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Tag: Prof. Yemi Osinbajo

  • Airtel, Osinbajo, Zuckerberg hail Aso Villa demo day winners

    Airtel, Osinbajo, Zuckerberg hail Aso Villa demo day winners

    Telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria; Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, have commended all the participants of the Aso Villa Demo Day, a presidential initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and innovation through the use of new and emerging technologies.

    Airtel, one of the major sponsors of the initiative, endowed and presented cash prizes to the top three participants.

    Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya congratulated the winners and reaffirmed Airtel’s commitment to pioneering innovation in the telecoms industry as well as seeking credible platforms to support the Nigerian government and the country’s youth.

    Speaking at the event, the Vice President Vice President, Osinbajo congratulated all the participants, saying they are all winners.

    While lauding the country’s youth for their innovation, creativity, drive and entrepreneurial spirit, the Vice President said there is so much hope in what the young generation can do.

    He also hinted that the Federal Government is currently exploring ways to cooperate with Facebook in the next few months.

    Zuckerberg, in his submission, said it is inspiring to see what young Nigerians have done in terms of app development and use of technology.

    He said his trip to Nigeria has blown him away in terms of the talents he sees across the country. He noted that Nigerian youth will not just shape the country but will shape the whole world.

    Aso Villa Demo Day is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, job creation and economic growth through the use of new and emerging technologies. An initiative of the Presidency, the maiden edition celebrated some of the best Nigerians in technology innovation and creativity and also featured inspiring talks from thought leaders and experts from different economic sectors in Nigeria.

    The colourful prize presentation ceremony, which held at the Aso Villa on Friday, was attended by Ogunsanya, Prof. Osinbajo, Zuckerberg, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed; the minister of Communication, Barrister Adebayo Shittu and Chief Executives drawn from different sectors across corporate Nigeria.

  • Nigeria seeks review of export tariff to China

    Nigeria seeks review of export tariff to China

    The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo yesterday urged Chinese to consider reviewing downwards its tariffs for Nigeria’s products exported to China. He said this is to promote mutual economic interests of both countries as it’s being done to China’s neighbours.

    He spoke at the State House during a courtesy visit by a Chinese delegation led by the Vice Minister of Commerce, Mr. Qiam Keming.

    He said: “This is why your offer of agricultural modernisation plan are very important to us and we will follow them up as quickly as possible.

    “Our government is investing a great deal in agriculture, not only for increasing job opportunities for our people, but also in feeding our people and for exports.”

    The Prof Osinbajo said Nigeria and China are building a strong and lasting relationship.

    In a statement endorsed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, the Vice President also lauded the existing relations between the two countries.

    He said: “I think it’s fair to say the foundation for a very strong and lasting relationship between Nigeria and China has been built by both our President, President Muhammadu Buhari and President Xi Jinping of China.

    “President Buhari considers our relationship with China a priority and I am sure in your discussions with the Minister of Budget & National Planning, he would have told you the importance the President attaches to our relationship,” he said

    He said the relationship between the two countries was being further enhanced by President  Buhari through the resuscitation of the Nigeria-China Economic and Technical Joint Commission.

    Osinbajo commended the fruitful deliberations between the two countries on the platform of the Nigeria-China Joint Cooperation Commission as he was briefed at the meeting attended by four  ministers including Budget & National Planning; Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, Agriculture & Rural Development; Chief Audu Ogbeh, Information & Culture; Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Minister of State for Budget & Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed.

    He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the joint commission’s meeting in Nigeria, stating that “the various subjects discussed are those we consider important especially because they are so important for the economic advancement of our country.”

    Commending China for its readiness to partner with Nigeria in establishing industrial parks/free trade zones, the development of critical infrastructure, he sought China’s support for the Buhari administration’s economic diversification policy.

    Speaking earlier, China’s Vice Minister of Commerce and leader of the Chinese delegation, Mr. Qiam Keming told the Vice President that the objective of the visit to Nigeria is to implement the outcome of the last meetings between the Presidents of Nigeria and China and to enhance existing cordial friendship and bilateral trade relations between the two countries.

    While lauding President Buhari who has met with his Chinese counterpart three times already including at a state visit to China, Keming stressed the importance of strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries, stating that China was ready to partner with Nigeria in agriculture modernisation, infrastructure development, industrialisation and the diversification of Nigeria’s economy.

  • Osinbajo urges business practitioners to embrace arbitration

    Osinbajo urges business practitioners to embrace arbitration

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has urged business practitioners to embrace commercial arbitration for the desired speed in dispute resolution to attract international investors.

    Osinbajo made the plea in a message to the opening of the First International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Regional Conference on Monday in Lagos.

    The vice president, who was represented by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Mr Abubakar Malami, said that dispute resolution mechanism was a factor in all investments’ decisions.

    He said that dispute resolution constituted a significant determinant of a country’s ranking in doing business, adding that disputes were common in business environment.

    “Every prudent society must design and constantly draw the processes through which disputes could be resolved in an amicable manner.

    “In the world of today, commercial arbitration is now recognised as a preferred method of solving several commercial disputes.

    “Arbitration is now seen as not only possessing the desired speed but also aggregating competency and often times, relationship is tied to this process,“ Osinbajo said.

    He, however, urged conference participants to take time in addressing critical issues which would expand legal arbitration as a desired tool for dispute resolution in Nigeria.

    Also speaking, the President, of ICC in Paris, Mr Alexis Mourre, commended Nigeria for hosting the first Africa Regional Arbitration Conference.

    Mourre said that with more engagements and interactions on arbitration, commercial practitioners would recognise the arbitration; just like common law and civil laws.

    He said that ICC was one of the institutions which adopted arbitration, adding that 70 per cent of world arbitration came from ICC.

    Mourre said that more people were needed in Africa to adopt arbitration.

    “Arbitration is booming in Africa. No future of arbitration without African arbitration. Yet it is still difficult to find good arbitrators in Africa.

    “We hope that at the end of the conference, we will be seeing more arbitrators in Africa,“ the News Agency of Nigeria quotes Mourre as saying.

    The Chairman, Planning Committee, Nigeria ICC, Mrs Dorothy Ufot, said that the theme of the three-day event, scheduled to hold from June 19 to June 21, is “Arbitration and Africa: Prospects and Challenges’’.

    She said that the planning committee came up with the idea as a result of Africa being the next major destination for Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) by the international community.

    Ufot urged the international community to support Africa’s efforts to promote economic growth and investments.

    She said that the interest of investors across the continent was so numerous that oil mining companies were looking forward to developing natural resources.

    “The investors are also interested in infrastructure, technology, agri-business, consumer goods and manufacturing companies that would create sustained growth and create jobs and improved livelihood.

    “There is no how commercial disputes will not arise during the processes and the conference aims at setting background for their resolution,’’ Ufot said.

    According to her, ICC Nigeria is an affiliate of ICC Headquarters in Paris.
    She said that ICC in Paris had ICC International Court of Arbitration as one of its operational arms.

    Ufot recalled that ICC was established in 1919 in Paris, which was one of the largest business organisations in the world with over six million companies and chambers of commerce and business associates in more than 130 countries including Nigeria.

    She said that the conference had been taken all over the world, adding that Nigeria was grateful to host the First ICC Regional Conference.

    Ufot also commended the president of ICC International for ensuring that the conference holds in Nigeria.

    “All countries in Africa are busy trying to attract foreign investments. You will agree with me that without international arbitration, there cannot be foreign investors.

    “In any jurisdiction, arbitration is one of the viable components of attracting foreign investors,’’ she said.

    Ufot, however, commended organisations that supported the Nigeria ICC Conference such as Global Network, Dangote Company, NBA, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Ports Authority, among others.

     

  • Why FG didn’t name looters – Osinbajo

    Why FG didn’t name looters – Osinbajo

    Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo on Monday said that releasing the names of persons from whom the Federal Government has recovered looted funds and assets may jeopardize ongoing investigations.

    The government at the weekend released a list of sums of monies and assets already recovered in the last one year without the names of individuals involved.

    Speaking during a meeting with a delegation of the European Union led by the EU Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. Michel Arrion, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Osinbajo said that not releasing the names is the best way to go.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said: “We have released the list of recovered loot, we know people are asking for the names, but releasing the names may jeopardize ongoing investigations,”

    He also explained that the federal government is engaging leaders and people of the Niger Delta regarding the spate of attacks on oil installations in the area, an act he stated amounts to economic sabotage.

    Besides reaching out to the people in the area, he said that the government is also beefing up security in the area.

    According to him, the focus of the Buhari presidency “is to ensure that the man on the street in the Niger Delta receives the benefit from all that is available there.”

    The Vice President also called on the leaders in the region to be accountable to the people.

    Prof. Osinbajo added that government is working round the clock to minimize the losses arising from the attacks.

    “We are talking, we are ensuring that we minimize losses and we are stepping up security. We are also engaging the international oil companies, IOCs, to see what options exists,” he said

    The Vice President restated government’s commitment to drive its diversification policy and encouraged investors from European countries to take advantage of the situation especially in the agro-allied/processing industry.

    He restated the determination of the administration to ensure that the ease of doing business ranking in Nigeria goes up by at least 20 steps in the World Bank rating.

    To this end, he said the President has approved the composition of a Presidential Commission on the matter to be chaired by himself, and Industry, Trade & Investment Minister, Dr. Okey Enelamah as Vice Chairman.

    “In the next few months, we should be seeing some changes,” he promised.

    Speaking earlier, Ambassador Arrion said he came to hold consultations with the Vice President as a follow-up on President Buhari’s meeting with EU leaders during his visit to the continent.

    He said: “Nigeria has a huge market we can invest in. It is also a place we can export from.”

    Both the Vice President and the European Union Envoy also discussed the EU trade deal with ECOWAS, the Economic Partnership Agreement, EPA, which was also one of the main issues tabled at the meeting of West African leaders at the weekend in Dakar.

  • FG expresses commitments to certify, tap iron ore

    FG expresses commitments to certify, tap iron ore

    Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said that the Federal Government is committed to tapping iron ore in the country and certify the about 70 percent of the deposits still unproven.

    Nigeria which is the 12th largest iron ore resource country in the world is also the second largest in Africa.

    Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of Kam Steel Integrated Complex at Jimba Oja in Ilorin on Thursday, Osinbajo said that the federal government is currently looking at options to solve the challenge facing tapping of iron ore.

    The options, he said, include synergising government capacity and private sector competencies for certifying existing deposits.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo also noted that steel is the world mosts important engineering material and that the Buhari presidency is determined to bring about a faster industrialization process in the country through the active development of the steel sector.

    Stressing that Nigeria has about 2 billion metric tonnes of iron ore reserve, he said: “We must be extremely ambitious in our industrialization efforts”.

    He called on other operators in the steel industry in the country to ensure Nigeria becomes a net exporter of steel within the shortest possible time.

    The Vice President who was accompanied by the Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed and Solid Minerals Development  Minister, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, among others, spoke to a gathering of captains of industries, financial experts, political leaders and stakeholders at the foundation laying ceremony, disclosing that as part of demonstrating its commitment to the industrial development of the country, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed that everything be done so that Nigeria can make progress in respect of ease of doing business ranking this year.

    Prof. Osinbajo said that the federal Government has been putting in place the right macro-economic policies and is working to ensure an enabling environment for business to grow in line with the Change Agenda of the Buhari administration.

    He said: “This is why the President has given clear instructions that we must make signifiant progress in the ease of doing business ranking this year. Diligent efforts are being undertaken to ensure this goal is achieved, including the setting up of an inter-ministerial committee, which has since commenced work with a very keen presidential oversight.”

    He also commended Kam Steel Integrated Company Ltd. for its business achievements stating that the commitment of the company is in tandem with the vision of the government to diversify the nation’s economy by encouraging the growth of local industries.

    Dr. Kayode Fayemi who also spoke at the occasion described the event as historic observing that the achievement of the company was capable of galvanizing the development of the sector as a whole.

    He described the company as having the single-largest private investment in the nation’s steel industry.

    According to him, the presence of the Vice President, “the head of our Economic Management Team,” at the foundation laying ceremony is “a demonstration of the commitment of the Buhari administration to the diversification of the Nigerian economy.

    The Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed commended the company for its consistent giant strides in the sector, and praised it for promoting the use of 100% local raw materials and boosting employment in the state.

    He called on other stakeholders in the steel industry to join in the acceleration of Nigeria’s industrialization.

    Vice President Osinbajo had earlier inspected Kam Steel Rolling Mills factories in Ilorin, where the company is engaged in the production of corrugated iron sheets, building wires, nails, and others before participating in the foundation laying ceremony of the new Kam Steel Integrated complex in Jimba Oja by Ganmo, Ilorin, Kwara State.

    On arrival in Ilorin, he paid a courtesy visit on the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Sulu Gambari where he congratulated him for the business feat being achieved in the Emir’s domain.

    The Emir in his response commended the efforts of Federal Government at tackling the nation’s numerous challenges particularly the herdsmen-farmers conflict.

    Also present at the ceremonies were the deputy governor of Kwara State, Elder Peter Kishira, members of Kwara State Executive Council, the CEO of Kam Industries, Alhaji Kamorudeen Yusuf, representatives of the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Bank of Industry, Wema Bank, CEOs of some government parastatals in the sector, captains of Industries, religious leaders and traditional rulers among others.

  • Photos: Paul Biya, wife arrive Nigeria

    Photos: Paul Biya, wife arrive Nigeria

    Paul and MBuhari
    L-R: Hajia Aishat Buhari, Wife of President Buhari; Paul Biya, Cameroonian President, President Muhammadu Buhari and Mrs Chantal Biya

     

    Paul and Osin
    L-R: Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and President of Cameroon, Paul Biya at the state house

     

    Paul and Osinbajo
    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo welcomes the Cameroonian President, Biya

     

    Paul Biya
    President of Cameroon, Paul Biya and Wife, Chantal Biya, arriving at the International Airport Abuja
  • FG promise to generate 27000 megawatts 

    FG promise to generate 27000 megawatts 

    The Federal Government has promised that 27,000 Megawatts of power would be generated within the next 18 months to address the challenge of epileptic power supply in the country.

    Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo made this known at a book presentation held at Trenchard hall, University of Ibadan on Monday.

    Prof Osinbajo noted that implementation of the 2016 budget would commence in the next few days and priority would be accorded to the power sector to proffer lasting solutions to electricity supply in the country.

    He identified the major challenges of power supply in the country to include pipe line vandalism and transmission of gas from gas wells to power plants.

    The Vice President who hinted that about 5,000 Megawatts of power was generated shortly after the present administration took over the mantle of leadership before pipelines were blown by vandals, said the Federal Government had put up adequate measures to forestall pipeline vandalism.

    Prof Osinbajo maintained that no public office holders found guilty of corruption would go unpunished as the present administration remained committed to fighting corruption in the country.

    Prof Osinbajo on the occasion, also called on Nigerian elites to continue to promote and advance the visions of Government towards national development.

    Earlier in his remarks, Chairman on the occasion, Oba Otudeko enjoined Nigerians to remain committed to the cause for a better Nigeria by performing their civic responsibilities and complementing Governments efforts.

     

  • Osinbajo to Nigerians: We’ll change Nigeria for the better

    Osinbajo to Nigerians: We’ll change Nigeria for the better

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday reassured Nigerians that the question of Change in the country was irrevocable and the present administration was completely committed to it.

    He spoke at a town hall meeting organised in Lagos by a group, United Action for Change, urging Nigerians never to lose hope.

    The VP re-emphasised that the Buhari-led administration was committed to changing the nation for the better.

    Osinbajo said that change was not a mere slogan as the country could not survive going the way it had always gone.

    “The question of Change is irrevocable,’’ he said, assuring Nigerians that things, though difficult, would be better.

    “I know that Nigerians are going through a very difficult time, so does the President. There is the power problem, there is fuel scarcity, even inflation, oh yes, but these are birth pains.

    “You can be sure this is not going to be the end of the story; as a matter of fact, the end of the story is going to be a story of prosperity and abundance for the nation,’’ he said.

    Vice President Osinbajo said that there was a determination by the government to ensure that the country changes its direction and the best chance to do so successfully was with a honest and straightforward leader like President Buhari.

    He said that the present leadership of the country had no other agenda than to change the country for the better.

    “We have no other agenda .You can look at our balance sheets after our tenure and you will find that we have not enriched ourselves,’’ he said.

    The Vice President, who answered 20 questions put to him by the audience, said that the government was working to end the problem of recurrent fuel scarcity in the country.

    He said that the government was among other things, asking or co-location of refineries by the private sector and some investors were already showing interest.

    Osinbajo also said that the government was also committed to the health insurance scheme the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaigned about during its electioneering.

    “We intend, by the end of our administration, to have a complete coverage,’’ he said,

    Osinbajo said that the N500bn social protection fund would revolutionalise the nation’s social security scheme.

    He said that Nigeria’s economy was already diversified and the government only needed to encourage each of the sectors to stimulate growth and make them bring in more revenue.

    The VP also told the gathering that the government believed that the most effective way to move goods and people from one point to another was through rail and one of its biggest projects was in the area of railways.

    He blamed the present power problems in the country on vandalism among other problems and promised that the government was addressing the problems to make things better.

    Earlier, Dr Muiz Banire, (SAN) and the APC National Legal Adviser as well as the convener of the meeting, said it was a feedback forum to enable the government to know where the shoes were pinching the people.

    “We engage in mass education of the public and the essence of this maiden town-hall meeting is to establish contact between the government and the people,’’ he said.

    Banire, also a former Commissioner in Lagos State under former Governors Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola, said that the group comprised people from all walks of life.

  • FG to inaugurate advisory council on cyber security 

    FG to inaugurate advisory council on cyber security 

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said the Federal Government will inaugurate a Presidential Advisory Council on cyber security to be headed by the National Security Adviser (NSA).

    Osinbajo disclosed at the 2016 Cyber Secure Nigeria that the council, which would include major stakeholders in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector, as well as the Nigeria Technology Development Agency (NITDA), is expected to counsel the President on measures to protect national critical infrastructures and address cyber threats.

    The VP spoke at an event organized by the Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), Wednesday in Abuja. It was titled ‘Emerging Cyber Security Threats and Counter-measures.

    Osinbajo said terrorism could take several avenues to attack critical infrastructures in the country, adding that there was need for more partnership between the public and private sectors to secure the nation’s cyber space.

    The Vice President (VP), who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Rule of Law, Mr. Akingbola Adeniran, emphasized the sector is capable of creating jobs for the unemployed youths, especially with the right partnership.

    He added that the Office of the NSA and NITDA already setup emergency response teams in respect to cyber threats.

    Osinbajo said: “If it is in the area of terrorism there are threats. Terrorism can take several forms on critical national infrastructures and through that, you can commit terrorism. In areas of financial crimes, we already have that happening. When you look at the threats this poses to the country, this is something we should be discussing and discussing seriously.

    “We have a cyber-crime act which came into law last year and one of the provisions establishes cyber-crime advisory council, which is to be headed by the NSA. I am happy to inform you that in the coming weeks, that council will be inaugurated under the chairmanship of the NSA. This is the premiere cyber-crime fighting or coordinating body for the country and so many agencies, including the private sector that is part of this council. The idea is that every aspect of cyber security is discussed so that they can take decisions, to advise Mr. President on how to improve our cyber security.”

    In his remarks, CSEAN President, Remi Afon said the conference was organized to call government’s attention to the need to train Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on cyber security.

    He advised government to create more awareness on impact of cyber-crime, adding that research and investment in cyber security are essential to responding to cyber threats.

     

  • Why recovered fund cannot be made public now – Presidency

    The Presidency says funds recovered from those who looted the nation’s treasury cannot be made public now until they are used as evidence against those the money was recovered from.
    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu told newsmen on Sunday that although the President has the intention of making the recovery public, it cannot be done now until they have been brought before a judge as evidence against the looters.
    He said the money recovered is currently being lodged in an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, adding that the challenge before the government right now is that the money has to first be presented to the court before being made public.
    He said: “the issue of how much has been returned has been there. The money retrieved has to be used as evidence in court. The President said two things; we will recover and we will prosecute. So as it now, you don’t go and bring all these millions returned out.
    “I am aware that there is an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) where some of these funds are been kept and are evidences for a judge to see. It is not for public display. I think that is the challenge we have at the moment”.
    Shehu revealed that the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo will soon begin a town hall meetings to explain government policies and actions to the people, adding that town hall meetings which will begin at zonal levels will later go down to state levels.
    He said: “I know that there is a plan for Professor Osinbajo, the Vice President to start Town Hall meetings in zones and then it would be broken down to the state and so on. Government realises that there is a need to take information to the people and there are steps that are been taken in order to ensure that is done”.