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Tag: embrace

  • EMBRACE: Ekiti’s Statewide Maternal Health Model Gains Ground as a Policy Blueprint for Nigeria

    EMBRACE: Ekiti’s Statewide Maternal Health Model Gains Ground as a Policy Blueprint for Nigeria

    In a major leap forward for Nigeria’s reproductive healthcare system, Ekiti State has launched a pioneering maternal health programme known as EMBRACE: Ekiti Maternal and Birth Response for Accessible Care and Equity. This transformative initiative, already gaining national and international acclaim, is the brainchild of Dr Samuel Oluwagbemiga Omotoso, Chief Medical Director of General Adeyinka Adebayo General Hospital, and Mrs Tolulope Funmilola Ojo, a maternal care specialist, demographer and sociologist.

    This program, developed in response to alarming rates of maternal mortality and the persistent lack of equitable healthcare in underserved regions, functioned as both a clinical intervention and a sociological movement. It emerged from earlier work under Ekiti State’s maternal health reform efforts, which garnered public recognition in 2021 for its transformative impact on communities. Notably, Ojo’s white paper, presented in March 2022 alongside those of other distinguished experts in public health, sociology, medicine, data analytics, and finance, was selected as one of the key contributions that helped shape the initiative’s direction.

    “We designed EMBRACE not as a conventional health project but as a structural response to social inequities in maternal care,” said Ojo. “We wanted a system that not only delivers services but is anchored in community ownership, local data, and human dignity.”

    Strategic Coverage Across Ekiti

    Operating across all 16 Local Government Areas, EMBRACE targets a population of over 3.2 million, with particular attention given to remote and high-risk rural communities. Through mobile outreach clinics, birth attendant training, infrastructure upgrades, and public education, the programme has directly impacted over 250,000 women of reproductive age in its inaugural year.

    Dr Omotoso noted, “Maternal health is the pulse of a functional society. If we fail there, we fail everywhere. EMBRACE is proof that change is possible when medical leadership partners with social science.”

    The Stories of Impact

    The results have been both measurable and emotional. Mrs Ronke Ajayi, a mother of two from Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA, recalled: “Before now, I had to deliver my babies at home because the clinic was too far and under-equipped. But under EMBRACE, they brought a mobile clinic to our village. I delivered safely for the first time.”

    A similar sentiment is reechoed by Mrs Aina Olabisi: “For the first time in my life, I was visited by a doctor and nurse in my own village,” This 34-year-old mother of three in Ikole LGA said “They helped me understand the importance of attending the health centre for delivery. Before EMBRACE, we relied only on traditional birth attendants. Now, I feel safe.”

    In Aramoko-Ekiti, Mr Isaac Olaniyan, a middle aged father of two, praised the programme’s inclusivity. “They didn’t just care for pregnant women, they educated men too. Now I understand how to support my wife during pregnancy and childbirth.”

    What the Experts are Saying

    Speaking on the long-term impact, Dr Mahmoud Fathalla, a maternal health policy advisor at the World Health Organization (WHO) and father of the Safe Motherhood movement, remarked: “EMBRACE has set a powerful precedent for community-based maternal health. The combination of sociological insight with clinical expertise is what makes it uniquely scalable and sustainable.” In excitement, he further said: “What Ekiti State has achieved with EMBRACE is a remarkable blend of clinical care and sociocultural strategy. This initiative could, indeed, become a continental model.”

    “EMBRACE has become an important part of how we approach maternal health in Ekiti,” said Adebayo Ogundipe,a Director of Public Health in the state. “It builds directly on what we’ve learned from communities and uses that to shape services that actually work on the ground. That’s why we’re seeing real results.”

    The Nigerian Ministry of Health has described the programme as a “model of excellence in sub-national public health governance.” Dr Fatai Suleiman, Director of Reproductive Health at the Federal Ministry, praised its community-integrated design, stating, “This programme is replicable and we are exploring avenues to recommend its adoption in other states.”

    Adoption by Other States

    Many states like Adamawa, Osun, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Sokoto, Borno, Benue, Nasarawa and Niger, have already adopted and adapted the programme. While some others are committed to adapting the EMBRACE framework. Hajiya Ahmed, Commissioner for Health in Kaduna State, confirmed: “We are adopting the EMBRACE model for Kaduna. The data-driven framework and focus on rural equity align with our goals. This could be a game-changer in the North. It’s the most coherent model for addressing rural maternal health we’ve seen in years. I would also strongly recommend it for other northern states.”

    In Borno State, Ibrahim Modibbo, a senior reproductive health adviser, expressed similar interest while addressing the press. “EMBRACE offers what we’ve been missing. It’s a participatory, evidence-based system.  We’re impressed by the results from Ekiti. I am proposing to our state cabinet that we adopt the EMBRACE model. This is the future of maternal care in underserved regions.”

    A Programme with a Future

    Dr Omotoso and Ojo, backed by a task force of healthcare workers, sociologists, and local leaders, developed EMBRACE following Ojo’s white paper delivered earlier in the year before government officials who adopted the initiative for the entire state. According to Ojo, “Our approach blends scientific research with local context. We don’t just want to focus on providing care; our goal is to empower communities to demand and sustain it.”

    Dr Omotoso added, “We are training midwives, upgrading facilities, and using mobile health teams to reach isolated populations. Our goal is a maternal mortality rate below 50 per 100,000—well ahead of national targets.”

    Supported by development partners including UNFPA, UNICEF, and USAID, EMBRACE is also slated for inclusion in global maternal health case study repositories.

    Ojo explained the vision moving forward: “This is more than a campaign. We are building a system. Our goal is for EMBRACE to outlive us and to become fully institutionalised and community-driven. We are happy with the outcome so far and we hope to achieve much more.”

    Dr Omotoso concurred: “Health equity is no longer a dream. With EMBRACE, we are making it a lived reality.” We believe that with structured monitoring, strong government backing, and community trust, Ekiti’s EMBRACE programme would continue to be a blueprint for lasting impact in maternal healthcare. It evidences the capacity of Nigerian states to deliver world-class public health solutions rooted in local leadership and global standards. We just have to start somewhere”.

    Ekiti State’s EMBRACE Initiative stands today not merely as a government programme, but as a beacon of innovation, a proof that Nigerian states can drive lasting public health transformation by blending science, compassion, and local knowledge.

  • Embrace interior design IDAN urges youths

    The newly elected president of the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN), Omon Anenih-Mordi, during their handover ceremony, said educating the general public to embrace interior design as a profession will be their main focus in office.

    “The general public don’t  know who an interior designer is, what we do and what we are about. They need to be informed, we also need to inform our government and the policy makers, to  develop policies for our association,” she said.

    Anenih-Mordi, in an interview with the press in Lagos, after the transfer of leadership, said often times she is shocked at the statement people make about the profession as they see them (Interior Designers) as jokers rather than professionals, which she said is painful.

    “Our main area of focus as an association has been on education to promoting interior design as a recognised profession and valued one. We are going back to the objectives of the association which is in the interest of the industry and the society.

    She said they intend to achieve this by organising workshops, symposium, as well as online courses. “It is important to understand that the industry is very young and there is a lot of misconception about it.”

    Anenih- Mordi expressed her appreciation to the founder and former president of IDAN, Titi Ogufere, as a great visioneer while she reaffirmed her commitment to building a great and inclusive community of interior designers.

    The newly elected executive members are: Anenih Mordi, Tola Akerele – Vice President, Gbemisola Aluko – Secretary General, Nora Azubuike – Treasurer, Freda Anegbe – Assistant Secretary General, Ronnie D’souza – Financial Secretary and Bukola Adeyemi – Public Relations Officer

    Present at the event were the chairman Board of Trustees, Ekua Abudu, the outgoing VP, Ifeyinwa Ighodalo and Kaine Dosekun. The outgoing Secretary General, Tola Akerele, and P.R.O Theresa Akpieyi, and other members of the association to witness the handover ceremony following the success of their electoral process chaired by Debola Omooba last year.

    While giving the opening speech at the ceremony, Ighodalo expressed great confidence in the new generation of “young designers as the future of the business of interior design.”

    The ceremony was the first of its kind since the association was established in 2007. A sole global voice and authority for interior professionals in Nigeria, their mission has been to expand the contribution of interior design profession to the Nigerian society through the exchange and development of knowledge and experience in education, research and practice through fellowship and community. This mission has been supported by preceding executives and devotedly upheld by the immediate outgoing executives headed by Ogufere in the past three years of her period in office as president.

    It is also noteworthy to mention that in 2017 they hosted the first ever African Cultural Design Festival (ACDF) and has also partnered with Middlesex University UK for three years to create an interior design curriculum for University of Lagos and the Lagos State Government on safety campaigns and general awareness schemes on how interior design affects the general life of a community.

    Recently, one of the pioneering members of the association, Ogufere, has been elected as the president of International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI), in 2019.

    Ogufere, who is both the founder and outgoing president of IDAN, expressed great confidence and trust in the new executives. She reinforced her visions by stating that the organisation is ready to fly under the new administration of Anenih-Mordi as president and had no doubt that she and her team of new executives will lead the association to achieve even greater things with the support of the members.

  • Embrace sustainable use of the environment,’ Students urged

    To enhance awareness of the importance of wetland resources and encourage sustainable approach to the environment, the Lagos State Government has started this year’s  “Conservation ecotourism.”

    This initiative is one through which the  government takes students in state on a week-long tour of wetlands and other conservation sites.

    Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. BabatundeDurosinmi-Etti, made this known at a briefing  in his Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, office.

    He said the Youth Outreach Ecotourism Programme on Wetland and Biodiversity Conservation for students in secondary schools was holding because of the government’s belief in the ability of students as change agents.

    Durosinmi-Etti said the programme was aimed at expanding the knowledge and changing the mindset of the public about conventional tourism, especially in relation to the environment.

    The commissioner said the theme of this year’s event is: ‘Balancing biodiversity conservation with community livelihood in Lagos State’, adding that it was to educate the public about human values towards a sustainable environment  and boost harmony.

    According to him, the programme would provide science-based, hands-on activities for students to gain proper understanding of wetlands and bio-diversity as well as explore strategies for sustaining these unique ecosystems.

    Decrying the alarming rate of wetlands and biodiversity loss in the state, the Commissioner called for an halt of the indiscriminate destruction of natural habitats, induced by unregulated human activities.

    He said having realised the capacity of youths to communicate and bring about change, the  government was educating the young , who were leaders of tomorrow, to embrace the correct and sustainable use of God-given environmental resources and spread the message to others.

    Durosinmi-Etti pointed out that the 10 participating students, who were selected through a rigorous process, would have the opportunity to visit some pristine and fragile ecosystems, zoological gardens and conservation centres across the five divisions of the state to get acquainted with the abundant wetlands resources and biodiversity of the state.

  • Benue, Nasarawa herdsmen embrace anti-open grazing law, says Umahi

    Benue, Nasarawa herdsmen embrace anti-open grazing law, says Umahi

    Leader of the sub technical committee of the National Economic Council mediating between farmers and herdsmen, Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi, said yesterday Fulani herdsmen  in Benue and Nasarawa states have agreed  to  adhere to the anti- open grazing law but pleaded for more time.

    Umahi, who gave reporters the outcome of the panel’s visit to Benue and Nasarawa states, said the herdsmen pleaded to be given enough time to  commence ranching and or move to states with grazing reserves.

    “The cheering news is that the herdsmen in Benue and Nasarawa states are ready to abide by the law but that they would need more time for ranching and support from the Federal Government,” he said.

    He said: “We as a committee noted that there are over two million hectares of land across 19 northern Nigeria and over one million of them have been already gazetted as grazing reserve and this one million is already developed.

    “There is a place in Gombe State that about 375 hectares are developed as grazing reserve. We have 74,000 hactare in Kaduna and there is another location that has over 150,000 hectares of land that have already been developed.”

    Umahi said there was need for the Federal Government to help in the development of grazing reserves and  to start  seeing  animal husbandry as economic venture by giving soft loans to owners.

    He said: “The Federal Government should begin development of grazing reserves. The CBN anchor borrower scheme that has succeeded  in agricultural sector should  be extended to animal husbandry, the animal husbandry should be  seen as economic venture for government  to invest in by giving soft loan”.

    He noted that the Federal Government through NEMA  needed  to come to the aid of both states , saying, ‘because there is no amount of the states’ resources that can assist the people in the camps.’

    While stating that there were over 110,000  displaced persons in the seven designated camps in Benue State, the governor  said: “Children between the ages of four and eight constitute 70%  of the population and the conditions we saw them is not palatable.”

    “We owe it a duty to give better lives to these people.”

    Umahi said the committee observed that  governors of Nasarawa and Benue states were committed to peace as identified by the security agencies.

    “It was observed that both governors shared information, opinions and there is no crisis between them”, Governor Umahi said.

    He added that all parties (both herdsmen and farmers) talked   about invasion by undocumented herdsmen that come from other countries and demanded that they should follow international ECOWAS  rules and that all their cattle  must be quarantined.

    Umahi said that the Fulani denied the claim of conquest of Benue valley shifting the blame on the social media The committee members arrived in Makurdi, Benue State capital on Saturday on fact-finding mission to look for ways to proffer lasting solution to the incessant crises between farmers and herdsmen across the country.

    Umahi said the sub technical committee met with all the stakeholders both in Benue and Masarawa states.

    According to him, ‘the committee met with leaders  and farmers  in Benue State as well as  Benue herdsmen already relocated to Nasarawa and the herdsmen resident in Nasarawa so also the Tiv indigenes of Nasarwa state.’

    “We have agreed by all parties to these unfortunate incidents that we will pursue peace and that all those with illegal weapons must be arrested

    He also applauded the security operatives in both states but called on more deployment of troops to assist in early decongestion of the camps

  • Udiroko Festival: Monarch urges subjects to embrace agric

    •‘Fayose honoured for landmark achievements’

    The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III, has advised residents to return to agriculture to fight hunger and unemployment.

    The monarch urged youths to embrace farming to contribute to the economy.

    He described farming as “the natural occupation of Ado-Ekiti people”.

    Oba Adejugbe spoke at his palace at the weekend during the grand finale of this year’s Udiroko Festival.

    Dignitaries at the event include Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose; his Gombe State counterpart, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo; former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu; former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam; Rivers State Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry-Banigo; House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Rural Development, Ladi Adebutu and Founder, Afe Babalola University at Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola.

    Fayose, Dankwambo and Adebutu were honoured with chieftaincy titles of Apesin Apogunpote, Akinmuagun and Ajirosola of Ado-Ekiti.

    Oba Adejugbe said walnut and kolanut, which were used to celebrate the Udiroko in the past, were products of the rich agricultural heritage of Ado people.

    The monarch noted that the kingdom contributed to the cocoa wealth of the defunct Western Region in the 1960s and 1970s.

    He said: “We had farm settlements in the past. I am appealing to our people, especially youths, to go back to the farm because there are no more white-collar jobs. It will be in their interest to embrace agriculture.”

    Oba Adejugbe said Fayose was honoured because of the landmark projects his administration was executing in the town.

    The monarch said the projects had changed the face of the state capital.

    He listed the projects as a flyover, Oba’s Market, Governor’s Office, High Court complex and township roads.

    Oba Adejugbe noted that Ado-Ekiti community was grateful to Fayose for his “unprecedented projects in the palace”, which include the open arena, new ultra-modern hall and palace extension.

    The monarch said Udiroko Festival was significant because “it marks the beginning of a new year for us …and on the occasion we appreciate God and pray for a prosperous year”.

    He hailed security agencies, especially the police, and the government, for the peace the people were enjoying.

    Babalola, who chaired the occasion, said it was a “glorious day” for Ado-Ekiti people”.

    The eminent lawyer described Udiroko 2017 as “the most successful in recent history”.

    He noted that Fayose and Aliyu, who holds the title of Akinjagunla of Ado-Ekiti, contributed to the development of the town.

    Babalola said Fayose deserved the chieftaincy title, describing him as “young, humble, dynamic, sincere and prudent governor of Ekiti State”.

  • Embrace truth, says Mrs Ambode to youths

    Embrace truth, says Mrs Ambode to youths

    Wife of Lagos State Governor Mrs Bolanle Ambode, has urged Nigerians to embrace truth in all their dealings.

    The charged was made during the 2016 Musical Youth Fiesta Initiative (MYFI) at the Expo Centre, Eko Hotel Lagos.

    With “The Truth” as theme for this year’s edition, Mrs Ambode enjoined youths to imbibe the virtue, saying its embrace would lead to economic and religious empowerment. “Many of the problems plaguing our nations could be attributable to the absence of “truth” which makes the theme for this event very appropriate and timely. Truth, on absolute term, breaks the shackles of disease, ignorance, superstition and poverty. Absolute honesty would guarantee your success and make you stand before kings and not mean men,” she said.

    The yearly music concerts, which was organised by Senator Oluremi Tinubu for children and young adults from across the state, featured music, songs and drama ministrations from different churches in the state. Among other dignitaries was the wife of Osun State governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola.

    Speaking on this year’s theme, Senator Tinubu said: “The theme “The Truth” is a peculiar one, especially at a time when our youths are confronted with so many challenges due to advancement in technology. The battle is no longer the fight between ‘good and evil’ but ‘the truth and the lie’.”

    She also enjoined the young to imbibe virtues that impact positively on their development and that of society.

    MYFI Organising Committee Chairman, Jide Sanwo-Olu, the vision of the concert is to bring children and young adult together around the festive season, and give them the opportunity to enjoy quality Christian music and songs; be inspired, thankful to God and dream of a brighter future.

    “I believe that life and success of nations and their bright future lies in the hands of the generation of today. If the youth of today have strong values, the best education, good health, right priorities and full sincerity, then we can say that the future is bright,” he said.

    The event also saw to the graduation of teenagers from the Musical Youth Fiesta Initiative Leadership Academy. The academy targets girls between the age 13 to 18, when you can mould them. Senator Tinubu, along with other mentors, teaches and schools the girls on various areas – the word of God, ethos, ethics and etiquette.

  • There is a future to embrace

    There is a future to embrace

    Some narratives of the past are soothing and reassuring. We used to take pride in our communitarian ethos which abhors crass materialism and greedy individualism. Nationally, we’ve been through some good times which we unfortunately failed take advantage of. But we cannot now afford to cry over the milk that was spilled.

    On the other hand, however, there was plenty in our past that we are better off forgetting because, even in our neck of the wood, they are painful reminders of our individual and collective human depravity. Within and across nationalities and ethnicities, we were accessories to repugnant crimes against humanity, including slavery and genocide.

    Both of the foregoing observations go to show that the past is better left where it belongs. Of course, this is without prejudice to the wisdom of learning from the past to avoid repeating its mistake. What it means is that we can learn a lot from a time slice without obsessing with its positives or agonising over its negatives.

    The present is beckoning us for an embrace of the opportunities it offers for a makeover. Where the past divided, the present urges unity. As opposed to the moral and material impoverishment of the past, the present offers opportunities for genuine all-round enrichment of values.

    But the past demons have placed themselves strategically on the path of the present possibilities, blocking our views, and presenting us instead with illusive optics. With these demons, the present is simply an extension of the past, with its counter-productive understandings of our various conditions.

    These past demons mis-educate us about the reality of our condition. They pit us against the better angels of our nature. They present us with false hopes about the way out of the morass of our national existence. They recommend approaches that are inimical to our interests. Unknowingly, we succumb to their entreaties. Unfortunately, as a result, it has become clear that our present is no different from the past, the grievous mistake of which we are reliving and repeating. It is no surprise because we have allowed the demons of the past to attack our present.

    Nations have histories which have better be left as such. Ours is no different. Now is the time to embrace a future that is without the baggage of the past. How is this to be done?

    The present administration came to power with a great deal of optimism and a lot of goodwill. For even the most loyal supporters of the previous administration knew that something was terribly wrong that needed to be fixed. They might have thought that the necessary fixing could be done by that same administration. Now we know that a lot was wrong and that if the last administration was not the sole source of the wrong, it was an integral part of the rot that it created. It wouldn’t have been able to fix anything by itself.

    Corruption is no doubt at the centre of the nation’s challenge. And it is one area that the present administration has focused, rightly, like a laser beam. It also happens to be one of its campaign promises. It therefore needs all the support and encouragement it can get to do it right and lay a solid foundation for a future to embrace.

    But important as the fight against corruption is, corruption itself is a symptom of a more dangerous disease that needs to be cured. While a sizeable number of Nigerians applaud the administration’s anti-corruption fight, many yet have faulted it for one reason or the other. One of the reasons is the perceived one-sidedness of the fight, which they argue have been against the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    While this is an understandable partisan grudge, it is not a valid point to argue, especially because the PDP administration has occupied all the branches of the central administration since 1999, while states just depend on the crumbs from the federal table. Secondly, at the same time that we shout on the roof top for true federalism, we must not give the impression that we need the federal might to probe state governments unless the largess from the federal purse are traceable to them as is the case with the allegation levelled against the Ekiti State governor.

    The partisan division in the matter of the appraisal of the anti-corruption fight is just one aspect of the challenge in that struggle, but it is far from being the only one. The other is more fundamental to our predicament and one of the demons of the past that has not faded away in the present.

    A few weeks ago, there was a news item regarding the position of the Southsouth and Southeast on the militancy in the Niger Delta. According to that news, the political leaders had approached the administration to drop all the anti-corruption investigations against members of the past federal administration, especially those from that zone in exchange for the cessation of hostilities in the Niger Delta.

    The particular information may be false for all we know. But if it is true, it is a demonstration of a past demon that is not unique to the Southsouth. It permeates our reasoning across the zones and states of the nation. In general, we route for those we perceive to be our kith and kin even when they misbehave. And we refuse to see the logs in our ethnic or zonal eyes even when we focus on the speck in the vision of others. It is a confirmation of our core challenge: uniting for a good common cause even if it requires our shunning old parochial alliances.

    To meet this challenge, there has to be a recognition that we are a nation of individuals with a common purpose that cuts across our ethnic or linguistic divides. Basic to our common purpose is a prosperous and secure future that our great grandchildren can look forward to. How do we secure that future for them in an atmosphere of mistrust that has characterised our past and threatens the present? True, the root of that mistrust feeds deep into the crust of a forced marriage. But it is a difficult proposition to prove that each of the partners to that marriage has not benefited in some way. Not a case of the end justifying the means; but rather, a realistic invitation to come to terms with a reality that is inescapable.

    That reality beckons us to seek a promising way out of the unprofitable constant recourse to our various corners where we make no effort to rise above the primordial instincts which write the other off as irredeemably evil. In a world that is clearly shrinking by the hour, we are dealing ourselves very dangerous cards.

    In all these, however, leadership matters. Whether in politics, religion, education, business, or culture, leaders have a huge responsibility to rise above pettiness. A populist ideology that only seeks to manipulate the ignorant innocence of the masses is potentially more harmful than the threat posed by a gun-trotting maniac. The former, being in a position of trust, is more likely to negatively impact the lives of many more people.

    More pungently, our present environment of serious inter- and intra-group mistrust requires leadership intervention to allay fears and rekindle the hope of future leaders and followers in project Nigeria. This demands more than words of exhortation. It requires action that revamps hope for fairness across the board.

    Importantly, it calls for paying attention to and grappling with the structural defects that have presented debilitating obstacles to national development and individual and group prosperity. Too many lives are being wasted.

    Majority of Nigerians would answer the call to duty on behalf of their country if only they know that their labour of love will not be in vain as it appears to be the case with those who had paid the supreme sacrifice without much changes in the affairs of a nation for which they gave their lives. There is a future to embrace if only leaders will just pick up the mantle and lead in its direction.

  • Sultan urges Nigerians to embrace farming

    Sultan urges Nigerians to embrace farming

    •Emir of Zazzau: preaches tolerance    

    •Uyo Chief Imam hails Fed Govt’s policies

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III,yesterday advised Nigerians to embrace farming to produce adequate food for local consumption and for export.

    Abubakar gave the advice in Sokoto while delivering his Eid el-Fitr message to the Muslim Ummah to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan fasting.

    He said: “Nigerians are really facing difficult times, occasioned by the global financial crunch, due to the falling prices of oil.

    “But happily, God, in His infinite mercy has endowed Nigeria with vast fertile land, with each region having its own peculiar comparative advantage.

    “We should, therefore, collectively go back to the farms, and engage in both rain-fed and dry season farming.

    “With this, we can produce adequate food to be locally self-sufficient and even export the surplus.’’

    Abubakar, who said Nigeria had no business importing food, appealed to Nigerians to be patient and to continue to pray fervently for the country’s unity and progress.

    The Sultan also appealed to Muslims to sustain the virtues of Ramadan, namely: patience, piety, and assisting the needy.

    He condemned the recent blast in the Holy Mosque of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in Medinah.

    “Islam is a religion of peace and it preaches peace and unity. Violence breeds only violence and underdevelopment.

    “It is only the bad eggs among the Muslims who are perpetrating such heinous acts, and the Muslims are not fundamentalists.”

    The Sultan praised Governor Aminu Tambuwal, for spending more than N250 million on the Ramadan Feeding Programme.

    He also lauded him for his efforts at revamping the  education sector.

    Abubakar called on parents to enrol their children in school to enable them to acquire both Western and religious education.

    “Education is the only key to success and no nation can fully develop without according it the priority attention it deserves,’’ he said.

    In Zaria, Kaduna State, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, described religious tolerance as a critical element necessary for national integration.

    Idris, who is also the Chairman, Kaduna State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, expressed the thought after the Eid el-Fitr prayers held at his palace in Zaria.

    He said: “No nation has ever witnessed development in an atmosphere of rancour, acrimony, disunity, and war.

    “We, therefore, call on our subjects in particular, and Nigerians in general, to shun all forms of rumour peddling as it will certainly breach the prevailing peace.’’

    Idris appealed to Nigerians to pray fervently for Nigeria’s leaders to enable them to lead the people with the fear of God

    In Uyo, the Chief Imam of the Uyo Central Mosque, Alhaji Mohammed Adamu, urged the Federal Government to come up with policies and programmes that would help revive the nation’s economy to reduce the suffering of the people.

    Adamu gave the advice while speaking with reporters after the Eid el-Fitr prayers to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan fasting.

    He applauded the Federal Government’s policies and programmes and expressed the hope that they would improve the living condition of citizens.

    “We all know we are experiencing hardship; so we have prayed to Almighty Allah to bring succour to all of us.

    “Government should expedite action in revamping the nation’s economy.

    “Citizens are going through very difficult times that must be addressed promptly,” Adamu said.

    He called for peaceful coexistence among the different ethnic, political, and religious groups in the country, saying that development would continue to elude Nigeria if its citizens did not live in harmony with one another.

    In Gombe State, Alhaji Alkali Pindiga, the Chief Imam of the Gombe Central Mosque, called on the Muslim faithful to continue to pray for the peace and stability of the state and the country at large. Pindiga, who was speaking in his Sallah sermon in Gombe, said there could not be any meaningful development in the country without peace and stability.

    “We need to continue to pray for peace to reign in Gombe and the country at large,“ he said.

    Meanwhile, in Enugu, Lt. Col. Abubakar Tahir, the Imam of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, has called on Muslims to use their wealth to improve the lives of the under-privileged.

    He gave the advice after the Eid prayers held at the division’s praying ground to mark the end of the Ramadan fasting.

    Tahir also called on Muslims to always give alms to the needy and to always remind them of the need to be honest in all they did in life.

    “God created the rich and the poor for the purpose of those that are rich to use their wealth to help the poor ones.

    “Be contented with what you have and be a source of happiness to others.

    “Be mindful of God and do not follow your heart’s desires,’’ he advised.

    The Imam  advised Nigerians to be security conscious always and not to relent in being their brother’s keeper.

  • ‘Why Southeast should embrace APC’

    ‘Why Southeast should embrace APC’

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Senator Chris Adighije has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with FRANK IKPEFAN, he speaks on his defection, Abia State politics and APC’s prospectin the Southeast.

    What is the political situation in Abia State?

    As you know, I was a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and I was the National Treasurer of the National Republican Convention (NRC). When I was the national treasurer, Theodore Orji was nowhere near politics. So, you can call me an elder statesman of Abia politics and never before in my political history have I seen party politics personalised by the last governor of Abia State. The PDP in Abia State became a private affair and every effort to bring them back on track failed. that and so many other things discouraged me. More worrisome is the manner with which contestants hijacked the primaries that held.

    The process that threw out Ikpeazu could not stand and I had to bow out of the PDP. I tried to see which other way one can maintain his political image. There was a total siege on politicians in Abia where people could not express their views freely. people like me lost their position as national delegate. at that stage, I became the only national officer of the party denied the national delegate of my local government (Umuahia South), which I built.

    These people used their positions to try to run down politicians. Having bowed out and gone into the APC, being that its members are those who are determined to show something for it. In Abia, for instance, the APC did not win a seat, either at the House of Assembly; the gubernatorial and even at t national, the APC in Abia and indeed the South East requires an injection of resourceful politicians to be able to make the party stand and compete in subsequent election. That was why I left the PDP for the APC. I don’t believe in politics of bitterness, so I am not interested in running down people but I wish Abians will learn. There is a revolution going on now in Abia, you could see that out of the six constituencies who for seats, PDP and APGA in quote, PDP won only two constituencies while the APGA took four, this is to tell you that the PDP has lost it.

    Are you not worried that the APC is not popular in the Southeast?

    The right word may not be ‘not accepted’ because if you look very carefully, you will see quite a lot of seasoned politicians from the regions are beginning to join the APC, initially, the parties that metamorphosed into APC were not strong in the East, even APGA, which was the only party then where Rochas belonged opted out of that union, but all that is changing now.

    It is better for us in the East to play national politics and be able to compete with other regions. Naturally, the Southeast cannot be excluded in national politics; if you don’t have the South East in national politics, then, it is not stable. I always believe that we have to do our best to convince our people that, that is where to go, the PDP having disappointed the South east in all its entirety: promises that have been made; bridges that were to be built; roads that were to be constructed, the PDP failed to fulfill those promises. I think we need to find our progress and development in a national party like the APC.

    Do you think that the South east is being treated fairly enough by the APC Federal Government?

    If you ask me, I will tell you that something is missing. we have not gotten to where we ought to get to. The Southeast appeared to be totally endeared at that time to the PDP, but like I said, having been disappointed, promises that were not fulfilled, you could see the change. people like Jim Nwobodo, people like Gbazuagu Gbazuagu, people like Senator Emmanuel Agboti, Senator Ararume, and so on  have all joined  the APC  to take what belong to us.

    With the new people coming into the APC, we should be able to take more states in the incoming elections. With regards to the appointment, I must tell you that I admit it should have been better than what we have; the problem is that we have been away from the APC and now, we are by the fire side and we have to watch our yam and make sure it is well cooked.

    I believe that the APC government will have to review appointments in the Southeast to make it at par with other regions. We are looking at 2019. We have just one state now, but I just told you that, in Abia, in the last election, you could see that the PDP has lost grip, even though there is a sitting PDP government. If you go to Anambra State, you can also see the confusion in the PDP. If you observe very well, you could see that the Igbo leadership is beginning to come together to review the entire national politics.

    Do you see the APC winning more states in the Southeast in 2019?

    I have just told you that. The work to win more states in the South East from the PDP has started already.

    You talked about a siege of top politicians in Abia State. could you please explain better?

    A people can have their mentality under siege when you see something white and another person will tell you that what he saw was black. The past PDP government in Abia State, led by Theodore Orji, for whatever reason made elder statesmen in Abia look like novices in politics. It became very difficult for elder statesmen to express themselves fully, when it became very clear that stakeholders did not make any input in the choice of candidates. Majority of Abians were not carried along in the PDP. There was mass movement of people from the PDP to other parties. that is what happens when people are pushed to the wall.

    You said the APC in the Southeast needs injection of men and resources. are you expecting the party at the national level to do anything special in the region?

    Clearly, I want to say that the APC officials at the national level have all done their best, given the way people view the APC at that time. They have tried to build, but as you know, they have their limitation; the state chairman of the APC in Abia, for instance, is an experienced young man but, he has  his limitations. I believe that if we rally round him now that we have other stakeholders coming in, we should be able to galvanize the party, and we should be able to change people’s opinion as to the fact that the APC is a national ruling party irrespective of religion, tribe or ethnicity.

    These stakeholders are coming into the party with their massive followers. The party at the national level ought to also see this and begin to review the party in the Southeast to ensure they empower people to develop the party. The appointment should be spread to encourage growth of the people. The APC seriously needs the Southeast in 2019. Almost all the oil-producing states are PDP, whether we like it or not, the party cannot be run without fund. we need stakeholders that are strong enough to carry the party and the people along in the South East.

    It is obvious that Nigerians are suffering and wallowing in poverty. how can we explain that?

    When people of my age look at what is happening, perhaps, the rot in the fabric was really deep. it is like somebody who is living above his means and you are not conscious of the fact the root have been removed. The country got to a point where people were just living false life but the reality is there now. We need to go down before we can rise and that is what is happening now. I believe that the government of Buhari is trying to unravel how badly we have fallen, this is no longer fake life, and it is real life especially with the fall in oil price. If we want this change that we voted for, there has to be a new style of living, everybody is feeling the pinch now and we are gradually adapting to the situation. I don’t see Nigeria surviving without going through this pain we are going through now.

    People should be patient with the present administration. Before you send your children abroad for school, you must check your purse to ensure you can afford it. Money is no longer cheap and life is rough. we have to start remodeling our lifestyle, Nigeria must survive, though it comes with a lot of sacrifice. it is very painful, but, sacrifice is the word, if we support the government,

    I believe in another two years, we will begin to appreciate the effort of the present government and things will begin to go in line. For the first time, a president is apologising to Nigerians over the epileptic power supply to Nigerians. I never heard that before. It is a sign of good things to come. Are we going through serious pains? Yes! Are Nigerians starving? Yes!! Is there hope? Yes!!! And once there is hope, I believe we will get there.

  • Ohuabunwa urges managers to embrace ethics

    Former Chairman/CEO, Pfizer West Africa Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa has urged managers to imbibe ethical values in their workplaces.

    Speaking at Nosak Group’s retreat for its workers in Lagos, Ohuabunwa, who was guest speaker, said: “Value is essential for business growth because it ensures that the consumer is well protected in terms of genuineness of the product he is buying. Therefore, total quality management principle must be adhered to at all times in the production lines.’’

    The theme of the retreat, which was attended by over 30 managers and departmental heads, was  “Turn and accelerate: from stability to leadership”. It was facilitated by Vital Solutions Consult Incorporated.

    Nosak Group’s Chairman, Dr. Toni Ogunbor said training is the bedrock of corporate success.

    Ogunbor, who led a session on ‘The state of the company and trends in the Nigerian economy,’ said it is a global and well known ýpractice for businesses to go on retreats where various issues affecting their businesses are analysed and remedied for future growth.

    He announced the newest baby in the Group, Nosak Farm Produce Limited, which he said, is a premier manufacturing company that provides over 300 direct and indirect jobs, and ranks as one of the top vegetable oil refiners in the country.

    Ogunbor said: “With a capacity of 200 tonnes per day and a farm size of approximately 800 hectares, the company is set to acquire an additional 20, 000 hectares in Edo State for backward integration and further increase its refining capacity in 2016″.

    He said this measure was aimed at creating more jobs and export opportunities for the country, in tamdem with the Federal Government’s policy.

    Ogunbor praised the organisers and participants of the retreat, affirming that the event was outstanding and the results would help to enhance staff performance and position the company for growth and leadership in the business environment in Nigeria and West Africa.