The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Performance

  • Cleric hails Obi over performance

    THE Anglican Bishop on the Niger, Most Rev. Owen Nwokolo, has said that leaders in the mould of Governor Peter Obi of Peter Obi are rare in the country.

    He explained that courage in leadership is not about being brash or domineering, but by being humble, resolute and consistent in doing good.

    Rev. Nwokolo made the remark while receiving the governor at Iyienu Hospital, Ogidi.

    The governor, who presented a received a cheque of N100 million for the continued infrastructural development of the hospital, also inspected the ongoing accident and pediatrics building, and laid the foundation stone for the staff quarters building and amenity ward block.

    The Bishop, while thanking Governor Obi for his interest and commitment to the hospital, noted that his intervention has totally transformed it from its’ poor shape, adding that Obi’s landmark achievements were clear testimony of good governance and dedication to collective welfare of the people and future of humanity, assuring that the fund would be judiciously used.

    Promising that the Church would continue to shout Obi’s goodness from the rooftops, the man of God pleaded with the governor not to resign from politics.

    Speaking at the event, Governor Obi restated the determination of his administration to upgrade the hospital to world-class institution properly equipped to meet the health needs of the people.

    He expressed satisfaction that the hospital was fast regaining its past glory with necessary infrastructure and facilities, while its institutions were functioning effectively in training the much-needed manpower for the health sector, noting that government partnership with the church had accelerated the strides towards achieving the vision of Millennium Development Goals.

    Responding, the President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Mr. Samuel Umeh thanked the governor for giving the institutions a new lease of life, and assured that the students would reciprocate by working hard to contribute towards the efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

  • Ahmed: A legacy of performance

    Dateline May 2011. Governorship election day. Abdulfatah Ahmed, immediate past commissioner for Planning and Economic Development and gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had just gotten to know he won the election.

    Though expected, the implications of the victory were overwhelming, given that the party had just won admist division in the house. Dr. Olusola Saraki, incontrovertibly the most influential politician to have come from Kwara State, was yet to be assuaged. Beyond that, the victory also meant the party, the PDP, and by extension the candidate, had just defeated the younger sister of the sitting governor. As such the development was of great interest to newsmen across the nation.

    In Ilorin, the state capital, journalists, obviously must have been tasked to get the first words from Ahmed, by then the governor-in-waiting. They found him in a small guest house somewhere in the old GRA area of Ilorin. But if they expected a gloating winner, particularly given the verbal war that had accompanied the election, especially between the then ACN and the PDP, they were utterly disappointed. Not only did the newly elected governor refuse to share in the victory of the polls, he pointedly told the journalists there was no way of removing the hands of the elder Saraki, now of blessed memory, from the victory.

    Then one reporter asked a daring question. Ahmed responded but with a caveat not to be misrepresented. Then he did something unheard of in this clime; almost on his knees, he begged them not to misrepresent his views. Some may say if  he went that low it was because the weight of his office and powers were yet to dawn on him at that instance but more than two years down the line,  it is evident that he was not pretending; the governor is still the same man: humble to the core.

    Those who have come across him at personal level since he assumed office will testify to the fact that one humbling fact about Ahmed’s personality is his humility. He is not one to allow the grandeur of his office to blind him from the reality of his humble beginning and the opportunities that God has given him to rise to the position of privilege he occupies.

    No wonder the pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, had this testimony about Governor Ahmed:  ”You are humble. You are respective. You are a decent human being and God has blessed you with all that is decent in nature. God will not take this away from you. You are an epitome of decency and respect. May Allah build around you an impregnable fortress which neither mole nor ant can touch. In sha Allah”.

    As a member of his campaign team and now his chief press secretary, I am often amazed at how the governor relates with even young reporters at the end of every interactive opportunities. I have also seen him mingle with the down and the low, the women and the youths, at various fora and there is no other conclusion one can draw other than to say that God has clothed him with the garment of humility which seldom signposts privileged individuals.

    Yet he is focused and hard-working. One lesson I have learnt  working with this chemist-turned –banker-turned-politician is that a lazy man cannot work with Ahmed who is given to focussed discussions and detailed analysis of issues. He is always on top of every issue at any point in time. He is not the type of politician to be coached unnecessarily; he can hold his forte on any platform at any time, little wonder he is a journalist’s delight. He once held political editors spellbound during an interview prior to the gubernatorial election 2011: he brilliantly fielded questions for over three hours without holding a note and not once did he miss or mix his points.

    If you thought it was because Omolewa, his humble, generous, humane and resourceful wife, was right beside him during the interview, what about his out of the box interactions with the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the Christian Association of Nigeria, members of the academia, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, among others? Femi Adesina, Boni Iwuoha, President of the Guild and former President of the NUJ respectively, among other members of the Guild requested that Kwara donate the Governor to Nigeria for the much desired social economic transformation of the country.

    In less than three years that God has given him the privilege to rule the state, everything points to the fact that Ahmed has caught the ultimate Saraki bug: my people, my people, what is in this for my people?  It is this passion that has led to the creation of several pro-poor financial schemes in the state. In the last two and a half years, the government gave N250 million as first tranche of a N500m revolving loan for small scale entrepreneurs. The fund has generated more than 3000 jobs across the state, just as another N100million was disbursed for artisans who for the first time have been brought under an umbrella association to allow them form smaller sub-groups to access the facilities. In spite of irregular inflow of expected resources, the governor approved the release of N60m for the payment of NECO and NABTEP examinations as a demonstration of his love for the youths.  2014, Maigidan Kwara, as he his fondly called, promised a N50m quarterly allocation to generate the much needed youth employment.

    Communities that have long been neglected are now feeling the impact of government. Not talking about five general hospitals that were rehabilitated and fully equipped to international standard. The people of Ora-Ayetoro in Ekiti local government area of Kwara State, among other numerous communities, now have cause to smile. For 20 years, according to the monarch of the community, Oba Christopher Olatunji Odeyemi,  they were in ‘bondage’. For 20 years, they had suffered neglect as the only bridge linking Ora-Aiyeetoro with other communities in the local government had collapsed. For 20 years, the people had to contend with the dangerous option of swimming to cross to the neighbouring Ejiu community and ditto for the Ejiu people whenever there was the need for them to visit Ore-Ayetoro or other communities after Ora-Ayetoro. As a matter of fact, they transported their farm produce to other communities by swimming with their loads to cross the river.

    The pro-poor governor has also approved the rehabilitation of the16 kilometres-long Obbo-Ora-Ayetoro road as part of N2.5 billion rural road projects.  The newly constructed bridge over the Ora River has been completed. Other communities across the state are enjoying the same gesture; not bound to their economic viability but their existence as locations inhabited by Kwarans because with Ahmed the mantra is ‘shared prosperity.’

    Teachers in the state can testify to his humane nature; this year they gave him a merit award for outstanding performance in education. When teachers in Nigeria honours a man, it is no joke; they are one of the most effectively organised and united workers’ group in the country. And what did Ahmed tell them at the award ceremony? “It is no longer tenable that teachers’ reward is in heaven. We must do everything we can to enhance the welfare of teachers and also create a conducive atmosphere for effective teaching and learning”.

    It is a story of commitment to the well-being of the people. And the story is the same among the youths. It is the same among traditional leaders. It is the same among religious leaders. It is the same among those who have one form of disability or the other.  It is the same among indigenes and non-indigenes.  Indeed, as several activities take place to mark yet another fulfilling birthday anniversary for this versatile banker and administrator, it is apt to say that Kwara is blessed to have had a successor like Abdulfatah Ahmed taking over the mantle of state administration from an achiever like Senator Bukola Saraki.

    Happy birthday, Boss!

     

    • Oba is chief press secretary to the Kwara State Governor.

  • Fayemi gets thumbs-up on perfomance

    Fayemi gets thumbs-up on perfomance

    On the heels of his third anniversary in office, notable leaders of civil society groups in Nigeria have expressed unconditional support for Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi for his sterling performances.

    The leaders of the civil rights movement said they have a ‘blood-bound relationship with” the governor and Ekiti State. The governor. last Tuesday, marked his three years in the saddle.

    About 50 leaders of the groups who met with Fayemi in his office at Ado Ekiti after a two-day-long assessment of the projects executed by the government, said the governor’s achievements clearly indicate that human rights activists in government have the potential to transform the country’s floundering fortunes.

    In a long row, the civil rights leaders burst into solidarity songs as they marched in unison into the vast office of the governor. The activists were drawn from the six geo-political zones of the country with a large, qualitative local representation.

    The activists formed the core of the civil rights movement that took active part during the difficult campaign of Dr Fayemi to reclaim his mandate. It was the first time in the last three years that the leaders were visiting the state in such a very large and impressive turnout. The activists said they were aware of the cheap campaigns against the government of Dr Fayemi by opposition, who once ruled the state with iron fists.

    “For close to eight years, Ekiti assumed the axis of evil. Cold-blooded murder of innocent people dominated the state. The resources of the state were squandered and the ordinary people were viewed with contempt. We can see that this state has reclaimed its status as the doyen of human liberty and its indisputable reputation as the home of righteous people has been revived, under the leadership of Dr Fayemi” said Mr Kehinde Adegbuyi, the President of the Coalition of Nigerian Civil Rights Groups (CONCRIGs).

    In a joint statement released after what observers described as “a meaningful and exhaustive deliberation”, the groups said despite the lean resources of the state,  the governor has left indelible footprints making him  a reference point of development by locals and  international partners.

    ”We see in you a powerful source of inspiration, a silent but great and amiable achiever that is more interested in building institutions rather than concentrating on fleeting policies with little impact on the present and future of the people,” the statement said, adding: “We are happy that there is a paradigm shift and a redefinition of leadership to reflect global best practices.”

    The leaders said they are prepared to set up an independent campaign group aimed at mobilising the people across the state for Fayemi’s re-election.

    They said the governor has impacted the people through the social welfare programme for over 20,000 elders, the creation of 10,000 jobs, and the acceptance of the policy that people should be the centre piece of

    The President of the United Middle Belt Youth Congress (UMBYC), Mr Omobaba Abuka Onalo, said “We have gone around to see the work that you are doing and the various infrastructure put in place. They are amazing. We have had a thrilling experience. We marvel at what we have seen in spite of the lean resources of your state.  I will personally be here to mobilize the large middle belt community in Ekiti for your second term.”

    The leader of Persons with Disability Action Network (PEDANET), Nigeria, Mr Bethram Emeka, said the Ekiti state government was the first to recognise the role of people living with disability in the affairs of governance through institutional framework, saying that he was proud to see the various law reforms in the state take cognizance of vulnerable people including but not limited to women, children and people living with disability.

    In his reaction, the governor thanked the right activists for role they played during the campaign to reclaim the stolen mandate of Ekiti people, adding that though his government has achieved much, but that he still hopes to do more. He said that the human rights community should learn to work towards the defense of democracy, saying that in spite of the challenges facing the country at large, the country’s best option is to ensure sustainable development through a transparent, non-violent and people-driven electoral process. He said his government attaches inestimable value to human dignity, participatory governance and the unrivaled upliftment of the social and economic face of Ekiti State.

    Groups that attended the meeting included the Civil Liberties Organisation, (CLO), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, (CDHR), Centre for Media Advocacy and Research Network, (CEMARN), Nigerian Network on Police Reforms, (NINPRI), United Middle Belt Youth Congress, (UMBYC), Afenifere Youth, South West Civil Society Coalition, (SWCSC), Civil Society Coalition for Mandate Protection, (CSC-MAP), Ekiti State Human Rights and Liberty Network, (ESHRLN), Alliance of O’odua Students, (AOS) and about 40 others.

     

  • Julius Berger Nigeria: Improving performance

    Julius Berger Nigeria: Improving performance

    Julius Berger Nigeria Plc sustained its positive performance outlook with the latest audited and interim earnings reports showing improved cost and resource efficiency. Both actual and underlying profitability measures indicated improvement in outward profit figures and intrinsic profit-making capacity of the company.

    Interim report for the first half ended June 30, 2013 showed that modest improvements in all margins supported actual profit figures. Gross profit margin stood at 18.3 per cent in first half 2013 as against 17.88 per cent in comparable period of 2012. With considerable decline in marketing expenses, operating profit margin improved from 5.65 per cent to 6.44 per cent. Profit before tax margin inched up to 5.49 per cent in 2013 as against 5.13 per cent in corresponding period of 2012.

    Audited report and accounts of Julius Berger Nigeria for the year ended December 31, 2012 had shown that turnover increased by 19 per cent while profits before and after tax grew by 24 per cent and 82 per cent. The improvement in the underlying profit-making capacity and returns of the company was underlined by increases in all profit-making indices.

    With the retention of about 63 per cent of net profit for the year, the decision to retain much earnings substantially increased the underlying value of the company as net assets per share rose by 55 per cent. Besides, returns on equity and assets were higher at 53 per cent and 6.9 per cent in 2012 as against 45 per cent and 5.8 per cent in 2011.

    Financing structure

    The underlying financing position was stronger with equity funds accounting for 8.5 per cent of total assets in 2012 as against 5.7 per cent in 2011. Both reduction in loans and increase in equity funds substantially deleveraged the balance sheet with debt-to-equity ratio of 54.2 per cent in 2012 as against 164.6 per cent in 2011.

    Group total assets inched up by 3.9 per cent from N172.25 billion to N179.03 billion. Balance sheet size was driven mainly by long-term assets which rose by 35 per cent from N71.40 billion to N96.65 billion as against 18 per cent reduction in current assets from N100.84 billion to N82.39 billion. Total liabilities was almost flat at N163.89 billion in 2012 as against N162.50 billion in 2011. Bank loans had dropped by 49 per cent from N16.04 billion to N8.21 billion. Paid up share capital remained unchanged at N600 million, consisting of 1.2 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each. Equity funds however rode on the back of retained earnings to N15.14 billion in 2012 compared with N9.75 billion in 2011, indicating an increase of 55.4 per cent.

     

    Efficiency

    Fundamentally, the company was more efficient and relatively productive during the year. While average contribution of each employee to the bottom-line improved from N0.532 million to N0.642 million, total cost of business, excluding financing charges, dropped marginally from 93.7 per cent to 93.6 per cent of total turnover. Average number of employees increased from 18,670 persons to 19,234 persons. The staff structure however remained almost the same with wide gap between senior staff and junior staff as well as senior and management cadre. Some 95.3 per cent of employees were categorized as junior staff while 4.04 per cent and 0.63 per cent fell under senior and management staff respectively. Although average cost per employee improved from N2.32 million to N2.57 million, the staff structure counterbalanced such robustness, especially in the absence of a breakdown of staff costs across the cadres. Total staff costs had increased from N43.23 billion to N49.44 billion.

     

    Profitability

    The company sustained growths in turnover and profit, setting a stable performance trend that transcended the previous audited report to emerging earnings reports. Turnover rose by 15 per cent to N96.57 billion in first half 2013 as against N83.96 billion in comparable period of 2012. Gross profit was faster at 18 per cent from N15.01 billion to N17.68 billion. Operating profit was boosted by a more efficient midline cost management. Operating profit rose by 31 per cent from N4.74 billion to N6.22 billion. Profit before tax stood at N5.30 billion in 2013 compared with N4.31 billion, an increase of 23 per cent. Profit after tax grew by 13.5 per cent to N2.70 billion as against N2.38 billion. With these, earnings per share closed first half 2013 at N2.25 compared with N1.99 recorded in corresponding period of 2012.

    In the latest audited full-year report, Julius Berger had grown turnover by 19 per cent from N169.41 billion in 2011 to N201.57 billion in 2012. Cost of sales increased by 15 per cent to N156.73 billion compared with N135.79 billion. Gross profit leapt on higher margin to N44.84 billion, 33.4 per cent above N33.62 billion recorded in previous year. Total operating expenses increased by 39 per cent from N22.92 billion to N31.86 billion. About 80 per cent increase in non-core business incomes mitigated 39 per cent increase in interest expenses, leaving pre-tax profit with an increase of 24 per cent. Interest and other incomes increased from N1.17 billion to N2.07 billion while interest expenses rose from N1.95 billion to N2.71 billion.

    Both the civil and building works maintained considerable profitability during the period. Profit before tax stood at N12.34 billion in 2012 as against N9.93 billion in 2011. After taxes, profit for the year jumped by 82 per cent from N4.41 billion to N8.01 billion. Basic earnings per share stood at N6.83 in 2012 as against N3.68 in 2011. The company distributed N3 billion on the basis of N2.50 per share as dividends for the 2012 business year, a modest increase of 4.2 per cent on N2.88 billion paid out on the basis of N2.40 per share for the 2011 business year. With large retained earnings, net assets per share increased from N8.12 to N12.62.

    Beyond the surface, the group’s underlying profitability improved during the period, indicating that the outward profit and loss growths were driven by fundamental strengths. Gross profit margin improved from 19.8 per cent to 22.2 per cent. Pre-tax profit margin also increased from 5.9 per cent to 6.1 per cent. Return on total assets stood at 6.9 per cent in 2012 as against 5.8 per cent in 2011. Return on equity leapt to 52.9 per cent compared with 45.3 per cent. Dividend cover almost doubled at 2.73 times as against 1.53 times in previous year.

     

    Liquidity

    The liquidity position of the company declined during the period. Current ratio, which measures the relationship between current assets and relevant liabilities, declined from 1.60 times in 2011 to1.20 times in 2012. The proportion of working capital to turnover dropped from 22.4 per cent to 6.7 per cent. Debtors/creditor ratio stood at 158.5 per cent in 2012 as against 451.8 per cent in 2011.

     

    Governance and structures

    Julius Berger Nigeria is the leading construction company in Nigeria. Incorporated in 1970, it became a publicly quoted company in 1991 and now has 1.2 billion shares in the hands of more than 10,000 shareholders. There were no major changes in the ownership, group structures, board and management of the company during the period under review.

    Bilfinger Berger SE, remained the majority core investor in Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, with 39.87 per cent equity stake. Watertown Energy Limited holds 10 per cent equity stake, the second largest by a single shareholder. Other substantial shareholders include the Lagos State and Benue State, which hold 5.50 per cent and 5.21 per cent respectively through their investment companies. Julius Berger Nigeria Group includes four wholly owned subsidiaries and two largely-owned subsidiaries.

    There were no major changes on the board and management of the company. AVM. Mohammed Nurudeen Imam (rtd) still chairs the board of directors while Wolfgang Goetsch remains the managing director. Julius Berger Nigeria generally complies with code of corporate governance and the scope and presentation of its report were adequate.

     

    Analyst’s opinion

    Julius Berger Nigeria’s top-line performance remains relatively assured given Nigeria’s infrastructural requirements and the leading position of Julius Berger Nigeria in the building and construction industry. The performance trends in recent periods underscored a commendable growth strategy, driving top-line while reducing the inefficiencies and drags-such as huge borrowings, which stifle returns to shareholders. A stronger balance sheet and sustained internal efficiency will ensure increased profitability. Overall, there is reasonable basis to assume that the company will sustain its positive outlook.

     

  • GEJ: Performance, not empty promises

    SIR: It is now obvious that the Jonathan administration has nothing to offer after more than two years in the saddle. The president had promised that his doubters were going to be surprised in 2013 and here we are still waiting for the president’s container of positive changes.

    Sincerely, President Jonathan continues to surprise Nigerians with the way he is running his government. Presently, there is marked increase in pipeline vandalism, unprecedented oil-theft, bomb blasts, economic instability and lots more. Yet, the president has not realised that Nigeria is drowning.

    My problem with Jonathan and his cabinet is that they have not for once admitted their failures. A government that is not criticised will never get things right. Whether the criticisms are constructive or not, what the government ought to do is to prove its critics wrong by doing it right rather than engage in meaningless counter-criticism. Nigerians were in jubilation galore when Jonathan emerged in 2011. Many people who gave birth then named their child after him thinking that his emergence would change things for better.

    A lot of promises have been made but none of them has been fulfilled and the president and his aides are already talking about re-election. My belief is that, if the president and his aides feel that they are moving Nigeria forward and that the populace are happy with the government, then, he should let Nigerians judge his performance by providing the avenue for free and fair election and not like Jega claimed free and fair election when he could not provide the ballot papers at the election petitions tribunal for cross examination.

    Education which is the bedrock of democracy of every nation is what our own government is toying with. The amazing thing about this government is that it can afford to pay huge amount of money to our lawmakers who are doing nothing to move the country forward; pay erstwhile bandits billions of naira to secure our pipeline when we have military men who can do this for less; the same government claims it cannot pay varsity lecturers who spend day and night teaching and researching to enable the universities produce students who would contribute their quota to moving Nigeria forward.

    For how long does the president want Nigerians to continue to wait? Nigerians are increasingly losing hope. The country cannot change until its leaders change. The backwardness of this country is nothing but the problem of leadership; we need leaders who are bold and quick at decision-making, leaders who will put the interest of the masses before theirs and build Nigeria of our collective dreams; not leaders who would grant amnesty to people who steal from the country’s treasury.

    If the president really wants to get it right, he should dissolve his cabinet and bring in people who have vision, people who will tell him the truth; not praise-singers.

     

    • Waziri Mohammed

    Mokola, Ibadan.

     

     

  • Civil society scores Fed Govt low on budget performance

    A group of civil society organisations (CSOs) has described the implementation of capital budgets at national and sub-national levels as poor in terms of its impact on ordinary Nigerians.

    To reverse the trend, the members of the group restated their commitment to intensify their monitoring and evaluation of capital disbursements to improve the performance of the budgets on a sustainable basis.

    The CSOs, which include the government; Civil Society Partnership Project, Niger-Delta Monitoring Group, Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative and Citizen’s Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights, lamented the high Executive and Legislative indiscipline in the implementation of the budget with the attendant negative implications for development.

    In a communiqué at the end of their Legislature-Civil Society Roundtable on Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting on the budget organised by the NGO Unit, the organisations also expressed serious concern about Nigeria’s ability to attain the objects of Vision 20:2020 if the budget implementation is sustained.

    Noting that it has been difficult to measure the performance of multiple project claims by different Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to reduce waste, fraud and abuse of public resources due to poor budget monitoring and oversight lapses, they also faulted the envelope system which, they added, was not allowing the real needs of the citizens to be identified and provided for.

    Other lapses identified as undermining the capital budgets over the years include less attention given to special policies, such as gender affirmative action, local content initiatives of the government, and other critical policies, less emphasis and awareness by the CSOs in advocating to the government to provide citizens with accurate budget data, and non-state actors’inadequate capacity, especially in budget tracking, monitoring and evaluation, as well as procurement to help deliver the right results.

     

  • Iorfa hails Lobi’s performance

    Iorfa hails Lobi’s performance

    Lobi Stars supremo, Dominic Iorfa, has insisted that his side showed their pedigree in Kano, as champions Pillars, struggled to share the points in front of their fans on Wednesday.

    Ogidison Oche, a product of the club’s nursery, scored the opener but Ikechukwu Gabriel equaliser for the champions.

    “We dropped points at home but we’ve shown our quality by picking a point in Kano. We deserved the maximum points on matchday. There was a foul when Pillars equalised and their penalty was a wrong call,” Iorfa said to supersport.com.

    It was a day Lobi Stars played brilliant football and goalkeeper Terkaa Malai was alert to stop a last minute penalty by Rabiu Ali to emerge matchday hero.

    “Fans of Kano Pillars even appreciated our performance because we were in full control,” Iorfa said to supersport.com.

    Wednesday’s feat makes Lobi Stars the first team to go ahead in Kano and also earn a point on the road against the leaders.

  • Ndanusa rates Abdullahi’s performance excellent

    Ndanusa rates Abdullahi’s performance excellent

    •Minister to inspect Commonwealth Games facilities in Glasgow June 17

    FORMER Sports Minister and Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Sani Ndanusa has lauded the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi for his inspirational leadership which has helped in improving sports since taking over.

    Ndanusa in a chat with Sportinglife yesterday while appraising the Minister’s performance, reeled out some of Abdullahi’s qualities which he said has impacted on grassroots development..

    “To me the Honourable Minister of Sports has done well and I would say so far so good for sports under his tenure. He has looked at key areas that have been really hard to crack. He has been able to sanitise the football section of sports in Nigeria a key area that has always been problematic to many Sports Ministers. “With the performance we are getting in football now I think we can give him (Sports Minister) kudos for that. You know that certainly when football is doing well it is assumed that all other sports are doing very well. He has been able to ensure and maintain peace in all sports federations most especially football which has always been bedeviled with so many litigation.

    “Also for the grassroots sports, he also operated from the sporting zones that we have in the country. He is strengthening the administration of the zones so that these zones will get some technical direction and ensure that sports development starts from the grassroots that is from the local government to states and from states to zones and then from zones to national. So I can assure you that with what the Minister is putting on ground, we will surely start getting positive results and fast development of sports in the country.

    “The Minister is also investing on capacity building too. I want to say yes he is been doing quite well in that area also. For instance the relationship between the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been very cordial too.

    “Also he is working with the federations involved in earnest preparations for the Commonwealth Games holding in Glasgow, Scotland next year. He is leading the team to inspect the facilities at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games next week. After the inspection we will come up with the best way to approach the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. “Of course I see it as a platform to correct our bad outing during the London 2012 Olympic Games. A good result in next year’s Commonwealth games will surely make sports-loving Nigerians happy and it will encourage a good showing in the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. This project is also close to the Honourable Minister.

    “The Minister like I said already has a plan to inspect the Commonwealth Games facilities in Glasgow which includes accommodation, logistics and all other necessary things for Nigerian athletes to excel at the Games when he leads the inspection team to Glasgow. The visit to Glasgow on June 17 and 18th June, 2013 will afford the National Sports Commission the opportunity to plan adequately for the Commonwealth Games. We will come out with a road map on this competition.

    “Another good plan that the Minister has put in place for us to win medals in international competitions beginning with the Commonwealth Games Insa Allah (By God’s grace now that we have resolved to use the military and paramilitary sports. I have personally met with all the service chiefs so that we can come out with a road map using the armed forces. You know that to get a world beater or Commonwealth beater, you must train constantly and you know that sports in the military is regimented and it’s a tradition.

    So the Honourable Minister has concluded plans as regards the participation of the military (armed forces) in sports.

    “I can also disclose to you that the reason why there was an increased connection and collaboration between the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) is because the Minister always allows international best practice to prevail”, the NOC President revealed.

  • Group hails governors on performance

    A group, the Oduduwa Youth Council (OYC), yesterday said Governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) have performed beyond expectation in their two-and-a-half years in office.

    It described the performance of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governors as “unprecedented”.

    In a statement by its National Coordinator, Mr. Festus Omoniyi-Bello, the group said the governors are a blessing to the Yoruba race.

    It said it was convinced that Fayemi and Aregbesola would be reelected because of their outstanding performance.

    OYC said: “We are happy that the era of gangsterism is gone in the two states, as well as other Southwest states.”

    It chided the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Communications, Dr. Doyin Okupe, for his comment that ACN National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari were liabilities to the country.

    The group said: “Tinubu is the architect of the transformed Lagos State. He is a pacesetter and great achiever. Buhari is a statesman with zero tolerance for corruption, which has become endemic in the country.

    “In 2015, we will know if Okupe can win his unit in Ogun State for President Goodluck Jonathan with his boasting. Then, the people will determine who is a political liability.”

     

  • Registrar assesses ANAN ‘s performance

    The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Terkaa Gemade, has said the last two years were periods of actualisation for the body.

    According to a statement made available to The Nation, Gemade spoke while presenting the achievements of the immediate past president of ANAN, Hajia Maryam Ladi, at the association’s pre-annual general meeting dinner in Abuja.

    “Today, we are celebrating the actualiser of ANAN vision. The vision that started in 1979 with ANAN not being known, not being wanted and today, the vision has been actualised,’’ he said.

    The former registrar praised the strategies pursued by Ibrahim to put ANAN on a right footing. He recalled the tortuous road the association passed through to become the most articulate and most liquid asset-based professional association in the country.

    Gemade also recalled the achievements of the founding fathers of the association and their numerous contributions toward the growth of the association.

    He also said that in the last two years, the association got the membership of international bodies such as the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC); Pan-African Federation of Accountants (PAFA); as well as Association of Accounting bodies of West Africa (ABWA).

    He said ANAN is also a member of the International Association of Accounting Education and Research.

    He said the Ibrahim led the council to more than 100 Vice -Chancellors and placed before them what the professional body should be doing with the National Universities Commission (NUC). Gemade said the former administration should be praised for the development of the Nigerian College of Accountancy, (NCA), Jos.

    The ex-registrar said the association had donated a post-graduate research centre at the University of Jos to take care of master and doctoral degree students.

    He said the Ladi Centre at the Kogi State University deals on leadership and accounting development matters, adding that the association had contributed immensely to the development of accounting laboratories in several institutions of higher learning.

    The former registrar said ANAN had donated books to research centres in some universities and polytechnics.