The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has elected its president. He is Tijani Usman, a student of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Usman garnered 163 of the 239 votes cast during the NANS convention held in Delta State to defeat his closest opponent, Jubril Ahmadu, also a student of ABU, who scored 56 votes.
Usman will take over from the outgoing president, Yinka Gbadebo, whose tenure expired a few weeks ago.
Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has elected Dr. Frank Jacobs as its president. He was elected as the association’s ninth president at its 42nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos. He succeeds Chief Kola Jamodu, who was elected for a four-year term in 2010. Prior to this position, Dr. Jacobs was MAN Vice president (Enugu Zone).
He has served in various positions in the administration. He was formally Chairman, Imo-Abia branch of the association. He was also member, MAN Corporate Affairs and Strategic Planning Committee from 2010-2014. He is the founder and chairman, Jacob Wines Limited based in Imo State. Dr. Jacobs studied at the Incarnate Word College, Santonio, Texas USA where he graduated in 1978 with B.A Chemistry (Magna Cum Laude).
In 1982, he was awarded PhD (Analytical Chemistry) by the Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (FICCON) and a fellow of the Chemical Society of Nigeria (FCSN).In recognition of his contribution to the development of Nigeria, Dr. Jacobs was honoured in 2007 by President Olusegun Obasanjo with the National Honours Award of Member, Order of the Niger (MON). He also received the national Merit Award for local materials Utilisation in 1994.
The new National President, University of Port Harcourt Alumni (UNIPORT) Association, Mr. Sampson Ngerebara, has called for unity among former students of the school.
Ngerebara, who was the president of the Rivers State Chapter of the alumni association before his election last month, said his first priority would be to reconcile all aggrieved members, including the immediate past National President Chief Ike Chinwo.
He also said his administration would reposition the association by reviewing its constitution, publish the UNIPORT Alumni Association magazine by October, mobilise members, and revisit the Alumni Centre project, among others.
Ngerebara is a graduate of Electrical Engineering (1985 set).
According to the election report released by the Public Relations Officer of the association, Chris Orji, Ngerebara defeated Dr Solomon Godknows Ibulubo in the election, which held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
“The election was conducted by the National Working Committee (CWC) constituted by all National Executive Council Members, including presidents and secretaries of the various state chapters. Sixteen chapters were at the congress.
“During the election, Ngerebara won majority votes and was declared the winner, after which he was presented to the council for ratification by the entire members of the congress for ratification,” the statement said.
The motion for the ratification of the election was moved by Mr. Godfrey Utebor (BOT member) from Delta State, and seconded by Wilson Aggrey, past president of Baylesa State chapter of the association.
Golden girl Maryam Usman is still savouring her weightlifting performance which not only won her gold but sent tongues wagging in the ongoing Commonwealth Games here in Glasgow.
Maryam dumped her Samoan opponent Ele Opeloge after lifting 155 kg to become the Queen of the Weightlifting of the Commonwealth Games.
Yesterday, Maryam, who is still being mobbed by athletes at the Games Village, made a passionate appeal to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to host them just as he has done to footballers.
‘’There is only one thing I want. I want President Jonathan to host us just like he has done to footballers’’, the 75 + kg lifter from Kaduna requested.
Reflecting on the rivalry between her and Opeloge, Maryam confessed that she was rattled when the Samoan opted for 161kg to upset her from winning the gold medal.
‘’I was shocked but prayed against it. She knew that the only way to win the gold was to lift more than me. But there was no way she could have lifted 161kg. She is not a world champion. Such lifts are meant for champions. And when she tried and could not lift it, I fell on my knees and the rest is history’’, she said as more athletes queued to take autographs and others to take pictures.
Maryam, who is making her second appearance at the Commonwealth Games, was a silver medalist at the XIX Games in New Delhi.
‘’I was tired of winning silver medals. I did not want another silver at the Commonwealth Games after winning one in India. I was focused and did not allow for distractions. There was more pressure on me from officials and athletes. But, I was calm and I thank God for answering my prayers.’’
Maryam also won three gold medals at the African championships in South Africa. She also scooped a bronze medal at the Paris Championship in 2011 as well as yet another bronze at Russia 2012.
‘’I cherish this medal more than other medals’’, she said with her trademark smile that reveals her immaculate white teeth.
‘’That is why I want our President to extend his gesture of hosting footballers to us. That will spur us to do even more in the Olympics. It gives us a sense of belonging other than thinking that our country is only appreciative to footballers’’ she said.
There is a change of guards at the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN).
A new president, Kelechi Nwosu, takes over as president of the 41-year-old body. Nwosu is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TBWA/Concepts Nigeria.
His emergence, it is believed, would on the achievements of the body and push Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) reforms and deepen the association’s relationship with government.
With a campaign slogan, RVP, which means Reputation, Value and Professionalism, Kelechi is poised to deepen the drive to ensure that advertising professionals are engaged in governance and politics in line with best global business practice and current reform by APCON.
“My campaign was run on three letters, and those letters are RVP. Those letters refer to building a lot of respect so that we can use that respect to consolidate and push the APCON reforms and stand on that respect to get much more value. One of the strong things my administration has promised to do and I hope to accomplish it is to embark on a strong campaign for the government.
“If we want to build reputation you have to show some skills and you have to prove that you have the capability. These will open doors to pursue the reforms. We will lobby people to let them know about the reforms and they should abide by them. We have to talk to our people to believe in the reforms, we can’t wait for APCON to push it for us. R is about pushing the reforms. V is about helping get value. Professionalism- I am going to work hard to energise the committees we have in AAAN. The idea is particularly for the training and development committee,” he said.
Kelechi, who was the vice president in the last administration, said he would “lobby people to let them know about the reforms and they should abide by them. We have to talk to our people to believe in the reforms as we can’t wait for APCON to push it for us”.
Kelechi contested against Lanre Adisa, the CEO of Noah’s Ark. Over the years, election into the office of the president of the association has followed an unwritten order of allowing vice president to become president but some people within the association believe in altering the order this time.
Celey Okogun of Novel Potta was defeated by Kayode Oluwalana to clinch the vice president position of the association.
The immediate past president Bunmi Oke praised her good relationship with marketing and brand journalists and described her tenure as historic.
She said: “It was a period when so many changes were going on in the industry which include APCON reforms, 40th anniversary of AAAN, stepping up LAIF awards and the emergence of female president after a long time.”
SIR: I am compelled to write given the recent spate of attacks and spurious statements by your media aides and security operatives alleging the hijack of the BringBackOurGirls movement – a citizens collective effort to stay vigilant on the kidnapped girls. I belong to this movement in my capacity as a citizen of Nigeria, and I feel deeply insulted that some of your aides have either acted in their own capacity or succeeded in misleading you through deliberate misinformation about the movement.
Last week, Ms Marilyn Ogar, in her characteristic manner, called this movement a franchise; a statement which I consider highly derogatory and unsavoury. Unfortunately, she cast serious aspersions on the integrity of those who constitute the movement in Nigeria and worldwide. The leadership of the Abuja chapter of the movement has clearly disproved these allegations but I keep wondering why you allow such untold misrepresentation to go on under your watch.
Only recently, precisely 15th July, 2014; one of your senior media aides Dr. Doyin Okupe alleged that Ms Obiageli Ezekwesili instigated the families of the kidnapped girls from attending the meeting you scheduled, whom you had only recently deemed fit to meet after 92 days. I am quite sure Ms Ezekwesili, who remains one Nigerian with incorruptible integrity and who desperately wants these girls rescued, will never resort to such act as portrayed by Dr Okupe. Moreover Mr President, history bears witness that it took you 3 weeks before you acknowledged these atrocious kidnap; and all of us are aware of the arrest that befell members of the movement after the scheduled meeting they had with your wife, the First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs Patience Jonathan. Personally, it is not far-fetched why they will ignore your meeting: the precedence of denial, intimation and arrests of members of the movement is telling.
I find it utterly disrespectful that consistently, Dr. Okupe’s characteristic name-calling, character assassination and pedestrian outbursts keep mocking the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The letter, which was widely distributed in the media, was attributed to have been written by you; but I am certain the person of the President of Nigeria will never write such. Whatever the grievances Dr. Okupe has with Ms Ezekwesili, the office of the President should not be reduced to such dance of shame in the media. Honestly, I keep wondering how you will allow yourself and your noble office to be such ridiculed by such dramatis personae as aides.
Regardless of the constant attack and publicity strategy of the establishment to frustrate, derail and divide us; we stay strong and committed to demanding that the girls be brought back alive. I am aware of the complexities that may be involved in securing the release of these girls, which consequently may have prevented an open and transparent citizens interaction. However, the fact that we disagree with the secrecy involved in the attempts at rescuing these girls that does not give any of your aides the right to castigate us and demean our persons using all of the channels of manipulations it has.
Mr. President, you swore an oath to the security and welfare of the Nigerian people. Not only have you consistently failed in this regard, but Nigeria’s security incompetence during these trying times have occurred despite appropriating the highest resource in the budget to security (about N3tn in three years). Mr. President, based on the sustained captivity of the past three months following these girls kidnap, based on the insecurity challenges of the past years under your watch; no other institution of government has terrorized Nigerians psychologically than the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Lagos
President Goodluck Jonathan is asking the Senate to approve a $1 billion (about N165) loan for the fight against Boko Haram.
The President said he needed the cash to upgrade military equipment and for training as well as logistics for the Armed Forces.
The Federal Government voted N968.127 billion for defence in the 2014 budget.
Jonathan made the request in a letter entitled: “Tackling ongoing security challenges: The need for urgent action.”
The letter was sent to the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The letter was read yesterday by Senate President David Mark at plenary.
He noted that the approval of the fund, which would be sourced from external borrowing, would enable the armed forces to confront insurgency more forcefully.
The letter said: “You are no doubt cognizant of the on-going and serious security challenges which the nation is facing, as typified by the Boko Haram terrorist threat.
“This is an issue we have discussed at various times.
“I would like to bring to your attention the urgent need to upgrade the equipment, training and logistics of our Armed Forces and security services to enable them more forcefully confront this serious threat.
“For this reason, I seek the concurrence of the National Assembly for external borrowing of not more than $1 billion dollars, including Government to Government arrangements, for this upgrade.”
A former Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) Director-General, Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN) has called for a constitution amendment to provide for a six-year single term for the President.
He said six years is enough for a president to implement all his programmes and make way for another person with fresh ideas.
According to him, there is a tendency to run out of ideas after a few years in office, adding that the current two terms of four years is not necessary.
“It gets to a point where a leader is burnt out,” he said.
Azinge, who retired as NIALS Director-General on May 26, spoke at a dinner organised in his honour by Mr Augustine Alegeh (SAN) in Abuja.
Alegeh was Azinge’s student at the University of Benin Law Faculty where he (Azinge) began his teaching career in 1981.
Azinge said he could not think of anything he could have done at NIALS in five years that he did not do.
“At that point, I was burning out. I was exhausted. It was a matter of giving it my last shot,” he said.
Azinge said his success at NIALS was a collective one, adding that no individual can generate ideas on his own.
“We were able to create a cream of the best at NIALS. We also made maximum use of the media in trying to ventilate our achievements,” he said.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jide Koku, said Azinge made huge impact in the lives of others.
A former Abia State Attorney-General Prof Awah Kalu (SAN) said Azinge did well, not just at NIALS, but in the Ministry of Justice where he also worked, and at UNIBEN.
“It’s the experience he gathered at those places that he applied at NIALS,” he said, describing Azinge as a man with “many angles”, referring to his “sartorial elegance and intellectual endowment.”
A former Plateau State Attorney-General, Prof Clement C.J. Dakas (SAN), who also taught at NIALS, said it was a pleasure to celebrate Azinge.
“Alegeh said Azinge mentored him, but unfortunately today, we don’t have the people with the spirit of mentoring young people.
“If Prof Azinge didn’t have the spirit to mentor young people, we won’t be here celebrating tonight. He encourages his staff to be the best they can be and ensures he is surrounded by stars.
“Everything about him was the institute. Some saw him as a slave master. He has not only raised the bar, but the visibility of the institute. We thank him for the sacrifice. I’m confident God will continue to elevate him.
“As his name Epiphany suggests, he is a revelation that all of us are seeing today. He is a lesson that when we dare to make a difference in the lives of others, we are always rewarded,” Dakas said.
A lawyer, Anozie Obi, who studied at NIALS, prayed that God strengthens Azinge and helps him find “better places to serve.”
Alegeh said Azinge “served very well,” adding: “We were not invited to come and defend him in court on any charge by any anti-graft agency. If he didn’t serve well, I’ll even deny that he taught me.”
Lagos-based freight forwarder and Managing Director of Admore Group Ltd, Prince Ademola Adunola, has added another feather to his cap with his election as the president of the prestigious Ikeja Club.
Ademola, who is the immediate past Vice President of the club, garnered overwhelming votes to beat his opponent during the election. With his victory, the 45-year-old businessman has made history as the youngest occupant of the seat.
The amiable socialite who recently launched into hospitality business with the opening of Dansaky Hotel in Ijaye-Ojokoro, a suburb of Lagos State, shortly after his election promised to take the club to the next level.
He said: “I am grateful to all the members of our great club for electing me as their new president. Trust me; I will turn around the fortune of the club by giving it a facelift through the renovation of its sports section and provision of facilities such as swimming pool. These facilities will no doubt project the club better and by extension boost the image of members.”
The President, Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), Ibrahim Mohammed has hailed the appointment of former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau as the Minister of Education.
He told newsmen that the appointment is hinged on Shekarau’s track records in the development of school sports in Kano, when he was governor.
“As the president of NSSF I hail President Jonathan for his choice of the Minister of Education. The former governor of Kano State developed sports at the grassroots while in office through the provision of equipment as well as general support,” he explained.
Mohammed added that while in Kano, sports thrived under Shekarau and development in the sector was even, a record that can be checked by anybody.
“We are hoping that the new minister will take the initiative that he used in Kano to revive school sports nationwide. We will also be expecting the minister to follow up on the agreement that was reached at the Presidential Retreat on Sports, to further develop sports in the country,” he added.
The NSSF President commended President Goodluck Jonathan for choosing Shekarau, adding that the country’s vision of developing sports at the grassroots from schools will be realized soon, as a result of what he described as ‘the wise decision’.