The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Femi Odekunle

  • Corruption: ‘Buhari is on the right track’

    The Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Professor Femi Odekunle has declared that President Muhammadu Buhari is on the right track in his fight against corruption and in exposing corrupt leaders.

    Speaking to newsmen in Minna over the weekend, Odekunle, who is a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, he wholeheartedly supports the President especially as corruption had eaten deep into the Nation.

    “Corruption is more dangerous than terrorism. That is why any leader that is against corruption is my leader, I will support him. That is why I support President Buhari from head to toe. Although he has not been able to fight corruption the way I want but he is making progress.

    “The fight against corruption is in the right step, the President is taking the right step in the right direction because If corruption is reduced to the barest minimum, it will save the Nation a great deal. I do not care what anybody says, I know President Buhari is right in his fight against corruption.”

    Odekunle further noted that despite the outcry about due process and technicalities, sometimes, in the fight against corruption, some of these technicalities may be ignored.

    He expressed optimism that the President, in his second term, will take the fight against corruption to the next level.

    “The fight against corruption should be like a ‘rofo-rofo’ fight. All these legal and technical things people insist must be followed will not help in the right against corruption. However, I believe next level is using rofo-rofo fight to fight against corruption.”

    The Pro-Chancellor lamented that the damage of corruption has mortally affected the conscience of the youths and make them loom up to the wrong people for mentorship calling for a stricter punishment for corruption.

    “The punishment for corruption must be prompt and immediate. There is need for the government to increase the type of punishment being given to those caught in corrupt practices.”

    He further said that those are corrupt and believe they are safe from the corruption war should stop living in delusion as, “a time will come that those who think they are under the cover of protection will be exposed of their corrupt practices.”

  • FUT Chancellor lauds “seamless” selection of new VC

    FUT Chancellor lauds “seamless” selection of new VC

    The Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology ( FUT ), Minna, Eze Eberechi N. Dick, has commended the governing council of the institution for the seamless selection of the institution’s vice chancellor.

    A statement issued on Monday in Minna by Mrs Lydia Legbo, FUT Public Relations Officer, said Dick made the commendation when he received the Governing Council of the university at his palace in Aba.

    He described the selection process as most transparent and rancour-free, and charged the council to steer the university to greatness.

    “I am excited that you passed your first litmus test by conducting the most transparent and rancour-free selection process leading to the appointment of a new vice chancellor for the university.

    “The seamless nature of the exercise has shown to the world that FUT Minna has come of age,” he said.

    Read also: Prof. Bala takes over as new VC FUT Minna

    The monarch urged members of the university council to bring their wealth of experience to bear in the running of the institution and provide the needed leadership and counselling to the management.

    He congratulated the new Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Bala on his appointment and advised him to use his experience in advancing the fortunes of the university.

    “I am glad that you are on a familiar terrain and we are optimistic that at the end of your tenure, we shall all have every reason to be happy with you.”

    Dick urged the governing council to work harmoniously with the university management and assured of his total support to the institution.

    Earlier, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Prof. Femi Odekunle, said the visit was to inmate the chancellor on new appointments at the university.

    He said the Council conducted a very open and transparent selection process which culminated in the appointment of Prof. Bala as the 7th Vice-Chancellor of the University.

    In his comment, the vice chancellor solicited the cooperation and advice of the chancellor and members of the governing council to effectively run the university over the next five years.

    NAN

  • Buhari must subvert judiciary in anti-graft war

    Buhari must subvert judiciary in anti-graft war

    A member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Femi Odekunle, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to use executive powers to subvert the shenanigans of the judiciary for the anti-graft war to succeed.

    Odekunle, who accused the judiciary of shielding corrupt lawyers and judges, said the government needs to break the rule of law to win the fight against corruption.

    He stated these when he appeared on Focus Nigeria, a programme on African Independent Television (AIT) on Thursday morning.

    Odekunle said the judiciary has failed to support the federal government’s anti-graft war.

    He said: “The only problem we are having is that we are not having the full cooperation of the legal profession in the matter (corruption). Lawyers and judges have this sentimental affiliation.

    “The legal profession felt threatened by the stance of this administration on corruption, about the role of the legal profession, about the senior lawyers and about the judiciary.

    “So there was a kind of development of some subconscious to protect their own. Perhaps there must be a way in which they can be reached to say the interest of the nation must come first.

    “We have to find a way of breaking into this and one way of breaking into this is to engage in what I said. For example, somebody was quarrelling with me and I am being honest, without breaking the law. Fighting corruption involves roforofo fight.”

  • Governor charges varsity to undertake value-added research in Agriculture

    Governor charges varsity to undertake value-added research in Agriculture

    The Acting Governor of Niger, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, has advised the Federal University of Technology, (FUT) Minna, to undertake research findings that would add value to agricultural development in the state.

    Ketso said that the country’s dependence on crude oil revenue had led to its being unable to feed Nigerians in a statement on Monday.

    The acting governor made the call when he received the members of the university’s governing council at the Government House, Minna.

    He said that such research findings would help the country to become self-reliant and industrialised.

    Ketso who described the university as a “value addition” to the country, assured its governing council of the state government’s cooperation.

    Speaking earlier, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Prof. Femi Odekunle, expressed FUT, Minna’s gratitude to the government and people of Niger for their consistent support to the institution.

    He expressed the hope that the mutually beneficial relationship between the state and the university would be sustained.

    Odekunle said the council would continue to ensure that FUT, Minna contributes its quota to the development of Niger.

    In a related development, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, also pledged the cooperation of the traditional rulers to the university council.

    Abubakar gave the assurance when the Council paid him a courtesy visit at his Wadata Palace in Bida.

    The monarch pledged to contribute his quota to the development of the university.

    He said that the doors of his palace would remain open to the council for royal advice.

    Earlier, Odekunle had told the Etsu Nupe that the visit was to pay homage to him and thank him for his support to the university.

    He assured the royal father the university would continue to live in harmony with its host community.

    He said that FUT, Minna, was one of the most peaceful universities in the country.

    According to him, this will not have been possible if the host community were not peaceful.

  • FG tasks governing council of 23 federal universities on funding

    The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu has urged the newly inaugurated governing council of 23 federal universities to look inward to broaden the Internally Generated Revenue Base (IGR) of the universities.

    Adamu gave this advice on Tuesday in Abuja at the inauguration of the reconstituted governing board of the universities.

    He also called on the councils to look inward to broaden the Internally Generated Revenue Base (IGR) of the universities with a view to support the universities.

    According to the minister, the governing council should annually review the university budget to monitor its performance and assess the overall impact of its implementation.

    “In view of the current economic situation in the country, I call for the prudent management of the scarce resources while efforts should be intensified to broaden the Internally Generated Revenue Base of each university.

    “You should also ensure the judicious application of revenues so generated,’’ Adamu said.

    The minister also called on the council to be agents of change by seeing to it that every act of corruption was avoided in their various universities.

    “You should join the crusade of the Federal Government in the fight against corruption, by making this fight visible in the universities.

    “As seasoned and successful individuals in the public, private sectors and in your various professions, you will be expected to live above board in the discharge of your duties.

    “ Any corrupt practices by councils including condoling cases of indiscipline by staff, is bound to have a destructive effect on the system and on the products of the system, hence must be avoided,’’ he said.

    He, however, urged universities management to support the governing councils as they implement policies and decisions of the council.

    In his address, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission called on the councils to display a high sense of commitment in the discharge of their duties.

    Rasheed, who emphasized the role of the council in the development of universities, said the commission would continue to support the councils to achieve its desired result.

    “NUC appreciates the critical role of the governing council in the development of Nigerian universities.

    “The NUC will continue to make itself available to ensure that it succeeds in its task and to succeed, every one of you should display a high sense of commitment, teamwork and dedication no matter the challenges,’’ he said.

    Also, Hon. Suleiman Aminu, Chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund stressed the need for the councils to synergise with Vice Chancellors of the universities to ensure unity of purpose.

    Aminu promised to work with the legislature to ensure that universities were properly funded, adding that the various leakages in the universities must be blocked.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari sometimes in April constituted the chairmen of governing councils of these universities.

    The selection was made in cognizance with provisions of the respective legislation with respect to composition, competence, credibility, integrity, federal character and geo-political spread.

    Those inaugurated are: Amb. Nimota Akanbi, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Mukhtar Mohammed, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Bayero University, Kano, Sen. J.N. Waku, Federal University of Technology Akure and Prof. Shehu Zuru, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun.

    Others are, Prof.  Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof. John Ofem, Federal University, Owerri, Mr Muhammad Zayyanu, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Mr Bukar Zarma, Modibbo Adama Univrersity of Technology, Yola.

    Also to head are, Aziz Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Sani Maikudi, University of Abuja, Dr Aboki Zhawa, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Alkassum Abba, University of Agriculture Makurdi and Isah Ashiru, University of Benin.

    Others are, Sen. Nkechi Nwogu, University of Calabar, Joshua Waklek, University of Ibadan, Dr Jibril Oyekan, University of Ilorin, Tony Momoh, University of Jos, Dr Wale Babalakin, University of Lagos and Prof. Biodun Adesanya, University of Maiduguri.

    Also in the group are, Mike Olorunfemi, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. A.C. Awujo, University of Jos and Hon. Pearl Enajere, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto.

     

  • ‘Upgrade security equipment’

    Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has called on the Federal Government to upgrade security agencies’ equipment.

    Dankwambo made the call at a stakeholders’ consultative forum on the development of a national policy on public safety and security in Gombe.

    The governor urged the Federal Government to consider welfare packages for security personnel.

    The Lead Facilitator, Prof Femi Odekunle, called on the government to approach the issue of security from the wider perspective of safety.

    He expressed fear over the prevailing trend of delay or non-implementation of recommendations or reports of committees instituted by government.

     

  • Why insecurity will persist, by criminologist

    A Professor of Criminology, Femi Odekunle, has said unless development challenges are seriously addressed through genuine people-oriented development ethos and strategy, an enduring optimum security will remain elusive in the country.

    Odekunle stated this in his lecture titled ‘Science Education and contemporary issues in national security,” delivered at the 4th National Conference of the School of Science, Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo.

    He said: “On the political level, the concept of democracy has become, in practice, ‘government of the greedy, by the greedy, for the greedy’ and governance has become oligarchy and corruption-ridden with contents of the National Anthem and pledge being turned into mere nominal mouthing, while the election-process itself has become usually tainted with observable manipulations and in some cases heart-rending violence with able-bodied youths “employed’’ as armed thugs.’’