The naira further weakened against the dollar at the foreign market on Wednesday.
FMDQ data showed that the naira slumped to N1512.61 against the dollar on Wednesday from N1509.45 on Tuesday.
This represents a N3.16 loss against the dollar compared to N1509.45 traded on Tuesday.
Similarly, at the parallel foreign exchange market, the naira depreciated to N1520 per dollar on Wednesday from N1515 the previous day.
The development comes as foreign currency transaction turnover dropped to $114.91 million on Wednesday from $213.31 million on Tuesday, according to FMDQ data.
President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, approved the appointment of qualified Nigerians to the Board of the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation CREDICORP.
The appoinment was announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
According to Ngelale, the appointment was to further expedite the process of expanding consumer credit access to Nigerians.
He disclosed that Otunba Aderemi Abdul, an Independent Non-Executive Director, has been appointed as the board chairman of the nine-member board, while Engr. Uzoma Nwagba is appointed as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.
Mrs. Aisha Abdullahi is appointed as the Executive Director (Credit, Risk & Portfolio)/CRO, Ms. Olanike Kolawole, Executive Director (Operations)/COO,
Dr. Armstrong Ume Takang, Non-Executive Director (MOFI Nominee), Dr. Peter Iwegbu, Non-Executive Director (NIMC Nominee), Mr. Mohammed Nasiru Abbas, Non-Executive Director (FMITI Nominee), Mr. Marvin Nadah, Non-Executive Director (FCCPC Nominee) and the Federal Ministry of Finance, FMF Representative, Non-Executive Director (FMF).
The statement added, “The President expects the new members of the Board of this pivotal institutional vehicle to bring their vast experience, competence, and dedication to bear in their functions to achieve CREDICORP’s mandate of accelerating access to consumer credit to millions of Nigerians.”
The Federal Government has invited the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) for a crucial meeting.
The meeting is scheduled to be held on Thursday at the office of the Minister of Education, Prof. Mamman Tahir.
Naija News had reported that both SSANU and NASU threatened to shut down universities on Thursday, July 4, over the non-payment of the four months withheld salaries by the government.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising SSANU and NASU, had a few days ago issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to pay its members the four months withheld salaries.
Out of the four university-based unions that embarked on a prolonged strike in 2022, the federal government had paid the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), leaving behind the other three unions.
It could be recalled that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Labour and Employment, then under Chris Ngige as minister, had invoked the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy, which caught up with the entire unions when they went on a protracted strike.
Despite the presidential directive to release their salaries, SSANU and NASU members have been ignored by those implementing the directive.
Shortly after assuming office as Minister of Education, Professor Mamman reiterated that all affected unions are to benefit from the payment.
However, the latest threat by SSANU and NASU seemed to have hit the right chord as the federal government summoned an emergency meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday by 1 pm on Thursday in a bid to avert the looming strike.
“The Minister of Education has called to meet with SSANU and NASU today, maybe to persuade us not to go on strike. We will honour the invitation. We are also going to meet with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment by 3 pm,” a source in the know reportedly told the Daily Post.
Reports also revealed that JAC was originally set to convene at 10 am on Thursday before proceeding to the other meeting.
The JAC intended to convene on July 4, following the two-week deadline, to assess the government’s reaction to their requests and announce a perpetual strike should the government persist in failing to pay their suspended wages.
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has advocated for policies that safeguard domestic industries and cultivate them into indigenous champions capable of generating jobs and fostering prosperity in face of current global economic woes.
The foremost entrepreneur told the gathering of manufacturers and investors in Abuja while delivering a speech on 'Rethinking Manufacturing in Nigeria' as the keynote speaker at the Nigeria Manufacturers' Summit that Nigeria has what it takes to be prosperous.
Dangote who noted that through there are various factors contributing to the underperformance of the manufacturing sector, emphasized that the crucial issue requiring attention is government policy and its approach toward investments and investors.
He pointed out that industrial or manufacturing entities are not like trading entities, while expressing his belief that the fundamental role and responsibility of government should be not only to promote investments and attract investors in manufacturing but also to ensure that these investments are nurtured and protected to facilitate growth and sustainability.
“In every economic regime, including the most advanced, investment projects in manufacturing and industrial sectors need time and a conducive environment for them to mature, build capacity and scale, to become competitive against those in older and more mature markets.
“But since the Mid 1980’s non-industrialized countries and their leaders have been discouraged from protecting and supporting such investment and forced to expose them to unfair competition from stronger, older competitors in their own internal market, even before the newcomers are commissioned. Yet these same older/bigger players are well supported in their home markets,” he said.
He listed several examples of government intervention to protect industries: the blocked sale of US steel to Nippon Steel of Japan, the blocked sale of six US port management companies to Dubai Ports World, restrictions on Chinese cranes at US ports, and the US imposition of tariffs such as 100% on Chinese EVs, 50% on semiconductors, medical products, and solar panels. He also cited the restriction of Russian gas supply to Europe, which led European countries to increase coal usage despite opposition to fossil fuels, and the US government's distribution of $39 billion in subsidies to incentivize local microchip production.
Dangote referred to Asia as having achieved significant levels of industrialization by pursuing industrial policies where the government played an active role in nurturing and supporting local companies. They subsequently leveraged this success to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into Free Trade Zones.
He emphasized that Government Protection of the industry, does not solely encompass short to medium-term Regulatory Mechanisms such as tax holidays and other incentives which have their place in industrial policy and should be applied when necessary to mitigate investment challenges.
“I am concerned with a long term policy framework which ensures that investors can invest with the understanding that the industry will in the long run be regarded as a national asset and not just investor’s assets, so that when it is threatened, either by external forces or by changes in the environment beyond the control of individual operators, Government will take appropriate action to protect investors and support them to survive the threat. Almost all countries did this in response to the COVID threat. Those in the pharmaceutical industry may well remember how India protected and supported its pharmaceutical industry,” he said while noting that if such policy had been adopted in the past, Nigeria would boost a flourishing textile and tyre industry as well as functioning refineries.
“If we had adopted such a policy and Government attitude to the Textile Industry and tyre industry in the 80’s and early 90’s, perhaps our economy today will still be benefitting from the job creation capacities of these industries. Or if we had adopted this attitude to our Refining industry, Nigerians would not today be too anxious about Dangote Refinery,” he stated.
Disputing assertions that protecting domestic industries leads to reduced competitiveness, Dangote argued to the contrary, citing examples such as China, Korea, India, and various other Asian nations. He pointed out that these countries successfully developed into robust economies and posed a challenge to the established global economic order precisely because they protected their industries.
He noted that in the past, Nigeria was not competitive in cement production, producing less than 2 million tons of cement per annum up to 2007. He pointed out that due to strategic government policies and support, Nigeria has since become Africa's largest cement producer and exporter, ranking among the top 10 globally in competitiveness.
Dangote noted that in 2023, Dangote Cement alone contributed more tax revenue to the government than the entire banking sector. “In the past, Nigeria was not competitive in cement production. Up to 2007, Nigeria produced less than 2m tons of cement per annum. Today we have about 60m tons of production capacity and another 9m under construction. The foundation for this success story was laid by an administration which decided to extend full support and protection to Nigeria’s cement industry. Today we are among the 10 most competitive cement producers in the world and the biggest cement producer and cement exporter in Africa. In 2023, Dangote Cement alone paid more taxes into the coffers of the government than the entire banking industry,” he said.
Dangote also refuted claims that protecting industries would lead to monopoly, stating that it is common knowledge that foreign investors only come when they see that local investors are also doing well.
"I am convinced that when Government Policy becomes more supportive and protective, investors will be more willing to collaborate and partner with the Government in resolving other challenges such as infrastructure deficits, market instabilities and macro-economic issues such as inflation and foreign exchange volatilities," he added.
Reiterating that Nigeria has all it takes to develop and sustain a globally competitive manufacturing sector, Dangote called for re-thinking of her industrialization policy, by learning from leading countries in the West and the East who are actively protecting their domestic industries.
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote and the Vice-President of Nigeria, kashim Shettima and Otunba Francis Meshioye, MAN president during the MAN Summit at the Villa in Abuja.
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote is receiving an honour from MAN DG Ajayi Kadri for his contribution to the manufacturing sector in Nigeria, at the MAN Summit at the Villa in Abuja.
Nigeria government is to receive a 7.5 percent Value Added Tax on Cryptocurrency transactions from users registered in the country from July 8, 2024.
A popular cryptocurrency platform, KuCoin disclosed this in a recent email notice to users in Nigeria.
“We are writing to inform you of an important regulatory update that impacts our users from the Republic of Nigeria.
“Starting from July 8th, 2024, we will begin collecting a Value-Added Tax (VAT) at a rate of 7.5 percent on transaction fees in each trade for users whose KYC information is registered in Nigeria.”
According to official data, cryptocurrency transaction volume is $59 billion yearly.
Meanwhile, Ray Youssef, director of NoOnes, a cryptocurrency platform said peer-to-peer business is worth $500 billion.
In February 2024, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso raised the alarm that a suspicious $26 billion was funneled through Binance without a trace.
Some bandits who kidnapped a Kaduna State female judge and her four children were reported to have killed the eldest son while threatening to kill the other children if the ransom demanded was not paid.
The Chief Executive Officer of the House of Justice, Gloria Ballason, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, condemned the abduction of the Customary Court judge, Janet Galadima, and her four children as well as the “murder of her 14-year-old son by the terrorists.”
Ballason said Galadima was abducted on the night of Sunday 23 June 2024 along with her four sons at their residence in the state by the hoodlums while her husband, a medical doctor, was away on duty.
“The abductors reported to have been about fifteen, took their captives hostage and demanded a huge sum as ransom. On Tuesday 2 July 2024, the terrorists shot dead the 14-year first son of the Judge when the ransom demanded could not be obtained,” she said.
Ballason, a human rights lawyer, described the murder of Victor, the 14-year-old son of the judge as “grisly and blood-curdling”, stating that no parent deserved the horror of watching their child being killed in such a cold, callous manner.
She called on the Nigerian security agencies, the governor of Kaduna State, the Nigeria Bar Association, and the judiciary to protect the lives of Galadima and her children and ensure justice is served.
Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Dr Shuaibu Joga, condemned the development and urged the security agencies to rise to the occasion.
The statement read, “Following the incident, we visited the husband and interacted with him and he informed us that the kidnappers had made a demand of N300 million to secure their release. While the security agencies had been informed and negotiations with the kidnappers were ongoing, we received the shocking news today that the first son was killed to force payment of the said sum.
“In response, we are calling for an emergency SEC meeting today and a press conference to further call on the authorities to expedite action on securing their immediate release and also the release of our other doctor kidnapped 6 months ago.
“We call for calm from members and request all to stay safe while we engage the necessary security organs to end this needless wanton evil.”
A family source said the kidnappers who initially demanded a ransom of N300m later reduced to amount to N298m to secure the release of the abducted judge and their remaining children.
“The wife and 4 children of Dr. Musa Gimba Dutse were kidnapped on 23/06/24 from his residence in Kaduna while he was away in Kano for an official assignment.
“Security agencies were duly informed after the incident with kidnappers initially demanding N300 million (they reduced it to N298 million) to secure their release. While negotiations were ongoing, the kidnappers murdered Dr. Musa’s eldest son Victor (14yrs) on July 2, 2024, to force payment of the ransom,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the state government or the state police command.
When contacted on the telephone, the Command’s Police Public Relations, Mansir Hassan, could not be reached as the line indicated “busy” and a text message sent by our correspondent was not responded to.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that the issue of releasing Nnamdi Kanu was not part of his discussion with the South East governors in Enugu State, on Tuesday.
The former President and Chief Emeka Anyaoku met with the governors on their own invitation to discuss regional development issues, and the purported plan release of Kanu by the federal government was not part of it.
A release by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Wednesday, stated that the regional development issues include that of security and infrastructure.
Others were economic and cooperative/collaboration, which was meant to complement the national economic development agenda.
“The meeting with them was at my invitation and Chief Emeka Anyaoku before their summit begins.
“The issue of Nnamdi Kanu was not on the agenda and was not discussed in my presence,” Obasanjo was quoted as having said.
Kenya’s President William Ruto has directed a review of the proposed pay increase for politicians, recommended by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
The SRC’s proposal, announced earlier this week, suggested a 2-5% pay rise for all state officials, including politicians.
The recommendation sparked widespread criticism from Kenyans, who feel that the country’s financial constraints make it an inopportune time for politicians to receive a pay hike.
The public backlash prompted President Ruto to intervene, ordering a review of the proposal to ensure that it aligns with the country’s economic realities.
On Tuesday, Samuel Njoroge, clerk of the country’s National Assembly, told the People Daily newspaper that the SRC’s recommendation could not be overturned as it affected all state officers.
“The changes are normal salary reviews or increments in any organisation,” he was quoted as saying.
But Mr Ruto has asked the treasury to review the notice.
“The president has emphasised that this is a time, more than ever before, for the executive and all arms of the government to live within their means,” a statement by his spokesman said.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN has called on Nigerians to stand strong against terror.
This is following the recent suicide attacks in Gwoza, Borno, northeast Nigeria.
CAN, in a statement signed by Archbishop Daniel Okoh, its President, said it was deeply worried by the recent suicide attacks.
DAILY POST reports that the incident has claimed numerous lives and injured many others.
“We are concerned about the resurgence of suicide bombing in our country and the threat it poses to the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians,” the association said.
“This senseless act of violence is a stark reminder of the evil that terrorism represents, and the need for collective action to defeat it.
“We commend the security agents who have been working tirelessly to contain the threat of terrorism in our country. We encourage them not to relent in their efforts, as every necessary intervention is welcome to prevent a relapse into the dark days of suicide attacks. We must not let down our guards, as the situation could escalate and affect not only innocent lives but also worship centers and other large gatherings.
“The attacks in Gwoza are a stark reminder that terrorism is a threat to our collective humanity. Innocent lives were lost, and it could have been anyone – a family member, a friend, or a neighbour. We must come together to condemn this evil and support the efforts of our security agents to keep us safe.
“We call on the government to intensify efforts to ensure the security and safety of all citizens, particularly in vulnerable regions. We also urge religious leaders and Nigerians to unite against terrorism and violence, promoting peace, love, and harmony.
“We pray for divine comfort and intervention in this difficult time. May God grant the families of the victims the fortitude to bear their loss, and may we all remain united in our quest for peace and security. We will continue to support the efforts of our security agents and work together to build a safer and more peaceful Nigeria for all.
“Let us remember that we are not alone in this fight against terrorism. We stand in solidarity with all those who have been affected by this evil, and we will continue to work together to ensure that it does not prevail. May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may God bless Nigeria and keep us safe.”
[PRESS RELEASE] Why Asian Tigers, UAE, Japan Left Nigeria, Other African Countries Behind - Olaopa
Admin![[PRESS RELEASE] Why Asian Tigers, UAE, Japan Left Nigeria, Other African Countries Behind - Olaopa](/media/k2/items/cache/c4afca820817466bfea56c0df7b3a40c_S.jpg)
The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has offered insight into why Nigeria and other African countries are not as developed as the Asian Tigers, UAE, Japan , among other countries.
Olaopa who is a former permanent secretary and currently the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) spoke at the South-South States’ BRACED Commission Strategy Retreat on the theme ‘Leadership in the Public Sector: Strengthening Public Institutions through Capacity Building’ held in Benin City on 5-7 June, 2024.
The seasoned bureaucrat whose lecture was entitled "Strategic Leadership in Civil/Public Service: Challenges, Opportunities and Future Prospect" said that Nigeria and other African countries not only lag behind other European and Asian countries but also within the African continent.
He listed Rwanda and Botswana as some of the developmental models in Africa which are far ahead of other countries on the continent .
Decrying the failure of leadership in Africa and its attendant under-development, Olaopa said : "Whether we reference the Mo Ibrahim Awards or Global Governance Ranking in the last decades, especially when put in the contexts of the Asian Tigers, UAE, India, Brazil, and even Botswana and Rwanda’s success stories, it is clear that there are some things that these countries are doing differently that Nigerian political and administrative leadership would do well to learn from.
"The development literature is rich with glowingly expanding perspectives on how differently these high-performing countries approached their challenges.
"From the perspective of policy analysis, the major difference is that these leaders were thinkers who are very open and desirous of evidence-based technical-rational approaches to governance and administration. And at that with little room for the kind of politics that we play with everything including census, which have combined with other indices to undermine policy work in Nigeria.
"Many of these countries are strategic and perceptive enough to correctly discern the ideological assumptions of neo-liberal approach to economic policy management, and had deployed high-end policy intelligence and expertise to recalibrate its nuances so they could align with indigenous ideas and local innovations in measures that have significantly attenuated structural dependency on the West with all its attendant imperialisms.
"Many of these high-performing countries chose the path of a developmental state to condition liberal democracy by 'conjoining private ownership with state guidance.' They adapted to the trajectory of capitalist growth within a logic that differed from the capitalism in the West.
"Consequently, a country like Malaysia came up with indigenous tailor-made solutions in her industrialisation strategy, while countries like Botswana proved in spirit and action that the resource curse trap that circumscribed Nigeria’s development trajectory is avoidable.
"The two countries, like all others, underscore the importance of strong leadership backed up with strong institutions."
Olaopa recalled that after the devastation of WWII, Japan took charge of her developmental destiny based on a deep understanding of the relationship between economic growth, development and performance .
He said Japan leveraged TQM’s American-style inspection system that incorporated quality control and measurement with the guidance of Edward Deming et al and the Keiretsu principles, thereby launching a national productivity movement that transformed Japan to become the second largest capitalist economy in record time in the 1950s.
According to Olaopa, all the referenced success stories speak to the crucial issues that sustainable development anywhere in the world is due to the critical factor of leadership-led transformation.
"And that has in turn depended on a strict regime of disciplined policies and programmes execution and change management that successfully install performance and productivity quadrants.
"Two, leadership in the context of a developmental state is different from the idea of a leader as a single superhuman charismatic hero who singlehandedly forces change through. Rather, such leadership is activated at multiple levels within framework of what Matt Andrews et al (2010) calls the 'change space model' ", Olaopa said.
Such leadership model, according to Olaopa, creates mutually-reinforcing and interdependent nexus between the political-technocratic-administrative leadership in facilitating the capability of the institutions and systems of government through "critical balancing of acceptance, authority (and accountability) and capability in managing contextual pressures and circumstances as devils in the details of execution."
Thus for Olaopa, if good governance then becomes the trigger, and policy intelligence, institutional capability readiness and service delivery revolution have become the compelling game changer, then the traditional 'I am directed’ Weberian administrative orientation will obviously be even more inadequate.
To Olaopa, therefore, the key to the transformation of the public service for development will be the emergence of a new generation of public managers who are self-motivated, competent, committed and imbued with intellectual courage to push for paradigm shifting changes required to install systems, structures and work culture with a structured leadership acumen that supports the workforce to move from current states to desirable states.
He urged that based on the foregoing, public servants as change leaders would be required to instigate the public service at some levels.
He listed these levels as "Getting the best out of the workforce by targeting staff morale to create incentives for peak performance by instilling discipline in into implementation processes that are essentially focused on the right kind of targets, performance indicators and data and feedback; transforming the internal processes of our MDAs by utilising cultural change approaches that affect mental models; reprofiling strategic communication; remodeling decision making systems, and reprofiling inter-departmental cum sectors relations for a whole of government system thinking praxis.
"Instigate institutional and operational innovations in rethinking the role of government so that MDAs will concentrate on areas of their core competences while exploring alternative delivering models to deliver on their 'non-core' functions as a window to unleash service delivery revolution".
He said that for public service leaders to be the engine of development, they need to build such change management skills and competences as networking skills, partnership development around open government date, framing issues results and outcomes, smarter citizens engagement practices that leverage social and multimedia, crowdsourcing, branding and user data analytics .
"PPPs are as yet fully optimised to enable public private sectors economies of scale and therefore require that we build commercial skills that enable civil servants to understand the working of the markets and how to create, manage and support businesses in co-creation dynamics", he said.
Within Nigeria, Olaopa considered the Awolowo-Adebo strategic leadership model as one classic example that he has studied "of how politics and administration can both be distinct and efficient in facilitating good governance."
He said: "The two leaders provided the change space of a transformational kind. Chief Adebo provided an administrative context that took the civil service profession seriously as a calling and a workplace grounded on a sense of value and meaning.
"The CSC took his gatekeeping responsibility almost like a religion, by safeguarding public service values and holding merit as sacrosanct.
"Town-Gown synergy strengthened policy, strategic intelligence and bureaucratic and skills with the infusion of ideas and innovative reflections from the academia and industry in a systematic and institutionalised pattern.
"Staff development and welfare was well planned to achieve work-life balance and labour productivity, while industrial relation was democratic, collaborative and developmental.
"This was the managerial orientation subsisting up until the Gowon super-permanent secretaries’ era that enabled the prosecution of the civil war leaving the country stronger as ever."
Olaopa noted that public service leaders would be required to facilitate change leadership within a change space model characterised by a leadership that is more about groups than individuals.
"Here multilevel leaders will be identified based on their functional contributions rather than their position in the hierarchy. This was the institutional capability enabled in Japan in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and the Economic Development Board in Singapore where both bureaucratic structures facilitated the accelerated outlier change and development achievements that positioned them for global competitiveness in perpetuity", he said.
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![[PRESS RELEASE] ‘Special Premiere Screening’ of THE MAN DIED holds July 12 in Lagos](/media/k2/items/cache/4effd9bee6a52ddcc09a56c53de9decd_XS.jpg)
THE MAN DIED, a feature film inspired by the “Prison Notes” of Africa’s first Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, will have its “Special Premiere Screening” on Friday, July 12, in Lagos.
The screening, a “Strictly by Invitation” event, is designed as a flagship of the global celebration of the 90th birthday anniversary of Soyinka (who is 90 on July 13); and it is expected to be witnessed by a gathering of eminent dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, industry stakeholders, family, friends and associates of the Nobel laureate as well as key members of cast and crew of the film.
“This is not the premiere yet but a special screening to commemorate the 90th birthday of Professor Wole Soyinka,” stated the organisers, stressing that guests would only be admitted based n their Invitation and RsVP. A later date will be set for the formal premiere of the film, assures the managers f the event.
Shot entirely in Nigeria – Lagos and Ibadan – late 2023, the 110 -minute feature is directed by the cineaste and culture scholar and academic, Awam Amkpa and produced by the ace storyteller and media content producer, Femi Odugbemi for the renowned film company, Zuri 24 Media.
A fictionalized adaptation of the stories narrated in the prison memoirs, the screenplay written by young but tested writer, Bode Asiyanbi, is “not a bio-pic of the prison life of Soyinka, but an expanded narrative on his prison experiences, and includes stories that you would find in his subsequent memoirs on his life stories,” stated Amkpa, the director in an earlier released The Making of The Man Died, produced by Odugbemi.
Amkpa, a former student and long-standing associate of Soyinka, said stories from Soyinka’s subsequent memoirs, Ibadan Penkelemes Years; and You Must Set Forth at Dawn, are also accommodated in the film. A trained theatre artist, filmmaker and culture scholar, Amkpa is currently Professor of Drama, Film and Social and Cultural Analysis, and Dean of Arts and Humanities and Vice Provost for the Arts at New York University Abu Dhabi.
Produced by ZuriMedia24, with generous financial support from the New York University, Abu Dhabi, the film is shot by an entire Nigeria crew with no input from any foreigner, except in the post-production. The director of photography is Agbo Kelly while the Production Designer is Theo Lawson, an architect who has, however, been involved in other film projects in recent years.
On reason for relying entirely on an entire local production resource to realise the film, unlike projects of its status, which usually bring certain crew members from outside, Amkpa said this was a deliberate and intentional choice. He said in making such a film based on the “colourful and fascinating life of enigma who is also an eminent global citizen, authenticity is very important. We need to stress on the input of people intimately familiar with the cultural and political environment that shaped the Nobel laureate and his narratives, irrespective of their skill sets.”
He continued, “I have an army of former students who are big-time filmmakers in Hollywood and elsewhere that I could just call on a whim to make the film and shoot it in Nigeria but that for me, there’s no learning curve. For me, every creative project is like going back to the basics and building back upwards. That was why for me it was very educational to come here.”
Odugbemi, a veteran of the Nigerian movie and television sets, stated in an interview, “As you probably know, it is a very intimate account of Soyinka’s 22 months in solitary confinement for his role in trying to bring a halt to the civil war. I hope this narrative of resistance and courage inspires this generation.
“It is also an ambitious adaptation that brings to life an iconic literary work offering a deep, personal perspective on Nigeria’s conflicted political history and the intense challenges of nation-building. By transforming Soyinka’s poignant
narrative into a visual medium, I hope to reach a broader audience, particularly young people, who might be less inclined to engage with the written text but can be profoundly impacted by the film.”
Over 100 film workers of varying specialties and industry experiences featured in the project with notable performers including Wale Ojo in the lead protagonist role of Soyinka, and Sam Dede as the main antagonist, Yisa, Soyinka’s interrogator and torturer. Aside the Hollywood rising actor, Abraham Amkpa, who played Soyinka’s bosom friend, Femi Johnson, other lead actors are Nobert Young (Prison Superintendent), Francis Onwochei (Prison Controller), Edmund Enaibe (AIG), Christina Oshunniyi (Laide Soyinka), Similoluwa Hassan (Emeka Ojukwu), Segilola Ogidan (Morenike), Dili Ezugha (Agu Norris), Ropo Ewenla (Olusegun Obasanjo), Henry Diabuah (Yakubu Gowon), Temilolu Fosudo (Bola Ige), William Idakwo (Victor Banjo), among others.
Odugbemi, renowned for his indelible signature on many successful movies and TV series projects, including Maroko, Gidi Blues, Eve, Code Wilo (movies) and Tinsel, Battleground, Movement JAPA, The Covenant (TV), continues: “Of course, this is not just a memoir; it is a testament to the resilience and courage of the human spirit in the face of oppression. It vividly chronicles Soyinka’s experiences during the Nigerian Civil War, highlighting the brutal reality of political imprisonment and the relentless struggle for justice and freedom.”
Odugbemi, a voting member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscar Awards) and the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmy Awards), among other film service roles, continued on the making of the film: “Through this film, we aim to inspire young people to embrace their role in demanding humanistic ideals from our nation’s political leadership. In a world where authoritarianism and corruption often threaten democratic values, we hope the film will resonate as a call to action for citizens to remain vigilant and proactive in pursuing justice and equity. We hope it sparks meaningful dialogue to inspire positive change in our country.”
The July 12 premiere in Lagos is supervised by the film’s Associate Producers Makin Soyinka and Jahman Anikulapo with the Production Manager, Adewale Emmanuel Orosun, and managed by ONE Management. Admission is strictly by Invitation. It is supported by Lagos State Government, Providus Bank, Dr Kayode and Erelu Fayemi, among others. The media partners are Arise TV and Afia Tv.
After the Lagos premiere, the film will be screened next on July 25 at The Africa Centre (TAC), London, where it will feature as part of WS90 -- a 9-day programme of events, jointly organised by the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange and the TAC, also to commemorate the 90th birthday anniversary of the poet, playwright, essayist, memoirist, human/civil rights activist and global cultural icon. It will thereafter go on a tour of select festivals around the world, before hitting the public cinema screens in Nigeria, the UK, the USA, Europe, UAE and other centres around the African continent.
Sgd: ONE Management
Tel: +234 812 111 0000
(Whatsapp Msg ONLY, please)
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba, has warned that a "hunger riot" may soon erupt in Nigeria if the Federal Government does not take swift action. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday at his office in Ikoyi, Lagos, Agbakoba highlighted the extreme poverty that has left many Nigerians unable to afford basic food.
Despite Nigeria's vast oil and gas resources, Agbakoba noted that these have been largely controlled by foreign interests, leaving the local population in dire straits. He cautioned that if the government fails to address this issue, widespread protests could ensue, with people potentially resorting to theft in broad daylight to feed themselves.
"Hunger riots can occur anytime in Nigeria," Agbakoba stated, urging President Tinubu to restructure his cabinet and reduce the cost of governance. He argued that the current size of the cabinet, with over 40 ministers, is excessive and should be trimmed to no more than 20 ministries.
Agbakoba also recommended scrapping some government agencies and expanding the tax net, particularly targeting multinational oil companies accused of tax evasion. "Don’t increase taxes, just expand the tax net and go after defaulting IOCs," he advised.
The legal practitioner's warning comes amid rising food inflation in Nigeria, which hit 40.66 percent in May 2024. This marks a significant increase from 25.25 percent in June 2023, according to the latest Consumer Price Index and Inflation report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The report also noted that headline inflation climbed to 33.95 percent in May, up from 33.69 percent in April, reaching a 28-year high since March 1996 due to soaring food and transport prices.
Agbakoba emphasized the urgency of taking decisive actions to prevent the looming hunger riot and alleviate the economic hardship faced by many Nigerians.
The house of representatives has resolved to investigate the anchor borrowers programme (ABP) under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Also, the lawmakers intend to probe the disbursement of N215 billion in loans by the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL).
The green chamber passed the resolution during a plenary session on Tuesday following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Chike Okafor from Imo state.
The ABP was launched in November 2015 to create a linkage between smallholder farmers (SHFs) and anchor companies involved in the processing of the required key agricultural commodities.
It was designed to provide farm inputs (in kind and cash) to SHFs to boost production of the key commodities, stabilise input supply to agro-processors and address Nigeria’s negative balance of payments on food.
In March 2023, the CBN said a total of N1.09 trillion had been disbursed through the ABP since its inception in 2015.
While moving the motion, Okafor claimed that the funds intended for agricultural development in the country have been misappropriated, resulting in “food scarcity and malnutrition”.
“The federal government through various schemes and interventions in the last in eight years have spent over two trillion naira in funding agricultural interventions with the view of making food available for millions of Nigerians, but due to the alleged mismanagement, misapplication of funds and abuse of the programmes, Nigeria is still experiencing food scarcity and malnutrition,” the lawmaker said.
“The reports and allegations of abuse, mismanagement, and misapplication of government intervention funds earmarked for agricultural development and food security initiatives in Nigeria through the CBN’s ABP disbursed about N1.12 trillion to 4.67 million farmers involved in either maize, rice or wheat farming through 563 anchors.
“NIRSAL disbursed N215,066,980,274.52 so far to facilitate agriculture and agrobusinesses. The Bank of Industry (BOI) disbursed N3 billion to 22,120 smallholder farmers through the agriculture value chain financing (AVCF) programme. Additionally, the bank funded 49 agro and food processing businesses with N59.4 billion in loans.
“In 2023, the federal government unveiled a 5 billion Naira loan facility to the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) for livestock farmers across the country. The National Agricultural Development Fund in March of 2024, inaugurated a NI.6 billion recovery fund for the ginger blight epidegic central taskforce (GBECT) for the control of blight disease in ginger, among other interventions.”
According to Okafor, the funds were allegedly “misused, misapplied and channelled to non-farming and nonagricultural purposes”.
He said the agricultural sector plays a crucial role in ensuring food security, improving nutrition, and supporting the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians, and any abuse of the programmes drastically affects millions of innocent citizens.
The motion was adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker who presided over the plenary.
Consequently, the house mandated the relevant committees to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the alleged misuse of government interventions and agricultural funding and report back within four weeks for further legislative actions.
Aliko Dangote, president of the Dangote Group, says the increase of interest rate to almost 30 percent by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will stifle growth.
Speaking on Tuesday during a three-day summit organised by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Abuja, Dangote said the country is battling “a very high” interest rate.
In May, the monetary policy committee (MPC) of CBN raised interest rates from 24.75 percent to 26.25 percent
The business tycoon said he understands that the CBN aims to tame inflation by increasing interest rate.
“Right now, at 30 percent, there is no way anybody can create jobs. If the interest rate is 30 percent, there would not be any job creation because we are actually stifling growth,” he said.
“So, interest rates can remain at 30 percent but then no growth will happen unless that interest rate goes down.”
‘DANGOTE CEMEMT AND TAXES’
The billionaire said Dangote Cement alone paid “more taxes” into the coffers of the government “than the entire banking industry” in 2023.
Dangote also said protecting industries would not lead to monopoly, adding that it is common knowledge that foreign investors only enter the market when they see that local investors are also doing well.
“I am convinced that when government policy becomes more supportive and protective, investors will be more willing to collaborate and partner with the government in resolving other challenges such as infrastructure deficits, market instabilities and macro-economic issues such as inflation and foreign exchange volatilities,” he said.
The businessman reiterated that Nigeria has all it takes to develop and sustain a globally competitive manufacturing sector.
Dangote called for re-thinking of the country’s industrialisation policy, through learning from leading western and eastern countries that are actively protecting their domestic industries.