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Tag: Mohammed

  • Mohammed visits Hausa newspapers

    Mohammed visits Hausa newspapers

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has visited two Hausa language newspapers in Abuja, in continuation of his consultation with stakeholders in his ministry.

    He used the opportunity of the visits to Rariya and Aminiya newspapers to solicit the media’s support in the Federal Government’s fight against corruption.

    Mohammed urged the indigenous language newspapers to sensitise their readers against corruption.

    He said it was necessary to sensitise the public against corruption, to guarantee the availability of funds for social and infrastructural development, despite the economic downturn occasioned by the crash in oil prices.

    The publisher of Rariya and ex-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo, described the minister’s visit as historic, saying Alhaji Mohammed is the first Information minister in recent times to visit an indigenous language newspaper.

    He said Rariya was migrating to online journalism because of its appeal to the people, having recorded 290,000 readers online and 1.4 million followers on Facebook.

    The Chief Operating Officer of the Trust Newspapers, the publishers of Aminiya, Mr. Abhay Desai, pledged the support of the organisation for the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition the country for progress and development.

  • Fed Govt ‘ll not sell National Theatre, says Mohammed

    Fed Govt ‘ll not sell National Theatre, says Mohammed

    The Federal Government on Monday assured that the National Theatre will always remain a national monument and will not be sold for whatever reason.

    ‘’But we are not averse to a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement that will add value to the iconic (National Theatre) complex,’’ the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said during a visit to the complex as part of the tour of the parastatals under his Ministry.

    He said the process of selecting a preferred bidder under the PPP arrangement is currently underway.

    ‘’The National Theatre is a national monument and a tourist attraction. We will not allow it to go derelict or become a magnet for hoodlums. This monument is the pride of the nation, and it has always served as the point of convergence for Nigerians seeking fun and relaxation, especially  during festive periods, and a centre for the promotion of arts and culture,’’ Alhaji Mohammed said.

    He said the security around the complex would be beefed up to prevent a recurrence of the molestation by hoodlums of fun seekers at the National Theatre on Christmas Day, and also ensure the safety of the priceless artifacts within the complex.

    ‘’It is totally unacceptable that fun-seeking individuals who throng the National Theatre for relaxation during festive periods or at any time will become the victims of attacks by hoodlums.

    ‘’We will work with the security agencies, especially the Police and the State Security Service, to upgrade security at the National Theatre. It is also important for the management of the complex to ensure that its perimeter is better secured to ward off hoodlums,’’ the Minister said, adding that a high-tech security surveillance system may even be introduced to better secure the complex

    Alhaji Mohammed said the on-the-spot assessment of the security and other situation at the National Theatre has revealed the challenges being faced by the management, and assured that there will be noticeable changes at the complex within the next few months.

    ‘’We will restore the National Theatre to its pride of place and make it more user friendly. We will also ensure that the management engages with stakeholders in order to increase the patronage of the various facilities at the complex,’’ he said.

    The General Manager of the National Theatre, Mallam Kabir Yusuf Yar’Adua, conducted the Minister around the facilities at the complex, including the banquet, cinema and exhibition halls, the sub-power station, the water works, the police post and the artiste village, among others.

     

  • Mohammed, Yaro expected in CHAN Eagles camp today

    Mohammed, Yaro expected in CHAN Eagles camp today

    U-23 duo of Usman  Muhammed and Bature Yaro should resume camp with the CHAN Eagles in Abuja today following their involvement with the Dream Team VI at the 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal.

    Mohammed, who plays for relegated NPFL side, FC Taraba, was a regular for Samson Siasia’s team as they rolled all the way to a first title at the competition including securing a ticket for the 2016 Olympic Games.

    According to reports, Assistant Coach of the team, Salisu Yusuf had informed of the players permission to take a break after returning from the competition.

    “We have given Usman (Mohammed) and Bature Yaro one-week break after which they will rejoin us,” Salisu was quoted.

    Similarly, 2015 NPFL League top scorer, Gbolahan Salami and his Warri Wolves teammate, Solomon Kwambe were also given compassionate leave by the team to account for their absence.

  • CHAN training: Eagles’ coaches excuse Mohammed, Yaro

    CHAN training: Eagles’ coaches excuse Mohammed, Yaro

    • Say players’ health important

    The duo of Usman Mohammed and Bature Yaro, who were part of the victorious U-23 National Team have been excused from the Home Based Eagles camp which resumed yesterday in Abuja.

    Both players were asked to take some days off by the team handlers after returning from Senegal yesterday with the team that defeated Algeria 2-1 in the Africa U-23 Nation Championship final last Saturday to win the trophy and qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

    A Super Eagles source cited the players health as the main reason bearing in mind that they were invloved in the five matches of the team.

    “Only recently a player collapsed and died on the pitch while playing football with his friends. Therefore we have to be careful to avoid such. That is why we are insisting on the players resting for some days, even though they may be eager to report immediately,” said the source.

    SportingLife understands that the players are expected in camp before the weekend.

    “By today (Tuesday) all the players must have reported to camp, with the exception of Mohammed and Yaro who were on national assignment. We want them to rest,” said the source.

    Mohammed plays for Taraba United, while Yaro is on the payroll of Nasarawa United.

  • My legislative agenda for Ikeja, by Mohammed

    My legislative agenda for Ikeja, by Mohammed

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Folajimi Mohammed, has urged members of his constituency to communicate effectively with him through emails and messages,  instead of telephone conversations.

    He also urged them to get their petitions across to him through the social media.

    “Effective communication in  this present age is tantamount to good governance. It helps the masses and even those in rural areas to air their views and petitions. It also brings governance closer to the people. The masses can now speak for themselves”, Mohammed said.

    The legislator spoke at the Ikeja Constituency Town Hall meeting held at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

    He said messages and emails are more effective than telephone conversations, adding that he may not be able to respond to the high number of calls daily.

    Mohammed, however explained that he is not complaining about the number of calls, but for the communication to be more effective, written form of communication is better.

    He urged the people clamoring for social amenities, including borehole, market and transformers, to be patient, promising to try his possible best to actualize them.

    The former Chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Francis Oke commended the stakeholders, meeting as a laudable project that ought to be encouraged and emulated because  it helps the representatives hear from the masses directly .

    “This is a very good development as those who are representing us can now come back to the us to seek for our opinion and counsel. Through this medium, we are carried along directly md this would speed up the development process”, Oke said.

    The Southwest Women Leader, Mrs Kemi Nelson, commended the stakeholders and urged Hon.Mohammed to act on their different petitions.

    The meeting was witnessed by monarchs, representatives of wards, market women, artisans, religious leaders, ethnic group leaders, politicians and well wishers.

  • My legislative agenda for Ikeja, by Mohammed

    My legislative agenda for Ikeja, by Mohammed

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Folajimi Mohammed, has urged members of his constituency to communicate effectively with him through emails and messages,  instead of telephone conversations.

    He also urged them to get their petitions across to him through the social media.

    “Effective communication in  this present age is tantamount to good governance. It helps the masses and even those in rural areas to air their views and petitions. It also brings governance closer to the people. The masses can now speak for themselves”, Mohammed said.

    The legislator spoke at the Ikeja Constituency Town Hall meeting held at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

    He said messages and emails are more effective than telephone conversations, adding that he may not be able to respond to the high number of calls daily.

    Mohammed, however explained that he is not complaining about the number of calls, but for the communication to be more effective, written form of communication is better.

    He urged the people clamoring for social amenities, including borehole, market and transformers, to be patient, promising to try his possible best to actualize them.

    The former Chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Francis Oke commended the stakeholders, meeting as a laudable project that ought to be encouraged and emulated because  it helps the representatives hear from the masses directly .

    “This is a very good development as those who are representing us can now come back to the us to seek for our opinion and counsel. Through this medium, we are carried along directly md this would speed up the development process”, Oke said.

    The Southwest Women Leader, Mrs Kemi Nelson, commended the stakeholders and urged Hon.Mohammed to act on their different petitions.

    The meeting was witnessed by monarchs, representatives of wards, market women, artisans, religious leaders, ethnic group leaders, politicians and well wishers.

     

  • Who succeeds Mohammed?

    Who succeeds Mohammed?

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed will bow out of office this week, following his appointment as minister by President Muhammadu Buhari. Four chieftains-Timi Frank, Joe Igbokwe, Sola Lawal and Rotimi Fasakin-are in the race to succeed him. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the contest for the party office. 

    Four chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are jostling for the position of the National Publicity Secretary. The aspirants are Mr. Sola Lawal, the Publicity Secretary of the Ogun State chapter, his Lagos State counterpart, Comrade Joe Igbokwe, Mr. Rotimi Fasakin and Mr. Timi Frank.

    The Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is expected to resign from the position this week, following his appointment as a minister.

    Lawal has served as Publicity Secretary in Ogun State for six years. Also, Igbokwe has served as Publicity Secretary since 2007. However, the rights activist, who has not declared his bid, is being persuaded by his colleagues across the federation. Fasakin was Gen. Mohammadu Buhari’s spokesman when he was the presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Fank is Mohammed’s deputy at the party secretariat.

     

    Mohammed’s legacies:

    From the independence, opposition spokesmen have always endowed their parties’ publicity office with visibility. In the First Republic, AG Publicity Secretaries were intellectuals and ideologues; the witty Ajibola Ige and Banji Akintoye, who were thorns in the flesh of Balewa and Akintola governments. In the Second Republic, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN)’s spokesman was the brilliant analyst, MCK Ajuluchukwu, the Director of Research and Publicity, whose efforts were complemented by the gifted orator, Ebenezer Babatope. The out-going APC National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed, has built on their records. Politicians across the divide, he is perceived as a vital asset in this age of modern propaganda.

    For 15 years, the Igbaja, Kwara State-born lawyer has served as the shadow minister of information. Circumstances foisted the patriotic duty on him. Mohammed has combined the incisive wit and boldness of Bola Ige, the intellectual sagacity of Akintoye and ideological strength of Ajuluchukwu, in the discharge of his onerous responsibility as the opposition spokesman and image builder. The mega publicity mandat has brought him into collision with top government officials and security personnel during the previous dispensation.

    Hailing him, Buhari said: “I have come to the conclusion that he is more than a spokesman for his party, more than a quiet and loyal brain box of the ACN and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, but the loudest and consistent voice in the defense of democracy, liberty and social justice under this Fourth Republic.”

    A PDP Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Babatope, described Mohammed as a lover of truth and justice. He said, although the PDP his party are foes, he could not shy away from acknowledging his competence as “one of the very best practitioners of the political party system in Nigeria today.” He added: “I am a fan of Lai Mohammed. His writings, his press releases and political utterances designed to explain the positions of his political party are so brilliantly and intellectually presented that one cannot but love his person and the style of his presentations.”

    Mohammed was drafted into publicity work by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The former lagos State governor had asked him to be the facilitator of a meeting of leading politicians in the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the PDP. The effort led to the birth of the Movement for the Renewal of Democracy (ARD), and later, the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), which later became the Action Congress (AC). Mohammed was appointed as the Chairman of its Media and Publicity Committee. When the AC transformed into the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), he got a vote of confidence to continue on the job. In Mohammed’s view, the assignment has not been not a tea party. “In speaking the truth to power in Nigeria, on many occasions, we have turned non-issues, which are critical for democracy, liberty and justice, into issues,” he added. When the APC became the ruling party on may 29, it was not difficult for Mohammed to adjust to his new role. Both as opposition and ruling party spokesman, he has performed creditably.

    To succeed, his successor must mirror his style and embrace the duty with passion . The publicist succeeded because he had the pre-requisite academic, professional and political training. After his tertiary education at the University of Ilorin, where he studied French, he had a brief teaching experience in the institution in 1978 before accepting the appointment as a Publicity Officer at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), where he rose to the position of the Chief Publicity Officer. The quest for knowledge made him to study Law at the University of Lagos.

    In legal practice and politics, his path crossed with Yomi Edu’s. In fact, as a chieftain of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), he was Edu’s Chief of Staff and Governorship Campaign Coordinator. When Tinubu signified his intention to contest for the governorship, he played the same role to the best of his ability. He later served as Governor Tinubu’s Chief of Staff at the Round House, Alausa, Ikeja. In 2003, Mohammed returned to his native Kwara State to contest for the governorship under the AD, but he was defeated by the PDP candidate, former Governor Bukola Saraki.

    Mohammed achieved success as a Publicity Secretary because he cultivated the media. “The kind of publicity machine that we have built for the opposition party has been so strong that, even at the time that we controlled only Lagos State between 2003 and 2007, we loomed larger and were stronger in the public discourse that the all-powerful Federal Government and the ruling party. This was partly because, though we were a minority party, we paraded the best in terms of experience, intellect and skill,” he said.

    Journalists have enjoyed professional relationship with him because he has respect for the profession and the practitioners. He has always treated them as equal stakeholders. Paying tribute to the media, he said that journalists are not “cash and carry” practitioners, but men and women worthy of respect and recognition for their contributions to the society.

     

    Lawal

    Lawal was born on the April 5, 1963 at Ile – Ife,  Osun State. He attended Ansaru-Ud-Deen Primary school, Ile – Ife where he obtained his Primary School Leaving Certificate in 1976. He also attended Erin Community Grammar School, Erin-Ijesha, Osun State, where he obtained  his West African School Certificate in 1981. He obtained the Teachers’ Grade II Certificate at Methodist Teachers College, Sagamu in 1983. He proceeded to the ObafemiAwolowo University, (OAU), Ile-Ife,  where he got his first degree in English in 1990. He is now a post-graduate student of  Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, Akoka.

    Lawal worked as a reporter/staff writer for Hotline News Magazine, Kaduna from 1990 to 1992. He was the Associate Editor between 1992 and 1993. He was the Chief Correspondent, Concord Press of Nigeria in 1993. Later, he became the Sub-Editor/ Reporter, Post Express Newspaper from 1996 to 1999. He is the Chief Executive Officer, Globe Telly, which he founded in 2003.

    Lawal is an activist. He was the founder of  Yoruba for Change. He was the Assistant Youth Mobilization Officer for Iremo Ward, Oranmiyan Local Government, Ile Ife for the UPN  from 1982 to 1983. He served as the Returning Officer, Gubernatorial Primaries, Alliance for Democracy (AD), Ogun State in 1998. He was the Mobilization Officer, Ogun East Senatorial District, AD between 1998 and 1999.

    He became the Secretary, Afenifere National Publicity Committee between 2000 and 2006. While on the Afenifere National Publicity Committee, he also served as the Personal Assistant (Political) to Afenifere Leader Leader, the late Senator Abraham Adesanya between 1999 and 2008. He was a member of Afenifere National Caucus from 1997 to 2007. Between 1995 and1998, he was a member National Democratic Coalition.

    Lawal was the Director of Campaign, Dipo Dina Movement, Ogun State, from 2004 to 2007. He was the Ogun State AC Publicity Secretary between 2006 and 2010. In 2010, Lawal became the Publicity Secretary, Ogun State ACN. He is currently the Ogun State APC Publicity Secretary.

    Lawal was detained without  at the Jos Prison in January 1994 by the Abacha regime. He was also detained at the Central Police Station, Wuse, Abuja in May 1996. In December, 2006, Lawal was detained at the Lion Building Police Station, Lagos. In the same month, he also detained at the Ogun State Police Headquarters, Eleweran , Abeokuta. It was during  the famous trial for theft of government vouchers of the AC governorship candidate, late OtunbaDipo Dina. Lawal was the Special Adviser on Media, Ogun State Government between 1999 and 2003. He was also the Consultant on Communication to the governor . He is the author of ‘The Leaders Tongue: A compendium of immortal words of Abraham Adesanya.’

    He was a senatorial aspirant on the platform of the APC in Ife/Ijesa District, Osun State.

    Lawal justified his bid for the post, saying that it requires professionalism. “Lawyers are usually appointed as commissioners and ministers of justice. Doctors and pharmacists serve better as ministers and commissioners for health. I believe that a  seasoned journalist will bring his professionalism to bear on the job of the party’s publicity secretary.”

     

    Igbokwe

    A pro-democracy activist, Igbokwe made his name under the military as a freedom fighter. He was at the forefront of the battle for the revalidation of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola of  the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Igbokwe was born on January 30, 1956 in Uruagu, Nnewi, Anambra State. He attended  Uruagu Nnewi primary School from 1962 to 1971. He was the school’s football team captain. He attended Okongwu Memorial Grammar School, Nnewi, from 1974 to 1979. He was the head boy. He also made a Grade One.

    Igbokwe attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he obtained his degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1985. He is a policy analyst, commentator on national issues, leading voice in human rights movement, motivational speaker, community leader and President of First Grade International Limited, publisher of National Vision Newspapers.

    Igbokwe is a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN). He has attended leadership courses in lagos, Singapore, Dubai and South Africa.

    He is the Lagos State AC, ACN, APC Publicity Secretary (since 2007), Chairman of Conference of APC State Publicity Secretaries, Coordinator, Igbo Vision in Lagos APC and patron of Igbo Conscience. He was General Manager, LASIMRA (2005-2015). He is currently Chairman, Wharf Landing Fees Collecting Authority, Lagos State.

     

    Fasakin

    He is a politician from Owo, Ondo State. He was the Buhari’s media aide in the defunct CPC; loyal and hardworking.

     

    Frank

    Frank is from Bayelsa State. He is the APC National Deputy Publicity Secretary. It is doubtful, if there is a harmonious working relations between him and the outgoing publicity secretary. On some occasions, the there were gaps between positions canvassed by Mohammed and Frank on behalf of the party.  He has an independent mind. His admirers perceive him as a radical of sorts. But, he is popular in his constituency.

    A party source said Frank may not succeed Mohammed. He added:  “The position will be vacant by the end of the month. There is nothing on ground to show that the deputy publicity secretary, Timi Frank, will step into Lai Mohammed’s shoes. The party will look for a professional and an astute politician to do the job. Also, zoning may not favour the deputy publicity secretary.

  • Mohammed holds Inspired

    Mohammed holds Inspired

    Yesterday, Inspired opened at Alexis Galleries, Victoria Island, Lagos, featuring 35 fascinating works of a talented young artist, Raji Mohammed, a realist who tries to represent his subjects truthfully. If not for the visible strokes, you would question if the artworks were paintings or photographs due to their near perfection.

    Though he studied Art Education at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Otto-Ijanikin, Lagos, and was trained to be an art teacher, Mohammed without doubt would stay in the studio to produce arts rather than in a classroom to teach art. The artist chose to express himself through painting and he sees “art as an unending adventure that keeps one moving from one level of creativity to another. The featuring works are oil on canvas and acrylic, they have striking similarities with those of Ebenezer Akinola’s. This similarity could be attributed to the training he had at A.S Ebenezer Studio under Ebenezer Akinola, who is a major influence on him.

    The artist, who was born in Lagos, said he is inspired by works of great masters, happenings and moods of people around him. The Handover, one of the works on display captured the peace experienced by Nigerians during the handover of previous administration. “A couple of months ago we witnessed a peaceful transition from the past government. The calabash in this painting serves as symbol of peace. It depicts the peace experienced in the cause of the handover,” explained the artist.

    The body of works he  created such as The Offering, questions Nigerians on what they are willing to offer to the development of the nation. Brotherly Protection…in this painting you could see three boys and the one who seemed to be the oldest in the middle spreading his hands around the two younger ones “giving shelter to them.” Other works on view are Meeting Before Bed Time, We Are Almost There, Royal Escort, I Look into You, Ayo and Omo ‘mo Mama.

    Mohammed is good at what he does and he rendered the works realistically well. This being his first solo exhibition, he said: “I feel excited. I am happy that I have been given an opportunity by Alexis Galleries to  have a solo show at my age.” The exhibition runs till October 24, 2015.

    Mohammed is a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Lagos campus). His works are in private and public collections, both home and abroad. He also trained at the Universal Studios of Art, Iganmu, Lagos, in 2008 before undergoing training at A.S Ebenezer studio under Ebenezer Akinola who has been a major influence to him. Mohammed has participated in various group exhibitions such as Cupid and Fate just to mention a few. He is currently managed by Alexis Galleries.

    Many will say he is too young to have a solo show, but the gallery owner and the exhibition curator, Mrs Patty Chidiac-Mastroginnis, doesn’t think so “because Raji is mature for a solo exhibition. I have other artists who are older than him but I don’t think they are ready. Raji’s works are already sought after, he sells very fast in our gallery, and collectors are waiting for the show.  And I think he deserves the show because he worked hard for it.”

    She admitted that “no gallery would give him a solo show at his age. But we believe in promoting young artists; getting them to the top and such talents shouldn’t go to waste, because it’s a shame if no one will give them the help they need in terms of exposure. As young as he may be I think Raji is ready. He delivers and he is serious about his work.”

    The exhibition coordinator and the gallery consultant, George Edozie, who has had international and local shows, described the artists as “among the best craft men I have ever seen in his age bracket.”

    To him, the expectation for this show is high. “In the history of this gallery we have not sold less than 80 per cent of the works in our shows, because we have a good formula. Our expectation is high and we know that Raji is going to sell out.” He added that Mohammed’s was among the 150 artists who participated in year’s Ofala Festival in Onitsha and the piece was sold.

  • Mohammed Abacha adopts low profile

    Mohammed Abacha adopts low profile

    Although the Nigerian political scene has been a beehive of activities in recent times, many elites are still feeling the wrenching emptiness that has been caused by the absence of Mohammed Abacha on the socio-political scene.

    The presence of Mohammed Abacha has not been felt on the nation’s political scene for quite some time, provoking speculations about the whereabouts of the man whose name once inspired awe and opened doors. The eldest surviving son of the late former head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, seems to have recoiled into a shell of anonymity for reasons known only to him.

    A few years before the 2015 general election, he was touted as the heir to the seat of the Kano State governor. It was almost certain that nothing would come between him and the governorship seat of the state until he was booted out of reckoning by master political tacticians. Since then, he has maintained a low profile.

  • Forum seeks support for Mohammed

    The Kwara South United Forum has hailed the Senate and its leadership for the successful screening of the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as a ministerial nominee.

    A statement yesterday in Ilorin by the convener and interim legal adviser, Maj.-Gen. Yemi Abidoye (rtd) and Rotimi Ogunwuyi (a lawyer), said the clearing of Mohammed with acclamation by the senators  underscored the maturity and patriotic approach of the lawmakers and their leadership to the sensitive political exercise.

    It praised Senate President Bukola Saraki for rising above the petty political sentiments and the divisive campaigns of his supporters against the nomination of the APC spokesman.

    The forum urged Senator Saraki to consolidate the gains of his political leadership of the Senate by promoting harmony among political tendencies in the National Assembly and the country.

    It enjoined Mohammed to reciprocate the confidence reposed in him by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate and APC by rededicating himself to national ideals and service.

    The forum advised him to demonstrate higher capacity for progressive and dynamic leadership in whatever ministry that would be assigned to him in the philosophy of “change”, which he propagated.