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Comrade Philip Shaibu: ‘Son Of A Nobody’ But Somebody

Published

1 year ago

August 25, 2023

As little as David he could end the reign of Goliath, whom everyone avoided. Goliath was a colossus who reigned and felt like he owned the world. He felt no one, not even little David, could dare him.

Those who tried him met their Waterloo. Goliath became a temporary lord until David’s arrival and courageous desire to eliminate him.

David’s account is enough for anyone to learn that no one is God. It goes a long way to teach us that God has powers and that it is only muscles that humans should brag about.

Comrade Philip Shaibu is a perfect example of David, whose strength lies above. He believes that power comes from God and that He alone gives it. He counts on Him at all times, day and night. Shaibu should be supported on the grounds of competence, not whether he comes from a selected Senatorial District.

Comrade Philip Shaibu is a Nigerian politician born on December 1, 1969, in Kaduna to Pastor Francis Shaibu and Lucy Momoh. He hails from Jattu Uzairue in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State. Shaibu is an alumnus of the University of Jos, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree (Honours) in Accounting in 2000. He was the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) between 2000 and 2001. Shaibu also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Benin, which he obtained in 2015.

Shaibu began his political career as a member of the Edo State House of Assembly, where he represented Etsako West Constituency under the Action Congress (AC) platform in 2007. While he was at the Edo State House of Assembly, he was elected as the majority leader on February 24, 2010, after Rt. Hon. Zakawanu Garuba was impeached as the Edo state House of Assembly Speaker.

Shaibu was a member of the National Assembly, representing the Etsako federal constituency from June 2015 to March 2016. He was elected as the Deputy Governor of Edo State in 2016 and has been serving in that capacity since then.

Shaibu is known for his goodwill, refined character, and ideas, and he has the ideas to pilot a state like Edo that needs a grassroots servant-leader approach. He believes that power comes from God and that He alone gives it, and he counts on Him at all times, day and night.

Shaibu is a perfect example of David, whose strength lies above, and he should be supported on the grounds of competence and not whether or not he comes from a selected Senatorial District.

In addition to his political career, Shaibu has been involved in youth activism and empowerment, gender equality, and positive change. He is one man who believes in 100 percent loyalty. Shaibu has fulfilled his divine purpose, and he has remained unwaveringly loyal to Governor Obaseki and the principles of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to which they both belong.

Comrade Philip Shaibu is a competent and experienced politician who has the potential to lead Edo State to greater heights. He is endowed with experience as a lawmaker before becoming a Deputy Governor. Shaibu’s positive public facts include his involvement in youth activism and empowerment, gender equality, and positive change. He is also known for his goodwill, refined character, and ideas, and he has the experience to pilot a state like Edo that needs a grassroots servant-leader approach.

Assin Godstime writes in from Benin-City
2022 UPU Awardee.
08165006012.

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Featured

RMRDC: Making Giant Strides Under Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso

Published

12 hours ago

September 19, 2024

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

As we embark on a journey, we always pray for an able, experienced, and courageous driver, pilot, or sailor depending on the means of transportation.

This is because the captain will have enough experience and boldness to navigate out of turbulence and to bring all the passengers and crew to the intended destination.

Interestingly, these fine qualities of ability, experience, boldness, and many more, abound in the man, Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso, who we all are pleased was appointed the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC, the Director General/CEO by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a few months ago. This is because he has brought his knowledge, ability, experience, and doggedness to bear in carrying out his assignment in charge of the Council.

The RMRDC, operating under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, is pivotal in driving Nigeria’s industrial growth by optimizing local raw materials exploitation, development, and utilization. RMRDC, ab initio, was conceived as a child of necessity when Nigeria was reeling from the throes of global recession and plummeting crude oil prices.

Without an iota of doubt, today, the council is experiencing a transformation with massive innovation in raw material exploitation, development, and utilization, supporting business and industrial growth, and contributing to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, in Abuja to commemorate his 100 days in office, he said the council is laying a solid foundation through numerous innovations that will further enhance growth in the country.

According to him, “In the past 100 days, my strategic pursuits have been to lay solid foundations for enduring success in these goals.

“Upon assuming this position, I set five crucial deliverables which include, refocusing the Council as a premier research institution; Strengthening the Council’s productivity and operational efficiency; and Significantly improving the staff welfare to be the best in the class of similar organizations.

“Others include, Boosting the Council’s visibility and instituting remarkable culture change that encourages ownership and productivity as well as Strengthening and deepening the Council’s place in the international arena.”While speaking on his Achievements so far, the DG revealed further: “My first task, therefore, was to implement a strategic goal-setting for the Council’s staff to define and set out clear objectives and targets to be achieved by the Council within a specified period towards refocusing on this historical mandate. We unleashed five significant initiatives in that regard.

“The nationwide raw material data collection exercise that focused on technical and investment information to drive our mission forward.

“The restructuring and renaming of the former Technology Innovation Complex (TIC), at the Obasanjo Space Center at Airport Road, Abuja, to a Research and Demonstration Plants Complex (RDPC). This complex will be Africa’s first center of excellence in raw material research, featuring state-of-the-art laboratories, technology development workshops, and proof of concept demonstrations.

“We have reactivated the Council’s Journal and repositioned it internationally. The repositioned Journal of Raw Material Research (JORMAR) will host RMRDC’s researchers’ publications, which are crucial in promoting awareness, facilitating knowledge sharing, and informing stakeholders about the opportunities and challenges in Nigeria’s raw materials sector. “The collaboration with universities and academies will strengthen our capacity for conducting market-guided research, ensuring sustained workforce training while deepening our orientation in science.

“The council has reformulated a new template for all our research proposals to ensure and sustain a clear departure from the old culture of blue-sky and deliberately endless research.”Speaking further, Prof Nwanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso stated that Staff welfare remains a top priority as an issue of unpaid salaries is settled as well as set up a comprehensive welfare program. “Similarly, we established the RMRDC Training School to sustainably build our staff and stakeholders’ capacity to further the staff welfare improvement goal.

“We are committed to openness, inclusiveness, and performance management and have initiated steps to continuously improve staff ownership, orchestrate transformative culture change, boost our corporate visibility, and enhance.

“To further strengthen our visibility and communication strategies, we are upgrading our media infrastructure, which includes the launch of the RMRDC online media platform, The RMRDC TV Online.

“Additionally, we are working hard to effectively enhance the intellectual property and patent portfolio of RMRDC from its current 40 to approximately 200 new patents within the next 24 months. This proactive approach secures valuable IP assets and positions the Council as a leader in innovation within the raw materials sector, contributing to Nigeria’s overall economic growth.“As well as launching an e-registration and certification portal to enhance transparency in the raw materials sector,” DG revealed.

He however reaffirmed his commitment to reshape the future of research, technology, and innovation, driving Nigeria towards an industrially vibrant and technologically resilient economy.

“As I mark 100 days in office, I boldly say that the Council is on the verge of rewriting its history.

“I believe that in no distant future, RMRDC will play a leading role in enhancing raw materials’ development to boost raw materials’ industrial trial processing and attain sustainable industrial growth in Nigeria.

The DG, however, applauded the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, for his unwavering support and mentorship, saying the Minister’s leadership has been instrumental in the progress made so far.

In his opening remarks, the Directorate of Corporate Affairs, Mr Chucks Ngaha commended the hard-working DG who has weathered the storm further to put the Council on the ladder of more prosperity.

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