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Tag: Onu

  • Govt building bonds with Cuba to diversify economy, says Onu

    The Nigerian government is strengthening existing cordial relationships with Cuba, especially at this time when efforts are being intensified to diversify the economy utilizing science and technology”.

     The Minister of Science and Technology,  Dr Ogbonnaya Onu disclosed this when the Ambassador to Cuba , His Excellency Carlos Trejo Sosa visited him in Abuja .

    The Minister affirmed that part of the Ministry’s mandate is to ensure that Nigeria becomes a leading economy through value addition to human capital development in the area of science and technology.

    This he said is in line with the present administration’s strategic plan, which is to add value on human resources through research and training, thereby gaining knowledge and be on the frontline of leading economies of the world.

    He reiterated President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination in redirecting the economy, from resource based to knowledge based, thereby getting Nigerians to become more productive on issues that will add value to the exploitation of the nation’s natural resources.

    Dr Onu stated  that once the memoranda  of understanding(Mou) between Cuba and Nigeria  is completed, Nigeria will acquire technology and innovation in key sectors of the economy which will enable it add value in revenue generation, provide job opportunities , create wealth and reduce poverty to the  barest minimum in Nigeria.

  • Onu: Lagos APC should unite to win council polls

    Onu: Lagos APC should unite to win council polls

    All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Prince Nwaeze Onu urges the members of the Lagos State chapter to put the primaries behind and unite to win the local government elections.

    On May 27 and 29, 2017 the Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi-led Local Government Election Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) organised primaries for chairmanship and councillorship aspirants for the local government elections to be held on July 22 across the state. After the primaries, there were drama, protests and even violence. Nothing less was expected from the primaries of a party in government in the state and at the centre and whose leaders have, since the return of democratic rule in 1999, been calling the shots in the politics of Lagos state.

    The APC and its progenitor parties have, in fact, never lost any election in Lagos state. It was therefore not surprising that the party had, in some cases, as much as thirty persons vying to fly the party’s flag in the polls to elect the chairman of a single local council. Even after giving automatic tickets to some18 immediate past chairmen, no fewer than 200 party members contested for the chairmanship tickets of the remaining 39 local councils.

    While the APC expressly forbids imposition of candidates, it nevertheless recognises and validates consensus candidacy provided their emergence does not lead to division and bitternes. The concluded primaries did leave a lot of bitterness in its wake although a lot of reconciliation has taken place already.In focus here, is the god-like stature of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Henry Ajomale. Love or hate him, the lion of Bourdillion has played and continues to play a pivotal role in the democratic and political development of Lagos state, the SouthþÿWest and indeed Nigeria. Despite initial hold – outs by some self-acclaimed Awoists, the Asiwaju has successfully wrestled the mantle of leadership of the South-West as vacated by the revered late chief Obafemi Awolowo. His rise from a National Democratic Coalition, NADECO activist to the founder and leader of Alliance for Democracy, AD, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and now the All Progressives Congress APC has marked him out as a consumate politician, astute organiser, bridge builder and leader. In the course of his rise, Tinubu has identified, trained and positioned a lot of other regional and national leaders who are not only following his footsteps but are capable of stepping up the leadership ladder whenever called upon to do so.

    Ajomale is indisputably a long standing associate of Bola Tinubu. Since they got together in 1990, like siamese twins, they have remained inseperable in the progressives camp. This speaks volumes in an environment where politicians lack vision and convinction and generally prostitute themselves from the left to the right and centre of the political spectrum at the drop of a hat. Bucking the trend, Tinubu and Ajomale have been in the trenches together from the days of Alliance for Democracy (AD) through Action Congress (AC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to the present day All Progressives Congress (APC). Between 1999 and 2003, Ajomale served under Governor Bola Tinubu as special adviser and commissioner in Lagos State.

    He was the Lagos state chairman of the Action Congress (AC) and later Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) from 2003 up till the merger that gave birth to the APC and still continues as the APC chairman today. It is trite to say that the understanding and trust between Ajomale and Tinubu is legendary. Working together, they have made Lagos state a fortress of progressive ideals and governance that not even the president Obasanjo – led PDP onslaught of 2011 could overcome. Ajomale has become an institution with a lot of clout in Lagos state and beyond. So much is to be said and admired about his steadfastness and loyalty to the cause. Considering the volatile and merchantilist nature of Nigerian politics and politicians, only one guided by principles can stay true to a cause for so long. Lawyer and administrator, Ajomale has led his party to victory in four general elections into the local governments, state House of Assembly and governorship. Surely, the story of progressive politics and the emergence and victory of the APC can never be told without the names of Tinubu and Ajomale taking centre stage. Boasting such track record of success, it is foolhardy to think that their alleged actions in respect of the Lagos APC primaries was actuated by anything other than the general interest of the party and the people of Lagos state. Having come out tops in four previous elections as chairman, Lagosians must trust Ajomale to deliver once again. Consensus candidacy was much loved and promoted by the late sage, chief Obafemi Awolowo in the days of the Unity Party of Nigeria.

    If Ajomale and the Asiwaju had endorsed the consensus candidates, it goes without saying that they must have considered all variables before coming up with what they considered to be in the best interest of the party. The duo has produced political stars that have performed beyond people’s expectations. Babatunde Raji Fashola, Rauf Aregbesola, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Babatunde Fowler, Ben Akabueze, Lai Mohammed and Akinwunmi Ambode are just a few of such stars who owe their political ascendancy to the mentorship of Tinubu and by extension, Henry Ajomale.

  • Shittu, Onu, for info mgt confab

    The Minister of Communications Technology, Adebayo Shittu and Minister for Science & Technology Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, are scheduled to address this year’s national summit on information management slated for November 19, at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

    With Information Management for Change: Roles and Responsibilities of Key Stakeholders as its theme, the forum will bring key stakeholders together to brainstorm on the way forward as the economy seeks way out of recession.

    The President/Chairman, Governing Council, Institute of Information Management (IIM) Africa, organisers of the forum, Dr Oyedokun Oyewole, said the forum is coming at an auspicious time.

    He said: “In this era of change, we must recognise that governments alone cannot improve the situation in the country.

    “To achieve our collective goals as a nation, we need to bring key stakeholders together across the country, from the private sector, to civil society, to government.

    “If we do not work together, the situation just won’t change. Various stakeholders need to understand their roles and responsibilities on how we can harness information to better help improve the economy.”

  • Sagay to Justices: leave Amaechi, Onu out of your case

    Sagay to Justices: leave Amaechi, Onu out of your case

    Eminent legal scholar Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) yesterday advised Supreme Court Justices under probe for corruption to defend themselves in the court, instead of diverting attention to an alleged bribery by Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi.

    He described Supreme Court Justice, Inyang Okoro’s and Sylvesta Ngwuta’s call for Amaechi’s resignation as improper and urged the minister to ignore it.

    Sagay said the allegation of attempted inducement by the minister had no bearing with the justices’ arrest and subsequent charges before a court of competent jurisdiction.

     The retired university don said the statements credited to Justices Ngwuta and Okoro smacked of wrong attribution, adding that it was a calculated attempt to bring the minister down and deny the Federal Government the services of a bright member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    Sagay, however, clarified that he decided to air his opinion in his personal capacity and not as the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption.

    He observed that certain people had always indulged in pulling down fellow human beings in a bid to divert attention from the matter of the moment.

    Sagay told reporters in Lagos that the sudden narrative on Amaechi was consistent with the objectives and interests of the chief promoters of judicial corruption.

    He said the outburst by the Justices was surprising because it was totally unrelated to be raids of their premises, their arrest and subsequent charges before the courts.

    Sagay said: “Men of that status should not indulge in such diversionary activities in the midst of grave and ominous charges facing them.  I would have thought that they would use the time at their disposal to prepare their defences against the serious charges they are facing.”

     The legal luminary added: “Given their status as Supreme Court justices, even in the middle of the adversity confronting them, they should not have engaged in a distraction totally incompatible with the dignity and respect that their high offices attract.

     “It is demeaning for them to abandon their legitimate defence in order to smear a high official of the Buhari government, which latter, they probably consider to be the source of their predicaments.  Mere allegations cannot have enough weight to affect the position of such a high official as Amaechi.

    “Otherwise knowing the disposition of Nigerians for putting people down, no office holder will be safe in this country.  It is therefore improper and ridiculous to compare the position of the Justices in whose houses millions of naira and hundreds of thousands of dollars were recovered, to that of Amaechi against whom there is only the mere (ipse dixit) words of mouth of the Judges.

     Sagay maintained that the wrong attribution to Amaechi by the Justices underscored the style of powerful opposition politicians from Rivers and Akwa-Ibom States, stressing that  they were the ones who financed judicial corruption and brought the judiciary to its knees after last year’s elections.

     The former university don said the allegations are intended to undermine and weaken the Buhari government by depriving it of the service, input, ideas and productivity of some of its brightest stars.

    Sagay said the plot was intended to set the stage for charging the government with ineffectiveness and cluelessness.

    He added: “It is an attempt to reduce the image and perception of this Federal Government to the low level of their own late and unlamented government.Therefore, the call for Amaechi to step down is malicious and vindictive. It should be ignored with complete ignominy.”

  • Onu, El-Rufai for Materials Society conference

    Materials Science and Technology Society of Nigeria (MSN) has announced the date for its international conference.

    The five-day event the society is  organising with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, will start on November 21 and it will hold at the ABU Hotels in Kaduna State.

    According to a statement by the Society’s National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Dr Baba Alafara, the conference with the theme: Engineering materials and solid minerals development: panacea for sustainable national economic diversification,  will be supported by Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and agencies under the two ministries.

    Expected guets include Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who is the special guest of honour, Gov. Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, ABU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ibrahim Garba, and Chief Kunle Oguntade, MSN’s Board of Trustees chairman.

    The event will feature lectures and presentation of research papers by several speakers. There will also a scientific exhibition during which various locally-manufactured products would be displayed.

    Fellowship awards will be given to some of the participants, including Onu, Garba, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) VC, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Prof Ndubuisi Idenyi of Ebonyi State University, Prof Adenike Omotunde of Lagos State University, and Prof Martiale Zebazekana of the Kwara State University.

  • Enugu APC to indicted justices: leave Amaechi, Onu alone

    The Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged embattled Justices John Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court to withdraw their allegations against Transportation Minister Chibuike Amaechi and his Science and Technology counterpart, Ogbonnaya Onu.

    The two Supreme Court justices, in their separate letters to the Chief of Justice of Nigeria (CJN), accused Onu and Amechi, of attempting to bribe them to pervert justice.

    In a statement, APC Publicity Secretary Mrs Kate Ofor said: “I am outraged that instead of defending themselves, the Honourable Justices Okoro and Ngwuta are looking for people to drag along with them; hence, the resort to an afterthought. They should forthwith leave Dr. Onu and Amechi alone.”

    On the allegation that one of the justices informed the CJN of their lobby, Ofor said: “The Honourable Justices, going by the powers conferred on them by the 1999 Constitution, are aware that they have the power to call on the police or even their orderly to arrest anybody who attempts to pervert the course of justice. It is not enough to whisper to the CJN, who luckily, has not owned up to such frivolous allegation.

    “It is painful that corruption has penetrated deeply into the temple of justice, where justice is for sale, to the extent that humongous amounts in different currencies were allegedly found in the homes of the justices, like bureau de change dealers. This is why President Muhammadu Buhari lamented that if Nigerians do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigerians.”

    On the disagreement between the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) over the suspension of the justices, Ofor, who cited constitutional provisions, said: “I am happy that the NBA has woken up; the NJC and indeed the CJN should be more patriotic to joining this strident war against corruption. If Nigerians do not join the fight and show enough commitment, then we are in soup. The constitution never envisaged this level of unbridled corruption penetrating the temple of justice. In the past, there were instances where the NJC used kid gloves, administratively, in dealing with malcontent judges. The result is what we have in hand today.

    “It was Magna Carter, an enactment in England in the 12th century, which admonished justices or anybody in authority not to sell justice. Its dictum subsists till date.”

    Referring to a statement by Justice Samson O. Uwaifo (retd.), the APC spokesperson said: “A corrupt judge is more harmful to the society than a man who runs amok with a dagger in his hand in a crowded street. He can be restrained physically, of course, but a corrupt judge deliberately destroys the moral foundation of the society.”

    She added: “In the past, we had forthright judges, like the late Justice Anthony Aniagolu, who voluntarily declined to become CJN after a military coup because he was the third in the hierarchy. He also declined a tribunal case because his son, Tony Mogboh (SAN), was the lawyer to the defendant.”

    The APC spokesperson also said: “Let the ,trial commence as all we need is enough evidence by the justice, not name-calling. Therefore, leave Onu and Amechi alone.”

  • Onu seeks inclusive growth

    Onu seeks inclusive growth

    Minister of Science and Technology Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has called for the adoption of policies to promote inclusive growth.

    Onu spoke during the Young Scientists’ Conference of The World Academy of Science Regional Office for sub-Saharan Africa (TWAS ROSSA) and the Sixth General Assembly of the Nigeria Youth Academy (NYA) in Lagos.

    The conference, held yesterday, was organised by TWAS, NYA and the Nigeria Academy of Science, with the theme: Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa: The Role of Your Academies.

    Onu, who was represented by Dr Gloria Elemo, director general, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, said such policies should be tailored toward creating opportunities for vulnerable groups, including women and youths.

    He delivered a lecture on the topic: Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa: The Way Forward.

    The minister said: “The large population of youths cannot be overlooked or undermined as they can play significant roles in achieving sustainable development.”

    “Such supportive policies as provision of social services, improved access to finances and increased and full participation in decision making should be targeted at them.

    “Sustainable development that we preach now dictates that we have a healthy continent that can meet the diverse needs of everyone, minority or otherwise.’’

    He said that Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) could promote a sustainable and inclusive development by alleviating poverty, providing work and not just jobs, but increasing productivity gain from agriculture.

    “STI has a great potential to catalyse change in Africa and must be employed and ingrained into the sustainable agenda for the continent.

    “Agro-industry provides capital and service to farmers, promotes entrepreneurship, raises demand for agricultural products and connects farmers with markets through handling, processing, marketing and distribution of agricultural products.

    “For agricultural productivity and economic growth, the agricultural sector that mainly employs women must look towards industrial upgrading and technological innovation,’’ Onu said.

  • Onu rejects Umahi’s car gift

    Onu rejects Umahi’s car gift

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has rejected the Toyota Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) the Ebonyi State Government allegedly gave him.

    In a letter to Governor Dave Umahi, the minister said he rejected the gift because the laws of the state excluded him from those eligible to collect such gifts.

    Onu drew the attention of the governor to relevant sections of the constitution and how the state House of Assembly had abused its powers to “technically” edge him out of his deserved pension, being a former governor of Abia State.

    He said: “It is important that I draw your attention to provision of Section 124(5) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which says: ‘Provisions may be made a law of a House of Assembly for the provision of person to or in respect of a person who has held the office of a governor or deputy governor and was not removed from office as a result of impeachment and any pension granted by virtue of any provision made in pursuance of the subsection shall be a charge upon the consolidated revenue fund of the state.

    “Instructively, a law enacted by the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, titled: Ebonyi State Specified Offices Pensions and Related Matters Law, 2007, Section 3 defines a governor as a ‘Civilian Governor of or from Ebonyi State of Nigeria’.

    “Rather curiously, four years later, the same House of Assembly enacted a law Ebonyi State Specified Offices Pensions and Related Matters Law (amendment) Law, 2011, wherein a governor was defines as ‘a civilian Governor of Ebonyi State of Nigeria’.”

    Onu said it was clear that he was the target of the change ‘in an apparent design to deny me of my due pension entitlement’.

    The statement said: “This is especially so in the circumstance where it is the duty of the state government to do so as a responsibility of the sharing of assets between Ebonyi and Abia states. You will recall that I was the first elected governor of Abia state, in which a part later became a constituent part of Ebonyi State.”

    The minister urged Umahi to redress the alleged injustice done to him in the interest of fairness, justice and respect for the constitution of the country.

    Onu said: “Laws are not made to suit personal prejudices. Laws are made to serve enduring attributes of good conscience honour and equity.

    “Accordingly, in view of the prevailing circumstance, I regret to inform you that I cannot accept the gift of a Lexus SUV. I do so with a deep sense of responsibility and conscious of the important need to build a better Ebonyi State where respect for the rule of law and the people’s will as well as the pursuit of their happiness will remain sacred.”

  • Onu for Ghana lecture

    Onu for Ghana lecture

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, is to deliver the “Republic Day” Lecture of Ghana. It is one of the events marking the 56th anniversary of Ghana.

    Ghana, which gained independence from Britain on March 6, 1957, became a Republic on March 1, 1960 . The lecture will hold on Thursday.

    The theme for this year’s lecture is “Technology, the key to African Development”. A state lunch in honour of Ghana’s Senior Citizens will hold on Friday.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Taye Akinyemi, in a statement in Abuja, yesterday said the theme of the lecture is  another opportunity for the minister to challenge leaders and citizens of Africa to appreciate the need to embrace science and technology in the quest to free Africa from poverty, disease and other problems.

     

     

     

  • 2016 budget will bring relief to Nigerians  – Onu

    2016 budget will bring relief to Nigerians  – Onu

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu yesterday restated the commitment of the All Progressives Congress government (APC) led federal government to implementing it’s various campaign promises. The minister said passage of the 2016 budget would bring relief to Nigerians.

    Onu, who spoke at the distribution of empowerment items to 200 women and youths in Kaduna, said President Muhammadu Buhari was still implementing the 2015 budget approved by past administration. The minister attributed non-passage of the 2016 budget to challenges Nigerians currently face.

    However, he disclosed that the people would soon witness genuine change as soon as the 2016 budget is passed for implementation. Onu assured Nigerians that the president will keep all his promises just like he was doing in the fight against insurgency in the north east.

    He said: “The president has brought stability to the north east and you no longer hear of insurgents over running towns and villages.

    “Also, the issue of job creation, even though Nigerians must recognise that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has been operating the 2015 budget. And this budget was put in place by the past administration.

    “This administration has not started implementing even its first budget. The 2016 budget yet to be signed is the first budget of this administration.

    “So I tell people that the change that Nigerians are looking for cannot come when we are operating 2015 budget. It is when we start operating our own budget, only prepared by us in line with our promises to Nigerians in fullfilments of our dreams and vision for our nation that that change will come. And we are assuring Nigerians that that change will come.”