The Federal Government may soon place restrictions on the importation of generators into the country. This was disclosed by President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday at the 5th Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies, Nigeria, AES, held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister for Works and Housing, Mr. Mike Onolememen, noted that, while the government is studying the proposal of restricting or banning importation of generators, his administration was working to ensure that current electricity problem facing the country is addresse.
The president praised the efforts of the AES in repositioning the youths through her ‘Operation 500 Students-Entrepreneurs Programme’, where 500 students in each tertiary institution in the country are trained on leadership and entrepreneurship free in collaboration with the school authorities every year.
Jonathan said his administration places emphasis on entrepreneurship and human capital development in its determination to reduce the level of unemployment in the country.
He noted that Nigerians are enterprising people, who if given the enabling environment, would excel in whatever legitimate venture they are involved in.
He pointed out that the theme of the conference: ‘Transformational Leadership: A Springboard to National and Sustainable Development’, was apt and timely as the country needs transformational leaders, who have the interest of the people at heart.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar (rtd.), noted that the issue of good governance and peaceful coexistence are central to any effort at improving the lot of Nigerians.
Abdusalam lamented that Nigeria has an almost insurmountable problem of leadership that has hung on its neck like an albatross.
The former Head of State listed three challenges that hinder the country’s match to nationhood to include; the absence of stable state institutions, a lingering constitutional problem, and the question of inequity and inequality.
In his speech, another former Head of State, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd.), represented by former Minister of Works, Mr. Mohammed Hassan Lawal decried the level of corruption in the country.
He noted that the greatest problem of Nigeria was the failure of leadership because “we have a government that is neither responsive, transparent nor responsible.” Buhari noted that the fight for good governance was a collective one as all Nigerians must rise up and demand for the right leadership in the country.
He described good governance as that leadership that is consensus based, that which allows for transparency and accountability in the affairs of government and that which must protect and respect the rule of law.
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