The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Yemi Osinbajo

  • Govt to review tariffs , says Osinbajo

    Govt to review tariffs , says Osinbajo

    The Federal Government will review existing tariffs structure to remove impediments inhibiting the growth of local industries, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has said.

    Osinbajo said the high tariffs imposed on local products are not encouraging growth, adding that the government is working towards restructuring the current tariff structure to discourage the importation of products.

    Osinbajo, represented by the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, while declaring open the 89th annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) in Minna, yesterday, said the Federal Government recognised the importance of the health sector and is committed to expanding the sector by encouraging the growth of pharmaceutical industries in the country.

    “The role of pharmacists is very vital and critical to the development of Nigeria, they are an indispensable link. The PSN has contributed its quota to the development of Nigeria; they have contributed to the increase of quality healthcare in the country,” Osinbajo said.

    He stressed government’s determination to reposition the economy, by getting the fundamentals right under the reform efforts.

    In his address,  Prof  Adewole said government will continue to support the local production of pharmaceutical products.

    He challenged local manufacturing companies to produce long lasting treated insecticide mosquito nets to stop government from importing these products from other countries.

    “If the local manufacturers can produce the treated mosquito nets and they are of the right quality, the government will patronise them. We intend to give preference to local manufacturers of essential medicines,”Adewole said. He urged the pharmacists to join hands with the government in eliminating substandard and counterfeit products in the health sector.

    Earlier, PSN President,  Ahmed Yakasi, said the group was donating N50 million worth of various drugs to the Internally Displaced Peoples’ (IDP) camps in the Northeast, adding that pharmacists were ready to volunteer their services whenever it is needed in the  camps.

    He said for any nation to achieve sustainable developmenmt, food and medicines security must be accorded priority in the national agenda. He called for the implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guideline.

    Yakasi lamented that the atmosphere of competition, confrontation and distrust in the health sector is part of the  banes of the sector and have contributed to the poor indices of health in the country.

    He called on the Federal Government to give pharmaceutical manufacturers attractive incentives and support, pointing out that the country has the highest number of pharmaceutical manufacturers in sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Osinbajo visits Eagles training camp

    Osinbajo visits Eagles training camp

    • Optimistic Eagles will qualify for 2018 World Cup

    The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday was optimistic that the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    He spoke at the National Stadium, Abuja when he paid a surprise visit to the team and the Super Falcons during their training sessions.

    The Super Eagles is billed to play World Cup qualifying match against Algeria on Saturday.

    The Super Falcons also is preparing for the 10th Women Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Cameroon later in the month.

    Arriving the venue of the training session when the players were rounding up for the day, Osinbajo commended the Super Eagles for their patriotism and commitment to the cause of the nation.

    He hailed the team for winning their away match against Zambia.

    With the victory, he noted that the players had shown their determination to conquer their group and qualify for the World Cup.

    He said: “I want to assure you that the government and people of Nigeria are behind you in your quest to qualify for the World Cup.

    “I believe that you will certainly pick the ticket from your group to make it to the World Cup finals,” he added.

    The team’s captain, Mikel Obi, thanked Osinbajo for the visit on behalf of his teammates.

    During the session with the Super Falcons, Osinbajo also expressed optimism that the players, as defending champions, will retain the trophy in Cameroon.

    “I am happy that you girls are the reigning African champions, and I believe you will go to Cameroon and retain your trophy.

    “The whole nation is behind you. You must start by beating Mali and then going all the way so as to bring the Cup back to Nigeria,” he said.

    The team’s captain, Evelyn Nwabuoku, thanked the Vice-President and promised that the Falcons are committed to retaining their continental title.

  • Osinbajo identifies problems in education sector

    Osinbajo identifies problems in education sector

    • urges use of technology to address gaps

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday identified training methods for reading and writing as well as the quality of teacher education as the bane of education.

    Osinbajo said this in his address to the Annual  Education Conference with the theme“Learning Opportunities for All – The Critical Role of Teachers’’, in Abuja.

    He recommended investment in technology and new methods of teaching that could accelerate teaching, reading and writing as the best way to address the challenges.

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    “There are available methods today that can accelerate teaching, reading and writing.

    “But the reason that they are not available in the public schools is because we are not investing enough; not just in technology but in new methods and ensuring that those children in public schools have access to some of the better methods of reading and writing.

    “It is my respectful view that it is the responsibility of those of us who are educationists to think through the solutions for delivering relevant education with the very little resources available.’’

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    The vice president, however, said there was hope because the use of appropriate technology could close the education gap between the children of the rich and the poor.

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    “I strongly believe that the fastest way to bridge the gap between those who can afford the quality of education and those who cannot is technology.

    “Technology also provides the means to leapfrog the huge knowledge gap created daily between the hemispheric North and South.

    “Fortunately, technology is becoming cheaper and more intuitive.

    “It is, therefore, quite clear that teacher education itself must radically change; teacher training must be technology-driven.

    “I also think that a teacher must be trained in a much wider curriculum.

    “A teacher must be trained in employability skills, project management, financial management and entrepreneurial skills and technology skills even programming for those who are interested.

    “Training this new generation of young people is a new challenge.

    “Today, we are training individuals who must learn to multi-task and compete in the global society.

    “The best jobs will require complex skill; the good news is that this type of training is available and can be made much cheaper and more available.’’

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    The vice president expressed the hope that the conference would provide the platform for participants to engage in vigorous debate on some of the important issues affecting the future of education in the country.

    According to him, the future of the country depends on education, adding that a lot of issues needed to be resolved, including the ideological underpinning of Education for All.

    “Education is a tool of empowerment; the lack or inadequacy of it can also disempower; so, education can create or deepen inequality in the society.

    He said such could create a well-educated few with access to best opportunities and others who are simply not qualified enough to take advantage of the best opportunities.

    He also noted the huge disparity between the quality of public education at primary and secondary levels and what obtained in private schools in the country, adding that it should be stopped.

    According to him, there is segregation in Nigerian schools based on the income and the standard of education of parents.

    He said it was important to engage in technology in public schools to bring the quality to the standard in private schools.

    The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, in his speech, said that the ministry was interested in ensuring that the teaching profession was not a dumping ground for unqualified people.

    Adamu said that the low quality of entrance into the profession would be addressed while training institutions would be made to match the demand and supply.

    He also said efforts were being made to improve the welfare and incentives for teachers as well as ensure adequate professional development for them.

    He said quality education was a right of the citizens, adding that children in disadvantaged and conflict zones must be captured in the provision of quality and inclusive education for all.

    In his lead paper on the conference theme, Prof. Kwame Akyeampong of University of Sussex, United Kingdom, said that Nigeria had a wide gap to fill in the global education map.

    Akyeampong, however, added that the country had increasing learning opportunities while teachers should close the wide gaps for the development of the country.

    He noted that 38 percent of Nigerian school children were not learning the basics in education, which in turn, affected the quality of professionals and teachers in the society.

    He underscored the need to produce teachers who could bridge the cultural and religious gaps in the country and advised the administration to improve the learning opportunities for the less privileged.

    The don further recommended the adoption of a three-part strategy of improving the quality of teaching as well as developing coherent, systematic approach to managing teachers effectively.

    He also suggested the training of teachers who could help to rebuild education services in emergencies.

  • 2016 Legislative summit: Reps name Dana Air official airline

    2016 Legislative summit: Reps name Dana Air official airline

    Dana Air has been announced as the official airline of the House Representatives 2016 Legislative Summit on Sustainable Development Goals, scheduled to hold on the 22nd and 23rd of November 2016, at the NASS Complex, Abuja. 
     
    This year’s summit with the theme ‘Understanding and Stimulating Legislative Roles and Responsibility in Achieving the Sustainable Goals in Nigeria,’ is a 2-day Summit organised in partnership with 1stDevHub Nigeria and other relevant international development and SDGs Advocate.  
     
    According to the Accountable Manager of Dana Air, Mr Obi Mbanuzuo, ‘’we are proud to have been announced as choice airline for this year’s summit and as always; we will give our best to provide a comfortable and hitch-free flight services to all the delegates.’’
     
    Commenting on the initiative,  Mrs Christina Ude, Consultant to the House Committee on the SDGs and Team Lead expressed delight at the partnership and that “the world today is more interconnected than ever before and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can only be realized with a strong commitment to national and global partnership” she said.  
     
    Speaking further , 1st DevHub Nigeria’s Senior Partner and Coordinator of the Summit, Kenneth Nwokoro mentioned that this year’s Summit is focused on improving Legislators understanding of the SDGs and how their roles impact on the attainment of the Goals in Nigeria. He stated  that Mr Thomas Gass, United Nations Assistant Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs is confirmed as the keynote speaker, Professor Kevin Urama of the African Development Bank, Abidjan will chair the event while His Excellency, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is expected as the distinguished Guest of Honour.
     
    Dana Air is the only domestic airline to have undergone an operational audit conducted by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) and its foreign partners, The Flight Safety Group. The airline operates daily flights from Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Owerri
  • How corruption is perpetuated in Judiciary—-Osinbajo

    How corruption is perpetuated in Judiciary—-Osinbajo

    •Wants NJC to raise independent panel to probe corruption at the bench
    •Recalls how 91 judges were charged with corruption in China

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has identified 11 ways through which corruption is perpetuated in the Judiciary.

    He also says reforms in the Judicial arm demands that the National Judicial Council (NJC) should raise an independent panel to investigate allegations of corruption against judicial officers.

    Osinbajo’s views are encapsulated  in a seminal paper in Transparency International’s Global Corruption Report 2007: Corruption in Judicial Systems.

    He wrote on  “Sub-national reform efforts: the Lagos State experience” which The Nation obtained yesterday, a day after he said in Ado Ekiti that all the three arms of government in Nigeria –executive, judiciary and legislature are corrupt.

    In the 2007 paper, Osinbajo listed some of the most common methods of practising corruption in the Judiciary as follows:

    • Fabricating rulings in exchange for money
    • Blackmailing litigants into paying for, or excluding evidence
    • Making decisions based on instructions from local government, party or senior judicial officials, rather than the law or facts
    • Assigning, dismissing, delaying or refusing to accept cases, or refusing to properly enforce court decisions
    • Extorting kickbacks from intermediaries for passing cases to certain judges
    • Trading law enforcement services for personal gain
    • Taking bribes from the plaintiff and defendant (or their lawyers) or both
    • Manufacturing court cases
    • Embezzling court funding
    • Bowing to the demands of local officials, criminal networks, local clans, social networks or economic interests
    • Abusing the power of judges to order suspension of business operations, the confiscation of property, the eviction of tenants, or fair compensation and labour rights.

    The VP reviewed past efforts put in place to stem corruption in the nation’s Judiciary.

    His words: “Corruption is generally regarded as pervasive in Nigeria, affecting many of its institutions. The Judiciary is no exception.  The main forms of judicial corruption relate mainly to either pure bribery or, in sensitive cases, political interference from government or party officials.

    “The problem worsened during Nigeria’s 30 years of military rule, one of the worst features of which was the weakening of all the justice institutions.

    “In 1994, Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime established a panel of inquiry, headed by the renowned retired Supreme Court Justice Kayode Eso, to look into the activities of members of the Judiciary.

    “The panel recommended a series of reforms aimed at curbing judicial corruption. The panel also indicted 47 judges for alleged corruption, incompetence, dereliction of duty, lack of productivity or corrupt use of ex parte orders. The military regime failed to implement the recommendation of the Kayode Eso panel.

    “The civilian regime, which took power on 29 May 1999, set up another panel to review the work of the Kayode Eso panel. Following the report of the second panel, some of the indicted judges were either dismissed or compulsorily retired.”

    He also shared his thought on the disciplinary procedures for judges and argued that the National Judicial Council (NJC) does not have the final say.

    He added: “With regard to the discipline of judges, the reform policy dictated that every case of judicial corruption would be investigated and submitted to the NJC, which would then appoint an independent investigation panel to make recommendations.

    “Prior to the NJC’s creation in 1999, the JSC had been the sole adjudicator on disciplinary issues, providing an avenue for local interference in the process

    “It is important to note, however, that the NJC does not have the final say on the disciplining of judges. This lies with the governor or president as the case may be.”

    He recalled how 91 judges in China, including a Vice President of the High Court, two presidents of the intermediate courts and two presidents of the basic courts, were charged with corruption.

    He said:  “In the celebrated Wuhan Court bribery case, it appeared to be systemic and organized at all levels of the Judiciary.

    “In Wuhan, Hubei Province, 91 judges were charged with corruption, including a Vice President of the High Court, two presidents of the intermediate courts and two presidents of the basic courts

    “The ringleaders, two former Wuhan intermediate court vice-presidents, were ultimately convicted of corruption and sentenced to six and a half and 13 years in prison.

    “Ten judges under their supervision were also sent to jail and a 13-member group was found to have pocketed almost 4million Yuan (approximately $510,000). The investigation implicated more than 100 other judges and court officials, who were disciplined or reassigned to other courts. Finally, 44 lawyers were investigated and 13 were charged with robbery.”

  • Sahara Group pledges to support young Nigerian innovators

    Sahara Group has pledged its support for the 30 young Nigerian innovators who emerged from the maiden Aso Villa Demo Day entrepreneurship development project to grow their business ventures.

     

    Executive director of group, Mr. Tonye Cole commended the Nigerian government for the Aso Villa Demo Day (AVDD) initiative, adding that it would boost the Information Communication Technology sector and unleash the creativity of youths in the nation.

     

    The AVDD was designed to discover and celebrate creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship with focus on economic diversification as well as inclusive enterprise by young Nigerians. The event produced 30 start-up innovators whom Sahara Group intends to further enhance their development through ‘Extrapreneurship’, its entrepreneurship platform.

     

    The Sahara Group “Extrapreneurship” framework is an integrated development and management programme designed to grow and sustain entrepreneurial ventures by linking them with strategic partnerships and networks.

     

    In addition to bringing the innovators on board the extrapreneurship platform, the top three winners from the AVDD project will receive financial support from Sahara. They include: Tracology, a patented smart payment systems for utility companies; RecyclePoints, a waste recycling and social benefit venture for sustainable development, and Shuttlers, a multi-staff bus service to assist commuters resolve daily challenges moving around big cities.

     

    “Sahara is indeed proud to be associated with the project which will inspire, challenge and empower young Nigerians to be part of the solutions to socio-economic challenges in their immediate environment. Through Sahara Foundation’s Academic Hub, business development experts and professionals from other disciplines will provide mentorship to the top 30 innovators,” Cole said.

     

    According to Cole, Sahara Group would always support initiatives geared towards investing in a future that guarantees sustained growth and development across the globe.

     

    “If we are going to become sustainable, and move from this generation to the next, we must understand what the next generation is all about. The future is digital and technology. A lot of Nigeria’s problems today can be solved through technical solutions sourced locally from young and creative talents. Sahara will continue to align with governments and organisations that share our passion for providing platforms to help young entrepreneurs succeed,” he noted.

     

    Nigeria’s Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo said the AVDD project has created a level playing field and connectivity for everyone to participate in wealth creation across the world.

     

    “It’s a new day. There’s so much hope and so much the young generation is going to do. I am looking forward to working with young Nigerians as part of government to ensure that all our plans, talents and abilities are put to the best possible use. We will support you all the way,” Osinbajo told the young innovators.

     

    Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, who was a one of the special guests at the AVDD, said he was inspired by what ideas the competition has produced.

     

    “I am really blown away by the talent of the entrepreneurs and young developers in this country, particularly the focus to build something that’s going to make a difference and bring change”, Zuckerberg said.

     

     

     

  • Nigeria can overtake India in digital technology, says Osinbajo

    Nigeria can overtake India in digital technology, says Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said the country could overtake India in the technology and innovation talent market.

    He spoke during the flag-off ceremony of Google Digital Training for Youth Empowerment at the State House, Abuja.

    According to him, the administration will continue to explore creative ways at empowering the youths.

    He said: “We intend to create a reservoir of human capacity in technology that can be exported internationally. Nigeria can lead India as a market for technology and innovation talent.

    “This year, we are establishing technology hubs across the country, two super hubs in Lagos and Abuja and six regional hubs in the six geo-political zones. In partnership with several major technology companies, the hubs will be fully resourced with infrastructure and capacity building tools.

    “Each hub will be designed to produce relevant innovative technology solutions to a wide range of business, commercial and government problems. For example, alternative energy solutions, creative technology, public services delivery in health, education and government processes, import substitution and others.

    “Several major technology companies are partnering with us in the provision of infrastructure and opportunity in the hubs. Also starting this year, we have budgeted for the training of 65,000 young Nigerias in hardware and software services and more sophisticated software and hardware such as animation.

    “This would mean that we would be building more local capacity to build, assemble hardware and write innovative programmes; we will also be focusing on technology for media and entertainment.”

    While the empowerment initiative is targeting 400,000 youths at a start, Osinbajo said the government is determined to give every opportunity to younger generation to ensure they excel through the use of modern technology.

    He said a special initiative on innovative technology and start-ups’  presentation of prospective participants have already been done in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

    “This Friday, 30 of the best start up ideas will be exhibiting their inovations at the Presidential villa at the first Annual Aso Villa Demo Day.

    “The 30 winners will be arriving here in Abuja today and they will participate in an innovation growth camp for the next two days.

    “And this is why what Google has offered to do in collaboration with the Federal Government, the Google training for youth employment, the training of 400,000 young people is a monumental contribution to the national plan and in particular to economic development.

    “Everyone of the 400,000 young men and women to be trained is a potential creator of Facebook, Uber, Jobberman, Iroko Tv or something that we haven’t even imagined yet. The exciting prospect of this training is that it unleashes the creativity,  innovation and the boundless imaginative of the most productive segment of our society, the youths.

    “For any student today, I think that we must appreciate that this is the age of multi-tasking; you cannot just be an economist, an accountant, a lawyer or a graduate of international relations, or mass communication or performing arts and just remain that way. Multi-skilling is crucial today, multi-tasking is the order of the day; you can’t just be one thing.

    “You must learn to be a man of affairs, a versatile operator not a mono skill graduate.”

    To achieve this, he said there are many opportunities as practically anything can be learned online today.

    “All of these business reviews and business journals, many of them are free online. Everyone has a right to be rich; age is not a barrier to great wealth as we have seen from all the examples of great men and women who have done so many incredible things,” the Vice President said.

    According to him, there are also important opportunities for those in the performing and film arts, which goes beyond actual performing to effective management of talents, their programmes and projects.

     

  • Osinbajo seeks closer cooperation among African leaders

    Osinbajo seeks closer cooperation among African leaders

    • Receives Liberian Counterpart in Aso Rock

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday called on African nations to work together towards developing their economies for the benefit of their people.

    He spoke while receiving the visiting Vice President of Liberia, Mr. Joseph Nyumah Boakai in his office at the Presidential Villa.

    Osinbajo, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said: “We have to help ourselves first before others come, we should look for ways we can benefit each other.”

    He observed that there are Nigerian business people that can invest in Liberia, suggesting the creation of a bilateral economic council that can bring business interests from both countries together.

    “We must engender stronger relationships between our countries, that is what Africans need,” the Nigerian Vice President stated.

    Nigeria and Liberia, he said, need to work together to develop their economies.

    He said that the important task for African governments is to create enabling environments for agricultural and industrial development, noting that the  people depend on what government can do for them.

    In his own remarks, Vice President Boakai of Liberia commended Nigeria.

    He said: “Nigeria remains a very important big brother to Liberia. You have made a lot of sacrifices to our country, including through ECOMOG and the United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL.”

    He also said that Nigerian businesses are helping the West Africa country in sectors like aviation, banking, insurance and investments.

    According to him, there are also teachers and doctors from Nigeria who are currently helping to set up schools and health infrastructure in Liberia.

    He said: “We are grateful to our brothers and sisters here. We want this relationship to go on, this is the way Africans should go.”

    The Liberian Vice President is in the country to participate in a public lecture.

  • ‘Govt ‘ll fast-track budget implementation’

    ‘Govt ‘ll fast-track budget implementation’

    Efforts will be made to fast-track the procurement process so as to enhance speedy implementation of  2016 Budget, vice President Yemi  Osinbajo has said

    Osinbajo, who gave the assurance during a meeting with a delegation from the House of Representatives’ Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, assured the members of the Committee that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration will ensure that the process of privatisation is undertaken diligently.

    Members of the Committee,  led by its Chairman, Hon Ahmed Yerima, had requested among other things, that the Executive arm of government should inaugurate the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) so as to speed up privatisation issues because government is not meant to be engaged in the business of doing business.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, said that fast-tracking is important where necessary, including the procurement process regarding the 2016 Budget.

    According to him, the current procurement period is  too long.

    He also noted that the Presidency would work with the National Assembly to fast-track pending relevant bills including the Competition Bill to further clarify government’s economic direction for investors and other business interests.

    While government agreed that the privatisation process ought to be taken seriously by all concerned, he said government ought not to be involved in running businesses,

    He said investors and business owners who take over public enterprises should run them based on agreed terms.

    The Vice President said once a sale is completed, the business should keep the terms of the agreement even if there is a “downturn.”

    He said government would always approach the issues of additional concessions after the sale cautiously, and not allow itself to come under undue pressure, saying “we should all take the privatisation process seriously.”

    On the inauguration of the NCP, Prof. Osinbajo said the matter is being duly considered by the Presidency.

  • FEC: Three Ministers sick

    FEC: Three Ministers sick

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday chaired his first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting as Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
    Only 22 ministers out of the 36 ministers were present when the meeting started by 12.06 p.m in the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

    The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed offered the Muslim opening prayer while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachil David Lawal offered the Christian prayer.

    But while Mohammed gave a general prayer for good FEC deliberation, Lawal was very specific in his prayers revealing that three ministers were down with sickness.

    He first prayed for President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he said was on medical vacation in London.

    Lawal, then prayed for the  Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, whom he said was recuperating from surgery.
    He also prayed for the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, whom he disclosed was suffering from back pain.

    Just before sitting down, one of his colleagues reminded him that he left out the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril.

    Lawal then said: “Yes let’s pray for him too.”