National
Prof Nwosu asks FG to review NYSC program to 2years, rekindle Unity schools
***Okonkwo advocates equitable, management of diversities as best model for restructuring
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme and the Unity Colleges which have been nation building institutions should be rekindled for Nigeria to achieve greater unity in diversity, former health Minister during the President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, Professor ABC Nwosu has advocated
Speaking at the weekend during the presentation of a book ‘Making Nigeria Work’ -Pathways to greatness’ authored by Professor Obiora Okonkwo, Nwosu advocated for the NYSC which used to be one year Service to the fatherland to be upgraded to two years for graduates.
“Why not strengthen Federal Government colleges. Why don’t we strengthen the greatest nation building institution born after the Civil War by General(rtd) Yakubu Gowon when he set up the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
“Why don’t we make it two years, the first six months, you have survival training that includes military training and 18 months building them into an army that will bring out of school children through. These are just my thoughts.”
According to him since 1960 Nigeria has been trying how to become a nation
“We need to be unified. The Federal Government colleges were nation building institutions. I am not one of those who say some entered with 3 while some with 33. It doesn’t matter. That is where all the ethnic groups meet and they will be taught by the same teachers, let us go back to that doctrine. They will take the same examination.”
On the restructuring of Nigeria he aligned with the author of the book Professor Obiora Okonkwo who referred to restructuring as the proper management of the Nigerian diversities.
Nwosu who wrote the forward of the book extolled the virtue’s of Okonkwo, as a rare breed that has successfully combined entrepreneurship, intellectualism and politics for the good of Nigeria.
He commended the author of the book for turning a very difficult subject of restructuring on its head that made me understood it better.
Reminiscing his days in the secondary school, at Government college Afikpo when they matched to bring down the flag he said “We had high hopes for Nigeria but today we have mismanaged our diversity. Nigeria is not a conquered territory, Nigeria is a negotiated territory.
“All the people sat at conference, negotiated our coexistence. Independence constitution was gazetted in 1959 by the British and they had constitution of the Federal Republic followed by the constitution of Northern Nigeria, western Nigeria and Eastern Nigeria.
When you talk about restructuring and somebody said they want us to go back to regions that is very pedestrian thinking and I don’t believe in pedestrianism.
He said no part of Nigeria is subnational to others as they are all equal.
“So Professor Okonkwo has put it in the proper perspectives, let us manage all diversities and stop talking of the lower ones, I am talking of The Birom, I am talking of the Ogoni.
“Each one was created to be in Nigeria and have an equal right in Nigeria. There is no senior or junior Nigerian and there will never be.
“Any people that think they can succeed in making others senior and junior Nigerians is going to have trouble and his children he thinks he is protecting one day a child will arise from those he thinks are junior Nigerians and they will be in trouble so that chapter
Nwosu recalled the leadership qualities of selflessness of the first premiere of Eastern Nigeria Micheal Iheonukara Okpara who gave out choicest lands at GRA but gave none to himself.
“There cannot be a Premier like him. He said he tried to tell Obiora when he contested to be Governor of Anambra State.
“He shared land in GRA Enugu he did not take any. Meanwhile Eastern region included Portharcourt he didn’t take any, and when he lived in Iloyi he did not take it. The only property he borrowed £20, 000 to build he gave to Biafra and that is the Biafra Bunka but what happened?
“The people he served contributed money and built a beautiful house where he was buried and some of us who benefited from his selfless service made sure we were there at his funeral.
“He was a Medical doctor. I don’t know why medical doctors are taking to governance but the record is that when they go into governance they do well. So using M.I Okpara as a model was very good for me.
“For me anybody who aspires to be like M.I Okpara is on the right track for governance and for Obiora to have figured him as a model was okay.
He also recalled the selfless leadership style of Senator Oluso Saraki (Oloye) “I am not sure his children knows about his wealth because his wealth was for the people and he used if for the people.”
The author of the book prof.Obiora Okonkwo advocated equitable and fair management of the nation’s diversities as best model to restructure Nigeria.
Okonkwo, who is a Professor of Business at the University of Abuja said this in Abuja, at the launch and public presentation of his book ‘”Making Nigeria Work ,Pathways to Greatness.”
The book, with 15 chapters, brought fresh insights and incisive reasoning into nagging issues such as, how Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups could be welded in to a truly united and peaceful nation.
Discussion on chapter one of the book centered on Value of Diversity: Restructuring to Save Nigeria,while chapter two discussed the Quest for a New Nigeria,the late Michael Okpara model.
Chapter eight focused on Reawakening the Age- long Norms and Values of the people,while chapter 12 highlights the activities of media on national development.
Okonkwo, who also used the occasion to mark his birthday said a restructured system would make Nigerians focus more on what happens in their states.
He said the people would hold the governor’s and state lawmakers more accountable to them, than it was currently focusing attention on accountability to the federal government.
This, he said would spur collaboration among the states in pursuance of economic development and integration.
“For example, nothing stops the states in the south -East from collaborating to build railways or monorails, to connect all state capitals in the region and boost economic activities that will drive development of the region.
“Such collaboration could also extend to the south-South region for mutual benefits,states in other regions could also collaborate to pursue development that are of mutual benefit to them.
“In doing this, states are are now forced to look at their diversity to get , integrated backwards and make use of the best, because regions will be in development competition.
“This is the sort of thing that restructuring will achieve ,it is not already happening because our current system of government enthrones a leadership recruitment system that does not allow for the best from our diversity,” he said in the book.
He said the 262 page book was his gift, to the educational institutions, gift to intellectual team, adding that the longer the nation waits to restructure, the deeper the wound and the hurt it experiences.
“When we talk of true federalism,it dose not mean taken what does not belong to anybody,it means people having what they should have and doing what they should do .
“The center has taken so much, the center still remains, active, with its own dedicated area of activities.
“In true federalism, you have powers in different states, doing also what they ought to do given by the constitution.
“This was a negotiated constitution before independence, it helped us, it brought about the fastest development, we have ever seen in this country.
“It will bring an end to a lot of issues, I hope the argument and opinion I have in the book will help people to know that this is not intended to hurt any body or deprive any body, but is to make us happier in this one entity Nigeria, where there will be equity, justice and fairness.”
High point of the occasion was unveiling and launch of the book by the Chairman of the occasion, Dr Abubakar Saraki, and the Special Guest of Honour, Former Secretary to Government of the Federation Sen.Anyim Pius Ayim.
Others present at the event are the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, Sen .Uche Ekwunife, captains of industry, among other dignitaries.
Young Nigerian writers have been urged to participate in the “Voices of Our Heritage” national writing competition, an initiative aimed at fostering creativity and cultural appreciation.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, who made the call said the competition is open to students aged 10-18, adding that it is seeking to discover and nurture emerging literary talents.
The special adviser to the minister on Media quoted her to have indicated that the initiative is targedted at empowering young writers to create, publish, and even earn from their digital books, promoting both entrepreneurship and job opportunities.
“This competition is about preserving our cultural heritage while shaping the future of our nation,” she stated.
Organized as part of the 2024-25 National Young Authors Fair (NYAF), the competition welcomes entries from primary, secondary, and university students. Registration closes on February 20, 2025, with submissions open until March 20, 2025.
Winners will be announced on April 10, 2025, with the top 10 receiving ₦250,000 each, along with book publication, national recognition, and distribution.
The competition aligns with the Ministry’s vision to promote cultural heritage, creativity, and education through strategic partnerships.
For registration, visit: https://www.yaf.bribooks.com/ng/2024/student.
***As 306 Stakeholders Participate in Inaugural AI Awareness Day
Nigeria has taken a bold step in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution as key stakeholders gathered to explore the nation’s role in AI-driven education and policy development.
The National Coordinator of the 2025 AI Awareness Day, Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, described the event as a major milestone, highlighting Nigeria’s potential to emerge as a leader in AI research, education, and application.
Held virtually on February 17, 2025, the inaugural AI Awareness Day in Higher Education was co-hosted by the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE), National Universities Commission (NUC), National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Okebukola Science Foundation (OSF), and the Association of African Universities (AAU).
The event brought together 306 participants, including heads of regulatory agencies (NUC, NBTE, and NCCE), scholars from universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, policymakers, educators, and AI practitioners.
Discussions focused on AI’s transformative role in higher education, best practices, and ethical AI deployment in Nigeria.
The event, chaired by Professor Yakubu Ochefu, former Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, centered on raising awareness about AI’s role in higher education transformation, assessing Nigeria’s progress in AI education and its contribution to global AI research and celebrating achievements in AI research and education within Nigerian institutions.
Other areas of focus included exploring the integration of AI into university curricula, research, and administration and discussing AI-driven innovations to address national educational challenges.
The event featured a symposium, the launch of the AI in Higher Education in Africa Newsletter, and the presentation of the three-volume Handbook on AI and Quality Higher Education.
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of awards to recognise outstanding contributions in AI research, education, and policy within the Nigerian higher education system.
The first position in the Best Institutional AI Policy in Higher Education Award in the universities category was won by Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. Second and third positions were won by Lagos State University, Ojo and Federal University of Technology, Minna respectively.
In the polytechnics category, the first prize went to Living Spring College of Technology and Innovation, Osogbo. For the Best AI Researcher in the universities category, Prof. Olatunji Sunday Olusanya of Adekunle Ajasin University came first. Dr. Salau Ayodeji of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti and Dr. Awotunde Joseph Bamidele of the University of Ilorin came second and third respectively.
For the polytechnics category, Mr. Mohammed Modiu of Yaba college of Technology came first. Mr. Salami Ayo of Federal College of Education, Iwo came first in the colleges of education category.
Other awards include the Best Programme in Artificial Intelligence. For the universities category, the B.Sc. Computer Science of Thomas Adewumi University came first. Programmes of four universities tied in the second position. These are B.Sc. Management Information Systems of Covenant University, Ota; B.Sc. Industrial Mathematics (Computer Option) also of Covenant University, Ota; and B.Sc. Computer Science of the University of Benin.
The first position in the universities category for the Best AI Application for Enhancing Teaching and Learning went to Prof. Onyenwe Ikechukwu Ekene of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Five scholars tied in the second position. These are Dr. Oguntosin Victoria of Covenant University; Dr. Oluwakemi Olurinola of Olabisi Onabanjo University; Professor Busari Mutiu of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta and Professor Ibezim Nnenna of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In the polytechnic category, first prize went to Dr. Okikiola Folasade of Yaba College of Technology.
For the colleges of education category, first prize was earned by Dr. Usman Stephen of Ipere College of Education Agyaragu, Nasarawa State, while Mr. Bako Mahmud Malam of Adamu Tafawa Balewa College of Education Kangere Bauchi State came second.
Other awards were presented for Best AI Programme and Best AI Application for Teaching and Learning across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Key resolutions include expanding the AI Awareness Day to all levels of the educational system; development of a strategic plan to ensure that Nigeria plays a leadership role in the global development of AI; strengthening the implementation of the AU strategic plan on AI; and forging strong public-private partnerships, investing boldly in our people and infrastructure.
Others are that the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA, other agencies of government and other stakeholders should involve the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners (NAAIP) in policy making, implementation and other matters of Artificial Intelligence; and that within the 30% institutional allowance in the CCMAS, Nigerian universities should be encouraged to start GST courses on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in place of or in addition to the existing computer appreciation courses.
The successful launch of the AI Awareness Day marks a turning point in Nigeria’s AI journey, reinforcing the country’s commitment to leveraging AI for educational excellence, innovation, and national development.
National
Diplomatic Fallout: Ribadu’s Outburst Sparks Criticism Over Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Approach
A fresh controversy has emerged over Nigeria’s handling of diplomatic affairs, as former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, takes aim at National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu for his public condemnation of Canada’s visa denials to Nigerian military personnel.
Lamido, a seasoned politician and former foreign minister, expressed frustration over what he described as a pattern of missteps in Nigeria’s foreign policy under the current administration. He argued that the NSA’s public outburst against Canada was both unnecessary and damaging to the country’s international reputation.
“This is yet another example of our rookie approach to foreign relations,” Lamido stated. “Rather than resorting to public accusations, the appropriate response would have been for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the Canadian High Commissioner and address the issue through official diplomatic channels.”
The ex-governor warned that Ribadu’s actions had not only failed to resolve the issue but had also drawn unnecessary public attention to an embarrassing situation. “Our foreign relations must be handled with tact and professionalism. The NSA should not be taking over the responsibilities of the Minister of Foreign Affairs,” he said.
This latest episode comes amid broader concerns over Nigeria’s international standing, following strained relations within ECOWAS and a series of diplomatic missteps on the global stage. Analysts now worry that such uncoordinated responses could weaken Nigeria’s position in international affairs.
With Nigeria’s diplomatic credibility on the line, calls are growing for a more disciplined and strategic approach to engaging with foreign nations—one that prioritizes diplomacy over public confrontations.
-
Crime1 year agoPolice nabs Killer of Varsity Lecturer in Niger
-
News1 year agoFCT-IRS tells socialite Aisha Achimugu not to forget to file her annual returns
-
Appointment1 year agoTinubu names El-Rufai, Tope Fasua, others in New appointments
-
Kogi1 year agoINEC cancells election in 67 polling units in Ogori-Magongo in Kogi
-
Kogi1 year agoEchocho Challenges Tribunal Judgment ordering rerun in 94 polling units
-
News1 year agoIPOB: Simon Ekpa gives reason for seperatists clamour for Biafra
-
Metro11 months ago‘Listing Simon Ekpa among wanted persons by Nigeria military is rascality, intimidation’
-
News1 year agoKingmakers of Igu/ Koton-Karfe dare Bello, urge him to reverse deposition of Ohimege-Igu