Author: The Nation

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Tuesday, appealed to the British government for leniency for convicted former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo stated it accepted the pronouncement of the trial court that approved over 10 years jail term for the ex-lawmaker in the matter of organ harvesting against him, his wife and another.

Speaking when the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr Richard Montgomery at the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu, one of the leaders of the group,  Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, said that Ndigbo would be happy should Ekweremadu’s jail term be reduced.

Read Also: Bamidele urges President to assist in Ekweremadu’s release

He said: “There is a very important issue that we have to bring to your attention. You’re aware of the case of Nigeria’s former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who was convicted and is in jail in your country. He’s from this state and we all know the circumstance he got entangled in that unfortunate incident because he wanted to save his daughter.

“He is already serving a jail term. It’s unfortunate but it has happened. I testified for him during the trial and in fact, the judge mentioned my name two times while delivering his judgment.

“But we’re using the opportunity of your visit to ask for leniency for him so that he doesn’t spend the number of years in jail. We have accepted the judgment, but are saying if there’s anything that could be done to reduce the jail term. He’s from this area and if we don’t bring this thing up as Ohanaeze or from us here, concerning this important son of Igboland, it wouldn’t be nice of us. We are quite overwhelmed”.

In his speech, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, appealed for the setting up of a British Visa office in the southeast region.

He stated that the zone accounts for over 60 percent of Nigerians traveling to the United Kingdom, stressing that it was unfair that they were subjected to travelling to Abuja and Lagos to procure their visas.

Sequel to the recent deployment of some senior officers by the Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Maj Gen Taoreed A. Lagbaja. Maj Gen John O Ochai has assumed command as the 32nd Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

He took over from Maj Gen Ibrahim M Yusuf, who proceeds on retirement after 33 years of meritorious service.

In his brief remarks during the handing and taking over ceremony at the NDA Headquarters, the outgone Commandant, Maj Gen Yusuf, thanked God for a successful career and fruitful tenure as Commandant NDA. 

He appreciated the entire NDA community for their various support while he was Commandant and urged them to extend the same cooperation to his successor whom he described as a highly decorated officer and the right man for the job.

Read Also: NDA gets new Commandant

While applauding the appointment of Maj Gen Ochai, the erstwhile Commandant described his relationship with the new Commandant as cordial, having worked together in different capacities, including 7 Division Maiduguri and Department of Operations, Army Headquarters, Abuja.

He congratulated Maj Gen JO Ochai on his appointment, wishing him a successful tenure in office.

Maj Gen JO Ochai, described his appointment as a privilege to serve, noting that his primary responsibility is towards the cadets and staff development.

He appreciated his predecessor, Maj Gen Yusuf, describing him as a great man and successful military officer. 

He further disclosed that it would be difficult to fill the shoes of his predecessor but he has been prepared to handle the responsibility, through the out gone Commandants’ mentorship and training.

The new Commandant expressed his readiness to learn, noting that every appointment is an opportunity for learning and improvement while congratulating General Yusuf for his successful retirement and thanked him for his impressive service to the Nigerian Armed Forces and the nation. He also wished the outgone Commandant the very best in life.

Maj Gen. Ochai is a member of 39 Regular Course and a highly decorated officer of the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps. His previous appointments include Director of Operations, Army Headquarters, and Commandant of the Nigerian Army Armoured School, Bauchi, among other notable appointments. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role as the Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy.

Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State has been ranked the best University in Nigeria and seventh in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

The private university made the showing in the first Times Higher Education 2023 Sub-Saharan Africa rankings. 

Fifty universities from Nigeria made the list of top universities on the African continent. 

Other universities that appeared on the elite list and their ranks are the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (26th); Benson Idahosa University (30th); Nnamdi Azikiwe University (31st ); Redeemer’s University (35); University of Ibadan (36); CRUTECH (37th); OAU, Ife (39th); Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University (43rd ); Adeleke University (45th) and Ahmadu Bello University (46th).

Read Also: Covenant University urges public to disregard admission list on social media

Others are The University of Benin (47th); Landmark University(49th); Babcock University (50th); Ajayi Crowther University (51-60th); Bells University of Technology (51-60th ); Federal University Kashere (51-60th ); Federal University Lokoja (51-60th ); Gombe State University (51-60th ); Lagos State University (51-60th ); the University of Port Harcourt (51-60th ); Baze University (51-60th ); Delta State University (61-70th ); Elizade University (61-70th ); Niger Delta University (61-70th ); Abia State University (71+); Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (71+); Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Ikere (71+); Bauch State University (71+); Bayero University (71+); Edo State University (71+); LAUTECH (71+); Lead City University (71+); NOUN (71+); Glorious Vision University (formerly Samuel Adegboyega University (71+); Veritas University (71+) and Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano (71+).

The Times Higher Education announced the ranking in Accra, Ghana on June 26.

Chairman of the Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee (NURAC), Prof Peter Okebukola led a delegation from Nigeria to attend the event. 

According to Okebukola, who was a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), the methodology of the sub-Saharan African rankings is on “five pillars- resources and finance (20%); access and fairness (20%); teaching skills (20%); student engagement (20%) and Africa impact (20%)”. 

He noted that on all measures, Nigerian universities did impressively well with much room for improvement. 

Okebukola noted that “since this is the first edition of the sub-Saharan university rankings, by the next and subsequent editions, Nigerian universities will leap to the lead. 

He said: “We will continue to improve on the metrics through better quality teaching especially with the incoming Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), research and provision of better services for our students.”

Chief Data Officer of Times Higher Education, Duncan Ross lauded Nigerian universities on progress made in the last two years on global and regional league tables. 

According to Ross, of the 121 universities that contributed data, Nigerian universities make up the “largest proportion (42%) followed by South Africa (12%) and Ghana (7%) Professor Okebukola explained this as the impact of the revolution towards improving quality of delivery of university education in Nigeria, initiated by Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, Executive Secretary NUC and supported by the immediate-past Minister of Education Malam Adamu Adamu.”

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oyo State Command on Tuesday said that excessive speeding and overloading accounted for major road traffic crashes in the state from January till date.

The FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Joshua Adekanye, made this known during a mega rally organised by the FRSC Oluyole Unit Command to sensitise motorists in Ibadan on safe driving.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the rally was, “Only the Living Celebrate: Stay Alive.”

Adekanye said that the FRSC in the state did not want to record any more crashes, and had, therefore, decided to sensitise road users, especially motorists, ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir Festival.

He noted that there was usually increased vehicular movement during the festive season, with drivers being guilty of over-speeding and overloading in their bid to make more money.

“We need to remind you of what is expected of you during this period, you need to shun over-speeding and overloading.

Read Also: Eld-el-Kabir: FRSC cautions motorists against drunk driving

“Excessive speeding and overloading is dangerous, because it frequently results in fatal accidents,” Adekanye said.

He called on motorists to always obey traffic rules and regulations, and to ensure their vehicles are in good condition to arrive at their destination safely.

The sector commander said the corps had put necessary measures in place by deploying adequate personnel to ensure free flow of traffic during the festival and beyond.

Also speaking, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Daud Biu, represented by DCC, Honey Ogundayo, called on motorists to drive safely in order to stay alive to take care of their families and loved ones.

Biu said that most road accidents occurred as a result of recklessness and negligence on the part of drivers.

The corps marshal said the corps would continue to sensitise motorists and other road users to reduce crashes to the barest minimum.

In his remark, the Chairman, Oluyole Local Government Area, Laide Popoola, said that there was more to gain when motorists drove to stay alive.

Popoola commended the FRSC for the sensitisation and pledged the council’s commitment to the corps and other security agencies for the protection of lives and properties.

NAN reports that representatives of the transport unions, personnel of the Nigeria Police, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigeria Customs Service and the Department of State Services, among others, attended the programme.

(NAN) 

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Adamu Lamuwa, says the role of Nigeria as big brother in Africa had helped in addressing security challenges in the continent.

Lawamu, represented by the Director, Policy, Research and Statistics, Amb. Samson Itegboje, said this at the National Defence College security seminar on Tuesday in Abuja.

The theme of the Seminar is “Nigeria’s Foreign Policy and Transnational Security Changes in West Africa”.

He said Nigeria’s foreign policy objective on Africa was premised on the basis of its big brother status in the continent and its contributions to peace in different countries.

He said that the nation had successfully played such key roles during the Liberia and Sierra Leon conflicts in the 1990s through ECOMOG.

The permanent secretary said the seminar was designed to achieve a firm perspective and X-ray Nigeria’s foreign policy in tandem with the transnational security challenges confronting it.

According to him, the sub-Saharan Africa has continued to feel the impact of the Libyan crisis that has led to proliferation of terrorist groups and illicit arms.

“So we are going to x-ray and see what solutions can come out of it for government implementation.

Read Also: Beginning of a cerebral revolution in Nigeria

“Nigeria, for example does not live in isolation within a global village. So whatever happens outside our shores, if we don’t take care of it very quickly, it will affect us.

“Right now, we are still suffering from the situation that led to the removal of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya.

“We are having proliferation of armed groups into our country and creating multifaceted problems of  terrorism, robbery, banditry.

“These are the problems that we have inherited as a result of the issues that are outside the walls of our country,” he said.

The Commandant of the college, Rear Adm. Murtala Bashir, said Nigeria has been the largest contributor of military personnel and technical assistance to African countries affected by crisis.

Bashir, represented by the college secretary, AVM David Solomon, added that Nigeria also provided enormous support for regional security, as demonstrated during the Liberian civil war.

The commandant said transnational security challenges in the sub region, still remains an issue of great concern.

“These security challeneges, ranging from drug trafficking, smuggling, arms proliferation, and trafficking, to piracy and terrorism, have turned West Africa into a sub region conducive for the operations of transnational criminal activities, more recently with Nigeria.

“These developments have raised concerns about Nigeria’s leadership role and authority within her sphere of influence,” he said.

The commandant said the security seminar was to assess the situation and propose solutions to the issues of declining security in West African states.

He added that the forum would provide evidence based solutions to home and foreign policy issues towards combating the security threats.

Bashir said that NDC, as the apex military institution in the country, was not unmindful the challenges hence the effort to provide strategic solutions to address the challenges. (NAN)