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Opinion: Who Will Save the Catholic Church from Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka?

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By Nkannebe Raymond

Without a doubt, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka’s Adoration ground has become a campaign tourist-resort where unmitigated politicking is the order of the day. And quite alarmingly, everybody is welcome at this ‘party’, in so far as they can part with donations to help fund Mbaka’s unending church-development-projects. Even the Gandujes of this world are welcome provided they are willing to part with some of their infamous $5 million. It is that bad.

While this writer concedes that the clergy must not shy away or recuse itself from politics, clerical courtesies only demand that caution must not be flung to the winds in their descent into a terrain alien to their natural habitat. And we have seen many of them discharge this duty with so much grace and gusto and with even more impact as with the Apostle Paul, in the early days of the church. Perhaps I should mention the Bishop of Sokoto diocese, the very Rev. Fr. Matthew Hassan Kukah (whose book, Religion, Politics and Power I have just started reading) for being the very ensemble of how the clergy should be involved in mundane politics. Others include the cerebral Rev. Fr. George Ehusani, his eminence, cardinal John Onaiyekan to keep the list short.

But all of these apparently makes no sense to this Enugu born cleric and overrated chief priest of the revenue-generating ‘Adoration Ministry’. For him, politics is the alternative sport and election seasons such as the one we are in, an avenue for him to speak obstreperously from both sides of his mouth as though nursing acute diarrhoea of the mouth.

It is not the first time we are seeing this diminutive ‘man of God’ at his ignoble worst. But certainly, the outburst over the weekend crosses the proverbial red line which makes him in my considered opinion a subject of emergency for the Catholic Church.

It is reported that he literally mounted the rostrum over the weekend and read the riot act to politicians who according to him abandoned the ministry after emerging victorious at the 2015 general elections on account of the wonders of the God of his Adoration Ministry whose avowed high priest he is. This, I am told took place at the 2018 harvest and bazaar celebration at his famous Adoration Ground in Emene. And the man in his typical style was amok as though possessed by some demon.

For President Muhammadu Buhari, he says it was a sin against the Holy spirit for him to abandon the church since after profiting bountifully from the blessings of the ministry without donating a project to it. He however, did not tell his audience whether it was Jubril who would pay the ‘debt’ of Muhammadu, or whether the opprobrium of the Holy Spirit could be visited on Jubril vicariously. He boasted, like the biblical Moses when he struck the rock, how the ministry saved Buhari from the claws of death on account of the prayers they spared for him when he became interminably sick, and advised those who have the man’s ears to warn him that “no one cheats God”.

He berated the running mate of the PDP presidential candidate, His Excellency, Peter Obi for not having done anything for the church. And warned that if he continued on that part, he and his Atiku, would crash out at the polls. He tells Atiku to reach out to Igbo leaders and Hon. Ike Ekweremadu if he must emerge victorious at the forthcoming election, and in the same breadth, invite him to the ministry to “do a project for them”.

That was not all.

Despite publicly disowning Peter Obi, he however, took receipt of a 500,000 donation by the man ostensibly for “breaking of kolanut”, and condescended upon a gospel of financial recklessness before declaring that “stinginess is not a virtue”. After taking receipt of Senator Hope Uzodinma’s donation of twenty million Naira, he wished he were the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmud Yakubu when he declared that “Uzodinma would become the next governor of Imo state by the grace of God”.

He hailed the governor of Ebonyi state, Dave Umahi, not because the man has endowed a scholarship scheme for the entire people of his state, but because he had just donated “1,000 bags of rice and 1,000 tubers of yam to the ministry”. He however demurred that all of that meant nothing to him, until the governor “handed a 10 million Naira cheque to me and promised to build a project for the ministry” and further invited Peter Obi, who it is acknowledged performed creditably well as governor of Anambra state, to learn from the Ebonyi state helmsman. In his own words, “this is the type of gesture we require from Obi”.

The rest of the day was spent in eulogising the incumbent governor of Enugu state who he said was leadership personified and the best thing to have happened to the state that hosts his ministry. Ugwuanyi was decorated as a man of peace, a perfect genius and a humble and ever patient servant all through Mbaka’s apparently jaundiced binoculars.

Watching the video clips of this clerical oddity earlier today, one thing ringed through and through. It is this: that developmental governance for Ejike Mbaka can only be assessed through the prism of his adoration ministry. That is to say, you are only good as much as you continue to be a financial ally of the man’s adoration ministry. And you are condemned to the hades if like, Peter Obi, you prioritize the interest and welfare of the masses whose leadership you hold in trust. This is governance, the Mbaka style.

It also appears the Awgu-born cleric have since elevated himself to the chief electoral umpire of the federation (forget about Mahmud), and his adoration stables, the national polling unit for the casting of ballot. In simplest terms, a politician’s ambition sinks or swims with the endorsement vel non of this tin god with clay legs. Talk about religious braggadocio and abuse of the privileges of the Holy spirit! All these he does in flagrant breach of the provisions of section 95(3)(b) of the Electoral Act, 2010 which prohibits religious leaders and clerics from using their pulpits to “promote, propagate, or attack political parties, candidates, their programmes or ideologies.”

We do not know what could be responsible for Mbaka’s oversized ego and overweening inflated sense of importance that has coalesced to bring out the weaknesses of the man.

But when a man begins to see himself as a Tin god with clay legs, it is meet that he be cut down to size as soon as possible by the institutions who have the means, in this case, the echelons of the catholic church. When the church decides to do that however is strictly her prerogative. But suffice it to warn that the sooner the church calls him to order, the better for it, lest her silence be mistaken for complicity.

In the mean time, Mbaka must climb down from his high horse to concentrate on his holy ghost ministry that brought him from obscurity into national limelight and leave partisan politics and politicking to the politicians including Atiku, Buhari or Jubril, Ugwuanyi, Uzodinma, Obi and the other names who do not escape mention at his revenue-generating adoration ground. The cynosure of all eyes, should not dab his face with charcoal.

Nkannebe Raymond, a lawyer and public affairs commentator, wrote in from Lagos. Comments and reactions to raymondnkannebe@gmail.com

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Opinion

Skills Acquisition: Way Forward for Nigeria’s Educational Development

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By Ayo Oyoze Baje

“The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways” – Robert Greene

As concerned Nigerians keep deliberating on the best way to navigate the twists and turns inherent in our education delivery system, if yours truly has his way secondary school students should be spending three days of each week for theoretical knowledge and two for practical skills development. These include skills such as tailoring/fashion design, hair dressing and carpentry. Others include building construction, painting, domestic farming, singing, acting, oratory and comedy.

This has become more expedient because in 2023, Nigeria ranked 100th out of 100 countries in Coursera’s Global Skills Report in terms of skill proficiency. Incidentally, the country also ranked low within the Sub-Saharan Africa, placed 12th out of 13 countries.In fact, other African nations such as Botswana and Cameroon outperformed Nigeria in the same report. This was an indication of a significant skills gap in the country. But recent indicators suggest an increase performance that should be built on. For instance, Nigeria showed the fourth-highest year-on-year growth rate for Professional Certificates enrollments on Coursera. This clearly suggests a growing awareness and participation in skills development initiatives which should be built on.

For instance, the unemployment rate in Nigeria stands at about 4.84% in 2025, according to Statista. com. This translates to an estimated 5.74 million people who are unemployed. Similarly, the youth unemployment rate is around 7.50% according to Trading Economics.

Given the current global influence of information technology, the expanding impact of Artificial intelligence ( AI ) and the soaring influence of climate change. Others include the increasing need to ride the freaky waves of economic survival, and the stifling space for employment, not only in Nigeria but across the globe. Yet, the country is abundantly blessed with rare talents in different fields of human endeavour.

Mention names such as Silas Adekunle, known for his robotics expertise and the world’s first intelligent gaming robot or Riya Karumanchi, who invented a device to assist visually impaired individuals the importance of skills acquisition in the development of the talents of our youth gradually dawns on us.

It is a similar scenario when the name of
Hassan and Hussaini Muhammad, who created a way to convert petrol, water, salt, and alum into hydrogen cooking gas crop up. And out there there are other young Nigerian inventors such as Khalifa Aminu (FM transmitter), Muazzam Sani (remote-controlled car), and the team behind the smart walkway light and automatic irrigation. The importance of skills acquisition cannot therefore, be over emphasized.
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Put in its simple terms, skills acquisition is crucial for Nigerian students academic development, because it enhances their employability, as well as boosts entrepreneurship. In fact, it contributes to overall national development. According to experts on educational development it empowers students to be self-reliant, reduces poverty and unemployment, and also provides them with a global perspective.

The impact and import of students’s skills acquisition is amply deployed in Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun state. There, students are exposed to the practical aspect of whatever course they are studying such that seasoned professionals are invited to deliver the practical aspect of their theoretical knowledge.Such is the impact that engineering students have become problem solvers. They have constructed pavements, fences, designed and built solid infrastructure.

Furthermore, the Centre for Agricultural Technology and Entrepreneurial Studies (CATES) has come up as a key initiative at the same university. As a noble cause it was established to foster practical, solution-oriented approaches to agricultural and entrepreneurial development within the university and the wider community. The skills promoting aspect of it is that CATES focuses on areas such as poultry technology, aquaculture, cassava farming, and mushroom culture. It also operates a vegetable farm and a plantain farm on campus. All these explain why graduates of the citadel of knowledge become self employed, with several of them kick starting the process right from the University as undergraduates. All these boost their financial independence while they contribute to the Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

Skills acquisition therefore,
increases employability, more so in today’s competitive job market. Having relevant skills makes students more attractive to employers. These include skills such as digital literacy, communication, and problem-solving, which are highly valued across various industries.Entrepreneurship programs teach them how to start and manage their own businesses. This eventually, leads to economic growth and improved living standards with appreciable Human Development Index, HDI. By equipping students with practical skills, skill acquisition programs can assist to lift individuals and families out of the terrifying trap of poverty and ultimately reduce the unemployment rate for the country.

From the global perspective, many skills are transferable across borders. This is one good lesson learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic. Nigerian students can latch on it to participate in the global economy through remote work or international collaborations. It also fosters confidence in students, assist them to adapt to the global socio-economic dynamics,while instilling a sense of accomplishment in them, thereby contributing to overall personal growth.

Of great significance, is that
a skilled workforce is essential for the nation’s economic growth and technological advancement. Overall, the skill acquisition programs contribute to building a more productive and innovative society. So Nigeria work on the report which highlighted specific skill areas where it lags, especially technology and data science.

Nigeria should also learn from countries that stand out for their high levels of skill acquisition and development. These include Northern European nations such as Finland, Norway, and Sweden which consistently rank high, along with Switzerland, Singapore, and Germany. These countries often prioritize education, training, and creating opportunities for their populations to acquire and utilize a wide range of skills. As rightly noted by Malcolm X: ” Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today”.

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The Unsung Patriots: When Integrity Stands Above National Honours

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By Sani Sa’idu Baba

Nigeria’s Democracy Day ought to be a solemn reminder of the sacrifices, resilience, and commitment of individuals who have stood tall in the face of tyranny and injustice. It is a day that should celebrate not only democracy itself, but also the patriots who have preserved its fragile flame. Yet, in what many see as a deliberate and politically motivated omission, several Nigerians of high calibre, unimpeachable character, and unassailable contributions to nationhood were left out of the national honours list announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

This omission is not a matter of oversight. It is a calculated decision that speaks volumes about the political insecurities within the corridors of power. One name that resonates profoundly in this discourse is Chief Dele Momodu, adopted son of the late MKO Abiola, a journalist, publisher, presidential aspirant, and fearless voice of the people for over four decades. Chief Momodu is a man who has not only chronicled Nigeria’s history but has lived and shaped it through his unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and democratic ideals.

Let us be honest, this is not about merit. If it were, Chief Dele Momodu’s name would have featured prominently on that list. This is about fear, fear of principled rejection. It is about avoiding the kind of national embarrassment that befell the Buhari administration when internationally acclaimed writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie openly declined a national honour because she believed it lacked genuine integrity. Her rejection was not out of arrogance, but from a place of conviction, a deep sense of responsibility not to allow her name to be used as an endorsement of a government she could not, in good conscience, support.

President Tinubu’s government, undoubtedly aware of Dele Momodu’s outspokenness and principled stance, likely feared a repeat of such rejection. Because men like Chief Momodu would not want to accept such honours from those who have allegedly turned our hard earned democracy into a civilian dictatorship. For him, a national honour must be more than a political gesture, but a reflection of national values, a reward from a government that truly serves its people.

Chief Momodu has never been one to seek validation from the powerful. His life’s work has been about amplifying the voices of the voiceless, challenging injustice, and standing firm even in the face of exile and persecution. That is who he truly is. I believe that he will happily accept a national honour from a government that embodies the ideals of democracy not one that plays lip service to it. It’s only a matter of time!

This June 12, as we mark another chapter in Nigeria’s democratic journey, we must also reflect on the kind of leadership we celebrate. It is not enough to decorate the loyal and the silent. True honour lies in recognising the bold, the honest, and the principled even when their truths are uncomfortable.

To Chief Dele Momodu, and others like him who continue to walk the path of integrity, your absence from the national honours list is not a dishonour. In fact, it is a badge of honour in itself. For in a time where sycophancy is rewarded, your principled silence, your steadfast commitment to truth, and your refusal to compromise, speak louder than any medal ever could. Nigeria sees you. History will remember you.
Your recent 65th birthday celebrations which was meant to be simple and low-key but turned into a well organised global celebration all in your honour speaks volumes.

May your integrity continue to inspire a generation that refuses to trade truth for personal gains.

Happy democracy day…

Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba writes from Kano

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Opinion

Nigeria’s Reforms Have Put the Country on the Global Economic Map

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By Abdul Samad Rabiu

As my country steadies itself, Britain, its Western allies and their companies should deepen this partnership

As ghosts of the 1930s haunt the global outlook, the scramble for trade deals has seized control of government agendas. The United States has leveraged its “tariff war” to secure better terms, driving both friend and foe to the negotiating table. British deals with the US and India have provided some refuge from the prevailing gloom.

Less reported – but with similar potential – was last year’s signing of the Enhanced and Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) between the UK and Nigeria , the former’s first such agreement with an African nation. Quiet in its arrival, the pact may yet echo louder.

As someone who has built multinational businesses across Africa, I know the vast opportunity the continent offers, and Nigeria in particular, which alone accounts for a fifth of sub-Saharan Africa’s 1.2 billion people. But I also understand the limitations we have often placed on ourselves when it comes to securing investment.

Lowering barriers to trade is crucial, and for that Britain’s ETIP looks prescient. However, investment and business potential will remain discounted as long as African nations cling to state intervention – from subsidies and price controls to exchange rate distortions – all of which have consistently bred dysfunction and economic instability. Fortunately, Nigeria has now decisively turned a corner, embracing market economics under a liberalising government.

In Morocco this week, Foreign Secretary David Lammy indicated Britain’s position is shifting too. Setting out his strategy for Africa, he said British policy must transition from aid to investment. “Trade-not-aid” is no new idea – but it is the first time a British government has so clearly echoed the demand the African continent has voiced for years.

In making that shift, Nigeria is taking the lead for a continent to follow. So many Nigerian administrations I have known have been hostage to economic events, doubling down time and again on state intervention rather than having the conviction to reform. This administration is proving different. After two years of difficult reforms, Nigeria – under President Bola Tinubu – is now poised to fulfil the promise of its vast natural resources, rapidly growing population of over 200 million people, and strategic coastal location along the Gulf of Guinea.

First, the Tinubu administration removed a crippling fuel subsidy – the most significant policy reform in years. At 25 to 30 cents per litre, petrol in Nigeria was among the cheapest in the world. But the subsidy was bankrupting the government: by 2023, it consumed over 15 per cent of the federal budget – roughly equivalent to the proportion the UK spends annually on the NHS.

When President Tinubu ditched the fuel subsidy on his first day in office, criticism quickly followed. Prices, at least for the time being, have risen. However, statistics must be understood in light of the wide-ranging distortions the subsidy created.

Officially, fuel consumption in Nigeria has dropped by 40 to 50 per cent. But that is not because Nigerians’ petrol use reduced by this amount. In reality the country was subsidising the region, with cross border fuel smugglers profiting from arbitrage. The illegal trade was so blatant that on a visit to neighbouring Niger a few years ago, then-President Mohamed Bazoum even joked about it, thanking Nigeria for the cheap fuel. Though the move was politically unpopular, the subsidy had become unsustainable. Now, spending is being redirected toward development and infrastructure – laying the foundations for long-term growth.

Second, the country has moved from a fixed to a market-determined exchange rate. Previously, only select groups could access the official rate – especially those with political connections; the rest had to rely on a more expensive parallel informal market determined by supply and demand. But selling dollars at an artificially low rate only entrenched scarcity, a problem compounded by an opaque exchange mechanism that deterred foreign investment.

Every two weeks, we used to make the 12-hour drive to Abuja to seek dollar allocations for imports – camping out at the Central Bank for three or four days. Now, I no longer need to go. I’ve met the new Governor only once in two years – because I haven’t had to. Monetary orthodoxy has finally arrived, bringing with it the liquidity that both domestic and foreign businesses depend on to smooth trade and de-risk investment.

Third, the shackles of politics are being prised from business, bringing greater certainty, fairness and stability to the landscape. Five years ago, I woke up one morning to find that the port concession for a new venture of mine had been revoked. It turned out my company was outcompeting a friend of an official of the Nigerian Ports Authority. In the end, it took then-President Buhari’s personal intervention to save the enterprise.

Had I not been politically connected, the business would have folded – along with the 4,000 jobs it provided – at a time when job creation was, and remains, Nigeria’s most urgent challenge. Today, such connections are no longer necessary. The playing field is being levelled, flattening the political ridges and dips that once skewed the game.

Many of these reforms required political courage to withstand the force of criticism. Prices rose as distortions were removed, yet the administration held firm, even as vested interests co-opted public discontent for their own ends.

Indeed, many of the benefits of reform are still to be felt by the wider public. But economic fundamentals must be fixed before that becomes possible. That lead-time often tempts market reformers to reverse course, or avoid reform altogether. Now that Nigeria has made it through the toughest phase, its direction should be clear to investors.

For Britain, the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership with Nigeria was a strategic bet on reform, resilience and long-term reward. Nigeria is now delivering its part of the bargain. As my country steadies itself, the UK, its Western allies – and their companies – should deepen this partnership.

Abdul Samad Rabiu is a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist

Culled from Daily Telegraph (UK)

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