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Wike’s Honorary PhD in Law ; Honor to Whom it is Due
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
The road to the ancient town of Calabar, Cross River State came back to life aside going for Tinapa, but this time around Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the workaholic and indefatigable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, was honored with a Honorary Doctorate degree in law PhD,( Honoris Causa), the profession he built his life career .
As early as Saturday morning , 22nd March , 2025 , dignataries from all walks of life within and outside the shores of the country trooped into Calabar , the capital of Cross River State.
Even though, some dignataries had arrived few days earlier to enable them book for accommodation among many others to honor the man who deserve a great honor , the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and his large retinue of entourage and dignataries touched down on the day of the event , owing to tight schedule officially .
Fully prepared for the auspicious event along with his friends, aides , appointees friends and well wishers , the FCT Minister was full of life for the singular honor been bestowed on him by the second generation University, The University of Calabar.
Wike, according to the University management was honored for his multiple contributions lately to nations development, the University and his strides during the eight years tenure as Governor of Rivers state, among many humanitarian gesture, social , political and economic contributions to both Rivers, FCT and Nigeria at large .
While appreciating the honor done him by the University of Calabar, particularly the consideration as one of the first cabinet Minister of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu , under the Renewed Hope Agenda to be confered with such a unique award in recent times.
He used the opportunity to thank the management, staff and students of the University of Calabar for the honor, which included the Chancellor of the institution and Emir of Kano , Dr Aminu Ado Bayero MNI.
He said the singular honor will be an opportunity provided for him to do more for the country, humanity and government and people of the country, particularly at this critical time of our national development.
While saying he will be encouraged and emboldened by the honor done to him by the University of Calabar , with the conferment of the Honorary Doctorate degree (PhD) in Law, stating that “good turn deserve another .”
The Minister maintained that his contributions to all facets of national development will be unwavering, particularly at this critical time when the country is confronted with leadership crises and desiring dedicated Nigerians to man similar sensitive and critical offices.
He used the opportunity to thank Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving him the opportunity to serve the country under his administration of Renewed Hope Agenda and his determination to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians .
He further stated …
“Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has hailed the unwavering commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the advancement of higher education in the country, saying “The Renewed Hope Agenda has injected new life into our university system through landmark Interventions that are transforming the landscape of tertiary education.”
“The Minister, who spoke at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), after he was conferred with the university’s Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law, during its 50th anniversary and 37th convocation ceremony, said the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has provided the needed financial relief for students and ensured that no willing mind is denied access to quality education due to financial constraints.”
“According to a statement by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, he listed other interventions of the President in the higher education sector to include the Students Start-up Innovation and Entrepreneurship Grant, which he said has empowered young minds to translate knowledge into impactful enterprises, and removal of universities from the Intergrated Payroll Information System (IPPIS).”
“The FCT Minister noted that removal of universities from the IPPIS has restored financial autonomy to the institutions and enabled them to function with greater efficiency. ”
“Furthermore, the kind approval for the domiciliation of TETFund Research Funds within the respective institutions has equally strengthened the capacity for groundbreaking research and innovation.”
“These bold and forward-thinking policies are undoubtedly positioning Nigeria’s university system to meet the demands of the 21st century,” he said.
“Expressing his appreciation to the UNICAL authorities for finding him worthy of the Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law, the FCT Minister said, the honour was a charge to him to remain steadfast in his contributions to national development, upholding ideals of excellence and service as an inspiration to the next generation. ”
Wike said; “As I proudly accept this honorary doctorate, I do so with renewed vigor to contribute even more meaningful to the advancement of education, good governance and national development. ”
“I am deeply humbled and honoured by this recognition. The University of Calabar has written my name in its golden records, and I embrace this moment with great responsibility.”
Highlights of the occasion included the conferment and decoration of the Minister of FCT, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike with the Honorary Doctorate Degree PhD in Law by the management of the institution presided over by the Chancellor and Emir of Kano , Dr Aminu Ado Bayero MNI.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
Police authorities have called on the organisers of a nationwide protest billed for April 7, 2025, to shelve the plan.
The Take-It-Back (TIB) movement had scheduled a nationwide protest for Monday, April 7, 2025, citing several national issues.
However, in a statement on Sunday, the spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Muyiwa Adejobi, described the protest as ill-timed, especially as it coincided with the National Police Day celebration.
“In line with best global practices adopted by nations in celebrating the achievements of its Police institution, the Nigerian Government has taken the bull by the horn by declaring every April 7 as National Police Day,” the police statement read.
“The rationale behind staging a nationwide protest on the same day is however questionable and perceived to be a deliberate attempt and unpatriotic act that is capable of rubbishing and maligning the image of the Nigeria Police and the nation as a whole. The Nigeria Police Force hereby advises the organizers to shelve this planned protest as it is ill-timed and mischievous.”
According to the Nigeria Police Force, the organisers should instead give room for dialogue with the government.
“The Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, while reaffirming the commitment of the NPF to adequately carrying out its mandate in accordance with the Law and respect for rights of citizens hereby urges all the organizers of the planned protest as well as individuals who intend to join the protest to pursue dialogue by engaging the proper institution of government to press home their demands,” the police said.
A longlist of notable politicians including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi are in talks to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
This is according to the SDP presidential candidate in the 2023 election Adewole Adebayo.
Adebayo said Atiku and Obi’s men are in talks for their principals to team up with the SDP, which recently welcomed a former Kaduna State governor and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (SDP) into its fold.
“People are joining my party, and we are welcoming them. You can see how active I am in welcoming them. The only little issue we have with some of them is to change the culture where if you have not been in an environment where rules are taken seriously,” the SDP chieftain said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
“Some of them are doing some Boy Scouts, black market operations, we are dealing with that. But we welcome them into the party. All these people you have mentioned, El-Rufai, Atiku Abubakar, even former Governor Peter Obi are coming. A lot of people are coming, and we will welcome them.”
When he was asked to clarify if Obi, a former Anambra State governor, is joining the SDP, Adebayo said, “Supposedly, until somebody joins, we don’t know. But people have told me, and the Financial Secretary (SDP) has also informed me, that they are talking. So we will welcome everybody.
“Surely, when we come in, and we don’t become a tower of Babel; if we come in, follow the rules and allow one person to emerge transparently, clearly, without cheating, without criminality the way we did our convention in 2022, people applauded us transparently, no court case, no crisis, no allegations.
“If they can stick to our culture and follow the way we do in the SDP and produce a good alternative to Nigerians, we are going to manifestly defeat the APC and retire President Tinubu to Lagos or wherever he chooses in Nigeria.”
Obi, who enjoys the backing of millions of Nigerian youths, came third in the last presidential election after polling about six million votes.
Atiku was second in the poll won by the APC’s Bola Tinubu.
Despite suggestions to the contrary, Obi has repeatedly said he remains in LP, the party that powered his 2023 presidential ambition.
The National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu has expressed the Federal Government’s determination in finding a lasting solution to the incessant attacks and killings in Plateau State.
Speaking at Operation Safe Haven headquarters in Jos during an operational visit in the aftermath of attacks in some communities of the Bokkos Local Government Area LGA) of the state, Ribadu promised to end the killings.
Over fifty persons were killed within a week in attacks over five communities that left over three hundred houses burnt by suspected herdsmen.
The Plateau State Government, through the Secretary to the Government Samuel Jatau, also visited some of the affected communities to ascertain the extent of damages and also donate relief materials to affected victims.
Adu expressed the Federal Government’s determination in finding solutions to the incessant attacks and killings.
Also, speaking about the killings, the District Head of Manguna wants the government to provide more security personnel in the affected communities to curb rural-urban migration.