18042021 - Ex-Gov Aliyu Lied, not all northern govs worked against Jonathan in 2015

Viewpoint
By Ayodeji Mayokun Ayopo
WHEN Lagos State government earmarked
143.66 billion naira for public education in
the 2021 budget, many people were of the opinion
that it was poised to change the education landscape
in the state.
This implies that the government is strongly focused
in pursuing a holistic agenda of transforming
the education sector.
To achieve it aim here, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
inaugurated the Special Committee on
the Rehabilitation of Public Schools (SCRPS).
It should be pointed out that the huge investment
in infrastructural development in the education
sector is very critical to effective learning.
Indeed the quote from the sage, Allan Bloom,
who said “education is the movement from darkness
to light” is indeed the current scenario in Lagos
State. The Sanwo-Olu government is indeed
dispelling the works of darkness in the education
sector by heralding a new dawn through its holistic
agenda to accelerate infrastructural development
in the sector. It should be noted that public
schools suffered from environmental degradation
and infrastructural kwashiorkor.
It has been a pitiable sight as students learn under
pathetic and life threatening atmosphere.
However, things have started taking shape
after Sanwo-Olu took office.
By George Inwang
HEALTH is wealth. This time-worn adage
must be the philosophy that drives the
unprecedented transformation of the health
sector in Akwa Ibom State under the
leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
It is a transformation that is bringing
healthcare delivery closer to the people
through increased accessibility and
availability regardless of their social class or
area of residence.
This includes rural areas which had no health
facilities, thus forcing residents in those areas
to travel long distances for medical care in
hospitals that were ill-equipped to serve that
purpose ab initio.
The exercise has so far seen the revamping
of health institutions that were dilapidated in
structures, which were in rundown conditions
and unable to provide services to the sick, even
in the most common ailments like malaria
and typhoid fever, or maternity services – with
preventable deaths, including high infant and
maternal mortality rates, as consequence.
Those institutions have had life breathed into
them by way of remodeling, reconstruction,
and rehabilitation of critical structures like
emergency and accident departments, wards,
By Chigoziem Dike
IN 2014, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) was rebased from $270bn to $520bn,
making it the largest economy in Africa and
the 26th largest in the world. This close to 90%
increase was attributed to new sectors of the
economy not previously captured, one of which
was the creative industry. For the first time in
Nigeria’s economic history, the value of this industry
was captured and one of its subsets –
Nollywood – was discovered to have contributed
1.42% to the GDP, an impressive $7.2bn in
monetary value. Nollywood has grown to be
globally recognized as the second largest film
producer in the world, producing about 2500
films a year and generating $590million annually.
Nollywood’s leap in recent times has gone
beyond the individual efforts of the players. It is
the collaboration of many interventions dedicated
to making the film industry home to authentic
storytelling. Since the home video boom
in the 90s that led to the coinage of ‘Nollywood’,
By Ifeanyi Aigbedion
NIGERIANS woke up to hear about the bru
tal killing of an Army Captain and some soldiers
who were on a routine patrol operation in
Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.
The 11 fallen heroes were killed by alleged gunmen
who ambushed their military convoy.
Unconfirmed reports also claimed that the slain
troops met their ‘tragic end’ after intervening in a
‘bloody’ communal clash between Konshisha and
Oju local governments.
Days earlier, they had first been declared missing.
But in a statement, issued penultimate Thursday,
Brig. Gen. Mohammed Yerima, Director, Army
Public Relations, said the missing soldiers were
later found dead. This was after a search and rescue
operation was conducted.
Though this is not first time personnel of the
Armed Forces of Nigeria have fallen victim to
unscrupulous elements, it is heartbreaking that
Service to fatherland is being turned into a source
of sorry.
With the killings come new widows and children
who have no father to look up to. Dying on
the war front is not a new thing, but when it happens
when on a mission to restore peace, it becomes
unacceptable.
The series of attacks by gunmen on security per-
With gargantuan zeal, the governor swung into
action and, today, the tide has indeed changed
positively concerning infrastructural decay in Lagos
public schools. It should be emphasized that
the strong focus of the administration is premised
on a strategic blueprint. This aptly tagged
T.H.E.M.E.S. focuses on Traffic Management,
Transport, Health, Environment, Education and
Technology. The education part of this strategic
process has received enormous attention with huge
investment in infrastructural development.
Sanwo-Olu on assumption of office had decried
the poor state of infrastructure in public schools.
He immediately declared zero tolerance on the
poor state of infrastructure in public schools.
FULFILLING AGENDA
To accelerate and actualize the core vision of
revamping schools’ infrastructure, the governor
inaugurated SCRPS.
The committee, headed by Mr. Hakeem Smith,
has since been a veritable channel through which
public schools have experienced massive transformation
and growth.
The governor gave SCRPS the mandate to ensure
that public schools are conducive for learning.
The Smith committee remains the cynosure of
public spectacle as the populace watched in utter
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021, PAGE 27
Lagos Public Schools: SCRPS and the Transformation Agenda
With MTF, MultiChoice Nigeria beams Nollywood to Global investors
Wanton killing of military personnel must stop
sonnel cuts across the country.
Like many spirited and concerned Nigerians,
Hajia Salamatu Adebayo, Publicity Secretary,
Mothers for United Nigeria (MUN) laments the
frequent attack on members of the Armed Forces
of Nigeria.
Adebayo like several other Nigerians believes
that the wanton attacks on troops are capable of
‘killing’ their morale while affecting ongoing military
operations, across the country.
Truth must be told, families of our military personnel
are already in pain missing their loved ones
engaged in several operations across the country.
Some families have not seen their loved ones who
are engaged in military operations for months.
The last any of the families want to hear is the
death of their loved ones.
Therefore, willfully killing people who have
mortgaged their life for the country is adding salt
to the injury. As Adebayo said, we must ensure the
morale of our military personnel is not weakened.
We must support them at this very crucial point in
the history of this great country.
We must support the new service chiefs led by the
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Leo Irabor,
and give them the benefit of doubt as they seek
Udom’s healthcare programme for sustainable devt
•Gov Udom
theatres, and dispensaries as the case may be,
as well as upgrade or replacement of
equipment, to be able to meet the challenge of
providing modern healthcare delivery in a
state that is being primed to be Nigeria’s
industrial hub.
The government has created an environment
that is conducive for investments to thrive – a
peaceful and secure state, critical infrastructure
like a good road network and power, as well as
incentives that investors find attractive and
irresistible. This is in addition to the traditional
hospitality for which the people of Akwa Ibom
are well known, which contributes to creating
a welcoming environment where people can
visit, live and work.
The creation of the right environment has so
far yielded results in form of industrial
establishments which have been set up in the
state in the last six years – about 16 in all. These
industries are collectively employing thousands
of people. With the oil and gas free zone, the
federal government is planning to set up in the
state, and the futuristic Ibom Deep Sea Port
which is going to be the biggest investment in
that part of the country, Akwa Ibom indigenes
in other parts of the country are going to find it
attractive to return home to seek employment
and business opportunities. The state will no
doubt appeal to Nigerians in neighbouring
states and other parts of the country in search
of greener pastures.
With more people coming into the state-local
astonishment the beautification of public schools
in Lagos.
Since its inauguration, SCPRS has rehabilitated
close to 150 schools while over 300 classrooms
at various stages of completion are being constructed
and renovated.
Construction of hostel blocks with a target of
over 1,000 beddings is also almost completed in
the model colleges.
The facilities that are being installed in the
schools attest to the fact that fact that the Lagos
government is making education a life in its own
right for both teachers and students.
STATE-OF-THE-ART FURNITURE
The intervention is not only limited to infrastructural
development but also the provision of modern
furniture. The fabrication and supply of dual
single composite student benches and tables with
underneath compartments for books and bag storage
are being supplied to public schools especially
to those with furniture deficit.
The provision of state-of-the-art furniture for
both students and teachers align with the above
that education is life in Lagos. SCRPS has provided
over 100,000 students furniture.
ICT ANGLE
Giant strides have also been made in infusing
technology into schools and into the learning process.
This is a welcome development in view of
the huge role ICT plays in learning.
It is the innate resolve of the Sanwo-Olu administration
to build new schools and incorporate
ICT to drive teaching and learning through
infrastructural needs.
TEACHERS CAPABILITIES
A critical focus of the transformation in public
schools is improving the competency and capabilities
of teachers through continuous training.
The skills of teachers are being updated through
modern technology.
2,500 teachers were trained in scenario planning
based on remote learning, teaching and classroom
co-ordination post-COVID.
SECURITY ANGLE
The government intervention is not only limited
to infrastructure but also the innovative dimension
of security.
There is the Security Improvement Programme
(SIP) introduced especially in the model colleges
and boarding schools.
The government factored the critical issue of
security into its school infrastructural development
project. Watch towers with alarm belts and
perimeter fences in order to enhance security have
also been constructed.
Continues on www.vanguardngr.com
investors from other parts of the country,
foreign investors and Nigerians seeing to take
up employment – there is going to be pressure
on social services, including healthcare
delivery. The government has acted proactively
by investing in healthcare to build a state
where health would translate to wealth – a
state with a healthy population that would
create individual and collective wealth for
present and future generations of Akwa
Ibomites.
The government has strengthened
healthcare delivery at the primary level by
building more health centres, rehabilitating
old ones and upgrading some to the level of
full hospitals. For instance, the Awa Primary
Health Centre has been remodeled,
reconstructed and equipped to join the list of
general hospitals that are located in the three
senatorial districts of the state – to make
secondary healthcare delivery available even
where there are primary health facilities.
•Inwang, a public affairs commentator,
lives in Port Harcourt
Continues on www.vanguardngr.com
Nigerian films have displayed an impressive
capacity to travel beyond the shores to the
amazement of many observers. Though films
at the time were of low production quality, the
stories they told resonated with Nigerians home
and abroad as it reflected the culture and economic
situation of the country.
It wasn’t long before Nollywood became the
leader in African films where any film from Nigeria
was almost seen as a representation of the
continent. This boom resulted in many individuals
with little or no filmmaking experience
associating themselves with the industry. The
downside of this bandwagon effect resulted in a
drop in production quality and a promotion of
unprofessionalism since some practitioners
were untrained.
In the late 90s, the industry witnessed a change
through the intervention of MultiChoice Nigeria.
The media entertainment company kicked
off an initiative - New Directions - to stimulate
the growth of emerging filmmakers in the continent
with professional trainings of international
repute. Renowned filmmakers like Tunde Kelani,
the late quintessential Amaka Igwe, Mahmood
Ali Balogun and Femi Odugbemi cut
their teeth on that program and would not only
become masters in the field of storytelling but
also institutions. Through their eyes, other filmmakers
were able to understand the craft and
business of filmmaking.
MultiChoice has had a knack for investing in
local content since it entered the Nigerian market
in 1993. These investments are not limited
to monetary value alone but extend to talent
and capacity development as well. From sports
to movies and even to music, the company has
embarked on many interventions such as trainings,
conferences and awards that empower and
reward talents. One of such interventions is the
MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), the company’s
Creating Shared Value initiative.
Similar to New Directions, the ultimate objective
of the initiative is to ignite Africa’s creative
industries, notably the filmmaking business.
MTF has three touchpoints: The Academy,
Masterclasses and Portal.
The Academy operates in three regions of the
continent where the company thrives and is
accessible to 13 countries. In West Africa, the
Academy hub is in Nigeria while in Southern
and Eastern Africa, Zambia and Kenya are the
learning hubs. The Academy offers a unique
opportunity to young, vibrant and passionate
individuals who display an interest in film and
television production. Twenty students are
picked from each region and undergo a 12-
month all-expense paid educational programme.
The programme exposes the students
to the nitty-gritty of filmmaking while expanding
their views on the business of filmmaking.
•Dike a Public Affairs analyst, writes from
Abuja.
Continues on www.vanguardngr.com
solutions to the security challenges ravaging the
land.
Thankfully, the killings have been condemned
by Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who
vowed to collaborate with security agencies to
bring peace to Konshisha.
Ortom, while describing the incident as unfortunate,
apologised to the families of the fallen heroes.
He vowed that the state government would collaborate
with security agencies to ensure that all
those who perpetrated the act are fished out and
brought to book
He regretted how the soldiers died in the hands
of the militias while trying to ensure peace in troubled
areas of the state.
Ortom appealed to the families of the deceased
soldiers to forgive him for uncomplimentary comments
he may have made in the course of the
situation, saying he said that based on the information
available to him at that time.
“If I said anything offensive to the families, I ask
for their forgiveness. I earlier said only two soldiers
were involved based on the information available
to me at that time.”
The governor pledged his administration’s support
for the bereaved families to enable them to
overcome the difficult moment.
Political, community and religious leaders, traditional
rulers must educate their people on the
need to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria to
bring peace to their domain
But beyond the condolences of Governor Ortom
and the homilies of both Major Mavisky
and Captain Bashir, there is a need for a proactive
measure to be adopted to arrest the spate of
wanton attacks on military personnel.
Meanwhile, it should dawn on the federal government,
most especially, to find a way to curb
anything that will dampen the morale of troops
in the various frontlines, and also hinder ongoing
military operations. It is fundamental to ensure
that efficacious military strategies evolved
to fight terrorists, bandits, militia gangs, and other
criminals, are not weakened.
That is why every necessary machinery must
be put in place to avoid a repeat of the Konshisha
event. And that is why we all must not only worry
that our military personnel are been maimed, on
a basis. We must also do something to stop it.
•Aigbedion is Convener, Unity Advocacy
Group (UAG)