The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Cultists shatter Kwara peace

    Cultists shatter Kwara peace

    Cult groups, once restricted to campuses and other states, are now clashing on the streets of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, with chilling results, reports KUNLE JIMOH

    Cult-related clashes have claimed no fewer than 10 lives in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital since January. This is a chilling development in a state with a reputation for peace. At the height of the Boko Haram insurgency, Kwara residents enjoyed enviable peace. Cultists also kept their distance.

    Now, the picture is changing. Cult clashes have spread to the streets of Ilorin. Mid January, suspected cultists hacked to death a car wash operator, Bayo Ajia, though he was the alleged to be a notorious cultist.

    The police and state government said they were doing everything to crush crime and sustain peace in the peace.

    Penultimate weekend, a cult  clash reportedly claimed four lives in the state capital, though the police command said three persons died.

    Late last month, suspected cultists struck at Ikoko-Sakamo area of Ilorin, killing a man simply identified as Wasiu. Wasiu, in his 30s, it was gathered, who had reportedly fled the area to avoid being attacked, returned only to face those he dreaded, it was learnt. Like Ajia, he was also said to belong to a cult group. The gunmen reportedly numbering four were said to have arrived in the area in commando style, shooting the victim in the face, an eyewitness said.

    There was anxiety at the scene of the incident as residents and passersby scampered for safety.

    “It was like a theatre scene when the gunmen arrived,” the eyewitness said. “They started shooting and everybody around had to run away.  We didn’t know what happened, we only discovered that the style of operation of the gunmen appeared like they are cultists.

    “Before now, we had been observing Wasiu because his action too was suspicious. He might be a cult member; that is why he was away for some time now before yesterday’s incident.”

    The latest cult clash occurred at Babako, Ita-Amodu and Agbo-Oba areas of Ilorin metropolis between penultimate Saturday night and 4 o’clock on Sunday morning.

    Another person was said to have been hacked to death by suspected cultists in the Olunlade area, along Ilorin-Ajase-Ipo Road.

    The development, it was gathered, created tension in the affected areas while residents scampered for safety.

    Eyewitness account had it that one of the victims of the incident was a- 20-year-old boy allegedly  shot by the cultists.

    It was also gathered that members of the “Aiye” fraternity first struck at Baboko area of Ilorin around 9.30 pm on Saturday night allegedly killing two persons.

    In a reprisal attack, it was gathered that after that operation at Baboko the suspected cultists headed for  Ita-Amodu and Agbo-Oba in Ilorin on a revenge mission. This group also allegedly killed two persons in that reprisal attack.

    The state government and police command said they were would stem the tide of this unsavoury development. The state Commissioner of Police Sam Okaula recently paraded 13 suspected cultists. Items recovered from them included one cut-to-size gun, one locally made pistol and five cartridges.

    Mr. Okaula added that the state police had earlier declared two of the arrested suspects wanted.

    He said, “There were rival cult clashes here and there between Saturday and Sunday and some people lost their lives. But like I told you last time we will always be on top of the situation; we have effected the arrest of 13 of these notorious cultists. We shall go all out to arrest more of these suspects so that we can have peace in the state.”

    “We have directed District Police Officers (DPOs) and Area Commanders to be on top of the situation. We are going to carry out effective checks on motorcycles, as most of them are being used to commit crimes.

    “I use this medium to appeal to members of the public to continue to give us information especially with regard to these cultists…Enough is enough for these boys.”

    Also talking tough, the state governor Abdulfatah Ahmed warned cultists and law breakers that tough time awaited them, adding that there would be no hiding place for them

    Ahmed  said everything necessary would be done to ensure that peace in the state is not truncated by hoodlums. He also urged parents and guardians to take proper care of their wards.

    He said, “The law is very clear on crime. Anybody who is caught under any guise will face the wrath of the law as cultism is unacceptable in Kwara State.”

  • Civil society groups seek ‘strict’ budget implementation

    Civil society groups seek ‘strict’ budget implementation

    Some civil society organisa-tions have urged the Plateau State government to implement its budget in a manner that will guarantee good governance, transparency, accountability and alleviate poverty.

    The civil society groups sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said the measure is to ensure that citizens of the state feel the impact of their government through provisions of basic social amenities as stipulated in government’s annual budget for the overall good of the populace.

    The Simon Lalong administration has tabled the state 2016 budget worth N154 billion before the state House of Assembly for deliberation.

    The four CSOs are Search For Common Ground(SFCG), West African Youth Network (WAYN), Community Action for Popular Participation(CAPP) and Leadership Initiative for Good Governance in Africa (LIGGA)

    Programme Manager of Community Action for Popular Participation (CAPP) Mr. Nelson Ananze who revealed their project in a town hall meeting held at Carbinet Office at Plateau state secretariat Jos said, “The project is one of the ways civil society organizations influence government policies so as to enhance good governance in the state.

    Mr. Amanze said, “Four civil society organisations sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), are currently undertaking a project on good governance in the country, particularly in Bauchi, Plateau and River states, respectively. We have the mandate to work in the various states in different thematic areas towards a positive impact on the lives and livelihood of the people as well the general development of a state.

    “These areas of concern are education, human right, conflict management and peace building, environment, health, gender, youth, persons living with disability, excluded and marginalized groups, accountability and transparency.

    The Plateau State Head of Service Mr. Izang Azi who spoke on behalf of government, said, “The current economic reality has placed so much responsibility of budget implementation on citizens as well as government because government has to rely on tax paid by citizens to provide social amenities. If people pay their tax responsibly, government will use the same tax to provide all that is needed to make life meaningful to its citizens in a transparent manner.

    “This administration has commenced sensitisation of the general public on tax payment and government has also promised to be transparent in the application of what ever that is collected through tax. But at the end of the day, if citizens refuse to pay tax, government’s aim of providing social amenities will be defeated.”

  • FCT frowns at indiscriminate posters’ pasting

    Henceforth, anyone or organisation found pasting posters indiscriminately will be prosecuted, the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) has said.

    This warning was issued by the Director of the FCTA’s Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS), Mallam Ibrahim Yusuf at the commissioning of GEMSROCK, a new ultramodern electronic billboard in Abuja’s Wuse 2 district.

    Yusuf said his department has already taken measures to control the rash of posters and billboards in the city, saying they had approached religious organizations, political parties and businesses to bring the situation under control.

    “There is no way you can solve this problem without going to the source. So we have visited churches and other religious organisations as well as business owners to talk to their members about pasting posters in Abuja,” he said.

    The director said for now they are giving a period of grace after which they will take drastic measures to curtail the trend.

    “If they continue we will soon start to prosecute them,” he said.

    Instead of defacing the city with posters, Mal. Yusuf urged members of the public to engage the services of the many electronic billboards to showcase their products and services.

    While commissioning the installation, the director commended the management of GEMS Communications LTD for installing the ultramodern digital billboard, saying it is at par with what is obtainable in some of the world’s foremost capitals.

    Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of GEMS Communications, Mr. Atilola Odudare said the company invested so much to install the electronic billboard in an attempt to “redefine outdoor by blending emerging technology with the art which is environmentally friendly and enhances the looks of Abuja.”

    He said the electronic billboard built in the shape of a rock and located in the Wuse 2 business hub is designed to complement both the business and aesthetic angles of the capital and called on businesses to take advantage of this by having their products advertised on it.

    According to him, “the billboard is proposed to be the first user friendly billboard in Nigeria and will be interactive with the immediate environment.  It is the first if its kind in out-of-the-box outdoor advertising.”

    Odudare added that, “the product gives users of outdoor exposure to ‘budget as it is programmed’ to deliver time sharing with all accompanying flexibility. It is also web-based product and eliminates the rigors of physical visit to the site by the client; they can view the exposure delivery of the products on their palms.”

  • Villa staff amid fuel scarcity

    Petrol has become one of the most sought-after products in the country. Apart from being used for running generator sets for small businesses and at home, most vehicles depend on the product to move around.

    Considering the country’s endowment with the product, its supply for domestic use ought to be higher than its demand. It should be readily available for Nigerians to buy at every point in time.

    But this is not the case because of the long time abandonment of local refineries and over reliance on fuel importation by past administrations.

    Just like under past administrations, the fuel scarcity under the current administration is fast moving to an alarming rate.

    Costs of transportation of goods and services, due to the fuel scarcity, have continued to push up prices of goods and services and in turn raised inflation rate in almost every product and services within the Nigerian economy.

    Besides the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s plan for a long-term solution such as building new refineries and maintaining existing refineries, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has also mainly taken over importation of fuel from marketers.

    While the generality of Nigerians have continued to suffer under the prevailing circumstances, some State House staff are pushing for special intervention.

    They believed that it will not be a bad idea for an operational petrol station to be located within the Presidential Villa, which staff will have access to.

    Doing that, they said, will make it easy for them to buy fuel especially during period of scarcity.

    Presently, Villa staff don’t have access to the only petrol station in the Presidential Villa cited close to the Vice President’s resident.

    The staff pointed out that such petrol station has long been cited within the National Assembly premises, which has been serving members of staff, management including lawmakers, especially during fuel scarcity.

    Some of the staff wondered why such treatment cannot be extended to State House staff, especially as the petrol station in the National Assembly is located less than two minutes drive from the seat of power via the legislators’ and management’s gate.

    One of the staff, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said: “We are really going through untold hardship just like most Nigerians. Staff presently cannot buy fuel from the only Petrol station by the Vice President’s residence.

    “We know that allowing staff to buy fuel from that petrol station may cause so much noise and distractions since it are so close to the Vice President’s residence.

    “But they can look into it and set up another petrol station for staff within the Presidential Villa so that we can start enjoying what National Assembly staff have been enjoying for several years,” he added.

    While the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, has promised that the scarcity will disappear in few weeks, there seems to be no guarantee that the ugly trend will not begin again after few weeks of its disappearance.

    The push for setting up such petrol station in the Presidential Villa, no doubt, will boost productivity at the seat of power in the long run.

    It will reduce or eliminate the number of working hours Villa staff waste on long fuel queues.

     

    Useful life for Villa staff on retirement

     

    One of the periods many civil servants and private sector employees rea most is after retirement. Many of them always fear what the future will hold for them as one of the fallout of retirement period is stoppage of their monthly salaries and allowances.

    Before retirement, most of them have, over the years, solely depended on their salaries and allowances for running their homes including educating their children. Some of them with very meager salaries have found it very difficult to make ends meet even while in service.

    They found it almost impossible to have any meaningful savings they could rely on in their retirement period. Because of these, the fear of the retirement period has led to the untimely death of many Nigerians shortly before or after leaving active service. But the Presidency is taking steps to turn the tide.

    The Presidency last Thursday commenced a two-day vocational and entrepreneurial programme to prepare its staff adequately for retirement. Declaring open the workshop for prospective retirees, the State House Permanent Secretary, Mr Jalal Arabi, said that the programme was to prepare them mentally and psychologically for retirement.

    He said: “What the State House has set out to do is to commence a process of early pre-retirement training for potential retirees.

    “This is in the firm belief that adequate planning for retirement will make life after retirement more attractive,”

    The workshop for eighty-one prospective retirees scheduled to retire in 2016 and 2017, trained the staff on livestock, fisheries management, poultry and personal finance planning.

    Other areas addressed at the workshop included ageing and health challenges in retirement, achieving healthy living after retirement, and the implications of the contributory pension scheme on public servants: retirement perspectives.

    While the overall aim of the Presidency is to hold the pre-retirement training at least three to four years before a particular staff retires, it is hoped that it will be sustained to ensure long and eventful life for retirees.

  • ‘We need better, cheaper houses’

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Bello wants better houses for residents of the territory but he also desires affordable shelter.
    To achieve this, he called for a multi-disciplinary meeting of all professionals involved in the building industry.

    Bello made the call while receiving a delegation from the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) led by its President, Arc. Umaru Aliyu that paid him a courtesy visit.

    He reiterated that the call was necessary i order to enable professionals to brainstorm and ensure that sanity is brought to the sub-sector, thereby providing more housing delivery to the populace.

    Malam Bello noted that the industry is robust, with the capacity to provide ready employment to the teeming populace in the FCT, because of the diverse professionals and unskilled labourers involved from the conception to the completion stage.

    He expressed delight to meet professional bodies like ARCON that have contributed immensely to the development of the Federal Capital Territory, recalling that recently, he had a similar meeting with the Town Planners Association Nigeria.

    According to a statement issued by the Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, the minister said architects, engineers, town planners, surveyors and builders should all come together to find a better way to fast track the entire process from the drawings, building plan approvals, setting out and the entire building construction process in the territory.
    The Minister decried a situation where houses are built in estates without giving enough space for greening, planting of trees and at least a garden at the backyard as well as space for children play area.

     

  • Jailed at 13, freed at 17

    Jailed at 13, freed at 17

    A 13-year-old orphan jailed for tampering with telephone cables is released four years after, but he needs care. TONY AKOWE reports

    In 2012 when he was arrested and jailed for tampering with telephone cables, Ibrahim Mohammed was 13. He vanished from reckoning. Four years later, through efforts from a youth centre and NYSC lawyers, he was rescued from prison. He has no one to turn to because he is an orphan. He has no one  to draw love from.

    What becomes of his dream to be a lawyer?

    He was bundled into prison, accused of tampering with NITEL cables in Katsina State. Much of the care and love he enjoys comes from members of the Youth Centre for Change and Positive Re-orientation, especially Mr. Abayomi Medemaku, a member of the group who stood surety for him. The NYSC legal aid scheme also helped.

    Medemaku has continued to fight for Mohammed.

    “This boy was remanded in Katsina Prison since April 12, 2012 for allegedly tampering with NITEL cables,” Medemaku said in a Twitter message. “I was able to stand as surety for him in court on January 27, 2016 with the support of the NYSC Legal Aid Scheme in Katsina. We took him home. The boy, however, needs support as most of his teenage years [have been] wasted in incarceration. He is now 17.”

    One of the coordinators of the youth centre, Khairat A. Ajiboye, told The Nation that Mohammed is currently undergoing counselling and has been taken to hospital for checkup and treatment. She said he has already been enrolled in a junior secondary school to prepare him for his life ambition.

    An unnamed non-governmental organisation and a former Chief Justice of Katsina State, Justice Mahmood Mahuta have been paying for his secondary education.

    Khairat said the youth centre has, “through Ibrahim’s case…seen how Nigerian youths and Nigeria in general need to develop in a lot of ways. There is a need to establish a rehabilitation centre for persons like [Mohammed]. The stigma alone is making him a recluse coupled with his abject poverty. In the meantime, the committee has got a good Samaritan, Aliyu Umar, an English graduate, who will keep an eye on Ibrahim, make sure he goes to school every day and also coach him in English Language and all necessary subjects”.

    The General Coordinator of the group, Sadiq Umar Abdullahi said the group was committed to ensuring that Mohammed get the best, pointing out that the offence for which he was sent to prison does not exist in the Nigerian legal system.

    He frowned at a situation where people are bundled into detention without proper investigation and trial, pointing out that Mohammed was made to spend a good part of his teenage years in prison. Abdullahi said the centre was set up to be a hub for many youth groups and youth leaders, including participation and collaboration. He explained this was in order to promote synergy of youth activities nationwide and to serve as the voice of youth entrepreneurs and innovators who ordinarily may not be seen or heard.

    He said further the centre is expected to serve as a leadership and identification centre for exemplary youths who have excelled in their different fields of endeavors, create awareness and education in the participation and involvement of youths in government organisa-tions and agencies and political activities during elections productively, retooling, educating and employing youths in to become productive in areas such as agriculture, and while creating awareness on negative effects of drug abuse and serve as watch dogs for corruption in governmental institutions and government officials.

  • FCT frowns at indiscriminate posters’ pasting

    Henceforth, anyone or organisation found pasting posters indiscriminately will be prosecuted, the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) has said.

    This warning was issued by the Director of the FCTA’s Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS), Mallam Ibrahim Yusuf at the commissioning of GEMSROCK, a new ultramodern electronic billboard in Abuja’s Wuse 2 district.

    Yusuf said his department has already taken measures to control the rash of posters and billboards in the city, saying they had approached religious organizations, political parties and businesses to bring the situation under control.

    “There is no way you can solve this problem without going to the source. So we have visited churches and other religious organisations as well as business owners to talk to their members about pasting posters in Abuja,” he said.

    The director said for now they are giving a period of grace after which they will take drastic measures to curtail the trend.

    “If they continue we will soon start to prosecute them,” he said.

    Instead of defacing the city with posters, Mal. Yusuf urged members of the public to engage the services of the many electronic billboards to showcase their products and services.

    While commissioning the installation, the director commended the management of GEMS Communications LTD for installing the ultramodern digital billboard, saying it is at par with what is obtainable in some of the world’s foremost capitals.

    Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of GEMS Communications, Mr. Atilola Odudare said the company invested so much to install the electronic billboard in an attempt to “redefine outdoor by blending emerging technology with the art which is environmentally friendly and enhances the looks of Abuja.”

    He said the electronic billboard built in the shape of a rock and located in the Wuse 2 business hub is designed to complement both the business and aesthetic angles of the capital and called on businesses to take advantage of this by having their products advertised on it.

    According to him, “the billboard is proposed to be the first user friendly billboard in Nigeria and will be interactive with the immediate environment.  It is the first if its kind in out-of-the-box outdoor advertising.”

    Odudare added that, “the product gives users of outdoor exposure to ‘budget as it is programmed’ to deliver time sharing with all accompanying flexibility. It is also web-based product and eliminates the rigors of physical visit to the site by the client; they can view the exposure delivery of the products on their palms.”

  • Civil society groups seek ‘strict’ budget implementation

    Some civil society organisa-tions have urged the Plateau State government to implement its budget in a manner that will guarantee good governance, transparency, accountability and alleviate poverty.

    The civil society groups sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said the measure is to ensure that citizens of the state feel the impact of their government through provisions of basic social amenities as stipulated in government’s annual budget for the overall good of the populace.

    The Simon Lalong administration has tabled the state 2016 budget worth N154 billion before the state House of Assembly for deliberation.

    The four CSOs are Search For Common Ground(SFCG), West African Youth Network (WAYN), Community Action for Popular Participation(CAPP) and Leadership Initiative for Good Governance in Africa (LIGGA)

    Programme Manager of Community Action for Popular Participation (CAPP) Mr. Nelson Ananze who revealed their project in a town hall meeting held at Carbinet Office at Plateau state secretariat Jos said, “The project is one of the ways civil society organizations influence government policies so as to enhance good governance in the state.

    Mr. Amanze said, “Four civil society organisations sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), are currently undertaking a project on good governance in the country, particularly in Bauchi, Plateau and River states, respectively. We have the mandate to work in the various states in different thematic areas towards a positive impact on the lives and livelihood of the people as well the general development of a state.

    “These areas of concern are education, human right, conflict management and peace building, environment, health, gender, youth, persons living with disability, excluded and marginalized groups, accountability and transparency.

    The Plateau State Head of Service Mr. Izang Azi who spoke on behalf of government, said, “The current economic reality has placed so much responsibility of budget implementation on citizens as well as government because government has to rely on tax paid by citizens to provide social amenities. If people pay their tax responsibly, government will use the same tax to provide all that is needed to make life meaningful to its citizens in a transparent manner.

    “This administration has commenced sensitisation of the general public on tax payment and government has also promised to be transparent in the application of what ever that is collected through tax. But at the end of the day, if citizens refuse to pay tax, government’s aim of providing social amenities will be defeated.”

  • ‘Fed Govt, states should partner on solid minerals’

    ‘Fed Govt, states should partner on solid minerals’

    Solid minerals can drive industrialisation and economic growth in the country, the sector stakeholders have said in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    The stakeholders spoke at the 52nd Annual National Conference of Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS).

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Solid Minerals Development Kayode Fayemi were in attendance.

    Both Governor Ahmed and Dr Fayemi decried the neglect of the sector by successive governments in the country.

    Ahmed used the occasion to call for partnership between the Federal Government and states for a survey of the quality and quantity of solid minerals in the country in order to build a geosciences database.

    He said, “No doubt, the solid mineral sector has the potential to generate significant revenue for the country but has been largely underexplored due to the reliance on oil resources.

    “Yet the opportunities are vast. For example, 30 per cent of the planet’s mineral resources, and specifically, more than 40 per cent of global gold, diamond and manganese, to mention a few, is found in Africa. Nigeria is no less endowed.

    “According to the 2012 audit report of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Nigeria has about 40 different solid minerals spread across the country. Yet on the average, the sector contributes only about 0.34 percent to the country’s GDP.

    “More than ever before, there is profound optimism that the sector can serve as a key driver in the quest for sustained economic growth and development in the country. The cumulative experience and expertise in this room today makes you all key to this quest.

    “As things stand in our country, the only way governments can continue to meet their obligations to the people is to create a broad based and sustainable economy: an economy that relies on revenue and growth from multiple sectors and is structured to create prosperity for the current generation without jeopardising that of the future.

    “However, it is important to note that Section 44 (3) of the 1999 Constitution vests the Federal Government with the ownership and control of all minerals, mineral oils and natural gas, in Nigeria.

    “Also, the Second Schedule, Part1, item 39 of the Exclusive Legislative list in the 1999 Constitution restricts State Governments from developing their respective mining industries.

    “As a result, this has limited the authority of states in the mining sector. This restriction has led to states having no authority to regulate the sector despite, playing host to miners.

    “Indeed, it is ironic that this restriction exists at a time states are required to exploit alternative sources of revenue such as the solid mineral and mining sector.

    This structure has led to environmental degradation as licensed miners sometimes carry out mining activities in a haphazard manner, as states are unable to regulate their activities.

    “I, therefore call on the Federal Government to allow increased participation by States in the solid mineral sector, especially in exploration, the collection of royalties, fees, fines and taxes accruable from solid minerals.

    “With this, states will be able to stimulate more growth, increase their Internally Generated Revenue, and create critical jobs for youths.

    “While we have a fairly accurate estimate of the mineral resources our country is endowed with, it is believed these barely scratch the surface of the vast mineral deposits in Nigeria. We must however acknowledge that mineral exploitation is expensive and time consuming.

    “In Kwara state, we are blessed with Gold, Kaolin, Marble, Dolomite, Tourmalines, Limestone and several other solid minerals which we are focused on exploiting to form the base for industrial development in the state.

    “Likewise, in order to diversify our economic base through solid minerals, this administration has put in place strategies to formalise and grow the industry.

    “These strategies include: enumerating and regulating operators and growing micro-and small-scale operators in the sector amongst others.

    “Furthermore, we are making plans to organise informal miners in the sector into cooperatives and given access to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME) loans. This is to encourage small business owners in solid mineral and mining sector.

    “We have also set up the Midway Minerals Development Company Limited as a special purpose vehicle to acquire mining licenses and promote investment in the sector. Currently, we have five mining permits covering 445 cadastral units for mining Tourmaline, Tantalum, Dolomite and Marble.

    “Additionally, we are ready to acquire additional licenses to further exploit opportunities in the sector and by forging partnerships with private sector investors.

    Dr Fayemi used the occasion to decry insufficient funding of the ministry over the years.

    He added that out of the one billion Naira voted for the ministry in the 2015 budget, the ministry could only access N352 million.

    Dr. Fayemi added, saying, “This year alone Bukina-Faso next door to us is spending $80 million on generating geosciences data. Kenya is spending $65 million on generating geosciences data. It is not the total budget of the ministry. It is clear to us and President Muhammadu Buhari that if this sector is to thrive, we also need to inject more funding, not just government funding but private sector funding.

    “To this end, one of my first tasks as a minister was to meet all the managing directors of commercial banks and the Governor of Central Bank (CBN) to encourage them to become involved in mining by setting up solid mineral’s desk in their various banks, just as they have agric desk; and also organising an intervention fund for the sector, which we are now working on.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • From bread hawker to baker’s ambassador

    From bread hawker to baker’s ambassador

    The fairy tale continues apace. Former bread seller turned celebrity has been made the brand ambassador of Shirley’s Confectionery in Abuja. Olajumoke was presented with a certificate to that effect as well as the firm’s branded shirt at its office in Gwarimpa.

    According to Shirley’s Confectionery, its decision to adopt and unveil Olajumoke as their brand ambassador followed her unusual success story which has become a source of wonder and reference to many Nigerians.

    The story of the young lady is one that most Nigerians are familiar with, a Cinderella-like narrative of grass to grace, of sudden glitz and glamour.

    Amarachi Iwuanyanwu,  a director at Shirley’s Confectionery explained the decision to associate with Olajumoke.

    “We are delighted to inform you about our recent brand association with Olajumoke Orisaguna, a former bread seller who shot to stardom as a result of being at the wrong place at the right time. Now she has featured on CNN, Thisday Style magazine etc.

    “As a result of the unusual grass to grace story, Shirley has decided to make Olajumoke Orisaguna  as the brand ambassador to Shirley’s Confectionery.”

    The event  with took place in Shirley’s Gwarimpa, Abuja Offices had quite a number of media people as well as curious customers of the outfit who simply wanted to catch a glimpse of the sudden model.

    Wilfred, Marketing Consultant to Shirley’s said the purpose of the event was to celebrate something that is phenomenon and exceptional.

    He said Olajumoke’s story is inspirational and that Shirley’s believes in inspiration.

    Amarachi Iwuayanwu, who was at the event with Adaora Iwuayanwu, another director, denied exploiting Miss Orisaguna.

    “We’re not using this opportunity to exploit any situation, we are actually sympathetic and very happy with the grass to grace story of Jumoke. And why we thought it was necessary for Shirley’s to be part of it is that it traces back to what were actually selling.

    “We’re a confectionery shop and selling bread. We feel that out of every other brands that have adopted her as their brand ambassadors, we are more positioned to push her out to the world.

    “Now she is no longer selling Agege Bread, she’s dealing with Shirley’s Bread. The grass to grace story is also the Agege Bread to the Shirley’s Bread story.”

    The event which drew quite a number a crowd, featured photo sessions with the new model.

    Mrs. Orisaguna, who spoke in Yoruba expressed delight at the opportunity given her by the company. She said her story shows that whatever anyone is doing should be done with commitment as no one knows when his or her breakthrough would come.

    “I am happy with what God has done for me because where I am today is unexpected.”inister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Bello wants better houses for residents of the territory but he also desires affordable shelter.

    To achieve this, he called for a multi-disciplinary meeting of all professionals involved in the building industry.

    Bello made the call while receiving a delegation from the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) led by its President, Arc. Umaru Aliyu that paid him a courtesy visit.

    He reiterated that the call was necessary i order to enable professionals to brainstorm and ensure that sanity is brought to the sub-sector, thereby providing more housing delivery to the populace.

    Malam Bello noted that the industry is robust, with the capacity to provide ready employment to the teeming populace in the FCT, because of the diverse professionals and unskilled labourers involved from the conception to the completion stage.

    He expressed delight to meet professional bodies like ARCON that have contributed immensely to the development of the Federal Capital Territory, recalling that recently, he had a similar meeting with the Town Planners Association Nigeria.

    According to a statement issued by the Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, the minister said architects, engineers, town planners, surveyors and builders should all come together to find a better way to fast track the entire process from the drawings, building plan approvals, setting out and the entire building construction process in the territory.

    The Minister decried a situation where houses are built in estates without giving enough space for greening, planting of trees and at least a garden at the backyard as well as space for children play area.