June 30, 2019
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As ride-hailing apps proliferate the globe, the year-old An Nisa Taxi in Kenya is one of the standouts in Africa. Developed by 33-year-old Mehnaz Sarwar, An Nisa is run by women and serves female passengers and children exclusively.
Ms. Sarwar sought to overcome two obstacles: limited job opportunities for women in a male-dominated industry and the reluctance of women to hail taxis, because physical abuse from drivers—including sexual abuse—is known to take place.
“An Nisa Taxi’s priority is to offer safe, reliable, and trustworthy drivers, whether it’s taking you home after a night out, starting your day with a ride to work, or picking up your children after school,” the company states on its website.
In an article for Quartz, an online business publication, journalist Osman Mohamed Osman observes: “Unlike others in the market, which collect 25% of the driver’s earnings, An Nisa charges just 10% of what the drivers earn from trips.” Mr. Osman quotes Ms. Sarwar as saying she wanted to empower women who need “financial freedom.”
New possibilities
An Nisa’s successful launch demonstrates the possibilities new technologies offer African women in male-dominated industries. It also conveys a new ethos regarding how earnings are distributed and shows how services can be deployed to address important needs of women—safety in this case.
In Uganda, Brenda Katwesigye, a graduate of Makerere University, founded Wazi Vision, a company that provides eye-testing services and glasses. Ten percent of the money paid for each pair purchased online or through direct sales channels goes to helping a child in need acquire a pair of glasses. “To make this possible, we go directly to our communities, perform eye-testing exercises and give away eyeglasses to children whose parents cannot afford them,” says Ms. Katwesigye.
The glasses, made from recycled plastic, are designed in Uganda and manufactured in Switzerland.
A virtual reality testing kit brings eye testing to communities that do not have optometrists or access to affordable eye-care services.
The company’s operations reflect the sensibilities of female innovators as well as their concern for the environment, children and women. Wazi Vision’s glasses cost 80% less than similar competing products.
Turning to Nigeria, Chika Madubuko identified another vital service, that of caring for the elderly—a stressful and time-consuming task that African women are traditionally expected to perform for their family members.
Madubuko’s Greymate Care is an online platform with over 500 experienced and vetted caregivers and 130 doctors and nurses. Services for the elderly are easily booked on the company’s website, freeing up time for women to concentrate on their work and earn an income. The company uses GPS to monitor the movements of staff in the field.
Ms. Madubuko expects the company to grow beyond her country and to provide thousands of jobs on the continent in the future.
Temie Giwa-Tubosun, also from Nigeria, founded LifeBank (initially called One Percent Project), a blood sourcing and delivery service. LifeBank uses mobile and web technology and smart logistics to deliver blood from labs to patients and doctors in hospitals across Nigeria.
Nigeria needs about 1.8 million pints of blood every year, but its Ministry of Health can only collect 500,000 pints. LifeBank’s intervention is timely, reports Nigeria’s The Guardian newspaper. The company has 40 blood banks and services 300 hospitals. Blood boxes delivered by riders can only be opened by recipients via a preset Bluetooth connection.
“We’re like Amazon for blood banks,” Ms. Giwa-Tubosun says. “Once we have their order, we deploy it where it’s needed, using motorbikes and trucks.” Since 2015, LifeBank has delivered 11,000 pints and saved at least 2,500 lives. Ms. Giwa-Tubosun has already expanded into oxygen delivery and hopes to add vaccines and antivenins.
In nearby Ghana, social entrepreneur Josephine Marie Godwyll is on a mission to bring engaging learning experiences to children, especially those in rural communities. Her company, Young at Heart Ghana, uses digital platforms to create such experiences.
The company has engaged over 5,000 children since 2013 through information and communication technology (ICT) outreaches and learning hubs, digital learning clubs, fairs and e-learning platforms.
Social media
Finally, social media has become a launchpad for successful initiatives led by women. Temraza Haute Couture is an award-winning Egyptian fashion house specializing in handmade evening and bridal dresses. Farida Temraza, CEO and designer in chief, has successfully used Facebook advertising to promote her company’s brand internationally.
Temraza Haute Couture’s video ads have gained thousands of views, enough to drive thousands of clients to her website. Her sales increased by 55% in six months.
Nigerian-American activist Lola Omolola founded Female IN (FIN), a private Facebook group that acts as a support network for women worldwide, shares stories of domestic violence, sexual assault and other issues. Popular posts often get as many as half a million views.
Ms. Omolola started FIN in 2014 when nearly 300 girls were kidnapped from a boarding school in Chibok, northeastern Nigeria, by the Boko Haram militant group, triggering the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign. The group currently has about 1.7 million members.
Equally notable is what Christine Anyumel is doing with the Facebook group Healing Naturally Together (HNT), which she started to encourage Ugandan women to adopt a healthier, more natural and more sustainable lifestyle. HNT is a vibrant group of herbal medicine enthusiasts who use natural remedies for health conditions, especially reproductive challenges such as infertility, fibroids and obesity.
The group is nearing 600,000 members from all over the world, and provides business opportunities for members to, for example, sell natural juices and organic foods to other members.
Natural remedies have no shortage of critics, and Ms. Anyumel and HNT have endured their fair share of pushback. But she is not throwing in the towel. HNT has now grown into a company that makes homeopathic remedies and organic foods.
In South Africa, home and room rentals app Airbnb has proved a boon for many women hosts, giving an especially welcome financial boost to single mothers, according to recent statistics released by the online booking platform.
“The typical woman host in South Africa earned nearly $2,000 (R25,917.10) last year, more income than earned by the typical women hosts in other countries,” Airbnb reported.
The company added that, “More than 60% of women hosts in South Africa are Superhosts—hosts who are specially designated by Airbnb as hosting guests frequently, receiving a high number of five-star reviews, and being exceptionally responsive to guests.”
In Kenya, Airbnb is providing women with a new way to earn money and build businesses. A report by the platform coinciding with International Women’s Day on March 8, 2018 showed Kenyan women Airbnb entrepreneurs earning about one-third of their annual household expenditure from the platform and using such earnings to start their own businesses.
The top five countries for women Airbnb hosts among the 14 surveyed were Kenya—where women earned 34% of average household expenditure via Airbnb—India at 31%, Morocco at 20%, China at 19% and Japan at 15%.
All these platforms and innovations showcase how technology can break up the male monopoly over access to the market and society. Clearly modern technology has the potential to be a force for equality.
Source: https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/april-2019-july-2019/technology-liberating-force-african-women
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Alimotu Pelewura
Alimotu Pelewura was the strong and radical woman who led the Lagos Market Women’s Assossiation (LMWA) in its oppositions to the taxation policy and other unfavourable ordinances of the British colonial government.
Alimotu Pelewura was born in 1865 in Lagos to a polygynous family. She was the elder of the two children born by her biological mother. She took over her mother’s occupation of fish trading and rose from being an ordinary fish trader to the most important market woman in Lagos. In 1910, she was given a chieftaincy title by Oba Eshugbayi Eleko. In the 1920s, she became the head of the meat market and later, with the help of her political ally, Herbert Macaulay, she became the leader of the Lagos Market Women Association (LMWA).
As the leader of LMWA, Alimotu Pelewuraused her position and influence to oppose any unfavourable policy passed by the then British colonial government. Alimotu Pelewura, an uneducated fish trader, wielded so much power that she became a source of concern to the colonial government. Disregarding several jail threats, Alimotu Pelewura continued her activism and struggles to make life easier for women, market women especially.
In 1932, she led other market women in the protest against imposed taxation, and the price control plan which was popularly called the ‘Pullen Scheme’ after Captain A.P. Pullen, its director. Also in the 1930s, she led a strong protest against the relocation of Ereko market to the Oluwole area of Lagos. She got herself jailed but was eventually released after several rallies and protests by Lagos market women.
Also, Alimotu Pelewura was politically conscious during her days. In 1939, she joined the Nigerian Union of Young Democrats (NUYD), a political party closely associated to NNDP of Herbert Macaulay. She was also a member of the Nigerian Women’s Party led by Oyinkan Abayomi. In 1947, few years before her death, Alimotu Pelewura was given the title of ‘Erelu’ for radically representing and promoting the interests of women
Alimotu Pelewura died in 1951 and was succeeded by Abibatu Mogaji, the mother of Bola Tinubu. Alimotu Pelewura will forever remain one of the greatest women in the history of Nigeria.
Contributed by Opeoluwa Elisha Ademoyegun
#yorubaculture
6 Reasons Why Nigeria Is A Better Place To Live Than Foreign Country
So Amazingly, there are ways Nigeria is better than foreign country. But most people think foreign is a best home, which is totally wrong.
Below are 6 genuine reason why Nigeria is a better place to live than foreign.
Immigration law
Racial discrimination
Custom and Culture differences
Freedom of speech and movement
Tax levy differences.
Security threat to non indigene.
In case you're thinking of relocating from Nigeria to Foreign country, as a Nigerian i want you to consider the following points of view before taking any steps.
Though, am not discouraging you from achieving your dream but I'd like to share you some reasonable point which is very crucial to your well-being. But before i dash into the main point let me quickly share you some experience.
I was with my lecturer one day, he told me there's a time he was hired as a visiting lecturer in USA.
As he was about going back from lecture hall to his room at the hotel he lodged to, someone came across his way and greeted him very well. In appearance he dress like a road scrubber but he is a Nigerian, the person told him he's one of his students then in university of Ilorin.
Without wasting time the lecturer asked him never to greet him again. Saying "you're a type that useless Nigerian certificate in foreign country, it is better for to work as conductor serving your country than serving eyinbo"
In your own view what did you think about the short story, the professor feel him self?
Quietly No, he's just trying to encourage the young man to always value the resources God gave him (Certificate)
Imagine, have you ever see oyinbo people doing this type of job in Nigeria. This is so ridiculous..
So now I'm going to give full details on the aforementioned point above; why Nigeria is a better place to live than foreign country
Nigeria’s Inflation Decreases To 11.31% In February - NBS
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation, further decreased to 11.31 per cent (year-on-year) in February compared to 11.37 per cent in January, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Increases were recorded in all COICOP divisions that yielded the Headline index.
On a month-on-month basis, the Headline index increased by 0.73 percent in February 2019, this is 0.01 percent rate lower than the rate recorded in January 2019 (0.74) percent.
The percentage change in the average composite CPI for the twelve months period ending February 2019 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve months period was 11.56 percent, showing 0.24 percent point from 11.80 percent recorded in January 2019.
The urban inflation rate increased by 11.59 percent (year-on-year) in February 2019 from 11.66 percent recorded in January 2019, while the rural inflation rate increased by 11.05 percent in February 2019 from 11.11 percent in January 2019.
On a month-on-month basis, the urban index rose by 0.76 percent in February 2019, down by 0.01 from 0.77 percent recorded in January 2019, while the rural index also rose by 0.71 percent in February 2019, same rate as was recorded in January 2019 (0.71) percent.
The corresponding twelve-month year-on-year average percentage change for the urban index is 11.95 percent in February 2019. This is less than 12.20 percent reported in January 2019, while the corresponding rural inflation rate in February 2019 is 11.23 percent compared to 11.46 percent recorded in January 2019.
Food Index
The composite food index rose by 13.47 percent in February 2019 compared to 13.51 percent in January 2019.
This rise in the food index was caused by increases in prices of Fish, Bread and cereals, Potatoes, yam and other tubers, Meat, Vegetables, Oils and fats and Fruits
On a month-on-month basis, the food sub-index increased by 0.82 percent in February 2019, down by 0.01 percent points from 0.83 percent recorded in January 2019.
The average annual rate of change of the Food sub-index for the twelve-month period ending February 2019 over the previous twelve-month average was 13.62 percent, 0.31 percent points from the average annual rate of change recorded in January 2019 (13.93) percent.
All Items Less Farm Produce
The ‘’All items less farm produce’’ or Core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce stood at 9.8 percent in February 2019, down by 0.1 percent when compared with 9.9 percent recorded in January 2019.
On a month-on-month basis, the core sub-index increased by 0.65 percent in February 2019. This was down by 0.16 percent when compared with 0.81 percent recorded in January 2019.
The highest increases were recorded in prices of Tobacco, repair and hire of footwear, Major household appliances, Domestic services and household services, Dental services, Medical and hospital services, Cleaning, repair and hire of clothing.
The average 12-month annual rate of change of the index was 10.19 percent for the twelve-month period ending February 2019; this is 0.15 percent points lower than 10.34 percent recorded in January 2019.
State Profiles
In analysing price movements under this section, note that the CPI is weighted by consumption expenditure patterns which differ across states. Accordingly, the weight assigned to a particular food or non-food item may differ from state to state making interstate comparisons of consumption basket inadvisable and potentially misleading.
All Items Inflation
In February 2019, all items inflation on year on year basis was highest in Kebbi (13.78%),Taraba (13.57%) and Kaduna (13.54%), while Cross River (9.81%) Delta (9.60%) and Kwara (9.36%) recorded the slowest rise in headline Year on Year inflation.
On month on month basis however, February 2019 all items inflation was highest in Taraba (1.87%), Ogun (1.83%), and Imo (1.62%), while Jigawa recorded the slowest rise (0.13%), with Delta and Kogi recording negative inflation or price deflation (general decrease in the general price level of goods and services or a negative inflation rate) in February 2019.
Food Inflation
In February 2019, food inflation on a year on year basis was highest in Nasarawa (16.78%), Taraba (16.76%) and Abuja (16.29%), while Kogi (11.68%), Delta (11.51%) and Abia (10.81%) recorded the slowest rise in food inflation.
On month on month basis however, February 2019 food inflation was highest in Taraba (2.95%), Ogun (2.73%) and Nasarawa (2.42%), while Benue, Delta, Kogi and Ondo all recorded food price deflation or negative inflation (general decrease in the general price level of goods and services or a negative inflation rate) in February 2019.
9 Things You Need To Know Before Starting Your Online Business
My most-prized function on any computer is the “Undo” button.
No matter the mistakes, missteps and indiscretions I make, I know I have the power to go back in the past and make everything right. I wish starting a business had an Undo button.
I can only imagine how much valuable time, money, stress and emotional turmoil I could have saved myself if I knew all these before I started my businesses
I hope the 9 points in this article will save you some regrets.
1) Business ideas are overrated.
I have found that getting a business started is miles ahead of having a brilliant idea that sits squarely in your head. Your business ideas are not valuable until you act on them.
The glory always goes to those entrepreneurs who execute their ideas, and not to those who first had the idea.
Business ideas are overrated unless they’re backed by passionate execution.
2) There are more options to raise capital beyond bank loans.
One of the biggest obstacles startups online entrepreneurs face is access to capital. But I have found that access to capital isn’t always the problem. The real problem is access to information about the options for raising capital.
Beyond banks, startups have a range of options for raising capital including incubators, accelerators, angel investors, business plan competitions, grants from venture capital and investment funds, government programs, and several other options. Learn more about these other options,
3) Nobody owes you anything
The entrepreneurs who actually start a business don’t wait for the government to provide all the policies, programs and infrastructure they need to start a business.
The people who actually get started are those who learn to adapt to their environment and improvise with the limited resources they have. Taking the “nobody owes me anything” mentality puts you in the driver’s seat.
4) It will be hard, so you better love it.
For most businesses, it can take months, or even years, before they turn a profit. What most people don’t realise is that the “waiting period” before the profit comes could be, at once, the most tortuous and rewarding, moments of your journey.
In those periods, it feels like you’re pouring water into a leaking bucket and your initial excitement in your business is thoroughly tested. So, if you’re not going to love it, don’t do it! The good news the period of wait is shorter for online businesses but you need to work just as hard if you want to grow.
5) You have to know when to let go.
According to this study, a whopping 42 per cent of startup businesses fail because their products or services “did not serve a market need.”
There is a considerable chance the market may not want your product. Remember, the market is the ultimate judge. And you must learn to humbly accept its verdict. When the market decides against you, you have to learn to let go. Try a new product or a different strategy.
6) Failing is OK.
When we read the profiles of successful entrepreneurs in glossy magazines and blogs, it’s easy to think they never failed at all.
As a result, a growing number of entrepreneurs personalise their failures and are unwilling to share them because they don’t want to be considered “losers”. Note: Your attempt at starting and growing a business failed. You didn’t fail.
Failure is an event in the past, not a permanent status.
7) The doubts and fears are normal
It often looks like successful entrepreneurs are always sure-footed and fearless people. Nothing is farther from the truth. Business is always about risk. And when you’re taking a risk, you’re bound to experience fear, uncertainty and doubt.
cool Only focus on the one thing that matters in your business
In the beginning, some people focus on getting posh office space in the centre of the city. Some others focus on chasing capital, building a cutting-edge website, stocking up the warehouse, or hiring advertising space on billboards and in newspapers.
But a lot of these things are distractions. There is only one thing that matters: your customer. Before you do anything, ask yourself: How will this get, serve, or keep a customer?
9) The learning never stops.
In the early days of business, most entrepreneurs wear several hats. You’re responsible for hiring, organising your operations, leading the sales efforts, and being the accountant.
The only way to survive this juggling act is to learn. And to keep learning. And even when you’ve reached the dizzying heights of success you dreamed of, the learning still doesn’t stop.
5 Digital Marketing Golden Opportunities That Will Help You Increase Sales
Digital Marketing is not a trend anymore. Nowadays, Internet is a promising business field and it doesn’t look at sectors. It is strictly necessary to offer your customers a digital experience.
Marketing online comprises different sectors that must be exploited according to the needs of your company and your clients. Each area allows a unique communication with specific characteristics that permit you to gain and retain clients. Check some digital marketing options that you can use in order to improve sales!
1. Updated Website
The website of your company is the entrance door. It is usually the first virtual contact a costumer might have with your company and whenever they have doubts, the website is used to find the answers. The website should transmit confidence and credibility. Therefore, it is crucial to show the businesses that your company works in, services/products offered and contact details.
Nowadays, Smartphones and Tablets play an important role when it comes to Internet Access Devices. It is extremely important to have a responsive layout. This way you will make sure that your services can be seen by anyone, anywhere.
2. Social Networks
The benefits of being in the different social networks are unlimited. More than receiving promotions, people want to “feel” a different experience with your brand and the social networks are the perfect channel for this.
In Facebook for example, the idea is to create a FanPage (corporate page) so you can be in touch with your clients in a free and easy way. There is also the possibility of investing in sponsored ads, broadening your range of action and reaching a specific audience. Facebook is actually the biggest social network with more than 1 Billion users, which can become an excellent investment option for your company.
On another hand, Twitter holds a completely different dynamic. It allows you to post news with a maximum of 140 characters. It is used to spread fast and short news and therefore, used more often than Facebook.
There are other options such as LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+. All of them have different characteristics and this broadens the type of communications you can have with your customers.
3. Email Marketing Campaigns
The Email is still one of the main ways of contact, personal and professionally speaking. When done correctly, it can have a high return. One of its unique characteristics is the permission that you ask to send different types of content and this makes it more personal than other communication channels.
You will only send emails to people that are actually interested in the content you are sharing and in the services of your company.
The Email Marketing Campaigns should be planned strategically. It is vital to follow the rules of the game with relevant content, interesting and attractive subjects. NEVER buy contact lists!
4. AdWords
AdWords consists in the creation of paid ads for the different browsers, based on certain keywords. This option allows you to create ads right below Google’s search bar and on its right bar as well. If your company is willing to pay for the clicks of the clients, your company can easily reach the first position of the ads.
SEM (Search Engine Marketing) helps your company, through ads, to obtain the specific audience that is searching for a respective service/product. Your ads will only be available when a person is searching for a particular keyword, word that should make part of the businesses of your company.
5. Start SEOing (Search Engine Optimization)
In order to reach the best positions in the browsers it is necessary to invest in SEO. The free part: use relevant keywords in your website that describe your services and company. There are other criteria that influence the position such as stability of the website, hard bounces and others. This is a hard and continuous work. Don’t think you will get results right away. If you don’t have the know-how to do it, we recommend that you search for a company/freelancer to help you out.
Time, Dedication and Planning! These are the keywords when it comes to Digital Marketing.
Nigerian Man Who Hires Women As Drug Mules Arrested In Thailand
A Nigerian man who hires women as drug mules to smuggle drugs overseas, has been arrested by the police in Thailand. Arrest of the 34-year-old Nigerian man who was identified as 'Paul Smith Brown' came, after he contacted an aide who turned out to be a police informant to help him smuggle drugs overseas.
Lt Gen Surachate who spoke to newsmen said a hotel room in Suk Sawat Soi was raided and 324 grammes of crystal meth was found wrapped and stuffed inside socks after the suspect met the informant in front of a shopping mall in Samut Prakan's Phra Pradaeng district on Saturday. The Nigerian man who reportedly hires women as drug mules, faces charges of unlawfully possessing Type-1 drugs and illegally entering the country as he was also unable to present a passport or any identification documents. Paul also took to police to his condominium in Bangkok's Rat Burana district for a further search, where they found a digital weighing scale that was used to weigh drugs, according to the IB chief.
10 Important Things To Check Regularly In Your Car
Your car takes you safely wherever you want to go, but requires you to take care of it to keep driving properly. Caring for your car is just as important to keeping it on the road and getting where you want to go for your safety. Some of these simple maintenance problems can lead to accidents or injuries. Take the time to make sure these 10 things are checked regularly and maintained as necessary and to avoid any accident or claim.
1.
OIL
The oil in your car ensures the smooth running of everything and your car can not run without the proper oil level. You can easily check your oil level yourself by simply pulling on the dipstick and looking at the oil level. You must take your
car regularly to change the oil, according to the recommendations of the manufacturer or mechanic of your vehicle. Oil changes are one of the most basic car maintenance procedures and checking your oil is a simple way to detect leaks.
2.
TIRE PRESSURE
Poorly inflated tires can cause rashes that can cause accidents. They may also find you stuck on the side of the road. In addition, an incorrect level of inflation affects the efficiency of your fuel. It is important to check them regularly and to keep in mind that the correct tire pressure changes depending on the outside temperature. Consult the tire manufacturer for correct pressure.
3.
BRAKES
The fact that a professional regularly checks the brakes keeps your car safe on the road. You depend on your brakes to stop your car and avoid an accident. Do not take them for granted. It is better for a professional to check the brakes as part of regular maintenance.
4.
POWER STEERING FLUID
If you have ever driven a car without power steering, you know how important it is to control this fluid. Without this, your power steering could fail, making it more difficult to control your car. Like your oil, you can revise and fill it, so make it a habit.
5.
ALIGNMENT
You may notice that your alignment is deteriorating more and more, but it is wise to check it regularly because it affects the way your car drives on the road. Adjust your alignment if necessary so that your car moves and reacts as you wish when you have to move quickly.
6.
ANTIFREEZE / COOLANT
You need to make sure your vehicle contains enough antifreeze for it to work properly. Cold temperatures are difficult for your car. On the back of this piece, the coolant is also an important liquid to control your car. The proper functioning of your car depends on the correct level of fluids you need.
7.
TIRE TREAD
It's not just the pressure in your tires that counts. Your tires depend on the tread to give you traction on the road, which is especially important in slippery conditions. Look for signs of wear in your tires and look for bulges or dents that may indicate a problem. A low tread or bulges in the tires can cause skidding or road break-up and cause an accident.
8.
AIR FILTER
A clogged air filter will cost a lot of fuel, which is also bad for the car. Have it checked and replaced according to your needs, incorporate it regularly into the maintenance routine of your car. Most places will check for you when they change your oil for free.
9.
TRANSMISSION FLUID
Your transmission in failure while driving is not something you would like to experience. Make sure that the transmission fluid is always at a good level and that it is changed periodically so that your car can move smoothly and keep you in control at all times.
10.
THE LIGHTS - ALL
It is dangerous that one of the lights in your car is not working properly. Make sure you regularly check your turn signals, your brake lights, your backup lights and of course your headlights. Even if you are likely to catch a lighthouse off, you may run out of a brake or tail -light that is not working properly. These are essential to inform other vehicles of what you are doing or about to do - and to prevent accidents.
NOTABLE POINTS
Keep your car in good working order and keep it safe and in control on the road. It takes a little time to verify these important functions, but it can save money, fuel and even long-term lives.
Why Federal Government Should Take Over Obasanjo’s Presidential Library — Sagay
Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), has recommended that the Federal Government should take over the management of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) located in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in order to sustain it and preserve it as a national monument.
The library whose donation was made during the twilight of Obasanjo’s presidency in 2005 was finally launched in 2017. A lot of civil society organisations and lawyers have petitioned the Federal Government to probe the funding of the library, claiming many of the donors were public officials and contractors.
Speaking on calls by some Nigerians that the library should be managed by the Federal Government, Sagay said he does not support the way Obasanjo was treating the library as his personal property when it should be a public institution.
While asking the Federal Government to persuade Obasanjo to hand over the major aspect of running the library to the government for better management, Sagay argued that while the library will still be in Obasanjo’s name, it should be supervised by the Federal Government so that it will not lose its value even after Obasanjo’s demise.
He said, “Obasanjo is a very unique type of person in many ways. He doesn’t follow laid down standards, conventions and practices. He takes control and personalises everything. To start with, that library was not built by private donations.
“It was built with public funds from heads of various Nigerian public institutions whose arms were twisted to produce huge sums of money. Some even donated in billions. So, it is not something done by Obasanjo through persuasion or private donors, it is built by public funds. So, really, this is the best case why it should be supervised by the Federal Government even though it was built in Obasanjo’s name.
“So, I don’t agree with the way Obasanjo is treating it as a purely personal property. But that is his nature. He is an authoritarian person.
“My suggestion will be that the Federal Government should not forcefully take it over from him. But Obasanjo should be gently reminded that institutions belong to the country, not him personally and that he should gradually arrange to handover the major aspects of the running to the Federal Government.
“And if he doesn’t agree, maybe after his demise, the Federal Government should just take it over after passing some legal provisions. The library will still be in his land and in his name but it will be managed by the Federal Government.
“In fact, it enhances the status of the library if it becomes a state-owned property rather than privately owned. Otherwise, I don’t wish him to pass away soon. May he live long much longer…. But when the inevitable comes, the library may suffer if it is not a public library.
“We have seen so many families where they fight over even little property when the founder passes away and at the end, it is either abandoned or desecrated and they are in court for decades. That won’t be appropriate for such an institution as the presidential library”, he said.
However, speaking on the issue, Prince Tony Momoh, a former Minister of Information, argued that the Federal Government has no business with the library as it was a private project owned by Obasanjo, though he requested and got donations for it while in office as president.
Momoh, one of the national leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), also cautioned the government against carrying vendetta too far.
Rather than take over Obasanjo’s library, Momoh advised the Federal Government to focus its attention on thousands of public libraries littered across the country that are in dilapidated state.
“The library is Obasanjo’s personal property and he asked people to donate and they donated. He then built the library which is highly patronised today, people hold meetings there and so on. How can anybody deny what the library was meant to be? Was it meant to be public or private? If it was public, which government set it up?
“Let us not carry our preoccupation with vendetta too far. That is a library pioneered by Obasanjo which is for public use. The motive for setting up the library is what we should be looking at. I am sure it is not a Federal Government property and it is not an Ogun State or any state’s property.
“I think it is a private and personal property that he used his position as president to influence the donations to that library. But that is a moral issue. I remember that even Fayose said he was forced to donate N10 million and he asked Obasanjo to refund it to Ekiti State.
“You will discover that after he left office, the donations fell. A lot of the large donors did not even show off after he left office. If he had waited till after his tenure as president to collect that money, maybe he couldn’t have collected 10 percent of it.
“So, he acted smart by asking for donations while he was still in office as president and got them. So, I don’t think anybody should be talking about anybody running Obasanjo’s library. There are lots of public libraries established. Go there today, many of the roofs are leaking. Government should go and focus on that”, he said.
When contacted, Obasanjo’s spokesman, Kehinde Akinyemi, said he will give our correspondent the number of the managing director of the library so as to speak on the issue but he couldn’t do so as at the time of going to press.