The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Delta gov woos Irish investors

    Delta gov woos Irish investors

    The Delta State Government, South-South Nigeria, has taken its thirst for foreign investment to a new height in its drive to create an investment haven for direct foreign investors in the oil-rich state.

    This was made known when the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori-led administration through the Special Adviser on Investment, Chief (Dr.) Tony Amechi, paid a visit to the Ambassador of Ireland, Peter Ryan, at the Irish Embassy in Abuja, with the aim of strengthening investment ties and building a favourable business climate in the state that will bolster inherent opportunities and unlock the potential of the state and the nation of Ireland in a superlative relationship.

    Amaechi,  who is the Ajuwa of the ancient Aboh Kingdom told the ambassador that the oil-rich Delta State “is an evolving business haven and that is the thrust of the current administration to ensure that the state is opened up more than ever for direct foreign investment adding that the business potentials of the state is innumerable.”

    He called on the Irish government to invest in the state, noting that Delta State is an evolving Singapore in sub-Saharan Africa.

    According to Amechi, Delta State is available to play host to multinational investors stressing that the security of their businesses is assured as measures have been put in place by the current administration to ensure that Irish investors storm the state in their droves.

    In addition to oil and gas resources, Amechi noted that agriculture, ICT, tourism, solid minerals, and the housing sector are still virgin lands that are readily available for core investors to harvest, adding that the state is ready to partner with Ireland in any area of interest.

    Read Also: Appeal Court rejects case seeking Sylva’s exclusion from poll

    “The government and the people of Delta State are hospitable in nature and are ready to play host to investors from your country and the government of Delta State places so much premium on your investors because they are shrewd and honest in all they do. Therefore, the desire for partnership between our state, your government, and the entire people of Ireland.

    “As a federating unit, Delta State is proud to associate with your government and we hope to build an enduring business relationship that will lubricate the bond between the entries. Ours is a state endowed with enormous natural and human resources waiting to be harnessed under a business-conscious administration of His Excellency, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori. He sent his greetings to the good people and the government of Ireland. “We hope to build on this established correspondence in the nearest future as we await the arrival of your businessmen and women in Delta State,” the investment-driven Amaechi stated, adding that the state government is willing to attract investments into the state to remove idle youths from the streets and build a legacy of a crime-free state.

    Ambassador Peter, however, promised to build on the established relationship between Ireland and the state, stressing that Irish businessmen will storm the state soon while the nation of Ireland builds on the diplomatic relationship between the State and Ireland.

  • Gbajabiamila, UN special representative inspect solar project at Iponri market

    Gbajabiamila, UN special representative inspect solar project at Iponri market

    The Chief of Staff to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Femi Gbajabiamila alongside Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, Damilola Ogunbiyi, Friday, visited Iponri Market in Surulere, Lagos State and inspected the First Phase of solar installations deployed within the market.

     Among the dignitaries were the Managing Director,  Sterling  Bank, Abubakar Suleiman; CEO, All On, Caroline Eboumbou, market leaders amongst others. This visit to Iponri Market afforded the dignitaries the opportunity to interact with the end-users and provided valuable insights into the impact of clean and reliable energy on their respective business operations.  

     The solar projects, funded by Universal Energy Facility (UEF) a results-based finance facility administered by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and executed by SOLAD Integrated Power,  is an exciting development that underscores the commitment of both the Nigerian government and the Universal Energy Facility (UEF) to promoting sustainable energy solutions in the country. 

     Speaking during their visit to the market, Gbajabiamila and Ogunbiyi lauded the initiative at making clean and sustainable energy accessible for all.

    Read Also: Tinubu mourns death of Nigeria’s first female General at 84

     “The electrification of the Iponri Market with sustainable energy solutions exemplifies Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to enhancing energy access, driving economic growth, and embracing the transformative potential of solar energy. This visit to witness the impact of clean, affordable energy reaffirms our dedication to businesses, emission reduction, and advancing our nation toward a more sustainable and prosperous future,” Gbajabiamila said.

     “Sustainable energy access is the cornerstone of a brighter and more equitable future for all. Our visit to the Iponri Market today underscores our commitment to empowering communities with clean, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions, setting the stage for Nigeria’s energy transition to a greener future,” UN SRSG Ogunbiyi said.

     In August 2023, SOLAD Integrated Power began the provision of clean, sustainable and renewable energy solutions to empower business owners within Iponri market. Through the utilization of solar power, the market’s micro, small, and medium-scale enterprise (MSME) owners are gaining access to stable, affordable, and clean energy, which is set to revolutionize the way they operate. 

     As of November 2023, SOLAD Integrated Power has successfully connected in the first phase, 200 commercial customers in the Iponri Market to high-capacity stand-alone solar power and battery storage systems for productive use.

  • Tinubu will turn things around, he’s a democratic – Aremo Oyindasola

    Tinubu will turn things around, he’s a democratic – Aremo Oyindasola

    The chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Aremo Olusegun Oyindasola has assured Nigerians that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a rare potential to save Nigeria from the dwindling economy as a true democrat.

    “Asiwaju Tinubu is a true democrat. He is always adaptive. You can see that recently he brought in Fela Durotoye, a member of another party because he knows that this guy has something to offer. No matter the party, what he wants is a good Nigeria and a good government.

    “Look at the last election, surprises coming up. That means we are making progress. That means if you don’t perform, the people will kick you out. You know there is competition. So, competition brings out the best,” he said.

    Oyindasola also said he prefers to groom competent future leaders rather than scampering for positions.

    “If you go into the hall there, you will see some of the young men I groomed. They are doing well politically and they are taking over, that is my joy.

     “Don’t be surprised that, maybe in the next four years, or so, one of them becomes the governor of Lagos State. That is the joy! We are there for them so that society will get better off than before.”

    Read Also: Appeal Court rejects case seeking Sylva’s exclusion from poll

     He said this at his recent installation as the ‘Oba Gbo’ of Owu kingdom, in the company of his wife, Erelu Adesuwa, who was also installed as the ‘Yeye Oba Gbo’ of the kingdom.

     The event was in commemoration of the 24th Odun Omo Owu celebration by His Royal Majesty, Oba Professor Saka Matemilola, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom at his palace in Abeokuta, Ogun state, last weekend.

     Speaking with journalists at the Neu-gate Exclusive Hotels and Event Centre in Abeokuta, the venue of the reception he organised to entertain his guests who came from far and wide, Oyindasola said he was elated at the honour.

     “If you look at the chains of the chieftaincy titles, it is from the village, Itori, Akinale and this is the main town, it is like growing from scratch. This is my base, it is a gradual process and it is a bit-by-bit recognition.”

     He said that what the recognition means to him is for him to do much more than what he has been doing in the past.

     “They are asking me to do more, that I have not done enough and I am ready to do more to touch more lives and make the society a better place.”

  • Ondo vows not to cede coastal communities to Ogun

    Ondo vows not to cede coastal communities to Ogun

    Ondo State Government has vowed not to cede any of its communities in the coastal areas of Ilaje Local Government Area to Ogun State.

    It assured all inhabitants of Ilaje Local Government that it would continue to exercise legitimate authority over its territory in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in the interest of the security and well-being of all persons in the disputed areas.

    The state urged the National Boundary Commission to release the report of the ethnographic study of the boundaries to determine the dispute and the real owner of the land.

    Ondo Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, who spoke at a press briefing in Akure, faulted the allegation by Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Noimot Saleko Ayodele that Ogun state citizens were attacked in Irokun.

    She said the allegation was false and became a pattern of alarming propaganda by the Ogun State Government as a strategy to reinforce false territorial claims on Irokun, Obinehin, Idigbengben, and Araromi seaside.

    Olateju said linking attacks to the administrative actions of the Ondo State Government was deceptive.

    The Information Commissioner said Irokun, Obineyin, Araromi, and other communities were not in dispute between both states.

    Read Also: Tinubu mourns death of Nigeria’s first female General at 84

    She said the declaration of Ondo State control over the area as illegal was not only untenable but an open invitation to lawlessness by miscreants who she said might be inclined to enforce the wish of the Ogun State Government in defence of ‘this baseless and unfounded declaration.’

    According to her, “We regard the declaration by the Deputy Governor of Ogun State that “on no account will Ogun State Government cede an inch of this land to Ondo State” as comedic. We are committed to the development of these areas, and we state categorically that Ondo State is contented with its territorial boundaries within the Nigerian Federation.

    “This includes its vast coastline, which is the longest among the littoral states, the boundary of which is historically shared with Lagos state in the west. The people of Ondo state know this and are at peace with the resolve of the state government to protect it. On no account will any part of it be ceded without justification.

    “Although, the government of Ondo State has received reports of some unilateral mappings by the Ogun State Government in areas some of which both states have agreed with the National Boundary Commission at a meeting in Abeokuta on the 21st of February 2016, “we will allow the Commission to carry out an elaborate ethnographic study of the boundaries” to determine the dispute and the real owner of the land.”

  • Osifo congratulates Tinubu

    Osifo congratulates Tinubu

    A Former presidential aspirant, Mr. Stanley Osifo has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his recent election victory at the Supreme Court, saying the president must double his efforts and ensure there is improvement in the livelihood of Nigerians.

    Osifo applauded the apex court verdicts as wonderful judgement.

    He urged Nigerians to continue to encourage the judiciary to carry out their legitimate duties of interpreting laws for the good of the country.

    Read Also: Appeal Court rejects case seeking Sylva’s exclusion from poll

    The former presidential hopeful who saluted the bravery and doggedness of Nigerian judges for not allowing public opinions supersede the provisions of the country’s constitution in the determination of legal disputes in court, also commended President Tinubu who refused to be deterred by frivolous matters from the opposition.

  • LCCI advocates youth involvement, national patience

    LCCI advocates youth involvement, national patience

    • By Halimah Balogun and Zainab Olufemi

    The president of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Micheal Olawale-Cole has advocated for the enhancement of youth inclusion through job creation.

    He spoke during the visit to the Founder of Eleganza group of companies, Chief Rasaq Okoya at the Eleganza stand at the Lagos trade fair.

    Olawale-Cole recognized Chief Rasak Okoya’s commitment to involving the younger generation in business operations.

    Emphasizing the importance of succession planning, he urged entrepreneurs to engage their children in the business realm, envisioning a future free from poverty for the youth.

    “We business people should get our youths involved in business. That’s the way to get our youths out of poverty. Apart from creating jobs, let them also learn how to manage enterprises. We must keep developing our children otherwise there would be no succession planning once we’re old and passed away. Many Nigerian businesses have no business being closed down if not for poor succession planning, and Chief Okoya has done very well in that area. He has involved his children and family in the business and they’re taking good control in the business and my prayer is that they would take the companies to greater heights than what Papa has done”, he said.

    As he commended Okoya’s successful integration of his family into the Eleganza Industry, Olawale-Cole called for sustained patience and support for the new Nigerian government.

    He expressed optimism about the government’s healing efforts and anticipated a positive economic transformation from the second quarter of the following year.

    Read Also: Tinubu mourns death of Nigeria’s first female General at 84

    He said: “I also want to appeal to Nigerians, we need to be patient with the new Nigerian government. We must be patient because what is on ground is a damage of several decades, what we’re doing now is passing through the pains of the healing being brought into the economy of our nation by the new administration and I’m very confident that if we’re patient with them and pray and help them in our little ways with good ideas, from the second quarter of next year we’ll start seeing good changes in Nigeria. It can’t happen in 2,3,4 or even 6 months, it takes some time for healing to take place and then good health will come back”.

    The Iyalode of Lagos, Chief Dr. Mrs. Bintu-Fatimah Tinubu echoed the sentiment, stressing the necessity for youth discipline, parental guidance, and a national commitment to building a stable and prosperous future.

    She intensified her call for responsible behavior among the youth and underscored that success comes from diligently starting from the ground up.

    “What I have to say is just to advise the youths of today to be law-abiding, and listen to their parents”.

    Tinubu underscored the need for collaboration between parents, community leaders, and the government to impart crucial guidance to the younger generation.

  • Service provider seeks return of Tinubu’s LASGEMS  legacy

    Service provider seeks return of Tinubu’s LASGEMS  legacy

    Consultant contracted as the service provider for the Lagos State Government Education Management Systems (LASGEMS), Mr. Yomi Erogbogbo, has called for the return of the digitalisation solution legacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    According to him, many Nigerians do not know that the president has a liking for education records. As  Lagos State Governor, Tinubu introduced LASGEMS in  the 2005/2006 academic year, evolving and subsequently set up by an act of parliament in 2007.

    He said it was upgraded to an online real-time web-based system in 2009 to replace manual registers with electronic registers and automated e-school ‘report cards’, transforming school staff to digital users.

    Read Also: Appeal Court rejects case seeking Sylva’s exclusion from poll

    “LASGEMS digitalised feature allows concerned schools to conclude the transactions online and real-time in seconds with necessary approvals. It minimises school fees debts and helps control abnormal admissions into higher school levels such as moving from primary school year four to the first year of junior secondary school. It ensures quality data, effective planning and monitoring tools, and automated prudent management controls responsible for noticeable growing performance improvements by schools and students. Student tracking from class to class, school to school and enhanced external examination registrations resulting in significant annual savings by government,” he said.

     Erogbogbo said LASGEMS growing benefits and political leverage would have been speaking loudly for  President Tinubu if it  had not been interrupted in succession from 2010 by overlapping interests and systems creating undeserved forced project disputes.

  • Fashioned Museum hosts students in Lagos

    Fashioned Museum hosts students in Lagos

    Students from different secondary schools across Lagos State participated in a  mentoring session at the maiden edition of the Fashioned Museum titled “Bridging the Gap”.According to the Principal and founder, Tejumola Maurice-Diya, this is part of the activities lined up to showcase an integral part of The Fashioned Museum’s mission to activate a broader and timely conversation around contemporary fashion in an ever-changing world. The immediate aim she says is to celebrate the ever-evolving world of fashion by bridging the gap between the younger generation and the older generation as well as between the Western World and the African continent.

    “African culture is finally taking its rightful position on the global stage with the explosion of broader music and culinary acceptance across the globe and I have little doubt that fashion is the next frontier for us to showcase,” says Tejumola.

    The event, she explained is a call to action to connect, learn, and envision a brighter, more inclusive, and sustainable fashion world. The immersive experience will unite fashion enthusiasts, industry professionals, and aspiring fashionistas to bridge the gap between the rich history of African fashion and its promising future.

    Tejumola noted that the event is an opportunity to gain a behind-the-scenes perspective from some of the industry’s visionaries, as there would also be panel discussions and interactive workshops. “It is an opportunity for fashion and other business owners who are looking to learn the ropes on how to run a successful fashion business, fashion enthusiasts who are passionate about learning more about the industry and people wanting to deepen their understanding about the financial sustainability in the industry.

    Read Also: Tinubu mourns death of Nigeria’s first female General at 84

     “It is one thing to be creative and go into the fashion industry, but there’s also the business element of it which drives the economic sustainability of our world here in Africa first before we talk about other aspects of sustainability. You are not running a not-for profit organization, so you need to know the intricacies of running a successful business, how to position your brand and to attract international clients – now more than ever.”

    There is also a special feature for those seeking to go into the bridal industry – “Brides are different from your regular clients, sometimes it can be emotional, so you have to know how to handle your clients, and how to provide exceptional customer service, and how to style in general based on personality.” says Tejumola

    The inspiration for the “Bridging the Gap event she says, comes from an unwavering belief in the beauty and creativity that define African fashion to bridge the gap between the younger generation and the older generation. It is a heartfelt contribution to the countless designers, artisans, and visionaries who have contributed day and night to our rich tapestry. It symbolises a bridge of unity, celebrating the deep-rooted heritage of African fashion while charting a course toward an even more inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant future.

  • Nigerian firm examines data, ethics in public health

    Nigerian firm examines data, ethics in public health

    Longevity Nigeria recently hosted a virtual conference dedicated to exploring the potential of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Optimizing Public Health in Africa. This event, held recently, drew participants from several locations, including Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Algeria, the United States, and Canada.

    At the heart of the conference, Didier Coeurnelle, Co-chair of HEALES, underscored the pressing need for more comprehensive data collection in Africa. He noted the decline in life expectancy experienced in Europe and the United States during the pandemic, emphasizing the necessity for improved statistical insights and data analysis to gauge the pandemic’s effects on life expectancy in Africa.

    Dr. Ebere Azuma, President and Co-founder of Love Your Menses, highlighted the ethical imperative in handling health data. She articulated, “We have to prioritize ethics over data and actively root out human biases from infiltrating algorithms. African participation in this process is essential; we cannot rely on other nations to instruct Africans on the matter.”

    Read Also: Appeal Court rejects case seeking Sylva’s exclusion from poll

    Neil Sahota, an Artificial Intelligence advisor to the United Nations, emphasized the significance of recognizing bias in data, particularly unconscious bias”

    Brenda Ramokopelwa, CEO of TAFFDS, stressed the significance of data protection. She emphasized that while commendable data protection laws exist on paper, challenges emerge in their application and enforcement. Allen Akhaumere, an AI expert, added that data privacy is important. He said that we have to protect patients’ identities. One of the main challenges with open-source data for healthcare is privacy. People are usually skeptical about how their data will be used.

    While harnessing AI solutions developed in the West offers numerous advantages, it also presents its own set of challenges. Chiraz Bensemmane, CEO of Pitch World Fast, noted the need to adapt and integrate these new AI solutions into the existing healthcare system. The goal is to devise a cost-effective, efficient, and easily maintainable AI infrastructure that aligns with the African context.

    Furthermore, Otse Ogorry, country director at Data.FI, said that our data systems are often fragmented. He said that these systems are not speaking to themselves. We can leverage existing health system in the health sector to actually see how we can harmonize these systems in Africa. He advised that if African government will actually put their foot down and lead the charge in their countries, they will be able to harmonize and integrate some of the existing data.

    An expert in cloud computing, Alok Shankar, provided a technical solution to the data problem in Africa. According to Alok, “We need solutions that are cheap and very affordable for Africans. We can leverage edge computing. Edge devices can fit in a suitcase, and they can run the cloud remotely without internet connectivity.”

    Concluding the event, Agbolade Omowole, the event’s host and founder of Longevity Nigeria, shared his organization’s future endeavour. In 2024, Longevity Nigeria will embark on a project named Oldest Living Nigerian (OLIVE), designed to celebrate healthy longevity in Nigeria. This project marks a promising step towards advancing public health in the region.

  • Kogi LG chair dies hours to guber poll

    Kogi LG chair dies hours to guber poll

    The Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Area, Mohammed Danasabe Mohammed, has died few hours to the Kogi State governorship election scheduled for today.

    Danasabe, who was said to have attended a stakeholders meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Kogi State Government House, was said to have suddenly taken ill at his residence and slumped late in the evening of Thursday.

    He was said to have been rushed to Shifa Hospital, Lokoja where doctors pronounced him dead in the early hours of yesterday.

    The Nation learnt yesterday that the deceased would be buried at the Unguwan Kura Muslim Cemetery after the Juma’at prayer.

    The Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the APC in Lokoja, Talba Lakwaja, confirmed the incident in a statement.

     “This is to notify the general public that the remains of the Lokoja Local Government Council Chairman, Hon. Mohammed Danasebe Mohammed, will be buried at Anguwan Kura burial ground 2pm immediately after jummat prayer.

    “The body will depart his family house at Cantonment to Lokoja Central Mosque by 1:30pm,” he said.

    Police in Lagos mourn death of Constable bitten by fleeing detainee

    THE Ilupeju Division of the Lagos State Police Command is mourning the death of a Police Constable, Olawale Akinlotan, attached to the Ilupeju Division.

    Akinlotan was said to have slumped and died on Monday while on duty at his station where he served as an orderly to the Divisional Police Officer.

    While the cause of his death remains yet a mystery, the graduate of Mass Communication from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State was said to have died a few days after he was bitten by a detainee who was trying to escape from custody.

    He was said to have helped in apprehending the fleeing suspect who, in the process, bit his shoulder, fingers and other parts of his body.

    Read Also: Kogi 2023: Police bar security escort for VIPs at polling units

    The deceased policeman was said to have made light of the incident while posting the videos of the incident on Tiktok on October 19 with the words: “Job hazard. Thank God for life. Human bite is worse than scorpion/snake venom.”

    Prior to his posting to the Ilupeju Police Division, Akinlotan had served as one of the media men at the Lagos State Police Public Relations Office.

    Born in 1996, Akinlotan enrolled in the Nigeria Police Force as a constable in 2018.

    He had first worked at the Isheri Division after which he worked very closely with AIG Hakeem Odumosu (rtd), attached to the PRO office as a camera/media man.

    His death has since sparked controversy within the ranks of the Nigeria Police Force with complaints by some of his colleagues that policemen are being overworked and given little or no time to rest.

    One of them was quoted as saying: “They won’t give us time to rest. Nobody cares about our health at work. Even when you are sick, they would tell you to bring a medical report before asking you to go and treat yourself.

    “You work many shifts a day. They won’t approve annual leave for us. Tell me how officers won’t continue to drop dead.

    “It’s sad we keep losing officers to avoidable circumstances.”