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Tag: Dr Christopher Kolade

  • Kolade’s achievements underscored power of discipline, integrity – Buhari

    Kolade’s achievements underscored power of discipline, integrity – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated veteran broadcaster, administrator and Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade, who turns 85 on Wednesday.

    Buhari, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, joined all professional colleagues, friends and family of Dr. Kolade in celebrating the graceful life of the versatile scholar and board room guru.

    He noted that Kolade’s achievements in various undertakings, both in the private and public sector, clearly underscored the power of discipline, focus and integrity.

    As he turns 85 years, the President commended Dr. Kolade’s many years of contributions to national development as an academic, administrator and a diplomat, especially in continually counselling leaders and mentoring the younger generation.

    President Buhari believed the eminent octogenarian has earned the respect and honour of both the young and old by walking in the fear of God and leading a life of integrity, which are invaluable attributes that he recommends to all Nigerians, especially aspiring leaders.

    The President prayed that the almighty God would grant Dr. Kolade more wisdom, longer life and good health to continually serve the nation and humanity.

     

     

     

  • Nigeria’s unity not negotiable, say Kolade, Anya, others

    Nigeria’s unity not negotiable, say Kolade, Anya, others

    Southern elder statesmen said on Tuesday that Nigeria must remain as one united and indivisible nation.

    They dismissed agitations for disintegration and secession, saying no one stands to gain anything meaningful from dismemberment of the nation.

    The elder statesmen led by the country’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade and former Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Prof. Anya o. Anya, spoke in Lagos.

    They met under the aegis of YIIEGBA, an inter-ethnic coalition established to ensure unity, progress and good governance in the country.

    Other prominent members of the coalition are – Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo; Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife; Senator Ebenzer Ikenyina; Gen. Ike Nwachukwu(retd); Navy Capt. Alison Maduekwe (retd); Sen. Oladipo Olaitan and Amb. Uche Okeke.

    Others are – Elder Nathaniel Okoro, Capt. Prekeme Porbeni (retd); Shyggle Wigwe and Yinka Odumakin, among others.

    Kolade said: ‘’We believe that staying together and working together is the only viable way to go.

    ‘’There is no alternative to one Nigeria. As elders, we shall do everything necessary to keep the nation as one.’’

    He said those that had witnessed war will never stay quiet when some elements are pushing to the nation to the precipice again.

    He described the coalition as a think-tank to keep Nigeria as one and indissoluble.

    ‘’We are facing current challenges with the wisdom of the past for a better future,’’ the former chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc said.

    Kolade warned against hate speeches and other acts capable of disintegrating the nation, saying the price for peace are always cheaper than that of war.

    Anya, who is co-chairman of the coalition, said the nation must restructure to avoid the looming conflagrations.

    He said with the coalition, the journey for a new Nigeria birthed with equity, fairness and progress has begun.

    Adebanjo warned those beating the war drums, saying non-violence approach remains the most viable way to resolve nagging problems in the country.

     

  • Buhari emerges Grand Patron Committee on Corporate Philanthropy

    Buhari emerges Grand Patron Committee on Corporate Philanthropy

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday accepted an invitation to serve as Grand Patron of the Committee Empowering Corporate Philanthropy  in Nigeria.

    He gave his nod while receiving the group led by Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said that the Federal Ministry of Health will work in close concert with the committee.

    The committee has “Big War Against Cancer” as its focal point for 2016.

    Dr. Kolade told President Buhari that the committee was out to promote philanthropy nationwide, and to encourage organizations and individuals to use their resources to help others.

    “As father of the nation, we want you to be our Grand Patron, so that you can give us the benefit of your support for the things we do.  Your integrity and credibility will serve us in good stead,” Dr. Kolade said.

    He added that the war against cancer can be won, if both the government and the private sector support the acquisition of mobile cancer centres, which could be deployed in all states of the federation, and Abuja.

    President Buhari was decorated with the garland of the committee and presented with a plaque of the organization.

  • Kolade stresses good corporate governance

    Kolade stresses good corporate governance

    Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade, has stressed the need for good corporate governance in any company.

    Kolade made the emphasis while speaking at the Roundtable on Corporate Governance organised by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island Lagos.

    Tagged: ‘A case for Corporate Governance Audit for Nigerian Public Companies’, the occasion had dignitaries from all walks of life.

    According to Kolade, who was the chairman of the occasion, “Good corporate governance has a role to play in the success of any company or business enterprise”, adding that “the theme of the Roundtable is to find out whether we conform to the corporate governance.”

    Dr. Chris Ogbechie, Head, Strategy and Entrepreneurial Department, Lagos Business School, who was the guest speaker on the theme of the Roundtable, stated that corporate governance involved a set of relationship between a company’s management, its board, shareholders and other stakeholders, “Corporate governance failures damage reputations undermined confidence and erode confidence. Strong corporate governance is part of a successful business strategy and good governance can enhance an organisation’s competitive position; assist in retaining superior employees; attract top notch directors and contribute to long term improved financial performance,” Ogbechie further said.

    The Vice-President of the Institute, Dr. Nat Ofo, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the event, said the way out of the Nigeria’s economic doldrums is for government to do the right thing at the right time.

    Ofo also advised the governments at all levels to focus on the people’s welfare so that the electorate will continue to reap more dividends of democracy.

    Speaking on corruption in the country, the ICSAN boss said “Looking at the Amnesty International report which has dubbed Nigeria as one of the corrupt countries, the rot in the system is expected. The way forward for Nigeria is to focus on the welfare of the people. Government should let the welfare of the people be paramount in whatever it does.”

    Ofo said the Federal Government’s gesture in bailing out the states through the recent bailout package was in order as it would go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the masses.

    It would be recalled that the Federal Government released over N713 billion to the states to offset the salary arrears of workers in their various states.

    There is also N413.7billion that will be shared between the states and the Federal Government.

  • SURE P receives N180 billion yearly, says Kolade

    SURE P receives N180 billion yearly, says Kolade

    THE Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) receives N180 billion yearly for project execution, its chairman, Dr Christopher Kolade, stated yesterday.

    He said it is doing everything possible to secure the confidence of Nigerians in service delivery, assuring that the operation and utilisation of funds by the scheme is prudent and efficient.

    Kolade, who was represented by Prof. Kunle Wahab, at the road show organised by SURE-P at Nonwa in Tai local government of Rivers State, said the deplorable condition of the East-West road will soon be over.

    According to him: “Even though Nigerians have lost confidence in the ability of leaders to keep promises, SURE-P is about keeping the promises made to them despite the distrust.

    “We have received N180billion from the N15billion that comes into our account every month.

    “Should we fail at this point in winning back the confidence of Nigerians, our country will be on the brink. It is clear that the citizens are tired. This informed President Jonathan to step forward to take definite steps to keep the promises he made.”

     

  • SURE-P to spend N230b on projects, says Kolade

    SURE-P to spend N230b on projects, says Kolade

    The Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) is to spend about N230 billion on some projects before the end of the year, the Chairman, Dr Christopher Kolade, has said.

    Kolade, who spoke in Abuja, said the body spent less than its N180 billion last year.

    He said: “So, the new fund for this year was still N180 billion and because of what we did not spend last year, our budget for this year was N273 billion.”

    He said going by the pace of the body, it was likely that by the end of the year, it would have spent between N220 and N230 billion the projects.

    He said the body is charged with managing and reinvesting the Federal Government’s share of savings from the partial removal of the subsidy on fuel in projects and initiatives, adding that the focus of the committee is to improve the living condition of ordinary Nigerians by monitoring the spending from the savings.

    “We are glad to say that the pace of work within the country is something we are satisfied with,” he added.

    He said the Federal Government’s share from the savings is 41 per cent, while 54 per cent is shared by the states and local governments and the remainder goes to the Ecological Fund.

    Kolade said the committee was giving priority to what the fund would be applied to, such as infrastructure development, safety net projects, building of railways and roads around the country.

    He said the committee could not do much last year because of its slow take-off, but that this year, people had started to notice the difference.

    “For us that is the way people should be experiencing improvement because the funds were derived from individual Nigerians, so it is important we deliver through them some relief as promised by the President,” he added.