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Tag: Osinbajo

  • Osinbajo: technology ’ll transform judiciary

    Osinbajo: technology ’ll transform judiciary

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has urged the judiciary to make more use of technology in the administration of justice.

    According to him, the legal profession is being transformed for the better by technology.

    He spoke during the maiden edition of the “Words in Gold” awards, organised by LawPavilion and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) in Abuja.

    Osinbajo, who gave the keynote address, said legal research used to be tedious, but the adoption of technology has made it easier and time-saving. He praised LawPavilion for its innovations in electronic legal research.

    LawPavilion Managing Director, Ope Olugasa, unveiled the company’s newest software, LawPavilion Prime.

    He described it as Africa’s first Case Analytics software and the “ultimate breakthrough in our quest for making the task of legal research easier and less burdensome for the judiciary”.

    Those who got the awards include first indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), the late Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, represented by his grandson, Justice Adeniyi Ademola; and the first female CJN Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar.

    Justices who delivered judgments that resulted in legislative or legal reforms also got awards. They include the late Justice Vahe Bairamian, for his judgment on practice and procedure in Madukolu & Ors. vs. Nkemdilim (1962) LPELR–24023 (SC); and the late Justice Kayode Eso for his judgment on constitutional law in Military Governor of Lagos State v. Ojukwu (1986) LPELR-3186 (SC).

    Justice Uthman Mohammed (rtd) got an award for his erudite judgment in M.V Lupex v. Niger Overseas (2003) LPELR-3195 (SC) while the late Justice George Baptist Coker was celebrated for his notable judgment on criminal law in Njovens& Ors v. State (1973) LPELR-2042 (SC).

    Former CJN Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais (rtd), the late Justice Chukwunweike Idigbe, and the late Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa were recognised for their courage, literary writing style, depth and breadth of reasoning, forthrightness and thoroughness.

    NIALS Director-General, Prof ‘Deji Adekunle, said the award is a “remarkable endeavour that will continue to shed light on the invaluable contributions that have gone unnoticed and uncelebrated in the Nigerian Judicial system”.

    At the event were Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN), Kola Awodein (SAN), former CJN Justice Dahiru Musdapher and Minister of Communications Mr. Adebayo Shittu.

  • African leaders must address poverty, inequality- Osinbajo

    Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday challenged African leaders on the need to urgently address the problems of poverty and inequality in their countries.

    He spoke at a side event hosted by the President of Ghana, Mr. John Mahama on Africa and Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) at the ongoing African Union meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.

    Leading the Nigerian delegation to the continent-wide meeting, Osinbajo told the breakfast event attended by a number of presidents and several heads of delegations to the AU meeting that the whole idea of the SDGs is about addressing inequality and poverty.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, the Vice President said something has to be done urgently concerning the problems.

    In this regard, he cited the example of the N500 billion social investment programme of the Muhammadu Buhari presidency.

    He said: “In Nigeria, in the current budget cycle we have the largest social protection programme in the history of the country. It’s a N500B programme-(worth over $2.5B as at the time budget was signed.)

    “Basically we are looking at lifting many out of poverty, of course many are farmiliar with the size of the Nigerian state and we have close to hundred and ten million people who are poor and about two-tenth are in extreme poverty.

    “So it is a very huge problem and part of what we are trying to do is to look at how not just to empower people but also to ensure that what they are given is sustainable.

    “For the women, we are doing a programme, micro-credit programme for a million market women and artisans.

    “All would be given facilities, training facilities as well to enable them to be able to do some work for themselves and to continue to be able to live.

    “And we think that giving this micro-credit loan to women is to make sure that they handle money better and do a much better work on the whole.

    “So l think that with what we ve’ done already, we have seen that they are certainly going to work,” he added.

    On the Conditional Cash Transfer, he said: “Again we are handing these to women. We are giving (this to) another million, to the poorest of the poor.

    “In determining who the poorest is, we had problems on that, but we have very good assistance from the World Bank and the Bill Gates Foundation. They helped in trying to map the really poor.

    “We had to get inside the communities looking for the poorest of the poor with the small sum of money which is about N5000 (which is roughly about $25 dollars or there about) which is a sum of money that would be given to the poorest every month, which may enable them feed themselves and find something that they may do and on the condition that they send their children to school and participate in immunisation.

    “So we are really excited about some of the works we are trying to do around the SDGs and we are hopeful that we’ll be able to get the Social Protection Programme working.” He said

    According to him, the Nigerian government recently appointed a Senior Special Assistant on SDGs with a full SDG Implementation office, which is fully equipped.

    “And we hope to be able to carry out all of the proposals we made and effect them within the shortest possible time,” he said.

    The main summit meeting of the AU holds on Sunday, July 17, when over 30 African leaders at the level of presidents, vice presidents, and prime ministers are expected, besides foreign minister-level representations.

    Other events on Saturday included a close-door retreat of the AU leaders discussing the financing options for the union going forward.

  • Happy birthday my beautiful wife- VP

    Happy birthday my beautiful wife- VP

    Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Friday congratulated his wife on her birthday.
    Through his twitter handle ‏@ProfOsinbajo, the Vice President wrote ” At my side. My support. My wings. Happy birthday to my beautiful wife, Oludolapo.”

  • Osinbajo seeks ‘deeper understanding’ of restructuring debate

    Osinbajo seeks ‘deeper understanding’ of restructuring debate

    … Backs agitation for state police

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday called for deeper understanding of the current restructuring debate in the country.

    He also threw his weight behind the idea of state police in the country.

    A statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said there was need for clarification following media reports that the vice president was opposed to restructuring.

    According to the statement, there have been different interpretations, meanings and purposes attached to the restructuring debate.

    The statement said Osinbajo wholly supports the idea of having state police across the country as articulated in the All Progress Congress (APC)’s Roadmap to a New Nigeria.

    It reads: “it was important Nigerians understand that the issue of restructuring should run deeper than some of the superficial and surface value focus.

    “Some of the issues involved include notions or views calling for a return to regionalism, fiscal federalism, devolution of power and state police, among others.

    “Different interests are taking different approaches and at times this confuses the debate and reduces it to mere political rhetorics.

    “Restructuring debate should do deeper than what we see on newspaper headlines and we need to understand all the angles to it. What do people mean when we talk about restructuring? Some focus on regionalism, some focus on the fiscal part, allocation of more resources, devolution of power and state police. It is important we understand which part we are talking about at any given time.”

    “In recent times, ‎we do not have much resources that we used to have from oil and taxes and what we need to get the states to be more vibrant is to diversify the economy‎.”

    Noting that the constitution recognises a Federal System of government, the statement said the federal government is truly committed to true federalism.

    It said the federal government is giving much attention to fighting corruption and ensuring effective governance at all levels as it is far more important than some of the political rhetorics and superficial arguments going on around restructuring.

    On the President’s decision to put the 2014 Confab report in the archives, the statement said with or without any Confab resolution, the Buhari-led government is more concerned with ‎the overall well-being of the people, delivering results and bringing governance closer to Nigerians.

  • Osinbajo urges Nigerians on technology

    Osinbajo urges Nigerians on technology

    ‘Nigeria needs diversification, not restructuring’

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the weekend urged Nigerians to embrace technology as a vital key to development.

    He was delivering the second Foundation Lecture of the Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State: The Future is Here Earlier Than We Thought.

    The Vice President noted that understanding the way technology works and thinking out of the box is the way to go.

    He said greatness and development can only be achieved through critical thinking and innovative ideas.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said: “Whatever you choose to do, be technology savvy and understand its best uses in your chosen discipline.”

    Osinbajo listed major and global advancements attained through technology and innovative ideas.

    Noting that people can no longer be, for instance, an economist, accountant, graduate of International Relations, Mass Communication or Performing Arts, he said they must “create a network of peers where participants interact and share in the value creation. Multi-skilling is crucial today’’.

    “You must learn to be a versatile operator not a mono-skilled graduate…everyone has a right to be rich, age is not a barrier.”

    He noted that the old way of doing things are gone with the advances of technology.

    Recognising the central role innovation and technology play in the national economic growth plan, he said the Federal Government provided extensively for technology and innovation in the budget.

    “This year, we are establishing technology hubs across the country. Two super hubs in Abuja and  Lagos and six regional hubs in the six geopolitical zones. In partnership with several technology companies, the hubs will be fully resourced with infrastructure and capacity building,”he said.

    He said the Federal Government will also train a pool of 100,000 software developers, hardware service professionals, animators, graphic artists, building services professionals, artisans and others.

    The government, he said, further launched a special presidential initiative on technology and start-ups and that 50 of the most innovative technology start-ups would soon be invited to the Presidential Villa to meet with major technology and innovation companies as well as to collaborate with the Federal Government.

    During the question-and-answer session, Osinbajo said: ”We are not earning enough from oil and taxes anymore, the nation is blessed, every state can feed itself and also export if we engage in agriculture,”

    On restructuring, he said calling for restructuring of the country simply because the Federal Government controls a bigger portion of resources may not be helpful or make a difference.

    He said: “Even if states are given half of the resources of the Federal Government, the situation will not change, the only change is to diversify the economy.”

    While in Ilara-Mokin, the Vice President visited Oba A. A. Adefehinti, the Alara of Ilara-Mokin.

    He inaugurated a Divisional Police Station in the town.

     

  • Agriculture, way forward for Nigerian economy – Osinbajo

    Agriculture, way forward for Nigerian economy – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday said Agriculture is an integral part of the country’s plan for sustainable economic growth and development.

    He made the remark during a meeting with a group of Nigerian and Mexican agro-business interests at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, who led a Mexican agro-business concern, the San Carlos Group and their Nigerian partner, Wells Farm, from Edo State, to Aso Rock.

    The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Segun Awolowo (Jnr), was also at the meeting.

    In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said: “President Buhari has said it repeatedly that agriculture and solid minerals, especially agriculture is our economic way out. This is the President’s vision, and our job-the rest of us- is to look for ways to get that dream actualized.”

    Buhari, he said, is ready to support the agricultural plans in any way necessary.

    He assured that the federal government will ensure conducive customs and immigration policies including tariffs in order to attain the vision.

    Osinbajo said that was the reason the President set-up the Presidential Council on the Ease of Doing Business to attract local and foreign investors.

    “There is no doubt in which direction we should go. Agriculture is in the forefront and we do realise the urgency of the moment and the importance of getting things done quickly,” he added.

  • Osinbajo to lead Nigeria’s delegation to AU summit

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, on Monday said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 27th Ordinary Session of the African Union starting on July 18 in Kigali, Rwanda.

    He said the occasion would afford Nigeria the opportunity to showcase the successes recorded by the current administration.

    The minister said the summit would also provide opportunity for critical appraisal of the 20 billion dollar Nigeria-Algeria trans-Saharan gas pipeline project under the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that when completed, the trans-saharan project would transport about 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas from Warri through Niger Republic to Algeria.

    The pipeline would be operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Sonatrach of Algeria.

    Both parties will hold 90 per cent equity shares of the project, while the National Oil Company of Niger Republic will hold 10 per cent equity.

     

  • Osinbajo: Nigeria needs diversification not restructuring

    Osinbajo: Nigeria needs diversification not restructuring

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said at the weekend that Nigeria needs diversification of the economy and not restructuring because the Federal Government controls the bulk of the resources.

    Osinabjo attended the second Foundation Lecture of the Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin in Ondo State, and delivered a lecture entitled: “The Future is Here Earlier Than We Thought.”

    He urged Nigerians to embrace technology as a vital key to development.

    During the question-and-answer session, Osinbajo said: “We are not earning enough from oil and taxes anymore, the nation is blessed, every state can feed itself and also export if we engage in agriculture.”

    On restructuring, he described calling for restructuring of the country simply because the federal government controls a bigger portion of the resources, may not be helpful or make a difference.

    He said: “Even if states are given half of the resources of the federal government, the situation will not change; the only change is to diversify the economy.”

    In his lecture, he said understanding the way technology works and thinking out of the box is the way to go in the world of today.

    He stressed that the path to greatness and development is in critical thinking and coming up with innovative ideas.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, quoted Osinbajo as saying: “Whatever you choose to do, be technology savvy and understand its best uses in your chosen discipline.”

    Osinbajo also listed major and global advancements attained through technology and innovative ideas including how some Nigerians have taken due advantage of it.

    He noted that people can no longer just be, for instance, an economist, an accountant, a graduate of international relations, Mass Communication or Performing Arts, but “Create a network of peers where participants interact and share in the value creation. Multi-skilling is crucial today.

    “You must learn to be a versatile operator not a mono-skilled graduate…everyone has a right to be rich, age is not a barrier.”

    He pointed out that the old way of doing things are gone with the advances of technology.

    Recognizing the central role innovation and technology play for national economic growth plan, he said, that the federal government provided extensively for technology and innovation in the current budget.

    “This year we are establishing technology hubs across the country. Two super hubs in Abuja and  Lagos and six regional hubs in the six geopolitical zones. In partnership with several technology companies the hubs will be fully resourced with infrastructure and capacity building,” he said.

    He added that the federal government will also train a pool of 100,000 software developers, hardware service professionals, animators, graphic artists, building services professionals, artisans and others.

    The government, he said, has further launched a special presidential initiative on technology and start-ups and that 50 of the most innovative technology start-ups would soon be invited to the Presidential Villa to meet with major technology and innovation companies as well as to collaborate with the federal government.

    While in Ilara-Mokin, the Vice President visited Oba A. A. Adefehinti, the Alara of Ilara-Mokin.

    He also inaugurated a Divisional Police Station in the town.

  • Osinbajo’s wife visits murdered preacher’s family

    The Wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo on Sunday visited the family of the late Assistant Pastor of the Divine Touch Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Abuja, Mrs Eunice Elisha.

    The forty-two-year-old mother of seven was murdered while evangelising on Saturday morning.

    She was said to have been butchered to death by assailants while preaching around Gbazango-West area of Kubwa in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Mrs Osinbajo, who visited the bereaved family around 1:30 pm., was received by the deceased’s husband, Pastor Olawale Elisha; children and a host of church members and loved ones.

    In her condolence message, Mrs Osinbajo wrote: “May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”

  • Why Nigeria needs Buhari, by Osinbajo

    Why Nigeria needs Buhari, by Osinbajo

    Nigeria needs an honest and straightforward man like President Muhammadu Buhari to move the nation forward at a time like this, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has stated.

    He spoke last week when the General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Church, Pastor Williams Kumuyi, paid him a courtesy visit ahead of his crusade at the National Stadium, Abuja.

    The vice president stressed that Buhari is a President who will not cut deals but is only interested in moving the forward.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, LaoluAkande, Osinbajo said: “We are very happy that we have a President who is honest, a President who is straight forward, a President who is operating from the genuineness of his heart, this is the kind of leader that we need now.”

    He also said that he had worked together very well with the President.

    Acknowledging the current economic situation in the country, the Vice President said that the current administration did not create the problems.

    He said: “The reason (we are here at this time,) is known to the Lord Himself. Every day I wake up knowing there is a cause for being here and it is to move the country forward.”

    Osinbajo told Pastor William Kumuyi that the clean-up of Ogoni and the Niger Delta was very important.

    He said: “The situation is very bad. I have been in the area a few times, but we need peace in the area to be able to carry on with the clean-up exercise.”

    On the power sector, he noted that by February this year, the country was doing 5000MW of electricity for the first time in history.

    He lamented militants’ attacks on the pipelines have made things bad for electricity generation and cut the oil revenues of the nation.

    He was clear that God had a purpose for choosing the President and himself to serve at this time, saying “this is the doing of the Lord.”

    Kumuyi thanked God for the progress made so far by the administration.

    He said: “God will fulfill the purpose for which He brought you at a time like this.”