The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CHANGE AGENT

  • Dickson is a ‘Change Agent’, says Shettima

    The Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima has described his Bayelsa State counterpart, Henry Seriake Dickson as a change agent of the century.

    According to him, Dickson has not only revolutionised agriculture in Bayelsa State but has changed the negative narrative of the state by enthroning sustainable development and peace in the only homogenous Ijaw State.

    In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary of the Governor of Bayelsa State, Francis Ottah Agbo, the Borno State Governor commended Dickson on Thursday while delivering a goodwill message at the maiden edition of The Nation Newspaper First Summit on Food and Agriculture, which held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja.

    Both Dickson and Shettima were also conferred with award of excellence in agriculture. Dickson was particularly honoured for the development of rural agro-business and for using agriculture to diversify the Bayelsa  economy beyond oil, through wealth creation, training, retraining  and skills acquisition in agriculture.

    Chief amongst the legacy agriculture projects/programmes that earned Dickson the award are: the eight aquaculture villages in the state with a 500- fish pond at Yenegwe, Yenagoa as the flagship, the Commercial Cassava Plant Factory and Cassava out Grower Scheme at Ebidebri, Oil Palm Plantation Development Projects, Integrated Poultry Farm Projects, Rice Development Initiatives, Ultra-Modern Fish Farm Projects etc.

    Shettima said Nigeria can thrive on agriculture because, according to him, all regions have comparative advantages. He noted that the North was blessed with grains and cereal, the Middle Belt can meet the tuber needs of the country while the South can meet the fish demand.

    He said if “we are serious as a nation, our national food security is guaranteed.”

    Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State also hailed Dickson for his initiatives in agriculture which he said are people-oriented. He averred that Bayelsa State has the capacity to be the rice hub of the nation, because the “land is fertile and water is available for irrigation.” He lauded the Governor for working in this direction.

    The Nation award was received on behalf of Dickson by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Doodei Week.

    The governor dedicated the award to the good people of Bayelsa State and the Ijaw Nation. He lauded Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation newspapers for appreciating his modest efforts in Bayelsa State, stressing that the award will spur him to do more for.

     

  • ‘I want to be change agent’

    Theodora Ibifuro Kio-Lawson, daughter of late Justice W.H. Kio-Lawson of the Rivers State Judiciary was called to the Nigerian Bar in November 2007. She is the Law Editor of Business Day newspaper and currently the chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lawyers in the Media (LIM) Forum and chair, Media and Publicity for the NBA Section on Business Law. She shares her experience with the Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU

    Theodora Ibifuro Kio-Lawson would have loved to read Psychology, Human Resource Management or Political Science but was inspired to read law by her father, who lived for  law and all it represents. Everything he did, both in his career and personal life, was a reflection of his value and respect for systems.

    “So, watching him practise so passionately and excelling in what he did best, had a huge impact on my decision to go the way of the law and I’m thankful to him for ‘leading me on”

    She describes her  interest in  law as  lying  some where between a need to understand how the rule of law and governance work; ‘’to be part of a system that seeks to balance interests and rights; and contributing positively to social change in my immediate environment. While my dad may have kindled that fire, the decision was entirely mine at the end of the day’’.

    As Head of Legal and Law Editor of BusinessDay Newspapers, her role demands that she  exercises her knowledge of the law as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.  This involves providing ‘legal’ direction and counsel to her employer on a wide range of legal issues including lawsuits, trials and court processes working with the company’s external counsel to devise effective legal strategies, company and allied matters, contracts and collective agreements, government regulations, as well as other corporate commercial concerns and compliance issues.

    As a consummate Bar man, she pays her Bar practising fees, branch dues and  is  fully  involved in Bar activities on several levels. She describes her foray into journalism as a kind  destiny or sheer providence, it however seemed like a trajectory, she was bound to take. Aside, her  dad was one-time legal adviser of Nigerian Tide, before going back to full-time practice and then the Bench. So while the move wasn’t exactly calculated, her career choices came with roles, which more or less propelled her  in this direction. She describes the  combination of law and journalism as not only been stimulating ‘’but has equipped me for my ultimate purpose – of bringing about positive social change.”

    She describes the experience as rewarding “The experience has been rich and greatly rewarding. When I said earlier that my interest in the law lies somewhere between being part  of a system that seeks to balance interest and rights and contributing positively to social change, I found the fulfillment of that purpose working across these two sectors; the legal and media sectors and I honestly would not give it up for anything”.

    She blames the  frustration of socio-economic challenges,  an anxiety over the big picture and getting lost somewhere  between the challenges confronting her in reaching the peak of her career. Neverthless she has confidence in  God  who she trusts to see  her through to the peak  by providing her  with a will and desire to succeed.

    She describes legal profession as dynamic, yet very competitive globally. And for Nigeria she would like to see  a profession with standards so high that ‘’our members can compete favorably in any part of the world. I would also love to see a profession that can efficiently regulate itself with little or no external interference’’.

    Responding to questions on her role model, she said: “I have had and still have several role models. Growing up it was my Dad, as his work ethic was greatly inspiring to me, even as a youngster. More recently, I am intrigued and continue to look up to people like Megyn Kelly formerly of Fox News. She’s a lawyer and journalist and was on the TIME list of 100 most influential people a couple of years back and Julie Gathoni Sumira Gichuru, Gichuru, a journalist and media personality, holds a law degree ( LL.B ) Hons.  and an MBA from Cardiff Law School, University of Wales and Cardiff Business School, University of Wales. She is also a recipient of Martin Luther King Salute to Greatness Award. Others are Mr. Asue Ighodalo and Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN) Their drive and leadership skills are truly remarkable, and I aspire to have these.

  • Asiwaju, the change agent

    Asiwaju, the change agent

    In this tribute to All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of his 64th birthday, the party’s spokesman in Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe, captures the political struggles of the former governor

    In writing this piece, I tried to search online the character of the people you can genuinely call the Change Agents and ways of the change or what makes them what they are. I found out that a Change Agent has a clear vision, he is patient and yet persistent, he asks tough questions, he is knowledgeable and leads by example and he maintains strong relationships built on trust. My findings say a Change Agent lives in future, not the present. Regardless of what is going on today, a change Agent has a vision of what could or should be done and uses that as the governing sense of action. To a large extent, change agents are dissatisfied with what they see around them, in favour of a much better vision of the future. Without drive, change agents can lose their way. A change agent is fueled by passion and inspires passion in others. Change is hardwork. It takes a lot of energy. A change agent has a strong ability to self-motivate. There will be many days when every one around does not understand and will not offer props. The change agents need to find it within themselves to get up everyday and come to work and risk being misunderstood and misappreciated, knowing that the real validation may be far in the future and may be claimed by someone else.

    A change agent must understand people. At the end of the day change is all about people. If you change everything but the people, I doubt you will be effective as a change agent. A change agent has the ability to continue striving toward high and challenging objectives regardless of the circumstances. He has the ability to convince and persuade others about the vision. He can touch minds and hearts and influence without authority. What about the ability to connect the dots? Can you determine what really matters and put together a vision that makes sense, one that others can follow? Can you keep your feet on the ground and see possibilities at same time?

    Now enter Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is one of the greatest Change Agents in Nigeria today, the builder and the motivator of men. To document Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s exploits as Change Agent since the 90s will take more than a three thousand page book on a conservative estimate. His deep involvement in the struggle for the de-annulment of June 12 1993 Presidential election won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola earned him a place of honor as a hero of democracy in my Book, Heroes of Democracypublished in 1999. In 1999 Asiwaju BAT became the Executive Governor of Lagos State and in eight years this Avatar, this game changer, and great scholar in the finest tradition laid a solid foundation that has led Lagos to become the fastest growing city in Africa whose economy is bigger than those of Cameroun, Ghana, Cote de Voire, Senegal etc. When this icon set up a 40man Committee in 1999 to fashion out a template for Lagos State development, many did not know what was on his mind but today we know better, as Lagos has become a huge melting point in the face of Nigerian dwindling opportunities.

    In 2003, only one State, Lagos was left for the Progressives in Nigeria after the PDP finished its boisterous rigging in that year’s election. But with dint of hard work and power constructive engagement, Asiwaju led his large army of bridge builders to move from AD to AC, AC to ACN and ACN to APC. Today APC is in control of the Federal Government and 22 States of Nigeria. Time and space will not permit me to dig into the preparations, the all nights of engagements, building extensive networks, making tremendous sacrifices, giving up positions, setting aside political differences, building alliances, committing both human and material resources, setting aside primordial sentiments and ethnic preoccupation that led to the uprooting of the octopus and behemoth called PDP.

    Asiwaju BAT’s infinite capacity to lift great number of men and women across this country irrespective of tribe or tongue has made this man a giant in Nigeria. He sacrificed his personal comfort, family comfort and the comfort of his extended family members by throwing his gates open to all and sundry, the rich and the poor at any given time without discrimination. Asiwaju’s impeccable character to forgive his adversaries and political enemies has put him thousands of miles ahead of his rivals.  If anybody had told me that Asiwaju BAT will find a place in his heart to forgive some newspaper houses, AIT and others who preached hate (if you have an idea of what they did) in the course of 2015 elections I would not have believed it. Only Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu can show this kind of magnanimity and forgiveness. A friend, Barrister Sadiq a chieftain of APC Lagos told me that this is the reason why he will live long.

    Asiwaju tried in 2011 with other like minds to build an alliance to dislodge PDP but it suffered a great set back. PDP survived. In 2014 the bubble burst for PDP. How the Jagaban of Borgu managed to deploy his deep connection and extensive huge network to work with like minds across Nigeria to form APC will remain a case study for political science departments in Nigeria.

    Like I said earlier, the story of Asiwaju BAT remains a powerful testimony of a great builder, giver, organizer, mobilizer, facilitator, motivator, actor, mediator, peace maker, and change agent. In doing his service for humanity, the Asiwaju of Africa, Jagaban Borgu and Omenife Awka has made many friends and have also attracted many enemies. While genuine friends celebrate their hero and pray to God to keep the man that has added values to their life the enemies look for ways to tear down the colossus. They hang every negative thing on his shoulder. They blame him for bad weather, they blame him for political and economic setbacks. They blame him for every problem under the sun. Asiwaju’s meteoric political success has bred mortal enemies  and petty jealousies, envies and deep seated fear amongst the political liliputs and minions who kiss the dust in the midst of his many political victories. Today, Asiwaju is perhaps the most feared and dreaded political leader in the country. His enemies are consumed by petty envy at his giant political strides but their fear-induced pettiness has neither bothered nor held back Asiwaju.

    For those haters Asiwaju BAT has these words for them:

    “I set my goals and objectives in accordance with my vision. I study them and strategically execute them. My detractors discuss my successes and failure becausethey have nothing to execute. I am in the news more because I’m working, Nigerians discuss active men in the field. Mentioning any negative news about me will double the wealth of any news media that published it. My name today is a financial market for journalist. Not even elected politicians get the publicity I am enjoying. My comrades , go and work till mentioning your name becomes a source of increased wealth for someone. Even my weakness create wealth for vendors” —I REMAIN, ASIWAJU BOLA TINUBU—

     

  • Communities celebrate their ‘change agent’

    Communities celebrate their ‘change agent’

    Residents in the Odunsi, Arobadade, Kukoyi communities and their environs in the Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos, yesterday gathered to appreciate one of their own, Johnson Akintunde Ajiboye, an engineer, for his numerous humanitarian projects in the community.

    They urged him to contest for the Shomolu Constituency 2 seat in Lagos State House of Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forth-coming general elections.

    They told reporters that Ajiboye, a.k.a JAACO had been touching their lives through educational, developmental and empowerment projects.

    The chairman of the residents’ association, Alhaji Kazeem Idris, listed some of the projects recently completed by Ajiboye as including purchase and distribution of 47 General Certificate in Education (GCE) forms to indigent youths and renovation of an abandoned borehole for the community.

     “The borehole had been down for over eight years. The water tanks and the machine were completely bad. While we were wondering how to get help for the community, Ajiboye replaced the tank, bought a new machine and completely renovated the water system; now we have safe water.”

    Idris said Ajiboye recently renovated schools, built modern toilet facilities for the staff and pupils of Adeife Shodeko Primary school, Odunsi Road, among others.

    Through his ‘Johnson Akintunde Ajiboye Empowerment Foundation’ which stated in 2011, Ajiboye, he added, had been putting smiles on the faces of market men and women in the area.

    The foundation’s coordinator, Mrs Esther Ojo, said over 200 people had so far benefited from Ajiboye’s soft loans aimed at empowering the poor.

    She said the loan of N100,000 is accessible without the stress and payment of collaterals at it obtains in banks.

  • Amosun, the change agent

    SIR: My first contact with Senator Ibikunle Amosun and his amiable wife was in December, 2000 when he hosted the Students’ Union Executive of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta to an end-of-the-year party at his house in  Ikeja. A quick assessment of him revealed he would like impacting the younger generation.

    Afterwards, I unconsciously joined those that see him as a role model and believe in his ideology. SIA, as he’s fondly called, has ideas that have been transforming lives in Ogun State and beyond. He identifies with and networks visionary people with world-class strategies and policies that can transform their communities. This conscious and scientific method facilitates and delivers visible change in the shortest time frame.

    A chartered accountant of repute, Amosun believes people are endowed with capacity for change. Therefore, Omo Oye Omo Ajiri (his epithet) took up the challenge to re-orientate and lead the people by courageously joining active politics in 1998.

    SIA’s team has always consisted of dedicated professionals and other categories of people who are eager and ambitious to transform their environment.

    Ogun State’s history has shown that its true sons and daughters are progressive in nature, imaginative and courageous. They are passionate about setting the pace by uplifting others, helping them to make a responsible choice in life.

    My testimony about SIA’s character is visible to the world through his achievements in the last three years of his administration in Ogun State. No doubt, the tax payers, business community and indeed the prayers of the good people of the state have helped him to attain this feat.

    Congratulations to the this generation for voting SIA as governor in the 2011 election and for giving him the overwhelming support to transform  Ogun from ancient to modern state in such a record time in Nigeria’s democratic history.

    • Seyi Enitan-Olubode

    Abeokuta, Ogun State

  • A change agent in Lagos suburb

    A change agent in Lagos suburb

    Ayobo is a developing suburb in Lagos. For years, the area was an economic backwater, depending on farmers planting food crops.

    This is changing thanks to the rapid growth of small businesses providing everything from soap production to aquaculture and this has yielded a thriving trade centre. Of recent, the area has emerged as a major player in the booming small businesses.

    As a result, more than 20,000 families could be lifted out of rural poverty in a remarkable economic success story that has seen the area become one of the leading entrepreneurship centres in the state. This has shown that rural enterprises can be a powerful antidote to rural poverty.

    One of the change agents, Mrs Ebere Anokwuru, and some entrepreneurs have relocated to the area to provide opportunities to lift residents of the area out of poverty.

    A few years ago, Mrs Anokwuru and her husband were in Ayobo thinking about some businesses and they realised they needed to start a good one once they relocated there.

    They settled for a bakery.

    Her dream was a bakery business that will supply healthy goods to shops and market places.

    She started in January. The bakery employs 15 staff. The company has an impact on the community in terms of hiring people.

    A lot of women folk have been employed as distributors. This engagement,she noted, has turned their lives around.

    Anokwuru said the business is raising people’s incomes and reducing poverty.

    Her intention is to create jobs and opportunities for poor people to support their families and build more stable futures.

    “The idea of providing employment opportunities to people supporting families, creates an entire circle that changed poverty.

    To help her and others achieve this, MrsAnokwuru said the government needs to encourage startups to create economic growth.

    She said her organisation is facing challenges that makes it difficult for them to stimulate and sustain economic growth. These challenges include infrastructure, lack of access to finance and unsuitable laws and regulations.

    The poor infrastructure, she noted , could deter people from investing.

    The bakeries suffered, because they are unable to pass on much of the higher wheat and energy costs to consumers.

    For her, Ayobo occupies a unique place in the state ‘s economy—its vast populace and large physical size alone makes the area a powerful economic centre.

    Start-ups, entrepreneurs and start-up communities are already living and working within the area.

    She said much could be achieved with support for small business owners to make capital investment.

    This, she added, would make the economy more productive. In other words, new machinery, better technology, and more investment in infrastructure would help to raise output.

    Ayobo is a startup community.

    She called for reforms to raise economic efficiency by introducing incentives to small private businesses.

    She said the economy needs reforms that give greater room for private ownership of production.

    However, Mrs Anokwuru said while capital investment is crucial to growth, it becomes even more potent when accompanied by market-oriented reforms that introduce incentives to rural enterprises and small private businesses. That combination can unleash a productivity boom that will propel aggregate growth.

    She noted that some critical developments are needed to see the rural level industry grow rapidly. Critical to downtown redevelopment, MrsAnokwuru, added was the need for a good road network closer to the downtown core.

    According to her, the key to improving the bread industry is good distribution network in the area.

    She is not facing much pressure and competition from known brands, because they don’t see it as a wise investment to establish new outlets.