CILRMN/The DEFENDER Event: Sultan cautions Nigerians against poisonous mindset, urges embracement of new spirit of togetherness

*Crescent Varsity VC stands in for Bola Ajibola as chair of Abuja event

*As Institute, online media honour doing well Nigerians in Abuja

*We are first and foremost Nigerians before being professionals – AIG Hadejia (Rtd)

*Risk Management courses will be taught in universities – Chief Bailey

*Review national integration policy to reflect current realities – Dr. Saidu

By Kemi Kasumu, General Editor, Olanrewaju Awosanya (Abuja)

In the main keynote address by the Sultan, he said, “To deviate a bit, I so much agree with the approach that the organizers of this event have proposed being that the factors militating against our integration successes and economic development in this country can best be addressed if we can all agree and show it in our actions and utterances, whether we are president, traditional rulers, governors, journalists, lawyers, civil society activists, and so on and so forth, that we are first and foremost Nigerians before we are who we are.  If, therefore, our media and risk managers get involved and are fully committed to the fact of “Nigeria First, Nigeria First and Nigeria First, Then Other Things Next”, sky will be our limit.”

The Sultan of Sokoto and Sarikin Mu’mineen of Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has told Nigerians of all backgrounds to see the need to jettison the prejudices and poisonous mindset of the past as well as embracing a strong re-birth and new spirit of togetherness as vital in effort towards achieving true national integration and economic development.

In doing this, the Sultan called for a more credible and vibrant online media as a veritable tool in the quest for better Nigeria.

He said this in his keynote address at the maiden edition of the lecture and award ceremony, jointly organised by the Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria and The DEFENDER Online Media, with a theme, “Towards National Integration and Economic Development of Nigeria: The Online Media and Risk Management Approach”, in Abuja, on Saturday.

Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN), represented by Vice Chancellor of Crescent University Abeokuta, Ogun State, Professor Ibrahim Gbajabiamila chaired the event.

Speaking at the event held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall of Nicon Luxury Hotel Abuja, Sultan Abubakar III, who was represented by the Emir of Keffi, Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, commended The DEFENDER and Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria for their being proactive in charting a way for a better Nigeria as best option to fulfill the dream of Nigeria’s founding fathers who had in the past ensured a Nigeria erected on a broadly pan-Africanist setting through consolidation of peace, security, national integration and economic development in the country.

The Emir of Keffi, Dr. Chindo Yamusa III, who made his personal view clear in the Sultan keynote address he delivered on his behalf, noted that he was aware of the many unfortunate misrepresentations by some online media and called on handlers of the online sector of journalism profession to “change’’ for the love of the country and peace of humanity.

According to him, “I describe this occasion as quite refreshing, hope-inspiring, professionally superlative, acting thinking and, above all, stimulating, since contemporary issues on National Integration and Economic Development will be tackled theoretically and practically in consideration of risk management approach.”

He said, “Furthermore, let me express my lamentations and urge the institute to properly deploy more of sound managerial tools in the sustenance of National Integration and Economic in Nigeria.

“It is also critical to make frank and bold appeal, particularly the online media which is the fastest medium for information dissemination but must strike to degrade ill tendencies of yellow journalism, as well as passionately give accurate reportage without bias,” adding by also making appeal to “media entrepreneur who earned big profits in destroying our status of National Integration and Economic Development of our dear Nation.”

Reiterating the need for cohesion among citizens, the Sultan said, “It is my strong conviction that we can overcome all obstacles to true national unity and integration if we bother to seek the face of our almighty Allah for wisdom, guidance and generosity of spirit to succeed in our National Integration and Economic Development.”

He therefore called on religious leaders to preach sustainable peace and unity at all times.

Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III said, “I foresee that Nigeria can achieve greatness, freedom, equality, human dignity, if we are determined but,” he said, “very disheartening is that mot ugly challenges facing Nigeria are manufactured or stimulated by media reports, propaganda and deceits.  Such acts must be refrained since they affect our national unity and integration.”

He ceased the occasion to propose to government “to be proactive in handling factors which affect National Integration and Economic Development in Nigeria.  There shall be no room for ethnic jingoism, divisive cleavages and selfish consideration on issues that bothers developments and decision making.

“Nigerian citizens must support the government to dismantle parochial interest of those who pose threats to National Integration and Economic Development.”

He also charged the traditional rulers in the country “to sincerely and actively involve themselves in issues that promote National Integration and Economic Development, anti-corruption crusade and assisting INEC in electoral management, especially on issues that relates the mobilization of human resources and violence free election in our communities.

In the main keynote by the Sultan, he said, “To deviate a bit, I so much agree with the approach that the organizers of this event have proposed being that the factors militating against our integration successes and economic development in this country can best be addressed if we can all agree and show it in our actions and utterances, whether we are president, traditional rulers, governors, journalists, lawyers, civil society activists, and so on and so forth, that we are first and foremost Nigerians before we are who we are.  If, therefore, our media and risk managers get involved and are fully committed to the fact of “Nigeria First, Nigeria First and Nigeria First, Then Other Things Next”, sky will be our limit.

“It is therefore the reason I have usually told those who talk about restructuring to focus on economic restructuring rather than geographical restructuring that, by the way they usually agitate about it, means the splitting of Nigeria into pieces.  It is my and popular belief that our strength lies in our size as Africa’s most populous nation.  What we do with that strength should concern us more than split because agitation for splitting of Nigeria, most of the times, has been linked to some individuals instigating it for them to escape justice over their misdoings and so it is not in the interest of the majority of Nigerian people.

“That is why I have also argued that Nigeria had been well structured but that what is left to be done is for our individual regional and political leaders to ask themselves, ‘What have we done with the resources that God has placed in our hands for the good of our people and environments?'” He said.

Chairman of The DEFENDER, AIG Mu’azu Idris Hadejia (Rtd), in his remarks expressed the worries and challenges his organisation had got from “the alarming rate which ethics have been jettisoned by most Nigerian operators of the media, which,” according to him, “invariably has given rise to media-backed hate speeches, dangerous rumous and fake news.

“You will all agree with me that the three negative itmes afforestated no doubt are major factors responsible for the insecurity that we have suffered in Nigeria, which has had adverse effect in our national integration and economic development.

“Unfortunately these are coming mainly on the understanding that the media that is supposed to be noble profession and a major stakeholder in the business of nation building give them backing, whereas, as a stakeholder in nation building, what is expected of the media is undiluted and undisguised patriotism and loyalty to the State.”

To be patriotic as media organizations, AIG Idris Hadejia said, “We first and foremost move away from the idea of being in opposition to or in conflict with constituted authority and station ourselves within the context of checks and balances.  This way we help a wicked and corrupt government by pointing its attention to things it is dong wrongly, not in a manner of confrontation, and point to the world the good things that a good, sincere and non-corrupt government is doing well, although not for us to be seen as praisesingers of such government but because, we need to carryout these responsibilitites for our governments at all levels to know when to adjust from wrong to right and when to continue to do what it is doing for the good for the country.  After all we are all first and foremost Nigerians before we are the professionals that we are,” he said.

President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria, Chief Oladipo Bailey, informed the beneficiaries of the honourary Fellowship award at the event that the governing council of the institute had approved establishment of state chapters across the country including the Abuja and therefore advised members to follow up with their respective state coordinator.

“Another milestone achievement by your Institute is the inclusion of Risk Management as a program of study in all the Nigerian universities starting from post-graduate level.  As part of diversification effort of the Institute, the Governing Council requested an approval in respect of the above and same was granted by the immediate past Executive Secretary, Professor Julius Okojie and the management of National Universities Commission (NUC).  All paper works are ongoing for the following Risk Management Courses to be included in all the Nigerian Universities Corriculum at postgraduate level: Business Risk Management, Environmental Risk Management, Information Technology and Cyber Risk Management, Engineering Risk Management” and others.

Chief Bailey said all the courses, when accredited, will be domiciled in the faculties of Business Administration/Management Science and later to their Departments in all the universities.

In his lecture titled, “National Integration and Economic Development: Risk Management Approach”, the guest lecturer, Dr. Mahmoud Muktar Saidu, who is equally an honourary Fellow and Faculty member of the Institute, defined risk management as “a deliberate management process directed at alleviating or cushioning the effects of the occurrence of risk to an individual, within an organisation or society, to project or product.  Stating this, Dr. Saidu made reference to Smith (1995) and Mena (2002) who, according to him, reported that risk management process include “(i) identification; (ii) analysis, and (iii) response” among others.

On its relevance to Nigeria, the university don said, “Risk Management is an indispensable ingredient in integrating a nation thereby economically developing its structures.”  He therefore recommended to those in position of the Nigerian system to ensure that the country as a system adopt Hare approach to risk management in view of the urgency for citizens to integrate to take the dividend of globalization.

He also urged governments at all levels to consider the establishment of risk management directorate responsible for identifying, evaluating and coming up with appropriate responding options for government policies.

Dr. Saidu also, in his conclusions, recommended in the paper he presented at the CILRMN/The DEFENDER lecture that government should review the existing national integration policy in the light of current realities devoid of ethno-religious and political sentiments.

Faulting the Nigeria’s development plans as fallacious, he advocated a more realistic and proactive “not reactive” comprehensive development plan to be formulated, adding that what Nigeria needs at this time are not visions that remain illusionary to Nigeria’s goals.

The event also witnessed decoration of honourary Fellowship awards to deserving Nigerians.  Recipients of the award include the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, whose award was taken on his behalf by the Emir of Keffi, Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa III; Governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who had arrived Abuja three days ahead of the event but could not attend having lost his Special Adviser on Media Mallam Imam Imam.  Tambuwal’s Fellowship award was however taken on his behalf by Chairman, Committee on Navy in the Federal House of Representative, Honourable Abdulsamod Dasuki.

Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, Founder of INRI Spiritual and Evangelical Church, flew into Abuja from Lagos mainly to show appreciation to The DEFENDER Online Media and Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria for finding him worthy of honour as a Fellow of the Institute.

Another honourary Fellow decorated at the event was the Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone 7.

It was a thing of joy and wonder as the guests at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall of the Nicon Luxury Hotel Abuja venue of the event saw how the Emir of Keffi, who came to represent the Sultan, and Hon. Abdulsamod Dasuki who came on behalf of Tambuwal, bagged honourary Fellowship and Full Membership of the Institute, respectively.  President of the Institute, Chief Bailey, said the full Membership for Honourable Dasuki was automatic.

Others present at the occasions included the Registrar/Chief Executive of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, Alhaji Aliyu Muhammed, Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Operations Habila Joshak, council members of Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria and other members of the board of The DEFENDER as well as representatives of government agencies, professional organizations, Muslim and Christian communities from Kaduna and Abuja.

The Nigerian Army Band gave a boost to the event which was commended by some of the delegates who spoke at the event as coming at the appropriate time.