Austin ceejaay

When there’s a bomb blasts , there’s after effects Z I’m still waiting to see the disaster of the blast. #Trump #nigeriasecurityreality

Our #AmericanExcellence spotlight for the week is Nigerian-American innovator Oluseun Taiwo (@taiwo_oluseun), founder of @Solideonusa, who is advancing aerospace and robotics with cutting-edge manufacturing and machine learning. Featured on the 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, his work strengthens U.S. leadership in future tech. Innovation. Resilience. Excellence. 🇺🇸

A powerful moment in Rome, at the Vatican, as the Prayer of the Faithful was offered in Igbo during the Pope’s Christmas Vigil Mass. Is Igbo becoming a global language of worship?

The Farouk Controversy and the Question of Public Responsibility One of the most talked-about public controersies in recent times is the allegation surrounding Farouk Ahmed. Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, alleged that Mr. Farouk, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), spent about $5 million on the secondary school education of his four children in Switzerland. He called for a full investigation and public explanation. At current exchange rates, $5 million is approximately ₦7.5 billion. In a country with over 18 million out-of-school children — the highest number in the world — this revelation inevitably raises questions of proportionality, public trust, and moral responsibility. Education is one of the greatest legacies a parent can give a child. No reasonable person begrudges parents for investing in their children’s future. Plato, in The Republic, reminds us that “education and upbringing are what make good human beings,” warning that neglect of education harms not just individuals but the entire constitution of society. The issue here, therefore, is not education itself, but scale, context, and moral consequence, especially when such spending is attributed to a public official in a country with extreme inequality. What ₦7.5 Billion Could Do at Home With ₦7.5 billion, it would be possible to build 25 school blocks, at ₦35 million per block, fully covering construction, furnishing, and basic learning infrastructure. This amounts to ₦875 million in capital expenditure. Each block contains 6 classrooms.Each classroom accommodates 40 students. That means: 240 students per block 25 blocks × 240 students = 6,000 students educated every year Each block would employ 18 teachers, giving a total of 450 teachers. At a monthly salary of ₦125,000, each teacher earns ₦1.5 million per year, bringing the total annual wage bill to ₦675 million. After construction (₦875 million) and one full year of teacher salaries (₦675 million), total expenditure is ₦1.55 billion. This leaves ₦5.95 billion from the original ₦7.5 billion. Making the System Self-Sustaining If the remaining ₦5.95 billion is invested in Nigerian government bonds at 19%, it would yield approximately ₦1.13 billion annually. From this yield, allocating ₦10 million per school block per year for libraries, laboratories, utilities, learning materials, meals, and maintenance would cost: ₦250 million annually (₦10m × 25 blocks)This still leaves ₦880 million per year. From this balance: ₦675 million comfortably pays teachers’ salaries every year Over ₦200 million remains as surplus, ensuring reserves, expansion, and long-term stability In effect, the system becomes permanently self-funding, without touching the original capital. A Moral Contrast (Corrected) In simple terms, the amount allegedly spent on the education of four children could establish a self-sustaining education ecosystem that: Educates 6,000 Nigerian children every year Employs 450 teachers. Ironically, Nigerian children educated abroad would benefit even more if those who remain at home were educated to comparable standards to work for them and with them when they return. An educated society produces better governance, safer communities, stronger institutions, and a more dignified nation. It is a win-win. The Larger Question Nigeria has a population of about 240 million people. In a system described by former British Prime Minister David Cameron as “fantastically corrupt,” and by the U.S. President Donald Trump as “a now disgraced country,” it is reasonable to assume that there are at least 2,400 individuals - just 0.0001% of the population - who, like the Farouks, have access to extraordinary resources largely derived from public office. If 2,400 individuals each sacrificed $5 million, it will achieve the following:

Nigerians WAKE UP! President Trump & The Department of War have rained fire on the Radical Islamic terrorists attacking innocent Nigerians in the North West, especially the Christians. Merry Christmas to all the ISIS scumbags & all their sympathizers. America gave you enough warnings. 🚀🚀🔥

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Alex Otti is proof that no one needs 4yrs to make a change. He promised to finish & step aside. No senate, no presidential ambition. He will fix Abia for his people, & his name & fame will last forever. That’s legacy; something those drunk with power at 80+ will never understand.

Happy to be in the village for Xmas. And a nice surprise to join HE Governor Alex Otti to commission the first set of electric buses for Abia State. Abia is working hard to go Green and contribute to lowering Green house gas emissions in its urban centers! Congratulations to Gov Otti and his team!

It’s a good Sunday

@PeterObi Oil theft must stop!

My attention has been drawn to reports that the Nigerian-owned supertanker was seized by the United States authorities over allegations of crude oil theft and related illicit activities. While the full facts are still emerging, this development is deeply troubling and speaks to a much bigger crisis that has continued to undermine our national economy, our global reputation, and the future of our young people. Severally over the years, I have consistently alerted that Nigeria is losing billions of dollars annually to crude oil theft, a criminal enterprise that has been allowed to thrive because of weak institutions, lack of accountability, and an entrenched culture of impunity. When a nation’s most valuable resources are stolen in broad daylight, whether at home or on the high seas, its people inevitably suffer. Our schools deteriorate, our hospitals remain underfunded, insecurity worsens, and millions slip further into poverty. The seriousness of this incident should be appreciated and thorough investigation insituted to get the root of the matter. This incident should serve as a wake-up call. I have consistently mentioned that ordinary Nigerians cannot steal crude oil, and no responsible nation can afford to look away while its wealth is siphoned off by a network of powerful individuals. We must strengthen our maritime security, reform our regulatory agencies, digitise and transparently track every barrel of oil produced in this country, and dismantle the criminal cartels that have operated with impunity for decades. More importantly, we must rebuild Nigeria’s global image by showing the world that we are serious about the rule of law, honest governance, and responsible management of our national assets. A nation cannot attract investment when it is constantly in the news for corruption, theft, and mismanagement. Relevant Nigerian authorities should work with international partners to establish the facts of this case and ensure that anyone found complicit faces justice, without fear or favour. Our nation cannot continue on this path. Nigeria has everything it needs to become a prosperous and respected nation. What we lack is competent and compassionate leadership that will prioritise the welfare of our citizens. It is time for that to change. A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

RT if you concur!

True

140 Years of Catholicism in Eastern Nigeria After returning from overseas today, I travelled to Onitsha to join the Catholic faithful in celebrating 140 years of Catholicism in Eastern Nigeria. It was a profound moment of gratitude and hope as we marked this historic milestone at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity's Field. The Mass was presided over by the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Michael Crotty, and concelebrated by Francis Cardinal Arinze, along with bishops and clergy from the province. They reminded us of the legacy left by early missionaries whose sacrifices laid the foundation of the Church in this region. We honoured pioneers such as Rev. Fr. Joseph Lutz, Bishop Joseph Ignatius Shanahan, and Archbishop Charles Heerey, whose devotion planted seeds of faith that continue to flourish today. I also celebrated the contributions of the successive leaders of the Onitsha Archdiocese: Francis Cardinal Arinze, Archbishops Stephen Ezeanya and Albert Obiefuna, and the current Archbishop Valerian Okeke. Their leadership has strengthened education, healthcare, and social development in the community. As the largest provider of social services in Nigeria after the government, the Church continues to impact lives through its schools and hospitals. Being a proud product of Catholic education, I carry the values of discipline, integrity, and service with me as lifelong guiding principles. I extend my congratulations to the Archbishop, clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Archdiocese. May God continue to bless their work. -PO

Peter Obi or nothing

Nigeria is not a true country, but an artificial neo-colonial construct of the British, to empower Northern Nigerian islamists (who the British viewed as easier to control) to dominate over everyone else. But I guess you like that, considering you worked for the former despot of Nigeria Buhari (or shall I call him Jubril of Sudan). Your so-called democracy is not real democracy, but a bad joke!

Any Igbo man or woman involved in what Nnamdi Kanu is suffering is cursed now and forever. Iseeeeee. Say Iseeeeee.