Indeed, he still answers to the name W-O-R- K-A-H-O-L-I-C and has evidently stayed faithful to the credo of ‘knowledge and service’ emblematized by the “Awo” cap he dons.
The unique hull-shaped cap, itself a metaphor of plumbing and navigating the depths of intellectual waters and ideas for direction to the way out of the national conundrum was popularized by the great thinker, sage and statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, of whom John Kayode Fayemi is a second generation disciple.
The interview appointment with the Mines and Steel Development Minister was billed for after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, October 18. Although the FEC meeting reportedly normally lasted till about 3.00pm, it was concluded early on this occasion, due to a scheduled trip by President Muhammadu Buhari to Turkey on that day. Fayemi was thus back at his office in Wuse II by 1.00pm.
The Saturday Sun arrived the Ministry shortly after the minister came back from the Aso Villa. You would think with his boss off the scene, he would seize the opportunity to let down hairs and relax. Not Fayemi! He returned only to bury himself in work, extinguishing the tiny hope of an early day beginning to glimmer in the reporter’s mind and rekindling memory of a similar experience he had with the Ekiti-born scholar years ago, when he was governor of the state of Fountain of Knowledge. Then, Fayemi had serially shifted granting an interview, initially scheduled for the morning till 6.00pm and again 12 in the night.
The interface eventually held at breakfast, the next morning because of his busy table! Back in Ado Ekiti then, he was also reported to have often, when, travelling filled the booths and backseats of his official vehicles with files, which he treated in transit. With his industry and resourcefulness, the Political Scientist and Security expert was actually believed to be leading Ekiti on a path of progress that may have been irreversible if it had continued. As Minister, aides said Fayemi had not really changed much. He is dubbed the “triangular minister” as his daily itinerary revolves round the villa, his office and home in Maitama part of the federal capital, always working and retiring late, without room for leisure! Perhaps, the Spartan life of Fayemi is both understandable and justified. Here is a minister with, arguably the most challenging portfolio in Nigeria’s drive to diversify and steer its economy from long albeit precarious dependence on oil revenues. Situation in the industry was foggy when he assumed office in October 2015, there was lack of accurate geological data as to the quantum, quality, locations, etc of solid minerals, record of volume of export, while illegal operations were rife in the business.
Due to this and the artisinal level and haphazard nature of operations therein, the sector only contributes 0.3 percent to the nation’s GDP instead of an estimated N8 trillion in annual income it should fetch. It is Fayemi’s lot to overhaul the sector and make it another major, if not the chief money spinner for Nigeria, as well as turn around the stories of states owing workers salaries and abandoning work on development projects sites due to piling contract debts.
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