The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspaper

  • Why banks are helping startups

    First City Monument Bank (FCMB) is partnering incubators in search of startups across the country with innovative e-solutions to address challenges, DANIEL ESSIET reports

    Banks across Africa are investing in programmes to boost scalable companies that use technology to innovate in the production of consumer goods or provide corporate services in education, logistics, energy, fintech, agriculture or healthcare.

    They provide seed investment to early stage companies that improve and facilitate access of essential goods and services to the underserved, effectively promoting inclusive growth.

    First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Managing Director, Adam Nuru said the bank is determined to contribute to building an enabling ecosystem for innovative businesses.

    Speaking in Lagos during the demo  and pitch day of  the Agritech Incubation Programme  organised by FCMB, conjunction with Wennovation Hub, Nuru said start-ups are important drivers of innovation. To scale and spread new technologies and services, they need an integrated ecosystem that provides access to markets and finance.

    According to him, agriculture is one of the biggest industries that needs the most optimisation at every level to reduce negative impacts.

    Nuru said the bank is ready to contribute assets and expert networks to help some of early-stage innovators get to the next level.

    He said challenges in the space were many, but that it was heartening to see the passion and ability of the young startups who are working towards accomplishing their goals.

    Crop IT Managing Partner Femi Afolabi said the emergence of startups using  emerging deep technologies, such as artificial intelligence, will have the greatest potential to drive and profit in agribusiness.

    He said the economy needs startups that could influence system-level change, such as improving food supply chain and solutions supporting profitable agriculture.

    The initiative, grounded in the agricultural firm’s innovation partnership approach, would support the expansion of high-impact and digitally-enabled services to farmers and extension officers across Nigeria over the next three years.

    He said Crop IT’s mission is to employ technical know-how to increase smallholder income and productivity by 50 percent reaching at least 40 percent women across Nigeria.

    The Chairman, Farmcrowdy, Onyeka Akumah,  said agriculture is witnessing a transition to tech-driven growth across the value-chain, such as supply chain management, e-commerce-based B2B and B2C models, processing technologies and equipment, storage and logistics, food safety, packaging, and distribution and retail.

    According to collaborations, linkages and partnerships, among key stakeholders, would help develop scalable future-ready solutions, he said.

    He said agri-tech is thriving and future innovations are likely to  address the issues that the farming industry faces.

    The Divisional Head Agribusiness of FCMB, Mr. Kudzai Gumunyu, said startups can transform the agri economy by linking farmers to the markets, adding value to the agri produce, reducing wastages and developing efficient supply chains.

    According to him, startups were  playing a pivotal role in accomplishing this transformation in the sector.  He added that innovative technologies and business models were being tested for aggregation, logistics, processing, new products development and market linkages.

    He said the bank is focused on supporting start-ups to connect with the farming community and boost innovation, make a real positive impact, driving productivity and improving profitability.

    The Chief Executive, Crop2Cash Limited, Mr. Michael Ogundare, said his organisation is working to use technology to enable banks lend to farmers using verifiable data approach.

    Wennovation hub partnered FCMB to fund two agri-tech startups that emerged winners to realise their dreams of business expansion. This happened during the agri-tech incubation programme/demo day, which called for startups with ideas in agri-finance/insurance, procurement and supply chain management, and other agric-ICT areas. It was a culmination of over seven weeks of  hard work, collaboration, expertise, and passion.

    Ten selected startups out of 320 applications from across the country, made the finale.

    They, firms that battled for the grand prize of N1.25million, include Agrieasy, Farm Chain, Mr Farm, CsComtron, Farm Aid, Agro Barn, Osfield Hire, Agroco, Farm Bank and Ozidi.

    At the end, Agro Barn, led by Oscar Obiora Udebuana, won.

    Agro Barn is an agritech company that turns information into insights for rural farmers.

    Udebuana said the firm will ensure food sustainability.

    Last year, Crop2cash won the grand prize.

    The FCMB-Wennovation Hub AgriTech incubation programme seeks to guide early stage entrepreneurs.

     

  • Amazons making a living from shoemaking

    Inspired by her love for shoes, some women are building successful shoe businesses, thereby creating employment opportunities for other youths, Daniel ESSIET reports

    Temilade Adegbite makes shoes. She founded Right Legs out of passion.

    She wears big sizes, thus getting her designs and size was difficult. She was not alone. She thought it would be better to create designs that those in her shoes could benefit from.

    Her goal was to cater for those customers in need of big size footwear and support kids who want to wear good sandals or shoes to  school.

    Right Legs produces quality, classy and bespoke footwear that incorporates Africa themed designs which appeal to the international marketplace.

    Nkiru Emodi is another lady making waves in the shoe making industry. The Chief Executive of HOT Wears discovered her talent when she could not get a job after school.

    A 2010 graduate of Accounting of the University of Benin, Edo State, could not get a job.

    Following her love for quality shoes, she decided to turn her passion into business to make money. All she did was to develop her talent with a different approach and concept.

    She sees it as a talent. At first it was difficult.Today, the business has blossomed. She is producing good shoes and sandals. Now, people see her as a role model. She marries the craftsmanship of custom repair with good customer service.

  • China’s leap from the pit in 70 years

    Nigeria and China coincidentally have the same National Day – October 1

    When China’s Communist Party struggles with the ruling Kuomingtan Party ended in 1949, a new People’s Republic of China was adopted on October 1 of the year.  Today, China People’s Republic  is 70. There have been 70 years of moving from the valley to the spur through thorns and spikes.

    Evaluating China’s history through education is as interesting as its general odyssey.

    As Nigeria celebrates 59 with its own peculiar education development history, China seems to have gone through a more tasking but fruitful education development that had few years of interruption when, between 1966 and 1970, the university system seemed abrogated during the Cultural Revolution and rejuvenated in 1970 with full revival in 1977 after Deng Xiaoping  came to power. The entrance examinations for higher school admissions for three straight years had a backlog of over 18 million people whose education had been interrupted or denied. That gave back hope of higher education to over 848,000 new scholars who returned the country to university education.

    In the past 40 years China has had a very rapid and consistent educational development as fast as the unprecedented pace of its economy.

    From 227 higher institutions in 1949 to a rapid growth to 841 in 1958 and to 1,289 in 1960 and an eventual crash to 407 in 1965 and to zero between 1966 and 1970 when the Cultural Revolution forced a closure of all – that was the odd history before it re-incepted.

    As the new era for reforms came, school enrolment also increased. For instance, middle school graduates that went to high school increased from 40.6% in 1990 to 90% in 2011. China’s school age population today is 28% of the population or 392m, a growth of 20% from 1.4% in 1978 when reforms started. The percentage of primary school graduates that enrolled in secondary likewise, rose from 32% in 1962 to 86% in 1978 and 98.3% in 2011.

    Most of the upping in education rate started in 1986 when the government passed the free basic education law that guarantees free first nine years of education to every Chinese child and that covers primary and junior secondary education. This is ingeniously graded according to regional education development. In the minority ethnic groups such the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the free education duration is 12 years covering the entire primary and secondary education. Still in more backward regions like the Tibet and some other minority groups within it, the free basic education stretches to 15 years. The policies that have been implemented with precision have worked the wonders of awesome lift in mass and quality education.

    The 1986 compulsory education law has created the possibility of above 99 percent of the school-age children receiving universal nine-year basic education, according to the Ministry of Education sources.

    In June, 10.31 million students took the National Higher Education Entrance Examination (Gao Kao), as investment in education accounts for about 4% of total GDP.

    China today operates the world’s largest education system and this is exemplified in the data: “In April 2019, the Ministry of Education announced that 492,185 international students in 1,004 schools were studying in China in 2018. That has been a significant steady increase over the years.

    China has increased the proportion of its college-age population in higher education to over 20 percent now from 1.4 percent in 1978. This in raw figure translates to 28% or 392m students’ population from what it was in 1978.

    According to the statistics of 2017, the net enrolment rate of primary school age children was above 99%. In the same year, there were altogether 176,718 primary schools with an enrolment of 101.6m students and there were total of 77,018 secondary education schools with an enrolment of 84.25m students.

    In the same period “there were 2,631 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), among which 1,243 were universities, 265 were independent colleges and 1,388 were higher vocational colleges. There were also 282 higher education institutions for adults. In 2017, the total enrolment of undergraduates in the regular HEIs was 27,535,869; 2,639,561 postgraduate students and 5,441,429 students in adult higher education institutions,” according to chinaeducationcenter.com

    In 1993, as market reforms deepened, the government issued a Program for Education Reform that allowed the establishment of private universities.

    Under this policy, some new colleges were founded by non-government entities, which symbolized a major change in the Chinese higher education structure. College enrolment experienced an unprecedented growth. According to 2007 Ministry of Education statistics, “in 1990, less than 4% of the 18-22 age group was enrolled as students in higher education institutions compared to 22% in 2005.”

    Likewise, on 29 August, 1998, the Higher Education Law was passed and implemented from January, 1999, the first of its kind in China’s education history.

    By the end of 1998, 84 national training bases of talents from basic disciplines of science, 51 for basic disciplines of arts, 45 for engineering disciplines and 13 for economics had been set up. The bases attracted lots of outstanding high school graduates, thus the quality of students was improved obviously and the initiative of the teachers increased unprecedented, as chinaeducationcenter.com reported.

    “In recent years, taking full advantage of their talents, knowledge, science and technology, the HEIs emphasized the practical research and development in the light of economic construction and made great effort to serve the central task of economic construction while at the same time strengthening basic research. The HEIs have taken part in the construction of science parks, establishing high-tech enterprises run with industries, teaching and research together to turn the scientific and research fruits into real productivity for the society.

    For example, with its own advantage of talents and technology, the Fourder Group run by Peking University not only revolutionized the printing industry, but also occupied 90% of Chinese newspapers’ market. The Group has thus integrated industry, teaching and research into reality,” said chinaeducationcenter.com

    Within the past 20 years, China forged educational cooperation and exchanges with 154 countries, sent 300,000 students to over 100 countries to study. Her 1,800 teachers and experts taught abroad just as it employed 40,000 foreign teachers and experts. Three years after in April 2019, “the Ministry of Education announced that a total of 492,185 international students were studying in China in 2018, enrolled in over 1,004 higher institutions and on a steady increase.”

    These countries include her counterpart African states on the platform of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) under which in 2015 at the Johannesburg Summit, President Xi Jinping promised China would train up to a 10,000 Africans within three years. These trainings come as short courses for experts and as degree courses for students at the undergraduate and post graduate levels, including courses on Chinese culture and language. After 58 Nigerians left on scholarship in August 2019, the number of Nigerians studying in China on government bills was about 6,200.

    On March 31, 2016, a short documentary on the educational system in China aired on CCTV News channel on the inroad of international schools in the country, especially Shanghai. The narrator said that while the schools come with international or foreign curriculum, the China education system insists they must include the basic subjects every child must learn in Chinese schools and they are the history of China and its geography. So, while China meets and blends with the world, it has never destroyed its core identity, which is the best for self-preservation.

    The practical reforms have paid off with three top Chinese universities – Tsinghua, Peking and Zhejiang rated among world top 70. And Tsinghua is today known as the Stanford University in Asia because of its penchant in producing the best ICT experts that drive the Chinese tech reforms.

    China has increased the proportion of its college-age population in higher education while at the same time improving the quality of education through a major effort at school curriculum reform. It has also sustained a consistent teacher development system as teaching has historically been and remains a highly respected profession.

     

    • Emewu, journalist, wrote from the Afri-China Media Centre, Lagos.

  • NATA gets Life Grand Patron

    Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) Ejigbo Branch has appointed the Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Monsurudeen Bello as the Life Grand Patron.

    The appointment, NATA said, is in recognition of Bello’s selfless service to the people of Ejigbo, and his contributions towards the progress of the association.

    Bello, popularly called OBE, was honoured during the inauguration of the executive of the association.

    A plaque was presented to him by NATA’s state Deputy Chairman Olusegun Aikhomo Mayegun.

    Mayegun said the honour was also an appreciation of the council boss for bringing an end to the misunderstanding between members of the association.

    OBE, who was represented by the Vice Chairman, who doubles as Supervisor for Health, Dr Olatunde Olusunmade, thanked the association for honouring him.

    Olusunmade said the administration’s giant strides can be felt in areas of infrastructural development.

    “At the moment, Kashimawo Alimi Street beside NNPC bus stop is being rehabilitated. The project would be completed before the end of the year. This would reduce traffic gridlock at Jakande Gate. Dauda Ilo Road in Ejigbo and Junction Road in Oke-Afa are also under rehabilitation, while Adebayo Oyelana has been rehabilitated and in good condition,” he said.

    Olusunmade urged NATA members and residents of the council to support OBE for another term.

     

  • Honour for those who give to God

    The Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Lagos Central, Ago-Ijaye Circuit has honoured those who helped in propagating the gospel of God and impacting humanity through their generous giving to the people.

    In its 60th Circuit Anniversary, the church recognised some pioneers of the circuit and  its strong supporters who had contributed immencely  to its growth.

    Among those honoured in the pioneers’ category were the late B.O. Falase, O. A. Falase, the late S. M. O. Denloye, D.O.O. Soremekun, Elder Emma Adebiyi, P.A. Elliot,  J.O. Lapite and Abigail Modupe Adebode.

    In the supporter category were the late Seke Somolu, the late Dotun Sobogun, the late Deac. Angelina O. Sosan, Ashiwaju S.B.O. Soyebo, Dame Prof Ajesola Majekodunmi, Sister C.A.A. Adekola, Sis Mopelola Adeyeye and Rev Samuel Ibukun Williams among others. The beaming light category were Dr Sola Sobowale, Bro Akin Sofola, Sister Fumilayo Sogbesan (Nee Olude), Kayode Aribaba and Br Francis Obianusi, among others.

    The event also witnessed  a N50million fund raising for the purchase of a plot of land/building in the Ebute-Metta East area for the church. The Methodist Bishop of Lagos Central, Rt Rev. Samuel Nortey, said the celebration was aimed at appreciating them for their past work and encourage them to do more.

    Ago-Ijaye, being the mother circuit of the diocese of the Lagos central, is celebrating her 60th anniversary as a circuit, not just as a church.

    “One very important thing is that it’s not just a celebration, it’s about raising funds to impact on humanity. The anniversary is meant to impact on the community at Ebute Metta (East), Lagos and to ensure that we give them a befitting place of worship. The entire celebration is geared towards evangelism and expansion of God’s works at Ebute Metta East.

    “It’s been wonderful; if you look around a good number of the awardees are elderly people who have served in the past and this actually could have been to appreciate them for their services but interestingly they are all coming out to respond positively towards the work of envangelism, and so we are proud of them”, he stated.

    On how far the church has helped the people of the community, Nortey said there were projects, such as borehole in the local communities, which the church provided. According to him, the church gives scholarships to indigent students some of them, he said, had graduated from university. He disclosed that there are elderly people the church provides food stuffs, clothing and medicals. In  evangelism and expansion, the church has established many churches. Some of these, he said, had got their independence (circuit), while some had become cathedrals such as Festac and Mushin.

    “Most of these churches came out of Ago-Ijaye and they are doing very well,” he added. He said the church was involved in business of peace and conflict resolution, conflict management because as a church and community, it keeps preaching peace to the people. “There is the need for us to co-exist as a nation irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliation. We preach peace, but more than that the church does not hesitate to let members in government know that they must live by example.

    The security challenges facing the nation have been a result of the failure of the political class. And we have not hesitated to call their attention to it, hoping that those in authority will be conscious and sensitive to the needs of the populace,” he said.

    Nortey urged the church to channel some of its proceeds to the poor and needy in the community so that they would feel the impact of the celebration. He urged Nigerians not to lose hope and be a lot more patriotic. “It is not all about government; we have to be patriotic to give our own best to this nation and to fellow Nigerians,” he added.

  • Non-violence Day: Eliminating country-wide conflicts

    As Nigeria joins the rest of the world today to observe this year’s International Non-violence Day, CHINAKA OKORO writes that the government should step up its efforts to ensure that Nigerians are saved from the convoluting violence that have continued to give them psychological, social, economic and political trauma.

    When the United Nations General Assembly voted to establish October 2 to be observed as the International Day of Non-Violence on June 15, 2007, one would think it had Nigeria in mind.   The resolution by the General Assembly urged all member states to commemorate the day in “an appropriate manner and disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness.”

    Attaining political independence from Britain in 1960, Nigeria cut the picture of a country ready to lead the African continent in terms of political, social and economic fortune. Peace, unity equity and security are also not unimpeded in Nigeria’s prospect of greatness.

    But few years into nationhood, the country began a dangerous slip to infamy.

    Serious violence erupted in most parts of the country which nearly swept it under, as it resulted in a civil war.

    With the war over in 1970 after 36-month hostilities, Nigerians were hopeful that absolute peace and unity that will lead to equity and justice have come to reign. But that was not to be.

    Unbridled violence and vices became the order of the day. Robbery seemingly became an alternative source of livelihood. Kingpins such as the famous Anini and Oyenusi were terrors to behold. As if that was not enough, other kinds of depravities manifested.

    Any commentary on violence in Nigeria that doesn’t take into cognisance political aspect of the issue is surely ineffective.

    The pages of Nigeria’s political history are fraught with crises. From the First Republic, the issue of violence is overwrought. For instance, the 1983 general elections in Nigeria was one of the worst in terms of wide spread violence. Lives and properties were lost.

    Till date, violence has been a major characteristic of our elections. Again, there are some offshoots of political violence which have kept the entire country down.

    Currently, the country is overwhelmed by the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents, which security expert say could run the nation under if urgent measures are not taken. The insurgents have been a great source of violence against Nigerians. The group has in its custody many Nigerians who they abducted from their (Nigerians) homes, even as they set their ancestral home environments ablaze.

    Another form of violence that Nigerians are experiencing is that of kidnapping. Many Nigerians- wealthy or related to a wealthy people- have been kidnapped and their families or relations have parted with large sums of money before the kidnapped regained their freedoms.

    This has inflicted dangerous violence on Nigerians.

    Robbery is another form of violence which Nigerians have to contend with. People are in perpetual fear of losing their lives and belongings to men of the underworld.

    As if those forms of violence are not enough, Nigerians are now witnessing banditry in almost every state so much so that governments have begun to play the role of the defeated by negotiating for the release of those indigenous to the states in question.

    What of the herders’/farmers’ clashes in almost all the states? This recent form of violence has affected not only the well-being of the communities affected, but has also affected food production as farmers could no longer go to their farms for fear of being killed by the herders.

    Experts maintain that limiting violence to those experienced physically would lead to the appreciation of the danger associated with violence.

    They are of the view that there other forms of violence that what we experienced physically. Others may include psychological, social, economic, cultural and work place violence. The effects of these forms of violence, it is said, are more dangerous than the physical forms.

    A leading scholar on non-violent resistance Professor Gene Sharp uses the following definition in his publication The Politics of Nonviolent Action:

    “Nonviolent action is a technique by which people who reject passivity and submission, and who see struggle as essential, can wage their conflict without violence. Nonviolent action is not an attempt to avoid or ignore conflict. It is one response to the problem of how to act effectively in politics, especially how to wield powers effectively.”

    There are three main categories of non-violence action, namely protest and persuasion, including marches and vigils; non-co-operation; and non-violent intervention, such as blockades and occupations.

    A survey carried out concerning Nigeria situation as it concerned violence and its aftermath by the United Nations Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard painted a very gloomy situation.

    She said after presenting a preliminary statement at the end of her 12-day mission:

    “The overall situation that I encountered in Nigeria gives rise to extreme concern, with issues such as poverty and climate change adding to the crisis.  She pointed out that if ignored, the ripple effects of unaccountability on such a large scale had the potential to destabilise the sub-region if not the whole continent.

    “Nigeria is confronting nation-wide, regional and global pressures, such as population explosion, an increased number of people living in absolute poverty, climate change and desertification, and increasing proliferation of weapons”, she elaborated. “These are re-enforcing localised systems and country-wide patterns of violence, many of which are seemingly spinning out of control”.

    Ms. Callamard highlighted many areas of concern, including armed conflict against the Boko Haram terrorist group in the Northeast; insecurity and violence in the Northwest; the conflict in the central area known as the Middle Belt and parts of the Northwest and South, between nomadic herdsmen and indigenous farming communities.

    In the circumstances, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, in his message on this year’s International Day of Non-Violence, Mr. Guterres called on the world to follow the “enduring vision and wisdom of Mahatma Gandhi whose birthday the day is commemorating.

    “As Secretary-General of the United Nations, I can only hope that all those that have political responsibility in the world are able to be worthy of Mahatma Gandhi and to understand that they should reach their objectives through dialogue, through non-violence, through a strong commitment to truth and too the well-being of their peoples.”

    Continuing, he said: “At a time of protracted conflicts and complex challenges, Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence remains an inspiration. At the United Nations, a world free of violence – and the resolution of differences through non-violent means – is at the core of our work.

    “At a time of protracted conflicts and complex challenges, Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence remains an inspiration. At the United Nations, a world free of violence — and the resolution of differences through non-violent means — is at the core of our work.

    At a time when inequality is on the rise and a fair globalisation is an imperative, we also recall Gandhi’s commitment to social justice.

    And in a period when the world is striving to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, ensure gender equality and leave no one behind, Gandhi’s commitment to human dignity can light our path.

    Gandhi once said: “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind.” The Charter of the United Nations echoes that spirit, with its call in Chapter VI for the use, “first of all”, of negotiation, mediation, arbitration, judicial settlement and other peaceful ways to address threats to peace.

    The principle of non-violence—also known as non-violent resistance—rejects the use of physical violence in order to achieve social or political change. Often described as “the politics of ordinary people”, this form of social struggle has been adopted by mass populations all over the world in campaigns for social justice.

    As Nigeria joins the world today to observe this all-important day, it is hoped that the government should step up its efforts to ensure that Nigerians are saved from the unbridled levels and forms of violence that have continued to give them psychological, social, economic and political trauma and cultural dislocation.

  • Rapper Olanrewaju given good farewell

    Rapper Olanrewaju Pelepele aka Makanaki who recently committed suicide was last Friday given a spectacular farewell by fans and colleagues at a candlelight ceremony held at his hometown in Alimosho, Lagos.

    Amidst tears and sorrow, the crowd gave the late rapper his last respect.

    However, his official producer, Dammy BDC of Suplia Studio, revealed that he is currently working on a tribute track for the late rapper.

    “I produced almost all his songs,” said Dammy BDC.

    “We have recorded a tribute song for him and the video was shot on Friday. The likes of Adewale, Davolee and Bolaji are coming around and they will be part of the project.”

    Until his death, the self-acclaimed ‘King of Alimosho’ has been posting series of emotional messages and video on the internet with the #mylastmoment to narrate his disgust for life. He claimed that despite his 10 years of hard work in the music industry, he has failed to make it to the mainstream.

    The internet was left reeling on Friday, September 20 when the news broke that Pelepele had committed suicide by drinking ‘Sniper’, an insecticide, at his apartment in Ikorodu. He was buried the next day.

    The late rapper, who incorporated Yoruba and pigin English in his rap in 2012, under the imprint of YBNL, released a single titled, Sinnerman, featuring Olamide and Pheelz. He left the record label for undisclosed reasons to stand on his own.

    Pelepele released a track, ‘Local Reply’, a retaliation of Olamide verse in rapper Reminiscence’s song, ‘Local Rapper’ featuring Olamide. He did another follow up titled, ‘Fuck Shii’. He said he wished Dagrin was alive and later referred to himself as one-man army.

    In 2018, he released an Extended Play (EP) titled, ‘Eko State’ where he claimed people can survive in any coast, if they can survive in Lagos.

    Pelepele hails from Ibadan, Oyo State and attended Saint Anthony’s Grammar School, Ogun State. He later studied Linguistics at the University of Lagos.

  • The seed

    Once upon a time, there lived three supernatural beings and their names were Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Each of them had special powers to control certain aspects of time. For instance, anything that had to do with memories or history was within the domain of Yesterday; Today was the lord of actions and execution of plans, while Tomorrow superintended over the realms of vision, dreams, projections and strategic plans. One day, ego set in and these three beings got into an argument on who was the most important.

    After several days of argument, which almost led to a disruption in the time continuum, a little Seed approached the three supernatural beings and said, “I hail you mighty ones. While you are supernatural, I am natural. However, I can help you decide who is the greatest among you.” The three beings became very curious because no one had been able to adjudicate among them thus far. So, they asked how the Seed planned to carry out the task. The Seed said, “I have life within me and my capabilities are without limit. I can provide food, shade, oxygen, and several other amazing things. However, my powers cannot be released until I am planted and I grow. Whoever can perform this colossal feat is worthy of honour.”

    After giving the proposition some thought, the three beings agreed that it was a brilliant idea. They decided they would return to the conference table after seven days to see who would have released the power of the Seed. Immediately they left the meeting, Yesterday had a terrible mood swing, or should we call it a wave of depression? He told himself, “If I had known about this challenge, I would have planted my seed since yesterday, and by now it would have grown”. As each day passed, he became more and more depressed.

    Tomorrow was quite the opposite. He was full of such hope that he could not sleep. He kept telling himself, “Tomorrow, I will buy a beautiful flower pot and plant the seed. After it has grown a little, I will transplant it to where it will have all the space needed to mature. After maturity, more seeds will be produced and I will repeat the process so that I can have a big plantation. Of course, I will multiply the power of the seed several times over and become the greatest”. With every passing day, Tomorrow became more and more excited.

    As for Today, he planted the seed immediately. He said to himself, “I couldn’t have planted this seed yesterday because I never knew of this challenge then and I can’t beat myself up for that. Besides, it is better late than never. While the condition today is not the best for planting and tomorrow may be better, I will start small and improve with time rather than wait for a perfect condition.” And so, with every passing day, Today watched as the seed began to grow.

    On the seventh day of the challenge, the three supernatural beings converged. Yesterday was depressed because he still felt yesterday was the perfect time to have planted but he missed it, and Tomorrow was ecstatic because with every passing day, his dreams were becoming greater and new strategies were emerging. As for Today, he was grateful that he took advantage of the moment to plant the seed, which had sprouted. At the meeting that day, the three beings agreed that though each of them was unique in its own assignment, only Today could get anything done. But more importantly, they agreed that the Seed was a perfect test of greatness.

    Yesterday, today and tomorrow have something in common- time. Yesterday time passed, today is passing, and tomorrow time will pass. Let yesterday teach you, let tomorrow motivate you, but don’t let today pass you by. Remember, time doesn’t make an unplanted seed grow. If you invest nothing today, time cannot make it something tomorrow.

    Thanks for reading my article today. I would really love to hear from you. So, do share your views with me by sending SMS to 07034737394, visiting www.olanreamodu.com and following me on twitter @lanreamodu. Remember, you are currently nothing compared to what you can become. This can be your year if you want it to be!

     

  • UNICEF sensitises five million Nigerians on genital mutilation

    The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) said over 5.68 million individuals have been reached through radio, television and social media to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria.

    The UN agency said that 5,094 girls were reached through sensitisation in primary and secondary schools and empowered with change agents in partnership with existing school clubs.

    UNICEF FGM Consultant in Imo and Ebonyi states, Mr Ben Mbakwem, spoke yesterday at the 7th quarterly meeting of Imo State Technical Committee (STC) on FGM Abandonment.

    It was organised by the Imo State Ministry of Gender and Vulnerable Group Affairs in collaboration with UNICEF, UNFPA and National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Owerri.

    Represented by the Director of Gender Affairs in the state’s Ministry of Gender, Dr Blessing Azubuike, Mbakwem said  3,903 girls and women had also received health, social and legal services.

    He noted that the figures covered the five states of Imo, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Osun and Oyo covered by NOA and UNICEF as states with the most prevalent in FGM.

    Mbakwem said that UNFPA- UNICEF 2018 Joint Report indicated that 18 per cent of girls and women in Nigeria aged 15 to 49 years had undergone FGM, while over 14.8 million girls were at risk between 2015 and 2030.

    He said a lot of progress had been made since Nigeria joined other countries on the joint programme on FGM abandonment.

    Mbakwem said that already, 415 communities had made public declaration of FGM abandonment with sustained FGM discussion in the Annual Women’s Home and Abroad Meeting (August Meeting) and inclusion of FGM in the “New Yam Festival” in the Southeast.

  • Unveiling Akande’s phenomenon (ii)

    His philosophy is “encapsulated in the principles of humanism – others before self and progressive politics” (Oyeweso, 2011). Part of his philosophy is to dispense justice, be fair to all and do what is right at all times. According to him, in taking critical decisions he always asked himself the question “Kiloto” ( meaning what is right) and “Kilogba” ( meaning what is expedient). He said he often chose to be on the side of “kiloto”. (What is right). Chief Akande’s philosophy has inculcated in him a frugal life-style that he brought to bear on the administration of the state of Osun between 1999 and 2003.  He implemented the four cardinal programmes of his party, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) without borrowing a dime throughout his tenure.  It was prudent spending that made him to implement successfully his party’s programmes of free and qualitative education at all levels, free medical services for all, maximum and integrated rural development and full and gainful employment for all.

    When Chief Akande assumed office, he inherited a debt of over N2 billion but left no debt for his successor.  Within the first two years of his administration, he built classrooms, established new science schools and several technical colleges.  This very book has documented the numerous achievements of Chief Akande in government which stand him out as an indomitable spirit, a bold and courageous leader and above all a humanist per excellence. By the end of his tenure, the administration had completed and commissioned over 2,000 projects which included roads, hospitals, schools, rural housing as well as electricity and water supply.(p.26). He taught us a lesson in prudence during his tenure as governor when he reportedly received the sum of N1.5million from the Federal Government through the Universal Basic Education Commission to construct one classroom while Chief Akande chose to use the same amount to construct three classrooms without mortgaging standards. Another typical example is the case of the Ede water project which some of Chief Akande’s predecessors in office had earmarked for repairs (precisely desilting) at a staggering cost of $300million. Chief Akande at the end of the day completed the same repairs with a total sum of N74million, which was less than $1million at the time.

    The Akande administration within its first two years established science secondary schools across the state, built 40 classrooms and rehabilitated many others. By the end of the fourth year, six schools of science had been established in addition to the existing three, three Unity schools were also established in Osogbo, Ejigbo and Ikire, while seven technical colleges were established in addition to the existing two. In the health sector, essential drugs were provided in all government- owned hospitals across the state at a cost of N8 million per month. By August 2001, the administration had established hospitals in Ikire, Ora, Ilobu, Esa Oke, Iragberi, Kuta and Ile-Ife while the hospital in Osogbo was upgraded from a 20-bed to a 60-bed hospital. Between 1999 and 2003, attendance of patients at the hospitals increased from 96,695 to 660,000. In the area of rural development, moribund water projects across the state were resuscitated while 90 deep wells and 276 boreholes were sunk. The government also completed the National Water Rehabilitation Projects at Ikirun/ Eko-Ende and the new Ede waterworks water project.

    Chief Akande has shown us all that man’s legacy to mankind should not be in terms of what he is able to acquire in a material sense for himself but what you can give to your people and country. Chief Akande’s legendary prudence has been attested to by no less a personality than Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who once said:

    Two traits marked out Chief Akande as Governor: frugality with government funds and putting others before self. This twin-quality came under his ascetic nature, which gives little or no room for waste or flagrant display of opulence (cited in Oyeweso, (2011)

    The Jagaban is in a position to know. Chief Bisi Akande’s integrity and bluntness became so legendary that he was given several appellations by the people. The Late Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Ashiru Tadese named him “Aiyekooto” (people hate the truth) while some others named him “Otitokoro” ( meaning the truth is bitter).

    Chapters 4 & 5 written by Ify Igbokwe and Adeniyi S. Basiru respectively, highlight the non-discriminatory nature of Chief Akande’s policies and programmes in the way they affected indigenes and non-indigenes in his state.  At no time were non-Osun indigenes discriminated against in the implementation of all of his emancipatory policies and programmes.  The book focuses on his welfare programmes in chapter 5 showing that he embarked on the construction of rural houses for workers, teachers, health workers, etc. (building about 126 units in less than four years) while completing more than 300 kilometers of roads within the same period. Within four years, the Bisi Akande-led administration in Osun completed the construction of a state secretariat complex of 33 blocks at Abere in the state capital as well as a new governor’s office named after Late Chief Bola Ige.  The governor’s office, one of the best of its kind at the time, occupies about 97,600 square metres of land, with 560 office spaces and 167 toilets. The administration encouraged the use of local materials and largely used local contractors for virtually all the jobs it gave out. The new government secretariat was constructed at a relatively low cost of N3 billion while the Governor’s office was built at a cost of less than N2 billion.

    The construction of the secretariat made it possible for the state workforce to have offices they could call their own and also helped in saving for government about N400milion which it annually expended on rent paid by government agencies. In a bid to curb the usual sharp practices in contract awards, Chief Akande ensured that contracts were awarded to contractors without paying them any mobilisation fees. This unique form of executing contracts enabled government to pay only for jobs that had been satisfactorily done.

    Amidu T. Raheem in Chapter 6 titled “Bisi Akande and the Limits of Ethical Governance” X-rays one of the legacies of Chief Akande which is the Civil Service Reform.  It was a conscious attempt to rebrand the Osun State Civil Service by creating new value system and work ethics, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Civil Servants in service delivery and reduce corruption by blocking all sources through which such sharp practices occur. (p. 134).  Chief Akande himself diagnosed the afflictions of the Civil Service that he inherited as follows:

    “Instead of the traditional commitment to hard work and dedication to duty, Civil Servants have become desperate favour seekers, unrepentant petition writers and blackmailers.  The oath of secrecy is thrown to the winds and photocopies of sensitive, classified documents can be seen in the hands of groundnut sellers. (p. 137)”

    Consequently, Chief Akande decided to right-size the workforce and restructure the Civil Service.  In all, over 3,000 workers lost their jobs in a gale of retrenchment that earned Chief Akande more enemies than friends.  Although the book provides justification for this step in the light of the state’s dwindling resources and the bloated workforce, the jury is still out on whether the step taken was the best option available in the circumstance.

    Clearly, this shows that Chief Bisi Akande in spite of his phenomenal achievements, legendary courage, simplicity, asceticism, frugality and transparency is human after all and is therefore not infallible.

    Chapter 7 written by Aituaje I. Pogoson and Moses U. Saleh discusses Gender Issues and Governance in Osun State, 1999 – 2003.  It raises theoretical posers about gender issues and democratic governance.  It states that democracy that fails to address gender concerns is but an empty shell.  The authors insist that women representation in the Akande-led administration was grossly inadequate, with only one female Commissioner in a cabinet of 10 members.  They also linked the non-recognition of the office of the first lady to lack of sufficient gender sensitivity.  However, the authors hold the view that government policies and programmes were non-discriminatory and benefited all citizens regardless of gender.

    Chapter 8 presents Chief Bisi Akande as “a rebel in Government House”.  It situates its analysis within the context of Nigerian politics characterized by what Peter Ekeh describes as the “two publics” as well as Richard Joseph’s “Prebendalism”.  The authors, Azeez Olaniyan and Akeem Bello see Chief Akande as being a Nigerian politician of a different kind.  He is presented as a man who did not play politics of expediency (even when second term election loomed).  They identify what characterizes him as a rebel,5 to be : personal simplicity, straight talk and bluntness, abolition of the office of the first lady, rightsizing and downsizing of workforce, direct labour system, confrontation with the labour unions and traditional rulers and insistence on accountability and due process, refusal to favour his kinsmen and religious groups and insistence on party supremacy. (p. 181).

    Chapters 9 & 10 written by the co-editors represent a befitting conclusion to this very seminal and highly readable book.  The Chapters reveal that Chief Akande is a man more sinned against than a sinner.  They revealed that his loyalty to his party and his belief in party supremacy was what made the composition of his cabinet so lopsided in terms of women representation.

    The authors of the chapters reiterate Chief Akande’s glowing qualities – his humane and courteous disposition, his zero tolerance for opaqueness, his humility and personal distaste for abuse of trust.  However, in chapter 10, the authors raised concerns about Chief Akande’s neutrality in the intra-party crisis that preceded the Governorship election in Osun in 2019, his unexplained silence on the crisis that trailed the July 2017 senatorial election within his party in the state, as well as his seeming “sommersault” on the vexed-issue of restructuring about which he had even written a book in the past.

    As earlier stated in the foreword by Prof. Aina, the story in this book is not about a man who is infallible.  It is about a man “who was willing to take responsibility for what he believed in and who worked hard to lead the kind of life that would make Osun State a better state than he met it” (p. x).  Chief Akande may not be a perfect man, but he has emerged from this book as someone who having no need to fear man, has through an unflinching devotion to duty and translucent love of country, fostered happiness and the good life among his people.

    The lesson for us all as the book clearly depicts, lies in the memorable words of Henry Longfellow who wrote in “The Reaper and the Flowers” that: ‘Lives of great men remind us all we can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us footprints on the sands of time.’

    This book of ten well-written chapters is a must-read for all those interested in the study of Nigeria’s history, politics and governance especially in the 4th republic. It should be a companion for our politicians who will need to emulate Chief Akande’s modesty both in and out of office.  They must strive to learn lessons about loyalty to party, loyalty to ideology and loyalty to the people.

    Governors in particular, must learn from his belief in party supremacy as the best way to guarantee political stability.  If the appropriate lessons are learnt, our politicians of the moment, cutting across political parties, must begin to revive the party system such that every individual, from the President to the Governor, would be subordinated to the authority of the party.

    The structure for administering the political parties such as the National Executive Committees, National Working Committees and the Boards of Trustees must be given a kiss of life.  It is only in this context that our democracy can survive.

    Finally, I wish to propose that some of the chapters in the book should be merged to make the book more compact and avoid overlap.  A situation where more than 3 chapters reproduce basically the same data on Chief Akande’s achievements, as presented on pages 90-92 and pages108-113, should be avoided.

    There is no doubt that this is a well-researched and well-written book that showcases a Nigerian with a difference, a phenomenal politician, a man of ebullient and impeccable character, a man of modesty, a man whose word is his honour, Chief Adebisi Akande.

    It is my hope that scholars, politicians, administrators and journalists would ultimately find this book to be a useful companion in their search for the Nigerian of our dream.