The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Unity

  • Why unity among Nigerians is elusive, by Alaafin

    Why unity among Nigerians is elusive, by Alaafin

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has lamented how hatred, distrust and prejudices have developed into monsters threatening the unity of the country and its citizenry.

    He spoke at the weekend while addressing reporters in his palace, shortly after performing the Eid-el-Kabir prayer at Agunpopo praying ground.

    Oba Adeyemi said: “Our differences also define our perception of one another. The distrust is so deep-seated that we have an incongruent group of people rather than compatriots with a shared destiny. Our diversity has become our worst nightmare.”

    The paramount ruler wondered why the citizenry often exhibit the worst form of ethnic, religious and primordial prejudice toward one another.

    The Alaafin noted that intolerance has led the nation to the brink, threatening its unity with deep scars in the national psyche.

    “After more than 50 years of independence, we are still not more than strange bedfellows forced to cohabit under the same roof. Our co-existence as a people has long been defined by our differences rather than the strength of our diversity.”

    The Alaafin, who advocated aggressive value system re-orientation, warned that there would be continuous agitation and unrest until the country’s system was able to guarantee economic justice and equality to the people.

    He also stressed that poverty in the midst of plenty was unfathomable.

    “What is more, the growing apathy about governance and increasing rate of poverty, especially at the grassroots, is due to defective concept and implementation of local government administration in the country .The political, administrative and judicial powers of traditional rulers had been undermined first by the British and then the creation of local system of government, which made the monarchs powerless on-lookers.

    “One of the greatest negative consequences of this whittling down of powers of traditional rulers is the non-involvement of traditional rulers in the concept and implementation of grass-roots governance.”

    Oba Adeyemi noted that traditional rulers can effectively mobilise their people for active participation in community development because of their place and status among their people.

  • Utuama urges unity among Urhobo

    Utuama urges unity among Urhobo

    Delta State Deputy Governor Amos Utuama has urged the Urhobo to unite for the funeral of the late President-General of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Maj-Gen. Patrick Aziza.

    He spoke at the weekend during a condolence visit to the family of  the late Gen. Aziza and members of the UPU Executive Council at his country home in Ugolo Adagbrasa, Okpe Local Government Area.

    Utuama described  the late Gen. Aziza as a courageous soldier and leader.

    The deputy governor noted that as the fifth largest ethnic group in the country, the Urhobo would gain a lot, if the were united.

    He said: “The late Gen. Aziza was a courageous soldier and leader. As an Urhobo leaderand President-General of UPU, he was committed to the cause and progress of the Urhobo nation. He worked very hard for the completion of the Urhobo Cultural Centre (UCC) at Uvwiamuge.”

  • Battle for Unity Fountain Park on

    Battle for Unity Fountain Park on

    The Unity Fountain Park, Abuja is popular for its lovely fountain which has all the states of the federation inscribed on the corners of its white wall. During the Yuletide, it is designed with a huge Christmas tree to reflect the festivities.

    However, the quiet and secluded nature of the landmark in Abuja has changed dramatically. After the abduction of the girls from the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State on April 14, the #BringBackO-urGirls (BBOG) Movement that campaigns for the rescue of the girls has made the fountain a meeting place for its members and supporters. This may be because of its proximity to the seat of power and the National Assembly.

    Initially, they had problems with the police who tried to stop them. But it was impossible because of the democratic dispensation that allows freedom of speech and association for the citizens. That the park is a public and not a privately-owned arena gave impetus to its continued use by the group.

    As expected, they shifted their sittings to another location during the World Economic Forum because of the security measures  put in place to protect the delegates that came from all over the world. But they returned to the Unity Fountain at the end of the forum and continued to use it for their meeting until May 26 when the situation changed.

    By this time, the Citizens Initiative for Security Awareness, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), gathered women and men at the fountain in the morning to march to the Villa and Defence Headquarters where they were addressed. Most of the women were seen crying their hearts out and throwing themselves on the floor like people at a funeral.

    They gathered again at the Unity Fountain after the march. As if gearing for trouble, the women on the first day ensured that they pushed the BBOG group, who had been occupying the venue for long out of their position. On the second day at the park, they had occupied 70 per cent of the venue. Most of the women came with wrappers and mats and the lucky ones found a shade under the few trees where they slept. Others brought yams, tomatoes, oranges and vegetables among others. In no time, some of the women began selling some wares at the beautiful park; thereby turning it into a market place to chagrin of most residents.

    As if that was not enough, some of them brought along white garment prophets who screamed and rang bells continuously, singing in a manner that prevents other groups from holding their meetings there.

    On the third day, however, hell was let loose. Women of the NGO gathered earlier than the BBOG group as usual and still occupied more space. By the time the BBOG group arrived, the women tried to intimidate them. Some members of the NGO began to make so much noise, ringing their bells. When their antics could not work, some of their young men went ahead and infiltrated the BBOG group as if they were being converted to their cause and stood quietly listening.

    After a while, some of the women, carrying sticks and leaves began running around the group, singing and chanting war songs in Igbo while making scary sounds. When this could not move members of the group, they attacked them.

    The young boys that infiltrated the group easily turned on the BBOG and began beating members of the group, even as they seized their phones, cameras and broke chairs on them. Unfortunately, the police still did not intervene.

    After a few days, the NGO group became tired and left due to non-payment of the stipend allegedly promised them.

    After them, the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Group decided to make the venue its permanent campaign ground.

    Carts and trucks gradually became stationed 10 to 15 paces from each other at the sides of the park, ensuring that the attention of road users was taken away from the group that sits there with their banners.

    By the time it marked 100 days of the abduction of the girls from Chibok, the NGO group returned, but, this time around, not as aggressive as before. Even though they still ensure that they occupied more space and dispossessed the BBOG of its position, Nigerians watched them live on national television station where they were seen praying hard for the abducted girls to be released.

    Now that the Goodluck Campaign Group probably noticed that their numerous campaign techniques are not working as much as they would want them to, they have decided to change technique. This time, they have flooded the park with additional posters. The posters at four points of the park read: #BringBackGoodluck2015.

    Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, said: “We will not be intimidated. We will continue with the struggle because we are fighting on the side of justice and freedom; and freedom is a powerful idea that goes beyond intimidation of thugs.”

     

  • Sule Lamido’s message of unity   

    “I have a history to protect, a reputation to promote, a heritage to maintain and an attitude to exhibit, failure is not part of us.” – Sule Lamido at Barewa Old Boys Association (BOBA) symposium lecture in Dutse Aug 30.

    In many parts of Nigeria, those described as “settlers” live in fear for their lives, their property and their citizenship rights. In many parts, that is, except in Jigawa State where Governor Sule Lamido went out of his way to assure non-indigenes living in the state of their equal status as Nigerian citizens.

    Lamido believes in national unity as a matter of political and ideological principle. He said on many occasions that peaceful co-existence, mutual understanding, political stability and unity of purpose are necessary ingredients for the rapid progress of any state and of Nigeria as a whole. He told non-indigenes living in the state that their rights as Nigerian citizens would be protected as a matter of right and not as a special privilege (nepotism).  Nigerians, he said, are free to live wherever they choose and their rights are guaranteed by the constitution. While this right is sometimes abridged by authorities in some parts of the country using various forms of subterfuge, in Jigawa State it is guaranteed in theory and in practice.

    Lamido spoke about the incident in which non-indigenes were forced to register in some states. He said those asking Nigerians to register in their own country were sending a wrong signal that was not healthy for the unity of the Nigeria. Leadership, he also said, is about understanding the people being governed with a view to protecting their dignity, lives and properties irrespective of their religious or ethnic background.

    Lamido also stated that in order to promote peace and unity in this country, every Nigerian must have freedom of movement and to live anywhere he chooses to without intimidation, victimization, humiliation or deprivation. Lamido more than preached mutual coexistence; he felt these people need to feel at home; he then allocated plots of lands with cash donation to all non-indigenous groups living in the state capital, Dutse. The representative of the non-indigenous groups responded with encouraging words of his own, thanking the governor for transforming the state in the seven years of his administration. He said that indigenes and non-indigenes live in peace in Jigawa State and he assured that this will be sustained.

    Lamido has given sense of belonging to all the Jigawa people; he has also opened doors for all Nigerians to come, visit, interact, transact, work and live freely without fear of threats and dispossession. In Jigawa, you will see the Igbo, Yoruba, Anga, the Ijaw, Kanuri, Idoma, Tiv, Jarawa, the Nupe and the Jukun etc. This is a clear sign of selflessness, nationality and good leadership shown by Lamido and is a confirmation that, there is peace and unity in the state. Security, peaceful co-existence, equality, welfare and good salary packages attract Nigerians to resign from their various states to come and seek for employment in Jigawa State.

    Jigawa State under Lamido has now become a rallying point for all Nigerians, in fact day- after- day, all sorts of people are trouping into the state either for visits, meetings, Business, or even leisure. For instance just recently, the premier Barewa Old Boys Association was in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital from August 29- 31, for their 2014 Annual lecture and Dinner. Though Lamido is alumnus of the college, the choice of Jigawa State for this year’s AGM was to satisfy their curiosity over the success recorded by one of their own. All left the state satisfied that the face of Jigawa State has been transformed in the seven years by Alhaji Sule Lamido. Throughout the meeting, the members were seen gaping with surprises that despite the lean resources of the state, Lamido was able to bring development to all sectors and the overall impact has been profound and felt by the people. They commended him greatly for his dynamic administration in which he established schools and hospitals, Jigawa State Television, constructed roads and water schemes etc. BOBA believes that, economic activities have received a huge boost and the foundations have been laid for rapid industrialisation. They saw a first class airport built by Lamido to facilitate the easy movement of goods and services and to facilitate the coming of investors who are set to cash in on Jigawa State’s rich potentials in agriculture and minerals.

    The association extolled Lamido for establishing Jigawa State University at Kafin-Hausa in order to afford state indigenes more access to higher education opportunities. Half of eligible candidates of Jigawa origin who seek admission into higher institutions fail to get it due to lack of opportunities, hence the very warm welcome with which Jigawa citizens received the establishment of the university.

    Lamido prayed for a peaceful conduct of the 2015 elections and urged Nigerians to love one another. Some might say that these issues that he raised are self evident but they bear reiteration and emphasis from a man who saw it all due to present happenings in the country. Lamido’s message about unity of purpose should also attract more than a passing interest from Nigerian citizens. This great stalwart of the old PRP and one of the PDP founding fathers knows what democracy and citizenship with a unity of purpose look like.

     

    • Adamu is Special Adviser to Jigawa state governor on Media.
  • Unity in diversity

    Unity in diversity

    Despite the security challenges in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) came alive with students showcasing their culture at the Nativity Night, a yearly cultural fiesta with the theme: Unity in diversity. TAIWO ISOLA (300-Level Human Anatomy) reports.

    For most part of the day, it threatened to rain but the students were not bothered. They turned out in beautiful attires and flocked to the Ecumenical Centre for the event. It was the Nativity Night of the Redeemed Christian Fellowship (RCF) at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID). The theme was: Unity in diversity.

    From the hostel to the venue, the fellowship members entertained their colleagues with their sense of cultural fashion. The campus was literally enveloped in the feast of culture. It was the biggest cultural fiesta to be held on the campus despite the security challenges battling the Borno State capital.

    The event brought students from various ethnic groups together to celebrate their cultural heritage.

    Each group was  dressed in its cultural attire.Representatives of Yoruba were beautifully dressed in Aso Ofi, agbada (flowing gown) with Abeti Aja caps to match.

    The Igbo representatives  sparkled in their Ankara robes, beads and walking sticks. The Hausa members displayed their Babanriga and native caps, while the Ijaws wore their hats with pride . The Kanuri, Tiv, Igala, Fulani and Ibibio were not left out.

    Each group showcased its cultural elements such as beads, calabashes and baskets during their stage performance.

    The students danced round the campus before meeting at the exhibition venue, where foods, clothes and many various totems of the participating ethnic groups were displayed. The drama group of the RCF entertained the guests with their play, which they said was to promote unity, peace and love among students.

    The participants and the guests relished the local delicacies serve.  A student described the event as celebration of Nigeria and not a particular ethnic nationality.

    The fellowship troupe and some campus artistes performed cultural dance, drawing applause from the audience.

    Seun Igotun, one of the attendees, said the event added value to his life by helping him learn how to relate with people of different cultural backgrounds. “I have eaten three traditional foods from three ethnic groups. This really shows that, what we need in this country is love and unity. Why should we be fighting ourselves? We are all people of the same root.”

    While speaking on the theme, the RCF president, Henry Emmanuel, said: “The purpose of the event is to foster unity irrespective of our cultural backgrounds. All ethnic groups represented here today are allowed to show their heritage. We are out to encourage the youth to do away with primordial feeling of hostilities towards people who don’t speak their languages.”

    He added that the security challenges in Maiduguri would not dampen the fellowship’s determination to promote unity among students. Thousands of students were in attendance, indicating students looked forward to it.

    A Hausa student, Halima Galadima, who could not conceal her excitement during the Arewa cultural display, said: “I am very happy today. I feel at home once again. I interacted freely and learnt new things about other tribes and their culture.”

  • ‘There is need for unity among pensioners’

    ‘There is need for unity among pensioners’

    Despite the numerous advantages that pensioners now enjoy under the Contributory Pension Scheme, the General Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Elder Actor Zal, in this interview with John Ofikhenua, clamours for payment of arrears as the committee which President Goodluck Jonathan set up to resolve pension crisis stopped meeting since last year

    Why did the Federal Government stop payment of gratuity to pensioners?

    The former TUC President, Comrade Peace informed me that as a result of the implementation of 2004 Pension Act , the Federal Government staff now forgo their gratuity, what do you know about this?

    We have not been seeing any provision that is meant for paying gratuity in the yearly budgetary allocation on pension for retiree. The government has just decided not to pay gratuity.

    Was there a time the act was amended to stop the gratuity for pensioners?

    In fact, we have discussed that at several fora at our NLC meetings, that there is need for government to pay that gratuity to retirees and civil servant because that gratuity will help retirees to start a new life because it is usually paid in bulk. So such payment will help retirees to start a new life and I believe it is because of these problems that made retirees to opt out of contributory pension scheme. Because in the past, some people will go and buy, build houses and if they couldn’t do that when they were in service, with time by getting that gratuity it helps them to get or build a house of their own. We have discussed at NLC meetings several times that government should revisit that decision of not making provision for gratuity and nothing has been done.

    As it is now, it should be a common knowledge that you have pensioners under the old pension scheme and contributory pension scheme, in comparison which one would you choose? Have you had any cause to regret the implementation of the new pension scheme?

    To me personally, the fear is that in the contributory pension, once you exhaust your contributory pension, you don’t have any money left to enjoy the pension continuously. Any increment in the worker’s salary is the same applied to pensioners. In the case of the new one, there is no negotiation for the minimum pension.  No, there is no provision for that. To me personally, that is the only disadvantage of the act.

    This issue of 33.4%, what have you been doing about its implementation?

    We have been crying and in fact, we thank your newspaper, you have always been very supportive by carrying our voices, complaints, and all that. It is really unfortunate that up to this moment that I am talking to you, the civil pensioners have not gotten the new rate, unlike the military, they are enjoying their new rate since last year but this is not so for civilian pensioners.

    Why is this so?

    Well, you know there is this common saying among the military, they call us “bloody civilians.”  So I think it is based on that slogan that could have led to the delay in implementing the civilian increment because we know that pensioners should be treated equally, just like workers, there is no discrimination at the federal. In fact, when they increased the salary, every category of civil servant got their increment at the same time. So we thought that the military and civilian pensioners are pensioners, so they have equal rights.

    Do you see the government succeeding with the PTAD you have in place at the moment?

    It was before the commencement of the contributory pension.  That directorate should have been in place, it is long overdue. And I that have been there, I believe the issue of mismanagement of pension fund wouldn’t have arisen because such a body is supervised by PENCOM and you know PENCOM is a known commission that is doing its job commendably and it is not news that now they keep to contributory pensions which is running into trillions.  So we believe that as an organisation that is supervised under PENCOM, there is hope and we have confidence.

    Just recently, some pensioners who are averse to the leadership of the union made a statement to the ex-chairman of Pension Tax Reform Team into PTAD, should you wake up someday and find out that Maina is now reinstated. What will the organisation do?

    You see, it is something that has been resolved long before now, that the pensioners long before now with their last blood resisted such because reinstating Maina on that reform team would bring a lot of hardship on pensioners rather than making things easy for them. Like you move from state to state and you discover that thousands and thousands of pensioners are not on the pension payroll because they removed their names and when they remove their names, they say, they have paid the pensioners. The money they are supposed to pay the true pensioners, they say they are ghost pensioners. So I don’t know when somebody is still living and you say he is a ghost.

    What do you mean by saying that the pensioners will fight the reinstatement of Maina with the last drop of their blood? Does this mean street protest or seeking redress in the law court?

    Based on the Senate investigation team on the problem of pension administration in Nigeria, from their report, the outcome of their investigation was glaring. During the task force, they recorded the highest mismanagement for fund than ever before. And the record is there, which you can even verify at the Senate. We know that there is no way that our members will be happy with whoever would want to bring back Maina. That is why the problems lingering till today. If you go to PTAD you will see thousands of condemned forms that were submitted by these pensioners they were saying were ghost pensioners and they are still living.

    Does this mean that you will limit your protest to “unhappiness” or which action will you take if you say you will resist his coming back with the last drop of your blood? Will you go to court?

    As I am with you now there is no way I can give you such an answer. It is something that people will have to meet then they will decide the strategy because everything needs to be planned. So when such a thing happens, when we get to the congress it is there that strategies will be taken and decisions will be taken. So for me to tell you what will happen it pre-empts my members’ intention which will be tantamount for such a struggle.

    How is your union pushing for the payment of the outstanding pension arrears?

    It is part of the effort we are making by the last week press conference that was held here which your correspondent attended. So that is part of our efforts. You know in the union, we rely on our check-off dues. We don’t have any other means and the only thing we can do is to draw the attention of the public for sympathy to such. Pensioners are not working for anybody so if you say they will go on strike. The only thing we can do is to make noise through press conference or through protests like one that was held early this month. That is the only way we can put forward our own effort.

    Have you written any letters to the Minister of Finance for her to disburse these outstanding payments?

    We have done that several times. You know that there was a committee set up by the president to find ways of resolving the pension crisis in the country. It was headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Our union is a member, NLC is represented too, PTAD, Head of Service Office, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Labour, the Budget Office and PENCOM too. But up till today, the issues still linger on, and we are thinking of going back to NLC and say that you suspended the action that you wanted to on our behalf hold a sympathy strike for pensioners, nothing has been done. That is our next plan now- to go back to NLC to say up till now, nothing has been done. That meeting has since stopped since last year. Nobody is talking about the pensions problems again.

    Is it true that your union is opposed to the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan?

    You see, there are certain groups that made that statement. As we are, election is a personal view. You cannot imposed your own view on the other person. But we are saying that any government that listens to the plights of pensioners, pensioners will always support such government. Even our state pensioners we have told them that if your governor is paying you well, support him. But if he is not, you know what to do. So that is just it. It is when you are happy that you will be happy with someone if you are not happy there is no way you will. That is just the logic.

    What is your message to all pensioners?

    We call on all pensioners to unite. Whether you are a local government pensioner or parastatal pensioner, federal pensioner or state pensioner, we want pensioners to speak with one voice. We don’t want any division or disunity among the rank and file of the pensioners because united we stand, divided we fall. So my own appeal to pensioners is that we should speak with one voice so that we can fight our common enemy. In the union, there is no discrimination. Anybody from any unit or from any department that you retire whether local government, whether parastatal or pure federal or whether a pensioner from state or tertiary institution, you can aspire to be the president of the union. There is no discrimination. The leadership is not reserved for a particular set of pensioner. It is opened to all pensioners so the better we unite the better we succeed in our struggle.

  • Textile workers call for unity against forced labour

    Textile Garment and Tailoring Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (TGTSSAN) has called on the Federal Government to ensure that the new global protocol against forced labour is given necessary attention.

    The protocol, which was recently adopted by the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland is aimed at accelerating action against modern slavery in the World

    Speaking at a forum in Lagos on how the protocol has put the world leaders on the alert on new development to combat forced labour, which is rampant in the private sector, TGTSSAN’s National President, Comrade Ambi Karu, said the call became necessary to prevent our jobless youths from being usurped by the political class for that purpose.

    He said: “We are comfortable with the new ILO Protocol on forced labour that will put government of member states of the ILO on alerts. This is because the private sector is responsible for 90 per cent of the estimated 21 million victims of forced labour, reaping about $150 billion from some of the most severe forms of exploitation in existence.

    “We are more comfortable because over 92 per cent of, employers and worker delegates at the recent ILO Conference voted in favour of the protocol, which the ILO described as bringing one of its longest-standing instruments, Convention 29, into the modern era.

    “We are optimistic that the new ILO protocol, if taken seriously by the three tiers of government, the federal, states and local governments, will revitalise action to ending forced labour, and the new rule will put those who make money from slavery on notice, that the textile garment movement and our allies in the international scene will chase them down and bring them to account.”

    He said the new rule is already working in some countries.

  • Cleric seeks unity against terror

    The General Overseer of Shiloh Word Chapel (aka Faith Nations), Prophet Ikechukwu Samuel, has urged Nigerians to unite against the Boko Haram terror ravaging the nation.

    Samuel, who spoke with reporters in Abuja ahead of the forthcoming third anniversary of the church, appealed to members of the Boko Haram sect to have a change of heart and stop bloodshed to avoid the wrath of God.

    He said: “If members of Boko Haram want to release the Chibok girls, it is a change of heart that will make them do so.

    “Let Nigerians pray because this country is a nation with faith. Every citizen of Nigeria has faith; let us use our own faith, irrespective of our religious beliefs to ask our God to change their hearts.”

    He added: “Boko Haram insurgents are still in the dark because they will still do more and we will keep exchanging. Yet, it will not solve the problem.

    “Let our leaders and every citizen show love. Releasing people in places of evil will in turn increase the problem. It is not the solution; we should kneel down and pray for a change of heart.”

    The church, he assured, has been raising a generation that will change the nation.

  • Atiku to Muslims: pray for unity

    Atiku to Muslims: pray for unity

    Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has urged Muslims to pray for the end of insecurity.

    In an Eid-el-Fitri message marking the end of the Ramadan fast, the former vice-president regretted that terrorists had shed so much blood in the name of religion.

    The Turaki Adamawa urged Muslims to pray God to defeat and destroy evil doers masquerading as champions of religion.

    According to him, the dark agenda of terrorists defies any clearly defensible goals and their activities contradict the tenets of Islam, including the sanctity of life.

    Atiku advised Muslims to join hands with other Nigerians to defeat the terrorists’ agenda of trying to provoke sectarian crisis by attacking places of worship.

    The former vice-president said the terrorists spared neither Muslims nor Christians, adding that Nigerians should unite against them “so that we don’t play into their hands by helping them to achieve their agenda of seeking to divide and dismember our dear country by causing deliberate provocations”.

    He said the nation’s security agencies should be ahead of the terrorists by nipping in the bud the plots of the evil group.

    Atiku advised Nigerians to assist security agencies through vigilance and providing useful information that can enhance their efficiency to deal with insurgency and other criminal activities in the land.

  • First Unity Doll unveiled

    To promote tourism, national unity and girl child  education, a firm, Auldon Limited, has unveiled the first Unity Girl Doll in the country. It is a 14-inch tall beautiful doll dressed in indigenous attires of the three major tribes – Aisha (Hausa), Ronke (Yoruba) and Amaka (Igbo).

    The firm’s Managing Director Paul Orajiaka said though the organisation trades in toys, the doll project was aimed at boosting values that are of benefit to girls.  He said: “The doll, which is wholly Nigerian concept developed to attune children to Nigeria’s rich culture, history and tourist destinations, has unique values, such as instilling community development initiative in the minds of young girls so they can contribute to their families, communities, countries and the world at large.

    “It highlights Nigeria’s rich culture, history, historic landmarks, language distribution, states and common Nigerian language and also acculturates young girls because it possesses the power to educate, influence greatly their minds and substantially help them determine what is valuable in and around them.”

    He said the objectives of the project are in tandem with the country’s multicultural setting, noting that the white in some foreign toys does not depict the beautiful African skin, look or culture.

    “Our model is based on the idea of harnessing the power of buyers who want to do good with their purchases. We want to portray Unity Girl as far more than a doll. It will have a brand identity, a brand that will represent the social concern of the challenges with the girl education and their warfare in Nigeria and the world at large,” he added.

    “The Unity Girl,” he explained, “is growing bonds of love among us”, adding that it will promote the spirit of oneness among girls.

    On why the firm picked girls, he said about 40 per cent of Nigerian children aged six to 11 are girls do not go to school with problem more rampart in the North, adding that part of proceeds from the project would devoted to promoting girls’ education providing infrastructure in ‘adopted’ schools.