By Joshua Ocheja

Nigeria is enmeshed in the imbroglio between the Dangote refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL). African countries, however, seem to be tapering towards developing capacities to solve their problems. This entails creating an environment that enables indigenous solutions in critical sectors of the economy.

In 2001, former President Olusegun Obasanjo lifted the lid on the operationalisation of manageable-sized petroleum production when he inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Local Content in the Oil and Gas Industry. This was to promote indigenous participation and ownership in the oil and gas sector. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was mandated to drive the policy and set specific targets for the burgeoning sector.

In 2010, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) was established with a mission to “promote the development and utilization of in-country capacities for the industrialization of Nigeria through the effective implementation of the Nigerian Content Act.” It is also tasked to maximize the participation of Nigerians in oil and gas activities. The question is: How this could be achieved?

Enter, the concept of “homestead” modular refineries comes to mind. Modular refineries are not novel. A modular refinery is a simplified refinery requiring significantly less capital investment than traditional full-scale refinery facilities. Nigeria currently has 25 licensed modular refineries.

Five are operational and producing diesel, kerosene, black oil and naphtha. About ten such projects are under various stages of completion, while a handful others have received licenses to establish. At complete optimization, these refineries can process 200,000 barrels of crude daily.

Aradel Refinery in Rivers State was originally “Midas Drilling Fund” when it was first established in 1992, while Excel Exploration and Production Company Ltd in Bayelsa State was incorporated in 2001. Other functional refineries in Nigeria include Waltersmith Petroman Modular Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC) commissioned in November 2020 by former President Muhammadu Buhari; Edo Refinery in Ologbo community abutting Delta State; Duport Refinery also in Edo and Azikel Petroleum Ltd in Bayelsa State.

The modular refinery strategy is hinged on establishing relatively simple-to-operate oil production plants in oil-producing corridors to reduce the nation’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products. It is also a strategy to mitigate product shortages. They serve their immediate catchments to a large extent to reduce often despairing expectations from subsisting centrally distributed sources.

This brilliant thinking corroborates the position of oil and gas sector experts about modular refineries as an alternative to the persistent poor performance of the nation’s big refineries and the near total reliance on importation for all our refined petroleum needs. 

With petroleum exploration efforts yielding positive results from parts of the country other than the pre-established oil producing hubs around and about the Niger Delta region, modular refineries may yet become a more diverse concept. For the avoidance of doubt, states like Lagos, Anambra and Kogi have been listed along the existing oil producing states, as beneficiaries of the “13% oil derivation fund.”

Moving forward, this might yet be the magic wand needed to turn things around in Nigeria’s petroleum and gas value chain socioeconomy. Understandably, Nigeria is regularly referenced as a country with elastic capacity to accommodate more modular refineries because it reputedly has the second largest “wetlands” in the world, after the Missisipi in the United States.

Indeed a report published by Hawilti, a Pan-African investment research firm, titled “Refineries watch Q4 2022,” “Modular technology solutions are acknowledged to be on the rise in Africa, and especially in Nigeria. They offer investors the opportunity to cobble together a refinery in a little over a year, from foundation stone laying, to the commencement of actual refining.”

Modular refineries come with ample benefits but require conscientious and sustained support from the government. This has potential to enhance their net contributions to the economy in diverse ways. Among others, they need regular “back patting” to ensure functional efficiency, with the view to enabling them to refine crude oil in line with their installed capacities effectively.

One of the ways this could be achieved is through an increased crude oil supply to the modular refineries and the subsequent payment in naira as against the dollar for crude oil. The results would be tangible. How would this happen? Refining crude oil in modular refineries is more cost-effective.

Modular refineries are mainly situated near the wellhead of oil production, which will require minimal cost. Also, landing costs associated with shipping and other charges would be eliminated. If this doesn’t make sense, what else would? This is my case for modular refineries. We can’t continue to do the same thing and expect different results.

The government must rethink the strategy of modular refineries in Nigeria to support its growth and the attendant benefits accrued to the country. If that doesn’t happen, then the mission of the Nigerian Content Monitoring and Development Board of “promoting the development and utilization of in-country capacities for the industrialization of Nigeria through the effective implementation of the Nigerian Content Act.” would remain a mirage.

The state must think strategically in this regard. The potentials inherent in a functional modular refinery regime cannot be overemphasized. This much was corroborated in an editorial by Businessday newspaper, where it stated that modular refineries have the potential to grow into massive refining clusters and envisages a situation where at least 10 per cent of Nigeria’s oil production should be refined through modular refineries, with the overarching objective to provide a lower-cost, steady supply of fuels and products on a local level.

This is sublime and the way to go in our quest for sustainable growth and development. Industry experts have identified modular refineries as a viable alternative to the current refining template in Nigeria. This is because they provide excellent economic prospects and are more cost-effective. Modular Refineries have various benefits.

Typically, environments contiguous to production areas experience some heightened activities in the local economy. The risk-fraught practice of hauling petroleum products over long distances which often result in accidents and attendant carnages, will be minimised. Dwellers in the remote locations where the refineries are built will be able to access products more readily at controlled rates. Because the pipeline network of refineries is local, the nuisance of oil pipeline vandalism will be checked.

Being a very large market, Nigeria can sustain the smaller modular refineries side-by-side with the big players in the industry, including the federal government-owned processors. It is indeed instructive that conversations about the need to encourage modular refinery petroleum processing is coming at a time when government is readying its own facilities in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna for production. Most traditions in Africa have their variants of the Yoruba adage which exhorts that “you wash your hands better when you deploy both together.” Elsewhere, there is also the saying that “you cannot clap your hands with one hand.”

More incentives should be intentionally availed the modular concept by way of growth and development of regular and increased supply of crude oil, as well as for payments for crude oil supplies to be made in local currency, among others. Modular refineries might just be the magic wand we need to rejuvenate our economy.

Joshua Ocheja, a military historian is a doctorate student at the University of Abuja

By: Okonkwo Chinedu, Ekenyere Gladys & Maduabuchi John-Moses U.

July is an important month for many Igbo people, particularly in South East Nigeria, not because it is the 7th month on the Gregorian calendar, but because it marks the beginning of the Igbo New Year in several communities.

The Igbo New Year precedes the beginning of the Jewish New Year; the difference being probably as a result of differences in location, climatic conditions and the impact of prehistoric migrations of our people. Among the Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria, several communities start the celebration of the New Year with the declaration of the New Yam festivals in July each year.

Ikem, the headquarters of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, of Enugu State also culturally referred to as “Ikem Asokwa” is an egalitarian town ancestrally related to other communities across Igboland that bear similar cultures and traditional practices, particularly in Abia, Anambra and Ebonyi States. Although there is still a debate as to whether the homeland of all Ikem people is in Abia, Anambra or Enugu State, it is interesting to report that there exists a large autonomous community in Abia State called Ikem-Nvosi, in Isiala Ngwa South LGA which is ancestrally related to Ikem Asokwa of Isi-Uzo LGA in Enugu State. These two communities re-established cultural relations several decades ago.

Orurezhi is the traditional New Yam Festival of Ikem people. History and folklore have it that in the very olden days, the chief celebrants of this great feast are the Community Leaders who hold the title of “Edeji”. The Edeji title holders could be literally seen as the “Lords of the Yam.” They were great farmers who cultivated very large quantities of yam and customarily fed multitudes with pounded yam during each Orurezhi Feast. Apart from feeding multitudes which earned them the name Edejis, they also harvested a lot of yam and celebrated the Igbo New Year by cutting and placing large tubers and pieces of yam at different locations in the Community, along their way from the farms to the Market square.

The innovation to celebrate Orurezhi (New Yam Festival) in Ikem Asokwa in an improved way (as the Biblical First Fruit Offering) began 10 years ago. This decision followed widespread consultations with the Igwe-in-Council, then led by Late Igwe Francis O. O. Okwor (Enyioha II) of Ikem. The Community Leaders including the red cap Chiefs, the President General of the Town and the Christian leaders from Ikem Asokwa (collectively referred to as Ikem Ministers’ Forum) all agreed with the view that the the New Yam Festival is the Biblical First Fruit Offering related to the Feast of Harvests/Weeks commanded by God Almighty to be observed by Jews in the Bible.
Majority of the people of Ikem, Isi-Uzo Local Government believe like many other Igbo people that their ancestry is Jewish/Hebraic. It was agreed then that the modern way to celebrate the New Yam Festival in Ikem Asokwa should start with public offering of First Fruits and Thanksgiving Prayers to God Almighty in the market square by the people of Ikem Asokwa.

This is a very important act of cultural and religious service done on Saturday, Orie Orurezhi before Sunday, Afor when Christians will as well offer sacrifices of “New Yams” harvested from their farms in various Churches across the Town.
The following Monday, Nkwo is celebrated as the traditional wrestling day.

This is intended to foster unity and development, and to showcase Ikem Asokwa as a formidable Tourism destination in Enugu State, Nigeria. On the very first day of this renewed Orurezhi New Yam Festival, many visitors and tourists throng our town, Medical Missionaries visit and provide free medical services for Ikem people and guests to mark the Festival.

This year’s (2024) event, the 9th in the series; was marked on the July 6th with pomp and pageantry. The participants were excited and hopeful that the 2025 celebration will be more grandiose.

During an interview preceding the festival on 5th July anchored by Mr. Obiora Aneke (a.k.a. Okoro Wawa of Solid FM Radio & Wawa TV), the Chairman of the Isi-Uzo Local Government Traditional Rulers’ Council, HRH. Igwe Engr. Okey Ogbodo (JP), the Igwe of Ikem Uno autonomous community explained what Orurezhi means to the people of Ikem;  thus; “Ezhi” means body, while “Ọrụrọ” means fattening or nourishing. It can also be interpreted as transforming or rather cleansing of the body, which also leads to the clearing of the roads and the environments. It is as well the season of plenty after the period of scarcity usually experienced during the planting season. However, once the New Yam is harvested, it marks the end of scarcity for the Community. All the members of the community thus feast together and rejoice in appreciation to the God of the land who has blessed them with good harvests and wealth. The young men are particularly a special class of celebrants during the Orurezhi Festival, as they would compete in wrestling competition on the third day of the feast. In Ikem Asokwa, no responsible young man shows off strength by bearing arms, fighting, killing or harming his neighbor, People show off their strength and superiority through wrestling bouts. This could happen occasionally at any time but whenever Orurezhi is being celebrated it becomes a compulsory activity to mark the end of the festivity.

This year’s First Fruit thanksgiving offering service and prayers which held on 6th July, 2024, Saturday, Orie market day was presided over by H.R.H. Igwe Felix U. Ogbuke, Ohamadike 1 of Ikem (the traditional ruler of Ikem Etiti, who is also the eldest of Igwes in Ikem Asokwa. His message to the entire Ikem indigenes was concise and direct. And that is urging the people to join hands with the Igwes and their cabinets to ensure that Orurezhi is well celebrated in Ikem Asokwa stressing that there is nothing unchristian about the festival. He appreciated the Organizing Committee for the success of this year’s event and the NGOs that participate annually in providing free medical treatments for Ikem people and their visitors. He appealed to all Ikem people at home and in Diaspora to always support the Town in celebrating the New Yam Festival.

Hon. Chief Engineer. Paul Ugwuagbo, Oforbuike 1 of Ikem Asokwa in his own account explained that before the coming of Europeans to Igboland, farming was the preoccupation of our people and that the celebration of the New Yam festival then was referred to as Ufejioku. However, in the recent past, Ikem generally christened it Orurezhi and chose Saturday Orie every July, for the festival and remodeled it to showcase the biblical values of the feast. He further explained that Orurezhi is a very important and the most outstanding cultural feast that binds all people indigeneous to Ikem together. He equally observed that the yams harvested in July each year belong to a particular species known as “Usekpe Ovune” which Ikem people cultivate in November and December of each year.

In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Orurezhi Organizing Committee, Chief Emeka Nnamani (Omemma 1 of Ikem), thanked God and the Medical teams that treat Ikem people free every Orurezhi day. He also reported that the team included General Practitioners, Public Health Physicians, Dental Surgeons and Eye Doctors, Nurses, Dieticians among other volunteers. He stressed that the good people of Ikem remained grateful to the Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA) and Models for Christ – Africa (MfCAfrica) Teams for their continued support to our people in the area of healthcare. This year, the MfCAfrica Medical Team was led by Dr. Ifeyinwa Ugwunweze, Consultant Public Health Physician, who in her remarks stated that the outreach was well organized and very successful. She noted that the aim of reaching out to the underserved population heath-wise was achieved. One other volunteer, a Christian Missionary Dental Surgeon, Dr. Daniel Obiora Chukwudimma, on behalf of CMDA summed his experience thus: “I have to really say that Ikem people are lovely to be with, as it was nice meeting them (on Orurezhi day). I must thank the organizers for a well-executed medical outreach.” The Eye Doctor (Optometrist), Dr. Nwakanma also commended Ikem people and observed that there is high rate of cataract, glaucoma and pterygium in the community .

Evang. Emmanuel Ndubusi Agbo, President of Ikem Christian Believers’ Fellowship (ICBF), and a member of the team of the ministers who officiated during the festival stated, “It is very clear that God almighty instituted the festival of first fruit harvest offering and embedded many blessings in it. [Exodus 23:16]. Everyone, especially the Christian Brethren in Ikem are sincerely encouraged to holistically be in the forefront of this our godly tradition. There is no doubt that next year’s Orurezhi will be more grandiosely glorious”.

On the eve of the 2024 Orurezhi Ceremony, the Chairman of the Isi-Uzo Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Igwe Engr. Okey Ogbodo had thanked the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, for all he has done for Ikem and Isi-Uzo people and made a passionate appeal to the State Government to beef up security during and after the festival. This was in view of the horrible fatal attacks and killing of innocent citizens in Ikem by suspected killer herdsmen in the past few months.

HRM. Eze Dr. Solomon Nwakwue; Chimereze 1 & Akajiala of Ikem Osokwa-Nvosi, of Isiala Ngwa South LGA in Abia State has been an important stakeholder of Ikem New Yam Festival. This year, as always, he sent a delegation led by two members of his cabinet, Chief Ohazurume 1 of Ikem Asokwa/Osokwa and Mr. Mgbechinyere Sunday, Chairman Village Heads, Ikem Osokwa with Kola Nuts, Alligator Pepper, large quantities of wine and fruits for the First Fruit Offering.

The Ikem Community Health System (Ikem CHS), led by Dr. Maduabuchi John-Moses is a Community-based Organisation that has has been instrumental to the hosting of Medical Outreaches during the festival in Ikem for about two decades now. Ikem CHS was also the first health organization to run a Community-based Social Health Insurance Scheme in collaboration with Healthcare International, a Health Maintenance Organisation.

According to the American poet, singer, autobiographer, and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, “Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” Angelou, indeed, inspires humanity with both the uncommon beauty and the call to action of her words.

This venerable American icon and unconquerable lioness indisputably inspired the life story of Dr. Olubusola Oluwaferanmi, fondly known as ‘Dr. O’ – who navigates with a special light that shines from within her being. Not surprisingly, this pathway has enabled her illuminate and impact humanity in a way few could.

A highly seminal figure in the fields of pastoral counseling, life coaching, and holistic wellness, Dr. Olubusola Oluwaferanmi holds a Doctorate degree in Christian Counseling and is a certified life coach, massage therapist and licenced alternative medicine practitioner. Her ministerial work primarily focuses on marriage counseling, sex therapy, juvenile delinquency, spiritual and inner healing, and youth empowerment.

Dr. O totally and incontrovertibly believes that wellness is the complete integration of body, mind, and spirit – the realization that everything a human does – think, feel, and believe-has an effect on his or her state of wellbeing. She has demonstrated this spiritual and scientific knowledge in her accomplishments and diverse interventions.

She is steeped in a rich background of Christian ministry and counseling, combining her academic achievements with practical experience. She is an ordained Reverend and Prophetess, a certified marriage mentor and SYMBIS Facilitator (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts.) She is also a member of American Association of Christian Counselors, and she has been actively involved in various forms of counseling since 2001.

Notable television personality Max Carver speaks to the deeper human purpose when he insightfully noted that “Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus for creating change.” Dr. O has not simply created a community but international communities of purpose which she shepherds with empathy and purpose. What’s more – she is creating positive change in peoples’ lives.

In 2011, she founded “Intimate Issues with Dr. Olubusola” (IIWDO), a 501c charity organization aimed at supporting victims of domestic violence, particularly in Africa and among the African Diaspora. She is also the founder of Dr. Olubusola Foundation, DOF, a registered NGO in Nigeria.

She, also, is the founder of Audacious Women of Purpose Global. Through this organization, she has empowered widows, provided counseling for teenage pregnant girls, and recruited counselors to spread the organization’s mission.

Her influence extends beyond individual counseling. She is a seasoned missionary and a dynamic speaker who has traveled globally, teaching and empowering mostly women, children and youth. Her approach to healing and empowerment is holistic, focusing on reconciling, impacting, and building communities through guidance, charity outreach, mentoring, and training programmes.

Significantly, her work is deeply rooted in her personal experiences and her desire to help others achieve healing and happiness, no matter the depth of their wounds

Dr. O is a prominent figure in the fields of holistic wellness and alternative medicine. She is the Founder and CEO of FerFis Holistic Wellness, which operates both in the USA and Nigeria. Originally from Nigeria, Dr. Oluwaferanmi has traveled extensively, focusing on teaching and empowering women and youth around the world.

She is deeply committed to her mission of building a strong sense of community by reconciling, building, and impacting both adults and youths to live healthy, fulfilling lives. Her holistic approach to wellness integrates physical, emotional, and spiritual health, making her a sought-after expert in her field.

In addition to her wellness practice, Dr. O is also an author. Her book, “Enjoying Sexual Bliss in Your Marriage,” reflects her expertise in sex therapy and her commitment to helping couples achieve deeper intimacy and satisfaction in their relationships. Her second book “Unmasking the Soul” reflects Steps to freedom and healing from Domestic Abuse and Violence.

Her teachings often stress the importance of self-discovery, setting boundaries, and making informed decisions, particularly in the context of relationships and marriage.

Her expertise in sex therapy suggests a contradiction between being a shepherdess of Christ and boldly speaking to human sexuality – especially in cross-cultural settings.

The nature of her interventions, especially in human sexuality, straddles disparate cultures – though both in the 21st Century. The United States, her adopted country, represents Western civilization, a culture that accommodates liberalism, while Nigeria, her birth nation mirrors largely a conservative African milieu.

In Nigeria, a woman is expected to wear lipstick, carry a handbag and speak gently. Sexuality themes are off the table. Although this scenario is gradually changing, it’s a ground to be trodden with caution. But Dr. O navigates with knowledge and empathy. She offers guidance and therapy to help individuals and couples achieve fulfilling and healthy sexual relationships.

Dr. O’s work is widely recognized and celebrated. She has been honoured for her contributions to wellness and her efforts to support victims of domestic violence. Through her holistic wellness practice and her charitable work, she continues to inspire and empower individuals to lead healthier, more balanced lives.

A highly regarded holistic wellness practitioner with a comprehensive approach to health and well-being that integrates physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects, she offers a variety of services designed to promote holistic health and personal growth through FerFis Holistic Wellness in both the USA and Nigeria.

According to Greg Anderson, one of America’s greatest wellness advocates, “When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live life.” That is the story of Dr. O.

As the founding CEO of FerFis Holistic Wellness in both the USA and Nigeria, Dr. O offers a variety of services designed to promote holistic health and personal growth. A quick check-list would include:

●The Holistic Method

Her holistic wellness practice includes alternative medicine, sex therapy, neuromuscular therapy, and life coaching. This approach is rooted in the belief that true wellness comes from balancing the mind, body, and spirit. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the interconnectedness of these elements and uses a combination of traditional and alternative therapies to address the root causes of health issues.

● Services and Specialties

● Alternative Medicine: She deploys natural and non-invasive methods to treat various health conditions, aiming to restore the body’s natural balance and enhance its self-healing capabilities.

● Sex Therapy: She offers guidance and therapy to help individuals and couples achieve fulfilling and healthy sexual relationships. Her book, “Enjoying Sexual Bliss in Your Marriage,” highlights her expertise in this field and her commitment to improving intimate relationships.

● Neuromuscular Therapy: This specialized form of massage therapy focuses on alleviating pain and dysfunction by understanding and treating the underlying neuromuscular causes.

● Life Coaching and Pastoral Counseling: Dr. O provides life coaching to help clients achieve personal and professional goals, and pastoral counseling to offer Spiritual support and guidance.

● Educational/Motivational Role

Dr. O is also a motivational speaker and educator, known for her ability to inspire and empower her audience. She travels globally to teach and empower women and youth, focusing on topics such as self-discovery, personal growth, and achieving a balanced life. Her teachings emphasize the importance of setting boundaries, making informed decisions, and understanding one’s purpose in life.

● Community Impact

Through her holistic wellness practice and charitable initiatives, she has made significant contributions to community well-being. She has been honored for her efforts in supporting victims of domestic violence and her work in empowering individuals to lead healthier lives. Her commitment to community service is reflected in her efforts to provide holistic health education and services to underserved populations.

Dr. O’s holistic wellness practice is outstanding for its integrative approach, combining the best of traditional and alternative therapies to promote overall health and well-being. Her work not only addresses physical health but also nurtures emotional and spiritual growth, helping individuals achieve a balanced and fulfilling life.

According to the notable American inventor Thomas Edison, “The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will instruct his patients in care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

Dr. Olubusola Oluwaferanmi is indeed a doctor of the future. She is also a doctor of today playing the rare role of both a healer of humanities, fears, frailties and uncertainties. Perhaps, most importantly, she is a humble shepherdess of her beloved Christ.