THESE include internal problems like lack of professionalism, relatively poor pay, or in some cases, no pay at all, and bad management. The threats also lie in external problems like a stagnant, if not regressive economy, a decaying infrastructure, widespread illiteracy, ethnic and religious divisions in society and over dependence on imports for plant and machinery and other inputs in an economy with a volatile foreign exchange regime.

WHEN my friend Mallam Mohammed Haruna presented a paper on Electoral process and violence on February 7, 2002, little did he know that 16 years after he would be implementing his proposals as a National Commissioner at INEC.

ON Tuesday March 20, 1984, the Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters, Brigadier General Babatunde Abdulbaki Idiagbon (1943-1999) launched the National Consciousness and Mobilisation Crusade. That was over 34 years ago during the tenure of Major General Muhammadu Buhari as Head of State. Brigadier Idiagbon was the number two man during that regime.

Paying back these debts is putting huge pressure on Zambia’s finances; the biggest item in the budget used to be education

I LOST a friend Oluwasegun Kokumo Agagu (1948-2013), five years ago. To honour his memory, I attended his fifth memorial lecture at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday, September 13. The lecture was organised by members of the board of Trustees of Segun Agagu Foundation made up of Dr. Deji Adeleke (Chairman), Chief Pius Oluwole Akinyelure, Marie Ekpere, Prince Yemi Adefulu, MFR, Mr. Kayode Fawole, Alhaji Kashim Imam, Ms. Solape Adefala, Dr. Olumuyiwa Aliu, Mr. Akin Aruwajoye, Mr. Kayode Falowo, Mr. Femi Agagu and Mr. Feyi Agagu-the first and only son of Dr. Segun Agagu.

DR. Joseph Wayas (77) is the first Senate President to act as President of Nigeria. That was in 1983 following the absence of President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari (93)and his vice, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme (1932-2017)who both travelled outside the country.

I WANT to share with you the  conclusion in 317 page book titled, Making Africa Work. The book was authored by former President Olusegun  Obasanjo and three others. The other authors are Mr. Dickie Davies, a retired Major General in the British Army, Mr. Greg Mills, who is an adviser to several African Presidents and Mr. Jeffrey Herbst, president and CEO of the Newseum and the Newseum Institute, Washington, DC and also the president of Colgate University from 2010 to 2015.

OF all the books written by or on  Kofi Atta Annan (1938-2018) none is more controversial than the 442 page book, The Best Intentions by Mr. James Traub, a New York Times magazine journalist, who enjoyed unprecedented access to Mr. Annan and his top aides for three years from 2003-2007.

ON November 19 this year, it will be 10years that the Makama Bida, Alhaji Shehu Ahmadu Musa, CFR, (1935-2008) passed on . He worked almost his entire life in the public service culminating in his appointment as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by President Shehu Shagari in 1979. His last appointment was as INEC Commissioner. He was a quintessential public servant.

IN attendance at the enthronement were the deputy governor of Ondo state, Chief Agboola Ajayi, Ondo state Commissioner for Information, Mr.Yemi Olowolabi  and those who made the enthronement possible, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, Mr. Wole Okunfulire, Mr. Gbola Akinola, Sir Olu Okeowo, Dayo Egbeyemi, Otunba Solomon Ayodele  Oladunni and others. Also present were Bishop Ephraim Adebola Ademowo and his wife, Mrs. Ranti Ademowo, the Bishop’s mother and his wife Professor Motunrayo F. Olumokaye, who is from Ondo city in Ondo state and the Bishop’s elder brother Henry Kole Olumokaye who is the Olu of Onisere in Idanra local government.