By Rukayat Adeyemi

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) on Monday solicited collaboration of Seplat Energy Plc on capacity building for local engineers, renewable energy expansion projects and innovations for national development.

NSE President, Mrs Margaret Oguntala, made the appeal while leading a delegation of the society on a visit to Seplat Energy in Lagos.

Oguntala said that the visit was in line with NSE’s objectives and committed to partnerships toward influencing and providing quality advice to governments, commerce and industry sector players, academia as well as other stakeholders.

She listed programmes embedded in the NSE Strategic Agenda developed by its council to drive growth in various sectors and communities.

She commended the company’s demonstration of leadership through innovations, sustainability, and excellence within the industry and its efforts in pursuing cleaner energy use to reduce carbon emissions.

She said the firm’s efforts in reducing carbon emissions, investing in renewable energy sources, and supporting local communities aligned perfectly with the values and objectives of the NSE.

Oguntala solicited support from the energy firm toward the expansion of NSE’s renewable energy installations at its headquarters in Abuja, as well as capacity building of engineers to ensure the development of the nation.

“We believe that working together with us to expand this infrastructure will go a long way in helping us to achieve our objectives and bolster your contribution to supporting a more sustainable and prosperous future for our country.

“NSE also seeks to collaborate with Seplat Energy in the realm of capacity building and professional development.

“Our engineers are the backbone of the energy sector, and they must be equipped with the latest knowledge, skills, and technologies.

“We propose the establishment of joint training programmes, workshops and research initiatives that will not only enhance the capabilities of our engineers but also drive innovation within the sector.

“As we look towards the future, it is clear that the path to sustainable development lies in strong partnerships and collective actions.

“The NSE is committed to fostering such partnerships, and we are confident that our collaboration with Seplat Energy will yield significant benefits for both our organisations and for the nation as a whole,” she said.

Oguntala announced that the 2024 National Engineering Conference and Exhibition with the theme “Sustainable Engineering Solutions to Food Security and Climate Change” will focus on food security.

She added that the Council of NSE carefully considered and approved the theme for the conference to reflect the desire of President Bola Tinubu in achieving sustainable food security for Nigeria.

The NSE president thanked the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Seplat Energy, Mr Roger Brown, and his team for hosting the NSE while expressing hope for fruitful partnerships for advancement of Nigeria.

Responding, Brown, CEO of Seplat Energy, thanked the NSE team for recognising the firm as a leading indigenous energy company and for the partnership over the years.

Brown congratulated Oguntala on her emergence as the first female president of NSE since inception in 1958.

According to him, Seplat Energy is leading Nigeria’s energy transition with accessible, affordable and reliable energy that drives social and economic prosperity.

“As the nation’s trusted independent energy supplier, we understand that Nigeria’s energy transition is a unique challenge. It needs leaders with long-term vision, local insight and courage to forge new pathways.

“We are one of them. Step by step, we are bringing together like-minded trailblazers and forming networks of partners to make cleaner forms of energy more available and reliable for everyone.

“Each step propels us further, and in our mission to lead Nigeria’s energy transition with accessible, reliable and sustainable energy that drives Nigeria’s social and economic prosperity.

“In line with our strategy to deliver energy transition, we have assessed various midstream gas, power, and renewable investment opportunities that are focused on increasing energy supply and reliability, lowering costs, and reducing carbon intensity of Nigeria’s electricity consumption,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

By Okeoghene Akubuike

Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions as Nigeria celebrates 25 years of Democratic Government, saying they need to see more dividends of democracy.

Some Nigerians, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, said our leaders need to listen to the citizens which was what was obtainable in a true democracy.

Mr Isaac Ighure, a Former Secretary-General, Nigerian Guild of Editors, said there was need for leaders to firm up the country’s democracy and improve on it.

“Democracy is yet to take a firm root in Nigeria. We keep describing our democracy as nascent.

“We cannot remain young forever, after 25 years we should be standing firm in our democracy and see its dividends.”

Ighure said Nigerian leaders did not have a listening ear citing the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira as examples, which had led to hardship.

“Our leaders need to listen to the people because the people voted for them. That is what democracy is. Our leaders do not tolerate alternative views.

“They need to wake up to entrench free democratic practices, freedom of the press, and the right of the people to make their feelings known through peaceful protest without intimidation by security personnel.

“The government needs to take away the hunger ravaging the land, improve the health and education sectors, provide adequate infrastructure, and tackle insecurity in the land.

“Nigerians can no longer feed properly, Nigerians are living in IDP camps in their own states, farmers can no longer go to the farms because of bandits.

“The Chibok and Dapachi School children are still missing, and other students are being kidnapped from their schools. These are not things that make up a democratic setting,” he said.

He said the government must tackle corruption at all levels, and prosecute any corrupt person irrespective of who they were.

“We claim to model our democracy after the U. S., which is a largely free society. Former U. S. President, Donald Trump has been convicted of a felony, that is a true democracy. Can that happen in Nigeria?

“Leaders should not live in opulence while the citizens live in penury. Our leaders should give us a sense of worth.

“Your children cannot be sick at home or unable to go to school while you and the parents are looking for money to buy a new car or travel abroad.”

Ighure urged the government to pay the minimum wage proposed by labour, saying it was long overdue, especially with the present economic situation which had led to  hardship.

Femi Ogunshola, a public servant, said the country had witnessed some dividends of democracy, however, things could be better after 25 years of democracy.

“The press is relatively free compared to the military era and Nigerians can now exercise their democratic right to vote and be voted for.

“Nigerian youths have now been given the opportunity to occupy leadership positions as well.

“However, we still have a long way to go, this is not where we are supposed to be as a nation.

“Nigeria can be better if we have the right leaders, who listen to the people and consider the citizens’ interests above their personal interest. ”

Mrs Gloria Okafor, a businesswoman, said Nigeria had witnessed some dividends of democracy but a lot more could be done to achieve more.

“In the area of freedom of speech, we have made good progress. Also, we have a system of government where citizens can vote for their leaders who represent them in parliament.

“However, we are not where we are supposed to be yet after 25 years. if you compare other countries practising democracy and see what they have achieved in terms of development.
then you know Nigeria still has a long way to go.

“Democracy is a good thing but part of the problem is that the people are not holding the government accountable.

“Government must listen more to the people and after listening they should act on what the people have said.

” It is one thing to listen and another to take action. We need a responsive government,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Joan Nwagwu
As Nigeria marks Democracy Day, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says its demand for the new National Minimum Wage  remains N250,000.
The Acting President of NLC, Mr Adewale Adeyanju, said this in a statement, while reacting to President Bola Tinubu Democracy Day speech on Wednesday, in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government  had offered N62, 000 as the new national minimum wage, at the end of the tripartite committee meeting, involving the Organised Private Sector (OPS) .
According to him, the union appreciates the President’s commitment to those fine democratic ideals which allowed the work of the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee to proceed unhindered despite some hiccups.
“Our demand still remains N250,000 only and we have not been given any compelling reasons to change this position which we consider a great concession by Nigerian workers during the tripartite negotiation process.
“We are, therefore, surprised at the submission of Mr President over a supposed agreement.
“We believe that he may have been misled into believing that there was an agreement with the NLC and TUC.
“There was none and it is important that we let the President, Nigerians and other national stakeholders understand this immediately to avoid a mix up in the ongoing conversation around the national minimum wage,” he said.
Adeyanju also noted that the union had not seen a copy of the document submitted to Mr President and it would not accept any doctored document.
He, however, reaffirmed the union’s belief that the president on whose table the Tripartite Committee’s report presently resides would prepare an Executive Bill which content would reflect the true demand of Nigerian workers.
“We think that this is an opportunity for him to demonstrate his love for Nigerian workers and masses.
“That is by shunning the pieces of advice that may be coming from those whose intentions are continuously focused on hurting the poor and struggling workers of Nigeria.
“Mr President should not allow these individuals and groups to sabotage his promise of lifting Nigerian workers out of poverty,” he said.
According to him, the president’s advisers obviously did not tell him the truth that the leaders of the trade unions were intimidated and harassed.
“It is, therefore, important that Mr President understands that we were threatened severally by his operatives perhaps without his consent.
“Series of media propaganda calculated to intimidate and harass us were, and, are still being waged against the trade unions by senior officials of this government.
“Fully armed soldiers surrounded us while we were in a negotiation with the government,” he alleged.
He added the NLC remained assured that the president’s democratic credentials will come to the fore in favour of Nigerian workers and masses.
He also noted that NLC never agreed on a five-year duration of the minimum wage Act though acknowledged that the president mentioned five years or less.
According to Adeyanju, the union also agreed that inflation should be pegged at a level for certain amount to be agreed as minimum wage. This is to bring clarity to what the report should contain.
“Once again, we reiterate that it will be extremely difficult for Nigerian workers to accept any national minimum wage figure that approximates to a starvation wage.
“We cannot be working and yet remain in abject poverty.
“We seek justice, equity and fairness for all Nigerians and this we hope would also drive the actions of Mr. President who promised a Living Wage to Nigerian workers.
“This is an opportunity to show that he listens to Nigerians as he promised,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

By Aderogba George

Mr Okorie OKorie, President, Nigeria Youth Organisation (NYO) on Wednesday said that improved and speedy judicial process were key to strengthening democracy.

Okorie said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on the occasion of Democracy Day.

He urged the country’s judiciary to rise to the occasion of not only defending democracy but also sustaining it with equitable, fair and timely dispensation of justice.

“May I use this medium to call on our judiciary to help protect our democracy with timely and just dispensation of judgments.

“Justice delayed is denied they say. We should try to dispense justice at expected times with equity and fairness,” he said.

He called on the judiciary to always nullify elections that lacked integrity and transparency.

According to him, the courts should make verdicts that condemn electoral malpractices without fear or favour.

The NYO president who congratulated Nigerians on celebration of 25 years of uninterrupted democracy called for a youth-inclusive at all tiers of government.

He explained that such inclusion was necessary for national development and prosperity.

Okorie also commended the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, for rising in defence of local government autonomy.

The NYO boss said that local governments, as the third tier of government, should not be stifled in true democracies because they remained the closest to the people.

Okorie identified financial and political autonomy as fundamental in engendering development in local governments.

The NYO president advised the Federal Government to ensure that political autonomy was granted local governments by allowing INEC to conduct elections for them.

He urged Nigerians to support the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, to restore the autonomy of local governments for rural development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Fagbemi recently instituted a suit against 36 state governors over local governments autonomy at the Supreme Court. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Uche Anunne

By Patricia Amogu

Dr Femi Adeluyi, the National Coordinator, National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), says Nigeria could become a global talent pool because of the quality of talents and skills it exports.

Adeluyi said this when the Managing Director, Gallery of Code, Mr Oscar Ekponimo, led a delegation of experts alongside winner, STARTS4AFRICA in Nigeria to pay him a courtesy visit Tuesday in Abuja.

STARTS4AFRICA is an initiative that will allow artists to address regional challenges around food and water, digital mapping and speculative landscapes, culture, among other thematic areas.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NATEP was launched by the Federal Government in 2023 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to catalyse job creation by exporting local talents.

“Nigeria has a lot of niche export areas and one of our greatest exports is our talents.

“In the next couple of decades, Africa and Nigeria will become a talent hub because we are getting closer to becoming third largest continent in the world.

“What NATEP is focusing on is to not just jobs inside Nigeria but we are focusing on jobs that are outside the country.

“The idea is to create jobs that can bring in foreign exchange into Nigeria that can strengthen the economy thereby using NATEP to change the Nigerian narrative’’, he said.

He said that what virtual artist, Jibril Baba, was doing with the sponsorship from STARTS4AFRICA was a welcome development because it could help in strengthening food storage system in Nigeria.

“This is a really good model which can be enhanced and elaborated on.

“What Gallery of Code is doing with the STARTS4AFRICA programme is interesting, I also like the STARTS initiative’’, he said.

Ekponimo said the visit was meant to bring home one of the three winners from the STARTS4AFRICA challenge and seek inputs and areas of collaboration with NATEP.

According to him, the programme, a science, technology and arts-driven initiative, is a dedicated version of STARTS for Africa, an EU-led intervention with the Gallery of Code serving as the umbrella body for the initiative in Nigeria.

“This is the first phase and the first time this is coming up in Africa and a Nigerian has been selected from among 300 applicants.

“Jibril Baba, a visual artist, has just been awarded a grant that will support his project – a smart technology that will address food storage challenges and boost food production in Nigeria .

“We look forward to your mentorship and collaborations and we are open to push further discussions forward on the “niche areas’ that we can leverage on for future stakeholder collaborations.

“Jibril will be showcasing his final exhibition in Nigeria and also Austria. He was selected among the winners to exhibit at an Arts festival in Austria from Sept 4-Sept 8’’, he said. (NAN)

Edited by Uche Anunne

By Oluwafunke Ishola

A Non-Governmental Organisation, the Benjamin Olowojebutu Foundation (BOF), on Wednesday urged Nigerians to be the change they desired in their sphere of influence to birth a better and prosperous country.

Dr Benjamin Olowojebutu, the Founder of BOF and also the first Vice-President, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), made the appeal in a message in commemoration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day Celebration.

Olowojebutu said that growing needs and urgent demands made it imperative for citizens to become the change they sought.

“Can we genuinely itemise the changes we seek in the various constituencies of human endeavours we currently represent – academia, medicine, technology, military, sport, religion, business, politics.

“We have a long list of changes compiled in our minds, with strong expectations that someday the government and other revered people will make those changes and correct the aged errors.

“Pathetically, we have lived in the cocoon of such expectations for decades; hoping, trusting, assuming, and waiting, sadly wasting our precious time in anticipation of a nonexistent saviour to calm our frayed nerves and turn the tide of things,” he said.

According to him, mere prayers and faith for a better society without a corresponding work will produce futile and inept results.

The NGO founder said: “I had a foretaste of this in the most profound and life-changing manner.

“For years, I have dutifully dispensed my medical expertise to people of all ages and classes. I have diligently observed certain lacuna and inefficiencies that I expected the government to address in our healthcare system.

“But a single event changed my paradigm. One fateful day in 2016, a drunk driver recklessly hit my car. This head-on collision resulted in a fatal accident.

“I broke my right femur and was assisted to the hospital by some good Samaritans. I was not attended to for hours at the hospital – my vital signs were not taken, nor was I assigned a bed.

“Gradually, life was seeping out of me. Strangely, the doctors were ready to refer me to another medical facility until my wife and colleagues intervened by wielding their influence and connections.

“This swung the CMD into action, and graciously, I was attended to.

“However, this encounter spurred an unanswered question, “What would have happened if I was just a peasant farmer?”

Olowojebutu noted that the experience made him reevaluate his expectations and contributions to humanity, leading to the birth of the Benjamin Olowojebutu Foundation (BOF).

“As a non-profit organisation, BOF has conducted over 10,000 surgeries for indigent people free of charge. Giving hope to helpless people across the six geo-political zones of our nation.

“Previously, I never thought that was possible. Until I dared to start it alone. As an individual, we are more powerful and capable than we thought.

“However, to harness this inherent power, we must see things differently – seeing ourselves as the change we seek is a game changer while seeing ourselves as victims or mere commentators is a ship-sinker,” he said.

Olowojebutu emphasised that to become nation-builders, citizens must improve their thought patterns, level of participation and commitment to achieve a better and prosperous Nigeria and Africa.

BOF is a NGO which gives the less- privileged in Africa access to healthcare.

It intervenes in fibroid treatment and removal; breast lump screening and removal; lipoma treatment and removal, hernia screening and removal, among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Christiana Fadare

By Aderonke Ojediran

Nigeria’s afrobeats artiste and entrepreneur, Oluwatosin Ajibade, popularly known as Mr Eazi, has called for more collaborations in education and sports in Africa.

Mr Eazi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

“As we grow in life, there’s this self awareness that drives us into new passion, education is the bedrock of any forward thinking nation, as Africans I believe we need to be more deliberate about creating the right environment for learning.

“I recently visited Rwanda, engaging in
several significant events and meetings.
One of my highlight was attending the NBA Basketball Africa League (BAL) finals between the champions Petrol De Luanda and Al Ahly ly.

“This event showcased the best of African
basketball talent, and undoubtedly my presence underscored support for the continent’s sports growth and development,” he said.

Mr Eazi said he had also visited various Rwandan companies for his Choplife gaming company as he explores potential partnerships and collaborations to expand his entrepreneurial ventures.

“This will increase my impact on African youths and the creative industry.

“A key part of my visit involved meeting with the Ministry of sports.

“This discussion focused on potential collaborations for sports development and creating more opportunities for young people.

“I also engaged with the education sector to discuss potential collaborations with the Choplife Foundation.

“These partnerships aim to leverage my commitment toward providing resources, opportunities, and platforms for deserving students in the region,” he said.

He said he was seeking partnerships in Rwanda because the country needed more support in the education and sports sectors.

Mr Eazi said he also had ongoing projects in Nigeria and Ghana. (NAN)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran