2015 EDITION Vol.2 Issue 09 DIGITAL

Nigeria. I have a fairly broad education;
i. B.Sc (Econs) – ABU, Zaria;
ii. M.Sc (Public Sector Mgt) - Aston, England;
iii. LL.B – Port Harcourt; and
iv. B.L.
I belong to a number of professional bodies:
i. Chartered Institute of Arbitration of Nigeria;
ii. Nigerian Institute of Management;
iii. Institute of Health Administrators of Nigeria.
All my working life has been in the public service, always aspiring
to be a servant of the people, fulfilled when I see that people have
derived service from my modest efforts. I’m a strong believer in
fairness. I admire goodness and virtue in my fellow human beings;
in doing so, I aspire to have what they have. Basically, that is me.
Kata Kata: You have been accredited in 2012 by His Excellency
Jonathan Ebele Goodluck, President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of Italy. Which
previous appointments have you held before your present job?
Ambassador: I started my public career as an Administrative
Officer with the Rivers State Civil Service from 1976 – 1985, during
which period I was privileged to serve in several key positions
including being Secretary of the Rivers State Health Management
Board. In 1985, I was posted to head the administration of the
University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and rose to the
pinnacle of that administrative structure in 1989 as the pioneer
Director of Administration. From 2007-2010, I was privileged
to be the pioneer Director of Administration of the Niger Delta
University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Bayelsa State when it
came into being. I have also served as a Member of the Niger
Delta University Council, and the National Incomes, Salaries and
Wages Commission.
Kata Kata: How would you describe your relationship with your
host country?
Ambassador: Nigeria has always had a cordial relationship
with my host country, Italy. We have entered into the labour of
others and have a deep desire to improve and deepen the cordial
relationship that exists between the two countries.
Kata Kata: The recently concluded NIDOE conference in
Rome is considered the most well organized in the history of the
organization. Your full dedicated attention to the event, including
the high class dinner party, you threw for the participants cannot
be ignored. More than that, the conference was not only attended
by you and other respectable, high dignities, you personally showed
up every day / throughout the two day conference. We honestly find
this a rare, humble and indeed unique deed for a typical prominent
Nigerian. Why the enormous sacrifice and interest?
Ambassador: That question has already been partially
answered previously. I take it as a personal agenda to promote
any cause that tends to bring peace, progress, understanding and
harmony among people. I find NIDO as an organization which
fits into this description and we are very pleased to interact with
them. NIDO, you must understand, is an organization comprising
eminent Nigerians in the Diaspora, who have, in their own
right, attained commendable heights in their host countries, and
have made Nigeria proud. I see them as a veritable army whose
potentials, if harnessed and pooled together, would further propel
the progress of our country. Is it not true, for instance, that
Nigerian doctors in the Diaspora are amongst the best in the world.
We can say the same for other professions. The least one could do
was to do what one did.
Kata Kata: The federal government has intensified her efforts in
motivating Diaspora Nigerians to become active in the government
affairs. As a representative of the Nigerian government, what efforts
are you making to achieve this objective?
Ambassador: One role I feel the Diaspora Nigerians can play
and they are playing is to be involved in what is happening back
home. It is noteworthy that NIDO was a creation of Government
during the regime of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo. The
idea behind it was to encourage a specialized army of professionals
based abroad who remembering their roots can positively
contribute to the development of the country - by bringing
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country individually,
collectively or with foreign partners for the economic development
of the country. While it is impossible for every diaspora to be in
Government, there are many other ways they can be active by being
positively involved in the affairs of the country – it is commendable
that they were involved in the National Conference. Their clamour
to be able to vote during elections is something I believe will happen
soon. You must also remember that Diasporans have steadily, over
time, remitted earnings back home, which is commendable.
What we try to do and I’m sure every other Mission is doing, is to
encourage every Diasporan to offer something along these lines.
Kata Kata: From the statistics available, African economies are
growing and in fact performing better than those of the USA and
Europe. Yet some people think, African economies could have
done better if old politicians in Africa hanging on to power would
have handed over power to young visionary leaders. What is your
opinion about this?
Kata kata cartoon magazine
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