The Nation Newspaper

Tag: giant

  • Another giant stride for Adeleke

    Another giant stride for Adeleke

    If there is anything, that is giving stakeholders in our nation’s educational system headache, it is how to raise the standard in the sub-sector, such that, some universities, if not all, are striving very hard to join the club of world-class universities, the IVY League.

    With this at the back of the minds of the Adeleke Dynasty of Ede, Osun State, it decided a few years ago, precisely 2010, to establish a University that will take its pride of place in the comity of Universities in the world and thus Adeleke University came on board, to also immortalize the family Patriarch, Late Papa (Senator) Raji Ayoola Adeleke, of the blessed memory, who in his life time, was the Balogun of Edeland.

    The prestigious Adeleke University, is ably promoted and nurtured, under the able proprietorship of Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, a business mogul; a first class industrialist and notable but silent philanthropist, who has contributed in no small measure, to the well-being of vast majority of Nigeria citizenry. This is one great Nigerian, that has impacted positively on all sectors of Nigeria economy, but will not make noise about it. Dr Deji Adeleke is a rare gift to mankind. May he live long in good health to reap the fruits of his labour.

    Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, has left no stone unturned, in ensuring, that in the last four years, Adeleke University blossomed, reaching for a greater height, that will make it a university of yesterday, today and tomorrow, as evidenced in the aesthetic structures, that are currently being constructed at its permanent site at a feverish pitch. Well done Dr. Adedeji Adeleke.

    There is no way, the history of Adeleke University, will be written, without the mention of an Amazon in the dynasty, Chief Modupeola Adeleke-Sanni, who has been toiling day and night to ensure, that things were put in proper shape. This workaholic woman, is indeed a pillar of strength behind his brother Dr ‘Deji Adeleke, as far as the University project is concerned. For Modupeola Adeleke – Sanni twenty fours are not enough to work in realization of the completion of the permanent site of the University.

    A key and prominent figure in the Adeleke University, among others, is the first executive governor of Osun State (1992-1993), Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke (Commander Order of the Niger). The first executive governor of Osun State, is a passionate lover and promoter of education, who in the course of his tenure as Osun State governor, ensured, that the satellite campuses of Ibadan Polytechnic at Iree and Esa-Oke, were upgraded to full-fledged Polytechnic and College of Technology respectively. These two great institutions are today, reference points in technological arena.

    Senator Isiaka Adeleke, was also instrumental to the fast and smooth take off of The Federal Polytechnic Ede, after it was approved by General Babangida administration. He was virtually and practically at Abuja for early part of 1992 on the neck of the then Minister of Education, until the take-off giant for The Federal Polytechnic, Ede was released to the cool hands of Late Engineer Jimi Bamgbose, the pioneer Rector of The Federal Polytechnic. And today, his patriotic efforts, has made the institution to grow in leaps and bounds. It should be recalled, that during his first tenure in the Senate (2007-2011) Senator Isiaka Adeleke awarded hundreds of scholarship, to indigent students of Osun – West District in higher institutions, most of whom are today, holding their own proudly, in many facets of our national life. He also built an ICT centre at the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, as part of his constituency project.

    In 2004, Senator Isiaka Adeleke was appointed as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, University of Calabar. His stewardship at the University, witnessed phenomenal growth. Jointly with other able members of the University Council, many courses were duly accredited for the University, in addition to far-reaching infrastructural development and teaching aids. It is also on record, that during his Pro-Chancellorship of University of Calabar there was no single incident of students’ unrest. The University calendar year was stable all through his days at the University. University of Calabar tremendously benefitted from his wealth of experience as a former State Governor and Chairman Nigerian Export Promotion Council. His Council was able to appoint a Vice-Chancellor and Registrar transparently and in a rancor free manner.

    It was therefore not a surprise, when the Board of Trustees of Adeleke University and the Governing Council, decided to appoint him as the pioneer Chancellor of the institution, purely out of merit, rather than the consideration, that he is an eminent son of the Adeleke Dynasty, the promoters of the University. The decision to that effect, did not come all that easy, as the Board of Trustees, which consist of erudite scholars and great minds in the academic world, subjected his nomination to thorough scrutiny. Senator Isiaka Adeleke was found to be above board and worthy of such exalted position. See ye men, diligent in their callings. They shall stand before kings and not before mean men. In this class, Asiwaju Isiaka Adeleke belongs.

    As the Chancellor of Adeleke University, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, is coming with vast knowledge of how a University of that status should look like. He believes strongly, that Adeleke University is fully set to break the vicious circle of moral decadence in the nations’ educational system and put the system on the path of sanity, as well as pave the way towards a positive sense of direction.

    Senator Isiaka Adeleke believes, that the founding fathers of Adeleke University, have set a goal of raising a new generation of leaders, who will fear God and love their fellow human beings. Those who will rescue the nation, Nigeria from the round decay, when they pass through Adeleke University and hold posts of responsibilities in all sectors of the economy as well as in the social life. For Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the founding fathers were and still are firmly-rooted in ensuring the above goals and make it a legacy, that will be strictly adhered to in years ahead.

    Under his Chancellorship and in conjuction with all stakeholders of Adeleke University, the institution will attract a high proportion of top-rate researchers and lecturers, many of whom must have won global recognition and academic awards. Well built structures, that now dot the permanent site of the University for academic, administrative, residential, leisure and sporting activities of students of divergent nationalities are second-to none. For Chancellor Isiaka Adeleke, making Adeleke University, a Nigeria version of Harvard, Oxford, Yale is the ultimate goal.

    These world-class institutions, Senator Isiaka Adeleke wants Adeleke University to compete with, so as to enhance advancement and creativity in research, innovative teaching, well stocked library and laboratories, as well as information Communication Centres. His wish, is for exemplary behavior on the parts of the studentship of the Universty, as it will continue to maintain zero tolerance for cultism, drug abuse or indiscipline in whatever forms.

  • South Korea: From beggar to Asian giant

    South Korea: From beggar to Asian giant

    How did a war-torn, aid-dependent country become a global economic powerhouse? Seun Akioye who just returned from South Korea had a rare glimpse into the education system and reports that “happy education” has been the key to Korea’s economic recovery. Now, it wants to help Nigeria get it right.

    The economic indicators for the Republic of South Korea should fill many countries with envy. With a total of $1.790 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) putting it in the 13th position in the world and a per capital of $35, 485 in the 29th position.

    That is not all, in East Asia; it is the highest ranked developed country in the Human Development Index with its citizens enjoying a high standard of living. It is ranked as the most innovative country and it is the most research and development intensive country. If you think Europe’s internet connectivity is superb, wait for this, Korea has the world’s fastest internet connection and ranks first in e-government.

    It is the world’s seventh largest importer and the eighth largest exporter with global brands like Samsung and Hyundai. In a period of about 40 years, South Korea has become a globally ranked country in education with a 100 percent literacy level and with the highest number of youths with a Bachelors Degree.

    How happy education saved Korea

    South Korea has not always been the investor’s destination or the country with the highest living standard in Southeast Asia. In fact, it had many similarities with Nigeria and many other third world countries.  A   former empire whose last dynasty, the Joseon dynasty was sacked by the Japanese in 1917, who later invoked a draconian rule over the country. The rule ended in 1945 with Japan’s defeat in the Second World War and it wasn’t long before Korea began its own civil war with the North from 1950 to 1953.

    What followed was a period of military coups with one regime deposing the other until General Park Chung-Hee seized power in 1961 and ruled until he was assassinated in 1979 through both civilian and military regime. Park was credited with creating the “Miracle of the Han River,” through his economic policies which turned Korea into an industrialised country almost overnight.  While the two five-year economic policies of Park, the determination of the ordinary Korean to succeed and become developed may have been the primary reason for Korean miracle, education tailored towards economic development was the driving force behind it.

    Before independence, the literacy rate of Korea was less than 20 percent of the population, with no skill and technology, and a barren land with no mineral resources; the country was in chaos and poverty. This realisation forced the leaders to pay attention to basic education.

    There were different stages of economic policies in Korea at different times and different educational policies to drive them. In the 1960s, when the economy was sustained by Agriculture, the emphasis was on basic education. Through the 1970 to 1980 when the economy focused on manufacturing and construction respectively, the Korean government emphasised on the need for vocational education. Today, the goal is to acquire university education because the economy is now service-driven.

    According to Dr. Ju Hur of the Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI), who spoke with The Nation in Busan, the educational development plan is to drive the economic development. “Korea had the two five year education plans in 1962 and 1967 to add 100 new primary schools every year. That was the magic, the number of students who enrolled in primary schools increased and despite being a poor country, 80 percent of the Ministry of Education budget was spent on primary education.”

    The heavy investment in education paid off with a positive social shift which created a change in the Korean society and began the process of industrialization. It was a free and compulsory primary education for Koreans and this spilled over to secondary and university education, by 1980, high school enrollment had reached 63 percent and by 2000 it was 96 percent.

    Today Korea has 100 percent literacy rate with 99 percent advancement rate from primary to secondary, 80 percent from secondary to the university. The government has continued to invest in education with increased funding from 78.47 billion KRW in 1970 to 35 trillion KRW in 2008. In 2012, education took 17.6 percent of government budget.

    The teachers are not left behind, unlike in Nigeria, teaching is one of the most prestigious professions and the teachers are highly paid. Teaching according to one of the teachers, is a sure and steady path to prosperity in Korea. But the process is long and torturous, for instance all teachers must pass through the National University of Education and then pass the provincial exam to teach in that province. There are also constant examinations and promotional tests to keep the teachers updated and on course.

    The teachers – both private and public – enjoy special status from the government, as they cannot be sacked except by a special court decision for gross misconduct. Currently, the government has again overhauled its education policy, focusing on what it calls “Happy Education.” The aim of this is in line with the 21st century realities and need; and is designed to equip the student with the needed skills to live in a globally competitive world.

    According to Hee Do Chun, the Executive Secretary of Education at the Gyeongsangnamdo Education Office, “Happy education is a class where everyone smiles and the focus is taken from teacher to student. It is the students that are driving the process and they are able to engage their imagination. They are also able to discover the power of the question why?”

    Technology-driven schools

    In recent years, Korea has increased its partnership with Nigeria through development aids and training for selected government officials. The aim is to increase the technical capacity of key policy makers in Nigeria towards the development of key sectors in the country. The arm of the government responsible for this is the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), a government-run agency with more than 180 development partners around the world. Established in 2008 in Nigeria, it has provided technical assistance to many Nigerians in the areas of vocational training, agriculture, governance and education.

    In 2011, KOICA, through the National Planning Commission (NPC) proposed the establishment of a $15million Abuja Model School. The school which will comprise of primary and junior secondary schools will be modeled after the Korean basic schools, except in curriculum. The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) which is the beneficiary of the school also agreed to compliment the school by building a nursery and senior secondary school.

    Recently, KOICA hosted an international conference of stakeholders and policy makers from the two countries in Busan, South Korea. The aim is to enable the Nigerian stakeholders have a firsthand evaluation of the Korean elementary school system and also discuss on progress and work-plan for the Abuja project.

    Participants at the conference include: Mr. Kabir Usman Mohammed, the Secretary for Education,  leading a team of high caliber officials from the FCT, Dr. Yakubu Gambo, Deputy Executive Secretary , Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) also leading a team, Ms. Rekiya Atta, Special Assistant to the Minister, NPC on International Cooperation,  a representative from the Federal Ministry of Education and representatives from the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council ( NERDC) and the Teachers Registration Council (TRC).

    The conference was organised by the University of Youngsan, which has been appointed as the consultants to the project.  During a visit to the Yungsan campus of the institution, the president of the university, Kim Kyu Chul said in the age of globalisation, global education is becoming important and Korea has been a leader in this light. He expressed optimism that the Nigerian delegates would learn some of the best practices in Korea, which will help in developing the basic education in Nigeria.

    The choice of Youngsan was strategic. Founded in 1973 by a couple Bu Bong Huan and Park Bong Suk, the university has a population of 32,000 students and is one of the highly rated schools in Korea, operating from two campuses in Yangsan and Busan. The school has also developed a policy of WISE education, which may prove instructive in the Abuja school project.

    For Professor Jay Gill Pyeon, the project manager, it was love at first sight and he has high hopes for the model school. He told The Nation:  “When I saw the project paper I was interested immediately, when I went to Nigeria, the situation was worse than I expected, there were 70 students sitting there without textbooks, the model schools we went to were disappointing.”

    He continued: “Nigeria is richer than South Africa in gross terms, where has all the money gone? This project is about making people happy and if the Nigerian children are happy, I am fulfilled.”

    It was in the light of this that KOICA decided to expose the Nigerian delegation to the basic education system in Korea. The team visited three elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. The Bunpo Elementary School in Namgu Busan was established in 2001 and has a total population of 853 students. All the schools are usually two-storied buildings with all the facilities that would create a “happy education”. There are 25 students in all the classes and a multipurpose white board.

    Every student and teachers in all public schools must remove their shoes at the lobby and wear the school provided soft sandals.  All the schools are fitted with multipurpose gymnasium and the classes have projectors which are used in learning. Most importantly, elementary schools in Korea, like the country itself are technologically-driven.

    There are smart classrooms where technology is utilized for learning. The smart classrooms are fitted with electronic boards and computers. Students use IPADs and other digital devices to create an autonomous creative school system. Instructions are passed into all the classrooms which the students can view on their electronic boards.

    Needless to say, Korea elementary students are highly technically savvy. Primary school students are capable of developing computer applications for designs and the arts and secondary school students are able to design and build complex machines. For instance, at Changwon Mechanical Technical High School, the students are able to design and build high tech machines by the second year.

    The Abuja model school project

    Mr. Kabir Mohammed is already dreaming about the model school in Abuja. “This model school will be a leading model for public schools in Nigeria and it will increase the accessibility of good students from poor families to high quality education. We want it to be the symbol of unity,” he told The Nation in Busan.

    Mohammed said when completed the school will be a public school and students from the 36 states will be admitted “if they pass the entrance examination.” He said: “Every state will be represented and at least one admission slot will be given to each state, so it is going to be very competitive.”

    The project which will start in 2015 and completed in 2017 will see the Korean government building primary and junior secondary school while the FCT administration will build the nursery and senior secondary school. According to the country representative, KOICA, Mr. Jung Sang-Hoon, the project is in line with the achievement of goal two of the Millennium Development Goal.

    Jung said a land has been approved by the FCT on LOT 70 and 235, Research Institution District along airport road and it is 43,540 square meters. The architectural design was done by Dosung Architects and Associates which has projects all over the world.

    According to Dr. Gambo, the model school will be funded through the UBEC-FCT fund and community participation in the sustainability of the school will be vital. On teacher’s recruitment, Mohammed said it will be competitive stressing that though the FCT has the best teachers in the country, the teachers for the model school will be the very best. But he ruled out special salary package for the teachers saying it will be in sync with what obtains in the FCT.

    He also said some form of decentralization of authority will be accommodated at the model school so that school heads can take key management decisions for school effectiveness. He also said the UBEC and FCT would create a separate budget line within the UBEC budget to cater for the running of the school.

    The school will also have hostels and free bus shuttle for students all over the FCT. Already Pyeon wants all the infrastructures in the Korean elementary schools be replicated in the Abuja model school. But for the FCT, funding is still a big challenge. “We are working hard on getting some funds so that we can also start our own part of the project,” Mohammed said.

    The stakeholders believe that the FCT is already on the right part towards the establishment of the model school. While the officials have been exposed to the high Korean standard, they believe that the model school will just be the beginning of a radical change in Nigeria’s education system. “We have seen the standard in Korea and we are going home to see how our educational standards can be improved upon. This project when completed will serve as a model to be replicated in other area councils of the FCT,” says Allawan Kamfut, a Deputy Director of Education, FCT.

  • As the giant gropes in the dark

    I find it hard to keep mute on the state of my nation. This I believe is due to the fact that I have no other country than Nigeria. Even if I relocate to the United States and apply for a citizenship card, my origin will still be Nigeria. It is this understanding that makes me take Nigeria’s issue as serious as my own problems.

    The fact that some people refer to me as a critic of the government will not certainly make me quiet if I see that things are not going in the right direction. I do have a strong belief in the saying of Plato that: “the punishment we suffer if we refuse to take an interest in matters of government is to live under the government of worse men.” One cannot be far from truth if it is concluded that the saying of Plato is what is currently playing out in Nigeria. Many Nigerians have shelved their responsibilities of getting acquainted with governance. It is as a result of this that the government is losing its track by focusing more on the irrelevant things and paying less attention to the important ones.

    Now, the defection of Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the opposition party, All Progressives Change (APC), has generated political uproar across the country and the subsequent violations of the 1999 constitution as amended. As the debate raged on, Femi Gbajabiamila said “the legislature is a separate, but an equal arm of government. It is not inferior or subservient to the executive. Their powers are separated under the constitution and it can never be an extension or department of the Presidency or the PDP”. This gives the question of why should the President order the immediate removal of the Speaker’s security details. This I believe is a violation of his fundamental human right as prescribed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which gives him the right to freedom of association. This action in itself implies that there is no respect for the office he occupies.

    When politicians defect from other parties to the PDP, it is regarded as a normal political move but it becomes a problem when they defect from PDP to other parties. Both Governors Mimiko and Ali Modu Sheriff of Ondo and Borno states respectively did not have their security details withdrawn when the duo defected to the PDP. The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly who defected from the Labour Party to the PDP also did not have her security details withdrawn. What makes Tambuwal’s case different?

    The security agents that are supposed to uphold the nation’s laws have turned to political machineries. It is not in the duty of the Nigeria Police Force to interpret the constitution, but that’s solely for the judiciary. The reason given by the Inspector General of Police is not reasonable enough because it is outside his jurisdiction.

    There is no part of our nation’s constitution that says that the Speaker of the House of Reps should come from the majority party. Section 50 (1) (b) only says “there shall be a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be elected by the members of the House from among themselves…” With both the IGP and the Attorney General of the Federation saying that Hon. Tambuwal has lost his position as a result of his defection is unfounded and a big blow on the nation’s democracy when those who are supposed to protect the laws turn out to be the opposite. After all, the duo are acting on instructions from above. It is absolutely not surprising when a learned fellow like her make such statements in Nigeria because Aondoakaa made similar interpretations of the constitution during the late Yar’Adua’s administration.

    Nevertheless, I urge the APC not to put their whole trust on Hon Tambuwal because his defection could be a political plot to recover Sokoto State to the PDP as there is a tendency for him to go back to his previous party if he eventually secure the governorship seat. I enjoin the APC to be very careful and make their calculations accurate.

    In a country like Nigeria facing security challenges, one could have expected the President who is the Chief Security Officer to focus more on how to put an end to insurgency or rather, bring the situation under control. But alas, what we have is false report on ceasefire. The insurgents continue to gain weight and strength daily. Our Nigerian Army are being sent on impossible missions by not providing them sufficient fire-power to engage the extremists. In such scenario, we expect nothing from them other than to retreat and save their own lives first.

    When Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh was appointed the Chief of Defence Staff, residents of his community heaved a sigh of relief believing that their lives and property are secured. But little did they know that he was not the type they thought. It had been reported in the media that few hours before the insurgents took over the community, helicopters trooped in to transport his immediate family members out of the town; an act indicating that we are now in the era regarded as security of self, where you cater for yourself only and leave others to their own devices. This was the same officer who promised to solve the insurgency problem within six months.

    Nigeria being referred to as Giant of Africa is an explanation of the saying “a single eyed man is a king in the land of the blinds”. Our educational sector has grown worse, the health sector has become dilapidated and there is no security anywhere in the country. The power sector is in comatose. Can someone define the word ‘giant’ as it appears in the Nigerian context?

    All said and done, despite the Council of State in their last meeting passing a vote of confidence on the present administration on how the battle against insurgency is being handled, I found it hard to accept their resolution. This is not to say the President is doing nothing but his best is not enough as we are yet to see fruitful results from the way insurgency is being handled. I implore our leaders to focus more on national security and not tackling the defection of politicians. Its better the sleeping dog is allowed to lie.

     

    Mubarak recently finished from General Agriculture, UDUS

     

     

  • Oil giant lifts community

    Oil giant lifts community

    Impressed with the result of the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) with the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture in Kula Community, Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Chevron Nigeria Limited has said that it would now advance to a new phase of the agreement known as GMoU+.

    This new GMoU+, Chevron said would focus on business development and economic empowerment; third party partnership and collaboration; delivery on the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs]; Operational Excellence and Human Rights.

    The General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs (PGPA) of Chevron, Mr. Deji Haastrup disclosed this during the inauguration of 30 housing units worth about N530million built in Kula built by the  Kula Regional Development Committee (KRDC) under the GMoU with the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture.

    Haastrup said: “The successful completion of the projects reinforces the GMOU Community Engagement model as a vehicle for sustainable socio-economic development in communities around Chevron’s operational areas in Nigeria.”

    The PGPA General Manager of Chevron also said : “The successes recorded in the implementation of the GMOU in Kula and in other cluster communities bordering the company’s operations in the Niger Delta region have shown that with adequate support, the communities can drive their development process.”

    The GMoU Community Engagement model, established by the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture in 2005, Haastrup said is a long-term stimulus for sustainable expansion of the economies of the communities in the Niger Delta.

    The model, he also noted would help provide youths of the Niger Delta with opportunities for meaningful engagement and enhance peace in the region through constructive dialogue and respect for the Rule of Law.

    He further confirmed that the GMoU has continued to meet its objectives of making communities take the driver’s seat in their development and ensuring that huge empowerment and capacity building opportunities come to the people.

    While restating the company’s commitment to enhancing the partnership with all the Regional Development Committees including KRDC, he urged the people to continue to ensure peaceful environment for business activities so that all the stakeholders would continue to benefit from NNPC/Chevron’s operations in Rivers State.

    Also speaking, the representative of the Rivers State government, Chief Charles Opurum thanked the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture for its development efforts in the State and urged other organisations to emulate the company’s social responsibility outlook.

    The KRDC Chairman, Mr. Stanley Benibo, thanked the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture for establishing the GMoU noting that the community engagement model has benefited Kula communities by enhancing sustainable development of the area.

    The housing project incorporates distribution of low-tension electricity lines, reticulation of water supply, and construction of link roads/kerbstones and interlocking stones on the walkway.

    Through the joint venture agreement, the Kula RDC had before now executed several projects such as the construction of four housing units in Boro; Offoin-ama; Robertkiri and Luckland villages, including the construction of standard generator house, purchase of 500KVA generator, potable water projects as well as the electrification project in Boro.

  • The food importing giant

    Do you sometimes imagine Nigeria to be a big circus show? Do you sometimes think you are in a banana republic that is destined to go bad anytime soon? Are you sometimes gripped by fear that this self-acclaimed giant is bound to self-destruct by the sheer weight of its contradictions? If you are ever troubled by such pangs of worries as these, you have a great company in Hardball.

    Before you begin to wonder the source of this lamentation, let me throw you this poser: are you aware that Nigeria engages in heavy importation of palm oil reaching about 500,000 metric tons annually? While Malaysia, on the other hand, exported about 24 trillion metric tons of palm oil in 2012 to the U.S, E.U, China and India, earning about €20 billion. In a period of about 40 years, Nigeria has declined from being the largest producer and exporter of palm oil to becoming a net importer. Malaysia, a small island country which supposedly got seedlings from Nigeria about five decades ago, has developed palm products into a major economic sector.

    While we have remained at the primary level of crude palm oil, Malaysia has taken the reddish oily substance of African origin to unimaginable heights. Every month without fail Malaysia ships to the world millions of metric tons of not only crude palm oil but over half a dozen other improved derivatives of this product which include: RBD (Refined bleached Deodorised) palm oil; RBD palm olein; RBD stearin; crude PKO (palm kernel oil); processed PKO and oleo chemicals, to name a few. These commodities are sold on the international futures mart so monthly deliveries are guaranteed as if they were minerals from the soil.

    Palm oil is not the only agricultural commodity Nigeria ought to sell to the world but which she ends up buying from around the world. Tomato puree is another; she is said to import an estimated 70 metric tons at an estimated cost of N11 billion annually. Nigeria also has the capacity to produce enough rice to feed the whole of Africa but her annual rice import bill of over N500 billion is among the highest in the world. We import N217 billion worth of sugar and the N635 billion we spend on wheat is about the second highest the world over. Nigeria also imports fish, chicken, fruits and fruits concentrates, leather, textile materials among other agro-based commodities.

    In the same way we have perfected the fraud of sending our crude oil abroad for refining while we import petroleum products at a premium, so are we nonchalant and lethargic about developing our agro-resources. Since the late 70s when Nigeria began to enjoy huge oil earnings, we have lived large solely on crude oil export. Not only have we not bothered to developed even the oil sector that sustains us, we have abandoned nearly all other economic spheres. Government after government; from Yakubu Gowon to Goodluck Jonathan, not one has been able to break the mould of feeding from crude oil rent.

    One cannot help but wonder what manner of ruinous governments Nigeria has had successively over the past five decades. Why is it that not one has been able to muster the grace or gift to break the spell of the crude oil curse? For 50 years, all we have done is to earn huge petrodollars and ship same right back whence it came from through the importation of food and all sorts of junks from across the world. To think that some of these things can be achieved by sheer executive directive or pronouncements: can’t we just declare something like, “we grow our tomatoes, or we eat no tomatoes”. We can make the same declaration for all other food commodities like rice, garri, fish, palm oil etc. Agro technology and economics have been perfected for over a century even down in Southern Africa. What is lacking is mere will and wisdom to initiate and drive change. What a great change a simply declaration from a visionary leader can make!

  • Mandela is giant of our time, says Ban Ki Moon

    Mandela is giant of our time, says Ban Ki Moon

    The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon yesterday said this year’s commemoration of the Mandela International Day should come with deep reflection on the work and community service of the former South African leader.

    Today, Nelson Mandela clocks 95 on his hospital bed.

    Moon, while describing the ailing former president as a giant of “our times”, urged the world to give tangible meaning to “our feelings of concern by taking actions on others’ behalf”.

    He called on all to give 67 minutes of community service as a tribute the world can pay to an ‘extraordinary man’, who embodies the highest values of humanity.

    Moon, in a statement through his Nigerian representative, Mrs. Jumoke Araba, described the ailing freedom fighter as a universally revered leader.

    He said: “Mandela gave 67 years of his life to the struggle for human rights and social justice. Today is a day for good works for people and the planet. It is meant to mobilise the human family to do more to build a peaceful, sustainable and equitable world.”

  • Saraki a political giant, says Belgore

    Saraki a political giant, says Belgore

    Kwara State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader, Mohammed Dele Belgore SAN, has said with the death of Dr. Olusola Saraki, Nigeria has lost a politician who touched the lives of many people and whose contributions would be debated for years to come.

    Belgore, who was the ACN governorship candidate in the 2011 poll, was reacting to the death yesterday morning of Second Republic Senate Leader, Dr. Saraki.

    He was among the early callers at the Ikoyi, Lagos home of the late politician yesterday morning.

    Belgore’s media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye, issued a condolence statement, quoting the lawyer as saying: “We are saddened by the sudden death of our father, Abubakar Olusola Saraki, who passed away today (yesterday). No doubt, Nigeria has lost a political giant.

    “He was a man who touched the lives of many people and whose contributions would be debated for years to come, especially in Kwara where he was the dominant figure for over four decades.

    “We condole with the family and friends and pray that Almighty Allah should grant him eternal rest.”

  • A sleeping giant at 52

    A sleeping giant at 52

    SIR: Can a man be a toddler at 52? This was the question that confronted Nigerians as the nation marked 52 years of independence on Monday. Though this is the longest run of civil rule since the enthronement of democratic rule in May 1999, many ills still bedevil the sleeping giant of Africa 13 years on.

    With an inept leadership, Nigeria, the seventh largest oil-producing nation in the world, massive corruption, insecurity, poor infrastructure, a dilapidating education and health system, have combined to leave Nigerians seeking redemption from their self-inflicted woes through several unorthodox means.

    Nigeria has seen over 30 years of military regimes and a total of 21 years of civilian administrations. And while a total of eight soldiers had ruled the country, civilian administrations had produced only six leaders. Interestingly, while the military rulers-General Aguiyi-Ironsi, Yakubu Gowon, Muritala Muhammad, Olusegun Obansanjo, Muhammad Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Sanni Abacha and Abdul Salam Abubakar-were believed not have impacted much on the growth of the country, Nigerians have not ceased to bemoan the reality of their faring badly under democratic administrations. But for brief glimpses of hope demonstrated in the short-lived first republic manned mostly by nationalist figures, neither the administrations of Alhaji Shehu Shagari from 1979 to 1983, nor the eight years of Obasanjo as president brought progress and positive change to the country. The four years of President Umaru Yar’Adua was marked by its slow pace. The incumbent President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s one year plus in the saddle holds no promise of improvement, with Boko Haram in North causing untimely death to many Nigerians.

    It has been canvassed over time that the problem of the nation lies in bad leadership. With the exception of Nigeria’s first generation leaders in the class of the late Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahamdu Bello and their band of independence fighters, nearly all that had subsequently held leadership positions, especially in the political realm, had been found wanting.

    There must be electoral reform in other to usher in stability in the polity. Economic development cannot be divorced from political stability. Nigerians must be allowed to choose their leaders. Nigerian leaders are being imposed on electorate. Government and National Assembly must have to partner to ensure that electoral reform works.

     

    • Ademola Orunbon

    suz.breeze@gmail.com