Young people across Nigeria have been urged to leverage on the power of the Internet and social media in particular to create jobs and earn decent incomes on their own.
Making the call during a free skills acquisition training during the 2019 National Festival of Arts and Culture in Benin, Edo State, Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, said that despite its many distractions, the Internet and social media held several economic empowerment benefits and therefore Nigerian youth must seize the opportunity.
He said, “Many of young people in Nigeria can produce good items, the time they use on WhatsApp and other social media platforms on activities that bring no value to them, they can use to market their skills and seek economic empowerment.
“On our own, we will continue to use the platform culture has provided to give Nigerians the chance to empower themselves economically.”
Young people were trained on digital marketing, traditional shoe making, make-up, tailoring amongst others during the event.
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The Oba of Benin Kingdom, Oba Ewuare II, has said that culture and sports have unified Nigerians more than politics.
The revered monarch, who gave the submission on Saturday at the Benin Golf Course during the ongoing National Festival of Arts and Culture in Edo State, added that it was time for all sections of the country to put aside their differences and embrace peace and tolerance to move Nigeria forward.
Oba Ewuare II further noted that culture had been an instrument for entrenching peace, unity and national integration, stating that as a major custodian of Nigeria’s rich culture, he will not hesitate to promote the country’s tradition anywhere in the world.
While commending the National Council for Arts and Culture led by Otunba Segun Runsewe for bringing together different states across the federation to display Nigeria’s rich culture and tradition over the past week in Edo, the monarch called on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to invest in culture and tourism as a way of diversifying the country’s economy.
Also speaking at NAFEST, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, disclosed that government will now reposition culture and the arts sector to foster peace and unity, generating employment opportunities in the process for Nigerians.
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The Oba of Benin Kingdom, Oba Ewuare II, has said that culture and sports have unified Nigerians more than politics.
The revered monarch, who gave the submission on Saturday at the Benin Golf Course during the ongoing National Festival of Arts and Culture in Edo State, added that it was time for all sections of the country to put aside their differences and embrace peace and tolerance to move Nigeria forward.
Oba Ewuare II further noted that culture had been an instrument for entrenching peace, unity and national integration, stating that as a major custodian of Nigeria’s rich culture, he will not hesitate to promote the country’s tradition anywhere in the world.
While commending the National Council for Arts and Culture led by Otunba Segun Runsewe for bringing together different states across the federation to display Nigeria’s rich culture and tradition over the past week in Edo, the monarch called on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to invest in culture and tourism as a way of diversifying the country’s economy.
Also speaking at NAFEST, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, disclosed that government will now reposition culture and the arts sector to foster peace and unity, generating employment opportunities in the process for Nigerians.
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At least nine persons have died in a multiple motor accident which occurred at Ijebu-Ife in Ogun-East Council Area of Ogun State, SaharaReportershas learnt.
The crash occurred on Saturday and included some passengers transiting from Ondo.
Among the passengers were school teachers travelling from Okitipupa area of Ondo to Ogun State for a wedding ceremony.
Families of some of the victims confirmed the sad incident to our correspondent on Saturday.
One of the family members, Mr Ayodele Ikuomola, who lost an aunt in the accident, confirmed the tragedy.
He said, “I lost an aunt to the accident while she was travelling from Okitipupa to Ogun State for a wedding ceremony.
“Some teachers that join them on the trip lost their lives as well.
“I learnt that the driver of one of the vehicles tried to overtake another and rammed into a tanker in the process.”
Speaking with SaharaReporters, Caretaker Chairman, Okitipupa Local Council Area, Abayomi Adesanya, also confirmed the accident.
He said, “I spoke with the branch chairman of the NURTW in Okitipupa and he confirmed the accident to me.
“I was also told that our people both from Ilaje and Okitipupa were on the trip to the wedding in Ogun State.”
Ogun Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Clement Oladele, confirmed the tragedy as well.
He said, “The crash was caused by armed robbers operating on the road.
“The other crash involved an 18-seater bus which collided with a tanker and left seven persons dead.
“Our officers were able to rush down to the scene and rescue some persons who sustained injuries.”
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At least nine persons have died in a multiple motor accident which occurred at Ijebu-Ife in Ogun-East Council Area of Ogun State, SaharaReportershas learnt.
The crash occurred on Saturday and included some passengers transiting from Ondo.
Among the passengers were school teachers travelling from Okitipupa area of Ondo to Ogun State for a wedding ceremony.
Families of some of the victims confirmed the sad incident to our correspondent on Saturday.
One of the family members, Mr Ayodele Ikuomola, who lost an aunt in the accident, confirmed the tragedy.
He said, “I lost an aunt to the accident while she was travelling from Okitipupa to Ogun State for a wedding ceremony.
“Some teachers that join them on the trip lost their lives as well.
“I learnt that the driver of one of the vehicles tried to overtake another and rammed into a tanker in the process.”
Speaking with SaharaReporters, Caretaker Chairman, Okitipupa Local Council Area, Abayomi Adesanya, also confirmed the accident.
He said, “I spoke with the branch chairman of the NURTW in Okitipupa and he confirmed the accident to me.
“I was also told that our people both from Ilaje and Okitipupa were on the trip to the wedding in Ogun State.”
Ogun Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Clement Oladele, confirmed the tragedy as well.
He said, “The crash was caused by armed robbers operating on the road.
“The other crash involved an 18-seater bus which collided with a tanker and left seven persons dead.
“Our officers were able to rush down to the scene and rescue some persons who sustained injuries.”
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‘School na scam!’ This disheartening cry puffs into the cyber space and could be heard inside the four walls of a dilapidated university classroom from the lips of a disgruntled young generation. Their pulsating anger worries. “Of what use is it in investing time and resources in a system that has proven to be inefficient, corrupt and almost useless?” they quiz with a gloomy face discoloured and contoured by grief.
The reason for their agony is not far-fetched.
Enamoured by the prospect of what a tertiary institution offers, they had walked happily into its compound but before one could chant Jack Robinson, sexual perverts feigning to be lecturers prepositioned sex to female students in exchange for good grades. Yes! Lecturers who are entrusted to teach furiously sought for means to peep through the underwear of their students. How horrible. More disturbing is the fact that those who resisted this affront received some terrible lashing. Using the strength of silence, these varsity monsters humiliated, harassed, blackmailed these students until a considerable number of them had to drop out. These were learners who had trusted their future into the hands of lecturers cheated out of their destinies. Isn’t it fraudulent to take advantage of someone because of his or her vulnerability or status? This answers the question why this young generation of learners could have the effrontery to call Nigeria’s school system an abode of scammers.
Granted, Nigeria’s education system have been dragged into a stinky cesspool by the very ones entrusted to man it. Lately I perused through a report that exposed how university lecturers cozen thousands of naira out of the pockets of their students all in the name of selling ‘vital’ handouts and ‘supervising’ projects. This ossifies my position that our universities and polytechnics are only a sheer veneer of a walking corpse. What legal ground does a lecturer have in forcefully collecting huge amount of money from students? Varsity teachers tantalised by greed are seeking to be business tycoons overnight such that they have stooped so low to help students plagiarise projects for a token. This is the trend in most institutions. Students no longer do projects and research as long as they slip some ‘change’ into the bank accounts of their lecturers. Often times it is the lecturers who threaten these students to engage in such malpractice. An attempt by any fellow to deter in this fraudulent scheme would lead one to hole an F.
Welcome to Nigeria’s education system where degrees are auctioned. The kind of degree you want depends on the amount you are able to cough out. This explains the dearth of manpower in the various fields expected to drive up the goals of this nation. Universities churn out thousands of graduates annually into a gaping-mouthed society but how many ever turn out to be productive? We hear of doctors killing patients by ‘mistake'. We hear of surgeons leaving medical tools inside the bodies of patients after a surgery, leading to avoidable deaths. A saying goes this way: what you sow is what you reap. This applies to this awful scenario. Since death is what have been sown into the lives of those graduates, there is no doubt that the society will reap the same thing. Our school system has failed in ensuring that only qualified individuals are poured into the society due to corruption that has entangled its webs around it.
School nascam because Nigeria’s school system is not living up to expectations. Nigerian youth — the ones yearning for a change — having considered the predicaments surrounding their learning institutions, couldn’t fight better than to cry foul and we must keep crying foul until a positive solution is tendered to bring the anomaly to an end.
Education is the bedrock of any nation. Where this is besmeared with corrupt practices and managed by conmen, Nigeria would forever remain inside the gulag of darkness. It is time for a revolution in our academic sector.
Exactly 20 years after Nigeria supposedly got rid of men in camouflage, the country’s democracy is experiencing a nosedive in ways that words alone cannot adequately capture. Ironically, members of the judiciary appear to be aiding the attack against Nigeria’s democracy.
An example is the recent ruling in Agba Jalingo’s case in Calabar, Cross River, where the presiding judge, Justice Simon Akpah Amobeda, granted an application filed by the police asking to conceal the identity of its witness. This ruling calls for serious concern and questions the criminal justice system in Nigeria. In delivering his ruling, the judge held that the police’s witness will testify behind curtains in a cubicle. He said the defendant and his counsel will not be privy to the name, alias or any other details of the witness. “His Lordship” did not stop there, he further ruled that the public and the press will not be allowed into the courtroom whilst the witness is testifying against Agba Jalingo.
Section 36(3)(4) of the Nigerian constitution provides as follows:
(3) “The proceeding of a court or the proceedings of any tribunal relating to the matters mentioned in subsection (1) of this section (including the announcement of the decisions of the court or tribunal) shall be held IN PUBLIC.”
(4) “Whenever any person is charged with a criminal offence, he shall, unless the charge is withdrawn, be entitled to a fair hearing IN PUBLICwithin a reasonable time by a court or tribunal.”
Never before have I heard of a trial where an accused defends himself against allegations made by a masquerade. Justice Simon Amobeda’s ruling is unacceptable! It betrays the tenets of justice and threatens Jalingo's right to a fair and impartial trial.
In ACN VS LAMIDO (2012) the Supreme Court held that:
“The test whether a party in a case was given fair hearing is the impression of a reasonable person who was present at the trial or who was aware of the proceedings. From his observation, he would have no difficulty concluding if justice has been done in the case.”
Going by the doctrine of precedent, Justice Amobeda is duty-bound to follow and apply the decision of the Supreme Court by allowing members of the public to be present at Agba Jalingo’s trial in order to tell whether or not Jalingo had a fair and just trial.
More disturbing is the fact that Justice Amobeda previously dismissed a bail application filed by Agba Jalingo and subsequently sent him to prison where he has now spent more than one month. His primary crime being that he carried out his journalistic duties by daring to ask the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, to account for a missing N500m meant for a microfinance bank in Calabar.
The judge’s decision to now welcome masked witnesses to testify against Jalingo and to bar the public and the press from witnessing the proceeding, is unjust, lacks transparency and therefore unacceptable in a 21st century democracy. The judge has the right to recuse himself from this case if he cannot ensure that the scale of justice is balanced throughout the proceeding.
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Following the resurgence of thuggery and hooliganism in Edo State in recent times after three years of concerted efforts by the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki to stamp this anti-development vice out of the state and create employment opportunities for young people in a productive manner, I am forced to cry out as a democracy activist/advocate who joined forces along with others across Nigeria as a 17-year-old in 1993 after the annulment of June 12 election to say democracy is under threat in Edo State.
I will not keep quiet and allow those who never took risk either openly or secretly to fight the military to appropriate democracy to themselves, their pockets and their cronies. Fighting alongside the present Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, Comrade Equity Ohonbanmu, Dr Osagie Obayuwanna, Ephraim Ubaini, Festus Ukejie, Sylvester Odion Akhaine, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, Friday Ughoriakhi and others too numerous to mention, I never imagined that one day after 20 years of successfully wrestling Nigeria from the stranglehold of the military some miscreants hiding under thuggery and hooliganism will attempt to hijack democracy from the people.
This is a warning to those who believe they have the machinery of violence with them aided by some people who think they presently occupy high offices to shield criminals from the long arm of the law that the military did not exit politics to pave way for another form of dictatorship under the guise of democratic dictatorship, this is a final warning to these set of people that those who genuinely fought for democracy are still alive, hale and healthy and capable of defending democracy all over again till all pseudo anti-people reengages are defeated.
The scenario that is building up in Edo State if not tamed is capable of derailing Nigeria’s democracy where an elected governor who has been adjudged as civil, well trained, educated and working hard to make Edo State an industrial hub, eliminate youth unemployment, eliminate multiple taxation, streamline land ownership to encourage private investment, promote citizen engagement and popular participation of the people in governance, making Edo safe for all, building institutions and providing conducive atmosphere for civil servants and building a state where merit, excellence and social values are held high, will be attempted to be intimidated by those who claim they brought him to office.
This is against the spirit of June 12 that we celebrate every year. The will of one man must not be manipulated to mean the will of the people. I stand by the principles of farewell to poverty, I stand by the principle of no to dictatorship in all guise.
We have opened several channel of communication with those who are genuinely aggrieved both within and outside of the party to come for dialogue and peaceful settlement of the issues if really they exist, but some of them who do not mean well for the people of the state have remained recalcitrant and bent on causing disharmony due to selfish interest. If they really fought for this democracy the way some of us did between 1993 and 1999, they would have looked at the bigger picture and sheathe their sword(s).
I will end this piece with a quotation from Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things fall apart’ that those whose palm kernel where cracked by the benevolent chi (spirit) remain humble.
Quietness and peaceful demeanour does not mean cowardice. Silence does not mean foolishness. There is blood in the human system yet we sweat out water. A goat pushed to the wall will react and for the first time the pursuer will realise that the goat has teeth. A word is enough for the wise.
I once wrote: “There is no morality in global politics. It is eat or be eaten. The nucleus of international relations, beyond the niceties of diplomacy, is interest. Substantially, foreign relations are a trade of interests. Nothing is given for nothing. Every country seeks its own even in the extension of charity to another country.”
What is Russia’s interest in Nigeria – Africa? Well, the interest of outsiders in Africa has always been the same – to plunder the continent. It is the same as that of the conveners of the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, who arrogantly arrogated to themselves the task of shaping the future of Africa by their own greed and lust for glory.
On the surface, Russia’s interest in Nigeria is economic and political. Russia, or rather, the former Soviet Union had strong imprints on Africa – during the Cold War Era – before its subsidence in 1991. In fact, the continent was the theatre of the so-called ideological war between the United States and the Soviet Union. Most of the casualties of this proxy combat were from Africa.
For example, the clash of Soviet and US "atomic" interest in the Congo precipitated the slaughter of President Patrice Lumumba in January 1961.
As a refresher, here is how this felony is synopsised by the Atomic Heritage Foundation.
“The Soviet Union, too, saw opportunity in Lumumba, and the ground was set for a proxy war that would last five years. The main concern for both nations was not the wellbeing of the Congolese people or even financial gain. Rather, both nations were worried that the rich uranium mines in the southern areas of the Congo would come under the other’s control. While both the United States and the Soviet Union had uranium deposits of their own, the uranium located in the Congo was extremely valuable given its high quality. In fact, a majority of the uranium used in the “Little Boy” atomic bomb came from the Congolese mines.
After being denied Western aid to control rebel factions in the south of Congo, Lumumba turned to the Soviets, who provided him with weapons and military advisors. This decision worried officials in the United States, who now believed the budding nation would officially turn communist. Doing so would provide Moscow with crucial uranium deposits, while depriving the United States of their most prosperous overseas mines. In a backchannel coup, United States military advisors helped Mobutu and Belgian operatives overthrow Lumumba. Lumumba was then arrested and transported to Katanga, where he and several other of his supporters were summarily executed.”
Really, Russia’s interest in Nigeria is obviously not altruistic. The Eastern European country is staging a comeback to the epicentre of global politics, and Africa must bend its back for Russia's ride to "reckoning". President Putin has not masked his intentions of restoring the “Soviet-era influence and glory”. And Nigeria (Africa) is an important piece in this quest. Africa has always been a sport for the East and West.
With the growing influence of China in Africa and the receding hold of the US on the continent, Russia is spoiling for a place under the African sun.
On the economic sphere, Russia is a late-comer in trade with Africa – with just $20bn in trade with the continent in 2018 unlike China’s $200bn and the US’ $61bn in the same year. But the country is playing catch up with the recent summit with African leaders in Sochi and previous rapprochements.
But what is Nigeria’s interest?
President Buhari says his administration will “inject fresh energy into Russia-Nigeria relations”, and he calls for a “stronger partnership” with the country. As a matter of fact, this “renewed” camaraderie leaves me with mixed feelings. Nigeria is fighting a war – against insurgency – and needs weapons. And of course, Russia transacts business without scruples and conditions. We need Russia because we need the weapons. So, strengthening our ties with the country is not such a bad idea.
Also, Russia has little regard for principles, norms or rules in business and politics. It does the deal and delivers the goods. This is a political character it shares with China.
But is the growing influence of countries like China and Russia that put nugatory value on the rule of law on Nigeria not ominous? And could Nigeria be dragged into a tug between two long-time adversaries – US and Russia?
Well, I think, the US under Donald Trump may be too carefree to care about what is happening in Nigeria or Africa. After all, it is, “America first”. But I recall what an American official told me earlier in the month in a conversation on US’ apathy towards Africa. He said: “Anywhere Russia enters, America’s interest is awakened.”
However, with the growing influence of China, and now Russia on Nigeria, we should not take the execrable examples of “democratic dictatorship” from these countries. That will be our ruin.
China cares little about the internal politics of other countries, but Russia is notorious for propping dictatorships. This should worry us.
Fredrick Nwabufo, a writer and journalist, can be reached @FredrickNwabufo
A popular radio presenter and social commentator, Edmond Obilo, has called on the Nigerian Government and Oyo State Government to fix a large ditch along Mokola Road in Ibadan that has been causing accidents.
Obilo, who posted a video showing a car in the large ditch on Facebook, said if the roads were in good condition, a lot of accidents would be averted.
He said, “A strategy for total control of a people is wear them out with poverty, poor education and endanger their lives with weak infrastructure.
"Once this is achieved, the people become pawns in the hands of an evil leadership.
“The Nigerian political class has fully embraced this method. But when it backfires, it leads to conflagration of unimaginable proportion.”
A popular radio presenter and social commentator, Edmond Obilo, has called on the Nigerian Government and Oyo State Government to fix a large ditch along Mokola Road in Ibadan that has been causing accidents.
Obilo, who posted a video showing a car in the large ditch on Facebook, said if the roads were in good condition, a lot of accidents would be averted.
He said, “A strategy for total control of a people is wear them out with poverty, poor education and endanger their lives with weak infrastructure.
"Once this is achieved, the people become pawns in the hands of an evil leadership.
“The Nigerian political class has fully embraced this method. But when it backfires, it leads to conflagration of unimaginable proportion.”
The family of late Prof Pius Adesanmi has announced the burial of the Nigerian-born Canadian scholar, writer, literary critic and columnist, who died on March 10, 2019 when an Ethiopian Airline aircraft crashed shortly after take-off.
Adesanmi, born February 27, 1972, was author of the popular book Naija No Dey Carry Last, a 2015 collection of satirical essays.
Adesanmi was a Fellow of the French Institute for Research in Africa from 1993 to 1997, and of the French Institute of South Africa in 1998 and 2000.
From 2002 to 2005, he was Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature at the Pennsylvania State University, United States.
In 2006, he joined Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, as a professor of Literature and African Studies.
He was the director of the university's Institute of African Studies until his death.
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