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Tag: strategy

  • Akeredolu and APC winning strategy

    Ahead of the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, there is a seemingly wild and clustered projection among pundits on its probable outcome with all eyes fixated on who becomes the party’s candidate for the November 16 election. As expected, the political field is littered with aspirants who numbered about 52 as at the last count. This is quite a number but good for democracy and the APC. Irrespective of evaluation as we have so far seen in the strategic positioning of the aspirants, one thing that is obvious is the vibrancy engendered by the process and of course the respective proposals for renewal. Intrinsic in all their propositions is the consensus on the need for change in the basic parameters of running a modern and functional government which can better deliver the goods to the people of Ondo State. Therefore, the quality of the eventual candidate who flies the party’s flag in the election has also been an issue, a candidate who should not only win the election but more importantly change the fortunes of the state in such a dramatic manner that puts to shame the whining Mimiko administration.

    After almost eight years in the saddle, it is obvious that the current government of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost steam, only managing to float until the handover date. That’s the truth otherwise Governor Olusegun Mimiko wouldn’t have been whining rather helplessly that “I don’t have money to pay salary”, a failure in leadership that created a six-month salary arrears, a record of pension arrears and sundry debts even as an oil producing state and no matter the state of the national economy. It all boiled down to poor planning and inept leadership. Corruption is an issue, too.

    This is the scenario which could provide a leeway for the APC to take over power from the PDP in Ondo State. Arguably, APC is now the beautiful bride in the state, amassing an incredible following as new members are joining the party and many in the ruling party also decamping to join its fold. Essentially, the realities on the ground advance unassailable grounds for an imminent change in power baton in Ondo State. A major victory for APC seems looming but no one should rest on such oars.

    The above narrative clearly underscores the very high number of aspirants in the APC with the understanding that whoever picks the party’s ticket will most likely win the election and becomes the governor of the state. I want to believe in this thesis also but as much as I do, I also want to point out the inherent danger in such an unwieldy process that could be the party’s undoing. The more the merrier, it said, but this calls for a clear headed approach that evolves out of a discerning evaluation and screening which gives the party a candidate who will deliver on the mandate so given eventually and do the party proud as a promise keeper. The candidate must have an unblemished record of integrity with such a penetrating insight to policy and programmes that can effectively bring about the change mantra of the APC beyond sloganeering. This is the issue. Leadership counts and ideas matter, too.

    It is in this consciousness that we can conveniently situate the candidacy of Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who was also the candidate of the APC in the last election in the state. Interestingly, the dynamics shaping the politics in the state argue strongly in his favour having regard to his senatorial zone in the northern part of the state and where the preponderance of aspirants are located. Again, this is an issue requiring deft and tact on the part of the APC leadership to resolve by evolving a mechanism which places emphasis on leadership and ability rather than the peculiar political jesting all over as we have seen in the unconscionable in-fighting and open warfare between the political groups and their members on campaigns in the region. This must stop as a necessity otherwise the impression could be created that those involved are power mongers who are only interested in power rather than the party’s burning quest for redemption and consolidation of democracy which consciously put the people first in the scheme of things. As much as we should support open primary as a democratic imperative, I think also that it should be done in a way that protects the basic interest of the party as a robust entity post-primary, one that should be able to go into the election as one whole without division. Thus an effective management of the process is key. This does not mean disenfranchising the aspirants or vitiating the sanctity of the democratic process. It is a call for a sane and orderly conduct that can guarantee internal democracy without jeopardizing the goal of victory at the election proper in November.

    From here, I think the argument above also speaks to the high number of aspirants struggling for relevance from Akeredolu’s home town in Owo. It is a good thing that we have about 10 aspirants from Owo but it is not in their collective political interest which recommends logically that they need to coalesce into one political family by supporting Akeredolu who obviously has a far greater reach and clout in the governorship race? I think arriving at a consensus among the disparate political circles in Owo is in their best interest which can also provide a formidable front during the primary. The recourse to unbridled political animosity and jealousy is uncalled for. While competition is good in any social formation, it becomes a matter of rationality in some specific exigent circumstances as we now have in Ondo State. Thus reason should prevail.

    Even as a party, the APC should benefit handsomely from Akeredolu’s leadership if he eventually wins the primary and becomes the candidate. On most counts, analysts are convinced that his aspiration is clearly premised on the public good and the conviction on such position is his antecedents as a democrat of a rare hue and legal titan with activist orientation which have largely been deployed to the service of the poor over the years. His widespread contacts locally and abroad will certainly prove handy in lifting the state to a new level of possibilities. Things are hard, we now need a thinker who can mitigate the dicey situation and lift the people out of hopelessness. Akeredolu comes out as a relentless advocate of change who strongly believes in the philosophy of politics of substance. Arguably, APC really needs Akeredolu’s intellectual enterprise and adroit leadership pragmatism in navigating through the myriad of socio-economic challenges facing the state, working with others in popularizing his beautiful ideas for regeneration in Ondo State.

     

    • Olagbuji is of the Ondo Concerned Professionals.
  • The CBN adopts a flexible exchange rate adjustment strategy

    The CBN adopts a flexible exchange rate adjustment strategy

    Last week, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, announced that instead of the fixed exchange rate strategy the CBN had decided to adopt a more ‘flexible exchange rate policy’ for the naira. All nine members of the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously in favour of the new strategy in the adjustment of the exchange rate of the naira. The MPC stated that the worsening state of the economy and the slide into stagflation called for new strategies and monetary policy reforms. The economy has been in a recession since July, 2015. In response, the CBN is dropping the strategy of a fixed exchange rate for a flexible or floating exchange rate strategy.  The fixed exchange rate strategy had not worked. Some devaluation of the naira had become imperative and could not be put on hold for much longer. The naira had become overvalued because of the external oil shock and higher domestic inflation.

    Now, in my article in this column in October, 2015, I had urged the CBN to devalue the naira promptly. I could not see how the unrealistic official exchange rate of the naira could be maintained in view of the ‘external shock’ caused by the sharp decline in our oil revenues. I considered the naira exchange rate overvalued. The difference between the nominal official exchange rate and the parallel market rate of the naira had widened. Now, the proposed flexibility in exchange rate management by the CBN means the naira is to be devalued by a rate to be determined by the CBN. This will be based on the supply and demand for foreign exchange. In other words market forces will, to a large extent, now determine the exchange rate of the naira. Market forces may not be perfect, but human judgment is less perfect.. It is said that a stitch in time saves nine. The fact is that if we do not devalue the naira now compelling economic and financial developments will force us to do so later at a higher cost. The delay in devaluing the naira now will prove to be more costly later. The proposed flexible exchange rate adjustment is a sensible alternative to the rigid but doomed course the CBN was pursuing in its exchange rate management. The CBN has not yet announced a new naira exchange rate.  Of course, this new policy will need to be complemented by other policy instruments, including a moderation in money supply. How this can be achieved with an expansionary budget this year remains to be seen. The delivery of the intervention funds will have to be appropriately moderated to avoid additional downward pressure on the exchange rate of the naira.

    According to the Governor of the Central Bank the review was in response to the recognition that the economy was in a state of ‘stagflation’ (combined stagnation in economic growth and high levels of inflation in the domestic economy) and that a flexible exchange rate policy was the ‘least risky of the options open to the bank in Nigeria’s current economic and financial situation.’ The Governor added that one source of the stagflation was the delay in securing an early passage of the 2016 federal budget and the consequent time lag in implementing the stimulus package in the budget. But he should have added that growing uncertainties over the naira exchange rate added to the trend towards stagflation in the economy. Both local and foreign investments had to be put on hold pending stability in the naira exchange rate and other fundamentals of the economy, such as interest and inflation rates, both of which are now rising. Stability in the macro economy has to be restored. The banking sector and financial analysts have reported that foreign investment and equities have dropped by 74 per cent in reaction to currency overvaluation. Productivity in the industrial sector has also been falling in response to these uncertainties and a possible consumer resistance to increased prices, some of which is speculative. This has led to some job losses. An overvalued currency leads to currency speculation, capital flight and money laundering. It undermines economic growth. Industry has reacted to the new policy positively.

    For these reasons I fully support the new CBN policy of flexibility in the naira exchange. The response of the CBN to the grave economic situation is appropriate. Like the hike in the oil price, we had to bite the bullet again on exchange rate adjustment. The adoption of the new flexible exchange rate policy reflects these realities amply. My regret is that, for political reasons, including President Buhari’s known reservations about a floating exchange rate, the CBN waited for far too long to come to terms with these realities, which include a steady decline in foreign exchange earnings and low GDP growth rate, the lowest for decades. Much valuable time was lost in the doomed attempt to avoid a devaluation of the naira promptly. This strategy was bound to fail in view of the increasing demand for foreign exchange and the fall in Nigeria’s foreign reserves. Now that oil prices are on the rise again there will be a temptation to delay the necessary devaluation or to allow it to fall below the net effective exchange rate of the naira. This must be avoided at all costs.

    As admitted by Mr. Emefiele, the previous rigidity in exchange rate management, and the refusal of the CBN to consider some devaluation in the exchange rate of the naira, did not work. It could not have worked. Since 2015 the economy has been in a recession. Mr. Emefiele acknowledged this fact in the following statement by him: “As a stop gap the CBN has continued to deploy all the instruments within its control (including the resolve to resist devaluation) in the hope of keeping the economy afloat. These actions, however, proved to be insufficient to fully avert the impending ‘economic contraction’. In March 2016, the CBN tried the option of a tight monetary policy to stabilize the naira. But the 2016 budget is expansionary and inflationary. It was bound to put pressure on the exchange rate. A deputy governor in the bank is reported to have warned that when the 2016 budget comes into play these inflationary pressures on the exchange rate will certainly increase, compounding the CBN’s exchange rate dilemma. The planned financial stimulus package has to be moderated.

    It is difficult to understand why the CBN should expect anything other than a contraction in the economy when its exchange rate management strategy was not pro growth but contraction. Inflationary pressures through an expansionary fiscal and monetary policy were bound to aggravate our economic problem as high levels of inflation tend to undermine economic growth. The administrative import restrictions introduced by the CBN were certainly not pro-growth. They were intended to reduce imports and the demand for foreign exchange. This was bound to lead to a recession. If the objective was growth these fiscal and monetary measures could not have worked unless we got the economic fundamentals, including the naira exchange rate, right. Economic growth, not stagnation, should be the prime objective of our strategy of diversification of the revenue base. Diversification of the structure of our economy, still largely dependent on oil exports and revenues, will be enhanced by a realistic net effective exchange rate of the naira. It will restore the economic fundamentals to equilibrium and substantially increase the scope for higher prices in the agricultural sector and higher income for farmers. Government’s revenue too will increase. It will also promote other non-oil exports. All the available evidence suggests that, on average, countries where currency reforms have been implemented in a timely manner have also achieved better economic performance.

    Effectively, the real beneficiaries of the strategy of import controls and restrictions are our neighbors, with the loss to Nigeria of considerable import duties and revenue. This is bound to affect revenue derived by the government from non-oil sources. Increased tariff on non-essential imports would have been a better alternative to import restrictions. The same objective of reducing demand for forex would have been achieved with selective tariff increases. The CBN says it will open a ‘special window’ for vital imports. Obviously, the target here is industrial imports. But this could lead to abuses such as money laundering, capital flight and a distortion in prices.

    In addition, Nigerians hold a lot of foreign currencies (including looted funds) abroad over which the CBN has no control and which can easily be utilized for imports into Nigeria. Some of these funds are channeled through the parallel market over which, again, the CBN has no control. It is a source which the CBN should not ignore. Some $5 billion is involved. But if the naira exchange rate is considered to be unrealistic then these Nigerians with large foreign currencies will not go through official sources (the CBN) in making remittances to Nigeria, but through the parallel market. It is far better for the CBN and our economy for these funds to be channeled through official sources than through the parallel market as this will continue to drag the exchange rate of the naira down. But this will only happen if we narrow the difference in exchange rates between the official and parallel markets.

    Now that the CBN is compelled by our economic and financial realities to reverse itself on its exchange rate strategy and policy it should stay the course. The CBN should be given the leeway and autonomy it needs to manage our monetary policy more efficiently. Change involves breaking with the past and taking tough decisions when necessary to achieve better results. This is where we are now. The devaluation of the naira is one such tough measure needed now. In Africa, Angola and South Africa, among others, have already devalued their currencies by over 15 per cent in response to the external shock.

  • Rethinking counter-terrorism strategy

    Terrorism, as popular as the concept may be, has no definite definition. But for the purpose of this piece, the concept, which is arguably the most popular word in 21st century, will be analysed and defined based on African Union’s classification, which states: “Terrorism is any act, which is a violation of the criminal laws of a state party and may endanger lives, physical integrity or freedom of, or cause injury or death to, any person, any number of group of persons or causes or may cause damage to public or private property, natural resources, environmental or cultural heritage.”

    According to the African Union, terrorism is calculated to intimidate, put in fear, coerce or induce any government, body, institution, the general public or any segment thereof, to abstain from doing any act, or to adopt or abandon a particular stand point, or to act according to certain principles. It can also disrupt any public service, the delivery of any essential service to the public or to create a public emergency or  a general insurrection in a state.

    It is in line with the above definition, which derives its aims from the convention of preventing and combating terrorism, that this writer intends to examine the military response to counter-terrorism without recourse to the ambiguity surrounding the definition.

    For the purpose of clarity, this writer is assessing the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government’s approach to combat insurgency in the country.

    It should be recalled that the president, in his inaugural speech, directed that the Ministry of Defence headquarters be relocated to the Northeast – the epicentre of Boko Haram insurgency. No doubt, security is arguably the most critical factor in the modern society. Many individuals and governments are investing massively in security to protect lives and property. A huge chunk of the state budget is usually set aside to cater for it.

    The United States (U.S.), for instance, yearly sets aside huge funds to fight religious radicalism and terrorism, which threaten its interests around the world. In today’s world, it is normal for any country’s government to spend trillions to bolster internal and external security.

    However, despite the huge security investment, terrorism still ravages various countries around the world. The crime rate has been on the rise. It is worrisome and alarming in countries, which lack sophistication to combat terror.

    Boko Haram, a deadly terrorist organisation, which destests western education, has killed thousands of people and destroyed properties worth billions in its quest to establish a caliphate.

    Though the relocation of the Defence Headquarters has been successful in a way, but the series of attacks on soft targets by the dreaded group shows that the military response is not enough. The president must look beyond the military solution in addressing this carnage at this point in time.

    Since one of the factors responsible for the rise of terrorism in Nigeria was is failure of governance, the most important thing to be done is to have a development plan and programmes that will have direct and lasting positive impacts on the people.

    The development of the region may be difficult considering the ongoing hostility and insecurity but the president can adopt the securitisation of development.

    The massacre in Dalori, Internally-Displaced Person (IDP) camps and a host of other soft targets is a confirmation that the military response is not always the answer. This is because the Armed Forces seems to lack the necessary intelligence required in fighting such unconventional war. The local people must be partners, because they seem to have more credible information to share with the security forces.

    But many people are either afraid of being tagged insurgents, which is why some members of the local communities showed sympathy to the cause of Boko Haram.

    It is important for the President to engage the populace and the community heads in his fight against terrorism. With about nine months of military operation without accurate information on the location of the Chibok girls, nor ability to rescue them, it is obvious that the Federal Government must tackle this carnage beyond the military intervention.

    It is time to tackle the insurgency with intelligence gathering and partnership with local communities so that the terrorists would not take undue advantage of the economic situation to lure and recruit more youths for their atrocious war.

     

    • Sheyi is a Master’s student of Conflict, Development and Security, University of Leeds, UK

  • Osun’s strategy against unemployment

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that no fewer than 5.3 million youths are jobless, while 1.8 million graduates enter the labour market every year. This figure could be a conservative estimate of the actual number of unemployed youths in the country, going by previous statistics released by NBS, which put the number of jobless Nigerians at 20.3 million.

    The above is a reflection of previous governments’ inability to design policies that will create more jobs, or provide enabling environment that could encourage both individuals and the private sector to expand employment opportunities without let or hindrance.

    It is in line with the above that the Osun State Government established an office known as Osun Job Centre. This is in pursuance of a key component of Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola-led administration’s Six Point Integral Action Plan which is banishment of unemployment from the state. The Job Centre is established as a State Government-funded one-stop employment agency with desk offices located at each of the 30 local government areas.

    The Centre will act as a facilitator between job seekers and employers by providing employment information and services to a wide range of people, from the unemployed looking for employment, the underemployed looking for better jobs, to employers advertising job openings. It is aimed at eradicating barriers to employment by promoting education, training and business enterprise. It will contribute to the personal development of the labour force through the creation of opportunities for their productive engagement and utilisation.

    The centre provides employment service tools such as an infrastructure for the business community to post its skills needs as well as in-house computers with free access to the internet.

    To provide a venue where job seekers can meet and network with representatives of prospective employers from diverse sectors of the economic with the possibility of securing employment.

    However, the private sector also has a role to play in creating employment, as experience has shown that government alone cannot provide all the needed jobs.  Unemployed persons will also have to start working towards self-employment, through which they may even provide jobs for others.

    Unemployment and poverty have become serious problems that all levels of government must tackle with sincerity of purpose to keep the nation’s youths productively engaged and out of avoidable trouble.

    These efforts by Osun government are worthy of emulation by other states of the federation. Governor Aregbesola once declared that Osun, out of the 36 states, has the lowest rate of unemployed people, particularly among her teeming youths, due to the determination of his administration to banish poverty and unemployment among its people.

    This new move at establishing a job centre is just one of them. These efforts were recently corroborated by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, when he declared that Osun is one of the states with lowest in poverty.

    “The indication (in Osun) is that because there is a lot of investment on the people, poverty has been reduced and that is what we (the Federal Government) are trying to achieve in Nigeria,” Osinbajo said.

    Aregbesola was quoted as saying: “The development of micro and small businesses forms a core component of our poverty alleviation and economic empowerment strategy.

    “This is part of our six-point integral action plan that, among others, seeks to banish poverty, unemployment and hunger.

    “We have designed programmes aimed at unlocking our people’s creativity and genuinely set them on the path of self-employment and self-reliance.

    “I am certain that our people are hard-working and would at all time take pride in working to earn a decent living.

    “With the numerous programmes we are implementing, we are on the road to change the fortune of our state and lives of our people for better.

    “Many of these programmes such as OYES, O’REAP, O’YESTECH, O’MEALs, O’Schools, O’Beef and O’BOPS, among others, have offered many of our youths self-reliant job opportunities.”

    • Ayo Akinola, is a publisher and media consultant based in Lagos and Bola Akande is a former commissioner for Human Resources and Capacity Building, Osun State

     

  • Global meltdown: Paris climate talks and Nigeria’s strategy

    Global meltdown: Paris climate talks and Nigeria’s strategy

    On December 12, 2015, Nigeria,  alongside 194 other countries, adopted a resolution. It was to reduce global carbon emission which took the centre stage at the Conference of Parties 21 (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, France. Assistant Editor SEUN AKIOYE who was at the conference reports on how Nigeria will fulfill its obligations.

    Fabius Laurent, the President of the Conference of Parties 21 (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) looked like a rock star after he banged the gavel, signifying the adoption of a historic climate change agreement in Paris, France.

    There were shouts, applause and raw show of emotions as it dawned on the delegates from almost 200 countries, who converged on Paris that history was unfolding in their life-time.

    Laurent himself could not hide his emotions. He stood up raising up the hands of French President Francois Hollande and United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon in a victory sign.

    “The Paris agreement allows each delegation and group of countries to go back home with their heads held high. Our collective effort is worth more than the sum of our individual effort. Our responsibility to history is immense,” Laurent said to a sustained applause.

    But, Laurent, the French Foreign Minister, and former Prime Minister, has not always been the rock star of what is now known as the Paris Climate Agreement. For a little over two weeks, he faced intense pressure and criticism over the fate of the agreement which forced him almost to the limit of his diplomatic skills.

    Also, the ghost of the failure of Copenhagen climate talks in 2009 hung heavily on the conference venue at Le Bourget, the sleepy community, north of Paris.  The Copenhagen talks have been considered a major failure and it seemed early that the Paris talks would follow the same pattern.

    The road to Paris

    There is the belief  that Africa has not been a historic contributor to climate change, accounting for less than two to three per cent of the world’s GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emission. But, its effect has been felt largely on the continent due to several factors, including underdevelopment, high prevalence of conflict and subsequent diseases, the location of the continent itself and the high dependence on rain-fed agriculture.

    There are grim predictions for the continent if Paris failed in a concrete agreement that would reduce global emission to lower than two degreeCelsius.  If the current trend continues, Africa’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) loss would be between 1.5 to three per cent by 2030. Besides, famine and wars are expected to rise even as the continent’s coastal cities like Lagos, the Niger Delta and Durban, would be submerged. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change also predicted that about 250 million Africans will be exposed to increased water stress by 2020 and that Lake Chad, with an estimated area of 26,000 square kilometers, has  been reduced to just about 10 per cent of its size in 1960.

    Lake Chad is economic lifeline to more than 30 million people in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

    In a report titled: “Turn the heat down”, released in 2013, the World Bank predicted that dry and arid regions in Southern and Western Africa will increase by 10 per cent by 2030 and if the global temperature increases from 1.5 to two degree Celsius by 2040, African farmers will lose between 40-80 per cent of their crop land while yields from rain-fed agriculture will suffer reduction by at least 50 per cent by 2020. This will adversely affect food security, fueling climate migration, unrest and violence.

    The target of keeping the climate “well below two degrees” according to activists and African developmentpartners is a little too late for the continent. “Two degree Celsius is already harmful – with what you are looking at, an increase of about 3.5 degree Celsius  for the continent because of Africa’s location. 1.5 degree Celsius would be reasonable. We want to see better ambition by people not submitting what is convenient for them but what is right,”Anthony Nyong, coordinator of the African Development Bank (AfDB) delegation said.

    The continent resolved at COP21 to speak with one voice, apart from a strong contingent in the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), which is chaired by Nagmeldin Elhassan from Sudan. The continent also had a strong voice in the G77+China.

    Of particular concern to the Africans at the Paris Conference were the issues of  carbon emission reduction to1.5 degree Celsius, financial pledge , loss and damage and common but differentiated responsibility clauses.

    At the Copenhagen talks in 2009, a pledge was extracted from developed countries to contribute $100 billion  yearly until 2020 to help developing nations combat climate change. But by 2014, the fund had only yielded $62 billion, a situation which did not go down well with the AGN.

    Therefore, when the talks opened in Paris, it was a better prepared Africa and optimistic world that converged on Le Bourget. Laurent said at the start of the conference: “This will be a COP of action, it’s clear, it’s true.”

    The villains, the heroes

    Trouble began early in the talks with allegations that developed and wealthy nations had aligned against the main clauses of the proposed agreement, including Loss and Damage, reduction of GHG to 1.5 and financial pledges. But, none was more divisive than the challenge of fossil fuel, free world and keeping the global climate under control.

    The initial negotiations were conducted by country negotiators, after which ministers for the Environment deliberated on the draft agreement. But, it was by no means an easy task, led by the Philippines, the vulnerable countries forum wanted global carbon eradication by 2050 but the United States (US) and other developed countries prefer to shift the deadline to 2100.

    “In the last 60 years, the world climate has reached 1.0 degree Celsius and in the last 10 years, we have reached 100 per cent extreme weather, imagine if 2050 is not achieved, we are roasted,” one of the negotiators from South Africa said.

    He was not the only one who had the feeling that the world will be roasted; Godwin Ojo of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), shared such sentiment. “We want a de-carbonised economy, a move from fossil fuel. Anything short of 1.5 degrees is roasting Africa; it is destroying mother earth; by that, Africa is already at 3.5, so, we cannot afford to go higher. The developed countries should live up to their historic responsibility,” Ojo said.

    But India, an emerging industrialised country and Saudi Arabia, a major oil producing country reportedly did not buy into the idea. They were opposed to anything but 2.0 degrees. Also, all the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) – a set of adaptive and mitigation measures each party intends to adopt against climate change – submitted by parties, pointed to a carbon reduction of 2.7 to 3.5 degrees. That is bad news for Africa and other vulnerable countries.

    The US also reportedly frowned at the Loss and Damage clause which would have allowed countries, especially in Africa claim damages from historic polluters. The US frowned at a legally binding agreement, which would have been impossible to pass through the US congress.

    Nigeria and the climate challenge

    Environment Minister Amina Mohammed shone like a star at the talks. Until her appointment, she was the SpecialAdvisor on Millennium Development Goals (MDG) to the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon. So, she was on a familiar turf.

    Nigeria submitted its INDC on November 28 at 12:24:55pm, one month after it was prepared by the Ministry of the Environment and  a few days before COP21.

    “The INDC is not just an ordinary document, we have to be careful in completing it and we didn’t delay intentionally. Many developing countries don’t understand what should go into the INDC. We had to follow due process, get the buy-in of all the stakeholders and collect information before we arrived at our conclusion. It was when the government understands what is in the INDC that it gave its accent,”Adeoye Adejuwon, the lead negotiator for Nigeria told The Nation.

    Nigeria has had its fair share of the climate change calamity. For many years, the coastal cities and communities have been especially prone to ocean encroachment. There are predictions about Lagos being submerged in flood and coastal communities like Ayetoro in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State already lost more than half of its land to the ocean.

    The Permanent Secretary in the Environment Ministry, Bukar Hassan, said: “If you look at the sea level rise, in about 30 years, we may lose the whole of Lagos. The rainfall pattern in the northeast has changed. We can’t predict the quantum and distribution; food security is affected and that has, apart from the one caused by insurgency, we have climate refugees in the North and the South.”

    According to a 2009 DFID study, if no adaptation action is taken, between two to 11 per cent  of Nigeria’s GDP could be lost by 2020. This projection is not to be taken lightly as the  Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) Report of the 2012 flood  showed that the total damage caused  by the flood was $16.9 billion, representing 1.4 per cent of the real GDP growth in that year.

    “In this regard, climate change poses a significant threat to the achievement of development goals, especially those related to eliminating poverty and hunger and promoting environmental sustainability,” the Nigerian report said.

    This situation set the tone for Nigeria’s “ambitious INDC”, Hassan said.  According to the document, the objective is a reduction of GHG from Business As Usual (BAU) by 2030 while growing the economy by five percent annually.

    According to officials, Nigeria would reduce her carbon emission by 20 per cent unconditionally, and if given international assistance, rise to 45 per cent. The key measures to achieve this would be: work towards ending gas flaring by 2030; work towards off-grid solar PV of 13GW (13,000MW); Efficient gas generators; two per cent per year energy efficiency (30 per cent by 2030); transport shift from car to mass transit; improve electricity grid and climate smart agriculture and reforestation.

    Nigeria’s estimated emission currently stands at around two tonnes CO2e (equivalent carbon dioxide) per person and if current trends continue, it will rise to 900 million tonnes per year or 3.4tonnes CO2e per person by 2030. However, under the conditional reduction, by 2030, Nigeria’s emission will reduce to two tonnes CO2e. Historically, between 1850 and 2010, Nigeria has emitted 2,564.02 million tonnes of GHG.

    In 2012, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) adopted the Nigeria Climate Change Policy, Response and Strategy with a goal to “to foster low-carbon, high growth economic development and build a climate resilient society.”

    The approach to achieving this would be through the implementation of mitigation measures that will promote low carbon as well as sustainable and high economic growth; enhancement of national capacity to adapt to climate change; raising of climate change-related science, technology and R&D to a new level that will enhance better participate in international scientific and technological cooperation on climate change by the country; significantlyincreasing public awareness and involve private sector participation in addressing the challenges of climate change; strengthening of national institutions and mechanisms (policy, legislative and economic) to establish a suitable and functional framework for climate governance.

    Adaptation, mitigation strategy

    The fight against climate change is predicated on both mitigation and adaptation strategies and Nigeria has adopted some strategies in key sectors. For instance, in agriculture, the government plans to adopt improved  system for both crops and livestock including the introduction of drought-resistant crops, implement strategies for improved resource management. In energy, Nigeria plans to increased protective margins in construction and placement of energy infrastructure (i.e. higher standards and specifications) expand sustainable energy sources and decentralise transmission in order to reduce vulnerability of energy infrastructure to climate impacts.

    In forestry, Nigeria will strengthen the implementation of the national community-based forest resources management programme while supporting the review and implementation of the national forest policy. The country will also develop and maintain a frequent forest inventory system to facilitate monitoring of forest status; and initiate a research programme on a range of climate change-related topics, including long-term impacts of climatic shifts on closed forests.

    In transport and communications, the government plans to undertake risk assessment and risk reduction measures to increase the resilience of the transportation and communication sectors. Strengthen existing transportation and communications’ infrastructure through early efforts to identify and implement all possible ‘no regrets’ actions.

    But, despite these set objectives, Nigeria aligned with countries like India, to oppose an early end to fossil fuel extraction. “We are an energy thirst country. What we are generating today is not sufficient. So, if coal is the answer, why not?” Hassan said.

    Also Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, who doubles as the chairman of African Governors Forum on Climate Change, said Nigeria cannot transit from fossil fuel now.  “Renewable energy is not the way for Africans at this point in time. Renewable energy means an end to the sale of hydro-carbon and that means Nigeria should stop exporting crude oil. But, they are busy doing research, inventing technology, using solar energy and wind power.

    “When all of that happens, when the oil price goes down, when you stop producing oil, what are you going to use as an alternative?  Renewable energy must follow with development, it must follow with technology. Africa cannot be in a haste to adopt renewable technology,” Ayade argued.

    According to the governor,  the answer is controlled utilisation of fossil fuel. He said: “I would rather have you use fossil fuel with mitigate measures than to cap it and focus on renewable energy. While that technology works for them, it is harmful for our economy.”

    But, this position contrasts sharply with the generally held view that fossil fuel consumption is largely responsible for climate change disasters. Former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said Nigeria must move away from subsidising dirty energy.

    She said: “Almost three quarters of infrastructure that Africa needs we still don’t have it. That means the power we need, the road and the railway, we still cannot get these infrastructures and have it in a way that is friendly to climate change, that lowers emission and puts us on a low-carbon growth path.

    “We are looking at power and looking at renewables. We are not saying renewables should be everything because Africa should have a mix. We can still use gas to some extent, but we should increase the renewables.”

    But, frontline environmentalist  and Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HoMEF) Nnimmo Bassey, said Nigeria must embrace renewable energy 100 per cent.

    “Nigeria should move away from oil. We made a lot from oil and lose a lot to oil theft. We need to be creative and invest in areas that sustain lives. We have all this sun; Nigeria should jump into renewable energy,” Bassey said in Paris.

    Hope rising

    After two weeks of intense negotiations and expectation, the Paris agreement was finally adopted on December 12. It was an emotional moment for world leaders, politicians and activists, as the agreement was the first legally binding climate change agreement with far-reaching impacts on the future of the world.

    “You’ve done it! Reached an ambitious agreement; a binding agreement; a universal agreement. Never will I be able to express more gratitude to a conference. You can be proud to stand before your children and grandchildren,” Hollande said.

    Ban Ki-moon said: “We have entered a new era of global cooperation on one of the most complex issues ever to confront humanity. For the first time, every country in the world has pledged to curb emissions, strengthen resilience and join in common cause to take common climate action. This is a resounding success for multilateralism.”

    The main objective of the historic climate change agreement is to keep a global temperature rise this century well below two degree Celsius and to drive efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

    The agreement also captured the essential elements which includes: mitigation – reducing emissions fast enough to achieve the temperature goal;  transparency system and global stock-take – accounting for climate action; adaptation – strengthening ability of countries to deal with climate impacts; Loss and Damage – strengthening ability to recover from climate impacts and support – including finance, for nations to build clean, resilient futures.

    There is also hope in the horizon for vulnerable and developing countries like Nigeria as “unparalleled announcements of financial supports” were made.  “We have seen unparallelled announcements of financial support for both mitigation and adaptation from a multitude of sources both before and during COP21. Under the Paris Agreement, the provision of finance, from multiple sources will clearly be taken to a new level, which is of critical importance to the most vulnerable,” Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC said.

    Nigeria is already looking beyond the Paris talks. On arrival from the conference, the Minister of the Environment began an on-the -spot visit to degraded areas in the country for  impact assesement.

    Among the places visited were:  the Niger Delta,  Alpha Beach and Makoko in Lagos, the sand dune in Yobe and the Sharada industrial pollution site in Kano.

    The assessment was aimed at setting the pace for a comprehensive response to the challenge of climate change even as Nigeria plans to hold on to its leadership role in Africa.

    President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged his commitment to reducing the GHG as well as tackle the climate change challenge in the country.

    But, the implementation would rest on the shoulders of Hajia Mohammed as the envionment minsiter.

  • Strategy, the law and global terrorism

    Nothing  illustrates the importance of the topic of today more than the reaction of  US President Barak Obama  to the accusation  that his Middle East policy is not working and the request of French  President  Francois Hollande  for more powers from France’s  National Assembly after the latest bombings in Paris  that left over 120  people  dead. If  you  add to that the local  contents of our purview  today  which are firstly, the  use  of  the term – tarry awhile – by  our  Supreme  Court to listen to the appeal  of  the Senate  President  on the jurisdiction and  composition of the   court  trying  him for false  declaration  of  assets, and   secondly  the revelation  by  the former NSA that  he was  not  even given a query  before being  declared  to  have awarded  fake  contacts  running into billions of dollars,  then you  have an idea of the pot  pourri  we  are  about  to enjoy   and  digest  today.

    Before  going on however  let  me register my  admiration  for the crisis management  skills of the French  President  Francois  Hollande on  the latest  bombings in Paris . His  leadership  skills  as a time tested Socialist not unfamiliar  with violence and discord were obvious  and apparent. He  knew  what  to  do  and what  to ask  his National  Assembly  for. In  terms of history  he reminded  me of Napoleon Bonaparte the French soldier and  Emperor  who is best remembered  for  the laws  he made which  formed  the basis of the rule of law in Europe till  today.The  French  President kept  his cool  and maintained  that even though France  is  at  war it  would  maintain the rule  of law  and not act arbitrarily  in dealing with those who  are falsely using religion  to fake a war of  civilization on a global  stage as they did last week in France.

    In  contemporary  times French  law  presumed  a  suspect guilty  until  proven otherwise  and French  magistrates could prosecute  and  decide a case  swiftly. Under former President Nikolas  Sarkozy  this view  came under attack  and scrutiny. There  is  no  doubt it would  be adopted  now especially  as President Hollande  has asked for a state  of  emergency   for  three months  which the French Senate has adopted  this week and the  lower house  would consider  later. In  addition  President Hollande  has said  France  would  not turn its back on refugees  fleeing the war in Syria from  where  the master mind of the Paris bomb blast sneaked in to Belgium to plan the attack that killed innocent  people in theatres , bars   and even the   National stadium  where  the French  National  team was playing Germany. Compare this with the heartless retort  of  Syrian  President  Bashar  Assad who said after the Paris blast  that France  was paying  for its  policy on Syria.  Which was quite inhuman and callous indeed but is not unexpected from a leader who  remains  in office by force and not the will and support of his people  who  are fleeing in their  thousands  to  Europe.

    Just  after the Paris  bombings and  French  President Hollande  had declared  that  France  was  at  war US President  Obama was interviewed at the G  20  meeting he  was  attending in Turkey  and this was shown on CNN this week. The  US President stuttered on the view and insinuation that his strategy on Syria led to the emergence and rapid rise of global  terrorism as with ISIS culminating in the fatal  Paris  bomb blast. Of  course  he was  hard put to defend  his strategy  of not putting US  soldiers on the ground to dislodge ISIS early enough in Syria and later in Syria  until  the Russians later  came in decisively on the side  of the Syrian dictator Bashar Assad.

    To  add  to the US presidents horror on the accusation of a failed  strategy were two events which are  bound to affect his legacy as the  first black US  president and the chances  of any  Democratic  Party presidential  candidate succeeding him in the 2016 presidential elections in the US. The  first was  the decision  of 31 US  Governors  not to accept his plan to allocate refugees from the Middle East     to the US on  security  grounds especially after the latest  tragedy in Paris. The US  president  has gone on to threaten to veto any bill  from the legislature opposing  his refugee plan but what would he do with the 31 governors?

    In  addition  the leading presidential aspirant for the Republican Party  for now billionaire Donald  Trump  has  bluntly  asserted  that the incumbent  US president is a security  risk. Even the CNN reporter handling the interview  looked very worried as  I am  sure would be millions of US citizens at home and abroad. Yet  the  US cannot  shirk its responsibility at  home to its citizens  on terrorism and security  and to  the civilized world where it peddles democracy, human rights and  the market economy. But  how  does  a president accused  so  brazenly  as  a security risk secure the confidence  of his nation as well as his credibility   and patriotism  in the face  of  such brutal  and undiplomatic attack  and language? Well,  the ball  is in the court of Barak  Obama  and I expect  him  as  a lawyer  to weigh  his words carefully  before  reacting to Donald  Trump’s  verbal  bombshell  which  might be more lethal  politically  than any  bomb that ISIS   and  Boko Haram have  used in recent times  to kill innocent people worldwide.

    Which  brings  us to the two  Nigerian  issues mentioned  before on  the   twin  fight against  terrorism and corruption in Nigeria as  well as the workings  of the strategies in place  to prosecute the  wars. Are  the strategies  working or workable?  There  must  be positive  answers  to these two questions other wise the wars are  doomed  to fail, to  which  we  say God forbid. But  see what we have on the ground. The ‘tarry  awhile’ admonition to the court whose jurisdiction and  composition was being challenged was in spite of a 2015 law made to speed up  criminal trials of such nature  so as not to make  a mockery of the rule of law and an ass of the law in the fight against  corruption such as the case in question. Where speed is of essence to ensure  justice the highest  court   in the  land is cautioning  to  make haste slowly. Yet  the judiciary is independent and the Supreme  Court is infallible or is  it not?  Yet  this  fight against  corruption which  has  not even started must be fought and won for Nigerians  by all means by this Administration which  won on the slogan  of Change.

    In  addition the NSA’s  rebuttal  of the charges  against him on false  purchases and non receipt of military ware was brilliant and  clear  and puts his accusers  on the defensive. How do you accuse someone of theft and culpable  criminality  when he said in defence that he was not queried or asked for documents on purchases which were deemed false or for undelivered  items?  Surely  something is amiss. Even  an  errant school boy should be   allowed the right of reply on any suspicious misdemeanor  not  to  talk of our  former   master spy and 007 on the   war  against both  terrorism on his watch and against  corruption after him. There  should  be more  diligence  and  transparency on the   case   or  luggage  of  cases   against the former NSA  who has great  intelligence on our collective security in the fight  against both corruption and terrorism.  His  importance  can  be likened in this regard  to the wonder of the  the students  on the vast  knowledge they ascribed  to their headmaster in the  classic poem Deserted Village   by  Oliver  Goldsmith. The   verse said- ‘ And  still  they gazed , and still the wonder grew, that  one  small  head  could  carry  all he knew’. Again, long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • Courteville unveils strategy at AGM

    The Chairman of Courteville Business Solutions Plc., Group Capt Murtala Salami (rtd) has reiterated the firm’s determination to diversify revenue base to enhance better returns for investors.

    He spoke yesterday at the company’s 10th annual general meeting (AGM) held in Lagos. He explained that it was imperative that the firm reduces its concentration risk on AutoReg while it has a wide lead over competitors.

    Salami said last year, Courteville, in compliance with the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC’s) Code of Corporate Governance, inaugurated a Corporate Governance and Remuneration Committee, and adopted a formal Risk Management Framework. A new Risk Management department reporting directly to the board’s risk management committee was also created.

    The chairman commended the management team led by Adebola Akindele, the group managing director, for successfully navigating the company through a challenging economic cycle brought on by the depreciated naira, falling oil prices, and tensions that arose in the run-up to general elections. Last year, Courteville’s profit before tax rose 13 percent to N457.03 million. Earnings per share leapt up 22 percent to 8.67 kobo.

    Salami said under Akindele, who has been at the helm for 10 years, Courteville ‘adopted strategies, which helped to stabilise its operations in the midst of economic uncertainties and fast depleting disposable income of consumers.’

  • Talks on cashew development strategy

    Talks on cashew development strategy

    Stakeholders from the government, private sector, international community and the civil society,are meeting   in Ilorin next week to draw up a development plan  for cashew. The worshop which aims to develop a holistic plan to revamp the industry will encourage business competitiveness and environmental sustainability in the industry.

    Scheduled for August 17 and 18, the programme will be hosted by the African Cashew Alliance (ACA) in collaboration with  the USAID Nigeria Expanded Trade and Transport Project (NEXTT) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

    The USAID West Africa Trade Hub Network Project (THN) is the sole sponsor for the event.

    A statement from ACA said the aim of the workshop is to increase the competitiveness of cashew processing by actively involving processors in training sessions. The sessions will cover issues of business competitiveness and environmental sustainability which are crucial to the future of the industry. The training sessions will cover essential technical aspects for processing business competitiveness, such as cost-­ controlling, productivity and efficiency, market information systems, food safety regulations, and policy advocacy.

    The participating processors will then have the chance to discuss local challenges and draw up action plans for the Nigerian cashew sector.

    According to the statement, the workshop will include the launch of a new environmental study for the  cashew industry which  was prepared by USAID’s Trade Hub Network project.

    Another highlight is the feature of a panel of cashew industry experts to consider the study and hear from the Nigerian Cashew Committee on the ongoing development of a national strategy, originally devised in October last year to increase local business competitiveness.

    With processors as their main audience, the statement said industry experts will contribute to a dynamic workshop agenda aimed at strengthening the processing sector.

    Business Advisory Manager at ACA, Sunil Dahiya, said: “By building local capacities and facilitating PPP dialogue for prompt cashew policy advocacy within the country, this workshop will do much to further the long— term sustainability and vitality of the cashew industry.”

  • Writers can adopt the pure water strategy

    Writers can adopt the pure water strategy

    You ran into Wenike Oruwariye at a book reading session at the Terra Kulture in Lagos recently. Wenike who is a book enthusiast is also the Chief Executive Officer at Impasse Technologies, an infrastructure development outfit that is based in Lagos. He is a writer and an engineer. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, he talks about writing to inspire young people, especially young engineers and explains his understanding of adopting “a pure water” strategy to market books written by Nigerian authors

    You just talked about the pure water strategy for book marketing. Can you expatiate on this?

    Basically, it comes from the saying that the more, the merrier.

    How did you arrive at that?

    I didn’t arrive at this strategy. It is a rule in business that says, the more clients you have for an affordable and beneficial product, the more you will have a positive and sustainable cashflow.

    The pure water strategy is built on the acceptance and strength that “water is life”. Everyone needs to drink water to survive. Being involved in this type of business where you are catering for the mass market provides a belief that success can be achieved by making your products attractive and affordable to the masses. This is when a business revolves around a game of numbers. The decision to provide drinking water in sachets is designed to target the mass market.

    When you see a truck that is carrying pure water today, you don’t see it carrying one sachet of water, you see it carrying and conveying thousands of sachets. Several business decisions had been taken to arrive at this unique solution, the primary being how to reduce the business capital and operational overheads. A look at this business sees three key components; ahygienic flexible plastic sachet with printed inscriptions of the merchandise that is supplied in a continuous roll that is made up of several thousand sachets, a reliable source of clean and potable drinking mineral water and a sealing machine. The process involves each sachet being filled with the water and then being sealed.

    Selling water for drinking in sachets is something; I never thought I would see in my lifetime.

    The more you can capitalise a particular market, the more you are likely to increase your returns. Basically, if you have acheap and affordable product that could be in demand and it is promoted and advertised properly, you are likely to develop a market for this product.

    How come our writers are not using this strategy?

    Sometimes, you are locked in your own little world. A creative writer who is locked in his own little world,most times, can’t think outside his world of creativity. They require some inspirations which come as a prompt from an outsider or third party.

    Our writers need to be enlightened as to how they can adopt this strategy in marketing. In the ideal world, the ultimate goal is to be able to provide education for all. Education involves tuition and tuition is mostly driven on the written material. Writers who create this written material need to embrace modern technologies that can enable a wider market.

    Looking at the history of the telephone should illicit some thoughts. This device in the past was only affordable to the rich and affluent. Today, this has changed with the advent of mobile telephones. These mobile telephones have now evolved to emulate mini computers and the emphasis on voice communications is fading with a steady shift and migration to data communications and the use of the Internet.

    A version of “Encylopedia Brittanica” is now available on the internet. This is a technological advance where the entire content of these encyclopedia have been transformed from a paper medium to a digital one.

    We have a lot of educated people in Nigeria and a young generation of creative thinkers who I feel, if challenged can design a migration from the traditional paper medium or format to digital medium and keep this in the affordable realms.

    Could it be that this is because book writing is elitist?

    Writing in the past was seen as elitist. Only properly educated people were trusted to produce written material. It was perceived elitist because writers associated their works with the celebrated academic writers. It was deemed appropriate to have this sort of association.

    Today, as with most things, there have been major changes in the ways written material is crafted and assembled. It is no longer an elitist profession. The advent of technology has changed the way the people of the world communicate and the written word has followed this change always evolving.

    Today, there are software applications that can capture the spoken word and interpret and convert this direct to a digital written script thus enabling just about anyone to become a writer.

    Writers are a special breed of people who are gifted with being able use written words in various styles and techniques to communicate ideas.

    Book writing is one thing, reading is another. When you write, you have to keep your writing in line with your story.  A good writer selects their words carefully. Words matter. Your words (what you say) and style (how you say it) are your most cherished (and undervalued) assets.

    Do you think that the electronic media would help Nigeria achieve this kind of pure water strategy?

    Yes, it can help.

    You are an engineer, how did you get into the business of book writing and reading?

    I write a few engineering journals and I use the electronic media to reach my target audience.My engineering journals are developed for young engineers who I feel need professional advice, enlightenment, directions and sometimes encouragement.  These journals provide an engineering guide that is extracted from my life experiences.They all contain information on what I call; the three T’s – Tips, Tricks and Traps.

    What is the inspiration behind this?

    I have always been interested in imparting knowledge. This stems from my upbringing where I became a repository of engineering information at an early age. This has impacted on my choices in life and has continued to influence a lot of my decisions.

    As part of our business strategy, we used to operate an”incubator program” that involved young engineering students. These students were selected during a “milk round”. The “milk round” involved trips to universities, colleges of education and polytechnics to seek out those students who were hoping to do their Industrial attachments and offering the most promising students a position in our organisation for this industrial attachment.

    We had this running for about nine years and started with students from the University of Lagos. Our goal was to introduce and expose them to technologies that they would have had to experience over a 10 year period in a “fastrack” programme. We managed to offer this exposure to about ten sets. As the program progressed,it got so expensive to coordinate, operate and run that we realised that the class of students had degraded and were not even appreciating the exposure and training. Their only interest was to receive our participation acknowledgement. However, we did have some great achievements, the curriculum was right, the exposure was good and they (the students) were literarily sought after by blue-chip industries to work on and handle live projects. For most of them, this was something they never imagined would happen.

    Where have you worked as an engineer?

    I have worked in the United Kingdom, In Malta, Italy and France in Europe, In Libya in North Africa, Nigeria and Ghana. In Nigeria, we have an outfit called ImpasseTechnologies. Prior to this I had worked as a Senior Consultant at Resorcery Limited and prior to that, I was a partner with Spectrum Communications Systems in Apapa, a company of Telecommunications Engineers.

    As a child, I was brought up in a family of four children. Our father was a medical doctor and our mother, an English teacher. Dad was a medical doctor who had a great interest in African history, while my mother , who was of mixed descent, insisted on us speaking and writing Queens English. My dad was also very interested in technology and was surrounded by gadgets such as clocks, miniature cameras, reel-to-reel tape recorders, all sorts of radios and his pride 8 & 35mm cinema cameras and projectors. He realised that we all had talents and to harness these; he set up engineering workshops for us at home. These included metalwork, woodwork, electrical and mechanical workshops. We had teachers from each respective industry come to teach us at home. This early exposure gave us a foundation in our latter year studies and also galvanised our interest in engineering.

    That exposure would have made you come out tops at school?

    No, it didn’t turn out like that. We had to play it down. We didn’t need to excel all the time, otherwise we would have been stigmatised. We were tactical with what we knew and had no academic problems. In fact we were sometimes asked to assist with practical explanations and in rare cases, we challenged our lecturers on their theoretical explanations.

  • NFF adopts measures to boost marketing strategy

    NFF adopts measures to boost marketing strategy

    The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has resolved that due regard and appropriate honour be accorded to all partners and sponsors at all of the Federation’s events and programmes, including matches of all the National Teams.

    It is the first time ever that the NFF is making a policy decision to give its partners and sponsors appropriate treatment and to facilitate the companies’ derivation of maximum mileage from all NFF programmes.

    NFF President Amaju Pinnick led the charge, following a presentation by the football body’s marketing consultant, Mr. Mike Itemuagbor.

    “We are determined to give all our partners and sponsors their due regard henceforth. They put their money into supporting the Federation’s programmes and deserve every respect and honour at all our events,” he said.

    “Certainly, we need more corporate bodies to partner with us in our efforts to seriously improve Nigeria football. But prospective partners will normally do a check on how you treat your current allies before deciding to pitch tent with you. It is natural.”

    Even before Itemuagbor’s presentation, which dwelt on the imperative of taking into consideration the interests of partners and sponsors before making important decisions, Pinnick, Vice Presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko, and chairman of the Marketing Committee, High Chief Emeka Inyama had been pushing for new and refreshing attitude towards sponsors.

    Weeks ago, the Executive Committee adopted a comprehensive document tabled by Inyama for an entirely different approach to marketing, as well as to sponsors and partners.

    Pinnick said on Wednesday: “I have said over and over again that what we are doing presently is to focus hard on what needs to be done and summon the courage to do those things. We are carefully putting in place the building blocks for a sustainable football culture, while not forgetting the mission of turning around the National Teams in order that they will always do the country proud at international level.”