Black Panther – A good film with many lessons for Nigeria

Black Panther – A good film with many lessons for Nigeria
Post Date March 5, 2018
Comments 29 Comments
Author
Category Democracy, Education, Leadership, Security

Over the weekend, I joined my children to watch the much talked about ‘Black Panther’. It was a good film, and I was happy they took me to see it. However, I came out of the movie theatre a little upset.

When the first scenes came up, and I saw “Sambisa Forest” I was unhappy that the only reference the film makers could have for Nigeria was a negative one, but I was later encouraged by the thought of Africans solving African problems. That is a …

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Goodwill Message at the 40th anniversary of the Federal Government College Okigwe Old Student Association

Goodwill Message at the 40th anniversary of the Federal Government College Okigwe Old Student Association
Post Date October 30, 2017
Comments 10 Comments
Author
Category Education, Leadership, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts

Transcript of Goodwill message of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar (GCON), Waziri Adamawa, Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007), and Grand Patron of Federal Government College Okigwe Old Students’ Association at the 40th anniversary of Federal Government College, Okigwe, Imo State at the College Pavilion in Okigwe, Imo State on 28th of October, 2017.

 

I congratulate you on the 40th anniversary of your great school, the Federal Government College, Okigwe. Looking back at Nigeria over the same period of the four decades since your school was established, the mistakes and …

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I’m a proud product of Nigeria’s public school

I’m a proud product of Nigeria’s public school
Post Date November 23, 2016
Comments 16 Comments
Author
Category Charity, Education, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Politics, Press

On Wednesday, 16 November I was at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, as chairman of the annual Zik Lecture Series, where I delivered remarks titled “Crisis, Education and Africa’s Recovery”. The speech, as with many I have made in recent times, has been focused on the roles of government and private sector in providing world class education in Nigeria.

Here is a small part of that speech:

“I could not have gone to school if my parents were required to pay for it. That and the importance of …

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Beyond Terrorism: Education and Sustainable Development

Beyond Terrorism: Education and Sustainable Development
Post Date November 14, 2015
Comments 31 Comments
Author
Category Agriculture, Business, Education, History, Leadership, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Politics, Security, Speeches, The Economy, The Issues

Remarks By Atiku Abubakar, GCON, former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Founder, American University of Nigeria, Yola, at the 10th Founder’s Day Celebration of the University, at Yola

14 November, 2015

Protocol

In a way it is difficult to believe that this is the 10thFounder’s Day of this dream we call AUN, the American University of Nigeria, Yola. The years have passed rather quickly. But they have been very memorable, challenging and rewarding years. That we have turned this wilderness, in the middle of nowhere, so …

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Nigeria must once again make education a priority

Nigeria must once again make education a priority
Post Date August 14, 2014
Comments 18 Comments
Author
Category Education, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, The Issues

The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has just released the results of the May/June 2014 senior school certificate examination.  As was the case last year, mass failure was recorded by Nigerian students.  Only 31.28 percent of the students who sat for the 2014 exam obtained credits in five subjects and above, including Mathematics and English Language.

No one who has been observing the ongoing attitude towards education in Nigeria will be surprised by this.  In the past year alone, industrial action by teachers have dominated the …

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Free Secondary Education the way to go for Northern Nigeria

Free Secondary Education the way to go for Northern Nigeria
Post Date March 9, 2014
Comments 10 Comments
Author
Category Democracy, Education, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, The Issues

On March 3, I read a piece of news which has given me great joy, in the midst of all the bad news coming out of Northern Nigeria. The governors of Northern Nigeria have decided to abolish school fees in secondary schools across the region.

I remember back in the year 2000, while serving as Vice President, I convened the Northern Education Summit, at which far reaching recommendations were made. As the highest ranking elected leader form the northern states, I saw it as my responsibility …

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#Davos2014: Our solutions must solve local problems

#Davos2014: Our solutions must solve local problems
Post Date January 27, 2014
Comments 7 Comments
Author
Category Education, Leadership, The Economy

I think it’s fair to say that Nigeria had a good showing in Davos. That our country and President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is actively participating in the annual meet up of the world’s most influential persons shows that there is yet belief in the potentials of Nigeria’s economy and her future.

It’s good to see that the hard work of readmitting Nigeria into a position of visibility on the international stage, which we made a priority in 1999, is yielding fruit.

However, I must reiterate that the …

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The letter that embarrassed me

The letter that embarrassed me
Post Date November 27, 2013
Comments 35 Comments
Author
Category Education, Leadership, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Scholarships

I got a heartbreaking note yesterday, from a lady I have never met, who was a beneficiary of the 2011 round of scholarships.

I knew Godwin a long time ago. He was a brilliant and fearless journalist, and active pro-democracy voice during the darkest days of military dictatorship. Tragically he died in 2006, shot by unknown gunmen on his way home from the office.

Back then, all I could do was to help his family in the best way I could, by including his daughter in that year’s scholarship …

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3rd Place Atiku Abubakar #EducationSolutions Essay by Iveren Winifred Nyinoh

3rd Place Atiku Abubakar #EducationSolutions Essay by Iveren Winifred Nyinoh
Post Date October 28, 2013
Comments 7 Comments
Author
Category Education, Nigeria, Uncategorized

By Iveren Winifred Nyinoh

Title: More Learning to More People: How can Nigeria be more innovative in bridging its literacy and skills gap?

Before I discuss the topic, it is pertinent in the first instance to define the terms literacy and skills. According to the free dictionary, literacy has been defined as the quality or state of being literate, especially the ability to read and write. It could also be viewed as a person’s knowledge of a particular subject or field. On the other hand, skill has been defined as …

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Atiku Abubakar #EducationSolutions Essay Competition Longlist Announcement

Atiku Abubakar #EducationSolutions Essay Competition Longlist Announcement
Post Date October 21, 2013
Comments 27 Comments
Author
Category Education, Nigeria

The judges of the Atiku Abubakar #EducationSolutions essay competition are pleased to announce a 10-person longlist, as follows (names arranged in alphabetical order):

 

Ajewole Kehinde Samson (25)

Business Economics, York University, Canada 

Ekulide Miracle Chukwuemeka (18)

Petrochemical Engineering, American University of Nigeria, Yola, Nigeria

Emeka Ezekwesiri Chigozie (20)

Law, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria 

Emem Pamela Bassey-Etuk (19)

Economics, Durham University, Durham, UK

Hassan Funom Restoration

Natural Environmental Sciences, American University of Nigeria, Yola, Nigeria (19)

Iloka Obinna Augustine (20)

Agronomy, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria

 Jemima Osilama Abu (15)

Mechatronics Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria 

Kenechukwu …

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Atiku Abubakar #EducationSolutions Essay Competition announcement schedule released

Atiku Abubakar #EducationSolutions Essay Competition announcement schedule released
Post Date October 20, 2013
Comments 10 Comments
Author
Category Education, Nigeria

The judges of the Atiku Abubakar #EducationSolutions essay competition are pleased to announce the completion of the first round of judging, as well as the schedule for the announcement of the results.

A 10-person long-list will be announced on Monday October 21, 2013

The winner, and runner-up will be announced on Monday October 28, 2013.

Excerpts from the long-listed essays will appear on the Scholarship Blog - https://atiku.org/aa/scholarships/ - from Monday Oct 21, 2013

Commenting on the competition, and the judging process, the chair of the panel of Judges, Dr. Hauwa Imam, Associate …

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At Independence, a problem-solving approach

At Independence, a problem-solving approach
Post Date October 1, 2013
Comments 18 Comments
Author
Category Democracy, Education, Leadership

As we celebrate the 53rd anniversary of our independence as a country we cannot ignore the crushing weight of our challenges as a country.

Understandably, there are a lot of complaining voices. And I’m speaking from experience, as a former political office holder now active on Facebook and Twitter, and often the object of a lot of anger and frustration.

When you’re a University student forced to sit at home for months, due to no fault of yours, I realize that it is difficult to understand why …

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On Strikes: We must end the ASUU strike today

On Strikes: We must end the ASUU strike today
Post Date September 20, 2013
Comments 23 Comments
Author
Category Education, Leadership

When I took the oath of office as Nigeria’s democratically elected Vice President in 1999 it was the culmination of decades of struggle against military rule. Our path to a legitimate, meaningful constitution and democracy took a personal toll on many Nigerians who fought to free us from dictatorship.

And I took the sacrifices of the many just as seriously as my oath and constitutional duties.

But the Nigerian Constitution severely restricts the powers of the vice presidency. Essentially, any executive powers or active policy roles must be delegated directly by the President. This is not an …

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ASUU STRIKE HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH – IT’S TIME FOR ACTION.

ASUU STRIKE HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH – IT’S TIME FOR ACTION.
Post Date September 3, 2013
Comments 4 Comments
Author
Category Education

Last week, I engaged in an online Twitter chat hosted by Al Jazeera’s “The Stream” about our lingering two-month Academic Staff of Universities Union (ASUU) strike.

Here are the three main points I raised on #ASUUchat @AJStream:

The ASUU strike has gone on long enough: It is time for our Federal Government to act. The ASUU is striking due to the government’s failure to implement the 2009 agreement reached with the union. An agreement is an agreement. If higher education is truly a Nigerian priority then it is time to …

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Win a full scholarship for your #EducationSolutions

Win a full scholarship for your #EducationSolutions
Post Date August 7, 2013
Comments 126 Comments
Author
Category Education

 By Atiku Abubakar

My name is Atiku Abubakar. I wouldn’t be who I am today without education.

I have always talked about how I attended school very much against the wish of my late father. My dad was actually sent to prison for barring his son from access to education. As my biography makes clear, I only started attending school after the authorities put my father in jail. Amazingly, this poor boy who could have missed the chance of an education grew to occupy one of the highest offices of …

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