Feature/OPED
13% Derivation, DESOPADEC and Oil and Gas Host Communities
By Jerome-Mario Chijioke Utomi
A cursory look at the oil and gas host communities in Delta State reveals an area tensed up with a lot of issues, intrigues and hiccups. Their anger in the present moment, going by media reports, is precipitated by the alleged opaque manner the former governor of the state, Ifeanyi Okowa, managed the 13% oil derivation fund that accrued to the state.
Correspondingly, it will not be characterized as hasty to conclude that there is presently in Delta State no agency or commission that is troubled as the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC), an agency created by the enabling Act in Delta State to secure 50% of the 13% oil derivation fund accruing to the Delta State government and the received sum used for rehabilitation and development of oil-producing areas of the state as well as carry out other development projects as may be determined from time to time.
Supporting the above assertions is a recent statement by Edwin Clark, convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), where he alleged that Ifeanyi Okowa misappropriated the state’s derivation fund amounting to N1.760 trillion.
Pa Edwin’s bombshell was followed in quick succession by a protest staged in Abuja by representatives of the Delta State oil and gas host communities, calling on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to investigate the immediate past Governor for allegedly misappropriating over N1 trillion oil derivation fund belonging to the state during his tenure.
While the coastal dwellers, in their statement, insisted that the former governor unlawfully diverted the aforementioned sum, the former Governor’s men are at work, thwarting every attempt to rubbish the reputation of their former boss.
For instance, the immediate-past Commissioner for Information in Delta State, Ehiedu Charles Aniagwu, recently told the world that all the money Okowa’s administration got from Federation Account Allocation Committee, including derivation for the whole period in office amounted to N2.1 trillion and therefore described as wild goose chase HOSTCOM’s narrative on N1 trillion.
But in all this, what this piece observed could be safely categorized into three parts; first, Senator Okowa’s led government brought to the oil and gas host communities flashes of streets/internal roads.
Beyond this acknowledgement, there also exists in the state a deeply neglected coastal area which doubles as oil and gas host communities where poverty, disease and illiteracy walked their creeks, rivers and estuaries and, as a resultant effect, forced many children out of school, not because of their unwillingness to learn, but occasioned by non-availability/provision of schools in the area by the government. These are verifiable facts!
A movement by boat from Egbema Kingdom in Warri North Local Government Council to Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South, from Ogulaha Kingdom in Burutu Local Government to Kabowe in Patani Local Government Area, down to Bomadi Local Government Local Councils, among others, reveals a seemingly similar experience. They are all oil and gas-bearing kingdoms and communities and play host to major crude oil platforms operated by International Oil Companies (IOCs) but they have nothing to show for it.
Secondly, without going into a critical analysis of claims by Okowa that DESOPADEC got what was due to it according to the law establishing it, this piece believes that such declaration on DESOPADEC receiving a total of N208 billion in the eight years of his administration, as its rightful statutory funds appear inaccurate and, therefore, cannot hold water when faced with embarrassing arguments.
DESOPADEC, as noted in the first paragraph, is to secure 50% of the 13% oil derivation fund accruing to the Delta State government. With this in mind, is the former Governor saying that it was only N416 billion that accrued as 13% derivation to the state in the past 8 years, which summed DESOPADEC’s statutory 50% to N208 billion? Again, instead of giving a cumulative amount received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, what stops the former Governor and his supporters from specifying the exact amount received as a 13% derivation?
While answer(s) to the above questions raised is awaited, the third and most dramatic point is DESOPADEC-specific. The non-satisfactory development of the area within this period under review, in my view, remains an emblematic sign that the affairs of the coastal areas of the state were handed over to a bunch of politicians masquerading as leaders but lacking public leadership acumen and orientation. To use the words of a public affairs commentator, they were people that ‘spend more time with wines than with books’.
Aside from turning the coastal part of the state into an endangered species via human capital neglect and infrastructural abandonment, these ‘leaders’, in turn, neglected community relations and communication. And because of this non-participatory leadership style and engagement, each time communities ask for bread, the agency makes ‘stones’ available and when the communities ask for fish, DESOPADEC provides a ‘snake’.
This piece will highlight two recent separate but related examples to support the above claims.
In October 2022, it was in the news that in the face of grave developmental challenges confronting the coastal dwellers in the state crying for attention, DESOPADEC leadership, against all known logic, opted for the donation of 50 grass-cutting machines to the people of Okerenkoko community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-Local Government Area of Delta state. Presenting the machines, the DESOPADEC commissioner noted that the donation of grass-cutting machines to the community was statutorily captured in the commission’s 2021 budget, adding that the project was principally influenced by him”.
Those who are not conversant with the Okerenkoko community and may be tempted to believe that the donation was a right step taken in the right direction may see nothing wrong with the donation. But for someone that is familiar with the aforementioned community, the decision to donate these machines qualifies as a misguided priority.
In fact, there is everything wrong with the development. For instance, there is evidence which points to the fact that the community was neither consulted nor carried along before the decision was made. In the opinion of this piece, the grass-cutting machine donation failed the NEEDS assessment stipulations.
The words of the youth leader from the community support this assertion.
Reacting to the development, the youth leader who spoke on behalf of the community, among other things, said, “We heard about the ongoing skill acquisition. We are appealing to the Commissioner to at least create some avenue for those skill acquisitions for our ladies, for the youth in this community so that they can go out there and learn skills to back themselves, put themselves in order.”
From the above comment, one thing stands out: if given the opportunity, these knowledge-hungry youths in the community, who will provide the future leadership needs of the country, would have opted for skill acquisition. Instead of grass-cutting machines, the youths in the community would have preferred access to good schools where they would learn and compete with their peers across the globe. They were not just asking for more; rather, they asked for something new, different and more beneficial to their future.
Similarly, in November 2022, barely one month after, It was again reported that DESOPADEC leadership invited the Local Government Chairmen of Burutu, Bomadi, Patani and Warri South West Local Government Areas of the state, to a shop in Warri City, Delta State, where it handed over relief materials purchased for the victims of the flood that ravaged almost all the communities/villages in the aforementioned local government councils.
The items distributed to the affected local governments were bags of garri, bags of rice, bags of onions, bags of beans, noodles, vegetable oil, palm oil, toiletries, and foams, among others.
While the donation to flood victims is understandable, commendable and appreciated, some questions immediately come to mind as to why DESOPADEC management decided to be compassionate by proxy. What prevented DESOPADEC management from visiting the real victims of the flood to empathize with them personally? Is DESOPADEC management unaware that, in the applied sense of the word, the real empathy lies more in the visit and emotional consolation of the flood victims than the so-called relief material sent through a proxy? What will it cost DESOPADEC to pay a visit to these villages/communities in creeks?
What is the distance from Warri to Patani, Burutu and Bomadi that DESOPADEC management cannot send a delegation? How will DESPODEC management ensure/ascertain that the relief materials get to the targeted beneficiaries without getting lost in transit or misdirected? If DESOPADEC management cannot visit the creeks in this crisis period, what time will be more/most suitable to visit these people?
Even as this ugly leadership situation ‘blossoms’ in the coastal communities of Delta State, the truth remains that if we look hard enough at the moment, we shall, as a people, discover that the challenge confronting the region is not too difficult to grasp. Rather, the challenge flourishes because agencies such as DESOPADEC and their administrators have routinely become reputed for taking decisions that breed poverty.
For me, While DESOPADEC’s new leadership must commit to mind the above admonition, this piece holds the opinion that to sustainably solve the problem of the coastal dwellers in the state, a compelling point the state government must not fail to remember is the present call by stakeholders on DESOPADEC management to emulate the Chevron Nigeria Limited template in community engagement. A template that deals directly with the host community and an approach the communities claimed has worked perfectly in the area of infrastructural provision.
On his part, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State should, within this period, execute the oil and gas host communities’ legacy projects that will stand the test of time. It will not be out of place if a bridge is constructed to link and open these oil-bearing communities.
Utomi Jerome-Mario is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy) at Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), a Lagos-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). He can be reached via Jeromeutomi@yahoo.com/
By Abba Dukawa
The recent visit by the President Bola Tinubu to Katsina State has sparked concerns about the disconnect between the government’s priorities and the people’s needs. The visit exposed the hypocritical approach to the need of their people, states and the northern Nigeria as whole. The quality of leadership in the region has been questioned, with allegations of self serving interest, ineptitude, and a lack of vision.
This is in spite of the fact that northern Nigeria as a whole faces numerous challenges that threaten its stability and development. Some of the key issues include insecurity, poverty, education, economic hardship, inequality and social and cultural challenges. The visit has been seen as an opportunity missed to engage with the state’s residents, listen to their concerns, and chart a way forward for development.
While the visit was marked by displays of pageantry and entertainment, the state’s pressing issues such as insecurity, poverty, and economic hardship, seemed to take a backseat. Critics argue that the government’s focus on superficial events rather than addressing the root causes of the state’s challenges is a clear indication of a disconnect from the people’s needs.
The introduction of Rarara’s wife to the President by the Katsina State Governor, contravening cultural and religious norms, raise questions about leaders’ priorities and values.
Current leaders in the north seem more focused on personal interests and political survival than advocating for the northern Nigeria improvement.
Regardless of the challenges in the region the Governors keep praise for the President’s economic reforms, notwithstanding the region’s struggles, is concerning. economic reforms should lift people out of poverty, create jobs, and stimulate growth. If not yielding tangible benefits, they need reevaluation.
The north needs leaders prioritizing regional development and working towards a brighter future. Leaders understanding our region’s problems and committed to tackling them head-on are crucial. It’s time for a shift in approach, prioritizing people’s needs over personal interests.
As we move forward, we must demand more from our leaders. We need leaders who will stand up for the north and work tirelessly to find solutions. Anything less is a disservice to the region and its people.
We need leaders who cultivate a culture of good governance, prioritizing accountability and transparency to address insecurity and promote development.
The north needs a visionary leaders who prioritize all citizens’ needs, regardless of tribe or religion, are crucial for unity and stability.
Leaders who accelerate economic development, create jobs, and provide essential services like education and healthcare can reduce poverty and insecurity.
We require leaders who will combat corruption and promote social justice, reducing inequality and fostering stability.
In northern Nigeria, effective security reforms are necessary, including modernizing security agencies, enhancing intelligence gathering, and addressing insecurity’s root causes to ensure public safety.
To bridge the gap between the government and the people, there is a need for leaders who understand the intricacies of the state’s problems and are committed to tackling them head-on. By prioritizing the people’s needs and working towards sustainable development, the government can build trust and foster a sense of ownership among its citizens
May God guide Nigeria towards true development and prosperity.
Dukawa, a concerned Nigerian, can be reached at abbahydukawa@gmail.com
Feature/OPED
Changing University Climate: It’s No Longer “Publish or Perish,” It’s “Be Visible or Vanish”
By Timi Olubiyi, PhD
For decades, the expression “publish or perish” has been of interest to academics, researchers, and professionals worldwide. Success is measured by the total number of peer-reviewed articles published, conference proceedings available online, and book chapters produced and published.
Despite so much research stemming from academic institutions, not many of these publications enjoy wide visibility in particularly those published in non-indexed journals.
Academics are continuously encouraged to increase the impact of their research endeavours, but what really constitutes impact in today’s academic environment? Is it the number of citations for your published research? Is it the amount of research funds your name and profile can generate? Is it the number of speeches and presentations you deliver about your research area? Is it the number of boards/committees/working groups that you serve on? And so on.
Though in the academic world, publication signifies validation and survival in most universities for promotion and relevance; in fact, it remains a cornerstone of career advancement. From early-career lecturers to senior professors, scholarly publishing plays a pivotal role in demonstrating expertise, building reputation, and meeting institutional benchmarks for promotion.
However, in today’s hyper-connected, information-saturated environment, a compelling principle has emerged: “Visible or vanish.” In other words, it is not just what you publish; it is who sees it, talks about it, and shares it that matters. Today, there is a stronger emphasis on quality, impact, relevance, and where your articles are published.
Globally, publications in high-impact journals measured and indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC), Chartered Association of Business Schools (ABS), Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and more are given serious emphasis.
The primary reason for academic publication should be to advance knowledge, not merely for promotion or institutional expectations. In the author’s opinion, the true reasons for academic publication are to help scholars establish their intellectual identity, which represents a personal academic brand, provide a platform for international recognition, and create career milestones.
Though the gatekeeping role in academia has diminished, this has created a market for predatory journals for academics aiming for promotion. What are predatory journals? They are journals that are fraudulent or unethical academic journals that pretend to be legitimate scholarly publications but do not follow proper peer-review standards, editorial practices, or have recognized indexation.
All they need is money, money and money, no values or integrity. Predatory journals prioritize profit over quality and can seriously harm the academic career of a scholar with a global vision.
Though academic publications still remain respected, considering indexation is key even for institution-based journals (Journals run by university departments). Publication remains the foundation of academic promotion, but how and where academics publish matters more than ever.In an academic environment that is increasingly competitive, interdisciplinary, and global, researchers must not only produce excellent work but also strategically position it for maximum visibility and influence.
Both academics and researchers must consider more than just publication because we have only two key roles in publishing- to do our research and to communicate the research; the latter is the focus of this piece. Our research needs to be noticed, cited, and discussed due to its impact, or we risk being completely overlooked.
Platforms like Google Scholar, ResearchGate, LinkedIn, Facebook groups, Twitter (now X), and even TikTok have become unexpected grounds for attention. Researchers who communicate their work beyond academic circles through public lectures and engaging online posts amplify their impact dramatically.
A highly cited, visible paper can transform careers far faster than a series of obscure journal articles ever could. Therefore, for relevance and global standards, a quality publication with visibility is required.
Visibility today means publication with recognition, a visibility that can connect researchers to a broader global academic community. It can also enhance career and funding opportunities beyond the immediate environment of the researcher.
When publication is executed correctly, it has the potential to create change beyond academic circles, influence policies, and shape professional practices. It can also raise public awareness on critical issues like climate change and inequality.
With millions of articles published annually, even excellent research can be buried unless actively promoted to make it widely visible. Good visibility can also improve invitations for collaborations, keynote addresses, consulting engagements, and even career pivots beyond academia. Visibility, thoughtfully pursued, is no longer optional; it is extremely important. It may also help fulfil deeply personal motivations.
However, remember that scholarly publishing is not a one-way communication. It should encourage and invite critique, discussion, and debate; that is what visibility can provide. Research that enjoysvisibility has a higher chance of influencing policy, industry practices, and public understanding
It is safe to say it is key for researchers, scholars and academics to navigate this new landscape.Visibility is increasingly vital in academia as it directly influences career progression, research significance, and the capacity to engage with a broader audience. Enhanced visibility can connect to opportunities for international research partnerships, funding, and new audiences globally.
In the current competitive academic environment, merely publishing research is insufficient; scholars must proactively advocate for their work and establish a robust online presence to guarantee visibility and media attention. In an era of increasing pressure to publish quickly and frequently, remembering these true reasons can help academics stay focused on purpose over performance, ensuring that their contributions are not only counted but truly matter.
Therefore, publish wisely, publish well, and publish with purpose, along with incredible consistency. In the contemporary technological era, the way research information is handled, conveyed, processed, shared, and maintained has changed.Therefore, my colleagues, be a thought leader, there is a need to gravitate towards social media because it can improve visibility and also to promote research findings or knowledge thereof. So, welcome to the era of visible or vanish. Good luck!
How may you obtain advice or further information on the article?
Dr Timi Olubiyi is an expert in entrepreneurship and business management, holding a PhD in Business Administration from Babcock University, Nigeria. He is a prolific investment coach, author, columnist,seasoned scholar, Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), and a registered capital market operator with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He can be reached on Twitter at @drtimiolubiyi and via email at drtimiolubiyi@gmail.com for any questions, reactions, and comments.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, Dr. Timi Olubiyi, and do not necessarily reflect the views of others.
By Linda Saunders
The ascent of agentic AI, systems that can perform tasks without human intervention, represents not just an incremental technological advancement but a fundamental reshaping of the business landscape. The possibilities for enhanced productivity and innovation are immense. Using AI agents, businesses around the world are unlocking a piece of the potential $6 trillion digital labor market opportunity.
Businesses that fail to adopt agentic AI, however, risk disruption by competitors or savvy upstarts. This demands a proactive and strategic response from leaders. In this new era of human-AI collaboration, leaders must center their efforts around two key pillars: large-scale employee reskilling and establishing a trustworthy AI ecosystem.
Reskilling for the agentic AI era
With just 15% of workers saying that they have the education and training necessary to use AI effectively, reskilling must be a priority for every business leader.
Employees must be given access to learning opportunities so they can adopt human-AI collaboration skills, including a foundational understanding of agentic AI and prompt engineering — a way to provide clear and effective instructions to AI systems.
Consider, for instance, the evolving role of developers. With AI agents capable of handling routine coding, developers can focus on bigger-picture tasks like system design and future planning.
According to Salesforce’s latest State of IT survey of software development leaders, more than nine in 10 developers are excited about AI’s impact on their careers, and an overwhelming 96% expect it to change the developer experience for the better. More than four in five believe AI agents will become as essential to app development as traditional software tools, the survey found.
In addition to technical abilities, cultivating human and business skills is vital for fostering a trusted environment where teams feel comfortable experimenting with AI. And, as every employee increasingly manages individual or even teams of agents, developing basic managerial skills across the workforce will become increasingly important.
Identifying the skills is just the first step. To succeed in the agentic AI era, businesses need to develop a comprehensive strategy that incorporates these skills into their workforce plan. This includes setting clear, measurable goals and actively tracking progress.
Managers need to provide active guidance and support to employees throughout this transformation, ensuring the workforce remains relevant and engaged.
Adopting trusted AI across the ecosystem
As the capabilities of agents grow, so too does the responsibility to manage associated risks. It’s imperative to ensure these systems are fair and prevent stereotypes or alienation. The very qualities that make AI transformative can also lead to biases and erode trust if not managed.
To fully harness the potential of agentic AI, businesses must prioritize trust and safety at every stage of development and deployment. This means implementing strong security measures and adhering to ethical AI practices to safeguard data and ensure responsible use.
Guardrails for AI agents can be established using natural language topics and instructions specifying when an agent should escalate or transfer a task to a human. Concerns around data privacy and potential biases must be proactively addressed through strong data protection protocols and transparent communication.
Equally important are tools that foster transparency and empower users to make informed decisions regarding task delegation to AI. Employees need a clear understanding of the capabilities and limitations of the AI agents they collaborate with, alongside having control over the tasks being automated.
A key feature of Agentforce is its capacity for autonomous operation within specifically defined guardrails. This means that while AI agents can operate independently, making decisions and taking actions, they do so within boundaries established by human teams, ensuring alignment with business objectives and policies. The Einstein Trust Layer enables Agentforce to use any LLM safely by ensuring that no Salesforce data is viewed or retained by third-party model providers.
The power of reskilling and trust to drive innovation
The transition to an AI-powered future will bring challenges, particularly ensuring employees have access to the right infrastructure, high-quality data, and relevant skills.
However, by investing in reskilling and comprehensive training programs, organizations can empower teams to work effectively alongside AI agents, adapt to the evolving nature of work, and ultimately drive innovation in this age of digital labor.
Building a robust infrastructure that prioritizes trust and safety, and fosters transparency, will also be instrumental in mitigating disruptions and unlocking new opportunities for growth.
Ultimately, investing in both AI agents and human employees, and actively fostering their collaboration in a trusted way, will enable businesses to operate at scale and realize their full potential in the agentic AI era.
Linda Saunders is the Country Manager and Senior Director of Solution Engineering for Africa at Salesforce
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