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Tag: grassroots

  • Agency takes HIV/AIDS counselling, testing to grassroots

    The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) has screened some residents of Dopemu and Capitol Road in Agege, a suburb of Lagos.

    The agency said the exercise is to help residents know their HIV status.

    LSACA’s Director, Dr Oluseyi Temowo, represented by the Principal Health Educator, Mrs Olusola Adebambo during the HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) Community Outreach, said the state has 654 HIV Counselling and Testing sites, 47 anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and 342 Prevention of Mother-to–Child Transmission (PMTCT) sites providing HIV services.

    He said the government was on top of HIV prevention, stressing that it was partnering with stateholders in the private sector, especially non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and faith-based organisations, among others, to reduce the disease in the state.

    He described the turnout of residents as impressive, adding that people who missed the opportunity can still have the tests at the designated centres in Agege.

    Head of Dopemu community, Alhaji Shuaib Afogunlowo, said the exercise has enabled many of the residents to know their HIV status.

    “This is necessary because people are just going about without knowing their HIV status. The testing, however, has helped many people clear all doubts about their status. Anybody who tests positive can also receive treatment. HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence,” he said.

    Afogunlowo advised people not to run from taking the test because it is for their good. “I was also tested and it was negative,” he said.

    He thanked Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for making the testing and counselling possible.

    Chairman, World Health Organistion (WHO) Committee on Dopemu Primary Health Care (PHC), Mr Johnson Oguntan, said the benefits of the programme to the area were immense because HIV is a dreaded disease, and as such needs timely intervention.

    “It is an opportunity that we must not allow to pass us by. This is why I also submitted myself to the test,” Oguntan said.

    The community, he said, had sensitised the people through letters written to various religious groups, especially churches and mosques, among others so that people can come for the test.

  • ‘Take campaign on corruption to the grassroots’

    The Akwa-Ibom State chapter of Buhari/Osinbajo Supporters’ Club (BOSC), a socio-political platform, has been advised to intensify the enlightenment campaign against corruption and indiscipline by reaching out to people at the grassroots.

    National President of the organisation, Prince David Benjamin gave the advice while inaugurating officers of the state executive of the group in Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom state capital.

    Benjamin stressed that sensitisation campaign at the grassroots level was necessary because the call for change of behaviour towards corrupt practices concerns every Nigerian and not only the leaders.

    His words: “The ongoing battle against corruption and indiscipline is not just about the people at the top. It is about every Nigerian because the whole system is corrupt. The major objective of Buhari/Osinbajo Supporters’ Club is to preach the message of discipline and to eschew corruption to every Nigerian, particularly those at the grassroots for them to understand why we must shun corruption.

    “I, therefore, urge you the newly inaugurated executive officers of Akwa-Ibom State chapter of BOSC to play committed and dedicated role towards the actualisation of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption agenda. You must make sure that the message gets to all the nook and crannies of the state.

    “To change the people’s mindset is taxing; but I have the strong belief that we will get there; that we, as a people, will achieve the change that we have been yearning for.”

    He added that the group was open to Akwa-Ibom indigenes and residents that are already in support of the fight against corruption and indiscipline, irrespective of party affiliation.

    The Deputy National President of the group and a governorship aspirant of Katsina State, Alhaji Lawal Maina, wife of former deputy governor of Ogun State and member, Board of Trustees of BOSC, Mrs. Abosede Ogunleye were among the national representatives from the six geopolitical zones present at the occasion.

  • Battle for grassroots power in Ekiti

    Battle for grassroots power in Ekiti

    An attempt to conduct the local government election in Ekiti State for the first time in seven years has been dogged by controversy. Correspondent ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA examines the issues generated by the proposed council poll.

    Conducting local government elections in Ekiti State has never been a tea party. It has always generated controversy, acrimony and brickbats among the political gladiators whenever the idea is broached.

    The last local government poll was held on December 20, 2008, during the administration of former Governor Segun Oni, then of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The election was boycotted by the defunct Action Congress (AC), which was the main opposition party. The party complained  that the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) led by Major-General Kayode Oni (rtd) had only four members, which fell short of the minimum number of commissioners required by law; a minimum of five commissioners are required.

    The AC boycotted the poll, arguing that the constitutionally-required minimum 150 days between notice and conduct of poll was not complied with.

    The PDP coasted home to victory, winning all the chairmanship seats in the 16 local government areas and all but one 177 councillorship seats.

    The elected council officials were in office, until October 29, 2010 when they were sent packing by former Governor Kayode Fayemi.

    They went to court to challenge the dissolution of the councils and the case was still in court as at when Fayemi left office last year.

    The Fayemi administration equally made attempts to conduct a fresh poll on February 4, 2011, but the PDP secured a court injunction and stopped the election. The case was still pending when the government exited from power.

    One of the complaints of the PDP was that the composition of SIEC, which was led by Mrs. Cecilia Bosede  Adelusi, was that it was made up of  members of ACN/APC and loyalists of  Fayemi.

    Shortly after Governor Ayodele Fayose assumed office, he dissolved the SIEC alongside other boards, commissions and agencies (statutory and non-statutory) and the former office holders are still in court challenging their removal from office.

    Between late 2010 and now, the local government councils in the state had been manned by caretaker chairmen and members, thus denying people at the grassroots the opportunity of electing their representatives.

    One of the promises made by Fayose to the people of the state is that he would ensure that the election is conducted, to give the people at the grassroots a say in the administration of affairs at the local level.

    The governor while performing the swearing-in of commissioners in July declared that there would be a local government election “before the end of the year” to reduce pressure on the state government.

    He reasoned that if an election is conducted at the councils with chairmen and councillors in office, the number of people coming to Ado Ekiti, the state capital, “looking for one thing or the other” will be reduced, as the elected council officials are expected to met some of their needs.

    To demonstrate his seriousness towards conducting the election, Fayose on August 28 inaugurated SIEC, by swearing-in a new set of officials to run the agency.

    Speaking on the plan of his administration to hold the election “within the shortest possible time”, Fayose challenged anybody who has anything against the newly-sworn-in SIEC chairman and commissioners to come out with any proof, saying that he would not hesitate to remove such an erring individual.

    The new SIEC is led by former Chief Judge, Justice Kayode Bamisile, who came to national prominence during the 2006 impeachment saga in the state.

    Other SIEC commissioners are Mrs. Victoria Funke Adeyera, Alhaji Ganiyu Bello, Mrs. Mojisola Florence Bankole, Mr. Rufus Sunday Olaiya and Mr. Vincent Olajide Adeyeye.

    Bamisile assumed office on August 31, with a pledge to conduct credible, free and fair local government elections in few months time. Subsequently, he and other commissioners held an inaugural meeting with the staff of the agency, to seek their cooperation towards ensuring a successful tenure.

    He said the commission would be  fair to all political parties and  other stakeholders and that he would abide by the guidelines stipulated for the election in the electoral law.

    According to him, the election would not be in an atmosphere of fear, favour or bias. In other words, it would pass the test of credibility usually demanded by local and foreign observers.

    The SIEC boss charged political parties, politicians and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully, to ensure that the result of the poll is accepted by all stakeholders. He also appealed to the media to support efforts to conduct a free, fair and credible local government elections in the state.

    The former Chief Judge urged the media to partner with the commission to deliver a local government election that would be acceptable to stakeholders and deepen democracy at the grassroots.

    Just as the Justice Bamisile-led SIEC was settling down to conduct the election, the opposition APC alleged that the chairman and other commissioners cannot be trusted to conduct a free and fair poll. The APC described the SIEC officials as “PDP card-carrying members, associates and business partners of Fayose.”

    Bamisile not only debunked the allegation, but also maintained that he and other SIEC members “are people of unquestionable integrity.” He challenged anyone with any shred of evidence that they are members of the PDP or loyalists and business partners of the governors to come out with same.

    According to the guideline,  electioneering campaigns would commence on Monday September 28, 2015 and political parties are expected to hold ward congresses to elect their councillorship and chairmanship candidates by Saturday October 3 and 10 respectively.

    Similarly, the collection of nomination forms are expected to commence on Tuesday October 13, and the forms are to be submitted on or before Monday October 19.

    Checking and verification of particulars of candidates would run from Tuesday October 26 to Saturday October 31, while the results of the screening would be out on Monday November 2, with the parties having a day of grace for substitution of any unqualified candidate.

    Other highlights of the timetable include submission of Nomination Forms on Tuesday November 10, publication of list of candidates by Tuesday November 17. Parties have the opportunity to withdraw their nominations latest by Thursday November 19 and names of candidates for polling agents are to be submitted to SIEC on Wednesday November 25.

    Stressing that Electioneering campaigns would end on Thursday December 17, Bamisile emphasized that the elections would hold on Saturday December 19, 2015.

    But, determined to prove its allegation that the Bamisile-led SIEC is composed of partisan officials, the APC has filed a suit at an Ado Ekiti High Court. In the suit, the APC said empanelling  a SIEC made up of alleged PDP chieftains  was”illegal and an invitation to chaos”.

    In the suit, filed by its counsel, Abiodun Fasakin and Tajudeen Akingbolu, the party said the composition of the electoral body contradicted the constitutional requirement for a non-partisan electoral body that could organise credible elections that would be acceptable to all contesting parties.

    The APC alleged that Justice  Bamisile and commission members — Victoria Olufunke Adeyera, Ganiyu Bello, Mojisola Florence Bankole, Rufus Sunday Olaiya and  Olajide Vincent Adeyeye — are PDP members.

    Other defendants include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and the House of Assembly. In the Originating Summons before the State High Court, Ado-Ekiti, the defendants are to appear before the court within seven days after service of the summons on them.

    The court is expected to determine whether by the combined effect of Sections 197, 199 (1)(c) and 200 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the purported appointment of the 5th to 10th Defendants as Chairman and members of the 3rd Defendant is not null, void, illegal and unconstitutional; whether by virtue of Sections 14(4) and 197(3) of the constitution the composition of the 3rd defendant is not null, void, illegal and unconstitutional;  and whether having regard to questions one and two above and the circumstances of the appointment of the 5th to 10th defendants, the 4th defendant’s confirmation of the appointment of the 5th to 10th defendants is not invalid.

    It is also expected to determine whether having regard to the hitherto composition of the 3rd defendant as made in 2011, which tenure is still deemed subsisting pursuant to Section 199 (1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the appointment and confirmation of appointment of the 5th to 10th defendants by the 1st and 4th defendants, is not invalid; whether a member of a registered political party, which party is having interest in a pending election to local councils, is eligible to be appointed as member(s) and/or chairman of the 3rd defendant for the purpose of conducting local councils’ elections in Ekiti State; and whether the 1st and 4th defendants can appoint and/or confirm the appointment of the 5th to 10th defendants thereby reconstituting the 3rd defendant during the pendency of a matter involving the 3rd defendant before the Supreme Court in APPEAL NO: SC.695/2013: PDP & ANOR VS EKSIEC & 8 Ors.

    In its statement of claims, APC wants a declaration that the appointment of the 5th to 10th defendants as Chairman and/or members of the 3rd defendant is null, void, illegal and unconstitutional as it violates the provisions of Sections 197, 199 (1) (c) and 200 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999  (as amended).

    It also wants a declaration that the 3rd defendant as presently constituted by the 1st defendant with the 5th to 10th defendants as Chairman and members, is not vested with legal capacity to conduct elections into the various elective offices/positions in the 16 local councils in Ekiti State.

    The party further seeks a declaration that the tenure of the hitherto members of the 3rd defendant as constituted in 2011 having not expired, their dissolution by the 1st defendant coupled with the appointment of the 5th to 10th defendants is null, void and unconstitutional.

    In conclusion, the APC is seeking an order setting aside all steps and/or actions taken by the 1st, 2nd and 4th defendants in the purported appointment and /or confirmation of the appointment of the 5th to 10th defendants. It also seeks order setting aside all steps and/or actions taken by the 5th to 10th defendants purportedly as Chairman and/or members of the 3rd defendant, ostensibly for and towards the conduct of elections into the various elective offices in the 16 local councils in Ekiti State and an injunction  restraining the 5th to 10th defendants, their agents, servants, officers, whosoever/howsoever taking   instructions from them, from conducting elections into any of the elective offices/positions in the 16 local councils in Ekiti State and/or from taking any further steps or embarking on any further activities ostensibly for the conduct of the aforesaid local councils’ elections, under the guise of acting as the chairman and/or members of the 3rd defendant, forthwith.

    The party noted that while it is ready to participate in the local government elections, due process must be followed in the composition of the State Electoral body.

    “The APC is not comfortable with membership of the commission most of who apart from being PDP card-carrying members, are friends and business associates of Governor Fayose,” the party said.

    No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit, which will go a long way to determine whether the planned December 19 poll will hold.

    Another factor expected to shape the destiny of the Ekiti local government election is the factional crisis rocking the PDP.

    The Tunde Olatunde-led faction which has 14 State Working Committee (SWC) members has warned SIEC against recognizing council poll candidates nominated by the faction loyal to Fayose.

    The pro-Fayose faction, which is led by embattled state PDP chairman Idowu Faleye, has been dragged to an Ado Ekiti High Court by the Olatunde-led faction, with the latter claiming to be the legitimate state exco.

    The Olatunde faction has forwarded a petition to SIEC warning the electoral body about the dire consequences of recognizing the candidates put forward by the faction backed by the governor.

    It threatened legal action against the state electoral agency, if it goes ahead to recognize the candidates produced by the governor’s faction, saying SIEC should be aware of pendency of a matter already in court.

    The petition dated September 21, 2015 and addressed to the SIEC Chairman, Olatunde and exco members loyal to him maintained that “Faleye and his loyalists are impostors and that SIEC should stop dealing with them on electoral issues.”

    In the petition entitled, Olatunde warned the commission against recognizing candidates of the PDP presented through Faleye, otherwise it would take legal action against the commission.

    Ekiti PDP had been rocked by factional crisis, leading to the emergence of Olatunde, former Vice Chairman (North) senatorial district, as the Acting Chairman, following purported resignation of Faleye.

    According to the embattled Secretary of the party, Dr Tope Aluko, Faleye, who succeeded Mr Makanjuola Ogundipe, sequel to his appointment as the PDP National Vice Chairman(Southwest) in acting capacity, purportedly resigned as chairman due to irreconcilable differences with SWC members.

    In the same way, Faleye, a close ally of Fayose claimed that his appointment had been confirmed by State Executive Council , just as he refuted the allegation of his resignation, insisting that he remains the authentic chairman.

    In a bid to assert itself, Faleye’s faction had set up disciplinary committee, which indicted Olatunde’s group of anti-party and gross misconduct and about five members in that faction were expelled from the party.

    The process leading to the emergence of PDP candidates generated controversies with some party members alleging imposition of candidates by the governor and his faction.

    Aggrieved aspirants alleged that the process could not pass for a credible primary as it was allegedly skewed in favour of the loyalists of Fayose, especially those who followed him to the Labour Party (LP) and came back with him to the PDP.

    With this state of affairs, the PDP does not appear to be ready for the polls.

    Meanwhile, legal fireworks will soon begin on the suit filed by the APC. Residents of Ekiti are waiting with bated breath to see how the numerous hurdles before the election would be overcome.

     

  • WE MUST DEVELOP GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL – SALISU YUSUF

    WE MUST DEVELOP GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL – SALISU YUSUF

    •Eagles coach hails organisers of Diamond Cup, 2015

    Super Eagles’ coach, Salisu Yusuf has pointed out that emphasis on youth development and grassroots football would go a long way in guaranteeing the future of Nigerian football.

    Speaking during the just concluded Diamond Cup 2015 in Umuahia, Yusuf told SportingLife that the quality of matches on display in the competition and the personalities that graced the competition showed that the organisers , spearheaded by Prince Martin Apugo did a good job during the preparation leading to it.

    He said the presence of Manchester City scout, Joe Shields from the beginning to the end of the competition showed that some of the players spotted during the Diamond Cup 2015 would be well guarded towards actualising their dreams of becoming professional footballers.

    Abia Warriors Feeders won the three day competition after they pipped Diamond U-17 christened Manchester City in the final 4-3 on penalties after regulation time ended 1-1.

    Andra Ibelezim of Diamond U17 emerged as the Most Valuable Player(MVP) of the competition while Ugo Osuagwu of Abia Warriors Feeders was the highest goal scorer with four goals.

    Diamond Academy Goalkeeper, Bright Lucky was adjudged the Best Goalkeeper.

    Ibelezim, who doubles as the captain of Diamond Academy team, was awarded a home theatre while Lucky also of Diamond went home with a phone.

    The President of the Diamond Football Academy, Prince Martin Apugo told SportingLife that he would ensure that the competition is sustained.

  • ‘Skill, expertise vital to grassroots’ service delivery’

    The Director General, Lagos State Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC), Mrs Olubunmi Fabanmwo, has identified quality skill and expertise as critical to the discharge of people-oriented services at the third tier of government.

    She spoke at the end of a capacity building programme organised for Council Managers (CM) and Treasurers of the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) at the centre.

    She said as management officers, the CMs and Treasurers represent the critical interface between the government and the people at the grassroots, adding that the discharge of quality policies at such level would be determined by the amount of skill and expertise available to them in the discharge of their responsibilities.

    Mrs Fabanmwo said the two modules, Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development and Public Financial Management Law would enrich the performance of the council administrators.

    She, therefore, charged all the council administrators to commit to leading the required change in their various local governments and LCDAs, adding that this was imperative if the third tier of government would be fully integrated into the vision and development plan of the state government.

    The training was among a series of capacity building programmes put together to empower local government administrators to contribute effectively to sustainable development at the grassroots.

    Participants said the training has further gone to underscore the commitment of the government to effective governance at the grassroots, adding that the effort would create the required symbiotic interface between the civil service and the local governments in the state.

    They appreciated the drive of government to harmonise public service activities throughout the state in line with the roles and specific contributions of all sectors to development and urged that the development planning adopted by the state be allowed to trickle down to the local governments and LCDAs, so as to provide uniform direction at the two critical levels of governance.

    They admitted that the Knowledge Management Workshop has empowered them with skills and techniques required to effectively manage the knowledge and skills acquired by local government staff with a view to maximising capacity building investment, while the Financial Management Law Workshop has provided new vista into Public Service financial authorities and the application of the International Public.

  • Taking literature to the grassroots

    Taking literature to the grassroots

    Book reading has become part of the promotion of the reading culture.  Edozie Udeze writes on a book reading that took place last weekend in Lagos and how it was used to dissect the literary firmament.

    The steaming argument that often attends the gathering of the literati in Nigeria of whether literature is thriving does not seem to end soon.  In addition to this argument also is whether the reading culture among the teeming Nigerian youths is ebbing or growing.  All these debates and discussions and positions are indeed good for the development and expansion of literature, the reading culture and even writing in the society.  Above all, it is good that those who feel up to it, now put series of programmes in place to entice literary enthusiasts and also ensure that the sector is never bereft of ideas and the cross-fertilization of ideas.

    But can literature really die in the form we know it today even if the internet has come to stand as a wedge between it and the so-called age of technology?  These and more were some of the knotty and burning issues raised last weekend in Lagos when the literati gathered for a book reading orchestrated by Victor Ehikhamenor and Toni Kan.  The venue was the Gele Art Gallery, Onikan, Lagos and the crowd was really impressive and responsive.  The duo of Victor and Kan who have been churning out series of fictional and non-fictional works in the past years read from their latest works.

    While Victor read from his book, Excuse me, Toni pelted the crowd with stimulating lines from his collection called Night of the Creaking Bed.  They were all stories that related to the people, cutting across age, generation and class.  As Victor read excerpts from his short story entitled, My Mother, Information Management Czar, the crowd cheered and jeered and applauded.  He said: “when I was growing up, my mother took me up on public behaviour, and information management.  I wonder if the KGB, DSS, SSS, CIA, can go through the kind of drilling we got from mum.  She truly designed all that for me.  Growing up in the village there were unwritten manuals by mum on how to grow up and survive the rough terrain.

    “My mother started early on me because I appeared too free and went round freely, too trusting.  She knew she needed a strong hand to manage me, and told me too to cut or control my enthusiasm whenever visitors were around.  This was so because many people came to my father to resolve their differences.  At that young age I would hear all sorts of things and arguments from adults…  Each time I defaulted, my mother was ever ready to scold me silly.  If I thought I could run to evade her, her legs were always faster than mine to catch me and discipline me in return.  At Christmas I would be so carried away by the excitement in the air that I would be walking around knocking down China bowels and breaking tumblers forgetting the information management my mother gave to me.  Whenever my excesses became too much, she would excuse herself from the visitors and took me away to discipline me…”

    Also reading excerpts from a short story entitled Love Letters, Victor took the audience back and forth into the throes of love and romance; into the memories of how teenagers used smooth words and soothing lines in those days to catch the women they fancied.  But more than that, he chronicled how the letter writing issues soon became part of his past time as a village champion; an expert in crafting wonderful letters for village women who sought for his services.

    One day, however, one of the love letters he wrote to a lover landed him in the principal’s office because the go-between for the delivery of the offending letter did not like the writer.  Then instead of giving it to the owner, she sent it straight to the principal’s office just to create trouble for him.  “A good love letter made things easier for a boy who was interested in a particular girl,” Victor informed.  “We had no money to give.  We only had sweet things to write to entice our women.  Then part of the letter would read, you are the flowers I see every morning, the soothing stars I gaze at in the skies.  You are the reason I am alive, the flower of my life.  My life can never have meaning if you do not love me in return.

    “But when was the last time you wrote a love letter?  Victor asked the chagrined audience.  Of course, no one present could remember or even knew what a love letter sounds like these days.  Yet the story took people into the lovely past when romance was at its peak; when lovers were genuine and true to each other.  Interestingly, most of the lines drew laughter from the audience since it zeroed down into the fabric of the nuances of love.

    Reading from the Night of the Creaking Bed, Toni Kan told of the engaging encounter between an average citizen and the police every day in Nigeria.  What is the role or place of the police in Nigeria?  Are they to correct erring offenders or help them to compound their situations when they are in trouble?  Series of such encounters have so far jeopardised most situations for people who otherwise would have been cautioned and left off the hook.  But making some of these happenings into a story helps to enlighten the public and probably dissuade the police from being too harsh and binding on the people.

    In an interview, Kan reiterated that people who still show interest in literature are ever eager to have new works of literature to make their day.  “Oh, yes, people are reading,” he enthused.  “See, when you are inside a bus or driving through the Third Mainland Bridge, you’d see young people sitting in their cars reading books.  The essence of what we are doing is to continue to do our bit as writers and reporters.  Most of the books people read are all second-hard foreign books.  So why wouldn’t we write to suit their tastes?  To give them what they desire to read?  Whether it is motivational book or not, but they are reading.  May be we are not writing what inspires people.  This is what we need to look into.  Now my last book has sold ten thousand copies.  Who read it?  Why is Chimamanda Adichie selling?  We need to know as writers to be able to know how to navigate our works to capture the people.

    “Yes, now, I think we need to begin to change what we write.  I think that’s the problem we have.  Why not write stories that sound like Nollywood?  Why couldn’t we think in that direction since that is what propels people on?  No, we don’t have to write like Soyinka or Achebe to get it right.  We need to write for our own purposes, for the reason we are who we are at the present moment.  What I mean is that we should write what people will find accessible and also relate with.  Okay, where are the books now, the thrillers, the bestsellers, the type we get from other writers?  Where are they, for our people to read?  We need to begin to do that now,” Kan, a seasoned journalist, novelist and poet, asserted.

    He stressed that in truth people do not find what they really want to read in Nigerian book stores.  “You could see the crowd and the sort of reactions they gave to the stories read out to them.  It was quite encouraging and that shows that people really need to be ignited somewhat towards literature and writing.  When books are read out like this often, why wouldn’t people show good reactions?  We always shy away from saying that we are making money as writers.  As a writer shouldn’t I make money for God’s sake?  Where else do you want us to make money from?  Are they not our works; our creative talent?”

    As Kan raised these fundamental issues, the point most people noted was how to stop the internet from bastardising the standard of the English Language.  A lot of younger ones do not want to make out time to read to master the language very well.  Everybody goes into the net with all sorts of rubbish in the name of literature or short stories.  This, most of the people that responded said is not good enough to promote literary issues in the society.

    In his own reaction, Olayinka Oyegbile, a Lagos journalist, berated the over-reliance on the new technology of internet as the hub of the problem.  “In those days, if you wrote a letter to the editor and once the editor opened it and noticed that the first two sentences were correct, he would use it.  And once he used it, you also were a champion.  But what do we get these days?  It is so disheartening,” he offered.

    Oyegbile was not alone in this contention.  Most people who spoke argued that even though technology has helped the expansion of knowledge, it has its own limitations.  Text messages done in short hand and more confusing sentences have influenced the way some people reason, write the English language and even react to serious and committed issues.  Wana Udubong who anchored the programme was of the opinion, however, that hard core literature cannot fizzle out.  Internet, to her, is just a phase that can only aid and not totally obliterate the core values of literature.  How do you undo hard copies of books or bookshops or even publishing houses in a society?

    Internet has been on for decades in developed worlds, yet hard copies of books have not died.  So it is only the problem of control and teaching children to read to know English better, both in terms of speech and writing that can help to prosper literature.

  • Yobe APC mobilises grassroots support for Buhari

    Yobe APC mobilises grassroots support for Buhari

    The Buhari Support Organization (BSO) in Yobe State has called on the people to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari during the March 28 polls.

    As part of its mobilisation drive, the group headed by Mohammed Ali Tanimu has put together a sensitisation forum in Damaturu, the state capital.

    The event, which was held at the BSO office complex along Maiduguri Road, brought together  the 17 local government coordinators. At the campaign, seasoned politicians spoke on votes protection, politics without violence, discouraging money politics among the electorate and the role of women in mobilisation of voters.

    One of the guest speakers and one-time presidential aspirant, Khalifa Hassan Yusuf, said there is the need for voters to “jealously guide their votes from the point of casting it to the collation and counting.”

    Yusuf, who is also the former Chairman of Damaturu Local Government and a member of the 1999 Constitutional Conference, charged coordinators to take their assignment seriously, particularly the idea of mobilising  grassroot support for Gen. Buhari.

    He said: “From what I have seen, most of you are young with a lot of energy. Your age reminds me of the time we were young politician in 1959. I want to use this opportunity to call on all of you not to use your energy for violence, but to deploy it towards mobilising support at your various local governments for Gen. Buhari.”

    The Special Adviser to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam on Political Affairs, Aji Yerima Bularafa, lamented the decision to postpone the election, saying it is a rape on democracy. He however reminded the coordinators of the message of Gen. Mohammadu Buhari who has called on all his supporters to remain calm.

    The Political Adviser, however, noted that the decision of INEC to postphone the election is purely the script of the PDP-led government as according to him, the PDP is jittery of Buhari’s victory at the polls hence their fear to conduct the election.

  • Elegbeleye identifies with grassroots concept

    Elegbeleye identifies with grassroots concept

    The Director-General of the National Sports Commission(NSC) Gbenga Elegbeleye has identified with the grassroots concept of the Akwa Ibom State/NNPC/MPN Schools Athletics Championships.

    Yesterday in Abuja, he reacted to an invitation to attend the grand finale by commending the project.

    When told that the programme was in its 14th consecutive year and was geared towards the discovery of talent, Elegbeleye,an apostle of catch them young, was all praise for the Sponsors and the consultant, Paul Bassey and promised to attend.

    “At the NSC, we appreciate programmes like this that are geared towards the discovery of stars, especially when they come from private concerns.

    “Mobil over the years has been linked with track And field development in the country. I have heard so much about this programme and will endeavour to be part of it this time around,” he said.

     

  • Grassroots’ Heroes gets new queen

    Grassroots’ Heroes gets new queen

    After months of searching for culture advocates, winners have emerged in the culture-based reality show, tagged: Heroes: Back To The Roots.

    At the end of 60 days of co-habitation among other activities, Ms Happiness Udodang from Akwa Ibom State, has emerged queen and winner out of the 37 culture gladiators that the show began with.

    The 37 contestants, according to the organisers, were picked after 104-day of painstakingly traversing many states, adding that Ms Udodang won due to her in-depth understanding of her culture.

    Ms Udodang said she was more than happy she won, adding that emerging winner was more than a dream-come-true. According to her, in addition to having her dream of becoming a movie star, she went home with a car, N2million and a role in a film that will be shot with 10 finalists of the show.

    But Ms Udodang was not alone. Like her, the second and third place finalists – Luther Emmanuel Ikyobo from Benue State and Chelsea Chinenye Oguejiofor from Anambra State – each got N1.5million and N1million alongside roles in the film.

    The show, which was aired on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), is produced by Chinyere Ogbukagu, who also heads Plateau-based Havilla Timeless Production; and directed by famed filmmaker Ifeanyi Onyeabor.

    According to Ogbukagu, the folk reality TV show aims at promoting peace and inter-ethnic understanding, adding that it also highlight the various tourism potential abundant across the country.

    She said: “Apart from re-awakening the interest in our culture the show also highlights the various tourism potential abundant in the various states where the cast and crew of the show are visiting. After auditions, five persons were selected from each of the states and FCT for the final screening to arrive at the 37 finalists – one from each state and FCT- to compete in the house where they would co-habit for 60 days. Contestants who have great understanding of their culture are usually on an advantageous pedestal to emerge victorious.”

    The 2014 edition of the TV show also culminated in an award’s event to recognise individuals and institutions that have contributed in no small measure to a better understanding of our cultural legacies in Nigeria, with great emphasis on cultural tolerance.

    Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu  was honoured as the “Best Supporting Governor”; Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio as” Best Governor”; Cross River State got the “Cleanest State” award and Niger State was “Most Culture-Friendly State”

    “We award is our appreciation of their support. We also got support from other individuals and organisations and governments for this project to come to fruition. We especially thankful to Niger State for being a great host, IMO state for seeing the vision.

     

     

  • Taking banking to the grassroots

    Taking banking to the grassroots

    Agent banking is expected to deepen banking services and create more wealth for the citizenry. But achieving it requires the quick resolution of complaints and an improved regulatory environment, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

    Before now, banking was the exclusive preserve of the rich and the educated. Majority of the poor and illiterates kept their money at home. Far-away bank branches, cumbersome account opening requirements, lack of awareness of financial products and services,among others, were barriers that stood between the poor and illiterates and the financial system.

    But the coming of agent banking is expected to change all that by bringing into the bracket those at the grassroots. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) signposted this with the inauguration of the Agent Banking Model which liberalised the financial system in favour of all, most especially the poor.

    Some of the services to be rendered by the agents are transactional in nature. They include: deposits, withdrawal, cash transfer, account opening, cheques request, bills payment and balance inquiry.

    For a country where more than 70 per cent of its 168 million population live below the poverty line and 46.3 per cent unbanked, achieving the goal appears herculean.

    For the operators, the CBN Director, Banking & Payments Department, ‘Dipo Fatokun, pegged the minimum shareholder fund for Super Agents at N50 million. He said to be licensed, a Super Agent must be a company with an existing business operational for at least 12 months and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    He explained that the agent must also have a minimum shareholders’ fund unimpaired by losses of N50 million and obtain a reference letter from a financial institution as part of its documentation for licence request.

    Fatokun insisted that with agent banking, everyone can now open and run accounts on the agent bank model. This is by allowing the agents to take customers’ fingerprints since the model runs on biometric-enabled Point of Sale (PoS) technology with that information, open account for the customers.

    The CBN’s objective is to reduce the number of adult Nigerians who are excluded from formal financial services from 46.3 per cent in 2012 to 20 per cent by 2020 with specific targets for payments, savings, credit and insurance. This, he said, can only be achieved with the support of the banks.

    “The CBN is trying to tell Nigerians that whether you are poor or rich, speak English or not, have means of identification or not, live in town or village, you have right to banking services. The only thing you need to open an account is the finger God has given you. No one can take it from you because no one has your finger type,” the apex bank said in a statement.

    Operational channels

    Managing Director, Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA), a financial sector development organisation that promotes financial inclusion in Nigeria, Modupe Ladipo, said sustaining the country’s development hinges on ensuring that at least 80 per cent of all adults have access to affordable financial services as well as the right environment within which to flourish economically.

    She said agent banking model would ensure increased activity in the delivery of banking services outside traditional brick and mortar bank branches. This, she explained, can be done through additional financial access points such as existing retail stores, petrol stations, post offices or via PoS devices and mobile phones.

    But Chief Maurice Adekunle, a traditional ruler based in Lagos,  expressed fears over grassroots banking in the country. He said there are several cases where smaller banks closed shops, and the people lost their money. He said operators of the agent banking project needed to assure depositors that their funds are safe.

    Group head, e-Business, Sterling Bank Plc, Fatai Amoo,  said the bank’s agent banking operation takes security of funds seriously. He said the bank is determined to have the highest level of agent outlets in the country provided such locations have sizeable number of commercial activities and do not pose any risk to depositors.

    “We can only set up in locations that have some semblance of commercial activities. The agent must have a running business, integrity, and be a respected person. The environment also needs to be secured. We need someone who is able to read and write,” he said during a meeting with agents at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos. Amoo said agents have better opportunity of accessing credit from the bank.

    Agents speak

    But Yusuf Obe, an agent, said although banks promised that the biometric-enabled PoS will help in the payment of utility bills, that service is not available. She also complained about tedious account opening process and inability of the machines to check customers’ account balances. Obe said fixing botched transactions is frustrating and takes months to resolve and that has been very bad for the business.

    Other agents also expressed fears encountered in the course of the business such agent fraud, unauthorised fees, loss of customer assets and records, data entry errors, system failures among others. Amoo said the bank is working on installing a technology that enables the customer to hear their balances in local languages. “We have all these facilities but they have to be installed in phases so as not to confuse the customers. We also have dedicated team going round, ensuring that nothing goes wrong. We will be in every location that is potentially viable,” he assured.

    He said for security reasons, the bank ensures that the agents do not handle more cash than they should ordinarily do. “The agents are economic agents that do transactions and the kind of limit we will allow each of them to do, is also a function of the amount of cash the person can handle,” he said.

    He said such agents can also take deposits, but cannot accept deposits above the set limit to ensure they are not exposed to more cash that brings extra security risks around the agent. He said how much an agent earns is a function of volume and value of transactions done. “The agents must be able to go to the bank as quickly as possible to withdraw funds or deposit cash. The more accessible such agent is to the bank, the better,” he said.

    Heritage Bank is also one of the banks offering agent banking services in the country. The bank had in March launched its agent banking scheme with the opening of what it calls the ‘Corner Shop’ bank in the Gbagada Plank Market, Lagos.

    Ifie Sekibo, managing director, Heritage Bank Limited, said the customers now have the opportunity to enjoy financial services without visiting any physical branch location. He said banking services is for everybody. “With the small bank we have opened in the market, we are offering banking services to everybody in this market, irrespective of your educational background and what you do. From this small bank, you can enjoy a lot of banking services, which is available in the bank branches. You can send money to people, receive money from others, buy recharge card. You even send money to people abroad. You can do all these at this corner shop bank,” he said.

    Subairu Akano, a trader said banking is not complete without the customers being able to access credit from the bank. He said there is also need for the bank to assure them of security of funds and efficient services. “We do not want to hear bad story. We want mutually beneficial banking services,” he said.

    Regulators

    Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Umaru Ibrahim, said although Nigeria has not reached advanced stage in its implementation of agent banking project, it is making progress. He said agent banking would go a long way in reaching out to the largely unbanked population, creating banking representations where banks ordinarily do not have enough resources to establish branches. Ibrahim explained that agent banks is a complimentary policy that is worthy of emulation as it provides simple banking services to a variety of people on behalf of various banks.

    He dispelled fears that banks with national banking licence would become lax in branch expansion with the introduction of the agent banks, saying “the banks will now be able to decide which will be more cost effective for them in reaching out to their customers, either opening up branches or using agent banks.”

    Bismarck Rewane of Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited said banks’ commitment to financial inclusion will help reduce the level of poverty and underdevelopment in the country advising that funds and credit must flow with ease to those who need them.

    He said viability of agent banking will be determined by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, per capita income, poverty and literacy level, mobile phone and internet penetration, electricity and level of insecurity among other factors.

    Complaints resolution

    The CBN has given banks and agents 72 hours to treat and resolve any customer-related issues in agent banking. The apex bank also said financial institutions shall be responsible for setting up dispute resolution mechanism for their agents to facilitate resolution of customers’ complaints.

    The CBN also pegged the minimum shareholder fund for Super Agents in Agent Banking at N50 million, a guideline released at the weekend stipulated.

    In a circular to deposit money banks, mobile money operators (MMOs) and switches, signed by Fatokun, the regulator said that Super Agent, must also have a minimum of 50 agents even as applications for such position shall be accompanied with board approval, certificate of incorporation, shareholding structure of the consortium, feasibility study for the agent network among other conditions.

    “The Nigeria Interbank Settlement Scheme (NIBSS) shall provide the switching infrastructure to enable inter-scheme CICO at all agent locations. The super-agents’ platform shall be for the management and monitoring of the activities of their agents only and shall not hold electronic money value, whereas, the financial institutions shall provide and operate the Mobile Money platform and hold electronic money value,” he said.

    Explaining further, he said all MMOs operators platforms must be up to date (inclusive of mandatory integration to NIBSS), tested and active to ensure interoperability between MMOs. Also, all licensed MMOs shall ensure that their platforms are upgraded as needed, tested and active within 30 days from the release of this document.

    For over-the-counter (OTC) transactions, it said the period for holding funds not withdrawn by a receiving customer shall be 30 days. Thereafter, the fund shall be reversed to the sender even as notifications sent to the receiving customer shall indicate the expiry date for the transaction.

    Director, CBN’s Development Finance Unit, Paul Eluhaiwe, said agent banking requires the engagement of pre-qualified individuals in different locations that are predominantly financially-excluded to serve as agents to the bank under the CBN approved model.

    Eluhaiwe said CBN’s Consumer Protection Unit has been established to ensure that customers have an adequate level of protection. This, he said, will build consumers’ confidence in the industry as previously unresolved issues are now handled appropriately. He said there are different layers of inspectors ensuring that customers deal with only banks’ approved agents.

    He recalled that in 2009, the CBN had commenced measures to open up banking channels to non-bank agents. An amendment to the Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFIA) Act allowed banks to start using agents to deliver financial services. However, it was in 2012 that the financial industry, along with other stakeholders decided to make financial inclusion a top priority and launched a National Financial Inclusion Strategy.