Sardauna Foundation, NGF And NNN. By Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Were Sir Ahmadu Bello to be alive today, he would have been one hundred years old. Considering the live expectancy or span in our clime, that would have been a rare feat. It is rare today to have those within the age group of the late sage still alive. Those that are alive, where they are relevant, had little or no legacies to show for it. Where they are celebrated, is not because of what they have done but more because of the long life and what their offspring have achieved. Details

Shame on the Northern Leaders and Northern Students. By Husaini Mango, Ph.D.

The shame emanates in departure from political philosophy of the northern political hero, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, who laid foundation for their success, then turned back and destroyed the North with political thuggery and religious bigotry. “Northern Students” is also considered a party to the shame on regional mentality displayed on their position against ASUU on the current ongoing nationwide strike, which appeared in Daily Ttrust, September 3, 2009.Details

Post-Amnesty Programme: Gas And Water Levels In The Oil Producing District of Imo West. By Benedict Okereke

All said, for decades, revenues from natural resources in this zone have gone to Nigeria's government coffers. Without further delay,  the area urgently needs to be provided with the most banal of its citizen's expectations from government. Details

Reflection Time for Nigeria. By Suleiman Nasiru

FORTY-NINE years of Nigeria’s independence, a lot of people have argued that the country has not achieved anything while some people say a lot have been achieved. Some of those who argue that the country has experienced tremendous improvement from the pre-independence era backed up their argument with a number of parameters for measuring achievement. Details

The Challenge of Governance: Steady Race To Nation Building. By Bunmi George

When Yar'Adua declared his asset sometime back, it was received with mixed feelings. Some praised him for setting the pace for transparency, while some simply relegated it to a charade. I tell you, it may look like child’s play; this is a good thing for democracy in Nigeria. Details

Developing a Sustainable Nuclear Energy in Nigeria. By Marwan Haruna Abdulkarim

Nigeria no doubt is one of the countries that can divest to nuclear energy because of the abundance of Uranium, but the main issue that may jeopardise the project is the implementation of the regulatory and safety issues and the containment of other risks as earlier mentioned. Details

Between Ngige, Obi and Soludo. By Jideofor Adibe

As the dust generated by the recent PDP ward congress in Anambra state and the subsequent emergence of Professor Chukwuma Soludo as the party’s flag bearer for the February 2010 elections settles, it is tempting to speculate on how the campaign will turn out.  Which of the candidates is best positioned to create a new narrative that will harness the current individual achievements of the people into an imagined community to which all the citizens will proudly tap into, and gratefully subordinate themselves to? What qualities and baggage do these candidates bring to the table?  Details

Nigeria's Forgotten Heroes: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Part 1). By Max Siollun

Nigeria's 49th Independence anniversary was last week. What do we remember of October 1st 1960?  Do we remember the man who received the instruments of independence on behalf of Nigeria? Other countries keep libraries full of books and archives about their first leaders.  All Americans know chapter and verse about George Washington.  Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah is an icon.  What of Nigeria's case? Are we accurately recording our history for our children and descendants? The only book on Nigeria's first Prime Minister Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was written by a foreigner. Little is known about Balewa.  In the first of a new series of articles on "Nigeria's forgotten heroes", I chronicle and attempt to release a little more information about Nigeria's first Prime Minister. Details

Rufai and Ribadu Denied Passport Renewals & The Devil's Advocate Argues Both Sides. By Written by Paul I. Adujie

The passport palaver being faced by Rufai and Ribadu are at once fundamental and as well, quite simple. The federal government of Nigeria has no right, but perhaps, only the power, under our constitution, to deny a bona fide citizen of Nigeria freedom of movement and ingress and egress from Nigeria. The possession of a Nigerian passport, as such, facilitates ingress and egress; this however can be denied, under certain circumstances. Details

Towards Economic Development of the North. By Sa’ad A. Jijji

Second, some Northerners are convinced that the government of former President Obasanjo and the Banking consolidation program under the former CBN governor somehow accounts for the poverty in North. This is a rather simplistic argument. Poverty in the North predates Obasanjo’s and will outlive Yar’adua’s government. The problem is far more fundamental. Alhaji Falalu Bello in his excellent paper at the Leadership Conference believes the Northern economy ‘’.....as a consequence of various reforms introduced has been totally grounded...’. It may be true that President Obasanjo’s government has benefited more Southern elites than their Northern counterparts but looking at the fortunes of the average Nigerian, you are unlikely to tell the difference. Details

Lamido And Northern Agenda. By Usman Falalu Funtua

Some Nigerians are hypocrites. All these noise about Northern agenda stuff is pure rubbish. That Southerners hold sway in these banks does not give them the liberty to steal depositor’s funds. The audit teams selected by CBN and NDIC to look into the books of these Banks cut across every ethnic group. Education does not equate to common sense, a lot of educated people do not posses the ability to reason. Reasoning and Logic are essential for this sort of debate. Details

Anambra State: Shame of the Nation? By Jideofor Adibe

One, in many ways, Anambra state is the embodiment of the Igbo man’s famed aggressive competitive spirit and extreme republicanism (these attributes reinforce each other). While these facilitate the production of geniuses and great achievers in businesses and the professions, they also unfortunately equally help in creating uniquely endowed felons that operate from the other side of the moral divide. Details

Truth From the Bus Window. By Sylva Nze Ifedigbo

From the window of the bus I see beggars, children leading aged bent over parents by the stick, joggling coins in a worn aluminum plate, the sound steering you, making you look not at the beggar, but the helplessness in his eyes. You stare on, pushing away that silent urge to reach for that worn N10 in your breast pocket. He joggles the coin again, his eye darting around the bus. He moves on to the next window, hoping and wishing. Details

A Revolution Fashola Must Kick-Start In The Education Sector. By Omo’ba Olumide Idowu

Though I am proud to proclaim that I attended the same secondary school with Governor Fashola, I will be honest enough to confess that I will never allow any of my children to attend my old school in its current physical and environmental state. My old school which I will continue to be proud of is now sinking with dilapidated class rooms and devoid of basic facilities such as a library, school playground, standard laboratory and a befitting hall. Perhaps the biggest challenge of the school is that it continues to contend with the affront of desperate land developers who are bent on taking over a part of my history. Details

Nigeria at 49: Between Hope and Despair! By Kabiru Tsakuwa

So contrary to the general perceptions, this so-called independence given to us in 1960 was only a partial self rule. The colonialists still dictate albeit clandestinely, the pace of our nation’s evolution, while plundering and enjoying our natural resources at will. Indeed, we still miserably belong to the queen to do as she so wish with our destiny through the instrumentality of her local puppets. Details

As  2011 Beckons. By Onike Rahaman

There has been a public concern as 2011 is beckoning regarding the political future of the country. Every careful observer of the events in the political scene would subscribe to the idea that there is failure in leadership in Nigeria. This obviously creates uncertainties about the likely outcomes of 2011 elections. The fear increases when one considers imbalances in the nation’s political structure. Details