EDO 2020: It’s my time to govern Edo — Ize-Iyamu

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu

•How I ‘ll restore Edo’s lost glory
•Oshiomhole abused me in 2016 because he had bad product

By Mike Ebonugwo & Clifford Ndujihe

Edo State Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, took his quest for the Edo top job to
Lagos, last week, and told reporters that he would not allow political opponents distract him as they did in 2016. Ize-Iyamu, who had earlier granted an interview to Vanguard, said with his SIMPLE Agenda, he will transform Edo, if elected

On the belief that some loyalists of Governor Godwin Obaseki, who did not defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with him, might play the role of moles in APC during the election

Yes, we know that there are moles within the party but I want to assure you that we will deal with that. I will not elaborate on our plan to deal with that, but we will deal with it.

READ ALSO:Mamman Daura’s Monkey-post Meritocracy

On rising tension in Edo and how violence can be averted before, during and after the poll

We have said that we want this election to be issue-based. We don’t even want to resort to name-calling, let us focus on our agenda. I can assure you that we as party will do everything possible to avoid violence during the election and we hope that the other parties, especially the PDP will do the same because of what is already playing out.

They have campaign billboards and posters across the state; in fact they started erecting such billboards before us but we approached the agency of government in-charge and asked about available spaces and the cost.

They told us and we paid only to find out that a top official of the government said ‘how can APC be allowed to have campaign billboards at strategic locations?’

The next thing that happened was that they began to remove our campaign billboards. We have petitioned the commissioner of Police in Edo State and the state Director of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Our campaign organization also addressed a press conference, where it made it clear that the PDP must be accommodating and tolerant as well as avoid anything that will trigger violence. We could have taken the law into our hands but we didn’t do that. From that time till now, they have not mentioned that one of their billboards was destroyed by our supporters.

So, I am assuring you that there will be no violence during the election as we will do our best and will cooperate with the security agents to make sure that the election is peaceful.

 

Have you been able to address those factors that worked against you in the 2016 governorship election?

If you had followed that election, you would have found out that despite the fact that I was coming from an opposition party in the state at that time, it was not easy for the ruling party. They had to postpone the election a day to it and brought it back after 18 days and when the result started coming out and I was leading, you saw the drama that ensued and announcement of the results had to be stopped.

By the time they came back, the whole thing had changed. But, when the Supreme Court says a particular person won, you don’t have to argue. However, I can assure you that everything that happened then have been addressed and this time is our time.

 

Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole said all sort of things about you during the last election, but you are working with him now. How do you react to that?

Yes, Oshiomhole threw punches at me in 2016, but people tend to have short memory. Oshiomole was at Ben Idahosa University, when I was being given a doctorate and he spent over one hour praising me for my contributions in his government and the role I am playing in the state.

Oshiomhole also came to my farm at one time, when I was graduating students and he listed the roles I was playing in the state. At my 50th birthday, there was no word he didn’t use to describe me including the fact that if he wants to mention those, who have helped him to succeed in government, there is no way my name will not be there.

So, if during the campaigns for the 2016 governorship election he was abusing me because I was on the other side, what do you expect?

Of course, he needed to abuse me, especially when he didn’t have a good product. You can imagine how Governor Obaseki started his campaign for the forthcoming election. They placed a big screen on Ring road in Benin, where everybody passes and one would have thought that all he would be playing on that kind of screen are achievements of his administration in the last four years. Instead of that, he is playing about the governor of Kano State.

It was when condemnation came from within and outside Nigeria that they had to stop it. What has the governor of Kano State got to do with the governorship election in Edo State apart from being the chairman of APC National Campaign Council? I am sure that those who had gone through campaigns before will tell you that people will call their opponents all sorts of names during electioneering campaigns, but if you allow those things to border you, they will distract you.

In fact, I confessed somewhere that they succeeded four years because I had my SIMPLE Agenda but I didn’t talk about it as I spent all the time replying their insults. Everyone knew that I had the SIMPLE Agenda but I didn’t talk about what I had, which they never had. This time I will not allow myself to be distracted; I will tell Edo people about my SIMPLE Agenda.

 

Are you going do to limit yourself to just one term in office if you win the election giving the clamour of Edo Central, which has never produced governor or deputy to produce the governor in 2024?

When you are elected; are you elected to serve for two terms? You serve one term at a time and one term is four years, not eight years. So, in terms of planning, don’t leave any of your projects to run for an eight-year period or 20 year-period.

If you want people to appreciate what you are doing or you want your agenda to be measurable and achievable, let it be within the period of your tenure. So, when I say four years, I am clearly conscious of the number of years a tenure is. Again, we are not God and nobody knows who will be alive tomorrow and death is not determined by age or position. So, why don’t we talk about what is on ground and leave the future to God?

 

What is your take on security votes and are you going to stop it?

I won’t say that I will stop security votes because what is important is what you use it for. I can’t make security a cardinal part of my agenda and there are no security votes; it is ridiculous.

How do you handle security matters without financial votes? But the money you put in will determine or reflect the seriousness you attach to that area. So, for me, part of the security votes apart from going to the security agencies should also go to vigilance groups.

They should not be working for gratis. How can communities raise people, who are guarding farmlands and rural roads and government will not send them anything as support?

Today, all the forests in Edo State have been taken over by criminals. If security votes were well managed by the present administration in the state, those forests would have been cleaned out. So, let use security votes judiciously and not see it as money for the governor.

 

On whether his jumping from APC to PDP, and back to APC in four years is stable and won’t affect his chances

It is not a question of instability. It is a question of being consistent with your goals and objectives. I have never hidden the fact that I am in politics to access government for the benefit of my people. And so if you find yourself in a political party that is not interested in winning election or that does not take seriously the issue of winning, of course a tree does not make a forest, you alone cannot do it. It will mean that you will have to have a rethink. When I left APC to join the PDP, of course we were angry with the way certain things were going on. The congresses then (party congresses) were being manipulated against many of our associates and we were not happy about it and we felt that there was a conspiracy of sort against us and it was better to move elsewhere. It was not because we felt that the APC manifesto or vision was not compatible with our own dreams. And since we left, a lot of people talked to us to return. We have done so much to see how we could revamp the PDP but we just realised that we were in the midst of strange bed fellows. Most of the people there did not share in our dreams and visions, so we met and discussed it. We came to a conclusion that it will be a lot better if we returned to the APC. No matter what you will say, the APC is quite purposeful, especially in terms of being in government; they take it seriously. We believe that whatever impact we want to make in the political arena can only be achieved when we get to government.

 

It has been rumoured that the main reason you joined the APC is to have the ticket for this year’s election. How true is this?

You must know that as human beings we have ambitions; but again, they say man proposes, God disposes. Any man who is wise will look at all the options available to him. In coming back to the APC, we came with an open mind. Open mind number one: you can’t run away from the fact that there is already a governor who is from the APC and who of course will desire a second term. So, we came in knowing that there could be a consensus in this direction, it was possible. No matter the difference that was brewing, it was possible that reconciliation could come and the governor could get a consensus affirmation. If that happened, we were not going to take a walk and leave the party. So that option was available to us. We knew that it was there and we told ourselves if that happens it simply means that we would ensure that we push for areas to be considered in the developmental plans of the governor as a condition for supporting and making his election easy, that was one. Another option was that the party in its wisdom could choose a new person. And again, if that happened, were we going to walk away? No! We said the important thing is that we are in a party that would be in government and we would use our presence there to ensure that we are able to push for development for our people and our constituents, and that again was an option. And there was a third option that said look Pastor you were in this party before, you are one of the founders of this party. It is also possible that some of those who have been urging you to return and all your old friends there might say, look Pastor, why don’t you run for governorship. I said if that is also possible, why not? It will give us the opportunity to implement our SIMPLE AGENDA which we believe is all encompassing and something that is a veritable roadmap for the development of our state.

So those options were there. It is not as if one went with one mindset, it would have been foolish to just say you are going there only for governorship.

Assuming it doesn’t work and you know with the level of enlightenment in our state, no matter the promises, there are still lots of setbacks; so you can’t go with just one mindset that, oh you have to get governorship. So we actually came with that mindset of anything could happen but the important thing is let’s go there in strength, number and add value but we met a very hostile governor who despite our previous relationship and offers to work to make the party stronger was not receptive.

So, automatically, his attitude to us and to most party leaders has even reduced the option of him becoming the candidate. And then, there are other aspirants and to the glory of God, the leadership of the party said Pastor you have been one of us, nobody is going to discriminate against you because you left and came back and many of us still appreciate you and even when you campaigned in the other side, we were very impressed by the way you carried your campaign and the support you gathered and the manifesto which you presented and we urge you to also join and let us see how it goes. Recently, I had the privilege of playing host to APC leaders, quite a number of them from the 18 local government areas. At that meeting I was urged to contest for the governorship  and a motion was moved by no less a person than a former speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. David Iyoha who is from Edo Central Senatorial District and it was seconded by Hon. Washington Osifo who is one of the members-elect in the House of Assembly from Uhunmwode and Hajia Mariam, a former commissioner in the state under Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and also a former commissioner in this present government from Edo North, and everybody stood up and said Pastor you must contest. It was a very humbling experience and with that kind of reassuring confidence in me, it is difficult to say I wouldn’t contest and so far so good I seriously believe that that option is viable and is something that I should pursue for the good of our people. I am working towards it.

 

On re-working his SIMPLE Agenda in view of changing dynamics of politics, security and other crises that have evolved beyond what he imagined

There’s no doubt that things have changed. Insecurity, especially violence, like we have now is greater than what was prevailing then. To be fair to Adams Oshiomhole’s government when he was governor, there was a lot of political tolerance. Opponents were not being dealt with in the very brutal manner that you see now. When you play back, the only time bomb exploded was during my election and when you look at that incident and what is playing out now, it is very easy to now pin-point where that bomb that exploded in my wife’s clinic came from. It is clear because even the Comrade has himself admitted that when he was in government, he warned some people about their excessive resort to violence that that was not the way to go. Apparently, they didn’t listen to him and they are still not listening to him now. In fact, he has become a target of their violence and it is only that when he was in government he was more or less in charge and he didn’t give them the kind of encouragement and funding they now have where it has become very rampant. Even on the political security side, there is more emphasis on security because people were not scared to come to our state. You get to the airport, you will see Marijuana-smoking thugs without shirts, chanting war songs and for first time visitors in the state, you can imagine the apprehension and the many negative opinion that they will have of our state and these are state-sponsored.

 

On N700 million court case against him and potential effect on his chances

I am not deterred, I am not worried because that case started in 2015 and that case didn’t stop me from contesting the election and the issues are quite clear. Nobody has accused me of stealing any money. The money in question did not come to me personally, it did not come to my account. The only thing is that the party wanted some of us to ascertain that the money came, which we did. All those who signed and collected the money are known and are not hiding the fact. Recently we noticed that the same case was dismissed in Yobe. Election money, people signed for it and EFCC took them to court and by the time the EFCC closed their case, a no case submission was raised. One, The money in question did not come from government coffers, did not show that the money was raised from government coffers. I can tell you for free that the money that was sent to Edo was not money from Dasukigate, it was not money from NNPC or from Deziani. It is clear because those who lodged that money in the bank are from the private sector and we have been able to see their statements which they volunteered that they made contributions. So, the money was not government funds, neither did it come from illegal sources. That itself destroys the ingredient of money laundering because to be talking about money laundering it means that the funds in question came from an illegal source

Two, was there any personal benefit? Did you get this money for yourself? There was no personal enrichment. No personal benefit. Nobody can say that out of the N700 million, Pastor Ize-Iyamu took one naira from it. All the people signed and their statements are with the EFCC.

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What Sam Momah said about Nigeria before he died Wednesday

Major General Sam Momah

By Dirisu Yakubu

At the presentation of what turned out to be his last book on July 6, 2020, former Minister of Science and Technology, Major General Sam Momah (retd) left some food for thought in the consciousness of journalists, guests and dignitaries at the event. The book (his twelfth) “Why We Must Restructure Now,” is arguably the most authoritative piece of literature on the subject matter till date.

Away from the mere verbal tribute to restructuring, General Momah in the book he sub-titled “Nigerian Green Book,” dealt extensively with the mileage of the subject and allayed fears of those who see it as synonymous with resource control. Momah died in Abuja on Wednesday afternoon after long battle with diabetes.

Here are some of the things he said at historic event.

 

“Restructuring is not resource control. It is instead a globally agreed win-win strategy of replacing fossil energy with renewable energy in order to check effectively the worsening menace of global climate change which is causing floods of tsunami proportion, soil erosion, desertification and bush fire.

”Restructuring is that fundamental, constitutional and reformist change Nigeria must undergo to enable her replace sharing mindset with productive mindset for the sustainable development of the country.

”Restructuring is the deliberate and systematic replacement of oil with Technologically Diversified Economy, TDE. Diversification must be technology based because technology is the inexhaustible oil well for humanity.

READ ALSOThanksgiving: Paying Back or Paying Forward to God?

“To save cost, the existing 36 states will become provinces by doing away with (amongst others) legislative and judicial arms. Now, if the new 18 states recommended by 2014 national conference are accepted, they too will be provinces and a total of 54 (36+18) provinces should be formed. Again, the number of federating states will be determined by Extraordinary Constitutional Conference, ECC…The six geo-political zones will offer the best economic benefits if operated as the six federating states.

”To initiate the entire restructuring process, a Presidential bill should be passed by the National Assembly thus empowering the ECC to hold and its outcome will then be confirmed in a national referendum. In the legislative arm, the existing 109 senate seats will be reduced to 54 (one per province) while the 360 House of Representatives seats will be reduced to 108 (two per province).

“In a restructured Nigeria, legislative duties will be part-time while security vote, constituency projects and humongous allowances will be scrapped,

“It (restructuring) must be gradually phased within ten years (2020-2030)-the Decade of Destiny. There is a general global anticipation that COVID-19 vaccine including US RESMESIVIR will be out early in 2021. Also, COVID-19 is expected to fade away by December, 2020. The federal government should therefore use the rest of 2020 to plan and thus, use early 2021 to hold the constitutional conference which will amongst others, determine the various vital phases restructuring will go through from 2021-2030. The report of the constitutional conference should go through the National cum State and the Houses of Assembly and finally, get it through people’s referendum.

“The President Buhari administration has made giant strides in many areas including strategic infrastructural developments such as the 1.6km Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Highway/rail line, Kaduna-Abuja rail line; increase in production of local food items and improving on that by initiating the Green Imperative; blocking of financial leakages through TSA, PICA, IPPIS, enhanced remittance by NCS, JAMB, etc; nothing will best practicalise the progressive appellation of the All Progressives Congress and fulfil the CHANGE mantra and the NEXT LEVEL slogan on which it rode to power in 2015 and 2019 respectively than the restructuring of Nigeria.

“The success of restructuring will depend on how best all government functionaries and political leaders from top to bottom, patronize made-in-Nigeria goods. It’s unimaginable the catalyst effect plus the millions of jobs that will be created if the federal government directs and enforces the policy that henceforth, all official vehicles and computers must be assembled in Nigeria and 2030, all vehicles for government offices, should be based on renewable energy technology.”

“The governors and not the President as Nigerians erroneously think, should shoulder the burden of Nigeria’s economy because they (the governors) control the land, the manpower and the capital (security vote) while the President physically controls only the Aso Villa.”

 

Vanguard

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Salah Celebration comes alive as StarTimes partners brands to reward loyal customers

By Ayo Onikoyi

As Salah celebration rents the air in various homes across the nation, StarTimes has partnered with Indomie, Power Oil, Dano Milk and Kellogg’s Cornflakes to share the joyous moment with her loyal subscribers.

Select subscribers would be paid a surprise visit during Salah holidays with hampers containing Indomie Noodles, Power Oil’s vegetable oil, Kellogg’s corn flakes, Dano Milk and other family essentials.

Speaking on the initiative, Ali Auta, Content Marketing Manager, StarTimes Nigeria, said that the essence of the feast, which is selfless sacrifice, needs to be observed even though this year’s Eid-el-Kabir comes at a time that an unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic engulfs the world.

READ ALSO: StarTimes sees huge future in Nigerian entertainment sector

“Despite the effect of COVID-19 on family spending, many of our subscribers have kept on sacrificing other costs to keep enjoying the exciting entertainment that StarTimes brings to their homes. As a business, we find it worthy to celebrate with them.”

Alhaja Abibat, one of the subscribers who was paid a surprise visit in Lagos said, “This gesture from StarTimes is highly treasured because I am appreciated for what gives my family fun. With schools shut down and my kids forced to stay at home to stay safe from the pandemic, my children have found solace in StarTimes edutainment content like Toonami, ST Kids and Nat Geo Wide.”

VANGUARD

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My songs bring hope, comfort – Aida Benjamin

Aida Benjamin

By Ayo Onikoyi

Aida Benjamin ( real name Adaku Uwaoma Oseiza), the current Marketing Director for Enyimba Automated Shoe Company, Abia State is a woman of many parts. She could have been whatever she desires given her rich resume but has elected to do music albeit not quite in the common version we have come to know.

Hear her: “I decided to use my talent under the platform of my NGO to give hope as we usually do. And also to continue to encourage other Nigerians to support the less privileged, whatever we raise from our songs will continue to go to charity.

“I believe that God has given us talents and we must use them in one way or the other. Politics or business or career or family should not stop us. There’s not a better time than now that the world needs healing right from the soul to have such an amazing single.”

READ ALSO: Marriages should have expiration dates – Toke Makinwa

Aida is all fired up to release her first professional single titled “Obi Uto ( Danciya )” coming out on August 2, 2020. The single, which was produced by Mekoyo at U&I Recording Studios will be dropping complete with the video shot by Toca Mcbaror.

“This song brings hope and comfort while challenging us all to make the world a better place, especially by remembering the poor among us. So, I thought that the best way to use your talent is to touch lives,” she beamed in an interview with Potpourri.

Aida’s story is a mix of passion, love for God and for humanity. She is one amazing soul you will get to meet through the reverberating sound of her voice. She’s one who’s wealth of knowledge and accomplishments in career, politics and business have not diminished her love and passion.

Benjamin is the founder and CEO of Meaje Consulting Services that promotes Etiquette Nigeria, CEO of All that Glitters Jewellery Int’l and CEO of House of Aida (fast-rising fashion platform to showcase made in Aba and Nigerian products). She holds a BSc. in Business Administration and an MBA from the Business School, Netherlands.

VANGUARD

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Mamman Daura’s Monkey-post Meritocracy

By Dr Ugoji Egbujo

Mamman Daura is powerful. His uncle is the president. So when he talks we must listen.  And we must listen because the wife of the president once told us, in many words and rumpled face, that Mamman Daura had an enviable influence on the president.

That was why when Mamman came out from backstage to say that we should discard power rotation and chose the next president on merit many were agitated.

If Mamman Daura were another Buba Galadimma or one other old man from the Northern Elders Forum,  his musings would have caused no consternation. But was Mamman speaking for his taciturn nephew?

Only time will tell. But before it does, it’s important to remind Mamman that the only reason power rotation was adopted was to guarantee the participation of all sections of the country at the highest level of government.

Before power rotation became a convention, only northern Muslims and a strange man-like Abiola could look at the demographics and feel confident of winning the presidency.

Mamman Daura wants power rotation jettisoned because it denies the nation competence where it matters most. He actually said that power rotation had failed. So left to Mamman the nation should be run like the Super eagles where only the best play even if they are all from one womb.

The only difference is that these other political bests will be selected,  not by a sound technical adviser, but by millions of hungry and poorly educated folks.

Mamman Daura’s idea, despite the shortcomings of a democratic leadership selection process mediated by millions of hungry illiterate folks, thuggery and corruption,  is not bad. Mamman must be frustrated too.

This country has had more of its fair share of bad leaders. And if the country prioritized merit, and condemned mediocrity into the dustbin, it could redeem itself.

The only problem, however, is that Mamman is calling us out to play monkey post. In football, monkey post is played on a tiny fraction of the pitch and with a goal post just about 3 feet wide.

Monkey-post is played when either space or numbers needed to play the full pitch is lacking. Why is uncle Mamman canvassing for a monkey-post game?

Let’s play the game, play full pitch.

READ ALSO: Use Eid-el Kabir to renew commitment to nation-building, PDP stalwart tells Muslims

Nigeria is a country where Quota system and Federal character have had their knees on the neck of merit for decades. The federal government would conduct examinations for admissions into its colleges, and deny a child from Delta admission while admitting children from some states who have scored less than one third the score of the denied  Delta child.

The discrimination against merit happens everywhere. In the military, the spaces for officer training are allocated by state quota, and not by scores. Those who scored poorly are chosen and those who scored highly are left out. Even at the level of becoming army generals, state of origin affects promotions.

I agree with Uncle Mamman, I see where he is coming from.  He now wants competence and merit.

But we must not do things ‘half-half’ and half-heartedly. We must dislodge mediocrity and sectional sentiments through and through. So we must uproot Quota System ad Federal Character first, and immediately.

Yes, Mamman actually wants us to run this country like it were the Super Eagles. So that we can play our best players even if they are from one family and let only the certified best run the Army and the Customs.

I agree with him. Once we are on that path of justice and merit then  Zamfara can keep its Diamond and Bayelsa its oil. Then the  Federal Institutions can close there eyes and chose students with best scores and fill up all the spaces even if they are from one village.

If we start being One Nigeria today, nobody would bother when we choose to be no-more-zoning One Nigeria in 2023.

It’s true  Uncle Mamman, we have to let meritocracy breathe. But it cannot breathe in that tiny 2023 monkey post you are pitching. Let the game begin today and let it begin by a thoroughgoing constitutional amendment. For how long will Quota System, Federal Character and Zoning last?

We can do something to cushion the shock. Since many are afraid of domination, let’s ‘kukuma’ devolve power to the regions. In the regions, surrounded by kinsmen and political kindred spirits, folks would have no trouble accepting the rule of merit.

And those who fear they might never occupy the seat of president will have too much power at home to bother with the effigy, the plumed presidency,  at the centre.

But Uncle Mamman, until we begin to dislodge the knee of quota system and federal character from the neck of meritocracy, any talk about stopping power rotation will be deceitful. My people have a funny way of telling a man not to mess with their heads. They simply remind the man that human beings are not cows: mmadu aburo efi.

In 2023, power has to shift South. And when it comes south, it has to go to the part of the south yet to be accommodated in the rotation equation that began in  1999.

But if scales have fallen off the eyes of Nigeria, and we are now earnestly desirous of becoming One nation, then let’s begin in 2020,  by discarding quota system and federal character, devolving power to the regions and allowing resource control. That’s how to play full pitch Meritocracy.

Otherwise, in 2023, power has to go south, because mmadu aburo efi !

VANGUARD

 

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Thanksgiving: Paying Back or Paying Forward to God?

By Fr George Adimike

Essaying on thanksgiving wrestles with the dynamic of receiving and giving, which forms the fulcrum of being human. This dynamic affects the whole aspect of our lives, including natural and supernatural dimensions. It makes our urge to give to God and fellow humans a constant.

It is not surprising since we live our lives as active participants in a circle of relationship with God and others. This dynamic of receiving and giving expresses our divine sonship and daughtership as active participants and never as spectators in the divine-family relationship.

The reality of giving to God from the gifts he has given us accentuates our unique status as privileged sons and daughters. In consequence, the privilege of administering his gifts serves as a means of worshipping him and serving the needs of our neighbours.

In giving thanks, humans acknowledge that every good thing comes from God, and generally, they come through the instrumentality of others. God, the eternal generosity, never fails to provide for his household so that none is left starving.

In that context, thanksgiving is a celebration of this never-ending generosity of God, which implies that any true offertory keeps giving. As such, thanksgiving flows into ‘thanksliving’. To be specific, gratitude spells beatitude as an attitude of the one filled with grace. Rooted in grace, our acts of faith and love express the joy of salvation, which is gratuitous.

This grateful joy, which is both active and performative, expresses our awareness of the Lord’s gratuitousness and leads to a new level of depth in our appreciation of the prodigies of the Lord. This grace-consciousness drives our engagement with good works, informs the ministry of giving and landmarks one’s spiritual journey (cf. Matt. 6:2-4).

“Tout est grace’ says the French. All is grace, and nothing escapes the gratuitous benevolence and gracious benefaction of God. “If everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?” (1 Cor 4:7). All is grace and, for that, grace-attitude characterises quality human existence.

This grace-attitude parses gratitude, the virtue by which one appreciates all as grace and takes all as granted. The appreciation of this giftedness of all we have and are inspires and motivates one to give thanks. However, not a few give thanks with a mentality of debt and repayment.

God does not exchange his grace for our gratitude because it is always gratuitous. Grace is never subject to bargain. Simply, God does not barter his grace; He gives it. Though He has no need of our thanks, yet our thanksgiving fits within God’s universal government and supreme sovereignty of his love, benevolence and provision.

He does not require us to pay back what he gives gratuitously (cf. Rom 5:6-8). However, gratitude entails advancing the goodness so that his provision continues to create ripples of kindness and sparks up flames of love. In other words, thanksgiving frees gifts of God for a never-ending progression of generosity that benefits many more people.

In that case, it serves the need to promote goodness inherent in God’s creation, especially in institutions and humans. Our gratitude innately stems from our existence as humans, who partakes in the gratuitous gifts of God the giver of all gifts, and participates in proclaiming his glory (cf. Psalm 19: 1-14).

READ ALSO: Thanksgiving: I foresee glorious future for Nigeria ― Osinbajo

Hence, all thanksgivings participate in the worship of God by their benefit to the Church and the poor. Precisely, thanksgiving is a way of paying forward to God with a substantial ramification of blessing his name and human flourishing.

In consequence, true thanksgiving spells ‘thanksliving’ and thereby transforms doing to being. By its grace-consciousness, thanksgiving redeems us from self-referential congratulations, frees us from the lordship of ego and the ramifications of its grip, and thus heals us of pride, which always seeks to rule our will.

In practice, therefore, the liberality of gifting is only an acknowledgement and affirmation that one’s life and possession are from God the creator of all good things for the benefit of all his children (cf. 2 Cor 8:1-5). Through thanksgiving and religious context of its administration, we fulfil this mission as trustees of divine treasures.

In giving to the Church and the poor, we are carrying forward the salvific work, the establishment of the kingdom of God, which imperfectly exists as the Church. In other words, giving to the poor and the Church is a demonstration of an understanding that Christ is not a personage from the past but alive in the Spirit and glory, whose flesh we behold in the poor and whose body we touch as the Church.

The Church is the mystical body of Christ and the poor are the individual Christ in the flesh. Giving to the Church to the negligence of the poor smacks spirituality that lacks authenticity and giving to the poor to the neglect of the Church is merely a social work that requires the spiritual depth and connection that makes it a profound expression of faith.

The Church affirms her authenticity in the measure she disposes of material and spiritual treasures for the benefit of all.

In and through the Church, the kingdom, which has begun, journeys to perfection. So, when we give to the Church, it is because she is the bastion of godliness, the sign of the new world, the instrument of salvation and the communion of the just with God.

The Church, despite the complications of the sins of her children, is the presence of God amidst his people. She takes care of God’s children. Therefore, the offerings and harvests are temporal means of raising fund for the flourishing of the kingdom (cf. John 10:10).

Irrespective of the fact that some of her ministers administer them imperfectly, one neither cuts off the head to cure a headache nor burns a math book to solve a difficult algebra. We continue to give to the Church as the mysterious way of giving to God and in the hope that she uses the gifts to take care of the poor.

In truth, one can even write it in capital letters; it cannot be an exaggeration to argue that giving to the Church does not excuse from giving to the poor. It is not a dialectical ‘either … or’ but a dialogical ‘both … and’. By paying forward to God, we attend to our indebtedness to the needy so that our worship becomes meaningful.

For as such, we become instruments for rescuing them and lifting people out of the quagmire of existential challenges. Donating to the Church possesses value to the extent it aids in the universal government of creation (cf. 2 Cor 9:7).

By helping the poor, we put ourselves at the disposition of God in fulfilling his fatherly role. It beats logic and coherence when a Church stockpiles wealth to the deprivation and detriment of the poor while servicing the exuberant lifestyle of her ministers.

We do not pay back to God because his gifts are gratuitous, and no measure appreciates their worth. However, we pay forward so that his gifts keep giving as our participation in the universal reign of God. Let us give thanks to the Lord; it is necessary and just.

VANGUARD

 

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I love to be simple, chic, not dramatic– Actress, Seilat Adebowale

Seilat Adebowale

By Ayo Onikoyi

Budding, beautiful Yoruba actress, Seilat Adebola Adebowale who made a great showing in Dayo Amusa’s blockbuster “Omoniyun” has revealed her own idea of what it takes for a woman to be sexy.

There have been different opinions on the issues of women and their sexiness. While some have been tamed, others have been outlandish and even bizarre but for Seilat, keeping it off the edge as much as possible without being way too far off the slide is what works for her.

“Keeping it real and simple, I mean not being dramatic and shocking is what works for me. Being sexy is dressing really well and the charisma that comes with the poise.

However, I believe everyone should do what makes them comfortable. I love to be simple, classy and chic, not revealing too much of the skin and shocking people. The confidence you exude when properly dressed and the attitude along with it is all it takes for me,” she said in a chat with Vanguard’s Showtime Bonus.

READ ALSO: Hollywood star Johnny Depp insists he’s ‘no wife beater’

She bought her way into the movie industry by producing her own film in 2013. After then she left to work a bit and came back fully in 2015. According to her, it was really difficult at the beginning but with her consistency she has finally stamped her feet on the landscape.

The films she has produced are Imoran , Aridunu Omo and Barrister Seilat. Those she has featured include;Ebi tani, Imoran, Maybe, Love and lies ,Omoniyun, Depression, Eebo bu , Gym house, Silence

Iro to jomi, Dear affy , Jackpot , Sixteen, Atupa, Odeere olounje, Odeere alagbo, Meje, Iran meta , Confession, Emuke , Just another fall guy , Too much , Ololufe , Lucifer , Aderoju , The tenant , Adams

Tenitika, You are me, Rollercoaster, 40, Inside life and Agbara ola.

VANGUARD

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Filmmaker, Femi Johnson launches MonoRoom Reality Show for actors

Femi Johnson

By Ayo Onikoyi

Femi Johnson, a fast-rising Nollywood producer and director, has launched a monologue reality TV show titled MonoRoom for up-and-coming actors in Nigeria.

Femi, who believes that the most important resources in Nollywood are talents, has overtime championed the campaign for talent development in Nollywood through his online teachings.

Femi Johnson is an award-winning stage director and has also worked on shows like Africa Magic’s Hush and The Johnson, Desperate Housewives Africa, Casino, Oloibiri, Hello Mr Right, Voice to Fame, Prayer Request and lots more in different capacity.

MonoRoom was created to give talented actors, who have never had the chance to express themselves on the big screen, the opportunity to showcase their acting skills to the global audience.

Interested actors will have to register on www.femijohnson.ng for free and submit a monologue video which will be screened.

READ ALSO: My love for entertainment led me into online comedy skits – Spycyzy

After screening, 26 actors will be selected from the entry for the first season. In each episode, an actor will be filmed preparing and performing a monologue that was created and scripted by the actor.

Femi Johnson will be available to correct, advise and direct the actors in other to bring out the best in their performance.

According to Femi Johnson, “MonoRoom is first of its kind and the aim is to feature over one thousand actors within 39 seasons. The reality show will be distributed across different media platforms which include but not limited to cable, terrestrial and social media. Audience around the world will be opportune to watch the actors perform.

“MonoRoom will give featured actors a head start in the industry both locally and internationally because clips from the show will be sent to producers, directors and casting director for a possible engagement of the featured actors on the MonoRoom.”

VANGUARD

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Abdulrazaq: Osha boy, Aba wife

Another complete Nigerian just left Planet Earth. Chief Abdulrazaq Ganiyu Folorunso [AGF], first Lawyer from Northern Nigeria, pioneer student of the University of Ibadan was an exceptional gentleman.

Born across the Niger to Yoruba parents, his early years in law practice were in Zaria. The man found a Yoruba wife, born in Enyimba City and was not only the father of a governor. one of AGF’S sons-in-law was a double governor and his senator daughter also married a former governor.

You could not separate Abdulrazag from Ndigbo. There were connections with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first president of Nigeria, Chief Emeka Ojukwu, the first university graduate to join the Nigeria Army and Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the first Vice President of Nigeria.

Professors  Ben Nwabueze and Green Nwankwo were his classmates. Another buddy, Prof.Aliu Fafunwa, the first Nigerian professor of Education, also had Igbo-in-laws.

AGF was born on November 13, 1927, in Onitsha, to Ilorin Yoruba parents. Zik was born in November 1904 and hailed from Onitsha. Ojukwu was not only born in November[1933], he also died in November [2011]. The Owelle attended CMS Central School, Onitsha. Abdulrazaq was there too. Ojukwu was at CMS Primary School, Idumagbo, Lagos.

After primary education, the Ilorin boy moved to Kalabari National, College, Buguma. He sure missed Onitsha and returned to the town to complete secondary education at African College. One of his teachers was Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.

When he qualified as a lawyer in the UK in 1955, he could not wait to get married. There she was. Alhaja Raliat Amope Abdulrazaq was born in Aba on May 26, 1930, just one year after the Aba Women’s Riot. A family of firsts.

She later became the first female councilor in Kwara State. The couple produced three lawyers: Dr. Alimi  Abdulrazaq, Senator Khairat Gwadabe and Isiaka Abdulrazaq.

The Abdulrazaqs gave out their daughter, Aisha, to Rear Admiral Mohammed Lawal, one -time military governor of Ogun State and former governor of Kwara State. Khairat got married to Col. Lawan Gwadabe, former military governor of Niger State. They have another son, AbdulRauf, who stayed away from jurisprudence but is doing fine in his chosen field.

Kwara State governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak is the second son of AGF. He is neither a lawyer nor a soldier. He is like Abraham Lincoln. After failing many times to win elections, the oil man finally got lucky in 2019. One of his commissioners today is his niece whose father was also a governor.

Abdulrazaq was so proud of his Igbo connections. He once said: “I speak Igbo fluently and my most enduring friendships are with statesmen like Alex Ekwueme and both professors Ben Nwabueze [SAN] and Green Nwankwo, who were my classmates”.

Chief Ojukwu was sent to Britain by his father, Sir Louis, to study law. The Ikemba switched over to History and bagged a post-graduate degree. Khairat was in the UK to pick a degree in History. She ended up as a lawyer. They must have read Abdulrazaq’s mind.

According to AGF: “History is an essential subject that needs to be taught in our schools, to ensure that our youth are not goaded to rabid hatred, through biased social media or film narratives of Nigeria History.”

The Ojukwus and Abdulrazaq’s knew themselves. Zaria was the connection. The soldier began military training at the Nigeria Army depot, Zaria in 1957. The lawyer also set up practice in the same town.

READ ALSO: No negotiation with criminal gangs, surrender now – Gov Bello tells criminals

Ojukwu’s mother owned Jubilee Hotel which was very close to where AGF lived with his young family. That hotel unearthed a secret after the Ikemba’s death. He willed it to Tenny Hamman, his daughter that was unknown to many close to his heart.

AGF was Nigerian Ambassador to Cote D’Ivoire between 1962 and 1964. In 1970, Ojukwu flew into that country, on exile. Much later, an Ojukwu also became an ambassador.

Mrs Bianca Onoh, a lawyer like Abdulrazaq, whose father Christian Onoh was also a lawyer and former governor, was appointed Nigerian Ambassador to Spain by President Goodluck Jonathan who adopted the name Azikiwe and gave Ojukwu full national burial. By the way, Ojukwu was also a governor, like AGF’s son.

Gov. Abdulrazak lived in Cote D’Ivoire as an oil magnet. Ojukwu also did business in the francophone country. His father, Sir Louis, a millionaire whose Rolls Royce was used by Queen Elizabeth in 1956, was a director of Shell, the oil conglomerate.

While AGF was a commissioner in Kwara State from 1967 to 1972 and now his granddaughter, Ojukwu’s son, Emeka Junior, was a commissioner in Anambra State.

Ojukwu’s mother later got married to a European, Bigger. Lt. Tom Bigger who died in Nsukka with Chukwuma Nzeogwu on July 29, 1967, during the Civil war, was the Ikemba’s half brother. AGF was also close to Lauretta,  from Europe and they had children together. The army officer had wives like Njideka and Stella before Bianca.

Sir Louis Ojukwu worked with West African Railway. AGF was minister of state, Transport in charge of Railway when Azikiwe was President. Zik established the University of Nigeria Nsukka [UNN].

The Owelle of Onitsha settled at Onuiyi Haven, Nsukka. Abdulrazak’s friend, Fafunwa, got a job at UNN and rose rapidly to become a professor. Fafunwa later caught the Igbo bug. His daughter, Sherifat, an ex-national swimmer, found love in Prof. Okey Ndibe. Fafunwa’s son chose an Igbo wife, Ifeoma.

I am not sure many remember that it was Abdulrazak that drafted the hand over note which gave General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi power to assume office as Head of State on January 16, 1966.  This is interesting because you had senior lawyers in that cabinet. Dr. Taslim Elias was the Attorney General of  Nigeria. Richard Akinjide was also a minister.

Abdulrazak died at 93. I doubt if Governor Willie Obiano has paid condolence visit to his brother governor in Ilorin. He should go with Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia. Alhaja Raliat Abdulrazaq is still very much alive at 90. Prof. Nwabueze may attend if Obiano beckons on him. I am also sure Eze Green Nwankwo will leave his palace to honour a soul mate.

Kwara has a lot o Igbo lovers. From  AGF to first governor, David Bamigboye, who went into an exchange programme with East Central State Administrator, Ukpabi Asika, we have had a Col. Frank Omenka playing soccer for Government Secondary School Ilorin.

That is also the town of Alyusufsalam Rocks, a team made up 90 per cent of Ghanaians which almost won the Challenge Cup in 1976. The only Nigerian in that team was Humphrey Okechukwu, an Igbo. And it took an Igbo team, Enugu Rangers, to stop the Rocks in the grand finale.

VANGUARD

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Middle-aged men: “Take care of yourself first”

By Francis Ewherido

I took the decision to write on middle-aged men’s health again after I completed my annual medical check-up and got the result on Friday last week, but a post on the wall of a Facebook friend, Viktor J. Okungbowa, inspired the title. Last Sunday, Okungbowa wrote: “you cannot pour from an empty cup, take care of yourself first.”

My focus today is on my contemporaries, men around 55 years plus/minus one. It is shocking that some of us are still not taking our health seriously. We provide for our families, which is wonderful, and meet other obligations, but forget our health.

As I sat before the two doctors, who explained the results of my medicals to me at different times, the question on my mind was, “do some of my contemporaries realise what we are up against?

”The results were generally good, just two minor issues which the drugs they prescribed should clear within 10 days. But you know that in health matters, it is the small issues of today that become major health challenges of tomorrow.

The prostrate result particularly gladdened my heart because it proved me right in an experiment I have been involved in for about a year (I will share it with you subsequently; I do not want it to distract us from today’s topic). The kidneys were also very good, which also made me happy.

In 2012 when I did my medicals in India (I went there for another reason o!), the doctor told me that he did not want to scare me, but I should watch it. Whatever the defect or deterioration he saw has been reversed.

Medicals cost money. Currently in Nigeria, it costs about N70,000. It can be less or more, depending on where you do it and the scope of your medicals, and further tests if the initial results throw situations that need further investigation.

Of course, in a country, where the minimum wage is N30,000 per month and some employers are even paying lower, annual check-up is beyond the reach of some men. But there are those who are not doing it, but can afford it if they plan. If you keep N200 away every day, that comes N73,000 a year! That is enough for your medicals at the minimum.

That is less than what many of us spend on airtime and data every day. Some men concentrate on external appearances the world can see. Looking good is good, but staying healthy is better.

The human body is like brand a new car at birth, all things being equal. By the time you turn 40, you are like a five-year-old car. The brand, usage and prior maintenance (genes and lifestyle) determine the level of depreciation and the maintenance needed. By the time you are in your 50s, you are like a 10-year-old car.

No matter the brand, maintenance or usage, a 10-year-old car needs more attention if you want it to serve you well. So, middle-aged men cannot afford to gamble with their health.  But some don’t even have a personal physician! That is a crime against humanity (your family and you).

In many cases, the man is the breadwinner (cup) of the family, so he must continue to be healthy to win more bread. You cannot priotize the upkeep of the house over your health in your mid-50s.

If you become incapacitated, the finances of the whole family are in jeopardy. You better go for medicals. Do physical examination, visual examination (if necessary), blood sugar level,  liver function test, electrolyte,  lipid profile, full blood count, urinalysis, prostate-specific antigen, prostate scan, ECG, colonoscopy (when necessary); check your heart, kidneys, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen.

READ ALSO: No negotiation with criminal gangs, surrender now – Gov Bello tells criminals

Do chest x-ray (if necessary). I did a chest x-ray to check a persistent situation and was relieved when it came out negative. Chest x-ray will also show the state of your lungs; it detects heart-related lung problems, cancer, infections like tuberculosis and pneumonia or air collecting in the space around a lung.

The beauty of medicals is that it helps to detect ailments that can lead to complications, incapacity or kill you, if not detected early. But if you get a clean bill of health, you get the reward of peace of mind. This is especially so when you have been having signs of a particular ailment and the test results point to the contrary.

Beyond looking after your health, you should manage other aspects of your life that can affect your health. Food is one of them. Your food must be medicinal. Take your time to study various health benefits of the food, fruits and vegetables you consume. Be wary of eating anything that has no health benefits. Also, avoid consumption of anything that aggravates your underlying health conditions.

Another major one is finance. At 55, the number of years left for you to be economically active is not much, especially those involved in physical activities, like artisans. Those in employment have about five years before retirement.

So, unless you have kept the money for your children’s education aside, you cannot begin to send children abroad for first degree at this stage. Do not rely on anticipated income to engage in such an adventure.

Those whose children are there are eager for them to graduate, why start when you do not have the money in place either in a domiciliary bank account or other forms of concrete investments?

For me, it is not even an age to send your children to a private university, if you have not kept the money aside. It costs between N6m and about N14m to see a student through a private university in four years.

This is not the kind of project you should be engaging in at 55, hoping to fund it with anticipated income. The economy is too volatile and unpredictable for that. If your cash flow does not work to plan, you will be under enormous pressure, which might affect your health. Send your children to a state or federal university, preferably federal universities, because they are cheaper and also good.

The only problem with government universities is incessant disruptions in studies. But nothing lasts forever. They will graduate someday. Remember your health comes first.

If you are currently in a position where after paying the fees of the children in primary or secondary schools, you have no money left for yourself, withdraw and send them to cheaper schools and save some money to take care of yours health. Higher school fees do not necessarily mean better education.

When you are in your 50s, especially mid-50s, your health is number one primary. You have to be healthy to take care of the family, while having an eye on retirement. At 55, you must have plans for retirement. I have said it before, retirement planning must be self-based, not others-based.

The way debilitating ailments are ravaging and wasting middle-aged men is scary. Let us help ourselves. On the aeroplane, the hostess usually announces that if the oxygen mask drops, fix yours first before the one of the child you are carrying. Middle-aged men, get your priorities right.

VANGUARD

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Assessing Jobberman’s initiative in bridging Nigeria’s skills gap

Unemployment is high among Nigeria’s youth population. This age demography (15-35 years) accounts for about 50% of 200 million population. To avert unemployment escalation and its dangers, Nigeria can leapfrog education and up-skill its youth for appropriate jobs through Online education especially as Covid-19 has engendered New Normal. This report assesses Jobberman’s intervention in this regard.

Late last year, at the 31st convocation of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo state, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed worry on the uncomplimentary remarks by employers of labour that Nigerian graduates are not employable. The sweeping assessment simply means these employers of labour find it difficult to fill critical vacant positions to drive transformations.

While this challenge has implications for the smooth running of the companies and growth of the economy, it is obviously one of the factors swelling Nigeria’s unemployment rate presently at 23.1%. “This means that about 50 million out of the 200 million population do not have jobs.

Some of those that have jobs are not appropriately fitted for the jobs. Unfortunately, the youth (those within the ages of 15-35 years) who form about 50% of the population account for the highest number of unemployed out of which 25 million graduates are said not to have jobs”.

A source from Jobberman’s initiative said that yearly, Nigerian tertiary institutions churn out many graduates, some of who are ill-prepared both in character and content for their own jobs or white-collar jobs.

According to the source, as at last year, there were 174 universities (43 Federal Universities, 52 state Universities and 79 private Universities). Nigeria also has 134 recognised Polytechnics in Nigeria (29 Federal Polytechnics, 48 state Polytechnics, 57 private Polytechnics. Many of these institutions are poorly funded and they run on old models, a development which causes them to give birth to ‘poor’ students.

“In the last few years, Nigeria has made strides to attract investments and equally encouraging local investments. These multi-billion dollar investments in various sectors of the economy that are competing in the global village need knowledgeable, hard-working, and articulate employees to handle tasks for the companies’ growth. It is not only about credentials, but having personable, cultured, confident and well-groomed individuals to represent the companies.

While speaking at the convocation, Buhari who was represented by Suleiman Yusuf, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) tasked the universities in the country to ensure that their graduates are employable.

“As it is and with the existing wide gap between employers’ demand and employees, the task of making Nigerian graduates, job seekers and workers fit into the new workplace environment is a task not only for Nigerian universities alone”.

Jobberman’s intervention

It was in this connection that Jobberman, Nigeria’s foremost recruitment platform that helps employers and job seekers solve their recruitment and employment challenges recently introduced its world-class online soft skills training, designed to up-skill Nigerian youth between the age of 18 and 35 with the necessary soft skills needed in the workplace.

Ordinarily, some University graduates and other job seekers may qualify academically for certain jobs, but they need certain non-technical skills to be recruited or retained on the jobs and this is where Jobberman, driven by tested managers, is filling the gap that some universities don’t offer.

Jobberman, led by Hilda Kabushenga-Kragha who has worked in global consulting organisations including KPMG and McKinsey, understands how the Nigerian job market works.

READ ALSO: Jobberman introduces skills assessments add-on for employers to test for the best

The firm is playing this critical societal role in career services to enable young Nigerian graduates secure their dream jobs. Having the right skills for the job is beyond a university degree. Many employers are looking for employees who have the necessary soft skills that make them better individuals in the workplace and can compete globally.

Soft Skills, commonly defined as non-technical skills, enable individuals to interact effectively and cooperate better with others. These skills are vital to organizations and can impact culture, mindsets, attitudes, and behaviours throughout an enterprise.

Participants who take part in the Jobberman Soft Skills training get certificates which can be presented to many employer partners looking to hire qualified candidates. So far, it is said that over 20,000 people have

participated in the first Jobberman Soft Skills post-training assessment and many of them have started getting jobs after the programme.

Jobberman’s career up-skilling has become significant in today’s Nigeria as many Nigerian higher institutions have remained stuck to the past as they are yet to integrate the necessary skills that are in high demand by the labour market into their curriculum.

Most courses are still taught theoretically without practical experiences and this makes the average graduate not appropriately fitted for the demands of the present labour market, hence leading to poor labour performance.

Underscoring the Jobberman Online approach

The present time, more than ever, re-enforces technology as the backbone of business, education and the economy. Every other sector; finance, agriculture, entertainment and even government must thrive on technology. Education cannot be left out.

The lockdown, social distancing occasioned by Covid-19 pandemic has further underscored technology for business, education and relationships.

Jobberman was therefore proactive in its introduction of Online training by using a blended approach of training its student via Zoom and engaging with them further via the messaging app, telegram.

While the Federal Government has shut down schools to slow the spread of the virus, education cannot be shut down and this is only possible through Online training, as introduced by Jobberman.

Ordinarily, Jobberman has evolved beyond the traditional placements of employees to leveraging more on technology to develop data-driven solutions that will up-skill job seekers and make them compete globally.

Testimonials by empowered job seekers/workers

The impact of this training has been felt by youths all over Nigeria and their testimonies are revealing.

One of the beneficiaries, Folakemi Dare- Ojulari joined the Jobberman Soft Skills Training in June 2020. She had been job hunting for about six years and decided to take part in the training to improve her chances.

One month after her training, she not only got certified but applied for jobs and got two job offers to choose from. Folakemi believes that Jobberman is the key to her success as the classes boosted her morale and made her successful in her interviews after 6 years of searching.

Another beneficiary, Sadiat, is a prospective community leader in Kano. She is currently running her own small project for youths in her community. Her project aims at teaching youths in the north employability skills with a major focus on self- discovery and leadership skills.

She expressed her excitement at finding out about the Jobberman soft skills training and took it as an opportunity to further deepen her knowledge on soft skills so that she can have more impact on others.

READ ALSO: Job seekers rise to 50,000 weekly on Jobberman – Hilda Kragha, CEO Jobberman

She couldn’t contain her joy as she spoke about the impact the training had on her and how she hopes to spread the knowledge she acquired on “emotional intelligence” – In her words, “this is something everyone should know”. Now, she fully understands the need for soft skills as distinct from technical skills.

Ayoola, a visually impaired man who works as a Radio Journalist and Producer is also a beneficiary of Jobberman up-skill course. He has brilliantly mastered the art of utilizing technology to learn and work and his passion to learn led him to apply for the Soft Skills training.

After the training, he couldn’t help but testify that he has noticed a tremendous improvement in his self-confidence and awareness. He stated that his fear of “PowerPoint presentations and storytelling have been broken down”. Beyond his personal gains, the training has provided a platform for him to project a positive image of the blind community.

He hopes his participation can demystify the notion that disabled people can’t match up to everyone else, and also encourage young people like himself to perceive Jobberman as a partner in their search for a profitable future.

Nigeria’s population has continued to rise and it is said that in the next 30 years, the population will hit 400 million from 200 million today. Over 50% of this population will be the youth.

This is the time therefore to up-skill the youth from formative level to higher education. It is also important to incorporate relevant curricula for self-employment or appropriate for other

jobs to avert dangers. Jobberman’s intervention in up-skilling job seekers for the global competition is significant in this regard.

VANGUARD

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Adegbite’s Gold Finger

Olamilekan Adegbite

By Moses Nosike

Since he was made the Minister of Mines and Steel Development by President Buhari, architect Olamilekan Adegbite has been working hard to turn the nation into a major gold producing one.

With the price of gold hitting unprecedented heights since the pandemic began, Adegbite moves is bound to benefit the nation immensely. Just before the lockdown, the minister was at the stone laying ceremony of the Segilola Gold project, in Osun State by Thor exploration, a project which comprises a proposed open pit gold mining project based on an indicated mineral resource defined by a comprehensive drilling programme.

According to sources, the project will process 650,000 tons of ore, with a target production of approximately 80,000 ounces per year from next year. It was said that Adegbite has been actively supporting the project.

During the block laying ceremony, the minister noted that the government was willing to give waivers on equipment and taxes to major investors willing to invest in the sector.

“The Minister is overseeing the creation of a gold ecosystem in Nigeria. For the first time we have companies that mine and refine gold in  Nigeria. Two gold refineries have been licensed who will refine the gold to international standards, which the CBN and other international investors can then buy,”  says Ayodeji Adeyemi, special advisor on Media and publicity.

He added that the vision of the honourable minister is to make Nigeria a  major gold producing nation, which would generate revenue for the government and create a lot of job”.

About two weeks ago, the first batch of artisanally-mined gold bars to be purchased by the Central Bank was unveiled at a reception ceremony to President Buhari on July 16, 2020.

This milestone is the culmination of 24 months of intense efforts by the leadership of Adegbite through the Solid Minerals Development Fund, Kebbi and Osun States government, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, and the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning under a Steering Committee led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.

It was gathered that Nigeria has produced, for the first time ever, in June 2020, artisanally-mined gold that has been processed and refined according to the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) standards required for the use of gold as a reserve instrument by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

This means that the Central Bank will be purchasing gold that has been mined, processed and refined under the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative, PAGMI, for use as part of Nigeria’s external reserves.

Adegbite said in his speech that this milestone is a demonstration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to diversifying Nigeria’s economy and foreign reserves.

The Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (“PAGMI”) is a comprehensive artisanal and small-scale gold mining development programme, launched in 2019 to foster the formalization and integration of artisanal gold mining activities into Nigeria’s legal, economic and institutional framework.

“PAGMI has been designed to integrate social, environmental, health and safety, economic, commercial and technical considerations, into its implementation.

PAGMI is also designed as a broader strategy to address the structural and institutional factors such as rural poverty, lack of alternative livelihoods and difficulties in meeting legal and regulatory requirements that tend to push artisanal gold mining operators deeper into the informal economy”.

Background: Using data from UN Comtrade, PAGMI estimates that between 2012-2018, 97 tonnes of gold valued at over $3 billion was illegally smuggled out of Nigeria.

His Excellency, the President, approved PAGMI in 2019 to address these issues and foster the integration of artisanal gold mining into the formal system. PAGMI seeks to tackle and resolve these longstanding issues, while also contributing to President Buhari’s vision to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within a decade.

On how will PAGMI work, it was stated that the catalyst for the integration is the provision of access to markets for the artisanal miners through a National Gold Purchase Programme and the deployment of enhanced mining methods at artisanal and small-scale mining sites.

However, providing better access to markets through the National Gold Purchase Programme is only the first step in a comprehensive artisanal and small-scale gold mining development strategy integrating social, environmental, health and safety, economic, commercial, and technical considerations.

READ ALSO: Amazon to invest $10bn in space-based internet system

So, PAGMI will deploy safer and more efficient mining and processing technologies across artisanal mining locations across the country, starting with Kebbi and Osun states as the pilot states with intervention in Kaduna, Zamfara and Niger states to commence immediately after the pilot.

Using a centralized offtake and supply system supported by a decentralized aggregation and production network, PAGMI will buy all the gold produced by artisanal and small-scale miners and aggregated by licensed buying centers and aggregators for supply to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Which States are benefiting from PAGMI?

The main gold producing belt with history of artisanal workings and exploration activities in Nigeria will benefit from PAGMI. Intervention at artisanal mining sites will take place in Kebbi, Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger and Osun states respectively with Kebbi and Osun serving as pilot states.

PAGMI will also be setting up gold aggregation centers in addition to supporting licensed buying centers and aggregators with access to financing options, responsible sourcing mechanisms, management and technical expertise including improved testing and processing equipment.

What will PAGMI achieve?

PAGMI will result in the creation of over 500,000 new mining and formalized jobs, leading to poverty alleviation for more than 1 million households.

Wealth Creation: Under PAGMI, artisanal gold miners will earn more from higher productivity, better recovery rates, mechanization of operations, and better access to reliable geological information. Increased earnings for the miners will have significant spillover effects in the local economies as businesses will grow to cater to the increased consumption per household.

Agreements have been reached with Thermo Fisher Scientific and Mettler Toledo, leading producers of gold testing and weight equipment to equip up to 50 buying centers across the country.

Revenues: PAGMI estimates that the Federal Government of Nigeria could realize an annual average of $150 Million in taxes, $25 Million in royalties, and $500 Million accretion to foreign reserves from the integration of artisanal gold mining activities implemented by PAGMI.

Reserves: PAGMI will allow the Central Bank of Nigeria to purchase locally produced gold in Naira to boost the nation’s foreign reserves..

Health, Safety and Environmental Benefits: Effective implementation of PAGMI will help to control the use of lead, mercury, and cyanides. PAGMI will also improve the working condition of artisanal miners, thereby reducing the number of in-pit deaths that are seen on an annual basis.

Security: Illegal artisanal mining has fueled instability across gold mining regions with intelligence reports confirming a nexus between illicit gold mining and a rise in banditry.

For the first time ever, formalization driven by access to markets will give the artisanal gold miners a guaranteed pathway to prosperity. The greater transparency that PAGMI confers on the flow of financing in the sector will help diminish the incentives for criminality.

PAGMI successfully separated and refined silver from the gold mined by the artisanal miners, thereby delivering additional value to them.

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Zimbabwe: Protesters arrested at banned anti-government march

The normally busy Zimbabwean capital looked almost empty on Friday, with many hiding indoors.

The police and military troops patrolled the streets of Harare after an anti-government protest was banned.

Demonstrators originally planned to protest corruption but instead asked for the resignation of the ruling political party.

Tensions are on the rise in Zimbabwe. Inflation is skyrocketing and now the coronavirus pandemic has weakened the threadbare health system.

ALSO READ: Sharing Sallah meat with Christians builds peace — Sheik Maraya

Scores of people who decided to hold small protests anyway were arrested on Friday.

Among them was the prominent Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga, a figure of feminism and one of the country’s biggest literary names whose latest book was nominated for the Booker Prizer.

Human rights groups have said they witnessed abuses such as arrests, detentions and beatings towards both protesters and ordinary people accused of violating the lockdown.

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Sallah in pictures

Images from Sallah prayers and celebration, on Friday. NAN PHOTOS

Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu observing Eid-El-Kabir prayers in Abuja on Friday.

First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Joke Sanwo-Olu (2nd left) greets a woman who just put to bed at the Maternal and Child Centre, Gbaja, Surulere, on Friday.. 

Suleja, Niger State                            

Ibadan, Oyo State.                                                                                                        

Port Harcourt, Rivers State.                                                                                          VANGUARD

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Not a single offer received for Leverkusen’s Harvetz – Rolfes

Bayer Leverkusen have not received any offers for Kai Havertz despite persistent speculation linking him with Chelsea, sporting director Simon Rolfes has revealed.

Havertz, 21, has been a revelation in the Bundesliga ever since making his breakthrough as a 17-year-old in the 2016-17 campaign.

The midfielder, who has been played in an increasingly attacking role over the past two years, has scored 29 Bundesliga goals since the start of the 2018-19 campaign, while his haul of 12 this term came alongside six assists.

Widespread speculation suggests it is unlikely he will remain with Leverkusen – who failed to qualify for the Champions League – next term, while Chelsea are said to have positioned themselves as frontrunners for his signature.

Leverkusen are reported to be demanding at least €78million (£70m) for the Germany international, whose national team colleague Timo Werner has already made the switch to Stamford Bridge.

ALSO READ: FA Cup win will justify Arsenal hiring me – Arteta

But Rolfes, a former Leverkusen midfielder who is now in charge of sporting decisions at the club, insists no club has made an offer for Havertz yet.

“So far we have no offer,” Rolfes told Sky Germany. “We know about the interest of clubs, but there is no official offer.

“We have said several times that we will end the season with our entire squad, and that includes Kai. That goes without saying for us.”

Although the Bundesliga season is over, with Leverkusen finishing fifth, Die Werkself are still in the Europa League.

They are due to face Rangers at home next Thursday in the second leg of their last-16 tie, having won 3-1 in Scotland five months ago, prior to the coronavirus pandemic bringing a temporary halt to European football.

Should they get past Rangers, Leverkusen will face either Inter or Getafe in the quarter-finals.

At this point the competition will become a mini-tournament made up of single-legged ties – rather than the usual two-legged contests – after UEFA moved the latter stages to neutral venues in Germany due to the pandemic.

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Nvidia is in advanced talks to buy chip company ARM

Nvidia is in advanced talks to acquire ARM, the chip designer owned by SoftBank Group, according to people familiar with the matter.

The two parties aim to reach a deal in the next few weeks, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. Nvidia is the only suitor in concrete discussions with SoftBank, according to the people.

A deal for ARM could be the largest ever in the semiconductor industry, which has been consolidating in recent years as companies seek to diversify and add scale. Cambridge, England-based ARM’s technology underpins chips in products including Apple devices and connected appliances. SoftBank acquired the business for US$32-billion in 2016.

ALSO READ: Amazon to invest $10bn in space-based internet system

No final decisions have been made, and the negotiations could drag on longer or fall apart, the people said. SoftBank may gauge interest from other suitors if it can’t reach an agreement with Nvidia, the people said. Representatives for Nvidia, SoftBank and ARM declined to comment.

Any deal with Nvidia, which is a customer of ARM’s, would likely trigger regulatory scrutiny as well as a wave of opposition from other users of the company’s technology. Other ARM clients could demand assurances that a new owner would continue providing equal access to ARM’s instruction set. Such concerns resulted in SoftBank, a neutral company, buying ARM the last time it was for sale.

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Arteta optimistic FA Cup final won’t be Aubameyang’s final game for Arsenal

Mikel Arteta does not believe the FA Cup final will prove to be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s last game as an Arsenal player.

The Arsenal captain, who has one year left on his contract, hopes to help his side to a Wembley victory over rivals Chelsea on Saturday and secure his first piece of silverware since moving to London in January 2018.

Without a win, the Gunners will miss out on European football for the first time in 25 years.

Arteta concedes continental football is essential for a club of Arsenal’s size and remains optimistic that Aubameyang can be persuaded to stay, particularly if he lifts the cup.

“No, I don’t have that feeling,” he told reporters when asked if he thought it would be the Gabon international’s last match for the club.

ALSO READ: Xhaka grateful to Arteta for second chance at Arsenal

“It is a package at the end, you need to have a lot of ingredients on the table to persuade a player of his level to be at this football club.

“It is a massive day. I wouldn’t like to talk or link too much these two factors but it is a reality obviously that financially it would be really helpful and obviously from the sporting side as well to play in Europe for this club is a must.

“Don’t forget that he still has a contract here with us and we want to keep him and do it in a more long term but at the moment he is with us and I think he should be really proud of where he is as well.

“Winning a trophy helps to really believe and make you feel, ‘Wow, I want more of those moments as well’. Absolutely it can encourage Aubameyang to stay.

“If you are wearing the armband and you are able to lift that cup, it is such a moment and this is going to help for sure.”

Aubameyang, 31, scored both goals in Arsenal’s 2-0 semi-final win over Manchester City earlier this month and has been linked with a host of Europe’s top clubs.

Arteta, who took over as head coach in December after Unai Emery’s sacking, acknowledged the importance of lifting trophies in building relationships with key players.

ALSO READ: Manchester City sign Burkina Faso youngster Kabore from KV Mechelen

He continued: “It generates trust when you are winning titles. It generates moments when together you go through good emotions and it brings everybody together.

“There is lots of things about winning and winning a trophy which is so positive for any group and that makes it even more important. We have a great opportunity so let’s go for it

“We are very excited, it is a special day in this country and in this competition and we are linked as a club by how many times we have won it.

“We want to do it again, it would be so special to do it in my first season in charge and, again, the boys are really excited and looking forward to the game.”

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