UJU ONYEMELUKWE
January 15 heralds a new dawn for every Nigeria that is eighteen years and above to go and register for the eighth general elections in the country. Previous ones were held in 1964, 1979, 1983,1993,1999,2003 and 2007. As the registrations exercise commence it is time for every Nigerian to go and get the power to choose their leaders as the corner stone of democracy is voter registration. It is therefore paramount for Nigerians to understand, be
reminded, educated and to appreciate the importance voter registration play in a democratic process. Voter registration is the right for all eligible citizens to participate in the
affairs of their government. It is the power to chase corruption away and decide who will pilot the affairs of the nation in the next four years. It is the first step for a good electioneering, to choose a leader and the identity card to
appoint a leader. For citizens it is the most fundamental form of participation for voting in a free and fair election. It prevents mischievous electoral officials and politicians from manipulating figures and above all prevents rigging. This
perhaps may be why the former Arch Bishop of Province of the Niger Anglican Communion the most Reverend Maxwell Anikenwa said in a radio Nigeria programme Eagle Square that election rigging starts during registration. Preventing this and frustration ballot snatchers can only be done through voter registration.Voters list makes it possible to separate two of the most important functions of the election authority; verifying voter eligibility and controlling the legitimacy of the balloting process. the list may also be used in voter education and may be provided to political parties and candidates to aid them in
their campaigns and during election petitions. By confirming that voters have met all eligible requirements, the voters list help confer legitimacy on the electoral process. Conversely, the legitimacy of the process will immediately be called into question if there are problems with voter registration, and particularly with the integrity of the voters list. Voter registration is therefore one of the most important tasks of election administration.
This is why everyone who truly loves this country and desire the best for it should come out from 15th January and dedicate their time in the next fourteen
days to register. Last minutes rush which was part of the characteristic of previous registration must be avoided.
People should not wait for the last day to bombard the independent national election commission, INEC, officials to be registered and when they are not
attended to, trade blame on INEC, the government or anybody for not meeting the expectations of the people. The media are now awashed with different forms of
publicity calling on people to come out and register. Religious bodies, organizations and politicians calls on people to register are also a welcome
development. But they should continue until every eligible voter heed to this call.
INEC on the part should know that all eyes are on the them to make this exercise successful. Nigerians are not willing to accept excuses. It is expected that all
materials for the registration is adequate and place on ground during the days of the registration.
The staff should be dedicated to duty and be available and assessable at the different registration centers and at the right time. Bearing in mind that time is of the essence, registrations hours, 9 hours a day, should be kept and
truancy avoided to be able to attend to the expected teeming population that will registered.
For those posted in the rural areas, they should be dedicated to duty without neglecting the areas because they are devoid of modern facilities and may not be
suitable for them.It is also expected that during the fourteen days of registration, INEC must prevent fraudulent and multiple registration so that at the end the voter
registration will help in preventing individual voters from enrolling more than once under multiple identities. More so ensuring the integrity of the “one man one vote” concept and implication of democratic principles. This is why it is time for people to come out and ensure good electoral process than to sit and analyze election process and results, apportion blames when the outcome of the exercise appears not to meet up to the acceptable standards. The suspension of resumption day in both public and private primary and secondary schools indicates how serious government want the exercise to be successful. Therefore every eligible Nigerian should see this voter registration as part of their civic responsibility. Non chalant attitudes towards it will have a damaging effect on the nation. We should bear in mind that once a comprehensive voter registration is established Nigeria can be said to be on the verge of a good democratic process
and a successful election this year.
Source: recorded live from FRCN daily commentary
Sunday, March 6, 2011
SPOTLIGHT IS ON THE NLG NIGERIA PRICE FOR SCIENCE
BY
IFEANYI MBANEFO
The Nigeria prize for science by the Nigeria LNG Limited was instituted eight years ago. In that time many illustrious scientists have been privileged to win the prize. It is the turn of another scientist in that mould to be adorned with that prestigious prize. The scientist is Professor Akaehomen Ibhadode, winner of Africa’s most prestigious prize for science. The prize awarded last October by The Nigerian Academy of Science is worth 50, 000 United States Dollars. In awarding the prize to Prof Ibhadode, the judges said: “In an industrializing economy like Nigeria’, the products of the precision die process are particularly important in the development of small and medium scale enterprises on which the economy depends for its accelerated growth.
Professor Ibhadode has applied the methods not only for the steel industry, but also for the development of aluminum products” Instituting prize the LNG Limited laid out an overarching principle that the prizes for science and literature must be awarded for no the reason than excellence. Excellence is one of the core values promoted by Nigeria LNG Limited. The company believes that excellence must be strived for, promoted and celebrated wherever it is found and that Nigeria will make a lot more progress if everyone strives for excellence. And as if to lead the way, the company has a bag full of laurels. It is today Africa’s biggest industrial project. It is winner of numerous prizes for safety, having recorded over 50 million man hours without a lost time injury. It is the first Nigerian company to complete its environmental impact assessment before embarking on construction. It has helped to reduce gas flares and has stabilized the domestic cooking gas market. On the whole the NLNG is a very profitable, well-managed business, which has paid over 12 billion United States Dollars as dividend to shareholders. It is because of its success that has decided to give back to the society. And in doing that, it chose to promote excellence by drawing attention to the close connection between striving for excellence and human progress. This is why it has instituted two awards to promote excellence in writing and in science. Although the day belong to Professor Ibhadode, we must all spare a thought and a minute silence for another great Nigerian, Mr. Esiaba Irobi, who would have shared the podium with Ibhadode. Esiaba died shortly after submitting his winning book, The Cemetery Road. Although this is his first major national prize, Ibhadode did not entirely emerge from the blue. A visiting professor to the University of Johannesburg, South Africa with over 80 scholarly publications and seven books to his credit, Ibhadode’s earlier awards are generally regarded as excellent dress rehearsals for Africa’s most prestigious science prize – The Nigeria Prize for Science.
The earlier awards include an outstanding contribution award from the National Universities Commission for building two hand-made, three-horse power petrol engines in 2001. His research paper, arising from his PhD work won the Edwin Walker Prize for 1988, the prestigious and internationally recognized prize by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the United Kingdom. Ibhadode, a professor of Production Engineering at the University of Benin, obtained his Bachelors of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Lagos in the First Class Division in 1981, Masters in Engineering in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Benin in 1984, and his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, in 1987, specializing in Die Design. Comrade Adams Oshiomole, the Executive Governor of Edo State is the Special Guest of Honour at today’s event which will be a gathering of the who is who in the academia.
Many Secondary schools in Lagos have also indicated that they would be sending students to listen to this authentic hero and role model who has brought honour and fame to Nigeria, Edo State, University of Benin and not to forget the Ibhadode clan of Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State.
Source: recorded live from FRCN daily commentary
IFEANYI MBANEFO
The Nigeria prize for science by the Nigeria LNG Limited was instituted eight years ago. In that time many illustrious scientists have been privileged to win the prize. It is the turn of another scientist in that mould to be adorned with that prestigious prize. The scientist is Professor Akaehomen Ibhadode, winner of Africa’s most prestigious prize for science. The prize awarded last October by The Nigerian Academy of Science is worth 50, 000 United States Dollars. In awarding the prize to Prof Ibhadode, the judges said: “In an industrializing economy like Nigeria’, the products of the precision die process are particularly important in the development of small and medium scale enterprises on which the economy depends for its accelerated growth.
Professor Ibhadode has applied the methods not only for the steel industry, but also for the development of aluminum products” Instituting prize the LNG Limited laid out an overarching principle that the prizes for science and literature must be awarded for no the reason than excellence. Excellence is one of the core values promoted by Nigeria LNG Limited. The company believes that excellence must be strived for, promoted and celebrated wherever it is found and that Nigeria will make a lot more progress if everyone strives for excellence. And as if to lead the way, the company has a bag full of laurels. It is today Africa’s biggest industrial project. It is winner of numerous prizes for safety, having recorded over 50 million man hours without a lost time injury. It is the first Nigerian company to complete its environmental impact assessment before embarking on construction. It has helped to reduce gas flares and has stabilized the domestic cooking gas market. On the whole the NLNG is a very profitable, well-managed business, which has paid over 12 billion United States Dollars as dividend to shareholders. It is because of its success that has decided to give back to the society. And in doing that, it chose to promote excellence by drawing attention to the close connection between striving for excellence and human progress. This is why it has instituted two awards to promote excellence in writing and in science. Although the day belong to Professor Ibhadode, we must all spare a thought and a minute silence for another great Nigerian, Mr. Esiaba Irobi, who would have shared the podium with Ibhadode. Esiaba died shortly after submitting his winning book, The Cemetery Road. Although this is his first major national prize, Ibhadode did not entirely emerge from the blue. A visiting professor to the University of Johannesburg, South Africa with over 80 scholarly publications and seven books to his credit, Ibhadode’s earlier awards are generally regarded as excellent dress rehearsals for Africa’s most prestigious science prize – The Nigeria Prize for Science.
The earlier awards include an outstanding contribution award from the National Universities Commission for building two hand-made, three-horse power petrol engines in 2001. His research paper, arising from his PhD work won the Edwin Walker Prize for 1988, the prestigious and internationally recognized prize by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the United Kingdom. Ibhadode, a professor of Production Engineering at the University of Benin, obtained his Bachelors of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Lagos in the First Class Division in 1981, Masters in Engineering in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Benin in 1984, and his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, in 1987, specializing in Die Design. Comrade Adams Oshiomole, the Executive Governor of Edo State is the Special Guest of Honour at today’s event which will be a gathering of the who is who in the academia.
Many Secondary schools in Lagos have also indicated that they would be sending students to listen to this authentic hero and role model who has brought honour and fame to Nigeria, Edo State, University of Benin and not to forget the Ibhadode clan of Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State.
Source: recorded live from FRCN daily commentary
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)