How Fashola reawakened Nigerians on Duty, Citizenship, Social Contract

By Modestus Umenzekwe:

On the 1st day of November 2023 at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Edo State, the immediate past Honourable Minister of Works and Housing of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) was the Lecturer at the19th Justice Idigbe Memorial Lecture. The giant indeed showed the stuff he is made of, a man who believes in positive and symbiotic social contract and nothing less, reawakened Nigerians on their duties as citizens.

Therefore, what I intend to do here is to bring to the fore those vital aspects of this great lecture titled “Duty and Citizenship–The Social Contract”, which is a clarion call on Nigerians to think of what they can do for Nigeria first and not what the nation will do for them, even though their protection is intrinsically tied in the social contract.

 Fashola a man who served the nation consistently for 24 years and still counting could be described as a born leader, philosopher and lecturer per excellence. Even though he has stepped aside to have a holiday, so to say, he has continued to impact society in so many other ways. What this means is that politics is not everything. He is a scholar too. He has kept his brain brilliantly busy by delivering lectures which involve research; he still burns the midnight candle in search of new knowledge despite attaining the pinnacle of his political career in Nigeria. This, for me, is to say that Fashola still has a lot to offer to this nation.

Still on the lecture, according to Fashola, the lecture was of course organized in honour of a truly outstanding Nigerian, jurist and patriot, the late Justice Chukwunweike Idigbe, who sadly departed this world on 31st July, 1983.

After the pleasantries, Fashola, an Alumnus of UNIBEN, you could imagine the aura, the ambiance and the nostalgia; a former Governor of Lagos State and former Minister of Power, Works and Housing, now coming back to his former school to deliver a lecture, what a wonderful recollection of memories. He delved straight into the business of the day with the question, ‘What then was it about this Nigerian whose legacy is imperishable?’ he questioned rhetorically. Justice Chukwunweike C. Idigbe, JSC was a dutiful citizen and worthy Nigerian patriot, he answered.

Fashola of course made choice of the title of the lecture having examined the life and time of the erudite legal icon, Justice Chukwunweike C. Idigbe, JSC.

While giving background to his lecture, Fashola projected that extraordinary role among others which made Idigbe’s legal activities very imperishable. According to Fashola, the protagonist of this lecture exemplified what is expected of a good citizen when he rose up to the call of duty at a time and used his good office to salvage an obviously sad situation in Nigerian judiciary. “Justice Idigbe persuaded a full panel of the Supreme Court to reverse their previous decisions which were binding precedents and constraints to doing justice in the case under consideration.” Fashola was actually speaking about Idigbe’s judgement in the case of Bucknor-MacLean vs Inlaks report in (1980) 8 11 SC 1. “That case for me demonstrated Justice Idigbe’s humanity, compassion, sense of justice and fairness to his fellow citizens.” This is the crux of the matter.

Having dealt with the personality of Justice Idigbo, he then explained social contract and what it entails. “I believe that many of us are familiar with the concept of the social contract first propounded by a Swiss philosopher, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, sometime in 1762 about the relationship between the state, and the Government on one hand, and the citizen on the other hand. That contract implied confers certain expectations and benefits on citizens in exchange for certain service to be performed by the state in the conduct of their affairs. These expectations and benefits are expressed as rights, some of which are classified as fundamental and set out in the case of Nigeria, in Chapter 4 Section 24 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.”

He stated that those rights which are fundamental, are expressly conferred on “every person” as listed in Sections 33, 34,35,36,38,39,40 while there are other rights, which inure to the benefit of citizens of Nigeria only, which are conferred on “Every Citizen” as distinct from “Every Person” are to be found in: Section 37, which guarantees and protects citizens of the privacy of their homes, correspondence, telephone, conversations and telegraphic communications; Section 41 (1) which entitles citizens to move freely throughout Nigeria, to reside in any part thereof and assures them of full protection from being expelled from Nigeria or being refused entry into Nigeria subject to the qualification in sub-section (2) about laws which are justified in a democracy to impose restrictions of movement on suspects of crime; Section 42 (1) and (2) which protects the citizen from discrimination; Section 43, which confers the right to own immoveable property on citizens.

“The point to make at this stage about these rights is that they are enforceable in the same way as those other fundamental rights, except with the added bonus that Section 46 (4) (b) also confers additional benefits on citizens only, where they are indigent, to get financial assistance to engage a legal practitioner. “

According to Fashola, this is the heart and matter of the social contract; Citizens enjoying certain rights over and above every person. But those rights do not come alone, they come with duties.

He stated that it is unfortunate that citizens are quick to ask for their rights without a corresponding request for duties and obligations “This is not helpful for our National Development, and I will attempt to demonstrate this shortly. But permit me to quickly pivot to the issue of citizenship.

“The question to ask in our relationship as citizens, is whether we have consciously acknowledged that we owe a debt/duty of allegiance to Nigeria in our relationship with her when we assert our rights? Have we asked for our rights first instead of discharging our allegiance? Indeed, what constitutes our allegiance to our country? But before I proceed further, let me highlight a few examples of some of the protection that citizenship has afforded us in recent times. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we all recall that the Nigerian Government closed the international borders to all traffic as many other Governments did in their countries in order to contain the pandemic. But I recall vividly that whilst some countries, for fear of spreading the virus further, refused entry to their own citizens, Nigeria's government granted entry to Nigerian citizens who were returning home even at the risk of bringing in the virus to the country.

“That was, for me, a profound expression of citizen protection offered by our country, in contrast to the seeming status of statelessness other countries dealt to their citizens when they refused them entry at that time of extreme vulnerability. During the outbreak of war between Russia/Ukraine, Nigeria arranged the evacuation and return to Nigeria of her citizens caught in the war. She had no business with citizens of other countries. But did this and many similar acts resonate with us? Or were they just what was expected of our country and government?”

He reminded his listeners that as citizens they are severally saved from criminals by law enforcement agents as part of their right as citizens. “On the domestic front, how many of us have been saved from criminals, by law enforcement, or have had the fire brigade come to put out fire in our homes or places of business, or benefited from healthcare in a government facility?

“These are instances of government offering its protection in exchange for our allegiance, even if admittedly there is scope for improvement. The question is whether we understand that these acts are acts of protection because we are citizens, and are we aware of our allegiance when we get these services?” He asked.

Speaking on what makes us citizens, he said “The answer is to be found in the provisions of Sections 25-32 of the constitution as amended in 2023. There are two broad types of citizens; native and naturalised. This is largely applicable in many countries of the world where citizenship is conferred on people who are naturalised citizens, and the Nigerian constitution also provides for naturalised citizenship as is provided for in Section 27 of the constitution.

“While this class of citizenship does not derive from being a native and has some limitations for example such persons cannot be President of Nigeria under Section 131(a) of the constitution, their duty of allegiance is no less than those of native citizens.”

Fashola then spoke in relation to native citizens “There are two broad classes on the subject, classified under the Latin phrases jus soli and jus sanguinis.

“The former refers to citizens by birth acquired from being born in the territory of the state or country while the latter refers to citizenship of birth by having one or both parents who are native to that state or country. Nigeria has adopted the sanguinis route in 25 (1)(a)(b) about people born before 1960, the date of independence, such that if you were born in Nigeria before that date with parents or grandparents who belonged to a community indigenous to Nigeria you were automatically a Nigerian citizen by birth. And in section 25(1)(c), the sanguinis right to citizenship by birth is reinforced by providing that even if you were born outside Nigeria to at least one parent who is Nigerian, you were a Nigerian citizen by birth.”

He said this explains why under the 1999 Constitution, Nigerians, for the first time, could have dual citizenship under Section 28(1) of the constitution because they may have been born in countries where the jus soli applies to Nigerian parents.

But this protection of dual citizenship, he added, is not afforded to those who acquired citizenship of Nigeria by registration or naturalisation; on the contrary only citizens by birth, jus sanguinis, can be dual citizens under Nigerian constitution.

“For some reason, the drafters of the constitution have similarly set out our duties first in Section 24, before proclaiming our rights by way of protection in the latter parts of the constitution in Sections 33 - 46. The second instructive point is that whereas between sections 33 - 46 there are 14 (FOURTEEN) provisions of the constitution dealing with rights and how to benefit from them, Section 24 (a)-(f) which deals with our duties only asks us to do 6 (SIX) things.

“Now what are those 6 (SIX) things that Section 24 ask of citizens of Nigeria: (a) abide by this Constitution, respect its ideals and its institutions, the National Flag, the National Anthem, the National Pledge, and legitimate authorities; (b) help to enhance the power, prestige and good name of Nigeria, defend Nigeria and render such national service as may be required; (c) respect the dignity of other citizens and the rights and legitimate interests of others and live in unity and harmony and in the spirit of common brotherhood; (d) make positive and useful contribution to the advancement, progress and well-being of the community where he resides; (e) render assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law and order; and (f) declare his income honestly to appropriate and lawful agencies and pay his tax promptly.”

Fashola made it clear at the lecture that security of lives and property is the responsibility of all. “Ladies and gentlemen, before I conclude, let me place on record my thoughts about section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution which provides that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. This has often been understood or dare I say misunderstood as suggesting that this is the responsibility of a particular level of Government. The first point I wish to make about this section and the way some of us have perhaps chosen to misunderstand it is that the word “government” used in that section is a small ‘g’ not in capitals.

“While this is not a discussion on interpretation of statutes for lawyers, it is helpful to the general public to point out that “government” used in that section refers to all levels of Government and not one level.

“Further readings of the responsibilities of Governments set out in the second and fourth schedules of the constitution for Federal, State and Local Governments will show that no particular one of them bears responsibility for “security,” although the Federal Government has responsibility for the Army, Police and Arms. This is not the same as having sole responsibility for security.”  

He disclosed that having reviewed the provisions of the constitution relating to the promise of state, duties, entitlement to citizenship and our rights, “I think it must be eminently clear that the social contract is an offer of duties by us, in exchange for the protection of the state and not the other way around. If I may say so, the country that some of us choose to denigrate with our words and actions really owes us nothing because there is no social contract if we offer no duties.

This is what must commend the life and times of Hon. Justice Chukwunweike Idigbe of blessed and noble memory, to us as citizens. Like him we must offer service and duty in private and public capacities to Nigeria first, before we can expect protections and assertion of rights. This is the proper order for the working of the social contract.

 

TCI, Lagos State Government partner, sensitize Isheri Osun Community on Family Planning

By Cyriacus Nnaji:

The Challenge Initiative (TCI) known for rapidly and sustainably scaling up proven reproductive health solutions among the urban poor, in partnership with the Lagos State Government, has sensitized Isheri Osun Community in Alimosho Local Government of Lagos State on the need to plan their families.

The sensitization which was an in-reach programme was a process whereby mobilisers go to the community and then bring people to the facility. With support from TCI the pregnant women and mothers were given some consumables, injectables, and implants depending on their choices of family planning methods.

According to the organsers, the in-reach/sensitization programme was also part of the Lagos State Health Week which took place between Monday 6^th and Friday 10th November, 2023.

The health week involved the implementation of the Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (MNCAH+N) in all the 20 local government areas (LGAs) and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State.

Part of the objectives of the week was to improve the health seeking behaviour of Lagosians towards ensuring the improvement of Health indices in the State. Also, the Week was to sensitize the public on life-saving healthcare services available at all the state public health facilities for improved uptakes during and after the MNCAH+N Week.

During the week, all under-5 children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and young adults have access to free healthcare services, which include preventive services such as Routine Immunization, Family Planning, Vitamin A Supplementation, Malnutrition screening, Birth Registration, free Antenatal care, HIV & Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment; among others, courtesy of the Lagos State Government. 

Recall that the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, already flagged off the week-long event in Badagry LGA.

At Isheri Osun, pregnant women and mothers, gathered in the community and were not just educated on the need for family planning, they were also allowed to choose any of the family planning methods suitable for them including but not limited to consumables, injectables and implants.

Sandra Ikpade, one of the Community Mobilizers for The Challenge Initiative (TCI) in Isheri Osun, stated that the family planning outreach program was for women and TCI happened to be the sponsors. “It is an event where all women take their family planning method. TCI brought the consumables, all we need for this program, you can see that everybody is here taking their methods. We have various methods, the injectables, implant, we have those for two months, three months and we have levo plant, it is an implant and that is for three years.”

Sandra also spoke on the response rate, saying it is encouraging. “So far so good, the response is good. We have 10, you know why it appears that they are not many is that before you take the method, we check for their BP and if it is high it doesn't go with family planning, so we allow them to calm down before we administer the method on them.”

A community Influencer who wished to speak on condition of anonymity said that the community were being sensitized on the importance of family planning “In this particular community we are having a family planning outreach where we are sensitising the community members on family planning, importance of family planning for them to plan their families, because everybody knows what is going on in the country now, to be able to give birth to children you can take care of; the mothers will also live healthy while our fathers will also have more money in their pockets to take care of our expenses.”

He thanked TCI for the laudable programme. “We want to thank TCI for supporting Family Planning programme. They are supporting the mobilizers who go into the various communities, house to house, door to door, talk to the people. Actually many people have heard about family planning, some have taken up methods of family planning while some are still doubting either to take or not, but with the mobilizers going from house to house I hope they would be able to gain the courage to come forward to take up method that would be suitable to them.”

The Community influencer said the family planning programme in Lagos is a continuous exercise and the women can go to any health centre any time they like. ‘Some of them, having given them the card, they are still coming, any time, it is a continuous exercise.”

Chinyere Ozakpolo, a business woman and a satisfied user of family planning, she spoke on the benefits of family planning to her. “It helps to control child birth so that you don't go and over born. I have three children, I gave them two years each but it was deliberate.”

Speaking on side effects, she said there is none, "I am using the implant method for three years. I just put it few months ago; I have actually not seen any side effects. What I discovered is that it plays with your monthly period, sometimes you see it, sometimes you don't see it. The first month I put the implant I didn't see my period, I saw it once, ever since I have not seen it again. That is the only effect on me, it could be the reaction. But not seeing my period is not a sign of pregnancy, not at all.”

While Ozakpolo disclosed that the implant method does not elicit any pain, she thanked Government and TCI for making family planning free and also advised Government and its partners to do more in the area of sensitization. "They should make it more open, explain it and be able to disabuse people’s mind of these misconceptions they have about family planning, most mothers don't know about it, so they should bring more information about the family planning so that families that do not know about it will begin to know, and many are scared. But based on what I have heard they said somehow some women who did it would develop one sickness or the other, but I have not seen. So such sensitisation would help to put the family planning in the right perspective. 

Mrs Ainoh, said she has natural family planning. “I am not using family planning for certain reasons because my own body reacts somehow, my first child is eight years before I could conceive this one; that is why I don't want to use it. Even that first one it took me about a year after marriage, so after that one, eight years interval, you can see my body is already doing family planning on its own, it is family planning from God.”

Another mother who simply gave her name as Precious said the reason she is not using family planning is because she is scared and she has natural family planning too. “When I gave birth to my child I have my own natural planning, so there is no need again for me to take family planning because I am already doing natural family planning, not seeing my period and all that, so I don't think I have the need.”

Speaking on what made her family planning natural she said, “My first child was a year and four months old before I took in for the second one. If I do it I will get so much fat. There are some you would take it would trigger reaction, especially injections. They said it reacts in the body, so I decided not to take it for me not to start having reactions.”

Precious commended Government and TCI saying “Government and TCI said we should do family planning because of people who are careless in terms of having sex with their husbands for them not to get pregnant while still breastfeeding, so that is why family planning is important. Some don't know how to calculate their period, but if you do it when you are ready for another baby you go and remove it. For me I can handle it. I also have natural family planning because I don't see my period if I am breastfeeding.”

Eguife Gloria said “I just don't like it, I have two children, my first child was almost three years before the second one. I calculate my period by myself; I use Billings method. Even when my husband wants to meet me at wrong time he would use condom or withdrawal method mostly, so I don't pray to use it anytime.”

 

 

Umahi deserves our collective support to build on Fashola’s achievements--Umenzekwe …Supports concrete Technology for roads

Chief Modestus Umenzekwe (Onwa Achina) a Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), member APC Campaign Council for upcoming Gubernatorial Election in Bayelsa State and former member, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), in this interview, said that any well-meaning Nigerian should support the Honourable Minister of Works for insisting on concrete Technology in the construction of roads; he also spoke on other crucial issues. Excerpts:

Do you agree with Senator Dave Umahi, the Honourable Minster of Works on use of concrete Technology for road constructions in Nigeria? His position, does it amount to indictment on previous administrations?

Mark you this interview is not to compare two members of a particular family, by family I mean APC. So there is no way I can start comparing two members a family because APC has a programme they are following and that programme is being built upon every time every administration comes on board, that is why we called this one, Renewed Hope, so whatever we are doing now is what we consider improvement upon how we have been doing it. So the same programme is still running, and on that I tell you that I support the idea and the President has approved it, that is much I can tell you.

It appears the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Engr. Umahi based on what he did in Ebony; do you agree with this assertion?

You see, Umahi’s achievements in various sectors of the economy when he was governor of Ebonyi State are unprecedented and unmatched, through his managerial perspicacity he ensured that communities, town unions, local government areas felt the impact of his government.

Umahi did a lot, but he did more in road constructions. The newly built Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Ebonyi State located in Onueke along the Abakaliki/Afikpo Expressway, was constructed by His Excellency, Engr. Dave Umahi. He did two dual carriageway fly-overs at the African Trans-Sahara Highway, he did the Governors’ Lodge, which was named after the first civilian governor of the state, Senator Sam Egwu; he did the CBN Road at the Centenary City.

Engr. Umahi’s Government did Amasiri–Uburu –Okposi Road for Ebonyi South; Nkalagu–Ehamufu Road for Ebonyi Central; Hill-top –Nwofe Road for Ebonyi North. This is what he said he would do if elected and he did it. He built 15-kilometre road for each of the 13 local government areas in the state, so the president must have appointed Umahi as Minster of Works because he is a road-master.

Umahi’s administration constructed three fly-over bridges in the state capital, and a pedestrian-crossing, nobody has done that since Ebonyi State was created. The pedestrian-crossing at the gate of the permanent site of the Ebonyi State University Abakaliki–Enugu Expressway was also done by him.

If I begin to reel out the roads he did in Ebonyi before leaving office you would marvel. He rehabilitated Water Works Road, Ogoja–Onuebonyi–Rice Mill Road, Gunning Road, New Market Road, Nkaliki–EBBC–EBHA–Abakaliki LGA Road, Hosanna Park, Hosanna Street, Ezika Street (Yam market), Old Park, Jos Street, Obiri Street, Nwodo Street, Mberi Street, Awolowo Street, among others.

Timipre Sylva, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is back on the ballot  paper, after the appeal Court Judgement which supported his claim, how do you feel as a member of APC Campaign Council in the upcoming Guber election in that state?

Well, there was no time the party was, should I say, disappointed or petrified; we had a good case and we have a good candidate who knows his onion. If you have been watching the political events in Bayelsa, Sylva has been campaigning, there hasn’t been any dull moment in his campaign activity, and that goes to show you the kind of person he is, workaholic, steadfast, not leaving anything to chance, resilient, and these are hallmark of a good politician. APC will win Bayelsa, I am sure of that. I am happy for Timipre Sylva, I am happy for  great party, APC.

The legal battle over the presidential election is over, what should the president do now as the father of the nation?

Tinubu should extend hands of fellowship to his opponents; I know he has done that.

Beyond that is for him to ensure the holistic implementation of the Renewed Hope agenda of the party: National unity, economy, agriculture, power oil and gas, sports, entertainment and culture, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship, women empowerment, federalism and decentralization of power, education, digital economy, power, transportation, judicial reforms, among others.

In writing the Forward to the Agenda of the Renewed Hope, the President, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said, I am quoting him now, “We shall build a Nigeria, especially for our youth, where sufficient jobs with decent wages create a better life. Manufacture, create, and invent more of the goods and services we require. Nigeria shall be known as a nation of creators, not just of consumers. Export more and import less, strengthening both the naira and our way of life. Continue assisting our ever toiling farmers, through enlightened agricultural policy that promotes productivity and assures decent incomes, so that farmers can support their families and feed the nation. 

“Modernise and expand public infrastructure so that the rest of the economy can grow at an optimal rate. Embolden and support our young people and women by harnessing emerging sectors such as the digital economy, entertainment and culture, tourism and others to build the Nigeria of tomorrow, today. Train and give economic opportunity to the poorest and most vulnerable among us. We seek a Nigeria where no parent is compelled to send a child to bed hungry, worried whether tomorrow shall bring food. Generate, transmit and distribute sufficient, affordable electricity to give our people the requisite power to enlighten their lives, their homes, and their very dreams. Make basic healthcare, education, and housing accessible and affordable for all. And, most importantly, establish a bold and assertive policy that will create the strong yet adaptive national security architecture and action to obliterate terror, kidnapping, banditry, and all other forms of violent extremism from the face of our nation.” He stated that on his part and his running mate and he would renew the hope of our people by providing equality of opportunity, social justice and prosperity for all through the initiatives set forth in the book. But much more interesting to me is when he said I welcome your inputs and critiques as we prepare to govern Nigeria with fairness, equity and justice. Tinubu is a political giant, as I normally say, he is a colossus.

The president as the Minister of Petroleum should wade into the oil sector and find out what is going on there; he should revamp the sector, bring in his own close persons, those who will tell him the truth about that sector. Oil is the life wire of Nigeria and you can testify, ever since the subsidy on petroleum was removed the country has never remain the same. So that is to show you the significance of that sector.

I also have a suggestion to make, and for the president to see how each state can build at least one refinery in their states, or at least a modular one, there is nothing wrong about that. The period of politics is over, now is time for agenda setting, and all of us, whether APC, PDP, Labour, everybody must come out, make suggestions on how to move the country forward, and I plead with the president to carry everybody along, run an inclusive government and by so doing we surely will succeed.

More than ever before Igbo leaders have shown interest in the clamour for release of Nnamdi Kanu, what is your take?

I support the move to seek his release, and I think our ever listening President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban of Africa, will listen to them, so If it is settled out of court, it is still better. We are not saying this person is right now or this person is wrong but he should be released.

The war between Israel and Hamas what is your take?

War does no one any good because in the end everything will come back to the table for discussion, so why fighting when you have the table for dialogue? People fight because of ego. I blame Hamas for killing innocent citizens, 1400 Jews, it is dastardly. You don’t have right to kill armless people. Then Israel has the right to retaliate, because after the killing of innocent Israelis, nobody has expected them to fold their hands and say, thank you Hamas for what you have done.

However, I call on Israel to calm down for the sake of innocent Palestinians who are neither supporting Hamas nor even aware of the agitation of Hamas. There are many like that, the aged, the young ones, even there are youths who prefer going about their business, those who distance themselves from the struggle, I think it is time to separate Hamas from other innocent Palestinians. Again Hamas and their allies in Lebanon, Syria and Pakistan must cease firing missile both gladiators must stop, and embrace peace. The history of Israel and Palestine is an age ling one. Anything that is hindering two state status of the both side must be ironed out by the United Nations to create a separate state for Palestine. And for Hamas, they should know that saying that Israel should disappear from the face of the earth; that is too idealistic, it is not done; they should embrace each other, because they are both children of Abraham.

 

LASU denies allegation of delayed graduation of HND Conversion Students

The management of the Lagos State University (LASU) has stated as false and malicious, the report in an online platform titled "Despite paying more than half a million, LASU HND Conversion students have not graduated since 2020".

In a strongly worded press statement issued on behalf of the institution by Oluwayemisi Thomas-Onashile, Coordinator, Centre for Information and Public Relations, the university disclosed that the report was not only fraught with lies and half-truths, it appeared like a calculated attempt to smear the image of the university. 

The statement read in part, “The attention of Authority of the Lagos State University has been drawn to a recently published report on an online platform titled "Despite paying more than half a million, LASU HND Conversion students have not graduated since 2020".

“From keen observation, the said report is not only fraught with lies and half-truths, it appears like a calculated attempt to smear the image of the university. 

“As a responsible institution, we consider it incumbent, therefore, to provide the true position of the story so that falsehood may not prevail over the truth,” the statement read.  

The university then presented the true picture saying, “The HND/B.Sc Conversion programme which is a programme designed for two academic sessions, commenced at the University in 2020, therefore, it ‘COULD NOT’ have been possible for the University to graduate the newly admitted students in the same year of entry - 2020, as reflected in the headline. 

“Students who have met the graduation requirements have all been presented and cleared by the University Senate for graduation, an assertion that can be confirmed in the 26th Convocation brochure of the university. A total of Forty-Eight (48) duly registered students graduated at the 26th Convocation of the University, Twelve (12) students' results are awaiting the approval of the Senate while others have pending issues.

‘The University, like other academic institutions, has a time frame for the opening and closing of its portal (be it for payment, registration, examination, or other academic purposes). *ANY* student who *DOES NOT* utilise this time frame as expected would automatically be shut out. This might have accounted for some of them not being able to register. However, students who registered within the given time frame and sat for their examinations are able to access their results on the portal once it is released by the Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).

“Our findings further revealed that some of the students who were yet to be cleared, and probably sponsored the so-called report *DID NOT* go through the right channel for registration of courses, and might have engaged the services of surrogates to do the registration on their behalf which is always to their disadvantage.

“Some of the students who *DID NOT* comply with the rules and regulations guiding the process wanted the University to waive courses that they *DID NOT* pass, and those concerned were requested to take all their failed courses as carry-over, but, they were *NOT* willing.

“The University Authority hereby informs the stakeholders and the general public to discountenance the malicious report and seek valid information concerning all the academic programmes of the institution on the official platforms of the university.

“Additionally, it is imperative to state that the university will continue to work in line with the best global practices.

“Students with pending issues are therefore requested to visit the Director, Directorate of School of Part Time Studies (DSPTS), for legitimate guides towards resolving their issues,” the statement revealed.

 

Evelyn Joshua: God's battle axe in changing narratives of Kenya

By Dare Adejumo:

In Kenya today, there is a renewed hope and better understanding of appreciating human existence and values in Creation with  more ardent desire and propulsive yearning for  a better and true humanity. 

Kenya is a famous and unique African country as a forerunner in democracy and economics. This has  made Nairobi the nation's capital a hallmark for great business opportunities and international recognition.

Notwithstanding its giant strides in human capital developments, hitherto, there has been a gross aberration in the conceptual framework of religious practices particularly in Christianity when juxtaposed with the standard laid by Jesus Christ himself and built upon by his anointed early apostles in one hand and the essence of consanguinity and social responsibilities as homo sapiens in respect of the underprivileged and wretched folks who are also part of the society. Attention to this segment of the society has been at the lowest ebb. A number of critical factors are actually responsible for this that cannot be addressed now.

But things are gradually changing in Kenya. The cloud has been lifted. The veil of insensitivity to the agony and trauma of the disadvantaged has been torn! 

Like a bolt out of the blue, the people have seen the light and love in action in their domains. 

The joyful activities embarked upon by Pastor Evelyn Joshua of the Synagogue Church Of All Nations SCOAN and EmmanuelTV partners who with the good news of Jesus Christ in action and practice, touching the foundation and heart of Kenyans are really changing the narratives.

What exactly were the pivots of this transformation?

Three significant events successively took place recently in the nation of Kenya and it's obvious that a new impetus, the little acorn from which the great oak grows  for collective development and happiness of the people is taking root in that famous east African country known for the great rift valley and the world's best Safari destination with over 50 epic national parks. 

These are not just ordinary events; they are a significant turning point in the lives of the people!

One, the 2023 Kenya Crusade; second, the revolutionary tree planting designed to stem the tide of desert encroachment and climatic menace that was gradually ravaging the country; and three, the charity programme to the neglected over 60'000 inhabitants at Piliwa village, Kajiado County the abode of the "wretched of the earth" in the heart of Massai people of Kenya.

The Piliwa people could be described as people with tragic existence. Theirs is a misfortune of birth and settlement. It's the most neglected part of Kenya just a stone throw from Tanzania. "We are mainly pastoralists. No roads, no water, no health care, no schools, poor shelters, no light just leaving hopelessly as if we were not human beings, having been deprived over the years the basic necessities of life" said the assistant chief officer of the village administration Mr. Yeldon Sonto. "We are mainly pastoralists rearing cattle, sheep and goats which have all been swept away by the ravaging drought that besieged our land", he added.

"There's no water to drink" lamented Mr.Lematian Julius, a security operative. "We use donkeys to go and fetch water in a distance of about 10kilometers where there's a dam. We are living in hunger, sickness and diseases, stress due to long trekking, no livestocks which people mostly depend on, life is hard under the scorching sun, no rainfall, no schools around, we can't even pay for school fees, no money, suffocating famine, darkness and occasional disturbances of wildlife which eat away our remaining animals", Lamentian painted a gory picture of living conditions in the area.

This is the grovelling hardship at Piliwa village.  You can imagine the presence of Pastor Evelyn Joshua and her team in the rickety and dusty road to these people with a big truck loaded with food and household items and hundreds of cartons of table water along with 500'000 Kenyan shillings! 

It was an electrifying moment. The village was agog. Everyone came out to see the miracle of God in their midst. They were all transmogrified in an ecstasy of rejoicing and celebrating, beating drums, singing and dancing with all the paraphernalia of their cultural aesthetics. It was a combination of dream and disbelieve because such a thing had never happened with convoy of vehicles in their community. 

"You are all God's children. God loves you. We are because you are. God has brought us here to remind you that He loves you and you are His people and He would never forsake you. We love you and you have become a part of us as God has beamed His light upon you" said Evelyn Joshua as she was thronged by the mammoth crowd!

"We have never seen this kind of donations to a neglected people in Kenya before, more so by a foreigner. This is unprecedented and you can see how joyful the people are as If God Himself has descended from heaven to bless them. God bless Pastor Evelyn Joshua for this great donation" enthused Elsie Matilong the village administrator.

"We are exceedingly glad with these plenty gifts for these downtrodden, neglected suffering people. It's beyond our imaginations. God bless Mama Evelyn Joshua and SCOAN for this great heart for the poor" stated by Naomi Parinkoi, the Chief public officer for social services Mrs Edna Lenku the first lady of the County expressed profound appreciation to Evelyn Joshua, SCOAN and EmmanuelTV team coming to the extreme rural area with all the inconveniences of the roads to lift up the lives of the poor community. "Only God can reward you for these great gifts to these people. We are very grateful. May God continue to bless you and SCOAN" she said.

The tree planting was another epic event. Pastor Evelyn Joshua led by the minister of the environment, Honourable Ibrahim Ouma along with other government officials to Uhuru Park where the official kicked off planting of 20'000 trees in Kenya by Evelyn Joshua started. She did the first planting and supported the effort with $25'000. Pastor Evelyn Joshua had earlier been engaged at the Nairobi House of Parliament led by its speaker, RT. Honourable Kennedy O. Ngondi who expressed the gratitude of Kenyans for the blessings and joyful activities of Pastor Evelyn Joshua in Kenya. That the Kenyans were ready to support Evelyn Joshua in all her God given dreams for the uplifting of Kenya as a nation for the glory of God with peace and prosperity of Kenya.

The Kenya Crusade 2023 was a different ball game entirely. The Kenyans could not imagine a Minister of God holding a crusade without taxing people or asking for donations or offering! "We are on God's instruction to hold this crusade for God's glory and blessings for the nation of Kenya. It's not my assignment but God's. We are here for the breaking of shackles that fetter lives and destinies down. We are here to give what God has given to us to bless people", the woman of God stated.

This was unprecedented. Kenya is about seventy five percent Christians. But Christianity in Kenya in the Apostolic fire sense is just burgeoning. It is more of the orthodox. The existing Pentecostal genre is growing and yearning for the true Pentecost as seen in the Acts of Apostles. 

Evelyn Joshua brought in a new dimension of understanding in healing and deliverance praying and commanding in the name of Jesus Christ. The Kasarani stadium became a huge furnace of commotion by the spiritual cacophonies of bewildered  and arrested demonic spirits by the Holy Spirit with several people yelling, falling and manifesting violently at the voice Evelyn Joshua reminiscent of the Gadara experience during the time of Jesus. The memory of Kenya Crusade in 2023 would continue to linger on with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as many were receiving healing from different afflictions including those on the wheel chairs to the amazement of over 50'000 people in attendance. Mr. Kabau Muruatetu, a chartered auditor who witnessed it all described it as "a real revival in the land of Kenya, glory to God".

From this Kenya Crusade 2023, one thing is obvious: Pastor Evelyn Joshua with her team of Evangelists in the legacy of Senior Prophet TBJOSHUA has raised the bar of pure Christianity and the joy of humanity as the beauty of Creation.

 

Oborevwori to deliver Keynote at UNFCCC Cop 28 in Dubai, supports action on climate change

From left: Honourable Commissioner for Environment: Jamani Tommy Ejiro, Chairman Delta State Oil Producing Areas Commission: Chief John Nani Obukohwo, Deputy Director FUPRE Centre for Sustainable Development: Deacon Odugala Okezi, His Excellency, Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori, President Nurses Across the Borders: Pastor Peters Omoragbon and Managing Director: Delta State Oil Producing Areas Commission: Mr Festus Ochonogor. 

The Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori has accepted to deliver a Keynote Address at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 28 in Dubai this year.

The Governor is expected to deliver the keynote at the Side Event organized by Nurses Across The Borders International, and slated for November 11, 2023, at the Blue Zone SE Room with the theme: “Building Partnership in Promoting Public Health through Ecological Restoration. What is at Stake?” 

The Governor’s position was made public during a courtesy visit to the State House, Asaba over the weekend by the Executive President and Chief Executive Officer of Nurses Across the Borders International, Pastor Peters Omoragbon.

Pastor Omoragbon enumerated some of the existing collaboration between it and the Delta State Government especially on the issue of Climate Change and public health.

According to Omoragbon, in 2022, the Organization entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to partner with the Centre for Sustainable Development of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE-CSD) Effurum, Delta State on research and training activities on human and sustainable development. “The MOU was intended to bring to the fore the burning issue of Climate Change that is confronting sustainable development in the Niger Delta region as a result of oil exploration activities and human mismanagement of natural resources. As a research and training centre, the collaboration is to proffer mitigation and adaptation mechanism with other stakeholders towards enthroning sustainable livelihood and the ecosystem of Delta State,

“The negative impacts of climate change on the health of our environment from flooding, gas flaring, deforestation, waste mismanagement, erosion, loss of biodiversity, resources conflicts, migration, poverty and insecurity amongst others are also areas of intervention while seeking international partnership,” Omoragbon said.

In his Response, His Excellency, Governor Oborevwori, appreciated the visit and expressed the state’s desire to partner with major stakeholders both local, national and international, in the development of the state.

According to the Governor, Delta State by virtue of being one of the major oil producing states of Nigeria suffers from the devastating effects of the climate change crisis, from flooding to gas flaring and increased pollution of farmlands and waters by oil pollution through exploration.

He gave account of the first action he took as Governor to mitigate the impact of flooding to vulnerable areas within the state earlier in the year which included the clearing of water ways and drainage system in the state, and the provision of camps to people displaced from their habitat as a result of the increased flooding in the state.

The Governor further expressed the interest and desire of the Delta State Government to mitigate climate change, mitigation and adaptation; he said the state is ready to partner Nurses Across the Borders and Federal University of Petroleum Resources-Centre for Sustainable Development in the areas of environmental sustainability

Governor Oborevwori also tasked multilateral organizations mostly the United Nations and her agencies to partner Delta State to mitigate her environmental challenges as a result of decades of unfriendly oil and gas exploration activities and human mismanagement of natural resources. He commended Desopadec for her interventions across communities in the state and the recent desitation of canals across the state to mitigate flooding while tasking Deltans and resident not to build on waterways as the state will not tolerate those who pollute the environment in anyway as it is environmental unfriendly to mismanage waste and frown at those who disposed waste indiscriminately on drainages and unauthorized places

The Governor also accepted invitation extended by Nurses Across the Border to attend the upcoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP 28) in Dubai.

To underscore the importance the state government placed on the issue of climate change mitigation and adaptation, he announced the approval of the attendance to the UNFCCC COP 28 event by the State full compliments delegation to be made up of the Honourable Commissioner for Environment and its Permanent Secretary (Dr Mrs Oseji Mininim Ibiere, Chief (Barr) John Nani Obukohwo Chairman of DESOPADEC its Managing Director, Mr Festus Ochonogor and the State Director on climate change Ms Briggs Vivian Doye.

In company of Pastor Omoragbon was Deacon Odugala Okezi, the Deputy Director of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) Centre for Sustainable Development.

Also at the meeting was the Honourable Commissioner for Environment Jamani Tommy Ejiro.

 

 

LASU named Best Institution for actualisation of SDG in West Africa

The West Africa Youth Summit, on Wednesday, 25th October 2023, presented the Lagos State University with the Choice Institution Award as West Africa's Best University for the Actualisation of Sustainable Development Goals. 

The award was presented at the Youth Summit held at the University's main campus in recognition of the University's stride towards the actualisation of the 17-point plan to radically improve the lives of people and the planet by 2030. 

In attendance at the event were two Honourable Ministers of the Federal Republic - the Minister for Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman and the Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation, H.E Bello Goronyo.  

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, was also recognised as the Nelson Mandela Leadership Award of Excellence in recognition of her creative contributions to Nigeria's Entertainment Industry at the Summit. 

Presenting the awards, the Chairman, West Africa Youth Fellowship and ECOWAS Youth Ambassador, Amb. Emmanuel Agida, praised the University for being the first institution to Establish a Centre for SDG and also the first to create a SDG Youth Club as a way to mobilise youth participation in the drive for the actualisation of the SDGs. He further urged other institutions to emulate LASU by getting students involved in the advocacy. 

The Youth Summit, which held at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, LASU main campus, Ojo, Lagos, attracted a rich assemblage of eminent Nigerians with members of the management, staff and students of the University in attendance to add color to the programme. The event also had students from various secondary schools in the state as delegates.