₦airaland Forum

No!
The country should be set upon the simple principles:
1. live by your culture
2. Eat what you produce

@Beaf:

The federating units should only have the following in common:
a. Foreign Policy
b. Food Silos
c. Education Standards
d. Judiciary
e. Military
f. Inter-state Transportation (water,land, air)
g. National statistics

Everything else should be devolved to the states.
The states will pay 5% tax to the Federal govt on all earning (except agriculture)

Why the exemption of agriculture, if I may ask?

Tayo4life us definitely becomerich. He is the one canvassing for dominance of Yoruba region with fake maps

Ibime:
Afaukwu, could you please provide us a link to your original story?

Done

tayo4lif:
Afaukwu region NEVER. 8 region

This sounds like becomerich. Have you mutated yet again into another name?

Fhemmmy:
i love your view, except rational presidency and all that crap.
We have democracy and all shd be determined via an election

Who says rotational presidency is not an elective process? Were Yaradua and Obasanjo not elected? If every region must pay their due as I listed above, then every region must produce a national leader.

This is the bomb:

Equality of states in each region

     Or

Abolish all the states and lets have regions only (six regions, three north, three south)
100% resource control including oil, gas, coal, solid minerals, agricultural produce, etc
20% tax to the federal govt for all minerals and other produce
16.67% of federal workforce from each region =16.67 x6=100
Rotational presidency, senate presidency and house speaker between the regions, north and south,east and west

Fhemmmy:
that is great and dandy, but will like to know what the creations of more states are all about?
they have been talking of wind energy for years, so let us see it happy first

The creation of more states is all about equity and equalization

NW 0 STATE + 7=7
NE 1 STATE + 6 = 7
NC 1 STATE + 6 = 7
SW 1 STATE + 6 = 7
SE 2 STATES + 5 =7
SS 1 STATE + 6 = 7

So, every region will then have equal number of states: 7.

Northern Senators Back Down On Resource Control, State Creation
By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, Assistant Editor, Abuja

Northern Senators have changed their opposition to an increase in oil derivation from 13 per cent to 50 per cent, and now want exploration of mineral resources in the region.

The U-turn came less than a month of their rejection of the idea, and that of creation of states demanded especially by the South East.

The Northern Senators, Forum (NSF) said exploration of mineral resources in the North should also attract derivation mandated by the Constitution.

,,We cannot see why there won,t be oil in the North when a desert country like Libya has oil; when Chad and Cameroon have oil,,, a Northern Senator argued.

And ,,seriously speaking, he added, ,,none of us would oppose state creation because there are some states in the North that favour carving out states from the present arrangement.

,,For instance, in Bauchi, there is the agitation for Katagum State and in Benue, a call for the creation of Apa State. So, you can see that it pays the North to go along with the South on state creation.,,

It was also learnt that the Presidency has reached out to the NSF to co-operate on the remaining four of the six electoral reform Bills in the National Assembly (NASS).

Besides, the NSF is considering meeting with the SSF to ,,agree on areas that would be amended in the Constitution and how they would jointly benefit us. We have since realised that there is no need for friction.

,,There are certain aspects of the Constitution amendment that would benefit the entire country. So, the NSF feels there is need for both groups to meet,,, said a source who attended the NSF meeting last Thursday.

The NSF has three core areas it wants Aso Rock to concentrate on in the 2010 budget: agriculture, energy, and mineral resources.

,,We are going to tell the Presidency that more funds need to be allocated to agriculture. In the past, the North was acclaimed for its agricultural prowess. We need to regain that glory and be the food basket of the nation once more.

,,On energy, we are going to parley with the Presidency on the alternative source of energy. Nigeria can do it, because we have the resources.

,,We are looking at wind energy which can be tapped from a state like Katsina. Exploration of wind energy can work in the North just as there is crude oil in the Niger Delta.,,

http://www.independentngonline.com/news/tfpg/article03

obiem,

Imo is ND, also Abia

Itsekiri adopted me, says Ojukwu
National News Jul 16, 2009 Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu has said that Itsekiri people are very dear to him, saying that they adopted him.

Tracing his relationship with Itsekiri through late Professor Alex Boyo and J. T. L. Boyo to the mid 1940s at Kings College, Lagos, he said they had always been by him in time when he needed them.


CONDOLENCE VISIT: From left; Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, leader of delegation, Mr. J.O.S Ayomike and Chief Adolo Okotie-Eboh during a condolence visit by Itsekiri delegation to Ojukwu on the death of his father in-law, late C.C. Onoh.
Dim Ojukwu made this statement when the Itsekiri delegation led by Mr. J. 0. S. Ayomike paid him a condolence visit at Enugu to commiserate with him on the death of his father in law, Chief C. C. Onoh.

The Itsekiri delegation which was specially invited by Dim Ojukwu to also accompany him to pay the traditional in-law visit to the Onoh’s family at Ngwo included Mr. E. O. Ekpoko, A. S. Mene, Mr. Joe Omatsola, Chief Adolo Okotie-Eboh, Chief Willy Edema Ofoni, Amaechi Ogbona and Jolomi Ayomike.

Earlier, the leader of the Itsekiri delegation, Mr. J. O. S. Ayomike had expressed the heartfelt condolence of the Itsekiri people to the Ikemba and his wife, Bianca.

Yar’Adua to Name Oteh New SEC DG
By Goddy Egene, 07.13.2009


A first-class product of the University of Nigeria (UNN), Ms Arunma Oteh, is set to be named the new Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by President Umaru Musa Yar' Adua, THISDAY has learnt.
She is currently the Vice-President, African Development Bank (AfDB), where she was a colleague of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Mansur Muhtar.
The appointment, which barring any last-minute hitches should be announced this week, was based on the high recommendation of Muhtar, the newspaper also learnt.
She will replace the acting Director-General, Ms. Daisy Ekineh, who held fort following the sudden disengagement of Musa Al-Faki, before his five-year tenure expired in May.
A Presidency source said Oteh’s nomination was borne out of “the need for an independent mind to effect the needed reforms in the capital market” in addition to her vast experience.
The Federal Government, the source said, wants to restructure SEC.
Oteh, 44, holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a first class honours degree in Computer Science from the UNN.
Before joining AfDB in 1992, she worked for Centre-Point Investments Limited as an analyst. She joined the AfDB as a Senior Financial Analyst covering lending operations in West and North Africa and moved to the Treasury Department in 1993 where she held various positions in the Capital Markets and Investment Divisions.
Oteh was appointed Vice-President for Corporate Services of the African Development Bank Group in 2006.
As Treasurer, she was overseeing the activities of the Treasury Department including managing $ 8.5 billion liability portfolio, a $7.5 billion swap portfolio, and a multi-currency fixed income asset portfolio totalling $10.7 billion for the bank group.
She was also responsible for providing financial technical support in the origination of transactions and development of financial products for the group's clients.
She is the co-editor of the book, "African Voices, African Visions" with Olugbenga Adesida.
SEC, the apex regulatory institution of the Nigerian capital market, is supervised by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Former DG of the commission, Al-Faki, who took over from Suleyman Ndanusa in October 2004, resigned unceremoniously on May 8, 2009.
His resignation followed allegations of manipulation of AP Plc shares. He cited family and personal reasons, but it was believed that he was a victim of power play between the gladiators in the AP saga.

United northern Nigeria . Pretenders and deniers

Minister accuses wealthy persons of bringing beggars to Abuja
From Terhemba Daka, Abuja

FEDERAL Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Adamu Aliero yesterday accused some wealthy individuals in the territory of bringing beggars to Abuja.



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According to him, such wealthy persons provide the beggars with accommodation while using them to beg for alms.

Aliero who spoke through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Abdullahi Zuru after the FCT weekly executive council meeting yesterday said government was worried with the growing number of street beggars in the city and had decided to take urgent steps to arrest the situation.

He said the administration had identified three categories of beggars who, according to him, must be sent back to their places of origin within the next few weeks.

The minister said that such beggars had resorted to moving from one office to another seeking alms under the pretext of securing contracts. He noted that this development had affected the performance of officials in the ministries, departments and agencies.

While calling on religious leaders as well as persons interested in giving alms to direct such funds to religious institutions for further distribution to beggars, Aliero said the Social Development Secretariat and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board would arrest any beggar found on the streets of Abuja begging for alms.

"After the arrests are made they would be taken to the SDS Camp, and later to the Lugbe Orphanage Home in the FCT which would serve as transit camp for the beggars who would thereafter be returned to their respective states.

"Religious bodies and security agencies would visit the orphanage to sort out and identify real beggars and those who are the executive ones, after which the real ones would be rehabilitated and trained in some trades so as not to remain on the streets," he said.

Where is ''generalZango'', the sour-mouthed fake general''?

Asha 80

Thanks. I did not know that, as I hardly visit other sections of NL. Could you kindly direct me to the post?

generalzango:
@Ikeyman00,IDIOT,shawn tribalism & another thread lets see. How many Hausa/Fulani own a house in Aba,you talk of discrimination,tell me how many Hausa/Fulani are having political apointments in the East. Go to Kano,the Igbos have a councillor,in Kaduna they have an assistant to the Governor,in Bauchi &Sokoto they have aides to the Government,in Rivers State a Yoruba man is a Perm. Sec. Yet you talk of discrimination,because you are a MONKEY.

All the hausa fulani in Igboland are either soldiers, police, custom, immigration, shoe polishers, gate men or cattle rearers (80% of them). Except they steal, loot or dupe, where the money to take build house for Aba (Igboland)?

I am willing to contribute 200 Euros every month. Igbo kwenu!!

Igbo to Float Diaspora Fund, Spare Parts Factory
Submitted by demonteufel
Jun 12, 2009
Igbo to Float Diaspora Fund, Spare Parts Factory

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Igbo to Float Diaspora Fund, Spare Parts Factory
06.12.2009

Rising from the first Igbo economic summit in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, held from May 29 to 30, 2009, Igbo in diaspora resolved to set up a diaspora fund to fight the Igbo cause in addition to floating a spare parts manufacturing factory in Igboland.

A communique signed by Nze Joe Eto and Dr Anthony Ejiofor, Chairman and Executive Director respectively, noted that the summit also resolved that the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation should at all times champion Igbo unity.

The summit, attended by Managing Director of World Bank, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Professor Pat Utomi and the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Ambassador Raph Uwechue also resolved to encourage Igbo to embrace self-help projects.

"In order to strengthen Igboland economically, education should be promoted aggressively. The great achievements of Ndigbo in the pre-civil war era was attributed to high quality education, the well-known Igbo hard work, competitiveness and ingenuity, the communique read.

The Summit, therefore, resolved to organise the Igbo Diaspora, to provide necessary support for quality vocational education across Igboland that will afford the unemployed the opportunity to learn valuable skills for the modern economy.

It also resolved "to create a Diaspora Fund built on contributions of $300.00 by all working Igbo man and woman in the diaspora immediately.

"We agreed to immediately put in place efforts to establish a heavy equipment spare part manufacturing factory in Igbo heartland and recognised Ohanaeze Ndigbo as the premier all-Igbo leader and pledged to work with the organisation and its eminent president to tackle all the problems in Igboland.

The summit pledged to work with Ohanaeze to source international funds to solve environmental problems such as erosion in Igboland, in addition to working with other Igbo groups to implement programmes identified in the Economic Development for the region under SENEC (South Eastern Nigerian Economic Commission).

Among the attendees were prominent Igbos in North America including the founders of the World Igbo Congress from Houston Texas, Dr. JOS Okeke, the Consul General, Honorable Chudi Okfor and prominent Nigerians who flew all the way from home to help shape the economic future of Ndigbo.

Others include Ambassador Raph Uwechue, President General Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Dr Chukwuka Okonjo, economist, Obi of Ogwashi Uku and Dr Kamene Okonjo, Professor FNC Osuji, former Minister of Education, Professor Anya O Anya, former chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Professor Ebere Onwudiwe, political economist and public intellectual, and Dr. Chii Akporji, Communications in Commerce, The World Bank. among others.

RichyBlacK:
Well, I think this a question some people will like to discuss. The thread stays. Thanks for your suggestion though.

South south or South East, then North East or North Central, then South South or South East, then North East or North Central, then South West. Turn by turn for life!

Get lost. No one cares about your warped posts. Moderator please lock this thread too.

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jul/8/211.html

Senate Names Adedoyin, Offor, Bayero, others in N53.3bn insider credit abuse
•Gulf Bank former director owes N7bn
From Sufuyan Ojeifo in Abuja, 07.08.2009

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

At last, the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions yesterday made good its threat to name former directors of 13 failed banks who were involved in insider credit abuse that led to the banks’ failure.

The former directors of the failed banks collectively owed the failed banks N53.3 billion out of which the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has so far recovered a paltry N4.722 billion.

Former Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Ebitimi Banigo; former Minister of Information, Chief Dapo Sarumi; former Governor of old Kwara State, Alhaji Shaaba Lafiagi; an industrialist, Prince Samuel Adedoyin; a businessman, Sir Emeka Offor; and former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Chief Dubem Onyia, featured in the list.

Former presidential aspirant, Mallam Saleh Jambo; ex-Lagos State commissioner, Chief Remi Adiukwu-Bakare; her husband, Chief Stephen Bakare; Senator Chris Adighije; Senator Mike Ajaegbo; Chief S.O. Bakare; Chief Great Ogboru; Sir Victor Odili; Mr. Paul Achimugu; Mr. Adeyeba Adekunle Johns; Chief C.M. Ibeto; Alhaji Abbati Aminu Saleh; and Ibrahim Aminu Saleh among many others, also featured in the list.

Although, the name of foremost industrialist and richest man in the country, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, featured in the list as having received a credit of N650 million from the failed Liberty Bank in the name of Bullion International and Dangote Group of Companies, the NDIC indicated under recoveries made that he had liquidated the entire loan.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, named the affected former directors on the floor of the Senate shortly after the consideration of the Committee’s report of the public/investigative hearing on the agonies of the depositors of the failed banks and financial institutions.

This was consequent upon the approval by the Senate of the fifth recommendation contained in the 12-page report in which the committee was asking for its (Senate) mandate to publish the names of those involved in the insider credit abuse.

The Upper House, in approving the recommendation, directed that Nwaogu should proceed immediately to reel out the names contained in a tentative report presented to the committee by the NDIC.

The report, signed by NDIC Board Director/Director, Legal Department, A.B. Nyako, entiled: “Re: Schedule of Insider Credit of Banks Closed on 16th January, 2006,” said: “We refer to your letter dated 25th June, 2008 in respect of the above subject and forward herewith, the attached updated schedule of insider credits of 13 closed banks as at June 2008.

“Please note that in view of the fact that the accounts are insider related, the records are constantly being reviewed and reconciled. Accordingly, some of the figures reported are tentative.”

By reading the names on the floor, Nwaogu and members of her committee enjoyed parliamentary immunity. No legal action can be instituted against them.

Nwaogu was, however, hesitant despite enjoying legislative immunity, to release the names. There was mild drama before she declassified the list.

Many senators, including Olorunnimbe Mamora, Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, Ahmad Lawan and Ayogu Eze, supported the disclosure of the insider credit abusers, while a few including Senator Joseph Akaagerger initially opposed on the ground that some of the former directors are now chairmen of boards of some Federal Government agencies.

Mamora said: “A lot of violation and disregard for rules was carried out by the banks executives. There must be mechanism for enforcement of rules to bring this people to book.”

Lawan stated: “What happened in the bank was a betrayal of public trust. It was abuse of trust that people would put their money and because some people were privileged to know some directors, they would take money without due process, without even paying back.”

Senate President David Mark ruled that Nwaogu should read out the names, declaring that the Senate as an institution must be upright in the fight against corruption.

He said failure to announce the names of the creditors would amount to shielding corrupt people in the society. Nwaogu spent about 30 minutes reeling out the names and the details of the credit and recoveries made by the NDIC.

Some of the details reeled out by Nwaogu indicated that the highest insider credit abuser was a former director of failed Gulf Bank, Adeyeba Adekunle Johns, who got about N7 billion.

Banigo, former Chairman of failed All States Trust Bank, got about N3.2 billion with only N10 million recovered from him so far.

The remaining outstanding of about N11.8 billion was got by companies against whom no directors’ names were indicated. An individual (Prof. Nta Henshaw) got N17.9 million, bringing the outstanding balance to N15,170, 852,591.19.

Others are: Eagle Bank former directors - Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu Saleh and Abbati Aminu Saleh (N26.918 million) - who were personally guaranteed by their father and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Aminu Saleh; and Paul Achimugu (N5.5 million), among others.

Trade Bank: Alhaji K.A. Olatunde (N13.3 million); Alhaji S.Y. Abdullahi (N1.25 billion); Lafiagi (N1.156 million) and David Chuka Nwosu (N3.4 million), among others.

Gulf Bank: Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero (N45.003 million); Babajide Rogers (N11.874 million); and Muyiwa Osho (N242.1 million).

City Express Bank: Prince Samuel Adedoyin and Mrs. Sola Adeoti (who both got N5.584 billion out which N453 million has been recovered so far).

Assurance Bank of Nigeria Plc: Angela Onyeador (N30.7 million); Chuka Nwokoko (N31.9 million); and Moore Onyekaba (N3.6 million), among others.

African Express Bank: Sir Emeka Offor through his Chrome Oil Services and other related companies got N15 billion and has repaid over half of the sum taken as loan.

Offor however, said he had defrayed his debt to less than N900 million and that he was at the verge of offsetting the balance when the report was made public by the Senate.

Liberty Bank: Chief Victor Odili (got N41.1 million; N10.6 million and another N2.6 million got in the name of Colodense Nigeria Limited) and Dr. T.C. Osanakpo (N43.6 million got in the name of Rison Palm Limited).

Hallmark Bank: Alhaji B.I. Bunu, Chief F.E.C. Adiele, Chief Jude Akpunku, Dr. Sam Eke, Nnamdi Anyaehie, Nze Maduako and others got a total of N9.3 billion.

Lead Bank: J.I. Abulime (N5.8 million); Mallam Saleh Jambo (N17.2 million); Captain Onu and Chief Dubem Onyia (both got N26.6 million in the name of Easy Link Aviation).

Metropolitan Bank: Senator Chris Adighije (N1.9 million); Senator Mike Ajaegbo (N210 million)’ Chief (Mrs) Remi Adiukwu-Bakare (over N1.093 billion); Great Ogboru (N799.7 million); Oladapo Sarumi (N3.8 million); and Chief S. O. Bakare (about N800 million).

After she rounded off and laid the report on the table of the Senate, Senator Enyinaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South) raised the alarm that Nwaogu’s mobile phone was already being inundated with text messages threatening her life.

Mark, however, assured her that the Senate would request the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to provide her and members of the committee with adequate security to protect them.

He said the Senate was proud of them and that the Upper House would not abandon them after having done a great job in the interest of the nation.

According to him, “You have performed wonderfully. I commend you for the courage to bring this to limelight. You do not need to be afraid for what you have done for your country as those that have sent you the text messages should first think twice about their actions.

“We stand by you; we are together in this and we take full responsibilities for this report. It is a far-reaching report. We will do what we have to do. We must play by the rules. Those names here should be ashamed of themselves.”

Meanwhile, the Senate approved the other 14 recommendations by the Nwaogu-led Committee.

For instance, it recommended that the NDIC and all banks involved in the purchase and assumption (of failed banks) should embark on renewed public awareness and sensitisation campaign in the print and electronic media on the payment procedures to enable depositors in pre-and post consolidation failed banks, come forward for their deposits.

It also recommended that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should re-examine the practice under “Purchase and Assumption” whereby assuming banks are allowed to cherry pick the good assets of failed banks and leave only the government to take responsibility for the bad ones.

In addition, it recommended that the Senate should direct the NDIC to come up with a plan for immediate payment of all depositors irrespective of the pending court cases and to put a definite deadline for completion of the process.


Debtors to Failed Banks…


Adeyeba Adekunle Johns

N7b (Gulf Bank)

Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero

N45.003 million

Babajide Rogers

N11.874 million

Muyiwa Osho

N242.1 million

Ebitimi Banigo

N3.2b with N10 million recovered

(All States Trust Bank)

Professor Nta Henshaw

N17.9 million

Alh I.Aminu Saleh & A. Aminu Saleh - N26.918 million (Eagle Bank)

Paul Achimugu - N5.5 million

Alh K.A. Olatunde

N13.3 million (Trade Bank)

Alh S.Y.Abdullahi

N1.25bn

Alh Sha’aba Lafiagi

N1.156 million

David Chuka Nwosu

N3.4 million

Prince S. Adedoyin & Mrs. Sola Adeoti

N5.584b with N453 million recovered (City Express Bank)

Angela Onyeador

N30.7 million (Assurance Bank of Nigeria plc)

Chuka Nwokoko

N31.9 million

Moore Onyekaba

N3.6 million

Sir Emeka Ofor- N7.5bn with N3.8bn recovered (African Express Bank)

Chief Victor Odili

N54.3 million (Liberty Bank)

Dr. T.C. Osanakpo - N43.6 million

Alh B.I. Bunu, Chief F.EC. Adiele, Chief Jude Akpunku, Dr. Sam Eke, Nnamdi Anyaehie, Nze Maduako

N9.3bn (Hallmark Bank)

J.I. Abulime - N5.8 million (Lead Bank)

Mallam Saleh Jambo - N17.2 million

Captain Onu & Chief D. Onyia

N26.6 million

Sen Chris Adighije

N1.9 million (Metropolitan Bank)

Sen Mike Ajaegbo - N210 million

Chief (Mrs.) R. Adiukwu-Bakare

over N1.093 billion

Great Ogboru - N799.7 million

Oladapo Sarumi - N3.8 million

Chief S.O. Bakare - N800 million

Nigerian scoops African 'Booker'

EC Osondu used to work in advertising
Nigerian writer EC Osondu has won the 2009 Caine Prize for African Writing.

The award was given for his story Waiting, about displaced people. It has been published in Guernicamag.com, and takes a $16,00 prize (£10,000).

The other four writers shortlisted for the prize were from Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa.

The prize - widely known as the African Booker - is awarded annually for a short story by an African writer published in English.

The award is named after Sir Michael Caine, a former chairman of Booker plc.

Dislocation

The Chair of Judges, New Statesman Chief Sub-Editor Nana Yaa Mensah, described Mr Osondu's story as "a tour de force describing, from a child's point of view, the dislocating experience of being a displaced person."

He was born in Nigeria and worked in advertising in Lagos before moving to New York to study creative writing at Syracuse University.

He received the Allen and Nirelle Galso Prize for Fiction and his story A Letter from Home was recognized as one of the best Internet Stories of 2006.

He currently teaches literature at Providence College, Rhode Island.

Winning the prize includes a month's scholarship at Georgetown University in Washington DC as a Writer-in-Residence.

Okocha offers Bolton University scholarships to 10 Nigerian youths

SUPER Eagles' former captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, has teamed up with the University of Bolton to provide scholarships to 10 enterprising students from Nigeria.



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According to a release by Okocha's agents, the scholarships worth £2,000 each will be offered to students with a drive to succeed and emulate the success that the Bolton Wanderers' former skipper had while playing for the Premier League team.

The release said the scholarships would provide a valuable structure of financial support to ensure that students of all backgrounds in Nigeria could enjoy the benefits of higher education at the University of Bolton. The beneficiaries will also receive special personally signed congratulatory letters from Okocha as well as 10 Bolton Wanderers Premier League season tickets of 15 matches, it said.

In 2008, the Times magazine ranked the University of Bolton joint third out of 130 universities in the United Kingdom. The university offers a full and challenging range of courses ranging from computers, engineering, business, social sciences to health.

Representatives of the institution will be in Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) from the 6th to 15th of this month to issue on the spot offers and discuss the scholarship opportunities. According to the Head of International Recruitment, Jeffrey Williams, "this scholarship is an exciting opportunity for students and something they will have on their resume for ever.

"It is great that Jay Jay Okocha is helping young students reach their dreams by studying in the UK, with most students choosing to return to Nigeria post their study and work experience, it can only mean good things for Nigeria's future."

The Vice Chancellor, Dr. George Holmes, noted: "I really enjoy seeing and meeting Nigerian students on campus, their passion for study and life in general is second to none."

Billymuse

Previous govt is not current govt. Do you understand what you are reading?

MEND is in govt payroll
OPC is in govt payroll
Arewa is in govt payroll
Almajiris are in govt payroll
Massob was in govt payroll

Eh! so this junkie girl =Laudate? WSNE!

babasoty:
the problem with the iboman is that he is self delusional, in one vein you have their elites crying out for the shot of the presidency and in another vein you have folks like this uwazuruike fella shouting for the actualisation of biafra, well thats what its just gonna be ACTUALIZATION, here is a dude who orders the attack of a governor for not giving his members financial support forgetting the money he is asking for comes from other parts of nigeria that are not biafra related, wetin ojukwu fight surrender go contest for president of nigeria na im uwazurike wey no see civil war want to go fight for, lol, please somebody should just grease the man's palm so he can shut up, i guess thats his problem

Point of correction. Igbo states produce oil and who knows, what they get from the federal allocation may actually be equal to the amount of oil mined fron Igbo soil. Your statement should be for non oil-producing regions. Be enlightened.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/breaking_news/article01

Obama seeks text messages from Nigerians

In the same way he personally explained his choice of Ghana as his first presidential port of call in Africa, U.S. President Barack Obama is extending an invitation to Nigerians to send him on their phones while he is on his current foreign trip which will see him visiting Ghana later on Saturday. To this end, Obama is asking Africans to send him text messages, promising that those who send messages to him, will also receive highlights of his speech planned for Accra, Ghana. The statement by the U.S. government which was directed to Africans, but which specifically listed Ghanaians, Nigerians, South Africans and Kenyans said "starting July 3, you are invited to send a text message to President Barack Obama with your questions and comments in advance of his visit to Africa." While not visiting their countries, this is seen as a symbolic gestures to connect to the average African in the continent. The U.S. State Department statement on the text-messaging added that "those who respond early will receive SMS highlights from his speech in Accra, Ghana, on Saturday, July 11. This service is available in both English and French," adding that President Obama will directly answer selected questions through local radio broadcasts in Africa.

Nma Okafor goes for dream internship
By PAUL OHIA, 07.03.2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009

It’s like living in dreamland and enjoying all the benefits - Nma Winnie Okafor is presently working at the United States Congress not as a lawmaker but as an intern. She is one of the first to enjoy this rare opportunity, and in her own case, she is working with a legislator from Illinois, the state that produced the present American President Barack Obama.

She won the scholarship-like internship along with two other Americans, Hunter Huffman and Matthew Veenas from the Northern Illinois University. The three now live, learn and work in the heart of the US capital under a new university-established congressional internship programme.

The junior honours students each won $5,000 scholarships to defray costs associated with the internship. The students reported for work on May 25, and are living in housing provided by George Washington University, located in the center of Washington, DC, just a short walk from the Capitol, the NIU website reported.

Okafor is majoring in political science with a minor in economics. She is a member of the NIU debate team and has been active in tutoring and peer advisory work.

Born December 14, 1989, is the first of five children from the family of Mr. and Mrs. Willie and Olga Okafor. From birth, Nma showed signs of ambition, brilliance and was always cheerful. Her father is from Enuguabo village in the Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State while her mother hails from Cameroon. This dual heritage, perhaps, was the catalyst that explains her passion for unity among African nations.

Miss Okafor’s paternal grandparents (both late) were farmers, passing the traditional Nigerian values of hard work and dedication to her father who continues to instill that in his own children. Her maternal grandparents, Joseph Njee (late) and Hannah Njee (nee Njeuma), were both teachers. Late Joseph Njee studied alongside contemporaries such as Professor Wole Soyinka at Obafemi Awolowo where he became a lecturer at the institution’s University Teaching School in the years around Nigeria’s independence.

Okafor’s parents introduced her to education and academic pursuits at a very early age. When she was only three years old, she attended Row Toy International day care in Ikoyi, Lagos under British instructors. At age four, she started her primary education at St. Mary’s Private School, a Catholic institution in Lagos. Sequel to her excellent performance, she had a double promotion from primary four to primary six which made it possible for her to complete her primary education at the tender age of nine.

From there, she proceeded to Queen’s College, Yaba. At QC, the young girl continued to excel not only academically but also in leadership roles and served as the school’s Catholic Prefect in her final year of secondary school which she completed at the age of 15 in 2005.

In August 2006, she gained admission into Northern Illinois University (NIU) and will graduate with a Bachelors of Science degree in Political Science with a minor in Economics in May 2010. Thereafter, Miss Okafor intends to pursue her PhD. in Political Science and subsequently a Doctor of Jurisprudence in Law. In the summer of 2009, she was selected by the Department of Political Science as one of the three students to represent the university as one of the congressional interns in Washington DC.

Prior to her latest sojourn, Nma in 2007 participated in the KPMG Future Diversities Leaders Conference and her inspiring statement remains on the website of the organisation. Her words: “As a participant of KPMG’s Future Diversity Leaders Conference 2007, one of the things I was eager to discover was KPMG’s definition of diversity. Many companies recognise diversity only to put check marks, which helps them fulfill a requirement in the box that reads ‘equal number of minorities’. Based on KPMG’s interpretation of diversity, I believe I was selected to attend the FDL conference because of who I am and not necessarily because of colour of my skin. I feel honoured that I was given the recognition I deserve as a hardworking young woman.”

In 2007, she was on the Dean’s list of the NIU. The dean's list is compiled by a university’s academic colleges according to varying criteria. To make the list, students enrolled in the Colleges of Business, Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Visual and Performing Arts, Health and Human Sciences must meet a minimum semester grade point average of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale. Freshmen and sophomores in the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology must meet a minimum semester grade point average of 3.5, while juniors, seniors and post-graduate students are selected from the top ten percentile.

She doesn’t hide her feelings when it comes to expressing an opinion on pertinent issues. Thus one of her write-ups in the Northern Star publication drew the attention of sundry commentators. In a letter to the editor, Nma wrote: “As I sat in my lounge in Douglas Hall, I overlooked the crowd of cheering supporters (mostly African-Americans) who came out to Central Park rallying for the cause of the Jena 6 and also watching the pledging process of a black fraternity. It dawned on me then that I was not only in America, the land of the free, but also the land of social injustice.”

Though she narrated her bitter experience with racism, she ended her write-up with words of encouragement: “To the African-American youth of NIU, I say, don’t forget your roots. Though the tide of injustice may be fast-flowing, hold on tight and fight the right fight. The right fight is not the fight of anger and frustration, neither is it the fight of yelling and threatening to beat up fellow students. It is the fight of non-violent persistence. Remember MLK (Martin Luther King) and look to his leadership.”

Okafor inherited a strong family heritage that is theo-centric and emphasises the important of religion in life. She was born and brought up as a faithful Catholic and attended the Catholic Church of Assumption, Falomo, Ikoyi in her childhood. At Northern Illinois University, her Catholic identity, love of God and neighbours, respect for others’ differences without compromising her religious and family values, have shaped and defined who she is.

This young lady with a very bright future is very passionate about politics; believing like her father in a prosperous Nigeria and a united Africa. She envisions an African continent that will be self-sustaining as well as a major contributor to the world economy, peace and stability, as well as being a major collaborator in the fight against terrorism.

She envisions a continent that values the empowerment of women and children, the dignity and equality of all people and believes that with legitimate human effort, global solidarity, and divine providence, Africa, as a continent, can stamp out corruption and be a leading partner in global prosperity.

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Akwa Ibom, be nice
People & Politics Jul 5, 2009 By Ochereome Nnanna

I HAVE watched with sour interest what has been going on between Akwa Ibom and Cross River states since the Federal Government decided that the latter was no longer an oil-producing state.

The story of the two sister states is an ironic and intriguing rise of a former underdog and the increasing impoverishment of a former social overlord, and in both cases for reasons beyond their respective control.

The two sisters used to belong to what was known as the South Eastern State which was created in 1967 and later renamed Cross River State in 1976 when additional states were created by the Murtala Mohammed regime.

The people of today’s Akwa Ibom State were generically referred to as the Ibibio and dominated the population of the old Cross River State so much that the peoples of Calabar the capital (Qua, Efik and Efut) started regarding them as alien invaders and corrupters of their proud Calabar heritage; pests that were to be looked down upon in the same way the peoples of Bonny and Kalabari areas of Rivers State used to look down their noses at the uplanders around them.
The simple reason was because the Calabar and Bonny people had early exposure to the white man, Western education and sold slaves from the hinterland.

They had rich and prestigious kingdoms in which their immediate upland neighbours came to take economic and cultural shelter. The Efiks of Calabar used to regard the Ibibio as “Ibio-ibo” which, I am made to understand, means offspring of the Ibo, as a way of emphasising the difference between the Efiks and the Ibibio.

Even though the people of today’s Akwa Ibom also embraced Western education early, many of their less-privileged ones submitted to professional servitude in urban areas and became wildly known all over the country as professional house-helps, cooks and domestic servants; a fact reflected in Chika Okpala’s Masquerade comedy series, in which James Iroha (Giringory) played the role of the “Calabar Boy” servant to “Chief Zebrudaya”.

The people of Calabar are proud and epicurean; and would not submit to being anybody’s servant. Therefore, the lowly “Calabar Boy” in your mind’s screen was from today’s Akwa Ibom.

These hard working people spread to all parts of the country and in Aba where they learnt all sorts of trade and performed menial jobs to survive. They were derogatively referred to as Mmong people (mimicry of the sound of their language).

But from 1987, the story of Akwa Ibom started to change. General Babangida created a new state for them the same day that Katsina State was created. After Abacha’s Conference when the 13 per cent derivation royalties were ceded to oil producing states, Akwa Ibom arrived as an oil-rich state.

The table turned. From the total federal monthly allocation, the state collects the fourth largest share of derivation royalties after Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa. What Akwa Ibom gained, Cross River lost.

Cross River’s losing streak continued when Nigeria ceded oil-rich Bakasi Peninsula to Cameroun in order to fulfil its civil war mortgaging of the disputed area to enable it contain Biafra. While still struggling to resettle those displaced, a court ruled that a parcel of land containing 76 oil wells now belonged to Akwa Ibom.

Presto, the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC) declared Cross River as no longer an oil producing state. In a curious interpretation, the state was pronounced a non-littoral state even though the Calabar Ports are still there!

Today, Akwa Ibom towers head and shoulder above its neighbouring states (except Rivers) in oil wealth, which in 10 years, has been deployed to lift the standard of living of its people. Akwa Ibom people are no longer interested in being associated with Calabar in order to pass because the Akwa Ibom identity alone is prestige defined.

Stripped to the bone with imminent bankruptcy staring it in the face, Cross River approached the Federal Government to redress the “injustice” of the boundary adjustment and apply some political measures to enable the state to survive. The President is at present looking into the request. After all, it is not a strange thing in our history to do so.

When the Supreme Court ruled in a case filed by the Federal Government during the Obasanjo years that all oil outside the water margin level of the continental shelf would no longer be computed for derivation royalties to adjoining states, Akwa Ibom was effectively off the list of oil producing states.

Many non-oil producing states, especially Northerners and some states in the South West, rejoiced because this meant more money for them from the Federation Account. But former President Obasanjo applied some wisdom and decided, through a political solution, to allow sleeping dogs lie. Akwa Ibom was back on easy street, and we rejoiced with it.

And now that President Yar’ Adua is also exploring a political solution to enable Cross River to meet its bills and the needs of its citizens, Akwa Ibom is refusing to cooperate! They are fighting to keep the 76 oil wells unjustly handed to them on a platter of gold by Abuja-based federal agencies. They do not want the Federal Government to do for Cross River what it did for them to enable them survive.

They are refusing to be their brother’s keepers. It is none of their business if their neighbour starves; the same neighbour that provided them shelter and made it possible for them to claim to be “Calabar Boys” when the going was not so good for Akwa Ibom people. That is not nice.

It is not in the interest of anybody if Cross River, the only state with most of its rainforest still intact, dies an economic death as a result of losing its natural resources to diabolical federal politics. How will it develop Obudu, the nation’s number one tourism brand? How will it switch on Tinapa, the nation’s premier business resort? How will it pay its bills?

Let us not alienate Cross River people and make them feel unwanted in Nigeria. The recent petition that Dr. Matthew Mbu and his group wrote to the President on this matter was a reflection of what the people of that state feel. Let me say it again.

Akwa Ibom, please be nice. Everything that goes round comes round. The tide of federal politics can change again, and as before, you will look for help.