The 10th anniversary of Young Innovators of Nigeria (YIN) is a significant milestone for Nigeria's tech industry.

Hosted by Young Innovators of Nigeria (YIN) and the Network of Incubators and Innovators in Nigeria (NIINE) to celebrate the heroes,

The second Technology Ecosystem Dialogue Summit Series TEDS 2024 is set to drive critical conversations on leveraging digital technology to boost Nigeria's revenue management and energy security.

The Technology Ecosystem Dialogue aims to bring together key stakeholders from the tech industry, government, academia, finance and investment experts within the private and public sector to discuss and explore the pivotal role of digital technology in today's society. This event aligns with national priorities and global best practices, aiming to integrate innovative technological solutions into Nigeria’s revenue management framework, promoting sustainable economic development and fiscal governance and stability.

By fostering collaboration between public and private sectors, the TED Series seeks to drive digital transformation and strengthen Nigeria’s economic resilience


Features:
1. Summit Focus: TEDS 2024 will explore the integration of innovative technologies into Nigeria's revenue systems, addressing issues like digital transformation in revenue collection, combating oil theft, and improving cybersecurity.
2. Awards and Recognition: The event will honor outstanding contributions, including prizes for Hackathon winners, who will develop solutions for clean energy and climate change during the summit.
3. Networking Opportunities: Attendees will have the chance to connect with key stakeholders from the tech industry, government, and academia, fostering public-private partnerships crucial for economic resilience.
4. Launch of "Tech Republic”: The summit will unveil "Tech Republic," a comprehensive book documenting a decade of technological advancements in Nigeria, offering a roadmap for the future of tech in the country and Africa.
5. Hackathon: Young innovators of Nigeria beacons on all innovators across Nigeria to conceive, develop and present innovative products along clean energy and climate change solutions, with the Idea Submission Deadline being September 30th, 2024
6. Dinner: The YIN at 10 dinner will be a special celebration of a decade of innovation to honor key contributors to Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. Attendees will include top leaders from government, tech, and private sectors, offering exclusive networking opportunities. It's a chance to engage with industry pioneers in a relaxed setting.


Sub Themes
i) Digital Transformation in Revenue Collection ii) Data Analytics and Revenue Leakages iii) Leveraging Technology to Combat Oil Theft and Boost Government Revenue in Nigeria(Tokenization of Nigeria Natural Resources) iv) Oil and Gas Stakeholders engagement in Investment initiatives (Role of PIA as a catalyst for tax and fiscal policy) v) Unlocking Funding for Carbon Reduction Initiatives vi) Data Protection & Cybersecurity in Revenue Systems vii) E-Government Solutions for Revenue Efficiency viii) Public-Private Partnerships in Revenue Technology.


Important dates:
Idea Submission Deadline: September 30th, 2024
Notification to selected Teams 8th October, 2024
Hackathon Event: 16th October, 2024


Event Details:
- Venue: PTDF Towers and Conference, #1 Memoria Drive, Central Business District, Abuja.
- Date: October 16-17, 2024
The summit promises to be a landmark event, pushing the boundaries of Nigeria’s digital landscape and setting the stage for future innovations.

Call to Action:
Join the dialogue, be part of the hackathon, and contribute to shaping Nigeria’s tech-driven future. Register now and become a catalyst for change in the nation’s economic and technological landscape.
The Best three products from the hackathon will be showcased at the TEDS. Industry partners are allowed to choose any product within or outside the best three for funding or sponsorship/co-ownership. Click here to apply https://yinigeria.com.ng/hackathon/
TEDS 2024 represents a crucial step towards integrating technological innovation into Nigeria's economic framework, driving digital transformation, and strengthening the nation’s economic resilience.
For more information, visit (https://yinigeria.com.ng/teds ).
#YIN@10
#TEDS2024
#TEDSERIES

SALIHU LUKMAN's COMBATIVE POLITICS BY MUSA ILALLAH

A former National Vice Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Salihu Lukman's allegation that the APC and the duo of former President Muhammadu Buhari and incumbent President Bola Tinubu ruined the country, is not only uncharitable but also an insincere and malicious assessment of the successes recorded in the country since 2015.

It is very sad that Lukman, in a statement recently in Abuja, further said: The hard truth is that both former President Buhari and President Tinubu have turned out to be self-centred and unable to produce the needed leadership to pull the country out of its current challenges".

Going by the antecedents of Lukman as a students union leader and a trade unionist in 2011 and 2015 when he listed an ambition to represent Kaduna State in the red chamber and woefully lost the Kaduna APC governorship primaries to Nasir el Rufai respectively, he has remained as stubborn as he was in the days of his excessive exuberance by seeing nothing good in others.

Indeed, Lukman's leadership and political style has been combative and confrontational. His negative activism knows no bounds in his attempts to empower and make himself the centre of attention.

As Director General of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, Lukman had a series of battles with Adams Oshiomole the then National Chairman of APC. Lukman accused the former NLC president of turning other members of the NWC into mere observers.

Yobe Governor Mai Mala Buni's tenure as acting National Chairman also didn't escape Lukman's sledgehammer.

His sojourn at the Nigeria Governors Forum as its Director General where he fought the governors as a one-man riot squad and also fought the former National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and former National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, to a standstill. He accused them of managing the party's finances without the knowledge of other NWC members.

Lukman also expressed strong reservations about the emergence of the immediate past governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje, as the successor to Abdullahi Adamu.

Going by some of the attributes of Lukman as stated above one can confidently say that it is not surprising that he has now gone further to cast aspersions on the former and current Presidents of the country along with the APC that brought him to the limelight.

Lukman has been a thorn in the flesh of every APC member until his shameless exit last year.

Undoubtedly, facts and figures show that since President Buhari came on board in 2015 up to May last year, the country has recorded giant strides in his 3 thematic areas of improving the economy, improving the nation's security and also taming corruption.

For former President Buhari and most Nigerians, despite what naysayers like Lukman say, PMB has given his best to the country and we all feel contented and comforted about his selfless and patriotic stewardship of the country for 8 solid years.

Without mincing words, i strongly believe that PMB's 8 years of leadership of the country was a rare display of commitment to integrity, discipline, and patriotism.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has paid his dues to Nigeria.

The countless legacies left behind by former President Buhari in infrastructural development, economy, security and taming corruption are unprecedented. Saliu Lukman must have been blinded by his negativity to have seen former president Muhammadu Buhari's giant strides.



I would like to end by saying that given Lukman's antecedents, it is clear that he is an extremist and a non-conformist who cannot work with anyone.

The reason for this is not far-fetched. He suffers from what they call the "supremo syndrome," that aura of invincibility.

His political witch-hunt of everyone he encounters on his political journey is a product of intoxication with hate politics and this aura of invincibility.

He goes to egregious lengths to discredit and destroy just about everything and everyone he comes into contact with, not for anything but to display their supremacist impulses.

The advice I have for him is that he might have a sword in his hands but the lesson he fails to take home from each of the frequent fights he engaged in -and lost- is that in all democracies characterized by periodic elections around the globe, the voter is the ultimate king. Buhari won in 2015 and got reelected in 2019 because the voter, not the political buccaneers decided those outcomes.

In addition to this, President Buhari had the honour and distinction of handing over to a fellow APC winner, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the end of his two terms



Lukman and his co- travellers must show respect to deserving leaders and withdraw from their aura of invincibility, arrogance and undignified campaign if they want people to take them seriously.

Call For Applications: Young Innovators Of Nigeria National Innovation Hackathon

Brief: 
Young innovators of Nigeria beacons on all innovators across Nigeria to conceive, develop and present innovative products along clean energy and climate change solutions.
Individuals with innovative ideas should build an MVP prototype of the idea ready for presentation and will be required to fill a Pitch Deck Form where you put the image of the product.

The Best three products will be showcased at the TEDS. Industry partners are allowed to choose any product within or outside the best three for funding or sponsorship/co-ownership.

Deadline:
Idea Submission Deadline: September 30th, 2024
Notification to selected Teams 8th October, 2024
 Hackathon Event: 16th October, 2024
Venue: Cosmopolitan University Abuja (#432 Yakubu James Pam, Ali Muhammad Zarah St, opposite National Hospital, Central Business District, FCT Abuja) 


Click here to apply https://yinigeria.com.ng/hackathon/

Abati’s slip of the on fuel subsidy

Dr. Reuben Abati’s recent commentary on the saga of renewed fuel queues that were largely absent in most of President Buhari’s two-term tenure, and Buhari’s refusal to remove fuel subsidy towards the end of his tenure, contained a major slip of the pen.


The main deficiency in the article, which somehow dimmed its value, was his failed attempt to suggest that a fuel subsidy booby trap was planted by the Buhari administration against his successor in office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.


In Abati's imagination President Buhari’s refusal to remove the subsidy in line with assumed or real pressure from external sources and despite the provision of Section 205 (1) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), is akin to leaving “a booby trap for Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”


This booby trap theory is absolutely unfounded because there is no iota of evidence to support it. It is totally speculative. A conjecture, the worst type based on unworthy hearsay. Or it is just a slip of Dr. Reuben Abati’s pen, which recurs regularly in his analysis of major national events.


Dr. Reuben Abati and many Nigerians can recall that Buhari’s spokesperson, Malam Garba Shehu, in a June 2023 statement saying that removing the fuel subsidy close to the general election could have been detrimental to the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).


“The Buhari administration in its last days could not have gone the whole way because the APC had an election to win. And that would have been the case with any other political party that was seeking election for another term.”


Malam Garba added, “Poll after polls showed that the party would have been thrown out of office if the decision as envisaged by the new Petroleum Industry Act was made.”

But even a greater reason for the refusal of the Buhari administration to end the subsidy on fuel was to save Nigerians from the harsh outcome it could have on their well-being and the destructive effects it could have on the economy.

The Minister for finance in the Buhari administration, Zainab Ahmed Shamsuna and other administration spokespersons said before fuel subsidy is removed, the government must have provisions to cushion its potential disruptive effects on the population.


Indeed, the Minister listed certain policy measures that would be in place before the Buhari administration contemplates subsidy removal: Availability of autogas (LPG) as option or an alternative to petrol as fuel for vehicles; provision of effective and reliable transit systems to reduce use personal vehicles by as many Nigerians as possible


Other measures according to her were the introduction of monthly transport grant for poor citizens; enhanced domestic petroleum refining toward which the Buhari administration awarded contracts for the rejuvenation of the refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri and, economic diversification through agriculture, manufacturing and other viable economic activities.


Going by the authoritative explanations from Malam Garba Shehu and past Minister for finance Zainab Ahmed, it was obvious that President Buhari’s decision not to remove the subsidy was, in a way, a strategic move to help Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the APC presidential candidate to win the election. So this fact alone has logically debunked Dr. Abati's booby trap speculation.


Dr. Reuben Abati has by hinself given more reasons which did not support his slip of the pen supposition on a booby trap in his article.

“The Buhari administration played smart by stating that the removal of fuel subsidy could result in social upheaval, and that the timing would be problematic,” he penned.


And in an instance of his often combative and less than circumspect style, Dr. Reuben Abati wrote, “on May 29, 2023, at his inauguration as President of Nigeria, Tinubu allowed his emotions to get the better part of him when he suddenly announced in his inaugural speech that fuel subsidy is gone.”. Past Buhari had no hand in this.


In another cancelation of his own booby trap slip of the pen, the former presidential spokesperson wrote in his opinion article that, “There may have also been persons around President Tinubu who told him to take a step that would please the IMF and the World Bank, both of which had always argued that Nigeria could not sustain its subsidy regime.”


The former editor of the Guardian newspaper regarded the President’s decision to announce the removal of fuel subsidy as “an impulsive policy making decision to please the Western crowd.”


He further destroyed his booby trap slip of the pen and false allegation against past President Muhammadu Buhari by linking President Tinubu’s decision on removing the fuel subsidy to “Tinubu’s populism, over-excitement and lack of caution.”


Dr. Reuben Abati once again exonerated past President Buhari from his unsubstantiated booby trap slip of the pen by saying this in his article, “Tinubu created a perfect storm by removing fuel subsidy and also abolishing the dual foreign exchange rate at the same time. It is simple common sense. Both moves were populist but the timing and the combination were wrong. “


S it is obvious that past President Buhari did not plant a fuel subsidy booby trap for President Tinubu, Dr. Reuben Abati should apologise to Nigerians for the big slip of his pen.


By Salisu Na'inna Dambatta
Maitama Abuja
rabotati002@gmail.com

After weeks of anticipation, the pictures of the new presidential jet as presented in the media when President Tinubu was leaving Abuja for his visit to France on Monday, the 19th of August was a disappointing climax. It shows that some people somewhere are either not doing enough thinking about the image they are presenting of the country and its current government. or are detached from the citizens as some people claim.

Years back when I worked around one of the big airports in the United Kingdom that normally hosted aircrafts from our presidential fleet, it was always a thing of pride for Nigerians around the airport when we spotted aircrafts from our presidential fleet, with the bold seal of The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or Nigeria Air Force and the distinctive green-white-green stripe. they served as a rallying call of pride and national unity.

Therefore, being the biggest aircraft so far to be used as NGR001, you can understand why I was looking forward to the projection of our national colours on the new acquisition.




However, the decision to leave the blue, brown and gold stripe on the recently purchased Airbus A330 with registration 5N-FGA, instead of the traditional green and white stripes associated with Nigeria, and the small writings and equally small size of the seal of the president on the aircraft is a missed opportunity to reaffirm the country’s identity on the global stage. Making the aircraft look inconsequential like many of the wet leased aircraft that dot airports around the world, instead of projecting the might of Nigeria, is a faux pas as unthinkable and possibly on the same level as making a pink coloured Cadillac the presidential limousine.

The Importance of National Branding in Presidential Aircraft

Branding is more than just colours or logos; it’s about the story you tell and the identity you convey. For nations, especially those with a rich heritage and vibrant culture, the branding of assets such as presidential aircraft plays a crucial role in expressing national identity and pride. One of the most iconic examples of effective national branding is the United States’ Air Force One. The blue, white, and gold design of Air Force One is instantly recognisable worldwide, symbolising American power, pride, and tradition. This iconic livery, designed during the Kennedy administration, isn’t just about aesthetics; it reinforces the image of the United States as a strong, unified nation.


Similarly, other countries have used their presidential aircraft as a means of projecting their national identity. Japan’s Air Force One, with its red and white colors reflecting the country’s flag, and France’s blue, white, and red design, showcase how national symbols and colours play a critical role in aircraft branding. These designs are not arbitrary— they are deliberate choices that remind the world of the country the aircraft represents.

For Nigeria, the green and white colours are more than just hues, they are symbolic of the nation’s agricultural wealth and desire for peace. The green represents the country’s rich natural resources, while white symbolises peace and unity. These colours are widely recognised and resonate with both citizens and the international community as a representation of the Nigerian identity.

Presidential aircraft, such as Nigeria’s, serve as flying embassies. They carry the nation’s image wherever they go, whether it’s to international summits, state visits, or global events. A plane bearing Nigeria’s green and white colours reinforces this identity, acting as a subtle yet powerful assertion of the country’s presence.

The blue, brown, and gold stripe currently adorning the Airbus A330, while elegant, doesn’t resonate with Nigeria’s national symbolism. It appears generic and lacks the visual connection to the nation’s colours and values. For an asset as significant as a presidential aircraft, this is a missed chance to proudly display Nigeria’s identity.


Countries that invest in the branding of their presidential fleets understand that these aircrafts are more than just tools of transportation. They are symbols of national pride and identity. By leaving the blue and gold stripe, Nigeria misses out on an opportunity to leverage this aircraft as a branding tool that celebrates its culture, history, and aspirations.

When considering the role of a national fleet in shaping international perception, it’s important to note how other countries integrate their cultural and national symbols into their branding:

1. United States (Air Force One): The distinct blue, white, and gold design of Air Force One is a deliberate statement of American strength, dignity, and history. The design is so effective that it is immediately recognised globally.
2. France: The French presidential aircraft features the blue, white, and red of the national flag, reinforcing France’s identity and history every time it lands in a foreign country.
3. India: The Indian presidential aircraft, with its saffron, white, and green colours, stays true to the national flag, reinforcing the country’s values of courage, peace, and faith.

In each of these examples, the aircraft is a canvas that proudly displays national values and identity. It’s not just a matter of visual appeal but of strategic branding that aligns with the nation’s image.

The current branding of the Airbus A330 (5N-FGA) misses the mark in aligning with Nigeria’s visual identity. A redesign incorporating the green and white stripes would not only correct this but also elevate the aircraft’s symbolic value. By doing so, Nigeria can take pride in projecting its values and aspirations wherever this aircraft flies.

In a world where national symbols are more important than ever, it is imperative that the branding of assets like presidential aircraft aligns with the values and identity of the country they represent. For Nigeria, ensuring the green and white colours are prominently displayed on this aircraft would be a step in the right direction, turning it into a powerful symbol of national pride, unity, and strength for a lot of Nigerians whose only association with the aircraft will be our national colours and the seal of the presidency displayed on it for us to see.

Adebayo is a strategic communications consultant. He writes from Abuja and can be reached via xseye1@gmail.com

OBLA: GRANDSTANDING OF A FUGITIVE IN PURPORTED FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION.


_
*“A lot of ppl are circulating the fantastical nonsense from Okoi @ObonoObla. As a fact, I don't & can't hold brief for @MBuhari or anything in his regime but we need to be careful abt confering credulity upon the claims of a manifest fantasist or fabulist.”



Renowned human rights lawyer, Professor Chidi Odinkalu on “X” expressing concern over what he called “delusional nonsense_* .”







We are witnessing a season in which some shameless public officials who were in the previous government and enthusiastically took part in its decisions and actions who now are turning round to disown and castigate their past. One of them is Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla.



Prio to his appointment, Obla was a lawyer in the office of A.A Malami, SAN where he practiced law as the Head of Chamber. He was also a member of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

After the success of the APC in the 2015 presidential election and the subsequent appointment of Malami as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, the minister nominated Obla for appointment as a Special Adviser to serve in the office of the Attorney General on matters of prosecution, given his background as a lawyer.

He continued in that role until his appointment by the then Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN in August, 2017, as the chairman of the Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of federal government property. He was at a point rejected by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a board member of the National Communications Commission.

For clarity, this Panel was constituted on the authority of the recovery of Public Property Act of 1984 and intended to enhance the anti-corruption initiatives of the administration.

The Acting President who appointed Obla made clear what the panel was meant to address in line with its enabling law.

However, as will be seen later in this write-up, Obla’s hunger for power and intoxication with it soon surfaced as he began to carry out activities using the instrumentality of the panel that are ultra vires the mandate he was entrusted with. He began to see himself beyond the adhoc nature of the powers of the panel and usurping the mandate of substantive government agencies with adequate processes, protocol and man-power to conduct investigation and properly carry out prosecution. He single-handedly designed the structure of the panel and culled personnel from the police, creating offices such as director of operations similar to what obtained in the EFCC, and even to the extent of having a cell to confine arrested individuals. He created and attached himself and office directly to the presidency as evident on a letter headed paper he had printed for his new office without any administrative approval.

It was these and other procedural excesses of his that caught the attention of the office of the vice president, his appointor to write series of letters drawing his attention and cautioning his activities. It is noteworthy that Obla disregarded these letters and refused to heed the calls contained in them.

It was clear to the office of the vice president that Obla at this juncture did not only derail from the mandate for which the panel was set-up but also constituted himself as unruly and insubordinate of the appointing authority.

Several correspondences from the Deputy Chief of Staff, DCOS drawing Obla’s attention to the mandate of this panel and how far from it he had derailed were not addressed or were just disregarded. Obla continued to carry out his duties in violation of his statutory mandate and in disregard to several warnings.

Premium Times had reported these matters in detail as follow:

‘However, just two months into its establishment, the panel was deemed to have derailed and hence, was cautioned.

On October 20, 2017, Ade Ipaye, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, wrote the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, directing him to “please inform Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, in strict compliance with Section (1) 1 of the recovery of Public Properties Act, he should refrain from carrying out any activities as Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), until his Excellency, the Vice President so instructs.’

“As envisaged by this section, it is for the President to specify the purpose or mandate of the panel. It, therefore, came as a surprise that Chief Okoi Obono-Obla had issued notices to several judges to declare their assets without receiving any specific mandate in that regard,” the letter further reads.

Apparently, due to a disregard of the first letter, the Vice President wrote to the AGF again as a reminder on November 17, 2017. The reminder came with specifics.

The VP asked the panel to remove ‘Presidency’ from its letterhead and remain ‘Special Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property,’ as provided by its enabling statute and not ‘Special Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property.’

The letter also directed the SPIP boss to refer all cases of asset recovery to the AGF after investigation, adhere to the approved budget and due process in its dealings and warned that the panel ‘cannot arrest and detain suspects, but must refer them to relevant law enforcement agencies when necessary.’

In addition to these, the presidency expects the panel to regularly give updates of its activities and recoveries.

Obla replied the first in a letter addressed to the vice president on November 10, 2017, wherein he stated that none of his actions was intended to disrespect the vice president’s authority:

“I also understand and align with your directives that the panel can only act on a written mandate received from the Presidency, and will seek authorisation from the presidency to undertake fresh mandates in accordance with extant laws of the federation,” the letter reads.

“But despite his reply,” the newspaper continued, “PREMIUM TIMES’ sources say the SPIP boss continues to run the panel without recourse to the presidency. This development forced the AGF to again write the vice president. The letter dated March 16, 2018, noted that Mr Obono-Obla was still operating in contravention of the vice president’s orders. “The AGF said his office had received at least five petitions against him. Issues raised in the petitions were part of the activities the panel carried out without taking directives from the Presidency, even after warnings.

“The Vice President’s office responded by directing the AGF to request Mr Obono-Obla to respond to the issues raised in the petition, explain why he disobeyed the vice president’s order and submit a detailed report of activities of the panel since inception.” (read Kemi Busari March 18, 2019 on Premium Times).



It is important to state here that some of these petitions received against Obla said he did not only stop at his procedural contraventions, but also talking about his use of the panel as a channel of settling scores and vendetta. It was complained that in several instances while carrying his illegal raids of residences, he looted valuables and carted them away without records. Such incidence was reported by General Martin Agwai among other victims. This was so disturbing that even while he was suspended and the matters were being transferred to relevant federal government agencies to look into and address in accordance with their respective mandates, no records of most of these items were found.

It was as a result of these dirty deals that he was finally suspended and the ICPC asked to investigate these petitions and address them accordingly on the 25th of January 2019 via a letter from the Deputy Chief of Staff. The letter partly reads:

“Despite the foregoing, the office of the Vice President has been inundated with complaints from various sources, including members of the panel, regarding allegations of unauthorised and illegal activities of the Special Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property,”

“In consideration of the forgoing, I am directed by His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, to instruct you to immediately cease all activities, pending an ongoing review of the SIP mandate and further directives of His Excellency.”

Premium Times also reported his disregard once again to this instruction and suspension and that “he has continued to investigate unmandated cases,” a source who does not want to be named told this newspaper. “He has continued to give instructions as if nothing happened, as if there was no directive. Recently, he sent some operatives outside Abuja to seize some properties.”

Apart from ignoring the vice president’s directives, Mr Obono-Obla has continued to work without recourse to superior authorities, another source said.

“For instance, if there is a case of litigation, the panel is supposed to seek guidance from the AGF but he doesn’t do that before acting,”

He continued to disregard all warnings and suspension until the panel was eventually dissolved by the president.



Matters however came to a head when the other four members of the 5-man Panel wrote a petition against Obla, asking for urgent action to curtail the "several identified unlawful conducts of the Chairman of the Panel.”



According to the Panel members, while two cases involving NEXIM Bank and CBN, Finance Ministry, Nigeran Ports Authority were referred to the Panel, the Chairman single-handedly took on over 50 cases outside the mandate of the panel.



They also stated that "contrary to the fact that the Panel is an investigative panel by its enabling law, which lacks prosecutorial powers, Mr. Obla had unlawfully engaged lawyers to file charges against suspects without recourse to the Attorney-General's office."



They alleged that “the man had been busy extorting money from suspects and engaged in excessive behaviour towards individuals, government agencies, private companies and even foreign missions in Nigeria.”



In fact the matter of the madate of the Panel became an issue of judicial interpretation at the Appeal Court in the case of TIJJANI MUSA TUMSAH V. FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA. In that case, the Appeal Court held that the Panel headed by Obla lacks prosecutorial powers and cannot seize properties belonging to anyone or obtain forfeiture orders against any public official. The Court also held that the duty of the Panel upon conclusion of an investigation is to submit its report to the President and that the Panel, as against the conduct of the Chairman, cannot act outside its enabling Statute, the Recovery of Public Property Special Provisions Act.



Actually, once when confronted with some of his alleged misconduct and other allegations, Obono-Obla pleaded and was made to sign an undertaking to mend his ways, but no sooner had he signed did he abandon the undertaking and continued violating the law and regulations in place in the conduct of the work of the panel.

In the light of the above facts, there are certain questions that need answers from Obla in order to prove the corrupt allegations he alleges vide an interview he granted Channels TV need to be analyzed with critical mind:


1. Gold bars? What is the value, who assessed the value? Who took over custody from him? Where is the existence of correspondence relating to them? Are the declared bars in his custody? Or in whose custody?

2. ⁠”Patrick Aziza’s” Billion Dollars. Where is the evidence of tracing? Which account and what efforts has he made in recovering them in line with his mandate? Is there evidence that he was stopped? By who? Where is the evidence of correspondence?

3. ⁠Stamp duty trillions? Where are the details of the funds? Where is the money lodged? Who stole the money and why is he shielding the beneficiaries?

4. ⁠The armoured vehicles over which an interim order of attachment was purportedly obtained by him. Why didn’t he pursue the case to conclusion? Who stopped him from proceeding to obtain final orders of forfeiture?

To say that he has no single record of recovery to his credit throughout his tenure in office but has multiple records of compromises including allegations of certificate forgery and disappearance of funds recovered through illegitimate invasion of the privacy of individual premises is indeed an understatement.

Huge amount of money taken from general Martin Luther Agwai ‘s house on his instructions were never accounted for and no charges were brought against the General by Obla.

The Buhari Government had a track record of giving Ministries, department and agencies of government free hand to operate in fighting corruption. Those that were serious minded had succeeded in making massive recoveries of looted assets and prosecuting those involved.

Those that were grandstanding ended up making noises with nothing tangible on the ground to show.

The EFCC and the ICPC pursued genuine causes and recovered trillions and secured unprecedented high profile convictions. The administration was internationally acknowledged to have done effectively well by institutions of repute inclusive of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Corruption, UNODC. Buhari was acknowledged as the Champion of Anti-Corruption by the African Union.

The office of the Attorney General recovered more than two billion dollars ($2bn).

Obla has no ONE DOLLAR ($1) recovered to his credit. The purported cases handled by him inclusive of 80 armored vehicles, USD 89 billion Aziza’s recovery, gold bars were all inherently compromised along the line by his undoing. Interim orders pursued through judicial processes were not pursued to final forfeitures having been abandoned along the lines by SPIP for reasons best known to him. Whistleblowers cases lodged with the panel were not professionally pursued to conclusion.

The panel lost its track and allowed itself to be used as a political instrument for settling scores at the whims of politicians.

Cases abound in that respect inclusive of the political roles he played in Imo and Rivers at the instance of political gladiators.

He is an empty vessel making the most noise when it comes to the fight against corruption.

Well meaning people should ignore him.



SIGNED:

Oluseye Adebayo,

General Manager,

Buhari Media Organisation, BMO,
Utako, Abuja.
buharimediaorg@gmail.com

BREAKING: OAU Lion Kills Staff

Continue reading at https://ybtcnews.ng/breaking-oau-lion-kills-staff/ | YBTC NEWS

PHOTOS: Former Imo state governor and Deputy Speaker of the House of representatives attends Dr. Paul Ibe's Mother's burial


Rt Hon. Emeka Ihedioha (middle) flanked to the left by Nze Paul Ibe, the Media Adviser to H.E Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and his wife, Mrs Dorothy Awashima Ibe to the left.

By Aileru Olamilekan Mukail

In Nigeria, drug abuse stands as a formidable public health and societal challenge, casting a long shadow over the development of the nation’s youth. Recent estimates from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) suggest that over 14 million Nigerians engage in drug use, with more than 3 million wrestling with drug use disorders. Thus, this issue demands our utmost attention.

A closer examination reveals the consequences that drug abuse weaves into the lives of young people, reaching far beyond the individual. These implications span various aspects of their lives, including physical and mental health, educational achievements, and prospects for the future.

For many young people, drug abuse becomes an insurmountable barrier to academic success. The demands of drugs often interfere with their ability to concentrate and learn effectively, leading to absenteeism and, tragically, dropout rates that hinder their educational journey.

Additionally, the link between drug use and criminal activities is concerning. Young drug users are often compelled to commit crimes, either to sustain their addiction or secure the means to purchase drugs. This not only jeopardises their own lives but also contributes to an environment of increased crime and violence, affecting the broader community.

Moreover, drug abuse exposes young individuals to severe health risks, including mental illnesses, HIV/AIDS, and the spread of infectious diseases. It evolves into a pressing public health crisis that demands attention.

Social isolation and fractured relationships are yet another consequence of drug addiction among the youth. The pursuit of drugs frequently leads to a withdrawal from social activities and personal relationships. Loneliness and isolation become companions, further entrenching the cycle of drug abuse and damaging relationships with family and friends.

Furthermore, drug abuse can severely limit opportunities for education and employment among young people. Completing their education or finding stable employment becomes a daunting task, depriving them of avenues for personal growth and undermining the nation’s development.

In essence, drug abuse stands as a significant impediment to Nigeria’s progress. The youth, who represent the nation’s future, find their development thwarted by this. Their prosperity is intrinsically linked to economic growth and social advancement, and drug abuse threatens to truncate their potential.

At this critical time and considering the rate at which drug use is increasing among youths in Nigeria, the Ministry of Youth Development should assume a pivotal role in the battle against drug abuse in the country. They can achieve this through various means.

The ministry can initiate educational programs within schools, foster youth clubs, and lead community-based initiatives to educate young people about the perils of drug abuse and advocate for a drug-free lifestyle.

Furthermore, proactive programs aimed at preventing the initiation of drug use among young people should be championed. These initiatives can cultivate positive life skills, such as decision-making and problem-solving abilities.

Supporting the establishment and execution of comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation programs for young individuals ensnared by drug addiction is imperative. These programs should encompass counselling, medical care, and vocational training to facilitate recovery.

In practical terms, the Ministry of Youth Development can engage in partnerships with educational institutions to devise and implement drug prevention programs. These programs should empower students with knowledge about the hazards of drug abuse and equip them with strategies to resist peer pressure.

Furthermore, collaboration with youth organisations can provide spaces for positive activities and life skills development. Initiatives such as sports teams, arts and crafts clubs, and leadership programs can offer healthy alternatives to drug abuse.

The ministry can act as a strong advocate for policies that foster youth development and drug prevention. It can lobby for measures that enhance education, employment prospects, and healthcare access.

By embracing these proactive measures, the ministry will be leading the battle against drug abuse. It has the potential to ensure that young people are equipped with the opportunities they need to realise their full potential, thus securing the nation’s brighter future.

The newly appointed Minister for Youth Development, Dr. Jemila Bio is by qualification a medical doctor and also an SDG advocate. Having held the capacity of being the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Kwara State on SDG, I’m confident that her qualification and experience will really be impactful in the ministry’s fight against the epidemic of drug abuse amongst the young population in Nigeria.

Aileru Olamilekan Mukail is a United States Trained Narcotic Officer. He can be reached via mukaileru@gmail.com

Watch full video below 📸

https://twitter.com/nassvoicesng/status/1709576247041216915?t=FcqH7dcVcBcKQs3nIArBTA&s=19

Wike Demolishes Multi-Million Naira Duplex in Abuja


The first demolition of an unapproved structure in Abuja under FCT Minister Nyesom Wike happened Monday at Wuse Zone 6.

The building, located on Plot 226 Cad Zone A02 Wuse 1, Wuse, Zone 6 District, is said to belong to Oba Oyebade Lipede, the Alake of Egba land, but was allegedly taken over by one Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Kamba and Alhaji Ademu Teku, who illegally constructed the duplex against all warnings.

Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said his team carried out an extensive investigation to ascertain the original owner of the plot, given varying claims by the parties.


He said the FCTA would not consider the status of any defaulting developer once development rules and regulations were violated.

He said, “We demolished the duplex because somebody built without valid title and building plan approval on someone else’s land. ‘Investigation revealed that the developer is not the owner of plot, that is why we had to remove the building.


“We allowed the building to this stage before demolishing it, because we had to follow all the processes. He was served all the notices to stop work, but being a recalcitrant developer, he continued without heeding to the notices we served.


“After our investigation we ascertained the original allottee, so we have to remove it. We are going to consult the legal department to know the next action against the developer.”

Continue reading at https://ybtcnews.ng/wike-demolishes-multi-million-naira-duplex-in-abuja/

[b]YBTC News —[/b]The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has revealed that 30 areas in Abuja might be affected by the demolition of illegal structures.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had also vowed that illegal structures in green areas of Abuja would be flattened According to the FCTA, 6,000 buildings had been mapped out in their last survey for demolition, and more might still be affected.

At least 6,000 illegal structures in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) across 30 areas might be demolished by the Federal Government. During his first press conference, the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, August 21, said there is a need to restore the master plan of Abuja, and there would be no room for any form of distortion.

Wike said: “We will take back our land and give to those who want to develop, and you must sign that you must develop at so and so time.’’

On the demolition of illegal structures, the director of the FCTA Department of Development Control Director, Muktar Galadima, said: “We would find time to go back and conduct a new survey.

As of February 2022, 6,000 abandoned houses were identified.” As reported by Punch, at least 30 areas in the FCT might be affected by the demolition of illegal structures.

These areas are listed below: 1. Apo Mechanic Village 2. Byanzhin. 3. Dawaki 4. Dei Dei. 5. Durumi. 6. Dutse. 7. Garki. 8. Garki Village. 9. Gishiri. 10. Gwagwalape. 11. Idu. 12. Jabi. 13. Kado Village. 14. Karmo. 15. Karshi. 16. Karu. .....
Continue reading at https://ybtcnews.ng/full-list-30-fct-areas-risk-demolition-as-wike-maps-6000-buildings/

Canada has unveiled a new immigration pathway for carpenters, plumbers and welders from other countries including Nigeria.

In a statement by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on Tuesday, the country announced a streamlined immigration pathway for skilled workers with specific expertise in carpentry, plumbing and welding.
“Canada’s Express Entry (EE) system is now tailored to provide a streamlined and efficient pathway for individuals with expertise in critical fields,” it said.

It said by prioritising the invitation of skilled newcomers with experience in the trades, the country aims to meet the increasing demand for talent and fill key positions that contribute to the nation’s economic growth and advancement.



“These category-based selection rounds will continue throughout the year, alongside general invitation rounds, and more details will be announced in the coming weeks,” it added.

According to Marc Miller, minister of IRCC, it is absolutely critical to address the shortage of skilled trades workers in our country, and part of the solution is helping the construction sector find and maintain the workers it needs.
“This round of category-based selection recognizes these skilled trades’ workers as essential, and I look forward to welcoming more of these talented individuals to Canada,” he said. In May, Sean Fraser, the former minister of IRCC, announced changes to EE through category-based selection, a new process to welcome skilled newcomers with work experience in priority jobs as permanent residents.

Canada’s express entry is an online system used by the Canadian government to provide permanent residence to skilled workers. It’s the country’s main system for managing skilled worker applications for Canadian immigration.

There are many different ways for professionals and workers to qualify for a Canada immigration permanent resident visa, according to lawyers at First Immigration Law Firm based in Canada.

“The most prominent option is through Express Entry, which is Canada’s main pathway for economic class skilled workers.


Your best bet to be eligible under the entry is to meet the requirements of either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or Canadian Experience Class,” they said.
Canada’s aging population and lower birth rate has been shrinking its labour force, forcing the country to intensify its efforts to attract large, young and vibrant immigrants by offering immigration-friendly policies.

Last year, the Canadian federal government announced an aggressive plan to take in 500,000 immigrants a year by 2025, with almost 1.5 million new immigrants coming to the country over the next three years.

The country landed 437,120 Permanent Residents in 2022, a nearly eight percent increase from the total number of PRs in 2021, according to IRCC. For Nigeria, it grew by 41.9 percent to 22,130 last year from 15,595 in the previous year.

Continue reading at https://ybtcnews.ng/canada-opens-new-pathway-for-plumbers-carpenters-welders-from-nigeria-others/

⁣President Bola Tinubu has signed the Nigeria Data Protection bill into law. ⁣⁣ ⁣

Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National commissioner of the then Bureau now a Commission (NDPC) disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday at the ongoing NDPB Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2023 – 2027 Validation Workshop.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,GCFR has signed the Nigeria Data Protection bill into law on June 20, 2023” he said.


The law will safeguard Nigerians fundamental rights and freedoms and the interests of data subjects, as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The Act also criminalises failure to comply with the orders of the Commission, which is punishable by a fine and or imprisonment term. A data subject may also seek damages from a data controller through civil proceedings, in the event of a violation.

The new law “sets out principles for the processing of personal data, some of which include that it must be done in a fair, lawful and transparent manner, that it is limited to the minimum necessary for the purpose it is collected and is not retained for longer than necessary.”

“The law specifically states that the burden of proof is on a data controller to establish that he or she received the consent of the data subject before collecting his or her data.

Continue reading at https://ybtcnews.ng/nigeria-now-have-a-data-protection-law-vincent-olatunji/

Finally! Guinness World Records Confirms Hilda Baci’s Record For Longest Cooking Marathon

The 26-year-old Nigerian chef began on Thursday 11 May and continued through to Monday 15 May, cooking over 100 pots of food during her four-day kitchen stint.



Continue reading at https://ybtcnews.ng/guinness-world-records-confirms-hilda-bacis-cooking-record/

President Bola Tinubu, the workhorse in the villa, by Dapo Okubanjo



The first indication of what to expect was given by the man who should know, former minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola who worked closely with Governor Bola Tinubu, as he then was, as Chief of Staff between 2003 and 2007.

Speaking on national TV few days to May 29 handover date, he quipped that Nigerians would be seeing a President with a hands-on approach to governance. Someone who works deep into the night,sees nothing wrong in close marking appointee after giving out tasks.

Yes, it’s only a few days into the Bola Tinubu administration, Nigerians are seeing this and more. Fresh from making his now famous ‘Fuel is gone’ declaration which rattled not a few and caused a stir in the land, Nigeria’s 16th President has been holding back-to-back meetings much in line with his vow to provide solutions to national problems.

And of course, there is none that is worse than the knee jerk reaction by oil marketers to the President’s inaugural speech and the attendant nation wide fuel queues even before he left the Eagle Square venue of his inauguration.

What followed was a flurry of meetings with the Group CEO of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mele Kyari and Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele on the President’s first full day at work on the issue of fuel subsidy removal and other economic matters even as Organised Labour was bracing up for action and had proceeded to mobilize its members across the country.

Coming at a time the government had not taken shape, many Nigerians were wondering how President Tinubu would weather the storm of negotiations but this veteran of political battles appeared to be more prepared than expected and soon enough a team of negotiators was in place.

It was also at a time a nationwide strike by health workers was just gathering stream but unknown to the citizenry, like a workhorse that he is, the President invited the leadership of the health workers to Aso Rock while government negotiators were engaging labour leaders on issues of fuel subsidy removal.

APC Professionals Forum, a think tank group in the ruling party, was spot on in its assessment at a recent press conference:

*We also saw how, without much ado, the President resolved a health workers’ strike which began few days to his inauguration on May 25, by holding direct talks with the leadership of the Joint Health Sectors Union (JOHESU) on the same day talks were held to resolve issues surrounding fuel subsidy.*

And who would easily forget how within his first hours in office, President Tinubu held a meeting with the nation’s service chiefs in line with his inauguration day assurance that security would be the top priority of his administration because according to him ‘neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence’.

It was also fitting that his first official activity outside of the Presidential villa was a tour of the new Office of the National Security Adviser and facilities at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Abuja during which he declared zero tolerance for hoarding of intelligence and security information.

Although he did not publicly speak on inter-agency rivalry, it is worth remembering Tinubu’s stern intervention into a rift between the Department of State Service DSS and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) the day after he assumed office.

Within minutes of DSS operatives taking over EFCC’s office in Lagos, he ordered them out of the place and urged both agencies to resolve their differences amicably.

He also followed it up with a meeting with the EFCC chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa who used the opportunity to brief the new president on the fight against corruption.

It should be noted that President Tinubu has in the last few days met with some major oil marketers who not only expressed their support for oil subsidy removal but also signified their intention to donate between 50 and 80 gas powered mass transit buses to help cushion the effect.

Other meetings have been with governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after which he met all 36 governors in 2 batches.

Visitors to the Presidential villa in recent days also include National Assembly members elected on the platform of the ruling party as well as the former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike who has been part of three different delegations in the last 10 days or so.

And not to forget the ExxonMobil team led by the President, Mr. Liam Mallon, which paid a courtesy visit to President Tinubu in the middle of his very tight schedule of meetings.

In all these consultative meetings,the President has come across as someone who is going to have a crowded schedule of engagements that are likely to drag late into the night.

Clearly, the Presidential villa has not have witnessed the sort of visitors it has received in just under two weeks.

And expectedly, it has provided some clarity into what to expect in the next four years .

More importantly, it is clear that Tinubu is bringing to governance a style and approach different from that of his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari as postulated by former minister Babatunde Fashola who has had the distinction of working with both men extensively.

For now, it is safe to say we indeed have a workhorse in the Presidential villa and those looking forward to working with him had better beware!

Dapo Okubanjo, a journalist writes from Abuja via dokubanjo@yahoo.co.uk

Why we haven’t recognized Hilda Baci’s Cooking Record— GWR


A Nigerian chef has been cooking up a storm in her kitchen in the hopes of landing a world record.

Hilda Bassey, known on social media as Hilda Baci, has been dominating headlines around the world ever since she launched her cooking marathon.

She’s hoping to snap up the record title for longest cooking marathon (individual) which currently belongs to Lata Tondon (India) with a time of 87 hr 45 min.

Hilda began cooking on Thursday and continued through to Monday, reportedly whipping up 55 recipes and more than 100 meals in a whopping 100-hour stint.

Officials on our records team look forward to reviewing the evidence and hope to be able to verify Hilda’s efforts as a new record very soon.

A Guinness World Records spokesperson said: “We are aware of the record attempt and are looking forward to receiving the evidence for our Records Management Team to review, before we can confirm the record is official.”

Hilda explained she was taking on the challenge to highlight Nigerian cuisine.


https://ybtcnews.ng/why-we-havent-recognized-hilda-bacis-cooking-record-gwr/

Why we haven’t confirmed Hilda Baci’s New Record —GWR


Guinness World Records have clarified why they are yet to confirm Hilda Baci’s new record for long cooking hours.

A tweet from their official Twitter handle read: “We’re aware of this amazing record attempt, we need to review all the evidence first before officially confirming a record.”

As of 11:22am on Monday, Baci has cooked for 91 hours and 21 minutes to surpass the previous record set by an Indian chef, Lata Tondon in 2019. The previous titleholder cooked for 87 hours, 45 minutes, and 00 secs.

Continue reading at https://ybtcnews.ng/guinness-world-records-hilda-baci/ | YBTC News

A judge at The Central Criminal Court has sentenced former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice and Doctor Obinna Obeta to jail.


At a sentencing hearing on Friday, Ekweremadu was jailed for nine years and eight months, his wife Beatrice was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment while Obeta received a 10-year prison term.

The sentencing follows their conviction in March for organ trafficking. The Ekweremadus’ sick daughter, Sonia, was cleared of any wrongdoing.


The three were found guilty after arranging or facilitating a young Nigerian man’s travel into the United Kingdom in a bid to obtain his kidney on behalf of Sonia.


Continue reading at https://ybtcnews.ng/ekweremadu-gets-10-years-in-prison-for-organ-trafficking/

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has told the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, that unlike him, he has consistently contested presidential elections because of his “drug-free record and no any identity scandals”

Also, Atiku said that he “has never had any controversy surrounding his age, circumstances of his birth, state of origin, gender, educational qualification, health status, working career and citizenship, all issues bordering on constitutional qualification to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Mr Atiku stated this in his reply to Tinubu’s Notice of Preliminary Objection against his petition challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election. In his Notice of Preliminary Objection filed on April 12, by his lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), the President-elect had urged the court to dismiss the petition filed by Atiku and his party the PDP, for been vague, an abuse of court process, that the suit was not properly constituted and that the reliefs sought by the petitioners are not grant-able.


But replying, Atiku said Tinubu has demonstrated inconsistency as to his actual date of birth, the secondary schools he attended (Government College Ibadan); his state of origin, gender; actual name; certificates evidencing universities attended (Chicago State University).


“The purported degree certificate of the 2nd respondent allegedly acquired at the Chicago State University did not belong to him but to a female (F) described as ‘F’ in the certificate bearing the name Bola Tinubu.

“The 2nd respondent did not disclose to the 1st respondent his voluntary acquisition of citizenship of Republic of Guinea with Guinean Passport No. DO00001551, in addition to his Nigerian citizenship. The 2nd respondent is hereby given notice to produce the original copies of his said two passports,” he said.

Atiku further submitted that Tinubu has record of criminal forfeiture of the sum of $460,000.00 for a drug-related offence before the United States District Judge John A Nordberg in the 2 respondent’s First Heritage Account No. 263226700, being proceeds of narcotics-trafficking in violation of 18 U.S.C 1956 and 1947 for an offence involving narcotics.

Continue reading at https://ybtcnews.ng/im-drug-free-atikuto-tinubu/?preview=true&frame-nonce=7e0e14d786 |

YBTCNEWS.NG[b][/b]

2023 UTME: Lists of banned items within the examination hall

YBTC NEWS —The 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME has begun on Tuesday April 25th, and run till Wednesday 3rd May, 2023.



The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB indicated that the examination would be conducted for over 1.6 million candidates who registered for the 2023 UTME.

Candidates are being checked into the examination hall using the Biometric Verification Machine, BVM which is also a register of attendance in line with the Board’s policy of “no biometric verification, no examination.”


The spokesperson of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, told Journalists that all was set for the start of the examination and JAMB has put in all measures to ensure smooth conduct of the examination.


Dr. Fabian had in a statement earlier in the week advised candidates who registered for the exercise to print their 2023 UTME notification slips which contains information on location of candidate’s examination centre, date of scheduled sessions, time of the examination and other necessary information.

BANNED ITEMS
He also said ban on prohibited items is still in force, thus asking candidates to be careful not to run foul of the law as necessary sanctions would be meted out to violators of its code of conduct.


He listed the banned items within the examination hall to include but not limited to flash drives, smart watches, calculators, recorders, mobile phones, spy reading glasses, jeweleries, among others.

Continue reading at https://ybtcnews.ng/2023-utme-lists-of-banned-items-within-the-examination-hall/ | YBTC NEWS

BREAKING: Joe Biden has announced his re-election

The United State of America President, Joe Biden has announced his re-election bid for the 2024 presidential election.


Mr. Biden made his intention clear via his verified Twitter account on Tuesday, April 25.

"Every generation has a moment where they have had to stand up for democracy. To stand up for their fundamental freedoms. I believe this is ours."

"That’s why I’m running for reelection as President of the United States. Join us. Let’s finish the job."

Continue here: https://ybtcnews.ng/breaking-joe-biden-declears-for-second-term/

A lot of people are with the school of thought that our male leaders in this part of the world don't see the importance of women in the society for economic growth, but I stand to disagree on that. We have some that value the role of women, understand their importance and give them a chance to exercise their values. Among them is Kashifu Inuwa, who has taken the empowerment of women, a priority and thing of concern.

Kashifu inuwa has given an unwavering support and commitment to women, recognising them as global shapers. His belief resonates with this proverb that says, 'when you educate a man, u educate an individual but when u educate a woman, u educate a nation.

Inuwa, in his capacity, has chosen to make women inclusive in his goal to place Nigeria on d path to attaining 95% digital literacy on or before 2030. He identifies two major stakeholders in this vision, which are youth and women and has been driving towards this goal.

So as not to make our women a product for the 'other room' alone, he has chosen to collaborate with several organisations in empowering our women to become assets to the community.

In accordance with Inuwa's reasoning, gone are the days when we think women are weaker vessels. Though they might not have the strength to wrestle with men in physical battle, but in creative and innovation capacity, we can not undermine their capacity that is why he has been an advocate for women empowerment and providing educational opportunities that can provide job opportunities.

As someone that has studied the bearers to gender inclusion which include educational level, legal denial, fund access denial and many more, and understands that if women are being empowered in innovation ecosystem, they will add to the global GDP a whooping sum of 18 trillion US dollars and more. In view of that, he has dedicated some policies in favour of the women in partnership with Fasaha Gina Mata Gina Al-Umma Digital Skill Program, Microsoft and many others to empower the youth and women inclusion.

All these virtues and efforts have endeared him to be recognized by United Nation Generation Equality which aided his invitation to the United Nation House, Abuja during the United Nation Women's Showcase Event where young women and men uses technology to promote gender equality and empower women in Nigeria to commemorate the Women's week.

As someone that keys into the ideology of United Nation believing that Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential, he has been recognised by the united Nation for this unwavering support. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieving peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development. Kashifu has keyed into this knowledge so as to spur productivity and economic growth.

I feel delighted to have a person of Kashifu securing and seeking equal access to quality education and health, economic resources and participation in innovation technology for both women and girls(Female) and men and boys (youth in General).

Gender Equality was made part of international human rights law by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948. That milestone document in the history of human rights recognized that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” and that “everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedom set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, … birth or other status.” Aligning with this fact, Kashifu sees every human with equal size of brain and same birth process which should not limit anyone to exhibit their God-given potentials.

In view of all of these, I congratulate our women for having such a person like Kashifu in our society as we celebrate them during the Women's month.

ASIWAJU: BETWEEN PARTISAN COMPENSATION AND A LEGACY AGENDA

By Hashim Suleiman

The only reason why APC had to struggle to win the 2023 election in perhaps a controversial manner is entirely the result of the inability of the APC party to distinguish between how to manage mediocrity and criticality and obviously the former took precedence in the APC administration, and we are here today. You may read further on this from my article of 26th November 2016 titled ‘Between Setting a Stage for Compromise and Maintenance of Integrity’ and which can be read here:https://twitter.com/oneheartnaija/status/802446320833269760?s=46&t=NPC_NSLSH_jYKkXra1o8Bg.
From the foregoing, it is safe to conclude that President Buhari compromised too much for personal and partisan purposes at the detriment of his legacies, performance and integrity. Suffice it to say there is nothing wrong in compensating good gestures or contributions, but it becomes complex and complicated when that will be coming on a backdrop of an electoral victory that comes with baggage of expectations and entitlements.

The 2023 elections have come and gone, and the returning officer as enshrined in our laws has returned Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President-Elect while all other offices have also been returned by the appropriate returning officers. Those who chose to not agree with the outcomes also have an inalienable democratic right to approach the tribunals to make their cases, in fact I for one encourages such democratic ideals so much because democracy becomes tasteless without them.

However, some of us who had warned severally about the mediocre nature of the members of APC that Buhari had nurtured for the 7 years in power and of which Tinubu had no option but to inherit. The performances of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies is enough to vindicate the mediocre nature of majority of those that became the crux of the Buhari administration and the APC.
Little wonder why there had to be several burst outs by Asiwaju penultimate the Primary Elections and the General Elections alike. There were not any critical strategies formulated by majority of the directorates in the PCC less making more enemies for the party and the then candidate because indeed you must know mediocre are lazy minded and find it difficult to formulate strategic mitigations so their only tool becomes insult and brigandage, for example, have you ever seen Fashola in those kinds of insult mood or chicanery?? Your answer will be as good as mine.

To set the records straight, it was the absence of the much-needed criticality in the APC as orchestrated by Buhari that made the campaigns and electoral victory so difficult for Asiwaju Tinubu and equally why there are still numerous controversies after victory and guess what, they are still not able to manage the post-election controversies optimally because they just don’t have it. The needed criticality is scarce in Nigeria, and one would have to look outside the readily available crowd.

In balance to these opinions, it is also important to emphasize that in a political party, it was important to manage all of the good, the bad and the ugly as deliberated in my 2015 article titled: https://www.abusidiqu.com/the-continuity-and-change-agents-within-the-apc-and-a-need-to-manage-all-by-suleiman-hashim/, but for the sake of the need for legacy and performance in governance, some of the sectors cannot afford to be jettisoned on the alter of partisan compensation and it was very important for these points to be echoed to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in order that the necessary mindset be set for excellence in governance in compliance with the Lagos template that formed the crux of the Asiwaju campaign.

This final paragraph would be of immense interest to Asiwaju, and his success and it is to the effect that those with the described ‘make it easy’ character as described above come from the part of the country that feels most entitled to his presidency, if you allow their mindset and methods to take precedence over excellence then failure is imminent.


There are indeed sound minds amongst them too but trust me the management of these individuals and their level of participation would to a large extent determine Asiwaju’s legacies and likely re-election in 2027. The difference between Kwankwaso and Ganduje’s performances and acceptability in Kano and how Kwankwaso came back to sweep kano owing to excessive goodwill capital is a buttress to some of the points I have laid out here.

May Nigeria succeed through Asiwaju
Ramadan Kareem

Hashim Suleiman
oneheartnaija@yahoo.com

This year’s elections have been clearly testy, such that have further exposed our pretty much filthy fault lines like no other election period in the history of this country, and in particular, the very cosmopolitan nature of Lagos State.

The nation’s unity in diversity, which incidentally, is her strength, has been put to an unwholesome shock – back to back – in the last few weeks. But, what’s been pushing some of the patriots through is, perhaps, their indomitable spirit to rise above their existential demons ensconced in primordial sentiments and see the big picture in collective and larger interest.

After results of the February 25 presidential election were released, showing the Labour Party with unexpected but exceptional showing, many people appeared to have been blown away in the heat of that moment, forgetting that Lagos stands out from the lot and her leadership can neither be gambled nor toyed with.

A lot is at stake and the future of millions is in clear contemplation. This is why returning Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his partner-in-progress, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, for another term of four years, has become a compelling task, not just one to be discharged by everyone but by all legitimate means possible.

The governor has acquitted himself well in the about four years that he’s been in the saddle and his records speak for him – in high volumes. He’s exhibited nothing but remarkable leadership traits, whatever his inadequacies could be.

He is the listening type – compassionate, trusting and dependable. Importantly, he knows and understands the demands of his office, more so as a decent family man. He is not one to struggle with identity crisis either. With Sanwo-Olu, what you see is what you get.

It’s okay for people to hurt and disagree, if and when they feel strongly about certain developments in the affairs of the state. What should not be contemplated, conversely, is being needlessly disagreeable, when the matters in contention could easily be addressed.

Without paying undeserving attention to those, who had done everything possible to slant the narratives of Lagos politics along ethnic considerations, and at the same time play the victim, their character portrait is not shrouded in secrecy either, except that ignoring them and all that they tend to represent pays off in the circumstances.

It would be defeatist, nonetheless, to make them an issue in this all-important election. After all, they have made tolerance, which they are not wired to reciprocate, even at no discomfort to them, a crime.

Dear Lagosian, as you go out tomorrow, Saturday, March 18, to cast your votes in the governorship and state assembly elections, you have a responsibility to engage your critical minds and discard the tendentious mob mentality that seemed to have crept into the political artery of the state. It is not in the interest of anyone, much less you. It is nothing but destructive.

Lagos, for all it is worth, is not a training field, but an enviable "leadership institute" with strict admission process for those, who are not out to learn on the job, but hit the ground running. In other words, if you love Lagos, which has been kind to all regardless of creed and in spite of her shortcomings, you should know better what to do tomorrow.

Put succinctly, a support for Governor Sanwo-Olu is support for a better and your dream Lagos. It is also why you have to be a part of the development process of what you call "your Lagos". May that Lagos never go down or backward.

Sanwo-Olu le’ekan si. Eko o ni baje… lailai!

People who read my articles a lot know I’ve always been a defender of mischief and blackmail which has become a shortcut that Nigerians love to employ owing to their lazy mindsets and crave for cheap gains in order to Pull Down people they assume are their stumbling blocks to those shortcuts they want to take to progress.


Remember when they came for Pantami and his past political opinions just because they didn’t like his revolutionary policies in the ICT sector and preferred their shortcuts as usual so they resorted to attempts at cancelling him but I set the records straight that he has a right to his political opinions per time, per available variables, you can read that piece here: https://dailytrust.com/pantami-and-his-citizen-right-to-political-opinion/.

Fast forward to today, these lazy agents are at it again and this time around it’s on the President, Muhammadu Buhari, they want to cancel him for committing to conduct a free and fair election and I wonder what that means, I’ll summarize it to mean that majority of those that Buhari surrounded himself with took him for a fool all along, they noticed he always reasoned with national noise and did what was necessary to douse tensions and they are employing same tactics now to get him to manipulate the system for their lazy self at the detriment of his legacy, that won’t work!

While one will understand Asiwaju to have been a fighter all his life, his current presidential aspiration comes with its own peculiarities, and that was why from before and after the primaries I had warned the APC to take their recruitments of campaigners and promoters very seriously because indeed there was going to be a lot of work to be done to convince Nigerians to vote the party and especially the candidate that emerged and the general public perception on him, that much work has to also be an intellectual one at that, but I guess they didn’t hear. The chicken has today come home to roost and they want to tie the consequences of their lazy intellectualism and lack of strategy on Buhari, we will not allow that, everyone should go out and campaign to the people and sought for their votes.

The managers of the APC campaign have succeeded in spreading a narrative that suggests to the society that the only way they can win is for Buhari to manipulate the system forgetting that them and Buhari were beneficiaries of free and fair conduct by Goodluck Jonathan, so many people have argued that the most significant contribution of Tinubu to Buhari in 2015 was at the primary elections in lagos in 2014 but the victory at the main elections was an amalgamation of forces ranging from Tinubu to Amaechi, Saraki, Atiku, Kwankwaso, Nyako and a host of others.

If the above narrative is what it is, then it’s very safe to say that Buhari has fully repaid Tinubu by first allowing him to nominate the Vice President and several others in cabinet and other appointments. Furthermore, he ensured the conduct of a free and fair primaries where Tinubu emerged. They are bandying a video of Abeokuta rally in 2014 where Tinubu campaigned for Buhari, but Buhari was also in Jos, Yola, Yobe, Bauchi, Nassarawa, Sokoto and Imo states to campaign for Asiwaju and he made equal or more speeches and the question to ask then is why the blackmail??

There are other contestants in this race, Buhari will not declare a war and throw them under a bus just because he needs to satisfy an imaginary payback that has been orchestrated by lazy campaigners who do not have what it takes to justify the humongous monies they have taken From Tinubu. They should go and sought for goodwill and people buy in just like Buhari is doing to the candidate but assuming that Buhari should jettison his legacy and rig the system on heir behalf as their definition of a payback is a further indication that their love for him was never genuine but for their personal gains and aggrandizement as is with lazy minds.

We support Buhari to finish strong!

May God bless Nigeria

Hashim Suleiman
oneheartnaija@yahoo.Com

KPEROGI’S VEILED CAMPAIGN FOR TINUBU,

By Hashim Suleiman

I’ll start on this by referring you an an earlier piece I had written on 17 April, 2021 about Kperogi when he attempted to hoodwink his readers and Professor Pantami that he was the latter’s friend but still went ahead to disparage him by spewing lies and supposed private matters on the Professor, the piece can be read here: https://swiftreporters.com/kperogi-the-fake-friend/. At that point, I had just switched from being his ardent fan to seeing him for who he really is, a propaganda merchant who thrives on the docility of Nigerians to cash out. Kperogi had to acknowledge that article as it bursted his little games on 24 April, 2021 in his column tagged ‘On my friendship with Pantami’ and which can be read here: https://www.farooqkperogi.com/2021/04/on-my-friendship-with-pantami.html.

I read Kperogi piece of today 11th February, 2023 where he attempted to as usual disparage Buhari’s naira policy and linked it as a ploy to stop a BAT and I found the analogy in it very ludicrous to say the least. I wonder why Kperogi has developed a permanent feeling and understanding that Nigerians are extremely daft and so he could spew anything at them albeit hypocritically after cashing out his little coins behind the scene. Kperogi is a supporter of Tinubu but just like so many Nigerians who share his type of double character, he is finding it difficult to come clean about it, so he is using mind games this time around to blame Buhari and his policy as the reason why Tinubu would fail even though according to him, he doesn’t want it but he would prefer that the failure of Tinubu occurs through ballots and not through sabotage.

However, what Kperogi and the likes who don’t have the audacity and criticality to formulate critical campaign strategies to market Tinubu don’t understand is that the suffering of Nigerians which had largely made them to make up a mind did not start with the naira scarcity and it’s attendant suffering which in my opinion is over bloated by the likes of Kperogi and other propaganda merchants to unfairly blackmail Buhari into succumbing to perhaps use state resources to install Asiwaju as president and that won’t happen because in reality Nigeria has long moved away from such. You have to have some level of popularity to rig elections in any society and rather than campaign enough to get the masses support for Asiwaju, Kperogi and the likes believe the victory must only be gotten through blackmail.

While on my way back from office yesterday, I critically examined the menial marketers like ‘suya’ sellers and the rest, and I saw a normal activity going on as I used to know it and I wondered in my mind where the excessive suffering that was been hyped was? It has also been established and I know that those people in the remote villages that Kperogi attempted to refer to do not need more than one to five thousand Naira to transact and while in the beginning things got a little rough, POS merchants have since gotten cash for them and things are normalizing, so I’m sure that the whole propaganda about suffering is being spewed by some political elements who perhaps see free and fair contest as a threat to their victory and such narrative has to stop quickly because in recent past it was same kind of narrative that made Jonathan loose elections, Nigerians desist such fearful narrative.

Furthermore, Kperogi alluded to the fact that Asiwaju always used billion vans to win his way through elections, assuming without conceding that was true as coming from him, is Kperogi then telling us that he supports a corruption of the electoral system? If anything, is ensuring a free and fair contest by Buhari not worthy of commendation? I can bet you Nigerians especially those from
Northern Nigeria have accepted this policy not because there are not minor and temporary discomfort about it but because they see it from the prism of Buhari doing what he ought to have done a long time ago which was to annihilate corruption and its practices, so it appears the people were ready to bear this brunt in as much as it guarantees free and fair contest.

Speaking about a payback by Buhari after Tinubu had supported him, I have maintained in different fora that the agreement for the reciprocation was a party matter and that had been settled at the primary elections because indeed all stakeholders allowed Tinubu to emerge even though they had other preferences which is normal with every human. However, general elections are a totally different games because there are other contestants and it is a democratic regime we are in where numbers of votes garnered matters most, so Kperogi and co should rather concentrate on fetching votes for Tinubu rather than blackmailing Buhari to hand over powder to Tinubu already baked.

Kperogi supports Tinubu,I knew this penultimate the primary elections, when he kept dropping hammers on Osinbajo, a contract he collected to disparage Osinbajo in the eyes of the northerners so as to pave way for Asiwaju and that worked but the current one won’t work because the ordinary people from the north have bought into it to a large extent maybe not so much from the beginning of it but much more now. Rather than all these intellectual shortcuts, I have advised the APC and it’s campaign to make appropriate recruitments to formulate strategies and such recruitments can be out of the ‘big names’ and the usuals, there are millions of smart boys and girls out there who can beat Kperogi and the likes to their cheap and opportunistic games, Daniel Bwala is one of such examples!

May the best man win for Nigeria’s increased progress, Amen!

Hashim Suleiman
oneheartnaija@yahoo.com

Sufaye Investment Limited Launches New Website to Enhance Retail and Distribution of Beverages in Nigeria


Kano, Nigeria - Sufaye Investment Limited, a leading retailer and distributor of all types of beverages in Nigeria, is proud to announce the launch of its new website, www.sufayeinvestment.com.

The website is designed to provide customers with a seamless and convenient access to a wide variety of beverages and to enhance communications between the company and its potential customers.

The new website features an easy-to-navigate design, with a wide range of products listed in different categories. Customers can browse through the website and see different products we sell. Promos and other information will be posted on the website for our customers to see.

Retailers and distributors can contact our company through the website and place their orders through the contacts we provided and have products delivered to their doorstep anywhere in Nigeria.

The website also has an embedded google map address that could take you to our branches in Kano state.

Sufaye Investment Limited is committed to providing customers with the best shopping experience possible, and the new website is a reflection of that commitment. The company is dedicated to offering a wide range of high-quality beverages at competitive prices.

"We are thrilled to launch our new website, which is a significant step forward in our efforts to enhance customer convenience and satisfaction," said Alhaji Ahmad Sufi, the Sufaye Investment Limited's CEO.

"We are confident that our customers will appreciate the convenience and ease of shopping through our website and we look forward to serving them in the best way possible," he added.

Visit the website at www.sufayeinvestment.com to experience the convenience of online shopping for beverages in Nigeria.

Contact:
Sufaye Investment Limited
info@sufayeinvestment.com

+234 80 318 19501

A Federal Lawmaker, Rt Hon. Oluyemi Taiwo Representing Ibarapa East/ Ido Federal Constituency, Oyo State has Secured FG Intervention Funding for Ibadan Based AI Robotics Facility

This giant stride was made by Rt Hon Oluyemi, after the world was thrown into frenzy after a US based AI firm, OpenAI released a groundbreaking solution called “chatGPT” which could converse, reply text messages sent by humans and answer almost any question as accurately as if it were human itself and all-knowing.

This solution proves to have the capacity to write news articles, public speeches, academic papers, computer codes and can go as far as discussing matters relating to your local traditional recipes. Today, unlike a decade ago, countries are now competing fiercely towards attaining AI supremacy.

As the world is moving around Technology advancement, AI, Robotics, Blockchain and Cybersecurity have a huge impact on national security, intelligence, healthcare and food security.

Technology has proven its impact in the world especially the war in Ukraine where AI and Robotics, especially drone technology and compute vision and warfare intelligence. With fast advances in technology, there is no doubt that the next decade presents an opportunity for countries to redefine their future, improve on the quality of life, healthcare and availability of jobs through the needed up-skilling of their workforce and re-modeling of their industries.

Deviating from an age-long Nigerian tradition of simply waiting to import and consume any latest technology in the world rather than contribute to its development, the nation is lucky to have some leaders that are keeping tabs on global developments and are guarding the coast keenly. For example, in 2019, a young Nigerian, Olusola Ayoola after bagging his Ph.D in the area of Nuclear Robotics and working extensively with UK’s government decided to return home to establish Nigeria’s first fully functional Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Facility for training, research and product development.

Since its establishment, RAIN has proven to be world class and has even attracted international students and recognitions from the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Ms Amina J. Mohammed, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), USA and Canada missions in Nigeria, as well as First Bank of Nigeria Plc., Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the National institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE), the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
Some of the groundbreaking research carried out at RAIN include unattended baggage detection, mini weather station, AI based Traffic Light System, a ground robot vehicle and unmanned VTOL aerial vehicle (IMORP), CETHED and RAINSC75/76.

The great feat which RAIN has achieved without any support from Government and this fact only makes one want to ask what an intervention grant will do to the growth of technology in Nigeria.

With these development, the Federal Lawmaker, Rt Hon. Oluyemi Taiwo Representing Ibarapa East/ Ido Federal Constituency, Oyo State moved a motion for the house to encourage the federal government to liaise and work with RAIN especially during the course of tackling the insecurity. The house unanimously adopted the motion and passed a resolution in support.

However honorable Oluyemi Adewale Taiwo ensures a follow up with the ministry of science, technology and innovation until it was successfully granted.

This is a confirmation of his stewardship to his constituency. However, the nation could do with more of his kind that will direct the federal government’s attention to burgeoning areas within the economy that can help return this nation to the path of greatness. No doubt, with this intervention grant, being well managed by the tested and proven management of the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria board, the nation can only expect to move upwards from this point onward.

Reacting to this, The Chief Executive of RAIN, Dr Ayoola has confirmed that there are lofty plans in place including the construction of a Centre for Excellence in Drone and Unmanned Vehicles for Geospatial Intelligence, provision of training scholarships to the youths of Nigeria, particularly those from Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, and the improvement of AI Robotics product prototypes up to the required military standards.

In his words, he said, “We are much impressed towards the efforts of Honorable Oluyemi Adewale Taiwo. It is not unexpected as he was basically doing what a genuine representative of the people will do in order to preserve the indigenous technological firms in his constituency, promote their global advantage and protect the future of the youths in such communities through up-skilling”

“Let it be known that when Nigeria becomes a great country, it is the sacrifices of genuinely honourable men like Hon. Oluyemi Taiwo of House of Rep and his supportive colleagues in the National assembly, the Honourable Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Senator Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora as well as the permanent secretary of the ministry which will be mentioned for praises. Now, let Nigeria’s global competitiveness in AI and Robotics begin”

“RAIN is breaking grounds and to make sure Youths are also trained as Information Technology has been the order of the day”

THE BIAS AND DISHONEST PAINTING OF THE NORTH AS ETHNICALLY FRAUDULENT BY MAHMUD JEGA

By Hashim Suleiman

I read with interest how tacitly Mahmud Jega the revered former Editor of Daily Trust Newspapers elucidated how times have indeed changed and how the circumstances of 1979 would not be same as 2023 and I totally agree with such because if one takes the advent of social media alone, it was enough to change a whole lot talk more of so many other issues relating to migration, intermarriages, new born people who don’t even know but only read about 1979.

However, I didn’t understand how the academic description of how NNPP is different from
Aminu Kano’s party changes the perception and the semblance of the situation?? Or how the emergence of Asiwaju as a minority and Kashim a minority changes the semblance to Awolowo’s movement of then. What about Obi’s movements being perceived as Biafra? I tried to understand the logic but I couldn’t unfortunately.

Further to all of this is that Mahmud also forgot that all of the fault lines that existed in 1979 are subsistent or even worse which makes the reason why everyone would be rightly suspicious and possibly why the word ‘unifier’ has become very catchy in recent times.

The fact is, it was high time the intellectual class and the opinion molders started to rate Nigerians because to use a brush and single out the northern Nigeria and project her as the most bigoted is the most unfair narrative I may ever have come across in a mutually suspicious country like Nigeria where one may choose to be fair but never get same in return.

I understand and respect Mahmud’s choices and preferences but the need to set the records straight also becomes imperative!!

May God chose the best for us through our endeavors and honesty!!

Hashim Suleiman
oneheartnaija@yahoo.com
https:///p6dE9I-4w

Tax & Technology: FIRS Board Celebrates Members of Management Team for Global Recognitions



The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Muhammad Nami has joined members of the Board, management and staff in felicitating with two members of the FIRS management team for receiving global recognition awards in tax and technology respectively.

While Mr. Mathew Olusanya Gbonjubola, the Group Lead Special Tax Operations Group at the FIRS is listed among the World’s Top 50 Tax Persons for the year 2022, Mrs. Chiaka Ben-Obi, the Group Lead, Digital and Innovation Support Group, FIRS emerged as winner of the 2023 ISACA Technology for Humanity Award, for championing efforts to transform Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service to a digitised organisation.

ISACA, the awarding institution is an international professional association focused on IT governance.

In a congratulatory message to the duo, Mr. Nami stated that they were deserving of these awards as it was a testament to their hard work and contributions to the successes of the Service.

“Indeed you are deserving of this wonderful achievement which is a testament to your hard work, analytical insight into tax issues, and immense contributions to the success of my administration.

“I appreciate every effort you put in to make tax administration in the country richly beneficial to the citizens of this potentially great country.”

The Executive Chairman, FIRS further stated that the qualities of Mr. Gbonjubola and Mrs Ben-Obi were the kind needed for Nigeria’s progress and development.

He urged them to continue to dedicate themselves to the service of the nation as they worked to build a robust tax system for the country.

“I dare say that this country is in dire need of committed and selfless people like you who are passionate about its progress and development.

“Let us continue to forge the necessary synergy that will lead to the actualisation of our collective vision of a robust tax system for the country. I strongly believe that this is the only way we can leave an indelible mark on the sand of time,” he noted.

Mr. Gbonjubola, who is a chartered accountant, is a Co-Chair of the United Nations Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters. He has vast experience in auditing, finance and taxation with over 25 years’ experience in the FIRS.

Mrs. Chiaka Ben-Obi, who holds both Bachelors of Science in Political Science and Public Administration, as well as an MBA, oversees the departments of the FIRS saddled with the responsibility of transforming FIRS into a digitalised organisation.

She was before her appointment as Group Lead Digital Innovation Support Group the Director of the Modernisation Department where she took on the assignment of delivering on modernisation agenda projects aimed at transforming the Service into a modern, efficient and effective tax administration agency.