How jobs, stronger economy can unite Nigerians, stem sectarian strife

How jobs, stronger economy can unite Nigerians, stem sectarian strife
Post Date March 12, 2018
Comments 23 Comments
Author
Category Agriculture, Business, Democracy, History, Leadership, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Politics, Security

Over the last few months, our nation has had to reopen a fresh chapter in the conversation on internal security, peace and unity in the wake of renewed violence in the North Central and North East of our country. These sad episodes have not only led to questions by young Nigerians (and Nigerians as a whole) around the effectiveness of our security structure, but also questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s unity.

Unity is not something we just have because we are Nigerians, or because someone …

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Women’s Day : going beyond the norm to #PressForProgress

Women’s Day : going beyond the norm to #PressForProgress
Post Date March 8, 2018
Comments 5 Comments
Author
Category History, Leadership, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Uncategorized

On this special day, I join everyone around the world to celebrate women. In a place like Nigeria, the efforts of women are usually most acknowledged in the household—and, indeed, we must never take their efforts on the home front for granted. However, the International Women’s Day offers us a great opportunity to go beyond the home front and celebrate women everywhere: in the household, at the workplace, or in the field.

I celebrate women like Dr. Ola Orekunrin, a medical doctor, helicopter pilot and healthcare …

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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 28 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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Dear I Go Dye, You Are Right, But We Can Fix Nigeria Together

Dear I Go Dye, You Are Right, But We Can Fix Nigeria Together
Post Date December 7, 2017
Comments 115 Comments
Author
Category Democracy, History, Leadership, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Politics, The Economy

Dear I Go Dye,

I read your post on Instagram. It was hard to miss it because it was on every major news website. I would like to say that you were mostly right. The questions you raised in your post are similar to the ones I have been asked by other young people on social media, so I am replying this not just to you as a person, but to all young Nigerians who have asked similar questions.

Firstly, you are right. The Nigerian youth have often …

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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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None of us is as great as all of us

None of us is as great as all of us
Post Date June 20, 2017
Comments 47 Comments
Author
Category History, Leadership, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Politics, Scholarships

The number one problem plaguing Nigeria is not corruption or even the absence of regular power. The number one problem militating against the progress of Nigeria is her lack of unity.

If we can fix this problem, Nigeria will herself be fixed.

In The Old Testament of The Bible, which Christians accept as the Divine scripture, God spoke about mankind in Genesis 11:6 thus: “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible …

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Good Governance and Development: Notes on Nigeria

Post Date May 5, 2017
Comments 61 Comments
Author
Category History, Leadership, Nigeria, Politics, The Economy

Being speech by Atiku Abubakar, GCON, former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, at the 2nd Annual Convention of the Abia State Medical Association Alumni Association, UK, held at Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Dartford, London. 30 April, 2017.

Protocol:

If you are like me you would have sat around fellow Nigerians as they discuss the many challenges facing the country and the many ways they think those challenges can be met. And you likely participated in some of those discussions. After listening and analyzing the litany 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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Congratulations, General Muhammadu Buhari as #NigeriaDecides

Congratulations, General Muhammadu Buhari as #NigeriaDecides
Post Date March 31, 2015
Comments 23 Comments
Author
Category Democracy, History, Leadership, Nigeria, Politics

Congratulatory message by Atiku Abubakar, GCON, former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the election of president-elect, His Excellency, General Muhammadu Buhari.

My hearty congratulations to His Excellency, General Muhammadu Buhari, for being elected the next president of our beloved county, Nigeria. You have led our party, the All Progressives Congress to an unprecedented victory within two years of it’s official formation, and in so doing, written the most important chapter of our democracy.

The great Nnamdi Azikiwe once wrote that “history will continue to vindicate the …

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At Easter, we must imbibe the spirit of love, wherever we may come from

At Easter, we must imbibe the spirit of love, wherever we may come from
Post Date April 19, 2014
Comments 10 Comments
Author
Category Democracy, Leadership, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Security, Uncategorized

As we celebrate the Christian season of Easter, I would love to enjoin Christians, and indeed all Nigerians, to internalise the spiritual gains and benefits of the season for an improved society. This is the only path to enthroning a Nigeria where the basic human rights of the rich and poor are respected and upheld, and where citizens can dwell in peace and safety.

We need to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers and, above all, make sacrifice an integral part of our existence. That is …

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Have You Registered With APC?

Have You Registered With APC?
Post Date February 9, 2014
Comments 15 Comments
Author
Category Democracy, Leadership, Nigeria

What you need to do:
Go to the nearest INEC polling center to you with two passport photographs. There will be an APC registration center there. You must be at least 18 years of age to be registered.
Find the nearest polling booth to you HERE

When:
From Wednesday 5th February to Wednesday 12th February 2014

Why you need to register:
1. An opportunity to join a platform for truly positive change in Nigeria, and become part of an exciting community of change agents.
2. An opportunity for you to move from talking to doing #GetInvolved
3. As a …

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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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2014: My thoughts on Nigeria, politics, elections and social media

2014: My thoughts on Nigeria, politics, elections and social media
Post Date January 11, 2014
Comments 27 Comments
Author
Category Democracy, Leadership, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts

2014 is an important year for Nigeria. 100 years ago this year, what is today known as Nigeria came into being, after the amalgamation of the territories known as the Northern and Southern Protectorates.

It is also an important year for the world, being the centenary of the start of the 1st World War.

For me personally it marks the silver jubilee of my retirement from the Nigeria Customs Service, as Deputy Director, the second highest office in the Service. On the 28th of April 1989 I …

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Never take unity for granted

Never take unity for granted
Post Date January 1, 2014
Comments 7 Comments
Author
Category Democracy, History, Leadership, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Security

As we mark the centenary celebration of the amalgamation of the Lagos colony with the Northern and Southern Protectorates by the British Colonial occupier forming one country, Nigerians need to pat each other on the back for we have truly come a long way. However, we must redouble our efforts towards building a stronger and more united Nigeria rather than concentrating energies on division or breakup.

The recent clamor by some of Nigeria’s leaders for a renegotiation of the continued being of Nigeria are dishonest and …

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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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#AtikuAt67: My Life, My Book, My story

#AtikuAt67: My Life, My Book, My story
Post Date November 25, 2013
Comments 27 Comments
Author
Category History, Leadership, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts

On the 25th of November, 1946, a child was born in Jada, then a small town in what is now Adamawa State, and that child grew up to be me, Atiku. Though born into a humble background, I have been fortunate, and life had been a blessing to me. As an orphan without a father or siblings, and a very poor mother, I grew up alone, but have been blessed by divine providence. I was given an education, against the stern wishes of my father, …

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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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Atiku: Nigeria at crossroads, charts way to nation building

Atiku: Nigeria at crossroads, charts way to nation building
Post Date August 27, 2013
Comments 7 Comments
Author
Category Leadership

(Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria) – Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned that Nigeria is at a crossroads but that the road to continued mediocrity is not an option if the country must attain the desired greatness.

The former Vice President made the assertion at the showcase session of Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference in Calabar.

Atiku noted that the path we are currently threading, which is marked by empty promises, avarice, greed and corruption cannot sustain nation building and development.

He opined that “nations are …

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