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THE HYPOCRISY OF ‘ENYE NDI EBE A!’

Published

5 years ago

October 5, 2020

By Wordshot Amaechi Ugwele

During the 2019 general election in Enugu State, a radio jingle was done by the campaign team of the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, representing Enugu West Senatorial District. Its appeal was easily traceable to the simple, sing-along, call and response choral style, that went thus: “e nye ndi ebe a, e nye ndi ebe a, e nye ndi eba, e nye ndi ebe a.” This is roughly interpreted, “you give to these people, you give to those people.”

The message most emphatically summed up the theme of equity he gave the impression was central to his campaign and thus political philosophy. This assumption had connected the song with his supporters and indeed everyone else who understood and loved the peace the fairness of giving to everyone had continued to usher in the State.

But, today, as we inch towards 2023, and as the pressure of events keeps forcing the lids off the fake and pretentious posturings of some political actors, we can now see how the Senator, who had sung and danced to his own song, extolling fair and equitable distribution of political opportunities and patronage, is increasingly showing lack of principles and genuine commitment to such beliefs, through his body language that is speaking eloquently towards its very subversion.

We can now certainly say “e nye ndi ebe a” had only mattered then, when it was self-beneficial when others had given him, as everything is currently suggesting he is obviously most uncharitably and ill-disposed to others getting as he did. And it is very important to properly contextualize this, in reminding us most of the major politicians in Enugu State today, including the Senator, were part and parcel of zoning, and had immensely benefited from it.

In fact, one can safely submit that all those people occupying major positions today in the state easily attained such by leveraging on the peace begetting principles of zoning, when the opportunity had met with their good luck that located the right within their domains.

Hence, we have had no agitations from no one, no quarters, nor this kind of subtle but potentially disruptive posturing and rhetoric’s, being deployed as forerunners to their intended subversion of the will of the people of Enugu State.

Even when we do have desperados in most political environments, those who are now feverishly working to see the always calm political stream in the state turn to raging torrents that must also flow uphill to quell their desperate thirst for power need be reminded no amount of blackmail or partisan shenanigans will ever lead to the abrogation of the ‘turn by turn’ principle that makes the sharing of political positions peaceful in the state. They had their turn. Those who have not had would have theirs.

We have not forgotten how the whole of Enugu then had waited for Enugu East to have their time with Governor Chimaroke Nnamani. Then it shifted to Enugu West with Governor Sullivan Chime who later handed over to the incumbent, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from Enugu North. And while this went on at the state level, the substructures also observed theirs within the enclaves of their constituencies.

Now having gone round, that is by the time the tenure of Governor Ugwuanyi would be rounding off, it is trite to say the next round would commence in 2023, with Enugu East Senatorial Zone. As such we expect our maturity and culture of civilized conduct of politics in Enugu, as zoning helped to enthrone and as has been well consolidated by Governor Ugwuanyi who is the father of all in the state, should restrain and rein in those who are now allowing selfishness, ego fuelled ambition and other primordial tendencies, to let Enugu State be in peace.

There is no narrative, no matter how contrived, that can persuade the various illogic the Ekweremadu camp is dishing out. It is not the turn of his Enugu West. We must not disrupt a long-standing good process because he thinks by the time it would have reached their turn, time would have rendered him out of contention.

And it is indeed most unfortunate that after Senator Ekweremadu has seen and become everything zoning can give him for twenty years and counting, he is now hiding in the open to push for the removal of the ladder through which he had raised that is meant to equitably serve others.

But, for him to want to thwart a system he had been a huge beneficiary, and take the chance of others it is now their turn, simply mean he was paying mere lip service when he had stood at various campaign podiums in 2019 to sing his “e nye ndi ebe a, e nye ndi ebe a.” Perhaps that is why he monopolized that Senate position, as it could shift from his Aninri to neither Awgu, Oji River, Ezeagu nor Udi local government areas that make up the zone, in the last sixteen years.

So, what actually was he giving to “these people and those people” in Enugu West? Crumbs that must come from only his table? Well, this mentality of “only me is good enough”, to go and get and “share” is what zoning has been preventing. That is why people don’t support those with perpetuity syndrome as Senator Ekweremadu is manifestly afflicted, as they sit tight at the expense of others whose places should also have had their own turns. Besides, when you look at the peace and political stability zoning has brought to Enugu, as has been earlier noted, you will agree those who invented it as a political culture deserve the Nobel peace prize. Enugu had been devoid of strife, and rancorous party politics since democracy stabilized here post 1999. We cannot now afford it otherwise.

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Featured

NELFUND: The Renewed Hope Engine Propelling Nigeria’s Youth into Tomorrow

Published

3 days ago

November 28, 2025

The Gleamer

By Dayo Israel, National Youth Leader, APC

As the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress, I have spent most of my tenure fighting for a Nigeria where every young person, regardless of their ward or local government, family income, or circumstance, can chase dreams without the chains of financial despair.

Today, that fight feels like victory, thanks to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Launched as a cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, this initiative isn’t just a policy tweak; it’s a revolution. And under the steady, visionary hand of Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr, NELFUND has transformed from a bold promise into a roaring engine of opportunity, disbursing over ₦116 billion to more than 396,000 students and shattering barriers for over a million applicants.

Let’s be clear: NELFUND was always destined to be a game-changer. Signed into law by President Tinubu on April 3, 2024, it repealed the outdated 2023 Student Loan Act, replacing it with a modern, inclusive framework that covers tuition, upkeep allowances, and even vocational training—ensuring no Nigerian youth is left on the sidelines of progress.

But what elevates it from groundbreaking to generational? Leadership. Enter Akintunde Sawyerr, the diplomat-turned-executioner whose career reads like a blueprint for results-driven governance. From co-founding the Agricultural Fresh Produce Growers and Exporters Association of Nigeria (AFGEAN) in 2012—backed by icons like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Akinwumi Adesina—to steering global logistics at DHL across 21 countries, Sawyerr brings a rare alchemy: strategic foresight fused with unyielding accountability.

As NELFUND’s pioneer MD, he’s turned a fledgling fund into a finely tuned machine, processing over 1 million applications since May 2024 and disbursing ₦116 billion—₦61.33 billion in institutional fees and ₦46.35 billion in upkeep—to students in 231 tertiary institutions nationwide. That’s not bureaucracy; that’s brilliance.

Sawyerr’s touch is everywhere in NELFUND’s ascent. Since the portal’s launch, he’s overseen a digital ecosystem that’s as transparent as it is efficient—seamless verification, BVN-linked tracking, and real-time dashboards that have quashed misinformation and built trust. In just 18 months, the fund has empowered 396,252 students with interest-free loans, many first-generation learners who might otherwise have dropped out.

Sensitization drives in places like Ekiti and Ogun have spiked applications — 12,000 in a single day in one instance, while expansions to vocational centers in Enugu pilot the next wave of skills-based funding. And amid challenges like data mismatches and fee hikes, Sawyerr’s team has iterated relentlessly: aligning disbursements with academic calendars, resuming backlogged upkeep payments for over 3,600 students, and even probing institutional compliance to safeguard every kobo. This isn’t management; it’s mastery—a man who doesn’t just lead but launches futures.

Yet, none of this happens in a vacuum. President Tinubu’s alliance with trailblazers like Sawyerr is the secret sauce securing Nigeria’s tomorrow. The President’s Renewed Hope Agenda isn’t rhetoric; it’s resources—₦100 billion seed capital channeled into a system that prioritizes equity over elitism. Together, they’ve forged a partnership where vision meets velocity: Tinubu’s bold repeal of barriers meets Sawyerr’s boots-on-the-ground execution, turning abstract policy into tangible triumphs. It’s a synergy that’s non-discriminatory by design—Christians, Muslims, every tribe and tongue united in access—fostering national cohesion through classrooms, not courtrooms.

As Sawyerr himself notes, this is “visionary leadership” in action, where the President’s political will ignites reforms that ripple across generations.

Why does this matter to us, Nigeria’s youth? Because NELFUND isn’t handing out handouts—it’s handing out horizons. In a country where 53% of us grapple with unemployment, these loans aren’t just funds; they’re fuel for innovation, entrepreneurship, and endurance.

Picture it: A first-generation polytechnic student in Maiduguri, once sidelined by fees, now graduates debt-free (repayments start two years post-NYSC, employer-deducted for ease) and launches a tech startup. Or a vocational trainee in Enugu, equipped with skills funding, revolutionizing local agriculture. This is quality education that endures—not fleeting certificates, but lifelong launchpads. Sawyerr’s focus on human-centered design ensures loans cover not just books, but bread—upkeep stipends of ₦20,000 monthly keeping hunger at bay so minds can soar. Under his watch, NELFUND has debunked doubts, refuted fraud claims, and delivered results that scream sustainability: Over ₦99.5 billion to 510,000 students by September, with 228 institutions on board.

As youth leaders, we see NELFUND for what it is: A covenant with our future. President Tinubu and MD Sawyerr aren’t just allies; they’re architects of an educated, empowered Nigeria—one where poverty’s grip loosens with every approved application, and innovation blooms from every funded desk. This isn’t charity; it’s an investment in the 70 million of us who will lead tomorrow.

We’ve crossed one million applications not because of luck, but leadership—a duo that’s turning “access denied” into “future unlocked.”

To President Tinubu: Thank you for daring to dream big and backing it with action.

To Akintunde Sawyerr: You’re the executor we needed, proving that one steady hand can steady a nation.

And to every Nigerian youth: Apply. Graduate. Conquer.

Because with NELFUND, your generation isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving, enduring, and eternal.

The Renewed Hope isn’t a slogan; it’s our story, now written in scholarships and success. Let’s keep turning the page.

Dayo Israel is the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

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