The Nation Newspaper

Category: Foreign

  • Braimah is finalist for Study UK alumni awards 2025

    Braimah is finalist for Study UK alumni awards 2025

    Communications strategist, Ehi Braimah, has been named a finalist for the StudyUK Alumni Awards 2025.The award is a prestigious international recognition by the British Council.

     Now in its 11th edition,  the award honours outstanding UK university alumni worldwide.

    Braimah, the Chairman/CEO of Neo Media & Marketing, a PR and marketing management company, and Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Naija Times and Lagos Post, has been nominated in the Culture and Creativity Award category.

    An alumnus of the University of Roehampton, London, Braimah has demonstrated exceptional contributions to the media and communications industry.

    The StudyUK Alumni Awards celebrate professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who have strengthened ties between the UK and Nigeria across four categories: Business and Innovation, Culture and Creativity, Science and Sustainability, and Social Action.

    Read Also: Accolades as Nigerian technocrat bids farewell to 25 years of UNDP career

    Nigeria is among the several countries hosting the awards this year, with the event set to take place in Abuja on  February 15..

    This recognition follows Braimah’s recent Chancellor’s Alumni Award from the University of Roehampton, London.

    He was among three Nigerians and 20 recipients globally honoured for Alumni Innovation and Inspiration,  cementing his reputation as a top PR expert and marketing strategist.

    After completing his MBA in 2017 at the University of Roehampton in London, Braimah has consistently displayed excellence, leadership, and innovation in his professional career, making significant contributions to the media industry.

  • EU launches solar project to power 25 healthcare facilities in Plateau

    EU launches solar project to power 25 healthcare facilities in Plateau

    The European Union (EU) has launched the Solar for Health Projet support a minimum of 25 healthcare facilities in Plateau State and improve energy access and enhance overall healthcare services.

    The organisation said the project is targeted at ensuring that healthcare facilities in Plateau State have unhindered access to reliable electricity for medical equipment, providing better healthcare services for local communities.

    The project, which is funded by the EU, in partnership with the Plateau State government, underscores the importance of clean energy in improving the quality of life, particularly in rural healthcare settings.

    The EU has committed 1.7 million euros for overall project implementation by NTU International and 8.7 million euros for infrastructure managed by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

    Speaking during the launch of the Solar for Health project, Head of Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Inga Stefanowicz, highlighted the EU’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s energy sector through initiatives like Solar for Health.

    She stated that the project marked a significant step in the partnership between the EU and Plateau state, aiming to ensure reliable and clean energy in healthcare facilities.

    The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, welcomed the initiative, stressing the critical role energy plays in providing quality healthcare.

    Mutfwang noted that energy access was crucial for powering life-saving equipment and ensuring effective medical care.

    “Without energy, our healthcare services are limited. This project is a game changer for Plateau State, and we are committed to its success,” the governor said.

    In addition to the launch, Governor Mutfwang inaugurated the Plateau State Solar for Health Project Steering Committee.

    Read Also: 300,000 euro grant to boost Nigeria, Europe trade ties

    The committee, tasked with overseeing the implementation of the project, includes representatives from the EU, GIZ, NTU International, and the Plateau State Government.

    Also, the committee will be chaired by the Managing Director, Plateau State Energy Corporation, Pongzing Gambe, with the Commissioner for Health, Cletus Shurkuk, serving as co-chair.

    Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Samuel Jatau, who was appointed as the Chairman of the state steering committee thanked the governor for the honor to serve and lead the committee and pledged that him and all members of the team will deliver to ensure the successful implementation of the project in the state.

    The Solar for Health project is part of the broader EU Global Gateway initiative, which aims to promote investment in smart, sustainable infrastructure across the world, including in the areas of energy, health, and education.

  • Chad announces full pull out of French troops

    Chad announces full pull out of French troops

    Chad yesterday announced a full withdrawal of French troops from the Central African country.

    “The three bases of French elements in Chad have all been handed over to the Chadian National Army.

    “The very last one has just been handed over today.

    “The handover of the Sergent Adji Kossei Base in N’djamena definitively closes the presence of French forces in Chad,’’ Chadian Army spokesman, Chanane Issakha Acheikh, said in a statement.

    Read Also: Nigerian women key to Africa’s projected $29tn economy by 2050 – Shettima

    In November 2024, Chad announced the end of the security and defence cooperation agreement with France.

    On Dec. 10, same year, some French troops began to leave Chad.

    On Dec. 31, 2024, Chadian President, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, announced the definitive withdrawal of French troops from the country by Friday.

  • ECOWAS Court to launch enhanced electronic case management system

    ECOWAS Court to launch enhanced electronic case management system

    As part of the efforts to  transit to a fully digital case management platform, the ECOWAS Court of Justice has concluded arrangements to launch its enhanced Electronic Case Management System (ECMS).

    Already, the court has commenced a comprehensive Quality Assurance Workshop and Group Training for Judges and Staff, aimed at ensuring system readiness and user proficiency, a statement yesterday by the court said.

    These activities, the statement further said,  will culminate in a high-profile Go-Live Ceremony, marking the court’s transition to a fully digital case management platform.

    The statement revealed that a hands-on Quality Assurance Workshop scheduled for February 2-5, 2025 will bring together key stakeholders, including the Project Team, IT Unit, Super Users, and Management, to  validate the ECMS’s functionality and usability. The workshop will address potential gaps in system design, provide training on advanced features, and establish a framework for ongoing feedback and improvement.

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    This critical phase will significantly enhance the reliability and performance of the ECMS. It will facilitate the identification and resolution of any technical or procedural challenges, bolstering user confidence through comprehensive testing and validation. By ensuring alignment with the Court’s procedural and operational standards, this phase establishes a robust foundation for a smooth transition to the new system, the statement said.

    It added that, following the Quality Assurance Workshop, the focus shifts to equipping the Court’s judges and staff with the skills needed to effectively utilize the ECMS from February 9–13, 2025. This training programme will provide participants with practical knowledge on navigating the system for case filing, tracking, and management.

    It said the key objectives are to increase proficiency in using the ECMS for judicial and administrative tasks, enhance collaboration and efficiency in case resolution processes and Build confidence among users by showcasing the system’s benefits and usability.

  • Tinubu mourns victims of Washington D.C. air accident

    Tinubu mourns victims of Washington D.C. air accident

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sadness over the tragic air accident that occurred on Wednesday evening in the Potomac area of Washington, D.C.

    Reports said a military helicopter crashed into a commercial jet mid-air close to the U.S. seat of power on Wednesday night, leaving more than 60 persons dead.

    However, in a posted on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, President Tinubu extended Nigeria’s condolences to the families of the victims, the people of the United States and those affected by the incident. 

    “I am deeply saddened by the tragic incident in Washington, D.C. On behalf of Nigeria, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the people of the United States, and all affected by this profound loss”, President Tinubu wrote.

    Read Also: iSI commits to mentoring, funding young Nigerians seeking to study abroad 

    The President also praised the bravery and dedication of first responders and emergency teams who worked tirelessly under challenging conditions to address the aftermath of the accident.

    “I commend the courageous efforts of first responders and emergency teams for their selfless work in harsh conditions,” he stated. 

    Reaffirming Nigeria’s solidarity with the United States, President Tinubu emphasised the shared grief and hope for a brighter future.

    “Nigeria stands in solidarity with the United States Government and its People, united in grief and hopeful for a new day,” he said. 

    The air accident, which has sent shockwaves across the United States, has drawn global attention and condolences from world leaders.

  • 18 bodies recovered

    18 bodies recovered

    But,18 bodies and no survivors have been recovered so far from the site of the aircraft collision, CBS News reported on Thursday, citing a police official.

    The military helicopter that was reportedly operated by the U.S. Army collided with a passenger jet approaching to land at Ronald Reagan International Airport in Washington, D.C.

    Both aircraft were believed to have crashed into the Potomac River near the airport.

    Read Also: Nigerian women key to Africa’s projected $29tn economy by 2050 – Shettima

    A large number of rescuers are currently on the scene searching for survivors.

    Later, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that a PSA Airlines jet collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to the airport.

  • Trump: collision could have been prevented

    Trump: collision could have been prevented

    The collision of the plane and an army helicopter could have been prevented, U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday.

    “The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time.

    Read Also: Breaking the Silence: Addressing the Stigma Surrounding Hormonal Imbalance in Nigeria

    “It is a clear night; the lights on the plane were blazing, why the helicopter didn’t go up or down, or turn.

    “Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane? This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented.

    “NOT GOOD!!!’’ Trump wrote on Truth Social.

  • We will not give in to advancing M23 rebels, says Congo president

    We will not give in to advancing M23 rebels, says Congo president

    Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has said he would not concede defeat to the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels who have seized control of most of the major city of Goma in eastern Congo.

    Tshisekedi called on the population in the east of the resource-rich country to resist the fighters as they attempt to take more territory.

    “The defence of the homeland is sacred,” he said in a televised address to the nation late Wednesday, speaking for the first time since the rebel victory.

    “The Democratic Republic of Congo will not give in,” he said.

    The capture of the provincial capital Goma by fighters from the M23 militia was an “insult to (Congo’s) history,” he continued.

    The president vowed a vigorous response to drive the M23 out of Goma and called on young Congolese to join the army.

    He also promised that his government in Kinshasa was devising an emergency humanitarian response for the displaced residents.

    Read Also: ‘Underage mothers, diseases, delayed healthcare access contributing to maternal mortality in Nigeria’

    Amidst the intense fighting, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot travelled to the country for talks.

    The current situation is unacceptable and must end, the Foreign Ministry in Paris said, adding that the M23 must withdraw immediately, and Rwandan forces should leave the country.

    The ministry said Barrot intends to advance this demand during a visit to Rwanda.

    Demonstrators in the Congolese capital Kinshasa attacked the French embassy on Tuesday.

    Similar violent protests occurred in front of Western embassies in the capital in February and August 2024.

    The demonstrators accuse Western governments of failing to use their influence on Rwanda to curb the rebel attacks in eastern Congo.

    Dozens of militias are fighting for control of resource-rich areas in the east of the country where valuable metals such as coltan, gold, nickel, cobalt and copper are mined.

  • Father in Pakistan kills U.S.-born teenage daughter over TikTok videos

    Father in Pakistan kills U.S.-born teenage daughter over TikTok videos

    A father in Pakistan killed his teenage daughter after she uploaded what he considered to be inappropriate videos on the social media app TikTok, police said on Thursday.

    The man, said to be in his 50s, recently brought his family back from the U.S. to settle in the South-Western Pakistani city of Quetta, local police chief, Babar Baloch, said.

    The father, now in custody, confessed to having shot his daughter earlier this week after she refused to be dressing more modestly and stop uploading what the family considered to be “indecent” videos on TikTok, Baloch said.

    Police are treating the incident as a case of so-called honour killing.

    Around 1,000 women are killed in Pakistan by close relatives, fathers, brothers and sons on the pretext of saving family honour, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).

    The killers in most cases escape punishment because of a controversial Islamic clause in laws that allows relatives of the victim to pardon the perpetrator, rights body Amnesty International said.

    Pakistan approved a law in 2016 to partially do away with the controversial clause, but that has not proved enough to stop the practice, according to the HRCP.

    (dpa/NAN)

  • ECOWAS to determine modalities for engagement with Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger

    ECOWAS to determine modalities for engagement with Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger

    The authority of the Head of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will determine the bloc’s modalities of engagement with Burkina Faso, Mali and the Republic of Niger.

    The three military-led West African nations have officially withdrawn from ECOWAS.

    “The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger from ECOWAS has become effective today, 29th January 2025,” the President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, said at a media briefing yesterday.

    He said the next step would be the exit negotiations, which would involve ECOWAS and the three countries.

    For the meantime, ECOWAS said that passports and identity cards bearing its logo will remain valid for travel within the region for citizens from the three countries.

    He also said trade and economic activities will also proceed under the existing ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, allowing goods and services from the three countries to move freely.

    Read Also: Tinubu calls for multi-pronged approach to security in Lake Chad region

    He explained that “these arrangements will be in place until the full determination of the modalities of our future arrangements with the three countries by the ECOWAS authority of heads of state and government.

    “On January 29, 2025, the three AES states, Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger, formally ceased-to-be members of the Economic Community of the West African states.

    “This followed the notification the commission received from the three countries in January 2024 regarding their position and intention to withdraw from the community.

    “Article 91 of the revised Treaty of ECOWAS provides that when a member country intends to leave the community, they should give a one-year notice, and to give that one year, they have all the permission to withdraw their notification.

    “The notifications of the three countries that were communicated in January 2024 were not or have not been withdrawn.

    “As a result, the authority acknowledged during its summit on December 15, 2024, that the three countries will cease to be members of ECOWAS from today, the 29th of January 2025.

    “On the 13th of January 2025, I visited all the three countries, to communicate the position of the authority with respect to their notification.”

    He said the commission is prepared to commence the modalities for their exit from the bloc and future engagement.

    “We, as I have said, are putting in place structures that will allow for discussions,” he added.