The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Reviving Awolowo’s legacy

    Reviving Awolowo’s legacy

    By Opeyemi Samuel

    The leadership of Yoruba Professionals Foundation (YPF) and Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO) recently organised a programme aimed at waging war against poverty, youth unemployment and crimes through industrialisation and agriculture.

    The programme, with the theme: Promoting Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship in Yoruba Land, was geared towards reviving the industrialisation policy of the late Obafemi Awolowo in Western Nigeria.

    It was envisioned by a pan-Yoruba professional body Yoruba Professionals Foundation (YPF), with Prof Banji Akintoye- led IOO as a major partner.

    Last December, YPF and IOO trained 50 youths of Yoruba descent on Smart Homes Automation and Solar Technology with capacity to compete anywhere in the world. In January, the groups also trained 40 youths of Yoruba descent, including Kwara and Kogi states on Accounting Technologies and Digital Marketing.

    And in continuation of their drives against unemployment and the advancement of knowledge-based entrepreneurship in  Western Nigeria, the Pan-Yoruba groups have completed the training of 45 youths of Yoruba descent on Advanced Paint Production and Application with the trainees exposed to how to produce commercially over  20 types of paints.

    The training, done in partnership with an indigenous paint company, Comfort Paints Propman Ltd, was on the production and application of emulsion paint, satin or nylon paint, texcoat paint, matt paint, gloss or oil paint, flexcoat paint, matte eggshells, sheen, mamo satin and silk paint.

    Other paints the trainees were made to produce included textured paint, pop emulsion paint, marble effect paint, marble trowel paint, base coat paint, graffitex paint, anti-rust paint, varnish paint and undercoat paint.

    Aside from being trained on paint production, the trainees were also introduced to a three-hour session on Customer Relations and Management so as to aid their drive for business expansion and profit maximisation.

    Speaking during the grand finale of the training and products exhibition session, a retired Professor of Romantics and Comparative Literature, Ade Kukoyi, who represented the leader of IOO, Prof (Senator) Banji Akintoye at the event, said the programme, as designed by the YPF, is geared towards reviving the industrialisation policy of late Obafemi Awolowo in Western Nigeria.

    Kukoyi said: “My generation is tired already, so we are encouraging the younger generation to keep on with the battle. As you can see, the industrialisation plans of YPF are about sciences, technology and innovations.

    “That was what Awolowo envisioned for the Yoruba Nation and started for the Yoruba people before our “enemies” subjugated his vision but by the grace of God, we are reviving everything and the journey to this redemption has started”.

    General Secretary of IOO, Opeyemi Akinola said the organisation chose to partner YPF in order to ensure that Yoruba Land does not become another “South Sudan” after actualising its demand for self-determination within the Nigerian federation.

    He called on the trainees to ensure they join in the crusade for self-determination for Yoruba people, saying the present 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as severally amended will continue to sustain unemployment until it is repealed and the people are allowed to come up with the constitution they want as a country of many nations.

    Founder and President of YPF, Maxwell Adeleye said his team, alongside other like-minds, will increase the tempo of the Entrepreneurial Development Series being championed by the YPF in partnership with IOO and as supported by various individuals, corporate institutions and organisations towards promoting knowledge-based entrepreneurship in Yoruba nation.

    He said the level of hunger and poverty,  mostly caused by unemployment, in Western Nigeria, is gargantuan and must be curtailed in line with the dictates of the 21st century, hence, the decision to adopt a knowledge-based approach.

    “Hunger, starvation and poverty breed insecurity and civil unrest and the major cause of hunger and poverty is unemployment. Therefore, we want to use sciences, technology and digital innovations to wage war against poverty in Yoruba Land, hence we are here today.

    “In our maiden edition at this venue in December 2020, we trained about 50 youths on Smart Homes Automation and Solar Technology. Today, they are thriving. In January 2021, we trained 40 youths on various forms of Accounting Technology and Digital Marketing. The trainees are now in town excelling.

    “For almost one week, we engaged our trainees on how to produce and apply paints over 20 paints. By the grace of God, we shall monitor their progress and ensure they use their acquired skills to tackle unemployment in Yoruba Land”, Adeleye, said.

    He thanked IOO, other sponsors and everyone who contributed to the success of the training. He singled out the Legal and Finance Director of YPF, Oladapo Kayode, Esq for his consistent dedication to duties and commitment towards the professional emancipation of the younger generation.

    The Resource Person on Paints Production and Application, Mr. Samuel Adegboro, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Comfort Paints and his counterpart on Customers Relations and Management, Dr. Samuel Fasanmi, a psychometrician and personality development expert, charged the Trainees to maximise the skills they acquired on the platter of gold towards a better life.

    They warned the Trainees against producing sub-standard products, appealing to them to make integrity and quality service delivery their watchword as they begin a new life in the world of entrepreneurship.

    Responding on behalf of his colleagues, one of the Trainees, Hakeem Adebanjo, thanked the leadership of IOO and YPF for giving him and his colleagues what he described as a “life-changing opportunity”.

    “I never believed what I read online was real until I got here. I am a Yoruba man working for a living in Abia State, South Eastern Nigeria, I had to travel down to be part of this free training worth more than a million. I am surprised and yet to believe that some Pan- Yoruba groups like YPF and IOO exist.

    “On behalf of my colleagues, we thank you for giving us a future. We thank you, YPF and Ilana Omo Oodua for changing our lives. May history and posterity be kind to you,” Adebanjo said.

  • Runsewe extols the virtues of Rabo, late FTAN president

    Runsewe extols the virtues of Rabo, late FTAN president

    The Director-General National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe has described the late Alhaji Salen Rabo, the deceased President of the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN)) as an outstanding Nigerian who contributed greatly to the development of tourism, arts and culture in the country.

    Runsewe who gave this remark when he led a delegation of stakeholders and top management of NCAC on a condolence visit to Rabo’s family house in Abuja, said the deceased would be remembered for his hardwork, humility and professional diligence.

    Runsewe regretted that Rabo died at a time his wealth of knowledge and experience were most needed for the development of the sector.

    Consoling the family for the great loss, he urged them to take solace in the fact that Rabo died on a Friday and on the holy month of Ramadan. The implication of this according to the NCAC boss, is that Allah will grant the deceased eternal rest in paradise.

    Mallam Suleiman Yahaya who gave admonition during the condolence visit corroborated the position of Otunba Runsewe by stressing that the best thing that could happen to a Muslim faithful is to die on a Friday and during the holy month of Ramadan.

    In the entourage of the NCAC boss were Mr. Ali Badaki, Deputy President of FTAN; Hajia Bilkisu Abdul, President of National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP); Mrs. Sussan Akporiaye, President of National Association of Travel Agencies (NANTA) and top management staff of NCAC.

    Members of the entourage took their turn to condole with the family of the late Rabo and to urge them to remain strong and be faithful to the Lord.

    Responding on behalf of the family, Alhaji Tahiru Kareen Rabo, elder brother to late Saleh Rabo thanked Runsewe and his team for the visit, adding that it was a testimony of the love they had for the family.

    Alhaji Tahiru Rabo said that he was grateful to Almighty Allah for the life of service his late brother lived and noted with satisfaction, the numerous testimonies about the late brother from various circles.

    “While the death of my brother is no doubt painful, we however surrender to the will of Almighty Allah” Tahiru concluded.

     

  • Emokpae’s legacy blossoms In My Father’s House

    Emokpae’s legacy blossoms In My Father’s House

    Land Mark Centre on Victoria Island, Lagos, situated at the Atlantic ocean-view waterfront, is a unique art-tourism hub. From business to lifestyle and leisure, including hotel, beach and film house, the centre is increasingly expanding its clientele base. On Saturday, May 1, the opening of Gallery At The Landmark and Isaac Emokpae’s solo exhibition In My Father’s House will not only open fresh vista of recreational platforms, but also enrich its bouquet for the public, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME report.

    One of Nigeria’s famous surrealist sculptors, the late Erhabor Emokpae, who transited 37 years ago, would have been the happiest man if alive today to witness the expression of his artistic dream in his son Isaac Iken Emokpae.

    Until his death, Emokpae had communicated through painting, brush and chisel to express his philosophy about humanity and society. His art revolves around dualism, which deals on ethical, metaphysical, and theological speculations.

    To the late sculptor, in ethics, ‘it is right and wrong, in metaphysics, it is mind and matter; and in theological, it is a continuous internal difference or confrontation between heaven and hell or good and evil.’

    All this seems to have been imbibed by Isaac Emokpae; a University of Lagos trained creative artist and photographer under the tutelage of renowned artist Prof Abayomi Barber.

    In like manner, Isaac Emokpae’s works are also defined by duality and expressionist cum surrealist features.

    •One of Emokpae’s paintings

    Though found footing in the art scene from the onset as a photographer, he has raised the bar with his exploration in the two-dimension artworks. On Saturday May 1, his solo exhibition In my father’s house, will be part of the grand opening of Gallery At The Landmark, Oniru Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos. The gallery, which is a project managed by his sister, Mrs. Ighiwiyisi Jacobs (Nee Emokpae), is to provide a platform with the buttress of the Landmark Centre, for established and emerging African artists.

    The gallery project is a legacy thing to honour something that goes way back but has come instinctively. The exhibition which will run till June 4 will be curated by Hannah Oghene

    According to Mrs. Jacobs, the vision of gallery at the Landmark is to be the incremental difference on a wider narrative about Africa and African art. “In the face of a narrative that is very often negative, the Gallery at the Landmark is intentionally positioned to offer an alternative interpretation to an age-old conversation.

    “We are introducing window display that is common to most high streets in major cities of the world, which involve artist depicting a particular issue on the large windows. This is to raise the bar of fusing various forms of display to drive traffic. There will be theme and storyline behind the display. Inside the gallery, there will be exhibits while the opposite walls will serve as window display for audience. The idea is to present the works properly for the viewers. The display on the window and the exhibits inside the gallery will complement each other but not homogenous,” she said at a recent preview of the exhibition.

    The window display will be executed by Hermosa Design Company known for its extravagant, elaborate thought-of-every-detail set design that can catch more flies than honey because they are so rich in props, crafts and even flourishing flora. The Landmark will be enriched by the wealth and creativity of the window displays that will populate the windows visible from the boulevard. It is a real head turner and crowd pleaser that will incite shock and awe and bring people through the doors of Gallery at the Landmark.

    On the gallery/exhibition project as a legacy, she said: “I want to imagine that my father will be proud of an exhibition like this because it is a continuum of his dream, otherwise who is talking about him? Who is telling us more than what we see in the books? While he is not lost in his father’s shadow as an artist, he owes the spark to him.”

    Thematically, Isaac Emokpae’s paintings however create a sense of ‘absolutionism’ and can be described as abstract expressionism. Emokpae is rare as an artist because he works from word to image. He often begins his process by describing a notion from fear to freedom and everything in between and then translates that to visual expression, hence, the reason for championing expressionism.

    For Emokpae, COVID-19 provided time for introspection. “It was time when I looked back at those things that influenced me. There is no way I can say I am independent of my heritage. I find kindred spirit in the likes of Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti and Dare Art Alade who are shouldering a heritage. As a Benin man with that culture consciousness, I must carry it is a baton. One of the commandments I find stringent is honour thy father and thy mother. I tried to lift those ideals my parents stood for.

    “The themes I talk about in the exhibition include family, love, respect, faith, success through hard work. If there is one thing I inherited from my father, it is that a message is effective when it is simple,” he said.

    He will be exhibiting 20 two-dimensional pieces that are a fusion of traditional stain glass and painting. The title of the exhibition, In my father’s house, is a coinage from his childhood experience of his father before he died. “My father was the only person to be lied in state at the National Theatre, Lagos before he was buried. He was always there than he was at home.  Any time I want to hear him or see him, I just walk round the National Theatre because he is everywhere even where people don’t pay attention to. Inside my father’s house, there are many rooms and ideas.

    “My late father has not been accorded the proper respect  he deserved, maybe because most of his works are not in private homes but public spaces.  When collectors don’t have any of his works to hold, his name becomes of little importance to them,” he lamented.

    With this renewed efforts by Isaac and Mrs Jacobs, the narratives around Emokpae, his life and times in Nigerian cultural landscape will blossom especially on his contributions to the creation of National Festival of Arts and Culture, hosting of FESTAC 77, and even some of fhis unfinished projects like The Black Pot, an initiative for the promotion of Nigerian cuisines across the globe.

    Emokpae’s works are featured in renowned collections such as Deutsche Bank, Germany; the Centre for UNESCO, Louis Francoise, Troyes France; The Wheatbaker, Lagos; AXA Mansard, Lagos and Nigeria Bottling Company, Lagos. He has participated in solo and group exhibitions that include an exchange between UAE and Nigeria at Alliance Francaise Nigeria; Transparent at Rele Gallery, Lagos and Reconstruction in Reverse at Omenka Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos.

  • Social media and mob justice

    Social media and mob justice

    By Fredrick Nwabufo

    SIR: There is a ‘’SARS’’ in some Nigerians; reservoirs of cynicism, misanthropy and bigotry.  These ones see other people through the bifocals of their own vile existence. Just like SARS, the notorious but disbanded police unit, profiles young Nigerians with tattoo branding and dreadlocks, this category of Nigerians reduces every individual to an offender. You are guilty without charges, convicted and summarily sentenced – by the self-appointed rogue jury!

    That predilection for exacting jungle (in)justice on alleged offenders in the streets is very much the same on Nigeria’s social media platforms – where you expect to find refined people above the stratum of ‘’agberos’’. It is all the same – in the streets and on social media district. Nigerian Twitter, in particular, is a toxic locale – defiant to order and devoid of joy. There is that proclivity for ‘’gotcha gotcha’’. It is always about ‘’dragging this person or that person’’. I must say, very angry creatures take residence there.

    A few days ago, Japheth Omojuwa, the digital media entrepreneur, was the whipping boy of these internet infestations. They clobbered, scratched and gored him with pitchforks and daggers, even throwing dynamites into the mix. Much of their grouse with the gentleman was the side he chose to support in the 2015 election. They seized a moment to creep out of their crevices and forgotten neck of the woods to extract a toll. I have never seen such virulence and turpitude on social media before.

    We are a nation of extremists.  When you stray from the single narrative promoted by some compromised persons, you become an enemy pencilled down for demolition. Is this not a tyranny of opinion? How did we become so vile, unfeeling, and sadistic? The beauty of intellection is in the variety and robustness of opinions. Why must everyone submit to a lone account – even if it is falsehood? Why should everyone hold the same opinion?

    What is happening on Nigerian social media is akin to the Dark Ages where people were hanged for having contrary opinions. And the Dark Ages was a blot on humanity – because knowledge was forbidden.  We are in an era of intellectual darkness in Nigeria where all opinions must be unitary and must conform to certain ethnic and religious prejudices.

    Some of the loudest voices accusing others of extremism are themselves extremists, who ambush and savage contrary opinions. It must be their way or the Milky Way to assaults and threats.

    How did we become so pugnacious that we will tear anyone and anything that does not agree with us?

    We are all potential victims of mob (in)justice. The mob runs Nigeria’s social media. You either fall in line with the governing narrative or risk violence. This mob rule has to end.

    • Fredrick Nwabufo, fredricknwabufo@yahoo.com

  • Of Nigeria’s vaccine discriminations

    Of Nigeria’s vaccine discriminations

    By Charles Onunaiju

    Last September, the federal government through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 was given the sample of the first Covid-19 vaccine by a delegation headed by the Russian ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Alexey Sherbashin. The sample of the then newly developed and first vaccine, Russian made Sputnik-V was handed over to the Nigeria’s authorities with a guiding aide memoire to enable the Nigeria’s medical and regulatory bodies to conduct further study on the vaccine sample, but nearly eight months after, nothing has been heard from the Nigeria’s authorities about Sputnik-v. The Russian ambassador who presented the vaccine sample suggested then that Nigeria consider put together an expert team to collaborate with the Russian side for possible clinical trials of the vaccine.

    There was no evidence in the public domain to indicate that the Nigerian authority initiated a response for a trial of the efficacy or otherwise of the Russian made vaccines. Despite that a research article published in September last year in the highly-rated U.K-based science journal, “The Lancet” acknowledged that Sputnik-v passed early trials conducted on patients, as it helped developed anti-bodies without causing any serious side effects, the Nigerian managers of the Covid-19 pandemic maintained complete aloofness to the first developed vaccines against the pandemic despite having been fully briefed by the Russians and provided with samples and other accessories that would enable a scientific study of the vaccine.

    Nigerian authorities especially, the Covid-19 pandemic managers despite making no effort at instituting indigenous efforts at vaccine development was dutifully waiting for the West to make a breakthrough with the vaccine development. With the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines developed in the U.S and U.K respectively, the Nigeria’s pandemic managers cheered enthusiastically in a sheepish neo-colonial context, and was waiting sheepishly to receive the vaccines. The Pfizer vaccines which needed a certain condition of temperature storage and which the Nigeria’s elite managers of the Covid-19 pandemic did not have, was dutifully by-passed on account of inadequate storage facility. Dates after dates were passed while the Nigerian authority waited for the arrival of the Astra-Zeneca vaccines, which eventually did but was trailed almost immediately with international controversy over incidences of blood clot observed in some countries across Europe.

    Since the arrival of the first batch of Astra-Zeneca vaccines which was actually manufactured in India, subsequent batches have been held back because India has had the highest rate of infections and is likely keeping the vaccine for its domestic uses.

    However, in a compelling irony that would bother the Nigeria’s managers of Covid-19 pandemic, assuming that they are ever concerned or cared, India has approved the use of Russia-made sputnik vaccine for use as way to diversify their basket of available vaccines. India which we wait on endlessly to supply other batches of vaccines and which is currently contending with the unfortunate surge in Covid-19 infections and death, may not likely deliver any more batches on schedules.  At the middle of March, India’s authority announced a temporary ban on exports of its Oxford-Astra-Zeneca vaccines, in a move that was considered to jeopardizing global vaccine supplies, but the action given the surge of the pandemic in India is understandable.

    The shock is that Nigeria’s Covid-19 managers pretended as if they do not know that India would not be supplying the vaccines in the nearest future.

    In addition to the Russian sputnik vaccine, China has developed and approved four vaccines against Covid-19 for general use. The vaccines developed and approved by the Chinese relevant authority, include Sinovac, Sinopharm, CanSino, and Biologics. Several countries signed a deal with Sinovac including Singapore, Malaysian, the Philippines, and Turkey while UAE Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and several other African countries have approved Sinoparm. In fact, according to the Chinese government, the country has provided vaccine assistance to 69 countries and two international organizations and exported vaccines to 28 countries including several European countries.

    Chinese government has provided vaccines to more than 35 African countries.

    Pakistan, that has a population of 210 million has received one million doses of Chinese vaccine as donation and placed an order for seven million doses on a concessionary negotiated prices. Egypt has just placed an order for 20 million doses of Sinopharm vaccines from China

    That Nigeria which has very warm and friendly relation with China and Nigeria managers of Covid-19 pandemic has ignored the Chinese made vaccines which are widely in use across the world while ostensibly waiting in vain for the Oxford-India AstraZeneca vaccines are both curious and surprising. While Nigeria is most likely to receive a certain amount of doses free of charge from both China and Russia and also negotiate a more favourable price, the focus on the costly AstraZeneca vaccines despite the international controversy trailing it, raises question about the reason for the vaccine discriminations currently in practice by the Nigerian authority.

    As in everything Nigerian, is it that vested and special interests have constrained the relevant authorities from broadening our vaccines basket, so that we can have the best deal in terms of cost and availability?

    The Kingdom of Morocco is going into joint venture with the Chinese to manufacture Sinoparm, just as the British Oxford licensed the India Serum Institute to manufacture AstraZeneca for which we are waiting diligently.

    Vaccines have been the traditional and most efficient therapy in containing pandemics and Nigeria is not a stranger to vaccines, with the latest been polio vaccines.

    With the campaign on Covid-19 vaccination still epileptic with just about 3.4 million doses available for over 200 million people, it is instructive that Nigeria takes a bold step further to assess other international recognized vaccines. For the avoidance of doubt, the Chinese markers of Sinoparm and SinoVac vaccines have presented data of their Covid-19 vaccines to the World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) and whose chair, Alejandro Cravioto said at a news briefing that the samples “the companies shared at the SAGE meeting clearly indicates that they have level of efficiency that would be compatible with the requirement that WHO has asked for this vaccine.” The two Chinese made vaccines are expected to be given an official imprimatur of approval before the end of April. Why would Nigeria’s relevant regulatory authority, including the Presidential Task Force, stick to the AstraZeneca vaccines that is not forthcoming and even the American Johnson & Johnson that has run into the storm of controversy?

    While the Covax process of accessing vaccine remains a veritable option, Nigeria is considerably significant to enter into direct contact with makers of vaccines with a view to negotiate favourable costs and a more efficient delivery mechanism. If funds are available as it is suggested, tying the country to the bureaucracy of the Covax process may not only be cumbersome but may not be cost-effective. The seeming vaccine discrimination by the Nigeria managers of the Covid-19 pandemic is an ill wind that blows no good to the country and may actually be playing to the pockets of special and vicious vested interests that have traditionally ambushed the best and well-intentioned public policy, causing the country to look big for nothing externally while undermining and eroding citizen’s trusts of government, domestically.

    • Onunaiju is a research director of an Abuja-based Think Tank.  
  • Makinde assures residents of synergy with police, others to secure Oyo

    Makinde assures residents of synergy with police, others to secure Oyo

    By Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde said yesterday that his administration would work with the police and other security agencies to improve security.

    The governor, who stated this while hosting the new Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone XI, Osogbo, Olasupo Ajani, at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan, assured him of continuous support for the police through the provision of logistics and other support systems.

    He said: “Oyo State has been a little bit peaceful, but we have serious challenges, security-wise, in the entire country.

    “Also, at this time, we are faced with economic issues. So, if you have to do your work in the face of these challenges, it is almost like being hit twice because the work itself is difficult. When you have an atmosphere of economic prosperity, the people are not agitated, but now, any small thing, people are tensed up.

    Read Also: Afenifere at 70: Footprints of a colossus movement

    “Anytime I’m on the road, I witness road rage, aggression and all of that. These are not really normal because, for us, we used to be our brothers’ keepers. But a lot of people are tensed up and before you know what is going on, aggression is transferred. And when you now have to carry out your policing work within the context of these events, it becomes extremely difficult. So, we will continue to support you, show understanding and work with you through this challenging period.”

    AIG Ajani said the purpose of the visit was to formally inform the governor of his arrival as the new AIG Zone XI, and to also appreciate him (governor) and the citizens of the state for accommodating and supporting the police.

    Dignitaries at the event were the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Bisi Ilaka; Special Adviser on Security and Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni (rtd); Executive Assistant on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd); the Commander of Oyo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (rtd); and the Director-General of ‘Operation Burst,’ Col. Oladipo Ajibola (rtd).

  • BUA’s Lafiaji Sugar Refinery: Meeting national sugar needs

    BUA’s Lafiaji Sugar Refinery: Meeting national sugar needs

    BUA Group’s Sugar Refinery located in Lafiagi, Kwara State is on course to deliver 10,000 tons of cane sugar per day with a view to meeting domestic sugar needs, reports Group Business Editor, SIMEON EBULU. 

    Some years ago, Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, one of Nigeria’s manufacturing giants and producer of BUA Cement among several other household consumables, stuck out his neck in yet another strategic entrepreneurship move aimed at bridging existing domestic sugar consumption demand and supply gap, when he ventured into the production and refining of sugar.

    Over this period, the BUA Group has pursued with vigour its set goals, principally to ensure that Nigeria’s sugar consumption needs are met with products churned out by local firms, in accordance with the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) which envisaged that a $1 billion, or more in local and foreign direct investments (FDI) will be attracted, or injected into the economy with the overall objective of creating more than a 100,000 jobs over a 10 year span.

    BUA Group is not a greenhorn where sugar related issues are on the table, it currently boasts of two functional sugar refineries in Lagos and Port Harcourt. Nonetheless, the conglomerate’s desire to  help bridge existing shortfall in sugar supply, and as well be a part of the job creation segment of the nation, has established a 20,000 hectres sugar plantation and refinery (about 60 per cent ready), in Lafiagi, Kwara State.

    The site is a beauty  to behold given its vastness and incorporation of other needed essential products and amenities, including power generation, health facilities, schools, housing estate, irrigation and an ethanol plant already completed.

    In addition, BUA has constructed dual carriage roads and an array of other community focussed projects, making the BUA Sugar Refinery, not just a plant, but an integrated industrial city hub, that will give birth eventually to many other ancillary industries within its vicinity and catchment area, in no distant future.

    Added to this, is the privately purpose-built three kilometre runway functional airstrip, designed to provide easy access to the factory.

    The Senior General Manager, BUA Refinery, Lafiagi, Abdulrasheed Olayiwola, speaks of the plant as not just a Sugar Refinery, but a four-in-one project, comprising of a Sugar Mill, where 10,000 ton cane sugar per day (tcd) is obtained, the Ethanol  plant, already completed with capacity for 20 million litres of ethanol derived fuel, the Sugar Refinery itself which is expected  to churn out 220,000 bags of white sugar and the Power plant is capable of generating 35 Megawatts of electricity, part of which will be ceded to the national grid and also to provide power to the catchment areas and surrounding communities.

    ”That is to show the kind of contribution we are bringing.  We are building a power plant, part of it will go to the national grid, which means that those around this area will benefit from the power project ongoing. We are building an ethanol plant.

    Those are the kind of things that are going on here,” Olayiwola said,  adding, “we have already started developing the plantation and as we speak, close to 7000 hectares have been cleared. We are removing trees all over, that’s to show the kind of development that is going on as we speak,” Olayiwola stated. He said there are over 20 varieties of cane in Lafiaji that we are being tested, saying the idea is to know the variety that is suitable in the area for commercial propagation .

    “So you will see different kinds of varieties when you go round Nigeria and  outside Nigeria which people have developed. In the future too, we are planning to have plant breeders that can develop indigenous varieties local to this environment so that we will have high yielding sugarcane in this area which we can even sell to other plantations in the future for their own use,” he said.

    According to him, to ensure adequate water supply to the plantation, BUA is constructing two canals from two ends of the River Niger into the estate, saying the irrigation method being adopted, is a special type of irrigation system from Israel where the quantity of water  used  is less, but the yield of the canes will be more because one is able to take water to the root of the cane directly and BUA, he said, is the only one that has started that drip irrigation  system.  “We are doing 4000 hectares of drip irrigation in the first instance. This is to show the kind of investment  BUA is putting into sugar plantation in Nigeria,”he explained.

     

     Ethanol production 

    On ethanol, Labaran Saidu, the engineer overseeing the project, said the plant is capable of producing 200,000 pounds of the products a day. As he puts it, “this is where we produce 99. 8 per cent purity ethanol that is 12 grade. We are going to be producing 200,000 pounds of ethanol every day. Our annual production is 20million litres.

    “The bye product of this fermentation unit is yeast which is of the export material.  Recently, one of the state governors approached us to buy the bye product for animal feed. This is a special product that makes those cows look big.”

    He said the biogas from the ethanol plant will be used to fire the boiler which will produce power. There are other bye products that we can get from this factory, including animal feed, he said is garnering a lot of revenue in Sudan, for example and it can also help in checking herdsmen-farmers clashes.

    “If you go to Sudan, animal feed is one of the major bye products that is earning them a lot of income. And so all these our problems of herdsmen and farmers, you can see with this type of sugar plantation,  having this kind of project all around, we will stop that problem because animal feed can easily be produced,  and like in other countries, they produce soap and cosmetic products from sugar extract so which means that from this kind of project, you can get a lot of things that can be done.”

     

     Corporate Social Responsibility 

    BUA is a  group of companies, Olayiwola said that takes Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) very seriously.

    He said: “Even though we are still at project level and  not yet producing, we don’t mind, but we make sure that all our communities are enjoying the benefits of BUA being around.

    ” And if you go to town, an average person in town will tell you the impact BUA is already making. When we got here, there was no road beyond this place, but now with the construction of all the roads we are doing, we are helping to connect more than 15 communities now. Before, once they come from town and there is rain, nobody dares go back to their villages because there’s no road otherwise before you know it, the person might get lost because of flooding or robberies, but now we have been able to connect all these communities through road network and we are still bringing more.

    ”In addition, as part of our own CSR, anytime  part of the communities which are close to the River Niger have flooding issue, BUA is going to intervene to make sure that all these things stop.  Now they can live in their communities in peace.  And every year since we started this project, not only in Lafiagi, but beyond Lafiagi, in the whole of the local government, we make sure that after Ramadan, gifts are shared throughout the community in the local government.

    “It is something we are doing that we have started right from 2016 and we have been consistent with it. This year again, Insha Allah  we will do it . Just down the road, the NYSC camp which is located in the local government, we just did some sports facility construction for them. These are part of the CSR that we are using to support the state. At the state level, we have done a lot in supporting sporting facilities because we know that youths are the ones who participate more in sports .

    “So we encourage youths to be more engaged so that we don’t have issues that we normally have with youth unrest. Because of the fact that we don’t want to disturb the peace of Lafiagi town, BUA is constructing a 7.5 kilometre dual carriage way; a bypass so that the community who are in the far end can be transporting their goods from the farm easily to the point of sales, Ilorin or anywhere. “

    He said by the time “we go round, you will see the construction and you can imagine how much the construction of 7.5 kilometers carriage way is going to cost, but we are doing it for the fact that this is something Lafiagi deserves and we are doing it at the moment, BUA Foundation has started working on it all around the communities.

    “ So why I am particular about this is the fact that even though we have not started earning anything from Lafiagi, we make sure that at least, let the Lafiagi people and town alike, feel the impact of these projects.

     

    Job creation

    Olayiwola stated the project on completion, the factory and the plantation will have about 5,000 workers in direct employment because when there is need to extract an hectare of land, it can only be imagined how many people will be needed. “And  for the factory, even before now, we’ve been planning on running an integrated factory and you can imagine the number of people.

    “So we are planning to have about 5,000 workers working within the place directly and indirectly, over 10,000 because we will have all sorts of auxiliary workers; the motor boys, packers and others that will be coming. That is the kind of project we are talking about and you can imagine if this kind of project is replicated all over the country, the impact it will make in the economy and environment,” he said.

     

    Project cost

    For the investment,  Olayiwola said it  is over a $300 million investment that is ongoing and it might be more  because of what is happening in the economy and the range of the products that are factored into it, and by the time we go round, he added, “you will see what has been committed because a lot of work has gone into this project, including the three kilometer runway, that’s to show the kind of investment that has gone into the project.

    ”I can tell you that this is one of the sites that is highly rated by Sugar Council. In fact, it is the pride of sugar council.  If you talk to anybody in sugar council today they will tell you that look, BUA is the main VIP project they are looking up to. “Look at the array of products that will come out of that factory, none of the sugar plantations which have even been in existence  before BUA came on board, has come near it. For others,  it’s either they are doing 3500 tons per day, or 3000 tons and it is just sugar. None is up to 10,000 tons of cane per day.

    “So that is why this place is highly rated and it is one of the places Sugar Council is looking up to, to lead the realisation of the Sugar Master Plan. Every quarter, the sugar council team is always with us  to check the progress of work here and they always leave this site fully satisfied that yes, BUA is at work. The aim is to raise local production of sugar to enable the country attain self-sufficiency; stem the tide of unbridled importation; create huge number of job opportunities and to contribute to the production of ethanol and generation of electricity.

  • Nigerian Civil Service, AIG partner on operational digitisation

    Nigerian Civil Service, AIG partner on operational digitisation

    By Collins Nweze

    The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and the Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG) have partnered on the digitisation of civil service functions and operations to save cost and promote operational efficiency.

    The partnership will see to the development and handing over of 26 documented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) manuals to the OHCSF and the Federal Civil Service by the AIG for all processes carried out in the office.

    The SOPs are globally recognised as manuals that apply step-by-step instructions compiled by an organisation to assist its personnel perform their operational tasks accurately and effectively.

    The handing over ceremony held in Abuja was well attended by Directors, AIG team, SOPs champions in the OHCSF and the Press. While speaking at the event, Head of Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan the SOPs helps the team  to develop an effective system that complies with industry–specific regulations and standards to significantly reduce or avoid operational errors as well as unwanted work variations.

    The Chairman of the Africa Initiative for Governance, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede said, “The real issue is how fast we are able to get the entire Nigerian Government and not just the civil service to document its operating procedures.”

    In this way, and then going further to obtain ISO 9001:2015 certification, and finally digitalising all civil service functions and operations.

    Aig-Imoukhuede further explained that the new process will enable users of government service to interact with the service through official websites instead of the current inefficient paper-based method.

    The adoption of SOPs will ensure efficient, effective, and productive civil service. According to her, for a dynamic civil service to be achieved, it was pertinent to have laid down standards of operation.

    Yemi-Esan commended the departmental champions for their commitment and assiduous input that made the actualization of the SOPs a reality.

     

     

  • ANAN president unveils agenda

    ANAN president unveils agenda

    By Collins Nweze

    The newly appointed President and Chairman of Governing Council, the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) Prof. Benjamin Osisioma, has unveiled his plans for group.

    In his inaugural speech, the 12th president of ANAN, said he would be building additional structures that ensure ANAN University and the Nigerian College of Accountancy (NCA), Jos co-exist side by side.

    He challenged the NCA to rise to the occasion of expanding, extending and enlarging student enrollment to attain at least 10,000 per annum within the next five years.

    “We owe the success story of our past to our heroes and heroines who toiled with little or no rewards to get us to where we are. We will not forget them

    It would also be quite appropriate to acknowledge today the sacrifice of ANAN members. They are the real heroes – the geese that lay the golden eggs,’’ the new ANAN president said.

    On fiscal control and fund mobilisation, Osisioma said within the approval of the council, the council will offer a hefty discount to all members which will clear subscription arrears within the next six months.

    According to him, this administration hopes to make extensive moves to improve corporate governance in ANAN and overhaul the entire administrative machinery,

    He added that, “In the same way, the administration shall seek support of Council to introduce Regional offices for the regular operations of the association.

    “As a first step, Lagos shall be used as the Regional office for the South West. Additional offices will be opened in Enugu and Kano.

    “In addition, we shall create a small Administrative Unit in the Presidency to improve the efficiency and response time of the Presidency to challenges of leadership and governance.

    “Also, an Advisory Committee will be appointed to work with the President throughout the two-year term of this Presidency to ensure sound decisions, efficient implementation and effective outcome on all policy matters,” Osisioma said.

    He also mentioned the need for an upswing for a digitized environment as one of the unintended effects of the COVID pandemic.

    The new ANAN president expressed concern why the association had not been able to leverage on its intimidating resource base comprising men and women of distinction in public and private sectors to mobilise and secure needed support from these organisations.

    “The time has come for every worthy professional to stand up to be counted; they need to write their names in gold as vibrant contributors to the creation of a new order.

    “We have a new and modern College of Accountancy to build, Regional offices to develop, Nationwide Teaching and Learning  to re-engineer, National Conferences and Workshops to sponsor and Training and Capacity Building sessions to organize.

    Osisioma also noted that the Society for Forensic Accounting and Fraud Prevention (SFAFP) offers offered the only opportunity in the country where professionals were trained in forensic accounting with properly articulated forensic tool kit and technical know-how.

    He lauded the level of acceptance that ANAN had been able to generate globally, saying that the present administration would undertake to sustain the global confidence in the ANAN brand.

    The immediate past president of ANAN, Prof. Muhammad Mainoma, said in the last two years, digital technology, globalisation and regulation were main issues for the future accountant.

    According to him, we were able to conduct most of the teachings in the college (NCA) virtually.

    He said that the association’s Conference for 2020 was both physical and virtual, saying that the association had a number of virtual meetings.

    He also talked about effective manpower development put in place by his administration for the system to work, with defined line of responsibilities.

    On examination development, Mainoma noted that the decentralization of examination had the additional advantages of attracting more members since the convenience of writing close to your place of domicile might be a factor in choosing whether to apply or not.

    The Chief Executive Officer of ANAN, Nuruddeen Abdullahi, in his review of year 2020, said the Annual General Meeting was held both virtually and physically.

    He added that the 25th Annual Conference was also held in Abuja, saying that 556 members were elevated to the status of Fellows.

    On membership admission, Abdullahi said that 2,926 members were inducted and admitted into the association.

  • Wema Bank at 76: Trendy heritage

    Wema Bank at 76: Trendy heritage

    Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank, Wema Bank Plc has seen many booms and bursts. It has kept its Marina flag high up where many had been lowered. At 76, the management of the bank basks in a proud heritage and lays out its clear vision of a digital-led banker of all markets.

    Wema Bank is celebrating its 76th anniversary with a showcase of its decades of operations as the oldest indigenous banker and its growing profile as a leader in digital banking. The bank is also illustrating its successful turnaround with the records of consistent returns to shareholders.

    At an interactive session with senior finance and investment journalists, the management of the bank gave insights on the continuous cycle of reinvention that keeps Wema Bank on the pundits’ chat, despite the changes in industry and macroeconomic dynamics.

    At the media session  were top management staff  led by Chief Financial Officer, Tunde Mabawonku; Head, Corporate Strategy and Planning, Femi Akinfolarin; Head, Brands Corporate Communications and  Investor Relations, Funmilayo Falola; Head, Public Relations, Morolake Philip-Ladipo and Representative of the Legal Adviser, Hillary Ajodo. They all agreed that Wema Bank at 76 years has come of age and can thump its chest that it is prepared to play in the big league and literally rule the roost!

    “From a position where we could not pay dividends some years back, we have consistently delivered on our promise to our stakeholders consecutively in recent years by paying dividends. Indeed this year won’t be an exception,” said Mabawonku.

    While noting that the bank is indeed proud of its heritage and legacy, Mabawonku was however quick to add that the bank is already serving other diverse markets across the country with its cutting-edge services, riding on the back of innovative technology.

    “With a proud heritage of resilience and value, Wema Bank is the longest surviving indigenous Nigerian bank, thriving on a foundation of customer-centric and innovative approach to financial service delivery. We have been audacious with a pioneering spirit, and been able to build a legacy of leadership by blazing the trail to what banking could, and should be for the Nigerian stakeholder,” Mabawonku said.

    Going down memory lane, he went back in time to the early days of the bank as a regional bank with offices in majorly southwest Nigeria, but it has since grown from a regional bank to a national bank with footprints across major cities of the federation. The bank’s growing Abuja and Port Harcourt zones are currently under the supervision of Mr. Chukwuemeka Obiagwu as an Executive Director, effective from April 1, 2021.

    “We have 150 branches but we have been able to leverage on the deployment of technology to deliver topnotch services across different frontiers of the markets,” Mabawonku said.

    He outlined that Wema was among the first financial institutions to introduce mobile banking in Nigeria in 2011, and took it several notches higher in 2017 with the launch of ALAT, Africa’s first fully digital bank. Leading with innovation, Wema Bank is today the quintessence of excellence in products and platforms, as well as customer service delivery.

    “Our position is testament to our resilience, vision, audacity, commitment to ethical corporate governance, a best-in-class workforce, visionary leadership, and excellent customer service. Our steadfast commitment to innovation-led service delivery, brightens the path of our customers and stakeholders to an assured, enabled, and exciting future,” Mabawonku said.

    As to be expected, though considered an old generation bank, it is not resting on its oars at all as it keeps reinventing itself.

    ”Our purpose statement of making life and lifestyles easier for you is therefore, an expression of our enduring commitment to enabling a glorious day, every day, in every way by leveraging our strength, resources, expertise and unrivaled passion for innovative and digital solutions, to clear the path to the lifestyle aspirations of our esteemed customers, staff, partners and communities,” Mabawonku added.

    According to him, the bank is always on its toes setting and resetting targets for itself.

    ”Our short term goal is to become a thought leader and the most dominating digital banking platform in Nigeria and to become a one-stop lifestyle partner to our customers,” Mabawonku said.

    Akinfolarin pointed out that the bank has achieved some milestones unmatched by others, successes that can be attributed to the bank’s consistency and excellent service delivery over the years.

    Citing several financial indices, Akinfolarin said credit rating and auditing firms which covered the books of the bank didn’t find any qualms scoring the bank high above other bigger banks as it ranked second in retail banking and earned the sixth place in service delivery to small businesses.

    The management of the bank said Wema Bank is making gradual strides into areas hitherto uncharted, and will not foreclose any opportunities for mergers and acquisitions in the not too distant future if such measures would be in the overall interest of the bank.

    Some of the unique and custom-made solutions deployed by the bank include ALAT by Wema, which disrupted and transformed banking experience in Nigeria from physical to vapour-based, *945#: USSD service for sending money, buying airtime and data, paying bills and even making payments on POS terminals without a Wema or ALAT card.

    Besides, the ALAT for Business is tailored made for corporate internet banking platform with elastic features that help business owners get more time efficient and productive just as SME Solutions, which is an assortment of Retail management suites, agent banking solutions, and special SME Loan packages.

    Also in tow is the Wema Hackathon-an exhibition of innovative solutions and inventions with excellent market potential, capable of solving essential, everyday business across – Agritech, Healthtech, Edutech, Fintech and Gaming, Sara by Wema, which reduces unequitable gender access to growth opportunities in Nigeria via access to finance supports, capacity building, deals and discounts, and women wellness.

    For all these, the bank has earned many laurels for its efforts. Among such awards and recognitions includes being winner of the 2017 Best Digital Bank, 2017 Nigeria and Best Mobile App, 2018 Best Digital Bank in Africa, 2020 BusinessDay SME Bank of the Year and second in the Retail segment of the 2020 KPMG Banking Industry Customer Experience Survey, and BICXM top mention among others.

    While many analysts who have been following the growth trajectory of the bank said not much of its success stories have been highlighted in full public glare, Falola said the bank is ready to change the narratives in the period ahead.

    According to her, the bank plans to showcase its past and present as part of celebration of its 76th anniversary as well as a renewed engagement with its stakeholders.