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Leadership development: Centre trains 2,687 Nigerians
The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), says it has trained 2,687 Nigerians in multiple locations across the country for strategic leadership and sustainable development.
The Executive Director, Centre LSD, Monday Osasah, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja, during a news conference to mark the center’s 15th anniversary.
Osasah, said the anniversary was a moment of reflection on the Centre’s journey, recognition of its achievements and a renewal of commitment to the vision of an African society.
He said that the Centre was establish to address three critical challenges constraining Africa’s progress, adding that these include the absence of dynamic, strategic, and visionary leadership.
He also said that it include the prevalence of inappropriate strategies that fail to address societal needs, as well as the adoption of development approaches that lack sustainability and inclusivity.
According to him, since its inception in January 2010, Centre LSD has pursued its mission of working with forces of positive change to empower citizens to transform society.
Osasah also said that over the past 15 years, the Centre’s unwavering belief in the transformative power of leadership had equipped individuals with the tools and knowledge for visionary leadership to transform the society.
”Established in 2009 and formally transferred to Centre LSD in 2010, the Centre LSD Leadership School has trained 2,687 students across multiple locations in Nigeria, including Abuja, Warri, Benin, Port Harcourt, Abakaliki, and Jos.
”Students from countries like Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, and Niger have benefited.
“The centre trained over 165 individuals in Strategic Management, certified by the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (ISMNC),” he disclosed.
The executive director also said that students of the Centre have moved on to impact their societies forming Alumni associations, leading community development initiatives, influencing policies, and driving societal change across Africa.
He added that the Centre prioritised strategic capacity building to ensure individuals and institutions have the tools to design and implement effective strategies and contribute to major national and regional strategies.
He added that the Centre advocated for women’s rights, abolishing harmful practices like the “money woman” tradition in Cross River State.
Osasah further disclosed that Centre LSD established the network of men leaders to end violence against women and increased youth and women participation in governance, particularly in the Niger Delta states.
He said the Centre also advocated for local government autonomy and supported campaigns to preserve civic spaces in Nigeria as well as promote education through projects like “Educate A Child” and “Community-Led Collective Action for Girls Education” to increase enrolment.
”The Centre also led advocacy for environmental sustainability, including the cleanup of Ogoni land and influencing environmental policies.
”It facilitated sanitation infrastructure to eradicate open defecation in communities like Durumi 3 and Ruwan Fulani in AMAC, and Kuyizhi in Kuje Area Council.
”Our Community-Led Total Sanitation intervention in communities in AMAC and Kuje area councils transformed communities into Open Defecation Free (ODF) zones, improving hygiene and health outcomes.
”The Centre facilitated the Enhanced agricultural practices and economic resilience through projects like “Feed the Future” in Kebbi State, Provided cash transfers, vocational training, and livelihood support, and uplifting several families in northern Nigeria from poverty.
”It also influenced the adoption of Open Government Partnership (OGP) principles in 25 Nigerian states,” he said.
Osasah further said that the Centre LSD would not rest on its oars, but continue to expanding its leadership school across Africa, with specialised programmes tailored for youth, women, and marginalised communities.
He added that it launched advanced digital tools, such as the Hostcommunities.ng app, to bridge gaps between communities and stakeholders to ensure accountability and transparency
He called on all stakeholders to join in building an Africa where leadership drives progress, policies empower people, and communities thrive in dignity and equity.
”Together, let us amplify the voices of the unheard, strengthen the foundations of justice, and create a legacy of sustainable development,” he added.
(NAN)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially dissolved the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which includes the removal of Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Mele Kyari and Chairman Pius Akinyelure, along with all other board members appointed in November 2023.
In an announcement, the President introduced an 11-member restructured board, appointing Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new GCEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as the Non-Executive Chairman. These changes are effective immediately, as stated by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy.
Emphasizing the need for “enhanced operational efficiency, restored investor confidence, and a more commercially viable NNPC,” President Tinubu exercised his authority under Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to implement this significant reorganization.
The newly formed board comprises Adedapo Segun, who continues as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), alongside six non-executive directors representing Nigeria’s geopolitical zones: Bello Rabiu (North West), Yusuf Usman (North East), Babs Omotowa (North Central), Austin Avuru (South-South), David Ige (South West), and Henry Obih (South East). Additionally, Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and Aminu Said Ahmed, representing the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, will serve on the board.
The President has charged the new board with conducting a strategic review of NNPC-operated and Joint Venture assets to optimize value. This includes increasing crude oil production to 2 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2027 and 3 million bpd by 2030, boosting gas production to 8 billion cubic feet daily by 2027 and 10 billion by 2030, and expanding NNPC’s refining capacity to 200,000 bpd by 2027 and 500,000 bpd by 2030. The administration also aims to attract $30 billion in oil investments by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030, building on the $17 billion secured in 2024.
Ahmadu Musa Kida, the new Chairman, is a Borno-born engineer and former Deputy Managing Director of Total Nigeria. He also has a background in basketball, having served as the ex-president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the newly appointed GCEO, hails from Kwara State and was previously the Executive Vice President of Renaissance Africa Energy, where he led a $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell’s Nigerian assets. He brings extensive experience from Elf and Shell, having worked across Europe and the Middle East.
President Tinubu expressed gratitude to the outgoing board for their contributions, particularly their efforts in reviving the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which have resumed production after years of dormancy. Analysts view this leadership change as part of Tinubu’s broader reforms in the oil sector, following last year’s removal of fuel subsidies and the promotion of private refinery investments. With the new team established, there are high expectations for enhanced transparency, efficiency, and profitability within Nigeria’s state oil enterprise.
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 minority caucus in the house of representatives has condemned the killing of 16 Kano-bound hunters in Edo state.
On Thursday, a mob in the Uromi area of Edo killed 16 hunters of northern descent who were travelling from Elele, Rivers state.
The travellers were attacked and lynched after some vigilance group members raised the alarm on suspicion that they were kidnappers.
The Edo state government said 14 suspects arrested in connection with the killing would be transferred to Abuja for further interrogation.
During a visit to some of the families of the victims at Bankure LGA in Kano, Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, assured that justice would be served.
In a statement issued on Monday, the minority caucus described the killing of the hunters as “barbaric”.
“We find such brutal killings of innocent Nigerians in any part of the country by lawless mobs very reprehensible, and if allowed to fester without being put in check by responsible organs of the federal government, such actions could threaten the peace and unity of the country,” the statement reads.
The lawmakers asked Nigerians never to resort to jungle attacks on fellow citizens but to always report any concerns to security agencies.
“We are a nation under the rule of laws, and our law enforcement agencies are always available to partner with every Nigerian to assuage their concerns,” the caucus said.
While noting that the incident is “already setting emotions on edge” in parts of the country, the legislators urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the security agencies investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Also, adequate compensation should be paid to the affected families,” the caucus said.
The lawmakers implored Nigerians to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding and allow the federal and state governments to investigate the matter and ensure justice is served.
The statement was signed by Kingsley Chinda, minority leader; Ali Isa, minority whip; and Aliyu Madaki, deputy minority leader.