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Tag: Osinbajo

  • Osinbajo and the hounds

    Sir: You can accuse Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo of being ‘’down-to-earth’’, considering his pint-size. You can also accuse him of intellectual exuberance, but you cannot tack corruption to him. It will not stick.

    Over the years, the maelstrom of anger against Osinbajo has widened. The reason for this, perhaps, is the perception by some Nigerians that he is not standing up enough for his own – the Christian fold and the south – when it matters. Another reason is the amplification of this perception by some members of the opposition who deploy propaganda to ‘’divisive finale’’.

    As matter of fact, the vice-president often appears to be singled out for remonstrance for the lapses and controversial policies of the administration.

    For example, in June, the vice-president was reported to have told Nigerians in New York that Nigeria had about 112.7million people living in extreme poverty as of 2010 – this was in response to reports of the country becoming the world poverty capital under Buhari.

    One of those who drew blood from Osinbajo on account of this was Reno Omokri.

    Really, social media has made it facile to sculpt perceptions. All it takes is for a stentorian voice, with a strong capacity for babble, to make pronouncements on an issue or an individual, and the mob, which operates without the ‘’encephalon’’, go to town and bleat.

    It is understandable that there are high expectations of Osinbajo being a man of the robe. But the tendency to diminish him for standing in support of the administration he serves is an act of sanctimony.

    I think, by being a strong support to Buhari, Osinbajo is giving to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. Also, before the Ruga programme was pigeonholed, Osinbajo took much of the obloquy for the controversial initiative, even though he had nothing to do with it; he was already working on the National Livestock Transformation Plan with the governors of the 36 states.

    The vice-president, eventually, had to issue a statement dissociating himself from Ruga to get the hounds off.

    In addition, there is the perception that he is not doing enough or not exerting enough pressure on the administration to secure the release of Leah Sharibu, a Christian girl in Boko Haram captivity.

    It is characteristic of our brand of politics, for political actors to casually tag other actors as corrupt even when there is no evidence. Nigeria’s politics is where good and competent men and women get into, and become sectioned as part of the vacuous, predatory corrupt class. The reason most Nigerians with the aptitude for leadership do not go into politics is for fear of the ‘’tag’’.

    Even the principled Oby Ezekwesili was not spared of scandals after bravely stepping into the molten magna that is Nigeria’s politics. Allegations of diverting N153 million campaign funds rippled when she decided to back out of the 2019 presidential contest.

    One thing is certain; the hawks are hovering over Osinbajo in Aso Rock.  He himself admitted that there are saboteurs working against the government. These recent allegations may be a furtherance of the artifice of those hawks.

    • Fredrick Nwabufo, fredricknwabufo@yahoo.com>

  • FG will do more to develop Niger Delta in next four years- Osinbajo

    The federal government pledged yesterday to do more to enhance the physical development of the oil bearing communities in the Niger Delta in the next four years.

    Giving the assurance on behalf of government was Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during a courtesy call on the the Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom, HRM, Joseph Timiyan I, at Obotobo, Burutu Local Government area of Delta State.

    Osinbajo noted that the development agencies created to fill gaps in the region had failed to live up to expectations.

    The vice president, who was in Delta state to commission some projects, including the 20.29 KM Obotobo 1- Obotobo 11 – Sokebolou – Yokri Road in Ogulagha Kingdom and the Main Axial Road in Okerenkoko, Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West council area, said the federal government would consult with the state government to determine areas in need of development.

    He was particularly unhappy that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has not been able to meet the expectations of the people of the region.

    “The NDDC, in many respects, has not met the expectations of the oil producing states,” he said.

    “A lot of money is invested in NDDC and the Ministry of the Niger Delta because the real reason they were created is to speed up the development of oil-rich communities. We will sit with the Delta State Governor to look at specific areas to develop in the creeks.”

    Read Also: Osinbajo, Aregbesola, ex-VC, others for Companion Discourse

    He commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his achievements in a neighbourhood and area that had not had the type of roads commissioned yesterday.

    “We commend him also on several other initiatives in this kingdom in particular, because this has been a very peaceful community and it is a host to several of our oil and gas assets.

    “So, it really is a special pleasure to commission these roads and also thank His Royal Highness, (Elder, Capt) Joseph Timiyan, who has maintained the peace in this neighbourhood and who has shown true leadership by the way he has conducted the affairs of this area,” he said.

    Governor Okowa, said the Vice President was invited to commission the projects because he visited the creeks in the pursuit of peace and an enabling environment for oil and gas production.

    “It is not just the length of the road that makes this project unique; it is that the road is located right beside the Atlantic Ocean with all the human, material, ecological and financial implications that this difficult terrain presents; we did not know we could get this length of road in the creak until the King drew our attention to it.

    “I am happy about the progress we have made so far. This has greatly helped to ensure peace in the state, which bodes well for uninterrupted oil production and the health of the national economy.

    “We are continuing to use various structures and initiatives to ensure that the peace we have enjoyed in the last three years is sustained.”

  • Osinbajo, Aregbesola, ex-VC, others for Companion Discourse

    Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo will lead immediate past Governor of Osun State Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and a renowned expert in Agricultural-Engineering and former University of Uyo Vice-Chancellor Prof Fola Lasisi, to the 4th 4th National Discourse of The Companion, an association of Muslim in Business and Professions.

    The event, scheduled to hold on Sunday at the University of Lagos Main Auditorium now named J.F. Ade-Ajayi auditorium, will also be witnessed by Prof Lateef Sanni of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Coordinator, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Otunba Femi Oke as well as an expert in Animal Production from the University of Ilorin, Dr Hameed Badmos, among others dignitaries.

    The theme is Food security: Unleashing Nigeria’s natural potential for self-sufficiency.

    At a briefing on Wednesday, The Companion National Amir (President) Alhaji Thabit Wale Sonaike, said the Discourse is an annual forum designed to generate ideas towards addressing issues of national concern.

    “Our modus operandi is to assemble experts and other high stakeholders on topical issues of national concern to brainstorm and share ideas with the public with a view to proffering solutions to the identified national problems. Communiqué is then issued to appropriate quarters in government at various levels for consideration as input in national policy formulations. In this way, we would have made our humble contribution to sustainable national development and good governance in the country,” he said.

    Alhaji Sonaike said the event will also feature free medical test for the attendees with support from the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) and Nigeria Aid Group.

    “We are also planning to have mini-exhibition of Agric products which will involve the sale of locally produced foodstuff and poultry products,” he said.

    He said the association focus on food security for this year’s discourse “because food undoubtedly is the most basic of all human survival needs and the starting chain of the economy as well as the base for daily life.”

    Food and agriculture by extension, he added, is also a fundamental pillar for economic growth and development as a nation can hardly achieve and sustain its economic growth without a strong agricultural base and the reasons are obvious.

     

     

  • Osinbajo: Basic Education is a must

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said parents who withdraw their wards from school risk prosecution.

    He spoke at a symposium by the Obafemi Awolowo University formerly known as University of Ife (UNIFE) Economics Class 1979, held in Lagos.

    He said state governments had no excuse not to provide children the basic education in the first nine years of their lives as the Federal Government was collaborating with them to ensure basic primary education for all children for the first nine years.

    In his paper, “Human Capital Development for Economic Growth”, Osinbajo said President Muhammadu Buhari had provided the enabling support, backed by law for the success of basic primary education.

    “Free and compulsory education shall be provided every child in the first nine years of their lives and this is backed by law,” he said.

    Osinbajo said the major problem facing the country was poverty, noting that with education the margin could be reduced when stakeholders work to raise the bar.

    He said the school feeding programme jerked up enrolment, noting efforts should be made to curtail dropouts in primary and post primary schools.

    Presently, he said the government was investing in teacher training to boost high quality teaching in primary  schools.

    “The quality of teachers has a greater way of enhancing education. We are working with relevant institutions to improve teachers’ potentials for capacity building and economic growth.”

    The Keynote speaker, Chief Bisi Ogunjobi, in his speech on: “Alternative Approach to Financing Public University Education for Effective Human Capacity Development”, said the proliferation of universities was currently undermining education development.

    He said some of the licensed private universities do not have the funds to sustain good and quality education, adding some of them were looking towards making profits which was often elusive.

    “Funding education has become an issue because you need teachers and other logistics to facilitate good research and education. The number of private universities has skyrocketed with appalling consequences,” he said.

  • Nigeria’s current challenges, signs of greatness — Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday said the current challenges facing Nigeria were signs that the country was bound for greatness.

    Osinbajo made the statement while addressing the congregation during service at a branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Bronx, New York.

    The vice president, who is on a four-day visit to the United States, said greatness was impossible without a period of difficulties as currently being experienced by Nigeria.

    “Our country is bound for greatness. Whenever you hear that ‘oh, there are conflicts, oh there are difficulties’, just know that it is impossible to be great without difficulties.

    “Even from the foundations of the earth, when God created the heavens and the earth, the scripture says on that first day, according to Genesis 1, there was confusion, complete confusion.

    “The Bible says it was bleak and dark, and there was confusion on the surface of the earth, everything was void.

    “But despite the fact that everything was void, the spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

    “Then God spoke and said let there be light, and there was light. The scripture says he separated the light from the darkness, and saw that the light was good.

    Read Also: Osinbajo arrives in New York on 4-day visit

    “That is what is going to happen in our own country. All we hear is there is confusion here, confusion there, but the word of God is there also,” he said.

    According to him, the word and spirit of God are already hovering over the surface of Nigeria, and they would do something that would make the world to marvel.

    He urged members of the congregation and by extension all Nigerians to keep praying for the nation.

    “We should remain in prayers for our nation, because all of us, whether you live here or intend to live here, the truth of the matter is that it was no accident that you were born a Nigerian.

    “God makes no mistake. So, you have a stake in the success of your homeland, you have a stake in the success of your own nation, and as I said earlier, Nigeria is heading for greatness,” he added.

    Earlier in a sermon, Pastor Nathaniel Rotimi of RCCG, Abuja, said the key to greatness was total submission to the will and commandments of God.

    In the sermon titled “Total Obedience Key to Enjoying God’s Maximum” and taken from Gen. 12:1-3, Rotimi enjoined Christians to be obedient to God to access His plans and vision for them.

    He cited the case of Abraham, who by simple obedience to God, got rewarded with “generational blessings”.

    The host pastor, Pastor Daniel Ajayi-Adeniran, later led members of the congregation in prayers for the country and its leaders.

    With the vice president at the service was the Nigerian Ambassador to the US, retired Hon. Justice Sylvanus Nsofor; the Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Mr Benayaogha Okoyen, and other senior government officials.

    NAN

  • Osinbajo, Sanwo-Olu, Ovia make case for smart technology adoption

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, Regional Senior Partner, PwC West Africa, Uyi Akpata and others, yesterday, urged the corporate community to embrace  smart technology to transform the economy and boost performances.

    They spoke at the unveiling of PwC’s new Experience Centre in Lagos. The centre joins the expanding eco-system of over 30 such facilities owned by the leading global professional services worldwide.

    Represented by the Director-General, Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, the vice president said the centre is in line with the administration’s plan to improve the ease of doing business,  transform the economy and boost technology adoption.

    He said the country’s economic breakthrough would be driven by technology/innovation and not oil and gas.

    “The PwC Experience Centre is in line with the smart technology initiative of the government. As an administration, we recognise that Nigeria’s future does not lie in oil and gas but more in technology and innovation. This is anchored on moving the economy away from a resource-based to a people-based model. We must take this seriously going forward,” Osinbajo said.

    Read Also: Osibanjo unveils code of corporate governance

    Also, Sanwo-Olu, who took out time to experiment with the virtual reality solution of the centre, said the centre reflects the state government’s plan to transform the city’s economy with smart solutions. He urged other corporate entities to take a cue from PwC and take advantage of the government’s technology agenda.

    Sanwo-Olu said: “I think the PwC initiative is the way to go. It is in line with what Lagos State government is doing to boost the economy. I encourage other companies to see it as a challenge and begin to tap into the opportunities the government is creating”

    Ovia, who chaired the event, said businesses stand a chance to triple growth rate and earnings through innovation and technology. The options are to “innovate and transform or die”, he said. He said the Centre is a product of new thinking, ading that the  firm has again demonstrated its leadership role through the initiative.

    Through the centre, the firm is expanding its digital services and innovative solution offerings across West Africa.

    Speaking on the initiative,  Akpata said: “The Centre, the first of its kind by a professional services firm in West Africa combines creativity, research, existing knowledge and strategic insight with a new structured way of solving problems. This unique, modular, flexible concept supports PwC’s clients’ teams in exploring, designing and building user-centric solutions, ranging from re-imagining customer experiences to fully transforming business models and creating new eco-systems.”

    The use of emerging technologies is pivotal to this designing process.

    “The Experience Centre is an important part of our broader drive to transform how we engage with our clients, our people and our community to re-imagine the possible in a fast changing and competitive market. This Centre will drive our thinking around disruption and the emerging technologies. It will also provide us a platform to support clients, working with them to co-create solutions that meet today and future business challenges. It will also allow us experiment from prototypes, simulate scenarios, see how it’s going to work, test it and see that they meet the needs of the client and the market.”

    Also, Femi Osinubi, Partner and Experience Centre Leader, PwC West Africa, noted: “At the PwC Experience Centre, we balance business understanding with technology innovation and human insights. Simply put, we are harnessing the power of intelligent digital and we will be asking the tough questions. We will not just be solving client problems; we will actually be building entirely new businesses, whole new platforms that have not been considered before. We shall draw out value within the market in areas where we can combine Business, Technology and Experience but underpinned by deep customer insights.”

  • Failure to embrace advanced technology cause of natural disasters- Osinbajo

    Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo has said that natural disasters have been identified as one of the possible consequences of failing to embrace advancement in technology and innovations.

    He said that innovation and smartness of cities have become necessary because cities are threatened by the disadvantages of failing to embrace innovative technology.

    The Vice President said this in Abuja at the 2019 Sustainable Smart Cities award in Abuja, during which Cosgrove Investment Limited was named as the ‘Best Residential Innovation and Real Estate Developer of the year.’

    Prof Osinbajo who was represented by the Minister of Communications Technology, Barr Adebayo Shittu noted that ‘Nigeria believes that safety and security infrastructure are part of economic infrastructure,’

    Cosgrove investment limited who made this known in a statement wrote, ” Vice president Yemi Osinbajo has called on real estate industry leaders to harness the potentials of the sector to stimulate economic growth while creating more smart cities solutions in the country. He assured that ‘government is determined to put in place measures that will strengthen and create more smart cities solutions in the country.

    “The Vice president, who made the call at the 2019 Sustainable Smart Cities award in Abuja, during which Cosgrove Investment Limited was named as the ‘Best Residential Innovation and Real Estate Developer of the year,’ said government is anxious to collaborate with Nigeria’s smart cities leaders to solve the economic challenges facing the country.

    Read Also; Inauguration: Osinbajo to represent Nigeria in S/Africa

    “The CEO Afritex, Mr Sola Owuru commended Cosgrove’s penchant for innovations in housing technology. He said: ‘Cosgrove’s contributions in Research and Development in Smart Cities Space and building homes that are uncommon and sustainably ready for tomorrow’s technology is an exceptional achievement that is important to the continued growth of Smart Cities initiative in Nigeria and Africa at large.’
    Earlier, in his keynote address, the Vice President identified natural disasters as one of the possible consequences of failing to embrace advancement in technology, noting that innovation and smartness of cities have become necessary because cities are threatened by the disadvantages of failing to embrace innovative technology.

    “For this reason, governments in the world are forced to rely on ICT and smartness of cities to help protect public safety,’ he said.
    Osinbajo, who was represented by the Minister of Communications Technology, Barr Adebayo Shittu noted that ‘Nigeria believes that safety and security infrastructure are part of economic infrastructure,’ adding that ‘it will improve security indexes and public safety as well as enhance traffic safety while also improving the social image of public safety agencies, and improvement in international image of the country.”

    CEO Cosgrove, who was represented by the Head, Business Development and Strategy, Miss Chioma Ugwu thanked the Smart City Forum for the recognition and assured that Cosgrove will intensify its research and development in order to produce improved homes.

  • Our curriculum should be refocused on diversifying Nigeria’s economy, says Osinbajo

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said the country’s curriculum for tertiary institutions should be re-focused on diversifying the economy.

    Prof. Osinbajo spoke yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, at the first national tertiary admissions performance merit award organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

    He said the current administration focused on people at the poverty baseline of the economy with the introduction of MarketMoni System and other strategies of economic development.

    Prof Osinbajo, who was represented by Special Adviser (SA) on National Social Welfare Programme, Mrs Maryam Uwais, noted that the sustenance of the policies and strategies as well as responses to world market economy resided in the tertiary institutions.

    He said: “The nation’s curriculum should be aggressively refocused on diversifying the economy towards knowledge-based and driven on development of solid minerals, sports and tourism and small scale enterprises.

    “This administration has started to focus on people at the poverty baseline of the economy with the introduction of MarketMoni System and other strategies of economic development. The sustenance of these policies and strategies and responses to world market economy resides in the tertiary institutions.”

    Osinbajo hailed the JAMB leadership for being responsive and responsible in the discharge of its mandate.

    The Vice-President said the effort of the board at ensuring that tertiary institutions perform excellently in access to institutions was commendable.

    According to him, this would engender healthy competition among institutions and open access to only those who deserve to be in them.

    He also said this would lead to having students that are well prepared for the challenges of research, discovery, development, invention and re-orientation, which are required to uplift development in the country and put Nigeria on the same pedestal with other nations in the global village.

    “This administration is proud of the achievements of the board, particularly its unique contributions to the Federation Account since 2017 and its re-invigorated efforts in frontally confronting examination malpractices and protecting the integrity of its examinations and the results awarded to candidates.

    “I commend the leadership of the Minister of Education, the Minister of State for Education and the entire Education sector, with special mention of the vice chancellors, Rectors and Provosts of our various tertiary institutions.

    “I also recognise the commendable roles of the regulatory bodies, like the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education and National Commission for Colleges of Education and, of course, the untiring of intervention agencies, such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund), scholarship board and Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

    “Working together in unison with common purpose is key to our nation’s developmental efforts. Let us continue to partner positively together,” Osinbajo said.

    JAMB Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede said the award, which was conceived in 2017 during the policy meeting of the board, was part of the discharge of the board’s corporate social responsibility (CSR).

    He added: “It is hoped that the awards would inspire all tertiary institutions to work within the stipulated guidelines, thereby creating healthy competition among themselves. It is also hoped that it would internationalise the Nigerian tertiary institutions, foster national unity through the admissions-national spread as well as to always cultivate a transparent admission process.

    “I would like to congratulate the winners of this maiden edition and urge them not to rest on their oars in doing the right things the right way. I also want to encourage the others who did not win this time to study the guidelines and aspire to be the winner next year.”

    The award was designed into five categories. Each category has a different winner. The University of Ilroin (UNILORIN) was named winner of the most subscribed institution by candidates; Kaduna State Polytechnic won the most national in admission of candidates, while Admadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, won the highest in number of admitted international students award.

    Other winners include: Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt (improved female gender award) and University of Maiduguri (best in compliance to the policy guidelines award).

    Each winner of the five categories went home with N25,000,000 approved by by the board.

     

  • Breaking: Osinbajo chairs valedictory NEC session

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday chaired the valedictory session for the National Economic Council (NEC).

    Many of the State governors were attending the meeting for the last time as their tenures expire on the 29th of May, 2019.

    The meeting, which started around 11.05am, went into closed doors immediately after opening prayer by the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong and rendition of the National anthem.

    Journalists will be invited in for the valedictory proper.

  • Osinbajo promises Maiduguri best pupils 3-day holiday

    Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN has promised to offer a 3-day holiday and other grand prizes to best-performing pupils of The Learning Center (TLC), Maiduguri.

    Osinbajo disclosed this while addressing pupils of the centre, as part of his one-day official visit to Borno.

    The idea of the Learning Centre was conceived in 2017 and managed by an NGO, the North East Children’s Trust (NECT) to cater for children orphaned by the conflicts in the North East Nigeria.

    The centre has designed e-learning facilities to provide formal education and vocational training to orphans and children affected by Boko Haram insurgency.

    Osinbajo, who expressed optimism with level of progress of the academic performances of the children, pledged to offer special prizes to best reading pupils.

    “If you want to be a champion; you must do three things, always tell the truth do not tell lies.

    Read Also: Nigeria cannot deal with only one country — Osinbajo

    “Secondly; you must listen, obey your teachers and caregivers, and thirdly you must work hard.

    “The next time I come, I am going to give big present to those who can read well. Anybody who can read well, I will take him to Abuja for 3-day holiday.

    “Everybody must start learning to read well; I do not need small reading, I need good reading because you need to read well to become a champion,” he said.

    Osinbajo commended the pupils for wonderful performances as well as teachers and caregivers for a job well done.

    “What you are doing here is important; it is the most important thing that any human being can do, to give young men, women and children, to give them the future.

    “Everywhere I go; I talk about the teachers at learning centre, you are the best that our country can produce”.

    Master Mohammed Bukar and Fatima Abubakar, thanked Osinbajo over the fatherly love and care shown to them.

    They pledged to study hard to achieve academic excellence.

    The Vice-President was accompanied by the Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, his deputy, Alhaji Usman Durkwa, the Governor-elect, Prof. Babagana Zulum and the Executive Secretary of the North East Children’s Trust (NECT), Dr Mariam Masha.

    NECT Board of Trustees Members- Professor Hauwa Biu, Baba Hassan Kachalla and Doris Yaro were also on hand to receive the Vice president while Head of Administration and Strategy of NECT, Dupe Killa-Kafidipe conducted the delegation round the educational facilities where students had brilliant presentations with the admiration of Osinbajo and his delegation.