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World IP Day 2024: A Postscript
By Adebambo Adewopo

The legacy of World IP Day has never ceased to impress on global consciousness a profound theme that always affirms the benevolent gifts of creativity and innovation to mankind. Since its inception in 2000 when WIPO first designated April 26 as World IP Day to raise awareness about the significance of intellectual property (IP), each theme has faithfully defined the timeless role of creators, innovators, and inventors in the flourishing of society. This year’s theme ‘IP and SDGs: Building our common future with innovation and creativity’ ‘shines a light on the central importance of innovation, creativity, and IP to achieving the 17 SDGs.’ Envisioned as ‘our common future’, it echoes the complex dynamics of IP and SDGs in a world that is faced with multiple crises as the 2030 deadline to achieving the UN sustainable development goals draws closer and closer. The theme reminds us of the collective but unliquidated burden of peace and prosperity for people and the planet and the role of innovation, creativity, and IP in the liquidation of that burden. WIPO’s theme strikes at the heart of the fragile sustainable development ecosystem and the central role of IP as a strategic tool in facilitating the SDGs’ realisation for the benefit of everyone without leaving anyone behind. In the intricacies of creativity and innovation, the theme finds cogency and currency in the tensions of the fundamental objectives and narratives of IP policies and SDGs weaved into the trajectories of our common future.

According to the UN, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is ‘a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity’. At the heart of the agenda are 17 SDGs which cover wide-ranging themes carefully organised into five thematic clusters of people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership. These themes include fighting poverty (SDG 1), good health and wellbeing (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), climate action (SDG 13), peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16), among others. SDGs reinvent a renewed worldview in which to define an optimal or somewhat perfect state for humanity and effectively usher the world into the age of sustainable development. Since 2015 when the clock started ticking, it was both ambitious and onerous to accomplish such a range of missions in 15 years in an already fractured world faced with challenges of development. Nonetheless, it is attainable given robust cooperation at national and international levels. Particularly, in the last three years, the world has witnessed more crises that may probably take more than the decade deadline left on the SDGs trail. The SDGs have engendered complex geopolitical debates on the implications of national and international policies and regimes on the global goals with each SDG requiring specific policy initiatives.

While the whole idea of ‘sustainable development’ has been a subject of contestation among scholars and development experts for decades, it seems we are in a constant state of reconstructing the idea and its intrinsic values right from its ‘Brundtland’ roots to SDGs as we have it today. In SDGs, we have found a global consensus on a common future that is being shaped by a diversity of local and global development policy-making. WIPO’s fidelity to the vision of development is evident both in its founding and normative history. Prior to SDGs itself, WIPO had launched the WIPO Development Agenda (2004-2007) and established a Development Programme focusing on global challenges in the area of health, food security, and climate change. Even long before the development agenda, and indeed, in the annals of IP norm-setting, successive instruments from both the Paris and Berne Conventions, the original pair, to the Beijing and Marrakesh treaty, the most recent two of WIPO’s treaties, development considerations and a balanced international IP system have been recurrent decimal in WIPO’s institutional templates.

It is instructive to this year’s theme that two more treaties, in a single year, are expected this year as WIPO holds two landmark Diplomatic Conferences that will further shape the vistas of creativity and innovation, and advance the cause of SDGs and our common future. Both the proposed Designs Law Treaty (DLT) that will assist the community of designers to ‘obtain easier, faster and cheaper protection for their designs’ in the domestic and global markets and the prospects of a new treaty on IP, Genetic Resources and associated Traditional Knowledge (TK) to prevent patents from misappropriating TK and associated genetic resources with new ‘patent disclosure requirements’ are testaments to WIPO’s treaty-making process and the promise of SDGs as more creatives, innovators and indigenous communities can be brought into the future commons. As an integral part of the UN Sustainable Development Group, further marking WIPO’s commitment to the 2030 agenda.

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The world has continued to witness the immense value of innovation and IP in providing solutions to diverse social problems such as in health, education, vaccines, climate and energy crises, renewable energy, agriculture, food security, digital and biotechnologies, human rights, economy, and more. Yet as our experience has time and again weathered the complexities involved, the recurring intersections of the IP system and SDGs have raised several questions particularly on how the constant evolution of IP norms challenges the SDGs landscape and whether new and dynamic approaches to IP policy-making can and will deliver on development aspirations and SDGs. It is no longer in doubt whether policymakers and legislators have misunderstood the debates whether IP, whether in the world of copyright, patent or trademark, has far-reaching implications for SDGs and is a key engine of social and economic development among nations. While the pursuit of development is not completely a new challenge for the IP system, SDGs present their challenges in a new wineskin such that questions abound about whether the IP system would not require dynamic shifts in the operating norms to adequately engage the SDGs exigences in a world that is facing enormous inequality. In the developing countries especially, access to knowledge, digital economy and digital technologies, patents’ unfinished business with access to medicines, and public health questions in a post-pandemic world have continued to question the global commitment to the balance of the IP system in the realisation of SDGs. It looks promising that several middle-income countries are ascending in the recent ranking of the Global Innovation Index (GII) attesting to the rise of ‘innovative economies’ and the progress in advancing the goals of sustainable development.

On the continent, Agenda 2063 reflects SDGs in Africa’s aspirations for inclusive and sustainable development and taken alongside AcFTA and its Protocols, inclusive of the Protocol on IPRs aligns with WIPO’s vision of ‘our common future’ through the instrumentality of innovation, creativity, and IP situated in the theme. Recent legislative and policy reforms, modest howbeit important to the development of the Nigerian IP landscape provide new companions to the SDGs. On the legislative front, the three new IP laws – the Copyright Act of 2022, the Plant Varieties Protection Act of 2021, and the 2022 amendment to the Trademarks Act contribute to expanding the compass of PROMOTING AND protecting creativity, and access to knowledge; promoting food security and agricultural innovation through the protection of new plant varieties; promoting trade facilitation and ease of doing business. The objectives and substantive tenor have wider implications and linkages to a good number of SDGs, in particular SDG 1 (Fighting poverty), SDG 2 (Hunger), SDG 3 (promoting good health), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (economic growth) and SDG 9 (industry and innovation), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), SDG 14 (life below water), and SDG 15 (life on land). On the policy space, the draft national IP policy and strategy (NIPPS), the institutionalisation of the creative economy as a government ministry, significant in the milestones of the Nigerian creative industries, and the harmonisation of IP administration, another anticipated milestone this year in the context of the long-standing implementation of the 2014 White Paper on the rationalisation of government agencies, are pivotal initiatives in mainstreaming IP in national development policy architecture. The singular and combined impacts of policy, legal, and institutional reforms are the impulses that are further advancing the dynamics of aligning IP and SDGs in the country.

Mindful that the task of harnessing the earth has always been man’s burden and his ingenuity from time immemorial, but as humanity trudges along the limits of a digital Pangea, the global community cannot relent in its aspiration for a future that all the creativity and innovation of its citizens can engender. Now, with a sparse 12 percent of SDGs achieved, a sub-optimal milestone in a post-pandemic era characterised by war, poverty, inequality, hunger, migration, climate crises, and other deprivations, the very antithesis of SDGs; more dynamic, and transformational interventions are on call to accelerate the SDGs milestones and revamp the broken global economy. This is how momentous the theme of this year’s World IP Day is, as it compels greater attention to the knowledge governance systems to implement pro-development and balanced frameworks that will help to achieve the sustainability that is so direly needed in these turbulent times we live in.
- Adewopo, SAN, is Professor of Intellectual Property Law and former Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
April 26, 2024
Problem-solving skills for every role
- By Adebola Karamah Shogbuyi
‘What do you plan to become in future?’ / ‘What course are you applying for?’ / ‘What is your future ambition?’ These are the kinds of questions students get asked when they begin to embark on their career journey. Upon this, they quickly retort, ‘pilot’ ‘lawyer’, ‘ doctor’, ‘engineer’… without even giving it a second thought. Interestingly, children in the early primaries also have a fixed profession plastered in their hearts and in their tiny little voices they scream, ‘doctor, soldier…’

It’s indeed fascinating how Oreva Brown’s presentation on the topic, ‘The Future of work, Preparing children for work in a changing landscape,’ at a professional educational booth camp where I was to also speak, emphasise the critical importance of instilling problem-solving skills in individuals from an early age. The future of work requires that we all should shift focus from asking what people want to be, to fostering a problem-solving mindset into the children we nurture. It would be truly revolutionary if, instead of simply aspiring to certain careers, individuals can be encouraged to identify and tackle real-world issues through their learning journey. Coincidentally, a post by Noimot Balogun on ‘The power of concept’ subtly emphasises how problem solving mindset can be nurtured. The process of problem-solving begins with the identification of a ‘concept’, a problem or gap, followed by keen observation and a strong desire to fill that void. This organic progression ultimately culminates in taking action to effect positive change.

As we embark on our educational voyages, it becomes paramount for us to consider the unique gaps we seek to fill. This time, not only as an academic seeking to bag a doctoral degree, as it is most common, but as an individual who wishes to drive positive change. It should be embedded as part of the educational curriculum for schools at all levels. Tailoring courses and topics in the curriculum towards this approach would undoubtedly equip students with essential skills for their future. This introspective approach encourages a proactive mindset; inspiring future generations to not only aspire for personal success, but to also become catalysts for positive transformation in the world around them.

If you ask me what problem you could solve in your field while still earning some reasonable income, here are some ideas.

As an economist, you can work to create sustainable economic policies that uplift communities, promote financial literacy, and devise strategies to reduce inequality. As a computer programmer, you need to be deliberate about developing applications or software aimed at solving specific problems, such as improving access to educational resources or applications that would ease the task of people in their various domains in life.

Read Also: Rector challenges youths on problem-solving

As a lawyer, you could save people from falling into the hands of fraudsters in relation to the sales of their properties, you have the opportunity to advocate for social justice and provide pro bono legal services if you can, to marginalised individuals, ensuring access to fair representation.

What problem are you solving as a script writer or artist? Why not consider the use of your platform to support charitable causes and bring attention to important social issues bedeviling your community through public advocacy and begin to spark conversations and inspiring change world over.

You aspire to be a civil engineer for instance, you are instrumental in designing and constructing bridges, and buildings that enhance connectivity and urban development. Have you ever considered that you could be among the first few that would construct safe and efficient transportation systems in your community? You can also work on projects related to water supply, environmental remediation, sewage treatment ensuring that communities have access to clean and sustainable resources. Whichever engineering field you find yourself, there is always a gap to fill.

If you fancy trading, you can contribute to their communities by supporting local businesses, engage in ethical trade practices and promote sustainable economic growth. As a marketer, you can use you skills to promote ethical consumption, advocate for sustainable products, and raise awareness about social and environmental issues.

If catering is your aspiration, you can organize cooking workshops, promote healthy eating habits, and even establish community kitchens or food banks to address food insecurity. Apart from providing medical services, doctors can support health education initiatives, or collaborate on community health programmes to improve overall well-being of citizens.

School proprietors and educationists have a platform to foster inclusive learning environments, implement innovative teaching methods, teach moral value along with parents and address the specific needs of their communities. Teachers and counsellors play an integral role in nurturing the next generation, providing mentorship, and offering guidance to students facing personal and academic challenges.

Craftsmen have the opportunity to pass on traditional skills, preserving cultural heritage and creating community-oriented spaces for craftsmanship.

Language experts have the ability to bridge cultural and linguistic barriers, facilitate language learning and cultural exchange, write and teach for growth, peace and the promotion of sustainable development . You have the ability to craft compelling narratives that shed light on important societal issues, influencing public discourse, fostering empathy and understanding. I belong to this fold; here am I, trying to solve a problem.

Everyone holds the potential to impact their community in unique and meaningful ways. Find out how and take action!
- Shogbuyi is a doctoral student in the Department of English, Lagos State University
April 25, 2024
Nigerian parenting: Past and present
- By Oluwole Ogundele
Family is the nucleus of human society that doubles, as the first training ground for children. The nuclear family is made up of a married couple with their children. On the other hand, an extended/expanded family is a bio-social construction with at least three or more generations/genealogies. In the African world-view, parenting is encyclopedic in a number of senses. Parents, neighbours, and/or members of a given community collectively participate in the general or informal education of children. By this token, the social, physical, emotional, and intellectual development of a child is everybody’s business, although biological parents do much more than the other categories of mentors/guardians.

Greeting people respectfully was too important to be glossed over, especially among the Yoruba children in the past (up to the late 80s). Thanking people for their gifts or assistance was very compulsory. Indeed, ingratitude and a lack of fellow feeling were unpopular behavioural traits especially among the Yoruba of the south western region of Nigeria. Stubborn children particularly between the ages of five and twelve years minimally got the cane, in line with the traditional culture and/or biblical injunction. Every child as from the age of five years, was made to participate in domestic chores. Salute to my parents in this regard! Home is the first school for developing children into near-complete angelhood. The parent is like a potter, while the child is comparable to clay which the former, makes into the desired shape before it (the clay) hardens.

This mode of parenting was usually followed by counselling, especially when a child had finished primary school education. This was before demons and their associates broke loose on much of the Nigerian space. Today, many parents (usually of loose morals), believe that slightly beating up and/or scolding stubborn, lazy children, are/is an act of barbarity. It is a great pity, that many Nigerians despite their numerous certificates and/or degrees, are still victims of cultural/mental subjugation, a form of debris arising from colonial/neo-colonial education. Nigeria, a microcosm of Africa, has failed to understand the game of the Western world. These brainwashed Nigerians think that such Asian countries as Japan, China, India, and Singapore are crude, for putting indigenous cultures especially languages at the centre of their development agendas. Any society without culture-sensitive education is doomed to failure. Such education starts from home, where the attitudes and desires of children are moderated/supervised. Rubbishing salient facets of African values under the guise of modernity, is an invitation to a chaotic present and a weak future. There are several provisions in the Child Rights Act supporting heathy nurturing of our children. They emphasize the centrality of indigenous values to a robust upbringing of every child. But are most parents correctly interpreting these provisions? Is the school system also doing enough in this context?

Permissiveness is un-Nigerian and should not be accepted as a way of life here. Many permissive parents today, are uncritically assimilating Western values into their modes of handling their children. This reflects sheer ignorance of the ontology of indigenous cultures and education. Consequently, such parents expose their children to under-age alcoholic drinking, smoking, and sexual activities, as if they have psychiatric disorders. It is also an offence for their children to speak local languages at home. But despite this shameless showmanship, both the parents and children hardly speak good English. What a colossal tragedy!

Anybody who is unable to speak and write in his local language has sold himself into slavery. In actuality, a slave has no self-confidence. Again, nobody respects him. Therefore, despite the several challenges and sensitivities of modern life and living, parenting enshrined in the Nigerian values and value systems must not be jettisoned. Most parents are public or private workers who need to make sufficient monies to maintain their families. These parents come back home each day utterly exhausted. Even during week-ends, most of them are usually glued to their laptops and mobile phones or out partying. The special bond between the parent (particularly the mother) and child hardly exists today. The void left by this kind of parenting makes children to be much more prone to negative peer pressure. For instance, trans-sexualism/cross-dressing (a case of psychological disorder in my world-view), is now gaining in popularity, on the wings of caricatured human rights embedded in uncritical Westernisation. Our todays and tomorrows are being polluted.

Parenting is more than financial commitments. Indeed, good parenting also requires a commitment of time and energy. Thus, for example, a lot of moral lessons are taught through the lens of a folk tale or history of a lineal descent. Narrating such stories has the capacity to fire the imagination of a child. It is not an attempt to idle the days away. Creative thinking and writing start from this level of parenting or schooling. Today’s Nigerian school system is to a large extent, defined by weak, culture-insensitive policies as well as programmes. Again, no sufficient motivation for teachers. This scenario amounts to double trouble for Nigeria! Occasionally, some parents beat up or harass teachers for disciplining their kids. This is terrible, even though not all teachers are emotionally qualified, to be in that profession, due to their unbridled aggressiveness. Such teachers turn their pupils into punch-bags. Teaching is a sensitive calling rooted in moderation or self-control.

Read Also: Stakeholders advocate intervention for parenting in Nigeria

The study system is also becoming increasingly chaotic. Many schools no longer have break times. Study pressure is counter-productive in several respects. Too many subjects are being taught a six-year old pupil, as if he is planning to sit a Cambridge examination. The subjects include Home Economics, Music, Fine Art, French, Basic Science/Technology, Agriculture, and Computer Science. No time and interest in narrating a folk tale in the afternoon. It is too easily forgotten, that such stories are embedded in the accumulated wisdom of Nigerians at different points in time and space. This facet of education should be re-introduced, in order to have children that are environmentally sensitive, responsible, and self-confident. Indeed, the Nigerian primary education needs an urgent overhaul. This paves the way for the production of charismatic citizens, capable of moving and shaking local and global politics in the future. Parents and teachers have to collaborate with the school system in order to craft a much better Nigeria, where peace and sustainable socio-economic development reign supreme. There is need to keep a balance between home and school despite the challenges of modern life and living. Participating in the new world system, does not mean that the Nigerian epistemologies and/or values have to be rubbished. Again, parents who pamper or spoil their children are polluting the heart and soul of Nigerian society. Such parents are some of the enemies of this country. Suffice it to say, that the child and society are intertwining branches of a tree – the future. This is one reason why both the state and federal governments must have oversight of general policies and programmes. They are duty-bound to act (within the sphere of the law) in the interest of the common good. Currently, anarchy looms in Nigeria. Therefore, the stakeholders must not look the other way.
- Professor Oluwole Ogundele is of the Dept. of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan.
April 25, 2024
Helping neonates communicate beyond crying
- By Kayode Ojewale
The early stages of life are a critical period for neonates, commonly known as newborn babies. During this time, they face various challenges, including the inability to express their needs, pains, and requests except through crying. This form of communication, while effective, often leaves caregivers puzzled, trying to decipher the underlying message behind each cry.

Understanding their unique communication cues and providing appropriate support can help alleviate their distress and foster a deeper connection between caregivers, especially mothers, and neonates. The bond formed during these early interactions lays the foundation for a trusting relationship and positively influences a child’s emotional and social development.

Crying is a neonate’s primary means of communication, signaling a range of needs and discomforts, including hunger, fatigue, discomfort, and pain. While crying is a natural and normal part of infant behavior, deciphering its meaning can be challenging for mothers. Each cry carries subtle variations in pitch, intensity, and duration, offering clues about the neonate’s state of mind and well-being.

Learning to interpret different types of cries and accompanying cues can help caregivers respond more effectively to a neonate’s needs. Neonates communicate through a combination of vocalizations, facial expressions, body movements, and gestures. By observing and recognizing these subtle cues, mothers and caregivers can gain insights into a neonate’s needs and feelings. For example, rooting reflex, where a neonate turns their head towards a touch on the cheek, indicates hunger, while clenched fists and arched back may signal discomfort or pain.

Responsive caregiving is essential in meeting a neonate’s needs promptly and sensitively. Offering comfort, such as holding, rocking, or gentle patting, can help soothe a distressed neonate and meet their immediate needs. Establishing skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care, promotes bonding and helps regulate a neonate’s body temperature, heart rate, and breathing. This intimate contact fosters a sense of security and comfort, reducing stress and enhancing communication.

Introducing simple gestures or signs can help neonates communicate basic needs, such as hunger, sleep, and discomfort, before they develop verbal communication skills. Consistency and repetition are key to reinforcing these signs and facilitating understanding. Over time, neonates may begin to mimic these gestures, indicating their comprehension and readiness to communicate.

Creating a calm and soothing environment free from excessive noise and distractions can help reduce a neonate’s stress levels and enhance communication. Soft lighting, gentle music, and comfortable temperatures promote relaxation and well-being, creating an optimal setting for bonding and interaction.

A crucial support parents, especially mothers, can provide to neonates is vigilant monitoring to promptly identify any changes in their condition. Regular pediatric visits allow healthcare professionals to monitor a neonate’s growth, development, and overall well-being. Addressing any concerns or issues promptly ensures timely intervention and support.

Encouraging age-appropriate activities and interactions can support a neonate’s developmental milestones and enhance communication skills. Engaging in tummy time, playing interactive games, and reading aloud stimulate cognitive, motor, and language development. These enriching experiences foster curiosity, creativity, and social skills, laying the foundation for future learning and communication.

Understanding the different gestures made by babies can also help decrease their crying episodes or duration. Observation is key to interpreting a neonate’s gesticulation signs. Paying close attention to their facial expressions, body movements, and hand gestures can provide clues about their current state and needs.

Read Also: 10 good health benefits of crying

Neonates’ repeated actions or displays play a crucial role in understanding their gesticulation signs. By observing and noting their responses to various stimuli and situations over time, mothers can learn to recognize patterns and understand their unique cues. This familiarity enables caregivers to respond more confidently and effectively, meeting the neonate’s needs promptly and sensitively.

Establishing a strong bond through skin-to-skin contact, cuddling, and maintaining eye contact enhances communication and understanding between caregivers and neonates. This close connection fosters trust and security, making it easier for caregivers to interpret and respond to the neonate’s gesticulation signs with empathy and care.

The role of prayers in understanding newborns’ needs cannot be underestimated, as it serves as a guiding force in deciphering the intricate signals and cues they exhibit. While mothers rely on their knowledge and instincts to tend to a newborn’s immediate needs, there might be underlying areas requiring attention that are not immediately apparent. These subtle signs could indicate potential health issues, discomforts, or developmental needs that should be urgently addressed to avoid any complications. Through prayers, caregivers and mothers especially, seek divine guidance and wisdom, aiding them in recognizing these hidden challenges and providing timely interventions to ensure the well-being and optimal growth of the newborn.

In closing, supporting neonates in overcoming their communication challenges requires patience, attentiveness, vigilant monitoring, and understanding. By learning to interpret and respond to their unique cues, providing nurturing care, and promoting developmental activities, mothers can help neonates feel secure, understood, and valued. Building a strong bond and fostering effective communication from the earliest stages of life sets the stage for healthy development, resilience, and lifelong learning.
- Kayode Ojewale, of the Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, writes via kayodeojewale@gmail.com
April 25, 2024
Yahaya Bello: Open letter to President Bola Tinubu
SIR: We seek to exploit the instrumentality of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary to create and maintain an egalitarian democratic society where the dignity of every citizen and rights are guaranteed according to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The worrisome development emanating from the stables of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which in a gestapo styled operation reminiscent of the dark days of military regime stormed and barricaded the residence of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello in a brazen attempt to arrest him without a warrant under a bogus claim of misappropriation of state funds and money laundering, is a matter of concern to every true lover of democracy and social justice world over.

This appalling and morally reprehensible action of the EFCC, which occurred on the 17th of April, 2024, has made our dear nation Nigeria a laughing stock among the comity of nations. Reinforcing this aberration is the call by EFCC spokesman to involve the military in arresting a person who has not been served any summon or convicted by any competent court. This call is akin to a ‘coup’ and denigration of our nascent democracy.

The flagrant disregard for constituted authority and our judiciary by the EFCC should not be a matter to be treated with levity. The High Court in Kogi State on the 9th of February, 2024, granted an interim injunction restraining the EFCC from “continuing to harass, threaten to arrest, detain, prosecute” Yahaya Bello, his former appointees, and his staff or family members pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion for the enforcement of his fundamental rights.

This said order was duly served on the EFCC on the 12th of February, 2024, and on the 26th of February the EFCC filed an appeal (No. CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission vs Alhaji Yahaya Bello) against the said order to the Court of Appeal, Abuja division. The appeal was accompanied by a motion for a stay of execution of the order of the high court, which the court of appeal adjourned for hearing till the 23rd of April, 2024.

The EFCC is deliberately trying to set our judiciary on a collision course in an inordinate attempt to subvert the course of justice and undermine the efficacy of our judicial system. This effrontery and brigandine approach must be nipped in the bud to save our democratic values. To us, the Middle-Belt Forum for Good Governance sees this act as purely media trial and complete abuse of the rule of law.

*PRAYERS*

Our prayers are that Your Excellency, who is a lover of democracy and paid with sweat and blood during the hey days of the despotic military regime to see Nigeria transition to a fully democratic entity and for the citizens to benefit of same, must call the EFCC to order, to desist from any fifth column tactics that will undermine our democratic solidarity.

The EFCC, which is itself a creation of law, must not subvert the course of justice if they indeed have any case against the former governor. They must NOT resort to abusing the judicial process and trampling on the fundamental human rights of the former governor or any citizen of Nigeria by disobedience of the judiciary and the rule of law.

Read Also: No going back on Yahaya Bello’s prosecution

We are fully supportive of the EFCC to investigate and try Yahaya Bello, but rule of law must be obeyed. The EFCC in the past broke into the premises of former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha in a manner that embarrassed the image of the nation. A former governor with traceable address should be treated with decorum devoid of abuse of rule of law. In similar manner, the former Kogi governor woke up to meet his family residence cordoned by heavily armed security men with characteristics of personnel set to arrest terrorists or militants. This approach is unreasonable and should be completely eradicated from the operations of the EFCC if they want to remain relevant in the fight against corruption.

While we pray the EFCC does not make itself a pariah of democracy, it is worthy of note that the onus rests squarely on the courts to determine whether or not the EFCC is acting in breach of a subsisting order or otherwise.

Due process and rule of law must be obeyed to ensure the continuity of our enviable democracy and avoid sliding back to the dark abyss of military dictatorship and abuse of the judicial process.
- Middle-Belt Vanguard for Good Governance
April 25, 2024
Value of books and reading
SIR: April 23rd every year is marked around the world as World Book and Copyright Day. Also known as International Day of The Book, it is a day set aside by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote reading, publishing and copyright. The day aims to change lives through love of books and shared reading.

The theme for the 2024 World Book Day is: “READ YOUR WAY.” According to Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO: “Books have the unique ability to entertain and to teach. They are at once a means of exploring realms beyond our personal experience through exposure to different authors, universes and cultures, and a means of accessing the deepest recesses of our inner selves.” Therefore, the power of books should be leveraged to combat isolation, reinforce ties between people, and expand our horizons while stimulating our minds and creativity. It is critical to take the time to read on our own, or with our children.

Did you know that the Bible is the most widely translated and distributed book worldwide? Yes, the Bible is by far the most widely translated and distributed book! Its wisdom has reached and helped more people than any other book or publication; 96.5 percent of the world’s population have access to the Bible. The Bible is available (in whole or in part) in over 3,300 languages, and the estimated number of copies of the Bible produced is 5 billion – far more than any other book in history.

There are three major sectors of the book industry: publishers, booksellers and libraries. In a strict sense, book publishing starts from the point of conceptualization of the ideas for the book by the author, and ends at the very last stage – the end-user (reader).

The history of book publishing in Nigeria can be traced to the establishment of the very first publishing press in Calabar, in 1846, by Rev. Hope Waddel of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland Mission. The press was used to print Bible lessons and later arithmetic books for schools. In 1854, another missionary based in Abeokuta, Rev. Henry Townsend of the Church Missionary Society (CMS), established a press. Five years later (1859), he used it to print the very first newspaper in Nigeria – ‘Iwe Irohin.’ Thereafter, notable Nigerians like Herbert Macaulay established the first indigenous newspaper in 1926, called Lagos Daily News. Also, in the same year, Daily Times made its debut.

In 1949, Oxford University Press (OUP) floated a sales outlet in Nigeria. This action attracted many foreign-based publishing firms to Nigeria, such as Macmillan, Longman and others. The first published book in Nigeria by OUP was in 1963 when its local branch published ‘Ijala Ere Ode’, a Yoruba poetry genre by Yemitan. Aside from the foreign companies, many other home-based publishing houses were architected by indigenous entrepreneurs. The book publishing industry in Nigeria has continued to enjoy drastic growth ever since.

However, in the last few decades, the Nigerian indigenous book publishing industry has experienced a downturn due to numerous challenges facing the industry including book piracy, proliferation of unqualified author-publishers, lack of capital, and inability to provide adequate numbers of high-quality books. Other challenges include: poor reading culture, infrastructural decay, dearth of expertise, incessant rancour among the major stakeholders, and so forth.

Read Also: NCC seizes pirated books worth N300m in Rivers

Suggestions for developing our book publishing industry in Nigeria are:

1. Stakeholders such as government, publishers, authors, regulators, booksellers, libraries and readers should cooperate and contribute their quota immensely towards the development of a virile book publishing industry.

2. Private investors such as banks, finance houses and influential individuals should participate, especially in terms of massive capital injection.

3. Government can partner with notable non-governmental organizations in the establishment of book clubs in schools across the nation. This will help to promote a good reading culture among the youths.

4. Government should help to eliminate the scourge of book piracy.

5. Government should charge less import duties on book publishing equipment and accessories in order to encourage hitch-free importation.

6. Book publishing firms should make it a policy to give their technical staff up-to-date professional trainings, to ensure efficiency.

7. Existing public libraries should be renovated and upgraded, while new ones should be built and equipped with relevant titles.

8. Higher institutions could offer courses in book publishing and related disciplines, thereby helping to provide required personnel for job opportunities
- Daniel Ighakpe, danny.ighakpe@gmail
April 25, 2024
EFCC vs Yahaya Bello
SIR: For the past two weeks, the action of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been making news and informing opinions in the media. From the Bobrisky money laundering saga to the Cubana Chief Priest case, and now the EFCC has migrated media attention from the creative industry to the political arena with Yahaya Bello’s arrest warrant and ‘wanted’ notice.

The EFCC declared ex-Governor Yahaya Bello wanted for an offense relating to money laundering. The notice by the EFCC indicated that Yahaya Bello’s last known address is 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, and the agency asked anybody with useful information about the former governor’s whereabouts to contact any of the commission’s offices across the country.

Wherever Yahaya Bello is right now, he must be laughing at the EFCC as an agency performing Nollywood movies. Yahaya Bello has seen himself as the sacred lamb in the political corridor who cannot be used for a sacrifice, and this perhaps was the reason he rushed to the Presidency to evade arrest. Ironically, disappointing advice issued by the Presidency asking him to submit himself to the agency perhaps informed his sudden disappearance. To Yahaya Bello, the EFCC’s ‘wanted’ notice would be like a Nollywood series, but it must have been an embarrassment to the ex-governor.

Bello’s alleged offense is no longer a mystery. It is the usual practice of the power elite with self-aggrandizement agenda. It is only confusing why he is trying to evade arrest at all costs. The alleged show of shame of incumbent Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo in shielding his wanted predecessor from arrest is another embarrassing event of the 21st century. It is the worst of its kind.

Read Also: No going back on Yahaya Bello’s prosecution

Funnily enough, at Yahaya Bello’s Abuja residence, a group of armed men identified as Special Forces, along with officers from the Nigeria Police Force prevented EFCC operatives from apprehending him with alleged assistance of the current governor who escorted him out of the location in the governor’s vehicle.

It is pitiable and disheartening that the gesture of Governor Ododo was described as loyalty. In actual sense, who should earn Ododo’s loyalty between the ex-governor who allegedly laundered 80 billion naira and the entire Kogi people? I think it is time for Kogi citizens to awake from their slumber.

With the recent moves by the EFCC, it seems the agency is fully ready to walk along the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The agency should take its aggressive war against corruption to high profile persons in other states. The ‘wanted’ notice served on Yahaya Bello is a well-deserved embarrassment. There is hope for a better Nigeria.
- Usman Issa Kwara State
April 25, 2024
‘BSc in Law’ and takeaways
Spiritual leaders, famously called ‘men/women of God,’ tend to carry an air of superiority around them. They are ‘fathers/mothers’ to followers who dote on their whims and hang on their utterances as communication from a higher realm to which they are presumed to have privileged access. On his own pulpit, the man of God is law – a prerogative he deploys as he feels led by natural and supra-natural promptings. Because he is human like everybody else, he is fallible like everybody else; but the doting credulity of followers often pose a strong allure into feeling infallible that many men of God find difficult to resist. It would take a brutal encounter with contrary facts to bring him round to acknowledging an error and demonstrating genuine remorse in line with that acknowledgement.

Dr. Paul Enenche, senior pastor of Abuja-based Dunamis International Gospel Centre, had such teachable moments in the last week over his misjudgment of a testifier, Veronica Anyim, as a liar. Anyim had during the worship service at Glory Dome on 14th April mounted the altar to share a testimony on her graduation the day before from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), thereby becoming the first in her family to earn a university degree. In her testimony, Anyim recounted how she battled obstacles, including health challenges, on her path to graduation, testifying that God helped her to overcome all under spiritual oversight by Enenche and his wife. She spoke in wonky English, which apparently put off the pastor and set him on collision course with the testifier.

“I want to appreciate God for my life and family and thank God for using mummy and daddy (the Eneches) for our sake,” Anyim began. “It all happened when I was trying to attend the National Open University of Nigeria. Before I came to Dunamis, many things were happening in my life and my family: from my father’s side and my mother’s side, nobody was a graduate, they only ended up in primary or secondary school,” she narrated. “But when God remembered me, I got a job, and I was working, and I decided to further my education. I started school, and I wanted to do a Law programme. I started in 2014, and I never lacked the money to pay my school fees; I kept going to the extent that I got to my 500 level and challenges everywhere – problems, sickness. They afflict me with leg pain, and I was not able to finish. My mates had finished, the Law programme is six years, but since I was unable to meet up, I keep on like that. But yesterday, I graduated,” she submitted.

Anyim’s testimony took a sour turn when Enenche butted in to question the credibility of her narrative by grilling her on the details of her degree. The grilling was sufficiently harsh to unsettle an articulate testifier; it was worse that Anyim was by no means articulate. The pastor asked her what specific degree she graduated with, and she responded that it was “BSc in Law.” Upon that claim, the pastor ordered her off the altar and dismissed her testimony as a lie. “Is that how lawyers speak English? When she started that testimony, I knew there was something wrong,” he said as he warned other church members that they come forward to give false testimonies to their own damnation.

The video clip of that encounter became viral online, but so also pieces of evidence showing that Anyim indeed graduated from NOUN on 13th April with the conventional bachelor degree in Law. Netizens dug up her picture in graduation gown and the university convocation list showing she was number 2262 graduand and was awarded an LL.B. Anyim herself, being active on social media, had on her Facebook page penned an appreciation to God for seeing her through her education. “And it came to pass yesterday 13th April being Saturday, 2024 at National Open University Abuja. Father, I am saying thank you for making me to graduate from my Law programme. Congratulations to me once again,” she wrote inter alia.

Following the testimony fiasco, Anyim was again on social media to bemoan being disgraced and labelled a liar by her spiritual leader because she couldn’t speak good English and mistakenly said BSc instead of LL.B. “It’s disheartened because I couldn’t speak English like lawyers. I was labelled a liar for mistakenly saying BSc instead of LL.B. Actually, I graduated with a Third Class at NOUN. The rejected stone can become the cornerstone. We’re reminded not to look down on anyone. You can’t imagine what I endured throughout the service. How shattered I must have felt to be disgraced by my spiritual leader in such a manner? I am no. 2262 on the list. I, Vera, deserve better now,” she wrote on Facebook. “The Devil came to steal my testimony but Jesus said NO!,” she stated in a separate post.

Nigerians were furious at the presumptive defamation of the testifier as a liar and demanded public apology to her from Pastor Enenche. His apparent response was through a statement by the church explaining that the embarrassment of Anyim was not intended and all that happened was “under the spur of the moment.” The church stated that concerns arose during Anyim’s testimony regarding her language proficiency and the clarity of her academic attainment because her diction suggested a level of English proficiency below what was expected of a university graduate, much less one with a Law degree. That was besides perceived discrepancy in the nature and duration of her academic pursuit, which raised doubts about the legitimacy of her qualification. “The action of the senior pastor was rather based on his and the church’s aversion to seeming mediocrity and any appearance of untruth,” the statement by Enenche’s personal assistant/secretary, Sylvester Edoh, said, adding: “While we remain resolute in our passion for excellence, intolerance of mediocrity and falsehood, we wish to reiterate the fact that no harm or hurt was ever intended by the senior pastor against Ms. Anyim Veronica. The senior pastor feels deeply concerned and has already reached out to her.”

Read Also: BPF: NBA entices young lawyers with free Lawpavillion subscription

Now, would you call that an apology from the pastor or apologia for the pastor? But you indeed waste time to debate whether it suffices because the pastor and the testifier swiftly worked their issues out as a ‘family affair.’ In a post on her Facebook page, Monday, after meeting with the Dunamis pastoral couple, Anyim said she had put the matter behind her and would want everyone else to align. Sharing photos from the meeting, she wrote: “I want to inform the whole world that I just had a warm meeting with my spiritual father and mother, Dr. Paul Enenche, and Dr. Becky Enenche. I don’t have any grudge against the church or them. I remain committed to serving God as a member of Dunamis Church. I am thankful for the concern of the public. I have put the situation at my back, and I have moved forward, and I want everybody to do the same. Peace.”

So, it’s case closed for Vera Anyim, and it would be only a sympathiser who weeps louder than the mourner that would insist on further redress for her. But that purported closure does not obliterate public interest takeaways to be highlighted. One is the age-long creed that you do not judge a book by its cover, meaning we all must always remember not to presumptuously rule out anyone on the basis of an unimpressive appearance. Another lesson to learn is that sensitivity to our humanity must not be lost in the presumption of superior morality. Just think on it: even if Anyim were lying by her testimony, would it have helped her life to be thrown off the altar after declaring her a liar? Wouldn’t it be more helpful to humour her all through her false testimony – if it were false – and privately invite her thereafter for moral counselling? Righteous indignation should not be a licence to destroy a life.

One more takeaway is that leadership responsibility should dictate commitment beyond self-interested damage control. In the particular case of Anyim, Pastor Enenche may have caged the tide of public opprobrium his action ignited; but he should consider sponsoring the lady to law school when the need arises, or support her to take career development courses that will improve her communication skills and enrich her grasp of legal terminologies. That is the kind of investment needed to upgrade her as a person. In general application, this should be a model of responsibility leaders need to adopt in redressing injury to others.
- Please join me on kayodeidowu.blogspot.be for conversation.
April 22, 2024
Olayinka Ajao: Rekindling the flame of LAUTECH,
- By Simbo Olorunfemi
In establishing Oyo State University of Technology in 1990, the founding fathers had a clear objective for it not to be just another university. Their desire was for a university that would produce self-reliant graduates who would lead the charge in the technological and industrial development of Nigeria, which was why they made it a University of Technology. In line with their objective, the university commenced its first academic session on 19 October 1990, with 436 candidates enrolled in the faculties of Agricultural Sciences, Environmental science Sciences, Engineering and Management Sciences, and Pure and Applied Sciences, with the College of Health Sciences was established a year later.

Following the separation of Osun State from Oyo State, the university’s name was changed to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, but the dream remained the same. The University has been consistently ranked high by national and international organisations, with ‘The Times Higher Education’ rating LAUTECH as the 11th best university in Nigeria and the number one State University in Nigeria. LAUTECH, which now has 12 Faculties, a post-graduate school, and other centres, with over 40,000 students currently enrolled across 52 departments, has produced thousands of graduates who have continued to live up to the dream of the founding fathers, becoming leading lights in the technological space in Nigeria.

One of those leading lights is Olayinka Ajao, who enrolled in the University shortly after it was founded to study Electrical and Electronics Engineering. He would, upon graduation, join the telecommunications industry, which was just beginning to take shape with the licensing of the first set of companies for GSM operations. In 2001, Ajao joined one of the leading telecommunications companies in Nigeria as a foundation member of Staff, starting a career that would eventually establish him as one of Nigeria’s seasoned Telecommunications experts. He functioned in different capacities across the industry as a Network Systems Engineer, Technical Support Engineer, and RF Planning & Optimization Engineer (Ericsson & Huawei Equipment), before he was appointed Head of Network Planning/Programme Management at Helios Towers Nigeria in 2008 till 2013 when he left to set up his company, Zyetechcom Integrated Services Nigeria Limited, which has grown to become a major player in the collocation section of telecommunications, with a network of tower-infrastructure to across the country.

With strength in diagnosing complex issues and conceptualizing innovative solutions, Olayinka Ajao, over the last 2 decades, established his name in the industry for his proactive and creative approach to addressing diverse challenges within the realm of Radio Frequency Planning and Optimization, receiving several awards for reducing congestion and drop calls on the network. He would further excel in the development of Towerco infrastructure, earning the CEO Outstanding Performance Award at Helios Towers for his role in growing the Towerco infrastructure of the company from 50 to 1000.

Following on the success he has made of Zyetechcom Integrated Services Nigeria Limited, Olayinka Ajao later expanded his line of business, venturing into Agriculture with the establishment of Harvestmax Agro-Allied Nig Ltd and a property company, Giggles Properties Limited in 2021, which he has grown into a major player in the real estate industry, with portfolio across multiple cities.

Olayinka Ajao is quick to tell those who ask that what has helped him on his journey is his passion for excellence, continuous learning, and a commitment to creating enduring value. Beyond his degree and certification in Engineering as well as extensive training in different aspects of telecommunications, he has earned an MBA as well as numerous certifications at home and abroad in Computer Engineering, Project Management, Leadership, etc., including one from Harvard Law School Programme on Negotiation.

Beyond business, Ajao has demonstrated a keen sense of compassion and passion for community service. This would lead him to set up the Jolade and Adeyi Foundation, which he says was inspired by his “deep-rooted connection” to his heritage and the philanthropic legacies of Mrs. Jolade Mary Ajao and Mr. Adeyi Suleiman. Through that organization, he has empowered various individuals with limited economic means in Ogbomoso and other parts of Nigeria, rendering different forms of support to the underprivileged and aiding the enrolment of 50 high school students in Ogbomoso for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Board examination.

Read Also: Olayinka Ajao: Rekindling the flame of LAUTECH,

Buoyed by the dream planted in him at LAUTECH, Olayinka Ajao has remained grounded, always looking back to see how he can help those who might have been left behind while ensuring that the flame of the university keeps burning. Beyond other forms of support rendered over the years, he recently decided to up the ante, committing to the building of a Lecture Theatre for the use of the University. This, he says, is his way of giving back to an institution that gave so much to him, laying the foundation for everything he has been able to accomplish. Future generations of students deserve a better learning environment than the one he had to better prepare them for the demands of the future, he says.

The LAUTECH Community has been paying attention to the activities of Olayinka Ajao in its immediate environment and the country at large, hence the decision to confer on him the award of the honourary Degree of Doctor of Technology, D.Tech (honoris causa) at the 16th Convocation ceremonies of the university holding later this month. It is, no doubt, a recognition that is truly deserved and a tribute to a man who, propelled by the dream of the founding fathers of the university, has taken to town what he got from the gown and has made exceptional contributions to the growth of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria and development of the people and his community. Between him and LAUTECH, this is a fitting way of rekindling the flame that was lit in 1990.
April 21, 2024
Accountable governance, state capture and Tinubu’s democratic legacy
- By Adebolu Adeyeye and Omotoso Ogunniyi
Nigeria has run a democratic system sequentially for 25 years since 1999. In this timeframe, democracy has exhibited signs of consolidation and maturation. Nigeria has experienced transitions across party lines and administrations. Nonetheless, the political system tends to lack the most critical and fundamental structures which is consolidation of institutions rather than personalities.

State capture by political elites through clientelist practices whether electoral or through securing the political support base has dominated the Nigeria political space for the greater part. This practice of governance has shown positive outcomes in some climes, especially in dictatorial or authoritarian systems. But hardly can we find a progressive democratic system that thrives in this circumstance. And may be, with the right political will, the current political arrangement may be an exception.

The current President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Bola Tinubu can be regarded as one of the astute politicians in the history of Nigeria. This has been evident with his political track record having a hand in who has become the Lagos state governor since 1999 till date, forming the Action Congress of Nigeria party and contributing to the electoral victory in Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Edo. He also played a critical role in the formation of the All-Progressive Congress which brought President Buhari into power. This political dexterity saw him leverage on this structure to become the President. Having seen him secure his political base and strategically gained political advantage over the opposition, there is no doubt about his political sagacity. However, with the current socio-economic and political challenges besetting the country, Nigeria needs more than just political sagacity to experience prosperity. And with the lack of strong institutions, there could be no better individual to drive good governance and prosperity within the prism of democratic state capture he invented.

At the present time, Nigeria is faced with a myriad of overwhelming challenges. Sadly, the years of democratic rule, especially since 1999, have been overshadowed by regression rather than positive developmental strides. Ironically, the current President has the best chance to rewrite the wrongs by setting a tune that will be visible to Nigerians by consolidating the growth and development of the country. And the time is now, not during his 2nd term, which is typical of democratic leaders so as to keep their political base intact for re-election. After all, great success achieved in 4 years can transcend the aggregation of the past 24 years.

Evidently, the most critical problems facing Nigeria are lack of accountable and responsive governance, corruption, electoral corruption, centralization, lack of local government autonomy, lack of constant power supply, dwindling economy and insecurity.

Read Also: Osun set to host First Lady Oluremi Tinubu

In this dire situation, to progress as a nation, the first point of action is holding public officials accountable. Anti-corruption agencies must be empowered to scrutinize financial dealings of public officials regularly and without interference. Government institutions at all levels must run an open budget and adopt budget performance mechanisms.

Elections must continue to improve. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) must be perfected for subsequent elections. The IREV needs to be supported with infrastructure. The 2022 Electoral act must be amended to make the delivery of results in real time mandatory, while the manual results only serve as correspondence. Every polling unit must also be supported with adequate security personals and CCTV. The overdue reforms in The Judiciary that supports her independence and sustainability while greatly reducing the influence of other arms of government must be pursued. The National Judicial Council (NJC) which superintend over the affairs of the Judiciary should be strengthened by the democratization of the judicial institution in the Federal and State parastatals.

Decentralization in the critical sector is required for Nigeria to actualize its potential. Security architecture must be decentralized by encouraging state police, natural resources must be decentralized, thereby allowing states to be able to explore their resources to create wealth. Federal ministries such as education, health, housing, urban development who ordinarily set standards and regulations can operate at state level to reduce cost and ensure proper utilization of funds and help make decisions that affect lives positively in localities, while the Federal government committee in this case serves as external advisors and inspectors to ensure accountability.

Local government autonomy must be allowed to thrive. Funds meant for local government needs to be channeled properly towards its development. The Local Government as a local body must be empowered to separate its critical activities from that of the state. To experience development at the local level, the local government should be responsible for a range of significant activities. The Local government must have its treasury, budget and accounts, alongside means to help raise its revenue. The State Joint Local Government Account should serve an oversight purpose rather than a regulatory purpose. The local government should also be able to hire, fire and promote its staff. The local government elected council should decide policy and determine internal procedures. State government administrators should serve as external advisors and inspectors and have no role within the local authority.

The power challenge in Nigeria is a barrier to expansion of opportunities and enterprise development in Nigeria. The World Bank Group estimates the economic cost of power shortage in Nigeria to be about $28bn which is equivalent to about 2% of GDP. Ample supply of electricity will ensure its availability in homes, create jobs, drive down the cost of goods and services. To improve the power sector the government needs to render the necessary technical and financial support to the state government in improving and establishing electricity market laws, the state government should partner with existing agencies to maximize and optimize distribution networks, address the uneven distribution of gas supply for power generation & project execution, and streamline Nigerian Electricity Regulatory commission and states’ regulations to avoid bottlenecks for investors.

A software-defined transmission network which is sensitive to system imbalance and robust enough to adjust with minimal disruptions, routes power with much better efficiency and has redundant paths for power transmission is required to better harness the various sources of power generation to meet our real demand.

According to experts the economy of Nigeria is presumed to have been burdened with the payment of fuel subsidy, electricity subsidy and multiple exchange rate. This administration has been bold enough to abolish fuel subsidy and multiple exchange rate but considering inadequate production capacity, it has been a torrid experience for the Nation at large with biting inflation and hardship. The government needs some quick wins and both the Federal and State governments have to rise up to provide a cushion. Removal of Subsidy means more Federal Allocation for the States. Moreso, the Federal Government needs to task each State government with major developmental projects, massive agricultural revolution that will ensure food sufficiency is attained. Each state must target the production of crops adaptable to its climate and ensure food sufficiency in the next 2 years. The access to natural resources is more imperative now for the states to generate wealth. While establishing the value chain by seeking external investments, some of these resources can be exported. Lithium for example is used in making phone batteries and electric cars and Nigeria has an abundance of lithium in Oyo, Nasarawa, Kwara. There needs to be an injection of investments in such areas which will create jobs and ensure increase in production capacity as a Nation. Tackling corruption at all levels, reducing cost of governance, reducing oil theft and improving oil security with pipeline monitoring and evaluation systems. These among other fiscal and monetary interventions will help stabilize the economy.

Insecurity has long affected Nigeria in her quest for development and unity. State policing and community policing will be a positive step in achieving this. When locals in a community are tasked with guarding its territory, there is bound to be a level of alertness and proactiveness because locals are able to identify suspicious activities. The state police can be successful in curbing insecurity by working together with other security outfits and intelligence institutions both at state and federal level to tackle this menace. A robust national re-orientation on the need for patriotism and nationalism is required to confront hardline ideological opposition to our national unity.

Furthermore, the decisions to institute good governance in Nigeria vastly rests on the Number One Citizen and his team, and the political will and dexterity displayed will set the tune for progress in the country. Afterall, some of the critical agencies are headed by his tested political acquittances, his mentees and the mentees of his political associates. For this reason, success is the only acceptable outcome. In actualizing the required change, toes will be stepped upon, allies will be offended, friends will become foes, corruption will fight back, cabals will surface, the owners of Nigeria will clamor, but before anything else Nigeria prevailing is paramount. Now is the time to build a legacy that outlives you Mr. President!
April 21, 2024