Socioeconomic transformation depends on education - Altruist

Engr. Bart Nwibe

An Education altruist cum enthusiast, Engr Bart Nwibe, has fingered education as the singular tool that can cause the desired socioeconomic revolution in the country, while frowning at the what he described as the poor attitude of firms and government towards education in the country.

Engr Nwibe made this assertion while receiving a 15-man delegation of Anambra Teachers Forum, in his foundation office at Igboukwu, Aguata Local Govt. Area of Anambra state.

Nwibe also observed that education gives equal opportunity to everyone to attain any desired height in life, saying that this is what informed he sustained effort of his foundation, Ugo Igboukwu Foundation, which has run for  15 years already with not less that 10000 young people from across Anambra state as beneficiaries, to, besides giving full scholarship to children who show a degree of academic brilliance, also run an adult education program that equips disadvantage adults with literacy skills.

The chairman of the Teachers' Forum who lead the 15-man delegation, Comrade Peter Ezekwe, in his introductory speech, narrated how the activities of Ugo Igboukwu Foundation has kept alive the dreams of countless bright children and youths from indigent homes in the state, saying that this was why the forum members who are first hand observers of the effect of Bart Nwibe's philanthropy have decided to collectively sought to encourage commend his efforts and encourage him to continue.

"Engr Bart Nwibe may not fathom the gravity of good he is doing in this state with his educational empowerment programs, but I stand here to say that there is no philanthropy greater that educational empowerment as it is the best way of doing the proverbial " teaching how to fish", as removed from the conventional hand-outs that most well-to-do but misdirected persons do these days," Ezekwe enthused.

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM; Anambra state in perspective

Let us share peace and security through music - Music Entrepreneur

Henry Izuchukwu Ukachukwu, CEO, Henry B Klassic Entertainment, is from Imo state, but was born and brought up in Anambra state. In the following exclusive interview with O'star Eze of Orient Daily, his Odyssey into the music entrepreneurship was explored as well as the Peace and Security concert that he conceived and is on the verge of launching. Excerpts:

Can you share your antecedents?

I started school in St Faith, Awka and from there i moved to St Paul's Primary School. Then, when they transferred my dad, who is a clergyman, to Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area, our family had to relocate there and i started schooling at St Catherine's Comprehensive Secondary School and then finished secondary education at Urban Secondary School, Ekwulobia, where i wrote my WASCCE. Then i gained admission at Federal Polytechnic, Oko, where i studied Business Administration. I graduated in 2006. But in that year, we had an entertainment club we were managing. So, when we were about closing down the club, given we were graduating, we decided to organize a life show that would bring a lot of people. Then Cosmo FM was in vogue. So, we discussed with the Cosmo FM management, liaised with their DJs, got the partnership of very big shots in Oko, including the Director of Rozander Hotel. The show was such an explosive success. I had not been to Lagos before then but that show took me to Lagos where I contracted Sample (Ekwe). Then he was at the prime of his career as a music artiste. We brought him down to Oko them for the show. The show was a grand success. It was Sample that first observed that i was not stuff for Anambra state and that i should come up to Lagos where my Entertainment promotion and organisation (which he was obviously impressed with) would be better appreciated.

From the origin, i had always been a music enthusiast. I enjoyed and played all kinds of music; Reggae, Highlife, Hiphop, excetera. A habit that always got me in trouble with my father who was  a conservative given his religious vocation. I also was a vocalist in church. So, music was a natural flair. But i never wanted to be a public figure.

So, following my passion, I went to Lagos after graduating from Fed. Poly. Oko and in 2009, I launched myself formally into the music industry in Lagos. I hosted 120 DJs, 12 media houses and a lot of other entertainment firms in Lagos state to launch Henry B Klassic Entertainment into the Music Industry. From there, i started running shows, both on the streets and in establishments, managing artistes and suchlike. That was how we got into the music industry and it has been a rich and profitable experience all the way. These days, you find that music is the in-thing. Back in the days, when you indicate interest in music, your parents and relatives would tag you wayward, 'ofeke', but these days, football is the order of the day. These days, everybody would want to associate with musicians and musicians are big boys. We show promoters have all their contacts.

Presently, i want to break the jinx of Showbiz in the South East and make it a big deal, just as it is in Lagos. 

Now, let us talk about your Peace and Security Concert. When and how did you conceive the idea and what is all about?

The Peace and Security concert. Yes, i have been seeing a lot of crisis in the society.  A lot of people die, are maimed and are rendered homeless as a result of conflicts and wars. We got really concerned about this and started thinking of how we can reach the youths who are the primary target of conflict and instigators. We now perceived that it would be good if we go to the society with the language of music to preach peace and security.

And you know that whenever a country is at peace and secured, a lot of investors come in. Business will be flourishing and development is facilitated. So, we decided we would marry showbiz with the message of peace and security, a strategy we believe would drive the message home better. This birthed the concert of peace and security.

We want to use known faces in the music industry, draw the crowd and we would now pass the message of peace. People should be security conscious, promptly report any suspicious activities in their environment to the security agencies. We don't want to hold a conventional show where people just come, pay gate fee and get entertained. The event is a free show.

So far,  a lot of people want to be part of Peace and Security Concert and more people are invited to partner with it to make it a resounding success.

I understand that there is such a concert in the Offings.  Can you share with us how far you have gone and when we should be expecting the show in Anambra state?

So far, we have been able to break into the Anambra state government. We introduced the idea to Anambra state government, they set up a committee to look into the project and saw that the project is good to the society. So, they now endorsed it. We have the endorsement letter with us. The government now propelled us to package our materials, source for funds from the private sector and carry out the event. We have talked to our artistes and to some media houses to partner with us, given it is more of a humanitarian outing seeking to impact the society positively. We want to also use the platform to appreciate the governor for how far he has gone with security in the state. People now talk about Anambra in Lagos and elsewhere, that it is now a safe economic hub for investment. So far, we are looking for more sponsors to come in and partner with us, because we already have our team ready, our materials set and our artistes on standby for mobilization. There is also going to be a PowerPoint projection of the old Anambra before the present Administration with it's security issues and then the present security status of the state courtesy of the present administration.

So we have work plan for the event and we have a lot packaged for the day. What we have been waiting for is here already, which is the government's endorsement letter. It is here now, so we are good to go. We therefore call on individuals, firms, brewery, telecommunications, to partner with us. Let us preach security and peace to our people through music.

I WILL FIGHT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE - ANAMBRA PC

Mr Sam Okaula, Anambra state's new Police Commissioner has declared his resolve to nip every abuse of human rights in the bud in the discharge of police duty by sensitizing his men and officers on his stance concerning it and working with members of the Civil Society Network, Anambra state.

He made this known while receiving the executive members of Civil Society Network, Anambra state in his office during their courtesy cum familiarization visit.

Speaking further, Mr Okaula said that he believes strongly in the rule of law and respect for human rights and have always drummed it into the ears of his officers and men that any abuse of human rights is not tolerated anywhere he serves.

He therefore asserted that the Civil Society Network will work with him in ensuring that the human rights of Anambra state inhabitants are not trampled upon while assuring that he maintains an open door policy and will always welcome any information that would aid him solve any problem that might arise as a result of human mistakes amongst his men.

The chairman of the group, Elvis Oliver Okolie, while officially welcoming the new Police Commissioner to the state  intimated him that Civil Society Network, which is the apex and umbrella body of all the CSOs, NGOs, FBOs, CBOs, e.t.c, is a CAC registered independent and well trained watchdog that partners with the government and security agencies in ensuring that the vision of a vibrant, democratic,  politically stable, peaceful and organised Anambra state, where justice, equity and rule of law reigns supreme, is actualized.

In his words, "We as a group, having had a tip of your antecedents, are at ease knowing that your leadership will not tolerate any abuse of human rights just as we keep educating our people in different ways to shun violence, thuggery, robbery, kidnapping and every other social vice."

Other Civil Society Network executive members present during the courtesy call were Emily Uzoh, Financial Secretary;  Njideka Okeke, Assistant Secretary;  Nickson Nkpolara, Coordinator, Anambra South and O'star Eze, Media Director.

NHIS IS THE WAY TO GO - STATE COORDINATOR

Mma Gertrude Osii NHIS Boss
Mrs Mma Gertrude Osii, the Deputy General Manager and State Coordinator of Anambra National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS assumed duty in September, 2015. In this exclusive interview with Orient Daily's O'star Eze, Mma shares the new enthusiasm of NHIS, how the state government has been supportive amongst other issues. Excerpts:

How has it been since you assumed office as the State Coordinator?

 Since then it's been a win win situation. Because what i can't manage is idleness. I can't manage boredom. So, when i came in here, i told my team that we have to hit the ground running. We have to go through the nooks and crannies of Anambra state and make sure that ee deliver NHIS. I promised that before i leave Anambra state, NHIS will be a household name.

We started with active stakeholder engagement. And this has yielded so much. In the sense that my engagement with the State Ministry of Health, Dr Joe Akabuike has been so fruitful. Immediately i invited to a program in Enugu and they imbibed this program of State Social Health Insurance Scheme in order to get Ndi Anambra at all legal residence registered. He bought this orogram and since then it has been a very good one all the way.

The amiable executive governor of Anambra state, Chief Dr. Willie Obiano, Akpokuedike, i will tell you, wants this program like yesterday. He wants to lock on and make it a mandatory program for all residents of the state. And after we had our presentation at EXCO, he set up a ten man committee to work on the bill on how they can lock on to health insurance in Anambra state. We worked with the chairman of the committee, Hon. Ifeatu Onojeme, and he has been chairing the meeting and i tell you that we have come a long way. We have been able to put up a bill that has been presented as an executive bill to the house of Assembly and it has gone through a second reading. And i tell you that in no distant time, NHIS bill in Anambra state will be passed. And that will be the Anambra state Health Contributory Scheme. The governor is very committed to this and we are happy. And my chief executive, the then acting Execitive Secretary, Mr Femi Akingbade, had a courtesy visit with the governor and presented to him all the perks NHIS representing the federal government will give to them. Because we are now saying that the state should come in. We will give money to the state to encourage them to come in. By their bill, they will have their own agency and run their own agency. The NHIS will still remain the regulatory body. We will give them ICT support, human resource and capacity building. So , it is a very laudable program and i believe that any state governor that really has the interest of the masses at heart will log on to this program. Because it is not a question of giving them rice, salt, give them healthcare so that they can go and fend for themselves. Let them be healthy because it is only the healthy that can work. Childhood and Maternal mortality will be reduced with health insurance getting to all the nooks and crannies of the state. This is what we are working at. And i tell you that since i assumed position here, there has never been a dull moment.

Can you give us a highlight of some of the packages NHIS has for Ndi Anambra?

We have different programs and our programs have been so compartmentalised so as to take care of every citizen regardless of status. We have what we call the Formal Sector Programme. This program is mostly for civil servants, members of the armed forces, students of tertiary institutions and members of organized  private sector that has ten employees and above. This program is structure. We have the Informal Sector Programme, which takes care of all business men, all artisans, community dwellers and all groups that lack structured work environment and pay. And we also have what we call the Voluntary Contributorship Programme. In the informal sector when we also have the Community-based Health insurance programme, this one is for the communities. We go to the communities, liaise with the traditional rulers, the President Generals of the town unions, the women leaders and the youth leaders and sensitize them on the mechanics of Community-Based Health program; how they can organize themselves to form the programme and how it could bring cheap and quality healthcare at their doorstep. Because we are looking for a situation where we can stop rural dwellers from accessing healthcare from unqualified chemist shops and centres and untrained hands. So, this community Health Based programme is geared towards bringing them together in a mutual health association platform and when they are up to 1000 or more, the cost of registeration will go down. NHIS will subsidize for the children under 5 and nursing mothers too. That is how federal government pushes in money in all those communities in order to reduce infant and maternal mortality rate. But if people gather together and they are not able to make up the recommended number ( it is a game of numbers), they can key into the Voluntary Contributor-ship Program which is just 15000 naira per annum. And you such a robust benefit package like we have in the formal sector.
So, these are the programs we have and there is no strata of the populace that will not find a program that is meant for them. That is how NHIS has been conceptualized.


Let's talk about hospitals affiliated to NHIS. Do you have enough medical centres affiliated to NHIS to make accessibility to them easier for registered members?

We just concluded an inspection exercise for accreditation of healthcare facilities in Anambra state. In Anambra state, we have over 90 health care centres that are affiliated to NHIS, both at primary and secondary level care, even tertiary level care. And they are dotted all over the state. Go to Ekwulobia, we have St Victoria Hospital, Cynvic Hospital, several others. Go to Nnewi, we have Highlife Hospital, the Teaching Hospital. There are so many hospitals easily accessible by our enrollees, both in the rural and urban areas. Even Okpoko that is difficult to access has NHIS accredited hospitals there. We make it a point that regardless of where the hospital is, once it applies, we find them there to confirm if they have the standards that would keep people alive. And accreditation is a continuum because more and more hospitals keep springing up. They are advised to apply to NHIS so we can inspect them for their eligibility.


Finally, how can one register for the NHIS programme. What is the process?to to being

Before 2014, we had just the zonal offices. But in 2014, we now established offices in all the states of the federation including FCT. This is to make it easy for people to come and register. So, now, you don't need to travel from Anambra to Enugu (the zonal office) to register, you come to the state office at No. 39 Ziks Avenue, Awka, to register. You can also go to our health maintenance organizations. These are organisations that act as brokers between us and the hospitals and what we call the healthcare providers. You can come and register for the Voluntary Contributorship Program. This is because the formal sector package is, for now, meant only for those civil servants working in Federal Government owned MDAs. When the state comes in, we can then include their ministries, departments and agencies.

What are you doing in terms of sensitization of the masses on these health insurance schemes?


Right now, we are taking things as we can handle them. What we do now is to go to places where you find high population density to carry out sensitization. Recently we were at Nkpor, and Onitsha. And so do we keep doing it; holding road shows and explaining what NHIS is all about, and what they stand to gain by being part of NHIS and where to go for registration. We don't have a mobile data capturing machine for on the spot registration yet. This will come with time.

Final words

In Anambra state, we are encouraged by the mindset of the governor who has made our stay very fulfilling and rewarding. He has given us an enabling environment to work in. We are not afraid to go into the rural communities. The roads are tarred so their is nothing rural anymore about communities in Anambra state. And it is all kudos to the executive governor of Anambra state. Recently, we wrote that our office didn't have a transformer and was not connected to the national grid since the inception in 2014 and therefore had been running on private power generating set  and he made a transformer available. This shows that he is mindful of what NHIS can do for his people. We say kudos to him. And to the Anambra people and inhabitants, this is the time to embrace NHIS. NHIS is better now and is getting better incrementally. We have really touched lives. In the spirit of our centenary celebration, we are presently rewarding our earlier enrollees; giving them tertiary disease interventions. We have done a lot of hip replacement, spinal surgeries at Memphis Hospital. And we are doing more. So, NHIS is the way to go. I think it is the best democracy dividend that we have gotten. Thank you very much.

Roles of entrepreneurship in the economic development in Nigeria

Economic development, according to online Business Dictionary, is defined as progress in an economy, or the qualitative measure of this. It goes on to say that Economic development usually refers to the adoption of new technologies, transition from agriculture-based to industry-based economy, and general improvement in living standards.

On the other hand, Entrepreneurship is defined by the same source, Business Dictionary, as the capacity and willingness to develop, organize and manage a business venture along with any of its risks in order to make a profit. The most obvious example of entrepreneurship is the starting of new businesses.

In economics, entrepreneurship combined with land, labour, resources and capital can produce profit. Entrepreneurial spirit is characterized by innovation and risk-taking, and is an essential part of a nation's ability to succeed in an ever changing and increasingly competitive global marketplace.


Judging by the above definitions of the key words, which summarily are, that entrepreneurship is ability and willingness to initiate, take risks and develop and organize business, and economic development is adoption of new technologies, improved economic practices and living standard, the roles  of entrepreneurship in economic development can be traced.

To start with, Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is naturally endowed with millions and millions of acres of arable land, 38.5 billion barrels of stated oil reserves, vast gas reserves, a variety of unexploited minerals, and a wealth of human capital by virtue of its estimated population of 150 million.  It is the world’s eighth largest exporter of oil, and Africa’s second largest economy, after South Africa.  Nigeria accounts for 15 per cent of Africa’s population,   contributes 11 per cent of Africa’s total output and 16 per cent of its foreign reserves while it accounts for half of the population and more than two-thirds of the output of the West Africa sub-region.

The role  of  the entrepreneurship  in  Nigeria  economy  cannot  be  overestimated.

 1. Firstly,  it  is  emphasized  that entrepreneurship make  the  possibility  of  the  equitable  distribution  of  national  income  more  realistic  by  providing employment  on  a  large  scale.  By  creating  more  employment  opportunities, entrepreneurship helps  in  mobilizing  capital  and human resources that would otherwise be left idle.

2. While  some  small  businesses  may  meet  untapped  demand,  some  fill  a  niche  in  the  market,  yet  others  provide  some distinct  services  that  cannot  be  matched  by  large  organizations.  In  this  wise,  entrepreneurship contributes to  the  succession  of large businesses.


3.Entrepreneurship  helps  to  economize  resources.  Resources  such  as  capital,  technical  and  management  skills  are scarce  and  constitute  the  central  problem  of  underdevelopment.  Entrepreneurship especially such that involves setting up small and medium enterprises have  shorter  gestation  period  and  as  a  result yield  quicker  returns  on  investment.

 4. It facilitates  balanced  industrial  development  in  that  only  such  industries  can easily  be  established  in  many  rural  areas.  In  this  regard,  entrepreneurship  also  presents  a  potent  means  of  alleviating  rural-urban migration and the associated urban congestion and unemployment.

5. Entrepreneurship promotes competition  and  hinder  monopoly.  The  relative  ease  with  which enterprises  are  established  and  the responsiveness  of  entrepreneurs  to  innovations  is  a  major  factor  for  the  preponderance  of  SMEs  in  any  economy especially  in a  developing  economy like Nigeria.  Observation  has  it  that  the  existence  of  many  healthy  business  firms  in  a  nation constitutes  a  barrier  against  monopoly.  The  importance  of  a  competitive  market  to  the  consumer  in  particular  and  the economy in general cannot be overflogged.

In summary, Entrepreneurship can be said to be synonymous with economic development as their cannot be improved living standards resulting from innovative economic practices without an increase in entrepreneurial activities.



References  

Ajayi, G. O. (2000). Entrepreneurship Development in Nigeria,  Lagos, Maryland Finance Co. Ltd.

Ayozie, D. O and Asolo A. A. (1999). Small Scale Business for  Nigerian Students, Abeokuta, Danayo Inc. Coy.

Chandler, A. (1990). Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth.  Cambridge, Harvard University Press.

Drucker, P. F. (1985). Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Practice  and Principles. London, Heinemman.

 Fabunmi,  B  .C  (2004).  Small  and  Medium  Scale  Industries  Nigeria:    Problems,  Prospects  and  Management Techniques; 2nd Ed.  Akure, JBS Printing and Publishing.