The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dr. Oby Ezekwesili

  • Alexx Ekubo praises Ezekwesili’s selflessness

    Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo has praised the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, for withdrawing from the race on Thursday, describing her move as selfless.

    “Now this is the level of selflessness I’m talking about, putting the country’s interest over one’s personal interest & ambition,” he wrote on Instagram, using the hashtag, #PowerOf1.

    Ezekwesili said she was withdrawing from the race so as to build a coalition against the two major political parties in the country – the All Progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party.

    Ekubo said he is tired that Nigeria is not working and there was need for drastic action.

    “Until we as a people want better for ourselves & our unborn generation, we would continue our rigmarole from frying pan to fire, Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder, we CANNOT afford another civil war, trust me when I say we are on the brink of it. I’m sick & tired of the disparity btw things as they are & as they ought to be, I’m tired of lying, I’m tired of covering up under the guise of Patriotism, the honest truth is NIGERIA IS NOT WORKING, its 2019 we still cannot boast of steady power supply, a feat bigger countries with less resources have conquered, & moved unto greater things like self driving cars, electric cars, space programs, & we are still here groping in the dark, inventing new dance moves like Zanku & Shoki, I weep for my pple. Everything Baba Fela sang about decades ago, is still happening like he sang it yesterday, we are still “suffering & smiling.”

    He then enjoined youths not to sell their votes and support their candidates wisely.

    “Dear Nigerian Youth, if you sell your vote in this upcoming election, you are part of the problem! If you support a candidate simply because he is from your geopolitical zone, or the same religion as you, shame on you!

    “Let us take cue from Aunty Oby & put the country first! Put our unborn generation first! Put our collective wellbeing first! Abi are you not tired?

    “Thank you mama, you have truly led by example, posterity would never forget you.

    “Dear @feladurotoye @yelesho @moghalukingsley pls we are running out of time “The 3rd Force” stands a better chance as an alliance. Make it happen for a new NIGERIA.”

  • 2019: Ezekwesili picks party chairman as running mate

    The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party (ACPN), Dr Oby Ezekwesili, has picked the chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdul-Ganiyu Galadima, as her running mate.

    According to her campaign organisation, Hope ’19, Ezekwesili announced Galadima, a former presidential candidate of the party, while unveiling her manifesto on Wednesday in Ilorin.

    The presidential candidate said the selection of Galadima, a businessman, would bring to the ACPN ticket an experience at grassroots politics at the local, state and national levels.

    She described her running mate as a man of integrity, saying his principles and selfless politics aligned with hers and her vision for the country.

    “This experience complements my incomparable competence and capacity when it comes to socio-economic and governance issues.

    “Like me, Alhaji Galadima has shown a long-standing commitment to the fight to rescue our nation by standing with people of integrity.

    “He refused to join questionable alliances and coalitions led and bankrolled by ruling parties in this election and in that of 2015, where he ultimately emerged as the fourth most popular candidate across the nation.

    “Together, by the grace of God, we will work closely, selflessly and as a team to fight for every Nigerian person, family, community, ward or state, and rescue our country from the clutches of an irresponsible political class.

    “Together we will lift 80+ million Nigerians out of poverty and unlock prosperity for every citizen,” she said.

    In his acceptance speech, Galadima assured Ezekwesili of his loyalty and promised to work with her towards getting people’s mandate in the 2019 general elections.

    Galadima described himself as a grassroots politician, saying that he would join the presidential candidate to transverse length and width of the country to mobilise support.

    Galadima, a community leader and former ACPN presidential candidate, was born on June 11,1964.

    He studied Public Administration at the Kwara State Polytechnic, where he also later served as member of the institution’s Governing Council.

    “He is a businessman who is chairman of major business boards.

    “He has private sector and corporate governance experience with a market-focused enterprise, friendly government vision,” the statement said. (NAN)

  • Internet, greatest tool for citizens’ participation in good governance – Ezekwesili

    Dr Oby Ezekwesili, the Senior Economic Advisor, Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative (AEDPI) says internet has become the greatest tool for citizens’ participation in good governance.

    Ezekwesili, former Education Minister, said this at the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum 2018 with the theme: “Internet; An Enabler for Good Governance’’ in Abuja on Tuesday.

    She was speaking on the topic: “Internet as an Enabler of Accountability and Transparency’’.

    According to her, governance exists to improve the quality of life and ensure safety and security, using the instrumentality of strong policies with strong and dynamic institutions to promote growth and development.

    “Without quality governance, it is impossible for a country to develop; the internet is an equaliser and a means of improving capacity.

    “It is a tool to use to create the bases for wider participation, engage voices, demand for accountability and define how quickly we get to good governance.

    “As growth and development happens societies become stable and prosperous, the prosperity of society further thrives because as society grows, the citizens grow and this creates a basis for social cohesion.’’

    She said the internet had destroyed the barrier of geography and distance that made communication and participation in governance impossible.

    She explained that people could be in the remotest areas in Nigeria and still be able to interact with the people in the Diaspora.

    “The internet has come to disrupt the monopoly of bad governance, and so the main issue is going to be getting the citizens to a place of information literacy.

    “Just getting the citizens to a place you have a right to know, you not only have a right to know, you have a voice to demand and the power to determine the quality of governance that is given to you.’’

    She, therefore, urged youths to focus on knowledge-based technology to improve their society instead of commercial-oriented schemes to enrich themselves which would not result in good governance.

    Mr Gbenga Sesan, the Executive Officer of Paradigm Initiative an NGO said that Nigeria would never move forward economically or otherwise if it kept talking down on the youth instead of providing opportunities for them.

    “Nigeria can do a lot better as far as the internet is concerned; when we talk of internet governance, one of the key elements is digital rights.

    “We need to make sure that every young person who is a citizen of this country is pushed toward being creative so that instead of arresting people for the things they tweet, we can focus on the opportunities the internet presents,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • Strike: ASUU’s demands unrealistic-Ezekwesili

    Strike: ASUU’s demands unrealistic-Ezekwesili

    A former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, on Sunday said that the demands by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were unrealistic in light of the current economic situation in Nigeria.

    Ezekwesili said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan while reacting to the ongoing strike embarked upon by the union.

    The former minster said that lasting solution to the crisis bedevilling the education sector could only be found from strong analysis of the issues raised by ASUU and evidenced based policies.

    “Money is not limitless and yet everyone must acknowledge that investment in education is crucial and it is key.

    “There are, however, some fundamental reforms that the sector needs in order to ensure that it is not about the size of the funding but about the productivity of the funding.

    “You cannot simply express a desire, it must be founded on reality and that means you must know what can be achieved within a given period,” she said.

    According to her, a structural and policy change which allows public and private investments should be integrated into the university system.

    “If you remember, the ASUU negotiation started in 2007 when I was the Minister of Education and we constituted a government negotiation team, led by the late Gamaliel Onosode,

    “Even though that period was short, one of the major issues for me was for us to make sure that we were being evidenced based in the way we were solving the problem,

    “We considered issues like the existing model in countries similar to us in emerging economies,’’ she said.

    The former minister said the team also considered what could be done by the public and private sectors about university funding among others.

    “Those are the kinds of evidence that we had and on the basis of which we hinged our negotiation at that time,

    “It was a very short period and then we had to leave and the next government that took over had to continue.

    “I do not know the basis of the final agreement they reached with ASSUU, but if it was not anchored on analytical evidence, I am not surprised that there has been inability to implement it.”

    Ezekwesili urged both the Federal Government and ASUU to return to the negotiating table and work on the basis of analysis and evidence to find lasting solution to the dispute.

    NAN reports that ASUU on Aug. 14, embarked on an indefinite strike to press home its demands for the implementation of an agreement signed between it and the Federal Government on condition of service.

    ASUU is also asking for increased funding of university, autonomy of the institution and academic freedom. (NAN)

  • We are still negotiating release of Chibok girls – Minister

    We are still negotiating release of Chibok girls – Minister

    • Our demands unchanged-BBOG

    The Federal Government is still negotiating with Boko Haram for the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls and other abductees, Minister for Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said on Tuesday.

    He spoke during a briefing following an intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operation to the Sambisa forest.

    “Negotiations for the release of the girls have never stopped. In a situation like this, we use the carrot and stick approach.

    “Even the success of the military also helped fast track the process of the negotiation for those who were released.

    “The negotiation is complicated, delicate and changes from time to time, but we are on still talking and we are near breakthrough,” he said.

    The trip to Sambisa was organised for the leaders of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group to acquaint them with efforts by the military to find the Chibok girls and end the war on the insurgency.

    “This government has nothing to hide; that is why we have brought you here so you can have a first-hand experience. We want to let the world know what we have been doing not only to recover the girls but also to end the insurgency,” Mohammed said.

    But the leader of the BBOG and former Minister of Education Dr Oby Ezekwesili said though the group had learnt some lessons about the workings of the military, its demand still remained.

    “We have learnt that the Nigerian Air Force is working to generate the information that supports the Army to ensure the security of the theatre of war.

    “By joining the NAF to do ISR day and night, we saw what it looks like to embark on a search for targets like the abducted Chibok girls. It also helps to frame the question we have been asking, we leave here to say the Federal Government should be able to say what strategic decision should be taken.

    “Negotiations led to the highest yield of 21 girls, four came back after the military raided their bases, that is, they either escaped or were found after the raid.

    “It becomes a strategic question, we will hold the Federal Government accountable to a decision on what options work better for our girls and others.

    “The information has empowered and enriched our demand, the Minister for Information has given the assurance that 80 girls would be part of a batch based on negotiation, we will keep asking for that,” she said.

    The former minister also said knowing how important it is for the military to be equipped; the group will continue to call for the prosecution of all who have mismanaged military hardware funds.

    “Imagine what would have happened if the whole money has been spent on buying the equipment, we are more empowered to demand sanctions.”

    She praised the NAF on the innovative use of technology saying it makes the efforts to be precise.

    She also called for improved transparency in the conduct of the war on insurgency saying for as long as the war was prosecuted as a propaganda mission, there will be criticism and cynicism.

    She praised the “strong commitment” of the troops saying the group has always been supportive of the efforts of troops.

    “As citizen activists, we shall remain the voice, we will hold the government accountable to its promise to rescue the Chibok girls and others,” she said.

    The BBOG leader also sought clarification on the capture of Camp Zairo. She said a proper understanding of Sambisa is necessary for Nigerians to put the capture of the Camp in perspectives.  In a clarification, the information minister said the capture of Camp Zairo is a strike at the heart of the insurgent. “When you strike Camp Zairo, you completely disorient the insurgents, but it does not mean the end of the campaign.

  • Buhari’s daughter faults BBOG’s allegations

    Buhari’s daughter faults BBOG’s allegations

    ..Says she doesn’t need BBOG’s permission to support charitable causes

    The Africa Support and Empowerment Initiative (AFRISEI) has rejected allegations of franchise infringement by the Bring Back Our Girls group, led by former Education Minister, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili.

    According to a statement jointly signed by the President of the Non-Governmental Organization, Hajiya Hadiza Buhari Bello, a daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari and the secretary, Don Uche, she said that their organization is a responsible body that would never engage in illegal activities by stealing someone else’s franchise.

    She explained that contrary to Dr. Ezekwesili’s allegation, her organization did not need to lean on the BBOG to be of service to the Chibok Girls and therefore had no reason to steal anything from BBOG or use its name to achieve any advantage.

    The Africa Support and Empowerment Initiative, she said, have its own defined objectives and that it didn’t need to steal anybody’s ideas to operate in line with its own objectives.

    The statement also explained that their organization is duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and issued certificate of incorporation on 14th July, 2016.

    While praising the activities of the BBOG to raise and sustain awareness about the plight of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls, the President’s daughter said that their organization had broader objectives beyond the Chibok girls.

    They said though the Chibok girls are within the priority of their organization, its commitments to humanitarian causes didn’t end with Chibok schoolgirls.

    “Given the size of the problem at hand, the more Organisations we have assisting Chibok and other devastated communities, the better for the country,” the statement said.

    Hadiza Buhari and Uche said that as a charitable organization, AFRISEI is committed to empowering the youth and the less privileged in the area of job creation and skill acquisition.

    “It is also committed to supporting the education of the less privileged students, giving material support to the downtrodden the internally displaced persons.”

    They also said AFRISEI is committed to educating the masses to discourage unhealthy practices such as child trafficking, child abuse, child labour and gender discrimination.

    The AFRISE President and secretary said there is no law that prevents their organization from assisting the Chibok schoolgirls, adding that, as a charity organization, they offer help to people in distress, including the Chibok girls and the Boko Haram victims.

  • Amaechi tasks FG on youth development

    Amaechi tasks FG on youth development

    The former Governor of Rivers State and minister designate, Rotimi Amaechi, has advised the federal government to support and empower young Nigerians as they are the building blocks for the country’s development.

    Amaechi made this known at the maiden edition of the Red Media Africa Summit held at the Habour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The summit and gala night is the second event organized as part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Red Media Africa, Nigeria’s leading omni-media company, and it has brought together 121 exceptional media icons who have left an indelible impact on the Nigerian media sphere to be honoured.

    According to him, Nigeria has so many youths who have extra ordinary talents, creative skills and ideas, which if well harness can be veritable tools for nation building.

    Amaechi, who was the Chairman Presidential Campaign Committee of President Muhammadu Buhari recalled that, although God won the victory for President Buhari,  the contribution of Adebola Williams and Chude Jideonwo, the founders of Red MEDIA Africa can never be undermined.

    He said, “I thank Adebola Williams & Chude Jideonwo for taking that responsibility of handling the presidential campaign. They sold our candidate to Nigerians against popular opinion. They got President Muhammadu Buhari to wear a suit, something he hadn’t done for over thirty years and that was one of the biggest highlights of the campaign. Those images broke barriers and sold the man.”

    He continued, “We always say God won the election but their role can’t be overemphasized. They created an impression that we had money, made the other people afraid and think we could match them money for money but we really couldn’t. It was their creativity. I thank them and wish them the very best.

    “I took a risk with  Chude & Adebola to handle the presidential campaign and they did a great job”.

     In her words, the Former Minister for Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili applauded the effort of the red media in providing the road map for their generation”.

    Ekwesisli, who launched the west Africa media report produced by the red media Africa said that the report is a contribution to the media industry as people assume time is important in tackling problems but resources called partnership is more germane.

    On the reasons for celebrating icons in the media industry, the co-founder of Red Media, Mr. Chude Jideonwo said that it is a decision of the heart and not of the head, driven by gratitude rather than balance sheets. Our hearts wanted to do this. Our souls wanted to do this. Our very beings wanted to do this.

    “We wanted to say thank you for courage, for character, for creativity, for depth. for passion, for ambition, and for purpose.”

    Also present at the event include the former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, the former Special Adviser on Media to former President, Goodluck Jonathan, Reuben Abati,  Sadiq Daba, Kenny Ogungbe, Dayo Adeneye, Yinka Davies, Timi Dakolo, Lala Akindoju, Kehinde Young Harry, Banky W., Funke Bucknor, Uche Nnaji, among others.

  • Ezekwesili, others to speak at programme

    Ezekwesili, others to speak at programme

    Two-time minister-turned-activist Dr. Oby Ezekwesili is to give a keynote address at the 6th graduation/induction of the Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) on Saturday, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

    WISCAR is a not-for-profit organisation set up to counsel and mentor young career women to realise their potential.

    Dr. Ezekwesili will speak about “Pioneering Women: Initiating, Leading and Succeeding”.

    The event will also feature a panel discussion by Nike Ogunlesi, the MD/CEO, Ruff ‘n’ Tumble; Maryam Uwais, managing partner, Wali-Uwais and Co; Mrs. Boma Ozobia, managing partner, Sterling Partnership and Mrs. Funke Opeke, CEO, MainOne Cable Company.

    The fifth stream of the 2014 WISCAR mentees programme will graduate at the event, while the sixth stream for the 2015 calendar year will be inducted.

    The event will highlight the importance of ensuring an equal opportunity for men and women to contribute to the growth of the country by showcasing pioneering and successful women, the difference they have made and how they achieved success.

    Speaking about the initiative, the Founder of WISCAR, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola, who is also the human resources executive of MTN, said: “WISCAR aims through its unique, structured and formal WIN with WISCAR mentoring programme to equip women with the skills and tools to be successful. WISCAR helps to develop and build capability in women in the workplace at the personal, interpersonal and organisational levels.

    “The 12-month mentoring programme is designed to have a transformational impact on our mentees, enhance their performance and progress them up the career ladder. Our goal is to promote and enable the emergence of the next generation of women leaders, who contribute to the success of organisations, are role models and agents of positive change within their respective organisations and country.”

     

  • Details of my encounter with SSS – Oby Ezekwesili

    Details of my encounter with SSS – Oby Ezekwesili

    Former Education Minister Dr Oby Ezekwesili has narrated the sequence of events of her encounter with the State Security Service officers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Monday morning during.

    Details of the incident was contained in a statement by the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, CANAN which requested for the Federal Government to call to order airport security officials who allegedly harassed Ezekwesili who is one of the leaders of the Bring Back Chibok Girls campaign.

    Below is the details of the sequence as narrated by the former Minister, to officials of CANAN in a statement signed by the Executive Director  of the the organisation, Pastor Laolu Akande in New York.

    ” I arrived the airport yesterday on to travel to London on BA.

    First after the luggage screening section, I moved to the customs people sitting right next to it and do a more thorough bag search.

    Rather than they handling my luggage as is the practice, there were three SSS men who rudely took over before they could do so and ordered me to open my bag.

    I was traveling light with just my hand luggage leather roll on and my computer bag. I placed the bag for them and one was already furiously frisking through it when the customs advised that a woman be allowed to do it. She was allowed and she did it.

    She finished, zipped up the luggage and they said I could proceed but I asked that the computer bag be also searched and they did.

    I went on to do my checking and got my boarding pass and was swiftly done.

    I arrived the departure immigration desk @ about 7.15 and presented my passport and forms. The immigration staff did his processing and handed to the SSS official.

    Usually their entire process lasts no more than 5 -10 minutes on a passport. As a frequent traveler through our Lagos and Abuja airports I speak based on experience and evidence. Even on the same day the process for those of the travelers that I witnessed did not last more than 5 minutes.

    But on Monday, it became, 5, 10, 15 and 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 mins for the departure desk processing for me, with no explanation given except “We act under instruction”.

    At each point after 10 minutes of waiting I asked the officer why my passport was taking so long and not being handed to me. His recurrent response was “We act under instruction”. I would go on and state that he owed me explanation on what was wrong since there seemed to be a different process from the regular and that he had no right to trample on my constitutional right to movement.

    He would respond, “I am not doing this personally madam. I am simply acting based on instruction and you of all persons should understand that”.

    When it was 20 minutes into the process, and with BA announcing the final boarding call for the 8am flight, the officer walked out of the cubicle heading off. I followed him asking where he was going without giving back my passport nor an explanation on why it was being withheld. His nonchalant response was “just wait. I am trying to help you”.

    It became evident that they withheld the passport to detain me at their departure desk in order to miss the flight.

    That was when I tweeted @ 7.37

    @obyezeks: IS THIS A DEMOCRACY? I am being detained by the SSS @ Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport . The SSS has REFUSED to GIVE MY PASSPORT TO ME.

    At 7.41

    @obyezeks: On my way to London this morning for my @BBCHARDtalk appearance billed for TOMORROW and the SSS has DETAINED me by WITHHOLDING my PASSPORT.

    While I stood with him and demanding my passport, we were joined by two of the fellows that had instructed the search of my bags, they reappeared and one of them instructed the younger to handover the passport to me. He hesitated glaring down at me. His colleague raised his voice and instructed him again and he refused.

    At that point, I brought out my phone to record him even as I asked for the passport. He got angry and charged at me that he would seize my phone.

    Then his colleague screamed at him a third time to hand the passport. He did.

    I tweeted :

    @obyezeks: SSS has RELEASED IT. Just barely made the BA flight. Last to board @ 7.55 for an 8.00 am flight that is now taxiing. IS THIS A DEMOCRACY?

    8.04 am

    @obyezeks: No ONE can SEIZE my DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS. I REFUSED to let the SSS GET AWAY with TRAMPLING on my CONSTITUTIONAL RIGTH.

    So Strangely, my passport had all the while been seized away from the processing cubicle and was not with the officer at the desk at the time he was saying “We are acting under instruction”.

    Immigration, Customs, airport staff and travelers (including Prof. Jerry Gana) who witnessed the sad episode were at various times intervening while it lasted.

    BA was kind in that it not only waited beyond their normal departure time to take me on board, but they also upgraded my class of travel following the unjustified harrowing experience with our SSS.

  • ‘Church can change Nigeria’

    ‘Church can change Nigeria’

    Former World Bank Vice President for Africa, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, has identified double standard practice and instant gratification within the Christian community as factors inhibiting the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

    Ekwesisli made this known at the 3rd edition of the Lagos Leadership Conference organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Peace Assembly, Lekki, Lagos.

    According to her, the need to curb the incessant spate of double stand and instant gratification within the church is very germane if the fight against corruption will be won in Nigeria.

    She said that it is worrisome that many are in the Church but not in Christ as they have accepted the predominant culture of corruption and not the lifestyle of Christ in their search for fame and material wealth.

    “God is looking for sincere men and not just position- seeking individuals who will lead the change against corrupt practice that has continued to paint the country dark among the comity of nations.”

    Ezekwesili, who is also the former minister for education, opined that Nigeria started in the development block with countries which include Malaysia, Singapore South Korea but has continued to be laid back in the comity of nations because of corruption.

    She said in 1960, Nigeria income per-capita was close to Singapore’s with 300 to 350 margin but now Singapore per-capita income has risen to 15, 000 with Nigeria as 1, 500 per capital income.

    “Nigeria will not change until the Church goes back to the tenet of true biblical teachings on holiness, righteousness across the public and private sector of our country.”

    She stated that God will never change his pattern as righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach to any people.

    Earlier, in his opening address, the convener of the conference, Pastor Charles Apadei, said that the leadership conference was aimed at empowering and mobilising Nigerian youths for socio-economic development and spiritual renewal.