12072020 - Uzodinma, Ngige, Nnamani others meet, vow Igbo united front

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PAGE 22—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2020 Viewpoint By Philip Otoide Last year when Senator Daisy Danjuma threw her weight behind Governor Godwin Obaseki at an event in Lagos, the PDP hurled all manner of invectives at the wife of General TY Danjuma. The party criticized her for supporting a failed governor, saying. “The commissioned 5 star specialist hospital is still home to reptiles, Tayo Akpata University of Education an unfulfilled political Greek gift, College of Agriculture Ogierieki, a victim of policy lip-service, the Gelegele sea port project is still a mirage and the industrial park is still at the MOU level. The governor you are endorsing have left 14 constituencies unrepresented in the state house of assembly, to mention a few.” Swiftly and overnight, the same Obaseki’s administration has become the toast of the party. Some would ask at what point did they realize that they made a mistake when they called the governor a failure? Could it be the characteristic influence of money on politicians? Like Nigerians would say, where there is sharing there is conspiracy. Party leaders under any condition are the repertoire of the collective will and interests of the people. The interests of a few could sometimes mischievously bandy the will of many. For example, as Obaseki decamped to PDP, he threw a bait at the leaders of Edo Central that he was going to hand over to an Esan governor after his By Onyema Dike If you have been following the news lately, on and off social media, you must have been apprised of the N-power programme, which has been described as a critical component of President Muhammadu Buhari’s National Social Investment Programme (NSIP). The ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development under which the N-Power programme was domiciled after it moved from the office of the Vice President announced the transitioning and exiting of Batch A& B beneficiaries beginning June 30 and culminating on July 31 st 2020. The announcement was greeted by vitriol and anger on and off social media by the youthful, extremely vocal and so, not surprisingly social media savvy beneficiaries who did not wish to exit the programmeeven though Batch A beneficiaries had, somehow, managed to stay for over 40 months, 16 months longer than the programmes advertised 24 months. When the Buhari administration took office in 2016, itshared the very ambitious vision of taking 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years. The vision was clearly an ambitious one when viewed through the prism of available insights. Statistics indicate that our institutions of learning push out4.5 million young people annually into the bulging job market. In 10 years that figure Roadmap for Esanland: Lest we regret Armed with the Obaseki promise, some of these Esan leaders have started campaign structure ahead of their 2024 governorship ambition, when Obaseki was still in the cold next four years. The leaders in turn lured the masses into a hype of Esan governor. Some couldn’t hide their excitement and called the governor’s coming to PDP as fortune on ‘a platter of gold.’ Armed with the Obaseki promise, some of these Esan leaders have started campaign structure ahead of their 2024 governorship ambition, when Obaseki was still in the cold. The late Iyasele of Esanland, Chief Tony Anenih, during a <strong>meet</strong>ing with party faithful in Ubiaja, preceding the 2007 election that produced Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor, had told his supporters that it would be extremely difficult for Esan people to produce a governor unless there was peace in the land. Obviously, Obaseki does not understand this political equation and neither do these Esan leaders comprehend. If the governor was fair to his promise to hand over to an Esan governor, what structure and body language are there to convince the people? How many Esan sons and daughters are in his kitchen cabinet? His Chief of Staff, SSG, and other politically strong officials are not from Edo Central. Did he make up his mind to hand over to an Esan man after he fell apart with his party leaders? Even when he had the chance to switch Philip Shuaibu for an Esan deputy, he staunchly declined. Reasonable leaders would have insisted on getting the deputy from Esanland in PDP at the negotiation but the power of money may have been too strong and they fell timidly. Number one rule of sincere negotiation is never to back down when you hold the aces. What the Esans are failing to understand is that, Obaseki will not be the determining voice of who takes over from him even if feasibly that moment comes to him, which frankly speaking will never. Unknown to many, Philip Shuaibu is actually Governor Obaseki’s leader. If perchance, the scenario plays out for him in his 2024 imagination, he will turn his back on Esan people and probably console them with deputy to Shuaibu. And the waiting game could go on and on. Why will anybody think Philip Shuaibu was N-Power success stories validate programme would be 45 million. Where were the jobs going to come from? The president’s vision, it turned out, was not just a good-to-have election promise. It was a well-thought out policy of engagement and manpower development. In a technologically advancing world the president and his advisers had hit upon the idea of using the N-power programme to upskill graduates and nongraduates aged between 18 and 35 with skills and attributes that would make them employable for jobs of today and the future while also preparing them to take up the mantle of entrepreneurship. The N-power programme was the administration’s silver bullet and it proceeded apace. In 2016, 200,000 beneficiaries were enrolled in the programme while another set of 300,000were enrolled in 2018. Four years down the line, as the Batch A and B beneficiaries begin their transition, it is imperative to undertake a cursory of audit of how the programme has performed vis a vis that presidential vision while also taking a hard look at whether it is really needed. The application portal for Batch C enrolment opened on Thursday June 26 th 2020 to an enthusiastic response. Figures from the ministry indicate that the portal was receiving as much as 100 applications per minute and in 48 hours over 1 million young and eligible Nigerians had registered. That number would climb to 3.9million in seven days. If anyone needed proof regarding the imperative of such a manpower building programme that was proof positive. But could the stampede to register have been a function of that long queue of young people out of jobs or was there something else? A few weeks before the application portal opened, the ministry had begun a sensitization campaign and part of that included the sharing of testimonial videos on social media. The videos called “N-Power Success Stories”featured N- Power beneficiaries who had exited the programme voluntarily and had applied skills gained and funds saved during their time on the programme in setting up small and medium scale businesses. It was a delighted honourableminister, Sadiya Umar Farouq, who announced a few days after the Batch C applications began that 109, 829 beneficiaries from Batch A and B had become entrepreneurs running small but thriving businesses in their communities. These were aside from those who had become gainfully employed after passing entrance exams and psychometric fighting the fight of his life over Obaseki? Within his political clique, it will surprise you that he is already being called “His Excellency come 2024,” which he replies with a wide beam. Shuaibu is ambitious to the letter and there is nothing anybody can do about that. It is only wise that the Esans are not hoodwinked by the ambition of a desperate governor mixed with the greed of a few so-called leaders holding on to your destinies unfairly. I have also been piqued by the assemblage of the PDP masquerades in Edo that have found a new home in Dennis Osadebey Government House in Benin City. If Obaseki could not manage his APC members, even when many of them got distracted to politics at the federal, how much can he do with these career leaders? Many of them primarily celebrated his entry because he was another kind of “food is ready.” Nothing else. Now that the glamour of the decamping has settled, what successes does Obaseki have to flaunt his second term bid debate? Between Obaseki, Oshiomhole and Lucky Igbinedion, it is shameful that his administration occupies the lowest rung of performance in 4 years as governor. It will also be too pathetic for the Esan man to revert to the negotiating table after Obaseki flops at the September governorship election. Time to redeem the people is now as it is not good to put all your eggs in one basket. That is how politics should be played. *Otoide is resident in Benin-City. tests set by companies. The announcement was significant because it underlined and highlighted the imperative of the N-Power programme by showing that it was not only bridging the unemployment gap by upskilling young Nigerians for employability, it was enabling and empowering them to become entrepreneurs and employers of labour. Some of the beneficiaries, the ministry announced, had even been engaged as aggregators for the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, another component of the NSIP. Development experts tell us that SMEs are the engine room of most developing and even developed economies. Statistics from Nigeria indicate that this is also true here. According to the CBN, SME’s not only contribute 48% of national GDP in Nigeria they make up 98% of businesses in the country while providing employment to 84% of gainfully employed Nigerians. A careful consideration of these statistics and insights will show that the coming of N-Power Batch C with a new set of young Nigerians who will gain skills for employability and entrepreneurship, Nigeria is gearing up proactively for post-Covid-19 when battered economies all over the world will be needing a shot-in-the-arm. This speaks eloquently to the imperative and impact of N-power. By Kayode Oshin Nearly all human endeavors have been impacted by technology. From Agriculture to Aviation, from Transportation to Communication, no sphere of human activity has been exempted from the positive effect of advances in technology. To cite a few examples: Shale oil is a better, cheaper and effective alternative to crude oil. Manual driving will be eventually replaced by driverless electric cars. A solar powered supersonic jet that can travel from Tokyo to New York has been tested. Name the field, the impact of innovative technology is far reaching. Robotic engineering and drone technology have influenced manufacturing processes and production cost and war strategy minimizing cost of airplanes and loss of human pilots By Emmanuel Ajibulu By all account, Dr Babatope Michael Agbeyo whose 46th birthday anniversary would be celebrated on Monday, July 13, 2020, will no doubt be an instant toast of writers and tribute-payers because there is much to say in admiration of this extra-ordinary personality. Even the most dyed-in-the-wool cynics will find something complimentary to say about the man, Agbeyo as the elements seem to be well-mixed in this one ingenious and quintessential individual. Unarguably, one risks the temptation of being carried away when faced with the task of paying tribute to such a celebrated personality, perfect gentleman and a personification of excellence. This notwithstanding, I hope will be able to unravel the inner man of this distinguished celebrant. Here is a man with humble set of morals Is telemedicine the next <strong>front</strong>ier of medical practice? respectively are realities of modern times. Medical field, an important component of mankind existence, has benefited immensely from technological development. Laser technology has reduced the necessity of general surgeries as body part specific surgeries are being routinely done. Bloodless surgery can be demanded without risk of death. Nobody would prefer that these trends be curtailed. However, medical advancement, at least in the developed world, is tilting toward telemedicine. Proponents of this new initiative are of the opinion that that is the new highway which medical field must follow. It has been brilliant argued that the benefits of this invention outweigh any drawbacks if any. These advocates of telemedicine posit that it is cheaper and accessible to all and sundry. Rurality of patients or complexity of operation is no brainer as far as telemedicine is concerned. They say it is the most suitable for epidemics and pandemics especially as the world is witnessing now. These plusses of telemedicine are simply indisputable. However, strong and deliberate care must be observed because life and death are involved. The privacy of medical records and confidentiality of doctor-patient relationship guaranteed under the orthodox medical practice may, however, be in jeopardy under telemedicine. Will telemedicine be priced out of the reach Tribute to Tope Agbeyo @ 46 and an obsessive attention to details. Another thing most people equally admire about him is his neutrality when it comes to politics. Since he has become one of the successful men in the world, he has stayed away from the rigours that come with politics. Politics in Nigeria as we know is laden with corruption and endless bickering between parties. It is a witch hunt that never seems to end. You, however, have simply minded your own business and focused on what is more important which is adding values to human capital and building capacity through ICT driven initiatives. One could have preferred celebrating this caring and amazing Ekiti born iconic brand in a big way this year but the social distancing guidelines and protocols occasioned by the novel Covid-19 prevented that from •Tope Agbeyo happening. However it is my prayer that the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Cornfield of the common man and how the rural patients will access telemedicine in the absence of power and data and internet access must be critically addressed. Will telemedicine reduce the employment of doctors while up skilling the teledoctors? Will telemedicine obviate the need for traditional medical practice or complement it? Telemedicine must address this phobia in order to ensure a sound footing in the medical practice landscape. Teething problems will surely arise but telemedicine must be given the benefit of doubt. Who knows, medical history and practice may never be the same again if telemedicine is nurtured and supported to thrive. An idea not tested may not be rightly discarded. Let’s give telemedicine a trial. •Oshin, FCA, is a Partner at KCBC Partners and based in Abuja. Group, comprising of Media Concepts International Limited, Botosoft Technologies Limited, Cornfield Transnational Limited and FOAM Studio Nigeria Limited will continue to attain more milestones in life and as well fulfil his dreams and purpose without regrets. Happy birthday to a solution provider in the education and ICT sectors, foremost industrialist, inventor, investor, innovator and philanthropist. As July 13, 2020 heralds a new beginning in your life, I sincerely salute your large-heartedness and deployment of your wealth to the glory of God and for the good of humanity. God bless your new age and may your joy knows no bounds. Congratulations. •Ajibulu is a writer, online publisher, infopreneur, unionist and a social media influencer. He wrote from Lagos via emmanuelajibulu@gmail.com
Antonio ‘Hammers’ Norwich into relegation with four goals West Ham midfielder Michail Antonio was on fire yesterday, scoring all four goals as Norwich dropped out of the Premier League after a meek 4-0 defeat at Carrow Road. The result saw Daniel Farke’s side became the first team to lose their topflight status this season and gave the Hammers’ own survival chances and enormous boost. Norwich were already six points adrift at the foot of the table before the coronavirus pandemic, and their form since the restart took a turn for the worse. Five successive league defeats followed, in which last season’s Championship winners could only manage to score once. Antonio’s two goals in the first half put an end to Norwich’s already slim hopes of survival, but West Ham’s emphatic victory was sealed when he struck twice in the second period to become the first Hammers player to net four in a Premier League game. Norwich had needed their first win in the league since February to avoid relegation, but fell short from the start against the London club who were 10 points better off than the Canaries at the start of the game. I’ll win trophies before I leave Tottenham, says Mourinho Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has said he is confident he can win trophies at the club before his threeyear contract expires. Mourinho was appointed Spurs boss in November after the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino but the club have already been knocked out of the Champions League and FA Cup during his tenure. Spurs find themselves in ninth position in the Premier League table but Mourinho said he needs time before he can succeed at the club. “How long it took for Jurgen [Klopp] and Liverpool?” Mourinho said.”Four years, four seasons. “Buying one of the best goalkeepers in the world, buying one of the best centrebacks in the world and so on and so on and so on. “I’m focused on my threeyear contract. I believe that in my three-year contract we can win trophies. If we don’t, but the club does it in the new era if I stay here only for three years, I will be happy with that.”Antonio ‘Hammers’ Norwich into relegation with four goals No panic if United miss Champions League — Solskjaer •Odion Ighalo and Solskjaer Failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League would not cause Manchester United to panic and alter their plans in the transfer market, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Saturday. United are fifth in the Premier League standings with 58 points, one behind Leicester City, who occupy the final Champions League spot with four games to play. With second-placed Manchester City facing a European ban for breaching UEFA financial rules, fifth would guarantee qualification for the Champions League unless City win an appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport. “I don’t think the club would panic or go crazy with plans that we’ve already talked about Football family mourns as England’s World Cup winner, Charlton dies Jack Charlton, the England and Leeds United great and former Ireland manager, has died aged 85, his family announced yesterday. Here are some of the reactions to his death: England football team “We are devastated by the news that Jack Charlton, a member of our World Cupwinning team of 1966, has passed away,” they said in a statement. “Our deepest sympathies are with Jack’s family, friends and former clubs.” Geoff Hurst, 1966 World Cup-winning team mate “Another sad day for football. Jack was the type of player and person that you need in a team to win a World Cup,” he wrote on Twitter. “He was a great and loveable character and he will be greatly missed. The world of football and the world beyond football has lost one of the greats. RIP old friend.” Football Association of Ireland (FAI) “The FAI is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jack Charlton, the manager who changed Irish football forever,” it said on Twitter. “Our thoughts are with Pat and the family at this sad time.” Gary Lineker, former England striker “Saddened to hear that Jack Charlton has passed away,” he wrote on Twitter. “World Cup winner with England, manager of probably the best ever Ireland side and a wonderfully infectious personality to boot. RIP Jack.” for years to come,” Solskjaer told reporters in a virtual news conference ahead of Monday’s Premier League home game against 12thplaced Southampton. “You do have to have a longterm plan but short-term some decisions will be easier to make if you get the Champions League.” United could also qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League, where they hold a 5-0 advantage over LASK heading into the second leg of their last-16 tie. Eto’o features on African Voices Changemakers omnibus edition International football legend, Samuel Eto’o Fils will be featured in the omnibus edition of the CNN African Voices Changemakers airing this Messi smashes assist record Lionel Messi has smashed yet another record with his assist for Arturo Vidal in Barcelona’s match against Valladolid yesterday, the Argentine reached 20 assists in the La Liga season. The significance of that is he’s now equalled the La Liga record of most assists in a single season with Xavi, who registered 20 during the 2008/09 season. Not only that, but it means Messi now has 20 assists and 20 goals in the league this season - something that has never been done in La Liga history. In fact, the only time that feat has ever been achieved was during the 2002/03 season when Thierry Henry scored 24 goals and provided 20 assists in the Premier League for Arsenal. •Mourinho weekend.Eto’o, who won the African Footballer of the Year laurel four times will be among other illustrious personalities from the African continent that will be •Messi •Michail Antonio •Late Jack Charlton showcased on the programme, sponsored by Globacom.Others that will be showcased are Godfrey Nzamujo, a regenerative agriculture enthusiast, and Yvonne Anuli Orji, a Nigerian-American actress who was catapulted to continental reckoning through her role as Molly in the Home Box Office series Insecure.It would be recalled that Eto’o was featured on the programme in May, 2020. The programme showcased his glorious career, which started with him playing for Kadji Sports Academy in his country. SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2020, PAGE 23 Iheanacho relishes chance to play UCL with Leicester As Leicester City struggle to regain momentum after the coronavirus break, Kelechi Iheanacho is hopeful that the club can finish in the top four and clinch a champions league spot. The Foxes have won only one game since the restart of the Premier League, they have dropped to the fourth place from third before the break. Leicester are a point ahead fifth placed Manchester United. The Foxes are away to relegation threatened Bournemouth today and Iheanacho believes they can get a good result and fend off the United challenge and aslo overhaul Chelsea who are one point above them in the third place. “We’ve worked really hard to get to this stage, so it would really be a dream [to qualify for the Champions League].” Iheanacho has been in fine form since the restart of the league, scoring two goals in his •Iheanacho last three games and explained how he stayed fit during the coronavirus break. “We’ve been training at home and the coaches have been giving us work to do. It’s gone well. I was just keeping fit and training every day,” he added. Iheanacho has bagged 10 goals and provided four assists for the King Power Stadium outfit across all competitions this season. Ancelotti backs Iwobi to score against Wolves •Iwobi Everton coach Carlo Ancelotti, said he has confidence that striker Alex Iwobi, will live up to his potential and score goals for Southgate to make Saka decision after Arsenal, City FA Cup clash England manager, Gareth Southgate is set to call youngster, Bukayo Saka to the Three Lions, if he makes a good impression at next weekend’s FA Cup clash between Arsenal and Manchester City. Saka, is currently having a good run at Arsenal and has become a subject of speculation with regards, which country between Nigerian and England, he would pledge his allegiance to international football. Southgate is prepared to hand Saka an invitation for England’s next international games and has asked the FA to take all necessary action to have Saka in the squad, if he does well in the FA Cup clash. Southgate sees Saka as one of his options for the left back the Toffess. Everton are away to Wolverhampton today in the middle of the table battle that could have European club contest implications for both teams. A win for Wolves will see them in strong position for a top four finish, while Everton will boost their Europa Cup chances. “It is true Iwobi he didn’t score in our previous games, it’s true that he can do better sometimes but it’s also true that I have a lot of confidence in him. “I changed him against Tottenham because he had a little problem with his hamstring. “Against Southampton, I changed him to put more energy on that side and above all to change the system to a line of five. • Saka with Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell currently the Three Lions’ only real choice for that particular role. Saka who was rewarded with four year contract by Arsenal is yet to decide which country he wishes to play for at international level. Sheffield Utd humiliate Chelsea Chelsea suffered their worst defeat in the Premier League this season when they lost 3-0 to Sheffield United yesterday, putting their top four finish in jeopardy. David McGoldrick scored twice and Olle McBurnie added another as Sheffield United were ruthless and Chelsea hapless defensively as Frank Lampard was left seething following a host of defensive mistakes. With the win, Sheffield United move up to sixth place and have 54 points for the season, while Chelsea stay in third on 60 points but have given Leicester and Manchester United an edge in the Champions League battle. In the other game, Burnley ended new champions Liverpool’s hopes of completing the season with a 100% Premier League home record thanks to Jay Rodriguez’s second-half equaliser. The draw means Liverpool can now no longer beat the Premier League record for home wins in a season; they need to beat Chelsea in their last game at Anfield to equal the league high of 18.
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12072020 - Uzodinma, Ngige, Nnamani others meet, vow Igbo united front

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