‘Boko Haram ready for peace’

The Nation

Hajiya Aisha Wakil, who is believed to be close to the Boko Haram leadership, says the group is ready for talks with the Federal Government on the fate of the 219 missing Chibok girls.

She said yesterday that she had been on the neck of the Boko Haram leaders, who according to her offered to honour her to dialogue with the government and release the girls and other captives.

The group’s leadership might soon make a pronouncement on their plan for the girls, she said.

Hajiya Aisha, who spoke with our correspondent on the phone, said she expected the Boko Haram leaders to come out and discuss with the government.


She said: “Since I came back, I have been on their neck. They have now agreed to come out and discuss with the government and bring back the girls.

“I am for the Chibok girls and all the captives. They are ready for peace. This is what they told me.”

Although Hajiya Aisha was not forthcoming on the imminent release of the girls, whose abduction has sparked a global outrage, she said: “I think they might post some information on YouTube within 24 hours.”

The Army on August 14 declared Hajiya Aisha and two others wanted for interrogation in line with the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 (as amended).

The others are a journalist, Ahmed Salkida, and Amb. Ahmed Umar Bolori.

But Aisha has maintained her innocence, claiming that she is not a shady personality.

In a reaction to the Army’s statement, she had said: “I am Aisha Alkali Wakil. I understand that the military declared me, Ahmed Silkida and Ahmed Bolori wanted for having links with Boko Haram. It’s interesting; now they believe me?

“I know the Boko Haram boys. I have been in front fighting for peace long before Chibok girls were kidnapped. Nigerian security knows me too well. I’m not shady. Why declaring me wanted?

“I have had meetings with Chief of Army Staff and his people. I told them the way forward, to allow me come with some commanders of Boko Haram and discuss with them, present the release of CBGs but they chose to do things their own ways only and never gave considerations to any of my suggestions.

“I want to inform the Nigerian people of my innocence and make them realise that I am in constant relation with the security personnel and they know where to find me but wonder why I had to be declared wanted on national news, even mentioning my husband’s name alongside.

“This has put my immediate and extended family under a lot of pressure and I do not deserve this from the Nigerian government.

“Though they may not appreciate all my efforts to proffer peaceful solutions to the menace of Boko Haram, my name should not be mudslinged nor my character defamed. Thank you.”

President Muhammadu Buhari, in an interview with reporters on the sideline of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi, Kenya last weekend, said the government was ready to dialogue with bonafide leaders of the group who know the whereabouts of the girls.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, quoted Buhari as saying: ‘‘I have made a couple of comments on the Chibok girls and it seems to me that much of it has been politicized.

‘‘What we said is that the government which I preside over is prepared to talk to bonafide leaders of Boko Haram.

‘‘If they do not want to talk to us directly, let them pick an internationally recognized Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), convince them that they are holding the girls and that they want Nigeria to release a number of Boko Haram leaders in detention, which they are supposed to know.

‘‘If they do it through the ‘modified leadership’ of Boko Haram and they talk with an internationally recognized NGO, then Nigeria will be prepared to discuss for their release.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/boko-haram-ready-peace/

FCMB supports 2016 Ojude Oba Festival to boost tourism, felicitates with Ijebuland

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has explained that its continuous support of the Ojude Oba Festival is borne out of its commitment to celebrate and preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage, while also boosting the tourism sector in line with the government’s ongoing drive to diversify the country’s economy.

Consequently, the Bank has assured that its participation in this year’s edition of the Festival, which holds in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state, on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 will be grand, exciting and rewarding for the thousands of people within and outside the country that would grace the fiesta. FCMB has in the past 10 years continued to play a significant role in ensuring the success of the Festival.

The Group Head, Corporate Affairs of FCMB, Mr. Diran Olojo, reiterated this at a press conference organised by the Ojude Oba Festival Planning Committee held at Ijebu-Ode on August 29, 2016. 

The Ojude Oba (which in Ijebu dialect means, the king’s fore-court or frontage) is a major festival in Nigeria that began over 100 years ago. It brings together all sons and daughters of Ijebuland in Nigeria and diaspora for a carnival-like celebration of the traditional, cultural, spiritual accomplishments and other values of the Ijebu nation. During the Festival, various age groups (popularly known as the Regberegbes), indigenes, their friends and associates from far and near - all in their colourful costumes and riding on horses - throng the palace of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland to pay homage to him amidst prayers and other fun-filled activities. 

In a goodwill message to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona on the occasion of this year’s Ojude Oba Festival, the Chief Executive Officer of FCMB, Mr. Ladi Balogun, congratulated the monarch for upholding the values of Ijebuland and raising the status of the event over the years. He stated that FCMB is committed to the longevity of the Ojude Oba Festival, and was proud to be associated with it.

''The Ojude Oba Festival has become a long standing yearly tradition we look forward to as a unifying factor and a tourist attraction. For over a century, the Festival has gone a long way to showcase, amplify and promote our cultural heritage. FCMB has been a major supporter of the Ojude Oba Festival for more than a decade and it has been a mutually beneficial journey. As a socially responsible corporate citizen, we realise that globalisation, though essential, could also become a threat to the cultural identity of a people. We also recognise that celebrating the heritage and diversity of Nigeria is important in educating generations to come about the evolution of our country'', Mr. Balogun emphasised.

In the same vein, the Founder of FCMB Group who is also the the OloriOmo-Oba AkileIjebu, Otunba (Dr) Michael Olasubomi Balogun, CON, in a goodwill message to the paramount ruler of Ijebuland expressed his gratitude to the Awujale, especially considering the paramount ruler’s selflessness in attending to the different requests and yearnings of the people of Ijebuland.

In a message delivered on his behalf by Mr. Olojo, the spokesman of FCMB, Otunba Balogun commended Oba Adetona for his, ''distinguished and exemplary leadership over the years which have continued to endear you to all of us''.

While congratulating the entire indigenes of Ijebuland, the FCMB Founder also prayed that the monarch’s reign would, ''continue to bring joy, prosperity and robust health, all in abundance to the entire Ijebu race, at home and in the diaspora, in all that you endeavour to do for our people''.

Apart from the glitz and colours associated with the annual Ojude Oba Festival, the event provides an opportunity for the indigenes of Ijebuland, their associates and well-wishers to discuss pertinent issues that fast-track the development of the Ijebu nation. The Festival also boosts business activities, tourism and the general hospitality sector in the area, thereby contributing to socio-economic development.

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) is a member of FCMB Group Plc, which is one of the leading financial services institutions in Nigeria with subsidiaries that are market leaders in their respective segments. Having successfully transformed to a retail and commercial banking-led group, FCMB expects to continue to distinguish itself by delivering exceptional services, while enhancing the growth and achievement of the personal and business aspirations of its customers.

Nigeria Air Force Destroys New Boko Haram Camp

The Nigerian air force says it has destroyed a new Boko haram terrorist’s camp located between Malam Fatori and Kangaruwa in northern Borno.

A statement by the Director of public relations and information, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa says the new camp is about six kilometers away from a location which the Nigerian air force had attacked on the 19th of august killing about three hundred insurgents.

Group captain Famuyiwa says the night operation conducted by the Nigerian air force on Sunday was a follow-up to the post – strike battle damage assessment which revealed that the surviving terrorist from the 19thaugust attack had converged at the new location

The statement further added that Nigerian air force alpha jets also repelled an attack by Boko haram terrorists on troops of 153 battalion who were on patrol at Ala Lumshe on Saturday 27th august just about four kilometers of Marte.

Stigmatizing President Buhari

By Sola Adeyeye

This rehash of the prominent positions held by Muslims in Nigeria is mischievous and quite unfortunate. It is the typical Nigerian game of chasing needless shadows rather than focusing on the arduous task of nation building.

Until recently, so-called Christians held commanding heights of the economic governance of our Republic. The Presidency, Headship of National Assembly, Secretary of Govt of the Federation, Head of Service, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank, the NNPC, the Stock Exchange etc were headed by so-called Christians. Tragically, they reprobately superintended the profligate looting of our common patrimony. The lone voice of courageous warning belonged to a certified Muslim, Sanusi Lamido, who succeeded Soludo and was hounded for his courage to expose the cult of looters comprising so-called Christians.

Yes, the metastasis of economic ruins in Nigeria was gestated by these Christians. They reduced Pentecostalism to a reprobate pente-rascality whereby the Dukes and knights of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and the Christian Association of Nigeria became errand boys in the corridor of accursed political power. Their private jets were the conveyors of stolen money!

Tunde Fashola is a Muslim. He now heads what used to be three big ministries. Was he chosen because of his religion? He was chosen because of his track record!

The dust will settle in Nigeria. Change will come despite predictable resistance from reactionary principalities and forces. Hackneyed references to issues that divide rather than unite us whether by Muslims or Christians, are age-long stumbling blocks to progress.

It really is a shame when well educated Nigerians, whether Muslim or Christian, wobble themselves in religious intolerance. Unfortunately, the intolerance is nursed by some imams and pastors mouthing poorly considered facts. Even if seemingly compelling, facts degenerate into half-truths when they are placed, as is often the case, outside of proper context.

The toxicity of half-truths rarely emanates from the profligacy of falsehood but rather from the subtle distortion of truth! Blatant falsehood is intuitively obvious and as such easy to reject. By contrast, when truth is softly bent, it takes great discernment to perceive its toxicity.

The Constitution of Nigeria enshrines that every state must be represented in the Cabinet of the Federal Government. Even those of us who feel that this, by itself, creates a cabinet that is too unwieldy, must tolerate such a provision until our pluralistic, multi-ethnic and multi-religious republic evolves into organic nationhood. As such, whoever is the President of Nigeria must have a minimum of 36 Ministers.

Of the six ministers representing the Southwestern states, two (Fashola from Lagos and Shittu from Oyo) are Muslims while four are Christians (Adeosun from Ogun, Adewole from Osun, Fayemi from Ekiti and Daramola from Ondo). All the five ministers from the Southeastern states are Christians as are all six ministers from the states of the south-south. In other words, of the 17 ministers from southern Nigeria, 15 are Christians while 2 are Muslims.

In the North-Central, Audu Ogbe from Benue, Solomon Dalong from Plateau, James Ocholi (now deceased) from Kogi are Christians. The remaining three ministers from that zone are Muslims. Even if all the ministers from Northeastern and Northwestern states are Muslims, we are left with a Federal cabinet comprising 18 Christians and 18 Muslims! We have a devout Muslim as President and a no less devout Christian as Vice President. The current composition of the Federal Executive Council is one in which only liars will complain that Christians have been marginalized. When in the history of Nigeria has a traveling President transmitted power to the VICE PRESIDENT? That is what Buhari does each time he travels.

Now let us move to the legislature. Of the 10 Principal Officers of the Nigerian Senate, only three (Saraki, Ndume and Na'alla) are Muslims! The remainder (Ekeremadu, Adeyeye, Alimikhena, Akpabio, Aduda, Bwacha and Olujimi) are Christians! Adeyeye and Bwacha are lay preachers. The House of Representatives is headed by a Christian. With such a composition, the Nigerian Legislature is not a place where Christians can be said to be marginalized. In fact, few people realize that there are more Christians than Muslims in the Nigerian Senate.

Now let us go to the Judiciary. How many judges of the Supreme Court has Buhari appointed? The answer is Zero! Is it fair to blame him for appointments that predated his own election into office? The fear of God, the love of country and basic human decency dictate that we reject an amalgamation of intellectual sophistry with the dereliction of truth.

Unfortunately, it is quite easy for detractors to pick and choose their facts in a manner that allows malignant campaigns of calumny.

Professor Adeoye Adeniyi, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, was a deacon at Oritamefa Baptist Church Ibadan. He was the Chairman at my wedding. He was also our pediatrician. When he was leaving the University of Ibadan to head the College of Medicine at Ilorin in 1978/79, he handed Oluwatobi (our daughter) to a Moslem doctor in his Department. I asked him why he did not hand us to a Christian. Professor Adeniyi smiled and said, "you do not need a Baptist or for that matter a Christian doctor; you need a pediatrician who will respond even if you call after midnight!"

I enjoy air travels. Sometimes, the plane gets to very rough and bumpy weather. At such times, my concern is not whether the pilot can speak in tongue or prophesy! Rather, one hopes that the pilot knows what to do in a storm even if he were a Buddhist or Moslem. May God guide our Muslim President aright as we wade through the fierce storms of nation building.

Let everyone who loves the people of Nigeria share this piece widely so we can drown the voices of disunity and hatred....

Minister Seeks Stronger Ties With Sudan In Areas Of Culture, Digital Economy

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called for the strengthening of bilateral ties between Nigeria and Sudan in the areas of cultural/creative industry and digital economy in order to boost the efforts of the two countries to diversify their economies away from oil.

The Minister made the call in Abuja on Tuesday when he received the Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Bushra, on a courtesy visit to his office.

“Let’s take the opportunity to look at two areas where the two countries can work together. One is the area of creative and cultural industry; another is the area of digital economy. Today any country

that does not see and recognize digital economy is like a man winking in the dark….. Today if you have an identity and a name and you have no digital identity it’s as if you do not exist. So we want to see how the two countries can cooperate in both the cultural/creative industry and also the digital economy,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed described cultural/creative industry as the economy of the future because of its huge potential to create wealth, generate employment, especially for the youth, and foster cooperation among the nations of the world.

“To me the economy of the future is the creative and cultural industry which does not come with the headache of oil. I can say this because my country and your country have suffered from the same problems related to oil production. On the contrary, when an economy is built on the creative and cultural industry, it engenders more understanding, breeds cooperation and friendship and at the same time brings in more money,” he said.

The Minister therefore stressed the need to expand the frontiers of

economic cooperation beyond buying and selling of commodities and machinery to the broader aspect of creative and cultural exchanges for citizens’ empowerment and economic recovery, particularly among countries suffering from the crash in the price of crude oil.

“I think it’s about time we changed the concept of economic

cooperation and stop restricting economic cooperation to just buying of oil and selling of machinery. We should look today at a broader interpretation and meaning of economic cooperation and I am talking about the cultural and creative industry. This is one area where Sudan and Nigeria can really improve their relations and at the same time make up for what is being seen as lack of economic cooperation,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed offered to partner with Sudan in the area of capacity building in the film industry, especially Kannywood where there are cultural similarities between the two countries, music as well as arts.

In his remarks, Ambassador Bushra said in spite of thegeographical distance, the two countries enjoy a long history of kinship and blood relationship, saying there are about five million Nigerians currently residing in Sudan.

“I always cite a very good example which is a Sudanese Singer, Aisha Musa, In Sudan she is known as Aisha elFelelatiya. She was born from Nigerian parents in 1917 and she was one of the most famous singers in the music history of Sudan. There are many Sudanese of Nigerian origin. They are ministers, governors and businessmen and they are contributing with their brothers in building Sudan,” he said.

He said despite the historic relationship between Nigeria and Sudan, more needs to be done in the area of economic cooperation for the benefits of the two countries.

The Ambassador expressed his willingness, if invited, to bring a Sudanese Musical Group to participate in the 2016 Abuja Carnival.

Nigeria Finally Identifies Solution to Its Power Problem – NOA

In the light of on-going efforts towards sustainable energy supply in Nigeria, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has identified atomic energy as an important component of the energy mix that will address the nation’s energy problems.

NOA Director General, Garba Abari stated this during a working visit to the Chairman, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), Dr. Erepamo Osaisai, adding that an attitude change programme was underway to correct the negative perceptions about nuclear energy among Nigerians.

The NOA boss said while Nigeria is expanding its hydroelectric power generation and exploring solar energy, there was need to pay close attention to nuclear energy which has little impact on climate and long term cost efficiency. He said NOA was engaging with critical stakeholders to close the knowledge gap about the use and relevance of atomic energy in national development and the functions of NAEC among citizens, using Information, Communication and Education materials.

Responding, Dr. Osaisai noted that nuclear energy was not only for the development of weapons of mass destruction but was also useful in agriculture, food production waste and water resources management as well as power generation, adding that NAEC mandate was focused on developing atomic energy for such purposes.

The NAEC Chairman underscored the imperative of partnership between national organizations for mutual effectiveness, noting the importance of NOA in the on-going implementation of the national nuclear power roadmap through community sensitizations and mass education on the developmental importance of atomic energy exploration.

Our commitment to make Lagos uncomfortable for criminals unwavering - Ambode

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday commissioned the newly rehabilitated fuel dump for the State Police Command, just as he reiterated his unwavering commitment to keep Lagos safe, secured and uncomfortable for criminal elements and their collaborators.

The facility, which has 33,000 litres capacity for both diesel and premium motor spirit (petrol), was rehabilitated by the State Government for the purpose of dispensing fuel to vehicles used for patrol and surveillance activities by the Police in the State.

Speaking at the commissioning, Governor Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo, said provision of the facility was in line with his administration's determination to further enhance security of lives and property in the State.

He said: "Since our inauguration, we have left nobody in doubt about our commitment to keep our State safe and secured. We have demonstrated commitment to this course through massive investment and the provision of modern security equipment to strengthen the crime fighting capacity of security agencies, especially the State Police Command.

"Till date, we have empowered security agencies with 100 Saloon Cars, 195 Ford Ranger Pick Ups, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser Hilux and several others.

"These were provided with the main objective of facilitating mobility of officers within the nooks and crannies of the State.

"With this dedicated facility, the State Government has once again made a clear statement of its determination to make Lagos uncomfortable for criminals and their collaborators," he said.

The Governor said he was not oblivious of the fact that the major requirement for efficient running of vehicles is regular fuel supply and maintenance, adding that such necessitated the approval he gave for the revamping of the old and dilapidated fuel dump at the State Police Command.

While expressing delight at the completion of the rehabilitation and handing over to the police, Governor Ambode urged the State Command to ensure adequate monitoring, as well as usage of the fuel only for the purpose intended.

Besides, Governor Ambode assured the State's Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni of the readiness of the State Government to sufficiently service the facility for a 24/7 mobility of security vehicles.

Earlier, Owoseni thanked Governor Ambode for once again demonstrating that he is a worthy partner, adding that the commissioning and handing over of the facility was a milestone to the Police.

"The State Government has been at the forefront of supporting us both in terms of equipment and logistics. On behalf of the Inspector General of Police, I want to specially thank Governor Ambode and the State Government for supporting us in fueling the vehicles provided for us.

"We want to assure the good people of Lagos that we recognise that to whom much is given, much is expected. We will reciprocate this kind gesture by redoubling our efforts in other to make Lagos safer and more secured," Owoseni assured.

Footpaths Of A Stranger By Sajida Mohammed

Like many Nigerian Secondary School graduates, I had fallen into the typical career narrative; to study Law in university for one who graduates from the Arts, or Medicine for one who graduates from the Sciences. For me, I had settled for Mass Communication, because, well; Law was for the smart Art students.

Luckily, life took me back to the United Kingdom where one has to go through college before applying for University. I thank God for those two extra years in between Secondary School and University. 

Within that time, I was deciding if I should study Islamic Law, English and Law, Comparative Religious Laws, Creative writing and Religious studies (among others) then I ended up, as a choice within choices, with Abrahamic Religions.

When I am writing personal statements for something interfaith related, I say that my interest in interfaith conversations began when I changed my Secondary School. The first school was a Muslim School, the second was mixed-faith; primarily Christians and Muslims and, believe it or not, two Jews.

In the Muslim School, one of the extra-curricular courses we attended in the Senior Classes was popularly known as T.T.C: Train the Trainers Course. I won’t go into the details, but in essence, we were taught the irrationality of Christianity and the supremacy of Islam. With this in mind, when I went to my new school, I was armed with Biblical ammo; firing it everywhere to show the Christian students how their religion made no sense. We were not deep then, so I often won these debates. And I felt proud too. Despite this, we were all friends; living together in a boarding house, sharing everything.

As I watched the Christians invoke God just as much as I did, or even more, a nagging question began to form; if I believe in Islam so much, and they believe in Christianity so much; who is right?

Fast forward to college and that looming decision of what to study for the next three years of my life. For someone who was once described by a teacher as NFA (No Future Ambition) – this was hard. But I chose, and through God’s guidance, I chose well.

A lot of the criticism I received from this choice was from outside my nuclear family, and often the questions that I would be asked were two;

1) Abraham-what??!

2) What can you do with that?!

(These, by the way, are questions I still get, having graduated 3 years ago) My answer is usually this;

1) Abrahamic Religions – Study of Judaism, Christianity and Islam

2) I can teach or go into interfaith work or work as a consultant for organizations.

If those two questions were buttons and you pressed them that’s what you would hear as the response. But the real response was more ambiguous. What I would have loved to respond with would have required more time for me to explain. I chose Abrahamic Religions out of interest – I had no career goals at the time (NFA remember?) Those who asked these questions never asked, ‘what do you want to do with that?’ Even though at the time I probably would have answered with a smile and a, ‘I don’t know’.

Because I really didn’t know.

It would take many years before I could articulate a certain feeling I got every time someone asked me these things; a first degree does not have to be in line with your career at all. In my understanding, a first degree should not be so specialized or professional; because we are young when we jump into these things. A first degree should offer you some insight into the diversity, the dynamics, and the variety that this world has to offer. Medicine and Law are a part of this diversity, but the mistake we make in Nigeria is to make them the only two worth studying.

My university education was a transformative process. It opened my mind and my heart to so much.

And it was also comforting to know that I wasn’t the only student who was getting those rather patronizing and inferiority inducing, what-can-you-do-with-that’s. We once asked a lecturer what to say to those people who often imply through their questions that what we are studying is not important, and he replied – ‘tell them that you are going to change the world.’

I understand today what he meant all those years ago.

I recently participated in a beautiful, soul cleansing, challenging, intellect wrenching course: People and faith on the move; migration in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
For three weeks, I spent time with Jews, Christians, and Muslims from all over the world, of different traditions and backgrounds: Calvinist, Shi’a, Orthodox, Catholic, Liberal, Sunni, Lutheran, Secular, Pentecostal, Anglican – you name it. And in that short amount of time we did so much as a group and learnt so much as individuals.

How can I describe the feeling of welcoming Shabbat as the sun sets, turning towards Jerusalem, over-looking somewhere in France from a Château in Switzerland? Listening to the rhythmic sounds of a Kenyan choir in a Catholic Church in Geneva, sharing a fantastic lunch at a Mosque sitting beside Junita from Indonesia who didn’t like the meat and felt guilty for wasting it; ‘Tell Muhammad I’m sorry’ she says. The amusement that comes with discussing texts from the Tanakh, the Christian Bible, and the Qur’an with people who don’t even believe in God – forcing us as people of faith to look at our texts from different perspectives. I am romanticizing, and I digress, but these moments were so special, profound– and not irrelevant.

When we were engaged in our discussions; we spoke about God and religion and faith and ourselves, but often we spoke about the problems of the world and the issues in our own contexts. We had to think, as people of faith, about how we should understand these issues and how we can potentially address them.

A study of religions is not a study of doctrines and dogma, dos and don’ts or frameworks that regulate a certain group of people. Far from it: A study of religions is in essence a study of life. And this is why, when Damian said that we will change the world, he was not wrong in his assertion.

A study of religions is a study of sociology, anthropology, ecology, theology, philosophy, science, history, art, literature, architecture, music, dance, metaphysics, geography, gender studies, biology – a study of human-kind, of spirits and angels, of the unknown. Its interdisciplinary nature is what makes it so difficult, fascinating, challenging, and important.

A study of religions will not save the life of a dying person, will not fix a car, will not sentence the guilty to jail, will not explain the devaluation of currency, will not fly a plane – what it can do however, is go underneath all of these and show you how it gives them meaning. How it shapes, not exclusively, the mind and motivation of the one that will save a life, of the one who can fix your car, the one who can explain the economy. How it shapes, not exclusively, the morality and ethics of the person who has the authority to send you to jail. How it emboldens the courage of the one who will fly a plane.

While people in the so-called West continue to grapple with the separation of ‘church and state’ – those of us here, in The Mother Land are steeped in religious values and we are not ashamed of it. Domes, Crosses, and places of worship everywhere you go. Traffic continues to frustrate everyone on Fridays and Sundays. We welcome Christmas and we welcome Eid with the brightest of colors, the most vibrant patterns, rhythmic music, and packed congregations in Churches and in Mosques.

What drives all of this?

It is okay to ask questions, but it makes the difference how you ask.

If you, as a Muslim, go to a Christian to ask them to explain the Trinity – and you go all high and mighty, sure of your salvation – you are not asking a question, you are mocking an important part of someone’s faith. We should not have to spend time in conversion battles; our Sacred Texts and traditions are steeped with enough lyrical prowess to work either for or against us. It is better to focus on conversation and discussion. Not argument, not debate – for these two already imply a winner and a loser. The question of Christianity and Islam is not one of right or wrong – this will get us nowhere.

Let us learn to be responsive, not defensive. To engage, not enrage. To harbor good opinions about one another. To listen actively and attentively. Interreligious dialogue is not telling us to believe in God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. It is not telling us to believe in Muhammad as a Prophet of God. It is not telling us to believe in the 613 Mitzvot. It is teaching us, simply, to understand.

During the three week course I mentioned previously, Father Lawrence (one of the staff) told us that if any of us complete the course having become weaker in our faith – they have failed. If any of us complete the course having converted to one of the other faiths – they have failed. And it brought back so clearly my three years at university.

Through the Abrahamic Religions I learnt about myself. I was forced to challenge myself, forced to unravel the workings of my mind and thread them anew. Again, Damian was right – I changed the world, my world – and it made all the difference.

And just for the record, the next time someone asks me, ‘Abraham-what?! What can you do with that?!’ I will gladly share with them the link to this post.

Touching Lives across the Globe Our Greatest Achievement at 20 - Tonye Cole, Sahara Group Co-Founder

The privilege to inspire youths to reach for their dreams and provide platforms to facilitate socio-economic development to beneficiaries across the globe is priceless to Sahara Group, Tonye Cole, the organisation's executive director and Co-Founder has said.

Sahara Group, a leading African energy conglomerate with operations in 8 countries across four continents officially turns 20 years on August 23, 2016.

Speaking on the milestone achieved by Sahara, Cole said whilst the company had witnessed significant successes in its core operations, it places more premium on its corporate responsibility achievements.

He said Sahara had recorded several sustainable interventions in the areas of education and capacity building, health, sustainable community development and the environment through the Sahara Foundation.




"We are humbled by the impact we have made and remain committed to doing much more through collaboration with local, regional and global organisations that share our passion for bringing energy to life," He stated.

Cole stated that Sahara was looking to upscale the reach and impact of its interventions in the countries where it has operations as well as other locations to enhance efforts aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).

"Sahara is indeed proud of the milestones we have recorded these past 20 years. We are blessed with unique staff and are excited about the future as we continue to spearhead innovation in the entire energy value chain. However, beyond the numbers, we will continue to cherish the privilege God has given us to be a blessing to millions of people across the globe. We celebrate all our friends and stakeholders who have made the Sahara story a phenomenal success and look forward to the future with excitement."

The most recent of Sahara Group's intervention is the Food Africa project which seeks to pilot an innovative approach aimed at revamping the food sector to create new jobs for young people, increase farmers’ revenues, improve productivity, enhance nutrition and reduce food loss through more sustainable production practices.

The project which has Kaduna State as the pilot location is being driven by Sahara Group, the Kaduna state government, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Fund (UNSDG-F) and UN Goodwill Ambassadors, brothers Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca of restaurant El Celler can Roca, ranked among the best chefs of the world.

Sahara also unveiled its extrapreneurship platform to reach 12 million beneficiaries in the next four years through platforms that find, create and connect young extrapreneurs in emerging markets.
Extrapreneurship involves creating value through shared thinking and leveraging internal and external strengths to drive cross-sectoral collaboration. This is made possible by connecting the right people and organizations towards providing sustainable solutions to global social problems.



In the past Sahara Foundation has successfully executed several projects including the provision of borehole for clean water across Nigeria in conjunction with the Carter Foundation towards guinea worm eradication, the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Programme (WASH) which held at Ibafon Primary School, Lagos. These programmes focused on providing clean water, encouraging proper hygiene and sanitation amongst communities and primary school pupils.

The Foundation also launched the Inclusive Education Project for Persons living with Disabilities partnering with Cedar Seed Foundation to provide scholarships to one hundred beneficiaries, who also received wheelchairs, elbow crutches, guide canes, hearing aids, walking sticks and sunglasses.

In furtherance of the quest to provide relief to underprivileged communities, Sahara Foundation donated mechanized boreholes in Asante Akim North District in Ghana, providing potable drinking water which has significantly reduced the cases of water borne diseases to that community. The success of this led to the replication of the model in 15 other communities in Ghana and 30 states across Nigeria.

The Career Counseling Programme, launched in collaboration with CARE Foundation of Singapore, organized an event where about 60 teenage boys and girls in Singapore were challenged to a more positive attitude to life. This was replicated and even taken further in Nigeria – Lagos and Abuja – through the establishment of fully equipped Guidance and Counseling centres in EkoAkete senior secondary school and Government Secondary School, Karu.

The Eye Care Programme demonstrated the commitment of the Sahara Group to the total eradication of preventable blindness in rural areas across the country. In partnership with Unite for Sight Nigeria and Light First Foundation Cote d’Ivoire, outreaches were carried out in 15 states across Nigeria and in various locations across Cote d’Ivoire screening thousands of beneficiaries, providing required treatments, prescription glasses, eye drugs and other medications whilst, cataract surgeries were carried out on those that were discovered to be living with the anomaly.

Not one to turn a blind eye to community health challenges, Sahara Foundation, in partnership with Biire Maternal Child Health Foundation implemented an all year round support programme aimed at reducing mother to child transmission of HIV. Over 200 members of IbaOloja community in Ibeju– Lekki Lagos benefitted from the programme.

The Foundation also partnered with ENACTUS Nigeria to create and develop the Sahara Light-Up Nigeria Challenge which aims to inspire students of higher institutions across the country to develop alternative energy sources to enhance sustainable power supply - especially in rural communities.

We’re overhauling Christian pilgrimage to holy sites – NCPC

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has pledged to overhaul holistically, pilgrimage to holy sites so that pilgrims will develop new mind set at the end of the day.

Speaking to journalists yesterday at the departure lounge of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, when he led the first batch of intending pilgrims to Israel for the youth and family pilgrimage, the executive secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrimage Commission (NCPC), Rev Tor Uja, maintained that the pilgrimage process was due for major overhauling after 15 years.

He said, ‘’the process is due for major overhauling. I was in Israel two weeks ago and I told them I want to overhaul Christian pilgrimage and they said yes, that for 15 years, we have been doing the same thing over and over and even for them, it doesn’t make meaning. So, we intend that we will do overhaul on a holistic basis.” He said.

Uja revealed that part of the overhauling is for every Nigerian Christian going on pilgrimage to wear Nigeria.

“We want to portray Nigeria, we want to go as Nigerians and we have told the ground handlers in Israel that we don’t want all these face caps and t-shirts that carry all sorts of names like companies and tour guides. If they must give us shirts, it must be in Nigerian colours and they must carry the name of Nigeria on it otherwise nobody will take them or use them.” He added

The pilgrimage has three components, which consist of the youths, family and three are those who won the Support A Pilgrim To Israel (SAPTI) ticket for the flight.

Uja explained that the commission set out on a deliberate programme to ensure cost reduction to ensure that many Christians as possible, partake in Christian pilgrimage every year.

“Actually, this trip we are making, we have already reduced the costs by about 30 per cent and we intend to reduce it further as much as we can. We are holding meetings with all stakeholders, including air carriersd ground handlers.

And we are not only negotiating, but we are very firm that all the costs must come down.” He said

https://www.today.ng/news/nigeria/174635/overhauling-christian-pilgrimage-holy-sites-ncpc

Nigerians in Diaspora Laud President Buhari’s NPA Board Appointment

L-R Alistair Soyode (Founder and Chairman of Ben TV) and Mr Charles Efe Sylvester (Member NPA Board)

The Nigerian Leadership Forum, a European Think Tank group on Nigeria has commended the administration of President Buhari for appointing one of their members.

The President, a few days ago, approved the Board members of Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) - a gateway agency into Nigeria.

The Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) is a major arm of business and commerce in Nigeria especially as Nigeria seeks for other means of revenue to enhance the national economy. The Nigerian Ports Authority functions are as follows:

• Ownership and administration of land and water within port limits.

• Planning and development of port operational infrastructure.

• Leasing and concession of port infrastructure and setting bench mark for tariff structure

• Responsible for nautical/Harbour operations and hydrographic survey.

• Marine incidents and pollution

• Maintenance of safety and security at the common user areas.

• Enacting port regulations and bye-laws as well as monitor and enforce them

• Day to day monitoring of operations and enforcement of relevant sections of respective agreements.

According to the Commandant General (NIDMECORP.COM) Alistair Soyode, during a press interaction on the NPA & NIMASA appointments, he expressed satisfaction, saying that the appointment of such a highly skilled, experienced Diaspora Entrepreneur and philanthropist showed the Presidency is taking accounts of successful Nigerians in the Diaspora to reposition the nation.

“Having on the board Mr. Charles Sylvester who had shown his tenacity, business acumen and knowledge of international best practices can only makes the NPA produce profitable projects. I am also kindly praying that our President will continue to tap on the resources of his Diaspora to engage them in all aspects of governance into other agencies and parastatals in the country which would create giant strides for President Buhari’s administration. It is for the nation’s gains and it shows a governance that incorporates inclusiveness and reaching out to diaspora Nigerians.” 

Charles Efe Sylvester is a London based entrepreneur and a leading African employer of labour in Europe. His company in Europe manages more than two hundred staff and a community leader empowering the Nigerian communities in the UK and across Europe.

His appointment was confirmed in a circular from the Director Press, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Bolaji Adebiyi, in Abuja stating that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved an 11-member board each for the Governing Boards of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Mr Bolaji Adebiyi listed Emmanuel Olajide Adesoye as the Chairman of NPA

He also listed other members of the NPA as follows;

Hadiza Bala Usman (Managing Director) – Member,

Charles Efe Emukowhate Sylvester – Member,

Constance Harry Mashal – Member,

Mohammed Bello Koko – Member,

Supo Shasore – Member,

Suleiman Ibrahim Halilu – Member,

Umar Shu’aibu – Member,

Dr. Sekonte Davis – Member,

Professor Idris Abubakar – Member,

Mrs. I. J. Uche-Okoro – Member.

Herbert Wigwe Grows the economy with infrastructure development: The Access Bank example

The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gone beyond the commonly understood provision for humanitarian needs in the immediate community where an organization operates. The increasing involvement of organizations in projects with long term benefits for the generality of the people underscores the importance of public-private partnership for the achievement of national goals and objectives for the general good.

Access Bank Plc, with Herbert Wigwe as group managing director and chief executive officer has, for instance, identified infrastructure as a key component of the conducive environment that must be in place if Nigeria is indeed to play in the league of leading nations and even to attract the much needed foreign investment that is needed to help grow the economy and empower its citizens to achieving their socio-economic goals.

The bank’s competence and expertise in infrastructure financing have earned for it the respect and admiration of all across public and private sector institutions, including governments, making it the preferred financier when it comes to projects that impact heavily on the lives of the citizens.

It is not for nothing that the Lagos State government has struck a partnership with the bank as the lead financier for two major projects that have direct relevance to the socio-economic lives of the people of the state, and those outside. The projects are the Eko Atlantic that is designed to be Nigeria’s version of Manhattan, New York, in the United States, as well as the Fourth Mainland Bridge, the N844 billion, N38 kilometer road/bridge project that will link Ikorodu with Eti Osa Local Government Area.

Access Bank’s foremost status in infrastructure financing is underscored by the fact that it is leading two internationally renowned financial institutions – J. P. Morgan and Africa Finance Corporation – on the new bridge project.

The bank is also collaborating with the Dangote Foundation to raise five billion naira for the building of a state-of-the-art International Research Centre of Excellence for the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, in Abuja, for the promotion of public-private partnership for quality health services, capacity building and research in West Africa.

But what if the bank decided it had no business getting involved in infrastructure development, seeing it purely as a government affair? Its business, and therefore the purpose of its existence, would not be affected in any way. It would still continue to post impressive results and deliver attractive bottom line. But this would be a sharp contrast to its business philosophy that is anchored on the belief that its success can only be measured against the success of the country in its quest to be an attractive investment destination, not just in Africa, but also around the world.

http://punchng.com/herbert-wigwe-grows-economy-infrastructure-development-access-bank-example/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

VP Osinbajo Receives Rock Star Bono To Explore Global Partnership To Address Northeast Crisis

By Laolu Akande 

The Federal Government will welcome a global partnership that would ensure a concerted and focused international response to the humanitarian crisis arising from the insurgency in the North-Eastern region of the country.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, gave this indication earlier today while receiving members of the ONE campaign led by the international Rock Star artist Bono, and Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who were at the Presidential Villa to discuss the possibilities of a global partnership to address the crisis through international advocacy.

Addressing members of the delegation that included former UK Development Secretary Douglas Alexander, Prof. Osinbajo noted that “it is very important that you chose to come and offer some partnership. This is great and we are pleased…Partnership is certainly the way to go.”

He said no matter how prepared a country could be, handling the kind of crisis in the North-East with two million displaced people including children, as a single country “would be irresponsible.”

According to him however, a global partnership to address the situation should be coordinated and more focussed on what is required to be done, for instance, in addressing the issue of malnourished children and not attempting to do too much things at once.

Speaking earlier the Irish born artist Bono said he has visited some of the IDPs and said “we want to be useful to you,” adding that what he saw in the region was “deeply disturbing.”

Bono also commended the social investment programmes of the Buhari administration saying “we have heard of the incredible plans, the social investment funds,” adding also that the level of transparency already seen in the administration is both “very exciting and transforming.”

The ONE campaign is an advocacy organization with more than seven million people around the world taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable diseases especially in Africa. It has on its board people like Mo Ibrahim, Bill Gates, Micheal Bloomberg among others. It was founded in 2004.

PHOTO NEWS: A Rocket-Like Invention Seen In Ibadan

Oke Ado, in Ibadan, South west of Nigeria, came alive earlier today with commuters struggling to get a closer look at a rocket-like invention driven by an unknown person.

Nigerian universities develop anti-plagiarism software

The University of Ilorin in collaboration with six other Nigerian universities have developed an anti-plagiarism software, designed to check academic fraud.

According to the University Bulletin issued on Monday, the other universities are Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin and Covenant University, Ota. Others are Delta State University Abraka, Benue State University Makurdi, University of Jos and Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife.

The publication said the software programme development was at the instance of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities , the umbrella organisation for Vice-Chancellors of the nation’s federal, state and private universities.

Furthermore, the AVCNU had mandated its Information and Communication Technology Sub-committee, chair, and the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, to assemble an IT team from Nigerian universities.

The team would develop the home-grown anti-plagiarism software with the local repository.

It quoted the Director, Computer Services and Information Technology, Directorate of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Mohammed Ahmed, as saying the software was at 80 percent completion.

Ahmed added that using local human resource to develop the software has helped to cut down cost and show the ingenuity of Nigerians.

He explained that the software has both local and global repository with features such as peer review, document comparison, and grammar checker.

He said, “Other features are language support and title validation, with the name EAGLE SCAN being proposed for the programme.”

Ahmed said when operational, the anti-plagiarism application, would be made available to all Nigerian universities.

He said that the application would compete globally, and he called on the AVCNU to see to the digitisation of local contents in the various universities.

Acknowledgement: www.today.ng

'The House of Nwapa' By Onyeka Nwelue

'The House of Nwapa' is a documentary on Flora Nwapa - a Foremost Female Novelist in Africa often referred to as 'Africa's First Female Novelist'.

Her very first novel, 'Efuru' will be 50 years old this year but according to Onyeka Nwelue, ''the little problem is that there is just one documentary on Flora Nwapa, made by a Norwegian TV channel. This was done in 1987, a year before I was born'' .

Onyeka Nwelue, a Nigerian film maker, is the arrow head of this documentary project which premiered on the 28th of August 2016 at the International Images Film Festival for Women (IIFF) in Harare, Zimbabwe.

For the past two years he has been filming, travelling and asking questions as to who Flora Nwapa was? Her relationship with Chinua Achebe? Why she married another woman for her husband, Gogo Nwakuche? and many more questions.

He has interviewed different people, from Africa's first Nobel Laureate for Literature, Wole Soyinka, to James Currey of Heinemann, down to Mabel Segun, presumed to be her rival and then to the three biological children of Flora Nwapa, Ejine, Amede and Uzoma and to German anthropologist, Sabine Jell-Bahlsen.

According to Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka: “I feel really stimulated by the work Nwelue is doing on Flora Nwapa, a 'missing' figure in the overall consciousness of our younger literati generation, so a documentary on her is long overdue.”

Onyeka Nwelue, a cousin to Flora Nwapa, was born on 31st January 1988 to a politician-father, Chief Sam Nwelue. He has been a nominee twice for the 'Creative Artiste of the Year Future Awards', and he has won both the 'TM Aluko Prize for Fiction' and the 'Ibrahim Tahir Prize for First Book'. His latest book, 'Hip-Hop is Only for Children' won the Creative Non-Fiction Book of the Year at the 2015 Nigerian Writers’ Awards.

'The House of Nwapa' will be showing at the Lagos Book & Art Festival from 10-13th November, 2016.

Nigerian Medical Student Breaks Academic Record in Ghana

FATHIA AYODELE KAREEM, makes history by winning 12 out of 15 awards at the just completed graduation ceremony of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology School of Medical Sciences Ghana. 

In 2015, the university celebrated Charles Djugbah who broke the then 40-year old record by clinging 8 out of 15 awards at the end of his seven year course at the university. Charles record stood just for a year before DR. FATHIA AYODELE KAREEM came on board to set this new record.

The future is quite bright for DR. FATHIA as she hopes to narrow in on pediatrics /child care, a field for which she garnered the Ben Baffoe-Bonnie prize for Child Care. 

WE’LL PROTECT FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN NIGERIA, PRESIDENT BUHARI ASSURES JAPAN PM ABE

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday night, strongly assured existing and prospective foreign investors that their investments in Nigeria will be fully secured and protected.

Speaking at a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on the sidelines of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Nairobi, Kenya, President Buhari outlined several steps taken by his administration to secure the country and ease doing business in Nigeria.

He told the Japanese leader that with the defeat of the Boko Haram terrorists by the military, the attention of the administration is now focused on stopping the destruction of the country's economic assets by militants in the Niger Delta region.

He said the militants must dialogue with the Federal government or be dealt with in the same way like Boko Haram.

"We are talking to some of their leaders. We will deal with them as we dealt with Boko Haram if they refuse to talk to us.

“As a government, we know our responsibility, which is to secure the environment. It is clear to us that lenders won't fund projects in insecure environments.

“We realize that we have to secure the country before we can efficiently manage it," the President said.

President Buhari told the Japanese Prime Minister that security in the Gulf of Guinea, which is greatly affected by piracy and armed robbery at sea, was a priority for the Nigerian government.

‘‘We have provided funds to our Navy to buy new platforms, train and effectively organize the personnel to protect the area. We are looking forward to support from developed nations for satellite surveillance covering the Gulf,’’ the President said.

Recalling his audience with G7 leaders in Germany, which was attended by the Prime Minister, President Buhari thanked Japan for responding positively to the requests by Nigeria for the rehabilitation of victims of Boko Haram and rebuilding of infrastructure in the North Eastern part of the country.

The President however said there was still more to do on education, health and other infrastructure to ensure quick and voluntary return of displaced persons to their native communities.

On the United Nations Security Council reform, President Buhari agreed to work with Japan for the reforms, stressing that the case for a permanent seat for Africa on the Council was a moral one.

He equally expressed Nigeria's support for Japan in their bid for a UN resolution on the problems in East China and South China as well as the "uncontrolled nuclear tests by North Korea."

‘‘The UN system is sufficient for the resolutions of all disputes and no nation should be above the United Nations.

“This has to be made absolutely clear and I assure the Prime Minister that I will meet as many leaders as possible at the forthcoming UN General Assembly concerning the issues."

In his remarks, Prime Minister Abe congratulated President Buhari “for courageously tackling Boko Haram terrorism."

He said Nigeria and Japan must work together to improve the investment climate in view of the many Japanese companies wishing to invest in Nigeria.

He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to rapid development in Nigeria through quality delivery of ongoing projects in the country, including Jebba hydro power scheme and the Lagos railway project.

By Garba Shehu
SSA to the President (Media & Publicity)

President Buhari says FG is ready for talks on Chibok girls

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the preparedness of the Federal Government to discuss the release of the Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram terror group since 2014,

In an interview with journalists in Nairobi, Kenya at the weekend, President Buhari said the Nigerian government is ready to dialogue with bonafide leaders of the terror group who know the whereabouts of the girls.

‘‘I have made a couple of comments on the Chibok girls and it seems to me that much of it has been politicised.

‘‘What we said is that the government which I preside over is prepared to talk to bonafide leaders of Boko Haram.

‘‘If they do not want to talk to us directly, let them pick an internationally recognised Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), convince them that they are holding the girls and that they want Nigeria to release a number of Boko Haram leaders in detention, which they are supposed to know.

‘‘If they do it through the ‘modified leadership’ of Boko Haram and they talk with an internationally recognised NGO then Nigeria will be prepared to discuss for their release,’’ he said.

President Buhari, who spoke to the media on the margins of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), warned that the Federal Government will not waste time and resources with “doubtful sources’’ claiming to know the whereabouts of the girls.

‘‘We want those girls out and safe. The faster we can recover them and hand them over to their parents, the better for us.’’

The President maintained that the terror group, which pledged allegiance to ISIS, has been largely decimated by the gallant Nigerian military with the support of immediate neighbours from Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin.

‘‘Some of the information about the division in Boko Haram is already in the press and I have read in the papers about the conflict in their leadership.

‘‘The person known in Nigeria as their leader, we understand was edged out and the Nigerian members of Boko Haram started turning themselves to the Nigerian military.

‘‘We learnt that in an air strike by the Nigeria Air Force he was wounded. Indeed their top hierarchy and lower cadre have a problem and we know this because when we came into power, they were holding 14 out of the 774 local governments in Nigeria. But now they are not holding any territory and they have split to small groups attacking soft targets.

On the militancy in the Niger Delta region, the President said the Federal Government is also open to dialogue to resolve all contending issues in the area.

‘‘We do not believe that they (the militants) have announced ceasefire. We are trying to understand them more. Who are their leaders and which areas do they operate and other relevant issues,’’ he said.

NAN

PHOTO NEWS: Bono Arrives Borno State in the Company of Aliko Dangote on a One Day Official Visit

Popular Irish musician, singer-songwriter,businessman,venture capitalist and philanthropist, Paul David Hewson, known by his stage name Bono, and who is best known as the lead vocalist of rock band U2, arrived Maiduguri in the company of Aliko Dangote on a one day official visit to the State. At the Airport to receive them was the Governor of Borno State, Hon. Kashim Shettima alongside other top government officials.