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#FixPolitics unveils school of politics, says initiative ‘not about 2023 election’

Ehime Alex
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#FixPolitics unveils school of politics, says initiative ‘not about 2023 election’

#FixPolitics has unveiled the School of Politics, Policy and Governance with a view to set right the mindsets of the electorate and politicians for a new values-based political class.

The aim of SPPG is to bring about change in the thought process and way politicians live and serve as well as to inculcate the right political value and culture in the electorate, according to a statement from FixPolitics, on Friday.

The statement was signed by the Publicist and Spokesperson of FixPolitics, Mr. Ozioma Ubabukoh.

Ubabukoh said the school “will also set a new order for an African political system that will create a critical successor generation of leaders.”

The SPPG was unveiled to the media, on Thursday, during a virtual launch with the theme, ‘Preparing Nigeria’s future leaders today; developing a new generation of disruptive thinking values-based political class’.

“This initiative is not about 2023, not even about 2027 general elections. It is about bringing a major shift in public service and how we practise our politics,” the statement added.

Responding to questions from journalists and content writers during the launch, the #FixPolitics Founder, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, said the SPPG was focused on building leaders from bottom of the base and letting leadership become the most important conversation in the public space.

The 2019 Presidential candidate and former World Bank Vice President said quality leadership “has caused Africa too much as a continent.”

Ezekwesili said, “Poverty mentality is not just about not having money. It is also about paucity of ideas. We are training a cadet of leaders on our continent that are going to have dignity in themselves and have a sense of value where they are not subordinating the public good for self-interest. We are addressing the mindset shift. That is the kind of curriculum we are delivering.

“We need to change the mindset of our people, take the matter of public leadership more seriously, ensure that the leadership recruitment system is quality-driven as seen in other countries, and have a literate public ecosystem as well as a deliberate design of public leadership development systems.”

In her presentation, the Interim Chief Executive Officer of SPPG, Mrs. Alero Ayida-Otobo, said the school, which is one of the three pillars of the #FixPolitics initiative, emerged in recognition of the dismal performance of public leadership in Africa.

She said Africa had continued to lag behind other regions of the world in most objective-measurable indicators of human and economic development.

“Research suggests that central to this continental underperformance is politics, specifically a culture of leadership that inherently subverts the public good by elevating personal and parochial interests above the collective wellbeing of citizens.

“As such, the SPPG is integral to the fulfilment of the #FixPolitics’ mission to elevate the office of the citizen to its rightful place in our nation and develop a political class of servant leaders,” Ayida-Otobo said.

The SPPG interim CEO said the school had set a target to train 3,000 persons(with 1,500 women and 1,500 young people) who will be interested in running for elective offices in the first three years of operation.

“It also plans to reach 10,000 political leaders at the grassroots through its decentralised learning systems via its school alumni over the next decade,” Ayida-Otobo added.

In a welcome remark, the #FixPolitics Executive Director, Anthony Ubani, said to translate and move the lofty thoughts to action, the Work Study Groups of FixPolitics recognised the invaluable significance of the late Nelson Mandela – “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

PIN condemns Uganda Internet shutdown

Ehime Alex
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PIN condemns Uganda Internet shutdown

Paradigm Initiative has condemned the directive by the Uganda Communications Commission ordering a temporary “Suspension of the Operation of Internet Gateways.”

“As a result of this directive, major Internet service providers such as MTN and Airtel Uganda have issued communications to the effect that they have complied as ordered.

“As is now characteristic of African governments during elections and specifically on election day, it is unfortunate but not surprising that the government of the Republic of Uganda elected to shut down the Internet connectivity just a day before the general elections scheduled for the 14h of January 2021.

“This action to block internet access in Uganda is a blatant violation of regional and international standards on freedom of expression and access to information,” PIN stated.

It said an attack on Internet access was a violation of human rights.

“Article 9 (1) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights provides for access to information as the right to receive information and is echoed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights under Article 19(2). The government of Uganda must promote access to information and freedom of expression through unhindered access to the Internet.

“In terms of Principle 37 of the Declaration of Principles On Freedom Of Expression And Access To Information In Africa States must facilitate the rights to freedom of expression and access to information online and the means necessary to exercise these rights and must recognise that universal, equitable, affordable and meaningful access to the Internet is necessary for the realisation of freedom of expression, access to information and the exercise of other human rights,” the social advocacy group noted.

PIN, however, called on the Ugandan government to adhere to the objective of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance under Article 2(10) to promote the establishment of the necessary conditions to foster citizen participation, transparency, access to information, freedom of the press and accountability in the management of public affairs.

“An open Internet will ensure this compliance as well as the promotion of human rights under article 4 of the same.

“We urge the Ugandan authorities to respect their citizens’ right to, among others, have access to information as guaranteed by the relevant Ugandan laws as well as the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda,” the group added.

World Bank to support Bhutan’s new country partnership framework

Ehime Alex
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World Bank to support Bhutan’s new country partnership framework

The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank Group has disclosed plans to support the new 2021-2024 Country Partnership Framework for Bhutan.

The gesture is aimed at supporting the country’s inclusive and sustainable development through a strong focus on job creation and economic and environmental resilience, according to a World Bank said statement on Thursday.

“The new Country Partnership Framework is fully aligned with the government’s 12th Five-Year Plan and the COVID-19 Crisis Response Approach. It capitalises on Bhutan’s commitment to balance the country’s constitutional obligation to cultural preservation and environmental conservation and the need to create jobs and economic opportunities for all its citizens,” said World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, Mercy Tembon.

The new strategy is designed to get this balance right and with the priority to create jobs, the new CPF focuses on two strategic areas of human capital and resilience.

“Bhutan’s development philosophy of Gross National Happiness has contributed to impressive economic progress while safeguarding the nation’s rich culture and environment. With the global economic downturn from COVID-19, Bhutan now faces significant challenges with slower economic growth and job losses on top of some vulnerabilities with rising youth unemployment, growing inequality and the impacts of climate change,” acting Regional Director for South Asia at the International Finance Corporation, Shalabh Tandon, said.

“A conscious boost to the country’s fledging private sector by leveraging Bhutan’s strengths is imperative to create more jobs and spur an inclusive recovery,” Tandon added.

Also, the Vice President and Chief Risk, Legal and Administrative Officer at the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, Ethiopis Tafara, said, “MIGA will continue its collaboration with the World Bank and IFC to help draw in foreign investment in support of job creation and environmental resiliency – the focus areas of the Bhutan CPF.”

Firm slams class-action lawsuit on Amazon over eBook pricing

Ehime Alex
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Firm slams class-action lawsuit on Amazon over eBook pricing

Amazon.com Incorporation is facing a class-action lawsuit for inflating prices of ebooks in collusion with some publishers, Reuters has reported.

According to the report, the lawsuit alleged that Amazon and the five largest United Stated publishers, collectively called the ‘Big Five,’ agreed to price restraints that cause consumers to overpay for eBooks purchased through a retail platform other than the company’s website, Amazon.com.

The lawsuit comes a day after Connecticut said it was investigating Amazon for potential anti-competitive behaviour in its business selling digital books, although Amazon reportedly declined comments.

About 90 per cent of eBooks were sold through Amazon, the largest US eBooks seller, the lawsuit claimed.

Law firm, Hagens Berman, in 2011, filed a similar lawsuit against Apple and the ‘Big Five’ over ebook prices.

Lagos’ debt stock stands at N158bn

Ehime Alex
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Lagos’ debt stock stands at N158bn

The Lagos State government is now burdened with a N158bn debt stock, the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, said on Thursday while explaining the state’s N1.64tn 2021 ‘Budget of Rekindled Hope.’

Olowo, however, said the debt was sustainable at 22 per cent of debt-revenue ratio, below the federal government’s benchmark of 30 per cent and World Bank’s benchmark of 40 per cent.

He hinted that the state planned to finance the N192.494bn budget deficit through external and internal sources and bonds, disclosing that N100bn will be sourced internally, N52bn externally and N40bn through bonds.

BoK moves to Temenos digital banking platform

Jimoh Peters
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BoK moves to Temenos digital banking platform

Bank of Khyber, a leading bank in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, with 175 branches, has partnered Temenos on its digital platform.

The implementation was carried out by Temenos’ Middle East implementation partner based in Pakistan, National Data Consultant.

BoK selected Temenos and NdcTech as its partners for its strategic initiatives to accelerate its digital transformation process, according to a statement by the bank.

Temenos’ and NdcTech’s expertise in Pakistan Model Bank approach “delivers pre-configured, localised functionality and best practices,” reducing the need for customisation and decreasing timescales for delivery.

Temenos’ partner, NdcTec, worked closely with BoK to deliver a hybrid onsite and remote implementation, providing expert support and consultation to ensure a “smooth implementation and successful go live for the bank despite the COVID-19 emergency.”

The bank explained that the implementation of Temenos core and digital platforms involved the integration of Bank of Khyber’s legacy systems and was concluded “after a complex migration and thousands of functional tests had been carried out on the new system.”

The bank opted for a co-existence approach and migrated first 20 branches as part of the “go live” and will complete the migration for rest of the branches by the “first half of the upcoming year.”

MultiChoice offers DStv Step Up, discount on GOtv Max

Jimoh Peters
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MultiChoice offers DStv Step Up, discount on GOtv Max

MultiChoice has brought back the ‘Step Up’ campaign offer to its DStv and GOtv customers this January.

The campaign offer gives all active and disconnected DStv Compact, Confam and Yanga customers the opportunity to pay for a package a step above their current package and get a boost to view programming on the next higher package.

While customers on GOtv Jolli and Jinja can upgrade to enjoy GOtv Max for less at a special discount of N2,999 instead of N3,600 per month. All the upgrades are scheduled to happen within 48 hours and will be available from 14 January to 31 March 2021.

“Through the Step Up and Max for Less campaign offers, we are giving our DStv and GOtv customers something to get excited about this January,” said Chief Customer Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho.

Mabutho further said, “We started this special offer back in 2019 as a way of giving customers on the lower packages a chance to enjoy quality video entertainment on our higher DStv and GOtv packages for less. We are pleased with the popularity and acceptance of the offer, so we are making it available once more to both new and existing customers.

“It promises to be even more exciting as customers who take advantage of this offer will be exposed to even more great entertainment starting this January.”

DStv customers on the Yanga package can pay N4,615 for Confam package and then get a boost to view programmes on the next higher package, Compact; while customers on the Confam package can pay N7,900 for Compact and instead view Compact Plus package programming. Likewise, Compact customers only pay N12,400 for Compact Plus package and in turn get a Premium package worth N18,400 per month.

atingi reaches one million African youths in first year

Jimoh Peters
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atingi reaches one million African youths in first year

atingi, the digital learning platform of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has exceeded expectations in its first year.

Within 12 months, atingi has reached almost a million people in Africa and already enabled 100,000 of them to access vocational education and self-development courses for free.

atingi means “to achieve” in Esperanto, and the platform strives to improve the employability of young people through modern digital learning opportunities. With a large network of strategic cooperation partners – from politics and business to science and civil society – educational content which meets the needs of African audiences is made available, free of charge, via the atingi platform.

A statement by the ministry said, “Although atingi is developed for people in all German Development Cooperation partner countries, the current focus is specifically on facilitating African economic growth.

“BMZ has chosen four pilot countries for a more intensive engagement, recognising that each is in a very different stage of digital transformation – and is therefore suited as a test case to identify opportunities for pan-African scaling.

“The close cooperation with the pilot countries Togo, Niger, Rwanda and Benin, enables atingi’s learning proposition to be dynamically evaluated, adapted and targeted to local needs.”

‘Green investments can generate 213m jobs in emerging markets’

Ehime Alex
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‘Green investments can generate 213m jobs in emerging markets’

Supporting low carbon investments through COVID-19 recovery targeting funding for 10 key sectors across 21 emerging markets has the potential to generate $10.2tn in investment opportunity, says the International Finance Corporation.

IFC stated this in a recent report, adding that it can also create 213m jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by four billion tons by 2030.

The report, ‘Ctrl-Alt-Delete: A Green Reboot for Emerging Markets,’ published on Wednesday, analysed the economic and climate benefits of a green recovery that focuses on decarbonising existing and future energy infrastructure, building climate-smart cities, and helping speed the transition of key industries to greener production.

The report also drew on lessons learned from IFC’s investments and mobilisation of private capital for climate business.

“As the largest development finance institution supporting the private sector in emerging markets, IFC has experience creating and growing markets in key areas such as clean energy, sustainable cities, climate-smart agriculture, energy efficiency, green buildings, and green finance.

“Thirty per cent of IFC’s total committed and mobilised investments were in climate business in FY20, representing $6.8bn. The World Bank Group has adopted a target for 35 per cent of its financing to have climate co-benefits, on average, over the next five years. IFC catalyses markets for climate business through advisory services to businesses, financial institutions, and governments.

“IFC proactively works to create a global market for green investments to increase climate lending through capital markets and local financial intermediaries,” IFC stated.

Strategic communications: The lifeline of effective nation-building

Godfrey Adejumoh
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Strategic communications: The lifeline of effective nation-building

United States President, Donald Trump, lost his re-election bid largely due to his mismanagement and undermining the power of effective and strategic communications in nation-building. He mismanaged communications around himself, his office and the nation.

What is strategic communications? Although the term is not new, scholars have only recently examined it as a cohesive paradigm. Hallahan et al. (2007) defines strategic communications as “the purposeful use of communications by an organisation to fulfil its mission.” Creating clear goals and understanding how a certain set of audience attitudes, reactions or perceptions will support a goal or policy from the government is what makes communications strategic.

In strategic communications, message development, or the process of creating key points or ideas, requires high level of planning and research. To engage strategic communications for nation-building, we should note that messages are targeted and deliberately orchestrated, as much as possible, to inspire, unite, provide clarity, give hope and connect with citizens by show of empathy to achieve government’s goals of improving the country for all.

Coming back to our discourse, Trump had every opportunity to ensure that the good works of his predecessor were sustained. He also had the choice to improve on his predecessor’s shortcomings and pursue his big ideas germane to his strategic policies to maintain the global appeal and reality of the United States as the greatest country on earth. On the contrary, however, he divided the country from the get-go with his actions, inactions and public comments. He literally became a sore sight to a lot of his compatriots and many people and countries.

His handling of the Coronavirus Disease outbreak was extremely poor, both in the pedestrian sense of communications and more importantly from a strategic point of crisis management. Rather than galvanise world leaders, as it is typical of the U.S. to lead in such a difficult time, Trump trivialised the issue with name-calling, tagging it the “China virus.” It didn’t matter whether he was right or wrong. The reality was that the crisis escalated, the healthcare system became overwhelmed, and lives were lost in hundreds of thousands. With better management and proactive decisions and actions, many more lives would have been saved.

Trump missed the opportunity to move at the speed of light as required by the extreme circumstances brought about by COVID-19. At the least, all the world needed was a simple message of hope from the greatest country in the world, a message that inspires and reassures people that the tough times will be over because everything possible within the limit of human capacity was being thrown at finding a lasting solution to the novel coronavirus. He could equally have urged people to follow the required health and safety protocols, including social distancing, wearing of face masks and hand-washing.

Take your mind back to how Trump abused the media on several occasions to make them feel less of themselves in the value they offer the world through their profession. No one does that without consequences, especially in a country built on the tenets of freedom of expression backed by the constitution. No, it is not possible.

Trump forgot that America was founded by people who left the oppressive governments in their original nations in search of a new one built on freedom and truth. Freedom and truth lie in how expressive the people can be in venting their anger on issues, no matter how dicey or sensitive they may be. To attempt to demean the tenets of America by abusing the media or anyone else, irrespective of colour, race, sex, culture and more, is sufficient for anyone to lose an election.

The America of today is a mixed country of races, cultures, colours, diversity of backgrounds and more. The unifying factor for everyone is freedom. The way to achieve that freedom is through the power of strategic communications that unites and inspires people to remember that irrespective of who they are, they are valued, recognised, appreciated and dignified. That is what it means to be an American. Each person complements the other, and without each other, there is no America. Therefore, anyone who must lead such a country must understand that strategic communications is a bridge to unify people, thereby empowering them to go through the thick and thin of life to succeed together, no matter how dire or complex the situation.

The flip side of Trump is the Obamas and the Clintons. They were not just good and well-intentioned; they were deliberate and strategic in using the tools of communication to engage the people. They inspired hope for the hopeless and their words were soothing to heal the broken-hearted, comfort people and make them believe that their dreams are valid and possible in the land of freedom called U.S.A. That pattern of behaviour and leadership might seem on the surface to be a natural flair for them. While there might be some sense of truth in that assertion, the reality is that there is a science to strategic communications. This is precisely why, across the world, there is consistent and deliberate attempt to understand the power of strategic communications in nation-building.

In fact, strategic communications played a major role in the making of President Barack Obama. Cast your mind back to one of the world’s best political campaigns in contemporary times in 2008, the ‘Yes We Can’. It was a movement, a force and an ideology whose time had come and could not be stopped. It led to the emergence of the first black President of the most powerful nation on earth.

Obama was not perfect as a President, neither was his Presidency. But one thing you cannot fault about him is his communications strategy, which he harnessed to unite and build bridges across partisan lines, race, colour, sex, age and class. Nothing beats his ability to connect to people in good and not-so-good times. I recall his eulogy at Rev. Clementa Pinckney’s funeral after the Charleston church shootings. That was a moment that cannot be forgotten in a hurry. When Obama seamlessly moved from his speech-making to singing ‘Amazing Grace’, he turned a moment of despair into that of hope, a moment of gloom into joy, with inspiration that a country where no one will be shot because of the colour of their skin is possible, and that the future is imminent, regardless of how long it will take.

May I take you back to the days of Bill Clinton, one of the greatest U.S. presidents of all times. Perhaps, little do people remember that Clinton had a major crisis of a private affair that could have ruined not just his Presidency but also his entire legacy as a person? But for the power of strategic communications that came through for him in one of the world’s most humongous crises ever managed. Not only did he survive the crisis, coming through with some scars, he is remembered more for the good impact he made in his time as the President of U.S. than for his imperfections.

I dare say that having the right communications strategy to lead as a president is fundamental to how far such a reign would succeed or otherwise. The role of strategic communications in nation-building cannot be over-emphasised, especially in a free nation.

Bringing this home, we clearly have not landed the best of communications strategy in our various tiers of government, especially around the Presidency. It is time to let our leaders know that strategic communications inspires, encourages and drives a people to support their leaders. How well-informed they are as a people will determine how far they mobilise their support for the leaders and vice versa.

For Nigeria, a country where the communications team of the leader chooses to be bullies and attackers of the people, rather than listeners to their yearnings, the managers ought to learn from the implosion of the Trump presidency. More importantly, they must understand that we have a long way to go as a nation on our journey to manifest our potential greatness as a nation. Having the right communications strategy that is planned, deliberate and orchestrated to give people hope, provide clarity on government policies and directions can leapfrog us towards our destination of greatness faster and better with minimised rancour.

I reinstate that strategic communications has a role to play in nation-building. The earlier we realised this and begin to work to make it a core element of governance and citizens engagements, the better for the good and progress of our dear nation, Nigeria.

* Adejumoh is a PR and Communications Strategist

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