The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Special Adviser

  • The Nation columnists Odunuga, Osuji get appointments

    The Nation duo – Yomi Odunuga and Steve Osuji – have got political appointments.

    Odunuga, the Abuja Bureau Chief and Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital), is now the Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity to Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege.

    Born on June 2, 1966, Odunuga, a poet, lyricist, reporter and columnist, started his journalism career with The Punch over two decades ago. He was, for several years, the State House Correspondent of the paper where he maintained two columns – Life in Abuja and the popular weekend treat, called Inside Aso Rock.

    His insightful and critical analysis of the intriguing politics of that period earned him accolades and recognition, which later saw him being promoted to the position of Abuja Bureau Chief at The Punch.

    In 2006, he was elevated to the position of Group Political Editor of The Punch.

    He later joined The Nation as an Assistant Editor and Bureau Chief in Abuja. At the newspaper, his rested Punch newspaper column, called Knuckles, transformed into Knucklehead, which offered him the opportunity to continue his weekly interrogation and critique of the socio-political developments in the polity.

    The 1990 best graduating student of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, has attended several journalism courses in Nigeria and outside the country.

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    The widely-travelled journalist is married to Toyosi Odunuga and the couple is blessed with children.

    Osuji, a member of Editorial Board, was appointed by Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha as Special Adviser (SA) on Media.

    Osuji, a member of Editorial Board
    Osuji, a member of Editorial Board

    A graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Osuji is an experienced and respected senior journalist of over two decades.

    Born in September 1962 in Lagos, he attended Executive course at the Lagos Business School in 1986.

    Osuji was once Deputy Manager at the defunct Liberty Merchant Bank and Manager at Union Merchant Bank.

    The columnist has been editor in many of the major newspapers, including The Guardian, ThisDay, NewAge as well as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Imo Newspapers Limited.

    He edited the NewAge Newspaper between 2003 and 2007 and became the Chief Press Secretary to former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim between 2007 and 2011.

    He joined The Nation as a member of the Editorial Board in 2011 and kept a Friday column, called Expresso.

  • Dickson’s commissioner, special adviser defect to APC

    The Commissioner for Youths in Bayelsa State, Mr. Ibarakumo Otobo, and his supporters  yesterday abandoned the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Governor Seriake Dickson also lost his Special Adviser on Grassroot Mobilisation, Asare Mangate, to the opposition party in the state.

    But the government through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, wished the defectors well.

    “We wish them well and it is important to state that his exit from our government has not in any way dampened our faith, resolve and commitment to continue to support our youths and position them to take over the leadership of the state”, he said.

    Otobo and Mangate were received by the state leader of the party and former Governor Timipre Sylva, who was represented by the only APC lawmaker in the House of Assembly, Mr. Isreal Sunny-Goli.

    Some leaders of the party and crowd of party members thronged to the secretariat to cheer the defectors and their supporters.

    The leaders present at the event were the running mate to Sylva in the past governorship election, Wilberforce Igiri; state Chairman, Jothan Amos; ex-acting Speaker, Fini Angaye; APC state Secretary, Alabo Martins and the party’s Board of Trustees member, Pere Peretu, among others.

    Receiving the defectors, Sylva said the move signaled the victory of the APC in the state describing their decision to leave the ruling party as a wise one.

    He said it was obvious that the governor succeeded in restoring poverty in his cabinet and the entire state adding that more high profile members of the government would soon join the APC.

    He said it was time for APC members and people of the state came together to wrest power from Dickson and the PDP.

    He said: “It is obvious that the present government is restoring poverty in the land. It is time for us to come together to ensure that come 2019 we take over the government of the state.

    “We hear about sacking of workers in the civil service, killings because of peaceful protest by our people and l believe that is not what the people bargain for in the last election. The government has no ideas on government and it is our duty to take over, align with the federal government to bring goodies to our people”.

    Otobo, who received broom, the symbol of the party, said he resigned his appointment in Dickson’s government to join the APC.

  • Ahmed gets special adviser on Fulani Affairs

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the appointment of Abdul-Azeez Muhammad as special assistant, Fulani Affairs, to represent Miyetti-Allah in his administration.

    A statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Isiaka Gold said the appointment was driven by Governor Ahmed’s commitment to ensure harmonious relationship between herdsmen, farmers and other segments of the society.

    Gold said the appointment would also ease communication between members of Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the government and local farmers.

    The SSG recalled that the decision to appoint a special assistant on Fulani Affairs was reached at the enlarged meeting of the State Security Committee.

    He congratulated the appointee and urged him to approach his assignment with diligence and dedication.

  • Ajimobi appoints Bolaji Tunji as Special Adviser

    Ajimobi appoints Bolaji Tunji as Special Adviser

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has appointed an Executive Director with The Sun , Mr. Bolaji Tunji, as his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy.

    He replaces  Mr. Yomi Layinka, who is now to oversee the Ibadan Media City Project.

    A statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Olalekan Alli, said Layinka would oversee the proposed transformation of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) into a massive and formidable media, entertainment and cultural hub for the Southwest.

    Prior his new appointment, Tunji was the Executive Director for Special Duties and a member of the board of The Sun, where he took a leave of absence to assume his new role.

    An alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) at Ile-Ife in Osun State, the new governor’s spokesman was the pioneer Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The New Telegraph.

    He began his journalism career at The Guardian in March 1993, from where he joined Daily Independent as pioneer Deputy News Editor in 2001 and had a meteoric rise to the position of an Editor.

    Tunji also had a stint with the Daily Times before joining the defunct The Comet, and later The Nation.

    At The Nation, he was the pioneer Editor of the Saturday title before joining the repackaged National Mirror as pioneer Sunday Editor and later Editor of National Mirror, the flagship of the Global Media Mirror Limited titles.

    He left the National Mirror to assist in setting up The New Telegraph, where he served as the pioneer MD/EIC before he was appointed the Executive Director for Special Duties of The Sun.

    Tunji is married and is blessed with male and female children.

  • More communities benefit from amnesty programme

    The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd) has noted that the amnesty programme should be a collective responsibility of every Nigerian.

    According to him, the scheme ought to have been formulated as a policy of the Federal Government since the past 50 years.

    Gen. Boroh, however, praised President Buhari for showing greater commitment to finding workable solutions to various problems in the Niger Delta region.

    Speaking to reporters in Akure, the Ondo State capital shortly after receiving an award of the ‘Niger Delta Peace Ambassador’ bestowed on him by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Ondo State chapter, Boroh said the scheme had impacted on the lives of over five million people, particularly in the region.

    The presidential aide said due to the current peace initiative in the Niger Delta communities, oil production had increased to 2.3 million barrels per day.

    He said efforts were on to provide projects such as provision of treated water for the people’s consumption, stressing that most of the people in the creeks have no toilet facilities, hospitals and other basic needs.

    His words: “We will touch the lives of people in the oil-bearing communities. They need to feel the impact of the Federal Government mostly in all the small communities of the Niger Delta.

    “The amnesty programme came due to conflicts. It is a very expensive scheme; we need peace, stability and development in the Niger Delta as a long and short measure of development”.

    The retired military officer said the amnesty programme focused mainly on human capacity development to allow infrastructural development as against’ mathematical’ solution, stressing that peace efforts cannot be measured.

    Boroh noted that his appointment had afforded him the opportunity to feel the pulse of the people, particularly those in the Niger Delta axis.

    He described the honour of Peace Ambassador bestowed on him by Ondo NUJ as a great challenge to prove his worth, even as he urged the media to partner with the scheme to sustain peace in the Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria in general.

  • Ajimobi appoints special adviser on budget

    Ajimobi appoints special adviser on budget

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has approved the appointment of Isiaka Olayinka Kolawole as his Special Adviser on Economic Planning & Budget.

    A statement by Kolawole’s personal assistant Olufemi Daniel said the appointment takes immediate effect.

    The appointee has garnered about 30 years professional experience spanning banking, strategic planning, budgeting, economic policy formulation and implementation, fiscal and monetary policy design and general administration at both private and public sectors.

    Kolawole was the former Special Adviser to governor on Economic Planning and Budget between 2014 and 2015 and was also the State Liaison Officer for the Federal Territory Abuja from 1999 to 2003.

    He was also a member of the Presidential Committee on the Development of National integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIMP), a Nigerian 30-year Master Plan (2013 – 2043).

     

  • Eid-el-fitri: Sustain Ramadan virtues – Kalu urges Nigerians

    Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu has urged Nigerians to sustain the virtues associated with the Muslim fast at Ramadan,  charging them to live in peace and harmony, describing the  future of the country as  bright under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Kalu pointed out that the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria should be seen as an advantage, noting that peaceful co-existence among Nigerians regardless of religion, tribe, economic and social status is a panacea for sustainable development

    In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Alhaji Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said,”It is indeed another opportunity to join our Muslim brothers and sisters to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Fitr in commemoration of the successful completion of the month-long spiritual exercise.

    “ Sallah period is a season of spiritual rebirth and fulfillment and as such, we should use the occasion to offer special prayers for the nation.

    “The tenets of the holy month of Ramadan must be sustained by the Muslim Ummah as a way of keeping to the teachings of the holy Qu’ran and exemplary qualities of Prophet Mohammed.

    “We must imbibe the acts of alms giving, togetherness, love and sacrifice in our daily lives.”

    Kalu, while wishing the Muslim community a hitch-free festivity, he reminded them to celebrate with people of other religious faith.

  • CBN launches Naira forex futures market

    CBN launches Naira forex futures market

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday formally flagged off the Naira Settlement Foreign Exchange Market.

    A statement from the CBN said the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, expressed delight that the foreign exchange market in Nigeria has attained the position where participants in Nigeria can settle foreign exchange futures transactions in Naira.

    According to Emefiele, who was represented by the Special Adviser, Financial Market, Mr. Emmanuel Ukeje, “this product is novel in Nigeria and it gives comfort regardless of the price at which you have quoted to buy foreign exchange in Nigeria.

    “In the same vein, the product is also expected to provide relief to Nigerians seeking Dollars to import critical machinery and raw materials from abroad as they can now lock-in their foreign exchange deals in earnest against their future demands.”

    He reaffirmed the commitment of the apex Bank to ensure the success of the new foreign exchange market structure and also promised to honour all obligations arising from future deals.

    In his speech at the event, the Managing Director of the Financial Market Dealers Quote (FMDQ), Bola Onadeko urged the regulators of the financial markets to strive for the success of this new foreign exchange initiative by ensuring desired liquidity.

    Earlier in her welcome address, the Chairperson of the FMDQ, Dr Sarah Alade, represented by Mr Yinka Sani of Stanbic IBTC, noted that the launching of the hedging product has revolutionized the financial landscape in Nigeria as the market is now adequately positioned among the global standards and at the same time provide liquidity for the market.

    She gave an assurance that FMDQ would ensure transparency and innovations in order to attract investors to the Nigerian market.

    The Naira-settled OTC Future are non-deliverable forwards where parties to a contract agree to an exchange rate for a predetermined date in the future, without the obligation to deliver the underlying United States Dollars on maturity or settlement date but only required to settle exchange rate differentials in Naira.

  • Buhari appoints Akabueze DG Budget office

    Buhari appoints Akabueze DG Budget office

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of his Special Adviser on Planning, Mr Ben Akabueze as the new Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said that Mr. Akabueze takes over from Mr Tijani Mohammed Abdullahi who will now serve as Special Adviser to the President on Planning and will continue  to work with the Minister of Budget and National Planning.

    Both Mr Akabueze and Mr. Abdullahi joined the Ministry of Budget and National Planning in February this year.

    Their redeployment, the statement said, is part of an ongoing exercise aimed at further re-positioning the Ministry to effectively deliver on its core mandate.

  • Saraki, Ekweremadu mourn Keshi

    Saraki, Ekweremadu mourn Keshi

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday mourned the sudden death of the former skipper and Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi.

    While Saraki described as a “rude shock” the news of the death of Keshi, Eweremadu expressed shock and sadness over the death of the former Super Eagles coach.

    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the sad occurrence was both painful and unfortunate coming at a time the nation is in dire need of wisdom and rich experience of sports professionals like the late international star to stabilize its soccer architecture.

    He lauded the monumental contributions of Keshi to the development of football in the country and extolled his doggedness and exemplary contributions that saw the nation clinch international trophies both as a player and a coach.

    Saraki said: “Keshi was an excellent star. His soccer artistry and leadership skills remain unparalleled. His days, while donning the national colours and his stint as a National Coach of the Super Eagles could rightly be regarded as “Nigeria’s golden moments” in both national, continental and world soccer.

    “Keshi lost his wife late last year and today we heard the sad news of his demise. This must be a heavy burden for the family to bear. His death at 54 is both a rude shock and highly unfortunate.

    “Nonetheless, we must take solace in the fact that he did his utmost for the development of sports in Nigeria, Africa and the world, during his sojourn on earth.

    “As a player and coach, he was instrumental to superlative victories for the national team.  It could be recalled that the “Big Boss” as he was fondly called, made history by winning the African Nation’s Cup as a player in Tunisia 1994 and in South Africa 2013, he won again as a coach. He was perhaps the only Nigerian to have achieved that feat.

    “He was a great source of inspiration to his contemporaries, team mates and the younger generation who took to football and are still active in sports across the world today. He shall be sorely missed,” he said.

    The Senate President commiserated with the children and immediate family of the deceased, the Government and people of Delta State, the Minister of Youths and Sports, the nation’s football governing body and the Super Eagles over the painful loss.

    While praying God to grant the Soul of the departed eternal rest, he urged his children, loved ones and admirers to emulate the enviable lifestyle of industry and patriotism of the late soccer hero.

    He called on both the Federal and Delta State Governments to immortalize him.

    Ekweremadu on his own said Keshi represented the best generation of the Super Eagles so far and described the ex-international’s death as a big blow to Nigerian football.

    This is contained in statement by his aide, Uche Anichukwu, in Abuja

    Ekweremadu noted that late gaffer made Nigeria proud, not only as a successful captain and coach of the Super Eagles, but as one of the first crop of Nigerian players to export Nigeria’s football prowess to the world as a professional player.

    He said: “Keshi captained a generation of Super Eagles that was truly superlative in performance and bestowed on the national team the international fame, respect, and grandeur it enjoys till date.

    “He captained the Super Eagles to the 5th place in FIFA ranking, possibly the best by any African country so far, and capped it up by leading a younger generation of the national team to a successful campaign to the Africa Nations Cup in South Africa.

    “His death is, therefore, a big blow to us as a nation. Keshi deserves our prayers for the peaceful repose of his patriotic soul; and he indeed deserves immortalisation by a country he served so fervently, patriotically, and unreservedly”.

    The Deputy Senate President called on stakeholders in the Nigerian football industry to use this period of mourning to embark on sober and deep reflections on the tumble in nation’s football fortunes.

    He prayed God to grant Keshi’s immediate family and the entire nation the equanimity to bear the irreparable loss.