The Nation Newspaper

Tag: leaders’

  • Police summon ex-militant leaders over Southern Ijaw poll

    Police summon ex-militant leaders over Southern Ijaw poll

    The Bayelsa State Police Command has summoned ex-militant leaders and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to a meeting tomorrow in Yenagoa ahead of Saturday’s rerun governorship election in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state and a few other polling units.

    The invitation is already generating tension in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whose supporters are left out of the planned meeting.

    The police in a copy of the invitation letter dated December 31, 2015 and sent to one of the ex-militant leaders, Eris Paul, popularly known as Ogunboss, asked the former agitators to appear on January 4.

    The meeting was summoned by the police command through the office of the State Intelligence Bureau led by one Deputy Superitendent of Police (DSP), Ondo Gbekumo.

    The letter says attendance to the meeting is compulsory.

    It said: “‎The attendance to the meeting by ex-militant leaders is mandatory as issues bothering on threat to security on the January 9th election will be discussed.”

    Also invited to the meeting is General Africa who openly supported President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 Presidential election.

    But the summoned ex-militant leaders accused the state police command of bias toward the PDP.

    They called for the overhaul of the present structure of the state police claiming that the state police command as currently constituted lacks the discipline to ensure a free and fair election in Southern Ijaw.

    They alleged that Gbekumo who signed the invitation letter is an apologist and relation of the PDP candidate and Governor of the State, Mr. Seriake Dickson.

    Ogunbos said:”When did we become members of the state security agencies to be invited to security meeting? Nothing annoys me so much as receiving the invitation from a relative of Governor Seriake, Ondo Gbekumo.”

    Te Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Astimin Butswat, confirmed that the ex-militant leaders were formally invited as stakeholders to contributed to a violence – free election in the Council.

    “‎We have invited them for discussions. We are exploring every medium available to ensure a hitch free election,” he said.

  • Community honours leaders

    Community honours leaders

    Former Secretary to Lagos State Government and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olorunfunmi Basorun has received a merit award from the Ikorodu-Oga Development Association (IKODASS) for his immense contributions to the development of Ikorodu community, Lagos.

    Other outstanding community leaders were also honoured.

    Speaking during the occasion, Basorun urged notable indigenes of Ikorodu not to relent in contributing their quota to make life better for the less-privileged persons, stressing that they would be honoured in due course.

    Basorun said the honour bestowed on him did not come as a surprise; noting that he and other politicians have been at the forefront of attracting development to Ikorodu.

    He added that Ikorodu and Lagos State entirely will make tremendous progress under the present APC-led Federal Government, urging the people to support and participate in government’s programmes.

    “Our people should support this government that is working relentlessly to develop the state. We should have faith in Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his team.

    “I feel honoured by this award. In the Bible, it said a prophet is not honoured at home. I am grateful to my people for deeming it fit to give me this merit award.

    “It is a call to service; it is a call not to relent in what I do for my people and I am not going to look back. I will always make myself available to the people. Our people should take part in the politics and support the ruling party. They should make themselves available the same way I serve them.”

    Also speaking, the Ayangburem of Ikorodu HRM Oba Adewale Shotobi commended the APC chieftain on his efforts, adding that the politician has been a dependable leader.

    He said the merit award was to put on records that no sacrifice made on behalf of one’s community is in vain. He called on other indigenes to emulate the sterling qualities of Basorun.

    “Basorun, you have done well to make Ikorodu great. You are one of the few leaders who serve this community with dedication. Your political sagacity is well recognised and had attracted many developments to Ikorodu.

  • Bayelsa gangsters and leaders

    No question about it: what transpired during the Bayelsa State governorship election penultimate weekend was a show of shame and failure of leadership. The poll witnessed a brazen display of the reprehensible mentality in Nigerian politics that electoral outcomes shouldn’t simply be left to informed and intelligent voters to freely decide, but should rather be modulated by political actors who test one another’s will in superior use of force as well as intimidation of opposing voters and, indeed, the election management body. And that is not counting the generous dose of all other imaginable manners of subterfuge thrown in the mix. For a state that is relatively less expansive in administrative scale, considering that it has just eight local government areas (Kano has 44) – although many of the communities are riverine and estuarine, hence very difficult to access, it was shameful that the governorship election ended up inconclusive largely because of the impunity of the political leaders and their supporters alike.

    Militancy is not alien to the south-south zone where Bayelsa State is located, and so, no reasonable person foreclosed the likelihood that there would be some measure violence in the course of the election. But what played out penultimate weekend overshot all reasonable projections. Sheer violence and other electoral malpractices, including ballot box snatching, intimidation of voters and polling officials, characterised the December 5 election in many of the local government areas, especially the riverine terrains. At the Southern Ijaw council area, election officials were barricaded in by militants at the council office and prevented from deploying for the election, compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reschedule the poll in that area to Sunday, December 6. But when the election eventually held, the brigandage was fiercer; it was so bad that militant supporters were reported to have held polling officials hostage. The electoral commission subsequently cancelled the poll in the entire local government area, thereby making the governorship election inconclusive.

    Violence and poll cancellation: those were the hallmarks of the Bayelsa election – just like it has been in many other areas across this country. The two leading political parties – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – were the major culprits in Bayelsa, as they maximally exerted their capacity for mutual intimidation during the poll. If one may play the devil’s advocate, the high level of desperation by these parties was, perhaps, not too far fetched: Bayelsa is the home state of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who lost power in the 2015 general election as PDP’s candidate, and it would seem a matter of existential pride for the party to hold on to the state and avert the ultimate humiliation by the APC. For the APC, on the other hand, winning Bayelsa State would rank next to taking over power at the presidency in conclusively proving the party’s supremacy over the PDP.

    Contestation for political supremacy is fine if it is done within the universal bounds of civility and the voter’s indivisible right to exercise free choice – which is the essence of democracy. And that free choice ought to be informed and guided by the voter’s keen awareness of the policies and programmes being put on offer by the political parties and their candidates. In Bayelsa however, as has been typical of the Nigerian political space, the parties and their candidates did anything but engage in a decent contest of ideas and programmes to convince the voters. The comportment of the political actors was more of seeking to compel an outcome through the use of force and other malpractices. The two major parties, in particular, exerted themselves in a mutual test of capacity for intimidation and taking umbrage. Even though the governorship candidates signed a peace accord before the election, there was little evidence that they took the accord seriously, and they evidently did very little to rein in those militants – their supporters – who disrupted the balloting in some areas.

    The PDP candidate, Seriake Dickson, who is seeking re-election as Governor, stood out as using his official position to mobilise mob sentiment at different stages of the balloting process. It was ironic seeing the chief security officer of a state carry on with the gung-ho of a lynch mob leader. The tendency, however, is not peculiar to Dickson: there have been other state governors who, in the thick of past elections, resorted to verbal lynching of the electoral commission, their political opponents and other stakeholders in election administration such as the security agencies, just to gain whatever advantage they thought was possible in the process. In Bayelsa State, there were mutual calls by the political parties for the candidate of the other party to be disqualified by the electoral commission. But such advocates need to know that the provisions of the law – for instance, Section 31 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended – do not give the commission the muscle to act as canvassed. By the way, it was for the same reason that INEC could do nothing about the unwilling candidature of James Faleke when the APC nominated him as Deputy to Mohammed Bello for the recent Kogi State supplementary election.

    I have always wondered why political emotions are so raw and unbridled in our own electoral jurisdiction. Electoral contests in many other climes do not entail the level of desperation and bile that we see in this country. I know this because I have had the privilege to observe elections in a good number of other countries that space would not allow me to elaborate upon here.  It’s not as if all the ills of the Bayelsa election were from the political class alone. Many observers reported that polling units opened late in many areas, and INEC has the blame for the disfunctionality of its deployment system. But I also happen to know that there is a sense in which even this challenge is connected with the uncivil temperament of the political actors. For, instance, the electoral commission typically cascades its deployment of personnel and materials from the state headquarters to the polling units for any election, with security agents providing protection all the way. Where security agents were not promptly available to provide that protection, deployment would have to stall because risks could not be taken in view of the impunity that characterised the electoral environment. Bayelsa is also peculiar because of the predominantly riverine terrain, much of which is not easily accessible. But let’s be clear: none of these frees INEC from blame for the disfunctionality of its logistics.

    Observers also reported deviations from regulations for accreditation in a few polling units, such that some polling officials allowed voters whose Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were not authenticated by the Smart Card Readers to proceed with the balloting process contrary to the commission’s process design. And there were reports that security agents looked the other way in some places where militant supporters disrupted the voting process. For a singular operation executed by tens of thousands of hands, it is a tough call to expect the electoral commission to guarantee full compliance with the regulations by every single staff. In ideal situations, political parties would assist the electoral commission with field oversight of the voting process if they weren’t so given to impunity.

  • Nigerian students elect leaders

    Nigerian students elect leaders

    The Nigerian Students’ Society (NSS)  of  the Leeds University in the United Kingdom (UK) have elected their leaders, who will administer their affairs for a year.

    The students held the election during the society’s yearly general meeting and congress.

    The election took place in RM 2 in the Leeds University Students’ Union (LUSU) building. At the end of the poll, Anietie Usen Anietie, a Law student, was elected the president, while Salim Ata is the Vice President and Amanda Umobi, General Secretary.

    Other elected officers are Events and Logistic Officer Ramo Ayoka; Hospitality Manager Ayeesh Bala; Public Relations Manager Yasmine Ajudua; Secretary of Treasury Teslim Oderinu, and Sport Secretary Victor Enendo.

    The outgoing president, Kelechi Anyikude, urged the incoming executive to be proactive and work as a team. He said they must hit the ground running, noting that the society still had challenges.

    The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Femi Omoniyi, a doctoral student, congratulated the new leaders, appealing to them to work hard in repositioning NSS for the interest of the members.

    At the swearing-in, members expressed happiness on the conduct of the election and the electioneering. The outgoing General Secretary, Oluwaloseyi Babaeko, a Master’s student of Politics and International Studies, said: “I considered it a rare privilege and honour to have served NSS diligently. I wish all the newly-elected officials the very best of luck in administering the affairs of the society.’’

     

     

  • ‘How we groom leaders’

    ‘How we groom leaders’

    Three-year-old Gregory University Uturu (GUU), Abia State, insists its vision is not just to churn out top-level graduates but also painstakingly groomed leaders, reports ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA who visited the institution. 

    At Gregory University Uturu (GUU), Abia State, the undergraduates are not addressed as students, but scholars.

    “Here our students are called scholars and not students simply because we made research and leadership to be part of their daily academic exercise,” said Mr Ogbonnaya Ogwo, Dean of Scholars.

    “We are not merely grooming students here but finished products who upon graduation, a potential employer would not need to offer additional training in leadership and expertise to adjust to the work environment. Our target is that before graduation, our students will have been equipped socially, psychologically, academically and otherwise.”

    The institution is grooming leaders who will be free and equipped to make critical impact wherever they are, but while they are still being groomed, GUU does not take chances when it come to discipline.

    Imagine you wish to visit your parents and the school authorities ask you to sign an exit form, and later reach out to your parents to get the green light before you are finally granted the freedom by the Students Affairs unit?

    At GUU such disciplinary measures are the rule rather than the exception.

    Ogwo recalled that when the measure was first introduced by the university three years ago, many of the students described it as draconian and a breach of their right to freedom. Today, the nearly 500 youthful undergraduates are  happy with it, Ogwo added.

    “We are happy about it,” said Madibuko Chibuzor a 300-Level Mass Communications scholar of the institution.

    “We have since realised that the move is not to cage us but ensure our safety anywhere we are. Mind you, it is not that we do not enjoy social life; only that here, it is redefined. We have social events which are approved by the authorities. The most important thing is that we are made to see fun as a part of our study and what should equally contribute to our overall growth.”

    And that also determines the students’ leadership, Ogwo added. The student with the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average in his or her 300 level automatically becomes the President of the Scholars’ Body.

    Mgbe Ezekial is currently the President Scholars’ Body.  Ngbe, a Political Science undergraduate with a CGPA of 4.75, said the emergence a student’s leader is automatic once the aforementioned condition is met, and not determined by shortcuts or nepotism.

    ”It’s a wake-up call,” Ngbe said concerning his new status. “This is my first time of handling a portfolio. My role oftentimes involved playing a middleman between management and students. So it’s an opportunity for me to know what leadership in real life should be and how I should exhibit those virtues I’m learning now when I eventually get into the outside world.

    GUU, licensed in February 2012 by the National Universities Commission ushered in its first fruits for the 2012/2013 academic session in October across its three colleges- Humanities, Social & Management Sciences as well as Natural and Applied Sciences.

    However, its chief Gregory Ibe, a former lecturer in Abia State University and a science-inclined personality, dreamed that beyond merely establishing a university, the graduates would be equipped with indigenous knowledge capable of solving both local and global challenges. And unlike many young institutions hungry for students and therefore pampering the few ones they have, the founder made discipline the mantra of the university.

    Recently, we expelled two students for gross insubordination, “said the university’s Registrar Dr Austin Orisakwe.

    He continued:  “Some have also been suspended. There was a particular one that was suspended for a full session. Expulsion or suspension or both is part of our practice here and students are beginning to realise that academics require disciple. Generally, behaviors have improved when compared to when we started.”

    Today with NUC approval, the institution runs additional colleges in Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, Engineering and as well as a privilege to transit seamlessly to run MBBS to consolidate the Basic Medical Science it initially commenced under the College Natural and Applied Sciences.

    Today GUU wears the look of a construction site with endearing facilities that dot the landscape.

    According to Ogwo, the Founder would leave no stone unturned in its determination to see GUU evolve as a 21-century institution. To this end, he has deployed his life’s earning to ensuring that the university suffers no infrastructures.

    Little wonder, between July and August this year, the institution’s College of Engineering played host to 293 professors of engineering and lab technologists across 73 universities nationwide who were trained in phases in a TETFund (tertiary Education Trust Fund)-sponsored exercise.

    “Though we are still very young, TETFund chose us to host that training because of the amount of facilities in our College of Engineering here,” said GUU Vice Chancellor Prof Charles Uchenna Okoroafor.

    One important mileage, according to Okoroafor, is that students are allowed to pay the tuition in three installments. In addition, the university also offers student work-study program for the indigents. Another opportunity, continued Okoroafor, is the two week orientation course GUU offers new students to familiarise them with the vision and mission of the institution.

    Okoroafor said aside the Founder’s regular financial contributions, GUU now runs the Enterprise Ventures, in which the founder equally ploughed back some of his personal investments to further shoot up the university internally generated revenue.

    Substantiating Okoroafor’s claim, Chidinma Uwandu a 300-Level Mass Communications undergraduate told The Nation that lecturer-student relationship is flexible, allowing the latter to enquire on any grey area be it in the classroom or otherwise.

    “We are able to tell our lecturer that we do not understand any aspect and the possibility of explaining any difficult area to us is there. Here, no student suffers complex issue as well all see our teachers as motivators with whom we can always confide in or exchange ideas.”

    Uwandu whose parents lived in Abuja, said the choice of GUU has also paid off as she now speaks the Igbo language which her parents had always wanted her to learn but could not due to her stay with them in Abuja.

    Uwandu’ teacher and HoD Mass Communications Dr Chibuzor Izuchukwu, is happy that having put up a glorious career as a retired director in the Federal Radio Corporation, he is further fulfilled at GUU.

    “There are institutions and there is an institution,” Izuchukwu said, beside the GUU Campus Radio 99.9 FM.

    ”I love order, and here there is one. The environment here suits my lifestyle. Even though this is a private university; yet there is independence in teaching. I also live on campus and that gives me the opportunity to do my research without distraction.”

    Dr Orisakwe, recalled the institution which began with 85 students and 30 teaching staff, have increased to over 400 students and nearly 200 academic staff respectively.  Orisakwe is also happy that come June next year, GUU would graduate her first fruits. He is also confident that the 13 programmes recently appraised by NUC during its recent visit would scale the hurdle, going by the amount of facility on ground.

    The Founder Dr Ibe, told The Nation the inspiration behind GUU.

    ”We are set to groom younger ones at the level of what the Igbo’s called mado. In my business world, my experiences and growth, I have been a skilled person all through. While I was in primary and secondary school, I have learnt various skills and because I am an informal person in terms of acquisition of skills, I felt that there is need for informal sector to be a major drive of an economy.

    “I teach entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship has told me that more people are involved in enterprise in every economy than the blue and white collar jobs. I’m also guided by the fact that the business that I do involves promotion of science or the study of science and technology subject through my firm- Skill G.

    “Having gone round over 600 local governments in Nigeria in designing what we call the Needs Assessment and also in setting almost 547 skilled centres for the United Nations, I came to a point where I started feeling very bad. In our secondary and primary schools there are some minimal things that have been sent to the school such as instructional materials. The universities and the polytechnics have equipment to study, but those things are normally abandoned. This was what led me to go into business of setting up laboratory, workshops for training because those things are lacking. I now said: ‘Oh God I have to set up a university where I can close the gap I observed in the public institutions”

     

  • G20 leaders vow to take action against terrorism

    The G20 leaders have condemned the heinous Paris attacks and vowed to fight terrorism.

    The leaders made the pledge in a joint draft statement on the fight against terrorism in Antalya on Monday, the last day of the two-day summit being held in Turkey.

    One of their key pledges will be a crackdown on networks that finance terrorism, said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

    “We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the heinous terrorist attacks in Paris and in Ankara on October 10.

    “They are an unacceptable affront to all humanity,’’ they said.

    The leaders said that they remain united in combating terrorism and vowed to fight it to a standstill.

    The leaders warned that terrorism must not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group.

    They also promised to clamp down on the channels by which terrorist groups and activities were financed, by exchanging information on suspicious transfers and freezing terrorist assets, while threatening robust, targeted sanctions.

    The leaders also highlighted the threat of foreign terrorist fighters, people who travelled to Syria to join extremist militia, and may return home radicalised.

    They promised to tackle it through better border management to detect suspect travel and by sharing more information.

    “Other areas of focus include the use of technology such as the internet to incite and plan terrorist acts, and efforts to strengthen global aviation security,’’ they said.

    The IS extremist group has claimed responsibility for the near simultaneous attacks on three venues in Paris that killed 129 and injured some 350.

    The leaders also focused attention on the refugee crisis, describing it a global concern with major humanitarian, political, social and economic consequences.

    They noted that the Syrian conflict has led to a surge of refugees in the region, with Turkey alone taking in 2.2 million.

    “Many have travelled on to Europe, which is contending with its largest migration flows since World War II,’’ they added.

    They called on all states to share the burden of resettling refugees, providing humanitarian aid and offering asylum seekers services such as education and access to the job market.

    The G20 is predominantly an economic forum, set up in the wake of the global financial crisis.

    It comprised Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia and Italy.

    Others are Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.

    Many of the group’s leaders are to meet again in Paris in December, for climate talks aimed at reaching a new deal to restrict a global rise in temperatures.

  • Rule with fear of God, Anglican diocese urges leaders

    Rule with fear of God, Anglican diocese urges leaders

    The Diocese of Omu-Aran, Anglican Communion has asked leaders to rule with the fear of God as well as initiate and implement masses-oriented programmes.

    The Diocese said elected leaders must work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them to remain worthy before men and God.

    The church stated these in a communiqué at the end of third session of the second synod of the diocese.

    The communiqué was signed by the Diocesan Bishop, Rt Rev. Philip Adeyemo and chairman, Communiqué Committee,

    Mr. J.S. Bamigboye (SAN).

    It lauded the federal government for its anti-corruption and

    anti-terror efforts and urged it not to relent.

    It also decried the deaths of Muslims pilgrims during the stampede at Mecca and pleaded with the Saudi Arabia authorities to avoid a repeat of the tragedy.

    The synod also urged Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah

    Ahmed to concentrate efforts on the development of rural areas to enhance adequate food production and create jobs for the jobless youths.

    It also called on the state government to improve the salaries of teachers and civil servants.

    The communiqué said: “The Synod notes that a strong weapon in our bid to stamp out corruption is by compelling public officers to make their declaration of assets open to the public for general scrutiny.

    “It commends the worthy examples of the President and his vice and enjoins others to follow suit.

    “The Synod notes with concerns the call for fresh National Conference by ex-political office holders under the Northern Re-Awakening Forum.

    “Rather the Synod calls on the Federal Government to implement the Report of the 2014 national conference in which about 500 eminent Nigerians participated. The implementation will assuage all grey areas militating against our unity as a nation.”

  • How to groom youths as future leaders

    How to groom youths as future leaders

    Sahara Group Executive Director Mr Tonye Cole, did not mince words about his firm’s readiness to continue supporting youth innovation when he led the ENACTUS team of the Federal Polytechnic in Kaduna (KADPOLY) to meet Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i last week. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

    A company executive is canvassing for support for students to make them self-reliant and employers. According to Mr Tonye Cole, Sahara Group Executive Director, it is through such encouragement that students can realise their potential. Entrepreneurship, he said, unlocks opportunities and economic prosperity worldwide.

    Cole believes that youths must be supported to develop Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s innovative ideas. This, he said, remains the key to achieving irreversible economic growth and solving unemployment.

    Cole spoke when he led members of the Entrepreneurship Action in Us (ENACTUS) of the Federal Polytechnic in Kaduna (KADPOLY) to present the trophy they won at a global entrepreneurship contest to El-Rufai, last week.

    The ENACTUS team in KADPOLY, comprising students from different disciplines, represented the country at the ENACTUS World Challenge in Johannesburg, South Africa last month. The Nigeria team beat several countries to get to the semi-final round, before it lost out to its counterpart from the United Kingdom (UK). More than 3,000 students from 34 countries participated in the contest.

    Sahara Group has been the major sponsor of ENACTUS team to promote youth entrepreneurship through a network of students in free enterprise.

    Receiving the team, El-Rufa’i said the achievement of the students indicated that the nation had a promising future, noting that the feat underscored the need for private sector participation in driving positive change in the country.

    The governor said: “This achievement underscores the need for increased private sector participation in driving positive change across all sectors of the economy. Our youths hold the bright future we all long to see and organisations, such as Sahara Group deserve commendation for providing platforms and opportunities for our youths to realise their aspiration.”

    Cole told that the KADPOLY students got the ticket to represent Nigeria at the competition after they won the national Sahara Light Up Nigeria Challenge – a contest developed by Sahara Group to help creative students develop alternative and sustainable energy models that can boost power supply using locally-sources materials.

    The KADPOLY team, he said, developed a green power generation project labelled Renewable Energy Advancement Project (REAP). The electricity project involved the use of recycled materials for the construction of a Hydro-power system that generated electricity for residents of Sabon Kakau village on the outskirts of Kaduna.

    Cole said: “The village never had electricity for over 50 years of its existence. While it would have cost the villagers a whopping $22,000 to connect to the national electricity grid, the students only spent $600 to provide the environmentally-friendly facility.

    “This is one of the positive changes we are driving. It is the reason why we have continued to invest in youth innovation and empowerment to enhance capacity building and entrepreneurship in Nigeria and other places we conduct business across the globe. We have been doing this through the platform of Sahara Foundation.”

    Through the contest, Cole said students have developed simple power-generation models that reduce production cost and encourage the broad utilisation of the different energy sources to boost small-scale businesses, healthcare centres and schools.

    He added: “I am confident that even after the 2015 ENACTUS world cup event, every participating nation would always remember the Nigeria team for its creativity, resourcefulness and spontaneous intelligence. Sahara Group believes that by supporting youths in various intervention projects, we would be extending and strengthening frontiers for sustainable socio-economic growth and development.”

    Zam Obed, a final year Accounting student and leader of the  team, praised the Sahara Group for the opportunity given to the students to develop their entrepreneurial abilities.

    Cole said that the firm had started a partnership with the United Nations on “Building Bridges” project, which seeks to engage young people for effective participation in activities that will make Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) realisable.

    The platform had already started with a conference with the theme: Beyond 2015: Promoting Gender equality and Good governance, where Sahara Group and other partners joined the conversation on the challenges and opportunities for youths in SDGs agenda.

  • FGC PTA elects new leaders

    After much agitations, the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Federal Government College (FGC), Ijanikin, Lagos  State, finally elected its new leaders last Saturday.

    The annulment of an election held last July, postponements, and the dissolution of the electoral committee were the reasons that put the election on hold.

    It was gathered that one of the aspirants vying for the association’s chairman, Mr Joseph Afolayan, was pressured to drop his ambition and support another candidate, Mr Emmanuel Aina.

    “I am stepping down and supporting Mr Aina Emmanuel Adeniyi. Also, this is democracy, we have the right to vote and be voted for,” he said while announcing his withdrawal from the race on the election day.

    The election was monitored by the representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, School Management Committee, and the Principal of the college, who represented the body of principals of Unity Colleges of Nigeria.

    Addressing the PTA before the election, Mrs Oyewole Ibukun, the principal of the college apologized for the postponement of election from October 10, 2015 to 17.

    She explained it was due to the inability of the electoral committee to screen candidates.

    After screening, six aspirants qualified to contest for the position of the chairman; four for vice chairman; three for treasurer; and three, Public Relation Officer (PRO).

    Two hundred and fifty-six parents and teachers were accredited. Voting started at 3:10pm and ended 3:35pm.

    At the end of the election, Adeniyi defeated two others to emerge chairman; Mrs Olanrewaju Roseline was elected Vice Chairman; Mrs Alabi Kafilat Olabisi and Williams Oluwatosin Abayomi Treasurer and PRO.

    As the results were announced, the hall was thrown into celebration. Commenting on Aina Emmanuel Adeniyi’s victory, Mr Jolaoso Olasunkanmi, stated that the PTA had received freedom as soon Adeniyi was voted in.

    He said: “The change mantra that has swept the country has now had its effect on the PTA.”

     

     

     

  • Lawmaker seeks selfless leaders to drive national growth

    A member of the House of Representatives, Mike Omogbehin has urged the country’s leaders to be selfless in order to drive national growth.

    Omogbehin, who spoke with reporters in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said what Nigeria needed was selfless leadership.

    According to him, this time calls for a sober reflection and at the same time, a stock-taking to examine where we were in the past and where we are now in order to chart a new course for the future.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker said the development of the nation must be a collective agenda by all and sundry, irrespective of our political inclination and background. He also said Nigerians must continue to put Nigeria ahead of other agenda in our daily activities.

    He said:”It is only through our beliefs and determination to fast-track the

    development of Nigeria that we can achieve a reasonable and even

    development of our dream as a nation; hence the need for all hands to be on deck to build a virile society.”

    Omogbehin praised the ex-Nigerian leaders who had contributed their own

    quota to the development and unity of the nation, especially President Goodluck Jonathan for handing over power freely to the present administration after the last general elections.

    The lawmaker said ex-President Jonathan’s sacrifice in this regard needed to be appreciated at all times and the development also worthy of emulation by the present and future Nigerian leaders for a continued existence of the nation.

    Omogbehin urged Nigerians to always pray for their leaders to lead aright.

    He commended various religious leaders across the country for their fervent prayers for the peace and unity in the country.