By Mohammed Baba Busu, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

On September 10,  2024, a unique and gracious celebration package commenced earnestly for the Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers.

The event was designed to celebrate Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar’s 72nd birthday and 21 years on the throne as a first-class royal father.

The Etsu is one of the revered traditional rulers in Nigeria, partly because of the tremendous impact he has made in the lives of the less privileged in his domain and even beyond.

This year’s celebration was exceptional for many reasons. One of them is the manner he touched the lives of countless less privileged citizens of the society in a manner no one expected.

The celebration started on September 10 through September 15, 2024.

On the first day of the week-long event, the royal father visited the Medium Security Custodial Centre located in Bida where he had a chat with the inmates and counseled them on morals while serving their various jail terms.

As a compassionate father, Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar (Bahagadozhi), facilitated the release of six inmates.

He paid all that was needed, including their fines and compensation for those imprisoned because of debts.

It was indeed, a heart-rending sight as the released prisoners and some persons who witnessed how it happened were shedding tears of joy.

He also donated food items and toiletries to the inmates, encouraged them to be law-abiding and take full advantage of the educational and vocational programmes available to them to transform their lives.

He emphasized the importance of them being productive and useful to themselves and the larger society after serving their jail terms.

While receiving the royal father on behalf of the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (CGCS), Malam Haliru Nababa: the Controller of Correctional Service, Niger State Command, Mr Maikudi Garba Adamu, applauded the Etsu Nupe for his support and care for the inmates.

He congratulated him on his 21 years on the throne and his 72nd birthday, prayed for his sustained good health, long life, and blessings for the progress of his domain and humanity in general.

Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar also went to Bida remand home and donated cash and food items to the inmates.

He also visited the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Bida, where he donated N5,000 cash to each of all the patients on admission, gave them packages that contain toiletries.

Still in the spirit of the celebration, the royal father visited the school for the physically challenged and made donation of several items, including food stuff, cash and instructional materials.

He also took time to empower widows, youths and other vulnerable residents of his domain.

The epochal activities marking the 72nd birthday and 21 years on the throne climaxed with special prayers at the Bida Central Mosque.

Speaking during the special prayers and walimat, the Royal Father appreciated God Almighty for keeping him alive and giving him sound heath.

He also commended his subjects and all residents of the state for their support over the years since he ascended the throne.

While commenting on the current economic hardship in the country, the royal father admonished his subjects to be patient and continue to pray for God’s grace to overcome the present predicament.

He also noted that there is no beginning that does not have an end, and stressed that there is no situation that prayer cannot change.

He advised his subjects to stop blaming the government but rather continue to offer fervent prayers and trust in God, noting that all developed nations have passed through periods of hardship before stabilising to become great.

While also enjoining his subjects to live in peace with each other over the years, he charged them to continue to tolerate one another and continue to resolve differences including land disputes amicably.

He called on leaders at all levels to fear God and try as much as possible to put in place policies that will make life easy and meaningful for the less privileged members of the society.

He particularly called on those who are saddled with the responsibilities of distributing agricultural inputs meant to be free, to ensure that they give genuine farmers free as stipulated by the government.

Also, in a special Sunday service to mark the memorable event, the Bishop of Bida Anglican Church, Rt. Rev. Jonah Kolo thanked God for giving the Etsu Nupe the grace to celebrate the 72nd birthday.

He also prayed for many more years in sound health and mind.

He commended the Etsu Nupe for his unbiased way of handling issues in the kingdom and also carrying everybody along, including adherents of all religions.

This, according to him, has been the enabler of peaceful coexistence in the state.

President Bola Tinubu was also part of the celebration as he made public statement to congratulate the Etsu Nupe for attaining 21 years on the throne and 72nd birthday.

This, many said, is a special recognition of the contribution of the royal father to the peaceful coexistence of residents of Niger State and to the growth of the country.

In a congratulatory statement signed by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, he said:

“President Tinubu recognises the strong and purposeful leadership of the Etsu Nupe as Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers and his contributions to the traditional leadership institution and community development.

“The President commends the first-class traditional ruler for supporting education and development initiatives and facilitating healthcare projects in Nupe Kingdom.

“President Tinubu also commends him for working for the stability of the country by promoting peaceful coexistence and cooperation among different ethnic groups, not only in Niger State but also throughout Nigeria.

“The President also notes the Etsu Nupe’s steadfastness in promoting interfaith harmony and understanding among different religious groups since he assumed his ancestors’ throne more than two decades ago.

“He urges the highly regarded monarch of the Nupe Kingdom to continue to foster national unity and development.

“President Tinubu wishes the king good health and happiness as he celebrates.”

On his part, Gov. Mohammed Umaru-Bago of Niger also eulogised the wisdom and deep knowledge demonstrated by the Etsu Nupe in providing purposeful leadership to residents of his kingdom over the past 21 years.

In a congratulatory message, the governor commended the fatherly role that the 13th Etsu Nupe has been playing not just among the Nupe-speaking people but throughout the nation.

He noted that the unity and high cultural values among his subjects speak volumes of his purposeful leadership.

The governor stressed that the Etsu Nupe had done exceptionally well to promote, strengthen and sustain the age-long rich cultural heritage of the Nupe Kingdom.

He categorically noted that the reign of Etsu Nupe has tremendously impacted positively on not only his subjects alone but also diverse Nigerians around his kingdom, describing him as a bridge-builder, selfless, determined and caring leader, who always stands by his people.

“It is, therefore, important to stress that the revered royal father needs the continued support, prayers and goodwill of all residents of Niger state to enable him to continue to provide the needed leadership to people.

“Youths in the state must also learn and emulate the virtues (love and care for each other), of the royal father for a peaceful and prosperous Niger State.

“Let me also join millions of residents of Niger state and the country at large to wish our royal father long life, good health and more prosperous years ahead,” Bago said.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris described the Etsu Nupe as “a worthy leader who has displayed exceptional wisdom to his people”.

While identifying himself with the successes recorded by the Nupe traditional ruler Idris, who holds the title of Kakaaki Nupe, commended the peace and prosperity in Nupe land under his leadership.

“Etsu Nupe has been a worthy leader who has displayed exceptional wisdom to his people, and to which both the Niger State and federal governments have benefitted over the past two decades.

“It is not in doubt that his reign has witnessed peace and prosperity in Kin Nupe and will continue to be a blessing to his people and to the nation’’, Idris said.

Similarly, Alhaji Mustapha Abubakar-Bida, Sarkin Dawaki and Chairman, New Niger Development Projects Development also joined the multitude to celebrate Etsu Nupe.

“Your twenty-one years of visionary leadership, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to the progress of our great Nupe Kingdom’’, Abubakar-Bida said. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

By Rotimi Ijikanmi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Charles Darwin, English naturalist and biologist said, “it is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change”.

Although Darwin’s insight relates to his popular theory on evolution by natural selection, however, in our ever changing world, it is also apposite to the subsistence and success of businesses, ideas and even government establishments.

In the 48 years of its existence, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), no doubt, has witnessed series of evolution and its operations and environment have been transformed in response to the changes in the society it serves.

The agency has moved from typewriters to computers; from analogue cameras to digital ones.

NAN has evolved from cyclostyled news bulletin delivered by messengers in motorcycles to specialised news and multimedia services delivered direct to subscribers via satellite ; and from an ill equipped wire service to a modern news agency.

From satellite service, the agency evolved its official portal where subscribers access news and information.

Realising that modern news delivery is becoming virtual, with subscribers wanting information directly on their inbox, NAN is equally leveraging on various social media platforms through a multi media unit in rendering its services

Beyond text only service, the agency equally evolved audio and visual news transmission in English while the latest in its kitty is news rendition in the three major languages – Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo.

It is, however, worthy of note, that the series of evolution above, relate to the primary mandate of NAN, as a national news agency in Africa, which prides itself as always first with the news on Nigeria and beyond.

Therefore, the Oct. 3 debut of an annual international lecture of the agency has been described as novel and a departure from a regimented timely delivery of factual and objective news.

The maiden annual lecture, as innovated by the Malam Ali Mohammed Ali, the new Managing Director of NAN, was organised to ignite international conversations around security in Nigeria and the Sahel region

According to Ali, given its strategic importance in the last 48 years of existence, “NAN, the largest news agency in Africa, must play a pivotal role in giving direction on political, economic and social issues.”

One may be tempted to ask the questions; how does an annual lecture conform with the mandate of a News Agency, and why does it takes almost five decades for it to debut?

The statutory editorial Policy on NAN, partly quoted below provides the answer to the first leg of the question.

“The agency must bring enlightened opinion to bear in discussing national and international issues. It must positively influence public opinion and contribute to the evolution and formulation of correct national policies.

“The Agency is enjoined to promote understanding among the peoples of the ECOWAS sun-region,the AU and the world in general.”

On the delay in the take off, this could be an oversight on the part of past leaderships. However, as the saying goes, “better late than never.”

The inaugural lecture themed: “Insecurity in the Sahel (2008-2024): Dissecting Nigeria’s Challenges – Genesis, Impacts and Options,” was no doubt, apt considering the scale and impacts of insecurity in Nigeria and the Sahel region at large.

With the staggering number of fatalities in the Sahel region due to violent extremism, one cannot agree more on the imperative of the discourse

According to former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, the Chairman of the day, in 2020, a whopping 4,660 people were killed in the Sahel region while another 2,660 civilians lost their lives in banditry attacks in 2021.

The General equally noted that Ngeria’s security challenges cannot be divorced from the regional heritage in the Sahel, a vast landmass which encompasses the troubled countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Cameroon.

The lecture, therefore, gave the opportunity for the Special Guest of Honour, President Bola Tinubu to highlight the commendable progress in the fight against terrorism, insurgency, banditry and other forms of violent crimes across the country. by the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Tinubu, who was represented by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, reassured Nigerians of government’s commitment to return the country on the path of stability through kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.

“In tackling our security challenges, our administration has adopted a multifaceted approach as enshrined in the renewed hope agenda which prioritised security as a critical component of government focus,” he said.

Tinubu,in his capacity as the Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces, also used the forum to issue stern warning to terrorists and insurgents to surrender or face renewed onslaught of the military.

From the host, the guest lecturer to ministers in attendance, members of diplomatic corps and other distinguished guest who spoke at the event, it was agreed that the insecurity in the Sahel is complex with deep roots in sundry causal factors

The sundry casual factors according to them, included climate change, food insecurity and extremism which have created a ring of violence and instability in the region.

Proffering solution to the challenge, it was agreed at the lecture that insecurity cannot be addressed without looking at the genesis, the root causes, problems and possible solutions.

It was a general consensus that insecurity in the Sahel is fueled, among others, by economic challenges instigated by unfair access to capital and the leadership at all levels, must take necessary steps to bridge the gap.

It was also resolved that multi-dimensional approach beyond military intervention is needed to address insecurity in the Sahel region.

The participants resolved that Issues of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment must be addressed by leadership at all levels to nip insecurity in the bud,

They recommended that in tackling insecurity across the continent, African leaders must priotise targeted developmental projects to alleviate poverty, underdevelopment, unemployment.

Coming back home, the participants resolved that Nigeria’ ssecurity challenges cannot be divorced from its regional heritage in the Sahel, a vast landmass which also traverses the troubled countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Cameron .

They agreed that home grown solutions are critical to tackling insecurity in the country.

The media was admonished to curtail negative narratives about insecurity in the country, tell true stories on beauty,, development and achievements of their country.

Nigerians were also charged to speak well of their country, support the agenda and programmes of the leadership.

An icing on the cake was the pledge by the National Assembly to deploy possible legislative machinery in ensuring that the recommendations from the inaugural lecture are not swept under the carpet.

Based upon the results, it can be concluded, therefore, that the inaugural lecture achieved its aim to, among others, interrogate the violence troubling the Sahel and proffer solutions to the problem. (NANFeatures)

**If used, please credit the author and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)