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Group condemn insensitive killings in South East Nigeria, proffers solution

Published

2 years ago

April 8, 2022

A Group known as ‘Igbonnie’ have condemned what it reffered to as the ‘insensitive killings’ in South East Nigeria and also proffered solutions aimed at putting an end to the menace in the region.

Prof. Marcel Ezenwoye, KSJI Director, Diaspora, Igbonnie told newsmen in a press conference in Abuja on Thursday that the group was a cultural and socio-economic non-governmental organization, focused on Igbo welfare and ‘Onye ahana nwanye’ , adding that the benefits of identifying with the group cannot be overemphasized.

He said that the group was determined to stop what he termed as the ‘second class citizenship’ of the Igbo race and the wastage of the lives of its sons and daughters anywhere in the world wherever Igbos reside, especially the evil practice of the faceless ‘unknown gunmen’ parading the nook and crannies of Igbo land.

“The current trend of killing and kidnapping people using tinted SUVs, especially in Anambra State must be condemned and stopped by perpetrators of such evil acts.

“A trend which was seen during the campaign that midwife the election of Prof. Soludo whose aides and ordealy were unfortunately killed in the process, as well as Prof. Akunyili who was gruesomely murdered on his way back from an award ceremony in Onitsha.

“Since then, the East, particularly around Old Aguata axis where the current Governor of Anambra State hails from – Ekwulobia, Isuofia, Uga, Oko, Nanka down to Npkor, Obosi and so on have known no peace,” he said.

Ezenwoye also recalled its congratulatory message sent to Prof. Soludo, the incumbent Governor of Anambra State, adding that the good works which the governor has already embarked on was highly commendable.

He enjoined the good people of the state to ignore some critics whose goal he said was to distract and divert their attention from the good works which the governor has began to do in the state.

“The clean-up of the Onitsha-Ochanga-Nkpor-Iweka axis as well as the ‘No more Agboro in Anambra State’ campaign embarked upon by the Gov. Soludo to ensure that every tout and their neferious activities were eradicated from the state is highly commendable.

“These touts are jobless youths who collect illegal taxes and are usually used by bad politicians to intimidate their perceived political opponents.

“Taxes collected goes into the pockets of their sponsors and social vices such as vandalism, stealing,
gun runs, kidnapping are all associated with this group (Agboros),” he said.

He also commended the governor for his efforts at restoring peace to the state, abolishing the sit-at-home order by IPOB and fishing out criminal elements and their sponsors, as well as making frantic efforts at ensuring the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

The Don also hailed Gov. Soludo over the appointment of a 15-man committee to address the insecurity, IPOB agitations, with membership of the committee cutting across the five South East states of Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.

Ezenwoye pledged to help the stakeholders in Igbo land and in diaspora to mobilize the Igbo sons and daughters to join the government of Anambra State to wipe out thuggery, vandalism and sense killings in the state and by extension in the rest of Igbo land maintaining that these killings were alien to the Igbo culture.

“Putting bullets in the head of innocent victims are all foreign cultures, barbaric and very myopic.

“We are therefore calling for a new ‘Igboness’ in terms of character, orientation, behavioral and attitudinal change.

“Igbonnie is ready to provide an enabling platform for the training and re-training of all ‘agboros’ as well as repentant commercial sex workers.

“We seek partnership with all universities, especially those situated in the East to help us provide training environment for these groups.

“For starters, Tansian University, Umunya, Paul University, Akwa and Anambra Polytechnic, Mgbakwu shall be used for the pilot scheme on entrepreneurship since their skill acquisition research and development centres are fully equipped with human resources and facilities.

“Igbonnie has come to bring peace, starting from Anambra State.

“You can visit our website www.igbonine.org.ng, powered by www.ciepuk.org.uk to see more of our programmes and register online,” he said.

The Director also used the opportunity to call on Igbo sons and daughters both at home and in the diaspora to register en masses and be counted ahead of the forthcoming 2023 Presidential elections. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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

Published

2 days 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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