UniIbadan Alumni Urge Leaders To Separate Politics from Governance

A baby suspected to be two days old was found dumped within the premises of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Uhogua, near Benin in Ovia South West local government area of Edo State at the weekend.

Coordinator of the camp, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, while disclosing this to newsmen said the baby was in dire need of breast feeding.

According to Pastor Folorunsho, an unknown person dumped the baby at the camp’s woods, which is an entrance into the camp on Friday at about 11a.m.

He said the baby, presently under medical care at the camp health facility, was dumped with a note.

“The baby was dumped with a note which read; ‘Please help me take care of him. I cannot take care of him, because I don’t have anything and I don’t want to kill him also, so he is your own please”.

The coordinator said the development had been reported to relevant authorities as well as security agencies in the state, including the Ministry of Women Affairs, police and Department of State Services (DSS).

Folorunsho appealed to the mother of the child to be confident enough to come out, adding that child is in need of breast feeding.

“I encourage the mother to come out and not be afraid, if not for anything so that the baby can be given breast milk, while we solicit support for them.

“Or we could mobilise to raise and rent a house for her, help with food and other things since she said the reason for her action is because she cannot take care of the child.

“If she has support, I am sure she will be able to take care of the baby. If the woman will be there, we will be supporting the child.

“But in the absence of that, we are ready to take care of the child and train him like other children here, because some children we  here were brought in quite young, though this is the youngest.”

Folorunsho also appealed to well meaning Nigerians to assist the child with clothes, food and other items.

According to the camp coordinator, the parents of the child must have dumped him because of the confidence that the camp takes good care of all babies in their possession.

“The way we care for children here, I think the news is everywhere. Everybody knows us and how we are able to take care of children.

“We bring them up well mor BY FELIX IGBEKOYI, Asaba

People in government positions have been advised to differentiate between politics and governance while assembling their teams.

This is one of the vital points made by Dr Kingsley Emu, a guest lecturer at the University of Ibadan Alumni Association’s public and valedictory lecture in honour of the outgoing governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and his wife, Dame Edith Okowa, in Asaba yesterday.

Speaking on “The Burden of Leadership”, Dr Emu pointed out that one of the most critical tasks is team building and it requires painstaking research, considerations and consultations with the goal to enable them deliver effectively on envisioned goals.

To sustain his influence, a leader, he said, must be a role model, good communicator, patient with team members and also be humble enough to share perspectives with them.

“The leader must walk the talk, reflect values and beliefs on the job and also be intellectually stimulating to promote innovation and creativity for the provision of solution to challenges and  achievement of goals.

“The requirements for effective team building include academic qualification, experience and certain characteristics. In this regard, the leader must make hard and smart decisions about those who will contribute best to accomplishing the team goal,” he said.

Governor Okowa who was represented by the secretary to the state government, Chief Patrick Ukah, said

the burden of leadership is enormous  but starts from within.

Dr. Oyinade Olujimi Tomori, UIAA Worldwide Treasurer, said; “Bearing the burden of leadership starts from the self. It requires introspection. There must be self-conviction that you truly want to embark on leadership, the numerous challenges notwithstanding.”ally, educationally, upkeep and everything.

“So I believe she is somebody that knows us, or somebody told her about us,” he further said.