I have yet to visit Senegal, but I had a sound rapport with the good people of Senegal during my educational sojourn in France over two decades ago. The people are unique, can easily be identified from the crowd, and amiable, especially to Africans. They have a giant physique with a husky voice but…
In the last three months of 2024, the insecurity monster has direly reared its ugly head in several corners of Nigeria. People’s in-depth cries of horror, hopelessness, and desperation reign in numerous Northwest, East, and Central communities. Insecurity and economic hardship caused by inflation and devaluation of the Naira have knocked people to their knees,…
Blueprint newspaper published the first part of this article three years ago on Thursday, January 14, 2021, in my weekly column of Deep Thought. Because of what was written in the article, I received a ton of threats to my life from the dark forces operating behind the scenes. Momentarily, the threats baptized me into…
Ningi-gate: Macabre Dance in Public Domain The legislature, judiciary, and executive are three pillars of the presidential system of democratic governance. The relationship between the three arms of government is a perfect complementary system for transparency, accountability, checks, and balances to advance the cause of governance and achieve national development. The legislature is the most…
Obasanjo@87: Grand Salute to Embodiment of Africanism and Leadership On August 21, 2017, I held my head high, overwhelmed by the pride of being a Nigerian in the United States of America. Thanks to the portrait of Olusegun Obasanjo, conspicuously hung in an auspicious room called the “Hall of Laureates” at the World Food Prize…
Contrary to Mark Antony’s statement in Shakespeare’s play in 100 BC, “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is often interred with their bones,” there are certain men whose good was so great that part might have been interred with their bones for heavenly reward. The other part might continue to immortalize…
Salamatu-WOFAN: One Woman’s Ferocious Fight against Family Hunger and Poverty in Nigeria Nigeria, as a developing country, has a pocket of rotten eggs but is endowed with kindhearted people who give a helping hand to people in need. Hajia Salamatu Garba is a benevolent personality who founded the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) to provide…
The late Prof. Mustapha Ahmed Falaki had a larger-than-life personality during his working career that made his name ring the bell nine years after his assasination. As expected, my tribute last week to the academic colossus, social-justice crusader, power of the powerless, and farmers’ general, Mallam Falaki, attracted praise and happy testimonies from those whom…
On Saturday, February 14th, 2015, my phone repeatedly rang in the middle of my lovely squash game. I cursed myself for not putting the phone on silent mode. I hesitatingly answered it. The distance caller said, “Prof, you are in the court playing, so you didn’t hear that Malam Falaki (as we fondly called him)…
By Prof M.K. Othman As time ticks, our university system’s perilous situation is deepening, creating an unpleasant scenario. The current administration seems irresponsive to the happenings on our university campuses. Apart from the sweet-coated but unfulfilling statements, award of 25/35% salary increase, presidential amnesty to release four months withheld salaries of the striking workers, approval…
