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Tag: Leaders

  • Tambuwal: ADC cries out says EFCC has launched witch-hunt missile at top leaders

    Tambuwal: ADC cries out says EFCC has launched witch-hunt missile at top leaders

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised an alarm that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched a witch-hunt missile following the agency’s questioning of senior opposition figures just two years before the 2027 general election.

    Barely 24hours after former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal was grilled at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday, August 11.

    The probe centers on alleged cash withdrawals totaling ₦189 billion, which investigators claim violated the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

    An EFCC insider told reporters that the withdrawals were “in clear violation of the law.” While the commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, declined to give details, he confirmed the investigation was ongoing.

    ADC Cries Foul
    ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said three former governors in the coalition had been invited for questioning, describing the move as a deliberate attempt to weaken the opposition.

    “This is a clear attempt to intimidate our members and weaken our resolve. We are determined to rescue Nigeria,” Abdullahi stated.
    In an official statement, the ADC accused the EFCC of acting like “a department of the APC” by reviving old cases against opposition politicians while ignoring similar allegations against ruling party members.

    “The EFCC is meant to serve Nigerians, not a political party,” the statement read.
    EFCC Denies Bias
    Responding to the allegations, EFCC’s Oyewale dismissed the claims as “untenable and ridiculous.”

    “Where are the facts? Our mandate is to fight financial crime, not to protect or attack any political party,” he said.
    Coalition Cracks Begin to Show
    The EFCC clampdown appears to have worsened internal rifts within the opposition alliance. Some members have distanced themselves, with Obidient Movement National Coordinator Tanko Yunusa accusing the ADC of sidelining Peter Obi’s allies from decision-making.

  • Otuaro’s photos with APC leaders misrepresented – Spokesman

    Otuaro’s photos with APC leaders misrepresented – Spokesman

    A photograph circulating online showing the immediate past Deputy Governor of Delta State, H.E. Dcn. Kingsley B. Otuaro, alongside leaders of the APC has sparked public speculation. However, his spokesman, Pst. Arex Akemotubo, has clarified the context.

    In his words: “It’s normal for leaders across party lines to interact and engage on various national issues of mutual interest. Such interactions are a testament to the maturity of our democracy and the spirit of collaboration that transcends party differences.”

  • “Our Leaders must re-fix, re-set Nigeria to fulfill the dreams of June 12 heroes, heroines” – Hon. TeeJay Yusuf

    “Our Leaders must re-fix, re-set Nigeria to fulfill the dreams of June 12 heroes, heroines” – Hon. TeeJay Yusuf

    As Nigeria officially marks 25 years of her return to uninterrupted democratic governance, there is an urgent, and passionate appeal that Leadership have a responsibility to make the country function optimally, which was the aspiration of those who fought, and laid their lives for democracy.

    In a statement issued in Abuja, to commemorate Nigeria’s “silver anniversary” of unbroken democratic governance, a chieftain of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Hon. TeeJay Yusuf, paid glowing tributes to “Chief MKO Abiola; Pa Alfred Rewane; Chima Ubani; Bagauda Kaltho; and many others who were less-known but emerged as heroes and heroines of democracy as they courageously resisted, and fought every form of military dictatorship and autocratic rulership; in the ’90s which culminated in Nigeria’s return to civilian governance in 1999. One must also commend the contributions of civil society organisations; National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS); the media; semi-formal associations; labour unions; individuals; and personalities”

    The former three-term federal lawmaker, and one-time NANS secretary-general; during the despotic rulership of late General Sani Abacha emphasized the strategic importance of democracy in Nigeria, “truly, the worst of democracy is better than any military government. Democracy, if properly practiced confers some positives on the citizenry and country. To a large extent, people are guaranteed legitimate freedom; promises of inclusivity and belonginess; fair and free expression of opinions are assured and many others.”

    However, the Kogi-born activist-politician believes that, “though there are facts to buttress the point that in 25 years of democracy, Nigeria has recorded few achievements in certain sectors of the economy but many hurdles are ahead. Aside the corrosive economic challenges, debilitating poverty, spiral inflation, and some socio-political encumbrances that has plagued Nigeria over the years, there are some fundamentals which must be addressed, tackled, and resolved swiftly. Believability and Trust of Nigerians on the leadership; across board has being dwindling over time. As we all reflect on the lessons and legacies of June 12, it is apposite that there must be conscious, and deliberate desire and efforts by the leadership to evolve measures towards re-gaining the trust, and re-storing believe of Nigerians in every statement, policy, and programme of government. For me, Today is an opportunity for every leader; in public service, private sector, and every other strata to reflect on how well we have stimulated the consciousness and enhanced the believe and trust of those behind, and under us towards generating the required national growth and development, as well as personal advancement of others.”

    Finally, while espousing the need for every citizen in positions of authority, particularly in the public service to “sustain the lofty ideals and visions of those who paid the ultimate price for Nigeria’s return to democracy,” Yusuf solicits for “continued prayers for God’s guidance, wisdom, knowledge, and direction upon all Leaders to do the right thing, and take necessary decisions towards uplifting the general well-being of the people, and ensuring meaningful growth and development of our nation.”

  • Edo Guber: Fresh permutations as Edo North leaders massively endorse Ogbeide-Ihama

    Edo Guber: Fresh permutations as Edo North leaders massively endorse Ogbeide-Ihama

    Permutations for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Edo State took a twist at the weekend when party leaders in Edo North gave a rousing endorsement to the aspiration of Engr Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama during a campaign visit.

    Ogbiede-Ihama who was escorted by some of the leading political actors from the state was received at the Senatorial headquarters in Auchi by local government chairmen of the party and some of the notable party leaders in the area.

    Among those present were leaders of the Senatorial District including Baba Sheriff Idenobemhen, Alhaji Duru Yusufu, and Hon. Abass Jega.

    Also present were distinguished leaders like Hon. Richard Ehimegbae, Hon. Samson, and Hon. Ehihi from Akoko Edo local government. Alhaji Shamban, High Chief Segun Balogun, and Hon. Kashatu.

    Also present at the gathering were the six LGA chairmen from the senatorial district, the six LGA women leaders, the six LGA youths leaders, the six LGA secretaries, party members, and devoted followers, contributing to an atmosphere vibrant with collective support.

    The party leaders passed their unanimous endorsement of Ogbeide-Ihama’s benevolent endeavors and goodwill.

    Speaking at the occasion, Ogbeide-Ihama unfolded his expansive developmental plan for Edo State, eloquently articulating his gubernatorial vision with impassioned zeal. His earnest pledge of loyalty and active solicitation of support from PDP leaders and members in the Senatorial District for the impending delegates’ election resonated with sincerity.

    The support for Ogbeide-Ihama was preceded by the delivery of Hon Charles Idahosa, a former political adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole who chorused ‘Ose’ne’ in the Afemai language, meaning the time has come for Ogbeide-Ihama.

    This declaration added another layer of enthusiasm to the gathering and further solidified the endorsement of Rt. Hon. (Engr.) Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama by the leaders on behalf of the senatorial district.

  • NAPTIP urges traditional, religious leaders to report SGBV cases

    NAPTIP urges traditional, religious leaders to report SGBV cases

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has urged traditional, community and religious leaders on prompt reportage of cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in their communities.

    NAPTIP Director-General, Prof Fatima Waziri-Azi, made the call in Abuja at a workshop organised with the collaboration of Ford Foundation to discuss SGBV strategies.

    The workshop was organised to further strengthen collaboration with traditional rulers, community and religious leaders in the FCT and guard against violence against persons in their communities.

    The workshop was part of the activities to commemorate the 2023 days of activism against SGBV.

    Waziri-Azi, however, said that with the domestication of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act in almost all the states in the country, progress had been recorded in favour of violence against persons in the country.

    The NAPTIP boss said that almost all the states in the country had adopted the VAPP Act as a law, adding that 34 states actually domesticated it while some states like Kano and Katsina also incorporated various sections of the Act into their Penal Code laws.
    “So this advocacy workshop is an avenue for us to continue to strengthen collaboration among ourselves, and for us to understand the different rules and responsibility level on us.
    It’s also to let us know issues around SGBV not just in FCT but Nigeria at large.

    “We all need to know the role to play at the community level, religion leaders, law enforcement and even the judiciary as a society and as a country.
    “For us in NAPTIP last year alone, we received a lot of cases of SGBV in the FCT; one thing I know for sure is that the culture of silence has progressively reduced in the FCT and this is necessitated by the increase in reportage which is done in trust.

    “In the past, people din’t complain but now increase in reportage shows that attitude that needs not to be tolerated must not be tolerated.

    “We have cases where neighbours blow whistle on their neighbours; children send us Petitions, reporting their parents; even spouses report each other and that is the change we have seen lately and that is the change we keep encouraging.

    “We can only encourage this change when people come to report at NAPTIP; most time people’s courage are killed, denied them of justice but when they report and something is done, it further embolden them,” the D-G said.

    She also frowned at a situation where she received complaints of eight rape cases in a day, particularly on Nov. 23, while calling on the community leaders to do more in reporting cases of violence against persons in their communities.

    According to her, government cannot do everything, but with the cooperation of the community leaders, a lot can be achieved in curbing SGBV and other violence against persons.

    The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf , commended NAPTIP for achieving breakthrough since the creation of the VAPP Act in 2015.

    Represented by Justice Angela Otaluka, the CJ said appointing six Justices of the FCT to handle SGBV cases was because of the interest he had on the issue, as well as to reduce such crime in Nigerian society.

    He said that Judges handling such cases gave reports of progress made in that direction, while pledging to continue to support NAPTIP with the dispensation of justice to whoever that deserved it.

     

  • Anthology meets with Nigerian leaders to explore opportunities for EdTech advancement

    Anthology meets with Nigerian leaders to explore opportunities for EdTech advancement

    Senior global executives from Anthology, a distinguished leader in education technology, will be in Nigeria to further discuss collaborations with the federal government, educational institutions, and other key stakeholders in the country.

    The visit comes on the heels of Nigeria’s adoption of Anthology’s leading Learning Management System (LMS), Blackboard Learn.

    During the visit, the EdTech provider is billed to meet with the Honourable Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, among others to discuss cutting-edge EdTech solutions to support the diverse needs of learners, educators, and institutions, facilitating the attainment of educational objectives.

    Spanning a presence across more than 80 countries and serving an extensive base of over 150 million learners, educators, and administrators, Anthology brings a wealth of expertise and a global perspective to the educational landscape in Nigeria. Its steadfast commitment to helping institutions and their learners achieve their goals starts with delivering seamless integration with existing systems, fostering a unified and interconnected EdTech environment.

    Anthology’s visit to Nigeria underscores its unwavering commitment to transforming education and enhancing the learning experiences of students. The company looks forward to engaging with local stakeholders and actively contributing to the progress of education technology in Nigeria as part of a new partnership that will see as many as 253 institutions accelerate their digital learning capacity by deploying Anthology’s Learning Management system, Blackboard Learn.

    Anthology is driven by a mission to deliver dynamic, data-informed learning experiences to the Nigerian education community, and elevate education technology solutions in Nigeria. The company’s solutions are highly adaptable and can be tailored to suit the distinctive requirements of educational institutions in Nigeria.

    About Anthology
    Anthology offers the largest EdTech ecosystem on a global scale for education, supporting more than 150 million users in 80 countries. With a mission to provide dynamic, data-informed experiences to the global education community through Anthology Intelligent Experiences™️, we help learners, leaders and educators achieve their goals by offering over 60 SaaS products and services designed to advance learning. Discover more about how we are fulfilling our mission for education, business and government institutions at www.anthology.com.

  • JUST IN: N’Delta leaders in emergency meeting over scrapping of ministry

    JUST IN: N’Delta leaders in emergency meeting over scrapping of ministry

    Leaders of the Niger Delta region are currently in an emergency meeting over the scrapping of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs by the Federal Government.

    Recall that in 2019 speculations were ride that the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration was set to dump the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry and even its intervention agency the NDDC.

    This never took place instead a lack lustre forensic audit was conducted by the then minister Godswill Akpabio and till date no contractor has been arrested or tried.

    There have been reactions in the region following the ministerial portfolios handed to the screened nominees, Wednesday, in which the Niger Delta Affairs was visibly missing.

    To this end, the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF has convened an emergency meeting of leaders of the region.

    According to the National Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Hon. Ken Robinson, who did not disclose the venue said the meeting is ongoing in Abuja.

    We saw the list of ministerial nominee and allocation published by the presidency and Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was missing conspicuously.

    There have been reactions. PANDEF has been inundated with calls from stakeholders in the Niger Delta region and it is disturbing. So, PANDEF is holding and emergency meeting today in Abuja. and we are going to come out with a very strong position and statement after this meeting today.”

  • With the requisite strategies, leaders can win in turbulent times – TEXEM director

    With the requisite strategies, leaders can win in turbulent times – TEXEM director

    Caroline Lucas, Director of Special Projects at TEXEM UK, has asserted that global executives face unprecedented challenges and uncertainties in today’s rapidly changing business environment.

    Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the coming face-to-face programme of TEXEM in Lagos, tagged “Developing Winning Strategies in Turbulent Times”, Lucas affirmed that the disruptive nature of the scars of COVID-19 was one such challenge.

    According to the director, the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the geopolitics of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the USA-China conflict have disrupted global supply chains, created a great exodus of talent to greener pastures, resulted in high inflation, spurred global slowdown and forced organisations to rethink their business models.

    “In this context, executives must stay ahead of the curve and develop winning strategies to help their organisations navigate turbulent times.

    “The “Winning Strategies in Turbulent Times” programme, organised by TEXEM, is a unique opportunity for senior executives and leaders of organisations to gain practical skills and actionable insights that can help them survive uncertainty and achieve sustainable competitive advantage despite the headwinds.

    “The programme is scheduled for July 12 – 13, 2023, at Wheatbaker in Lagos, Nigeria, and is designed to provide a unique learning experience fostering growth and intellectual enrichment”, Lucas announced.

    She said one of the key benefits of attending the programme is the opportunity for executives to engage in peer-to-peer learning.

    Lucas said this learning style provides a platform for executives to learn from their colleagues, gain valuable insights into best practices across various industries, and develop lasting relationships.

    She said that peer-to-peer learning is an effective learning tool that enables executives to apply their newfound knowledge to real-world scenarios and develop winning strategies that are unique to their organisations.

    “The programme is designed to provide a platform for professional exchange with critical partners and colleagues. This exchange will enable executives to expand their professional network and enhance their social capital.

    “By attending this TEXEM programme, executives will have the opportunity to interact with industry experts, regulators, policymakers, and academics, which will broaden their horizons and expose them to new perspectives and enhance their organisation’s core competencies to turn challenges into opportunities.

    “Another key benefit of attending this TEXEM programme, Developing Winning Strategies in Turbulent Times, is the emphasis on self-reflection,” Lucas said.
    She said self-reflection is a critical component of leadership development, and the TEXEM programme is designed to provide executives with the necessary tools to engage in self-reflection.

    Lucas said by reflecting on their leadership style, executives can identify areas for improvement, build self-awareness, develop a growth mindset and be in a consistent state of renewal.

    According to the director, self-reflection is an effective tool for developing winning strategies that are tailored to an executive’s strengths, weaknesses, and unique leadership style; a reflective leader will save her organisation from confusion, denial and complacency.

    She said renowned Prof. Rodria Laline would deliver the Lagos programme. Laline has served as visiting Professor at Harvard, INSEAD and IESE.

    She is the developer of the intellectual property used in the chip on every ATM card. She was a former adviser to the Prime Minister of the Netherlands and founder of the Harvard University Maximise Your Board programme. Laline has also been CEO of global research and development collaborations with IBM, ING, Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment Corporation, Honeywell Bull, Elsevier Science, Oracle Corporation, Siemens and Philips. She co-founded the Global Chipcard Alliance and is a board member of the Open Software Foundation.

    Laline will be leveraging TEXEM’s proven and tested methodology that has helped over 4000 executives globally to learn, challenge assumptions and unlock scarce value irrespective of the challenging operating context. She said Professor Rodria Laline would coach leaders on the valuable, rare, inimitable and influencing credentials required to turn headwinds to tailwinds and position their organisations to achieve enduring competitive advantage.

    A previous TEXEM participant articulated:

    Otunba Sonya Ogunkuade, Hon. Commissioner and Former Special Assistant to the President said, “I’ve enjoyed the orderliness of the organisers. I’ve enjoyed the presentations of the consultants. I’ve enjoyed the practicability of the consultants. They brought in life examples in all their presentation then, with that, the participants were able to be carried along. It’s not theoretical. You know, they also practicalise by bringing in life events, even using themselves as examples. So that sends the message deep into our hearts. And that’s wonderful”.

    Another delegate:

    Prince Rasaq Adekunle Quadri, Commissioner Tax Appeal Tribunal and Past President Chartered Institute of Taxation articulated-The programme is wonderful. We will put into use the things that we have learnt with TEXEM, and it will impact the system generally and positively. We have learnt how to do things differently. We have learnt that change cannot be ruled out at any point in time. So, we are going to do things differently and very well. We are going to have many things to write about.

    Caroline Lucas said more details about the programme Developing Winning Strategies in Turbulent Times can be found at www.texem.co.uk or via email at exec@texem.co.uk

  • Continental victory: Leaders, Elon Musk, others hail Morocco for making Africa proud

    Continental victory: Leaders, Elon Musk, others hail Morocco for making Africa proud

     

    Sports stars, political leaders and celebrities took to social media on Saturday to congratulate Morocco for its World Cup quarter final win over Portugal, making it the first African or Arab team to reach the semi finals of the soccer tournament.

    Here are some of the reactions.

    U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted congratulations to “the Atlas lions on their win today”.

    Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby said on Twitter: “Historic and extraordinary! The qualification of the Atlas Lions for the semi-final of the 2022 world is that of all Africa. Full support to the representatives of Africa for the grand finale. Africa world champion, yes it is possible inchallah!”

    “CONTINENTAL HISTORY!… What an achievement by the Atlas Lions,” the Confederation of African Football said in a tweet.

    Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa congratulated Moroccan King Mohammed VI on a “great international historic achievement”, according to state media.

    Dubai ruler Mohammed bin Rashed tweeted: “No voice is louder than Morocco’s in the World Cup!”

    “We share the joy of our brothers,” tweeted Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

    “We rejoice when the Arabs rejoice,” said Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, who hailed a “historic” victory. The two rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas each sent congratulations.

    Libya’s Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah tweeted: “Congratulations to the Moroccan national team for their historic qualification to the World Cup semi-finals.”

    Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein tweeted: “The Atlas Lions are making history.”

    Egypt’s Foreign Ministry tweeted: “Sincere heartfelt congratulations to the brotherly kingdom of Morocco.”

    “They did it!!!! Well done Morocco for this feat. Long live Africa,” tweeted retired Ivorian player and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba.

    Samuel Eto’o, the former Cameroon striker and current president of the country’s football federation, said on Twitter: “Incredible! …The entire continent is rooting for you” (with a clapping hands emoji)

    Pop star Shakira tweeted “This time for Africa!!” with a clapping emoji and a Moroccan flag.

    Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeted:
    “Congrats Morocco.”

  • APC leaders protest alleged ‘unfair treatment’ in sharing political offices

    APC leaders protest alleged ‘unfair treatment’ in sharing political offices

    Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ado-Ekiti Constituency 1, Ekiti state, have alleged “unfair treatment” in the sharing of political offices in the state.

    They made this known in a protest letter to the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti and made available to newsmen.

    The letter titled, “Inequality, unfairness and marginalisation in political office sharing to Ado Constituency 1” was signed by seven wards chairmen, women leaders, youth leaders, secretaries and councilors in the constituency.

    According to them, Ado-Ekiti Constituency 1 with the largest voting strength in the metropolis, has only 28 political appointees, while Ado-Ekiti Constituency 2, has more than 31 appointments in the present dispensation.

    The aggrieved APC members alleged that they have been shortchanged by “unfair and unacceptable sharing formula”.

    The leaders said that though they had let go the anomaly in the interest of the party, they needed to present their grievances to the governor to ensure fairness, justice and equity in the next dispensation.

    They said: “Ado-Ekiti Constituency 1 is embittered at the way and manner our collective interest has been shortchanged in the sharing of political positions.

    “It is our belief and this has been our stand all the while that APC success is our success, but in a situation where political appointments were lopsidedly shared and uneven allocated between constituencies within the metropolis is no longer acceptable to us and it is becoming counter productive”.

    They warned that concentration of political appointments in one geographical area of an environment gives room for a drift loyalty, particularly when it get to the point of “the-power-that-be” not being sensitive enough to correct the anomalies.

    They reminded the leadership of APC in the state that the opposition party, particularly the Social Democratic Party (SDP), had picked its deputy governorship candidate from the Ado-Ekiti Constituency 1.

    The aggrieved APC members said that if something urgent was not done to salvage the situation, the opposition party may take advantage of the voting strength of the geographical area.

    “The only thing that we all believe is for the leadership of APC to considerably focus attention to Ado-Ekiti Constituency 1 through zoning of elective positions to the constituency.

    “If all these our agitations are not attended to and ensure that they are corrected on time, it is no threat that we may lose the constituency to the opposition that has picked it’s running mate from our constituency,” they said.

    The aggrieved members also copied the State Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi; and a former Deputy Governor in the State, Mrs Modupe Adelabu; as well as Chairmen of the party in state and Ado-Ekiti Local Government.