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Tag: Kalu

  • Group to host 5-million-man march in support of Tinubu, Kalu in Abia

    Group to host 5-million-man march in support of Tinubu, Kalu in Abia

    The Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders (COSEYL) is preparing to hold a major rally in Abia State to endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s achievements and commend his efforts and policies across the Southeast region.

    In a statement released on Monday, the group confirmed that all arrangements for the rally have been finalized.

    COSEYL’s President General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, and Secretary General, Comrade Okey Nwaoru, announced plans to mobilize five million youths from the Southeast to show support for President Tinubu and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who represents Abia North in the Senate.

    “We are committed to ensuring a well-organized event that will serve as a platform to highlight the outstanding leadership of President Bola Tinubu and Senator Orji Kalu,” Ibem stated.

     “The rally is expected to build momentum for the 2027 campaigns and reinforce the president’s vision for the nation’s continued progress.”

    Read Also: APC under Tinubu will give us Anioma state – Senator Nwoko

    According to the group, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, a prominent Igbo politician, has been instrumental in supporting President Tinubu’s initiatives. 

    “President Tinubu’s efforts have yielded significant results in the Southeast geopolitical zone, driving notable advancements in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and more,” Ibem said. 

    He added: “With Senator Orji Kalu at the helm, we’re optimistic about a brighter future for our region and the nation.

    “We are convinced that Kalu’s transformative leadership, coupled with youth support, will play a crucial role in securing a substantial 90% electoral victory for President Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.”

  • Unlocking Nigeria’s potential: Kalu’s blueprint for education, mining, others

    Unlocking Nigeria’s potential: Kalu’s blueprint for education, mining, others

    • By Levinus Nwabughiogu

    In his 37th convocation/50th anniversary lecture at the University of Calabar titled “Our Gown in Town and in Cyberspace: Sustainable and Human-Centered Education, The Mandate of Our Universities, 2025-2075,” delivered on Thursday, March 20, 2025, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu passionately explored the intersection of intellectual capital, technology, and community engagement.

    A thought-provoking lecture that spotlighted the transformative power of education, Kalu also challenged conventional wisdom and ignited a national conversation on the future of  development.

    With unbridled enthusiasm and a strong sense of patriotism, he highlighted pressing concerns and a litany of untapped opportunities, particularly in the mining sector, which he aptly described as a “gold mine” for the country.

    Kalu lamented that Nigeria’s vast mineral resources have remained largely untapped, despite its rich deposits in the country.

    An alumnus of the university, having graduated from the Faculty of Law in 1998, Kalu, who was enveloped by nostalgia during the visit, in his lecture, emphasized the crucial role of education in unlocking the sector’s potential, submitting that universities must shift from theoretical approaches to practical tutorials to produce graduates with relevant skills.

    However, the Deputy Speaker commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its commitment to developing the sector; and the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake for his unrelenting efforts to disrupt the system for good.

    While applauding the strides so far made in the sector, the Deputy Speaker urged the stakeholders to collaborate to unlock Nigeria’s mineral wealth and realize the sector’s full potential.

    He said: “To build a truly prosperous nation, we must align our educational priorities with the resources that define our economic potential. One such opportunity lies beneath our feet. Nigeria is abundantly blessed with solid minerals, yet for decades, our education system has focused more on theoretical disciplines than on harnessing the country’s vast natural wealth.

    “The North Central region holds significant deposits of tin, columbite, tantalite, and barite, all critical for modern electronics and industrial applications. The North West is home to gold, granite, and limestone, offering vast potential for the jewelry and construction industries. In the North East, gypsum, kaolin, and bentonite remain largely untapped, despite their importance to cement production and pharmaceuticals. The South West boasts reserves of bitumen, feldspar, and lithium—minerals essential for road construction and battery technologies, while the South East is rich in lead, zinc, coal, and also shares in the oil and gas reserves that have historically defined the nation’s economy. The South South, beyond its dominance in oil and gas, possesses large deposits of limestone, clay, and rare earth elements, which have yet to be fully explored.

    “Despite this natural endowment, Nigeria remains a net importer of many refined mineral products. The mining sector, despite its vast potential, contributed only 0.3% to Nigeria’s GDP in Q3 2022, according to KPMG—an increase from the 0.2% recorded in Q3 2021, but still far below its capacity to drive economic transformation. The gap between what we have and what we gain from it highlights a crucial flaw in our educational system. Few universities dedicate faculties to mining, mineral processing, or extractive metallurgy. Research into value addition, refining, and sustainable mining practices remains minimal. If our goal is to make education in 2075 more impactful and productivity-driven, then it must align with the needs of the nation, ensuring that the abundant resources beneath our feet become a catalyst for industrialization and economic prosperity.

    Read Also: Beyond the game: 10 Super Eagles players with academic degrees

    “This administration has made commendable strides in repositioning the mining sector. The amendment of mining laws has created a more attractive environment for investment and responsible exploration. The establishment of the Nigerian Mining Commission ensures regulatory compliance and strategic mineral development, while the recently launched Mining Fund is set to support small-scale miners and encourage local value addition. These policy changes will remain mere documents, however, unless we develop the necessary human capital to drive them.

    “Countries like China and Germany have long integrated mining into their national education strategies, producing engineers, geologists, and mineral economists equipped to transform their economies. For instance, Germany’s Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, established in 1765, is one of the world’s oldest universities dedicated to mining sciences. China’s integration of mining education has fueled its industrial growth—Nigeria must do the same. Universities should establish specialized faculties, collaborate with industry leaders, and offer hands-on training in mining and mineral processing. Making technical education accessible in local languages will boost participation. A strong mining education system will create jobs, drive industrialization, and shift Nigeria from raw mineral exports to local processing, strengthening key industries.”

    Unlocking Nigeria’s Blue Economy: Education as the key to Maritime prosperity

    Another significant area mentioned in the lecture is the maritime sector. Identifying the sector as a crucial area of interest, the Deputy Speaker emphasized the vast potential of Nigeria’s blue economy. He likened the blue economy to the mining sector, highlighting its untapped resources and unexplored  opportunities for national development.

    Kalu also expressed patriotic concerns over the congestion at Lagos ports, stressing the need for diversification to develop other parts of the country.

    He urged the universities to harness the potentials of the blue economy by incorporating hydrospace studies into their curricula, alongside town and cyberspace development.

    “Just as Nigeria’s wealth lies beneath the ground, it also stretches across our vast coastline—an untapped economic powerhouse. The Blue Economy, which leverages ocean and water resources for sustainable growth, remains one of our most promising yet underdeveloped sectors.

    “With over 853 kilometers of coastline and 200 nautical miles of exclusive economic zone, Nigeria is strategically positioned to leverage its vast maritime resources. According to a study by Owoputi Adetose Emmanuel, Nigeria’s inland waterways cover approximately 149,919 square kilometers, constituting about 15.9% of the country’s total area, which, if properly harnessed, could revolutionize trade, transportation, fisheries, tourism, and energy generation.

    “Despite these immense opportunities, the sector remains largely untapped due to insufficient investment, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of specialized knowledge. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Africa’s marine and coastal tourism sector has the potential to generate over $100 billion in revenue by 2030. Additionally, projections indicate that the continent’s blue economy could yield $576 billion annually and create 127 million jobs by 2063.

    “Yet, Nigeria’s maritime assets remain underutilized. Our ports are clustered in Lagos, strangling trade and inflating prices. Why are maritime students not modeling the economic impact of a decentralized port system? Why aren’t logistics departments partnering with fishing communities in nearby Bakassi and Oron to design cold-chain networks? If tomatoes rot in traffic jams heading to Apapa, that’s a 40% price hike in Kano markets—a problem the gown can solve with data and policy blueprints.

    “Nigeria’s Blue Economy holds vast potential, but its universities must lead in developing sector-specific expertise. How many institutions offer maritime studies, oceanography, or marine engineering? How many research centers focus on marine conservation, coastal management, or offshore renewable energy? Without aligning education with national priorities, we risk losing an industry crucial to economic diversification, job creation, and food security.

    “As we advance toward Agenda 2075, education must evolve to include hydrospace studies alongside town and cyberspace development. The future lies not only on land or in digital frontiers but also in the wealth of our waters. Our universities must rise to the challenge, producing the maritime economists, marine scientists, and naval architects who will position Nigeria as a leader in Africa’s Blue Economy”, he said.

    Power and Industrialization

    Power and industrialization remain critical components of Nigeria’s economy, and it is imperative that these sectors are fully leveraged to benefit all geopolitical zones, particularly the South East and South South regions. According to Kalu, a comprehensive approach is necessary to harness the potential of these sectors, driving inclusive growth and economic transformation across the country.

    To achieve this, the Deputy Speaker emphasized the need for a concerted effort to address the existing gaps in power, gas supply and industrial infrastructure, which have hitherto  hindered the growth of these sectors.

    He said: “Despite the immense potential of our Blue Economy, sustainable growth cannot happen without a stable power supply. No economy—whether maritime, digital, or industrial—can thrive in darkness. Reliable electricity is the backbone of development, yet communities remain trapped in cycles of blackouts, and industries in the South-South and South-East struggle for gas.

    “The Electricity Act of 2023 was a watershed moment—a law that unbundled power generation, transmission, and distribution from the exclusive to the concurrent list, et implementation gaps persist. Gas distribution infrastructure remains skeletal, stalling industrialization.

    “Imagine undergraduates in engineering and economics collaborating to map pipeline routes using geospatial AI. Picture law students drafting frameworks for public-private partnerships to fund infrastructure. This is the gown’s role: to turn legislation into lightbulbs.

    “But as we power industries and expand infrastructure, we must do so with sustainability at the core. Energy without environmental responsibility is a short-term fix with long-term consequences”.

    The Climate Imperative: No Green Futures Without Green Minds

    Similarly, the guest lecturer also raised alarm over the perennial flood disasters and erosion that have wrecked havoc in many parts of the country.

    For Kalu, it is also incumbent on the universities as notable research institutions to develop practical mechanisms to help address the challenges.

    “Nigeria faces significant environmental challenges, including increasing temperatures, rainfall variability, droughts, desertification, rising sea levels, and more frequent extreme weather events. These issues have led to biodiversity loss, reduced food and water security, increased poverty, and negative health outcomes. In 2024, severe floods affected over 9 million Nigerians and destroyed over 1.5 million hectares of cropland, exacerbating food insecurity. With 25 million already affected, this number is projected to rise to 33 million by late 2025.

    “From the floods in Maiduguri to the gully erosion devastating communities in the South East and Akwa Ibom, these crises highlight the urgent need for environmental education. Yet, few Nigerian universities have fully integrated renewable energy studies or the realities of local environmental challenges into their curricula.

    Despite climate change and resource depletion, how many final-year projects address these urgent challenges? Our universities should be developing solutions for flood-prone communities and helping farmers adapt. Imagine a microbiology graduate pioneering biogas energy from waste. This vision underscores the role of every discipline—from Philosophy to Computer Science, Engineering to Medicine, Architecture to Art—in addressing real-world problems. True academic success lies not just in GPAs or publications but in meaningful societal impact.

    “Across the world, universities have committed to sustainability initiatives, as seen in the Talloires Declaration, a ten-point action plan to integrate environmental literacy and sustainability into teaching, research, and operations. As of 2017, over 500 universities from 55 countries have signed this declaration, signaling a global commitment to sustainable development. Nigerian universities must take their place in this movement—not just by teaching sustainability, but by embedding it in their institutional DNA. If universities are to be true catalysts for change, should their impact not be measured by how well they advance the goals that define progress?”, Kalu asked.

    Sustainable Development Goals and the Role of Universities

    The Deputy Speaker also challenged the universities to take a leading role in the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aimed at achieving a more livable world.

    “Universities must take the lead in translating national ambitions into tangible progress by aligning research, innovation, and policy engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As centers of knowledge creation, they have a responsibility to drive solutions that foster inclusive growth, sustainability, and resilience.

    Education and Workforce Development (SDG 4 & SDG 8): Expanding access to education must go hand in hand with improving quality. Universities should foster public-private partnerships to enhance hostel capacity, recruit STEM lecturers, and introduce flexible learning models such as evening and online courses.

    “Healthcare Innovation (SDG 3): Medical institutions must incorporate AI-assisted diagnostics, telemedicine, and vaccine research to align with Nigeria’s healthcare revitalization goals.

    Agricultural Transformation (SDG 2 & SDG 9): Faculties of agriculture should drive AI-powered precision farming, drought-resistant crops, and climate-smart practices to strengthen food security.

    “Tech-Based Job Creation (SDG 8 & SDG 9): Universities must equip students with expertise in coding, blockchain, robotics, and cybersecurity to prepare them for the digital economy.

    “Looking ahead to 2075, the question remains: Are our universities shaping the future or merely reacting to it? The institutions that embed themselves within national development strategies will produce graduates who do not just seek jobs but create them—who do not just consume knowledge but generate it. This vision of universities as engines of innovation aligns with national efforts to expand opportunities for all, ensuring that education remains a powerful tool for economic mobility and social progress”, Kalu said.

    •Nwabughiogu is the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.

  • 15 states’ Houses of Assembly have no women representation, says Reps Deputy Speaker Kalu

    15 states’ Houses of Assembly have no women representation, says Reps Deputy Speaker Kalu

    House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu has said 15 states of the federation do not have women as members of their Houses of Assembly.

    Kalu, who heads the House Committee on Constitution Review, spoke at a three-day workshop on public presentation of the national women leaders’ forum’s operational guidelines and the roles of political parties in the passage of seat reservation for women bills yesterday in Abuja.

    The deputy speaker called for the passage of a Bill seeking to reserve special seats for women in states’ parliaments and the National Assembly for justice, strategy, and national prosperity.

    He described the underrepresentation as a statistical anomaly and a barrier to national progress.

    Kalu explained that the measure would be temporary as it was expected to run for four terms and modeled after successful initiatives in other countries, like Rwanda and Senegal, where women representation has increased to over 40 per cent.

    He said: “Democracy thrives not merely through elections but through inclusion. When half of our population remains underrepresented in halls of power, our democracy is not just weakened; it is incomplete.

    “Today, 15 states in Nigeria have zero elected women in their assemblies. At the national level, women make up a meager 3.6 per cent of the Senate and 4.7 per cent of the House of Representatives. These figures are not just statistics; they are a stain on our collective conscience and a barrier to national progress.

    Read Also: Tinubu serious with Ogoni issues, says Fubara

    “The Seat Reservation for Women Bill (HB1349), which I proudly sponsor, seeks to alter this narrative. By reserving seats for women in the National and State Assemblies, we aim to dismantle systemic barriers and create a legislature that mirrors the diversity of our nation. This is not about charity; it is about justice, strategy, and national prosperity.

    “As Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, I am spearheading efforts to ensure our foundational law reflects 21st-century realities. HB1349 proposes a structured temporary special measure — reserved seats for women, reviewed after 16 years — to accelerate gender parity.

    “This is not a permanent quota but a catalytic intervention, modeled after other nations, like Rwanda and Senegal, where similar measures boosted women’s representation to over 40 per cent.

    “Evidence shows that nations with balanced gender representation achieve higher GDP growth, better healthcare outcomes, and more innovative policymaking. For Nigeria, closing the gender gap could increase our GDP by 9 per cent by the end of 2025. When women lead, communities thrive.

    “Democracy dies in the absence of diverse perspectives. As I have always stated: women belong in all places where decisions are made. Reserved seats ensure women’s voices shape laws on education, healthcare, and security — issues that disproportionately affect them,” he said.

    Kalu urged various women’s groups to accelerate their advocacy efforts, mobilise support from political parties, and engage state assemblies, traditional leaders, and grassroots networks to get higher representation in parliaments and other areas of critical national importance.

  • Kalu: debt service burden down by 29%

    Kalu: debt service burden down by 29%

    • Reps Deputy Speaker puts burden at 67%

    House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has reduced the nation’s debt servicing burden from 96 per cent of its revenue in 2023 to 67 per cent.

    He said the government had recorded a major breakthrough in its efforts to manage its debt.

    Speaking on the topic: The Debt Crisis and the SDGs: Proposals for Sustainable Solutions at the just-concluded Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 2025 parliamentary hearing in New York, Kalu said efforts of the Tinubu government had yielded significant reduction in the nation’s debt burden.

    The Deputy Speaker, who represented the country at the events, said the achievement was a testament to the country’s commitment to sustainable development and debt management.

    He said: “Nigeria faces a dual crisis: soaring public debt (₦97.34 trillion/$108 billion as of 2024) and constrained fiscal space for SDG investments.

    “Key issues include debt servicing burden: 96 per cent of 2023 revenue was spent on debt servicing, crowding out health, education, and infrastructure budgets but the President Tinubu administration significantly reduced this debt servicing to budget ratio to 67 per cent.

    “Credit Rating Challenges: biased methodologies by global CRAs (e.g., S&P, Moody’s) inflate borrowing costs, costing Nigeria an estimated $1.5 billion annually in excess interest. SDG trade-offs: debt pressures delay critical projects like renewable energy grids and universal healthcare, jeopardizing Nigeria’s 2030 agenda commitments.

    Read Also: SEDC: Enugu lawmaker hails Kalu’s appointment

    “The National Assembly is currently reviewing the Fiscal Responsibility Act to enforce debt ceilings and transparency.

    “The House of Representatives, through my office, is actively working on reforms to leverage philanthropy and impact investing for SDG-aligned debt management.

    “To achieve this reduction, we have implemented several measures, including strengthening parliamentary oversight, regulating the financial sector, and promoting innovative financing solutions.

    “We are committed to continuing on this path and ensuring that our debt management practices are transparent, accountable, and aligned with our development goals.”

  • Reps Deputy Speaker Kalu: Hurdles agitators for new states must scale

    Reps Deputy Speaker Kalu: Hurdles agitators for new states must scale

    • Says they have till March 5 to fill application gaps
    • 30, not 31, proposals received

    The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, yesterday warned the agitators for states creation not to be carried away by the announcement that the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution had received 30 proposals for the creation of new states.

    Kalu, who spoke in an interview in Abuja yesterday, said the call for caution was informed by the hurdles the agitators for states creation must scale before their dreams can translate into reality.

    The Deputy Speaker, who chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review, also clarified proposals for new states received by the committee were 30 and not 31 as previously announced.

    He said, however, that none of the proposals for new states currently before the House has met the constitutional requirements for state creation.

    Kalu urged the applicants to comply with the constitutional procedures outlined in Section 8, subsections 1 to 3 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), saying that the parliament was giving the applicants for new states until March 5 to rectify the gaps in their applications.

    To create a new state, the Constitution requires two-thirds majority vote in the Senate, the House of Representatives, State Houses of Assembly, and local governments.

    The lawmaker said the parliament is committed to following the procedure and is inviting the applicants to resubmit their proposals once they have complied with the constitutional guidelines.

    He said: “We are the people’s parliament. We are not taking any position on the issue of creation of states.

    “We have heard a lot of people giving different narratives to the letter that was read.

    “Let me clear the dust: during the Ninth Assembly, we received more requests for state creation, and some of them came through private member bills. Some came from the memoranda we called for.

    “And in this Tenth Assembly, we have received 30, not 31. I think on that list, they repeated Ibadan State twice. It is 30 that we have received.

    “But having received that, in the last assembly, people did not know why their request for state creation did not go through.

    “In this Tenth Assembly, we decided to let the people know that granted we have received all the applications for new states to be created either through member bill or the memoranda, but not conceding that all of them are good enough to be created.

    “There are constitutional procedures in section 8 subsection 1 to 3 on how this application should be made.

    “As we speak, none of these 30 proposals have met the requirements of Section 8, and that was why we decided to bring it to the notice of Nigerians that your application before us is ineffective.

    “Therefore, you need to comply with Section 8 so that when we don’t consider the state creation request, you will know where it emanated from.

    “So, the notice to the public is that you have between now and March 5 to enable you cure the gaps in your application for state creation.

    “And if you go to section 8, you will see two-thirds majority of the Senate, that of the House of Representatives, the State Houses of Assembly as well as the local government councils.

    “So, let us follow that procedure and then present these applications again.”

    He said his committee would be going to the newspapers to place public announcements so that those who desire new states can follow the guidelines laid down by the constitutional provisions.

    He said: “We are giving them one month, which is about March 5, to cure the gaps in the applications.

    “The applications as they are will not be able to fly because we are strict with complying with the dictates of the provisions of the constitution.

    “They should fill in the gaps and bring it back before March 5.

    “There is no alternative to compliance with the provisions of the constitution.

    “The position of the constitution is sacrosanct; it is our ground norm.

    “If it says you have to follow certain procedures in line with the rule of law and observing its supremacy, you have to comply with the provisions of the constitution.

    “There is a window we have created, which is one month. It is sufficient for people to cure the gaps in their applications and we will reconsider them.”

    The lawmaker said the deluge of requests for state creation might have emanated from the people’s desire for more dividends of democracy.

    Read Also: Senator Kalu mourns victims of tanker explosion, condoles with Enugu govt

    Reading the list of requests at plenary on Thursday, he had announced 32 new requests being considered, with Lagoon State from Lagos and Lagoon State from Lagos and Ogun appearing on the list.

    But the Deputy Speaker said in yesterday’s interview that “we have received 30, not 31. I think, on that list, they repeated Ibadan State twice. It is 30 that we have received.

    Even though the numbering on the document made available to newsmen had 31 states, a close observation revealed that New Kaduna State and Gurara State to be created from the present Kaduna State appeared on the same line.

    “I think it reflects the desire to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    “People want the dividends of democracy to trickle down the grassroots and they feel in their minds that the best approach is to have their own state.

    “So, if you watch the space closely, you will see the President has been very intentional in creating development commissions across the country.

    “Beyond the feeling of marginalization is a desire to have the dividends of democracy felt at the grassroots more than before, and the instrument of state creation for some people is what they believe will be used as a tool to achieve that. That is what many Nigerians believe.

    “The more states you create, the more they will have access to the dividends of democracy. Whether that is true or not is not for me to judge, because you know I am a presiding officer and the Chairman of the Committee on Constitution Review, and I can’t take a position.

    “My position is to be the unbiased umpire who will listen to the desires of all Nigerians either through the bills presented to the parliament for constitutional amendment or the memoranda that we received from the public.

    “So, when we do, we analyse and then take a position based on what the people want,” he said.

    Reacting to the position of Afenifere that states be allowed to control their resources while making returns to the federal government instead of creating more states, the Deputy Speaker said the parliament would look at the merits and demerits of all proposals before it and accord it the wishes of Nigerians.

    “Honestly, the parliament listens to all sides of narratives on any issue, and ours is to feel the pulse of the people, how they feel about an issue, and then analyse it through debates and the parliament will not take a position.

    “We will not impose any position on Nigerians,” he said.

    List of the proposed states as released by the HoR

    NORTH-CENTRAL

    BENUE ALA STATE from Benue State.

    OKUN STATE from Kogi State

    OKURA STATE from Kogi State

    CONFLUENCE STATE from Kogi State

    APA-AGBA STATE from Benue South Senatorial District

    APA STATE from Benue State.

    FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA

    NORTH-EAST

    AMANA STATE from Adamawa State.

    KATAGUM STATE from Bauchi State.

    SAVANNAH STATE from Borno State.

    MURI STATE from Taraba State.

    NORTH-WEST

    NEW KADUNA STATE and GURARA STATE from Kaduna State.

    TIGA STATE from Kano State.

    KAINJI STATE from Kebbi State.

    GHARI STATE from Kano State

    SOUTH-EAST

    ETITI STATE go be di sixth state for di South East geopolitical zone.

    ADADA STATE from Enugu State.

    URASHI STATE from South East geopolitical zone.

    ORLU STATE from di South Eastern Region of Nigeria.

    ABA STATE from the South Eastern Region of Nigeria.

    SOUTH-SOUTH

    OGOJA STATE from Cross River State.

    WARRI STATE from Delta State.

    BORI STATE from Rivers State.

    OBOLO STATE from Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.

    SOUTH-WEST

    TORU-EBE STATE from Delta, Edo, and Ondo States.

    IBADAN STATE from Oyo State.

    LAGOON STATE from Lagos State.

    IJEBU STATE from Ogun State.

    OKE-OGUN from Ogun State

    IFE-IJESHA from Oyo and Osun states.

  • Kalu lauds Abia monarch for ensuring peace, stability

    Kalu lauds Abia monarch for ensuring peace, stability

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, has praised the traditional ruler of the Ugwu Ibere Autonomous Community, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State for ensuring peace and stability in his domain.

    Kalu said this at a ceremony to mark the 25th coronation anniversary of the monarch, the Ugwu 1 of Ugwu Ibere, His Royal Majesty, Eze Prof Sir, Ezeudo Samuel Ifenwanta.

    The event also served to commemorate the 83rd birthday celebration of the revered monarch.

    The Abia lawmaker lauded the royal father for sustaining a conducive environment in the autonomous community for the past 25 years on the throne.

    He maintained that the socio-economic impact of government interventions should be from the grassroots.

    This was as he mooted that the traditional institutions should be made the fourth tier of government.

    He said this would be an efficient way to drive development to the grassroots and to ensure that the people reap the dividends of democracy faster.

    Earlier, Governor Alex Otti, represented by the Mayor of Ikwuano, Anthony Nwaubani, lauded the monarch.

    He said the traditional ruler attained his present status on merit.

    Also speaking, the Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District Colonel Austin Akobundu wished the monarch more years in good health.

    He promised to collaborate with relevant bodies to attract developmental projects to Ugwu Ibere autonomous community.

    The Member representing South East on the Board of the North East Development Commission, Hon Sam Onuigbo, appreciated the monarch for his positive impact on humanity.

    Onuigbo, who is a son-in-law to the monarch, described Eze Ifenwanta as a rare leader with exceptional leadership qualities.

    He expressed gratitude to Nigerians from all walks of life for gracing the event and wished the royal father many more fruitful years in the throne.

    In his response, His Royal Majesty Eze Sir Prof. Ezeudo S. Ifenwanta who appreciated all that graced the ceremony, especially Governor Otti for his pragmatic and effective leadership.

    He said the reconstruction of Elemaga Itunta Bridge and the Amawom-Nkalunta road are a testament to the governor’s developmental strides in Abia.

    The Ugwu 1 of Ugwu Ibere, however, noted that lack of a neighborhood secondary skill development institution inhibits societal growth.

    He called for the full restoration of the Ibere Technical College as well as the need for a tertiary technological institution.

    He said  the people of Ugwu Ibere Autonomous Community have decided to donate about 50 hectares of land for the Tertiary Education Project.

    The well attended event was graced by dignitaries from all walks of life.

  • Tinubu right to ignore IMF, World Bank, says Kalu

    Tinubu right to ignore IMF, World Bank, says Kalu

    Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is right not to have accepted the economic policy prescriptions of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Drawing insights on the over-hauled Port-Harcourt and Warri Refineries, including the stability of the exchange rate,  the former Abia Governor noted that Nigeria wouldn’t have recorded its current level of progress if the President had accepted the monetary and economic packages of both the IMF and WB.

    Kalu stated this on Monday while addressing a gathering of guests at the Arochukwu Local Government country home of Chief Sunday Ugwa, according to a statement by his media aide, Kenneth Udeh, in Abuja.

    He lectured the guests on Tinubu’s economic reforms such as the petrol subsidy removal, the liberalisation of the foreign exchange system, the deregulation of the country’s petroleum downstream sector, the Tax Reform Bills and other policies.

    According to Kalu, Nigeria’s economic problems stem from indigenous factors and such required homegrown macro-fiscal reforms which the President had already deployed to stimulate the economic growth and development which the Nation is beginning to witness.

    “President Tinubu removed subsidy which former President Olusegun Obasanjo refused to do and he merged the exchange rate. We need to redefine governance models in Africa and some third world countries.

    “We must not accept all the recommendations of the World Bank and IMF, most of them are wrong. We must use home grown policies to solve our economic problems, because the majority of our problems are caused by local issues.

    “The kind of decisions Tinubu has been taking are the ones no President in the history of this country dared implement, but we all know deep within ourselves that those decisions are inevitable if we truly want to prosper as a nation,” Kalu said.

    To buttress his position,  Senator Kalu drew reference to the downward trend in the prices of petrol describing it as a sign that the President’s reforms were beginning to yield results.

    Kalu posited that there’ll be reduction in prices of other goods and services;

    “I know times are hard but let us be optimistic. Can you remember how much the  price of fuel and diesel were months ago and compare it to what the price is today ?

    “All other Inflated prices will come down. I am telling you the truth. Today the Warri Refinery that has not worked for over 20 years has started working,” he said.

    Kalu further cited an instance of how the Asian Tigers (Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong) ignored the IMF and World Bank economic packages but yet have continued to record progress in their economies.

    He further urged youths not to shy away from democratic process in order not to allow the election of charlatans into elective offices.

    “The Asian Tigers jettisoned the IMF and World Bank but today we can see how they have progressed. Politicians must work very hard to sustain democracy because democracy is good for everyone but we must participate in democracy.

    “I challenge young people to stand up for democracy,  if you don’t participate you’ll allow idiots to be elected then it will no longer be interesting,” he said.

    He reiterated his stance for a shift in Nigeria’s economic strategy via regional competition as a key driver for growth using China as an example.

    Kalu called for commitment of both the Government and the people, saying, “We cannot be successful and develop without putting in the work on both the side of the Government and the people,  as Nigeria is today.

    “We cannot develop unless we engage in competition. China is said not to value human rights but they have been growing annually at 10 per cent for the last 35 years,” he said.

    Kalu’s host, Chief Sunday Ugwu, expressed gratitude to the Senator for honouring his invite and acknowledged the lawmaker’s impact in community development.

    He said: “I ask God to bless you, what you have for our people is very good and remarkable.  The rousing welcome you received when you arrived here shows your level of acceptance and how loved you are.”

  • Kalu, Emir Sanusi II, Agary, Abaribe, others raise a voice…

    Kalu, Emir Sanusi II, Agary, Abaribe, others raise a voice…

    As the tumultuous year 2024 clock ticks to a close, Nigerians home and abroad like the global community eagerly await the dawn of 2025. As with all New Years, there are expectations, regrets, anticipations, dreams, plans and even the often laughable ’New Year Resolutions’ some of which fade away before the end of the first quarter of the year. But humans are born optimists. Pregnancies occur and there is growth and expectations of development. The child is born and there is hope of the expected milestones of growth both mentally and physically.

    So when a child is born and does not develop according to the known milestones especially the motor and cognitive stages, naturally the parents and extended family begin to ask questions and plans are made to assist the child lead a near normal life. These days, fatalism that fuels superstition has given room to realistic steps to assist children with physical or learning challenges to develop and maximize their potentials no matter how imperfect. The bottomline however is that the adults in the societal room make efforts to help the child with development challenges.

    This narrative is a mere illustrative sample of the developmental challenges and how the human community tries to fill the gap. At regional and national levels, Nigeria appears like the child whose development is challenged and the people that pride themselves as the greatest black people on earth have seemingly been oscillating between near development and a situation of total socio-economic chaos resulting in mass poverty and  gaining the country the notoriety of the country with the largest number of out-of-school children, the poverty capital of the world, the country with one of the highest number of maternal and child mortality and numerous other development challenges that have impacted the standard of living and life expectancy.

    Since 1999 and with the return to civilian democracy in the country, each administration has encountered daunting challenges that seem to worsen with each transition to a new government. The socio-economic problems in the country have in a way stunted the growth of a 64 year old independent Nigeria. But Nigeria has not always been in dire development straits. The descent to anomie started with the post-independent power struggle of which the military took a huge advantage of. Coups and counter coups, a three year war, and political instability almost pushed the country off the edge.

    The return to civilian democracy in 1999 has signaled some development but it is still not uhuru. The country is still tethering and the socio-economic problems seem to be escalating by the day. There has been a tendency for the blame game between the leaders and the led. The Bottomline line is that both sides of the aisle are casualties of systemic dysfunction.

    Nkata Ndi Inyom Igbo Foundation, a socio-cultural group of women of Igbo ancestry or by marriage has since its birthing in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown period been concerned about the slow development not just of the region but of the whole country. The group, coming from a background of traditional dual governance of both men and women decided to take the lead  by doing something. The group has a Board of Advisers made up of only men working progressively with an all female Board of Trustees giving vent to the motto of the foundation which is “Partnering for Development”.

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    The vision of the group is to steer both regional and national conversations that could accelerate development. The first word Nkata in Igbo language means conversation. The group believes that the powerful tool of conversation, dialogue or effective communication can be employed to unknot the development crisis that has been affecting the country. They have in the last three years been deeply involved in strategic communication using all necessary tools to address issues of development in the country.

    For this year’s conference, the group brought together informed and influential Nigerians to Abuja to discuss the theme, “Driving Transformation Through Value Re-Orientation, Inclusive Leadership and Sustainability”.

    This theme was chosen after very wide consultations. The bane of Nigeria’s developmental problems is due to a multiplicity of issues. However, at the root of the problems is the loss of core values that held communities together. The values that do not by any means produce Saints but at least helped the society to uphold certain core values that helped in maintaining a more progressive and cohesive society. The values of integrity, honesty, diligence, respect and other values seem to be on the decline. Ironically, most people assume that the leaderships over the years are to blame but aren’t the leadership taken from the people?

    Again, inclusive leadership has been an issue in the democratic space. Civil Rights and Gender advocates have been worried that the Nigerian political space is suffused with masculine energy in that more than 90% of political offices are occupied by men in all tiers of government. What this means is that many qualified women do not get the much desired opportunpartake in leadership. Global institutions like the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) all have research findings that show that countries with less opportunities for women are always lagging behind developmentally.

    Ironically in Nigeria, statistics have shown that women excel in those areas where merit and capacity are the criteria. The informal sector that contributes a lot to the GDP has mainly women operators. Many women are at the helm of many financial institutions as chairmen and CEOs. In the academia, many women are in very high positions just as many perform well in sports, entertainment and music. It therefore beggars belief that when it comes to political inclusion, very few women are allowed to bring their competence and learning to contribute to national development.

    The near exclusion of women, the youths and those living with disabilities in the democratic process contributes to the lack of development in the country. No bird flies successfully with one wing. This is exactly the reality of the Nigerian situation. The human capital is neither fully developed nor utilized for the good of the country. So the conversation at the conference was robustly about three key points, value-reorientation, inclusive leadership and sustainability.

    The varied Speakers at the conference from the different sectors of the Nigerian society spoke brilliantly about the need for an introspection by the Nigerian society. National development is never sourced out. The citizens must choose what path they want to development. The political structure must be inclusive and equitable. The present political exclusion cannot birth a developed nation. The political party structure must change. Competence and merit must be the criteria for leadership selection.

    According to Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Soeaker Nigerian House of Representativesthe 10th assembly who Chaired the Conference, the house would be willing to revisit the gender equity bills and make other laws that would facilitate inclusivity to enhance development. In his speech, he agreed that national development cannot be achieved without women participation given the fact that women are natural builders.

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, spoke of what he called “the uncomfortable truth”. According to him, while we all acknowledge the loss of values especially amongst his Igbo ethnic group, he believes that women have a role to play in raising their children with admirable values that ennoble. He said the people must go back to the values of integrity, diligence and honesty if any changes must happen to propel development. Acquitting wealth by any means is not a cultural attitude. Wealth in Igbo culture always comes from traceable business

    According to the Emir of Kano, HRH Lamido Sanusi II who was Royal Father of the Day, investing in women must be a priority and a national emergency because women hold the key to development. He believes that the idea of brandishing statistics of, maternal and child mortality, malnurished children, out of school children, child brides, female IDPs is defeatist. The governments must try to be proactive right from the cradle because an educated woman holds the key to the prevention of a lot of the socio-economic problems that affect the country. According to the Emir, investment in women development is key to national growth given the great role they play in the lives of their children.

    The Emir recalled the role he played as Central Bank governor in making sure more qualified women were appointed into many financial institutions and today more women are directors not just at the CBN but they are also CEOs of many banks. He went further to advise Nigerians about values that matter. He believes the people must distinguish between what and who they are. In his view, what you are might be a position but who you are is the value you bring to the people through what you are.

    The former First Lady of Ekiti state, Erelu Adebisi Adeleye-Fayemi a renowned civil and gender rights advocate reiterated her call for the protection and empowerment of the girl child or woman by ensuring they are educated, certain harmful cultural practice eradicated because rather than enhance development, those harmful cultural practices negatively affect not just the woman but the society at large. In her view, every woman who is denied a seat at the table, every girl who is denied education, every woman under the burden of domestic violence takes the country down the ladder of underdevelopment.

    Timi Koripami-Agary (PhD), a retired permanent Secretary and activist often called Mama Amnesty for her very effective role in the amnesty programme in the Niger Delta was the Mother of the Day at the conference. As a very renowned mediator on Labour, gender and conflict issues she maintains that development cannot happen like magic. She  insists that the country must be conscious of the value of women and equity to development. It would be delusional to assume that development can come without peace and gender justice rooted on the justice system that guarantees equity for all.

    The conversation as is being advocated by the Nkata group should be embraced by Nigerians from all regions because of the interdependence of all the regions. Bringing the conference to Abuja and the coalition of Nigerians from almost all tribes in the country was a good way to prepare the people for the coming year. There is no alternative to the national conversation that Nkata Ndi Inyom Igbo Foundation has initiated. This is the first part of what happened at the Abuja Conference.

    The dialogue continues…

  • Kalu: Non-kinetic efforts to address security challenges in Southeast yielding results

    Kalu: Non-kinetic efforts to address security challenges in Southeast yielding results

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, has said non-kinetic efforts to address the challenge of insecurity in the southeast are yielding positive results.

    Kalu said this when he received the Outstanding Peace Ambassador Award for his initiative, Peace in the South East Project (PISE-P), from the House of Representatives Press Corps.

    The event also marked the launch of the fourth edition of the Press Corps’ magazine, the Green Sentinel, as well as the launch of its website.

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    The Deputy Speaker, who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, reiterated his commitment to ensuring lasting peace in the region.

    Kalu said security agencies have given commitment to pursue non-kinetic solutions to address the problem. He said though the efforts so far in this regard were yielding positive results more still needs to be done. He expressed gratitude to the Corps led by Gboyega Onadiran for its professionalism in ensuring Nigerians are provided with accurate information pertaining to the workings of the parliament.

  • Kalu: Non-kinetic approaches improving security in southeast

    Kalu: Non-kinetic approaches improving security in southeast

    …lauds Tinubu’s efforts towards regionalism

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has stated that non-kinetic strategies to tackle insecurity in the Southeast are yielding positive outcomes.

    Kalu made this remark while receiving the Outstanding Peace Ambassador Award from the House of Representatives Press Corps for his Peace in the South East Project (PISE-P) initiative. 

    The award presentation coincided with the launch of the fourth edition of the Corps’ magazine, Green Sentinel, and the unveiling of its new website.

    Representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, the Deputy Speaker reaffirmed his dedication to fostering lasting peace in the region.

    He noted that security agencies have pledged to prioritize non-kinetic solutions, which are showing encouraging progress but still require further efforts.

    Kalu also expressed appreciation to the Press Corps, led by Gboyega Onadiran, for maintaining professionalism and providing Nigerians with accurate information about parliamentary activities.

    He said: “Before now, I was the spokesperson of the House, and I worked with you. You have not changed. You remain consistent in ensuring that you do the right work with regards to the ethics of your profession. 

    “You’ve been feeding Nigerians with the right information. You’ve been unbundling what we do here, we want to be more transparent. You know what that has done for us is that it has increased the confidence level of Nigerians in the workings of the parliament, more than it used to be. 

    “And today, launching the Green Sentinel, this Green Sentinel started when I was with you. And you’ve not allowed a dream to die. And I’m so proud of you to support you to make sure that you keep telling the story. 

    “You’ve also gone ahead to give me an award, not just as one of you, but as one of you who is interested in peace and motivation. The motivation has been nothing but the fact that we only have one country. We don’t have two. All this division. North, South, West, doesn’t matter to people like us. 

    “In fact, the more it is dissolved, the better. The more we remove all these North, South, East, West, the better for us because we are one. Because we are one, we must preach peace to sustain that oneness. That is the truth. We must preach it starting from home and from the Southeast, and they say charity begins at home. There’s no how I would preach peace outside to the rest of the rest of Nigeria, while leaving what is in my area.

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    “You know, southeast has been, you know, there’s been a crisis there for some time, even though it’s going down now a little bit through our various interventions, and through your own intervention, the way you report the stories there, it’s going down. But we started the Southeast Peace Project, which the President was there to launch on the 29th of December barely a year now. 

    “And with that, we lobbied for the South East Development Commission, we reached out to people and we are beginning to speak to those who are radicalized and say, please come. 

    “There are better ways of achieving what we want to achieve through the non-kinetic approach. We spoke to the military and the security forces and they have given their support and they are ensuring that the kinetic approach to resolving problems is not the only approach.

    “It’s working. Are we there yet? No. Are we going to get there? Yes. Especially now that the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in his magnanimity approved the Southeast Development Commission Bill to become an Act and has gone ahead to make a budget proposal. So he’s not just talking the talk, he is walking the talk. 

    “What this would do for the peace project we are doing is that it’s going to calm the nerves of so many people who are agitating for one marginalization or the other. The President has now said this is the fund from the federation account to develop your place. What other excuse do you have to carry arms? What other excuse do you have to destroy your place? This is a peace tool that the President has given to us. And the President has taken that also to other regions of the country.

    “The regional development agenda of Mr. President is a wonderful agenda because you see Northwest has received funds that are going to be used to calm the nerves of those there who are carrying out the insurgency and the rest of them. Northeast is working. 

    “Very soon, Southwest will start. South-South, and the rest of them. Before you know it, it would be every man to your own camp, develop your place. That is a regional agenda which worked for us before which is coming back again in the spirit of federalism and I’m sure it is going to work. 

    “So all this is because if we don’t pursue peace, there will be no unity. And if we don’t have unity, there will be no progress. Check our coat of arms. It says, peace, unity and progress. So if Nigeria wants to progress, the foundation is peace. Thank you for recognizing our work, and we pledge to partner with you to make sure that we achieve more within that space.”