The United Nations General Assembly today, Thursday, overwhelmingly turned its back on President Donald Trump of the United State of America, over his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The General Assembly, which met today, threw away President Trump’s decision despite U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley’s warning that the move could put funding for their nations and the global body at risk. The non-binding UN resolution was passed today, Thursday, by a vote of 128-9, with 35 nations abstaining. The U.S. vote in opposition was joined by countries, including Guatemala, Nauru and Micronesia. Key abstentions came from Australia, Canada, Argentina and Romania. “The United States will remember this day when it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly,” Haley said at the United Nations podium ahead of the vote. “We will remember it when so many countries come calling on us, as they often do, to pay even more. This vote will be remembered.” By the vote, the U.N had defied President Trump’s earlier threat. More details later.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced details of how it was able to record the highest revenue collection ever, of N1,012,259,006,779.74 with five more working days to the end of 2017. A statement today, Thursday, by the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Joseph Attah said that the performance in revenue collection shows N241,685,276,289.74 over the N770,573,730,490 target for the year and is above the N898,673,857,431.07 collected in 2016. The statement said that despite the economic recession experienced earlier in the year with low volume of imports, occasioned by restriction placed on 41 items from accessing forex, the Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali undertook some strategic measures in terms of restructuring and repositioning the Service for efficient service delivery which resulted in the highest revenue figure. “To achieve this feat, the CGC took the following measures among others:- * Strategic redeployment of Officers and Men. * Overhauling and re-training of the operatives of the Customs Intelligence Unit. * Maximizing the potentials of automation through monitoring, tracking infractions, blocking and recovering lost revenues. * Re-invigoration of anti-smuggling operations, setting up a Compliance Team to serve as the third layer of security. * A regime of prompt reward for hard work and punishment for wrong-doing. * Transparent promotion process strictly based on merit. * Deliberate and sustained sensitization/Stakeholder engagements across the Country, e.t.c. “(hese and other administrative measures of the current Management of the Service continues to motivate the workforce towards selfless pursuit of NCS and indeed the nation’s goals. “Ruthless anti-smuggling operations which resulted in over four thousand (4000) assorted seizures with over N11 billion in value also helped to increase levels of compliance in terms of honest declarations and correct payment of duties by traders to avoid loss of their goods and possible jail term. “These seizures include the spectacular 2,671 pump action riffles, dangerous drugs, rice, vehicles e.t.c.” The statement said that the perfomance would have been more than the one recorded if it were not the paucity of funds, adding however that despite that, the NCS strived to deliver, sometime even at the risk of sustaining serious injuries and or even death. “Sadly, in the process of enforcing the laws, six Officers fell in the line of duty this year. “While 2017 draws to an end with rich harvest of seizures and high revenue collection for the Federal Government, the Service is not unmindful of the activities of unpatriotic elements that are still bent on sabotaging the Fiscal Policies of Government, especially in the areas of rice and vehicles smuggling through the land borders. “Accordingly, the CGC has directed sustained onslaught against smugglers especially at this festive period. He however in the spirit of the season, enjoyed all stakeholders to reflect on the values of patriotism and resolve to avoid all forms of smuggling. “From the performances of the NCS in the out-going year 2017, it is clear that given the right leadership and better support from Nigerians, NCS will continue to play a more pivotal role in the security and economic well-being of the nation.” [myad]
The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Prince Uche Secondus has described as laughable fabrication, the news making the round in the media that he ever said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who recently returned to the party is working as agent for both President Muhammedu Buhari and the ruling APC. Secondus said that he would not have bothered to respond to such fabrication “but because of record and some harmless social media followers who may fall victim of such dangerous distortions, we want to say that Prince Secondus got his mandate riding on his experience in party management. “Such experience includes but not limited to knowing what to say, how to say it and when.” A statement today by the chairman’s media team said that Secondus knows as National Chairman that after December 10, 2017 mandate, he has become the leader of all members of the party, including all its Presidential hopefuls. “He cannot for any reason position himself in favour or disfavor of any of the aspirants and this applies to all levels of the party. “Aware of the enormous challenges before him, of rebuilding, repositioning and regaining power come 2019, the PDP National Chairman is presently preoccupied with huge task ahead of him. Secondu’s media alerted Nigerians that in coming days and months, more of such baseless publications would be seen ostensibly to distract him and create division. “But we would not be distracted. We therefore want to advice members of the public to disregard any of such publications not from our office or from credible media houses.”
Operation Lafiya Dole of the Nigerian Army, yesterday, Wednesday, swarm Tsangarwa village in Gwaram Local government of Jigawa state in search of alleged arm stockpile, even as the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), known as Shiite, described the action of the army as uncall for. The action of the soldiers was said to be as a result of an intelligent information that Shiite group was going to revenge for the Zaria massacre in December 2015. But, the IMN said that such allegation is ridiculous and “is clearly a pretence by soldiers to execute their hidden sinister motives.” The invasion of the army on the village was made known by the Shiite itself, saying that heavily armed Soldiers of Operation Lafiya Dole in three trucks, arrested two members of the Islamic Movement living. “The soldiers initially arrived the town allegedly acting on a tip off and conducted a house to house search on members of the Islamic Movement but found nothing incriminating. “The soldiers claimed they were tipped that members of the Islamic Movement in the town were piling up arms with a view to taking revenge for the Zaria massacre by the military in December 2015. This ridiculous allegation is clearly a pretence by soldiers to execute their hidden agenda. “We have always made it clear, times without number, that Sheikh Zakzaky-led Islamic Movement in Nigeria is a peaceful mass Movement, whose forty-year history is devoid of any resort to violence in the pursuit of its objectives. “Not even after the murderous mission of the military in Zaria, were arms recovered as attested by the report of the Kaduna state Commission of Inquiry. “This is a clear vindication of our position on use of arms, that only the insane would use weapons to propagate ideas rather than positive thinking, reasoning and use of proofs. “We therefore strongly condemn the military action in strong terms, and call on them to unconditionally release them immediately. They have committed no offense. We also insist that there must not be a repeat of such intimidation anywhere again.”[myad]
Chief of Nigerian Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has made it clear that the Nigerian Army is now in the period of stock-taking and self-appraisal. “The Nigerian Army is currently taking stock and undergoing a period of self-appraisal.” General Buratai, who spoke at the passing out parade of Officer Cadets at Nigerian Army School of Infantry, insisted that now is the right time for the men and officers adhere to zero tolerance for indiscipline and unprofessional conduct. “You have all taken your oath of allegiance to be loyal first to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, thereafter to the Nigerian Army and down the line. Any act of disloyalty to the system, disobedience to constituted authority and insubordination will be decisively dealt with and defaulters shown the way out.” The Army Chief asked the new officer to avail themselves with the approved Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service as it applies to their Commission. “The NA is strictly guided by this document in its engagements and re-engagement of its personnel.” Buratai emphasize that as a professional Army, there are established channels of communication with regards to official matters, correspondences and even expression of grievances. “You are to be guided by these channels throughout your career.” He refreshed the memories of the new entrants on the long time involvement of the Army in combat operations against terrorist groups, especially, in the North-East where Op LAFIYA DOLE is ongoing. “At the same time, other personnel have been involved in conducting various anti-banditry operations in various parts of the country especially in the North-Central Region. “The South- South Region has equally been plagued by the activities of Niger Delta militants who are bent on crippling the economy of the nation by engaging in wanton destruction of crude oil and petroleum infrastructures.”
Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to release white paper on the Yayale Ahmed’s panel report on the inter-professional rivalry in the country’s healthcare sector. The health workers, whose leaders visited the President today, Thursday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, emphasised the need to take action on the resolution of inter-professional rivalry in health care in the country. The President of the Association, Professor Ngim E. Ngim, recalled that Yayale’s panel had been convened in 2014 to look into the issues, headed by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed. “But no White Paper has been issued till date.” Professor Ngim Ngim told President Buhari that the association is made up of trainers, researchers, leaders and major stakeholders in health care, who are concerned about the well-being of the sector. He appealed to the President to also ensure better health financing and to reconstitute the Governing Board of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. He expressed the need for government to make it a law establishing a single term of five years for Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of tertiary hospitals. The leader of the Association also called for the establishment of medical universities in each geo-political zone of the country. The association also hoped that the constitution of a Minimum Wage Committee by the Federal Government would help curb brain drain, especially for medical professionals through better remunerated. Responding, President Buhari assured the association that his government would increase investment in the health sector to stem the loss of well trained professionals to other countries. Buhari expressed appreciation on the concern of the association on the state of the health sector in the country. “We will do our best to work on your recommendations, and increase investment in the health sector.” [myad]
The State House Ministerial Servicom Unit has announced the establishment of a Help Desk to assist staff, visitors and contractors on enquiries and information related to payments, correspondence, medical services and other public-service related issues. According to the Deputy Director in the Aso Rock, Attah Esa, in a statement, the Help Desk will be manned by well-trained Staff who will effectively handle enquires from members of the public and staff members. He said that in the interim, the Help Desk will handle enquiries from six service areas of the State House including Payments, File Tracking/Correspondence, Medical Services, ICT related services, Maintenance and Stores. Speaking at the launching of the Help Desk and the revised SERVICOM Charter of the State House, the Permanent Secretary in the State House, Jalal Arabi, said that the Desk will accelerate the implementation of the Executive Order 001 – Ease of Doing Business and improving service delivery in the State House. “The establishment of the Help Desk comes in the wake of the renewed vigour of the administration to promote excellence in government business and services. “The State House is keen to provide appropriate services in a transparent, efficient and timely manner for the benefit of all Nigerians and foreigners alike. “Its successful operation will no doubt help unlock greater opportunities forquality people-centred activities and good governance, which will resonate in all the Departments/Units and make State House stand out as a brand of excellent service delivery,” Attah Esah gave SERVICOM HELP Lines as: Payments – +2349070343044 File Tracking/Correspondence — +2349070343045 Medical Services – +2349070343046 ICT Related Issues — +2349070343047 Maintenance — +2349070343048 Stores — +2349070343049
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the United Nations as a “house of lies,” ahead of a General Assembly vote on a resolution rejecting US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “The State of Israel rejects outright this vote, even before it passes,” he said at a ceremony in southern Israel. “The attitude to Israel of many nations in the world, in all the continents, is changing outside of the UN walls, and will eventually filter into the UN as well — the house of lies,” he said. The UN General Assembly will hold an emergency session later today, Thursday, to vote on a draft resolution that the United States vetoed at the Security Council on Monday after all other 14 council members voted in favour. On the eve of the vote, US President Donald Trump suggested there could be reprisals for countries that support the draft, put forward by Yemen and Turkey on behalf of Arab and Muslim countries. “Jerusalem is our capital, we will continue to build in it and embassies of countries, led by the US, will move to Jerusalem,” Netanyahu said, thanking Trump and US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley for “standing by Israel and the truth. “Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, whether the UN recognises it or not,” Netanyahu said. He added: “it took 70 years until the US officially recognised it and it will take many more years until the UN recognises it too.” President Trump’s December 6 decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the US embassy from Tel Aviv broke with international consensus, triggering protests across the Muslim world and drawing widespread condemnation. Source: AFP
The Director General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph Ntung Ari, is a consummate bureaucrat, savvy media personality of distinction and deeply knowledgeable legal persona. Born on December 21, 1960, the sunrise of Ari in the media began and simultaneously progressed with the acquisition of a Diploma in Broadcast Journalism, Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Post Graduate Diploma in Management. In a bid to broaden his sphere of knowledge in Law, he bagged a first degree and later added a Masters Degree in Law to his academic status. As someone never tired of expanding his potentials and acquiring more academic laurels, he went for yet another Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA), thus horning his business intelligence and sharpening his leadership potentials. He started what he loved, broadcasting, during his early days at the Plateau Broadcasting Corporation as a reporter and presenter. Thereafter, he relocated to Lagos where he worked at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria. As someone looking for bigger challenges and expanding his horizon in the broadcast media, he transferred his services to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) as news editor and broadcaster. After many years of broadcasting, he felt he needed to conquer new grounds. His quest for more challenges made him to berth at the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria (NICON), where he was appointed as the Public Relations Manager, North. This appointment not only exposed him to practical applications of theoretical postulations learned in schools, it also exposed him to the dynamics of public relations for corporate development. He was later appointed to serve as the Director of Press and Public Affairs in Plateau State where he served two administrations. His excellent disposition to work was later to lead to his appointment as the Sole Administrator and later General Manager of the Plateau Publishing Company, (PPC). As someone whose sterling performance in public service had always attracted public commendations, he was redeployed to the Plateau Radio Television Corporation, (PRTVC) as General Manager where he turned around the fortunes of the media outfit. With his working years at the state level over after his appointment as Permanent Secretary in charge of Plateau State Government House Administration, he was appointed a director in the Department of Public Relations, External Affairs and Publicity of the Industrial Training Fund. As the man in charge of Public Relations, Ari brought to bear on the job his experience as a PR expert that saw members of staff re-oriented to provide quality service to Clients of the Fund. Apart from creating a robust engagement with external stakeholders of the agency, the new policy paved the way for increased support and collaboration with critical stakeholders in realising the mandates of the ITF. Apart from heading the Public Relations Department of the Fund, he was also at different times the Director of Administration and Human Resource Department, Corporate Planning Department and the Director Business Training Development Department at the ITF Headquarters. Sir Ari belongs to various professional bodies and associations that include: the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, the Nigerian Institute of Management, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), a Fellow of the Corporate Administration Institute and a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). He was a regular face at various management and professional courses both within and outside the country and boasts of many awards of professional excellence from different bodies and organisations. His appointment as DG of the ITF by President Muhammadu Buhari in September 2016 breathed a fresh air of relief, following what insiders describe as low morale among staff and other untoward events then threatening the Fund. Described as someone with an unprecedented knowledge on the workings of the Fund, his appointment as DG of ITF, no doubt, was hinged on restoring the key vision of the Fund. As a devout Christian, who is a Knight of the Catholic Church of the Order of St. Mulumba (KSM), forgiveness and forward-looking posture is part of Ari’s time-honoured principles. He sees life and career as founded on what he has adopted as his aphorism, “This too shall pass away.” Considering the fact that life and position are passing phases, the need to embark on development when given an opportunity to serve remains the best option for him. Those close to Ari believe that he easily forgives and ever willing to open a fresh page for yet another moment of experience with those who have hurt him. Due to his large heartedness and sincerity of purpose, in less than one year of his appointment as boss of ITF, Ari had rallied staff of Fund and raised their morale towards achieving a renewed vision for the organisation. Since taking over as ITF DG, he has unveiled realisable strategies entitled: ‘ITF Reviewed Vision: Strategies For Mandate Actualisation.’ This renewed vision is anchored on a programme committed to delivering on mass skills acquisition programmes, as well as broadening platforms of opportunities for both the ITF and advancing human development. According to the ITF’s helmsman, the renewed vision of the ITF is hinged on “ensuring that the skills of our people are fully developed and the non-oil sector developed to make Nigerians less dependent on oil. In line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision for improved development of the country, we are pursuing various programmes that will deliver skills to thousands of Nigerians and opening up various centres in the country for many Nigerians to be equipped with technical knowledge in various sectors.” As someone knowledgeable on how far collaboration and internal cohesion can go in attaining corporate goals, the ITF is into partnership with various countries like Singapore and Brazil, among others, to fully develop the skills of Nigerians in various fields of human endeavours. In his words, “No nation can develop when it depends on just a single product. Nigerians are endowed with vast human capacity and potentials. Our vision is to fully develop those potentials and unleash on the national economy for development. Our ability to develop Nigeria lies in our ability to develop ourselves and quip our population with requisite technical skills. The ITF is poised to fully develop the skills of our teeming population as championed by the administration led by President Buhari. We are in total compliance with the government’s vision and I can assure you that, Nigeria is set to experience a new dawn in skill acquisition for real time development.” As he celebrates today three scores, less than three years, Ari sees a silver lining in every cloud, just as he believes that acknowledging our mortality and our resolve to do our best at every given opportunity hold our essence as instrument in the hands of our Creator to improve humanity. As he once told me, “Each morning I come to the office, I am reminded of the transience of life and public office. There was someone before me; and certainly, there will be someone after me. So, I am reminded that the office I occupy today is a public trust. There’s nothing to be proud of when occupying a public office. I have learnt never to be carried away by allure of public office, but to do my best for the system and people.” As he celebrates 57 years today, may that timeless truth of “This too shall pass away” spur him for greater service for the ITF and humanity.
Musa Simon Reef is a media professional and can be reached via: simonreef927@gmail.com[myad]
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has started the search for suitable airlines that would participate in the airlift of Nigerian intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2018 pilgrimage.
The search involved the opening of application forms and screening of air carriers, including cargo airlines with all the stakeholders, including the relevant House of Representatives Committees, the Nigeria Airport Authority, security agencies and others in the search.
At the screening which began today, Wednesday, in Abuja, of the airlines that have applied for the position, the NAHCON Commissioner of Operation who doubles as chairman of the Screening Committee, Alhaji Abdullahi Modibbo Saleh said that the screening is being done with a lot of transparency.
He said that all the relevant stakeholders from across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are participating in the screening to ensure that the best ones are chosen based on merit and experience.
The Acting chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Yusuf Ibrahim Adebayo made it clear that all the airlines that applied would be given opportunity to state why they think they would do better in the airlift of Nigerian intending pilgrims to and from the Holy land in 2018.
“They would be given a level playing ground in the attempt to capture the best for our pilgrims,” Adebayo assured.
The airlines which faced screening today, and which continues tomorrow are Med View Air, Max Air, Azma Air, Top Brass, Sky Prime and Saudi Air, while those on cargo side are Cargo Zeal Technology, Med View International Travel and Cargo as well as Dynasty Airline Management Limited.
It would be recalled that Med View Air, Max Air and Azma Air have taken part in the airlift of the pilgrims in the last six years, while the others had participated in the recent years. [myad]
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[myad]
Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to release white paper on the Yayale Ahmed’s panel report on the inter-professional rivalry in the country’s healthcare sector.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the United Nations as a “house of lies,” ahead of a General Assembly vote on a resolution rejecting US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Ode To Ntung Ari At 57, A Consummate Bureaucrat, By Musa Simon Reef
The Director General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph Ntung Ari, is a consummate bureaucrat, savvy media personality of distinction and deeply knowledgeable legal persona. Born on December 21, 1960, the sunrise of Ari in the media began and simultaneously progressed with the acquisition of a Diploma in Broadcast Journalism, Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Post Graduate Diploma in Management. In a bid to broaden his sphere of knowledge in Law, he bagged a first degree and later added a Masters Degree in Law to his academic status. As someone never tired of expanding his potentials and acquiring more academic laurels, he went for yet another Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA), thus horning his business intelligence and sharpening his leadership potentials.
He started what he loved, broadcasting, during his early days at the Plateau Broadcasting Corporation as a reporter and presenter. Thereafter, he relocated to Lagos where he worked at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria. As someone looking for bigger challenges and expanding his horizon in the broadcast media, he transferred his services to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) as news editor and broadcaster.
After many years of broadcasting, he felt he needed to conquer new grounds. His quest for more challenges made him to berth at the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria (NICON), where he was appointed as the Public Relations Manager, North. This appointment not only exposed him to practical applications of theoretical postulations learned in schools, it also exposed him to the dynamics of public relations for corporate development.
He was later appointed to serve as the Director of Press and Public Affairs in Plateau State where he served two administrations. His excellent disposition to work was later to lead to his appointment as the Sole Administrator and later General Manager of the Plateau Publishing Company, (PPC). As someone whose sterling performance in public service had always attracted public commendations, he was redeployed to the Plateau Radio Television Corporation, (PRTVC) as General Manager where he turned around the fortunes of the media outfit.
With his working years at the state level over after his appointment as Permanent Secretary in charge of Plateau State Government House Administration, he was appointed a director in the Department of Public Relations, External Affairs and Publicity of the Industrial Training Fund. As the man in charge of Public Relations, Ari brought to bear on the job his experience as a PR expert that saw members of staff re-oriented to provide quality service to Clients of the Fund. Apart from creating a robust engagement with external stakeholders of the agency, the new policy paved the way for increased support and collaboration with critical stakeholders in realising the mandates of the ITF. Apart from heading the Public Relations Department of the Fund, he was also at different times the Director of Administration and Human Resource Department, Corporate Planning Department and the Director Business Training Development Department at the ITF Headquarters.
Sir Ari belongs to various professional bodies and associations that include: the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, the Nigerian Institute of Management, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), a Fellow of the Corporate Administration Institute and a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). He was a regular face at various management and professional courses both within and outside the country and boasts of many awards of professional excellence from different bodies and organisations.
His appointment as DG of the ITF by President Muhammadu Buhari in September 2016 breathed a fresh air of relief, following what insiders describe as low morale among staff and other untoward events then threatening the Fund. Described as someone with an unprecedented knowledge on the workings of the Fund, his appointment as DG of ITF, no doubt, was hinged on restoring the key vision of the Fund.
As a devout Christian, who is a Knight of the Catholic Church of the Order of St. Mulumba (KSM), forgiveness and forward-looking posture is part of Ari’s time-honoured principles. He sees life and career as founded on what he has adopted as his aphorism, “This too shall pass away.” Considering the fact that life and position are passing phases, the need to embark on development when given an opportunity to serve remains the best option for him. Those close to Ari believe that he easily forgives and ever willing to open a fresh page for yet another moment of experience with those who have hurt him. Due to his large heartedness and sincerity of purpose, in less than one year of his appointment as boss of ITF, Ari had rallied staff of Fund and raised their morale towards achieving a renewed vision for the organisation.
Since taking over as ITF DG, he has unveiled realisable strategies entitled: ‘ITF Reviewed Vision: Strategies For Mandate Actualisation.’ This renewed vision is anchored on a programme committed to delivering on mass skills acquisition programmes, as well as broadening platforms of opportunities for both the ITF and advancing human development. According to the ITF’s helmsman, the renewed vision of the ITF is hinged on “ensuring that the skills of our people are fully developed and the non-oil sector developed to make Nigerians less dependent on oil. In line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision for improved development of the country, we are pursuing various programmes that will deliver skills to thousands of Nigerians and opening up various centres in the country for many Nigerians to be equipped with technical knowledge in various sectors.”
As someone knowledgeable on how far collaboration and internal cohesion can go in attaining corporate goals, the ITF is into partnership with various countries like Singapore and Brazil, among others, to fully develop the skills of Nigerians in various fields of human endeavours. In his words, “No nation can develop when it depends on just a single product. Nigerians are endowed with vast human capacity and potentials. Our vision is to fully develop those potentials and unleash on the national economy for development. Our ability to develop Nigeria lies in our ability to develop ourselves and quip our population with requisite technical skills. The ITF is poised to fully develop the skills of our teeming population as championed by the administration led by President Buhari. We are in total compliance with the government’s vision and I can assure you that, Nigeria is set to experience a new dawn in skill acquisition for real time development.”
As he celebrates today three scores, less than three years, Ari sees a silver lining in every cloud, just as he believes that acknowledging our mortality and our resolve to do our best at every given opportunity hold our essence as instrument in the hands of our Creator to improve humanity.
As he once told me, “Each morning I come to the office, I am reminded of the transience of life and public office. There was someone before me; and certainly, there will be someone after me. So, I am reminded that the office I occupy today is a public trust. There’s nothing to be proud of when occupying a public office. I have learnt never to be carried away by allure of public office, but to do my best for the system and people.”
As he celebrates 57 years today, may that timeless truth of “This too shall pass away” spur him for greater service for the ITF and humanity.
Musa Simon Reef is a media professional and can be reached via: simonreef927@gmail.com[myad]