Nigeria Content Online

Nigeria has generated about £175,000 (N44 million) as
satellite monitoring royalties from the Nigeria Sat-1in the orbit,
through the supply of imagery capturing and analysing of imagery to
other countries.

Seidu Mohammed, director general of Space Research
and Development Agency (NASRDA), disclosed this yesterday in Abuja
during the 2010 ministerial press briefing of the ministry of science
and technology.

“Our international collaborators worldwide have sent
us a cheque of 175,000 pounds for sales imageries from Nigeria Sat-1,”
he said.

Mr. Mohammed also hinted that Nigeria, being a member
of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC), a global association of
satellite owners, has begun to reap the proceeds of its satellite in
the orbit.

The said revenue generated has been remitted to the federal government treasuries, according to him.

Another N600 million, which would have been spent on
land use mapping, has also been saved as SAT-1 has been used to
successfully complete the land use mapping project of the country.

The director general stated that when a similar
project was carried out in 1996, the sum of N600 million was spent and
foreign consultants were hired, “but with Nigeria Sat-1, we have
completed the mapping at no cost. Experts from our agency and the
universities were used and this has saved us N500 million,” Mr.
Mohammed said.

Mohammed Abubakar, minister of science and
technology, while corroborating the claim of the NARSDA boss, said that
space programme is no longer an exclusive venture reserved for certain
nations, but has now become an open playing field with opportunities
for all nations of the world to explore and to exploit, stressing that
“space industry in the world constitutes one of the major economic
sectors contributing substantially to income and employment.”

Moving up to Sat 2

The minister said the huge gains and advantages from
space exploration, including its spin-off benefits, have so deeply
integrated space technology into everyday life that modern society
cannot function efficiently without it.

Today, the products and services of space technology
are employed in virtually every facet of our day-to-day living such as
weather monitoring, telecommunications, environmental and water
resources management, search and rescue disaster management, national
security, medicine, etc.

Mr. Abubakar noted that the development, building,
and launch of the Nigeria’ second earth observation satellite
(NIGERIASAT-2), Niger-Sat 2, to be launched in the first quarter of
2011, will bring about the revolution of high resolution data in
Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

He stated that when Nigeria Sat-2 becomes functional,
it will also provide valuable data for the realisation of the
Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the Seven Point Agenda, and the
Vision 2020 in the key sector of the nation’s economy.

On the level of work on the new satellite, he said
“the development and construction of high resolution earth observation
satellite Nigeria Sat-2 has reached an advanced stage.”

The components are presently being transported to the launching site in Yansy, Russia.

The students of
tertiary institutions in Nasarawa State have been put in suspense as
the ongoing strike by the lecturers enter the third week with neither
the state government nor the lecturers reaching an agreement .

Lecturers at
College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and
Nasarawa Polytechnic, Lafia have been on strike, on and off, since
April 1 to press for implementation of the federal government approved
salary scales CONPCASS, CONHESS and CONTEDISS.

The last strike,
which started three weeks ago, is going on simultaneously with
inter-faith prayers and fasting by the lecturers who are praying to God
to intervene in their plight in order to stop the decay in the
education sector in the state. They called off the last strike on
October 28 after a written appeal by three traditional rulers serving
as chairmen of the councils of the three schools .

However the state
government refused to fulfil its promises , hence another strike
started.A joint staff union of the three institutions , held an
inter-faith session yesterday, spearheaded by Mr. Kpanja, head of the
unions and the Akwanga chairman, Michael Anzaku.

“We are seeking
God’s intervention in the poor condition of service, and the decay in
the education sector,” Mr Anzaku said. The inter-faith session was led
by Gudi Kreni for the Christians, and Suleiman Abdulsalam for the
Muslims.

Head of Service in Nasarawa State, Usman Dubagari said government
was not aware of the lecturers’ strike. He also stated that the
lecturers did not inform government of their resolution.

Disagreement over
leadership has engulfed the Igbo community in Adamawa State, putting
Godwin Omenaka, the Onyendu Ndi Igbo of Adamawa, against Samuel O.
Ebis, Eze Ndi Igbo II of Adamawa, in a battle of supremacy.

Briefing
journalists on the stand-off within the Igbo socio-cultural group, the
President General of the Igbo Cultural Association, Ofor Eze Nwachukwu,
said on the matter of the Eze Ndigbo tussle in Adamawa, the association
recognised Godwin Omenaka as the Onyendu Ndi Igbo of Adamawa State.

The group premised
its decision on a recent court ruling that neither the plaintiff, G. N.
Obutech, nor the defendant, S. O. Ebis, has validly been appointed or
installed as the Nze Ndi Igbo II of the state.

The court
consequently ordered the post of Eze Ndi Igbo vacant and “requested the
conduct of a fresh fair, free, and credible election to fill the vacant
post.” Mr. Ebis, who was aggrieved with the judgement, appealed to the
Court of Appeal, Jos.

“The main issue in
the crisis that engulfed the entire Igbo community in Adamawa State in
respect of the chieftaincy is the way and manner Mr Ebis procured the
late Dan Amar Jimeta (District Head of Jimeta) to turban him as the Eze
Ndi Igbo II of Adamawa State, after his attempt to get the blessing of
the Igbo council of elders under the Igbo Cultural Association (ICA) of
Adamawa State failed,” Mr. Nwachukwu said.

While the
chieftaincy tussle dragged on, one of its principal actors, Igwe G.N.
Obuteh died, and the ICA of the state invited nominations for screening
and election of a new chief for the community. Mr. Ebis allegedly
refused to participate in the process.

Recognised by all

The association
said it was forced to carry out the exercise and, “in accordance with
Igbo customs, as enshrined in the ICA constitution of Adamawa State,
Igwe Godwin Omenaka, emerged as the duly elected Onyendu Ndi Igbo of
Adamawa State.” Mr. Ebis, however, debunked claims that he is acting
against constituted authority. He said it was Mr. Nwachukwu who is
rather seeking to stir confusion among the Igbos by the introduction of
new dimension to the title of Eze Ndi Igbo II of Adamawa State after
the death of Mr Obuteh. He said this was contrary to the position of
the Adamawa Emirate Council and Ohaneze Ndigbo.

The Federal High Court in Jos on Thursday sentenced each of the 15
persons who participated in the violent crisis in Jos on March 8 to 15
years in prison.

The convicts, all from Kadunung in Mangu Local
Government Area, were found guilty on three counts of conspiracy,
possession of fire arms and acts of terrorism.

The convicts were
arrested with dangerous weapons on March 8. Delivering judgment,
Justice A. L. Allagoa, said the prosecution counsel, Charles Maduenyi,
proved beyond reasonable doubt that the suspects were guilty of the offences.

“Considering
the evidence before this honourable court, the accused are guilty as
charged. Jos crisis has left several people maimed and killed and
several others wounded while property worth millions of naira were
destroyed. It has caused Nigeria a lot of embarrassment before the
international community.

“These perpetrators of the crisis,
which the hands of the law have now caught up with, are guilty of the
crime levelled against them,” Mr. Allagoa said.

He sentenced each of the people to two years on the first charge, one year on the second and 10 years each for the third count charge. The sentences are to run concurrently.

The prosecution counsel, Mr. Maduenyi, said after the judgment that he was satisfied with the decision.

“I
believe this judgment will serve as a deterrent to those who think that
Jos is an environment of lawlessness. Our criminal laws and justice
will catch up with anyone who thinks he can disrupt the peace of the
state at will.

“I also hope that this judgment will help to
restore peace on the Plateau,” Mr. Maduenyi said. Ahmed Gabba, the
defence counsel, said “we feel that sentencing the accused to 10 years
imprisonment in a situation that could be life imprisonment was okay.

“We
are not thinking of appeal now but we will study the judgment and see
whether there is a possibility. But as of now, we are satisfied.” He
said.

Nigeria’s ambition
to rank amongst the top 20 economies of the world come year 2020,
depends heavily on the ability of the country to harness the huge
potentials of Information Technology in all sectors of the economy. The
Minister of Education, Ruquyyatu Ahmed Rufa’i said this yesterday Abuja.

Mrs Rufa’i, who
spoke at a meeting on review of curricular for all levels of education
in the country, said Information Technology has been the key driver of
sustainable national developments globally. “The realisation of the
national vision, the vision of being one of the top 20 economies come
year 2020 leans heavily on the ability of the country to harness the
huge potentials of IT in all sectors of the Economy,” she said.

The minister
revealed that the Ministry of Education recognises the critical role of
IT and has made it a priority as evidenced in the recently released
road map for the education sector.

The minister
pointed out the achievement recorded so far in the area to include
capacity building for teachers and education administrators through
internationally recognised certificates as the basic minimum
certificate for literacy; the development of the National International
Educational Framework (NITEF) for the structuring and the regulation of
IT education in the country; the establishment of Innovation Enterprise
Institutions (IEIs) to address skill gaps in such areas, as well as
articulation of the policy that makes computer education compulsory for
all levels of education in Nigeria.

She urged various members of the committee mandated to design and
review IT curricular to collaborate with other agencies of government,
as well as ensuring that the curricular addresses the technical
realities of the country even as they harmonise with global paradigms.

The National
Chairman, Freedom Party of Nigeria (FPN) Frank Ohwofa, said in Abuja
that the party would adopt option A4 during its primaries.

Option A4 entails voters queuing to be counted physically while the result is announced after counting at the venue.

Mr Ohwofa, who made
this known on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) said the party had the principle of transparency and fairness
while ensuring that the processes of selection were credible.

“Our process is
option A4, and that will engender a transparent process that will
produce candidates through credible means.” He said.

Mr Ohwofa said that
Freedom Party was the only party with the agenda to emancipate the
youth from poverty and unemployment, adding that the party would
declare free education from primary to the tertiary level.

He decried the loss
of some Direct Data Capture Machines (DDCM) adding that the hope of the
common man for credible elections has been dashed due to insecurity.

He said the action
has shown that the process of rigging the 2011 elections has started,
warning that the crime should not be attributed to the “road side
thieves” only.

NAN

Nasarawa State
Governor, Aliyu Akwe Doma and members of the People’s Democratic Party
in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHOA), yesterday, were in a
meeting to discuss what members say was to find a resolution to the
21-point allegation by some indigenes who are pushing for the
impeachment of the governor. The assembly has shelved its sitting since
Monday when all the 24 members received stamped copies of the petition.
However, the Deputy Speaker, Joshua Agadu; the House Committee Chairman
on Information, Baba Ibaku, and the leading opposition voice in the
House, Innocent Lagi (Wamba, Labour Party) drove into the complex on
Monday for the day’s sitting. They did not form a quorum and had to
leave after frantic calls to other members.

The speaker, Musa
Ahmed Mohammed was away in Abuja attending the Speakers’ conference,
according to his Press Secretary, Ibrahim Tanko.

Yesterday’s
meeting with the governor took place in Government House, Lafia and
members refused to brief the press after the meeting. But the House
Committee Chairman on Information, Baba Ibaku phoned severally to make
threats on this reporter as he rained insults on him.

He expressed
unhappiness over an earlier report on his visit to the complex, Monday,
for the day’s sitting which was aborted in order to stop the petition
from being read on the floor.

The 21-point
allegation, that the sum of about N70 billion was allegedly stolen by
the administration of Mr Doma since 2007, is before the House with a
demand for members to begin impeachment proceedings to remove him from
office.

Mr Adamu denies link

Copies of the
petition were sent to anti-graft agencies such as the EFCC, ICPC as
well as labour and trade unions, women and religious organizations and
the Emir of Lafia, Mustapha Agwai. It was signed by five indigenes of
the state:

Is’haka Salihu, Ogah Doma; Samuel Alu, Daniel Ogah Ogazi, Mohammed Bala and Philemon Eka.

In the petition
titled “A Demand for the Impeachment and Removal of Governor Aliyu Akwe
Doma”, the petitioners demand an impeachment of the governor by the
House, urging members to invoke Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution to
do so.

Meanwhile, the
former governor of the state, Abdullahi Adamu, has denied any links
with the group behind the allegation. Speaking during a visit to the
governor’s campaign office in Lafia, Mr Adamu said he fully backed the
governor’s second term bid.

“Between you and me and God, I am hearing this (insinuations of his
involvement) for the first time. It is too bad if the media says so.
But that will not make me to panic,” he said. “I am behind Doma’s bid
for second term. I have my convictions. Once I dedicate myself to
anything, I do it.” Mr Adamu said his visit to Doma’s campaign office
was planned long before the petition, and must not be seen as a
self-clearing visit. “I had a date to come, I had notified them of my
coming,” he said.

The just concluded 16th United Nations climate change conference
in Cancun, Mexico, marked a turning point for the struggle by African countries
to get a United Nations mechanism compelling developed countries to fund
programmes on the continent to cushion the impact of climate change on
Africans.

At the close of the conference, a new climate funding mechanism,
known as the Green Climate Fund, was established under the conference of
parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Forestry conservation and protection also became part of the strategic
agreement, meaning vulnerable and indigenous people whose livelihood are
depended on forestry now stand to benefit.

The implication of the Cancun Agreement for Africa is
overwhelming. The continent now has the opportunity to access funds and
technology that would assist her adapt to the vulnerability of climate change.

At the conference, the continent, through the African Group,
displayed its commitment to the African position by calling attention to how
vulnerable the continent is and how climate change is already impacting the
livelihoods of millions of Africans.

Ethiopia, Sudan, Mozambique, and South Africa were the vocal
countries whose voices were heard in all plenary and all sessions demanding for
a fair and just deal that will not jeopardise the interest of Africa.

But the giant of Africa, Nigeria, was completely missing from
the scene. Statistics from the conference organisers showed that the country
had the largest contingent to the conference from Africa.

A document from the ministry of environment said “Nigeria will
proactively play a leading role amongst developing countries to influence the
African positions, align with G77+ China negotiating block, and emphasise the
principle of equity and the right to develop within the framework of common but
differentiated responsibilities and capabilities.”

But in the first week of the conference, delegates from other
countries and non-governmental organisation delegates from Nigeria were
disturbed by the clear absence of Nigeria, which hitherto had played a
leadership role in the African Group.

Investigations on why the country was missing from such an
important global conference showed that while other countries were busy
negotiating and forming the global architecture of an all-inclusive climate
change treaty, the country was locked in a power tussle over who heads the
Nigeria climate change unit.

The financial resources to sponsor delegates to the conference
was also not available and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
office in Nigeria had to come to the rescue by offsetting the travel and
accommodation cost of most of the delegates who only spent one out of the two
weeks that the conference lasted.

An official of the ministry of environment, who spoke on
condition of anonymity, said the situation regarding Nigeria’s participation
was a disgrace.

“The problem about Nigeria’s participation at the Cancun
conference are many,” the source said.

“An initial list of delegates contained names of people who have
no reason coming to Cancun, more than three quarter of the money allocated for
the conference in the 2010 budget was almost spent before the conference
started, and personal ambition and interest in the climate change unit over
Nigeria’s interest caused unnecessary delay for delegates who were to represent
the country.”

Victor Fodeke, Nigeria’s climate change focal person and head of
the climate change unit at the ministry of environment, was removed from office
shortly before the conference started in a style that was not compatible with
existing civil service rules.

Calls to the minister of Environment, John Odey, for comments on
the issue went unanswered.

Folade Adesina, an environmentalist with Global Environment
Watch, said at the conference that the country’s no show at Cancun was a
reflection of how low the government rated issues of environment and climate
change in particular.

“Climate change has become another money making window for
government officials; how it impacts the ordinary citizen is not important to
them,” Mr. Adesina said.

Hassan Ibn of the Climate Alliance Network said Nigeria had the
highest representation from Africa to the conference, yet their voices were not
heard anywhere.

“The Nigerian contingents were in complete disarray, no
coordination, no agenda to pursue, you hardly find them speaking in sessions.
But at home, government is shouting ‘we are the most vulnerable’,” Mr. Ibn
said.

Wasted opportunity

Smaller countries have taken over the leadership role on climate
change on the continent while Nigeria, which would be one of the hardest hit
countries as a result of climate change, went to sleep.

One is, therefore, not surprised that Meles Zewani, prime
minister of Ethiopia, was nominated as a co-chair of the UN secretary general’s
high level committee to recommend how the world would find the 100 billion
dollars needed to address the impact of climate change in developing countries
by 2020.

A visit to Ethiopia’s stand at the just concluded Cancun
conference speaks volume of how the country had used the opportunity and
platform of the conference to woo investors to the various sectors of her
economy.

South Africa was granted the right to host the 2011 climate
change and had a visible exhibition area at the Cancun conference to discuss
and interact with investors.

Efe Joseph, a representative of the Nigeria’s indigenous peoples
at the conference, said South Africa “is in charge of climate change issues in
Africa.”

A business roundtable organised by Nigeria at the conference to
woo investors was poorly attended, as less than five foreigners participated
and they were served the “usual African time” as the roundtable started six
hours after it was due to take off. It was not only ill timed, as it coincided
with the official opening ceremony of the conference, but caused thousands of
Nigerian tax payers’ dollars.

In 2009, at the Copenhagen climate change conference, Nigeria
had a stand where the country’s potentials and resources were on display. But
at Cancun, no such stand existed and government officials were holding meetings
in hotel rooms that were a two-hour drive from the conference venue.

Mr. Joseph said no attempt was made by government to promote the
plight of Nigerians in the Niger Delta at the conference.

“We all saw the impact and the role of Bolivia at the
conference; Bolivia, until the last minute, was campaigning for the inclusion
in the Cancun Agreement clause that favours her indigenous people,” he said.

But participants said the country can still benefit from the new
environment climate if her officials get their acts together. For instance, the
new Green Climate Fund will require representation on the board from developing
and developed countries and Nigeria can take one of the seats.

Nigeria can also strategise to host a component of the proposed technology
transfer institute that will assist developing countries.

The just concluded 16th United Nations climate change conference
in Cancun, Mexico, marked a turning point for the struggle by African countries
to get a United Nations mechanism compelling developed countries to fund
programmes on the continent to cushion the impact of climate change on
Africans.

At the close of the conference, a new climate funding mechanism,
known as the Green Climate Fund, was established under the conference of
parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Forestry conservation and protection also became part of the strategic
agreement, meaning vulnerable and indigenous people whose livelihood are
depended on forestry now stand to benefit.

The implication of the Cancun Agreement for Africa is
overwhelming. The continent now has the opportunity to access funds and
technology that would assist her adapt to the vulnerability of climate change.

At the conference, the continent, through the African Group,
displayed its commitment to the African position by calling attention to how
vulnerable the continent is and how climate change is already impacting the
livelihoods of millions of Africans.

Ethiopia, Sudan, Mozambique, and South Africa were the vocal
countries whose voices were heard in all plenary and all sessions demanding for
a fair and just deal that will not jeopardise the interest of Africa.

But the giant of Africa, Nigeria, was completely missing from
the scene. Statistics from the conference organisers showed that the country
had the largest contingent to the conference from Africa.

A document from the ministry of environment said “Nigeria will
proactively play a leading role amongst developing countries to influence the
African positions, align with G77+ China negotiating block, and emphasise the
principle of equity and the right to develop within the framework of common but
differentiated responsibilities and capabilities.”

But in the first week of the conference, delegates from other
countries and non-governmental organisation delegates from Nigeria were
disturbed by the clear absence of Nigeria, which hitherto had played a
leadership role in the African Group.

Investigations on why the country was missing from such an
important global conference showed that while other countries were busy
negotiating and forming the global architecture of an all-inclusive climate
change treaty, the country was locked in a power tussle over who heads the
Nigeria climate change unit.

The financial resources to sponsor delegates to the conference
was also not available and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
office in Nigeria had to come to the rescue by offsetting the travel and
accommodation cost of most of the delegates who only spent one out of the two
weeks that the conference lasted.

An official of the ministry of environment, who spoke on
condition of anonymity, said the situation regarding Nigeria’s participation
was a disgrace.

“The problem about Nigeria’s participation at the Cancun
conference are many,” the source said.

“An initial list of delegates contained names of people who have
no reason coming to Cancun, more than three quarter of the money allocated for
the conference in the 2010 budget was almost spent before the conference
started, and personal ambition and interest in the climate change unit over
Nigeria’s interest caused unnecessary delay for delegates who were to represent
the country.”

Victor Fodeke, Nigeria’s climate change focal person and head of
the climate change unit at the ministry of environment, was removed from office
shortly before the conference started in a style that was not compatible with
existing civil service rules.

Calls to the minister of Environment, John Odey, for comments on
the issue went unanswered.

Folade Adesina, an environmentalist with Global Environment
Watch, said at the conference that the country’s no show at Cancun was a
reflection of how low the government rated issues of environment and climate
change in particular.

“Climate change has become another money making window for
government officials; how it impacts the ordinary citizen is not important to
them,” Mr. Adesina said.

Hassan Ibn of the Climate Alliance Network said Nigeria had the
highest representation from Africa to the conference, yet their voices were not
heard anywhere.

“The Nigerian contingents were in complete disarray, no
coordination, no agenda to pursue, you hardly find them speaking in sessions.
But at home, government is shouting ‘we are the most vulnerable’,” Mr. Ibn
said.

Wasted opportunity

Smaller countries have taken over the leadership role on climate
change on the continent while Nigeria, which would be one of the hardest hit
countries as a result of climate change, went to sleep.

One is, therefore, not surprised that Meles Zewani, prime
minister of Ethiopia, was nominated as a co-chair of the UN secretary general’s
high level committee to recommend how the world would find the 100 billion
dollars needed to address the impact of climate change in developing countries
by 2020.

A visit to Ethiopia’s stand at the just concluded Cancun
conference speaks volume of how the country had used the opportunity and
platform of the conference to woo investors to the various sectors of her
economy.

South Africa was granted the right to host the 2011 climate
change and had a visible exhibition area at the Cancun conference to discuss
and interact with investors.

Efe Joseph, a representative of the Nigeria’s indigenous peoples
at the conference, said South Africa “is in charge of climate change issues in
Africa.”

A business roundtable organised by Nigeria at the conference to
woo investors was poorly attended, as less than five foreigners participated
and they were served the “usual African time” as the roundtable started six
hours after it was due to take off. It was not only ill timed, as it coincided
with the official opening ceremony of the conference, but caused thousands of
Nigerian tax payers’ dollars.

In 2009, at the Copenhagen climate change conference, Nigeria
had a stand where the country’s potentials and resources were on display. But
at Cancun, no such stand existed and government officials were holding meetings
in hotel rooms that were a two-hour drive from the conference venue.

Mr. Joseph said no attempt was made by government to promote the
plight of Nigerians in the Niger Delta at the conference.

“We all saw the impact and the role of Bolivia at the
conference; Bolivia, until the last minute, was campaigning for the inclusion
in the Cancun Agreement clause that favours her indigenous people,” he said.

But participants said the country can still benefit from the new
environment climate if her officials get their acts together. For instance, the
new Green Climate Fund will require representation on the board from developing
and developed countries and Nigeria can take one of the seats.

Nigeria can also strategise to host a component of the proposed technology
transfer institute that will assist developing countries.

The minister of state for information Labaran Maku is now the
minister of information and communication following the resignation of former minister,
Dora Akunyili. Mrs. Akunyili had, on Monday, submitted her resignation letter
to President Goodluck Jonathan. An emotional Mrs. Akunyili walked into the
press briefing hall yesterday after the Federal Executive Council meeting to
confirm speculations that she may be resigning.

“Having reflected over the years about events in Nigeria and in
particular in my state, Anambra State, I have come to the conclusion that it is
a defining moment in my life when I should make the sacrifice of leaving a
comfortable place to go to a more difficult terrain in other to build a better
place for Nigeria,” she said.

“I have therefore decided to join my governor, Peter Obi, who is
doing a great job in Anambra State, in continuing to build that state as an
APGA by the grace of God. In this regard, I intend to pick the nomination form
today to run for the office of senator representing Anambra central senatorial
district.”

She then asked for the continued support and prayers of members
of the press and the public.

“As I take this step, I ask for your prayers and unflinching
support,” she said. “I am deeply grateful for your cooperation and partnership
without which I wouldn’t have succeeded as minister of information and
communications.”

Missing Akunyili

Mrs. Akunyili then made way for Mr. Maku to take the microphone.
In his speech, Mr. Maku wished his predecessor well in her new path of
politics, adding that the president had reluctantly accepted the request from
her.

“Council today was an emotional one,” he said. “As you do know,
Akunyili has made her mark in the country since her days as the
director-general of NAFDAC, later DG of Yar’Adua/Jonathan campaign organisation
and subsequently, minister of information and communication in the federal
republic. Our sister is well known to Nigerians for her doggedness, commitment
and indeed her service to our nation. Our prayers are with her in her new
service. She is a woman in search of making a mark in her country.”

Mrs. Akunyili was one of the few ministers who returned to the same
ministerial post after the dissolution of former president Umaru Yar’Adua’s
cabinet by Mr. Jonathan on resumption as acting president. She famously read a
memo demanding the ministers’ support of the transfer of power to Mr. Jonathan
when the late Mr. Yar’Adua became incapacitated earlier in the year while the
other ministers were still unwilling to publicly take a stand.