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  • Tinubu seeks NASS backing to fast-track State Police

    Tinubu seeks NASS backing to fast-track State Police

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday said his administration would work closely with the leadership of the National Assembly to remove political and bureaucratic bottlenecks stalling the operationalisation of state police in Nigeria.

    Speaking at the State House, Abuja, during a meeting with members of the Northeast Governors Forum led by Babagana  Zulum, the President said the time had come for a clear, collective path towards community-based policing that reflects the peculiar needs of different regions.

    “I have been looking at the security situation more carefully. I have seen the Civilian JTF react to the security challenges, finding so many creative ways to protect neighbourhoods and communities around you, and that provoked my thinking about state police again.

    “Politics apart, we can discuss with the National Assembly leadership to really look at a critical path to that again, see how we can eliminate or douse political alliances from state police that will be indigenous to the community and provide the additional safety buffer and effectiveness in the area. We have to look at it collectively together,”Tinubu said.

    The President stressed that while political concerns will always surface around the issue, they must not be allowed to derail urgent security reforms. 

    He said his government was committed to ensuring that the proposed structure would be insulated from partisanship and designed purely to strengthen safety across communities.

    Tinubu also vowed not to allow partisan politics or early campaign distractions to shift his focus from national priorities. 

    “In the political environment we are being drawn into early political activities from our rival political parties but whichever way it is, I am not detracted. I am solidly focused, laser focused on what is ahead,” he told the Governors.

    He said the gains already being recorded in the Northeast — including improved security, resettlement of displaced persons, rising school enrolment, and new housing projects — were proof that collaborative governance works. 

    He urged the Governors to sustain commitment to development and security while assuring them of continued federal support.

    “In the short run of two years, we can beat our chest, the economy has turned round. Many of you are already sending back displaced citizens, the housing programme you embarked upon in Borno and collectively seen how displaced people are returning to their normal residences and having a roof over their head,” the President noted.

    Tinubu further highlighted agricultural mechanisation as a priority, disclosing plans to establish training and maintenance centres in all zones of the country to drive food sovereignty. 

    He also commended Yobe State for producing outstanding students despite the region’s challenges, describing it as a sign of resilience and progress.

    Read Also: Nigeria Air project not a fraud-Sirika

    He concluded by thanking the governors for their dedication, saying the combined efforts of federal and state governments were laying the foundation for a safer and more prosperous Nigeria.

    Zulum urged President Tinubu to prioritise the completion of 17 strategic roads across the region and resume oil exploration activities in the Kolmani and Lake Chad basins.

    Speaking on behalf of the forum Governor Zulum said the requests formed part of critical interventions needed to reverse years of neglect and environmental setbacks suffered by the sub-region. 

    He noted that improved infrastructure and energy development would help tackle insecurity and boost economic opportunities.

    The Governors listed the roads requiring urgent completion and construction to include the Kano–Maiduguri Road, Port Harcourt–Jos–Bauchi–Maiduguri railway line, Bama–Mubi–Yola Road, Wukari–Jalingo–Yola Road, Bauchi–Gombe–Biu–Damaturu Road, Damaturu–Geidam Road, and Maiduguri–Monguno–Baga Road, among others.

    They also requested the Federal Government to support the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) with additional funding to sustain operations against insurgents in the Lake Chad region and other identified flashpoints such as Sambisa Forest, Mandara Hills, Karin Lamido, and Dajin Madama.

    Zulum commended the Tinubu administration for sustaining military pressure on insurgents and for interventions in environmental challenges such as flooding and desertification, but stressed the need for more targeted investments in security and development.

    “As a sub-region, we have the peculiarity of managing large states with unmanned forests, gorges, deserts, mountains, and rivers which make them inaccessible and often hard to reach, almost becoming ungoverned spaces. This has exacerbated the security challenges of the region,” he explained.

    The Governors pledged support for President Tinubu’s reforms and promised to partner with the federal government to deliver lasting legacies for Nigeria.

  • Tinubu makes key appointments in Kano, Zaria Federal universities of education

    Tinubu makes key appointments in Kano, Zaria Federal universities of education

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved new appointments into the governing councils and leadership of two recently upgraded universities of education, underscoring his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

    In a statement on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President named Engineer Abdurrazaq Abubakar Nakore as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano.

    Professor Abdullahi Tukur Kodage was also appointed Vice Chancellor of the institution.

    Engineer Nakore, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, previously served as Executive Secretary of the Rural Electricity Board in Jigawa State, bringing into the role extensive administrative and technical experience.

    Read Also: Nigeria now respected globally after bold reforms, says Tinubu

    Professor Kodage, a seasoned academic, will now lead the university’s academic and administrative development.

    At the Federal University of Education, Zaria, Kaduna State, President Tinubu appointed Professor Yahaya Isa Bunkure as Vice Chancellor.

    A renowned scholar of science education, Bunkure is currently serving as Vice Chancellor of Saadatu Rimi University of Education, Kano, and is widely respected in academic circles.

    Both universities were among four Colleges of Education upgraded to full-fledged universities between 2022 and 2023, in line with federal policy to expand access to quality tertiary education.

    Under the laws establishing the institutions, pro-chancellors serve a four-year tenure, while vice chancellors hold office for five years.

    The latest appointments are expected to boost leadership stability and academic growth in the institutions as they consolidate their transition into fully operational universities.

  • Contractors beg Tinubu for payment of N4tn for 2,024 capital projects executed

    Contractors beg Tinubu for payment of N4tn for 2,024 capital projects executed

    The All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu for the payment of completed 2,024 capital projects worth over ₦4 trillion.

    The contractors said thousands of their members across the country are being pushed into debt, sickness, and financial ruin as a result of the non – payment of their outstanding balance.

    Speaking during a protest in Abuja on Wednesday, the association’s President, Jackson Nwosu, said despite government claims that payments for the 2024 capital projects had been made, less than one per cent of indigenous contractors had received funds.

    He said, “They have been owing us since last year for over 2,024 capital projects.

    “Out of more than 15,000 contractors, they have only paid about seven. Yet, they go around claiming that all payments have been settled. That is a lie. If they had paid us, we would not be on the streets.”

    Nwosu lamented that many of their members had died waiting for payment, while others struggled to pay school fees and settle debts with banks.

    “We are dying. Financial institutions are on our necks every day because the government claims to have paid us, but they haven’t. We will remain on the streets until every last contractor is paid,” he said.

    The group alleged that ministries and agencies had stopped forwarding approvals to the Federal Ministry of Finance due to a funding freeze, worsening the backlog.

    National Secretary of the association, Babatunde Seun accused some government officials of insincerity and selective payment.

    He said contractors had fulfilled their obligations by completing projects but were left stranded because warrants issued for February and March were not backed by cash.

    Read Also: You can’t deduct Tinubu’s 1m votes, Onoh counters Marafa

    Seun said, “They always pay just one or two people and leave the rest. We met with the Finance Minister and the Accountant-General, who assured us of payments within 48 hours. But nothing has happened. Some of us have lost our cars and properties to banks. We cannot even pay workers or our children’s school fees.”

    Seun appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to intervene personally.

    “He was once a contractor and understands this struggle. If he instructs the Finance Minister to pay today, the money will be released,” he said.

    A member of the association, Davison Ahamefule said he executed a government contract in 2011 and received only half payment two years later.

    “They verified the project, but since then nothing has been paid. The interest rates from banks have swallowed everything. I am pleading with the government to pay us,” he said.

  • Tinubu orders immediate review of security in Katsina

    Tinubu orders immediate review of security in Katsina

    …assures on state police, forest guard upgrade

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed an immediate review of security operations in Katsina State following recent attacks by bandits, pledging the deployment of advanced military hardware, drones, and surveillance systems to restore peace in the state.

    The President issued the directive on Tuesday evening while receiving a delegation of eminent citizens from Katsina, led by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, at the State House, Abuja.

    He said security agencies must adopt smarter strategies to meet the urgent needs of citizens and deliver daily reports on developments in the state.

    According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said, “I have today directed all the security agencies to energise further and look at the strategies. We have approved the additional acquisition of drones.

    “The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it”, Tinubu said.

    The President assured the delegation that the federal government will consider the creation of state police and strengthen recently deployed forest guards to improve grassroots security.

    He decried the politicisation of the state police debate, stressing that exigencies in states like Katsina require security outfits familiar with the terrain and local culture.

    “I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create a state police. We are looking at that holistically. We will defeat insecurity. We must protect our children, our people, our livelihood, our places of worship, and our recreational spaces. They can’t intimidate us,” he said.

    President Tinubu also assured that former President Muhammadu Buhari would be immortalised, describing his late predecessor as a leader who left behind a legacy of strength.

    “The time we lost our brother, President Buhari, is a loss for all of us. It is the will of God Almighty, but he has left in a good way. He didn’t hand over a defeated country, a battered political structure, but a legacy of success, and that is the most important thing,” the President said.

    Governor Radda expressed gratitude for the President’s consistent support, noting that Katsina had benefited from key appointments and infrastructure projects under his administration.

    Read Also: Tinubu orders full implementation of mandatory health insurance across MDAs

    He urged further federal backing in security, youth empowerment, and development.

    “Mr President, I would like to thank you very much, and I want to say before our elders that there was never a time I came to the President with a request that he rejected. We thank you, Mr President, for sharing with Katsina. You are a true son of Katsina State. I recall that Katsina is the first state you visited and spent a night there. We thank you for the privilege”, Radda said.

    Former Governor Aminu Bello Masari, in a vote of thanks, hailed the President for honouring Buhari with what he described as a “true state funeral,” while pledging the loyalty of the people of Katsina.

    The Waziri of Katsina, Senator Ibrahim Ida, lauded Tinubu for ensuring the completion of strategic infrastructure such as the Kano-Maradi Rail project.

    He called for the upgrade of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport and urged greater federal attention to insecurity in Southern Katsina.

  • Nigeria now respected globally after bold reforms, says Tinubu

    Nigeria now respected globally after bold reforms, says Tinubu

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Nigeria’s standing in the comity of nations has risen as a result of his administration’s economic reforms, which have stabilised the economy and restored confidence at home and abroad.

    Speaking while receiving the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Oladunni Olaoye, Orumogege III, and other royal fathers at the State House, the President said two years of difficult but necessary decisions had yielded results.

    According to him, years of neglect, fake records, smuggling, and corruption had weakened the country’s economic foundations. “We had to take those actions,” Tinubu said. “With your prayers, patience, perseverance and great understanding, I’m glad to tell you today that the economy is stabilised. The bleeding has stopped. Haemorrhage is gone; the patient is alive.”

    The President highlighted the creation of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as one of the landmark policies to ensure that no student drops out due to poverty. “Everybody has a right to education as it is the greatest weapon against poverty,” he said.

    Read Also: Insecurity: declare state of emergency in north, Northern Elders tell Tinubu

    He noted that his government had pressed ahead with investments in infrastructure despite challenges. “It’s just two years, but we have remained aggressive on our infrastructure,” Tinubu added.

    On the visit of the Soun, the President commended the monarch for his developmental strides in Ogbomosoland and promised to engage the Ministers of Power, Water Resources, Agriculture, and Works on the monarch’s requests, including improved water and power supply, the upgrading of Ogbomoso General Hospital into a Federal Medical Centre, and a research institute to harness the potential of Ogbomoso mangoes and cashew.

    Oba Olaoye praised Tinubu for his courage in removing fuel subsidy and introducing foreign exchange reforms, saying the measures had restored credibility to the economy. He also hailed the establishment of NELFUND and lauded the dualisation of the Oyo–Ogbomoso Road, describing it as a major economic lifeline to the North.

    “We are grateful for your boldness. Removing fuel subsidy has shown us that it was the right decision, and we can see the effects,” the Soun said.

    The monarch thanked the President for appointing Ogbomoso indigenes into strategic positions, including Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman Zacch Adedeji and Bureau of Public Procurement DG Debo Adedokun.

    Oba Olaoye was accompanied by five other monarchs representing Ogbomoso councils as well as prominent sons and daughters of the town, among them the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare.

  • Tinubu orders full implementation of mandatory health insurance across MDAs

    Tinubu orders full implementation of mandatory health insurance across MDAs

    …as Fed govt moves to expand coverage, cut out-of-pocket spending

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the compulsory implementation of health insurance across all Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in line with the provisions of the National Health Insurance Act (NHIA) 2022.

    In a new directive issued on Wednesday, the President ordered the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to circulate a service-wide instruction mandating strict compliance with the Act, which was passed three years ago but has yet to achieve widespread national coverage.

    According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the directive focuses on five key areas designed to expand health coverage, reduce out-of-pocket expenditures, and strengthen accountability in both the public and private sectors.

    First, all MDAs are required to enrol their employees under the NHIA health insurance plan, while supplementary private insurance may also be taken up where necessary, provided it aligns with the law.

    Secondly, any entity seeking to participate in public procurement processes must present a valid NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate. This certificate, the President stated, would be a mandatory eligibility requirement before continuing with procurement-related engagements.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s economy stabilised, now respected globally – Tinubu

    Thirdly, the directive stipulates that MDAs must demand valid NHIA Health Insurance Certificates as a precondition for issuing or renewing licenses, permits, and other official approvals.

    To ensure transparency, the NHIA will develop a digital platform for easy verification of Health Insurance Certificates. This system is expected to streamline compliance checks and eliminate fraudulent documentation.

    Finally, all MDAs are mandated to collaborate with the NHIA in developing internal procedures to verify the authenticity of certificates and to ensure continuous compliance monitoring.

    While stressing the importance of implementing the NHIA Act without delay, President Tinubu also called for constructive dialogue with the private sector to ensure that businesses are not unduly burdened by the requirements.

    The NHIA Act, 2022, makes health insurance compulsory for all Nigerians and empowers the Authority to implement measures that guarantee universal health coverage. 

    However, despite its passage three years ago, national health insurance penetration remains low.

  • Nigeria’s economy stabilised, now respected globally – Tinubu

    Nigeria’s economy stabilised, now respected globally – Tinubu

    …hosts Soun of Ogbomoso, other traditional rulers

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday declared that his administration’s bold reforms in the last two years have restored global respect for Nigeria, stabilised the economy, and positioned the country for renewed growth.

    The President stated this while receiving His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Oladunni Olaoye, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, and a delegation of traditional rulers at the State House, Abuja.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said, “Years of neglect and self-deception, fake records, smuggling, and all of that denied Nigeria the necessary revenue for progress and development.

    “Then we were confronted again with arbitrage trading of currency, an illusion of selling papers, corruption all over the place, and the integrity of the country and its economy being extremely and adversely challenged. We had to take those actions.

    “With your prayers, patience, perseverance and great understanding, I’m glad to tell you today that the economy is stabilised. The bleeding has stopped. Haemorrhage is gone; the patient is alive”, Tinubu said.

    The President stressed that education remains central to his government’s reforms, citing the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to prevent students from dropping out due to financial hardship.

    “Everybody has a right to education as it is the greatest weapon you can give to human beings against poverty; that’s what we are doing,” he said.

    Tinubu also assured the visiting monarch that his administration would continue investing aggressively in infrastructure, adding that ministers responsible for power, water resources, agriculture, and works would look into Ogbomoso’s specific needs.

    He expressed confidence that with the right policies, Nigeria can achieve self-sufficiency in agriculture.

    Read Also: Tinubu must complete South’s 8-year slot as Buhari did for North – Ex-deputy speaker

    In his remarks, Oba Ghandi Olaoye praised the President for his “bold strides,” noting that the removal of fuel subsidy and foreign exchange reforms had proven to be the right decisions.

    He lauded the creation of NELFUND, which he said has eased the burden on students, and commended the President for awarding the long-delayed dualization of the Oyo-Ogbomoso road, a vital link to northern Nigeria.

    The monarch, however, appealed for federal intervention in Ogbomoso’s water and electricity supply, the upgrade of its General Hospital to a Federal Medical Centre, and the establishment of a research institute to transform the area’s renowned mangoes and cashew nuts into viable agro-industries.

    He further thanked Tinubu for appointing Ogbomoso indigenes into key national positions, including FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji and BPP DG Debo Adedokun.

    The Soun was accompanied by other royal fathers representing Ogbomosoland’s councils: High Chief Samuel Otolorin, the Areago of Ogbomoso; Oba Oyetunji Adeyeye, the Alajaawa of Ajaawa; Oba Bolarinwa Ezekiel Olajide, the Onisapa of Isapa; Oba Babatunde Amao, the Aale Oke-elerin; and Oba Prof. Akinola John Akintola, the Olokin-apa of Okin-apa.

    Also in attendance were High Chief Ogundare Oluwakemi Rebecca, the Iyalode of Ogbomoso; Prof. Sola Adepoju, former DG of the Forestry Research Institute; businessman Chief Tunji Olaniyi; Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Atanda Owodunni, the Aare Musulumi of Ogbomoso; and Chief Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, who doubles as the Agbaakin of Ogbomosoland.

    The President thanked the royal fathers for their support and reaffirmed his resolve to deliver on reforms that would secure Nigeria’s future.

  • Tinubu must complete South’s 8-year slot as Buhari did for North – Ex-deputy speaker

    Tinubu must complete South’s 8-year slot as Buhari did for North – Ex-deputy speaker

    A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, has called on coalition leaders to abandon what he described as a power-grabbing agenda, stressing that President Bola Tinubu must complete the South’s two-term, eight-year tenure just as the North did under the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Speaking at a meeting of stakeholders from Ahoada East and Ahoada West local government areas, which he convened at his residence in support of President Tinubu and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, Nwuche rallied support for the President.

    The former lawmaker, who brought together stakeholders from both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the Team Rivers for Tinubu (TRT), also expressed gratitude to Tinubu and Wike for his appointment as Chairman of the Southsouth Development Commission (SSDC).

    Nwuche urged stakeholders to stand behind Tinubu for a second term in 2027, insisting no coalition could derail the President’s re-election bid. 

    He described the coalition leaders as individuals driven by selfish ambition rather than genuine commitment to development.

    He said, “President Tinubu came and in his first tenure removed subsidy, which they could not do when they were in power. With the bold reforms and economic transformation of President Tinubu, the states are awashed with money and the governors have a lot of money at their disposal to pay salaries and execute projects. The President inherited tough economic challenges, but he is tackling them”.

    Nwuche wondered why the coalition leaders were showing desperate hunger for power, a few years after leaving their various political positions and asked them to try again after Tinubu’s eight years in office.

    He said: “These people just left power, but they are already hungry for it again. Some of us left our positions about 20 years ago, but are still supporting genuine courses. We are not doing any coalition of power grabbing with them. We are going to support Tinubu’s second term. It is the turn of the South to do eight years and President Tinubu is doing a wonderful job of it”.

    Read Also: Tinubu, Lula endorse Soyinka’s Heritage Voyage of Return

    Speaking to the elders, women, youths and party leaders from the two local government areas, Nwuche said President Tinubu deserved the support of all stakehokders for the love he had shown to Wike, the Rivers people and the Niger Delta region.

    He said the President had continued to stand by Wike and to empower him with all necessary resources and encouragement he required to drive his vision for the FCT.

    Nwuche, who described Wike as an excellent performer, said the former Rivers Governor had transformed Abuja the same way he turned around the fortunes of Rivers during his administration as a governor.

    He said, “The FCT is now wearing a new look with many projects completed and ongoing. Even those, who do not like the government can’t deny the fact that the government of President Tinubu with Chief Nyesom Wike is delivering the dividends of democracy and is performing spectacularly well”.

  • Lagos APC women mobilise for Tinubu

    Lagos APC women mobilise for Tinubu

    The Women Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, has begun the mobilisation of women in the state for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

    She said in a statement that having justified the confidence reposed in him as a leader; the President deserved a second term.

    Okoya-Thomas, former House of Representatives member and Governance Advisory Council (GAC) member, unfolded plans for tomorrow’s ‘Women Summit’ scheduled for Victoria Garden Conference, Alausa, Ikeja, where the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, will be the guest of honour.

    READ ALSO: Your governor has your money, ask him for it

    Also expected are Women Affairs Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, wife of Lagos governor Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, National Women Leader Mary Aline, GAC leader Prince Oluyole Olusi and former National Legal Adviser Babatunde Ogala (SAN).

    Okoya-Thomas said: “This landmark event is crafted to awaken the lethargy and complacency of our political women across board, as we prepare for the coming elections.’’

  • Tinubu, Lula endorse Soyinka’s Heritage Voyage of Return

    Tinubu, Lula endorse Soyinka’s Heritage Voyage of Return

    The global movement to reconnect Afro-descendants with their ancestral homeland received powerful endorsements from two world leaders as Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu both threw their weight behind the Heritage Voyage of Return (HVR) initiative during the latter’s recent state visit to the South American country last month.

    Championed by The African Pride with Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka as patron, HVR is a planned ‘homecoming’ journey via the sea for descendants of enslaved Africans in Brazil, The Caribbeans, and The Americas, as a symbolic and dignified pathway of spiritual reconnection, belonging, and identity restoration with the motherland.

    During a landmark meeting in Brasília, President Lula warmly welcomed Soyinka, symbolically requesting the elder statesman’s blessing by touching foreheads with the nonagenarian in a gesture of mutual respect and transference of grace, saying, “The grace on you, I ask it upon myself.”

    The intimate moment has since resonated across Africa and the diaspora as a poignant symbol of solidarity, with President Lula going further to declare Brazil’s full support for HVR, affirming it as a historic opportunity to heal generational wounds and forge new ties of cooperation between Africa and South America.

    HVR was formally presented to Afro-Brazilian leaders and lawmakers at Brazil’s Legislative Chamber of the Federal District Brasilia, during a historic session hosted President of the Education and Culture Commission, Gabriel Magno Pereira da Cruz, with Soyinka, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso; and Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, leading the Nigerian delegation.

    READ ALSO: Fed Govt: renewable energy open to local, foreign investors

    During the official presentation of HVR, Cardoso, himself of Afro-Brazilian linage, highlighted the shared heritage of both nations and the unique opportunity for renewed collaboration.

    “The commitment between the leadership of President Lula and President Tinubu is unprecedented. Both leaders are aligned in vision, and we can already see the immense possibilities for cooperation between our countries,” he declared.

    He went on to emphasise the vibrant Brazilian-descendant communities in Lagos, pointing to cultural links preserved through cuisine, festivals, and architecture. “Our shared heritage must be transformed into pathways for cultural diplomacy, creative economy growth, heritage tourism, and education. This is not only an opportunity but a responsibility,” he noted.

    During a town hall meeting with Nigerians and Afro-descendants in Brazil the next day, President Tinubu reaffirmed the Nigerian government’s total support for the HVR, describing the initiative as a crucial step in reconnecting Africa’s scattered sons and daughters, while strengthening Nigeria’s role as a spiritual, cultural, and economic hub for the diaspora.

    At the heart of the project are the Osunleye couple – Ajoyemi and Carolina – the visionary founders of The African Pride, who have worked tirelessly to institutionalise HVR as a Pan-African heritage movement. With Soyinka serving as patron, and the backing of Tinubu and Lula, HVR now stands at a historic tipping point, set to catalyze cultural tourism, spiritual reconnection, and economic renewal across Africa and the diaspora.

    Speaking on the endorsements, Ajoyemi Osunleye noted: “The Heritage Voyage of Return is not just a journey for individuals; it is a journey of dignity for our collective history. With the support of President Tinubu and President Lula, we are declaring that Africa is ready to welcome her children back home with pride.”

    The African Pride

    The African Pride is an organisation committed to telling the African heritage story, reconnecting people to their roots, and fostering a positive image of the continent. Through initiatives like the Heritage Voyage of Return, it works to promote cultural pride, historical reconnection, and social justice for Afro-descendants around the world.