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Tag: Yemi Osinbajo

  • ‘FG to revitalise ALSCON, Ajaokuta coy soon’

    ‘FG to revitalise ALSCON, Ajaokuta coy soon’

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Kayode Fayemi on Tuesday updated President Muhammadu Buhari on state of Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi and the Aluminium Smelting Company ( ALSCON ) in Ikot Abasi.

    Nigeria’s only aluminium smelting plant, ALSCON, was shut down in 2014 following crippling protests embarked upon by the company’s staff against poor working conditions, dwindling productivity and spiralling debts.

    The management of ALSCON, Russian aluminium giant, United Company RUSAL PLC, dismissed almost all local personnel of its workforce.

    Fayemi told State House correspondents that the meeting with Buhari was to update him on the companies level of development towards bringing them back to life.

    He revealed that a definitive solution to the sale of Aluminium Smelting Company was being canvassed through the efforts of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Cue in audio – Fayemi

    “The president asked for an update on Ajaokuta and the Aluminum Smelting Company in Ikot Abasi. I came to brief Mr. President on the development to ensure these companies are back to life.

    “I told him about the efforts that Mr. Vice President was leading, on ensuring that we have a definitive solution to the sale of Aluminium Smelting Company in Ikot Abasi, and that we also move forward in the resolution and agreement reached on Ajaokuta Steel so that we get ready for the second concessioning.

    “We have appointed an Adviser; we have appointed a new leadership there because the term of the last leadership has expired. Those were the things we updated Mr. President on.’’

    Cue out audio – Fayemi

    The minister stated that the government was emphasizing solid minerals development as a vehicle for diversification of the nation’s economy.

    He added that mineral resources had contributed significantly to the GDP and revenue.

    “This year alone we have exceeded the target given to us. If you look at the Bureau of Statistics report you will see that the two sectors that have contributed immensely to the GDP is agriculture and solid minerals.

    NAN

  • Osinbajo hails creative industry

    Osinbajo hails creative industry

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has hailed the creativity and ingenuity of Nigerian artistes which they have deployed to project the image of the country.

    He made the commendation after watching a grand performance of the cultural troupe, Wakaa the Musical, on Monday night at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

    Osinbajo, his wife, Dolapo, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Information Minister Lai Mohammed were part of the dignitaries that watched the cultural fiesta.

    Osinbajo, who described the event as trilling said: “I have never seen anything like this before; it is absolutely incredible; this is wonderful.’’

    The producer of the theatre group and Chief Executive of Terra Culture, Mrs Bolanle Austen-Peters, while welcoming guests to the occasion said it was the group’s way of promoting creativity in the industry among Nigerian youths.

    “Art is still taking the back stage in the country but we are prepared to boost it greatly due to the diversification drive of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    “This industry is not what to be ashamed of and the youths  can really make a living out it in spite of what one studied in school.

    “We need to look at the kind of education that we give to our young people so that they can be self- employed and increase their financial status,’’ the lawyer-turned artiste added.

    On the message of Wakaa, Austen-Peters said it was a satire and a message of hope, depicting the triumph of good over evil, also of love.

    She thanked the sponsors of the event and stressed the need for the country’s industrialists and philanthropists to “put their money where the message is’’.

    Austen-Peters said that the measure was to encourage more artistes and those in the creative industry to produce higher quality of products to be displayed outside the country.

    NAN

  • Osinbajo calls for commitment in private sector

    Osinbajo calls for commitment in private sector

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday called for the commitment of private sector in economic development as the country exited recession.

    Osinbajo made the call at the 2017 Nigerian Debt Capital Markets Conference and Awards organised by FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange in Lagos.

    NAN reports that Osinbajo was represented by Ms Patience Oniha, the Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO).

    He said that the Federal Government required the commitment of all in its diversification strategy to achieve the desired economic growth.

    According to the Vice President, with the growing population, the private sector participation is needed to complement the government’s efforts in area of infrastructure development.

    He said that the private sector participation was important because the sector was efficient in handling projects anywhere in the world.

    On the Nigerian Debt Capital Markets (DCM), he said the private sector needed the market to succeed in business.

    According to him, the country needs a world-class capital market, which is an important factor as regard bond issuance.

    He said that the ability of all sectors to access the debt capital market was necessary to bring the desired economic growth and diversification.

    Osinbajo added that the present determination of Federal Government on the ease of doing business was to enable more investments flow into the country.

    According to him, the ease of doing business makes it easier for business start ups to grow their businesses.

    On the impact of FMDQ to the nation’s Debt Capital Market (DCM), the Vice President said that the existence of the platform had promoted the domestic fixed income market.

    “FMDQ has a pivotal role to play in enabling the authorities meet the long-term projects required for the country,” he said.

    The Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, reiterated that the debt capital market was important in terms of providing funding in the development of infrastructure in the country.

    “DCM will help in deepening the nation’s finance market because we are going to see more direct portfolio investment into the country soon,” Adeosun said.

    She noted that government was restructuring the economy to give the nation’s development a leap.

    “My message to investors is to start taking positions now because Nigeria is growing aggressively economically.

    “We are working very hard to use capital market to address the infrastructural deficit in the country.

    “We have seen a lot of opportunities in the debt market to bridge the gap of funding infrastructure,” she said.

    Adeosun said that Nigeria had all the indices of development and the needed competitive advantage.

    NAN reports that the theme of the conference titled: “Positioning for growth” was part of the DCM’s aspiration to become a world-class market between 2020 and 2025.

    It is also to provide workable solutions that will stimulate growth and accelerate the development of the Nigerian DCM.

  • Osinbajo endorses ACP endowment fund for growth

    Osinbajo endorses ACP endowment fund for growth

    The Vice-President, Prof.  Yemi Osinbajo, has endorsed the establishment an endowment fund for the African, Caribbean and Pacific ( ACP ) group.

    He described the initiative as timely to put members on the path of sustainable growth and development.

    The vice-president spoke in Abuja on Thursday when he received an ACP delegation, comprising its Chairman, Amb. Amadou Diop, the Secretary General, Dr Patrick Gomes, among others.

    “Setting up of an endowment fund like the one proposed will, in a way, guarantee an independent ACP.

    “Because if our development partners continue to give us the kind of support that they are giving now, they will definitely want to determine our course of development in the future,’’ he said.

    The vice-president pledged Nigeria’s unalloyed support for ACP, especially in its agenda on climate change and others, and urged member-nations to remain united in pursuit of the organisation’s objectives.

    “Nigeria remains firmly in support of the ACP because we have benefited so much from the organisation.

    “But I also want to emphasise the need for us to stay together.

    “The ACP has the potential to achieve a lot, especially in the focal areas of climate change, security and economic emancipation,’’ he said.

    Osinbajo, however, emphasised the need for the group to review existing international regulations as it strove to address challenges of terrorism and armed conflicts within ACP member-nations.

    He commended the leadership of ACP for the work done so far and promised to convey the group’s message to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In separate remarks, Gomes and Diop commended the role played by Nigeria in advancing the cause of ACP  on the African continent and the world.

    They solicited Nigeria’s support in the actualisation of ACP objectives, especially in the establishment of the fund.

    “The key of Africa and the region is Nigeria hence the respect accorded the country by the ACP,’’ Gomes said.

    The vice-president also received Mohamed Al Oraby, a special envoy of Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa.

    The envoy who delivered a special letter from the Egyptian president, sought Nigeria’s support for Egypt’s candidate, Ms Moushira Khattab, in the November 2017 election for the Director-General of UNESCO.

  • Presidency’s N137b virement not listed as Senate, Reps return

    Presidency’s N137b virement not listed as Senate, Reps return

    An executive proposal  for the virement of N135.6billion in the 2017 budget for critical infrastructure, including rail projects and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,is not listed on the order paper as the National Assembly returns today from a two-month recess.

    The lawmakers, who went on recess on July 27, may discuss the raging issue of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the restructuring of the polity.

    Divergent views are being expressed on these issues by stakeholders, including the lawmakers.

    Apart from the addresses by the presiding officers – Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara – two bills are to go through third reading in the House of Representatives. They are the National Roads Fund Bill and the Medical Residency Bill.

    Then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on July 20 wrote to the lawmakers, seeking for a virement of N135, 643,018,749 in the 2017 budget to enable the government fund its priority projects and programmes in the 2017 fiscal year.

    Osinbajo’s letter indicated that the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and 13 ministries would be affected.

    Osinbajo explained that the virement was part of the agreement reached between the Presidency and leadership of the National Assembly prior to the signing of the N7.441 trillion budget into law.

    He noted that N46, 004,049,292 was to be vired in projects within the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing; N66 billion was to be vired within projects of the Ministry of Transportation.

    According to him, sources of the virements are N33.247 billion from Ministry of Transportation; N3, 181,973,545 from Ministry of Power, Works and Housing; N14, 130,719,780 from Office of the Secretary to the Government of Federation; N5 billion from Office of the National Security Adviser; N5, 009,244,926 from Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and N5, 494,065,749 from Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.

    The then Acting President added that N1 billion was to be vired within projects of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; N7, 698,811,674 from Federal Ministry of Interior and N80, 500,000 from Ministry of Trade and Investment; N3.150 billion from Ministry of Defence; N770 million from Federal Ministry of Education; N1.7 billion from the Federal Capital Territory Administration and N1.3 billion from Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.

    Other sources include: N1 billion from the Federal Ministry of Health; N735, 035,00 from office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; N1, 093,579,983 from Ministry of Labour and Employment; N729 million from Ministry of Information and Culture; N734 million from Ministry of Communication and Technology; N2, 387,541,000 from Ministry of Water Resources; N1 billion from Federal Ministry of Mines and Steels Development; N241, 001,800 from Federal Ministry of Environment.

    Senate spokesman Sabi Abdullahi in a statement listed the priority areas to include: the passage of the three petroleum industry bills; social justice bills like the Jungle Justice Bill; employment-related bills like the Occupational Safety Bill and the Existing Vacancies Bill.

    “Of course, we cannot forget the three Petroleum Industry Governance Bills

    “We will also consider resolutions on the next actions to take with the flooding that has occurred in several states across the nation. Through our oversight powers, we will continue to work with executives at various levels to ensure that our town planning laws are updated to mitigate against flooding and other man-made disasters.”

    “We have our work cut-out for us, however, working with and on behalf of all Nigerians, we will achieve all that we have set out to do.”

    On the order paper today in the House of Representatives  as contained in the procedure guide of the speaker is the presentation of 20 bills. The Clerk of the House will read out the short titles to members. These are to pass through First Reading.

    The report of the ad hoc committee on the Urgent Need to investigate the Huge Debts Owed to PPMC by major and Independent Oil Marketers/ Sabotage by some Oil Marketers will be presented to the House

    The report of the investigation, which was referred to the Committee on September 29, last year is to be presented by Hon. Mahmud Gaya.

    A motion on the Urgent Need for Measures to Permanently Address the Perennial   Flood in Benue State”, will be taken by the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Orker Jev.

    Another motion under the title: “Motion on the need to construct roads to the Nigeria crude oil onshore terminals,” will be taken by Hon. Awaking- Inombek Abiante.

    A motion on “Call to investigate the 2016/2017 Federal Civil Service recruitment exercise with a view of identifying anomalies,” will be treated by Hon, Henry Nwawuba.

    On the list also is a motion “ Calling on the Federal Government to provide grants to indigenous oil companies to enable them compete favourably with multinational companies.” This is to be taken by Hon. Benjamin Okolo.

    A bill to amend the Standards Organisation Act in a bid to empower the organisation to carry out inspection goods to be imported into Nigeria will be taken.

    But it is expected that sensitive issues, such as IPOB and the calls for restructuring, if mentioned, would come through Matters of Urgent National Importance.

    Eight reports by the House Committee on Public Petition are also listed for consideration today.

    Before commencement of recess in July, Saraki hinted of the need to reshuffle standing committees to make them effective and functional. It is expected that the rearrangement of the committees will be one of the issues lined up by the Senate President.

    The resumption of suspended former Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, is another issue before the Senate.

    Ndume was suspended for six months for raising issues concerning alleged certificate forgery against Senator Dino Melaye and purchase of exotic cars by Saraki without investigation.

    The Borno South lawmaker has served out his suspension.

    Ndume’s case will be decided by the court next month

     

  • Peace, unity germane to Nigeria’s progress – Osinbajo

    Peace, unity germane to Nigeria’s progress – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has advised Nigerians against breaking the bond of unity and peace existing in the country.

    Osinbajo gave the advice in Uyo on Saturday at a grand ceremony organised by the Akwa Ibom government to mark the 30th anniversary of the creation of the state.

    The vice president, who is on a two-day working visit to the state, urged the people to resist attempts by any group trying to push them to destroy the existing peace in the country.

    “Peace is the foundation of enduring prosperity and for peace to reign everywhere in Nigeria, all of us as Nigerians must make necessary sacrifices.

    “We are in a situation where we must take seriously the admonition to love one another.

    “Whatever complaints we may have must not be an excuse to subvert the social order,” Osinbajo said.

    He assured Nigerians that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is ever ready to listen to all genuine complaints from any group.

    “The Buhari government is prepared to engage and listen patiently to all sections of the country.

    “But you as individuals also have a major role to play.

    “Citizens everywhere should not sit idle when misguided elements choose to recklessly destroy the common bond of brotherhood and friendship that has put us together for decades,” Osinbajo said.

    The vice president, who was the special guest of honour at the event, praised Gov. Udom Emmanuel for his visionary leadership in the state.

    He descibed Akwa Ibom as a state with great history, which creation 30 years ago started with the agitation by Ibibio State Union for the creation of COR state.

    He stated that Akwa Ibom is one of the fastest growing states in the country.

    He assured that the Federal Government would support the state to develop the Ibaka seaport.

    “Provisions have been made in the current budget of Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) for the development of the Ibaka  Deep Seaport,” he said.

    Earlier, Gov. Emmanuel had expressed appreciation to former military President Ibrahim Babangida for creating Akwa Ibom State on Sept. 23, 1987.

    Emmanuel also acknowledged the efforts made by the former governors of the state made to lay a solid foundation laid for its growth.

    “The bush paths had become highways, our villages had turned into metropolis, I am here to consolidate on the achievements of all the past leaders,” Emmanuel said.

    He said that the creation of the state was  a divine plan.

    Emmanuel, therefore, urged the people of Akwa Ibom to unite for the development of the state irrespective of  their ethnic and political differences.

    Speaking on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, the Ekiti Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, congratulated the Akwa Ibom people for the unity among them.

    He also congratulated Gov. Emmanuel for the laudable projects he initiated toward the economic development of the state.

    Fayose said that the governor deserved a second term.

    In his speech on behalf of National Assembly members from Akwa Ibom, the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, said that the strength of Nigeria depended on its large population.

    “We in the National Assembly will not support division, we stand for one Nigeria. We will not support disintegration,” Akpabio said.

    Akpabio, who is the immediate past governor of the state, said that the Akwa Ibom people were praying that the will of God to be done in Nigeria.

    He commended Gov. Emmanuel for laying foundation for the industrialisation of the state.

    Speaking on behalf of former governors of Akwa Ibom, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd), noted that a lot of positive things had happened in Akwa Ibom since its creation.

    Nkanga, who was the third military administrator and first indigenous governor, called on the Federal Government to restructure Nigeria based on true federalism.

    He lauded Gov. Emmanuel for putting in place structures aimed at speeding up industrialisation of the state.

    Many dignitaries including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the former governor of Akwa Ibom, Obong Victor Attah were at the event.

  • Nigeria moves to return to Egmont Group – Sen. Utazi

    The Presidential ad hoc committee set up to chaperon the return of the country to Egmont Group submitted its report to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday.

    The Chairman of the committee and Senator representing Enugu North, Chukkwuka Utazi, gave the information to State House Correspondents after the committee met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    According to him, the committee was optimistic that with appropriate suggestions  and actions to be taken by the federal government, the country will soon return to the global financial intelligence group

    “The Committee is a Presidential ad hoc Committee to reposition the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit and then restore Nigerian membership of Egmont Group from which was suspended on July 7.

    “”This committee is here today to present a report to the Vice President which he will in turn discuss with Mr President before any formal decision will be taken by the government,’’ he said.

    Utazi declined to mention what the report contained or its recommendations noting that the Vice President just received it and would discuss it with the President before the committee could comment on it further.

    “”This committee has worked to ensure that everything that led to our being suspended from the Egmont Group was handled in that report.

    “”By the time this report would be considered by Mr President and the Presidency, Nigeria would get out of the woods,’’ the Senator said.

    He said the committee was not set up to justify the suspension or otherwise but noted that ““the thing is that we have been suspended and we are working very hard to come out of such a situation.’’

    The Senator said that going forward the committee expected that with the timely intervention of the Presidency in sync with the passage of the law by the Senate in July it showed that Nigeria was moving forward.

    He also noted that the international community was following the processes in the country to ensure that the suspension was lifted.

    The Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units is an informal network of national financial intelligence units (FIUs).

    National FIUs collect information on suspicious or unusual financial activity from the financial industry and other entities or professions required to report transactions suspected of being money laundering or terrorism financing.

    FIUs are normally not law enforcement agencies, with their mission being to process and analyze the information received. If sufficient evidence of unlawful activity is found, the matter is passed to the public prosecution agencies.

  • Armed struggle won’t benefit Igbo, says Ikpeazu

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu said yesterday that the Igbo won’t benefit anything from armed struggle as being pushed by the Indigenous People of Biafra.(IPOB).

    Ikpeazu spoke to reporters yesterday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after briefing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to brief him on the security situation in his state.

    Abia is the epicentre of the activities of the separatist group led by Nnamdi Kanu.

    Ikpeazu said: “If you are referring to what happened in the past one week. Nigerians know that for some time now that this group called IPOB, were agitating for a separate nation called Biafra and that the home state of the leader of that group happens to be Abia State.

    “As expected, when such things happen, there is an interface between some members of that group and the military, and the theatre was Abia State.

    “And some people attempted to hijack that event to conflagrate our country. To the glory of God, the rest is history, we are still working to stabilise the fragile peace in the region.

    “I thank God also for the instruments he used to be able to keep our country as one. We are humbled by the privileges,” he said

    On his meeting with northern governors on Monday, Ikpeazu said he assured them of safety of lives and property of everybody living in Abia.

    “I swore with the Bible to protect lives and property and because I take such things seriously, I will continue to protect the lives and property of my brothers and sisters irrespective of where they come from.

    “You know that the mainstay of our economy in Abia State is trade and commerce and I do not think it will augur well for our economy if we make our kitchen the theatre of Biafra.

    “A native wisdom in my place says you shouldn’t allow a fight to ensue from your mother’s kitchen. It is my responsibility also to grow prosperity from my state,” he said

    On the that the IPOB crisis was as a result of the failure of leadership in the South East, the governor said: “Allegations are supposed to be investigated by investigative officers and I’m not trying  to investigate such things, so it is just the masses, especially the press.

    “You know, we are perception builders, we should try to say things that are good about our country, not things that are bad. I think there are enough reasons to see that under our circumstance, that we may not be Eldorado yet, but there are concerted efforts, attempts to make our place a better place. I do not see how as an Ibo man boxing myself into a smaller geographic entity without recourse of the most widely travelled people in Nigeria.

    “There are Igbos in Sambisa, what are you expecting of them if I narrow their geography of coverage. But agitation, marginalization, infrastructural deficiencies, these are issues which are germane and they can be discussed, they can be spoken about, they can be addressed. But I do not know how in 21st century how carrying arms in my kitchen will grow the prosperity of my people.”

    Asked what his message to Igbos is, he said: “First and foremost, I think our relationship with our brothers from northern Nigeria the governors, they have assured that every part of Nigeria is safe for every Nigerian including Igbos to continue in their business and enterprise.

    “I want to announce that the population of Igbos outside Ibo enclave is about 11.6 million, you don’t play with the lives of 11.6 million. So we all have to be careful, the press, the leadership at the state level, the leadership at the Federal Government level, everybody.

    “I think we should be guarded by the rule of law and grow confidence in the Nigerian citizens that under our laws that he is protected,” he said

    On his meeting with the Vice President, Ikpeazu said: “Well, naturally, I’m heading a subnational government when this kind of thing happens, which would have had dimension of national proportion; it’s right that you will come and brief the C-in-C or his vice and that is exactly what I have come to do.”

    Ikpeazu  said he would not dethrone the traditional ruler of Isiama Afaraukwu in Umuahia, Eze Isreal Kanu, who is Nnamdi Kanu’s father.

    He said: “I clearly separate Kanu from his father. The processes of handling traditional institutions are enshrined in the laws of our land. And traditional rulers who are members of our constituency have leadership they will do the needful at the appropriate time.

    “But, for me, I think there is a clear division between Nnamdi Kanu and his father.”

     

  • Kiki Osinbajo becomes her own woman

    Kiki Osinbajo becomes her own woman

    THE scriptures says train your child in the way he should go, and when he grows up, he will not depart from it. That injunction is impacting greatly on the family of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. His daughter, Kiki, stepped out in a big way in Wuse, Abuja last Saturday, with the launch of Glam’d Africa, the nation’s newest hub for beauticians and beauty lovers.

    For chocolate-complexioned Kiki, Glam’d Africa is the culmination of a dream birthed from the womb of passion and jealously guarded and nurtured for four years. While completing her studies in Business Management from Aston Martin University, Kiki was drawn to the exciting and lucrative world of beauty and fashion. Matchstick would go on to meet firewood with the recent launch of Glam’d Africa.

    Kiki’s new company is poised to become a one-stop facility catering to a broad range of tastes and styles in beauty and skincare. The highbrow outlet in Wuse area of Abuja is home to an eclectic collection of local and world renowned brands while also serving as a concession spot for young and enterprising beauticians to launch their careers.

  • UN pledges support for Nigerian female politicians

    UN pledges support for Nigerian female politicians

    The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) said it would support Nigerian female politicians vying for elective positions in the 2019 general elections.

    The UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka told the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that there was the need to increase women participation in politics in Nigeria.

    The UN women chief was at the Nigeria House where he met with the Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande and the Deputy Permanent Representative, Amb. Samson Itegboje.

    Mlambo-Ngcuka had visited Nigeria in July alongside UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed to push ways to address the many challenges confronting girls and women in the country.

    She said: “We also were in Nigeria to discuss the issue of women’s participation in politics.

    “We were also in Nigeria for how we need to increase the number of women participation in politics in the next elections and the strategies to do that”.

    According to her, the next step for UN Women in the area of women participation is helping to support the women who want to run in different parts of the country to prepare.

    Mlambo-Ngcuka pledged the support of the UN women agency in this regard, saying the men do a lot to position themselves.

    “So we will be working with other civil society,” the UN Women chief said.

    According to her, she was at the Nigerian Mission to give the Ambassador feedback on the visit to Nigeria.

    She added that the briefing also included the progress the UN Women was making in Nigeria and the progress that Nigeria was making at the time of the visit.

    “We were able to renew our commitment to support girls that were affected by the abductions – the Chibok girls in particular.

    “We were also able to look at the women and girls who were in the internally displaced persons’ camps and their conditions.

    “This is to make sure that we address any violations of their rights that may happen. The government has already taken steps to address that, which we appreciate,” she said.

    Mlambo-Ngcuka explained that the UN agency was also doing a lot in the area of women peace and security in general in the country.

    “So it’s also supporting the different initiatives that government has in addressing the safety of women, including safe schools. So we were able to discuss the next steps.

    She said the agency’s tactics was to join the activities of government to increase the awareness of the communities to what creates insecurity for the girls.

    She added UN Women would also support the girls that had come back from Boko Haram abduction to de-stigmatise and to ensure their successful integration.

    She commended Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for the way he handled the affairs of the country during the period he was in the saddle as the Acting President.

    “When we were in Nigeria, we met with then Acting President and we really found each other on the same page and that’s why already we are seeing some follow-up.

    “This includes the fact that he is a ‘HeForShe’ and he’s then committed to relaunch the ‘HeForShe’.

    “We will re-launch the ‘HeForShe’ now with the President – Muhammadu Buhari,” the UN Women chief said.

    ‘HeForShe’ is a solidarity campaign for the advancement of women initiated by UN Women.

    Its goal is to engage men and boys as agents of change by encouraging them to take action against negative inequalities faced by women and girls