The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Ribadu’s supporters strategise ahead Appeal Court verdict

    Ribadu’s supporters strategise ahead Appeal Court verdict

    Ahead of anticipated ruling of the Court of Appeal on the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Adamawa State, supporters of Malam Nuhu Ribadu, an interested party in the case, have started canvassing support for him. 

    Former lawmakers at State and Federal levels as well as former local government chairmen and other dignitaries who are supporters of the former chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) met in Yola to publicly express such support.

    A former governorship aspirant of the APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa, who convened the meeting, said they were resolute in projecting the Nuhu Ribadu candidature for the Adamawa governorship run.

    Ribadu, who was an aspirant in the May 2022 APC governorship primary but lost to Senator Aishatu Binani, had gone to the Federal High Court which last month voided the election and declared that the APC had no candidate for the 2023 governorship election in Adamawa, prompting the APC to take the case to the Court of Appeal, asking it to declare a fresh governorship primary.

    Read Also: Nobody really loses, be proud of your role – Nuhu Ribadu tells candidates

    “We know what happened at the initial primary, we know how weighty our cause is, we know we have a good case and the Court of Appeal will give us the justice that we seek,” Musa said, adding, “We go to Supreme Court if Court of Appeal fails us.” 

    He expressed optimism that there would be time for all this and for preparation for the 2023 election to take its own course. 

    Ribadu was represented at the support group’s meeting in Yola by a former local council chairperson, Hon Olvadi Madayi who said she and other supporters were rooting for Nuhu Ribadu because of their belief that he has the answers to the challenges confronting Adamawa State.

    I want to rid Adamawa off corruption – Nuhu Ribadu

  • EPL: Brentford shock Man City 2-1

    EPL: Brentford shock Man City 2-1

    Ivan Toney responded to being overlooked for England’s World Cup squad by delivering a match-winning two-goal performance in Brentford‘s thoroughly deserved Premier League win at Manchester City.

    Toney missed out on a place in Qatar but demonstrated his vital importance to Brentford with an outstanding all-round display that left the reigning Premier League champions stunned as the Bees took all three points with a 98th-minute winner.

    It was fully merited for Brentford’s positive approach as they refused to take a backward step from the first whistle, even after Manchester City’s Phil Foden restored equality with a crisp left-foot half-volley seconds before the interval.

    Read Also: Haaland scores two as Man City thump Copenhagen

    City, inevitably, turned up the tempo after the break, Ilkay Gundogan missing a glorious chance to put them ahead, but Brentford were a constant threat on the break with Ederson twice having to save from the ever-dangerous Toney.

    And it was a fitting conclusion to that added period of 10 minutes, mainly for a head injury to Aymeric Laporte, when Brentford caught City on the break for Toney to sweep home Josh Dasilva’s cross – the striker almost completing a hat-trick seconds later only for Kevin de Bruyne to clear off the line.

    EPL: Nottingham ties with Brentford 2-2

    BBC

  • FG addressing barriers to female entrepreneurs – Ngige

    FG addressing barriers to female entrepreneurs – Ngige

    The Minister of Labour and Employment Dr Chris Ngige has said the Federal Government is working with social partners to address the barriers to women’s entrepreneurship development and formalisation.

    He said this during a national validation workshop on Promoting Gender Equality and Formalisation through Women’s Entrepreneurship Development (WED) organised by the International Labour Organisation. 

    The Minister, who was represented by a staff in the ministry, Kingsley Effiong, said the Federal Ministry of labour and employment was committed to ensuring gender-responsive policies, advocacies and efforts supported at women’s entrepreneurship development.

    Ngige said: “In order to promote the potential of women-owned enterprises, it became eminent that the WED framework conditions be assessed nationally to develop relevant and locally adapted key policy recommendations.

    “This will help in improving the environment for the promotion of women’s entrepreneurship.

    “The results of this assessment are aimed to provide a better informed, evidence-based platform for formulating recommendations to improve the environment for women entrepreneurs.”

    Read Also: Court will decide ASUU’s withheld salaries, says Ngige

    The ILO Director in Nigeria, Ms Vanessa Phala, disclosed that the framework conditions for Women Entrepreneurship Development (WED) was developed to meet the needs of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

    Phala said the overall objective of the framework assessment was to support key actors in the business ecosystem to adopt approaches and policies that respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs.

    The ILO director said that this as well included women who work in the informal economy.

    She said that the framework assessment looked at issues around six assessment conditions among which are gender-sensitive legal and regulatory systems that advance women’s economic empowerment.

    According to her, it also looks at policy leadership and coordination for the promotion of WED, access to gender-sensitive financial services, access to gender-sensitive business development support (BDS) services, among others.

    She said: “The WED assessment is a research tool that proposes six key framework conditions for women’s entrepreneurship development and a detailed methodology to collect and synthesise information into an actionable report.

    “The main objective of the WED assessment is to identify locally adapted and strategic recommendations to unleash the potential of women entrepreneurs.

    “The assessment methodology promotes a set of women’s entrepreneurship development framework conditions that are assessed nationally to develop relevant and locally adapted key policy recommendations for improving the environment for the promotion of women’s entrepreneurship.”

    Phala added that ILO would continue to support national stakeholders to identify key, locally adapted and strategic recommendations to unleash the potential of women’s entrepreneurship and women-led businesses to generate decent jobs at the country level. 

    Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, expressed the ministry’s readiness to strengthen its partnership programmes to alleviate the suffering of women, bridge gender disparity gaps, promote and advocate for advancement of women in entrepreneurship development.

    Tallen, represented by Miss Ejura Obaje, a staff of the ministry, said the ministry would continue to work with relevant stakeholders in promoting and protecting the rights of the women, children and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria.

    Secretary General, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Emmanuel Ugboaja, said the informal economy was largely responsible for the larger number of workers in the country, hence must be given attention.

    Ugboaja who was represented by Deputy Chairperson, National Women Commission of NLC, Mrs Deborah Yusufu, said workers in the informal sector were faced with various forms of barriers which adversely affect their businesses and in turn, hinder economic growth in the country.

    He added that women however make up the larger percentage of workers in the informal sector, saying that the assessment was necessary to uplift their fortune.

    Ngige deserves a national honour

    Fed Govt won’t tolerate strikes during transition period, Ngige warns unions

  • Bindow has no plan to leave APC, says group

    Bindow has no plan to leave APC, says group

    A group loyal to former Adamawa Governor Jibrilla Bindow has dismissed rumour he plans to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Bindow Support Group (BSG) said at a briefing in the state capital, Yola, that Bindow remains in the main opposition party in the State.

    Bindow, Adamawa Governor between 2015 and 2019 who went into the May 2022 governorship primary of the APC as a favourite, lost the primary to Senator Aishatu Binani who in turn has lost her APC candidacy following a court ruling last month.

    Our correspondent reports that the APC has been in internal crisis since the primary, culminating in Binani’s closest challenger in that primary, Nuhu Ribadu instituting the court case that gave the damning ruling of last month.

    Read Also: Binani beats Bindow, Ribadu, Namdas to pick Adamawa APC Gov ticket

    The APC in the state is thus increasingly associated with conflict, hence the rumour that Bindow had left the party, but the Bindow Support Group said Bindow has not moved into any other party.

    The Public Relations Officer of the BSG, Nuruddeen Kama, said: “There is this spreading rumour that our principal has defected to Labour Party, to APGA, to PDP, mention them. This is why we feel compiled to speak out and to say that Bindow remains a card carrying member of APC. This, certainly, is the truth.”

    Kema, who explained that the BSG has a sturdy presence and is rooted across the 21 local government areas of the State, added: “We are like-minded people and true loyalists of Distinguished Sen. Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow who decided to join forces with him and follow him bumper to bumper.”

    Anti-Buhari’s comments: I attended meeting as APC reconciliator, says ex-Gov Bindow

  • Lawan loses media aide Mohammed Isa

    Lawan loses media aide Mohammed Isa

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan has expressed sadness over the death of one of his media aide, Mohammed Isa.

    Isa was said to have died while receiving treatment for injuries sustained in a car accident, according to a statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Senate President, Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja.

    The statement reads in part: “With total submission to the will of God, we deeply regret to announce the death of the Special Assistant on Media to the Senate President, Mohammed Abdulkadir Isa.

    “Mohammed Isa died on Friday evening while undergoing treatment for injuries he sustained in a motor accident on Sunday along the Minna-Suleja road, in Niger State.

    “His remains will be buried this afternoon in Funtua, Katsina State in accordance with Islamic rites.

    “The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, expresses sadness over the tragic death of Isa.”

    Read Also: Onjeh congratulates Lawani on new appointment

    Lawan described Isa’s death as “shocking, heart-rending and a great loss.”

    He said Isa was “very dedicated to his duties, was never found wanting and was very professional in his journalistic calling.”

    Lawan condoled with his family, staff colleagues and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) over the loss.

    The Senate President also commiserated with the government and people of Katsina State over the incident.

    The Senate President prayed Allah to grant his loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, forgive his sins and grant him Aljannah Firdaus.

  • Umahi approves N15,000 Christmas bonus for Ebonyi civil servants

    Umahi approves N15,000 Christmas bonus for Ebonyi civil servants

    Ebonyi Governor David Umahi has directed that all civil servants in the State be paid their November and December salaries together before December 10, 2022.

    The Governor also directed that all civil servants should be paid a bonus salary of N15,000 each in addition to their two months salary paid together.

    The information was contained in a statement by the Media Aide to the governor, Cooks Oko.

    The statement quoted the Accountant General of the State, Emeka Nwankwo as having confirmed receiving the governor’s directive and putting plans in motion to meet the deadline.

    The Governor, according to the statement, noted that the gesture was to give Civil servants enough time and resources to plan ahead of the Christmas and New year celebrations.

    The statement said the directive is in keeping with the State Government’s social contract with the Civil Servants to ensure that they enjoy the holiday season despite the late arrival of FAAC allocations to the State in recent months.

    Read Also:

    It reads: “The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi Nweze has directed that Overdraft facilities should be obtained from banks and that the State and Local Government Areas must pay November and December Salaries together with the Christmas bonus of Fifteen Thousand Naira to all Civil Servants by 10th December 2022”. 

    “This is to ensure that our Civil Servants have enough time to plan their Yuletide celebrations while also enjoying the holiday season.”

    Oko noted that Umahi, in line with his avowed commitment to the welfare of workers, has always extended these gestures to Civil and Public servants in the State every year, right from the inception of his administration. 

    “These financial benefits are always complemented with other material gifts such as bags of rice,” he said

    The statement said it is expected that these benevolence from the Governor would further spur the worker to be more diligent and dedicated to their duties. 

    ReplyForward
  • Rescue efforts ongoing for lady who jumped into lagoon – LASEMA

    Rescue efforts ongoing for lady who jumped into lagoon – LASEMA

    Adetutu Adedokun, the DSS personnel who jumped into the lagoon in Lagos, is yet to be rescued, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), has said. 

    She jumped into the lagoon some days ago after alleged argument with her fiancee while in an Uber car on the third mainland bridge. 

    Read Also: How our quick response saved lives, others, says LASEMA boss

    Giving an update on the search efforts, to the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu,said: “Men of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, LASWA and officials of the Department of State Services are currently on the ground working together to search for the victim.”

    The Public Education Officer, Lagos State Fire Service, Amodu Shakiri, also stated the same. 

    He said: “We continued search and rescue operations today, but there is no progress for now. We are going to make an official statement as soon as we conclude our operations.”

  • Ogundipe bows out as UNILAG VC, hails industrial harmony

    Ogundipe bows out as UNILAG VC, hails industrial harmony

    Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe has bowed out of office following the expiration of his  five-year tenure.

    He assumed office in November 2017 as the twelfth substantive vice chancellor of the institution.

    Speaking at a briefing to mark the end of his tenure, Ogundipe noted that  the university enjoyed unprecedented industrial harmony despite the series of strikes that rocked the nation’s university system between 2017 when he assumed office and 2022.

    He said: “Despite the series of strikes that affected the  Nigeria university system between 2017 and now, at UNILAG we  never had any dispute with our internal unions. We  enjoyed unprecedented industrial harmony.”

    He said UNILAG had  recorded significant progress in all ramifications. 

    “Today, the University of Lagos has grown in leaps and bounds, management under my watch transcended the threshold we set for ourselves as excellence. Our results speak for us such that even in the eye of the storm, we kept our peace and so our focus did not shift. We pushed through and today, I can confidently say I am leaving UNILAG a happy man,” he said.

    He explained that in the last five years, the university improved in global rankings.

    His words:  “The University of Lagos never made the Times Higher Education World Universities ranking. In 2019, UNILAG made its first appearance and was within the 801–1000 range. By 2020, there was a quantum leap to the higher band of 601–800. We progressed to 501–600 in 2021 and this year, 2022, UNILAG did not only emerge first in Nigeria but also ascended to the 401–500 range in 2022, leaving behind some renowned universities even in the United Kingdom.

     The 401-500 band places us in the top 25% of Universities ranked. I know from this win that we are buoyed up, not relenting in hard work and dedication as the aim is to be ranked among the top 10 universities across the globe.”

    Read Also: Ogundipe bows out of office, says UNILAG enjoyed industrial harmony

    According to the outgone VC, under his watch, UNILAG staff attracted local and international research grants of N19 billion to strengthen the university’s  top-class research mission.

    “Our students during the period also won various national and international competitions, proving to the world that the conducive environment created in UNILAG supports them to reach their full potentials,” he added.

    On infrastructure, Ogundipe said the university experienced  massive turnaround in the last 5 years.

    Ogundipe solicited the cooperation, support and prayers of staff and students for his successor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, who  was named new VC last month.

  • Yoruba global unity summit will address insecurity – Taiwo

    Yoruba global unity summit will address insecurity – Taiwo

    The convener, Yoruba Global Unity Summit, Dr Victor Taiwo has said the dummit would address security challenges facing the nstion, especially the Southwest. 

    He noted that the summit billed for Kakanfo Inn, Ibadan would have major security stakeholders in attendance.

    Speaking with journalists in Ibadan at a briefing, Taiwo noted the summit would serve as platform towards providing holistic approach in addressing insecurity.

    He decried the lingering insecurity in the Southwest, saying there has not been ways to addres the issue.

    While commending Southwest Governors on their efforts in nipping insecurity in the bud, he called on Yoruba organisations in to embrace unity and attend the security summit for the best of the Yoruba race.

    Read Also: Yoruba elders restate support for Tinubu

    According to him: “The issue of discussion is what affects every single soul in Nigeria as it affects Yoruba land. So, I don’t think we need to plead with anybody with human skin to support this project with all his heart and brawn, the issue is that wave if insecurity is consuming the lives and property of the citizens and sojourners in the country.

    “Everybody is shouting crying and wailing on all available channels of information decrying that high wave of the insecurity menace but there has never been any holistic approach towards addressing the issue from any quarters in Yoruba land up till now, yes we thank the southwest Governors for taking a good step in that direction with the emplacement of Amotekun, but let the truth be said, all the Amotekun can do and which it has done is just a little.”

  • Otedola gifts DJ Cuppy £5m home for 30th birthday

    Otedola gifts DJ Cuppy £5m home for 30th birthday

    Businessman illionaire Femi Otedola has gifted his daughter Florence Otedola aka DJ Cuppy a home worth  £5 million for her 30th birthday.

    This is coming days after the billionaire reportedly spent N2 billion on a rented yacht to celebrate his 60th birthday.

    The popular disc Jockey, who celebrated her 30th birthday on Friday, made some wishes for the special occasion. 

    Read Also: I’m proud of myself at 30, says Cuppy

    She asked the richest man on Earth and new CEO of twitter Elon Musk to give her a one month free of the twitter blue tick. 

    In trending screenshots of a conversation between father and daughter, the older Otedola said: “I’ve instructed Andy at Barclays Bank to buy you £5,000,000. (Five million pounds) country home as your 30th Birthday present.

    “Can’t think of any other befitting present you deserve for this special birthday. You have continuously made Papa proud year by year and have been a blessing in my life.”