A yearly celebration in which both the young and the old take part. It is customary to cook, eat, dance and recite the Holy Qur’an, and after that, ask God for fruitful harvest and a prosperous community for the coming year. Majority of the people are farmers who are proud of what they do. However, this year’s celebration turned into one that they won’t forget in a hurry.
Browsing: Opinion
It is with great honour and privilege that I stand before you today as we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). On this significant occasion, I wish to stress that, I am deeply committed to upholding the principles enshrined in UNCAC and to fostering a corruption-free society.
The ₦521.6 billion 2024 Enugu Budget, which was recently presented to the State House of Assembly for approval by the Governor, Barr. Peter Mbah, is indeed a commendable initiative that deserves recognition and appreciation from the people of Enugu. This budget not only reflects the government’s genuine commitment to fulfill the promises made during the Governor’s campaign, aptly titled “Tomorrow is Here,” but also signifies a resolute determination to rapidly develop and advance the state’s economy.
When the Nigerian Navy signed a contract with the Nakura International Ltd, for the supply of 12 units of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, otherwise called UAVs, little did they know that the man behind the company, Alhaji Ahmed Nakura, has a very high passion for excellence and a niche for the pre-eminence of the Nigerian Navy in modern ways of reconnaissance as well as navigation. And indeed yesterday, 8th December 2023, history was made by the Nigerian Navy, as it commissioned the UAVs at the Ojo Naval base Lagos, to the applause of many serving and retired naval officers.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t write on the subject matter, because it is legal, and comes with a lot of technicalities. But such technicalities are regular visitors in the career of my calling-journalism. Blunder, error and lapse are old hat in the newsroom, as such, nothing to get excited about, because they are words provided by the dictionary to stand for mistake. And sometimes, they come under the auspices of honest mistakes.
December, the twelfth month of the year, has arrived once again. It can be a challenging time for many, burdened with worries about Christmas celebrations, financial struggles, and uncertainties about the future. However, amidst these difficulties, it is important to take a moment to reflect and be thankful for overcoming the hurdles and pains that we faced from January to November. Not everyone who exchanged happy New Year greetings made it to this twelfth month, so let gratitude fill our hearts. Though things may feel uncertain and challenging, let us find solace in the fact that we are still standing, with so much to be grateful for.
A lizard that falls to ground from the top of a tall Iroko tree and still alive said to itself that if nobody hails it, it will hail itself. Saying this in Yoruba would have been so sweet. That’s how deep meanings of communication are lost in translation. That’s by the way. This illustration with the lizard can be applied to men. In spite of the huge contributions and sacrifices of men to the society, they are less appreciated or celebrated. If no one will blow our trumpet as men, why can’t we blow it by ourselves?
Makerere, regarded the Ivory tower, the highest seat of academic knowledge and one of Uganda/East Africa’s oldest universities, lies in an area of Kampala City that greatly challenges the very existence of this university. First, did you know that the name ‘Makerere’ is derived from the Kiswahili word: makelele meaning noise or ululations. The Kiswahili speakers among early British Colonial administrators who governed Buganda, reportedly would say: “kwamulima huko kuna makelele mingi saana ya wanganga…” I’ve paraphrased the statement that was reportedly made during the late 19th century or thereabout. It literally meant: “how come on that hill, there’s a lot of noise from those witchdoctors…” Apparently, the comment was in regard to noises that used to be made in the shrines by local witchdoctors (Abasamizze) who had built, lived and worked there!
In recent years, the rise of online news portals and social media platforms has revolutionized the way news is disseminated. While this has undoubtedly brought numerous benefits, it has also given rise to a concerning trend of false news and misinformation. One such example is the recent false report of the death of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in Nigeria, General Christopher Musa. Reporting false news of such magnitude is not only unethical and unprofessional but also constitutes junk journalism, posing a serious threat to national security.
The North of Nigeria, once admired for its systems and quality of leadership, is now plagued by a leadership crisis. The current leaders and elites in the region, ill-prepared and ill-equipped to lead, driven solely by their ambitions for power and wealth, have failed to address the pressing issues facing the region, resulting in widespread insecurity, poverty, and economic stagnation.