Vanguard personality of the year: Previewing the strides of our 2016 Frontliners

http://ift.tt/2mtMmWS

By Emmanuel Aziken

Weeks of expectation heralding the annual Vanguard Awards climax today at the Convention Centre of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos as Vanguard honours some of Nigeria’s leading lights in the professions, business, and government. Today’s event was yesterday heralded by the Vanguard Economic Discourse where some of Nigeria’s leading economic minds ventilated their views on the different slants towards resuscitating the economy.

Yesterday’s sombre and succinct scenery is expected to be replaced by a more convivial ambience as distinguished men and women from near and afar gather to watch the 14 men chosen by Vanguard’s Board of Editors to showcase the Nigerian spirit of resilience in the bygone year, 2016.

Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who has steered monetary policy in the midst of challenging economic parameters and the chaotic fiscal environment wins Vanguard’s Personality of the Year, 2016. Mr. Emefiele’s choice by Vanguard editors was despite the recession whose origins predated his appointment and was boosted by his steady and robust response to a seemingly impossible situation.

Mr. Herbert Wigwe is Banker of the Year, 2016. Mr. Wigwe who stepped in as CEO/Group Managing Director of Access Bank in 2014 has brought skill and style to position Access Bank among Nigeria’s top five banks with a competitive advantage in technology and customer relations.

Capt. Hosa Okunbo, pilot, businessman, philanthropist and culture icon is the choice of Vanguard editors for Businessman of the Year, 2016. With investments in energy, agriculture, telecommunications, petroleum, real estate, aviation and several others, Okunbo, a trained pilot has through scanning of the business atmosphere, been able to position himself to survive the vicissitudes that ordinarily consume light-hearted investors.

Four governors — Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos; Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State; Willie Obiano of Anambra and Ben Ayade of Cross River, won plaudits from Vanguard editors for Governor of the Year, 2016 award.

Governor Ambode’s sturdy and steady strides towards the transformation of Lagos as showcased by ongoing urban renewal projects across the state, an unpretentious personality that evokes a connection with the ordinary man were among the virtues that delighted Vanguard editors in his selection as Governor of the Year, 2016.

Governor Bagudu is not the first governor of Kebbi State, but he is unarguably the first to have shown to all how grit and grasp of governance can be translated into profit for the governed. The uncommon alliance with his Lagos State counterpart, Governor Ambode which brought forth LAKE Rice, despite the challenging geographical distance has shown to all how governors with foresight and fortitude can positively project their states. For his efforts in making a difference, Governor Bagudu wins Vanguard’s Governor of the Year, 2016 award.

Given the state of political anarchy that was the permanent feature of Anambra State and the change that occurred just before Governor Willie Obiano took over, much was expected from the former banker turned governor. Governor Obiano has indeed not disappointed building a legacy of peace that has provided a suitable environment for investments. Even more, Governor Obiano has helped project Anambra State beyond the realms of commerce and industry towards a whole new realm as an agricultural hub.

For his instinctive crave towards lifting Anambra State above where he met it, Governor Obiano wins Vanguard’s Governor of the Year, 2016 award.

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has been a disappointment to those sceptical of the potentials of academics in the political terrain. He has done so by so successfully turning theory into practise not just in efficiency in government, but by sowing new grounds in a state that was until his coming generally acclaimed as the poorest in the South-South. He has through vision planted industries including the famed Calabar Garment Factory, ensured an enchanting investment environment and inspired arguably the most motivated civil service in the country. For his persistent passion to transform Cross River State, Prof. Ayade wins Vanguard’s Governor of the Year, 2016 award.

Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Dr. Pascal Dozie, Chief Edwin Clark, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Alhaji Isa Funtua and Chief Emeka Anyaoku are individual winners of the Lifetime Achievement Awards.

They are men who have over a period of time endeared themselves to the generality of Nigerians for the positive contributions they brought to bear in the life of our growing nation. They are men who have shone like stars in their various callings, men who through character overcame challenges that made their contemporaries passersby in the path of life.

On the pages that follow this, read more about the strides and stands of these uncommon men, whose uncommon attainments mak them deserving of our laurels.

Tonight’s awards will be serenaded with acts, expectedly from some of Nigeria’s top performers.

The post Vanguard personality of the year: Previewing the strides of our 2016 Frontliners appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2mtMLIL

Ambode: A unique governance template

MTN Foundation, SLOT boss, others charge youths on winning strategy

http://ift.tt/2lLitmx

Nigerian youths have been charged to be pragmatic in their approach toward addressing issues they might be dealing with in their quest to create and sustain a winning idea for empowerment and development.

In dealing with these issues, the youths have been counseled to “think like there is no box” and show greater ingenuity to counter the challenges.

This counsel was given by the Senior Special Adviser to the Abia State government on Public Communication, Mr. Sam Hart and the Managing Director of SLOT, Nnamdi Ezegbo, at the launch of the MTN Foundation Scholars Alumni and Conference held in Owerri, Imo state.

The conference, billed as an annual event, will bring together the graduate beneficiaries of the MTN Foundation Scholarship schemes: Scholarship for the Science and Technology students (STSS) and Scholarship Scheme for the Blind Students (SSBS).

Rather than sitting back and sulking about the current economic challenges, Hart, who is also the promoter of the ‘Made in Aba’ initiative said the youths, “should not think outside the box but they should think like there is no box. Challenges will come, failure will come but they are necessities to succeed. You need to be resilient to sustain a winning idea and you must believe in yourself.”

On his part, the Managing Director of SLOT, Nnamdi Ezegbo recounting how he started SLOT technologies, advised the participants to always be prepared for challenges because the road to success will never be smooth. Only determination will make them succeed.

Ezegbo went philosophical when he said, “my strategy for operating SLOT is to create solutions. The environment will never be perfect. There is no perfect time for you to strike at success. Every time is the best but you need to understand the times.”

Ezegbo crystallizing the SLOT acronym said, “SLOT means Solution, Leadership, Opportunity and Technology. These are the four principles that drive our existence.”

“The entrance of Tecno into Nigeria was a solution from SLOT to get Nigerians to have a single phone that has multiple SIM. Tecno was created to meet a need and it has become the backbone of my riding to success.”

On leadership, “it is about understanding yourself. You need to create an environment to continue to learn, while at the same time you must identify the unique opportunities you hope to solve with technology,” said Ezegbo.

Admonishing the beneficiaries, Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro, said they should see the scholarship as a rare opportunity that must be well utilized. For the alumni Okoro said, “now that you have all gained and have been empowered, it is essential that you show yourselves as worthy ambassadors of the programme. Feel free to exhibit your creativity positively and contribute your quota to the development of the country.”

The conference will also hold in Abuja and Lagos with Tonye Cole, Bolanle Austin-Peters and Chika Ofili confirmed as speakers for the locations.

The aim of the MTNF Scholars Alumni Conference is to give beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme opportunities to meet with successful Nigerian entrepreneurs that will share their success stories of impact and value to inspire them as they launch themselves to the world as agents of value creation and change. The theme of the conference is, “Creating a Winning Idea.”

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mqSXQm

APC explains dissolution of Gombe caretaker committee

http://ift.tt/2khQH1r

APC

Goje denies alleged plan to impose next gov
The National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has explained the reason for dissolution of the caretaker committee of its Gombe State chapter and reconstitution of a new one to run its affairs.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party said the action followed the expiration of the tenure of the board.

The APC Deputy National Chairman, (North), Senator Lawali Shua’bu, while inaugurating the new committee in Abuja yesterday challenged them to unite all party members in the state.

Members of the new committee are the state Chairman, Idi Barde Gubana; Deputy Chairman, Sani Haruna; Secretary, Bello Kassimu Maigari and Bichi Obadia as Legal Secretary.

Meanwhile, a former governor of the state, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje has debunked rumours alleging plans by him to install his crony as the next governor of the state.

Goje, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, however said his ultimate desire was to ensure that an APC candidate takes over from the current Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo.

He has been involved in a protracted leadership tussle with a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator Usman Bello Nafada, over control of the party in the state.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mac4z5

MURIC tasks Lagos government on hijab court order

http://ift.tt/2lsZQlj

Hijab

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has hailed the rejection of the stay of execution sought by the Lagos Government, over the hijab saga, describing it as bold, convincing and reassuring.

Director, MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, in a statement appealed to the state government to allow sleeping dogs to lie.

“There is a limit even for official ego. There must come a time when government scoops to allow the general will to prevail. But the law is on the side of the general will this time. A government installed via democratic process cannot afford to disrespect a court judgement. This latest decision is legally binding and Lagos has no choice. Afterall, it is the center of excellence,” he said.

The Lagos Appeal Court last week struck out the stay of execution order sought by the Lagos State Government on the right of female Muslim students to use hijab with their school uniforms.

Asiyat Abdul Kareem (through her father), Moriam Oyeniyi and the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria had won appeal of case CA/L/135/15 against the Lagos State Government on 21st July, 2016 when all the five judges of the Lagos Appeal Court approved the use of hijab in Lagos public schools. The state government immediately approached the Supreme Court to appeal the case and also sought a stay of the execution at the Appeal Court.

Akintola said: “The honourable path is for the center of excellence to walk its talk. The state government must instruct the Ministry of Education to tell school principals to allow female Muslim children to use hijab in public schools.

“Without being immodest, we assure all and sundry that we know our rights. Any school authority who disallows female Muslim students or pupils from using hijab risks being jailed for contempt of court. We have been patient enough. Our children have listened to us. They eschewed violence. They obeyed the rules of decorum. Now the die is cast.

“Muslims have been accused severally of resorting to spontaneous violence even though they have always been provoked. But the case is different this time around. Lagos Muslims went to court instead of going violent and the courts have decided.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kJEpze