...As The Companion national conference focuses on nation building
– Take charge of public assets, NAHCON chairs tells Nigerians
– We need to be change agents; Tutor-General
The Vice Chancellor, Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State, Prof. Mahfouz A. Adedimeji has advocated for independent judiciary, vibrant press and competent private sector, as well as committed civil society to make Nigeria work for all.
Prof. Adedimeji made the call on Saturday while delivering a public lecture titled: “Building a Nigeria that works for all: Prospects and Challenges” as part of the activities marking the just concluded Elective National Conference of The Companion, an association of Muslim men in business and the professions.
The event, held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos, witnessed the re-emergence of Engr. Kamil Olalekan as the Amir of the association.
Some of the personalities at the public lecture included the representative of SSG, Ekiti State, Dr. Habibat Omolara Adubiaro; UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folashade Tolulope Ogunsola; and President, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) and Deputy President General (South) Nigeria Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, who chaired the occasion.
Others were Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON, Ustadh Dhikrullahi Hassan; Senator representing Ogun Central, Shuaib Afolabi Salis; The Companion former National Amirs, Bar. Musibau Oyefeso and Alhaji Thabit ‘Wale Sonaike, the organization’s District Amir and other leaders.
Prof. Adedimeji called for the provision of security and conflict management systems. He pointed out that inefficiency has threatened the country’s security architecture, calling on authorities to heal the present wounds before pains degenerate into violence.
Speaking on improving healthcare delivery, Adedimeji cited that not less than 5,600 Nigerian medical doctors migrated to the United Kingdom alone within a period of eight years, linking the brain drain to poor conditions of service that characterise medical practice in Nigeria which results in people dying needlessly.
Prof. Adedimeji called for quality education, confirming that this will make Nigerians raise generations of those who will learn to live together in peace and harmony with the capacity to fight the war on ignorance and poverty.
Read Prof Mahfouz’ full paper HERE
In his welcome address, the re-elected National Amir of The Companion, Engr. Kamil Olalekan’ said the theme was aimed at “creating a workable road map for the new administration at all levels of government to steer the ship of the country towards making Nigeria a nation that works for all citizens.
This, the Amir stated is against the background that since independence, successive political actors in government appear to disconnect themselves from the vast majority of the citizens.
Given the abundance and variety of natural resources Nigeria is blessed with, as well as being ranked the largest economy in Africa, ranking 24 in the globe, the Amir said it is expected that the country should have become an undisputed economic giant, competing moderately with developed economies like Brazil, Malaysia, Singapore and India.
Despite the identified advantages, the country, he said, regrettably remains “largely poor and unsafe with visibly frustrated, dissatisfied and disgruntled citizenry”.
He expressed serious concern and lamented about the raging massive exit, otherwise described as “japa” of young Nigerians and professionals in different fields from Nigeria to different western and other countries across the world.
The relocation rate of Nigerians was calculated to have jumped from 32 to 73 per cent in 2021. This worrisome trend, the Amir indicated is linked to bad leadership.
Take charge of public assets, NAHCON chairs tells Nigerians
In his remarks, the NAHCON Chairman called on Nigerians to take full responsibility of public utility assets. He said, “As citizens, first, we must recognise that we own the society together with the leadership. Those in leadership today were not there in the past, so, the followers today can also rise to the position of leadership” the NAHCON boss stressed.
Ustadh Hassan said further that if this is the situation, “we must together preserve the present situation”, charging all Nigerians to serve as security against negative actions, admonishing that “we must be our brother’s keeper in the current situation.
If vandalisation of public infrastructures is taking place, the NAHCON Chief Executive counseled, “we must not look the other way; These are things we should do in order to ensure that we have a better society”.
Responding to question on youths as future leaders and their roles in nation building, Ustadh Hassan noted that the young ones are in the vast majority; have the votes, as well as equipped with the idea of how the modern world works.
For the youths to prepare themselves very well for the tasks ahead, the NAHCON Chairman said they must be trained and re-trained; focused; ready to live an enduring life and not engrossed with the ‘quick-fix’ mentality, adding that they must realize that to reach a greater height, they must first persevere.
We need to be change agents – Tutor-General
Tutor–General/Permanent Secretary (TGPS) of District VI in Lagos State Civil Service, Dr. Shareefah Yusuf, also speaking at the event, said Nigeria wouldn’t be where it is today if its huge natural and human resources had been well managed.
According to her, From the lecture, we have been able to know that Nigeria is richly blessed with both human and natural resources and all these blessings are very huge but it depends on how we can manage them. We should consistently remember that verse of the Qur’an where Allah says He shall never change the condition of a people until they are willing to change their own condition.
“So, the question is, what are we doing as individuals in our various homes, within our various families, in our various localities and our various places of work? Are we ready to be part of the change agents or we are always looking forward to saying, ‘The president is not doing well, the governor is not doing well, the leaders are not doing well?’
“We are the leaders in our own ranks, as individuals in our own homes, so, what are we bringing to the table? What are you contributing as an individual to the greatness of that Nigeria which we look forward to. We pray that Allah will guide us, prosper us, bless our nation and make Nigeria great again,” she added.