FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo and his onetime Ghanaian counterpart, Mr. John Kuffour have been listed for recognition at the Annual Leadership Award for African Achievers. The event which will hold on Sunday June 1, 2014, at the Balmoral Event Center, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos is the brainchild of Celebrity International Limited, publishers of Celebrity magazine. Other notable Nigerians listed for recognition are the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal, Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers State), Rauf Aregbesola (State of Osun), Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and Babatunde Fashola ( Lagos).
Tag: Kuffour
-
Kuffour wants ‘Chibok girls’ released
Another voice has joined the call for the release of over 200 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State on April 14 by the Boko Haram sect.
Former President of Ghana, Mr. John Kuffour, made the appeal while leading members of Nigerian Institute of Animal Sciences on a courtesy call to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.
The former Ghanaian leader said: “if there is any issue to be settled, it should be settled among the elders. The youths should be left out.”
“Everybody looks up to Nigeria and it (the abduction) generates nervousness among us.”
Kuffor called for dialogue on the matter, saying there is no matter that cannot be settle through dialogue.
Tambuwal in his response said the government is doing all within its power to ensure that the abducted girls were rescued and returned to their parents safely as soon as possible.
He thanked all the foreign countries supporting Nigeria in the efforts to rescue the girls.
“We are very much concern as a government. We will do our maximum best and ensure that the girls return to their parents safely. The government is not sleeping,” he said.
-
Obasanjo canvasses agric-business for Africa
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on African leaders to attract more youths and women into agriculture to increase food production.
He made the call in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital on Monday at a Development Round Table for Partnership to end Hunger in Africa.
Obasanjo said the private sector and other stakeholders must play key roles to make the proposal to work and succeed.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the roundtable session was moderated by Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina.
The African Union, Food and Agricultural Organisation and the Lula Institute convened the meeting with the theme “Unified approach to end hunger in Africa by 2025.”
Obasanjo said for Africa to eradicate hunger and poverty, “agric-business must replace farming.’’
He explained that the sector needed more financing, modern equipment, research and business approach to increase food production.
He said such an approach would yield the required dividends with only a few hectares of land that would add value to Africa’s staple foods.
“The fight against hunger must involve every stakeholder, including the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
“This effort should not be left to the governments alone; it should include the traditional institutions, the CSOs, the private sector as well as religious leaders and everybody, “the former Nigerian leader said at the forum.
Former President of Ghana, Mr. John Kufuor said there was need for research to modify and add value to food production on the continent.
-
Election: Obasanjo leads ECOWAS observers to Ghana
…Kuffour heads to Freetown for Sierra Leone’s poll
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo will lead a 250-member Economic Community Of West African States team to monitor Ghana’s general election billed for December 7.
A statement issued on Thursday by the ECOWAS communication unit said the trip is within the context of the region’s instrument for provision of support to member states holding elections.
It reads: “The ECOWAS team, comprising representatives of various segments of the West African society, will be in the country for nine days to observe the conduct of the presidential, legislative and local elections, expected to contribute to the deepening of democratic culture in the country.
“An ECOWAS assessment mission was in Ghana last October to review preparations for the elections during which the mission members met with various stakeholders, including representatives of political parties, civil society organizations and the national electoral commission, to discuss their perspectives on the preparations for the elections.
“Through these missions, the region seeks to promote a culture of transparent and credible elections, consistent with best practices for the enhancement of regional peace and stability.”
In the same vein, Ghana’s former president John Kuffuor will lead a 150-member ECOWAS Observer Mission to Sierra Leone’s general elections scheduled for November 17.
The observers drawn from various segments of the society in the region, according to the statement, will also be in the country for nine days for the presidential, legislative and local elections.
“The objective of the two missions is to help entrench a culture of transparent and credible elections that will contribute to the promotion of regional peace and stability,” it stated.