It’s a season of divine victories for Nigeria! A victorious season that began with peaceful conduct of presidential election on Saturday, March 28, 2015 and equally peaceful handover of political power to another political party at the centre.
It was also a political milestone when the defeated incumbent president freely conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent-an exemplary conduct in our clime.
Akinwumi Adesina
When we thought we’ve had it all, news filtered in from the 50th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abdjan, Cote d’Ivoire, that Nigeria’s Dr. Akinwumi Adesina had been elected the 8th President of the AfDB, becoming the very First Nigerian Citizen to occupy the position in the 50 years existence of the Bank.
On his road to victory, he defeated seven other candidates from Ethiopia, Tunisia, Chad, Cape Verde, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and Mali.
In essence, it was a Golden Jubilee victory for Akinwumi and Nigeria at a crucial and challenging time for the nation.
The election of Akinwumi is a historic soothing balm for a country that contributes so much to the purse of the AfDB through the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF) and yet unable to muster the political and diplomatic muscle in the continent to mount the saddle of leadership of the same body.
It is also a reflection of the positive outlook for the country in view of the emerging new dispensation that eventually swayed our African brothers (Francophone and Anglophone etc) to entrust our own with the presidency of AfDB. As l scream a resounding and weighty congratulations to Akinwumi, l urge him to remember his golden promise on election day:
“I promise to work hard with all African governments to deliver more inclusive economic growth across our beautiful continent.”
Congratulations, Akinwumi Adesina!
Femi Adesina
Mr. Femi Adesina cuts the picture of a humble and thoroughbred professional. As President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), he sat atop the assembly of the editorial cream of the media industry in Nigeria.
In this line of duty, he exhibited uncommon sense of leadership and service to members of NGE and the larger Fourth Estate of the Realm. And barely two months ago, he was resoundingly re-elected for another term in office as NGE President, an affirmation that he did well in the first instance.
We were indeed savouring his Second Term Victory when a bigger victory and responsibility came knocking at his door:
Femi Adesina was named Presidential Media Adviser to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari. And the consensus was clear:
The Right Man for the Job! As he settles down to work, it is our conviction that the Executive-Media relationship will improve dramatically during his tenure.
Presido-Congratulations!
Shola Taylor
I came across Engr. Shola Taylor during my formative years in the journalism business. I was a Reporter covering the then emerging Information and Communications Technology ((ICT) sector for the now rested The Post Express newspaper that operated from Apapa area of Lagos.
He was then and still is, the CEO of Kemilinks International. One crucial factor stood him out then: he was ready and willing to mingle and respond to questions, even from Reporters. In essence, he was always there for us to generate vital stories for our ICT pages.
And last week, favour found him. He was appointed Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), to lead the Commonwealth body to realize and advance the telecom dreams of Commonwealth countries.
A great job indeed!
At the Commonwealth Broadband Forum 2015 in Abuja, where the news came as a welcome development to stakeholders in the Commonwealth ICT community, Shola Taylor was himself as usual, exchanging pleasantries and ready to respond to any issue in his chosen field of endeavour.
Engr. Shola Taylor-Congratulations for an Appointment well made!
