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| Obasanjo defending his thesis |
BY Nnaemeka Meribe
Sometime in 2005 we attended a tourism stakeholders meeting in Aso Villa, Abuja. Those who mattered in Nigeria’s tourism were invited for the presentation of a Tourism Master plan developed for the country by Tourism Development International (TDI), a tourism consulting firm based in Dublin, Ireland. I was one of the elite travel writers invited to this all-important meeting.
That was a period when government showed a good level of interest in the development of the tourism sector. The Minister of Tourism then, Chief Frank Ogbuewu, was up and doing. He got the then President Olusegun Obasanjo to set up the Presidential Council on Tourism.
The ministry campaigned vigorously for a tourism development fund and also came up with a tourism satellite account (TSA). The country hosted the Commonwealth Tourism Ministers Conference during the period. In addition, the Osun-Osogbo grove was enlisted in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. It was also during this period that Abuja Carnival was conceptualised and kick started.
At the state level, Kebbi was making a statement with Argungu Fishing Festival while Cross River upped the ante with the Calabar Carnival. Nasarawa had big plans for the Farin Ruwa Falls and Abia was also talking big about the Arochukwu Long Juju.
That was a period when government showed a good level of interest in the development of the tourism sector. The Minister of Tourism then, Chief Frank Ogbuewu, was up and doing. He got the then President Olusegun Obasanjo to set up the Presidential Council on Tourism.
The ministry campaigned vigorously for a tourism development fund and also came up with a tourism satellite account (TSA). The country hosted the Commonwealth Tourism Ministers Conference during the period. In addition, the Osun-Osogbo grove was enlisted in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. It was also during this period that Abuja Carnival was conceptualised and kick started.
At the state level, Kebbi was making a statement with Argungu Fishing Festival while Cross River upped the ante with the Calabar Carnival. Nasarawa had big plans for the Farin Ruwa Falls and Abia was also talking big about the Arochukwu Long Juju.
Bauchi did a great job at the Yankari National Park, with Edo vowing to work hard to ensure that the Benin Moat would also be inscribed in the UNESCO list of heritage sites. On its part, Anambra promised to make the Ogbunike Cave stand out.
Anyway, back to the tourism stakeholders meeting. After the opening ceremony at the council chambers, the statehouse correspondents were asked to leave so that the stakeholders would deliberate on the issue of the day.
Anyway, back to the tourism stakeholders meeting. After the opening ceremony at the council chambers, the statehouse correspondents were asked to leave so that the stakeholders would deliberate on the issue of the day.
And so, the three Irishmen from the TDI were invited to present the master plan…after which ministers and other stakeholders were given time to air the views and seek clarifications.
President Obasanjo, unlike him, kept mum almost all through the period. Most of the time, his head was bowed and eyes closed—or so it seemed. We all thought that Baba was asleep.
To our surprise, however, when everybody finished talking, Baba summarised the presentation and the views of Ogbuewu, Okonjo-Iweala and Pascal Dozie (who represented the banking sector at the meeting).
To our surprise, however, when everybody finished talking, Baba summarised the presentation and the views of Ogbuewu, Okonjo-Iweala and Pascal Dozie (who represented the banking sector at the meeting).
He also analysed the views of some of the stakeholders, pointing out the feasibility or otherwise of suggestions made. We left the meeting convinced that Obasanjo was a brilliant man who really knew his onions.
And just yesterday, the former President was awarded a PhD by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) after a successful defence of his thesis titled, “Resolving the Unfinished Agenda in Liberation Theology: Leadership, Poverty and Underdevelopment in North Eastern Nigeria.”
NOUN was initially established in July 1983 by the Shehu Shagari administration as springboard for open and distance learning in Nigeria. However, it was suspended in April 1984 by the Muhammadu Buhari-led desperate, power hungry and anti-education military administration that overthrew Shagari on December 31, 1983.
And just yesterday, the former President was awarded a PhD by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) after a successful defence of his thesis titled, “Resolving the Unfinished Agenda in Liberation Theology: Leadership, Poverty and Underdevelopment in North Eastern Nigeria.”
NOUN was initially established in July 1983 by the Shehu Shagari administration as springboard for open and distance learning in Nigeria. However, it was suspended in April 1984 by the Muhammadu Buhari-led desperate, power hungry and anti-education military administration that overthrew Shagari on December 31, 1983.
Fortunately for NOUN, on the 12 April 2001 President Olusegun Obasanjo set machinery in motion for its resuscitation.
Just before the end of his administration in 2007, Obasanjo enrolled for a bachelor of theology programme in NOUN and promised to push it up to a doctorate after graduation. And on graduation, he made good his promise, enrolling for MPhil/Phd. Today at almost 80, the man bagged a PhD.
Hate him or like him, you cannot dismiss his doggedness, pertinacity and unending quest for learning. An engineer, army general, farmer, politician, public speaker, evangelist, author, farmer, theologian…, who knows what else he’s cooking?
Just before the end of his administration in 2007, Obasanjo enrolled for a bachelor of theology programme in NOUN and promised to push it up to a doctorate after graduation. And on graduation, he made good his promise, enrolling for MPhil/Phd. Today at almost 80, the man bagged a PhD.
Hate him or like him, you cannot dismiss his doggedness, pertinacity and unending quest for learning. An engineer, army general, farmer, politician, public speaker, evangelist, author, farmer, theologian…, who knows what else he’s cooking?
I no be your fan, Baba, but I dobale 10 times for you. Congrats Dr Olusegun Obasanjo.
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