Wednesday, 2 October 2019

NIGERIA @ 59

Is there a better place to be to celebrate Nigeria at 59 on Independence day, 1st October 2019? I was at ANiSZA Foundation's (1st Unity Photo & History Gallery in Nigeria) panel discussion in Abuja. I spoke on the theme: 'Celebrating the strength of our togetherness'.
Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa speaking on the theme: 'Celebrating our togetherness'

L-R: Ms. Novo Isioro discussing with Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa. Novo took Dayo on a guided tour of the gallery.

I like to see young Nigerians doing innovative things! Ms. Novo Isioro (Founder/Curator ANiSZA Foundation), transformed disused cabins into a photo gallery that tells the story of Nigeria. She conceptualised telling the history of Nigeria in pictures. Lest I forget, she was the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo's official photographer for his first term (2015-2019). ANiSZA's photo exhibition is now a yearly event. The maiden edition was held last year, with the VP in attendance.

At least more than 200 students were in attendance at this year's event! They came to learn about the history of their country via pics. They also learnt from experienced panelists who explained project Nigeria to them. It is instructive that I was the only panelist born before independence. I told them about the Nigeria I grew up in, and they were able to compare with the Nigeria they know.

                                             Novo with some of the students @ the event

The following things I told the young persons in the audience about the Nigeria in which I grew up intrigued them:

*We were given nutritious lunch daily in my Primary School, Government Demonstration School, Gbaja, Surulere, Lagos (a public school). Powdered milk was never in short supply daily.
*It was very safe for young children to commute to and from school without an iota of fear of being kidnapped or molested on the way.
*There was nothing like insurgency, rural banditry, Niger Delta crisis, etc.
*To us kids, at that time, it didn't matter where you came from, we were ALL Nigerians.
*An adult neighbour could correct and even punish you for an offence before your parents' arrival and as such elicit praise and thanks from your mom and dad.
*I was never a JAMBITE. I wrote entrance exam into each University of my choice. I got admission to each University SEPARATELY and decided to attend University of Ife in 1975. I graduated in 1980 with a Second Class Upper Division (Political Science).
*Before I graduated, I had secured employment in at least three blue chip companies viz; Lever Bros. Nigeria Ltd (Unilever), PZ and Cadbury. All these companies came to interview us in my final year at the University of Ife! I rejected ALL the employment offers because I wanted to pursue my Master's Degree at the University of Lagos in Political Science, which I completed in 1982.

The above were novel as far as the young members of my audience were concerned. They wanted to hear more! I told them all was not lost. The Nigeria of tomorrow is to be shaped by them and their unborn children. They were told to obtain their Permanent Voter's Cards once they clock 18 years of age so they could determine who 'governs' them.

            Novo explaining the essence of a photo (showing Nigeria's founding fathers) to Dayo.

After the first session, where the panel discussed the strength in our diversity, there was a second session which comprised a fashion show that depicted what's typical of each of the six geo-political zones. Then there was 'performance poetry' (spoken word) - all eliciting positive narratives about Nigeria. Yummy! Yummy! came next - Opportunity to taste food from the six geo-political zones. The food was sumptuous...I could not have thought of anything better to do on Independence day than to give hope to the next generation of Nigerians.

Kudos to Novo and her formidable team for this laudable venture! Many Nigerians below 40 have no idea about many events in the country before they were born. With innovations like this, the story is likely to change for the better... 

Related Links

*Oxford dictionary adds Okada, Danfo, Mama Put, 26 other Nigerian words, expressions   https://m.guardian.ng/news/oxford-dictionary-adds-okada-danfo-mama-put-26-other-nigerian-words.../
*'The Regions are abolished': Ironsi's broadcast to the nation banning Political Parties & introducing Decree 34, May 24, 1966    http://www.dawodu.com/irons2.htm
*Democracy in Nigeria    chatamhouse.org
*State fragility: Where declining press & religious freedoms collide    diplomaticourier.com
*UN warns Africa faces unprecedented crisis due to the Ukraine war    aljazeera.com
*Political Party nomination fees and the shrinking political space     thecable.com
*New world disorder    africasacountry.com
*'White hands': The rise of private armies in African conflicts    aljazeera.com
*The endless transitions after coups in Africa: Democracy in turmoil    onpolicy.org
*FG confirms 1,497 illegal routes into Nigeria    ait.live
*The challenge of governing Lagos, the city that keeps growing    theconversation.com
*How Russia is pursuing state capture in Africa    blogs.lse.ac.uk
*The war in Ukraine may seem far from Africa, but it is not    afrcasacountry.com
*Why Africa should expect more coups    theafricareport.com
*Russia's invasion of Ukraine: What does it mean for Africa?    https://t.co/OALbE51iqx
*What does Russia-Ukranian proxy war mean for Africa?    aya-chebbi.blogspot.com
*Silencing the guns 2030: Will the AU need a new framework?    http://qw.ly/hCYz50JMCKw
*Russia's invasion of Ukraine is like a bad rain year for Africa    africasacountry.com
*Advice to Africans: Don't send your children to study abroad, especially in the West    theafricareport.com/58669/advice-to-african-parents.../
*Nigeria: Biggest names in philanthropy  ow.ly/XCmQ30p3COM  #Philanthropy  #Nigeria
*10 interesting facts about Nigeria   usnews.com   https://t.co/oTttXkD671/
*How Nigeria's 'left' shaped the country's history   jacobinmag.com/2020/06/mg-socialism-marxist-history/
*Nigeria has lost $582b to corruption in 61 years - Yiaga Africa     legit.ng
*On failed states & pitfalls of Western commentary: The tendency of Western commentators to dress up African tragedies in the patronising logic of relativism     africasacountry.com
*Fake CSOs: The rise of pro-government NGOs in Nigeria     nnngo.org       
*Nigeria earns 1 million Euros from sale of carbon credits    ashenewsdaily.com
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*Germany's move to return stolen Benin bronze pieces to Nigeria piles pressure on Britain     today.ng
*Top 7 reasons why 2020 has been Nigeria's toughest economic year   https://bizwatchnigeria.ng/top-7-reasons-why-2020-nigerias-toughest-economic-year/
*Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina thanks Nigeria for supporting his bid for second term as President AfDB
*Pretense, elite dramaturgy & corruption probes   thenationonlineng.net/pretense-elite-dramaturgy-and-corruption-probes/ 
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*The Danger of a single story by C. Ngozi Adichie    youtube.com   nextierspd.com
*Insecurity in Nigeria: The rich also cry    nextierspd.com
*Nigeria: Who is who in the fin-tech sector?    theafricareport.com
*Unrest in Nigeria lifts the lid off deep-rooted social discontent    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/article/2020-10-29/unrest-in-nigeria-lifts-lid-off-social-discontent/
*CBN to share in farmers' losses   https:///punchng.com/cbn-to-share-in-farmers-losses/
*Are Nigerians ready for digital banking?   https://techcabal.com/.../no-hiding-place-for.../
*How to register for Federal Government's N75b MSME Survival Fund for Small Businesses   community.thenationonlineng.net   https://t.co/4lyOjkUoC6?amp=1
*OPEC in trouble as oil outlook worsens   https://oilprice.com/energy/crude-oil/opec-in-trouble-as-oil-outlook-worsens/
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*A house divided: PIB & the fate of host communities    nairametrics.com/2021/02/06/a-house-divided-pib-compensation-host-communities/
*Ticketing corruption by Railway staff, soldiers, politicians derailing Abuja-Kaduna rail project   https://businessday.ng/.../investigation-1-ticketing-corruption-railway-staff-soldiers-politicians.../
*Abuja bakers 'agree' on 20% hike in bread price   https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/north-central/417003-abuja-bakers-agree-on-20%-hike-price.../     
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*US travel ban: Trump restricts immigration from Nigeria & 5 other countries   bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-5133501
*How banks live fat on depositors' funds   https://nairametrics.com/2020/02/04/how-banks-live-fat-on-depositors-funds/
*Nigeria makes N6b daily from border closure - Customs   https://odinceblog.com/we-make-n6b-daily-from-border-closure
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*Documentary marking 50 years since Nigeria-Biafra war launches in London   https://www.city.ac.uk/news/2020/.../documentary-marking-50-years-since-nigeria-biafra-war-launches-in-london
*How Kunle Afolayan ushered in a new era of Nigerian cinema   https://www.economist.com/prospero/2020/02/05/how-kunle-afolayan-ushered-in-new-era-of-nigerian-cinema
*Nigeria - Black China: Africa's superpower is coming sooner than you expect   newsweek.com/2020/01/31/nigeria-next-superpower.../
*Nigerian short story: Dreams & Assorted Nightmares   goethe.de/prj/lat/en/dis/2173623.html
*The Lagos hawker who makes one million Naira monthly: An expose on Africa's unstructured Direct-To-Consumer Market   https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/lagos-hawker-who-makes-one-million-naira-monthly.../
*9 things to consider before starting a business in Nigeria   https://www.nigeriaelectricityhub.com/2020/02/18/9-things-to-consider-before-starting-business-in-nigeria/
*Covid-19: Nigeria's perfect storm   issafrica.org/iss-today/nigerias-perfect-storm/
*Assessing legislative response to Covid-19 in Nigeria YIAGA Africa   https://web.facebook.com/yiaga.org/photos/...
*IMF approves $3.4b for Nigeria's Covid-19 fight   https://www.channelstv.com/
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*How oil & water create a complex conflict in the Niger Delta   https://theconversation.com/how-oil-water-create-complex-conflict-niger-delta/
*How consumer credit can raise over N2.5trn for Nigeria during Covid-19 pandemic   https://www.story.dataphyte.com/economy/how-consumer-credit-can-raise-money-during-covid-19/
*How oil subsidy removal may create more problems for Nigerians   https://guardian.ng/news/how-oil-sbsidy-removal-may-create-more-problems-for-nigerians/
*Despite scant attention, Nigeria earned N416.32b from solid minerals in 12 years   premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/despite-scant-attention-nigeria.../
*Lessons, survival strategies amid plummeting oil price   guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/lessons-survival-strategies-amid-plummeting-oil-price/ 
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*Opinion: In Nigeria, colonial thinking affects everyone. It's time to look for new heroes   amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/20/nigeria-colonial-thinking.../ 
*Nigeria: Tearing at the seams by Jibrin Ibrahim   dailytrust.com.ng/nigeria-tearing-at-seams/
*Recalling predictions of the death of the Nigerian state    opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2020/08/28/recalling-predictions-of-death-nigerian-state
*Nigeria receives Russia's Covid-19 vaccine   https://nairametrics.com/2020/09/04/nigeria-receives-russias-covid-19-vaccines/
*Nigeria: Again, the Water Resources Bill   vanguardngr.com/2020/09/again-the-water-resources-bill/
*Petrol deregulation will facilitate fresh investments   https://punchng.com/petrol-deregulation-will-facilitate-fresh-investments/
*Rethinking the study of African Traditional Religions    bulletin.hds.harvard.edu
*Unmasking Nigerian elite via the film: 'La Femme Anjola'    africasacountry.com
*Raiding students for ransom    https://nextierspd.com/raiding-students-ransom/
*CBN's 'Emergency Maize Intervention' saved livestock sector - Stakeholders   https://leadership.ng/2020/09/12/cbns-emergency-maize-intervention-saved-livestock-sector/
*Labour accepts deregulation as FG halts electricity tariff hike   guardian.ng/news/labour-accepts-deregulation-as-fg-halts-electricity-tariff-hike
*From Grievance to Greed: How the political elite escalated the Niger Delta crisis   http://demanddevelopmentjournal.org/...from-grievance-to-greed.../
*Eko Atlantic City: Dubai of Africa   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
*President Buhari's 60th Independence Anniversary Speech   nairametrics.com/2020/10/01/president-muhammadu-buharis-diamond-jubilee-pesidential-broadcast-full-text/
*How Mike Adenuga became one of Nigeria's wealthiest entrepreneurs   https://bogjournalnews.com/ng-2/...
*Journey of an African colony   https://www.youtube.com/watch?
*The danger confronting most African countries: Debt crisis   https://lnkd.in/gG2Zdsi
*A Nigerian finds hard truths & hope in Netflix series on Nigeria   https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/10/01/917054760/a-nigerianfinds-hard-truths-hope-in-netflix-series-on-nigeria/
*Nigeria is still struggling @ 60, but hope is alive   allafrica.com/stories/202010020028.html/
*Adamawa state's Sukur festival of grandeur initiating teens into adulthood   punchng.
*Nigeria loses a quarter of rice production to floods   https://www.voanews.com/africa/nigeria-loses-rice-production-to-floods/
*Nigeria @ 60: AFAN, NABG score agricultural sector   https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/10/nigeria-60-afan-nabg-score-agricultural-sector/
*Nigerian of Igbo descent, Archbishop Udaigwe, appointed Vatican Ambassador   https://youtu.be/2IVE30JWi2A
*60 eminent Nigerian elders/leaders seek new Constitution for unity & progress   thenationonlineng.net/nigeria-60-eminent-nigerian-elders-leaders-seek-new-constitution/
*Nigeria @ 60: 120 eminent Nigerian elders, leaders @ national dialogue - Utomi  theeagleonline.com.ng/nigeria-60-120-eminent-nigerians-@-dialogue/
*The Lagos state government is proposing a 4th Mainland Bridge   thenationonline.net/
*Big Brother Nigeria (BBN), Nigerian youths & the future    thenationonlineng.net
*Nigeria: Bold steps on e-voting   thenationonline.net
*Lagos Island: A deep dive into Nigeria's fashion industry   stearsng.com
*Teachers' Day in Nigeria: Teachers leading in crisis, re-imagining the future   youtube.com/watch?v=xPUxAL
*Nigeria: Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), banned from roadblocks for alleged brutality   allafrica.com/view/group/mai...
*FG to probe Federal Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS)   https://thenationonlineng.net/federal-government-to-probe-fsars/
*Class, Marxism & the Nigerian Predicament by Prof. Tunji Olaopa   https://newsdiaryonline.com/201446-2/ 
*#EndSARS has indeed ended the Squad: IGP bows to pressure, Sunday, October 11, 2020, disbands SARS   https://wp.me/paLLz4-3Lndebt 
*Record-breaking $86b debt leaves Nigerians stunned   allafrica.com/stories/202010.../
*Why Nigeria's #EndSARS campaign matters to America too   washingtonpost.com
*Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey, joins EndSARS campaign   https://t.co/sdChZR15y?amp=1
*A Statement from the Feminist Coalition on #EndSARS   feministcoalition2020.com/progress-report.../
*SARS to SWAT: What's new?   https://nextierspd.com/sars-to-swat-whats-new/
*Defusing Debt: Creating comprehensive solutions   https://live.worldbank.org/defusing-debt-creating-solutions/
*Nigerians continue to protest nationwide against Police brutality   cnn.com
*Group raises N69m in support of EndSARS Protests   channelstv.com/2020/10/16/group-raises-n69m-in-support-of-endsars-protests/
*#EndSARS: How Nigerian youth found their own voice   republic.com.ng
*Nigeria: Policing & the pandemic   nextierspd.com
*Restructuring: Reps may allow states control raiway, power, others   punch.ng
*Africa's wealth should return to Africans: A French Court fined activists for attempted theft of a museum artifact   time.com
*Brutalisation by the Nigerian Police: My story by Victor Oladokun   https;//t.co/ONPCtp8IWP?amp=1
*#EndSARS: US shuts down Lagos Consulate, hands security alert to nationals    https://ashenewsonline.com/general-news/endsars-us-shuts-down-lagos-consulate.../
*#EndSARS protests: CSOs want ICC to open investigation on arbitrary killings of protesters   https://www.icirnigeria.org/endsars-protests-csos-want-probe-by-icc/
*UN condemns killing of Lekki protesters, calls for end to Police brutality in Nigeria   https://www.channelstv.com/2020/10/21/un-condemns-shooting-lekki-protesters.../
*#EndSARS: The speech President Buhari could have given by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie    guardian.ng/news/the-address-president-buhari-could-have-given/
*#EndSARS Protest: More than a call or Security Sector Reform (SSR) in Nigeria? - Kujenga Amani   https://kujenga-amani.ssrc.org/2020/10/22/endsars-protest-more-than-call-for-ssr.../
*#EndSARS: A tipping point in Nigeria's politics? ng.boell.org/en/2020/10/23/endsars-tipping-point-nigerias-politics
*#EndSARS Protest fallout: Residents storm Jos warehouse storing Covid-19 palliatives   https://youtube.com/watch?v
*#EndSARS: A statement from the Coalition of Protest Groups across Lagos & Nigeria cpgnigeria.medium.com/a-statement-from-coalition-of-protest-groups-across-lagos-and-nigeria-524ff25e1a64/
*Identity thieves on rampage - Wole Soyinka alerts Nigerians   thewillnigeria.com/news/identity-thieves-on-rampage.../
*#EndSARS fallout: Looting - The anarchy is televised   https://thenationonlineng.net/the-anarchy-is-televised/
*Nigeria's EndSARS Protest: The misinformation circulating online   bbc.com/news/world-africa-54628292.../
*32 CSOs sign for prosecution of killers of EndSARS protesters   https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/10/32-csos-sign-for-prosecution-of-killers-of-endsars-potesters/
*State of the nation broadcast: The building blocks of nationhood - A blueprint for the new Nigeria   https://bit.ly/37BF4K via www.tundebakare.com  #EndSARS  #SOTNB2020
*Nigeria concludes study to assess AfCFTA Safeguard Requirements   thecommerceafrica.com/trade-investment/nigeria-concludes.../
*Nigeria's EndSARS Protest: De-escalate tension, start deep Police reform   https;//www.crisisgroup.org/africa/west-africa/nigeria/nigerias-end-sars-protest.../
*#EndSARS: What it feels like to be in the shoes of a young Nigerian    https;//theconversation.com/enssars-ahat-it-feels-like-to-be-in-shoes-of-young-nigerian/
*The EndSARS shootings & Nigeria's international standing - Ebere Onwudiwe   opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2020/10/26/the-end-sars-shootings.../
*#EndSARS: The precariat of Nigeria's Political Sociology by Jibrin Ibrahim   https://dailytrust.com/endsars-the-precariat-nigerias-political-sociology/
*#EndSARS: IMF links protests to economic difficulties   https://nairametrics.com/2020/10/23/endsars-imf-links-to-poor-economy/
*#EndSARS: Youth reshaping protest as tool for socio-political change   https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/end-sars-youth-reshaping-protest.../
*#EndSARS: Nigerians groan over impending economic hardship   https://www.worldstagegroup.com/endsars-nigerians-groan.../
*#EndSARS: LCCI says Nigeria's economy has lost over N700b    https://www.legit.ng/1376209-endsars-lcci-says-nigeria-lost-over-n700b/
*Nigeria: Scores killed in EndSARS protests   https;//www.dw.com/en/nigeria-endsars-scores-killed.../
*Can Nigeria's EndSARS protest lead to Police abolition?   https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2020/10/links-10-25-2020.html
*Addressing Police trust deficit   https://nextierspd.com/addressing-police-trust-deficit/
*CBN lists conditions young Nigerians must meet to access N75b Youth Investment Fund (YIF)    premiumtimesng.com/business-news/423657-cbn-lists-conditions-young-nigerians-must-meet-to-access-n75b-yif/
*#EndSARS: Here we are again by Adaodi Nwaubani   econ.st/35SpqYe  frpm 1843 mag
*Nigeria's founding principles are in jeopardy   https://businssday.ng/financial-times/article/nigerias-founding-principles-in-jeopardy/
*Learning from EndSARS - A new policy towards Nigeria    https://allafrica.com/stories/202011021090.html
*Inside the illicit trade in West Africa;s oldest artworks: Nigeria's Nok culture art works in Germany, France, US, etc   mg.co.za/africa/2020-10-25-inside-the-illicit-trade-in-west-africas-oldest-artworks/
*From Grievance to Greed: How the political elite escalated the Niger Delta crisis in Nigeria   demanddevelopmentjournal.org
*Nigeria: Administration of Criminal Justice Committee (ACJMC) asked to create Special Intervention Fund for Criminal Justice Sector in the wake of the EndSARS protest   https://www.leadership.ng/create-special-intervention-fund-for-criminal-justice-sector-acjmc-tasks-fg-states/
*AGF arraigns indicted SARS, Police Officers soon   optimumtimes.com
*The face of poverty in Nigeria   https://businessday.ng/exclusive/article/the-face-poverty-nigeria/
*ICC conducting preliminary examination into #EndSARS killings - Prosecutor   https://punchng.com/icc-conducting-examination-into-endsars-killings/
*Court grants CBN's request to freeze accounts of 19 EndSARS protesters   channelstv.com/2020/11/06/court-grants-cbns-request-freeze-endsars-protesters/
*Governor Zulum warns about EndSARS protesters, says BH started with youth protests   channelstv.com/2020/11/06/zulum-warns-about-endsars-protesters.../
*How to restructure Nigeria by Jibrin Ibrahim  opinion.premiumtimesng.com
*Nigeria: If you thought 2020 was bad, brace yourself for 2021   theafricareport.com
*Opinion: Study notes on Nigeria's Youth Revolt by Edwin Madunagu   opinion.premiumtimes.com
*In Nigerian protests, a generation is poised to seize the moment   https://www.csmonitor.com/world/africa/2020/1106/in-nigeria-protests-generation-poised-seize-moment/
*UN asks FG to engage Nigerian youth to forestall another protest   channelstv.com/2020/11/09/un-asks-fg-to-engage-youth.../
*Nigeria: Traders in Abakaliki burn 10-year-old boy for allegedly  'stealing food'   punchng.com
*Economic reforms face uncertainty as Nigerians lose trustin government: Discovery of Covid-19 palliatives hoarded in warehouses   https://businessday.ng/.../economic-reforms-face-uncertainty.../
*DJ Switch, who live streamed Lekki shooting on Facebook, safe & out of the country - Peter Okoye's PA   https://punchng.com/dj-switch-safe.../
*Escalation of threatsagainst human rights activists putting Nigeria in negative global spotlight - CDD   https://www.cddwestafrica.org/escalation-of-threats-against.../
*Kano government destroys N200m Beer   thisdaylive.com
*Buhari launches National Young Farmers' Scheme (NYFS) powered by National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA)   youtube.com/watch?v=OOrXG3
*Nigerian government controversially grants angote permission to export cement despite border closure @ premiumtimes    allafrica.com/stories/202011.../
*Youth protest & technology disturbing the status quo   africaportal.org/publications/westafrica.../
*FG de-registers #EndSARS protester's business, CSOs kick    thenigerianvoice.com/news/293666/fg-de-registers-endsars-protesters-business.../
*The State of the Nigerian Youth by Pastor Tunde Bakare     bit.ly/38QegXnward 
*Innoson beats Munir Jaafaru, 3 others to clinch 'Nigeria's 2020 Car Maker Award'     https://dailynigerian.com/innoson-deats-others-nigerias-car-maker-of-year-2020/
*Prof. Richard Sklar @ 90 on Nigeria's National Question    premiumtimesng.com (Nov. 16, 2020)
*Moving EndSARS Movement from protest to power    https://www.thecable.ng/moving-endsars-from-protest-to-movement/
*Nigeria: Kidnapping spree    https://nextierspd.com/kidnapping-spree/
*Nigeria protests: How a bloody night of bullets quashed a young protest movement    edition.cnn.com/2020/11/18/africa/lagos-nigeria-lekki-toll-gate-feature-intl/index...
*EndSARS: Buratai replys CNN, says Nigerian Army is professional    https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/11/endsars-buratai-replys-cnn/
*Nigeria: Trim the fat (cats): The cost of governance in Nigeria    https://thenextiergroup.com/trim-fat-cats/
*Study notes on Nigeria's youth revolt     https://africasacountry.com/2020/11/study-notes-nigerias-youth-protest/
*Nigeria: Civilians in arms    https://nextierspd.com/civilians-in-arms/
*Why Lagos, Nigeria, is the cultural capital we are heading to next    https://www.cnntraveller.com/story/why-lagos-next-cultural-capital/
*Africa's development models must change    https://issafrica.org/iss-today-africas-development-models.../
*Salt to injury: What does recession mean for Nigeria?   https://nextierspd.com/salt-to-injury.../
*Community Policing challenge    nextirespd.com
*Nigeria: Banditry more than spoken words    https://nextierspd.com/banditry-more-than.../
*Voiceless victims of VE    https://nextierspd.com/voiceless-victims-of-ve/
*Christianity & the alienation of Africans    https://africasacountry.com/2020/11/christianity-alienation-of-africans/
*How can Africa innovatively disrupt the global chocolate industry?    forbes.com    https://buff.ly/3lWzWorralism/
*Why fewer Nigerians are turning out to vote - Mahmud Yakubu    https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/428227-why-fewer-nigerians-turn-out-to-vote/
*Nigeria: The challenge of ethnic federalism by Jibrin Ibrahim    opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2020/11/27/the-challenge-ethnic-federalism/
*Nigeria facing reality of futile border closure: soaring food prices, low agricultural output    https://bisinessday.ng/.../nigeria-facing-reality-futile-border-closure.../
*At least 110 dead in Nigeria after suspected BH attack on farmers    theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/29/nigeria-attach-boko-haram-farm-workers-killed?
*Killings: Nigeria may face severe food crisis - Farmers    punchng.com
*'Why we negotiate with bandits - Gov. Tambuwal    peoplesgazette.com
*Nigeria slips back into recession as Covid-19 bites    allafrica.com/view/group/mai...  #Nigeria
*Learning Nigeria: The Nigerian dream    guardian.ng    https://t.co/CGxBa8asrJ?amp=1
*South, Middle-Belt leaders ask British lawmaker to prove graft claim against Gowon    guardian.ng
*Women's groups, CSOs go to court over women's inclusion in governance    dailytrust.com 
*Okonjo-Iweala named 1st female African of the year    allafrica.com/stories/202012-okonjo-iweala-1st-female-african-of-the-years blame food shortage on attacks by bandits,herdsmen...    today.ng
*Insecurity: Why Nigeria is under siege    thenationonlineng.net
*SERAP asks President Buhari to stop Governors from 'borrowing' N17trnfrom pension fund    https://t.co/bmmIGSBib?amp=1
*Nigerian farmers blame food shortage on attacks by bandits, herdsmen    today.ng
*Nigeria submits BH-based movie to the Oscars    allafrica.com/view/group/mai...
*The Babangida in all of us     guardian.ng
*Yemoja, yearly festival by the Yorubas    aje.io/zucek
*How graduates can generate self-employment    guardian.ng
*Sterling Bank named best workplace  in Nigeria in the 'Large Corporates' category    punchng.com
*US removes reciprocity fees on visa for Nigerians    premiumtimesng.com
*Nigerian citizens and the state of the nation/federation - Ebere Onwudiwe    https://opinion.preiumtimesng.com/2020/12/07/nigerian-citizens-state-federation/
*Youth resume EndSARS protest in Oshogbo    https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-west/429872-youth-resume#endsars-oshogbo/
*President Buhari threatens to 'deal decisively with violent protesters'    https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/429878-buhari-threatens.../
*Hisbah, death for blasphemy - Reasons the US blacklisted Nigeria by Fredrick Nwabufo    bit.ly/3m709zJNigeria's 
*Nigeria's first animated movie    allafrica.com/view/group/mai...
*Nigeria's crisis of Presidential accountability    newsdiaryonline.cm/nigerias-crisis-presidential-accountability/
*The Prosecutor of the ICC says she has enough evidence to open formal investigations on Nigeria against BH, ISWAP & Nigerian Army HQ for crimes against humanity & war crimes    icc-cpi.intharan student mobility    universityworldnews.com
*Global lenders raise pressure on Nigeria to reform currency    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-12/global-lenders-raise-pressure-on-nigeria-reform-currency/
*Econet moves back to Nigeria with $100m Data Centre facility    https://nairametrics.com/2020/12/12/econet-moves-back-to-nigeria.../
*Nigeria leads in Sub-Sahara student mobility    universityworldnews.com
*Why real change proves elusive in Nigeria by M.J. Balogun    opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2020/12/13/why-real-change-proves-elusive-in-nigeria/
*Shell's polluting activities in the Niger Delta   https://lnkd.in/dJ_YHSZ  #oil  #environment  #pollution  #fishing  #oil&gas
*Schools without guns    https://nextierspd.com/schools-without-guns/
*Notes on fake decolonisation: What counts as authentic decolonisation?   https://africasacountry.com/2020/12/notes-on-fake-decolonisation/
*Conflict potentials of the 2020 Water Resources Bill    nextierspd.com
*CBN revokes operating licences of 42 Microfinance Banks    https://ashenewsonline.com/gneral-news/cbn-revokes-operating-licence-42-mfbs/
*Income inequality leads to pervasive inequalities in access to education, healthcare and finance. It also hampers the quality of and quantity of economic growth    ow.ly/g1PR5QzCQZO
*African-made content is crossing over into the real global cultural mainstream: Nigerian artistes blaze the trail    economist.com
*Horrific practice of burning crime suspects    punchng.com
*Nigeria: Insecurity - 349 killed, 290 kidnapped in violent attacks across Nigeria in November 2020 - Report    premiumtimesng.com
*Founder, Leadership Newspaper (1962 - 2020) by Reuben Abati    bit.ly/3awGELM
*Ekiti translates Amotekun law into Yoruba language    thenatononlineng.net
*New Covid-19 variant (lineage B.1.1.7) in the UK now in Nigeria    premiumtimesng.com
*Nigeria's oil faces threat as electric vehicle sales rise    punchng.com
*Release of Kankara boys : The perfect Christmas present for Nigerians - Ebere Onwudiwe    opinion.premiumtimesng.com 
*The linguistic famine    https://africasacountry.com/2020/09/black-saibs-decolonising-language/
*Africa's trade agreement: Great expectations, tough questions    issafrica.org
*3 ways Nigeria's digital economy can improve in 2021    theafricareport.com
*30 interesting facts about Nigerian leaders    https://buff.ly/2ycw7aI 
*Ungoverned spaces: Why communities must fight back by Jibrin Ibrahim    https://opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2021/01/08/ungoverned-spaces.../
*CAC implements CAMA Act 2020, introduces self-service portal - Registrar General    https://t.co/f4JMR
*5 prominent Nigerian Professors lost to Covid-19   https://thenationonlineng.net/five-prominent-nigerian-professors-lost-to-covid-19/
*Naira slumps further, exchanges at N437/$1 (January 13, 2021)    punchng.com
*Africa's free trade agreement: Great expectations, tough questions    issafrica.org
*The tragic delusions of white exceptionalism    africasacountry.com
*Nigerian teen jailed for blasphemy has sentence quashed    edition.cnn.com
*How Africa can benefit from the new commodity super cycle    issafrica.org
*Nigerian confraternities & the increase in human trafficking across Europe    https://africa.org/nigerian-confraternities-human-trafficking-europe/
*Cameroon-Nigeria: Will there be a defined border soon?    t.co/STCpcVAID8...    theafricareport.com/62740/cameroon-nigeria-defined-border.../
*The need to stop the ethnic conflagration now by Bashir Othman Tofa    opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2021/02/02/the-need-stop-thnic-conflagration/
*Biden's likely policy towards Africa by Oseloka Obaze    https://guardian.ng/opinion/bidens-likely-policy-towards-africa/
*CBN orders Nigerian Banks to close cryptocurrency accounts    https://www.premiumtimesng.com/business/440826-cbn-orders-banks-to close-cryptocurrency accounts/
*Cryptocurrency & Nigerians: 7 things you should know    punchng.com
*Nigeria's runaway inflation means low treasury bill yields will not last    theafricanreport.com
*Black faces in high places: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala & bid for WTO DG    africasacoutry.com/2021/02/black-faces-high-places/
*How women fared in Nigeria's 2019 elections    cddwestafrica.org/how-women-fared-nigerias-2019-elections/
*Nigeria's economy has been hit by the pandemic, sharp drop in oil prices and capital flight. Here are 4 recommendations from IMF's annual review    ow.ly/RFsJ5ODuga
*While Nigeria bans Cryptocurrency, Telsa buys bitcoin big    premiumtimes.com
*Covid vaccines: Nigeria receives highest allocation in Africa    punchng.com
*The mis-eduaction of the Nigerian middle class    africasacountry.com
*Pan-Africanism today    freedomlb.org
*6 main reasons why we banned Cryptocurrency -CBN    https://thenationonlineng.org.../
*The pandemic in violent zones of Nigeria    nextierspd.com
*Nigeria to vaccinate 109 million citizens against Covid-19 in 2 years    africa.cgtn.com
*UK Supreme Court battles Environmental Justice for poor Nigerians: Oil-polluted Nigerian communities can sue Shell in English Courts    youtube.com
*EFCC uncovers Internet Fraud Training Centre in Abuja     channelstv.com/2021/02/18/efcc-uncovers-iftc-abuja/
*On-going insecurity in Nigeria: Era of contradictions    nextierspd.com
*Telling Nigerian stories outside of Lagos & mainstream Nollywood    africasacountry.com
*Gunmen kidnap scores of schoolboys in central Nigeria    bangkokpost.com
*Nigeria has banned Cryptocurrency: Elon Musk says Bitcoin slightly 'better' than holding cash    reuters.com
*Ethnic profiling: Sasha & the Shashasha among us by Jibrin Ibrahim    https://www.premiumtimes.com/opinion/443825-ethnic-profiling-sasha.../
*Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's triumph & lessons for Nigeria    reubenabati.com.ng
*EndSars: The Precariat & Nigeria's political sociology by Jibrin Ibrahim    https://twitter.com/jibrinibrahim17?lang=en
*Nigeria hails appointment of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's historic appointment as DG, WTO    allafrica.com/view/group/mai...# Nigeria
*Banditry, lawlessness & the failure of law reform in Nigeria by Dr. Sam Amadi    https://www.thecable.ng/banditry,lawlessness-failure-law-reform-nigeria/.com/
*Regulate Cryptocurrency, don't kill it, VP Osinbajo tells CBN    channelsty.com/2021/02/26/regulate-cryptocurrency-dont-kill-it-vp-osinbajo/
*The Kalashnikov challenge: Nigerian insecurity, poverty & conflict by Jibrin Ibrahim   premiumtimesng.com
*Nigeria's new Military Chiefs face uphill battle    chatamhouse.org    
*Wave of violence    nextierspd.com
*Is the future of Africa's amateur cinema streaming?    africasacountry.com
*Nigeria's rail cost exceeds AU's estimates by over 100%    guardian.com
*Gully erosion threatens lives and livelihoods in Nigeria    climatetracker.org
*Fela met Sandra Izsadore in California during a 10 month US tour with the Koola Lobitos in 1969. Izsadore, a Black Rights activist, introduced Fela to the writings of Malcolm X, Franz Fanon & the philosophy of Blackism. During Black History Month, 2021, she wrote about her time with  Fela.    https://felakuti.com/news/sandra-izsadore/
*Nigerian NGOs issue ultimatum to President Buhari over inscurity    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/
*By targeting schools, Nigerian kidnappers put country at risk    france24.com
*Hundreds of girls missing aftergunmen raid boarding school    thetimes.co.uk
*More Nigerians don't trust government, fear losing jobs more than Covid-19    nairametrics.com
*Measuring the cost of not counting Africa's dead    bbc.com
*Black History Month: Chimamanda N. Adichie's recommended reads    amazon.com
*The death of cities in the wake of Covid-19    africasacountry.com
*Covid-19: How 5  hardest hit countries in Africa are coping    https://www.premiumtimes.com/.../444184-covid-19-how-african-states-coping-covid-19/
*Banana peels Bawa must avoid as EFCC Chair    guardian.com
*Over 30 million poor Nigerians now on Social Register - FG    reubenabati.ccom.ng
*Black people in history: Little-known figures to know    cnn.com
*The African agenda @ the WTO    issafrica.org
*The Nigerian dream is to leave Nigeria    africasacountry.com
*Nigeria: 4 incidents of student kidnap in less than 60 days!    thecable.index
*Bitcoin plunges, Ethereum suffers, Musk loses billions    cointelegraph.com
*War on education in Nigeria    nextierspd.com
*Pioneers in Black Studies    africasacountry.com
*Jebba food blockade: Affected traders lament more than N1b losses    premiumtimesng.com
*They said they'll shoot: Jangeba schoolgirls recount kidnap ordeal    reuters.com
*Why Africans keep migrating to cities    thhps://www.dw.com/en/why-africans-migrate-cities/av-56621524
*Has Africa's time @ the WTO come? by Teniola Tayo    https://ow.ly/mdIR50DMkSU
*Between abduction & freedom    nextierspd.com
*Despite his age, Abdulrasheed Bawa faces the same challenges his predecessors faced by Ibrahim Farouk (YIAGA Africa)    https://www.legit.ng/1405920-opinion-bawa-sentiments-youth-participation-politics-anti-corruption/
*10 things Nigerians expect from Bawa as EFCC Chair    premiumtimesng.com
*BH teams up with bandits in Nigeria    issafrica.org   #LakeChadBasin
*Shooting mars reunion of freed schoolgirls with parents    france24.com
*#EndSARS: How media report citizens' #5 for 5 demand    yiaga.org
*Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II: A phoenix rises by Muhammad Abu Ihsan    newsdiaryonline.com
*Burna Boy wins 2021 Grammys - Best Global Music Album    community.thenationonlineng.net
*Wizkid wins Grammy with Beyonce's collaboration    channelstv.com/2021/03/14/breaking-wizkid-wins-grammy.../
*Nigeria needs justice, not payoffs in order to build peace by Oge Onubegu     https;//www.usip.org/publications/2021/03/nigeria-needs-justice-not-payoffs.../
*Nigeria's inflation hits 18.7% (as at 15th April, 2021) amid high food prices     allafrica.com/stories/202104...
*Waterpreneurs cash in on Nigeria's water delivery crisis     allafrica.co/view/group/mai...
*Rescuing Nigeria from failure     https://nextierspd.com/rescuing-nigeria-from-failure/
*Nigeria suspends Twitter operations after social media platform freezes President's account    washingtonpost.com
*78% Nigerian power consumers get less than 12-hour supply a day - World BANK    punchng.com
*Ngozi, Tedros, Diop, etc. are Africa's voices on the global stage    theafricareport.com
*How Chad leader, Idris Deby's death may affect Nigeria's security    allafrica.com
*Geopolitics in the 21st century: Territories, identitiesand foreign policies    https://www.psa.org/na/book/geopolitics.../
*Sad week in Nigeria (25th April 2021); Over 239 killed, 44 kidnapped in separate incidents    premiumtimesng.com
*Nigeria's lawmakers sat for only 14 days in 3 months, missing deadlines for passing key laws    premiumtimes.com
*African dictatorships and the coupthat claimed it wasn't by Jibrin brahim    newsdiaryonline.com
*Lessons from Igbo trans-generational apprenticeship/entrepreneurship: Why it matters    theconversation.com
*Kaduna State University increases fees for non-indigenes from N26,000 to N500,000    instagram.org
*Like Canada, US warns citizens against travelling to Nigeria    icirnigeria.org
*That 'Nigeria first' foreign policy initiative    guardian.ng
*7 African nations Nigerians can travel to by rad    community.thenationonlineng.net
*ECOWAS Court orders FGN to pay $200,000 (N90m) to ex-Air Force woman 'raped, illegally dismissed'    premiumtimes.com/news/458816-ecowas-court-orders-fg-pay-$200,000-to-ex-air-force-woman-raped-illegally-dismissed/
*Nigeria: Attacks on public infrastructure    nexterspd.com
*Buying freedom: The ransom-kidnap 'industry' in Nigeria    nextierspd.com
*Southern Nigeria Governors ban open grazing, call for national dialogue    allafrica.com/view/group/mai...
*Will digital currencies wipe out crypto?    trib.al/sTNHt1B
*Nigeria's possible futures & trajectories by Jibrin Ibrahim    premiumtimesng.com
*The new colonialism: Western states are now exploiting Africa by dumping bio-hazardous waste    dailymaverick.co.za
*A Kano state High Court has fined Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje  N800,000 for wasting its time after he discontinued his defamation of character suit against an online publication, Daily Nigeria     ait.live
*Federal High Court in Abuja vindicates former Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, says she was ineligible for NYSC    ait.live
*42 CSOs allege plot by NASS to manipulate key provisions of the Electoral Act amendment Bill     vanguardngr.com
*World Bank urges Nigeria to rethink fuel subsidy, multiple exchange rates    allafrica.com
*Why nominations are a headache for any Political Party    allafrica.com



    

    
  


    







   













Friday, 27 September 2019

MEDIATING NATURAL RESOURCE CONFLICTS IN AFRICA

In the last two decades, many of the conflicts in Africa are as a result of disagreement about the relationship of citizens with the extant natural resources in their clime. Some examples are the Niger Delta crisis over crude oil/environmental pollution; the Farmer-Herder crisis about fodder/water, climate change and the use of land by both farmers and herders. Indeed, these conflicts have regional, continental and international dimensions; etc. However, not much attention has been paid to the germane issue for mediating these conflicts with a view to transforming them into more manageable forms in order to ensure continued peaceful coexistence.

Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa @ the West Africa Network for Peace-building (WANEP) & African Peace-building Network (APN) workshop on 'Mediating Natural Resource Conflicts in Africa: Connecting Practice to Research & Policy'.

There was a pot potpourri of academics/researchers, practitioners and policy makers at the workshop:

*Dr. Cyril Obi - Programme Director, APN
*Dr. Emeka Eze - Executive Director, WANEP
*Ms. Bridget Osakwe - National Coordinator, WANEP Nigeria
*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa - Conflict Transformation Expert & Member, Forum on Farmer-Herder Relations in Nigeria - FFARN
*Dr. Nathaniel Danjibo - IPSS, University of Ibadan
*Umar Ahmed - Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
*Godfrey Maringira - University of Western Cape, South Africa
*Dr. Onyinye Oyindo - University of Port Harcourt
*Prof. Felix Asogwa - Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT)
*Jacinta Nwaka - Dept. of History, University of Benin
*Nathaniel Awuapila - CORAFID, Nigeria
*Ebenezer Asiedu - ECOWAS MFD
*Abubakari Ahmed - UDS, Wa, Ghana

After exhaustive deliberations, the following observations were made:

*Natural resources are a major cause of conflicts in Africa.
*Land, the main source of the natural resources, is loaded with historical, spiritual and cultural significance that goes beyond its contemporary value in many cases.
*Local disputes over natural resources may have national, regional, continental and international dimensions.
*Natural resources are managed by complex and overlapping systems of traditional and modern institutions.
*There is price volatility for natural resources traded on the international market.
*Violent conflicts over natural resources likely to occur in countries with weak institutions.
*There is a lack of revenue transparency in the management of commodity chains for natural resources.
*Responses to natural resource conflicts are reactive rather than proactive.
*Early warning about natural resource conflict is not often accompanied by early response to same.
*Reportage of natural resource conflict discountenances sensitivity.
*There is no database of natural resource conflict mediators in Africa.


The following were recommended:

*More attention should be paid to prevention, management and mediation of natural resource conflicts in Africa.
*The spiritual, historical and cultural dimensions of land as a commodity in Africa should be taken into consideration by researchers, practitioners and policy makers in their work.
*The national, regional, continental and international dimensions of local natural resources conflicts should be taken cognisance of by mediators, practitioners and researchers.
*African countries need to develop strong institutions which would put effective and efficient modalities in place for the prevention and management of natural resources conflicts.
*There should be revenue transparency in the natural resource sector. There should be value added to natural resources prior to export.
*Early warning of impending natural resource conflict should be complemented by early response.
*Reportage of natural resource conflict should pass the sensitivity test.
*Members at the inaugural workshop on 'Mediating natural resource conflicts...' should form the core of mediators in the field of natural resource conflict. More intensive training and interaction/workshops/conferences, etc are however needed.
*The trained core of 'natural resource mediators ' could form the team for 'mediation missions' commissioned by regional and continental bodies in Africa.
*The Mediators' Network comprising academics, practitioners and policy makers should be housed in the interim by WANEP.
*A database of natural resource conflict mediators should be compiled and constantly updated.

This is indeed a successful maiden outing for an ambitious project to identify and nurture academics, practitioners and policy makers who could effectively mediate natural resource conflicts in Africa. Bravo! 

Related Links

*Mediation & the principle of emergence - Kluwer Blog   https://lnkd.in/eNaDmRz
*Why empathy may be the most important skill you'll ever need to succeed in Mediation   https://www.inc.com/yoram-solomon/10-reasons-empathy-is-most-important-skill-you-will-ever-need
*Interface between traditional and modern approaches to Conflict Mnagement by Iddy Ramadhani Magoti   https://www.youtube.com/watch
*How to argue in a healthy way   thriveglobal.com/stories/how-to-argue-in-a-healthy-way/
*From Sudan to Mali, how climate wars are breaking out across the Sahel   https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/sudan-mali-conflict-climate-wars-conflict-sahel/
*5 reasons why Mediation should be mandatory   https://www.thehrdirectory.com/five-reasons-why-mediation-needs-to-be-mandatory/
*Natural resources, sustainable development & peace in Africa   wilsoncentre.org/webcast-natural-resources-sustainable-development-peace-in-africa/
*Will the colonised ever speak?   https://africasacountry.com/2020/01/will-the-colonised-ever-speak?/
*How are you showing up as an active listener during Mediation? 5 steps to avoid   the-advisor.co/how-are-you-showing-up-as-an-active-listener/
*Watchdog Mediation: Mediation is increasing in consumer disputes   https://bit.ly/2GGHdpr
*5 ways to boost your bottom-line with empathy during Mediation   https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-ways-to-boost-your-bottom-line-nina-majaniemi/
*Negotiation: Moving beyond intractability   https://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/negotiation
*Silence as argument in conflict situations   https://www.synergycoaching.com/2020/02/silence-as-argument/
*How to be a good listener   https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jan/20/how-to-be-good-listener/
*Breaking Nigeria/Africa's 'resource curse' through eco-system investing   https://allafrica.com/news/group/main/id/00072071.html
*What is 'deep listening' during Mediation & how can it help during the Covid-19 pandemic?   thriveglobal.com/stories/deep-active-listening-support-mental-health-empathy-cov-connection/
*What great listeners actually do    https://trib.al/WPz4Y8t
*3 ways to build empathy in Mediation     http://t.ted.com/6TeMiRG


   



Friday, 20 September 2019

FARMER-HERDER RELATIONS IN THE LAKE CHAD & WESTERN SAHEL

The Forum on Farmer-Herder Relations in Nigeria (FFARN) expanded its scope beyond analysis of the Nigerian situation. The conference held in Abuja between the 18th and 19th of September 2019 was attended by practitioners, academics, policy makers and other stakeholders from both Anglophone and Francophone countries. There was cross-fertilisation of ideas on the following areas: Environment, Security, Governance, Livelihood and Gender. I was a major stakeholder at the parley.

               L-R: Nicolas Wicaksono (Research Fellow, SFCG) & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa

FFARN, under the auspices of Search for Common Ground (SFCG) collaborated with the Institute for Peace & Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Abuja to examine cross-cutting issues on the selected themes mentioned above in the Sahel and Western Sahara. I retired from IPCR in 2010 as the pioneer Director, External Conflict Prevention & Resolution. I was the very first and only female Director in IPCR to date.

The following were some of the participants:

*Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert - Prof. of Peace Studies, UI & Keynote Speaker
*Dr. Bakut Tswah Bakut - DG IPCR
*Sher Ali Nawaz - Country Director, SFCG
*Dr. Andrew Kwasari - SSA to the President on Agriculture
*Dr. Shidiki Abubakar Ali - University of Bamenda
*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa - Independent Consultant/Conflict Transformation Expert & Fmr. Director, IPCR
*Dr. Chris Kwaja - Centre for Peace & Security Studies, MAUTECH
*Dr. Koffi Alinon - Independent Consultant, Togo
*Dr. Saleh Momale -Kaduna State Peace Commission
*Dr. Joseph Ochogwu - IPCR
*Ms. Grace Awodu - IPCR
*Alice Kambire - West Africa Network for Peace-Building (WANEP)
*Djafarou Amadou - L'Association pour la Redynamisation de L'Elevage au Niger (AREN)
*Senator Shehu Sanni - Nigeria
*Dr. Anthony Bature - Federal University, Wakuri
*Abdoulaye Guindo - Association pour la Promotion des Initiatives de Developpment Communautaire (APIDC)
*Antoine Monemou - Association de Cooperation et de Recherche pour le Developpement (ACORD)
*Toyin Falade - SFCG
*Nathaniel Awuapila - Civil Organisations Research Advocacy & Funding Initiatives Development (CORAFID)
*Philip Vande - Federal University, Gusau
*Joseph Gimba - Centre for Peace Education & Community Development, Jalingo
*Adagba Okpaga - Centre for Peace & Development Studies, Benue State University
*Dr. Diamond Preye - Abdulsalami Abubakar Institute for Peace & Development Studies (AAIPSDS), Minna
*Chom Bagu - Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Bauchi
*Dr. Ardo Aliyu - APESS
*Dr. Aboki Nawani - Centre for Youth, Women & Community Action, Lafia
*Dr. Agoso Bamaiyi - Adamawa State Agency for Peace, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction

A major observation was that many of the problems related to farmer-herder issues are similar across Anglophone and Francophone countries. Some of the observations and recommendations were:

*There is intensified 'feminisation of poverty' as a result of the farmer-herder crisis. Food scarcity is rampant.
*The societal fabric is broken. Symbiotic relationship between farmers and herders stalled. The means of livelihood is now skewed.
* The conference should be made an annual event.
*Extant rules and regulations for stock routes should be re-visited.
*There is mass displacement of the populace which has led to serious humanitarian problems.
*Indigenous knowledge, which is widely available in the region should be deployed to solve the problems of farmers and herders.
*Value should be added to agricultural products across the value chain.
*Relevant technology, including AI, should be deployed to solve extant problems.
*Both farmers and herders are assets.
*Laws promulgated to solve the farmer-herder problem have now become part of the problem.
*Re-vitalisation of the Lake Chad region needs urgent attention. The effort of the Lake Chad Basin Governors' Forum is noted in this regard. See for example my Blog post on the Governors' first conference: dayokusa.blogspot.com/2018/05/lake-chad-basin-governors-forum-lcbgf.html  #LCBGF
*The Private Sector should be involved as part of the solution.
*Ungoverned spaces within nation-states continue to fuel crime. Vigilante groups are trusted more than government security forces.
*There should be greater collaboration between practitioners, academics and policy makers.
*Early response to conflict should complement identified early warning signs.
*In recent times, the intersection between farmer-herder crisis, rural banditry, kidnapping etc. is blurred because they often occur simultaneously.
*We need more positive narratives as regards the farmer-herder crisis.
*The National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) in Nigeria, recently adopted by the 19 northern states and the 'Agro Rangers Specialised Force are some good practices from Nigeria that could be examined in countries in the region under review. The Togo 'grazing zones' where a decent amount is paid on each cow, results in considerable income. This is another good practice for other countries to emulate.
*Security is beyond perimeter fencing. It is important to also enhance human security which ensures a level of confidence building in the populace.

A major take away was that regional solution to the farmer-herder crisis should be intensified because the challenge is beyond borders. Beyond working in silos, nation-states should reach out across the region for sustainable action to resolve the crisis. ECOWAS and the AU have critical roles to play in this regard.

Related Links

*The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice orders the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to investigate the January 2018 'mass killings and destruction of property in Benue state   https://www.today.ng/news/nigeria/ecowas-court-orders-federal-government-mass-killings   https://t.co/klB2G.wiyS
*Conflict prevention in the Sahel: Emerging practice across the UN - The UN must act earlier, often in non-Muslim settings where the UN is led by a Resident Coordinator (RC)   https://cpr.unu.edu/conflict-prevention-in-the-sahel-emerging-practice-across-the-un
*Effort of the Judiciary in resolving the farmer-herder crisis in the Middle-Belt of Nigeria   https://soundcloud.com/sfcg-nigeria/effort-of-the-judiciary-resolving-farmer-herder-crisis-middle-belt-nigeria/
*France to withdraw troops from the Sahel region   https://www.overt.defense.com/2020/11/12/france-to-withdraw-troops-from-sahel-region
*The warning signs are flashing red: The interplay between climate change & Violent Extremism (VE) in the Western Sahel by Tom Midendrop & Reinier Bergema   icct.nl/publication/the-warning-signs-are-flashing-red-the-interplay-between-climate-change-and-violent-extremism/
*Mapping the Geography of political violence in North & Central Africa   https://oecd-development-matters.org/2019/10/17/mapping-the-geography-of-political-violence-in-north-and-west-africa/
Towards sustainable peace: Development approaches to tackling fragility, conflict and violence   https://live.worldbank.org/sustainable-peace-development-tackling-fragility-conflict-violence
*The warning signs are flashing red: The interplay between climate change & violent extremism in the Western Sahel   https://icct.nl/publication/the-interplay-between-climate-change-violent-extremism/
*Report: Liptako-Gourma is the epicentre of a security crisis affecting the Sahel-Saharan strip   http://ow.ly/yedA50ytSqg
*Grappling with Sahelian insecurity   https://t.co/ug1J1fcXzB   #WestAfricaInsight
*West African Presidents urge US to stay in the fight against terrorism   www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/west-africa.../2020/01/20/
*Western Sahel: Protests & Risks   www.weforum.org>agenda>2019/01>all-the-warning-signs.../
*Growing violence in West Africa   http://www.theendofhistory.net/.../ep-225-growing-violence-in-west-africa?
*Violence in the West African/Sahel region   https://nextierspd.com/.../recovering-the-sahel.../
*We have to stop destroying nature - and 2020 should be the year we act   https://bit.ly/2tTObVa
*Africa's pastoralists: A new battleground for terrorism   https://africacentre.org/spotlight/africa-pastoralists-battleground-terrorism/
*Changing contexts & dynamics of farmer-herder conflicts   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260326683_changing_dynamics_farmer_herder_conflicts_across_west_africa/
*Understanding farmer-herder conflicts in West Africa   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277358041_understanding_farmer_herder_conflicts_in_west_africa/
*Growing herdsmen militancy is adding to West Africa's insecurity   https://theconversation.com/growing-herdsmen-militancy-adding-to-west-africas-insecurity/
*Herdsmen militancy & humanitarian crisis in Nigeria   https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/...
*The trajectories & dynamics of herdsmen militancy   https://iiardpub.org/get/jhsp/vol2 no1 2016/thetrajectories.pdf
*Climate change, migration & conflict in West Africa   https://cdn.americaprogress.org/wp-content/.../issues/2012/04/pdf/climate-migration-nwaafrica.pdf
*CoV: Loneliness is a modern invention - Understanding that history can us get through this pandemic   https://time.com/5828736/loneliness-cov-history/
*Integrated approach to building peace in Nigeria's farmer-herder conflict   nigeria.un.org/en/92147-integrated-approach-building-peace-nigerias-farmer-herder-conflict/
*Climate war in the Sahel? Pastoral insecurity in West Africa is not what it seems - Leif Brottem    https://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2020/11/climate-war-sahel-pastoral-insecurity-west-africa/
*Urban elites' livestock exacerbate farmer-herder tensions in Africa's Sudano-Sahel    https://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2019/06/urban-elites-livestock-exacerbate-farmer-herder-tensions-sudano-sahel/
*How gum acacia trees could help build peace in the Sahel    https://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2020/03/gum/acacia-trees-build-peace-sahel/
*When climate change meets positive peace    https://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2019/07/climate-change-meets-positive-peace/
*Climate change: Recognising the impact on West Africa    https://cddelibrary.org/.../climate-change-impact-west-africa/
*Stabilising the Sahel    nextierspd.com
*African land grabbing: Whose interests are served?     guardian.ng    https://t.co/ng2NIoyCiN?amp=1
*Sahel: What to look out for in 2021    theafricareport.com
*Sahel violence: Stepping back from the precipice    https://bit.ly/3rC5GRW
*West Africa Transitional Justice mechanisms need bottom-up approach    humanangle.ng
*G5 Sahel: N'Djemena Summit should re-define France-Sahel cooperation    issafrica.org
*Sahelian crisis    https://nextierspd.com/sahelian-crisis/


Saturday, 3 August 2019

THE PERCEPTION OF TIME IN NIGERIA

The perception of time in Nigeria has not changed since I wrote a chapter titled 'The Perception of time in Nigeria' in the 1998 publication edited by Souleymane Bahir Diagne & Heinz Kimmerle titled: 'Time & development in the thought of Sub-Saharan Africans'. The publication was the result of a two-day conference held in Dakar when I was Head, Department of Political Science, Lagos State University (LASU). See http://books.google.com/books?id=fm11EvIOKykC&pg=PA163&lpg=PA163&dq=perception+of+time+nigeria...



African scholars from more than twenty countries converged in Dakar to x-ray the concept of time in their various countries. Nigerians continue to attend serious conferences, symposia, parties, workshops, etc very very late. This is what I wrote about Nigerians and their lack of respect for time in 1998. The situation remains the same.

'The average Nigerian believes that time should understand him/her and not that he/she should understand time. That is why he/she always comes late for every occasion/event because he/she does not want to be the first to arrive. Someone or many people must come before him/her. Since each person wants the other person to come before him/her, then nobody is there early and almost every event begins late.' - Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa (1998)

Nigerians seem to have a cyclical perception of time. This lack of respect for time remains a national embarrassment! Many believe the more behind schedule you are when you arrive at any event is a measure of how 'important' you are. Some even want every other person seated so that their so called 'show-stopper attire' is easily noticed - those labelled 'slay queens & kings' come to mind. They then pose for the cameras. But we are ridiculing ourselves before the rest of the world! How wrong can individuals be when assessing their 'level of importance' vis-a-vis how late they attend events. In my opinion, those who come late to events ridicule themselves...

Related Links

*The time illusion: How your brain creates now   https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22530030-500-the-time-illusion-how-your-brain-creates-now/
*The time paradox: How your brain creates the 4th dimension   https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24332370-500-the-time-paradox-how-your-brain-creates-the-fourth-dimension/
*Metaphysics: Is time an illusion?   https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23130890-900-metaphysics-special-is-time-an-illusion/
*Quantum weirdness isn't real: We just got space & time all wrong   newscientist.com/article/mg24332440-600-quantum-weirdness-isnt-real-we-just-got-space-and-time-all-wrong
*Why you never have enough time, and what to do about it   thriveglobal.com/stories/why-we-never-have-enough-time/
*How to figure out what's worth spending time on   thriveglobal.com/stories/time-management-skills-productivity-focus-tips/
*7 non-essential tasks to give up to regain your time    thriveglobal.com/stories/nonessential-tasks-let-go-give-up-tips/
*You are not crunched for time, you are just making these 8 time management mistakes    entrepeneur.com/article/3589832.../   
*Is reality real? How evolution binds us to the truth about the world   newscientist.com/article/mg24332410-300-is-reality-real-how-evolution-binds-us-to-the-truth-about-the-world/
*Time nature of consciousness: Solving the biggest mystery of your mind   newscientist.com/article/mg24332480...time-nature-of-consciousness-solving-biggest-mystery-mind/
*Why it's time to call time on the 'nature vs nurture' debate   newscientist.com/article/mg24432601-800-why-its-time-to-call-time-nature-vs-nurture-debate/
*The tyranny of time   https://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/magazine/.../2436/the-tyranny-of-time/
*What's reality? What's the world's true nature?   newscientist.com/article/mg24532670-700-what-is-reality.../
*True nature of consciousness: Solving the biggest mystery of your mind   newscientist.com/article/mg24332480-00-true-nature.../
*The time paradox: How your brain creates the 4th dimension   newscientist.com/article/mg24332370-500-the-time-paradox-how-your-brain-creates-the-fourth-dimension/
*Time-travel paradoxes via William Gibson's Agency   newscientist.com/article/mg24532640-500-william-gibsons-agency-drops-time-travel-paradoxes-for-big-questions/
*Time lapse   blognostics.net/blognostics-an-innovative-experience-in-literature-poetry-and-art/2020/02/16/time-lapse-biognostics/
*Limitation to time & space: Even a computer the sizeof the universe can't predict everything   newscientist.com/article/2239097-even-a-computer-cant-predict-everything/
*Make time when there is none  https://reclaim.ai
*Inside the incredibly slow race to re-invent time   newscientist.com/article/mg2432960-900-inside-slow-race-re-invent-time
*How to calculate the true value of your time   https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/356697.../
*Introduction to the Big O Notation, Time & Space Complexity   https://dev.to/skaytech/a-gentle-introduction-to-the-big-o-notation-time-space-complexity/
*6 ways to maximise your time while working from home   entrepreneur.com/article/356979/
*NWU confers Africa's 1st Ph.D in African indigenous astronomy: For centuries, Africans have measured time/seasons/directions by the stars    https://pressoffice.mg.co.za/content/dg45va620e7X9l8
*Did time flow in two directions from the Big Bang making two futures?    newscientist.com
*According to neuroscience, taking a break from our busy schedules & devoting some to time to doing nothing is key to fostering creativity    entrepreneur.com
*The 21st century time machine: Virtual Reality (VR) in the history classroom     carleton.edu