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Tag: el-Rufai

  • I’ve no hand in violence, says El-Rufai

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has said his party has been cleared of allegations of destroying campaign posters levelled against it by the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    El-Rufai, who spoke through Samuel Aruwan and Major Yahya Shiko (rtd), the spokesperson and director of administration of his campaign committee at a briefing, yesterday, said if the PDP had any problem with him, it should be issue-based and not his person.

    Aruwan said: “We have been vindicated that neither my principal nor APC member destroyed PDP posters during our rally on Monday, but some of the aggrieved members of the PDP who were not happy about some people that were nominated for the caretaker committee. They just took advantage of the rally to register their grievances.

    “As you can see, was it APC members that went to the State House with knives and destroyed property? We are not training thugs in APC.

    “What happened yesterday at the initial venue of swearing-in of caretaker committee chairmen for the 23 local government areas of the state was a clear indication that PDP needs to put its house in order.

    “We don’t sponsor adverts that incite any personality or sponsor anybody to cause disharmony in the state. Our position is clear. We only campaign based on issues that affect us as people of the state.

    “What is the state of education, health, infrastructure and security? People are being killed in Southern Kaduna and Birni-Ngari without serious step to stop the killings. It is not about personality, but issues.

    “My principal has made it clear that within the past seven years, Kaduna State has collected over N700billion. Do we have anything to show for that? The development on ground, does it commensurate with N700billion.

    “We should run government based on transparency, accountability and people’s needs. These are the changes APC is bringing to the state. We want the good people of Kaduna State to take us for our word and see to it that APC emerges through their votes.”

    He said the party accords the office of the governor much respect, noting that the party or any of its member has no basis to insult the governor.

  • El-Rufai shocked by Yero’s call on supporters to attack opposition

    El-Rufai shocked by Yero’s call on supporters to attack opposition

    The Kaduna State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed shock on the utterances of Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, saying the governor was calling for anarchy.

    Speaking at the launch of his campaign last Monday, Yero was caught on tape allegedly asking his supporters to physically challenge and confront supporters of rival parties.

    El-Rufai, in a statement issued by spokesman of his campaign organisation, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, said Yero was only jittery of the defeat staring him in the face.

    According to El-Rufai, “it will be difficult to come across a more astonishing articulation of irresponsible understanding of power than this. A supposedly democratically elected governor, in the 21st century, is talking as if he can freely abuse or abridge the right of any citizen.

    “We wish to remind him that the constitution and the laws of this country do not permit him the recklessness he is arrogating to himself. Two years in office as governor seems to have deluded Yero into a mistaken belief that he has the unchecked powers of an absolute monarch or tyrant.

    “We condemn this incitement to violence and the threat to the liberty and property of Malam El-Rufai.”

    The governor in the phone-in programme in Kaduna said he could not have uttered the statement attributed to him.

    He appealed for calm before, during and after the forthcoming elections, adding that, as an advocate of peace right from his early years, his prayer is that people should conduct themselves peacefully and be allowed to vote for persons of their choice without intimidation or force.

  • El-Rufai greets citizens

    El-Rufai greets citizens

    Kaduna State All Progressives Congress (APC’s) governorship candidate Malam Nasir El-Rufai has greeted the citizens on the celebration.

    El-Rufai said: “As we all welcome the new year, I urge the people to look with optimism to the future, and better times for Kaduna State and Nigeria.

    “The past year featured quite a few threats and challenges, including worsening insecurity, a gloomy economy and continuing difficulties with job-creation and growing poverty.

     “Even in these dire circumstances, Nigerians must not lose hope. The 2015 provides us all a chance to change our country and our state by electing leaders, who can provide good governance and put us on the path to peace, progress and prosperity.

    “Nigerians face monumental choices in the coming elections. I am hopeful that Nigerians will embrace social harmony, resist division and rediscover the sustained solidarity that is needed to collectively tackle the grave problems that menace us.

     “We should strive for active and wide participation in the political process, and in exercising our civic duty to vote, resolve to make the 2015 elections a peaceful exercise in national renewal.”

  • El-Rufai accuses Sambo, Yero of wasting Kaduna’s resources

    El-Rufai accuses Sambo, Yero of wasting Kaduna’s resources

    The Kaduna State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the state government of wasting over N600 billion it received from the Federation Account in the last seven years.

    El-Rufai spoke yesterday in Kaduna when he was the guest of Freedom Radio, Hausa programme, Barka da Warhaka.

    The APC said Kaduna was the second most indebted state in Nigeria after Lagos State.

    He said: “Although Lagos State is more indebted than Kaduna State, but it has the capacity to pay. Governor Babatunde Fashola generates N20 billion monthly internally, but Kaduna State does not get N1 billion from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).”

    The former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister noted that Kaduna State received the second highest monthly statutory allocation from the Federation Account in the North, after Kano State.

    “Yet, it has nothing to show for it,” he said.

    El-Rufai said his criticisms were not borne out of partisanship because other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) states, like Gombe and Katsina, were implementing laudable projects.

    The former minister asked: “Why should our own PDP government be different?”

    El-Rufai also faulted the state government’s claim that it used most of the money that accrued to it in the last seven years in paying debts.

    The APC candidate wondered why the government was still owing contractors N20 billion to N30 billion.

    He recalled that the Ahmed Makarfi administration had liquidated all debts by 2006.

    El-Rufai said: “Architect Namadi Sambo did not inherit any debt in 2007, when he assumed office as governor of Kaduna State.”

    The APC flag bearer stressed that Nigeria had exited external debts in 2005 during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

    He said what remained were debts between states and the Federal Government.

    El-Rufai said: “By 2006, the Makarfi administration had paid off all domestic debts. This fact can be verified from the website of the Debt Management Office (DMO).”

    The former FCT minister regretted that the present PDP administration in Kaduna State had tied down the state with several debts in the last seven years, adding that the incoming government would find it difficult to execute most of its projects.

  • El Rufai accuses Kaduna governors of squandering funds

    El Rufai accuses Kaduna governors of squandering funds

    All Progressive Congress gubernatorial candidate in Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai , on Monday alleged that Kaduna State successive governments have nothing to show for the over N600 billion they received from the Federation Account in the last seven years.

    El Rufai, who made this allegation as guest of Freedom Radio Hausa programme, “Barka da warhaka,” also said Kaduna State is the second most indebted state in Nigeria after Lagos State.

    He said, “Although Lagos State is more indebted than Kaduna State, but it has the capacity to pay. Governor Babatunde Fashola generates N20 billion monthly internally, but Kaduna does not get N1 billion from Internally Generated Revenue.”

    The former FCT minister also pointed out that Kaduna receives the second highest monthly statutory allocation from the Federation Account in the north after Kano State, saying, “yet it has nothing to show for it.”

    He, however, noted that his criticisms were not borne out of partisanship because other Peoples Democratic Party states like Gombe and Katsina are executing laudable projects, wondering “why should our own PDP government be different?”

    The governorship candidate also faulted the state government’s claim that it used most of the monies that accrued to it in the last seven years in paying debts.

  • 2015 polls: Lamido warns Clark, El-Rufai, other over threats

    2015 polls: Lamido warns Clark, El-Rufai, other over threats

    JIGAWA State Governor Sule Lamido has warned Ijaw leader Edwin Clark and Kaduna State All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) governorship candidate Malam Nasiru el-Rufai to stop heating the polity and threatening next year’s general election.

    Lamido gave the warning at the weekend at the formal flag-off of the state Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) campaign for next year’s general election.

    The governor, who expressed concern over the political statements by people like Clark, Mujahiddeen Dakubo-Asari, el-Rufai and others, described their utterances as “serious threat to national unity, democracy and 2015 general elections.”

    Lamido also expressed dismay at the manner some politicians were preaching do-or-die election.

    He stressed that Nigerians must exercise restraint and put national interest above any individual, regional or group of people’s interest.

    He noted that since Nigeria is practicing federalism, every citizen has the right to associate with any political party or group of his choice.

    Lamido argued that it would be undemocratic, unconstitutional and unacceptable to intimidate, injure or kill any person because he or she vote for political party or candidate of his or her own choice.

    He urged Nigerians to resist any attempt  to intimidate or force them to vote for any candidate or party against their own free will.

    At the event, party’s flags were presented to the state governorship candidate, three senatorial candidates, 11 contenders for National Assembly elections and 30 candidates for the House of Assembly.

  • PDP will not get 25% in Kaduna – El Rufai

    Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, is confident that the Peoples Democratic Party will not get up to 25 percent of the total votes cast in the state during the 2015 general election.

    El-Rufai ,who spoke with journalists at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, Monday, also said that residents of state should not expect magic from him when he is elected as governor of the state in view of the state’s huge debt profile and its dwindling revenue.

    The former minister explained that apart from the 1999 elections, the PDP has never won any other election in the state, saying “As far as l am concern, the PDP has never won governorship elections in Kaduna State other than 1999. They only stole the election in 2003, 2007 and lost to CPC in 2011.”

    “You can’t even popularly say you are PDP. All the PDP leaders are leaders in secret. Kaduna is an opposition state and it has always been.

    “What has been happening was that the opposition parties were too weak to protect their votes, but we thank God that the merger of the three main opposition parties in the states and other groups has created a very strong APC.

    “We have no doubt that in 2015, with a decent, near free and near credible election, (they don’t have to be perfectly free, they just have to be near free and near credible), l doubt if PDP will get up to 25 per cent of the total vote cast in the state. We are confident of that and we are set for the election.”

     

  • El-Rufai vows to throw out PDP in Kaduna

    El-Rufai vows to throw out PDP in Kaduna

    Newly elected governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has vowed to end  the Peoples Democratic Party’s rule in Kaduna State by defeating the party’s candidate in next year’s election.

    Addressing party members after picking the governorship ticket of the APC, El-Rufai said he would throw out a spendthrift and ineffectual PDP government in the state and institute a particpatory government in its place.

    He said: “With your support, I pledge to run a campaign that engages and mobilises all the people of Kaduna State for the necessary work of change, to throw out a spendthrift, ineffectual PDP gang and elect a government committed to participatory governance and sustainable empowerment of the people.”

    El-Rufai emerged winner after polling 1,965 votes in an election which lasted into the early hours of yesterday, as against his close contender, Isah Ashiru, who polled 1,379 votes.

    Haruna Sa’eed polled 127 votes while Shamsudin Ango Abdullahi and Salihu Mohammed Lukman polled 25 and 22 votes respectively.

    In his acceptance speech, El-Rufai saluted the courage of other aspirants who aspired for the party’s gubernatorial ticket.

    El-Rufai said it is now time for them to pull all their energy and talents together to elect an APC government in Kaduna State, saying “this is a mission to fulfil the aspirations of the people, and a mighty task that duty demands we successfully achieve.”

    According to him, “I pay heartfelt tribute to the distinguished party men who also aspired for and campaigned to be chosen as the APC governorship candidate. Your energetic campaigns have helped to build and strengthen our party; and the party, its members and supporters would continue to expect your leadership and worthy contributions.

    “I hereby invite the distinguished persons with whom we competed for the nomination to continue to discharge our responsibilities together under the leadership of the party at the state level, to design and launch a statewide campaign as soon as possible.

    “The APC Kaduna Team is ready to provide a government guided by fairness, passion and commitment. I am proud to be a member of this team, and I will discharge my leadership role within it with the vision, integrity and results-orientation that have been the hallmark of my public service.”

    Meanwhile, the Salihu Mohammed Lukman Campaign Organisation on behalf of the aspirant said they had accepted the outcome of the primaries and willing to contribute their own quota towards the victory of the party in the state.

    The campaign organisation in a press statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna, however called on it loyalists and party members to continue to support all those who have emerged as candidates of the party for various elective positions to see to the victory of the party come the 2015 general elections.

    “I wish to call on the party members to continue to support all those who have emerged as candidates of the party for various elective positions, so that the ruling PDP government will be shown the way out and give room for the APC to provide the needed good governance that the people of Kaduna State desire and yearn for,” he said.

  • Abuja quakes as Buhari, Oyegun, Amaechi protest

    Abuja quakes as Buhari, Oyegun, Amaechi protest

    Oni, Onu, Oyinlola, El-Rufai, others lead Salvation Rally

    All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders yesterday took to the streets their case against the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    Some of the party’s leading lights, including Chiarman John Odigie-Oyegun, led a “Salvation Rally” in Abuja, accusing President Jonathan of using the Boko Haram insurgency as a joker to win election.

    The party said there was  no limit to the length the President  had not gone in his “obsession” for re-election.

    It accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of working in concert with the Presidential Villa to corrupt the system and disenfranchise voters in APC-controlled states.

    APC queried why the Permanent Voters Cards collection and the continuous registration in 12 states were a fiasco.

    It  challenged the government and INEC to explain why the PVC collection was muddled up in Lagos, Kano Rivers, Niger, Ogun, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara and  all APC strongholds

    The APC said it was becoming obvious that President Goodluck Jonathan might be unable to organise a free and fair election next February.

    The party said the President was also planning to use the extension of the emergency rule not to conduct the 2015 poll in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

    It protested against the inadequate funding of the Federation Account to, in the party’s view, starve APC-controlled states of funds.

    Besides the rally, the APC chieftains defied old age and apparatchik of office to march around Abuja metropolis to draw the attention of the government and Nigerians to the insurgency in the Northeast.

    Odigie-Oyegun, in an address to open the Salvation Rally at the Eagle Square in Abuja, said the party had tabled four demands which the President must address immediately.

    He said the rally was a demonstration of its lack of confidence in Jonathan’s administration.

    Odigie-Oyegun said: “We are here today as a practical demonstration of our lack of confidence in the ability or willingness of President Goodluck Jonathan to organise a free and fair election come February 2015.

    “President Goodluck Jonathan is so desperate to win re-election that it will now appear that there is a secret understanding that our security forces should turn a blind eye to the Boko Haram Insurgency so that the insurgents can occupy as much territory as possible and make elections impossible in these areas, knowing full well these are APC strongholds.

    “Otherwise, how does one explain that local hunters carrying dane guns and amulets are capable of dislodging the dreaded Boko Haram while our once proud army, which has distinguished itself in and out of the country, has failed?

    We daily hear idle talks that the President needs to declare total war on Boko Haram.

    “ Pray, what has the Jonathan government been doing since the moment the state of emergency was declared the very first time? Or is the President saying that he declared and renewed the state of emergency only to cage the civil populace so that the insurgents can have a free rein?”

    Odigie-Oyegun said the party suspected that Boko Haram insurgency was being used to promote Jonathan’s re-election bid.

    To APC, the extension of the emergency rule may be the President’s ploy not to conduct the 2015 poll in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

    He added: “Without doubt, the war against Boko Haram has become a tool for self enrichment and a tool to disenfranchise Nigerians who are perceived not likely to vote for President Jonathan’s re-election.

    “Everything points to the fact that President Jonathan’s handling of the Boko Haram insurgency is aimed at one thing and one thing only: disenfranchisement of persons who are perceived not to be in support of his re-election, especially in the North-Eastern part of the country.

    “Is it not curious that Mubi was captured without one shot being fired by the insurgents or one single casualty on the part of Federal troops?”

    “As a matter of fact, we have it on good authority that as soon as President Goodluck Jonathan obtains the green light from the National Assembly, there will be no elections in the North-Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. By this singular act, some five million Nigerians will be disenfranchised, making Jonathan’s re-election a foregone conclusion.”

    Odigie-Oyegun accused Jonathan of being obsessed with re-election by using every issue, including abduction of 219 Chibok girls, as pawns.

    He said: “There is no limit to the length Jonathan has not gone in his obsession for re-election, using the kidnapped Chibok girls as pawns on his political chessboard. On the 17th of October, he cruelly played on the emotions and sensibilities of all Nigerians, especially the families, relations and associates of the kidnapped girls, when he asked his Chief of Defence staff to falsely announce that Boko Haram has agreed to a ceasefire and that the release of the kidnapped Chibok girls was just a matter of days.

    “ Of course, President Jonathan and his cohorts knew this to be false but he needed to deceive Nigerians so as to prepare their minds for his eventual declaration for re-election.”

    He tabled the party’s four demands which Jonathan must address.

    They are:

    •an end to the raging insurgency that is daily killing and maiming our compatriots,

    •an end to the impunity that permeates the Jonathan Administration;

    •an end to the massive corruption that has left our compatriots impoverished in the midst of plenty; and

    •an unambiguous effort to ensure that that 2015 elections will be free and fair.

    The APC National Chairman wrote off the recent distribution of Permanent Voters Cards by INEC and declared the exercise as a deliberate plot to  corrupt the system to disenfranchise voters in APC-controlled states.

    He said: “As you must all be aware, the recent exercise by INEC of collection of Permanent Voters Cards and continuous registration in 12 states of the Federation was a fiasco. The official explanation from the Independent National Electoral Commission is to blame it all on computer error.But we know this is a lie.

    “The truth of the matter is that the ICT unit of INEC, which is working hands in gloves with the Presidential villa, deliberately corrupted the system in order to disenfranchise voters in APC controlled states.

    “How else do you explain the fact this same exercise, which had gone fairly well in 24 other states – mostly PDP states – is now a fiasco in Lagos, Kano Rivers, Niger, Ogun, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara all APC strongholds and with the highest number of registered voters?

    “In the aforementioned states, millions of voters have been disenfranchised because the system was deliberately corrupted to wipe out their names from the voters register. Even those who were able to vote in 2011 could no longer find their names on the register.

    “Zero units are now to be found more in APC-controlled states or strongholds. The PDP, realising the overwhelming support and followership which APC enjoys in the above mentioned states, has deliberately decided to use the ICT department of INEC to rig the 2015 general elections at source by disenfranchising millions of the opposition party’s supporters.”

    Odigie-Oyegun said APC was joining issues with Jonathan on the poor funding of the Federation Account, which was meant to starve APC states of funds.

    He said: “President Goodluck Jonathan, embarrassed by the runaway success of APC controlled states, has in the last two years embarked on a wicked scheme to create disaffection among the electorate in APC-controlled states by not funding the Federation Account adequately.

    “While this may appear a general problem affecting all states, he has secretly and unconstitutionally being funding PDP controlled states. Not too long ago he dashed all PDP controlled states N2 billion each. Not only does this affect the letter and spirit of our constitution, it also portrays him as the President of the PDP and not that of Nigeria.

    “Although oil has been selling at well over USD108 against the benchmark of USD78, President Jonathan had been funding the Federation Account only between 60-70%. What is his official explanation for this? He claims it is as a result of massive crude oil theft that he has been unable to fund the Federation Account adequately!

    “The truth of the matter is that since the countrywide protest on the subsidy oil scam of 2012 and the embarrassing revelations by the House of Representatives panel, this government has now resorted to stealing from source.

    “How can we be losing steadily on daily basis over months the same quantity, 700,000 barrels of crude? It is this stealing of crude at source that has made it impossible for the govern to adequately fund the Federation Account, and which has led to poverty and unemployment.

    “Is it not baffling that up till today no serious individual or significant organisation has been apprehended for stealing 700,000 barrels of crude everyday! It is nothing but authority stealing-apologies to Fela Anikulpo-Kuti.

    “Only a few days ago, President Jonathan’s administration declared austerity measures. Given the difference between the selling price of our crude in the international market of an average of 108 dollars and the bench mark price of 78 dollars in the last three years, the government should today have close to fifty billion dollars (US$50 billion) in Excess Crude Account.

    “But as a result of corruption and arbitrary manipulation of the account, today the government has declared that there is just three billion dollars (US$3 billion) in this account.”

    The APC National Chairman said political developments in Osun, Edo, Ekiti had pointed to the fact that Jonathan might not allow a free and fair poll in 2015.

    He asked the international community to have keen interest in the process leading to the next General elections.

    He said: “Another pointer that President Jonathan will not allow a free and fair election in 2015 is the reckless use of the police and the military in past elections in Ekiti and Osun states. The extensive use of firearms by PDP thugs in Edo State in collusion with the police to vandalise the Edo State House of Assembly residential quarters, and the police humiliating treatment of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi are few examples of acts of impunity of this government.

    In Edo State, the police continue to disobey the orders of both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. In Ekiti State the police looked the other way when judges were being beaten and only two days ago in the same Ekiti under the protection of the police, democratically-elected principal officers of the state House of Assembly were sacked by six out of the 26 elected members.

    “The Nigeria Police Force has today become the armed wing of the PDP and they cannot be trusted under President Jonathan to be unbiased umpire in the February 2015 elections.

    “To the international community, we say it is not just enough to rush to declare any election free and fair on election day. We say election is a process, hence they must show interest in all the pre-election events leading up to the election day.

    “In the end, everyone must work together to ensure that the will of the people prevails, that no one who is eligible to vote is disenfranchised, and that every vote must not just be counted, it must count!”

    Odigie-Oyegun said the salvation rally was the beginning of the occupation of Abuja by the party unless the situation in the country improves.

    He said: “What you are seeing here today, which is the first stage of the occupation of Abuja, is just a warning shot.

    “If we do not see any discernible change of attitude on the part of the government, then we will move to the next stage on the list of actions that our party intends to take to stop the rot being perpetuated by the PDP-led Federal Government

    “We are, therefore, using this opportunity to alert Nigerians and the international community to what is undoubtedly a set of carefully-set booby traps on the path to free and fair elections next year.

    “To Nigerians who are desirous of a positive change, we say eternal vigilance is the price of freedom, and we call on them to join us to say NO to impunity, NO to corruption, NO to scorched-earth politics and NO to do or die politics.”

    The APC National Chairman later led some leaders and members of the party in a protest march around Abuja to press home their concerns and demands.

    Some of those at the Salvation Rally are: Former Head of State and presidential aspirant  Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; Governor Rotimi Amaechi; ex-governors Ogbonnaya Onu, Segun Oni(Deputy National Chairman for South),  Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; ex-FCT Minister, Nasir El-Rufai; Deputy National Chairman(North) Sen. Lawal Shuaibu; National Secretary Mai Mala Buni; the National Organising Secretary Osita Izunaso;  presidential aspirant Sam Nda-Isaiah, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Umaru Dembo,  National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed and Suleiman Hunkuyi, among others.

  • el-Rufai, centre challenge new students

    New students who have been admitted for the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) programmes of the Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS) have been urged to rise above mediocrity to excel in their endeavours.

    They got the advice at their induction from the Director of Studies, Prof Anthony Kila; the guest speaker, Mallama Nasir el-Rufai, and former students of the centre.

    The 50 students were admitted to study Journalism, Project Management, Business Administration, Banking and Finance, Office Management, Education and Project Management.

    Kila opened the floor by telling them that the centre’s objective transcends just producing average students.  He said the centre expects much more from them.

    “We hope to train people who are audaciousl; who know that they want to win or excel in all they do.  Being good, punctual isn’t enough; you have to be productive in the classroom.  You need to have a view, values and ideas that you want to defend.  You would be expected to be ambitious, not just polite.  You have to be a go-getter,” he said.

    Addressing the new students, David Obaluse, a graduate of the centre, said attending CIAPS changed his life.The Business Administration graduate of Crawford University said what students learn can help them start off on their own after school.

    “If you come to CIAPS, you don’t have to work for someone for too long.  You think you can start your business.  We have been taught the nitty gritty of starting a business.  At CIAPS, the teaching method is quite different.  It is practical, interactive.  You are able to transfer the set of skills you are taught to real life project.  I congratulate the new students,” he said.

    In his lecture titled: “Ethics, education and employability,” el-Rufai, who was represented by Mr Jimi Lawal, former Managing Director of the defunct Alpha Merchant Bank, urged the students to get requisite entrepreneurial skills while studying to help them become employers after graduation.

    With small scale businesses providing employment for about 70 per  cent of the workforce of many developed countries, el-Rufai said more businesses by young people would benefit the country economically.