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Unijos Theatre 88 Class Applauds Appointment of Prof Tor Iorapuu As Vice-Chancellor of Benue State University

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4 years ago

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Members of the University of Jos Theatre Arts Class of 1988, otherwise known as TIATA’88, have applauded the appointment of Prof Tor Joe Iorapuu as the Vice-Chancellor, Benue State University, Makurdi, saying the appointment did not come as a surprise to many people.

According to a press statement by the group which was signed by its spokesman, Dr James Odaudu, Professor Iorapuu’s appointment is akin to putting a square peg in a square hole, as his leadership qualities have never been in doubt.

“As classmates to Professor Iorapuu, we can attest to his leadership attributes and his ability to engender both physical and academic development at the Benue State University, going by his track records at the University of Jos”.

“We congratulate the Benue State Government for conducting the thorough search that threw up Professor Iorapuu amongst the plethora of learned academics and administrators that jostled for the position, and we are sure that the state owned University will be the ultimate beneficiary of Iorapuu’s experience in human and material resources management”

*Profile of Professor Iorapuu

Those who had sat under his tutelage in the Theatre Arts Department in the University of Jos would attest to the fact that Iorapuu is many things rolled into one.

Professor Tor Iorapuu is a man of humble beginning who has grown so mightily. This erudite professor of Theatre Arts from the University of Jos has made his indelible imprints in the academia and the social society struggle.

The Professor who hails from Aliade in Benue state began his tertiary education at the College of Education Katsina-Ala in Benue state where he was renowned for his high interest in theatre for development (Tfd).
He thereafter proceeded to the prestigious University of Jos for his tertiary education.

Giving an insight into his humble beginning, the erudite scholar had said that his interest in the academia was spurred by the determination of his mother for him to get formal education. Like a torch that was lit by the persistence of his mother , Iorapuu took up the advice of his mother and made his interest in education a top priority. The result of this interest today is that he is a Professor of repute.

The young Professor who is quick to admitting that his mother played a significantly role in his becoming a Professor is replicating the gesture as he constantly inspires young scholars who today regard him as a role model. Professor Iorapuu’s charisma span beyond only been a role model to the younger generation.

Prof Iorapuu


Amongst his contemporaries, he is generally looked up to for leadership.
This was demonstrated openly when he was unanimously elected as the Dean of the faculty of Arts, University of Jos as the only contender for the slot voluntarily stepped down for him.

In stepping down, the contender had announced to the faculty board members who had gathered for the scheduled election, his intention to step down, emphasising that it was borne out of the need to maintain a united Faculty. Before his election as the Dean of the Faculty, he had successfully served as the Head of Department of Theatre and Film Arts in the same University where he exhibited sterling leadership abilities that eventually lead to his elevation as the dean of the faculty. Being an alumnus of the same university the Professor has dedicated his life and efforts in giving credible service to the University.

Because of his commitment to rendering credible service and influencing change in society beyond curricular requirements, he has provided leadership in the founding and running of Youth, Adolescent, Reflection and Action Centre (YARAC), a youth organisation based in Jos.

Professor Iorapuu also served SONTA in several capacities for over a decade, and at one time was the Editor of SONTA. During his tenure as editor of the SONTA journal which is a selection of papers presented in annual conferences was published without failing. Due to the excellent services rendered he was the winner of the SONTA 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award.

He is described as one who is dedicated to eliminating issues of social justice in his community and to inspire the next generation to be passionate and driven to see change. A great scholar of his field: articulate and capable administrator, excellent interpersonal skill, erudite manager.

As someone who is widely acclaimed to be determined to make impact in his endeavours, Prof. Iorapuu said thus while addressing final year students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) during their practical presentations in Production Workshop as the External Examiner at the Department of Theatre and Cultural Studies despite been bereaved.

“I lost my Mum on Sunday but I decided that we must knock this off. I am doing this because I am a professor today because of my mother. I hated going to school; but she will beat me to a point that there was no day we never had a drama or performance just to go to school; and in the process her wrapper will fall off but she insisted I must go to school and did everything humanly possible for me to go to school. Today, she is no more.”

Continuing, “The night she went into coma, that was the night University of Jos Library went on fire and I was there, fighting with students to protect the place till 4am and in the morning of Sunday, I was still getting feedback from home and I said let me go so I can meet her alive. It was then the other floor of the Library started burning. I stayed back to keep pushing on but by noon, I said I must go to see my mother; but as at the time I got there, she had passed on.”

For Professor Tor Iorapuu, living a life that will remain a shining example to all and sundry in Nigeria is a sure way of contributing to national development.

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University Don Canvases Implementation of New Public Management to accelerate Nation’s growth

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2 weeks ago

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November 28, 2024

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By Elizabeth Okwe and Ojone Grace Odaudu


A Professor of New Public Management at the Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK) Prof. Charles Nwekeaku has advocated the implementation of New Public Management to accelerate growth and development in Nigeria.


Delivering a lecture titled “New Public Management, National Development and Transformation in Globalized World”.
at the 47th Inaugural Lecture of the university in Keffi, the university Don explained that NPM is a new administrative system that promises to address the perceived inadequacies contained in the Traditional Public Administration system which tend to neutralize it’s efficacy.

According to him, NPM has the potentialities of succeeding where the TPA has failed because of its creativity, efficiency, flexibility, adaptability to new administrative challenges, market oriented posture, good governance as well as inbuilt mechanisms that make NPM withstand the shocks of developmental challenges.

Nwekeaku added that these advantages led him to advocate for all levels of government to get involved in the implementation of NPM, given it’s potential to help accelerate Nigeria’s growth and development.

“The NPM advocates new innovations, ideas, strategies and creativity in meeting the needs of the members of the society who should be seen as loyal and important customers yearning for efficient and effective service delivery from the government.

“It emphasizes the application of the concept of the private sector which sees and treats people or citizens as customers who should get value for their money and who yearn for efficient and effective service delivery from the government,” Prof. Nwekeaku declared.

He explained further that it is in the contextual setting of the NPM that national development can occur as the human and material resources of the state will be actively harnessed for efficient and effective use of the society.

“Nothing practically is working in Nigeria today, and the situation will remain so except the yoke of traditional public administration is yanked off and replaced with the New Public Management,” he said.

The university Don pointed out that in practical terms,the adoption of NPM for national development and transformation will entail the application of principles and practices of corporate governance, alternative service delivery, e governance, and commerce.

“Other are artificial intelligence, financial inclusion, as well as other tools and attitude that engender efficiency, good governance and profitablity in all public institutions and enterprises at all levels of governance,” he said.

In an interview, Prof. Sa’adatu Liman, Vice Chancellor of NSUK aplauded the lecturer for a well researched inaugural lecture and described the topic of the lecture as apt and instrumental in helping to transform Nigeria giving the present economic challenges.

“The lecturer spoke eloquently of the failures of the traditional public administration and the need to apply the new public management system for quality .and growth.

“It it is applied, it will surely bring development to the country because as it is the country has been stagnated due to the continuous use of the traditional public administration procedure,” she said.

Source: City Post

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Anambra Approves Tax Relief for Small Businesses, Awards Contracts for Health and Other Infrastructures

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2 weeks ago

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November 27, 2024

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As part of its efforts to boost small and medium enterprises in the state, the Anambra state government has granted tax relief to businesses operating with less than N100,000 capital. This, according to the government, is in consideration of the difficulties faced by businesses in recent times.

The state government has also awarded contracts worth over N600 million for the supply and installation of new medical and non-medical hospital equipment at both the specialist hospital, Fegge, and the General Hospital, Anaku, Onitsha South, and Ayamelum LGAs. The contract was awarded to CHRISLAUG LTD.

This followed the approval of the projects by the State Executive Council meeting in Awka on Tuesday.

A statement by the State’s Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor said the contract is expected to be delivered in three months.

The statement gave details of the contract and other decisions of the council thus:

“LOT 1: SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF NEW HOSPITAL MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AT THE SPECIALIST HOSPITAL, FEGGE, at the sum of N367,560,500.00. It will be supplied 3 months after the mobilisation fee.

“LOT 2: SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF NEW HOSPITAL MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AT THE GENERAL HOSPITAL ANAKU at the sum of N285,473,000.00. It will be supplied 3 months after the mobilisation fee

“The Council encouraged investors to take over the management of public enterprises (PEs) in the state by restating that leasing and concessioning PEs are better alternatives to the Government managing them directly.

“The Council restated that the Anti-touting Law of Anambra State remains in force and strongly advised touts to join the Soludo administration’s empowerment schemes for legitimate livelihoods. The Council also approved tax exemptions in Anambra State for groups whose business capitals are less than N100,000 and devolution of more powers to the local governments in the state in the area of sanitation.

“The Council has approved a memo presented by the Commissioner for Water Resources and Power, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka, for the rehabilitation of the vandalised injection substation at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus. The contract was awarded to Kolc Ventures at the sum of N228,147,634.33.

“The contract for the provision of free internet access to the Anambra State House of Assembly Complex, Awka, at the sum of N81,872,000.00 was awarded to PINE HEIGHT GLOBAL RESOURCES LTD to be installed within 2 weeks from the date of the contract award.

“The one for the construction of 151 open stalls at Afuzo Market, Isuofia, to boost local commerce and support economic growth was awarded to Crystal Dove Construction Company at the sum of N279,072,710.75.

Allpee International Ltd won the contract for the road-marking of the Amawbia flyover motorway with a spur through Ezeuzu Junction to ICC, along Amansea Old Road at the sum of N118,716,874.41. It will be delivered in 6 weeks.


“The ANSEC also approved the memo for the supply and installation of Solar Street Lights within the Awka Metropolis Lot 1, Lot 2, and Lot 3.
LOT 1: SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF 544 NR SOLAR STREET LIGHTS
awarded to VIGEO-DOME LTD
N460,732,148.31
3 months delivery post mobilization fee.

II: SUPPLY and INSTALLATIONS OF 346 Nr SOLAR STREET LIGHTS.

FRANKTORCH NIG LTD
N385,605,574.49
2 months delivery post mobilization fee.

111: SUPPLY and INSTALLATIONS OF 240 Nr SOLAR STREET LIGHTS.

HONEYDOVE INTEGRATED
N163,800,279.72
2 months delivery post mobilization fee

“The contract for the production and installation of 500 pieces of fluorescent “Solution Is Here” concrete signage for the branding of all landmark infrastructures across the state was awarded to Conifer Konstruction Nig Ltd at the sum of N200,000,013.51

Signed

Law Mefor, PhD
Commissioner for Information
Anambra State

November 25, 2024.

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Economy

Despite Earlier Apprehensions, Senators Agree on Funding for Development Commissions

Published

2 months ago

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October 25, 2024

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Despite Senators’ division over new regional development commissions’ funding arrangement, Lawmakers in the Red Chamber on Thursday finally agreed on the source of funding for the newly created zonal development commissions.

The arguments had unfolded as the Senate and House of Representatives moved forward with legislation to establish these commissions, which were also stripped of operational immunity for their boards and executives.

The disagreement emerged during the clause-by-clause consideration of the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, which serves as the structural template for other zonal commissions.
Central to the debate was the Senate Committee on Special Duties’ recommendation that 15% of statutory allocations from member states be directed toward funding these commissions.

Several Senators, including Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP, Kebbi North), Wasiu Eshinlokun (APC, Lagos East), and Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), voiced concerns over the proposed funding model.

 

 

Senator Abdullahi warned that the provision could lead to legal challenges from state governments, as no state would willingly allow its statutory allocation to be reduced.

“Mr President, distinguished colleagues, the 15% of statutory allocations of member states recommended for funding their zonal development commissions would be litigated against by some state governments,” Abdullahi said.

Seeking to clarify the matter, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, quickly intervened.

He explained that the 15% allocation would not involve a direct deduction from the states’ funds.

He said, “Mr President, distinguished colleagues, the 15% of statutory allocation of member states, recommended for funding of Zonal Development Commissions by the federal government, is not about deduction at all.

“What is recommended, as contained in the report presented to us by the Committee on Special Duties and being considered by the Senate now, is that 15% of the statutory allocation of member states in a zonal development commission would, by way of calculation by the federal government, be used to fund the commission from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

“Each state has a monthly statutory allocation, 15% of which, as contained in this report being considered, will be calculated by the federal government and removed from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for funding of their Development Commission.”

Despite Barau’s explanation, several senators remained unconvinced and expressed their desire to contribute to the debate.

However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stepped in, asserting that the provision was constitutionally sound.

“We don’t need to debate whether 15% of statutory allocations from member states in a commission would be deducted,” Akpabio said, citing Section 162(4) of the 1999 Constitution, which grants the National Assembly the authority to appropriate funds from either the Consolidated Revenue Fund or the Federation Account.

“Fifteen percent of the statutory allocation has been recommended by the Senate, and by extension, the National Assembly, for funding these zonal development commissions. Anyone who wishes to challenge that in court is free to do so,” he added.

Akpabio then called for a voice vote, and the majority voted in favour of the provision.

In his remarks following the passage of the consolidated bills, Akpabio expressed gratitude to the Senators for their efforts in finalising the Zonal Development Commissions.

He noted that these commissions would provide a foundation for the newly created Ministry of Regional Development.

The bills passed include the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, the North West Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, and the South-East Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024.

The South West Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 and the North Central Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 were previously passed.

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