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Tag: NIPSS

  • NFC partners NIPSS for creative industry conference

    NFC partners NIPSS for creative industry conference

    The Nigerian Film Corporation and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies have pooled their resources together for a conference on the Nigerian film and creative industry.

    This, according to both bodies, is to enable the Federal Government place an enduring policy framework that will engender its growth and development.

    The two agencies of government on Monday, September 25, inaugurated the Joint Committee for the organisation of the Think Tank Conference.

    At the inauguration of the Joint Committee which took place at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, both agencies of government expressed their desire and commitment towards the hosting of a successful conference.

    While the NFC has the mandate to develop the Nigerian film industry, NIPSS has the mandate to develop Policy and Strategic roadmap for the nation.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the joint committee, NIPSS’ acting Director General, Jonathan Mela Juma, mni commended NFC for taking up the initiative on the Film and Creative Think Thank Project.

    Juma described the entire project as that which will further signpost the film and creative industry of Nigeria as alternative investment portfolio in Nigeria. He assured that NIPSS will ensure that the project is successful by leveraging on the goodwill of its strategic partners.

    Also speaking at the inauguration, NFC’s Managing Director, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe commended NIPSS for taking up the partnership with NFC to drive the Think Tank Conference.

    Represented by Brian Etuk, the Corporation’s Head of Public Affairs and Intergovernmental Affairs, NFC he said, was determined to assist government transform Nigeria’s film and creative industry into an economy, with robust tendencies to generate employment and create wealth.

    The Committee Members drawn from NFC and NIPSS are Professor Habu Galadima (Chairman), Dr. Sola Adeyanju (Secretary), Dr. Musa Umar, Dr. Jacob Tsado, Bawa Ahmed, John Mfon (Vice Chairman), Eunice Ochoga, Edmund Peters, Brian Etuk, as well as Hannatu Danjuma (Asst. Secretary).

    The Committee is expected to among other things, put the modalities in place for the realization of the conference, including the time, date and venue of the Conference.

  • Filmmakers to attain mni, as Film Corporation partners NIPSS

    Filmmakers to attain mni, as Film Corporation partners NIPSS

    As part of his drive to reverence the business of filmmaking in Nigeria, newly appointed Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, has entered a partnership that will enlist filmmakers into the country’s policy formation cadre.

    Maduekwe, who disclosed this to newsmen, explained that the partnership, which is between the NFC and National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, will earn motion picture practitioners’ nominations for its annual senior course programme, designed to empower participants on government’s critical development policies and implementation strategies.

    The NIPSS is a policy formation center for bureaucrats, private sector leaders, Army officers, and medium-rank and senior civil servants. Most policymakers in Nigeria have attended the NIPSS; including former Nigerian Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida; former Director General of Nigeria Policy Study, Comrade Ajayi Olusegun, and anti-corruption campaigner, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

    The agreement was reached during a courtesy visit by the NFC boss to the Acting Director General of NIPSS, Mr. Jonathan Mela Juma on Friday, May 26, 2017.

    A release signed by Head, Public Affairs of the NFC, Mr. Brian Etuk, stated that, “As part of the decisions of the two federal government institutions, a Think-Tank National Conference on Nigeria’s Creative Industry has been scheduled to hold in the third quarter of the year.”

    Etuk said participants at the conference to be jointly organised by NFC and NIPSS, which will hold at the latter’s institute in Jos, will be drawn from motion picture practitioners, scholars, researchers, relevant government and private institutions.

    “The conference will provide government and other stakeholders, the opportunity and platform to design the national policy frame work for the sustainable development of the sector and bring it to par and even surpass other creative economies.”

    Juma, in his presentation, was said to have acknowledged that the Nigerian creative industry, especially the motion picture sector has the capacity to change the narratives on Nigeria which has been classified as the single and fastest growing economy in Africa.

    “Nigeria’s portraiture as a nation of hardworking and enterprising people should be promoted using the film medium,” he said, adding that “Motion picture production activities should be adequately supported in order to position it as next to agriculture in terms of income for government and as a window to boost employment across the country.”

    The NIPSS boss endorsed the various initiatives being taken by NFC to reposition its subsidiary and training arm, the National Film Institute (NFI), with a promise to assist it with faculty resources to enhance learning and research in motion picture production.

    During the meeting, the NFC chief also canvassed for federal and state government agencies to partner, design programmes and projects that will empower Nigerians sustainably, noting that the NFC was desirous of instituting enduring policy and strategic framework to aid the growth of the Nigerian motion picture industry.

    The Nigerian film sector, Maduekwe said, was in dire need of the establishment of the proposed National Film Development Fund (NFDF) to provide a formal funding window for film production activities, just like other sectors of the nation’s economy.

     

  • Empty treasury: I almost absconded, says Buhari

    Empty treasury: I almost absconded, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday disclosed that he almost absconded from his office when he met an almost empty treasury on resumption.

    He disclosed this during a Presidential parley with senior executive course 38 (2016) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Noting that daily oil production of 2.1 million barrels was recorded between 1999 and 2015, he said that there was virtually no savings on ground despite the huge income during the period.

    Infrastructures, he said, were also in dilapidated states.

    To make matter worse, he said that oil prices in the international market, which sold for over $100 per barrel fell below $30 per barrel under his tenure.

    Digressing from his prepared speech, Buhari said: “For 16 years and eight consecutive government’s of the other party and you know that there was unprecedented revenue realized, the oil projection which can be verified was 2.1 million barrels per day.

    “1999 to 2015, the average cost of each Nigerian barrel of oil was $100 per barrel. When we came it fell to less $30 per barrel and it is now laying between 40 and 50.

    “Actually I felt like absconding because 27 out of 36 states in Nigeria cannot pay salaries and we know they have no other source than to depend on salaries.

    “And I asked any savings? I was told there was no savings, And I asked what have you done on agriculture, power, rails, roads. Nothing. You know more than I do because you move around. I have not been moving around since after elections but you do, how many of the Trunk A roads are still good enough? How many power do we have although there are some elements of sabotage.

    “I was told the money was used to import food and fuel. I didn’t believe the answer and I still don’t believe it. Until now substantial number of people in the East eat garri and groundnut, in the West pounded yam, cassava, vegetables, in the north tuwo which is made from any of the grains, millet, sorghum.

    “They eat it in the night and warm it in the morning and eat it and take fura danono in the afternoon. How many of those people can afford foreign food?” he queried.

    “Then they say I should check out the petroleum, the legislature dedicated 445,000 barrels per day for internal consumption and that is just 60 per cent of our requirements. I said okay what of the 40 per cent? The marketers that are bringing it just present documents, papers are just stamped and monies are taken away.

    “This is the type of things that the Nigerian elites are doing for our own country. When you go back look at your colleagues and encourage them to be truly Nigerians,” Buhari stated.

    In his prepared speech, the President said that he was glad that the Course 38 Participants took up the challenge he threw at the Management of NIPSS last year to look at strengthening institutional mechanisms for poverty reduction and inclusive development in the 2016 Course.

    He said that he was happy the report was submitted to him.

    “I have carefully noted the report, most especially its findings and policy recommendations. I recall with pleasure that when I was given this task, six months after this administration came into office, the selection of the theme was not only apt but also timely.

    “Today, poverty reduction and inclusive development have become pillars of this administration and very close to my heart,” he added.

    The President said that he had looked forward to receiving the report because it touched on one of the fundamental problems confronting the nation.

    “The Report comes at a time when our economy is experiencing a downturn and all efforts are being made by this administration to get our country moving again.”

    He insisted that the current economic recession in the country is not the making of his administration, but a consequence of bad management of the economy in the past couple of decades.

    Buhari also maintained that recession is not limited to Nigeria, stressing that there are far worse cases than Nigeria.

    He added: “Whatever the scale of the problem the important thing is how one tackles it. Accordingly, this administration is committed to finding lasting solutions to our economic structural imbalance.

    “Let us have faith in our great nation that we will come out of this recession vibrant and strong. I am glad that the report presented today has given us reason to keep faith in our ability to overcome our challenges.

    “There is no doubt that poverty for decades has been a major challenge to us as a nation despite the country’s enormous wealth. Several policies and programmes that have been implemented over the years, as rightly observed by the Report, have not broken the cycle of poverty in Nigeria.”

    “From the findings of the research by the Participants, it is evident that strengthening our institutions is key to reducing poverty and engendering inclusive development,” he said.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Acting Director-General of NIPSS, Jonathan Juma, said that a lot can be done by the institute if more budgetary support is given to it.

    “For the Institute to operate as an “apex institution” and be at the forefront of relevant researches for national development, it is required to recruit and retain top level academics, very senior technocrats and other experienced specialized experts.” He said

    He said that the national institute is operating below its conceived capacity due to its inability to attract a full complement of requisite staff who would conduct research across broad strategic areas of national life and also impact new knowledge.

    He said: “The financial situation of the national institute is precarious. The payments for utility services are in arrears and worse still, we have to live with threats of litigation from numerous creditors. Operational vehicles in the institute’s fleet have aged and are a source of constant embarrassment .

    “We have looked inward and appealed to the generosity of individuals and corporate Nigeria for support and we are glad that some have responded positively. However, a decisive presidential intervention for a sustainable funding of NIPSS is urgently required,” he stated.

  • NIPSS praises IBBUL programmes

    The management of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), has been commended for initiating developmental academic programmes that will accelerate the socio-economic fortunes of Niger State and Nigeria at large. Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada (rtd), gave the commendation while he led the Senior Executive Course 37 of 2015 participants of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, who were on a study tour to the university.

    He expressed satisfaction with IBBUL’s infrastructural stride, applauding the Niger State government for establishing the institution. Jekada stressed that every effort should be made to ensure that the funding system is enduring for sustainability.

    Jekada said the visit was part of traditional mandates of participants to undertake a tour to research and educational institutions nationwide with a view to expanding their knowledge on critical issues affecting the sector and how to evolve policies that could help mitigate some challenges.

    In his response, IBBUL Vice-Chancellor, Prof Muhammad Nasir Maiturare told participants that the university, with her 10 years of modest history has evolved through developmental stages and now ranks high among its equals.

  • Jonathan pledges financial support to NIPSS

    Jonathan pledges financial support to NIPSS

    President Goodluck Jonathan, on Saturday pledged to support the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) financially to enable it achieve its research mandate.

    Jonathan stated this during the graduation ceremony of Course 35 of NIPPS in Kuru, near Jos.

    The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, said the government would make funds available to the institution to enable it meet its financial obligations.

    “The Federal Government will surely come to the financial assistance of the institute so as to perform its statutory duties to the nation.

    “The Federal Government will make funds available to improve the welfare package of the entire staff of the institution.

    “The government will surely look inward and assist the institution with the funds to discharge its duties as a research institution but within our limited resources,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the President as saying at the ceremony.

    He called on the staff of NIPPS to continue with the good work of producing technocrats for the nation.

     

     

  • NIPSS Politicians; Fashola: Builder; ‘Fasholaites’ Legacy Projects, not adverts; Bail; INEC; Solar

    NIPSS Politicians; Fashola: Builder; ‘Fasholaites’ Legacy Projects, not adverts; Bail; INEC; Solar

    How many billionaires in Nigeria are secretive billionaires and not on the Forbes rich list? Why? Corrupt money!

    NIPSS has at long last initiated a course for politicians. Education is a key to development. For years we have suggested that politicians, their aides and special advisors, instead of setting up the ‘Associations of Special Advisors to President and Governors and Ministers’ aka ‘ASATPAGAM’, should ‘get an education in delivering political agendas’ through 1-3 month diplomas in ‘Budgeting for beginners’, MDGs et cetera to reduce ‘delivery of democracy’ time.

    In Nigeria the more you look the less you see. Look at the billions put into ‘power failure’. We now know that the money went to terrorist activities against power supply. As someone said, one Japanese airport has 6,000Mw, more than Nigeria after trillions of naira ‘went up’ in ‘the darkness powered by PHCN’. Now see headlines like ‘Nigerian government to ban generators’. Ban whose generators- Government offices and employees’ homes? Or from the common man suffering no power after 1999-2013 i.e. 14 years of one-party rule? Is powerlessness a Nigerian ‘dividend of democracy’?

    Congratulations to Governor BRFashola@50 for showing that Nigeria is not bereft of good leaders and that with the right leadership a ‘Normal Nigeria’ is possible. He is a governor who has shown that governance is more than delivering the barest minimum and that delivering exercise books to school children is a child right and not a misguided dividend of democracy. In addition he has built bridges as his legacy!

    I hate birthday newspaper advertisements as a waste of millions in public and private funds, totally 10,000 adverts@ N500,000/ annual or N10,000,000,000 or N10b/annum for sucking up to the person in power –soon to be forgotten after a political power cut. Remember that each advert gives a finder’s fee of 10-20% totally N1-2b/year. Who listened to State of Osun’s Ogbeni and indeed Fashola’s own request that all adverts should instead be monetised for charities. However in the special case of Governor Fashola@50, I want, in spite of that massive advertorial ‘incumbency-only’ waste, to say how proud we Lagosians are of Governor Fashola. The 50 odd adverts in one paper would have been N25m in a Fashola Legacy Project. I would have preferred to see 50 or so N500,000 endowments for events, scholarships, competitions, prizes, a play in Fashola’s name in education, business, law and creative arts to raise the next generation of ‘Fasholaites’. It will take money –that advertising money would have been useful! You never hear of newspapers doing much CSR with their profits! I won a prize of a huge green Stedman’s Medical Dictionary in the USIS J. F. Kennedy Essay Competition from St Gregory’s College in 1965 or so. A Fashola Essay Prize for leadership among students or prefects is not too much to establish for a man who is so politically savvy and modest as not to name the Principals’ Cup and other major rejuvenated and new initiatives and events after his person. That takes guts, leadership, vision and a resistance to sycophants. As ‘Class Captain’ we hope he is spreading his philosophy among the Progressive Governors Forum. Nigeria has a sprinkling of visionary governors. There are a lot of ‘if only’ regrets in Nigeria. What if Obasanjo had ‘allowed’ Asiwaju Tinubu’s power dreams for Lagos in 1999 or had not withheld the N10b or if the civilian government had corrected the military induced 20 LGAs for Lagos versus the 77 for Kano State? Where would Lagos State be now without these anomalies?

    Celebrate ‘Fashola: The Builder’ or ‘Fashola: The Bridge Builder!’ I was on the beautiful architectural masterpiece Lekki-Ikoyi Suspension bridge. That is what government is about –executing the visionary solution and employing Nigerians. Government is supposed to pay attention to masterpieces beyond the ability of others. Jonathan agreed to allow the bridge but would Obasanjo or Buhari have? Why is there only that bridge when the Seine and the Thames have many bridges? Are the next bridges planned? Those still building the second and third Niger Bridge should be ashamed. The bridge is about shortening distances and the toll should be cheaper. Happy Birthday: Fashola the Builder’.

    A student who allegedly kidnapped, beat and raped an undergraduate was bailed with three sureties of N250,000 each. That is not a deterrent but an encouragement to violence against women.

    Readers of this column will know that it has promoted Addresses on State of the Nation, State, LGAs, Professional Bodies and Associations throughout Nigeria to highlight problems, encourage performance and development. Hurray, the Oyo State Governor Ajimobi gave a State of Oyo State Address just last week. So should the Presidency and NASS.

    Senate wants new recruitment into the military but how many of the senators will put their children and relations forward?

    So INEC says ‘no’ to e-voting, ‘No’ to Diaspora voting, perhaps ‘no’ to APC registration. What next? The CBN announced that N22b is repatriated home annually by the Diaspora Nigerian community. Does that not qualify them to vote?

    It is a pity that the Governors’ Forum does not have as a priority the prevention of further violence against farmers on the murderous North-South Cattle ‘Blood Meat’ corridor.

    So the World Bank supports a Nigerian university to produce solar panels. Who is afraid of a ‘Solar Powered Nigeria’? Government and its cronies in ‘Nigeria’s Great Petroleum Scam’? Meanwhile JAMB cut-off points cut off merit and youths lives.

  • NIPSS alumni unveil development plans

    It was a forum intended to unveil the agenda of the Lagos State chapter of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), an offshoot of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). It was born in 1982, as a think-tank and fountain of manpower for good governance at all levels in the country.

    It was last Friday, during an interaction with select reporters at the association’s Ibusa House, Gbagada, Lagos office. The trademark toothy smiles of LAANI’s Publicity Secretary, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, went on momentary sabbatical. So it was for Mr Victor Banjo (Chairman) and Bello Abdulmumuni (Gen. Secretary). Their concern: The frightening insecurity in the country and the worsening plight of the downtrodden.

    In tandem with the association’s agenda for 2013/2014 year, entitled: ‘Towards a better Society,’ Banjo, had said “We planned to meet with: the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigeria Army to discuss civil-military relations; police Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in charge of Zone 11, to discuss crime prevention; Lagos Police Commissioner, to brainstorm on how to tackle kidnapping in the state, and Oba Rilwan Akiolu, an “illustrious alumnus” of the institute. It held last Saturday.

    He also expressed the readiness of the LAANI to meet with officials of the Lekki Consortium Company (LCC); the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), as well as hold a policy roundtable with the Lagos State Government to highlight issues that can accelerate development in the state.

    Besides assessing independently, the number of projects that have been executed based on recommendations from government officials who have attended the NIPSS, Banjo said LAANI would also stimulate citizens’ minds through Annual LAANI Policy Lecture on major topical issue to be addressed by a distinguished personality, and the establishment of LAANI Policy Centre with the assistance of the state government.

    The question-and-answer session readily gave the trio – Banjo, Olatunji-Bello and Abdulmumuni – away as among the few privileged Nigerians who had been in angst over the worrisome security situation in the country. They all seethed with rage over the rate at which innocent souls are being wasted by the dreaded Boko Haram sect without let.

    “What we daily experience, hear and read in this country, especially the wanton killing of helpless Nigerians, particularly in the North, should concern any sane human being. Government must deal with the growing menace decisively because it will be uncontrollable if it spreads, and I dare say emphatically that the issue of amnesty is a ruse; it won’t work,” said Olatunji-Bello, the immediate former Acting Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU).

    Banjo and Abdulmumuni were unanimous in their admonition that government must treat the Boko Haram issue as an act of terrorism. “It is not something to be treated with kid gloves; and we must realise that silence is not golden in the circumstances,” Banjo added soberly.

    In line with AANI’s commitment to putting government on its toes to live up to its responsibility, Olatunji-Bello added that LAANI would not rest on its oars through continued partnership with the Lagos State Government to fast-track good governance in people’s interest.”

  • ‘Security challenges will disappear if economy improves’

     

    The Director-General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Prof. Tijani Bande, said the country’s current security challenges will disappear if the economy improves.

    Bande made this known at an annual press briefing to herald the 2012 graduation of Senior Executive Course 34 in Kuru on Friday.

    According to him, the poor economy is responsible for the high rate of unemployment in the country.

    “The problems the country is experiencing are connected to unemployment as youths are losing hope of getting jobs after years of graduation.

    “ Having a robust and diversify economy is one sure way for peace in the country,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Prof. Bande as saying at the graduation ceremony.

    The director-general said the participants of the course had “deeply reflected’’ on the situation and had understudied other countries with similar experiences.

    “They have submitted a proposal to the president on the ways to improve the economy.

    “ The proposal specifically hinged on the diversification of the economy to shift focus from total dependence on oil to agriculture.’’

    The other recommendations included solid minerals development, education, training as well as peace and culture.

    He added that most of the recommendations from the institute had found themselves as policies of government and expressed optimism that the recommendations would be treated accordingly.