The Nation Newspaper

Tag: equal

  • Equal opportunity

    •Anti-Buhari protests should be allowed just as Pro-Buhari supporters

    Fundamental to the concept of democracy is dissent, and dissent naturally occurs in every human society, even when regimented.

    Democracies are a tribute to such human diversities, and hence it is the best and most peaceful ideology known to humans in spite of its shortcomings.

    We saw this strength when some Nigerians marched on the streets of London and Abuja to call for the President, Muhammadu Buhari, to either return to his office or resign if his health trammelled his ability to perform the most onerous job in the land.

    But that strength attracted a backlash out of sync with any republican principles. During the protest, one of the leaders, entertainer Charles Oputa, slumped from inhaling tear gas unleashed by the police. The Nigeria Police also harassed other protesters, including a journalist.

    What the police did recalls days of tyranny and military intolerance, memories that the nation would only remember in agony. The protest that took place in London, of course did not draw any primitive response from the British authorities because it abides by liberal ethos.

    But the one held at the Millenium Park opposite the Unity Fountain, Abuja, regressed from being a showcase of the high virtue of a free society to a descent to impulse of barbarians.

    This is not about whether or not they are right to ask for Buhari to return or resign. As a matter of fact, no one can say for sure whether the president is well enough to continue as president or not. President Buhari has said his doctors have not given him the green light to proceed home. We have to respect that even though we have little or no information about the state of his health. Mere photo ops with government partisans will do little to obviate doubts from the minds of people not inclined to accept his excuses.

    That does not make the protesters right in their view. Part of the glories of democracies is that everyone is entitled to their own foolishness or virtue. No one should stop any articulation of a view or demonstration of a perspective. To do that is iniquitous to the system.

    Since the president left our shores May 7, some have gloated while others have demonstrated empathy. These tendencies are inevitably human. Those who gloat should gloat in peace. Those who empathise should empathise in peace. There is room for both in our democracies as long as they don’t disturb the peace.

    Charly Boy’s slump did not impress some Nigerians who apparently sympathise with President Buhari. Hence they mobbed him when he carried his protest to the Market place in Wuse, Abuja. His car was vandalised and he abandoned his damaged car and fled for safety. Violence begets violence. The police did not leave peace in their trail at Millenium Park. They birthed a contagion of anti-democratic rage.

    Pro-Buhari protests also swarmed the streets in Abuja in reaction to the ReturnOrResign protest. They carried out their activities in peace and fanfare, and the police kept their ill tempers and ammunition in leash. That is the sort of example we expect from them.

    The senate as well as the president’s spokespersons spoke against the idea of the protests. That is acceptable. Femi Adesina, the president’s special adviser, was quoted as saying: “The president would always do what is legal and constitutional. What they (protesters) are asking for is not known to our laws.” On behalf of the top law chamber of the nation, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi lashed out: “The president has broken no law and therefore we do not see any justification for this diversion and noisemaking.”

    If the president has broken no law, so also did the protesters. They have a right to disagree in peace.

  • ‘I consider my staff as equal partners’

    ‘I consider my staff as equal partners’

    Mrs. Temie Giwa Tunbosun is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Lifebank Group, which provides blood for hospitals especially in cases of emergencies. In this interview with Bukola Aroloye, she speaks on her vision for the company and her management style. Excerpts:

    Can you tell us about yourself?

    I’m 31 years old and a mother. I’m a Nigerian but was raised in the United States. I was born in Osun State where I grew up. I lived in Ilesa and Port Harcourt. My dad taught in the university and when I was about 14 years old, I left Nigeria for the US. Five years ago, I decided to come back home after working at the World Health Organisation (WHO) and all over the world. I felt I should come back home and have been here ever since with my son and husband.

    The idea of a lifebank is really alien to us. What is the difference between your type of bank and the commercial banking system?

    The commercial banks saves your money. When you go there, they keep your money for a while. Our type of bank keeps your life safe. We feel that life is valuable and every life is bankable in Africa and is worth saving. We make sure not a single person dies for what could have been prevented. The reason I started this company is very simple. Every year, about 26,000 Nigerian women die from hemorrhage meaning they have a baby after which they start bleeding. When hospitals cannot stop the bleeding, they eventually die. That is one of the highest causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria. Children who die from malaria don’t really die from the sickness, it’s the anemia from malaria that kills them. One of the sure ways to stop anemia from malaria is to transfuse and make sure the person can continue living and kill the virus.

    Death from major surgery, kidney disease, people with sickle cell anemia are caused by lack of blood bank in Nigeria. So many people die because they couldn’t get access to oxygen. When children have anemia and needs oxygen but the hospitals doesn’t have, they die. So Lifebank is a medical provider that provides essential medical products required to save lives. Those essential medical products are blood, platelets, plasma, oxygen, vaccines. Those things need to be brought to the hospital faster. For us at Lifebank, that’s what we deliver. It is faster, cheaper and safer.

    What has been the response from Nigerians to Lifebank?

    If I hadn’t left Nigeria, I wouldn’t have started this because I would have believed that Nigerians would not support it. Nigerians are the most loving and ready to give out free. I have been surprised that people have responded to this business positively.

    What has been government response?

    It has been mixed. Some state governments are buying into it and want me to bring the business to their states. We have states like Osun and Oyo but there are some state governments who are not so keen. However we believe as we grow, more state governments would turn to us.

    Where do you see Lifebank in the next five years?

    Lifebank would be an amazing company. We are going to save many lives. We wish to be in every big city in Africa. We are going to be in Accra, Cairo, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Kigali and other cities.

    How do you source for these bloods?

    We have tech and servicing companies. We have suppliers who are basically bloodbanks whose jobs are to find people donating blood, test it and keep it safe pending the time someone will need it. We have 30 suppliers and we know where most of the bloods in Lagos are. We have logistics system where when hospitals discover blood on our platform, we go and pick the blood and deliver to them.

    Can you tell us specifically what motivated you to start this kind of business?

    When I was about 22 years old, I came back to Nigeria for the first time since I left and I was working in Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa. My team and I were in a small village outside Kano and we found a young girl who had been in labour for three days. Everyone around her was just waiting for her to die because there was nothing they could do for her. So I had a very bad reaction to it and was depressed for weeks. I couldn’t leave my hotel room and cried. It was the first time for me to see the human cause of bad development. She was 24year old then. She lived but the baby had died inside her. I couldn’t stop thinking about her so after I left Nigeria, the situation really affected me. I had my child in the US though it was difficult as I almost died. I was so lucky to have access to health care so I decided I was going to use my life to help women.

    You have been working with a team so tell us what has been your management style?

    I have two ideas about management of people in Nigeria. There are some people who require you to be their friends and talk to them and there are those who want to be alone and deliver their objectives. My management style depends on the people I’m dealing with. Sometimes I’m serious, sometimes I’m funny. I try to be flexible. I don’t think managers should have one management style so you need to be flexible and adapt your management style to fit different people. I’m very free with them. I believe I can’t build a company alone and can’t even do 10 percent of what the company needs. There are people who will do the rest 90%. I see them as my co-founders because they help me build the company. I’m free in terms of comparing myself with other Nigerian bosses. My workers know how much we make and how much we pay out. This is because I want them to feel ownership of the company. They should see it as their company. I treat people with respect.

    How do you motivate your staff?

    We’re a young team and don’t have lots of money so I can’t use money to motivate them. I treat them with respect and very respectful of their time. I make sure they understand the vision of Lifebank. We’re not selling shoes and bags but what we do every day is safe people’s lives. It’s high stakes. So for them to understand the vision, they need to feel like super heroes and feel like they come to work every day saving people’s lives from the sales person to the admin and technical persons; they’re here to save lives.

    What is your philosophy?

    I have different philosophies for various stages of my life. In terms of my work, my philosophy is that there should be a difference between impact and social value. Companies who make money and bring impact to people’s lives are the ones that will survive. I don’t think companies who are obsessed with just money will survive. My thesis is that there shouldn’t be a division between companies who are saving lives and companies who are there making. Money that is why we built Lifebank.

    Technology is going to help deliver very good services without lots of money. Nigeria is broke and this is an opportunity for us in terms of what new ideas and opportunities we’re going to introduce. If in the past, to start a new hospital without technology costs N10million, with technology, you’re going to spend N5million to start one now. Having a recession is an opportunity to restart and do something better.

    Can you tell us the most toughest decision you have taken on the job?

    Letting go some staff that are not good for the company is my toughest decision.  I consider my staff as family members so firing a family member is not easy especially when they are nice and are not terrible people and have not stolen anything but are not competent in terms of the position they hold.

    What has been your most favorable decision?

    Every day I come to work is amazing because I get to do different things. I know that everything I do goes into saving someone. I don’t know who they are but knowing that everything we do is going to save someone is incredible.

    What makes you tick?

    Being useful to my community makes me tick. I have lived a privileged life and I have always been sure that with the privileges that I have had, there is a deep responsibility to dedicate my life to making my community better. I use all of the privileges life have given me to possibly drag my country into a better way of doing things.

    What attracts you to people?   

    I like kind and diligent people.

    What has been your husband’s impact on your business?

    My husband has been fantastic. We are partners in our lives. In terms of business, we are co-founders and he helps me in terms of my work. We are lucky to have each other because he is very supportive. He looks after me.

    How do you unwind despite your busy schedules?

    I like to read and swim.

  • Special children deserve equal status

    Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladujoye has reiterated the state government’s commitment to the provision of quality education to all children in the state irrespective of their financial background, sex, ethnic affiliation or disability.

    She spoke at this year’s stakeholders’ forum of the Advocacy Committee on Special Education Matters in Lagos.

    Oladunjoye stressed that the need to accommodate children with special needs informed government’s decision to establish inclusive schools, adding that parents should take advantage of the opportunity and not hide their children with disability at home thus depriving them of education.

    According to her, God has a reason for giving them children with special needs; hence government setting up the aforementioned committee.

    She assured that government would take advantage of the best practice procedure of inclusive schools as observed in the United Kingdom, particularly on how to provide the necessary infrastructure and equipment needed by the inclusive Schools.

    Earlier, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Technology,  Wahab Alawiye-King, pledged the continued support of the House to education, noting that children with special needs also have the right to quality education.

    Similarly, the General Manager of the Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA), Dr. Babatunde Awelenje, highlighted the various challenges of children with special needs , saying that 98 million students living with disabilities constitute the group of those who are marginalised in the society.

    He highlighted some of the benefits of inclusive education as including attitudinal changes, learning to have empathy and not sympathy for the special children and promoting positive socialisation in the society.

    The forum was a collaboration among the Lagos State Ministry of Education, DFID’s Education Sector Support in Nigeria (ESSPIN), State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI) and Golden Pen Media Concept Company.

    The State Inclusive Schools came into being in 2009 with the aim of bringing into regular school system and the larger society, children with disability as well as encourage parents/guardians to bring their wards/children out to access free Universal Basic Education and foster love, unity and cooperation among regular and special pupils.

     

  • Equal (life) and justice • Letter to Senate

    To an extent, Shakespeare was right. Often times when commoners die, they pass away unsung, it is only in rare cases that their death make the front page. When that happens, you know immediately that something extra – ordinary must have happened. Whatever it is, it is usually not palatable. So, it was on September 20 when eight persons were killed in Apo, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja during a raid by a combined team of soldiers and State Security Service (SSS) officials.

    The outcry over the Apo killings was deafening not because it was the second time in eight years that such a thing was happening in the capital city, but because it was becoming routine for our security operatives to wittingly kill their compatriots. It seems our security operatives take delight in killing their civilian brethren just for the fun of it. At the drop of a hat, they are ready to shoot to kill without taking into consideration the consequences of their action.

    They are apparently quick on the trigger because they know they will get away with their despicable act. All they need do is to tag their victims robbers. And in these days of Boko Haram, their alibi is made stronger. They know that once anybody is associated with that group, he will not enjoy sympathy from the people. The SSS was counting on such support when it went to town over why it embarked on the dawn raid along with soldiers on defenceless civilians living in an uncompleted building in Apo that September.

    Most of the inhabitants were doing menial jobs. Some were commercial tricycle operators, some shoe shiners, some washer men and so on and so forth. Because of the acute accommodation problem in Abuja, they were lucky to find such a place to hide their heads for a paltry N200 or N300 per night. Undoubtedly, in a situation like that, it is quite easy for those who do not mean well for the country to find their way into such a place. It is also easy for such evil – minded people to get new converts there. But this is not to say that everybody there will harbour evil intentions or will be criminals.

    Unfortunately, this was how the SSS labelled all the occupants of the building before it set out on its mission in September. With such a mindset, the security operatives went to Apo to kill, no more no less. It was a predetermined action because they had already made up their minds about those poor fellows. As a layman in security matters, I have not ceased wondering whether the rules of the game allow security men to behave in such irrational manner when they are not sure of how to classify their target.

    Do you label the target a criminal before or after an operation? How do you know that he is a criminal without interrogating him? Do you label someone a criminal by the company he unintentionally keeps or for sharing unknowingly the same quarters with suspected criminals? In this instant case, the SSS went to the Apo building based on what it called the intelligence it received that Boko Haram suspects were hibernating there. All the security men had in their heads as they went for the mission was that they were going after Boko Haram. Since the fear of Boko Haram is the beginning of wisdom, they were prepared to kill.

    In their haste to shoot anybody they came across, they forgot their rules of engagement. No matter the intelligence they might have gathered, they should have had it at the backs of their minds that those they were going after were civilians, whether Boko Haram or not. If they chose to forget that, our senators should not have made the same mistake. The SSS men may have a score to settle with Boko Haram and other insurgents, going by what happened to some of their colleagues in the hands of the Ombatse cult in Nasarawa State a few months ago, but that is not enough reason for them to behave like those people.

    If Boko Haram and other militias are losing their heads at will, our security operatives are expected to keep theirs to show that they have what it takes to do their kind of job. If we remember we got to this pass because the police lost their cool and killed Muhammed Yusuf, the Boko Haram leader, after he was arrested and handed over to them by soldiers in 2009. If soldiers could do that despite being trained to kill, why couldn’t the police, that are trained to be civil, restrain themselves in like manner? This is why I am shocked that some senators could defend the SSS’ action in killing in cold blood the Apo 8 on September 20.

    In defending the SSS, Chairman of the Joint Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Mohammed Magoro, who retired from the army as a general, said majority of the occupants of the Apo building cohabited with Boko Haram elements ”unknowingly”. In one breath, he described the SSS raid as ”necessary and timely” and in another, he said :”The conduct of the operatives leaves much to be desired”. Magoro was not done in his paradox of contradictions. Hear him : ”The death of eight people was not a case of extra – judicial killing but the action of an hastily executed operation”.

    I pray when you hastily execute an operation, what do you get? By now, with what happened in Apo on September 22, we all know the answer. It is sad that the Senate adopted the committee’s report. It is obvious that it did so because it felt that the lives of some of its principal officers were at risk, with the so – called Boko Haram elements as their neighbours. That is a wrong way to look at the issue. The Senate should have called the SSS to order instead of giving it the latitude to do something worse in future. The Senate, by its action, has unwittingly armed all our security agencies to engage in extra – judicial killing under the guise of ferreting out suspected criminals.

    The Senate should remember that a life is a life whether that of a prince or pauper. If the Senate deems it fit to protect its own why can’t it extend the same gesture to the commoners who voted its members to power. By its action, what the Senate is telling us is that we are only good at voting for them, but do not deserve to be protected when our lives are in danger from the very people we pay to secure us. May I commend to the Senate, these lines from Justice Chukwudifu Oputa’s verdict in a Supreme Court case in 1986 : ”In our system, it is better that nine guilty persons escape than that one innocent man is condemned”.

    Neither the Senate nor SSS gave the innocent in the September 20 tragedy the benefit of doubt. The SSS killed them and the Senate sanctioned the extra – judicial killings under the guise of fighting terrorism. Was he Magoro panel asked to look into acts of terrorism or to probe the Apo killings?

  • Full-time/part-time students get equal treatment

    Students undergoing part-time NCE programmes at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Otto/Ijanikin (AOCOED) will enjoy the same recognition and use the college facilities just like their full-time counterparts, the Provost Mr Wasiu Olalekan Bashorun has announced.

    He also said they can express their opinions to the management via mobile phone numbers, e-mails and other social media platforms.

    Speaking at the matriculation of the 2012/2013 part-time NCE students held at the college premises last Saturday, Bashorun said: “The college will do everything possible to give you top quality NCE education in a decent and learning-enhancing environment.

    “We will also ensure adequate security of lives and property. I, therefore, urge you all to use the suggestion boxes located at strategic corners all over the college to draw attention to areas that require improvements or in case you want to register complaints. I assure you that such suggestions or complaints will be treated promptly.”

    Congratulating the students, Bashorun enjoined them to be committed to their studies and abstain from any untoward behaviour that can affect the college negatively or lead to their expulsion.

    Bashorun further enjoined members of staff to key into the institution’s vision to be the best nationwide in the shortest possible time.

    “As management, we shall enhance the continuous development of our manpower which is our primary resource. We shall not compromise on training of staff, welfare and quality service delivery. Very soon, and with the kindness of the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, we shall be paying what is popularly referred to in the labour circle as 18-month salary,” he said.

    1,500 new students cutting across the college five Schools-Arts and Social Sciences; Education; Languages; Sciences and Vocational and Technical education, took the oath of matriculation.

     

  • Muslim council canvasses equal treatment

    Muslim council canvasses equal treatment

    THE Delta State Muslims Council has appealed to the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to create an enabling environment for them to operate.

    The appeal which was contained in a press statement signed by the Secretary General of the body, Alhaji Wasiu Udi and made available to journalists, said that the body has itemised areas of grievances which include the non-reconstitution of Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board unlike that of Christians.

    Wasiu also complained the hijack of hajj slots meant for its members by non-Muslims, non-recognition of members of the body during government functions and the non-inclusion of Muslims in political appointments in the state, among others.

    According to Alhaji Udi, despite their contribution to the development of the state and their support for the Uduaghan government, especially during his second term electioneering campaign, their efforts have not been adequately rewarded.He urged the governor to treat them with fairness, justice and equity as he has done to their “counterpart”.

    “His Excellency, in 2011 reconstituted the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, but up to this moment, the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has not been reconstituted even though we share the same building. Muslim Pilgrimage is very paramount to the Islamic faith, therefore, the continuous denial of Muslims of the board is tantamount to negating the principle upon which the board was established, and could be viewed as religious discrimination.

    “Sir, due to the non-reconstitution of the Muslim Board during pilgrimages, intending Muslim Pilgrims of the state are usually faced with untold hardships. Similarly, we want to also draw the attention of His Excellency to the undue interference by none Muslims in the affairs of the board, especially during pilgrimages. The few slots sponsored by the state government are offen hijacked by some persons who are non-Muslims but in positions of authority. We are pleading with them to allow us (Muslims) to run the affairs of the Board without undue interference”.

    “It is pertinent to also mention here that apart from the secretary of the board who is a Muslim, all other staffs are none Muslims. This issue should be looked into critically in order not to desecrate our religion. As stakeholders in the state, we Muslims are hardly given recognition during government functions while other religious bodies are invited. We gate-crash like rats, making us look like imposters ,” the statement read.

    Udi stated that the body was constrained to call a press conference since several appeals made in the past had not been heeded any result. It appealed to the state governor”to reconstitute the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board so as not to be seen as being discriminatory against Muslims as well as also increase the number of Muslim sponsorship to pilgrimage in order to give us a sense of belonging in the state