₦airaland Forum

By Bright Okuta

Initially, when Femi Adesina called him a scoundrel, I said to myself that Bayo Oluwasanmi’s last name ought to redeem him. But after reading how he tried to shake Adesina down, it felt like this Oluwasanmi can never be associated with the illustrious Prof. Hazekiah Oluwasnami who was the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s ace man, as first Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, then University of Ife.

However, his latest titled, Pastor RUGA (Osinbajo): Religious Liar And Hypocrite By Bayo Oluwasanmi removed all benefits of doubt; this guy is surely what Femi called him.
This little fella has once again proved to be irresponsible with his pen, infantile with his behavior and, very unprofessional, even dishonest with his opinion.


I will hit on every dart he fired at Prof. Osinbajo, about whom he is obsessed and on whom he desperately wants to hang a tag of RUGA Pastor on. This time, his mental frame shook because the law professor is pushing for peace in the country.

To be sure these are challenging times for the President and the VP politically. It’s even more challenging for all of us as a nation. But such rudeness?

Bayo flagrantly called Prof. Osinbajo a liar. This is the same Vice President a lot of Nigerians including myself look up to as one of the most trustworthy politicians and clergymen of the day. It is this same  Osinbajo that the Emir of Daura described as ‘the most honest person and leader Nigeria has produced in recent times.”

It is this same Osinbajo that Speaker of the House Femi Gbajabiamila described as “a reliable human being and one of the most honest people he has ever met and has qualities worthy of emulation by Nigerians.”
Why should anyone take the word of Bayo over and above these other set of Nigerians?

The Vice President has repeatedly spoken against the state of insecurity in Nigeria. At different occasions, he spoke in support of state policing and he believes it is one of the solutions to the security problems in Nigeria. It beats my imagination that an adult like Bayo who has done nothing with his life so far except living illegally abroad, will attack decent personalities with pejorative words.

Punch Newspaper, is definitely not an ally of this government as there are countless articles to prove this. But even Punch could not diminish the truth in their 7 March 2021 headline that read, “Again, Osinbajo reiterates call for state police”

Without a doubt, the insincerity in Bayo’s twaddle cuts across bitterness and hate he has for the Vice President and the Buhari administration.
This is the main reason he is not to be taken seriously.

At this juncture, it is important I explained how he became Mr Scoundrel, a title he justly earned on 9th April 2020. Femi Adesina, the spokesperson of President Buhari in an article titled, “THE SCOUNDREL CALLED BAYO OLUWASANMI” exposed Bayo as an activist/columnist by day and hustler by night. He detailed how Bayo begged for appointment and did not get one. He explained how this infuriated Bayo and why he is on a failed mission to make the Presidency look bad.

In his latest spit, which is but another ranting of an attention-seeking scurrilous gutter snipe, Bayo questioned the position of Prof. Osinbajo in preaching unity. This is the height of insensitivity from Bayo who lives in the United States but is yet to write or even march against the killings of blacks in the US. His hypocrisy does stink.

Out of the blues, Bayo who is not known by any group or movement in Nigeria is calling for Yoruba Nation because certain people have managed to give him the money that has eluded him in the past. This is a guy who has made no reasonable contribution to the Nigerian state or the Yoruba people.

As Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo has exceeded the functions of his office and has often stepped out of his constitutional functions to ensure that Nigeria achieves its potentials and that the people, especially the ordinary people, are the beneficiaries of these schemes.
Only yesterday, the Vice President sealed a deal with Microsoft which includes training for five million Nigerians (5,000,000) and broadband penetration across the country.

In March, the Guardian UK described the Vice President’s activities in office like this “Osinbajo defies expectations as Nigeria’s Vice President” but again this eluded Bayo and his cohorts. If Bayo dares or has the capacity, I challenge him to a public debate so that the world can know who he really is.

Bright Okuta is a public affairs analyst and social commentator. He writes from Nigeria’s capital, Abuja

https://www.chronicle.ng/2021/05/the-scoundrel-spits-again-bayo-oluwasanmis-obsession-with-osinbajo/

*Microsoft President: We believe in the future of Nigeria
*Plan with global tech firm will equip 5 Million Nigerians with digital skills in 3 years
*Internet Connection also for under-served communities in 6 geopolitical zones
*Project, on its own, to create 27,000 jobs
Leveraging Microsoft’s experience in the utilization of technology as an enabler for the delivery of public and social good, the Buhari administration is partnering with the tech giant to accelerate Nigeria’s certain advance towards a more digital economy in line with the Economic Sustainability Plan.
In a dual announcement today by both the Federal Government and Microsoft Corporation, no less than 5 million Nigerians would benefit from a digital upskilling programme, and locations in each of the 6 geopolitical zones in Nigeria will also enjoy active internet connection and cloud services courtesy of this digital transformation plan.
The partnership with Microsoft Corporation anchored on connectivity, skilling and digital transformation followed discussions between both parties led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and Microsoft President Brad Smith earlier in the year.
For instance in January this year, the Vice President had a virtual meeting with the Microsoft Corporation President, Mr. Brad Smith, where discussions covered areas of intersection between technology and governance to enhance Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Speaking in a formal video announcement of the partnership with the tech giant, Prof. Osinbajo said “our government is committed to leveraging innovation and technology to bring better outcomes across a wide area of governance concerns. Indeed, it is with this in mind that we have sought constructive partnerships that bridge the knowledge, skills and technology gap that exist in most of our communities.”
According to the VP, “this launch is indicative of our commitment to this and will involve collaboration with various Government agencies as implementing partners, including the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigerian Institute of Cultural Orientation, and various other local partners. We intend that these initiatives become institutions in their own rights and make a real impact in the lives of our citizens going forward.”
On the core areas of the partnership, Prof. Osinbajo said “this partnership will focus on two pillars: Connectivity & Skilling, and Digital Transformation.”
His words: “we plan to connect under-served communities in each of the six geo-political zones with access to internet and cloud services. This project is a critical component of our objective of expanding broadband connectivity, which is by itself, a major pillar of our Economic Sustainability Plan in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Working with Microsoft, we intend to upskill 5 million Nigerians through this increased internet access over the next three years in various digital skills which will increase both employability and entrepreneurship.
“The multiplier effect will bring opportunities in rural and urban areas to many young people and will help us deal with unemployment problems made worse by the pandemic.”
Using digital tools under the project, the Vice President said “we will pioneer innovative approaches in the fight against corruption, a major priority of this administration.”
Continuing, the VP said, “Leveraging Microsoft’s Technology tools which can be deployed to minimise governance risks and block loopholes, working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), we will seek to use cutting edge analytical and case management tools to plug holes in our public sector system as well as confront white-collar criminality efficiently.”
“This pillar will also serve a vital social function. by using Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence technology and resources to preserve and promote our major languages so we can revitalize these important aspects of our culture.
“Our focus is of course the Nigerian people. With over 80 million regular internet users, there is no question that Nigerians have fully embraced technology, the internet and their various uses,” the Vice President added.
On his part, the President of Microsoft Corporation, Mr Brad Smith said the “we believe in the future of Nigeria and we are excited as a company to add to our investments. It is a country we have had the opportunity to get to know better over the last few years.”
According to Smith “in 2018 we partnered with Tek experts to create a Customer Support Centre, a center in Lagos that employs over 1,600 people. And then we had another opportunity to broaden our investment even more by creating our African Development Centre. A centre that, by the end of this year, will employ over 200 software developers and engineers, people who are creating technology and Microsoft products to serve not only the people of Nigeria but the people of the world.
“All of these is giving us the kind of confidence to want to invest even more. And one of the things that we have recognized as a company is the need to grow with communities and countries and not just buying for ourselves.”
On the new partnership with the Federal Government, Mr Smith said “we are embarking on a series of broad-based, really multifaceted investments to better serve Nigeria in three areas of internet connectivity, digital skilling and digital transformation. We will be providing digital skills to 5 million Nigerians over the next three years, and along the way, creating 27,000 new jobs during the same period.”


https://www.yemiosinbajo.ng/osinbajo-fg-microsoft-new-partnership-to-benefit-millions-of-nigerians/

Microsoft collaborates with the Nigerian government to accelerate digital transformation in the country

In a joint announcement with the Government of Nigeria, Microsoft has detailed several projects aimed at intensifying the nation’s move to become a more digital economy.
After extensive consultations with the government, Microsoft identified three key pillars that will help to build strong foundations for a digital economy in Nigeria: connectivity, skilling and digital transformation.
“We believe in the future of Nigeria, and we are excited as a company to add to our investments,” says Brad Smith, Microsoft President. “Together, we have an enormous opportunity to put technology to work, create jobs, to foster the technology ecosystem across Nigeria, and to use technology to preserve the best of the past and take us into the future.”
Research points to internet penetration in Nigeria of around 50 percent and while the pandemic has increased the pace of digitisation, much needs to be done to empower all citizens to take advantage of the opportunities of a digital economy. Microsoft’s Airband Initiative has succeeded in bringing high-speed internet connectivity to underserved communities around the world, tapping into the unused broadcasting frequencies of television white spaces. The technology is cheaper and faster to deploy than fibre and has the added benefit of being able to travel long distances and through forested terrain.

Following discussions with the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy and local partners, six regions in the country have been earmarked for the development of high-speed internet infrastructure. Microsoft’s Airband team will work closely with local partners to improve broadband connectivity in these communities while also assisting with the design and implementation of hyper-scale cloud services.
Technological infrastructure alone is not enough to ensure sustainable digital transformation, so Microsoft is committing to upskilling five million people in Nigeria over the next three years. To help reach this goal, 1,700 trainers will provide blended online and in-person training courses to the country’s youth as well as government workers. Government will also be given the tools to digitally transform skilling, education, and employment methods to match job seekers with the right employers. In doing so, we hope to create over 27,000 new digital jobs in the next three years.
“We are setting ourselves a big goal, to bring access to digital skills to five million people in Nigeria over the next three years,” continues Smith. “But this is not something we can do by ourselves. We will equip master trainers and, along with them, are committed to creating thousands of new jobs.”
The final pillar, digital transformation, will initially be made up of two initiatives. The first will address corruption, a major global challenge with economic losses totalling $3.6 trillion each year. By collaborating with local partners, Microsoft will support the design and implementation of cloud-based tools to further enable government’s fight against corruption. Microsoft will be partnering with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to apply technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to help identify potential risk, highlight them, and reduce corruption.
The second initiative will help protect Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, as Microsoft will look to deploy artificial intelligence tools to safeguard these treasures for future generations. Through a newly formed partnership with the National Institute of Cultural Orientation, Microsoft will support the organisation’s efforts to preserve and revive Nigeria’s three major indigenous languages: Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo. “This is one of my favourite projects that we pursue around the world. It uses the most advanced technology of the 21st century to nurture and keep alive the culture that has been so important for humanity from the centuries past,” concludes Smith.
A joint working committee will guide these investments, and will provide updates on the programmes announced, and new programmes that may follow.

https://news.microsoft.com/en-xm/2021/05/03/microsoft-collaborates-with-the-nigerian-government-to-accelerate-digital-transformation-in-the-country/?ocid=AID3019479_TWITTER_oo_spl100002040713181

I’m not a big fan of Farooq Kperogi, the Nigerian born university professor in Atlanta, United States, who writes a weekly column in the Nigerian Tribune. Although he has a good grasp of language, Kperogi’s style is a turn off for me.

I have resisted the urge to rejoin some of his previous articles until the one titled ‘’Pantami is my friend, but he can’t be defended’’ published in the Saturday Tribune of April 17, 2021. In it Kperogi attacked Isa Ali Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, for the incendiary utterances and inciting religious preachments he made before he became minister. Kperogi argued that he could not in good conscience defend the minister whom he described as a friend because of the minister’s past entanglements with terrorists groups and religious bigots. The piece would have been a perfect harangue for a cabinet member who had brought so much odium to the government in which he serves. But midway into the piece, the writer curiously brought in the Vice President and alleged that Prof Yemi Osinbajo is equally guilty of religious and ethnic bias. He said the VP’s staffers are mostly Yoruba and Christians, and most are members of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG. Suffice it to say that Kperogi’s assessment of the VP is faulty, wrong facetious.


Many others, including some Presidency officials, have since risen in stout defence of the VP. Dr. Balkisu Saidu, Special Assistant to the President on Legal, Research & Compliance Matters, Office of the Vice President, has gone further to publish names and positions of key staff in the VP’s Office to prove their religious and ethnic mixture. Although an ordained pastor in RCCG long before he became Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has never held extremist views or displayed an act of ethnic bias. Right from his days as a practicing lawyer, Osinbajo has kept a wide circle of friends across the country and built a network of personal associates in every corner of Nigeria. As Vice President in the last six years, his staff and the few political appointments he’s made reflect the diversity of our nation. His speeches, comments and public statements are in moderation. It is on record that the VP has never been provoked by the religiously inflamed mood of the times to express extreme statement. If anything, Prof Osinbajo has over time emerged, through actions and words, as the humane and compassionate face of the Buhari administration. He’s the one who goes around the country to comfort, condole and offer succor to the afflicted members of our besieged communities.
Faced with torrents of backlash since the column came out, Kperogi issued a rebuttal on an online platform in which he acknowledged that ‘’to his credit (the VP) hasn’t been associated with extremist and exclusivist religious rhetoric in his past homilies’’. It is notable that the platform soon yanked off the halfhearted rebuttal when the full picture of the VP’s unblemished records was presented to them. But the damage has been done. Kperogi has allowed his emotions to becloud his judgment. How could a scholar of Kperogi’s exposure not enquire to ascertain his facts before he dragged the VP’s name into the Pantami controversy?
Kperogi should left the Vice President out of the Pantami controversy. The VP is a decent, loyal public official who has carried himself so admirably well in the last six years. Rather, Kperogi should focus attention on how many other ‘Pantamis’ are in the government and how the DSS, our ever vigilant and eagle-eyed secret police, could have missed spotting them out during their background checks.


https://m.guardian.ng/opinion/farooq-kperogis-facetiousness-on-osinbajo/

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, will join other speakers at the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law conference.

According to a statement by the chairman of the NBA-SPIDEL annual conference committee, Monday Ubani, the event would hold between May 23 and 26.

The theme of the conference is, ‘The Role of Public Interest in Governance in Nigeria.’

Ubani, in the statement, said the governors of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu,  Bauchi State Dr. Bala Mohammed, Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi would also be present at the event.

“The chief host is the NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, while NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, Prof. Paul Ananaba SAN, is the host.

“Other speakers who have confirmed their attendance and participation include: The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, and the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

https://punchng.com/osinbajo-to-speak-at-spidel-conference/

In line with the company’s purpose to care for human progress, by protecting what matters to their health, AXA Mansard Health Limited, a member of the AXA Group and global leader in insurance and asset management has observed World Malaria Day, launched a Malaria plan.

World Malaria Day, which takes place on 25 April each year, is an internationally recognised day, highlighting the global efforts to control malaria and celebrating the gains that have been made. Since 2000, the world has made historic progress against malaria, saving millions of lives. However, half the world still lives at risk from this preventable, treatable disease, which costs a child’s life every two minutes.

In response to the urgent need of a ‘zero malaria world, AXA Mansard, a socially responsible organization, has designed an affordable product that provides the following covers: Malaria treatment, Outpatient Care, General and Specialist Consultation, Health tips on how to recover and more with as low as N450 only.

Speaking at the product launch, the Chief Operating Officer of the company, AXA Mansard Health, Dr Chidi Onyedika, stated that “One of the lessons 2020 left us with is that healthcare will always be the topmost priority to every individual, irrespective of the age, colour or gender. We must therefore constantly strive to create sustainable and innovative solutions to cater for people’s health care needs at every point in time. Therefore, we launched this plan as part of our contribution to controlling the effect of malaria in the country.”

By dialling USSD string *987#, people can conveniently enrol for affordable and robust health insurance plans from AXA Mansard, with access to over 1,000 hospitals nationwide for quality healthcare services.

He also stated that “the fight against malaria is not for individuals alone, we must all throw our weight to achieve a malaria-free world. At AXA Mansard, we care about people’s health and wellbeing, this is what drives us to constantly create and innovate new ways to better protect what matters to the customers we serve.”

AXA Mansard Health Limited is the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) arm of the AXA Mansard group of companies. The HMO is geared to promote her members’ wellbeing. The Company is today positioned to provide optimal and effective health risk management solutions and financial services to both individuals and corporate bodies.

VP adds: _“…every conflict is a result of elite failure to speak up._

Nigeria cannot afford a war and elites in the country should rise up, speak the truth against forces of division in order to preserve the unity of the country.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, stated this Tuesday evening in Abuja while speaking with All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders from the South-East, particularly chieftains and members from Anambra State.

According to Prof. Osinbajo, “we cannot afford a war in this country…it is the political elite that will determine what will take place. If we keep quiet, if we say nothing and hope that things will just normalize, we may be wrong. And we may find ourselves heading for something much worse than we are seeing today.”

His words: “if the political elite does not speak up, if we don't see anything wrong in what is going on, if we allow it to continue to slide, we will endanger ourselves and endanger the future of our country.

The VP noted that “I know that every conflict is a result of elite failure, the elite failure to speak up and tell the truth to their communities, that's the cause of every one of these civil conflicts.

“So, I would urge that we speak up. I would urge that we stand for something. Sometimes it’s dangerous to stand for something. But the greater danger of course, is to keep quiet.”

Continuing, Prof. Osinbajo cautioned that “the thing about the kinds of conflicts in these parts of the world is that it is usually a war without end. Everyone who thinks that they have some money stored up somewhere is wrong, you will eventually run out.

Recalling a personal experience he observed in Somalia in the 90s when he went there to work with the United Nations, the VP said he saw a Supreme Court Justice whom he had known before queuing up for food in the aftermath of civil conflicts in the country.

“Everyone who thinks they can go and hide somewhere, you won’t even find a place. In the end, everyone will suffer. Parents, children, young people, old people, will suffer.”

Speaking about the forthcoming primaries for the governorship election in Anambra State, the Vice President said a fair process or fairness of justice will be fundamental in ensuring victory for the party at the polls.

Prof. Osinbajo further noted that “to be fair and just is not the responsibility for spirits, it is the responsibility for men and women of our party, especially the leadership.”

Party chieftains present at the meeting included former Senate President, Mr Ken Nnamani; Minister of State for Mines & Steel Development, Mr Uche Ogah, Minister of State for Labour & Productivity, other party leaders and members from the South-East, and the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, among others.

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*
28th April 2021.

The user should be outrightly banned and prosecuted

STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE*

*SIERRA LEONE THANKFUL TO NIGERIA, OTHERS AT 60TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY*

**Osinbajo:* _Celebrations worthwhile after W/A nation's 11 years of Civil War._

Nigeria and some other West African countries were appreciated yesterday by the Sierra Leonean government as the country marked its 60th Independence Anniversary at a series of events in the capital city of Freetown.

Before several other West African leaders including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio mentioned how Nigeria and other countries in the subregion have been helpful in the course of the peace and development of his country.

Historically, both Nigeria and Sierra Leone have shared cherished and cordial relations at least right from colonial times. The relationship has continued and evidenced in the socio-economic, technical and security cooperation over the years, including the deployment of Nigerian troops in Sierra Leone to uphold the peace and preserve democracy.

In a show of appreciation and gratitude yesterday, President Bio honored Nigeria and the other countries that he said have stood with Sierra Leone, a nation that survived an 11-year civil conflict from 1991 to 2002.

Bio, at the celebrations in Freetown, decorated a number of West African countries through their leaders that attended the celebration.

Besides the Nigerian Vice President, others decorated with Sierra Leone's insignia of honour and dressy tokens were the Presidents of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo; Guinea, Alpha Conde; Liberia, George Weah and Gambia, Adama Barrow.

Prime Minister Nuno Gomes Nabiam of Guinea Bissau and a Special Envoy of the President of Ivory Coast were also in attendance at the event.

Speaking with the press in Freetown after the 60th Independence Anniversary event, Prof. Osinbajo said it is a worthwhile celebration, "especially considering all of what Sierra Leone has been through in the 11 years of Civil War and they have emerged from that terrible experience, much stronger, a united country and developing everyday economically and socially."

According to the VP "it is a very happy event and we are all extremely proud of what the Sierra Leoneans have been able to do.

"We were very warmly hosted by President Bio and all the members of his cabinet and the good people of Sierra Leone. It has been a very exciting, warm and joyful event."

On arrival yesterday morning at the Lungi Airport in Freetown, Vice President Osinbajo was received by his Sierra Leonean counterpart, the VP, Dr. Mohamed Jalloh. Prof. Osinbajo returned to Abuja last night.

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*
28th April 2021.

Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has returned to Abuja after representing Nigeria at Sierra Leone’s 60th Independence Anniversary where Nigeria was honoured for contributions to our sister West African nation. Home & abroad we won’t relent. The hardwork that confronts all our challenges continues.
This was contain in a tweet by Mr Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity.

https://twitter.com/akandeoj/status/1387139140756688906?s=21

NaijaCuzin:
All these ones care about is travelling and travelling

You know nothing about diplomatic ties

Safe journey prof! The whole world appreciate your class

Sunnybay7:
The country is on fire stop running up and down.

Borrow small sense

Prof. Idris Bugaje on Wednesday assumed duty as the Executive Secretary (ES) of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

This is contained in a statement signed by the board’s Deputy Director, Public Relations and Media, Mr Jacob Abang, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had on April 14 approved the appointment of Bugaje as the ES of the board with effect from March 16.

Until his appointment, Bugaje was the Rector of Kaduna Polytechnic.

According to the statement, Bugaje, while receiving the handover notes from Mr Abati Muhammad who headed the board in acting capacity, described his appointment as a “call to national service”.

He promised to transform the board to greater heights and unveiled his 3-point agenda focused on getting a new Scheme of Service, promoting Skills and the NBTE Spirit.

Bugaje said he would ensure a unified scheme of service in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector and ensure that staff of NBTE could exit the service at 65 and go on sabbatical to polytechnics.

“In the same vein, polytechnic staff will also come to NBTE on sabbatical. This will promote interaction and understanding among the stakeholders in the TVET sector.

“To equip Nigerian youths with relevant skills, the board will revive its Zonal Offices to carry out advocacies on skills and interface with industries and other agencies in the zones on skills development.

“The board will also collaborate with industries to establish model skills centres in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“Also, the staff of the board will be trained to efficiently and effectively assess and verify skills of Nigerians,” he said.

Bugaje said efforts would be made to adopt the Moroccan model of skills, adding that he would advocate Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to be Nigeria’s Skills Ambassador.

He also explained that his administration would revive the NBTE Spirit among the staff to lead the board to new glory, as he would work with those that were ready to deliver results.

Bugaje equally called on the staff unions in the board to constructively engage the management in areas that would promote the overall interest of the board and the TVET sector.

“We will also make a case for the NBTE staff to benefit from Tertiary Education Trust Fund and sponsored training like other polytechnic staff.

“Such training will equip the staff to carry out their duties professionally and competently,” he said.

On internally generated revenue, Bugaje said that NBTE would register a consultancy company that will carry out training and other services to clients to generate funds.

According to him, the board would no longer ask schools to pay for accreditation, which according to him, influences the outcome of the exercise.

He added that the board would engage the Budget Office, Federal Ministry of Finance, and the National Assembly to make budgetary provisions for accreditation of schools. (NAN)

Obaseki must be high on cheap weeds

Mikehot:
Anytime this idiots see the heat in on their jihad they would bring osinbajo to pacify us.


This is stale and not working


If osinbajo is was not relevant to appoint IGP when buhari was in UK, is it a relevant meeting of importance he can preside over when buhari is back?

Stop disgracing your family

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presides over the National Economic Council Meeting at the State House, Abuja.
22nd April 2021.
Photos by Tolani Alli

Osinbajo is a blessing to this country by all standard. He is an uncommon politician.

AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, a member of the AXA Group, has recorded 56 percent growth in profit after taxes audited of N4.54bn, up 56% from N2.91bn in December 2019

In a statement by the company, gross written premium of N47.58 billion, up 9 per cent from N43.62 billion while Net Premium Income of N31.72 billion, up 21 per cent from N26.29bn in December2019

According to the company, investment and other income of N7.09 billion, up 25 per cent from5.67 billion; operating expenses of N7.7 billion, up 3 per cent N7.51billion, while profit before tax of N6.04 billion, up58 per cent from N3.83 billion recorded in December 2019.

Commenting on the results, Mrs. Ngozi Ola-Israel, the Chief Financial Officer said. “It was a challenging year, but we achieved strong growth in PAT (56%) and Underwriting profits (22%). We managed operating costs at a low level of growth of3% despite COVID headwinds and inflation. We remain committed to delivering excellent underwriting, investment and operating performance while focusing on the satisfaction of our customers and stakeholders.

Speaking on the financials development of the firm at the end of December 2020, the Chief Executive Officer, AXA Mansard Insurance, Kunle Ahmed, said “The 2020 full Year financial record is a proof of our ability to continually support customers to achieve their goals even in the midst of difficult and challenging times.

With the support of our partners and through the harnessing of our distribution network, we achieved remarkable growth on our Health and P & C lines throughout the year. We are pleased that our continued effort to build a resilient non-bank financial services institution is yielding positive results”

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE



OSINBAJO TO US:

SUPPORT JUST TRANSITION TO NET-ZERO EMISSIONS, GLOBAL ACCESS TO COVID-19 VACCINE


*Wants American foreign policy reset to increase security cooperation with Africa


*Nigeria’s VP is effective, says US don



Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN has urged the United States to lend its weight to the call for a just global transition to zero emissions, lead the effort to ensure easy access to COVID-19 vaccine by all countries, and generally reset its foreign policy agenda with the African continent in ways that bring about economic prosperity, increased security, and improved governance.

Prof. Osinbajo expressed these views today in a speech delivered virtually at the 2021 Johns Hopkins University’s African Studies Programme Conference on the theme “Africa-US Re-engagement: A New Foreign Policy Agenda”. The conference was organized by the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), of the university.

According to the VP, “the United States and Africa should work together to tackle climate change and moderate global warming including through an energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies. African countries have made commitments in this regard towards implementing the Paris Climate Change Agreement targets.”

“Given the long term commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050, there is a growing trend among development finance institutions to withdraw from fossil fuel investment, including the World Bank’s decision to cease funding for upstream oil and gas development and the new restrictions on financing downstream gas development currently being considered by the European Union, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States.

“While well-intentioned, this move does not take into account the principles of common but differentiated responsibility and leaving no one behind, that are enshrined into global treaties around sustainable development and climate action.”

“The United States must lend its weight to stopping this manifestly unfair trend that can undermine the sense of collective responsibility we all have towards mitigating climate change. What is required is a just transition to zero emissions,” the Vice President added.

Prof. Osinbajo has in recent times advocated for a just transition to net-zero emissions, particularly calling on multilateral agencies, and western countries to stop the planned defunding of gas projects in developing countries.

At different national and international forums, including recent meetings with a delegation of the European Union (EU), and at the Africa Regional Heads of Government Commonwealth Roundtable, among others, Prof. Osinbajo had maintained a firm stand against ending investments in gas projects in developing countries during the transition to zero emissions.

Commending the US for helping to improve healthcare outcomes in Africa including through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDs Relief (PEPFAR), Prof. Osinbajo called for “the same spirit of collaboration with regard to making COVID-19 vaccines available to African countries.”

His words: “the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need to coordinate actions to prevent and tackle pandemics while also building up public health infrastructure in developed and developing countries alike.

“This is not a time for vaccine nationalism and export bans but rather of working together towards universal vaccination against the disease. The United States can lead in the effort to ensure that all countries and their peoples can access vaccines irrespective of the resources available to them.”

Calling on the US to reset its foreign policy agenda with Africa, Prof. Osinbajo noted that the reviewed cooperation with the continent “should promote a partnership that brings about economic prosperity, increases security, combats disease, improves governance and mitigates climate change.”

“Africa is in many ways the last frontier for economic development and it has the potential to be a global growth pole. Indeed, as other parts of the world are looking inwards, Africa is moving confidently to integrate its economies through the African Union Agenda 2063 as well as the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” the Vice President added.

Speaking specifically about the implementation of AfCFTA, the Vice President said “the United States is well placed to lead trade and investment ties with Africa. And it has a good leg-in with the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA). The legislation, which removed all tariffs on 6,400 products available for export to the US, saw some African countries benefiting considerably.”

Continuing Prof. Osinbajo noted that “as the African Continental Free Trade Agreements are set to kick-in, AGOA must now be implemented consistent with the AFCTA. AGOA expires in 2025. But a new and improved AGOA that takes these challenges into account can be negotiated before then.”

On improving the support of the US in combating terrorism in the Sahel region, the Vice President said a more robust intervention towards clearing the reign of terror in the region is desirable.

“While it is evident that the threat of violent extremist organizations is growing, it will appear that US policy (United States Africa Command) has since 2020 shifted from a strategy of degrading violent extremist organizations in West Africa to simply containing their spread.

“The escalation of the attacks and the synergies being created amongst these extremist groups call for a review of that position. It may be the moment for a more robust intervention along the lines of US-backed operations in clearing terrorists and insurgents in the Middle East.”

The Vice President also strongly advocated that the US-Africa relations need not be uni-dimensional, noting that “since the United States is also a global leader in economic and military terms as well as through its contributions to the norms that shape the global order, it should work with Africa either under the auspices of the African Union or indeed through individual countries like Nigeria to build a better world.”

“Africa should not be seen or used as a pawn in great power games nor as an arena in the contest to secure strategic minerals and natural resources but rather as a partner in building a more secure, peaceful and prosperous world,” Prof. Osinbajo added.

Before his speech, organizers of the conference commended the VP for his leadership and commitment, expressing delight, according to Prof Elliot Cohen, Dean of the School of Advanced International Studies, that a professor rose to the height of a Vice President in any country at all.

Also, Prof. Peter Lewis, the Chair of African Studies in the university described the Vice President as “a figure known for his integrity, dedication, and effectiveness.”

After his speech, the Vice President also took questions from conference participants.


Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
19th April 2021

A Personal Testimony by Dr Balkisu Saidu

Saidu: VP’s Office is a mini-Nigeria

Before the permeation of social media, I was one of those who believed in and re-echoed the popular saying that “the only way to win with a toxic person is not to play.” To this end, I found silence to be a very potent tool in dealing with some extremely wicked and deliberate acts of provocation exhibited through concoction and spread of falsehoods and apparently implausible stories.

I have since realised that, in this day and age of fake news and cyber propaganda, it is important that lies and misinformation, no matter the motive of the initiator, are countered and records set straight. Amongst the recipients of the falsehood could be some innocent consumers who will benefit from having true facts presented. Allowing fake news to linger may create the impression that there could be some element of truth in what was propagated.

It is for the foregoing reasons that when the write up credited to one Dr Musbau Akinbode titled “Osinbajo’s Stealth Christianization Agenda”, which has been circulating of recent in the social media, was brought to my attention, I opted to respond. Although no date was ascribed to the write up, it appears to be a rehash of several baseless allegations made in the past against the Vice President, many of whom have been debunked with apologies issued by unsuspecting media houses misled into publishing some of the concocted stories.

The new twist in Dr Akinbode’s write up is the allegation that the Vice President is implementing a “Christianization” agenda and in that wise none of the appointments made by the Vice President from persons of Yoruba extraction were given to Yoruba Muslims. This allegation reminded me of a similar baseless claim made in 2017 by one Dr. Ismaila Farouk, which Akinbode referred to, alleging that the selection of personal staff of the Vice President was skewed in favour of “his Yoruba ethnic group.”

Those fuelling the orchestrated and surreptitious narrative immediately backtracked when confronted with facts and a long list of Northerners, from tribes other than Yoruba, working in the office at the time including, among others, Mrs. Maryam Uwais (Special Adviser on Social Investment, from Kano State); Ambassador Abdullahi Gwary (Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs, from Yobe State); my humble self (Senior Special Assistant on Legal, Research and Compliance Matters, from Sokoto State); Mr. Ismaeel Ahmed (Senior Special Assistant on Social Investment, from Kano State); Mr. Bege Bala (Special Assistant, BPE, from Kaduna State); Abdurahman Baffa Yola (Special Assistant on Political Matters); Mrs. Susan Chagwa (Special Assistant on Household and Social Events, from Adamawa State), etc.

Certainly, some of the listed allegations made by Dr Akinbode are objectionably and glaringly malicious and even laughable, unlikely to be believed by any discerning follower of the rise and actions of the Vice President. For example, the Office of the Vice President is like a mini-Nigeria. The level of diversity accomplished in the office reflects all segments of the society – geo-political, ethnic, religious, gender and youth representation.

It is therefore inconceivable for anyone to suggest marginalisation or, as Dr Akinbode puts it, “Christianization” in appointments and religious bigotry. To the specific point of appointment of Yoruba Muslims, Dr Akinbode may wish to know that, even amongst his personal staff, no less than ten Yoruba Muslims were appointed to work for the Vice President including his next in command and the highest-ranking officer in the Vice President’s office, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. AbdurRahman Adeola Ipaye. Other Yoruba Muslims who work, at various times, in the office include Distinguished Senator Babafemi Ojudu (Special Adviser on Political Matters); Dr Mariam Masha (Senior Special Assistant on Internally Displaced Persons); Ms Lanre Shasore (Senior Special Assistant on Planning and Coordination); Mrs. Olabisi Ogungbemi (Special Assistant on Political Matters); Yusuf Ali (Special Assistant on Power); Mr Mohammed Brimah (Special Assistant on Job Creation); Mr Mukhtar Tijani (Special Assistant on Power); Ms. Lolade Abiola; and Mr. Akanni Rahman.

A leader known to suspend meetings to enable Muslim participants perform prayers; known to rescue Muslim orphans and provide them with shelter and educational opportunities that safeguard and promote their religious practices; known to host Breaking of Ramadan Fast (Iftar) with Religious Leaders and Muslim communities from across the country; known to timeously intervene in the resolution of thorny inter-religious issues with potential for escalation can certainly not be said to be promoting any particular religion.

Also, the allegation of “Christianization” in the appointment of some named individuals to various positions in Government is indicative of a complete lack of understanding of how Government appointments are made or a deliberate attempt to distort facts and mislead unsuspecting public. Save for Mr. Kayode Pitan, who was appointed by the Vice President as the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry to take over from Mr. Waheed Olagunju, who was serving in acting capacity, all the other persons named by Dr Akinbode were appointed by the President in the exercise of his constitutional powers.

The calibre of the persons is not in question. In terms of accomplishments, these are pacesetters in their respective industries. For example, Mr. Ben Akabueze, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation served more than two terms as Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget in Lagos State and was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NAL Bank Plc. (now Sterling Bank Plc.). He has also served as Special Adviser to the President on National Planning.

Mr Alex Okoh, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, an Alumnus of Harvard Business School and former Managing Partner, Ashford & McGuire Consulting Ltd.; is a quintessential Banker and Financial Advisor who as the Managing Director/CEO of NNB International Bank led the transformation of the bank from a comatose state into a leading commercial bank in Nigeria. He has worked with various banks within and outside Nigeria including Nigeria International Bank Limited (Citibank); United Bank for Africa Plc.; Citibank New York; Fidelity Bank London; Swiss Banking Corporation, Zurich; and Grindlays Bank, Zimbabwe. His first tenure recorded tremendous transformation of the Bureau leading to his reappointment by the President.

Before the appointment by Mr. President of Mr Okey Enelamah as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment in 2015, the Harvard University graduate, Baker Scholar and Loeb Fellow has had a tremendous successful career in investment banking and with Arthur Anderson (now KPMG Professional Services), New York and London offices of Goldman Sachs, Zephyr Management. He also founded and served as CEO of the African Capital Alliance (ACA).
Clearly, even on the appointment of Mr Pitan, the author is not questioning the qualification of Mr Pitan, imaginably considering his robust academic training (including at American Graduate School of International Management, Arizona, USA; London Business School; and Haggai Institute, Singapore) as well as his decades of corporate and banking experience.

These appointments were based purely on merit. The only problem with the appointments, according to the author, was their religion. Save Dr Akinbode is suggesting that persons being considered for appointments into Government positions must denounce their religions, it is unclear why the religious leanings of the appointees should be in issue. Recall that similar allegations were made against appointments of equally deserving and competent Muslims with claims of “Islamisation” being bandied around. Such divisive rhetoric and adverse language are dangerous to Nigeria’s unified harmonious existence and should be resisted and rejected by all.

The Osinbajo I know has been nothing but absolutely and uncompromisingly loyal to his principal, earning him several public and private commendations and additional responsibilities from the President, including the management of the Economic Sustainability Plan, credited with facilitating the “unexpected exit” of Nigeria from one of the worst recession cycles to hit several nations of the world. The man, Osinbajo, seeks no accolades. It is therefore not every action taken by him in support of persons facing challenges that will end up on the pages of newspapers. Just because Dr Akinbode is unaware of these interventions should not be a basis for dehumanising the Vice President.

Additionally, it is evil and reprehensible to drag the person of Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo into whatever malicious campaign the author is mounting against the Vice President. This is a humble and compassionate woman, who has conducted her humanitarian and philanthropic activities in a well-guided and detached manner away from any Government activities. It is unacceptable to have persons of integrity be subjected to such ridiculous acts of scathing and baseless attacks. Clearly, the purpose of this is to cause annoyance, hatred, and ill will against the family of the Vice President. Luckily, Nigerians can see through these malicious, baseless, smear campaigns, mounted by dishonest and shady individuals.

While the main preoccupation of the Vice President is the discharge of the mandate resoundingly given to their ticket under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, may I remind Dr Akinbode that power is not in the hands of any individual to give or take, but in the hands of Almighty Allah; and He bestows it upon whom He wills. Please refer to the Holy Qur’an, Chapter 3 (Surah Al-Imran), Verse 26.

I sure hope and pray that a time will come when Dr Akinbode and his likes will realise that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is as authentic as he presents – he is a humane, compassionate, detribalised patriotic Nigerian, who is committed to the service of Nigeria and Nigerians in a fair, honest, transparent and accountable manner. And, while we spare time to respond to these and similar unfounded allegations, the Vice President never allows mischief-makers and peddlers of fake news to distract him from his main preoccupation: service to Nigeria.

*The author, Balkisu Saidu,* is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legal, Research and Compliance Matters, Office of the Vice President. She writes from Abuja.

This is worthy of emulation

VP represents President Buhari at Africa Regional Heads of Government Commonwealth Roundtable
*Don't end international funding for gas- Osinbajo

Nigeria is on the path of ensuring more access to affordable, reliable energy for its populace, as well as transitioning to the use of cleaner energy in line with the net-zero emissions global target, but an end of international funding for gas as a fossil fuel would create dire challenges for gas-producing countries especially in Africa, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this today during the virtual roundtable meeting of the Africa Regional Heads of Government Commonwealth Roundtable, which was chaired by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.

Other African leaders at the summit included the Presidents of Rwanda, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Botswana and Gambia. The Commonwealth Secretary General, the Right Hon. Patricia Scotland, QC, was also at the meeting.

The Vice President, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the roundtable, noted that Nigeria is already transitioning from petrol (Premium Motor Spirit) to natural gas, which is “accepted more or less as a transition fuel, the bridge to renewable energy.”

According to the VP, Nigeria supports the goal of the Commonwealth in outlining responsible transition pathways to decarbonize and achieve net and negative zero emissions,” while emphasizing the efforts of the Buhari administration through its Economic Sustainability Plan to provide 5 million homes with cleaner energy through its solar power programme, as well as the Natural Gas Expansion Programme.

He said, “we have the goal of installing solar homes systems in about 5 million homes, which means that 25 million Nigerians would have access to solar power. This is under our Economic Sustainability Plan. This is the first phase, and we think that this sort of programme will very quickly ramp up our progress towards zero emission.

“We also have our Natural Gas Expansion Programme, this is where we are using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in order to replace the use of Premium Motor Spirit, Petrol, and this is going on now, we are actually trying to fit and retrofit existing petrol stations, so that the use of cleaner fossil fuels will replace it.

“We hope that we will be able to achieve this objective as quickly as possible. So, we are resolutely committed to all of our national development contributions under all of our agreements, the Paris Agreement, and we will support all actions that are taken along the lines of zero emissions.”

Specifically, Prof, Osinbajo called on the Commonwealth to consider ways to support African countries in achieving a just transition to net-zero emissions.

The Vice President stated that “this brings me to the questions around a just transition to net-zero emissions. And a just transition in our view is one where gas, for those who are from producing countries, as a fossil fuel is still supported, especially for those of us in this part of the world that have vast deposits of the resource. Natural gas is accepted more or less as a transition fuel, the bridge to renewable energy.

“Of course, natural gas is accepted as a transition fuel. But unfortunately, what we are seeing is the move towards defunding of natural gas projects by the EU, and the World Bank has also been indicating that natural gas projects would be defunded. Now, this obviously would put countries such as ours in a very dire situation and make the transition extremely difficult for us. What we are focused on trying to do is to ensure that our gas projects replace coal and fuels.”

The Vice President, while urging for more support and cooperation from the Commonwealth, added that the Federal Government of Nigeria remains “resolutely committed to all of our national development contributions under all of our agreements, the Paris Agreement, and will support all actions that are taken along the lines of zero emissions.”

The Prince of Wales had called for a series of roundtables to find the best way for the Commonwealth to maintain a forefront position of the global agenda on Climate Change action and post-COVID recovery plans. The meeting also discussed the economic recovery and sustainable economic transition priorities of member-states.

Earlier in his speech, the Vice President restated the condolences of the government and people of Nigeria on the recent passing of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh noting that "he was much loved and admired here in Nigeria." Prof. Osinbajo then prayed that his memory would be blessed always.



Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
15th April 2021

[b][/b]STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

The Presidency reassures parents and all concerned citizens that the missing students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, remain constantly on the minds of government as they are always on the minds of their parents.

The Presidency gives assurances that the release of the remaining Chibok girls is still work in progress.

No one is giving up hope here. Efforts to secure their release through various channels and activities of the security and intelligence agencies remain on course.

The recent decisive push by the military against the terrorists gives hope that a breakthrough is possible and could happen anytime soon.

The Presidency asks for support, understanding and prayers for the military as they discharge their historic mandate to quickly finish off the insurgency war and free all citizens held hostage.

By Olalekan Adigun, a Public Affairs Analyst
Reno Omokri, a former social media aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, needs no introduction in the socio-political space in Nigeria, especially on social media where he misinforms his over 900,000 Twitter followers, over 120,000 Facebook followers and his over 500,000 Instagram followers.


The self acclaimed-pastor and member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, is the leading errand boy of all opposition politicians on social media, as he attacks the All Progressives Congress government of the day simply because of one sin: ejecting the Jonathan government out of office in a keenly contested and won poll in 2015.

Omokri, who has been severely identified as a paid social media troll, has, over time been synonymous with the spread of Fake News against the President Muhammadu Buhari government.

Reno’s paying-job after office is not known till date except being a troll, yet he flies across continents painting the name of Nigeria and the country in bad light.

Research personally conducted by me has revealed how Omokri was hired by opposition politicians to trend the #FreeLeahSharibu hashtag from 2018 till date. I have it in good authority how Omokri, a self-styled cash-and-carry social media influencer, is being bankrolled by opposition politicians.

Leah Sharibu was one of the 110 female students of the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, who were abducted on February 19, 2018, by Boko Haram terrorists.


Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, last December, corroborated this in a piece titled, ‘Enemies Of The Country Will Lose Las Las’.

That was immediately after bandits released over 300 abducted schoolboys from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina.

Adesina wrote, “In 2014, there had been #Bring Back Our Girls, which contributed to dealing the government of the day mortal blows, and it was voted out a year later. So, the enemies thought they had a sucker punch at their disposal.

“They came up with #Bring Back Our Boys, and had reportedly printed ten million T-Shirts, which they wanted to use in prosecuting their self-serving crusade. Were they interested in the welfare of the Kankara boys, nor in the travails of their parents? Not at all. They were only actuated by vengeance, and the political capital they could get out of it. Their logic (or is it illogic) was clear. If #Bring Back Our Girls brought down a People’s Democratic Party government, then #Bring Back our Boys must also undo the APC government.”

In 2018, Omokri, a self-acclaimed “best seller” author wrote a book about Sharibu, who had, by the virtue of her conviction, became a prisoner of her conscience. According to Omokri, the proceeds from the sales of this book would be donated to the family of Leah. This happens to be a lie from the pit of hell. Ever since the book gained prominence, Reno Omokri has never for once come out clean on how the proceeds from the sales have been paid to Leah’s Family. In fact, sometime in 2018, a financial analyst, Henry Claudius, and several other Nigerians have accused Reno Omokri of Syphoning the fund.

Omokri is a social media influencer, who can tweet against his mother and father once he is being paid. Little wonder is the latest campaign against President Buhari over his London trip for a medical checkup.

For over a week now since he staged a scanty, no-existent protest in London, he has been sharing the #HarassBuhariOutOfLondon hashtag to misinform his gullible follows who take his RenoNuggets hook, line and sinker.

Last week, some Nigerian social media influencers their accounts suspended by Twitter for using their platforms to promote an ignoble cause.


Only time will tell when Omokri will also be exposed for being a merchant of fake news and an agent of misinformation. The truth cannot hide forever, it will happen one day.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/04/reno-omokri-the-commander-in-chief-of-misinformation-olalekan-adigun/

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE


RAMADAN: A TIME REDEDICATE TO HIGHER VIRTUES OF KINDNESS,  LOVE & GENEROSITY,  SAYS VP OSINBAJO

As the Ramadan fast progresses, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has called on Muslim faithfuls in Nigeria to rededicate themselves to higher virtues of kindness, love, and generosity towards each other, regardless of faith or ethnicity.

Speaking to State House Correspondents on his way out from the Council Chambers after the Federal Executive Council meeting which he presided over, Prof. Osinbajo said “I must express my very sincere greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters who have begun the Ramadan Fast already, and to say that, this is not just the time for abstinence from food, drink, and other worldly pleasures, but also a time for us to rededicate ourselves to higher virtues of kindness, love, generosity towards each other as brothers and sisters, regardless of faith or ethnicity.”

The Vice President added that “ for our nation, it is a time I believe, to recommit ourselves to unity, to brotherhood, to peace and reconciliation in various ways so that our country will achieve all of the objectives that we have all set for ourselves.”

He then wished “our Muslim brothers and sisters a very happy period of Ramadan. Ramadan Kareem.”

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
14th April 2021

By Etim Etim

Even in a normal day, Yemi Osinbajo’s schedule is quite frenzied. He is not your typical sedate Vice President. But in the two weeks that the President has been away on medical vacation, the VP’s workload has understandably increased many times over.


The sheer intensity and rigor of his work and the breath of issues he covered within the period speak to his capacity and mental energy. In the days of Abba Kyari, especially, many Nigerians liked to talk of how sidelined and relegated to the background he was, but nobody has ever doubted his capacity to deliver on assigned tasks and responsibilities.
In this troubled times, the nation requires a leader of great vigor to meet the moment.  In a little over a week, the VP traversed the nation, moving across the length and breadth of the land, covering a wide spectrum of issues ranging from managing Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSME) to herdsmen killings. He visited Gombe and Ebonyi States where he made three stops in each State and Imo (four stops).


Last Thursday, he attended the First Lady’s book launch in the morning and in the afternoon; he dashed into Lagos for another book event organized by former journalists of The Guardian newspaper to honour their late publisher. The following day he was in Jigawa promoting a clean energy programme, with a 5m Solar connections  target across the country in mind.

The flurry of events began on Tuesday, March 30, the very day the President left. The VP went to Gombe to attend the 27th edition of MSME Clinic – a federal government platform where the regulatory authorities, such as NAFDAC, SMEDAN, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Corporate Affairs Commission and other regulatory bodies are brought together under one roof to meet some micro, small and medium businesses.

These categories of businesses employ over 60% of Nigeria’s working population, but they are vulnerable to a wide range of challenges. They include tailors (fashion designers), carpenters (furniture makers), and all sorts of mom and pop enterprises.

I recall that the VP had attended a similar clinic in Calabar in 2017 where a friend who makes toothpicks from bamboo was a star attraction. By bringing the regulators and operators under one roof, the Clinic hopes to solve some problems at a one-stop platform.

At the Gombe Clinic, Prof Osinbajo was concerned with how the federal government could help the MSMEs to lower the costs of doing business. “Perhaps we can look at the possibility of Shared Facilities for some aspects of the agro-processing value chain that you are already doing.

The national MSME clinics program has facilitated the establishment of Shared Facilities for MSMEs in Benue, Bauchi, and Oyo State, with others to be established in Kaduna, Kebbi, Anambra, Ogun, Ebonyi, Edo, and Katsina State over the next year,” he announced.
These Shared Facilities will provide fully equipped cluster style spaces that MSMEs can use at a reasonable cost, thus sparing them the financial burden of having to buy their own equipment. Where possible, these Shared Facilities will be pre-certified by the relevant regulatory agencies.

A good example is the 200,000 capacity yam storage facility for micro small and medium enterprises in Benue State at the Zaki Biam International yam market. The storage facility is designed to address the problem of post-harvest losses, which is one of the greatest impediments to actualizing the immense potential of the agricultural sector. Nigeria produces 17 million tons of yams annually but loses almost 40% of this yield due to the lack of storage.


In Ebonyi State four days after, the mood was far more somber and dismal. Eighteen people, including a priest, have been killed by herdsmen in cold blood. The President had asked the VP to visit the communities and condole with the heartbroken Governor David Umahi and the citizens.

The VP, who has already assumed the role of the chief comforter of the federation, visited four communities and held a Town Hall meeting in Abakaliki. He condemned the horrific killings, condoled with the government and people of Ebonyi and asked the law enforcement authorities to investigate the crimes and bring justice to the victims and the criminals.


In addition, the VP asked for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to send help to the displaced communities. But despite the noble efforts of Yemi Osinbajo, and the promises of the President, the tragedy of our nation is the absence of rule of law. How could these killer herdsmen be walking around free after committing these heinous crimes?

How come no single herder has ever been brought to face the law? It is the shame of a nation that no killer herdsman has been prosecuted since the President was elected in 2015. And if there has been any, it means that it has not been well communicated to us. My heart bleeds for all the aggrieved communities who have fallen victims to coldblooded murderers.


On April 6, two days after the solemn event in Ebonyi, the VP returned to the South East to commission roads and some infrastructure projects built by the Hope Uzodinma administration. Gov Uzodinma had just celebrated his first anniversary in office and had pulled out all stops to impress the august visitor. But a day before the VP arrived – in the early morning – terrorists assaulted the prison and police headquarters in Owerri, and made attempt to breach the Government House nearby.
The VP’s schedule had to be modified to include assessment tours of the torched facilities. Prof Osinbajo praised the governor for the huge infrastructural developments in the state, and then turned to the attacks of the previous day saying that ‘‘an attack on the critical institutions of law enforcement, police stations and prisons, is an attack on the safety, security, and wellbeing of the citizens. It is not merely an assault on law and order; it is a mindless attack on the people and the way of life of the people.


When you attack police stations and free dangerous criminals, you put men, women, children, and their possessions and livelihoods at risk. Whatever the motives of the perpetrators, their action is egregious and atrocious in the extreme and all men and women of goodwill must openly condemn this assault on the way of life of the good people of this State’’.

At the heart of these mindless attacks is that some of the  young people of Igboland believe that federal authorities are too hard on them (mostly members of IPOB, while killer herdsmen who go about molesting, raping and killing people are left untouched.


Next on Osinbajo’s diary was the launch of the First Lady’s book at the State House, Abuja and the launch of the book, The making of the Flagship – the story of The Guardian in Lagos.  I have written extensively on the book launch event in Lagos.

The week ended with a trip to JANGEFE community, in Roni LGA (KAZAURE EMIRATE), Jigawa State where the VP launched 100,000 Solar Power Home Systems and graced the turbaning of the Water Resources Minister Suleiman Adamu as Galadima.


The visit afforded Prof Osinbajo the opportunity to meet with the Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Dr Najib Hussaini Adamu, who was his Law School classmate in 1979. If there was a personal reason for why this sleepy village was chosen to flag off the power scheme, its overall impacts cannot be ignored.

The Solar Power Homes project is a clean energy project of the Buhari administration in which five million homes across the country would be connected to off-grid electricity. It is an ambitious effort to ensure that every Nigerian has access to electricity.

To achieve this, the federal government is decentralizing power supply to include solar sources. With the costs of solar installations falling, this is an opportune moment for the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the NDPHC to electrify homes in the rural communities. The multiplier effects are enormous.

The VP’s demanding schedule in the two weeks he held sway reveals his high-value work ethics and deep commitment to the vision of the President. He deserves our applause.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/04/osinbajos-rigorous-grind/

VP flags off in Jigawa, rollout in all geopolitical zones forthcoming
*Jangefe community of 5,000 to get 1,000 Solar Home Systems
*At turbaning of Water Resources Minister as Galadima, Emir of Kazaure calls VP “my distinguished brother, friend & learned colleague”
A plan to deliver electricity to about 25m Nigerians whose communities are off the grid has commenced in Jigawa State flagged off by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, who restated the determination of the Buhari administration to ensure that millions more will now have access to cheap and environmentally friendly renewable power.
Coming under the Economic Sustainability Plan, Prof. Osinbajo says the launch of the Solar Power Naija programme is taking off with the Jangefe Community in Roni Local Government Area (in the Kazaure Emirate) of the State and will get to all geopolitical zones in the country soon.
“After Jangefe, ” according to the VP, the rollout will continue “across the 6 geopolitical zones in Edo, Lagos, Adamawa, Anambra, Kebbi and Plateau. Other Solar companies are also in the pipeline for the Solar Power Naija facility to continue the march to 5 million connections during the life of this administration,” the Vice President said.
The scheme will then go to the entire 36 States and the FCT covering 25million Nigerians in the end.
The commencement of the Solar Power Naija programme means the community will get 1,000 Solar Home Systems connections for its about 5,000 population.
The Vice President, flagged off the commencement of the installation in Jigawa, in what is part of a 100,000 scheme with A-SOLAR, a local solar power company implementing aspects of the ESP Solar Power Naija scheme.
The Jangefe community in Jigawa, which is the first location to be covered by the A-Solar company, will pay monthly energy payments until the systems are fully paid for at the point in which there will be a transfer of ownership to each consumer in the community.
The Vice President noted that the “President had emphasised that we could no longer rely solely on the grid if we were to electrify the whole country. Which meant that we had to develop an effective strategy for decentralizing power supply. Two obvious things to do were, first to think of implementing more off-grid solutions and to use renewable energy especially solar power.”
“Another challenge turned opportunity was Covid-19 and our response to the economic fallouts of the pandemic – the Economic Sustainability Plan. A fundamental rationale for the plan was to retain existing jobs and create new jobs. A mass solar programme seemed like a real chance to kill several birds with one stone; electrify the country and in the process, create thousands of jobs from solar assembly and manufacturing plants to installers, payment system operators, and maintenance of solar systems once installed.
“Mr. President, therefore, approved the inclusion of what came to be known as the Solar Power Naija programme in the Economic Sustainability Plan which he asked me to chair.
“The Solar Power Naija programme which is designed by the Rural Electrification Agency is an ambitious initiative that aims to create 5 million connections through a 140 billion Naira financing programme that will support private developers to provide power for 5 million households, which means providing electricity for up to 25 million Nigerians.
Prof. Osinbajo further stated that the solar power programme is a public-private sector partnership supported by concessionary lending via the Central Bank of Nigeria and commercial banks.
The VP noted that structures have been put in place to make the connections costs affordable for all.
“In addition to the concessionary lending rates, the Government has provided subsidies and rebates for private developers to the tune of over $200 million under the Rural Electrification Agency and World Bank Nigeria Electrification Programme. The programme incorporates several innovative solutions to increase affordability for the citizens while also providing sufficient comfort to investors and financiers alike,” he stated.
The VP added that Jangefe community would derive several benefits from the flag off of the programme in Jigawa State.
The Vice President commended the Jigawa State Governor, Alh. Badaru Abubakar, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kazaure, the Emirate Council and the Local Government of Roni, as well as other critical stakeholders for their roles in ensuring the implementation of the programme in the community.
He said, “the Governor’s style of engagement and focus on economic growth and cooperation by bringing people together is one of the reasons why it was so easy to execute this project in Jigawa. This mindset and approach of the Jigawa State administration created the environment for the Local Government Authority and the Emirate Council to work in harmony with the developers to make this project a reality. This is probably why Jigawa State will continue to attract investments for the benefit of its people and the country at large.”
The Vice President also commended the Emir of Kazaure, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Najid Hussaini Adamu who made a down payment for the community to benefit from the solar connections. Prof Osinbajo said not only was this a good example, but it also facilitated the programme.
He also noted the diligent efforts of the Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure, Ahmad Rufai Zakari “in coordinating with all the relevant parties to lead us to the successful launch of the programme today.”
Earlier in his remarks, Jigawa State Governor Alhaji Abubakar Badaru commended both President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, saying the Federal Government’s support to the State and other States despite declining resources, has been unprecedented since 2015. He mentioned how the Buhari administration gave a bailout to States of the Federation to pay salaries and also the payment of the long outstanding refund from the Paris Club debts among others.
He said the solar project like many other schemes that have been implemented will positively impact the economy of the state in line with the vision of the President and his deputy.
The Governor noted that the school feeding programme and other schemes implemented by the Federal Government in the state have, aside from impacting the economy, improved school enrollment from about 600,000 to over a million since implementation.
After the flag-off of the scheme, the Vice President visited the family of Alhaji Auwalu Dauda, a beneficiary of the programme in Jangefe to interact with them on the impact of the programme.
Also present at the solar event were Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, who had received the Vice President at the Kano Airport en route Jigawa; Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Umar Namadi; Deputy Governor of Katsina, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu; the Minister of Power, Engr Saleh Mamman; Minister of State for Power, Mr Goddy Jeddy-Agba; the Emir of Kazaure, HRH, Alhaji Najid Hussaini Adamu; the Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure and the San-Turaki of Kazaure Ahmad Rufai Zakari, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, Alhaji Salhijo Ahmad, the Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Mr Chiedu Ugbo; the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Alex Okoh among others.
Earlier on arrival in the State, Prof. Osinbajo attended, as special guest, the turbaning of the Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu as the Madakin Kazaure and Galadiman Roni. At the event, the Emir of Kazaure asked the new Galadima to provide good leadership to the people and also prayed that God will guide him in his new role.
The Emir also prayed for peace and prosperity in Nigeria adding that there will be a divine intervention in the country. He described the VP as “my distinguished friend and brother and my learned colleague,” recalling that they both were students at the same time at the Law School.
Besides the Jigawa Governor, a number of State Governors also joined the Vice President at the palace of Emir of Kazaure for the turbaning of the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu as Galadima. They include the Governors of Ekiti, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara and Katsina. There were also members of the Federal Executive Council present including the National Security Adviser, Rtd General Baba Gana Monguno.


https://www.yemiosinbajo.ng/time-to-provide-more-electricity-for-nigerians-is-now-says-osinbajo-at-launch-of-5m-solar-power-connections/