WEDNESDAY 17TH JULY 2024

IMF Downgrades Nigeria's Economic Growth Projection Slightly

Hails monetary tightening in Nigeria, others Says cash transfers key to protecting Nigeria's vulnerable population

Nume Ekeghe The International Monetary Fund

www.thisdaylive.com

Again, Military, Police, NNPCL,

Others

Declare War on Crude Oil Theft

Vow to achieve

The Armed Forces of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and other security agencies, yesterday, declared fresh war on perpetrators of oil theft, especially in the Niger Delta, in a bid to improve oil production and revitalise the country's ailing economy.

That was as the National Assembly threw its weight behind the ongoing efforts to boost Nigeria’s crude oil production and grow its reserves.

The federal legislature said it would consider laws prescribing stiffer consequences for crude oil thieves and those that vandalise the country's critical hydrocarbon infrastructure.

Equally, yesterday, the state Coordinator of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory

Continued on page 9

OlurEmi TiNubu VisiTs Oba Of lagOs...

L-R: Wife of the President,

Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, during the former's courtesy visit to the royal father at Iga Idugaran in Lagos... yesterday

Emmanuel addeh and ikechukwu aleke in Abuja

SANWO-OLU WEARS NYSC UNIFORM TO WITNESS PASSING OUT PARADE...

Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, flanked by NYSC Coordinator Lagos State, Mrs. Yetunde Baderinwa (right) and Camp Commandant, Captain Olusegun Ijimakinwa

during the NYSC Passing-Out parade/closing ceremony of the 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream I Corps members at the Orientation Camp, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.... yesterday

Report: Fossil Fuels Accounted for 81% Global Energy Consumption in 2023

Africa’s share of global energy consumption was 3.4%

Dike Onwuamaeze

In spite of the clamour for transition to cleaner energy, fossil fuels, which is made up of coal, oil and natural gas, accounted for 81 per cent of the World’s Energy Mix in 2023.

This was revealed in the “2024 Statistical Review of World Energy,” a publication of Energy Institute that published in collaboration with KPMG and Kearney.

The report stated that the progress of the transition from fossil fuels has been slow, but the big picture masks diverse energy stories playing out across different geographies.

According to the report, coal, oil and natural gas accounted for 32 per cent, 23 per cent and 26 per cent of world energy consumption in 2023 respectively.

The report also showed that nuclear energy, hydroelectricity and other renewables accounted for just four per cent, six per cent and eight per cent of the global energy mix respectively during the year under review.

It said the global primary energy consumption reached a new record of 620 exajoules (EJ) for the second consecutive year in 2023, compared to 607 EJ in 2022, adding that fossil fuels accounted for over 80 per cent of the energy mix.

Also, Africa’s energy consumption was 20.87 EJ out of the overall 620 EJ, representing 3.4 per cent.

According to the report, “2023 saw a second consecutive record

AfDB

Nume Ekeghe

The African Development Bank's (AfDB) sovereign portfolio has been recognised as the most transparent in the 2024 Aid Transparency Index, published by the global campaign for aid and development transparency, Publish What You Fund.

This marked the second consecutive year the AfDB's sovereign portfolio has secured the top position among 50 global development institutions, achieving an impressive score of 98.8.

The bank’s sovereign portfolio rose four places in the 2022 rankings

year for global primary energy consumption as it grew by 2.0 per cent, reaching 620 EJ.

“Its growth rate was 0.6 per cent above its 10-year average and over 5.0 per cent above its 2019 pre-COVID level. Whilst a new record in the consumption of fossil fuels (in absolute terms) was recorded, in 2023, it fell to 81.5 per cent compared to almost 81.9 per cent in 2022.

“With demand for natural gas, a relatively low carbon-intensive fossil fuel, remaining flat, the increased use of more carbon-intensive oil and coal meant that energy-related greenhouse gas emissions also reached a record high, exceeding 40 GtCO2e for the very first time.

“CO2 emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels are by far the largest source of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions contributing around 87 per cent of the total.

"The 2023 global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions exceeded 40 gigatonnes for the first time ever."

“Oil consumption in particular rebounded strongly, largely on the back of China relaxing its zero-COVID lockdown policies.

“Although demand for natural gas remained flat, consumption of crude oil broke through the 100 million barrels per day level for the first time ever and coal demand beat the previous year’s record level.

“Consumption of renewable energy grew at six times the rate of total primary energy, and electricity

demand grew 25 per cent faster than total primary energy consumption,” the Energy Institute’s report said.

A breakdown of the energy consumption along regional lines showed that “global primary energy consumption reached a new record for the second consecutive year with non-OECD countries dominating both the share and annual growth rates.

Fossil fuels continue to underpin their development accounting for 84 per cent of their energy mix.

“The contrast between the northern and southern hemispheres is quite stark. Consumption of primary energy in the Global South first exceeded that of the Global North

in 2014. In 2023 it accounted for 56 per cent of total energy consumed and grew at twice the global average rate of 2.0 per cent.

“The Asia Pacific region was responsible for 85 per cent of the Global South’s demand (and 47 per cent of global demand) where the economies of China, India, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea dominated.

“Whilst Southern & Central America, and Asia Pacific experienced growth rates above the global average, total demand in Africa dropped by 0.4 per cent in 2023 and electricity consumption remained flat.

“Electricity demand in both North America and Europe experienced

falls of -1 per cent and -2 per cent respectively. In these regions, electricity demand in particular is increasingly impacted by energy efficiency regulations, energy-efficient lighting, and changing consumer habits.”

On energy access, efficiency, and sustainability, the report stated that, “today, both Africa and South Asia have very low levels of energy demand relative to the size of their population. Europe and Southern & Central America are the only regions to be below both the global average for CO2 Intensity and Energy Consumption per GDP.”

According to the report, Africa

and South Asia were responsible for less than 10 per cent of the world’s energy demand in 2023, but the prevalence of developing economies, large populations, low rate of access to energy today, potentially positions them for significant energy demand growth in the future.

“It is estimated that globally around 750 million people, about one out of 10, do not have access to electricity to light their homes, refrigerate their food, or keep cool in rising temperatures and around 2.6 billion people rely on heavily polluting biomass fuels such as charcoal, coal, and animal waste for heating and cooking,” the report said.

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged members of the global trade body to adopt a spirit of compromise and engage in genuine negotiation in order to overcome differences and reach agreements on several key issues at a General Council meeting scheduled for July 22nd and 23rd. According a statement, reporting in her capacity as Chair of the Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC),

to claim the top spot, demonstrating its commitment to high-quality data publication.

AfDB in a statement noted that the accolade underscored its ongoing efforts to prioritise and maintain superior standards in data transparency.

The Aid Transparency Index has tracked the transparency of the largest international aid organisations over the last 12 years. The 2024 Index assesses six sovereign (public sector) portfolios and six non-sovereign (private sector) portfolios of development finance institutions (DFIs). The sovereign

portfolios of development finance institutions occupy three of the top five positions in the ranking with the African Development Bank coming first, the InterAmerican Development Bank second and World Bank International Development Association fourth.

President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said: “I am delighted by this recognition from Publish What You Fund. It is a testament once again to the commitment of the Bank’s Board, management, and staff to continuously improve the disclosure of aid flows by providing

Okonjo-Iweala, told members that while they were "a bit stuck" in many of the key issues, she was glad to hear an acknowledgment from a heads of delegation retreat held July 8, on the need to truly restart negotiating at the WTO.

"Now is the time to walk the talk and move from reflection and brainstorming to action," she declared. "To not only take, but to be prepared to give. To compromise, be flexible and open-minded. To reach out to

others, to understand their concerns and find mutually agreeable ways forward.

“There is engagement, but engagement is not necessarily negotiation," she added.

"If we are to remain resilient at the WTO and responsive in a changing world, then we must remain faithful to the organisation's negotiating DNA,” she said.

Prior to the Director-General's report, members at the TNC meeting heard reports from the chairs of the negotiations on trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (establishment of a multilateral register for geographical indications for wines and spirits), agriculture, development and fisheries.

consistent, high-quality, and easily accessible data.

“This achievement is especially significant given the new, more rigorous assessment standards and transparency requirements for development financial institutions.

“The rating of our sovereign portfolio as the most transparent development organisation in the world for the second consecutive time is simply extraordinary.

“I commend Publish What You Fund for the vital and much-needed work it does, in making aid and development efforts more transparent and effective,” Adesina said.

The reports on the state of play in their negotiations were delivered by Ambassador Alfredo Suescum (Panama), Ambassador Alparslan Acarsoy (Türkiye), Ambassador Kadra Hassan (Djibouti) and Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson (Iceland), respectively.

On agriculture, Acarsoy noted efforts under way to define a roadmap for the continuation of the agriculture negotiations, referring to a number of member-led efforts.

“These include the Brazil-led process initiated a few months ago seeking a decision at the 22-23 July General Council on how to move the agriculture negotiations forward, the recent submission by the African Group

introduced at the last meeting of the negotiating group on agriculture, and technical work being undertaken by the African Group, the Cairns Group of agricultural exporting countries and several other members, with a view to developing draft modalities in the different pillars of the agriculture negotiations,” he added.

Acarsoy said he would wait for the outcome of the Brazil-led process, taking also into account the recent African Group communication, before resuming the negotiating process after the summer break.

On development, Hassan said she had been working with a facilitator, Mr. Jia Jie Loh of Singapore, on how best to take work forward on the basis of the Ministerial Declaration adopted at MC13 on implementation of special and differential treatment provisions in the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement. The facilitator held an informal open-ended discussion with members on 10 July based on his bilateral consultations, the chair noted. Hassan also noted that the facilitators dealing with the issues relating to the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures and Article 66.2 of the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) relating to technology transfer have been reaching out to members on how to advance the work in their respective areas.

(left)

SIgNINg OF A SyNdIcAtE tIEr II FAcIlIty AgrEEmENt IN HAguE...

FAAC Shares N1.35tn as Federation Account Accruals Hit N2.4tn in June

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), yesterday shared a total sum of N1.354 trillion to the three tiers of government as accruals into the Federation Account rose to N2.483 trillion in June 2024. From the gross revenue, which is about N159 billion higher than the sum of N2.324.792 trillion garnered in the previous month of May, total deduction for cost of collection stood at N92.112 billion while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N1.037 trillion, leaving the sum of N1.354 trillion for distribution among the relevant stakeholders.

The shared amount of N1.354 trillion was about N211 billion

higher than the sum of N1.143 trillion disbursed for the month of May.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun presided over the FAAC meeting in Abuja yesterday, a statement from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) said.

Citing a communiqué issued by the FAAC at the end of the meeting, the statement said that the of N1.354 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N142.514 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N523.973 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N15.692 billion, exchange difference revenue of N472.192 billion and augmentation of N200.000 billion.

From the N1.354 trillion total distributable revenue, the federal government received the sum of N459.776 billion, states got N461.979 billion while the local government councils received N337.019 billion.

A total sum of N95.598 billion (representing 13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue.

On the N142.514 billion distributable statutory revenue, the communiqué stated that the federal government received N48.952 billion, states received N24.829 billion and the local government councils received N19.142 billion.

The sum of N49.591 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as

derivation revenue.

The federal government received N78.596 billion, states got N261.987 billion, and the local government received N183.391 billion from the N523.973 billion distributable VAT revenue.

Also, the federal government received a total sum of N2.354 billion from the N15.692 billion (EMTL, the states received N7.846 billion while the local government councils received N5.492 billion.

Similarly, from the N472.192 billion exchange difference revenue, the federal government received N224.514 billion, the states received N113.877 billion and the local government councils received N87.794 billion.

A total sum of N46.007 billion, that

Sanwo-Olu Earmarks N5bn for Construction of NYSC Permanent Camp in Lagos

ing a long wait for the project’s construction.

Lagos State is set to complete the new Orientation Camp that would adequately accommodate all National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to the State to undertake the compulsory one-year national service.

This was as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the release of N5 billion for the construction of the proposed NYSC Permanent Camp located in Agbowa, Ikorodu Division.

The vote was earmarked to accelerate the development of the site in response to the constraints of space yearly experienced at the current orientation facility in Iyana Ipaja.

A total of 4,277 Corps members were posted to Lagos for the Batch ‘B’ Stream 1 orientation, but only 2,822 graduates could be accommodated in the Iyana Ipaja camp. Others were camped in Ogun and Osun.

Sanwo-Olu, speaking at the End of Orientation Parade held yesterday, for 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream 1 Corps members in Iyana Ipaja, announced the approval of the fund to hasten the construction of the new site.

He also pledged continuous funding to the project, promising that the site would be completed before the end of his tenure.

The announcement was welcomed with spontaneous excitement, end-

Besides, the Governor gave automatic employment offers into the State’s civil service to 100 Corps members in Stream 1, who, at the end of their service year, are adjudged to have distinguished themselves in their respective places of primary assignment.

In addition to donating a 32-seater operational bus for camp’s activities, Sanwo-Olu also gave N100,000 cash gift to each of the Corps members passing out from the orientation in the Batch ‘B’ Stream 1.

The Governor said: “The Lagos NYSC truly deserves a befitting permanent site that will be bigger to accommodate everyone posted to our State. “For this purpose, I have approved a total of N5 billion, for this year alone, to be used to start the full development of the NYSC permanent site in Agbowa.

“We will ensure before the end of this administration, the site would have been ready to take thousands of Corps members that will be deployed to Lagos in the future.

“I am impressed by the sense of responsibility and hard work which Corps members in Lagos have shown in the course of their service year. I have adopted this particular batch as my Corps and I will be monitoring your efforts.

“At the end of your service year, the best 100 Corps members in this

batch will get automatic employment into Lagos public service. Additionally, each Corps member here today is to go home with N100,000 as a form of welfare support.”

Sanwo-Olu admonished the Corps members not to let the objectives of the national service be lost on them, noting that the significance of the scheme was to explore the strength of the country’s diversity to foster national unity.

The Governor described Lagos orientation camp as “a microscopic representation” of the country, pointing out that the State remained a melting pot of cultures, languages and traditions where the Corps members would experience a first-hand strength that came with diversity.

Sanwo-Olu advised the youths to show high level of responsibility in dealing with challenging situations they may find themselves in, cautioning them to avoid incendiary narratives propagated through social media.

He said: “As you leave this camp, remember that the road ahead is illuminated with possibilities. You have been equipped with new skills, new perspectives and the determination to create a positive impact. The experiences you have gained over the last three weeks have prepared you to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

“You must show high level of discipline and responsibility. Don’t

be pushed by things that happen on social media. It is not everything you see on social media that is real. You have been equipped to be discerning and not to follow the trend. I urge you to exemplify the lessons of discipline, perseverance, and teamwork that you have imbibed during your time in the camp.”

is 13 per cent of mineral revenue, was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue.

The federal government also received N105.360 billion from the N200 billion augmentation, the state governments received N53.440 billion and the local government councils got N41.200 billion.

Providing further details, the communique disclosed that from the total revenue of N2.483 trillion in the month of June 2024, total deduction for cost of collection stood at N92.112 billion while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N1.037 trillion.

In June 2024, a gross revenue of N562.685 billion was available from the VAT. This was higher than the N497.665 billion available in the month of May 2024 by N65.020 billion. According to the communiqué, in the month of June 2024, Companies Income Tax Oil (CIT) and VAT increased significantly while Import and Excise Duties and EMTL increased marginally. Royalty Crude, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Rentals and CET Levies recorded considerable decreases. The balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) remained $473,754.57.

Pope Francis Appoints Michael Crotty as New Apostolic Nunciature to Nigeria

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has appointed the Most Reverend Michael Crotty, as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria.

The information was contained in a communiqué issued yesterday by the Apostolic Nunciature to Nigeria. Welcoming the new Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), in the statement signed by its President and Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, His Grace, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, expressed gratitude to Pope Francis

for the appointment. Crotty, born in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, Ireland, and ordained a priest in 1994, has a distinguished career in the diplomatic service of the Holy See.

According the statement, Crotty had had served in various capacities across Kenya, Canada, Iraq, Jordan, the Vatican, and Spain. Recently, the statement said, held the positions of Apostolic Nuncio to Burkina Faso and Niger.

"Archbishop Crotty brings a wealth of experience and multilingual proficiency to his new role in Nigeria,” a statement said.

US Government Assures FG of Timely Delivery of AH-1Z Attack Helicopters

Ikechukwu Aleke in Abuja

The Nigerian Air Force yesterday said the US Government had assured the service that the delivery dates for the AH-1Z attack helicopters purchased by the federal government remained sacrosanct.

A statement by NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal, Edward Gabkwet, noted that the assurance came when the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal, Hasan Abubakar, met with officials of the United States Government and Bell Textron Company in the first Programme Management Review (PMR) meeting to discuss progress made so far on the supply of the AH-1Z attack helicopters to the NAF.

Represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, AVM Sayo Olatunde, the CAS said, the five-day meeting, which

began yesterday, 16 July 2024, at NAF headquarters, aimed at reviewing the progress made so far regarding the manufacture of the aircraft, ensuring a smooth transition as well as provide technical guidance to the NAF.

The collaboration, he said, demonstrated the assurance and strong partnership between Nigeria and the US in enhancing the country's air power capabilities.

Speaking during the meeting, Abubakar noted that the PMR meeting underscored the impending delivery of the AH-1Z attack helicopters to boost NAF’s close air support and ground attack capabilities while also enhancing its modernisation efforts. He also noted that the AH-1Z helicopters, when inducted into NAF Order of Battle, will surely bolster its

firepower and operational capabilities, particularly in counterterrorism and counter insurgency operations.

Earlier, the US Government AH-1Z Programme Management Office team leader, Mr Kevin Stone, said the collaboration between the NAF and the US military was a testament to their shared commitment to regional stability, peace and security. He added that the successful implementation of PMR was expected to have a significant impact on Nigeria's ability to tackle security challenges and ensure the safety of its citizens.

Gabkwet said the major area of discourse was the follow-up sustainment case, which is aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and reduces downtime through comprehensive support services.

Segun James

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

Front row (L-R): Michael Jongeneel, Chief Executive Officer, FMO and Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank Plc. Back row (L-R): Lisa Sherk, Head of Investment Analytics, Blue Orchard; Antti Partanen, Investment Manager, FinnFund, and Adeola Ukoha, Coverage Manager Africa, British International Investment at the signing of a N442.5bn (USD295 million) syndicate Tier II Facility agreement in Hague, Netherlands... recently

PlatEau StatE GOvErnOr viSitS SEnatE...

L-R: Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele; Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang; President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and Senator Diket Plang, during a courtesy call on the President of the Senate, by the Plateau State Governor in his office .....yesterday.

AMCON Recovers N1.960tn from Debtors

The Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Gbenga Alade, yesterday put the total amount recovered by the corporation from debtors at N1.960 trillion.

This was as the House of Representatives in Abuja, yesterday, charged the Corporation to continue to innovate and adopt best practices in asset recovery, management, transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the quest to recover the total outstanding debt of nearly N5trillion owed AMCON by some obligors.

Alade and the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Other Ancillary Institutions, Hon. Eze Nwachukwu Eze, spoke at the corporate head office of AMCON yesterday, when the House Committee visited the corporation for their 2024 oversight visit.

Alade said, “To date, the corporation has made recoveries in the sum of N1.960 trillion. of the total recovery, cash recovery represents - 43 per cent, sale of bridged banks - 13 per cent, sale of proprietary shares - 11 per cent, clawback and repurchases – nine per cent, sale of property assets and rentals – nine per cent, investment income – seven per cent, while others represent about seven per cent.”

The AMCON boss who took the members down memory lane of what led to the creation of AMCON and the many battles the corporation had to deal with since its establishment informed

them that AMCON has disposed of proprietary assets worth about N651billion from inception to date.

In addition, Alade said the Corporation has made a total repayment of N2.929 trillion to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2013 to 2023, which of included contributions to the Sinking Fund by other Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), and AMCON recoveries.

The visit was the first by the Eze-led Committee to the corporation since the new AMCON exco assumed office in February.

The Chairman said once transparency, accountability, and efficiency remained the cornerstones of AMCON’s operations, as legislators, the committee members would be committed to providing the necessary support through appropriate legislative frameworks and oversight functions to ensure AMCON fulfills its recovery mandate effectively.

Eze added, “Moreover, we recognise that AMCON cannot achieve its mandate in isolation.

Collaboration with the National Assembly, which this Committee represents, other financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders is crucial.

“As representatives of the people, we are committed to fostering an enabling environment that supports AMCON’s efforts and promotes the stability and growth of our financial system.

“As we navigate through the current economic landscape, marked by global uncertainties, and domestic

challenges, the role of AMCON becomes even more critical. Resolving non-performing loans, recovering debts, and managing acquired assets are key to ensuring the stability and resilience of our banking sector.

“It is essential that AMCON remains steadfast in its mission, adopting innovative strategies and leveraging technology to enhance its operations.

“AMCON, since its inception, has played a pivotal role in stabilising the Nigerian financial system. In the

aftermath of the 2009 global economic crisis, AMCON was established to address the non-performing loan crisis that threatened the stability of our banking sector.

“Today, as we reflect on the journey thus far, we acknowledge the significant strides made by AMCON in fulfilling its mandate. This visit aims to ensure that AMCON operates within the legal framework established by the National Assembly and achieves its objectives effectively and efficiently,” he was quoted in

a statement to have said.

He added that the visit to AMCON was part of their legislative functions, as enshrined in sections 62, 88, and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which empowers the National Assembly to oversight all Government Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) and Government owned Enterprises (GoEs) for judicious utilisation of Government Funds and Order 21(2) of the House Standing Orders, Eleventh Edition (as

amended), which placed AMCON under the oversight jurisdiction of the Committee.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the AMCON MD/CEO who hosted the Committee with his Executive Directors

and Mr Adeshola Lamidi, among other senior staff of the Corporation told the Committee that despite the shaky start-off model, the Corporation, with the support of the National Assembly, has made considerable recoveries.

Katsina, World Bank Boost Education with N8.4bn School Improvement Grant

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Katsina State Government, in collaboration with the World Bank, through its Adolescents Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project has commenced the disbursement of the third phase of a N8.4 billion school improvement grant.

The grant, which is to be given to 100 selected schools across the State through the School-based Management Committees (SBMCs), was unveiled by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda on Monday.

Radda, according to a statement yesterday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Mohammed,

unveiled the disbursement exercise at Rimi Senior Secondary School in Rimi Local Government Area of the State.

In his address, Radda said each of the 100 benefiting schools were expected to receive over N85 million for renovation of dilapidated classrooms, construction of additional classrooms, toilets, and furniture as well as providing water facilities.

He explained that the AGILE grant disbursement has now covered over 400 secondary schools across the state, with less than thirty schools remaining.

While appealing to the SBMCs to make the best use of the money, Radda warned that failure to

achieve at least 80 per cent of the expected project deliverables could result in losing the opportunity for further grants.

He directed members of the benefiting communities to closely monitor the projects to ensure quality work and report any substandard work for necessary action.

Earlier, the State Commissioner of Basic and Secondary Education, Hadiza Abubakar Yaradua, emphasised the Radda-led administration's commitment to continued professional development for teachers in the state.

She highlighted the ongoing training of ten thousand teachers by the state government as evidence of Radda's commitment and determination to revamp the education sector in the state.

She added that her ministry was

undertaking a thorough review of the school curriculum to ensure it meets educational standards and the needs of the students.

The commissioner urged stakeholders to continue supporting the education sector, as its success depends largely on the collective effort of the government, educators, parents, and the community. On his part, the State Coordinator of AGILE Project, Dr. Mustapha Shehu, said Rimi, Charanchi and Batagarawa local governments would receive N677 million from the N8.4 billion school improvement grant.

He said the AGILE project was supporting over 19,000 vulnerable children in Rimi local government to encourage their education, adding that more vulnerable households have been identified to benefit from the educational programme.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) would before the end of July, flag-off digital birth registration across South-west States including Edo, in an effort aimed at giving every Nigerian child a legal identity.

UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, Dennis Onoise, disclosed this yesterday, at a two-day media dialogue with the theme,'Giving every child a Legal Identity: A Media Dialogue to drive e-birth registration in Southwest Nigeria,' organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development in collaboration with UNICEF and the Nigeria Population Commission (NPC).

He stated that UNICEF would be working with primary health centres in Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Edo States, targeting almost one million children.

In addition to having a birth certificate, the child would be entitled to a National Identification

The efforts, he added, would go a long way in ending preventable deaths of new born and children under five years of age, while expressing hope that the PHCs would be equipped enough to handle the task.

According to him, "We plan to strengthen coordination amongst stakeholders for a robust and holistic digital civil registration and vital statistics system and legal framework. Support monitoring and evaluation framework for programme management and accountability process for NPC, build capacity of NPC hub team and provide innovative technologies to strengthen their technical capacities, as well as scale up social mobilisation and increase birth registration especially under one and new birth and birth certification."

Earlier in her remarks, UNICEF Chief Field Officer, Celine Lafoucriere, stated that e-birth registration was important to give every child

the right to have an identity that he or she deserves, adding that it was important to national planning and development in the country.

"E-birth registration should be a right of every child from birth. Once the target of e-registration is met, it would be a game changer for Nigeria to help government to generate valid statistics for planning.

“It is also very important to generate statistics for effective planning. If adequate statistics is not available, government might not be able to adequately plan for children,” she stated.

In his remarks, NPC, Lagos State Director, Mr. Bamidele Sadiku, explained that e-birth registration platform would provide better lives for Nigerians and prevent double birth and death registration in the country.

He also said the Commission was planning to partner with National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to link both registrations with the NIN.

“From time to time, we receive complaint from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other security agencies on the issue of birth registration.

“E-registration, will solve multiple birth and death registration, because it will be linked with NIN. This will give identity to every child that is born in the country.

“The synergy with NIN is there already. It is good and it will help us to have a common database.

“We need the media to give us the support to send this message across Nigeria,” he stated.

Permanent Secretary, Lagos Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Toyin Oke, said the State government was doing everything possible to secure the future of the children with e-birth registration.

Represented by Mrs. Adeola Olabisi, the Director of Public Finance in the ministry, Oke said the media was very important in the drive for e-birth registration in the country.

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The new Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Oluwaseun Faleye and the Executive Director, Operations, Hon. Mojisolaoluwa Alli-Macaulay have assumed duties.

In a short handover ceremony at the headquarters of the Fund yesterday, Faleye said his mission was to join other stakeholders to reengineer the organisation and reposition it as the apex social security agency, vowing that, “I will leave the NSITF better than I met it today.”

In a statement signed by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Nwachukwu Godson, the DG said, “My mission in this organisation is to join the existing stakeholders to build a much more sustainable organisation.” Faleye is an accomplished legal

practitioner, corporate finance expert and public intellectual.

“I am new and yet to know all the issues and find solutions to them, but if we put our heads together, we shall be able to build a much more vibrant NSITF that can deliver its mandate to its key stakeholders including the Nigerian workers and employers as well as the staff of the fund,” he added. The new Managing Director further said his administration would carry out organisational restructuring to position the NSITF for operational efficiency. He added, “but of course, at the core of this is some level of organisational restructuring and I have no doubt about that. What that organisational restructuring will be, I don’t know. We need to engage deeply before one can say that. And the essence of that restructuring is to create some level of efficiency in our service delivery.”

– Dr Aminu Mukhtar Dan’amu,

Funmi Ogundare

Number (NIN).

Oba Akiolu to Nigerians: Be Patient with Tinubu’s Govt

Reiterates call for special status for Lagos Lauds Oluremi

Tinubu’s interventions

President will deliver on his campaign promises, First Lady assures Nigerians

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Segun James in Lagos

The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the government of President Bola Tinubu.

The Oba said, "All that I am saying and appealing is that we should pray for Nigeria and the president. We should be patient. Everything good needs prayers”.

According to a statement issued by Mrs. Tinubu's media assistant, Busola Kukoyi, the traditional ruler

Speaking yesterday at his Iga Idugaran palace in Lagos, while playing host to the wife of the president, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the royal father stated that Tinubu meant well for the country, being a grassroots-focused man.

also admonished the youth to be closer to God, saying the Nigerian youth are generally good and hardworking.

Oba Akiolu was quoted as saying, "Though some youth are incurably lazy and are always waiting to be spoon-fed, teach them not to always wait for fish but to learn how to fish themselves.”

The monarch used the opportu-

nity of the first lady’s visit to restate his appeal for a special status for Lagos State as the former capital of Nigeria.

Mrs. Tinubu was at the Oba's palace in the company of wives of some of the South-west governors, wives of National Assembly members, wives of some ministers, and wives of service chiefs. She thanked the royal father for his continued

support, prayers, and admonitions.

“I assure you that President Bola Tinubu will do well for this country. He loves Nigeria, he loves Nigerians and will do the best for them,” she added.

The first lady said the request by Oba Akiolu for a special status for Lagos State would get the attention of the National Assembly through the Lagos representatives.

NLC: Governments’ Bad Policies, Not Minimum Wage, Bane of Private Sector Operators

Says elected politicians must be brought under wage system

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says bad policies of the federal government, and not the new minimum wage of N250,000 being demanded for workers, are the major problems

Authority (NMDPRA), Ike Eseka, sought the support of the Nigerian Army to address the rampant issues of petroleum products diversion, price gouging, and sale of adulterated fuels in Akwa Ibom State.

The intensified war against oil theft followed a new directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the military, police, NNPCL, and other security agencies to improve production of crude oil in the Niger Delta.

Addressing the press after a closeddoor meeting with the leadership of NNPCL and heads of security agencies, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, said the president had given them a mandate to ensure that they secured the entire Southsouth, to enable NNPCL and others to carry out their tasks to improve oil production.

Musa assured Nigerians that they would see the result of the reinvigorated war against oil theft within three months.

According to him, the truth is that whatever is happening in the South-south has been ongoing for a long time. He stressed the need to bring the criminal activities to a halt.

Musa vowed that going forward, the entire South-south would be cleared of all acts of vandalism and criminality within the general area.

He added, "Like we said, the president has given us a mandate to ensure that we secure the entire South-south, to enable NNPC and others to carry out their tasks so that we can have improved production.

“We know that Nigeria relies so much on crude oil production, so we want to use this medium to appeal to the communities, to have an understanding. Yes, we know trust has been a problem, but they can trust us, they can trust the government, that we want to do things differently. Everyone will be carried along."

The CDS said the ongoing war was not only for the security agencies, stating that everyone has a role to play in the renewed anti-oil theft operation.

He said, "We need the communities to understand that pipeline vandalism and all the hazards being caused is also affecting them directly and we need to stop that.

“We need to work together and this meeting we had today is to harmonise that based on the mandates that the president has given us. We are going to work together as a team and all the operations will be harmonised."

Musa stated that the Joint Task Force, with the land components of all the other agencies, would work together to bring results.

While fielding questions from newsmen, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, assured Nigerians that in the days ahead, they were going to see results.

threatening business survival in the country.

President of NLC, Mr. Joe Ajaero, made the assertion yesterday in Lagos, when he addressed the 67th Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association

Egbetokun said, "We accept that we have challenges, but we must all come together to solve them. So we need the cooperation of all agencies, we need the cooperation of the citizens. We need to take every step that we need to take to address all these issues.

“I am assuring you that in the days ahead, you are going to see results."

Speaking earlier, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, said the security meeting with the CDS was based on the directive of the president.

Kyari said the president directed the CDS to take control of the crisis the country was having in the Niger Delta operational area.

According to him, oil theft and pipeline vandalism have become a national issue, and the president has directed the CDS to curtail this within the shortest time possible, “so that we can restore national production to the level the president and the country is expecting”. Kyari stated, "To do this, he needs the coordination and cooperation of all, the armed forces, the police, the DIA, the DSS, among others. It is the survival of our country that is at stake today.

“Without restoring oil and gas production, we cannot have the economic stability that we desire. The president is clearly focused on this to deliver value to our country. It is impossible to do this without curtailing the crisis around our operational areas.”

The GCEO added, "We are already seeing progress; we are seeing substantial value that is being created by the coordination, but we are very convinced that a solution is in sight."

The National Assembly declared support for ongoing efforts to boost Nigeria’s crude oil production and grow its reserves, saying it would consider stiffer penalties for crude oil thieves and persons that damage the country's critical hydrocarbon infrastructure.

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) made the declaration yesterday, when it paid an oversight visit to the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), an upstream arm of the NNPC Limited, at its headquarters in Lagos. NNPCL, in a statement yesterday by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, revealed that the legislators were jointly led by chairmen of the committees from both chambers of the National Assembly, Senator Eteng Williams and Hon. Alhassan Doguwa. Soneye said the legislators described the menace of crude oil theft and vandalism of critical oil and gas infrastructure as a major challenge to Nigeria’s revenue generation

(NECA).

Ajaero blamed members of the organised private sector for keeping silent when President Bola Tinubu removed petrol subsidies and floated the naira.

The NLC president also said the

and budget targets, which must be curtailed.

In his remarks, Williams said it was imperative for the National Assembly to come up with legislative action that will help to stop crude oil theft and increase Nigeria’s crude oil production.

He said from what they found at NUIMS, the legislature was duty-bound to come up with decisive measures that would help the government achieve its set targets in the oil and gas sector.

Doguwa said by virtue of their duty as a legislature, the lawmakers would fast-track the strengthening of a legislative framework to check the issues bedevilling the country's oil and gas sector.

He commended NNPCL for its industry-wide security collaboration and said more needed to be done to ensure the company increased Nigeria’s crude oil production and grew its reserves.

Earlier in his presentation to the lawmakers, Chief Upstream Investment Officer (CUIO) of NNPCL, Mr. Bala Wunti, described NUIMS as a trustee of Nigeria’s upstream investments, which ensured the country maximised returns through effective supervision of its Joint Venture (JV), Production Sharing Contracts (PSC), and Service Contracts (SC) operating partners.

Wunti commended the lawmakers for their consistent support for NNPCL, and said engagements with the National Assembly were crucial, as they will help the national oil company in the achievement of its mandate.

He stated, “We are here to see how the NASS will help us produce more barrels and deliver value to our shareholders. Increasing production is the new narrative and your support is needed to enable us achieve our set targets based on our key principles of safety, speed, compliance and efficiency.”

Wunti said so far, the industry-wide

for tightening their monetary policies. It projected a decline in inflation, suggesting that monetary policy easing may soon be on the horizon.

Additionally, IMF acknowledged Nigeria's plans to resume cash transfers to vulnerable populations as a commendable effort to shield citizens from numerous economic shocks.

The report stated, “The forecast for growth in sub-Saharan Africa is revised downward, mainly as a result of a 0.2 percentage point downward revision to the growth outlook in Nigeria amid weakerthan-expected activity in the first quarter of this year.”

Speaking at the virtual press briefing to unveil the report, Chief Economist and Director, Research Department, IMF, Pierre-Olivier

time had come to bring all elected politicians under the wage system, even if it would warrant creating levels 18, 19 and 20 for them, so that everyone’s remuneration would be clear to all Nigerians.

Ajaero said, “The fact is that

security collaboration against crude oil theft and vandalism of Nigeria’s critical hydrocarbon infrastructure through the four-way strategy of “detect, deter, respond and recover” had been instrumental in the recent restoration of some of the country's lost barrels.

In the meantime, Eseka sought the support of the Nigerian Army to address widespread cases of petroleum products diversion, price gouging, and sale of adulterated fuels in Akwa Ibom State.

A statement by Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade, Lt Adebowale Adejimi, said NMDPRA sought the army’s support, when the state coordinator paid a courtesy visit to the Commander, 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army/Sector 2 Joint Task Force (JTF) South-south Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS), Brig Gen Jaafar Ibrahim, at the headquarters.

Addressing the visitors, Ibrahim said the visit was a significant step in the collaborative efforts to curb illegal activities plaguing the petroleum sector. He expressed his commitment to support the NMDPRA in its regulatory efforts. According to him, the Nigerian Army is dedicated to maintaining the security and economic stability of our nation.

The brigade commander said, "We will deploy necessary resources to assist in identifying and apprehending those involved in these illicit activities."

He assured that the cooperation would send a strong message to perpetrators that the government was determined to clean up the petroleum sector and protect consumers from exploitation.

Ibrahim stated that the new collaboration also underscored a proactive approach to addressing the challenges within the petroleum industry, signalling a new era of accountability and stringent regulation.

Gourinchas, said, “The growth projections for 2024 are revised downwards a little bit to 3.7 per cent, that's and negative 0.1 percentage point revision and unchanged for 2025 at 4.1 per cent.

“And the broad context here is that as we see inflation increasingly in the rear-view mirror and we expect to see inflation in the rear-view mirror, there is going to be an easing of global monetary conditions and financial conditions and that is going to benefit also the region.”

Gourinchas reiterated that monetary conditions were expected to ease and inflation would be brought under control.

He stated, “The context is challenging for many countries in the region because of the funding

when you destroy the economy (with policies) everybody will suffer.

I met President Tinubu last week. And he said, ‘Ajaero, you are holding my hands. After the first increase in the price of petroleum products, you did not want me to increase it again. If you allow me to increase it, I will pay that minimum wage.’

“Tinubu gave analysis that petrol is N2,000 in Cameroun; N1,800 in Niger; and N1,700 in Ghana. That shows you where we are heading to.

“So, we should not break our heads over this issue of minimum wage.

“It is not the salaries you are paying workers that are affecting businesses. Rather, the ease of doing business in Nigeria is the major problem.

“We are here to tell NECA that when they (federal government) increased tariff, you kept quiet. Sorry to say this. But it is telling more on businesses. It is biting.

“Those of you that were running factories on diesel know that you can no longer do that. These are the problems. Not the workers’ salaries.

“You will go to the black market to buy dollar at N1,500 to import your inputs. But, how are you going to sell your finished products? So, there is enough pressure on everyone.”

Ajaero said NLC was not looking at figures, but the cost of living, because a plate of rice served without meat and water was now N300 or more.

He stated, “Even the N60,000 that NECA and the government proposed for us cannot afford a loaf of bread daily at the price of N2,000 per loaf.

“These are the things that make us to be complaining. How much is a tuber of yam? That is the challenge we have in this country.

“They said that our N250,000 is not realistic. But is their N60,000 realistic? How many families can leave on that?”

Ajaero said N60,000 monthly minimum wage would not have been a problem if the government had implemented proposals, like the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, for public transportation before it removed the petrol subsidies.

“Nobody will be under pressure when subsidy was gone because there will be alternatives. They have to wear their thinking cap so that we will salvage this country.

“If the CNG that we agreed with them was implemented, a vehicle that you are filling with N50,000 can be filled with N15,000 gas.

“If you are selling PMS at N2,000 and I have the option of CNG that is okay. It is a question of converting my vehicle to CNG.”

The NLC leader also used the occasion to ask industrialists to be mindful of workers’ safety, and said safety standards were being violated.

“There used to be factory inspectors in the Ministry of Labour, who went round the factories to ensure these safety standards were maintained. As of today, I am not sure if this is still the case,” he said.

Ajaero stated that the National Assembly was meeting to decentralise wages, even though the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention was clear that wages were a national matter.

He insisted, “Nigeria is not an exception. But if that is allowed, all of them (legislators, governors, and president) would be brought under the minimum wage.

“Even if they want, let them have level 18, 19 and 20. But let them come under the wage system. And if it is possible, let the legislators work on part time basis. The money being spent there is unimaginable. We should know your wages.”

Ajaero called on the federal government to constitute the boards of the National Pension Commission (PENCON), National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), and National Directorate of Employment (NDE), among others. He said, “The activities of all these are organisations, where we are institutional members, are being paralysed by Nigeria’s government by not constituting their boards.

“More than one year in office is enough for the boards of NDE, NSITF, PENCON, etc. to be reconstituted so that we will serve the workers and the employers.”

He said, “The NLC has proposed many options for government to address, apart from the minimum wage. If they had addressed those issues before saying that subsidy is gone, you will not have these challenges.

squeeze that I mentioned already that is affecting a number of countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“As we expect the monetary conditions to ease and inflation to be brought under control, then that gradually will also ease as well.

“So that will be a positive development. But clearly at the end of the day, what is very important for the region is to put in place the conditions for sustained growth.

The continent has a tremendous number of assets.

“It's a growth opportunity. In particular, it has very favourable demographics. It has a young population that is going to be of working age, which can certainly increase the outlook in that region.

“One of the challenges is going to be to bring skills and education, and

human capital to that population that is just willing and eager to engage in the global economy.”

Division Chief, Research Department, IMF, Jean-Marc Natal, stated that Nigeria’s resumption of cash transfers was a prudent move to safeguard the most vulnerable members of society.

Natal said, “Growth is improving slowly in the region. But the main issue is inflation for many of the countries in the region and it comes from a cycle of depreciation and inflation, and our recommendation in such cases for monetary policy to tighten and stabilise inflation to achieve price stability in the medium term, which will be a precondition for re-establishing the fundamental condition for growth in the country.”

Dike Onwuamaeze

Oba Akiolu

at the swearing-in of four PrinciPals-general in the ogun Public service...

L-R: Secretary

Cholera Outbreak: Death Toll Rises to 103 with 3,623 Suspected Cases

NCDC: Cases largely under-reported Says rainy season likely to worsen disease burden

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has revealed that Nigeria has recorded 3,623 suspected cholera cases with 103 deaths across 34 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 187 Local Government Areas.

With the upsurge in rainfall, the NCDC said it has started implementing the national incident action plan for response targeted at supporting states to conduct active case search, optimise laboratory capacity, prepositioning of cholera management supplies and capacity building in anticipation of possible surge ahead.

FG

The Centre said the country was witnessing a decline in cholera cumulative case fatality rate at 2.8 percent since the beginning of the year.The NCDC however said the case fatality rate was still above the globally acceptable rate of one percent. The Centre also said there were two suspected cases of Yellow fever in Ekiti state, one in Bayelsa and with one recorded death.

While addressing journalists on the update on infectious disease in Nigeria, the Director General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris said, "As of July 15, 2024, we have recorded 3,623 suspected cases and, unfortunately, 103 deaths across 34 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 187 Local Government Areas (LGAs), with a cumulative case fatality rate of 2.8 percent since the beginning of the year.

Mandates NEITI Board to Focus on Diversification, Raised Investment Inflows

Peter uzoho

The federal government has charged the new Board of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), to refocus its attention on impacts derived from the priorities of the present administration.

The government listed the priorities as economic growth through diversification, increased investment inflows and competition built on extractive sector reforms and the Nigerian citizens.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the NEITI Board, Senator George Akume, gave the charge on day two of the ongoing retreat for the members of the NEITI Board in Lagos.

In a statement by the Deputy Director/Head, Communications and Stakeholder Management, NEITI, Mrs Obiageli Onuorah, the SGF stated that the theme of the retreat, “From Reports to results built on Impacts” situated the expectations of President Bola Tinubu from the present NEITI Board.

He specifically said the president's expectations were for NEITI to forge a new policy and strategic direction where it could use its reports, findings and recommendations to drive reforms in Nigeria’s extractive sector for the benefit of Nigerians and in support of government efforts in growing the sector.

Akume's keynote address, according to the statement, was presented by his representative and

former Permanent Secretary, General Services Office in the Presidency, Mr. Olusegun Adegunle.

The SGF pointed out the importance for the NEITI Board to guide the agency to play a “Leading role in supporting Nigeria to navigate through the grave challenges that oil theft and illegal bunkering had imposed on our economy and the consequences to our environment through our public value addition by providing informed policy direction.

“We must therefore help to build a NEITI process that provides accurate, adequate and timely information and data to guide this Administration’s policy making choices in the oil, gas and mining sectors and support policy decisions to institutionalize transparency

Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Arabic Inscriptions on Naira Notes

and accountability mechanisms in Nigeria's extractive sector for the benefit of all."

In his remarks, Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, reiterated the resolve of the Board to support government by aligning the agency’s mission of fostering transparency and accountability in Nigeria's extractive industries with the yearnings of Nigerians for impacts within the country’s contextual reality and its international obligations.

“This retreat has been structured as an induction programme that will expose us to the mandates and operations of NEITI and why we are unique, peculiar and different from other agencies of the Federal Government,” Orji reiterated.

“The predominant age affected is five years old while males account for 52 percent of cases and females account for the rest.”

He further said there was a 5.6 percent decline in the number of cases in this reporting week (8th -14th July) as compared to the preceding week.

"We also recorded a drop in the case fatality rate from 2.9 percent to 2.8 per cent. Definitely there is a decline in case fatality rate from week 24 when the spike started to the present week," he added.

Idris, said the NCDC has deployed national rapid response teams (NRRT) to the top six states contributing about 83 per cent of cases.

The States are Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Ebonyi, Katsina and Zamfara States.

He advised members of the public to ensure that water is boiled and stored in a clean and covered container before drinking.

He also urged people to practice proper hand hygiene by washing your hands frequently with soap under clean running water.

While responding to questions, the DG said part of the lessons the country learnt over the years with the outbreak of Ebola and COVID-19 was in the area early disease detection.

However, he said prevention measures have not fared well due to the complexities involved in getting all the people expected to play key roles to do what they were expected to do.

For instance, he said some aspects of the preventive measures were supposed to be handled at the state level.

He noted that the Supreme Court judgement was likely to affect the ways the centre operates, adding it might now be necessary to also deal with the local governments just like the states. According to the DG, trend analysis from previous outbreaks showed the peak of the outbreak usually coincides with the peak of the rainy season, which is still some weeks ahead.

He also said some of the northern traditional hotspot states have been reporting fewer number of cases, which may be connected with the delayed onset of the rainy season in this part of the country.

The DG said: "Although almost all the states in Nigeria have reported cases of cholera, there is appears to be an underreporting of the situation as required data from the states are not coming real time as expected given the trend in previous years.

"This is largely due to inadequate resources to support surveillance and disease detection activities at the subnational level.

"Additionally this may likely be further complicated by effect of political undertone for reporting cholera, which some see as a Stigma or disease proxy indicator for inability of the affected communities/persons to have access to potable water and other basic amenities of life."

Shettima: Collaboration Key to Solving Nation's Nutrition Crisis

Urges FG to remove them for peace’s sake Council on nutrition okays new measures to address food, health concerns

wale igbintade

Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday, dismissed a suit filed by a Lagosbased lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo, challenging the Arabic inscription on the Nigeria notes.

Omirhobo had sued the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the federal government, the President and the Attorney General of the Federation on the matter.

Delivering judgement, the judge held that although the plaintiff had the locus standi to institute the action, he failed to prove how the 1st defendant's (Central Bank of Nigeria) design, issue, print and distribution of the Naira notes with Arabic inscription was done in bad faith.

Relying on the celebrated case between Chief Gani Fawehimi V. Akilu (1998) 2NWLR (Part 102 ), 122 at 169, Justice Bogoro held that Nigeria being a secular State, no religion was superior to the other.

He further held that Nigeria was a multi ethnic and religious country and no ethnic group or religion was superior to the other.

The court also held that the Arabic language is not Nigeria's official language and advised that for Nigerians to coexist in harmony, it was about time the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government removed the Arabic inscription on the N200, N500 and N1000 naira notes since it has been removed from the N5, N10, N50 and N100.

The plaintiff had contended that having Arabic inscriptions on the Naira notes portrayed Nigeria as an Islamic state, contrary to the country’s constitutional status of a secular state.

Omirhobo, who said he did not know what the Arabic inscriptions meant, prayed the court to order the CBN to replace the Arabic inscriptions with either English, which is the country’s official language, or any of Nigeria’s three main indigenous languages – Hausa, Yoruba or Igbo.

According to the lawyer, with the Arabic inscriptions on the naira notes, the CBN has been violating sections 10 and 55 of the Nigerian constitution, which make the country a secular state.

Deji elumoye in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chairman of the National Council on Nutrition (NCN), has called for active and proactive participation from all, including ministries, departments, agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders, to solve nutrition crisis.

This was as the council has approved new measures to combat malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria, in line with the President Bola Tinubu administration's efforts to improve the nutritional status of all Nigerians.

Speaking during a meeting of the NCN held at the State House, Abuja, Shettima said: "Our dedication to this Council reflects President Bola

Ahmed Tinubu's unwavering commitment to improving the nutritional status of every Nigerian."

Among the approved measures was the establishment of a national nutrition dashboard to be hosted by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and which will be uploaded on the website of the NCN.

This tool is intended to provide better oversight and coordination of nutrition-related initiatives across the country.

Making reference to the recently created Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit, which operates within the framework of the Presidential Economic Coordination Committee, Shettima said the Tinubu administration recognised

the urgency of the food crises and is addressing its underlying causes with a view to developing more resilient and sustainable food systems in Nigeria.

Addressing participants at the meeting, the Vice President, who commended the efforts of all stakeholders in the nutrition space, assured development partners and other actors of federal government's readiness to work with them.

“We are willing and ready to work with you for the good of the Nigerian nation. Let us forge ahead with optimism and resolve, knowing that together we are making substantial changes in the lives of our people. I extend my gratitude for your steadfast support and diligent efforts.

to the Ogun State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi; the Principal-General for Egba Division, Babatunde Oluseye Ige; Principal-General for Remo Division, Dr (Mrs) Ayodele Womiloju; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya; Principal-General for Yewa Division, Taoreed Ajaniade Bankole; Principal-General for Ijebu Division, Mr. Babatunji Adeola Yusuf, and the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) to the governor, Dr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo, during the swearing-in of four Principals-General in the Ogun State Public Service by Prince Abiodun, at the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta... yesterday

onyebuchi ezigbo in Abuja

POLITICS

Osoba: Ode to an Elder Statesman at 85

Kunle Somorin pays tribute to veteran journalist, astute politician, elder statesman and two-time former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, as he clocks 85.

On Monday, July 15, 2024, the venerable Chief Olusegun Osoba clocked 85. I celebrate his enduring imprint on the fabric of Nigeria’s story. Osoba’s distinguished career, a testament to his unwavering dedication and unrelenting passion, has traversed the realms of journalism, politics, and traditional leadership, elevating him to the esteemed position of elder statesman.

Osoba’s journalistic prowess was evident in his investigative reporting, notably uncovering the fate of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa’s body, at a remote village, Ijako in the present Ado-Odo Ota local government area of Ogun state, some 120 miles to where the premier was gruesomely murdered, in 1966. His coverage of the Nigeria civil war and editorship of Daily Times, then Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper, solidified his reputation as a seasoned reporter.

When he clocked 80 and joined the Octogenarians’ club five years ago, Baba used the occasion to launch his memoirs, “Battlelines: Adventures in Journalism and Politics”. On that occasion, former President Muhammadu Buhari, among other statesmen attested to his (Osoba’s) loyal party membership, transformative leadership and lasting impact. The ex-President eulogized him for his dedication to building robust institutions and participatory democracy, saying in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osoba not only served as chairman of its constitution drafting committee, but played pivotal role to accomplish the first defeat of an incumbent President (Goodluck Jonathan) in the nation’s history, a salute to his political sagacity, networking skill and pan-NIgerianism.

In that captivating memoir, Osoba recounts his remarkable journey from humble beginnings in journalism to becoming a prominent politician, offering valuable lessons on preparation, networking, risk-taking, and record-keeping.

As a reporter, Osoba’s determination to succeed

is evident in his ability to save up for a telephone line, a luxury reserved for the wealthy at the time. With candid insight, he shares his personal life, relationships, and political experiences, humanizing the public figure and showcasing his vulnerable side.

During the Third Republic, he joined forces

with others to advocate for the restoration of Chief MKO Abiola’s stolen mandate, showcasing his dedication to justice and fairness. Since then political acumen and strategic thinking have been instrumental in maintaining unity and cohesion within his larger political family. His ability to build bridges, foster alliances, and navigate complex political landscapes has earned him a reputation as a master strategist and statesman.

His leadership in Ogun State, both under diarchy and in the 4th Republic, demonstrates his adaptability and dedication to public service. His commitment to the people’s welfare is evident in his wise and compassionate leadership.

In his native Ogun State, Osoba is a venerable figure, esteemed by traditional rulers and political leaders alike.

Honoured with the esteemed titles of Araba Yewa, Aremo Awujale, and Akinrogun Egba, by the paramount rulers across the three senatorial districts, Osoba has been a bridge between modernity and tradition, an Oluwo in his primordial Oba, embodying the values of his ancestors while embracing progress. Despite any attempt to diminish his legacy, the indelible mark he has left on infrastructure development, particularly in the hearts of the rural communities he has touched. The people of Ipokia local government, especially those in Wheke Akere, will forever be grateful for Osoba’s contributions, which have brought electricity to their communities, transforming their lives, livelihoods, and living standards.

His impact will continue to be felt for generations to come, a shining example of the lasting difference one person can make.

Notably, Osoba’s stature and character were evident in his decision to maintain a dignified distance from his successors for 16 years, declining to engage in petty politics or seek to undermine their authority. Instead, he chose to focus on his legacy and contributions to the state’s development.

It was only when the third successor came to office, while I was Chief Press Secretary, that Osoba’s stature was formally recognized with the dedication of a Press Centre, in his honour at the state secretariat.

To former military President Ibrahim Babangida, Osoba is a dedicated journalist and a “civilian general” who has made a significant impact in the political sphere. Governor Dapo Abiodun has also commended Osoba’s commitment to the well-being of citizens, his wisdom, mentorship, and integrity, describing him as a “good man” and a “political mentor” who has inspired many. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has similarly praised Osoba’s achievements as a pioneer journalist and pro-democracy activist, noting his ability to offer wise counsel to others in the political class.

Osoba has consistently demonstrated his commitment to principle and decorum, even in the face of provocation. During the controversial tenure of Ibikunle Amosun, Osoba wisely chose to withdraw from the political fray, assuming the role of a respected kingmaker.

Today, the current governor acknowledges Osoba as a father figure, and his leadership style is distinct from that of other political godfathers. He has never imposed his preferences on state policies, projects, or selection of aides, instead allowing merit and competence to guide decision-making.

Osoba’s dignity and dedication to democratic values were evident even when his son, Olumide, sought to return to the House of Representatives. Rather than wielding his legendary stature, Osoba skillfully navigated the political landmines, leveraging his power and respect for due process to successfully secure his son’s candidacy.

FG’s Non-kinetic Approach To Tackling Nation’s Security Challenges

Stanley Nkwocha writes on the latest move by the government at the centre to fight insecurity across the country with the recent launch of the Resettlement Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflict by Vice President Kashim Shettima in Kaduna

Insecurity has been a major challenge in Nigeria for more than a decade now, leading to the loss of lives, the displacement of people, and the disruption of economic activities. It has also undermined the country’s democracy and development.

Without apportioning blame or tracing the causes of insecurity, President Bola  Tinubu assumed office last year with a firm resolve to end the vicious circle of insurgency, banditry, herders/farmers clashes, kidnapping and other forms of criminality.

Listing the fight against insecurity as a prime in the top priority list of his Renewed Hope agenda, the President outlined a number of steps to take, including, increasing the size and capacity of the security forces, improving intelligence gathering and sharing, as well as investing in technology to support security operations.

Above all, the Renewed Hope administration is not unmindful of the fact that addressing the root causes of insecurity is also sacrosanct. Insecurity in Nigeria is often driven by poverty, hunger, unemployment and food insecurity.

In this regard, President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, immediately identified the need to implement policies that address these issues in order to create a more stable and prosperous Nigeria.

In addressing the root causes of insecurity such as poverty and hunger, the administration saw the need for resettlement, rehabilitation and reintegration of displaced persons, who have become recruitment markets for bandits and other terror groups. The fundamental issue is, first and foremost, to see the displacement challenge completely as a humanitarian issue aimed at saving human lives.

The needs of displaced persons across Nigeria are immense, including lack of adequate protection and access to basic services, and they are at risk of violence, abduction, rape, gender-based violence, forced/child marriage, food insecurity, weakened basic socioeconomic services, destruction of the health system, and other violations of their rights.

This is exactly what the Resettlement Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflict (RSPIC) launched in Kaduna State penultimate Friday is set to achieve - to address the humanitarian crisis caused by internal displacements across the nation, beginning from the North West geopolitical zone.

In fulfillment of President Tinubu’s promise to improve the lives of all Nigerians, Vice President Shettima had in February this year inaugurated a steering committee, chaired by Minister of Housing and Urban Development,  Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, to coordinate the implementation of the initiative which was initially referred to as the Pulaku Initiative.

For now, the project focuses on seven states that have been disproportionately affected by banditry and farmers-herders conflicts. They are Sokoto, Kebbi, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kaduna States. Niger and Benue States were quickly drafted in given the volumes of displaced persons in the States and the urgency to bring normalcy to the regions.

Tinubu’s decisive action towards helping conflict victims shows his dedication to creating practical solutions for the betterment of Nigeria, a stark contrast to the blind hatred of some opposition elements. The choice of North West as the takeoff point is instructive. It all started last year in December when Shettima visited victims of a misdirected drone attack in Tudun Biri village in Igabi local government area of Kaduna State.

After visiting victims of the drone attack at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in Kaduna State, the Vice President disclosed that President Tinubu has directed that the Resettlement Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflict (RSPIC), will be kick-started in

the North West, with a complete package, including houses, clinics, schools, empowerment initiatives, solar energy, among others in the Tudun Biri community as compensation for the mayhem caused by the drone attack. He noted that the Initiative is the President’s non-kinetic approach to the challenges in the North West and other parts of the country.

Keeping to that promise, President Tinubu, represented by his deputy, was in Kaduna penultimate Friday where he officially launched the Resettlement Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflict. He stated categorically that the state has offered his administration a launchpad to venture into the communities dislodged by conflict.

One essential feature of resettlement is for displaced persons to have recourse for proper compensation and integration in order to rebuild their livelihood activities and  contribute to  the  long  term economic  and  political  development of  the  region.

This is why the RSPIC is mapped out as a multifaceted intervention that exceeds mere infrastructure development. To this effect, the President pointed out that the scheme will “construct residences, roads, schools and essential facilities for victims of conflict” as well as “a dignified environment to live and to dream.”

With adequate support, displaced persons, in the resettlement process, can form very critical and essential human resources towards the rebuilding of the region and the entire country. Their resettlement normally represents a clear end to violent conflict, legitimizes the new political order, and restores normal life for the conflict-affected population.

In line with this, President Tinubu noted the national significance of the RSPIC project. He declared his administration’s resolve to break the cycle of violence and displacement that has plagued various parts of the country for years, pointing out that “our journey to this point has been long and arduous, but today, we converge in this historic city to demonstrate our resolve to overcome adversity.

“Conflict and displacement, to us, are not merely regional issues; they are national concerns that demand a unified response. They threaten the very fabric of our society, and it is only through justice, distribution of democratic dividends, and collaboration that we can overcome these challenges,” the President added.

Tinubu

Shettima

Osoba

How MTN MIP-3 is Building Media Professionals at PAU to Leverage Technology, Innovation

The second week of the six months-long MTN Media Innovation Programme at the School of Media and Communication of the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, might have come and gone, but for the third cohort, it invaluably tackled issues on new Media convergence, tools and resources for media professional, corporate communications, the change MTN Foundation is catalysing across board, brand building and digital strategy, leveraging technology in news gathering, creativity and innovation, as well as graphic design and why appearance matters. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports

Still on its quest to foster innovation and media excellence, the second week of the ongoing six month-long MTN-sponsored Media Innovation Programme (MIP-3) at the School of Media and Communication (SMC) of the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), Lagos, focused on building media professionals to leverage technology and innovation.

When it was instituted three years ago, the overarching objective was to increase the knowledge and skill base that would help media and PR professionals to understand the changing media landscape, and how to effectively use technology to create impactful media content in a rapidly evolving media landscape and to tell the stories that need to be told.

NEW MEDIA CONVERGENCE

Monday morning saw the kick off of week two of MIP-3 with the topic on ICT and the Media: The Necessary Convergence, sessions 1 and 2 taken by Dr. Sola Oni.

While tackling the intricacies of New Media, she harped on the word convergence and how it has affected the media positively, albeit without come challenges. She also threw light on some of the ethical implications that come with that convergence.

TOOLS, RESOURCES FOR MEDIA PROFESSIONALS

Revenue Models: Building a Tech Stack and Optimising Ad Revenue was handled by Nini Eze of Google, in two different sessions. She had the job of letting us into the world of resources and tools to assist media professionals in their job. Listing Google tools available, she said these resources can help as media professionals in their work if they engage with it. Not done, she said using this tools can also help the digital journey and become revenue generating outlets.

IMPORT OF COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

For Funso Aina, Senior Manager, External Relations at MTN Nigeria, his class on Communication Management Strategies was both theoretical as well as realistic. Charging the cohort to maximise communication strategies in their day to day job, he also urged them to set objectives, know their audience in order to craft and plan suitable messages for them. He also harped on the import of communicating these messages properly in tune with the realities of the day.

CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION

Speaking on Creativity and Innovation was Dr. Chike Mgbeadichie, a Senior Lecturer at

the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, Nigeria, where he teaches Cultural Analysis and Critical Thinking and also head of department.

Like his topic would suggest, he talked about creativity and innovation, harping on the need to use one’s mind in thinking in order to allow it make sense.

He stressed on elements of thinking including point of view, purpose, questioning the issue, information, interpretation and influence, concepts, assumptions, implications and consequences.

Most importantly, he charged the cohort to wear the appropriate hats- red, black, white, yellow, green and blue- when thinking as this will help them to “show and not tell” their audience.

WHEN APPEARANCE MATTERS

As taken by Nkiru Nwachukwu, she used different slides to show how appearance matters. But first, she had the entire class participate in a fashion parade to show how their dressings communicate a particular message.

DESIGNING FOR GREATNESS

In Graphic Design for Media Practitioners, Mr. Kenneth Esere was very practical in his

teaching as he had the cohort first draw their neighbours before he delved into the aspects of design - type, colour, image and layout. He also stressed on legibility, readability and colour.

To end the sessions, he had the class to design a project they are passionate about and THISDAY’s Chiemelie designed the Sustainable Development Goals while urging all to join hands to accelerate the actualisation of these goals, given the harm COVID-19 caused on the gains made already.

LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN NEWS GATHERING

Dr. Ijeoma Onyeator spoke on Sensationalism, Fake News & New Media Tools for Media Practitioners. She first charged the cohort to leverage technology to tell stories as well as prevent the spread of fake news.

Harping on fake news and need for professional journalists to avoid anything that would only taint their reportage, she said AI can be utilised for investigative journalists for enhanced storytelling.

HOW MTN FOUNDATION HAS BEEN CATALYSING CHANGE

When the CEO of MTN Foundation, Mrs. Odunayo Sanya, walked in, she changed the dynamics of the

conversation with her heart-to-heart talk of the change MTN is catalysing through its foundation.

Speaking on the impact of work MTN Foundation has on the society, lives and foster positive change, the foundation has been advocating against drug abuse, championing youth empowerment, education, technology, health and community development, all targeted at transforming the lives of underserved communities, among others strata of society.

BRAND BUILDING AND DIGITAL STRATEGY

On New Media, Content Creation and Engagement – Developing Innovation Digital Media Skills, was Mr. Muyiwa Aleshinloye, who spoke on the import of brand building and strategy noted that creativity matters. On the SMART objective, he listed it as Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timed. He also demystified AI while listing helpful tools for journalists.

While the second week was all shades of enlightening and the lessons learnt invaluable, leaving the cohort eagerly looking forward to the third week, which started this Monday, as they soak up the knowledge from the eggheads PAU has in its kitty as curated by Director Professional Education, Prof. Isaac-Ogugua Ezechukwu with support from Mr. Samsideen Akano.

The MIP-3 Cohort flanked MTN Foundation CEO, Mrs. Odunayo Sanya (middle on Jean jacket)

Funso Aina, Senior Manager, External Relations at MTN Nigeria during his lecture at PAU

L-R: PAU Samsideen Akano; Dr. Chike Mgbeadichie, a facilitator on critical thinking; and a MIP-3 fellow, Ayodele

Crime&Punishment

Driver Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Defiling a Three-Year-Old Child

Funke Olaode

What could have prompted a father figure to defile a child placed in his care? You may ask? It was shock and disbelief when the case was being read, and justice was served, with the culprit wearing a bold face and not showing any sign of remorse.

A pathetic and horrifying situation as the mother of the child told the court that urine comes out of her daughter’s vagina every 15 to 30 minutes, showing “how far damage Mowete has done to the child.”

That was the situation at the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence before Justice Rahman Oshodi last week when the court sentenced a school bus driver, Michael Mowete, to life imprisonment for defiling a three-year-old.

“The prosecution has discharged the burden of proof against the defendant, and he is hereby convicted

under Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2015),” the judge stated.

Oshodi consequently handed Mowete a life sentence and ordered that his name be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register, pointing out, “Michael Mowete, this court has found you guilty of the charge of defilement. You have defiled a child, barely three years of age, and you attempted to traumatise her family by fabricating that you had an amorous relationship with her mother.”

The judge then, declared, “You are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment and you shall serve the remainder of your term in the Maximum Correctional Centre.”

During the trial, the prosecution submitted that the convict committed the offence on September 27, 2019, at Okeho Street, Isolo and Lukmon Street, Ago Okota, Lagos.

The state’s lead counsel, Mr.

Babajide Boye, called four witnesses. The defence called four witnesses, too.

Narrating how she found out about the woe that has befallen her innocent child, the mother of the prosecutrix (survivor), in her evidence, said on September 27, 2019, the school bus driver dropped her daughter off. The girl then told the mother, “Mummy! Mummy! Uncle Michael touched my bum bum and jumped on me.”

The mother said she thought it was just an ordinary touch until she wanted to bathe her daughter at night, and she started shouting when water touched her private parts. Despite the prosecutrix’s age, she demonstrated to the court, repeated how the accused defiled her and said in her evidence, “Uncle Michael touched my bum bum, and he jumped on me.”

Oshodi, in his judgment, said the prosecution proved beyond

reasonable doubt the charge of defilement against the school bus driver. He also said the convict’s allegation of having an amorous relationship with the victim’s mother in her shop did not hold water as one of the defence witnesses, the school bus assistant, told the court that the convict was always in the bus whenever they dropped off the girl at her mother’s shop.

According to the judge, the prosecution gave direct evidence as the survivor, despite her age, narrated to the court how the convict defiled her. The judge said the victim’s evidence was corroborated by the mother’s and the medical examination evidence, while the investigative police officer gave circumstantial evidence.

In his defence, Mowete claimed that he had a relationship with the minor’s mother.

Although the defence, in its

final written address, argued that the prosecutrix was coached, the evidence before the court did not show this as the defendant in his evidence said that he was alone with the prosecutrix on the day of the incident and this also corroborated the evidence of the mother that on September 27, 2019, the driver solely brought her child home at 6:00 p.m. instead of the 3:00 p.m. the girl usually returned home.

Oshodi also said the medical examination revealed recently repeated blunt force penetration of the vagina. He also said the defendant’s reliance on the MTN call log as a means of sexual communication between himself and the victim’s mother could not be established because no evidence

was produced in regard to the call log conversation.

According to the judge, the amorous relationship between the defendant and the victim’s mother was a lie, and even if it was true, it did not negate the fact that the prosecution had established the charge of defilement against him. He said, “Exihibits P6A and P6B indicted the defendant as he also confirmed in his extrajudicial statement that he was the only one with the prosecutrix in the school bus on the said date. The totality of evidence, prosecutrix evidence, corroborates the mother’s evidence and that of the medical report also the circumstantial evidence of the police showed that the defendant committed the offence.

Wale igbintade

The Tafawa Balewa Square Division of the Lagos High Court has ordered Union Bank to refund N112,050,000 to the beneficiaries of the estate of Otunba Adedoyin Olaide Ogunde (deceased).

Justice I. O. Harrison, in her judgment, held that the sale of the deceased’s property at No. 6, Moore Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, by the bank was in bad faith and that the property was grossly undervalued.

The claimants, Mrs. Olubunmi Ogunde, Master Olumuyiwa Ogunde, Miss Eniola Ogunde (minor), Mrs. Yewande Ogunde, Atinuke Ogunde, Afolabi Ogunde and Oyeniye Ogunde instituted suit number LD/2624/1999 against Olushola Ogunde (first defendant), Olubunmi Ashiru (second defendant), Kehinde Ogunde (third defendant), Olayinka Madden

(fourth defendant) (executive to the estate of Otunba Adedoyin Olaide Ogunde —deceased), the probate registrar of the Lagos High Court (fifth defendant), and Union Bank (sixth defendant) respectively.

However, the claimant and the first to fifth defendants reached an amicable settlement and pursuant to the terms of settlement executed between the said parties, the claimants filed a notice of discontinuance dated January 29, 2016, and discontinued the claim against the first to fifth defendants.

In the amended statement of claim, the claimants, among other reliefs prayed the court for a declaration that the sale of the property at No. 6, Moore Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, by the Union Bank (sixth defendant) was in bad faith.

In her judgment delivered on May 31, 2024, Justice Harrison held that Section 33 (3) Limitation

Law allows beneficiaries (the claimants) to sue regardless of limitation period as the claim is based on fraud against the bank that dealt with the deceased’s personal representatives.

The court held that Union Bank was privy to the personal representatives, and the beneficiaries believed rightly or wrongly that the sale was tainted with fraud, adding that the Limitation Law did not shut them out.

In determining the duties of a mortgagee in the exercise of its power of sale, Justice Harrison held that “a mortgagee by law is entitled to exercise its right of sale over a mortgaged property when the mortgagor has defaulted or failed to liquidate its outstanding indebtedness.”

The court stated that the legal obligation incumbent on the mortgagee when exercising

its power to sell the mortgaged property is to act in good faith. Once it is established that the mortgagee acted in good faith, the exercise of the power of sale cannot be impugned or impeached.

The court, however, stated that the fact that a customer owed money to a bank was no reason to fling the property at a ridiculous rate simply for the purpose of realizing the debt owed, adding that “sale at a price that is so low is evidence of fraud.”

‘’There is no controversy that the outstanding indebtedness of the deceased was sum of over N14 million. There is also no controversy that the property was sold to different persons and the sale of the Nine Luxurious flats with eight rooms B.Q for N30 million totally liquidated the outstanding indebtedness, interest and costs of the deceased mortgagor,” said the court.

Funke Olaode

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has kicked against the moves by the Lagos government to take over the forgery case made against a lawyer, Oyinkansola Alakija, alongside her father-in-law, Alaba Alakija, before the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada.

On April 16, 2024, the anti-graft agency had arraigned the duo on an amended two-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy and using false document.

According to EFCC, the lawyer, alongside her father-in-law, allegedly conspired to use a false document, titled ‘Vesting Deed by Dr Omodele Alakija and Mr Afolabi Alakija’, the executors of the estate of the late Sir Ademola Alakija, purporting the same to be made by Dr Omodele Alakija and Mr Afolabi Alakija.

EFCC had also insisted that the offence was committed on or about August 6, 2015, with the intent to financially benefit from a property located at No. 10, Keffi Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.

In moving the application, Akangbe had prayed to the court to grant bail to his client in the most liberal terms. This is even as the counsel for the second defendant, Victor Giwa, who asked the judge to be allowed to move his client’s bail application orally, having come from out of the jurisdiction, stated that Oyinkansola at the time had a two-month-old baby, whom she still breastfeeds, and that she would not jump bail.

In her ruling, after entertaining arguments from the parties, the judge granted the first defendant bail of N10 million with sureties in like sum who must submit their passports to the court. Oyinkansola was subsequently granted bail of N10 million with sureties, even as the court ordered that her travelling documents be deposited with the court.

Meanwhile, at the resumed proceedings on the criminal matter, the LASG’s Directorate of Public Prosecutions, DPP, through its counsel, B.T. Boye, made moves to take over the prosecution of the criminal case against the defendants.

Working Committee was unlawful, illegal, null and void. The judge held that Bola-Audu ought to have been reinstated as the President of ASCSN after the Maitama Division of the FCT High Court had cleared him of all criminal charges filed against him by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). Defendants in the suit are the Association of Senior Civil Servants in Nigeria (ASCSN), Bashir Alade Lawal and Tommy Etim-Okon as first to third, respectively. NAPTIP had on February 22, 2021, arrested and detained the plaintiff for alleged human trafficking and

exploitation of vulnerable persons.

He was however cleared, discharged and acquitted by the FCT High Court.

On July 15, 2022, the plaintiff subsequently filed a suit by a general form of complaint before the industrial court, praying that the court would declare him the lawful and substantive national president of the ASCSN.

While their arraignment lasted, the defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charge, prompting the prosecution to ask Justice Dada for a trial date and the remand of the defendants at a correctional facility.

In his response, the counsel for the first defendant, Yemi Akangbe (SAN), notified the trial court of his client’s bail application, which had been filed and served on the prosecution.

However, EFCC’s lawyer, M.S. Owede, contended that the anti-graft agency’s letter from the DPP’s office was a request to make a duplicate copy of the file and not to take over the prosecution.

Justice Dada adjourned until October 30, 2024, for a report after lawyers in the matter had sought the said adjournment for the report of the actual position of the office of the DPP.

Alex enumah in Abuja Justice Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola of the National Industrial Court, Abuja Division, has reaffirmed Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu

www.thisdaylive.com

AVERTING LOOMING CRISIS IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

ELVIS EROMOSELE

argues the need to review electricity tariffs imposed on educational institutions

SCHOOLS

See page 21

BROADBAND PENETRATION AND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

The advent of satellite broadband technology will make a difference, writes SONNY ARAGBAAKPORE

See page 21 Wednesday July 17,

EDITORIAL

ADDRESSING

SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS

opinion@thisdaylive.com

The rise of young people against bad governance is a wake-up call for governments across the continent, argues IBRAHEEM SANUSI

SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION: HOW AFRICAN YOUTHS ARE DEMANDING CHANGE

In the face of mounting societal pressures and disillusionment with traditional political systems, a new breed of African citizens is rising – one that has been labeled with derisive terms like "Collective Children of Anger," and "Digital Wankers" by some people in power. These phrases, among other disparaging labels, have been hurled at young Africans who dare to challenge the status quo and demand better from their governments. Yet, these labels belie the true nature of this movement, a turning point generation of young people who are fed up with unemployment, lack of opportunities, and the suffocating grip of years of bad governance. These young people are not mere troublemakers but the catalysts of a new era in African activism. They are harnessing the power of digital platforms and street protests to demand change, refusing to be silenced by condescending rhetoric or empty promises.

The recent #RejectFinanceBill protests in Kenya serve as a stark illustration of this burgeoning movement. Fueled by frustration with a government seemingly deaf to their concerns, young Kenyans took to the streets to reject a finance bill that threatened to erode their purchasing power, stifle businesses, and exacerbate the lack of opportunities for youth. After days of deadly protests which sadly claimed innocent lives, William Ruto, the Kenyan President, acceded to the protesters’ demands and declined assent to the bill, declared the withdrawal of government funding to some offices, and abolished redundant departments and agencies of government. On 11 July 2024, in further efforts to reaffirm his commitment to addressing the concerns raised by these young people, he sacked his entire cabinet, bar two officials: his Deputy and the Principal Cabinet Minister.

The #RejectFinanceBill protests are not isolated incidents but a part of a larger wave of youth-led protests that has been sweeping across Africa for close to two decades. In 2009, a series of antigovernment demonstrations and uprisings which started in Tunisia in response to corruption and economic stagnation in the country quickly spread to neighbouring countries Libya and Egypt. With their digital tools and street protests, the protests led to the toppling of decades-long dictatorships of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Muammar Ghadaffi, and Hosni Mubarak.

This spirit of defiance then spread to other parts of Africa, inspiring movements like the Y'en a Marre ("Fed Up") in Senegal in 2011. The group, founded by Senegalese rappers and journalists, initially started in reaction to Dakar’s frequent power cuts and quickly metamorphosed into a mobilization platform for young people to vote out then-President Abdoulaye Wade. Thirteen years later, protests largely driven by young Senegalese men and women pressured former President Macky Sall to accede to the demands of the citizens hastily, rescinding his decision to postpone the country’s presidential election. The result is the election of 44-year-old Basirou Diomanye Faye as President of Senegal. In 2014, protests in Burkina Faso peaked, leading to the unseating of former President Blaise Compaoré, who ruled the country for 26 years. Similar protests such as the 2012

#OccupyNigeria and 2020 #EndSARS protests were witnessed in Nigeria against corruption, police brutality and citizen’s general hopelessness.

At the heart of these protests lies Africa’s youth bulge – the continent’s rapidly growing population of young people. A lack of opportunities, coupled with poor governance and economic mismanagement, has created a ticking time bomb of frustration and despair. Young people, brimming with potential, are being denied the chance to build a better future for themselves and their communities. With limited opportunities and dwindling prospects, this demographic is increasingly restless and impatient. This is not simply a matter of youthful idealism clashing with the pragmatism of age. It is a fundamental question of survival. Young Africans are not merely asking for a better future but literally fighting for their existence. They are tired of empty promises and hollow rhetoric. They demand action and are not afraid to make their voices heard.

While digital platforms have become a crucial mobilizing tool for this new generation of active citizens, their engagement extends far beyond the confines of the internet. They are equally adept at organizing and participating in street protests, demonstrating a willingness to put their bodies on the line for their beliefs. This combination of digital savvy and street-level activism has proven to be a potent force for change, capable of disrupting traditional power structures and forcing those in power to take notice. The #RejectFinanceBill protests in Kenya are a prime example of how digital activism can translate into real-world impact. Initially dismissed as digital wankers by a senior aide of the President, young people in their numbers proved they are more than keyboard warriors.

The Kenyan #RejectFinanceBill protests, like many others before them illustrated earlier, are a testament to the power of collective action. They demonstrate that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, ordinary people can come together to demand change. The fact that these protests were able to garner such widespread support, despite attempts by the government to suppress them, speaks volumes about the depth of frustration and the desire for change that exists within Kenyan society and by extension in many other African countries.

While the grievances of young protesters vary from country to country, certain themes resonate across the continent. These include increasing multidimensional poverty, economic inequality,

unemployment, high tax burdens, corruption, lack of opportunities, and government insensitivity to the plight of its citizens. Young people are tired of being told to be patient and wait their turn. They demand to be heard, and they are not afraid to challenge those in power. Unfortunately, the initial reaction to most of these protests by governments across the continent is often the dismissal of the concerns of young people.

The series of events in Kenya, for instance, demonstrate the tone-deafness of the leaders against the voice of the people. Months leading to the protests, the young people had been active and vocal against graft, opulence, and wastage by the government, constantly calling for change. The finance bill was the tipping point and even then, as the protests were ongoing for days, the government was eager to pass the bill, and they did. They taunted the young protestors while at it. Only after the protestors made a forceful entry into the parliament buildings on the 25th of June 2024, where the parliamentarians were in session, did the government finally pay attention, and for the first time that evening, the president addressed the nation. However, was this a little too late? Had the margin of goodwill and trust deficit widened between the leaders and the people? Had the government missed an opportunity to mitigate the situation by listening when it should have and actively addressing the concerns of the young people? Will the raft of efforts by the President, including hosting a dialogue on social media with the young people yield positive outcomes?

This hesitation to address the genuine concerns of protesters is not just in Kenya. In many other contexts, the initial response of most governments to these protests is to resort to repression and violence. Nonetheless, the underlying message from young protesters is clear: the old ways of doing things are no longer acceptable. They demand a new social contract, one that prioritizes their needs and aspirations.

It is important to recognize and clearly state here that young people are not fundamentally opposed to government reforms or the sacrifices that may be required to achieve them. However, they demand transparency, accountability, and a genuine commitment to addressing the root causes of their grievances. They are tired of empty promises and half-hearted measures; they want to see real action and tangible results and see government acts in ways that justify the calls for sacrifice. To paraphrase George Orwell, government officials cannot simply ask citizens to sacrifice while they carry on like the proverbial animals who are more equal than others. The message to African governments is clear: the era of complacency and neglect is over. The rise of this new generation of active citizens, with their unwavering determination and innovative tactics, is a force to be reckoned with and serves as an early warning for African leaders. This is not a passing fad. The influence of young people in shaping the continent’s future will only grow. They are not simply a demographic statistic; they are a force to be reckoned with.

Sanusi

is a development cooperation expert based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

WEDNESDAY JULY 17, 2024

Editor,

Editorial Page PETER

ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

ADDRESSING

SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS

The states should invest more on basic education

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Hamid Bobboyi has once again drawn attention to the deficiencies in the country’s basic education sector. At a one-day partnership dialogue with the organised private sector on the implementation of the UBE programme in Lagos recently, Bobboyi complained aloud of the learning poverty in primary schools chiefly as a result of shortage of qualified teachers. He said the country needs an additional 194,876 qualified teachers to fill the existing gaps. Besides, the nation is in dire need of 907,769 new classrooms at the primary school level and 200,085 classrooms at the Junior Secondary School level, stressing that the poor condition of classrooms cut across all geo-political zones. Indeed, the UBE boss was re-echoing the widespread concerns earlier expressed by many stakeholders, including the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). The Registrar of TRCN, Josiah Ajiboye, had noted that the shortage was more pronounced in the rural areas, arguing that the development is worsening educational inequality. “The availability and quality of qualified teachers are crucial factors in ensuring students receive quality education”, he said.

overcrowded classrooms and reduced attention for individual pupils.

The Education Board Chairman of Zamfara State Hon. Adamu Jangebe, once revealed to a children advocacy group, Save the Children, the acute shortage of primary school teachers. He lamented that no fewer than 300 public primary schools in the state were manned by a single teacher each, while many more schools in rural communities had no teacher at all, leaving the children to their own devices. Unfortunately, Zamfara has many states competing with it, particularly in the north, on the neglect of public education at the most basic level.

The provision of quality and affordable education is one of the sacred duties of government since they provide the needed human capital necessary for development

T H I S D AY

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU

DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE

MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU

CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

The immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai at one time resorted to mass sacking of more than 21,000 teachers in the state’s primary education board on account of incompetence. The lack of qualified teachers is accentuated in many rural communities by other unattractive learning environment. Classrooms are an essential commodity with the result that children study under trees. In the urban centres that have the luxury of being provided with some classrooms, many of them are dilapidated with leaking roofs and cracked walls.

The over 47 million pupils currently enrolled in 171,000 private and public primary and junior secondary schools across the country are taught by some 354,650 teachers, many of whom are unqualified.

The problem is exacerbated by the non-recruitment of teachers by many state governments. About 18 states have not deemed it fit to recruit teachers in the last five years, even with about 20 per cent surge in classroom enrolments. Some of the states, according to National Union of Teachers (NUT) are Abia, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Kogi, Ogun, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, and Zamfara. The result of inadequate recruitment of teachers in face of growing population of school children is aggravated teacher-pupil ratio, leading to

EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA

GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI

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Letters to the Editor

There is a consensus that the deplorable state of education in the country is traceable to the fact that politicians do not care about fixing the sector because they can afford to send their children to posh private schools. Many state governments have refused to take teachers’ professional development as a priority despite collecting 10 per cent of UBEC grants for such purposes. Many conveniently abandon the hefty sum from UBEC because of the 50 per cent matching grant that they are expected to provide for projects.

Yet the provision of quality and affordable education is one of the sacred duties of government since they provide the needed human capital necessary for development. The states should reorder their priorities and pay more attention to primary education in terms of provision of basic infrastructure, teachers and teaching tools. This is an emergency.

Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

OLD MISERIES AND A NEW MINISTRY

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appears to have done it again. The 16th Nigerian president, who is quietly proving to be just what the doctor ordered for Nigeria has created a Ministry of Livestock Development to address age-long farmer-herder conflicts in the country.

It is suspected that true to style, the president consulted widely before creating the ministry which is dedicated to addressing a central driver of insecurity in the country. However, beyond signing names on government stationary, the fate of the ministry is a debt that only time will be able to pay.

Nigeria’s 15th president Muhammadu Buhari may have been shunted into irreversible irrelevance by the tyrannical transience of political power, which condones no more than eight years in Nigeria, but Nigerians will remember his tenure for a long time. Among those for whom this remembrance will remain a recurrent rupture for a long time are rural dwellers, especially in northern Nigeria, who were forced to live terrorism disguised as a titanic clash of interests for eight years.

At the heart of what proved a bitter, brutal and ultimately bloody struggle against terrorism were herders and farmers. For the farmers whose trade has always been stationary, in-

volving tilling the earth year after year for food and a living, the mobile livestock which constituted trade for herders was a mortal threat. Clash after clash soon convulsed states like Benue, Plateau,Kaduna, Kogi and Nasarawa. The conflict even touched parts of the Southeast and Southwest to live Nigerians facing a mortal danger that was proving highly mobile and malignant.

The seeming reluctance of the Buhari administration to commit to curbing the conflict fueled rumors that his sympathy lay with Fulani herdsmen, whom he shares the same ethnic group with.

The creation of a ministry to oversee affairs, which used to be supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture seems a departure from the past and an attempt to address one of the root causes of insecurity in Nigeria. It appears an attempt to ensure lasting peace and harmony between farmers and herdsmen who should ordinarily work side by side as different players in Nigeria’s food economy. Yet, as with every solution that has successfully and historically addressed a key destabilizing factor anywhere, without justice, this latest attempt will end up as one more thread in the tapestry of bloated and bureaucratized government ministries con-

stituting little more than a drainpipe on Nigeria’s resources.

To be clear, while there may be some quiet in rural areas since Tinubu assumed office, wisdom demands that it be interpreted and treated as a peace of the graveyard if it is to give way to sustainable peace. This is important so that a country which is not exactly known to follow successful blueprints does not return to its bloody past after only a handful of years.

Addressing long-running farmer-herder crisis is undoubtedly a question of justice. There can be no justice unless conscious efforts embrace those who have suffered most from this crisis: rural dwellers, most of whom are farmers. The losses have been simply incalculable. Countless have lost lives, limbs, and livelihoods since the crisis became a major investment for those who aim to destabilize the country. In squalid refugee camps around the country and even from graves, chilling tales are the staples of the displaced, dismembered and defeated in a conflict that has defined most of the last two decades in Nigeria.

Ike Willie-Nwobu, Ikewilly9@gmail.com

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return. An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA:

Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira

BUSINESS WORLD

Kayode Tokede

Following the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive that banks shore up their capital, three banks, Fidelity Bank Plc, Access Holdings Plc and Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) are seeking existing and new shareholders’ support to raise N878.61 billion fresh capital from the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).

While GTCO is raising their capital through public offer, Access Holdings opted for rights issue while the management of Fidelity Bank giving old and existing shareholders an opportunity to own its share on NGX.

GTCO this week commenced move to raise about N400.5 billion new capital by offering 9 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo at an offer price of N44.50 per ordinary shares.

The GTCO plans to spend N22.49 billion or 5.7 per cent of the net proceeds from the capital raising

ebere Nwoji

NLPC Pension Fund Administrators (NLPC Pension), said it has inception in 2004 paid out N200billion to retirees and other pension stakeholders under its coverage.

The PFA said the beneficiaries aside retirees were customers who lost their jobs, those who retired through program withdrawal, annuity, end work and others.

The Executive Director (Operations), of the PFA, Mr. Seun Babalola, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Lagos.

According to him, the company’s clients base has hit 400,000 customers

proceeds for the growth and expansion of the group (acquisition in PFA/Asset Management Businesses).

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, GTCO, Segun Agbaje revealed to capital market community that the group would spend N138.5 billion on branch network expansion and refurbishment, N98.5billion on technology infrastructure upgrade, N133 billion on lending to corporates, commercial, retail and SMEs segment.

As of July 16, the stock price of GTCO was at N45.60 per share on the floor of the Exchange.

On its part, Fidelity Bank is offering a rights issue of 3.2 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N9.25 per share. The bank is also simultaneously offering 10 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to the general investing public at N9.75 per share.

Market forces had pushed Fidelity Bank’s stock price above N10 per share before the commencement of

across strata, while its Assets Under Management stood at N470billion, as at the end of June 2024.

“We have settled N350 million paid to 38 customers who requested their equity contribution for mortgage within six months. This is following a directive from PenCom to PFAs to pay equity contributors to customers that wants to access their equity for mortgage” he said.

Also speaking, Managing Director/CEO of the company, Mr. Samuel Abolarin, explained that before June 2024, many people did not understand what NLPC PFA stood for, nor what business they do. From experience, he said not

the exercise and market analysts have expressed that the lenders two offers would be oversubscribed.

Fidelity Bank currently trading at N10.50 per share as of July 16, 2024.

The acceptance and application lists for the rights issue and public offers, which opened on Thursday, June 20, 2024, are scheduled to close on Monday, July 29, 2024. The rights issue has been pre-allotted on the basis of one new ordinary share for every 10 existing ordinary shares held as at the close of business on Friday, January 05, 2024.

For Access Holding, the management is seeking existing shareholders support for 17,772,612,811 ordinary shares of N0.50 each at a price of N19.75 per share through rights Issue offers

The offer will be issued on the basis of one (1) new ordinary share for every two (2) existing ordinary shares held as of Friday, June 7, 2024.

too many people knew the meaning of PFA in general terms, worse still, being part of the company’s name.

He said, ““We used to be NLPC PFA, but many do not understand what PFA means in general terms and when it is spelt out fully, it’s also lengthy. So we decided to make it clearer by spelling it out fully as NLPC Pension Fund Administrators ‘NLPC Pension’ so that the message is passed across easily on sighting our signposts or correspondences. We guarantee the future of our customers and protect their funds. The shield in our new Logo is a symbol of protection.”

He affirmed that this is why

This marks a significant milestone in the group’s previously announced Capital Raising Programme, which aims to generate up to $1.5 billion.

As of July 16, 2024, the stock price of Access Holdings closed for trading at N19.25 per share, about N0.50 per share below the offer price.

Capital market analysts said that competition for investors’ interest would be keen as commercial banks would require about N4.7 trillion to meet the recapitalisation benchmark set by the central bank.

In the new dispensation, commercial banks are facing minimum capital thresholds of N500 billion for international authorisation and N200 billion for national authorisation.

Similarly, non-interest banks with national and regional authorisations will need to increase their capital to N20 billion and N10 billion, respectively.

The directive, which was contained

the management changed and rebranded from NLPC PFA to NLPC Pension, “so that when people see the word ‘pension’, they will understand our nature of business. Our clients base has increased since we made our name known better than what it used to be, this means more clients and more business growth for us.”

The NLPC Pensions boss who commended PenCom for its efforts to make life stress - free for Nigerians after retirement, avowed that the company’s resources are invested in well thought-out and selected portfolio for the interest of its customers.

He urged the regulator to intensify

in a CBN circular emphasised that all commercial banks were required to meet the minimum capital requirement within 24 months commencing from April 1, 2024, terminating on March 31, 2026.

Speaking with THISDAY, Investment Banker and Stockbroker, Mr. Tajudeen Olayinka stated that the capital raising exercise is a welcome development, stressing that the stock market is ready to support banks in their quest to meet CBN requirements.

“The truth is that most banks may not be able to raise as much as they require from the stock market at this time because of high interest rate, among other factors. Ordinarily, banks could have raised as much as they required at a lower cost of equity and as it is now, they may have to consider a higher cost of equity.

“For that reason, some will have to go by the way of right issues and

public offer like what Fidelity Bank is doing right now. The exercise will attract foreign investors and local investors are ever ready but may not show much interest due to weaker purchasing power,” Olayinka explained.

Speaking from shareholders perspective, the National coordinator, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Mr. Boniface Okezie welcomed commercial banks decision to access the Nigerian capital market to raise capital amid CBN directives. He said, “A bank like Fidelity Bank had make a move to raise fresh capital before the announcement of CBN as the management aimed at opening new branches, improving on Information Communication Technology and enhancing customer services.

campaign and orientation to correct the wrong perception people hold about the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) even as it strives to make the process for retirees to access their contributions seamless. “Employees have the right to report their employers who fail to remit their monthly contributions of their retirement. For us, we make every payments as and when due” he assured.

Speaking, Head, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Olabiyi Emmanuel said Nigeria Life & Provident Company (NLPC) used to be pension managers, but could not continue as a pension manager following the Pension

Reform of 2004. Emmanuel added that the essence of the rebranding was to fill the knowledge gap, hence the need to emboldened the PFA part of its name. “It’s all about making people understand we are pension fund administrator. Our new Logo has Fund Administrators limited. We are to protect and safeguard the financial resources of our customers. But first, we need to protect our staff, our shareholders and our business. we want to deliver the best to our clients. Now we have a more marketable name, we are set for better customers’ experience” “he assured.

New PenCom Boss and Task Ahead

With the appointment of Omolola Oloworaran as the new PenCom Director General, e bere Nwoji points to her the task ahead

Oloworaran Umar

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the weekend announced the appointment of Ms. Omolola Bridget Oloworaran as the new Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

The sack of the former PenCom DG, Aisha Dahir-Umar who took over the mantle of leadership of the Pension Commission in 2017, preceded this.

Dahir - Umar served in acting capacity as PenCom DG for three years and was confirmed as Director General in October 2020.

Dahir- Umar’s tenure as PenCom boss was marked by series of lapses especially in the area of projecting and marketing the 20 year old Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to Nigerians most of who are still very much ignorant of the CPS system after its 20 years regime in the country.

With Oloworaran’s appointment, hopes are high that most of the existing gaps between the CPS system and average Nigerian worker and entrepreneur in the area of understanding the value and workings of pension and willingness to embrace it will be bridged due to her pedigree in financial matters and extensive experience and accomplishments in the financial sector.

With over 15 years in the financial services industry, her career is said to be a testament to her capabilities and leadership qualities, making her a fitting choice for the high-profile appointment.

Available records about her versatility in finance service industry shows that Oloworaran’s journey in the financial sector is marked by significant roles at leading financial institutions, reflecting her expertise and leadership acumen.

Prior to her PenCom appointment, she was a key figure at FirstBank Nigeria, serving as the Head of Transaction Banking Operations since June 2019 according to information contained in her Linkendin Profile.

However, her profile at First Bank suggests she is currently a Deputy General Manager, Group Head, First Shared Services.

Before her tenure at FirstBank, Oloworaran made notable contributions at Stanbic IBTC. From January 2016 to June 2019, she led the International Business Center, where she managed international banking operations and cultivated global business relationships.

Her role as Head of Global Market Operations from November 2013 to January 2016 further demonstrated her capability in managing complex financial systems and operations.

Oloworaran’s professional journey is distinguished by her versatility and experience across various financial domains. At FDHL GROUP, she served as a Consultant from May 2013 to November 2013, offering strategic insights and solutions.

Her earlier career includes a significant tenure at Renaissance Capital, where she served in various capacities, including Finance Manager and Senior Specialist, from March 2008 to April 2013. Her foundational years in the financial sector were shaped by her role at Citigroup, where she was involved in Treasury Operations from June 2004 to March 2008. This experience laid a solid groundwork for her subsequent roles, equipping her with a robust understanding of financial operations and management.

With her rich background in finance services sector public expectations are high that she will deliver at the commission, which is the last hope of Nigerian workers and self-employed.

Pension stakeholders who spoke to THISDAY on her new appointment were very optimistic that her presence at PenCom would make the difference.

AreA of exPeCTATioNs

As an astute finance manager, it is expected that Oloworaran will ensure that the already accumulated N20.22 trillion pension assets is intact in terms of investment in assets classes.

She will also ensure that much talked about borrowing of pension fund by the federal government for infrastructural investment is not done to the detriment of contributors.

The TAsk AheAd

Industry watchers said one big task waiting for the new PenCom DG, which was a hard nut to break by Dahir-Umar is continued push for public awareness and acceptance of the Contributory Pension system.

Although in its 20 years of practice in Nigeria, the CPS scheme has recorded massive achievements having accumulated over N20.22 trillion compared with N2 trillion deficit left behind by the old pension scheme. However, a lot still need to be done to advance the system.

The need for this awareness creation among Nigerians on the CPS was what propelled all the pension fund administrators

in Nigeria under the aegis of Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) to propose a nationwide media campaign to enlighten Nigerians on the relevance of pension savings.

Industry analysts said the awareness is very important and worth doing considering the fact that aside the CPS which recorded rapid growth due to its compulsory nature, the Micro Pension Scheme which is not compulsory has not recorded the desired growth as many self employed who were supposed to key into the scheme are still skeptical about the scheme just as many employers of labour, including state governments, are yet to key into the scheme.

The result of this is that the Micro pension scheme launched in 2019 by the former President Muhammadu Buhari with the target of registering 8 million contributors in five years barely registered only 77,689 contributors in three years.

It is obvious that the scheme has not achieved its target and is likely not going to achieve it because three years after the target setting it could not achieve 1 per cent of the projection.

One wonders if the remaining one year would work the magic of meeting the set target. This situation has been worsened by the heightening inflation rate which has left the masses with poor disposable income, making the people’s interest towards savings to wane.

Many state governments are yet to embrace the scheme. This being the case, the incoming PenCom DG has got a lot of work at hand in order to harness the opportunities embedded in the pension scheme.

One of these challenges is how to make state governments key into the scheme.

The Former PenCom DG, Chinelo AnohuAmazu laid a solid foundation for the take off of the Micro pension, it took off during the regime of Dahir-Umar but inactivity lack of push resulted in the stagnation of the scheme. All eyes are on the new PenCom DG to drive the Micro Pension scheme.

“The issue of non-payment of accrued rights by government is one thing that has been trying to truncate the success of the CPs. The new dG should try and persuade government for timely release of workers’ accrued rights to avoid scattering the CPs and leave Nigerian workers hopeless at the end of the day.”

WAy forWArd

Therefore to drive the scheme, the new pension DG has to see herself as the chief campaigner, chief marketer, and the driver of the industry and must be ready to sell pension to any available person.

She should take the message of relevance of pension savings to every part of the country, speak about pension at every public gathering. She should adopt eloquence, interactive and persuasive spirit in order to bring more people into pension side.

She should not give up hope on winning state governments but should gird her belt for courtesy visits to various state governments in order to get them sign their acts and adopt CPS.

She can emulate the insurance sector by taking pension message to public places like motor parks, Ports and other similar public places to educate them on Micro pension.

Also, she should take the campaigns to universities and other institutions of higher learning where she can meet the youths and prepare their minds on the need to save through pension as soon as they graduate and get jobs through self employment or paid jobs.

The new PenCom DG should study the lapses in the system that made some contributors to choose to be exempted from the CPS and address those lapses .Eg is the Nigerian police force and aviation workers who have been itching to exit from the CPS.

The issue of non-payment of accrued rights by government is one thing that has been trying to truncate the success of the CPS. The new DG should try and persuade government for timely release of workers’ accrued rights to avoid scattering the CPS and leave Nigerian workers hopeless at the end of the day.

The review of the 2014 act is the word in the mouth of every pension stakeholder, therefore, the new PenCom boss should present this to the lawmakers pointing out areas that should be amended especially sections that said that accrued rights must enter a contributor’s account before paying what she has saved.

Also because of effects of inflation on the contributors’ savings, the new DG should liaise with the senate committee on pension for approval of investment of pension fund in foreign instrument. She should consolidation on the achievements so far made on mortgage financing using workers’ savings and see a way of relaxing some stringent conditions in the assessment of the fund.

Most importantly, Oloworaran should create trust in the system by attending to issues raised by the contributors in their areas of difficulty in accessing their money. She should punish erring operators, and make interest of contributors of paramount importance.

She should align with the media in propagating the message of savings through pension contributions.

Making Civil Service Work for the Economy

James Emejo writes on the joint efforts by the federal government and its private sector partners to reposition the civil service to make meaningful contribution to the economy.

Globally, the civil service remains key to creating a stable and conducive environment for economic activities through effective policy implementation, infrastructure development, efficient public administration, and fostering innovation, leading to sustainable economic growth.

However, over the years, the Nigerian civil service had failed to live up to these expectations.

The service had been plagued by widespread corruption, inefficiency and bureaucracy, lack of professionalism and training, low morale, dearth of transparency and accountability, lack of innovation, bribery and nepotism and resistance to change, political interference, among other limitations.

These identified deficiencies have largely resulted in the misallocation of resources, and undermined public trust.

Until recently, when the federal government, partnering private sector partners including the Aig- Imoukhuede (AIG) Foundation, to introduce key reforms, the Nigerian civil service had been the direct opposite of their counterparts in the private sector in terms of operations, efficiency, effectiveness, and attitude to work -as the long-held erroneous impression that whether or not the government is profitable, staff salaries must be paid – further emboldened their indolence.

DaMning auDit REvElation

In yet another instance of mismanagement of public funds and corruption, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Folasade Yemi-Esan, recently disclosed efforts been made by the government to tackle workers who relocated abroad but remained on the payroll.

This brazen affront on the public purse, moved President Bola Tinubu to order the affected civil servants to refund the money collected.

Tinubu, who spoke at the 2024 Civil Service Week Gala/Award Night, further sought accountability from heads and supervisors of the departments of such workers, adding that the leadership must also be sanctioned for their apparent connivance.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, the president also sought to overhaul the civil service given its relevance to the economy.

He said, “Although the head of service said some of these fraudulent workers have been uncovered, she should not stop there.

“The culprits must be made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected. Their supervisors and department heads must also be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud under their watch.

“The Nigerian civil service cannot just be a workplace where ‘anything is possible,’ where workers violate rules without the fear of punishment or repercussion.”

Tinubu said, “The civil service of any nation is too important for such delinquent behaviour to take root or be tolerated. The civil service is the bedrock, the engine, the locomotive of government, which is necessary for the government to deliver public goods to citizens. As politicians, we are no more than drivers of the locomotives that you provide.

“Those who say that a nation is as good as its civil service are close to the truth. You are the real establishment that remains to pilot government affairs as we politicians come and go.”

Despite the current challenges in civil service delivery, it is noteworthy that significant achievements have been recorded amid several initiatives to better position the sector. This has led to the recognition of top-performing civil servants, who embody the characteristics of the new Civil Service.

In its determination to make the civil service more proactive and efficient, the federal government partnered with the AIG Foundation which had committed to improving the public space within and outside the country, through several executive courses in recent times.

The collaboration led to an independent audit of the civil service that revealed its underlying rot where staff had relocated but still benefitted from salaries and allowances.

RolE of Civil SERvantS

In his remarks at the ceremony where the Civil Service Culture Handbook was also launched, Chairman, AIG Foundation, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said recognising

the critical role that civil servants and the wider public service play in the country’s socio-economic development, the foundation had dedicated itself to improving public service delivery by building the capacity of public sector leaders to drive and sustain reforms.

He said civil servants and indeed the public service are often an overlooked critical ingredient in conversations around the growth and development of the country, noting that while political officeholders serve for eight years in office, civil servants serve the nation for decades.

While describing them as an invaluable and timeless resource, he said this group of workers must be preserved, supported, and celebrated as they work to deliver public goods and services to Nigerians.

Aig-Imoukhuede further pointed out that in line with the foundation’s mission since 2017, “we have worked closely with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) on the development of its reform plans through the original Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan and its successor plan, the FCSSIP25.”

He said, “In the FCSSIP25, culture change, and partnership were identified as key enablers and we are honoured to have been partnering with the OHCSF to design and implement a culture change programme for the civil service.

“As part of our support for the culture change programme, we provided communication training for civil servants, produced the culture change video that was played earlier, and continue to provide ongoing assistance for the publication of the OHCSF e-Newsletter, a key channel for communicating the ongoing reforms to all civil servants and helped to develop the Civil Service Culture Handbook.

He noted that a critical area of the foundation’s support was the Emily AigImoukhuede Memorial Fund for Public Sector Excellence, which provided cash prizes to the top-performing civil servants, who embody the characteristics of the new Civil Service.

Aig-Imoukhuede said, “All of this work demonstrates the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation’s commitment to improving public service delivery while fostering a culture of excellence and meritocracy within the Federal Civil Service.

The occasion was also designed to celebrate the achievements of those who have gone above and beyond in their service to the country and serve as an inspiration to all civil servants to strive for greatness in their respective roles.

Further commenting on the Handbook, the AIG Foundation boss said, “We are deeply committed to supporting the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan FCSSIP25. One of the key pillars of this plan is enhancing the value proposition for civil servants. To foster a culture change within the service, the handbook provides a framework for instilling core values and principles in new and existing civil servants.

“We believe that a culture shift is essential for long-term public sector transformation. By equipping civil servants with the knowledge and tools to excel, the handbook empowers them to become agents of positive change within the Nigerian Civil Service.”

He stressed that there is a strong correlation between the performance of a country’s public sector and its economic development, adding that the foundation was convinced that creating an African public sector that is effective, value-driven, and result-focused would lead to significant and measurable improvement in Africa’s economic, social, and political performance and of course, a better life for its citizens.

He said, “A performing public sector improves the lives of the citizens we serve; for me, at the minimum, I will say, if you say you are a performing public servant, it means that you would make a bad situation better. You would make a good situation better and even you would make the best situation better and that’s all that we expect of you as citizens of the nation that benefit from your service.”

Universal Insurance Projects N20bn Premium for 2024FY

Despite the harsh operating environment in the country, Universal Insurance Plc has projected a premium income of N20 billion for the 2024 financial year.

Managing Director of the company, Mr. Ben Ujoatuonu made the projection at the 2023/2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE) hosted by Universal Insurance in Lagos.

According to Ujoatuonu, all of the company’s indices showed positive signs promising that it will continue to sustain the tempo.

He added that the company has grown it’s asset from N11 billion in 2022 to 17 billion in 2023.

“I was here last year to

brief NAIPE on what we have done, our projections and what we intended to do. I am here today to let you know that all that we set out to achieve for the end of the year 2023, by the grace of God, I will say we achieved 98 per cent of them. The branches we intended to open were opened and I told you that we expected to end the year with a premium income of about N10 billion. However, we ended the year with a premium income of N9.3 billion with profit of over N530 million.

“This year 2024, we started with very high expectations. We are also looking forward to opening more branches in 2024. In 2024, we are projecting to end the year with a premium income of about N20 billion. It may interest you to know

that as at today, we are doing about N9.3 billion in premium income. We are very optimistic that we are going to achieve it before the end of 2024,” he said.

He said the company’s assets would also increase from N11 billion to about N17.5 billion and that shareholders’ fund would increase from about N9 billion to N12 billion. “So all the indices for us are showing positive signs and we will continue to sustain it,” he stated.

Ujoatuonu further said that Universal Insurance partnership with the media has added a lot of value to the company.

He said: “For so many years, when we go out into the market, one of the challenges we had was people asking, “Is universal still existing? That was a question we were getting then. But today with your

cooperation, the projections and what we’ve been able to do in Universal as a brand, people now want to be part of it. People now want to identify with our company and we are grateful to NAIPE for putting us out to the public.”

“Due to NAIPE’s support, we are getting into partnerships with a lot of groups and in various states and we are very hopeful that they will create the level of value we are looking forward to,” he stated.

The Universal Insurance boss said with these the underwriting firm was meeting its claims obligations and stakeholders were happy.

“In April when we had the brokers evening, it was very clear that the NCRIB endorsed universal insurance as a company to deal with in terms of service delivery and claims

EEDC Commends TCN for Support Towards Efficient Service Delivery

The management of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC), has commended the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), for its support in ensuring network stability and improved service quality to its customers across the South East.

The Deputy Managing Director of EEDC, Dr. Ernest Mupwaya, gave the commendation during the

second quarter interface meeting between EEDC and TCN, at the TCN Enugu region Office over the weekend.

Mupwaya, who led the EEDC team in company of the Chief Technical Officer, Vincent Ekwekwu and some management staff said that the interface meeting has been quite useful as it has helped tremendously in resolving operational challenges and

enhancing quality of supply to customers.

He further acknowledged that the relationship has been cordial and fruitful, and assured continued collaboration.

In his remarks, the Assistant General Manager, TCN Enugu Region, Charles Iwuamadi who represented the General Manager, Dr. Thomas Inugonum, in company of the

Regional Operations Manager, Engr. Anthony Akinuli and other management staff emphasized the importance of interfacing and working together for the overall success of the sector.

Akinuli assured their team’s commitment and passion to see EEDC succeed and called for enhanced communication between both parties to ensure seamless operations.

Ilori to Focus on Enhancing CIIN’s Education Programme

The in-coming President of Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mrs Yetunde Ilori, has said that her tenure as the 52nd president of the institute would focus on, “Enhancing the Institute’s Educational Programs, Fostering Innovation, and Promoting Ethical Practices in the Nigerian Insurance Industry”.

Ilori, who stated this at the pre- investiture Press briefing organised by the institute in Lagos said in addition, her tenure would also strengthen collaborations with regulators, other professional bodies and relevant stakeholders.

She added that steps would also be taken at sustaining success recorded by the previous presidents as well as completing previously initiated projects.

She said her deep desire to achieve these informed her choice of the theme of her tenure as Igniting the bedrock of our envisioned industry” as she expressed her belief that teamwork would bring the desire to reality.

“I have a deep-seated desire that gave birth to the theme of my tenure, “Igniting the bedrock of our envisioned industry,” and I believe with all of us working together the desire can become a reality,” she pleaded.

Continuing in her appeal for

a teamwork, she said, “With your support and dedication, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria will become a force for positive change in the industry. We will empower the public, elevate professional standards, and ensure our Institute is recognised as a beacon of excellence.”

Ilori was optimistic that the theme of her tenure was achievable insisting that the focus would be; evolving education through technology.

According to her, high on this dimension is a business school model for insurance.

“We will create a tiered training programme modelled after business schools. From

entry-level to executive levels, our institute will become the premier destination for insurance education in Nigeria,” she stated.

She said the theme was expected to be actualised under the agenda summarised in a four-letter acronym EPIC, saying EPIC as a word means awesome, spectacular, an exceptionally long and arduous task (usually difficult).

She affirmed that it could be said to be ambitious and artistic goal but that she was encouraged by this saying, “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”

payment. We are sustaining that level of relationship with brokers. And we are very

hopeful that it will continue to add the level of value we expect,” he said.

Ebere Nwoji

African Alliance Insurance Plc, said it has paid over N43.4 billion claims under the leadership of the immediate past Managing Director/ CEO Dr. (Mrs) Joyce Ojemudia. Ojemudia, resigned from the underwriting firm since June 7, 2024 having worked there for four years from October 2020.

Ojemudia, the company said, prioritised payment of claims settling about N43.4 billion claims within the period.

“She also ensured settlement of the PTAD legacy debt of N1.3 billion in 2021 which has been pending for over 5 years while she fully liquidated all outstanding loans and overdraft. Given her solid background in cost management she was able to improve the company’s negative solvency margin by 67 per cent. There was also a consistent 12 per cent year on year reduction in operating cost culminating in a 36 per cent cost reduction in three years.

“This strategy culminated in sterling achievement that was recorded in several aspects of the business. Specifically, the following

top six priority areas were her focus: Claims & Legacy debts, Improved Solvency Margin & Cost Management, Deployment of Technology, Marketing & Relationship Management, Technical and Enhanced Manpower Development,” it said. It added, “In the first full year of her tenure as the helmsman of the underwriting firm, she took giant strides embarking on some strategic and laudable initiatives, which impacted the company positively within 3 years. Ojemudia believes that technology was the bedrock for success of any modern business in all ramifications. She initiated the deployment of a new core business application software to take the business to the next level. She also embarked on website revamp aimed at enabling a seamless digital sales capability. She ingeniously led her team to initiate effective collaboration with Insurance Brokers through their constituent body (the NCRIB) as well as identified individual High net-worth Brokers to curry their patronage leading to 34 per cent growth in GPI.”

The Nasarawa State government has announced plans to partner India’s leading tractor and farm implement manufacturer, Mahindra, to set up a tractor maintenance workshop in the state.

The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, expressed the interest of the state government when he visited the company’s plant in Nagpur, India.

At a meeting with top executives of Mahindra, the governor, who expressed confidence in the company’s capabilities, said setting up a tractor maintenance facility in Nasarawa State would have

tremendous benefit.

He also sought collaboration in the area of manpower development through training and re-training of young persons in a field he described as technical and technology driven.

He then toured the tractor facility for over two hours engaging with the technical staff and heads of the various departments.

Sule carried out some quality testing, virtual painting and drove a tractor to have a feel of the 75 horsepower machine. At the end of the visit to Nagpur, Sule inspected departments and facilities at the GH Raisoni College of Engineering.

Ebere Nwoji

Ebere Nwoji

Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

L-R: Head, Sponsorship, Partnership, Events & Collaborations, FirstBank, Chinwe Bode-Akinwande; Head, Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, Media & External Relations, Ismail Omamegbe; Head, Subsidiary Management, Toluwaleke Salu; Chairman, Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN), Clara Chinwe Okoro; Publisher/CEO, Marketing Edge Limited, John Ajayi; Head, Internal Communication & Content Management, FirstBank, Oze Oze; Head, Brand Strategy, Budget and Planning, Abimbola Meshinoye and Head, Brand & Stakeholder Management, Olayinka Ijabiyi, during the activities to launch the FirstBank Giant Campaign in Lagos…recently.

Lagos Launches Partnership to Attract Private Investment in Water Sector

The Lagos State Government has launched a platform for public, private collaboration, known as Lagos Water Partnership (LWP), to attract private investment into the state’s water sector.

“By channeling private investment to complement public resources and uniting key stakeholders from both sectors, the Lagos Water Partnership aims to create and implement a robust investment environment,” said the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab at the

inauguration of the LWP, recently.

According to Wahab, in December 2019, Governor Babajide SanwoOlu directed the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources to establish a Technical Advisory Committee on the Green Climate Fund bid, which attracted the Resilient Water Accelerator (RWA), an innovative initiative dedicated to mobilising private and public finance for water projects that enhance climate resilience in vulnerable communities.

The Resilient Water Accelerator is now collaborating with the Ministry to form the Lagos Water Partnership

(LWP).

The Lagos Water Partnership, he said, aligns perfectly with the Lagos State Government’s vision of “leveraging partnerships to improve the environmental and water resources management.

“This initiative is a testament to the THEMES+ agenda of Mr. Governor’s commitment to sustainable development. The Ministry is confident that this partnership will significantly strengthen Lagos’ water resources while ensuring sustainability and top-tier performance. “The Ministry has high expectations for the success

stories and transformative projects that the Lagos Water Partnership will bring to our city, fully aligned with the THEMES+ agenda for a greater Lagos.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said, “The establishment of the new Lagos Water Partnership represents a major milestone in the Resilient Water Accelerator’s mission to unlock new sources of financing for necessary climate-resilient water projects. This could include enhancing urban and rural water supply infrastructure,

Oshogwe: Be Agile, Flexible, Diversify Investments to Handle Uncertainties in Real Estate

Bennett Oghifo

Managing Director/CEO, Afriland Properties Plc, Mrs. Uzo Oshogwe has advised real estate business owners to explore new systems to enable them to navigate the challenges in the sector.

Oshogwe identified some challenges faced in real estate as economic instability, developers facing infrastructure deficits and market fluctuations.

She shared her thoughts in a presentation, ‘Real Estate/Leadership and Strategy for Business Growth in a VUCA Economy’ at the annual general meeting of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) Nigeria. They also performed the induction of 26 new fellows, at the event that was held in Lagos, recently. Oshogwe in a presentation,‘Real Estate Leadership and Strategy for Business Growth in a VUCA

Economy.’ VUCA is the acronym for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity in the economy.

Causes of volatility in Real estate, she said, are “changes in the nation’s policy and fluctuations in markets in managing all these challenges. It always affects us as business owners. Causing project delays, cost overruns, and the most painful one is actually having investors lose their confidence in our business. Which is actually the impact of volatility in businesses.”

She said to handle this as a business owner, “You have to be agile, know how to rapidly respond to market changes; You have to be flexible in your project management, have a robust risk management framework, look at diversification of your investments and also diversification of your products, and you have to have hedging strategies in place if you’re going to beat volatility.”

To handle Uncertainty in business or real estate, she said, “Consider financial modeling, put your contingency in place; data driven decisions. “Unfortunately, you cannot because of yesterday’s scenario plan tomorrow, because it’s so uncertain, to now begin to think outside the box. Look at your predictive analytics; Market research is key; Complexity. Our regulatory framework is not very friendly; Stakeholder and vendor coordination.

“Technology advancements, you can’t underestimate that because in order to move forward with the times, technology plays a big part, by increasing operational costs, coordination challenges because of the framework complexity of everything that you have in the space, because of the volatile and VUCA economy we found ourselves in.

“Technology applications will increase very, very quickly to help

us become a lot more agile. It is then able to be creative in real estate. And this is clearly due to lack of clear information. “We have made some progress in this area, because a few years ago, data did not exist. But it’s different now. If we always share our data, we’ll be able to work better. And this will actually help better inform decision making and also prevent misstep in your strategy plan.

“As a business, you must have clear visions, your values are so key. When you bring someone into your company, they most understand what your leadership visions are equally from the driver to the cleaner, management and even your board.”

She advised real estate business owners to encourage partnership. Stakeholder engagement that is so key. You must be transparent, you must be able to communicate effectively with your stakeholders, you must carry people along.

introducing innovative technologies, and spearheading the review and development of sector policies and regulations.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the Resilient Water Accelerator, Kate Hughes, said: “The inauguration of the Lagos Water Partnership marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to build resilience and ensure sustainable water access for all. By improving water systems, we can enhance the health, economic stability, and quality of life for the people of Lagos, reducing disease and freeing up time for education and employment opportunities. By forging partnerships and mobilising resources, we can create lasting impact and transform the water landscape in Lagos and beyond.”

She said the Resilient Water Accelerator is dedicated to this vision in Lagos. “We are working to increase the flow of both private and public finance into crucial water projects. We aim to build resilience to climate change by bringing together key decisionmakers, technical experts, and investors; and this is at the heart

of the LWP. Together, we can create ideal pipelines for interventions that address water risk, strengthen resilience, and attract significant investment.

“To catalyse investment, projects need to be developed that have clear operating models, which can generate revenues, but which also take into account the impacts of climate change, and the improved resilience and equity of all people in Lagos. This collaborative spirit is the essence of the Lagos Water Partnership.”

The CEO of the AFC Capital Partners, Ms Ayaan Adam said, “The Lagos Water Partnership is a template that could be used to drive a national framework for public and private partnership in water resources management. She said the Partnership will drive resources including innovative finance, technology and expertise into the water resources sector in Lagos State. She urged all members of the LWP to prepare to do the hard work of attracting investment into the sector to the benefit of everyone in Lagos.”

Fadekemi Ajakaiye

Oshodi, a Lagos suburb and administrative headquarters of Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area of the State is being swallowed up by filthy unevacuated wastes notwithstanding that cholera is on the prowl across the country.

The waste daily building up unmoved for disposal across the inner streets in some of the council wards reports say are inducing fears and consternation in people with a resident on Ibidun Street, the Arowojobe area of Ogunoloko, D1 Ward, Mr. Ope Ibidun, remarking: “It is now that there’s cholera outbreak that the lawma people are failing to come and do their job.

CDA chairman please help us to look into this matter.”

Wastes said to be in filled up drums, containers of all sorts, sacks and bags are fast spreading and littering surroundings in such areas as the Inner parts of Mafoluku and the Ogunoloko D1 Ward with non-appearance of the assigned PSP Operators to move and evacuate them for disposal.

Noticed to have been badly affected in the Ogunoloko D1 Ward are such inner Arowojobe Streets as Ibidun, Salawu, Oremeji, Ogunkoya, Oseni-Ewu, Sule, Olorunishola, Shehu Close and the surroundings and in the Mafoluku Ward, Branco

Street, Ari Ori, Apakun Lane, and Eyinogun Street, among others. Many residents are said to be unable to help the situation, leaving their filth littering their frontages while others are now in the habit of moving their own away at night to dump in unknown locations far away from home.

With protests against a raise on waste tariffs from N450 to N800 per room a month and N1,000 a shop, the Lagos State House of Assembly Environment Committee and the State Waste Management Authority(LAWMA) had altered the originally approved four(4), five(3) wards structure waste management of the LG, which had just two PSP operators managing wastes evacuation and disposal in the council area at four wards for one and three for the other for nearly 25years, bringing in three additional operators to now assign them one Ward each and refixing the the waste charges at N500 a month per room from N800 and N600 a month for a shop from N1,000, hoping for a better waste evacuation and disposal management, but as it is now, it’s not exactly working out as envisaged as the new operators are not sufficiently equipped neither do they possess the dynamism to be able to cope, throwing most parts of the council area in the prevailing imbroglio.

Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Hon Yacoob Ekundayo Alebiosu (3rd from left); and Consular General of the Kingdom on the Netherlands in Lagos, Nigeria, Michel Deelen (2nd from right) with other members of business delegation from the Netherlands, during their visit to Lagos Waterfront infrastructure ministry to discuss partnership on coastal zone management in the state… recently

L-R: The Executive Chairman of Iru VI LCDA; Hon Princess Rasheedat Adu, the Permanent Secretary of Lagos Health District 3; Dr. Monsurat Adeleke, District Governor of the Rotary Club of Ikoyi, Rotarian Femi Adenekan; and President of Rotary Club of Ikoyi, Rotarian Emmanuel Efuntayo during the donation of Maternal and Child Items at Oriyanrin PHC, Lagos State Health District 3 by Rotary Club of Ikoyi… recently

Bennett Oghifo

Educators, Parents Seek More Support for Special Needs Children

Uchechukwu Nnaike

The Head of School, Anthos House, Dr. Kimberley Scollard, has called for more education about special needs children and more government support for organisations working with them.

She said this during the presentation of ASDAN certificates to 70 students of the school.

She said though the government has been showing interest and some support in the recent past, the majority of the support comes from parents of children with special needs and organisations.

She added that a lot needs to be done regarding tolerance towards individuals with special needs.

She said the students worked hard to achieve the ASDAN benchmarks, adding that some of the simplest things that people take for granted can be difficult for people with special needs.

She said, “Achieving benchmarks like ASDAN is amazing because it is proof that I am here, I can learn, I can be part of society, I can be successful.”

Students received certificates in My Community Module, under My Independence, My Friendship

Module, My Behavior, My Healthy Lifestyle, and FoodWise, among others.

The assistant principal, Mrs. Atinuke Ogunnaike, expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the ASDAN programme, saying that some students have completed pathways, not just modules, while a student completed a full course.

She stated that there is more awareness about special needs, with more qualified personnel in the field. However, interventions are expensive, and many parents cannot access it.

She appealed to the government

to support schools for special needs children and their parents so that they can receive intervention.

Ogunnaike said the school plans to dedicate more time to hands-on sessions with the students in the next session.

One of the parents, Mrs. Angela Emuwa, whose child, Chidubem is one of the pioneer students at Anthos House, described the school as a lifesaver that focuses on independence and everything to make them move forward in life.

She said the programme had honed her son’s skills in his area of interest- cooking.

Finance Minister to Deliver Loyola College’s 70th Anniversary Lecture, Friday

Uchechukwu Nnaike

The Loyola College Old Boys’ Association, has concluded plans to hold the school’s 70th anniversary lecture, on July 19, 2024, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos, at 11:00 a.m.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, will deliver the lecture titled ‘Reconstructing the Nigerian Economy for Sustainable Growth and Investment’.

The First Vice-President of the association and chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee, Gbenga Biobaku, said the lecture aims to provide insightful perspectives on the initiatives by the current administration to turn around the economy for sustainable growth and investment.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will be the special guest of honour at the event, which will also feature a distinguished panel of experts,

including Dr. Doyin Salami, the former Chief Economic Adviser to the former President; Mrs. Oyeyimika Adeboye, the Managing Director of Cadbury Nigeria Plc.; and Dr. Olumide Adedeji, an old boy of the school and a leading banker and financial expert.

Ambassador Joe Keshi, an old boy of the school and former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will chair the event. Mr. Laolu Akande, the special adviser to the former vice president and an old boy from the school, will be the event’s moderator.

“This event promises to be enlightening and engaging, bringing together some of the brightest minds in the fields of economics, finance and manufacturing to explore strategies for sustainable growth and investment in Nigeria,” Biobaku said.

He added that the anniversary lecture will also feature the launch and unveiling of a new book ‘Loyola Stories’ which chronicles the establishment of the school, the

early years, the evolution of the school over the years, and reflections by several alumni spanning many generations.

Loyola College, Ibadan was established by the Roman Catholic mission in 1953. The school admitted its first 19 foundation students in 1954, including former Governor Alhaji Lamidi Adesina and the late Apostle (Dr) Hayford Alile, who was on the admission list. Since the late 50s, Loyola College has produced outstanding individuals who have taken giant strides in various spheres of human endeavors and have become great role models that have shaped and impacted various facets of life.

A few of the illustrious sons of Loyola College Ibadan include the late immediate past Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), renowned political economist and public affairs analyst, Professor Pat Utomi; accomplished Oncologist, Prof Akin Abayomi, the current Commissioner for Health, Lagos; and the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial

The association therefore invites all alumni and key stakeholders in the Nigerian economy to join in the significant celebration and thought-provoking lecture.

Other activities lined up to commemorate the 70th anniversary include an essay competition, talent hunt and career talk for students, sports competitions, cocktail and variety night and a gala dinner in Ibadan on August 10, 2024.

The guest speaker at the gala dinner will be Reverend Professor Tony Akinwale, the pioneer ViceChancellor of the Dominican University, who will speak on ‘Reconstructing the Educational System in Nigeria: The Role of the Private Sector’.

Governor Oluseyi Makinde of Oyo State will be the special guest of honour. The programme will feature the ground breaking ceremony for a multipurpose alumni building, which is the commemorative project for the 70th anniversary.

Caring Hearts Heritage Initiative Brings Education, Hope to Underprivileged Children

In a heartwarming display of kindness and compassion, the Caring Hearts Heritage Initiative (CHHI), a non-governmental organisation, visited three public schools in Lagos to celebrate Children’s Day.

The organisation’s mission is to provide free education to less privileged children, thereby reducing the number of out-of-school children and empowering young minds to reach their full potential.

Led by Executive Director Henrietta Otoabasi-Akpan, the CHHI team brought joy and excitement to the children of Gbagada Primary School, Ajidagan Primary School, and Adaranijo Primary School.

The children’s faces lit up as they received school sandals, biscuits, cakes, and drinks, but more importantly, they received a message of hope and a reminder that education is the key to unlocking their dreams.

Otoabasi-Akpan explained that the organisation’s focus is on children of all levels, starting from primary to tertiary education.

“We believe that every child deserves access to quality education, regardless of their background or financial situation,” she said. “Our goal is to drive the Sustainable Development Goal No. 4, which prioritises education, and to give children the light they need to succeed in life.”

The organisation’s message of

education

Otoabasi-akpan said, “We want to give children light out of darkness and hope for a better future. Education is the weapon that will help them overcome poverty, ignorance, and disease. We didn’t just give out school sandals, but also hope and a sense of dignity.”

She added, “We want to empower these children to become the leaders of tomorrow, to become professionals, and to make a positive impact in their communities.”

The Executive Secretary of CHHI, Tessy Osiyemi, delivered a

lecture titled ‘Dignity in Labour’, emphasising the importance of hard work, integrity, and respect.

Osiyemi said, “We make a conscious effort to connect with children on their level, to speak their language and understand their aspirations. We defined dignity as the respect and honour that comes from hard work and integrity, and labour as the effort and service that earns a living.

“We realised that many children today aspire to become millionaires without fully understanding that it’s the result of dedication, perseverance, and a strong work

ethic. We encouraged them to focus on their profession, to find joy and purpose in their work, just like our governors and professionals who worked tirelessly to achieve success.”

She encouraged the children to focus on their studies and not be swayed by the illusions of quick wealth on social media.

The CHHI’s efforts are a testimony to the power of education to transform lives and communities. By providing access to quality education, the organisation is empowering young minds to reach their full potential and become positive contributors to society.

Emuwa said she plans to set up a gluten-free small chops business for him. She said she would also consider modelling for him. She appealed to the government to take the welfare of people with special needs more seriously and urged parents to fight for their children’s rights.

Another parent, Mrs. Delphine Misan-Arenyeka, stressed the need for acceptance from parents and society for people with special needs.

She said the children are gifted, talented and have abilities, adding that parents need to dig deep to

know what they can do and allow them to excel along those lines.

She also regretted that there is little or no support from the government in terms of policies, like employment policies, and no social system, adding that the private sector does the bulk of the work. Anthos House, a Greensprings School initiative, is dedicated to people with special needs.

Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network (ASDAN) offers a range of nationally approved qualifications based on developing personal, social and employability skills.

The annual Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards ceremony, organised recently by the British Council in recognition of best-performing students and innovative schools, brought its flurry of excitement, as students and their parents had smiles on their faces in sheer joy and anticipation of what was about to unfold.

The event saw two Greensprings graduates, Oluwatobi Tobechukwu

Michael Somorin and David Lotanna Ekenta-Ifeanyi, earn awards as Top in Country in Mathematics (without coursework) and Top in Country in Physical Education, respectively, in the 2023 International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examination.

The major highlight of the event was when Oluwatobi Tobechukwu Michael Somorin was further announced as the Overall Best Across Eight IGCSE Subjects in Nigeria for 2023.

In addition to students’ awards, Greensprings School, Lekki Campus, a British Council Partner School, was also honoured for its impactful contributions to best practice policies in Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, and Child Protection, as well as its efforts in promoting upward mobility for its employees.

The achievement marks the seventh consecutive year that Greensprings students have received Top in Country awards in various

subjects such as Mathematics, English, Physics, Biology, Global Perspectives, Literature, French, and Drama etc. In 2016 when the British Council launched the Cambridge Learner Awards, a Greensprings student, Honour Olatunji, was awarded Top in the World in Mathematics (without coursework).

Commending the achievements of the exceptional students, Greensprings School’s Deputy Director of Education, Mrs. Feyisara Ojugo, said, “We are incredibly proud of our students’ outstanding accomplishments in the 2023 IGCSE results. This accomplishment highlights our school’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence and the dedication of our students and educators who have supported them throughout their academic journey.

“We want to say a big congratulations to our extraordinary students and a big well done to their teachers for the role they played towards this wonderful achievement, and to sincerely thank their parents and everyone who contributed to their success,” Ojugo added. The Cambridge IGCSE exam is an international exam taken by students aged 14 to 16-year-olds. The exam is administered at the final secondary school year of various International schools in Nigeria, with the British Council and Cambridge Assessment International Education being the administrators.

Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

Mary Nnah

Professor Olufemi Ogunbiyi. President Loyola College Old Boys Association

Some students from the three public schools celebrating Children’s Day with the CHHI team, including the Executive Director, Henrietta Otoabasi-Akpan, Executive Secretary, Tessy Osiyemi, Director of Welfare, Mabel Edah hope and

resonated with the children.

New UNIPORT Governing Council Pledges to Sustain Academic Excellence

The 17th Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt has promised to sustain the institution’s excellent academic record. Chairman of the council, former Senator Mao Ohabunwa, gave the assurance when he led other members of his council on a familiarisation visit to the university in Rivers.

Ohabunwa, who represented Abia North in the eighth Senate, noted that the council’s vision is to make the university a centre of excellence in teaching, research and community development and promised to make the university rank among the highest globally.

He said, “The vision of the 17th Governing Council is clear: to make UNIPORT a centre of excellence set up to perform three important roles, namely teaching, research and community development, in line with its core mandate. To churn out policies and plans to make the university ranked amongst the best universities in Africa and globally, renowned for our teaching, research, creativity, and innovation. This vision is not merely aspirational; it is a goal we are dedicated to achieving through strategic initiatives, collaboration and unwavering commitment.

“Our mission will be multidimensional, focusing on academic

CASIO Unveils

Calculator Designed for Nigerian Curriculum

Uchechukwu Nnaike

CASIO Middle East and Africa FZE, the regional subsidiary of CASIO Computer Co. Ltd., has launched an exclusive calculator, the fx-9910NG PLUS second edition, specifically designed for Nigeria.

The calculator, recently unveiled at the Black Diamond Hotel in Lagos, combines basic calculation with advanced functionalities, including differential calculation, integrations, complex numbers, and matrix and vector calculations.

According to the Managing Director of CASIO Middle East and Africa FZE, Mr. Takashi Seimiya, the launch followed the successful training programme for 1,200 teachers on the usage of calculators with inquiry-based learning.

“This calculator is a testament to our commitment to delivering the highest level of support and innovation to Nigerian educators and students by equipping them with the tools they need to excel in science, mathematics, and engineering in today’s world,” he said.

The event attracted dignitaries from the Nigerian education sector, including the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Lagos State, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun; the permanent secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, represented by the Director of Education Resource Centre, Mrs. Omolayo Akinlade Olatomorin; Senior General Manager, Casio Japan, Mr. Tomoaki Sato; Director, Educational, Planning, Research and Development, Federal Ministry of Education Abuja, Mrs. Obianuju Anigbogu and a representative from WAEC, Mr. Abdulmojeed Olorunishola.

Commenting on the partnership, Olatomorin said, “As the Director/ HOD of the Education Resource Centre, a department of the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, our collaboration with CASIO Middle East and Africa FZE has been remarkable and eye-opening. Equipping educators with the needed skills in inquirybased learning using the CASIO calculator was inspiring and thrilling. I want to say the new model, which is non-programmable, is a long-awaited technology that must be embraced by all educators and examining bodies.”

Secondary school students who attended the event also participated in a Mathematical quiz competition using the new Casio calculators. Lawal Ismail from Falomo Senior High School won the quiz and received a cheque of N500,000; Bada AbdulSalam from Oriwu Senior Model College came second and received N250,000; and Chineye Oforma from Canterbury International School came third and received N100,000.

In addition to the launch, CASIO also pledged its continued support for educational activities and to enhance educators’ knowledge using genuine scientific calculators.

The event also featured a panel discussion on ‘Fostering Innovation and Problem-solving in the Nigerian Classroom Through the Use of Technology’.

The panellists agreed that technology aids learning and is key to national development. They also called for collaboration between government and development partners to reduce the cost of deploying technology in the teaching and learning process.

excellence, the advancement of knowledge, and community service. This mission is embodied in the university’s daily activities, from the classrooms to research endeavour.”

Ohabunwa added that the council will help the management strive to foster life-long learning, social inclusion, and policy-relevant research that addresses contemporary societal needs and challenges.

He promised that the welfare of staff and students will be a priority, stressing that the institution would witness visible improvement before

the end of the four-year tenure. Ohabunwa added, “We have to look at very innovative ways to address the issue of hostel accommodation while improving the already existing facilities. On staff welfare, the council will ensure that staff receives their statutory and other benefits in other to boost the morale of the workers. We will meet with the unions on campus with a view to exploring other areas to boost the welfare and well-being of workers in this university.”

While calling for support from all

stakeholders towards achieving the mission of the council, Ohabunwa warned that, “in as much as council will take the welfare of staff at heart, we will not condone unethical practices by staff. Staff are expected to display the highest standard of professionalism in their dealings with students and others.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, assured the council members of the readiness of management, staff and students to cooperate with them in achieving their mission. He hoped that

all hanging issues, such as staff promotion, would be given speedy consideration with a substantive governing council in place.

Georgewill thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing the governing council and expressed hope that the members will bring their wealth of experience and dedication to their roles, “and their wisdom and vision will guide us towards achieving our shared goals and aspirations for this unique university of Port Harcourt.”

Lagoon School Urges Parents’ Involvement in Children’s Education

Funmi

Ogundare

Members of the management team of Lagoon School, Lekki, Lagos, have appealed to parents to engage actively in their children’s education by asking questions and participating in school seminars offered by counselors and psychologists.

They said this while speaking with THISDAY during the school’s open house, and sent-forth ceremony for the senior secondary three students, organised by those in senior secondary two.

Toyin Binang, Receptional Head of Upper Primary, stated that the school believes in strong partnerships with parents,

recognising them as the primary educators of their children.

She also called on the community to support girl-child education through scholarships and sponsorships, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) programmes.

“We provide scholarships to students from low-income homes who achieve top positions, ensuring that education is accessible to all,” she stated.

The school’s initiatives, she stated, reflect a comprehensive approach to education, aiming to empower young girls to become leaders who are well-rounded, empathetic, and ready to make a positive impact

on society.

Binang also highlighted the school’s emphasis on character formation, noting that each child has a tutor dedicated to their personal development.

“We send regular updates to parents about their child’s progress in virtue, which aids in their academic and overall well-being,” stated Binang. “The tutor acts as a bridge between the school and home, meeting with parents each term to discuss their child’s welfare and goals.”

Ngozi Nnamani, Vice Principal General Education at the school, addressed sociocultural beliefs about the girl-child, saying, “The perception of a woman’s role in

society is gradually changing. More people now appreciate the importance of educated women. Women, with their empathy and attention to detail, play crucial roles. We encourage our girls to engage in community service, providing them with opportunities to interact with underprivileged individuals and gain new perspectives.”

She pointed out that many of its old students have initiated nonprofit organisations focused on addressing challenges in women’s education in Nigeria.

“Our graduates often assume leadership roles and become policymakers, driven by a passion to empower other women and girls,” Nnamani stressed.

Durosinmi-Etti Advises Chrisland Graduates to Pursue Excellence

Funmi

Ogundare

Professor of Radiation and Clinical Oncology Francis Abayomi Durosinmi-Etti has advised the graduating students of Chrisland Schools to pursue excellence and remain true to themselves and their aspirations.

He said this at the joint valedictory service for the class of 2024 (The Phenomenal Stars), themed ‘Propelled for Greatness’, which saw 336 students from the Festac, Lekki, Idimu, VGC and Ikeja campuses

graduate.

Durosinmi-Etti encouraged the graduates to face life’s challenges with courage, seize opportunities with enthusiasm, and tackle setbacks with determination. He emphasized that although the future might be uncertain, their passion and knowledge will equip them to shape their destinies and significantly impact Nigeria and the world.

He said, “The roads ahead may be uncertain, but with passion in your hearts and knowledge in your minds, you certainly have the tools and the

power to shape your destinies and make the expected positive impacts on Nigeria and the world.”

He advised the students to carry forward the lessons they learned, highlighting the importance of integrity, hard work, and resilience. These values, he said, would drive them toward assured greatness. He also urged them to remain active alumni association members and give back to their alma mater.

Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, the First Lady of Ogun State, noted the significance of the event’s theme,

stressing the need for mentors in today’s world. She pointed out that many young people are attracted to quick success, often neglecting the value of perseverance and dedication. She emphasised that mentorship provides the essential wisdom and support needed to navigate life’s challenges.

“Being ‘propelled for greatness’ means that the graduates have the potential to make significant contributions in whatever field they choose, be it science, art, entrepreneurship, education, or

Former Minister Recommends IB Diploma Programme for Nigeria

Greensprings School recently celebrated the graduation of its IB Diploma students, marking the completion of their intensive two-year academic journey. The ceremony, attended by parents, guests and staff, featured Mr. Osita Chidoka, former Minister of Aviation, as the keynote speaker.

In his address, Chidoka advocated for Nigeria’s adoption of the IB Diploma programme, suggesting a re-evaluation of the current 6-33-4 system. He highlighted the IB

Diploma curriculum’s strengths in fostering critical thinking, global awareness, and comprehensive education.

He described the IB Diploma as the international gold standard in education that encourages independent thinking and prepares students for success in top universities.

“The IB Diploma programme is widely acclaimed as the gold standard of education worldwide, encouraging students to be independent thinkers.

Top universities around the world seek out IB Diploma graduates for the high level of college preparedness that the program instils in its students,” Chidoka stated.

He stressed the importance of creating an environment where students can develop their potential and contribute meaningfully to society. He left the graduates with the “Chidoka Principles” - Uche (wisdom), Uchu (diligence), and Egwuchukwu (morality and fear of God) to guide their future endeavours.

He also encouraged them to uphold these values, stressing that good character is fundamental towards achieving sustainable success in their academic and professional journeys. The school also honoured some of the graduands, who secured multiple scholarships from universities in Europe and North America. Thirty-six graduates were awarded over $12 million in scholarships, affirming the programme’s impact in preparing students for higher education and beyond.

Professor Ademola Adeyekun of the Department of Radiology, College of Medical Sciences, UNIBEN (fourth right); Prof Adesina Ayinde, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, representing the VC, Prof. Lillian Salami (third right), with family members when Prof. Adeyekun delivered his inaugural lecture on ‘Invisible Rays, Silent Sounds and the Rewards for Chasing Shadow’… recently

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Wema Bank Partners NBC, SMEDAN to Empower Women in Business

Kayode Tokede

Wema Bank has partnered with Naija Brand Chick (NBC) and Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to promote intracontinental trade and empower women in business.

This was disclosed yesterday at a briefing to announce the trade fair, which would hold August 17 and 18 in London.

Speaking, Divisional Head, Retail and SME, Wema Bank, Ayodele Olojede said the partnership seeks to address the challenges faced by women in international trade, where only 15 per cent of businesses engaged in international trade are led by women, according to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

“In Africa, women only produce one-fourth of the total generated exported value, despite making up 50 per cent of the population. As a purveyor of wealth for over 8 decades, we understand that the economic prosperity of our people is directly related to ours. Africa, especially Nigeria, can only grow if we trade amongst ourselves and with other countries, regions, and continents.

“Through this partnership, we aim to increase investment, integrate Nigerian exporters into the global value chain, and facilitate foreign exchange collections using digital collection tools.”

Also speaking, the Director General of SMEDAN, Charles Odili applauded the efforts of Wema Bank at empowering women owned businesses and SMEs in the

country in recent years, saying that the agency would be collaborating with the bank to make the London event a success.

He revealed that his agency would work with relevant government agency to make sure all the entrepreneurs who would be going to London for the exhibition are granted visa.

Also speaking, Tola Johnson Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation, Office of the Vice President, lauded the bank’s initiative at empowering SMEs and women in recent years through the Sara initiative.

Jhonson said his office was ready to partner with the Wema Bank on programs in the next few months to boost SMEs and create jobs for Nigerians, especially the youth.

Odu’a Investment, NOPII Signs MoU for MSMEs Funding

Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL) and the Nigerian Office for Philanthropy and Impact Investing have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) towards the provision of grants for MSMEs in the Southwest states.

Officials of both organisations at the Job creation and MSME Secretariat, BOI Building, CBD, Abuja signed the MoU yesterday.

The MoU is geared towards providing funding for startups in order to develop and grow businesses in critical sectors, including Agriculture, renewable energy, fashion and furniture manufacturing.

Chairperson of the Nigeria Office for Philanthropy and Impact Investing, Mrs Thelma Ekiyor-Solanke, said the MoU was part of roadmap towards ensuring the office fulfill its mandate by working with relevant stakeholders.

“We are pleased to work

with our first batch of partners, engaging in different areas of interest, so that when each person brings what they are good at we get a whole. We hope that through this partnership we will be able to unlock skills and capacity-building advantages. After this, we hope it will encourage more and more people to partner with the government in this area because the high rate of unemployment has caused social problems and insecurity,” she said.

Group Managing Director/ CEO, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr Abdulrahman Yinusa, who signed on behalf of the group, said the execution of the MOU was very important to achieve “impact investing” in the South west states. “We see economic development as an essential combination between meeting statistics and also achieving social goals, so

this partnership is supposed to give us an opportunity to actually have what we call impact investing.

“In impact investing, you want to go beyond the profit and loss, and go into how much people are getting employed and how sustainable are the developments. “This partnership is supposed to help go beyond making money but to get jobs for our people and also look after the environment.

“You will recall that Odu’a Investment is owned by the six South West states, and first thing we are going to do is to create a platform whereby we will be able to engage all the economic agents within the South West.

“This will enable us to participate in activities that will not only grow the economy, but will also create jobs for our people,” he said.

Omogiafo Emerges President of Lagos Business School Alumni Association

Nume Ekeghe

The President and Group CEO of Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group), Dr. Owen Omogiafo, has been officially sworn in as the President of the Lagos Business School Alumni Association (LBSAA).

She succeeds Agada Apochi, who has served the association impressively.

Owen Omogiafo brings a wealth of experience and a remarkable track record in leadership, corporate governance,

and business transformation to her new role. As the President of Transcorp Group, she has been instrumental in driving the company’s strategic vision, fostering innovation, and ensuring sustainable growth across its diverse portfolio. Her appointment as the President of LBSAA marks a significant milestone for the alumni association. Under her leadership, the association is poised to strengthen its engagement with alumni, enhance professional development opportunities, and

contribute meaningfully to the broader business community in Nigeria and beyond.

Omogiafo stated: “I am honoured and grateful for the opportunity to serve our prestigious network alongside the Association’s newly elected Vice President, Valentine Okelu, MD Neimeth Pharmaceutical and Secretary, Misan Eribo. Thank you to our predecessors, Immediate Past President, Agada Apochi and outgoing Secretary Uzoma Dalhatu for their excellent service.”

Stanbic IBTC Bank Partners Lagos State on LIWAC

Nume Ekeghe

Stanbic IBTC Bank, one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, partnered with the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission to host its fifth edition of Lagos International Water and Sanitation Conference (LIWAC) 2024.

In a statement, IBTC noted that the summit would focus on innovative funding solutions for water and sanitation infrastructure in Africa’s largest metropolis.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu emphasised the

importance of forming strategic international alliances. He explained how collaborations are instrumental in pooling resources, tapping into specialised expertise, and ensuring active community involvement. He added that these efforts are critical in driving significant improvements in the water and sanitation sector.

Sanwo-Olu noted that partnerships facilitate the sharing of knowledge and promote best practices.

Head Commercial Banking,

Stanbic IBTC Bank, Babatunde Akindele, highlighted the significance of this partnership.

He said “By collaborating with the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission for LIWAC 2024, we are leveraging our financial expertise to help tackle critical infrastructure challenges. This summit represents a crucial step towards developing sustainable funding models to transform Lagos’ water and sanitation landscape; boosting the state’s quality of life and economic activities.”

The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $87.33 a barrel on Monday, compared with $86.00 the previous Thursday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference

following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

L-R: Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Mr Temitope Adekunle Johnson; Chairperson, Nigeria Office for Philanthropy and Impact Investing, Mrs Thelma EkiyorSolanke; Odu’a Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr Abdulrahman Yinusa and Director, Odu’a Investment, Mr Seni Adio, SAN at the MoU signing ceremony held at the Job creation and MSME Secretariat, BOI Building, Abuja...recently

Access Bank Raises N442bn Capital through Syndicated Tier II Facility

Kayode Tokede

Access Bank Plc, yesterday disclosed that its over two decades with the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO) has led to the signing of a monumental syndicate Tier II Facility agreement of $295 million (equivalent of about N442.5billion).

Access Bank’s collaboration with FMO began in 2003, reflecting a shared commitment to economic development in

Nigeria.

This latest agreement, the third of its kind arranged by FMO for Access Bank, goes beyond a mere financial transaction, and serves as proof to the deep-rooted trust and synergy between the two institutions.

This historic agreement is the largest syndication in FMO’s history. This substantial investment is the result of a collective effort involving a syndicate of Global DFI

partners, each playing a crucial role in strengthening Nigeria’s private sector. The syndicate includes esteemed names such as British International Investment (BII), Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO), BlueOrchard, FinDev Canada, Finnfund of Finland, Norfund of Norway, Oikocredit, and Swedfund of Sweden.This financial infusion is earmarked to empower local small and medium-sized enterprises

(SMEs), with a particular focus on underserved segments such as youth- and women-owned businesses, agricultural enterprises, and very small enterprises.

The ceremony, attended by dignitaries including H.E. Amb. Oluremi Oliyide, Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands, and representatives from the Dutch government, saw Roosevelt Ogbonna, MD/ CEO of Access Bank express profound gratitude to FMO

for their unwavering support and emphasise the bank’s commitment to becoming the world’s most respected African bank by adhering to global best practices and maintaining high standards of accountability.

“Today marks a significant milestone in our longstanding partnerships with FMO. This monumental syndicate Tier II Facility agreement underscores the deep-rooted trust and synergy among our

institutions.

“This facility not only enhances our capital reserves, but also strengthens Africa’s trade capabilities and export potential. Putting these funds to use, we aim to catalyse growth across various sectors, stimulate business development, create jobs, and deepen financial inclusion, aligning with Access Bank’s mission to drive progress and development throughout the continent and beyond,” he said.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF j U LY 16/24

Improving Economy: EME Foundation Invests N55million on Young Entrepreneurs in Imo

Blessing Ibunge writes that to cushion economy hardship and positively impact in the lives of young people in the society, a non profitable organisation, Eze Mitchell Egbukole Foundation splashed N55million on youths of Imo State, encouraging the drive for entrepreneurship in the state

group photograph of beneficiaries

The Eze Mitchell Egbukole Foundation, a non governmental organisation, on Monday July 8, 2024, lit up the city of Owerri in Imo State with its strategic way of economically improving the lives of the people of the area.

A prominent stool in the area, known for their philanthropic deeds, has again touched the lives of young people, whose lives could have been distracted by the vices in the society, hence the intervention.

Established in 2019, by the Royal family in memorial of their father, HRH Eze Mitchell Ezesomaga Egbukole (Ochoronma IV of Egbu Autonomous community), the aim of EME foundation is to support youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria, with its initial focus on youths in Imo state. This has also encouraged rural development over urban migration, brought positive transformation to the lives of so many youths in the areas of financial empowerment, social responsibility, skills acquisition and self-development, just as some of the beneficiaries testified during the event.

The event held at the palace of the Egbu kingdom in Owerri attracted so many dignitaries including government officials, politicians, traditional rulers from other communities in the state, women, youths, religious leaders and sundry, who showered praises on the foundation for their years of tackling issues of insecurity, poverty, others through the programme which they noted have positively affected lives of so many young people in the state.

HISTORY OF THE FOUNDATION AND MOTIVE FOR ESTABLISHMENT

The founder of EME Foundation, a philanthropist and of the sons of late Eze Mitchell Ezesomaga Egbukole, Prince Ikenna Egbukole, who noted how significant the event is to him and his family members, said it was established to honour his late father, a visionary leader who believed deeply in the power of education and entrepreneurship to transform lives and communities.

Ikenna revealed that the scheme was first established in 2019, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his passing of their father, with the initial focused on Egbu Autonomous community, awarding one million naira each to five promising young entrepreneurs and 300,000 naira each to three others, totaling N5.9 million.

According to him, “Today, five years later, we gather to celebrate the tremendous growth of our initiative. This second edition of the scheme has expanded its reach to include 48 communities across Owerri North, Owerri West, and Owerri Municipal local governments.

“We have also increased our funding almost tenfold to 54.5 million naira, demonstrating our commitment to supporting entrepreneurship on a broader scale”.

He explained that the response to this year’s program has been overwhelming, with recipient of 1,130 applications from ambitious young people across the 48 communities. “While we wish we could support every applicant, our resources allowed us to fund only a select number. Our selection process was rigorous and impartial”.

He also revealed that the foundation engaged an independent Canadian Company “Dgytal” to evaluate applications based on criteria including business knowledge, marketing strategy, customer understanding, business viability, scalability, and proposed use of funds.

Ikenna congratulated the 50 main awardees who received rone million naira each, saying that they emerged successfully from a highly competitive process with a 5 percent success rate. “This means that out of every 20 applicants, only one has made it to this stage”.

He further explained that “Initially, we earmarked 50 million naira for 50 applicants, however, during the application process, we identified some applicants who showed exceptional need or are overcoming significant challenges in pursuit of their entrepreneurial dreams. To encourage them, we created a compassionate category, awarding 500,000 naira each to nine individuals.

“I am pleased to share that our support extends beyond financial assistance. Before the disbursement of funds, all awardees participated in a comprehensive two-day training program which covered essential aspects of business management, including marketing, strategy, customer service, and financial management. They also had the opportunity to learn from successful business owners who have graciously offered their ongoing support”.

To the awardees, he said “This grant is a vote of confidence in your potential to drive positive change in your communities. Use these resources wisely, conduct your businesses ethically, and always seek opportunities to grow and innovate”.

The founder however, expressed his gratitude to our foundation trustees, expressed that their selfless contributions and unwavering commitment to the foundation’s progress made the day possible.

To those who did not receive a grant, he said “Your entrepreneurial spirit is commendable. I encourage you to persist in your endeavors. The very act of applying and presenting your ideas is a valuable experience that will serve you well in future opportunities”.

COMMENDATIONS TO THE FOUNDERS

A retired Naval Officer, Rear Adm. Sunday Lawal Baje (Rtd), who is the Director-General EME Foundation, in his address at the event, described the late king of Egbu, Eze Mitchell Ezesomaga Egbukole, as a great Nigerian patriot, noting that what stands out is the legacy of a good man with a good name and the importance of instilling family values that transcends generations.

Rear Admiral Baje recalled that the late king played a significant role in nation building,

economic and social development and promotion of entrepreneurship.

“He worked in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry where he retired as the Chief Industrial Promotions Officer, after acting as the Permanent Secretary and as the Director- General in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Imo state. He was a distinguished alumnus of the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

“As a traditional ruler, he (Eze Mitchell Ezesomaga Egbukole) was a visionary and unifier of the good people of Egbu community. He was a man of courage, character, commitment and compassion. This is evident as the seeds he planted are bearing fruit 25 years after, in the lives of these 59 beneficiaries. Out of which 50 beneficiaries will each receive One million Naira and 9 beneficiaries will each receive N500,000 as Seed Capital to start or expand their existing business”.

Baje who noted that the recent statistics report, revealed that 75 percent of the Nigerian population are within ages of 15 to 35 years, stressed that the implications of not educating, training, upskilling and empowering the youths are grave.

He said the youth entrepreneurship program is relevant now more than ever as the youths needs support in this difficult time of moral decadence, economic hardship, unemployment and underemployment.

“The exponential increase in sundry crimes such as Boko Haram terrorism, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, ritual practices and political thuggery over the decades have been traced to the spiralling waves of youth unemployment. With the funds being provided to the youth, the spin-off effects include job creation, innovation, productivity and reduction in crimes and criminality.

Urging the beneficiaries to be good ambassador of your families, the retired senior navy officer said “It is time to think outside the box-to add value to your ongoing businesses and take them to a higher level, as the subject of today’s celebration has done for Egbu community”.

In a joyful and fulfilled mood, the paramount ruler of Egbu community, HRM Eze Uchenna

Mitchell Egbukole, said “today marks 25 years of the demise of my late father, Eze Mitchell Ezesomaga Egbukole. We came together and agreed to set up this foundation. And to the glory of God we have gotten this far. It is actually given back to the society for the blessing that God has given to us”.

He asserted that his mother taught them to touch the lives of people around, hence what the foundation stands for.

The monarch further stated that nobody influenced their selections, not even the founder, noting that a consultant in Canada interviewed all participants and confirmed them all qualified for the benefit.

To the beneficiaries, he said “I want in the next few years, the beneficiaries should come out boldly and testified how the they also impacted lives through the proceeds from their hardwork from the N1million awarded to them, saying that “The foundation will take a review of the beneficiaries, watch how they are doing and if they are able to prove that their benefits are profitable, it will please us”.

He added that the foundation is non political, non profit, but a project to help build up the society, to build up the youths, reason the process was not influenced.

GOVERNOR HOPE UZODIMMA ASSURES OF PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FOUNDATION

In his remarks, the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma assured that his led government will partner with the EME Foundation to impact on the youths of the state who have shown the enthusiasm in entrepreneurship, hoping that their gains will impact positively in the development of the stste. Uzodimma who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Mandela Emeka, expressed that the governor is passionate about the economy development of the state and improvement in the lives of the Imo people.

“His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma loves the peoples of Imo state and whenever there is empowerment for Imolites, the governor identifies fully. It quite intelligent to see a family embark on this without government intervention or support. If we have a family like this from everyone federal Constituency, I don’t think we will still have youths who are jobless, who are not supporting with their various entrepreneur skills in this state.

Dr Emeka said the governor is solidly behind and identifying with the Royal family, “he is thanking you for the wonderful opportunity you are giving to Imo youths and call on other citizens to join the line to support our youth.

“So we are call on every well meaning citizens across the world, to emulate the Egbukole family and start on the little way they can. We thank the royal family for this feat and promised you that the state government will partner with the foundation on this programme”.

To the beneficiaries, the youth development commissioner said “Please, do not take this opportunity for granted. Alot of people are looking for such opportunity, be ever grateful to this family. Defend this family with all you have, because what they have given to you today, is not a child’s play, N1million empowerment per person”.

A

of the EME Foundation N1million empowerment support programme and the founder of the project, Prince Ikenna Egbukole and Princess Jennifer Egbukole, immediately after the presentation of the cheques at the palace of Eze Mitchell Uchenna Egbukole, in Egbu community, Owerri, Imo State.

Paramount ruler of Egbu community, Eze Mitchell Uchenna Egbukole presenting a cheque of N1million to one of the female beneficiaries of the EME Foundation empowerment support programme

DiScuSSion to FoStEr connEctionS BEtwEEn AFricAn DiASporA in uS AnD

NBRRI Begins Probe of Jos Building Collapse

Following the death of 22 students of Saints Academy, Jos in the aftermath of the collapse of its

two-storey building on July 12, 2024, the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) has set up an investigative panel into the circumstances leading to

the collapse.

Director General of NBRRI, Prof. Samson Duna told newsmen in Jos yesterday that the committee was s to determine the remote and

immediate cause of the incident. He said that the committee was comprised of seasoned professionals in the construction industry and is to be chaired by Prof. Frederick

Igini’s N5b Suit: Court Dismisses Motion Challenging Jurisdiction to Hear ex-INEC REC’s Case

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Justice Vestee Eboreime of the Edo High Court sitting in Benin City, yesterday ruled that she had jurisdiction to continue to entertain the case between the former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa-Ibom, Mike Igini and the former Edo State Chairman of the All Progresives Congress (APC), Col. David Imuse (rtd).

Justice Eborieme gave the ruling on a motion by Imuse's counsel, Austin Osarenkhoe, who challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter following the transfer of the presiding judge, Justice Eboreime, to the Okada Division of the Edo High Court.

Igini, had in 2020 dragged Imuse, before the court over alleged libelous publications authored against him during Edo State 2020 governorship election and demanded for N5 billion as aggravated damages from Imuse

Also joined in the suit as defendants are African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, publishers of the Tribune Newspapers and the Sun Publishing Ltd, publishers of the Sun Newspapers.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Imuse Counsel, Osarenkhoe argued that the judge having been transferred to Okada Division of the

Betta

High Court, she could not continue with the case, especially when the matter had not entered defence.

According to Osarenkhoe, "By general practice when matters are at defence stage, the case could be continued by the judge so transferred. But this morning we contended that this matter before the transfer of the judge was not at defence stage and therefore can't continue the case"

On his part, Igini's lawyer, Clement Onwuwuenor (SAN), argued that Edo State had only one High Court division and that the issue of transfer of a judge from one High Court division to another doesn't affect the case and had nothing to do with the jurisdiction of the court.

He said: "the Claimant closed his case in 2023 and that the first defendant filed his statement of defence and hid it until after the Claimant had closed his case"

He added that the cases Imuse's counsel cited were more of territorial jurisdiction and could not be relied upon to stop the case

Ruling on the motion, Justice Eborieme said she had looked at the records of the case before the Court and found out that the Claimant had closed his case and that the first defendant had already filed statement of defence over a year ago.

Edu’s

"Therefore, this Court has

jurisdiction over this case and it is covered by the warrant of the Chief Judge of Edo State," she said.

The Judge then granted an order recalling the Claimant to reopen his case in response to the first Defendant's statement of defence.

But the defence counsel thereafter told the Court that his client advised him to apply to be excused from the recalling of the claimant to reopen his case in the light of the issue of jurisdiction earlier raised.

In her reaction, Justice Vestee said: "If you want to withdraw, please do, stop using English to confuse the Court.

"I am fed up. All the shenanigans and antics are becoming appalling. I see this an attempt to frustrate the case."

With the ruling on jurisdiction, the Claimant, Igini, was recalled to the witness box to adopt his statement on oath as his further response to the 1st defendant's statement of defence.

Job, from the Geology Department at the University of Jos. Duna said: “In our usual manner and tradition in line with NBRRI mandate, NBRRI with the approval of Uche Nnaji, the minister of Innovation, Science and Technology has approved the constitution of building collapse investigation committee for Saints Academy, Busa Buji, Jos, led by Frederick Job a professor from Geology department university of Jos”. He said that their task was to uncover the causes of the collapse and identify those responsible.

According to him, the investigation committee had begun its work by gathering evidence and conducting interviews with witnesses and experts, adding that their findings will be crucial in determining the cause of the collapse and with a timeline of one month to submit their report.

Duna added that the committee’s report will also outline measures

to prevent future incidents, stressing that preliminary investigation revealed that the physical observation of the two-storey building looked distressed, the quantity of concrete was in doubt, while the slab reinforcement anchorage provided was inadequate.

He assured that the institute will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that those responsible are held accountable, Duna noted that the incident at Saint Academy had also raised concerns about building standards in the country.

He emphasised the need for stricter enforcement of regulations and punishment for those who violate them to serve as a deterrent.

The NBRRI DG also explained that only qualified professionals should be involved in building projects to prevent such ugly incidents, urging stakeholders to prioritise safety and adhere to established guidelines In the construction industry.

Kano Government Slams Fresh Corruption Charges against Former Governor Ganduje

Yusuf signs emirate council bill into law

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

Kano State government has slammed fresh corruption charges against a former governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, and his erstwhile Commissioner for Justice, Musa Lawan, as 1st and 2nd Defendants, respectively.

The charges had already been filed against him before the Kano State High Court, with Case No. K/143c/24.

Among the charges were Criminal Conspiracy contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97, Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to Section 311 and punishable under Section 315, Criminal Misappropriation contrary to Section 308 and punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code (as amended) CAP 105, Vol. 2, the Laws of Kano State of Nigeria.

The duo as contained in the charge sheet are standing trial

Use of Ministry’s Letterhead Despite Suspension Sparks Reaction

Sunday Ehigiator

There have been several reactions among Nigerians following the usage of the humanitarian ministry’s letterhead by Betta Edu, who was suspended a few months ago due to alleged corrupt practices involving N585 Million within the ministry.

On Saturday, 13th of July, 2024, Betta Edu, who had been silent since her suspension, made a comeback with a condolence message to victims of the collapsed school building in Jos in her official capacity as the humanitarian affairs minister by

using the official letterhead of the ministry.

The letter read: "Our hearts are heavy with sadness for the families, who have lost their loved ones and for the community enduring this devastating ordeal.

“In times like these, we find ourselves united in our shared grief and our determination to support one another during this tragedy.

“May the souls of the deceased rest in peace, and may the injured recover quickly and completely. Please, know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and all those affected

during this incredibly difficult time.”

In reaction to this, several Nigerians have questioned the credibility of President Tinubu’s fight against corruption and the effectiveness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which was saddled with the responsibility to probe the ministry under the administration of Betta Edu.

In some quarters, it was also being said Edu has returned quietly as the minister of humanitarian affairs.

A statement released regarding her suspension, the spokesperson to the president, had announced that

it was done to uphold the highest standards of integrity.

“In line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu suspends the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect,” the statement read.

He had also vowed to “decisively punish” those involved in any breaches and infractions unravelled during the investigations.

for “dishonestly, fraudulently and without reasonable justification, in the abuse of your respective officers, conspired between yourselves, misappropriated, diverted and converted the sum of Two Hundred and Fourty million naira to finance purely personal and private case for your own personal and private benefit thereby causing wrongful gain to yourselves and wrongful loss to the Government and people of Kano State.”

According to the charge sheets, the prosecution intended to present four witnesses and would at the trial of the Defendants adduce evidence to show that the 1st Defendant in betrayal of his official trust, taking advantage of his privileged position as the Governor of the State.

"Between the period of November 2022 or thereabout conspire with his subordinate the 2nd Defendant who is in blatant display of abuse of office initiated a memo to the 1st Defendant to approve the release of Two Hundred and Fourty Million Naira for the purpose of civil litigation in respect of the staff of Kano State who were being abuse by the EFCC which in reality the funds were converted to secure order against the EFCC not to investigate bribery and corruption allegation against the 1st Defendant in purely private and personal matter."

The Court is yet to fixed for the commencement of the trial.

Meanwhile, a few hours after the Kano State House of Assembly passed the Emirate Council Establishment Bill 2024, Governor Abba Yusuf, signed it into law.

Speaking at Government House shortly after he signed the bill, Yusuf, said the new law would sustain the rich cultural values and norms of the people of the State, disclosing that the new emirates consisted of Rano, Kibiya and Bunkure Local Government Areas.

“Gaya Emirate consists of Gaya, Albasu and Ajingi Local Government Areas while Karaye Emirate consists of Karaye and Rogo Local Government Areas respectively.

”They shall have powers to advise the Emir of Kano on matters relating to maintenance of public order and boundary disputes within their areas of jurisdiction,” he said.

The governor further explained that the names of the new second class Emirs would be announced later, adding that, the jurisdiction of the second-class emirates would be limited to their respective local government areas. The Speaker, Jibrin Falgore, reiterated the commitment of the Kano assembly to passing laws that promote the wellbeing of the people of the state.

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

L-R: CEO, Temple Company Ltd, Idris Olorunnimbe; Co-founder, Inkblot Production, Zulu Onyibo; United State Consul General, Will Stevens; and Nollywood Veteran actress, Dakore Egbuson-Akande during a live televised Creative industry Panel Discussion with the U. S. President's Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement to focus in fostering connections between the African diaspora in United States and Nigerian communities for mutually beneficial investment at the American Corner, Lekki, Lagos...on Monday PhOTO: AbIODUN

At LAUNCH OF tHE NGX IMPACt BOARD...

L-R:

Sam

Governors in Crucial Meeting Today to Discuss Minimum Wage, LG Autonomy

To seek review of 1999 constitution, revenue sharing formula

Ahead of the meeting between the organised labour and President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, governors are scheduled to meet today to adopt a common position that would be sent to the meeting.

The governors, who would meet physically, have slated to discuss the financial autonomy granted by the Supreme Court to the 774 local governments in the country.

THISDAY sources at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat said the position of the governors on the financial autonomy was due to the constitutional issues that arose as a result of the supreme court decision.

According to a source at the NGF secretariat, Section 162(6) of the 1999 Constitution states that, “each state shall maintain a specific account to be

called State-Joint Local Government Account into which shall be paid all allocations to the local government councils of the state from the Federation Account and from the government of the state.”

The source said much as the governors had said that they have no objection to the Supreme Court judgement, the development has thrown up constitutional issues that must be addressed

THISDAY further gathered that some governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were asking for a constitutional reform to address the perceived constitutional issues thrown up by section. 162 (6) of the 1999 constitution.

On the Thursday meeting between Tinubu and the organised labour, the governors are expected to submit a unified position on the minimum wage to the meeting

The governors have maintained that they could not afford to pay the organised labour demand of N250,000 minimum wage as it could cause spiral inflation in the country.

Already, the inflation statistics released by the National Board of Statistics (NBS) put inflation in the country at almost 34.2 per cent. The governors were still calling

for a minimum wage of each state based on ability to pay as a unified minimum wage, contrary to the spirit of federal constitutional democracy in the country.

At the last meeting of the tripartite committee meeting set up by the federal government, the governors insisted not exceeding N60,000 minimum wage.

Police Interrogate Blord Group CEO over Alleged Terrorism Funding, Fraud, Others

Ikechukwu Aleke in Abuja

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), yesterday, said it had arrested the Chief Executive Officer of Blord Group of companies, Mr. Linus Williams, and was being interrogated by Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), and Nigeria Police Force, National Cybercrime

Center (NPF-NCCC), for alleged terrorism funding.

A statement by Force Spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, revealed that Williams was also being interrogated over other allegations bothering on cryptocurrency fraud, aiding internet fraud, computerrelated fraud, and non-compliance with regulatory frameworks.

Lagbaja to Commanders: Evolve New Strategy to Counter Our Dynamic Security Landscape

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, yesterday, ordered senior commanders of the Nigerian Army to continuously evolve new strategies and review their counterterrorism as well as anti-banditry plans to guarantee effective and efficient management of the dynamic security landscape in the country.

Lagbaja also observed that the hybrid nature of conflict, information and cyber warfare, increasing use of drones and robotics, and other state-based assets had brought a paradigm shift to the battlefield.

The army chief gave this order during the official opening of the 2024 Second Senior Command Leadership Seminar hosted by the Army Headquarters Garrison in Abuja.

He noted that continual review of operational strategy has become necessary as modern warfare is no longer fought on battlefields alone.

Represented by the Director General, Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Maj Gen Obinna Ajunwa, the COAS said the seminar was designed to equip senior commanders with the requisite skills and competencies to enhance their performance in the increasingly complex security environment of contemporary command.

Dwelling on the theme of the seminar, “Enhancing Operational Level Command and Leadership within a Joint Environment,” Lagbaja said the Nigerian Army was facing multiple security threats in highly complex and unpredictable geopolitical environments.

“You must all keep abreast with these changes as we collectively focus on developing capabilities to deal with these emerging security issues in order to build a formidable

future force.

“I, therefore, urge you all to participate actively and make meaningful contributions as we continue to advance into the future.

Senior leaders must be the catalyst of change and inculcate a sense of jointness and synergy among all personnel and other sister services.

“I urge you all to strengthen our preparedness and continuously review your contingency plans to ensure efficient management of your

security environment."

Earlier, the Commander, AHQ Garrison, Maj Gen Koko Isoni, said the security challenges bedeviling the country had made the seminar imperative to guide the commanders in discharging their responsibilities.

He disclosed that the objective of the seminar was to consolidate on the successes of the first edition held earlier in the year at Headquarters 82 Division.

"The FCID (NPF-NCCC) is currently investigating complaints lodged against Blord Group, Blord Real Estates Ltd, Blord Jetpaye Limited and Billpoint Technology.

"These offences include allegations bothering on cryptocurrency fraud, aiding internet fraud, computer-

related fraud, terrorism funding, and non-compliance with regulatory frameworks," Adejobi said. Noting that the police would do due diligence in its investigations, Adejobi said cyber space in Nigeria must be safe and secured by all means.

Stakeholders Identify Causes of Poor Governance, Economic Woes in Nigeria

Stakeholders have attributed leadership recruitment process and poor harnessing of human resources, especially in the youths, as the major problems hindering the present poor governance and the economic woes facing the country.

The stakeholders who converged in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, yesterday, to find solutions to bad governance as well as offer solutions listed among others: the poor political arrangements and distorted system and unharnessed human and natural

Walson-Jack, Aduda, Mbaeri Top List of Candidates to Replace Yemi-Esan as HoS

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The lobby to replace the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi- Esan, is gathering steam and appears to have been narrowed down to the six most senior permanent secretaries in the federal civil service.

Yemi-Esan, who was appointed by President Mohammed Buhari in 2019, following the removal Mrs Ekanem Oyo-Ita,will retire on August 14 after attaining the age of 60, which is the mandatory retirement age for civil servants in the core Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Amid her impending departure, there have been intense intrigues and lobbying by some of the nation’s high

ranking technocrats to be appointed by President Bola Tinubu.

Aside from ranking, the need for geo-political balancing is one of the major factors to be considered by President Tinubu in making a choice as the incumbent occupier of the office is from the north, while the Chairman Civil Service Commission, Dr Tunji Olaopa, is from the south.

“It is at the discretion of the President to choose whoever he prefers as the Head of Service. There is no law that says the head of service and the Chairman of Civil Service Commission should come different geo political zones.

“When Buhari was the president, he appointed based on his preference and Tinubu can as he wishes,” said

a source in the civil service.

One of THISDAY sources disclosed that the choice has been narrowed down to the six most senior permanent secretary with another junior ranking permanent secretary also said to be in the run.

The most senior ranking civil servant angling for the post is the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Mrs Esther Didi WalsonJack, who hails from Bayelsa State. She was once the Solicitor-General of Bayelsa State and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice before she joined the federal civil service.

Next in the order of seniority is the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Philip Taminu

Aduda. He is from the FCT. He is followed by the Permanent Secretary, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mr Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan.

Another candidate being touted is Dr. Maurice Nnamdi Mbaeri, who is the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office (GSO) in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

As the GSO, Mbaeri, a chartered accountant and an indigene of Imo State, is at the nerve centre of the OSGF, whose office handles the internal administration of the entire OSGF and liaises with external agencies of government for proper coordination and implementation of government policies.

resources as reasons for the regrettable Nigeria situation.

The convener of the annual colloquium on democracy, Dr. Abdulmumin Ajia, described Nigeria as a distorted society, asking - "how did we get to the horrible situation."

Addressing the gathering at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Ilorin, Ajia who counted and lamented the poor economic system disclosed that the solution to the raging situation is not in any political party but in the electorates and the youths who are yet to wake up from political slumber.

According to him: "There is no difference between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). In fact, the APC has proven to be worse.

"This does not mean that we should go back to PDP because it is not ready to improve. Rather we should go spiritual for God to give us good leaders; we should stop hoping on the people because of their antecedents.

“After all we called for Buhari; yet he came and worsened the economy. Afterwards, Tinubu dazzled all with Lagos. What do we have now? It's been disappointments galore. He has made things worse."

The Associate Lecturer, Lincoln University, United States of America (USA) lamented that: "We are poor because we're not organized as a people, our human and natural resources are not harnessed fully for the betterment of the nation and the people.

Doyen, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX),

Willie Ndata; Doyen of the Capital Market, Rasheed Yussuff; CEO, NGX Regulation, Femi Shobanjo; Executive Director, Risk Management, Access Bank Plc, Greg Jobome; Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal; and Group Chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), Umaru Kwairanga at the launch of the NGX Impact Board at the NGX, in Lagos... recently

Ikechukwu Aleke in Abuja

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

REDEMPTION FOR NIIA IMMINENT...

L-R: Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon Zachria Nyampa, Hon. Benedict Etanabene, Hon. Salisu Yusuf; host and Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof Eghosa Osaghae; Chairman of the Committee, Hon Oluwole Oke; other committee members, Hon Uchenna Okonkwo, Hon

and the Clerk

the committee, Lady Atim-Atedze Doo, after a tour guide of the decaying infrastructure of the Institute in Lagos…recently

Pro-Fubara Lawmakers Dismiss Estranged Colleagues’ Threat to Governor on Spending

House of Assembly led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo, has dismissed the resolution passed by the Martin Amaewhule-led

assembly, which forbade Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State Government from withdrawing money from the Consolidated

Commissions five virtual booths Sanwo-Olu Launches Ilera Eko Standard Health Insurance Plan

Segun James Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, launched the Ilera Eko Standard Jaara Health Insurance scheme, as part of his administration's commitment to provide quality, affordable and efficient health care services for the residents.

The governor also commissioned five Ilera Eko Virtual Booths installed in five locations to provide accessible healthcare to people in the informal sector, particularly market men and women, artisans and other stakeholders at the grassroots.

Sanwo-Olu was also decorated during the programme as the Grand Ambassador of Universal Health Coverage in Lagos while his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, was decorated as Ambassador for Ilera Eko.

The Ilera Eko Standard Jaara

Health Insurance scheme has Telemedicine as part of its permanent component, annual medical screening, Cardiology, Ear, Nose and Throat, Orthopedic treatments, among others.

According to the governor, the initiative launched on Tuesday further confirmed the Lagos State Health Management Agency, LASHMA’s long history of improving healthcare accessibility.

Sanwo-Olu said the new initiatives marked a significant milestone in health insurance for Lagos State and Nigeria, assuring Lagos residents that his administration would continue to introduce policies and reforms that make healthcare accessible and affordable.

He urged the residents to take good care of their health for their benefit, family and for the good and prosperity of Lagos State.

The governor also called on the informal sector which constitutes

70 per cent of the population in Lagos State to seize the opportunity of the new initiatives and enroll on ILERA EKO in order to reduce out-of-pocket and huge payment of medical bills.

Revenue Fund of the State.

Lawmakers loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and led by Amaewhule, had written to Fubara threatening to shut down his expenditure from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state.

The resolution was reached on Monday, at the plenary presided over by Amaewhule.

But reacting to the threat, yesterday, the lawmakers loyal to Fubara wondered the basis of such audacity by the Amaewhule-led Assembly when their seats had been declared vacant on December 13, 2023, by Edison Ehie, who was then Speaker of the 10th State House of Assembly.

Oko-Jumbo stated: "The House states as follows: On the 11th Day of December, 2023, at the 87th Legislative sitting of the House, former Speaker, Martin Amaewhule and the 24 former members defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

"By virtue of Section 109(1)(g) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, which are self executing, and consequent upon their defection, on the 13th Day of December, 2023, Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie, DSSRS, Esq, PhD, as the then duly recognised Speaker of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, by virtue of a court order granted by Hon

Justice Danagogo on the 12th Day of December, 2023, in Suit No. PHC/3030/CS/2023, and pursuant to Section 109(2) of the 1999 Constitution, declared their seats vacant."

He, therefore, said it was "laughable to have heard and seen the news of the illegal sitting of the 25 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule on television screens and social media space on the 15th Day of July, 2024." He noted that the resolution by the Amaewhule-led Assembly threatening that the House would declare a shutdown on expenditures, until an Appropriation Bill for the 2024 fiscal year was presented and passed, was illegal.

Tinubu, Obi, LP Condole With National Assembly over Demise of Adams

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has commiserated with the National Assembly and the Kaduna State Government over the passing of a member representing Chikun/ Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State in the House of Representatives, Hon Ekene

Abubakar Adams.

The President, in a release by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, also extended his condolences to the family and friends of the late lawmaker, urging them to find solace in the Almighty and in the legacy of the deceased.

Tinubu prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed lawmaker

UK Government Hosts Stakeholders’ Meeting on Serious, Organised Crime

Michael Olugbode

The United Kingdom Government has hosted a multi-stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja to discuss how its Serious & Organised Crime (SOC) Prevent Programme was making significant strides in deterring vulnerable young people from joining organised crime groups in Nigeria. Launched as a three-year pilot in December 2021, the programme was designed to disrupt Nigerian Organised Crime Groups by redirecting at-risk-youth towards positive alternatives in Bayelsa, Edo, Zamfara and Lagos states.

In select local governments of these states, the SOC Prevent Programme has established robust structures and delivered various interventions, including Back-to-School Initiatives, Digital Skills Acquisition, Dance and Drama Workshops and Sports Interventions.

Collaborating closely with the Nigeria Police Force, the programme has trained 83 officers in the Prevent methodology, reinforcing the commitment to institutionalise this approach in tackling SOC, and to date, approximately 1,500 beneficiaries across the four states have been diverted from potential

involvement in organised crime.

Speaking at the meeting, the Acting British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever said, “Serious & Organised Crime is a priority for both Nigeria and the UK, and can take many forms. Ranging from online focused activities like cybercrime to the physical movement of illicit commodities and people in the form of trafficking.

“Our results in Nigeria have proven that the Prevent methodology works, and it has been successful in diverting young people from choosing a life of crime. I believe that the valuable discussions that took

place today will smoothen the way for Prevent to be fully institutionalised in Nigeria.”

The meeting included representatives from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Police Affairs, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), INTERPOL, Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), Ministry of Police Affairs, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and others.

and strength to his family.

Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, said he was saddened by the death of Adams.

According to a statement by his media aide, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, writing on his X handle on Tuesday, the LP standard bearer said, "I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Hon. Ekene Abubakar Adams, a member of the Labour Party in the House of Representatives from Kaduna State.

“My heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, family, and loved ones. His untimely death at the age of 39 is a tragic loss to the nation.

"As Chairman of the House Committee on Sports and Representative of the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Hon. Adams has already in his short tenure made significant contributions to the development of sports in Nigeria. His passion and expertise in this field will be greatly missed.

"May God Almighty who called him home at this time, forgive his sins and grant him eternal rest, and grant his family, and all of us, the fortitude to bear his sad irreplaceable loss. May God Almighty protect and bless his family always," Obi stated

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure also said he was saddened by his demise. According to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour party, Obiora Ifoh, Abure, said, "The news of the death of Representative Ekene came to me early this morning as a rude shock. We have interacted very closely and was one lawmaker who spoke truth to power even at his young impressionable age.

"Though he was barely one year in office, his impact in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency and the entire Kaduna State was huge. Just a few months ago, he donated transformers, cars and Motorcycles to communities and individuals within his constituency and also empowered all the ward chairmen and several women from his constituency across political divides within his constituency with huge sums of money. These philanthropic gesture, he told me, was in fulfilment of his campaign promises.” Adams, a member of the House of Representatives representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, and Chairman House Committee on Sports, died in the early hour of Tuesday. He was aged 39.

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The faction of the Rivers State

in Abuja

Shina Oyedeji;

of

WEMA BANK TEAM's COURTEsY VIsIT TO ONDO GOVERNOR...

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, Wema Bank Plc, Wole Akinleye; Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; and MD/CEO, Wema Bank PLC, Moruf Oseni during a courtesy visit by the Wema Bank’s team to the Ondo State government house in Akure…yesterday

Uzodimma Swears in 10 Judges, Demands Dignity, Honour

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has sworn in 10 new judges for the state's judiciary - seven for the High Courts and three for the Customary Courts of Appeal, charging them to carry themselves with dignity and honour in the dispensation of justice to the people.

The governor argued that by the virtue of their calling, judges are next to God as they could in their judgements determine who lives or dies, stressing it thus becomes imperative that they approach their responsibility with integrity, dignity and with the fear of God, resisting the temptation to do the unimaginable.

THISDAY reports that the 10 judges serving in the Imo State judiciary had gone through the scrutiny of the National Judicial Council, found worthy for elevation, hence they took the oath of office before Governor Uzodimma

The new High Court Judges include: Uchenna Mary Njoku, Cletus Ndubuisi Akowundu, Mathew Chinedu Ijezie, Chukwumaeze Ojiugo Chibuogwu, Adaego Peace Nnosiri, Ononogbo Chidi Linus and Emeka Uzoma Orafu.

Their three counterparts of the Customary Courts of Appeal include: Ofoha Sylvester Uchenna, GreenMan Ezenna Eleanya and Ibeh Rosemund Oluehi.

In his remarks, the governor congratulated them on their appointment and described it as a remarkable lift in their legal career, hence they have every reason to be grateful to God.

He further emphasised the role of judges in the dispensation of justice and which demands a lot of integrity. "As judges at the temple of justice and administration, you must uphold very high level of integrity and honour and dispense justice without fear or favour," he exhorted them.

He enjoined them to carry themselves with dignity and honour as their job demands seriousness for them to succeed.

He said: "Be properly guided to avoid miscarriage of justice and note that after God, you carry with you the decision of life and death."

Reminding the judges that the Judiciary has of late come under serious scrutiny by the public, Uzodimma urged them to be circumspect in the discharge of their duties, and conduct themselves in a manner that will not leave anybody in doubt about their pronouncements, advising them to remember that they are “the last hope of the common man.”

The governor added that the executive arm of the government has, since he assumed office, continued to prioritise the welfare of the judiciary, creating an enabling environment for the operators of the arm to function optimally.

He recalled that on assumption of office he took time to offset the

mounting arrears of salaries owed judges and other judiciary officials by previous administrations.

For instance, he said, to encourage the judges to do their work effectively, he provided them with brand new vehicles, renovated judicial buildings and equipped them with state of art infrastructure, among other things.

To further demonstrate his passion for the welfare of judges, Uzodimma announced the gift of brand-new

Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for 16 judges, including the newly sworn-in 10 judges. He promised that his administration will continue to do all that are necessary to facilitate and encourage the judiciary to do her best.

In an acceptance speech on behalf of the Judges, Hon. Justice Uchenna Mary Njoku, expressed gratitude to God Almighty for their nomination and approval, thanking the governor for "proving dependable." They also thanked the Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon Justice Theresa Chikeka, for her support and promised not to let both the governor, the chief judge and the state down.

Justice Njoku assured on behalf of her colleagues that they will deliver on their mandate and contribute their quota to the development of Imo State.

FG Pledges Social Justice on Climate Change, Transition, Technology

The federal government has pledged that in the face of climate change and its attendant consequences, it will give social justice in the all transitions needed and will uphold

Lokpobiri: N15 Billion Petroleum College Ready for Commissioning Soon

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, yesterday inspected the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, assuring that the institution will soon become operational.

At the facility tour of the institution located along the Kaduna –Zaria Expressway way, the minister alongside top management staff of the PTDF, expressed satisfaction with the facilities on the ground in the college established in 2009.

Fifteen years after, Lokpobiri noted that the over N15 billion project will soon be put to good use, explaining that the federal government will not allow the college go decrepit.

The college which has the mandate to train senior cadre officials in the oil and gas sector, Lokpobiri said, would save the country a lot of foreign exchange from training Nigerians overseas.

The minister said: “This will save us a lot of foreign exchange. As you know the mandate of PTDF is basically to build capacity using the limited resources to train people at levels including doctorate level

outside the country.

“But if this place is commissioned and put to use with collaboration with the university partnership with and then other stakeholders like NNPC and other industry players will be able to save the money to train a lot more Nigerians.

“Every year, thousands of people apply for training but the limited funds can only take a few with this arrangement. But a lot more people will be trained here and they will still get the foreign certificate that they need.”

Besides, Lokpobiri instructed PTDF to complete the remaining 24 contracts for the college which currently operates through the overseas scholarships scheme in Europe and other countries.

“I believe that the time has come for us to complete whatever outstanding projects, whatever outstanding jobs that we have here so that we will be able to use the limited resources available to government, available to PTDF, to now train a lot more people,” he said.

The minister also urged the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Ahmed Aminu who had earlier said the college secured a university licence from the National Universities

Commission (NUC) to commence postgraduate studies to kick-start it.

He also charged PTDF to finalise discussions with its university partners in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world, expressing satisfaction with the project.

the place of technology.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Ishak Adakole Salako, stated this when he received a communique on symposium report of energy transition in Nigeria, from the Publisher/Editorin-Chief of Development Agenda Magazine, Mr. Paddy Ezeala.

The minister who stated that the government is emplacing mechanisms to create awareness on the dangers of environmental abuse, noted that many have been in the ignorant practice of desecrating the eco system, hence the need for awareness.

must be given so that transition will be leading to justice.

"Justice is a very important element to the energy technological programme. It's is not just justice about transition that is needed but about the technology we are bringing forth. We need to bring things that resonate with our environment and people.

"We will continue to need professionalism and expertise to see that environmental stewardship is respected. With this, mass action of people is needed to implement it at every level."

Six

In his address, the Executive Secretary of the PTDF, Aminu, expressed the readiness of the institute to start operations as most projects had reached the completion stage.

He encouraged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and all other government institutions to patronise the college.

His words: "There is the need to tackle the immediacy of climate change and the sector is facing ignorance and lack of awareness. People do a lot of things that are negative to the environment out of ignorance.

"In this part of the world, environmental issues must be looked at with microscopic eyes. Fuel fossil is like a life support. To take it off, a supplement must be given or else there will be suffocation. Support

Ezeala had earlier stated that the issue of energy transition was fast moving and with the need for the country to catch up with the rest of the world, particularly in the area of social justice.

He stated that due to the consequences that climate change poses around the globe, it is important for the nation to have alternatives outside petrol and to consider whether the trend will create more jobs or deplete available opportunities.

Broadcast Journalists Selected for Dataphyte’s Gender Fellowship

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Dataphyte Foundation, a social impact organisation dedicated to leveraging data tools and technology for Nigeria’s socio-economic development, has announced the induction of six broadcast journalists as fellows in its Gender Mainstreaming Fellowship programme, Cohort 3. The fellows, a statement signed by the Nigerian Programmes Director, Dataphyte Foundation, Femi Amele, said, were selected from a pool of 42 applicants from 34 media organisations in the South-east and South-south regions of Nigeria.

The 12-week fellowship pro-

gramme, according to Dataphyte, aims to empower journalists to harness data effectively in mainstreaming gender in broadcast coverage of socio-economic and development themes.

The programme is expected to run from July to September 2024 and includes comprehensive training to produce data-driven, development-focused broadcast content.

This approach, it stressed, aims to curb gender-limited reporting and gender stereotyping in news reports and amplify female voices and representation in media coverage.

During the virtual induction meeting, Dataphyte's Global

Director, Rosemary Olufemi, emphasised the importance of gender mainstreaming. She said: "Gender issues are fundamental to building a sustainable future. We need to amplify the gender voice, which is currently just a whisper, and bring gender conversations to the front burner.

“Through this fellowship, we aim to empower broadcast journalists to shape public discourse, influence positive change, and tell the stories of women that need to be told.”

The fellows expressed their excitement about the programme, with Imaobong Dem, Head of News, Inspiration 105.9FM, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, stating that she

intends to explore diverse local problems, through the initiation of conversations on critical issues that are underserved while telling compelling and data-driven stories to stimulate policy changes for development.

Also, Principal Producer of NTA Yenagoa, Precious David-Ogaga, added that he was looking forward to using his skills to create compelling programming that highlights gender issues.

The Dataphyte Gender Mainstreaming Fellowship, supported by the New Venture Fund, the statement said, has demonstrated an impact on fellows and their host communities.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Tony Icheku in Owerri

JULIET OKONKWO CELEBRATES GOLDEN JUBILEE…

L-R: Husband of celebrant and Managing Director/CEO, Topwide Group, Ezechigozili Tony Okonkwo; celebrant and Consultant Radiologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Juliet Okonkwo; Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr.Peter Obi, and the Igwe of Ojoto Kingdom, Anambra State, HRM Gerald Mbamalu, when Okonkwo celebrated her golden jubilee in Lagos…recently

Judiciary Workers Paralyse Court Activities in Anambra

David-Chyddy Eleke in awka Courts in Anambra State yesterday remained closed owing to the strike by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Anambra State branch.

The strike crippled activities in all the courts in the state, leaving premises of judiciary deserted.

JUSUN had last weekend declared strike following the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum

by the union.

In a strike notification letter signed by the Assistant Secretary of JUSUN in the state, Nwezi Ugochukwu, the union said the reason for the strike was because of the Anambra State government’s refusal to pay the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS).

When THISDAY visited the state judiciary complex in Awka, the entire complex was locked without

NECA Elects Okoye as its New President

Dike Onwuamaeze

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has elected the Managing Director of Juhel Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ifeanyi Okoye, as its new President and Chairman of Council.

Okoye’s election took place yesterday during the NECA’s 67th Annual General Meeting in Lagos State.

He succeeded the immediate past President of NECA and Chairman of Council, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, who served the association for five years.

Okoye told journalists after his election that he has accepted to serve the association.

He said: “It is great to have the opportunity to serve a body like NECA. I thank God for that and I believe with God we will give the best service.

“My duty with my colleagues will be to give the businesses in

Nigeria the best opportunity to participate and grow within the system economically and otherwise.

“I believe that with our input, which I know will be very interesting, NECA will definitely raise the bar to what it has been doing before.” Okoye said that all the new council members are aware that that this is an assignment that needed serious dedication.

He said: “And we are all ready to serve the association not just to the benefit of its members alone but also to the benefit of Nigeria.”

Other members of the newly elected council are: the Managing Director of Cadbury Nigeria, Mrs. Oyeyimika Adeboye, who was elected as first vice president; Managing Director of Nigeria Bottling Company, Mr. Goran Slandic, was elected as second vice president and Managing Director, Pivot Engineering, Mr. Richard Ayibiowu, was elected honourable treasurer.

Netherlands Varsity Researchers Visit

Dokubo-Asari

Alhaji Mujahid Abubakar DokuboAsari recently welcomed a visiting research team from the esteemed University of Groningen, located in the Netherlands, to his residence in Obuama, Rivers State.

The University of Groningen, with a rich history spanning over four centuries, prides itself on excellence and has been associated with notable figures like Nobel Prize Laureates Ben Feringa and Frits Zernike.

The university is renowned for its groundbreaking research that addresses contemporary social issues, bridging the gap between various fields of study and connecting science with society. Their current research areas include Energy, Healthy Ageing, and Sustainable Society, with recent studies focusing on topics such as environmental sustainability, conscious living, and the impact of climate change on wildlife.

According to a statement, led by

Dr. Dumebi Obute, the visiting team from the University of Groningen is conducting a comparative study on resource extraction, its environmental implications, and the adaptive strategies of indigenous communities affected by extensive resource exploitation.

The statement noted that their journey has taken them to various parts of Africa, including South Africa, Zambia, and Nigeria, to investigate large-scale extraction industries like mining and crude oil production.

It said: “Recognising Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari’s prominent role in advocating resource control and environmental preservation in the Niger Delta region, the research team sought his expertise and insights. Dokubo-Asari, known for his global advocacy on these interconnected issues, was seen as a valuable source of historical knowledge and practical experiences in handling resource-related challenges.”

any trace of a single worker.

Some stakeholders of the justice sector in the state decried the nonchalant attitude of the governor

in dealing with the workers.

A judiciary staff members, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Now that the courts have been

paralyzed, maybe the government will now be forced to negotiate with us.

“This matter has lingered on

since 2011 when we had an agreement with the government, and again in 2015, but all these have been ignored.

Indigenous Group Seeks Zoning in LGAs Chairmanship Position in Rivers

Blessing

Ibunge in Port Harcourt

An indigenous group from the Ogoni ethnic extraction in Rivers State has called on the state government and political parties to consider zoning the chairmanship position in the forthcoming local government areas election in the state. The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISEC) led by Justice Adolphus Enebeli had in a recent stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt announced October 5, 2024, for the conduct of LGAs election in the state.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Port Harcourt, the group under the aegis of Babbe Advancement Forum regretted that the inability to rotate the leadership of the councils has led to most of the challenges in the LGAs.

The convener of the group and a native of Khana LGA of the state, Mr. Aanee Emmanuel, stated that for over two decades, Babbe district, which cuts across seven wards and significant population in the area, has not produced a chairman at the council. Emmanuel explained that the historical imbalance in the council’s leadership “has led to a sense of injustice and inequality among the people of Babbe district, who are now demanding and appealing for justice, equity and fairness in the selection of the next chairman of Khana Local Government Area.

Ekiti RAAMP Awards N17bn Rural Road Contracts

Gbenga Sodeinde in ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) has awarded 13 rural road contracts worth N17,219,565,143.22 to seven contractors as part of plans by the state government to provide agricultural infrastructure aimed at making the State the food basket of

the South-west.

Speaking yesterday at the contract signing ceremony held in Ado Ekiti, the State Project Coordinator, Hon Sunday Adunmo, said the project, which is a dream come true, is expected to be delivered within 18 months of award.

The project coordinator, who charged the seven contractors to

live up to expectation by delivering quality work, said Ekiti RAAMP would not “tolerate substandard work and will terminate contracts not meeting performance standards.” Adunmo equally told the contractors to abide by the rules of engagement by hiring local employees to create employment opportunities and improve rural livelihood.

“Today’s event concludes the process that began earlier this year when we advertised Requests for Bids for 65.10km of rural roads for rehabilitation in national dailies. A pre-bid meeting in March this year ensured transparency and fairness in the selection process. After receiving 93 bids, we are pleased to announce that seven bids were successful.”

Akpabio: Proposed Kaduna, Kebbi, Ogun Federal Varsities Will Boost Education, Tackle Insecurity

Sunday Aborisadeinabuja

The President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio has said that the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Manchok Kaduna State, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State and the Federal University of Technology Ilaro Ogun State will boost education and tackle insecurity in the country.

Akpabio said the National Assembly will always support the establishment of tertiary institutions in the country because of the importance of education in tackling social menace.

Akpabio stated this yesterday during the public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFUND.

The public hearing is for the Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State Establishment bill, 2024 (SB 224); Nigeria Institute of Mining and Geosciences Repeal and Enactment) bill, 2024 (SB12); Federal College of Aviation Technology Ilara Remo, Ogun State (Establishment bill) 2024 (SB 52); Federal University of Applied Sciences, Manchok Kaduna State, (Establishment) Bill, 2024, (2024 (SB 13) and Federal University of Technology Ilaro Ogun State (Establishment) bill, 2024 (SB 345).

Osun SSG Distributes N15m Grants, as 500 Elderly Benefits from Health Insurance Scheme

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

As catalyst for economic well-being and sustainable development across Osogbo Local Government Area of Osun State, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Teslim Igbalaye, yesterday

disbursed cooperative grants totaling over N15 million.

Also, healthcare access with 500 elderly individuals will benefit from enrollment in the Osun Health Insurance Scheme, ensuring that they receive essential medical services.

Igbalaye stated these

yesterday at an event to mark the grand finale of the Imole-Bibire Empowerment Training Programme aimed at equipping participants with essential skills for economic independence and community development.

The SSG equally posited that beyond skills training, the programme also included substantial community investments with over 45 Point of Sale (PoS) machines coupled with startup cash of 25,000 were distributed to the participants, trainers and community as well.

Navy Personnel, Seven Others Abducted in Akwa Ibom State

Okon Bassey in uyo

A naval rating and seven other persons have reportedly been kidnapped in Akwa Ibom State.

This is coming few days after a bus driver and 18 passengers leaving Uyo to Port Harcourt,

Rivers state were abducted and their whereabouts still unknown.

The latest kidnapping of the naval rating and others was said to have occurred in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of the state.

The victims were abducted

Monday night at Classic Point Hotel, Ibaka by the gunmen to an unknown destination.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Akwa Ibom State Police Command, Timfon John confirmed the incident yesterday.

“When the police got the information, Commissioner of Police(CP), Waheed Ayilara, led a team of security personnel to the community.

“I can assure you that with that visit by the CP and other strategic approaches normalcy will return.”

‘Niger PDP Not Moved by Defections’

Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Niger State Chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has said that it is not moved by the spate of defections of some of its members to the ruling All

Progressives Congress (APC).

The State Chairman of PDP, Mr. Tanko Beji in a telephone interview with THISDAY, described the defections “as normal in politics.”

Recently, some members of the party, including a former member

of the House of Representatives that represented Shiroro/ Rafi Federal Constituency, Mr. Abdullahi Ricco, and some members of the party in Lapai Local Government defected to the APC. Reacting to the incidents,

Beji said that “it is their right to change parties and we cannot do anything about it.” He, however, said that the PDP in the state “is focussed” and could not be distracted from the goals it has set for itself.

COURTESY VISIT TO VICE PRESIDENT…

Adhere to Code of Ethics at Workplace, NiMet DG Charges Staff

Kasim Sumaina in abuja

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike, has charged members of staff of the agency to work towards creating a workplace where ethical conduct is the norm.

Prof. Anosike made the charge

yesterday in Abuja at the launch of the agency’s Anti-Corruption and Bribery Policy and Code of Ethics.

He noted that the principles of ethics, integrity and accountability are the foundation for any successful organisation. These, he said, form the bedrock of any meteorological organisation’s credibility and

NECO Releases 2024 Common Entrance Exam Results

Kuni Tyessi in abuja

National Examination Council (NECO) has announced the release of the results of 2024 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for candidates of the Federal Government Colleges.

It also announced the release of the result of the 2024 entrance examination into the Federal Government Academy, Suleja, Niger State.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, announced the release of the results at a press conference in

Abuja yesterday.

He said that 71,291 candidates registered for 2024 NCEE out of which 66,931 candidates sat for the examination; while 4,360 were absent. “Out of the maximum obtainable score of 210, one candidate obtained the highest score of 203, while 13 candidates obtained the lowest score of one,” the minister said.

He added that this year, an unprecedented number of 52 candidates (two candidates from Lagos State and 50 candidates from Rivers State) were involved in examination malpractice.

KOSIEC Fixes October 19 for Local Government Election

The Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSOEC) has fixed October 19, 2024, for the state local government election.

The Chairman of KOSOEC, Mamman Nda Eri, made this known while speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja yesterday, adding that the Local government electoral processes has commenced since yesterday.

According to him, “The State Independent Electoral Commission, established under

Section 197 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and empowered by Kogi State Government, via the Local Government Elections Law 2004, and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) has diligently prepared this comprehensive timetable and schedule of activities to ensure a transparent, fair, and credible electoral process.

“We assure you that these activities have been designed with utmost consideration for inclusivity, transparency, and adherence to electoral laws.”

Foundation Awards Scholarship to 17 Indigent Undergraduates

David-Chyddy Eleke in awka

A non-governmental organisation, Dr. Chioma Awuzie Foundation (DCAF), has offered scholarships to 17 indigent students in Anambra State.

The students were selected from public tertiary education institutions in the state as a way to assist them and lessen the burden of high cost of education on their guardians.

The foundation also shared

food items and other gifts worth over N10million to students and other indigent persons as part of its 2024 edition of scholarship award and charity initiative.

The Founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Dr. Chioma Awuzie, during an event yesterday to present cheques to the awardees disclosed that the foundation plans to expand the scholarship to a nationwide event soon.

effectiveness, stating: “Upholding these values would go a long way in building trust with our clients and stakeholders.”

According to him, “They

would also help in ensuring that NiMet as an agency actualises its mandate by contributing to national socio-economic development and safety of lives and property.”

Professor Anosike, while welcoming guests from the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other

resource persons to the event, said that their presence reaffirms the collaborative spirit between NiMet and the ICPC in the collective fight against corruption.

Otti Threatens to Sack Dishonest Officials

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo inumuahia

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has issued a stern warning to government officials and personal aides, to avoid unwholesome practices or face “heavy consequences.”

He issued the warning yesterday during the swearing-in of two newly appointed Special Advisers

‘Why

Okon Bassey in uyo

and heads of government agencies, saying that he would instantly sack anyone found to be engaging in dishonest practices.

He said: “This administration has zero tolerance for corruption and the fastest way to get yourself out of the team is to engage in dishonest practices.

“For clarity, let the warning be given in advance that once we

establish any case of self-serving activities that go against the values we subscribe to as a government, we shall be left with no other option than to ask you to leave.”

Aside from issuing a red card, Otti said that he could also go further and “hand over (the culprit) to the law enforcement agencies for further investigations” for possible prosecution.

The governor said that serving in his team is not a tea party, and “not an assignment that will earn you the whole riches in the world.”

This, according to him, is “because stealing, asking for, and taking kickbacks, or engaging in phony deals, the type that fattens the bank accounts of individuals while impoverishing the public, are completely forbidden.”

I Undertake Different Housing Projects in A’Ibom’

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has given reasons on why his administration is committed to providing affordable, decent and comfortable housing for every strata of the society.

At the foundation laying for an estate, Ewet Luxury Gardens, located at Ewet Offot in Uyo, the State capital, the Governor explained tha the hosing project was part of a broader initiative to develop various housing options across different economic brackets in the State.

He stressed that in line with his economic development blueprint, the ARISE Agenda, his administration was undertaking different housing projects for the elites, the low income earners and the poorest of the poor, as well

as a planned 18 floor tower in Lagos, to be named “Ibom Towers.

He maintained that the Ewet Luxury Garden, a prototype of the Dakkada Luxury Estate, will be a smart estate that will cater for both local residents and investors from the diaspora.

LG Autonomy: ‘Bayelsa Never Temper with Funds’

Olusegun Samuel in yenagoa

Sequel to the Supreme Court judgement granting financial autonomy to the 774 local government councils in the country, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has clarified that the state government only supervised the councils to drive grassroots development.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo stated this when the Bayelsa State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Yenagoa.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media, Doubara Atasi, said the joint account with the councils had afforded government the opportunity to supervise its eight councils for prudent utilization of funds to execute rural projects in the various local government areas. According to the deputy governor, the prosperity government has never and will not tamper with council funds, but rather support the councils to meet their obligations at the grassroots level.

Ministry of Livestock: Group Drums Support for Prof Bashir Fagge as Minister

Segun AwofadejiinBauchi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to consider Prof. Bashir Muhammad Fagge as the minister for the newly created Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, considering his pedigree as a renowned animal

scientist and scholar.

The call was made by a group known as RebuildArewa Initiative for Development (RAID) in a statement made available to journalists in Bauchi yesterday. The group extended its sincere appreciation to the president for his visionary leadership in establishing the Federal Ministry of Livestock

Development.

It stated that: “This pivotal step underscores your commitment to transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape and ensuring sustainable development across our country.

“We in RAID write to express our enthusiastic endorsement of Prof. Bashir Muhammad Fagge as

the ideal candidate for the esteemed position of minister of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.”

According to the group, “Prof. Fagge’s exemplary credentials, extensive expertise, and global recognition in livestock management make him uniquely qualified to lead this critical ministry.”

Osun Assembly Confirms Wale Abbas as Amotekun Board Chairman, Omoyele as Corps Commander

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

In a move to strengthen the state’s security apparatus, the Osun State House of Assembly yesterday confirmed the appointments of Wale Abbas and Dr. Adekunle

Isaac Omoyele to key positions in the Osun State Security Network Agency, known as the Amotekun Corps.

The House of Assembly confirmed Abbas, a retired Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police, as the new chairman

of the Amotekun Governing Board. It also confirmed Omoyele as the Corps commander.

The confirmations came after the nominees were screened by the lawmakers yesterday.

The screening process allowed the

Assembly to assess the qualifications and suitability of Abbas and Omoyele for their respective roles.

Speaking after the confirmation, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, congratulated the new appointees.

Abiodun Promises Relief for Victims of Ogun Market Inferno

James Sowole in abeokuta

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said shop owners at the Oba Lipede International Market, Kuto, Abeokuta, who lost valuables

during Saturday night’s inferno would be supported by the state government. Abiodun gave the assurance when he toured the market to ascertain the level of destruction caused by the fire.

He said that enumeration would be carried out to determine the losses incurred by shop owners at the market so as to immediately provide succour to those affected and ensure that they can quickly

come back on their feet. The governor commended the state fire service for its timely intervention, which prevented the fire from extending to other parts of the market.

Ibrahim Oyewale in lokoja

Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Kashim Shettima(right), and Founder/Group Chief Executive Officer, SecureID, Kofo Akinkugbe, during a courtesy visit by Akinkugbe to the State House in Abuja…recently

their recent at Chen clash from 2023 seeded all tournaments. Mixed and Germany

Sun Japan’s second,

Super Falcons Test Might with Olympic Champions, Canada Today

Paris 2024:

Nigeria and Canada senior women's teams go toe-to-toe for the second time in one year today, in a closeddoors training match in Malaga which amounts to the final test for both teams ahead of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament starting in France in eight days. The match will commence at 6.30

ITTF Seeds Aruna, Assar in Top 16 of Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Following the official seeding list for the Table Tennis competitions of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna and Egypt’s Omar Assar have been seeded in 14th and 16th places respectively in the Men’s Singles event. Also, the likes of Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo, Egypt’s Mohammed ElBeiali, Algeria’s Mehdi Bouloussa, Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw, and Congo Brazzaville’s Saheed Idowu are expected to know their first-round opponents when the draws take place on July 24. According to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the seeding list was based on the ITTF World Rankings released yesterday evening.

Aruna who is ranked 19th in the world has been seeded 14th while Assar rated 22nd has been seeded 16th and they are expected to begin their campaigns from the second round of the Men’s Singles.

In the Women’s Singles seeding list, Egypt’s Dina Meshref missed the top 16 list by a whisker to concede the 16th place to WTT Contender Lagos champion, India’s Sreeja Akula. With this development, Meshref who is seeded 17th, and her compatriot Hana Goda seeded

20th will begin their campaign from the second round of the Women’s Singles. Nigeria’s pair of Offiong Edem and Fatimo Bello as well as Cameroon’s Sarah Hanffou and Algeria’s Lynda Loghraibi will also begin their quest for glory from the second round of the Women’s Singles.

As table tennis celebrates its 10th appearance at the Olympic Games, this list sets the stage for captivating battles across all categories.

World No. 1, China’s Wang Chuqin takes the top seed in the Men’s Singles event and he is followed by compatriot and Tokyo 2020 silver medalist, Fan Zhendong.

Both players will be aiming to get their first gold medal in Men’s Singles and become the sixth Chinese player to take home the Men’s Singles gold.

French favourite, Felix Lebrun, seeded third, is a strong contender for a podium finish after a recent ITTF World Championships team silver medal and a strong showing at the WTT Star Contender Ljubljana.

Elsewhere, Brazil’s Hugo Calderano and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju have been named the fourth and fifth seeds in the Men’s Singles draw.

France FA Sad over Insults from Argentina Copa Winners

The French Football Federation (FFF) plans to complain to FIFA about racist chants from members of Argentina's Copa America winning team.

The chants were heard during a live video posted on social media by Chelsea and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from the team bus in the wake of the Copa victory over Colombia in Miami on Sunday.

Some players, including Fernandez, sing a chant that dates back

to the 2022 World Cup final that Argentina won against France that targets France's star striker Kylian Mbappe and includes homophobic insults.

A source close to the FFF told AFP on Tuesday that the French body plans to write to the Argentinian football federation and refer the matter to Fifa.

Two years ago, the FFF also filed a complaint against racist comments on social media.

Football Community Mourns Late Ekene Adams

The Nigerian Football Community was yesterday thrown into a mourning mood following the news of the demise of the Chairman of the House Representatives Committee on Youth and Sports, Hon. Ekene Adams. Adams passed on in the early hours of this Tuesday. The sports minister, John Owan Enoh remarked that the late legislator had a deep passion for sports, which is exemplary.

The minister extended his deepest condolences to his family. Enoh expressed his sadness, stating, “Honourable Ekene was deeply passionate about sports and played a significant role in the growth and development of sports in Nigeria.

“I offer my heartfelt condolences to Honourable Ekene’s family. He was a sportsman par excellence who not only played the game but also administered and invested in it. We will miss his wealth of experience and the passion he brought to sports,”

he stated.

President of Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, in a letter he signed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, extolled the virtues of the late Hon. Adams, saying the deceased was “the leader of a very important committee in the House of Representatives and a man who was very much alive to his duties, tasks, assignments, obligations and“Asresponsibilities. someone who has worked in football all his life, contributing his quota to the development of the game on the domestic front, Hon Ekene Abubakar Adams was well-known to the entire football fraternity, and it was no surprise that he was very keen on further development of the game of football in the country while he served as Chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development.

pm Spain time (5.30 pm Nigeria time) at the La Quinta Football Centre, Malaga. It also draws the curtain on the Super Falcons’ camping programme in Spain.

Both teams were involved in a hard-fought FIFA Women’s World Cup Group B opener at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on 21 July 2023, with the game ending 0-0. Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie saved a penalty kick by

veteran Christine Sinclair and made 14 other big saves in the afternoon encounter.

Coach Randy Waldrum is unlikely to make many changes from the squad that played that match, though defender Ashleigh Plumptre and forward Francisca Ordega, who started that match, are not in Spain.

Waldrum will most likely stick with goalkeeper Nnadozie, defenders Osinachi Ohale, Oluwatosin Demehin

and Michelle Alozie (alongside, perhaps Chidinma Okeke), and midfielders Toni Payne, Christy Ucheibe and Deborah Abiodun.

The strike force may be entirely different with captain Rasheedat Ajibade (who missed the clash with Canada in Melbourne due to a red card bagged in the Women AFCON semi-final clash with Morocco in July 2022) coming in, alongside perhaps Uchenna Kanu and Chinwendu

Ihezuo. The nine-time African champions will fly into France tomorrow, where they will spend a week in further training ahead of their first match of the tournament against Brazil at the Stade Bordeaux on Thursday, 25th July. Nigeria’s other matches in the group phase are against Spain (28th July) and Japan (31st July), both at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.

NPFL2024/2025 Opening Season Begins August 31

Gusau: NFF to train Nigerian referees on use of VAR

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League, season will commence on August 31 2024 with the defending champions, Rangers of Enugu hosting President Federation Cup Champions, El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in the Charity Cup.

On September 7, the match day 1 fixtures will see Nasarawa United play host 3SC of Ibadan in Lafia, while Lobi Stars will square up against Akwa United in Makurdi, while Abia Warriors host Remo Stars. The season campaign was disclosed yesterday in Abuja at the end of the

draw following the conclusion of the league's Annual General Meeting.

The NPFL said that the league would also have a roaster of 20 clubs playing 38 matches.

“I can confidently tell you that the 2024/25 season will be a full format and not an abridged one,” said the chairman of the NPFL, Gbenga Elegbeleye.

While declaring the Annual General Assembly (AGM) open, the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, warned the NPFL to desist from usual practice of rescheduling matches henceforth, saying there would be no such

things again.

He also disclosed plans by the federation to train Nigerian referees on the application Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Gusau said the federation had already secured the communication gadget that the referees will use during matches.

“We have to train the personnel that will manage the VAR now. As I said we have already secured the communication gadget that our referees will use during matches. We have selected some of the referees that we are to start training.

“It is not a training of one day, one month or two months; it is a

training that will take a little bit of time. After the training they have to go on practical training on the VAR system by going out while some matches are ongoing to see how they can manage it. But when we are sure we have the personnel that can manage it in the next one or two years, we will start to see how we can use VAR in our system,” Gusau said. He also said that the federation intends to make the league attractive by discouraging Nigerian players from joining other lesser glamourous African clubs without established football pedigree in Benin Republic, Gabon, Tanzania, Togo among others.

Southgate Set for Pundit Position after Quitting England Job

ITV will offer Gareth Southgate a pundit role after he stepped down from the England job.

Mail Sport understands that the Three Lions boss, whose side suffered back-to-back Euros final heartache in Berlin on Sunday night, is held in high esteem by the broadcaster, which is ready to make him a key part of their coverage ahead of the next World Cup and beyond.

Ahead of England's devastating late 2-1 loss to champions Spain, Southgate said he would take a few days to consider his future.

His contract with the FA expires in December and bosses want him to stay but it remains to be seen

whether he will extend his deal. Southgate has come in for fierce criticism in some quarters, despite leading England to consecutive Euro finals and World Cup semi and quarter-finals.

The 53-year-old has admirers at a high level within ITV and the prospect of him joining their panel is one they are keen on making a reality, although it is unlikely he would be in place for the Nations League match with Ireland in September given he would need time to take a break.

ITV will lose Gary Neville, who covers major tournaments for them and who will now return to Sky

Sports. Throughout the tournament, ITV's Roy Keane has been supportive and conciliatory towards the England manager, who has been in the job for eight years, and the pair have worked together before.

The Irishman’s stance has been in stark contrast to the BBC's coverage, with Gary Lineker's criticism in particular thought to have stung Southgate.

While Lineker made his strongest barb on his podcast, it is unlikely to have done the BBC any favours should they show an interest in offering the former Aston Villa and Crystal Palace defender a slot.

Coach Waldrum supervises another training session.

Former Engalnd Coach, Gareth Southgate

MISSILE

NLC President to FG

“The world of work can only be fair when it is able to deliver on the four pillars of Decent Work. This includes a national minimum wage that speaks to the cost of living because that is what our wages are supposed to take care of. Our demand for N250,000 is predicated on this to avoid the proposed slave wage by our social partners. We cannot afford to continue working in greater poverty” --NLCPresident,JoeAjaero,insistsNigerianworkerswon’tacceptslavewage.

BAYO ONANUGA

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Let the Third Tier Breathe

The Supreme Court judgement on July 11, granting financial autonomy to the 774 local councils and recognising them as the third tier of Nigeria’s governance architecture, was truly historic. It was perhaps the most remarkable judgement ever delivered by the apex court in recent times, as it used its power to interpret the law to give a different meaning to Section 162 of the Constitution.

Since 1999, governors have used this section to withhold and tamper with the funds federally allocated to the councils, using a joint account that has proven to be a honeypot of abuse.

Last Thursday, the Supreme Court described the payment of the allocations to the account as gross misconduct and scolded the governors for dissolving democratically elected councils and setting up caretaker committees.

The court ruled that caretaker committees are illegal and that councils run by them should not receive the federal allocation.

Henceforth, the court ruled that the allocations should go directly to the accounts of the 774 local councils.

Justice Emmanuel Agim, who read the lead judgment, said Nigeria runs a three-tier governance structure, where no one tier is subject to the whims and caprices of the other. He criticised the governors and the state assemblies for almost allowing the councils to go into extinction with their treatment of them.

The judgment was generally well received by Nigerians. According to reports, the verdict ignited jubilation by workers in some local councils as they sang the praises of the Tinubu administration.

However, some Nigerians have criticised it as an ‘assault’ on Nigeria’s Federalism as it has rewritten Section 162. My simple response to this school of thought is: Must we allow the law to stand still while the local councils die? The Supreme Court also said as much: Since the governors were using the section to perpetuate unconstitutional acts, the court must ensure that the constitution is not applied in a manner that supports its destruction.

In acknowledging the verdict’s import, former vice-president Atiku Abubakar described it as a win for the people. In a post on X, Atiku wrote: “The court’s ruling is a step in the right direction and a major corrective action in greasing the wheels of national development across the country... The court’s verdict is in tandem with the core functions of the Supreme Court as an arbitration court between and among governments.”

President Bola Tinubu, whose government instituted the case, welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, affirming the spirit, intent, and purpose of the Constitution regarding the statutory rights of local governments.

“My administration instituted this suit because of our unwavering belief that our people must have relief, and today’s judgement will ensure that only those local officials elected by the people will control the resources of the people. This judgement is a resounding affirmation that we can use legitimate means of redress to restructure our country and economy

to make Nigeria a better place to live in and a fairer society for all of our people.”

President Tinubu noted that the provision of some essential amenities and public goods, such as the construction and maintenance of roads, streets, street lighting, drains, parks, gardens, open spaces, and other residual responsibilities, including community security, has been abandoned owing to the emasculation of local governments.

He said the court’s decision to grant financial autonomy to the councils and restate other constitutional principles reinforced the effort to enhance Nigeria’s true federal fabric for the development of the entire nation.

President Tinubu and his administration deserved the praise. President Tinubu has earned double appreciation as a defender of the local councils. As governor of Lagos, he sought the intervention of the same Supreme Court to establish the right of states to create councils in compliance with the provisions of the constitution. In a reverse role, as president, he has succeeded in seeking another intervention of the apex court to establish the right of the councils to survive and perform the role envisaged by the constitution.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari had sought to rescue the councils from the governors’ vice grip by using Executive Order 10, which he signed on May 22, 2020, to direct funds straight to the councils, the state legislature, and the judiciary. But the governors challenged his authority in a case filed at the Supreme Court. In a split judgment in 2022, the Supreme Court said President Buhari overreached his powers.

In his lamentation, while signing the executive order, President Buhari said: “If the money from the Federation Account to the state is about N100 million, N50 million will be sent to the chairman (of local government), but he (the chairman) will sign that he received N100 million. The governor will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with. Then, the chairman of the local government must pay salaries. Go to hell with development. When he pays salaries, he will put the balance in his pocket. This is what’s happening in Nigeria.”

President Tinubu, his successor, sought to combat the problem constitutionally by suing the governors.

The Attorney General and Justice Minister, Lateef Fagbemi, approached the Supreme Court in May, seeking to compel the governors of the 36 federating states to grant full autonomy to local governments in their domains in a suit marked SC/CV/343/2024. The suit, anchored on 27 grounds, accused the state governors of gross misconduct and abuse of power. He prayed that the Supreme Court would make an order stating that funds standing to the credit of local governments from the Federation Account should be paid directly to the local governments rather than through the state governments.

The justice minister also requested an order restraining governors, their agents, and privies from receiving, spending, or tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for the benefit of local governments when no democratically elected local government system is in place in the states.

The court granted his prayers in the landmark ruling of July 11.

President Tinubu has always been concerned about the lack of governance at the grassroots. He believes that without fixing the problems at the councils, the objective of developing the country and spreading prosperity to the 200 million people will never be achieved. After all, the councils where the 200 million people live have been financially handicapped by the governors. He made the point clearly when he met in Abuja with the leaders of the Arewa Consultative Forum on May 30, about the same period when the Justice Minister approached the Supreme Court for the correct interpretation of Section 162.

President Tinubu, responding to the ACF’s demands for more roles by the Federal Government, urged the leaders to summon the governors. He said Nigeria, as a constitutional democracy, has not allowed the councils where we all live to flourish,

As Nigerians celebrate the historic judgment, it is clear that some work still needs to be done to bring life back to the councils. One issue being raised is how to ensure that the council elections are truly competitive and not predetermined by the governors and the state independent electoral commissions

citing the absurdity of politicians going to the locals for votes only to abandon them and leave for the capitals and Abuja after winning their votes.

As Nigerians celebrate the historic judgment, it is clear that some work still needs to be done to bring life back to the councils. One issue being raised is how to ensure that the council elections are truly competitive and not predetermined by the governors and the state independent electoral commissions. To solve this, some Nigerians have urged the National Assembly to pass a law that will require only the central Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct council elections. The other problematic issue is the fear that governors will not allow the Supreme Court ruling to affect their domains, as they can always order the councils to send the money received from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee back to the state coffers. Again, a solution to this possible abuse has been proffered. The EFCC, ICPC, and NFIU should prevent this by monitoring the councils’ accounts. While the governors enjoy immunity to cover their actions, the council chairmen and councillors do not have such cover as they can be arrested, tried, and jailed. The threat of arrest and prosecution can deter local political actors from collaborating with the governors.

In conclusion, while Nigerians await the full implementation of the Supreme Court verdict, one needs to appeal to the powerful governors to allow the councils to breathe. It is in the interest of the states to allow the blossoming of the third tier of government as it was before 1999.

Here are some of the benefits that the states should not let slip away:

First, local governments will now have more control over their finances, which could lead to improved service delivery and governance at the grassroots level.

Second, with greater financial autonomy, local governments can provide better services to their constituents, such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development. This will reduce the pressure on the state government from the people expecting such minimal provisions.

Third, the judgment could lead to greater accountability and transparency in local government administration.

As President Tinubu remarked after the landmark ruling, “The onus is now on local council leaders to ensure that the broad spectrum of Nigerians living at that level are satisfied that they are benefiting from people-oriented service delivery.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda is about the people of this country, at all levels, irrespective of faith, tribe, gender, political affiliation, or any other artificial line they say exists between us. This country belongs to all of us. By this judgment, our people, especially the poor, can hold their local leaders accountable for their actions and inactions. What is sent to local government accounts will be known, and services must now be provided without excuses.”.

Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola