The Nation Newspaper

Tag: retires

  • Praises as The Nation man Adesanya retires

    Praises as The Nation man Adesanya retires

    After 10 years of active service, the Head Planner in the Production Department of Vintage Press Limited (publishers of The Nation), Mr Frederick Adesoye Adesanya, aka Baba Fred, has retired voluntarily.

    Mr. Adesanya was joined by members of his family and members of staff of The Nation to celebrate his retirement at the premises of the company’s corporate headquarters in Lagos.

    The Nation’s Deputy Editor, Mr Lawal Ogienagbon described Mr Adesanya as a brother, adding that “Mr Adesanya’s work ethic were highly commendable.

    “We fight but play together; he knows his job and I am happy for him. He has worked, retired, but he is not tired. He has gone through thick and thin but he kept it on and ensured the job gets done,” he said.

    He expressed his happiness that the retiree is healthy, strong and does not look his age.

    “I have a lot to say about him and I am happy that he has seen today. Many people, not as old as he is are gone, even those younger. I thank God for his life and pray his retirement will be the beginning of a new dawn in his life,” he said.

    The Nation’s Group Business Editor, Mr Simeon Ebulu, said Mr Adesanya left a legacy of hard work and diligence in the Production Department of the newspaper.

    “He enjoyed everything about his work and you can never find him angry because he was always busy,” Mr. Ebulu said.

    Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), The Nation chapter, Mr Musa Odoshimokhe, thanked the retiree for serving the company diligently, adding that Mr Adesanya would always go the extra mile to get things done despite the odds.

    Supervisor of the Graphic Artist, Mr Wasiu Odunsi, congratulated the retiree, saying he was always ready to take up responsibilities.

    One of the graphic artists, Mrs Angela Echefu, described the retiree as her friend, saying he was always there for all.

    In his response, Mr Adesanya said he enjoyed working for The Nation, adding that he tried his best on the job.

    He thanked all members of staff for the love shown him on his retirement, saying, despite the challenges, they have been supportive.

  • Ohakim retires from partisan politics

    Ohakim retires from partisan politics

    •Ex-governor: I’m tired of Imo PDP’s circus

    Former Imo State governor and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ikedi Ohakim, yesterday announced his retirement from partisan politics.

    At an emotional gathering at his Okohia country home in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, Ohakim said he was shocked by his numerous followers who gathered for a luncheon with him on hearing the news of his retirement from politics.

    The former governor said he took the decision because he could no longer condone what he called the brigandage in the state’s politics.

    Ohakim, who spoke in an emotion-laden voice, said he kept the decision away from his policy associates because he did not want to be advised otherwise.

    He said: “People’s ambitions have been destroying our party in the state. I have decided to take steps backwards. I have decided to withdraw from all forms of partisan politics because I am too intelligent to be involved in the ongoing brigandage. In view of the current situation, I have come to the sad conclusion that I will no longer be able to be part of this circus in the political arena for the time being.  I am, therefore, by this statement, announcing my temporary withdrawal from active participation in partisan politics.

    “Let me quickly hasten to emphasise that there is nothing in this decision other than the need to have time to pursue other matters of terrestrial interest, outside partisan politics.

    “This is the fourth major decision I am taking in my political journey. I want to go on sabbatical and focus on mentoring young people and my non-governmental organisation (NGO). I am not asking any of my supporters to follow me. But if anyone chooses to follow me, he is welcome.”

    Ohakim assured his supporters that he might return with a bang someday.

    He added: “I will come back to play politics of ideas with those who are intelligent. I am coming back someday with a bang. But for now, I am quitting. I want to thank all of you for standing by me throughout my journey. But I can no longer continue until the system is sanitised.”

  • Ahmed retires as CIIN DG

    •Promises new syllabus

    The Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has announced the retirement of its Director-General, Kola Ahmed effective from July 20.

    This is just as the institute disclosed that it has completed work on a new syllabus.

    The outgoing DG while speaking during the valedictory press conference held in Lagos, said the institute will soon release the new syllabus  to the public.

    Giving accounts of his stewardship, he said the institute successfully overcame the crisis of confidence that was strong and pervasive during his tenure.

    He said: “We regained the confidence and patronage of critical stakeholders for the institute’s programmes by way of endorsements and sponsorships, ensured full and successful implementation of each successive president’s programme and theme.

    “We instilled the culture of prudency, transparency and accountability in the management of the institute’s funds and resources, successful take-off of the College of Insurance and Financial Management, achieved a more purposeful, cohesive and organised insurance industry with the coming together of all arms of the industry under the aegis of the Insurance Industry Consultative Council (IICC), fostered closer ties with the industry’s regulator, the National Insurance Commission by playing a key role in the Board among others”.

  • Ezeji finally retires from football

    Ezeji finally retires from football

    Former Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) highest goalscorer, Victor Ezeji, has retired from professional football after achieving a record 20 seasons.

    Ezeji emerged not only as a distinguished professional, but also the most decorated domestic player with laurels in his trophy cabinet from the league and Cup competitions.

    In 2003, he also won the Caf Champions League with Enyimba.

    After announcing his retirement last year, Ezeji was forced to make a volte-face by the League Management Company (LMC) who allowed him sign on a short-term contract with Heartland exploring the elite players’ scheme in the top-flight rule.

    Interestingly, he scored a goal against one of his former teams, Dolphins.

    “The time has come for me to finally hang my boots,” Ezeji said to supersport.com.

    The former Nigerian international, who graduated from the prestigious University of Port Harcourt with a degree in Accountancy, is one of the few footballers who successfully combined education with professional football.

    Ezeji is also the only Nigerian to win the 2007 Nigerian Cup top scorer and Most Valuable Player awards, a feat he achieved when it was called the Coca-Cola FA Cup.

    In 2008, he left for Tunisia, where he spent a season with Club Africain and returned to the country to continue his career a year later.

    Ezeji played for top sides like Eagle Cement (now Dolphins), Sharks, Enyimba, Sunshine Stars and Heartland.

  • Workers jittery as NPA retires seven GMs

    THE Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) has retired seven of its 11 general managers, raising fear of an impending mass retirement.

    Those affected are General Manager (GM), Servicom Abdullahi Bashir; Marine and Operation, Mallam Mohammed Bulangu; Human Resources, Abba Rufai; Eastern Operation, Sunny Nwobi; Western Port Adenike Sonaiki; Finance Mr Okonji and Stonye Etomi.

    It was gathered that they were retired last week having attained the mandatory retirement age or served for over 30 years.

    Many workers are said to be afraid that their names may appear on the next list because of their long years of service.

    Sources at the Federal Ministry of Transport said the Assistant General Managers (AGMs) may be asked to act as GMs pending their confirmation.

    Mr Buhari Shawaki, the Special Assistant to the Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, it was gathered, has been posted to NPA’s London Office as GM.

    A source said the officers retirement followed an assessment by NPA’s Executive Management Board (EMB).

    An affected officer who craved anonymity, thanked God for helping him to end  his career successfully.

    “I thank God that I’ve done my time and my best and I am still alive after over 30 years in service. I’m gone,” he said, adding that he was happy leaving.

    “When I joined the agency, I knew it would be difficult for me to become its managing director because of the internal and external politics affecting promotion. It has been a long haul; it is time to go. I may not be ready but my age keeps telling me that I have to leave. I don’t feel I still have something left. But I can tell you that NPA’s job is one of the greatest jobs in this country because it exposes you to some of the things you need to know and you will not know if you belong to another agency.”

    He said he felt satisfied working in NPA, adding that he would take time to decide work to do next. “I’ll probably take a rest for about three months and figure out something good to do,” he said.

    The retiree said: “I have been working since I left the university. Not working for me is going to be a challenge. So, I must find something good to do.”

    Meanwhile, the Apapa Port Manager, Nasir Mohammed, has said the provision of more wagons and locomotives would boost the movement of cargoes.

    He said the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has a major task of providing more wagons and locomotives to evacuate cargoes from the ports.

    “The issue of intermodal has been of concern to the NPA management as a whole, but particularly Lagos Port Complex, because we already have a rail track which the Nigerian Ports Authority rehabilitated and started operating through the Nigerian Railways.

    “Sincerely, it has not been encouraging because the inland container depot that is responsible for moving these containers has continued to draw our attention, saying they have a lot of cargo that they want to take to the hinterlands; as far as Kaduna and Kano but they have always been challenged about the availability of wagons and locomotives.

    “Of course, that’s an area for the Nigerian Railways and we want to believe that the railway is looking into how they can improve their services from the ports, including the provision of more wagons or locomotives so that a lot more containers can be moved out.”

    Mohammed said the rehabilitated rail track in the port would improve the movement of cargo to the hinterlands, if there are enough wagons and locomotives to work with.

    He said key stakeholders using the port had expressed their willingness to diversify the movement of cargo and not to continue to rely on the already over-stretched roads.

    “We have earlier contacted some terminal operators who equally expressed interest that if the railway can be available and effective, they want to believe many of the importers will not mind moving the bulk cargo through the rails.

    “We have also gone a little further and we want to put it in the front burner to discuss with some of these terminals to look at the possibility of moving some cargoes, especially containers, through the waterways.

    “We have already agreed that the volumes far outweigh the physical facilities leading into and out of the port. The roads cannot continue to cope, no matter how good they are. The capacity of the road has been over stretched. So, we must continue to encourage our partners to explore these other options,” he he added.

  • Auto magnate, Sunny Asemota, retires

    EDO-BORN auto magnate, Chief Sunny Asemota, the Chairman of Sunny Motors and Omoregie Motors, is one wealthy Nigerian whose indelible footprints in Nigeria’s auto business have remained a reference point for many decades. In the last 40 years, the revered businessman with his equally famous wife, Ireti, have also made their mark in the social circuit, a feat that has earned them a legendary status of sort. Now aging gracefully and having successfully nurtured his auto companies from infancy to multi-billion enterprises, the Benin High Chief has, in the last couple of years, found it imperative to slow down on his very intense business schedule. His companies are now being ably run by his children, Osa, Iredia and Omoregie, and you can bet they have proved to be true chips off the block.

  • Odu’a Investment chief retires

    The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Dr. Adebayo Jimoh, will retire in May.

    He announced this at the weekend while speaking with reporters at the company’s headquarters, the Cocoa House, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Jimoh said the process of selecting his successor has started, adding that KPMG Advisory Services has been given the mandate to search for the right person.

    He said: “Every journey that has a beginning and a defined destination will definitely have an end. I have come to a point where I need to formally announce that I will be voluntarily retiring from the services of Odu’a Investment Company Limited with effect from May, having served the company for almost nine years.

    “KPMG Advisory Services has been commissioned by the board and is in the process of selecting my successor, so that there will be no vacuum. The position of a GMD is a big time business that has to be handled by a competent person, so whoever will take over from me must be thoroughly scrutinised.

    “My successor, by God’s grace, will assume office by April, while the handing over comes up between April and May. Thereafter, I will proceed on my well deserved terminal leave from the company.”

    On his achievements, Jimoh said: “I came during a turbulent period in the history of the company but we were able to bring back the glory days. After 18 years of inactivity, Cocoa House was brought to life. The establishment of Cocoa Mall and Heritage Mall brought high standard international retail market to Ibadan. We were also able to bring back our property business in Lagos and other Southwest states.

    “My humble advice to the incoming GMD is that he must utilise the people he will work with and identify areas of their strength and needs. He must also try to identify areas that will empower the people because this was the focus of my nine years tenure. All that we achieved created thousands of jobs for our people.”

  • Eke retires as ED in Diamond Bank

    Eke retires as ED in Diamond Bank

    The Board of Diamond Bank Plc, one of the leading banks in Nigeria, has announced the retirement of Mr. U. K. Eke effective April 30, 2011 after 19 years of dedicated service to the bank and marking the end of his second term in office as Executive Director.

    According to a statement by the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Alex Otti, the Board is very proud of the achievements of Eke and the significant contributions he made towards strengthening and sustaining Diamond Bank’s core values. He further expressed the Board and Management’s gratitude to Eke for his invaluable contributions to the growth and development of the bank. He wished him success in his future endeavours.

    Eke started his career with Deloitte Haskins & Sells International (now Deloitte & Touche)-Chartered Accountants, in 1985 and specialised in audit, taxation and consulting.

    He joined Diamond Bank in 1992. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director (ED) in 2005, he had served in various capacities. Eke was involved in the bank’s capital raising campaigns and road shows locally and internationally. He thus possesses cross-functional competencies and a vast knowledge of markets.

    He is a graduate of Political Science and International Relations, University of Lagos and also holds an MBA (Project Management Technology) from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

     

  • As Pope Benedict XVI retires

    As Pope Benedict XVI retires

    The news of the decision by Joseph Ratzinger, the cerebral but conservative German Catholic priest to resign as the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and Bishop of Rome came as a big surprise to both the adherents of Roman Catholicism and the other faiths the world over. Given the place and the role of the papacy in the affairs of the world, most people could not fathom the idea of a Pope resigning from his enviable ecclesiastical duties with all the attention and positioning that surround the office.

    Apparently, the explanation by Pope Benedict XVI, in his notice of resignation to the effect that he is physically incapacitated to continue with his headship of the church is not convincing enough to sceptics. One of these bashers and pugilists of the Church and Pope Benedict XVI is A.H. Wilson who in his recent essay published in Newsweek tries to make disparaging comments bordering on the age and origin of popes. As Wilson in the said article attests to, the Pope is both ‘God’s Rottweiller’ and the people’s shepherd. This means that age and place of origin of the pope are extremely irrelevant in matters that concern religion and the fate of man/woman in his/her continual quest for the meaning of existence and salvation. The world is terribly in turmoil and most of the gains and values heralded by modernity are vanishing with such rapidity that is sweeping humanity and its essence away. In such a world, a Pope immersed in conservative values opposed to rampaging liberalist values and conjectures is a necessary welcome development to nudge humanity along the path charted by the almighty.

    There is no doubting the fact that secular idiocies and wanton inanities have crowded Christendom even to the point of dictating and directing its trajectory, blurring the boundary between the sacred and the profane. Many Christian faiths especially the Pentecostal wing engage in all kinds of jockeying gambits aimed at being relevant in a world that has lost its meaning and edifying ramparts. Prosperity proselytizing is the order of the day as those who are in dire need of eking out bare existence in a world that is dominated by exploiters of the highest order riven with class contradictions and rifts are deceived more and abandoned. Both the poor and those seeking for more in their quest for attention and position are in most cases conned by these new church owners and preachers who employ all kinds of tools to deceive the people. Indeed, the state of hopelessness and the accompanying angst and ennui present humanity with many challenges and options. These options must be guided and directed by reason and forthrightness.

    It is instructive to note that the western church is thoroughly embroiled in crises of immense proportions. In the name of liberalism and human rights, those who are entrusted with the responsibility of attending to the spiritual needs of the people have taken it upon themselves to ravish the people and their souls with reckless abandon. The Church of England in-cahoots with some of its American counterparts have in the name of liberalism condoned same-sex marriages even amongst the priestly caste. For years, the former Prelate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Akinola with other African Anglican Bishops fought a bitter war with the leadership of the Church of England and its willing counterparts in America and elsewhere over their acceptance of degrading and dehumanizing lifestyles that question the core of ethical values. Many priests in the West are alleged to harbour and engage in sexual activities even with children under their care. The strong allegation of a gay network inside the Vatican is making its rounds alongside wild allegations of financial impropriety.

    What crystallizes from the above is that the universal church is divided along two lines-those who in the name of liberalism indulge in all sorts of activities that are not in tandem with God’s wish and will for mankind, and another group seen as conservative because of the latter’s insistence that the mission of Christ on earth as dictated by God should not be allowed to be trifled with in the name of excessive human right promotion. The resolution of the disagreement between these two forces has serious ramifications for Christendom, and necessary implication to the entire world at large. It will amount to a naïve thinking to assume that the conservatives will have their way without a serious fight.

    It is in recognition of the above, that whoever takes over from Pope Benedict XVI, should be one who must at all times not give in to the liberals who are bent on enshrining a free-for all etiquette that only satisfies human beings and their longings and desires, at the expense of the well-cherished injunction of God. Christians are saved by faith in Christ and as Rev. Martin Luther King Jnr, the renowned American Civil Rights activist posited, Salvation is by faith in God, and that penance cannot be bought by money, but the just shall live by faith. The ways of God are not determined by the mundane and capricious fancies of men, but by righteousness and holiness.

    The universal church of today, operating in a world characterized by all sorts of shenanigans, driven by an unfeeling capitalism with its damning consequences for the poor and the meek, must be protective of the human soul with the assurance that there is life after our earthly sojourn. In the realisation of the stated will of God for humanity, apostles of Christ cannot but lead with sincerity, selflessness, conviction, authority, wisdom and unflinching commitment to the ‘truth’. It is by so doing that those ‘brood of vipers’ with their hypocritical stunts can be defeated as their activities are not sustainable.

    As Pope Benedict XVI retires, it is incumbent on the Conclave of Cardinals to elect a man as pious and conservative as the retiring Pope. Age and the hemisphere that one comes from should not be among the criteria for choosing the Pope. After all, the Cardinals are led by the Holy Spirit and their choice is a product of divine directive and support. Many commentators in their analyses of the goings on in the Vatican have made many suggestions including the type of Pope they want. The head of the church is a divine leader with God’s mandate to prosecute. It is not like other secular authorities in which geo-political and other frivolous considerations are given free reign. The secular has no business in the church of God. What remains paramount to the church of God is the capacity to nourish the body and the spirit of the faithful with a view to ensuring that the salvational creed is preached anywhere in the world irrespective of hostilities from satanic forces. The new Pope does not need to be an African, Asian, American, European, etc. God’s ministry is opposed to classifications along racial and class lines.

    Most of the former Popes in spite of their ages and places of origin were very charming and gentle and as the moral consciences of a debased world spoke for the poor, the elderly, the exploited, and even the underdeveloped. Pope Benedict XVI continued with this tradition. Perhaps, the new Pope should be made to accelerate these reforms started by the retiring Pope especially in the area of Catholic theology whose purport will emphasise the cardinal goals of the Church and de-emphasise the creeping destructive values that may rubbish the church if not checked.

    It is meet to state that the Pope is well until he dies. This is wishing Joseph Ratzinger happy life in his retirement as a Pope for he remains an apostle of the Christian Church. The Christian Church needs more God’s Rottweillers like him.

    • Uwasomba is of the Department of English, OAU, Ile-Ife

  • Emotional farewell as Pope Benedict retires

    Emotional farewell as Pope Benedict retires

    Pope Benedict XVI will retire today – the first Pope to abdicate since Gregory XII in 1415.

    Yesterday, thousands of pilgrims gathered at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican for Pope Benedict’s final general audience. He admitted he faced “choppy waters” during his eight years at the helm of the Roman Catholic Church, but said he was guided by God and felt His presence every day.

    The successor to Pope Benedict, 85, will be chosen in a conclave to take place next month.

    Pope Benedict told the crowd his papacy had been “a heavy burden” but he accepted it because he was sure that God would guide him.

    At times he “felt like St Peter with his apostles on the Lake of Galilee”, he said, making reference to the Biblical story when the disciples were battling against heavy waves and Jesus Christ appeared to them.

    The Church has been beset by scandals over sexual abuse by priests and leaked confidential documents revealing corruption and infighting in the Vatican.

    The Pope thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire and said he was standing down for the good of the Church.

    “I took this step (resignation) in full awareness of its gravity and novelty but with profound serenity of spirit,” he said in his address.

    As a result of his surprise announcement, the Church has now amended its laws to bring forward the election of a successor.

    A conclave beginning in mid-March would have left little time to have a new pope installed for one of the most important periods in the Catholic calendar, Holy Week, leading up to Easter, which begins on March 24.

    Today, the Pope will travel by helicopter to his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, 24 kilometres southeast of Rome. He will cease to be Pope at 20:00 local time.

    After Benedict XVI steps down, he will become known as “pope emeritus”.

    He will retain the honorific “His Holiness” after his abdication and will continue to be known by his papal title of Benedict XVI, rather than reverting to Joseph Ratzinger.

    He will wear his distinctive white cassock without any cape or trimmings, but will surrender his gold ring of office and his personal seal will be destroyed.

    He will also give up wearing his red shoes.

    “On the one hand I felt that since the decision that he would leave office and resign became public, Pope Benedict is relieved,” said the head of the German bishops’ conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch.

    “But he also now feels the sympathy of the people for him, and therefore he will have a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, a bit of sadness.”

    The title “emeritus” is used when a person of status, such as a professor or bishop, hands over their position, so their former rank can be retained in their title.

    The Pope last night spent his final hours at his Vatican residence saying farewell to the cardinals who have been his closest aides during his eight-year pontificate.

    After his personal archive of documents were packed up, the Swiss Guard on duty at his Castel Gandolfo residence will be dismissed at 20.00 hours (local time), to be replaced by Vatican police.

    This will mark the formal end of his papacy and the beginning of the period of transition to his successor.

    Beginning from March 4, the College of Cardinals will meet in general congregations to discuss the problems facing the Church and set a date for the start of the secret election, or conclave, to elect Pope Benedict’s successor.

    That successor will be chosen by 115 cardinal-electors (those younger than 80 years old) through ballots held in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.

    A two-thirds-plus-one vote majority is required. Sixty-seven of the electors were appointed by Benedict XVI, and the remainder by his predecessor John Paul II.

    About half the cardinal-electors (60) are European – 21 of them Italian – and many have worked for the administrative body of the Church, the Curia, in Rome.