Opening Proceedings
The meeting commenced with an
opening prayer in which members committed the proceedings into the hands of
Almighty Allah. Prayers were offered for divine guidance throughout the
deliberations, for wisdom in decision-making, and for the success of the meeting.
The prayer concluded with members responding, "Ameen."
Chairman's Welcome Address
His Excellency, Ambassador
Oguntuase Emmanuel Kayode, Chairman of the Forum, welcomed members to the
meeting and expressed appreciation for their attendance. He acknowledged that
additional members were expected to join later but observed that it would not
be appropriate to delay the commencement of the meeting, so as not to waste the
time of those already present. He informed members that there were numerous
important matters requiring the Forum's attention and therefore the meeting
should begin promptly.
Before proceeding with the
agenda, His Excellency expressed deep concern over the prevailing insecurity in
Nigeria. He particularly referred to the unfortunate incident affecting one of
the Forum's distinguished members, His Royal Majesty, the Emir of Yashikira,
and his family. He committed the Emir and his family into the hands of God,
expressing confidence that Almighty Allah would preserve them and grant them
safety during the difficult period.
Reading and Adoption of the Previous Minutes
His Excellency informed members
that the meeting would proceed directly to the reading of the previous minutes
without first adopting the agenda. He invited the Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel
Essien, to read the minutes of the previous meeting, particularly for the
benefit of members who had been absent.
Mr. Emmanuel Essien proceeded to
read the minutes, comprehensively highlighting all the major discussions,
deliberations, decisions, and resolutions reached during the previous meeting.
Following the presentation, His
Excellency thanked the Secretary and commended him for preparing a detailed and
comprehensive record of proceedings. He then invited members to make
observations, corrections, or additions before the minutes could be adopted.
During the review of the minutes,
His Excellency pointed out an error in one section where the name of Barrister
Yisa had mistakenly appeared instead of Ambassador Aliyu Ndaman. He
clarified that Ambassador Aliyu Ndaman was the individual who regularly
travelled between Zamfara State and Abuja, and therefore the reference should
correctly be made to him. Mr. Emmanuel Essien acknowledged the correction and
undertook to amend the minutes accordingly.
His Excellency further clarified
that during the previous meeting he had specifically stated that he would
personally contact Ambassador Aliyu Ndaman in Abuja and request him to join the
team whenever possible. The Secretary acknowledged this clarification and
confirmed that the necessary correction would also be reflected in the minutes.
Following the corrections,
Barrister Yisa Abubakar
moved the motion for the adoption of the minutes, subject to the amendments
discussed.
The motion was seconded by Dr. Raji Hammed.
The minutes were accordingly adopted.
Discussion on the Security Situation Affecting the Emir
of Yashikira
Proceeding to the next agenda
item, His Excellency referred to the unfortunate security incident involving
the palace of His Royal Highness, the Emir of Yashikira.
He observed that all members were
already aware of the devastating incident and noted that many members had
expressed their sympathy through telephone calls, text messages, and
discussions on the Forum's communication platform. Despite several attempts, however,
members had been unable to establish direct contact with His Royal Highness.
His Excellency thanked Almighty
God that Barrister Yisa Abubakar was present at the meeting and invited
him to provide members with an update on the situation so that the Forum could
determine the most appropriate course of action in supporting the Emir.
Update by Barrister Yisa Abubakar
Barrister Yisa greeted His Excellency and members of the
Forum before presenting his report.
He informed members that he had
earlier received information indicating that His Royal Highness had travelled
to Ilorin. Acting on that information, he travelled to Ilorin with the
intention of meeting the Emir personally. Unfortunately, before his arrival,
His Royal Highness had already departed and returned to Yashikira.
Nevertheless, Barrister Yisa later succeeded in speaking with the Emir over the
telephone.
Barrister Yisa confirmed that the
information previously provided by His Excellency was accurate. He stated that
the wife and children of His Royal Highness remained in the custody of the
bandits.
He further reported that military
operations had recently been conducted across the affected corridor stretching
from Niger State through Kayama up to the Republic of Benin. According to the
information available to him, the military operation had been extensive and
forceful. However, despite the operation, there was still no official report
regarding the rescue of the Emir's family, although available information
suggested that substantial military activities had taken place during the
operation.
Barrister Yisa further briefed
members on another serious security incident that occurred in Ilesha-Baruba,
a matter he had earlier discussed privately with His Excellency before the
commencement of the meeting.
He reported that an armed
individual entered the residence of a clergyman, an incident that triggered
unrest within the community. The disturbance subsequently escalated into
widespread violence, resulting in houses being set ablaze and causing considerable
destruction of lives and property. He informed members that this represented
the latest information available to him at the time.
Deliberations on Support for the Emir
His Excellency thanked Barrister
Yisa for providing members with a comprehensive update, noting that the Forum
now had a much clearer understanding of the situation.
He thereafter opened the floor
for contributions on how the Forum should formally commiserate with His Royal
Highness and demonstrate solidarity during this difficult period.
Contribution by Dr. Raji
Hammed
Dr. Raji Hammed observed that
once the security situation had stabilized and calm had returned to the
affected area, the Forum should constitute a delegation to pay a formal
condolence visit to the Emir.
He explained that the purpose of
the visit would be to formally convey the Forum's sympathy, pray with His Royal
Highness and his family, and demonstrate the Forum's support.
His Excellency thanked Dr. Raji
for the suggestion and invited further comments or modifications.
Additional Contributions
A member observed that before
such a physical visit could take place, the Forum should immediately write an
official letter to His Royal Highness expressing its sympathy and concern.
The same contributor further
suggested that the Forum should draw the attention of both the Kwara State
Government and the Federal Government to the urgent need for
improved security within the affected area, provided such advocacy fell within
the Forum's mandate.
The member stated that such
intervention would constitute a worthwhile contribution by the Forum toward
addressing the security challenges facing the community.
Chairman's Response
Responding to the suggestions,
His Excellency agreed that writing a formal letter to His Royal Highness was
both necessary and appropriate.
He further stated that members
should not limit themselves to formal correspondence alone but should also
endeavour to reach the Emir personally by telephone. He recalled that previous
attempts to contact him had been unsuccessful and therefore requested Barrister
Yisa to assist the Forum by providing the appropriate telephone number through
which members could communicate directly with His Royal Highness.
His Excellency noted that hearing
directly from fellow members would provide encouragement and reassure the Emir
that the Forum stood firmly with him during this difficult period.
He further remarked that His
Royal Highness had suffered tremendous personal losses, including vehicles and
several other valuable possessions. He observed that it was particularly
painful for a person of the Emir's age, status, and commitment to the Forum to
experience such a tragic situation.
Recognizing the Forum's limited
financial resources, His Excellency nevertheless proposed that members should
voluntarily raise financial contributions as an expression of solidarity and
compassion. He emphasized that irrespective of the amount eventually realized,
the gesture itself would communicate genuine concern and provide meaningful
encouragement to His Royal Highness.
Update on the Soya Beans
Intervention Meeting with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and
Investment
Proceeding to the next item on
the agenda, His Excellency presented an update on the Forum's engagement
with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment concerning
the proposed Soya Beans Intervention Programme.
He began by expressing sincere
appreciation to the committee that worked on the assignment. He particularly
commended Dr. Raji Hammed, Mr. Emmanuel Essien, Alhaji Salami
Nasirou Alaso-Adura, and every other member who contributed their time,
expertise, research materials, and valuable information towards the preparation
of the presentation. He observed that despite their individual schedules and
commitments, members remained dedicated to ensuring that the Forum was properly
represented. He remarked that even while he was in Lomé, he continued
working on the assignment because of its importance.
His Excellency emphasized that
the Forum did not regard the assignment as an ordinary engagement. Rather, it
was treated as a strategic intervention requiring serious research and careful
preparation. He stated that members of the committee worked diligently and
professionally, producing what he described as an excellent presentation.
He informed members that although
the Honourable Minister was unable to attend the meeting personally, the
session was chaired by one of the Directors in the Department of Commodities
and Export of the Ministry.
According to His Excellency, the
Ministry had initially intended to allow the Forum only a few minutes to make
brief remarks. However, upon arrival, he informed the Director that the Forum
had come fully prepared to deliver a comprehensive presentation rather than a
short intervention. The Director graciously accepted the request and gave the
Forum the opportunity to make its full presentation.
His Excellency reported that the
Forum's presentation ultimately became the lead paper for the entire meeting.
He observed that none of the participating institutions came with documentary
materials or presentations comparable to the one prepared by the Forum.
He further informed members that
representatives of the following institutions were present during the meeting:
- The
Federal Ministry of Agriculture;
- The
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN);
- The
Bank of Industry (BOI);
- Soyabean
Farmers' Associations; and
- The
Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
Although the meeting was well
attended, His Excellency noted that many of the participating institutions had
only prepared brief remarks and had not brought detailed position papers or
technical documents.
He explained that the Forum's
presentation immediately became the centrepiece of the discussions. He
described the paper as rich in research findings, supported by relevant data,
and the product of painstaking work by members of the committee.
He further observed that the
paper went beyond merely identifying problems and making recommendations. It
also proposed practical implementation strategies, institutional
responsibilities, funding mechanisms, and budgetary considerations required to
successfully implement the intervention.
According to His Excellency,
participants repeatedly requested copies of the Forum's presentation because of
the quality of its content.
He informed members that during
the discussions he reminded the representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria
that the Forum had previously written formally to the Bank regarding the
intervention and had received a response explaining that agricultural intervention
no longer fell within the Bank's core mandate.
He further disclosed that
representatives of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture acknowledged
receiving the Forum's earlier correspondence and indicated that proposals had
already been made internally to acknowledge the letter officially. However, as
at the date of the meeting, no formal response had yet been received by the
Forum.
His Excellency stated that the
presentation significantly enhanced the Forum's institutional image and
credibility. In his view, it projected the Forum as a serious, knowledgeable,
and professional organization capable of contributing meaningfully to national
policy discussions.
He expressed confidence that the
Forum would henceforth be regarded as an important stakeholder in matters
relating to agriculture, trade, economic development, and public policy.
He again praised the committee
for producing such a high-quality document within a relatively short period,
noting that the outcome reflected the calibre of professionals within the Forum
as well as the value of teamwork, commitment, and collaboration.
His Excellency further informed
members that officials of the Ministry openly commended the Forum for its
contribution. What had originally been scheduled as a brief intervention
eventually developed into a detailed technical discussion lasting approximately
one and a half hours.
He observed that the Forum's
presentation became the principal subject of discussion throughout the session
and represented a significant institutional achievement.
He added that he would not be
surprised if the Forum was invited to participate in future discussions on
soyabeans, agricultural value chains, and other trade-related policy matters.
Reflecting on the experience, His
Excellency remarked that opportunities often emerge from assignments that
initially appear insignificant. He described the Ministry engagement as an
important lesson that seemingly small assignments could become major opportunities
for institutional recognition, visibility, and growth.
He also expressed special
appreciation to Dr. Raji Hammed for attending the meeting despite his
personal engagements, noting that his presence strengthened the Forum's
representation and provided valuable moral support.
Having concluded his report, His
Excellency invited comments and observations from members.
Members' Contributions
Contribution by Barrister Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi
Barrister Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi
congratulated the committee on what he described as an outstanding assignment.
He commended the quality of the
research, the report, and the presentation, observing that the Forum had once
again demonstrated both its relevance and institutional capability.
He thanked every member who
sacrificed time, energy, resources, and finances to ensure that the Forum was
adequately represented at the meeting.
He prayed that Almighty Allah
would continue to bless every member who contributed to the assignment and
replenish their resources abundantly.
His Excellency thanked Barrister
Lasisi for his encouraging remarks and expressed appreciation to all members
for their continued commitment to advancing the objectives of the Forum.
He thereafter proceeded to the
next item on the agenda:
Financial Matters
Proceeding to the next item on
the agenda, His Excellency invited Barrister Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi to
brief members on the financial position of the Forum and related matters.
Financial Report by
Barrister Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi
Barrister Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi
expressed deep concern over the level of financial contributions being made by
members. He stated that he was becoming increasingly worried and admitted that
he no longer knew how best to appeal to members regarding their financial
obligations.
He acknowledged the prevailing
economic hardship in the country but stressed that members should nevertheless
endeavour to fulfill the monthly financial commitments previously agreed upon
by the Forum.
He observed that while a few
members consistently contributed ₦5,000 or ₦10,000 monthly, many
others had either contributed only once or twice since the commencement of the
contribution scheme, while several members had contributed little or nothing at
all.
He reminded members that the
Forum could only sustain its programmes and activities if members remained
committed to their financial obligations.
Chairman's Observation
His Excellency agreed that
members needed to know the status of their financial commitments to the Forum.
He therefore proposed that a
comprehensive record showing each member's outstanding monthly contributions
should be prepared.
Question by Barrister
Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi
Barrister Lasisi sought
clarification from the Chairman on whether the proposed record of indebtedness
should be published on the Forum's communication platform for members to view.
Chairman's Response
Responding, His Excellency
stated that there was nothing inherently wrong with publishing the list,
particularly because some members might not even be aware of the extent of
their outstanding obligations.
He observed that making such
information available could encourage members to regularize their payments.
Further Submission by
Barrister Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi
Barrister Lasisi informed
members that he would work together with the Secretary between the date of the
meeting and the following Wednesday to prepare a detailed record of members'
contributions.
He stated that the report
would indicate:
- the number of months each member had paid;
- the
number of months outstanding; and
- the total indebtedness of each member.
He reminded members that the
contribution scheme had been running for approximately seven months, yet
several members had paid only once or twice throughout that period.
Contribution by Ambassador
Aliyu Ndaman
Ambassador Aliyu Ndaman
advised against immediately publishing the list of indebted members.
He suggested that before
making any public disclosure, the Financial Secretary should first communicate
individually with each affected member.
According to him, some members
might genuinely be unaware of the extent of their indebtedness.
He therefore proposed that
personal reminders should first be sent, allowing members reasonable
opportunity to settle their outstanding contributions before any public
publication was considered.
Chairman's Position
His Excellency agreed that
Ambassador Ndaman's suggestion represented a more considerate and diplomatic
approach.
He observed that immediately
publishing members' indebtedness might embarrass some individuals
unnecessarily.
It was therefore agreed that:
- Individual text messages would first be sent to
members informing them of their outstanding contributions.
- Publication of any comprehensive list would only
be considered afterwards if necessary.
Chairman's Remarks on
Financial Sustainability
His Excellency reminded
members that no organization, institution, or business could function
effectively without adequate financial resources.
He emphasized that the steady
growth and sustainability of the Forum depended largely on members fulfilling
their financial responsibilities consistently.
He stressed that even modest
but regular contributions would place the Forum in a stronger financial
position to implement its programmes.
Further Contribution by
Ambassador Aliyu Ndaman
Ambassador Ndaman further
suggested that, in addition to the mandatory monthly contributions, the Forum
should encourage members and other well-meaning individuals to make voluntary
donations whenever possible.
He noted that such donations
could provide additional financial support for the activities of the Forum.
Chairman's Response
His Excellency welcomed the
suggestion.
He observed that there was
absolutely nothing wrong with appealing to individuals, friends of the Forum,
and supporters who might be willing to contribute voluntarily toward the
Forum's activities.
He stated that such support
would complement members' regular contributions and strengthen the Forum
financially.
Additional Financial
Observation by Barrister Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi
Barrister Lasisi informed
members that the Forum currently maintained a recurring monthly financial
commitment of approximately ₦50,000.
He cautioned that if members
failed to improve their level of financial contributions, the Forum's available
funds could easily become exhausted.
He reiterated that the
immediate strategy would be to send individual reminder messages to indebted
members and thereafter evaluate the response before considering further action.
Chairman's Closing Remarks on Finance
Summarizing the discussions, His Excellency reiterated
that:
- Individual
reminders should first be sent to members concerning their outstanding
financial obligations.
- Members
should be encouraged to pay up their outstanding contributions promptly.
- Those
who were financially capable should also consider making voluntary
donations in support of the Forum.
He noted that despite its
financial limitations, the Forum continued to make steady progress and maintain
meaningful engagements with government institutions and other stakeholders.
He commended members for
sustaining the organization under difficult financial circumstances.
Appointment of the Financial Secretary
His Excellency then addressed
members on the need to strengthen the Forum's financial administration.
He formally announced that Alhaji
Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi, who had already been performing many of the
responsibilities associated with the office, should henceforth be formally
recognized as the Financial Secretary of the Nigeria–Benin Advocacy for
Development Forum.
He explained that although the
office of Financial Secretary did not exist at the time the Forum was initially
registered, there was nothing preventing the organization from creating
additional operational offices as its activities expanded.
He stated that the
establishment of the office had become necessary because of the Forum's
increasing administrative and financial responsibilities.
Accordingly, he proposed that
the Financial Secretary should become part of the Forum's executive structure
and should also be included among those receiving bank transaction alerts and
account notifications in order to facilitate proper financial monitoring and
accountability.
Chairman's Additional Observation
His Excellency noted that the
Forum had repeatedly invited Alhaji Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi to present detailed
financial reports during meetings despite the fact that he did not have direct
access to the Forum's banking information.
He observed that such an
arrangement was unfair and ineffective.
He therefore stated that
granting the Financial Secretary access to account notifications would greatly
enhance his ability to discharge his responsibilities effectively.
Response by Alhaji Bisiriyu
Fanu Lasisi
Alhaji Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi
expressed sincere appreciation to His Excellency and members for the confidence
reposed in him.
He stated that receiving
direct transaction alerts and account notifications would greatly improve his
ability to monitor the Forum's finances and prepare accurate financial reports.
He thanked His Excellency for
his administrative wisdom and for recognizing the importance of strengthening
the Forum's financial management structure.
Legal Advice by Barrister
Yisa Abubakar
Barrister Yisa Abubakar
advised that appointments of such significance should be properly formalized
through a resolution of the Forum.
He further recommended that
the Secretary prepare all necessary documentation and ensure that any statutory
requirements, including filings with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)
where applicable, were duly complied with.
Chairman's Response
His Excellency thanked
Barrister Yisa for his valuable legal guidance.
He assured members that the
Forum would follow the appropriate legal and administrative procedures in
implementing the appointment.
Resolution
After due deliberation, it was
unanimously resolved that:
Alhaji Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi
be formally appointed as the Financial Secretary of the Nigeria–Benin Advocacy
for Development Forum, subject to the completion of all necessary documentation
and procedural requirements.
His Excellency directed the
Secretary to take all necessary steps to implement the resolution.
Further Deliberations and
Resolutions
Following the resolution
appointing Alhaji Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi as the Financial Secretary of the
Forum, His Excellency reminded members that the plight of His Royal
Highness, the Emir of Yashikira, remained a matter of great concern to the
Forum.
He urged members not to lose
sight of the earlier resolutions reached concerning the Emir and emphasized the
need to ensure that every necessary mechanism was put in place to demonstrate
the Forum's solidarity and support during the difficult period.
Voluntary Support for His
Royal Highness
It was further suggested that a
dedicated account be provided for members who wished to make voluntary
financial contributions in support of His Royal Highness. Members observed that
once an appropriate account was made available, those willing to contribute
could begin making their donations as a gesture of sympathy and solidarity.
The proposal was well received,
with members agreeing that any amount, regardless of size, would serve as a
meaningful expression of compassion and support.
Clarification on the Incident
A member sought clarification
regarding reports circulating about the incident and specifically asked whether
the bandits had abducted the Emir's three wives and children.
Responding to the enquiry, His
Excellency stated that, based on the information available to the Forum at the
time, that was indeed the situation that had been reported.
Financial Accountability for
Voluntary Donations
Alhaji Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi
advised members that, in order to ensure proper accountability and
confidentiality, evidence of any voluntary donations made in support of His
Royal Highness should be sent directly to him rather than posted on the Forum's
general communication platform.
He explained that this approach
would allow proper financial records to be maintained while also protecting the
privacy of individual donors.
Members noted the advice
accordingly.
Summary of Major Decisions and
Resolutions
At the conclusion of
deliberations, the following major resolutions and decisions were reached:
1. Adoption of Previous
Minutes
The minutes of the previous
meeting were adopted following corrections relating to the proper reference to Ambassador
Aliyu Ndaman.
2. Support for His Royal
Highness, the Emir of Yashikira
The Forum resolved to:
- Prepare and forward an official letter of sympathy to
His Royal Highness.
- Encourage members to personally contact the Emir by
telephone to express solidarity and encouragement.
- Consider organizing a formal delegation to visit the
Emir once the security situation had stabilized.
- Encourage voluntary financial contributions to
support the Emir and his family.
- Continue monitoring developments relating to the
security situation.
3. Soya Beans Intervention
Members received the Chairman's
comprehensive report on the Forum's presentation before the Federal Ministry of
Industry, Trade and Investment.
The Forum noted that:
- The presentation became the lead paper of the
meeting.
- The Forum's contribution received commendation from
government officials and participating stakeholders.
- The engagement significantly enhanced the
institutional visibility and credibility of the Forum.
- Members commended the committee responsible for
preparing the presentation.
4. Members' Financial
Contributions
The Forum resolved that:
- Individual reminders should first be sent to members
regarding outstanding monthly contributions.
- Members should be encouraged to regularize their
financial obligations.
- Voluntary donations beyond the agreed monthly
contributions should also be encouraged.
- Publication of members' indebtedness should only be
considered after individual notifications had first been issued.
5. Appointment of Financial
Secretary
The Forum unanimously resolved
that:
- Alhaji Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi be formally
appointed as the Financial Secretary of the Nigeria–Benin Advocacy
for Development Forum.
- The Secretary should prepare all necessary
documentation and ensure compliance with all applicable statutory and
administrative requirements.
- The Financial Secretary should be granted access to
relevant account notifications and banking transaction alerts to enable
him effectively discharge his responsibilities.
Motion for Adjournment
Having exhausted the business of
the day, Ambassador Aliyu Ndaman moved the motion for the adjournment of
the meeting.
The motion was seconded by Alhaji
Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi.
The motion was unanimously
adopted.
Closing Prayer
The meeting concluded with a
closing prayer offered by Pastor Isaac Ajibare, who thanked Almighty God
for the successful deliberations and prayed for wisdom, protection, unity, and
continued progress for the Forum and all its members.
The meeting thereafter adjourned.
