials processing cluster per local government to attract 20 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) leading to creation of 15,480 industries by 2020.

Onwualu said about 26 million potential jobs would be created through this pogramme if success-

fully executed which, according to him, comprises six million jobs mainstream industrial activities, two million jobs backward stream ( primary producers of and traders in raw materials, farm gate processors, small scale miners, transporters of raw materials, providers of primary production input and so on.

He added that it would also create 18 million jobs downstream (distributors, retail traders, exporters of finished products, producers of processing equipment/machines, components and spare parts, maintenance technicians, producers of packaging materials technical and R&D consultants, Business Development Support Services (BDS) providers, and so on) While lamenting that over 80 per

cent of the raw materials used by factories in Nigeria is imported, he noted that there is the need to focus on the promotion of raw materials processing clusters.

Clusters are concentration of industries in a particular location or dispersed locations but joined by a network and carrying out similar operational activities and, therefore, facing common opportunities and challenges such as using the same or similar raw materials, technologies expertise and markets.

Onwulau explained that the industrial cluster concept is aimed at assisting micro, small and medium scale industries to row and overcome difficulties associated with manufacturing, noting that each cluster would include about 10 micro small scale manufacturing companies.

NASSI seeks effective storage facilities

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HE Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) has called on the Federal Government to design effective storage facilities to curb agricultural produce wastage.

Information Officer of the association, Hajiyah Mariam Baba made the call in Abuja.

She noted that unless effective

storage facilities were put in place, a lot of the agricultural produce would continue to perish.

“Majority of Nigerians are peasant farmers, unfortunately these farmers toil under the sun and under the rain to attend to their farms, the products of which mostly perish. Unfortunately, these items go to waste, they don’t translate to

money.

“We are really losing employment and cash. So, we must come up with an effective storage facility that will ensure that most of the agro-produce are not wasted,” she said. According to her, there is hunger in the world yet Nigeria is wasting food hence the need to come up with a programme to address this.

CAP wins Pearl awards

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HEMICAL and Allied products Plc (CAP) has emerged winner of this year’s Pearl awards, the overall highest award, for its performance in the stock market for the 2010/2011 period, CAP emerged winner over First Bank and Dangote Cement, as it had previously won three awards in the night, one in sectoral leadership category in Chemical and Paint sector and two in Market Excellence award for the highest Dividend yield and Return in equity.

Awards were given in two categories, in Sectoral Leadership and Market Excellence awards.

Winners in the Sectoral leadership are 7up in Food/Beverage and Tobacco, GlaxoSmithKline in Healthcare and University Press in Printing and Publishing sector.

Others are Mobil Oil Nigeria in Petroleum (Marketing), NEM insurance plc in Insurance ,First Bank in Banking, Dangote Cement in Building Materials and Vitafoam in Industrial/Domestic Product sector.

Market Excellence winners are MRS Oil Nigeria Plc for the highest Net Asset Ratio, Nigerian Bags Manufacturing company in Stock activity, Vono Products Plc in Share Price Appreciation and Interna-

tional Breweries Plc in Turnover Growth.

Special honorary awards were given to Channels Television as thebest media on capital market reporting , Kehinde Adeaga as Pearl capital market journalist of the year and Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, Pearl Special Recognition Award for Capital Market Development.

Commenting on the awards, the President Chief Executive of Pearl Award Nigeria, Mr Tayo Orekoya, said 10 indices were utilised as criteria for assessing the performances of companies for the awards and to ensure fairness and authenticity, the research and Collation Committee of the awards, sourced the required data from the annual reports of quoted companies filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE),daily official lists and the NSE weekly reports for the 52 weeks under consideration.

On the capital market, he said it has witnessed relative instability in the last few years with its attendant negative impact on investors confidence while noting the reforms being pursued by the regulatory authorities to sanitise the market and deepen the capital market for sustainable growth.

Winners emerge in Access Bank’s promo

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ORE winners have emerged in the Access Bank Customer Engagement Campaign draws, held in Lagos. The promo is to give free charges to their loyal customers for life.

According to the team leader, product management of the bank, Mrs. Ejikeme Victor Ohalete, the aim of the promo is to celebrate with their customers in the engagement campaign draw. “ The promo is our way of saying thanks to our loyal customers and it will also encourage them to bring their family to patronise us.

“No other bank has done this.

We (Access Bank) are the first to engage in this campaign which will end in December.

“Certificates will be issued to the winners who engage in this campaign. We have been contacting them as they win and you can’t imagine the joy they express,

By Laide Adeyanju

when they heard that they have won.

She enjoyed Access Bank customers and others to patronise them.

The customers were selected from the bank promotion tagged ‘Access Bank Customer Engagement Campaign’ as an encouragement to customers to update their account information to enable a flawless relationship between the bank and its customers.

The programme allows 30 customers comprising 15 individuals and 15 corporate organisations, respectively, to emerge every month and the campaign has been on since April this year. Corporate customers were introduced into the programme in the second edition of the campaign.

Some of the lucky winners are Garba Sulaimon from Gombe and Alhaji Sabiu from Victoria Island branch.

La Casera celebrates 10th anniversary

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LASSIC Beverages Nigeria Lim-ited (CBNL), makers of La Casera, has unveiled the new ‘Ice Feel’ bottle for the brand as part of activities to mark its 10th anniversary in Nigeria.

The anniversary logo and new world class ‘Ice Feel’ bottle were unveiled at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos the with stakeholders including key distributors, dealers, top government officials, notable public figures and consumers.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Operating Officer, Classic Beverages Nigeria Limited, Mr. Prahlad Gangadharan said: “With the new Ice Feel bottle La Casera has once again blazed the trail and recorded another

By Laide Adeyanju

remarkable milestone in the CSD sector in Nigeria having pioneered the PET bottle in 2001’.

“We have rebranded La Casera with the introduction of the new ‘Ice Feel’ bottle as part of the 10th celebration as a way to say thank you to our numerous consumers and give them something new to cheer about,” he said.

Special Guest of Honour at the event, Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Mrs Olusola Oworu, congratulated on the new bottle for La Casera. He commended the company for locating their business in Lagos.

Sona launches Czar Vodka

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•From left: Chief Operating Officer, Classic Beverages, Mr Prahlad Gangadharan, Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs Olusola Owuru and the General Manager (Marketing) , Classic Beverages Nigeria Limited, Mr Dave Van Rensburg, at the unveiling of the Ice Feed Bottle in Lagos.

URO Global Foods and Distilleries, a subsidiary of Sona Group of Companies, has launched its premium brand of vodka called Czar into the market.

The Director of Marketing, Sona Group of Companies, Mr Bharat Vaswani, who was at the ceremony to flag off the Czar brand, said: “Czar, as the name connotes, symbolises leadership and power.”

Mac 72- 31-34 - BUSINESS INDUSTRY

The Czar vodka is born of an equally pristine primary ingredient which has been distilled four times, triple filtered twice to make it as ‘pure’ as vodka can be, he stressed.

While assuring Nigerians of the product’s high value and quality, Vaswani said Czar Vodka has a distinctive soft and smooth clean taste which makes it everyone’s perfect mixer.

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EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Still fighting against AIDS

PHCN strike • Some of workers’ excuse lacked substance but both parties ought to talk OWER Holding Company of Nigeria’s (PHCN) workers were on strike between November 17 and 18, to protest the alleged deployment of soldiers to their offices and power installations in the country.

Expectedly, the government quickly reminded them of the fact that as workers on essential services, they had no right to go on strike. It was good the strike lasted for only two days and the workers have since returned to their duty posts.

But there is a need to appraise the developments that culminated into the strike, with a view to making sure that such issues do not lead to labour dispute that will throw the nation

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‘Anyway, now that the strike is suspended, we urge all parties to put the nation first in all they do. The fact is that it can no longer be business as usual in the power sector ... This is a reality the electricity workers have to face, no matter how difficult it seems. We also urge the government to appreciate the fears of the PHCN workers, especially in view of the lack of faith the government had shown in the disengagement of some privatised companies’ workers.

into darkness again.

The workers’ excuse that they went on strike due to the presence of soldiers in their headquarters in Abuja and some power installations was a facade. Long before the strike, things had fallen apart between the government and the PHCN workers. The issue bordered essentially on the government’s privatisation programme for the power sector, a thing the workers had continued to fault, apparently because of fears of job losses on their part.

The fear of retrenchment that normally follows privatisation of public enterprises has gripped the workers who also refused to have their biodata captured in line with government’s directive, to eliminate ghost workers that it feared existed in the company. The workers are also not happy with what they see as the refusal of the minister of power, Prof Barth Nnaji to meet with them since his assumption of office. Another grey area between the government and the workers was the proposed five years pay-off which the workers had rejected. They would rather have 10 years.

But no one would want to blame the government for taking preemptive measures to protect power installations and other essential places in view of the security challenges it presently faces, especially the threats by the Boko Haram sect to blow up public facilities in the country. Although it is not impos-

sible that government sent in the soldiers actually to protect the prospective investors who were on assessment tours of PHCN installations from harassment by PHCN workers who have never supported the Electricity Sector Power Reform (ESPR) Act 2005, the fact remains that either way, the facilities must not be left to suffer any attacks at this time when Nigerians are eagerly looking forward to improvement in power supply.

Anyway, now that the strike is suspended, we urge all parties to put the nation first in all they do. The fact is that it can no longer be business as usual in the power sector.

Privatisation is the answer to the perennial darkness that is also stifling economic activities in the country. The present arrangement is no longer sustainable. This is a reality the electricity workers have to face, no matter how difficult it seems.

We also urge the government to appreciate the fears of the PHCN workers, especially in view of the lack of faith the government had shown in the disengagement of some privatised companies’ workers.

The government must sit with the workers to see how both parties can mutually agree on the least painful path for the workers, many of whom had spent all their productive years in the company. This is the only way the projections of the power sector reform could be met and Nigerians’ desire for stable power supply realised.

Lessons from Egypt • How not to treat a revolution

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N Egypt, the people brewed a revolution. But the Egyptian military (read, the rump of the Hosni Mubarak regime) not only inherited the revolution, they have tried to hijack it for their own purposes. That is the sum total of the latest crisis in Egypt. And that should serve as some lesson for other African countries.

Hussein Tantawi, a field marshal, was ousted President Hosni Mubarak’s minister of defence for 20 years. Tantawi’s ruling Council of Generals too is no stranger to the Mubarak regime. So, when the military took over power, after Mubarak’s ouster from the streets, it was the triumph of reason, since a modicum of security and stability had to be maintained if the revolution was not to spiral into out-and-out anarchy.

But the Tantawi-led military could well have taken some tutorials from Nigeria’s Gen. Ibrahim Babangida on all-movement-no-motion as a power transition doctrine. As Babangida went on a transition twist and turn for eight years, the Egyptian military have also – at least that is what the protesting multitude think – been digging in.

The resultant anti-military protest has claimed no less than 43 dead and more than 2, 000 wounded – and still counting, since the protests are continuing, despite the elections that have taken off.

But the greatest casualty might yet be the current staggered elections, which started on November 28, and the future of a democratic Egypt, should the current elections suffer legitimacy deficit, with all the chaos and lack of trust in the motive of the military.

To start with, election into the 498-seat lower chamber, the People’s Assembly, is a three-legged affair, to be completed in January 2012. It would be followed by another three-legged staggered affair into Upper Chamber, 390-member strong, that would terminate in March. Run-off then follows for all the six stages. With an atmosphere of protest and mutual suspicion, the legitimacy of the exercises is open to question.

Besides, the military is also insistent on, Turkey-style, making itself arch-protector of Egyptian democracy; with veto powers in certain circumstances. That role would also earn it immunity from oversight from civil authority. That, of course, has undermined mutual confidence building and has set the civil society on the war path, accusing Tantawi of alleged power grab. The people have therefore called for an immediate military standdown, with power transferred to a civilian presidential council under a National Salvation Government, which would then hand over to an elected president.

The lessons from Egypt are multi-fold.

To start with, eternal vigilance, as they say, is the price of liberty. Egyptians would not chase out a dictator only to pave the way for another. To that extent, the protests are certainly in order, so long as they are not violent, though the military crackdown on Tahir Square makes things a bit dicey.

Secondly, the Egyptian military, from the way they handled the anti-Mubarak protests, would appear a disciplined and patriotic army indeed. Back then, they held back, even if they could have used their awesome weight to crush the pro-

tests that later ousted Mubarak. Still, even this army is not averse to opportunism. That is what it is manifesting under Tantawi. It is a ruinous way to follow, if the Nigerian example is anything to go by. But the antidote is building institutions, so that the military, under civil authority, becomes yet another institution in the stability and defence of the motherland.

Then the Nigerian civil society has a lot to learn from the Egyptians in sheer tenacity. In this country, civil protests like June 12, anti-SAP demonstration and a few others came to be. But they all petered out because there was no determination to follow through. If Egyptians eventually get positive results from this present crisis, history would remember the present generation for following through what they believe to be the best for their country.

Nigerians need to emulate that.

‘Then the Nigerian civil society has a lot to learn from the Egyptians in sheer tenacity. In this country, civil protests like June 12, anti-SAP demonstration and a few others came to be. But they all petered out because there was no determination to follow through. If Egyptians eventually get positive results from this present crisis, history would remember the present generation for following through what they believe to be the best for their country’

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HE latest report from the United Nations agency in charge of the global fight against AIDS reveals substantial success by some measures and stagnation by others. The challenge, in tough times, that must be met is to find enough resources to capitalize on scientific breakthroughs and keep the campaign moving forward.

The number of people dying from AIDS around the world declined for the third year in a row, falling to 1.8 million in 2010 from a peak of 2.2 million. An arsenal of drugs means that AIDS is no longer an automatic death sentence. And thanks to an infusion of funds from the United States and other donors — and hard bargaining with drug makers to bring their prices down — the number of people being treated has soared to 6.6 million of the 14.2 million people sick enough to need the drugs.

An equally important measure — the ability to prevent new infections — has stagnated after substantial improvement in earlier years. Annual new infections with the virus that causes AIDS have fallen by roughly 20 percent from the peak in 1997 but have hit a plateau in recent years. About 2.7 million people became newly infected last year. That was twice the number of people brought into treatment for the first time.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recently laid out an ambitious goal to achieve an “AIDS-free generation.” In her vision, virtually no children would be infected by transmission from their mothers — a goal within reach. And teenagers and adults would either be protected from infection by proven prevention programs, such as condoms and male circumcision, or promptly treated after infection to prevent them from becoming ill or passing the virus on to others. New research has shown that treating infected people with drugs can reduce the risk that they will pass on the virus by 96 percent.

Such prevention and treatment strategies are the only way to get ahead of the epidemic. But the global economic downturn led to a collective decline in donor assistance last year — to $7.6 billion in 2010 from $8.7 billion in 2009 — well short of the $24 billion thought needed by 2015. The major international fund will stop making new grants until 2014.

Washington has led the effort to combat AIDS and will need to lead the search for additional donor contributions, greater financing by AIDS-afflicted nations that can afford it, and more cost-effective approaches to prevention and treatment.

This is no time to lose ground against a scourge that, while no longer always fatal, is still infecting people faster than they can be tested and treated.

New York Times

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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THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: For The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), being the second biggest political party in Nigeria today would appear a good enough reason to cheer up, while having had to grow from controlling only a state government to governing six states in a short space of time would look good as evidence of invincibility had there been no challenges attached to the new status.

Whenever one had tried to weigh the challenges attached to ACN’S victory, there had always been the fear that the party might not easily strike a balance between striving to be an alternative government at the centre and toiling to sustain its current political gains in the SouthWest as an operational base.

One had not forgotten that it was the ambition to be Nigeria’s president and cease to be mere regional leader that ran Chief Obafemi Awolowo into political troubled waters and made him lose his grip on his vital western region base, now the South-West zone of Nigeria.

One hopes we all know that the ACN is the bona fide off-shoot or successor of the AG, the UPN and the AD, regardless of what the

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ACN, time to reach out to the ‘prodigals’ Awoists who are in the wrong camp today may want to believe. This status of an off-shoot of the afore-mentioned past political parties is what has foisted the greatest challenges on the ACN today.

The reason why South-West as a base should be equally important to the ACN just as its expansion project is so simple. Charity, it is said, begins at home, as a result of which the South-West will always be a reference point in the ACN’s ambition to spread its tentacles to the other zones and rule the nation.

The implications of this are that the states in the South-West- Zone must be so well-governed to be exceptionally peaceful, so economically viable and socially enviable to recommend the ACN to the other parts of the country that would eventually team up to make the party an

undeniable alternative federal power.

In the drive to make ACN attractive to states outside SouthWest, it cannot afford to fail to impress its own people whose support would be the vital buffer needed in the equally important frontier-expansion bids.

Take it or leave it, the North has been the buffer for the PDP all these years -North-East, North-West, North-Central - and the resultant tendency has been for PDP to have a band-wagon effect on the other zones, for the nation to tilt towards an unhealthy one-party state where the dominant party has become too politically comfortable to care about what it does to the polity at times.

If the ACN intends to take on such a prodigious, conceited party, it has

got to protect and guide its traditional territory to allow no one and no situation to break its rank again, which is what must bring up the issue of the scattered Awoists at this stage in the history of the SouthWest.

Not that one would also pray for an unhealthy one-party South-West but the ACN should practically open it doors wide to allow in those who had strayed away in the wake of political confusion, brought about by the demise of the SouthWestern political patriarch, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and the assasination of his ‘field-marshal successor’ Chief Bola Ige, which had been the last straw that broke the resolve of the Yoruba race not to allow the PDP’s conquest of 1999.

If the ACN victory had represented the arrival of the South-West-

Subsidy removal, recipe for anarchy IR: Nigerians are shocked and hurt by the federal government’s inexplicable and inflation-induced proposal to remove fuel subsidy which at present, gives only a little relief to the ordinary people who groan in anguish as a result of the persistent economic and social trauma.

For an oil-rich country to pre-occupy itself with a call for fuel subsidy removal, especially when the poverty-stricken masses need a ‘messiah’ for their rescue, clearly indicates the government’s inability to competently manage the nation’s God-given oil resources for the citizens’ welfare.

The federal government only needs to expedite effective repair of the nation’s oil refineries for profitable utilization to avoid the tragedy of fuel subsidy removal which is anti-progressive and antinational interest.

One recalls with dismay that past increases in fuel pump prices only caused damaging inflation from which only the people at the helm of affairs and the capitalists benefited.

Newspaper reports showed that the National Assembly, led by the Senate President, David Mark and the House of Reps Speaker Aminu Tambuwal rejected the unpopular fuel subsidy removal as they were not convinced by the reasons given. This rare progressive pos-

S

ture of our national legislators is commendable, especially as this portrays a good element of a people’s representative assembly and good political economy in a social contract manner.

The present political crises and the multi-dimensional insecurity problems in Nigeria are caused and aggravated mainly by the dismally lopsided and unjustifiable manner of distribution of Nigeria’s abundant wealth with the result that a great majority of Nigerian citizens in the despised lower class go hun-

gry. It is known that hungry persons are naturally easily angered and furious.

What is expected of this government is to embark on genuine economic and social measures aimed at fast economic relief for the anguished masses in the spirit of social contract by providing full employment, putting an end to any callous retrenchment of workers, paying the full financial benefits to the retired workers as opposed to the present corrupt and selfish handling of such benefits generally,

providing adequate and constant electricity, providing adequate and affordable health facilities for the people among other needs for which, honestly, there is adequate fund in the country.

Indeed, all theses would work like magic to stop perpetrators of political and religious crises as well as solving the problems of the current devastating insecurity in the country.

• Abdulazeez Usman, Okene, Kogi State.

erners in their Canaanland, it would have to make itself a home indeed to all and treat same as a task that must be done in a not-too-long a time.

Talking of the deserters recorded in the struggle, among them the painfully inconceivables who would seem to have resolved to hit and sting the ACN as hostilely as they did the NPN of yore, the greatgrand-child of NPN; they were Awoists , no matter how ludicrous it is; as if Awo would have been in the PDP, if still alive!

To such political turn-coats, revenge would be the cheapest course to take in purposelessness, but largeheartedness would disagree. The large-hearted are the winners all the time; they harbour no hatred to anyone, even in war, but would remain focused on positive objectives.

The ACN leaders must have a place in their hearts for their old colleagues in the old Action Group which had metamorphosed severally into today’s Action Congress of Nigeria. The spirit should be the same old ‘action’, in reunion and in success-management, to achieve reconciliation without puntification, even if gradually.

Due credit would always go to those who kept the flag flying during the years of confusion, of course, particularly in Lagos State, but those who fell by the way side, either through frustration or by subjugation would still be vitally needed in victory-solidification and in political soul-winning that must go on.

The political Trojan of Lagos and the ACN’s mobilizing machine, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, must not fail to lead in this direction. The indisputable Awoist and National Chairman of the ACN, Chief Bisi Akande, must agree with a reunion with other Awoists at this stage.

The Awoists have stayed too long in disarray.

• Jide Oguntoye Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State

Wither Nigeria?

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IR: Democratic governance in Nigeria since 1999 has been counter productive, as the self-acclaimed leaders failed to live up to that responsibility,and to be worthy of people’s trust.They have failed utterly:they evidentlyknew neither democratic governance nor how to accomplish it.Worse still, civil space evinced minute change of civil governance.

Socio-economic conditions in the country have grown steadilyworse and persistently-denied millions of Nigerians the ability to live in dignity. A nation where the legislators are induced to pass people-oriented Bills into law and feed fat on selfish agendaof the executive. Regretably,the regime

of human rights violation in every aspect of persons social life is a powerful expresion of this conflict or tussle. Nigerians suffer unlawful arrest and detention any are tortured and killed in Police cells and on our roads with impunity.The media are not spared of multi-faceted assault by government agents:Police and State Security arrest and attack them for publications they consider offensive.

Also, citizens are cheated out of their franchise and sovereignty while treasury looters and economic saboteaurs are made to feast on the amassed filthy lucre through the unconstitutional and concocted”plea bargain”. Even identified political bandits are celebrated and given national and

various awards. Children lack educaton, medical care as the Child Rights Bill was ignored while millions are homeless and reamain jobless in the face of abundant resources.

Why the nation’s refineries still malfunction despite the billions of dollars spent on Turn Around Maintenance?Who are the proteges that cornered the said subsidy on the products in the past? States and Local Government council administrations sag like the wornout bed springs.Two unwarranted phenomenal electricity tarrif increment when the power generated, transmitted amd distributed is at the lowest ebb is sheer wickedness.

Nothing can stop the man with

the right mental attitude,from achieving his laudable goals;nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude from failing. A Democracy is not a democracy if no one is able to say”No!” and take action to effect. No, dissent and the ability to express it, are an essential part of democracy. The envisioned hardship in terms of Oil subsidy removal is omnious and must be cancelled if the nation is to have a democratic future bonded by a share in opportunities and a basic sense of security for all citizens.

• Comrade AKINGBOLA TEMIDAYO. Ondo-State Chapter.

Civil Liberties Organisation

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

Philosophical foundations of globalisation – 1

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HE term globalisation is a complex phenomenon used to explain the integration of the entire world in various spheres of life but particularly in economics, politics, technology, ecology and culture generally. It is however its economic dimension of interdependence that most people are usually aware of. There is however no doubt that while free trade and economic liberalisation are the dominant face of globalisation, its political dimension of democracy and liberalism are no less important. The economic dimension, especially the mode of production has its concomitant of technological and economic resonance. The homogenized culture of the west has increasingly been exported to the rest of the world in films, music, fashion, religion and even cuisine.

Never before than now has it become obvious and glaring that we live in global village. The complexity of the term is captured by Manfred B. Steger (Oxford University Press 2003) when he wrote.

“Since its earlier appearance in the 1960s, the term globalisation has been used in both popular and academic literature to describe a process, a condition, a system, a force and an age. Given that these competing labels have very different meanings, their indiscriminate usage is often obscure and invites confusion.” P7 Globalisation marks a transformational period in human history manifesting in changed economic, political and social processes. For ease of treatment, this writer will focus on the economic and political philosophical origin of globalisation. Of course there is no way one can conceive of political and economic transformation without saying a word or two on the impact of these two broad processes on other areas of cultural and ecological aspects of life. Economic globalisation goes back to Adam Smith’s ideas contained in his seminal book The Wealth of

‘As if to bring Fukuyama to reality, Samuel P. Huntington an influential American political scientist (1927-2008) prophesied that western liberalism would eventually be challenged by global Islam in what he suggested would constitute “a clash of civilizations”’

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H U K W U E M E K A Odumegwu-Ojukwu cast his name in granite long before he died last Saturday in London. His place was already assured in the pantheon of stars in his life time. Only a few people fall into this category.

They know before hand that when they die, the world will mourn their passage because of their deeds while alive. In Ojukwu’s case, his place in history was assured by that singular act of leading the then Eastern Nigeria out of the Repubic of Nigeria. Many of us are conversant with the details of that secession.

It was this secession that gave Ojukwu global fame and made him the most sought after beautiful bride in politics in the Second Republic. Ojukwu, secession and Biafra became one and the same thing and the Ikemba Nnewi was the central figure in the Civil War (1967-1970). The civil war was the fall-out of the secession. Views vary on the propriety or otherwise of Ojukwu’s declaration of the sovereign state of Biafra. Up till today, some still believe that he acted rashly in taking that decision.

This school of thought seems to forget one thing and that is Ojukwu could not have unilaterally taken that step if he didn’t

Nations published on the eve of the American war of Independence in 1776. He argued against mercantilism by which the wealth of nations was hitherto judged by its colonies and high protective tariffs against foreign goods.

Adam Smith had said free trade or lasissez-faire economics increased wealth of all nations because every nation should be able to contribute to the pool of wealth by exploiting its comparative advantage in production. This idea of free trade rooted in market capitalism is at the root of economic globalisation and economic interdependence.

The prosperity of post American Independence Britain and largely free trading Western Europe particularly Germany more or less bore out Adam Smith’s advocacy of free trade. This idea of free trade is what is in contemporary times institutionalized in such organisation as the World Trade Organisation and other regional economic organisations like NAFTA and in a much more profound and deeper fashion in the European Union.

Economic liberalism sometimes goes hand in hand with political liberalism. Political liberalism has a long history behind it. Starting from the Magna Carta (1215) the struggle against arbitrary government began in England and had repercussions elsewhere. The development of English Common Law and The Bill of Rights (1689) were important milestones in the history of fundamental human rights which constitutes and important pillar of democracy. This idea was further developed through the contributions of Hugo Grotius (The Law of Nations) J. J. Rousseau (The Social Contract) and John Locke (Popular Consent, Limit of Sovereignty). All these ideas were encapsulated in the American declaration of Independence in which the purpose of government was defined as guaranteeing “…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Later on it was assumed that democratic governments were peaceful on the idealistic basis that all men were good by nature and that given the opportunity to govern themselves they will live in peace with one another in what Emmanuel Kant called foedus pacificum or pacific federation. This idea that it is when there is no democracy that the “war party” of aristocrats and the bourgeoisie plunges state into war is embraced by socialists and Marxists to describe all wars as imperialistic wars fought to carve out markets and areas to invest surplus capital.

It is this idea of democracy as means to peaceful interaction of states that has been the central motivating factor in western foreign policy in recent times.

The demise of the Soviet Union and the embrace of state capitalism in China and Vietnam which continue at least

to see themselves as socialist states encouraged the American historian Francis Fukuyama to prematurely declare the victory of liberal democracy and capitalism as the “end point of mankind’s ideological evolution” and the “final form of human government” in his famous book The

Jide Osuntokun

End of History and The Last Man (1989). According to Fukuyama the end of the cold war represented the triumph of the liberal idea and in particular of capitalism.

He asserted that there can be “no further progress in the development of underlying principles and institutions.”

He continued that “there is a fundamental process at work that dictates a common evolutionary pattern for all human societies – in short something like a universal history of mankind in the direction of liberal democracy.”

As if to bring Fukuyama to reality, Samuel P. Huntington an influential American political scientist (1927-2008) prophesied that western liberalism would eventually be challenged by global Islam in what he suggested would constitute “a clash of civilizations”. Al-Qaeda no doubt saw itself as a vanguard of this clash even though fundamentalist Islam did and does not always embrace the terrorism characteristic of the Al-Qaeda type of blind terrorism. Fukuyama’s thesis raises some fundamental questions about the implication of globalisation on national sovereignty.

‘Globalisation marks a transformational period in human history manifesting in changed economic, political and social processes. For ease of treatment, this writer will focus on the economic and political philosophical origin of globalisation’

Death and the warlord have the consent of his people. or better still, those serving in his administration then. Ojukwu, no doubt, found himself in a tight corner with what was happening in parts of the country where easterners were being killed. As military governor of the east then, it behoved of him to ensure the safety of his people and this he did by hearkening to their cries. Many would have done the same thing if they were in Ojukwu’s shoes.

He was forced by circumstance to act in the best interest of his people who might have descended on him if he didn’t do anything to save them whether rightly or wrongly from ‘’annihilation’’. Many may have their grouse against Ojukwu for declaring war against his fatherland, but that does not rob him of his patriotism. It is just unfortunate that he took on Biafran nationality for the three years that the war lasted before he regained his Nigerian citizenship.

Ojukwu regained fully his Nigerian nationality upon his return from exile in Ivory Coast in 1982 following the presidential pardon granted him by former

‘The party then went into talks with Ojukwu in exile and the ‘’people’s general’’ consented to returning home at the right time. He came home in 1982 just in time for the 1983 general elections.

Ojukwu’s return was well celebrated by the NPN, which drummed it home that his return was made possible by it’

President Shehu Shagari. It was a political pardon meant to woo the Ikemba to the side of the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN). With Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe in the defunct Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), NPN wanted an eastern of clout to counter the Zik political challenge. And who else could that be if not Ojukwu.

The party then went into talks with Ojukwu in exile and the ‘’people’s general’’ consented to returning home at the right time.

He came home in 1982 just in time for the 1983 general elections. Ojukwu’s return was well celebrated by the NPN, which drummed it home that his return was made possible by it. His return became a campaign issue as the nearer to Ojukwu a party was, it was believed, the easier it was to capture the Igbo vote. The east became a political battlefield of sorts between him and Zik. This political rivalry which was fuelled by the NPN widened the gulf between Zik and Ojukwu, the foremost Igbo sons who should have pooled resources to rehabilitate the region after the war. At the risk of opening old wounds, it was a well known fact that there was no love lost between Zik and Ojukwu because of the popular belief that the former never supported the latter’s plan to take the east out of Nigeria. Ojukwu’s new political friends capitalised on this issue which should have been long forgotten to further put a wedge between father and son.

Yes, whether or not people

liked it, Ojukwu was like a son to Zik, no matter the circumstances that caused a strain in their relationship. There is nothing we say or do today that can detract from the high esteem in which they are held. All these reflections are necessary to remind us of our past so that we can learn from it and avoid the same mistakes now and in the future.

As for me, I saw Ojukwu’s return in 1982 more as a rehabilitation of the warlord in line with the three Rs- rehabilitation, reconciliation and reconstruction- embarked upon by the Gowon administration after the civil war. But instead of fully rehabilitating and reintegrating Ojukwu fully back into the system, politicians tricked him into politics because of the votes they believe they could get in the east by riding on his name.

Ojukwu himself knew that he was being used but what could he do in the circumstance than to play along until the time was ripe for him to free himself from their political stranglehold.

Ojukwu was, however,

Lawal Ogienagbon

lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net

luckier than other ex-Biafrans, many of whom are still being treated as pariah in some places. This is one issue which bothered Ojukwu until he died. Many, he said, continued to treat him as a Biafran despite that the civil war ended 41 years ago. Whenever, he spoke, he said, they viewed his opinion from the prism of a Biafran. Will his death make us forget the accident Biafra was and start to truly live together as one under an indivisible nation? This is the enduring tribute we can pay to Ojukwu’s memory.

‘Many may have their grouse against Ojukwu for declaring war against his fatherland, but that does not rob him of his patriotism. It is just unfortunate that he took on Biafran nationality for the three years that the war lasted before he regained his Nigerian citizenship’ SMS ONLY: 08056504763

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION “

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HE pot holes had metamorphosed into giant gullies, with the narrow road almost splitting into two. We meandered through the snaky road and arrived mercifully at the gate of a magnificent hotel …….we asked about the best route to take out of what looked like a wilderness, and was told to link Iloko directly to IjebuJesa, but with a caveat that we should drive very slowly and carefully…. The precipitous and muddy road was undulating as we snaked our way through this unusual terrain.”

The poor state of this road “had been made worse by large trucks trying to dodge the impassable routes from the North of Nigeria to the South.”

Dele Momodu was describing the short stretch of road that connects Ijebu- Jesa with Akure-Ife road, the only route most motorists going to Lagos from Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi and Abuja normally ply. Governor Rauf Aregbesola inherited this four of five kilometers broken road from ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

But then government is not just about building roads and structures. Even if Osun State decides otherwise, the state has no money for such a distraction in the midst of war against abject poverty. ‘I saw poverty in its cruelest form and could not believe that such under-development exists at this time and age, especially, in a country overflowing with milk and honey’.

Continuing his lamentation, Dele Momodu wrote: ’I could not believe the state of IjebuJesa, one of the most popular Ijesa townships.

I saw antiquated buildings that must have belonged to some powerful families of yore.

I saw human beings in various stages of dilapidation and felt pity for a nation that turns its citizens into human skeletons”.

Hard working Governor Ogbeni Aregbesola’s cup is therefore full. Fighting the rot left behind by Oyinlola and his PDP predators is only a fraction of the monumental problems the governor is battling. In any case, to the electorates expecting miracle from new governor, a new government fighting the rot left behind by old government is an argument that has no profit or guarantee dividends of democracy PDP has been talking about for 12 years.

But unfortunately the road about which Dele Momodu passed the following judgment …

‘If we thought we had seen our fair share of poor roads in our dear country, this one took the cake. The precipitous and muddy road was undulating as we snaked our way through this unusual terrain’, is a state road. Even if it is a federal road, those who daily experience

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HE Electric Power Transaction and Industry Review Conference which held in Abuja on November 28 and 29, is considered a critical step in the bold effort to transform Nigeria’s power sector.

President Jonathan has not left anyone in doubt about his belief in the 2005 Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA). His commitment to the full implementation of the Act led him to launch, as soon as he came into office last year, The Road Map for Power Sector Reform. The Road Map provides ways and means to make Nigeria achieve 40,000Megawatts within one decade, so that our beloved nation could become one of the world’s 20 largest economies by 2020.

The Nigerian people’s support for the reform is overwhelming. They have for decades lived with the Federal Government monopoly of electricity supply. They have borne enough of the consequences of the monopoly. They are,

‘The Jonathan administration recognizes the invaluable contributions of the PHCN staff to national development. This is why it paid, immediately it came into existence, 57 billion naira to them for monetized benefits; these benefits were denied them by successive regimes for seven years’

Calling on ACN governors hardship on the road really don’t care. I am sure this was why Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos took over mending of federal government roads abandoned by irresponsible PDP central government. All the motorists that ply the road want is for their nightmare to be brought to an end. And over to the tough, hard working and hard talking Ogbeni Aregbesola. Politics after all is about performing miracles.

The Ibadan end of Lagos-Ibadan Express road to Iwo round-about is a federal road.

Unfortunately to motorists that traverse Ibadan, that stretch of the federal road was the only thing that defined Akala’s governorship. To outsiders, the chaos and anarchy on that road advertised the PDP incompetence in Oyo State for eight years.

The daily gridlock at the Iwo roundabout and the anarchy that motorists travelling to and fro Lagos experienced simply made them conclude that ex-Governor Akala just didn’t care about the plight of the governed. They mischievously claimed the governor in office cared more about decking himself in gold chains than mending roads. Even the indigenes who know that alternative route through Mapo Hall to Challenge would take less than 30 minutes as against four hours on the express-way echo this uncomplimentary sentiment.

Unfortunately almost six months after a change of guard at Agodi Government House in Ibadan, nothing seems to have changed.

Iwo end of the express way remains a nightmare. The anarchy on the stretch of the road persists. Governor Ajimobi is yet to give an indication he has a clue to the chaos and anarchy that have come to depict Ibadan as an urban jungle. The governor, like Akala seems to be giving the impression of apparent

helplessness.

But Governor Ajimobi doesn’t need millions of naira to bring sanity to the roundabout by ejecting street traders that have turned the place to a haven for butchers, food vendors, patient medicine sellers, hawkers of all manners of items. All he needs is a political will. Ajimobi doesn’t need the federal government‘s permission to rein in the lawless Ibadan drivers. The governor may want to find out how Governor Fashola of Lagos brought sanity to the chaotic Oshodi, Mushin and Tinubu Square.

In the Gateway Ogun State, Governor Ibikunle Amosun seems to have been overwhelmed by the chaos and anarchy that have come to characterize the surroundings of the eight years uncompleted Otta Bridge.

This route is the only way to Idi Iroko border, Obasanjo farm visited by foreign dignitaries, Obasanjo’s Bells Secondary School and Obasanjo’s Bells University. It is also the only route to Crawford University, Igbesa, beautiful Covenant University and Canaan Land, that houses the biggest church in the world. We can all therefore see why Governor Amosun cannot give up on this all important road. To control the chaotic traffic, all the governor needs is the political will to let the people know there is a better alternative to the present anarchy at the roundabout.

The governor may even decide to leave the uncompleted bridge as a lasting legacy to PDP , Chief Obasanjo, ex-Governor Daniel and exHouse of Representatives’ Speaker Dimeji Bankole who once almost publicly exchanged blows over who was to take credit for an eight year uncompleted bridge. There are two or three other inner roads from the old toll gate that link all the important institutions we have identified above. Those roads for eight

Show the light, and the people will find the way

By Bart Nnaji therefore, eager to see the Federal Government’s interest in the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) drastically diluted. The process of transferring the government equity in 17 out of the 18 PHCN successor companies to core investors, PHCN workers and relevant state governments will be completed early next year.

We are delighted at the enormous interest which the international community has shown in the reform process. We received as many as 331 Expressions of Interest (EoIs) when the BPE called for EoIs in all 18 successor companies. The National Council of Privatisation (NCP) chaired by His Excellency, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo, GCON, has prequalified 212 firms to bid for the successor companies. It is noteworthy that the bidding companies are from 38 countries around the world, and they include globally renowned ones.

Return on investment in Nigeria is very impressive by any standard in the world.

It is common knowledge that leading telecommunications companies which were reluctant to invest in the Nigerian GSM telephone market at inception in 2001 still regret their decision. There is an impressive stock of well developed human

capital in Nigeria, and there are several thousands of highly accomplished Nigerian professionals in different parts of the world willing to return home to earn a fraction of their pay overseas. The PHCN, unknown to some people, has a lot of bright and dedicated workers.

The Jonathan administration recognizes the invaluable contributions of the PHCN staff to national development. This is why it paid, immediately it came into existence, 57 billion naira to them for monetized benefits; these benefits were denied them by successive regimes for seven years. It is also in appreciation of their contributions that the Federal Government has set aside for PHCN employees, a percentage of shares in the 17 PHCN successor companies slated for privatization. We have, in addition, set aside enough funds for the swift payment of retirement benefits to all the PHCN staff when transfer of the ownership of the PHCN assets takes place.

Despite the considerable economic challenges facing the nation, President Jonathan graciously approved last May a 50% salary raise for PHCN workers. And he has also approved that some 11,000 PHCN employees who have for years been working as casual workers been converted to the regular staff. In other words, the administration has honoured all the

years remained impassable. Since Obasanjo has claimed nothing embarrasses him, Governor Amosun can protect him from himself by working on these alternatives routes so that dignitaries to Obasanjo and those national monuments can by-pass the eyesore that the uncompleted Otta bridge has become. The poor Ogun State taxpayers who also live in these adjoining villages will also be able to taste for once the PDP elusive dividends of democracy.

The governor should also complete the abandoned Isheri-OPIC road to prevent daily slaughter of people at the OPIC junction on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. We understand the governor visited the area shortly after inauguration and made promises. Nothing has changed. There is hardly a week when vehicles don’t ram into one another at this junction. It will be recalled that was the spot where the late proprietor of the Popular Ajayi Memorial Hospital, Apapa road, was killed several years back.

AS for Governor Fashola who has been busy mending federal roads, it is either his privatization plan for mending pot holes is not working or has not taken off. Fashola must know one of the things that endeared Marwa to Lagosias was his prompt action in tackling pot-holes on Lagos roads. I also think he should pay greater attention to areas like Ikotun, Okokomaiko Iyana-Ipaja. Driving through these spots remains a nightmare.

The governor’s attention must be called to the Isheri North LSDPC Estate road. This is not because it deserves better attention than others waiting for rehabilitation all over Lagos, but because in the run up to the April elections, work started on the road. Now it has been claimed that for Channel Television, the area would have been cut off completely.

The governor must find out what happened on that road since most residents of the area know Fashola is not the type of governor that will exploit the suffering of the people for electoral votes.

‘The governor’s attention must be called to the Isheri North LSDPC Estate road. This is not because it deserves better attention than others waiting for rehabilitation all over Lagos, but because in the run up to the April elections, work started on the road.’ agreements with the labour unions in the power sector. We have, indeed, demonstrated good faith.

The ongoing power sector reform will create greater employment and business opportunities for our people, as we have seen with the liberalization of telecoms. It will enable electricity employees to earn competitive wages and enjoy generous serviced conditions. It will make the state of the art technology available in the sector.

It will also boost capacity building and attract considerable Foreign Direct Investment.

The ultimate beneficiary of the reform will be the Nigerian people whose dying factories will be revived, whose service industry will receive a great boost, and who will begin to have constant and quality power supply in their homes. It will soon be a new dawn in Nigeria.

• Prof. Nnaji is the Minister of Power.

‘Return on investment in Nigeria is very impressive by any standard in the world. It is common knowledge that leading telecommunications companies which were reluctant to invest in the Nigerian GSM telephone market at inception in 2001 still regret their decision’

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

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NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

Rangers to dump Eguavoen still hopeful ten players N AFTERMATH OF LOSS TO SENEGAL

• Reshuffles team with new players

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WING to its not too impressive outing in the just concluded league season where it came 6th, Enugu Rangers management has earmarkedten players that would be excused to ply their trade elsewhere.

The media officer of the Flying Antelopes, Foster Chime informed NationSport that the club would acquire the services of about seven tested players in the domestic league and that the club does not nurture the ambition of calling open screening with the present status of the former league champions.

He stated that Rangers would put all its might towards the WAFU Club Cup where the club has qualified for the semi final slated for Togo adding that the players and officials of the Coal City team are well motivated

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri more than ever to deliver a silverware for the sports loving governor, Sulivan Chime.

Quoting Chime, “Rangers does not want to do any open screening because we know our status both within and outside Nigeria. We have already penciled down some tested players that we will use to beef the team, while about ten players would be asked to leave for another club. Seven players will now be brought in to fill in the areas in which we have noticed deficiencies.

“The WAFU Cup is our number one priority and that is what we are focusing our attention on for now. The players are ready and the officials too are in the right stead to make our governor proud.”

Igboagu wins Nigeria Breweries Arsenal Golf Tourney

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BUCHI Igboagu of Enugu Sports Club Tennis section has emerged as the overall winner of the 1st Nigerian Breweries Plc Arsenal Golf Open Amateur Tournament which was rounded off at Obinze, Owerri West LGA of Imo State last Sunday.

The Nigerian Breweries sponsored tourney kicked off on Friday 25th November, 2011 before the grande finale on the 27th November.

The duo of Jackson Ofem of Port Harcourt Golf Club and Emma Onumajuru of the Aba Sports Club carted away with the second and third placed players respectively also in the gross category.

Speaking at the end of the tournament, the Managing Director, Nigeria Breweries Plc, Nicolaas A. Vervelde who was represented by the company’s Public Relations Officer in the region, Patrick Ejido praised the doggedness and the fighting spirits along with show of sportsmanship exhibited by the participants while promising various ways the tourney would be revamped next term.

According to Vervelde, “This

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

tournament not only offered us the opportunity to exercise, it also formed relaxation, enjoyment and an opportunity to connect with friends. For those that won, let us celebrate and those that didn’t win today, let us be hopeful of winning another day. That is the true spirit of sportsmanship.”

Other winners included Clif Orjiakor who triumphed in the handicapped category while Sam Anorom was declared the winner in the veteran category. The ladies were not left out with Christy O of the Okemili Golf Club winning that category as the duo of C.J Frank and J Opara of Okemili Golf Club emerging second and third in that order.

In a brief chat with The Nation Sport, the Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General A.I.G Danpome thanked the sponsor of the Golf tourney stating that the second edition next year will experience a lot of turnaround than it was this year. He also extolled the virtues of a staff of NB Plc, Uche Igbokwe whose tenacity ensured that the Golf tourney saw the light of day.

3SC’s disbandment shocks Amoo S ACKED coach of 3SC, Fatai Amoo has said news disbanding the entire team and their sister team, Crown FC has left him surprised.

Owners of both teams, Oyo state government late on Tuesday issued a statement sacking the teams and their management staff.

Both teams struggled in the out gone 2010/2011 Premier League season with 3SC keeping its place in the elite league while Crown dropped to the lower division.

Amoo told SuperSport.com that instead of the sack they were rather looking forward to their resumption for the next season.

“I just heard it that we have been disengaged, no reason given yet, there was no meeting to that effect.

“Up to this moment nobody has communicated with me on this sack news.

“All what we were planning was our resumption for the new season.

“It’s a bit shocking and surprising,” he said.

The former coach of Julius Berger informed SuperSport.com that he would rather wait for proper briefing before he makes further comments.

“I will rather keep mute and wait for few days to see what they want to do.

“I think they have plans, my reaction will be premature.

“I want to stay calm and wait. Definitely, people will ask question and I’m sure they will offer explanations,” he said.

IGERIA coach Austin Eguavoen has insisted he won’t give up on his team reaching the knockout stage of the 2012 Olympic qualifiers despite losing the first two games.

Nigeria still have a mathematical chance of advancing to the semi-finals if they beat Algeria 3-0 and Morocco do them a big favour and so same against Senegal on Friday.

Morocco are already through to the semis after they won their first two games, while Senegal and Algeria are locked on three points each.

Nigeria are without any point after two rounds of matches.

“It’s not so easy, we need to do a lot of psychological work on the boys because many of them think it’s all over, but I have to let them know it’s not over until it’s over,” maintained Eguavoen after his team fell 2-1 to Senegal Tuesday night.

“We will fight hard and talk a lot more to the boys many of whom started to cry immediately after the game.

“We need to pick the last three points and leave the rest to fate.”

Eguavoen said he will take the responsibility for the team’s second loss in the series after they fell 1-0 to hosts Morocco at the weekend.

“I take responsibility for this result. The

A

• Eguavoen game did not go the way we planned because the boys did not keep to instructions in the first half,” he lamented.

He said he started out against Senegal with a 4-3-3 formation and when they struggled to adapt to it, they had to revert to the more familiar 4-4-2 formation.

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S the much anticipated Copa Lagos Beach Soccer 2011 Tournament approaches ever closer, the benefit of the International tournament taking place on the 16th18th December at Eko Atlantic Beach is suddenly becoming clearer.

The Nigerian tourism industry stands to benefit greatly from the emergence of Beach Soccer. Copa Lagos 2011 will be broadcast to a wide variety of homes throughout the World. The tournament will be broadcasted on 21 international channels, across all continents and to a staggering 250 million households.

Sponsors who have been wise enough to partner with the event will benefit greatly from the World exposure they will receive.

The endorsement that Copa Lagos has received from the United Nations and FIFA Beach Soccer World Wide will ensure that Nigeria will be recognised amongst World renowned organisations. Such publicity can only help to attract other large organisations to the country. Copa Lagos can lead to further investment in the sport and through its development, the possible creation of beach soccer teams and leagues, will lead growth of the sport, which described by FIFA as the most exciting brother that developed from the World’s Game in the past 20 years.

Copa Lagos is not a one off event, it is a tournament which is here to stay and will take place annually. Lagos has been identified as the most attractive city in Africa for this noble event because of the distinguished development. Eko Atlantic has been specifically selected as the ideal venue because of the iconic vision it has of turning the famous Lagos beach to a landmark and a new gateway to Africa.

Namibia, South Africa vow to sweep medals From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt opposition from countries like Algeria, Egypt or Nigeria, their major target is to clear all the gold medals.

He said that that he is not bothered if Nigeria uses home-advantage as host country, all that is paramount on their minds, is to win the tournament as they did at the last championship.

Mr. Jordaan, revealed that that the south African team, would rely on its strength in the Backstroke,Breaststroke

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HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed disappointment and dimay at the performance of the U-23 National Team, otherwise known as Dream Team V, at the on-going CAF U-23 Championship in Morocco.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu said there was nothing the technical crew of the team asked for that the NFF did not provide.

He said: “We are shocked at the team’s poor outing in the first two matches. Yes, it is true that if the results of the last two matches had our way, we will still qualify for the semi finals and be able to fight for one of the three

Copa Lagos set to benefit Nigeria

9TH JUNIOR AFRICA SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP S the 9th African Junior Swimming Championship been held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, commences today, December 1, 2011,South Africa and Namibia has vowed to sweep as much medals as possible from the 60 gold medals for the 60 events.

The head of the South African delegation, Anton Jordaan, who led 28 swimmers to Nigeria for the four-day championship, said despite the

Dream Team V’s defeat shocks NFF

and freestyle events, to achieve their dreams.

The South African team which arrived Port Harcourt with their Namibian counterparts on Sunday, had trained at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium Swimming Complex, for two days and have targeted three training sessions, to be in top shape for the task ahead.

Mr. Jordaan, is hoping the Port Harcourt weather would favour them during the championship, as it did in their training sessions.

• Obasi

automatic places at the Men’s Football Tournament of the London 2012 Olympics. But we are dismayed by the team’s performance in the first two matches and we cannot hide it”, stated the NFF General Secretary.

Amadu also outlined the support the NFF gave the Dream Team V before the tournament: “To start with, the team never lacked anything all through the qualifying matches, against Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania. We remain grateful to the Edo State Government for all the support we were able to secure from it.

“After this, the team had several phases of camping and training programmes, including a three-week

stay in Ibadan, Oyo State. The NFF sent the Head Coach, Eguavoen and chairman of the Technical Committee, Barrister Chris Green to Europe to request for the release of foreign-based players, sought and paid for a training camp in Ghana where the team spent 10 days and played a number of friendly matches, and ensured the team travelled early to Morocco to acclimatize to the weather and also finetune final preparations.

“The NFF also took the Head Coach of Super Eagles, Mr. Stephen Keshi to Morocco to be with the team in advisory capacity and also to provide advice and suggestions here and there, as well as for the players to put in extra effort knowing they stood a chance of being called into the senior team.

“The NFF President promised the team a special package before the first match, and we promised them 200 per cent win-bonus for the second match.

What else do you do for motivation?”

The NFF scribe equally lamented the absence of several key players who led the charge during the qualifying matches against Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania.

“There is no doubt that the presence of players like Ahmed Musa, Rabiu Ibrahim, Haruna Lukman, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Nosa Igiebor, Odion Ighalo and Ekigho Ehiosun would have made a difference. We also tried to get Joel Obi and Uche Nwofor but their clubs blocked them”, said Amadu.

He went further: “Nonetheless, we made it clear to the team that was available before the beginning of the tournament that the Government and people of Nigeria were fully behind them and were expecting them to bring an Olympics ticket back to Nigeria. You expect a team that has been provided so much financial, moral and technical support to lift their game and play with their hearts. But the reverse is the case.

It is a shame the way the team has played.

“There is nothing the Head Coach, Mr. Augustine Eguavoen requested for that the NFF did not provide.

There was a time he reported the NFF to higher authorities simply because we wanted him to play a friendly match in Nigeria against a strong team so that Nigerians could assess the team before the tournament in Morocco.

“However, we still hope for the two results to go our way on Friday in order that we will earn a place in the semi finals. But the truth must be told: The team has disappointed”, stated Amadu.

NFF slates Dec 29 date for General Assembly

NATIONAL MERIT AWARDS FALL-OUT

Yobo apologises to Jonathan

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UPER Eagles’ captain, Joseph Yobo has apologised to President Goodluck Jonathan for his absence at the last National Merit Awards held in Abuja recently.

Speaking from his Turkey base, Yobo pointed out that a break- down in communication between him and the organisers coupled with national assignment accounted for his failure to turn up at International Conference Centre venue of the event.

His words; “I want to apologise to the president for not coming to pick up my award. I had wanted to be at the venue live to pick up the award but, unfortunately, I couldn’t due to some circumstances beyond my control. I learnt of the event less than 24 hours to the commencement and I was already in Kaduna with the Super Eagles for the friendly against Zambia. We all know that the team is not having the best of times and it is my responsibility to ensure that the spirit in camp is cordial.

“Even if I wasn’t going to be at the venue physically, I should have made arrangements for someone to pick up the award for me but the time frame was too short. I regret any embarrassment that could have caused the President and the entire Nigerian citizenry”.

The Fenerbahce defender, however, pointed out that the award will spur him to attain greater heights with the national team.

“I am glad to know that all my efforts for the nation are not in vain. This will encourage me to do more. I feel particularly humbled that amidst all the talented footballers in the country both past and present, I was deemed worthy of a national honour. Now more than ever, I am committed to ensure the national team becomes great again in my time”, he added.

Yobo, who recently equaled Muda Lawal and Nwankwo Kanu’s record 86 caps for the national team, was bestowed with the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) award.

AFTERMATH OF DISSOLUTION

Adepoju proud of 3SC stint

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ACKED 3SC general manager Mutiu Adepoju has said he is proud of his contributions to the club in the past four years.

“I have spent four years in charge of 3SC and I am very proud of what I have done. I sacrificed, I did everything I did with the love I have for the club,” said former international skipper Adepoju.

“It came to me as a surprise, but that is life and one has to move on. As it is now, I don’t have any objections, I will just move on with my life.”

Adepoju returned ‘The Oluyole Warriors’ to the Premier League, but the club have found the going very tough in the Nigerian top flight so much so that they barely escaped relegation in the past two seasons.

On Tuesday, Adepoju said his goodbyes to his staff following the massive clearout at the Ibadan club by financiers Oyo State government.

“It was nice working with you,” he

told them at the government secretariat, where they were all addressed by government officials about their disengagement.

Sacked coach Fatai Amoo also took his disengagement in good faith.

“It came to me as a surprise, but I welcome the development because I know the government is planning to turn the team around and it is in the interest of the fans of the club and other stakeholders. And I will be glad if professionalism is brought to 3SC,” Amoo told MTNFootball.com.

“I also thank God that the teams were not relegated while I was coach.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the appropriate authority to please settle all outstanding debts owed those affected by this mass disengagement.”

It is believed that the club have a debt profile of over 160 million Naira (over $1 million).

H

OFFENHEIM and Nigerian striker Chinedu Obasi Hoffenheim’s striker Chinedu Obasi has been dropped from the squad for lateness Chinedu Obasi has been dropped from the squad of German side Hoffenheim for showing up late for training.

The Nigerian striker was axed along with his Brazilian team-mate Firmino for the same offence.

The Bundesliga club’s general manager Ernst Tanner said the two are “employees who are not badly paid but come late to work.”

Firmino scored in the 1-1 home draw against Freiburg on Saturday.

Neither is expected to play in Friday’s game against Bayer Leverkusen.

Tanner says he and coach Holger Stanislawski agreed on suspending the two because they are repeat offenders.

Dynamo boss praises Ideye

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EAD Coach of Dynamo Kiev, Yuri Semin has praised his Nigerian striker Brown

Ideye. ‘’Ideye is an important part of the team. If not because of his long flights to Nigeria( on national team duties), he could have played better. He is a very professional player who has a good command of the game, ‘’ Semin told Sport Express Ukraine.

With 9 goals in 16 games, Ideye is the third highest goalscorer in the Ukrainian Premier League.Strike partner Andriy Yarmolenko leads the scorers chart with 11 goals.

• Ideye

Mobil sports: Olympian Uduak Ekah is role model

• Venue not determined From Tunde Liadi, Owerri HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) end of the year Annual General Asssembly (AGA) for 2011 is expected to hold on December 29th at a yet to be determined venue.

In a press release signed by the acting General Secretary of the Football House, Barrister Musa Amadu and made available to SportingLife, the delegates to the AGA are to report on the 28th of December and will leave the venue of the event a day after the programme.

The details of the deliberations at this year’s AGA are still very sketchy as at press time but will be made public on or before the date scheduled for the event.

• Yobo

Hoffenheim axes Obasi from squad

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•Uduak Ekah

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FTER Mary Onyali had stormed Eket last year, it is the turn of Uduak Ekah to interact with the youths at the 11th, Akwa Ibom State/NNPC/MPN Schools Athletics Championships as role model.

At first sight, the two-time Olympian looks very unassuming and “too simple” for the star that she is.

The 31 year-old Akwa Ibomite from Etinan Local Government is a product of hard work and professionalism who from time, knew where she was going and decided to get there.

A Physical and Health Education graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and based in Valencia Spain, Uduak can be said to have cut her athletics’ teeth in 1996 when she became Nigeria’s Junior champion in Long Jump and 100 metres and went on to win gold as a member of the country’s relay team at the Africa senior championship in Cameroun.

In 1997, Uduak was a member of the Team Nigeria to the World Athletics Championships In Athens Greece. That was after she had won gold in the 100 metres relay at the Region 2 African Championships in Kumasi, Ghana.

A year later, Uduak was a proud winner of bronze at the highly

competitive 100 metres race of the world Junior Championship in Annecy France.

The highlight of this queen of the sprints is perhaps the 1999 world record she set in the 60 metres indoor race, the time of 7.09 seconds which still stands till date.

That was also the year she set a personal best of 11.11 seconds in the 100 metres in Laussanne Switzerland, 4th all time best junior record.

Widely travelled, she was in the country’s delegation to the 7th All Africa Games in JO’Burg South Africa where Nigeria won gold in the 100 metres relay.

She was a member of Team Nigeria to the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004 and in 2002 was also a member of the country’s contingent to the Commonwealth Games in Manchester England.

She also won gold medals as member of the country’s relay teams to the African Championships in Algiers in 2002 and the 8th All Africa Games in Abuja in 2003.

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THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

‘Move infriges varsity autonomy’ -ASUU ‘Accumulated leave not compulsory’ -VC •FUPRE Academic staff offices

The Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), Delta State has for the past few months been engulfed in crises, ranging from accreditation, infrastructure, and awards of contracts to suspension of some principal officers. POLYCARP OROSEVWOTU reports on the stance of the parties involved.

Furore over Petroleum Varsity E

VERYTHING was thought to have been settled un til the academic staff embarked on another strike. The action signalled fresh crisis at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), near Warri, Delta State. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on work-to-rule following the reinstatement of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Babatunde Alabi and Registrar, Dr Linda Onwuka, by the Education Minister, Prof Rukayyat Ahmed Rufa’i.

Alabi and Onwuka were sent on compulsory leave by the Governing Council on October 19, but the decision said to have been overturned by the minister. The minister took action after Alabi was said to have reported the case to the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Federal Ministry of Education, both in Abuja.

However, the FUPRE branch of ASUU has kicked against the reinstatement,which its chair, Dr Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, said infringes on the university’s autonomy. Also, some members of the host-community are standing by the Governing Council’s decision, claiming that the present management have not done enough to nurture the specialised university established on March 14, 2007 before former President Olusegun Obasanjo bowed out of office.

Before the suspension, students in September blocked the WarriPort Harcourt Road in UgbromoEffurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, protesting poor infrastructure and non-accreditation of courses.

•ASUU, host-community kick against VC’s reinstatement

•A block of classrooms at FUPRE

The students’leader, Michael Nwosisi, then told reporters that the protest to voice their grievances over the poor state of the institution and the non-accreditation of courses in the past four years ago.

Nwosisi complained that there was nothing tangible on ground commensurate with the alleged N1 billion take-off grant given to the institution by the government.

He said there were no lecture halls, workshops, laboratories and other facilities that make for conducive learning, despite the fact that the university is in an important area, the Niger Delta and should play a vital role in training

the much-needed high-skilled manpower for the oil and gas industry, the goose that lays the nation’s golden egg. “l remember the university came on during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo and l feel they brought it to the area to bring education closer to the people, train high level manpower to help fit into the oil and gas sector, but instead, we are forced to learn under harsh condition,” he said.

Nwosisi said the students resorted to the protest because attempts to dialogue with the school management did not yield satisfac-

tory results.

But in his defence, Alabi told The Nation that the university only got part of the N1billion approved by the Federal Government as takeoff grant. He also said the university is making efforts to get its programmes accredited by the relevant authorities.

He said: “The N1 billion takeoff grant, announced by the Federal Government to be given to the institution by Education Trust Fund (ETF) and Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has not been completed. It was only ETF that gave N500 million to the school to take off, but

PTDF till date has not paid their part.

“On non-accreditation of courses, we have looked into a lot of things and we are trying to put in place the machinery to ensure that all courses are accredited before the first set will graduate.”

It was barely a month after the protest that the accumulated leave/ suspension issue came up, forcing the NUC to intervene when there was a stalemate.

Sources said the institution’s Chairman/Pro-Chancellor, Prof.

Dave Onyejekwe, on July 24 directed that the Registrar be suspended to give room for thorough investigation on some undisclosed allegations levelled against her.

However, following the intervention of the Minister of Education, the suspension order was lifted. In August, the Council directed that she should proceed on accumulated leave, which the vice-chancellor was asked to communicate officially to her. She went on accumulated and terminal leave because her tenure would come to an end on March 27, 2012.

A senior staff member of the institution (names withheld) said on October 14, the vice-chancellor sued the Governing Council, seeking to prevent it from holding meetings.

However, when the matter was heard at the Federal High Court, Asaba, the prayer was not granted.

The source added that it was at a meeting held four days later that the Council took a decision directing the vice-chancellor to proceed on his accumulated leave. However, the Federal Government dissolved all boards of institution and parastatals, including that of the •Continued on Page 26

•ONDO ACCUSES STUDENTS OF ALTERING RESULTS - PAGE 26 • KANO PLANS SECOND VARSITY - PAGE 37

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

26

EDUCATION

Ondo accuses students of altering results

T

HE Chairman, Ondo State Scholarship Board, Mrs Remi Edu, has decried the practice of some undergraduates from the state who alter their results in a desperate bid to win government’s scholarship.

Mrs Edu alleged that some of the students inflate their Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) up to 4.00 required of them to benefit from the scholarship award.

Last Saturday, some students protested the alleged non-payment of the scholarship to them despite the fact that they paid N300.00 to ob-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

tain the forms.

They also claimed that the government unilaterally increased the CGPA for deserving students from 3.5 to 4.0 before they could qualify for the payment.

However, Mrs Edu said the protests started when the board uncovered their duplicity.

She said: “Many of the affected students trooped to the streets on Saturday to protest their disqualification from writing the scholarship test when officials of the board discov-

ered that they presented falsified results. We went to the field and discovered that some students that do not even have up to 3.00 CGPA have a way of changing it because there are so many methods of changing things and so many people are involved.

“We discovered that the records they have in school were different from what they bring here.

With that we thought a serious minded student should be able to have 4.0 CGPA to come and take the scholarship. Most of our students are not serious and they

thought that they can work their way through fraud.”

The chairman said the aim of the test is an attempt to find out those who are actually serious and that if the 4.00 CGPA claimed by any students was genuine and he or she scores up to 80 percent, the board will award scholarship to such student.

“The serious students were ready to sit for the exam last Saturday but those who were not ready for the exams frustrated them,” she said.

“Ondo State government has not stopped the payment of scholarship because in other states they have

stopped the payment when they discovered that the issue of racketeering is the order of the day in the institutions. This year, we have paid bursary to 21,000 students which is abo u t N 2 1 8 m i l l i o n a n d w e have also paid the physically challenged this year.

“Medical and Law students have also received their scholarship while spec i a l s c h olarships have been awarded for students that have excelled in their various specialisations that have lifted the state,” she added.

OOU ASUU demands White Paper

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HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Ago-Iwoye has urged the Ogun State government to quickly make its position known regarding recent report of the Visitation Panel to the university to enable it “return faster to the path of academic progress.”

Dr Nassir Adesola, said the Visitation Panel Report which “speaks for itself,” vindicated the union of her unheeded “cries since 2009 on the insidious destruction being perpetrated by Governing Council” foisted on the institution by the past administration of Gbenga Daniel.

Briefing the press and students at the university’s Mini campus on Thursday on the imminent nationwide ASUU strike to protest Federal Government’s habitual foot-dragging on the implementation of the 2009 Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN)/ASUU, Adesola asked Governor Ibikunle Amosun to “work on the report urgently” to redeem the institution.

He said: “We are perturbed that the university is still in the trenches as revealed by the recent events. For instance, we were unable to fill the admission quota given to us by National Universities Commission

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

(NUC) for 2010 admission. This year again, we are still struggling to fill our quota. It is truly saddening if we remember that OOU used to be oversubscribed just three years ago. University students transportation system is non –existent as vehicles are grounded; laboratories and libraries are in poor state; cases of inadequate lecturers are still serious while salaries are still owed.

“OOU needs a new image powered by improved funding, managed by purposeful and progressive leadership and nurtured by untainted respect for regulations and the rule of law.”

He ascribed the inability of the institution to fill its admission quota for fresh students for two years running to “the reign of terror unleashed on lecturers and students by the Governing Council which sacked over 150 lecturers without due process and without replacement coupled with the attendant crisis.”

He explained that the unhealthy academic climate the Council engendered in the last two through its overbearing disposition, scared prospective students away from OOU as most parents and guardians were unwilling to send their wards to institution with uncertain academic calendar.

Furore over Petroleum Varsity •Continued from Page 25

varsity’s Governing Council on October 20.

“On October 18, 2011, the Governing Council also gave approval for action on delayed promotions of staff. But instead of the vice-chancellor to proceed on his leave, he went to Abuja to set aside the decision of the Governing Council held on July 24 and October 18, and through the NUC Executive Secretary, who is an in-law to Mrs. Onwuka, got across to the minister, who gave them a letter dated on November 10,” the source said.

Another source claims that the Governing Council was influenced by a former minister to suspend the principal officers. The source alleged the crisis in the institution started when a former Minister of State was bent on making his wife the registrar of the institution and imposing another vice-chancellor on the institution for self-benefit.

The source alleged the former Education Minister may have prevailed on the Governing Council to ask the registrar and the vice-chancellor to proceed on accumulated leave so that with the wife as the registrar and a puppet as the vice-chancellor they could have full charge of the institution.

However, Rim-Rukeh said the union is not defending the interference by the Federal Ministry of Edu-

cation. He noted that the union embarked on work-to-rule to protest the erosion of the university’s autonomy by the Minister of Education and would stand its ground until the call back letter is withdrawn. “ ASUU as a law-abiding union in Nigeria is usually guided by the principle and rule of law believes that the university’s autonomy must be respected, describing the action of the Minister of Education as an aberration to the university laws and order to set aside the decision of the governing council,” he said.

On the visit of the Peace Committee from the NUC headed by Prof Alhasan Bichi to look into the lingering crises, Akpofure said Bichi held a meeting with stakeholders and collected memorandum from each of the interest body and has completed his assignment and left.

The ASUU chief also said the union had decided to stand on its position until the Minister of Education withdraws the recall letter of the vicechancellor and the Registrar.

On his part, Prof Alabi, told The Nation that there was no substantial allegation against the Registrar that would have led to her suspension.

Alabi reiterated that there were some allegations against her that had led to her suspension and that she could not inform the Governing Council while he (VC) was sick. He added that she was also accused of unilaterally running the institution in his absence.

•Members of Evans Brothers Publishers Nigeria Limited (left) discussing with Mrs Fayokun (second right) and Mrs Ayoade, during the exhibition.

ICT firm trains Oyo teachers, others

A

PRIVATE Information and Communication Technology (ICT) firm, EZ-37 Solutions Ltd, last week trained teachers and pupils in public schools in Oyo State. Interested members of the public also joined to benefit from the free training which took place at Jogor Centre, Ibadan.

The Managing Director of the firm, Mrs Adaora Ayoade, explained that the free ICT training was organised to enlighten and educate participants about the implications of living in the information age, fill the generational information gap which needs to be filled urgently in order not to be left behind. She added that the training was also informed by the need to prepare a mini road map for integration of ICT in the education sector in Oyo state.

Mrs Ayoade stressed that her company was supporting the state government in its effort at repositioning the state, especially in the education sector, adding that the company was targeting training of principals, teachers and pupils in order to put in place a system that will work for our schools.

Oyo State Commissioner for Education Mrs Adetokunbo Fayokun, who declared the training sessions open, advocated the inclusion of computer education in the nation’s schools’ curricular to provide a platform through which young students can realise their great potential.

The commissioner said the inclusion of computer education has become imperative given the fact that the world is now a global village where almost every transaction and business is done electronically. She added that a pre-school curriculum that makes no provision for computer education would definitely fail.

She emphasised the introduc-

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

tion of computer education from kindergarten would provide youths with all the necessary information which would help them fit properly into today’s world as well as position them to realise their potential.

She further said the technological development of the nation depends on the availability and accessibility of resources, one of which is ICT, adding that the use of ICT has revolutionised and altered the economic, social, educational and environmental conditions of mankind.

Institute holds investiture

T

HE Institute of Administrators and Researchers of Nigeria will hold its Fellows' investiture on Thursday, December 8 at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Conference Centre, Akoka.

According to its Director-General, Prof Jacob Etinagbedia, the guest

speaker is Prof. S. A. Olagoke of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State. Olagoke will speak on the theme: Administrators and Researchers as agents of national transformation,while the institute's Acting Chairman, Prof Clement Uwemedimo, will chair the event.

“Fine ... as long as FG improves funding!”

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

EDUCATION

I’m not a bookworm, says FUTA valedictorian

W

ITH his outstanding performance, one would think he’s bookworm, who spends hours in the library, or at home burning midnight candles.

But Mr Samuel Oluwaseyi Akinyemi, the valedictorian of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo says he’s not one.

“Honestly, I’m not a bookworm,” he told this reporter in an exclusive interview. “I’m the type who will describe himself as not accustomed to many hours of reading because it naturally bores me. That is not to say I don’t read because the determination to succeed, is written on the faces of almost every student. I’d gained a lot from my course mates and other students in terms of sharing of ideas. So, my success today is not only something I should credit to myself, but to ev-

T

By Adegunle Olugbamila

erybody. What’s happening today is not only my celebration but our celebrations.”

Cool and unassuming, the 24year-old graduate of Mechanical Engineering with Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.64,was full of smiles as he sauntered to the podium to congratulate his colleagues for a gruesome academic journey which started nearly five years ago.

Aside God Almighty who saw them through, more thanks, he added should also be given to Prof Adebisi Balogun the Vice Chancellor (VC) for a sound leadership that has seen the university scale through an uninterrupted academic calendar since the vice-chancellor assumed office five years ago.

One of four children he admitted that his undergraduate years had its fair share of ups and downs. But his graduation, and the fact that he savours the joy of presiding over his mates to deliver the valedictory speech, makes the day one of his happiest moments. At other times, he said like other students, he also felt demoralised when the grade he had in a particular course turned out lower than what he had anticipated.

“It’s so painful; “he recalled, “that after putting in so much and expecting very high marks, what you got in the end is a sharp departure from what you hoped. People get weighed down by such experience. It gets them demoralised. But in such a case, there is nothing anybody could do about it and all you had to do was soldier on.”

One thing the Prof Balogun, will

be leaving behind according to him is the culture of dedication and commitment to study.

“At FUTA,” he added, “one of the challenges we face here is how to plan your time as students. That’s one thing you must master here. FUTA is not that kind of place for frivolities.

You must learn to read anywhere and anytime. You must be serious if you want to succeed here. It’s an environment where other people must inspire you to read through hardwork.

He has not decided on what to do next though he has lots on his minds.

“I want to go for my NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) programme first before deciding finally on the next thing to do,” he said.

He advised others to be more committed to God, prayerful and above all, put in their best.

•Akinyemi

Ibadan Poly graduates 105,891 in 40 years

HE Polythenic, Ibadan, has produced 105,891 graduates in its 40 years of existence. It will hit that figure tomorrow when it graduates 6,512 students.

The Chairman of the Convocation /40th Anniversary Committee, Mr Nathaniel Adebayo, said the institution is proud of its heritage and products, including Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who delivered the anniversary lecture entitled: Polythenic education in Nige-

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

ria: the shape of things to come.

He added that the institution has produced two other governors, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Mr Ayo Fayose, in addition to others who are major players in the public and private sectors.

Highlighting the achievements of the institution, the ceremonies committee chair said it gave birth to two other polythecnics, played

host to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) at inception, pioneered Urban and Regional Planning as a course of study as well as co-designed the curricular for Local Government Studies Programme in polythenics.

From 13 departments in 1971, Adebayo said the institution has 31 departments running 81 programmes at National Diploma,

Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma levels.

He also disclosed that the institution has forged partnership with universities in the United States of America and the United Kingdom to offer a year top-up programme leading to the award of first degree

Mark: Education system not 21st century compliant

S

•From left: Chairman, Governing Board of JAMB, Prof. Samson Ukpabi; Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Karamot Lawal; Minister of Education, Mrs Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, and JAMB Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, at the inauguration of JAMB Test Development Department Buildings in Bwari, Abuja ... on Tuesday.

•Dr Eric Ifeanyi Okoye, CEO, Juhel Nig. Ltd; Dr. Joseph Odumodu Director-General Standards Organisation of Nigeria and Prof Boniface Egboka, Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikwe University, at the maiden oath-taking/ induction of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, at the university’s premises in Awka, Anambra State.

to holders of HND from the polythenic.

The institution called on its alumni and well-meaning Nigerian s t o p a r t n e r w i t h i t i n i t s bid to advance the course of l e a r n i n g , s t r e s s i n g that government alone cannot fund education.

ENATE President,David Mark, is skeptical about the education system to cope with the challenges of the 21st century.

Mark spoke shortly after he was conferred with an honorary doctorate in Public Administration by the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) last weekend.

Mark lamented that technical and vocational education still receives less attention in the country.

He noted that technological education contributed to the development of advanced countries and yet Nigerians lack it, which, therefore, makes the country suffer dearth of trained technicians, including masons, electricians, nurses, and laboratory technologists, among others.

His words: “The poor state of our tertiary institutions needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

“Successive governments keep talking about commitment to change our education system but the words are yet to be matched with action. Our graduates lack technical skills that enhance productivity. The progress of a nation lies in productivity. Nigeria should make serious investment on technical education and embark in skilled training.”

He said there is the need to help children to be the best through investment in child education to make sure that they do not drop out of school.

Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, was also conferred with honorary doctorate in Public Administration while Inncocent Akuvue and Innocent Chukwuma, bagged honorary doctorate in Business Administration.

Earlier, while presenting the honorees, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Cyprian Onyeji, said the institution had excelled in its areas of calling as well as service to humanity.

He described the occasion as very significant since the institution held its last convocation 13 years ago, and was thus compelled to combine seven convocations in one.

The vice-chancellor lamented that no Nigerian university features in the first 500 universities in the world, attributing it to deficiency in resources required for the attainment of universities goals.

From Chris Oji, Enugu

He noted that ESUT had recorded some achievements in its 30 years of existence among which are the invention of many machines and the engagement of many departments of the institution by the Federal Government and the World Bank in various schemes and projects.

Onyeji said the management had embarked on programmes designed to “package a new ESUT” where quality of teaching and learning will be enhanced. These, according to him,include the computerisation, prudent management of resources, establishment of linkage programme and academic programme with foreign institution and serious war against cultism and other social vices.

Onyeji further congratulated the more than 44,393 graduates at the ceremony for their hard work, which resulted in their successes and charged them to be good ambassadors of their alma mater and the country.

The Chancellor of the University, Ambassador Hassan Adamu, Walkili Adamawa, promised to build a modern bookshop estimated at N25 million in ESUT and promised that the new management team will work as a team to move the institution to greater heights.

•Mark

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

EDUCATION UNILORIN FILE ‘Varsities must harmonise curricula’ THERE is need for African universities to harmonise their curricula and qualifications in higher education, scholars have said.

They spoke at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) during the 2011 African University Day. Speaking on the theme, Harmonisation of curricula and qualifications in higher education in Africa: challenges and prospects, the resource persons stressed the urgent need for African universities not only to collaborate, but also to network with other world universities so that their products would be locally useful and globally relevant.

In her lead paper, Prof.

Victoria Alabi of the Department of English, said the harmonisation of curricula and qualifications in higher education would facilitate the comparability of qualifications awarded across the continent and help drive quality assurance measures.

How to improve girl-child education,

by VC T HE Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof.

Hayward Mafuyai, has charged stakeholders to give priority to girl-child education. Such attention, he said, would address the backwardness in girlchild education.

Mafuyai, spoke in Jos at the First National Girl Child Education Intervention Fair and Summit organised by the Yakubu Gowon Foundation (YGF) in conjunction with the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA),

From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

Abuja.

Mafuyai said education is at the heart of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); hence the need to give it priority as nothing can be achieved without quality education.

He urged non-governmental organisation (NGOs) and their development partners to push for sanctions on sociocultural and religious practices which affect

women and their right to education adversely.

Delivering a paper on Issues of curriculum and gender sensitivity in Nigerian schools, the Vice-Chancellor of Jubilee University, Takum, Prof Owoicho Akpa, urged NGOs to assist in improving girlchild education, because governments appear to be paying lip service to it.

He said the poor attitude of handling issues of the girl-child is killing the nation, and called for

girls to be given ample opportunity in the society.

At the event were the representative of the Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs (Olivia Daziam), Mr Nanfa Gwanfa.

The Acting DirectorGeneral of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Prof. Tijjani MuhammedBande, who was represented by Dr. Fumni ParaMallam. He urged relevant authorities to address the issue of harassment of girl students.

Olashore rewards brilliant pupils

By Seun Olalude

T

VC restates committment THE University of Ilorin, has a policy that guarantees the rights of staff and students, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, has said. He spoke while receiving officials of the SERVICOM, who visited him before embarking on an evaluation of service delivery within the institution.

Oloyede, represented by his deputy (Research and Development), Prof. Y. M. Fakunle, promised to make everything available to facilitate the work of the evaluators.

WAUG holds Dec.11 THE President of the West Africa University Games (WAUG), Prof. Lasun Emiola, has assured Nigerians that the 13th edition of the game tagged UNILORIN 2012, will be held as scheduled between January 11 and 22.

Emiola told reporters after the pre-games meeting held by the WAUG executives that the two venues of the games will be inspected by the executives drawn from the West African in subregion.

He said only full-time, current and bonafide students of universities would participate in the games.

•Prof Mafuyai

•Students of Covenant University, Otta, Ogun State, during their 10th matriculation.

UNILAG, UK varsity sign pact

T

HE University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, signed an exchange programme agreement with the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom (UK) recently. Under the pact students in the Foundation programme of UNILAG can continue their undergraduate progamme in the UK at a reduced cost.

The agreement was signed by UNILAG ViceChancellor Prof

Adetokunbo Sofoluwe and Dr Edward Harcourt, Director of International Relations, University of Birmingham.

Harcourt said some students who completed the UNILAG Foundation programmes in Biosciences, Environmental Science, Engineering or Law and want to continue at Birmingham would be offered scholarships of up to N600,000 yearly.

On the significance of the pact, Harcourt said: “The opportunity to work with a renowned West African institution to offer a direct progression route for their foundation students to study at Birmingham will provide students the opportunity to study in both countries. We also look forward to exploring new ways in which both universities can collaborate further in future.”

Sofoluwe said the pact confers global recognition on UNILAG’s foundation programme.

“The Foundation Programme of the UNILAG has reached a milestone at which an internationally recognised and acclaimed university, the University of Birmingham, has accepted our Foundation Programme results as entry qualifications into its university,” he said.

‘Support puplic schools with sporting kits’

S

PORTS Officer of Agege Local Government Education Authority, Lagos, Mrs Olajumoke Adenike Duroshola, has called on well- meaning Nigerians to donate sporting kits to public schools.

Mrs Duroshola,who spoke during the yearly inter- house

By Sampson Unamka

sports of State Nursery and Primary School, Agege, noted that many parents could hardly afford sport wears for their children.

The schools, she said, could not tax parents on such obligations since the Lagos State government abhors it.

She decried what she described as the not-too-good performance of the schools in sports because of inadequate kits and sport vests for pupils.

“But you can see the good part of it because some pupils are putting on the uniforms of the Red Cross, Girl’s Guide, Boys’ Scout, Boys Brigade and others given to them free by the Lagos State government”.

Mrs Duroshola, who rated the sport fiesta low, attrib-

uted the development to financial constraints of parents and the school.

She likened inter house sports to Christmas which occurs once in a year, adding that it’s an aberration for pupils to be in uniform rather that sport vests on the occasion.

“It is not professional for athletes to participate in their school uniforms,” she added.

The Head teacher, Mrs Ololade Mulikat, said the hope of children in public schools needed to be rekindled.

“No one knows these children’s tomorrow. Some of these children could earn their income through sports in future. The likes of the famous footballer Taye Taiwo started from the ghetto house built with planks, but now, he is known as a notable figure

and celebrity worldwide,” she said.

Participants, who featured in activities, such as tiny tots boys and girls race,100 metres junior boys and girls,100 metres senior boys and girls, 200 metres junior boys and girls, 400 metres boys and girls, relay race, sack race, slippers race, water race, and lime and spoon race and filling the basket, among others, wore white, blue,yellow and green vests.

White House emerged first place winners with a total number of 14 gold, four silver, six bronze medals; Green House came second with three gold, nine silver, two bronze medals and Blue House came third with three gold, three silver, four bronze medals. Yellow House has three silver, seven bronze medals.

HE overall best pupil students in Olashore International school, Iloke Ijesha, Osun State, have been awarded scholarship by the Proprietor Oba Oladele Olashore.

They are:Ayomide Tubi, SS3; Mofiyinfoluwa Okupe, JSS 2 and Miss Oluwayimika Osunsanya, SS 2.

The scholarships will cover their tuition fees for the remaining two terms of the 2011/2012 session.

Oba Olashore, who made this known during the speech and prize-giving day of the school, said it would encourage other pupils to strive for excellence.

His words: “These ones have performed wonderfully and they need to be recognised for the good work to encourage their mates to do likewise academically. This will let them know that we are watching and taking records of every child in this school and challenging the awardees to do more.”

The guest speaker, a member of the House of Representatives Hon Bimbo Daramola, who spoke on Your life is a reflection of the choices you make and decisions you take, urged pupils to make a right choice.

She said: “The choices you are faced with and the decisions you take on life issues will determine the quality of life you will live. Our nation has at different times had choices that will take us to greater heights, but those saddled with the opportunity to take decisions have been taking self-seeking decisions. That explains why we all face a bleak future, regardless of who you are, where you are and the class in the society you belong. You have to take several decisions in life but think before you take any.”

The Pr i n c i p a l , Mr Stephen Valentine, urged the pupils to be focused.

“Knowing where you are starting from and having provided the information of where you want to go to, the computer software works out various possibilities and will provide you with the information about the best route and will give you directi ons on how to get there.

29

UNILORIN hit by transport crisis

*CAMPUSES

SIWES: The money or the skill?

*NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 34

Page 31

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

The Education Trust Fund (ETF) has made impact on campuses nationwide. At the Abia State Polytechnic (ASPOLY), Aba, its hands are seen virtually everywhere. EMMANUEL SHEBBS (400-Level Political Science, University of Calabar) reports.

Turning round a poly's fortune T

HE Education Trust Fund (ETF) was established for the sole purpose of improving infrastructure in schools. Before ETF’s establishment, many of the infrastructure had collapsed, leaving many schools to look like pigsties. ETF, which is run with money from the education tax levied on companies, has over the years been criticised by many who claim it is underperforming. But, its project at the Abia State Polytechnic (ASPOLY), Aba, seems to prove the critics wrong.

Apart from the sports complex, which has been completed and awaiting inauguration, about six structures being constructed in the school are championed by ETF. It all started when ETF donated some sports equipment to the school but there was nowhere to install them.

According to the Rector, Elder Abalogu Onukogu, "Any Students Union Government (SUG) that comes into office will want to establish a landmark for itself. So, when the sport facilities were brought by ETF, I thought of what to do with them. I motivated the SUG leaders and they came up with the sports complex. It was all built by the SUG." The complex is opposite the Elephant House (the SUG Office). It is built to house every indoor games. The ground floor is an open hall for gymnastics and other games such as basketball.

Gymnastics equipment will be installed in the building and it will be open 24 hours for anyone who wishes to use the facilities. It will be made available to users free of charge, CAMPUSLIFE learnt.

Beside the sports complex is the Faculty of Engineering. It is a new faculty in the polytechnic. ETF sponsored the construction of the faculty building. The building, which sits on four plots is a skyscraper.

Speaking of the building, Onukogu said: "We don't have enough land in the school, so the little space we have, we make sure it is well utilised. This is why we explore the air space by building skyscrapers. But there is a limit to which we can do that because of the laws guiding the air space. The Faculty of Engineering building is intended to house every aspect of engineering, both theory and practical".

Beside the building is the Faculty of Food Science and Hotel Management. It is expected to accommodate departments, such as Catering, Hospitality and Tourism.

The ground floor has classrooms, seminar rooms and workshop rooms. On the first floor are a studio, mini theatre, kitchen and others. The last floor has chalets and rooms for lodging. It has complete hotel fixtures where guests can lodge.

Onukogu said: "We want to produce every aspect of human development skills that are uncommon around this part of the world. We want to train caterers and tourists to professional levels.”

Another ETF Project is the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre. It is a two-storey building. The ground and first floors are ICT rooms for

•Hotel Management faculty built by ETF

•Twenty-four classroom block for Engineering faculty built by ETF

staff and the students. The last floor is the ICT auditorium for digital lectures. It is fitted with projectors for large classes.

It is not only ETF that is doing wonders in the school.

Onukogu said Catholic students were given a space to build.

"Now the building is completed. The Catholic students have a suitable place. Not only that, the Muslim students demolished the low-roof mosque they occupied and built a new one. The Business Administration De-

Continued on page 30

•Student leader dies in auto crash - P 33• ‘Kano safe for Corps members’ – P 32

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Before another Pushing catastrophe Out

O

N Monday, a story “WAEC blacklists schools, officials” was reported by this newspaper. It was written by my colleague, Kofoworola Belo-Osagie. In it, the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) announced its decision to bar schools, officials and teachers found to have engaged in examination malpractices during this year’s May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The NEC, according to the report, said an “undisclosed number of schools was de-recognised for culpability in examination fraud and would not be allowed to present candidates for the council’s examinations for a number of years”.

This was announced by Chief Adeniyi Falade, national President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS). He added that the names of officials and teachers indicted would be sent to ministries of Education in their states for disciplinary action.

He was further quoted thus: “It (the NEC) also directed that some schools, which were indicted for mass cheating during the conduct of the May/June 2011 WASSCE, should be de-recognised for a specified number of years, in addition to any other sanction imposed by the Council. Furthermore, it directed that school officials and teachers, who were indicted for falling short of expectations or for involvement in the perpetration of malpractice, be reported to the state ministries of Education or the FCT, Abuja, for disciplinary action.”

Additionally, Falade stated, the 81,573

with

Ngozi Agbo 08054503104 (SMS only)

•campuslife@thenationonlineng.net •ladycampus@yahoo.com candidates caught for examination malpractice, if found guilty, would have their results or subjects cancelled, as the case may be.

I believe in discipline so have no problem with the NEC’s decision. I am all for it.

My concern is with the phrase “undisclosed number of schools”. Alright, the main word here is “undisclosed”. Why should NEC not release the full number and, more importantly, names of such schools? As I write, I am aware that some schools have started collecting payments for the 2012 May/June WASSCE. What would happen to candidates who have paid to such schools and finished getting ready for the exams only to be told weeks to the commencement that their schools have been blacklisted? It gets worse, as we know, when they might not even know until months after the exams.

How does this happen? I’ll explain.

A school I knew in Onitsha, Anambra State, had this problem years ago. The proprietors did not bother to inform parents.

They collected payments and went ahead to prepare the students for the exams. Working in sync with WAEC officials who were heavily bribed, they got all the question pa-

pers, external invigilators and all, and the exams held. Till date, none of the innocent students got their results. After months of agonizing, each had to look for alternative ways to retake the exams in subsequent years.

I call it a classic case of the state failing its young, and future. We can stop it by a simple publication of the blacklisted schools. This way, students and parents know ahead and those affected will start early – I know it’s not that early anymore, but now would be better than next June – to look for alternative schools.

Ciao

For the Ikemba

THE passing, last Friday, of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was, for the Igbo, the passing of a symbol of strength and pride.

Since Saturday morning when news of his death became public, television and radio stations, newspapers and the Internet have been filled with little else but reports about his life and times.

Like many of those born after the Nigerian Civil War, that major event that has marked Ojukwu’s life, all I know of the three-year interregnum are what I heard from my parents, uncles, other relatives, and what I picked up in books written

by Ojukwu and some others who equally played prominent roles in the war.

These have combined to impress on me two major attributes which I will always associate with Ojukwu.

One, he did not shy away from providing leadership for his people when circumstances demanded it. It has been said that some are born great, some achieve greatness while another group has greatness thrust on it. Ojukwu is one of the few who can be said to have a taste of the three categories.

He was born into a family that was easily the wealthiest in the country then. He broke away from a domineering father to make a name for himself first in the civil service and later in the military when he was named the first military administrator of the Eastern Region. Then he led his people in a war that, for all the shoddiness in preparation and lack of resources, was one primarily of pride and dignity. This is something for which the average Igbo man on the street reveres the Ikemba.

The second attribute of Ojukwu which though public knowledge has not been well utilised by the Igbo is the fact of his education. Ojukwu was a man who loved knowledge and pursued it to his heart’s content. Sadly, this cannot be said of the average Igbo man today. Ironically, the worst hit are his own people from Anambra State – nearer home even, Nnewi and environs.

What went wrong?

Last week, this paper ran a report on how girls swept the awards tables as the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, graduated its 2011 Pharmacy set.

This will not be the first time, and virtually the same thing has been happening in the last five years at least at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki and others in the Southeast zone.

As suggestions are being made of ways to honour the Ikemba, I urge Southeast governors, especially Peter Obi of Anambra who shared a very close tie with Ojukwu to seek out ways of using this attribute to “restore the dignity of man” (apologies to UNN) in Anambra boys with regards to education.

This, I believe, would be a much impactful way of ensuring that our Eze Igbo Gburugburu lives on in the hearts of our youth and indeed posterity.

‘Let’s place value on our values’ Julius Ekwesi, 300-Level Nursing Science at Delta State University (DELSU), is the national president of Baptist Student Fellowship (BSF) of the Nigerian Baptist Convention. OPEOLUWA SONUGA (200Level Law, Obafemi Awolowo University) met him at the 46th annual BSF convention held at Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State.

H

OW do you feel being the national president of the fellowship?

I consider it a privilege but in reality, I have to strike a balance between academics and being the national president. Thanks also to my National Coordinator, Rev. Gideon Akanbi, and members of the Student Ministry Division of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, there has been enough time to study.

What is your view about leadership?

Leadership is about influence whether at the secular or religious level. It is about bringing people together to achieve set goals.

What do you think is the role of the Christian youth in nation building?

Their role involves influencing youth to fulfil God’s mandate . And to create a passion by which the next generation can fulfil its destiny Who are your motivators?

My parents, siblings and a current member of the House of Representatives.

What is the greatest challenge of youth of your generation?

The greatest challenge on a general note is not having an understanding of God and his working. Politically, the challenge is having a few young leaders surrounded by old godfathers.

Another major challenge is our unwillingness to place value on

•ICT building also donated by ETF

Turning round a poly's fortune • Julius

our values and see how best we can improve on them What is your view on Christian youth embracing materialism?

Christian youth, need to know that living a life of truth, according to the standard set by God, is not negotiable. Parents also must play their role to guide them on how to use modern facilities and knowledge without affecting their spiritual lives.

What is your word for the youth?

Irrespective of their status, young people should learn to begin from somewhere. They should also value small opportunities. We should all begin to place value on our values if we must appreciate the talent placed at our disposal by God.

Continued from page 29 partment has also completed its project. It is a two-storey building which houses 24 offices and 24 classrooms. The classrooms are fitted with well-designed wooden desks,” he said.

However, the ETF success story appears not replicated in every institution. There are scores of abandoned ETF projects and building sites in many institutions. On this, Onukogu said: "To whom much is given, much is expected. When ETF releases funds, I use them with accountability because I see that as an opportunity to develop my school."

His students are complaining of the lack of hostels. While some look for rented accommodation,

others in private hostels not too close to the school.

Chioma Okeke is based in Lagos with her parents. She said: "It is unfortunate that a school like this does not have a hostel for students.

I come to school from my aunty's house in one of the rough corners of Aba. The roads are bad. The traffic is tough, especially in the morning hours. It is usually stressful coming to school every day. The school should do something about hostels."

Another female student said the government and the management should be blamed for the accommodation problem.

"That the school is located outside the state capital does not mean the government should neglect the welfare of its citizens

here," she said.

Any plans to build a hostel?

Onukogu answered: "I want to adopt the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) strategy. It works in most schools even outside Nigeria. Banks and other private firms will be invited to build hostels after which the students will pay to the firm. After recovering the cost of the building, the building becomes the school's property.”

The Public Relations Officer (PRO)of the school, Mrs. Ifenyinwa Chika, said the ETF intervention in the school has helped development.

"Construction goes on in the school every day. The Rector, goes round, twice a day, to inspect the projects," she said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

31

CAMPUS LIFE Students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) are lamenting the transport crisis in their school. MICHAEL ADEBAYO (200-Level Computer Science) writes that the reported ritual killings in Ilorin town are compounding the students’ woes.

•A long queue of students at UNILORIN park last Monday

•UNILORIN students stranded at the park

T

HE serene atmosphere in Kwara State, known for its harmony and peace, has been upset by criminals, who attack residents with machetes from behind in dark spots.

The hallmarks of the attack: the victims’ lifeless bodies are always left in a pool of their own blood and there are deep machete cuts on their skulls.

Some have said the killings were for rituals and accused the loyalists of some powerful politicians.

Residents and students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) are now gripped by fear. The anxiety is said to have stemmed from the transport problem they have been facing since the beginning of the session.

Apart from the almost 35 per cent increment in transport fare, students are bemoaning their inability to get transport to and from the campus. Some who live at Tanke axis, a popular area close to the school, are not spared as most of them struggle

UNILORIN hit by transport crisis to board commercial vehicles going to the campus.

Students residing in the heart of Ilorin metropolis, such as Challenge, Post Office, Taiwo Road and Agbo Oba, expressed fear over the insecurity in the town, saying the transport problem has compounded their woes.

“Nobody can situate the challenges many of us go through leaving the campus in the evening, especially this time that we hear all sorts of news about ritual killing in Ilorin. My brother, I recite Psalm 21 everyday as I leave the campus in the evening because the ritual attack occurs around this time,”

said a final year student of Sociology, who craved anonymity.

Amin Mohammed, 200-Level Computer Science, who lives at Sanrab Junction in Tanke, said: “Everybody has to compete for spaces in vehicles. It is as if overpopulation is taking its toll on UNILORIN.” The students said sunny days in Ilorin are worst. Several columns of students are formed at the UNILORIN car park, with about 100 students in each queue, waiting for buses.

Despite the presence of cadet officers to maintain orderliness, some students still engage in the act popularly called “shunting”

among the students to destablise the queue.

A lecturer, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE on condition of anonymity, said the school had done what is within its limits to cushion the effects by releasing three extra Marcopolo buses. He said students from their off-campus abodes to school is not the responsibility of any institution. The management could only offer help to facilitate rapid movement of students, he said.

According to the lecturer, the crisis is a direct result of movement of students whose names are not yet on the admission list but who come to school

to lobby for placement. He challenged the UNILORIN Students Union Government (SUG) leaders to “innovatively” solve the crisis. To most students, the SUG is not doing anything to contain the situation.

“If they cannot help in reducing transport fare, what stops them from finding a lasting solution to this crisis?” said a student who simply identified himself as Tayo.

The SUG president, Surajudeen Musa, at a meeting, said the union was doing its best to resolve the crisis. He said the union appreciated the management for offering help “in this trying time”.

On the report of ritual killings, Surajudeen said evening lectures have been cancelled as part of safety measures to ensure students get to their off-campus hostels before night.

He said: “Once it is 6pm, we move round all lecture rooms and halls and ask the lecturers politely to suspend lectures and release the students to go home.”

Over the years, campus politics has been a rallying point for students’ welfare. But, today the reverse seems to be the case. GILBERT ALASA (300-Level, University of Benin) writes.

Whither campus politics?

“F

ELLOW Nigerian students? Everarticulate Nigerian students? I greet you in the name of the struggle. I remain my humble self, Honourable Prosper Odidi a.k.a.

Mandela...”

No sooner had he delivered the quoted statement than Prosper started gesticulating in the usual manner of politicians, with his high-pitched voice trembling with emotion as he struggled to sell himself to the students. An equally shrill voice rang out the back of the hall : “Abeg, tell me something wey I never hear.”

Campus politics has lost its charm. Student unionism, once seen as a veritable instrument to champion the cause of free society, has changed for the worse; it is now a ghost of what it is used to be. On one hand, it has been hijacked by politicians who use student leaders to realise their selfish ambitions. On the other, student unionism is now under the weight of greedy individual student leaders, who see their call to service as a bid to enrich their pockets.

Even the leadership of institutions have infiltrated student union, thereby, imposing their stooges on the students. Therefore, in such institutions where Student Union Governments (SUGs) have been pocketed by the management, aspiring student leaders must either be loyal to the authority to have a hitch-free ascendancy or be disloyal and schemed out.

A SUG leader confided in CAMPUSLIFE: “The intimidation, repulsion for noble ideals, lack of depth, sentiments and official corruption are just enough to reveal how shallow campus politics has become. You can never get a chance except you are loyal to the management and stakeholders who

decide the outcome of your candidature.”

The “stakeholder” in this context does not refer to any member of the institution management. Rather, it refers to a set of students who, by virtue of having certain power over others, control the politics in such institution. The stakeholders could be affluent, cultists or charismatic enough to sway the outcome of elections in their favour. They are also called kingmakers.

For instance, in the event preceding the last union election in the University of Benin (UNIBEN), trouble ensued between two aspirants from the Faculty of Arts, Godfrey Nwankwo and Steven Udosen. Godfrey was allegedly “endorsed” by the Faculty of Arts Students Association (FASA) stakeholders, a decision which did not go down well with Steven. In the end, the situation almost ended in a brawl but the status quo did not alter.

An aspirant could also seek endorsements of politicians outside the campus. Here, it’s two-way: aspiring students may accept to do the biddings of the godfather like intimidating the politician’s opponents, snatching of ballot box and, sometimes, assassination. Failure to do the bidding of the politician may portend electoral misfortunes for such students.

This is the low into which students’ unionism has sunk. Respondents, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE ,decried the development, saying the new crop of student leaders are self-serving and have lost touch with the philosophy of the struggle.

Innocent Isah, ND 1, Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi (AUCHI POLY), said campus politics must not remain the exclusive preserve of criminal-minded students.

•UNIBEN students during a campaign in the recent SUG election

“Today’s campus politics has been hijacked by thugs in garb of students. To them, owning posh cars, getting paid to do dirty jobs for politicians and dating campus big girls are what define success. Unionism is now nasty and brutish; a game defined by avarice.”

Questioning the source of money students union leaders get in the name of the union, Gbemisola Olasunkanmi, a student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), asked: “Who takes custody of the huge sums donated to students through these selfish union leaders?”

A former union leader at the Ambrose Alli University (AAUA), Ekpoma, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said: “We are students and we don’t have any means of income. You don’t

expect anybody to sacrifice the whole of his resources and time on campaigns with nothing to show for it. Occasionally, some comrades borrow money from friends with promise to pay back when victory is attained.

Again, a lot of students see you as a celebrity, imposing bogus financial demands on you.

Of course, you can’t afford not to give them what they want.”

He continued: “There are also the strong men (cultists) who support us during the electioneering. You just can’t afford to turn your back on these people because that may spell doom for your administration. A lot of us want to serve the students but we often encounter issues that are beyond us. Unluckily for us, we succumb.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

32

CAMPUS LIFE Wizkid thrills varsity students

I

T was an exciting time when Wizkid entertained students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka Anambra State last Friday. He performed at the Marble Arch Hotels, Awka.

A source told our correspondent that Wizikid was paid N1.5 million for the show. Regular tickets were sold at N1,000, VIP, N2,000 for the show sponsored

by Zain Communications Ltd. Students had expressed doubt, days before the show, over the

From Uche Anichebe UNIZIK

coming of Wizkid. But they were surprised when the artiste turned up for the show filled to capacity.

Emeka Ikechukwu, a student of English, told CAMPUSLIFE that the show was one of the best he had witnessed in the state. “I enjoyed myself. It was simply a bomb. It’s just that Wizkid arrived late and did not really spend much time as we expected him to on stage,” Emeka said.

‘Kano safe for corps members’

T •Sola performing with his crew during the launching

Student launches album after graduation

A

graduate of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Sola Shittu, has launched his debut album entitled: Sent: The commission.

The launch, which took place at Christ School Alumni Hall, Ado Ekiti, was witnessed by his family members and well wishers including Mr Sunday Ibitoye, Caretaker Chairman of Ado Ekiti Local Government,; Alhaji Mojeed Jamiu, Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Kayode Fayemi; Mr Ademola Afolabi, Special Assistant on Protocol to the Deputy Governor; Mrs. Yemisi

From Opeyemi Samuel EKSU

Ayokunle Special, Assistant on Public Affairs to the Deputy Governor, Pastor John Adetoyinbo, Sunday Ayeni.

Ibitoye congratulated Shittu on the feat and advised youths to be encouraged by the achievements of their peers.

He said: “Youths are leaders of tomorrow and it is what one has that one uses daily. I am impressed by (Sola) Shittu’s album. While his mates were gallivanting, Shittu was hanging around the studio to

bring out something worthwhile.

He not only conceived an idea but followed it up with action and that is why we are here today.”

Shittu and his crew entertained the guests with tracks from the album.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE Olabode Olayemi, 400-Level Public Administration, said: “I am not surprised that Shittu is launching his album because I know he is someone who can sing very well.”

Boye Adebanjo, another student, said he knows Shittu to be a good singer in church.

HE Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kano State, Mallam Zariya Lawal, have urged corps members to remain calm . He said there was no cause for alarm over the state of insecurity in the North. He said security measures have been taken to ensure safety of lives and property.

Lawal spoke while inducting the 2011 Batch ‘C’ corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Kusalla Dam, Karaye.

As part of the security measures, he said the NYSC Secre-

From Nosakhare Uwadiae NYSC KANO

tariat has partnered security agencies for enhanced security.

He urged parents to commit their children to God during the orientation and throughout their service year.

Lawal advised corps members to participate in all orientation programmes, such as lectures, sports, social activities, language study and so on. According to him, the activities provide opportunity for cordial and mutual understanding.

•Dr Ogungbile and the students after the class

Birthday surprise for lecturer

S • External Affairs Manager, NBC, Mrs Yanju Olomola and Public Affairs and Communication Manager of Coca-Cola Nigeria, Mr Clem Ugorji

M

TN Fun Link brought joy to students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, staging a concert for artistes, dancers, comedians and others.

The audition was held at AgoIwoye. Over 30 artistes, dancers and comedians showcased their talent. The students were allowed to choose who will represent the school at the state level.

Some students who had exams

Firm fetes students From Modestus Diko, OOU

while the audition was going on rushed to the venue after the exams. Their Singsongwas such opportunities don’t come easily.

The grand finale was held at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

All tertiary institutions in Ogun State were represented. OOU students won the three best

artistes, best dancers and the second best comedian.

The winners include DMI, Dejavel Crew, Dynamic V and OJ Balle. They went home with DSTV mobile handsets, television sets, awards, bags and other consolation prizes.

A chemical science student, Ajibola Olagoke, said: “I am proud to be an Oouite. OOU, indeed, has got talents.”

Student injured in fire outbreak

A

FINAL year student of Mass Communication at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka, Constance Emeana, has escaped being killed in an explosion.

The explosion resulted in a fire outbreak at the Kaduna Nzeogwu Hostel, at the temporary site.

From Ngozi Emmanuel UNIZIK

According to an eyewitness, the fire broke out when the victim was refilling the tank of her lamp with kerosene suspected to be adulterated. The lamp exploded. Constance was rescued by a neighbour. She was rushed to a hospital.

The doctor, who attended to her, said the damage was much.

The victim, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said she was grateful to God for sparing her life and advised other students to be cautious in buying kerosene.

This is not the first time such incident is happening at UNIZIK.

TUDENTS of Religious Department, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU),organised a surprise birthday party for Dr David Ogungbile, their lecturer.

Ogungbile was greeted with a birthday song when he walked into the auditorium for a lecture.

The students sang with vigour and happiness. Effort by the lecturer to stop them was futile. Students from other lecture halls struggled to catch a glimpse of the happenings in the class.

The celebration continued in Ogungbile’s office as students

From Opeoluwa Sonuga OAU

besieged the place to wish him a happy birthday. A 200-Level student of Philosophy dedicated a poem to him.

Ayomipo Sodipo, 100-Level Law, student said: “Dr Ogungbile is a father to us, he knows his onions. I pray God grants him the strength, grace and long life to fulfil his destiny.”

Kolawole Awe, 200-Level Philosophy student, said: “Dr. Ogungbile is a man of integrity; he has taught me to be enthusiastic about my study.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

33

CAMPUS LIFE

‘I will rebrand Man O’ war’

•The cadet officers during their passing-out parade

T

HE Man O’ War, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba (AAUA), Ondo State, has held its passing-out parade (POP) to usher in a new executive.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Femi Mimiko, represented by the Dean, School of Post-Graduate, Prof Francis Oyebade, congratulated the outgoing executives for their efforts in the organisation.

He said: “I know this is a disciplined corps. You need to dominate your environment.”

From Dayo Ojerinde AAUA

In his valedictory speech, the outgoing commander, David Osayande, said: “The journey was rough, but I thank God that I am handing over. We encountered many difficulties, but they are all history.”

The new commandant, Temitayo Kolawole, said: “My vision and mission is to rebrand and repackage the Man O’ War in AAUA and

take it to a greater height.”

The new executives include Kolawole Temitayo (CommanderIn-chief), Omoruyi Williams (Deputy Commander-In-Chief), Seyi Bankole (Chief Training Officer), Omolade Owoputi (Adjunct General), Bunmi Adesuyi (Principal Store officer), Joyce Irene, Ojo Tunbi, Paul Aigbologa (Chief Intelligence Officers), Funmi Sanni (Special Adviser to the Commander-in-Chief) and Oluwatosin Fashaskin (External Auditor).

Student leader dies in auto crash

T

HE president of Abia State Students Union Government, Chidi Uruakpa has died in an auto crash. The accident occurred on Isukuwato Road in Abia State.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Uruakpa was on official assignment when the accident happened. Eyewitnesses said the official vehicle he was travelling in somersaulted. He was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.

“But it is unfortunate that he could not survive; he died at the hospital,” the eyewitness, who craved anonymity, told CAMPUSLIFE. Uruakpa was a final year student of Environmental Resource Management.

A friend told CAMPUSLIFE that the bus somersaulted several times and ran into the bush. A resident told our correspondent that “the road is prone to accidents because of the bends and gullies that dot it.”

Uruakpa’s death is the second within three months that the SUG has recorded. Its treasurer, Chukwuemeka Otisi, died in similar circumstances in September on

• The late Chidi From Emmanuel Shebbs ABIA

Okigwe Road.

A student, Adaeze Nwaboso, described the late president as “a true leader”. One of the executive members of the SUG, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE on condition of anonymity, described Uruakpa as a leader with a style.

“He talked to everyone irrespective of political differences, ethnicity or religion,” the official said.

Women urged to emulate Tinubu, Okonjo-Iweala

W

OMEN Arrives Initiative (WAI), a non-governmental organisation, has organised an awareness rally for female students in Ekiti State University (EKSU).

According to the president, Kehinde Akintobi, the rally was to welcome new members and encourage women to participate in socio-political activities.

“We want to let women know that we are not inferior to men and

From Opeyemi Samuel, EKSU AAUA

that what men can do, women can do better,” she said.

She said women education did not end in the kitchen, adding that the likes of Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Prof Dora Akunyili, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mrs Funke Egbemode should be seen as role models for women aspiring to be great.

Taiwo Olajuyigbe, 400-Level Accounting, told CAMPUSLIFE: “We want all the female students to start preparing for leadership positions so that men won’t push us aside again.”

Bukola Adeyemi said: “I want to appeal to women to start from the campus. Let us start contesting for leadership positions and you will see that men are not better than us.”

•The students during the rendition

Students perform cantata

F

OR students and staff of Imo State University, Owerri (IMSU), it was an evening to remember. Singers and dance groups took the stage one after the other to perform classical and folk music at the St. Joseph Catholic Chaplaincy.

The event was the annual Cantata of the chaplaincy.

Present was the wife of Imo State Governor, Mrs Eunice Okorocha. She was accompanied by wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Ifeoma Agbaso. There were other dignitaries.

St. Joseph Catholic Chaplaincy Choir gave its best to the admiration

From Ugochukwu Egwumba IMSU

of the governor’s wife, students and others.

President of the Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS), IMSU, Michael Nwaokorie, thanked the Chaplain, Rev. Fr. A.P.C. Njoku for making the event a success. He described this year’s edition as different from others held in the past. Some students said they were thrilled by the performance and urged the chaplain to make the cantata a monthly event because “it helps one relax in an academic environment.”

Youth Council gets Nigerian chapter

T •Ibadan students during Amala Day

T

Ibadan students celebrate day

HE Federation of Ibadan Students Union (FIBSU), Ekiti State University (EKSU) chapter, has celebrated the 2011 edition of Ibaban and Amala Day. The event, which took place at the Oodua Hall featured a welcome address, cultural display and Amala competition which was won by Oladimeji Olakunle, a student of Education Management.

The Oluyole Ibadan magazine was

T

From Musliudeen Adebayo EKITI also launched. There was awards presentation.

The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Dada Adelowo; Prof Abdul Rahman and past president of the union, Abiodun Majekobaje, graced the occasion.

The VC congratulated the students, urging them to shun social

vices capable of destabilising the campus. He said the institution would introduce parents’ forum where student activities would be properly monitored.

The union president Abass Adedeji, thanked the students for the success of the event.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to the VC and other guests.

Students donate blood

HE National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) and the Rotaract Club of Nigeria, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) chapter, have enjoined students to donate blood to save lives.

The groups made the plea during a blood donation

From Ifeoluwa Onifade UNILORIN

organised for students.

NBTS Head Mr Abel Abu said the exercise was to encourage students to save lives, particularly those of sickle cell patients, women in labour and accident victims.

He said: “Instead of killing the blood which has a life span of 120 days, students have the opportunity to use the blood to save somebody’s life”.

Abu said the body had been to the school many times, adding that the students had always responded positively.

HE International Youth Council (IYC), with headquarters in New York, has approved the establishment of its chapter in Nigeria. The executive members of the council, led by Asha Castleberry, approved the inauguration of IYC Nigeria, in order to extend its youth leadership development programme to Nigerian youth.

Over the last three years, the IYC has been the official network of the Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations working closely in partnership with

From Olawale Ajetunmobi LAGOS

Friendship Ambassadors Foundation in planning the annual youth's assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The Nigerian chapter of the body is led by Promise Ozuzu, who is the country’s chairperson, Faithful Iroh, national secretary; Taiwo Bankole, project coordinator; Mutiu Afolabi, media director and Irene Idiaghe, treasurer .

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

34

CAMPUS LIFE

T

HE Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) popularly known as IT is designed to help students gain practical experience of what they are taught in school.

At the polytechnics, every student is required to participate in the programme. But in universities, SIWES is reserved for Engineering, Biological Science, Physical Sciences and Communication students. Those in their sophomore or third year are allowed to go for the training, which is aimed at putting them through the technical aspects of their discipline.

The scheme is sometimes misunderstood by some students, who see SIWES as an opportunity to make money. Most times, students do not get an appropriate firm or establishment for their training. Others, however, get placements in appropriate firms.

Our correspondent, who visited Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI), Enugu, saw SIWES students at work. The institute offers placements to Engineering and Physical Science students.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the institute does not pay the students, but the knowledge they gain, according to an official, is the ultimate prize.

A student in the Foundry Section, said: "I came here because of the knowledge I will gain. I turned down an offer in an aluminum company where I am supposed to be paid N25,000 monthly for a casual work not related to my field of study."

In an interview with

SIWES: The money or the skill?

•Some SIWES students undergoing training in a factory From Kingsley Amatanweze UNN

CAMPUSLIFE, the senior Administrative officer of SEDI, Mr Ejido Eugene, said: "Students choose to

undergo their IT programme at SEDI because of the good number of equipment and knowledgeable manpower available. Each of the students undergoes training in a section that has to do with his

course."

However, some students have said they cannot undergo the SIWES programme without being paid monthly stipends by their employers. They hinged their rea-

Hardwork key to success, VC tells freshers

T

HE Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Adetokunbo Sofoluwe, has charged freshers to utilise their stay in the university.

He said it is only through hard work that students can succeed academically.

He spoke during the matriculation of the students.

Sofoluwe enjoined them to distinguish themselves academically, adding that they should allow their Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) to tell the story of their success.

The ceremony took place in the main auditorium. Sofoluwe promised students, who distinguished themselves by attaining a CGPA of 4.50 and above, on scholarship.

The UNILAG scholarship package includes an annual endowment of N50,000, accommodation in choice halls, nomination to participate in seminars and conferences at home and abroad.

Sofoluwe informed the students of the dress code that must be strictly adhered to, saying “dress the way you want to be addressed.”

The Registrar, Rotimi Shodimu, noted that the competitive nature of the school’s admission system was the major reason students always rejoiced when they are admitted.

“The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory,” he said.

Elijah Ademola, 100-Level Political Science, said: “I am excited at the result of my hard work; and as you know it is not easy to get into

From Tosin Adesile Rotimi Akinola Oluwaseyi Amosu, Solomon Samuel UNILAG

the best school in Nigeria.”

The university admitted 8,223 students of the 100,000 applicants who sat for the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Dean of Students Affairs, Prof Olukayode Amund, has promised the students that security in the hostels would be given improved. He spoke during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Senate Chambers, penultimate Thursday.

At the event attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management and Services), Prof R.A. Bello, the management reiterated its commitment to security of lives and property.

Amund said the management has employed the Nigerian Legion to assist the school security personnel to effectively secure the halls of residence given the Boko Haram threat to make universities their next target.

He also said the school would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the February 14, 2011 incident did not repeat itself.

In a chat with CAMPUSLIFE, one of the hall presidents called for regular training of security men, saying the school should give them necessary monitoring for efficiency as security men in hostels could easily adapt to students life if care was not taken.

The meeting was attended by security chiefs, hall masters and wardens.

‘Amund said the management has employed the Nigerian Legion to assist the school security personnel to effectively secure the halls of residence given the Boko Haram threat to make universities their next target’

•Some of the newly-admitted students taking oath of Matriculation

•UNILAG VC Prof Sofoluwe delivering his speech during the ceremony

sons on the fact that the money to be paid by government through Industrial Training Funds (ITF) would not come until after their graduation.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

35

CAMPUS LIFE

CAMPUSLIFE: A worthy expedition

By Gilbert Alasa humble_gilby@yahoo.com

I

shall be telling this with a sigh. Somewhere ages and ages hence. Two roads diverged in a wood. And I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost (1874-1963) It was January 14, 2010. As usual, the ‘hustling and bustling’ took a better part of the day and nothing suggested the day would be different. An independent staff of a consulting firm, I had gone on appointment to the office of a former Group Managing Director of FirstBank, Mr Moyo Ajekigbe. Luckily, a man walked into the waiting room with a copy of The Nation firmly held in his hand. I glanced at him and that perhaps made him rather uncomfortable. Minutes later, he handed me the paper.

I flipped quickly to the eight-page

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ECHNICAL vocational education has a great role to play in the affairs of a developing country. For development to happen, somebody must be trained to train others. Vocational training is training conducted in vocational schools intended to develop general or specific skills. Vocational training helps the trainee to watch and imitate the trainer. Due to the education attached to vocation, the programme prepares individuals for gainful employment as semiskilled workers, technicians or subprofessionals in establishments.

Nigeria should see technical and vocational education as one of the critical routes to national development. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have identified

By Hassan Afegbua hassanluv2@yahoo.com

B

EFORE the advent of the controversial post-UTME in Nigeria, students seeking admission into various institutions usually entered through JAMB once they obtain the required marks. But with the introduction of post-UTME in 2005 by a former Minister of Education, Mrs Chinwe Obaji, many are of the opinion that its introduction would serve as another avenue for

CAMPUSLIFE section. To my surprise, an opinion story I had authored and tagged: “It’s perform or perish” appeared showily on the pages. Of course, I felt the same excitement that makes a soccer player point to the sky each time he attains a touchdown. That day, I grasped a fragment of heaven.

But beyond the buzz of seeing myself pose gracefully like a Sam Omatseye of The Nation fame or a Funke Egbemode of The Sun, I arrived at a realisation that something transcendental lies ahead in my writing sojourn. Being one of the defining moments of my life, I had since resolved to seize the platform to join forces with other Nigerian youths to form a common front and confront the challenges of our time.

I have since learnt that life is a catalogue of choices.

As humans, we choose the values that will reflect our very essence. We adopt our best way to control the unknowable and understand the deeper truths about causation and existence. We choose to consent to the theory of good and evil as determinant of one’s fate. Whether we skid off the rails or hit the bull’s eye in the end is another story altogether. But then, there is a bitter reality in all this: we live with the consequences of these choices till the flora and fauna fade away from our eyes.

CAMPUSLIFE for me is one of

those choices and I am happy to be part of the revolution. In a broader sense, this revolution is far beyond the massive fan base CAMPUSLIFE enjoys throughout the nation. It outweighs the fascination of giving life to our campuses by letting students reel out their own stories. It is the understanding that CAMPUSLIFE has helped re-shaped destinies. It has assumed a panacea for the moral depravity that has eroded our ‘gown and town’.

It is a medium to shield the defenceless, and a viable tool for tapping into the boundless opportunities of networking and building healthy communities. Above all, it has come to be an instrument for preparing Nigerian youths for effective participation in nation building.

Generally, there abounds several means to maximise these choices.

My Editor, Mrs. Ngozi Agbo, made the decision some years ago that birthed CAMPUSLIFE. The Nation provided the platform. The world biggest brand, Coca Cola, and its sister company, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), saw reasons to break the banks and extended a hand of fellowship as a socially responsible trademark.

Such feats, I believe, should not be left solely on the shoulders of some persons or organisations.

While I solicit more in sponsorship that would help swell our number

accuracy of this assertion more than the fatherly role played by the duo of Olawale Ajetunmobi and Vincent Nzemeke. Such is the core of leadership.

This family is a vestige of that revolution. For Martin-Luther King Jr, “Revolt is the potent language of the unheard.” But for us, we believe in the supremacy of the pen over the fierceness of a barrel of gun. Hence, we have resolved to be that gadfly that awakens leadership from its slumbler and reach for the highest calling. That for us, is a choice.

For the most part, CAMPUSLIFE has come to be a better medium to maximise this plethora of choices; a choice to re-awaken society to the vacuum in our institutions, a resolution to remind society just how good Nigeria could be if only we are ready to stick to our utmost commitments, a decision to reinforce the power of light over darkness, the triumph of good over evil, the expediency of giving to a vulnerable and coy world than simply succumbing to self-aggrandisement and the overriding significance of sponsoring causes like CAMPUSLIFE than plundering our lean resources to host bogus economic summits. More importantly, it is that choice to constantly review our attitudes, judgements, beliefs and occasional excesses and see how they affect the world around us.

CAMPUSLIFE has become that choice. Let the dream live on.

of pages, I equally urge goodhearted Nigerians, corporate bodies and governments to look in the direction of youths and create blue oceans that would assure a rewarding future for Nigerian youths.

But beyond making the world feel the heat of our palms, CAMPUSLIFE has become a big family of wonderful parents and children alike. Aunty Ngozi stands shoulder-high as a nononsense disciplinarian, friend and mother who never hesitates to put “presumptuousness” in its place. The protective appeal of Emeka Attah is as visible as the sky’s grey shrouds.

The seemingly reserved and unswerving ‘mother of the house’ Hannah Ojo has been an inspiration to young CAMPUSLIFers. The ribtickling allure of Daniel Lawrence who earns the reputation as “firstsemester 300-Level student” usually keeps the air relaxing when necessary. For me, Vincent “Maga” Nzemeke’s latest fascination with romanticism brings William Shakespeare alive in my soul and raises fundamental questions about death and existence.

The tantalising “mischievousness” of my “ex-girlfriend” Ngozi Emmanuel comes to bare and reminds one of those little, bratty sisters. When the chips are down, Nosakhare Uwadiae comes in handy. It is said that successful leaders apportion tasks fittingly to their Gilbert, 300-Level Foreign Languages, subordinates. Nothing reiterates the UNIBEN

Vocational education: What is the way forward? to a more elevated status. Save the efforts of some public institutions, a reasonable number of government agencies and few business firms in the country where vocational trainings are offered, some students would have stopped their educational career at the secondary school level.

Today, the training received by learners is different from the reality of life after graduation. In schools and colleges, emphasis on skills acquisition which is the hallmark of vocational education is an illusion. Vocational technical education has now turned into a literacy education where only theo-

retical aspects of vocational education are taught. In Nigeria vocational training is seen as classroom oriented. The difficulties in the procurement of facilities do not give room for the practical acquisition of skills by learners. The environment where they learn is quite different from that of industries where they will work.

Enrolment rate in vocational technical education is very low compare with those in general courses.

Parents are not far from blame in this discrimination against vocational education. To them, vocational technical courses are not viable. Today, Craft men are being

faced out, technicians are getting reduced by the day. Artisans are not interested in quality jobs anymore.

People are only interested in wealth acquisition and not in skill for the development of the economy. To prevent technical vocational education and training (TVET) from collapse, government must ensure the disbursement of money as well as latest equipment, provision of conducive environment for learning and adequate manpower. Government should also encourage people who are interested by providing incentives like bursary.

Post-UTME: A philosophical response

last option is outright scrapping of post-UTME. The reason is that no university in the country today can defend what it does with post-UTME fee usually collected annually. Additionally, the administration that brought postUTME has passed and the proponent of it, Mrs. Chinwe Obaji offered us a reason which is rather unacceptable.. JAMB itself has undergone series of changes under the tenure of Prof.

Dibu Ojerinde. Today’s JAMB cannot be compared to the former and as such, post-UTME is therefore irrelevant. It is only relevant to those who see it as a deceptive means of making money. The earlier we seek an alternative to it, the better for all of us.

By James Abiodun james_abiodun2@yahoo.com

vocational training as one of the means for achieving some of its critical objectives of wealth creation, employment generation and poverty eradication. According to the developed nations of the world, technical vocational education and training hold strong keys to making life worth living. The more the technical and vocational capabilities of a people, the more meaningful the life they live.

Development of vocational training in Nigeria has moved from the somewhat disorganised beginning

universities to extort candidates and their struggling parents.

Recently, the same controversy on whether post-UTME should stay or not resurfaced. This time, JAMB, the body responsible for the conduct of examinations into higher institutions, described post-UTME tests as unnecessary.

The Jamb Registrar, Prof Dibu Ojerinde, tried as much as he could to safeguard himself and his job when he appeared before the Senate a few months back. He was reported to have said that “the results of the post-UTME are being used indiscriminatingly by different universities for different purposes, even as they invite candidates far more than their carrying capacities”.

But Mrs Obaji stressed the reason why the scheme was necessary when she said: “What we found out was that there was no correlation between the JAMB scores obtained by students and their performances in class after they had been admitted. It was obvious at the time that JAMB was messing up the admission with various kinds of lists”.

University lecturers also confessed to have lost confidence in JAMB. Only God knows who among them is saying the truth. Here, I wish to philosophically appraise their views and suggest possible solutions. The reason JAMB de-

scribed post-UTME as needless is the belief that if post-UTME stays, JAMB examination and, indeed, its services will no longer be relevant. The university lecturers on their own part believe that once we scrap post-UTME, their pockets will be out of fund because a lot of money is generated from post-UTME with the imposition of post-UTME fee. No wonder, many of the lecturers are uncomfortable with the idea of scrapping the scheme.

In Nigeria, a number of credit passes at specific subjects qualifies a candidate for admission into tertiary institutions. Any candidate who could not attain the stipulated JAMB cut-off mark should be allowed to write postUTME only as an alternative. On the other hand, candidates who

James, is a student of UNN, Nsukka

pass JAMB examinations should be offered admission directly by JAMB without post-UTME. Again, post-UTME fee should be reduced and regulated by appropriate committees. These monies shall be used by these committees to renovate dilapidated buildings and upgrade of facilities in our institutions. Each State shall set up its own committee and report regularly to the body that constitutes it. Any committee, who fails to report at the appropriate period with evidence of tangible projects being carried out, should be penalized.

The reason is that despite the exorbitant fee being collected by universities as post- UTME fee, our schools still remain underdeveloped. No one questions our ViceHassan, is a corps member, NYSC Chancellors on how they spend Lagos the money. This is annoying. The

SUG charges cadet on orderliness at park

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HE leadership of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Student Union Government (SUG), headed

by Surajdeen Musa, has charged cadet officers to maintain orderliness at the school park.

Musa gave the charge at a meeting the SUG had with the leadership of the cadet group in the Students Union building.

Before the meeting, some students complained about disorderliness at the park, which many blamed on the cadet officers.

From Olushola Aremu UNILORIN

Michael Ajide, 200-Level Agriculture, said: “It is easier to board vehicles when coming to school than when going back home. So, if this could change, then it means students would get home quickly after closing for lectures.”

Azeez Adeosun, 100-Level Sociology, said: “The average student cannot stay in the long queue at the park. So, students decided to ‘shunt’ to escape being stranded at the

park.

A 200-Level student from the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Surajdeen Alabede, said it is unbearable for students to cope with this situation.

He said: “Most students finish their lecture by 5:00pm after which they will now face another round of queuing at the park because they want to go home quickly. This is not fair enough. It would be great if the cadet officials carry out proper arrangements to reduce the sufferings of the students.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

36

CAMPUS LIFE

Entrepreneurship on Nigerian campus

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HE development of campus entrepreneurship is bedrock for continuing economical development in any society. In Africa, and Nigeria particularly, the disconnection between the larger economy and the campus economy is noticeable but now the Nigerian society is desirous of encouraging students to undertake entrepreneurship activities. Some students are renowned for embracing crafts like hairdressing, graphics and general art, dance and entertainment, comedy and drama, public speaking, writing and the rest of them. More and more, students now have the opportunity to explore entrepreneurial efforts on campus. In the process of creating entrepreneurship programs, campuses have become more entrepreneurial themselves. This is great news. Campuses are natural incubators of creativity and new ways of looking at things. And this new reality might mean that Nigerian campuses are better preparing students for success in the Nigerian economy where more professionals need to make their own jobs.

Inherent in this are some of the travails students face as they attempt to own and manage their own business on campus. They are faced with obstacles such as registration of business, multiple taxation system, inadequate start-up capital or lack of financial assistance and lack of Infrastructure However, launching a business on campus in Nigeria - or collaborating on one - sets you up for success. There are a host of business ideas you can start. Use one of these or come up with your own. Some of these may work better than others, or may not work at all, depending on where your campus is located. So choose wisely, and adjust quickly if the business you start is not growing.

In addition to reviewing the ideas, take note of these four quick tips for creating a campus business success: Innovation is good but it can also be overrated. Don't feel like you have to come up with the next IPhone, Bella Naija, Facebook, Microsoft or Google to launch. You can start a simple business that generates a profit. And that's the main idea.

Pick an idea that has an immediate and obvious customer base that needs or strongly wants what you plan to sell. Prevailing needs and wants of students of, let's say, University of Nigeria (UNN) and University of Lagos (UNILAG) campuses are likely to vary.

Remember the business is a great experience but it's not the main reason you are there. You are there to get a great education. So develop discipline and time management skills that will allow you to go to class, make good grades and still operate your business.

Take advantage of every possible resource and opportunity you can access that will improve your business. Visit local and on-cam-

On and Off Campus

By Uche Ogbonna marketingcommunication@fidelitybankplc.com uche.ogbonna@fidelitybankplc.com 08055061278

pus government business assistance resources, tap into the expertise of professors, apply for scholarships and competitions that focus on campus entrepreneurs, study abroad to get international experience and new ideas, connect with students who are from growing economic powers like China, and South America, and keep a written or audio journal of your business experiences - these will all come in handy.

Start-up ideas: • Transportation service: If you go to a rural school where students need transportation to do simple things and you have a car, start a transportation service.

• Party promotion: If you like to party, know how to promote and know how to get the right deejays and party people to your events then becoming a campus Don Jazzy might be for you.

• Graphic arts and design services for presentations and papers: If you enjoy graphic arts and presentation design and you're good at it, think about offering these services to students (and perhaps, professors) who want to spiff up their research and reports.

• Résumé writing service: Are you good at finding the best angles to present information? Start a résumé writing service helping students put their experience in the best possible format and phrasing to attract interview and career opportunities.

• Performing arts troupe: Did you sing, dance and act in high school? Put on plays or performances at your school or in the local community and charge for tickets. Or, start a Project Fame-type contest.

• Bookkeeping service: If you're an accounting major or just good with numbers offer to keep books for a few local businesses or find customers online.

• Mobile boutique: Do you always get compliments on your style? Consider starting a mobile boutique selling to your classmates and be a walking billboard for your own business.

Entrepreneurship on Nigerian campuses is increasingly recognized as having a key role in national and regional development processes in Nigeria. The role of campus entrepreneurship in this respect is likely to further increase given the development of a "knowledge-intensive" economy and society.

•NIDSUG Executive members

Union postpones convention

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HE Niger Delta Students Union Government (NIDSUG) has announced the postponement of its national convention. It was initially billed to start from November 30. This was made known at the national stakeholders meeting of the union, which was held at Federal Polytechnic, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The one-week convention tour was supposed to start from Bayelsa State and end in Imo State. According to the national president of the union, Genesis Jeremiah, the convention was postponed due to political tension in Bayelsa State.

“The union has received security alerts that considering the level of political tension in Bayelsa State. It is advisable that such gathering of more than 3,000 students be postponed. The date will be announced later,” Genesis stated.

He urged the students who are getting ready for the convention to keep their fingers crossed as the new date will be announced. He apologised to the governors of the Niger Delta states and the ViceChancellors, who had earlier been invited for the convention.

From Isaac Mensah IKERE-EKITI

At the meeting, two members of the union, Olabode Omoyoloye and Felix Aboyewa, were accused of embezzling more than N250,000 belonging to the union.

Olabode, the coordinator of the union in Ekiti, was allegedly given N180,000 to organise an event in the name of the union.

“He took the money and fled. Since then, he never showed up in any meeting,” one of the members told CAMPUSLIFE. Felix, who is the chapter president of the union at Collage of Education, Ekiti, was said to have been given more than N80,000 to carry a project in the name of the union.

“He absconded with the money and didn’t carry out what was expected of him,” Genesis said.

But a source said the accused persons had begged members of the union but none of them was able to convince the union why they mismanaged the funds. But Genesis said they would be pardoned if they remit the money back to the union purse.

From Emma Ahaneku FHHP, Gbagada 0803 368 0244 emmanuel.ahaneku@fidelitybankplc.com emmaneku@yahoo.com

By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•Dr Festus Adedayo, Special Adviser on Media to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (left) and Dr Jeremiah Arowosegbe, lecturer in the department of Political Science of the University of Ibadan and other graduands at the institution’s 63rd convocation.

Varsity set for exam despite ASUU strike

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HE news of impending strike by university lecturers across the nation has made the students of Ekiti State University (EKSU) to abandon night class to read in preparation for their forthcoming second semester exams.

The exam is billed to start on December 5, but the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) said it would begin industrial action if its agreements reached with the Federal Government were not honoured.

After the time table for the exam was released, the students hailed the acting ViceChancellor, Prof Dada Adelowo, for ensuring that the exam was done this year to balance the school calendar next year. The exam, barring ASUU strike, is expected to end on December 23.

From Tunji Awe EKSU

However, few days to the commencement of the exam, CAMPUSLIFE observed that the classes where students normally read have been abandoned. Most of the students believed the proposed ASUU strike would disrupt the exam and considered their reading useless.

Olamide Aina, 200-Level Psychology, said: “The news of the ASUU strike is not helping the situation at all. We don’t know whether to prepare for the exam or not”.

James Orieneme, 400-Level Economics Education, said: “I have faith that the strike will not disturb the examination. So, I am preparing for my last exam in this school and I must put in my best.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

37

EDUCATION

Kano plans second varsity

K

ANO State Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso has inaugurated a 16-man technical committee to design a blueprint for the establishment of a second university.

Inaugurating the committee at the Government House, Kano, Kwankwaso said the need for an additional university was due to the imbalance in education between the state and its peers, a situation he described as unacceptable.

Kwankwaso noted that Ekiti State with a population of 3.5 million has five universities; Ogun with 4.5 million people, nine, Lagos, which population is 11 million, seven. He, lamented that Kano, with a population of 12 million, has just two universities.

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

He also explained that statistics made available to the government

by Baye r o U n i v e r s i t y , K a n o showed that, in the last academic session, about 87,000 students applied for admission, but barely 5,000 were admitted.

He said with this appalling situation, there is the need to have more universities so that indigenes are not denied the opportunity to further their studies.

Kwankwaso said since Kano has a specialised university, establishing a general university would help in providing the manpower needed to fast-track the development of the state, and neighbouring states in the

Northwest geo-political zone.

The governor, who directed the committee to submit its report in six weeks, expressed confidence that its members, most of whom are drawn from the academia, would provide Kano with a university that would help transform the education sector.

He added: “We want to make history as an administration that came, saw and conquered in the field of education. My vision is that by the end of my tenure in 2015, everybody in Kano State would be literate.”

The committee, chaired by Prof Lawan Alasan Bichi of the National Universities Commission (NUC), also has the Permanent Secretary in the State Civil Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Gezawa as member.

EKSU FILE Directors appointed THE Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof Dada Adelowo, has appointed of two senior academic staff as directors.

They are: Prof Akin Ogunlade of the Faculty of Education, who is now the Director of the University Advancement Centre and Prof J.O. Oloyede of the Faculty of Management Sciences, now the Director of Entrepreneurship Centre.

The appointments, which took effect from August 1, are for a year.

VC charges sociologists •Kwankwaso

COEASU honours JAMB Registrar From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

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HE Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) , Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo chapter has inaugurated a N15 million secretariat, named after the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), Prof Dibu Ojerinde.

The union also awarded scholarships to two students during the ceremony.

The beneficiaries are Ogunniranye Busayo, a degree student of Physics department with a Cummulative Grade Point of 4.60, and Omoyeni Peter, an NCE Computer and Mathematics student, also with a 4.60 grade point.

Its Chairman, Mr Smart Olugbeko, said the students were selected for the reward because of their academic performances and to create competition among other students.

Giving reasons for naming the complex after the JAMB Registrar, Olugbeko said Prof Ojerinde is a product of the college.

“We are celebrating him today and we are immortalising our complex in our alumnus’ name just because of his contributions to the Adeyemi College. We are proud that one of our products now holds a key position in Nigeria.

“Ojerinde built the first ultramodern Dean’s Complex for the college because he knew he benefitted a lot from the college and this is a challenge to other students of the institution to work harder to have a bright future and become relevant in the society,” he said.

The chairman commended members of the union and the management for their roles in ensuring that the union secures a secretariat for better performance of the executives.

The Provost, Prof Idowu Adeyemi, hailed the union for the new structures.

He also praised the JAMB Chief for his contribution to the college particularly the new COEASU complex.

Students told to be disciplined

•From left: Dr Mamud Kazaure, Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE); Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio and his wife, Ekaete, with Dr Margaret Ibiyeye-Ladipo, Rector, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), after the conferment of Fellowship on Akpabio at the college’s 27th Convocation

Fed Govt advised on polytechnic education T HE Federal Government has been advised to increase the quota for science and technology intakes in polytechnics to fast-track national development.

The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, Dr Joseph Oke, gave the advice in a lecture entitled: Strengthening the polytechnic system for harnessing of the nation’s technological and economic potential, organised by Igbajo polytechnic.

Oke stressed the need for the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to review its admission policy, saying the ratio should be put at 80 -20 in favour of sciences and technology against the current 70-30.

The administrator, who lamented the poor state of technical education, blamed policy makers for students’ lack of interest in technical education.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

He said: “The founders of technical education aimed at transforming the technological advancement of the nation. But the country leadership has derailed and, consequently, made the system to fail. Technological education is the foundation of national development without which it will be impossible to attain national growth. So, the policy establishing technical and science education in the country must be reviewed to meet the needs of the country.

“It is even worse that educationists have caused the denial of access to polytechnic education by always laying emphasis on university admission to the detriment of technical education, especially polytech-

nics.”

Oke maintained that for the country to attain her dream of becoming one of the 20 largest economies in the world, she must restructure her science and polytechnic education to provide the backbone for the country’s growth.

He said polytechnics must fashion a network structure to facilitate cooperation in research and development that would benefit the country.

He added that NBTE should liaise with the National Planning Commission (NPC) to draw a plan for the nation’s industrial development in line with the need of Vision 20: 2020.

“The polytechnics should also find a means of ensuring that their graduates are ahead of the challenges in the labour market in order for them to remain relevant, both for the country and the organisation they may work for in future,” he said.

Pharmaceutical technologists praise NBTE

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•Prof Ojerinde

SOCIOLOGISTS have been urged to solve the country’s problems.

EKSU Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dada Adelowo gave the charge when the President of National Association of Sociologists and Anthropologists (NASA), Prof Olabisi Aina, visited his office with other leaders of the association.

Adelowo said sociologists are trained to fight corruption and other problems, such as moneylaundering and indecent dressing, and advise the government on how to use them to get out of the woods.

Prof Aina praised the acting vice-chancellor for maintaining peace on campus since his assumption of office.

She said sociologists have been working round the clock to encourage Nigerians to play down ethnicity and participate positively in nation building.

HE National Association of Pharmaceutical Technologists and Pharmacy Technicians has praised the National Board for Technical Examinations (NBTE) for lifting the embargo on the accreditation of ND/HND in pharmaceutical technology in polytechnics.

This was contained in a communiqué issued by the body

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

at the end of its two-day meeting in Benin City.

The body urged polytechnics, colleges and school of health technologies to apply to NBTE for the take-off of pharmaceutical technology without delay.

It added that the National Assembly to reject the request made

by Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria for the creation of the National Pharmaceutical Commission.

The body said the idea was conceived without the knowledge of other stakeholders.

It further said the availability of anti-retroviral drugs in the country has helped in sustaining lives of people living with HIV/AIDs.

STUDENTS in tertiary institutions have been urged to be amenable to discipline and shun anti-social behaviours, such as cultism, illicit love and hooliganism.

The EKSU Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dada Adelowo, gave the advice during a special exhibition and entertainment tagged, Oleku organised by the Educational Foundation and Management Students’ Association of the institution.

Adelowo commended the organisers of the event staged to give an insight into school life about two decades ago and urged other students to emulate them.

He frowned at the cohabitation of some some students saying: “There should be no boys living withgirls in the same room under the guise of campus marriage.”

Adelowo urged the students to know that their first aim in the university is to obtain a good certificate. He, however, warned that certificates without good character would not work as the the institution reserves the right to withdraw them.

P&G starts school health programme PROCTER and Gamble (P&G) launches its school health initiative, tagged: Champions of Health Programme tomorrow at Chrisland School, Opebi, Lagos.

The initiative, being done in collaboration with the African Medical Association (AFMA), will serve as a platform to teach pupils hand washing culture, using a new product from the firm’s stable, Safeguard Anti-bacterial soap.

Associate Manager, P&G West Africa, Mrs Ehinomen Ojemen, said at a briefing at the Protea Hotel, Ikeja, on Tuesday that the initiative is targeted at school-aged children because of their ability to influence those around them.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

38

EDUCATION IBBUL FILE 22 dons for Malaysia THE Management of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), Niger State, is to send 22 of its academic staff to universities in Malaysia for postgraduate studies.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ibrahim Adamu Kolo, made this known at an two-day intensive orientation on Guidelines for postgraduate and independent research proposal writing for the benefitting workers, organised by the Department of Development and Consultancy Services Unit of the institution.

He explained that for its worldclass standard mission to be realised, the university must invest in capacity development to provide the right calibre of staff.

Varsity woos private investors THE Department of Development and Consultancy Services of the institution is offering opportunity to private developers to develop facilities such as an International Conference Centre at the institution’s Guest House in Minna and the field base in Suleja, shopping malls and students’ hostels to boost the revenue of the institution.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ibrahim Kolo, said already the university has received some proposals and expressions of interest from some commercial banks on various projects.

Four students dismissed THE varsity has okayed the expulsion of four students for gross indiscipline and misconduct.

The students, Abubakar Ahmed Wushishi(U10/FMS/BUS/109), Idris Aliyu (UO8/ADED/10047), Yusuf Habeeb Oladapo (U10/ FMS/BUS/098), Bodamosi Jibrin (U10/F/CHE/010), have been directed to return the university’s property in their possession to the Security unit.

Management inaugurates committees THE IBBUL has approved the inauguration of four committees.

They are Students’ Disciplinary Committee, Students’ Hostel Screening and Maintenance Committee, Junior Staff Appointment and Promotion Committee and the Junior Staff Disciplinary Committee.

Students Union partners insurers THE Students Union of the Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo, Ondo State has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with two insurance companies to provide accident insurance cover for all categories of students.

The ceremony, which held at the Council Chamber of the college was attended by the Provost, Prof Adeyemi Idowu, the Registrar, Mr Felix Aderinboye, the college Librarian, Mr Rotimi Egunjobi and the Acting Bursar, Mr Olaniyi Abdul.

Others are Director of Medical Services, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmosin; President, Students Union, Mr Taofiq Saadu, representative of Credo Insurance, Mr Kunle Obijimi and representative of Industrial and General Insurance Plc, Mr Liadi Salawu.

SCHOLARSHIP APPROACHING DEADLINES Scholarship for International Students at Northwestern Health Sciences University, USA Northwestern Health Sciences University announce Scholarship for international students who are citizens of a country other than the United States of America Study Subject(s):Courses offered by Northwestern Health Sciences University Course Level:Any Scholarship Provider: Northwestern Health Sciences University, USA Scholarship can be taken at: USA Eligibility: Citizen (or equivalent) of a country other than the United States of America • NOT eligible for U.S. federal loans • Trimester level (must be enrolled for winter term as Chiropractic T1-T10, AOM T1-T9, Massage Therapy T1-T3 or Evening Massage Therapy T1-T4) • Making satisfactory academic progress Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Description: International Scholarship application forms are made available to all international students who are citizens of a country other than the United States of America and who do not qualify for U.S. federal loans. FOR CANADIAN STUDENTS: Students should submit a scholarship application since Canadian Reciprocity may not be offered in 2011-2012. NOTE: All Canadian students who apply may not be awarded as a limited budget is available for the International Scholarship each term. Canadian students are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for qualified applicants.

How to Apply: By post Scholarship Application Deadline: November 30, 2011 New Call for Scholarships at the Erasmus Mundus Program 2012-2013 2012-2013 the European Union offers student scholarships to students of any nationality aiming to study at the Master on Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology Study Subject(s):Organizational and Personnel Psychology Course Level:Master’s Scholarship Provider: Erasmus Mundus Scholarship can be taken at: Aboard Eligibility: -University Undergraduate Degree in Psychology (ie bachelor of 3, 4 or five years) -Commitment in writing to full-time dedication for the 2 years of the programme and other commitments for students with EM grants and commitments for students without EM grants.

-Fluency in English (level B1), using the common European Framework of reference for languages.

Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Description: New call of scholarships at the Erasmus Mundus for students/scholars aiming to study/teach at the Master on Work, Organisation and Personnel Psychology (WOP‐P). Recently

awarded by the Mediterranean Office for Youth and in its second round by the Erasmus Mundus program, WOP‐P master continues to be considered one of the best programs in its professional and academic area. Five universities are part of the educational consortium: Universitat de València (Spain), Universitat de Barcelona (Spain), Université René Descartes Paris 5 (France), Alma Mater Studiorum‐Università di Bologna (Italy) and Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal). New partnerships have been developed with the Universidade de Brasília (Brazil) and University of Guelph (Canada). In the second round of the WOP‐P Program, some changes have been introduced such as the possibility to study the whole program in English and to develop exchange periods of study with the new American Universities in the partnership.

How to Apply: By post Scholarship Application Deadline:- Scholarships for students from 15th November 2011 to 1st January 2012.

Previous Scholarship | Next Scholarship BHP Billiton Scholarships 2012 at UCL School of Energy and Resources, Australia BHP Billiton Scholarships at UCL International Energy Policy Institute for Master and PhD Study Subject(s):Energy and Resources Course Level:Master and PhD Scholarship Provider: UCL (Australia) Scholarship can be taken at: Australia Eligibility: These scholarships are intended to support students pursuing postgraduate studies in energy and resources at either the UCL School of Energy and Resources, Australia, or the UCL International Energy Policy Institute. Currently funding for these scholarships will be available for four years commencing with the 2012 academic year.

Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Description: Applicants for the MSc who meet the academic requirements for admission will also be ranked on other criteria including the submission of an essay. Every intake the essay topic will vary. For the February 2012 intake, the essay requires students to critically analyse the statement: “The concept of ‘peak oil’ has been devised to reflect scarcity associated with oil supplies. But surely the price of oil would be a more efficient indication of its scarcity. Discuss.” This essay should be no more than 500 words (including footnotes, but excluding references) and will be checked for plagiarism using Turnitin® Applicants who are shortlisted for the BHP Billiton Scholarships on the basis of their academic qualifications will be ranked according to the quality and originality of their essay. Applicants for PhD who meet the academic criteria for admission will also be ranked according to the proposed research project and the relevance to the School and International Energy Policy Institute (IEPI) research interests. In all cases an interview with the shortlisted candidate(s) will take place.

Girls clinch top essay prizes

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NITAN Amodu, a pupil of International School, University of Lagos, Akoka, did not think she could win the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition for secondary schools.

But she did and carted away the N1 million education grant and a laptop as her reward.

She was excited when she was announced winner of the competition at a colourful ceremony at the UBA Plc headquarters in Marina.

Hers was among the more than 1,000 entries that Ms Ijeoma Aso, Managing Director of the Foundation said were received from secondary schools across the country on the topic: Me and my Career when entries closed October 31.

Ms Aso said the essays were judged by three professors drawn from three universities Prof Yakubu Nasidi from the English Department of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABU); Prof Ralph Akinfeleye, Mass Communication Department of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Prof Sam Unuigbo, of the English Department, University of Nigeria (UNN).

The judges looked at how creative and intelligent the pupils were in conveying their thoughts, putting into consideration the content, organisation and mechanical accuracy.

Enitan’s essay was among the 12 shortlisted from the entries.

She and others were invited for a second round of writing on November 19 from which Ms Aso said the top three were selected.

“I am very happy because I never knew I could be the win-

•Uzoka (middle) flanked by Mrs. Tola Amodu, Enitan’s mum (left) and Enitan at the event.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie and Oluwayemisi Akinyemi

ner of the competition. It is not by my own power, but it was God. I thank God for my success,” she said of her achievement.

Enitan paved the way for two 14-year old girls, Philippa Orji of Dority International Secondary School, Aba and NwajiakuNwadike Nneka of Queen’s College, Yaba, the runners-up.

Philipa was rewarded with an education grant of N750,000, while third placed Nneka won N500,000.

The scholarships would be for funding the education of the trio in any Nigerian university.

Speaking at the event, the Group Deputy Managing Director UBA Plc Mr Kennedy Uzoka said there are lots of essay competitions for pupils in the country, but the UBA Foundation version is unique as it allows the winners enter the bank’s Scholars programme and become its ambassadors.

“Education is very strategic to us as an institution. We are today in pursuit of excellence and giving back, developing their reading and intellectual abilities by challenging them to write essays in this competition. I am happy that months of planning and execution has come to fruition,” he

said.

Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka, hailed the contribution of UBA towards improving the standards of education as well as giving back to the society part of the profit it has made from the people.

Mrs Olayinka was represented by the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Social Affairs and Gender Empowerment, Mrs Folashade Adewusi, said she was impressed that the UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility outfit of the bank, which she played a part in birthing as a of staff of UBA, is has continued to waxing stronger and making positive impact.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

39

EDUCATION

Imo community, Catholic diocese quarrel over schools’ return

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COMMUNITY in Imo State is blaming and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Okigwe for what it perceives as the forceful take-over of two schools.

The Ikenanziz community in Obowe Local Government Area of the state has asked the Rochas Okorocha administration to stop the transfer of the Community Secondary School and the Girls Secondary School to the church.

Its spokeman, Prof Samuel Anyanwu, said the schools were built and funded by the community in the early 1960s, insisting that they were not mission schools from inception.

•Group faults schools’ handover in Anambra From Emma Mgbeahuike, Owerri

Anyanwu told The Nation that the schools were approved by the defunct government of the Eastern Region, with the girls’ school, then a Teachers Training College (TTC) for Grade II teachers, before it was upgraded by the Immaculate Heart Sisters based in Urualla.

He said the controversy could lower pupils’productivity and deny them basic amenities provided by the government.

Urging the church to desist from overheating the community

through its claim of owning the two schools, he implored the government to take them over under the free education programme.

A students’activist group, the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), has condemned the handing over of public schools to churches in Anambra State.

In a statement signed by its National Co-ordinator, Hassan Taiwo Soweto, the group faulted Governor Peter Obi for handing over 1,040 public primary schools to churches It said: “It is appalling that the government which had hitherto re-

fused to adequately fund education, which accounts for the poor state of the schools could afford to illegally release a whopping N6 billion to private bodies. This huge sum would have been put to better use if managed publicly and democratically. “ The group attributed its grouse against the transfer to the missionaries penchant to charge high fees.

“As it has been already the case with schools and universities established by churches in the last few years, it is clear that the new owners will charge outrageous fees that will make the schools out of the reach of the children from poor

background,” ERC said.

Seeking reversal of the policy, the ERC urged the government to adequately fund education.

“The ERC calls on the Anambra State government to reverse this policy and adequately invest in the funding of education alongside democratic management of the schools with involvement of elected education workers and communities representatives. We also call on the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), parents and pupils to reject the transfer of the public school and begin mass action aimed at keeping these schools public,” the group said.

Lagos SUBEB trains SBMC members

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•The pupils with the toddlers and their gifts

Red Cross group visits orphanage

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T seemed a rather hectic journey on that sunny Thursday. The pupils first experienced disappointment as they could not locate the All Saints Orphanage at the Palm Grove Estate, Lagos.

Unperturbed, they trudged on until they eventually arrived at the Akowonjo arm of the orphanage.

There, they were welcomed by a smiling Mrs Bose Ogunbanjo, the administrator of the Akowonjo arm, and five toddlers - David, Wisdom, Ebube, Michael and Timothy, who were busy with their preparatory class.

The pupils were from Corona Secondary School (Agbara) Red Cross Society. Though their primary aim was to donate food and household materials to the orphanage, their visit turned out a forum for them to know more about the plight of abandoned and other unfortunate children.

They also asked questions about the Little Saints Orphanage, and how it

By Adegunle Olugbamila

has fared over the years.

“When was the orphanage established? Who established it?”, How do you feed the child?”, Do they go to school or learn a trade or vocation while here?”, what was your most joyous or saddest moment taking care of them, ... and several others.

“Currently, we have a population of about 88 children here,” said Mrs Ogunbajo, who also told them that the founder, Rev Dele George, had the ministration to start the orphanage in 1994 to cater for abused and abandoned children.

“Rather than allow them languish away in hopelessness, we believe we can give orientation and education to these children, nurture their spiritual life and re-integrate them back into the society.” Mrs Ogunbanjo told the pupils about the orphans.

The orphanage now runs three arms in Ogudu, Ikeja GRA and Akowonjo.

More questions popped up during the interaction, especially as the visitors recalled the pains of locating the centre, while they also sought to know how successful it would be to visit the three arms of the orphanage during their next visit.

Then it was time to go. But amid the drizzling ran the pupils, after presenting their token, requested for a group photograph with the toddlers.

The Co-ordinator RCS Corona Mrs Joy Okechukwu said the trip was in compliance with one of the major philosophies of RCS anchored on humanitarian service.

“For the Red Cross Society, what we do is mainly humanitarian and that is the reason we are here to show love to the less-privileged. We also want the children to be able to show appreciation to God and their parents for having the means to enroll them in a school like Corona because millions of children are being thrown away everyday because their parents have no means to take care of them,” she said.

ROJECT Implementation Committee (PIC) members attached to the 57 School Based Management Committees (SBMC) in Lagos State are working on self-help projects approved by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abuja.

They are among the committee members attached to 4,109 communities nationwide that received the first tranche funding for last year’s UBE Community initiated Self-Help projects. They were also trained on procedures required to effectively implement the projects.

Deputy Director, Social Mobilisation Department of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB),Mr Olatunji Adefuye, said during the training at the SUBEB Hall, Maryland, Lagos, said the self-help project is funded 90 per cent (N1 million) by UBEC and 10 per cent by the hostcommunities.

He urged the PIC members to play their roles as supporters to the government by ensuring that funds, 75 per cent of which was paid at the flag off, are utilised to implement projects that would enhance quality education delivery in the schools.

“The self-help projects are time bound and the implementation has to be done as specified. However, accountability and transparency should be the watchwords of the benefiting communities,” he said.

Adefuye urged head teachers to co-operate with SBMC members for the schools to get optimal benefits from the communities.

In his address, the Executive Secretary, UBEC, Dr Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed, represented by Mrs Nike Adams, said the adoption of the community initiated self-help projects, has helped to bring development to schools in disadvantaged communities. He expressed joy that through the initiative, more communities are involved in the UBE scheme, making it more

effective.

He said: “Since the adoption of the self-help approach as a strategy for rectifying educational imbalance among and within states, very outstanding impact and visible benefits have accrued to the basic education sub-sector. Since the commencement of this programme in 2005, a total of 14,127 classrooms have been constructed while a total 12,184 have been renovated. This has given additional access to 1,052,440 children in our basic education institutions nationwide.

“The gains recorded so far are not limited to physical infrastructural development of our institutions but also extended to core elements that are very crucial to the sustenance of noted gains in all facets of education delivery. In very significant ways, the approach has led to the gradual ownership of schools and by extension the UBE programme by the community through involvement and participation in all aspects of the basic education service delivery system.”

The commendable efforts of some SBMCs in Lagos were highlighted by Mrs Idayat Oluseye, Board Secretary, LSUBEB, who represented the Chairman, Mrs Gbolahan Daodu. She urged others to emulate their efforts in supporting schools in their localities to run well.

“We have many clusters in the state, but the performance of some SBMC clusters has been outstanding. Pastor Osoba of Alimosho, Alhaji Adeniran of Mushin, Chief Onasile of Surulere - these people have been outstanding and we want others to emulate them. They take this job as if they are paid for it; as if their children are in those schools,” she said.

Projects undertaken under the self-help initiative include the provision of toilets, roofing, flooring, perimeter fencing of schools, construction of classrooms, provision of potable water, among others.

Govt should carry schools along more, says educationist

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REQUENT changes education policies may not be in the interest of learners, says an educationist, Mrs Oluwayemisi Oloriade.

Mrs Oloriade, the Principal of Wellspring College, Omole, Lagos, said in an interview with The Nation that such changes make it difficult for teachers to follow up effectively and has negative effect on learning.

“Changes are good, but it is just that the nation is not prepared for the frequent changes we have had. There have been a lot of changes and it is having an adverse effect on pupils.

Before we finish implementing, another policy is introduced and it is difficult for school managers to effect these changes,” she said.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Mrs Oloriade called on the Federal Government to involve private schools in evolving policies rather than just announce new policies that schools are forced to follow.

“The government to a large extent has not effectively engaged the private schools in their decision to come up with a new curriculum. They don’t carry us along. The Federal Government just comes up with these changes and we are expected to tag along,” she complained.

Apart from frequent changes, Mrs Oloriade said other factors that can affect performance of pupils are teacher quality and dedication, and

the level of involvement of parents in the education of their wards.

While underscoring the importance of quality teacher training for teachers to be effective in the delivery of content knowledge of their subjects, she also emphasised the need for teachers to be dedicated to the success of their pupils.

“I tell my teachers that if my student fails, I have failed. This is a motivation for me and it makes me go the extra mile to make the children successful. Before every examination, I call my teachers and ask them to tell me what they need to deliver results,” she said.

However, even when all efforts are put in place by the school, Mrs

Oloriade said the home must support the school for the pupils to reap the optimum benefits. She said at Wellspring, parents are encouraged to monitor their children.

She said: “Sometimes, you discover that after you have done your best, you expect the home front to monitor but it is not the case. Before any term begins, we prepare a calendar that spells out all activities for the term. Whatever assignment would be given is stated in the calendar. We give copies to parents so that at any point in time they can ask their wards about their assignments.When we notice a child is giving us reasons for not doing the right thing, we invite their parents.”

•Mrs Oloriade

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THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

EDUCATION EDUTALK

with

Inspectors’ necessary return

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T is heartening news that the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) is planning to revitalise its Inspectorate Division. The Minister of State for Education, Mr Kofoworola Ezenwo Wike informed officers attached to the Federal Inspectorate Service in Abuja that the Federal Government would provide Kofosagie@yahoo.com funds for the unit to function from 08054503077 (SMS only) next year.

It is likely that Wike’s recent visit to the Federal Government College, Ilorin, must have also made an impression on him as to the difference a vibrant inspectorate division would make to the state of schools.

He was unimpressed by quality of interaction he had with the pupils, and how the college is run.

Inspection, if well done, would help right a lot of wrongs. When school managements know that there is a third eye over looking their activities, they will not be lax about their responsibilities. However, the Federal Government must also ensure that the inspectors do not become tin gods, who expect to be bribed or else they would write negative reviews that would put school managers in trouble.

Also, the government should ensure that from next year, funding to the unit is sustained so the inspectors don’t have problem fueling their vehicles or getting decent accommodation and meals should they need to travel far distances to get to the schools. That way, they would be less tempted to cut corners and more motivated to do a good job.

Belo-Osagie

•Ms. Adams presenting an award to Government Science & Technology College winners, Garki, at the event

Youths urged to plan ahead ECONDARY school pupils, who attended the 14th Vision 2020 Youth Empowerment

S

and Restoration Initiative career awareness programme in Abuja last week left armed with tips on setting their lives aright.

Mr Soji Oyawoye’s presentation entitled: Our youths, our future was the toast of the event attended by more than 1,000 pupils from public and private schools in Abuja and environs.

Oyawoye, who runs a firm called Resource Intermediaries, outlined how the pupils could plan for their future by making some important principles part of their lives now.

He counselled them to develop the right attitude and character as they are the two ingredients that necessitate change.

Contrary to expectations that it is knowledge that leads to success, Oyawoye said attitude has been proven to be more instrumental.

“Findings from a Harvard study revealed that 85 per cent of what makes people succeed in life is driven by attitude and only 15 per cent by knowledge,” he said.

However, he urged the young ones to focus more on developing good character as such virtue would make their success stand the test of time. He showed how character made the difference in the lives of celebrities the world over such as Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and Governor Raji Fashola versus the likes of Mike Tyson, Tiger Woods and Domique Struass-Khan “Attitude gets you started but character keeps you going. Although image, techniques and skills

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

can prop up your attitude, nobody can work on your character,” he said.

Other speakers, who addressed the pupils, were Dr Emmanuel Egbogah, Special Adviser to the President on Petroleum Matters, who underscored the importance roles right attitude and character play in achieving the Vision 20: 2020; and Mr Frank Ibi, Chief Engineer, Capacity Building Department, Nigerian Content Monitoring Board (NCDMB), who urged the pupils not to give up in the face of challenges.

In her speech, Dr Ibilola Amao, Principal Consultant, Lonadek Oil and Gas, which organised the career awareness and empowerment programme, said the objective of the initiative is to prepare young ones for the task of nation building by encouraging them to take up careers in the oil and gas sector and develop the right attitudes that allows for national development.

Dr Amao, whose speech was read

by Ms Latifah Adams, Project Coordinator for the event said Nigeria would gain if its youth are well prepared for the task ahead.

“The greatest asset a nation can have is an upright, enlightened and educated people. The Asian and pacific nations have employed science and technology to derive maximum productivity from the use of their nation’s human and natural resources. Nigeria has the potential to become known as a highvalue cost centre if investment in human capital is taken very seriously by all,” she said.

The event also featured a science and technology exhibition/competition, the quality of which Ms Adams said has improved compared to previous years.

“The students have really tried.

Many of the projects are agro-allied products that can be useful in the agricultural sector,” she said.

Prizes were presented to the top three schools with the best projects.

Government Science and Technical College, Garki, came first with its Power Amplifier; Great Heights Academy was second for its Water Distiller, while Government Secondary School, Garki’s Multi-system Farm Produce Dryer won the third prize.

The event was sponsored by Globestar, Chevron and Addax Petroleum, Shell, ExxonMobil, MTN, and Cameron offshore.

‘The greatest asset a nation can have is an upright, enlightened and educated people.

The Asian and pacific nations have employed science and technology to derive maximum productivity from the use of their nation’s human and natural resources’

Institute rates Ekiti SUBEB high

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HE Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) is this year’s Best Agency in Human Resources Management and Infrastructural Development,’ according to the state’s branch of the Nigerian Institute of Building.

The Secretary of the Institute, Mr Segun Timothy Dosumu, who presented the award to the Executive Chairman, Prof Modupe Adelabu, said the Board was honoured because it has distinguished itself in the execution of

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

building projects and excellent performance.

Dosumu urged the board not to cease to improve its operations.

Replying, Prof Adelabu thanked the institute for counting Ekiti SUBEB worthy of honour, promising that the board will not betray the confidence reposed in it.

She said the Physical Planning Unit of the Board has been re-positioned to meet the challenges of

modern architectural and building designs that will stand the test of time by ensuring that technical officers are exposed to constant training on project monitoring.

She added that arrangements had been concluded to engage independent monitoring officers on projects supervision and monitoring as a complement to ensure that contractors conform with rules and regulations guiding the execution of building projects.

‘However, the Federal Government must also ensure that the inspectors do not become tin gods, who expect to be bribed or else they would write negative reviews that would put school managers in trouble’

Library largesse I commend First Deepwater Discovery Ltd for the sumptuous cash prizes it magnanimously gave to each of the winning secondary schools of a basketball championship it sponsored which ended last Saturday.

The gift is meant to be used to equip their libraries.

Of all the schools that won prizes, I count Ilupeju Grammar School most fortunate, being a public school. Its girls’ team won N1 million for defeating the team from the International School, University of Lagos (which clinched the boy’s category trophy) while its boy’s team got N250,000 for wounding up as second runners up.

The total cash haul of N1,250,000 is substantial enough to make a difference in the library facilities of the school. I hope the school authorities will take up the challenge by ensuring that quality up-to-date books are purchased, and if possible provide for an e-library.

I also hope that the supervising authorities would not try to corner the prize. Once, I learnt that the overseer of one of the education districts (not the one in charge of Ilupeju Grammar School) used to force schools to ‘submit’ prizes won at competitions to it, rather than allow them enjoy their awards. I told the allegation to a top government official who affirmed she had heard the same story. If the practice is rampant among all the districts, I think an investigation would be in order.

This win is a plus for the Ilupeju Grammar School to further improve the learning environment for both teachers and learners. The school has also been enjoying the support of the Fountain of Life Church for some years. The church, through its foundation, has equipped laboratories of the school and others in the Ilupeju environ, and instituted a scholarship scheme to support the education of those who gain admission into the university. The Lagos State government has also been responsive, improving funding to public schools in general through the World Bank Eko project. Ilupeju Grammar School has certainly enjoyed an upgrade of its facilities and with the confidence galvanised by this victory, should look to positioning itself among the best secondary schools in Lagos State – especially those privately owned.

Beyond admonishing the school to utilise the funds properly, however, I believe the Managing Director of First Deepwater, Mr Babatunde Babalola should get his firm to follow up on how the money is used. If this wouldn’t be asking for too much, the firm could assist the school in getting book suppliers or library experts willing to offer their products or render services on a discounted basis. This would stretch the funds further to achieve more.

From my Inbox Re: Tuition fee palaver (Thursday, November 24) While agreeing that N25,000 may not be enough as school fees in a state university like LASU, the increase is just too much. From N25,000 to N250,000 – N300,000! Astronomical! Fee hikes should be done gradually, and with a human face. How do they expect a parent who has been paying N25,000 to suddenly start looking for N50,000? Imagine a civil servant parent with two undergraduates at LASU! I suggest a drastic reduction to not more than N50,000 for now. 0807737—.

While I always support your opinion on education, I disagree totally on the LASU fee palaver. Those that pay high fees in secondary schools don’t go near LASU for their university education. Thanks. Olowoyeye, Ipaja.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

43

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

KOGI GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION 2011 Forty-eight hours to the Kogi governorship election, MOHAMMED BASHIR presents the profiles of the Action Congress of Nigeria’s (ACN) candidate, Abubakar Audu and his running mate, Henry Ojuola. He also presents the credentials of the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Idris Wada and his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi.

Audu and Ojuola: Thorny path to power P

RINCE Abubakar Audu, first Executive Governor of Kogi State, was born on October 27, 1947, to the family of the late Audu Oyidi, Orego Atta of Igala Land and the paramount ruler of OgbonichaAlloma in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

He had his secondary education at Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha. He later transferred to the Jos Commercial College where he obtained both the GCE Ordinary and Advanced level certificates.

After a stint as a bank worker, Prince Audu proceeded to London from 1975-1978 where he studied banking and personnel management, obtaining professional qualification as a certified secretary; and a Fellowship of the Association of International Accountants of London, as well as the fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Industrial Administration of Nigeria.

Audu spent a total of 25 years with the First Bank, formerly Standard Bank, where he served in different capacities at management levels until 1991. When he bowed out to join the National Republican Convention on which platform he contested and won the governorship election.

He was appointed Commissioner for Finance and Economic planning in the former Benue State in 1986 and served in that capacity for two years, a position he was said to have used in empowering his people and influenced construction of roads, notably the Ejule/Aloma/ Okutukpa road. When that state executive council was dissolved he went back to First Bank as a General Manager.

Within the 22-month lifespan of that administration, Audu had made monumental landmarks in virtually all sectors, particularly in the areas of housing, electricity, roads, education, and health care services.

His socio-economic contribution to development of the state is, to date, a point of reference. Some of his major achievements include the establishment of three different housing schemes for public officers consisting of over 1,500 housing units in Lokoja, the transformation of Lokoja township with asphalt road, street lights aesthetic roundabouts, the construction of inter-township and rural roads, over 75 electrification schemes and 50 water projects.

Other achievements include, the founding of Kogi State Polytechnic, the establishment of a television station, radio station, both AM and FM, a state newspaper and the transformation of the colonial residence of Lord Lugard into an Ultra Modern Government House Complex, the construction of office blocks for ministries as the new state had no office accommodation, the construction of shopping arcade complex to enhance commercial activities among others.

He pioneered the construction of the first ultra modern state liaison office in Abuja. He also started work on an ultra modern stadium

and a five star hotel in Lokoja, which were not finished due to the abrupt manner the lifespan of that administration was truncated.

At the restoration of democracy in 1998, Prince Audu again offered to serve as Governor of the state.

He received the overwhelming support of the people and scored over 700.000 votes at the Governorship election while his opponent hardly recorded 50% of the vote cast. On the January 9, 1999, Audu got re-elected on the platform of the All People’s Party (APP). He was sworn in on May 29, 1999 as the second elected governor of the state.

The establishment of Kogi State University, Anyigba, is another testimony to his vision, and resourcefulness. According to a report of a visitation panel to the university from the Nigeria Universities Commission, the institution was described as the fastest growing university in the country.

It received international support, including affiliation to Morgan State University Baltimore. Also, seven visiting professors from various universities in the United States were at the university to review its curriculum and align it with theirs.

Prince Audu completed some other landmark projects within four years. They include: the five star Confluence Beach Hotel, a 250unit Housing Estate, a Sport Complex, located at Phase11, in Lokoja, Specialist Eye Hospital at Ogbonicha and 25 other medical institutions. Others are: a Special Government Girls Secondary School on Student exchange programme, 350 borehole schemes, 300 kilometers of township roads, the procurement of 100 transit buses and completion of 40 rural electrification projects.

A highly traveled politician, Prince Audu brought so many honors to the country through his personal relationships with foreign statesmen. It is known that he enjoys a very intimate relationship with the former British Prime Minister, Mr. John Major. In 1993, he and the member of his family were special guests of the British Prime Minister at No 10, Downing Street where he hosted them to a State Banquet. Also in 1993, he attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Cyprus. His connection with the international community saved Nigeria during the heady days of Shonekan administration from economic embargo.

In December 1999, he was on the delegation of President Olusegun Obasanjo during the State visit to Germany. On every account, Prince Audu who maintains a good circle of friends across the country is by every judgment a great patriot, visionary, humanist and nationalist.

The outstanding achievements of Prince Abubakar Audu have been acknowledged by several organizations within and outside Nigeria through awards and honours presented to him.

Notable among these awards are: Golden Trophy for Good Govern-

sion is to rescue the state from PDP misrule.

Henry Ojuola

•Audu

ance in January 2002 when he was declared the Best Performing Governor in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Union of Journalist, Abuja chapter, Excellent Leadership Award; Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Association, Outstanding Leadership Award; Outstanding People of the 20th Century Award by the Biographical Center Cambridge, England and 1000 Leaders of World Influence Award by the American Biographical Institute.

It should be noted that Audu lost the 2003 governorship election to the incumbent Governor Ibrahim Idris. The result was hotly disputed.

His second attempt was the 2007 governorship election, which he again lost to Governor Idris. This time, his name and party logo were missing on the election ballot paper, a situation which made the Justice Ibrahim Bako-led election petition tribunal annull the election and order a re-run. On March 29, 2008, Audu again lost to the PDP even as the opposition ANPP cried foul. His challenge of the result was thrown out by the judiciary.

• Ojuola

The stage is set for Prince Audu’s third trial. This time around, on the platform of the ACN. Unlike his experience in 2007 when he had little support from the ANPP, the ACN leadership has vowed to stand behind Prince Audu. At the grand finale of the party, rally recently held in Lokoja, the six ACN governors stressed their commitment to making Audu their seventh brother in the war to at the centre.

A major factor that could work for Audu is the people’s desire for change. Audu, reports indicate, has oiled his machinery well; the foot soldiers are working. The former governor has announced that the 1,300 workers who were sacked by the PDP administration should register at his campaign headquarters in Lokoja, with the promise of re-instating them if he becomes governor.

However there are some challenges. Some of his political opponents are suggesting that he would spend the fours years on a Vendetta mission and there would be no meaningful development.

But Audu, has said that his mis-

Hon. Henry Ekundayo Ojuola was born in Amuro Odo, Isanlu, the headquarters of Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State.

His humble background is reflected in his lifestyle. A lawyer, Ojuola was a student of the University of Jos where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree and layer went to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos in 1987.

Known as a philanthropist before he ventured into partisan politics, Ojuola brought hope to many Nigerians as he paid tuition fees for some students in tertiary institutions.

The ACN running mate before winning a seat in the state House of Assembly in 2003 to represent Yagba East state constitutuency, was the first state chapter Youth Leader of the PDP for two terms.

He served as chairman of the PDP State Screening and Electoral Panel for the LGA Chairmanship/ Councillordhip Primary Election in 2002.

His activities in the state assembly have touched many lives in the state.

In the assembly chambers, he raised many motions, including: Motion for the completion of the construction of Iyamoye/Iguana/ Ife/Olukotun road in Yagba East Local Government Area and motion on the need to curb the perennial armed robbery menace along Lokoja/Kabba/Okene road and Lokoja/Oshokoshoko/Cab road.

He co-sponsored motion for the change of the Prince Abubakar Audu University to Kogi State University to reflect the wishes of the people of the state.

He also moved a motion of appeal to the Federal Government to construct, dualise Okene/Lokoja/ Abuja road. Among several people oriented motions and bills.

•Left to right: Member, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Hon. Malami Galadanchi, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and Deputy Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Hon. Aliyu Abubakar when they visited Tambuwal at the National Assembly in Abuja.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

POLITICS KOGI GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION 2011 Forty-eight hours to the Kogi governorship poll, MOHAMMED BASHIR, presents the profiles of Peoples Democratic Party (DPD) candidate, Alhaji Idris Wada and his running mate, Chief Yomi Awoniyi.

Wada, Awoniyi: What do they have to offer?

I

DRIS Ichalla Wada, a Pilot, was born in Dekina on August 26, 1950 to Alhaji Ejiga Wada of Odu in Dekina Local Government Area and the late Hajia Rakiya Wada, also of Odu in Kogi State.

Alhaji Ejiga Wada is a community leader and a retired jurist who served for more than 30 years as a judge in different parts of Kogi State.

Wada attended the famous Government Secondary School, Dekina for his post primary education.

At Dekina, he built a reputation for himself as an excellent all-rounder and had the best cumulative aggregate score any student could ever garner in the West African School Certificate Examination with aggregate 6 distinction.

This earned him a scholarship to study at the Federal Government College, Sokoto where, in 1970, he earned the Higher School Certificate.

Given his academic pedigree, the choices of career paths available to Wada were many.

His first instinct was to follow his dream of becoming a doctor, but he eventually opted for flying.

In recognition of his outstanding performance in the Higher School Certificate examination Wada was awarded an International Civil Aviation scholarship, the only Nigerian in his set.

In 1970, he enrolled at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre to begin his training.

He was in Zaria till 1972 when he moved to the Air Services Training College, Perth, Scotland for the next phase of his training. Still in continuation of his training, in 1973 he moved to Burnside-ott Aviation College, Opa-Locka Airport Miami, Florida. It was in Florida that in 1976 he received his Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATP), thus becoming a fullfledged pilot and instructor.

Refusing to limit himself to the world of aviation, Captain Wada obtained a Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) in Business Administration in 2004 and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2006, both of them from the University of Abuja.

Wada’s working career began at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, in 1973 where, at 23, he became a Flight Instructor. In 1978 he joined the defunct Nigeria Airways and had attained the rank of “Captain-inCommand” by the time he left in 1983.

That same year he joined United Air Service as Chief Pilot and General Manager. He served in those capacities till 1985 when he left to establish and nurture Executive Aviation Services (EAS). The EAS as the brand was known operated as a cargo airline servicing various destinations across the globe. It was later in 1993 to metamorphose into EAS Airline

‘Although many of those who had earlier indicated interest in the PDP governorship ticket have reconciled with Wada, Alhaji Jibrin Isah Echocho who won the January primary remains bitter. His supporters could be seen campaigning for the ACN candidate’

• Wada

Ltd, an executive charter airline which subsequently transited into the world of passenger operations and ultimately became NICON Airways in 2006.

It is not going to be all smooth as electioneering is not all about credentials. Although many of those who had earlier indicated interest in the PDP governorship ticket have reconciled with Wada, Alhaji Jibrin Isah Echocho who won the January primary remains bitter. His supporters could be seen campaigning for the ACN candidate. Many others, both within and outside ACN, have expressed dissatisfaction over the choice of Governor Ibrahim Idris’s brother-in-law for a successor.

Wada and his running mate, Awoniyi, have promised to operate an all-inclusive government. They have pledged to give top priority to agriculture and tourism development.

Abayomi Awoniyi was born to the family of Chief Sunday Bolorunduro Awoniyi of Mopa in Mopamuro local

• Awoniyi

Government Area on September 4, 1960.

He attended Government Secondary School, Okene (now Abdulazeez Atta Memorial College) for his secondary education andlater transferred to the famous Barewa College, Zaria where, in 1976, he obtained the West African School Certificate, passing in Division One. From Barewa College Zaria, Yomi proceeded to the School of Basic Studies at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and thereafter, was admitted to the Department of Architecture of the same University. He graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor’s Degree and followed with a Master of Science degree in Architecture in 1983. He then proceeded to University College, London and graduated with Master of Science in Urban Development Planning in 1984.

Awoniyi upon completion of the mandatory National Youth Service Corps in 1985, worked with Architects Group Practice in Lagos. In 1988, he became a member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects. That same year he

became a partner at a firm of Architects Awoniyi Associates.

From the onset of this democratic dispensation in 1998/1999, Yomi Awoniyi has been actively involved in politics under the banner of the PPD. He contested for the Senate seat of Kogi West Senatorial District but lost during the PDP Primaries held on December 2, 2006. He displayed uncommon sportsmanship by being the first to congratulate the winner.

He went on to be an active supporter of the winner and participated actively in ensuring a second term victory for Senator Smart Adeyemi.

In 2000, he was appointed by the Federal Government, to the pioneer Board of the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority and was Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Board.

In 2005, he was again, appointed to the Management Board of the University Teaching Hospital, Ilorin and served on various committees of the

Board.

In 2009, he was retained in Ilorin and appointed to Management Board of the Nigeria Stored Products Research Institute, Ilorin, Kwara State. He was Chairman of the Staff Welfare Development Committee, until all Federal Government Boards were dissolved in October 2011.

Awoniyi was appointed Member of the Presidential Project Assessment Committee (PPAC) on March 4, 2010 by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The committee, is responsible for preparing an inventory of all on-going Federal Government Projects and looking into value for money issues. It is charged with the task of assessing the components of all projects with a view to fast tracking their delivery as envisioned in the underlining government objective and policy.

On his philanthropic spirit, he founded the Yomi Awoniyi Organization which is involved in provision of scholarships to students in institutions of higher learning and making available micro credit facilities.

In appreciation of his contribution to his community, in 2006, the Elulu of Mopaland conferred on him the honourary title - Lisa of Mopa.

He is a member of a number of professional bodies including the Nigeria Institute of Architects, the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria and the Nigeria Institute of Management.

Awoniyi never thought of coming of running for any office until the runner up of the September 22 governorship primary election of PDP, Alhaji Abdulrazak Isa Kutepa, picked him (Awoniyi) as running mate during a way forward meeting of the party stakeholders in a bid to reconcile the factions Awoniyi was before then the Director of Kutepa Campaign Organisation.

Only CPC can deliver good governance Alhaji Mohammed Mobo Kassim is the Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He doubles as Director-General, James Ocholi (SAN) Campaign Organisation. He spoke with JOSEPH JIBUEZE on his party’s chances.

D

• Ocholi

O you think the people prepared to take on the PDP and ACN? I think, by now, the people have learnt their lessons. Gone are the days of voting people for money reasons. They have learnt their lessons that from past experience, they had been selling out their conscience in voting for people, and each time they do that, they don’t get the right kind of leadership they want.

What differentiates your candidate from others?

We in the CPC took the trouble of getting for Kogites the most credible candidate, and that I believe is known to most voters now – that CPC has the best candidate.

So with that, I believe they are not

going to waste their votes for any other person other than James Enejo Ocholi (SAN) on Saturday.

What is your message to the electorate?

Let me say that, in the past, Kogites were very unmindful of the kind of people they chose to govern them. They don’t put into consideration the educational qualification, and the experience of the candidate. But this candidate of ours is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and from his manifesto, you will know he has a better programme than others and that is what makes him outstanding.

Does your party have any plans for power shift?

As you can see, all the major

candidates are from Kogi East, and everyone of them has a campaign strategy. Abubakar Audu is saying he’ll stay for only four years in government and handover power to another zone, but we all know that it is just political language. If he can have his way, he will love to stay in power for 12 more years, just as he has been a candidate of ANPP for 12 years and has not seen anybody capable of taking over from him till now.

What should the people expect, should your candidate win?

They should expect good governance. Whatever you see in our manifesto is what we intend to do.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

45

NATURAL HEALTH

Possible causes…blurry eyes (4) U

LTIMATELY, falsehood collapses, however long spurn, flowery and fruity. Look around you’ll find no lie which survives truth. For about 30 years, Americans seemed to get away with the lie they told against coconut oil to protect huge investments in corn oil and soy oil. They funded phoney studies which concluded that coconut oil was so bad it could cause strokes and heart attacks by damaging blood vessels. That frightened the lay public.

At a time about one in every four persons was likely to die of either disease and everyone was interested in knowing the causes. About five years ago, however, West Indians funded a more reliable study which shows that coconut oil is not only safe for the heart and the brain but actually promotes their health. An icing on the cake, which is set to balloon coconut oil consumption in the land of its former enemies, is the breaking news from America that Dr Fransisco Contreras Jnr, using coconut oil as medicine, is curing HIV and cancer. This subject is not on the running order today. What is, is the conclusion of the series on the possible causes of blurry and fading vision and how they may be overcome using natural therapies.

Nevertheless, the work of Dr Contreras will receive a brief mention today, given the rising trends of these diseases in Nigeria, and the hope of a cure it may give to many people challenged by them.

Dr Contreras needs a little introduction. My first encounter with him was in the editorial opinion of Alternative Medicine magazine which honoured him with an award. Dr Contreras Jnr. literally fled from the United States to Mexico, homeland of revolutionary or unorthodox medicines, after the American Medical Association (AMA) hounded him out of the country on the grounds that he was prescribing dangerous medication. This medication, for cancer was Laetrile, a cyanide–containing compound named Vitamin B17 but pooh-poohed by mainstream doctors. While his adversaries were busy labelling him “quack” and “unorthodox”, Dr Contreras began to also research the use of coconut oil in HIV and cancer therapies. He has just published a book in which he documented his findings that HIV challenged people turn negative in six months while 80 per cent of cancer therapies succeed. In this book entitled BEATING CANCER, Dr Contreras says: “Anger is one major cause of cancer. A minute of anger will bring down our immunity for six hours but a minute of laughter strengthens the immunity up to 24 hours, so music and laughter are cures.

“Chemotherapy” does more harm than good but taking two tablespoonfuls of coconut oil three times daily works three times more than chemo. This is due to the oil’s protective natural ability to safeguard the body from infection while cleansing the system. Coconut has been proven to have anticancer effects, especially of the colon and breast.”

Dr Contreras’ claims in Cancer Defeated are backed by reports in Bruce Fife’s The healing Miracles of Coconut, a summary of which I got from Mrs Medina Attah, a healthcare giver.

The book says: “50 per cent of coconut oil is lauric acid, coconut oil is antiviral and antifungal and antibacterial. It attacks and kills viruses that have lipid (fatty) coating such as herpes, HIV, hepatitis C, flu, mononucleosis.

Another laurel for coconut oil comes from Mary Enig, of Weston Price Foundation. She investigated an AIDs organisation, Keep Hope Alive and reports that people living with the viral load dropped to undetectable levels in AIDs who ate half a coconut every day or who took three and a half tablespoonfuls of coconut oil, about the equivalent of 20-25 grammes of lauric acid.”

I guess this is enough food for thought today. I understand the HIV patient population at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital has declined since their exposure, first to Revivo, and antiviral herbal weapon specially developed in Southern China to protect the population against infected migrants from Thailand, and, recently, coconut oil. The HIV Clinic of Air Force Hospital at Ikeja, Lagos, advises its patients to add coconut oil to their medicine chart and this has encouraged coconut oil vendors to mill around its grounds. With the destructiveness of antiretroviral drugs equated to that of chemotherapy, no one, if it can be avoided, wishes to rubsalt on injury, as it were. Since the publication of Dr Contreras’ Cancer Defeated, I have found from many natives of Nigeria’s coastal towns and villages that coconut oil is standard local medicine in these places contrary to widespread belief among the Ijebu, for example, that coconut water diminishes intelligence; it is consumed in Cross River and Rivers states to improve cognition.

Lest we forget, today isn’t coconut oil day or Dr Contreras.

It is the day for concluding the series on blurring and fading vision. All roads lead to a market. With a thousand and one possible causes of this condition and about an equal number of possible solutions, I have chosen to wrap up the services with biochemical cell salts, especially those which promote eye health.

Cell salts The average adult human body is made up of about 100 trillion cells. Like the cells of the battery of a motor car, they produce energy which add up to give the body energy to

Silica

A

perform the tasks which the in-dwelling man, spirit, command it to do, such as lifting of a finger or fleeing from a wild animal. To perform this task, every cell must be provided biochemical resources through food which must be properly digested and absorbed. What each cell type needs differs from another’s’ requirement, as they are composed differently and perform different tasks. These requirements are called cell salts. What the eye requires will definitely be different from what the bone or the hair or liver needs, although there are basic common grounds. Don’t the army, navy and air force require different armaments even though guns and bullets are basic to their armouries?

Of all the people who have helped to shape this approach to medicine, three men stand out: • Dr Linus Pauling • Dr Wilhelm Heinrich Schessler and • Dr Samuel Hahnemann

D

R Hahnemann (1755 -1843) set the ball rolling when, in the 18th Century, he developed the medical concept known today as homeopathy. Homeopathy dispensed about 200 healing remedies before the advent of Dr Schessler (1821 -1898) who almost singlehandedly collapsed the pharmacopia to 12 cell salts. Dr Pauling, who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry and World Peace in the 1950s and 1960s, dying at 103, theorised that “the greatest advances in the 21 st Century would be in medicine, biochemistry and molecular biology” and that the motion of atoms and the way it affects health would be better understood.

These 12 cell salts:Calcium fluoride (Cal.flour.)

Calcium Phosphate (Cal. Phos.)

Calcium Sulphate (Cal. Sulph.)

Ferrum Phosphate (Ferrum phos.)

Magnesium Phosphate (Mag. Phos.)

Potassium Chloride (Kali mur.)

Photassium Sulphate (Kali sulph) Silica ( Silica) Sodium Chloride (Natrum mur.)

Sodium Sulphate (Natrum sulph.)

The eye and its cell salts Among the cell salts often prescribed for eye related problems are Silica. Ferrum phosphate, sodium chloride, calcium fluoride, calcium phosphate and calcium sulphate.

‘Anger is one major cause of cancer. A minute of anger will bring down our immunity for six hours but a minute of laughter strengthens the immunity up to 24 hours, so music and laughter are cures...Chemotherapy does more harm than good but taking two tablespoonfuls of coconut oil three times daily works three times more than chemo. This is due to the oil’s protective natural ability to safeguard the body from infection while cleansing the system. Coconut has been proven to have anticancer effects, especially of the colon and breast’

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

TISSUE cleanser and toxin eliminator, well known today for its rejuvenating effects on the hair, skin and nails, it was the homeopathic surgeon of old because it helped to resolve many cases that would have required the knife. And that is why, till today, it is presented for cataract and glaucoma especially. In Germany, according to Nigey Lennon and Lionell rolfe in their Homeopathic Cell Salt Remedies, “a study of 26 patients showed that over a period of three months of using Silica, most patients were able to avoid surgery to remove cysts.” In 18 cases, the cysts vanished. In two cases, it had no effect. In six cases, it only improved the condition. It was discovered that new or full moons often bring up or worsens conditions which require silica. Many people are not observant in this regard and may think the moon or the stars are hanging out in space by accident. Silica patients exhibit certain symptom. These may include “painful indigestion acidity, sour weakling, exhaustion, depression and spells of dizziness. In the skin, Silica helps the epidermis eliminate wastes, bursts pimples, clears acne, hastens wound healing, stops itching and dandruff. Silica being a hardner, helps calcium absorption in bones, correct splitting nails, makes falling hair thick and strong. Dr. Dorothy Shepherd eulogises it for lumid asthma characterised by sweating feet, mucus-filled lungs and coarse rattling. Women who suffer spontaneous abortions lack silica as those who experience creamy vaginal discharges. In the eye, there is a large concentration of silica in the lens which protects it against cataracts.

Potassium Sulphate A powerful oxygen carrier, Potassium Phosphate works well with Ferrum Phosphate. Ferrum Phosphate is thought to control “external breathing exhalation of the cells while potassium sulphate regulates their “internal breathing’ (inhalation). If we know how we feel when we are not breathing well, as in asthma, it should be easier to imagine how sickly the eye can be when its breathing is unbalanced.

In Potassium Sulphate, the eye has support for selfregeneration. This cell salt helps the skin regenerate its damaged cells. Potassium sulphate also works well with Pulsiatilla in treating vertigo or dizziness or when merely looking produces a sensation of falling.

Lennon and Rolfe say: “If you need Kali Sulph or pulsatilla, standing still or lying down makes you feel worse and you probably have eye problems – deem vision, dark colours before the eyes, and itchy, swollen eyelids, you may feel that you have lost your sense of smell or you may suffer from a toothache. Kali Sulph is an important remedy for a dry, mucus-filled sore throat in the morning and difficulties in swallowing and pastille helps these symptoms too.”

Sodium Chloride Sodium Chloride and Sodium sulphate work as twin salts.

But this is not the sodium of table salt. It is homeopathically titrated Sodium withal its synergic w-factors. Sodium Chloride holds water in the body, making the cells supple.

Sodium Sulphate removes excess water from the body, preventing edema. Glaucoma is a condition of excess fluid in the eye which may damage its delicate structures and cause blindness and indicates a possible deficiency of sodium sulphate. Sodium Chloride is a natural remedy for headaches. As long ago as 1955, Sir John War, Queen Elizabeth II’s physician told the 11 th anniversary meeting of the American Institute of Homeopathy how his terrible headaches with blindness in one eye which responded to no medication had been resolved for 40 years by sodium chloride therapy in the 200xdosage. As dryness in any part of the body, including the eye and the vagina, singed Sodium chloride deficiency, fluid excess in glaucoma, influenza, asthma or gout suggests a need for sodium sulphate.

Sodium sulphate It comes naturally as an anti-asthma agent. Damp causes asthma. Sodium Sulphate takes damp away, when added to silica, a more potent cocktail emerges.

Calcium Fluoride

My wife and I had wonderful experiences with the cell salt when we noticed the enamel of our teeth was weak and chipping off. It is a constituent of the surface of bone and teeth. It provides the body elasticity. This is why it is indispensable in connective tissue, muscles. It helps loose mulling and sensitive teeth, sore or painful lower back, varicose veins, hemorrhoids.

Say Lennon and Rolfe: “Eye problems should usually be treated with a variety of cell salts for the different symptoms.

Calcium flour is the main remedy if you see sparks or flickering lights before you and in cases of spots on the cornea, conjunctivitis and cataracts. Doctors have reported that calcium fluoride in the 6xpotency has stopped itching on the surface of the eye and has helped where the wearing of glasses all day has made the eye weaker and created a sensation of our blowing on the eyes. In addition, one doctor reported that in the 13 cases of cataracts, 11 were cured with regular doses of calcium fluoride.

Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

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THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

NATURAL HEALTH

‘Adopt preventive medicine’

Firm presents Jobelyn at World Congress

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NATURAL medicine practitioner, Robinson Ike, has called for the adoption of preventive medicine over curativetreatment.

According to him, using the basic principles of preventive medicine will help people to avoid diseases and the problems that come with treating them.

He said: “Finding a cure, preventive medicine focuses on efforts to prevent disease and health conditions before they occur. Studies have repeatedly shown preventive care measures, such as proper hand-washing, eating a healthy, balanced diet and daily exercise, all contribute to a longer health span.”

Ike, who spoke at a free treatment programme, organised for traders at Ijesha Market, Lagos said Nigerians are not supposed to be suffering from some ailments, “Because, we have herbal plants we can eat as every day food such as okro, plantain, cassava and fruits such as pineapple, pawpaw, garden egg, water melon and others that boost our immunity as well as fight off attackers of the body.

“But when people suddenly shift focus to Western food that do not naturally agree with their system, they then come down with diseases such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension, mouth odour, arthritis and so many other degenerative diseases. The screening will afford participants a holistic approach to their conditions.

“Holistic approach is an area of care to health care that incorporates physical, mental

•Ike

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha and spiritual factors, and treat ailments as part of a complex system rather than isolated symptoms.

“Although holistic medicine is often referred to as ‘alternative’ medicine, it is often used in conjunction with traditional—or ‘allopathic’— medicine rather than instead of it.

“Holistic medicine is beneficial to the patient because it offers a wide range of treatment options, from preventative approaches, to herbs, homeopathy, acupuncture, massage and spiritual counselling. Each person is an individual and each person responds to treatment in a unique way.

“The holistic medical approach enables a caregiver to assess your personal needs and preferences rather than automatically opting for a conventional type of treatment. In addition, as an holistic practitioner, I will integrate a variety of approaches into a healing regimen in order to effect a cure that is comprehensive rather than superficial for as many that come for the one day programme,” said Ike.

EALTH Forever Ltd, manufacturers of Jobelyn, has presented its sorghum bicolour, a native grass cultivated for food and medicine before the World Congress on Military Medicine in Abuja last week.

Its founder of Health Forever, Mr Olajuwon Okubena, was represented by Colonel G.I. Ayuba of the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, based on the military’s long-term use of Jobelyn.

He said West Africans have used plants and other botanical cures as medicine for treating and curing diseases, adding that the discovery of its special and expansive powers was old.

Ayuba said: “For more than 10 years, the military and police hospitals across the country have found the product potent in treating HIV/AIDS-related cases.”

According to Okubena, Sorghum bicolor is nature’s most powerful antioxidant. “Its antioxidant capacity is present in single specific specie of which the active part is the leaf sheath,” he added.

He said: “For more than 20 years, modern science has created artificial equivalents of the active compounds in Sorghum bicolour. But, studies have shown that these artificial equivalents do not possess the same impressive biological effects when compared to the natural extracts.”

On the source of remedy, Okubena said, many plants manufactured secondary metabolites, which include flavonoids, to

Natural cure for low sperm count

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AVE sex and masturbate less often - the more times you ejaculate, the less dense your semen will be. Maintain a gap of three days between two consecutive ejaculations.

Stop smoking, stop consuming alcohol and so on. - Alcohol affects your liver function, which, in turn, causes a dramatic rise in estrogen levels.

Even two drinks a day will have long-term effects on sperm productions.

Avoid heating of the testicles to provide an ambient climate for the testicles.You can wear cotton boxer shorts. Avoid hot baths and saunas.

Loose weight, and exercise more often.

Have a healthy diet containing whole grains and vegetables rich in proteins and vitamins.

Avoid bitter, spicy and acidic foods. Quit eating refined foods, such as sugar, white flour, reduce caffeine intake (coffee, soft drinks, etc)and finally stop eating processed food Reduce stress levels by learning relaxation techniques - Keep your mind and body healthy by regular practice of yoga and meditation.

Drink more water at least seven glasses of water daily to avoid dehydration. Our body needs water to work (75 per cent body content is water).

How to Increase Semen Volume to the Max naturally?

• Eat Foods that are rich in zinc and some amino acids - oysters, lamb, turkey, barley, wheat, beans, nuts, red meat, pumpkin seeds,avocados, bananas and almonds. Amino Acids such as spinach, seaweed (spirulina), poultry, sesame seeds, avocado, egg whites Oysters are rich in zinc and are known to increase sperm and testosterone production.

•Culled from www.practicenaturalcures.com

•Okubena

protect themselves against pathogen attack.

In sorghum, this defence is an active response resulting in the accumulation of high levels of three-deoxyanthocyanidin phytoalexins (flavonoids) in the plant “This three-deoxyanthocyanidin (3-DXA) possesses unique chemical and biochemical properties that Jobelyn uses to strengthen the body and promote whole health,” Okubena further added.

Okubena also said sorghum was the only dietary source of threedeoxyanthocyanidin.

He supported his presentation with various tests that had been conducted on Jobelyn. Among such is an investigation conducted at the University of Benin. In the study, the PCV and HB levels of health rabbits and rabbits infected with Trypanosoma brucei-induced anemia were elevated following Jobelyn administration.

He said: “Another study cited was the one conducted at Lindabel Medical Centre, Lawanson, Lagos. In the work, in the 163 randomly selected anaemic patients given Jobelyn, 98 per cent showed increase in haemoglobin level within a week. Besides, sickle cell disease patients were found to have fewer crises when placed on the product.”

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e-Business For a cheaper, better broadband The world telecom regulatory body, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), has challenged governments and regulators to boost broadband affordability and uptake by 2015.

ADLINE ATILI reports that stakeholders in the ICT sector have developed initiatives to meet the challenge

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HE International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Secretary-General, Dr Hamadoun Touré, did not mince words when he directed governments and leaders in the developing world to take broadband connectivity to places where it is needed and also make it affordable. The directive was clear: make broadband connectivity accessible and affordable to all.

Broadband, in its basic sense, stands for broad bandwidth. For most of its existence, phone lines were the communication of choice for Internet users. These lines can carry up to 56kbps of data. But with the Internet advancing into a new age, people demanded faster speeds, which required opening up bigger and better ways to connect; thus, the advent of broadband channels. Broadband works by opening up the channels so that much more information can travel back and forth.

In layman's term, it can be explained as the difference between pushing a pen through your closed fist and throwing it through a circle made by your thumb and forefinger. The extra breadth is referred to as bandwidth. The more bandwidth is available, the faster connection speeds will be.

Geneva summit ITU has been at the forefront of the campaign for broadband connectivity, especially for people in remote and rural locations. At its Telecom World in Geneva, Switzerland, last month, the ITU Broadband Commission for Digital Development jointly hosted a Broadband Leadership Summit ahead of the main event.

The summit brought together heads of state, chief executive officers of leading organisations, senior policy-makers and visionaries from across the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector to debate issues that focus on the deployment of broadband infrastructure and services.

The plenary was on the benefits of broadband. It explored the role of broadband as a critical infrastructure for promoting economic growth, trade and productivity, especially in view of today's challenging economic climate.

At the summit, Touré said countries must work harder than ever to bring the benefits of broadband to places where they are needed most, especially in developing countries. He added that it must be made more affordable, too.

"ICTs may be the fastest-moving industrial sector in history. Already, we have around 100 countries in the world where mobile cellular penetration exceeds 100 per cent - which means on average more than

•Mrs Johnson

•Juwah

one active SIM card per person. Text messaging - not even 20 years old yet - is not just ubiquitous, today, but massively abundant, too, with over six trillion messages sent in 2010.

"The key now is to achieve the same success for broadband as we did for mobile.

We must work harder than ever to bring the benefits of broadband to the places where it is needed most - which very often means rural and remote areas, especially in developing countries.

"And we must make broadband more affordable, too. Indeed, we must make it a whole lot more affordable - and here, my message goes straight to governments and leaders in the developing world. Because, last year, according to the latest ITU data, there were still 32 economies in the world where broadband access cost more than half of average national income," he said.

To him, proliferation of broadband in such economies, he said, will be driven by new business models, such as prepaid broadband, new regulatory frameworks and massively increased fibre capacity.

'open access' model for the effective deployment of a national fibre network that will ensure an even platform and playing field for retail service providers and enhance the achievement of the nation's e-economy goals," he said.

He said a major attraction is that the government will offer subsidies to enable broadband services to the under-served and un-served areas where it may not be economically-viable to deploy fibre, adding that the strategy will also ensure investors make decent profit.

Explaining it further, Juwah said in using this model, the plan is to unbundle the broadband market structure into three layers namely: the passive infrastructure layer, the active infrastructure layer, and the retail service layer in an arrangement which will determine the roles to be played by the various types of services providers in the broadband market. "To ensure vibrancy of the market and prevent dominance, no company will be allowed to play in more than two of the service layers," he said.

Juwah said the implementation of this model will bridge the gap in broadband deployment, eliminate last mile issues, reduce price of bandwidth for end users and unlock the market for massive broadband usage in Nigeria.

According to him, during implementation, the commission will issue licences in the passive and active layers respectively while price caps will be implemented in these layers using cost-based pricing. He stressed that the nation's expectations by 2015 is to achieve 12 per cent broadband penetration, 80 per cent mobile penetration, two per cent fixed line growth, 34 per cent Internet growth and 12 per cent Personal Computer (PC) penetration.

For the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Brett Goschen, the next phase of growth of the Nigerian telecom industry will be shaped by stakeholders' ability to develop broadband services for various categories of the market. According to him, the telecom sector in the next 10 years will be driven by broadband services.

Stakeholders’ perspective Stakeholders in the Nigerian ICT sector have risen to the challenge. In Geneva, Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, led delegation of stakeholders and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in unveiling a broadband strategy aimed at attracting foreign interests and investments in the sector.

At a luncheon attended by world leaders and Toure, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Eugene Juwah, announced the adoption of an 'open access' model for the deployment of broadband across the country, and called for the full participation of the international community.

Juwah said the adoption of this model is to forestall challenges posed by operational issues and the complexities that may arise from roles of agencies, including urban and regional administrative set-ups, which impinge on the rights of way of facility deployments.

"The NCC has decided to explore the

Speaking at the West African Information and Communications Technology (WAFICT) conference in Lagos, Goschen, who was represented at the event by the Corporate Services Executive of the company, Wale Goodluck, said MTN has a strong desire to develop broadband in Nigeria, not just by making necessary investments, but also by ensuring accessibility, affordability, availability of the service and raising public awareness about it.

He said MTN has over the years invested billions of naira in its national, metropolitan fibre-optic network, and fibre-to-home ready network, which he said would enable the company deliver true broadband.

Goschen noted that considering the level of Nigeria's development, broadband adoption and use is still at foundational stages.

Goschen said to address the broadband challenge, the company has rolled out microwave, WiMAX, long distance and metropolitan fibre infrastructure services for enterprises, SMEs and individuals. He said the company has also embarked on longterm objectives to facilitate Nigeria's strategic objectives for broadband growth and local content hosting/peering.

He added that the company is also exploring partnership opportunity with the NCC under the State Accelerated Broadband Initiative (SABI) for focused broadband deployment across Nigeria. He noted that the WACS fibre optics submarine cable, which the company has invested in, will provide unprecedented broadband quality and cost savings to Nigerians and other users along the West African coast.

While delivering a keynote speech at the WAFICT conference, Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson noted that government's desire is to transform all sectors of the economy through a robust and reliable broadband infrastructure for the country. She said efforts have been made by the government and private sector to develop the broadband industry, adding that a lot more needs to be done to link up the un-served and under-served areas of the federation.

She said: "The government is considering the development of a national ICT broadband network and another national network for education and research, which requires the setting up of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) for implementation.

"It is hoped that the ongoing ICT policy harmonisation will provide the necessary legal framework for the operation of the SPVs. The onus is now on stakeholders to avail themselves of the various programmes set out to advance ICT development and make judicious use of accessed funds.”

While presenting her ministry's roadmap to the House of Representatives Committee on ICT recently, Mrs Johnson noted that availability of broadband at cost effective prices is key to development and reiterated that the ministry will focus on deploying a nationwide broadband infrastructure that will enable Nigeria expand universal access beyond basic voice to provision of high-speed broadband access.

Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Rajan Swaroop, believes the country needs a National Policy on Communications (NPC) that incorporates government's commitment and resolve towards development of broadband in the country.

According to him, the National Policy on Telecommunications (NPT) issued in 2000, a pre-broadband era, does not effectively capture the required framework that will boost broadband uptake and development in the country. He advocates a review of existing guidelines.

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e-Business ABU deploys borderless Internet network

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•President, EC-Council, Sanjay Bavisi (left) and Chief Executive Officer, New Horizons Nigeria, Tim Akano (right) at the presentation of Africa Best Partner 2011 award to Akano in Miami, Florida.

MTN flays CBN’s m-payment policy

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TN Nigeria has faulted the regulatory framework of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the implementation of mobile payment system.

Mobile payment or m-payment is a point-of-sale payment made from or via a mobile device. Using mpayment, a person with a mobile phone could pay for goods and services without interacting with a human.

The CBN regulatory framework for operating the system identifies three major models for its implementation.

They are bank-focused model, which can only be deployed by a licensed deposit-taking financial institution and bank-led model, where a bank or a consortium of banks, in partnership with other organisations, jointly delivers banking services.

The third is a non-bank-led model which allows a corporate organisation, other than a licensed deposit money bank and telecommunications companies, to deliver mobile payment services.

Speaking at a capacity-building seminar in Lagos, a regulatory official at MTN, Kassim Odumbaku said though the CBN’s regulatory framework expressly excludes Telcos from leadership of mobile payment implementation, MTN has provided the necessary technological platform and made substantial investments

Stories by Adline Atili towards the achievement of a robust, dynamic and secure mobile payment system in Nigeria.

Odumbaku noted that in other countries where m-payments have been successfully deployed, Telcos took the lead role.

He said: “In Kenya, Safaricom, a Telco, launched M-PESA in 2007 after two years of trial. M-PESA is so far, the most successful mobile payment product with over 25 per cent of Kenya’s population registered for the service. It now has over 10 million users and transfers about $350million per month.

“In the Philippines, SMART, a Telco launched the ‘Padala’ in 2004. The service now has about seven million wallets representing seven per cent penetration.

“In Uganda, MTN launched the mobile money service in 2009.

Within a year, the service recorded over 500,000 mobile money accounts.

“Vodacom in Tanzania too launched the M-Pesa service in 2008 and in mid-2010, about one million accounts had been opened.

“Nigeria has the potential of being the largest mobile payment market in Africa if stakeholders take the opportunity to review the current framework, so as to more fully enhance the capability of the telecom

industry to play its natural role in the delivery of efficient mobile payment services, leveraging on technological infrastructure and distribution chain.”

The CBN, in the framework, said while it appreciates the critical role of the Telcos in all of the models for the implementation of mobile payments services in Nigeria, the Telcos are explicitly excluded from leading any such models for the following reasons: ensuring that the regulatory gaps/lapses that could occur with a telecom organisation running a mobile payments solution is nullified till a time when the regulatory issues between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and CBN are regulated.

“To ensure openness and interoperability via monitoring that the Telcos concentrate on their area of core competence as mobile operators (carriers of traffic) and not attempt to become payment service providers.

“To ensure that larger networks are not given undue advantage based on their wide coverage, thereby excluding other payment service providers from access to their customer base; also to ensure that all mobile payments traffic are given equal priority during transmission by the Telcos without prejudice to their own consumer-generated traffic.”

Vodacom urges Fed Govt to reduce Internet costs

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ODACOM Group of South Africa has entered the Nigerian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) market with a charge to the Federal Government to force reduction in national transmission costs.

After successful acquisition of Gateway Business, an ICT solutions firm two years ago and subsequent re-branding as Vodacom Business, the company said it will expand its national terrestrial network infrastructure, currently covering about 26 states in Nigeria, to all parts of the country to support the Federal Government’s broadband drive.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Managing Director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Guy Clarke, said though Vodacom would not operate as a GSM company, it has aligned its infrastructure deployment initiative with that of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Ministry of Communications technology for broadband connectiv-

ity.

He said the strategy, under an ‘open access’ model, will boost investment in fibre networks essential for broadband and last mile connectivity.

He identified high cost of national terrestrial backbone as impediment to broadband. He said: “We discovered that the price of moving Internet capacity from Lagos to Abuja is much higher than the cost of moving capacity from Lagos to London due to high cost of national terrestrial backbone infrastructure. Vodacom Business will address this through expansion of our MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) infrastructure to all states of Nigeria.”

He identified the moribund state of Nigeria’s First National Carrier, NITEL as being responsible for high transmission costs in the country, urging the government to enact policies to drive down costs, saying: “If NITEL were in operation, there would have been a way to drive down

costs as its infrastructure would have nicely complemented the submarine cables that have landed so far, to encourage competition and drive down connectivity costs.”

Clarke assured that Vodacom Business will play its part in reducing cost of bandwidth capacity from the underwater cables to other parts of the country through a robust national terrestrial network.

Speaking on the company’s rebrand, Clarke, said: “The introduction of Vodacom Business to the Nigerian market is far more than just a new name, logo and colour. We have shifted the way we do things in Nigeria, with significant investment in our staff together with facility upgrade and deployment of our national terrestrial MPLS network. This network roll-out is further supported by our carrier grade Broadband Wireless Access network, allowing Vodacom Business to deliver services end-toend.”

HE Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has announced its deploment of Cisco Borderless Network for increased bandwidth, network convergence, reliability and redundancy.

Borderless Network is Cisco’s architecture for connecting anyone, anywhere and at any time, using any device, securely, reliably and seamlessly. This architecture helps organisations achieve increased workforce productivity, greater Information Technology efficiency, and high quality of customer experience.

According to Cisco, a technology solutions firm, its optic-fibre campus network will link the faculties, halls of residence, digital laboratories and libraries of ABU’s three major campuses-Shika, Samaru and Kongo with over 65 locations offering a minimum of 2GB connectivity.

The new infrastructure, the company added, will enable ABU to deliver high-speed Internet and intranet access to more than 40,000 students and members of staff as well as facilitate enhanced e-learning, online applications and multimedia communications services for all campus residents.

General Manager, Cisco Nigeria, Said Rechchad said: “The new campus network infrastructure addresses key issues amongst them reliability, redundancy, increased bandwidth and network convergence.

“The university needed to have a campus infrastructure that could be relied upon across its three campus sites. Furthermore, given the number of faculties, departments and colleges spanning over 35km radius, ABU required redundant protocols to keep the campus infrastructure up and running even during power failure.

ABU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha said: “Due to huge staff and student population as well as the increasing demand for converged network services and bandwidth, ABU needed a state-ofthe-art network infrastructure that would cater for its technology needs.

“Today, ABU’s backbone network is seen as the technology foundation for all campus endeavours in Nigeria, supporting teaching, learning, research, administration, and community outreach.”

Two million qualify for promo

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ORE Nigerians are embracing the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as over two million Verve cardholders have qualified to participate in the ongoing Verve national consumer promo.

Verve is the name of an Interswitch ATM card that makes transactions safer and convenient to everyday life.

According to Interswitch, card holders who are qualified for the promo are those who have either used their cards at the ATM, made purchases at PoS terminals, Web or mobile devices during the first week of the promo.

Divisional Head, Verve Business at Interswitch, Mrs Oluwatobi Boshoro said: “More Nigerians are participating in the Verve promo as evidenced by the entries sent by the banks; we now have

over two million qualifiers. The promo, now in the second week, will help fast track the CBN’s policy on ‘cashless’ economy.

To qualify for the promo, Mrs Boshoro said new cardholders should request for the Verve card at the participating banks, activate and collect instant gift items.

She added that for existing Verve cardholders to participate, they should use the card for transactions at any of the touch points.

“Instant gift items available to new cardholders include branded pens, card wallets, T-shirts, MP3 players, flash drives and jotters.

Activation and usage during the promo period qualifies cardholders for the bi-weekly draw with a chance to win fantastic items such as iPads, freezers, generators, LCD television sets and BlackBerry phones,” she said.

Online dating portal launched N online dating portal, BestD8.com, is set to be introduced in Nigeria, to cater for young adults and lovers.

Spokesperson for BestD8 online dating service, Bolanle Olayinka, said the introduction of the service stems from the need to connect singles for friendships and relationships that will last a lifetime.

She said the site will feature online chats, dating services, picture uploads, regular posts, instant messaging with friends and potential partners, reading materials on relationships, dating tips, voice and video messages, one-on-one interactions with relationship experts, among other features.

According to her, Best D8’s

A

matchmaking system can help locate singles across the world, based on user preferences and message boards.

She added that the site was developed with the peculiarities of the African culture in mind. “Other dating platforms in Africa were not developed with the various peculiarities associated with the African culture in mind. No platform in Africa takes into account the local dating experience that exists like Best D8 does.

“Our dating site not only provides the best arena to meet people and form new relationships but also gives them the opportunity to meet the best match for them based on their preferences.”

Firm conducts system test

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ASYFUEL Limited, an integrated cashless fuelling company in the downstream oil and gas sector, has successfully conducted a pre-launch system test for its operations.

In a statement, the company, a Payment Terminal Service Provider (PTSP)-licenced operator, said the test, which was conducted across designated Oando service stations in Lagos, was done in preparation for the commercial launch of the service.

Its Managing Director, Mr Tayo Olajide, said: “We have just concluded the test run of our system.

All the service stations that are live on our network were involved in the process and the feedback has been fantastic. The Point of Sales (PoS) terminals installed at the service stations are working perfectly

as expected and coordinating well with our back-end platform.

“The test involved simultaneous transactions on the same terminal, using various products, with customers getting the required SMS payment alerts and Internet payment notifications from their various banks. All our products – Sprint, Speedpass and e-Go cards as well as bank-issued ATM debit and credit cards, were tested on the terminals and the test was successful.”

He said EasyFuel solutions were designed to eliminate the use of cash in buying petroleum products at filling stations adding that the test was conducted to guarantee excellent consumer experience when the solutions are launched commercially.

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EQUITIES

Stock market records marginal recovery

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 30-11-11

•Nine Finbank directors resign from Board

2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name CAPITAL OIL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,000 500.00 1,000 500.00

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Company Name FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 14 14 29

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 7.74

Quantity TradedValue 2,000 12,206,936 237,097 12,446,033

of Shares (N) 1,000.00 6,103,468.00 1,739,894.75 7,844,362.75

Quotation(N) 1.98 5.09

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 51,000 96,900.00 825,199 4,081,139.59 876,199 4,178,039.59

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.15

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 40,000 20,000.00 389,005 447,945.80 429,005 467,945.80

Quotation(N) 4.80 2.89 1.94 4.17 1.34 9.20 14.10 8.03 4.25 1.14 2.55 0.55 0.55 11.60

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 26,361,724 125,227,502.96 3,320,909 9,461,242.32 207,963 401,892.62 1,510,794 6,351,575.02 5,012,249 6,707,362.86 36,457,742 338,010,503.77 19,247,085 273,106,381.14 2,273,834 18,343,867.82 13,994,879 58,983,760.63 9,189,711 10,489,068.11 22,128,090 56,158,177.89 1,496,875 805,600.56 3,840,842 2,088,041.03 69,798,494 807,375,204.85 214,841,191 1,713,510,181.58

Quotation(N) 202.00 5.70 90.52

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 496,171 100,227,309.66 216 1,170.72 3,610,862 327,857,357.61 4,107,249 428,085,837.99

Quotation(N) 13.50 4.80 105.10 38.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 765,642 10,343,195.34 1,156,153 5,542,405.60 164,492 17,177,324.22 3,236,784 125,029,437.03 5,323,071 158,092,362.19

Quotation(N) 2.86 8.52 16.11 9.04

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 100 272.00 143,000 1,158,300.00 45,568 734,730.53 7,291 62,629.69 195,959 1,955,932.22

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 34 37

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 7 8 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC SKYE BANK PLC. STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 81 42 8 65 74 507 392 52 130 60 266 29 31 230 1,967 BREWERIES

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 48 2 161 211 BUILDING MATERIALS

Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 49 25 49 56 179 CHEMICAL & PAINTS

Company Name AFRICAN PAINTS (NIG.) PLC BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC NIGERIAN-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 5 15 1 22

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 2 3

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.29

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,000 500.00 6,000 13,440.00 7,000 13,940.00

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. OMATEK VENTURES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 2 3

Quotation(N) 9.31 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 50,000 465,500.00 250,000 125,000.00 300,000 590,500.00

Quotation(N) 29.00 0.58 29.06 26.00

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 261,841 7,592,975.04 1,738,700 1,011,312.20 1,215,140 35,424,964.81 85,162 2,214,989.93 3,300,843 46,244,241.98

Quotation(N) 38.43 0.50 7.89

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 126,550 4,862,791.31 538,500 269,250.00 10,000 78,900.00 675,050 5,210,941.31

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HE Nigerian stock market closed No vember with a marginal recovery on the last trading day but the dominant tendency towards decline that has characterized transactions this year left the market with a negative return of 19.25 per cent for the 11-month period.

Both the All Share Index and aggregate market capitalisation of all equities, the two key broad value-based indices that gauge the overall situation at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), inched up by 0.01 per cent each to close at 20,003.36 points and N6.295 trillion as against opening values of 20,000.76 and N6.294 trillion respectively.

In spite of the positive closing trading session for November, continuing decline in share prices may set 2011 out as the worst year since 2009 with the stock market on the path to close with double-digit negative yield.

Year-to-date return opens today at -19.25 per cent, reflecting the N1.62 trillion loss between the 2011’s opening market value of N7.914 trillion and the closing value by the 11th month. The ASI had opened 2011 at 24,770.52 points.

With most equities at lowest prices, discerning investors however appeared to be showing keen interests in rebuilding equity portfolios.

Both volume and value of activities increased yesterday while nearly one stock

No of Deals 34 50 59 31 174

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 30-11-11

CONSTRUCTION Company Name JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC ROADS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 11 3 1 15

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 1 3

Quotation(N) 1.70 4.90

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 5,200 8,836.00 300 1,398.00 5,500 10,234.00

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 5 25 87 62 42 7 25 77 330

Quotation(N) 48.00 11.11 5.02 4.60 64.00 2.85 4.00 400.00

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 2,836 134,676.00 264,081 2,938,125.57 930,947 4,742,922.51 1,250,746 5,712,815.94 262,263 16,633,120.16 124,365 344,862.00 499,795 2,011,211.66 436,595 174,120,599.65 3,771,628 206,638,333.49

Quotation(N) 0.73 1.14 24.23 1.97 9.05 1.24

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 7,847 5,492.90 550,871 641,929.49 66,444 1,609,938.12 189,937 359,893.84 5,000 43,000.00 114,009 141,791.43 934,108 2,802,045.78

Quotation(N) 2.64

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 8,712 21,867.12 8,712 21,867.12

HEALTHCARE Company Name EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 17 11 18 3 3 55

gained for every stock that lost, an appreciable improvement against the preponderance of losers sometime to the ratio of three to one.

Flour Mills Nigeria led the advancers with a gain of N1.50 to close at N64. NCR Nigeria gained 44 kobo to close at N9.31. Presco added 33 kobo to close at N7.74.

Stanbic IBTC Bank gained 32 kobo to close at N8.03. ETranzact rallied 24 kobo to close higher at N5.21. Access Bank gained 14 kobo to close at N4.80. Nigerian Breweries gathered 11 kobo to close at N90.52. Zenith Bank rose by 10 kobo to N11.60 while Cement Company of Northern Nigeria and United Bank for Africa gained 9.0 kobo and 6.0 kobo to close at N4.80 and N2.55 respectively.

On the downside, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria led the losers with a drop of 127 kobo to close at N24.23. PZ Cussons Nigeria followed with a loss of 100 kobo to close at N29. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated dropped 42 kobo to close at N10.40. Forte Oil also lost 42 kobo to close at N15.10. First City Monument Bank lost 21 kobo to close at N4.17. National Salt Company of Nigeria dropped by 20 kobo to close at N4. Eterna dropped by 15 kobo to close at N3.29.

Dangote Flour Mills lost 13 kobo to close at N5.02. Guar-

N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. STACO INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

No of Deals 1 4 17 22

Quotation(N) 11.15 6.80 4.80

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,200 12,720.00 9,678 69,100.92 289,436 1,369,176.44 300,314 1,450,997.36

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC e-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC IHS NIGERIA PLC STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 1 1 2 8

Quotation(N) 0.50 5.21 2.47 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 181,600 90,800.00 65,000 338,650.00 1,000 2,350.00 6,000 3,000.00 253,600 434,800.00

INSURANCE Company Name No of Deals AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 38 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 9 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE CO. PLC. 1 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC 9 GREAT NIGERIA INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 3 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 9 GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC 10 CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC 1 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 1 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 2 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. 2 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC 17

0.50 0.50 1.00 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

9,293,600 104,000 774,621 19,000 1,000 752,631 3,900,000 1,321,019 46,743,562

4,646,800.00 52,000.00 774,606.00 9,500.00 500.00 376,315.50 1,950,000.00 660,509.50 26,921,283.75

Quotation(N) 0.77

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 7,000 5,180.00 7,000 5,180.00

Quotation(N) 0.65

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,816,183 1,159,465.40 1,816,183 1,159,465.40

LEASING No of Deals 2 2 MARITIME Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 47 47

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name ASO SAVINGS AND LOAND PLC RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 5 6

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 2,000 1,000.00 486,367 243,183.50 488,367 244,183.50

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name CRUSADER NIGERIA PLC. NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 2

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.88

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,000 500.00 20,000 18,400.00 21,000 18,900.00

Quotation(N) 5.94 1.72 13.28

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 7,374 41,663.10 275,257 462,599.72 1,365 19,028.10 283,996 523,290.92

PACKAGING Company Name AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS PLC. NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC GREIF NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 30 1 32

PETROLEUM(MARKETING)

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION INDUSTRIES PLC B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

27 2 11 1 1 1 3 14 162

Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

anty Trust Bank dropped by 10 kobo to close at N14.10 while RT Briscoe lost 6.0 kobo to close at N1.15 per share.

Total turnover stood at 300.68 million shares valued at N2.65 billion in 3,652 deals. Banking subsector remained atop activity chart with a turnover of 215.35 million shares valued at N1.72 billion in 2,020 deals.

Insurance subsector staged a distant second position with a turnover of 46.74 million shares worth N26.92 million 162 deals. Agriculture sector recorded turnover of 12.46 million shares valued at N8.2 million in 36 deals.

Meanwhile, nine directors have voluntarily resigned from the Board of Finbank Plc following the ongoing takeover bid of the Bank by First City Monument Bank (FCMB). This was contained in a notice yesterday from the bank to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos Nigeria.”Finbank Plc has notified The Exchange that nine of its Directors have voluntarily resigned following the recapitalisation agreement reached between the Bank and First City Monument Bank Plc” the notice saidthe Directors that resigned include T.C Onasanya, T.C, Onasakpo, Aliyu Obabiolorunkosi, Opeyemi Adegboyega Oye, Agnes Ebubedike and Kenny Odogwu.Others are Lamba Zannah, Umaru Usman Karaya and Ernest Oji.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

CONGLOMERATES Company Name PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

Quotation(N) 0.52 0.90 0.50 2.21 0.50 0.54 1.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.56 0.50

Quantity TradedValue 723,517 1,776,000 1,000 456,977 3,000 20,837,413 1,259,295 10,000 16,666 330,000 250,000 4,913,823

of Shares (N) 373,556.44 1,564,320.00 500.00 1,007,739.67 1,500.00 10,859,533.89 1,868,658.25 5,000.00 8,333.00 165,000.00 140,000.00 2,456,911.50

Company Name BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 1 31 18 39 21 127 3 242

Quotation(N) 0.50 63.86 35.00 3.29 15.10 141.00 25.99 200.00

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,000 500.00 50 3,192.50 52,683 1,790,070.50 620,540 2,041,614.80 247,996 3,806,492.71 17,338 2,439,390.79 836,177 21,695,053.54 370 72,150.00 1,776,154 31,848,464.84

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name ACADEMY PRESS PLC. UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 14 15

Quotation(N) 2.24 3.70

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 7,252 15,591.80 313,384 1,117,645.52 320,636 1,133,237.32

Quotation(N) 12.30

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 124,297 1,562,109.66 124,297 1,562,109.66

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 10 10

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 200,000 100,000.00 200,000 100,000.00

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 52 52

Quotation(N) 10.40

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 492,977 5,146,041.99 492,977 5,146,041.99

3,643

300,050,634

2,646,215,220.54

2011

55

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

MONEY LINK

MfBs mergers, acquisitions imminent, says NDIC

T

HE Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has said it is optimistic that there will be mergers and acquisitions in the microfinance banks’ (MfBs) subsector of the economy.

Also, the Corporation has advised operators to diligently work towards the implementation

By Collins Nweze

of the Revised Microfinance Policy and other reform initiatives designed by the regulators to strengthen their operations.

The Director, Special Insured Institutions Department, NDIC, Mr.B. D Umar, who spoke at the NDIC sponsored conference for journalists in Jigawa State, in a

jurisdictions, like Germany where no Cooperative Bank (equivalent of an MfB) has failed in the past 50 years). We were able to establish, that so far, MFBs in Nigeria have generally performed suboptimally even if they are assailed by some operational challenges.

He said, both the NDIC and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are giving the reforms of the sub sector a priority to reposition it for enhanced service delivery.

“One of the reform initiatives, is the recent revocation of the operating licences of some MFBs. The recent comprehensive review of the Microfinance Policy which led to approval of the apex bank of a Revised Microfinance Policy is yet another major reform initiative,” he said.

paper titled: ‘The Impact of Microfinance Sub-sector in Promoting Financial Inclusion in Nigeria,’ harped on the need for a ‘differential premium assessment system (DPAS) in the sub-sector.

He said mergers and acquisitions, as opposed to outright liquidation, should be encouraged in the subsector as obtains in other

e-payment of salaries, supplies begin Jan. payment by the government and parastatal must be by electronic.

Obaigbona, who was also the chairman of the programme, said the objective of National Payment System Vision 2020, is to develop a payment system that is nationally utilised and internationally recognised.

He stressed, in as much as other stakeholders are in support of the initiative, the CBN, has the responsibility to approve license and create awareness on e-payment system.

He said the system will reduce corruption in banks and public sec-

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria has concluded the initiative to implementation of the Electronic payment of government suppliers, all forms of taxes, salaries and pension in Nigeria by January 2, 2012.

Speaking in a one day Public Sector Stakeholders’ forum enlightenment programme on the e-payment initiative, in Port Harcourt yesterday, Head of Domestic Payment CBN, Mr. Emmanuel Obaigbona, stated that the initiative stemmed from the Presidential directive in 2009, that from January 2012, all

tors and save them from exposing their money in cash to armed robbers.

Also speaking at the programme, Project Manager PVS2020, CBN, Mr. Sam Okojere, said, the apex bank has 11 working groups on the e-peyment system, adding that the team will start with sectors and people who have over 50 employees.

Okorojere, stressed that Central Bank is not providing a strict standard but will give the standard which in collaboration with other groups have put together.

Otudeko advocates one-director, HE Chairman of Honeywell one-firm policy Group, Dr Oba Otudeko, said

T

it is no longer fashionable for a director to sit on the boards of many companies at the same time, stating that it would not give room for maximum and efficient performance.

Otudeko, who spoke yesterday at the maiden lecture of the Akintola Williams Distinguished Lecture Series, on the topic: “Leadership, Values and Strategies for Sustainable Corporate Governance and Society,” said if corporate organisations must realise their set objectives, the performance of the board is important.

He said: “Those who go to war must know the art of war, business is like war which deserves better strategies and the best formula is to attack. The board should work on these strategies by providing the supervisory role and setting the main objectives of the organisation

Enterprise Bank to reward customers in promo

I

designed in such a way that it accommodates customers with different levels of income and saving plans. The first category caters for customers who can maintain an average balance N20, 000 or more for a period of 30 days, starting December.

“The second is for customers with average balance of N50, 000 or more for a period of 90 days, while the last category takes care of customers with average balance of N100.000 or more for a period of 90 days as well. All qualifying balances must be new deposits made within the promo period.

The first category of customers, it

N a promo starting today and running for the next three months, two lucky customers of Enterprise Bank that participate in the bank’s latest promo tagged, ‘Beta Life Reloaded,’ will have the opportunity of visiting Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the bill of the bank.

In addition to the two return tickets, customers could win microwave ovens, generating sets, television sets, deepfreezers and DVD players during the period of the promotion, which would in February, 2012.

In a statement yesterday, the bank said: “Beta Life Reloaded is

said, will win generating sets, microwave ovens and DVD players, while the second category of customers will go home with Deep freezers, Flat screen television sets while for the last category, and two customers will win return tickets to Dubai.

For effective coverage and to give all customers and intending customers of the bank equal opportunity wherever they may be in the country, Enterprise Bank divided the country into 12 regions but the draw events will be hosted at 20 locations of the bank nationwide while the grand finale will take place at the head office of the bank in Lagos.

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

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Amount

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 30-11-11 SYMBOL NCR ETRANZACT PRESCO IBTC UNITYBANK WEMABANK LAWUNION ACCESS UBA FLOURMILL

O/PRICE 8.87 4.97 7.41 7.71 0.53 0.53 0.54 4.66 2.49 62.50

C/PRICE 9.31 5.21 7.74 8.03 0.55 0.55 0.56 4.80 2.55 64.00

CHANGE 0.44 0.24 0.33 0.32 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.14 0.06 1.50

LOSER AS AT 30-11-11 SYMBOL GLAXOSMITH RTBRISCOE FCMB NASCON NEIMETH ETERNAOIL STERLNBANK ETI FIDSON PZ

O/PRICE 25.50 1.21 4.38 4.20 1.30 3.44 1.19 10.82 1.18 30.00

C/PRICE 24.23 1.15 4.17 4.00 1.24 3.29 1.14 10.40 1.14 29.00

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

with the sole aim of getting results.”

Otudeko maintained that in today’s business climate, the leadership style is very important because, it must inspire and there must be the shared vision. This has become the defined aimed of corporate governance through which the objectives of companies are set and the enforcement mechanism provided.

He equally emphasised the need to look into the disproportionate representation of women in the boards of companies, saying it is appalling to note that despite the accomplishment of women in the society, it has not been matched by their membership of board in organisations.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

By Musa Odoshimokhe

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

He pointed out that the uneven distribution of MfBs in the country is capable of limiting access of a vast majority of the economically active poor to credit.

“Another challenge of the subsector is lack of relevant skills.

Microfinance banking is different from conventional banking.

Microfinance banking involves the provision of financial services to the lower segment of the market and requires specialised skills which are presently lacking in the industry,” he added.

He said many operators, with community banking backgrounds still run their businesses as if they were community banks, while quite a number of them also see themselves as competitors to commercial banks.

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 26-08-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N)

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

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% 9.4%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 118.85 98.43 0.76 1.04 0.88 1,642.73 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,351.90 193.00

9.08 1.00 118.69 97.65 0.73 1.04 0.87 1,635.25 7.84 1.33 1.80 7,149.37 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED

CHANGE 1.27 0.06 0.21 0.20 0.06 0.15 0.05 0.42 0.04 1.00

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 24 Aug, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 26, Aug, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

57

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

58

NEWS

Obi backs fuel subsidy removal

G

OVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has described the proposed fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government as a wise decision.

The governor said the removal of fuel subsidy would revive the economy and create jobs for the youths.

Obi spoke to reporters in Onitsha during the official flag-off of the erosion control programme in the Southeast.

The honorary Presidential Adviser on Economic Matters, argued that criticism against subsidy removal was fuelled by the opposition.

Obi stated that only a tiny clique benefits from the billions of naira expended annually by the Federal Government on subsidising fuel, adding that the economy suffers greatly as a result of the poli-

From Adimike George, Onitsha

cy.

Obi said once the right policies are put in place, the economy would bounce back and Nigerians would be better for it.

“The issue of subsidy removal is a wise decision by the President, aimed at reviving the economy and when it is finally executed, it will bring about a visible turn around in the economy and this will be positively felt in the areas of job creation for the country’s unemployed population, “ he said.

Minister of Environment, Hadiza Ibrahim Mai Lafia, noted that the money the government spends on fuel subsidy annually is several times more than what is spent on capital, citing it as part of the

•Obi

reason for infrastructure challenges in the country.

The Minister appealed to Nigerians to show understanding on the issue.

“Mr. President means well in the proposal for subsidy removal, it is unfortunate that some Nigerians are turning it into a political issue for selfish reasons. But a thorough investigation into the issue will reveal that just a few people are reaping from the billions expended on fuel subsidy and they are the ones instigating the opposition against the proposal,” she said.

1/2 Page Ad

•The timber market

Fire guts Enugu timber market

F

IRE yesterday gutted the Enugu Timber Market, destroying more than 100 shops and property worth about N300 million.

Wood working machines, giant generators, doors and timbers were among items destroyed by the fire.

The cause of the inferno, which started at about 1.30 am, is not yet known.

But some of the traders describe the fire as mysterious.

“Each time this fire occurs, some people will become rich overnight, they use this fire which occurs every year in this market to make more money,” one of the traders said.

According to an eye witness, the swift intervention of men of the Enugu State Fire Service prevented the fire from consuming the entire

From Chris Oji, Enugu

market.

It was gathered that more fire fighting vehicles were deployed to the only fire engine stationed at the market by the government.

One of the traders, Onyebuchi Obiorah, said the fire “destroyed property worth over N300 million”.

“I saw the fire while it was still on, but I must commend the fire fighting men from the Enugu State Fire Service for their prompt intervention.

“The fire would have spread to other lines if they did not respond promptly. I suspect it is man- made, although many people are saying that some people evoke the fire. I,m calling on the government to fence the mar-

Judge, others for induction

J

USTICE Aloma Mukthar of the Supreme Court and other distinguished personalities will attend this year’s Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) induction of new members next Saturday in Lagos.

The event will witness the launch of the group’s website and the graduation of its second stream of successful individuals in its mentorship programme.

Also expected at the event are the Chief Responsibility Officer, Restral Limited, Mrs. Uwa-Osa Oboh and Managing Director, Ruff and Tumble, Mrs. Nike Ogunlesi.

ket and give us more security.”, Onyebuchi, who is also a student of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology(ESUT), said.

A senior official of the State Fire Service, Joseph Nnaji, said security personnel at the market should be trained on emergency fire fighting methods.

Chairman of Enugu Timber Market Union, Chief Chukwuonu Godwin Arinze, confirmed the incident.

Arinze regretted that the fire occurred on the day ofthe union,s election, adding that they had reported the incident to Uwani Police Station, Enugu.

He called on the National Emergency Management Agency and Governor Sullivan Chime to assist the victims.

Church to build sanctuary

O

NE of the oldest churches in Lagos, First Baptist Church, Ikeja, will lay the foundation for the building of a multi-purpose auditorium which is expected to cost N750 million.

According to the church’s senior pastor, Rev. Kayode Opadeji, the event billed for the curch premises at 1, Church Street, Ikeja, would hold after the monthly early morning prayer sacrifice programme.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1 2011

59

NEWS Residents protest demolished OME residents of buildings Utagban Community,

S

•Wife of Osun State Governor Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola presenting writing materials to Tiamiyu Sukurat of Local Authority Primary School, Ikirun. With them are Deputy Governor Mrs Grace Laoye-Tomori (second left) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Olubunmi Opakunle

Egor Local Government of Edo State have protested the demolition of their buildings.

The protesters, who marched on the Government House yesterday, carried placards with inscirptions such as: ‘We are now homeless’; ‘We need justice’ ;‘We want to know why our houses were destroyed illegally’ ;‘Over a month now, House of Assembly has failed to give us reply’; and ‘Government what did we do to deserve this?’

Their spokesperson, Mrs. Stella Idemudia, said they were surprised that their houses were demolished, despite approval by the State Property Development Agency.

Mrs. Idemudia said over 50 houses were demolished by a field worker from the Ministry of Land, Housing and Survey under Calistus Ojeabu.

She said they acquired the land from community heads

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

who assured them that they secured approval from the Lucky Igbinedion administration signed by Mr. Amowie, the then Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Mrs. Idemudia said they have written to the House of Assembly and the Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa to prevail on the government to compensate them.

Commissioner for Land Anslem Ojezua said the land belonged to Ogba Zoo. “The state has a mandate to protect the zoo under the National monument Act. “The gazette they are parading was limited to 80 hectares.

“The survey plan they have covered 300 hectares. If they limit themselves to 80 hectares, they will not encroach on government land,” he said.

‘Probe Delta politician’s death’ From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

PDP aspirant urges court to stop Bayelsa primary T HE controvesy trailing the November 19 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary in Bayelsa State is not over.

An aspirant, Christopher Enai, has gone to court to stop the ‘controversial’ election.

Enai listed PDP, the winner of the election, Seriake Dickson, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as respondents.

He urged the court to declare the election null and void, noting that it was held against the provision of the Electoral Act (2010).

The aspirant also urged the court to restrain Dickson from parading himself as the PDP candidate.

Enai prayed the court to restrain INEC from accept-

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

ing, processing and recognising Dickson as PDP’s flagbearer.

He asked the court to make an order, “restraining the first respondent (PDP), its servants, agents or representatives from submitting the name of the second respondent (Dickson) to the third respondent (INEC) as the governorship candidate.”

Enai filed the application on the grounds that as a member of the party he completed and returned all necessary forms and paid all relevant fees qualifying him to participate in the election.

But he said: “Contrary to

‘Contrary to the Electoral Guidelines of the PDP, the PDP failed to follow its own guidelines for the purpose of conducting primary election’ the Electoral Guidelines of the PDP, the PDP failed to follow its own guidelines for the purpose of conducting primary election, which includes election of three ward delegates from each

ward for participation at the election.”

The aspirant further included affidavit of urgency in his suit, urging the court to give the matter accelerated hearing.

“The list of candidates sponsored by any party for the governorship election must be submitted to INEC not later than 60 days before the date of election.

“In the case of Bayelsa State election for February, the 60 days terminates on or about December 9. This is a matter of real urgency,” Enai said.

Enai and two aspirants, Austine Febo and Boloubo Orufa walked out of the primary, protesting some irregularities observed in the process.

Edo is not broke, says Oshiomhole

E

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has disagreed with a Senate Committee report listing the state as one of those in “critical” financial conditions.

He spoke when the state executives of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, led by their Chairman, Osamuyi Faluyi, visited him in Benin.

Oshiomhole said: “When they reported recently that many states are insolvent, they put Edo State. They are wrong.

“We are very solvent now, compared to many of our neighbours.”

The governor said the state’s strong financial position is due to the government’s prudent management of accruing resources.

“We manage our resources so judiciously that we are not in arrears of salary; we are not in arrears of payment of contractors.

“No contractor has abandoned site. Now the dry season is here, we have given new jobs out.

“For us, those are the real campaign issues that Edo is working again.

•Governor refutes PDP aspirant’s claim “Tomorrow, we are going to Igbanke to flag off some township roads. On Monday, we are going to Uhunmwode to flag off construction of the road that will connect several communities,” he said.

The Senate had in October given a rating of states listing Edo, Ekiti, Plateau, Benue, Borno, Adamawa,

Cross River, Enugu, Taraba, Ogun, Kogi, Yobe, Ebonyi, Ondo and Kaduna as economies in “critical” condition.

Oshiomhole dismissed allegations that contractors handling road projects have abandoned them.

An aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Maj-Gen Charles

Airhiavbere had alleged that roads in the state were not completed because Oshiomhole was saving money to woo voters for next year’s election.

Gen Airhiavbere urged Oshiomhole to tell the people how many roads had been abandoned or poorly executed as well as stating how much the state has received from the federation accounts.

Oboh: NDDC board’ll perform

M

ANAGING Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Dr. Christian Oboh has assured that the board would implement the Niger Delta regional development master-plan.

He spoke yesterday at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He said the dream and vision of the new board revolves around the masterplan.

Oboh said: “I can tell you that our focus will be

mainly on what is on ground in the Niger Delta, which is the Niger Delta Regional development master plan.

“We will try to align our dream and vision to that plan.

“We have a good team, my chairman and all the board members have been engaging ourselves.

“With the spirit with which we have started, I don’t think we will have any problem.

“We have started well.

What I know, my chairman knows and every board member knows.”

• Oboh at the airport... yesterday

HE Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in Delta State yesterday urged the Federal Government to probe the death of former governorship candidate of the Citizen Popular Party (CPP), Ogbe Onokpite.

Onokpite was allegedly murdered in a hotel in Udu Local Government by the police, who claimed Onokpite was involved in gunrunning.

T

LOSS OF DOCUMENT Federal Government Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) No. 20/20/58 in respect of Plot 04 Block III at Federal Government Layout Ipaja, Abesan, Alimosho, Lagos State belonging to Mr. Paul Olorunsogo Ajetunmobi of 35, Akinwunmi Street, Alagomeji-Yaba, Lagos.

Dated the 17th May, 2000 is missing, if found please contact the above person.

Uduaghan makes case of local refineries Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has advocated the use of local technology in the Niger Delta to curb illegal bunkering.

Uduaghan said this when the National Executive members of Petroleum and NaturalGas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) visited him in Asaba.

He stated local technology can be improved upon and used in setting up small refineries.

He explained that the youths involved in bunkering should be empowered to help increase fuel supply in the country.

“It is possible we look at this illegal refinery and bunkering in the Niger Delta.

“We should assist the youths involved in the use of local technology in refining fuel and legalise it. This will help reduce illegal refinery and bunkering in the region and increase fuel supply in the country.”

Uduaghan expressed his desire to see that the Petroleum Industry Bill(PIB) was passed by the National Assembly.

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FOREIGN NEWS

Ivory Coast’s Gbagbo faces murder, rape charges

F

ORMER Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo is facing four charges of crimes against humanity, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has said.

He is accused of being an “indirect co-perpetrator” of murder, rape, persecution and other inhuman acts.

Mr Gbagbo, 66, was placed in detention in The Hague early yesterday after being flown from Ivory Coast.

He is the first former head of state to be detained to face trial in The Hague by the ICC since its founding in 2002.

Human rights groups have welcomed his arrest, but also cautioned against “victor’s justice”.

There is a palpable sense of shock on the streets of Ivory Coast’s main city, Abidjan, following the transfer of ousted President Laurent Gbagbo to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity.

True, President Alassane Ouattara had been firm since he took power in April that Mr Gbagbo would face justice at The Hague, and those close to him worked hard to make

UK to expel Iranian diplomats over embassy attack

T

HE United Kingdom is to expel all Iranian diplomats following the storming of its embassy in Tehran, Foreign Secretary William Hague has announced.

He said he had ordered the immediate closure of the Iranian embassy in London.

Tuesday’s attack by hundreds of protesters followed Britain’s decision to impose further sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.

The sanctions led to Iran’s parliament reducing diplomatic ties with the UK. Mr Hague said he was demanding the immediate closure of the Iranian embassy in London, with all its staff to leave the UK within 48 hours.

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“If any country makes it impossible for us to operate on their soil they cannot expect to have a functioning embassy here,” Mr Hague told MPs. He said there had been “some degree of regime consent” in the attacks on the embassy and on another UK diplomatic compound in Tehran.

He said all UK diplomatic staff in Tehran had been evacuated and the embassy closed.

Mr Hague said relations between the UK and Iran were now at their lowest level, but the UK was not severing relations with Tehran entirely.

William Hague’s statement in the House of Commons contained some of the strongest possible diplomatic language.

sure the transfer happened before the 11 December legislative elections.

But there was always a hope among Gbagbo supporters that things would eventually be settled through some sort of deal that would set judicial questions aside in a bid for reconciliation.

“Adieu reconciliation” reads the front page of Notre Voie, the official newspaper of Mr Gbagbo’s Ivorian Popular Front party, which printed a black front cover yesterday morning.

Public sector strike grounds UK

T

ENS of thousands of people have joined rallies around the UK as a public sector strike over pensions disrupted schools, hospitals and other services.

About two thirds of state schools shut, and thousands of hospital operations were postponed, as unions estimated up to two million people went on strike.

The Trade Union Congress called it “the biggest strike in a generation”. The prime minister described it as “a damp squib”.

Unions oppose plans to make members pay more and work longer to earn pensions.

In Scotland just 33 of the 2,700 state schools were open, according to local authority body Cosla.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

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TOMORROW

www.thenationonlineng.net

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 7, NO. 1,961

‘‘It is no surprise however that the Nigerian working class has persistently proved a dismal failure. And the reasons are hardly far-fetched: Nigerians have a problem with differentiating between appropriate and inappropriate political behaviour’

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

H

OW I dread Sundays. I once wrote on this page how trepidatious Sundays have become for me. Not because I have to drive about two hours away from home to worship or because I shun the revelries of Saturday, reverse some sleep deficit and remain sober for work on Sunday.

No. Sundays have somehow snatched away preeminence from the other days in some respects. For the businessman, Monday is no day for jokes. But for a reporter, Sundays are always days to watch out for. The big stories break on Sundays. Dele Giwa, the journalist, made history as the first Nigerian to be blown up by parcel bomb on Sunday, October 19, 1986. À Bellview plane carrying 117 people was discovered to have crashed in Lisa, Ogun State on October 22, 2005, a Sunday. Former First Lady Stella Obasanjo died on that day in a Spanish hospital. The ADC crash of October 27, 2007 remains a tragedy of gargantuan proportion. That day was a Sunday.

But, nothing prepared me for the shocker of the death on Sunday, November 20 at 66 of The Guardian publisher Mr Alex Uruemu Ibru. For me, it was not just that a story had broken; I was affected. I cut my teeth in this trade at the newspaper in 1985. I spent about 13 exciting years at Rutam House, which I left in 1999.

So much has been said about Mr Ibru by many who are more qualified than me to comment on the passage of this business giant. They have spoken about his humility, his business astuteness, his geniality, suavity and, of course, his philanthropy.

My days at Rutam House remain as memorable as ever. I remember Mr Ibru as just the guy next door, simple and smooth.

No airs. But for his all-white dress, one would have mistaken him for any of those guys earning a living at the newspaper. If he mounted pressure on the managers, it never showed on their faces. We all seemed pleased with the environment.

The Guardian had its moments of trials and triumphs. Nduka Irabor and Tunde Thompson went to jail. The premises was shut down, at least, twice and once set on fire in the terrible days of the Abacha madness when the dark goggled General was like a moving train on whose path no one dared stay. When Abacha proscribed the newspaper, Mr Ibru led a mission to Abuja- many said it was to beg the General; others said ‘no he was invited’- and thus raised a big question mark on the paper’s democratic credential.

Till date, the debate – whether the businessman in Mr Ibru shouldn’t have thrust itself forward to, as many claimed, appease Abacha or allowed the paper’s fate remain a testimony to that era’s wickedness – still rages.

It is not, however, clear whether that incident, which many saw as a turning point in the newspaper’s life, ignited the strikes and unrest that later became common at

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

Two deaths and other stories

‘

How sincere is the hysteria over Ojukwu? Are the condolences really genuine? Didn't some of those singing his praise call him a rebel leader, even until he died? How many forgave him for whatever wrong they thought he had done?

•The late Ibru

•The late Ojukwu

Rutam House. A former senior manager once told me of an encounter with Mr Ibru. The government had just proclaimed a new minimum wage. He, the manager, then met the publisher to suggest a pay rise to prevent workers from pushing for better remunerations. Mr Ibru, he said, told him that his dream was to have a small paper and that if workers continued to agitate, he would not hesitate to return to that dream. That was the end of the matter.

The union grumbled that the mountain of awards the newspaper won was not commensurate with their rewards. The management pleaded for understanding.

There were strikes and many were fired for their roles.

Today, The Guardian remains a veritable symbol of God’s love and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of tribulations.

We are all proud of the paper, even as one fantasises about the return of those exhilarating old days.

We were still mourning Ibru when death stole its way into a London home to get Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu. The Eze Igbo Gburugburu and Ikemba Nnewi

RIPPLES A MAN MUST BE RICH TO HAVE ME – Nollywood Actress

wanted...an ARMED ROBBER HUSBAND!

’

was 78. The encomiums have been torrential.

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has led the Igbo to demand a state funeral for the former Biafran leader. Besides, elders have sought a posthumous honour for Ojukwu, the son of a wealthy man who, after choosing the army rather than tending the family business, stood up for his people in their hour of need. He led them to a devastating war.

The hangover remains as tormenting as it was in the immediate aftermath of the misadventure. That war for the liberation of the Igbo and restoration of their dignity, many have noted, has been turned into a macabre drama of street variety involving the planting of flags and chanting of songs by the seemingly confused group of youths that goes by the name MASSOB. On the day of Ojukwu’s funeral, it has been decreed by MASSOB, no market will open (the effect of this will surely be felt beyond the Southeast, I bet) and everyone must stay indoors. These are, besides a seven-day mourning and prayers already declared. If Ndigbo stay indoors, who will be at the funeral?

How sincere is the hysteria over Ojukwu?

HARDBALL

I

T was a déjà vu, the sort we forbid in this democracy, but one we are continually witnessing under the watch of President Goodluck Jonathan. This pertains to the arrests and detentions of about 70 persons travelling from the president’s home state of Bayelsa to Abuja.

They were presumably Governor Timipre Sylva’s loyalists, who, according to the state chief executive’s spokesman, Ola Doifie, were headed to the nation’s capital to express solidarity and support for the Governor in the Supreme Court where arguments were expected to whirl over the issue of tenure definition.

This happened not quite long ago when the staff of Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, headed to Abuja, also through Lokoja, to show support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was being tried over operating an account while in office. They were travelling inside the bus bearing the insignia of the state governor. Yet the persons were arrested and detained. Just as it happened with the Bayelsa folks, the persons were not found culpable of any crime or infraction.

The purpose of the arrests and detentions in

IN THE NATION

First Osun, now Bayelsa… both instances was to prevent the travellers from arriving at their destinations and from showing their support to their personage of desire.

In the case of the Bayelsa arrest, local government party chairmen were involved, including the following councils: Ekeremor, Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, Kolokuma/Opokuma and Sagbama.

Obviously as in the Osun incident, the Bayelsa impunity was in obedience to an alert from Abuja to the Police Command in the state. This shows clearly that the arrests and detentions were political. After the arrests and detentions, the people were led to the gates of the state and returned to their home states.

Nothing incriminating was found in their possession. No arms, no subversive literature, no attitude of defiance. They were just shown the way back after their travels were termi-

OLATUNJI OLOLADE

Are the condolences really genuine? Didn’t some of those singing his praise call him a rebel leader, even until he died? How many forgave him for whatever wrong they thought he had done? Is it all in the spirit of not speaking ill of the dead?

If the Ikemba was really loved as affectionately as we are being made to believe, why did he not win a senatorial election which he contested? Did the man need to show up in tears at Peter Obi’s rally to make a “last” request – votes for the governor?

But the deaths were not the only events that shook the land last week. After many months of dithering and threatening, President Jonathan eventually proclaimed that his transformation agenda had begun.

He fired Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chair Farida Waziri.

No perspicuous reason was given for the presidential action, which a report said was decided at a midnight meeting at the Villa.

Some of the reasons are as puerile as those kindergarten tales. Others are as foolish as their purveyors. Someday, the real reasons Mrs Waziri had to go will be known and the world will see the true faces of corruption.

May that day come soon.

Security agents paraded a young man who was said to have confessed to being the voice of the dreaded Islamic group, Boko Haram.

Ali Umar Konduga, alias Usman AlZahawiri, is said to have named Senator Ali Ndume (Borno) as the sect’s financier. The Senator has denied this. It is too early to determine who is speaking the truth. Only last Friday, the Suleja bombing suspects told a court that they did not author the confession the State Security Services(SSS) tendered in court.. Meanwhile, the sect continues its killing streak. We seem to be still far from uncovering the root of Boko Haram, which has placed Nigeria on the global terrorism map. By the way, where is the former governor who is said to have been named by Konduga as the sect’s godfather? Too big for questioning?

After a brief lull, the bloodletting in Plateau State returned. In Barkin Ladi, no fewer than 20 persons were killed, 16 of them from the family of Pam Choji Pam, the councillor representing Takwok Council. The killings were said to have been carried out to avenge the Sunday attack on Razaq village in which seven people were killed. Does life still have any value here?

In Abuja meanwhile, politics remains the game. The President removed any doubt that he was part of the Bayelsa Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis, telling party chiefs not to be intimidated. The party had been under pressure after it shut the door against Governor Timipre Sylva at the primary.

Now the question: when will governance begin?

•For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above nated.

This is not what democracy is about. President Jonathan promised to abide by the rule of law and the high ideals of democracy when he campaigned to be president. What happened was a defiance of those principles. The travellers were denied two cardinal rights: freedom of movement and freedom of association.

Jonathan became president because he enjoyed these gifts. He has denied his fellow citizens same.

The Bayelsa instance cannot be separated from the political contest going on in the president’s home state where he has obviously pitched his tent with the governor’s opponent.

On his birthday he congratulated the PDP national chairman, Kawu Baraje, over the governorship screening and primary even though they obviously did not pass the test of integrity and due process.

In the so-called primary, soldiers, the air force and navy were deployed to stage-manage and bully the process so that a certain candidate could emerge. The arrests and detentions in Lokoja were a continuation of that script. It is lamentable indeed.

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