Speech: VP Osinbajo’s Address at 2017 Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) Laureates

I am delighted to join you at this investiture dinner in honour of our two new Nigerian National Order Of Merit Laureates: Professor Adesoji Adediran Adesina, NNOM, who is honoured for his outstanding work in Engineering and Technology; and a living legend, Mr. Bruce Paul Obomoyema Onobrakpeya, NNOM, who is honoured for his exceptional work, spanning decades of Nigerian history in the Arts and Humanities.

But also this evening, we have the privilege and pleasure of the company of some of the laureates of previous years. They include:

1. Prof. E. M Essien, NNOM

2. Prof. (Mrs.) Paulina K. Makinwa-Adebusoye, NNOM

3. Prof. Tanure Ojaide, NNOM

4. Prof. A. O. Anya, NNOM

5. Prof. B. O. Nnaji, NNOM

6. Prof. Hilary Inyang Inyang, NNOM

7. Prof. E. J. Alagoa, NNOM

8. Prof. Ayo Bamgbose, NNOM

9. Prof. J. P. Clark, NNOM

10. Prof. A. O. E. Animalu, NNOM

11. Prof. P. O. Ebigbo, NNOM

12. Prof. Oyewale Tomori, NNOM

13. Prof. A. F. Oluwole, NNOM

14. Prof. B. A. Osofisan, NNOM

15. Prof. Oladipo Adamolekun, NNOM

16. Prof. C. E. Nnolim, NNOM

17. Prof. A. O. Esogbue, NNOM

18. Prof. U. B. Ahmed, NNOM

19. Prof. T. O. Odugbemi, NNOM

20. Prof. Idris Mohammed, NNOM

21. Prof. J. K. Olupona, NNOM

22. Eze (Prof.) V. C. Ike, NNOM

23. Prof. L. A. Banjo, NNOM

24. Prof. S. C. Ohaegbulam, NNOM

We are immensely proud of your outstanding contributions to knowledge and to the development of our nation and our world.

Permit me to reflect briefly this evening on two strands of thought with which I have been occupied for a while, but which the events of today brought to the fore: The importance of merit, and the centrality of the humanities.

This morning in the Federal Executive Council Chambers, we were honoured to witness one of those special moments in our national life. The recognition of exceptional talent, years of consistent industry and the conferment of deserved accolades on merit.

We are reminded on such occasions that the greatness, fame and glory of nations largely rely on the hard work, creativity and service of its best talents. And this is the best case that can be made for the promotion of a culture of merit and for policies that as a rule prefer the best and then make provision for quotas for the disadvantaged by reason of geography, gender or other factors.

The best in our midst in their individual fields, in sports, science, technology, the professions, academia, the arts, and entertainment are given to societies to provide services and insights that only they can. In them lie the keys to the leaps from one level of knowledge to another

Consequently, any society that favours exigencies of any kind over merit has chosen to function at its sub-optimal level and greatness must, by the force of principle, elude it. High attainment, whether it be for individuals or nations, is a function of the priority given to merit, which brings me to the other issue, the growing tension amongst policymakers, some who take the position that our emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math should mean discouraging the humanities and arts.

Indeed, at a recent meeting of policymakers, a distinguished academic argued that private universities should not be registered to offer courses in the humanities and arts, but to focus on STEM. While it is sometimes easier to see the contributions of scientists to development it may require deeper introspection to recognize the arts as a rampart of the human spirit, and the bridgehead to meaning and understanding that it truly is.

Understanding, said Drew Faust, derives from both what is measurable and what is unmeasurable – it is enhanced by scientific insights and mathematical proofs, by philosophical puzzles, and by literature and art that transform the heart as well as the mind.

Education must encompass all of these as it seeks to fashion, not just employees and employers, but human beings who can help create a better future for themselves and for the world.”

Today, we honour two of our best in the sciences and in the humanities. This happy convergence recognizes that it is not really a choice between one or the other. Science and technology carry us farthest on the wings of the refined thinking, imagination, visioning and disciplined introspection of the humanities.

I have read the communique which has been presented by the distinguished laureates and I must say that I am personally impressed by the scope of the issues covered. Permit me to say that we are on the threshold of turning around our economy and polity irreversibly.

For me, the incredible revelation of the past few years is the realization that if we can deal with corruption and abuse of power we would have resolved the most malignant our problems. There is no way that a nation whose resources are looted by its custodians can succeed.

It is important that we bear in mind that as we tackle the issue of corruption, we must do so by way of process. The truth is that the easiest part is the arrest and apprehension of persons who have committed crime against the state. The more difficult part of it is in reforming those institutions that have been corrupted by years and years of neglect and the promotion of impunity. It is those institutions that we must strengthen and it is those institutions that are important in being able to carry forward all of the reforms that we are putting in place, that is by far a more difficult exercise.

But I want to assure you that President Muhammadu Buhari is completely committed and determined in ensuring that this country’s fortunes are turned around irreversibly. In conversations with him, he has said that it all that he has devoted the rest of his life in doing, and I am completely convinced that God spearing his life, we will see this turn around.

Our special thanks go to the Governing Board of the Nigerian National Merit Award, under the Chairmanship of Prof. Shekarau Yakubu Aku, and members of the Board’s four Specialized Committees of Assessors and External Assessors for the excellent work they have done.

To the eminent laureates please accept again hearty congratulations on behalf of Mr. President and the government and people of Nigeria.

May your path from here on shine even brighter in Jesus name.

Thank you for listening.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
08 December 2017

Speech: VP Osinbajo’s Address at the Inauguration of The National Council on Nutrition in Abuja

This was established by the Federal Executive Council in May 2007, following the convening of the first Presidential Stakeholders’ Forum on the Child Nutrition Situation in Nigeria, on 22nd February 2007 – is the highest decision-making body on food and nutrition in Nigeria, and is expected to spearhead and oversee our interventions in addressing Nigeria’s nutritional challenges.

The Council has a robust roadmap to work with – the National Food and Nutrition Policy, adopted in April 2016 by a broad coalition of stakeholders, comprising the Federal and State Governments, civil society and international development partners.

The emergence of that Policy is further demonstration of the seriousness with which the Buhari administration takes the issue of improving the nutritional status of all Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable in our midst: infants and children, pregnant women, the elderly, the poor.

That policy, if fully implemented, will ensure significant improvements in several specific national indices, including the reduction of stunting in under-5 children, reduction of wasting in children, reduction of anaemia in pregnant women, reduction in adult obesity rates, and an increase in the rates of exclusive breastfeeding.

More than any other government in Nigeria’s history, this administration has demonstrated its seriousness about catering to the needs of the most vulnerable of our population.

One of the primary manifestations of this commitment to the vulnerable is our Social Investment Programme, comprising a School Feeding Programme for public primary schools, a Micro-credit scheme for small business people, a Conditional Cash Transfer scheme, and a Jobs programme for unemployed graduates.

The School Feeding Programme, which directly seeks to improve the nutrition of primary school children, is now active in 19 States of the country, providing one meal a day to 5million. Our target is 5.5million children before the end of the year. At the beginning of December, we intend to carry out a mass deworming exercise on the back of the School Feeding Programme.

Our Agriculture reform agenda is focusing on achieving self-sufficiency within the shortest possible time. In the Northeast, where Boko Haram’s violence disrupted the farming cycle for years, we are now seeing a remarkable improvement in security, allowing the people to return to their farms, and grow their food. In our healthcare agenda, we are revitalizing our primary health care system, with nutrition at the very heart of it, and promoting optimum breastfeeding and quality of complementary foods.

We are also collaborating with the private sector to ensure Nigerians have year round access to adequately fortified and nutritious foods, and working with both national and International partners to raise awareness and deepen understanding on this issue.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is clear that there is a strong connection between nutrition and economic growth. If we invest in improved nutrition for our people we will see the results not only in improved emotional and psychological satisfaction in our citizens, but also in reduced healthcare costs and increased economic productivity.

We must therefore ensure that we mobilize the resources needed to make these needed investments. The Federal Government has been progressively increasing budgetary allocations to nutrition activities.

But the Government cannot fund this by itself. The private sector, civil society, and international community must all play a key role in helping mobilize financial and logistical resources, and in helping ensure transparency and accountability in the deployment of these resources. Indeed, every resource must be made to count towards the attainment of our goals and ambitions. There is no room for waste.

The National Council on Nutrition has its work cut out, in implementation, collaboration, and communication. We bear the burden of very high expectations – Nigeria must make speedy and visible progress in its fight against hunger, malnutrition and other nutritional challenges. As part of this we must ensure that the new National Food and Nutrition Policy is quickly domesticated at State level in every State of the Federation and the FCT.

Let me reiterate that the work of this Council is an important one. Our success or failure will make a huge difference in how quickly Nigeria is able to achieve not only the Sustainable Development Goals, but also our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

I would also like to express our gratitude to all our partners and stakeholders, local and international, who have demonstrated again and again that they are fully with us on this journey.

In closing, let me express my congratulations to all Council members. This is a great opportunity to serve our nation and its people.

It is now my honour and privilege to formally inaugurate the National Council on Nutrition today. I wish you a successful tenure.

Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Laolu Akande
SSA, Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President
November 22, 2017