jamoh

Dr. Bashir Jamoh’s Inspirational Leadership at NIMASA: Helping Sailors Navigate Safer Waters , Building Robust Maritime Economy

by with No Comment Corporate LeadershipGoverancePolitics

Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh is a man schooled in providing creative solutions to issues. And saddled with the task of delivering the mandate of NIMASA to the nation, he has been working to reposition shipping business in Nigeria, taking practical steps and pursuit that have positive ramifications for security, jobs and prosperity of Nigeria.
Jamoh noticed that through creative solutionsmany countries have begun to shed entrenched roadblocks and create their own framework for investment and growth. He taps into this framework, to help ease things for maritime stakeholders, as Nigeria braces up for a contraction of up to 20% in 2021. To him sound economic and regulatory management becomes the most important path to recovery for the government.He believes that maritime sector is key to this recovery, and business must also be an engine for growth for the economy, as a joint commitment between public and private sectors to stimulate trade, partnerships, and investment will be key for reactivation, employment, and regional stability.
Some recent, creative exercises are being developed in the shipping industry by NIMASA under Jamoh’s watch are commendable. These are done through the creation of programmes aimed at promoting maritime security and safety, pushing Nigeria’s competitive advantages in coastal shipping, in pursuit of new, domestic investment in infrastructure and investments in seafarers development and welfare,ensuring that seafarers years of theoretical knowledge, practical applications, and experience at sea are optimally deployed to enhance maritime business and the cabotage trade, while creating opportunities for them in shipping industry.
First to stimulate investment and boost activities in the maritime industry, amid the downturn caused by COVID-19, the Director-General drummed that the Federal Ministry of Transportation was considering zero import duty on new vessels, parts for ship building and repairs following years of agitation by indigenous shipping operators for import duty waiver as obtained in aviation sector. He conveyed the Ministry’s position to the Honourable Minister of Finance, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed.
Jamoh reiterated the commitment of the Honorable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Honourable Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, towards ensuring the growth of maritime in Nigeria saying the ministry also proposed other tax incentives for maritime industry operators.
He said the proposed incentives included zero import duty for brand new vessels imported by Nigerians or Nigerian shipping companies for use in foreign or domestic trade; 0.5 percent only import duty for vessels aged between one and five years intended for use in foreign or domestic trade; and one percent only import duty for vessels aged between five and eight years intended for use in foreign or domestic trade.
There was also a proposal for zero import duty for parts or components imported by Nigerian shipyards for local ship building, which will be for an initial period of four years after which it can be reviewed by government. All these are expected to give the sector the vibrancy it needs for growth.
Second, on the safety and security front, NIMASA has a working relationship with different security agencies. These include the Nigerian Air Force. To realize fast-track this, the NIMASA Director-General paid a working visit to the Nigerian Air Force headquarters in Abuja. During the visit, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, announced that air assets acquired under the Deep Blue Project, also called the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, domiciled with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were set for deployment by the Nigerian Air Force in support of the Federal Government’s maritime security effort.
The NIMASA DG had requested adequate arrangement to receive and deploy the two special mission aircraft expected in the country in the next few months. He praised the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force for its commitment to capacity development, and noted that NIMASA was committed to ensuring the success of the Deep Blue Project with adequate cooperation from all stakeholders.
“We have received two Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), and the two special mission aircraft are expected to arrive in Nigeria before the end of the year. The challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the special training for the personnel to man these air assets, but we have found a way around it. We will continue to seek your partnership to secure the Nigerian maritime domain.”
Dr. Jamoh revealed that 17 fast interceptor boats, 15 armoured vehicles, and two special mission vessels were some of the land and marine assets already on the ground, saying all hands must be on deck to secure the country’s maritime environment and change all negative narratives.
The Deep Blue Project, also called the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, is a maritime security project, which aims to comprehensively tackle insecurity in Nigeria’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, up to the Gulf of Guinea.
Third action has to do with human capital development and training of seafarers. Not long ago,. Dr Jamoh, made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos that NIMASA had secured more sea time berths for 400 cadets in spite of limitations caused by COVID-19 pandemic. He said the cadets were trained under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), disclosing that the achievement followed a recent three-month extension granted the 400 Nigerian seafarers undertaking sea time courses in different parts of the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jamoh said that the training was extended for another three months by NIMASA to enable the seafarers complete their training due to the global lockdown caused by the pandemic. According to him, the three-month programme would lead to the award of Certificate of Competency (CoC) to beneficiaries.He added that the agency had intensified efforts to secure sea time opportunities for a good number of the trained cadets across the globe.
“In the first quarter of 2020 alone, we secured sea time berths for over 550 cadets in various countries for the three months programme leading to the issuance of CoCs.However, due to the pandemic, we extended their sponsorship for another three months, which comes with additional cost, and we are still looking to extend it further as we continue to monitor the pandemic and how it affects the programme.”
He said that the agency was in constant touch with Nigerian embassies in the beneficiaries’ host countries as well as the students themselves and their leaders.
“Keeping in touch is to monitor their situations and guard against anything that could keep them stranded in a foreign country.We have adapted our approaches to the peculiar conditions of the different countries where we have Nigerian seafarers on sea time training.The feedback from the students’ leaders in the various countries have been very encouraging.”
He disclosed that another set of NSDP cadets had been approved for training, but their enrollment was on hold due to the global pandemic.
The NSDP was initiated by NIMASA in 2008 to deal with the dearth of trained and certified seafarers in Nigeria.So far, the programme had graduated over 2,000 cadets, and many of them have undergone sea time courses and are currently in the employment of various international shipping lines.
Fourth action has to with cabotage trade. Sometimes in October, NIMASA came out with a three month notice to companies engaged in cabotage trade in Nigeria to register vessels used in coastal and inland water trade. In addition in the applicable register for cabotage vessels and ship owning companies and obtaining the certificate of cabotage registration and license for all cabotage vessels within 3 months.
According to NIMASA, it will be at the expiration of the three months that it would notify relevant authorities , international oil companies to stop engaging vessels without cabotage certificates. speaking after the release of a maritime notice to announce the decision, Dr Jamoh disclosed that the was part of effort to ensure strict enforcement of the coastal and inland shipping (Cabotage act 2003) and guidelines on the implementation of the act.
“The act provided that every vessel intended for use in domestic trade must be duly registered by the registrar of ships. The law provides that every vessel intended for use under the cabotage Act must be duly registered and the operational certificates be renewed annually. We are to ensure strict implementation of NIMASA mandate under the law.”
Jamoh asserted that NIMASA’s intention is to build and continue to enhance the capacity of Nigerians in the shipping industry in with relevant international organizations.
Success in these endeavors will not be complete without addressing seafarers welfare and capacity. This forms the fifth plank of NIMASA action.Having discovered the shabby ways some ship owners treat seafarers in terms welfare packages, the agency wields its policy tools to whip erring ship owners into the line and strengthen hope of welfare for these seafarers by making ship owners more responsible to their workers, making the work environment more employees friendly. He discovered that many seafarers are often treated shabbily by ship-owners who mostly employ them. Jamoh frowned at this kind of labour/employers relationships.He felt there was need to ensure sanity. And right now there is a gradual shift and improvement towards addressing this, as concerned stakeholders make moves to ensure adequate welfare of Nigerian seafarers
As a result of Jamoh’s initiatives, something great is being done in a bid to ensure sanity in the relationship between ship owners and seafarers. This is brought out by the fact that the federal government has threatened to sanction ship owners who default in the implementation of the contributory pension scheme for seafarers. This came to the open in September.
Jamoh disclosed this during a webinar hosted by NIMASA to mark the 2020 Day of the Seafarer in Lagos.The session, attracted local and international participants, with the key speaker and consultant at Transbasin Limited, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Karen Ogidigben Onimisi, and Nigerian Labour Attaché at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Switzerland, Essah Aniefiok Etim, calling for better welfare and support for seafarers.
According to Jamoh, “Policies are in the pipeline to improve the quality of training and certificates we give to the seafarers. We are taking steps to standardise the curriculum of our training institutions in line with international standards. We are also working on increasing the remuneration of our seafarers. These policies would be announced as soon as we complete work on them.”
Disclosing that seafarers were among the most courageous people in the world, he stressed that the theme for this year’s Day of the Seafarer, ‘Seafarers are key workers,’ is a “testament to the fact that the world cannot do without seafarers. Seafarers hold the key to humanity’s survival on a day-to-day basis. They hold the key to our wellbeing in this time of COVID-19 period.”
He observed that seafarers are key to sustaining the global supply chain, distributing urgently needed medical supplies with enormous risk to their lives and families.
“The seafarers are unsung heroes; they are also our invisible heroes. We see their handwork every day and everywhere in agricultural machinery, the food we eat, and the unbroken run of the manufacturing base, despite the global lockdown.”
The DG spoke on the challenges faced by seafarers amid the coronavirus pandemic, including stringent work conditions in some countries, movement restrictions, lockdowns, crew change difficulties, fatigue and seasickness, and disruption of contracts.
“As a regulator, we have taken steps to alleviate the suffering of the seafarers. NIMASA was among the first government agencies to declare seafarers as being on essential duty, and we published this in a marine notice. We also issued COVID-19 guidelines to incoming ships towards ensuring that there is no importation of the virus by sea.
“NIMASA was the first in West Africa to issue a COVID-19 marine notice. We challenged ship-owners and employers of seafarers to take necessary proactive measures to lessen the pains of seafarers. We also walked in lockstep with the IMO to tailor all our marine notices in the early period of COVID-19 towards supporting the extension of the validity of seafarers’ certificates, crew change, guidelines, procedure and their designation as essential workers.”
According to Jamoh, “It is said that a good sailor weathers the storm he cannot avoid; COVID-19 was a storm Seafarers couldn’t avoid. As tried and tested seamen and women, our seafarers have continued to weather this storm for us. We celebrate you today. Nigeria thanks you, the world appreciates you, NIMASA as a regulator will never abandon you. We will support you all the way.”
On his part, Director, Maritime Sector Consultant at Transbasin Limited, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Onimisi called on the international community to render necessary assistance to seafarers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She commended NIMASA for supporting seafarers during the pandemic and emphasised the need for Nigeria to develop post-pandemic measures to make the country’s seafarers internationally marketable and competitive.
“Seafarers are part of the global supply chain and should have access to shore leave at ports in accordance with global regulations. There is also a need to look at improved ways to mitigate the challenges that COVID-19 has brought before us, commencing with digitalisation of our processes, including local training and licensing of Nigerian seafarers.”
Also speaking, ILO Nigerian Labour Attaché, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations in Switzerland, Etim sued for better working conditions for seafarers, calling for greater opportunities to make their voices heard, saying they should be encouraged through appropriate rewards and compesations.
As part of the activities marking the day, NIMASA donated to the seafarers, items that included essential commodities, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), facemasks, and hand sanitisers.
Dr Jamoh’s attention was drawn to what seafarers in the country have in recent times decry as marginalisation by foreign shipping lines and some local shipping lines as well. They claimed these shipping lines made no pretence that theyhave a prefence for their counterparts from other countries, even with less qualifications. They said this is despite the massive investment in seafarers development by Federal Government, championed by NIMASA. According to them, the discrimination formerly popular among foreign companies has now further taken roots with several indigenous companies, including the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) producing company with the Nigerian Government as a shareholder.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, a seafarer Daniel Ikueyemi pointed out that poor feedback at NIMASA has deprived the agency of the true impact of the investment in seafarers development. Programme (NSDP) are on the verge of having their Certificates of Competence (CoC) expire, “yet many have no resources to renew it because they never had an opportunity of going on board vessels even for a single day.
“NLNG rejects seafarers with Nigerian CoCs. NLNG is a company in which the nation has shares. If this certificate doesn’t have value in our country and organizations like NLNG reject it, there is no need talking about acceptability of this certificate around the globe. There is no point wasting our time on that. “
Ikueyemi proposed that NIMASA creates a seafarers’ desk at the agency with the task of receiving valuable information and experiences of seafarers especially on practices on-board vessels.
“NIMASA shouldn’t allow their resources waste away because that is what happens when the seafarers aren’t engaged. The duration of CoC is five years and it becomes useless if one doesn’t utilise it during that timeframe.”
Since his appointment as NIMASA D-G, Jamoh has made improved welfare and human capital development for seafarers part of his agenda. This is because of his belief in economic justice and the fact that seafarers are critical to the Nigerian economy. He knows that the job of seafarers involve years of rigorous training in mastering the aspects of navigation, cargo work and ship operations and the everyday precise application of it. And as a result, they need to be treated fairly.

eze

Prince Arthur Eze’s Contributions to Nigeria Development through Entrepreneurship, Peace-building and Philanthrophy

by with No Comment Corporate LeadershipGoverance

Prince Arthur Ikpechukwu Eze, OFR is an outstanding Nigerian, a self-made man who rose to the pinnacle of success through hard work, integrity, self- discipline and accountability. He is a man who is living a “life of enterprise”, to quote a childhood friend of his- Chief AnayoEjem (IchieNnabuenyi) who wrote a special tribute on Eze during his birthday in November.
At the heat of COVID-19 pandemic in March, Eze used his life of enterprise to give lifelines to many Nigerians when he dispatched truck loads, upon truck loads of palliative materials to communities in the South-eastern and South-south states and beyond. He is thus one of the very few single individuals who played the roles of beingtheir brothers keepers. But he the most prominent role of being his brothers’ keeper. He made the largest single individual donation during that trying period, rescuing thousands from hunger and untimely death when even many state governments abandoned the poor and needy.

Chief Anay Ejem writing on Eze therefore captures the essence of this man.
“25th November is an important date for many Nigerians, especially the indigenes of Ukpo, for one reason. It is the birthday of one of Nigeria’s eminent citizens and an illustrious son of Ukpo, Prince Engr Arthur IkpechukwuEze, OFR. For his friends and kinsmen Arthur’s birthday is always a joyful occasion, which paradoxically presents a nagging problem: how do you celebrate a man whose life is itself a celebration? And what material gift can you give to someone who has everything?
Perhaps the only way to honor Arthur on his birthday should be to thank him for a lifetime of enterprise and selflessness, which then makes it mandatory for us to understand his exemplary humanity. Because when you see beyond the sobriquets, appellations and the high-sounding epithets; when you cast aside the fame, pomp and pageantry, you will behold one of the finest human beings ever created. Frankly, birthday or not, I think Nigerians should occasionally just thank Arthur, for being Arthur.”

Indeed, Prince Eze is a man with a proud and distinguished history of promoting investment, national content, homegrown companies and technology through his commitments to the country. He is also one of those great Nigerian business leaders who give the opportunity to continue telling the Africa story, notably energy story and to help our great continent attract the investments necessary to reaching its full potential. He is a Nigerian oil businessman, philanthropist, politician, and the CEO of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, the largest Nigerian exploration and production group that one single individual operates.
Portraying businesswith such conviction, poise and élan that business men who study him and try to take after him, feel compelled to measure up to him, Eze is a rare example of a performer who is suave, daring, versatile and hasan iconic persona. He captivates people with his unmatchable jokes and fantastic presence, mixing with the high and powerful, yet not despising the presence of the common man. He is a man who is making much indelible mark in the history of business in Nigeria.
Eze has been in business for over forty years without a dent on his name. In 1991, founded OrantoAtlasOranto Petroleum. The company has 22 oil and gas licenses in 12 jurisdictions across Africa, with assets in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and several Atlas Oranto operated blocks. To date, the company is the largest holder of oil exploration blocks in Africa.
Atlas Oranto has regional offices and representatives across core investment locations in West Africa with its technical base located in Lagos, while its headquarters is at Abuja. The chairman chose Abuja as its headquarters so, that the management of the company can have direct access to African policy-makers in the region. The Eze family has ownership of the company stock and all the shareholders are involved in the company’s operation.
He is an example of the imperative to shape a conducive legislative environment for incubating creative ideas and making the most of local talent. Also an example of why government should pay special attention to and support fast-growing companies, since such entities tend to increase their market value quickly, enhancing their ability to create jobs and contribute to GDP growth, which brings us closer to the economic diversification goals we need to achieve in building a brighter future.
Not only did Orascom build enormous brand equity through starting out in Nigeria and the neighbouring West African region and growing into other parts of the African continent, it also managed to put in billions of dollars’ worth of investment while dealing with global market leaders in many business deals. These deals are a testament to the good name, good thinking, market intelligence of Prince Eze who deploys his foresight to take advantage of the fast-paced economic changes sweeping the African region. Innovation is truly the fuel of our future, and he embraces it. Therefore it is possible for him to rapidly expand the business, deploying the tentacles of Oranto Atlas Petroleum across Africa, from Gabon through Equatorial Guinea and recently to places like South Sudan and Uganda.
In February 2017, Oranto Petroleum spread its tentacles to South Sudan’s oil and gas entrant landscape as a new player, putting in a $500-million investment in the process. That year, it began its exploration programme through an agreement with BGP Inc. South Sudan. The deal came just 8 months after Oranto signed its Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) with the South Sudanese government, committing $500 million to the development of the 24,415 km2 acreage, with the Oranto expected to kick off its three-year first exploration commitment period. Following a competitive tender process, geophysical specialist, BGP, was selected to perform an airborne gravity and magnetic survey of the contract area, Block B3. The block is believed to be highly prospective, with productive parts of the Muglad basin to the northwest and estimated reserves in place of more than three barrels of oil.
As soon as Oranto Petroleum announced that it had signed an exploration production sharing contract (EPSA) in Juba for the reserve-rich Block B3 and that it would invest as much as $500 million in South Sudan, it began work immediately. The EPSA that Oranto signed was the first to be signed in South Sudan since 2012.
Prince Arthur Eze, founder and executive chairman of Oranto Petroleum said “The development of our assigned contract area and fulfilment of our contractual obligations in South Sudan is a priority for Oranto. The government and the Ministry of Petroleum have been working very hard to create an enabling environment for investors and we are fortunate to benefit from their assistance. South Sudan is a nation with a great future, and we are proud to be a part of that, contributing with a purposeful, well-resourced exploration and development campaign.”
That investment in South Sudan was a God-sent rescue for that county at that time. This was because it happened at a period when the South Sudan government was looking for investments, trying to raise production in its oil output.
“We believe the petroleum resources of Block B3 are vast. To reach our target of more than double current oil production, we need committed new entrants like Oranto,” said Minister of Petroleum Ezekiel LolGatkuoth. “The government is working hard to reinvigorate the petroleum industry in South Sudan by creating an enabling environment for International oil and gas companies to invest and operate. It is up to the oil companies to come in, explore and produce.”
That same year, Oranto Petroleum also made its presence felt in Uganda, where it dipped its footing. In Octovber of that year, it signed two Production Sharing Agreements for the Ngassa Shallow and Deepwater Plays of Lake Albert in Uganda, holding a 100 percent stake in both licenses.
With that showing,Oranto itself as one of Africa’s strongest independents focused on frontier exploration. It entered that agreement with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development for the Republic of Uganda and committed to a first exploration period of two years. A second period would be for a maximum of two years, with a minimum work program for both periods that would include acquiring and reprocessing 2D and 3D seismic data and amplitude versus offset (AVO) studies. A renewal would also include drilling at least one exploration well.
“We are excited to enter this agreement with the Government of Uganda and look forward to a successful exploration period,” saidEze in a press release. “Lake Albert is home to some prime petroleum acreage and we hope to make a valuable contribution to the country and its people.”
The Ngassa Play, comprised of 410 square kilometers of both shallow and deepwater areas, is in the southern part of Lake Albert. Already, Lake Albert is home to major oil discoveries, with recoverable crude reserves estimated between 1.4 billion and 1.7 billion barrels of oil. The first discovery in Lake Albert was made in 2006 by Tullow Oil, and production is expected in 2020, after Uganda builds a pipeline to export the crude.
As a result of his massive investments and knowledge in the oil industry, Prince Eze washonoured with themembership of the Africa Oil & Power Advisory Board in 2018, along with such distinguished Africans like…..
Africa Oil & Power Advisory Board isa body of accomplished energy policy makers and business executives who will contribute valuable insights and experience in developing our program and content agenda. The Advisory Board represents the best of the industry in Africa, bringing the wisdom of life-long careers in energy and finance. Members of the board are chosen for their outstanding lifetime contributions to their field, and each individual is a champion of the African energy industry.
According to a statement from the company, “this board is composed of some infinitely knowledgeable and accomplished individuals who have committed their entire careers to championing Africa,” said Guillaume Doane, CEO of Africa Oil & Power. “Their collective body of experience in creating energy policy and striking deals will bring a powerful voice in shaping the conversation of Africa Oil & Power on and off the stage.”
A key function of the Advisory Board is to act as an effective vehicle for engaging African governments to help them promote and attract investment in their oil, gas and power sectors. The Board members will assist Africa Oil & Power in collaborating with government leaders and supporting African countries in organizing world-class events that enable investment, promote local content and technology, empower home-grown companies and give a voice to policy makers and thought leaders.
Over the years, Chief Arthur Eze has been making great things happen, as he embarked upon a remarkable quest for progress, fuelled by the pursuit of development, fully immersed in services to the nation, providing jobs for thousands of people directly and indirectly .
His insights have always earned him friends across the country. This explains his having friends spread across the country. It explains why he was able to influence the creation of a local government council .He also lobbied and brought the Police Zone 13 Headquarters to his hometown, Ukpo in Anambra State.
We measure love by its impact, especially on the less-privileged. Eze demonstrates this love is demonstrated by creating opportunities for the children of the poor become useful to themseleves, helping them create a sustainable future which is the common passport out of poverty. He ensures that nobody’s aspiration is circumscribed by social status. As a result of this quality, he was able to lobby and bring the Police Zone 13 Headquarters to his hometown, Ukpo in Anambra State
On this this fact, listen to his boyhood friend ChiefAnayoEjem:
“Arthur’s commitment to God and Ukpo runs deep. You can say without fear of contradiction that he has given his soul to Christ, and his life to NdiUkpo. Take the former, Arthur has been an extraordinary pillar (the corner-stone) of the Church of Christ, regardless of denomination. His transcendent assistance has enabled church and clergy to robustly continue to advance the Word.
Arthur has been phenomenal in all matters pertaining to Ukpo. Long ago, he fashioned the creation of Dunukofia Local Government, with headquarters in Ukpo, thereby bringing the entire Dunukofia Clan under one administrative structure. Through his instrumentality, the South Eastern Police Protection Unit, as well as a Police Secondary School were sited in Ukpo. Progressively, he is turning Ukpo into a work of fine art – refurbishing schools, market stalls, commercial buildings, roads and street lighting. Against significant odds, Arthur brought the headquarters of Zone 13 of the Nigerian Police to Ukpo, having command over all police formations in Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States.”
This is true indeed. Eze loves his people his Ukpo town so dearly. He’s someone who is a leading voice in an area of great concern, especially in his home town of Ukpo. The town is something he has been passionate about for years. He thinks about doing some help for people in different ways to what some other feel – that’s the fun to him and part of worshipping God.
Chief Ezephilantrophist who gives without looking back. He is in the frontlines of philanthropy, providing for the sick, the poor and the needy in the society.His philantrophic gestures are in the areas of road network, peace, promoting education, healthcare, water, social harmony and community development. He has consistently done things to bring up many of his kinsmen into any public office wherever they contact him for such.
Some of his philanthropic activities include but not limited to the following
Donation of $12 million for the construction of St. Stephen’s Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Center in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria in 2013; donation of $800,000 for the construction of two primary schools in Yirol and Rumbek communities in central South Sudan; donation of 10 million naira to the elderly people of the Ukpo community; donation of the sum of N5 million to the Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (APLSCD), for a standard sickle cell clinic at the Ukpo, Dunukofia Council Area of Anambra State; donation of $6.3-million to the flood relief efforts in Nigeria in the year 2013.
The people of the Abagana community benefited from his cheerful giving as he gave them the sum of 20 million naira for musical instruments and renovations of a church in 2015. Arthur singlehandedly built a medical research unit for the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. He was part of those that contributed to the relief needs of the victims of Boko Haram insurgencies, of which he donated the sum of $800,000 at a fundraiser in Abuja. He gave 25 million naira of the total funds raised for the ‘Russia 2018’ FIFA World Cup in 2018. He modernized the local market near the Ukpo palace and also created road networks linking the Dunukofia clan with neighboring towns like Abba, Awkuzu, Ifite-Dunu, and Abagana. Equally, he constructed the overhead bridge in Ebonyi State with his funds, without asking for government intervention.
Who does not know about the legendary generosity of Arthur Eze? Not just in Anambra State, but in different parts of the country. Many people have been touched by the man’s philanthropy. As a result, he has been honored with many awards and Recognitions.

dapo

The Silent Strategy of Dapo Abiodun- Impacting the future of Ogun state to Great Stories of Excellence

by with No Comment GoveranceMonthly Post

Governor Dapo Abiodun came aboard with characteristics of nobility, and is revered at home and recognised abroad for his protean productivity and impeccable business foresight. He has uncanny ability to spot goldmine where many see land mines. He equally understands that politics is a route to service, since leadership is service to society. And his belief that the doctrine of altruism and love must be preached as a counteraction to the doctrine of hate and greed that has overtime become the norm in political circuits powers his conduct in office as governor.

When Prince Dapo Abiodun was sworn-in as Governor of Ogun State on May 29, 2019, he made some solemn pledges in his inauguration speech. In the seventh paragraph of that speech delivered before a crowd at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, he affirms that: “You will always find in me, the conduct of Omoluwabi expected of Omo Teacher. I will govern with character. I will serve you diligently and sincerely. I will make your interests the core of governance. I will neither personalize nor abuse the mandate. I will not betray your trust.”

The above pledge has been consistently demonstrated and fulfilled by the governor in the course of his coming to power. It is rare to see so many politicians come into office with such characteristics of nobility.
On assumption of office, he defied expectation by not sacking workers employed by the previous government, nor abandon the projects being undertaken. Normally, people expected a new governor to follow the ‘established precedent’ of a new governor overturning what his immediate predecessor did. Rather, Prince Dapo Abiodun decided to set-up committees to look into gray areas.

These included last-minute employment and award of contracts, appointments of permanent secretaries and general managers of statutory bodies, last-minute loans and incurred financial obligations, abandoned and on-going projects, crises in tertiary institutions, and many more.

A personal friend of the governor gave a comment on this.  “In fact, those who were very agitated and expectant of drastic, it not vindictive actions, described the governor as ‘slow’, and his government as a ‘government of committees’. Yet, Dapo is trudging on, with the royalty in him taking the lead.

‘Omo Teacher’ decided to regularize and accommodate into the civil service, the over 1,000 workers hurriedly employed by the immediate past administration. He noted that despite flaws noted in the appointments and recruitments, his government has decided to be magnanimous, as a people-centred administration and not be vindictive. type

Despite flaws, he upheld all the appointments of the permanent secretaries made in the twilight of the last administration.

In the last one  and half years, and in spite of the fallouts of the coronavirus pandemic currently ravaging the world, Governor Abiodun has made a startling difference, elevating populations long treated as mere statistics in government circles into active participants in a new, project-driven and progressive era. This is why testimonies across the state continue to show the huge impact he and his stellar cabinet, a welter of distinguished intellectuals and trail blazers, have made in just a short while. Admittedly, though, only a few of the achievements can be mentioned in this piece.

From security to infrastructure, and from agriculture to business, tourism and spirts development, Abiodun has shown what it means to have a proven and time-tested wealth creator and agent of change at the helms of affairs. Governor Abiodun wasted no time in addressing security issues. He bought100 vehicles and 200 motorcycles to arrest security threats in the state after having first provided communications equipment for the security agencies. That was far from fortuitous: as a consultant, he had helped Lagos State conquer cross-border banditry in the 90s.

In the area of infrastructure, the Governor also did very well. No sooner than he was sworn in when he took the gospel of road construction to every nook and cranny of Ogun State, rejecting the window dressing of state capitals that frequently passes for “good performance” in this clime. Suddenly, he began to work in different places , including remote areas, where politicians typically only visit during campaigns. All these areas have now begun to feel government’s presence.

 

xxxxxx The provision of infrastructure is critical for socio-economic development in any nation. Like many states, nations and sub-regions around the world, Ogun State has had its share of infrastructure dearth such that the systems like transportation, housing, environment, education, healthcare, agriculture, power, security and social services, portable water are in dire need of maintenance and upgrade.

On assuming duties as the fifth Executive Governor of Ogun State in 2019, Prince Dapo Abiodun was unhappy with the deplorable condition of amenities within the state: the roads and bridges, school buildings, public hospitals and water plants, etc. He had to figure out ways of bridging the infrastructure gap to accelerate the socio-economic development vision, which was top priority.

With his diverse private sector experience on purposeful governance and robust developmental blueprint summarised as ‘Building our Future Together,’ Prince Abiodun was determined to open up all the nooks and crannies of the state through capital investments in infrastructure.

He facilitated massive road construction and rehabilitation within the 236 wards across the three senatorial districts, such that despite the meagre resources available to the state, over 50 roads have been completed and 19 are in progress within his first year in office.

Some of the road construction works include the Epe-Ijebu Ode and Sagamu-Abeokuta federal roads constructed by past administrations, but recently rehabilitated by the Abiodun administration through Public-Private Partnership. Others are Itoikin-Ibefun-Ijebu Ode, Iperu-Ilisan, Sango-Ojodu Abiodun, Ilaro-Owode, Abeokuta-Sango-Ota-Lagos, Osi-Ota-Awolowo-Navy-Kola and Balogun Kuku in Ijebu Ode. The ongoing works include the reconstruction of Opako Bridge in Adigbe, Abeokuta, several township roads and the abandoned 32-kilometre Akute-Ajuwon-Alagbole road.

Furthermore, the creation of Ogun State Public Works Agency (OGPWA) following the passage of the Ogun State Road Maintenance Agency (OGRMA) amendment bill into law has birthed several cost-saving opportunities through the massive construction, rehabilitation and maintenance projects. They have created streams of job opportunities, improved productivity, increased mobility and alleviated poverty within the state.

Noticeably, Abiodun’s view of road infrastructure is holistic and includes boosting agriculture and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) growth. The state government is also giving special attention to infrastructure development in the Agbara-Atan-Ota, Ewekoro-Ifo and Sagamu-Ogijo industrial hubs.

As a means of exploring the state’s proximity to the country’s commercial hub, the visionary governor is also partnering with the Lagos State Government on key joint ventures. This will help to fast track development and spill over of commercial opportunities.

Noteworthy is the fact that the people of Abeokuta North Local Government in particular, are excited by Governor Abiodun’s infrastructural achievements across the length and breadth of the state.

A recent visit to different communities within the local government showed that there has been enormous investment in infrastructure. These include the reconstructed Iberekodo General Hospital internal road, mobilisation of contractors to resume work on the Lafenwa roundabout road and Mokola flyover along Ajitadun-Adatan road, inherited from the previous administration.

To ensure all round security for people, Governor Abiodun established an agency to conduct, audit and provide a roadmap to actualising the “Light Up Ogun” project, with a view  to ensuring that most cities in the state have uninterrupted power supply. The objective is to regenerate the state’s old cities, places like Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu and Ilaro, in a sustainable fashion and without compromising the future.

Another significant project was the revival of operations in the Arakanga water treatment plant which is responsible for supplying portable water to Abeokuta metropolis and its environs. Earlier this year, the governor had visited the comatose water plant and by March, households had started enjoying good water supply.

The governor’s bias for healthcare was evident in the reconstruction the public Primary Health Centre, in Adeun, Abeokuta North Local Government. The facility upgrade included the installation of solar power equipment and fencing.

Since the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic, the administration has set up a COVID-19 isolation and treatment centre at Iberekodo, carried out an aggressive distribution of palliatives to the youths and vulnerable, and fumigated Lafenwa, Olomore and Iberekodo major markets.

Prince Abiodun’s efforts in providing funds through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers Programme, supply of weed killer, fertilizers and agriculture fields to 3,500 farmers drawn from Abeokuta North Local Government and other LGAs are some of his giant strides in agriculture.

Similarly, the mass recruitment of youths into the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) and vocational trainings for artisans in plumbing, electrical and building works are under the direct labour initiative of the state ministry of housing. Also, several sons and daughters of Abeokuta North Local Government Area have been offered political appointments to the credit of the governor.

The establishment of Oko Owo Dapo and Care for Widows’ schemes have been great sources of empowerment and increased productivity for the beneficiaries. These welfare initiatives have positively impacted and improved the socio-economic activities in the beneficiary communities.

In like manner, the donation and installation of two new distribution transformers to Kemta/Ilugun in Abeokuta North Local government have resuscitated life and commercial activities.

And, fully apprised of the linkage between education and development, he also enacted the novel project of rehabilitating a school per ward in the state. There are 236 wards in Ogun and if every ward had a standard school with state-of-the-art facilities, the governor reasoned, the educational revival of the state would have begun on a sound footing.

The renovation of public classrooms in primary and junior secondary schools in Abeokuta North Local Government by Governor Abiodun’s administration has also been remarkable. The beneficiary schools include ANLG Primary School, Federal Housing, Elega, ANGL Primary School, Ilugun Asalu, Holy Prophet School, Isale-Ogun, OUS Primary School, Ikereku, Owu Methodist Primary School, Oke-Sokori and Moshood Abiola Model School, Adatan.

In addition, textbooks and teaching materials donated to public schools in the all local government areas, as well as the installation of Education Management Information System (EMIS) equipment in the Abeokuta North Local Government Education Authority to aid data collection and analysis. This has also been replicated in other Local Government Education Authorities within the state.

Over this feat, the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) commended him for what it called his administration’s remarkable achievements in the education sector within the last one year in office. The students’ body described governor as the most student friendly governor in the history of the state.

According to NAOSS, Governor Abiodun’s sincerity of purpose and sheer determination have changed the fortunes of the education sector for good.The Association attributed the unprecedented development in primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education to the commitment of the governor to restore the lost glory of education in the State.

The body lamented what it regarded as the negligence of education sector by the immediate past administrations in the state, claiming that “but for timely intervention of Governor Abiodun in the crises that bedeviled all the three levels of education in the State, the sector would have completely collapsed.

“We commend the courage, resilience and doggedness of Governor Dapo Abiodun in reviving the education sector of the State.” Says the students leader, Comrade Ogunrounmbi.

He added that, “One of the most remarkable achievements of Governor Abiodun is the rehabilitation of 236 primary schools across all the wards in the state.

“Besides these numerous achievements in the education sector, all other sectors of the State have also witnessed unprecedented development.”

NAOSS congratulated the Governor for achieving all the feats within a short period of one year and urged him not to relent in his effort to take the state to an enviable height.

He set up visitation panels to troubled higher institutions in the state and addressed the contending issues with dispatch. Since assuming office, Governor Abiodun has attended convocation ceremonies in all tertiary institutions in the state, interfacing with their management both formally and informally and seeking ways to make them deliver on their core mandates in research and innovation. He has given the best students in those institutions get automatic employment, to reward academic excellence and gradually build a civil service boasting the best materials. In any case, one of the first things he did upon being sworn-in as governor was to abolish the N3,700 educational levy imposed by his predecessor. The result? School enrollment exploded as parents heaved a sigh of relief.

In all that he has done in the past one year, Governor Abiodun has made the people’s comfort his mission. He has served and protected Ogun people, including from the ravaging impact of the coronavirus pandemic, about which the Federal Government recently gave a great testimony. He had set up five isolation centres, increased contact tracing, and set up testing labs. It was through his efforts that Nigeria’s index case was traced and quarantined. Returnees from Cote d’ Ivoire who could have transmitted the virus in Ogun were intercepted and the Osun State government alerted. For Abiodun, it’s been hard work all through, but the results have justified the labours.

Prof.-Umar-Garba-Danbatta

NCC Remits ₦344.71bn into Consolidated Revenue Fund in 5 years

by with No Comment GoveranceNews

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), says it remitted N344.71 billion into the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) in the last five years.

NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta said this, when the House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunications, led by its Chairman, Mr Akeem Adeyemi, paid him a legislative oversight visit in Abuja.

Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC Director, Public Affairs said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Adinde said that Danbatta attributed the successes of the commission in the last five years to its harmonious relationship with the National Assembly.

He said that the telecommunications sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased from 8.5 %in 2015 to 14.30% in the second quarter of 2020.

”Through the support of the lawmakers, especially the Committee on Telecommunications, which the NCC leadership has worked with in the last five years, the commission has been able to generate and remit N344.71 billion into federal government’s CRF.

“The remittance is from spectrum fees and operating surplus.

“In financial value, the 14.30 % translates to N2.272 trillion in Q2.

The telecoms investment grew from around 38 billion dollars in 2015 to over 70 billion dollars currently,” he said.

Danbatta said that the NCC has also helped promote financial inclusion by encouraging Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), to actively participate in providing financial services towards actualising federal government’s 80 % financial inclusion target by 2020.

“Through collaborative efforts with critical stakeholders like the National Assembly, the NCC has been able to increase broadband penetration from 6 % in 2015 to 45.43 % as of September, 2020.

“Basic active internet subscription grew from 90 million to 143.7 million.

”Between 2015 and September, 2020, active voice subscription has increased from 151 million to 205.25 million with a teledensity standing at 107.53 %,as at the end of September, 2020.

“We are also empowering and protecting the consumers and ensuring we are able to sanitise the industry of improperly-registered Subscriber identification Module (SIM) cards through our impartial regulatory approach,” he said.

Earlier, Adeyemi, said the over sight visit was in line with relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which empowered the House to carry out its role of checks and balances on the executive.

He commended the leadership of the NCC for its transparency in ensuring remittances to CRF, considering the current revenue drive of the government.

Adeyemi urged the NCC to sustain its current template of ensuring effective regulation of the telecommunications sector, in a manner that would be more mutually beneficial to the industry players, the consumers and the government.

zulum9

Babagana Zulum: A Profile of Governance that delivers Peace, Reconstruction, Prosperity and Inclusive Society through New Dynamics of Leadership Strategies in Borno State

by with No Comment Goverance

Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, Governor Borno State, Nigeria is a firm and disciple person who mirrors the character and principles embraced by Nigerian founding fathers. And as such he has  been creating an inclusive society in Borno state, reconstructing, building peace and partnerships, working together with the people and changing lives

Leadership, learning, courage and good choice of words are the take-aways from Governor Zulum.  An example of the leadership and character strength by such founding fathers as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, and Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Then plus some traits of President Muhammadu Buhari.

A leader who anchors himself on the philosophy of the Bostonia orator and late US President, John Kennedy’s saying that leadership and learnership are indispensable to one another, Zulum having gathered governance experience from former Governor Kassim Shettima, is among the leaders who are positively redefining governance narratives in Nigeria. This explains why he was able to execute over 326 projects in his first year in office.

And this is something instructive. No wonder he is drawing admiration, within and outside Borno state, for his giant strides in all aspects of governance, with his visionary,  people-focused, articulated development agenda which he christened: 10-Pact Transformation Agenda.

Being an academic leader he fully understands the new purposes that scholars have now begun to classify as PPP: People, Planet, Plurality. This shows us new dynamics in different economic regions of the world, focusing on different priorities. For instance, Europe already defines the inauguration of the green revolution, the P for Planet, as its post pandemic. The USA, involved in the presidential elections, places plurality and its diversity, therefore the P for Plurality is its concern with insertive civil society. Leaders in Africa, frightened by the increase in extreme poverty and social losses, focus on reducing the social impact of misery and unemployment on the continent, putting the issue of people ahead. Therefore, Africa preferred concern to focus upon.

But surprisingly, Zulum-a professor of soil science is concerned with all these three Ps.  As a result, he is working tirelessly to shape the future, bring back confidence and restore hope to his people, and never the one to  gamble away his state’s stability and economic security , and never one to engage in sabre-rattling.  As he is concerned with humanitarian and security issues, so is he concerned with food security, agriculture and climate change, as well as  human resources development.

Even with the Boko Haram insurgents activities that have rendered many hopeless and homeless, Governor Zulum remains focused on delivering education as a dividend of democracy to his people.  He has been going about to resettle people, once forced to flee their homes as a result of BokoHaram activities, in different towns and villages in Borno state, leading other government officials in the distribution of food and non-food items to those in critical humanitarian needs. Risking personal safety, he regularly visits disturbed locations where a large number of people have been displaced to wipe of tears from people faces and infuse them with hope and confidence. While supervising aid distribution to thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable members of society, he is equally concerned about their need for shelter.

Governor Zulum laying the foundation of a building project

A look at Zulum’s performance in office in just one year makes people marvel. He embarked on 375 projects.

To ensure peace and security become permanent features of Borno social and cultural life, Zulum places premium on the security of the citizenry. That is why he has been able to make several sustained efforts in tackling security challenges in the state. With 300 patrol vehicles purchased and distributed to CJTF, military and other sister agencies, establishment of security trust fund, formation of rapid security response team, special protection component for farmers tagged agro-rangers, created, procured security gadgets to CJTF and the upward review of their allowances, visitations to high-risk security areas for citizens’ needs assessments, among many other efforts has shown how focused and determined Zulum is, on security matters.

Aware that education is the key to scientific and technological advancement, the means to combat unemployment and the foundation of social equity, Zulum put it on his priority list. His  outstanding achievements in the area of education within the one year in office, is breathtaking. 76 verifiable projects were undertsken across 21 Local government areas. 49 projects are already completed while 27 ongoing in the education sector. Zulum embarked on massive construction, rehabilitation and renovations of hundreds of blocks of classrooms and offices in schools.

In the health sector he has recorded huge transformation , too. The sector benefited 46 physical projects in 19 LGAs out of which 37 are newly built primary, comprehensive and maternity healthcare centres with some few still ongoing. The governor was aware of the unmitigated disaster dearth of equipment could pose to the people’s wellbeing and therefore, promptly procured several equipment of world class standard and essential drugs for most of the healthcare centres in the state, among many others.

He equally seeks to promote commerce and industry in order to boost the state’s economy and its development. He has brought about great transformation for enhanced services and efficiency of  state-owned companies such as BOPLAS, BOSCO, Borno wire and nail industry.  This is in addition to construction of a new modern market in Kwaya-Kusar and market stalls in many LGAs. Agriculture, ecology and biodiversity were greatly considered as Firgi (dry season) farming, installation of rice mill Zabarmari, procurement and repair of modern farm implements, establishment of woodloot plantation, construction of drainage systems to counter erosion and flooding, 2.7 million trees raised, and many others.

Rural/ Urban Development has numerous footprints of Zulum.  He has clearly shown his committed resolve to build Borno State as he has embarked on massive construction of over 6000 housing units, installed litany of electrification and transformers on notably rural communities across the all local government areas. He drilled hundreds of solar powered boreholes, constructed and reconstructed several vocational centres or skills acquisition centres for job creation, constructed 53 municipal buildings in 12 local government areas, in a view to speed up his civil authority restoration processes in the recaptured LGAs.

The transport sector also receives the attention of the governor. In addition to the massive road construction projects, there has been remarkable improvements as Borno Express, the state-owned transport company, is witnessing rapid transformation.

In terms of reconstruction and psychological healing, Zulum is also firing on in all cylinders. This is because Borno state houses over two million internally displaced people (IDPs) forcefully chased out of their communities by Boko Haram in camps and host communities with women and children been the most affected due to their vulnerabilities. And this presents a huge challenge. But Zulum is up to the task.

Zulum who is also a humanitarian decided to get directly involved in coordination and supervision of distribution of food, clothes and conditional cash to displaced persons in many communities across the local government areas of the state. and since coming to office over  one year ago, Zulum has personally supervised and distributed palliatives to hundreds of thousand individuals and families in 14 local government areas.

To address policy inconsistencies and lack of coordination in humanitarian response,the Governor established Agency for Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Response with the mandate of coordinating activities of non-governmental organisations, among many other interventions rendered in the area of humanitarian support and social protection.

In June, this concern forced him to revoke the allocations of houses that remained unoccupied at the Indimi Housing Estate (INHE) in Bama Local Government Area. The governor was on a working visit to Bama when he gave the revocation order. The allocated houses at Bama has remained to be occupied for over a year.

Bama had severally been attacked and destruction of over 90 of houses and public buildings by Boko Haram terrorists, before troops re-captured it in 2016.  On that particular day, Governor Zulum also supervised aid distribution to more than 25,000 IDPs and vulnerable members of the host community in Bama. The IDPs,  staying in Bama town, were mostly from villages sacked by insurgents in Banki, Gulumba, and Ngurosoye of Bama Local Government Area. He told the IDPs that:

“I want to sympathize with you; you have been in a very difficult situation. The insurgents have displaced you from your houses and communities, without any means of livelihoods.The food items you see here are jointly provided by the Borno State Government and the Federal Government. President Muhammadu Buhari is very compassionate about your plights, may God bless him.”

He also announced the re-opening of three secondary schools in Bama. The re-opening, according to him, was to enable primary school pupils to continue with their education. “I will soon come back to Bama. I will personally supervise the enrollment of students.

“We’ve to reopen Government Day Secondary School; the Mega School will also be converted to a Secondary School, while a Girls’ Secondary School will be sited in Shettimari Primary School temporarily.”

At palace of the Shehu of Bama, Zulum informed the royal father of government’s plan to resettle people at Ngurosoye village and Banki, a border town with Cameroon.He said while the IDPs in Menawo and Kirawa taking refuge in Cameroon; will be repatriated to return Banki.

Earlier in August 2019, in his bid to ensure total restoration of civil authority to the local government areas previously ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency, Zulum had ordered immediate relocation of Shehu of Bama and his Dikwa counterpart back to their respective palaces.

He also made possible the immediate return of all local government staff and primary school teachers to their respective local government areas of postings.

The two traditional rulers had fled their homes to Maiduguri at the peak of the Boko Haram crisis between 2014 and 2015.It could be recalled that the Shehu of Bama escaped death by whiskers when the terrorists invaded his palace then.

But with the restoration of peace by the security agencies, civilian joint taskforce and subsequent return of the displaced persons from the areas who were earlier taking refuge in Maiduguri back to their ancestral homes through the rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement programme of Borno State government, Zulum moves to ensure that the monarchs are also home to boost the morale of their subjects.

But who is Governor Zulum? What experience shaped him?  And why is able to do all these things, reconstructing lives in Borno state?  He has leadership qualities and enough experience. He understands that shaping the future essentially means planning to build a robust, prosperous and sustainable economy, as well as a successful development model that meets the competitive demands of the global economy.

This ensures that the concerned state or country excels in various areas of development compared to its counterparts worldwide.

He has been tested and trusted in the proper management of men and materials in his previous public positions. His wealth of experience and laudable achievements as the then Rector of Ramat Polytechnic and pioneer Commissioner Ministry for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), put him on a good footing and this is brought to bear in the fight against  Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

The good people of Borno state believe that with his unrivaled passion and concern for the plight of the common man, Borno state was about to witness a tremendous shared prosperity in all its ramifications having Zulum as the governor.

In 2015, Zulum was appointed pioneer Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement by Shettima. Despite being in control of billions of naira for the reconstruction of thousands of homes, schools and hospitals, he neither bought a personal house nor a personal car for himself. He also came under attack from Boko Haram twice but didn’t stop in his efforts to rebuild substantial parts of Borno.

It is also interesting to note that, as a don, Zulum had more than enough family challenges that he couldn’t even afford to build a personal house and lived in rented apartments with his families even when he was appointed Rector, Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri and subsequently, Commissioner of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), one of the newly created State Ministries by former Governor Kashim Shettima in his second tenure in office.

“Governor Shettima told me in September 2015 that he was trusting me with so much funds for the rebuilding of hundreds of communities destroyed by Boko Haram, and he was worried about the displacement of more than two million people of the state.

That appointment was one major challenge, and I took it up ready to die doing it or trying. Yes, at some point, there was the issue of safety since insurgents can spring surprises, but we had the overwhelming support of the military and the police in particular, as well as other security agencies, and volunteers. The rebuilding was something that needed to be done. As the governor said, we couldn’t wait forever. I’m happy that he succeeded in his determination to rebuild many communities, particularly places like Bama. Today, the government has resettled victims in most of the LGAs, including Bama, Kaga, Dikwa, Gwoza, Askira Uba and others.” Said Zulum in an interview before he became governor in 2019.

Early in life, Zulum had to join his father in tilling the ground at a tender age in Loskuri village, Mafa Council of Borno State. “Every day, I trekked for seven kilometres to reach my father’s farm from our home,” he recalled. He combined farming with his primary and school in Mafa and Monguno from 1975 to 1980 and 1980 to 85, respectively.”

When Zulum was in class five in a secondary school in Monguno, he began to fully cater to his education. “I became a commercial driver of taxis, particularly Peugeot 404. At some point, I also drove buses carrying passengers to different villages and neighbouring states. At a later time, I drove commercial pickup trucks carrying firewood from forests. While working as a commercial driver, I learned how to fix any vehicle I drove,” he said.

In 1986, Zulum gained admission into Ramat Polytechnic in Maiduguri, owned by the state government, to study for a National Diploma in Irrigation Engineering, and lived with relatives off-campus in Kofa Biyu, a densely populated area.

“I trekked for eight kilometres from Kofa Biyu to Ramat Polytechnic and back whenever I had lectures. But I was already used to long walk all my life, as I couldn’t afford transport to school. Whenever I drove taxis and returned the vehicles to owners, I used what I got for my basic school needs. I later also became a commercial operator of grinding machine, and I owned one in Mafa, and during weekends I went there to serve customers,” he added.

Then, from 1990 to 1994, he studied at the University of Maiduguri, where he obtained a degree in Agriculture Engineering, after which he served as a youth corps member with Katsina State Polytechnic. He proceeded to the University of Ibadan from 1997 to 1998, where he obtained a Master’s degree in Agriculture Engineering. In 2005, he enrolled for a PhD in Soil and Water Engineering with the University of Maiduguri, which he completed in 2009.

The courageous decision by His Excellence , Professor Zulum, to initiate actions that build peace for the prosperity of the people reflects a much-needed, pragmatic vision for the future of Borno State and entire North-East region.

Operating within the template of his 10-Pact Transformation Agenda within one year of being Borno governor, Zulum undertook 375 projects, of which 326 are physical projects. The  remaining 49 as capital-intensive programmes and policies.  An average of one project per day  that is the performance of a man popularly called “Governor Workaholic”.

Today , humanity is on the threshold of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, around which global economic development of the future will pivot. Governor Zulum is trying to gather his people for global economic development, so that they are not left behind in the scheme of things.  Under him, governance in Borno State has evolved into the finest relationship mechanism that binds the citizens and the leaders in a shared vision of progress and welfare of the people. The same sense of pride and passion for national excellence marks President Buhari ‘s working style, which has a frank and uncompromising approach to policies and their impact on progress, is also noticeable in Zulum leadership

This provides an echo of old Kanem Bornu Empire, which comes to mind when the issue of tolerance was mentioned. Then the region was in its brightest times tolerant of the other and receptive to the other, courtesy, peace prevailed , the world-attracting scholars, traders and tourists from places like Sudan to Egypt, Baghdad to Damascus, Mali to Senegal to the Bornu Empire. Its people were beacons of knowledge, industry and civilization because they were based on real values that govern their relations with all civilisations, cultures and religions around them.

Governor Zulum bonding with the survivors and victims’ of BokoHaram attacks provides for them an opportunity to ease their pain and suffering. And in all of their sadness, there is joy too — with Governor Zulum’s commitments to touching and transforming lives, showing the true spirit of Islam, its compassion, its peace and its joy, attributes devoid of bitterness, acrimony, distrust and violence.