Opinion
Alhaja Abibat Mogaji OON. MFR. ; Honor To Whom Honor Is Due
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF.
Yesterday, Tuesday, November, 13, 2024 will go down memory lane, as “the day the labour of our heroes past shall not be in vain “, with the honor done to our Mother , Leader , Mentor , Benefactor, Advisor and pan Nigerian, Alhaja Abibat Magaji (Nee Tinubu ), who had made all round sacrifices to the development and advancement of the country, by naming the newly constructed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) edifice located at Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MABNCWDA), by the new Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi.
The proactiveness and foresight of the new Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi has doused the many decades all round sacrifices made by the notable women leader and mother of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and also given hope to selfless leaders who had made notable sacrifices.
This is coming according to an adage , that “the patient dog , eat the fattest bone” after many years of his transition comes the post -humous honor for our late Mother , Icon , Exemplar powered by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development.
Late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji , Iyaloja of Lagos state that later transmuted to Iyaloja of Nigeria did not only play a leading role of a successful business woman and entrepreneur, but was a rallying point towards ensuring good working relationship between traders and their business partners , a role she also transfered to the children in the current dispensation.
Without political , religious and cultural undertone, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji ruled the traditional market women in the old Lagos state and Nigeria at large, that ensured the sustenance of peace , harmony, development and successes of traders across length and breadth of the country.
With Lagos serving as cosmopolitan Nigeria and commercial and economic headquarters of the country, the role she played at that point in time and transfered to her siblings in the current dispensation cannot be overemphasized.
Alhaja Mogaji had instituted sane practices outside the formal sector to transform the informal sector into an avenue were not only buying and selling will continue to thrive , but for people to live a good life .
She imbued a healthy living for the teeming lagosians and visitors not by only sustaining their way of life , but by extension of goodwill , peaceful coexistence across all strata of the country.
Therefore, the legacy of good leadership outside the formal sector recognized by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi is worth encouraging Nigerians to continue to put in their best in any position they find themselves.
Alhaja Abibat Mogaji many Nigerians are not unaware of her contributions not only the economic development of the country, but political mobilisation , orientation and reorientation from the old western region, during the first republic up till the time she transited to the great beyond , a legacy the children have inherited.
The same legacy that guided President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from his foundation, political adventures as a leading politician in the country, before becoming a Senator, Governor , and President of the country who had built many political followers across the country.
This formed the onus of the honor done to the Mother of the Nation, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji who deserved to be honored beyond naming of an edifice .
Having served meritoriously during the analogue era , the current digital dispensation deserved putting down her name in the anals of history in view of the technology era.
With the initiative of the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi, the coarse is now clearer to reward the nations women leader from different angles.
In here speech at the occasion, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi noted as follows…
“Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, at the unveiling ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja, described Mogaji as a resilient matriarch and champion of women’s empowerment.”
“She served as a testament to the relentless pursuit of her unwavering commitment to the upliftment of women.”
“We are gathered here to celebrate and honor the remarkable values of gender inclusion, women empowerment, and humanitarian services rendered by a resilient matriarch, mother, and an amazon, the Late Chief Alhaja.”
“She served as a testament to the relentless pursuit of her unwavering commitment to the upliftment of women, and the extraordinary efforts in creating a more compassionate society; where no one is left behind.”
“As we unveil the new name of the ICT block, let it be a symbol of our pledge to strive harder for the rights of women, to honor their contributions.”
“To build a society where every woman and child can fulfil their potential with dignity and pride,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said.”
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government plans to commence implementing the drill-or-drop provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Section 94 of the PIA gives operators a period of three years to begin oil production or relinquish the assets to the federal government.
Speaking during the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held on Tuesday in Florence, Italy, Lokpobiri said it is in the best interest of the country that all inactive wells go to work.
He said the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has provided every necessary incentive to ensure international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria run smoothly and profitably.
“Now, it is imperative for these industry players to match the government’s efforts with increased investment by announcing final investment decisions (FIDs),” he said.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri discussed “the challenges, expectations, and measures to enhance the sector’s contributions towards domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He emphasised that while IOCs have highlighted engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, “EPCs will not come unless they see strong commitments from industry players”.
“The government has done its part to provide the requisite and investment-friendly fiscals, the ball is now in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
“We must also recognise that domestic crude supply is essential to national energy security. The best solution to this challenge lies in increasing production, which will ensure a balance between domestic supply obligations and external commitments.”
The minister further urged industry players to explore collaborative measures, such as shared resources for contiguous assets and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.
The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a leading Pan-African student body, has commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Ogun State under Commissioner of Police (CP) Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, for its commitment to security and community engagement.
In a statement released on Thursday, the President of PSM Nigeria, Comrade Ambassador Okereafor Bestman, highlighted the CP’s efforts in strengthening collaboration between the police, stakeholders, and other security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the state.
“It is worthy of note that CP Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, has further fostered a harmonious working synergy between the police, stakeholders, and other security agents aimed at ensuring peace and tranquility in Ogun State,” Okereafor said.
The student leader expressed confidence in CP Ogunlowo’s leadership, stating that Ogun State is on track to becoming one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria under his administration.
He also praised the professionalism and dedication of the Ogun State Police Command in tackling crime, regardless of its scale.
Additionally, PSM acknowledged the Ogun State government’s continued support for security agencies, particularly in providing mobility and logistics to enhance their operational efficiency.
The commendation comes at a time when security remains a top priority for residents and authorities in the state, with ongoing efforts to curb crime and ensure public safety.
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
On assumption of duty in January, 2025 , the new Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Boss and well grounded World Bank expert , Aisha Garba envisaged the need to reposition the Basic Education through interfacing with the critical stakeholders.
Amongst them is the office of the National Security Adviser , NSA, led by Malam Nuhu Ribadu whose achievements in the last few years in the area of security has become distinct and outstanding.
Therefore, seeking to cooperate and collaborate with the office became germane and needful particularly the protection of lives and properties of actors in the promotion of Basic Education ranging from the pupils , teachers , workers and facilitators to enable it drive the new wave to curb Out of School Children OOSC in the country.
Aside providing the basic security arrangements for schools , the need to engage the security apparatus at the level of National Security Adviser NSA became needful, so as to address the sophistry of security problems in the country, to nip in the bud any unforseen circumstances.
With the high rates of kidnappings, abduction , banditry, cattle rustling, ritual tendencies among many other vices, the idea of bringing on board , the security architecture of the country in all ramifications will assist the commission to consolidate the implementation of Basic Education policies and programs, also introduce new ones .
Since pupils at the Primary, Junior Secondary and Secondary Schools are prone to such ugly development and security issues , the need to be proactive on the part of the commission became timely and desiring.
This led to the success story of the bilateral interface between the management of the commission and NSA, to streamline, perfect and chart a new course on the issue of security of actors in the Basic Education.
The visit described as timely and long overdue, discussed fruitfully the way forward and the immediate and long term intervention of both agencies in the area of collaboration.
According to the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba she stated by discussing” strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing educational access and security in Nigeria. ”
She further said” the engagement focused on strategies to address challenges such as the safety of schools, particularly in vulnerable regions, and the promotion of equitable education for all children.”
“the meeting highlighted the critical intersection between education and national security and the need for collaboration between UBEC and Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), on improving access to basic education and safety of safety schools across the nation. ”
“This collaboration underscores the government’s commitment to fostering a secure and inclusive learning environment as part of its broader agenda to strengthen the nation’s educational framework,” it added.
“UBEC boss had pledged to engage critical stakeholders to break down barriers to education and create inclusive learning opportunities for children across the six geopolitical regions of the country.”
“She said: “My goal is to deliver on this mandate which includes strengthening collaboration, partnerships and institutional learning for effective service delivery. ”
“Together, we will work to increase access, improve quality, provide conducive and safe learning environments, supply adequate teaching and learning materials, and adopt the concept of ‘best fit’ in addressing specific basic education challenges, state by state and region by region”.
Highlights of the program which included the engagement of both bodies with a commitment to ensure the introduction of security architecture in schools in Nigeria is achievable.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.