The Nation Newspaper

Tag: book

  • In the spirit of peace

    This book is free. Its goal is to promote peace and encourage people to stand up and speak out against violence”. This is the first sentence you will read, flipping through the first page of this mind-blowing piece by Shehu Sani. Truly, this sentence convinces one on the ingenuity of the book and what it seeks to achieve in the lives of humans.

    The Northern part of Nigeria is gripped by years of sectarian violence. A vicious, virulent and unceasing armed insurgency has added to the chaos and the woes. Every day comes with its record of assassinations, mass killings, indiscriminate bombings and gross human rights abuses. The raging violence continue to threaten the peace and unity of the country and shaking the foundation of its democratic institutions. This is why Shehu Sani has come up with this exceptional and amazing book to advocate peace.

    The author is a renowned civil rights activist, poet and playwright who has written extensively on political and religious conflicts in Nigeria and Africa in general. And his book is a sure evidence of his contributions to reduce violence as he is a campaigner for peace.

    The introductory page of the book takes readers through the bits and pieces of what the book is about. Like it says, these collection of poems are not conventional sonnets that conform to the strict rules and stereotype of literature or academics. Rather, they are literary intervention to inspire the minds and reinforce the spirits of victims of violence, residents of flashpoints and ordinary people passionate about peace.

    Those who strive for peace and justice for the oppressed should grab a copy of this book because the poem appeals to their minds and gives a sort of encouragement in the course. The book of poems also softens the hearts of warriors to embrace peace. The author says that readers will clearly decipher some of the poems as respectful of the dictum of injustice begotten violence and the rights and obligation of oppressed people to free themselves.

    The poems of peace is a compilation of 95 poems that are prescribed for peace particularly for  people of northern Nigeria for whom over three decades have been experiencing sectarian and ethnic violence between Christians and Muslims and now facing an atrocious insurgency. The author also included the usefulness of the poems to the people of Northern Ireland, Kashmir, Bosnia Herzegovina and some communities in Myanmar, Thailand, Pakistan, Egypt, Middle East, Philippines.

    Aside the afore mentioned destinations, it is highly believed that the richness of these poem surpasses restrictions as Africa and the world at large surfers violence. The author should minimize the limitations of his work.

    The fonts and graphic design of the book portrays the message. The colour of the book cover is white which is known for peace as the author advocates. Sani italicised his font to captivate readers, he also uses pictures to tell his story of violence that has destroyed lives. This is indeed a very fantastic way of relating a message as readers do not only get to imagine his flow of thoughts, they also visualise it through the pictures used.

    In fact, words cannot express Sani’s magnanimity as he takes his time to feel the pains of his people and tries to make a change in his society. It will not be surprising if he is given a Peace Advocate award or the Nobel peace prize for this inspirational work that encourages peace.

    The Poems of Peace is  recommended for all to read as it relates to every life one way or the other being victims of violence or as members of a society filled with violence.

     

  • Transformation’s score card

    Title: Sure & Steady Transformation:

    Progress Report of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Volume One

    Publisher: GDP Associates Ltd

    Pages: 155

    Year of Publication: 2012

    Reviewer: Otive Igbuzor, PhD

     

    The book Sure & Steady Transformation is an attempt by Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy to document the highlights of the progress report of 30 ministries under the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

    In this review, we shall follow the normal pattern of reviewing intellectual contributions. We will therefore describe the content of the book and its contribution to knowledge. We will then do a critique and make suggestions for future edition and the way forward for the transformation of our country.

    The 155-page book is beautifully laid out with good pictures. It is easy to read with very bold prints. The book is divided into thirty two sections containing President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan inauguration address on 29th May, 2011; highlights of 30 ministries and a section on building strong institutions. In his inauguration address, the President thanked all Nigerians for the mandate given to him and declared that our decade of development and transformation had begun. He made a commitment to demonstrate the leadership, statesmanship, vision, capacity, and sacrifice to transform Nigeria in all the critical sectors by harnessing the creative energies of our people. He vowed to fight for the future of all Nigerians and in all sectors to improve the standard of living of all Nigerians.

    The focus of the ministry of Agriculture is to assure food security, reduce expenditure on foreign exchange on food imports, diversify the economy, generate foreign exchange and create jobs. Within the first 12 months, it has recorded great achievements in agricultural policy reforms; transformation of several crops; institutional reforms and international donor support for the agricultural transformation agenda. Corruption in fertilizer distribution has been eliminated, a database of 4.5 million farmers developed, a growth enhancement programme launched to provide targeted support for seeds and fertilizers; electronic wallet system developed using mobile phones to deliver subsidized seeds and fertilizers to farmers and thirty billion naira leveraged from commercial banks to finance seed and fertilizer supply. The crops with specific transformation programmes include cassava, rice, sorghum, cocoa, cotton and oil palm.

    The Ministry of Aviation is implementing an Aviation Master Plan designed to provide a safe, secure, profitable and self sustaining world class industry with a distinct airport experience for travelers. The ministry has developed a business code for engaging domestic and foreign operators on the flag carrier and national carrier models; an enhanced safety programme/projects; improved regulatory oversight; massive remodeling and reconstruction of airports across the country and capacity building for workers in the sector.

    The Ministry of Communication Technology is developing ICT infrastructure and policy for the country. The ministry has launched the NigComSat-IR satellite; deployed PCs to 766 secondary schools; PCs and internet access to 193 tertiary institutions; IT centres in 240 locations; scholarship scheme for masters and PhD students and many other projects.

    The Ministry of Defence has rehabilitated several infrastructure including the national war museum; workshops and equipment for the armed forces. There has also been construction and rehabilitation of several barracks, hospitals, cemeteries and procurement of patrol vehicles and vessels. It has also tried to tackle the problems confronting the country including measures to curb the activities of terrorists and criminals and proliferation of small arms and weapons.

    The Ministry of Education has developed a 4 year strategic plan for the development of the education sector. The ministry is implementing an Almajiri Education programme; Girl Education programme; back to school programme in South East geo-political zone; technical/vocational education and training and capacity strengthening for principals and teachers. It has also developed library resources; constructed classrooms; awarded scholarships and developed centres of excellence.

    The Ministry of Environment within the period of one year has completed the first phase of National Forest for biodiversity conservation; tackled deforestation in seven Northern states by raising six million tree seedlings; engaged in erosion and flood control projects in 62 locations nationwide and increased policy efforts towards the revival of Lake Chad.

    The Federal Capital Territory has developed a roadmap for sustainable development of FCTA. It is also engaging in land administration reform; re-established the Satellite Towns Development Agency and massive infrastructural development. The FCT has increased internally generated revenue by 35 percent since 2011.

    The Ministry of Finance is focused on restoration of fiscal prudence and steady and successful macroeconomic management resulting in lowering of government fiscal deficit from 3.35 percent of GDP in 2010 to 2.85 percent by 2012; reduction in recurrent expenditure from 77.18 percent of Federal Government budget in 2010 to 71.47 percent by 2012 and raising capital expenditure from 22.82 percent of budget in 2010 to 28.53 percent by 2012 and development of a fiscal framework for 2013 budget that will reduce fiscal deficit to 2.17 percent of GDP, reduce recurrent expenditure to 68.7 percent of budget and increase capital expenditure to 31.3 percent of the budget. Other achievements of the ministry include improved management of government debt; improvement in Nigeria’s sovereign credit rating by Fitch Ratings Agency and Standard and Poor; reinvigorating the capital market; sovereign wealth fund; establishment of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment (SURE-P) programme and spearheading the YouWIN programme.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pursued a strong commitment to the promotion of democracy and democratic values in foreign policy, promotion of good neighbourliness, regional security and ensuring the election of Nigerians into international organisations.

    The Ministry of Health is implementing the National Strategic Health Development Plan. It is rehabilitating and equipping several teaching hospitals including OAU Teaching Hospital, Nnamdi Azikiwe University and University of Calabar. It has procured syringes, ambulances, blood banks, etc. It is also implementing programmes on disease control and surveillance as well as treatment of diseases and developing human resources for the health sector.

    The Ministry of Information has developed a comprehensive communication strategy to communicate government programmes and policies to the public. In addition, the ministry has developed a multi-media communication plan, campaign for nationwide security awareness and anti-terrorism, promotion of vision 20:2020 and the transformation agenda, and capacity building for staff of the ministry.

    The Ministry of Interior has formulated a new investor/tourist friendly visa policy; and has been involved in control of illegal immigrants; and control of private guards companies. It has also constructed paramilitary villages and offices across the country.

    The Ministry of Justice has articulated a strategy for implementation of Justice Reforms in Nigeria. It has also drafted and gazetted subsidiary instruments to give effect to principal laws and collaborated with various organizations on the anti-corruption crusade.

    The Ministry of Labour and Productivity managed the fuel subsidy removal crisis and negotiated with several labour unions on the national minimum wage and other labour issues. It has also constructed training centres and conducted training on entrepreneurial skills, industrial relations etc.

    The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban development has developed national housing policy and national urban development policy. It has initiated contractor financed initiatives under Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) in ten states of the federation. It has also established a factory to produce light gauge steel, enabled mortgage financing, pursuing urban renewal and slum upgrading and creating jobs in the housing sector.

    The Ministry of Mines and Steel has issued a new mineral and mining regulation as guidance on the Mineral and Mining Act 2007. It has issued 2,476 active mineral titles, provided infrastructural facilities to 33 mining communities and supported 24 Artisanal and Small Scale Miners (ASM) and trained a lot of people on the sector.

    The Ministry of National Planning has championed results based management in programme and project planning and implementation. It has also institutionalised monitoring and evaluation system for enhanced performance and has improved donor co-ordination.

    The Ministry of Niger Delta has organized security and consultative meetings; building infrastructures in the Niger Delta especially road, housing, water supply and electrification. It is also intervening in environmental management, skill acquisition and economic empowerment.

    The Ministry of Petroleum Resources is pursuing the Petroleum Industry Bill. It launched a gas revolution in 2011 and developed the framework for local content and encouraging indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry. It is also promoting investment through the gas value chain. It has also established various task forces to reform the petroleum sector.

    The Ministry of Police Affairs is building an integrated digital trunking communication network for the police. It is working on the modernization of the police academy and the commencement of activities of transforming the Police Academy to a degree awarding institution. It has also provided several equipments to the police including vehicles, bullet proof vests, radios and two helicopters.

    The Ministry of Power has launched a roadmap for power sector reform. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has been strengthened and there is an on-going privatisation of the sector. Several memorandum of understanding have been signed with several companies to invest in the sector. The country attained a new peak generation of 4,322 MW by December, 2011.

    The Ministry of Science and Technology has launched three low earth observation satellites namely NigeriaSat-1, NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X and launched one communication satellite NigComSat-IR. It has also promoted space technology, renewable energy technology, biotechnology, technology management, building and roads research technology, material science technology and leather technology. The Ministry of Sports has developed a National Sports policy to guide the management and administration of sports in Nigeria. It has also constructed 17 mini sports centres and 26 are still under construction.

  • A breezy service memoir

    A breezy service memoir

    The entirety of a man’s life is often described as a book, scripted by some mysterious force. And then the belief is that every phase of that life makes up the chapters in the book. But now, the story of only a phase of his life (which is just supposed to be a chapter) is what Agbro ingeniously tells in a whole book. Indeed, many experiences can culminate in a ‘novel’, but then, there’s always a touch to some experiences that give them an edge in being relayed in the pages of a book.

    A whole year is undoubtedly a wealth of experience for anybody that has observed the National Youth Service Corps, a scheme designed in 1973 to foster the unity of the country by encouraging youths to have a feel of another part of the country other than their areas of study, domicile and study. And it is the experience of this one year that Agbro tells in this work.

    But then, like every other art of story-telling, there’s usually a beauty to each that gives it a voice of its own, distinct, even in the midst of many voices screaming to be heard. Indeed, everybody has a story, but not everybody can tell their story in an equally creative manner. Agbro regales us with his prowess of story telling; in fact, I daresay you might easily forget that you’re not under the tree, below some full moon, listening to tales, as you read through here.

    Even though it does not achieve so much particularly in the extensive delineation of characters, a feature prominent with the novel genre, this entertaining, engaging, and educating work of Agbro’s sufficiently fulfils the seeming motivation behind it; plainly sharing the author’s experience of NYSC. A reading of Agbro’s work provides you with so much knowledge of the NYSC camp and the many activities that go down there in the spate of three weeks. The bugle-wake-up-call, morning drills, mealtimes, lectures, dance, drama, the beauty pageant, the Bonfire night, the endurance trek and many more are vividly relayed so that even a primary school pupil can easily have the feel of NYSC. What’s more, such frivolities these things afford one such as flirting around a girl like Mariama are also there!

    There’s, truthfully, no end to the adventures of Federal Government pikin as Agbro’s narrator describes himself and his fellow corps members. Even parleying with a native doctor, and earning some cash and other benefits for a translation ‘contract’ in the process was there for this narrator and his pals. What’s more, there is the chase for bush allawi; indigenous females nicknamed according to their sophistication- FBI (fully blown indigene), CIA (common indigenes around) etc.

    The esprit de corps amongst corpers is extensively explored herein. The relations among batch A and B corps members as portrayed in this work shows another plus for NYSC; the love that Nigerian youths are capable of sharing regardless of differences in their religious and/or ethnic affiliations or backgrounds.

    There’s something about the way the author plays up the peaceful life of rural living which is not obtainable in busy cities like Lagos. From those pliant neighbours who are ever ready to attend to his needs, to the villager-friends that keep his head bubbling at the palm-wine joint, to the indeed “studious” students, the narrator’s stay in the village of Izzikworo in Ebonyi state easily reminds city dwellers of the ‘life’ they are missing.

    For a scheme that has been trailed by a plethora of controversies lately, it is rather a very bold act for a book to venture into lauding it. Not so much of lauding anyway, as the author equally brings to bear the many ills bedevilling the scheme, prominent amongst which are mismanagement and corruption. The author brings these issues to the fore with the bicycle allowance scheme that was corruptly managed apart from the fact that funds released for it were grossly inadequate to achieve its aim. “For an establishment that was rumoured to have contracted the dress kit for about fifty thousand naira, it was shameful that such pittance was allocated for such an important position,” the author comments of the scheme.

    Impressively, and telling a story relevant to this period too, the author displays the hydra-headed fault of the Nigerian education system. So that apart from the thrills and frills of NYSC, the narrator is able to experience, first hand, these critical issues facing the nation. Community Secondary School, Izzikworo, the narrator’s place of primary assignment, is iconic of the Nigerian educational system; grappling with inadequate infrastructures to cater for a teeming population of students, examination malpractices, dearth of teachers, poor academic curricular and so on; all of which remind him of the situation in his university.

    In the end, Agbro’s work successfully serves two divergent yet complementary functions. It tells a story, sharing an experience as interestingly as it could be done. And then, it lends its voice to the call, reminding us of our complacencies and showing us that our contentment with the social status quo needs to be rethought.

     

    Title: Served; memoir of a youth corps member

    Author: Joe Agbro Jr.

    Date of publication: September 2012

    Publishers: Grasshill Books, Lagos

    Reviewer: Kayode Odumboni