The Nation Newspaper

Tag: promote

  • Columnists rally to promote good governance

    The League of Nigerian Columnists (LNC) has been unveiled in Lagos. At its birth, the group revisited the reading culture and the media’s role in reconstructing Nigeria by checking bad governance, reports EVELYN OSAGIE.

    The value of a columnist to an editor or newspaper cannot be understated,” began “The Oracle”, Akogun Tola Adeniyi. “Controversy moves newsprint like no other. This challenging wordsmith gets away with expressing opinions the editor daren’t utter; it is the columnist, not the newspaper that attracts the flak.

    “The column is a space accounted for and so is someone else’s problem. Most important of all, there is neither news nor sport feature that can draw and keep as many readers as can the columnist.” Welcome to the world of the “Columnist” as an “agenda-setter” and “change agent”.

    A league is born

    The occasion was no media symposium, but the unveiling of the League of Nigerian Columnists (LNC) held in Lagos, where Adeniyi, the league’s National President, stressed the importance of the columnist to media and the nation at large, especially in checking bad governance and corrupt practices.

    The event brought together leading columnists from across the country. The league’s foundational members at the event were Mr Yakubu Mohammed (the National Vice President); Ray Ekpu (the chairman  of the league’s editorial board); Henry Boyo; Ben Lawrence; Dele Sobowale; Dan Agbese; Director for the Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIASP), Prof Anthony Kila (LNC National Secretary),Chief Jimanze Ego-Alowes;  Editorial Board Chairman of The Nation, Sam Omatseye; Dare Babarinsa; former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Reuben Abati (Vice Chair, LNC editorial board);  Martins Oloja;  Director of Media and Public Communications, Coalition for Nigeria Movement, Akin Osuntokun; Ikechukwu Amaechi; Managing Director of ARISE News Channel Africa, Ijeoma Nwogwugwu and Gabriel Akinadewo.

    The columnist as nation’s conscience

    Like men and women on a mission, the group said it was set to serve the public good, as its members have been doing in their individual columns and shall do as collectives.

    And so at critical and crucial moments in the nation’s history, the league is out to make history as it serves Nigerians by checking bad governance and more, it said.

    “It is our strongly held view that the Nigerian columnists that have made their mark must come together and carve a respectable identity for themselves and jealously protect that identity to ward off quacks and pretenders,” Adeniyi, said.

    According to him, the league would “continue to drum to the ears of leaders that their powers are held in trust for the people to whom we are mandatorily responsible”.

    He said: “Our objectives include, among other things, to contribute to the attainment of the goal of holding governments accountable to the people as enshrined in the Constitution and provide coordinated intervention on important national issues through press releases and or press conferences or policy intervention as the need may arise.

    “It would be  recalled that because of the array of columnists assembled by the great Babatunde Jose of the old Daily Times in the late 60s and 70s, the then Head of State General Yakubu Gowon made it a duty to call Dr Jose on daily basis!”

    And although some may write columnists off as “people who scribble on the backs of advertisements, Adeniyi insisted that there are very few that carry as “much influence as the challenging publish–and-be-damned columnist.”

    Change agent

    While charging the league to be a voice for change and for the voiceless majority, the Chairman of the Police Equipment Trust Fund (PETF), Chief Kenny Martins, described the establishment of the league as timely. “Disseminate, influence, educate people and take a positive stand on national and global issues until Nigeria becomes the Nigeria of our dream,” he urged.

    On his part, Babarinsa said the onus of reconstructing Nigeria does not lie with the columnists alone. According to him, the requirements of having a proper democracy is not just about what Nigerians expects of the league, but having a reading mass and a participatory democracy.

    While recalling the reading culture of the days of the seasoned columnist, Chief Joseph Kaka, he argued that to reclaim Nigeria from the claws of bad governance and corruption, its citizenry must also recover its appetite for reading. “If we don’t recover our appetite for reading, then we may lose our country. And you lose your country when you don’t have a say in it and the columnists have done a lot over the years, but you must participate by buying and reading newspaper.

    “The people should participate in the thinking process of taking decision. They should participate in the consciousness of holding the leaders accountable. In the old days, employers/organisation buy at least one newspaper per day for staff, and people bought and read the papers. But, today, all those things are gone and the circulation of newspaper has dropped. The destiny of our country is in our hands, we must work for it,” Babarinsa said.

    For veteran journalist, Lawrence, the reason the country is where it is because it had not been sufficiently covered by the media. He called on the media to step up its game as watchdog and maintain the highest professional standard as of old.

    He said: “I remember we reported the war very well that the soldiers couldn’t do anything to us because we were professionals. There is a decline in professional reporting; that is why the country is suffering. People stealing and loading dollars into vehicles, burying them in houses and in the ground, and the press didn’t see it? We would have known in those days. Many people would know. What has happened… were you participating with them?”

    The columnist as the news breaker

    Reiterating Babarinsa and Lawrence’s words, Oloja charged columnists to go beyond opinion writing to breaking stories just like any seasoned reporter would, while urging the media to use as quotes some of the informed writings of columnists in their articles and reports. “When they are reporting CNN and other digital platforms, great reporters quote extensively from great columns to illustrate their stories. This is because columnists can break stories. Reporters should read stories by great columnists,” he said.

    The columnist abreast with the times

    While observing that contemporary knowledge, and most of the readership are now on the Internet, Omatseye urged the league to take advantage of the vast influence the virtual world weighs in today’s world by creating an online presence for members in its bid to reconstruct Nigeria.

    As part of its response to the times, the league is also set to give members online presence even as it moves to reconstruct Nigeria through constructive articles, according to Kila. He stated that articles by members of the league published in the papers on different days would be on the websites, adding that a spot has been allotted in the website to celebrate late columnists who have made their marks. These are among other online initiatives, the league would be unfolding as time goes on. “We would be publishing an official newsletter, a book of Best Columns, an encyclopaedia of Nigerian columnists living or dead, any other book, magazine or pamphlet as the League thinks fit; hold yearly lectures, workshops, seminars and colloquiums to enhance the practice of column writing, and promote and sustain a high standard in the practice of column writing, and so on,” Kila said.

    Taiwo Adenekan of Canada University Press praised the efforts of columnists over the years in serving as watchdog and voices for the voiceless in Nigeria. He called for government recognition for their efforts and posthumous recognition for those who have passed on. Hence, a one-minute silence was held in their honour at the event.

  • CPC: feedbackhall.com ‘ll promote consumer protection

    Consumer Protection Council (CPC) Director-General, Babatunde Irukera, has said the technology-driven platform – www.feedbackhall.com- will enable the council to carry out its core mandate of consumer protection.

    Speaking during the public presentation of platform in Lagos at the weekend, he said the initiative will go a long way to strengthen the right of consumers and shorten the cycle of getting redress should the need arise.

    “Creating a hub for consumer will really help our work at CPC; it is an initiative that aligns with our core mandate to protect the Nigerian consumers. Reviews from this web will be part of working instrument for us,” Itukera said, adding that the website gives a voice to consumers’ complaints.

    Its founder, Dr. Chiugo Kanu, said the consumers’opinion web  provides platform for consumers to share real life experiences gathered by interacting with products and services offered in the markets – either made in Nigeria or not, stressing that on the web, consumers are at liberty to make reviews on products and services whether they are satisfied or not

    He said he was driven by the passion that consumers in the country must have a platform to share experiences on products and services, a development that would ultimately provide useful insights and help make better purchasing decisions.

    In her presentation titled: feedbackhall.com- The concept, scope, features and optimised use, during the inauguration of the word-press designed website, she said the initiative was driven largely by the desire to serve rather than profit making.

    She said: “We have our set vision, mission and values to build and sustain a reputation as the largest and most reliable online review community in Africa. To give consumers power to drive innovation and change products by encouraging open sharing and effective utilisation of product experiences.

    “And, as a consumer, you have a right as well as a responsibility to provide feedback on products and services that you consume. While you do this, we encourage you to be yourself, be bold and at the same time that you are genuine.”

    On the advantages of the platform to manufacturers and service providers, she said: “It will also go a long way to initiate and strengthen conversations between consumers and producers. It goes on to close the gap between what producers and service providers offer and what consumers like. Ultimately, it increases consumer satisfaction and helps businesses become more successful.”

    Also, Prof Pat Utomi, who chaired the forum, said: “It is high time Nigerian consumers regained their lost voices without fear of intimidation, harassment but with confidence on being heard … and possibly getting a redress.  To keep silent on views, opinions, experiences especially on products and services in the open market is damaging to the economy.”

  • Nigeria, Gambia to promote cultural ties

    The Director-General of National Council for Arts and Council (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, has reiterated the need to  project African culture in its originality at every international fora.  He said this while hosting the Gambia High Commissioner, Ambassador Amadou S.O. Taal, in his office.

    The culture helmsman emphasized that the development of Africa resides predominantly on our culture. According to Runsewe, “if we harness our potential in the culture industries properly, we will rule the world”.

    Runsewe stated that the symbiotic relationship between Nigeria and Gambia dated back to 1940 when Nigeria and Gambia operated co-empires together. The Director-General added that if not for the trust the Gambia has in Nigeria, it wouldn’t have been impossible to put their military and even judiciary in the hands of Nigerians for co-ordination for so many years. The brotherhood spirit that exists between the two nations can only be further enhanced and harnessed.

    According to Runsewe, the need to further showcase our endowment can be kick-started with the youths, in form of a holiday exchange programme in which we can take some of our selected youths to learn some of your culture, in term of dress code, food, dance and music, while the same thing could be organized interchangeably.

    Runsewe added that the Gambia delegation will be given a free stand at the forth coming African Arts and Crafts Expo ( AFAC) now known as International Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC) which will be held later in the year.  It was agreed that INAC is a good platform upon which the best of culture of both nations can be displayed in terms of Cuisines, Agriculture, Arts and Crafts and so on.

    On his part, the Gambia envoys appreciated the Director-general for being a man that is so passionate about the development of Culture and Tourism in Nigeria.” I have watched you keenly from afar and I have come to realize that you one Nigerian that I can work with because of the great assets and high level of dynamism you processed” he said.

    Ambassador Amadou S.O Taal was so delighted that he thanked Nigerians through the Director- General for the big brother roles Nigeria played to his country in ensuring that peace returned to his country in those years of their struggles.

    According to him, if not for Nigeria, the relative peace we enjoy in Gambia today would not have been possible.”  The diplomat was of the view that it is high time both nations come together and partner in the areas of health, justice, culture and tourism as members of the same ECOWAS sub-region.

  • Agents to govt: promote ship repairs

    The Federal Government has been urged to promote indigenous ship repairs and dry docking.

    Nigeria, it was learnt, needs ship repairs and dry docking facilities to boost maritime, create employment and generate more revenue

    Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) immediate past president Prince Olayiwola Shittu, who made the call, said it was regrettable that Nigeria had no functional ship repairs and dry docking firms.

    Shittu said Nigeria accounted for over 70 per cent of the ships coming to Africa, adding that no fewer than 5,000 vessels called at the seaports yearly.

    He said with modern repairs’ facilities, the sector could rake in billions of naira and also create jobs. Most of the vessels on Nigeria’s territorial waters, he said, go to the neighbouring countries for dry-docking and other routine maintenance, adding that this is at a huge loss to the country.

    Shittu bemoaned the rate of pollution in the nation’s territorial waters and commended the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for addressing the issue of illegal fishing and dumping of hazardous wastes in the waters.

    He said the dumping of toxic wastes  and the increasing crimes on the coastline require the collaboration and commitment of the Federal Government and NIMASA, with foreign partners to build a safe maritime sector.

    The ANLCA chief pointed out that security experts in Africa have developed theories to check the increasing dumping of hazardous wastes and the menacing piracy, adding that Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand have set the stage for cooperation between states, both in information exchange and mobilisation of resources.

    He observed that the insecurity on Africa’s waterways forced insurers to hike rates for ships passing through the region.

    Shittu said: “This significant maritime presence requires that ship repairs with dry docks of varying capacities be established to cope with the maintenance requirement of these vessels. Classification society rules and the good maintenance of ships require that ships be dry docked every 30 months on the average for routine surveys.

    “Special surveys are required at every alternative docking that is once in three years. As the age of a vessel increases, so does the amount of repair work needed. Aside from routine docking, vessels need to come to propeller and ship hull, or damages caused by ropes or debris, and also mechanical breakdown.

    “Sadly, the ship repairs industry in Nigeria is under-developed and its potential untapped. This is largely because the government has not paid meaningful attention to this sector of the economy.

    “As a result of the shortage of adequate ship repair facilities, most of the vessels in Nigerian waters proceed to neighbouring countries for scheduled dry docking and other routine maintenance works. This is at huge financial loss to the country, while at the same time denying employment opportunities for Nigerians,’’ he said.

  • NEXIM, Central African states to promote trade

    The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) is collaborating with the Development Bank of the Central African States (BDEAC) to promote regional trade and investment.

    The Managing Director of NEXIM, Mr. Abba Bello disclosed this when he received a delegation from the BDEAC led by its President, Mr. Fortunato Ofa Mbo Nchama,  in his office in Abuja. The meeting was to explore areas of collaboration between the two organisations.

    To formalise the relationship, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two institutions.

    A statement from NEXIM yesterday explained that the partnership is expected to leverage on opportunities in the areas of technical assistance/capacity building, information exchange as well as transactional relationships, including lines of credit, guarantees and co-funding arrangements.

  • Church, hospital promote blood donation

    Church, hospital promote blood donation

    It is not often that churches hold blood donation campaigns. But the Catholic Church of the Annuciation, FESTAC, Lagos blazed the trail when its members came out to donate blood. Joseph Eshanokpe reports

    Catholic Church of the Annuciation, FESTAC Town, and Mother and Child Hospital, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos have held a blood donation camp at the church’s premises.

    The Dean of FESTAC Deanry and Parish Priest, Rev Father Jerome Akinyemi, said the church embarked on the campaign to save lives. ”Blood is life,” he said, adding that Jesus saved lives and that it was imperative for Christians to do so by donating blood. He said he was glad that his church had keyed in to this teaching of Jesus. ”As we save lives, ours will not be lost,” he prayed.

    Catholic Men Organisation (CMO) Chairman Prof Nat Ofo, who was the first donor at the event, described the programme as a huge success, adding that it would be good for it to be held quarterly.

    He compared blood donation to alms giving, saying both are works of charity. ”It is not only when you give money that you are charitable. When you donate blood, you are also giving,” he said.

    The Medical Officer in charge of the camp, Dr Peter Aderz, said the camp was held to boost the government’s blood bank. He explained: ”When you go to the hospital,you will see many children and women in need of blood. That is why the church is partnering the government to provide blood for the ‘needy’ at a low price. ”It is the poorest that need blood.We would have advised the government to give out the blood free but for the cost it would incur in screening it,” he said.

    Aderza said this was the church’s first blood donation drive and hoped it would generate between 50 and 100 Spints. ”In Catholic Church we believe in blood donation. Anything that can give life, we support it,” he said.

    The medic also said not everyone could donate blood, no matter his interest. Before anybody could donate, he explained, he would be screened for diseases, weight, blood sugar level, among others, to know if he is qualified. He listed the merits of blood donation as removal of excess blood, free radicals and cholestrol from the body. He dismissed insinuations that blood donation could lead to sudden death, sickness or blood shortage.  ”Once one donates, within three weeks, he would regain his blood level,” he said.

    Miss Odunola Olaoke of Mother and Child Hospital described the response of the parishioners to the campaign as great. She said though the camp was open to the public, only the church members and their priest responded. She said the aim of the camp was to tackle the problem of blood shortage in the government hospitals, and that people should not be afraid to donate.  And as they do so, she said, their sicknesses would be cured.

    Ms Olaoke also said the blood would be handed over to the officials of the state Blood Transfusion Service (BTS), who were at the event, for screening and distribution.

    During the handing over, Rev Fr Akinyemi thanked the hospital management for the collaboration and for making the camp a success. ”Give our regards to the hospital’s management. We appreciate them. Step up the good work you are doing,” he added.

  • UNIVASA’ll promote SMEs, says Bemas Tech chair

    The Chairman, Bemas Technology Nigeria Limited, Mr Kola Balogun, yesterday said the latest innovative product from the stable of the firm, UNIVASA Mobile E-Top Up, will promote small, medium enterprises (SMEs). He added that it will enhance seamless possibilities through its various channels in managing air time top-up.

    Represented an Executive Director in the firm, Lekan Anlugbua at the unveiling of the product at the Civic Centre, Lagos, the chairman said the platform provides robust opportunities for consumers to be connected to all the mobile telecommunications networks in the country and abroad, adding that it also allows friends, lovers, workers and many others to flexibly share call credits.

    “We offer unmatched benefits to consumers, dealers, corporate organisations and their workers,” Engr Balogun said.

    Speaking on the uniqueness of the product, Chief Consultant to the firm, Ben Adeniyi, said UNIVASA is a product of research and development (R&D) in partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) which provided the (*578#) code and regulatory environment, telcos such as Globacom, MTN, Airtel, 9mobile, Zenith Bank and  ANXA Mansard  to provide insurance cover for transactions.

    Speaking on the rationale for the solution, he said: “The importance of airtime on a prepaid phone cannot be over-emphasised; it is critical for the growth of any prepaid service provider to offer many, quick and easy ways for its customers to recharge their prepaid account. Since prepaid businesses for mobile and other service providers are rapidly growing world-wide, the volume of transactions too becoming very large, hence the need for more channels for distributions.

    “Inability to top up phones of your loved ones abroad instantly, conveniently and securely from a single platform, unavailability of a unified voucher that be used across any network is a great challenge and telecom dealers/business owners’ inability to generate vouchers from a single platform.”

    He said it does not only offer flexibility to over 400 operators in 130 countries across the world, it allows dealers/business owners to generate a unified voucher that can be used in any network.

    According to him, the UNIVASA Pin can be used by all the telcos in the country, stressing that the platform is secured with end to end encryption while a one-time password (OTP) has to be sent.

    He identified the five consumption channels for UNIVASA to include WEB2RECHARGE, USSD2RECHARGE, API2RECHARGE, FLASH2RECHARGE and APP2RECHARGE.

    On WEB2RECHARGE, he said users could visit the firms’ website to register a one-time secured account and top up airtime anywhere, anytime to any prepaid phone around the world instantly. For the USSD2RECHARGE, the app would need to be downloaded directly to an Android or iOS device from Google play store and Apple store respectively, he said.

  • Tech in transportation‘ll promote entrepreneurship, others

    Tech in transportation‘ll promote entrepreneurship, others

    Technology is redefining every facet of human endeavour. From health, agric, education and communication to many others, technology has changed everything. The General Manager, Uber sub-Saharan Africa, Alon Lits, says multi-modal transport powered by technology is the best way to promote entrepreneurship, relieve pressure on infrastructure, and deliver safe and efficient transport that helps people connect with work, business and leisure opportunities. He shares his perspectives with LUCAS AJANAKU.

    How it started

    when Uber was first established in 2009, its mission was to help people everywhere get a ride, safely, quickly and at the push of a button. Eight years later, that mission remains the same and Uber’s innovative, technology-driven business model is still fundamentally changing the way people think about meeting their transport needs.

    For the past four years, Uber has been delivering this same level of transformation across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and with more than 1.8 million active riders using the app, Uber certainly has reason to celebrate its fourth anniversary on the continent this September.

    And it’s not just Uber that has benefited from the stellar uptake of its convenient offering in Africa. The SSA countries in which Uber now has a presence, and the citizens of those countries, are also reaping significant socio-economic rewards thanks to the transformation that the Uber approach has helped to drive.

    Benefits/milestones

    At an economic level, these benefits take many forms. In many cities, the reliability, immediacy, and convenience that Uber offers to city residents and visitors is having the positive impact of helping to reduce congestion. In most urban parts of sub-Saharan Africa, single occupant vehicles remain the biggest contributors to gridlock. But increasing numbers of city residents are recognising that Uber offers a cost effective way of sharing their daily commute with others, thereby reducing the total number of vehicles on the roads, while at the same time cutting down on the costly wear and tear that regular stop-start driving causes.

    Uber usage in South Africa is a prime example of these shifting private transport perceptions. This month, almost 25 000 riders each used Uber more than 10 times a week, which points to the increasing adoption of this tech-driven solution, not just as a leisure transport option, but also for work and business purposes. This demonstrates that Uber is a true alternative to private car ownership.

    Another significant benefit that Uber is delivering in sub-Saharan Africa is enabling and empowering economic opportunities and offering more choice. The steadily growing number of Uber driver-partners in countries across the region is testament to the appeal of the Uber business model. That’s because it creates real opportunities for local entrepreneurs to create and enjoy the flexibility and enhanced earnings potential – for themselves and, ultimately, for individuals that many of them bring into their thriving and growing transport businesses.

    And growing demand for trips across the sub-Saharan Africa region leads to a steadily growing need for drivers. Currently more than 29 000 such driver-partners are taking advantage of the earnings generating opportunities delivered by the Uber app. Importantly, the Uber model allows these individuals to be as flexible as they need to be, which means that they are able to earn what they want, when they want to, either as  full-time entrepreneurs or to supplement other sources of income.

    Uber investigates partnerships with businesses that bring benefits to drivers, such as the multiple vehicle financing programmes that have been made available to drivers across South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria, that reduce barriers to credit and capital. The first partnership of this kind was implemented in South Africa with WesBank, offering existing drivers access to vehicles at preferential rates, with a view to establishing their own passenger transport business. This unique model is based on driver ratings and earning potential, as opposed to the norm of credit checks. The model was successfully expanded across sub-Saharan Africa and is being tested in markets across EMEA.

    Uber also invests heavily into supporting its driver-partners in their businesses through ongoing technological innovation as well as physical presences in the form of support hubs. Apart from the existing Greenlight Hubs across SSA, five more of these state-of-the-art Greenlight Hubs were opened in Dar Es Salaam, Nairobi, Kampala, Kumasi and Lagos this year and, in addition to offering driver-partners technical and app support, they also offer information sessions and tailored workshops to driver-partners, focusing on training and skills development.

    In a region of high unemployment and stagnating economic prospects, Uber’s business partnership approach provides an accessible means for entrepreneurs to not only supplement their own income, but also to become small business owners, thereby helping to improve the lives and futures of individuals, families and communities.

    Importantly, Uber’s approach to shifting perspectives of how people in sub-Saharan Africa move around their cities is one of partnership with all stakeholders. Uber strives at all times to collaborate closely with local regulators to understand the challenges they are grappling with in their cities and then help them to develop workable and accessible solutions that benefit people and economies. It’s with this in mind that Uber has just launched Uber Movement in Johannesburg, a new website to help urban planners, city leaders, third parties and the public better understand the transportation needs of their cities.

    Technology in transport

    This partnership approach has always been at the heart of the business because our global experience has shown us that multi-modal transport powered by technology is the best way to promote entrepreneurship, relieve pressure on infrastructure, and deliver safe and efficient transport that helps people connect with work, business and leisure opportunities.

  • Reps ‘ll promote unity, says Ondo lawmaker

    A member, of the House of Representatives, Hon  Bamidele Baderinwa, has said that the National Assembly will continue to make legislations that would promote the unity of the country.

    According to the lawmaker representing Idanre/Ifedore Constituency in Ondo State, the legislature played prominent roles in the nation building.

    Baderinwa, who spoke in his home town, Ero,  noted that lawmakers are duty bound to portray the interest of the electorate at the National Assembly.

    He emphasised that on resumption from the recess, they would be more energised and refreshed to deliver on the dividends of democracy to citizenry.

    His words: ”The moment we return from recess, we will be able to do more for our people that voted us and Nigeria will be better for it.

    “Let me assure you that we feel the pulse of Nigerians and we will ensure the Executive arm do the right things.”

    Baderinwa berated the situation where hate speeches to leadership have become the order of the day.

    He said: “It is not enough to start raining abuses on those at the helm of affairs, what they need is constructive criticism to aid them in their art of governance.

    “One need not take the leadership to the cleaner by embarking on hate speeches on electronic, print and social media to drive out points home.”

    The legislator noted that there are better ways of calling the attention of leaders to issues that bothered on the development of the country.

    He promised to continuously prioritise the interest of the people in his constituency.

    According to him, he would ensure that people in his constituency get the true value of dividends of democracy they craved for and not betray their trust.

  • ‘Kwara ‘ll promote merit, equity’

    ‘Kwara ‘ll promote merit, equity’

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has promised the people that his administration will promote merit and equity.

    Speaking at a dinner in honour of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kamaldeen Ajibade, on his elevation to Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), at the Banquet Hall, Ilorin, the governor said recognition of merit and hard work were ways to guarantee service to the people.

    He said: “The celebration is also in line with keeping the tradition of recognising and rewarding dedication and loyalty to the cause of the state.

    “Ajibade (SAN) has proved beyond any doubt that he is a competent legal officer. As the chief law officer, our new SAN has ensured that Kwara State government is guided in legal issues. It is now a rare occurrence for the government to lose a case on technical grounds.”

    Ajibade thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve the state and pledged to do more for the benefit of the state and humanity.