SPPG graduates 133 new disruptive thinking leaders in 2022
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
Sponsored by: H&H
In a bid to produce the next generation leaders with disruptive thinking, School of Politics, Policy & Governance, (SPPG) over the weekend held a graduation ceremony for 133 students for the 2022 academic year in Abuja Nigeria.
At the 2022 graduation ceremony of the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance with the theme: “Designing Our Global Future with Africa in Mind” held at the Shehu Musa Yar’dua Centre, Abuja, were Chairman, FATE Foundation, Fola Adeola, former Minister of Information & Culture, Frank Nweke Jr., former Minister of Education/founder SPPG, Oby Ezekwesili, US Ambassador to Nigeria among others.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of SPPG, Alero Ayida-Otobo, said the institution was designed to transform the quality of political and public leadership in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.
She disclosed that the 2022 graduating class comprised 133 students who underwent 10 intensive months of training and learning.
“For the class of 2022, there are about 133 students graduating. The pioneer class was 160 and they have gone through 10 intensive months of training and learning. They studied 140 topics, seven thematic areas. Research shows that there were certain gaps in the knowledge base of lots of public leaders. So, this is our own contribution in building the knowledge base of future leader’s and we are very pleased that we have 133 graduates.
“A lot of them are already doing great work. They are already community organisers serving at the community level and recruiting individuals that have the potential to be part of our community. We also have among them at least three that scale through the primaries conducted by parties.
“Our 10 months course stretches and strengthens one’s leadership capacity and our students who were aspirants demonstrate that what we are teaching is not just possible but we have people who are running the race already”.
Meanwhile, former Minister of Education, Dr. Ezekwesili has linked the root cause of Nigeria’s leadership problem to distorted political culture where leaders place personal interests above public good.
According to her, there must be a change of mindset by leaders to tackle the growing economy and security challenges in the country.
Ezekwesili, who is also the founder of SPPG, observed that character, competence and capacity was the missing link in producing good leaders in the African continent.
She, therefore, stressed the need for disruptive thinking in the nation’s political space.
She said: ” What we found is that not just Nigeria, but across Africa, there is a political culture that is distorted.
It’s the political culture where those who are in public leadership subordinate the public good. That is the common good for their personal and narrow interests. And so, what it means is that the common good and public good is not served by people who should be serving. So, in order to correct that, you have to basically customize a new leadership mindset.
“So, the training that we gave at the School of Politics, policy and governance is one that has the content to reset the mindset of those who wish to lead in public service.
“They lead by serving, they place character at the foundation of the knowledge that we give to them by improving on their competency and the capacity for them to be able to articulate sound policies, be able to design institutions that enable society to advance and to have the capacity to make the right choices of investment in the goods and services that countries need in order to grow”.
The ex-Vice President for the World Bank’s Africa Region, said ahead of the 2023 elections, such distorted political culture could be corrected with sufficient information on the part of the Nigerians.
According to Ezekwesili, there is a need to educate and sensitize the citizens on the consequences of making bad decisions during elections.
“I think that one of the things that our research shows is the important role of citizens, which is why a critical pillar in the research of fixed politics is the pillar on empowering and enlightening the electorate so that they would have enough influence sufficient enough to influence political outcomes. So, the role of the citizens in democracy is part of what the SPPG promotes and again, we must have the office of the citizen, the community organizing approach, and all the other things that lead towards an empowered citizen that can push back and demand accountability as well as the emergence of the right kind of leadership for our public space”, She added.
Former US Secretary of States, Hillary Clinton, in a short video message, stressed the need for Nigerians to vote during elections, noting that participating in electioneering activities would strengthen the nation’s democracy.
The best graduating students are Joyce Daniels- female and Musa Ali Baba- male.
IBEDC Celebrates Christmas, Urges Customers to Prioritize Safety and Energy Responsibility.
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
The Management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc extends heartfelt Christmas greetings to all Christians, esteemed customers, and Nigerians at large.
In a statement, the Managing Director, Engr. Francis Agoha highlighted that the birth of Jesus Christ symbolizes sacrificial love—a virtue that humanity should strive to embody.
Engr. Agoha assured customers that IBEDC has implemented measures to ensure network stability and smooth operations throughout the holiday season. “In anticipation of customer needs during the holidays, we are fully prepared to address faults quickly to minimize disruptions in power supply,” he stated.
He also called on customers to avoid energy theft, including tampering with meters or making illegal connections. “Energy theft is a criminal act that affects service quality for everyone and hampers our collective progress. I encourage customers to report any suspicious activities immediately,” he said.
Additionally, Engr. Agoha warned against tampering with electrical installations due to their severe safety risks, including the potential for injury or fatality. Customers are urged to report any faults, energy theft, or other issues to IBEDC offices or the Customer Care Line: 07001239999. IBEDC also encourages customers to use its secure and convenient payment platforms to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply during the holidays.
These platforms include the IBEDCPAY app (available on Android and iOS), Quickteller, Payarena, Jumia, Watu, Buypower, IRecharge, and ATMs. IBEDC offices will be open from 9 am to 3 pm during the holiday to report faults, make inquiries, bill payments, and vending services. “We sincerely thank our customers for their continued support throughout the year and urge everyone to prioritize safety by avoiding hazardous practices, such as cooking under power lines, drunk driving, etc.,” added Engr. Agoha.
Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year filled with peace, joy, and progress.
Overriding Public Interest: Delta warns against impeding govt projects
DAN DENT (ASABA)
SPONSORED BY: H&H
Delta State Government has cautioned citizens against impeding projects meant to serve the general public, saying such actions were illegal and constituted an abuse of the law.
Commissioner for Works, Highways and Urban Roads, Comrade Reuben Izeze (middle) discussing with the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir. Festus Ahon (right) shortly after Inspecting the maintaininers of Uti Road on Wednesday, while the Project Manager Mr. Milad Boutros (left) look on. PIX: SAMUEL JIBUNOR.
The State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, gave the warning in Effurun on Wednesday during an inspection of the DSC Roundabout Link Road to PTI Junction.
According to him, “no citizen is bigger than the state; I learnt that a citizen has said a particular portion of the road that has been approved cannot be constructed because that is his private property.
“I want to sound it to our people as a note of warning, that, to impede government project in the name of private property is an abuse of the law.
“If your property is on the right of way and we know it is not a road, this administration has made it a point of duty to pay compensation for the use of such properties in the overriding public interest.
“This project has an overriding public interest; if your property is in the right of way and your property has approval, the best we can do, as we have always done, is to give you compensation.
“But to say you stop government officials from doing their job because you feel you are bigger than the government or you are bigger than the law is absolutely unacceptable.”
Commissioner for Works, Highways and Urban Roads, Comrade Reuben Izeze (right) taking the measurements of the Rod while the zonal Chief Engineer Uvwie and Opke local government Area, Engr. Kporon Ennah (left) look on. PIX: SAMUELm JIBUNOR.
Speaking further, he said; “so, we are constructing a drainage that would discharge all the water on this road. If you look at this place, it was originally a swamp.
“Meanwhile, this place had all along been intended to be a road that should take traffic from the East-West Road to reduce the volume of traffic on DSC Roundabout and PTI Junction straight to the Eku highway.
“We have come to see what the contractors are doing and I must express my displeasure at the poor quality of engineering work that I have observed here in this drainage.
“In fact, as things stand, considering the volume of water that will be coming from the Julius Berger projects, the existing volume of water from the swamp.
“What is being done here, therefore, necessitates that this drain be done according to the engineering specifications because the volume of water we will be dealing with is enormous.
“However, on getting down here and measuring the distance between the reinforcements, we discovered that the contractor apparently did not pay attention to details.
“So, I have instructed them to remove everything, start afresh and we will come back. They should not put the reinforcement until I have come to inspect what they have done to be sure that they have complied with the spacing as provided for in the Bills of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation.”
Brutality Victim: Anambra State Executive Council Approves Medical Expenses of Victim
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo undertakes the medical expenses of a victim of brutality by some contractors of the Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA), Mr. Okechukwu Akaneme.
Soludo
The governor took this humanitarian decision to relieve the victim while strongly denouncing such despicable conduct. In addition to the governor’s gesture, the contractor has been relieved of his engagement with the state agency (ASWAMA) immediately, to serve as a deterrent to others.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, the victim who was assaulted is being hospitalised.
The Council has resolved to pick up his medical overheads, while sympathising with Akaneme ‘s family and prays for his quick recovery.
This profound empathy reflects Soludo’s sincere dedication to offering not just solutions but also a genuine commitment to providing helping hands, support, and hope to the people whenever and wherever required in the state.
END
Press Release
Anambra State Executive Council Awards More Road Contracts
The 37th Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) has awarded the contracts for the construction of new roads in the state in preparation for the yuletide season.
This is aimed at ensuring a memorable Christmas for Ndi Anambra, who will be celebrating the season in the state, from across the country and other parts of the globe.
In a release by the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, ANSEC at its 37th Meeting, approved the construction of the 3.75 km Igwe Orizu Road, in Nnewi, to New Idea Construction Company Ltd, and to be completed within six months.
The 10.8 km Nkwor Nnewi to Nkwor Oraifite was awarded to Infratech Construction Ltd at N7.2 billion, with a 12-month completion timeline, while the Oraukwu-Abatete-Nimo bypass in Idemili North measuring 4.922km was awarded to GMG Global Construction and Development Company Ltd, with a delivery date of six months.
At the meeting, the Council observed that many roads awarded at the last executive council meeting, including the New Tarzan Road and the three roads whose contracts were revoked and re-awarded, have not been reported.
Recently, Governor Soludo kept his promise with the completion of the 12.5km Ezira-Umuomaku-Enugu Umuonyia-Achina Road, linking several communities, and the 11.9km Mmiata-Anam-Nzam road, linking the headquarters of Anambra West Local Government Area (LGA).
With the ongoing and completed road projects in the state, Governor Soludo has literally turned Anambra into a construction site in his pursuit of transforming the state into a country-wide destination brand.