Posts in category: By Godwin Ededuan

Oil-rich Bille Kingdom of Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State, received a large gathering of high-caliber personalities at its headquarters, Bille Town on Saturday, December 10, 2022. Thinkers, business leaders, top public officials, movers, and shakers of all stripes gathered at Bille town for the burial of Mrs. Tamunomieye Abite Tombomieye — mother of the Executive Director, Upstream Operation of NNPC, Mr. Adokiye Tombomieye.

Those who stormed the town for that burial included former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Labour party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and many other great individuals to numerous to mention.

God entrusted us with the responsibility of protecting the basic social units of human society in order to maintain social order and stability and also make positive impacts on life as we contribute to the development of society.  A woman of virtue and strong character, Mrs. T.A Tombomieye did all these during her lifetime.

She brought up her children in a godly way to make them useful to society. She also assisted many others to get, in a way they could become great in life, always telling them to run away from things that could ruin one’s character and life and harm or spoil others as well.

And as a result of her commitment to truth and her boldness and vast knowledge, she became a role model to look up to by many people. And was regarded as a great mother, even of her community. This explained why people from far and wide poured into Bille Kingdome that day. And then there was an overflow of souvenirs from friends and families, especially from friends of Engr Adokiye Tombomieye.

“In continuation of the funeral obsequies of Mrs. Tamunomieye Abite Tomobomieye (85-years) we assembled in Bille, an ancient Ijaw Kingdom on Saturday to support her son, our dear friend, Engineer Adokiye Tombomieye.

The biggest surprise of the day was the presence of one of Africa’s most respected statesmen and former President of Nigeria, Chief

Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR. He is a father to many of us.”

Wrote Mr Timi Alaibe on his facebook page.

Virtue is its own reward; bad money drives out good; you catch more flies with honey than vinegar; do unto others as they would have them do unto you. These aphorisms are what dominated the life of the late Mrs Tombomieye. And they rubbed on her children.

In Nigeria, and perhaps everywhere, people are apt to suggest that it is hard to make money from a business if one is unbendingly honest. The same goes for politics. But Mrs Tombomieye insisted that trust is the most fundamental requirement for a businessman or woman and also a  leader, at whatever level.

To her morality is central to economic activity, and economic activity is an essential element of moral behavior. Morality and economy are indeed two sides of the same coin. This is the logic of Mrs Tombomieye’s doctrine. And for this , she attracted many high profile customers and friends.

She demonstrated with certainty that it is possible to do business without lying. she showed in her own dealings, an evidence that honesty is essential for economy. While conceding that it might be possible to make money from shady dealings, she warned that such profits could never be sustained.

The quite town of Bille needed a champion, and it found one in Mrs Tombomieye. Determined to achieve excellence, she built her business into a trading powerhouse and continued to spread out to other lines of business.  She became successful quickly. And her fame spread the popularity of the town, and the entire Bille kingdom, leading a crop of people who turned  its fortune around, driving a gargantuan hit in popularity.

She pushed for more aggressive promotion of the place’s image  by mobilizing Bille women in Portharcourt to rally round whatever was to be done  to improve life in Bille kingdom.

Equally, she was a lover of education, who passionately encouraged young ones to improve on their education and life skills. In this way, she pushed young people’s career, in different fronts.

Apart from secular issues, Mrs Tombomieye was also a great christain and a good mother.  She rose to prominence in leadership and became a household name in Bille kingdom and beyond.

This explained why Bille kingdom felt like it could have sprung straight from a fairytale on the day of her burial. This was because of her sterling contributions to the lives of a lot of people, beyond her own immediate family. She was a rest stop of comfort carved by Mother Nature,. She was a fashion champion and a tranquil pocket of beauty, discipline, hard work  and integrity, who provided stepping stones, giving passage across challenges and difficulties to so many people. She was loyal to friendship and never abandoned any of her friends in difficulty.

Between the day of her death to the time she was buried, many fine tributes were paid to this great woman who contributed immensely to the development of society.  Former President Olusegun Obasanjo described her as a woman of courage, great strength and philantrophy who was committed to education and hardwork  and was dedicated to God. And in his own message, he wrote.

” I write to express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to you, your family and the community on the demise of your beloved mother and matriarch of the Tombomieye family. Though mama has joined the saints triumphant, all who came in contact with her will continue to remember her kindness, selfishness and benevolence.

Mama was a dedicated lover of God and the things of His kingdom. She was a woman of courage, great  strength  and philantrophy. These attributes made her outstanding during her lifetime and will continue to live in the hearts and memories of all who came in contact with her. Mama’s commitment to education and hardwork  produced an illustrious son, Adokiye who has since become the The Group Executive Director, Upstream of NNPC-largest Corporate entity in Afrca!

Adokiye, no doubt mama will be greatly missed by you, your siblings, extended family, community and all who  are beneficiaries of her benevolence. Mama lived a good life and left and excellent legacy. I pray that the Lord comfort you, your siblings, family, community and all who mourn her loss. May he grant you the fortitude to ear this great loss and may her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan in his message to the family wrote.  “I commiserate with you, your family and your community on the loss of your dear mother, Mrs Tamunmiete Abite Tombomieye. Though mama has joined the heavenly hosts, her benevolent acts of charity, selflessness, and love of neighbor will not be forgotten. Her demise is a sad loss to to you and your family, not just for the bond you shared but for her wisdom and exemplary care, having brought up worthy leaders and reliable members of our society like goo yourself. She will be surely missed by all who knew her especially for her generosity towards all and sundry. Although, I was not privileged to meet your mother, I know how much she meant to you. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this your time of grief. Please, be consoled by the fact that your mother led a virtous life and has joined the saints. Once again, accept my sincere condolences and her gentle soul find rest in God’s bossom.”

Chief of General Staff, General Leo Irabor, in his own message to the family described Tombomieye’s death as a great loss to the family and the entire Bille Kingdom.

“It is with heavy heart that I, on behalf of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, express my deepest condolences to you and the entire Tombomieye family over the demise of your beloved mother, Mrs  Tamunomiete Abite Tombomieye. The passing of such a quintessential Matriach at the age of 85 is a great loss to the family and to the entire Bille Kingdom of Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State . I reckon that Mama has always been one of your greatest supporters, a loving and caring mother as well as a solid pillar through the years. Iam certain that the memories of her passing will tend to arouse pain and jpy in all who knew her closely. Pain as the values and inspiration will no longer come from her l while on the other hand, joy as these values remain eternally ingrained in our hearts. Our humble prayer is that the almighty God, in his infinite mercy, grant you and the entire Tombomieye family to the fortitude to bear the  irreparable loss. Kindly accept my sincere condolences and solidarity as we continue to pray that Mama’s gentle soul find repose in the bosom of the Almighty God.” Leo Irabor

Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari, Group CEO NNPC Limited in his own message titled Tribute to Mama, he wrote: “We lost you. We thank God for making you the mother of an amazing son. Adoks is an epitome of of friendship and loyalty to friendship. He couldn’t have been what he is if not for the upbringing ypu gave him, which also resonates with other members of the family. It is clearly a great loss to all your loved ones and we also suffer collatweral loss as we continue to remember the great friend you gave us. Adieu Mummy”

The palace of the amanyanabo of Bille, signed  by King Igokinger Ngowai Cornelius Herbert described her as a community leader and a person who never allowed bad behavior. “Late Mrs T.A Tombomieye was a strict disciplinarian. She never condoned unethical behaviour. Her joy was in the education of children. Hence, she gave the best education to her children and utterly in love with children of other families who were also academically bright. She was an astute community activist; she mobilized Bille women for Bille community Portharcourt activities. She was a fashion leader of her time. Late Mrs T.A Tombomieye could be fondly remembered for many more contrinbutions to families and society. Ma, as she was fondly called, rest in the bosom of the Lord.”

Peter Gregory Obi described Mrs Tombomieye in glowing terms. He wrote. “On behalf of my family, I wish to commiserate with you on the passing on of your beloved mother, Mrs Tamunomiete Abite Tombomieye. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this challenging time. Her death has created a vacuum in your family and the entire Bille Kingdom. Mama’s legacies are exemplified in her children. Through hard work, she raised a son who is a Group Executive Director in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. As we mourn her departure from this world,I pray that hwer honesty, Godliness, philantrophy and love for humanity will be upheld by you and your siblings. May God grant her eternal rest, and grant all those who mourn her, the fortitude to bear her irreplaceable loss. God Almighty continue to protect, bless you and your family.”

Dr Alabo Ibitamino Dennis Minapakama , a younger brother,   Mrs Tombomieye’s  described her as a no nonsense woman, saying: honesty, humility, hardwork, self confidence and selfless service were parts of her.

“I had the privilege to live with my beloved sister in my secondary school days where you thought me self-discipline and self respect. Little did I know that you were preparing me to take responsibilities ahead of time. Ma you did not allow your children to take laws into our hands. Even at the point of my installation as a chief, you were solidly behind me as a mother. Indeed, you were a mother of purpose,  vision, strength  and a role model in  character and virtue. You imbibed in us the beauty of life draped in honesty, humility, hardwork, self confidence and selfless service. Above all, your ability to praise God in singing is equal to none. Indeed, you were a no nonsense woman. You were an achiever whose life was worthy of emulation, one who was a determined goal getter and of course a diligence pace setter. May you be received by your creator as your Exiimious soul flaps exhilaratingly to His bosom. Goodbye.”

Mr  Innocent G Dein, (a foster son ) acknowledged  Mrs Tombomieye’s effort at making others become better, saying:  “My dearest Aunt, what a blessing and privilege it was to have you as part of our family particularly in my life? Ma, you lived a remarkable life full of emulation. You ‘ll always be alive in my heart because I will never forget your kindness towards me. All the good food we ate at home and advice you gave us to stay in school and read our books to become better tomorrow. Whenever you got angry at us, it was to correct our bad behaviours for what we  had done wrong.

Ma, you worked hard for so many years. Whenever I think about the  last six years of your life here on earth, I get too emotional and sometimes shed tears. Only God knows why. Ma you left us a remarkable living legacy here on earth that will take several years and decades to surpass. May the Lord be with you till we meet again.”

These are some of the testaments about this great woman who gave the world Engr Adokiye Tomobomiye. She was the mother of the Bille Kingdom  in many ways than one.
But what’s very special about her was the fact that she  loved helping people succeed . She ably assisted many to become successful, with each now making an undeniable contributions to society.
Memories will linger, for long, about her enabling able bright students in the community to achieve their dreams.  So also are all her other contributions to society and life.

The burial of  this great woman opened the eyes of  many to the potentials in Bille Kingdom. It is a vast tourist site that has existed for ages. But despite its many years of existence, the place has suffered neglect, in terms of development. Given the push and pull factors that attract development, Bille has what it takes to attract investors, especially those in tourism industry and fishing industry, with potentials for Rivers State and Nigeria at large.

Aside from being a fishing community, it has large volumes of hydrocarbon deposits as a host community to Shell BP before the emergence of Eroton Exploration and Production (E&P) Nigeria Limited and the New Cross Exploration and Production (E&P) Nigeria limited.

So Bille kingdom  deserves to have some government presence , especially the ones that can propel trade and commerce. The Rivers state government should, as a matter of urgency, assign ferries  to the Portharcout-Bille route. Doing so will remove the heavy burden of high transport fares on the people. It will also prevent cases of overloading boat. Overloading of boats poses a threat to the safety of passengers. With ferries that carry passengers at low-cost through the waterway from Port Harcourt, the interests of regular travel to and from Bill for business will be aroused further in the people, especially operators of local SMEs.

Along with these ferries comes the need for  building of a large jetty to be located in Bille town. Of  course, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike  renovated and commissioned  the Bille Jetty in Port Harcourt in 2021. There is need for another one at the Bille end-  a jetty in the town itself. This will better secure travellers and tourists en-route Bille from Port Harcourt.

These two projects can be done by the Rivers state government. The Federal government , on its own need to put an outlet of  the National Inland  waterways Authority (NIWA) in Bille town to aid easy and more efficient waterway transport service. These three things will benefit youth and women tremendously, as they will drive commerce and transportation. They will drive prosperity as the people of the area are very resourceful and progress minded.

Many parts of the world came out of the Covid-19 pandemic poorer. Many states in Nigeria, too, but Lagos State came out of it richer, more vibrant, more digitized, and globalized. Rising prosperity becomes evident not based on who you are or where you live, but what you are doing in the state. Possibilities become open to all as Lagos works for all, courtesy of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Sanwoolu came into office in 2019 on the back of what is termed the THEMES  agenda, his development template. The acronym THEMES means:  Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and Environment Education and Technology. This is being used now to transform Lagos State beyond the imagination of many people, with the state rolling out various highly commendable projects and initiatives to create happiness for all .

A tested and trusted professional, management expert and consummate administrator, Sanwo-Olu’s management skills, administrative acumen and his personal attributes of humility and empathy are making things work out. This is why in just 757 days in office, under very difficult conditions occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic and the unfortunate EndSARS protest, he has been able to record many achievements across the THEMES agenda.

He told Lagos electorate during the electioneering that his administration would governance from where his predecessors had stopped. This is exactly what he has done.

The near abandoned Lagos Homs in Igando was completed and commissioned, the Agege Pen Cinema bridge, which was roughly at 19 to 20% foundational level when he assumed office in May 2019 had been completed, with additional roads network, the Igbogbo Ikorodu housing project, the BRF Housing Estate, Iponrin, Lagos Homs in Lekki, several roads across the metropolis started by the immediate past administration have all been completed and commissioned.

For  Governor Sanwo-Olu, it does not matter who started what project. What’s important is completion of those projects for the greatest good of the people. It is all about the people of Lagos State.

Late last year, the World Health Organization (WHO)  ranked Nigeria as the fourth best country in the World in terms of prompt efforts to curtail and contain the harsh effects of covid 19 pandemic. Arguably  Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration effort contributed immensely to this rating. This is because since Lagos is the epicentre of the epidemic in Nigeria, the major contribution to that sterling performance by Nigeria must be attributable to the contribution of the Lagos State government. True indeed.  At that time, the governor was able to lead a formidable and efficient professional team which saw to the effective management of the situation, thereby curtailing what would have been a devastating pandemic in Lagos state.

Praises should also go to the Governor with his performance in the area of transportation infrastructural development. Concerned about giving Lagos a reliable intermodal system of transportation, the Governor has been making heavy investments in waterways,  the light rail projects as well as road transportation to make life easier for Lagosians.

Two the light rail projects are on the verge of completion. These are the blue and red rail lines.The Blue line is the one  on the Lagos-Badagry Express Road. On that rail corridor. The first phase of the Blue Line, which is from Mile 2 to Marina will become operational at the end of this year. Whilst this blue line is an excites Lagosians, the Red line project that is the real talk of the town now.The Red Line is the existing rail corridor that uses Lagos-Ibadan alignment, which belongs to the Federal Government. Lagos state government looked at the composition of the track and checked the need to have a rail track that fits the kind of intra-city train they want. They have a standard gauge, and are building eight stations in all the corridors from Alagbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba and Ebute-Meta, which is the first phase of it. The second phase of it will get to Iddo and eventually terminate at Marina. It will do lagoon crossing to Marina. This will happen at the same time as the Blue line is being completed. So, Lagosians will  enjoy actively working trains; two rail lines by the third or fourth quarter of this year.

Sanwoolu is very upbeat about these rail projects. In a recent interview, the governor declares:

“I dare say that we are about the only sub-national anywhere in the world that is being audacious to build a rail infrastructure by itself. People will say Lagos doesn’t have a rail line; they say we should go and check Ethiopia, Egypt and Senegal. I say to them, those are countries; you are right. In Addis Ababa, it is the country of Ethiopia that is building it. So, Lagos felt we need to have our mark there. While growing up, we missed it at some point; about 30, 40 years ago. So, we have been very audacious in this conversation, and we said let us actually do this.”

The State Government has also reduced traffic congestion in some critical parts of Lagos with continuous road infrastructure, junction improvements and opening up more communities with new link roads and bridges.

Residents of  Ikorodu are also strong in Sanwoolu’s road master plan. There are ongoing projects, such as Oba Sekumade Road leading to Ogolonto, the Igbogbo-Baiyeku Road and the road that leads to Old Shagamu, Agric-Isawo. The Fourth Mainland Bridge is also a work in progress. This is a 37-kilometre ring-road from Lekki-Ajah axis, crossing the water, going all the way behind Ikorodu, and eventually terminating on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

In Badagry, Sanwoolu is building three jetties to fully utilise the waterways from there to other parts of Lagos. Two of the jetties have been completed and people have started using them. The third one, called the Badagry-Marina, is about to be completed. With 3 jetties already in Badagry, people will be able to move from a place like Ikoyi-Falomo and Liverpool in Apapa and straight to Badagry in about 20 to 25min, without having to come in on the express road.

More than 51 major infrastructural projects such as the Pent Cinema fly over, ramp and road networks, Lagos-Ogun Boundary roads Phase II, Lekki Oniru Traffic Circulation Projects, network of roads in Ojokoro , Somolu and Ikoyi, among others. The  administration also constructed and rehabilitated 301 inner roads in the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). It also commissioned the Oshodi-Abule Egba BRT lane. The Eleko junction to Epe concrete pavement road construction is ongoing. These road projects were executed to bring comfort and succor to the people of Lagos.

Dear to the heart of the administration is public transportation. The integrated mass transportation initiative of the state, on the watch of Governor Sanwoo-olu, has recorded huge progress with the successful completion of the elevated seas crossing track of the blue line mass transit project. In the master plan, there are about seven rail lines. These include Green Line, Yellow Line, Purple Line and Orange Line. Red and Blue line rails will be the pioneers in the rail sector , Lagos Urban Transport Master Plan, ongoing projects in different parts of the State,

While these intermodal transport schemes are on, road traffic is on the front burner. Sanwoolu has recruited about  1,017 LASTMA officers to ease traffic flow.

The State Government availed itself of the three modes of transportation of roads, rail and waterways to boost public transportation in Lagos State.

In the Agricultural sector, through the Agricultural Value Chains Enterprise Activation Programme, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration has trained many  youths in various agricultural practices which has gone a long way to giving them a means of livelihood and sustenance. He has seen to the training of over 12,000 women, thousands of youths in the State have been empowered across the several value chains.

In addition to this , the State witnessed 127% growth in Q1 2021 in revenue inflow. The Lagos State Government has also continued to ensure the training and facilitation of more women, youths and the employed to become employers of labors and to become self dependent.

Also adding to this long list of achievements, are positive activities in the Environmental sector. In this particular area of Environment, Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration in close to three years in office has invested significantly in the waste collection capacity of LAWMA as well as significant improvement in drainage management and maintenance. In order to secure a clean Lagos, Governor Sanwo-Olu donated 30 units of 12-cubic meter trucks, 60 units of 24-cubic meter trucks and 12 hook loaders which is expected to compliment over 850 PSP compactor trucks to enhance service delivery in under-served communities across the State.

Governor Sanwo-Olu has also made significant impact in the lives of millions of Lagosians in the areas of Health and Environment. He believes that nothing should be spared to give Lagosians quality health care and that’s why he has made a lot of intervention in the health sector.

Apart from the comprehensive renovation of medical facilities at various Health Centres and General Hospitals in the State, the State is also developing new facilities, such as the New Massey Children Hospital, New General Hospital, Ojo and a Rehabilitation and Mental Health facility in Ketu Ejinrin. The State Government is also building a 300-bed Isolation Centre and a Research Institute at IDH, Yaba. It has also improved maternal and child health with the provision of the Mother and Child Centres (MCCs) in Eti-Osa, Igando, Badagry and Epe.

Under social welfare programmes, the governor has continued to reach out to the people with various incentives to boost their standard of living, notable in this category is the payment of allowances of N40,000 monthly to 4000 unemployed graduates, including some direct gratification to widows. Grants have also been made available to business owners in the state to provide much needed financial supports and assistance to their various business enterprises, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic which negatively impacted on many businesses including MSME as well as the nation’s economy.

Even in sports, Governor Sanwo-Olu still had the positive disposition to give consideration to Chioma Ajunwa by fulfilling the commitment by donating a three bedroom apartment to her in Lagos as a fulfilment of the House Reward promised her for wining the Long Jump event at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Sanwo-Olu has  passion for quality education. This has been the driving force behind his numerous interventions  to revive things in that sector. In reviving the education sector in Lagos State. For some time now, the bulk of Sanwo-Olu’s attention has been divided between empowering the members of his cabinet with the resources they need for good governance and gunning for the achievement of his digitalization of secondary school education in Lagos.

Late last year, Sanwo-Olu commissioned a structure for education, with 18 blocks serving as classrooms. The newly-constructed Elemoro Community Junior Secondary School was also furnished with sporting facilities, showing that Sanwo-Olu intends to drive the potentials of young Lagosians to the maximum, squeezing out every gift they have for formal (classroom) learning and extracurricular activities.

The Elemoro school is only the latest of Sanwo-Olu’s grand momentum. Sanwo-Olu’s efforts have yielded very ripe fruits, including a mass transformation in mentality regarding formal education. Apart from underprivileged Lagosians who now have access to educational resources and tutoring, even older people can now stretch their minds and allow innovative learning to recondition their lives for the better.

His administration has completed more than 1,097 school projects in just two years, built six secondary schools, provided over 100,000 tables and chairs, provided 2,000 hostel beds in model schools and recruited over 2,000 teachers for public schools. It also introduced EKO EXCEL – an education reform programme targeted at developing highly skilled teachers through training, support and motivation, which has reached about 1,009 schools, 13,000 teachers and 450,000 pupils.

Sanwo-Olu will be remembered, just like Ahaji Kayode Jakande, for prioritizing and improving education, in the years to come.

with regard to security and governance in the State , he is doing much. His administration has worked tirelessly to ensure that Lagos is safe and secure for residents. Hence the flourishing of night economy.

Under Sanwoolu, the state government is working on strategies to ensure that the state’s economy is more diversified, adequately connected, and safe for investors, and this is yielding some results today.  For a long time, poor infrastructure and widespread insecurity have made it near-impossible for cities to operate the night economy, leading to massive loss of potential revenues by state government. However, things are changing as  Sanwoolu, is making efforts to ensure Lagos residents enjoy  the benefits of  night economy, and a number of entrepreneurs and small businesses have  keyed-in into the dream, against all odds.

Of course, since the return to democracy in 1999, Lagos has shown its desire to become Africa’s model megacity, and one of the ways it has expressed this is through its commitment to running a 24/7 economy. Now  with the vibrancy and expansion of the night economy,  Lagos  hardly sleeps. And many believe that the city has genuine reasons to be awake all the time. Their reason is that millions in the city make their money late at night; defying the daunting challenges those hours often pose.

All over Lagos, men and women and even teenagers are part of the burgeoning tribe whose members make the night their day. Call them kings and queens of the night; that indeed is what they are – people who rule the nights the way the gods do.

A segment of Lagos population in season and out of season runs a potpourri of businesses that keeps the city bubbling with night life, thereby keeping Lagos awake. Among those businesses are foods and drinks, sales of various items, transport services, night clubbing and casino undertaking, leisure, entertainment management and many more. And many believe that a lot of those night-hour businesses contribute largely to the country’s economy.

Of course, Lagos is Nigeria’s commercial capital and largest economy, but with a rapidly rising Gross Domestic Product (Lagos contributes approximately 25% of Nigeria’s total GDP) and an estimated population of about 25 million people, the city is projected to become the continent’s leading economic hub in the nearest future.  Expectedly, the government’s strategies to ensure that the state’s economy becomes more diversified, adequately connected, and safe for investors, is yielding much results today. No wonder,  the vibrancy and growth of  night economy.

This night economy would never have been possible without  government investment in security. Now security agencies in Lagos State can boast of modern crime fightingequipment. In June 10, 2021 President Muhammadu Buhari joined Governor Sanwo-Olu to officially handover patrol vehicles and security equipment to security agencies in Lagos State.

The equipment were; 150 Double Cabin Vehicles, 30 Saloon Patrol Vehicles, 1,000 Ballistic Vests, 1,000 Ballistic Helmets, 1,000 Handheld Police Radios/Walkie Talkies, 100 Security Patrol Bikes, two Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), four High Capacity Troop Carriers, two Anti-Riot Water Cannon Vehicles and  Office/Command Furniture and other Ancillary Support Resources.

He has also done well in agriculture. Under the Agro-Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Support (APPEALS) Women and Youth Empowerment Scheme (WYEP), 350 have graduated being the batch 1. Out of these beneficiaries, 165 majored in the poultry value chain, 35 in the rice value chain and 150 in the aquaculture value chain. The thrust of the project is to increase farmers’ productivity, production, and improve the processing and marketing of the target value chains, which would foster job creation along identified value chains.

The Imota Rice Mill in Lagos is nearing completion. The 38 metric tonnes per hour mill will be one of the biggest on the continent when completed. It is expected to throw up between 1000 and 1,500 jobs and positively impact the rice value chain that will produce 2.4 million bags of 50kg rice yearly.

The governor also unveiled a five-year master plan that would guide the state’s intervention and investment in agriculture for a long-term return with the objective to reduce food importation and over dependence on finished products from outside the country.

The state government is also in the process of establishing the Lagos Aquaculture Centre of Excellence (LACE) to drive fish production in the state. The centre will have a hatchery with a capacity to produce 50 million fish – enough to supply 5,000 smallholder farms. It will also include a 24,000 tonnes feed mill and a 20,000 tonne capacity fish processing centre. He said that the annual demand for fish in the state was 374,000 tonnes, considerably below the state’s current 155,000 tonnes of production.

Going by his track records and achievements in office over the last three years,  Sanwoolu has done well, making Lagos work for all.

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has disclosed that the development of Special Economic Zones in Nigeria to boost economic development also requires the political will to substantially enhance its funding.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director of NEPZA, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, in a statement issued on Thursday, in Abuja, at the agency’s presentation of its 2022 budget at the National Assembly.

He cited the importance of improving infrastructure investments to improve operations of free trade zones and the need to work with the legislature to increase the development of Special Economic Zones in Nigeria.

Adesugba said, “Infrastructure development in the zones is the ultimate attraction to this concept. We shall not be dissipating too much energy in promoting the concept if the right infrastructures are in place.

“China has about 3000 state-of-the-art free trade zones and has leveraged on them to transform its economy to an enviable form. This is indicative of the socio-economic possibilities embedded in this global concept.

“We need to, therefore, rethink our strategies to improve appropriation and funding of the free trade zones if the country truly aims at using it to accelerate economic growth.’’

He reiterated the need to work with the National Assembly to achieve maximum potential in the development of free trade zones and that what is, therefore, required is the political will to substantially enhance its funding.

Highlighting that failure to work with the National Assembly will make Nigeria finally become a dumping ground for goods and services from other African countries due to the current trade liberalisation regime allowed by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

“Nigeria must become competitive by being a producing nation as opposed to being a consuming nation,’’ he said

He added that the Free Trade Zone Scheme is a wonderful global economic model with the capacity to transform economies, but it is indeed a multi-billion-naira venture, citing that countries that are reaping from this model continually inject funds into it.

“I believe the time has come for the members of these committees to also embark on inspection of some private zones, in order to reshape their perspectives on the potentials of this great scheme to change the country’s economic landscape for the better,’’ Adesugba said.

Trade Facilitation, Governance, Intermodal Transportation, Ports Efficiency

Barrister Hassan Bello , the immediate past Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) is a national gem, for he performed exceedingly well while in office, due to his leadership styles and efficiency.

As he leaves office, many industry bigwigs concede he has added much value to their business, helping them to reduce the cost at the ports. As a result of these, he is highly popular and people in government respect his views on issues of maritime business and trade facilitation. These  people include major stakeholders such as shippers, freight forwarders, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

Mr Olumide Adeola, a clearing agent speaks glowingly about Barrister Bello’s teure at the NSC.

“He is a good leader and manager of men and materials. He is a good role model to many others in position of authority. His tenure would go down as a period of development and problem-solving in Nigeria shippers council. He did a lot to cancel many illegal and high charges being collected at the ports,” he recalls.

A freight forwarder Mr Olusola Thani  says there’s a lot to learn from Bello. “I want to introduce this gem to the new generation of Nigerians.  Thani says even the cosmopolitan nature of Bello and his leadership style, which is a huge talking point, made him able to achieve so much

“You only have to look back at how the different things are being done at the ports now, compared to the old ways of hardship and arbitrariness of the early years before he was appointed into office and you will find the answer.”

This is true indeed. In a bid to put an end to the negative impact excessive charges were having on doing business at Nigerian ports, the port economic regulator, the NSC in 2018 embarked on a mission to get the shipping companies to cut down charges

Bello also made possible the re-introduction of the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) at Nigeria’s seaports. The policy which was vehemently opposed to by industry operators, including shipping lines, importers and exporters and even clearing agents when it was first mooted in 2015 has now been approved by the Federal Government due to rising insecurity in the country.

Speaking sometimes ago on the CTN after its re-introduction by the Federal Government, Hassan Bello explained that the trade facilitation instrument has gone above CTN and now known as Advanced Cargo Information System (ACIS) currently being implemented by 23 countries including Cameroun.

Bello however said the introduction of the ACIS would not be done immediately, explaining that the ports economic regulator was fashioning out the best way to go about this.

He described ACIS as having so many benefits in cargo facilitation and addressing issues of leakages and corruption in the ports. Under his watch, the Nigeria Shippers Council has given CTN the lowest cost in Africa since according to him, the NSC should not be seen as adding to the cost of doing business.

Barrister Bello was appointed in 2012, following the expiration of the second term of the former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Capt. Adamu Biu. The Federal Government of the then President Goodluck Jonathan appointed the agency’s Director of Legal Services, Hassan Bello, as acting Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSC. He was confirmed as substantive CEO of the agency the following year, and would go on to serve two terms till he leaves office this June 2021.

Barrister Bello is part of a new generation of leaders who are visionary in their thinking and who work not only for national goals and development, but for greater global peace, sustainability and prosperity.

While in office at the Nigeria Shippers Council, achieved quite a lot.  He is on record as a man who fairly balances the interests of ports stakeholders, being maritime economic regulator, maintaining links with the terminal operators, shipping companies, and freight forwarders, as well as Nigerian Customs, the Port Authority, and many other agencies. The reason for this is the need to develop Nigeria into a preferred destination for cargo in West Africa. And also to ensure an improved intermodal environment, a reduction in seaport congestion and increased cross-border trade between the north of Nigeria and neighbouring landlocked countries.

The Nigeria Shippers Council has broadly two mandates. The first mandate is it being an intervention agency to make sure that there is balance in the transactions between the supplier and the users of shipping services. In this role, it ensures balance between the supply and the demand side of the shipping industry, coordinating all factors. The second mandate is trade facilitation, and the council has done this successfully to propel the integrity of Nigeria international trade. In an interview, Bello talks about the council’s mandates.

“As Nigerian ports economic regulator, the Nigerian Shippers Council negotiates with service providers and government alike while also taking care of the interests of  shippers, playing  the role of a neutral umpire to all parties.  In this regard, the NSC is working with the terminal operators, shipping companies, and freight forwarders, as well as Nigerian Customs, the Port Authority, and many other agencies. The reason for this is the need to develop Nigeria into a preferred destination for cargo in West Africa. Nigerian ports and terminals are in competition with other ports in the neighborhood and we have to attract cargo. Therefore, the Shippers council is streamlining procedures, such that shippers will have no choice but to bring goods to Nigerian ports because of their efficiency.”

The functions of the Council enumerated in its Act, also include such thing as advising the government on shipping services.  That means it will advise the government on adequacy of services, whether shipping services are adequate or not, advising the government on the class of vessels to be used in transportation, advising the government on the quality of the vessel.

Equally, the Shippers council is at the forefront of pushing on to ensure that improved cargo railway service, ICDs, the Truck Transit Parks (TTPs) and the dry ports are all in place, working seamlessly to enhance trade in Nigeria. With all these going on, the NSC is working to improve the country and regional economies, infrastructure and livelihoods. And these have portrayed Barrister Bello as a strategic person with his task of managing. There are many examples of how highways, dry ports buildings, seaports are improving the quality of lives of different Nigerian communities.

The Nigeria Shippers Council is also involved with the National Single Window (NSW) of the Federal Ministry of Transportation to ensure a 48-hour clearance of goods at the ports. This is a National Single Window, whereby all the interface and integration of all system to work seamlessly together. Now there is a committee which include the Nigeria Custom Services, Nigeria Port Authority, Nigeria Shippers Council and some other relevant organizations under the PEBEC [Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council], the ease-of-doing-business organization under the Vice President, which is looking at the National Single Window to remove opaqueness, create transparency and simplify documentation.

With a good staff support made up professionals who are aware of their mandates and know how to execute these mandates, the Nigeria Shippers Council is doing great jobs under the watch of Barr  Bello. The NSC became very potent since 2006 Ports reforms of former President Olusegun Obasanjo  administration and has increased its clout since then.

In the closing days of April,  Barrister  Bello made a working visit to the NIMASA headquarters where he met Dr Bashir Jamoh, director-general of NIMASA. The visit was an important move to harmonise rates, operations and to curb delay, corruption at Nigerian ports. And that heralded a great new chapter in furtherance of efficiency, and accountability at the ports. That day, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) agreed to implement joint measures to minimise delay and corrupt practices at the country’s ports.

The two agencies of Federal Government expressed hope that full automation of processes at the nation’s ports would go a long way to curbing human interface, delays and corruption at the ports. NIMASA and the Nigerian Shippers Council thus agreed to harmonize the implementation of Port and Flag State Administration to minimize human direct contact onboard vessels, calling at the nation’s ports in line with provisions in the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM).

Bashir Jamoh of NIMASA disclosed that the Agency’s operation was close to 85percent automated, adding that NIMASA had undertaken an in-house harmonization exercise to reduce human interface and now fully ready for inter-agency harmonization. He also commended the management of the Shippers Council for its commitment to ensuring the success of the introduction of cargo tracking notes in port operations.

He thanked the NSC boss for obtaining approval for the cargo tracking note. He said that would reduce loss of man-hour and assist in exposing non-declaration or under declaration at the nation’s ports, thus improving revenue generation for the federal government.

Responding Barrister Bello said that cost of port operations in Nigeria could be reduced by over 35percent when standard operation procedures contained in the Nigerian Port Process Manual were fully implemented.

Another good initiative of the NSC is the idea of dry ports and Inland Containeer Depots (ICDs). The fact that the NSC has grown in strength and is at the forefront of promoting National and global sustainability inspired the government to come up with its “step-up” strategy to build dry ports in different areas of the country. This step is now yielding fruits, and it will help generate foreign exchange for the government as Chad and Niger Republic will take advantage of them.

On Friday May 21, Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, was in Ibadan Oyo State to inspect the level of completion of the Ibadan dry Port. Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde was very happy with the port project. At a meeting  he held with Transport Minister  over the dry Port, an elated Governor Makinde, disclosed that the state has plans to invest for 15% equity in the proposed dry port. He also disclosed that the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor would have a business district created around it.

“We visited the Ibadan railway station and the dry port. I restated that our state government is prepared to invest to get 15% equity in the dry port” the Governor said.

I also confirmed that we had reconstructed the major road around the rail corridor – the 65km Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin road. And that our plan is to create a business district around the rail corridor which will include total reconstruction of link roads in the area,” Makinde stated.

Hon. (Mrs) Tolulope Akande-Sadipe K.the Member representing Oluyole Federal Constituency & Chairman House of Representative Committee on Diaspora,  is also happy about Amaechi visit to the Port. She disclosed her role in the project and appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State not to lose the Ibadan Inland Dry Port to Ogun State.

Akande-Sadipe who was a Special Adviser on Projects and Public-Private Partnership to late Senator Ajimobi said that her sweat and the support of her late boss secured the Ibadan Inland Dry Port. She further revealed that the project was conceptualized by her during the last administration.

The lawmaker said “The idea sprung up on a visit to Lagos to see my mother, the traffic from trucks queuing to get into the Apapa ports led to the brainwave that this could be another economic opportunity for Oyo State, which had an advantage based on its geographical position and the new train line from Lagos. Knowing that this would further stir up the economic revival in our beloved Oyo State. I approached the Governor with the idea and he gave his consent to commence the leg work.”

“I contacted Mr. Hassan Bello led Shippers Council through Mr. Anifowoshe who was based in the Ibadan office in 2018 and extensive talks about decongesting Lagos by setting up an Inland Dry Port in Oyo began.”

“The rationale for Olorisha Oko was based on its location as the point where the first phase of the new train line from Lagos to the North passing through Ibadan would terminate. That way, containers could be shipped by train from, Lagos ports to Ibadan and further on with the completion of other stages of the project, as is the case in developed Nations. I and my Bureau of Investment Promotions and Project Office team most especially Mr. Kunle Olusina with the support of our principal, the Governor late Senator Abiola Ajimobi worked tirelessly to make it a reality”. She spoke.

“I put so much effort into making the inland dry port a reality, my sweat and support from Ajimobi secured the Federal government approval of the project during the administration of Koseleri Late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

The lawmaker noted that the Inland Dry Port would bring about 24,000 direct new jobs and also attract new investors and big corporations to take advantage of the free trade zone. We all know what that will mean to the youths of Oyo State – Job creation, both blue and white-collar

The Oyo State Government and the Federal Government proposed Inland Dry Port was estimated as an investment of approximately a whopping sum of $99,665,626 (N35.9bn), which is expected to ease the pressure on the Apapa Seaport and the perennial gridlock on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway as well as make the ardous task of import clearance mire accessible to the hitherlands of the SW and the Northern part of the Nation.

Bello at that time said that the project would have equipment parking, truck parking, among other facilities, and would occupy 90 hectares of land, which was provided by the state government.

She gleefully prayed that progress will be made as she looks forward to attending the opening ceremony as a proud daughter of Oyo State.

Full commercial train services commenced on the Lagos-Ibadan rail line after train operations commenced on December 7, 2020, linking major cities in the South West including Lagos, Ibadan and Abeokuta.

With the success story of the Ibadan Dry Port, other states have also begun plans for a dry port with Kano State disclosing that its inland port will cost $27 million and would be completed fully in December. The launch of operations at Kaduna appears to have helped accelerate progress on the other ports. In November 2015, five months after the inauguration of the Kaduna facility, Simon Lalong, the governor of Plateau State, said that he was looking into resuscitating plans for an inland container facility. The original plan, conceived as a component of the federal government’s strategy in 2006, had been cancelled by the previous state administration. The state is now once again looking for private investors to develop the project.

It is on record that in March 2006 the Federal Executive Council approved plans for six dry ports to be developed under public-private partnerships using a build-own-operate-transfer model. Eight locations were chosen for the facilities, which will have the same functions as seaports, including the ability to process cargo and clear it through Customs.

The ports, to be located at Ibadan in Oyo State, Isiala Ngwa in Abia State, Jos Heipang in Plateau State, Bichi Village in Bauchi State, Gombe in Gombe State, Bulunkutu in Borno State, Zawachiki in Kano State and Zanfarawa-Funtua in Katsina State, will have a combined capacity of 179,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units. Concessionaires were also approved for the developments, which will be operated by private consortia for 25 years. These include Catamaran Logistics, Dala Inland Dry Port, Dunca Maritime, Eastgate Terminal, Inland Containers Nigeria, Equatorial Maritime and Migfo Nigeria.

All these are made possible through the effort of the Nigeria Shippers Council. Its success in providing  roadmap for sustainable economic development and helping to reduce cost of ports operations along the Ease of Doing business programme of the Federal Government  has been phenomenal with its Executive secretary Hassan Bello at the steering.

Under the leadership of Hassan Bello at the Nigeria Shippers Council, Nigeria witnessed a comprehensive advancement in ports operations and development of intermodal transportation that keeps pace with the rhythm of the modern era, anticipates a promising future, and achieves rates of development and growth that can dazzle the world.

Tony Elumelu, banking-to-power billionaire and the grand patron of Africapitalism clocks 58 this day. While the chairman of the pan-African United Bank for Africa is engaged in the task of raising entrepreneurs in different African countries, he is also concerned with positive investment intervention to rescue the Nigerian economy and save thousands of jobs as foreign investors desert the country.

He is passionate about helping Nigeria get power, robust, accessible, reliable, and plentiful, for industries, services, and consumers. This is why his Hiers Group has developed the largest installed electricity production capacity in Nigeria, the recent purchases of the Afam Power Plants, its turnaround of the Transcorp Power Plant, its work on the company’s other oil and gas assets, all leading to a single goal – sustainable, robust, and widely available power, that will drive schools, hospitals, and industries.

Right now, he is doing a lot to help steady the Nigerian economy as he joins some other Nigeria’s billionaires and big businesses who are plowing money into Africa’s largest economy. He is doing this as foreign investors shy away from the country in the midst of its second recession in six years. In November last year, the banking-to-power billionaire Elumelu said he was set to close a $1bn oil block deal soon, while flour-and-cement billionaire Abdulsamad Rabiu’s Bua Group is to build a multi-billion-dollar 200,000 barrel a day oil refinery in oil-rich Akwa Ibom state. That project will compete against a $12bn 650,000 barrel a day mega refinery being built by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote on the outskirts of Lagos.

Elumelu is playing this rescue role as many local entrepreneurs’ confidence contrasts with the caution of overseas investors. Foreign direct investment into Nigeria in 2020 trailed Ghana, a country with an economy and population one-seventh the size of that of Nigeria. In the course of that year, Foreign Direct Investment was down, down about a third from a year earlier. Portfolio investors also fled, seeking safe havens amid global turmoil caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic — inflows fell to $385.3m during the period, down 91 percent from a year earlier. The economic picture was frightful. GDP contracted 6.1 percent in the second quarter and 3.62 percent in the third quarter, while unemployment and inflation are soaring and food prices are rising.

But Elumelu knew that these temporary challenges would soon pass away. And he realizes that he is one of whose shoulders the task of rescuing the country lie on. “Some foreign investors. . . at this point, might not be too willing and excited to invest. But the local, indigenous investors. . . no one is slowing down at all.” He said last November 2020 when he invested in some oil and gas assets.

In a written statement, Elumelu stated that: “The acquisition of such a high-quality asset, with significant potential for further growth, is a strong statement of our confidence in Nigeria, the Nigerian oil and gas sector…We see significant benefits from integrating our production, with our ability to power Nigeria, through Transcorp, and deliver value across the energy value chain.”

As a concerned Nigerian, Tony would like to contribute to deepening jobs and prosperity in Nigeria to showcase the attractiveness of Africa to the world. This is because, he sees potential in energizing Africa’s largest market, despite the turbulence of the moment. He announced a 45% participating interest in Nigerian oil license OML17 and related assets, from Shell, Total & ENI for $1.1bn, in a tweet. He did so, he was of the view that there would be a long enough window to monetize the OML17 asset. The deal is one of the largest in oil and gas in Africa in more than a decade, and the first major private sector acquisition in the industry since President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in office. The last major round of sell-offs from Western international oil companies to Nigerian firms was at the top of the oil market a decade ago.

The OLM 17 field has an estimated reserve of 1.2 billion barrels of oil. This will give Elumelu along with the consortium of global and regional banks and investors a big enough market to make significant returns on their investments. In addition, while countries with the largest CO2 emissions are expected to switch to clean, renewable wind, water, and solar power, this will be no later than 2050, which is still a long way off, according to analysts.

Tony has the capacity for managing costs, transparency, and environmental and community issues that ultimately make the license unattractive for Shell and its partners. And he will put this one on display to further boost the Nigerian economy. With the depth of competence at Heirs Oil and Gas, those risks would be mitigated by diversification into other parts of the energy sector in a little while. Of course, Hiers Group has developed the largest installed electricity production capacity in Nigeria. The group was also one of the leading supporters of President Obama’s ‘Power African Initiative’ where Heirs Holdings committed $2.5bn to increase affordable and accessible power in Africa and was the single largest private-sector investor in that initiative. And now with the Biden Administration’s renewed focus on Africa, the company will play a more tremendous role, ensuring a business that is sustainable, creating economic and social wealth, and delivering on its strategy to power Africa.

Apart from rescuing his country from economic collapse, Elumelu has also long been planting the seeds of entrepreneurship across Africa, empowering thousands of youth across the 54 countries in the continent. He recognized the need that budding entrepreneurs have to be trained in business leadership as well. This is because of the need to guarantee the long-time survival of their business enterprises through infusing them with values that will make them….. that they were not only pursuing their own companies’ profits but also trying to contribute to building a better society through their products and services. This is one of the virtues of Tony’s business philosophy, community, and companies. Back in his days in banking, he saw that as a welcomed.

Determined to achieve excellence, he built UBA into a banking powerhouse and one of Nigeria’s most iconic global institutions where the attitude of building a better society held sway. It was this attitude, which translated into respect for him and his UBA brand as a whole. With the training being received under the tutelage of Elumelu, these youthful entrepreneurs are being empowered to be able to develop a product plan in terms of whether it can contribute to a better society. Carefully selected materials and highly skilled techniques are used in the manufacturing process to produce high-quality products. Secondly, they will incorporate the customer’s point of view in fine-tuning their services, thereby scoring high in customer satisfaction.

Elumelu owns a controlling interest in Transcorp, a publicly traded Nigerian conglomerate with interests in hospitality, agriculture, oil production, and power generation. He came into the limelight in 1997 when he led a small group of investors to take over a small, floundering commercial bank in Lagos. He turned it profitable within a few years and in 2005 he merged it with the United Bank for Africa. That banking group now has subsidiaries in 20 African countries and in the U.S and U.K. Elumelu also owns extensive real estate across Nigeria and a minority stake in mobile telecom firm MTN Nigeria, among other assets.

Elumelu is a philanthropist of note. Sometimes ago, he made a donation of $500,000 to Sierra Leone to help alleviate the suffering of people affected by floods and mudslides in the country. With his actions and activities, Elumelu could be compared with the legendary Japanese business leader, Shibusawa Eichi (1840–1931) who was termed the “father of Japanese capitalism.” Over the course of his working life, he founded and built up over 500 banks and business corporations, including the First National Bank (Dai-Ichi Kokuritsu Ginkō, now Mizuho Bank). His remarkable accomplishments were based on his solid conviction that morality and economic activity are compatible—the doctrine of the inseparability of morality and economy. Shibusawa found the basis for this conviction in the Confucianism that he espoused, particularly the Analects of Confucius. Paraphrasing morality as the Analects and economy as the abacus, he often used the expression “the Analectsand the abacus are inseparable.” Moral behavior is an essential element of economic activity. And economic activity is an essential element of moral behavior. Morality and economy are indeed two sides of the same coin. This is the logic of Shibusawa’s doctrine. Morality is of two types: passive and active. Passive morality refers to not doing what one should not do; active morality refers to doing what one should do. Shibusawa’s message was that passive morality is essential for the economy and that economy is essential for active morality.

Elumelu activities chime in with Shibusawa’s philosophy in respect to his patriotism, being in a hurry to lift so many people up through his Africapitalism and the market economy. Promoting public interest to help lift up so many others, up the ladder of prosperity if you are successful, is a philosophy that can serve as a pointer for consideration of how to make capitalism work better and promote the development of African countries economies in the years to come. And Tony’s philosophy of Africapitalism can contribute to making today’s African lives a lot better. As he clocks 58 and having a moment today, his life story will one day be turned into a hit new in books and drama on national television stations of some African countries, and his likeness will likely grace a new money bill some days.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was the centre of attraction at the Nigerian Society of Engineers’ (NSE) fellowship award ceremony with the Corporation bagging a Special Recognition Award and seven of its staff, including the Chief Operating Officer, Upstream, Engr. Adokiye Tombomieye, conferred with the prestigious Fellowship award.

The Special Recognition Award was given to the Corporation for its robust contributions to the development of the engineering profession in Nigeria, a press release by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, stated.

The President of the NSE, Engr. Babagana Mohammed, who presented the award to the Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, said the NNPC was the backbone to the visible development of the country and the engineering profession.

He noted that NNPC has remained committed to offering free training to young engineers through the National Engineering and Technical Company Limited (NETCO) in a bid to assist in providing the manpower requirement in the oil and gas industry.

The NSE boss urged the awardees to keep flying the flag of the NSE in their various endeavours positively, stressing that they are duty bound to serve as role models to others in the society.

The NNPC GMD, who was represented by the Chief Operating Officer, Ventures and Business Development, Engr. Adeyemi Adetunji, said NNPC would continue to play a major role in growing the engineering profession, which he described as is critical to the success of the Corporation.

He said NNPC will remain focused on key projects such as Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline and refineries rehabilitation, to ensure that they are delivered on time, within budget and to specifications.

“This award is in recognition of NNPC’s contribution to the nation’s development and its efforts and drive to improve engineering profession in Nigeria. NNPC as a responsible national oil company will continue to focus on key projects that will deliver optimal value to Nigerians”, the GMD stated.

He applauded the COO and the other staff who were awarded the NSE fellowship, for attaining the peak of the Engineering profession, noting that the Corporation would continue to be a pacesetter in the Engineering vocation as the foremost National Oil Company in Africa.

On his part, the COO, Upstream, Engr. Tombomieye, said the award would spur him to bring his professional expertise to bear on his job by adding value to the Upstream business of the Corporation for the good of the country.

Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of NETCO, Engr. Usman Baba, said the recognition would spur the company to continue to build the capacity of young engineers in the country and prepare them for the oil and gas industry.

He noted that NETCO offers the young graduates placement and pays them as a way of contributing towards tackling unemployment in the country.

“As the NSE President mentioned, NETCO trains young Nigerian Engineers, as the only indigenous engineering company in the face of this dangerous situation where other companies do not want to train and nobody wants to employ non-experienced staff.

“So, NETCO has taken the responsibility of training them with pay, so that they can be marketable in the industry. This is one of our major contributions to the industry. As at today, we have brought in about 35 new young graduates of the engineering profession to be trained for the market,” Engr. Baba stated.

Two other NNPC staff who were conferred with the award, Engr. Sagiru Adamu and Engr. Bassey Essiet, described the fellowship award as a dream come true.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Board of Fellows of the NSE, Engr. Felix Atume, congratulated Engr. Tombomieye and the other Engineers on the fellowship award and urged them to uphold the ethics of the engineering profession for upcoming engineers to emulate.

Highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of the awards by GMD of NNPC, Mallam Kyari, to the Minister of Power, Engr. Saleh Mamman, Director of Department of Petroleum Resources, Engr. Sarki Muktar and to the COO, Upstream of NNPC, Engr. Tombomieye.

A total of 120 Engineers were conferred with the fellowship awards at the 16th edition of the NSE award and lecture series, with eight others being conferred with their awards virtually.