By Sani Idris
A Civil Society Organisations, under the aegis of Igbo Youth Congress for Peace and Development, has called for the immediate sack of the Director General (DG) of Nigerian Institute for Leather and Science Technology (NILEST), Prof. Mohammed Kabir Yakubu over what they described as grand nepotism, corruption and mismanagement of the institute's economic potentials.
The call was made in a press statement issued to journalists on Monday in Abuja by the National Coordinator of the youth group, Mazi Eric Joseph Dubem.
Mazi Eric noted that the call for sack of the NILEST DG by the group was prompted by the failure of a world class institute (NILEST), to place Nigeria on the world map as one of the exporters of hides and skin as well as a global leather industry destination.
According to him, Italy, a relatively small country in Europe had been a famous leather products exporter because of their investment in research and innovations.
"They don't even have as many livestock as we do but today everybody prefers to buy Italian shoes, bags, belts and other products. This is a sad and unacceptable scenario,"he lamented.
He recalled that Nigeria being a great exporter during the pre-colonial era, has for decades became a shadow of itself.
Mazi Eric also alleged that the inability of NILEST to perform and score even a single point since its establishment and especially under the present adminstration was solely because the Institute became a cash cow to some persons especially the DG who has turned it into his estate, abandoning infrastructural development and research which is supposed to be at the heart of the institution.
"No single infrastructure has been developed for the Institute for a very long time now. The laboratories are derelict and habitats for rats and cockroaches. The classrooms have no modern teaching aids and staff offices are appalling. How can proper research take place in an environment that's worse than a refuse dump,"he wondered.
"The DG should be immediately sacked to bring in someone who knows how to run a research institute,"he said.
Mazi Eric noted that NILEST which is located in the Northwest Geopolitical region continued to operate as if it is solely for the North and not for any other region in the country.
"Federal character and fairness has been thrown to the dustbin with impunity as far as NILEST is concerned.
"We are worried that NILEST has become a regional institution. No single project belonging to the Institute has been sited elsewhere except in the Northerner part of the country.
"The recent plans to establish a 350 million naira Tannery in Daura, Katsina State has once again proven that NILEST has no regards for Federal character. Are there no states in the South East or South South to establish such a gigantic project considering that the Institute is already in the Northwest?
"As the first Muslim occupying the post of Director General of NILEST, we expect Prof. Mohammed Kabir Yakubu to live by the holy tenets of Islam which are fairness, justice and peace but the reverse is the case.
"If he as a Northerner Muslim choose to bastardize the Institute without minding that the region has the highest number of livestock and benefit greatly if the institute functions optimally, then it is unfortunate,"he said.
The National Coordinator further noted that the Institute was established to harness the abundant potentials that came with a thriving livestock industry in Nigeria from where foreign exchange was earned and jobs created for millions of Nigerians.
He said rather than sustaining the tempo, the Institute has only succeeded in draining taxpayers without any jobs or revenue to the country.
"If the Institute had lived up to its mandate, more jobs, income and revenue would have been accruing to Nigerians and the Nigerian government. Unfortunately, the Institute has done nothing to engage youths and had not undertaken any training for youths in tanning or skinning.
"Imagine the millions of jobs that would have been created with the thousands of slaughters daily across the nation if at least 5000 youths were engaged in abattoirs across the country,"he added.
He disclosed that investigations by the Igbo group had revealed that aside from corruption and nepotism, the current DG is academically unfit to head an Institute like NILEST.
"As a professor of textiles, it is unethical and it is misplaced to appoint him as a DG where a professor of Animal Production or Animal Science should be working.
"As we renew our call for the immediate sack of the current DG of NILEST, we want to add that Nigeria has gone past the stage where just anybody can be called an appointed to head a sensitive post without recourse to their professional know-how.
There are many professors of Igbo extraction who are internationally renowned for their scholarship in the field of Animal Science and Materials Production. We can't afford to continuing putting square pegs in round holes at this material time,"Mazi Eric said.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to act swiftly and put an end to such anomaly, while also calling on EFCC and Code of Conduct Bureau to immediately swing into action and arrest Prof Mohammed Kabir for recklessness and corruption.
"This should be done before he changes the title deeds of the Institute into his personal name.
"Let it be known that we are in touch with our legal team and a comprehensive petition has been drafted already. On Wednesday, 3rd of January 2023 we shall serve the EFCC with a copy of the petition as we continue to build a formidable case against the incumbent DG.
"Nothing shall dissuade us from carrying on with this line of action as patriotic Nigerians. We shall continue to monitor developments at the Institute keenly and also watch the body language of the DG, Minister of Science and Technology as well as Mr. President,"Mazi Eric said.
2023: Year of hope, socio-economic transformation for Enugu State – Mbah
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, said that 2023 will be a year of hope, socio-economic transformation and industrialisation for Enugu State.
He also congratulated the people of the state for making it to another year, saying it’s a new dawn and a new beginning in the state.
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
Mbah stated this in his New Year message contained in a statement personally signed by him and made available to newsmen by Dan Nwomeh,
Head, Peter Mbah Media Office in Enugu.
He enjoined the people of the state to keep hope alive with his candidacy and the PDP as the year would be special one in the annals of the state if elected as the next governor.
The governorship candidate noted that in spite of the economic crisis that bedeviled the nation in 2022, Enugu State recorded improvement in infrastructure, citizens and workers’ welfare, healthcare and human capital development.
He stressed that the giant stride was made possible by the Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led administration.
While assuring the state that he was well prepared for the task ahead, Dr. Mbah stated that the state, under his leadership in 2023, would witness exponential growth.
According to him, the growth will lead to unprecedented socio-economic transformation and Industrialisation which will be driven by technology and innovation.
The renowned oil and gas magnate reiterated his unswerving commitment to support the citizens in areas of businesses and investment by creating a friendly, transparent and enabling environment for ease of doing business.
Others are the provision of basic welfare for the people, further improvement on human capital empowerment through support for the youth, special training and skills acquisition for them.
Dr Mbah maintained that he had set the agenda and the pace for the “New Enugu State of our dream where everyone will have a voice in the decision making process, participate actively in governance and vigorously pursue their dreams.
“This will be achieved in the most accommodating, encouraging and inspiring environment as envisioned by my social contract and manifesto,” Mbah said.
He added that nobody would be left out in the journey to make the state one of the top three states in the country in terms of gross domestic product and moving Enugu economy from its present $4.4 billion to $30 billion in the next 8 years.
“We have measurable indicators for you to assess us. We are going to make 2023 a year that will mark the beginning of unprecedented, massive development.
“I am aware of your numerous needs and sincerely assure you that the solution you seek is not far-fetched because our tomorrow is here.
“Having prepared for the task ahead, I’m delighted to let you know that I am that person who’ll take Enugu State to the pinnacle of its dreams,” he said.
Mbah said his ambition waa fueled by the desire to see the beloved Enugu state flourish.
“This journey is all-inclusive and you are part of the journey because it’s all about our future and the future of our children.
“Today, as I join you in celebrating this new year of hope and beginning of unexampled development in the history of our state, I want to reiterate my willingness to offer myself to serve you with forthrightness and diligence.
“I urge you to trust me with your votes, and together we’ll make Enugu State the pride of the nation,” Mbah said.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
No comments:
Post a Comment