Tag: Shettima

Shettima, Sanwo-Olu attend Customs conference

Read Also: Shettima, Ganduje, Ooni, others to grace late Ajimobi’s posthumous birthday

Family members, friends, political associates, and leaders, among other dignitaries, are billed to honour late Oyo state governor Abiola Ajimobi at his post-humous birthday.

The event tagged 6th Annual Senator Abiola Ajimobi Roundtable and 74th posthumous birthday will be held on Saturday, December 16.

The keynote speech for this year’s Roundtable titled “Re-Engineering Nigeria for Sustainable Development: Options, Costs, and Prospects” will be presented by Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert.

He is the former Dean of the Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies at the University of Ibadan and the event will be held at the Abiola Ajimobi Resource Centre.

The event will be held under the chairmanship of Vice President Kashim Shettima while the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and immediate past Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje will be the special guest of honour.

Other prominent dignitaries expected at the event include, the former governor of Osun state and a leader of APC, Chief Bisi Akande and Governor Seyi Makinde are expected to lead his colleague governors from the southwest states of Ogun, Ekiti and Lagos.

The lists also include, Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Barau Jibrin; Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare.

Traditional rulers expected include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun; the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, among other dignitaries expected at the event.

Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation (SAAF) and the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, Mr Bolaji Tunji said the theme of this year’s lecture was agreed upon by the different stakeholders given the situation in the country.

He said: “In line with the objectives of SAAF, to build a peaceful society by teaching attitudes, skills, and behaviours required for living peacefully with oneself and others, it is important to look at various factors militating against this.

Read Also: Abiola Ajimobi: three years without Koseleri 1

“We need to know what ails our society, what makes a country with vast human and natural potentials continue to struggle to live up to the level expected of her.

“Countries that do not have half of Nigeria’s level of natural and human potential have advanced beyond Nigeria, we need to chat new paths of development after identifying obstacles to Nigeria’s advancement beyond the present level.”

Apart from the lead paper presentation, other prominent scholars and Nigerians who have made marks in their different fields have also been invited to discuss the theme.

They include former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof Duro Oni, Chairman, Federal Civil Service, Prof Tunji Olaopa, publisher of Premium Times, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi and Prof Adeola Adenikinju, professor of Economics and Research Professor at the Centre for Econometrics and Allied Research.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday in Abuja unveiled a bold vision for reforming Nigeria’s transportation sector.

Shettima, represented by Special Adviser, General-Duties, to the President, Office of the Vice-President, Aliyu Modibbo, unveiled the blueprint at the 5th National Summit of Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIOTA).

He said that the Federal Government was committed to addressing the transportation challenges Nigerians were grappling with following the removal of subsidy on petroleum products.

Shettima canvassed for a collaborative revolution with the institute as the driving force for the blueprint.

The vice-president acknowledged the crucial role the institute plays as the “lifeblood” and “artery” of the nation’s economic and social progress.

He stressed the need for a robust and efficient transportation system that would connect every part of the country and drive socio-economic prosperity.

Shettima said, “I must appeal to you to remain the architects of a robust and efficient transport system and to partake in managing the connection of every part of our nation, for that is the pathway to knitting together the fabric of our socio-economic prosperity.”

The vice-president said that the institute’s objectives align perfectly with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

He said that none of the government’s eight presidential priorities, from food security to job creation, could be achieved without a functional transportation system.

Shettima added,” Mr President’s critical points of focus require an efficiently functional transportation system to achieve our mandate.

” We will find it useful to have suggestions from the institute: well-thought-out policy enunciation, transportation infrastructure designs, and effective operational management strategies in all modes of transportation.”

He urged the institute to provide valuable expertise in the form of policy recommendations, transportation infrastructure designs, and effective operational management strategies across all modes of transportation.

The vice-president recognized the technical and managerial skills of the members of the institute.

Shettima expressed confidence in their ability to build a sector that drives employment, manufacturing and production within the industry.

He acknowledged the various concerns raised by the institute, including road construction materials, local airline viability, rapid rail development, pipeline security and waterway navigability.

The vice-president assured the institute of an open door to the government for collaborative problem-solving.

” We are offering you an open door to the government where we can work together to understand your fears and needs as we redeem the cross-cutting issues of energy pricing, green energy, and funding strategies for various aspects of the transportation project.

” We will also provide workable modalities for public-private partnerships, safety and security, technology adoption and adaptation,l,” Shettima added.

He further emphasised the importance of training and attitudinal development for transportation operation personnel, particularly in the road sector.

Read Also: Shettima to Privatisation Council: let reforms reflect on Nigerians’ lives

Shettima highlighted the need for closer collaboration with transport worker unions and associations to improve the traveling and business experiences of Nigerians.

He said, ” The reality of our post-subsidy removal adjustment, in which you have played quite a critical role to stabilize the nation, isn’t lost to us.

” This is why we trust your aspirations as we develop more solutions while we keep our doors open for innovative thinking, well-researched, and workable recommendations to tackle emerging governance challenges in your industry.”

The vice-president urged the institute to increase its visibility and make its professional voice heard more frequently.

He described the institute as a strong partner of the government in tackling emerging governance challenges.

(NAN)

Vice President Kashim Shettima has charged members of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) to ensure their economic decisions and reforms are reflected in the lives of Nigerians from all parts of the country.

Specifically, he urged them to defy the way things were being done in the past in order to pave way for economic growth that is in harmony with the aspirations of the citizens.

According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima gave the charge on Monday during the induction programme for members of the NCP and other critical stakeholders at the conference centre of the NIA headquarters, Abuja.

Last Friday, Senator Shettima had, while inaugurating the newly constituted NCP at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, told members to station themselves on the frontline of actualising the renewed hope agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

Read Also: Tinubu to Army: don’t be partisan, be vigilant to protect democracy

Speaking at the induction programme for Council members three days after, he said: “This retreat is for each of us to, once again, pledge our allegiance not only to our roles but to the aspirations of every Nigerian. Our decisions here must transcend the boardrooms; they must resonate in the lives of our fellow citizens, from Abia State, down through Lagos State, to Zamfara State. We must stand together to pave the way for a nation in tune with the dynamics of the changing world.

“I am, therefore, confident that each of you would understand the need to be more inclined to engage wholeheartedly, challenge conventions, and envision a future where the engines of economic growth roar harmoniously with the aspirations of our people. But, then, we are not there to consider an alternative path.”

Delivering his address titled: “Let’s Create a Difference Together,” the VP told the NCP members categorically that they cannot afford to write the chapter of the nation’s history unfavourably in the voyage of discovery they were embarking on, adding that a lot depended on the solutions they proffer in the pursuit of their mandate to make Nigeria “a vineyard of economic opportunities”.

VP Shettima who is also chairman of the NCP reminded members of the Council that the task before them demands “going to every horizon of the hotbed of opportunities to initiate transformative reform and to collaborate,” even as he implored them to embed the reforms they were set to make in President Tinubu’s 8-point renewed hope agenda.

He continued: “Whatever we set out to adopt as the cardinal of our reforms must be embedded in the eight-point presidential priorities announced by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Our choices should echo as the guiding light illuminating our path ahead.

“From ensuring food security to eradicating poverty, from fostering inclusive growth to facilitating job creation, from enhancing access to capital to upholding the rule of law and combating corruption, we must realise that these are not mere aspirations but the fundamental pillars upon which our nation’s prosperity rests.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the National Council on Privatization, along with the Bureau of Public Enterprises, bears the critical responsibility of driving commercial interventions that align seamlessly with these priority areas.

“However, it’s essential for each of us to pledge to create a future where every citizen thrives. Our aim is to transform economic prosperity from a distant dream into a tangible reality.

“By the end of this retreat, my hope is that we will become more resolute about the necessity of letting our discussions resound with echoes of innovative strategies, collaborative initiatives, and uncompromising commitments to the principles enshrined in Mr. President’s visionary agenda.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, underscored the significance of the Federal Government’s privatisation programme and highlighted its impact on the management of enterprises owned by the government since the inception of the programme.

For his part, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, commended members of the newly constituted Council for their commitment to national service as demonstrated by their participation in the induction programme.

He urged them to give their best in the new task, noting that the success of the Council would largely be dependent on synergy among stakeholders in the public and private sectors.

Also present at the induction programme were Hon. Joshua Audu Gana and Hon. Aluko Ahmed Yinka, representing the National Assembly; Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite; Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani; Mines and Steel Development, Alh. Shuaibu Audu, and the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Dr Mariya Mairiga.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said an agricultural revolution is one bold step Nigeria can take to end insecurity and reduce poverty among its growing population. 

The Vice President said this could only be achieved through the deployment of technology to actualise food security among the country’s growing population.

Speaking in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, during the 13th convocation lecture of Al-Hikmah University, the Vice President underscored the role of education and training of the country’s population to take full advantage of what he called the growing influence of technology in all aspects of human existence. 

He said: “The final issue involves the choices Nigerians have to make regarding our future. We can overcome insecurity if we can grow our economy to radically reduce our poverty levels. Only an agricultural revolution can guarantee this. 

Read Also: Agric revolution will help Nigeria surmount insecurity, poverty – Shettima

“We can reduce our dependence on the rest of the world when we can employ all who seek employment. We can improve our levels of political cohesion when we reduce stresses around diminishing resources and rely more on what we all have in abundance.”

“Your Excellences, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I have a very healthy vision of our future as a nation, even when I am advised that we have huge challenges. I see a country that can survive its current limitations.

“History is replete with countries that almost gave up, but are among the strongest today. I believe our future lies in an imaginative and bold leadership, a secure and peaceful environment, and an education system that teaches us that only the sky is not our limit,” he said. 

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reemphasized the importance of global alliance-building for Nigeria and the rest of Africa in the attempt to manage crises caused by external aggressions and domestic threats.

A statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, said Vice President Shettima spoke on Saturday during the graduation ceremony of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 16, 2023 of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) in Abuja.

According to the statement, the Vice President specifically noted that Nigeria and other countries are saddled with the responsibility of protecting their citizens from transnational crimes, including terrorism, climate change and cybercrime, among other global crises.

The Vice President told the graduands that they are great minds armed with the required knowledge to combat these external aggressions and domestic threats in a bid to maintain regional stability on the continent.

Delivering his speech titled, “From Crisis to Stability: Our Shared Global Responsibility,” Sen. Shettima listed cutting-edge knowledge, transformative skills, and innovative ideas such as the one acquired by graduands from NISS as necessary for Nigeria and its neighbours to protect their nations from threats within their borders and beyond.

He stated: “Every part of the world today has been working around the clock to form alliances to stop external aggressions and forge solutions to domestic threats. This practical approach is crucial to tame crises and drive stability.

“However, none of these aspirations can be realised without the stewardship of trained minds at the helm of institutions tasked with the solemn duty of making decisions to safeguard lives, defend properties, and preserve peace. This is why we are here.

“You are here because you have chosen to be the custodians of this responsibility, the torchbearers of knowledge and expertise essential for steering the course towards a safer world. Your presence here today is, without a doubt, a celebration—a celebration of the integration of strategic ideas and decisive action, the cornerstone upon which a secure and harmonious world stands poised to thrive.”

Noting that past happenings in Nigeria confirm that the country is as vulnerable as the world around it, VP Shettima said: “Anything that disrupts wheat production in Asia, crude oil production in the Middle East or commodity market in Africa brings consequences for the entire world.

“I have learned that this cohort, the sixteenth of the flagship program in this institution, has studied the consequences of our existence in a globalized economy on our sustainable development, and I am impressed by your ambition.

“We have found ourselves not only at the crossroads of an era where the world has become a global village, connected through an invisible web of technological advancements, economic interdependence, and social exchange but also challenged to prepare for the disruptions that come with it.”

The VP reminded the graduands that the task before them is to join in the bid to address the situation, saying, “We are tasked with the responsibility of protecting our people as transnational crime, terrorism, climate change, and pandemics loom large as formidable adversaries.

“We don’t need a balance of threat theorists to remind us that these geopolitical tensions demand a collective, cohesive response. We have proven again and again that we can never be an annex of any invidious group or be held ransom by any evil ideology. We have averted descent into a war economy because of this conviction, and believe that modern warfare isn’t waged on the field alone.”

Stating that they were not only coming to help Africa manage the crises, he said the graduands also have the task of ensuring no African country is short-changed in building regional economic integration amid crisis, as well as bear the mantle of fostering regional stability.

Expressing delight with the idea that the graduands are not only Nigerians, as some of them are from neighboring countries, Sen. Shettima said, “Your role, esteemed graduates of the National Institute for Security Studies, extends far beyond the boundaries of our nation.

“You are the guardians of regional stability, the ambassadors of peace, and the architects of sustainable development across and beyond the continent. Your commitment to excellence, coupled with your unwavering determination, makes you the pillars upon which the future of our region stands.”

Earlier, Commandant of NISS, Ayodele Adeleke, explained that the Executive Management Course is aimed at producing committed managers of security, describing the graduation ceremony as a milestone in the professional development of the graduands.

He said 89 participants started the course, with six of them from African countries, but died before the end of the 10-month course, even as he later conferred the prestigious title of fellow of the security institute (Fsi) on all the graduands.

On his part, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, commended the Commandant and management of the Institute for taking the citadel of learning to greater heights.

He availed himself of the opportunity provided by a ceremony to admonish the people of Plateau State to eschew violence and embrace peace to give room for development.

Read Also: We’ll actualise vision for boundaries management – Shettima

Bichi who pledged more support for the National Institute for Security Studies expressed his commitment to improving the welfare of personnel of the Department of State Services.

Other dignitaries at the graduation ceremony were Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, represented by Chairman Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Sen Shehu Umar; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of State Police Affairs, Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim; representatives of Jigawa and Yobe State Governors, and business mogul, Mr Femi Otedola, represented by Col Olusegun Oladuntoye (rtd).

Others are Group Chief Executive Officer NNPC, Mele Kyari; representatives of IGP, Chief of Air Staff; EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede; former Governor of Bauchi State, Barr Mohammed Abibakar, Ooni of Ife, HRM Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ojaja II;  Dein of Agbor, Dein Keagborekuzi, and Chief Kola Karim.

The Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the administration of President Bola Tinubu will do everything possible to actualise the government’s vision in the management of various boundaries in the country.

According to a statement issued on Friday by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima gave the assurance earlier in the week when he received management of the National Boundary Commission (NBC) led by its Director General, Mr Adamu Adaji, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa.

Read Also: Tempers flare as Tompolo’s Tantita, soldiers foil oil theft off Ondo coast

Shettima, who is also Chairman of the Commission’s Board, commended the management and staff for working assiduously with the various stakeholders in ensuring harmonious relationship along the border corridors, asking them to keep up the good work.

“I want to thank you, I want to commend you for working hard to preserve the territorial integrity of this country and maintaining peace and security, both internally and externally,” he reiterated.

Acknowledging the challenges associated with boundary management in Nigeria, the Vice President encouraged the staff and management not to relent in their efforts in resolving contentious issues of boundary disputes across the country.