New Ministers with there Portfolio and Biography

Below is a Citation/Profile of all newly sworn in Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

SWEARING IN OF MINISTERS

Mr. President,

Please recall that in the exercise of the powers conferred on you by Section 147, Subsection 1, 2 and 3 of the Nigerian constitution, you nominated 36 qualified and capable Nigerians as Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for confirmation by the Senate.
Mr. President, the Senate has since confirmed the nominees and they are here before you this morning to take their oaths of office.
We shall take them in nine batches of four persons each.

Mr. President, with your kind permission,we shall begin with the minister-designate from Abia State.

Dr Okechukwu Enyinna Enelamah
Born fifty years ago, Dr Okechukwu Enyinna Enelamah hails from Abia state. He earned a Bachelor of Medicine from the University of Nigeria in 1985. He also qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1992 and capped it with an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in 1994.
Enelamah was senior Consultant with Arthur Anderson & Co and also worked at Goldman Sachs in New York and London.
Please step forward Dr. Enelamah to take your oath of office as the Minister representing Abia State in the Federal Executive Council.

Alhaji Muhammed Musa Bello
Born January 8, 1959, Muhammed Musa Bello from Adamawa State attended Our Lady’s High School, Kaduna, Barewa College, Zaria and the School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
Bello graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 1980 and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration in 1986.
Muhammed Musa Bello has had wide professional experience in the private and public sectors of the national economy. For 20 years, Bello served as Director and Board member of Bello Holdings Ltd from 1987. And from 1988 to 1993, he served as member of the Adamawa Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA).
Muhammed Musa Bello was Vice-Chairman of the Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Taraba, and Yobe States branch of the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN).
Alhaji Muhammed Bello will now step forward to take his oath of office as a Minister of the Federal Republic representing Adamawa State.

SENATOR UDOMA UDO UDOMA
Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma was born on 26th February 1954. He is from Akwa Ibom State. A legal luminary, businessman and politician, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma attended Kings College Lagos. He proceeded to Oxford University, England, where he graduated with a Law Degree and was called to the Bar in 1978.
Senator Udoma Udo Udoma served as a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for two terms between 1999 and 2007. He was Chief Whip of the senate from 2004 to 2007.
He worked as a lecturer at the University of Lagos before he went into business in 1980. Senator Udoma is currently Chairman and Director of flourishing companies.
Please step forward Senator Udoma Udo Udoma to take your oath of office as a Minister representing Akwa Ibom State.

Senator (Dr) Chris Nwabueze Ngige
Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, born 8th of August 1952 in Enugu, is from Anambra State.
He attended St. Johns Secondary School, Alor, Anambra State and proceeded to the University of Nigeria Nsukka, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Surgery in 1979.
Senator Ngige was Governor of Anambra State between 2003 and 2006 and represented Anambra Central Senatorial District from 2011 to 2015.
Before joining politics, he was Medical Officer, National Assembly Clinic, Victoria Island, Lagos and Physician to the Senate President in 1983; He was a Consultant and Assistant Director in charge of Federal Medical Centres, Federal Ministry of Health, between 1994 and 1997 and rose to become a Deputy Director.
Senator Heineken Lokpobiri
Born 3rd March, 1967, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri from Bayelsa State, studied law at the University of Port-Harcourt in 1994 and was called to the Bar in 1995.
He has a Master’s Degree in Law (LLM) from Lead Metropolitan University, United Kingdom.
Senator Lokpobiri began his political career at the state level, where he represented Ekeremor Constituency II and was elected Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly in 1999.
From 2003 to 2007, Senator Lokpobiri was a Principal Legal Director at Lokpobiri and Co (Legal Practitioners and Consultants) and also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
Senator Lokpobiri represented Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the 6th and 7th National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where he chaired various committees including Committee on Water Resources, Sports and Social Development and Ad-Hoc Committee on the Investigation of the Transportation Sector.

Mallam Adamu Adamu
Mallam Adamu Adamu was born in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
He attended Government Secondary School Azare between He obtained his B.Sc Degree in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and also has a Masters Degree in Journalism from Columbia University. He started his working career as an accountant before joining the New Nigerian Newspapers as a Special Correspondent and Member, Editorial Board. He rose to become the Deputy Editor of the Daily Newspaper.
Between 2000 and 2001, he was Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF; Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and Member/Secretary, Strategy Committee of the APC Presidential Transition Committee. Adamu Adamu is fluent in Arabic, Persian and French.

Chief Audu Ogbeh
Chief Audu Ogbeh who hails from Otukpo in Benue State was born 68 years ago. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French language from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1972 and followed it up with a Masters Degree in Literature from the University of Toulouse, France in 1974.
He was a lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria from 1972 to 1977 and later became the Head of Department of Languages, Arts and Social sciences in the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo from 1977 to 1979.
Chief Audu Ogbeh was Deputy Speaker in the Benue State legislature from 1979 to 1982 before his appointment as a Minister of Communications and then Minister of Steel Development between 1982 and 1983 .
Chief Audu Ogbeh left politics for agricultural business and consultancy in 1984 but came back to team up with the Dr Alex Ekwueme Presidential Campaign in 1998 as its Director-General. Between 2001 and 2005, Chief Audu Ogbeh served as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party. He later joined forces with other democrats to work on the emergence of All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governing party in Nigeria.

Honourable Mustapha Baba Shehuri
Hon. Shehuri was born on July 4th , 1961. He attended Gamboru Primary School, Maiduguri and Government Secondary School, Damagun, Borno.
He graduated from the University of Maiduguri in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology and Anthropology.
Honourable Shehuri served as a Councillor representing the Lamisula/ Jabbamari Ward of Maiduguri Metropolitan under the old non-party electoral system from 1996 to 1997.
He also served as Council Chairman of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council under the defunct Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) from 1997 to 1998.
Between 1999 and 2003, Hon. Shehuri was a member of the State House of Assembly, representing the Maiduguri Metropolitan State Constituency on the platform of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP).
He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, representing the Maiduguri Metropolitan Federal Constituency on the platform of the defunct ANPP.

Mr. Usani, Usani Uguru
Mr. Usani Uguru hails from Cross River State. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geography from the University of Jos, Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Calabar; and another Masters degree in Globalisation and Development from the University of London.
He is currently a Ph.D student of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Until his appointment as a minister, Usani was the Coordinating Director of Fuzel Mining and Construction Company Limited.
He is the current Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Cross Rivers State.

Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachukwu
Dr. Ibe Kachikwu was born on the 18th of December, 1956 at Onicha-Ugbo, Delta State. He had his primary education at St. Pius Xth Grammar School, Delta before proceeding to Edo College, Benin City for his Secondary School education.
Kachukwu studied law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he graduated top of his class in 1978. In the same year, he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School where he graduated top of the class again, bagging 5 of the available 7 top prizes.
Dr Kachukwu also attended Harvard University, Cambridge, where he obtained a Masters Degree in Law and a Doctorate Degree in Law respectively
Kachikwu is The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Prior to his appointment as the GMD of NNPC, he was the Executive Vice Chairman of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and the General Counsel for ExxonMobil Nigeria.

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu
Dr. Christopher Ogbonnaya Onu was born 64 years ago in Ebonyi State.
He attended Mary Knoll College, Ogoja, Cross River State, Izzi High School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State and the College of Immaculate Conception, Enugu.
He obtained a First Class Honours Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos. He also obtained a Doctorate of Philosophy (PH.D) Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
For a brief period, he was a Teaching Assistant at the Department of Chemical Engineering at his alma mater, University of California, Berkeley. He was also a member of the Research Centre of Western Electric Corporation in Princeton, New Jersey, USA.
On his return to Nigeria, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu became the pioneer Head of Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Dr. Onu was a former Governor of Old Abia State, made up of today’s Abia and Ebonyi States.
He has also been National Chairman of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), a position he held until the party teamed up with other progressive parties to form the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

Dr Osagie Ehanire
Dr Osagie Ehanire from Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State was born on November 4th 1946. A medical doctor, he attended Government College Ibadan, Oyo for his West African School Certificate as well as Higher School Certificate (HSC) and passed the latter with distinction.
He is a graduate of Medicine form the University of Munich. In 1976 he attended the prestigious Royal College of Surgeon in Ireland, Dublin where he obtained Post Graduate Diploma in Anaesthetics as well as Certificates in General Surgery and Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery and became a fellow of the famous West African College of Surgeons (FWACS) in 1984.
Dr. Ehanire has worked extensively in Germany as resident Anesthesiologist, resident Vascular Surgeon and resident general surgeon in Thoracic Surgery at various hospitals.
He returned to Nigeria in 1982 to work at the Department of Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery) University of Benin Teaching Hospital up till 1984 after which he joined Shell Development Company (SPDC) Hospital Warri between 1985 and 1990. Dr. Ehanire has served at various times as a prominent member of the Boards of Edo State Health Management Board and T.Y Danjuma Foundation among others .
As a leader of the CPC in Edo State, Dr Ehanire worked towards the emergence of the APC as a formidable party and was also a member of the Buhari Campaign Organisation.

Citation for Dr. John Olukayode Fayemi
Dr. John Olukayode Fayemi was born February 9, 1965 in Isan Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
He attended Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti , Federal School of Arts and Science, Ondo State and proceeded to the University of Lagos for his Bachelor’s Degree in History and Master’s Degree in International Relations at the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University in 1987.
He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in War Studies from the prestigious King’s College, University of London, England.
He has worked as a lecturer, journalist, researcher and strategy development expert in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. He was a research fellow at the African Research and Information Bureau, in the United Kingdom.
His numerous academic and public policy engagements included serving as Adviser on International organisations on various developmental programmes, Justice, Regional Integration, Constitutionalism, Security Sector Reform and Civil Military Relations issues. He has also worked with several governments across Africa including Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ghana and Uganda.
After an exhaustive academic career, Dr. Fayemi ventured into politics and was sworn-in as Governor of Ekiti State on 16 October, 2010. He superintended the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which held in Lagos in December of 2014. He also served as the Director of Policy, Research and Planning in the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama
Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama from Enugu State was born 59 years ago.
He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Columbia University, in 1977 and proceeded to St. John’s College Cambridge for another Degree and a Master’s in Law in 1980 and 1984 respectively. He was enrolled in the British Bar and the Nigerian Bar in 1981 and in 1983 respectively.
Geoffrey Onyeama has had a rich working career in various capacities from 1988 till date.
He started work as an Assistant Program Officer in 1985 at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPD) and rose to the rank and position of Deputy Director General, Development Sector, a position he occupied until his nomination as a Minister.

Mrs Amina J. Mohammed, OFR, was born on 27th of June 1961 in Gombe, Gombe State. She attended Capital School, Kaduna in 1972 for her Primary Six Certificate and Buchan School Isle of Manchester, UK in 1979 for the Ordinary Level Certificate. She further attended Henley Management College also in UK in 1989.
A versatile and accomplished mobiliser and Project Coordinator, Mrs Amina Mohammed had served as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs between 2005 to 201.
She has also served as National Commissioner, Human Rights Commission of Nigeria from 2005 to 2007. Mrs Amina Mohammed is the Assistant Secretary/Special Advisor to the United Nations, Secretary General in New York, USA.

PROF. ANTHONY GOZIE ANWUKAH
Born in 1951, Professor Anthony Gozie Anwukah hails from Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State. Prof. Gozie studied English Language and Literature at the Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone (1970-1974). He obtained his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Planning at the University of Portland, Oregon, USA in 1975 and bagged a Doctorate Degree in General Curriculum, System Analysis and Social Studies at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA in 1977.
He was a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri and consultant to the National Teachers Institute, Kaduna from 1983-1989. He became a Professor of Education in 1989 at the Imo State University (now Abia State University, Uturu) and was later appointed the Vice Chancellor of the Imo State University.
He is a recipient of professional laurels and fellowships of professional associations in Nigeria and the United States.

Engineer Suleiman Hussaini Adamu was born in Kazaure Local Government Area of Jigawa State in April 1963. He obtained a Bachelors degree in Engineering in 1984 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He also attended the University of Reading, United Kingdom where he obtained a Master Degree in Project Management in 2004.
Adamu is a fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (MASCE).
Engineer Adamu is currently the Managing Director of Integrated Engineering Associates (IEA), a leading firm of civil/ structural, electrical, mechanical, and environmental engineering consultancy based in Kaduna, Nigeria.
He served as a member of Presidential Campaign Council and Election Monitoring Committee, Buhari-Osinbajo Campaign Organisation 2015.

Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed
Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed was born 55 years ago in Kaduna State.
She obtained a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1981 and an MBA from the Ogun State University, Ago Iwoye.
She started work in 1982 as an Accountant in Kaduna State Ministry of Finance in Kaduna State and moved to Nigerian Telecommunication Ltd (NITEL) in 1995 where she worked in various departments and rose to the rank of the Deputy General Manager (DGM).
In 2010, she was appointed to serve as the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
Lt. General Abdulrahaman Dambazau
Lt. General Abdulrahaman Dambazau was born in Kano State on 14th of March 1954.
He attended St. Theresa School, Barewa College, Zaria and the Nigeria Defence Academy. He obtained Masters and Doctorate Degrees from the Kent State University, U.S.A and University of Keele, United Kingdom in 1984 and 1989 respectively.
General Dambazau was commissioned into the Nigerian Army infantry in 1977 and rose through the ranks to become the Chief of Army Staff in 2009.
He is a recipient of the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic of (CFR) and the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM). Dr. Dambazau, who diligently served Nigeria as a Military Officer for 36 years in the Army, is a Fellow of many International institutes.

Senator Hadi Abubakar Sirika
Born March 2, 1964 in Katsina, Senator Sirika is a trained pilot. He obtained Aircraft Engineering Maintenance License Certificate from the Flight Safety International Limited in the United States of America.
Senator Sirika has vast experiences in road and aviation transport management, having served as the Managing Director of a privately-owned company - Prakia Geo-Mechanik International Limited from 1998 to 1999 and General Manager of Katsina State Transport Authority from 1999 to 2000.
He was elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2011 to represent Katsina North on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He was also in the House of Representatives between 2003 to 2007 on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party.
Senator Sirika is an avid polo player.

Alhaji Abubakar Malami, SAN, was born on 17th April 1967 and hails from Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State. He attended Nassarawa Primary School, Birnin Kebbi and College of Arts and Arabic Studies, Sokoto where he obtained a Grade II Teachers Certificate in 1984.
Malami studied law at the Usman Danfodio University Sokoto and attended the Nigeria Law School in 1992.
He holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Maiduguri.
A member of the distinguished Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), he has co-authored several publications.
Abubakar Salami, SAN, has served as the National Legal Adviser to the defunct The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and also the Chairman, Legal Team of the defunct CPC Presidential Campaign Organization, 2011. He was Deputy Director, Legal Directorate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council 2015, and Member of the APC Transition Committee in 2015.

Barrister ENOJO JAMES OCHOLI, SAN
Enojo James Ocholi, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN),was born on 26th November 1960. He hails from Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi state. James Ocholi studied law at the University of Jos and was called to the Bar in 1986.
James Ocholi was a Public Counsel from 1987-1988 in the firm of D.D Peter Achimusi in Idah, Kogi State and thereafter left for private practice. In December of 2007, he was conferred with the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
James Ocholi specializes in incorporation of companies; constitutional and commercial law, and conveyance; as well as private and public international law. He has worked as Consultant to Governments, parastatals, banks, financial institutions and corporate bodies.
He was the Deputy National Legal Adviser (interim) of the APC and later became the Kogi State Coordinator of Buhari/Osinbajo Presidential Campaign organisation.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed was born on 6th December, 1951 in Igbaja, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. He attended Native Authority Primary School, Igbaja, Government Secondary School, Okene in present day Kogi state. Alhaji Lai Mohammed attended the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University between 1971 and 1976 where he graduated with Bachelor of Arts Degree, 2nd Class Upper in French. He also holds a Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of Lagos in 1985 and graduated from the Nigerian Law School in 1986.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed has over the years garnered a lot of experience in politics since joining the Social Democratic Party in 1990. In 1997 he joined National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and later in 1998 became the coordinator, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organisation.
He emerged as the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, and subsequently elected as the substantive National Publicity Secretary and has remained in that position till his appointment as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Babatunde Fashola (SAN)
Born June 28, 1963 in Lagos, Babatunde Fashola, SAN attended Sunny Fields Primary School, Birch Freeman High School and Igbobi College, all in Lagos.
He proceeded to the University of Benin where he obtained a Degree in Law in 1987 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. After completion of the mandatory NYSC, Fashola went into private legal practice, which flourished for over fifteen years and was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN .
Mr. Babatunde Fashola was in 2002 appointed Chief of Staff to the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and was elected Governor of Lagos state for two terms from 2007 to 2015.
Babatunde Fashola, who has served both Lagos state Government and the Federal government meritoriously in various capacities is a recipient of several certificates of merit and awards.

Mallam Ibrahim Usman Jibril
Mallam Ibrahim Usman Jibril was born 57 years ago in Nasarawa State. He attended Community Secondary School Nasarawa and the College of Preliminary Studies Yola, Adamawa State.
He also attended Bayero University Kano, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Education majoring in Geography. He later obtained a Master of Science Degree in Land Resources with specialization in Land Administration.
Mallam Ibrahim Jibril has worked as a teacher and instructor in Geography at a number of educational institutions in Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
In 2012, he was appointed Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Nasarawa State and doubled as Project Manager of Nasarawa Geographic Information System (NAGIS) where he established the Nasarawa Development Platform (NDP).

Honourable Bawa Bwari Abubakar was born on 4th November 1963. He attended Mohammed Bankanu Primary School, Sokoto and Madaki Primary school, Minna from where he proceeded to Government Secondary School Bida for his Senior School certificate.
He also attended the School of Basic Studies, Zaria and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained his Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Urban and Regional planning.
Honourable Bwari was elected and served as a member of the House of Representatives representing Gurara and Tafa Federal Constituency between June 1999 and June 2007.
He was also the Niger State governorship candidate on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011.

Mrs. Folakemi Adeosun was born on 9th March 1967. She graduated with Upper Second Class Honours in Applied Economics from the University of East London in 1989.
She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma holder in Public Financial Management from the University of London and an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
Her work experience has spanned over two decades including the London Borough of Southwark, Price Water House Coopers (UK), Chapel Hill Denham Group and the Ogun State Government.
Adeosun, who is the immediate past Honourable Commissioner for Finance in her home State of Ogun has a global certification of expertise in Financial Management, Revenue Generation Strategy, Engagement with International investors and Capital Providers , among others.

PROF. CLAUDIUS OMOLEYE DARAMOLA
Professor Claudius Omoleye Daramola was born on 20th of January 1949. He hails from Ode Aye in Okitipupa Local government area of Ondo State. He attended Divisional Teachers Training College, Okitipupa from 1967-1969. He obtained a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from University of Sokoto . He also holds a Masters and Doctorate Degrees from University of Jos and University of Ilorin respectively.
Professor Daramola has held many administrative positions at the University and national levels. He has served on quite a number of committees in the University and edited and/or co-edited several academic journals within and outside of Nigeria.
He was a member of the Buhari/Osinbajo Presidential Campaign team in Ondo State.

PROFESSOR ISSAC FOLORUNSO ADEWOLE
Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole is from Osun State.
He attended Ilesha Grammar School and proceeded to the University of Ibadan where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Medicine in 1978.
He became a Professor of Medicine from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan in 1997, and was appointed Provost, College of Medicine in 2002.
Professor Adewole has worked at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan in different capacities. Until his nomination as a Minister, he was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, a position he has occupied since 2010.He is similarly an adjunct professor, North-Western University, Chicago, Illinois, USA – a position he has held since 2010.
Professor Adewole is a recipient of several scholarships, fellowships and awards.

Alhaji Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu .
Born 23rd March, 1953 in Shaki, Oyo State, Alhaji Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu obtained his Middle School Leaving Certificate with a distinction from the Ministry of Education, Ghana in 1969 . He also attended Baptist High School, Shaki, from January 1970 to July 1973. He obtained his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Ife in 1978.
Alhaji Shittu was Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State from January to May, 2007.
Alhaji Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu was a member of the Constitution Review Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC). He was also the gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Oyo State in 2011 and also a gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Oyo State in 2014. He was the Chief Collation Officer for APC in the 2015 Presidential Election for Shaki-West, East/Tibo Federal Constituency.

Barrister Solomon Selcap Dalung
Barrister Solomon Selcap Dalung was born in Sabon-Gida in Langtang South local Government Area of Plateau State on the 26th of September 1964. Mr. Dalung is a lawyer, Academician, International Political Analyst, Human Rights Advocate and Community Leader.
He attended Local Education Authority (LEA) Sabon-Gida, and obtained the General Certificate in Education in 1990. He also attended University of Jos where he obtained his Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Law in 2001 and 2008 respectively. He was called to the Bar in 2001 and has been in legal practice since.
Mr. Dalung was a lecturer of International Law and Jurisprudence between 2004 and 2011. He became Chairman, Langtang South Local Government Council between 2007 and 2008. He was a Gubernatorial Aspirant on the platform of APC in Plateau State in the 2015 Election.

Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi
Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was born on 27th May 1965 at Umuordu-Ubima in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Amaechi graduated from University of Port Harcourt where he obtained Bachelors and Masters Degree in English.
He started work as a Public Relations Officer (PRO) with Pamo Clinics and Hospitals Ltd, Port Harcourt 1988.
In 1992 Amaechi was appointed Special Assistant to the Governor of Rivers State at that time, Chief Rufus Ada-George. He was also Personal Assistant to the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Sir Peter Odili.
Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi joined politics in 1999 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He emerged the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly for two terms. He was elected Governor of Rivers State also for two terms during which he was Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum from May 2011 to May 2015.
He was Director General of Presidential Campaign Organization that worked assiduously for the election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Aisha Abubakar (Mrs.)
Aisha Abubakar from Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State was born on 20th of July, 1966. She attended Corona School and Queen’s College, Lagos and proceeded to the United Kingdom to complete her Ordinary and Advanced level certificates. She later obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Politics and International Studies from University of Warwick in 1990 and completed her Master’s Degree in Development Studies at the University of Leeds, in 1991.
She worked at the African Development Bank (ADB), Abidjan as Senior Bilateral Co-operation Officer from 1993 to 1997 and in the Lagos office of ADB from 1998 to 1999.
From 2010, Aisha Abubakar worked at the Abuja Enterprise Agency, rising to the position of Managing Director in 2013, a position she held until June this year.
Before her ministerial nomination, Aisha Abubakar was the Director, Corporate Services in the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).

Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan
Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan was born on 16th September, 1959 in Jalingo, Taraba State. She attended Muhammadu Nya Primary School, Jalingo and the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School, Tudun Wada, Kaduna. She obtained a Degree in Law from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1985. Senator Aisha joined Kaduna State Judiciary in 1988.
Between 1990 and 1992 she served as Technical Aid Corps Volunteer to the Republic of Fiji where she was the Senior Legal Officer to the Native Land Trust Board Suva, Republic of Fiji.
From 1992, Senator Aisha Alhassan was a Magistrate at FCT Judiciary and became Deputy Chief Registrar of the High Court of the FCT in 1997.
She was appointed Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Taraba State in 1999. She returned to serve as the as Secretary FCT Judicial Service Committee Abuja between November 2002 and December 2003 after which she became Chief Registrar, High Court of FCT until 2009 when she voluntarily retired from Public Service to join politics.
In 2011, Aisha Alhassan was elected as Senator representing Taraba North Senatorial zone and contested the 2015 elections as the Governorship Candidate of the APC.

Hon. Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim
Hon. Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, from Yobe State, was born on 6th January 1967 into the family of Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, the prominent politician in the First and Second Republic known as the advocate of politics without bitterness.
Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim attended Kaduna Capital School and Queen’s College Lagos.
In 1980, she proceeded to Headington School, Oxford and Padworth College, Reading, United Kingdom where she obtained National Diploma in Business and Finance.
In 1989, she graduated from Roehampton Institute for Higher Education, an Institute affiliated to University of Surrey with a degree in Business Studies and Sociology.
Between 1989-1990, she worked with Abbey National Building Society Temple, North Finchley, U.K.
She veered into politics in 2004 when she was appointed Commissioner for Transport and Energy, Yobe State.
Until her appointment as Minister, she was representing Damaturu/Gujba constituency in the Federal House of Representatives.

Brigadier General Mansur Muhammed Dan-Ali
Brigadier General Mansur Muhammed Dan Ali (retired) was born on August 25, 1959 in Birnin Magaji, Zamfara State. He attended Birnin Magaji Primary School and Government Secondary School, Shinkafi Zamfara State.
He obtained Higher National Diploma in Photogrammetry and Surveying from the Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna in 1982.
Brigadier General Dan-Ali (retired) undertook various military courses at the Nigeria Defence Academy, and was awarded Short Service Course (SSC 25) NDA in 1984. He proceeded to Bayero University, Kano and obtained a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) in 2009. He also holds a Masters Degree in Security Studies from the Bangladesh University of Professionals. After his commissioning as a Lieutenant, he served in different capacities as Battery Captain, Adjutant and Battery Commander. He has been decorated with several medals which include Forces Meritorious and Distinguished Service Stars, Pass Services Course (Dagger) Field Command Medals among others.
Brigadier General Mansur Muhammed Dan Ali (retired) is here presented to take his oath of office as a member of the Federal Executive Council representing Zamfara State.

DEATH ON HER WEDDING NIGHT!!!

[True Story]
“After performing Salat Al Maghrib, she put her make-up, wore her beautiful white dress preparing herself for her wedding party, Then she heard the Adhan of ‘Ishaa and she realized that she broke her Wudu she told her mother : “mother, I have to go to make wudu and pray ‘Ishaa” Her mother was shocked : “Are you crazy?!! Guests are waiting for you, to see you! what about your make -up? It will be all washed away by water!!” then she added: ” I am your mother and I order you not to perform salah now! wallahi if you make wudu now, I will be angry at you” Her daughter replied :”wallahi I won’t go out from here till I perform my Salah! Mother you just know that “There is no obedience to any creature in disobedience to the Creator.”!! Her mother said:”what would our guests say about you when you’ll show up in your wedding party without make-up?! You won’t be beautiful in their eyes! and They will make fun of you!” The daughter asked with a smile :”Are you worried because I won’t be beautiful in the eyes of creations? What about my Creator?! I am worried because, if I miss my salah, I won’t be beautiful in His eyes” She started to make wudu, and all her make-up was washed away,but she didn’t care Then she began her salah and at the moment she bowed down to make sujud, she didn’t realize that it will be her last one! Yes! She died while in sujud! What a great ending for a Muslimah who insisted on obeying her Lord! Many people who heard her story were so touched!! She put Him and His obedience first in her priorities, so He granted her the best ending that any Muslim would have! She wanted to be closer to Him, so He
took her soul in the place where Muslim are the closest to Him! Subhana Allah! She didn’t care if she would be beautiful in the eyes of creatures so she was beautiful in the eyes of Her Creator! O Muslim sister, imagine if you are in her place! What will you do? What will you choose : pleasing creations or your Creator? O dear sister! Do you guarantee that you will live for the next minutes? Hours? Months?!! No one knows when their hour will come? Or when will they meet angels of death? So are you ready for that moment? O non-hijabi sister! What do you choose : Pleasing yourself by not wearing Hijab or pleasing your Lord by wearing hijab? Are you ready to meet Him without Hijab? And what about you, sister who are “in relationship” or “open relationship”, are you ready to meet your Lord today? Tomorrow?! What do you choose pleasures of this Dunya or pleasures of akhirah? May Allah guide us all to what pleases Him and grant everyone who is reading these lines good ending, Ameen. [told by Shaykh “Abdul Mohsen al Ahmad”, it happened in Abha (the capital of Asir province in Saudi Arabia)

HOW WE REACT TO OBSTACLES IN OUR PATH

In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.

Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.

Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand.

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.

“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.

JUMMA'AH MUBARAK IN ADVANCE.

RAMADAN KAREEM

RAMADAN KAREEM

Assalamu Alaikum. Ramadan is here and It's Sunnah to ask for forgiveness from everyone before the Holy Month of Ramadan commence. Please forgive me if I have wronged you knowingly or unknowingly, Allah ya mana jagora Amin.
Ramadan Mubarak in advance.

DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH

DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases:

Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

METHOD OF TREATMENT
1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water

2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minute

3.. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.

4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours

5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.

6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.

The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to cure/control/reduce main diseases:
1. High Blood Pressure (30 days)
2. Gastric (10 days)
3. Diabetes (30 days)
4. Constipation (10 days)
5. Cancer (180 days)
6. TB (90 days)
7. Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment only for 3 days in the 1st week, and from 2nd week onwards – daily..

This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.
It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work in our life. Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.

This makes sense .. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals not cold water. Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you.
It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion.

Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine.

Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks:

• Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting,
• Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
• You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.
• Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.
• 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.
• Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...
A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to everyone they know, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.
Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.

Ban on 32.5 cement grade’ll harm economy — Umaru Kwairanga

Ban on 32.5 cement grade’ll harm economy — Umaru Kwairanga

August 3, 2014 : IFEANYI ONUBA

Dr. Umaru Kwairanga

The Chairman, Ashaka Cement Plc, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, spoke with IFEANYI ONUBA on the correlation between the planned ban on 32.5 cement grade and building collapse, among burning issues in the construction industry.

In recent times, there have been a lot of arguments about the real causes of building collapse in Nigeria and the role of cement quality. What is your view on this?

I want to state that cement is not responsible for building collapse in Nigeria and I can say that especially in the Northern Nigeria where Ashaka is located.

I can tell you that so many researches around this have already been done and we have seen practically that the issue of building collapse is more related to issues other than cement.

It’s either that the professionals or the consultants that are handling the building jobs have not followed the specifications.

When you look at all our products, you see that we have already stated exactly the general use of our 32.5 cement class.

Unfortunately people are using a lot of words to describe what we have on the ground. If you are talking about building collapse, you can’t make reference to only cement because you cannot just take cement and start building with it directly.

You have to mix cement with something else. So it depends on how this mixture has been done that will determine the quality of the building.

If we say a bag of cement should produce only 18 blocks or maximum 20, and a retailer goes ahead to produce 40 blocks, how can you relate the consequent collapse to the cement?

I want to state specifically that the issue of building collapse cannot just be related only to cement. Cement may take five to 10 per cent but more than 90 per cent is due to factors other than cement.

Do you consider the planned ban of 32.5 cement class as a solution to the problems of building collapse in Nigeria?

Definitely the issue of banning 32.5 should not be the solution in Nigeria. As I have said, there is no way you can relate the issue of building collapse in Nigeria to 32.5 cement class.

If there is no way you can relate that with the 32.5, then banning it will not solve the problem.

And the issue of ban of cement, especially the 32.5 class which is the one that we are producing in Ashaka will only create more problems for us.

Nobody is telling you that this 32.5 from our own side is inferior or that it has produced some cracks, or made his building to collapse. So why are you banning it?

In the last 30 years that we have been operating, nobody has complained, or come with this issue. But simply because there are other products in the market is not enough to ban the existing one.

I think that the issue of having other cement brands in the market should be left for the users. Let the users determine which one they want; that is a fair market principle. We have never hidden that we are producing 32.5 and we are proud to say that is what we produce because it is acceptable in the market.

Banning the 32.5 will have a multiplier effect on the economy especially in the North East.

Everybody knows the situation in that part of the country and in Ashaka, we have over 630 staff. And the culture we have especially in the Northern part of the country is that by the time one staff is sacked, you are taking the food and existence from almost 10 dependents.

We in the North have been using this 32.5 and by the time you say you are going to ban this; believe me, it will throw up a lot of implications.

Does your company have any problem producing any other type of cement apart from the 32.5 class?

No, we have even introduced what we call Superset which is also acceptable. What we do is to identify the needs in the market. We have a Research and Development department that does this.

This Superset is specifically for block making. We have taken them through training so that they see how to apply this new product. As I speak, we have taken investment of over €500m to Ashaka for expansion in the North East.

So what we are saying is that the 32.5 that we are producing with the existing line we have, we are bringing another new line of 2.5 metric tonnes. Therefore, we don’t have to discard something that is acceptable, useful and adding value in the economy.

We believe in value addition, so with this investment that we are making, we are definitely coming with a higher grade. Let me also clarify that this 32.5 is not only applicable in Nigeria, but even in the developed countries.

In fact, in Nigeria, researches have shown that 50 per cent of cement users use 32.5 class.

And it is accepted globally because it is the only grade that you can use for general applications. All the others are for specific applications.

Few years ago, Nigerians were promised that cement would be sold for about N1,000 but the price is still high. What is responsible for this?

First of all, cement is the only product that the price has come down in the last five years. Secondly, when you look at our prices, whatever we are going to charge as cement price is based on cost of production and we may not be able to control the retailers’ prices because of several reasons such as logistics, transportation and the rest.

So you have to take so many things into consideration. It’s not only the issue of cost; there is the quality of the cement and all what we are doing especially in Ashaka is to make sure that at the end of the day, we produce cement that is not only acceptable to the people but also affordable.

But there are some other costs that you cannot control. I can tell you that when I look at the cost profile of producing one bag of cement in Ashaka , more than 50 per cent is related to power. So how can you bring down the price? The cost of energy is high.

So believe me, the promise that government has made is good. Government is trying to push us so that we can see how we can bring down the price but in every business, price is a function of demand and supply.

And what we are trying to do is to make sure that we increase our own capacity to all our location because we felt that this will save the cost of producing more cement than a smaller bag of cement.

So the issue of price is something that is fixed. We have our own committees that are looking into that. So it’s just a matter of time and by the time this issue of power is resolved, we are trying to set up a coal power plant in Ashaka and this is the type of thing people should take into consideration.

How will this investment impact on job creation considering the disturbances in that area from insurgents?

What we are doing based on our research is to make sure that at the end of the day, our consumers are satisfied with our products. In Ashaka in particular, we are not looking at only that catchment area. We are even trying to put a grinding plant in Jos from that project in Ashaka so that we are not just relying on one location.

We believe strongly in the issue of employment. We all saw what happened with the Nigeria, Immigration. They were just looking for 4,000 but over one million people applied and people lost their lives as a result.

We believe the one in the north has not even been taken into consideration. I can tell you that the issue of unemployment and poverty are related to what is happening in the North East because people don’t have anything to do and at the end of the day, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

So if at the end of the day at less than 1 million tonnes we are engaging 630 staff directly, then we have distributors, transporters, suppliers on only one million you can imagine what it would be when we increase it to four million tonnes. If we multiply the number of staff by that we would be close to four times the current number.

By the time we increase our capacity there is even a possibility that the price will come down. So you can only imagine the impact it will have in terms of employment generation, in terms of social community projects, in terms of the impact on the nation’s economy and even the security in the area, because people will get work to do and this is what we are bringing to the table and that is why we are taking this investment to the area.

Even at a distance, when people hear about it they wonder why we are taking this kind of big investment to that area. But it is because we believe in this project and in the impact it will have.

A technical committee meeting held recently to review cement standards in Nigeria; what was the take home from the meeting?

I listened to all the discussions and the conclusion at the end of the day is that all producers should be transparent in what they are producing. Let everybody put the labelling on the bags so that the consumers will know exactly what they are buying. If it is 32.5 that I want, so be it. If someone else wants 42.5 or 52.5 let them go for it.

Welcoming The 11th Emir Of Gombe, HRH Lamido Abubakar III

Welcoming The 11th Emir Of Gombe, HRH Lamido Abubakar III

— Sep 1, 2014 12:47 am | 1 Comment

The first Abubakar to ascend the throne was Modibbo Bubayero, the founder of the Emirate of Gombe. The second was the 9th Emir of Gombe, Lamido (Emir) Abubakar son of Lamido Umaru. And we now have as the 11th Lamido of Gombe, the immediate past Santuraki of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar; Lamido Abubakar III, (Sarki Abubakar Na Uku). He is Abubakar, son of Usman Shehu, son of Abubakar, son of Umar, son of Kwairanga, son of Bubayero.          Modibbo Bubayero founded the Emirate in 1804 and was succeeded by his son Sulaiman; followed by Muhammad Kwairanga (son of Bubayero); then Abdulkadir Zailani son of Kwairanga; then Hassan son of Kwairanga; then Tukur son of Kwairanga; then Umar Faruk Kwairanga; then Haruna Umar; then Abubakar Umar and then the tenth, Alhaji Usman Shehu Abubakar who ascended in 1984. It is now the turn of the 11th, whose historic ‘Lamidoship’ started on Friday 6th June, 2014, amidst joy, jubilation and fanfare.

For the past 11 years we used to call him the 11th (Na sha daya). And as Allah would have it, 11 days after the demise of his father, he was announced as the 11th Emir of Gombe at about 11:00am. He has become truly the 11th. That was done in the historic, ultra-modern Modibbo Bubayero Mosque established by his great grandfather and rebuilt and modernised by his late father. And Alhamdulillah, it went smoothly. No rancor. No bitterness. No any sign of problem.

The tradition in Gombe has been that whenever an Emir dies, a new Emir would not be announced until on Friday. This is because while the Emirate is built on Islam, Friday is the holiest day of the week according to Islamic tradition. And because the funeral prayer of the late Emir was performed on Friday in the night, to maintain that noble tradition, it had to take a whole week before the announcement of the new Emir.

It initially looked like just a dream. But it is not. It is rather a dream come true; a hope turned real; a vision actualised; a prayer divinely accepted. It is real. He is the Emir of Gombe; Sarkin Yakin Sarkin Musulmi. He was the heir and now the custodian of the prestigious royal throne of Bubayero.

His appointment is Allah’s making. It is Allah’s choice. And he deserves it. Not only because he is a direct descendant of Modibbo Bubayero and son of the immediate past Emir, but also, and more importantly, because he possesses the qualities required for a person to ascend to that venerated royal throne.

The humility and simplicity that are needed, the love and concern for others that are required, the listening ear that is wanted and many other open qualities that are usually enumerated as requisite for one to be Emir, are all gathered in him in a remarkably astonishing manner.

Analysis can show some interesting historical coincidences in the story of Sarki Abubakar III in Gombe. Among the Emirs, the first two Abubakars ruled for longer periods than all others.              Bubayero served for 37 years and Abubakar Umar for 48 years. We pray therefore that he will follow that path and rule for a much longer period than both of them. Also, his grandfather, the 9th Emir held the post of Santuraki before he later gradually moved to the apex of the kingdom. His father the 10th Emir was promoted from Santuraki to Emir. And HRH the 11th Emir also was until his appointment as Emir, the Santurakin Gombe.

His choice as the Lamido of Leddi (leader of the land) Bubayero is God-made. His natural human weaknesses like any mortal notwithstanding, he has been generally accepted as a humz others testify about him, a superb personality.

Ashakacem Boss, ICAN, Others Join CIS Council

Ashakacem Boss, ICAN, Others Join CIS Council

— May 12, 2015 10:16 am

Nine distinguished chartered stockbrokers have been elected to the Council of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) as part of the ongoing transformation of the institute into a world class professional body.

Their election was endorsed at the institute’s recent annual general meeting.

The new Council members who had earlier undergone rigorous screening are: President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Mr Chidi Ajaegbu; managing director and chief executive officer of Ashakacem Plc, Mr Kwairanga Umaru; Managing Director, Arthur Steven Asset Management Ltd., Mr.Olatunde Amolegbe; managing director/chief executive officer, Network Capital Ltd, Mr Oluropo Dada; managing director/chief executive officer of Vetiva Capital Management Ltd., Mr Chukuka Eseka; chairman, Investigating Panel of the CIS, Mr Muiz Kareem; general manager, Stambic IBTC Bank Plc, Mr Yusufu Modibo, deputy managing director, Fund Ouest Financial Services Ltd., Mr Olabisi Oni and the Institute’s chairman, Professional Development Committee, Mr Oyewole Oyeniyi.

Ajaegbu, the ICAN’s golden jubilee President is the founder and chief executive officer of Mutual Alliance Market Ltd, a fellow of ICAN and CIS among others. He holds Master’s Degree in Banking and Finance from University of Lagos. Ajaegbu currently runs Chidi Ajaegbu Educational Foundation which awards scholarship annually. Kwairanga is a consummate banker and veteran stockbroker. He holds an MBA from Liverpool John Moores University, UK and M Sc in Corporate Governance. He has served in various capacities in the financial and real sector of the economy. He was the institute’s Chairman, 1995 Local 0rganising Committee in Bauchi State.

Amolegbe holds an MBA and M Sc in Corporate Finance from University of Ilorin and Russel-List University in the United Kingdom. He has been instrumental to development and implementation of investment policy strategy over the years. Dada holds M Sc in corporate governance from Leeds Beckett University in the UK. His working experience covers banking, finance, stockbroking, issuing houses activities, investment advisory, general administration etc. Eseka is a frontline investment banker and securities strategist. He is a chartered accountant and chartered stockbroker with over 23 years industry experience.

Kareem, an Economist holds an MBA from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and Kensington University Glendale, USA respectively. He qualified as an Authorized Dealing Clerk in 1985 and became a fellow in 1993. Modibo holds both Master’s in Banking and Business Administration. He has been into the capital market and banking operations since 1984. 0ni holds M Sc in Economics. He was the best graduating student in both Associateship Examinations of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in 1997and CIS in 2004 respectively.

When AshakaCem Pacified Disaffected Host Communities

When AshakaCem Pacified Disaffected Host Communities

— Jun 27, 2014 2:30 am | 1 Comment

Community relations, as one chief executive recently put it, “is food for the soul of the organization.” It has ceased being an afterthought or corporate window-dressing, but is now a serious, strategic aspect of business for organisations, a fundamental ingredient for their success.

A recent research in the United States showed that companies do achieve an increasing comparative advantage by improving community relations.

When a company makes a commitment to the community part of its core business strategy, it not only helps attract and retain top employees, but it also positions itself positively among customers and, increasingly, improves its position in the market. Positive, proactive connections to the community can translate into a boost to the bottom line. That is exactly what AshakaCem Plc realised when relations with its host communities almost turned sour. The management exhibited a high level of crisis management skill to pacify the host communities, who staged a walk-out, during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on June 17 in Abuja.

The Funakaye Development Forum Gombe, which represents the host communities, expressed worry that though it had held six meetings with the company’s management, it is still not comfortable with the decision of Lafarge International to merge its Nigeria and South Africa businesses to create Lafarge Africa. Lafarge International owns 58.6 per cent of Ashaka Cement Plc.

Also, the host communities wondered why Lafarge International has not brought about the desired expansion of production in Ashaka Cement, three years since it acquired the majority shares in the cement company. They questioned the ground breaking event done on April 28 to mark the start of the expansion. Such were the grouses of the communities that they planned to disrupt AshakaCem’s AGM.

However, in response to Funakaye’s complaints, the Managing Director of AshakaCem, Leonard Palka, said that the company is engaging with the communities as it has spent N151.3million on various projects in the communities between 2011 and 2013. While commending the host communities for providing a conducive atmosphere for the business, Palka did not directly address the issues raised by the Funakaye group.

Thus, the stage was set for an interesting AGM. While declaring that the company made a profit after tax of N2.8 billion, the chairman, Board of Directors, AshakaCem, Umaru Kwairanga (Sarkin Fulanin Gombe), reeled out further achievements of the company within the 2013 financial year.

“We gave 42 kobo, which I believe when you look at the earning per share of Ashaka Cement, this is a very good dividend for us. Despite what we have in the pipeline and capacity expansion, we still believe that there is a need for us to give something to our shareholders because we felt that at the end of the day it is with the support of the shareholders, prayers of the shareholders and the community at large that we can be able to move forward.”

Also, the company increased production to 757, 000 metric tonnes of cement which is 2.2 per cent over 2012. There was also increasing progress made in expanding its production capacity from the current 0.5 million metric tons to 2.5 million metric tons through the installation of a completely new production line. In its continued efforts to generate its own electricity and also electrify its ghost communities, the company is building a 64-megawatt power plant using coal from own mine at Maiganga in Gombe state. While the company will use about 40 megawatts, the remaining 20 megawatts will be supplied to neighbouring communities in Gombe state. This will save the company huge expenses currently incurred from use of fossil fuel to power its machineries.

It’s now clear to leading-edge companies that to succeed in a global economy, the corporation has to be more than a preferred shareholder but must embrace require a new perspective on corporate governance and behaviour. Consequently, in addition to becoming the investment of choice, a company must become the supplier of choice, the employer of choice and what is now called “neighbour of choice.”

Thus, when representatives of the host communities threatened to walk out of the AGM, the company realised that it needs good neighbours to thrive and succeed in business. It took intervention of elder statesman Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, and former Chairman AshakaCem Brig. General Emmanuel Ikwue (retd), and some other notable sons of Gombe State to pacify the aggrieved indigenes. It was impressed on the representatives that it requires time and care to nurture the only functioning and profitable company in the Northeast to greatness.

In the realisation that there is a great need for improved communication between the company and its host communities, Alhaji Kwairanga promised that the host communities will be carried along in this time of great happenings. He told the representatives that though not much can be seen on ground as the company expands, a lot is being done behind the scene to mobilise men and materials towards the must be expansion. Assurance was given of the commitment to expansion as the ground breaking event for the new production line, which was witnessed by President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by Minister for Industry Trade and Investment, Dr. Aganga, would increase capacity from 700,000 to 3 million tonnes.

For a company that says it has ‘has a commitment to open communications and proactively communicates with its stakeholders on a number of developments, activities, events, and efforts to develop a stronger brand’, it needs to engage its stakeholders to avoid incidents like what happened at its last AGM.

With respect to the communities’ disaffection with Lafarge International merger of its Nigeria and South African businesses to become Lafarge Africa Plc, the host communities need to be educated in the dynamics of modern business of mergers and acquisition.

The management has to explain to the indigenes that merger will create a nationwide coverage in both Nigeria and South Africa, with cement capacity of about 12 million tonnes, as well as operations in aggregates, ready-mix and fly ash. The strong operational track record and management skills within the combined businesses as well as continued support and expertise from Lafarge Group will position Lafarge Africa to offer a full range of value added solutions to meet customers’ needs. Thus AshakaCem will benefit immensely from the expertise and gains of international corporation that it is now part of. For the host communities to think that the company does not want to expand in the juicy Nigerian market, shows the depth of disconnect between them and the company, which has to be bridged,

AshakaCem Plc was incorporated in August 1974 and commenced production in 1979 as a cement manufacturing and marketing company under the name Ashaka Cement Company Limited. The Company was initiated by the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank Limited in collaboration with Blue Circle Industries Plc UK (now LAFARGE SA), the Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry, Northern Nigeria Investment Limited and the Government of the then North- Eastern State (now Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States). Today, however, AshakaCem Plc is a full subsidiary of Lafarge SA.

Lafarge Backs AshakaCem To Fast-track N100bn Expansion Project

Lafarge Backs AshakaCem To Fast-track N100bn Expansion Project— Jul 15, 2014 4:22 am

The Board of Directors of AshakaCem Plc, and its management team, with support by experts from other Lafarge Group’s businesses across the globe, have agreed to fast-track the expansion of its N100 billion cement plant in the North-east.

The move, it was learnt, became imperative in order to guarantee the future of the company, enhance jobs creation in the North-east and deliver economic and social welfare to the immediate communities.

The ground-breaking ceremony of the project was done in April 2014 by President Goodluck Jonathan and ushered in a new phase in the capacity expansion project of the company

Having secured sufficient limestone and coal reserves to support the existing plant as well as the new plant, it was learnt that contracts have been signed with main equipment and engineering suppliers.For instance, to ensure the timely delivery of the project, the detailed design of the equipment as well as mobilisation of the sources had commenced.

The chairman of the board, Umaru Kwairanga, confirmed these developments in Abuja when he disclosed that the Lafarge Group is committed to the capacity expansion project in AshakaCem. He added that the group would deploy to the fullest its global expertise in procurement and erection of new cement plant and noted that credit facility lines of about N50 billion had been secured and signed in addition to internally generated cashflows to support the expansion project. In addition, he expressed confidence that given the extent of preparatory work that had been done, the project would soon become visible to all stakeholders.

He said, “AshakaCem in the last 40 years since its establishment has operated in harmony with all its neighbouring communities and this partnership is working to the mutual benefits of both parties.

“The company’s corporate social responsibility projects continues to focus on the provision of potable water, health care, education and youth empowerment. In the last three years alone, the company spent the sum of N400 million on community-related projects and there is the opportunity for the company to do more as this partnership thrives.”

The country chief executive officer (CEO), Lafarge Nigeria and Benin Republic, Mr Guillaume Roux, stated that the investment of N100 billion in Nigeria was a demonstration of its commitment to the economic growth of the country. This commitment, according to him, also aligns with the company’s strategy to deploy its strength as a global leader with over 175 years in building materials.

He noted that the huge experience of the company would be an added advantage towards providing solutions that meet global standards and fits the requirements of its customers.