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Buratai Reappears with Research Centre

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Deconstructing and appreciating the prowess of General Tukur Buratai

Buratai Reappears with Research Centre

Buratai bags traditional title in Nasarawa

Against the background of increasing loss of faith in the Nigerian project, former Chief of Army Staff and Nigeria’s current Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, General Tukur Buratai, initiated the Tukur Buratai Research Centre, a cutting-edge leadership think-tank to aid the troubled national development journey. Louis Achi examines the underlying vision

This is a good time to recall former French president, Giscard D’Estaing’s counsel to statesmen and world leaders: “There can be no response to history without effort.” D’Estaing’s sage warning was clearly inspired by the environment of the human crisis that defined his era. He was born during the First World War and fought in the second bloody global conflagration.

 

 

 

Today, the stakes are extremely high, and Nigerians are mindful that failure to achieve democratic stability, through a fair, transparent, inclusive governance process and very importantly, an untainted leadership transition process may imperil the country’s future as a coherent state.

Moreover, being Africa’s demographic and natural resources centre of gravity, Nigeria ought to lead the journey of transformative change on the continent. She ought to provide the leadership to raise Africa to her next level. But then charity must begin at home because at this period in human history, it surely would be sheer folly to tread a different path.

 

 

 

 

 

And that is the challenge before both the current Muhammadu Buhari presidency and successive administrations. This is also at the core of the leadership think-tank project initiated by the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Nigeria’s current Ambassador to the Republic of Benin.

Conceivably, in order to respond to the tumultuous history he has found himself in and had actually played a crucial role in as counselled by the ex-French President D’Estaing, the former COAS recently initiated the establishment of a cutting-edge leadership research centre at Gora in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria.

 

 

 

 

 

He stated that the Centre would collaborate with the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, in the fields of strategic studies, peace and conflict studies, environment and leadership for development. Not one to beat about the bush, the ground breaking and fundraiser for Tukur Buratai Research Centre (TBRC) held at Gora in Nasarawa State in late December last year.

When THISDAY directly asked the brawny ex-General, now an Ambassador, why he opted for this path, he provided an insight that showed his lesser known side and spoke to a hidden passion about the progressive transformation of the Nigerian state.

 

 

 

 

 

Ambassador Buratai said: “My simple philosophy about life is to continue to live a life of value by improving on the system that we have. As someone from the military, I reckoned the best way for me and my associates to add value to our society and make our country better and stronger is through a think-tank like the Tukur Buratai Research Center (TBRC).’’

In addition, the soldier-statesman said that Nigeria has the potential for greatness but there were insufficient capabilities to transfer those potential into socio-economic benefits for the people. According to him, inadequate research and development implementation in Nigeria create a massive void in the nation’s progress.

 

 

 

 

 

His words: “When properly focused research and training institutes are established, innovation and development become a natural progressive activity that benefits the nation’s life. In other words, Nigeria gains the ability to develop positively as a result of enhanced study and training.

“Corruption, insecurity due to terrorism and banditry, inadequate infrastructure, issues in governance and an inept educational system are all systemic flaws. With every amount of commitment made to research and training, as well as a strong national orientation one may be confident that we, as a people and a nation, are on the right track.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I would like to utilize this TBRC platform to emphasize that now is the moment for us to turn within and devise home-grown solutions to our unique difficulties.”

Further, according to him, the “TBRC was his way of contributing to national development and giving back to society through a well thought-out approach that would have a long lasting impact on the country. As a result of the myriad of socio-economic and political challenges, it may be reasonable to argue that Nigeria can, to a large degree, resolve her development issues through research.”

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps not surprisingly, the unique initiative drew support from several stakeholders who are also concerned about the worrisome drift of the national journey. According to the Vice Chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof. Suleiman Mohammed, the institute and TBRC had identified their research and development partnership based primarily on security and strategic studies.

In his words: “The vision and mission of the Buratai Centre aligns with the university’s policy and strategy for impacting the society. The centre’s motto which is to promote research for leadership and development is a strong statement about the ultimate value of research to impact humanity positively. We envisage that the centre will be a hub for cross fertilization of ideas on security, peace, conflict, leadership and development issues.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soft-spoken Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State who performed the ground breaking donated N50 million to the Centre. Over N160 million was realised at the occasion with the highest donation of N100 million coming from the BUA Group of companies.

The emerging consensus is that Ambassador Buratai’s well-considered leadership project is certainly not coming too soon. Today, ethnic nationalism, a crucial component of the myriad challenges, has reared its head in the country with different political nuances – from the overt to the subtle. This has a history. But perhaps most importantly and to the credit of Nigerians, the country remains one entity despite powerful forces that have challenged its growth and severely tested its resilience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These have undeniably sown the seeds of loss of faith in the Nigerian state. Former US President Bill Clinton captured something of this troubling truth at the Leon H. Sullivan Summit, held in Abuja in July 2006. His words: “There is no single tragedy in Africa more than robbing people of their dreams. The new challenge in Africa today is building a systematic capacity which will enable the people to live to make their own progress and save their own future. If you look at the miracle economies of Asia, it’s not only hard work but the opportunity to be part of a system that will reward your intelligence and hard work.”

Further prodded by THISDAY, the Ambassador made it clear that a strong and innovative think-tank would go a long way to boosting a nation’s institutional development and democracy, noting the Centre will fill the vacuum in the area of research and policy development. He then revealed the hidden historian and philosopher in him by enlisting specific examples of the place of innovative think-tanks in human development history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hear him: “Let me make it categorically clear to us that one of the factors that helped the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries is strong and innovative think-tanks. As far back as 1831, the Duke of Wellington set up the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies with the aim of helping policymakers navigate through complex policy problems. Then the London Fabian Society which was established in 1884, home to Sydney and Beatrice Webbs, who later founded the London School of Economics.”

He accurately recalled that Lionel Curtis of Oxford University spearheaded the establishment of a think-tank to explore international problems and advocate policy solutions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to the ambassador, “In 1919, scholars like Lionel Curtis of the Oxford University spearheaded the establishment of a think-tank to explore international problems and advocate policy solutions. After that, we saw the emergence of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in 1916, which in 1927, merged with two other institutions to form the widely acclaimed Brookings Institution. I believe that there exists a gap in our polity that TBRC as a think-tank can fill through research and policy development especially in the areas of security and defence, peace, conflict management, climate change, leadership and development.

“We need development in every sector of our national life, and this is something that should not be left for the government alone to do. As I have said in so many fora, there can be no real development without security and peace, and in the same vein, there must be economic opportunities, equity and justice for security and peace to exist which in turn serves as the foundation or pillars of development.”

 

 

 

 

Ambassador Buratai’s intervention through his think-tank must, of course, bear a human face – a scenario he has left pretty few in doubt about. It is only through this pathway that Nigeria’s current and subsequent leadership can give meaning to the four essential human freedoms espoused by that great American President – Franklin Roosevelt – whose country has supplied Nigeria with the democratic model she is operating currently.

 

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We Must Build A Virile Legislature For The Future, Speaker Obasa Says

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We Must Build A Virile Legislature For The Future, Speaker Obasa Says

 

 

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Sunday, counselled members of the House to strengthen the legislative arm of government ahead of the future.

Dr. Obasa gave the advice in Abeokuta, Ogun State at the opening of a three-day budget retreat for lawmakers and staff of the House with the theme: ‘Optimising the legislature’s power of the Purse’ for effective service delivery in Lagos State’.

The Speaker challenged the lawmakers to be committed in their legislative duties as they must leave lasting legacies for the future, strengthen governance, responsibility and accountability.

He charged the lawmakers on improved and effective legislative oversight functions being one of the responsibilities of the legislature.

“What we do now is really not about us; it is for the totality of the system.

“I appreciate this budget retreat. Each one of us must be responsible in carrying out the assignments we are tasked with. This is very essential.

“We carry out budget scrutiny based on what is presented by the executive. Once we give a go-ahead, it means the executive must comply and treat it accordingly because it has become a law.

“Going forward, all the reports of each committee must be presented at the floor of the House. This will help us decide on how to act for the sake of transparency and accountability,” the Speaker said.

He advised the lawmakers against docility in the task of ensuring that Lagos continues to weather economic storms.

“We all have roles to play and, in doing that, sentiments and self-benefits must be removed. The day you start with self-benefit, you have become a failure.

“If you do your job the way you should do it, you will earn your respect and will be held in high esteem by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“We are here today again to look at how we can improve on the laws we make at the House of Assembly as well as our oversight functions.

‘Let’s continue to be dedicated and loyal and I am sure we will get there. Let’s always straighten the path for Lagosians and those coming behind us,” he urged.

In his opening remark, the Clerk and Head of Service of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, described the retreat as an avenue to have insights into the state’s budget.

While commending the Speaker, he urged the participants to “be attentive and take home fresh ideas and knowledge.”

 

We Must Build A Virile Legislature For The Future, Speaker Obasa Says

Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

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Bridging the Gap, Dr Anthony Aduro’s Vision for World-Class Healthcare in Nigeria”

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Bridging the Gap, Dr Anthony Aduro’s Vision for World-Class Healthcare in Nigeria”

In a nation grappling with an ailing healthcare system, Dr. Anthony Aduro, a dedicated healthcare practitioner and CEO of Aduro Foundation, is emerging as a beacon of hope. Driven by a deep-seated passion for improving the lives of his fellow Nigerians, Aduro is spearheading a transformative approach to healthcare in Nigeria.
In a media chat the CEO noted that the Nigerian healthcare system is a mess, urging the government to
invest in healthcare infrastructure and partner with private sectors.
As a healthcare professional, Aduro explained that he witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by patients in accessing quality care, noting that the lack of adequate infrastructure, limited resources, and the prevailing apathy towards healthcare among government officials fueled his determination to make a difference.
He said: “The state of healthcare system in Nigeria is saddening, about 80 percent of Nigerians
use the general hospitals where you sometimes go and see patients sharing bed space, some of them not properly equipped.
“That is why I have a lot of interest in the healthcare system in Nigeria, and I’m putting in efforts to develop something where we can have an impact that if other people see, they can actually assist in building the health sector of the country.”
Speaking on some of his significant milestones in the healthcare of Nigeria, he said: “During the #EndSARS protest, my home town was affected. The healthcare centre there was demolished, and I reached out to the local government chairman, and they took me there. So, I rebuilt it, and equipped it, and I told them that it should be for the community. I thank God, a lot of things are going on there, it’s like a mustard seed; something that is small, but it will still grow and I still intend to build more health centres so that a lot of people, especially the low income earners will benefit from it.”
He disclosed plans to facilitate medical outreach in underserved communities in Okitipupa, Ondo state, where he hails from and also employ manpower to drive the growth of the healthcare sector.
In light of the above, the healthcare practitioner outlined strategies to revamp Nigeria’s
healthcare, including partnership with the private healthcare sector; Creating insurance systems for low-income earners; Investing in healthcare infrastructure; Telemedicine solutions.
“Telemedicine is one of my areas of research. Telemedicine is where you can still have the doctors and nurses in the US, and they can still treat you here,’’ Dr. Aduro explained.
Speaking on some of his philanthropic activities, he stated “I believe so much in a clean environment. When the environment is clean and you have some clean water, you are solving some problem that you don’t even know is there.”
Aduro explained that he has drilled a solar powered clean borehole water in seven villages including Okitipupa, Oloto, Ilumeje in Ondo State, noting that his core objective is to set a pace that others can emulate, and create employment opportunities.
“I was there at the commissioning of the town hall that I built and that was where one of the community members proposed to donate books for the students. That was the time I promised them that I’m going to build a library for them, and today, I opened the library and it cost N150 million. The library is an ultra modern one, powered by solar energy,” the healthcare practitioner noted.
Aduro believes that giving back doesn’t have to be monetary, stressing the need to create lasting impacts through job opportunities and infrastructure development.
The CEO noted that the Aduro Foundation was established to transform life through community empowerment, and creating opportunities. He noted that the core objective of the foundation is just to give back to, and have an impact on the community.
“You have to be creative when you want to give back to the community. It doesn’t have to be money, rather let it be something that will create a lasting impact. For example, if you create job opportunities, where you employ people, they will take care of others which gives ride to multiple effects. Giving back to the community entails making sure that something which will positively impact their lives is happening and it is continuous. It will not be one-off,’’ the CEO noted.
Speaking on his farm project, Aduro Farm, he explained that he got the idea while thinking of a way to reduce unemployment in Nigeria and boost sustainability.
He said: “It is just like creating an opportunity economy for people to get employed, and some people will have the opportunity to trade and do businesses with it. It is a highly mechanised farm, and there are staff working there. There are close to 60 people working there.
“We’re building a large piggery farm right now. We have a poultry pen that will take about 20, 000 layers. We have a fish outdoor pond that will probably take up to half a million fishes, we have about 15 people working there. And then you see people doing business, for instance we have egg sellers coming to buy eggs and resell them,’’ he added.
Dr. Aduro’s philanthropic endeavours are driven by a belief in the power of community-based solutions. He emphasises the importance of creating lasting impact through initiatives that empower individuals and communities. By providing access to healthcare, clean water, and economic opportunities, Aduro’s foundation is helping to build a more resilient and equitable Nigeria.
The CEO expressed optimism over the future of healthcare in Nigeria. He believes that
with the right investments and a commitment to community-driven solutions, it is
possible to transform the country’s healthcare system and improve the lives of millions
of Nigerians.
On how his upbringing influenced his present personality and values, he said: “My upbringing was very humble. It takes a community to raise a child. I was raised within a community and that influenced me because I love to have people around me. I was surrounded by people while growing up and I saw the knowledge my mother and father impacted on me on how I have to be nice to people. With that at the back of my mind, I grew up within a very large family comprising uncles, aunties, cousins etc while in Okitipupa and that influenced my upbringing, I really respect the communal life, I can never go away from that, and then the influence I saw within the community is what actually brought me to where I am today. Whatever I am doing or what I am trying to do, that community influence will always come into it and I can never forget that community which I grew up from.”

Educational background
“I attended St. John RCM School, it is a Roman Catholic school that time. I later moved to Joala, where my father was working then. I later moved Saint Columbus RCM School. After graduating from there, I think that should be around 1975 or 1974 or thereabout, I then moved to Modern School, from there to Local Authority Modern School at Okitipupa for three years, after that I went to Government Secondary School, Idanre.
“During that time, things were tough for me. I think the secondary school fees that time was less than N500 per year but it was a tough thing to pay but my parents tried. My mother had to sell her propperties put things together for myself and my siblings to go through secondary school. After my secondary school, I go admission to read anthropology in Maiduguri and I really did not like it because I have interest in health.
“I was actually thinking that I should be a doctor, which was my dream, because if I am a doctor I will be able to give something back to the society; I would be able to take care of other things at home but it did not walk out that way. I went to a technical school, it is more of an engineering school that time but it was a private school. I was there for one year but things were not going like I wanted it.
Going to India
:The purpose of my travelling to India was for education. It was hard in India, very tough, I left Nigeria with $100 that time. During that time, you can only take $100 out of Nigeria and then but being a strong headed person, I went through a lot of things in India. When I got to India, it became so difficult even that $100 was stolen from me because we were placed in a dormitory, like an hostel. We were like 16 of us in the hostel. Before I could register, the money was gone. But I thank God, I went to a church and I told them what happened to me because my passport was stolen also. Then a church community in India, though they are Hindus. The church community gave all they could, their offerings, everything like that, they gave it to me. Till now, that thing never left my memory because when people come together to give you a purpose for life, it will ever stay there.
“That is how I started. I went to Nigerian embassy, I got a little money, I was able to register for college because didn’t register for the university in Belgrade and I couldn’t go to medical school there. I have to go to a Business school. So I got myself into commerce and then I moved to the central part of India, that is Mapal, where I graduated with a Bachelor degree in Commerce and Accounting after which I did Master’s degree in Business and Commerce. But health was still very much in my head.

Why I moved to Kenya
I moved to Kenya for educational purpose. That was where I thought I can survive. there was no job, so we were looking for a best way to survive. I am very entrepreneurial. I have a lot of Kenyan friends when I was in India and from there I knew what was going on there. They are so much involved in coffee and tea export and I got into horticultural export in Kenya. My wife is a Kenyan. I went there to see if I could see a better opportunity rather than going into a main stream employment, maybe I could actually create employment, that was why I set up the horticultural export in Kenya. I did it for a while, exporting to France, UK and Italy. It was very competitive then because I was competing with Indians. Indians were exporters and importers, I didn’t make much in Kenya at all. It was tough.

My sojourn to USA
Things were becoming so difficult, the competition was very high, I love to be in competition but it was very higher for me. The Kenyans and Indians dominated the economy and for you to be able to be successful you have to go through them. The Kenyans and Indians fixed the prices for everything, prices that you are going to use to export and that is only price you’re going to use to export unless you have other means of getting your own deal from London or France or so.
When it was becoming so difficult I just have to move on and I said I would be focused on my dream. It was not because of education that I moved to US, I moved because I was looking for a better opportunity. So when I got to the US I have to start from scratch, that is what a lot of people don’t know. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are coming from or something like that, America will humble you, whether you have Ph.D or whatever you have, you’ll start from the scratch.

The American dream
“The American dream is always there, if you open your eyes, if you are determined, then you are very committed to what you are doing, straight forward, you’ll make it. You can be who you want to be and that is what is there. So,m I got into US and then started working in the healthcare sector. I was employed just like a programme kind of something, to co ordinate programmes within the health sector. “I was in finance, I had a Master’s degree in Finance from India but when you can coordinate programme, it doesn’t mean you are practising. You coordinate programme like the finance part of it, although that is in the heath sector. Then I have to start changing my ways. That was when I developed interest in how the health system works, like how to take care of aged and disabled people, people with disabilities, like autism, various types of disabilities. It is a different sector of health care system that actually focuses on human not on symptoms or treatment. It focuses on you and your health outcome. So healthcare is a big field where you have the physician and co.
“So I got into that and I started developing, I was actually growing in the heath sector. I became the residential manager for healthcare system which was Anthony Wince Services in Texas, Houston then after working in Houston about two years, I moved to Forthwin, Indiana through one pastor from Zambia. We got talking and he said “if you are in this sector, you can get something better in Forthwin in Indiana.” And he spoke with a friend of mine from South Africa. He spoke to Anthony Wince Services. It is one of the biggest health care providers for people with age and disabilities. That was in year 2001. That time I was made a programme coordinator for a sector of heath care, that is residential service of people with disabilities.
“That was what led me into the healthcare education. I moved from there and then I also have a doctorate degree in health care from World University in Minnesota. I grew up and I saw what I was doing there, I have to set up my own. I grew up to the policy level when we started doing policy for Anthony Wince Services now called Benchmark and from there I kind of broke out and started my own called Medị-link. That was the very first aspect of it, it is the first amputatery kind of services that deal with the people leaving with disabilities. I was able to talk to the state of Indiana that I have a better policy on healthcare sector and I was told to bring a proposal.
“That was why I was saying that your dream is possible, the American dream, if you are focused but the idea is that you have to be humble, because whatever the case, you are going to start from zero. It doesn’t matter what and how you are and then. I put my proposal together and it was approved. I started my own healthcare operation system in 2013

Have you been intimidated or were you affected by racism which is usually in practice?
“First of all, I don’t feel intimidated. I remembered one time in 2003 when I was a programme coordinator for Benchmark and we would go for healthcare. the entire hall would be filled and I would be the only black person there. Racism is something that cannot be taken away but you can actually create an opportunity from racism. That is what led me to where I am today, when you use that kind of negativity to create a positive thing for yourself. When you are able to modify the thinking and make use of the best of racism.

Any particular incident when you were in the US Healthcare sector, you were subjected to any form of racism before?
“It is like an unmentioned racism, it is something that you feel and know. There were a couple of times that, I think 2005/2006, I was supposed to be a programme director of a major programme for the healthcare system, we were five of us that were there and I was the most qualified when it comes to that aspect but things moved here and there but I am very grateful for the organisation.
“Everything I am able to build up on my own, it is because of that issue of racism. I won’t say it is a big issue but it has always been there, you’ll feel it. You know, the position you are supposed to get, you’ll probably not get them. There are so many people that I have trained that they will put on top of me. “Those are areas that I told myself that there must be opportunity in this thing. If I can train this person to be in this position, I can actually step out and create opportunities for myself
Regardless of who you are or the colour you are, you can achieve the American dream. It might be difficult but you can always achieve it.”

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OgunEduCash: ‘Approve Payment of Our Funds’ — Contractor Begs Governor Abiodun

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OgunEduCash: ‘Approve Payment of Our Funds’ — Contractor Begs Governor Abiodun

 

…….Pleads to Governor Abiodun to approve payment of OgunEduCash contracts

 

Some of the contractors who were awarded thousands of textbooks by Ogun State Government in a bid to empower the secondary and primary schools under OgunEduCash initiative has begged Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun to approve the payment of their March, 2024.

Most of them secured loans from microfinance to execute the project with deadline of payment but they could not meet up due to the delay in payments of the expected funds from Ogun State Government Amebo Newspapers NG learnt.

According to one of them who pleased on anonymity, said he used his personal funds and borrowed money to produce notebooks and supplied to Ogun state government and when it was time to pay him the problems started.

 

This is to call the attention of Ogun State Governor, His Excellency Prince (Dr) Dapo Abiodun, MFR to an issue involving the State government and a couple of contractors who were awarded printing contracts since March (at exactly the time OgunEduCASH was introduced).

The contract was a mass production of 800, 000 exercise books which was expected to be delivered a week from the day the contract was awarded. It should be noted that the contract which was awarded through the office of the Secretary to the State Government was not committed with cash or any deposit but an agreement to pay contractor in a week after delivery.

Since the delivery day, Your Excellency, we have not gotten any response from the State government – for a job which has been delivered since March, 2024.

Your Excellency, sir, kindly use your good office to help investigate and resolve the matter sir.

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