When the newspaper came on board in April
2014, the editorial policy captured its mission: “TheNiche will
always anchor its position on the need for social justice, fairness and respect
for human and communal rights … will be uncompromising against any form of
discrimination and subjugation either by tribe, gender or religion.”
By Ikechukwu Amaechi
On Thursday, September 8, 2022, former Lagos State Governor and
Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, will deliver the
2022 edition of TheNiche Annual Lecture at the
MUSON Centre, Onikan Lagos.
Getting the minister to deliver the lecture is by no means a
walk in the park. We didn’t expect it would be considering the fact that as a
hands-on minister traversing the length and breadth of the country, ensuring
that projects under the purview of his ministry are delivered timeously, time
will always be a challenge.
But the theme of the lecture – 2023 Elections And The Future Of Nigeria’s Democracy – did the magic. Fashola is not only cerebral, he is an unrepentant democrat, always seeking ways of deepening Nigeria’s democracy, which is still fledgling at 23. The lecture provides him an opportunity to live his passion.