Pate misses leadership position at Global Fund for AIDS, others (Read full details)

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Muhammad Ali Pate

Former Minister of State for Health and Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, may have missed the opportunity of being named the next Executive Director of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

According to ScienceInsider, Pate was among three shortlisted candidates to lead the Global Fund, but the group has decided to reopen its search due to leaks on concerns about alienating United States President, Donald Trump and allegations of conflicts of interest.

All of the reasons led to a surprise decision by the board of the Global Fund on Sunday to continue the search for a new executive director.

A statement by the Geneva, Switzerland-based Global Fund read: “Due to issues in the recruitment process, the Board felt they were unable to bring the process to conclusion.”

The current head of the Global Fund, Mark Dybul, would step down in May, and the group was expected to select his successor last Sunday from three candidates identified during a search this winter.

The New York Times had ran a story that said Pate, “had called Mr. Trump a fascist in his Twitter posts, saying he has much in common with ISIS for his anti-Muslim stance.”

The story also said: “American officials may look askance” at a second candidate, Subhanu Saxena, who formerly headed the generic drug company Cipla, which has sold large volumes of drugs to the Global Fund.

The third candidate, Helen Clark is head of the United Nations Development Programme and was a former prime minister of New Zealand.

According to the Times, Clark’s background raised concerns because the Trump administration “has expressed hostility toward United Nations programmes.”

Pate had stated in an e-mail that he has no plans to reapply for the job, noting that he was told the process was merit based and that he was the first-ranked candidate in the report. “The Global Fund Board’s decision is unfair and unjustified,” Pate wrote.

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‘The most exploited, neglected Nigerians are our talents’…Read full details

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Founder and CEO, Mr. Idris Olorunnimbe (right) and Director of Communication, Mr. Terfa Tilley-Gyado at the briefing last week… in Lagos

In all spheres of life, Nigeria is a vast pool of talents. From the traditional professions through the arts, and latter-day technology, Nigerians are proving their mettle. In fact, they set the trail in most cases and are shoulders above their counterparts elsewhere.

But two problems easily beset them. Their talent is either not discovered and harnessed or when it is recognised, it is under-valued and exploited without the required or even adequate reward. Largely, it is unrecognised genius and potential left to waste.
 
But there are some Nigerians, who believe things should be done otherwise. They have taken it upon themselves to rewrite this sad narrative for a happier one. This is the turf Temple Management Company (TMC), set up almost a year ago, will be plying its trade in talent discovery and management. Nigerian talents, at least those signed on by TMC, will not only be properly managed and nurtured, they will also receive the support necessary to succeed and compete at the global arena.

 
Interestingly, the company’s portfolio for talent development cuts across entertainment, arts and sports in that seamless manner that is often lacking. These three areas, according to the Founder and CEO of TMC, Mr. Idris Olorunnimb, deliver high-end entertainment to millions of people the world over just as they are the pillars of some economies of major countries in the world.

In entertainment, there is Mavin Records, Iyanya, Jeff Akoh, 9ice, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Fela’s drummer and two-time Grammy award winner, Lekan Babalola and writer and filmmaker, Biyi Bandele. The sports talents include a 12-year old tennis prodigy, Marylove Edwards, Seye Ogunlewe and Ebi Onome (Super Falcons star). In the arts, there is eclectic painter and printmaker, Victor Ehikhamenor, Mode Aderinokun, Fola David and Logor. In media, Funmi Iyanda is sole signee.
 
In a recent conversation last week at TMC office on Victoria Island, Lagos, Olorunnimbe set out the vision of TMC to include “forging a deep, enduring relationship with these talents and being the backbone to these artists; the individual prosperity of people who sign up to us is just as critical. We manage talent across entertainment sectors – sports, music, movie, arts, and fashion. Music is moving faster than others, but movie is trying to catch up with it. But there is music in movies. As movie is developing, it is helping music (in terms of sound tracks).
 
“We pride ourselves like pioneers; nobody is set up like us; none is strategic as us. We are the first in the market; people are not willing and ready to sacrifice or suffer. The most exploited and neglected Nigerians are our talents. It’s not just about people singing. Writers and artists have vibrant, marketable skills.”
 
Olorunnimbe sees his company as a “collection of young and not-so young people, who see the need to protect talents from themselves and a third party. The job of a talent manager is to ensure that that the talents live up to his or her potentials. Those who fall victim to contractual obligations isn’t because they are daft or uneducated, but because they are desperate.”
 
He also noted that across Africa, where it is establishing a strong presence (with another office in Kenya to cater for the East African market), entertainment (in terms of sports, arts and music/movie) were yet to take their pride of place, saying, “If you remove entertainment and sports components of the U.S. and the U.K, can you imagine what those economies will become?
 
“We will unlock your opportunities. Whatever is hindering their talent from blossoming we will ensure we remove it and let them make their due. Our aim is for the artist to focus on his talent and we focus on its business.”

TMC’s Director of Finance, Mr. Hamza Idris Kutugi, gave indication on the need for insuring artists on its stable and preparing them for when their active years are over, adding, “We will prepare artists also for when they can’t sing, dance, paint or write any more.”

Also, Director, Legal, Mr. Ayodeji Olomojobi, said TMC is a composite talent hunting firm with “different departments infused into the team. We have different people doing different things. Our model is a commissioned-based model.”

Olorunnimbe gave insight into TMC’s work, particularly on the prodigious 12-year tennis talent, Marylove Edwards. A tennis coach in South Africa begged her parents to relocate from Nigeria with her so he could coach, mentor and expose her to the world stage. Now, however, TMC has secured support for her by getting Zenith Bank Plc and TY Danjuma Foundation as her sponsors. Olorunnimbe stressed the need for Nigeria’s corporate organisations to link talents with their brands’ equity, saying it has been the missing ingredient to talent development on the African continent as against elsewhere.

Also, TMC’s Arts Manager, Wunika Mukan, noted that the company was designed to provide local and international opportunities and platforms for artists to bloom in their respective fields. For instance, the company has secured an art gallery contract for Ehikhamenor in the U.K., where he would showcase his works alongside other artists. He would be in Venice, Italy, for the next biennale, courtesy TMC.

“We are looking for opportunities for our artists,” she said, “we want them to just focus on the creative side while we look at the business side. We want to plug a lot of things that just slipped through the cracks, like helping with exhibitions, providing media support, like sending them to residencies to keep them sharp. We will just connect them to where they need to be at any point in time.”

 

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FG committed to establishment of 6 special economic zones

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Nigeria's minister of industry, trade and investment, Okechukwu Enelamah

In a bid to boost direct foreign investment into the country, the federal government has reiterated its resolve to expend N51.4 billion for establishment of six special economic zones this year.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, who gave this hint, said the federal government decision to invest in the special economic is predicated on that fact that the Oil and Gas Free Zone in Onne, Rivers State , has attracted over $20 billion in investments to the country.

He stated this at a stakeholders’ forum and the unveiling of the Roadmap of the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority organised by OGFZA in Onne yesterday.

Represented by the Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investments, Hajia Aisha Abubakar, he said the Federal Government would not relent in its support to investors in the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority because of their immense contribution to national development.

The minister explained that the federal government appreciates the critical role of free zones as veritable engines of growth for the economy, hence, the decision to appropriate N51.4b in the 2017 budget for the establishment of six special economic zones in the country.

“In order to underscore the critical role of the Free Zones as drivers of economic growth, the Federal Government in the 2017 budget estimates made
a strong policy statement in support of the concept of the Free Zones by setting aside a special provision of N51.4 billion for the establishment of six Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the country having recognized Free Zones as veritable engines of growth for the economy.

“For this reason, the Federal Government will continue to support OGFZA and investors in the Oil and Gas Free Zones because of their important
contributions to national economic development. Over the years, the Oil and Gas Free Zones have attracted more than $20 billion in investments and
created about 200,000 direct and indirect jobs. They have also facilitated the transfer of skills and technology in the oil and gas sector to Nigerians” he said.

The minister said he was delighted by proactive stance of the management of the oil and gas free zone to prepare a detailed roadmap and an information-rich marketing brochure, to further attract investors and give impetus to businesses.

“The Roadmap we are unveiling today is a critical work tool for OGFZA. It will help to measure economic and social progress in the Oil and Gas Free Zones. The steps outlined by OGFZA to enhance service delivery, improve on the ease of doing business and automate its operations will help in creating the enabling environment to create and sustain investments” he added.

On his part, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of OGFZA, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, said the roadmap has been designed to improve the ease of doing business in the zone

“The path of the new OGFZA is well laid out in our roadmap, which we are unveiling today, along with our marketing brochure to guide existing and potential investors to the array of incentives available in the Free Zones. The Roadmap is a product of our vision to be the premier investment promotion agency of government by facilitating the establishment of businesses in the Oil and Gas Free Zones with the creation of an enabling environment for investment” he said.

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FG to begin local production of human vaccines for disease control

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Federal Government yesterday announced plans to commence local production of human vaccines in the country.

The plan, according to Director General of National Biotechnology Development Agency, Prof. Lucy Ogbadu is in keeping with the government’s desire to be actively engaged in local production of products.

These products, the director general said, include medicals. She said the vaccines would be useful in preventing and controlling diseases among humans.

Appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology for defence of the ministry’s 2016 budget spending, Mrs Ogabadu said the agency is partnering with relevant stakeholders to put in place a policy document on development and business plan that will guarantee sustainable human vaccine production in the country.

“We are collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Immunisation Funding Task Force to come up with a joint action plan that can support local production of vaccines.

“Some years back in the 60s, Nigeria produced vaccines but it folded up. This time, we are committed to it and do not want to repeat the same mistakes. So, we want everything to be in place this time around.

“The agency is committed to ensuring that the improved varieties get to the farmers for utilisation,” she said.

Ogbadu, however, solicited the support of the legislature in allocating funds for the development of bio resource development centres across the country.

She said that out of the 26 centres currently existing, nine are old while the 17 new ones were yet to take off.

According to her, most of them are in the process of land acquisition and clearing to put up buildings meant for the centres.

Ogbadu revealed that the agency would develop sustainable models to ensure that research findings attract investments.

In her remarks, Chairman House Committee on Science and Technology, Hon. Beni Lar urged the agency to find ways of developing industrial chemicals so as to generate more revenues.

“It doesn’t make sense that the country is spending so much foreign exchange to import industrial chemicals in the country.

“Chemicals we import should be locally made, we have the capacity and should take it seriously,” Lar said.

She pledged the desire of the legislature to looking into the agency’s 2017 budget proposal of N1. 8 billion in a bid to determining areas of collaboration for its upwards review and optimum utilization.

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