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  By abiodun KOMOLAFE There are question marks about the proliferation of ‘development commissions. However, we go along with the present enthusiasm, whatever the agenda perceived in cynical quarters, for their creation. Over the years, various development commissions have been established to address specific regional challenges. To understand the reservations, we must go back into the past. There appears to be a big difference between today’s ‘development commissions’ and the ‘development corporations’, which emerged in the 1950s. The development corporations, such as the Western Nigeria Development Corporation, under its pioneer chairman, Chief Alfred Rewane, and the Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation, under Sir Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu, were actually conceived and indeed operated as investment financing power houses, driving economic growth and development in their respective regions.. To gauge their impact, look at the tangible legacies in the Western and Eastern Regions, par...

Written by Prof. M.A Muhibi Chairman, Nigeria Chapter, West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science The recent circular issued by the National Universities Commission (NUC) titled Stoppage of Multiple Accreditation of Academic Programmes by Professional Bodies in Nigerian Universities (Ref: NUC/ES/138/Vol.65/202, dated 20th May 2025) has generated significant concern among stakeholders in the field of Medical Laboratory Science in Nigeria. While the directive aims to streamline accreditation procedures and avoid duplication, it is both disappointing and alarming that the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) was excluded from the list of professional regulatory bodies granted waivers to continue their statutory oversight responsibilities in collaboration with the NUC. This exclusion, we assert, is misguided and inconsistent with the provisions of the MLSCN Act (CAP M25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004), which unequivocally empowers the Council...

  By abiodun KOMOLAFE To begin with, any assessment of the subnational level must acknowledge that Nigeria’s federal system is defective and quasi-federalist in nature. Put bluntly, it operates with the ethos of a tightly centralized “Bonapartist state”. This is the truth of the matter: no matter how well a subnational governor performs, the operating framework handicaps him. It’s like a boxer fighting with one hand behind his back. In other words, there’s a debilitating limit to what a governor can achieve. For instance, governors of states like Benue, Plateau and Zamfara have discovered that the title of Chief Security Officer is more in humour than in reality. To drive meaningful development, subnational governors need full operational command of internal security forces in their states, similar to their counterparts in countries like the USA, Australia, Brazil and Canada.  “Natio quae suos alit, prosperitatem colit” (A nation that nurtures its people, cultivates prosperity...

  By Adeboye Olamide In a landmark event that has been described as a beacon of hope and a powerful symbol of humanitarian collaboration, 1,000 selfless individuals came together to donate blood during the ‘Osun Donate’ programme. This historic effort was powered by a strategic partnership between UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital (UTH), the National Blood Service Commission (NBSC), the Nigerian Red Cross Society (Osun State Chapter), numerous NGOs, and other stakeholder organisations. The programme has not only set a new benchmark in Osun State’s healthcare history but also laid the foundation for sustainable blood availability during emergencies and critical medical needs. Speaking during the event, Dr. Babatunde Afolabi, Chief Medical Director of UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, applauded the initiative and described it as “a powerful demonstration of community collaboration and commitment to saving lives.” While celebrating the milestone, Dr. Afolabi also made a passionate call to action, ur...

  By abiodun KOMOLAFE. One reason many Nigerians voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) was its manifesto commitment to laying the foundation for a Nordic-Scandinavian and German-style social market economy. This is a model that promises a blend of economic efficiency and social welfare that appeals to the aspirations of a more equitable society. A social market economy is grounded in achieving macroeconomic stability to foster sustainable development and safeguard living standards. However, this core principle appears to have been overshadowed by the severity of economic challenges faced upon taking office. Countries that have recently overcome poverty, underdevelopment and stagnation have typically identified and focused on a unifying theme or vision. Nations like South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and India, even the neighbouring Ghana, each in their own way, have discovered a philosophical anchor that has driven their pursuit of sustainable development. For Nigeria, findi...