The FORUM Newspaper

EDITORIAL
NATIONAL ECONOMIC SUMMIT: AN EXERCISE IN VERBOSITY
Very recently it was credited to Nigeria’s first literary Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyika, that during a courtesy cm solidarity visit to A*o Rock he called for National Economic Summit to be put in place. This “clarion call” so to speak, is said to have received urgent attention as the government of the day is giving the call the serious consideration it deserves. However, adhering to put together a National Economic Summit is like that Igbo Ozo-title holder who went buying a leather bag for his “ofo” after he had lost the “ofo” – symbol of his authority.
Another “summit” on top of too many conferences and summits whose recommendations and resolutions have been discarded or set aside looks like Nigerian leaders are in love with “jaw-jawing” which is an exercise in verbosity. The political debate husbanded by Gen. I.B. Babangida (Rtd.) in the 1990s, where did it take Nigeria to? It was like giving vent or free expression to verbiage. At the end, did IBB not annul the 1993 June 12 election? National Economic Summit? Yes! But does Nigeria have “National Economy? Here starts the enigma. In trying to look into the economy of this nation and so pin down “Nigerian Economy” that should be the main thrust of any National Economic Summit, the proposed Nigerian National Economic Summit might hit a cul-de-sac and then the country goes back to “square zero” not “square one” or the Summit’s recommendations go the way of several previous conferences’ recommendations and resolutions. Were the previous National Economic Plans not the outcome of conferences, summits and workshops held in the country and elsewhere in Africa and Europe? At what point of Nigeria’s Development Administration were the blueprints abandoned?
Recently the visiting South African President, Mr. Jacob Zuma, declared: “Time has come for Africa to break away from colonial legacies”, a step he said “would help in the economic development of the African Regions” South of the Sahara. The Maghreb Region (North African Region) tied to Arab, (and by extension to Islamic Economy) and European economies are not faring better either. One of such legacies handed over to African leaders is “the strong link of African economies” to those of the metropolitans and their bourgeois capitalism. The economic system from “the West” to “the Rest of us” is such that “the freedom of the down-trodden is surely in the grave”, apologies to P. Heinecke. This erudite scholar, former Senior Lecturer of Public Administration in the Institute of Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and author of “Public Management of Poverty” once wrote: “These monotonous repetitive documents constantly warn against the evils of riches and exploitation, and they recommend equal rights and opportunities for all, self-determination, universal respect for human rights, and fundamental freedom for all citizens. These formal, moral and legal precepts (frameworks) and high-sounding principles have yet to become reality, for there is theoretical and abstract equality in the land, but practical, concrete and increasing inequality. A heaven of ideas is superimposed on the hell of reality” (P. Heinecke 1986 pp. 20-21). How apt! Which subsequent government in Nigeria since 1986 has faulted this assertion of his by economic plans, verifiable policies and practical implementation? It is not that there have been no movers and shakers in the politics of Nigeria but from where did this rain start beating us?
The National Economic Summit coming on the heels of a discarded National Conference is at best an exercise in National Jamboree of verbosity. Instead of jettisoning the recommendations and resolutions of the just concluded National Conference of 2014 that X-rayed the first one hundred years of bringing together more than 250 nations into a conglomerate called Nigeria, the present Government of the Nigerian Federation must find therein issues relevant to the nation’s economic conjunctures and set out to implement them. Any new Summit again, and Nigeria will be telling the world that she is yet to find her best eggheads. Let us work hard to cushion the effects of bad economy, leave aside rhetorics and compel Nigerians to dissociate themselves from American dollars and the dollar-driven economies as recommended by IMF and the World Bank.
The Forum Editorial is of the view that if the present Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Muhammadu Buhari, persuade Nigerians to believe in themselves and look inwards, Nigeria “go survive” and Nigerians must fare better. The lesson from Nigeria’s present economic predicaments is that: “Bright summer day is gone. Everything passes away and Nigeria has Nobody to console her in her sorrows”. Nothing will be left for her than “to paddle her own canoe”. There is no man or woman, no nation or community on earth created by God who is not endowed. Let’s ignore the IMF-led Western Economists: They are simply bluffing it out.

School of Health and Technology Okporo at limelight as they hold Her 11th Matriculation/ Maiden Induction.
Do not despise days of little beginning the scripture says, like a dream it started 11 years ago, what was thought to be an impossible mission was kick-started by the determination and courage of a great woman. Before the year 2005, it was thought as impossible that a school of health and technology could be owned by the catholic diocese of orlu. It was James Lane Allen who said that whether you be a man or a woman, you will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honour. Standing on this, there will be no better way to describe the person of Sr. Stella Maris Okoroha, than a woman of courage. It is worthy of note that against all odds, it was through the efforts of this woman and the Episcopal blessings and approval that the catholic diocese of orlu is proud to be the owners of this prestigious tertiary institution of higher learning.
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired and success achieved. This is true when juxtaposed with the history of the school. What we today have as school of Health Technology Okporo is the exhibition of courage at its apex. It is worthy of note that this institution is the only and best Catholic School of Health Technology institution in Nigeria, with three well functional and accredited department namely Community Health Department, Medical Laboratory Science Department and Environmental Department. As Elizabeth Janeway said that if one is going to change things, one has to make a fuss and catch the eye of the world, the radical and positive changes adapted by this institution has really caught the eyes of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as they found it worthy and conducive for academic activities and immediately install a Jamb examination centre.
This year’s Matriculation/Induction seems to be the best of its kind as the event kicked on with a holy mass presided over by Rev. Fr. Dr. Clement Iroka. During the homily, he said that the crowd after listening to Christ’s astonishing teaching divided into two major segments the supporters and opposers, the supporters were for him because they saw the truth in the undisputable teaching of Christ and admitted it while the opposers were pessimistic people who were very busy devising a trap for him so to crucify him but yet Christ escaped their trap. He therefore implored the matriculants to always do what is right no matter the negative aura surrounding them, to be optimistic and adhere to the rules and regulations of the institution stating that their good behaviours and character will always bear them witness as Christ’s teaching did.
Furthermore, he admonished them to emulate and identify with people who are positive and optimistic in the society that it will strengthen their moral character tremendously and illumine their academic life. People who are negative and pessimistic lack moral standards and they attract negative things around them even though some of them might be educated. However, he warned the matriculants never to be lenient and lousy as its being tolerated by other higher institutions.
At the end of the post communion, Fr. Clement appreciated the directress of the institution Rev. Sister Stella Maris Okoroha and rest of the Rev.Srs and Lecturers of the institution and as well the matriculants and the lay faithful for their effort and support for the progress of the institution, he therefore pleaded with the matriculants to comport themselves throughout the ceremony bearing in mind that though this is a higher institution that belongs to the church therefore morality is needed.
Matriculation/Induction ceremony commenced after the dismissal of Mass and it was indeed a memorable event as everyone went home happily.