The global recess that led to a number of corporate failures across the globe in 2008, redefined the need to enhance financial reporting and regulatory frameworks across the world. For instance, in Nigeria alone over the last few years, there have been two waves of collapse in the banking sector following reforms made by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

A ONE time American president, Richard Nixon, once wrote that: power is not for everyone because it takes a unique kind of man to win the struggle for power. It takes qualities like courage, perseverance, self-confidence, and especially, the belief in one’s ability to change the course of history to win the struggle for power. Interestingly, these traits are very similar to those required for good leadership.

Have we brought this upon ourselves? As a Nigerian priest resident in Rome, it is always a nightmare confronting the barrage of existential questions concerning my beloved fatherland. Ever since I left the shores of Nigeria and boarded that first flight that brought me over to Europe, I am always bombarded with one question that has today become a millstone— ma padre perche sempre Nigeria? (But Father, why always Nigeria?) The deluge of this question has been such that I have decided to publicly monologize my agony.

A curious thing took place on Thursday, April 30, 2015 when a seemingly routine advertorial in The Guardian announcing the appointment of chairmen and members of council for 12 newly established federal universities and four federal polytechnics, but a sinister addendum to the heading of the advertorial allegedly signed by the Minister of Education, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau announced the change of chairman of the University of Ibadan.

If you ever thought yourself a ‘crazy’ football fanatic, then wait till you read the story of 46-year-old Ejike Maduekwe who says watching his favourite club, Arsenal FC win matches helps him sleep well.

In my time, I have seen a great deal as observer and gone through a great deal as participant-observer. But few things have unsettled me as seeing Chief Olusegun Osoba’s picture displayed prominently, following the general elections, in the gallery of “those who failed.”

THE appearance of Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) at the public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to defend its quest for amendments of its 2006 Act last March has ignited a debate on the pros and cons of the proposed amendment.

Continued from yesterday I CAN say it authoritatively without mincing words that Igbos will still vote for Jonathan a thousand times again without regrets if he chooses to contest again in the near future; as long as we continue to sense that scent of justice, equity and freedom in him. Anyone accusing Igbos of being […]

THE title of this piece is not original to me. I picked it from Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai’s book The Accidental Public Servant. Keen observers of the political space know that El-Rufai is a key player in the incoming All Progressive Congress, APC, government, as the governor elect of Kaduna state.

THE Igbo are a unique people in Nigeria. Often hated with a ferocious clout of jealousy by their neighbours for the reason of their manifest industry and trajectory adventurism, being the most vulnerable to unpleasantness of any society they have found themselves as sojourners. Yet, they have always held their heads high as a people with a culture of taciturn personality and reflective pride in their ethnic nationality. Mendicancy as a culture is an abhorrence among the Igbo. When it actually occurs, it is only reflective of a crack at the nexus of a particular extended family.

One of the key indicators for measuring overall development in the world is the Human Development Index (HDI). This is a composite index based on three indicators: longevity, as measured by life expectancy; education attainment, as measured by a combination of adult literacy and the combined gross primary, secondary and tertiary enrolment ratio; and standard of living, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. The HDI is used to rate and rank all the countries of the world, from 1 to 187 countries that are assessed every year.

THE 2015 general elections might be over but the indelible footprints it left on our political shore will remain trans-generational in the annals of history. Historians will continue to make reference to 2015 as a year that redefined Nigeria’s political voyage, when taken into considerations landmark successes recorded during the course of this noble exercise and the entrenchment of democratic principles in the polity, which ultimately made Nigeria the true winner of these elections.

Understandably, passions were inflamed following the last month’s anti-immigrant attacks that left seven people dead and many others displaced and injured in South Africa.

As Governor Raji Fashola takes his exit from power it is necessary to ask him why he was not able to allow the state electoral commission to conduct elections into the state local governments before leaving office . In January, the governor swore in 57 Executive Secretaries for 20 LGs and 37 LCDAs instead of holding elections in the LG s and LCDAs whose tenure expired in December 2014

It is weeks to the swearing-in the president- elect, Muhammadu Buhari. I reflect on how things came the way it is today for the retired general and conclude on integrity. “No real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office”, unless upon honest and strong moral principles.