The Nation Newspaper

Category: Opinion

  • Some musings on degree mills and other issues

    Some musings on degree mills and other issues

    By Andrew A. Erakhrumen

    On December 30, 2023, an online news media published a damning report from its reporter who went undercover to investigate, successfully, how “degrees” (and results’ transcript) could be obtained, in six weeks or less, from a foreign “university” without stepping that country’s soil! We mean without receiving any lecture, on-site or otherwise! Without taking any examination in whatever form! Without knowing where the “university” is located (in Benin Republic, to be specific)!

    This story elicited series of reactions but for us, it was, and still is, not a surprising one! What appeared big, to us, was that the said reporter (Umar Shehu Audu), with supports, was able to pull the undercover investigation through as against speculative reporting that we are mostly familiar with in Nigeria. We congratulate this reporter for this feat! There are other investigative journalists in Nigeria; we believe that with supports and enabling environment, they can also perform excellently.

    The focus of this article is mainly on the “degree” obtained by the reporter from the foreign “university”. As earlier-stated, we are not moved by this discovery! It is not a “big deal” to us! The reader may ask why we took this position. This is simply because it is not really a “new” discovery. There had been silent rumours of the existence of such higher educational institutions (not only in Africa but also in those places referred to as developed countries) that are reputed for issuing (selling) questionable certificates to willing buyers through their local and international agents who, collectively, are racketeering syndicates! These claims were, at best, unverifiable gossips until the above-mentioned reporter went undercover to provide the public with undeniable facts; the types of facts that rattle the shrewdest roguish public officials and civil servants who collaborate with criminal racketeers!

    Read Also: I will have my empire soon, says Ilebaye

    Or, what do we call those aiding and abetting the buying and selling of academic and professional certificates? It will be very difficult to convince us that those racketeering syndicates do not have supports in high places in Nigeria! This exposé has contributed in exposing the dirty underbelly of Nigerian society. Again, like others, it confirmed that no unscrupulousness is beyond some people. These crooks may be few in number but their activities help in reverberating negativity about the country. With thorough investigations, it is not unlikely that those behind the certificate scam are predominantly Nigerians! Yes, some Nigerians are soiling Nigeria’s name!

    These reprehensible activities start in bits and pieces. They may have their legal implications but we are more concerned, here, with morals. We cannot help it but to moralise! The moral values in this country are unbelievably increasingly becoming what to be ashamed of! Immorality is now displayed openly! If you are not involved in the madness, it means you are a “mugu”! That means you are not smart! We must tell ourselves the naked truth that, morally, Nigeria has sunk very deep! The people in government are involved but the followers are not exempted. In fact, they are seriously complicit in the rot!

    For instance, is it news that some school children/wards and their parents/guardians engage in all sorts of cheating even at the level of nursery/primary schools? Is it news that parents/guardians in collaboration with their children/wards ‘arrange’ for leaked questions and “miracle centres” in order to pass examinations? Can these students defend the certificates they submitted for admission into higher educational institutions? Can they defend the certificates they subsequently obtained, through crooked means, from higher educational institutions?

    Truly, the cowl does not make the monk! This desperation for unmerited paper qualifications by some people can be terrifying! The mentioned and unmentioned illicitness in all sectors have drastically reduced Nigeria’s integrity such that law-abiding hard-working compatriots are now victimised. These dubious certificates are also contributory factors in complicating this integrity problem.

    As this piece is being written, in line with the well-known predictable knee-jerk responses by Nigerian governments, newspaper reports have it that 18 foreign universities without licence to operate in the country had been shut down while some others are being investigated. Further, an eight-man inter-ministerial committee had been inaugurated to investigate the activities of private universities established in the last 15 years. This committee is also mandated to probe allegations of degree certificates racketeering by both foreign and local universities in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the fraudulent beings are already among the crooks in charge of the running of peoples’ lives in the civil and public service! We hope that the beneficiaries of academic frauds, being investigated, will allow these investigations to succeed. We are still struggling to be hopeful against hope but if the current investigations go the way similar ones in the past went, then one may be left with no choice other than to agree with those asking in Pidgin that “who school epp”? They even concluded that “school na scam”! That is the quality of mind possessed by future Nigerian leaders! That is what they are inheriting from the current warped system! There is no need to be evasive when discussing these academic frauds that are gradually getting normalised! The products of these scams are in all professions – in Nigeria today! Many Nigerians may not know, or may be living in denial, but sooner than later it will be clearer that they (we) are in trouble!

    Definitely, we have problems with those unnamed valueless predatory mushroom educational institutions – both locally and foreign – that are exploiting the inadequacy in the Nigerian system. Nonetheless, it should be stated clearly that not all those who are studying in foreign lands, or those with certificates from those places, are frauds! Not at all! There are those with high cerebral capacity and moral integrity who can be vouched for among them! There are different reasons for seeking trainings and certifications out of the country. These push and pull factors are multifaceted but constraint of space will not allow us to analyse them here. Yet, one fact stands out for us. That is, Nigeria’s public higher educational institutions need serious funding supports in order to be able to admit more applicants and deliver deliverables in line with global best practices! Consequently, it has been, and will continue to be, gross irresponsibility for Nigerian (federal and sub-national) governments to abandon existing public educational institutions (especially universities) while creating multiple new ones (glorified secondary schools) that do not have any verifiable funding plan!

    We now agree that many Nigerians have not accepted or imbibed the reasons for, lofty ideas behind, and culture of, a university! Also, there are misfits within the university system! It is that serious! In closing, we ask: what differentiates the proliferation of poorly-funded public universities from the nefarious activities of those “universities” that Nigerians now tag as “degree mills”?

    • Erakhrumen teaches at the University of Benin, Benin City.

  • AFCON: Everything you need to know about a record year for Africa’s biggest football event

    AFCON: Everything you need to know about a record year for Africa’s biggest football event

    By Chuka Onwumechili

    Africa’s biggest football festival – the men’s Africa Cup of Nations 2023 – is being hosted by Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa and will culminate in its final match on 11 February 2024.

    More than ever before, the world will be watching the action at the 34th edition of the cup, given that some of football’s greatest athletes will be participating. Add to this the fact that the tournament takes place in the European winter and so it doesn’t face competition from any other major international tournaments except the AFC Asian Cup.

    The tournament has its critics, especially in Europe, where several clubs will be losing key players to African teams. Even so, very few will doubt that AFCON has entered a new era.

    As a scholar of sports communication with a focus on African football, I believe that this will be a record year for AFCON. Star attractions aside, the tournament continues to grow in terms of global viewership, improved facilities, media attention and increased prize payouts.

    Record prize money

    The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has announced a 40% increase in the prize money for winning Afcon. The winning national team will take home US$7 million while the runner-up takes US$4 million, third place takes US$2.5 million and the fourth placed team takes US$1.3 million. Though still a long way behind Europe, these prizes are larger than what the Copa América (the South American Football Championship) offered in 2021.

    Read Also; How I became Buhari’s special adviser on media, Femi Adesina narrates

    Star attractions

    Africa’s star players are household names in Europe, thanks to high profile positions in leading clubs. Big names like Victor Osimhen (Nigeria), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) and Mohamed Salah (Egypt) will all be representing their countries at the tournament. They won the top three most votes for the 2023 African Player of the Year award. In addition, other Caf Awards finalists – Fiston Mayele (Congo), Peter Shalulile (Namibia) and Percy Tau (South Africa) – will all be participating. Added to this line-up is the sensational Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

    Global viewers

    The tournament will be a global event. CAF has announced a new set of broadcasting rights agreements. These include media agreements with the BBC and Sky in the UK, Band TV in Brazil, beIN and Canal+, among several other entities. These agreements mean that the tournament will be watched live in 180 countries all over the world. CAF also announced over 6,000 media applications for accreditation. This is more than double the applications received for the previous AFCON.

    World class facilities

    Côte d’Ivoire has pulled out all the stops to ensure that this year’s Afcon is a world class event. The host nation is estimated to have spent US$1 billion renovating roads, stadiums, hospitals and other infrastructure in preparation for the tournament. Beyond renovating existing stadiums, the country built three new venues. There are two new 20,000 capacity stadiums. Laurent Pokou Stadium is in San-Pédro in the extreme south-west of the country and Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium at Korhogo in the north.

    The biggest new facility, Alassane Ouattara Stadium, is located just outside the economic capital, Abidjan, and was built with $260 million to seat 60,000 spectators all under a roof.

    Some of these venues, like the one in Korhogo, are accompanied by newly built hotels, villas and roads. As host nation, Ivory Coast will also enjoy the benefit of a fan base that could boost its team’s morale and chances of winning.

    The favourites

    A healthy rivalry between nations – especially from west Africa and north Africa – will increase the stakes at this year’s AFCON. Twenty-four teams are playing in the group stage and 16 of them will qualify for the knockout stage. This means that three teams will go through from four of the six groups.

    Although Morocco became the first African team to reach the semi-final of a men’s football World Cup, the Moroccans may find it difficult to win AFCON. Morocco has won only one AFCON title, back in 1976 in Ethiopia, and reached the final in 2004 in Tunis. But the North African country is firmly among the favourites in Côte d’Ivoire. Joining them are the host nation and the defending champions, Senegal. Nigeria and Algeria are also strong contenders, with Mali a dark horse for the championship.

    Considering all these developments, there’s no doubt that the tournament will set records in viewership and for stadium attendance, in the process opening up a new vista for Africa’s most prestigious tournament.

    • Onwumechili is professor of Communications, Howard University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. https://theconversation.com/afcon-everything-you-need-to-know-about-a-record-year-for-africas-biggest-football-event-221020“

  • Understanding Ways and Means in government financial operations

    Understanding Ways and Means in government financial operations

    By James Olowo

    Recent disclosures from a Special Investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu have brought attention to the practices of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Ministry of Finance during the previous administration. These revelations have sparked discussions about the use of “Ways and Means” as a crucial financial mechanism employed by governments, a concept that might not be widely understood among the public.

    The leaked memo allegedly authored by the Special Investigator and reported in the media pointed fingers at former government officials, including Zainab Ahmed, the erstwhile Minister of Finance, citing an apparent unaccounted sum of N17.369 trillion. It is important to note that the objective of this article is not primarily to defend these former government officials (as they are more than capable of defending themselves). Instead, it aims to offer perspective and educate the public, particularly in response to a memo segment stating that over N17 trillion could not be accounted for.

    As stated in the memo, “The sum of N17.369 trillion remains unaccounted for, as neither due appropriation nor approvals exist to support the diversion of public funds through this medium. This constitutes an offence under the penal code as applicable in the Federal Capital Territory to which actors and conspirators, in this instance, are liable.”

    Read Also: I will have my empire soon, says Ilebaye

    Surprisingly, even those propagating the narrative of an unaccounted N17 trillion might not comprehend that many Nigerians are unfamiliar with the purpose of Way and Means in meeting government financial commitments. A better context for Nigerians would be to unearth the origins of Ways and Means, and how it comes to play here.

    The concept of Ways and Means finds its origins in the 17th-century British parliament, primarily addressing the provision of revenue to meet national expenditure requirements. In Nigeria, it manifests as a tool allowing the federal government to acquire loans from the Central Bank to fulfill financial obligations, especially during revenue shortfalls. It’s crucial to emphasize that such practices are legal and serve the public interest by bridging financial gaps when revenues fall short of budgeted estimates.

    During Nigeria’s economic challenges, particularly significant revenue shortfalls due to declining oil revenues, the government resorted to utilizing Ways and Means regularly. However, it’s important to acknowledge that these actions were governed by Section 38 (2) of the CBN Act, which stipulates limits on such advances, even though the previous administration surpassed this limit, exceeding the prescribed five percent ceiling, with the nation’s Ways and Means escalating from N856 billion to N23.8 trillion in seven years, a 2,635 percent increase.

    It’s essential to understand that this overreach beyond the stipulated five percent can be considered an economic ‘doctrine of necessity’ due to the extraordinary financial strain the country experienced during that period. This exceptional circumstance led to senate discussions and the subsequent passing of a bill to increase the Way and Means benchmark from five percent to 15 percent in 2023. In his lead debate, Senator Ibrahim (Sokoto East-Senate Leader) which was tagged on the Central Bank of Nigeria Act (Amendment) BILL, 2023 (SB. 1125), emphasized the significance of this amendment in empowering the federal government to execute pivotal projects aimed at stimulating and revitalizing the economy. He said, “Mr President, my respected colleagues, permit me to lead the debate on this Bill which seeks to amend the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act to increase the total CBN advances to the Federal Government from five per cent to a maximum of 15 per cent (15%). The Bill was read for the first time in this Chamber on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. This amendment is very consequential, and it needs the support of us all. This is to enable the Federal Government to embark on very important projects that will inflate and rejig the economy.”

    Without this increment in the Way and Means percentage, observers might hastily judge those in charge of the nation’s economy during that period as guilty. However, one must consider the broader context.

    In 2016, Nigeria witnessed its lowest oil revenue, merely earning $17 billion, a stark contrast to previous years. Whereas, in the previous year, it was $24.8billion and $54.55billion in 2014. It was $58billion in 2013 and $62.9billion in 2012. The $N10billion earned in 2016 was the lowest the nation would earn in 10 years. Oil revenue improved the following year 2017 to $37billion but it was still a far cry from what it was in the four years before the Buhari administration came into office.

    When assessing the period in question, it’s crucial to juxtapose Nigeria’s dwindling oil revenues with its governmental expenditures. The economic downturn significantly affected the government’s ability to meet its fiscal targets, leading to reliance on borrowing to finance essential developmental projects in 2016. The implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy aimed to curb fund misallocation and corruption within government agencies. Nevertheless, it remained a challenging budget year due to various factors, including disruptions in oil production in the Niger Delta region.

    The 2016 budget was intended to enhance capital expenditure compared to previous years, necessitating a higher projected expenditure than revenue. The budget deficit was anticipated to be financed through borrowing from domestic sources, where the Way and Means came into play. Additionally, the budget aimed to retire maturing loans, a segment appearing under the Debt Service section for the first time.

    This increased allocation for capital expenditure, significantly higher than previous estimates, was designed to align with the government’s objective of diversifying the economy. The focus was on substantial investments in infrastructural development and federal government special intervention programs, reflecting a 900% increase from the 2015 estimates.

    The above elucidation does not isolate the 2016 budget but pays special attention to capital expenditure, projected revenue shortfalls, and the unavoidable need to bridge these gaps. It is noteworthy that Nigerians have consistently lamented the allocation of a significant portion of the budget to recurrent expenditure, highlighting the necessity for change.

    An economist, preferring anonymity, suggested that exploring Way and Means might not have been necessary if the nation could have met recurrent budgetary obligations despite revenue shortfalls. However, this might have excluded allocations to capital expenditure, which typically benefits the general populace.

    It’s important to clarify that the employment of Ways and Means is not tantamount to misappropriation. Funds obtained through this mechanism were directed towards tangible and essential projects. Furthermore, imposing higher taxes, although a potential revenue-generating avenue, was deemed counterproductive during a time when the populace was already financially strained.

    In summary, the application of Ways and Means during that period aimed to mitigate the economic downturn’s effects, support capital projects, and stimulate the micro-economy. It’s imperative to understand the context within which these financial tools were utilized and acknowledge their contribution to sustaining essential public services and infrastructure development.

    • Olowo, a public finance analyst, wrote in from Abuja.

  • Diri: Four years stocktaking and the dreams ahead’

    Diri: Four years stocktaking and the dreams ahead’

    By Carl Seiyaibo

    This year’s February 14th occupies a unique place in the political calendar of Bayelsa State. By divine arrangement, the date coincides with Saint Valentine’s Day, a day been set aside to express love and care to individuals or groups, an attribute of the Almighty.

    For Governor Douye Diri, his swearing-in in 2020 was no doubt a big smile on him by providence after he lost the election in questionable circumstances and his mandate was subsequently restored by the Supreme Court just 24 hours to the swearing-in ceremony. It was in this vein that he was aptly described as the “Miracle Governor”.

    In a month’s time, Diri will be inaugurated for a second tenure, after the people of the state renewed their faith in him by having him re-elected on November 11, 2023. Recalling his inaugural address to the people of the state on February 14, 2020, he did not mince words in outlining his responsibilities and tasks ahead of him.

    He hit the ground running by unfolding his vision, with a central message of governance revolving around the need for “love, unity, peace and prosperity”. He summarised by stating that his performance and developmental strides will be defined by the four pillars of peaceful co-existence. He, however, enjoined the people to think of the peace and prosperity of their brothers and sisters irrespective of political affiliations.

    According to him: “Today, we have been sworn in, my advice to all is that we be magnanimous in victory and eschew all forms of bitterness and acrimony.  If we kill ourselves because of politics, who are we going to lead, animals? “Today is 14th of February, a day of love. As a Valentine governor, we bring the message of love to Bayelsa State; we bring the message of prosperity to Bayelsa State”.

    The governor ended his extempore speech by reading out a famous prayer by a Catholic friar, Saint Francis of Assisi, which he called “Our creed” and I quote: “Lord, make us an instrument of thy peace, where there is hatred, let us show love. Where there is injury, let us learn how to pardon. Where there is doubt, let us have faith. Where there is despair, let us have hope. Where there is darkness, let us bring light”.

    Read Also; Wandering in the desert

    It is known that since Diri assumed office, apart from the initial handful of kidnapping and other socio-political infractions, Bayelsans have enjoyed the peace, unity and love that pervade the landscape of the state. This has made him to be widely described as a man of peace. Little wonder, he has displayed uncommon dexterity and political sagacity in relationship management of his predecessors that has been devoid of the usual friction and daggers-drawn atmosphere that characterizes virtually all ties between governors, their predecessors and political benefactors. His continual maintenance of peace and harmony with all divides, earned him massive votes during his re-election bid.

    When Diri took over as governor, he prioritized a stable and prosperous management of the state’s economy through a transparent, prudent and resourceful application of the state’s scarce resources.

    Borrowing is contemplated in the budget to bridge financing gap and is a critical instrument for intervention in execution of projects. The outcome of such interventions transformed the lives of the people and the value of the state.

    Acknowledging the negative implications of debt funds and the burden thereof, he ensures that borrowings undertaken are necessary, value laden, content fit and are within the debt sustainable ratio threshold.  Diri further ensured that debt secured are not detrimental to the economy and developmental programme of the state, hence he consistently managed the debt profile in collaboration with Finance Management Team.

    In the area of education, his administration has deployed huge financial resources to pull the state out of the unenviable status of the educationally-disadvantaged. Apart from embarking on massive rehabilitation of primary and higher schools across Bayelsa, the government also built one technical college in each of the eight local government areas of the state.

    These technical colleges are essentially to promote education that will entrench the values of self-reliance and prosperity through the acquisition of technical skills.  This is in addition to improving the infrastructure of tertiary institutions across the state, which culminated in the accreditation of several courses at the state-owned Niger Delta University, School of Nursing, College of Education and Polytechnic.

    It is heart-warming that the huge investment in the education sector is yielding results, as statistics indicate that among the six states in the South-South zone, Bayelsa has the lowest number of out of-school children.

    Moreover, infrastructure development has received great attention, as the governor has proven himself to be a worthy ambassador in this area. This is evidenced by the aggressive mode in which projects are being executed without making any noise about it. This singular action has averted the syndrome of abandoning projects initiated by predecessors, which is a common phenomenon in the nation’s body politic with resultant effect of impediment of development.

    Shortly after his inauguration, Diri went round the state to conduct an audit on projects initiated, work in progress and other stages of construction by his predecessors. In earnest, he mobilised contractors to site, the completion of the first phase of the New Gloryland Drive which runs from the gateway at Igbogene through Onopa to Government House was one of such inherited projects. The project, which was initiated by the administration of Chief Timipre Sylva was only at its early stage of execution then. The project is critical to opening up that axis of the Yenagoa metropolis by averting the inconveniences of traffic that road users contend with in the state capital.

    The outer ring-road connecting Opolo-Elebele to the Igbogene gateway, initiated by the administration of Senator Seriake Dickson and completed by the Diri administration has also reduced traffic problems and enhanced the socio-economic lives of Bayelsans.

    Besides, the age-long bridge linking the ancient towns of Bassambiri-Nembe and Ogbolomabiri-Nembe, popularly called “Unity Bridge” which construction stopped years ago, has been completed. The Elebele Bridge, a major link which collapsed two years before he took over, has also been completed.

    Another people-oriented project which the Diri administration will be remembered for is his resolve to link up the hinterlands of the riverine communities by roads. Thus, the continual construction of three roads in the three senatorial districts which he partly inherited from his predecessors, which include Yenagoa to Oporoma-Ukubie, the Sagbama-Ekeremor Road and the Nembe-Brass Road. These are signature projects that will not only enhance the socio-economic lives of the rural dwellers, but will also curtail the twin problems of sea piracy and rural-urban drift.

    The completion of the Bayelsa International Airport which was in high debate over cost and usefulness has finally repositioned the state’s economic and transportation windows. The completion of the airport comes with a lot of benefits as well as places Bayelsa in the world map of flight operations. Diri aptly said during the inauguration flight that “This airport will take Bayelsa to the world and the world to Bayelsa”.

    This is in addition to the construction of major highway from the airport to Igbedi community in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local government area, which until now was accessible only by river craft. This has changed the socio-economic lives of the people for good.

    The Diri four years report card cannot be complete without reference to the huge investment made in the area of security. The administration referred to as “prosperity government” appreciates that there is a strong nexus between security and development. In this regard, he took several bold initiatives to confront the security challenges in the state.

    He first inaugurated a committee to promote community policing, by recruiting young men and women who were trained in the art of intelligence gathering to work with the state-owned vigilante outfit. It was set up to complement the role of the conventional police force and other security agencies with the broad spectrum towards nipping in the bud security concerns in the state.

    Also, the government embarked on demolition of illegal makeshift structures around the Tombia-Edepie round-about which until now was a notorious den for criminals and men of the underworld. Today, the area has been converted into a tourist’s delight with aesthetic beauty of light and redesigned structures. These measures have shored up the profile of the state as the most peaceful and secured state in the South-South region.

    So, it is not out of place to state the obvious, that the four-year first tenure was dedicated to reconstruction and redefining the state’s development narratives. Apart from the construction of over 70 internal roads, there is no government in the history of Bayelsa that has touched the lives of the rural dwellers as much as the Diri administration has done.

    This ranges from road construction, capacity building, building and rehabilitation of schools, to the empowerment of the vulnerable ones. The first tenure was captivating with clear vision of navigating the ship of the state to an anchor without betraying the confidence the people have reposed in him.

    While the transition bell continues to rings for the journey of his second tenure come February 14, the 2024 Budget which has already been passed has set the tone for consolidation and determination to do more with focus on education, life transforming projects, human capital development, electricity, and many others that are critical to changing the story of under development of the state has begun.

    Governor Diri is urged to redirect his infrastructural development periscope to the deployment of drones and circuit cameras for security control. Furthermore, the abandoned 18-storey tower hotel, Galleria Viewing Centre, the five-star hotels along Swali Road, the abandoned Peace Park, the abandoned shopping mall, should be looked into to avoid the resources invested become wastage.

    The governor should see the importance of construction of massive drainages from Ovom to Igbogene to control rain overflows in the capital. He should pay more attention to linking the Mbiama-Yenagoa Road across the canal with minimum of five bridges to expand the infrastructural development of the state capital for accessibility and decongestion.

    In summary, Diri should come up with a development plan that will stand out Bayelsa among other states comparatively and become a reference point. It could be in the area of health village, industry park, information technology hub, steady power supply, sustained fuel supply, portable water supply powered by dam, etc. This will make the state an investment destination.

    There is no doubt even ardent critics of the Diri administration have conceded that the government has done well and deserves a pat on the back. As we take stock of his performance in the last four years, we look forward to brighter days in Bayelsa and for Bayelsans.   

    Dr. Seiyaibo, Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), wrote from Yenagoa

  • As Uzodimma’s second term beckons

    As Uzodimma’s second term beckons

    By Oguwike Nwachuku

    Tomorrow, January 15, 2024, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, CON – Chairman, Progressives Governor’s Forum, Chairman, South East Governor’s Forum and Governor-General of South East (apology to APC Deputy National Chairman, South, Chief Emma Enekwu) – will be sworn in for a second term of another four years as Governor of Imo State.

    His first tenure of four years ended today, Sunday, January 14, 2024.

    The first time Uzodimma was sworn in as Governor was on January 15, 2020, a day after the Supreme Court ruled that he was the validly elected candidate in the 2019 Imo State governorship election despite the political shenanigans, mumbo jumbo and abracadabra that led to his being denied his rightful place ab initio.

    A lot had been said on the rigorous and painstaking court processes from the Tribunal to the Supreme Court where the Justices returned his stolen electoral mandate to him, to the joy of many Imo people. So, we won’t waste our time on what is already public knowledge.

    Our concern today is purely to evaluate some of Uzodimma’s superlative performances in his first four years in order to let us into what greater benefits await the good people of Imo as the journey for his second term in office commences.

    Uzodimma’s 3-Rs Shared Prosperity Government anchored on Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery is not just a slogan. It is a well conceived idea to cater to the immediate, medium and long term basic needs of Imolites who suffered mismanagement over the years in the hands of leaders, and wrecked and left without direction, as Uzodimma discovered on January 15, 2020 when he assumed office.

    Giant strides in the first four years

    Uzodimma’s giant strides during his first four years are seen everywhere, depending on where one is standing.

    However, as another term beckons today, what perceptive minds see loading is a consolidation of the foundation the Governor laid four years ago in all the sectors of the state’s economy.

    There is no way anyone cannot see Uzodimma’s legacies in the past four years.

    They are there, even for the blind to behold, including civil service reforms, education, commerce and industry, information, health, transportation, finance, budget and planning, environment, mines, solid minerals and petroleum, power, revenue generation, human capital development and youth empowerment, agriculture, industrial policy, digital economy/e-government, roads infrastructure, housing, lands and survey, tourism, culture and creative arts, labour, women affairs, justice, security, sports development, relationship with the other arms of government; among others.

    In all these areas, Uzodimma has created legacies of something to cheer and Imo people are grateful.

    His superlative performance in the past four years was the reason they massively voted for his reelection on November 11, 2023, such that the Governor won in all the 27 local government areas of the state, a feat no democratically elected Governor, living or dead, has achieved.

    In four years, Imo under Uzodimma witnessed a phenomenal economic leap and it is worth mentioning what the economic score card looks like as he takes another oath of office today.

    Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Debt Management Office (DMO) and the World Bank show that under Uzodimma’s watch, Imo State emerges the fourth biggest economy in Nigeria with the following metrics:

    . A Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of N7.658 trillion

    .The 11th best place for business and investments in Nigeria

    . An Ease of Doing Business ranking of 11/36 states and the Federal Capital Territory

    .The highest density of hospitality industry in Nigeria

    .The largest palm oil plantation in West Africa

    .The biggest natural gas reserve in West Africa

    .The state’s real estate, especially the Owerri Metropolis Land and Properties, became one of the most sought after in terms of high return on investments in Nigeria.

    . Imo was rated the toast of the South East and South South states, and the investment destination for the Diaspora, as well as the entertainment hub, leisure and tourism capital of Nigeria.

    Read Also; Wandering in the desert

    Care for public sector workers

    Uzodimma does not believe that routine payment of salaries of civil servants and pension to retirees should be the yardstick to measure a government’s performance.

    He introduced reforms in the civil service that took into consideration, the seamless payment of salaries and pensions via an automated payroll system; free bus shuttle; free medicals, including health insurance scheme; official vehicles for Permanent Secretaries; capacity training/retraining of workers; elevation of workers whose promotions were stagnated for more than 12 years and the introduction of the 13th month salary, the first time in the history of Imo State, et al.

    His foray into road infrastructure, including junction renewals and beautification, did not just stop with the signature roads of Owerri-Orlu; Owerri-Okigwe; Owerri- Mbaise-Obowo-Umuahia; Oguta-Mgbidi-Omuma-Akata-Opkoro Orlu Road, Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport to Owerri-Aba Road, MCC-Toronto-Road Safety road, and others which were commissioned by former President

    Muhammadu Buhari, his Vice Yemi Osinbajo, and then Senate President, Ahmed Lawal, among other top government functionaries.

    Uzodimma also paid attention to inner city roads like: Dick Tiger Street; Concorde Boulevard junction by Port Harcourt Road; Muhammadu Buhari Drive (formerly Federal Secretariat Road); Fire Service junction improvement, Douglas Road to Naze junction; Government House junction improvement, Imo State University junction; Okporo-Omuma Road; Stadium Road, Okigwe;

    Oparanozie-Edede-Amaigbo Street; Umuahia Street; Lake Nwaebere Stree; Olokoro Street; Okeikpe Street; Arugo Street; Egbema Street; Ngwa Street; JP Ajaelu Street; Thomas Moore Street; Gozie Nwachukwu Street; Archdeacon Dennis Road, Aladinma; Assumpta/Ibari Ogwa/ Port Harcourt Road; Dick Tiger Street; Golden Child Road; Egbema/Adapalm/Obosima Road; St. Joseph Catholic Church Road, Orlu; St. Mary’s Okigwe Roundabout, Okigwe; IMSUTH Road, Orlu; Chukwuma Nwoha Road; Naze-Nekede-Ihiagwa-Obinze Road (phase one); Akachi Road (Evan Enwerem Way); Relief Market Road; Ring Road Aladinma Housing Estate; Ring roads behind Concorde Hotel; Egbeada By-pass Road, among others.

    Also, Links Hotel Road; Pius Nwoga Road; Hospital junction; Umuguma to High Court Road; Bank Road/Assumpta Avenue; Emmanuel College to Pastoral Centre; Imo Police Headquarters Road; Nekede Old Road Bridge; Amakohia Flyover Road; Bishops Court Roundabout; Ebere Links end of new Government House Road; Amakohia-Onitsha (DSS Road); Works Road by Bala Suya; Bank Road/Assumpta Avenue; Cherubim junction to Owerri Club Road; Ahiajoku Centre-Port Harcourt Road; Umezuruike-Warehouse Road; Ihitte Ogada-Awaka-Emekuku-Ekemmegbuoha; Old Road Nekede-Area H junction; Nwa­chukwu Orizu extension; Umuguma-Port Harcourt Road-Holy Rosary International College; Uchenna Bus stop; Ring Road in Irete, Umuguma Last Roundabout Road; Industrial Layout (Celestine Izunobi Crescent); Nwachukwu Orizu by World Bank Road; Holy Trinity-World Bank Road; Ejimkeonye Street, among others.

    Uzodimma also tackled head-on the flooding in Owerri that was not just a recurring decimal, but made most landlords to abandon their property while their tenants relocated to other cities.

    A novel flood control mechanism, a balloon-driven technology, was deployed by his government to deal decisively with flash floods and today, Owerri is completely rid of the menace.

    The signature road projects did not stop the Governor from embarking on the construction of 135-kilometre local roads across the 27 local government areas of the state.

    Uzodimma believes that linking urban roads that are critical corridors to the local government roads will provide synergy between Imo’s external and internal neighbours and help stimulate economic activities and social life in the state.

    Brand new edifices take centre stage

    It was not all about roads in four years.

    Uzodimma also built brand new edifices which include Executive Chambers, Banquet Hall, First Lady’s Office, Imo State House of Assembly Complex, General Hospitals in Omuma, Oguta and Ohaji/Egbema, court complexes in Owerri West and Oru East, markets, schools, Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport night lighting facility, Air Force Base barracks, Naval Base, and more.

    His relationship with the other arms of government is not only cordial, but fosters trust between the three arms of government in a way that the immeasurable benefits rob off on the people.

    In the early days of Uzodimma’s administration when he discovered that Judges in Imo State did not have official vehicles, he quickly provided vehicles for all of them, extending same to Magistrates.

    He restored seniority in the appointments of heads of units in the judiciary, a system that was bastardised before his assumption of office in 2020.

    Health for all

    Uzodinmma cited 305 Health Centres in all the 305 electoral wards in Imo, which are being complemented with Mobile Clinics equipped with modern facilities and drugs and manned by professional healthcarers.

    The primary purpose is to cater to the health needs of rural dwellers as healthcare delivery is key to socio-economic wellbeing of the people.

    Three state-of-the-art General Hospitals in Omuma, Oguta and Ohaji Egbema that Uzodimma commissioned recently are to work in synergy with existing Teaching Hospitals – Imo State University Teaching Hospital and Federal University of Technology, Owerri Teaching Hospital – to serve the people well.

    Today, all year round free medical mission, involving medical experts in the United States of America and other parts of Europe in conjunction with the Imo State government, has become routine. In the same vein, millions of Imolites are today benefiting from the free Imo State health insurance scheme, courtesy of Uzodimma.

    When Coronavirus hit the world like a tsunami, Imo under Uzodimma, was one of the few states in Nigeria that managed the pandemic properly and recorded low deaths.

    Funding education

    Despite global economic downturn, Uzodimma funds Imo’s six tertiary institutions – Imo State University, Owerri; University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo; Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Ogboko; Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Imo State Polytechnic, Omuma and Ben Uwajimogu College of Education, Ihitte Uboma.

    During the long strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which almost crippled the university system two years ago, no single lecturer in any of the above institutions was owed a dime by the Uzodimma administration.

    His response to those who wonder how he performs the magic of funding many institutions is, “Where there is a will, there must be a way. We are investing in the future of our youths who will in turn sustain us and the state.”

    Uzodimma has also invested hugely in primary and secondary schools to the extent that recently, he commissioned through the Imo State Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB), the renovation and equipping of 305 primary and secondary schools in the political wards in Imo.

    It is not just about renovating and equipping schools, he takes seriously the training and retraining of teachers.

    His plan to employ about 10,000 teachers in the state’s teaching service is anchored on the fact that the new teachers will impart great knowledge to students using modern teaching techniques and competencies.

    Tackling unemployment

    Another area Governor Uzodimma has left a big mark in the psyche of Imo people is in the empowerment of youths through the Digital Economy and E-Government Ministry.

    Currently, about 100,000 youths have been trained and empowered with start-up kits and capital under the Skill-Up Imo programme and the Governor’s target is to take 300,000 youths or more out of unemployment by the end by the end of his second term.

    “By empowering these youths, we are shielding them from crime, especially from the clutches of unscrupulous politicians who would want to use them to achieve their selfish and often nefarious aims.

    “Government has spent more than N10 billion in this empowerment exercise. I would like to express my gratitude to the Central Bank of Nigeria and other development partners who have walked with us in this journey,” Uzodimma said.

    Through his Shared Prosperity administration, Imo State, as shown in the 2024 Budget of Renewed Economic Growth, will vigorously pursue her 2024-2034 Development Plan and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework where all the socio-economic parameters that will define the scope of her development in the nearest, medium, or long term, gain traction.

    This has become possible because of Uzodimma’s visionary, pragmatic and transformational leadership skills that are at play.

    Benefits worth celebrating

    Uzodimma’s first four years in office produced huge benefits that are worth celebrating, such as reconstructed intercity and urban roads, recovery of Adapalm, recovery of Imo Standard Shoe Industry, restoration of the Ottamiri Water Scheme abandoned by previous administrations, rebuilding of the Imo State Secretariat and House of Assembly Complex, upgrade of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri to a Teaching Hospital for Federal University of Technology, Owerri, upgrade of Alvan Ikoku College of Education to Federal University of Education, recovery of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Ogboko, establishment of University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, revival of Ben Uwajimogu College of Education, Ihitte Uboma, creation of Imo State Polytechnic, Omuma, revalidation of the accreditation of the College of Medicine, Imo State University and Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in Orlu and Aboh Mbaise, dredging of Oguta Lake/Orashi River to the Atlantic Ocean, et cetera.

    Under Uzodimma, Imo received $30 million from a World Bank initiative – the State Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) – for accountability and transparency in fiscal budgetary processes.

    The state has also keyed into the Hope Green Revolution, an acronym that would drive a money-spinning Imo Environment Laboratory and Waste Recycling initiative, under the Sustainable Trans-Environment International Foundation (STEI), to reduce green house gas emissions, among other development partnership initiatives on agribusiness involving the African Development Bank (AfDB).

    Uzodimma’s love for law and order also played out in the past four years and brought to the fore his experience as an astute lawmaker. He initiated no fewer than 30 Executive Bills and signed them into laws after they were passed by the State House of Assembly.

    The Bills include but not limited to: Imo State Revenue (Amendment) Law No.1 of 2020; Imo State

    Administration of Criminal Justice Law No.2 of 2020; Imo State Waste Management Agency Law No.5 of 2020; Imo State Governor’s Pension and Privileges (Repeal) Law No.8 of 2020; Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law No.8 of 2021; Imo Security Organisation (IMSO) Law No.2 of 2021.

    Governor Uzodimma’s second tenure will be used to consolidate on the gains of the past four years in security, peace, infrastructure, agriculture, transportation, youth and women empowerment, poverty alleviation, transparency and accountability in government, political inclusiveness codified in the Imo Charter of Equity, and many others as they affect all sectors of society.

    He proclaimed that much in his 2024 New Year broadcast.

    His emphasis on efficient and transparent administration with equity and justice as the banner says a lot about his second term mindset.

    Also, the 2024 budget of N592 billion with N491 billion or 83 per cent earmarked for capital expenditure underpins Uzodimma’s intention to continue working assiduously to enhance the infrastructure development base of Imo and consequently, equitable sharing of prosperity to the people.

    His words: “Working harder in the coming years, exceeding my previous efforts, will no doubt justify that confidence. In this respect, I am glad to announce that we are determined to beat our own records in governance.

    “Already, the march towards the actualization of that vision has started with the 2024 budget, which I recently signed into law. Out of the budget of N592 billion, N491 billion or 83 percent is for capital expenditure, while N100 billion or 17 percent is for recurrent expenditure.

    “The practical interpretation of the budget is that if we built 20 roads in 2023, we are going to build 40 in 2024. If we empowered 2,000 youths in 2023, 4,000 youths should take their turn in 2024.

    “With this capital expenditure-centred budget, there shall be an avalanche of projects in Imo State in 2024. This harvest of projects will always be evenly and equitably sited in the 27 local government areas of our state.

    “Now that the election, which I believe was the remote and immediate cause of the politically contrived insecurity in the state, has been won and lost, I plead with all and sundry to sheath their swords and work in harmony with my administration to deliver more democracy dividends to our people.

    “I reiterate that my administration will be more inclusive and there will be enough room for all. Like I earlier said, we need a renewed love, a renewed hope, and renewed economic growth for our state so as to usher in peace and progress and prosperity for all.

    “As outlined in the 2024 budget, Imo is going to witness a tremendous improvement in infrastructure and development in all facets of the state this year. I want Imo people to be rest assured that my performance in the second tenure, which begins in January 2024, will dwarf the achievements of my first tenure. Read my lips and hold me by my words.

    “This is why my administration will not brook any form of corruption in the public sector. Every kobo belonging to Imo State must be deployed to work for Imo people. Public service must be seen as a call to work for the people and not an opportunity to loot their common patrimony. Public office holders under my watch must adhere to this simple protocol or be forced out.

    “Let me use the opportunity of the new year to urge our religious and traditional rulers to continue to pray and work hard for the sustenance of peace in our state.

    Those who feel aggrieved one way or another should embrace peace. We all need to work together for the interest of our state.

    “This is a new dawn where the lines of division or politics shall remain blurred.

    We are now on the threshold of history, working in concert for the development of our state and our people. Let us come together and work together as one people with one objective, which is to make Imo State better and greater. Let us not forget that this is our one and only state.”

    “The only reason we have joined politics is to have the opportunity to serve our People,” Uzodimma will keeps saying.

    Governor Uzodimma has always reiterated this promise and I doubt if he is prepared to renege on it.

    To say that he would pay greater attention to the dredging of Oguta Lake/Orashi river to the Atlantic Ocean as well as the realisation of the approval for the establishment of an oil and gas Free Trade Zone for Imo State in his second term is to say the least.

    He is aware that both projects are at the heart of the long awaited economic boom in Imo in particular and the South East in general, taking into consideration all the economic corridors and safety security nets in the zone.

    Keeping the oath of office

    More importantly, Uzodimma is aware that the projects, by implication, are the consummation of the shared prosperity lingo that the people have long bought into.

    He has kept faith with the people of Imo State on the oath he took four years ago and one doubts if he will do anything to the contrary. Not even when he reminds whoever cares to listen about the covenant he had with God regarding his governorship.

    The oath Uzodimma took before God before the one he took on January 15, 2020 remains germane even as he takes another oath today.

    He said: “While I was praying to be the Governor of Imo State, I promised God that if He made me Governor I will use the position to work honestly for the good of the people. God has done his part by making me the Governor and it was now left to me to do my own part.

    “I have not come to grab or steal your money. I have come to work for you instead. Consequently, I charge you to beam your searchlight on me and if you find that I took your property or money, you should immediately raise the alarm.”

    Speaking at the Imo Stakeholders meeting on January 5, 2023, the fourth in the series, Uzodimma reminded the people again of his covenant with God regarding his governorship.

    “It is almost three years since I made these profound declarations and assurances, the question I now ask you is: have I kept faith with my promises? Let me reiterate that those declarations and assurances of 2020 still subsist.

    “They will continue to subsist for all the period of my governorship. I repeat, also, that if you find me reneging on these promises, you should not hesitate to raise the alarm.

    “I can only add that by the grace of God Almighty who made me Governor, I will not fail Him or Imo people, who voted for me. I will continue to serve you to the utmost of my ability, in truth and the fear of God,” he pledged.

    Love Uzodimma or hate him, what, perhaps, marks him out from the genre of leaders who superintended over the affairs of Imo State before him, is his passion for service based on open, transparent, credible, inclusive and accountable governance model.

    That remains the magic wand with which he has built trust with the people, the government at all levels, the Church, the international community and the development partners. And that will continue to be his staying power in politics as long as his story continues beyond today’s swearing in for second term.

    Nwachuku is the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to Governor Uzodimma.

  • Afolabi: When philanthropy becomes second nature

    Afolabi: When philanthropy becomes second nature

    By Sunday Saanu

    The capacity-filled Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Law Auditorium of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, literally shook to its foundations as soon as his name was mentioned for honour, with the mammoth audience spontaneously went into frenzy, roaring in acknowledgment of his accomplishments, significance, relevance as well as his contributions to the society through various philanthropies. In response to the tumultuous validation however, with  a calm and cool mien, a face wizened by wisdom, experience and exposure; he rose to his feet as his loaded and enviable profile was to be read out, preparatory to the conferment of honorary degree.

    His superlative fame, based on his uncommon achievements; has obviously assumed a very meteoric and dazzling level, attributed to the sages in the crucible history of mankind. Indeed, Barrister Dr. Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi (CON) who was one of the three eminent Nigerians celebrated recently by Ajayi Crowther University (ACU) on its 15th convocation ceremonies with the conferment of honorary degree (honoris causa) is one of the diamonds that continue to shine luminously in the Nigerian landscape with his giving hands, having been noticed in several areas of the socio-economic life of the nation.

    But who is he and what is his pedigree? Barr. Afolabi is the Chief Executive Officer of SIFAX Nigeria Limited which has become a leader in ports and shipping with offices in Tema Ghana, Durban South Africa, Houston USA, Rotterdam Belgium and London.

    His company was the leader of the consortium that bidded for and won Port Harcourt Ports Terminal “A” in 2006. His company also won the concession of Tin Can Island Ports Terminal ‘C’. In addition, the company has also diversified into the aviation sector with the acquisition of the foremost aviation ground handling company, Skypower Aviation Handling Company Ltd., through its subsidiary, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, in a competitive bidding process supervised by the Bureau of Public Enterprises.

    Born in Ondo state to the family of Chief and Chief (Mrs.) Samson Afolabi, Barr. Afolabi is a native of Idokunusi, Ijebu in the Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State. He started his educational pursuit at Ansar Ud Deen Primary School in Ondo and proceeded to Baptist Grammar School, Ibadan where he obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC). 

    Read Also; “Frank Kokori is here!!”

    His quest for higher education led him to the University of Lagos, where he obtained first and second degree in Law. He began his working career with a shipping outfit, The Nigerian Express Agency Ltd  (NEAL), where he became an outstanding young manager in Shipping Operation and Ports Management before travelling abroad to study Shipping Management.  Barr. Afolabi came back and worked with the same company as its Head of Operations. However, because of his burning desire and passion for the development of the maritime sector, he left NEAL in 1988 to establish his own company – SIFAX.

    The story of this handsome man of means is a story of remarkable achievements, uncommon courage, dedication, discipline and phenomenal philanthropy as he has consistently used his voice for kindness, his ears for compassion, his hands for generosity, his mind for gratitude and his heart for love towards humanity.

    For instance, Barr. Afolabi who has been supporting education all over the place built a 1,000-capacity auditorium for Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso a few years back when his intervention was sought in addressing infrastructural deficits in the university. He moved from Ogbomoso to Ife and donated a new 18-seater bus to the medical student association of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.

    He has also been sponsoring, in the last six years, the free rural medical mission of the dental students of the University of Ibadan.  Students of the University of Lagos have also benefitted from his benevolence too. He has sponsored the Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime Conference (TAAM), a conference which is meant to cultivate the interests of students in sub-Sahara Africa in the maritime sector. This conference alongside a Blueprint competition for students in the Law faculty in various universities have helped to shape the knowledge of the students in maritime law.

    As a practical demonstration of his philanthropic commitment, Barr. Afolabi established a foundation known as Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation (AAAF) which focuses on education, health, entrepreneurship and empowerment. Taking a kaleidoscopic view of this Foundation, however, it is on record that AAAF in 2023 paid tuition fees of 217 scholars who are children of the widows in the society. On health, the AAAF offered over 500 patients a range of services in eye care, dental care, treatment of malaria, typhoid, cancer, diabetes, hypertension.

    Barr. Afolabi’s philosophy is predicated on the belief that happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give, thus, touching every life on his way with love unfeigned. He therefore remains the light by which several groping feet are guided. His selflessness, however, is so discernible to the point that many people have something positive to say about his altruistic disposition. Fair and firm moralist of high social standing, Barr. Afolabi believes that Nigeria cannot realise her true potential until the country subscribes to the principles of morality, accountability, transparency and responsibility.

    On why he accepted ACU’s honour, hear him, ” I have received this kind of honour from about five universities, both locally and internationally. But this one is special because of the ownership and vision of the ACU, being a faith-based university owned by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and with a mandate of producing graduates who are imbued with the fear of God and a sense of service to humanity, I am particularly glad that I am a recipient of this honour from an institution that cares about the enthronement of morality and ethics – two key values that have been badly eroded in our public life in the last few decades”

    Barr. Afolabi has contributed immeasurably towards the betterment of the society as he lifts humanity out of poverty within the scope of his wealth. He has offered employment to all manner of people without prejudice to their social status, tribe, religion, creed or colour. As he provides strength in distress across the country. Perhaps the thrust of his preaching is that those who have been blessed should rise and be blessings to the less-privileged in this poverty capital of the world. May God continue to replenish this votary of truth as he continues to assist the needy.

    Saanu (08034073427) who is with Ajayi Crowther University on sabbatical is Media Assistant to the Vice Chancellor. Email: sundaysaanu@gmail.com.

  • Ivory towers and professors of practice

    Ivory towers and professors of practice

    By Kehinde Yusuf

    Oxford Languages defines ‘ivory tower’ as “a state of privileged seclusion or separation from the facts and practicalities of the real world.” The dictionary illustrates the use of the expression with the phrase, “the ivory tower of academia”. This definition implies that an unsavoury gulf exists between what academics do and what in real terms benefits society. In Nigeria, this dislocation between theoretical engagements and practical realities has been increasingly regarded as one of the limitations of current scholarship and has been cited as a challenge to the appointability of the country’s university graduates. To address the problem, universities have designed and incorporated one form or the other of practical attachment into the training of undergraduates.

    Alternatively, some universities, globally-speaking, appoint Professors of Practice. According to Durham University in the U.K., Professors of Practice/Professors in Practice “are experienced professionals across a wide variety of disciplines and sectors, who share their skills and knowledge directly with students, bringing public distinction and practical insights to the classroom. The initiative provides the opportunity for the University’s faculty to directly connect with business practice and public policy, enabling their research to have an actionable, positive impact on society.” Cardiff University, also in the U.K., states as follows: “A Professor of Practice is a specialist role within the University developed to facilitate the employment of exceptional individuals able to provide Schools/Colleges with knowledge and leadership from their current and extensive experience within the relevant professional discipline within industry and business. Such roles are designed to facilitate greater integration of industrial/business leaders (including the professional practice subject area) into education programmes offered by the University.”

    In the U.S., the University of Kansas declares: “’Professors of the Practice’ are non-tenure track faculty who possess the expertise and achievements to provide professional instruction in a manner that brings distinction to the appointing School/College and the University.” The University of California, Santa Barbara, notes that “appointees provide faculty, undergraduate students, and graduate students with an understanding of the practical applications of a particular field of study. Professors of Practice teach courses, advise students, and collaborate in areas directly related to their expertise and experience.” While specifying that there are three categories of such appointees – “Assistant Professor of Practice”, “Associate Professor of Practice” and “Professor of Practice” – Indeed.com states, as follows, with respect to supplementary criteria for appointment: “Other criteria may include professional awards and honors, experience in offering consultancy to government organizations regarding their specializations and leadership positions in highly respective professional guilds.”

    The following, from Texas A&M University, is a quite elucidating example of the significance of Professors of Practice: “Imagine sitting in a Texas A&M University aerospace engineering class. You raise your hand to ask your professor a question about zero gravity. Your professor answers your question with a personal anecdote. That’s because she is a former astronaut with five spaceflight experiences. This is what you can expect when you learn from a Texas A&M College of Engineering professor of practice.” Such Professors of Practice also help remarkably with curriculum innovation and updating, and are expected to facilitate significant linkages between the university and external establishments.

    In 2023, the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), joined the global trend by appointing Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN, as a Professor of Practice in Law. While speaking at a celebration of the iconic appointment organised by Emeritus Professor of Geology, Professor M.A.O. Rahaman, at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, the honoree’s Alma Mater, on 7 January, 2024, the Vice-Chancellor of FUOYE, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, noted that the factors on which the appointment was based included the fact that the appointee had been a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and as such had reached the acme of his profession since 1997. In the profession, he had been involved in many high-profile court cases. He was part of the legal team that challenged the legality of the purported impeachment of Governor Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo State. The team won the case, and the impeachment was reversed by the court. He was also part of the legal team of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the cases instituted by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi and the Allied Peoples’ Movement challenging the victory of the President in the 25 February, 2023 presidential election. His team won the case and the President’s victory was upheld by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

    Read Also; “Frank Kokori is here!!”

    Another factor for the appointment, according to the Vice-Chancellor, was that the appointee had shown a flair for scholarship by publishing a respectable number of scholarly articles and books. The books include: Anatomy of Corruption in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Solutions; The Supreme Court and Jurisprudence of the Right to a Fair Hearing in Nigeria and Public-Private Partnerships in Nigeria: An Essential Guide for Stakeholders. Moreover, he had been teaching pro bono as an Associate Lecturer in Law at the University of Ilorin for around two decades. Professor Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN, has, in addition, been the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Osun State University, and he is the immediate past-Chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria (COPSUN). He has also been a member of the Board of Trustees of Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, and is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.

    Professor Ali has rendered distinguished professional services at various times to various entities. He was the Chairman of the Kwara State Law Reform Committee and the pioneer Chairman, Council of Public Defenders, Kwara State. He also served as Sole Judge of the Kwara State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal in 1996; Member, Kwara State Local Government Election Appeal Tribunal in 1997; Life Member, Body of Benchers; Member of Council, Commonwealth Lawyers Association; Member, Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee of the Body of Benchers; former Vice-Chairman of the International Bar Association Committee on Damages and Negligence; and Member, NBA Ilorin Council of Elders. In addition, Professor Ali has served and is still serving on the boards of many companies.

    Professor Ali’s membership of a range of professional associations was also a factor of note. These include the Nigerian Bar Association, the International Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. He had also been conferred with honours such as Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) (UK); Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) (Nigeria); Member, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN); Fellow, Society for Peace Studies and Practice (FSPSP); Fellow, Dispute Resolution Institute (FDRI); and Honorary Fellow, Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS).

    His extensive philanthropy under the Yusuf O. Ali (YOA) Foundation includes the donation of a fully-equipped court complex to the Osun State Judiciary; rehabilitation and upgrade of two High Court rooms and ancillary facilities at the Kwara State High Court complex, Ilorin; a 40-bed-space twin dormitory to the University of Ilorin; an 80-bed hostel to Osun State University; a 20-room luxurious hostel to Fountain University, Osogbo; endowment of the Crescent University, Abeokuta, College of Law Building; a 30-unit ICT centre to the College of Law, Crescent University, Abeokuta; a 30-unit ICT centre to the Faculty of Law, OAU, Ile-Ife; a 40-unit e-Resource centre to Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin; a 10-bed fully-equipped advanced trauma centre to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; the provision of multi-million naira mobility aids to persons with disabilities; and a patrol vehicle and some units of patrol motorcycles to the Nigerian Police, Kwara State Command.

     It has also been acknowledged that Professor Ali has been duly conferred with the following, among other honours: Police-Friendly Award 2009 by the Kwara State Police Command; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) of Fountain University, Osogbo; Doctor of Science Degree (Honoris Causa), in Public Administration, by Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State; Recipient of Osun State Merit Award at the 30th anniversary of the creation of the State; and Award of recognition as an accomplished professional by the Government of Kwara State at the 50th year celebration of the State in 2017.

    Considering all of the foregoing, the Vice-Chancellor of FUOYE judged Professor Ali’s appointment as “an honour deserved”. The rewards guaranteed by this exemplary appointment include the unique exposure of both students and lecturers of the Faculty of Law at FUOYE to the benefits of a long-term practical experience of a personage who has not only reached the top of the profession, but has also earned a reputation for being a fearless, cerebral, erudite and diligent lawyer who has vast experience in various areas of the profession.  One other guaranteed area of reward to FUOYE is in his university administrative leadership experience. But the benefits of this distinguished appointment are not one-way. As a win-win appointment, it would be immensely beneficial to Professor Ali himself. It would give him increased access to current intellectual thoughts on legal issues. It would also be invaluable to him with the respect to the excitement that comes with doing something significantly new and more refreshing.

     Going down memory lane, the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of University of Uyo, pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Crescent University, Abeokuta, pioneer Head of Fountain University, Osogbo, retired Professor of Agricultural Engineering at OAU, and Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Professor Fola Lasisi, recalled how the concept of Professor of Practice was utilised, by OAU’s famous second Vice-Chancellor, Professor Hezekiah Oluwasanmi, to ensure the greatness of the University of Ife (now OAU), Ile-Ife. According to him, “The first one was Professor of Law here – Professor Odumosu – [who] was not an academic. He was brought here as a Professor from practice … [and became] the first Professor of Law [at O.A.U.]. The first Head of Chemistry Department … was Director in [an establishment] in London. He was brought here as Professor of Chemistry. The fellow who started the Faculty of Administration, Professor Adedeji, … was also in practice. He was brought in here as Professor of Management. Professor Igun was also brought here from [being] the Director of Statistics with government to be the Professor of Demography and Social Statistics …” Professor Lasisi therefore commended the Vice-Chancellor of FUOYE for treading the forward-looking path.

    As our universities continue to explore innovative measures to enhance students’ training, lecturers’ advancement and institutional growth, the appointment of Professors of Practice is a welcome initiative. It is hoped that this noble academic initiative would not be profaned through the indiscriminate appointment of people who crave the prestige of the distinguished title, but cannot deliver on the legitimate expectations of the highly elevated appointment. A Yoruba idiom calls a person of such misalignment “Ẹni tí wọ́n fi j’oyè àwòdì tí ò lè gbé adìẹ.” (‘One who has been conferred with the title of ‘Kite’, but who cannot carry a chick.’)  

  • Uzodimma: The story continues

    Uzodimma: The story continues

    By Ethelbert Okere

    On January 15, 2020, Senator Hope Uzodimma was sworn in as the 7th democratically elected governor of Imo state.  Shortly after the oath-taking, Uzodimma proceeded to give his inaugural speech, which can be encapsulated in the following extraction: “I shall execute with utmost diligence and fidelity the five cardinal programmes of my administration anchored on Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery to ensure prosperity for all”.

    Governor Uzodimma was to further adumbrate on his “prosperity for all mantra” when, in his maiden broadcast to the people on January 18, 2020, he said: “Our new Imo state will enshrine a new shared prosperity in which the common wealth of the people is made available for the good of all”.

    Now, four years after and on the eve of taking up the renewed mandate handed over to him by the people on November 11, 2023, some skeptics are wont to ask: Did Governor Uzodimma share prosperity among his people in Imo state? While the answer to the above question cannot be a straight “Yes” or “No”, it even ought not arise in the first instance since nobody, no matter how powerful, can decree or distribute “prosperity”. The answer to the question, therefore, is that Governor Uzodimma might not have turned every household in Imo state into an Eldorado but there can be no doubt that in the four years during which he exercised his first mandate, he set the stage for a take off into sustainable prosperity of the Imo collective.

    Uzodimma’s “Shared Prosperity” agenda is essentially aimed at lifting a substantial proportion of the Imo population out of poverty through the following: reduction of hunger, provision of good health facilities, provision of qualitative education, provision of portable water and clean environment, revival of infrastructure, gender equality, higher productivity, skills acquisition, increase in agricultural production etc. So much has been written on the giant strides made by the administration in the aforementioned sectors in its first four years but what is more germane at this point in time is the fact that the governor is already targeting at a stronger and wider macro socio-economic framework within which to further pursue his Shared Prosperity vision; and the signs for this become quite glaring even with a cursory look at his 2024 budget proposal and which he aptly christened, “Budget of Renewed Growth”.

    Read Also; CBN moves to decongest head office

    Of the total of 582.2 billion naira budget, 491.2 billion naira, representing 82.9 percent of the total budget, will be on capital expenditure. Apart from that the 82.9 per cent represents the highest allocation to capital expenditure in the budget history of the state, it translates to a 32 per cent increase in capital expenditure compared with the previous year. Of course, it needs no exaggeration to state that such a gigantic allocation to capital expenditure is a clear indication that the governor is poised for a steadfast and unrelenting pursuit of his determination to stimulate and fast-track economic growth in the state. This very ambitious capital outlay for fiscal 2024, is, according to the governor, part of a 10-year development plan which focuses on the proposed Orashi Free Trade Zone  together with Orashi River dredging project, youth empowerment, agriculture etc, as a paradigm shift for massive economic growth within the period under focus.

    The proposed sea access route from Oguta Lake through the Orashi river to the Atlantic has been described by those who are in position to know a “game changer” for Imo state in particular, and Nigeria, even the entire West African region, as a whole. The project, which was initiated, approved and set in motion under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is a collaboration between the Imo state government, the Nigerian Navy and a Consortium of technical partners. Speaking on the importance of the project at the flag-off of the pre-dredging hydraulic survey in May 2023, immediate past Vice President of the federal republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, said: “there are projects and there are projects but this project is unique. This is an economic transformation project; it is a game changer for Imo state, Nigeria and the West Coast of Africa. It is one of those one-of-a-kind projects whose benefits have always been glaring but vision, courage and tenacity were required to bring it to fruition. The project will fulfill its promise of radical transformation not only for the economy of the Southeast but for our nation as a whole”

    A few days before the flag-off, President Buhari had granted the request by Governor Uzodimma to declare Oguta/Ohaji/Egbema and its environ as an Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone. The proposed Free Trade Zone has one of the largest hydrocarbon deposits in the country. According to experts, the synergy between the proposed sea route and the Free Trade Zone will deliver enormous commercial benefits for the entire Southeast zone and Imo state in particular.

    Outside the Oguta-Orashi river dredging project, Governor Uzodimma has also mapped out other avenues through which he will, in the next four years, pursue his aggressive job creation programme. Already, his Skill-Up Imo programme has also been described as second to none. The programme is designed to provide free training and support to 300,000 youths – within a period of three years –  in new, innovative and economically viable skills needed for them to be productively employed or to be self employed. This programme was preceded by the creation of a Ministry of Digital Economy and E-governance  by the Uzodimma administration, making Imo the only state to do so in the entire federation. The creation of the ministry was in line with the governor’s vision to introduce a digital economic blueprint fashioned out to enhance the state’s economic development in accordance with global best practice.

    The first batch of 15 thousand trainees graduated in September 2023 at a ceremony at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri. At that occasion Governor Uzodimma pronounced that his administration will continue to provide empowerment opportunities for the youths of the state, citing the importance of technology in wealth creation: “… Imo state is set to become the digital hub of Nigeria and Africa”, he told the audience. 

    Special guest of honour at the ceremony, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh, and chairman of the partnering company, Zinox Technologies, in a remark eulogized Governor Uzodimma for the enduring legacy he has brought to bear with the digital empowerment programme. “It is unprecedented. You can quote me. I do not know what inspired the governor. He has put a futuristic  system in place … I am excited with what the governor is doing. This is not the first time. The first time was, 5000 youths. Today, 15,000 youths. I am a witness and we are all witnesses to this ambition to create digital natives… what His Excellency has done today, it will even be difficult for the federal government to achieve in such a short period of time”. Turning to the graduands, Ekeh, a Forbes Best of Africa Leading Tech Icon, said: “if I am one of you today, I will take that tool, go home, invite my parents, brothers and sisters and hold hands and pray for the governor, his family and his government”.

    Several participants in the Skill-Up programme, have caught the attention of global tech organizations who are encouraged by the contents and processes of the programme. Already, representatives of some of these tech giants in Europe, Canada and Singapore have visited the 3R Digital Learning Centre in Owerri, which has been described as a “Centre of Excellency”. Subsequently, some of the companies have expressed interest in partnering with the Imo state government in a programme that will see some of its graduates participating in an exchange scheme in order to further sharpen their skill for competition at the global level.

    In the next four years, Governor Uzodimma will have his hands full with how to ensure that he meets the expectations of people of Imo state, especially the youths, who are very much excited and enthusiastic about the prospects of the Skill-Up programme. In simple terms, this particular project is one of his covenants with Ndi Imo as he goes into his second term in office.

  • Why resolving the Palestine-Israel conflict requires more than grandstanding

    Why resolving the Palestine-Israel conflict requires more than grandstanding

    By Tiko Okoye

    There could be real peace,” averred French critic an poet Paul Valery, “only if everyone were satisfied. That means there’s not often a real peace. There are only actual states of peace which, like wars, are mere expedients.” Those who tend to vigorously shake their heads in indignation to signal their visceral disagreement with the dictum that the worst peace is preferable to the most just war consequently cannot deny the wisdom embedded in the old Danish proverb that holds that “Bad is never good until worse happens.”     

    It ought to be immensely clear to both Hamas and Israel by now that bad has since become worse. If indeed Israel has been using other stratagems to intimidate and subdue Palestinians in an area that’s one-quarter the size of the Federal Capital Territory, and with a population of only 2.2 million, and fallen short, what then gives it the mind-blowing confidence that an outright invasion will do the trick, especially against the background of what’s clearly happening in Ukraine?

    Apart from the massive degradation of infrastructures, 22,000 Palestinians – mostly women and children and relatively small number of Hamas militants – are said to have been killed as at yesterday, constituting 1% of the population of Gaza. Did you dismissively say “just 1%?” Let’s then put things in a starker perspective by considering ‘just’ the USA and Nigeria with their estimated populations of 336 million and 226 million respectively. 1% of America’s population implies 3.36 million fatalities, while Nigeria’s case will be 2.26 million!

    Now this: in the case of Nigeria, it would amount to the population of several states on a standalone basis, and in the case of the US it would be almost equivalent to the total number of Americans – both combat and non-combat personnel – killed in ALL major wars combined since its declaration of independence about 300 years ago! Actual figures in thousands are: War of Independence – 23.8; Civil War – 520.0; WWI – 116.6; WWII – 405.4; Korea – 36.6; Vietnam – 58.2; Persian Gulf – 0.4; Afghanistan – 2.5; Iraq – 7.0; and COVID-19 – 1,165.2. Is this conscionable, regardless of the crime committed?

    Read Also; Confusion as sacked Plateau legislators vow to retake seats

    Netanyahu is obviously an unapologetic believer of English cleric and writer Charles Caleb Colton’s contention that “He that has gone so far as to cut the claws of the lion, will not feel himself quite secure until he has also drawn his teeth.” It’s crystal-clear that just like legendary Greek doctor and globally-acclaimed father of medicine Hippocrates did under a different set of circumstances, he’s fully persuaded that “Extreme remedies are very appropriate for extreme diseases.” Little wonder then that his hawkish cabinet seems determined to complete an ethnic cleansing project that would enable the resettlement of Jewish families on ‘captured’ land. What ultimately becomes of the West Bank is anybody’s guess!

    Those in the know assert that Netanyahu is on the verge of re-enacting the 1982 Gen. Ariel Sharon invasion of Lebanon with the aim of stamping out the Hezbollah menace once and for all as a way of opportunistically killing two birds with one stone and salvaging his tottering political career. Added to all of this is the shuttle diplomacy to Arab nations embarked on by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, ostensibly aimed at scuttling the expansion of the scope of the Hamas-Israel conflict, even as ominous dark clouds are gathering overhead, with Hezbollah, Houthis, Iran, Turkey, Israel, the UK and the US increasingly being caught up in a whirling vortex of assassinations and reprisal attacks.

    But while whether or not these measures are be enough to deter a beleaguered Netanyahu remains an open question, one question that’s settled is that peace is very much needed in that region. But in order to have any real chance of succeeding, the White House must dispense with the James Bond-like ‘007 licence’ it has granted Israel and crystallize a very creative way to forge a balance that would staunch snowballing internal party differences over the war in Gaza and abate the worrisome gathering storm posed by a potential massive loss of the youth vote.

    The foregoing is easier said than done in a US Presidential election year, considering the chokehold the Jewish lobby has on American politics by way of corralling a controlling stake in the media, Hollywood and banking and finance. Still, something quite unexpected seems to be happening that might impact the political calculus. 32nd US President Franklin D. Roosevelt once declared that “There is no group in America that can withstand the force of an aroused public opinion.”

    The ever-increasing worldwide spectacles of restive populations of university students and other youths protesting the horrifying scenes in the Gaza are reminiscent of era of the anti-Vietnam war protests and the Hippie Movement, epitomised by flagrant revolt against constituted authority and repudiation of established norms of societal behaviour. Not only did the lax handling of the unrest by Democrats force President Lyndon Johnson to abruptly renounce his re-election bid, it also caused his deputy and substitute, Hubert H. Humphrey, aka “the happy warrior” – an otherwise very popular senator from Minnesota – to be shellacked by Richard Nixon in the 1968 election.

    The video clip of the sombre presentation – along with chilling and blood-curdling evidences, including the allusion to a premeditated genocide-approving allusion to an “Amalekite Solution” – by the brilliant South African prosecutor at the World Court in the Hague, is bound to go viral, and Western nations advisedly start bracing up for intensifying protests. And Biden’s winning prospects in 2024 grow even dimmer. 

    The only credible way out for Biden and Democrats is to start demanding the cessation of the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza and creation of a self-sustaining, independent State of Palestine with the same intensity and force they have guaranteeing Israel’s right to exist. Failure to do so would see the lightning of 1968 make short work of political soothsayers by striking again in the same manner in 2024!  

    Truth be told, the world lost the best chance to foster an enduring peace in Palestine when the UN inexplicably failed to implement Resolution 181 of 29 November 1947 calling for the partition of the Palestine into two states, one Jewish and the other Arab, with an international, UN-run body specifically established to administer Jerusalem. 

    The path to peace in the Middle East is now strewn with a multiplicity of bobby traps with no room for grandstanding. In the first place, Israel mustn’t be allowed to get away with creating the same kind of non sequitur “independent” homelands the White apartheid regime in South Africa gratuitously granted Bantustans in South Africa. Just as the scheme miserably collapsed in South Africa, it will also fail to fly with Palestinians. A sovereign Palestine state must provide for contiguity between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to foster an effective administration. It would be preferable if the new State of Palestine has an unencumbered seaport of its own but it might have to cede part of northern West Bank to Israel.

    The custodianship of the area within which the holiest sites of three religious denominations are sited – the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and King Solomon’s Temple Mount – should be withdrawn from the Jordanian royal family – the Hashemites – and handed over to a UN agency.

    Millions of Palestinian refugees who live in the Diaspora as a consequence of the birthing of Israel must be resettled and appropriately compensated. Numerous UN General Assembly and Security Council Resolutions already affirm “the inalienable right of Palestinian refugees to return to their original homes” and “an overriding necessity for achieving a just settlement of the refugee problem” but Israel – with the solid backing of successive US administrations – have looked at these resolutions with contempt. There may consequently be the need to reform the manner in which Security Council members use their veto power, but this is a topic for another day.

    It is a great irony that the Jews who suffered so much persecution in Europe and were massacred in their millions by the evil Hitler Nazi government on the bases of race and creed feel neither empathy nor sympathy for what they are forcing Palestinians to experience.

    “You may call for peace as loudly as you wish,” bellowed Russian-born American newspaper editor Max Lerner, “but where there’s no brotherhood there can in the end be no peace.” The deep gulf of mutual distrust and reciprocal scepticism about the other party’s commitment to upholding obligations in an eventual bilateral agreement cannot be easily bridged, meaning that there must first be a buy-in by the Arab League. International ‘Peace Sheriffs’ – comprising the triad of China, Russia and the US – would have to stand as guarantors and enforcers of any peace agreement for a period not less than 50 years.

  • The significance of Tinubu’s first week of 2024

    The significance of Tinubu’s first week of 2024

    By Tunde Rahman

    There couldn’t have been a better predictor of what to expect from President Bola Tinubu in 2024 than the way and manner he began the New Year. For the President, 2024 started on a business like, work-filled note. While many were still savouring the New Year, the Nigerian leader cut short his Christmas/New Year holiday in Lagos on January 1, returned to Abuja to sign the N28.7 trillion 2024 Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly. It was his first assignment in the New Year. The way he did it demonstrated the seriousness and patriotic commitment he brings unto the exalted job.

    For him, nothing must stand on the way of the onerous responsibility bestowed on him. Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas were shocked to learn the President had returned to Abuja and ready to sign the budget.

    Since that first day of the year, it has been one impactful governance step and important decision after another. Indeed, it was one week of 2024 to remember. It reminds me of a song by Canadian rock band, Barenaked Ladies with the same title “One Week”. The song was released as the first single from their 1998 album, Stun. The song is unique for its significant number of pop culture references, and remains the band’s best-known song. According to Wikipedia, the song reached No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

    In one week of 2024 to remember, President Tinubu made pivotal and landmark decisions which have been widely applauded.

    Read Also; Confusion as sacked Plateau legislators vow to retake seats

    Critic-turned-admirer of President Tinubu, Reno Omokri, catalogued some of these important decisions and developments in a recent tweet.

    The decisions include the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Beta Edu, and Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Hajiya Halimotu Shehu, for alleged financial transgressions and the ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to determine their guilt; the summon by the President of another minister alleged to be involved in a controversial contract; the drastic reduction in the entourage of the President’s domestic and international travels; the banning of the money-for-degree universities in Benin Republic, Togo and other countries; and the clearing of the N12billion outstanding allowances and other arrears for the Super Eagles, taking part in the African Cup of Nations tournament beginning this weekend. Arrears owed other national teams were also paid by the President.

    In that preceding week, the Bola Tinubu administration embarked on the payment of wage support benefits to civil servants, the disbursement of N105.5 billion for emergency repair of 266 roads across the country, the launch of the automated passport portal and the unfolding of plans to build a new Chinese-funded steel plant in Nigeria following on the heel of a visit to China by the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaib Abubakar Audu.

    The swift suspension of Betta Edu, one of the visible ministers at present, pending the full investigation of the alleged scandal in her ministry not only demonstrates there are no scared cows in the anti-graft crusade, it will also serve as deterrent against others who may otherwise believe the present government is business-as-usual.

    However, as some have argued, the minister should not be pilloried until after the full investigation of the allegations and her culpability or otherwise established.

    Perhaps, the most exciting of the President’s decisions during that important week, in my view, is the resolve to cut the cost of governance by drastically reducing the number of people in his entourage on local and international trips. President Tinubu directed that top government functionaries, dignitaries and aides on his travels be slashed by 60 per cent, more than half.

    On local trips, the President, for instance ordered that, in the area of security, his team should rely more on the capacity of the security establishment and existing protocols in the host states.

    It must be pointed out here that when the President visits a state for instance like his recent visit to Lagos during the Christmas/New Year holiday, during which he decided to observe the Jumat at the Central Mosque in Lagos Island, the long stretch of vehicles noticed in his convoy are not entirely his own. Some dignitaries in Lagos, top security officers, top traditional rulers, political associates and many others simply joined the entourage to the mosque at no prompting of the President.

    The importance of cutting the number in the President’s travels apart from the concomitant reduction in total cost of the trip is unmistakable. First, it is in tandem with the demands of the present challenging times when prices of goods and services have skyrocketed owing to what many tie to the prevalent foreign exchange rate.

    Second, by slashing the presidential entourage, President Tinubu has again demonstrated leadership by example. He has shown he fully understands what the people are experiencing at present and shares in their pains, which he says will be temporary, following his New Year Day speech.

    Indeed, the cost of governance and administration in Nigeria is high and it has become imperative to bring it down. Every possible avenue must be employed to do this. It is estimated that the country mostly spends over 75% of her federal budget on recurrent expenditure, leaving less than 25% for capital expenditure. The present administration is set to change this governance narrative. For instance, in the N28.7trillion 2024 budget, recurrent expenditure was pegged at N8.7tr and capital expenditure at N9.9tr. This trend is expected to continue going forward.

    – Rahman is a Senior Presidential Aide