The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Intel failure deaths.  Political birthday presents?

    Intel failure deaths.  Political birthday presents?

    We mourn with the estimated over 80 killed in the bombing against ‘terrorists’ which turned out to be a gathering of normal suffering Nigerian citizens celebrating. Later the Nigerian Army successfully got their real terrorists in another attack.  We appreciate the break with deny-deny-deny as the armed forces regretfully immediately claimed responsibility and expressed shock and remorse and is working on funeral costs, funding care of the injured and hopefully the federal government will step in with adequate compensation. We must remember that many injuries require long term medical attention and even restorative operations and prosthetics -artificial limbs. Sadly, Nigeria still lags behind in the provision of modern functional electronic prosthetic limbs and prostheses for other body parts affected by bombs and road crashes, like face and skin areas.

    Nigeria deserves a cutting-edge prosthetic service in a public-private sector to cater for providing the semblance of normal useful life to the millions of victims of road traffic crashes, Okada epidemic attacks, victims of violence in politics and ethnic clashes, Boko Haram and other terrorist actions with the resultant large number of victims.

    Of course, it would have been better for this mistake never to have occurred and every effort must be made to limit the damage by proper long-term care of the victims and adequate moral, monetary, mental support. Beyond that, the question of military intelligence gathering comes up. Obviously, we now know, and the authorities now know, if they did not before, that every gathering in a war ravaged or terrorist invaded area is not automatically hostile. It is the duty of the military to ensure that targets are hostiles or terrorists and not just ‘maybe’. Why was the intel so misleading or was there no intel at all, and just information of a gathering presumed hostile, arrogantly waving a red flag in front of the military.

    Is it possible that Nigeria’s numerous security services, clandestine and visible, had no visible or invisible presence, in this time of terrorism and in a terror attack prone area, and did not have spying eyes, ears and cell phone communication among the teaming crowd? One would have thought that intelligence gathering was a high art form in Nigeria now, especially as hopefully many of the Boko Haram sympathisers in the military have been isolated to prevent counter-spying. A lot must be learnt from this tragedy and the mental, physical and financial stability of the survivors cannot be overemphasised. They require their National Health Insurance Service, NHIS fully paid up by government and loving care if that is possible from a government so used to making ‘Demand’ of its people instead of ‘Requests’.

    The recent bombing ‘demanded’ the lives of over 80 unarmed innocent hopeful Fellow Nigerians. Lives unwillingly given, forced to become instant martyrs for Nigeria and join the sacrifice of thousands of our gallant soldiers who deliberately accept that the offer of their lives daily may be ‘demanded’ or ‘requested’ of them. 

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    Even as we mourn our lost brothers, sisters and children in this huge tragedy, which may have been prevented with a higher ‘demand’ of ‘proof of terrorist presence at the scene’, we are faced with news of the uncomfortable financial revelations surrounding the birthday of the senate president, and not a special birthday as such -just 61years. Perhaps it is his first birthday as senate leader and we are to have four or more such meganormous money guzzling celebrations in a country burdened with a 70% poverty rate? How many Nigerians have ever given a wealthy man N1m as a birthday present, let alone a collective trans-senate and perhaps the entire NASS, LGA and MDAs adding their own ‘ten cents’ of the countries fractionated budget? Is the disgusting list of senate donors true and correct for false? This is undignified, unwarranted, unaffordable, undistinguished and unnecessary, if true. Is it true that MDAs and LGAs etc have been asked to donate? On what account heading do they sign off on such money? Is it imprest, emergency, miscellaneous, entertainment, PR or just NASS strategic extortion strategies?

    Perhaps they had no choice making it a compulsory voluntary donation to stay buoyant and thriving in the juicy senate club in NASS? Please tell me how this differed from outright corruption. It will be difficult to imagine that such huge payments are made out of love or altruism and not for some fringe or central benefits by those in search of ‘juicy oversight appointments’. Of course, that thought could be wrong. Perhaps altruism is not dead after all.

    Maybe the birthday man is secretly seeking to collect this huge amount of money in order to demonstrate uncommon citizens love and magnanimously ‘return money to its source-the people’ by dividing it in amounts of N500k-N1m among the over 100 most needy NGOs, orphanages, handicapped homes and schools, youth centres and youth groups like Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, etc. in his senatorial district and beyond to celebrate his birthday with the people. This would be far more politically correct than flying a plane load of politicians to a party of enormous proportions. Politicians must get the fact that ‘acts of service’ are the overriding primary reason for their selection, election and position. Service is therefore the single most important responsibility of politicians and they must demonstrate that service instead of blatant self-service. After taking N300k for Christmas/New Year, a donation of their December salary towards bombed families is too low, but thanks anyway.

  • Rare, radical battler takes a bow: MC Alli: 1944-2023

    Rare, radical battler takes a bow: MC Alli: 1944-2023

    • By Tunde Olusunle

    The uncanny combination of his names which featured Christian and Muslim epithets was sufficiently intriguing to tickle my curiosity and inquisitiveness. He had become a notable public figure back in 1986 when military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida appointed him military governor of the old Plateau State. Seven years thereafter, he was catapulted to the position of Chief of Army Staff, (COAS) under the regime of Sani Abacha. Abacha had upended the Interim National Government, (ING), hurriedly cobbled together by the departing Babangida in August 1993, as he bowed to popular pressure to disengage. This clamour became more rancorous following Babangida’s mismanagement of the June 12, 1993 election, which was patently won by the charismatic multibillionaire business mogul, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, but summarily annulled by Babangida.

    In a military dispensation, the office of COAS is nominally and politically the Number Four position. Historically, the COAS was always also a member of the nation’s highest policy and decision-making organ in a military government. The body has been variously christened over decades of military rulership. It was at some point the Supreme Military Council, (SMC), and later the Armed Forces Ruling Council, (AFRC). Abacha opted for the designation of the body as Provisional Ruling Council, (PRC). The COAS is a highly regarded and influential office popularised in the past by military greats like Yakubu Jack Gowon, Hassan Usman Katsina, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, Alani Ipoola Akinrinade, Babangida, Abacha himself and Aliyu Mohammed Gusau. 

    Abacha named Mohammed Christopher Alli, then a Brigadier-General his COAS upon his disbandment of the ING in November 1993 and simultaneously elevated him a Major General. Alli was a battle-tested, war-toughened officer who fought in the feisty Nigerian civil war between 1967 and 1970, and commanded a battalion even as a fresh joiner into the military. Alli had also served as Nigeria’s Defence Attaché to Zimbabwe; Director of Military Intelligence, (DMI) and General Officer Commanding, (GOC), One Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, headquartered in Kaduna. Alli was therefore very well groomed for his new job. 

    I was on the Editorial Board of the Daily Times at the time Alli was appointed COAS. I had the added responsibility of maintaining a weekly interview page which I christened Dialogue this Week. I had the latitude to interview reputable Nigerians across the broad spectrum of the society on topical issues. The simple mention of the name of the organisation, opened doors. I therefore wrote an official letter to Alli requesting to meet and interview him. Alli replied my correspondence. It was a surprise somewhat knowing how insular the military could be. His military assistant at the time, I.I. Hassan a Lieutenant Colonel, acknowledged my letter and proposed a date for my visit early in the month of February 1994. 

    MC Alli beamed from the name tag on the breast of his work gear when I came face to face with him. My preliminary impression of him was that he was urbane and personable. His father, he told me in answer to my preliminary banter, was a Muslim, his mother was a Christian. His bouquet of names which are popular with both religions therefore arose from this background, that intriguing mix of Mohammed and Chris (abbreviated from the original version of the name, Christopher). He displayed notable wit and diplomatese for a steely, rugged soldier. I congratulated him once again on his appointment. “You want an interview,” he asked as he proffered his hand for a handshake and waved me to the visitor’s seat. I responded in the affirmative. 

    Arising from that encounter, my article was titled “Mohammed Chris Alli: Portrait of a Soldier-Patriot”, published in the Daily Times of Saturday February 5, 1994. 

    Months after that encounter and barely one year in office, Alli was removed by Abacha and replaced by Alwali Jauji Kazir, another army General in August 1994. He was reported to have regularly nudged Abacha on the imperative for the revalidation of the June 12, 1993 election which was clearly won by MKO Abiola. He was said to have subtly, albeit stridently pushed for the military to return to the barracks to enable democracy thrive. The totalitarian, feared and dreaded Abacha had aided the ascent of some of his military predecessors to political limelight and long coveted the highest office in the land himself. He was indeed nicknamed the Khalifa, (meaning the successor) on the side-lines of the Babangida regime. He wouldn’t brook any suggestion to terminate his rulership under whatever description. Alli was summarily retired on the same day with Allison Amaechina Madueke, a Rear Admiral and Chief of Naval Staff, (CNS), who was also progressively-inclined like MC Alli. 

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    After his compulsory retirement, Alli tried his hands on entrepreneurship. He established a woven sacks factory and a gas-filling plant side-by-side, in Lokoja the capital of his state of origin, Kogi State. I remember he named the latter Mohca Gas Ltd, a play on letters from his names. He was thus a regular caller at the historic confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers, where he had a home.

    President, Olusegun Obasanjo, tapped Alli in 2004 to serve as administrator in the perennially acrimonious Plateau State, where Alli was once military governor. Under the leadership of the democratically elected governor of the state, Joshua Dariye, sectarian violence had reportedly claimed over 50,000 lives. This compelled Obasanjo to declare emergency rule, after suspending the governor and the state House of Assembly. Within Alli’s six month service which ended in November 2004, he developed the “Plateau Peace Programme” in collaboration with religious, ethnic and community leadership. He also offered amnesty and fiscal rewards to holders of weapons who turned them in. Alli’s measures considerably helped in calming down the situation in the state.

    Mohammed Christopher Alli was born on Christmas day in 1944 in Kotonkarfe, headquarters of present day Kotonkarfe Local Government Area in Kogi State to Mallam Alli Adakwo Alaburah and Mama Rebecca Ojumori Nanashe Abayomi. He attended Trinity High School, Oguta, Imo State, and the Metropolitan College, Onitsha, Anambra State. He actually had a tinge of Igbo accent, a language he spoke fluently. He demonstrated early intellectual disposition, posting a well-earned Division One performance in the very competitive West African School Certificate Examination, (WASCE), in 1962. 

    He had his earliest military education at Fhiegehorst Isaufboren, West Germany between 1966 and 1967, and the Nigerian Defence Academy, (NDA) in 1967, where Abdulsalami Abubakar who later became Nigeria’s Head of State was his course mate. Alli attended the Platoon Commander’s course in Westminster in the United Kingdom in 1971, and the Unit Commander’s training in Pakistan in 1975. He was at the Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, a tri-service military training institution, in 1978 and the National Defence College, (NDC), India in 1990. He obtained a Masters from the University of Allahabad, Pakistan, to understanding his deep-seated inclination towards scholarship. 

    Alli began his working career as a laboratory assistant with Kirkpatrick and Partners in Kaduna, after a failed attempt to secure a job at Eastern Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation in Enugu. He also served as archive assistant in the Kaduna-based National Archives. His attempt to enlist in the police was opposed by his father, even as he secured an appointment as a non-commissioned officer in the fledgling Nigerian Airforce. Fortune smiled on Alli in 1967 when the civil war began. He applied for a short service commission in the army and was admitted. Thus began his odyssey in the Nigerian Army. He authored a very courageous and profound book of over 400 pages titled The Federal Republic of Nigerian Army: The Seige of a Nation, published in 2001. He was also member of the Editorial Board of the reputable The Guardian.

    He sadly passed at a military hospital in Lagos in the morning of Sunday November 19, a little over a month to his 79th birthday. Encomiums have continued to pour from across the world. The Nigeria Army declared a three-day mourning period in his honour during which all flags in all Nigerian Army formations flew at half-mast. Alli’s uncommon insights in the military, security, intelligence and administrative sectors, will be sorely missed. So will be his unwavering patriotism, untiring nationalism and undying commitment to the growth and progress of Nigeria, a country he was willing to die for.

    •Olusunle, PhD, poet, journalist, scholar and author is a Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA)*

  • Africa can become the world’s green manufacturing powerhouse

    Africa can become the world’s green manufacturing powerhouse

    • By President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

    As the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I lead a country of more than 200 million people.

    At the same time, in my role as chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), I preside over a region battling with security threats and socioeconomic challenges.

    These pressing issues and their link to climate change were at the forefront of my mind during my participation at the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    COP28 marked a critical milestone with the first Global Stocktake on implementing the Paris Agreements, a comprehensive review and inventory that allows each country to assess its progress in reducing emissions and achieving climate goals.

    Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, has battled back against major obstacles, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, short-term challenges from economic reforms, and the ongoing unification of foreign exchange rates. However, we remain steadfast in our resolve to reconstruct a better, cleaner nation despite these challenges.

    To uphold our legally binding commitment to a cleaner world, Nigeria launched the Nigerian Carbon Market Initiative at COP28 by joining the African Carbon Market Initiative.

    The Intergovernmental Panel’s Sixth Assessment Report released earlier this year underscores the inadequacy and slowness of global efforts against climate change. It remains clear that developing nations, despite contributing minimally to the problem, endure most of its impacts.

    We all want to solve the problem, but too few of us are currently willing to do our fair share.

    The rapid loss of water resources and the escalating rate of desertification are closely tied to the Sahel crisis, which is characterized by the emergence of extremist and authoritarian elements.

    The startling loss of 90% of Lake Chad over the past three decades is a perfect example of this. We seek urgent international collaboration in both financing and technology toward the total recharge and recovery of this critical body of water.

    Together, with one voice and coordinated action, we can stop the desert from consuming Nigeria’s vast arable land, displacing communities, and causing food insecurity and social dislocation that often erupts into violence.

    In southern Nigeria, rising ocean levels threaten coastal areas. Throughout the nation, flooding kills hundreds of innocent civilians and decimates farmlands, towns, and villages, all while rendering tens of thousands of our people homeless.

    Nigeria has taken significant steps and acted decisively in enacting the Climate Change Act and committing to net-zero emissions between 2050 and 2070.

    However, challenges persist as energy and food crises caused by conflicts in Europe and the Middle East have weakened the willingness of wealthy nations to fully cooperate with less developed economies. This affects the ability of less developed countries to pursue national plans for achieving net zero emissions, even when those plans are detailed and achievable.

    Africa’s most populous nation has successfully mobilized tens of thousands of youths nationwide to plant 250,000 trees annually to honour a pledge to plant 25 million trees by 2030 as we build our great green wall to fight back against encroaching desert across the northern region of our nation.

    In recent weeks, we/ signed an agreement with a German energy firm to massively convert flared gas into high-grade natural gas exports to Europe. This is critical to reducing one of the major ways the country contributes to global greenhouse gases.

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    At COP28, I joined COP28 President Sultan Al-Jaber, US Special Presidential Climate Envoy John Kerry, and Chinese Climate Envoy Xie Zhenhu on a panel where I committed Nigeria to eliminate methane and other non-CO2 greenhouse gases, highlighting our readiness to take the lead in Africa’s efforts to decarbonize the world economy.

    While in Berlin last month at the G20 Summit, I announced Nigeria’s commitment to develop blue and green hydrogen capacity for international export. In conversations with Middle Eastern oil producers, I also solidified this commitment. We now seek to mobilize private capital with support from initiatives like the Climate Finance Leadership Initiative and the new US and EU global infrastructure programs.

    Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil producer, but we are aggressively pursuing the exploitation of our abundant wind and solar resources. Transitioning from fossil fuels, our economic main-stay, will not be easy.

    However, we have implemented the Nigerian Energy Transition Plan (NETP) to make this shift. This data-driven strategy targets net-zero emissions in key sectors— power, cooking, oil & gas, transport, and industry. The NETP demands a $10 billion annual investment until 2060.

    The truth is that we need partnerships for a new green economy in Africa. The European Union’s Global Gateway program and the US Build Back Better World initiative are potential resources we are keen to explore.

    We are also looking to diversify our economy by engaging in friendly competition with Russia in the supply of energy to European markets. We can do it with natural gas and through green energy. This is why we are investing massively in both.

    African countries simply cannot travel on this road alone. There must be a fair and cooperative approach. For too long, too many developed nations have hesitated to do what they should.

    But the time for watching and waiting is over. Developed nations must honour commitments in the form of significant contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund and the $100 billion annual climate financing pledge.

    In September, African countries embraced the Climate Positive Growth paradigm at the Africa Climate Summit in Kenya. We envision Africa becoming the leading green manufacturing hub globally, with targeted financial support and access to global markets.

    Nigeria and much of Africa possess a unique advantage — we do not need to decommission coal-fired power plants. We have an unparalleled opportunity to leapfrog decades of conventional, high-emission industry by building our industrial future on a new green foundation.

    The world faces a stark choice: prioritize the economic status quo or genuinely reduce dangerous emissions. This is a crucial moment.

    Choosing equity and justice in the global economy offers a chance to right past wrongs, save the planet, and create a better future for all.

    It is time to seize the moment.

  • Revitalising the research and education sector

    Revitalising the research and education sector

    • By Tosin Samuel Afeniforo

    A nation’s strength in the global pursuit of growth and development lies not only in its natural resources or economic prowess but, primarily, in the depth of its research endeavours and the quality of its education. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s education and research sector have experienced a significant deterioration in recent years, which poses a serious threat to the country’s development. For Nigeria to effectively utilize its human potential and remain competitive in the global arena, it is important to embark on a comprehensive and well-planned revitalization effort.

    Our nation’s research and education sector faces a significant challenge due to inadequate financing. UNESCO recommended that member states allocate 4 to 6% of GDP or 15 to 20% of public expenditure (annual budget) to fund education. However, in Nigeria, the allocation to this sector in the annual budget has been woefully insufficient (5.4% in 2022, 8.2% in 2023), leading to little or zero funds available for genuine research, dilapidated infrastructure, outdated equipment, and a general decline in the quality of education. To overcome these challenges, we must take a constructive approach by increasing the budget allocation for research institutions, as well as basic and higher education. This will help attract top-tier researchers and educators and provide students with the necessary resources and facilities to excel academically.

    Encouraging research culture is a critical driver of progress and development. The long-term failure to invest in the research and education sector has led to much brain drain (recent exodus of young researchers) in various research institutions, hampering the nation’s development. It was reported recently that over 5,000 exceptional scholars and competent lecturers leave Nigeria each year for other countries. By investing in research, we can stop the massive brain drain, and unlock new opportunities for innovation, technological advancements, and economic growth.

    Likewise, it is essential to establish an environment that supports research and development, including creating more research centres of excellence, fostering collaborations between academia and industry, and incentivizing researchers through grants and recognition. By doing so, we can promote our research culture and improve our society through various innovations.

    Reinvigorating education requires revising and modernizing the curriculum to keep pace with the ever-evolving world. To equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to tackle the complex challenges of modern society, curricula must integrate problem-solving, critical thinking, and practical skills. Additionally, it is essential to encourage vocational and technical education to ensure that graduates are well-rounded and possess the practical skills necessary to succeed in the job market. We call on the Bola Tinubu administration to motivate the relevant stakeholders to review our curriculum and modernize it to meet global standards.

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    To achieve a successful resurgence of research and development, it is important to have a constructive partnership between the public and private sectors. It is essential to acknowledge that the government cannot address all the challenges alone. Therefore, the private sector’s support is crucial in bridging the gaps in infrastructure, financing, and expertise. The constructive partnership between the two sectors can take several forms, such as funding research projects, offering internship programs, and setting up scholarship funds. However, the government must create an enabling platform that can encourage the private sector to invest in research and development. By working together, both sectors can leverage their strengths and create a more robust and sustainable environment for research and education.

    Nigeria’s research and education sectors need revitalization, but with a collaborative and comprehensive strategy, we can achieve this goal. The government, academia, industry, and society have a vital role to play in demonstrating their commitment to this cause. The advantages of investing in a well-funded and research-focused educational system are huge; this will not only position Nigeria as a hub for innovation and creativity, but it will also produce a skilled and competitive workforce.

    It is high time Nigeria redeemed itself in today’s world. The country cannot afford to fall behind in the drive for development and prosperity on a global scale. To create a strong foundation for a better and more successful future, Nigeria must embrace public-private partnerships, update the learning curriculum, invest in education, and promote a culture of research. Nigeria has the potential to achieve significant rewards by taking action. It is a call to action that Nigeria cannot afford to ignore. I implore the current administration to consider these recommendations seriously and take bold steps toward transforming our research and education system. Visionary leadership has the potential to leave an indelible mark on the history of our great nation.

    I remain hopeful for a brighter and more prosperous future for Nigeria.

    •Afeniforo is a sustainable development practitioner and Ph.D. scholar at the IUSS Pavia, Italy.

  • Tapping coconut’s economic potential

    Tapping coconut’s economic potential

    The recent observance of the World Coconut Day brought to light the profound significance of coconuts to Nigeria’s economy and the enhancement of human well-being. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Alhaji Abubakar Kyari, underscored the pivotal role of the coconut industry in the global economy, emphasising its cultural importance and its potential to address pressing concerns. He also announced the Federal Government’s ambitious plan to boost coconut production to 500,000 metric tons by 2025. CHINAKA OKORO reports

    The coconut (Cocos nucifera) has played a pivotal role in human civilisation for countless years, serving as a versa tile resource that meets various essential needs. From providing sustenance in the form of food and drink to contributing materials for clothing, shelter, and various industries, coconuts have been an indispensable part of human life. Not only do they fulfil practical needs, but they also generate income through the sale of their diverse products.

    Experts highlight the crucial role of coconuts and their value chain in addressing global challenges stemming from environmental changes. This natural resource has significantly assisted humanity in both work and day-to-day living, earning recognition as a symbol of health according to health professionals. The global acknowledgement of the coconut’s importance is evident in the establishment of World Coconut Day, a celebration initiated by the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC). This intergovernmental organization, established in 1969 with headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, aims to support the growth, production, sale, and export of coconuts in Asian countries.

    World Coconut Day, observed annually in September, reflects the international recognition of the coconut’s significance. The initiative, launched by the APCC in 2009, underscores the global impact of this remarkable fruit and its contributions to sustainable living and economic prosperity. The World Coconut Day is significant because it plays a vital role in enhancing socio-economic security, health and ecological balance in global communities. The coconut tree is revered as the “tree of life,” offering sustenance, livelihoods and cultural identity to millions of people worldwide. Medical experts hold the view that “every part of the coconut tree is useful. Its fruit is well-known for being highly nutritious and beneficial to all human forms. The fruit is proven to be rich in fibre and packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Moreover, it has also been claimed as a potent cure for nausea, rash, fever, earache, sore throat, bronchitis, kidney stones, ulcers, asthma, syphilis, dropsy, toothache, bruises, and lice.”

    The day aims at “highlighting the importance of the coconut industry to the global economy, its cultural significance, and its potential in alleviating some pressing concerns of the times.” The term “coconut” can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed or the fruit. This year’s theme for World Coconut Day is “Sustaining Coconut Sector for the Present and Future Generation,” and it creates awareness among people about the countless benefits of coconuts across the globe. The day is dedicated to promoting sustainable coconut farming and its significant benefits. Coconut is the mainstay of Indonesia’s economy as it is the world’s leading coconut producer, followed by the Philippines and India respectively.

    Nigeria produces coconut but not on a very large scale. It is on the 18th position on the world coconut production country index currently, and can only boast of 265,000 metric tons of coconut production. This is a very far cry from such a country that seats a total area of 923,768 km land mass, making it the world’s 32nd-largest country. To this end, the Federal Government has vowed to change the situation. In the circumstances, therefore, during this year’s celebration, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Alhaji Abubakar Kyari said the Federal Government is working towards increasing Nigeria’s current production level to about 500,000mt by 2025.

    The minister stated this during the 2023 10th International Coconut Festival AGUNFEST in Badagry, Lagos. The theme of the festival was “A Decade of Coconut Culture to Ignite Century Action Plan for Coconut Prosperity in Nigeria.” According to Kyari, currently, Nigeria is ranked 19th in the world among coconut-producing countries, and there is a need to increase Nigeria’s current production level from 265mt to about 500,000mt by 2025. “1,000 Coconut seedlings have been approved for the festival. AGUNFEST 2023 is not just a celebration of coconut, but a call to action. It is a call to farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs and policymakers to come together and work towards developing the coconut sub-sector.

    It is a call to create wealth, not just for ourselves, but also for our communities and our country. I urge you to work together in promoting the growth and sustainability of the coconut industry in Nigeria. If the full potential of the sector is properly harnessed, it is capable of making a great economic impact on the country,” he said. The Minister, who was represented by the Lagos State Coordinator of the ministry, Mrs Abimbola Oguntuyi said agriculture should be treated with all seriousness it deserves as a business with enormous potential. Kyari said such potential includes jobs for our teeming youths, revenue generation, diversification of our economy, reducing over-dependence on oil, earning and conserving foreign exchange and expanding revenue sources.

    Also, the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Lola Ade-John said the festival would not only promote tourism but also celebrate our culture and traditions besides boosting the national economy. According to the minister, the country will be able to generate more than N20 billion in foreign exchange equivalent through coconut and its derivatives export. Ade-John, who was represented at the festival by the Chief Tourism Officer, Mr Tony Okonju said the coconut industry had the potential to provide food, raw materials, income and employment for Nigerians if it is properly harnessed. She said the festival is designed to create awareness about the economic, environmental and nutritional value of coconuts as well as encourage sustainable practices within the coconut industry.

    The President of the International Coconut Festival of Canada, Mr Julian Baricuatro urged the government to encourage more people to plant coconut. Baricuatro said coconut farming could employ more youths, even as he urged the government to work on the value chain of coconut, adding that it has nutrition and health values. Also, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisoye Olusanya said the ministry will rehabilitate Topo Island in Badagry which is the first coconut plantation in West Africa. Olusanya, who was represented by the General Manager of Lagos State Coconut Development Authority (LASCODA), Mr Oladapo Olakulehin said the ministry would collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to create more tourist attractions in Badagry.

     She said through LASCODA, the ministry would establish a coconut factory in the town. The President of the African Coconut Heritage Initiative (AFRICOCO) Prince Mesi Doheto said the festival stands as an intersection of culture and innovation. “This is exhibiting the rich cultural heritage of different coconut-producing communities and the economic significance of this wonder crop globally. It is a testament to our collective commitment to fostering unity through cultural tourism and harnessing the potential of coconut for a more sustainable and prosperous future,” he said.

     Mesi thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Ministry of Agriculture, LASCODA, Federal Ministries of Tourism and Agriculture, Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research and the three councils in Badagry for their support. The 2023 edition of the festival began with coconut planting across different locations and distribution of the seedlings to schools, and public places with donations to coconut growers and marketing associations. Some of the features of the festival were diverse activities such as school arts and crafts, painting, poetry competitions, national coconut awards, fashion show and Miss AGUNFEST competitions.

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    The festival also featured a symposium and business forum, community float parade, cooking demonstration, exhibition, musical entertainment and cultural performance. Also, the President of the National Coconut Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NACOPPMAN), Mrs. Nma Okechukwu-Okoroji, has said the coconut sub-sector could contribute over $400 billion annually to the economy. She stated this ahead of the 2023 World Coconut Day celebration.

    “Coconut, according to her, is a very important cash crop that can make Nigeria generate 400 billion USD annually. How much is the cost of crude oil as compared to that of coconut? It is times three higher and the demand for coconut products is increasing every day. About 265 tons of coconut is produced in Nigeria currently and 70 per cent of it is produced by Lagos State and 30 per cent is produced by the other states. We don’t have enough coconuts in Nigeria as 80 per cent of the coconuts that are used in this country are imported and the cost of importation is getting higher every day,” she said. She urged Nigerians to invest in coconut production. “Investing in coconut production will help the country’s economy,” she said.

    According to the lecturer in the Department of Cooperative Economics and Management of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Anambra State, despite the enormous economic potential of coconuts, it had been difficult for successive governments in the country to explore their far-reaching economic importance, even as she stressed that this has hindered the possibility of ensuring that the coconut sub-sector makes a massive contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). She harped on the economic potential of coconut production in Nigeria, insisting that it is another fast way to create jobs and boost the economy. She noted that coconut is a cash crop that grows in over 30 of Nigeria’s 36 states; with Lagos State having the largest production area. She emphasised that an estimated 36,000 hectares are currently under cultivation mostly in Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, adding that an estimated 1.2 million hectares of land are suitable for coconut cultivation, according to the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) 2008 reports.

    Okechukwu-Okoroji added that the 2023 coconut planting season flag-off was aimed at achieving coconut sufficiency in Nigeria by 2027 through the establishment of coconut tree planting, the establishment of 10,000 square meters of coconut farms in all coconut viable states and one family of three coconut trees and one organisation 10 coconut trees initiative.

  • ‘Why culture, tourism are inseparable’

    ‘Why culture, tourism are inseparable’

    After 35 years of organising the annual National Festival of Arts and Culture, (NAFEST) the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) held a four-day national stakeholders review conference in Abuja last week. It was held to among others assess the strength and weakness of the festival, examine how it has fulfilled its goals of uniting the nation as well as re-engineer it for improved content and form, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME, reports.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration has embarked on far-reaching policy reforms aimed at revamping the economy and repositioning the nation on the path of sustainable growth and development. Radical, but positive decisions are being taken, which may impose severe temporary pains on the people but will ultimately translate to greater gains and prosperity for our people and the nation.”

    The above statements by the Director General National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe set the tone for the conference that attracted culture and tourism commissioners, their permanent secretaries and directors from the 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory.

    Runsewe, who was keynote speaker at the event, said the circumstances of the moment call for patience, perseverance, commitment and teamwork. He stated that Nigerians should be committed to working together in the task of rebuilding our nation and harnessing our vast human and material resources to galvanise the process of national development and restoring Nigeria to a pride of place in global affairs. 

    “God will not send his angels from heaven to help us develop our nation. I am in total agreement with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that ‘we have to appeal to the sense of patriotism of Nigerians to have a patriotic mindset’ in our collective effort to rebuild our nation. 

    “It took men and women of vision, courage and commitment to conceive, pursue and realize the American vision rooted in the firm belief in America as a virgin continent magnificently endowed by nature, destined as a global leader in socioeconomic and political affairs. With a strong culture of patriotism and commitment to the growth of America, the USA rose from the ashes of a people with diverse ethnic nationalities, ravaged by a civil war and racial segregation, to become the world’s foremost super power. 

    “Those who crafted the American dream upon which the American continent was born were not angels from above. They were Americans who believed in the vision of a great continent and patriotically committed themselves to ensuring that the vision became a workable reality. Today, when America sneezes, the rest of the word catches cold,” he said. 

    He described the stakeholders’ review conference on the 35 years of NAFEST as an opportunity to share views with stakeholders on how to collectively chart a new course for the sector and strengthen it as an economic path to drive the process of diversification and sustainable economic growth and development. 

    According to him: “We must re-assess ourselves, re-strategise so as to align the sector with the Renewed Hope agenda of the current administration.”

    Runsewe reminded players in the creative industry that in an effort to expand the frontiers of cultural industry they cannot afford to be in competition but in active collaboration and mutual support.’ He advised that they embrace the one stare, one unique product approach, which he said, enables all states to maximise the cultural uniqueness of their respective state to develop such product. 

    “I therefore wish to call on all stakeholder and key players in the arts and culture sector to begin to apply their creative energies towards optimizing the huge potentials in our vast arts and culture sector. It is my hope that if our cutural resources are carefully harnessed and productively channeled, it will open up our cultural economy, engender rapid socioeconomic growth and lead to the emergence of a strong and stable currency that will command the required purchasing power at the international market,” he added. 

    In her presentation, entitled E-Marketing of Nigerian cultural content, Franca Idemudia of Clevenard International Media Limited said to sell Nigerian culture and tourism resources, ‘we need to leverage the opportunities offered by the internet platforms adding that Gelenenard.com could be deployed to promote Nigerian culture and tourism sector globally. 

    “Culture and tourism sector can contribute to the growth of the Nigerian economy more than oil sector. Stakeholders must explore the platforms of clevenard.com to market and promote Nigeria’s rich and diverse cultural resources,” she said. 

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    For Ade Dayo, a photographer, Nigeria stands to gain more from the arts and culture sector than the oil and gas sector, citing destination like Fair Ruwa, Olumo Rock, Mambila Plateau, Ogbunike Cave, as money spinning sites.

    He noted that all these monuments could be documented and showcased to the world through careful packaging, using photography and other audio visual technology. Dayo added that Nigeria can tell it’s cultural story while promoting it’s cultural products through the platform of photography and foster intercultural understanding and exchanges..

    He, however, decried the use of foreign cultures like the Scottish Pipers in welcoming our president or visiting Heads of State to Nigeria. Rather, he said, Nigerian cultural products like Ijele Masqueraders, Durbar and Talking Drum drummers should be deployed as alternative.

    At the close of the conference held at Chida International Hotel, Utako, Abuja, stakeholders resolved in an 11-point communique that since culture provided the content for the development of tourism, culture and tourism are intricately interwoven and therefore inseparable. It recommended that culture and tourism should remain as one Ministry both at the Federal and State levels to complement each other and contribute meaningfully to the diversification efforts of government and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation.

    The stakeholders also resolved that:

    • Skill Acquisition is critical and strategic to the empowerment of stakeholders in the sector and the development of arts and culture industry. The skills acquisition training programme should be for women, youths and physically challenged through structured processes of formal education, informal and traditional skill transfer, apprenticeship, etc. Nigerian cultural products should be carefully packaged and aggressively promoted through platforms such as digital marketing, creation of galleries and the participation in travel markets.

    • That the concentration of states in development of one unique product in which they have comparative advantage will enable the states package and market the iconic product, attract investors, increase internally generated revenue, enhance Public – Private – Partnership and reduce unemployment. This strategic approach should be vigorously pursued by the states.

    • That cultural exchange programmes can engender unity in diversity, promote international diplomacy for peace, enhance the cross-fertilisation of ideas and promote international trade. That there should be structured international exchange programmes and synergy between local and international NGOs to facilitate this process. Funding for this could be sourced from government subventions, self-sponsorship, local and international donor agencies among others.

    • The conference underscored the importance of cultural markets in the states as a means of employment and wealth creation, preservation of the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria and the establishment of one-stop-shop for cultural products. Therefore, the establishment of cultural markets in the states to be domiciled in Ministry of Culture and Tourism was highly recommended.

    • The conference identified sources of funding of the culture sector to include government, the private sector, multinational organizations, development partners, donor agencies, charity organizations and lamented that government has never taken a deliberate step to fund the culture sector. It was, therefore, recommended that these sources of funding should be explored by the states while stakeholders like NANTAP, NATOP, NANTA, RATTAWU, etc. should work with relevant cultural agencies of government to mount sustained advocacy in order to push for the implementation of the National Endowment Fund for Arts. To achieve this, industry players must work together, and embark on programmes that will not only make them relevant, but indispensable stakeholders in the task of nation building.

    • That the sector should develop marketing mindset, ensure adequate marketing of identified cultural products to attract relevant funding. Identified products should be properly packaged for presentation and sellability at the local and international market place. Accordingly, states are encouraged to take advantage of e-marketing opportunities offered by ALEPH and CLEVENARD and other relevant social media platforms.

    • The National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), a flagship programme of the National Council for Arts and Culture remains a veritable platform for fostering national unity, peace, mutual understanding and cooperation among Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic group, culture, creed, tribe or tongue. It should, therefore, be sustained and strengthened.

    • NAFEST should be developed to the status of a festival that needs no introduction and which encompasses all-year-round activities.

    • The festival should target different relevant audience such as Diaspora Community, members of the academic community and the tourism sector, etc.

    • Programmes which can boost economic activities in the states should be introduced into the festival in a way that missing the hosting of the festival by a state would amount to missing a life-time economic opportunity. 

  • Oshinowo’s Visual Arts Trajectories for launch today

    Oshinowo’s Visual Arts Trajectories for launch today

    Visual Arts Trajectories: Kolade Oshinowo At 70, a book by no fewer than 30 scholars, academics, critics, proteges and artists in honour of renowned artist, Kolade Oshinowo will be unveiled today at the Yusuf Grillo Auditorium of the School of Art, Design and Printing of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos alongside an exhibition of portraits of the icon.

    It is an academic product of resource persons from different institutions of higher learning from around the world, encapsulating various writings and images of Oshinowo’s art trajectories spanning over 50 years.

    The book although has many authors, it was edited by Dr. Kunle Adeyemi of Yabatech and Olusola Ogunfuwa of the University of Lagos. Project Coordinator of the Kolade Oshinowo @70 Planning Committee  Adeyemi said: “It is worthy of mention that this is the first time an academic book of this magnitude is coming from the School of Art, Design and Printing of Yabatech, as well as the Nigerian arts landscape”.

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    The publication is the product of a well subscribed and publicised conference in honour of Dr. Oshinowo at 70 years. This was during Dr. Adeyemi’s tenure as Dean of School of Design and Printing Technology in 2018.

    The conference attracted scholars from the university and polytechnic systems, Colleges of Education, and other stakeholders, including Galleries, Art Enthusiasts and Patrons of Art from different parts of the country including Zaria, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Ibadan, Lagos and the Diaspora.

    The two-week long 2018 event also featured the Committee For Relevant Art (CORA) Stampede and a portrait show of Kolade Oshinowo featuring emerging and made artists. These portraits will be exhibited today. After a five-year production effort and processes including reviews by assessors, editors, and scholars, the publication, far from being just another coffee table book, is a memorabilia, a scholarly collective and a potential curriculum of art in higher education.

    According to the project lead, Dr. Adeyemi, the morphological determinants of the works

  • Oba Elegushi gets lion sculpture

    Oba Elegushi gets lion sculpture

    About two years after Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla 111 of Ikate Kingdom, Lekki, Lagos, commissioned an artist to produce the sculpture of a lion for his palace, the magnificent sculptural piece has been delivered.

    The 14-ft long, 8.5-ft high, and 4-ft broad and weighing 300kg lion sculpture that encapsulates history, culture, royalty and splendor of the kingdom, was sculpted by artist, Dotun Popoola. The piece was formally presented to Oba Saheed Elegushi last week.

    While receiving the art piece, Oba Saheed Elegushi, 47, said: “I commissioned Dotun to produce a sculptural piece of a lion and you brought a monumental sculpture of a lion with history. I am optimistic that this timeless masterpiece will not only bring fortune to Dotun but will also carry him to heights unforeseen. While recognising his international acclaim and extraordinary contribution to the world of art, I extend to him the well-deserved royal blessings and good wishes bestowed upon him by my ancestors.”

    The monarch announced that the sculpture would be transformed into a luxury coffee table book, which would reflect the analysis of forms and content in the sculpture and also give a creative visual insight into history of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom.

    He added that the book would be placed in palaces and luxury places in parts of the world.

    Beyond the splendor of the piece, the artist said while creating the work, which took him more than two years to finish, he drew inspiration from environmental/ sustainable art as it was made with scrap metals, mild steel, aluminum, bronze, automobile parts, and auto-based pigment. “Some of the materials used to complete the process were repurposed; selected from yellow parts of the scrap yard, bring out the yellow hue seen in the work. Some of the metal pieces were concealed with golden yellow to give it a natural feel of a lion. Hence, the sculpture epitomises scrap with a luxury and this is the impression that I’m creating in the minds of the people about my work. The piece was finished with anti-rust, coats and garnished with Ultraviolet (UV) protection. These precautions were taken because I am aware that the area is a proximity to the sea and we have acid rain and salt water. So, the work is preserved against the vagaries of the climate associated with the ecosystems to avoid yearly maintenance and it can remain like that for the next two to three years.” 

    Taking art journalists through the piece, the artist explained: “On the right hand side of the piece is the 21 white cap chiefs and his father while on the left is his sculpted portrait of 100 kg bronze and some of his ancestors hidden inside the lion. We also have sculpted image of Eyo Adimu inside the piece. This needs a closer look to see the Eyo performing for him and appealing to the gods to guide him through his reign.” 

    To Popoola, the work is not only shrouded in history but is also symbolic. In his view, if there’s going to be any ornamentation to the throne of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, it wouldn’t be an insignia of leopard, tiger or cheetah but that of a lion. According to him, “If the strength of the current king is to be historically documented, it must be related to a story of a lion. His fierce and decisive personality and temperament must form nucleus of the story. In African mythology, lion to African thrones symbolises strength, bravery, good communication skills, and willingness to fight in the bigger schemes of things.”

    These symbolisms spurred him into carrying out more research on Ikate history by reading some books. “In the sculptural piece are the stories from the first Kusenla ruled in 1632  to Oba Yekini Elegushi’ who died in 2010  to his son who became the 21st Oba of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom,” he said.

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    Going memory lane, the artist recalled: “It all began when I delivered a sculpture to a client in the presence of 10 friends in August 14 of 2021. Unknown to me, Mr. Aluko had planned a mini-exhibition. During the event, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom arrived, expressing interest in my work. I was astonished by the distinguished guests. The king admired the sculpture I crafted for his friend and commissioned me to craft two larger lions for his palace”

    Upon returning to his studio, the artist delved into sculpting the lions after researching Ikate Kingdom’s history from the compendium the king provided, and interpreted the kingdom’s story through the canvas of a lion. To further ensure historical accuracy, Popoola said he consulted The Evolution of Ikate Kingdom, authored by Prof. Habeeb Sanni, Dr. Bashir Animashaun, and Dr. Olawale Lawal, which establishes the royal lineage dating back to 1632. I deducted from the book that Ikate Kingdom’s strength and courage are symbolised by the lion despite various mythological interpretations and descriptions. The kingdom declares “A ti de ade kinihun” (We have been enthroned with the crown of the lion). And the kingdom has contributed significantly to the vast Lagos’ industrial, social and economic progress. The spate of urbanisation in the Lagos State is reflected in the emergence of several flourishing towns in Ikate Kingdom and the Elegushi lays firm royal and ruling claim to Ikate-Elegushi economic development. I drew from that historic background,” he said.

  • Mother, baby care in Igboland

    Mother, baby care in Igboland

    • From Onyike Patience Kelechi

    In Africa generally, and in Igbo land in particular, the major reason for marriage is procreation. For this reason, as soon as marriage is consummated, the next item on the agenda is pregnancy. Pregnancy period is one when woman receive the greatest care both medically and otherwise. The care during pregnancy is to ensure the good health of both the mother and her baby.

    In rural traditional Igbo society, pregnancy is not announced until after (12) weeks of gestation period. After delivery, the baby has to be cared for which can be challenging for the first time period.

    In Nigeria, various tribes have practices on how to care for and accommodate a new baby into the family, like Omugwo for Igbo, Ojojo Omo for Yoruba and Wankan jego for Hausa”.  

    Omugwo (traditional post-partum) is an age- long and widely practiced custom in Igboland that describes the practice of administering care to a nursing mother and her baby by a close relatives who most times happens to be the mother or mother-in law. 

    Omugwo is the practice in which a nursing mother and her baby are taken care of by her mother or a close family member. In most cases, it’s the mother of the woman except where she is not available, then another close female relation can step in. Usually, Omugwo is for a period of three months or more, depending on the situation. Omugwo begins after the woman is delivered of her baby.

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    The woman who goes for Omugwo does the cooking, washing and taking care of the new born and her daughter, teaching her daughter how to take care of the baby.

    Special and strict kind of diet is prepared for the nursing mother during this period. Food like Ji mmiri oku (yam peppersoup) garnished with assorted fish, dry meat and stock fish, ofe nsala (white soup) with pounded yam/dudu and akamu (pap). The soups are cooked with a blend of spices that are good for nursing mothers, such as Uziza, Ehuru, Utazi, Uda, Nchanwu and Usakirisha. Feeding a nursing mother with lots of sizzling spicy soup is to enhance breast milk production and also expel/ menstruate lochia or blood clots from the nursing mother’s body. 

    This is final ceremony for the woman in intensive care before she now resumes all that her fellow women engaged in. The ceremony comes up at the tail end of the Omugwo period.

    The nursing mother makes a special appearance at the local market square, this is her first time in the public. This is called Izu ahia nwa (market outing for the baby), she is gorgeously dressed and decorated with Uli. She takes with her small lines of kolanut or Nzu (for women who desire pregnancy to rub on their neck and abdomen to attract fertility). She is showered with many gifts, and other women assess her to judge how well she was taken care of during Omugwo.

    Traditionally, at the end of the Omugwo, it’s presumed the woman is strong enough to care for herself and the baby. The mother or anyone who conducted the Omugwo will go home with gifts of different kind of things as expression of gratitude.

  • Rexxie: Passion fuels success

    Rexxie: Passion fuels success

    The name Ezeh Chisom Faith, might not resonate when mentioned or called but at the call of Rexxie, fans of Nigerian music and Afrobeats are quick to tell it all about the music hits the 29-year-old music producer has done.

    Rexxie, a Nigerian record producer, DJ, and songwriter became famous for creating the Zanku sound and producing several hits for music acts that include naira Marley, MohBad, Zinoleesky, Wizkid, Zlatan, Skiibi and several others.

    His infectious production abilities birthed Naira Marley’s ‘Soapy,’ ‘Tesumole’ and ‘KPK’ which featured the late MobBad.

    Rexxie, one of the three spotlights in the MTV Base Inside Life: New Wave, opened up on his personal and professional life as well as his process of making music.

    The music producer gave tips on how to become a successful music producer saying, “It’s passion, you need to have passion because passion keeps you going even when things are not going right. It is hard work, creativity and generally, just loving what you do. When you love what you do, you value every step you make. When you make 100 streams, you are happy about it. When you make five million streams, you are also happy about it. Passion generally.”

    On how he feels opening up himself to fans and the world, he said, “Everything is real. It is a reality show, unless I am uncomfortable with my life, I will be bothered about people watching me. So, it is just ministering my life. I love my life and I am happy about my life.”

    Rexxie also said he has always wanted to showcase the other side of him without doing it on social media.

    “It is a dream come through. For me as a producer, I have always wanted to find a medium to showcase this side of me. I give thanks to MTV Base Inside Life for creating that platform where we can show and express ourselves.

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    “The fact that everyone is going to go home, and watch my life is a good thing because generally, I do not know how to just show myself on social media. MTV Base Inside Life has given me the opportunity and I am happy about it.

    The singer cum music producer also said he loves his life and he’s about showcasing it to the world. “I love my life and I am happy about my life. The fact that I am really a calm guy, but still knows how to get things done. It is also about how I make my music, the process- from the studio, to planning, to releasing, to making content, to marketing. I am an inspiration for everybody to watch and see how I do these things.

    He also advised upcoming music producers to collaborate more while remaining consistent.

    “For the upcoming producers, keep working, believe in yourselves, connect, network and trust God. Keep praying. For the producers out there, I want us to be more consistent, embrace collaboration. There is love in collaboration, there is greatness in collaboration. I am looking forward to that with my fellow producers.”