The Nation Newspaper

Tag: dream

160 Niger Delta youths get dream education abroad

If the thank you song composed by the Niger Delta graduands of Kaplan International College, Lagos, is waxed into a record, it would arguably be a hit among music lovers going by the way both young and old people who attended their graduation at the Eko Hotel and Suites on Monday danced to its rhythm.

The song reflected how the students, 160 of them drawn from the oil producing communities in Niger Delta states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Ondo, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo and Abia felt about being selected from their deprived communities to undergo a one-year foundation programme recognised by universities in the U.S and the United Kingdom.

“We thank you very much for this opportunity. We have learnt from the best. What happened to us is beyond our wildest imagination,” one of their spokespersons, Philomena Abe said. “We never imagined this could happen to us,” another of the singers said.

The programme, United States Pathway Programme (USPP) was localised for the Nigerian students by the Kaplan International Colleges, United States to enable them undergo the foundation programme in Nigeria before traveling overseas for their university education.

This week, 138 of them will be travelling to 10 universities in the U.S. to complete their degree programmes in science, management and art fields courtesy of a special scholarship from the office of the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs.

The remaining 22 of them will resume at the Nottingham Trent University, UK, in June.

The graduation was the first major forum the students had to relax after what the Principal of the school, Mr Guy Doughty, described as a highly intensive eight month session to bring them up to the standard acceptable by their schools.

He said the students (initially 180), who were accepted for the USPP with their O Levels studied further mathematics, calculus, American Studies, Chemistry, Micro Economics, Business Statistics among others during the programme and came out successful. Though 20 fell by the way side, Gary described the progression rate of 89 per cent as impressive.

“Some 180 students started the programme; 160 are progressing to the university, which is a 89 per cent progression rate. We are so fascinated that we got 100 per cent visa acceptance.

“We started late and had to play catch up. We had classes through March and April, sometimes up to 10 pm. The students had all these challenges yet came out successful. Please continue the way you have started; continue to make your families and Nigeria proud,” he said.

Given the antecedents of previous beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme said to be excelling in various countries worldwide, and the quality of tuition the 160 students would receive abroad, Senator Abdul Ningi, who chaired the occasion, appealed to the authorities of the countries to allow them return home after their studies to contribute to national development.

“You are asked to get educated so that when you come back, you are not only going to be ambassadors of the Niger Delta but of Nigeria.

“And to you Kaplan, we know that in America, wherever you see young people that are good, you call unto them. Please do not call unto these ones. They are all we have. When they finish let them come back. Train them well and we will continue to fund this programme,” he said.

Ningi also noted that the Niger Delta region is deserving of the programme, which is part of the amnesty initiative aimed at ensuring that non-militant youths in the communities that were most affected during the struggle make progress through education.

“I chaired the committee on Niger Delta crisis. I have travelled the nooks and crannies of the Niger Delta and I have seen the pollution of their farmlands and waters. They are farmers and fishermen and they can no longer do these. You do not need to be a Niger Deltan to understand the collective guilt we feel,” he said.

The senator was also full of praises for the Special Adviser on Niger Delta, Mr Kingsley Kuku, who he described as passionate about the programme. “I know without you the amnesty programme would have been politicized, bastardised,” he said.

However, he warned that the programme should seek ways to ensure that after their education, the beneficiaries are gainfully employed.

“We must find a way a way f making sure that when they come back, they get jobs. This is the next phase of the amnesty programme so that when they come back, they won’t go to the trenches,” he said.

In his speech, Kuku said he was glad the collaboration with Kaplan to localize the USPP has been highly successful. He said the initiative was created as a result of lessons from placing a previous set of 84 students and has saved the government a lot of money.

He charged the students to be focused on excelling in their various schools and make the President proud.

“You have done well and we are all proud of you. I urge you all to draw inspiration from several of your compatriots in universities in the U.S. who, though in their first and second years of studies, are already winning awards for academic excellence. Do not let your parents and your country down. Even more important, President Goodluck Jonathan, the man who has made all this possible and expects the very best from you at all times. Please do not let him down,” he said.

May 22, 2014
A guide to dream jobs

THERE is a big debate in town. The issue is how to resolve Nigeria’s calamitous unemployment crisis, which has created an army of hustlers, scammers, tricksters, pranksters and charlatans posing as experts, who possess answers to the problem.

In response to a massive demand by readers, Editorial Notebook is joining the debate – as a public service – to expose those pretenders, who have seized upon this problem to compound a bloody mess.

Here then, dear reader, is the authentic guide to those dream jobs you have always wished you could grab. It covers all categories of job seekers – from ex-governors and ex-ministers to the much exploited university graduates who have fallen victim of scammers in high places and all others willing to work but can’t just be engaged.

If you are an ex-governor, who is dying to return to office, you can secure your party’s ticket in a simple way. Tell the party you are a tough guy who possesses the right credentials to send the incumbent packing. Your opponents and critics – there will be many of them who will claim to know your background – will call you names. Thug. Thief. Nescient. Addict. Never mind. It’s all politics.

Lobby your way to the party chairman and other leaders. Regale them with stories of your valorous past, beating your chest that you and only you possess the magic to unseat the incumbent. “Take me to the President. Empower me. Hand me the ticket and see if I won’t remove him,” you will boast, screaming, your eyes dashing restlessly. You can even bang the table – for emphasis.

“But you’re facing fraud and murder charges. People are talking,” the party chair may remonstrate. Press on. Tell him that these are mere allegations. “An accused is presumed to be innocent, until the court says otherwise. In any case, who doesn’t know that justice is slow to get here,” you will tell him, shaking your head.

Before long, the party will discover that you are the ideal man. Before other aspirants wake up from their drunken stupor, you have snatched away the prize. Some of your opponents will hit the media, condemning you. “You can’t exchange our gold for iron; we no go gree,” they will be crying.

Relax. Even the most vociferous of them has his price. He will soon be summoned to Abuja where he will be promised a better life after you must have won the coming election. He will join you.

Many may want to remind you of your pernicious past, asking why you are so desperate to run. Pardon their ignorance. “I’m not in this for fun; my wife dreamt that I will be back at the Government House,” you will reply.

If your dream job is a ministerial portfolio, you do not need to worry much. Easy. It bears some similarities with the ex-governor’s. Pose like a no-nonsense, hard man who can stop a moving train with his bare chest. Your testimonials? Of course, those little things that your enemies – those envious fellows who will always talk about the past instead of facing their own issues – describe as detestable, disgraceful and criminal. They are assets.

You will be reminded that you once assaulted a revered elder statesman at a palace ceremony and that the man, a former senior government official, was a few days after murdered in his home. Don’t panic. We all get accused of one thing or the other everyday; don’t we?

Those headhunters will be stupid not to realise your potential, particularly in an election year. But you need to play your part well. After you must have been nominated – there will be so much noise about this, as I have said earlier – you then begin a crash programme to prepare you for the screening at the Senate. Get some Nollywood chaps to teach you how to sob and cry at will.

Then get set to face the Senate. Deck a nice national dress, a long golden necklace dangling from your neck and an expensive watch struggling to stay on your wrist. Questions over, the Senators – cheeky fellows all – will naturally ask you to say something about yourself, some details that may be too strong to find space in your CV. This, I must warn you, is the most critical aspect of this all-important exercise. Dip your hand into your pocket, whip out a handkerchief and burst into tears. Begin to sob. “I know nothing about his death. They said I killed him. How could I have killed a man who paid my school fees, who mentored me and (more sobs)… .If I knew about the chief’s death, may God punish me. They keep saying I did it. I never did. I was detained.”

It is not over o. You will keep sobbing until somebody comes in there to get you out, even as you continue crying, your white handkerchief now soaked in tears and your eyes as red as fire. Don’t bother. The end, as they say, justifies the means. Days after, you will be announced minister and given a sensitive portfolio.

Even after this, those enemies of yours, those busybodies to whom everybody is a game to be hunted down with hot gossip, will continue. Why did you hurriedly leave the neighbourhood – bag and baggage – if you did not have a hand in the murder? Why did you remove the man’s cap at the palace? A witch cries yesterday and a baby dies today, who does not know that the witch killed the baby? They will ask such fatuous questions.

Some will say you got the job because the ruling party has a sinister plan to subvert the people’s will in the coming elections by giving you a portfolio that will facilitate its dubious scheme. Be calm. After all, the prize is all yours now.

The other day in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Gbemi, former senator and daughter of the late charismatic politician, Dr Olusola “Oloye” Abubakar Saraki, mounted the podium to shred the cherished family bond, railing at her elder brother, the former governor and senator, Dr Bukola Saraki. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chiefs, including President Goodluck Jonathan, were all smiles as she promised to deliver the state to their party. Now, there are speculations that the big gal will soon join the cabinet. A minister.

Former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party that has issued the ruling PDP a quit notice. In no time, he began to condemn the APC, saying it was taking too long for it to have structures. He quit. Now in the PDP, Shekarau has not stopped singing like a hungry bird, granting interviews to condemn the APC. His reward: a ministerial job. Soon, according to sources.

Tamuno Danagogo is a typical government pikin. He has always been in government since 2000. He is Rivers State PDP’s ex-legal adviser, twice council chairman and, until recently, a commissioner in the Rotimi Amaechi administration.

Amaechi got into trouble with President Jonathan when the First Lady dared him to demolish the waterfronts that harboured all manner of criminals. Besides, Amaechi contested and won the Governors’ Forum election. Abuja needed foot soldiers to fight the governor. Danagogo joined the Abuja forces. He quit his job as commissioner. Then his adversaries went to town, saying unprintable things about his family, health and faith. Smart guy. He never replied. Now he is the Minister of Sports.

So much for political jobs. As for the private sector, merit is still essential in many cases. But it is always better to know somebody as most jobs are never advertised. You keep announcing your status as a jobless man, until somebody who knows somebody that knows somebody who is somebody in the company agrees to put in a word for you.

A civil service job? Be ready to buy a form. It doesn’t cost much; about N2,500. Look for a godfather who may have been allocated a slot. He will simply send your name to the right office and a letter of appointment will come. No interviews. No stress.

You may also join the race for some slots announced in a government agency. A note of caution here. You need to be knowledgeable in martial arts. Besides, go for a stress test in a good laboratory where a doctor will certify you fit. Thousands of applicants will be herded into a stadium for a test of endurance. There will, no doubt, be pandemonium. Stampede.This is where your martial arts knowledge comes in. Ensure you do not fall as this may have lethal consequences.

If, unfortunately, you get trampled and die -God forbid – it is not the end. The government will give your family three slots of its warehoused jobs. If you are lucky to survive, well forget about your broken arm and bruised head. Accidents happen every day. It is automatic job for you – all thanks to President Jonathan’s ingenuity, which has confounded many an expert and critics of the Transformation Agenda. Many countries, including the industrial giants who seem to have stopped thinking, I have just been told, are set to emulate what has been scorned here as death-for-job.

One more word. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in a retrieval system in any form or by any means without the permission of the copyright holder.

April 3, 2014
My dream for Yoruba movie industry -Laface

Organiser of the two-year-old Yoruba Movie Academy Awards (YMAA), Mr. Tunde Oshinibosi, popularly called Laface, has said that his vision is for the awards scheme to outlive him.

Oshinibosi, who is putting finishing touches to the second edition of the show scheduled to hold on Sunday, March 30, at the Civic Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State, said, “I have a dream that the Yoruba movie industry will become a global entertainment brand and will not have to continue to plead for recognition, even within its own region, the South West. I have a dream that the governments of the South West, through their respective culture and tourism ministries, will see the Yoruba movie industry as a major platform for strategic investments.

“I have a dream that one day the Yoruba movie industry practitioners will get their benefits for years of hard work and sleepless nights. Also, I have a dream that the Federal Government will take the long-awaited decisive measures to end the dreaded piracy scourge, thereby creating a boisterous movie industry.”

This year’s awards ceremony, according to Oshinibosi, will start with a red carpet by 5pm, while the awards proper will commence by 7pm.

March 17, 2014
Azeez, Uchebo dream Brazil 2014

Almeria of Spain midfielder, Ramon Azeez has thanked the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Coach Stephen Keshi for inviting him to the national team as preparation begins for the Brazil 2014 World Cup. He vows that he will not let the opportunity slip off his fingers.

Similarly, Cercle Brugges of Belgium midfielder, Michael Uchebo, is convinced that he has a part to play in Nigeria’s quest for glory during the Mundial in Brazil. “The coach has told us that we have equal opportunity to make the team. If I am invited for the final phase of preparations, I will not disappoint my fans,” the Nwankwo Kanu look-alike said in Atlanta.

Ex-junior international, Azeez said it had always been his ambition to play at the senior level and since he had been given the opportunity he would do his all to remain in the team. “I thank God for this invitation and I promise to do even better when next I am called up,” he declared.

Head Coach Stephen Keshi while assessing the performance of his wards against Mexico, said it was fair but he was not too happy at the manner the players were easily losing the ball to their opponents. “I guess it’s because we have not played together for quite a while, but that will be addressed when camp opens for the World Cup. I know the quality of players we have in this team, they will surely go places.”

March 7, 2014
Live your dream

Failure or refusal to put dreams into action is one of the major reasons most people find it difficult to achieve success. This book, which has the title of “Stop Wishing, Start Acting” and co-written by Olushola Alabi and Olanike Alabi could not have come at a better time.

A teacher, preacher, counsellor and motivational speaker, Olushola, is also the Chief Executive Officer of Roll the Gold Konsult. On her own, Olanike holds a bachelor’s degree in Forest Resources Management in addition to bagging a Master of Science degree in Information Science from the University of Ibadan.

Olushola and Olanike educate that many people only have dreams but never leave their thought realm to take action and become successful. These authors say this book is full of nuggets that will motivate, inspire, teach, challenge and encourage you to discard your wishing and embrace action to be able to achieve your life goal(s).

The authors, therefore, advise you to exploit your latent potential for this is the pathway to your being celebrated by people. They say you should be less concerned about what happens around you. Olushola and Olanike stress that the world has no positive message to offer you, so offer yourself positive messages that will declare your enthronement.

As regards structure, this text is segmented into six chapters. Chapter one is titled: If wishes were horses. These authors ask the number of business ideas that you have lost this year. In their words, “How many financial plans have you drawn this year? They never left your planning table. What of the creativity strategies you read in the newspapers or the ones that a friend sold to you? They died helpless in your thought realm.”

Olushola and Olanike educate that the richest place on earth is the cemetery as many people die and are buried there without achieving their purpose in life. The authors expatiate that action is a positive step taken to bring a vision or dream to pass. They go by way of literary allusion by quoting Mike Murdock thus: “The secret of success is to start from the scratch and keep scratching.”

The authors say nobody succeeds in the school of success without pursuing his or her dream passionately, vigorously and spiritually. Your acting on that vision, dream and talent is evidence that you have belief in them, stress Olushola and Olanike. They reveal that your helpers of destiny may be around you waiting patiently to see you pursue your dreams and they will rise to support you.

In these authors’ words, “This is not the season of wishing or daydreaming. This is the season of acting on your dreams, working on your dreams and facing your dreams with courage. You will be surprised how you will be celebrated and honoured!”

Chapter two is based on the subject matter of the mysterious mind. Here, Olushola and Olanike educate that your mind will always act on whatever you feed it with. They say the mind is mysterious because it is the centre of creativity. The authors assert that the mind is the gift that God has given mankind to trade with. Positive mind attracts positive results and negative mind attracts negative results, they expatiate. According to Olushola and Olanike, the dominant picture in your mind yesterday is the raw material through which your destiny is constructed today.

In the words of these authors, “Once your mind is dominated with thoughts of failure, fear, stagnation, backwardness and hopelessness, the end result is failure. When your mind is controlled by thought of hope, joy, prosperity, increase, enlargement and promotion, the end result is prosperity.”

Olushola and Olanike educate that it is not your degree or qualification that determines your success. They stress that they have seen illiterates rise to stardom because of their positive mindset. Olushola and Olanike say it is a battle of the mind, thus advising you to engage your mind positively as the sky is not the limit for you.

In chapters three to five, these authors X-ray concepts of a problem as a necessity; believing you can start; and the present moment being the right time.

Chapter six, the last chapter is christened “Take a bold step”. Olushola and Olanike quote Zig Ziglar thus: “Just any fool can be a success if he cares to know what it takes”. The authors say many great talents are wasting away just as a lot of potential is seriously under-utilised.

By way of articulation of the concepts in the book, there is no denying the fact that this text radiates depth, motivational creativity and exceptional intellectual acumen. These conceptual qualities are naturally expected, given the professional backgrounds of the authors.

Stylistically, this text is okay. The language is simple while the presentation is brilliant. The layout of the text is unique in that it is a mixture of both prose and poetic structures. The outer front cover design is non-verbally communicative as it reinforces the overall subject matter.

Even the textual visual distinction of “Stop” and “Start” on the outer front cover to show notional emphasis amplifies the subject matter. There is the use of graphics to achieve visual reinforcement of readers’ understanding, e.g., the use of the image of the horse in chapter one entitled “If wishes were horses”.

There is use of biblical and literary/classical allusions to achieve conceptual amplification and lend credibility to the text.

However, some errors are noticed in the book, which need to be corrected. One of these is “Acknowledgement” (pages iv and vii), instead of “Acknowledgements”. Another one is “Potentials” (page vi) instead of “Potential”. On page 10, we have “I wish I can….” instead of “I wish I could….”

Despite these errors, the book is intellectually and conceptually valuable. It is a must-read for anybody that is prepared to take action and achieve his or her life goal(s), especially in the New Year.

January 15, 2014
‘You can live your dream’

CAN one live his dream? Yes, says Mustapha Yakubu, a young entrepreneur from Niger State.

He has defied the thinking that entrepreneurship is difficult.

A graduate of National Certificate in Education from the College of Education, Kontagaro, Niger State, he started by selling satchet water in Lagos. With N120, he said he was able to raise N38,500, an amount which helped him to venture into selling of pineapples in 2004.

Later, he discovered that it was profitable to buy pineapples from Cotonou.

From his profits, he bought a motor cycle worth N60,000, which he gave out on hire purchase.

He received N80,000 from the deal. Encouraged by this outing, he bought another bike, which he handled himself. He made more cash and added four more to his fleet.

But he had other plans. He sold all the motorcycles and used the proceeds to rent a shop at the popular Mile 12 market in Lagos.

He travelled to Nnewi in Anambra State to learn how to produce insectides and body cream.

He returned six months later and started the business with N6000.

Driven by his love for entrepreneurship and inspired by concepts that he was exposed to during his training, he developed a range of insecticides and creams for the skin. For example, he has developed products with unique medicinal properties.

Today, he is the Chief Executive, Must Best Products Nigeria with nine staff. Sales, he said, had increased.

He has a strong presence in the local market. As demand for his products is set to grow, investment in the business also is set to generate more job opportunities, more demand for sustainable raw materials and, thus, contribute significantly to reducing poverty.

With the proceeds from his business he was able to buy more equipment. Focused on building a brand, he wants to buy a processing equipment to push his cream to become quality level.

Yakubu believes that to be successful means to be of benefit not just to oneself, but the people around one in the communities. He desires to upgrade from an artisan to industrial giant. He wants to modernise his firm’s operations to meet ISO standards. He is, therfore, seeking financial support to increase the company’s production capacity.

In terms of challenges, he faces regular power shortages, a common concern among businessmen and women. Brave and courageous, he believes no challenge is insurmountable.

For him, to succeed in the face of so many problems, young entrepreneurs need courage, patience and resolve. His financial stability has allowed him to dream big and to grow his business.

He attributes his success to determination and hard work. He has bigger plans to expand his business.

November 20, 2013
Living his dream

A web content expert, Kehinde Ajose, dreamt of becoming an entrepreneur when he was in school. Now his dream has come true. He runs his own media firm. Daniel Essiet reports.

Ever since Kehinde Ajose was a   student, he dreamt of two things: reviving entrepreneurship   and empowering businesses. Today, he has achieved his dream. He is a media entrepreneur and runs a public relations /content development outfit called M.O.V.E Media.
“ I work with and train authors, entrepreneurs, and showbiz practitioners to get more visibility for themselves and their businesses by leveraging the magic of publicity. I do this by helping them to leverage on the platform of the print media, social media, and E-commerce.
“We also help small and medium enterprises(SMEs) to develop alluring content for their business to be irresistible in the competitive market space, “he said.
Besides, he is a blogger. He runs an inspiration and lifestyle blog called-KehindeAjose.com
When did he start nurturing the dream of a business?
”I had always done business even though I didn’t give it much attention. As a student in the university, I was editing and proof-reading books for authors, selling books, writing articles for publications and profiting from my passion. In my final year, I just decided to take it serious and give it more attention. Like they say, the rest is history. We thank God for how far he has led us?”
How much did he start the business with? He said he started with a laptop which cost about N55, 000. “I had a laptop, hope, and a network of individuals who were willing to support through referrals and words of mouth. But before the   laptop came, go to the cyber café. I was   not willing to make excuses in the pursuit of my dreams. It paid off at the end   of the day,”he said.
The business is growing. “The excellent service we render to our clients, and the positive feedbacks we get from them is what propels us to do more and deliver.I believe in the saying:, “Under promise, over deliver. It’s a growing business with huge potential for more success.”
Is it expensive to start? He said it is not expensive.
“ I started out with what I already had, a laptop and good will. It was easy for me to leverage on my media contacts, because I was writing for a couple of print media publications as a student. So, leverage is the key here … using the little you have to achieve much. So, the mustard seed one has shouldn’t be underestimated , it has the capacity to grow into a forest. His organisation supplies firms with different types of   content, including, recorded live events, original web content and books.
For him, businesses need a catalyst to consolidate their market and creatively innovate. He   knows what it takes to launch an entrepreneurial venture, but most importantly, how to keep the business going. He is doing well.
His advice to young people who wish to be entrepreneurs is that they leverage resources and use them to their advantage.

October 16, 2013
‘Free trade still a pipe dream’

Technical barriers are hindering exporters from accessing important markets, Chief Executive Officer and Programme Director of Multimix Academy, Mr Obiora Madu, has said.

Non-tariff barriers include laws, regulations, policies and practices that either protect domestically produced goods from the full brunt of foreign competition, or artificially stimulate the exports of domestic products.

Madu said exporters face a lot of technical challenges that restrict trade, including limits on expiry dates, lengthy accreditation processes and in-country distribution restrictions. The loss, according to him, runs into billions of naira yearly.

This, he explained, can be as detrimental as tariffs and quotas.

While technical barriers to trade increase product preparation and delivery costs, he said it requires compliance to commonly accepted standards.

According to him, exporters are affected by codes, standards and other factors related to market access and they need capacity to overcome the constraints.

He implored local exporters to explore resources, processes and capabilities to meet the demands of new export opportunities.

He said these issues could be addressed with the government’s support.

During an export forum in Lagos, Madu said global trading has become increasingly important and urged organisations to take advantage of such opportunities.

With increased opportunities for global trade and maturing home markets, he said enhancing the export performance was important for economic and social welfare.

To exploit successfully export opportunities, he said exporting organisations must reconfigure their internal routines and processes to modify their products or cost structures as a way of increasing their exports.

For watchers, these requirements add new costs and further reduce the competitiveness of its products in international markets. The perception is that standards are too high and the costs involved in testing/certification make exports.

July 29, 2013
Another dream deferred

THE revelation by President Goodluck Jonathan that the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is not feasible by the target date of 2015 is regrettable. Speaking at a press briefing during the closing ceremony of the African Union Heads of State and Government Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, in Abuja the President said no African country had attained the MDGs yet.

This, to say the least, is a sad reflection on the commitment of African leaders to developing their countries. Thirteen years ago, in September 2000 to be precise, world leaders at the UN headquarters in New York adopted the Millennium Development Goals, committing their nations to reducing extreme poverty and setting out time-bound targets with 2015 as its deadline.

The goals are : the eradication of poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality rates; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development.

To drive the achievement of the MDGs, the Nigerian government set up the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs.

Thirteen years after the UN mandate, how has Nigeria fared? President Jonathan has delivered the verdict. African countries, the President declared, have fallen short of meeting the target.

In order to appraise the current status of the MDGs in Nigeria, the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs in 2012 commissioned the National Bureau of Statistics to conduct a national household survey to report on the level of achievement of the MDGs . The Bureau sampled 22,200 households with around 75,000 respondents. The results show a prevalence of underweight children. “Net attendance levels for basic schooling has risen remarkably when compared with baseline data; the gender parity targets of primary and secondary education levels have been achieved. There has been a reduction for the less than five mortality rate of 157 deaths per 1,000 live births, to 94 deaths. This trend is similar to infant mortality rate.

Data held by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS demonstrate that there is a continuation in the fall of the HIV prevalence, from figures as high as 5.8 to 4.1 in 2012″.

President Jonathan confirmed this when he said Nigeria’s commitment in the last 10 years was to halt and reverse HIV and AIDS in the country. The President, however, lamented that “Of the 3.4 million people living with HIV in the country, only 491,021 HIV positive persons are accessing Antiretroviral Therapy. Furthermore, 1.6 million people are eligible for ART, meaning that an estimated 30 percent of the HIV populace is in need.”

As the clock ticks towards the finishing line of 2015; a lot more can be done towards the attainment of the MDGs. To achieve this, we have to drastically reduce the high level of corruption in the country. The effect of corruption is felt on inflated government expenditures, including contracts. The result is that funds meant for the development of education, healthcare, infrastructure and other vital sectors of the economy are diverted into private pockets.

Perhaps pogrammes like the NEEDS of the Obasanjo presidency, the Seven-point Agenda of Yar’Adua and Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda might have gone a long way towards alleviating poverty and addressing the Millennium Development Goals but for the institutionalised corruption in the system.

July 22, 2013
Will she die with her dream?

It 15, Sukurat Bashiru’s ambition is to become a star newscaster, being an outstanding pupil. Sadly, she has become a “hot” feast for newscasters and other journalists because of her failing health. Her kidneys, medical analysis shows, are “badly damaged.”

Her Ikire, Osun State-born father, Kabiru Bashiru, a vulcaniser, and mother, Busira, a petty trader, have “sold everything” in their frantic bid to make her live to fulfil her destiny. But the more they sweat, the more the teenager’s chances dim.

Emotions ran high on Saturday, when, at Ojota in Lagos, the President of Eko Lions Club, Rotimi Atanda, called out his lieutenants in a bid to save Sukurat’s life. It was at a media parley.

Looking helpless and despondent, Sukurat was brought to the venue from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, where she had been on a N68,000-per-week dialysis to keep her alive.

A past president of the club, Oladosu Gidigbi, and its project director, Oluwadare Abimbola, nearly shouted themselves hoarse in the spirited bid to convince the privileged few in the country, including organisations and governments, contribute to ensuring that the girl lives a normal life.

“She needs N6.5 million for kidney transplant in India. Already, there are two volunteer kidney donors, though they are yet to be tested. On our part too, we have been able to raise about N800,000 from some kind-hearted individuals. But that is a negligible fraction of the bill. Nigerians must join hands with us to save the life of this girl,” Atanda said, pointing at Sukurat.

“Please, help me tell Nigerians not to let me die in this pain. I have an ambition to fulfill here on earth; please, help me …” , Sukurat pleaded with impressive eloquence. Then, her Senior Secondary (SS) class teacher at East City College, Aga, Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb, Mrs Titilope Adesanya, took over: “You can see why we in the school have been pleading with Nigerians to help her. She is very intelligent and outstanding among her mates. She has always told me she would like to become a newscaster. We must assist her to live this lofty dream.”

The gaunt frame of her father says it all – her daughter’s condition had pushed him to his wit’s end. “I don’t know where to run to now. Since December 2011 when the problem started, my mind has not known peace. We have spend over N2 million. I have sold everything I could lay my hands on. I am a hard-working man. From my sweat, I got cars and property; all these are gone now. I have borrowed to a ridiculous extent. There is no helper anywhere except God and these people (members of Eko Lions Club.). They have been wonderful. Nigerians must help me on this girl,” he pleaded.

Fighting tears, her mother said: “I want God to show Himself through Nigerians at this point,” adding: “Since this trouble began over two years ago, I have lost sleep. Sukurat means much to us because she has shown a lot of promise as a serious child. Even if we can’t feed now, we want her to live and get over these pains she is undergoing.”

Explaining how it all began, Mrs Bashiru said: “It began like a bad dream. We just noticed that her legs got swollen and later, her face. What are these? We asked. No answer. Then, we were prompted to seek an answer at hospitals where we were told that her kidneys have been damaged.

“It was a big shock to us all because she never smoked nor drank dangerous beverages. How did she come about kidney damage? This is a question that still confounds us. But whatever it is, my daughter urgently needs help to live and I count on kind Nigerians to have pity on us.”

Now, the embattled girl is back at LUTH with her pains, awaiting succour. However, that Saturday, Atanda, on behalf of his club, pledged its readiness to henceforth, offset her weekly dialysis bill, while the search for money for the proposed transplant continues in earnest.

The club has appealed to Nigerians, corporate bodies, non-governmental organisations and government at all levels “to treat the girl’s case with despatch to save her from the claws of death.” To raise the transplant bill from “cheerful givers across the world,” the club, Atanda, announced, had opened “Eko Lions Club” account number 0009012447 with Union Bank. Will Sukurat have the opportunity to live to fulfill her aspiration? Time will tell.

June 24, 2013