The Nation September 27, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Cynthia: Three more suspects in court

Gunmen shoot students on campus NEWS

Page 2

NEWS

Page 9

•Pistol seized as hoodlum is lynched

•Family plans burial for Oct. 5

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VOL. 7, NO. 2261 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

ONDO 2012

N150.00

•PDP to Mimiko: give account of N38b •AND •Why I left govt, by ex-commissioner MORE ON •Akeredolu sues govt newspaper

PAGES 4&5

Senate to Jonathan: appeal Bakassi judgment

S

ENATORS insisted yesterday that Nigeria must appeal the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that gave Bakassi to Cameroon.

The Senate, in a widely supported motion, resolved that the Federal Government should appeal the controversial judgment before the expiration of the stipulated 10-year

•Senator Mark

From Onyedi Ojiabor, and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

period.

The ICJ judgment that ceded oil-rich Bakassi to Cameroon was delivered on October 10, 2002.

The House of Representatives has also asked the Federal Government to contest the judgment.

The Senate decided to “urge

the Federal Government to invoke Article 61 of the ICJ Statute to appeal the said judgment, in the interest of Nigerians in the affected areas, including Bakassi.”

Senate President David Mark plans to write a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan to accompany the resolution, in view of the urgency of the matter.

Mark said his personal letter would underscore the resolve of the Senate that Bakassi should not be handed over without appeal.

He said: “Apart from the resolution, I will personally write a letter to emphasise the urgency in this, in spite of the stand that they have taken at the moment.

“I think it is something

worth pursuing because we lose nothing, if we pursue it.

We lose everything, if we don’t pursue it. So, the route and alternative to take is very obvious.

“Time is not on our side.

Whatever decisions and resolutions we want to make must be such that with the limited time those resoluContinued on page 2

Anxiety as Saudi rejects 1,500 Nigerian pilgrims 13 Oyo women among 159 brought back VP Sambo intervenes

A

DIPLOMATIC row is likely between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia over the rejection of some Nigerian women pilgrims.

Yesterday, 159 would-be pilgrims from Katsina, Taraba and Oyo states were returned to Nigeria from Medina — Saudi Arabia’s second holiest city.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja and Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

The National Hajj Commission (NAHCOM) has suspended the airlift of Nigerians for 48 hours, following the incident.

The pilgrims were returned to the country because the Saudi authorities barred them from the pilgrimage.

Pilgrimage to the Holy land

Lagos-Osogbo-Abuja fast rail study okayed •Govt approves N1.3b for consultants From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

T

HE desire to have an improved transportation system received a boost yesterday as the Federal Government approved N1.334billion for new standard gauge railway lines.

The contract is for consultancy services for feasibility studies of five Fast Train Lines across the country.

The Fast Train Lines are for Lagos-Osogbo-Abuja (615km), which could be covered within three hours with five stops; Lagos- Shagamu- Benin (300km); AjaokutaObajana-Abuja (533km); Zaria-Sokoto- Illela (520km) and Benin-Onitsha- Aba (500km).

The approval was granted at yesterday’s weekly Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

President Goodluck Jonathan is away in New York for the 67th United Nations General Assembly.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku spoke to re-

is the fifth pillar of Islam.

A Muslim must undertake the journey, at least once - if he is financially capable of doing so.

The Senate and the House of Representatives have urged the President to intervene in the matter.

Those returned are not part of the 1,000 Nigerian pilgrims, mostly women, already

stranded in Jeddah.

They were refused entry because they were not accompanied by their husbands or family guides.

They were among the 500 would-be pilgrims airlifted by three airlines but who were prevented from entering.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo has intervened in the brewing diplomatic row.

NAHCON Head of Media Mana Uba said last night that the suspension of flights became necessary to allow the Federal Government and Saudi Arabia resolve the impasse through the ongoing diplomatic consultations.

Uba said: “We are suspending flights to Saudi Arabia for the next 48 hours to enable the Federal Government consult

with the Saudi authorities.

“There will be no airlift of pilgrims. But we are positive that the discussion will be far-reaching.”

Uba also confirmed that 159 pilgrims had been brought back to Nigeria after the Saudi authorities refused them entry for not having Muharrams (male Continued on page 2

•President Goodluck Jonathan addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York City ...on Tuesday.

Story on Page 11 PHOTO: AFP

Continued on page 2

•SPORT P23 •EDUCATION P25 •POLITICS P43 •N/HEALTH P45 •E/BUSINESS P53

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

NEWS Govt awards N1.3b Lagos-OsogboAbuja fast rail contract Continued from page 1

•From left: Oba Akiolu, Senator Tinubu and Mrs. Fashola...yesterday

Senator Tinubu advises electorate on 2015

S

ENATOR Oluremi Tinubu has advised the electorate to vote in only progressive-minded leaders in 2015.

Speaking at the fourth Senatorial District Town Hall Meeting held yesterday at Surulere, Lagos, the senator said it had become imperative to vote the progressives into government because the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lacks focus.

She said: “Look at this government; does it have a functional refinery? The refineries we have are not working at full capacity, most of them are run down and we can even see that all the power stations have been privatised and some entities that can not deliver have been concessioned.

“Look at oil producing nations

By Musa Odoshimokhe and Jeremiah Oke

around the world. I don’t see, Arab nations importing fuel.

What I have noticed is that a lot of people are making money from this oil importation.

“The point is that the government we have today is just not working. With what the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)-led states are doing, they are capable of taking the mantle of leadership in the country.

“And we pray that by the grace of God when we win in Ondo State and then they stand as a region, then our region will send the signal to the rest of Nigeria.

We don’t have a government at all; we can even see from the ongoing power privatisation, that

the sector is being given to some people that can’t even do anything.

“Look at the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and other abandoned projects. This is the time our votes will determine whether we will keep suffering or we are going to be liberated. And by the special grace of God by 2015 things will change for this country.”

Senator Tinubu said the country was grappling with worsening crime rate, insecurity, unemployment and other indices of underdevelopment.

On her achievements, she said: “My membership of the Senate Education Committee has facilitated the release of N160 million from the Technical Education Trust Fund for the development

of our technical college at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education.”

She described the ocean surge in Lagos as a global problem.

“The Atlantic City has nothing to do with the ocean surge because before they started the construction of the Atlantic City, the ocean had often surged to parts of Victoria Island. We should cooperate with the government in order to achieve a Lagos of our dream.”

Present at the event were Lagos monarch Oba Rilwan Akiolu, wife of Lagos State Governor Abimbola Fashola, Commissioner for Home Affairs Oyinlomo Danmole, Senator Muniru Muse, Alhaja Abba Folawiyo, Alhaji Mutiu Are, council chairmen and other party chieftains.

Anxiety as Saudi rejects 1,500 Nigerian pilgrims Continued from page 1

guardians).

He gave the breakdown of the pilgrims as follows: Katsina (84); Taraba (62); and Oyo (13).

He said: “These pilgrims arrived in Medina on Wednesday but they were disallowed from entering the city because of the same factor of Muharrams (male guardians).

“In order not to leave them stranded at the airport, we decided to bring the pilgrims back to Nigeria pending the time we will resolve the issue.”

A government source said: “The Vice-President is already leading talks with Saudi government in Riyadh and through the Embassy in Nigeria.

“We hope that in the next

48 to 72 hours, the two countries will reach amicable resolution on the areas of disagreement.”

The source added: “The Federal Government is seeking a waiver, although the Saudi authorities appear not ready to bend their regulations.

“But in diplomacy, nothing is impossible. We are optimistic that this matter is resolvable.”

The NAHCON spokesman explained that the women were not deported.

He said if they were deported, their passports would have been stamped and they will not be able to return to Saudi Arabia in the next five years.

He could not, however, ascertain if the returnees would still be able to observe the pilgrimage before the end of the operations.

He said: “They were not deported. What happened was that we had an experience in one of our destinations in Saudi Arabia; Medina. For your information, we also land in Jeddah. Our pilgrims arrived there and until this morning (yesterday), they were never detained.

None of them was detained in Medina.

“What happened was that Medina is a very small airport just like our local airport here without enough facilities. So when they got there, NAHCON decided not to leave anybody there because they could not be cleared by the airport authorities and we decided to return them to the country and they were brought with the same aircraft that took them to the country.

“The reason is that if they were to be deported, they en-

ter Saudi Arabia in the next five years. So, the commission knowing well that there was inadequate facilities, decided to bring them back, pending when the issue would be resolved between the two countries.

“Yes, they are all women.

The reason is because they didn’t have a guide like a husband or a blood relation. So, if you are to travel for a pilgrimage like this, you need to go with a guardian and the Saudi authorities are saying these 159 pilgrims had no guides.

“They were from three different states with three different aircraft that took them there.

There were pilgrims from Oyo (13) taken there by Medview Airline about 62 from Taraba State taken by Max Air and another 84 from Katsina who also travelled on Max Air.

porters alongside minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar and minister of Works, Mike Onolememen at the end of the meeting.

Maku noted that the proposed New Standard Gauge Railway Lines will create jobs for 51 Nigerian professionals and 115 non-professionals.

The contract for the feasibility studies in favour of various consultants in the sum of N1,334,405,366.74, with completion period of seven months.

Explaining further, Senator Umar said some private investors have already signified interest in the projects as soon as feasibility studies are completed.

He also assured that the fast rail contract will not become white elephant project.

“The idea is to partner with the private sector to develop the high speed train lines. There is going to be an international advertisement for investors to show interest. There is no question of fear that it’s going to be a white elephant project”.

Also, Council approved contract, for the construction of Manyam-UshongoLessel-Kartyo-Oju-AgilaOngba, an inter-state road linking Benue State with its Southeastern state neighbours on the Enugu-Abakaliki road.

The proposed road contract is awarded in favour of Messrs Tilley Gyado & Co, in the sum of N1,035,824,120.10, with a completion period of 14 months. On completion, it will facilitate access to markets, hospitals, schools and generally restore agro economic and social activities within the host communities.

Also approved are three projects in two states .

tions can have effect and the effect that we want is that Bakassi should not be ceded to the Cameroon.

“If we don’t go to an appeal at all when we have signed and subjected ourselves to the International Court of Justice, I think that would be a grievous mistake because there is room for us to appeal.

“I think it is the belief of every Nigerian that we should not cede Bakassi; not the way it has happened. I think that is truly where the problem is.

There are a host of other things.

Letters written to the National Assembly are actually here and we, on our part, have not done anything.

“We neither rejected it nor said anything. We will revisit the letters and then while we are urging the Federal Government to appeal, on our part, we will revisit the letters and see what we can do. Maybe, quickly again come up with a debate on the letters and then reject it and forward it to them to buttress our point and whatever resolutions we arrive at today.

“Let me also say that this Senate will protect all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe and tongue.”

The motion entitled: “The judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the International Boundaries between Nigeria and Cameroon, including Bakassi: A call for Appeal” was moved by Sena-

tor Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central).

It was co-sponsored by 16 other Senators, including Helen Esuene, Ayogu Eze, Adamu Gumba, Atai Ali Idoko, Abu Ibrahim, Ita Enang, Aloysius Etuk, Smart Adeyemi, Philip Aduda, Hadi Sirika, Bassey Otu, Bello Gwarzo, Olubunmi Adetumbi, Emmanuel Bwacha and Sadiq Yar’Adua.

In his lead debate, Ningi urged the Senate to note that the dateline of the judgment of the ICJ on the International Boundaries between Nigeria and Cameroon, including Bakassi that cedes Bakassi Island from the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of Cameroon, would expire by October 9, 2012, and the terri-

tory would belong to Republic of Cameroon forever.

He noted that that the judgment was erroneously based on agreement between the British and Calabar chiefs in 1884.

He observed that there has never been a precedent in history where any part of a country was willingly ceded without a referendum as enshrined by the United Nations (UN).

Nnaji urged the Senate to be disturbed by the lack of faithful implementation of the “Green Tree Agreement” signed by both Cameroon and Nigeria, thereby violating the basis of the implementation of the court judgement.

He insisted that Articles 3(1) and 2(a) of the ‘Green Tree Agreement’ stipulate that “af-

•Maku

Gunmen shoot students in UNIJOS invasion

O

NE person was killed yesterday when two armed men attacked the permanent site of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) in Plateau State.

The armed men opened fire on students. Two girls - Uju Imo and Esther Ugwu - both 100 level students of the English Department, were injured, according to the News Agency of Ni-

Senate to Jonathan: appeal Bakassi’s judgment Continued from page 1

The projects, expected to create about 100 jobs are Kira-Dere-Mogho road in Rivers, land reclamation/ Shore protection at Ogbeinana town in Delta and Umuada Layout road in Asaba, in the sum of N6,844,935,130.82, with a completion period ranging between 19-104 weeks.

To boost the quality of education at the primary and Junior Secondary levels, Council approved contract for the printing and distribution of primaries three, four, five and six textbooks in English Language, Mathematics, Basic Science & Technology, Social Studies and Library Resources materials for JSS students in public schools nationwide.

The Minister of State for Education, Nyeson Wike, explained that the funding of the project will come from the 15% of the 2% Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), an intervention fund approved by Council in 2008.

The printing of the books is awarded in favour of Messrs Macmillan Publishers, HBN Publishers and Universal Press (UP), in the total sum of N6,976,725,939.00, with completion period of six weeks.

ter the transfer of the territory to Cameroon, the Cameroonian authorities should guarantee the Nigerian nationals living in the Bakassi Peninsula the exercise of their fundamental human rights and other relevant provisions of the international law”.

According to Nigeria new facts have emerged after the ruling that were not available before the first trial coupled with the absence of a Nigerian legal representation.

He stated that Article 16 of the statute of the International Court of Justice requires appeal, which includes, among others, “areas of errors or unknown facts from the judgement”.

Ningi said: “Bakassi should Continued on page 61

geria.

Plateau police spokesman Emmanuel Abuwho who confirmed the incident, said angry students pursued and killed one of the attackers. The other was injured.

The two injured students are receiving treatment at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital in Jos. “Following the intervention of the police, the injured attacker was rescued and taken to the hospital. The body of the other attacker has been taken to the mortuary,’’ he said.

The police officer said a pistol with three live cartridges was recovered from the survivor.

“But normalcy has returned to the university and the police have commenced full investigation into the matter,” Abuwho said.

ADVERT HOTLINES: 08023006969, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

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NEWS ONDO 2012

NEDG begins debate for candidates From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

AHEAD of the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State, the Nigerian Election Debate Group (NEDG) has begun debates for governorship candidates and their running mates.

The first lap of the debate, which featured the deputy governorship candidates of the parties on Tuesday, was held at the Adegbemile Cultural Centre, Akure, the state capital.

Three candidates – Rotimi Ikewumi, of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP); Clement Tolulope, of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN); Benedicta Ogbetor, of the National Conscience Party (NCP) – participated.

The candidates gave insight into the blueprint of their parties.

Ogbetor promised to improve the welfare of unemployed graduates and make a difference, as the only female running mate in the race.

She said NCP would provide an enabling environment for the people to live well.

Tolulope said he would generate income for the state through agricultural development and construction of a dam - to boost electricity - as well as create more local governments.

Ikewumi, who spoke in Yoruba, said ANPP already has procedures to bring a positive change to Ondo State.

He said the state must not be left in the hands of a few individuals who do not have the people at heart.

The politician urged the residents not to sell their voting rights to any politician.

The debate is powered by the NEDG in collaboration with the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Six other deputy governorship candidates will feature next in the debate.

Among them are those of the Action Congress of Nigeria AACN), Dr. Paul Akintelure; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Saka Lawal; and Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, of the ruling Labour Party (LP).

It will be coordinated by the former Managing Director of Voice of Nigeria (VON) and Chairman, DAAR Communication, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

PDP seeks Akoko votes From Damisi Ojo, Akure

A FORMER Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State, Dr Olaiya Oni, yesterday said Akoko residents would vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Chief Olusola Oke. The PDP chieftain said the party is genuinely committed to the Akoko agenda.

He said the party has the highest number of patriots from the three major parties who desire an economic transformation that will liberate the residents.

Oni spoke at a rally in Ikaramu-Akoko, Akoko North West Local Government Area.

Akeredolu to Mimiko: stop deceiving people with Oshiomhole’s name

T

HE Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) of the Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday criticised the ruling Labour Party (LP) and Governor Olusegun Mimiko for allegedly deceiving the people that he has been endorsed by Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

The organisation said this is among the latest antics of the LP administration and Mimiko to shore up their dwindling popularity ahead of the October 20 election.

Oshiomhole was Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President before he joined the ACN. He became governor four years ago. He got a resounding re-election last July.

ACO said Mimiko has been running a campaign jingle on an independent television station in Edo State, with the impression that Oshiomhole has endorsed his re-election bid.

The organisation said it has investigated the claim and found it to be false.

In a statement by its spokesman, Mr Idowu Ajanaku, ACO said: “Our findings, however, revealed that the comments packaged as a documentary, where the purported endorsements of Mimiko by Governor Oshiomhole were made, were actually the comments Oshiomhole made three and a half years ago at the inauguration of Governor Mimiko. It was attended by the leadership of ACN with the hope that Mimiko would run a purposeful and progressive government.

“The question the people of Ondo State should ask Mimiko is: what has he done in the last three and a half years to make Oshiomhole, who is eager to see the victory of ACN, to endorse him?

“For us at the ACO, we see this as the move of a desperate politician using every means to deceive the people in his bid to cling to

‘Court didn’t approve tribunal’s report against Akeredolu’

C

ONTRARY to insinuations that the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), was purportedly indicted by a Judicial Commission of Enquiry, the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) was neither indicted nor barred from participating in politics.

Details of the court processes on two suits filed in 1999 and 2001 on the proceedings of the commission and the outcome showed that neither case advanced to judgment.

The parties agreed on an amicable settlement (out-of-court) by virtue of a term of settlement adopted by the court as its judgment.

Justice P. I. Odunwo of the Ondo State High Court, Akure, on December 10, 2002, consolidated the suit and adopted the terms of settlement filed by the parties.

The court’s decision to consolidate the suit was based on an From Damisi Ojo, Akure

power at all cost. But the public and, indeed, the people of Ondo State, are wiser and will not fall into the trap of a drowning man.

“How does Mimiko think Oshiomhole will support another candidate from another party, when ACN has Mr. Akeredolu (SAN), a man of honesty, integrity, vision, pedigree, like Oshiomhole? Akeredolu was not a politician, but a professional in politics, having reached the peak of his career as a former President of the Nigeria Bar

By Eric Ikhilae

agreement by the parties. The court, upon hearing an ex parte application by Akeredolu, which was not opposed by lawyer to the state and some others, Daniel Onukun, consolidated both cases and adopted the terms of settlement as prayed in the application.

Onukun represented Justice R. O. Fawehinmi (retired), Kunle Adedipe, Dele Awopeju, E. O. A. Komolafe, D. O. Akinduro, Ondo State Governor and the Attorney-General and Commisioner for Justice.

Justice Odunwo held: “In view of the fact that the two suits …have been settled amicably out of court by the parties on the basis of the terms of settlement filed on December 10, 2002 and on the application by Mr O. O. Akeredolu (SAN), which application is not objected to by Mr Onukun, the terms of settlement in respect of the two matters stated above are hereby made the judgment of this honourable court. There is no order as to cost.”

Association (NBA).

“How could he think Oshiomhole will support him, having mobilised materially and financially to back the notorious Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), not even the LP, his own party, in the last governorship election against ACN? At that time, all the parties were defeated and they could not get 25 per cent of the total votes cast.

“How does Mimiko think Oshiomhole will support him, having failed woefully to deliver on his electoral promises, unlike Oshiomhole who implemented the mani-

•Akeredolu

festo of ACN to the delight of the people of Edo State? But for Mimiko, it has been three and a half years of waste, with the abandonment of N1.5 billion Doom Dome; the Owo Road dualisation; the fivekilometre road dualisation in his Ondo town; the Arigidi tomato paste factory; the Arakale Road dualisation; non-employment of youths?

“Therefore, we see this latest move as a desperate bid to use credible people, like Oshiomhole and others, to promote his image. But it will not work, as Mimiko and his amorphous LP will be rooted out of Ondo State on October 20.”

ACN candidate sues newspaper for alleged defamation

T

HE Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), yesterday sued the state-owned Owena Press, publishers of The Hope, for alleged libel.

The newspaper had carried a report alleging that the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President committed fraud during the military administration of the late Mike Onyearugbulem.

The report, which was published on the front page of the paper yesterday, said Akeredolu, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the late Onyearugbulem administration, was indicted for N9.2 million fraud by the Justice Rasheed O. Fawehinmi-led judicial probe.

The local newspaper also said the ACN standard bearer had been banned from holding any public office for 25 years.

But in a statement in Akure, the state capital, the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) said the frontline lawyer had challenged the report of the probe panel in a suit filed at the State High Court, Akure.

The matter was presided over by Justice P.I. Odunwo of the same court.

ACO said Akeredolu opted to settle the matter out of court, following apologies by the late Adebayo Adefarati administration, as agreed upon on December 10, 2002.

A statement in Akure by ACO

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

spokesman, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, described the allegation as fruitless, fallacious and of no effects.

The statement noted that the latest antics of the ruling Labour Party (LP) administration, led by Governor Olusegun Mimiko, to misinform the people of Ondo State about the credibility of its candidate, would fail.

The statement reads: “Among other things sought by Mr. Akeredolu in the suit, after the Ondo State Government and its team of lawyers had decided to settle out of court, following apologies by the late Adebayo Adefarati-led government, as agreed upon on December 10, 2002, were that the proceeding of the judicial commission, as it affects the applicant, is hereby set aside.

“That the decision of the Ondo State Government on the findings of the Judicial Commission, as it affects the applicant, is also hereby set aside. That the applicant will withdraw the action in the suit, which he instituted against the first to the fifth respondents, for libel.

Those parties shall bear their respective costs.

“That counsel to the parties shall execute the terms of settlement, which shall form the judgment of the court in consolidated suits…

“Thus, following the consolidation of the two suits filed in respect of the case and non-opposition to

‘The fear of Akeredolu has become the beginning of wisdom for Mimiko, as the ACN confidence has been boosted with various frivolous allegations’ the term of agreements by both parties, Justice Odunwo granted the prayers of the plaintiff/ applicant, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu.

“Justice Odunwo had said: ‘In view of the fact that the two suits …have been settled amicably out of court by the parties, on the basis of the terms of settlement filed on December 10, 2002 and on the application of Mr. O. O. Akeredolu (SAN), which application is not objected by Mr. Daniel Onukun, the terms of settlement in respect of the two matters stated above are hereby made the judgment of this honourable court.’

“The certified true copy of the judgment of the case was dated December 10, 2002 and signed by Justice P.I. Odunwo and E.A. Orimoloye, the Principal Registrar of the court.

“For us in ACO, the latest antics of Mimiko are those of a desperate man knowing well that his days in the Government House at Alagbaka are numbered. Why does Mimiko now embark on frivolous meth-

ods to stop Akeredolu, when he claimed that he was no match for him?

“It is even more laughable that a governor, who has been power in the last three and a half years and a former minister for that matter, does not know that a Board of Enquiry has no legal backing to ban anybody from seeking a public office.

“ACO wishes to educate him with the case of Atiku Abubakar vs the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2007, in relation to the Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF). In it, the Supreme Court gave a final judgment that boards of enquiry have no such powers.

“It would also interest Mimiko and his co-travellers to know that even if the law court indicts somebody, it would only last for 10 years.

The event in question, which is even false, took place in 1999, which is about 13 years ago.

“In fact, the fear of Akeredolu has become the beginning of wisdom for Mimiko, as the ACN confidence has been boosted with various frivolous allegations. Akeredolu has since promised to submit himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and security agents for probe.”

ACO maintained that no amount of these antics will save Mimiko and his LP from being voted out on October 20 as he has been rejected by the people of the State for his poor performance.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

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NEWS ONDO 2012 Activists caution INEC, security agencies

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

•ACN supporters at a rally in Akure.

PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN

A GROUP, the Rights’ Monitoring Group (RMG), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a hitch-free, fair and credible election in Ondo State on October 20.

In a statement in Lagos by its National Coordinator, Olufemi Akinbule Aduwo, the group advised politicians to play politics according to the rules of the game.

It noted that an election should not be seen as a do-or-die affair, because there can only be a winner in every contest.

RMG warned politicians not to “import” thugs from the Niger Delta, adding that governors from neighbouring states should not cause any distraction during the election.

The group recalled that in last July election in Edo State, neighbouring states did not interfere.

It urged INEC to make a proper arrangement to convey election materials to the coastal areas and send those that can swim to those areas.

RMG said: “People who know how to swim from Bayelsa, Cross River and Delta should handle materials in the coastal areas during the election, not people from Kaduna or Kano.”

PDP urges governor to account for T N38b Agagu left behind HE Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday urged the ruling Labour Party (LP) administration under Governor Olusegun Mimiko to explain how it managed the N38billion it reportedly inherited from the Olusegun Agagu administration.

The PDP said the Agagu administration did not leave behind a N117billion debt profile when it left office in 2009, as alleged by Mimiko.

According to the party, since the allegation was raised by Mimiko, he has failed to give details of how he arrived at the huge debt.

Addressing reporters at the party’s secretariat in Akure, the state capital, the Chairman, PDP State Publicity Committee Demola Ijabiyi said Mimiko had been making the allegation without proving it, to stop the party from ruling the state again.

Ijabiyi said Agagu handed over the state to the LP with clean hands, adding that the former government did not owe any contractor or loot the treasury.

He said: “When Mimiko first made this allegation in his State of the Finances of the State Address in August 2009, we challenged him through Dr. Tayo Dairo, our state chairman at the time, to give the details. We of the PDP even went as far as petitioning the House of Assembly to ask him for details. And we are aware that the House actually challenged him on this. Till now, no details were given; yet, the administration keeps repeating the allegation.

“What we do know is that, as admitted by the Mimiko administration itself, the total sum of all the capital projects of the Agagu administration was N82billion. From N30 billion of this, the administration paid 30 per cent mobilisation, leaving a balance of N21 billion. And from the remaining N52 billion, it paid 50 per cent mobilisation, leaving a balance of N26 billion. On both categories, the balance was N47 billion.

“Some of the projects were completed and paid for in full, so that eventually, the outstanding balance is far less than N40 billion. That administration left behind a cash of N38 billion which, when subtracted from

Why I left Mimiko’s govt, by ex-commissioner

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FORMER Ondo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Diran Iyantan, yesterday said he left the Olusegun Mimiko government because of the governor’s alleged insensitivity to the plight of the people.

Iyantan addressed reporters at Ode-Aye in Okitipupa Local Government Area, after his defection to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The former commissioner, who is the younger brother to the late Afolabi Iyantan, the former Deputy Governor to the late Governor Adebayo Adefarati, noted that Mimiko’s failure to fulfil his promises to ACN leadership was the major reason he dumped the LP for ACN. He noted that the governor reneged on his electoral promises to transform the state and empower the residents.

According to him, his defection to ACN has depleted the PDP and LP in the local government.

Iyantan said he accepted to be a commissioner under the LP to enable him preach Regional Integration Agenda, as canvassed by Southwest leaders, and because he is an advocate of “one governor, one term” stance.

The former commissioner said it was a pity Mimiko, who was seen as God-sent, allowed his zeal for power to becloud his administrative and political responsibilities.

He said his efforts to make the governor retrace his steps and align with Yoruba leaders proved abortive.

Iyantan said Mimiko became inaccessible to members of his State Excecutive Council (Exco), who were willing to tell him the truth.

The politician said he quit Mimiko’s administration to protect his integrity and political career, adding that these are more precious to him than gold.

He explained that Mimiko, who was an advocate of “one governor, one term”, has sinned against the people for reneging on his promises.

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

the outstanding balance, will leave nothing left as debt but cash asset, instead.

“So, how come the N117 billion?

We must declare categorically that the PDP government, under Dr. Olusegun Agagu, never owed a kobo on projects, salaries, pensions, or any other thing whatsoever. It also owed

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Iyantan said: “The Bible says it is better for a man not to make a promise than to make a promise he knows he will never fulfill. This is a great sin. I am a Christian and a politician. I believe so much in the words of God. I expected the governor to stick to the philosophy of ‘one governor, one term’, which he originated.

“I expected him to move to ACN the moment he became governor. But it is unfortunate that the same Mimiko, who promised to go to ACN, also romances with the PDP in Abuja because of his zeal to remain relevant in national politics.

“To me, this is a betrayal of trust. The governor is fond of paying evil for good, particularly to those who brought him up politically. The stories of what transpired between him and Dr Olusegun Agagu, Chief Adebayo Adefarati, Chief Adekunle Ajasin even Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who appointed him as a minister, are evidence of his political anomalies.

“The man has dug a pit for his predecessors, who attempted to vote for another term, and the fate that befell the people will certainly befall him.

“Mimiko has done bad in the administration of the state and we are reminding our people that one bad turn deserves rejection. The pit he has dug will naturally consume him as well.”

The politician described his defection to ACN as “home-coming” and an avenue to partake in the coming “blissful Eldorado” in the Sunshine State.

Iyantan hailed ACN leadership for fighting the cause of the common man and propagating the need for the Southwest to speak with one voice.

He also hailed former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for championing the development in the Southwest and Nigeria.

no kobo to any bank. That is why we have been calling on the present administration to come out with details.

Mimiko must, therefore, speak out.

It is a duty and not a favour.

“Talking of this N38 billion cash, the Mimiko administration has claimed that the amount left behind by the Agagu administration was N34 billion. Whether 38 or 34, we demand to know how the money was

spent by Governor Mimiko. A rumour has it that a substantial part of it was lost in a deal with a new generation bank. Mimiko must speak out on this.”

The PDP chieftain also urged the government to explain how it managed the $24billion oil block codenamed OPL 241, which he said the Agagu administration acquired.

He said: “Agagu’s government

•Agagu

spent $24billion on this block and had wanted to sell it for $37billion, after just a year. But when Mimiko came into office, he cried foul, claiming that the block was only worth $1billion.

“In his State of the Finances of the State Address in August 2009, Mimiko promised to do something about the oil block. Till now, he has been silent on this monumental asset he inherited from the PDP government.

We now challenge him to speak out on it.”

Ijabiyi wondered why the LP administration has not addressed the residents on how he has been managing the state’s funds.

The PDP chieftain alleged that the government had been spending Ondo State resources recklessly by “inflating some of the projects it embarked upon”.

He added: “For instance, each of the bus stops in Akure cost N50 million; the Alagbaka Roundabout and its water fountain cost N480 million; the electric poles on the Oba Adesida Road (in Akure) costs N3.9 million each; the cost of repairing the damaged 100-metre portion of the Akure-Owo Road at Ogbese was N118 million.

“The Mother and Child Hospital, originally meant to cost about N100 million, has gulped over N1 billion; N1.5 billion was spent on the Dome project before the project was abandoned; the cost of a new mega school has risen from the N365 million estimated for each to over N800 million, even when they all remain uncompleted. The total amount that the government has spent on all its ongoing road projects is about N10 billion but none of them has been completed.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

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NEWS

Bad Wednesday •Violent wind coming, NIMET warns •Reps back Senate on Supplementary budget for Kogi, Delta

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•Speaker, House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal greeting Permanent Secretary, UK’s Department for International Development, Mr. Mark Lowcock and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha (left) greeting UK Permanent Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mr. Simon Fraser during a visit on the leadership of the House by UK Permanent Secretaries at the National Assembly Complex... on Teusday

•Chairman, AU High-level Implementation Panel (Auhlip) on Sudan former President Thabo Mbeki (middle), member of the panel, former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (left) and former President of Burundi, Pierre Buyoya at thenegotiation between Republic of Sudan and South Sudan in Addis Ababa ...on Tuesday

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (right), Vice President, Ministerial, Rev. Dr Gold Anie (left) and President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr Supo Ayokunle during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Nigerian Baptist Convention to the Governor's Office in Abeokuta... yesterday

•Minister of State for Education Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, National President, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Nwabueze Okafor (left) and Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Alh. Musa Hassan during ALGON executives’ visit to the minister in Abuja...yesterday.

EARS flowed yesterday at Nzam, Anambra West Local Government Area, Anambra State. So was also the fate of hundreds of communities on the bank of River Niger in Delta State. Reason: They were sacked by the flood that is ravaging the country.

The Nzam Police Station, the house of the traditional ruler of Ukwalla community and the headquarters of the Local Government Area of Nzam have all been submerged.

The Anambra West council transition chairman, Chief Augustine Chukwurah, his deputy, Godwin Onyeaka and all the workers have all relocated to Awka and other areas close to Onitsha.

Over 16 police officers, including the new Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and nurses at Nzam hospital were trapped and awaiting rescuers.

Domestic animals, such as goat sheep and chicken in the 10 communities that make up Anambra West have been swept away.

Chukwurah, who took The Nation on a three-hour tour of the flooded area by a speed boat, said the lives of residents were endangered.

According to him, the last time such floods were recorded was in 1969. He said the problem had gone beyond Governor Peter Obi, who visited the area recently.

Though no life had been lost so far, the devastation is great.

Chukwurah said his office and workers had moved over to Umueze Anam sub-treasury office in Anambra East Local Government Area.

The Ukwalla royal father, Igwe Joseph Agudu (the Igashi I), was speechless as the flood has taken over his entire kingdom. Members of his family have been sacked from the palace.

They have relocated to a safer haven in Awka, the state capital, just as other households.

Lamenting that all the buildings in his community had been submerged, he appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene urgently.

His words: “Our governor, Mr. Peter Obi is incapacitated because this natural disaster is beyond his capability. We can only get remedy from the Federal Government and international donor agencies.”

Obi’s aide on Special Duties, Tony Nwabunwanne, confirmed the evacuation of residents to avoid loss of lives.

He said: “We are worst than Haiti.

This area is now hopeless, this problem has gone beyond our governor, who before now, had done enough regarding this flood, the only difference between us and Kogi State is that lives had been lost there”.

“The state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had equally visited without any solution yet. My people are in danger.”

Mr Gabriel Obiorah and Mrs Okwuchukwu Chinwuba, both peasant farmers in Anambra West council area, were all tears, having lost all to the flood.

In Delta, the government yesterday began to evacuate the displaced residents to public schools. Deputy Governor Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN, who is chairman of the State Government’s Special Emergency Committee on Flood Disaster Management, described the disaster as overwhelming and called for the intervention of federal agencies.

Communities in over seven local government areas of the state, including Oshimili North, Oshimili South,

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka, Olugbenga Adanikin, Helen Iyoko, Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Ndokwa East, Ughelli South, Bomadi, Burutu, Isoko South have been sacked by the flood, Utuama said.

He listed the affected communities as: Asaba, the State capital, Anwai, Illah, Okwagbe, Uzere, Aviara, Abari, Burutu, Bomadi, Okpai, Aboh, Abala- Oshimili, Abala-Uno, Oko. But the Utuama committee rose to tackle the flood by relocating some displaced people around Asaba to the St. Patrick’s College, where they are being accommodated and provided with food and other basic items.

Utuama, whose committee has been going round the affected communities, described the disaster as overwhelming and beyond the capacity of the state government.

Utuama called on the Federal Government and its relevant agencies to come to the aid of the state government in providing immediate, medium and long term solution.

The warning that the worst is yet to come was served yesterday by the Director-General, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Dr. Anthony Anuforom.

Anuforum said the rain, as it subsides, may be accompanied with violent wind.

According to him, as the new season approaches, Nigerians should be expectant and careful of the strong wind.

Speaking at a media parley yesterday in Abuja on the recent flooding across the country, he said: “We are transiting now from the raining season to the dry season. I can tell you that the kind of thing we should expect is that as the rain is rescinding, it will come with violent wind. It may come with violent wind in some areas. So, I will advice that people should watch out.

“When that happens, people should avoid staying under trees or electric poles and so on because the wind may be so violent that they may be pulled down.”

The NIMET chief stated that the rain may start decreasing from October 15 to December in places such as Kano, Katsina and Maiduguri in Yenagoa, Port Harcourt and Calabar.

THE House of Representatives has backed the Senate in requesting President Goodluck Jonathan to present a supplementary budget to address the ravaging flood in parts of true country.

The lawmakers in their resolution advocated for the input of the Ecological Fund to mitigate the effects of the disaster.

The Fund that has been on first line charge since inception in 1981 has received one percent of the Federation Account before it was reviewed upwards to two percent in 1992.

While the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal descried the fund as ‘a mystery fund’, Chairman Committee on Environment, Uche Ekwunife (Anambra, APGA) disclosed the inability of her committee to get details of the fund from the Presidency.

She said after a year, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) has refused to furnish her committee with the financial statement of the Fund that ought to have aided the on-going investigation of the fund by the Committee.

Ekwunife added: ”The Ecological Fund has become a contentious issue in this country as it stands, it is solely at the discretion of Mr President on how the Fund is used”.

The Deputy Majority Leader, Leo Ogor (Delta, PDP) wondered when the fund would impact on the lives of Nigerians when it could not be useful in mitigating effects of natural disasters.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

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NEWS

as rains pound Anambra, Delta

•Skill Acquisition Centre, Nzam overwhelmed by flood...yesterday

• Anambra West Secretariat...yesterday

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• Chairman of Anambra West Council Area...yesterday

• Houses submerged by water...yesterday

Fed Govt worried over flooding

HE Federal Government yesterday said it was worried over the floods ravaging parts of the country.

It described natural disaster as a potential threat to food security, saying the situation at hand is as a matter of national emergency.

According to the Minister of the Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Mailafia, Kogi State, has the most devastating impact of the floods out of the seven states affected.

Mrs. Malaifia told reporters at the end of the weekly Federal Executove Council (FEC) meeting alongside Labaran Maku (Information), Mr. Mike Onolememen (Works), Senator Idris Umar (Transport) and Nyesom Wike (State, Education), that the federal government is concerned.

Vice President Namadi Sambo chaired yesterday’s meeting in the absence of President Goodluck Jonathan is away to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, (United States).

The minister noted that in the estimation of the government, over 5,000 farmlands were washed away by the ravaging flood across the country.

She argued that the high number of affected farmlands was a potential threat to food security.

Besides, she said the situation could lead to the breakout of epidemic, saying the disaster has the capacity of affecting the health of the people.

The minister said: “The consequences (of the flood) is that there are huge loss of farmlands. These are likely threats to food security. We are likely going to have challenges that have to do with the health of the people in some areas.

“The flooding we are experiencing in the country do not in any way fall into

NEMA to Ibaji residents: move out immediately •Rescuers evacuate victims from roofs, trees as community is submerged

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OR residents of Ibaji, Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. They have been asked by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately relocate to a higher plane in neighboring councils and Anambra State.

The warning came in the wake of rising water level, even as rescuers yesterday continued to evacuate displaced residents from rooftops and tree tops.

NEMA’s Director-General Muhammad Sani-Sidi gave the warning yesterday after presenting additional relief materials to flood victims in Kogi State.

Sani-Sidi said: “It is now necessary to call on the people living in Ibaji to either move to Idah Local Government Area of the state or to closer communities in Anambra State.”

Presenting the relief materials to Governor Idris Wada, Sani-Sidi informed that his agency has been using big boats and the services of local canoe owners for the evacuation of trapped residents.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

what you can term man-made. This is a natural phenomenon that cuts across the globe. With the technology in places like the United States, they still had the flooding there, in China and even our neighbour Niger with an arid land.

“For anyone to think that government has not done well or that there was something that we needed to do that we have not done is a little bit awesome because there is a limit to which you can fight nature.

“Where you have in a country where well over 5,000 farmlands washed away, then there is cause for attention. It is of national interest. So, all what we are saying is that it is a national emergency. It calls for sober

reflection.”

According to her, the development would affect the school calendar in the affected states.

On the Kogi flood that has rendered the Lokoja-Abuja Road impassable, she said three contractors: Messrs Julius Berger, Dantata and Sawoe as well as RCC had been mobilised to site.

She assured stakeholders that the alternative route being constructed for motorists would be ready on Thursday (today).

On criticism that the government team only did aerial assessment of the impact of the flood, Mrs Mailafia argued that there was no way the chopper used for the assessment could land in a state like Plateau because of the magnitude of the flood.

“Some people said why did we fly?

We could not have landed on water and there was a limit to where we could drive,” she explained.

The minister warned other states to be prepared because while the water will be finding its way into the Atlantic Ocean, it would pass through some states.

She said in a couple of days, the team would also be visiting some other states on the same matter.

Onolememen said the Federal Government’s inspection team did a number of land survey and decided on an approach to mitigate the situation.

He said the alternative road identified has attained 60 per cent completion as at yesterday, assuring that it would be ready on today.

Umar also debunked insinuations that the dredging of Lower River Niger was responsible for the flooding, insisting that it was a natural disaster.

The incident has affected the Good Governance Tour of Federal Government to Kogi State.

The scheduled visit to the Northcentral state was suspended yesterday. A new date would be announced.

Maku explained that due to the challenge posed by the flood, organisers of tour had decided to give the government and people of the state time to recover.

Instead of moving to Kogi, the minister said the team would now go to Kwara next week and from there visit other Northcentral states.

Flood: Six houses collapse in Kogi From Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

SIX houses went down yesterday in Kogi State; no thanks to the floods ravaging communities in the Confluence State.

The houses, located at Adankolo New Layout behind Government Day Secondary School in Lokoja, according to eye witness account collapsed yesterday.

It was learnt that the affected buildings were the ones submerged when River Niger over flew its banks.

Other landlords feared a similar fate might befall their property, even as many houses have been vacated.

A civil servant, Mr. Emmanuel Adaji, whose house is affected by the flood, recounted how he struggled to build the 3-bedroom apartment on Ganaja Road.

According to him, the house was built with loans from the cooperative society, which he lamented, was yet to be fully repaid.

The visibly frustrated Adaji said: “My happiness of owning a house is gradually becoming sadness should this house collapse. This is the only property I can boast of since my career as civil in the civil service.

“In three month time, I will be retiring for the service and the only thing I am falling back on is this house. The government should please come to our aide,” he added.

Adaji’s house is one of the structures overwhelmed by the flood.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

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NEWS

Falana, ex-minister to govt: enforce welfare laws to end poverty, insecurity

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CTIVIST-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), yesterday urged the Federal Government to enforce existing welfare laws to end poverty and insecurity.

Also, former Defence Minister Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN) and Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN) urged the National Assembly to make Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution part of fundamental human rights in the ongoing amendment.

They spoke at the launch of the Advocate Journal of the Law Students Society, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The students honoured Ali, an alumnus, with the journal as he donated an electronic library of 42 internet-connected computers to the Law Faculty.

Falana, who delivered a lecture entitled: Challenge of Sustaining Security in Nigeria Today said democracy cannot thrive where the majority are poor.

“In Nigeria, welfare laws are ignored and neglected. Democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere of poverty,” he said.

Falana said the government should address the “crises of unemployment”, adding: “Create jobs for the youths if you want peace and stability in our country.”

According to him, socioeconomic rights have to be “married” with civil rights, as a person who is not economically empowered will not enjoy the right to life, among others.

Falana criticised the practice of collecting money from applicants by government agencies before recruiting them, saying it amounts to extortion.

•Falana (SAN) left; former Acting Kwara State Chief Judge Justice S.D Kawu; Kayode (SAN) and Ali (SAN)...yesterday .

PHOTO: JOSEPH JIBUEZE

By Joseph Jibueze

He alleged that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) made N1billion from a recruitment exercise, saying he has petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation requesting that the money be returned to the owners.

“No responsible state can profit from the misfortune of its own people,” Falana said.

He flayed the nation’s justice system, saying it favours only the rich and punishes the poor.

He said: “Someone was jailed for five years in Edo for stealing bush meat.

“Yet, in this country, someone stole N250billion, was asked to refund N190billion, and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

“That’s not all. The person was told to spend the jail term in a high-brow hospital, which

is not part of our laws.”

Falana also faulted the suspension of the inquest into the Dana Airline plane crash following a court order, saying it happened as the “truth” about the crash was about to emerge.

The lawyer said the inquest would have unravelled the alleged fact that the pilot of the ill-fated plane was in a hurry to reach Lagos because he was to travel to the United States that night.

According to him, when the pilot discovered that the plane had a problem, he could have returned to Abuja or landed at a nearest airport, such as in Kogi or Illorin.

“The pilot wanted to go to the US that night at all cost. He had a 9.30 or 10.30pm flight to catch,” Falana said.

He alleged that no family of the victims had been paid up to $50,000 when each one of them is entitled to between $150,000 to $175,000 worth of

insurance benefits.

On education, Falana said states have all failed to enforce the Child Rights Act provision that every child should be in school in his first nine years at no cost.

He said: “Section 15 of the Act is not implemented in any state in Nigeria, and we’re not even asking questions.

“We must not allow the government to confuse our people by talking about ethnicity or other primordial issues.

“When next a man comes to you that he has no shoes, please buy shoes for him and vote elsewhere.”

Kayode, a former Attorney-General of the Federation, said Chapter 2 of the Constitution must be made enforceable.

He urged the National Assembly to give effect to the section, asking: “What is holding them back from making

those laws to give effect to it?”

“Give effect to Chapter 2, it’s possible. Legislate for social change, for the welfare of the society,” Kayode said.

Ali said he sent a memo to the National Assembly, urging them to transfer some of the rights under Chapter 2 to the section on fundamental human rights.

“I believe the right to education, for instance, should be fundamental. So, I’m all for it.

Even the state Houses of Assemblies should champion it.

“It’s the duty of the legislators to enact laws for the greater good and protection of the majority,” Ali said.

On the e-library he donated, the SAN said he was motivated by the need to give back to his alma-mater and to the society.

“We must all develop the consciousness to assist others.

I always tell my children to be in a hurry to do good,” he said.

CJN swears in two Supreme Court Justices

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HE Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alloma Mariam-Mukhtar yesterday swore in two Justices of the Supreme Court advising them to discharge their duties without fear or favour.

They are Justices Kumai Bayang Akaahs and Stanley Shenko Alagoa.

Justice Akaahs chaired the last Presidential Election Petition Tribunal after the suspen-

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

sion of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami.

He presided over the case between the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) against President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which validated Jonathan’s victory in the 2011 poll.

Justice Mukhtar urged them to exhibit the highest level of decorum, integrity, independence, intelligence, wisdom, impartiality and temperament in the discharge of their duties.

“We have taken off on the threshold of a viable judiciary that will command public confidence,” she declared and implored the newly elevated Justices to be faithful to their oath of office and observe the code of conduct for judicial officers.

The CJN reiterated her commitment to building a strong, virile and progressive nation on the principles of rule of law, justice and fair play.

According to her, the two new Justices have exhibited the true qualities of a judicial officer, competent in skills and intellect and therefore worthy of elevation to the apex court.

There are now 17 Justices at the Supreme Court.

•JusticeMariam-Mukhtar

Jonathan has declared assets, says Conduct Bureau chair

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has declared his assets and has no case to answer, Dr Sam Saba, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), has said.

“As far as we are concerned, Mr President has declared his assets, though not publicly.

There is no law that says that you should declare your assets publicly; it simply states that you should declare your assets.

“What is important is that he has declared his assets and when we go through his form and we discover any area that is questionable, then we will take him to court,” he said.

Saba spoke through the Federal Commissioner representing Northwest in the Bureau, Alhaji Ibrahim Manzo. Manzo, represented Saba at a Compliance Training Workshop for Public officers yesterday in Abuja.

He said the Bureau was do-

• Compliance training workshop held for public officers ing its bit, but that the public was not doing its own part by refusing to blow the whistle on defaulters.

Saba, who noted that the fight against corruption is the collective responsibility of all patriotic Nigerians, said Nigerians should wake up to the task.

He said the aim of the training was to sensitise public officers to the importance of assets declaration and what was required of them while filling the form.

“If they know what they are being asked and how to answer correctly, it will lessen our work and reduce the burden of taking people to court for non-compliance,” he said.

Saba said education was the key to understanding any issue, and that the Bureau organised the enlightenment programme in the hope that the National

Universities Commission (NUC) would help in sending the message across through education.

The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof Julius Okojie said the bane of corruption in the country was lack of provision of basic necessities of life and lack of knowledge of basic

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societal norms.

Okojie said that an individual’s behavioural pattern was determined by the society because “what the society defines as right, is what the people follow’’.

“We know that there are issues, but we must endeavour to be on the side of truth. When

we learn to be honest and stand on the side of truth, this country will be better for all of us.’’

Alhaji Kabir Mashi, the Acting Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, described the compliance programme as “a very good and noble development”, adding that with interaction, there would always be a better understanding of critical issues.

Senate seeks life jail for terrorists

NYBODY found guilty of terrorism risks life jail, according to the Terrorism Prevention A mendment Bill being considered by the Senate.

Nigeria may also pursue terrorists into neighbouring countries should the Bill sails through.

Entitled: “A Bill to

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

amend the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and for other related matters 2012” it scaled second reading in the Senate yesterday.

It seeks to empower the government to trace and punish any person who

commits act of terrorism in or outside the country.

It will also provide stiffer punishment for sponsors ofterrorism.

Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba said the Bill seeks to make provisions for extra territorial application of the Act and to strengthen the section on terrorism financing offences.

Awolowo Institute lecture

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Public lecture on Security organised by the Obafemi Awolowo Institute of Government and Public Policy holds today in Lagos. It will be delivered

by Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State.

The third in the lecture series, in the build-up to the nation’s 52nd Independence anniversary, is titled: The search for national security in Nigeria: retrospect, precepts and prospects.

The lecture will be chaired by Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Discussants are Prof Isaac Olawale Albert, Director of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ibadan and Dr. Charles Ukeje, a Reader (associate professor) at the Department of International Relations, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.

A statement from the Institute said the lecture, billed for the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos would start at 12 noon, and would attract the cream of business, government and the intelligentsia.

French Police smash prostitution ring

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RENCH police have broken up a Nigerian prostitution ring operating in several French cities, they said yesterday. The women were “modern-day slaves” forced to trade in sex to pay for their passage to France, sources said.

Twelve people have been charged with pimping, trafficking and money-laundering in Bordeaux, the sources say.

Most of the gang’s leaders in France are of Nigerian origin and have been arrested, they claim.

The women had to pay an average of 600 euros a month to pay off a debt of 60,000 euros undertaken in Nigeria so that they could be smuggled into France.

MTN programme returns on air

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HE MTN-sponsored popular relationship programme on radio, Sharing Life Issues with Chaz B will return to the airwaves today on 92.3 Inspiration FM, Lagos. The anchor of the programme, Charles Bruce Chukuma, a.k.a Chaz B had been on medical leave since January 1.

According to a statement in Lagos by Olivegate Communications Limited, listeners and fans of the 60minute live programme would be treated to fresh sessions of soothing voice of Chaz B as he presents the daily life-changing, mend fencing and marital relationship reconstruction programme beginning from at 7pm.

Basically a faith-based social service, the programme also offers counselling clinic for various family issues.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

CITYBEATS T Cynthia: Three more

HREE more persons yesterday appeared before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court for the alleged murder of C6ynthia Osokogu, bringing to seven the total number of those so far charged with her murder.

They are Gideon Okechukwu (39), Nonso Ifechukwu (22) and Emeka Chinonso (27). Before them, the quartet of Okwuno Echezoma Nwafo (33), Ejike Ifechukwu Olisaeloka (23) and Maduakor Chukwunonso (25) were charged on Okechukwu was alleged to have conspired with Nwafo and Olisaeloka to kill Cynthia; Ifechukwu and Chinonso were said to have recieved her stolen phone from Olisaeloka.

The late Cynthia, a postgraduate student of the Nassarawa State University, was allegedly killed after being drugged in a hotel at Amuwo Odofin, a Lagos suburb, on July 22, by Nwafo and Olisaeloka.

Yesterday, the Osokogu family tentatively fixed October 5, for her funeral.

Okechukwu, a taxi driver was said to have driven the suspected killers out of the hotel, is facing an eightcount charge of felony, conspiracy, robbery and murder, among others.

Prosecuting Superinten-

9 08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

LASAA to introduce Skype Video

suspects appear in court

A

•Family plans funeral for October 5

By Precious Igbonwelundu and Damilola Owoyele

dent of Police (SP) Chukwu Agwu said Okechukwu, on July 21, at Room No. C1, Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Festac Town, Lagos conspired to murder Cynthia thereby, committing an offence punishable under Section 231 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

Okechukwu, the prosecutor said, conspired with others to kill Cynthia by administering on her an obnoxious substance known as Rohypol Flunitrazepam tablets via Ribena fruit juice.

The accused was also said to have joined others in binding the late Cynthia's hands with chain and padlock. They also allegedly used cellophane tapes to bind her legs, neck and mouth. Blows were also said to have been dealt on her.

She was said to have been bitten, tortured and

strangled to death.

Okechukwu was said to have robbed Cynthia of her Blackberry handset, Bold 5 model; International Passport with No- AO1249397 dated July 3, 2009; National Driver's Licence with No. GRE0002AA dated March 15, 2010; a pair of shoes; a hand bag; a vibrator; as well as a Jewellery box containing three wrist watches, four rings, three pairs of earrings, a pendant, a necklace, hand chain and a single earring, while armed.

According to Agu, the value of the properties stolen, is yet to be ascertained.

Okechukwu was also alleged to have joined others to forcefully and unlawfully have carnal knowledge of Cynthia, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 258(1) of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Okechukwu's plea was not taken as the court lacks

the jurisdiction to hear the matter.

He was remanded in prison custody by Magistrate S.O. Aka-Bashorun, pending advice from the Director, Public Prosecution (DPP).

In a separate charge with number TA/58/2012, Ifechukwu and Chinonso were said to have received Cynthia’s stolen phone, despite knowing that “it was unlawfully obtained.”

They pleaded not guilty and Magistrate AkaBashorun granted them N500,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

Magistrate Aka-Bashorun adjourned the case till October 3.

The Osokogu family said it tentatively fixed October 5, for Cynthia’s burial “with the belief that the machinery of justice would not be impeeded.

A funeral mass has been held for her in her Delta State home town without her body on August 27. Her

•The late Cynthia

brother, Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Osokogu, who spoke on behalf of the family, gave reasons for the delay, saying: "The police have not called the family to collect the body. The case is still at the Magistrate’s Court.

The court cannot try murder case. The second hearing is slated for October 3.

And we believe that it will be transferred to the High Court; afterwards the police can seek for permission to release the body for burial.

We are not in a hurry to bury her as justice must take its full course. The family has resolved to fix the new date Friday, October 5, if everything goes as planned."

The family also denied that it abandoned the body at the morgue.

Lagos teachers suspend strike

N

ATIONAL Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos Chapter, yesterday suspended its indefinite strike embarked upon over the non-payment of 27.5 per cent Teachers Salary Scale, (TSS).

The teachers, who were supposed to resume duty on Monday, first day of the new academic year, embarked on the strike to demand for an immediate payment of the new scale.

It was gathered that after a meeting with the state government yesterday, which was held behind closed doors, officials of the NUT announced that it has called off the strike.

Governor Babatunde Fashola led the state government delegation and was accompanied by the Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pension, Mrs. Florence Oguntuase, Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, the Head of Service, and Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe, while the chairman of the NUT, Mr Kayode Idowu, led his executives to the meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, Idowu said: “The state council of the union has met after the meeting with the government and we have agreed that the strike should be suspended immediately.

We should all return to work tomorrow (today).”

He explained that the union decided to suspend the strike because of the intervention of the Governor who assured them that the TSS would be included in the 2013 budget.

Idowu said: ”During the meeting, the Governor appealed to us passionately that we should return to work.”

•From left: Acting Vice-Chancellor Samuel Adegboyega University Prof Adetokunbo Adeola, Mr Adedotun Adedoyin, Dr. Gabriel Olutola, Mrs Bolanle Adedoyin and Dr. Ebenezer Odusola at the Special Senate Farewell session in honour of late Prof Samson Adedoyin held at The Apostolic Church Ketu in Lagos.

35 lawyers to boost model police scheme

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ITH the first barch of 35 lawyers, InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) M.D. Abubakar has kickstarted the Model Police Station Scheme (MRSS) aimed at improving policing.

The pilot scheme started in the Isokoko Police Station at Agege, a Lagos suburb, where the IGP is test running the project.

The lawyers drawn from seven law firms, were presented to the media during the launch of the Legal Advice Scheme by the Justice For All (JFA) and the Department for International Development (DFID) at Isokoko.

The lawyers are expected to partner with the police to ensure that the MRSS at Isokoko becomes effective.

They are expected to routinely visit the station to monitor and document how police officers treat suspects and other visitors.

By Jude Isiguzo

The initiators said that the scheme would improve community policing and eradicate abuses of suspects, rights at police stations when it takes off in all police formations nationwide.

JFA’s project consultant Tony Cross, said that the Legal Advice scheme would boost residents’ confidence to report crime in their communities.

He said: “The Legal Advice Scheme will have lawyers from seven law firms and each law firm will send five lawyers to partner with police officers at the Isokoko Police Station to ensure that the MPSS. “The lawyers will randomly visit the station in a routine day and night to monitor the suspects, cell and to document what they observe. The aim is to make sure that police officers act in accordance with the law.

“Also we have printed these rights in leaflets in five different languages so that the suspects will have access to them.

The scheme also provides the suspects with free legal services from the lawyers.”

Speaking on behalf of lawyers, Segun Oyewale said for the scheme to work, the government should provide lo-

gistics, equipment and better packages for the police boost their morale.

Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Community Policing Mr Lawal Ado, who represented the IGP, said the police would provide the enabling environment for the scheme to work.

FTER four-week trials involving its Human Resources, Client Services and Business Development Departments, the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) will introduce Skype video-conferencing to promote customer relations and service delivery.

Skype was founded in 2003 by Janus Friis from Denmark and Niklas Zennström from Sweden, but was acquired by Microsoft Corporation in 2011. Registered users of Skype are identified by a unique Skype name, and may be listed in the Skype directory. Skype allows registered users to communicate through both instant messaging and voice chat.

Voice chat allows telephone calls between pairs of users and conference callers, and uses a proprietary audio codec. Skype's text chat client allows group chats, emoticons, storing chat history and editing of previous messages.

Video conferencing between two users was introduced in January 2006 for the Windows and Mac OS X platform clients.

LASAA said the application would, among others, ensure that response time to enquiries from stakeholders is quicker thereby making, service delivery more effective and efficient. The deployment of the Skype application will begin next Tuesday. It is the first time, in the words of the agency, that such an interactive platform is deployed by any regulator in the industry in Africa.

Skype allows users to communicate with individuals by voice, video, and instant messaging on the Internet. The service has almost 700 million registered users in the world.

In a statement, the agency said over one million people use the service mainly for personal communication in country. It said it would adopt Skype as part of efforts to improve its publics.

LASAA's Managing Director Mr George Noah said the video application demonstrates the agency's commitment to the provision of value-added services.

"We are most delighted at the launch of this service because it aligns with our commitment to continuously offer our stakeholders opportunity to connect with us freely. We are convinced that with Skype, engagement at both ends will be quicker and faster," he said.

VIO, cleric arraign for N750,000 fraud A 47-YEAR-OLD Vehicle Inspection Officer Mr. Olushola Ojelade, and a 25-year-old Muslim cleric, Akorede Azeez, were yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate, Court for alleged fraud.

They were alleged to have collected N750, 000 from Aminu Oseni under false pretence. Oseni is a supervisor/cashier officer at Stream Brooks Nigeria Limited, a company

By Tumininu Owolabi selling LAGBUS ticket at Odongunyan, Ikorodu.

Ojelade and Akorede, are facing a three-count charge, which includes fraudulently obtaining money under false presence.

The police prosecutor, Okoi, said the accused defrauded Oseni by claiming that he could double N1million investment by

N500million. He said the accused.

The offence, he said, committed between June and July, at LAGBUS/VIO Office, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, contrary to Sections 312(a), 314(b), and 385 of Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011. Magistrate A.O Akinde granted the accused N500, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum. She adjourned the matter till October 29.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTMBER 27, 2012

10

NEWS Ogun seals off private schools

Aregbesola: I’ll create more local govts

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said his administration would create more local governments because of the desire of the people for self government .

He spoke while receiving the Osun State Local Government Areas Creation Committee from its chairman, Prof. Mojeed Alabi, at the EXCO chamber of the Governor’s Office in Abere, Osogbo. Aregbesola said the political structure in the country could not be said to be representative of the people.

He said: “We are simply not ready to confront anybody or the Federal Government, but we are working on the constitution to grant the wishes of our people. Osun will be the first to constitutionally create local governments. We will create councils that will meet all constitutional requirements.

“The difference between what we are seeking to do from others is that, we have not in, any way influenced this. It is the genuine desire of the people for selfgovernment or expression of

•Aregbesola presenting a souvenir to Alabi...yesterday. Watching is Deputy Governor Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

having control of their own affairs.”

The governor said the creation of local governments, according to the 1999 Constitution, is in the hands of the states through the House of Assembly.

According to Aregbesola, “The only mention of LG in our constitution is the nature of the

government and not a tier of government. Local governments can never be a unit of the federation outside the state. It is a contradiction that LG is a tier of government in our own federalism.”

Prof. Alabi said the committee has recommended 27 new local governments and two Area Offices.

According to Alabi, “The state government of Osun should create Local Government Areas and not Local Government Development Areas in line with the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria that such Local Government Areas have come into legal existence once a bill to such effect is passed by the state House of Assembly and assented to by the governor.”

Ministry, SSS burst NECO certificate forgery syndicate

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HE Federal Ministry of Education and the State Security Service (SSS) have burst a syndicate which specialises in forging the National Examination Council (NECO) certificates.

Minister of State for Education Ezenwo Nyesom Wike spoke yesterday in Abuja at a parade of the members of the group.

Wike, according to a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Simeon Nwakaudu, said the ministry has established a relationship with relevant security agencies to ensure that those who have developed a structure to fake NECO certificates are tracked down and made to face the law.

He said: “The arrest of a syndicate that specializes in the forgery of NECO certificates by the State Security Service, one of our security partners, is an indication that the Federal Ministry of Education and

the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that the integrity of our public examinations is guaranteed and protected.

“We are happy that the State Security Service has used its extensive capacity to track down these suspects, among who are three NECO staff who work in the computer department. These arrests bring to the fore the real reason behind the protests by some NECO staff that resisted legitimate transfers from their comfort zones.

The process of fishing out criminals in the public examination system has just begun and we will ensure that every single suspect faces the wrath of the law.”

The minister noted that going forward the NECO management will be encouraged to take measures that would make it more difficult for syndicates to attempt forging its certificates.

The SSS, Niger State office after series of operations tracked down a 10-man syndicate led by Kashim Danladi Tahid. The syndicates comprises three staff of NECO who supply the leadership and membership of the syndicate with past candidates numbers, corresponding names and data base to forge the results.

NECO Registrar, Prof. Promise Okpala expressed satisfaction that the members of the syndicate have been arrested. He said the extensive security features on the NECO certificate make it difficult for the certificate to be successfully forged.

He said NECO would continue to cooperate with the ministry and the security agencies to frustrate criminals in the system.

The Niger State Director of the SSS, Dr Larry Obiagwu, said members of the syndicate admitted to committing the crime. He noted

•Copies of the fake certificates... yesterday

that during the raids that led to the arrests of the suspects, the SSS recovered computers containing NECO data-base, fake NECO seals, fake NECO blank certificate slips, phones containing text messages requesting certificates and grades.

Tahid admitted being the head of the ring. He said he connived with the three NECO staff to produce the fake NECO certificates. He confessed that each forged certificate was sold for N10,000.

Ajimobi to Fed Govt: block illegal arms importation

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has urged the Federal Government to block importation of arms into the country.

Ajimobi spoke at the opening of the training workshop organised by the 2nd Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army in Ibadan on Wednesday, described the national security challenge currently being faced by the country as a passing

phase.

He said: “It is in the definition of what constitutes our core values as a people that we can find lasting solutions to the separatist inclinations of some of our people who take arms against the country.

“It is in the lack of identification of our core values that can be found the absence of patriotism among her nationals, to the extent of rising against Nigeria’s national interest,’’

he submitted.

He also said that Nigerians must be made to undergo courses in security consciousness, adding “the time of innocence for us as a people has gone and security consciousness must take over our innocence.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, said the theme of the training “Developing Requisite Capabilities by the Nigerian Army for Combating

Entrepreneurs converge on Lagos

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NTREPRENEURS from different countries of the world will converge on Lagos on October 4. The meeting, which will hold at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos mainland, will afford the entrepreneurs to deliberate on challenges in their various countries and how to tackle them.

The meeting is being championed by their umbrella body, Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (EO).

Its 122nd chapter, which is the Nigerian chapter, will also be

inaugurated at the conference. Its five pioneer board members are: AbdulRazaq Shittu, Dele Agekameh, Anthony Okoye, Ayo Shuffman and Mrs. Funmi Babington-Ashaye. The morning session holds from 9am to 4pm. It will be followed by a dinner at 7pm.

Agekameh said of what Nigeria stands to gain from EO: “Out of the 120 chapters that were there before September 19, 2012 when Istanbul, (Turkey) chapter came up as the 121st, the only two chapters that were in Africa were situated in

Cape Town and Johannesburg. This is because when you talk about Nigeria, it was almost a write-off.

That means we are starting from the scratch, we are starting afresh, we are staking our means; we are staking our integrity; we are staking our money because to arrive at this destination, it is quite compelling.

It requires a lot of sacrifices, it requires a lot of energy. What we are doing is for this country; we are doing it for generations yet unborn.”

Contemporary Security Challenges’’ was apt in view of the security challenges currently facing the country.

He was represented by Major – General Mohammed Abubakar, the GOC, 2 Mechanised Division, Ihejirika said that the army was saddled with the leading role of responding to the myriad of security challenges facing the country.

THE Ogun State Bureau of Urban and Physical Planning (BUPP) and the Urban and Regional Planning Board (URPB) have sealed buildings erected in contravention of laid down rules.

Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ibikunle Amosun on BUPP, Dr. Babatunde Olokun, spoke during the “Build Right” Campaign Programme at Ogijo and Sagamu.

He said majority of the private schools in the state do not posses building plan approvals.

The affected schools include West Hall College, Grace Mission International, Total Man International Schools, Presidency International Schools all in Ogijo and Omolade Nursery/Primary School, New Era Nursery/Primary School, Jehovah International Schools, His Lordship Private Schools, Living Spring Nursery/ Primary School and Ore-Ofe Montessori Nursery School in Sagamu.

Assembly unbans new Perm Secs Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

THE Osun State House of Assembly has lifted the ban on the selection and appointment of Permanent Secretaries for ministries.

The Speaker, Hon. Najeem Salaam, said the House was convinced of the credibility of the process.

He said: “Having being properly briefed on the detail of the process of selecting Permanent Secretaries, I hereby order the lift of embargo on the process, and by this directive, Mr. Governor may proceed with the process of selecting his Permanent Secretaries.”

Oyo Speaker advises residents From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

TO prevent recurrence of flooding in Oyo State, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu, has warned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse inside the river.

She said man’s negative activities have been responsible for many of the woes that have been experienced in the state.

The speaker spoke yesterday during a visit to her office by the executive members of Old Students Association of the Olivet Baptist High School Oyo. She said: “We must start with the restraining of those dumping refuse into rivers and drains and also checkmate those erecting illegal structures.”

The speaker said anybody caught floating the environmental law on waste management and disposal system should be prosecuted.

The speaker said: “It is now mandatory for all households in Ibadan to have toilets and other essential facilities for waste disposals.”

Governor congratulates Tribune’s editors

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has congratulated the new editorial team of the Tribune.

Ajimobi said the appointments of Mr. Edward Dickson as Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief; Mr. Debo Abdulai as Editor Daily, Mr. Sina Oladeinde as Editor, Sunday Tribune and Mr. Lasisi Olagunju as Editor, Saturday Tribune, would uplift the paper.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, the

governor said: “I have gone through the resume of the new editors and have followed their progression in career. They are thorough-bred professionals whose contributions to the course of journalism can never be over-emphasized. Rising through the ranks as they do in the military, these gentlemen have risen through the ladder to their positions today. They have traversed virtually all the departments of the newspaper house, which gives them a helicopter view of their editing jobs.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Foreign investments rise to N513b

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OREIGN portfolio in vestments in the Nige rian stock market stood at N512.7 billion in 2011, according to the annual report and accounts of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the year ended December 31, 201.

The report showed that foreign portfolio investments accounted for over 80.75 per cent of total inflows during the year at N512.7 billion. With total outflows reported at N335.2 billion, net inflows for 2011 stood at N177.6 billion, a 4.90 per cent dip over the previous year’s net inflows of N186.7 billion.

Nigeria’s foreign portfolio investments represented a mere 0.47 per cent of the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in 2011 as against 0.58 per cent in 2010 and compared with South Africa’s estimated 3.5 per cent in 2011 and 4.3 per cent in 2010.

The NSE declared a gross income of N3.66 billion for year, a decline by 16.9 per cent when compared to N4.41billion recorded in the same period of 2010. The Exchange’s operating expenses dropped by 48.2 per cent to N1.05 billion in 2011, from N2.02 billion recorded in 2010, while total assets stood at N12.1 billion in 2011, from N12.8 billion in 2010.

President, NSE, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, attributed the decline in the gross income to the volatility in the market in the year under review.

He noted that despite many reforms embarked upon by the NSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission, other financial market events such as interest rates, banking reforms and challenges resulting from the Eurozone debt crisis marred investors’ appetite for shares.

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

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

Brazil is an influential member of the BRIC nations with a big apetite for investing in Africa, especially Nigeria. So, there is the need for us to strengthen our partnership with them to attract big investments into our country especially in those areas where we have competitive and comparative advantage.

- Minister of Trade & Investment, Olusegun Aganga

Nigeria safe for investment, says Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan said in New York yesterday that Nigeria is safe for investment.

He spoke at the Third Nigeria Investment Summit organised by the Nigerian Mission to the United Nations and the African Business Roundtable.

The event was a follow up to Tuesday’s address of the President to the 67th United Nations General Assembly.

He had told world leaders about investment opportunities in Nigeria and the efforts he has been making to combat terrorism.

Former British Prime Min-

From Adeola Fayehun, New York

ister Tony Blair, former United States Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice attended the event Investment Summit. National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bamanga Tukur was also there.

The President defended his style of prioritising projects to execute. He said: “You cannot do everything because if you do so, you will not go anywhere as a result of lack of resources. You only have to pick some vital things and do them and by so doing, you will make a complete change.

I have a policy, and it is for a

nation to change or develop,” he said.

Jonathan said his strategy in reviving Nigeria is to sanitise the business environment the same way he has sanitised the political process. He urged investors to patronise Nigeria, assuring them that his administration is committed to making it a safe environment for their businesses.

The President also urged investors to work hard to create more jobs and opportunities.

On electoral process, Jonathan assured the audience that those elected into public office will perform

well. He urged Nigerians to have confidence in them.

“Everybody cannot be in government at the same time but what we do is carry everybody along. We always call on people and dialogue with them whenever issues arise to move the country forward. We believe that this will boost our economy because we really need to work together,” he said.

Blair said Nigeria is on its way up just like the African continent is also on its way up. Blair said he envisaged a new generation of people and leaders in business and politics coming together to develop Nigeria.

He therefore urged investors to look into the areas of education, reform and infrastructure in Nigeria, noting that if these sectors are reformed and changed, Nigeria will fully come up to meet its Millenium Development Goals targets.

Ms Rice said such an investment summit raises expectations that things are going to turn around in Nigeria and the world.

She said events such as this makes it evident that the Nigerian government is trying to do a lot of important things that will make the country achieve its objectives within the global economy.

Naira hits one-month high on foreign dollar inflows

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• From left: Group Marketing Counsel, Coca Cola Nigeria; Adesuwa Dozie, Chief Finance Officer, Coca Cola Nigeria; Seun Oni, Chief Executive Officer, Phillips Consulting Funsho Phillips, and South Africa Consul General to Nigeria, Ambassador Mokgethi Monaisa, at the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting, held at Oceaview Restaurants, Victoria Island, Lagos ... recently.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

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Investors support CBN, AMCON on debtors’ list

HAREHOLDERS in the banking sector have applauded the renewed drive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to compel recalcitrant debtors to honour their obligations by a way of ‘naming and shaming.’

The apex bank had last Friday said debtors, amongst whom are Femi Otedola, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, Sir Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide, Prof. Bart Nnaji, Mrs Elizabeth Ebi, and Dr. Wale Banalakin and their firms, should no longer be allowed further credit by banks.

Speaking with The Nation yesterday, shareholders said the directive and publication of the names of the bad debtors, showed the courage and commitment of the apex bank in addressing a major cause of banking failure in the past.

They noted that bad debtors have in the past undermined the stability of banks by using all means to frustrate loans recovery, leaving shareholders to bear the brunt. It is on record that more than two million shareholders lost their in-

By Taofik Salako

vestments in failed banks due to bad debts and other issues.

President, Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA), Chief Timothy Adesiyan, said, as owners of the banks, shareholders considered the latest move by the apex bank as a major antidote to banking failure and a right step towards the protection of their investments.

He argued that the restriction on loans to the debtors and release of their names could have some moral and psychological impacts on the debtors as they may be goaded to resume negotiations for settlement of their debts.

Adesiyan drew attention to the fact that the funds trapped with the bad debtors are customers’ deposits, including the average Nigerian, adding that the funds used by AMCON to purchase the bad loans and clean banks’ balance sheets are tax payers’ funds belonging to all Nigerians.

He noted that periodic publication of names of bad

debtors, after all means to make them to pay up had failed, would have some influence on the bad debtors as an average Nigerian does not want his name published in bad light.

Another shareholders leader, Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, said investors would support any approach that would lead to the recovery of bad loans into the coffers of the banks or the public treasury.

“There is no big deal in exposing them. The banks and AMCON have used all means to implore them (debtors) to pay but they appeared determined to go away with the funds. Anyone that feels embarrassed should pay back.

The mentality is that they think they will go away with the money, that’s how they ran down banks and left shareholders to bear the burden,” Olatokunbo said.

General Secretary, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Adebayo Adeleke, said while there was nothing wrong in taking loans for useful purposes, there is “everything wrong in not willing to pay back.”

He however urged the apex bank and AMCON to provide details on the recoveries from the initial lists of debtors published in 2009, so as to get an update on them.

A shareholder-activist, Nonah Awoh, underscored the importance of building effective credit bureau system that would provide checks on bad debtors and forestall systemic problem due to predator debtors that move from one bank to another to secure credit using the same collateral.

The shareholders said the move by the CBN deserves commendation as it showed that the apex bank does not have any sacred cow.

They urged the judiciary to speedily facilitate cases concerning bad debtors who have gone to court to delay payments.

They noted that immediately the list was published, some of the debtors had started paying up or renegotiating their debts, while others have pledged their assets to back up their commitments to pay.

Shareholders said debtors who made the national honour’s list should be delisted.

HE naira hit a onemonth high against the U.S dollar on the interbank market yesterday, supported by dollar flows from two multinational oil firms and offshore investors in local debt, traders said.

The naira according to Bloomberg news, closed at N157.45 to the dollar on the interbank, compared with the N157.70 it closed at on Tuesday.

The naira last traded at N157.90 to the dollar on August 27.

Dealers said dollar liquidity was boosted by the sales of$66.6 million by ExxonMobil and Addax combined on Tuesday, and two lenders selling portions of their dollar holdings to stay within their open limit positions.

The Federal Government plans to issue N104.70 billion from treasury bills ranging from 3-month to 1-year maturities at its regular bi-monthly debt auction on Sept. 27.

Nigeria signs $318.6m grant with USAID From Gbenga Omokhunu and Gladys Pius, Abuja

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HE Minister of Na tional Planning Com mission (NPC), Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, yesterday signed a $318.6million deal with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to develop five key projects.

The projects include, strengthening civil engagement for good governance, increasing rural incomes and jobs in assisted areas and improving quality and efficiency of basic education.

Others are increasing use of high-impact health interventions and increasing Nigeria’s capacity for a sustainable HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis response.

A statement by Mrs. Affiong Usen Effiong of the Information Unit of the Commission, quoted Usman as saying that all donor assistance to Nigeria would henceforth be in line with the priority needs of the country

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

BUSINESS NEWS

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NERC threatens to revoke dormant licences

HE Nigerian Electric ity Regulatory Com mission (NERC) yesterday threatened to revoke licenses of companies, that were to built power plants and have nothing to show for it.

Companies that acquired license from the NERC to build power generation plants without any thing to show for it,

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

risk having their licenses revoked, the chairman of the commission, Dr Sam Amadi, said yesterday.

The NERC boss who spoke a stakeholders’ consultation forum in Abuja, said about 50 companies were issued licenses to build 20,000MW power plants capacity .

He however, noted that years after, the issuances have remained in papers.

The forum was on the development of new power procurement guidelines.

He said NERC is considering the best option to correct the slow pace in the industry occasioned by uncoordinated approach in granting licenses in the

Dangote sells 63% equity stake in Dangote Flour Mills • Pockets N28b

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ANGOTE Group has sold 63.35 of its eq uity stake in Dangote Flour Mills Plc to Tiger Brands Limited, a leading South African fast moving consumer goods company, which had earlier bought stakes in UAC of Nigeria Group.

In a statement made available yesterday, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) stated that it consummated the equity sale at $181.9 million, about N28.4 billion. The deal saw the transfer of3.17 billion ordinary shares out of Dangote Group’s 3.67 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each in Dangote Flour Mills Plc to the Tigers Brand.

The transaction which had already been endorsed by the board and share-

F

By Taofik Salako

holders of DIL as well as regulatory authorities, provides for Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Group retaining his chairmanship of the board of the Flour Mills.

“The executed Share Sales Purchase Agreement (SSPA), which articulates the terms under, which the sale was consummated with Tiger Brands, provides that DIL will retain a strategic interest of 10.00% of the total issued ordinary share capital of DFM for a minimum period of five years after implementation of the Transaction during which the Group will have the right to appoint two directors to the Board of DFM, with Alhaji Aliko Dangote continuing as Chairman of the Company”, the Group said.

past.

He said after this consultation, three things could happen. “One is that once we finish with this process, we revoke all licenses. We have the Act to revoke license or we can design a process and say anybody who has got to this level, or who is already building their plant or anybody who

• Dangote

Dangote Group also explained that the decision to divest was in furtherance of DIL’s on-going optimisation/ diversification objective and relates specifically to its going forward strategies for DFM (its subsidiary company in the Food Products segment of the Nigerian Consumer Goods sector), involving a strategic partnership arrangement that transcends the operations and control of the company focused on maximising the business case and plan for DFM, and consequently delivering long term value for shareholders of the company.

is not up to this level, the license is revoked or we can say your license is a prequalification for auction and bidding,” he said.

Amadi emphasised that virtually all the licensees have already breached the conditions of their licenses. He said: “All the licensees are already in breach of their license conditions.”

According to him, the new guidelines “will fastrack the sector towards a market competition, where everything will be procured at the least possible cost and the means of procuring things will be competitive.

“This will make power cheaper for the citizens and it enthrones transparent in the sector of the country.

‘Intercontinental Bank not involved in share buy-back’

ORMER Managing Di rector, Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola, told a Lagos High Court in Ikeja yesterday that the leander was not involved in any share buyback.

Akingbola said this while he was being cross-examined by counsel to the Economic Crimes and Financial Crimes Commission, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN. He stated that there was no truth in the assertion of the prosecution that the bank bought back its own shares.

By Adebisi Onanuga

The former bank chief, is standing trial, along with Bayo Dada, for alleged theft of N49.1billion belonging to the bank.

Akingbola also said there is no book on the much talked about standard banking practice.

Akingbola who was responding to questions by EFCC counsel, Ukala on how funds are usually transferred according to

“standard banking practice,” said he has never seen any such book in his almost 40 years of practice as a banker.

“For about 4o years I have been in banking. I have never seen any book on standard banking practice.

“You can either write or give verbal instruction. The onus is on the fellow carrying out the instruction to think of whether he or she can trust the person who is giving the oral instruction.”

Glo launches ‘Be Your Boss’ promo

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LOBACOM Nigeria has concluded ar rangements to provide financial management and wealth training programme for all its subscribers in a promo, called: “Be Your Boss” that will make them for life.”

The Chairman, Chief Mike Adenuga, who said this at the launch of GLO9th anniversary promotion, ‘BE YOUR OWN BOSS,’ in Kano, said Glo decided to go a step further by offering fantastic prizes, which are unprecedented in the industry.

He said, over 1,500 lucky

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

winners would emerge during the promo that would end in December, pointing out that the programme will also provide them the necessary skills to manage the business of their choice.

Glo Head, Subscriber acquisition and Pre-paid Data, Gabriel Olanrewaju, who represented the Chairman, said for any subscriber to qualify to participate in the promo, he or her expected to recharge between N200 and N3, 000, which will qualify them to participate and win

fantastic prizes, ranging from luxury buses, mini buses, taxi cabs and cash.

Adenuga said as the year 2012 begins to wind down, it is worthy of note that the giant telecommunications outfit has made significant progress since its commencement of business operations from Ghana, acknowledging that Glo’s vision is to become the biggest and best telecommunications company in Africa, with over two million subscribers within four months of operation in Ghana.

Power: Consortium denies link with IBB

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ARELY 24 hours after the Bureau of Public E n t e r p r i s e s (BPE)conducted bids for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), one of the preferred bidders, North South Power Company Limited, yesterday condemned the news linking former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, with it.

In a statement made avail-

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

able to The Nation yesterday, the management said the consortium was neither backed nor sponsored by the former president as widely reported in the media.

The statement, signed by Dr. Olubunmi Peters on behalf of the management, listed four companies registered in Nigeria and another one reg-

istered in theUS as well the Niger State Government, as members of the consortium.

The companies are XS Energy Limited (Nigeria), BP Investment Limited (Nigeria), Urban Shelter Limited (Nigeria), Transatlantic Development and Investment Company (United States), Roads Nigeria Plc (Nigeria), and Niger State Government.

Consumer group wants Star Times GANDA Consumers’ MPE 4 over DVB T as sanctioned and Protection Aware the standards to be used in

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ness Association (UCPAA) has called on the Ugandan Communications Commission (UCC) and the government to suspend the operating licence of Star Times. Star Times entered Nigeria market last year to sell Television decoder, and further get a fair share of the market dominated by DSTV. The body said the company is selling outdated and outlawed digital video transmission-terrestrial (DVB T) set top boxes (decoders) to consumers, and must therefore be sanctioned. It said some of the companies offering digital pay television services are taking advantage of ignorance of consumers to promote and dump appears to be cheap products onto the Ugandan market According to Mulwani Taminwa, chairman, UCPAA, the dumped items are outdated technology, which has been outlawed

By Akinola Ajibade

in most countries including neighboring Kenya and Rwanda and which UCC has advised consumers against purchasing..

“The prime culprit of this is Star Times TV which recently announced a wonderful price offer by slashing price of their Set Top Boxes (decoders) from 100,000 down to 60,000.

Whilst this offer is very tempting to the Ugandan publics who have limited disposable income, we are aware earlier this year that the UCC published a public notice in a cross-section of the local media announcing the adoption of countrywide standards for the digital migration.

“The notice informed the broadcasting fraternity investors, service providers and the general public that Uganda had with immediate effect adopted DVB T2

the provision of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcasting services,” Taminwa noted.

It added that in a subsequent notice, the regulator published a list of minimum specifications for DVB T2 and advised vendors to stop the importation of DVB T set top box (STB) and consumers to cease purchasing the same.

He said investigations carried out by the UCPAA in the market and the ongoing advertising subsequ ent t o t he a nnou nc ements indicate that Star Times continues to sell and distribute DVB T technology at knockdown prices despite the fact that these STB are to be phased out in the near future and will be unable to receive television signals once the UCC sets up its DTT infrastructure, which will support DVB T2 but not DVB T.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

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INDUSTRY

22 out of 100 Nigerians jobless, says MAN U NEMPLOYMENT is rising with 22 out of every 100 Nigerians out of job, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has said.

Speaking at the 16th Triennial Symposium of the International Tropical Roast Crops at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, MAN President, Kola Jamodu said, unemployment was getting worse.

The rising unemployment, he said, was being compounded by under-employment, which he described as more dangerous.

“Nigeria is witnessing very daring state of unemployment. Sta-

Stories by Toba Agboola

tistics shows that 22 out of 100 Nigerians are out of job. It is even worse with under-employment, and it is not acceptable. Underemployment is even dangerous.

“If we succeed in what we are doing today, it will generate employment,” he said.

He said if the country utilised its naturally endowed capacity in root crop production, especially cassava, its economic and industrial fortunes could be turned around.

Jamodu said: “We are blessed to have over 200 scientists from over

30 countries willing to share experiences, build collaborations and develop strategies to contribute to sustainable root and tuber development.

“Root crops, naturally domiciled in the tropical region, have lots of socio-economic importance for both household and industrial users worldwide.

Apart from meeting the food, health and nutritional needs of the people, the economic importance of the crops cannot be overemphasised.”

Manufacturing, as a critical sector, he said, needed attention be-

cause of its central role in economic repositioning.

He said: “The only way to solve problems in a sustainable way is to encourage manufacturing to thrive. Manufacturing is the only sector that has the capacity to generate the most jobs and ensure economic turnaround.

“We want to be a producing nation, and not an importing nation. What happens when we remain an importing nation is to create jobs for citizens of other nations. This is what the report is out to stop.”

Jamodu said actions that would

enhance the productive capacity and capacity utilisation of the various sub-sectors of the manufacturing sector needed to be taken in order to ensure that the sector played its role of job creation, poverty reduction and general economic development.

“The current administration is working on some of the addressed problems. We are all concerned about the fortune of manufacturing because it is the only sector, whose prospect can determine the fortunes of the people and the economy.

A healthy manufacturing sector means more jobs for the people, and less poverty in the land,” he said.

Women seek BoI’s assistance on funds

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HE Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture , Business Women Group (NAWORG) has urged the Bank of Industry (BoI) and African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) to assist in expanding women business enterprises with funds.

The group said the funds would help businesses to meet local and international standards and contribute to the Gross Domestic Profit (GDP) .

NAWORG Chairperson Iyalode Alaba Lawson made the call at the opening of Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition (NIWEX) 2012 tagged “Women: Agents of Change” in Lagos.

She said NIWEX was a platform for business women who are members of the group to showcase their products and services in order to access markets locally and internationally.

“This year’s Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition (NIWEX), which has over 20 exhibitors, is to expand our businesses thereby contributing our quota to the development of the nation with what we feel we can do best as women with potentials.”

She added that women are forces to be reckoned with as they are agents of change who seek viable change in their homes and in the country, stressing that it is time NAWORG and BoI/AGOA join

hands together to empower and move the women forward as well as their businesses wherein they showcase their potentials.

“We believed that if these women businesses are empowered in these changing times, it will shore up their competitiveness and enhance their global reach,” she said.

Responding, the representative of BoI/AGOA, Mrs Bolajoko Ogunbambi, said BoI/AGOA is passionate at moving Nigerian women forward and that is the reason why they encourage them to export to the United States.

“What we do is we teach business women how to package their products to meet up with local and international quality.

We also have special funds for women to expand their businesses as well as an AGOA resource centre where you can get information on services required for your product to have market access into the United States,” she said.

She implored the women to take advantage of all the facilities available as they are rendered free.

Former Vice President, Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), Mrs Adetutu Adeleke, praised the efforts of the Chairperson of the group for bringing together the business women who stand to be recognised and responsible for the development of their nation through their potential.

NIPC woos Indian investors

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HE Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ABUCCIMA) have urged Indian investors to explore the investment potential in Nigeria.

Speaking while receiving a trade delegation from India in Abuja, the Executive Secretary, Alhaji Mustafa Bello, said the commission would provide assistance to prospective Indian investors.

The purpose of the visit was to invite Nigerian businessmen and investors to the sixth Vibrant Gujarat 2013 Summit scheduled for January 11 to13, 2013.

Bello said Nigeria has made giant strides in economic reforms, hence, the need for investors to take a look at the opportunities in the country.

“There is a better business environment and favourable global economic arena, combined with improved policy formulation, implementation and coordination to generate a stable macroeconomic environment and increased investment.”

He said Nigeria was the fifth fastest growing economy in the world and home to the emerging world’s largest cement companies, so, it could not be ignored by investors. According to Bello, the forthcoming event in India provides prospects to the State of Gujarat to display its strength and investor friendly climate.

The NIPC boss called on Nigerian investors to explore investment opportunities provided by the summit, while promising to facilitate the trip for investors from Nigeria and other West African countries.

President, ABUCCIMA, Dr Solomon Nyagba, called on the Federal Government to emulate India in the area of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) as the surest way to economic growth.

Nyagba said Nigeria has to transform from a consumption economy to a producing one and called on Indian investors to establish firms in Nigeria.

“We need to produce majority of the products we consume, our colleagues from Gujarat can come here and manufacture and create wealth and employment. We have to close that gap between import and production because most of the security challenges we are facing are caused by unemployment.”

He listed areas of potential investment as transportation, water supply, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, ICT, education and power.

Earlier, Mr Pankaj Kumar, the leader of the delegation, said Gujarat was the gateway to the Indian economy with a huge market size and consumption capacity. Kumar said that the summit would provide opportunities for exchange between investors across the globe.

•From left: First National President, Nigeria Association of Hairdressers, Dr Elizabeth Osinsanya, Mrs Adeleke, President, Fish Trawler Owners Association, Mrs Margaret Orakwusi and Mrs Lawson during the exhibition in PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS Lagos.

NEXIM spends N23.33bn on non-oil exports

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HE Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) disbursed N23.33 billion for the financing of non-oil exports in the last two years, its Managing Director, Robert Orya, has said.

Briefing reporters in Abuja on the three-year turn-around performance of the bank, Orya said the interventions were targeted at sectors that had great potential in growing the economy.

The sectors are manufacturing with N11.343 bilion (48.6 per cent); agro-processing, N5.033 billion (21.6 per cent); solid minerals, N2.069 billion (8.9 per cent); and services, N4.879 billion (20.9 per cent).

Orya said the non-oil sector has begun to reap the gains of the bank’s transformation.

The exercise, he noted, has repositioned the bank to deliver on its

•Creates 14,358 jobs mandate through a robust strategy, efficient operations and motivated personnel.

He said: “Within 16 months of assumption of duty, the management turned around the fortunes of the bank and ensured that it is a profit rather than a loss-making outfit, with an impressive performance of N189 million in 2010 as against the loss of N5.46 billion in 2009.

“The bank, through its various operational interventions, generated direct jobs of over 14,358 as at August 31, 2012 and estimated foreign exchange earnings of $189.2 million.”

Orya said the bank had recovered N1.3 bllion from its non-performing loan portfolio, adding that with

the renewed and aggressive measures put in place, other delinquent loans would soon be recovered.

“A remedial management department has been specifically created to intensify the bank’s debt recovery drive and ensure that its portfolio remains healthy,” he said.

On the $200 million entertainment fund, he said N700 million had been disbursed, adding that despite its high prospects, the industry was still faced with some challenges militating against the realisation of its full potential.

Some of the challenges, according to him, are; low production for theatrical releases; inadequate exhibition, lack of adequate digital production infrastructure; gross violation of intellectual property rights; low access to finance; weak distribution channels and poor corporate structure.

Aganga: Onne free zone attracted N930b investments IGERIA has attracted N930 in 15 years vestment (FDI) cannot be billion ($6billion) worth of overemphasised.

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Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone since inception in 1997, according to Trade and Investment, Minister Olusegun Aganga.

Speaking during the just-concluded 2012 Oil and Gas Trade and Investment Forum in Onne, Rivers State, Aganga said: “The Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone is today adjudged the single largest and fastest growing Free Zone in the world dedicated to the oil and gas industry.

The establishment of FTZs in Nigeria is in consonance with the globally-accepted new strategy for engineering industrialisation and the

promotion of sustainable economic growth and development. Free Zones are an integral part of Nigeria’s Trade Facilitating Mechanism and are designed to stimulate trade and export activities and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

“Globally, FTZs are known to have the largest job creation capacity. Records have shown that every job in a Free Trade Zone creates two additional jobs through a multiplier process.

For us in Nigeria, Free Trade Zones (FTZs) are strategic in facilitating the growth of the economy and attracting Foreign Direct In-

“I am particularly pleased with the technology brought into the country through Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, the jobs that have been created and investments that came with it.

The Onne oil and Gas Free Zone has been playing this role since its establishment vide the Free Zone Decree no. 8 of 1996 and its official opening in March 1997.

This culminated to the registration of about 150 investors in the zone with a cumulative investment to date of US$6 billion (N930 billion) and creation of well over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs for our people, both skilled and semi-skilled.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

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INDUSTRY Indomie to reward consumers

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UFIL Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles, has launched the biggest-ever promotion in the food and beverages industry tagged the ‘Indomie Super Millionaire Promo’ to reward customers.

The promo, which would run while the stock lasts, would produce at least 2,000 winners every week; seven of which would be millionaires.

At a briefing in Lagos, Managing Director Mr Deepak Singhal, said: “There will be a weekly draw, which will produce a minimum of seven millionaires weekly and also other gift items would include IPADs, air conditioners, fridges, laptops, TVs, mixers/grinders, fans,

cartons of indomie and lots of other prizes.

Singhal said for consumers to participate and win any of the gift prizes during the promo, they must buy a promo carton of Indomie noodles, check the wrapper for a code and text the code to 20050 and get a confirmation text almost immediately with no extra charges incurred.

Each promo carton of the Indomie Super Pack will contain indomie sachets with the promo wrappers. The winners will be announced through a televised weekly draw, and can redeem their prizes by furnishing the wrapper and confirmation text. The codes of the weekly winners would also be published in national dailies across the country.

Vitafoam honours 150 distributors From left: Managing Director, BD Consult, Mr Tola Bademosi, MD/CEO, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr Deepak Singhal and Head of Marketing, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr Manpreet Singhat at the Indomie Super Millionaire promo in Lagos.

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ITAFOAM Nigeria Limited has rewarded 150 distributors across the country for their hard work and dedication over the years.

The key distributors’ award coincided with the 50th anniversary.

The Chairman, Vitafoam Nigeria Limited, Mr Sam Bolarinde, said the company was celebrating their trade partners .

He said the honours given to the distributors represented the company’s readiness to continue with the relationship, promising that the company would leverage its strengths and improve areas of weakness.

“These awards are being held simultaneously in our factory locations with an executive director present and this shows how much importance we attach to the exercise.”

“At the grand finale which is expected to hold in Lagos, we will also present laurels of appreciation to national winners and we urge everyone to continue to imbibe a culture of excellence and performance as we continue to develop a robust partnership,” Bolarinde said.

The acting Managing Director, Mr Joel Ajiga, thanked the distributors for their support which has contributed to the progress of the company.

He said in the next 50 years after this year’s celebration, Vitafoam would have become a multinational company, well known across the world.

Sales and Marketing Director, Mr Peter Folikwe, said Vitafoam has been consistent on customer service and product policies which entail trying to know what the consumers wants and ensuring that they are happy.

Grand Oak unveils product

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From left: Delmas; Ms. Obayuwana and Mr Obayuwana during the visit.

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Firms collaborate on employment generation

OLO Nigeria Limited has entered into partnership with Piaget International, maker of luxury items and accessories, on the merchandising of its products, such as wristwatches in the country.

Speaking during a visit to the Polo Head Office in Lagos, Piaget International‘s Area Manager Mr Mathieu Delmas praised the firm for promoting Piaget brand.

His words: “We had to take our time to arrive at Polo Nigeria being our representatives because we needed the best partner that can understand and deliver the story of our brand in Nigeria.This of course will lead to job creation. “ The Nigerian market and indeed Africa is strategic to Piaget as a brand. Nigeria is the center of economic growth in the African

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HE volume of bilateral trade between the United States and Nigeria, as well as other countries in sub-Saharan Africa hit $48 billion in the first- half of the year.

A report by the US Department of Commerce International and Trade Administration in Nigeria, signed by its media officer, S. J. Loucif, said the trade volume represented a decrease of 24 per cent compared to the same period in 2011.

According to the report, in accordance with the seven per cent growth of US exports to the world, US exports to sub-Saharan Africa, which are mostly composed of machinery, increased by 4.5 per cent.

By Damilola Ogunfuye

continent, a country with huge potentials that cannot be ignored by any brand”.

To achieve its business goal, the firm is reinventing the rules to showcase its strength in promoting superior service delivery to its high end customers.

He said some of the measures being put in place to support Polo in meeting customers’ expectation include provision of training materials and knowledge transfer on watch making, communication and merchandising support.

Managing Director of Polo Limited Mr John Obayuwana, said the Piaget brand is targeted at the dynamic and upwardly mobile

individuals with preference for wristwatches that fit their lifestyle. ‘’What the Piaget proposition brings is not merely telling the time but more of prestige, status and style. It is here to find ways of using its partnership with us to enhance and deepen consumers experience through superior customer service delivery and also ensure that they are educated on the gains of acquiring authentic products.’’

Polo Executive Director Ms Jennifer Obayuwana said: ‘’With its reputation for creativity and attention to details, the Piaget brand offers great value. Piaget possesses a full integrated watchmaking expertise enhanced by the finest craftsmen in the world.’’

She also stated that Piaget items can be found in Lagos and Abuja offices of Polo Limited.

RAND Oak Limited has unveiled the new look Dark Sailor Rum. At a briefing in Lagos, the Marketing Director, Aare Fatai Odesile, said the new look Dark Sailor Rum would align with the company’s mission, which is to make people happy by providing brands that enhance prestige and lifestyle.

Odesile said the changes would endear the rum to consumers as the changes would differentiate

Symposium on economic growth

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ROFESSIONALS and technocrats under the aegis of Delta North Senatorial Think Tank (DeNSTT) have concluded arrangement to hold a symposium on how the economic potential of Delta North Senatorial District can be fully exploited.

The symposium will involve taking stock of the resources and potentials of Delta North, examine innovative strategies to harness them and propose actionable measures and roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders.

DeNSTT is an alliance of professionals who hail from nine local government areas of Delta North Senatorial District. Inaugu-

Nigeria, US trade records $48b •Trade with Turkey hits N208b

ByToba Agboola and Ambrose Nnaji

The report put the figure at about $11 billion, representing only 1.4 per cent of total US exports to the world.

It named South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Ghana, and Benin Republic as the top five African destinations for US products.

It explained: “While exports to South Africa decreased by four per cent and exports to Nigeria remained constant, exports to Angola increased by 14 per cent, to Ghana by 10 per cent and to Benin by seven per cent.

The report disclosed that US imports from sub-Saharan African decreased by 29 per cent in the same period, falling to $27 billion and representing only 2.4 per cent of total US imports from the world.

“This decrease was mostly due to a 32 per cent decrease in US mineral fuel and oil imports. There was about 19 per cent decrease of precious stones and metals imports from sub-Saharan Africa.

“US imports from sub-Saharan Africa originated, for the most part, in Nigeria, Angola, South Africa, Chad, and Congo. US imports, which is

Dark Sailor Rum from any other brand in the market.

The Category Manager, Abiodun Ayodeji, said not only would the brand adorn a new look it will add a 12cl pack size, the first of its kind in the rum category.

This will increase the pack sizes to four: 75cl, 20cl, 12cl and 3cl.

Brand Manager Tope Adenle said the new look Dar Sailor Rum would be unveiled at a consumer party scheduled for Akure, Ondo State, tomorrow.

mostly oil from Nigeria dropped by 44 per cent, from Gabon by 76 per cent, and from Ghana by 57 per cent.

The only major increases of US imports from sub-Saharan Africa originated in Tanzania and in Senegal”.

Also the bilateral trade volume between Nigeria and Turkey hit over N208 billion ($1.3 billion) between 2004 and 2012, the President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Herbert Ajayi, has said.

The president who disclosed this during the opening ceremony of the

rated on December 29 2011 at a forum in Asaba, the alliance is motivated by the need to generate, mobilise and advocate good quality ideas and innovative proposals for the social and economic upliftment of the people of the district.

The symposium is to hold on September 29 at Bellwood Hotel, Asaba. It will, among others, provide reference to help shape opinions, perspectives and disposition of the district public officers, executive appointees, legislators and political actors in their agenda setting, policy standpoints, political representations and developmental efforts.

Lagos Expobuild said the balance of trade between the two countries was in favour of Turkey.

Similarly, the trade deficit of goods with Turkey was $429.3 million in 2011, a 21.9 per cent increase over 2010.

According to him, the maiden exhibition which showcases the best Turkish products in the building construction, energy, electrical industry etc. would further enhance the bilateral trade relationship and mutual cooperation between Nigeria and Turkey as well as the business communities of both countries.

He said statistics has revealed that Turkey’s goods exports to Nigeria in 2011 were $394.4million up by 57.4 per cent ($250.6) from 2010.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

In the Middle East, a pro-American turn

The deluge this time • As flood wreaks havoc in the land, govt must improve emergency management

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S at last weekend, about 30 out of Nigeria’s 36 states had been affected by heavy flooding that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and destroyed properties worth millions of naira. The worst hit are Kogi, Benue, Taraba, Edo, Anambra, Nassarawa, Bayelsa, Plateau, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, to name a few. Taraba, Kogi and parts of Benue states have particularly come under the wrath of a rampaging flood. Kogi’s capital, Lokoja being at the confluence between Rivers Niger and Benue is at the vortex of the flood which has devastated most of the capital, Lokoja, spreading through local council areas, towns and villages like Dekina, Ibaji, Ankpa, Ajaokuta, Bassa and Kotonkarfe.

Quite troubling was that the deluge

‘With the twists in world climate, these cataclysms of nature are not expected to abate. In this light, sound emergency management will be the new frontier of human development. We therefore call for a total overhaul of NEMA to include a restructuring, reorientation, retraining and provision of adequate funding for the agency. With nature seeming to lend a hand to terrorist activities around the world, the best response is to always prepare for the worst’

could submerge the Abuja-Lokoja highway, a major artery linking the north of Nigeria to the south and rendering it impassable to the throng of commuters plying that road. Vast farmlands are also washed away while houses and properties in many communities across the country were damaged. The flooding has been attributed to many causes which include changing world climate which has triggered excessive rainfall, bursting dams and overflowing river banks.

With the tide high in the Atlantic Ocean, rivers Niger and its tributary, the Benue which run through the centre of the country are experiencing a backlash and a surge of water into the hinterlands.

What this means is that all the areas along the plains of the two rivers will experience flooding for some time. There is also the Lagdo Dam in neighbouring Cameroun and the Kainji Dam in Niger State which water had to be released to forestall damages. If therefore the intensive rains continue as the weather agency has forecasted, it means that more flooding is to be expected.

It is true that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had warned about the impending deluge a few days before, nobody expected this magnitude of disaster. While NEMA had envisaged flood along the plains of the Niger and Benue, the reality has been more extended and devastating, leaving even the Federal Government overwhelmed. And it seems that we are in for a very long night.

As in all natural disasters, there is hardly

anything that can be done to temper the intensity of the rainfall or to quell the rage of the attendant flooding. It is an emergency situation that can only be attenuated by quick intervention damage control. Governments at all levels must think relief; ingenious and urgent relief methods must be devised and deployed to disaster areas, pronto. NEMA as currently structured may not be able to do much. There may be need for emergency flood relief committees to spring up quickly and support it in all the floodprone states.

There is need to set up more safe grounds and relief centres in the affected localities. Also, in the short run, food, blankets, mattresses, medication, potable water and other household daily needs are urgently required in some of the affected areas. Then reconstruction of houses, homesteads and communities will have to commence in earnest. Longterm measures will include opening up of water ways, dredging of canals and building of even dams in the flood-prone areas.

With the twists in world climate, these cataclysms of nature are not expected to abate. In this light, sound emergency management will be the new frontier of human development. We therefore call for a total overhaul of NEMA to include a restructuring, reorientation, retraining and provision of adequate funding for the agency. With nature seeming to lend a hand to terrorist activities around the world, the best response is to always prepare for the worst.

Who killed Citizen Ozuah?

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•That question must be answered; and the culprit(s) punished

HEN criminals stormed Lagos killing all the way on September 9, an irate Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Dahiru Abubakar, accused his men of napping, while criminals made hay. Eleven days later on September 20, a worrisome image of the police in Lagos re-emerged: the disturbing possibility of killer cops on the prowl.

That about sums up the tragedy of Citizen Ugochukwu Ozuah, 36; who wedded on Saturday, but was felled the following Thursday. Our hearts must go out to Joan, the late Ozuah’s six-day wife; and the Ozuah family, for this grave tragedy.

But the question is: who did it?

The late Ozuah’s family claim it was the police, some trigger-happy or nervy operative or operatives who shot dead a defenceless citizen, under the cover of darkness. But the police have maintained it was indeed armed robbers, firing from a sports utility van (SUV). Who is telling the truth? A thorough investigation should provide an answer.

Still, the murder story is bizarre. The late Ozuah was dropping off Erikefe Omene, who had come on a congratulatory visit to the newlyweds, to get a taxi cab, outside an estate in Gbagada, Lagos, where he lived. On alighting from the car with his friend, a shot rang out, following a piercing cry of “who goes there”?, according to newspaper reports. The bullets reportedly pierced Ozuah’s body and he fell. The report also mentioned another

car parked around the same spot, which was approached by figures suspected to be the police on patrol duty. The occupants of that car also reportedly scrambled for cover behind Ozuah’s car, after the shooting.

Now, who fired that shot? The police claimed it was armed robbers. But the police claim is curious. If indeed armed robbers shot Ozuah, and the police were nearby, would the most logical thing not be rushing the victim to the hospital to save his life? But curiously the police personnel there preferred first briefing the Anthony Village, Lagos Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to reportedly alert him on the shooting. Now, was this a grave error of judgement or deliberate and a culpable attempt at cover-up?

More gravely, from the time the call went to the DPO and when he made a hurried arrival at the shooting scene, the victim bled. It was only when Omene (who had fled back in panic into Ozuah’s estate to alert Joan, his new wife) that Ozuah’s wife insisted her husband be rushed to the hospital. But it was too late.

Another priceless life of a citizen had been wilfully wasted.

Also thanks to Omene, an eye witness like the police operatives on patrol, an apparent crafty rearrangement of the sequel of the tragic event is being challenged. Indeed, Omene pointedly told the DPO that his men, not any armed robbers, shot his friend. Although the DPO countered otherwise, it would appear that but

for Omene’s presence, a radically different story about the death of an innocent man would have been sold to the public.

This is indeed a tragedy of monumental proportions. A man got married on Saturday and was killed on Thursday!

Yes, accidents do occur, but this particular death is callous and unjustified: Joan enjoyed her marriage for a cumulative six days before becoming a widow – and this, in 21stcentury Lagos, not in some lawless jungle! This is absolutely unacceptable.

That is why the authorities must launch full-scale investigation into the matter, and ferret out the truth.

‘This is indeed a tragedy of monumental proportions. A man got married on Saturday and was killed on Thursday! Yes, accidents do occur, but this particular death is callous and unjustified: Joan enjoyed her marriage for a cumulative six days before becoming a widow – and this, in 21stcentury Lagos, not in some lawless jungle! This is absolutely unacceptable. That is why the authorities must launch full-scale investigation into the matter, and ferret out the truth’

I

N THE IMMEDIATE aftermath of the attacks on U.S. diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt, plenty of commentators lamented what they saw as intractable anti-Americanism in the Middle East — even in Libya, where the United States had helped to overthrow a hated dictator.

As it turns out, the reactions were hasty. In the days since the riots, there has been a broad backlash against the violence in both countries — culminating Friday in Benghazi, where tens of thousands of people marched on the base of an Islamist militia suspected of involvement in the Sept.

11 attack on the U.S. Consulate.

People carrying pro-American signs pushed their way into the encampment of Ansar alSharia, which in spite of its denials is suspected of complicity in the death of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. The militants were forced out of the base, and the demonstrators burned part of it before turning it over to the Libyan army. On Sunday, the interim government, which had been wavering on how to react to the assault on the consulate, ordered the dismantlement of all militias not under its authority and said they must withdraw from government property within 48 hours.

In Egypt, where the government’s slow reaction to protests outside the U.S. Embassy in Cairo prompted a phone call from President Obama to the newly elected Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, there has been a chorus of condemnation of the violence, with the country’s most prestigious sheiks and other Islamic leaders calling it shameful and contrary to Islam; some even issued fatwas against it. The Middle East Media Research Institute has documented numerous commentaries by newspaper columnists warning against incitement by radical groups.

Anti-Americanism is a potent force in the Arab Middle East; polls show that in several countries — though not in Libya — U.S. prestige has fallen during the Obama administration. But in a region where power is up for grabs, it is only one of many competing agendas, and much evidence suggests that its champions are in the minority.

That means the appropriate U.S. response is not to write off the region, or to cancel aid programs — as some in Congress propose — but to help moderate forces defeat and marginalize the extremists.

Libya’s biggest problem is that its new democratic government is too weak to take on the scores of militias around the country that do not accept its authority, including some that may be allied with al-Qaeda. Though last week’s popular demonstrations gave it a political boost, the government could use greater security assistance from the United States and other NATO governments — including training and help with intelligence.

In Egypt, the Obama administration has been working on a $1 billion debt-forgiveness deal that could help revive the Egyptian economy, but the oft-postponed pact was put on hold again after the Sept. 11 demonstration. Mr. Obama may wish to deflect election-eve Republican claims that he is showing weakness in the face of attacks on Americans. But such demagoguery ought not to derail the effort to help stabilize Egypt’s economy and reinforce free-market policies.

– Washington Post

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: I can understand the national outcry when the minister of aviation lifted the suspension imposed on Dana Air. I can also relate to the families who lost their loved ones in the fatal accident on June 3.

The loss of lives in a major airliner accident is naturally overwhelming and emotionally draining.

But banning an airline that has been involved in an accident does not solve the problem of a repeated accident. The only solution is to find the probable cause(s) of the accident and proffer a solution to future occurrence. If Dana Air is banned from operating in our national airspace, it does not mean we have finally prevented future aircraft accidents. What it means is that another airline has been sent into bankruptcy, and more Nigerians have been sent into the dun-

S

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Dana Air: Aviation minister acted right geon of unemployment.

What Nigeria needs most at this point is to demand from our government the cause(s) of that fatal accident with a view to preventing future mishaps. From knowing the reason for the crash, we can deduce and prevent future similar cases.

This is what is important, not an indefinite suspension of Dana Air. Over the years, air safety has improved tremendously: airplanes are more reliable, more dependable, with improved safety measures

.The only setback in flight safety or air transportation is human errors.

Human factors account for more than 80% of all aircraft accidents in the modern world. The core issue of air safety is how to overcome or minimize the fallibility of man when operating a machine.

For expert aircraft accident investigators, air crash is not the problem, but the factors responsible for the crash. An accident does not just happen; there is a series of events that lead to a crash.

Unless the pieces of the puzzle are collated, analyzed and synthesized, it becomes difficult to deduce the probable cause of an accident.

This is where the Aircraft Accident investigation Bureau (AIB), an independent agency of the federal government, comes into the equation. The agency, which reports directly to the president, according to Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Act 2006, is the sole authority in air crash investigation in the country.

The nation should wait patiently for

Still on Lagos and the new traffic law

IR: We will not appreciate the import of the new Lagos Traffic Law until we bring into focus some statistics about Lagos.

The state’s land mass is only 0.4 per cent of Nigeria’s land mass, yet its population is more than 10 per cent of the country’s population. It is almost unimaginable that more than 70 per cent of Lagos population lives in the metropolitan area, which occupies only 37 per cent of land mass of the state. This cuts the picture of a megacity – the third largest in the world – bundled into a relatively small land mass. By estimation, it means about 13 million people live on just 1,324 square kilometres of land.

Now, these people are not just lounging on the city’s extensive beach, coasting thorough the day.

They are all in a race of economic pursuit, irrespective of language or colour. Like ants gathering food in the summer, everybody is on the move, as could be inferred from the following statistics: this littoral state consumes almost 50 per cent of the petroleum products in the country. The two seaports in the state account for 70 per cent of the country’s maritime activities. The

Murtala Muhammed International Airport handles more than 70 per cent of all international flights in the country. About 40 per cent of Nigeria’s skilled workforce is in Lagos, where we have about 50 per cent of the country’s industrial and commercial establishments.

It is possible that Lagosians can be seen obeying traffic regulations in other cities but a new “spirit” takes over once they are within Lagos boundaries.

Let us keep this hyperactive nature of Lagosians to a side and consider some statistics about the city’s traffic infrastructure. Both rail and water still carry less than one per cent of overall traffic volume. The road network density of Lagos, put at 0.4 kilometres per 1000 people, is very low, even compared with other African cities. Also, there is an average of 222 vehicles per kilometre of road I Lagos, compared to the country’s average of 11 vehicles.

A very unique feature of Lagos, compared to other industrial cities in Nigeria, is that traffic flows in unilateral direction. It is estimated that about six million people move to Lagos Island on daily basis to

work. Therefore, even though, Lagos has about 16,000 kilometres of road network, about 10 per cent of this length carries the bulk of the traffic volume.

Prior to 2008, about 75,000 minibuses, popularly called Danfo, and Molue ran the show on Lagos roads, providing hectic transportation services that drive people to high blood pressure. You needed to enter three buses to move from Ikorodu to Lagos Island.

When we put all these together, there is no gainsaying Lagos needs a means, a law, to bridle the mad rush in the city – one strong enough to rid it of the current road malady and also protect it from whatever dimension its sprawling population growth may bring in the future.

This law is needed for two altruistic reasons: first, the difficult transportation in Lagos accounts for disproportionate production cost and loss of valuable man-hour. If there is efficient transportation system, population density in the metropolis will reduce as people will not mind relocating to the suburb.

Second, every injury and death to anyone in Lagos is not only devas-

tating but also has far reaching impacts because many people “hustling” in Lagos, including the Okada riders, are breadwinners.

Therefore, care must be taken to protect lives in Lagos because many other lives depend on what they earn. Too many needless deaths occur on Lagos roads and these would be reduced to minimal if this law is properly implemented.

People complaining now should have done that during the public hearing stage. And this is a lesson that we must learn to participate in governance process. As for truck owners complaining that compliance with the law will lead to loss of revenue for them, I wonder how many times they have commiserated with those bereaved as a result of the reckless activities of their drivers. They do not seem bothered about many lives that have been lost to truck brake failures and unlatched containers falling off.

Let us imagine the advantages this law will bring – a Lagos where we can all pursue our economic agenda safely - and accept it wholeheartedly.

• Segun Balogun Lagos

AIB to come out with its report on the cause(s) of the accident before raising undue alarm of a foul play.

As bad as the Dana Air accident was, there have been worse fatal accidents in the recent history of aviation, involving today’s celebrated legacy airlines. What led to the improved safety records of major airlines like British Airways (BA), KLM-Air France, and American is repetitive, professional investigation into accidents and incidents involving their aircraft, and the adoption of safety recommendations.

Below are two fatal aircraft accidents involving BA, and the reports of the investigations into the cause of the accidents: September 10, 1976: British Airways Trident 3B; Flight 476; near Zagreb, Yugoslavia: The aircraft had a midair collision with an Inex Adria aircraft, DC9-32. All nine crew members and 54 passengers on the Trident were killed. All five crew members and 108 passengers on the DC9 were also killed. The probable cause of this event was failure of the Yugoslavian ATC system to provide adequate separation.

August 22, 1985: British Airtours 737-200; Flight 28M; Manchester Airport, England: The crew rejected the takeoff due to an uncontained engine failure. The failure led to a punctured fuel tank and a fire that spread to the cabin. The accident killed 53 of 131 passengers and two of six crew members. British Airways was not banned or suspended by the British government. Today, BA is one of the most celebrated legacy airlines, and probably the most loved airline by Nigerians.

It may sound funny to some people in this country, but the major challenge facing aviation industry in Nigeria today is not regulation / safety oversight, but critical human factor elements.

The more Nigerians, after every accident, distort professional investigation into the cause(s) of a crash, the more we dilute the zeal to pursue the facts for future lesson.

• Capt. Daniel Omale Lagos

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

21

COMMENTS

Massacre of miners in South Africa: The price of liberty

N

IGERIA invested a lot of time and resources in the liberation of southern Africa and I personally was involved in this process. It is therefore reasonable for Nigerians to be concerned about development in South Africa. South Africa is the biggest economy on the continent while Nigeria has the second biggest economy in Africa south of the Sahara. There is no way the African Continent will realise its economic potentiality without a symbiotic relationship between the two countries.

There is of course healthy rivalry between South Africa and Nigeria and there is nothing wrong with that. This rivalry as long as it is healthy should not disturb the amicable relations between the two countries. As a Nigerian, I would of course like us to represent the continent and black people in the most important forum of international organisations in the United Nations Security Council. Whether this pious hope will be realised in the future is in womb of time.

This is why I felt very sad when 34 hapless miners were murdered by South African Police in Marikana Mines belonging to the London Group, Lonmin one of the largest producers of Platinum in the world. A tragedy of this proportion happening in the new South Africa is simply unbelievable and unacceptable. This is why critics of the new regime refer to it as a Neo-apartheid regime and that nothing has changed in South Africa except that a few black leaders have become stinkingly rich while the vast majority of the people remain in abject poverty.

South Africa like Brazil manifests the reality of the first and third world living side by side in the same country.

It was very sad to hear that ownership of the platinum

‘To make matters even more painful, after 34 striking miners were struck down in cold blood, 100 of their striking colleagues were rounded up, detained and taken to court to face charges of murder under a spurious old fashioned apartheid law of “common purpose”’

F

ROM the outset, everything about Project Cure, Mallam Lamido Sanusi’s much vaunted pill for restoring the naira, was defective. But he didn’t think so. That is the problem with this our almighty Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor; once, he makes up his mind on an issue, getting him to see reason with others who disagree with him becomes a fight, especially that variant called roforofo by the late Afrobeat icon, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

Since Sanusi had decided on the socalled restructuring of the naira, there was no looking back for him.

He was set to roll whether or not the people knew what he was talking about.

He obtained President Goodluck Jonathan’s approval, no doubt, before unveiling his Poject Cure, but it should have occurred to him that it was an exercise that would generate heat because of the issues involved. Sanusi’s CBN was planning to, in one fell swoop, convert 50kobo, N1, N5, N10, N20, N50, N100, and N200 notes to coins.

It also proposed to change polymer notes to paper notes. The big one was the printing of the N5000 note, and the mere mention of its coming irked the populace. The questions came pouring out in torrents as the people questioned the rationale behind its coming.

The people were expecting Sanusi to educate them on why an economy like ours should be talking of having a N5000 bill considering our level of economic development, but he was not forthcoming on this. Rather than embark on enlightenment, he took to abusing and calling those opposed to the idea names.

mines involved in this tragedy is shared between the London group and family members of the ruling elite including even the grandson of Nelson Mandela. This is why Julius Malema, the outspoken former leader of the ANC Youth wing has been calling for nationalisation of all mines in South Africa and also redistribution of wealth. More than a decade after the ANC took over government, Black South Africans are still living in shacks and shanty towns and are at the margin of society. The incidence of crime is very high and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in South Africa is the highest in the whole world and many South Africans are dying in drones of either violence or disease.

The President of the Republic, Jacob Zuma is not providing the right leadership that South Africa requires rather he is indulging in sexual pleasures of renewing his harem regularly. It will be extremely sad if South Africa were to go the way of other African countries after independence. In terms of total GDP, South Africa is not doing badly but GDP per head is considerably lower than expected because of the unequal distribution of wealth – unfortunately along racial lines. While I will not support nationalisation of mines and other sectors of the South African White owned economy as advocated by Julius Malema, there has to be a concrete effort made to alleviate the suffering of the vast majority of the South African black population. Nationalisation is not the way out; we in Nigeria know the havoc the indigenization decree of the Yakubu Gowon era did to discourage foreign investment in Nigeria. I remember advising Thabo Mbeki, when the apartheid regime in South Africa was on the verge of collapse, that he should ensure that they did not make the same mistake of nationalisation as was made in Nigeria. He of course said ANC did not have that plan but no one would have believed that an ANC government would be murdering African people living under a so called non-racial majoritarian democracy.

To make matters even more painful, after 34 striking miners were struck down in cold blood, 100 of their striking colleagues were rounded up, detained and taken to court to face charges of murder under a spurious old fashioned apartheid law of “common purpose”. This law says that demonstrating workers knew that they could be killed by police and by demonstration they had caused the death of their colleagues. Enforcing this rather in-

sensitive code was met by criticism all over the world to the embarrassment of the South African government which quickly withdrew the cases from court. As a face saving measure, Jacob Zuma the President has now set up a judicial commission to probe the massacre of the 34 miners. After closing the mines for more Jide than five weeks, Osuntokun the miners have returned to work with a raise of 20% in their salaries but at the cost of several lives.

This wildcat strikes has now spread to other mines in South Africa thus threatening the extractive industry on which the South Africa economy depends. One hopes that all the issues will be amicably resolved and South Africa will once again take its rightful place among the BRICS countries.

‘I remember advising Thabo Mbeki, when the apartheid regime in South Africa was on the verge of collapse, that he should ensure that they did not make the same mistake of nationalisation as was made in Nigeria. He of course said ANC did not have that plan but no one would have believed that an ANC government would be murdering African people living under a so called non-racial majoritarian democracy’

The humbling of Sanusi In a poverty stricken country like ours, what value will the N5000 note add to the life of the people.

There were arguments that as part of the functions of money, it will enhance the measure of value of the naira. Good, but what about enhancing the value of the people.

What value will there be in a currency, which cannot be accessed by majority of the people.

Even, as of now, only a few people can access the N1000 note, but it is a manageable means of exchange compared to the N5000 note. This was why no two economists agreed on the planned introduction of the note before the president asked Sanusi to shelve the proposal to allow for wider consultation, something that the CBN should have done without being told in the first place.

But because Sanusi was determined to have his way after clearing with the president, he gave no thought to the people who will be affected by the policy. The planned restructuring of the naira, he wanted us to believe, was for the economic good of the country.

Hear the bank : ’’When the CBN introduced the N500 note in 2002, inflation dropped from 16.5% to 12.1% in 2003. Similarly, when the N1000 was introduced in 2005, the inflation actually dropped from 11.6% to 8.6% (single digit) in 2006 and dropped further to 6.6% in 2007".

But it forgot to tell us what the economic indices were then. It also forgot to tell us that there had never been an over 5000% increase in the

‘It takes a bad economist to know one because Mallam Sanusi’s Project Cure was not only bad, it was incurably bad ab initio’

oldest highest denomination and the new one as being contemplated before the proposed N5000 bill was stopped. We may be no economists but we are no fools. Likewise, Sanusi may be a good economist, but he is a bad mind reader, everything being equal.

Without doubt, Sanusi is an arrogant man and he has been exhibiting his arrogance since he came to office. My problem with those who are haughty is that they tend to look down on others, including those superior to them. It is this attitude that led him to introduce non-interest (Islamic) banking without any feeling for the religious sensibilities of others.

Then, he went to Kano to play Father Christmas with our money under the guise of helping those attacked by Boko Haram elements, again without caring for the feelings of many Nigerians. Sanusi’s supporters tend to say that he is highly misunderstood. I beg to disagree with them.

He is not a misunderstood person; he just likes listening to his own voice whether or not he is making sense. Being CBN governor is not a licence to run one’s mouth. We have had CBN governors before and we know how they comported themselves. As CBN governor, Sanusi is not expected to talk any how, unfortunately, he does. Sanusi talks more like a politician than an economist.

We know good economists through their thoughtful and profound policies and not harebrained remarks against those opposed to their ideas. What did former President Olusegun Obasanjo say to warrant his taking the general to the cleaners the way he did? Is it a sin to disagree with the CBN’s plan to introduce the N5000 note? What did Obasanjo say about the bill that had not been said before by others?

By abusing Obasanjo, Sanusi was indirectly throwing barbs at all those opposed to the N5000 bill as ‘’very bad economists’’. Who are we to disagree with this Thomas Malthus of our time? But then, it takes a bad economist to know one because Mallam Sanusi’s Project Cure was not only bad, it was incurably bad ab initio. Let him return to the drawing board and do what is right and proper.

Who killed Ozuah?

T

HE late Ugochukwu Ozuah’s story is one that touches the heart. Here was a man, who got married on September 15 and five days later, he was killed. What is worse; the circumstances of his death are now enmeshed in controversy. The late Ozuah was said to be in the company of his friend, Irikefe Omene, when the sad event happened. He was said to have driven Omene to the bus stop to take a cab. On their way, according to Omene, they were stopped by the police.

The late Ozuah, he said, was trying to park the car properly when he was shot by a policeman. The policemen, he said, took off after the shooting. Omene then returned to the deceased’s home to inform the wife, Joan, who became a widow after five days of her wedding.

By the time Omene returned to the scene, a crowd had gathered.

Instead of rushing the late Ozuah to the hospital, they just milled around discussing the tragedy.

Meanwhile, he was lying there on the ground in a pool of his own blood.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Anthony Police Station had also arrived, following, according to him, a phone call. He said he

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

was called by those who heard the sound of the gun shot. Omene in whose presence his friend was shot claims that the police pulled the trigger. The DPO disagrees, saying Ozuah was killed by robbers. I find it difficult to agree with the DPO that robbers killed Ozuah.

Has the DPO concluded investigation into the case as to arrive at that conclusion? What gave him the impression that Ozuah was killed by robbers? Was there any report of robbery near that scene? Who were the robbery victims? At what time were they robbed? If those who killed Ozuah were robbers, what did they take from him? Was his friend, Omene, also robbed? Why are the police so sure that it was a robbery?

It is just as well as saying that it was an assassination without any prior investigation.

I don’t think the police should discountenance Omene’s statement that Ozuah was killed by the police.

His statement is worth investigating. I don’t see any reason why he would say the police killed his friend if it wasn’t so. What would he gain by making such a claim? For now, it is too hasty to conclude that Ozuah was killed by robbers or even hired assassins without thorough investigation of the incident.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

22

COMMENTS

S

OMETHING new, beautiful or ugly always comes out of the old Southwest. The West bred NADECO or “Agbako” if you prefer Diya’s nomenclature.

It equally bred the self-styled Abacha‘s ‘new realists’, headed by Ebenezar Babatope who told us Abacha was the best to have happened to Nigeria. His other fellow travelers include Elder Wole Oyelese, Dr Walter Ofonagoro, and Wada Nas. It was also the western Abacha administrators that constituted the vanguard of what they termed ‘Abacha historic mission’. Leading the pack was Colonel Olagunsoye Oyinlola then of Lagos, under the assault of man-made plague-broken roads, UN cleared refuse dumps and Abacha state sponsored violence. Other ignoble members of the Abacha fraudulent ‘historic mission’ were administrators Nwosu of Oyo and Ahmed Usman of Ondo among others.

But the Fourth Republic has lived up to its reputation by throwing up the ugliest of the wild, wild, West. No matter how PDP governors from other geo-political zones tried, it will be difficult to beat the records of James Ibori described by a London court as ‘rogue in state house’, or that of Lucky Igbenedion who earned the same appellation from a Benin court.

Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, Gbenga Daniel of Ogun, Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo, all accused of squalid conducts in government houses still have dates with the court. The West produced more firsts. It produced Olusegun Agagu of Ondo, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor of Edo, and Segun Oni of Ekiti and Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun who were indicted by the courts for stealing others’ mandates.

For those who may be wondering about how South-west PDP governors have been able to chalk up such unenviable and unsavory reputation, the defence put up by Oyinlola, before the Prof. Femi Odekunle-led six-member panel of inquiry set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the procurement of an N18, 38b loan and other major financial transactions by his government between May 29, 2003 and November 27, 2010 provides two possible explanations – incompetence or greed or both.

First Oyinlola, swore he was motivated by service to his people to take the loan of N18.35b which exposed his state to ‘huge monthly repayment of a sum of N615 million to service a loan that by all accounts had no viable source of repayment’. He has told us that faced with a situation where “salaries of civil servants

I

T is no longer news that the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi was recently named the Leadership newspapers Governor of the year 2011 at an elaborate ceremony in Abuja. Other awardees were General T.Y Danjuma who bagged Man of the year, businessman Aliko Dangote as Business person of the year, Condoleeza Rice, the former US Secretary of State as author of the year; Ann Marie Imafidon, the young academic wizard who bagged an Oxford University Masters Degree the age of 12 as the young person of the year.

There are other awardees in other categories but the award of the Governor of the year conferred on Fayemi was the most discussed and the cynosure of all eyes.. Fayemi is always wary of awards because of the indecent and spurious nature of most awards that are equally conferred on unworthy fellows in the country. In fact, he has rejected many but for him to accept the Leadership award; there must have been a cogent reason. This was revealed in his acceptance speech when he said he accepted the award because the process of selection was transparent, predictable and independently verifiable. The award is credible because nobody was asked to pay any money. Predictably, the winner of the award last year was Governor Adams Oshiomhole who proved that he deserved the award going by how he has transformed Edo State and later secured a landslide victory for second term in office.

Despite the meagre resources of Ekiti State (Ekiti earns 2.5 billion from the federation accounts out of which it pays 1.5 billion as salary), and the debt of N40 billion inherited from the Oni’s administration, Fayemi is currently embarking on a massive transformation of the state capital through road construction where about 15 completed roads would be commissioned in October while construction of five kilometres each is presently going on in all the 16 local government areas of the state. There is urban renewal, and provision of pipe-borne water, streetlights, traffic lights and the general beautification of the city.

The Fayemi administration provides free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary levels while it reduced fees payable in higher institutions. It consolidated the amorphous higher institutions it inherited for

Oyinlola: Testimony of a PDP governor at work and pensions consumed 90 per cent of the earnings of his state” following “a reduction in the federal allocation to states in 2009, when the crises in the Niger Delta affected oil production” he was left with no other choice but to seek the help of the leadership of his state House of Assembly which in his words “advised us to take the loan at interest rate of 13% to address germane issues of 2010 Budget.”

After obtaining the loan, his “administration used part of the loan to award contract for kits for the use of pupils in primary and secondary schools because of the poor performance of students in science subjects and Mathematics”.

We have no reason to doubt Oyinlola’s genuine concern in this regard. But the question is how come it took the loan for an administration that had been in office for over seven years to realize the ‘poor performance of Osun state students in science and mathematics’? How was the decision to award contact arrived at? This question is relevant because we are not going to invent the wheel. Obama has just proposed in his next year budget a huge sum for the training of about 100,000 science and mathematics teachers to enable America catch up with China. But here it is a lot easier to award contracts than train teachers.

A big chunk of the loan also went into the six stadia projects; the governor claimed was not even the idea of his government. According to him it was ‘the youths of the state that called the attention of its administration to the development of sports, during one of the open forum programme organized by his govern-

ment’. We were not told if this youth-initiated policy was subjected to rigorous debate by the cabinet or the rubber stamping house. But the ex-governor saw in the borrowed idea, an opportunity to spread infrastructural development through the location of a stadium in each of the six zones across the state.

But the question again is does Osun need six stadia in a situation where Lagos that harbours millions of enthusiastic football and other sports fans until recently had only one? And if Oyinlola’s administration was persuaded that six stadia were needed, should the contracts be awarded less than a year to the end of his term?

What is the time frame for the completion of the projects? These questions are also pertinent because ex-governor Oyinlola also disclosed to the panel that some of the contracts his government awarded for roads rehabilitation were not implemented by the contractor.

He has had to seek the intervention of Ooni of Ife because cancelation of the contracts was not a viable option since Osun state according to him ‘stands to lose about N500million’.

There are more questions: “Why was the entire loan fully drawn by the PDP administration prior to the commencement of projects, even when the construction periods of the various projects for which it was meant were between 12-24 months? Oyinlola’s admission that only N10.1billion was drawn down does still not answer this question.

Whose interest was being served by lodging the loan in an account with the same bank without accruing any interest while the state si-

Why Fayemi deserves Governor of the year

By Hakeem Jamiu purposes of better funding and overall management. They are now well poised to partner with the state government in its development efforts. The administration has also done a lot to improve the study environment by renovating all schools in Ekiti State in two phases with the first phase concluded in just eight weeks under Operation Renovate All Schools (ORASE). The renovation works include reconstruction of dilapidated classroom blocks, school halls, laboratories, chapels, painting of classroom blocks and school fence, PVC ceilings, new windows and new furniture.

33,000 laptops have been distributed to students, teachers and the physically challenged in Ekiti State schools. This is an unprecedented achievement. The governor recently signed an agreement with Samsung in South Korea to establish an engineering academy in Ekiti State which is going to be first of its kind in West Africa. The academy will impact on the faculty of engineering in the state university and will provide after sales services of computers and training of electronic engineers. Samsung will also assemble its products in Ekiti. The deal is payback for Ekiti by Samsung which got the contract to supply the 100,000 laptops for each student in Ekiti.

Health care delivery in Ekiti is one of the best in the country as more than 1.5 million Ekiti people have benefitted from the free health mission and programme of the government. Little wonder that the latest MDG Report (2012) circulated by the Federal Ministry of Health scored Ekiti high in healthcare delivery. According to the report, Ekiti has the second lowest infant mortality rate in the country. The Minister of Health recently commended Ekiti State for doing what no other state is doing on health care in the country. Ekiti is the only state that is doing free health 100 per cent to its pregnant women

and covering 45 per cent of the state’s population under her free health programme.

Many industries are being revived while the tourism potentials of Ekiti State are being presented to the world with the complete transformation of the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort and the development of the tourism corridor of that area. The Warm Spring has been completely re-engineered with a new swimming pool and a befitting landscaping, while modern chalets have been built for the use of tourists. An amphitheater is currently under construction at the resort and has reached 85 per cent completion. Ire burnt bricks which has been abandoned in the last 21 years is about to begin operation as installation of N400 million naira worth of equipment is ongoing. The ROMACO quarry company in Igbemo Ekiti and the Ikun Diary farm in Ikun Ekiti would soon begin operation.

Fayemi has paid more than lip service to making agriculture the bedrock of industrialisation and a large employer of labour. Under the Youth Commercial Agriculture Development Programme (YCAD), 7,500 pilot commercial farmers have been shortlisted, while 1,000 hectares of land have been cleared for the purpose in Phase 1 of the project. The project is designed to result in a minimum of 20,000 youth commercial farmers by 2014. Farmers have been empowered via the provision by government, of agricultural soft loans, farm implements and herbicides, while millions of naira was expended on equipment to assist rice farmers to increase their yield. The empowerment of farmers is also being replicated at the local government level where farmers have been greatly assisted. The Federal Government recently approved two ultra-modern state of the art rice processing mills, one of which will be sited in Igbemo-Ekiti. The 600 million naira joint constituency irrigation project of the three senators representing Ekiti State at the Senate to be sited in Itapaji Ekiti, has

multaneously made payment of N615 million as interests and charges .?

Whose interest was served by an administration that spent over seven years in office, had N67.3billion excess free oil windfall to play around, and yet left behind a legacy of suffocating N615 million loan monthly repayments?

How for instance was Osun state whose total IGR under Oyinlola never exceeded N300m going to survive with a monthly loan repayment of N615 million spread over 13 years?

Aregbesola no doubt has an axe to grind with Oyinlola who stole his mandate for close to four years; but he has in my view tried to rise beyond the bitter politics of the state by merely describing his predecessor’s scandalous action merely as ‘running foul of simple rule of sound financial management’.

The truth of the matter is that Oyinlola and his state House of Assembly have not behaved differently from other South-west PDP governors who have been indicted or facing charges in court for squalid behavior arising from unimplemented contract bazaar they dished out just to satisfy the greed of PDP members.

In a more decent society, Oyinlola who was shamed by Marwa’s superlative performance after his dismal Lagos outing would never have been presented for an elective office by a political party worthy of its name. But in character with PDP philosophy of service to members only, Oyinlola , after another scandalous outing in Osun State, and an indictment for electoral fraud by an Appeal Court, has moved up to become national secretary of the PDP. As part of our continuing nightmare, PDP which in itself is deficit in honour and morality following the indictment of nearly all its past party chairmen is moulding our nation in the image of some depraved ex-governors, exSenate presidents, and ex-Speakers of the Lower House and committee chairmen.

‘The truth of the matter is that Oyinlola and his state House of Assembly have not behaved differently from other South-west PDP governors who have been indicted or facing charges in court for squalid behavior arising from unimplemented contract bazaar they dished out just to satisfy the greed of PDP members’ attracted additional 600 million naira from the UNDP which will execute the project for which the state government has made about 5,000 hectares of land available. The project will allow for all season farming of tomatoes and pepper which shall be processed at the site. Residential buildings shall also be built on the farm and factory that will employ over 1,000 Ekiti youths. A cassava processing plant has begun operation in Orin –Ekiti while Chinese investors wooed by the governor have agreed to invest in large scale cassava farming in Ekiti. Cassava bread was launched by the Governor on August 7, making Ekiti the first state in the country to take the cassava campaign initiative seriously.

The administration has employed a total of 4,643 graduates under the Youth Volunteer Scheme, 7,500 facility managers and street sweepers. 200 youths are undergoing skills acquisition while some 240 youths have resumed training under the auspices of the National Directorate of Employment which has established an active synergy with the state government not to mention the hundreds in the employ of the Traffic Management Agency. As a result of all these, the state was recently described as follows in the current Human Development Report: ‘Ekiti State is the most conducive environment to live, for long and healthy living with a life expectancy average of 55 years more than the national life expectancy average of 50 years’.

Without a doubt, Governor Fayemi has impacted positively on large areas of the state and by the time on-going projects are concluded, the governor would have more than firmly planted his feet on the sands of time. The words of the elder statesman Alhaji Maitama Sule who presented the award to him capture the personality of the governor: “At a time like this, we need leaders not looters, leaders, not rulers. We need leaders with the fear of God; those who will not lie; leaders who will accept in public what they can accept in private; leaders who are not corrupt; leaders who will not steal; leaders who look in the eyes of the common man with compassion and not eyes of the privileged few. May I congratulate you on behalf of the nation because the nation needs leaders like you; let other leaders emulate this governor”.

• Jamiu writes from Ado-Ekiti

AFRICAN CUP OF NATION QUALIFIERS

Isaac Promise gets Ideye eyes starting shirt three-match ban in Turkey Pg. 24

•Fined N.9 m

...Rues Monrovia bench role

Pg. 41

Sport Thursday, September 27, 2012

PAGE 23

AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS

Eagles will qualify —Adepoju S

HOOTING Stars Club boss, Mutiu Adepoju has tipped the Super Eagles’ squad picked by Team Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi as being capable of beating Liberia when the two teams slug it out with each for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup come October 13th, 2013 in Calabar.

In a chat with NationSport yesterday the former Eagles’ Captain disclosed, "I am happy with the calibre of players invited by Keshi for the Nations Cup qualifier in Calabar. The blend of the foreign based and home based should provide the needed

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja strong team that is capable of beating Liberia hands down here (Nigeria)".

He, however, warned that "the team that would do the battle for Nigeria should be ‘fighters’, dedicated, resilient and ready to ‘shed blood’ on the field of play for their fatherland because it won't augur well for Nigeria to miss out of the Nations Cup party for the second consecutive time".

The former Racing Satander of Spain

midfielder, while welcoming the inclusion of Mikel Obi and the other returnees in the team, however, charged them to put in 100 percent effort if fielded to help Eagles achieve the desired victory.

"Its a welcome development that Mikel is back in the team and I believe the coach had invited him as well as others that are currently doing well for their various clubs. But my advice to them is to put in everything they have got to help Eagles beat Liberia and thereby qualify for the Nations Cup in South Africa.

Flamingoes can lift trophy —Odeh

Pg. 24

24

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NATIONSPORT THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

2012 AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS

19TH NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL

Oyo signifies interest to host

T

HE present administration in Oyo State has signified its intension to bid for the hosting right for the 19th National Sports Festival after 33 years when the state had hosted in Oluyole 79.

The State’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dapo-Lam Adesina dropped the hint while addressing reporters prior to Team Sports zonal elimination of NSC zone 1 the state had just hosted.

The Commissioner said his State the capacity to host the bi-ennial Games considering the spate of infrastructural development the present administration in the State led by Senator Abiola Ajimobi had embarked upon.

Adesina said the state would make its interest known by making a formal bid before the National Sports Commission (NSC) the organizer of the bi-annual national sport fiesta in Lagos when the 18th NSF tagged Eko 2012 gets underway.

Meanwhile, as the state counted its blessings for a successfully hosting of the recently concluded of the Southwest zone 1 team sports’ eliminations preparatory to Eko 2012, the General Manager of Oyo

Mikel: I want

State Sports Council Folake Oyelakin was full of thanks to the Governor of the State Abiola Ajimobi.

Oyelakin while speaking with newsmen after the conclusion of the event, said the sports council and the athletes had benefited a lot from the hosting of the event and they cannot but be grateful to Gov Ajimobi who afforded them such opportunity.

“We have immensely benefited from hosting the event because our facilities are refurbished and engaged, the athletes were exposed and sports lovers trooped to stadium to watch game which is long we witnessed such in Oyo”, Oyelakin noted.

She, however, on behalf of the athletes promised the Governor an improved performance in Lagos when the Eko 2012 gets underway, while soliciting for early camping of players ahead of the tourney.

Oyo qualified in male basketball, female handball, female hockey, abula male and mixed double event while Oyo male football team also picked a ticket to represent the zone during the zonal eliminations.

to qualify Nigeria M

IKELObi has told MTNFootball.com that he is back to qualify Nigeria to the next African Cup of Nations after the Eagles missed out on the last tournament.

On Tuesday, the Chelsea midfielder was picked among 15 foreign-based pros for the return leg clash against the Lone Star of Liberia to be played on October 13 in Calabar with the overall winners advancing to the tournament proper in

Eagles call up, dream come true for Onazi

L

AZIO starlet Ogenyi Onazi has said it is a dream come true to be picked by the Super Eagles.

The former schoolboy international was a surprise call-up by Nigeria for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia in Calabar.

Onazi told MTNFootball.com that it has always been his dream to play for Nigeria at full international level after he featured for the country at U17 and U20 levels.

“I will say a big thank you to God

•Onazi

because without him, nothing is possible.

To play for my fatherland is what I always wanted to do and so to now get a call-up to be part of Super Eagles has excited me.

“And I will do my best to lift the team higher. I am sure we will be fine. I am looking forward to be in camp and train with the other member of the team, I am sure it will be great.

“This call up to play for Super Eagles is a dream come true for me because that has been my ultimate ambition since I started the game. It is an honour and I will use my chance well,” said Onazi, who failed to make the final cut for the 2011 FIFA U20 World Cup in Colombia.

This season, the Jos-born star has played three Europa League games as well as made three appearances in the league for Lazio.

He will be in action Wednesday evening in a Serie A game for Lazio against Napoli.

“We have a game tonight (Wednesday) against Napoli away, it is a league game and I hope we get a good result there, getting a goal will be good but victory is the ultimate,” Onazi told MTNFootball.com

T

contrary.

"I have said it times without a number that I have no other nation apart from Nigeria and I am happy to be back in Eagles even though I have always seen myself as part of the team even when I was not playing games for the team.

Mikel, who has won 37 caps and scored two goals since his debut in 2005, has yet to play for Nigeria under Stephen Keshi, who took over from Samson Siasia in November.

In November, he was part of the squad for two friendlies against Botswana and Zambia but did not feature as he was nursing an injury then.

Flamingoes can lift trophy —Odeh

F

ORMER Super Falcons' coach, Rolandson Odeh said Flamingoes' massive win against hosts, Azerbaijan at the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup showed the team's resolve to clinch the world title.

Flamingoes went goal crazy and hit hosts, Azerbaijan 11-0 on Matchday Two at the Lankaran Stadium on Tuesday with striker, Chinwendu Ihezuo scoring five while Halimatu Ayinde and Tessy Biahwo netted a brace respectively.

Aminat Yakubu and substitute, Joy Bokiri scored one each to complete the goal feast.

Odeh said the Nigerians must keep their foot on the throttle against Colombia in the last group game this weekend.

"Flamingoes have shown themselves to be a team not ready to return home empty-handed.

"I see them surpassing their quarterfinal finish two years ago and good enough the same coach Peter Dedevbo is still in charge.

"The game against Azerbaijan was a huge improvement compared with the tie against Canada where they created chances without converting many of them.

"The team is on the right path to emerging top of their group, I advise the coach to study the tie between Colombia and Canada and note the lapses and approach the last game with measured sense of modesty.

"The players must be attack conscious, show no complacency and take their chances at goal.

"Victory will rubbish whatever becomes the outcome of the tie between Azerbaijan and Canada.

"But I must congratulate the team for a wonderful game against the hosts," the former Rivers Angels' coach told supersport.com.

Nigeria lead Group A on four points

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

AFRICAN CUP OF NATION QUALIFIERS prayers. We lost many scoring chances in the match against Canada and those chances are as good as goals under ideal settings. This is because when you play the ball and it hit the bar is as good as the one that has gone in. It is here we beckon on Nigerians for their prayers to ask for God's favour so that they can be more clinical and fortunate in front of goal as they march toward the final,"Dr Sanusi appeals to Nigerians.

With the 11-0 victory over Azerbaijan Flamingoes are top of Group A with 4 points and a massive +11 goals difference ahead of Canada who are on +1 goal difference. Colombia (3 points) and Azerbaijan(pointless) are 3rd and 4th respectively.

Flamingoes wide margin win also equalled the record of the most goals scored in a FIFA U-17 match set few days earlier in the match between North Korea and Gambia which ended 11-0 also in favour of the Asian giants.

The Nigerians have their last group match against Colombia on Saturday in Baku.

ETER UTAKA has said that older brother John of French champions Montpellier could join him in China after his own super start there.

The former OB Odense striker has taken shine off the big stars who moved to China after scoring 16 goals in 23 appearances for Dalian Aerbin.

"Everything here is enjoyable in China," he told FIFA.com in a recent exclusive interview.

"I feel comfortable about the life here and I appreciate the help from everyone around me - my coach, team-mates, supporters etc. I hope my mum will come here to join me next season.

“As for John, we’ve chatted much about the Chinese league via phone and so it is also possible for him to move here."

The notion of the Utaka siblings forming one of China Super League's most formidable attacking line-ups with Aerbin resonates strongly with the younger Utaka.

•Mikel

Pray for Flamingoes, NFF urges Nigerians HE Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) has tasked Nigerians to put the Women's U-17 team in their prayers as they prepare for tougher matches at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Azerbaijan.

Speaking against the backdrop of their 11-0 white wash and record equalling defeat of hosts, Azerbaijan, the NFF's Director of Competitions, Dr Mohammed Sanusi said the ladies have made their compatriots happy with their displays against their hapless European nation but urged against lowering their guard against Colombia owing to the feat achieved in their first two matches.

Dr Sanusi noted that with Nigerians' support through their prayers, the Flamingoes would be more clinical in front of goal and would not be hitting the cross bar or the woodwork as witnessed in their first match where loads of chances were frittered away.

"The Flamingoes have raised the flag of Nigeria very well and are a more improved side to the one that played Canada in the first match. We are proud of them and are sure they will be in the final by the grace of God. "What we want from Nigerians is their

South Africa in January.

“I am ready to put in my best to see that we redeem ourselves by defeating Liberia to secure the AFCON ticket. Missing out of last edition still hurts and so this is a must-win game and I am ready to do battle," Mikel told MTNFootball.com The Eagles were held to a 2-2 draw in Monrovia by hosts Liberia earlier this month with Mikel opting out of that clash after it was first learnt that the game would be played on an astro turf pitch.

But the Chelsea midfielder has again restated his total commitment to the national team cause despite suggestions to the

Utaka may join brother in China P

Ideye eyes starting shirt S

By Paul Oluwakoya hopes to be part of action in Calabar.

It would be recalled that Ideye was the only foreign based player who missed action in Monrovia as he was kept on the bench throughout the match alongside some other home-based players.

He said " I am happy to be invited. it shows that the head coach believes in me, though i was not part of action in monrovia but the paraded players were just wonderful. Every coach has his own style and vision of the game. Maybe he thought I would not be able to express myself. So, he did not let me enter the field. I hope technical decision will have me in action in Calabar, though the

decision rests solely with the head coach."

Ideye also said it would be wrong for anyone to discriminate between the home lads and the Eagles’ stars after the wonderful outing at Monrovia saying both sets of players are pride of the national team. “ I have said it before the home boys are professionals like us based in Europe so it will be wrong to discriminate. I was once a player in the Nigeria league and I know how challenging it is. “ They have confidence and character. I watch the match on the bench and i think if they maintain their feat they can also win shirts to start even ahead of some of us based abroad,” he said.

Nwofor's goals can't save VVV

F

ORMER Nigeria youth international Uche Nwofor’s brace Tuesday night in a Dutch cup game could not save VVV Venlo against Go Ahead Eagles. The former Enugu Rangers striker two strikes were not enough to give his team victory as they lost via penalty after 4-4 draw after extra time.

Nwofor, who joined the fray in the 70th minute for Bergkamp, was on song in the 95th minute of the game to give Venlo 3-2 lead and then drew his team level at 4-4 in the 120thminute.

Go Ahead Eagles once paraded Nigeria internationals Peter Rufai and Kingsley Obiekwu.

•Brown Ideye

•Utaka

Salami seeks 3SC return

G

BOLAHAN SALAMI has said he plans to return to Shooting Stars after he quit Enyimba.

The former Sunshine Stars forward said he is presently a free player and he would want to return to Nigeria Premier League after a long break and the only club he would join is Shooting Stars.

"I want to return to 3SC because of my love for the team and the fans as well. Whenever I receive a call, it would be from Ibadan fans and all they want to know is when I was coming to rejoin their darling team,” he told MTNFootball.com “My answer now is yes, I wish to return to Shooting Stars. I want to return to the team because it is my dream team and I'll be happy to rejoin them.”

Last season, Salami was eased out of ‘The Oluyole Warriors’ for what was

termed “gross insubordination”.

And some top officials have said they are against Salami’s return, blaming the former Olympic team star for some of the team’s problems last season.

T

rise in female participation, with about 30 female players billed to take part.

The rise in female participation may be due to the fact that this year, special prizes have been set aside for the female category.

President Aka also celebrated the inclusion of female category in the National Sports Festival this year. “ I thank the National Sports Commission for the approval. We have always held the belief that Scrabble is one of the most successful sports in Nigeria without commensurate recognition, but now we are getting there” Chief Aka offered.Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Scrabble Association, Pastor Umoh Bassey was all praise for Governor Godswill Akpabio for sustaining the competition these past five years. “ His Excellency’s love for Scrabble is legendary and it is that interest and passion that has helped to drive it to international standard in so short a time.” He said.

Isaac Promise •Salami gets three-match ban in Turkey N13m for grabs as Akpabio scrabble kicks off •Fined N.9 m

T

...Rues Monrovia bench role UPER EAGLES’ invitee and Dynamo Kiev striker Brown Ideye has shared his thoughts on his invitation to the national team once again

by Stephen Keshi for the African Cup of Nations qualifying match against Liberia in Calabar.

The Nigerian striker who makes the list of 15 foreign based players invited to battle Liberia on October 3, said it is always an honour for him to be called upon when the need for nattional assignment arises.

Speaking live in an interview mornitored on radio this morning, Ideye added that besides his patrotism and commitment for his father land he accepted to honour the call up with high

same as Canada but with superior goals followed by Colombia on three points and Azerbaijan at the rear with no point.

The Flamingoes need at least a draw against Colombia to head to the last eight.

"That would be fantastic," he said. "It is not about the family reunion but goal scoring work. John is a good player and he can prove that with any team."

The Utaka brothers started playing football in the streets of Enugu like every other kids in Nigeria.

“John is two years older than me so he started a bit earlier," he recalled. "Even then he showed he is very talented in the game but when I started playing I quickly caught up with him."

Peter made waves in the Danish league with OB Odense, managing an impressive return of 52 goals in 108 appearances.

His goal scoring form didn't go unnoticed by Aerbin's Serbian coach Aleksandar Stanojevic, who secured his move to Dalian. Shouldering the goalscoring responsibility for his ambitious new side, though, provided some early difficulties and Utaka failed to find the back of the net in his first six matches.

“The level of competition in the CLeague was well beyond my expectations and the players here are of good quality,” he recalled.

"To be honest the level of competition in the C-League was well beyond my expectations and the players here are of good quality. The attack is more pacy here and the defence tough. I had to work hard in both training and playing as I tried to adapt to the style quickly."

He now said he hopes his form in China will earn him a recall to the Nigeria national team.

“It would be ideal if my team wins and I score. We are now sitting in sixth and I hope we can finish with a better position.

As for me, I hope I can prove my worth with Dalian and hopefully, my club form can earn me a return to the Nigeria national team,” said Peter Utaka.

URKISH Football Federation has rejected the appeal of Antalyaspor not to suspend the Nigerian striker Isaac Promise for three matches.

Recall that the Beijing Olympic silver medalist was sent off at the end of the first half in the fourth round of games against Galatasaray, which automatically earned him a suspension.

Isaac Promise has also been fined 10,000 Turkish Lira (equivalent of 4,500 euros) by the Disciplinary Committee.

The 24 - year- old striker, who arrived Antalyaspor in the summer transfer market as a free agent, is now ineligible to face Menemen Belediyespor(September 26th) and Elazigspor (September 30th).

This is not the first time Promise has been dismissed in Turkey. Last season, then on the payroll of Manisaspor, he was shown a red card by referee Cuneyt Cakir after 45 minutes. He also took an early shower in the 2009 - 2010 and 2005 - 2006 seasons.

HE Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classics will be declared open today with 15,000 dollars US as star prize in the Masters Category.

President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation Chief Toke Aka said in Uyo yesterday that over 300 participants have registered to play in the four categories listed for participation.

The categories are, Masters, Intermediate, Open and the celebrated Veterans category which is for inactive captains of industry or those above 55 years of age. Governor Akpabio is listed to play in this category.

The five star Le Meridien Hotel Uyo venue of the event was a bee hive of activities Wednesday as participants from Thailand, Malaysia, New Zealand, UK, Ghana, Uganda and USA arrived the state for the much prized event that has become an annual fixture in the calendar of International Scrabble.

This year, there is also an unprecedented

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

INSIDE NECO officer denies allegations

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has enjoyed a good run for over 80 years. Now, its authority as the sole union for teachers is being threatened, report ISAAC OMBE and KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE.

THE officer in charge of Anambra State Office of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Mr John NECO Registrar, Tumba, has Prof Promise Okpala denied allegations that NECO officials demand N2000 from applicants wishing to register for the...

-Page 28

ASUP flays 'discrimination' THE Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has frowned at what it terms the discriminatory policy of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) in disbursing funds between polytechnics and the universities saying the federal government should as a matter of urgency correct the abnormally to avoid the break down...

-Page 37

CAMPUS LIFE •An eight-page section on campus news, people etc

Crisis hits Paul University BEING a faith-based school, it is expected to be shielded from the kind of crises that rock conventional schools.

Right? No; wrong. The Awka, Anambra State-based Paul University owned by the Anglican Communion is in a crisis over what students have described as “exorbitant tuition fee” and “unholy extortion”...

-Page 29

• Labour Ministry’s letter on ASUSS, others

I

N its 81 years existence, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) may not have come under the kind of threat it is now facing from its Bayelsa State Chapter.

For four years now, the Bayelsa chapter has been in a running battle with its parent union over its decision to pull out and form rival associations.

The Breakaway Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) and Basic Education Staff Assocition of Nigeria (BESAN) are seeking to leave NUT because, according to them, “it has become too big and is not doing enough for teachers on wlefare.”

Found in 1931, when the Lagos Union of Teachers (LUT) and the Association of Headmasters of Ijebu Schools (AHIS) came together, NUT’s aims are: •To foster unity and progress among all teachers in Nigeria.

•To foster the spirit of active cooperation and comradeship between teachers and other workers.

•To raise the status of the teaching profession through improved quality of education and conditions of service.

•To promote and advance the course of education and the teaching profession throughout the federation and also endeavour to secure the removal of difficulties, abuses, anomalies and obsolete regulations detrimental to progress.

•To enhance the social and economic well-being of members and establish welfare funds for the benefit of members of the Union.

• Olukoya

• Brandla

• Okoroafor

NUT: The threat within •ASSUSS, BESAN battle for autonomy •To provide a forum for the cooperation of teachers and the promotion of their welfare, the interest of education and the teaching profession.

•To promote the corporate image of the Union both nationally and internationally by ensuring the continued existence of a strong, virile and well articulated organization.

•To give leadership and stimulate

interest in matters which foster national and international unity and understanding.

To achieve truly national status the Northern States Teachers Union (NSTU) merged with the NUT in 1972.

BESAN has gone to court; ASUSS is threatening to go to court to enforce its right to break away from the NUT. Last week, members of the

Bayelsa State Chapter of ASUSS, which NUT insists is illegal, mobilised to protest the forced marriage, but they stopped after being persuaded by the NUT leadership to dialogue.

But, despite the peace moves by the NUT Chairman and Secretary, Comrade Ogola Brandla and Mr Okechukwu Okorafor, ASUSS members are insisting that dia• Continued on page 26

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

26

EDUCATION Reagan old girls launch N100m endowment fund •School marks Diamond Jubilee OLD students of the Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls' Secondary School, Yaba, will launch a N100 million endowment fund as a contribution towards rebuilding the school.

The launch will be part of activities marking the 60th anniversary of the school which will hold on Saturday at the City Hall, Lagos Island.

The association is therefore soliciting the support and cooperation of corporate organizations, NGOs and Nigerians to realize its aspiration of making the school greater for future generations.

The alumni association will honour some distinguished old students at the event.

The school is one of the leading boarding schools for girls in Nigeria and has been in the forefront of nurturing noble Christian women found in different spheres in Nigeria.

Oldest College graduates 3,082

By Ramat Musa

AS the first Federal College of Education in Nigeria; Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka graduated 3,082, students at its 35th graduation, the Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai' charged the graduands to see the victory as a deserved accomplishment.

The occasion which was held at the new ultra-modern multipurpose hall, was graced by many dignitaries including the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education, Abuja, Prof Mohammed Junaid and provosts of various colleges of education.

The graduates were from the 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2010/2011 sets as well as 661 students who were the first set to undergo the National Certificate in Education Sandwich programme in the 2010/ 2011 academic session.

Addressing the graduands, the minister said: ''It is indeed a milestone and a turning point in your lives, and it marks the completion of years of studies and the beginning of a new phase of life which could either be to launch you into the world of work, (paid employment or self-employment) or being engaged in educational pursuits at a higher level.''

The minister also spoke of efforts

by President Goodluck Jonathan to improve Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

"Another area that President Jonathan's administration has focused on in the education road map is the acquisition of entrepreneurial and vocational skill in order to manage effectively the issue of unemployment among our youth," she said.

Prof Rufa'i added that various interventions support programmes from federal government such as Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TeTFUND), Petroleum Tax Development Fund, African Development Bank, among others, are meant to further bolster TVE in colleges of education and other tertiary institutions nationwide.

Provost of the College, Dr Sijibomi Olusanya counselled the graduands to make use of the entrepreneurial skills they gained during their schooling.

"I want you to see yourselves as entrepreneurs with technical and vocational skills for self-reliance, productivity and employment generation. You are expected to task your initiatives and put the knowledge, skills and training you have received to work.''

• Wike (second left) and Uwadiae at the launch

WAEC launches results verification portal

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HE West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has launched an online portal that will enable interested parties to authenticate results issued by the examining body.

Through the portal, schools, tertiary institutions, embassies, employers and other interested parties can access and verify results of the Senior School Certificate Examinations

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

(SSCE) conducted by the Council since 1980.

At the launch held at the Excellence Hotel and Conference Centre, Ogba, on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike commended WAEC for using Information Communication Technology (ICT) to improve its services.

He said: "Let me therefore congratulate WAEC for embracing and deploying ICT totally to enhance service delivery to the general public. I have no doubt that the effective operation of this e-portal will allow for better and efficient access to WAEC's secure database through which candidates results can easily be checked and verified for authenticity.

Head of WAEC's Nigeria National

NUT: The threat within • Continued from page 25

logue would not make them renege on their campaign for autonomy.

Maintaining its stand that ASUSS is illegal and cannot operate, NUT, while quoting the Constitution and the Trade Union Act, also recalled the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu’s statement that ASUSS is illegal and not recognised.

In the July edition of NUT’s news letter, Wogu was quoted as saying that ASUSS has not been registered and no state government should recognise it being an illegal group.

“The Minstry of Labour and Productivity has not granted the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) registration, hence, it cannot operate as a trade union under the existing laws of Nigeria.

“I want to make it categorically clear that, within extant laws, no other authority of government has the mandate to exercise those powers that have been conferred on the Minster of Labour and Productivity.”

Taking a cue from Wogu’s remark, Brandla claimed that ASUSS “remains illegal in Bayelsa State.”

Okoroafor said ASUSS could only be recognised when it is registered as a trade union with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

“ASUSS must register with the Registrar, Trade Unions, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity. I wonder why the group has not been issued a certificate since 2008 if its claim of recognition is true.”

Chairman of Bayelsa State ASUSS Comrade Lawrence Ayibamoah, described the action by NUT’s action against his union as politically motivated, saying the group has been in existence since 2008.

He added that NUT was not doing enough for teachers on welfare.

“The only incentive that propels teachers to work is the TSA (Teachers Special Allowances) and that alone is meagre which is not even enough to buy a bottle of beer,” said Ayibanoah, adding that this was one of the factors that spurred ASUSS members to seek autonomy.

He added: “If you want the education sector to grow you have to motivate them and that thing is not there. The NUT, as we talk, is still

sleeping, and we went on the streets to tell the government our grievance; that was when the NUT came on board and intervened as if talking on behalf of teachers, and that is why we are aggrieved.

“The purpose of forming the NUT is not being met both at the state and national levels, and this led to the formation of the ASUSS. In the Constitution, you are free to form an association or break out of any if your interest is not protected or met, so why is NUT refusing us to be on our own.”

Formed in 2007 BESAN’s plans too to be autonomous have pitched it against NUT, which insists that the group is not a trade union.

BESAN has gone to court to determine its legitimacy.

Chairman Comrade Lovinah Ikeni, in a statement, said BESAN was formed under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution.

“Under the Constitution, BESAN members have the fundamental right to form themselves into and or belong to any association of their choice.”

She questioned the continued payment of BESAN members’check off dues to NUT when they have already withdrawn from it.

The six declarations BESAN is seeking at the High Court of Yenagoa, are: “That its members have a fundamental right to form themselves into an association for the protection of their rights and interests. That it has a civil right to exist and do exist from the 27th day of July, 2007 for the progress of its objectives as incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. That NUT is not entitled to any check-off dues from

the salaries of the Primary School Teachers who are members of BESAN from April 2010, having formally withdrawn from NUT from that date; that members of BESAN are entitled to a reimbursement of all deductions from members’ salaries and wages made by the Ministry of Education in favour of NUT as from the 20th of April 2010.”

Its National Secretary, Mr Ameh Inalegwu, told The Nation that BESAN seeks to improve the welfare of primary school teachers who are inadequately catered for by the NUT. “We want complete independence of the primary school sector because the NUT is not covering the sector well, because the sector is too large for them to cover,” he said.

Like ASUSS, Brandla said BESAN is not a trade union, adding that it is not recognised at the national level.

“They are not a trade union, and not recognised in any form. As individuals, they are teachers in NUT. The certificate they have is CAC. In the Trade Unions Act, there is nothing like that. We are adamant on the check off dues issue because we know that BESAN is not a trade union. They are only trying to defraud the teachers of Ogbia area,” he said.

The NUT, he said, has informed Bayelsa State Governor Dickson Seriake, of the non-recognition of BESAN and its suit against government and the NUT. While ASUSS has branches in some states, BESAN seems to be in Bayelsa, only.

In Lagos State, ASUSS claimed

‘ASUSS today remains unregistered and unregisterable (sic). It is unregistered in the sense that among all the affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), they have not been listed as one of the industrial unions and that means they are not registered as one’

Office, Dr Iyi Uwadiae said at the event that the innovation, developed in partnership with Sidmach Technologies and First Bank Plc, is coming about a decade after the council introduced its online registration and result checking portals.

"With the launching of the WAEC online results verification portal, the council has, again moved a step higher in the business of conducting pubic examinations. The launching of the Online Results Verification Portal is coming almost 10 years after the launching of the Online Results Checking Portal known as WAEC-Direct, in February 2003 and eight years after the take off of the electronic registration portal in November 2004; commencing with the registration of candidates for the May/June 2005 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)," he said.

Registrar to the Council, Alhaja Mulikat Bello, said in an interview that with time, WAEC will ensure that all past results it has issued since inception are uploaded on the portal.

Representative of Sidmach Technologies demonstrated the steps required for users to register on the portal and access results after making payment for subscriptions using approved ATM cards.

Group Head, Public Sector Relations of First Bank, Mrs Shade Omoniyi, said the bank has developed a special ATM card for that purpose so that corporate organisations can use. not to be part of the strike by the NUT which scuttled the start of the 2012/2013 academic session in public schools on Monday and Tuesday.

Though in support of the payment of the 27.5 per cent Teachers Salary Allowance (TSA) that the NUT is fighting for, its chairman, Comrade Kazeem Alabi, said the group did not join the strike because NUT did not involve it in the struggle.

Asked if the group’s members were teaching, Alabi said pupils were too few in schools because the session just started.

“We are not on strike. We are going to work and signing the register. We are ready to teach but this is the first week of resumption and students don’t always come to school. They always add a week to their holidays. But, we have written a letter to the governor, saying that we are in support of the 27.5 per cent. We are even proposing that they add 22.5 per cent to make it 50 per cent because teachers deserve it,” he said.

NUT National President Comrade Michael Alogba-Olukoya told The Nation that ASUSS was not registered.

He said: “ASUSS today remains unregistered and unregisterable (sic). It is unregistered in the sense that among all the affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), they have not been listed as one of the industrial unions and that means they are not registered as one.”

A letter with Ref No: MLITU/19/ V/145, dated August 24, 2011, and signed by the Registrar of Trade Unions, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Mrs N. Mbogu, strengthens the NUT’s claims that ASUSS is not recognised.

In the letter, Mrs Mbogu urged the Ogun State Governor not to recognise the body as a trade union.

She said: “Let me categorically state ASUSS is not a registered trade union and therefore cannot be conferred with the rights and privileges of a registered trade union in consonance with Section 2(i) of the Trade Union Act Cap T.14 of 2004, which states as follow: “’A trade union shall not perform any act in furtherance of the purpose for which it has been formed unless it has been registered under the Act...’”

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

EDUCATION

P

UPILS of Mind Builders School, CBD, Alausa will be celebrating Nigeria's 52nd anniversary with a cultural programme at the school hall tomorrow.

The exciting news of the programme was announced on assembly on Monday, the first school day of the 2011/2013 academic session, by the Supervisor of the School, Mr Israel Abatan.

In celebrating the anniversary, the School Administrator Mr Olatunde Opeyemi told The Nation that the teachers and pupils will come to school dressed in indigenous attires, and with local meals.

In addition to songs and dance, he added that the pupils will discuss burning national issues.

"The Cultural Day programme is used to celebrate the Nigerian Independence every year. On Friday, the children will bring local food and dress in their local attires. We will talk about contemporary issues including the Boko Haram, corruption and other issues and seek the way forward," he said.

Ahead of resumption, Opeyemi said the school improved facilities of the school and held an orientation programme for teachers.

"We overhauled our facilities, brought in new things, and improved on our ICT. We also did a one-week orientation programme for our teachers.

“Our expectation for this term is to maintain and even surpass the academic standard we have achieved," he said.

During the assembly of the Mind Builders High School, the Principal, Mr Sola Aboriade, welcomed both old and new pupils to the school.

He introduced all the teachers, reminded the pupils of the school rules and regulations, intimated them of extra curricula activities

FUNAAB FILE VC seeks pact with ICAN

• Mr. Abatan addressing the pupils on assembly

Mind Builders School celebrates Independence

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

they must do, and urged them to be well behaved.

He also presented awards to pupils that excelled during the last academic session. The Mind Builders Parents Teachers Association (PTA) were not left out of the resumption day activities as some officials of the association wel-

comed parents as they dropped off their wards and invited them for the PTA Gala Nite holding on Sunday.

Vice-Chairman of the association, Mrs Mariam Ayo-Ade said the event would give parents opportunity to relax and network.

She added that despite its impressive academic performance, parents expect the school to improve this

session.

"We expect excellence. We strive for excellence in all we do and that is what makes us better. Mind Builders is a fantastic school but there are still lots of improvements to be made. We hope the school can help the pupils harness not just their intellectual abilities but their morals, talents so that they can get total education," she said.

UAC empowers with Goodness League

Yam Roasting Festival holds

• Hakeem Ogunniran, Managing Director, UACN Property Development Company (UPDC) Plc (2nd left), presenting the prize of the best pupil in English language to Onwuzama Israel (2nd left) at the closing of the 2012 Goodness League Programme at Gbagada Senior Secondary School in Lagos. With them are Mrs Lizzy Ometan, Director, Guidance and Counselling, Lagos State Education District II (left) and Mrs Williams (right)

By Adegunle Olugbamila

schools. The venue of the free weekend classes, Tolu Schools Complex, itself has a total of 16 schools. This provides a very good opportunity to connect with interested learners.

He said the teachers were employees of UAC who volunteered their time to impart knowledge in the pupils thereby preparing them effectively for such examinations as the Senior School Certificate Examina-

FUNAAB supports Agric graduates

V

ICE-CHANCELLOR of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof Olusola Bandele Oyewole, has said graduates of agricultural courses should be jobcreators rather than job-seekers.

Oyewole disclosed this last week, when the legislator, representing the Abeokuta South Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Honourable Olusegun Samuel Williams visited

Ghanaian dons to visit THE FUNAAB will play host to a team of scholars from the University of Ghana, Legon, between October 1 and 5.

According to a release signed by the Acting Head, Department of Agricultural Administration, Dr Oluwakemi Fapojuwo, the team will be headed by Prof Daniel Sarpong and three other academic staff from the College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon.

The visiting dons from Ghana are for the LEADHER grant learning visit and it will afford the two institutions the opportunity to study each other's Agricultural Administration programme.

C

HIEF Education Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Education, District II Headquarters Mrs Oluwatoyin Williams, has lauded UAC Foods on for investing in the nation's human capital development.

Mrs Williams spoke during the annual free weekend classes organised by UAC Nigeria Plc for public secondary school pupils in Gbagada and Ajegunle, Lagos.

"The organisation has sown a seed that will germinate and bring forth fruits that will surely spread. When you put a touch of education in anything, it becomes better", Williams said, while encouraging other corporate bodies to emulate UAC. The initiative, tagged “Goodness League” involved free tutorials on Saturdays during the long vacation.

It was held only in Gbagada last year but the company's Executive Director Corporate Services, Joe Dada, Executive Director, said Ajegunle was added it houses many schools.

Dada said: "Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government area has a huge pupils' population; with about 34

THE Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof Olusola Bandele Oyewole has solicited for the collaboration of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in the development of the university's College of Management Science (COLMAS).

Oyewole made this appeal when the 48th President of the Institution, Mr. Adedoyin Idowu Owolabi visited the university.

The Vice-Chancellor who was represented by the Deputy ViceChancellor Academic, Prof Toyin Arowolo commended the Institute for their professional standards and ethics, noting that their members who are serving in the Bursary Department have lived up to their professional calling of financial accuracy and transparency.

Oyewole charged the Institute to take a cue from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which endowed COLMAS with a befitting N500 million building complex.

In his remarks, the ICAN President, Mr Adedoyin Idowu Owolabi congratulated the university for the successful take-off of the college, adding that any student who graduates with a First Class in Accounting will be automatically admitted for the ICAN Professional Examinations and awarded scholarship, provided the university is accredited by the Institute.

him in the university.

Oyewole said agricultural graduates, were encouraged to be selfreliant, through the Graduate Farming Employment Scheme (GRADFES), in which a loan of N200,000 is made available for them to practice, while their certificates are taken as collateral.

The Vice-Chancellor added that another scheme of the institution, the Community-Based Farming Scheme (COBFAS), was also designed to

expose agricultural students to the practical aspects in the various communities of Ogun State.

The Vice-Chancellor further revealed that the activities of the university had gone beyond Nigeria with the introduction of the FUNAAB Foreign African Scholarship Scheme (FUFASS), a scheme through which students from Sierra-Leone, The Gambia and Liberia are trained on scholarships for three to six months in skills acquisition and agricultural enterprises.

tion (SSCE) and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

He said the volunteers also counselled the pupils during the programme monitored by representatives of the Lagos State Ministry of Education.

Dada further explained that UAC invited Mr Sanya Awe, a young Mathematics sensation and multiple winner of local and international awards to demystify mathematics to the pupils.

"They related and rubbed minds with him freely and together, they solved many knotty equations during the session," Joe added.

The Goodness league is part of UAC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to intervene in schools through provision of infrastructure, and the volunteer scheme.

FOUR years after it suddenly disappeared from the radar, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof Olusola Bandele Oyewole has revived the age-long Yam Roasting Festival, barely four months in office.

The journey to the rebirth of the Festival began when a distinguished alumnus of the University, Chief Olusegun Oshunkeye, who Chairs Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc, advised the Vice-Chancellor on the matter.

The event which held Wednesday last week at the Teaching and Research Farms Directorate (TREFAD) of the university was graced by eminent personalities, led by the former Secretary General, Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, for the celebration of the 2012 Yam Roasting Festival.

Speaking at the Festival, Oyewole described the significance of Yam in Nigeria not only as staple food but also as cash crop, adding that it is one of the popular arable crops, extensively cultivated in FUNAAB for research purposes.

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

EDUCATION UNILORIN FILE 115th Inaugural Lecture THE 115th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) will be delivered by Prof Abdulganiy Abdulsalam Oladosu of the Department of Arts and Social Sciences Education, Faculty of Education today.

The Lecture, entitled "Fluctuations in the Fortunes of Arabic Education in Nigeria", will be chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede.

Don bags ISH prize A LECTURER in the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, UNILORIN, Dr. L. A. Olatunji, is among the recipients of this year's International Society of Hyperten-sion (ISH) Forum Prize.

The prestigious award, which will be conferred on Olatunji during the 24th Biennial Scientific Meeting of the ISH in Sydney, Australia, on October 3, also carries with it a special travel grant.

As part of the award ceremony, Olatunji will present a paper on "Vasorelaxation in oral contraceptive-induced high blood pressure in female rats".

T

NECO officer denies extortion allegations

HE officer in charge of Anambra State Office of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Mr John Tumba has denied allegations that NECO officials demand N2000 from applicants wishing to register for the 2012 Nov/Dec Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the examining body for private candidates.

Tumba explained that the checks and balances he put in place make it impossible for any officer to add a kobo on any revenue items. He said the selling price of the registration card is conspicuously displayed around the office and wondered what informed the embarrassing publication.

The Nation had reported that rather than sell the forms N7,550 as advertised in National Dailies, the Awka office was selling for N9,550. But Tumba said that the N7,550 does not include charges by cyber cafés and banks.

He also said that NECO had no powers over what cyber café's charge for Biometric capturing even though they sold the machines to them at N30,000.

He insisted that the office, in line with NECO's policy, demands only bank drafts and not cash for the registration cards from candidates.

"Nobody can dare add a kobo. I have

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

never sat down to negotiate with anybody for a dime to be added and I have invited the Fin bank and Union bank staff as well as authorised cybercafés to find out where the problem is from but they all denied that. We are completely transparent and people are free to register anywhere they want despite the recommended cybercafés."

Tumba said further, "Anyone wishing to buy in cash can do so from post offices and Banks nationwide but will be charged a commission of N300 maximum by the selling bank or post office. The commission charged by Banks on Drafts doesn't go to NECO. It is therefore mischievous to think that Anambra state NECO office is conniving with banks to extort money from candidates by insisting on payment in bank draft. Anyone is free to find out if such commission on drafts finds their way to NECO office."

On the allegation that his office told candidates to patronise some cyber cafes for a fee, Tumba referred this reporter to a circular with Ref.

No. NECO/EA/SSCE/EXT/GEN/ 38/VI/II dated 15th May, 2012 signed by one Abubakar M Gana which required the State Officer to advice candidates to patronise suggested cyber cafes, even though the registration is not restricted to those cafes.

"The council doesn't accept responsibility for the use of substandard cafes, as such it is only proper to always advise candidates to patronise standard cafes with good facilities.

Those suggested cafes are adjudged to be good and have biometric capture machine. I clarify that neither NECO nor its staff have interest in any of the suggested cafes. I challenge you to verify from the cafes if the money charged by them goes to NECO office in whichever guise."

Tumba however confirmed that cybercafés charge N1,000 for registration while the banks charge N500 for bank draft but could not confirm the N500 charged by some cybercafés for Biometric capturing.

The Nation reported that the advert for the guidelines of the NECO forms dated May 15, 2012 stated that no other money should be paid outside N7,550. But with cybercafé registration, bank draft commission and biometric capturing, candidates pay N2,000 extra, making it N9,550.

• Mr. Manpreet Singh, Head of Marketing, Dufil Prima Foods Plc. and Mr Deepak Singhal, MD/CEO pose with the winners of the Indomie Art Competition held at BD Consult Office, Magodo, Lagos.

Esso Trains 51 Geosciences lecturers

F

IFTY one Geosciences lecturers drawn from selected universities across the country have undergone a five-day training workshop to give them requisite skill in the use of Petrel workstations for geosciences interpretation.

The programme is sponsored by Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL), an ExxonMobil affiliate in Nigeria, in conjunction with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Schlumberger.

The training is a part of Esso's University Assistance Programme (UAP) designed to improve the learning and

quality of Geosciences education in universities by providing them with world-class tools being used in the petroleum industry for the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the workshop in Lagos, Andrew Ejayeriese, the General Manager, Operations Technical Geoscience, EEPNL, represented by Goodluck Adagbasa, Manager Operation Technical Geoscience Deepwater, EEPNL said the desire to improve the quality of graduates coming out of the country's universities was the driving force for the programme.

Mark: Nigeria lacks scientists

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RESIDENT of the Senate, David Mark, has cast doubt over the realisation of Vision 20:2020 barely of eight years ahead.

He lamented that the country is lagging behind in producing experts in science. Mark who spoke at the fourth national conference organised by the School of Science at the College of Advanced and Professional Studies (CAPS)Makurdi Friday last week, expressed optimism that a breakthrough by Nigerian scientists is underway.

Represented at the occasion by his Special Adviser on Research and Strategy, Mr Steve Anyebe, the Senate President declared his readiness to offer sponsorship to higher stud-

115th Inaugural Lecture A TOTAL of 1,496 graduates of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), should expect to receive call up letters for the November 2012 Batch C national service being conducted by the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC. The Dean of Student Affairs of the university, Prof Oluyemisi Adebowale, said Friday last week that the university had successfully submitted the names of the candidates to the NYSC secretariat in Abuja.

"The names of 1, 496 candidates have been successfully submitted to NYSC for mobilization into the November 2012 Batch C exercise, consisting of 1, 457 fresh candidates and 39 others that could not make the last mobilization exercise."

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko, praised the dean for taking proactive efforts despite the ongoing strike by the non-academic workers of the university.

The AAUA Student Union President, Mr Ismaila Waliu Alao, who had earlier expressed the fears of concerned students that the strike might stall the exercise, thanked Management for bracing the odds in the interests of the students.

NANS bemoans strike

Penalty for delayed results ALL academic departments in UNILORIN that delay in processing of examination results of their students, especially final year results will lose grants for conferences.

The decision to penalise the latecomers was reached at a retreat for top officials of the university at Omu-Aran Monday last week.

"Departments that delay processing the results of a substantial number of students with the affected not being able to proceed to the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme with their colleagues will not benefit from Learned Conference sponsorship for one year," the retreat resolved.

Already, six departments have been identified as defaulting in the last session. The departments are: Agricultural and Biosysterns Engineering, Political Science, Microbiology, Human Kinetics and Health Education, Chemistry as well as Arts and Social Sciences Education.

Meanwhile, all Faculties in UNILORIN have been given a two-week ultimatum to submit the list of academic journals and books they need to the University Library.

The directive is to enable timely purchase of relevant books and journals.

Acting University Librarian, Mrs. J. Fadayomi, said the October 1 ultimatum was issued because responses from Faculties were very slow.

AAUA FILE

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

ies, any Benue indigene that would make a breakthrough in science and technology.

According to him, he has awarded scholarships to many Benue indigenes who are at present studying in various universities. He urged participants to proffer solutions so as to turn around the economy of the nation for the good of the society.

The Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Godwin Adah, said the policy thrust of the world's 20 largest economies by 2020 can only be achieved through the committed efforts of stakeholders, towards ensuring requisite reforms in sectors of the economy that would impact on na-

•Senate Mark

tional development. Represented by the director in the ministry, Mr Aunde Igyungu, the commissioner identified lack of science culture and the political will to address issues as they come as factors militating against development.

He said a total of 17 universities have benefitted from the training since inception, adding that this year's beneficiary universities include the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), University of Ilorin, University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Port Harcourt and Niger Delta University, Yenagoa.

Three lecturers from each of the universities participated in the training.

Lecturers from the other 12 benefitting Universities would over the next few weeks undergo the same training.

In addition to the training, Esso will also donate four Petrel Workstations to each of the benefitting schools. In his remarks, Ayodele Fasakin, Head Operations, Schlumberger Information Solutions, Nigeria and Gulf of Guinea, said Schlumberger has contributed substantially to the UAP project with the donation of all the software, licenses and training demos to all the benefitting institutions.

Doctor Alexander Opara of FUTO, on behalf of the lecturers, thanked the sponsors for the opportunity to develop capacity in the geosciences discipline in universities across the country through the scheme.

The UAP initiative started in 2006 with the construction of mini-workrooms equipped with interpretation dock stations, discussion tables with six revolving chairs, manager's desk, a writing board and interpretation workstations in geosciences departments of benefiting universities.

THE leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has fingered political colouration in the strike by the three non-academic unions at AAUA. The unions, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, and Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, had declared a seven-day protest to press home their demand for the payment of the arrears of the Hazards Allowance component of the 2009 Federal GovernmentUnions Agreement.

Speaking when they visited the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko, the four-man NANS delegate said it came to interact with Management, members of the striking unions and the students with a view to forestalling a breakdown of law and order.

"Based on our findings, we have noticed that this issue has political undertone. That was why we came earlier to sensitize the student body not to affiliate themselves with some structural political hands that could bring crisis to the environment," the students said.

Club honours VC, others THE Campus Health Environmental Sanitation Club of AAUA has presented awards to the AAUA Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mimiko; the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Rotimi Ajayi; and two other prominent members of the university Community in recognition of their contribution to services of the Club.

The awards were presented during a Malaria Sensitization Talk organised by the club to kick malaria out of Africa.

While Mimiko received the "Most Creative Vice Chancellor on Environmental Sustainability Project Award", the DVC was honoured with "The Outstanding Deputy Vice Chancellor on Student Health Care Maintenance Award".

During the event, the Club gave a practical touch to their efforts by distributing treated mosquito nets to participants and the University Health Centre. Other awardees were the former Dean of Students Affairs, Dr. Olugbega Ige, who received the "Indomitable Dean of Students Affairs Award"; and the proprietor of FAD-DE-KITCHEN,Mrs. Sobulo Abati, who was honoured with the Award of "Most Hygienic Eatery in AAUA".

29

Is SIWES still relevant?

*CAMPUSES

UNICAL set to restore students’ dining hall’s glory

Page 31

*NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

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THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0802-4550-354 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Students of Paul University in Awka, Anambra State, are pitched against the management over what they call exorbitant tuition fees and “unholy extortion”. ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU reports.

‘Students unionism is for service’ Nurudeen Saleh, 300-Level Management Technology, is the Students Union president of Moddibo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH), Yola, Adamawa State.

He told PHILIPS OGBAJE (400-Level Information Technology) his plans for students.

PHOTO: ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU

•The Paul University Awka’s gate

Crisis hits Paul University B

EING a faith-based school, it is expected to be shielded from the kind of crises that rock conventional schools. Right?

No; wrong. The Awka, Anambra State-based Paul University owned by the Anglican Communion is in a crisis over what students have described as “exorbitant tuition fee” and “unholy extortion”.

Last week, the students staged a protest, calling on the management to change its tactics. The students claimed that they pay as high as N300,000 per session without “getting value for our money.” They alleged that most of their teachers were “too old”, adding that in this “modern era of Information and Commu-

nication Technology (ICT), such teachers should have been retired.”

They said any university worth its salt must have young teachers conversant with modern ways of doing things to drive the institution’s vision.

The students also complained of poor facilities and exodus of teachers because of poor conditions of service, saying some of their colleagues left the school for other institutions.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a lecturer said students were complaining about many issues.

“Prof Gaius Igboeli (Vice-Chancellor) is running the institution aground by engaging old professors, who earn much but do nothing. The

students are demanding young lecturers, who are dynamic and ready to handle the institution’s challenges with modern techniques,” the lecturer said.

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the 55 bishops of the five ecclesiastical provinces that own the university are not comfortable with the crop of staff and have threatened to disband the university’s management. In a meeting held last weekend at Emmaus House, Awka, the bishops deliberated on the development, which, according to a source, was described as “unacceptable.”

An issue, which pitched the students against the management last week, was the registration of

courses. Management had given the students one week to register their courses or risk N5000 fine for late registration. The students said it was abnormal to register their courses within a week, condemning the planned N5,000 fine for late registration.

When CAMPUSLIFE approached the students, they refused to speak on tape, for fear of being dealt with by management. One of them, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “They have not said anything since we complained of the extortion of students, especially in the Department of Business Administra•Continued on page 31

•Nurudeen

•CBN trains Corps members on skill acquisition-P32• NANS advises Amaechi on VC -P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE

Strengthening Pushing our varsity Out with system (1)

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WANT to start today with a confession: I went to the university at a time when tuition was free, throughout my five years stay (one year added due to the first ASUU strike) I paid less than N10, 000 fees to complete my tertiary education! I only took care of my personal needs and books. I owe the Nigerian tax payers a huge debt of gratitude for making that possible for me and hundreds of thousands of those in my generation that benefited from this policy. Consequent upon this, some of us are doing our best to impart the knowledge we acquired to the next generation that did not pass through the rigorous research regime we did. I therefore try my best, within my professional capability, to take green horns and train them in the art of reporting, writing and morals.

I’m glad today that it has not been in vain.

When I look back and try to do a comparative analysis of the present system and what it used to be about ten years ago, I discovered that our universities are now a shadow of what they use to be that is why one is not surprised by the quality of graduates they produce. Just when I thought all hope was lost, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) last Wednesday approved the tertiary education report which is aimed at strengthening Nigerian Universities and eliminate the weaknesses that have brought down the standard of education in the country, I felt it is a right step in the right direction, at least the government has come to term with the fact that all is not well with our universities. But that is just one side of the coin.

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku said that apart from the issue of poor funding there are other systemic issues relating to the vision of the various universities, improper utilisation of resources as well as regulations that need to be tackled. He was quoted as saying that: “The report which was ordered

Agbo Agbo 08052959489 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com by the president following the last ASUU strike brought together stakeholders in the tertiary educational system to examine the state of development of our universities and to look at all the issues that have continued to lead to friction and also lower standards in the university system.

“So in order that we would be able to come up with a very, very comprehensive intervention policy, Mr. President felt there was a need to draw in other stakeholders, particularly state governments. And after the presentation to the National Economic Council, Mr. President will then proceed to agree on an intervention formula following a thorough analysis of the report that has been presented to us today,” Maku said.

The Minister also added that the FEC also recommended that it has become necessary for the National Universities Commission to begin to enforce basic minimum standards in terms of infrastructure, staff/student ratio and facilities, to ensure that the universities meet the best standards compared to any other in the world. Well said, but the big question remains; will this, like many others, not die on the implementation slab?

We are living in a rapidly changing world where issues are becoming more complex by the day and yesterday’s tools grossly inadequate to address today’s challenges, that is why Universities worldwide are facing increasing pressures to produce “knowledge workers”, to respond to perceived competition dynamics, and to maintain and improve quality standards. In Nigeria, there is a growing concern by the public on the quality of university

education and the relevance of the universities curriculum to national development. Part of the problems attributed to these setbacks, in addition to what the FEC identified include: poor funding; lack of infrastructures; lack of frequent curriculum review; inadequate staff training and welfare; students overpopulation; frequent strikes by both the academic and supporting staff etc.

It is quite unfortunate that necessary facilities such as sufficient power supply, enough and decent lecture halls, basic chemicals and equipment in laboratories and properly equipped libraries are lacking. No doubt, public universities in Nigeria need to improve a lot in order to parallel the global standard in imparting knowledge, conducting applicable researches, and be responsive to the needs of our socio-economic development. Elsewhere in the world, many universities have been remarkably adaptable, demonstrating the capacity to continuously re-invent themselves whilst apparently continuing to pursue their fundamental mission and sustaining their core values.

University education, I will continue to emphasise, is supposed to provide students with the general ability to think critically and independently. Critical thinking is fundamental because of its ability to enable a student challenge the norm, and to not swallow hook, line and sinker what his lecturer says. It is in challenging the norm in most instances that great inventions are made. Another aim of university education is to promote changes in the values and attributes of students. However, it is sad to mention that nowadays many of our university graduates are academically incompetent and lack the discipline required for positive contribution to national development and discourse.

Even though the academic staff, students and parents do share in the blame; justifiably the bulk of it is on our leaders. By many counts, Nigeria ranks among the most resource-endowed nations in the world. Unfortunately, in the last two to three decades, most of those saddled with the responsibility of leading the nation have been unable to prudently utilise our resources and give the educational sector its due attention. In fact, our country stands a risk of having a gloomy future as a nation,

because a society without good education and discipline cannot prosper. This is the reason why many countries commit a substantial part of their resources to education, which is supposed to generate knowledge that will sustain a nation in future.

Has it ever crossed the minds of our policy formulators that our universities are not at the forefront of technological advancements?

Researches and innovations are now rare and as a result, those who could afford it go to other African countries for their education.

Dr. Wale Babalakin, Chairman, Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities said recently that Nigerians commit a staggering N160 billion annually to education of their children and wards in Ghanaian universities alone. By the time we add those in Togo and Republic of Benin, we would be looking at nothing less than N200 billion. We really need to put our house in order, even the United States with all its resources is feeling threatened by Asian countries and is doing everything possible to encourage its citizens to take science and technology serious through the provision of grants and student loans.

In strengthening our varsity system, the issue of the quality of the academic staff and their numerical strength is of utmost importance. Apart from employing qualified academic staff, there is a need for them to have good training while on the job. In the early years of running the universities in Nigeria, many academic staff had the opportunity of studying in universities in Europe and North America that are among the best in the world for their training. Nowadays, very few have such chances due to inadequate government scholarships and intense competition for fellowships. The number of academic staff is also insufficient. The staff-students ratio in most departments in our universities is very high to the extent that there is no good interaction for proper guidance and monitoring. However, the academic staff can still make efforts to secure fellowships and research grants from the few sources available. In addition, the academic staff should also be very responsible in discharging their duties. A lot of our lecturers hide under the excuse of poor working environment to neglect assigned responsibilities. There are many cases of absenteeism, complete neglect of research and inappropriate relationship with the students.

‘Students unionism is for service’ •Continued from page 29

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OU were the least popular candidate when you contested for Students’ Union election, how did you

win?

I give thanks to God for all he did for me during the election. I was not given any chance in the election because my opponents believed that election is all about money, ethnicity and religion. However, students’ election is not about money, it is about aspirants’ ability to articulate the needs and interests of students and your commitment to promote, protect and defend these goals.

What are your plans for the students?

Within the time limit, I want to find solution to the erratic power in the hostel and water shortage. I will also ensure that the sanitation level in the hostels is improved upon. My major interest is to improve and provide facilities needed by students for them to excel in their studies.

There were opinions that management did not want final year students to contest for the union presidency to enable it control the union. What is your take on this?

I don’t agree with the opinion because Students’ Union is not meant to always confront the management but to dialogue.

The issue here is not that of control but the ability to dialogue with the school management on behalf of students and

present the need of the students. Confrontation always has disastrous consequences.

Given the erratic electricity in the hostel, students believe the union is weak and incapable of protecting their interest. Do you think otherwise?

You will agree with me that even before my inauguration there was no light in the school. There was also water shortage which made students to move from one hostel to another, at times to staff quarters in search of water. But after my inauguration, I discussed the problems with the Vice-Chancellor. Afterwards, generators were brought to light some of the lecture theaters. Water supply to the hostel also improved. Repair works were also carried out in some of the hostels. So, I want to plead with the students to bear with me as efforts are being made to address some of these problems.

Misappropriation of funds has been the bane of the union, what measures have you put in place to ensure probity?

Lack of transparency, accountability and misappropriation of funds are all products of poor record keeping. I will make sure there is proper record for every transaction of the union. If there is alteration, the Students’ Representative Assembly will be duly informed. I will also paste the approved budget of the union around the school for students to see and know what is expected of their leaders.

Mass Comm gets HOD

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HE management of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has napped Dr Nnayelugo Okoro as head of Mass Communication department.

Nnayelugo was head of the department from 2004 to 2007 and was re-appointed in 2007 for a second term.

From Oladele Oge UNN

In a message to students, Okoro urged them to be more disciplined and project the department’s image by ensuring excellence in their academic work.

His appointment took effect from August 1.

•Some of the participants at the seminar organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sensitise students on N5,000 note at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa last week

Fourth CAMPUS LIFE Annual Awards ENTRIES are now being received, from our correspondents, for the fourth Coca-Cola/ NBC CAMPUSLIFE Annual Awards.

Award categories: There are eight prizes up for grabs. The first seven are: Culture Report prize, Investigative Report prize, Entertainment Report prize, Campus Politics prize, Campus Personality Profile prize, Opinion Writing prize and Campus Sport report prize. The last and overall CAMPUSLIFE reporters of the year will be awarded by the judges on the correspondent whose entries make the most impression on them.

Eligibility: Entries must be sent in by the particular writer who authored the article.

Articles must have been published between September 2011 and August 2012.

Deadline: Nominations will be received between September 6 and 30, 2012.

Guidelines: For each category, only ONE entry will be allowed from each one. A nominee can apply for all categories. Two writers can nominate an article they coauthored. No nomination sent after September 30 will be accepted.

Each entry, with title and date of publication as well as category on it, should be sent to ladycampus@yahoo.com. The email must have as titled: 4th CAMPUSLIFE Awards.

A panel of judges, made up of senior Editors and journalism teachers, will decide the winners. The award ceremony will hold in November; the date will be announced.

Good luck to all our correspondents.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE Some students feel that the objectives of the mandatory industrial training scheme may have been misplaced because of the treatment they are getting at firms where they are doing their internship. PHILIP OKORODUDU (400-Level Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, Delta State University) writes.

Is SIWES still relevant?

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N their sophomore years, it is mandatory for students of higher institutions to embark on Students’ Industrial WorkTraining Scheme (SIWES) to expose them to the practical aspect of their courses.

The aim is to, among others, broaden their knowledge, enhance contact for job and provide an opportunity for the trainees to apply their knowledge in a real work situation thereby bridging the gap between theory and practice.

To ensure that the objectives of the scheme are achieved the government set up an Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in 1971 to set and regulate training standards in industrial and commercial skills training and also to provide funds to motivate students undergoing the scheme.

ITF works in collaboration with co-ordinating bodies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), National Employers Consultative Association (NECA), National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.

However, investigation shows that the roles and responsibilities of these co-ordinating agencies in the industrial training process have not been carried out as stipulated in the ITF Act 2011 as amended. Every year, thousands of students go for industrial training

but few pay attention to the industry knowledge because of illmotivation.

Despite their contribution and hours of work, the trainees are hardly motivated. The statutory fund released every year by the government, through the ITF, is not readily made available to them during training. Some of the employers which owe an obligation to pay the trainee fail to do so. Some IT students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, described this condition as “cheap labour”.

Supervisory members of staff in some organisations always use the opportunity of “cheap labour” to over-work the IT students and give them tasks that are not related to their fields of study.

We are threatened with such words as “If you do not do what I tell you to do, I will not sign your logbook,” an engineering student, who is undergoing his training in a construction firm, said Students that dare to call the bluff of such supervisors are said to lack “home training”.

CAMPUSLIFE found out that institutions also compound the problem their students face during intership. “For almost three months that I have been undergoing my IT here, the school supervisor has not come to check if I am here,” a 300-Level student of Mechanical Engineering said.

The Human Resources Manager of a soap factory told CAMPUSLIFE that if institutions’ officials make a minimum of three visits to the students during the period of attachment as stipulated by the ITF, some of the

•SIWES students with their supervisor at PHCN company in Delta State.

problems students are facing in their place of work would be minimised.

Today, it is now a common practice for IT students to seek placement in industries not related to their course of study partly because of money and largely due to rejection by organisations relevant to their fields. Those accepted into firms related to their fields of study are either under paid (if they are paid at all) or completely made to sit-down-andlook. A respondent who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE feared that the objectives of industrial training as stipulated in the law setting it up may have been defeated.

Silas Akpobome, 400-Level Elec-

Crisis hits Paul University

the period of his attachment. He added: “I have to work from 8am to 5pm everyday without any financial benefits. It is really not encouraging.”

Anita Anaba, ND II Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), who is on four months training, noted she had been idle in her place of attachment. She said she expected her school supervisor to come twice before she concluded the training.

Precious Iruaga, 400-Level Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, Delta State University (DELSU) said she was still waiting for her supervisor’s visit.

Leaders for Niger Delta students

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•Continued from page 29

tion and Management. Just as we returned three days after resumption, they are collecting N5000.

“The other day, graduates of Paul University pulled down the school gate because they were not mobilised for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) two years after they graduated. The management didn’t respond until the people threatened violence.”

But Prof Igboeli told CAMPUSLIFE: “Our intention is not to build a large university but a medium-size institution where interaction between lecturers and students will be intense. To that extent, we have also employed experienced professors, administrators, technologists and other professionals who we hope will be able to help us to bring up our students.”

On the high tuition fee, Prof Igboeli said: “We charge N300,000 per session and that amount is lower compared to what is obtainable in other private universities. We want students to know that even in terms of the economy, that N300,000 is very competitive because first and foremost, you are accommodated. You don’t have to pay transport everyday to go to school.

“You don’t have to rent a house in town. We don’t sell handouts here.

There are no other class fees, faculty

trical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, told our correspondent that his supervisor visited his attachment firm once during the period of his training that lasted for several months.

Asked what his challenges were, Silas, who rounds off his training tomorrow, said: “I have not been paid a dime for all the months I have spent here. There were times that we did some serious work that attracted monetary benefits but I was not privileged to benefit.”

Oghenekevwe Ajantana, 400-Level Production Engineering, University of Benin (UNIBEN), who commenced his industrial training last month, said he was unsure whether his supervisor would come during

•Reverend Ibezim

•Prof Igboieli

‘The other day, graduates of Paul University pulled down the school gate because they were not mobilised for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) two years after they graduated. The management didn’t respond until the people threatened violence.’ fees, departmental fees, library fees, everything is contained in that N300,000. There are no charges for students’ clubs and so on. Therefore, if you add up what a regular university charges and what parents spend in regular universities, you will find out that the N300,000 we are charging is very considerate.”

The host Bishop, Right Rever-

end Alex Ibezim, rebuffed our interview entreaties. He asked our correspondent: “What audacity have you to pose such questions to a Bishop of Awka Diocese?”

To resolve the impasse, the institution’s Board of Trustees , which is headed by former Vice President Alex Ekwueme has since met. The university community is waiting for the meeting’s outcome.

HE Niger Delta Students’ Union Government (NIDSUG) has inaugurated its new leaders. The executive arm and legislative council are led by Michael Yalah and Obada Akpomiemie.

The swearing in was held at Dews Lodge, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Dignitaries at the programme included Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr Felix Toudolo, who chaired the occasion, Legal Adviser to NIDSUG, Kalada Nonju, a member of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Tonye Isenah and the Chairman of Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Chief Ebikitin Diongoli.

In his valedictory speech, the outgoing president, Jeremiah Genesis, urged the new leaders to keep the spirit of union alive in all

From Emmanuel Shebbs YENAGOA

institutions.

Dr Tuodolo congratulated the new leaders and advised them to promote members’ welfare.

Speaking on leadership and followership, Nonju said good leaders listened to the followers while the latter also obeyed their leaders. He advised the executive members to seek advice from their experienced colleagues and members of the union.

In his speech, Michael thanked the students for electing him, saying “I humbly do accept your wonderful gesture to make me your national president.” He said he would not disappoint the students, adding that his administration would pursue massive education of Niger Delta students.

•Some of the executive members during the Swearing-in ceremony

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE

Varsity ejects business centres •UNN begins new session today

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•Cross-section of corps members at the programme

CBN trains Corps members on skill acquisition

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HE Enugu branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has trained Corps members serving in the state on skill acquisition. The programme held at the New Lecture Hall, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

Over 600 Corps members were trained in the seminar, aimed at alleviating poverty. The training was opened by Prof Sam. Onuigbo, Director of Maduka Onyishi Foundation for Youth Development.

He advised the Corps members to use their service year to acquire skills that would transform their lives.

From Oladele Oge UNN

He said unemployment was as a result of mismanagement of public funds, urging all arms of government to ensure probity in governance to reduce youth unemployment.

A resource person, Mr Dennis Edafiogho, said there were no white-collar jobs readily available for graduates, urging a recourse to technology, fashion designing, photography, welding and other technical skills to solve the unemployment. He said the workshop was targeted at youth, who had latent ability and knowledge to

change their condition of living.

Mr Edafiogho said the nation’s drive to develop the agricultural sector could only be achieved if youth were trained in latest technology in the sector.

He criticised Nigeria’s education system, who he described as “grammar training” and “paper education”. He cited many African countries whose higher institutions offer degree programmes for undergraduate and postgraduate students in technological research relevant to the goals of the countries. The seminar was well-attended by staff and Corps members from the state.

HE University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has ordered two business operators out of the campus in its bid to sanitise the environment.

The affected businesses are eNetwork Cyber Café and Chioma Bakery located behind the Senior Staff Club. The Manager of the cyber café told CAMPUSLIFE that the authorities gave his firm an emergency quit notice. He said the offence of the café may not be unconnected with complaints made by some senior members of the Staff Club about the noise of his generating set, which, location he had promised to change.

“The next thing I saw was a letter brought by the institution management to pack out from the building,” Orji said.

For the owner of Chioma Bakery, who sells food to students and staff, the development was not palatable news. “It is true we are making sales here but we are also serv-

From Oladele Oge UNN

ing students and staff of this school in one way or the other. This canteen helped students and visitors to the institution who could not afford expensive restaurants on campus,” she told our correspondent.

There was a stampede last week when Sandwich students, who were given deadline to submit an assignment, met the door of the cyber café locked. The students had to find an alternative to get materials for submission.

Meanwhile, the management has announced last week that the institution would commence the 2012/2013 academic session today. According to the release by the UNN Registrar, Mr A.I. Okonta, last Friday, the freshers are expected on the campus today for their accommodation, after which the registration processes commence on October 2.

•The SUG officials after their swearing in

YABATECH gets union officers

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TUDENTS of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATEC) have elected their Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders. They defied the early morning shower to exercise their franchise.

The election, which was held in five different locations on campus, was adjudged to be free and fair by the aspirants and their agents.

One of the contenders, Damilare Olabimtan, who represented the School of Art, said the election was peaceful and orderly, adding that voters adhered strictly to the rules and regulations.

Another aspirant, Adekunle Idimu, praised the electoral committee members for “a job well done”.

Mr Jimoh Oketokun, who was the returning officer at the School of Engineering, said the exercise was credible, adding that there was no conflict of interest whatsoever.

The result of the election was •Some of the freshers after their induction last week

S

TUDENTS have been advised to be hard working and God fearing in the pursuit of their education. Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun, Delta State Pro Lawal Bichi, gave the advice during the matriculation of new students. No fewer than 444 students matriculated. Bichi, who led other principal officers’ to the event, urged the freshers to obey rules and regulations to avoid ter-

444 students matriculate From Oladele Oge FUPRE

minating their academic programmes prematurely.

The Acting Registrar, Mrs Rosalyn Egborge, charged the students to be prudent and good ambassadors of the university.

She urged them to avoid bad

company.

One of the inductees, Adolphus Urama, who was admitted into Chemistry department, said he hoped the institution would transformed his life.

The university took off in March 2007, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

From Mark Orgu YABATECH

announced by Mr P.D. Kayode, on behalf of the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, who doubles as the Sub-Dean, Students’ Affairs, Mr Imafidon Osamu.

Afeez Babalola was returned as the president elect, while Kemi Ogunniyi and Samuel Igiebor, were elected as Vice President 1 and II respectively.

Other officers elected are Olabisi Lawal, General Secertary, Emmanuel Adebayo, Assistant Secretary, Martins Afolami, Social Director, Nurudeen Oyeleke, Sport Director, Hyacinth Peter, Public Relation Officer and Kehinde Owoo, Welfare Director.

Osamu congratulated the winners and urged them to focus on the students’ welfare.

Afeez, in his inaugural speech, said he would ensure transparency and accountability in his leadership of the union.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE ‘Nigerian leaders must reduce poverty’

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F Nigeria wishes, become a permanent member of United Nations (UN) Security Council, it must improve its power and economy. This was the submission of a legal practitioner cum Political Scientist, Dr Akin Onigbinde.

He spoke during the inter-university debate held at the Large Lecture Theatre, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ibadan (UI). The debate with the theme: Is Nigeria’s aspiration to be a permanent member of the Security Council justifiable? was organised by the National Association of Political Sciences Students (NAPSS).

UI, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) par-

From Mayowa Okekale UI

ticipated in the contest. The students, who represented the institutions argued against the notion, declaring that the aspiration was unjustifiable.

Dr Onigbinde stated that the Permanent Security member was a position of competition, for which Nigeria must possess all the necessary credentials including improving per capital income, free and fair election, reduction in poverty level, productivity among other.

Prof Bayo Okunade, Director of Distance Learning Centre, in his remarks, said Nigeria must maintain internal peace and security.

UI came first in the debate, with a score of 74.3 per cent.

‘Global communities are technologically driven’

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•Students waiting to vote during the exercise at the Ikorodu campus

LASPOTECH students elect leaders

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TUDENTS of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) have elected Students’ Union Government (SUG) officials for another session. The election, took place on the two campuses of the institution. It was peaceful.

At the School Officer’s building of the School of Technology, where a polling booth was stationed, students lined up to exercise their franchise.

From Tolulope Oguneley LASPOTECH

The election, which started at 9a.m ended at 12noon and the counting of votes started immediately in the presence of the aspirants’ agents. In the evening, the results from all the units across the campuses were announced by the electoral committee chairman, Mrs Temitope Kolawole, who is the Deputy Registrar.

At the end of the process, Muritala Balogun was returned the president-elect of the union.

Other elected officials were Mayowa Oworu, Vice President, Oloche Acheme, General Secretary, Zeenat Oluwo, Assistant General Secretary, Whenu Iroko, Public Relation Officer (PRO), Waheed Adamson, Welfare Director 1, Samson Alfred, Welfare Director II, and Olayinka Akerele, Sport Director.

HE emerging space science capacities in Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa and a few other African countries, according to research, reflect the strategic roles and importance of space science and technology in sustainable national development.

This was the submission of the Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Bassey Ewa, at the second edition of an International Conference and Alumni ReUnion organised by the African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in English (ARCSSTE-E) which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. A statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the University,Abiodun Olanrewaju said the event, which was coordinated by the Director of ARRCSSTE-E, Dr. Joseph Akinyede was attended by representatives of the Navy, Army, Air force, ECOWAS and experts among others.

He said the theme for this year’s event, ’Space for Economic Growth and Prosperity of the African people’’, was very apt ‘particularly now that the economies of nations

From Sikiru Akinola OAU

across Africa are steadily sloping downward with a resultant low per-capita income and gross domestic product (GDP).’’

He lamented that Africa is endowed with natural and human resources but yet poverty is the order of the day.

He, however, said that space science and technology will provide vantage point from which the study and management of the natural environment can be undertaken to yield its maximum goods and services.

He said: ‘’It is in recognition of this strategic roles and importance of Space Science and Technology that Nigeria, through the Ministry of Science and Technology is playing pivotal role in promoting activities related to the integrated research and development in earth observation, navigation and communication satellite technology. Last year, Nigeria successfully launched three satellites into orbit: NigeriaSat-X, designed and built solely by young Nigerian scien

NANS advises Amaechi on VC

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•Timothy handing over the bus to the staff of the department

NNPC subsidiary donates bus to dept

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HE Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has donated a brand new Toyota Hiace bus to the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Benin (UNIBEN).

The gesture, according to NPDC’s Executive Director (Services) Mr Ishaya Timothy, was in line with the form’s corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Timothy, said the gesture was

From Udoka Iyoke UNIBEN

geared towards strengthening the mutual relationship existing between the oil company and the department. He praised the efforts of the head of the Petroleum Engineering department, and the Dean of the faculty of Engineering to reposition the faculty to produce employable graduates.

Receiving the vehicle, Dean of Engineering faculty, Prof Sunday Onohaebi, appreciated the firm for

remembering the university and choosing it for “such a kind gesture”. He expressed satisfaction at the level of progress made by the department, commending the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Osayuki Oshodin, for his developmental stride in the institution.

The head of the department, Dr O. A. Olafuyi, expressed appreciation to the management of NPDC for treating the department’s request for the vehicle. He promised the vehicle would be sensibly maintained.

HE National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged Governor Rotimi Amaechi to rescind the re-appointment of Prof Barineme Fakae as Vice-Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST).

In a statement, the Secretary General of NANS, Zone B, Richard Ekutu, condemned the alleged imposition of Fakae and called on the governor to rescind his decision.

The statement said it was disturbing the despite the continued criticism by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Amaechi has

From Nosakhare Uwadiae BENIN

not reversed his decision.

It said NAN’s was against the “unpopular decision” of the governor, adding that NANS would not hesitate to mobilise to the state to ensure due process was followed.

The statement, said:“Students are always at the receiving end. We are the ones that will suffer the outcome of the disagreement between the government and ASUU over the appointment of the Vice Chancellor.

We believe the decision of Governor Amaechi is unpopular and uncalled for.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

34

CAMPUS LIFE It was all excitement after graduating students of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Television College (TV COLLEGE) wrote their final exam. JOHNPAUL NNAMDI (graduating student of Television Journalism) and SULEIMAN DUTSE (300-Level Television Production) report.

Water ‘baptism’ for graduating students

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CROWD of students waited outside the examination halls, clutching various items. Passers-by knew their intention. With different size of buckets and various brands of sachet water, their purpose could be discerned.

Barely 30 minutes after their arrival, a student, Malik Suleiman, stepped out of one of the examination halls. As he was smiling, the mob received him and smiled along - maybe he had written his final paper to his satisfaction. But not a student in the crowd was concerned. In no time, one of them came from behind to ‘baptise’ Malik with cold water. Others responded by splashing the graduating student with sachet water.

Malik did not pick offence; instead, he threw jabs into the air and said “no more night class; all hurdles have been crossed and I am now a graduate.”

As other final year students

•Some of the graduating students in a group photograph after their final exams

came out of the halls, they were not spared in the baptism.

Though, most of the outgoing students tried to run away from the mob, but they were unlucky as the mates spattered them with dirty water and all sorts of liquid.

The activity took an interesting turn when the graduating students, who were all clad in customised T-shirts inscribed

•Malabo Refectory: The renovation work in progress

with “NTA TVC set of 2012” and names on the back, danced excitingly to a rhythm wafting from a stationary car.

The celebration did not stop there. The departing students danced round the campus, waving goodbye to their lecture rooms in a sarcastic manner. At every point they met a lecturer, they would run towards him and prostrate

‘thankfully’ before the lecturer.

Afterwards, they would pose for a group photograph with the don.

The highpoint of the activities was when the jubilating students demanded an audience with the Rector of the College, Dr Ayo Fasan. As the Rector stepped forward to address them, the students surrounded him and sang perverted version of popular

Indomie jingle: “Baba you do good o, you do good; you gave us certificates, you too much.” The students took photographs with Dr Fasan, who briefly addressed them.

Some of the final year students fought back tears after their final exams. One of the students, Bliss Onyenadiri, who was crying profusely, said she could not believe that she was no more an undergraduate, saying it was a dream come through for her. She said she would miss her colleagues, who she described as “indispensable set of friends”.

Habeeb Mu’az, a graduating student, who is known on campus to be a gentle student, said he had no excuse not to celebrate with his colleagues. He said: “Today is a very special day for me because for over four years, I have been studying and now is my graduation time. So I have to jubilate because I have just dropped my last pen as a student of this college.”

Other respondents among the graduating students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said there was no cause for celebration. One of them, who preferred not to be named, said: “I don’t think the final year students should start celebrating. They should wait until the result is out because they don’t know it they will all graduate eventually.”

However, for Grace Akwe, one of the final year students, there is nothing to worry about because she had put in her best in the exam. “I just want to celebrate today. I believe I have done my best by studying hard. God will take control of the rest,” she said.

•Part of the structure being plastered...last week

The management of University of Calabar (UNICAL) has started reconstructing the abandoned students’ dining hall.

EMMANUEL SHEBBS (500-Level Political Science) reports.

UNICAL set to restore students’ dining hall’s glory W HEN the University of Calabar (UNICAL) was founded, the government built a 1,000-capacity dining hall for students’ use. It was named Malabo Refectory. The dining hall was stationed adjacent to the Malabo Repulik – students’ hostel.

Students, with their meal tickets, went to the hall to eat. There were caterers employed by the Federal Government to dish out good foods to them.

However, the glory of the refectory diminished with the military intervention in power. Many things went wrong with the management of the hall and at the end, the Malabo Refectory ended up the ‘Nigerian way’ – it was abandoned.

To ensure that the structure does

not ... away, the refectory was cleared and converted to a multipurpose Hall by the management because of its proximity to the students’ hostel. Before now, the hall meant different things to different people. To Campus Christian Fellowship, the refectory was a church building where services were held weekly. To the indigenous associations and cultural groups, it was a village square where cultural events were organised. It was also seen as a sport complex by students.

However, to restore its glory, the renovation of the refectory has begun.

The management has charged the students through the Students Union Government (SUG) to coop-

erate with it, saying the project is aimed at improving students’ welfare.

In a statement signed by Deputy Director of Physical Planning, the university said: “The work is aimed to rehabilitate the old refectory and convert its section to buttery’’. The repair work is expected to last for three months.

The UNICAL union president, Ayi Epkeyong, said: “The renovation of the refectory by Prof James Epoke-led administration is a timely intervention. When completed, we have no doubt that the building would used to promote the students’ welfare.”

A student, Chinenye Obiora, said: “I commend the management for

the renovation of the refectory but they should not stop at renovating there. They should construct a gallery at the rare of the hall so that it will contain more students.”

For Grace Offiong, the reconstruction is good news. He said: “I implore the management not to only focus on the refectory building alone, they should equally consider the renovation of the corridors.

There are grasses on top of the corridor’s roof sheets. Some of the metals used for the corridor are rust and should be changed.”

The renovation of Malabo Refectory has posed a threat to fellowships and student groups that used the building for events. When asked if there were plans to make

another venue available to the students’ associations, Information Officer of the university pleaded with students to be patient, saying the renovation work was in the interest of all.

The Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Eyong Eyong, said: “It was the students that complained that the roof of the building was leaking. So I decided to do a memo to the management to begin maintenance work on the structure. The Director of Works did an assessment on the building and came up with a plan and now the construction has begun. It is obvious that the students cannot make use of the building now because the roof has been pulled down.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

35

CAMPUS LIFE

Of alumni contribution and the new UNILORIN VC

By AbdulKarim Muhammed

I

N a paper presentation on the viability of the Nigerian universities a while ago, the former ProChancellor of the University of Lagos and the founder of the prestigious Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, once argued that what keeps the flag of the American universities flying all the times is not the statutory subventions that they get from the government but the huge contribution of their alumni to their Alma Mater.

Chief Afe, while upbraiding varsities administrators in Nigeria for ‘not thinking outside the box’ and for always going cap in hand before the government for fund, singled out the Harvard University alumni’s enviable contribution of a whopping $25 billion in endowment to the university! This startling revelation burgled my mind for weeks as I pondered on the relevance of the very numerous graduate bodies of our various uni-

versities vis-à-vis their relevance to the nation’s educational development.

This brings us to the awards the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) alumni association bestowed on a few of its illustrious members. It is heartwarming that the association has woken up from slumber to recognise its members that have distinguished themselves various fields.

However, what is disturbing is the unencouraging contributions being made by the graduates of the university to its development.

It is instructive to note here that the UNILORIN products are today captains of industries, high ranking public servants, top level politicians, yet there are little contributions from them.

Although I stand to be corrected, but to the best of my little knowledge, and also as an alumnus of the university, I don’t know of any substantial endowment that the alumni body either concertedly or individually has done in recent times.

The nagging question that begs for answer and which should be a source of huge worry for the university is: how many of its students continue to identify with it after graduation?

How many of them still carry the toga of UNILORIN like the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) students mention “The Great Ife”, or the University of Ibadan (UI) and University of Lagos (UNILAG) students carry their Alma Maters’ names anywhere they go? No is the answer to all the questions.

The alumni body and the university administration would do well to ponder on these posers and look inwards to determine at what point

things started taking this sorry dimension.

As a graduate of the institution, I can identify three verifiable points that could, among others, answer the questions posed above. I do not lay claim to be all-knowing, but my little experience as a student in the university and my interaction with the students as forner mouthpiece of the school’s Students’ Union place me on a vantage position to say few things that may perhaps lead to solution.

Firstly is the unjustifiable maltreatment that the majority of the students go through not only in the hands of their lecturers but particularly in the hands of the university security agents. The students of both the Basic Medical Sciences (BMS) and the Business and Social Sciences (BSS) have been victims of highhandedness of the overzealous staff of the institution. The students are at the mercy of their lecturers; when they are maltreated, they dare not speak out for the fear of being expelled.

Sorting, a phenomenon the administration of Prof Ishaq Oloyede tried so hard to curtail, is still happening, albeit secretly in those faculties.

Students’ results still get missing in virtually all faculties as a result of administrative lapses and the negligence of a few clerical staff, and the students hardly have any remedy about it than to helplessly wait and re-write the papers to their disadvantage.

And for those that are ‘lucky’ not to have missing results, endless wait for

the release of same is usually another problem. A few final year students in the Political Science department are currently undergoing this “baptism of fire.”

How then does one expect students that go through this academic humiliation to jump and shout hurray when the name of the University is mentioned?

The daily humiliation students receive in the hands of UNILORIN security operatives, who overate their importance in the school. Sadly, the Alumni body does little to help the victimised students. The only time I felt the existence of the body was when I was to pay the N1,000 alumni fee on graduation. There was virtually no time I heard that the body interceded on students’ behalf or intervened in students and management face-off, which is mostly informed by the latter’s sometimes inconsiderate policies.

The current students will be future members of alumni association, and if the body continues its trademark of sitting on the fence when the students are being maltreated, nobody would be willing to contribute anything to the school.

This brings me to the emergence of the VC-designate of the University, Prof Abdulganiy Ambali. I have sought information from different quarters about Prof Ambali, but a few could give information about his personality. Although, there is a notion that he cuts a picture of a humble, humane, industrious, erudite and com-

petent individual, but the administration of a university such as UNILORIN with its peculiarities demands much more that these common minimum standards.

Prof Ambali must hit the ground running. The professor would be better advised to go beyond the rhetoric he was reported to have said recently about the contest that got him in and the controversy that trailed it, and seek a truce with his opponets, especially Prof Abdulrasheef Ijaodola, who has taken his grievance a notch above others by pressing charges in court.

The VC-Designate should start on a clean slate and employ diplomacy to get all the contenting parties to a round table for possible political solutions to the logjam.

Prof. Ambali should know that it’s not yet Uhuru. In fact to the best of my little knowledge, he is actually “unfortunate” to have become a VC at this critical time that the outgoing VC Oloyede has set a rather enviable and unsurpassable record of sterling performance. Sir, if you are reading this, I want to state categorically that the ball is in court. Everyone of us expects so much from you sir. We don’t just expect you to merely keep the pace but climb above the pace. We expect you to bring your avowed wide exposure and connection both nationally and internationally to bear in administration of the school. I pledge to accord you and the University a space during my daily morning devotion before the almighty Allah. I wish well sir as you take the mantle of leadership of our better by far university!

Abdulkarim is a Corps member, NYSC Lagos

Towards improved academic performance

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HIS opinion seeks to analyse the causes of the poor academic performance of students in our higher institutions. It examines the factors that affect students in academic atmosphere.

I investigated why students perform woefully to the root of the matter and the result showed that there is a decline in the reading ability of students, which in turn lead to an increase in the poor performance of students.

I recommended that with review of university curricula and method of administration, the poor academic performance by students would be reduced to the barest minimum.

The causes of poor academic performance by students could be linked to corruption in admission method, inadequate lecture halls and witholding of results.

Based on my research and chat I had with some lecturers and students, I discovered that the admission system of universities has been compromised by students and their parents in collaboration with staff of institutions.

Admission, over the years, has been for the highest bidder and this leads to admitting unserious students. This leads to poor academic performance.

Also, there are cases where students are admitted into the department they didn’t apply for. For instance, a student applied for Materials and Metal-

lurgical Engineering and was given Fishery and Aquaculture to study.

This demoralises the student and can make him perform below expectation. The number of admitted student usually outweighs the capacity in which the school can accommodate, due to over population admitted students do not get proper orientation from the school authorities. Therefore, these students jump into the academic system with little or no idea of how the university works and its expectations; this leads to students getting frustrated.

In some universities, there are lecture halls with no seat and proper board. Also, the number of students that receive lectures in certain halls exceeds capacity.

When students move into the lecture halls and the it is filled to the brim, students will stand at the back and some would sit on the floor. This can be noticed especially in a faculty where the population of students is, say, 120 students per department with a 80-capacity lecture hall. Such facility and condition would never make all the students concentrate of their studies.

Also, we come to the problem of public address system, with a large population of students. The possibility of listening and understanding

what the lecturer is teaching is quite minimal. Some lecturers who don’t have loud voices would have no other choice but to continue with the lecture without students at the back of the hall grabbing anything. The designs of some of the lecture venues are quite not up to standard, for the purpose of height variation and individual sight strength, auditorium design for lecture halls is the best designs because of its continuous elevation which is a benefit to better learning.

There is also the problem of hosting social functions in lecture halls at the expense academic activities. This has been going on for for a long time, when lecture halls are used as a venue for social events. This has made the lecturers to lose the time alloted for lectures. Most times, the venue is changed but during the movement, students energy decreases.

Furthermore, It is a fact that student don’t get to see their results on time because some lecturers decide to withold the result. When a student has problem with a course, and he finds out about the issue late, that student may find it very difficult to adjust to the new situation with an extra work load. This usually has a psychological effect on the student.

Also, there is an increase in the num-

ber of missing scripts. Students write examinations, tests, practical reports, assignments and submit to the appropriate location. Unfortunately, when the results are out, some students don’t see their results. This problem can be traced to the examiners or lecturer that mark such scripts down to the person that compute the scores.

This factor consequently increases the students’ unit load as well as reduces their Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). The attitude of the lectures and non-academic staff who are the route to the verification of one’s results are very much appalling, which puts students through stress and in dilemma. The process is quite time consuming and the students’ hours are spent trying to correct mistakes they never created by giving them an extra year.

In conclusion, it is no news that there has been a decline in students’ performance academically over the years. I want to recommend that the schools’ authorities should look into the matter and address them in the shortest possible time to prevent future consequences such as like the production of half-baked graduates.

The number of admitted student usually outweighs the quota which school can accommodate. Universities should reduce the number of stu-

Learning from Cynthia’s death

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By Philips Ogbaje

HE gruesome killing of Cynthia Osukogu, a postgraduate student of Nasarawa State University by ‘friends’ she met on Blackberry messenger’s group last July, once again, underscores how dangerous the social media can be.

Who would have thought that, by hanging out and exchanging harmless information with friends thousands of miles away on the internet, could expose one to criminals?

For us in this part of the world, crimes perpetrated through this method are something of a novelty

and that I think accounts for the public outrage that followed her death.

Some called for total scrapping of Facebook, while others suggested closer monitoring of social media networks.

But anyone conversant with the risks associated with social networks such as Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and Digg among others would know that it is not all fun; it might not be safe after all to divulge certain information about oneself.

In fact, the United Kingdom police have reported a 540 per cent in-

crease in Facebook crimes over the past three years, according to the Criminal Justice Degrees Guide. Example of these crimes abound.

Just like Cynthia, Nona Balomesoff, a young girl in the United States was found dead in a creek in May 2010 after agreeing to go on an overnight camp trip with a total stranger she met on Facebook.

Similarly, Megan Meier, a 13-year old girl who suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder in St. Charles county, US, committed suicide in October 2006, after she was

By Francis Egwuatu dents being admitted or provide more conducive teaching environment if it would admit more students.

Lecture hall capacity can be resolved by building adequate lecture halls and assigning students to a lecture venue that can accommodate all. I recommend that lecturers must be instructed by authorities to release the results at the stipulated time.

Francis, 300-Level Mechanical Engineering, FUTO

taunted by an imaginary friend created by a woman on Myspace. In May 2008, Tracy Grinhaff, a young lady was hammered to death in her family shed by her husband after she posted on a social medium that she was breaking up witt the man.

Majority of these crimes result from information users post and share online.

Most users of social network post and share all kinds of things online without knowing that there are perverts, and criminal minded individuals waiting to profit from such. The ease, with which people access social networks, have made it easy for •Continued on page 36

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

36

CAMPUS LIFE CD group holds seminar on child labour, trafficking From Tunmise Oladipo

NYSC IBADAN

H

UMAN trafficking has been identified as the third largest criminal activity in the world after arms and drug trafficking. According to the United Nations statistics, the majority of trafficking victims are between 18 and 24 years of age and an estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked across international borders each year.

As part of efforts to combat the scourge, the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF), Oyo State chapter, in conjunction with Vanguard, a Community Development Service (CDS) group of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in the state, has held a workshop to raise the awareness against child labour in the state. The workshop, which was tagged Youth life skill, took place at the School of Hygiene, Eleyele, Ibadan.

According to WOTCLEF coordinator, Alhaja Adijat Malik, the state chapter, which took off in 2004 to create community awareness, has initiated firm actions against abuse of the rights of women and children with particular focus on human trafficking and child labour.

The schedule officer, WOTCLEF CDS, Mr Austin Okoroafor, thanked the guests for attending the workshop and said that the seminar was part of the objectives of the CDS group in combating the menace of human trafficking and child labour that have bedeviling the nation.

•Cross-section of Corps members at the programme

“Trafficking is a slave trade in this era, involving victims who are coerced into sexual exploitation. WOTCLEF as an NYSC vanguard is charged with the responsibility of raising community awareness and action against human trafficking, child labour and the spread of HIV/AIDS,” Okoroafor said.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, one of the Corps members at the event, Temitope Fatuase, said: “The seminar is eye opening

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

and I am glad the Vanguard organised it. I belief it is high time Nigerians desist from this heinous crime. Parents need to know that they should not release their children for people they are not trust. We will continue to say no to human trafficking, child labour, begging and prostitution.”

The president of the Vanguard, Oluwatosin Falade, described trafficking and child labour

as “bad trade”, saying 80 per cent of the victims are women and girls. “This is why WOTCLEF as a group is so much involved in women and children liberation because we believe that as much as we are able to reduce the rate of trafficking, the more we move closer to achieving our goals of eradicating trade in our society,” she said.

Learning from Cynthia’s death •Continued from page 35

people to fill their profile with bogus information and nice pictures, which any smart murderer could be hiding behind. Anybody can create a fake Facebook account for instance, with any type of picture and personal details. Again most social networks’ users have very loose privacy control; in fact some people on Facebook allow all their posts and details to be viewed by everybody, in order to attract comments.

Another major factor that makes a user vulnerable to crime on the social media is careless acceptance of friends, which gives total strangers access to you in the same way as friends and family. For young women in this part of the globe, having many online friends is something to brag about.

Most of us that use social network sites let our guards down in issues of trust and discuss intimate issues with people we shouldn’t even hang around with in real life. If Cynthia hadn’t revealed that she owned a boutique and even went ahead to innocently meet them, which ultimately became her greatest undoing, she may probably still be alive today.

A study conducted in the UK revealed that people who use Facebook more than once a day are 43 per cent more likely to think that most people can be trusted.

If anything should be avoided like plague in social media, it should be its gullibility. Anybody you don’t know should not even be accepted as a friend much less trusted with any information. As there are thieves on the street, murderers, sexual perverts and psychopaths, in real life, are on social media too. Friends you do not know can use your careless posts to blackmail you.

In as much as the aim of social network sites is to meet and interact with people, setting up a date or falling in love with an online friend whom you do not know personally is as risky as anything one can think of. No matter how real, sweet, charming, affectionate and convincing the person may sound, there is every chance in the world that the cute looking lady or gentleman you see or hear his or her voice is just another criminal bidding his time. It is very instructive to note that all the victims of Cynthia Osukogu’s alleged killers are all ladies they met on Facebook. And Cynthia is their fifth victim!

If you must meet an online friend physically for a date, it should be where you say not where he or she says. A public place will be more advisable and you must not be alone. Have a

friend or relative accompany you in case of any emergency.

The latest addition to social media applications, such as foursquare and Google map which automatically tag twitter and Facebook posts with location should also be avoided or disabled. In our own peculiar situation in Nigeria where kidnapping is a blossoming trade, a determined criminal can use this application to track your movement.

In September 2010, policemen in Nashua, New Hampshire, said they busted a burglary ring in which the three suspects targeted Facebook users who posted their locations. They committed more than 50 break-ins while homeowners were away, and police recovered more than $100,000 worth of property when the suspects were caught.

The designers of these online social networks made it to be fun when people bond online and it is actually fun when used carefully. All the social networks have security and privacy settings, visit it and adjust accordingly.

The key to surviving on the social media is being more selective, connect with only those you know you can trust, share only when necessary and know which social site to use. Twitter doesn’t reveal a lot of personal information, facebook does. The wonderful thing is that the choice is yours.

Away from crime, there are also concerns that excessive use of facebook can lead to psychological problems. According to a research conducted by Larry Rosen, a professor of Psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills, “teens, who use Facebook more often, show more narcissistic tendencies while young adults who have a strong Facebook presence show more signs of other psychological disorders, including anti-social behaviours, mania and aggressive tendencies. “ He also said daily overuse of media and technology has a negative effect on the health of all children, preteens and teenagers by making them more prone to anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders, as well as by making them more susceptible to future health problems.

This study means there should be moderation in the use of the social media. The last thing any user wants is to get ill because of excessive usage of the social media. Cynthia Osukogu may be dead, but we live to learn and it is only the living that socialise. For me, Cynthia‘s death is enough lesson.

Philips, 400-Level Information Technologies, MAUTECH YOLA

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

EDUCATION EKSU FILE Theatre Arts Dept coming DAZZLED by cultural displays of students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) at the main auditorium last week Friday, the ViceChancellor, Prof Patrick Oladipo Aina, has said a Department of Theatre Arts would be established.

At the event, graced by musician Beautiful Nubia, and an actor, Peter Fatomilola, Aina said the re-awakening of the Yoruba cultural values was overdue in the face of the decadence among youths.

The programme tagged: “Acaculturism 2012”, attracted a large turnout of students, staff and others.

34th Inaugural lecture PANDEMONIUM in the Land: “Social Value System to the Rescue”, is the title of the lecture to be delivered by Professor of Sociology James Adeola Olaogun on October 9 during the 34th Inaugural Lecture of the university.

The lecture, which will discuss issues on instability in the socioeconomic system and the possible solution, is expected to attract dignitaries from various sectors .

Aina will chair the event which will take place at main auditorium.

T

ASUP flays 'discrimination' by TETFUND

HE Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has frowned at what it terms the discriminatory policy of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) in disbursing funds between polytechnics and the universities saying the federal government should as a matter of urgency correct the abnormally to avoid the break down of industrial harmony in the polytechnics.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its 71st National Executive Council and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Clement Chirman, the union said its rejects the present TETfund sharing formula that favours universities and demands fair allocation of the resources to all

tertiary institutions in the country.

The communiqué further disclosed that the discriminatory policy restricts sponsorship of ASUP members to only science-related courses for overseas studies and thereby called for reversal as well as asked for a 10-year extension of the ages of beneficiaries as against the current 50-years benchmark in view of the newly approved 65 years retirement age for the members.

The body also urged the federal government to "immediately release the document on the CONTISS 15 migration for the lower cadre staff of polytechnics and monotechnics."

On issues concerning State-owned polytechnics, the Union advocated the immediate re-constitution of Governing Councils of Polytechnics to avoid administrative vacuum, the implementation of FG/ASUP agreements as well as immediate appointment of substantive Rectors in states where Acting Rectors have overstayed.

The Union however reiterated its commitment to improving polytechnic education in the country through dialogue, nurturing of members in all disciplines and called on proprietors of polytechnics to encourage capacity building infrastructural development in the sector.

3,000 take pre-degree exams ABOUT 3000 candidates took part in the EKSU pre-degree examination on Friday, 21st September, 2012.

Speaking on the examination, the Director of the pre-degree programmes, Prof. E. B. Kolawole praised the candidates for comporting themselves very well which he said made the work of the invigilators easy.

UI to immortalise its dear don

•The late Prof Olu-Owolabi

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ICE-CHANCELLOR of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Prof Isaac Folorunso Adewole, has said the university would immortalise Prof Kolawole Aderemi Olu-Owolabi, the late Dean of the Faculty of Arts who died on September 16, at 51.

However, the manner in which to honour the professor is yet to be announced by the school Senate.

The lying-in-state for the late don will hold at the Trenchard Hall today.

Adewole, who disclosed plans to honour Olu-Owolabi when he led Principal Officers of the university on a condolence visit to the deceased's family last Monday, also described the late professor of history as a wonderful scholar and administrator.

A statement by the Director of Public Communication, Mr Olatunji Oladejo, said the Vice-Chancellor praised Olu-Owolabi for not allow-

ing his health challenge to prevent him from exceptional performance.

Adewole wrote in the condolence register "What a monumental loss and too mighty to comprehend. A star has fallen."

The late Olu-Owolabi had his primary education at Ansar-ud-Deen Primary School, Oke Ado, Ibadan and his secondary at St. Patrick's Grammar School, Ibadan (1978).

He obtained his Higher School Certificate from the Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro in 1980 the same year he was admitted to the University of Lagos to Philosophy.

At the end of his first year, he won the prestigious Federal Government Merit Award Scholarship for being the best student in his class.

He graduated in 1983 with a Second Class Upper Division, winning the Departmental Prize as the best student in his class. He was retained by his department for his National Youth Service.

He commenced his doctorate programme in September 1984 and defended his Ph.D. thesis on the May 9, 1989, becoming the first person in the department to do so.

Olu-Owolabi joined the Department of Philosophy, UI, on October 5, 1989, as a Lecturer Grade II and rose through the ranks until he was appointed professor in 2002.

• From Left: Anthony Njenga, Coca Cola training personnel, Gasper, Mr Dada and Mr Oguntuyi Laolu, Director Technical and Vocational Services (LASTVEB), at the event

Lagos technical colleges to use new curriculum •Trains teachers with NBC

F

ROM the new academic session which begins this week, the five Lagos State-owned technical colleges will start teaching a new curriculum in addition to the one approved by the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).

Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) Mr Olawumi Gasper said, at the start of a 10-day training of technical teachers in collaboration with the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) last week, that the curriculum, designed by industry, will be taught for two days in a week.

Gasper said it had become necessary to enrich the curriculum of technical colleges to make their graduates compete for lucrative jobs in construction, telecoms and other sectors

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

that currently go to more skilled artisans from the west coast and Asia.

He also said the students would begin writing the City and Guilds professional examination in addition to the NABTEB because it is more recognised by employers.

He said: "Technical Colleges cannot stand alone because the products of the colleges will work in the industry. So we decided to come up with industry curricula designed by the industry. The national curriculum will be taught for three days in the week and two days for the industry curricula. The students will also be taking the City and Guilds examinations because the certification is well known and accepted by the industry. The NABTEB NTC is not acceptable to industry so we decided to expose our students to international qualifications so they can work not only in Nigeria but in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and other countries."

Speaking on the in-plant industrial workshop, Gasper said the collabo-

T

• Chairman of Muslimot Olajumoke Durosinmi Girl’s Club, Alhaja Musilimot Durosinmi, and her husband, Chairman, Ojo Local Government, Prince Adeyinka Durosinmi presenting school materials to Firdaous Hassan during the distribution fo school materials to indigent pupils in the council by the club.

ration with NBC on the training is to expose the 35 teachers to the use of machines purchased by the government for the technical colleges for teaching welding, electrical, electronics, machining, fabrication, electrical installations and electrical motor repairs. He added that the training would update their knowledge so they can transfer current skills to their students.

Head of the Technical Training at NBC, Pastor Tope Dada said the teachers would learn how to present what they know to the students. He praised the state government for improving technical education, saying he was optimistic the company would get better skilled technicians to employ and train.

"To train the teachers in the right way is a good concept. That way the boys can come to us with the right skills. Our engineers from the university are useless to us. Before we were recruiting and training secondary school graduates for four years.

But now, we only take those who go through the technical colleges and polytechnics and train them for two years," he said.

FCE Yola seeks support to HE Federal College of Eduput up fence cation, Yola, Adamawa State,

has appealed to government and well-meaning individuals to assist it in fencing the college for security. Its Provost, Prof AbdulMumin Sa'ad made the appeal Friday at the graduation of 300 beneficiaries of skill acquisition training of the Adamawa State Local Apprenticeship Scheme in collaboration with the FCE Yola.

The Provost, who was represented by the Deputy Provost, Felix Anyanwu, said a perimeter fence would reduce the threats from thieves and hoodlums.

"We also wish to solicit the assistance of the government in fencing the college as it is faced with con-

stant threats from thieves and hoodlums. We look to the people's government of the state as we solicit financial grant to fast-track the introduction of degree programmes in the college," he said.

Speaking on the training, Sa'ad said the college was happy to graduate 300 participants who underwent rigorous training in Computer Studies (150) and Home-Economics (150).

He applauded the state government for collaborating with the college in capacity building, provision of classroom blocks in its Model Primary/Secondary School as well as the construction of solar borehole for the institution.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

38

EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS

ACE FILE Workshop for Directorate THE Directorate of Ventures and Linkages of the Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo, has completed a three -day workshop for teachers of Adeyemi College of Education Nursery and Primary School.

The Provost, Prof Adeyemi Idowu, thanked the management for approving the workshop, noting that it should be sustained.

He observed that at the basic level of education, it is very important for teachers to give correct information, hence the resources persons drawn from the college have been carefully selected. He added that the resources persons would give them information that would assist them on the latest trends in their profession and would keep them refreshed when they resume school.

Preliminary forms out

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-Applicants should be pursuing research in one of the social sciences: anthropology, economics, education, geography, history, law, linguistics, political science, psychology, social work, or sociology, or in an interdisciplinary field that incorporates two or more of these disciplines.

-To facilitate full engagement in the SAR intellectual community, applicants must demonstrate their fluency in English, such as

through their record of professional interaction in written and spoken English.

Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Open for Students of Following Countries: Developing Nations Scholarship Description: One six-month fellowship is available for a female postdoctoral social scientist from a developing nation whose work addresses women's economic and social empowerment in that nation. Adobe PDF IconDownload the flier (PDF, 273 KB)The goal of the program is twofold: to advance the scholarly careers of women social scientists from the developing world, and to support research that identifies causes of gender inequity in the developing world and that proposes practical solutions for promoting women's economic and social empowerment. In addition to a $4,500/ month stipend and housing and office space on the SAR campus, the Campbell Fellow receives travel, shipping, and library resource funds; health insurance; and the support of a mentoring committee of established scholar-practitioners.

How to Apply: By post Scholarship Application Deadline: 1 November 2012 Bournemouth

University

International

Partnership Scholarship: UEL, Vietnam, 2012 Bachelors International Partnership Scholarship:University of Economics and Law for the applicants of Vietnam in the field of Business, 2012 UK Study Subject(s):International Business Communication and International Finance Course Level:Bachelors Scholarship Provider: Bournemouth University Scholarship can be taken at: UK Eligibility:You must be resident in Vietnam at the time of application. You must also have successfully completed a relevant course at UEL. Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes(Vietnam) Scholarship Description: Two scholarships are available An unlimited number of Tuition Fee Scholarships offering a 15% fee reduction are also available for students from UEL applying to the Business School.Recipients of this scholarship cannot be in receipt of any other BU scholarship.Financial need cannot be taken into consideration How to Apply: By Post and electronically Scholarship Application Deadline: 21 September 2012

APPLICATION forms into the preliminary programmes of ACE (Degree and NCE) are on sale.

The programmes are designed to prepare students for the Joint Admission Matriculation Board Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination slated for April next year.

The college offers pre-degree programmes in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Physical and Health Education, English Language, Yoruba, French, Geography, history, Fine and Applied Arts, Agricultural Science and Home Economics.

It also offers various pre-NCE course combinations in the schools of Arts and Social Sciences, Languages, Education, Science and Vocational and Technical Education.

Bursary holds retreat THE Bursary Division has held the second edition of its in-house retreat.

The retreat organised for staff of the Bursary and the Audit Directorate was held at the S.K. Babalola Conference Centre. It was attended by the Provost, and other top members of the management.

The Provost ascribed the improvement in the Bursary to quality leadership. "The bursary now has a good leadership. Everybody is doing what they ought to do.

Salaries are now prepared promptly and we don't have to ask people to stay beyond working hours,'' he added.

The Deputy Vice President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigerian (CITN), Dr Teju Somorin, presented a paper entitled: Current issues in Nigerian tax system, while the Director, Computer Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe, Mr G.B. Adeyekun, presented another paper with the theme Keeping of accounting records in a computerised environment.

• Some of the participants at the event

Covenant Varsity, Google partner on Computer Science

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HE Director Centre for Information Technology and Systems, University of Lagos,k Prof Charles Uwadia, has urged young students aspiring to be computer scientists to focus on the numerous positive advantages abound through computer proficiency. This, according to him, is more rewarding and fulfilling than the countless cybercrimes youths are involved in.

"It is so unfortunate that the largest percentage of those involved in

By Adegunle Olugbamila

cybercrimes these days are the youth. But it might also interest you to know that knowledge of computer offers you boundless opportunities in this 21st century. Truth is: we are now in a global world where knowledge of computer is a necessity. From banks to manufacturing industries, tertiary institutions and even small scale businesses, computer dictates the tune; and for those who choose a career

in it, it is a money-spinner if only they do not indulge in a get-richquick scheme, take their time, and apply the knowledge positively.

Delivering a lecture entitled: Career prospects in computer science to some secondary students at the flag off of a three-day workshop on Computer Science Inspire Programme ((CSIP), at the Covenant University, Otta, Ogun State, Uwadia said one of the prerequisites of computer science is sound knowledge in Mathematics and

Dokpesi Centre to reward best communication and polytechnic graduates. Our inROM next month, the students terest is in the quality and soundRaymond Dokpesi Centre for

F

Media Development will start giving N20, 000 and a plaque to best graduating students of communication in various higher institutions.

This was made known by the Director-General of the centre, Mr Christopher Obuetse, during a media chat in Lagos. The plan, according to him, is to encourage and reward academic excellence.

He said the award would not be limited to universities alone, adding that best graduating students from polytechnics would also be given awards.

He said: "Wwe have instituted the Raymond Dokpesi Cash Award for

By Innocent Duru

best graduating students of some institutions to encourage and reward academic excellence. We would begin to go round selected institutions to give the awards after our annual lecture today.

“We have started this with the Nigerian Institute of Journalism in Lagos but now we want to extend it to selected universities and polytechnics.

"We included polytechnics in the award because we strictly subscribe to academic excellence and not concerned about the unhealthy discrimination between university

ness of students and not the institutions. Our concern is to encourage and reward students of various higher institutions of learning particularly those in the communication field to excel. This kind of award brings about healthy competition among students because it would encourage them to put more efforts in their study with the hope of getting the award," he said.

Aside the awards, he said the centre also planned to assist many indigent students to realise their educational goals.

"Part of our commitment to encouraging academic excellence is to support as many indigent stu-

• Chief Dokpesi

dents as we can. We have put a small vote for this purpose and will not rest on our oars until our aims and objectives are fully achieved," he said.

computational thinking coupled with early exposure to computer and other related facilities.

He emphasised certificates as one of the factors affecting more entrants into choosing a career in computer sciences. He said Nigerian education system is not like what obtains in the US where the latter lays more emphasis on individual abilities than certificates.

He admonished participants to access their ability; not to bow to parental pressure on choice of careers to be guided by role models and prepared to contribute to the development of Nigeria.

"Nigeria today is thirsting for more creative youths who can turn her economy around, and you are a part of the youth. If you are prepared to make a career in computer, then you must be ready to make your own input for Nigeria to be better. Avoid bandwagon syndrome and parental pressure. Be sure you have the mental ability to take up a career in computer," Uwadia said.

The Head of Department of Computer&Information Sciences, Dr Ikhu Omoregbe Nicholas, recounted how the CU through the department applied for a grant from Google, a foremost we search engine, with over 120 other universities worldwide.

"But only four of the universities that applied in Nigeria got the Google grant and Covenant University was one of them," he said.

On the selection mode, Nicholas said the CU handpicked a handful of schools it had once related with within its Ado-Odo Ota neighborhood, noting that with greater funds from Goode, CU would spread its tentacles to schools outside its vicinity. The 13 schools invited were represented by five pupils and two teachers each and other participants.

The lecture was built into the programme as an eye-opener to students interested in computer science, noting that participating teachers would be trained by reputable tutors on theoretical and practical aspects of web technology and mobile technology.

Earlier, the CU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Aize Obayan, said a university was expected to play a tripod role - teaching, research and community service.

Addressing the pupils, she said; "The future is today; the future is now. Do not take it for granted. You must rise up and use your technology to bridge the gap."

Some of the schools represented were Iyesi Otta High School, Ota; LG Community School Atan Ota; Unity High School; Iju Ibiye High School Iju-Otta Faith Academy, Otta, among others.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

EDUCATION

When teachers learn to use aids

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HEN classes resume at the Lagos State Junior Model College, Badore, Mrs Esther Odusanya will be requiring her pupils to prepare instructional materials for topics ahead of the English Language class she takes.

This is because she has learnt that involving her pupils in the production of instructional media will not only stimulate their interest in the topic but also make them look forward to her class.

Unlike some of the teachers who participated in a five-day training of secondary school teachers on design, preparation and use of instructional materials by the Lagos State Education Resource Centre, Ojodu, last week, Mrs Odusanya already knew that she could use instructional media to teach any topic, even abstract ones, courtesy of a previous training at the centre.

She told The Nation, at the end of the training last Friday, that the new tips she has learnt would further impact on the performance of her pupils who are already doing well.

"I was here two years ago and since then I have used instructional materials, and I have seen the difference. The class is very interactive and students don't want to leave. I have gained more from this workshop - that I can use other ways to bring in instructional materials; use real products, and get the students involved by telling them to prepare ahead of the class," she said.

During the training, the teachers learnt to use locally-available resources to produce charts, posters and

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

other forms of instructional media that can help them teach their subjects more effectively. They were also taught how to present the topics and the importance of field trips and resource persons in helping pupils retain what they are taught.

Director of the resource centre, Mr Joseph Alao said the teachers would labour less to teach various topics and make greater impact on their pupils once they can identify and prepare the right instructional materials to use.

"We have succeeded in convincing our teachers that there is no subject under heaven that you cannot teach without instructional materials. What we expect from them is a regenerated effort in the use of appropriate instructional materials that will make teaching less stressful and learning more permanent," he said.

At the closing ceremony, the teachers from the six education districts displayed the instructional media they produced in the course of the workshop. The teachers, representing each district, were also assessed through micro-teaching sessions during which they demonstrated how they would teach various topics using instructional media to an hypothetical class.

The Education Commissioner, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, represented by the Director, Finance and Administration, Mrs Ebun Oladimeji, and accompanied by Mrs Director, Private Education and Special Programmes, Mrs Sewanu Amosu, declared the programme closed.

‘We inculcate best Christian HE Director, Dawn Michaels values’ School, Ago Palace Way,

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Lagos, Mrs Ndulue Uchenna, has said her school inclulcates Christian moral values, those old values which, according to her, made pupils of those days tick.

At the unveiling of the school, she said every child has a right to proper education, the kind of thorough breeding that emboldens them to face life challenges, adding that that is what Dawn Michaels represents.

Addressing journalists at the school premises, Mrs Ndulue said the school makes adequate provision for children in terms of effective teaching by competent teachers. She added that provisions are also made for children with physical challenges to excel academically.

Her words: "Even if a child is physically challenged either crippled or disabled, that does not make that person less a child.

"This is a Christian school and we will definitely provide an atmosphere for the children that will en-

By Dawodu Olawale

hance their skills as well as Christian values which the children will imbibe as part of their education.;" Mrs Ndulue continued: "We seek to pursue excellence by impartation of discipline through hard work and focus upholding core Christian values of Godliness and character to develop the total child; and we work with Christian families to provide quality Christ-centered education.

We are dedicated to equipping young people with the academic, physical, social and spiritual skills necessary for a life of service and leadership."

She emphasised that the school provides a joyful learning environment that nurtures children to reach their potential. "DMS School recognises that each child is an individual, and that all children are creative: that all children need to succeed" "Therefore, we respect the individual needs of each child; foster a

• Mr Abdulwarees Solanke and his wife, Monsurat (right) with their three children, Abdulrahman, Aisha and Aasiyah during their graduation from the Institute of Quranic Memorization and Islamic Propagation in Ijegun area of Lagos

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Da Best Concept, is working hard to encourage children, especially girls, to love Mathematics in Cross River State. In this interview with NICHOLAS KALU, its proprietor, Hajia Binta Mustapha shares her experience, dispelling the fear of the subject which, she said, is unfounded.

'Children must be encouraged to love Maths'

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HAT inspired you to start an NGO to promote Mathematics and Science and Technical education?

There are lots of research and documents online to show that Nigeria is lagging behind in science and technical education. So, we cannot go anywhere in this 21st century with that. That informed this initiative.

What does your NGO do?

At the moment, we are trying to kindle children's interest in Mathematics and science. We are also trying to remove the fear of Mathematics and science which young students normally have. Also, there is this belief that the sciences are male-dominated area. The aim of this NGO is to remove that bias.

You know that women are changeagents. The mother is always with the child. And I can say that 50 per cent of the teaching force is women.

If you want any change, then you need to focus on girls and women.

But, it is not really about gender.

There are lots of things that need to be done to promote education, not only Mathematics, technical and science subjects amongst girls but generally - whether it is in Cross River or Nigeria. So, the first step is to dispel fear which children and learners normally have about science and mathematics and make them like to study those subjects.

• From left Rev Canon Joe Ajaefobi, Church of the Holy Spirit, Onitsha; Mr. Chris Ndulue, chairman, Board of Trustees, Dawn Michaels Nursery and Primary School, Okota, Lagos; Mr Kenneth Gbagi, former Minister of State for Education and Mrs Ndulue Uchenna, Director, during the opening of the school in Okota, Lagos, at the weekend.

We are making them to cultivate the habit by organising science camp annually where they learn under very welcoming atmosphere. It is assumed that they will excel better.

What have you achieved so far?

More than 50 per cent of students that have participated in our science camps have been successful, and have continued in science and technical education. We have five professors working with us on this project, and their impact has been tremendous. And they are willing to do more to help the less-privileged students in the academic field.

They know the trouble in our national educational programmes. The problem is • Hajia Binta not the brain of Nigerian children. The problem is the environ- School. This assured parents and the ment. guardians of the safety of their chilWhat financial support are you dren. This is a step in the quest to getting to run the camp? support children, particularly the Nothing! We have not got to that girl child, in the state. level yet. But I am sure that there is What do you do for children durtime for everything. I am positive ing the camp? that, in future, help will come.

We have educational activities in Aside much-needed funds, we need various categories focused on scicapacity development. This is not ence and Mathematics. This year, just about cash. We would like to we had Physics, Chemistry and be part of the MDG education com- Technical English as well as other mittee; to participate in their work- educational enrichment activities. shops, seminars to know their best We organised excursions to tourpractices. Partnerships with the Na- ism sites in Cross River and other tional Mathematic Centre (NMC), places to bolster their interest.

Universal Basic Education ComWe have had the Chairman of the mission (UBEC) and the Ministry Forestry Commission, Odigha of Science and Technology would Odigha, who spoke to them about be a welcome development. Any climate change and the environform of support would be welcome. ment, and other dignitaries who I have been enjoying tremendous came to enlighten them on imporwelcome and support from tant issues, not taught in regular leaderships of schools, parents and schools. even the state government. They We gave cash awards of N20,000 are happy with the project. The each to the best girls in Physics, MathCommissioner for Education, Prof ematics and Chemistry. Other sciOffiong Offiong, is a respected and ence subjects went home with wonderful personality. Every year, N10,000 each. And we also had a he gives us approval to host the camp queen of Mathematics. As you event. He facilitates the initiative know, Mathematics is the foundation without which it would have been in science education. It was gladdendifficult to penetrate certain agen- ing to learn that the N20,000 which cies and schools. the Camp Queen won, her parents To give approval for a NGO to used it to pay her school fees for 2012/ take children away from their par- 2013 academic year. But for that, anents and guardians for 14 days other girl's education would have means a lot. We also thank the wife stopped. That alone has motivated of the Governor of Cross River me to continue this project in spite State, Mrs Obioma Liyel Imoke, of the many challenges. I am rewho believed in what we are do- warded, fulfilled and happy because ing and gave us accommodation in that girl may just be another doctor, her Surefoot America International engineer or even a governor.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

40

EDUCATION

Library Science curriculum for review

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HE Federal Government will soon commence the review of the Library and Information Science (LIS) curriculum in universities to ensure that graduates are equipped with the competencies to function effectively in the information age.

The Registrar of Librarians' Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), Dr Victoria Okojie, said the review was necessary to developing the LIS sector which is constantly evolving.

"Our plan is to ensure that by the end of 2013, we would partner with the National Universities Commission (NUC) to review the LIS curriculum in Nigeria with a view to bringing it in tandem with global best practices that equip the graduates with the requisite skills to function in the 21st century," she said at the third induction of librarians recently in Abuja.

This, she said, will involve a workshop of heads of the 26 NUCapproved library schools, practicing librarians, students and other stakeholders to discuss key issues in the sector and agree on a plan to

turn around the training of librarians.

Dr Okojie said the review would address such issues as competencies, facilities and the standards required for practising librarianship in Nigeria. She said LRCN is aware that individual universities are in the process of reviewing their programmes but that a sector-wide input will deliver a richer curriculum.

"We want to infuse ICT, Advocacy, Entrepreneurial studies and other relevant into the LIS curriculum. We will work with NUC to enrich their benchmarks for accreditation," she said.

Lauding the initiative, Executive Secretary of the NUC Prof Julius Okojie said the agency would support LRCN's efforts to achieve its mandate, especially on curriculum review.

He expressed happiness that the LRCN was working with NUC to ensure that only graduates of approved LIS programme are registered to practise.

In her speech, Education Minister, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i

EDUTALK

What does govt do with all those reports?

•Dr. Okojie

noted that Nigeria needs the right calibre of people to propel the educational and research institutions to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Prof.

Cleopas Angaye in his keynote speech noted that ICT has not only enabled libraries to render more effective services but also redeem their collections from dwindling due to budgets constraints.

"The open source software permits libraries to manage and build their own collections via the internet as well as collaborate with other libraries," he said.

• Mr. Enoch Adelayi presenting certificate to a participant, while Mr. Ojo reads out the names

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NICO seeks executive language teaching final year in tertiary institutions programme who would be going for their

ALLS have been madec to the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) to begin Executive Language Teaching programme.

This is to allow busy senior government and private individuals avail themselves of the annual Nigerian Indigenous language programme organised by the institute.

During the closing of the 2012 Language Programme organised by the Southwest zonal office of NICO and held at the Ondo State Senior Staff Club, Alagbaka on Wednesday last week, in Akure, the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Enoch Adelayi, described

language as a potent weapon for national unity and identity which should be encouraged by all. He said, however, because of the busy schedule of several top officials in the civil service and in the private sector, they found it difficult to participate in the NICO programme as presently run.

Speaking in the same vein, Mr Ayotunde Adeolu, who represented Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Remi Olatubora, urged NICO to draw up a programme that can take care of busy but interested top civil servants. He also acknowledged the need to include those in

NYSC programme.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Institute, Dr Barclays Ayakoroma, who was represented by the Director, Training School, Prince Bamidele Olusa, said aside the increase in the number of enthusiastic learners, the institute was more challenged with the interest shown by a visuallyimpaired man at the institute's headquarters in Abuja for the programme. He promised that the institute would work assiduously to accommodate such physicallychallenged persons in subsequent editions.

Education Fair offers students alternatives

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O fewer than 160 topranked universities, colleges and other UK-based educational institutions were represented at the 2012 Expo organised

by Preparation for Life (PFL), last week at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.

Country Director of PFL Mrs Moyinola Ogedengbe said the expo was to give Nigerian students access to credible information about acquiring education overseas.

She said PFL offers international

By Ramat Musa

education consultancy services that give help and guidance to all who wish to study in Australia, Dubai, New Zealand, Canada, America and the United Kingdom. ''Greater number of students were expected to be recruited for 2013 admission, this is the first multi destination Education held at Lagos and Abuja since the past 15 years that the organisation was established where students have opportunity to meet University rep-

with

resentatives and receive first hand information about study options, scholarship, accommodation, Visa application, and much more,'' Mrs Ogedengbe said.

Chatting with the press during a briefing at Sharaton Hotel, she said the organisation gives scholarship worth 30 pounds to recruited students to appreciate their clients.

She said the expo was for prospective students, families, and sponsors interested in finding out more about studying overseas.

C

OMPETITIONS, examinations, surveys and the like generate so much data that Kofoworola give education policy should makers direction on where to concentrate their efforts, what to change, what is working and Kofosagie@yahoo.com what is not. However, consider08054503077 (SMS only) ing that the same problems keep recurring, it simply means reports that reflect the true state of affairs in the education sector are left to gather dust - their recommendations ignored.

Every year - at least for the past four-five years - when the West African Examination Council (WAEC) announces that only about 23 per cent make five O Level credits in its Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) including English and Mathematics, we all scream, keep quiet and nothing changes.

The National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) organised by Promasidor, makers of Cowbell milk is popular with secondary schools across the country - with about 16,000 pupils participating in 2008 and this year. What is more, the entire results from the first stage of the examination are published state by state on the organisation's website. The results make for interesting analysis. Since schools select their best two math brain for the competition, it serves as a platform to know how good (or bad) our best mathematicians are at secondary school level. It throws up data on the states where pupils perform relatively well and those at the bottom of the ladder. It can help determine a national average, gender-based performance, public versus private school performance, highbrow versus middlebrow versus lowbrow school type performance and the like.

With such data, government can plan. Do we need more mathematics teachers? Is the problem of non-performance that of poor infrastructure or under funding? What are some schools doing right? These are questions that immediately come to mind which when answered can make all the difference.

It is not only Cowbell's NASSMAC that we have in Nigeria. There are sciences Olympiads organised by the National Mathematical Centre, reading competitions, JETS competitions, visual arts competitions, choral, essay, quiz, debates, athletic meets and so on which can help us improve education service delivery.

I met a top executive in an oil company who runs a foundation in his home state that rewards the best teachers in public secondary schools.

Last year, during the first edition of the awards ceremony, he said 14 instead of 15 teachers were rewarded - three for each of the science subjects and English and Mathematics. The teacher who came third in Biology was dropped - because he scored 27 per cent in the final stage of the screening for the awards. What powerful information that singular data can produce. If a teacher scored 27 per cent, then what is he teaching his pupils? Let me leave you, dear reader, to come up with other questions.

This top executive is also concerned that the initiative, which gives the winners opportunity to attend training programmes and conferences, could result in migration or poaching of the best teachers from the public schools by private schools if the government does nothing to retain them.

Usually, those in government are aware of these important pieces of information but too often ignore their implications on the well being of the sector. When pupils represent a state on the national/international stage and win laurels, governments will blow their trumpets, claiming the glory - even when most times these representatives are from the private schools. Do you not think that a serious government should have an annual performance sheet where it compares how pupils from private and public school perform at competitions so it can take necessary action?

When I read foreign newspapers from the UK, I see results of government-sponsored studies published on regular basis. These studies are conducted by scholars to help the government know the implications of its actions and inactions. Theirs is a society that takes empirical research seriously. They do not just assume. They gather and work with information that can be verified. With such information, they are able to take decisions and plan for the long term.

I don't know how much research various governments sponsor in Nigeria. But even those that are thrown up as secondary data as a result of other activities are not really utilised. In our clime, government sets up committees a lot. However, reports of these committees sent on fact-finding mission - sometimes on problems that have been examined over and over again - end up being ignored.

First published August 27, 2009

Belo-Osagie

‘With such data, government can plan.

Do we need more mathematics teachers?

Is the problem of non-performance that of poor infrastructure or under funding?

What are some schools doing right?

These are questions that immediately come to mind which when answered can make all the difference’

42

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

43

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Senator Magnus Abe, a lawyer, represents the Rivers Southeast Senatorial District in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly. He is the immediate past Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG). A former Rivers Commissioner for Information, an ex-member of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Chairman of the Petroleum Downstream Committee in the Senate, the Senator is being rumoured to have interest in Rivers governorship in 2015. In this interview with BISI OLANIYI and CLARICE AZUATALAM, he speaks about the rumour and some national issues.

2015: Truth about my ambition, by Senator Abe H

OW many versions of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) are now before the National Assembly and when will the authentic version be passed into law?

Only one copy was presented to the National Assembly. We have not started work on the PIB because it was brought in the very day the members of the National Assembly were proceeding on vacation. The important bill will pass through the normal processes of the National Assembly before it becomes law.

The PIB will resolve most of the challenges in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry when it eventually becomes law.

Everybody knows that Nigeria substantially relies on Niger Delta’s hydrocarbon resources for survival. Any legislation that will substantially affect how we relate to our hydrocarbon resources, will receive the highest scrutiny from everybody, not just from members of the National Assembly. I believe that all of us in the National Assembly are aware of the interest the people of this country have in the PIB. What we have now is the executive version, presented to us by the executive. I assure all Nigerians that everybody who has something to contribute to the PIB will be given opportunities because it will be an open process.

Therefore, I sincerely cannot say how long the PIB’s passage will take now. Everybody in the National Assembly knows the importance of the law. I believe that we will all work together to see that it is dealt with expeditiously. I thank the people of the Niger Delta for the contributions and the sacrifices they have made and will continue to make for the improvement of our country. Nobody, including the people of the Niger Delta, should depend on crude oil and gas alone.

All of us in this country need to look beyond crude oil and gas.

As an Ogoni leader, are you satisfied with the steps taken so far by the Federal Government in implementing the recommendations in the report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on Ogoniland?

The Federal Government started the action it is currently taking on the UNEP report before any statement of any kind was made by anybody. A daughter of Ogoni, Joy NuniehOkunnu, a lawyer, was appointed to head the efforts. Like any other responsible Ogoni son, we are not making public comment at this time, because we want to give her every opportunity to clarify her position and do what she has to do. When we understand what is going on and how the process is being run, we will make our contributions.

Also, the process of consultation must be seriously looked into by all the stakeholders, so that nobody feels left out of whatever processes are being brought into the area. So, if all of us start dictating from the sidelines, even before we understand exactly what is going on, will not be helping NuniehOkunnu. She has been part of the struggle.

She knows the pains and we believe that she will do her best.

Are members of the National Assembly satisfied with the number of persons being tried for fuel subsidy scam?

There are laws in this country and if anybody flouts the law, our understanding within our constitution and our system of constitutional democracy is that such a person should be tried in a proper court of law and if he or she is convicted, the person should be punished.

If we try people until the members of the National Assembly are satisfied or not, that is not the proper way. What needs to be done is that all those that have questions to answer should go and answer those questions.

Is it true that you have interest in contesting as Rivers governor in 2015?

Ordinarily, there are some things you do not respond to. We are in 2012. I have just been elected into the Senate. What we need to do in Rivers State at this point is to support what Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is doing and not to distract him. I can say with certainty that if there is anything that pains me, sometimes, it is a lot of these speculations.

I went round some parts of Rivers state and I came back and told Governor Amaechi that a lot of people are not using the newly-built model health centres in the 23 council areas of the state. A lot of people are going to churches to give birth, while right behind them are health centres, with doctors, paid for with Rivers people’s money. Let us focus on things that are ongoing. Let us see how we can help to bring out maximum value and make those things part of our people. That is what we should be doing at this point, instead of speculating on things that are not yet before us.

Senator Abba Ibrahim, a former governor of Yobe State, recently alleged that almost all Nigeria’s wealth has been cornered by Niger Deltans through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), amnesty programme, 13 per cent derivation and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, among others. What is your reaction?

There is nothing new in what Senator Abba Ibrahim has said. He has always said it. One question I have always had for him is: why is it that every time Nigerians gather, all we talk about is how money is being spent and not how money is being made?

Unless we change and stop talking about where this money comes from, we won’t make any progress. Even if you carry the whole money that is in the Niger Delta and give to the North, it will not solve the problems of the North. If you carry all the money in the country and give it to the Southwest, it will not solve the problems of the Southwest.

The challenge of Nigeria is that the country is not productive enough. We are not generating money. We are not working and that is the issue that all of us must begin to address seriously. To keep fighting over 2.7 million barrels per day of crude oil will not help this country. It will bring intractable problems.

At the end of the day, even if you give the entire money to one person, he won’t be satisfied. Crude oil is not a business that can take care of the needs of everybody. If you give people money and they do not work, their lives will not be fulfilled.

So, what should be done?

We must look for ways to engage people.

The oil industry is not even a labour-intensive industry. How many people work in the oil industry? What is the population of Nigeria? What are the other 150 million Nigerians doing? There is so much in this country that we can tap, including resources in Abba Ibrahim’s Yobe State, to contribute to the development of Nigeria. Why doesn’t he bring those ones to the people instead of quarrelling over what is happening in the Niger Delta?

I understand the challenges in this country but we must begin to think on a national basis. We cannot solve the problems of Nigeria

• Abe

by solving the problems of the Niger Delta, the Northeast, Southwest or other zones and regions of Nigeria. We can only solve the problems of Nigeria by viewing the problems of Nigeria as Nigeria’s problems and dealing with them as such. We actually need to raise leaders who understand that Nigeria is one and for it to be one, every part must not only get, but they must bring.

Since Niger Delta has crude oil and the value is higher, of course, Niger Delta will bring more resources. Those with cattle can also pay tax on the cattle and we will get something. It is applicable to other resources. Everybody must bring in equal strength, in equal percentage of what you are producing.

We will share and everybody will benefit because everybody will work.

You are saying that it is time we diversified the economy ...

If all the arguments in Nigeria continue to be about crude oil, I do not see how it will help this country. I can take you to Ogoni.

We are living where even the air and water that have been tested unsafe. We have Benzene level over 900 times what is allowed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The water is unsafe for drinking. What is Senator Abba Ibrahim’s own problem with bringing money to solve the problems for fellow Nigerians? Must we die before Nigeria can live?

That type of argument does not help this country. If you ask the people of the Niger Delta, they do not think they are getting anything, given the challenges we have been facing in this region. They do not think they are getting a fair deal from the country, but we do not want to keep harping on things that will divide the country. Let us look for things that will help every Nigerian to make progress.

‘In Nigeria, there are so many people who have issues and will like to discuss. We should discuss the issues. We should not wait until people begin to throw bombs because if we do that, we will be encouraging everybody to throw bombs. All Nigerians need to be alive to their responsibilities. Security is everybody’s business.

Anybody who throws a bomb, whether in Yobe State, Ogoni, Lagos or Sokoto should be arrested and prosecuted. We should not make excuses for violence. If we do, we will encourage more violence’

If Nigeria is a productive country, this crude oil we are arguing over, will constitute less than 10 per cent of our income.

Is it true that the current representatives of Nigerians at various political levels are actually representing themselves, without quality representation and what do you expect from people of the various communities?

The quality of representation will continue to improve as people begin to understand the challenges that a representative faces.

Every time, we talk about the United States and the developed democracies. But development is the quality of the human beings in the country. We have not invested enough in trying to raise the quality of the average Nigerian. We need people that have personal integrity, sense of service and a population that understands that the way to grow wealth in a society is by everybody contributing and not by everybody taking. Our representatives need to also learn that lesson when the general population is learning the lesson.

As it is now, members of the National Assembly are Nigerians thrown up by different dynamics from across the country. There is no way all of them can be bad and there is no way all of them can be good because not all Nigerians are bad and not all are good.

What I will agree to is that we actually need to raise the quality of our citizens. And we can do that by investing in education and by picking out the examples of the things we like and celebrating those qualities. If we stay in a society where we only celebrate wealth and we do not celebrate other services, everybody will go after wealth that the society celebrates.

This society needs to begin to celebrate things, more than just the ownership of property. We need to celebrate ideas, character and honesty, which will make people to give up something to get something.

How can the security challenges be addressed?

In Nigeria, there are so many people who have issues and will like to discuss. We should discuss the issues. We should not wait until people begin to throw bombs because if we do that, we will be encouraging everybody to throw bombs. All Nigerians need to be alive to their responsibilities. Security is everybody’s business. Anybody who throws a bomb, whether in Yobe State, Ogoni, Lagos or Sokoto should be arrested and prosecuted.

We should not make excuses for violence. If we do, we will encourage more violence.

Charity begins at home. You are from BeraOgoni in Gokana Council area of Rivers State.

Are you relating well with Ogoni people in the four council areas - Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme - since some people describe you as a government person?

As a human being, you are answerable to your God. It is God who gives life and opportunities. In whatever you do, if you are satisfied that with the opportunities that God has given to you, you have done the best that you can do, you will go and sleep.

Everybody who is in politics, even in your village, you have opposition. If you come out today, you will face it. If depends on the strength and the noise of the opposition.

There is opposition. What we pray for is for God to give us the grace to do the things we do, in such a manner that at the end of the day, even your opponents will agree that you have tried. There is no way I can please all Ogoni people. Even in the village of President Goodluck Jonathan, he has opposition.

As long as we are able to make sure that majority of our people get something from us, driving on our roads, drinking our water, using our health centres, attending our schools, they are being paid regularly and they are getting jobs, PDP will continue to win elections. That is how it works.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

44

POLITICS ‘Integration more important than Mimiko’s ambition’

Why has Nigeria remained troubled about 52 years after independence? Former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu attempted an answer at a presentation at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. Assistant Editor DADA ALADELOKUN was there.

Reluctant leaders, Nigeria’s problem, says Kalu

Lagos State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Publicity Secretary Joe Igbokwe writes on the importance of Southwest integration for the people of Ondo State.

S

OUTHWEST Regional Integration is far more important than the ambition of Segun Mimiko. Southwest Nigeria is well known for progressive politics and it did not start today. It dates back to early 40s and 50s in the days of Zik of Africa and Chief Obafemi Awolowo until the unfortunate event on the floor of the Western House in 1951. Time and space will not permit me to tell the full story of the events of 1951 that rendered nugatory our progressive politics and struggles to build a Nigeria of our dream.

Even though the great Zik returned to Enugu to join his kiths and kin, Progressive politics continued in the Southwest Nigeria. Today no one ethnic group or zone will say that it is better than Southwest, Nigeria. Is it in terms of education? Is it in terms ofwealth? Is it economy? Is it religious tolerance?

Is it market? Is it in terms of good schools or hospitals? Is it good roads? Is it politics? Is it in terms of management of anything? Is it in terms of the press in Nigeria (both print and electronic) Is it commerce and industry? 80 per cent of the nations industry are based in the Southwest. Is it the growth of churches?

80 per cent of founders of the great churches in Nigeria are from Southwest. 90 per cent of the nation’s imports come through Southwest. I can go on and on but there is no need to continue to do so.

The point I am making is that Southwest has led the opposition in Nigeria since independence and yet they are far more better than other zones in Nigeria in terms of anything. If I wanted to be strict, I would say that the economy of all other zones in Nigeria put together may not surpasse the economy of Southwest Nigeria. I stand to be proved wrong with emperical evidences. This is the reason why the forthcoming elections in Ondo State is very crucial and very strategic to South West Nigeria and to the Action Congress of Nigeria. It is difficult if not impossible to talk about regional integration in the South West without the late Chief Micheal Adukunle Ajasin’s Ondo State - the symbol of progressive politics in the days of the locusts.

For record purposes, the late Chief Ajasin, the former civilian governor of Ondo State was the chairman of NADECO, the opposition platform that chased IBB, Shonekan,Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar out of power to make way for this current civilian dispensation. Many may have forgotten how the late General Abacha deployed the late Commander Onyearugbulam, the then Military Administrator of Ondo to buldoze his way to Ajasin’s home to harrass and intimidate the old man. Onyearugbulam led a contingent of military personels to Ajasin’s peaceful home unannounced to repress, oppress and suppress the leader of the opposition as a way of bringing down the entire opposition. Did Abacha succeed?

The rest is now history! It is on record that our own Chief AJasin never recovered from this onslaught. He died as a result of shock from Onyearugbulem’s brigandage. I am telling this story today just to remind those who are key players in Ondo politics of the events of yesteryears. For the 13 years a combination of IBB,Shonekan,Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar declared war against the Yoruba nation, nobody heard the voice of Segun Mimiko, the governor of Ondo State today. He saw but he kept quiet.

He did not join his kinsmen to fight the commom enemy.

He did join his kith and kin to cry against the injustice being meted out to his people. He maintained the culture of silence. But a story that must be told never forgives silence. Southwest or Yoruba nation is too important than the ambition of one man called Segun Mimiko. Southwest Regional Integration is far more important than the ambition of one man. The governor may pretend to be in the Labour Party but in actions, and deeds and in body language, he is PDP. Dan Iwuanyanwu, the Chairman of LP has just received a National Honour from President Jonathan and as political historians we in ACN understand the game very well. The PDP has purchase Chief Dan Iwuanyanwu with National Award and as events unfold in Nigeria very soon, Nigerians will appreciate what we are saying. Mimiko betrayed our leaders in ACN by biting the fingers that fed him.

He will pay for this in the fullness of time.

Come October 20, 2012. I urge the wise people of Ondo State to vote out Segun Mimiko and usher in Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as Governor. Ondo State must be returned to the great family where they belonged originally. Regional Integration in the Southwest Nigeria is one of the biggest project in NIgeria today and Ondo State cannot afford to be in isolation. Like every other good thing in Nigeria, the regional integration going on in the Southwest is being copied by other zones in NIgeria.

Ondo State cannot afford to be left behind in this serious business Mimiko or no Mimiko.

• Igbokwe

T

HE unborn baby in Nigeria to day is not oblivious of one fact: That solving the nation’s leadership crisis has remained as hugely problematic as the Gordian knot.

However, an eye-opener came to the fore last week. It was at the thoughtprovoking presentation by Kalu. The event was the Professor U. A. Ijalaye Annual Lecture held at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. The chief hosts were members of Equity Chambers who used the occasion to mark the chambers’ 25th anniversary.

Kalu’s presentation was entitled, ‘Leadership: Key factor to a better Nigeria.’

To the hugely successful businessmanturned-politician, leadership transcends rhetorics. “It is something we have to fundamentally inculcate at all levels if we really want to make Nigeria work again without crutches,” Kalu, Member of the Order of Niger, affirmed.

His position is perhaps explainable by his humbly turning down of his hosts’ offer of a befitting lavatory when he was pressed up before the presentation which held at the Ogunbanjo Hall.

“As a leader, you must be on the side of the people; I will use your toilet here, no matter how bad,” he said amid applause.

Thunderous ovation shook the venue of the event to its foundation when Kalu’s “intimidating” profile was read by two law students in an entertaining fashion. Then, time for Kalu to unveil what appeared his panacea for the nation’s leadership woes.

The Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof.

Olu Adediran; the Alapetu of Ipetumodu, Oba James Adedotun Adegoke; Kennedy Amos, former President, Equity Chambers, and other dignitaries at the event hanged on Kalu’s lips as he dissected what he called the “collapsing” nation’s inept leadership.

“At 52, there has been consensus of opinion over the years that the problem of our country is largely leadership. Professor Chinua Achebe put it succinctly in his seminal work. ‘The Trouble with Nigeria’, published in 1983: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian character. There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water, or anything else.

The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example, which is the hallmark of true leadership,” he opened up, agreeing with the erudite professor on his lamentation about 30 years ago.

He re-echoed the frustration of late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Dr. Dozie Ikedife, former president of Ohanaeze

• From left: Secretary, Zero Corruption Coalition (Southwest), Comrade Mark Adebayo; Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Chairman Justice Afolabi Abdul Fatai Adeyinka (rtd) and LASIEC Secretary, Mr Adeyinka Jeje at the political stakeholders’ forum tagged ‘Party Politics, Internal Democracy and Electoral Peace’ PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI held at Ikeja, Lagos.

• Kalu

Ndi Igbo on leadership in the same way. So he did on Mr. Herman Cohen, one-time United States Assistant Secretary of State for Africa.

Amid nods of affirmation, the exAbia governor expressed agreement with James A. Autry’s position as enunciated in his book, ‘The Servant Leader’, that: “Leadership is not about controlling people; it is about caring for people and being a useful resource for people.”

The late President Umaru Yar’Adua, as a servant leader, he said, had a good vision and a good approach to leadership in Nigeria. To him, he would have been a servant leader in the real sense of it if his health did not fail him.

Again, to Kalu, General John Pershing of the U.S Army made an incontrovertible point when he described leadership thus: “A competent leader can get efficient service from poor troops; while on the contrary, an incapable leader can demoralize the best of troops.”

An admixture of shock, gloom and despondency descended on the gathering when Kalu recalled painfully how, since 1966, the nation had been struggling for a breath of life in the claws of unwilling leaders who, ab initio, had no plans for the country.

“In 1966, the military struck through Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, and some other young military officers. At the end of it all, they could not seize the reins of power. It was Major-General J.T.U. Aguiyi-lronsi who became head of state. Did he prepare for power? No. It was just thrust on him by fate.

“In 1976, the military struck again, through Lt. Col. Buka Sukar Dimka, and the head of state, the charismatic and inspiring Murtala Muhammed, was assassinated. The then Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, became head of state. Was he ready for the responsibility? No. In fact, according to Gen. T. Y. Danjuma, the then Chief of Army Staff, Obasanjo had to be cajoled and threatened, before he accepted the responsibility of being head of state,” Kalu said “In 1979,” he continued, “Alhaji Shehu Shagari wanted to just be a senator. He ended as president, unprepared for the big task. Chief Ernest Shonekan was a corporate chieftain at the UAC. Ruling Nigeria was the farthest thing from his mind. In 1993, he was drafted into office as leader of the Interim National Government (ING).

“In 1999, Obasanjo had just returned from prison, when he was drafted into leadership again. I remember he asked: “how many ‘Ps’ do you want to make out of me? I have been president, I have been prisoner; yet, you want me to be president again.” Obasanjo ruled for eight years, despite not being prepared to be president initially and even planned for a third term.”

Amid pin-drop silence, he revealed further: “My friend, Umaru Yar’Adua had been governor in Katsina for eight

years, and according to him, he was preparing to go back to the classroom to teach Chemistry. Suddenly, he was drafted to be president. Goodluck Jonathan had become Bayelsa State governor when his former principal, D.S.P Alamieyeseigha was impeached.

All he wanted in 2007 was a full term in office as governor. But he was drafted to be Vice President, and within three years, he became president.”

His hearers who had listened with rapt attention were almost in tears as he asked: “Why does Nigeria get reluctant leaders? Is this country cursed or jinxed? Why do those who scrupulously prepare for leadership never get it?” Continuing, he said: “We know of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, “the best president we never had.” We know of Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, the man who wanted us to bid farewell to poverty.

We know of many others who had prepared and groomed themselves for leadership. They never got it. But the reluctant ones got shoved into office and power. What is the matter with Nigeria?” “Researchers in our academia, please help look into this and tell us what the problem is,” he pleaded passionately.

Heaping praises on African leadership icon Nelson Mandela of South Africa, whom, according to him, once asserted that “quitting is leading too,” Kalu expressed sadness that many African leaders do not appreciate and understand it, adding that one of Mandela’s greatest legacies today is the fact that he left just after one term, a feat that according to him, positioned him as a globally respected icon.

He boiled with anger that in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, attempts to subvert the constitution and sit tight in office has become the norm. At that point, he had harsh words for Obasanjo over his attempt to extend his term in office beyond 2007, after he had fulfilled the constitutionally prescribed maximum of two terms.

Heads shook in obvious pity for Kalu when he recounted how his businesses were virtually grounded by the Obasanjo administration because he dared to speak against his sit-tight bid.

“Till today, some of us are still paying heavy price in terms of economic losses for stopping Obasanjo from getting a third term,” he hinted.

The he gave an advice which many easily conjectured was meant for Jonathan in view of the prevailing cataclysms in the country: “Quitting is leading too. If you find yourself incapable of discharging the duties and responsibilities of your office, then quit. If the entire country is complaining about your tenure in office, throw in the towel.

Bow out gracefully if the country is about to break into pieces under you.

We must learn to quit when we are unable to discharge the trust, which leadership is all about.”

Quoting from his book, “Orji Kalu: Leadership Lessons from a Master Strategist” he said: “In leadership, you can’t always run faster than the people you are leading. While a good leader should not be led by the people, he also must not ignore the people. There must always be a meeting point. I see leadership as both inborn and acquired through some form of tutelage or experience. You can be born a leader. You can also be groomed as a leader.”

He referred to the words of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida in his 31st independence speech in 1991, thus: “We believe and do affirm that what the nation requires is a leadership that recognizes the problems at the roots of our national life; a leadership which decides to risk its will and reputation to solving these problems. We hold firmly to the belief that our Nigeria of tomorrow is precious enough for us to sacrifice our today.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

45

NATURAL HEALTH

Herbal, nutritional treatment for peptic ulcer

H

ERBS and food have been identified as natural cure for peptic ulcer.

According to a naturopath, Dr Gilbert Ezengige, they can dramatically help an ulcer patient to recover fast.

He said rich mucilage herbs are important remedy in the treatment of peptic ulcers. "Mucilages are thick, gluey substance produced by some plants. They are hydrophyllic polysaccharides, and when mixed with water they swell considerably. They have among other properties the ability to heal gastrointestinal diseases (GI), inflammatory diseases and irritated mucous membrane conditions," he added.

Ezengige said ewedu known botanically as Corchorus olitorius, Ahihara in Igbo, and Okra are good examples of the stew that aid the treatment of the disease as well as coconut milk.

"Astringent herbs also help to arrest bleeding in the bleeding type of ulcers. Imi-esu (Agerantum conyzoides) is a good example of an astringent herb that is indicated for ulcer treatment," he said.

This herbs,he said, also possess anti-microbial property.

Ewedu (Corchorus olitorius, Ahihara in Igbo), and Okra are good examples. Astringent herbs would help to arrest bleeding in the bleeding type of ulcers. Imiesu (Agerantum conyzoides) is a good example of an astringent herb that is indicated for ulcer treatment. This herb also possesses antimicrobial property.

Nutritional foods such as cabbage (Brassica oleracea), pawpaw (Carica papaya), avocado (Persea americana) and hardened egg (Solanum incanum) are eaten to treat the disease?

Also, banana and ogbono soup (prepared from the seed of Irvingia gabonenseis can be used.

Other herbal medicine are gel from Aloe vera, Imi-esu (Agerantum conyzoides), Ogbolo (Cissus populnea) He said peptic ulcer is a lesion,

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•Banana

By Wale Adepoju

an erosion of the lining of the stomach, esophagus or duodenum.

The disease, Ezengige said can affect men and women. "When the ulcer affects the stomach wall, it is referred to as stomach or gastric ulcer; if the duodenum tissue is ulcerated it is called duodenal ulcer. Peptic ulcer that erodes the esophagus is called esophageal ulcer. The principal symptom of peptic ulcer can be described as a deep and gnawing pain around

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•Ezengige

the upper abdominal region which tends to subside somewhat shortly after partaking of a soothing meal," he added.

Ezengige said about 60 per cent of peptic ulcer is caused by a class of bacteria known as helicobacter pylori. 20 per cent of the sufferers of this ailment acquired it through the use, misuse or abuse of certain drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

The remaining 20 per cent of peptic ulcer patients are likely those addicted to cigarette smoking, alcohol and coffee drinkers or heavy junk food consumers. Others are

people who often experience very stressful living; they get unduly upset and as a result they 'stomach' a lot of suppressed anger. Also included in the last category of the 20 per cent are peptic ulcers of no known cause.

He said: "In almost all the cases of ulcer conditions the hydrochloric acid (HCL) and the digestive enzyme pepsin become imbalanced thereby giving room for ulcer development. They are hydrophyllic polysaccharides, and when mixed with water they swell considerably."

Natural cure for hypertension

O

NE of the very effective lifestyle change for someone who is over weight and also suffering from hypertension, is to shed a few pounds. Losing weight even in small measure can have dramatic effects in lowering your blood pressure. A lot of experts prefer using pharmaceutical drugs while prescribing a weight loss programme in order to treat high blood pressure. The best and safest way to maintain your blood pressure is to eat right. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 and should not exceed the count of 140/90 in order to stay fit and free from strokes and heart attacks. Food like garlic, vegetables, fruits play a very important role in maintaining blood pressure.

Garlic: Garlic dilates the muscles of blood vessels, which helps in lowering blood pressure. It consists of a compound called adenosine which helps in vaso dilation and is also a muscle relaxant. Although, both raw and cooked garlic can benefit blood pressure, raw garlic is more potent and benefits faster.

Garlic also interferes with the formation of blood clots and helps in reducing cholesterol. It not only helps lower the risk of colon, gastro intestinal tract and stomach cancers but also improves immunity and prevents gas formation.

To get these numerous effects of garlic, all you have to do is finely chop 3-4 cloves of raw garlic and gulp it down with warm water or just extract the juice and drink it. And don’t worry about the strong smell of garlic. People believe that garlic results in body odour, but it’s not true.

Fruits and Vegetables: Fruits and vegetables have certain remarkable properties that have a magical effect on blood pressure. Research studies show that switching to a vegetarian diet lowers blood pressure. Fruits are concentrated with potassium, Vitamin C and loads of soluble fibre, all of which contribute to lowering blood pressure.

Apart from this, fruits are low in sodium, which favours lowering of blood pressure. People who eat little or no fruits are prone to high blood pressure.

Fruits are the best source of natural vitamin C. Make sure you eat fruits everyday to get your daily dose of vitamin C. •Culled fromwww.indianfoodforever.com

Your Sexual Health & You: Novelty Tips, Questions & Answers

D

ear Uche, I am 28 years old, married and I have a son. My husband has very weak erection, quick ejaculation and a very low libido. He blames it all on me because according to him, he was never like this.

He also says that he is presently not emotionally healthy.

I feel he is being in denial. Is it however possible that he has a low sperm count? I want to have another child soon. I am being tempted to go back to my ex-boyfriend or succumb to pressure from other single men but I don’t want to offend him and God. I am getting frustrated now – Tiwa Tiwa are you sure you want your marriage to succeed? You seem eager to walk away and you have already given yourself reasons to have an affair. If your husband has performance problems, then he is not well. You shouldn’t punish him for it by cheating on him. It is like punishing somebody for having malaria. Who does that? What you should do is to try and help him. You are a mother and a wife now. Your priority should be protecting your family, not tearing it apart.

You say your husband has weak erection, premature ejaculation and low libido. Something is definitely causing it and that’s what you should find out. His problem could also be psychological. Stress and family problems can affect a man’s libido and performance. Whatever the case, he needs help. If you want to help him as his wife, I can tell you right now that supplements like Cockstar For Men and Max Intense Testosterone Booster can help him. For his premature ejaculation, a simple delay cream like Rock hard Delay Cream will enable him last long enough to satisfy you. These are reliable solutions you can go for.

Regarding the baby issue, you already have a child and you are both capable of having more children. So don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself. At 28years, you are still young and you have another fifteen years of child bearing age ahead of you. There is no urgency. If it is necessary,

fertility treatments like Repro Aid can help you. So settle down, make peace with your husband and go for a hospital test. I know you are upset because he blames you too but he is wrong. It is not your fault so stop blaming each other. Even if the test reveals that the problem is from you, it is still not your fault. You did not create yourself. God created you. So both of you should calm down and commit to solving your problems rather than running away from them. Take care – Uche Good day and well done. Please what can a 45 year old woman do for low libido? I hardly feel like having sex and my husband complains. We are planning to go and see a doctor but I don’t know – Susan Dear Susan, a lot of women your age experiences this after having children. I don’t think you need to see a doctor yet.

Try and watch an adult film first. If it arouses you, then you don’t have a problem. It means you just need extra help to get aroused. In that case, I recommend doing romantic things with your husband and watching adult movies that can put you in the mood. You can also take Max Desire supplement.

It is very good and helps boost libido and sexual enjoyment in women – Uche Hello sir. I took your advice and started using Climax Burst lubricant. I no longer experience pain during intercourse.

Thank you – Chinaza I had weak erection problems and that Cockstar really helped me. Thank you sir - Ike You are both welcome. That’s it for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy.

Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com.

Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria.

For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

46

NATURAL HEALTH

Foods that heal, Vitamins that heal (1) ryone at home for not lighting up the apartment during blackouts. These days, I keep a torch in practically every room.

“Let your food be your medicine and let your medicine be your food” - Hippocrates, the father of medicine

Vitamin A Bakhru says Vitamin A deficiency goes beyond night blindness which he said people of old in Egypt cured by boiling liver and dropping the juice extract into the eye. Its deficiency is behind common cold, sinus problems, acne, warts, boils, rashes and carbuncles, among other problems, he says.

O

UR elders are hardly wrong when they code their experiences in sayings. And that is why proverbs are an intrinsic part of every day Yoruba life. The Yoruba say, for example, that proverbs are horses ridden by the spoken word …when the word is lost, the proverb is dispatched to fetch it.

Thus, when it comes to the role of food in health "food is the friend of complexion." What they mean by that is: You are what you eat, or your diet shows in, or shines through, your complexion!

How right they are! After many years of intellectually detouring, from the path of Mother Nature like into chemical drugs for medicine to fight disease, mankind is finally returning to God's Will in His Creation Plan for human health. And, thankfully, we have all around us people such as H. K. BAKHRU of India to hold us by the hand and, like babies overwhelmed by the environment, and lead us, out of the jungle. In doing so, he reminds us of the warning, long ago, of Thomas Edison to the doctors of his time: The nutritionist of today will be the doctor of tomorrow.

Dr Akibu Oyelami, professor of medicine at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex at Ile-ife, echoes Edison pointedly in his book, ACHIEVING GOOD HEALTH NATURALLY. Says Prof. Akibu who has introduced herbs into his protocols: "It is becoming increasingly clear to most medical experts that more than 90% of diseases can be traced to faulty lifestyle, particularly the sufferer's diet. Unfortunately, nothing much is taught about lifestyle in the medical school. The major preoccupation in medical schools is the teaching of diseases and how they are brought about rather than their prevention through natural living.

Thomas Edison, the great mind who invented the electric light bulb, once predicted that the doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will instruct his patients in the care of the human frame, in proper diet and in the causes and prevention of diseases. It is now being touted in some circles using Thomas Edison's model that any physician who cannot articulate disease prevention measures based on the principles of health and disease does not merit the title of Doctor in the 21st century” Enter H.K Bakru of whom it is said: "H.K. Bakhru enjoys countrywide reputation as an expert naturopath and a writer on the subject. His well researched articles on Nature cure, health and nutrition appear regularly in the media.

“He began his career in the Indian Railways with a first class postgraduate degree from Lucknow University. He retired in 1984, as the Chief Public Relations Officer of the Central Railways, after 35 years of distinguished services in the Public Relations Organisation of the Indian Railways and the Railways Board" Bakhru holds a Diploma in naturopathy and has written many books, including FOODS THAT HEAL, VITAMINS THAT HEAL, NATURAL HOME REMEDIES FOR COMMON AILMENTS, CONQUERING DIABETICS, NATURE CURE FOR CHILDREN'S DISEASES, NATURAL HEALTH FOR THE ELDERLY and COMPLETE HANDBOOK FOR NATURAL CURE.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Studies link heart disease to Vitamin B1, says Bakhru. A deficiency affects digestion, cause muscle wastage, nerve damage, lack of appetite, chronic constipation, muscular weakness, slow heartbeat and constipation. Many authorities believe Vitamin B1 and garlic help to shrink enlarged hearts.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 Bakhru doesn't just make 1234567890123456789 He backs many of 1234567890123456789claims. the benefits of whatever he 1234567890123456789 with folk beliefs 1234567890123456789discusses which have been validated 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789by scientific research in 1234567890123456789reputable universities.

1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 BANANA You would probably 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789skip such uses as for con1234567890123456789stipation, allergies, anae1234567890123456789 mia, kidney disorders or 1234567890123456789 disorders if you 1234567890123456789menstrual heard Bakhru say it could 1234567890123456789 tuberculosis, a disease 1234567890123456789cure which would appear to 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789have resurfaced in Nigeria.

1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 LIME 1234567890123456789 When people tell me it 1234567890123456789 sperm "watery" or 1234567890123456789makes makes women infertile, I 1234567890123456789always ask them about the 1234567890123456789source of their informa1234567890123456789 tion. Here's a versalitle 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789fruit Bakhru recommends 1234567890123456789 as eye drop (please read 1234567890123456789 the formula) for the treat1234567890123456789 of even cataract, ton1234567890123456789ment sillitis, bleeding piles and 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789high blood uric acid 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 PAWPAW 1234567890123456789 We take it for granted, 1234567890123456789 yet it helps the eyes, diges1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789tion, enlarged spleen, the 1234567890123456789skin, worms and cirhrosis 1234567890123456789 of the liver.

1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 BITTER GOURD 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 The Indians call it 1234567890123456789KARELA, the Yoruba 1234567890123456789EJINRIN. Bakhru names it 1234567890123456789 for diabetes, piles, blood 1234567890123456789 including itch1234567890123456789disorders, 1234567890123456789ing, scabies and boils.

1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 CABBAGE 1234567890123456789 A young girl, Stella 1234567890123456789 Jackson, of Abbeydguru 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789C o m m u n i c a t i o n s , 1234567890123456789Ilupeju Model Market, 1234567890123456789who came to me last

Linked to glaucoma, Vitamin B2 deficiency easily shows in the mucous membrane lining of the mouth, lips and tongue. Bloodshot eyes are another deficiency signal. When the eyes cannot stand sunlight, itches, burns and waters, the body is calling for vitamin B2. The same goes for dull hair, oily skin, and premature wrinkling. In the eye, Vitamin A and Vitamin B2 work together. Vitamin A promotes vision by nourishing the light sensitive retina. Vitamin B2 strengthens the eye muscles and eye nerves.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Here's another B vitamin important for the nerves. Its deficiency shows in the coating of the tongue, and as Bakhru adds, in "sores in the mouth, irritability, nervousness, skin lesions, diarhoea, forgetfulness, insomnia, chronic headache, digestive disorders and anaemia." So crucial is niacin that "… prolonged deficiency may cause neurasthenia (weakness of nerves, mental disturbances, depression, mental dullness, and disorientation."

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) Anyone whose adrenal glands have buckled under stress will find Vitamin B5 useful. Not only does it help digestion of carbohydrates, proteins and fats and make amino acids, for repair and growth, it takes away the impact of physical and mental stress and the poisons they generate. Because it helps overcome the ravages of stress, pantothenic acid (sold as calcium petonthanate) prevents premature ageing. This condition shows easily in the premature graying of hair which this vitamin does not permit.

Two other substances which also reverse graying hair are INOSITOL and PABA - Para Amino Benzoic Acid.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Women who bloat up before their periods, with or without sore and painful breasts, will find it helpful, as it helps eliminate excess fluid load in the body.

Also, people who suffer from Carpal, Tunnel Syndrome, an inflammatory condition of the wrist and hand, do well on this vitamin. Cracks at the corners of the lips (the Ijebus of Yorubaland call it Ibe, are a deficiency sign. So are halitosis), "foul smell in the mouth, nervousness, eczema, kidney stones, inflammation of the colon, damage to the pancreas, insomnia, tooth decay and irritability."

Bakhru links a deficiency of this vitamin to "convulsions in FOODS THAT HEAL children and pregnant women" He explains the link with epiThis book discusses the healing powers of no fewer than 18 lepsy in children: fruits and 20 vegetables. In the fruits category are Apple, Apri"It has also been found that during pregnancy, undernourcot, Avocado, Banana, Bagel, Date, Fig, Grapes, Grapefruit, Inished women usually lack in vitamin B6 due to an excessive dian Gooseberry, Jamul fruit, Lemon, Lime, Mango, Orange, demand by the fetus. This deficiency affects the development Papaya (Pawpaw), Pomegranate Raisins. Bakhru discusses, as of the central nervous system of the fetus. This causes well, the curative powers of Barley, Maize, Rice and Wheat. Nut demylination (uncovering of the nerve fibers of the peripheral and seeds. Seed lovers may wish to find out the health promotnerves)" resulting in epileptic-like seizures. In all such condiing benefits of Almond, Coconut, Groundnut, Mustard seed, tions where there is no other apparent known cause of convulSafflower seeds, Sesame seeds and Sunflower seeds. The list insions, administering cludes Curd, Honey, Milk and Sugarcane as for vegetables, Bakhru 50mg of vitamin B6, three times daily is found to be a very mentions [Asparagus (which Nigerian naturopaths now preeffective treatment" scribe for immune boosting).

The B vitamins are in a world of their own. I'd have liked to Beet root, an ingredient in Nigerian salads which cleanses the close the B vitamins with mentions of B8, B9, B12, B-prevention bloat, dissolves gall stones and builds blood count), of hair loss and support to make the liver healthily but B6 is Bitter gourd (Yorubas called it Ejinrin and take it for uterine still child one. I know of a childhood friend who has bleed fibroids, high blood sugar, high blood pressure etc.). [Cabbage vaginally for over four months now. Pap smear and scans of (taken as juice to heal peptic ulcer, according to a Stanfford Unithe uterus have ruled out any fibroid or cancerous troubles. I versity Study, and to slow hypertine thyroid gland; used as poulhave suggested she check for endometriosis and check her horweek with a painful swoltice to treat inflammation and arthritis). mones just in case menopausal symptoms are catching up with Carrot, Cucumber, Drumstick, Garlic, Ginger, Lettuce, Mint, len knee with two skin breaks oozing pus didn't believe me her. She has managed to reduce the severity from four pad for two days when all I told her all she has to do was buy Onion, Potato, Soyabeans, Radish, Spinach, and Tomato charges to one daily with Apple Cider Vinegar, Vitex and These fruits and vegetables are such potent health protectors cabbage, beat some leaves to pulp till they bleed juice, wrap Yarrow tea. Shepherd's Purse, a good astringent, was not readand life extenders, as revealed by Bakhru, that it is no wonder them around the knee and hold them there overnight with a ily available. Now, here is Bakhru saying "longstanding irthat people who count among usually sick people also count bandage. regular vaginal bleeding in young girls can be successfully On the third day, she compiled. The next day, she came to among people who consume the least serving of fruits and vegthank me. treated with vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 controls the bleeding by etables every day.

The swelling, virtually gone, she was able to walk freely inhibiting the activity of estrogen and the ripening of the folliI will randomly rush through this book because of space limicles." tation, hoping the little said of it would be enough to recom- again. Bakhru says it protects blood vessel walls, slows the aging process, prevents formation of kidney stones and keeps Some of us are lucky. I take a B-75mg supplement everyday mend it as a book worthy to have in the home health library. and top it up before bed with calcium petonthanate (Vitamin Books are featuring more in this column these days because constipation at bay. many readers, their interest in their health grown, often ask me B5). I hope Bakhru has helped many people appreciate why a VITAMINS THAT HEAL about which books they may read to expand their knowledge of 50mg or 75mg prescription, along with vitamin C 1000mg, is Natural Health in this Information Age in which health has often made in respect of major health disturbances. Above all, Like all things else, we often take vitamins for granted. I've become personal responsibility.

I hope he has persuaded us all to appreciate why our libraries seen many drivers run into the concrete median of the roads at night. Most probably, they suffer from night blindness, A litmus must have copies of his books on the shelf. So, for the readers APPLE test for Vitamin A deficiency, which is a cause of night blindness who wants something to read to empower his or her capacity Try it for stomach disorders, anaemia, dysentery, constipation is the failure or ability to see the black and white road markings to take primary responsibility for his or her health, here's yet or diarrhea, headache, heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, at night. I, too, suffered from night blindness for many years. I another opportunity to get started. Remember the words of dry cough, kidney store, eye disorders, dental disorders and doubt if I have fully recovered from it. In those days when it was Hippocrates many decades ago: "Let your food be your medistrength. most serious, I would bump into walls or doors and blame evecine, and let medicine be your food". e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

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53

THE NATION

e-Business Mobile applications market: Boon to telecom For many, their mobile phones are just for making calls.

Now, they are discovering the gains of using the application that came with their handsets,writes AKINOLA AJIBADE.

M

OBILE applications have their benefits: They help in accessing, adapting, producing, and applying information needed to develop human capacities in order to manage businesses well. The devices, which are improvements in mobile technology, are said to have contributed to increase in job creation globally.

The applications, known as software downloaded on mobile devices, have become catalyst for growth by individuals, local and international business organisations. Nigeria offers a huge market for mobile application users and developers.

Research shows that Nigeria is not only the fastest growing market in Africa, but has also displaced South Africa to become a major bloc in the use of mobile phones, among other information communication and technology(ICT) devices.

The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) gave fillip to this assertion in a statistics released recently. The body said Nigeria had 101.8million active subscription as at May this year. Of this, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) operators have 97.5 subscribers, Code Division Mobile (CDMA) operators, 3.7million subscribers.

Staarcomms, Multilinks and M-Tel belong to this group.

NCC put the connected lines at 134.4 million, which comprised figures from the three major arms, including the fixed wired/ wireless subscriptions. According to NCC, Nigeria has huge mobile phones market and therefore stands a good chance of recording growth in sales, usage and development of mobile applications. It said there exists an abundant opportunities for users of mobile applications in the country.

Besides, various forecasts have shown the robustness of the Nigerian market and potentials that are yet to be tapped in the area of mobile applications usage. The last few years has witnessed strong yearnings for mobile applications as virtually every successful business player wants to have them.

Before now, the use of mobile applications was limited to the rich. In the early days of GSM operations, a fraction of the minute proportion of the population was believed to own mobile phones. Then, many people had little or no knowledge of what mobile applications was all about. Quite a large number of telecom subscribers only use the mobile phone to make calls.

The situation was so bad that the ratio of users was like one mobile phone to four or five people. It was the same during the Nigerian Telecommunication Communication (NITEL) era when only a few Nigerians could afford to get cellular lines. However, the arrival of GSM operators and the subsequent proliferation of IT devices made many peo-

•Mrs Johnson

•Uwaje

ple to have access to mobile phones. In the last three years, the mobile applications market has been experiencing a boom following subscribers use applications of different kinds for social and economic activities.

The development, analysts said, has brought tremendous changes the ICT industry. They said people are not speaking about telecom only, but other elements of its applications in life, business, entertainment and even governance. They argue that it was not until the launch of Apple Appstore that the mobile applications industry started to blossom globally.

Citing markets, projections, they said the total global mobile app market will be worth $25billion, up from about $6.8billion in 2010.

They said the feat is achievable considering advancements in network technologies, growing adoption of smartphones, and increase in application usability among other issues.

Delivering a paper entitled: “Harnessing the potential of Internet and Applications on Mobile Devices”, at a Mobile Web conference in Lagos, the immediate past president of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Titi Omo-Ettu, said the country has started seeing the mobile phone, in particular, as a device for change, a tool for closing the digital divide, an ultimate closer of the gap between the rich and the poor, and between the rural and the urban.

Omo-Ettu said building the rapidly expanding mobile system to generate more business makes good sense, adding that millions of SIM cards exist in the market and are supposed to be doing quite a lot beyond voice.

“Content creation is key and I am particularly concerned about how much of this can be locally targeted and locally produced.”

He said that if Nigeria must benefit immensely from the apps market, there was need for improved infrastructure, capacity building among others.

“Something tells me that our youth may just be getting an opportunity which need necessarily not come from government and which already manifests itself in the prevailing mobile systems. If capacity can be developed in this way, then the possibilities are

endless for people that want to develop mobile applications.

“Indeed, a huge market for mobile apps exists in Nigeria and Africa. This is basically because Africa has been underdeveloped for so long, and mobile technology in general embodies the possibility of bridging the digital divide and making information, entertainment and productivity tools easily accessible to the man on the street.”

He said Mobile Network Operators’ (MNO) in Nigeria have done a great job in terms of providing coverage across the continent, adding that telecoms infrastructure is perhaps the most robust communication network infrastructure available in Nigeria.

Also, an app developer in Nigeria, Bayo Puddicombe, who recently developed an application, Pledge 51, Puddicombe, which currently features on the Nokia Store, said foreign developers of mobile applications are taking advantage of the situations in Nigeria to make money for themselves.

He said there is an opportunity for mobile developers to create relevant contents which will be useful to local users within the African context.

He said: ‘Coming to Nigeria, it is said that one out of every five Africans is a Nigerian.

We are also the 7th largest country in the world by population count. This country has generated a lot of interest from several international players due to sheer volume of traffic generated from people who access the Internet using their mobile devices. For instance, Nigeria is rated as the fourth largest market for the Opera Mini (mobile phone) browser in the world today. What we have found is that for a number of people in Nigeria, the mobile phone is the primary means of accessing information via the Internet. This represents a huge market for local applications and tools.”

The President of Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Mr. Chris Uwaje said infrastructure deficits in several key areas such as power, communications, and electronic payments among others have hindered the development of mobile applications in the country. Uwaje said the issues have resulted in increase in the cost of developing applications, and have further reduced the op-

‘Indeed, a huge market for mobile apps exists in Nigeria and Africa.

This is basically because Africa has been underdeveloped for so long, and mobile technology in general embodies the possibility of bridging the digital divide and making information, entertainment and productivity tools easily accessible to the man on the street’

•Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) Eugene Juwah

portunities for revenue generation. He said most indigenous developers are optimistic that there will be considerable improvements in several of these areas in no distant time.

“If potentials are well harnessed, the mobile application business can be transformed into a huge industry in the country. When critically analysed, the major resources required to develop mobile applications are your mind, a half decent computer and maybe Internet access. Then once you have succeeded in developing a mobile apps product and made it available online, you open yourself to not just a local market, but a global one”.

He added “ Though there are a number of indigenous developers doing great things in the field of applications development, Nigeria is not close to hitting critical mass just yet. It is in our best interest to encourage more young people to consider this opportunity.

This is probably one of the many answers to the unemployment challenges amongst youths facing our nation today”, Uwaje said.

The Head, Content and Services, Samsung South Africa, Mr. Thabiet Allie urged Nigerian young mobile application developers to explore the vast marketing opportunities in the country.

Speaking during the 2012 edition of the CcHUB’s ‘Developers Parapo’ sponsored by Samsung for Nigerian web and mobile app developers, Alile advised Nigerian young mobile application developers to explore the vast marketing opportunities in the country.

Allie specifically urged the young developers to combine marketing and business skills with their technology or coding background.

“The essence of app developing business is recognizing a niche market and matching it with a solution,” he said. The Enterprise Operation officer, MTN, Mr Babatunde Osho treaded similar path. Osho said MTN Enterprise Applications was launched in order to provide a platform for ideas generation and to help local developers’ to monetise their skills.

He posited that applications have now emerged as a fundamental driver of enabling lifestyle and productivity, as consumers want to access relevant content from PCs, laptops, mobile phones and even in-car systems.

To achieve success in the industry, OmoEttu said NCC and NITDA need to play important roles development of the mobile web and applications, adding that their support would have a considerable multiplier effect on the speed of the expansion of the ecosystem. He called for collaborations and healthy competition in the industry, arguing that this is the only way the industry can achieve its full potentials in the area of mobile applications.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 26-9-12

Union Bank nets N14b first half profit NION Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc continued to build on the success of its recapitalisation and restructuring by replacing net loss of N44.01 billion in 2011 with a net profit after tax of N13.6 billion in the first half of 2012.

Interim report and accounts of UBN for the period ended June 30, 2012 submitted to teh Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, showed impressive growths across all key indices. The stand-alone financial report showed a profit before tax of N9.793 billion in 2012 as against N65.679 billion loss reported in corresponding period of 2011. The net profit was boosted by deferred tax income of N3.758 billion.

Total comprehensive income for the period also rose to N11.99 billion as against the loss of N43.50billion posted during the corresponding period last year. This translated to earning per share of 221 kobo compared to the loss of 326 kobo recorded in 2011.

Shareholders’ funds jumped to N188.37 billion from a negative of N184.960 billion posted during the comparable period.

On a group basis, group net profit rose to N16.14 billion, compared with a loss ofN40.30 billion posted during corre-

U

•Equities lose N55b

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

sponding period last year.

Likewise, the group assets grew 1.07 per cent to N1.049 trillion from N1.038 trillion recorded last year. Group total comprehensive income rose to N19.475 billion compared with loss of N39.410 billion posted in 2011.This also translated to earning per share of 251 kobo as against a loss per share of 305 kobo recorded last year. The group equity increased to N207.92 billion from negative N164.852 billion posted in 2011.

In the first quarter, the bank had posted an unaudited gross earnings of N25.51 billion while profit after taxation was N6.32 billion.

The sterling performance was attributed to full recapitalisation, injection of new capital; support from AMCON with the clean- up of bad loans; faster service delivery to customers and other growth spurring polices of the Osibodu led management.

Group managing director, UBN, Mrs. Funke Osibodu said the results of the bank showed that it has indeed begun to move forward in the right direction.

“We have been able to turn around our loss position of the previous years and more significantly, we now have a healthy and positive shareholders’ fund,” Osibodu said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian stock market relapsed into the negative yesterday as profittaking transactions shaved off N55 billion from market values of equities.

Both the benchmark index and aggregate market capitalisation of all equities slipped by 0.67 per cent each with aggregate market value of equities dropping from N8.262 trillion to N8.207 trillion. The All Share Index (ASI) also declined from 25,947.60 points to 25,774.53 points.

UAC of Nigeria led the decliners with a loss of N2.80 to close at N41. International Breweries followed with a loss of N1.31 to close at N12.10. Julius Berger Nigeria and Flour Mills of Nigeria dropped by N1.30 each to close at N27.50 and N67.70 respectively. Dangote Cement lost 98 kobo to close at N119.

On the positive side, Lafarge Wapco Cement Nigeria topped the gainers’ list with a gain of N1 to close at N57. Ashaka Cement followed with a gain of 54 kobo to close at N15. Unilever Nigeria added 20 kobo to close at N38.20. Dangote Flour Mills and Dangote Sugar Refinery gained 17 kobo each to close at N8.65 and N4.99 respectively.

Total turnover stood at 313.5 million shares valued at N2.62 billion in 5,259 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 26-9-12

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

55

MONEY LINK

CBN: Effective payment system key to financial stability

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has linked efficient payment system to financial and economic stability of the country.

Speaking yesterday at the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) meeting held in Lagos, CBN Director, Financial Policy and Regulation (FPRD), Chris Chukwu said the apex bank had put in place, measures aimed at achieving efficient payment system because of its relevance to the economy.

The banking watchdog has inaugurated National Payment System (NPS) , to en-

Stories by Collins Nweze

sure that transactions are completed at minimum risks and cost to the economy.

Chukwu, who was represented by Sebastine Barde, also of the CBN, said NPS has evolved from a rudimentary stage of trade by barter, to quest for a cashless banking system.

He, however, regretted that despite the benefits of electronic payment system, it is also susceptible to abuse by frudsters and money launders. “Money laundering and terrorist financing, using financial institutions is becoming the order of the day. In

all these, we need to emphasise the fact that all hands have to be on deck too ensure maximisation of the e-payment benefits and minimise the associated risks”, he stated.

Chukwu explained that epayments are meant to automate, integrate and simplify payables processing, allowing one to achieve all benefits of remote access to payment channels anytime, anywhere.

“E-payments are consequently globally favoured and rapidly pursued by nations because they are efficient, convenient, cost effective, transparent, secured, fast

and accurate. They also reduce corruption by minimizing interaction of government officials, with contractors, providing better visibility into an entity’s spending and leverage incentives on transactions,” he said.

The Chairman of the Forum, Emmanuel Obaigbena, said NeFF is planning partnership with foreign banks to fight frauds because of global dimension of the acts.

Obaigbena said: “It is advisable for banks to give accurate data on fraud cases.

They should not be scared of sharing statistics with each other.”

T

By Tonia Osundolire

Renaissance Group in Lagos.

According to him, using the statistics in the last 20 to 30 years that has remained stable, the movement of the capital market growth can be likened to the economic growth of the country.

However, he attributed the projection to the new lessons from Euro Zone crisis which has

compelled investors to move their investment to the ‘frontier economies’ such as Nigeria, Kenya, Mauritius, Ghana and Botswana.

Robertson also singled out the nation’s double digit inflation and lending rates as the only economic obstacles toward sustaining institutional investors’ interest in the Nigeria.

He noted that countries where debt level can increase have better opportunities for desiring investors as such, the more banks lend to the real sector, the more the activities in the capital market.

“Control of lending reduces growth in the capital market at the same time too much lending is also bad news for the economy,” he said.

FirstBank boosts SMEs with U-First

F

IRSTBANK is giving Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) opportunity to grow their businesses. In a statement, the bank said although the sector has potentials to employ large portion of the population, lack of support from banks has derailed the sector’s vision.

It said the bank has progressively demonstrated that its product offering transcends the regular lending, deposits, trade

and treasury products, to the development of financial solutions that enable business owners serve their clients efficiently.

This ultimately empowers them to make informed financial decisions for sustained business success.

It said U-First is a suite of retail and consumer loan products designed to enable individuals and small businesses meet their

and small & medium enterprises (SMEs). The set targeted at individuals are classified as Consumer Loan Products while those targeted at SMEs and entrepreneurs are classified as Retail Loan Products.

Every product provides a unique opportunity for beneficiaries to effectively grow their businesses,” it added.

business and personal needs under a flexible repayment structure that is in sync with the best global practices.

The bank said that with the UFirst loans, small business operators are empowered to take little steps that will ultimately grow their businesses.

“Under the U-First umbrella, we have a set of homogeneous loans targeted at individuals

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

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 26-9-12 SYMBOL

DNMEYER LIVESTOCK NEIMETH TRANSCORP HONYFLOUR CHAMPION CUTIX UTC PRESTIGE ASHAKACEM

O/PRICE

0.89 1.40 1.00 1.00 2.20 3.28 2.08 0.73 0.50 14.46

C/PRICE

0.97 1.47 1.05 1.05 2.31 3.44 2.18 0.76 0.52 15.00

CHANGE

0.08 0.07 0.05 0.05 0.11 0.16 0.10 0.03 0.02 0.54

O/PRICE 13.41 1.48 43.80 3.40 6.04 12.09 13.52 1.82 8.74 2.06

C/PRICE 12.10 1.34 41.00 3.20 5.74 11.49 12.85 1.73 8.31 1.96

CHANGE 1.31 0.14 2.80 0.20 0.30 0.60 0.67 0.09 0.43 0.10

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 26-9-12

SYMBOL INTBREW FIDSON UACN REDSTAREX NASCON UAC-PROP OANDO RTBRISCOE UBN MANSARD

dition of paying distribution to its unit holders, sold selected real estate, which had already appreciated by almost 100 per cent.

Durosinmi-Etti said that despite the unfriendly business environment in 2011, the fund still declared a net income of about N90 million making it one of the best results among other collective investment schemes.

On the outlook of the fund manager, the chairman expressed optimism that the company’s increasing experience in successfully operating in the real estate sector would assist it to achieve a better result in 2012.

Besides, he said the company has identified niche areas of real estate that would enhance its risk adjusted returns and would remain conservative regarding sale of its assets and focus on rental income until the performance of the industry improves.

The Skye Shelter Fund pro-

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

Currency OBB Rate Call Rate

tem is international in nature and requires to be approached from global perspective.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

S

KYE Shelter Fund, the first Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, has announced a dividend of N4.04 kobo per unit for the year ended December 31, 2011.

The dividend, which fell below the N9 per unit paid during the corresponding period in 2010 was attributed to the contractionary monetary policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and political environment, especially during last year’s general elections.

Chairman of the fund, Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, said the firm decided to minimise its sale of properties during the year because the period was not the best time to dispose of its real estate investments. He noted that the 2012/2013 financial year would be better.

According to him, the fund manager, in keeping with its tra-

DATA BANK

Tenor

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

Skye Shelter pays N4 dividend

Renaissance Capital predicts 7% growth HE Nigeria Capital Market would sustain more than seven per cent growth in next 20 years, the Global Chief Economist, Renaissance Capital London, Mr Charles Robertson, has said.

He made this projection at one-day institutional investors’ clinic organised by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the

He said the forum has already set up a committee to sanction erring banks. The objective for this Forum is for banks and the relevant agencies to share data with a view to eliminating frauds in the industry. According to him, fraud not only translates to operational risk losses to banks’ it erodes the confidence of the public in electronic platforms/systems as a channel for transacting business.

He reiterated that the need to protect customers from fraud cannot be overemphasised. He stressed that the electronic payment sys-

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 125.13 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 116.60 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.77 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.10 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.93 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,717.91 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 10.45 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 8,652.66 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 124.96 116.90 0.74 1.10 0.91 1,713.62 9.94 1.33 1.80 8,411.80 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

56

NEWS ‘Why NMA may go on strike’

By Wale Adepoju

T

L-R: Mrs Genny Adeosun, Mrs Tope Sonekan, Mr Adeboye Sonekan, Mr Olumide Adeosun, Mr Adewole Adeosun,Mrs Buchi Adeosun , Mr Oluwole Adeosun, Mrs Yewande Adeosun, Mrs Adepeju Adeosun and Mrs Abibat Oseni during the Service of Songs for the late Chief Oluwole Adeosun in Lagos…yesterday PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

ESUT VC’s ‘kidnapper’ held ONE of those allegedly involved in the abduction of the Vice-Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT), Prof.

Cyprian Onyeji, has been arrested in Aba, Abia State, by the police.

The suspect’s name could not be ascertained as at press time.

Police spokesman Ezekiel Onyike confirmed the arrest.

He said the boy was arrested in Aba and transferred to the Enugu State Police Command, where the case was reported

Orji backs calls for state creation ABIA State Governor Theodore Orji has supported calls for the creation of new state in the Southeast.

He said the endorsement for a new state by the Southeast Governors’ Forum is non-negotiable.

Orji said it would redress the “current geo-political imbalance” and put the region at par with others.

In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Ugo Emezue, the governor said although he was at the forefront of the agitation for the creation of Aba State, the proposed state can be created from any of the five Southeast states.

Funeral for woman THE matriarch of Amanya family in Umukoronkwor, Okwizi community in Egbema, Ogba Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mrs. Maria Amanya, will be buried tomorrow. She was 83.

A statement by her family said the late Mrs. Amanya would be buried after a funeral service in the town.

The late Mrs. Amanya

National Assembly’ll grant councils financial autonomy, says Tambuwal •Speaker urges Okorocha to respect rule of law

H

OUSE of Representatives’ Speaker Aminu Tambuwal yesterday said the National Assembly is determined to guarantee the financial autonomy of local governments.

He said the running of local government councils by caretaker committees in Imo State is unacceptable.

Tambuwal spoke in his office while receiving the leadership of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

He said Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha must respect the law and democracy that put him in office by doing the right thing.

The speaker said: “I am appealing to the Imo State Governor to please respect the rule of law. If it is about might and power, I am sure he is not the strongest personality in the state.

“But God, in His infinite wisdom, has made him governor through an electoral process put in place by law.

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

He should, therefore, respect that law and do the right thing.

“What is happening in Imo is unacceptable and I join other Nigerians to plead with him to respect the laws of the land and do the right thing.”

He accused state governments of subverting the constitution with the way local councils are run.

Tambuwal said: “The intent of the framers of the constitution on the local government structure has been defeated, as the structures are not what they ought to be.

“Federal lawmakers are determined to correct the anomaly through constitutional amendment. Section 7 has clearly guaranteed the existence of democratically elected local government councils.

“Many states have been paying lip service to that

‘

The two chambers of the National Assembly are seriously considering passing this amendment to the constitution to guarantee the financial autonomy of local government councils.

’

particular section of the constitution, but the National Assembly is trying to tie that particular provision to the release of funds to undemocratically installed caretaker committees.

“This is because it is not within the contemplation of the law, even if the House of Assembly passes a legislation to support it. For as long as it is not consistent with the provisions of the constitution, we know clearly that such law is null and void.

“The two chambers of the

National Assembly are seriously considering passing this amendment to the constitution to guarantee the financial autonomy of local government councils.

“The bill intended to guarantee the financial autonomy of the local councils has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives.”

Tambuwal urged local government administrators to educate governors, state lawmakers and Civil Society Organisations (CSO) on the need to constitutionally liberate the local councils.

He warned Houses of Assembly against passing laws that create caretaker committees and urged ALGON and Nigerians to contest such laws in court.

ALGON Chairman Uzor Nwabueze decried the undue interference in council affairs by governors.

He advocated the abrogation of provisions relating to Joint State and Local Government Accounts.

TY Danjuma Foundation gives N180m to NGOs

T

HE TY Danjuma Foundation yesterday disbursed a grant of N180 million to 17 Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs).

Chairman of the Foundation, General TY Danjuma, who presented the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, said that 516 applications were received following the call for proposals in February.

According to him, the 17 NGOs were approved for the award under the Foundation’s main grants portfolio.

TY Danjuma Foundation, he said, will support the 17 organisations to implement projects in 12 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He said: “These organisations will be receiving grants ranging from N3 million to N30 million, depending on the scope and reach of the projects proposed.

The organisations will also work in the Foundation’s three thematic areas.”

From Augustine Ehikioya and Bukola Amusan, Abuja

“About N13 million each will be disbursed to grantees in the Taraba and Edo states community fund scheme.

“We will not only award you grants to render service to the communities but

we will also develop your capacity as individuals as well as a corporate organisation” “We are very meticulous in managing our projects and tracking the utilisation of funds to ensure that these are deployed transparently and the activities are imple-

mented in line with plans agreed to by you and us.”

While stating that this year marks a transition period for the Foundation’s three-year strategic plan, Danjuma said N388 million was disbursed in 2010 while about N193 million was disbursed last year.

Five kidnap suspects held in Imo

T

HE police in Imo State yesterday arrested a five-man kidnap gang.

Two victims, a man and a woman, who were abducted yesterday morning in Owerri, the state capital, were rescued.

Parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters, police spokesman Vitalis Onugu said the gang was responsible for many kidnapping and robberies in the state.

Onugu said: “Two suspects, who are security men

•Two victims rescued From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

at the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), invited their confederates in crime from Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to Imo to pick two of their victims. The information got to us and we monitored their movement from Port Harcourt. We arrested them as they wanted to abduct their victim.”

Commissioner for Police Baba Adisa Bolanta assured

residents that the command would rid Imo of crime.

He said: “The command has all it takes to wipe out kidnappers and armed robbers from the state, but we need the co-operation of the public in intelligence gathering.

“They should come up with credible information on the activities of criminals among them. This would help the police to foil crimes before they are committed.”

HE Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday said it may go on strike should the Federal Government accedes to the ‘illegitimate’ demands of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU)/Allied Health Professionals (AHP) to skip Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) Level 10 when its workers are promoted from level 9, among others.

In a statement the NMA said the demand by JOHESU/ AHP could be justified and as such should be disregarded by the government.

NMA President, Dr Osahon Enabulele described JOHESU’s/ AHP’s demands as shocking and disappointing, saying: “They are acts reminiscent of stealing from government by threatening and blackmailing it to allow them jump a whole grade level in the public service.”

This, he said, was against the circular earlier issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service (HOS) of the Federation which banned skipping in the civil service.

NMA threatened that should the government accedes to JOHESU’s demands, it should be prepared to elongate the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for medical/dental practitioners.

‘I didn’t insult Enugu, Kogi ‘ From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

A

NAMBRA State Deputy Governor Emeka Sibeudu has debunked claims that he described Kogi and Enugu states as “mischievous neighbours”, following their ownership claims to oil wells in the state.

Last week, Sibeudu granted an interview to a national newspaper (not The Nation), where he said he was misquoted.

In a statement yesterday in Awka, the state capital, Sibeudu said Anambra has maintained cordial relationship with neighbouring states, especially Enugu, and would not want any media report to smear it.

He said: “I was surprised to read on the pages of the paper that I described Kogi and Enugu states as mischievous neighbours following their claims of ownership of the oil wells in Anambra State.

“I state categorically that no such statement was made by me throughout my interview with the reporter, because as the chairman of the Anambra State Boundary Committee, I know that the claims by the three states involved are before the National Boundary Commission, which is saddled with the responsibility of handling inter-state boundary issues.”

57

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

NEWS IBADAN FLOODS Expectant

woman killed in Yenagoa

AN expectant woman was shot dead yesterday by robbers in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

She was said to have been hit by a stray bullet fired by robbers, who were trying to get away from the police after robbing a bank.

A policeman fell from a patrol van and died during a gun battle between the police and the robbers.

Police spokesman Fidelis Odunna confirmed the deaths, but said no bank was robbed.

Odunna said: “It was not a bank robbery. An expectant woman was shot by the occupants of a car and eyewitnesses suspected them to be armed robbers. The police were informed and in the cause of chasing the suspects,

THE FOUNDATION FOR SURVIVAL OF ABI PEOPLE

Election petition: Oshiomhole challenges tribunal’s jurisdiction

T

Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lack of competence and jurisdiction.

Olanipekun argued that only the Federal High Court has the jurisdiction to hear the case, citing several authorities to back his submission.

He said the petition is fatally defective, adding that

the petitioner relied solely on the Electoral Law, rather than the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Olanipekun said the court cannot adjudicate on an issue that is not an election matter.

He said the issue of forgery of result, which is being pursued by the petitioner, is not a civil case, but a criminal case, which can only be

pursued at the Federal High Court.

Olanipekun urged the court to dismiss the petition.

Counsel to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Ricky Tafa (SAN) aligned with Olanipekun’s argument.

Airhiavbere, who was absent at the tribunal, was represented by Efe Akpofure (SAN).

The Tribunal is headed by Justice Suleiman Ambursa.

Notice is hereby given to the General Public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the REGISTRAR-GENERAL, Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under PART “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2004.

TRUSTEES: 1.

Elder Emmanuel Ekume——————— Chairman 2.

Mr Joseph Omini—————————— Secretary 3.

Hon Mrs Elizabeth Ettah———————Treasurer 4.

Mr Kenedy Ekpeiko—————————Member 5.

Elder Lawrence Ekpoto Eyime———— Financial Secretary 6.

Mr Victor Emmanuel Bassey —————PRO 7.

Mr Mboto Ezoke Ekinya ———————Welfare Officer 8.

Mr Donatus Ilang ——————————Assistant Secretary 9.

Sir Tom Okina————————————Member 10.

Barr Rayna Ukwa——————————Legal Adviser AIMS/OBJECTIVES: 1.

A platform for empowerment and monitoring.

2.

To promote peace and unity amongst our people.

3.

To educate and inform our people through seminars, workshops and conferences etc.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: BARRISTER RAYNA UKWA

Edo explains sealing of Federal parastatals

E

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has explained why some Federal Government parastatals in the state were sealed for evading tax.

He described the nonpayment of tax by the parastatals as “outright display of irresponsibility”.

Oshiomhole said the state government would collaborate with the judiciary to enact laws that would send tax invaders to prison.

He said what defines the character of any responsible government is its disposition to taxation.

Oshiomhole said: “Nothing can be more sensitive than the survival of the state. That was why we took certain actions. How can the Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC) say it cannot afford to pay tax when it allows both genuine and non-genuine importers to make so much money?

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

“Tax is not a voluntary contribution; it is a levy and non-payment of tax is not a civil matter, but a criminal matter. I have told my people that anybody who does not pay tax should be jailed.

“No Nigerian, whether

corporate or individual, is above the law. That was why we sealed the Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Company (NDIC), banks and schools.

“The fact that they are sen-

sitive should not make them behave irresponsibly and any one who evades tax is irresponsible in the eyes of the law. We also intend to ensure that individuals pay tax. Every progressive government taxes the rich to provide basic social amenities for the poor.”

Owena oil appoints vice-chairman, GM

T

HE appointments of Mr. Samuel Kolajo as an Executive Vice-Chairman, and Prince Claudius OlateruOlagbegi as the General Manager in charge of operation, Owena Oil and Gas Limited, were the major decisions taken at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in Lagos.

In a statement by the Company Secretary, Mr. Olukayode Enitan, the firm noted that the appointees would team up with the chairman of the company, Mr. Bankole

Oluwajana to move the company forward.

According to the statement, Integrated Mineral Development Company Limited (IMDC) still holds a 70 per cent shareholding of Owena Oil and Gas Limited including 40 per cent equity participation it holds in trust for technical partners.

The statement reads: “The oil firm is now poised to realise its full potentials with the new appointments and the setting up of proper office in Ikoyi area of Lagos.

“With the setting up of a

proper office in Ikoyi, Lagos and strategic appointment of credible and professional personnel to operate and manage its affairs, it is undeniable that the corporate and financial success of the company in the oil and gas industry is guaranteed.”

Enitan said the shareholding formula of the company has not changed as “it still reflects the true shareholders as Ondo State and IMDC having 30 per cent and 70 per cent holdings respectively with 40 per cent held by IMDC in trust for incoming technical partners”.

PIB’ll promote investment, employment, says Amaechi

R

IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi yester day urged the National Assembly to speed up the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

He said it would promote investment and employment opportunities.

Amaechi spoke at the Government House in Port Harcourt while hosting the House of Representatives’ Committee on Air Force.

He said the PIB would curb the security challenges in the country.

Amaechi said: “The PIB, if passed into law, will allow investors come into the country for the overall benefit of all Ni-

a policeman fell off the van and dead.

“We have arrested the driver of the vehicle and investigations are ongoing.”

Another source said: “When the expectant woman came out of the bank and boarded the car, the other occupants snatched the money she had on her.

“She struggled with the occupants of the car and they pushed her out and shot her.

Policemen gave them a hot chase and arrested two of the suspects.”

The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the mortuary of the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Yenagoa.

PUBLIC NOTICE

•Oshiomhole (left) greeting Akpofure after the court session...yesterday.

HE case Edo State Gov ernor Adams Oshiomhole’s lawyers yesterday challenged the competency and jurisdiction of the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to try the case filed by the defeated candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, in the July election.

At the State High Court in Benin, the state capital, Oshiomhole’s lead counsel

From Isaac Ombe,Yenagoa

gerians. This is so because if we do not enact a law that would attract investors, we cannot progress. Right now, investors are heading towards Angola and we must seek ways of attracting them.”

The governor urged the Federal Government to make the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) a regulatory agency and give wider opportunities to the private sector to participate in investment.

He said: “As a governor, I do not know the quantity of oil NNPC produces daily. This is why government should be a regulatory agency and allow investors come in. I think it

would facilitate the needed peace in the country.

Amaechi called for the amendment of the constitution to ensure justice, fairness and transparent leadership.

He said: “That is why I said we need state police to complement the Nigerian Police. We need to amend the constitution to ensure fairness and justice.

We must go above ethnic and parochial interest to guarantee transparency in leadership.”

Chairman of the House Committee on Air Force Kenneth Archibong said: “We are proud of your numerous achievements, including the 35 patrol vehicles you donated to

security formations in the state.

We are not in doubt of the sustainable peace in the state and we urge other governors to emulate your enviable gesture.’

PUBLIC NOTICE I, MRS. ULOMA ADENNE NWEDELENNOX was married to late MR. LENNOX FYNEFACE and late CHUKWUEMEKA NELSON LENNOX was our son who died 16th Jan., 2012 and until my son death he was the one processing his late father letter of Adminstration- LA851/09, I wish to continue the process of the letter in Respect of my late husband instead of my daughter LENNOX IZUMA NKEM since my son is death. General public should please take note.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the 4th Annual General Meeting of Vital Products PLC will be held at the Conference Hall of Protea Hotel, 42/44, Isaac John Street, G.R.A., Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday, 18th October, 2012 at 11.00 am to transact the following business: ORDINARY BUSINESS: 1. To received the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended March 31, 2012 together with the reports of the Directors and Auditors 2. To approve retirement of Directors 3. To appoint/re-appoint Auditors 4. To elect/re-elect retiring Directors 5. To authorise the Directors to fix the remuneration of the Auditors.

6. To elect members of the Audit Committee.

By order of the Board Paul C Ananaba and Co. Company Secretary Dated 25th Sept, 2012 PROXIES A member of the Company entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting is entitled to appoint a Proxy to attend and vote instead of him. A Proxy needs not to be a Member of the Company. A Proxy form is attached to the Annual Report and Accounts and to be valid for the purpose of the Meeting, it must be duly completed, stamped and deposited at the registered office Vital House, Plot 22A Cocoa Industry Road, Off Acme Road, Ogba, Lagos not less than 48 hours before the time fixed for the Meeting: CLOSURE OF REGISTER OF MEMBERS The Register of Members and the Share Transfer Books of the Company will be closed between the Tuesday 25th Sept, 2012 and Tuesday 2nd Oct, 2012 both dates inclusive for the purpose of updating the register of members.

NOMINATION FOR THE AUDIT COMMITTEE In accordance with Section 359(5) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 a member may nominate a shareholder as a member of the Audit Committee.

Nominations in writing for appointment to the Audit Committee should reach the Company Secretary at least 21 days before the Annual General Meeting.

58

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

NEWS

FOREIGN

Detained pilgrims: Senate, House seek govt’s intervention

Senegal marks 10th anniversary of world’s worst maritime disaster

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor, Sanni Onogu, Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

T

HE Senate yesterday asked the Federal Government to explore diplomatic means to ensure that over 1,000 Nigerian women pilgrims being prevented from entering Jeddah to perform this year’s Hajj are allowed to do so.

This followed the adoption of a motion, entitled: “Refusal of the Saudi Arabian authority to grant entry to over 500 Nigerian female pilgrims.”

The senators urged the Federal Government to prevail on the Saudi authority to grant the pilgrims entry to perform their religious obligation.

Members of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs also yesterday sought a quick fix to the problem of over 1,000 Nigerian women detained at the Saudi Arabian airport by enjoining President Goodluck Jonathan to discuss with his Saudi Arabia counterpart, King Abdullah Ibn Saud, to resolve their travail.

At a meeting of the Nnena Elendu-Ukeje-headed House Committee on Foreign Affairs with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Chairman, Mohammad Bello and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Martins Uhomoibhi, the lawmakers said there was need to find a solution to the problem.

Strike paralyses Ilorin hospital

M

EDICAL activities were paralysed yesterday at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), following the nationwide strike embarked upon by medical and health workers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the union members at UITH did not initially participate in the strike which started on September 18 following several appeals made to them by the hospital’s management.

NAN also reports that the workers’ action followed a circular issued by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, instituting a new directive on the skipping of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure 10 (CONHESS).

A visit to the hospital showed that the usually busy wards and out-patients department were devoid of activities due to the strike.

20 burnt in petrol tanker explosion

A

BOUT 20 people, mostly youths, were burnt to death yesterday when a petrol tanker from Lagos exploded at Kudu village in Mokwa Local Government, Niger State.

Many were injured and several houses razed.

An eyewitness told our reporter that the tanker fell be-

cause of the bad condition of the Mokwa/Bida Road. Immediately it fell, villagers, mostly youths, trooped to the scene to scoop petrol from the ground.

The tanker later exploded.

Efforts by the village head and policemen to disperse the

youths were not successful.

“The refusal of the boys to heed the advice was responsible for the high number of casualty,” the source said.

Confirming the incident, police spokesman Pius Edobor put the casualty figure at 16 and said those injured are being treated at the General Hospital, Mokwa.

Okene killings: IGP insists on probe of fresh lead •Ex-council chiefs battle for bail

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HE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), M.D. Abubakar, has called for a probe following fresh clues available to the police on the killing of Deeper Life Bible Church members in Okene, Kogi State.

It was learnt that the IGP is not yet convinced on a recommendation in the preliminary report that some key suspects, especially former local government chairmen, should be released on bail.

The three major suspectsYahaya Karaku (ex-Okene LGA chairman), Abubakar Zuberu (ex-Okehi LGA chairman) and Momoh Jimoh, currently detained at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), have initiated legal action to compel the IGP to release them on bail.

The killing of 17 members of the church was carried out on August 6.

Since the killing, police have arrested 18 suspects, including the former council chairmen and a key suspect, Abdulmannan Obadeki, who was arrested in Owo, Ondo State.

Investigation by our correspondent showed that the FCID has submitted a preliminary report, which recommended the release of the former local government chairmen.

The same report identified some fresh clues which require further investigation.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The preliminary report was submitted about three weeks ago but the IGP, who is a crack detective, believes that the fresh lead must be probed before any of the suspects can be granted bail.

“As I am talking to you, the IGP is on top of the situation.

He wants the investigators to get to the root of the killings.

“It is the view of the IGP and his team that all sides to the case must be probed instead of the team jumping into conclusion that the murder might not have political undertones.

“The antecedent of some of the suspects, especially their involvement in political violence, made the IGP to insist on investigation of fresh clues.

“Some of these investigators have been shuttling between Abuja and Lokoja. The target is to get to the root of the murder.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “The Nigeria Police is not in a hurry to release the former local government chairmen because more information are being gathered on their activities.

U •Abubakar

“This investigation is not personal, but we have been directed by the IGP to ensure a thorough job.”

Asked if the probe was not taking a long time, the source added: “It pays to do a better job than a sordid one. We are aware of the expectations of the public.”

The police source confirmed that Yahaya Karaku (ex-Okene LGA chairman) and Abubakar Zuberu (ex-Okehi LGA chairman) have asked a High Court to compel the IGP to release them on bail.

But the source said: “The allegations border on criminal matters and investigation is on.

In their application in court, they are seeking the enforcement of their fundamental human rights.

“If there is a definite pronouncement or order from the court, the police will honour it.

So far, we have not got any at all.”

As at 6.13pm yesterday, police spokesman Frank Mba was yet to pick his calls.

•Passes vote-of-confidence in Aliyu

•Aliyu

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HE Niger State House of Assembly yesterday threw out the petition by a pressure group, Concerned Citizens, which called for the impeachment of Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.

The lawmakers also passed a vote-of-confidence in the governor.

ITH rising insecurity and recent attacks on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, the programme, created to foster unity, seems to be losing its popularity.

But for the author of Served, a book presented in Lagos yesterday, the fading glory of the mandatory programme can be restored.

Written by The Nation, reporter, Joseph Agbro jnr,, the book chronicles the life, experience and survival instincts of a youth corps member in a village far away from his hometown.

It gives a vivid description of what the national orientation camp looks like. It reminds the reader of the national anthem and paints the picture of the birth of compatriot.

To the older generation, the book is a nostalgic, taking the reader down memory lane. For the fresh graduate, it is a literary replay of their NYSC experience, and for the undergraduates, it is an eye opener to the world that awaits them in the national orientation camp.

The Chairman of the group, Alhaji Mohammed Maude, vowed to challenge the decision of the Assembly “through all legal means.”

Adopting the report of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges, the Assembly threw out the petition for lack of conformity with the Standing Orders of the House.

Presenting the report on the floor of the Assembly, the Chairman of the committee, Mohammed Nazeer Abdullahi, said in reaching its decision, the committee considered the House rules governing petitions as contained on the Standing Orders of the Assembly and found that the petition fell short of the rules.

He said the committee was guided by Order II Rule 3 pages 13 and 14 of the Standing Orders in recommending that the petition be thrown out.

According to him, the petition failed to conform with Rule 3 Paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Assembly Standing Orders.

The chairman stated that Section 101 of the 1999 Constitution empowered the House to regulate its own procedure and that since the Standing Orders were made by the Assembly, it would be unconstitutional to violate them.

The committee argued that

S

ENEGAL yesterday marked the 10th anniversary of the world’s deadliest maritime disaster, which left some 1,863 people dead, more than the number of people who died on the Titanic.

‘The Titanic’ was a British passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, after colliding with an iceberg during her maiden voyage.

A memorial service was scheduled to hold in the Senegalese capital Dakar yesterday, as relatives prepare to honour those who died when the passenger ferry Joola sank on its journey from the southern town of Ziguinchor to Dakar.

The vessel was only supposed to be carrying a maximum of 580 people, but it is believed that up to 2,100 may have been crammed on board.

Some 64 people were rescued in the early hours of the morning by local fishermen who braved cold waves to reach them.

Obama boosts U.S. efforts against human trafficking

From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Assembly rejects impeachment petition

The Nation man makes case for NYSC at book launch

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From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

“non-conformity with the Standing Orders amounts to non-conformity with the constitution and any action as regards to petition which is not in conformity with the Standing Orders of the Assembly becomes unconstitutional.”

It recommended that “any action taken on this petition is unconstitutional and should be thrown out.”

On the presentation of the report, the Assembly adopted the recommendation of the committee and the Speaker, Adamu Aliyu, said the decision of the House was guided by the constitution, adding; “Nobody can intimidate or blackmail the Assembly into taking decisions.

We are guided by the constitution in every decision we take.”

Immediately the petition was thrown out, Yusuf Paikoro moved a motion calling for a vote-of-confidence to be passed in Governor Aliyu for his foresight and commitment to improving the state. It was seconded by Jumai Jafaru Mairiga and the House endorsed it.

Alhaji Maude said the decision of the Assembly was tainted with bias, “as it failed to invite us before taking the decision.”

He said the group would challenge the decision through legal means.

NITED States (U.S.) President Barack Obama signed an executive order on Tuesday bolstering U.S. efforts against human trafficking.

He directed U.S. embassies and military facilities abroad not to employ individuals who had engaged in human trafficking.

“In short, we’re making clear that American tax dollars must never, ever be used to support the trafficking of human beings,” he said.

“We will have zero tolerance. We mean what we say. We will enforce it.”

In a speech to the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, Obama made the case for stronger action to end trafficking that amounts to modern slavery.

“It is barbaric, and it is evil, and it has no place in a civilised world, ‘’he said.

“The U.S. must also work to recognise trafficking within its borders, whether of migrant workers involved in farming or of sex workers,’’ he added.

Sniper kills Iranian TV reporter in Syria

•Al-Assad

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CORRESPONDENT for Iran’s English-language Press TV was shot dead in Syria and its Damascus bureau chief was wounded, Press TV reported yesterday, in an attack the channel blamed on regional powers that support Syrian rebel forces.

“Insurgents in the Syrian capital Damascus have attacked Press TV worker and killed one of our reporters,’’ anchor Bardia Honardar said on air.

Maya Naser, 33, Press TV’s correspondent in Damascus, died after being shot in the neck by a sniper and Damascus bureau chief Hussein Murtada received a gunshot wound to the back, Press TV said.

The two journalists were covering twin bombings yesterday that targeted one of Syria’s military command buildings in the capital.

Iran has supported Assad, its sole Arab ally, as he attempts to suppress the uprising, and accuses Western and regional powers of arming rebels with the intent of toppling President Bashar al-Assad.

“We hold Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who provide militants (with) weapons to kill civilians, military personnel and journalists, responsible for the killing of Maya,’’ Press TV’s news director Hamid Reza Emadi said on air from Tehran.

Libya vows to catch killers of man key to Gaddafi’s capture

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IBYAN authorities yesterday were attempting to track down the killers of a man reported to be instrumental in capturing Muammar Gaddafi, one day after the man died of injuries inflicted by the late dictator’s supporters.

Omran Shaaban’s body was flown late on Tuesday to his western hometown of Misrata from Paris, where he had died of a gunshot wound inflicted months earlier in Libya, the official Libyan News Agency LANA reported.

A mass funeral prayer was offered for him in Misrata on Tuesday night before his burial.

Libya’s National Congress, the country’s highest authority, has given the defence and interior ministries 10 days to “arrest those responsible for the kidnapping and torture” of Shaaban, LANA reported.

‘Ignore fake packaged water union’

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HE National President of the Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), Mr Ubi I. Ubi, has urged packaged water companies to ignore any other union or group that claims to represent their interest.

He said there is no other umbrella body that is legally recognised in Nigeria, besides the ATWAP. The union leader said another group has been claiming to be a union of packaged water companies, adding that its pronouncements could confuse the public.

Ubi said the National Delegates’ Council of ATWAP has agreed that a bag of packaged water should not be sold above N100.

He said: “The price has not changed; it remains N100 throughout the country. There has been no price reduction as alleged in some quarters.”

The decision is to establish concern for quality as sachet water sold for less must have been compromised.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

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NEWS House begins inspection of N710b projects

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ESPITE the Executive’s reservation, the House of Representatives yesterday gave the green light for the Status Enquiry of the capital projects so far implemented by the Federal Government.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal met with the chairmen and deputy chairmen of the 80 committees and warned them against compromising in their oversight functions.

The House also resolved that it will not allow Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to fund the assessment tour by committee members.

Of the N1.3trillion voted for capital projects in the 2012 budget, the Federal Ministry of Finance has released N710.4billion.

Only N535.2billion has been cashbacked so far.

The ministry also admitted that the MDAs have so far utilised N320.9billion, which is about 25.5per cent of the N1.3trillion.

The Nation learnt that although the Executive had tried to persuade the House to soft-pedal on the Status Enquiry of projects, the House decided to go ahead from next week “in the interest of the public”.

It was gathered that the Speaker’s meeting with the chairmen worked out the mo-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

dalities for the tour.

At the closed-door session, it was learnt that the committee chairmen and their deputies agreed to adopt a “syndicate system” to make the oversight easier.

The session also identified key ministries with jumbo projects, which members should pay attention to because they border on infrastructure that Nigerians are yearning for.

The ministries are Power, Health, Agriculture, Works, Education, Aviation, Petroleum Resources, Urban and Housing, Environment and Communications.

A source at the meeting said: “We are going ahead with the physical inspection of the capital projects listed in the 2012 Budget.

“If you look at the statistics released by the Federal Ministry of Finance, only N320. 9billion (25.5%), out of the N1.3trillion budgeted for capital projects, has been accessed by MDAs. So, in actual fact, only about 25.5per cent of the funds has gone to the MDAs. “Yet, we want to go ahead to know the level of implementation of projects executed with the N320.9billion.”

Another source at the session said: “The Speaker gave us a manual of dos and don’ts at the meeting. We were specifi-

cally warned against collecting any gift in cash or kind from the MDAs. “Also, we have been banned from using official vehicles provided by the MDAs for inspection of projects, no matter how difficult the terrain is.

“The House will solely finance the Status Enquiry of Projects. The Speaker said we are going to ‘look inwards’ to fund these trips.”

The source quoted Tambuwal as saying: “We are not at war with the Executive. But with this assignment, we see yourselves as agents of change. Let Nigerians have value for public funds that we budget every year. Say the truth on what you see on ground as far as infrastructural development is concerned.

“When we come back, we want to present the Executive with the accurate report of what is on ground. This will assist Mr. President to know the true position of things.”

The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mallam Zakary Mohammed, said there is no going back on the inspection tour.

Mohammed said: “We are still going ahead with our oversight tour of capital projects.

We want to ascertain whether our assessment will tally with the reports we have got from the MDAs.”

Senate to Jonathan: appeal Bakassi’s judgment Continued from page 2

not be allowed to be history.

Otherwise many more territories in border towns in Nigeria risk being ceded in future. The parliament must speak with one voice. We cannot cede Bakassi with a referendum. It appears to me that Bakassi was ceded because it is a minority of the minority.

“If it were to be a dominant tribe like Hausa/Fulani, Igbo and, recently Ijaw, or Yoruba, it would not have been ceded.

“We must do something about it. Let the government appeal the ruling and we are

ready to fund the legal processes. We are ready to contribute money to fund the legal processes.”

The Senate Majority Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, noted that Bakassi was ceded, despite of the protest by Bakassi indigenes.

He said: “The issue of Bakassi must go down in the Guinness Book of Record as the fastest ruling with compliance.

Why were the people of Bakassi and this Senate so unimportant in this judgement?

“Bakassi was not ceded by Cross River. Bakassi was ced-

ed by the Federal Government in spite of Cross River. We demand protection from the Nigerians. If the Nigerian state cannot protect Cross River let this Senate to which I belong protect Cross River.

“People have said we must appeal. It is better to appeal and fail than not to appeal when we would have succeeded.”

Other Senators, who supported the motion, included George Akume, Eyinaya Abaribe, Haddi Sirika, Ita Enang, Bassey Otu, Benedict Ayaade, Heineken Lokpobiri, James Manager and Bagudu Abubakar.

Onitsha traders to govt: no to demolition of stalls

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RADERS in Onitsha market yesterday vowed to resist the planned demolition of stalls at the Bridge-head market.

The Onitsha South Local Government authorities recently announced plans to demolish all the market structures at the Bridge-head market as part of the on-going demolition of illegal structures in the state. But the traders yesterday trooped out on masse to prevent the action.

Transition Committee chair for Onitsha South Mr. Emeka Ezeani, last week stormed the market with bulldozers and security agents to effect the demolition of stalls but the traders resisted. He re-

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

treated and promised to return.

But yesterday, news filtered into the market that buldozer were on the way, thereby causing panic. The traders raised the alarm on the grounds that they had their shops allocated by the state government. They argued that there are no illegal structures in the market.

Leader of the market, Sir Peter Okala, flanked by leaders of other market units at the Bridge-head, alleged that the Council chairman had planned to storm the market with bulldozers to pull down all their shops.

Sir Okala, a one-time governorship aspirant said: “We want to commend Governor Peter Obi for attracting good things to the state but we are asking him to watch the activities of Onitsha South Transition Committee Chairman to avoid bringing a dent to his administration.

He also commended the governor for his fatherly disposition in handling the Moslem community issue which would have exploded like wild fire if he had not made a timely intervention.

Mr. Ezeani denied any untoward act as alleged by the traders as the motive behind the plan to demolish illegal structures in the market.

Varsity Senate bids VC final farewell

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HE Senate of Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa, Edo State yesterday, held a special session to bid the late Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.

Samson Adedoyin farewell. It was a sombre atmosphere at the Apostolic Church, LAWMA Territory, Ketu, Lagos venue.

The late, Prof Adedoyin was the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the university. The ceremony was well-attended by members of the Senate, family members and academics from

By Damilola Owoyele

different walks of life.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Governing Council, Dr. Ebenezer Okebukola, expressed his condolence to the grieving university. He commiserated with the family of the late Prof. Adedoyin. Quoting the Bible, he said: “Listen to the sacred truth. We shall not all die… for when the trumpet sounds, the mortal becomes immortal. Death is destroyed, victory is complete.”

Okebukola extolled the vir-

tues of the late VC. He said the late Prof. Adedoyin, who he called God’s own VC, developed the university to an enviable level.

Okebukola said: “He assumed a winning personality at work. His style of leadership was people-focused.

Prof. Adedoyin was a visionary leader. He has left an indelible mark. Even in death, Prof. Adedoyin’s fame will last as long as the sun. The Board of Trustees and the Governing Council are shaken by this loss. May God grant him eternal rest.”

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TODAY IN THE NATION

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 7, NO.2,261

‘To make matters even more painful, after 34 striking miners were struck down in cold blood, 100 of their striking colleagues were rounded up, detained and taken to court to face charges of murder under a spurious old fashioned apartheid law of “common purpose”’ JIDE OSUNTOKUN

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

•Continued from Thursday, September 13

HIS religious and sectarian insurgency emanating from the Arab world has now spread to Nigeria where, since 2009, the government has had to face the growing security challenge posed by Boko Haram (Western education is evil) to its authority. Before then, very little was known of the existence of this sect and its objectives.

It was preceded by the activities and operations of the militants of the Niger Delta, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) that posed a grave security threat to Nigeria’s oil installations. Here, the grievances were mainly local and economic. Through dialogue, the federal authorities have been able to reach an agreement with the militants involving training abroad for them and some generous financial compensation. But even this can only be a partial solution to a problem that is deeply rooted in the political and economic history of the Delta region.

The nature of the colonial legacy is responsible to a large extent for the emergence of political instability and the consequent emergence of insurgency in Nigeria. The Boko Haram sect is the product of a political and social process that failed to ensure an even development in the country, with the North lagging far behind the South in economic and social development. The insurgency in the North is a symptom of a deep seated malaise going back to the colonial area during which colonial policies adopted led to the North, the largest and most populous part of the country, falling behind the rest of the country in virtually all respects.

Boko Haram is the direct consequence of the failure of northern leaders to invest in the education of their people. It is this failure, and not mere religious differences, that accounts for the deep seated grievances of the Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria. The process and pace of modernisation in the North have been much slower than in the South.

This situation creates frustration among the northern youths who find themselves unable to compete with their southern counterparts in all respects, even in the North.

Northern Nigeria had been politically restive for some time. Before 2009 when Boko Haram first emerged there was the Maitasine rebellion which the Obasanjo government succeeded in putting down, largely through the application of force. But the underlying problem that produced Maitasine in the North was not really addressed. Boko Haram is the direct successor of Maitasine.

Most of the northern states have since come under the savage attacks of the Boko Haram insurgents. There is now a serious danger that the insurgency may extend to other nonFulani parts of northern Nigeria. Plateau State is the new target of attacks, though the competition for land between Fulani herds-

DAPO FAFOWORA

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RIPPLES IWEALA, SANUSI’S ECONOMIC ORIENTATION NOT FIT FOR NIGERIA - Rep

It’s not fit for any SANE COUNTRY

FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

The nature and dynamics of insurgencies (II)

•The late Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf

men and the indigenes in the region is also a major factor in the ethnic clashes there.

Plateau State, part of the old Middle Belt, has a large Christian population as well. Its people have always historically been at logger - heads with the Hausa-Fulani who want to dominate the area. So, here the battle is for the control of this mineral rich part of Nigeria. It is both economic and political.

A recent country report on global terrorism by the State Department of the United States showed that in 2011, 136 attacks were carried out in northern Nigeria by Boko Haram resulting in the death of 590 people.

In terms of the global number of casualties in the Boko Haram attacks, Nigeria was placed fifth, after Afghanistan (3,353), Iraq (3, 063), Pakistan (2,033), and Somalia (1,103). It was reported that in 2011 there

were some 978 terrorist attacks in Africa with Nigeria alone accounting for over 20 per cent of those attacks. The report stated that the sect was more deadly and vicious in its attacks in 2011 than in 2010. In 2010 only 31 attacks by Boko Haram were reported by the media. This figure increased in 2011 to 136. This year the number and frequency of Boko Haram attacks are likely to be even higher as the sect has increased its tempo during the current year.

Already, it is estimated that Boko Haram attacks have resulted in the death of over 1,000 people in northern Nigeria since 2009.

A former head of the Nigerian Army, Gen. Danjuma, has publicly expressed concerns that Nigeria may become a failed state like Somalia which has integrated on account of a long drawn out insurgency. Many northern leaders have also condemned the sect and blamed it for the situation of economic paralysis in the North There is increasing public concern that the sect seems to execute its vicious and bloody attacks so easily and with almost complete impunity.

Despite its best and brave efforts the Joint Task Force, comprising the Army and the Police, has not yet been able to evolve a strategy to effectively tackle and contain attacks by the sect. Vast swathes of northern Nigeria have been rendered ungovernable and ‘no go’ areas. In the states that have been hit by Boko Haram, economic activities have been totally paralysed. The Plateau State has been one of the main targets of these attacks. It has suffered more casualties from the Boko Haram attacks than other states in northern Nigeria. The attacks appear religious in nature as most of them have been targeted at churches and Christians in northern Nigeria. Christian lead-

ers have been restrained in their response to these attacks, but have warned that they may be obliged to urge their people to retaliate as the government has been unable to offer the victims of these random attacks any protection. A few mosques have also been attacked. But these attacks are directed against Muslims who are thought to have fallen behind in the strict practice of the Islamic doctrine and have fallen for the trappings of Western civilisation and way of life that the sect considers evil and unacceptable to strict Islamic doctrines.

The Boko Haram phenomenon and the emergence of terrorism in Nigeria have to be considered as one of the unsavoury consequences and legacies of colonial rule in Nigeria. British colonial rule in Nigeria sought to create a new state by bringing together under a single colonial administration a country of such wide cultural and ethnic diversity. The central historical fact of Nigeria is that, like most of the other African states, it owes its existence as a nation state to European imperial ambitions in Africa. Lord Lugard, the first colonial governor of Nigeria, and the man who carried out the amalgamation of Nigeria, admitted at the time that Nigeria was ‘a mere geographical expression’ of this new British dependency. The territorial boundaries, the political institutions, and the images of these African states, are the result of European ambitions and rivalries in Africa. But colonialism was both a factor of cohesion and a source of friction. While it brought under one rule people with different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, it did very little to integrate them into one nation.

The roots of the current insurgency by Boko Haram also lie in the fragility of the political institutions that Nigeria inherited at its Independence in 1960. Post-colonial Nigeria has remained a weak state. The post-colonial political and economic systems were far too weak to contain the centrifugal tendencies in the country. The federal system of government agreed upon at Independence was unbalanced. It failed to provide an equitable distribution of power at the centre. It is this quest for a more balanced political system that has been at the centre of Nigeria’s post-colonial political history. The post-colonial framework was itself the product of the nature and style of the British colonial administration in Nigeria. It created huge divergences in administration in northern and southern parts of the colony.

•To be continued • For comments, send SMS to 08054503031

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Boko Haram: Multifaceted approach or indecision?

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N his address to the 67th United Nations General Assembly, President Goodluck Jonathan said, among other things, that peaceful ways of resolving conflicts were less costly and more effective. In a general sense, he is right; except that the devil is in the detail. Conflicts, it is true, come in diverse forms, and the means of fighting or resolving them do not respond to a generic pattern. The President had declared in his UN address that, “our response to these (Boko Haram and other conflicts in Nigeria) has been multifaceted, as we seek to address the root causes of these threats, exploring opportunities for dialogue, improving law enforcement to ensure public safety and security.” The President was very clever in lumping things together. Theoretically, the approach he enunciated before the UN is faultless. Most conflicts can only be resolved using a multifaceted approach, for as it is well known, they are often caused by a combination of factors.

In the particular case of Boko Haram, though Jonathan was reluctant to describe the sect’s violence as terrorism in the truest sense of the word, it is, how-

ever, incontestable that its causes are rooted in socio-economic deprivation, general politics, and private and doctrinaire sectarian objectives. Analysts have in fact, failed to agree on the cause or combination of causes of the Boko Haram campaigns. The sect sometimes gives the impression it is fighting an unjust state that sanctions brutality and extra-judicial killings, and their arguments and facts make sense. At other times, however, it viciously fights innocent Nigerians opposed to its hate ideology or opposed to its leadership, and sometimes executes people its leaders claim misrepresent the sect. At yet other times, it has targeted Christians for no other reason than the fact that they belong to a different faith.

There is no consensus among Nigerians on the factors that motivate the Boko Haram violence. Worse, the government, which should know better, has also reflected the general confusion by its inability to properly classify the sect or its methods. Since the Jonathan government has shown reluctance in describing the sect as a terrorist organisation, and because it

even agrees with apologists to classify the sect into at least three categories of criminal, political and true Boko Haram, it is not surprising that there is no official consensus as to how to tackle the sect. It is this confusion that Jonathan reflected in his UN speech. But it is a confusion that only the equally clever can discern in his speech.

The question the President has never answered and will never be able to answer is that aside from emotive considerations, in what ways are Boko Haram’s methods different from the typical terrorist’s?

An appraisal of the President’s address shows only one thing: Jonathan has been unable to make up his mind whether to fight Boko Haram or placate it. Whatever fight he has sanctioned so far is only to the extent that the sect has failed to clearly accept the government’s olive branch.

From all indications, the government has been too desperate to make peace with the sect than to soberly consider the moral dilemma involved in making peace with a violent organisation that levies war against the state and continues to terrorise and murder fellow citizens in cold blood.

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