…peace and community-building programs are at the core of ASR’s social development intervention –Udoh
Olushola Okunlade Writes
The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), the brain-child of Abdul Samad Rabiu, founder and Chairman, BUA Group, in partnership with an Abuja-based publishing firm, +234Express, has kicked off a social cohesion initiative titled Reading Against Intolerance (RAI) to curb all forms of violence and divisive ethnoreligious rhetoric in Nigeria.
This is in commemoration of the United Nations International Day of Tolerance which is celebrated globally on November 16th every year.
Speaking at the project kick-off in Abuja, Mr. Ubon Udoh, the MD of ASR Africa, stated that peace and community-building programs are at the core of ASR’s social development intervention.
He further stated that ASR Africa is satisfied with this initiative which is targeted at promoting cross-cultural learning and tolerance amongst young people in Nigeria. He added that this mandate was driven by the vision of the Chairman of ASR Africa, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu; which includes supporting relevant institutions in ensuring that citizens have a safe environment to thrive.
Left-Right: John Adoga, Proprietor, +234Express and Ubon Udoh, MD, ASR Africa during the kick-off ‘Reading Against Intolerance’ Project to mark the 2022 UN International Day for Tolerance in Abuja.
On his part, The RAI project lead and proprietor +234Express, Mr. John Adoga, appreciated ASR Africa for buying into the vision of the initiative. He stated that the RAI project will provide a platform through which the younger generation can be shielded from the effects of Nigeria’s perennial ethnoreligious tensions and conflicts. “RAI is a national initiative for the promotion of tolerance, national cohesion, and cross-cultural learning among youth. Among other objectives, the initiative is pushing for the establishment of “Tolerance Clubs” in schools across the nation.
The Reading Against Intolerance (RAI) project was initiated in response to the continued rise of divisive ethno-religious rhetoric and violence across various parts of Nigeria which seeks to ensure that relevant stakeholders will synergize efforts toward the nation’s continued peaceful existence.
To mark the 2022 UN International Day for Tolerance, 50 sets of the 21-book Nigeria Heritage Series will be delivered for free to schools and book clubs in Abuja. The partners plan to unveil other activities under this project as they proceed.
…caution youths against being used as political thugs
From Bassey Williams, Yenagoa
The Coordinator of Niger Delta frontiers and former State chairman of the defunct United Democratic Party (UDP) Chief/Come. Angadia E. Eminent has chided the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri over the neglect of Ogbotobo Community in Egboma clan of Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in the areas of development and lopsided appointments of indigenes into the positions of trust by the Prosperity administration of Senator Douye Diri in spite of their contributions and roles towards the miraculous emergence of Senator Diri as the governor of Bayelsa State.
Chief Eminent who stated this while interacting with newsmen in Yenagoa said Ogbotobo Federated Community of Egboma clan is an oil-rich community but has been neglected by both oil companies especially the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and the government of the day, stating that the result of the negligence affected the aged who should be taken care of by the government as claimed by the Miracle government are the ones feigning for themselves adding that the ten thousand naira monthly stipends of the prosperity administration for the elderly is not enough to cater for the needs of elderly.
Chief/Come. Angadia E. Eminent, Coordinator of Niger Delta frontiers and a former State chairman of the defunct United Democratic Party (UDP).
On the State of the gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State come November 11, Mr. Eminent advised the youths against being used by the politicians who will dump them immediately after being sworn into office, he equally impores the politicians to play the rules of the game as nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of anybody while calling on electorates not to sale their conscience by being induced financially inorder to make wrong choices.
Speaking further on the activities of the Niger Delta Frontiers the coordinator said the organisation is out to change the narrative of youth of the Niger Delta region from restiveness to skills acquisition dialoguing the group which is not influenced by political gladiators has mobilizers across the nine states of the Niger Delta region with coordinators at the grassroots who monitor activities and report same central.
Decriding the state of underdevelopment IP Ogbotobo community, the activist blamed the government for not being able to settle the crisis that rocked the community for over nine years not until he became the Community Development Chairman (CDC) that he brought peace to the community.
He described the acclaimed feat in educational and health sectors by the Prosperity government as lip services as pupils and students in both primary and secondary schools are sitting on the floors and under shady trees to learn with inadequate staff strength.
He advised the governor Diri led Prosperity administration to carry all the communities in Bayelsa state along irrespective of clan, religious, and party affiliations.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passage of the first indigenous chartered accountant and elder statesman, Akintola Williams, describing his death as colossal loss.
The Governor said the legacies of Akintola Williams, who died at the age of 104 in his house in Lagos, on Monday, cannot be forgotten.
Governor Sanwo-Olu in a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said Akintola Williams’ record of service as an accountant of repute and a leader of remarkable achievements will remain indelible for generations to come.
He said the doyen of accounting in Nigeria, who founded the first indigenous chartered accounting firm in Africa, Akintola Williams & Co. in 1952 in Lagos, has brought many honours and pride to Nigeria and Africa, particularly in the financial sector during his lifetime.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also hailed the late centenarian for his pioneering and pacesetting roles in the formation of many institutions in Nigeria, such as the Nigeria Stock Exchange and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
He said: “On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, we celebrate the departure of a great legend and the doyen of Accounting in Nigeria, Akintola Williams, who contributed his quota to the financial sector and the economy of Nigeria during his lifetime.
“I commiserate with his family, friends, associates and the entire accountants in Nigeria. I pray for the repose of the soul of the late Akintola Williams and that God grants the financial sector and the deceased family, friends, and associates the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
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