Restructuring: You’re too harsh on APC, VON DG tells Atiku

From Chidi Nnadi, Enugu

The Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu, has condemned former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s claim that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has betrayed Nigerians by the National Assembly throwing out restructuring and devolution of powers to states. 

Okechukwu who made the condemnation at the weekend at his hometown, Eke in Enugu State said the words by the former vice president were too harsh on their party, urging him and other well-meaning Nigerians to rather join President Muhammadu Buhari in restructuring infrastructure deficit in the country.

The VON DG recalled that the former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), did not restructure the infrastructure deficit during the 16 years it held sway, saying that the APC which has only been in power for two years should be given more time.

Atiku had questioned the ruling APC for voting against restructuring at the National Assembly contrary to the party’s manifesto.

But Okechukwu pleaded with Nigerians to think out of the box, pointing out that the voting was not essentially on party lines, but on the Nigerian fault lines or the national question, which he said was the same voting pattern in the Sani Abacha, Olusugun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan constitutional conferences. 

He also appealed to Nigerians to join President Buhari to first restructure the substructure – adequate electricity, modern railways, agrarian revolution ICT education amongst others – which he said is the foundation on which all other social institutions (superstructure) are built.

 Asked how he could absolve his party, which controls both the Senate and House of Representatives and which promised Nigerians to not only to restructure but to devolve power to the units, Okechukwu said “nobody was denying the fact that APC promised devolution of powers, but made it clear that Atiku was too harsh by saying that APC betrayed Nigerians.

“Yes, APC promised devolution of powers, even with our subsequent amendments, nobody is denying the fact.    “But, I am disputing the former Vice President assertion that APC betrayed Nigerians. Betrayal is a harsh word. What I am saying in fact is that the Nigerian fault line or national question is deeper than APC’s manifesto line because of the diversity of our dear nation, dislocated by deficit critical infrastructure, which President Buhari is trying to address first. This is my view. Let’s join Mr. President to first fix Nigeria deficit infrastructure.”

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Amnesty delegates in UK varsities graduate with honours

Six Nigerian student delegates of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) have graduated with first class degrees, courtesy of the PAP education scholarship scheme.

    The six beneficiaries were among of 144 student delegates who successfully concluded courses in some universities in the United Kingdom recently. While 23 of the scholarship beneficiaries graduated with second class upper, others completed their courses in other divisions.

     The Presidential Amnesty Office, in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission, UK, in giving credence to what has become a norm in the education component of the PAP, hosted the successful delegates from several universities to a reception at the Nigerian House, London.

     Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who was represented at the event by the deputy chief of staff to the President, Ade Ipaye, said the achievement was proof that the future is bright not only for the Niger Delta but Nigeria in general.

     Osinbajo advised the delegates to see themselves as Nigerians first and not from any particular region, since Nigerians always turn out among the best anywhere they find themselves globally.

     The Acting President reaffirmed government’s support for the PAP, lauding the successes currently emanating from various components of training schemes under the programme.

He further explained that the essence of the scholarship was to create a balance between excellent results of the student delegates and the prospect of a solid economic base.

     He urged the graduates to apply skills acquired during their studies to establish viable enterprises.

     In his remarks at the reception, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and coordinator, PAP, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd), described the event as a presentation of some of Nigeria’s best  talents and a showcase of the nation’s bright future.

     Boroh said the outstanding performances of the student delegates were made possible through the unique leadership style and support structure provided by President Muhammadu Buhari, who has ensured adequate release of funds to the Amnesty Office since the inception of the administration.

     He also appreciated the efforts of the Acting President, who has reached out to the people of the Niger Delta by touring the states on a fact-finding mission and conflict resolution in order to achieve peace and security. Boroh emphasised that peace was expensive to achieve but succeeding required consistent collaboration among government, communities, stakeholders, groups and individuals.

     Senate President Bukola Saraki, represented by Senator Philip Aduda, said the country was proud of the delegates and urged them to remain resilient, focused, calm and supportive of the Buhari administration. He also enjoined them to promote harmonious co-existence and keep bilateral agreements wherever their success takes them.

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Enelamah elected vice chairperson, WTO Ministerial Conference

From Walter Ukaegbu, Abuja.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, has been elected the Vice-Chairperson representing Africa for the 11th World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference

A statement from the ministry stated that Nigeria’s election was decided at the meeting of the WTO General Council last July. The General Council acts on behalf of the Ministerial Conference on all WTO affairs. It meets as the Dispute Settlement and Trade Policy Review Body to oversee procedures for settling disputes between members and to analyse members’ trade policies

The Ministerial Conference, which meets every two years, is the topmost decision-making body of the WTO. It brings together members of the organisation, all of which are countries or customs unions, and can take decisions on matters under any of the multilateral trade agreements.

This election is viewed as an important recognition of Nigeria’s leadership role at the WTO and contributions on trade policies.

Other members of the bureau of the 11th Ministerial Conference are Chairperson: Minister Susanna Malcorra of Argentina; Vice Chairperson: H.E. Todd McClay, Minister of Trade of New Zealand; Vice Chairperson: Mr. Edward Yau, Secretary of Commerce and Economic Development, Hong Kong, China.

The Conference will take place on December, 2017, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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Basic education curriculum: I deserve commendation –Adamu

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has requested for commendation from Nigerians and not castigation for restoring sanity in the nine-year basic education curriculum for teaching and learning in Nigerian schools.

The minister’s request came against the barrage of criticism and allegations of him being responsible for the merging of Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) and Islamic Religion Knowledge (CRK) into one subject, Religious and National Values.

The development attracted condemnation from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other stakeholders, resulting in the recent directive by the Presidency to the Minister of Education to reverse the policy.

The minister, while addressing education stakeholders at the 62nd National Council on Education in Kano last week, exonerated himself from anything that has to do with the revised basic education curriculum.

He said: “People have accused me of trying to Islamise Nigeria through the curriculum but they were quick to forget that I was nowhere close to the Ministry of Education then. For the record, the chairman of the committee that drafted the curriculum was the former Executive Secretary of the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Prof. Godswill Obioma, and it was endorsed by all members of the council.

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Food security: NiMet presents raingauges, trains BATNF officers

From: Walter Ukaegbu, Abuja.

The Federal Government Food Security Programme received a boost recently when the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) presented raingauges and measuring cylinders to the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in fulfilment of the agreement signed earlier in the year to provide technical support, weather information as well as training for BATNF Field officers. This will help BATNF fulfil its objective to provide support for smallholder farmers in Nigeria.

Speaking during the formal presentation of the rainguages at  the Leaf Head Office, BAT Iseyin Agronomy Limited, Iseyin, Oyo State, the director-general/CEO, NiMet, Prof. Sani Abubakar Mashi, who was represented by the general manager/head of Weather Forecasting Services Department, Mr. Ibrahim Ishiyaku, said the event was not just a demonstration of the agency’s support for the Federal Government Food Security Programme but also a practical commitment to the memorandum of understanding signed with BATNF.

He disclosed that NiMet was not only presenting the raingauges and measuring cylinders but would also train field officers of BATNF on the use of the weather instruments for climate monitoring.

Mashi said the event would translate to better forecasts for farmers and guarantee improved yields. He admonished BATNF to ensure that the equipment was well manned and to commit to transmission of the data to NiMet for improved weather forecasting service.

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PDP crisis: CP hands over party secretariat keys to Bode George

By Chinelo Obogo

Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Fatai Owoseni, yesterday handed over keys to the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Bode George.

The Lagos Police Command had recently barricaded the party’s secretariat and shut out staff and members of the party loyal to the ousted factional state chairman, Segun Adewale following a letter issued from the party’s national secretariat and addressed to the CP.

Following the ruling of Court of Appeal which upheld the leadership of the now ousted acting national chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, he (Sheriff)  had issued a letter to the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) affirming leadership of Adewale in the state.

But, after the Supreme Court judgment which affirmed the leadership of the Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee, the National Secretary of the party, Chief Ben Obi, wrote a letter to the commissioner of police, requesting his assistance in ensuring that the Supreme Court judgment was enforced and also directed that the keys of the secretariat be handed over to Bode George in the presence of any other BoT member. After he received the keys, George said he would work hard to ensure that peace returns to the state chapter of the party.

He said: “I have collected the keys in the presence of Mrs. Aduke Maina, who is also a member of BoT, which was part of the instruction sent from the party secretariat. I would now hand over the keys to those authorised to operate the secretariat. The notion that there is crisis in Lagos is not true. We held a meeting at the national secretariat and it was decided that we have only one executive in Lagos. We still have the national caretaker committee that will decide what is to be done. As a BoT member, I have carried out the instruction I was given and I am going to hand over the keys to the legitimate state executive headed by Moshood Salvador. If there are people who have grievances, there are ways that it can be addressed.

“Ben Obi wrote clearly in the letter addressed to the CP that the secretariat keys should be handed over to Chief Bode George and any other BoT member.  Mrs. Aduke is now saying that we should wait before meetings are held at the secretariat, but that is against the directive of the national executive.

“In the weeks ahead, the issues would be sorted out, we need a lot of patience at this game because we need to know the unseen hands that are undermining the NEC meeting, Lagos was not listed as a crisis state.”

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Lagos evacuates 12,600 tonnes of waste from streets in 10 days

By Moshood Adebayo

Lagos State Ministry of the Environment has cleared over 12,600 metric tonnes of waste from over 80 locations across the state within 10 days in an exercise tagged: ‘Operation Deep Clean’. 

The project, in collaboration with Visionscape is a clean-up of refuse dumps in the state, which began last month. 

Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, in a statement, affirmed government’s resolve to rid the state of refuse heaps and solicited support of residents for the soon-to-be launched ‘Cleaner Lagos Initiative’. 

“Since the exercise began, over 80 locations across the state have been covered and we are building momentum in spite of the heavy rainfall this season. We are building a new culture of waste management and optimistic that all communities will see overall benefits of this drive to put an integrated waste management system in place,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents have commended the Operation Deep Clean, saying the impact would be phenomenal once it spreads to all parts of the state.

Speaking in an interview, Mrs Abiodun Yusuff, a shop owner in Egbeda area of the state, said the good job being done by the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led government deserved commendation, adding that the government was silently revolutionising waste management in the state.

“I was getting worried about the seriousness of the government to address waste management because at some point and even in some areas now, you still find heaps of refuse on the road. But I commend the government officials for the good job they did in our area. My only charge to them is that they should not relent but keep on cleaning everywhere and ensure that the state is free of waste,” she said.  

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Prince Yakub Abiola Aromasodu also commended the government for the prompt evacuation of debris from Akobi Crescent in Surulere, saying the development attests to the commitment of the Ambode-led administration to address waste management in line with international best practices.

Over 80 locations have been cleared up spanning from Abijo along Lekki Expressway in Eti Osa Local Government, Oke Afa Bridge around Oke Afa Bus Stop in Ejigbo, Osapa Junction in Lekki, Awori-Oniyaya/Balogun Ilawe in Agege, Alabama Suru Market in Ifelodun area, Durbar Road, Mile 2 (Jakande Estates) Amuwo Odofin, Olaogun Street in Ebute Meta Yaba, Roju Avenue in Kosofe/Ojota, Church Bus Stop at Igando Road, Igando Ikotun, St Finbars College in Akoka and Moshood Abiola Model Market in Agege Lagos.

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Boosting girl-child education

• How Bauchi is setting pace for northern states by enrolment drive via Girls-4-Girls Project

From Paul Orude, Bauchi

Efforts to promote girl- child education in Bauchi State received a boost recently with the launch of the Girls for Girls (G4G), targeting 100 schools in the state. The Sun Education understands that the G4G project would be carried out in the state by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with Federal Ministry of Education and the Bauchi State government.

The Chief of Field Office, UNICEF, Bauchi, Abdulai Kaikai, who gave an overview of the project during the ceremony held at the Government Girls’ College (GGC), Bauchi, said that the project would be established in six focused Girls Education Project 3 (GEP3) local government areas, namely, Alkaleri, Ganjuwa, Ningi, Shira, Toro and Zaki.

He noted that the project was a component of GEP3 being implemented in Bauchi, Niger, Kastina, Sokoto and Zamfara states through collaboration with UNICEF and the Federal Government, with funding from the United Kingdom Department of International Development (DFID).

Staggering facts and figures

According to UNICEF statistics, Kaikai said, the average northern Nigerian girl only stays in school up to the age of nine while only one out of 10 girls generally completes secondary education. “These numbers are staggering and should be considered a great threat to development of the nation,” he warned. “Despite these disheartening figures, there is hope through the combined efforts of development agencies, government institutions and people like you,” he told the audience.

In 2011, UNICEF, with the financial backing of UKaid, initiated the Girls’ School Education Project  (GEP) Phase 3.  The aim of this project, he added, is to get at least one million girls throughout Bauchi, Niger, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara States to enrol in schools by ensuring access and equity, quality and good governance.

The UNICEF chief said that in recent years, there have been promising improvements in basic education in Bauchi State. According to him, under access and equity, UNICEF has supported Bauchi State through enrolment drives and enrolment validations. Just last school year, Bauchi recorded an 8 per cent increase in enrolment of girls. Under quality education, it has trained over 800 primary and head teachers; 200 Integrated Quranic Studies (IQS) facilitators and 100 IQS proprietors on effective child-centred teaching methodologies and leadership training. Under the Female Teacher Training Scholarship Scheme, it has trained 1,800 female teachers. Under good governance, it has assisted and trained 210 School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) members and 200 Community-Based Management Committees (CBMCs) on effective tools in managing and improving schools and creating awareness.  In addition, UNICEF has also supported SBMCs and CBMCs through the financial support of school grants.

But he regretted that despite all these, Bauchi state still has a long way to go The achievements he mentioned, he said, are only a small fraction of all the works that need to be done to ensure that every child, particularly the girl-child, receives quality education.

Earnest appeal for support

He said that UNICEF is proud to support the Girls 4 Girls groups, noting that the group focuses on the needs and development of the girl-child. “We hope that through this new project, more girls will continue to stay in school and be inspired to further climb the ladder to brighter future,” he remarked. “But a brighter future starts with a quality basic education. I therefore appeal to government officials, civil society organisations, teachers, parents, and the community at large for their commitment and continuous building on the foundation that has already been laid.”

Turning to dignitaries and invited guests who graced the occasion, he said: “to all the mothers, particularly the mothers of Bauchi State, their Excellencies, the first and second ladies, you are special role models to all of us and we only hope you can extend your support by uplifting and empowering young girls by strengthening the momentum for the Girls for Girls groups.”

Others who supported the G4G launch include the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and a Bauchi-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Fahimta Women and Youths Development Initiative (FAWOYDI).

While flagging off the initiative, the State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, said that the project was aimed at increasing girl enrolment, retention and completion of education in schools, adding that it was a step taken in the right direction by providing girls with a platform to voice out issues depriving them from accessing and completing their education. Represented by the State Head of Civil Service, Liman Bello, the Governor said although his administration has paid all its counterpart funds in all the activities of UNICEF interventions, it is willing to lend its support in achieving the objective of the project.

The governor’s wife’s worry

In her remark, wife of Bauchi State governor, Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed Abubakar, expressed concern that the state had the least enrolment of girl-child in Junior Secondary School (JSS) in Nigeria, particularly in the North-East region.

She described as unacceptable the fact that majority of the said 62 million out-of-school girls worldwide, comes from Africa and other developing countries. According to her, the launch of G4G in Bauchi State was a right step towards addressing the issue of girl-child education in the state.

She expressed hope that the project would empower girls in the state not only to remain in school but to also aspire for higher education. In her address on the occasion, the President of FAWOYDI, Hajiya Maryam Garba, urged parents to allow their children to go to school and to complete at least secondary school education before giving them out in marriage.

She pleaded with them not to regard female education as a waste of time, adding that the G4G initiative would improve girls’ retention in school in the state. She further informed that the overall aim of the G4G initiative is to address barriers to girls’ education through increased demand for understanding and values of basic education by parents that will promote positive impact on girls’ enrolment. Hajiya Garba informed that FAWOYDI’s visions are to provide a healthy society free of poverty, to work with the less priviledged in the society and to provide them with quality education by enrolling them in primary, secondary school, and even institutions of higher learning.

The need for improvement

In his welcome address, the Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Ibrahim Yaro, emphasised the need for improvement in girl-child education in the country. He called on parents to support their female children to go to not only primary or secondary school but to also institutions of higher learning.

In her goodwill message, the educational field officer UNICEF Bauchi, Mr. Emeka Olora, harped on the importance of education, particularly for the girl-child, declaring that, “if you educate a girl-child,  you educate the whole world. An educated mother will educate her children and the nation at large.” According to him, a woman without education is like a waste product to her family. He therefore appealed: “let us allow our female children to have access to education before getting them married off.”

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Lagos leads as winners of 14th Mike Okonkwo national essay competition emerge

Miss Alexandra Nwigwe of Vivian Fowler Memorial College, Lagos, has been announced as the overall winner of the Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School Students for 2017. She scored 90% in the first round of the competition and 80% in the second, to come first.

The second position went to Miss Jesudunta Mercy Ipinmoye of Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Lagos. She scored 80% in the first round and 72% in the second, to win. Master Akingbade Gbenga of Emerald High School, Lagos, came third. He scored 80% in the first round and 70% in the second, to clinch the position.

Other candidates who performed well include Chinedu Chimezie of Cedar College, Ipaja, Lagos, Adedeji Aderemi of Grange School, G.R.A Ikeja, Atoyebi Israel of Kings College, Lagos, Olalere Victor of Deeper Life High School, Akure,  Ondo State, Okadigbo Juliet of State Senior Grammar School, Surulere and Kolawole Oladunni of Reagan Memorial Babtist Girls Secondary School, Yaba, Lagos.

Unlike in previous years where the first, second and, sometimes, third place winners were drawn from outside Lagos, with the exception of Olalere Victor, of Deeper Life High School, Akure, Ondo State, this year’s were all drawn from Lagos.

According to the Chief Examiner, Prof. Hope Eghagha, Head, Department of English University of Lagos, Akoka, the Mike Okonkwo Essay Competition for secondary school students received a total of seven hundred and ninety six (796) entries. “This is after the organizers used their internal control mechanism to ensure that only qualified persons applied or submitted entries,” he stated. “After applying the standard criteria in the assessment, we concluded that 27 entries were not original; in other words, they were plagiarized. This was after crosschecking each entry carefully with Internet sources to determine their originality. This is one of the problems confronting us in the education sector currently. Some students simply download material from the Internet and submit same as their original works.”

According to Prof. Hope Eghagha, after the first round of assessment in which the panel judged mechanical accuracy, the use of language, originality of thought, and thematic focus, ten (10) participants were selected and eventually invited for the second stage of the competition. He disclosed that, the second stage is mainly a confirmatory procedure, meant to ensure that the first stage winners are indeed the authentic writers of the shortlisted essays.

He added that the candidates who came from different parts of the country as Lagos, Enugu, Akure, Ilorin, Kano and Owerri did a one hour test on the topic: “Religion and National Development” or “Does Religion Aid National Development?” Candidates who emerged winners did so because the final result of the test validated their scoring and ranking in the first stage, he said.

Press statement issued and signed by Rev. (Mrs.) Oluwayomi Uteh Group Manager, Operations, TREM International, informed that the prizes, namely N100, 000, N75,000 and N50, 000 for the first, second and third place winners, respectively, will be presented at this year’s Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture, coming up at the Shell Hall Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, on Tuesday September 5, 2017.  The theme for this year’s lecture is “Made in Nigeria Products: The Vehicle for Sustainable Development.”

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Getting properly informed

• Profs gather, under the auspices of UNESCO and UNITWIN, to tackle challenges posed by social media to modern journalism practice

By Jet Stanley Madu

Social media and digital technology that avail individuals the opportunity to communicate and share ideas with others, have been described as a key dimension in the way computers and digital technologies are revolutionizing how people create, store, transmit and consume information and knowledge.

With electronic gadgets now within everyone’s reach, anyone can stay anywhere point and report, write or comment on just any issue, from any angle. But with speculations becoming the order of the reportage, observers have raised concerns over challenges posed by the new wave of communication technology.

Scholars, communication experts and other stakeholders contend that people should use the social media responsibly and give facts instead of propaganda. Further, they opined that if used properly, it could be an effective instrument for effective education, dissemination of information and enlightenment.

It was against this backdrop that a workshop was held recently at the Lagos State University Ojo. Tagged A National Workshop on Media Information Literacy Curriculum (MIL) Adaptation and Intervention Programme in Selected Higher Institutions of Learning in Nigeria and jointly organized by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Universities Twinning and Networking (UNITWIN), it was the first of its kind in the country.

In his opening speech, the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Iyiola Oni, lamented that effort at getting the right information from the avalanche of rumours, fake news and falsehood has become a daunting challenge especially in social media. He therefore insisted that this has necessitated the need for combination of media and information literacy with intercultural dialogue in order to achieve sustainable human development. “There is urgent need for an education that addresses information and media literacy skills gap,” he said.

Some scholars who presented papers during the two-day workshop that held at the School of Transport Conference Room and which had its theme as: “Enhancing Intercultural Competences Through Media And Information Literacy Curriculum In Nigeria Universities” include: Professor of Journalism, School of Communication, Lagos State University, Prof. Lai Oso. In his paper centered on “Enhancing Intercultural Dialogue Competencies Through Media And Information Literacy Curriculum Intervention In Nigerian Universities,” he contended that, “education is geared toward information storage. Today, that is neither possible nor necessary. Rather, humankind needs to be taught how to process information that is stored through technology. Education needs to be geared towards the handling of data rather than the accumulation of data.”

UNESCO Consultant & MIL National Coordinator, Sub-Dean, School of Communication, Lagos State University, SURAJ, Olunifesi Adekunle, who presented a paper entitled: “UNESCO’s Media and Information Literacy (MIL): Educational Policy and Strategy Guidelines”, with focus on curriculum development, held that the world has become increasingly globally connected and therefore requires a vision for the implementation of media and information literacy in all nations and for all citizens. He opined that if the understanding, misunderstanding or lack of understanding of media and other information-providers, including those on the Internet, begins in the minds of men, women and children, their minds will need to be empowered to ensure they can benefit fully from the media and information they have access to.

The paper presented by the National Professional Officer-CI, UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja, Mr. Macauley Olusola and which dwelt on the “Overview Of The Curriculum On Media And Information Literacy,” assessed the importance of media information learning to democracy and good governance. In it, he described MIL as an important prerequisite for fostering equitable access to information and learning, for engagement in digital society, an essential ingredient for the power to understand, inquire, create, communicate and think critically and to make informed decision.

There’s no gainsaying the fact that many Nigerians are in the dark about the fact that the National Communications Commission (NCC) has over time, been involved in manpower training in the area of Information, Communication and Telecommunication (ICT) through its institute, the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI). This revelation came from the administrator of the institute, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, who also presented a paper during the workshop.

The DBI, he is said, was established in 2004 and operates from three centres in Lagos, Abuja and Kano. Said to have been providing significant training to Nigerian tertiary education sector, as well as soft skills ICT training under a programme called Advanced Digital Appreciation Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI), DBI is reported to have churned out over 40,000 staff (academic and non-academic) since its take-off in 2006.

In his lecture titled, “Bridging the Knowledge Gap between Professional Institutes and Nigerian Universities: The MIL Curriculum Option”, Adinde who disclosed that e-skill is in high demand in the creative services, entertainment, media and in more fields advised that the trainings be duly certified. “Once people have completed their training, they need to get comparable certification so that employers could recognise, reward and develop their skills,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor of the university and chief host, Prof. Olarenwaju Adigun Fagbohun, who applauded UNESCO & UNITWIN for working in conjunction with LASU on the initiative to adapt media and information literacy curriculum into Nigerian universities, noted that the workshop was coming at a time when the nation’s security and collective identity is being daily threatened as a result of the proliferation of fake news, falsehood and hate speeches through the platform of social media and other unprofessional media which could endanger people’s collective existence if not quickly and properly addressed.

He assured of LASU’s eagerness to run diploma, bachelor and postgraduate degrees in Media and Information Literacy as designed by UNESCO and UNITWIN and approved by the National Universities Commission.

Participants who graced the occasion include, the Dean, Faculty of Social Science, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Prof. Chinyere Okunna, Head of Department, Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dr. Mamud M. Umar, Dr. Sarah Lwahas, the Head of Department, Mass Communication, University of Jos; Prof. Eno Joseph, Chief Librarian, Akwa Ibom State University; Brig. General (Dr.) John Agim, the Commandant, Army School of Public Relations & Information (NASPRI); Prof. Biodun Akinpelu Director, Centre for General Nigerian Studies, Lagos  State University; Prof. Udo John Ibok Director, Academic Planning, AKSU; Dr. Sunday Oloruntola, H.O.D Mass Communication, UNILAG.

Others are: heads of institutions, directors of academic planning, university librarians, directors of distance learning, administrators of institutes, commandants, deans of faculties and representatives of National Universities Commission (NUC).

At the end of the workshop, a communiqué was issued. It was resolved among others that MIL could be offered as a certificate or diploma course; that the departments of Mass Communication and other related faculties and departments should review their existing curriculum to accommodate MIL. In addition, broadcast media houses were urged to partner with UNESCO and UNITWIN to broadcast stories that promote right attitudes among youths.

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Be job creators, Amosun tasks graduating students of Babcock

…As institution churns out 89 First Class

By Perpetua Egesimba

Graduates of Babcock University have been charged by the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, to be creative and to see themselves as job creators, hence they must see that they make good use of the entrepreneurial skills they have acquired while in school.

The governor said this during the 15th Graduation and 6th Post-Graduate convocation ceremony of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State held recently. A total of 2,113 students comprising 1,807 graduate and 306 postgraduate students took part with 89 of them graduating with First Class.

Amosun charged them to go into the bigger world and contribute positively by being solution providers. “Remain steadfast and trustworthy,” he said. “You should understand that the purpose of university education is to prepare you for the challenges of the bigger world. Be ready to make positive difference on morals and character matters.”

The best graduating student was 22-year-old female student of Department of Accounting, Alexandria Braie, who was declared winner of the President’s Award for the Overall Best Performances despite having the second best Cumulative Grade Point Average 4.90.

Speaking on the convocation ground, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ademola Tayo, said Braie emerged the best graduating student as a result of her outstanding performances in academics, leadership traits as well as community and spiritual services. He charged the graduating students to be positive thinkers, adding that what they constantly think about themselves is what they will eventually become.

“Set aside your iphones and ipods and concentrate on the challenges of the society, ” he said. “Your destiny is in your hands. Whether you see it or not, whether you feel it or not, it is in your head, in your mind.”

In his address, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, who was represented by Mrs. Constance Goddy-Nnadi, said the successful conduct of heart surgeries by the university shows that “our university system is highly standardised and can compete favourably across the world.’’

Responding, the best graduating student, Alexandria Braie said her determination saw her through and urged other students to emulate her example. “There were some courses that were difficult but I was determined and set my heart to achieve something,” she said.

The governor who spoke earlier said the university has continued to maintain a trailblazing position in the provision of quality tertiary education.

He congratulated the Board of Trustees and Governing Council of the institution, management and the entire staff for a successful hosting of the convocation while promising to continue to provide necessary facilities and peaceful atmosphere for genuine efforts, participation and collaborations with private individuals and organistaions to contribute to the development of education sector and other areas of social economic life of the state.

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Crisis at Ajayi Crowther University: Decision to expel students collective, not personal –VC

[continued from last week]

The dismissed students and their parents are also contending that the university regulations which made provision for a right of appeal were denied them. They point to Section 9(vii) which states: “the student concerned has a right of appeal to council, against the decision of the disciplinary committee within two weeks of the receipt of the letter conveying the decision of the committee to him or her,” to support their position.

The students and their parents, allege that they never received any letter. The only information available on their expulsion and other disciplinary action against them was what they read on the university website, they said.

Some of parents allege that, on learning of the development, they wrote letters of appeal to the university registrar. One of them, Chief Olu Shadrack Aiyemoniafe, father of Tosin, said he was very distraught when he learnt that his only son has been expelled from the university. Two of his daughters, he informed The Sun Education, had passed through the same university without any hitch. Tosin, the last child of the family, he said, had indicated his desire, earlier, to be a clergyman in the Anglican Communion. As a father, he had approved his son’s choice and was only waiting for him to graduate so he could begin his priesthood training.

A security operative, he told The Sun Education that the first thing he did when he learnt about his son’s expulsion was to take him to the state directorate of Department of Security Service (DSS) to extract information from him in order to determine his culpability, “but all the results we got proved negative.”

He did not stop there he said. He took his son to two medical laboratories, one private, and the other public, to check if he had traces of narcotics in him. The results were also negative. Following his findings, he instructed a lawyer, one Mr. Olajide Onabanjo, to write a letter of appeal to the Governing Council of the university. The letter dated May 1, 2017, he said, was never acknowledged.

Mr. and Mrs. Segilola, parents of Olanrewaju, 300 level student of Business Administration, also expelled from the university, told The Sun Education that they also wrote a letter to the VC to complain about the manner in which their son was expelled without the school informing the parents about this development and neither setting up an investigative panel to properly confirm the allegations against the affected students.

“Ajayi Crowther is a Christian missionary school, and even if these allegations were true, we would expect the university authorities to put the students to caution, or rehabilitation, and to inform the parents about the situation before expelling them,” they argued in the letter. “I trust this is not the way you wish to manage the school business and activities nor the kind of letter you wish to receive from parents.”

When contacted on the matter, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dapo Asaju, said that he and any other person in the institution, is not in any position to discuss the issue, as according to him, it was a collective decision taken by the University Governing Council. He added that once a case has been decided by the Council “there is nothing that anybody can do about it.”

On the issue of the letter written by lawyers to the students, Prof Asaju said that the students and their parents/minders can go to court if they are dissatisfied with the judgement.

Chief Aiyemoniafe, known as Baba Ijo of St Paul Anglican Church, Araromi-Ekiti, his hometown, and some other parents said they have decided to do just that, to pursue the case to a logical conclusion.

“By my training, I am well informed enough to know that children can behave differently when they are outside their parents’ environment, and can also pretend to be good at home,” Aiyemoniafe admitted. “My fear as a psychologist is that if it is true that this boy is actually innocent of this crime and failed to find justice at this age, 18, most especially in a Christian-owned school and under a Lord Bishop, it may be very difficult to change his perception as to the trustworthiness of our system of justice administration. Part of the reason why it is difficult to curb crime in our society is the inability to get justice. This is why a criminal mindset is developed through trivial issues.”

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Loral holds second joint graduation

…As Executive Director, from US, vows to take school to greater heights

Great people are sometimes scared. Bold people are sometimes shy and confident people are not always courageous. This was the submission of Mr. Adeneye Shina, a Lagos-based youth development expert, when he delivered a lecture entitled “Be Bold and Confident” at the second joint graduation and prize-giving ceremony of the Loral International Schools, Festac, Lagos and Igbesa, Ogun State, held recently at their Festac campus.

Explicating the topic, he charged the students to be always bold and confident, You must always be yourself, he said. Don’t walk in other people’s shadows or footsteps. Always know that university life is quite different from the secondary school life because on the campus you are on your own, you are your own master, he further admonished. To be bold and confident, he opined, is to realise that the ability to be who you want to be is in you.

In his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Adewunmi Tajudeen Ogunkanmi, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, Abeokuta, Ogun State, urged the graduating students to be good ambassadors of the school (Loral) that has prepared them for the challenges ahead. Life is like riding a bicycle, he said, quoting a Chinese proverb; you will fall if you stop pedaling.

In her address, Mrs. E. M. Osime, Senior Principal, Loral International Boarding Secondary School, Igbesa, Ogun State, observed that the graduating students have passed through the crucible of rigorous training in character and learning that will prepare them for the next stage of life. “Education is the key to unlocking the doors of freedom,” she said. “So be a trailblazer. Nelson Mandela said education is the most powerful weapon with which you can change the world.”   

Earlier in the ceremony which kicked off with a solemn thanksgiving service conducted by Rev. Emmanuel Okwuchi, of St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Oluti, Lagos, he urged the students, both the graduating and the non-graduating ones, to be of good behaviour and to exhibit excellent character that would show them as good ambassadors not only of the school but also of the nation anywhere they go.

The ceremony was made groovy by various music and drama presentations by the students. They include a scintillating ballet dance by secondary school arm of the Festac campus and Loral College Steel Band that struck up soulful tunes that showed them off as highly talented musicians that can hold their shoulders high in any part of the world.

You ain’t seen nothing yet, the Managing Director, Chief Crawford Ndukwe, told the audience. “This is the best place to make an investment for your child,” he said. We have plans to take Loral to greater heights, Mrs. Oby Imo, the daughter of Chief Mrs. Lauretta Nwanneka Nwosu, the school proprietress and one of the Executive Directors, said (she attended the ceremony all the way from the United States, where she currently resides with her family, she revealed). “The best is yet to come,” she said.

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Port Harcourt residents count loses, as flood wreaks havoc in garden city

From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt                                  

 

Residents of  Port Harcourt and neighbouring towns, in Rivers State, will not forget the downpour of Saturday, July  22 and Sunday, July 23,  in a hurry. 

The rain destroyed unquantifiable property  and  rendered many  homeless.

Also, a 25-year-old trader at  Mile One Market, was electrocuted on that fateful Saturday night. The victim reportedly returned from market and  entered his apartment in Oloibiri Street in D-Line, Port Harcourt, unknown  to him that  one of  the  electricity  appliances  was in contact with water.

A resident, Nich Uche,  explained  that  it was a neighbour, who noticed his  lifeless body  and raised  the  alarm.

The rainfall, which started early Saturday morning  continued till  Sunday   evening, causing  drainages to overflow into some streets. Some of  the affected  areas included  Uyo, Awka, Okija, Kaduna, and  Oloibiri located near the end of D-Line in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.

Also affected were Rumuolumeni community and some areas along Aba Road, which included the office of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), where official and impounded vehicles were  submerged.

The FRSC office was  badly affected  by the flooding, which forced  the personnel on weekend duty, to  abandon the first floor of the three-storey building, for safety. They were trapped there till Monday, when  the flood subsided.

The entire Aba Road, by FRSC axis, would have been impassable on Saturday and Sunday, but for the Kaduna  and Nzimiro streets flyover, which prevented the flood  which had already overflown the Ntawogba canal, from crossing the ever-busy road.

Unfortunately, the flood  surged  into the FRSC premises, warehouses, residential houses and churches in the affected  Awka and Uyo Streets.

One of  the Warehouses close to former Savannah Bank building on Aba Road, was one of the worse affected. It was gathered that hundreds of  bags of  rice and beans,  stored in the property were destroyed.

During a visit to the place on Sunday evening, labourers were  busy evacuating the soaked goods from the Warehouse into  lorries.

After  rainfall on Saturday, residents of some of the affected  areas moved  their property to safer locations .  But while they battled to recover from Saturday incident, it seemed as if the cloud was let loose on Sunday morning, thereby increasing the volume of  flood which  spilled over to the  areas hitherto perceived as  safe.

Another  resident of  D-Line,  simply  identified  as Ekanem, whose  one bedroom apartment was fllooded said he managed to move his family to his elder sister’s residence  in Woji. 

Ekanem  explained  that  when he sensed  danger, he picked some  property and documents and drove to Woji, where according to him, members of  his family would  stay for  some time.

Ekanem, however, appealed to the government to pay more attention on the drainage. He thanked God for the wisdom He gave him to think ahead the outcome of the flood, by  relocating  his family members.

“I am grateful to God that the matter can still be controlled, because it could have been worse. This is a warning sign that should be taken seriously. But I am  not the government,” he said. 

Similarly, the Fugerole axis in Oyigbo Local Government Area, also along Aba Road, was  not spared by the flood, despite the fact that the road was recently rehabilitated by the state government, following complaints from motorists, especially tanker drivers.

Commuters and other road users did not find  it easy too. As motorists struggled to navigate through the only lane,  after the water  in  the  other lane had risen far above its level, there was confusion as motorists,  in their  rush to wade through the flood, caused serious traffic gridlock.

In Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, which was also affected, some churches could not hold Sunday  service  as the  area  was flooded and could not be accessed on foot.

In the community, over 100  homes and  four churches were reportedly sacked and property worth millions of naira lost. 

Residents attributed the flooding to lack of  drainage system in the area.

One of the affected  landlords, identified as Benibo, blamed the construction company handling the Rumuolumeni/Iwofe Road project for their woes. 

He noted that the company did not construct good drainage to flank the newly built road in the area, pointing out that the water became too heavy for the gutters to carry. 

According to Benibo, residents had severally approached the company  to  complain about the poor drainage system  that channels water into a canal. He also noted that blocked  drainage obstructed  free flow of  water.

 “We have been rendered homeless because of flood. My family slept inside a church, far from this place, while I slept inside my car. Even, one of my neighbours has not been seen since last night (Saturday). We saw him parking his property in the afternoon, and  as at that time, his family had already moved to another place. Nobody knows what has happened to him now.

 “The MCC company,  which constructed the road is the cause of all this suffering. I remember we  invited  them when they were constructing this Iwofe Road, which even attracted the attention of  Governor Nyesom Wike, who ordered them to canalise the area properly. But, they did not listen. Now, the small canal has been blocked and water is not flowing,” he lamented.

Similarly, Pastor Namso Udoh, complained that since the construction of the Rumuolumeni-Iwofe Road,  they had never lived comfortably.

Pastor Udoh called on the state government to intervene to save residents from continuous flooding. 

He called for provision of relief materials for the affected families to ameliorate the suffering encountered by the residents.

Also, a cleric of  the Anglican Church in the area, Rev. Joe, called on  the government to respond to the plights of residents, especially those twho lost their homes and property.

Meanwhile, engineers from Julius Berger and the state Ministry of  Works  have commenced preliminary  work at different flood impacted locations  in the state.

This  followed a directive by Governor Wike,  after his  visit  to some of the areas affected by the  ravaging flood.

Governor Wike, after  inspecting the  affected  area   directed that immediate remedial measures to be taken. 

He reiterated  that his administration  would take  steps to stop recurrence.

He, however, appealed to residents to desist from  building on waterways, noting that resolving   flood challenges  in the state  requires every hand to be on deck.  He also admonished  Port Harcourt residents to desist from dumping refuse indiscriminately, especially into gutters.

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Nsima Ekere’s days of glory: When NDDC boss turned Ikot Abasi into Mecca

From JOE EFFIONG, Uyo

For two days consecutive; Saturday and Sunday, Ikot Abasi, the headquarters of Ikot Abasi local government area of Akwa Ibom State was like a Mecca to politicians.

Or, who else would have been there when the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Obong Nsima Ekere, was on the first day honoured in a grand reception by his people of Edemaya clan of  Ikot Abasi local government, and he followed it up the next Sunday with a thanksgiving on the premises of  local government secretariat? Political associates, friends, APC members, PDP defectors or aspiring defectors, church members, traditional rulers, the press and the clergy.  But in Akwa Ibom, such a listing is superfluous.

One word is enough to describe all the people: politicians. Everybody in the state is a practical or aspiring politician while everything in the state is either politics or politicised.

So on Saturday and, especially, Sunday, Ekere virtually nearly relocated the entire state and some sections of other states covered by the NDDC activities to his Ikot Abasi. Connotatively, there was no breathing space; and denotatively, there was no parking space, no walking space and even standing space. It was as if there was nobody and vehicles left in other parts of the state.

So if the two days are described as Ekere’s days of glory, judging from the array of high profile personalities who attended, most of whom, if not all, politicians, and spoke on the occasions, the description is by no means hyperbolic.

On Saturday that the NDDC boss was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Obong Unwana Edemaya by the Edemaya clan council of chiefs, the Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, Mr. Umana Umana, said Ekere, is a star and performer who has recorded giant strides in the commission in the last eight months.

 “That is why in his first three months in office, bulldozers started moving all over Akwa Ibom State. Some people instead of celebrating it got angry. The people need development,” Umana said.

Referring to his struggle against  Ekere the for Akwa Ibom State governorship in 2014, Umana, who was equally conferred with the chieftaincy of Obong Ufan Edemaya on the occasion, said;  “There was a time both of us looked for the governorship of Akwa Ibom State. By some evil design, not by choice, we were made to look like adversaries, not like brothers. But we are wiser. We are not just friends but brothers. I am behind my brother, Mr. Nsima Ekere. He is a star and a performer,” he said.

As it is normal with politicians, most speakers laced their speeches with 2019 governorship election tactically urging Ekere to be ready for their support.

But in his response, the NDDC boss said the occasion was no place or time to talk politics but development especially as 2019 was still far away.

“Many speakers talked about 2019 today. My message to Akwa Ibom people is that the time for elections has not yet come. Allow me and other government officials to do the job we are doing for you. When the time for elections comes, if you make that demand again, I will respond. But for now, allow me work in NDDC,” he said.

While  restating the commitment of the present board and management of the commission to complete abandoned projects as much as possible; “It is unfair to abandon government projects when money has been spent already. The current board and management of NDDC are committed to completing abandoned NDDC projects as much as possible. We don’t care who awarded them. But as long as they will touch the lives of the people, we will go ahead and complete them.”

later on Sunday at his family thanksgiving service anchored by the Methodist Church, ikot Abasi Diocese, Ekere expressed gratitude to God whom he attributed all his life achievement to.

“There is absolutely nothing I would have accomplished but for the grace of God. I am extremely grateful to God. The grace of God has always been sufficient and enormous. We have come here to give God all the adoration.”

Mr. Ekere, a Knight of John Wesley (KJW) of the MCN, thanked the church for being a pillar of support to him right from childhood. He thanked his wife, Ese, for her love, patience, tolerance and support over the years.

He recalled the long wait for their three children and encouraged other expectant parents that “God answers prayers.”

A former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, while reviewing Ekere’s the achievements  as NDDC boss in the last eight months, said  that he has brought joy and hope to the people of Akwa Ibom State.

“This thanksgiving is not just ordinary thanksgiving. You can see the outpouring of support for a man who has successfully restructured NDDC. Akwa Ibom people are very proud of him. Akwa Ibom people say Nsima Ekere has brought a lot of joy and hope to the people,” he said.

Attah reasoned that having done well at NDDC, Mr. Ekere could be entrusted with more responsibilities.

His words: “Nigeria is talking about restructuring today. If Nsima Ekere can successfully restructure NDDC, there is every possibility that he can restructure a few more institutions. I want to appeal to Akwa Ibom people. He has come here to thank God by himself. We must call him to appreciate him.”

Other speakers included Gov Simon Lalong of Plateau State, who was accompanied by the President of Akwa Ibom Community in Jos, the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, represented by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Mr. Segun Oni,  who congratulated Mr. Ekere and his family on his success story at NDDC and expressed optimism that the NDDC boss would completely turn round the commission.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator Patrick Nwaoboshi, said Mr. Ekere’s thanksgiving service symbolized unity in the country as it brought together Nigerians from across ethnic and partisan lines.

In his homily, the Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr Samuel Kalu Uche warned that any Nigerian who kills to enter public office would never outlive or enjoy the office they so assume. 

Uche also warned politician to begin to strive to live a godly life alleged that the agitation by the Independent People of Biafra (IPOD) was powered and energized by bad politicians; but he called for introduction of patriotism, transparency, integrity, loyalty to the nation, civility and faith into governance.  

The Niger Delta, the prelate said is the staying power of the Nigerian state, stressing that the one Nigeria being touted all over the country is because of the oil, and may cease to exist the moment the oil is dried up.  

He said true federalism is the only means for true democracy where each region would keep and control their resources and remit approved tax to the centre  

He said based on Ekere’s devotion to God, he assured the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as a whole would not be disappointed with his duties.”He will perform his duties with integrity, honesty, diligently, scrupulously.

 “God has made you the MD to provide succour  to the people of Niger Delta;  endeavour to make the church, the state, the nation proud. Everyone in position of authority has to answer to God. Many in offices have disappointed the people”.

 He used the occasion to encourage the federal government of Nigeria to translate its change mantra to food sufficiency, uninterrupted electricity, and  job availability for the teeming unemployed  youths. 

“If such are achieved, the church will use prayers to destroy anybody that would come with campaign of acrimony in 2019.Only those who delivered on their promises will be returned to office. Fire those who do bad roads; fire those who build bad roads; find those who do good job; find those who have the best intentions in project execution.” The prelate said. END

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Land dispute: 80 years after, warring communities sign peace accord

From JUDEX OKORO, Calabar                                 

 

The age-long land dispute between Ababene in Adun and Iyamitit in Okum, Obubra local government areas of Cross River  State have been  brought  to an end, with  the recent  peace accord  signed  by  the two communities.

The peace accord is coming almost 80 years  after Ababene and Iyamitet  engaged themselves  in a fratricidal war,  over  the  ownership of land located  between the two neighbouring communities. The dispute had been on  since 1931.

But the latest hostilities, which started a year ago, culminated in clashes  which   almost led to total annihilation of  the Ababene clan.

Disturbed by this killings and wanton destruction of crops, houses and public institutions on both sides for over a year, the leaders of Abaeben and Iyamitet, on Friday, July 14, met at Obubra town with a view  to  ending  the incessant communal war. They started   with a peace rally and later initialled a  the Memorandum of  Understanding (MoU) for everlasting peace.

The  peace meeting, attended by the paramount ruler of Obubra, the clan heads of both communities, men, women and youths, among  other stakeholders, was facilitated by Mr. Chris Agara Agan, an indigene of  the Obubra.

To cement the peace process,  two goats, representing Adun and Ababene were slaughtered. Thereafter, the heads of the  warring communities  took a  head of  goat  and buried  in their  respective communities. After that , some traditional rites were performed by the chiefs before  the  peace agreement was signed.

Speaking shortly after  the  ceremonies, the facilitator of the peace process, Mr. Chris Agara Agam, said: “I am very excited, seeing all the chiefs, women, youths, children and everybody. The response is unprecedented and I think the reason  is because everybody loves peace.

“Some people are forced to do what they are doing, not because they like it, but because of the circumstances. All that has now ended. Two brothers cannot be fighting and shedding blood. If there is any problem, they should resolve it amicably. We have shown that we are one blood, an indication of  harmony, understanding and affinity of both communities. The youths should use their energies to develop the places, rather than using it to destroy.”

Agara, who represented Governor Ben Ayade  at the event, promised that the governor would  commission the surveyor general to demarcate the boundary of  the affected communities, as well as build a police post in Adun and Ababene.

The chairman of  the seven-man Peace and Reconciliation Committee and an indigene of Obubra, Mr. Ernest Irek, said it was high time they came together and resolved the problem, hence,  the setting up  of the committee. He said the team has successfully completed the assignment.

 Insisting that the Obubra people were not hostile, he admitted that they have suffered for quite a while, adding, “this is an opportunity for us to move forward and be united as two neighboring  communities.”

Irek recalled how the crisis started and how efforts  to resolve it  were  rebuffed by the  warring youths.

He condemned the killings and destruction of property, even when security agents were sent  to  quell  the crisis.  

“One of our sons, Agara, after talking with our amiable governor, Professor  Ben Ayade, has come over to  broker peace. A committee was set up and for two months, we have visited both communities, and all factions said they want peace. We’ve talked to the village  heads, chiefs, women and youths.

 “We will do what our forefathers used to do. We will slaughter two goats, one representing Adun and the other representing Ababene. Thereafter, the head of each warring community will bury the head of each goat in his community to cement this peace process.

“The last time there was problem between Adun and Ababane was in 1937, and this time around, we want to bequeath a peaceful community to our children. Obubra are not war mongers as people think. This problem only arose as a result of provocation, and this has been addressed.

 “We hope  this will be a template for resolving crisis in other parts of the state. We will talk to our brothers in other parts of the state where there is crisis, to embrace peace because, we are very sincere about the peace process.

“We want to bequeath to generations yet unborn, a very smooth and peaceful environment. The paramount rulers have prayed and all the chiefs are here. We have signed a communiqué, which reflects all our views. Obubra is not warlike as people think. We are very peaceful people.”

The former House of Assembly member enjoined National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the  State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), as well as other  agencies of government responsible for rehabilitating displaced persons  to  intervene.

A members representing Obubra/Etung in the  House of Representatives, and a member of the peace committee, Mr. Mike Etaba said: “I thank God for the privilege of participating with my people in this peace process, and also thank Governor Ben Ayade for commissioning  appointing  Chris Agara to facilitate and commit himself whole-heartedly, to this peace agreement that has been signed here today.

“For me, coming from this community, I don’t see any reason they should be fighting;  and today, we have come to resolve the matter and  put it to rest once and for all. As brothers and sisters, we will go back, doing our businesses without any fear or anybody attacking anybody again,” he said.

 Etaba explained  that  the disputed land would be properly demarcated and a police post built  in the area.

 Commending the team, the Kudidem (Clan Head) of Adun,  Ovarr Patrick Erong Edom, said: “Today, our politicians have decided to come and make peace between Adun and Okum, and we are very happy over this peace because, we have lost  many people and  there had been many destructions. I am the happiest person today. This will  make us to build our future, rather than fighting.

“I advise the youths that fighting  is of no benefit. Rather,  let us return to peace. From today, they have seen what I have done, we have buried the blood. Anybody who disobeys will face the penalty,” he said.

On his part, Ohorodo I of Okum and Clan Head of Apiapum,  His Royal Highness, Ovarr Robert Mbina Mbina Ajom III, Ohorodo I, said: “The Adun and the Okum are brothers. We share the same boundary. Now, we have this peace agreement, the problem has stopped from today. It is not good for brothers to kill themselves in the name of land. No nation survives or develops  through war.”

 “I pray that  we  all  embrace this peace. I thank the governor for initiating this peace move, too. My message is that the youths should  be peaceful. It is the youths that will build the nation tomorrow. We were once youths. If we had killed ourselves then, we would not be here today.”

 Expressing gratitude for  the return of peace in the communities, the paramount ruler of Obubra,  His Royal Majesty, Ovarr Clement Ewona,   said: “I am very happy. It  is  not  good  to have people that are making trouble all the time,” he said.

One of  the women leaders, Felicia Okorm, said  she  was  happy to be alive to witness the restoration of peace to these communities, adding that since  April, last year that she left her Ababene village, she had not visited till today(the day the peace agreement was signed).  

Mrs. Okrom said: “We commend all stakeholders, who saw to the signing of this peace accord. You can see  that peace has returned and life is back to our communities. We shall ensure it is maintained for ever.”

At the end of the  day, Agam donated N4 million to both communities. The clan heads of both communities got N2 million each, on behalf of their people.

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Woman killed in gun battle between police, hoodlums

From Joe Effiong, Uyo

For  about  30 minutes  last Tuesday, the banking layout axis of Abak Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State was like war-torn Bosnia or more recently, Alepo in Syria.

Sounds of AK47, or even more sophisticated weapons rent the air.  Passersby and commuters caught in the melee scampered for their dear life. Banks hurriedly closed their doors and sent their distraught customers into the street. The lucky ones were locked in for safety.

The police who usually guard the banks in the area had responded to the first shooting with more shooting. Thus the area became a theatre of war.

It was a  baptism of fire for the state Commissioner of Ppolice, Mr. Zubairu Muazu, who just resumed duties that morning in the state.

Till date, no one has been able to tell a foolproof reason for the daylight gun battle or the dramatis personae who initiated it before the police responded. While one theory said some armed robbers were trying to rob a bank and started by firing into  the air to foreplay terror, others said they had even robbed one of the banks and were only trying to shoot their way to escape. But the police said the initial shooting was done by rival cult groups before their men responded to dispel them. 

All these appear to be mere conjectures.

But in the midst of the ding-dong and nebulous arguments, one thing was certain; a life was lost. A poor woman; a single mother of three who was on her way back from the day’s hustle, was caught by a stray bullet and her remains are now lying stone cold in the morgue, leaving her three promising children to face the hardship of life alone.

Victoria Ibanga, who was a staff of Uyo Local Education Authority, was returning from work at about 3pm when the bus she boarded was caught in the theatre of the gun battle. While still inside the bus, a stray bullet hit her and she died few hours later due to lack of immediate medical attention.

Her children (two girls and one boy) will now have to struggle through life. The son, David Peter, 20, said his dream was to become an electrical engineer. If only that would come true now.

“Since I heard the news of my mum’s demise, I have not been myself. I feel very bad. Why would she die now that I need her most? I have sat for JAMB exams this year and I want to get to the university to study electrical engineering.

“Life was already a struggle while she was still alive because my father had left her many years ago and she had to fend for us all alone. Now that she has died, how will I and my younger sisters survive? I am praying that the government and well meaning Nigerians will come to our aid,” he said.

Recounting her story, the younger sister to the deceased, Ndukeabasi Usanga, said that the deceased who lived with her for about three years was her prayer partner. She said that nothing could be more hurting to her than her demise.

“My sister left home on Tuesday lively and sound to work. She was a single mother with three children. We were expecting her to come home to meet her children but up till 5pm, we did not see her. We thought she went somewhere. But before then, I spoke with her on phone earlier that day.

“I called her to get drugs for her first daughter because she took ill. I waited for her to return but she did not. By 6:03pm, someone called with her number and asked if I knew the owner of the phone and I said ‘yes it is my sister’s phone.’ He said; ‘Ask the person to come to Apico House to pick her phone.’

“I asked the man why the phone was there and he said that there was an armed robbery attack and that the owner of the phone must have run away leaving the phone behind. Later the person called again around 6:30pm to tell me that the person was yet to come and get her phone and that he wanted to leave the place. He is actually a police officer around that place,” she said.

Usanga said she left to church hoping that the deceased might have gone somewhere that took her time. Her mother who is also leaving with her, called her at about 8pm to inform her that the sister was yet to return home.

She left church immediately in search of her sister. She said that she had visited several hospitals to see if she could find Victoria but unfortunately could not find any trace of her that night.

“I was on the road up till 10pm and in the process of the search, someone told me that one woman was caught by a stray bullet and was dumped by a certain gas station where people gathered to watch and that she was later put inside the mini bus in which in which the stray bullet had hit her  and taken away.

“I started the search as early as 6am the following morning. I went to hospitals I could not visit the previous day to continue the search. It was at one of the hospitals that someone who my sister had been chatting with on Facebook, told me that she was there at the scene of the incidence. She told me that I should go to Area Command to ask after for my sister,” she said.

According to her account, when she got to the police station that she was directed to, she was told by one of the policemen that her sister was however brought there and was still breathing, but was sent to C Division since the case was not within the command’s jurisdiction.

That is how Nigerians, especially the police connived to play to play hide and seek with the life of the woman.

“I rushed to C Division that morning and I was showed the bus that brought her. I started searching the bus to see if I could find anything to identify that she was actually the one because up till then, I did not still believe that she was the one. When I saw her shoe, I said ‘this is the shoe that she actually wore to work’.

“That’s when I knew it was my sister indeed. So I asked the policemen to show me to where my sister was and they told me she was dead. I requested to see her corpse and I was told it was taken to the morgue. They however gave me one police escort in the vehicle I went with to take me to the morgue where my sister’s body was dumped,” she said.

Usanga however pleaded with the government and well meaning Nigerians to assist her sister’s children through school.

“My challenge is the children that she is leaving behind. I pray that government should do what is necessary to ensure that the children are taken care of. They should continue their education,” she said.

Whether it was cult war or armed robbery; one thing is sure, the hoodlums went away free without a scratch as none was wounded or arrested. 

The state police relations officer (PPRO) Mr Ikechukwu Chukwu, who had earlier issued a statement to the effect that the shooting was a clash between some unnamed rival cult group, was later to lambasted social media bloggers who insisted that the shooters were armed robbers. 

“To set the records straight and give a clear and correct picture of issues raised in the said online report, the Command wish to inform the public that there was no robbery attack on any commercial bank anywhere in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The incident that was erroneously referred to was a clash between rival cult gangs along the road which was promptly contained by the swift response of our patrol teams,” he said in a press release. 

Chuckwu equally told our correspondent on phone on Friday evening that so far no arrest had been made even as he confirmed Victoria Ibanga’s death. 

The State commissioner of police, Mr Zubairu Muazu, only assumed duties a few hours earlier that Tuesday had warned criminals to leave town because he had arrived.

“I am here to continue the good job my predecessor started in this state. We will ensure peace and security and will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the peace we restore is maintained.

“I advise all criminals to leave Akwa Ibom State if there is any. The Nigeria Police is ready to ensure that their activities are curtailed and we have all it takes to do that,” he said.

Hitherto, Akwa Ibom was generally considered a state with the lowest crime rate in the South South and South East geographical zones. But in recent days, it seems it is tired of such dull title. With Ukanafun local government becoming a theatre of barefaced murder by cultists, who kill council officials, politicians and school teachers unmolested in broad day light, every other week, the new CP had better match his words with action, else criminals may rather run him of town, possibly, like his predecessor.

Last line: But if robbers, sorry, rival cult groups exchanged fire with the police and a woman was hit by stray bullet, from whose gun did the deadly slug fly out – that of the robbers, sorry, cultists, or the police? END

 

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Having child with cerebral palsy is no tragedy – Nonye Nweke, founder, CpCentre

By Josfyn Uba And Christine Onwuachumba

Nonyelum Nweke’s journey into the world of children with cerebral palsy started out of her desire to parent a child. She had no biological child and the only option open to her was adoption, which she gladly took to.

However, the adoption turned out a “situation turned bad,” her adopted daughter had cerebral palsy. And the child is her only child.

Since then, she has chosen to live with it, and now Nweke sees it as a road through which she has found peace and purpose in life.

Seven years down the line, Nweke’s pains have been turned into purpose and fulfillment.

In an interview with Daily Sun recently in her Surulere, Lagos, office, Nweke, who is the coordinator and founder of the Cerebral Palsy Centre (CpCentre), told her story, her fulfillment and why she is not interested in having another child.

It has been seven years since you started the centre; would you like to share with us some things you’ve learnt along the way? 

I have learnt a lot since starting the centre, more than I knew back in 2010. These are not things formally learnt. They are combinations of what you hear the doctors say about children with cerebral palsy (CP), things you read in books and on the Web and things learnt as a mother, a service provider and a caregiver of sometimes up to 19 other children with CP at a time.

Some of these are contrary to common beliefs here in Nigeria. Most parents with children with CP love their children just like they do to other children. They want to help their children. What they lack often is the means, as there are no facilities and support systems available to them.

 CP is more common among children than most people know. It is the most common motor disorder among children. Statistically, it is said to affect 10 out of every 1,000 (that is 1 out of 100) live births every year in Lagos, yet we do not see these children.

 Though it is not curable, with the right therapies, treatment and support, the lives of children with CP can improve tremendously and they can reach their full potential.  

 Apart from being a parent to a child with cerebral palsy, are there other life-changing situations you have encountered?

 Starting the Cerebral Palsy Centre) was life-changing for me. It is the first of such a centre in Nigeria as far as I know, thus there was no model to follow.

When I started the centre, children were brought in the morning and were picked up in the evening. By the fourth year, the need to run a boarding facility became imperative. I had to apply for approval for that.

In 2015, the centre, with the approval of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development of Lagos State, I started a boarding facility for children whose parents live far from the centre, and this brought me into situations where I had to take up abandoned children with severe CP, children with CP whose mothers died and the fathers were unable to take care of them.

It was totally life-changing for me. The children have become my responsibility. 

What message or advice do you have for parents whose child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy? 

I would advise that you quickly arrive in what I call the “bus stop of acceptance.” That is the stage where you accept the fact that your child has CP.

It is only with this mindset that you can think of how to help your child. CP is not the best diagnosis but at the same time it is not a tragedy. Nobody can take care of your child better than yourself. It is your responsibility to do that. So, having a child with CP is a life-changing event, thus you do not expect to keep doing things the way you used to, unless you do not want to help the child.

I believe that everything God allows is for a purpose. You will find that purpose when you truly commit to help your child. You must look beyond your child.

 What are the likely causes of CP and are there any preventive measures to avoid this condition, especially with the state of the health system in Nigeria? 

In Nigeria and most developing countries, the major causes of CP include severe birth axphysia. That situation is when a baby comes out not crying, which means the baby is not breathing and not taking in oxygen. This affects the brain. This often happens when there is prolonged labour. 

The other is neo-natal jaundice, which occurs when a baby has high level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow substance that the body creates when it replaces old red blood cells.

I think that, with better medical attention, these incidences could be reduced, if not totally avoided. To me, cases of jaundice are clear malpractices. Hospitals should be equipped not just with facilities to monitor the bilirubin level of babies but with facilities to start treatment as soon they realise that the level is high. Also, doctors should advice mothers on the need to have caesarean section deliveries, if the need arises, instead of being in labour for a very long time while opting for natural birth. 

 

 On motherly love, do you desire having more children, either by natural birth or adoption? 

This journey of Nonye and cerebral palsy started out of my desire to parent a child. I did not have a biological child. The option for me was adoption and I took that but it turned out that my daughter had CP.

It may appear to be a “situation turned bad” but, instead, I choose to see it as a route through which I found my purpose in life. Painful, yes, but all the pains have been turned into purpose.

As for having other children, there is no room for that. I have with me children abandoned by their parents. Children whose mothers have died and the fathers are not able to take care of them. It appears as if I am destined to improve the quality of lives of this group of children. I am at peace with that.

With your experience, what would you say are peoples’ attitudes towards children living with cerebral palsy?

 There has been positive change in people’s attitude towards children with CP. Of course, that is attributable to the fact that there is increase in awareness and understanding of the condition. Since the inception of CpCentre, a couple of organisations and even individuals, adults with CP, have come up and joined the campaign of creating awareness of the condition.

And with the Internet now more available to a wider population, people can read up on the condition and know that it is only a medical issue and has nothing to do with those negative thoughts that were associated with it in the past.

What would you say are the successes as a result of your campaign on cerebral palsy in Nigeria? 

Apart from the fact that my starting CpCentre has made a good number of parents and some adults with milder forms of CP to join in the campaign of creating awareness of CP and a few providing services, what I count as successes are the children whose lives I directly touch, parents, particularly mothers, single mothers, who are able to improve their lives because I am helping them take care of their children.

Then, children who have made remarkable progress, especially those who, without the centre, most likely would not have made that level of progress, like the child who has progressed so much not only is she in a mainstream school, but we were able to get her a scholarship.

 

How have you been running the centre, do parents pay fees?

We are sustained by the goodwill of individuals and some organisations, especially faith-based organisations. Parents do not pay us any fees.

In fact, most of them cannot afford to pay. Those who can are moved to support the centre. My dream is that parents, families will “own” the centre and see it as their responsibility to see to the survival and growth of the centre.  We look up to individuals and organisations for support.

What is your greatest challenge? 

Apart from staff wages and administrative cost of running the centre, our greatest need is accommodation. We are at the moment in a rented property. Apart from being expensive, it is ill-fitted for the growth we have attained and the purpose we hope to achieve for the children. We desire to have a purpose-built facility, a home for children with CP. We would love a piece of land for this purpose.

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