Ministers are round pegs in round holes, says President

President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled his cabinet yesterday. He heads the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as minister. Thirty-six other ministers took the oath of office.

The portfolio of the others are Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers)—Transportation, Chris Ngige (Anambra)—Labour and Employment, Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti)—Solid Minerals, Babatunde Fashola (Lagos)—Power, Works and Housing and Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano)—Interior.

Others are: Aisha Alhassan (Taraba)—Women Affairs, Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi)—Science and Technology, Kemi Adeosun (Ogun)—Finance, Abubakar Malami (Kebbi)—Justice, Hadi Sirika (Katsina)—Minister of State for Aviation, Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa)—Water Resources, Solomon Dalong (Plateau)—Youths and Sports, Ibe Kachikwu (Delta)—State for Petroleum.

Also sworn in are Osagie Ehanire (Edo)—Minister of State for Health, Audu Ogbeh (Benue)—Agriculture, Udo Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom)—Budget and National Planning, Lai Mohammed (Kwara)—Information, Amina Mohammed (Gombe)—Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril (Nasarawa)—State, Environment

Others are: Anthony Onwuka (Imo), State for Education, Muhammadu Bello (Adamawa)—FCT, Adamu Adamu (Bauchi)—Education, Okechukwu Enelamah (Abia)—Industry Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto) State for Trade, Industry and Investment, Khadija Bukar Abba (Yobe), State for Foreign Affairs

Other portfolios include Claudius Daramola (Ondo)—State, Niger Delta, Geoffrey Onyeama (Enugu)—Foreign Affairs, Monsur Dan-Ali (Zamfara)—Defence, James Ocholi (Kogi), State for Labour, Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna), State for Budget, Mustapha Shehuri (Borno)—State for Power, Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa)—State for Agric, Isaac Adewole Folorunsho (Osun)—Health, Usani Usani Uguru (Cross River)— Niger Delta, Abubakar Bwari Bawa (Niger)—State for Solid Minerals, Adebayo Shittu (Oyo)—Communications and Muhammadu Buhari—Petroleum.

The inauguration of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) came over five months after President Buhari took office.

Buhari urged the cabinet members to bring the desired change to Nigerians.

He said: “The ministries have been rationalised and reduced to 24. Our new ministers must proceed to work speedily and do their utmost to justify the confidence we have placed in them, not only by their conduct but also by their performance in their various positions.”

Despite the various challenges facing the nation, including terrorism, kidnapping and failing oil prices, he maintained that his administration had made progress in the past five months.

Stressing that he was running an “inclusive” government, Buhari said the government’s business is now conducted transparently.

According to him, the Treasury Single Account (TSA)introduced by the government is now making more money available for government business.

Of the ministers, he said round pegs are now put in round holes.

Said the President: “Since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, the Vice President and I have been mindful of the need to constitute a cabinet that will best deliver our expectations of a better country than we inherited.

“We want to work towards a prosperous nation respected for the right reasons, and whose citizens can hold up their heads anywhere in the world.  And we are optimistic that bringing this set of ministers into the service of our country today is a step in the right direction, a timely move towards realising our positive goals for our country.

“Since we assumed office in May, I have been mindful of the need to ensure that the appointment of new ministers translates into putting round pegs in round holes while showing sensitivity to our diversity as a people and our various positions as groups of stakeholders in our country.”

He went on: “I have also been conscious of the need not to repeat such mistakes of the past where the right people were allocated the wrong portfolios, which translated into their performing poorly to our collective detriment despite their obvious capabilities.

“Also, I have responded to the counsel to consult as widely as possible, given the need to build a stable and all-inclusive government by reaching across our various ethnic and political divides.

“With the inauguration of ministers, our government shall continue more decisively to implement its policies in respect of the economy and in other areas.  While working hard to maximise revenue from oil in the face of a sharp decline in the price for the commodity, we are determined to diversify the economy in agriculture to enhance employment and explore solid minerals as a major revenue earner.

He said that the primary aim is to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of such staples as rice and wheat and to become a major consumer and exporter of both items as well as solid minerals.

According to him, his administration intends to pursue policies that will generate massive employment for millions of Nigerian youths.

On security and corruption, Buhari said: “We shall also continue with greater determination and focus to pursue our goal of ensuring improved security for our country and its citizens, and without letting up on our fight against corruption.

“Our commitment to defeat Boko Haram and all the threats it constitutes remains as strong as ever.  So is our resolve to root out vices such as kidnapping and neutralise the various forms of criminalities that threaten the social peace of Nigerians.

“While recognising the challenges we face and the need to surmount them, let us not fail to note the progress we have made in the short life of this government, as an indication of how much better we can do as a people driven by patriotism and a common resolve to do things right.

“On the moral sphere, trust is slowly but steadily being re-established between the government and the people. Now, when the government speaks, the people listen; and when the people’s expectations are not met, they appreciate that it is not for lack of commitment or trying on the part of government. In effect, government business is now being conducted with transparency and cynicism is waning as a result.”

On the TSA, Buhari said: “The Treasury Single Account has resulted in the blocking of financial leakages in the public sector, making more funds available for the business of governance and ensuring the welfare of our citizens.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria has also assisted more than 30 states of the federation with concessionary loans to offset salary arrears for their workers.  On the monetary side, the CBN has also implemented country-specific and innovative policies that have helped to stabilise the exchange rate and conserve our reserves.

“Over all, our economy is poised for sustained job creation, poverty reduction and inclusive growth.  Regardless of the present challenges we are confronting, I believe all Nigerians will keep hope alive and sustain their optimism about the future of our economic well being.”

At the ceremony were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Mahmoud Mohammed.

Also at the ceremony were the National Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and APC National Leader Chief Bisi Akande.

The inaugural Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting was held in the Council Chamber shortly after the ceremony.

Checkout Nigeria New Ministers And Various Ministries Where They Will Work

 The president, Mahammadu Buhari read out their various ministries after they have taken their oaths today Find full list below...
QuoteAbubakar Malami- Minister of Justice
Geoffrey Onyeama- Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mohammed Dan Ali- Minister f Defence
Adamu Adamu- Minister of Education
Anthony Anwuka- State minister of Education
Kemi Adeosun- Minister of Finance
Okechukwu Enelemah- Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment
Aisha Abubakar- State minister Industry, Trade and Investment
Chris Ngige- Minister of Labor and Employment
James Ocholi- State Minister of Labor and Employment
Mohammed Bello- FCT Minister
Abdulrahman Dambazzau- Interior Minister
Udoma Udo Udoma- Minister of Budget and National Planning
Zainab Ahmed- State Minister Budget and National Planning
Emmanuel Ibe Kachiukwu- State Minister Petroleum resources
Babatubde Fashola- Minister of Power, Works and Housing
Mustapha Shehuri- State minister Power, Works, and Housing
Audu Ogbeh- Minister of Agriculture and Rural development
Heineken Lokpobiri- State minister Agriculture and Rural Development
Chibuike Amaechi- Minister of Transportation
Hadi Sirika- State Minister Aviation
Isaac Folorunsho Adeoye- Minister of Health
Osagie Ehanire- State Minister Health
Aisha Alhassan- Minister of Women Affairs
Usani Uguru- Minister Niger Delta Affairs
Claudius Omoyele Daramola - State minister Niger Delta Affairs
Adebayo sh*ttu- Minister of Communication
Lai Mohammed- Minister of Information
Amina Mohammed - Minister of Environment
Ibrahim Jibrin- State Minister of Environment
Suleiman Adamu- Minister of Water Resources
Solomon Dalong- Minister of Youths and Sports
Kayode Fayemi- Minister of Solid Mineral
Abubakar Bwari- State Minister Solid Minerals
Ogbonnaya Onu- Minister of Science and Technology 

Genevieve Nnaji screens new movie, Road to Yesterday

          Genevieve Nnaji

IT was a gathering of movie pundits on Tuesday as star actress, Genevieve Nnaji, played host to the media for a screening of her very first movie, Road to Yesterday at the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, Lekki,

Addressing the gathering, director of the movie, Ishaya Bako, said that making a movie of such magnitude was a pretty interesting experience. “I would say I am blessed with a very fantastic cast and crew and people that were very dedicated to creating a story like this. It is not really an everyday story which was really risky but at the end of the day, we tried to stay true to the story,” he said.

A movie about intrigues and the intricacies of a stormy marriage, Road to Yesterday explores several storytelling techniques that snowball into one all-revealing road trip. Produced in partnership with Africa Magic, the movie tells the story of a couple in a shaky marriage. To make things work, they have to visit the past to unearth secrets which further weakens their shaky foundation.

Regional Director, Mnet Africa Magic, Wangi Mba-Uzokwu, described the movie as one great production. “At Africa Magic, this is part of what we do. We invest in talent; we invest back in the industry. One of our focus is building an industry, obviously starting from Nollywood in Nigeria and then going out to the rest of Africa. We are really proud to be a part of this exciting project. We saw it as it was developing and decided to partner in a co-production capacity and it is something that we will keep doing,” she stated.

Co-producer of the film, Chinny Onwugbenu, stated that one of the missions of Road to Yesterday is to tell the Nigerian story our own way. “That was why we did this. We are proud of Road to Yesterday. I think it is a way to tell the African story now because we do experience love, heartbreaks and difficulties in marriages. We made sure to invest in Nollywood. We are going to be on Netflix, we are going to be on a couple of global platforms,” Chinny said.

https://youtu.be/lHdLRrUocOA

Brain composition and function and why we need good brain nutrition

More than ever before in history, the human brain needs to function well and has many more functions to do than before.  On the other hand, what we eat, drink, breathe, or consume in various ways in the twenty first century is very different from what our ancestors consumed. With an average person living in an industrialized country consuming an estimated 4 kilograms of food additives per year (http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/mental-health-a-z/d/diet/), how does feeding affect brain function?  There are clearly recognized brain degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and brain cancer.  There are also functional disorders such as schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, confusion, loss of memory, mania, the violent brain, the sluggard brain, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, sexuality disorders, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, etc.  Ultimately, brain disorders define personalities or result in personality changes and social disorders. How much of brain degeneration or dysfunction is due to the kind of food consumed?  How can we eat to keep the brain functioning well?  Surely, the internal physical and chemical conditions within the brain matter. The structure and functions of the brain are well summed up by Daniel Chiras in Human Biology, Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

The brain controls the internal biological rhythms of each person.  The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is thought to be the master clock, the automatic timer of many body functions. The pineal gland in the brain secretes a hormone that controls the SCN. Modern life and the environmental factors that it brings to us can affect our natural brain regulatory functions. Our bodies, including the brain, are ever tending towards a balance, a process called homeostasis. The more well-fed and fit we are, the better our balancing.

Life is full of cycles.  Some are general, e.g. the sleep-wake cycle; some are sex-related, e.g. the menstrual cycle in women.  Life itself is a cycle from the dependent infancy, the transformed adolescence, the mature adulthood, to the waning geriatric.  The brain naturally plays a great part in all these changes.

The brain maintains ordinary vital functions such as breathing and the functioning of the heart.  The breathing  center in the medulla of the brain is the principal controller of breathing.There are many centers in the brain that control various aspects of life. The nerve fibers in the brain operate through conduction of electrical and chemical signals.

The largest mass of the brain, the cerebrum, forms 80% of the brain.  The cerebral hemispheres are involved with signal integration, sensory reception, and motor action. The cerebrum controls voluntary movements in the body, receives sensory information from the body, forms associations of  signals, produces complex intellectual activities such as planning and ideation, and stores memories of past sensations. Specific cortical areas function in hearing, vision, taste, and smell.  The cerebrum principally deals with functions that are under our consciousness.

The other parts of the brain: the cerebellum, hypothalamus, and brain stem regulate functions that are not primarily under consciousness, such as the heartbeat, breathing, and various hormonal, neuronal, and organic homeostatic functions. The cerebellum controls the synergy of the body’s muscles and helps to maintain posture.  When damaged, the victim can suffer from such conditions as spasticity, or jerkiness. The hypothalamus controls many autonomic functions such as appetite, body temperature, water balance, blood pressure, and sexual activity.  It controls the pituitary gland which produces many hormones that regulate various body functions. Working with the hypothalamus, is the limbic system which is the site of instinctive behavior and emotion.  Instincts preserve life: a woman’s protective urge over her children, a man’s territorial assertion, and the fight-or-flight response to danger are all fundamental. Emotions such as fear, anger, hatred, love, pleasure, anxiety, happiness, etc., are regular responses in life.  The brain stem with its reticular activating system (RAS) controls many body functions in conjunction with the hypothalamus and also regulates swallowing, coughing, vomiting and digestive functions.  The brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord. The RAS projects into the cortex and controls information to the cortex.

The brain is cushioned by meninges containing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the protective skull. Infections and toxins can affect the meninges and CSF, causing meningitis.

The brain continually functions in learning and short-term and long-term memory, in the consolidation of short term memory into long term memory, and in the recall or remembering of information.   The brain is also important for processing pain and avoidance of danger.  The brain’s electrical activity is measured by the electroencephalogram which depicts various waves and these are seen to vary during sleep and wakefulness.

Naturally, the brain is complex and important and every human being is dependent on its well-being and good functioning for living his or her best life.  Unnatural realities of modern life also require our brains to be fit.  There is a lot of evil in the world and we are constantly bombarded by it and our brains need to remain normal through good nutrition and mental fitness in thinking and prayer.  You never know when you would meet the effects of climate change and artificial atmospheric radiation or the “fallen man”: a cheating cashier,  a devil-like stalker,  a manic predator, a poisoning rival, a wicked saboteur,  a stupid vandal,  a  malicious oppressor, a hate-filled fanatic, an evil eye, a bad mouth, destructive envy, careless greed, a corrupt official, a disloyal member, a scheming banker, an atrocious fraudster,  a freakish  religionist, a dangerous zombie, an unchecked ideologist, a pathologic liar, a perfect player, a reckless capitalist, a heartless opportunist, etc.  No, I am not compiling an encyclopedia of evil.  In fact, each of us may wear one or more of these caps every now and then or even continually.  The beast in the world is real and we may all play predator and we may all play prey.  Many people end up with some form of mental illness actively or passively.  Presently, nearly 1 in 5 Americanssuffers from mental illness each year (http://www.newsweek.com/nearly-1-5-americans-suffer-mental-illness-each-year-230608).  What about the developing world lacking good statistics.  The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2001 that about 450 million people worldwide suffer from some form of mental disorder or brain condition, and that one in four people meet criteria at some point in their life (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevalence_of_mental_disorders). The best prophylaxis the world needs is for each of us totryto be our best selves and to be mentally fit for restraint or response rather than to allow evil to reign inside or outside of us.  We will examine nutrition for the brain as a factor of mental fitness.

Dr. ‘Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA.   For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635

Swaziland, Nigeria World Cup Qualifier: Oliseh arrives Sunday with five pros

• As Eagles depart Swaziland 7am next Thursday

Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh is expected to arrive Nigeria from Belgium on Sunday (November 8) where he has been recuperating from a viral infection. The Eagles coach will fly in with five of the  foreign-based players invited for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against the Sihlangu Semnikati Swaziland on November 13, an official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said.

The official who refused to disclose the names of the players hinted that the six home-based players invited by the coach will also hit the team’s Abuja camp on the same day.

“Let us forget who the players are for now and focus on the match,” said the official.

Oliseh will take charge of the team’s training after a two-week compulsory rest in Belgium as advised by his doctors.

Meanwhile, Eagles will travel next Thursday aboard a chartered Arik aircraft to Swaziland for the encounter that will be played at 7pm at the Somhlolo Stadium.

The team will fly straight from the FCT capital at 7am. 24 players were invited for the double header by Oliseh.

How ICT impacted MDGs in 15 years

Recently, the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda was held in New York with a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly. The  summit was also meant for governments to make their final assessment of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which global leaders agreed upon in the year 2000. It is evident that in the past 15 years, the ICT revolution has not only impacted on the MDGs but driven global development in an unprecedented way.

The Wired World: A graphic representation of the Internet

According to ITU study on ICTs,  the report indicated that ICTs will play an even more significant role in the post 2015 development agenda and in achieving future sustainable development goals as the world moves faster and faster towards a digital society. Experts say technological progress, infrastructure deployment, and falling prices have brought unexpected growth in ICT access and connectivity to billions of people around the world.

For instance, statistics have shown that in 2015 alone, there are more than 7 billion mobile cellular subscriptions worldwide, up from less than 1 billion in 2000. Out of this number, 3.2 billion people globally are said to be using the internet of which 2 billion are from developing countries.

Internet  penetration

Globally, the ITU study showed that 3.2 billion people are using the internet and expected to do so by end 2015, out of which 2 billion are from developing countries. For every internet user in the developed world, the report said there were about two in the developing world. However, about 4 billion people from developing countries are said to have remained offline, representing 2/3 of the population residing in developing countries.

Of the 940 million people living in the least developed countries (LDCs), only 89 million use the Internet, corresponding to a 9.5 per cent penetration rate. Specific achievements in the last 15 years of ICT growth

Mobile cellular subscriptions

The report postulated that by end 2015, there will be more than 7 billion mobile cellular subscriptions, corresponding to a penetration rate of 97 per cent, up from 738 million in 2000, an indication that global internet penetration grew 7 fold from 6.5 per cent to 43 per cent between 2000 and 2015.

Mobile broadband

In a similar trend, mobile broadband is said to be the most dynamic market segment; globally, reaching 47 per cent penetration in 2015, a value that increased 12 times since 2007.

 Household with Internet

The proportion of households with internet access at home recorded another substantial growth which increased from 18 per cent in 2005 to 46 per cent in 2015.

Fixed broadband

On the contrary, the fixed-broadband uptake is said to be growing at a slower pace, with a 7 per cent annual increase over the past three years and is expected to reach 11 per cent penetration by end 2015.  The report also revealed that the proportion of the population covered by a 2G mobile-cellular network equally grew within the same period from 58 per in 2001 to 95 per cent in 2015.

3G mobile broadband

The 3G mobile broadband coverage, according to the ITU survey is extending rapidly and into the rural areas. 1n 2011 alone, 3G recorded 45 per cent population coverage out of world population of 7 billion. In 2015, its population coverage hit 69 per cent out of world population of 7.4 billion and rural population coverage hit 29 per cent out of world rural population of 3.4 billion people. This is also as its urban population coverage hit 89 per cent out of world population of 4 billion.

The Digital Divide in 2015

By end 2015, 34 per cent of households in developing countries are expected to have internet access, compared with more than 80 per cent in developed countries. In least developed countries (LDCs), only 7 per cent of households is estimated to have internet access, compared with the world average of 46 per cent. While, internet penetration in developing countries stands at 35 per cent; LDCs lag behind with only 10 per cent.

In Africa, one in every 5 people is said to be using the internet in 2015, compared to almost 2 in 5 people in Asia and Pacific, and 3 in 5 people in the CIS. However, it was further revealed that mobile-broadband penetration levels are highest in Europe and the Americas, at around 78 active subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Africa is the only region where mobile broadband penetration is found to have remained below 20 per cent, with fixed-broadband penetration standing at less than 1 per cent in LDCs. Africa and the Arab States stand out as the regions with the fewest fixed-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, at less than 1 and less than 4, respectively.

Broadband now affordable in 111 countries

The study recorded that in 2014, the price of fixed or mobile broadband plan corresponds to less than 5 per cent of average growth (GNI) per capital in 111 countries, thus meeting the Broadband Commission target. The global average price of a basic fixed-broadband plan (52$) is 1.7 times higher than the average price of a comparable mobile-broadband plan of (30$).

In developing countries, average monthly fixed-broadband prices (in $) are 3 times higher than in developed countries; mobile-broadband prices are twice as expensive as in developed countries.

Fixed broadband subscriptions

According to the survey, fixed-broadband uptake remained slow in developing countries and particularly in LDCs, where penetration rates stood at 7 per cent and less than 1 per cent, respectively. While the prices of fixed-broadband plans dropped sharply between 2008 and 2011, especially in developing countries, they have been stagnating since then and even increased slightly in LDC.

FIFA accepts 7 presidential candidates, David Nakhid excluded

FIFA has accepted seven presidential candidates to stand to replace incumbent Joseph Blatter at an extraordinary congress in 2016, excluding former player David Nakhid, the world football governing body said on Wednesday.

An online statement did not give specific reasons for not accepting the bid of Nakhid, a former Trinidad and Tobago international, saying only that FIFA’s member associations have proposed, in due time and form, seven candidates.

Gianni Infantino, the general secretary of the sport’s European organization UEFA, Bahraini royal family member Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa and Liberian football association head, Musa Bility confirmed their bids on deadline day.

Also standing are UEFA president Michel Platini, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, South African businessman and apartheid-era political prisoner Tokyo Sexwale and ex-FIFA official Jerome Champagne.

Platini was the favourite before being suspended by FIFA’s ethics committee for 90 days along with Blatter, awaiting an investigation into a 2 million Swiss franc (2.06 million dollars) payment by FIFA to the former France player in 2011.

Due to his ban, Platini would not yet have his candidacy processed by the committee in charge of the election. “Should such a ban be lifted or expire before the FIFA presidential election, the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee would decide.

“Also, depending on the respective exact point in time, on how to proceed with the candidature concerned,’’ the statement said. However, the other six were to be assessed by the committee and would undergo integrity checks carried out by the investigatory chamber of the FIFA ethics committee. The election will take place at an extraordinary FIFA congress in Zurich on Feb. 26, 2016.