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88 Nigerian athletes showcase rich cultural heritage in Paris

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88 Nigerian athletes showcase rich cultural heritage in Paris

Making their 19th appearance since debuting in 1952, ever-colourful and joyous Team Nigeria will once again be the cynosure of all eyes as the 2024 Summer Olympics officially get underway today, with an opening ceremony like no other, signalling the start of the multi-sport that will run through August 11 in Paris and 16 other cities spread across Metropolitan France, plus one subsite in Tahiti, French Polynesia.

A total of 206 nations and 10,714 athletes will be striving for medals in 32 sports and 329 events.

Sports including football, rugby sevens, handball, and archery may already be underway, but billions of eyes will be on the Opening Ceremony that will declare the Games officially open.

And before the Olympic cauldron is lit, a spectacular show awaits, with the Opening Ceremony set to be held along the Seine.

It promises to be an opening ceremony to remember and an occasion one would want to miss.

The Opening Ceremony starts at 19:30 CEST (9 7:30 Nigerian time), with the three-hour spectacle set to take the world on a journey through Parisian history and architecture.

The parade will take place along the River Seine, with Thomas Jolly, a French theatre director and actor, overseeing proceedings as the artistic director.

The parade will travel west for six kilometres along the river, passing iconic landmarks, including the Notre Dame and the Louvre.

Ceremonies choreographer Maud Le Pladec has promised dancers on every bridge, while costume director Daphne Burki has worked with a team of designers to create 3,000 costumes for the dancers and artists that will feature across the four Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies.

The Parade of Nations will also swap the track for the river, with around 100 boats set to carry an estimated 10,500 athletes.

Flagbearers, including Coco Gauff and Tom Daley, will proudly fly their nation’s flag on the boats as the parade arrives at the Trocadero—the esplanade near the Eiffel Tower.

That is where the final protocols will take place and the Olympic cauldron will be lit, all making for a unique opening ceremony where one of the most celebrated cities in the world is placed front and centre.

Nigeria is featuring a total of 88 athletes in 12 sports: athletics, boxing, wrestling, football, basketball, canoeing, taekwondo, table tennis, badminton, cycling, swimming, and weightlifting.

But the country kicked off its campaign on Thursday, July 25, with the Super Falcons taking on Brazil in the Women’s Football Tournament Group C opener at Stade Matmut-Atlantique in Bordeaux.

Nigeria will be looking to surpass their two-medal harvest at the last edition in Tokyo.

Lessons from Biden’s withdrawal

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Lessons from Biden’s withdrawal

THE withdrawal of United States President, Joe Biden, from the presidential race and his endorsement of Vice-President Kamala Harris as the presumptive Democratic Party candidate marks a significant moment in American political history. This brave decision underscores a commendable act of putting the country’s interests above personal political ambitions and offers a crucial lesson to African leadership.

In a July 21 letter to the American public, Biden said: “It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your president. And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of the party and of the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”

Biden was responding to calls by party leaders and concerned Democrats, who urged him to quit the race due to the existing political odds. The financial support from donors for the 81-year-old showed a lack of confidence in his candidacy. Biden took off with $95.9 million in campaign funds, but Kamala Harris was able to secure enough Democratic National Committee delegates and raise $126 million in three days.

His voluntary exit highlights the importance of selflessness and strategic foresight in governance. By endorsing Harris, Biden has entrusted the country to the next generation of leaders. He has also shown a willingness to prioritise continuity and unity within the party and the US.

African leaders can draw valuable lessons from Biden. Too often, Africa’s political arena is dominated by leaders who cling to power at the expense of their countries’ progress and stability. This usually overshadows the broader needs of their countries, leading to political turmoil, economic instability, and social unrest.

Several African leaders have perpetuated themselves through constitutional changes, electoral manipulation, and other means. Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul Biya of Cameroon, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and Mahamat Deby of Chad remain in power employing these means.

Unfortunately, Africa has a long history of such leaders. Among them were Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Jose dos Santos of Angola, Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, Teodoro Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, and Idris Deby of Chad. Gnassingbé Eyadéma held power in Togo from 1967 until he died in 2005, and was succeeded by Faure, his son.

In Nigeria, former President Umaru Yar’Adua held on to power despite his ailment. The country was almost plunged into political instability when he died in May 2010. Former President Muhammadu Buhari frequented United Kingdom hospitals while at the helm despite the security and multidimensional poverty in the country.

These messianic and despotic dispositions of African leaders besmirch democracy and stagnate development. African leaders who are incapacitated should throw in the towel.

Biden has set a powerful precedent. It is a reminder that leadership is not merely about holding office but about the ability to serve the people. The true measure of a leader lies in their ability to step aside when necessary, allowing for the emergence of new ideas and fresh perspectives that can drive national development.

Biden has shown that stepping down can be an act of strength rather than weakness. Furthermore, Biden’s decision reflects a deep understanding of the changing political landscape and the need for adaptability. He understood that the political happenstances after the public debate signalled unfavourable outcomes.

So, African leaders should identify the demographic shifts and socioeconomic changes in their domains, prepare for succession, and nurture future leaders. They should make sure that their countries are free of personal agendas.

African leaders should recognise that the sustainability and prosperity of a country depend on leaders willing to place the country’s interests above their own, fostering a culture of succession and continuity that ensures lasting progress and stability.

Nigeria imported $2.25bn fuel from Malta — Report

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Nigeria imported $2.25bn fuel from Malta — Report

At least 59 electricity workers died in the line of duty between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has said.

A report by the commission confirmed that 23 of the workers lost their lives in 55 accidents in the first quarter of 2024.

The NERC disclosed that 31 others sustained injuries in the 55 accidents.

“The total number of accidents in 2024/Q1 was 55 which resulted in 31 injuries and 23 fatalities,” the report revealed.

It stated that the number of deaths recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023 was 36; which was 13 more deaths compared to 23 in Q1 2023.

In the last quarter of 2023, 54 accidents and 30 injuries were recorded in the Nigerian electricity supply industry.

The commission stated that it had launched investigations into all the accidents and would continue to work with all sector stakeholders to improve the overall health and safety of the NESI.

According to NERC, the details of the major causes of casualties (deaths and injuries) recorded in Q1 2024 are wire snaps – six deaths and six injuries; illegal/unauthorised access – five deaths and two injuries; acts of vandalism – two deaths and five injuries; unsafe acts/conditions – 10 deaths and 12 injuries; falls from height – two injuries.

Out of the 54 casualties reported in the quarter, the licensees with the highest number of casualties were Eko Disco, 13; Benin Disco, eight; Jos Disco, six; and Aba power, six.

“Cumulatively, Discos accounted for 96.30 per cent of casualties recorded in 2024/Q1 continuing a trend observed in previous quarters (98.48 per cent in 2023/Q4) that the distribution segment is the biggest contributor to safety issues experienced in the NESI (Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry,” the report partly read.

The commission disclosed that it had initiated investigations into all reported accidents and would enforce appropriate actions against licensees where necessary.

“Furthermore, the commission continues to closely monitor the implementation of licensees’ accident reduction strategy for the NESI while the sector’s health and safety code is undergoing a review process. The commission also implements various programmes aimed at improving the health and safety performance of the NESI.

“In March 2024, a quarterly peer review meeting was held with the compliance and regulatory officers of licensees to discuss the reporting obligations of licensees as well as health and safety matters,” NERC said.

The commission said it oversees settlement processes between licensees and families of accident victims in the industry to ensure transparency of the settlement process and to help the victim’s family secure fair compensation for losses suffered.

An expert in the electricity industry, Adetayo Adegbemle, expressed worries over the loss of lives in the industry.

Adegbemle, who is the Convener and Executive Director of PowerUp Nigeria, a power sector policy advocacy organisation, lamented that most of the Discos staff lack basic Personal Protective Equipment.

“This is a serious issue that’s been bothering me. Many Discos’ staff across the country lack basic Personal Protective Equipment. I have personally taken this up with many of the Discos. Honestly, I believe our regulators need to intervene in this,” he stated.

Adegbemle called for more safety campaigns and the push for regulatory interventions to curb the situation.

“I am sure if the Discos are sanctioned effectively, there should be a turnaround. And if a Disco catches their technical staff without PPEs, and they are sanctioned as well, there will be some sanity,” he maintained.

In September 2021, The According reported that an Ikeja Electric worker identified simply as Tunde fell from a pole on Palace Way, Abule, Arepo, in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

It was gathered that Tunde and his colleagues went to disconnect the power supply in the community when the incident happened.

In December 2020, two employees of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company were electrocuted in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

According gathered that the victims were at work when power was suddenly restored to the line, and they died on the spot.

Does sparing the rod spoil the child?

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Does sparing the rod spoil the child?

Parenting is a tough turf. It’s also a free-for-all terrain where everyone claims expertness. When in a free fall, parenting is like the blabber around the round leather game, with noisy fans professing possession of better tactics than the god of Tiki-Taka, Pep Guardiola, though they cannot tap the ball into a yawning net from the goal line.

Globally, fans are part of the ‘enu dùn ròfó’ mammoth whose mouths are their only credentials to football expertise, blaming megabucks-earning coaches, game after game, oblivious of strategic soccer details, forgetting that football is what it is; a game, after all. The phoenix must burn to emerge.

I was born at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital but raised in Mushin. The first sod of the hospital was turned by the Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Alice, on May 13, 1959, while Lady Robertson, the wife of then-Governor General of Nigeria, Sir James Robertson, declared it open on July 20, 1960. This was when imperialist Britain lorded colonialism over Nigeria, years after trampling on Nigeria’s neck with slavery boots.

In barely one year, the sprawling Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, which has midwifed millions of Nigerians, was built with no National Assembly squabbling for kickbacks in the name of oversight functions or appropriation. No ethnic swords were drawn over the location of the hospital, no knives sliced throats over the religion of the hospital’s Chief Medical Director.

Nigeria of the ‘60s and ‘70s was a country, unlike today’s COWntry. Our slavish past is more glorious than our independent present. Why? Because our corruption grows yearly in sophistication while the wheel of our humanity is clogged by greed and wickedness.

About two weeks ago, I travelled online to my Mushin roots, specifically to my family church, the Araromi Baptist Church, on 42, Shokunbi Street. It was the 60th anniversary of my boyhood association in the church, the Royal Ambassadors, whose motto is parked in 2 Corinthians 5:20, “We are Ambassadors for Christ…”

At 60 years of existence, the church’s Royal Ambassadors set out to write a book, “Raising Royal Priesthood in a Delinquent Society: History of The Layode Chapter, Royal Ambassadors, Araromi Baptist Church, Mushin,” after getting approval from the church leadership. I had the honour of editing and reviewing the informative book.

One of the highlights of the week-long programme was the awards presented to past teachers of Royal Ambassadors, in recognition of their roles in moulding the lives of yesteryear boys, some of whom have grown into fathers and grandfathers.

As one of the past teachers stepped out for his award and gifts, there were cheers from Royal Ambassadors. The name of the teacher is Mr John A. Ayanlola aka Boda Ayan. In the Araromi of the 1970s, to bump into Boda Ayan with your guards down was to embrace calamity in its splendour. In the words of Jose Mourhino, “You’re dead,” or as Oba Solomon Agbaye would say, “Iku pa e!”

Boda Ayan! His shadow alone was enough to cure your sickness, let alone his voice from a 100-metre distance. Before the Judgment Throne of Boda Ayan, many of us died many times before our deaths.

Boda Ayan would ask you, “What was the topic of the sermon preached last Sunday?” Before you begin to wonder, “Last Sunday ke, when I don’t even remember today’s sermon,” a cane would creep out from under Boda Ayan’s agbada, ‘chara! chara! chara’, on your head and body, exorcising the demons of forgetfulness in you. So, before you step into church, you must do some mental recollection of the teachings of the past week.

If he doesn’t see you in church, he will contact your parents or visit your home. Only boys who made top-three positions in their schools were spared when he asked for our report cards.

One day, he invited some Royal Ambassadors to his house and made them eba. While eating, one of the boys (name withheld) took another person’s meat, and there was a murmur. He asked what was amiss, nobody was ready to divulge the misdemeanour. They all left his house crying after eating eba.

Despite his sternness, however, Boda Ayan was loved by parents and guardians, who reported their children and wards to him for discipline. No Royal Ambassador escaped the cane of Boda Ayan.

Watching the emotional speech of the now-aged Boda Ayan online, accompanied by his wife, I began to wonder if today’s guardians and parents would leave their children and wards to Boda Ayan’s care or cane.

In his introductory sermon in the book, Araromi’s Shepherd, Reverend Ade Subuloye (Ph.D), advocates proper discipline as a means of instilling godliness in children. Subuloye advises parents not to speak to their children harshly, not to be inconsistent while disciplining them and not to over-discipline them. He declares, “When you rarely reprove your children verbally, restrict them from rebellion, or spank them when necessary, they will wonder if you even care about what they do. (Prov. 13:24; Prov. 22:15; Prov. 29: 15)”

Two world-renowned scholars, Prof Wole Soyinka and Prof Wande Abimbola, however, do not believe that sparing the rod would spoil the child.

In an interview with me, Abimbola said flogging a child as a means of correction was capable of making the child lack confidence. When his mother became pregnant with him, a babalawo had told Abimbola’s parents that no one should beat him when he was growing up.

The former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University says beating children doesn’t make them better, stressing that it ‘kills their sense of initiative, makes them fearful and unsure in making decisions, always seeking validation from a higher authority’.

The daughter of Africa’s first Nobel laureate, Moremi Soyinka-Onijala, gives a glimpse into how the literary giant raised his children, “My dad was a gentle disciplinarian. He didn’t believe in using the stick but a look from his eyes is enough to tell you that you were doing something wrong. He preferred to talk to us rather than use physical punishment.” She, however, said the only time Soyinka beat her was when she followed her friends home in primary school, leaving her younger sibling behind. “He gave me three lashes of the belt,” she recalled.

Buttressing the communal nature of child-rearing among Africans, a Yoruba proverb says four eyes give birth to a child while 200 eyes train him. Throwing in a word of caution against the excessive beating of children, another Yoruba proverb, however, says, ‘the parent who says, beat my child when he’s wrong, is not truly sincere;’ ‘bami na omo mi, ko de’nu olomo’.

From a religious perspective, the Book of Proverbs 23:13-14 recommends the cane as a tool for disciplining the child, saying: “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod you will save his soul from Sheol.” Proverbs 13:24 says, “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him,” while Proverbs 22:15 says, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.”

Many African parents who relocated to the West with their children have had run-ins with the law on account of how they punished their children’s wrongdoings.

Though various US state laws permit the use of spanking aka planking to correct children’s wrongdoing, there are limitations to the severity and intent of the beating. No federal law addresses the issue. When it’s proven parents hit their kids not out of discipline, but out of malice, cruelty, or anger, it becomes child abuse, a punishable crime.

The U.S. Department of Education defines corporal punishment as the spanking of a student’s buttocks with a wooden paddle. However, this is not legal in most public schools. Only four states in the US outlaw the use of corporal punishment in private schools.

Corporal punishment in schools has been outlawed in all of Europe, most of South America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and Israel, which makes the United States one of only two developed countries where corporal punishment in school is still allowed, the other being Singapore.

A consultant psychiatrist, cleric and columnist, Dr Adeoye Oyewole, says it’s wrong to beat children and expect them to change for the better. His words, “Three of my children are in medical school and I never beat them. African parents can’t stand deductive reasoning; that’s why we use the cane to crush the children. Many children who have suffered beatings in Africa turned out good abroad.”

Oyewole, who said it wasn’t the physical rod that was referred to in the Book of Proverbs, maintained that the Word of God was the rod referred to.

But does sparing the rod truly spoil the child?

Is Nigeria on another jamboree in Paris?

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Is Nigeria on another jamboree in Paris?

GODWIN AIKIGBE previews Nigeria’s 19th appearance at the Olympic Games, highlighting the intrigues, controversies, and shortcomings, as well as the country’s chances in Paris

Nigeria made its Olympic debut at the 1952 edition in Helsinki, Finland, featuring nine athletes in athletics (men’s 100m, men’s 200m, men’s 4×100 relay, long jump, and high jump) and has competed in every edition since then, except for the boycotted 1976 Summer Olympics.

The country currently is ranked 74th, having won a total of 27 medals in athletics, boxing, football, and wrestling (three gold, 11 silver, and 13 bronze).

Its most successful outing was in Atlanta in 1996, where it bagged a total of six medals, including the prestigious football gold, which saw the U23 men’s team defeat global heavyweights Argentina and Brazil, and the women’s long jump, where Chioma Ajunwa braced the odds to secure the pole position with a leap of 7.12m.

The third gold medal came in the men’s 4x400m at the 2008 edition in Beijing, China, where Nigeria finished second but were eventually awarded the gold medal following the International Olympic Committee’s decision to strip the USA of their medals after Antonio Pettigrew confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs.

Nigeria’s performances have dwindled over the years, having experienced a free fall in the rankings, dropping 32 to 74 after mustering just two medals (silver and bronze) at the 2020 edition staged in Tokyo, Japan, from July 23, 2021, to August 8, 2021, featuring 55 athletes in 10 sports.

Paris 2024

At Paris 2024, a total of 88 Nigerian athletes (25 males and 63 females) will be vying for medals in 12 sports: athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing, cycling, football, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, weightlifting, and wrestling, from Friday, July 26 to Sunday, August 11. The contingent is 33 more than the number that represented the country at Tokyo 2020.

Inadequate preparation

It’s traditional for Nigeria not to adequately prepare for competitions, and Paris 2024 is by no means exceptional.

The best the Ministry of Sports Development and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria did was to have athletes participate in the mandatory AFN National Trials held from June 16 to 18 at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. It was meant to select athletes for the Olympic Games, World U-20 Championships, and the African Senior Athletics Championships, which were held from June 21 to 26 at Stade Omnisport de Japoma, Douala, Cameroon, where Team Nigeria finished third behind South Africa and Kenya, with a total of 15 medals (five gold, six silver and four bronze) from 34 athletes.

These tournaments are by no means preparation-related, being that athletes were only expected to achieve the qualifying standards. This is tantamount to putting the cart before the horse, especially when athletes were left on their own in the run-up to those championships, with neither the Nigeria Olympic Committee nor the Ministry of Sports Development nor the Athletics Federation of Nigeria providing them any incentives.

President Bola Tinubu approved N12bn, the total sum budgeted for the Games and Paralympics by the Ministry of Sports Development, in collaboration with the National Olympic Committee.

This is commendable, but tantamount to putting the cart before the horse. Without adequate preparation, emptying the bank’s vaults on the brink of a major competition is money down the drain, as winning an Olympic medal is never overnight. The country’s number one citizen would have also made funds available for individual preparation by athletes if his attention had been drawn to it by the concerned bodies whose competition-crazy officials only understand preparation to mean pre-championship short camping exercises.

Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, was full of gratitude to the President while recently emphasising the importance of pre-Olympic camping for athletes to achieve focus, fine-tuning, and a serene environment devoid of distractions.

“I want to use this medium to thank President Bola Tinubu for all the support he has given Team Nigeria in preparation for the Olympics. He has always shown he has sports in his heart, and we are more than glad to have him lead our nation at a time like this,” said Enoh, who then announced local pre-Olympic camping exercises in five centres – Abuja, Lagos, and Bayelsa States – from June 1, which don’t involve foreign-based medal hopefuls. This was during his recent meeting with presidents, secretaries, and technical directors of the National Sports Federation at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

He had stressed the need for Nigeria to surpass the feat achieved at the 1996 Olympics in Paris by mapping out a comprehensive roadmap and technical training programmes.

Former African 100-metre record holder Olusoji Fasuba is one of many athletics stakeholders extensively riled by the unceasing inglorious circumvention of the preparatory process by Nigeria over the years, expressing his reservation in a chat with The According.

“I think it’s not the best and, as usual, they want to go to the games just to participate and not actually to win. Few sports may have gotten it right, but athletics is far from right. Nigeria should learn to prepare its athletes for the games. Support starts some years before and not some months or weeks before,” said Fasuba, a member of the Nigerian bronze medal-winning team in the 4 x 100m relay at the 2004 Olympic Games.

Controversies

It has to be controversial to be Nigerian, which is rather unfortunate.

Fund misappropriation, especially in civilian dispensation, remains the nemesis of Nigerian sports development, coupled with those with a passion for sports being almost always alienated.

Nigeria won two silver medals at Tokyo 2020 through Blessing Oborududu, who achieved the feat in the wrestling women’s freestyle at 68kg, and Ese Brume in the women’s long jump.

It could have been more if 10 athletes were not denied the opportunity to compete due to administrative issues, having failed to undergo the mandatory number of out-of-competition doping tests at the time. These include Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, Tima Godbless, Ruth Usoro, Chioma Onyekwere, and quarter-miler Chidi Okezie, all of whom will be making their Olympic debut in Paris.

The viral video of Nigeria’s shot-put finalist, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, washing his jersey ahead of the final of his event was a major highlight of Nigeria’s participation in Tokyo 2020.

The cash cow Federal Government had washed its hands clean and blamed the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development for the global discomfiture, being solely responsible for the provision of competition jerseys for athletes at the Games.

Enekwechi, who finished 12th in his event, expressed his discontentment in a statement on TikTok, which he later deleted: “When you made the Olympic Finals, but you only have one jersey.”

Preparation for Paris 2024 has been marred by controversies on the selection of athletes, especially the exclusion of Seye Ogunlewe and Enoch Adegoke, whom many thought should have made the final list for the men’s 100m and 100x100m relay in place of Favour Ashe and Godson Oghenebrume.

This concern has been addressed by the General Secretary of AFN, Rita Mordi, who, in a statement, outlined the official selection criteria, an explanation that still doesn’t sit well with many people.

The statement read, “Competitions at the Olympic Games are held under the auspices of each international federation.” World Athletics stipulates two ways of qualifying for the games. The first is by attaining the qualification standard.

Shortcomings

Nigeria’s population is approximately 218.5 million as of 2022 and will feature 88 athletes in 12 sports in Paris, while South Africa, whose population is 59.89 million, will field 149 athletes in 21 sports. This clearly shows that Nigeria is not intentional about developing sports across the board.

While South Africa continues to venture into new sports, Nigeria is even losing ground in the ones it has comparative advantages over other countries in the world, notably the sprints, where Kenya and Liberia are now delivering hair-raising performances.

Expectations

Nigerians’ expectations are as high as always heading to Paris 2024, but the reality of making the most dismal outing in the history of the Games in Paris remains stark. However, Nigerians, being strong-willed and blessed with a deep determination to pull the chestnut out of the fire when least expected, provide the country with a hope to lean on.

No one expected the Dream Team to subdue star-studded Argentina and Brazil teams to win gold in the men’s football tournament in Atlanta in 1996, where Chioma Ajunwa also defied all odds to clinch the women’s long jump gold.

Despite the ill-preparedness and attendant controversies, it may not be all woeful for Team Nigeria in Paris, being blessed with some exceptional talents.

Blessing Oborududu and Ese Brume, who won silver in women’s wrestling and long jump at Tokyo 2022, will most likely make the podium alongside Tobi Amusan, the world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, and Favour Ofili in the women’s 100m, 200m, and 100x100m relays.

Enekwuechi made the men’s shot put final in Tokyo and should build on that experience to at least reach the podium this time, while the men’s 400x400m and women’s 100×100 relay teams also have fighting chances at medals.

The tasks are apparently daunting, but the unfading Nigerian spirit remains the wind in their sail.

Premium Pension pays over N300bn benefits

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Premium Pension pays over N300bn benefits

Premium Pension Limited has paid over N300bn in pension benefits since its inception.

This was revealed by the Acting Managing Director of the company, Kemi Oluwashina, at a Retiree Forum, themed ‘Embracing Your Golden Years: A Fresh Perspective’ which was held in Lagos recently.

According to the first quarter report from the National Pension Commission, Premium Pension Limited cornered seven per cent of the new 89,061 Retired Savings Accounts opened in the quarter, making it one of the top five Pension Fund Administrators with the largest share of the market in terms of new RSAs.

Speaking at the forum, Oluwashina said, “The industry today has over N20tn and Premium Pension is proud to say that we account for over N1.2tn of it. The industry has paid out trillions of naira in benefits and we are happy to say that Premium Pension has paid out over N300bn in pension benefits since we started.

“Premium Pension pays over a billion naira in total withdrawals every single month to over 25,000 retirees and we are happy to be part of the successes recorded in the pension industry.”

Highlighting how the Pension Reform Act has changed the narrative for retirees, Oluwashina said having conversations about how to do better was critical.

She stated, “I was looking at PENCOM’s Q1 report. We paid over a trillion naira as an industry in pension benefits. Apart from the fact that we have over N20tn in assets. We have paid over a trillion naira under programme withdrawal, the same thing under annuity. A trillion naira is not small money in any standard or any currency.

She added that engagement with the Federal Government, and lawmakers was key to keep improving the pension industry.

On Premium Pension’s commitment to retirees, Oluwashina stated, “We want to grow people’s wealth so that they can enjoy their golden years. It is at the core of what we do. It is our mission. It is not one that we will suddenly wake up and realise that it is no longer relevant. It is and will remain relevant to our business. They are the reasons why we’re in business.

That is why we organised this event. We need to give them (retirees and would-be retirees) that platform to be heard. We need to give them that platform to know that they are appreciated. The feedback from sessions like this we use in our engagement and interaction with the regulators or the respective employers, which in this case includes the federal government, state governments, and of course private sector organisations. We are not only engaging with them as employers, but we’re also the voice of their respective employees. So this feedback for us is fantastic. We love it.”

Let nobody make you feel small

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Let nobody make you feel small

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Who among us will quickly forget the legendary iconic former President of South Africa? For a lot of diverse reasons, and for a lot of people, Mandela is unforgettable. He was imprisoned for 27 years. Harsh conditions and degrading treatment he endured for long. For the apartheid regime and some mean and powerful individuals, the goal was to belittle him and diminish his efforts.

But Mandela’s spirit and sense of purpose remain unshaken. He refused to be broken by the system that was designed to make him feel worthless. Instead, he used his time to strengthen his resolve and maintain his dignity. His ability to rise above personal insults and challenges and his focus on the greater good eventually led to the dismantling of apartheid and his election as South Africa’s first Black president.

Mandela stood his ground in the face of persistent emotional and physical pummelling by his adversaries. His story is a powerful testament to how you too can maintain self-worth and integrity despite attempts to belittle or oppress. Has your path ever crossed some people in life who try to make you look small, worthless, and irrelevant? Have you been shouted down and shut up by friends and family members who strove to make you feel small and inconsequential about yourself through their words or actions toward you? People will do to you only what you let them. Anytime you experience disparaging behaviours from people, let it be known that you probably have some virtues and values that your harassers covet but do not possess. The more they come at you, the more you should refuse to be cowed down. Thus, this week, I offer this encouragement to someone through this treatise: Let nobody shut you down, shut you up, or make you feel small as you travel in the journey of life.

I heard these uplifting words from America’s current Vice President Kamala Harris when she was striving to become the country’s first female and first Black Vice President of the world’s biggest economy. “I have been told many times during my career things from “oh, you are too young, it’s not your turn…they are not ready for you. I’ve heard that many times over the course of my career.  But I didn’t listen. I will encourage anyone who’s been told that to not listen. Don’t be encumbered by the inability of others to see the potential of who you are.” My friends, let nobody shut you down, shut you up, or make you feel small as you travel in the journey of life. If people who try to make you look worthless don’t know your worth, they have no eyes to see great value. Remember that a blind person cannot design a map.  If some people don’t appreciate your worth, it doesn’t mean you are worthless. Be angry not with people who know not your value. That they do not know your value does not make you valueless. Where your worth is not appreciated; walk away with your precious worth. There are hordes of beings out there warming up to celebrate you, not desecrate you. You have worth. You are too wonderfully packaged to be carelessly unwrapped. You are too beautifully made to be treated ugly. You are too expensively put together to be dealt with cheaply.

No surveillance technique or technology can detect human prowess and talents. Science and technology have not yet developed how cameras can capture the indwelling human abilities, skills, and potential of created beings. For science and scientists, this appears to be a quixotic quest. Any scientific submission claiming such is a grandstanding guesswork. Technology can only capture the face and inner anatomical images of the organs in the body of a talented man.  That is all today’s technology can do. But how then do people know what God has naturally endowed you to do?  You tell them and you do what you claim you can do. Telling people about your strength, you are not flatly arrogant or falsely arrogating, you are wise. There are people who need your skill, and they may not know you’ve got it. Instead of letting men shut you down, stand on a higher ground announcing your worth. Trumpet your worth and let the world hear you. Announce yourself! Publicise yourself! Showcase your resume! Present your case and show forth your argument!

There are about 9,000 species of birds the world over. And unfortunately, many of them are in a cage. One of the worst experiences of life is when a man or woman created and destined big and bountiful, and fat and flourishing remains small. People in this category are like a bird in a cage. Break that cage. Someone out there needs your skill. A government out there needs your skill. A president out there needs your skill. A governor out there needs your talent. A business magnate out there needs your ability.

A nation out there needs your skill set. By not promoting yourself, you are demoting yourself. It is not humility to keep quiet about your natural skills, it is foolishness. Get up and announce yourself and heaven will join in announcing you!  Blow your trumpets, stop being a puppet! You may only have to do what you can do once for the world to see, and forever you are known. Thereafter, people who never knew of you will seek you.

Anywhere you go, and anywhere you find yourself this week and beyond, believe that you are the light assigned to bring out hidden lights. People will try to hide your light; they will try to hide and make you subservient to them. If you truly know who you are, you will not let them accomplish their belittling purpose. Your gifts, abilities, and potential you bring to the negotiating table of life are that light. Let it shine. Sit it on the nightstand. Let it glow radiantly. Let it pierce through the darkness of today into the obscurity of tomorrow. Only you can do that for you.

The world must hear about you. You are not a secret to be kept. You are not a plague to be avoided. You are not an infection to be kept in isolation. You are a city on the hill that must be seen.  Anywhere you go, and anywhere you find yourself, believe that you are a city strategically positioned on the top of the hill that cannot be hidden. Stand tall without being arrogant. Stand shoulder-high without being haughty. Stand out without being condescending. If you do all of these, you have done it unto the One who made you in His image and after His likeness for a purpose.

The appeal to farm in urban Lagos

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The appeal to farm in urban Lagos

Sometimes one feels that governments should set up an office of the coordinator, new ideas and innovations, at each level. Here, every Nigerian who has a brilliant idea for the government can submit it and get full consideration. This thought was spurred by an appeal made recently by the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya. It isn’t the first of such in the nation but there’s something similar whenever appeals are made: Hardly do governments state in simple clear steps how they plan to encourage the public to heed the appeal.

Now, when officials appeal to the public over an issue it shows they recognise that the cooperation of the people is needed for the government to succeed, for a public policy to succeed. It shows the government knows it doesn’t know it all. Officials don’t have all the answers where they are seated behind their desks. They alone cannot provide all the solutions to the challenges in society. However, I take note of these appeals with a view to assessing the viability, the how of getting such done, and the outcome with possible benefits for the common good.

We know Nigerians do proffer solutions in order to assist their governments. But it’s not often that solutions Nigerians profess are taken up and seen through by the government. In fact, governments at the various levels aren’t configured such that feedback from the people gets fed into the system. Even officials aren’t oriented and positively disposed towards receiving and utilising feedback. Many who have tried to pass ideas across know the hostility they face; a reason I suggest that we have an office for the purpose. Pragmatic nations do it. For feedback is essential in governance; it’s an item in the cycle we draw in political science (Pol 101) while learning how politics works.

When the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture made her appeal, it occurred to me that she made a needed call but which implications we needed to further call attention to. She wanted households to produce part of what they eat, appealing to Lagosians to “get into some kind of urban farming. Grow something in your home that you can eat.” Her appeal may well be a starting point and, with the kind of functions her newly named ministry has, I think she has made a call that amounts to kick-starting a process. It’s a process that extends beyond what she’s said. Her kind of call can’t be an end in itself.

This is because urban farming that she appeals to people to engage in has its own chain, a value chain maybe, for food production, for the environment, as well as the community. In the end, Lagos State with its high population and the attendant challenges benefits in more ways than just producing food for consumption. I shall explain. Urban farming is the practice of cultivating crops and livestock in an urban environment.  Such farming may seem new but a closer look into the past shows it actually has a long history. City dwellers in ancient Mesopotamia set aside land for cultivation. After the WW2, what was called victory gardens became part of the cityscapes. Urban farming has now become a major focus for the purpose of agricultural sustainability. In fact, social justice advocates argue that it can provide avenues to positive change. These days more buildings are developed with the infrastructure needed to support community rooftop gardens. There is vertical farming which can transform existing urban spaces into dense centres of agricultural production.

Locally raised products are one benefit of urban farming. So when outsiders threaten to cut supplies of what they produce, they are easier to ignore. Independence in food supply is also ensured. Vertical farming allows for more production per square foot. Urban farming ensures unused spaces like warehouses are put to good use. Community gardens run by municipal or non-profit organisations can help residents build stronger ties to where they live and reduce the urban blight associated with empty lots.  While urban farming involves homeowners growing items on their premises, the United States Department of Agriculture notes that there can also be community gardens found on public land: It’s typically overseen and managed by resident volunteers. Community farms are communal growing spaces that are typically run by a non-profit organisation.

Commercial farms are run by for-profit organisations and they focus on growing niche produce, using high-efficiency techniques like vertical or soilless farming. There are also institutional farms and gardens associated with a community institution e.g. prisons, hospitals, churches, schools, etc. Such gardens seek to provide positive health, education, and lifestyle opportunities for their respective institutions. Each of these five types of urban farming can involve planting of crops, poultry, fishery etc. Doing any of these in a city like Lagos requires inputs and there are expected outputs for the individual, government and society in general. In fact, planting crops within one’s premises will need some government intervention. Why?

Not long ago, I was visiting a senior citizen. The premises had trees which provided shade needed for outdoor relaxation, but the part that impressed me was that a portion of the soil was left open and there were flowers and other plants.  I pointed out what I noticed to my host and we both agreed that it wasn’t advisable that the premises of any home should be fully covered with concrete. Most premises in Lagos have the entire soil surface covered with concrete. This is having a negative effect on the environment. A few years ago, one commissioner in Lagos State was asked by a reporter why there was so much flooding in the state. One of the things he mentioned was that homeowners mostly sealed the ground and in the event the amount of rainwater that should be taken into the soil flowed on the surface, causing flooding. This is significant for a state that is below sea level and is often subjected to flooding.

At the time the said commissioner made this observation, I noted briefly on this page that a policy requirement that would make homeowners leave a certain percentage of their premises without concrete or interlocking stones was needed. We shouldn’t just identify a problem and leave it at that. So the question arises: if most Lagos homeowners cover the soil with concrete where will they farm? We may suggest the use of sacks or other soilless means. But no one would disagree with the need to leave part of the earth in premises open for other environmental benefits. I discovered from personal experience that some plants do more excellently well when they’re planted directly in the earth. In any case, getting homeowners to have bare earth in their premises with which they engage in urban farming in Lagos State ends up bringing the individual, the government, the environment, and the society more than one benefit.

I think engaging in and supporting urban farming, when taken through the entire gamut, is a form of social re-engineering as much as the economic consideration that appears to be the focus for a city like Lagos. Each type of urban farming requires that the government provides support services such as making seeds that can do well available and offering professional advice. The government also has to regulate in order to ensure that community gardens, community farms, commercial farms, and institutional farms and gardens don’t violate environmental laws. Moreover, governments can encourage urban farmers to link up, have an association, as well as have schoolchildren visit urban farms on excursions for educational purposes.

This is beneficial not only in urban Lagos but in every city in Nigeria where most children have never seen practically how crops and livestock are raised. Plus we may end up inspiring a new generation of agriculture enthusiasts. Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture should select the best home farms in each local government area and pay owners a stipend for visits undertaken by schoolchildren. It becomes another form of earning within the city. This may further encourage more homeowners to put their premises to beneficial uses as they grow food, help educate children, help keep the environment conserved, as well as form a new community of urban farmers.

Renewed attacks must be curtailed

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Renewed attacks must be curtailed

Since its emergence in 2002, Boko Haram, a militant Islamist group based in northeastern Nigeria, has posed a relentless and lethal threat. The organisation’s extremist ideology, grounded in a rigid interpretation of Islam, advocates the creation of an Islamic state and the strict implementation of Sharia law. Of course, Boko Haram’s activities have spread beyond Nigeria, affecting neighbouring countries like Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. The insurgency is responsible for over 50,000 deaths, the displacement of an estimated four million people, according to various reports (including the United Nations) and widespread destruction. Moreover, according to a recent report released by the United Nations, Boko Haram-affiliated groups and splinter factions, including ISWAP, abducted at least 211 children and recruited at least 63 children, including 54 girls, between January and December 2021.

Interestingly, in 2024, for the first time since 2020, a new wave of suicide bombings has returned to Nigeria. Three suicide bombers, suspected to be female members of Boko Haram, carried out a series of attacks at a wedding ceremony in Gwoza, Borno State, killing 32 people and injuring several others. Furthermore, just a few days after the attack, five police officers were reportedly killed in an ambush in the Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State, allegedly by the Boko Haram sect. Although similar incidents occur daily in many rural communities, they often go unreported because these areas lack basic infrastructure and resources, making it difficult for the media to access and report on these incidents effectively. As a result, rural communities suffer more at the hands of terrorists than those living in cities, where terrorists cannot operate freely. Unfortunately, these rural communities remain in a vulnerable state and a deplorable living condition.

Effectively addressing Boko Haram requires a comprehensive strategy that simultaneously tackles the immediate security threats and the underlying socio-economic and political issues that fuel the insurgency. While military intervention is a crucial element in combating the insurgency, the government, supported by regional and international partners, faces significant challenges in responding to the escalating and spreading activities of terrorists, particularly in the northern region. Although the Multinational Joint Task Force, comprising troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin, plays a vital role in coordinating regional military efforts, and some successes have been recorded in diminishing Boko Haram’s territorial control and operational capabilities, more needs to be done to achieve lasting results.

Furthermore, the allegations of human rights abuses by security forces have eroded local support and bolstered Boko Haram’s recruitment efforts. Therefore, military operations need to comply with international human rights standards to maintain the moral high ground and win the hearts of the locals without whom it may be difficult for the government to access useful information that could help contain the activities of the dreaded group.

More so, effective intelligence gathering, and surveillance are crucial for preventing terrorists’ attacks and dismantling their networks. Apart from building community-based intelligence networks that can help collect actionable information from residents, who are often the first to observe suspicious activities, strengthening the capabilities of the security agencies through advanced training, cutting-edge technology, and international collaboration is very essential.

The President Bola Tinubu administration should live up to its responsibility by addressing the current socio-economic conditions that drive the insurgency. Boko Haram exploits poverty, unemployment, and lack of education to recruit, particularly disaffected youth. Therefore, implementing comprehensive development programmes that improve access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, especially in northern Nigeria, is vital to reducing the appeal of extremist ideologies. Additionally, investing in infrastructure and social services in these affected regions can help rebuild trust between the government and local communities.

Although the government’s deradicalisation and rehabilitation efforts are crucial and essential for the reintegration of former insurgents into society, they have not been yielding the desired results. Ideally, this should prevent recidivism and stop the spread of extremist ideologies in the country, particularly in areas where terrorist activities are most prevalent. To improve this, the government should promote alternative narratives by empowering moderate religious leaders, which will help counter the extremist ideologies that vulnerable young people are susceptible to. Additionally, community engagement programmes that foster dialogue and understanding between different religious and ethnic groups can help counter Boko Haram’s divisive rhetoric and promote social cohesion.

Additionally, effective governance and political inclusion are crucial for addressing the root causes of the proliferation of insurgency activities: They are also crucial in mitigating their impact. Issues like corruption, political marginalisation, and lack of accountability have fuelled the grievances that terrorist organisations exploit.  Therefore, strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring transparency and accountability in government operations, and encouraging political participation can help address these challenges.

Although efforts to combat terrorism have been ongoing, however, stubborn challenges persist. The group’s ability to adapt and evolve, combined with the vast and treacherous terrain of the affected areas, poses significant hurdles. Furthermore, the intricate socio-political dynamics of Nigeria and its neighbouring countries add complexity to the situation. Therefore, to effectively address the resulting humanitarian crisis, sustained support and resources from the international community are very essential.

To make meaningful progress, a unified and multifaceted approach is vital, incorporating military, socio-economic, political, and humanitarian tactics. Continuous assessment and strategic adaptation, informed by real-time ground realities, are critical to successfully countering terrorism, especially in the beleaguered northern region of the country. Moreover, the ultimate objective should extend beyond merely defeating insurgency; the government should aim to create a stable, prosperous, and resilient environment that prevents the spread of extremism and fosters lasting peace and development.

Adeparusi, a researcher in criminology, wrote in via [email protected]

Moniepoint advocates collaboration to drive financial inclusion

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Moniepoint advocates collaboration to drive financial inclusion

Digital financial institution, MoniePoint Inc, has highlighted the importance of a public-private collaboration to drive financial inclusion in Nigeria.

A statement from Moniepoint on Thursday said that this was disclosed at a policy dialogue between the Nigerian government and private sector stakeholders held in Washington DC recently.

During the engagement, Moniepoint Inc’s Group Chief Executive Officer/co-founder, Tosin Eniolorunda, emphasised the importance of public-private collaborations in addressing trust issues that have slowed down the adoption of innovative fintech solutions for economic and financial inclusion.

“Moniepoint has long championed the importance of financial inclusion and financial happiness. Building trust with the public and government, and improving business and consumer access to the financial system are critical issues that are aligned with our philosophy. As a testament to our commitment, we recently launched a landmark report investigating Nigeria’s informal economy, highlighting opportunities to widen financial inclusion to historically underserved communities.

“The outputs from this strategic gathering will go a long way in bolstering Nigeria’s economy even as closer linkages are formed from public-private collaboration which will be a huge boost to the overall development and competitiveness of the larger financial services industry,“ Eniolorunda said.

The event, which brought together government officials, regulators, law enforcement agencies, and fintech industry leaders at George Washington University, aimed to leverage innovative approaches to drive a sustainable and inclusive financial system in Nigeria.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, addressing the gathering via video conference, highlighted the urgent need for financial innovation to drive Nigeria’s economic and financial inclusion agenda.

“This aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s administration commitment to bringing over 30 million unbanked Nigerians into the formal financial sector as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We must develop a sustainable collaboration approach that will facilitate the adoption of inclusive payment to achieve our objective of economic and financial inclusion,” Shettima stated.

The firm noted that the dialogue focused on addressing critical challenges in Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem, including regulatory oversight, security concerns, and trust issues that have hindered the widespread adoption of innovative financial solutions.

The Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on Financial System Stability, Philip Ikeazor, highlighted the need for ongoing collaboration among all stakeholders to meet the goals of the Aso Accord on Economic and Financial Inclusion.

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Inuwa Abdullahi, advocated for “a digital-first approach and the fusion of digital literacy with financial literacy to address trust issues affecting the inclusive payment ecosystem”.

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