SHEGZSABLEZS

2017 APPROPRIATION BILL: THE BUDGET OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND RECOVERY? On Tuesday, Television Continental (TVC) reported that the Nigerian Senate would start the review of the 2017 Appropriation Bill which has been tagged; ‘ The Budget of Economic Growth and Recovery’ by the executive. However, an extensive analysis of the budget figures and allocations would only reveal one thing – the government is not serious about reversing the current recession that has stalled economic growth and development. The projected budget which was prepared by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning headed by the Minister Udoma Udo Udoma would be the highest budget in the history of our dear country in terms of projected expenditure at NGN7.3 Trillion which is a 20.4% increase in the 2016 budget -The Budget of Change at NGN6.1 Trillion. In consequence, this article would examine the critical allocations and projections of the 2017 appropriation bill and discuss in layman terms how these f...

Obama’s Farewell Speech: Salient Answers to Global Issues. “Democracy does not require uniformity”. “ Politics is a battle of ideas “– Barack H. Obama 10 th January, 2017 Watching President Obama’s farewell speech on the 10 th of January in his adopted home town of Chicago, Illinois was really emotional; I felt some chills in my spin when I saw the standing ovation he received when he stepped on the podium. The densely crowded McCormick Place was filled with overzealous spectators who could not stop clapping and cheering as the out-going President stepped on stage. I have a lot of love and respect for Barack Obama, he inspires me positively and I still remember vividly the first time that I watched him speak on Television which was at his inauguration on the 20 th of January, 2009. I was preparing for my evening tutorial (I was in my second year in school then) when my dad persuaded me to stay back and watch the event with him because he did not want to be alone in the hou...

´Guided By His Hands´: A Must Read (A Critique of Senator (Otunba) Olabiyi Durojaiye’s Book) W ith best wishes to my young banker – Mr. Oluwole Olusanya. From Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye On Friday 30 th December, 2016 - the last working day in the year, I had plans to leave work very early (we call it - piate ) because I wanted to meet with Chief Eze to finalize the terms and agreement of a business I intend to launch in the New Year. So, I was reluctant when Kenny (a colleague) directed that I should help her to pick up a cheque from the Senator’s place because it would obviously disrupt my plans for the day but I didn’t have a choice. I called the driver available and we set out immediately. We got to the Senator’s place at some minutes past 1 and he was attending to two people in his office. It was obvious that the meeting was almost over and he brought out his latest book – Guided by His Hands , autographed it and presented it to each of them. How can I miss such opport...

DEFINING MOMENTS OF 2016: OMRAN DAQNEESH AND THE ECHOES OF THE SYRIAN WAR Honestly, I had plans to start 2017 on a positive note. I probably thought my critique on ´ Guided by his Hands ´ would be the first piece of work I would send out to my readers in the New Year but it is obvious that God had other plans for me because that decision changed some few hours to the New Year. Pen-ultimately, around 9:00pm when I was preparing to go for the New Year prayers, I decided to watch CNN for the last time in the year and I was lucky because I tuned in the middle of the programme – Defining Moments of 2016 . It was a special report from the world’s news leader which summarized the most important events of the outgoing year and how they would continue to contribute significantly to the major headlines in 2017. The report was a refreshing reminder of how 2016 played out; the Brexit Saga which co-incidentally collided with my younger brother’s 23 rd Birthday and the comic relief that follow...

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION: CULTURE OR CAUTION? On New Year’s Eve, while I reclined on the crouch, counting down the New Year, reminiscing on my past mistakes and achievements in the outgoing year and setting New Year resolutions for the incoming year. I was watching one of my favourite television programs on CNN – The Christine Amanpour show. One of the issues discussed was Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and there were personal interviews, video clips and images of the horrible act. Honestly, I am familiar with the subject matter but the show broadened my perspective, I had a bitter experience because I could not believe this inhumane act is still largely in practise. What is Female Genital Mutilation? The World Health Organization defines it as the procedure which involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitals and/or injury to the female genital organs, whether for cultural or any other non-therapeutic reasons. Female Genital Mutilation which could al...