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Extractive360 Wins ‘Best Extractive Industry Resource Platform’ At African Excellence Awards 2023

Extractive360 has won the “Best Extractive Industry Resource Platform 2023” at the 2023 MEA Markets African Excellence Awards.

The news was conveyed to Extractive360 by the MEA Markets Awards Team while congratulating the organization for emerging the successful winner of the category.

“As you are aware, it has been a long journey from initially being nominated, undergoing the research and judging stages and finally being recognised for an award.

“We are happy to announce that we have gone live on the MEA Markets website with this year’s successful awardees of the African Excellence Awards 2023,” the message read in part.

Commenting on the success of the programme and its treasured winners, MEA Markets Awards Coordinator, Kaven Cooper said: “I am pleased to have worked with such a brilliant assortment of companies that deliver supreme quality on a daily basis. All of our winners offer something unique to the corporate landscape, and I wish them all the best for the future ahead.”

In a congratulatory message to Extractive360, Cooper said, “I sincerely hope you are pleased with the news and the reflection this has upon Extractive360's dedicated efforts.”

She explained that “To determine the results, MEA Market's judging panel and research team took into consideration the commitment, expertise, and innovation shown by nominees through nomination information, voting information, supporting evidence supplied, along with the results from extensive period of fact-checking and research.”

Responding to the Award, Editor of Extractive360, Juliet Ukanwosu, said: “All of us at Extractive360 are excited at this news, which recognizes our hard work and commitment. It is encouraging to know that the impact of our work is being noticed and appreciated. For us at Extractive360 this award is a call to further push the frontiers of our support to Nigerians through the provision of reliable and educative reports on issues within Nigeria’s extractive industries.”

She added that Extractive360 “Will also stay more committed to our work with extractive communities and marginalised groups in telling their stories and building their capacity for effective participation in decision making that affect their lives and livelihoods, as well as to demand for sustainable utilization of Nigeria’s extractive revenues."

About MEA Markets African Excellence Awards

Now in its sixth year, the African Excellence Awards by the UK-based MEA Markets Magazine continues to stir excitement, showcasing businesses with expertise from destination management and international tourism to pivotal branding and design, high-end property management, fire and environmental protection and more.

The MEA Markets magazine is published quarterly to provide readers with the latest business and investment news across the Middle East and Africa regions.

Keeping pace with a vast array of ever-changing sectors, MEA Markets offers news, features and comments from people and institutions in the know within the regions.

The National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Mary Alile-Idele, has disclosed that the party has begun work aimed at ensuring that Edo State is reclaimed in next year’s Gubernatorial election.   

She emphasized this position during a chat with members of Edo Journalists Forum, made up of Abuja based practicing journalists from Edo State, which paid her a courtesy visit at her office at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, on Wednesday.

While underscoring the need for power change in Edo, she said the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has inflicted bad governance on the state adding, "Edo state has suffered a high level of political and infrastructural setbacks which should be halted without delay. We don't want another eight years of disaster under PDP."

Lamenting further on the deplorable infrastructural state in Edo, she said "The roads are bad, education is terrible and other infrastructural decays. It is a terrible situation, we in APC can do better in 2024."

Dr. Idele, who is also referred to as “madam capacity”, said part of the APC strategy towards ensuring Edo is reclaimed in 2024 is to focus on women, who statistics have shown to be highest number of voters in Nigeria.

She explained that she was intensifying efforts at sensitizing and mobilizing women in the state to not only be active voters, but to vote for the APC in order to collectively change the poor condition of the welfare of Edo people.

Already, she explained that Special Advisers have been appointed across the 18 local government areas to embark on serious sensitization and mobilization of women at the grassroots.

Dr. Idele, who is the Founder of Sister-To-Sister, an NGO focused on the empowerment of women, said her vision on a national level, is to ensure the welfare, empowerment and mainstreaming of more women into active politics and end the culture whereby they are relegated to the background after electoral victory, by the male-dominated parties.

She added that she’s strongly committed to taking the message of President Tinubu's renewed hope agenda across the country and mobilizing for the APC nationwide.

While emphasizing the need to change the culture that perceives women in politics in bad light, the APC National Women Leader said she will ride on the leadership and momentum already set by President Bola Tinubu, who has appointed a record number of women into his administration, to make politics more attractive to women, especially the younger generation of women.

“We must commend President Bola Tinubu for championing the course of women, since the inception of this country in 1960, this is the singular time we are seeing high number of women in positions, and we are hoping to get more of them,” she said.

According to her, while there has been a clamour for 35% affirmation for women, the question to ask is how women will benefit from it when it is eventually gotten. “What we are not looking at is when we get it, who do we hand over the mantle to if we don’t have the young ladies pulled into politics and governance?” she stated.

Speaking further, she said, “I will champion a nationwide empowerment for women in Nigeria, we are already putting committees in place and people are ready to run with it. I will use my position as the National Women Leader to ensure that women and the girl child are empowered in this nation. We will have mentorship programmes, seminars and symposiums for women, especially the young ladies, to change their views about politics. Special programmes are being designed for me in this regard,” Dr. Idele added.

Waterlight Save Initiative, a non-profit organization committed to making a positive impact on the lives of marginalized communities, has provides vital support to homeless individuals to communities in Atlanta and Georgia.

Waterlight Save Initiative is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of marginalized communities. Through outreach programs, access to essential resources, and empowerment initiatives, we strive to create a more equitable and compassionate society. Learn more at Www.waterlightsave.africa

The organization in a statement issued by its president, Dr Prince Ero Ibhafidon said that it is proud to announced its latest outreach campaign aimed at providing essential support to homeless individuals in Atlanta, Georgia.

It said that the homelessness remains a pressing issue in cities across the United States, and Atlanta is no exception. Waterlight Save Initiative recognizes the urgent need to extend a helping hand to those who have been traditionally underserved and unreached in their struggle for basic necessities and a brighter future.

"Waterlight Save Initiative is deploying specially equipped mobile units that will visit unreached areas to provide homeless individuals with access to clean drinking water, hygiene products, nutritious meals, and warm clothing. These units will serve as a lifeline for those in need.

"The organization will work closely with local shelters to ensure that homeless individuals receive information about available shelter services and support in securing safe and stable housing options.

"Waterlight Save Initiative will collaborate with healthcare professionals to offer on-site medical and mental health services, addressing the unique healthcare needs of the homeless population.

"The initiative will conduct workshops on job readiness, financial literacy, and other life skills to empower individuals to regain their independence and improve their quality of life.

"Waterlight Save Initiative believes that every person deserves dignity, safety, and a chance at a better future. By extending its outreach to unreached communities, the organization is taking a crucial step towards addressing homelessness in Atlanta and creating a more compassionate and inclusive community," the statement reads in parts.

Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has said that international touring bikers group, Jeje Riders Nigeria is a partner in the advancement of the quality of lives in Jigawa State.

Governor Namadi made the commendation when he granted audience to the bikers, who paid him a courtesy visit as part of their one year anniversary celebration of humanitarian services at the weekend.

The governor recalled the humanitarian assistance rendered to the state by the group in the aftermath of the devastating flood that hit the state last year saying Jigawa remained grateful.

He thanked the group for the visit, describing them as partners in progress for keeping faith with the state a second time.

He expressed delight for the promise of an e-library and promised to support the group to execute the project timely and in full.

“I want to thank you for what you have been doing, certainly you have been partners in progress and I think other associations will emulate what you are doing.

“Most of the problems in the state cannot be solved by the government alone but with the support of humanitarian groups. I think what you are doing is on the right track and your humanitarian services are in line with the SDG goals.

“Allah has given each and every one of us blessings and that blessing is not for us alone, we need to share the blessings with others and if we continue to do that certainly, we will change our own narratives.

“Last year you were in Jigawa when we had a problem with flooding and you helped our people, we will not forget that. Immediately I was told that these riders wanted to see me. What came to mind was ‘is not the
people that gave us donations and that was the reference point I remember, and I said these are our partners’.

“It is always good to do something good that will make people remember that you touch their lives. The e-library is marvellous; it is a project that nobody knows how many people will benefit from it because
generations will use it. It is a legacy that is endless; I want to assure you that the state government will partner with you to achieve this objective.

“We are ready to partner and support you to advance the status of the lives of our people. We are not taking it for granted,” Governor Namadi said.

Speaking on behalf of the group earlier, the president and chairman of the Board of Trustee (BoT) of Jeje Riders Nigeria, Ibrahim Tizhe, thanked the governor for receiving them warmly and announced that the group would be donating a fully equipped e-library to a secondary school in Jigawa State before the end of 2023.

He said the group is ready to partner with the state government in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in education.

He also announced that the group is partnering the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Interpol to fight drug abuse and other vices.

According to Tizhe, Jeje Riders donated a fully equipped library to Gombe State this year in collaboration with the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Dr Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III CFR.

Last year, the group donated food items worth ₦12.7m to 200 households when floods ravaged Jigawa State. The governor, who received the donations from the group last year in his capacity as the deputy governor of the state, expressed delight that Jeje Riders have kept faith with Jigawa State.

This is new.

Gubernatorial aspirant for the 2024 election in Edo State, Mr. Gideon Obhakhan, has said he is joining the race with the aim of having the opportunity to add value and contribute to humanity, especially the people of Edo State, as a Governor.

Obhakhan, who is running under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), told journalists in Abuja that when he becomes Governor, his administration would focus on seven critical areas of intervention which he considers to be key catalysts of an economically viable state.

Disclosing these key areas, the former Commissioner of Education under the Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s administration, listed agriculture at the top, noting that the sector if well-developed, is capable of creating jobs for the people and generating revenue for the government.

He also listed investment in road infrastructure that can support easy movement of people and agricultural produce as well as quality and impactful education.

Also on his priority list is women and youth’s empowerment which will see to the granting of incentives to individuals and groups with a track record of standard business operations and viable business plans.

He added further that security and ICT innovation which can enthrone dignity of labour, be it in agriculture, transportation and other entrepreneurial innovations capable of delivering an economically viable state, is also on his priority list.

Speaking further, Obhakhan said, he believes he has the right credentials and experience to be the next governor of Edo State, adding that given the current realities with electoral reforms, the APC will not impose any candidate in the State, but is committed to a level playing field where the best candidate will emerge.

Besides, he emphasised that the leader of the APC in Edo state, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, believes in democracy and democratic fairness.

According to him, the party’s interest in winning the election and providing developmental leadership in the state can only be achieved by allowing the people decide their leader.

Obhakhan said he believes he stands tall in the party’s considerations which takes cognizance of age, capacity and regional diversity necessary to win elections and the political development of the state.

“With the current political trajectory, particularly in terms of electoral reforms, election rigging and imposition of candidates has become a thing of past, because the people, especially the youths will simply vote against an unpopular candidate. The current reality of today demands that parties put forward their very best candidates with the right qualifications and experience for the job,” he said.

Obhakhan also stated that public opinion in the State favoured the emergence of the next governor from Edo Central, adding that the party would not run against the opinion of the people who would vote in the election and determine the eventual winner.

The former commissioner for education who also served in the APC’s presidential campaign council in the last general elections, hails from Ekpoma, Esan West local government area of Edo State and holds a degree electrical electronics engineering from the University of Benin, a Masters in communications engineering from the University of Lagos, and an MBA in business administration from the university of Leicester, UK.

He also has a PGD in public administration and a Masters in political science from the University of Benin, and he is currently pursuing a PhD in comparative politics and development studies.

Barring any last minute change of plan, indications have emerged that governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki may move ahead with the plan to impeach his deputy, Philip Shaibu.

The deputy governor had approached a Federal High Court Abuja, seeking for an injunction to stop the State House of Assembly from impeaching him.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja had last Thursday issued a temporary order stopping the move by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to impeach his Deputy, Phillip Shaibu.

It was gathered that an impeachment ambush has been set for early hours of Monday, 7th August in disregard for the court order.

The move is in disregard of the pronouncement of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, which ruled that all parties maintain “Status Quo Ante Bellum”, pending the hearing slated for Thursday, 10th August, 2023.

Sources say that the haste by the governor comes on the heels of his fear that the hearing adjourned till 10th August by the court may not favour his purported intention, hence his alleged plan to hatch his impeachment process before the hearing date.

Recall that the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Phillip Shaibu, approached a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to stop the commencement of an impeachment process against him. In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1027/2023, the Inspector General of Police; State Security Service; the Governor of Edo State; the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, and the Chief Judge of Edo State are the first, second, third, fourth and fifth defendants respectively.

Shaibu is seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the 3rd, 4th and 5th Defendants/Respondents or their agents from commencing an impeachment process against him.

He also prayed the court to restrain the governor of the state or other person acting on his order from harassing and preventing him from effectively discharging his duties as the deputy governor of the state.

In addition to the temporary order to maintain status quo ante bellum, in another ruling of the court made on July 27th, 2023, the defendants were directed to show cause. suffice to mention that without adherence to the pronouncements of the court of jurisdiction, any impeachment process would be deemed a fruitless adventure in the eyes of the law.

A source said there has been a lot of movement of cash in the last 48 hours by the governor’s men seeking to buy Assembly Members and have allegedly enlisted some members of the state house of assembly and they are presently trying so hard to collate signatures to the effect of "a kangaroo impeachment process."

Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki has been accused of being behind the smear campaign against his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu and was berated for the clandestine impeachment moves that recently filtered into public knowledge.

A group under the aegis of Concerned Youths For Edo Development (CYED) in a statement in Abuja described governor Obaseki as being ungrateful and using state power to bully Shaibu, a loyal associate on whose political weight he got into office.

The Coordinator of the group wondered if Loyalty is a crime and queried what Obaseki is afraid of.

He further stated that it is no hidden secret that Philip Shaibu was the force behind Obaseki fortunes for both first and second tenure, else, Obaseki would have been floored at both attempts.

According to him, Shaibu was so loyal to Obaseki that, in protest against party victimization, he broke rank with Adams Oshiomole, a political ally and family.

When asked if He's aware of the reason behind the purported impeachment moves by the governor, the Coordinator said that Obaseki Knows he's no match for Shaibu as far as political goodwill and community acceptance is concerned, hence, he wants to terminate Shaibu's life-long opportunity for leadership because of a temporary variance.

Recall that the Deputy Governor of Edo State Comrade Philip Shaibu Thursday approached a Federal High Court to seek protection from his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki, whom he often refer to as high elder, in order to avoid an imminent impeachment and removal from office.

In a motion of notice brought before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and made available to the media, the appellant seeks an order of interlocutory injunction stopping the respondents or their agents from harassing, intimidating, embarrassing or preventing the applicant from carrying out the functions of his office as Deputy Governor of Edo State including attending State Executive Council meetings and other functions pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Sources reveal that in the past two months, all have not been well in the state house, Benin City between Governor Obaseki and his Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu.

In addition, it was also said that the governor was determined to punish his deputy for building bridges across political, social and Community divides.

While reacting to this, the CYED spokesman said, "It is political immaturity for a governor to believe that His deputy must inherit his enemies and hate those he hates."

According to him, majority of the successes recorded by Obaseki-Shaibu government were from programs and projects directly supervised by Philip Shaibu, else the government under Obaseki would have been a wanton failure.

President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed the nomination of Dr. Mina Ogbanga as a member of the National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

Her confirmation was made official with the presentation of a letter of appointment to her in Abuja, by the Secretary of General Services on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha.

Dr. Ogbanga will represent the Civil Society constituency on the Board of NEITI, also known as the NSWG.

The letter of confirmation reads in part: “I am pleased to inform you that Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved your appointment as member of the National Stakeholders Working Group of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative for an initial 4 years with effect from 17th January, 2023.”

The development follows a keenly contested election to select a representative, held on March 8th, 2023, by civil society organizations where she emerged as winner.

Reacting to the development, Dr. Ogbanga said: “Indeed this remains a collective feat to steer the CSO space on the Board of NEITI and address the clear needs of this constituency and beyond. As a newly elected representative of CSOs on the NSWG the task ahead to enhancing the extractive space for societal transformation is key.

“It is therefore with unreserved humility that I accept my confirmation as the CSO Representative on the NEITI Board. I look forward to working with all cadre of Civil Society to ensuring an inclusive leadership where no one is left behind. I call for support from all stakeholders to join hands as we strive to achieve success on this journey,” Ogbanga added.

While appreciating all who contributed to make the journey possible thus far through their votes and participatory activities, she noted that the role of CSOs and development partners in nation building cannot be overemphasised.

“This is a task for all. We need to forge ahead and ensure that we make society and the extractive sector better than we found it” she added.

Ahead the Nigeria for United Kingdom Boarding Schools Week scheduled to hold in Lagos and Abuja, participants and organisers of the Education Summit have justified the initiative.

The events which enjoy the blessings of the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, in association with the UK’s Department for Business & Trade (DBT) will hold between May 3-6 at Transcorp Hilton Abuja and The Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos is a gathering of top British schools and anxious parents seeking quality educations for their children.

Giving his testimony, Mark Brooks, who leads a group of 17 heads of British Schools coming to Nigeria, said " the UK has become a more popular destination than ever - for families selecting outstanding boarding schools for their daughters and sons.”

“We are also finding that in addition, many parents are now choosing summer school options with an academic emphasis and many educational benefits."

Sarah Travis, from TASIS England, disclosed that her institution has a wide range of academic and creative courses on offer.

"These include 3D Design to Sports Science, Performing Arts to STEM.

“Young people from around the world forge new friendships at our summer programme and create lasting memories as they participate in a course that builds confidence and creativity.”

According to Julie Fish, Marketing Director of Short Courses at Earlscliffe, College, the school even offer a mini-MBA summer course which covers entrepreneurship, marketing, management, leadership, and global economics.

"The course is “inspirational, ambitious and relevant” giving students the “perfect introduction to the exciting world of international business.”

Dr Adaku Jennifer Agwunobi,Infinitum Education, in the heart of Oxford, England, offered an insight into what is obtainable at the Young Leaders Programme (YLP) .

“The YLP is an immersive academic summer camp where ambitious youth connect with and learn from the world’s top leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs."

She revealed that "Students can enjoy a “unique blend of on-campus training where they study entrepreneurship, innovation, or the sciences under renowned academics (Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard) and corporate executives (McKinsey & Company, AstraZeneca."

Talking about her school, Lisa McGee Summer Schools, Ms McGee said it offers an experience of university life and lectures especially in STEM subjects through “high quality, safe and fun residentials set in stunning rural facilities in the historic heart of the North East of England."

“Engineering, Digital and Sustainability workshops are popular including masterclasses at the region’s best universities with award-winning professors,” she concludes.

Apart from the UK’s Department for Business & Trade (DBT), the event is being put together by award-winning educationalist Mark Brooks Education, a DBT Export Champion who has been advising West African families for 15 years.

$800m Loan: Dev’t Expert Chyma Anthony Urges FG To Invest In Mass Transit, Agribusiness

With the latest loan receipt from World Bank to the tune of 800 million dollars by the Federal Government which is to be disbursed to 50 million vulnerable Nigerians as fuel subsidy removal palliative, an Abuja based lawyer and development expert, Mr Chyma Anthony has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to consider investment in profit making ventures like urban mass transit scheme, agribusiness and others instead of disbursing same to poor Nigerians.

Chyma Anthony who was reacting to the loan receipt by the federal government in a press statement yesterday in Abuja suggested that a committee be set up by the FG to ascertain results recorded in the
previous disbursements made to vulnerable Nigerians through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management so as to know which area to channel the latest facility for the good of all
Nigerians.

“I don't think it will be nice again to spend a whopping sum of 800m dollar loan obtained from World Bank on 50 million vulnerable Nigerians as palliative for fuel subsidy removal.

“We need to know if the ones already disbursed to these vulnerable Nigerians have yielded any result.

“Some of these poor beneficiaries ended up spending the monies given to them by the federal government on frivolities rather than in economic activities that could keep them and their families going.

“Some of them may have been short changed, yet their names may have been used to retire such monies and our dear President may not be aware,” Anthony stated.

The Rights Activist and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Senate candidate for Imo East Senatorial District in the just concluded 2023 elections, said the borrowings that have characterised the present APC administration were not done in bad faith, but the application of the facilities may not have yielded the desired results due the areas they were channelled to, and absence of committees to review performances periodically.

"So far, Nigeria's debt profile has hit 77 trillion Naira, and we are yet to add the latest 800 million dollars already from the World Bank.

“I don't believe that everything is entirely wrong with the loan or credit facility. Mr President actually meant well in most of his attempts to secure loans.

“I make bold to advise Mr President that the 800m dollar loan from the World Bank be invested into profit yielding ventures like subsidized urban mass transit scheme, agrobiz and others.

“Imagine buying and deploying five buses to each of the 774 local councils under the Federal Government Urban Mass Transit Scheme. The buses would move Nigerians from one city to another at subsidised fees.

“Assuming other commercial buses charge a passenger N1,000 from Abuja to Kaduna, or from Ikeja to Abeokuta or from Owerri to Port Harcourt, this FGN urban mass transit can charge N500 and still make profits to maintain the vehicles, pay workers, repay the loan, and more importantly assuage the citizens in the face of the subsidy removal,” he added.

Anthony said he was also not too comfortable with subsidy removal with non-functional refineries, noting it may spell doom for most Nigerians.

According to him, importing fuel from Niger Republic as planned by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources will not be the end of it all.

He further stated that “I suggest we possibly use part of the $800m to fix one or two of our refineries to avert endless importation of petroleum products.

“But even if we must embrace the subsidy removal regime, it should be gradual, and with a human face.

“We should know how much we spend subsidising one litre of any petroleum product. We should also know how much oil producing countries without a subsidy regime sell a litre of fuel before we fix our own prices so that Nigerians will not continue to suffer untold hardship when the subsidy is eventually removed.”

The post subsidy removal era, Anthony said, should not be without serious petroleum pump price regulation.

He said Nigerians should know the landing cost of petroleum products in any part of the country so that greedy petroleum marketers don't continue to rip the nation off.

He submitted that fuel stations must be made to sell at unified government regulated prices to forestall a situation where people will buy one litre of fuel at N200 for instance in Abuja while Lagos or Owerri sells at N150 per litre.

Lions Clubs Int’l Launches Appeal Fund For N3.5bn Hospital, Research Centre In Abuja

The Lions Clubs International District 404, Nigeria has launched an appeal fund for the construction of a world class N3.5 billion Eye Care Hospital, Diabetes and Cancer Research Centre in Abuja, Nigeria

In a press release issued by the project director, Dr Lanre Adebayo in Abuja yesterday, the project was aimed at addressing an area of severe gap in Nigeria’s health care system, adding that it would also complement existing public health infrastructure in the Country.

According to the Project Director, an estimated 1.13 million Nigerians are currently blind while 4.25 million adult are partially blind noting that the prevalence rate was higher in the Northern states.

He stressed that two major causes of blindness included cataract and glaucoma, adding that these were preventable.

He noted that eye care service in relation to Nigeria’s population was grossly inadequate, adding that this was the reason for the intervention of the Lions Clubs International to support this aspect of the health sector.

Adebayo also stressed that the Eye Care Hospital, Diabetes and Cancer Centre was conceived to be world class which would cater both for the poor and rich, adding that it would feature a health extension service especially to accommodate the rural poor.

“The hospital will feature the first Eye Bank in Nigeria, while reducing incidences of avoidable childhood and old age related blindness. It would also establish a global standard research centre on diabetes and childhood cancer in Nigeria.

“In pursuance of its goal of raising a sum N3.5M for the Project, the Lions Clubs is appointing project champions whose responsibilities include personal and corporate donations to the project which arguably is one of the most outstanding and unprecedented humanitarian interventions in the country,” he said.

The group also disclosed that there are several benefits for donors including naming of specific components of the after such donors.

Other benefits are the award of Melvon Jones Fellowship, Knight of the Blind, a place of mention in the Donors Hall of Fame in the Hospital, as well as the Lions Clubs Eye Care Ambassadors.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organisation with about 1.35 Million members in more 206 Countries.

Founded in 1917, the Club has been identified globally for its fight against blindness. Recently, it expanded the scope of its work to include care for the environment, feed the hungry and aiding the
seniors and the disabled.

The Lions Clubs was introduced into Nigeria in 1963. The Nigerian chapter has continued to function effectively as part of this global service network while helping local communities.

IWD: NEITI Lists Extractive360, S4C, NAWOJ, Others As Allies Against Gender Barriers In Extractives Sector

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has identified Extractive360, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Spaces for Change (S4C) and other women led organisations as allies in efforts to break the barriers impeding effective women participation in the oil, gas and mining sectors.

The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonaya Orji, made this known in a statement signed on Wednesday by the organization’s Head, Communication and Advocacy, Obiageli Onuorah, to commemorate the International Women’s Day, 2023.

While reaffirming the commitment of NEITI to work with women to remove structural barriers that impede women, girls, and other vulnerable groups from participating in sustainable natural resource management and other potential gender impacts of extractive activities, he said notable non-governmental organisations have been identified as key allies to NEITI to drive the process.

He listed them to include Extractive360, Women in Extractive, Women in Mining in Nigeria, Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN), National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Spaces for Change, Centre for Transparency and Accountability, CSR-in-Action, Kabetkache Women Development and Resource Centre amongst others.

“These are organizations in the sector, driven by reputable Women with track records gathered overtime in the extractive sector reforms and governance,” Dr. Orji said, while renewing the call for a deliberate policy to broaden women participation in the oil, gas and mining industries.

The Executive Secretary disclosed that data on gender from the NEITI's last Solid Minerals Independent Industry Reports shows that out of 102 companies covered by NEITI process, only 29 companies provided information and data on gender participation and employment opportunities in relation to women. And from the report, out of the 5,820 employees, only 14% of them were women.

Expressing regret over the development, Orji stated that despite the enormous potentials and capacity of Nigerian women in skills acquisition, sound education especially in the mining and geo-sciences, the oil, gas and mining industries are still being wrongly perceived as business for men, adding that the ratio of men to women in terms of investments participation, job opportunities and beneficial ownership of oil and gas assets are even worse.

Dr. Orji further announced that NEITI has just concluded a scoping research study on enhancing gender equity and inclusiveness in managing the country's diverse extractive sector and the environmental impact to women and their livelihoods. The study focused on the impact of mining in communities through the prism of gender inclusivity and impact, as well as employment opportunities, ownership structure and the implications for decision making and benefit sharing for women in the mining industry.

While stating that both reports, he said, will be released before the end of March, 2023, Dr. Orji praised the valued contribution of Nigerian women, urged women across the country to take interests in the NEITI reports and use the contents to demand a just, fair and active gender equity in natural resource governance in Nigeria.

Extractive360 reports that the Theme for this year’s IWD is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” The IWD is celebrated annually on March 8 and raises attention to issues impacting women, such as gender equality, reproductive rights, violence and abuse against women.

Include Oil-rich Communities In Transition Plans, Akwa Ibom Paramount Rulers Tells FG

Paramount Rulers in Akwa Ibom State has called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusion of the voices and opinions of oil bearing communities in the country’s energy transition plans with a view to having a successful and just transition.

The call was made in Abak, Akwa Ibom State, by the Paramount Ruler of Etim Ekpo LGA, HRM Akuku Prof. Amanam Udo, during a Community Townhall on Energy Transition organized by Extractive360 in partnership with Spaces for Change (S4C) and support from Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), on February 9, 2023.

Speaking at the event which also had in attendance HRM Akuku Saviour Sylvester Udofia, Paramount Ruler, Abak LGA, HRM Akuku Joseph Okoh Ekot, Paramount Ruler, Ika LGA, HRM Akuku Amos Daniel Apkan Paramount Ruler Ukanafun LGA and His Royal Highness, Sylvester Okokon Ibanga, Chairman, Conference of Village Heads in Abak LGA, among several women and youth leaders,  Akuku Udo decried that oil bearing communities have not been involved in energy transition decisions despite bearing the brunt of fossil fuel extraction.

He said “The government don’t understand the problems we are facing in the society. At the top of it is environmental degradation. People who live in the riverine area, whose source of livelihoods was fishing, what have they gained from fossil fuel extraction. Now they have not involved oil bearing communities in the transition decisions and we are the people bearing the brunt of the degradation. We will want to be a part and parcel of whatever decision they are taking with regards the transition to renewable energy.”

The royal father explained further that apart from the degradation of the environment, people in the Niger Delta deal with extreme heat weather and toxic air due to gas flaring.

“Everybody living in this area must have felt the heat. This is due to the effect of gas flaring. You get into your house and you can’t sleep. So for whatever decision is to be taken by the federal government, the oil communities should be part and parcel of such decisions because we are the people that bear the brunt," he added. 

According to him, if the country is to transit from fossil fuel to renewable energy, people in the Niger Delta need to know the modalities for such transition, what is involved and how it will affect them, adding that “With the type of corruption we have in Nigeria, some people who do not even understand the implications of this, will accept little gifts in the form of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at the detriment of the entire community who bear the brunt. So whatever arrangement government is making, the Niger Delta region should be fully sensitised.”

Earlier in her presentation, Executive Director of Extractive360, Juliet Ukanwosu, explained that a research titled ‘Energy transition in Nigeria’s Oil-rich Communities,’ conducted by Spaces for Change and partners, revealed that the federal government did not make specific plans for clean-up, remediation or compensation of age-long environmental injustices occasioned by decades of fossil fuel extraction in the Niger Delta.

She added that the meeting was neccessitated by the to need educate communities on the transition to renewable energy. Which now begs the question of what will happen to communities in the Niger Delta whose environments and traditional sources of livelihoods have been destroyed, what alternative livelihoods can they have or what new jobs can they engage in?

Also speaking at the event, Executive Director of Spaces for Change, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, who was represented by the organisations Program Officer, Energy and Extractives Justice, Bonaventure Akuma, who explained that the global energy transition campaign is aimed at checking the effects of climate change, however, queried the fact that there are no provisions for environmental clean-up in the national transition plan.

“After the transition to renewable energy what happens to communities in the Niger Delta who can no longer go to their farms due the damages to the environment? How does the government intend to cleanup the environment before the transition? We are demanding that the cleanup happens before the transition, She said.

Ibezim-Ohaeri encouraged participants at the townhall to actively participate in the conversation as the meeting was organized to hear from them, collate their views and amplify it the best way possible.  

Participants at the event, thanked the organizers for the opportunity, as many of them were hearing of the planned transition to renewable energy for the first time. They however, appealed for the engagement not to be one off, but occasional, to keep them abreast with governments decisions and plans on energy transition.

The Federal Government has been called upon to ensure the inclusion of the voices and perspectives of oil-rich communities in the National Energy Transition Plan (ETP).

The call was made in Warri, Delta State, on Thursday February 2, 2023, during a community workshop on energy transition in Nigeria’s oil-rich communities, organized by Extractive360 in partnership with Spaces for Change (S4C) and support from Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP).

This became necessary following the country’s target to transit from use of fossil fuels to renewable energy sources by 2060, throwing up the question of what becomes of the people and devastated communities in the Niger Delta region.

In her remarks, Executive Director of Extractive360, Juliet Ukanwosu, explained that the event was significant as it provides the opportunity to sensitize communities about the global energy transition campaign, Nigeria’s ETP and how it will all impact people in oil bearing communities.

“As we know, Nigeria has predominantly been an oil producing nation for decades, leaving communities with devastating effects. From environmental degradation to air and water pollution, to mention a few. It is needless to state that many communities have lost their farmlands and rivers, which is their primary means of livelihood as a result of oil exploration. No one here today is spared of these negative effects. I’m sure everyone has a unique story to tell.

“While, we are yet seeking justice for this age-long environmental injustice, the new reality is the move from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. The question now is what happens to the people of the Niger Delta whose environments have been devastated? What alternative livelihoods can they have? What new jobs can they engage in? How well did Nigeria do to include their opinions in the ETP? What plans are there for environmental clean-up?” Ukanwosu, who was represented at the event by the Organization’s Senior Research Officer, Dr. Mercy Makpor, queried.

She noted that these are some of the issues found by a recent research ‘Energy Transition in Nigeria’s Oil-rich Communities,’ conducted by S4C and partners, and urged the government to review the ETP with a view to ensure that the transition is fair and just to everyone as possible.

Speaking, the Executive Director of Spaces for Change, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, who was represented at the event by the organization’s Legal Officer, Chetachi Louis-Udeh, also expressed concern about what will happen to communities and individuals in oil bearing states whose lives depend on oil production, following the transition.

She disclosed that researchers went through the national transition plans and discovered that it was silent on communities’ concerns, especially the oil-rich communities.

She said: “From 2021 Nigeria has been deliberating on this issue, currently there’s a plan for the transition to take place and Nigeria is looking at 2060 to finally move from fossil fuel to renewable energy. However, the plan never took into consideration the voices of the people and communities in oil rich states. What then happens to oil-rich communities? What happens to individuals whose lives depend solely on crude oil, what alternatives are there for them?” she asked, while stressing the need for mainstreaming their opinions in the ETP.

She urged participants at the event to actively participate in the deliberations, adding that the main aim of the engagement was to hear their views and harness their concerns on the burning issue of energy transition.

In her paper presentation, Extractive360’s Senior Research Officer, Dr. Mercy Makpor, explained some of the key research recommendations to include prioritizing the involvement of communities in the green economy by creating spaces for healthy engagement, taking urgent steps to address environmental injustices and create an alternative livelihood for oil-rich communities as well as the involvement of women as key stakeholders in energy efficiency and environmental sustainability initiatives.


Caption: Image 1. Unveiling of Energy Transition Simplified Handbook, developed by Extractive360 during the community workshop in Warri, Delta State.

Extractive360 To Convene Stakeholders’ Engagements On Energy Transition in Nigeria’s Oil-rich Communities

Extractive360 has concluded plans to convene community workshop and Townhall meetings to sensitize and educate community members in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region about the country’s Energy Transition Plans (ETP).

The events are scheduled to hold in Abak, Akwa Ibom State on Thursday February 2, 2023 and Warri, Delta State, on Thursday February 9, 2023, respectively.

The community convening’s are part of the project titled; From ‘Exclusion to Inclusion in National Just Transition Plans,’ implemented in partnership with Spaces for Change (S4C), with support from Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP).

The Exclusion2Inclusion project is being implemented in five oil and gas rich States which includes Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Imo and Rivers States. It aims at integrating the perspectives of marginalized voices, such as women and artisanal refiners, into Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP).

During the events, findings of a research conducted by the partners under the project, which was launched on December 9, 2022, with the title; ‘Energy Transition in Nigeria’s Oil-rich Communities,’ will be broken down and presented to community members.

Furthermore, a simplified Handbook developed by Extractive360 which draws from the findings of the research, will be formally unveiled and presented to participants and community members. Copies of the simplified Handbook will also be presented to selected secondary schools in both Delta and Akwa Ibom States, to support science lessons.

According to Juliet Ukanwosu, Editor of Extractive360, the objectives of the project is to support oil-rich community members to better understand what Just Energy Transition means, how it will impact them, what alternative livelihood they want, what role they can play in the conversation and provide them with new knowledge and tools with which to push for redress for social and economic injustices associated with fossil-fuel extraction in their local settings from a rights-perspective.

“The community convening is part of efforts to create new spaces at the local levels for integrating the needs and priorities of marginalized voices in oil and gas-rich communities to take part in the deliberations as well as the implementation of the national just transition plans at the local and national level,” Ukanwosu added.

Expected at the events are Paramount Rulers, Village Chiefs, Community Leaders, women and youth leaders, artisanal refiners, students and other stakeholders.

***Meets Olu of Warri, Ologbotsere

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has said he would continue to push for warm relationship between the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse II and the Ologbotsere, Chief Ayiri Emami.

Oba Ogunwusi made the declaration when he paid a visit to Chief Emami at the latter residence in Warri, Delta State shortly after a meeting with Ogiame Atuwatse II.

The Ooni of Ife who said the Olu of Warri deserved the cooperation of all within his kingdom equally described Chief Emami as a lover of peace who crave at all times for the preservation of the culture of the Itsekiri people, devoid of blemish.

He said: “We all know and I won’t shy away from it, the issue to me is for them to continue to cement the relationship and togetherness and progress of the entire Itsekiri, Iwere people with our new king.

“I just left Ogiame Atuwatse now. And I said I was coming to see Ayiri. He was very elated. I will tell you the truth, there is no issue between the two of them. Please quote me, I mean two of them.

“They are coming out stronger for the betterment of the entire Warri kingdom. And to the glory of God, I am playing my role very well.

"Ologbotsere, keep doing what you are doing. You know how to do it. It’s a gift. You don’t want anything to stain your heritage. You might know him for his philantrophy, but for me, he doesn't joke with the tradition of the Warri people.

“I don’t go to private houses. God has chosen the king. You love this kingdom more than anything, you have a beautiful heart, which a lot of people may not know.

“Ologbotsere, you will live long. The spirit of our ancestors will continue to bless you. You will continue to find peace. A lot of abundance, you will continue to have in Iwere. May God be with you and protect you."

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for Imo East Senatorial district, Mr Chyma Anthony has tackled the federal government and National Assembly for maintaining obvious official indifference without any reason over the abandonment of the Inyishi mega dam project in Ikeduru local government Area of Imo State.

Anthony made the promise yesterday in Owerri at a campaign rally that the Inyishi Dam project would bounce back, as work would recommence there within the first one year of his inauguration as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said the abandonment of the huge irrigation project was largely behind the shortage of food in Imo and other neighbouring states.

Anthony said, "This Inyishi Dam project was started decades ago, it was contracted to Anambra/Imo River Basin Development Authority which later subletted it to Umez Engineering Company Ltd.

“The dam is to serve over 18 communities, and specifically designed for the mass production of foods/agro productions year in, year out using irrigation from the dam.

“Somewhere along the line, the project was abandoned for yet to be explained reason. Inyishi community with their revered monarch cried out some time ago, that wild animals have taken over the project site. They submitted that farming activities in the community was actually under threat and hunger pummelling them as a result of the abandoned project, yet federal government and National Assembly Members from Imo State maintained loud indifference about that."

In 2016 and 2021 according to Anthony, President Muhammadu Buhari's government completed, commissioned and handed over to communities over 30 dams and hydro projects mainly in the north, but mention wasn't made about Inyishi Dam.

Contrary to media reports, the wife of the director-general of the State Security Service, (SSS) Aisha Bichi has stated that she never gave orders for the arrest of the Kano governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Abba Yusuf, nor the killing of his aide before boarding an Air Peace flight from Kano to Abuja on Sunday night.

According to an official who works at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, revealed that the situation started at the gate of the VIP lounge, when the motorcade of the politician caused heavy traffic, blocking Mrs Bichi’s convoy from gaining entrance into the airport.

In a conversation with Aisha Bichi she debunked the reports that she gave orders to have Abba Yusuf arrested.

"I never gave any order for anyone to arrest or kill anybody. The agent was just trying to protect me when one of the goons attempted to harm me. Any one can investigate into the matter, ask eye witnesses."

Another eye witness at the scene of the incident stated that the matter escalated when the DSS agents attached to Mrs Bichi demanded entrance into the airport but Abba’s men denied and seemed unmoved before they turned violent while Abba Yusuf was watching from his car at the scene.

He said, "The motorcade of the political aspirant caused a jam and prevented the convoy of the DSS DG wife from going in. When the DSS agents attached to her demanded entrance, the men who accompanied Abba Yusuf became violent and denied them entry. The DSS now made move to enter again, it was then that the gubernatorial aspirant came down from his car and joined his men in harassing the DSS agents".

A porter at the airport who also witnessed the altercation revealed that the wife of the DG DSS made a move to end the fracas which was rebuffed by Abba Yusuf.

"As the whole thing was going on, the woman in the other car came down and started trying to bring peace, she appealed to the politician to let it go and allow them passage, but the man started talking rudely to her and started raining insults on her. It was when one of the men of Abba Yusuf attempted to harm the woman, one of the DSS men now defended her and he fell down" he said.

One of the DSS officials attached to the DG DSS wife expressed his dismay over the story that was making rounds in the media, affirming that the spouse of the DG DSS never gave any express orders to kill or arrest the Kano state NNPP gubernatorial candidate, but rather the agent was protecting his charge as his duty demanded.

Abuja based Lawyer, Rights Activist and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for Imo East Senatorial District in the February 25, 2023 general elections, Mr Chyma Anthony has blamed the federal government for creating opportunity for Japanese car maker, Toyota to amass billions of naira from Nigeria at the detriment of local automakers.

Anthony criticised the government for looking elsewhere whilst Toyota Company harvested from Nigeria billions of dollars annually without a functional assembling plant in the country.

The Senate hopeful while speaking with journalists yesterday in Owerri, Imo State on a campaign train said the excess profit in the quantum of capital flight out of Nigeria into the coffers of Toyota in the name of car importation is enough to place each unemployed Nigerian on 100,000 naira monthly social benefit.

Anthony revealed that seven to eight out of every vehicle on the roads of Africa's most populous nation is manufactured by Toyota, meaning that about N8 million made from each N10 million gotten from car importation goes to Toyota, “yet the Japanese Auto company had persistently refused to open a functional manufacturing or assembly plant in Nigeria”.

This shocking reality which had not been probed by the National Assembly, Anthony said, is the reason Nigerians in 2023 must demand for a fresh and new crop of lawmakers who are ready to get for
Nigerians what naturally belongs to them through effective, proactive and efficient representation.

"In 2016, Toyota tried out of persuasion to open an "imaginary" plant in Lagos. They rolled out a Toyota Hiace or so on one off push, and stopped operations. President Buhari in Yokohama, Japan at a business
roundtable in 2019 pleaded with Toyota to open a car plant in Nigeria, this fell on deaf ears despite huge patronage from our country.

“In 2021, Toyota to the chagrin of all men of good conscience across the globe opened yet a second car assembly plant in Ghana with production capacity of about 2,000, snubbing Nigeria and slighting President Buhari.

“Today, Nigeria imports Toyota vehicles from South Africa and Ghana, yet, Nigeria is Toyota's biggest market in Africa.

“When you confront some of Toyota promoters in Nigeria, they keep giving you lame excuses of why the company can't establish a plant in Nigeria now. “They sometimes blame it on the delay of the passage of the National Automobile Industry Development Bill.

“I won't fold my arms and helplessly watch Toyota continue to steal from Nigeria with impunity, federal, state, local governments, institutions, individuals, etc., spend a lot in Forex to import Toyota vehicles, leading to unimaginably huge capital flight.

"If Toyota sets up a plant in Nigeria, given our huge patronage and demography, these excess profits in these big capital flights going into the coffers of Toyota would benefit all of us. It might be used as a social benefit for the unemployed,” Anthony said.

He further stated that the vehicle plants would employ a good number of Nigerians especially youths thusly reducing the rate of unemployment.

“I, Chyma Anthony, APGA candidate for Imo East Senatorial District (Owerri zone) hereby call on President Muhammadu Buhari to use his powers vide Executive fiat to ban the importation of any brand of Toyota vehicles till further notice.

“He should also invalidate, with immediate effect, any form of licence for the importation of Toyota vehicles into Nigeria or for non functional assembly plant already issued to Toyota, until they are ready to come to the roundtable to give us assurances on establishment of manufacturing or assembly plant in Nigeria," he said.

Anthony also said other vehicle companies and Nigeria's indigenous auto concerns like Innoson, already assembling or manufacturing cars in Nigeria must be given the needed support by the federal government and all and sundry to thrive and contribute their quota in the overall development of the country.

This he said will in turn push Toyota into a tight corner, that they may wear their thinking cap to choose between setting up assembly or manufacturing plants in Nigeria or be pushed out of the auto market of the biggest economy in Africa.

The Young Communicators Initiative (TYCI) says it is set for the inauguration of its Train and Empower Teachers (TET) Project, scheduled to hold on Saturday, January 7, 2023, in Abuja.

The TYCI is a free capacity development organisation for teachers In Nigeria, with an objective to be vanguard of literacy development through intellectual capacity development and empowerment.

The non-governmental organization said the event with the theme: "Teachers Come Collaborate and Learn," is aimed at improving the quality of education in Nigeria.

According to a statement by TYCI’s Lead Coordinator, Chinenye Priscilla Anaemena-Alu, the initiative was borne from the need to improve teacher’s capacity to impact students by re-training and empowering the teachers with relevant skills.

“To improve the quality of education in Nigeria, schools must end the competition and embrace collaboration, irrespective of the curriculum, day or boarding, public or private, single gender or mixed school. Because in the end, we all have a common goal, training the Nigerian child to become a solution provider for the good of the society, while equipping the teachers in partnership with their parents to achieve this goal.”

She explained that at TYCI, impactful, collaborative and practical-based training are held for teachers, where facilitators do not just train but also give room for representatives of various schools to collaborate, learn, share their experiences, ask questions relevant to learning and the education sector at large through a roundtable discussion.

She pointed out that the role of teachers is not only in delivering scheme to achieve academic progress but also all-round development which cuts across physical, social and emotional development of the students.

"Our drive is the passion to train teachers who will not just collaborate with their counterparts across the globe but train teachers who would train their students to collaborate and stand out in the world," Anaemena-Alu added.

Jeje Riders Nigeria International in collaboration with Notore Chemical Industries Plc., has donated food items worth millions of naira to victims of the recent flood disaster in Jigawa State.

Delivering the relief materials to the Jigawa State government on behalf of the organisations, the chairman, Board of Trustee and President of JeJe Riders Nigeria, Tizhe Ibrahim Mathew who was represented by Associate ENT Professor, Dr. Mohammed Mainasara said, the materials are aimed at giving their own support to the flood victims in the state.

Dr Mainasara expressed the group's deep sympathy with victims, some of whom lost loved ones to the disaster. Wanton destruction of properties and a wide spread displacement of people and disease infestation followed the disaster.

"We are presenting this donation as part of the charity activities we are carrying in collaboration with Notore Chemical Industries Plc.

"JeJe Riders is a group of touring bikers but we have many charity and community programs for supporting the less privileged, complementing government effort in promoting digital literacy, education, public
healthcare service delivery and fight against rape, drug abuse and related awful acts among youths.”

He explained that, the food items delivered to Jigawa State government included 20 tons of Maize and 200 cartons of noodles to support 200 families.

Also speaking on the occasion, the head of Marketing, Notore Chemical Industries Plc., Mr Joel Bwankwot, said Notore is concerned for the farmers of Jigawa who were impacted by the floods and believed that the donations will go a long way in providing succour to the victims.

He said in line with the company's mission statement of improving the quality of life, Notore has been involved in series of humanitarian gestures in Nigeria and West Africa.

“Recently, we collaborated with the bikers association to plant over 3,000 trees in Bauchi State to commemorate the World Environment Day. This was done to support the fight against climate change, deforestation and lose of arable land currently being experienced in many parts of Northern Nigeria.

“We have spent millions of naira to make these interventions and we will continue to do so in the years ahead”, said Bwankwot.

Speaking when he received the JeJe Riders in Dutse, the state governor Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, thanked the group for the donation and also identifying with the people of the state in this abysmal time when flooding that killed over 130, displaced over 100,000 and washed away over 14,000 hectares of farmland.

The governor who was represented by his deputy Malam Umar Namadi reiterated the commitment of the state government to join hands with all partners and experts in finding a lasting solution to the perennial disaster.

Kaduna: Jeje Riders Donates Equipments Worth Millions To Barau Dikko Teaching, 44 Army Reference Hospitals[i][/i]


As part of their contribution to humanity and health care service delivery to the society, the Jeje Riders Nigeria International has donated Heart Start Defibrillator worth millions of naira to the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital and the 44 Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.

The Jeje Riders who drove in their motor bikes from across the country led by their chairman, Board of Trustees and president, Tizhe Ibrahim Mathew said, they are committed to touching lives in positive ways as part of their core values and mandate as a group.

Speaking while making the presentation at both the.Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital and 44 Army Reference Hospital, the president of the Riders, Mr Mathew said, they are an exclusive group of like minded young Nigerian international touring and adventure bikers based in Abuja.

"At the core of our objectives is charity, youth development and peace advocacy. It is in line with our creed that we have donated multi-million naira hospital equipments to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital and 44 Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.

"This is in line with what we have desired to do and will continue to do to support some of the good works that we have seen in the country. Supporting hospitals that are rendering services to the populace.

"If you look at the 44 Army Reference Hospital, it's a military hospital that offers services even to civilians, and that is why we decided to support them today.

"We are international touring bikers organisation, we have support from sisters biker's association across the world. In Africa, just recently, at the beginning of the year, we were in Niger Republic where a school was donated by bikers, last month we came back from Côte d'Ivoire, we have support from this sister bikers association and we also support them and they support us and that is how we get support for some of the things we do."

He also disclosed that as an association, they have concluded plans to visit the Kogi state Governor to commiserate with him on the recent flood disaster that hits the state and that they will support no fewer than 200 households affected by the flood with relief materials.

"We will also be partnering with NDLEA before the end of the year in the area of youth development and you know we have to channel the energy of the youths appropriately and ensure that they are supported and developed properly.

Also speaking on their recent visit to the Emir of Gombe Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, he said, "The Emir of Gombe is our father and the grand patron of all bikers in Nigeria. He supports all our activities all the time. He gives us advice and supports all the biking activities that we have done this year. We hope to also invite bikers associations from around West Africa to Nigeria by next year when we will be going to Gombe for a special event.

On how long the Jeje bikers have existed, he said, "We have existed for a couple of years now. Individually, bikers belong to different biker associations. We brought ourselves together to form an exclusive Biker group. And that is why Jeje Riders is an exclusive biking association of like-minded young people. The maximum number of members is 24 that is to tell you how exclusive Jeje Riders is. People who have the same values and beliefs and are from different backgrounds belong to Jeje Riders Nigeria.

Speaking on their challenges, he said, "There will always be challenges in terms of the roads which is a major challenge. That one is very obvious. You can imagine riding across the country, and sometimes on bad roads.you come across bad roads. But JeJe riders have safety at the core of all its riding activities, and we have been able to avoid any incidence since the formation of the association" he stressed.

Responding shortly after recieving the equipment, the chief medical director (CMD) of Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Professor Abdulkadir Musa Tabari said, "The equipment is used in saving lives in emergency cases especially patients with cardiac problems. Most often, we lost patients because we don't have these facilities immediately available. ideally, not only within the hospital, every corner of the town and cities and highways, we are supposed to have this machine. It's a life saving machine, instantly when you apply it to the heart, it will come up and bring back the heart to normal.

"We lost a lot of patients because of the lack of this type of machine. So it's a highly welcome development that we have the nature of this machine in this time that we have it now. We thank the Jeje Riders for this wonderful donation and for even thinking towards this course.

"As we all know, most people suffers heart problem and indeed heart attack because we don't do medical checkup to know whether there is impending heart attack or heart problem, it can happen to anybody at any time. We just heard the PDP Chairman somewhere while jubillating slumped instantly and died.

If this type of equipment is available, once you apply it, he will come back to life", he stressed.

On his part, the Acting chief medical director of 44 Army Reference Hospital, Colonel Ndidi Stephen Onuchukwu, also commended the bikers for adding value to the hospital's capacity to health delivery services while assuring of judicious use of the equipment.

A group, Owerri Zone Youths for Progress has alerted Mbaise people that Hon. Uche Onyeagucha's quest to become the Senator of Owerri zone is to provide himself with easier ladder to contest in the next governorship election in Imo State.

The group led by Comrade Chikezie Ukegbu in a statement yesterday in Owerri explained that Uche Onyeagucha's decision to contest for senate is because he could not secure ticket to contest for governor under the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2019 Election.

"A close ally to Onyeagucha told one of us reliably in confidence that the PDP senatorial candidate is seriously eyeing the Imo State governorship position.

"The source revealed that Onyeagucha's purported support for governor of Mbaise extraction is to avail himself of the people's vote to become senator.

"After becoming senator, he would then join the likes of Chief Emeka Ihedioha in the Imo governorship race by October next year since Elections for senatorial seats would take place before governorship Election in Imo State," Ukegbu revealed.

The group which believes that an Mbaise man or woman like any other person from Owerri zone deserves to govern Imo State, expresses the fear that if Uche Onyeagucha deceives the people to elect him to the senate and later uses the position for an easiest way to contest for governor by October next year, Mbaise people would lose out totally in the scheme of Imo governance.

"We are fighting for justice and equity, so we should not fold our arms and watch an individual to deceive three big local governments like Mbaise with sugar-coated promises born out of desperation to remain in power," Ukegbu added.

The group wondered why for Uche Onyeagucha's steady quest for power and position of authority when his representations in the past did not fetch his constituents the desired dividends of democracy.

"He was in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007 but could not boast of securing employment for his constituents, he could not empower the youths and women with skills, he did not attract any federal government presence in his constituency, no road projects among others.

"He only went there to display his fighting and arguing with other authorities without fighting to attract meaningful projects to his constituency.

"Yes he is vocal but being only vocal and violent without any dividends of democracy to be attracted to ones constituents amounts to deceitfulness.

"He is not the only capable person to represent Owerri zone so he should respect himself by sheathing his senatorial ambition," Ukegbu maintained.

The group which recalled that Barrister Uche Onyeagucha was also secretary to the shortlived government of Chief Emeka Ihedioha, stated that the PDP senatorial Candidate for Owerri zone could not achieve anything for his people.

It therefore advised the people of Owerri zone, Mbaise in particular not to allow themselves to be deceived by Uche Onyeagucha and his numerous wolves supporters in the 2023 Election in the interest of Justice and equity.

The University of Benin (UniBen), Edo, Nigeria has been ranked 6th by the Times Higher Education (THE) in its latest World Universities rankings for Nigeria.

In the rating made available to thevNews Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Benin by the university’s Public Relations Unit, the performance indicators were centred on the four areas of teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

The rankings were also based on the analyses of over 15 million research publications and survey responses from approximately 40,000 scholars worldwide.

Reacting to the ranking, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, said: “This information has been well received by the University of Benin community as it serves as a confidence booster.

‘’The university is at the conclusion stage of securing international accreditation by the Quality Assurance Agency, United Kingdom.

“It is expected that the University of Benin will be the first to be so recognised among Nigerian universities.”

Ehanire added that with these developments, the institution was now positioned to significantly improve in its ranking in the next exercise.

The Consulate General Of Nigeria in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Amb. Amina Amira Smaila, has presented an award of recognition for extraordinary contributions and outstanding achievements as a Citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a remarkable contributor to society to Engr. Prince Ero Ibhafidon.

He was presented with the Citizen Recognition Award at the 62nd Independence of Nigeria, held at Millennium Gate Museum Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Event visitors and guests from 17 US states that are part of the Atlanta Nigerian Consulate‘s area of responsibility were in attendance.

Ibhafidon is the Founder/CEO of Waterlight Industries Limited. He is also the President of Waterlight Save Initiative, a non-profit organization designed to alleviate poverty and improve the quality of life of Africans both at home and in the Diaspora.

The organisation focuses on Youth employment, health care, Education, housing, energy supply, and Nigerians in the Diaspora aiding job opportunities in countries they found themselves, discovering and blocking avenues through which Africans are engaged in human trafficking and become enslaved all over the world.

...As senate president extols her virtues 

Thousands of prominent Nigerians including Islamic scholars, gathered at the Ansar-Ud-Deen central Mosque for the 3rd Day (Fidau) prayers for late Zainab Sidi Ali, mother of the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu.

Some of the dignitaries and Islamic scholars that attended the Fidau include the Oyinoyi of Ebira Land, His Royal Majesty Alhaji Dr. Abdul Rahman Ado Ibrahim, Alhaji. Aliyu Atairu, the Galadiman Sokoto, representing the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Abdulsaad Abubakar II, HRH Khalid Bukar, Sarkin Moza, Kogi State, HRH Alh. Dr. Usman Obaje, Aje Dekina, Kogi state, and Alh. Ali Shafa Ahmad Salihu, representing Ohi of Adavi.

The prayers led by the Chief Imam of the Mosque, Dr. Musa Olaofe, stressed that Hajiya Zainab Sidi Ali, has played her part as a true Muslim while on earth, just as he called on the living to pray for her. 

This was disclosed in a statement by Austine Elemue,
S.A Media To FCT Minister of State, in Abuja.

Ahead of the third day prayers, Nigerian Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, extolled the moral values the late Zainab Sidi Ali, has bequeathed upon her children.

While describing the FCT Minister of State, as a steadfast and committed politician who has contributed to the development of the downtrodden, Lawan noted that all the good qualities exhibited by the minister are inherent.  

Lawan said, "We share in the grief over the loss of your mother who is also our mother. We have been working together even before you became a minister, and we have always found you to be steadfast, to be committed, to be truthful, to be transparent, to be considerate, and responsible.

"We cherish this kind of attitude. In everything, you are so good. Therefore, we hold you in very high esteem, and your family.

"We felt we should come here and deliver our condolences on behalf of all of us, 109 senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and indeed I can say even the entire House of Assembly, including the House of Representatives. May the soul of mama rest in perfect peace".

Others that attended the prayers include HRH Alh. Suleiman Muhammad, the Ogah Attah Igala kingdom, Alh. Dr. Abdulkareem Ibrahim, Chief of Ebira in FCT, Alh. Ahmed Talib, Alh. Isa Mamman, the Ohi of Okene, Alh. Dr. Usman Ngakupi, Sarkin Garki, Alh. Ibrahim Adebayo Yusuf, Deputy President Ansar-UD-Deen amongst others.

With seven months to the 2023 general elections, Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has embraced the use of more technology in election management. Paul Agbo writes on the party’s use of technology in its electoral process.

As political parties brace for the 2023 general elections, a defining element in the entire process has been the deployment of technology, which was significant during party primaries.

Beyond the politics of how candidates emerged, the technical process of uploading the names of candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was unlike before.

In the past, this stage had been quite problematic and complicated for political parties and the electoral commission, resulting, most times, in frictions within political parties that field candidates in all 1,520 elective positions across the country.

Expectedly, fielding candidates for all positions in the general elections was a herculean task for the 18 political parties in the country.

The main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was able to field candidates in all positions through the deployment technology.

In line with its tradition of not leaving any position vacant across the country, PDP under the national chairmanship, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, fielded candidates in the 1,520 positions available for contest as declared by the INEC.


Ayu had maintained that the party’s focus is to win the 2023 general elections transparently and that all Nigerians should be allowed to exercise their franchise.

As such, PDP fielded candidates in all elective positions in the country. These include two for President and Vice; 56 for governor and deputy; 109 for Senate; 360 for House of Representatives and 993 for State House of Assembly.

Finding reveals that PDP is the only party in the country to field candidates in all the vacant seats.

Not even the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) was able to field candidates in all positions. It was learnt that the ruling party was able to field candidates in about 1,507 positions for the
forthcoming general elections.

Findings revealed that PDP was able to field candidates in all available positions across the country because of the technology used by the organisation and mobilisation department.

This organisation department had constantly used technology to enhance its operations from the days of the former National Organising Secretary (NOS), Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd) where Accreditation Tags were scanned using a QR Code for authentication.

Under the leadership of another retired military man, Hon. Capt. Umar Bature, PDP’s Organisation Unit deepened the use of technology to ensure transparency in party primaries.

Building on the successes of the former NOS, Bature created an Electronic Nomination Forms Application (Electronic Nomination Form Release System) which has made the internal process of leadership recruitment seamless and transparent in the party.

Since the introduction of the system in October 2021, some appreciable and noticeable changes have been recorded, especially with the ease of procedures and high value outcomes in the last one year.

Under Bature’s watch, the party was able to conduct a credible and transparent presidential primary election. Primary elections at the states and National Assembly levels have been largely free and fair across the country.

However, with the 2023 general election in sight, the task isn’t going to be easy, a political pundit, Micheal Obiechina said.

“It is a good thing that technology is now the critical element in the electoral process even for parties, and it is nice that some parties, especially PDP, have keyed into it. We hope that the other stakeholders will continue to uphold the process,” he said.

Recently, INEC commenced the training of political party officials on the use of the redesigned INEC’s Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP) in preparation for the 2023 general election.

The ICNP, it was gathered, is one of the technological innovations introduced by the commission in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic to reduce physical interactions and automate its processes.

Chairperson of the Legal Services, Clearance and Complaints Committee (LSC&CC), Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, told participant at the training in Abuja that “the ICNP has been in use since the 2020 Edo and Ondo State governorship elections.

She said that the new provisions in the Electoral Act (2022), which made provision for several technological innovations, have additionally given the commission a general discretion to apply technology as it sees fit.

The national commissioner disclosed that the portal was recently redesigned to accommodate the greater demands of a wider, general election nomination process.

She said, “This training is of utmost importance to political parties as it will enlighten them on the guidelines for nomination of candidates and the new procedure of the ICNP bearing in mind that political parties will be submitting forms on the portal in respect of candidates they intend to sponsor for the various offices in One Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety-Nine (1,499) constituencies in Nigeria.”

INEC has been commended for deploying technology in the preparation for the 2023 elections. The election management body has been applauded for constantly enhancing the integrity of the electoral process while also ensuring ease for voters and other stakeholders in the electoral system. The expectation is that most political parties would key into more use of technology.

However, the PDP, last week, charged the electoral umpire to replicate ICNP success in 2023 general elections.

In a press statement on Friday, the national publicity secretary of PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said INEC should replicate the success recorded in the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal (ICNP) technology to
ensure transparent, fast, credible polling and transmission of results in the 2023 general elections.

The statement read: “The PDP commends the ICNP technology which allows political parties to use specified and dedicated Access Codes issued by the commission to log in and electronically upload the names and particulars of their candidates onto the INEC Web Portal in a manner that guarantees promptness, safety of materials as well as the integrity and transparency of the submission process.

“The PDP notes the effort by INEC to train Mobilisation staffs of political parties for seven days; an initiative that played key role in the success of the ICNP process. The party urges INEC to organise more capacity building trainings for its officials ahead of the 2023 general election.

“Our Party believes that the success of the ICNP is a further pointer that technology can be effectively deployed to enhance the credibility of sensitive electoral processes such as rapid uploading, transmission, collation and final declaration of election results at all levels.

“The PDP, a critical stakeholder in the Nigerian Democratic System, applauds the deployment of technology in the electronic transmission of results in the Osun State Governorship election but urges the
Commission to expand its capacity so as to withstand the expected pressure in the large-scale transmission of results from across the country in the 2023 general elections.

“The PDP also charges INEC to ensure the security of its electronic system to prevent infiltrations and manipulations especially in the 2023 general elections.

“INEC must know that the process of the 2023 general elections is crucial to the people and Nigerians expect nothing short of free, fair, transparent and credible elections that will reflect only their expressed Will and aspiration to rescue our nation from the current misrule,” he said.

It was gathered that INEC had acknowledged the PDP Organisation Department as the most organised and efficient of all the 18 political parties in the country with regards to its promptness, adherence to the rules and guidelines and good quality documentation.

However, as the world gravitate fully into the use of technology in all facets of human endeavour; the use of technology in party management has made internal operations easier and cheaper with
efficiency.

For PDP supporters like Obiechina, their party has taken the lead in that sector which has resulted in transparency in the leadership recruitment process as witnessed in recent times.

But for others like Biodun Ajibade, a political analyst, “The task is for the party to continue in this direction.”

No doubt, the continued deployment of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process is a panacea to electoral fraud, rigging and court cases resulting from faulty party primaries and the general elections.

The senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for Imo East, Mr Chyma Anthony, has called on political, opinion and religious leaders to de-emphasise talks on religious beliefs of presidential and vice presidential candidates of parties in the runoff to 2023 general elections.

He said Nigeria is too polarised on religious matters and it’s a grave mistake to tow that line of thoughts in our polity.

Anthony while speaking to journalists in Abuja frowned at the raging debate over fielding a Muslim running mate to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential flag bearer, Senator Bola Tinubu in the
2023 presidential election.

He said opinion moulders, religious and political leaders have succeeded in hitting up the political space with the issue of Muslim-Muslim ticket while raging national issues like insecurity, poor electricity supply, lack of petrol, high cost of diesel, strikes, continuous fall of the Naira, unemployment among others persists without a way out.

“It is appalling to see critical stakeholders arguing over religious affiliations of candidates in the 2023 presidential election negating the very essence of government in the country.

“What steers us today in more than the faith of presidential and vice presidential candidates. In a country where religion has polarised all sectors of the country, people are still talking Muslim-Muslim ticket
instead of how candidates intend to address burning development affecting the nation.

“How do we address rising inflation that has gone from 9.01 per cent in 2015 to17.71 in 2022, how do we stop borrowing, our debt profile in the last few years is scary and dangerous, from N8.8 trillion in 2015 to N41.60 in 2022 and may still skyrocket before the year ends.


Fuel crisis has been raging since November, 2021 without a way out even with four refineries that are good as moribund; our people sleep at filling stations in order to get fuel with a President who doubles as Petroleum minister.

“The naira is dying daily as the currency struggles against world major currencies. The Naira has nosedived from N198/1 dollar in 2015 to staggering N610/1 dollar in 2022 largely propelled by dollar bazaar at the recently concluded party primaries by the money bags in our polity.

“Nigeria’s unemployment crisis is worsening every day with thousands leaving school with no hope of getting a job. The figures are clear: from 10.4 per cent in 2015 according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to 33.3 per cent today.

“Also our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) instead of growing has continued to decline from $486 billion in 2015 to $440 billion in 2021 leaving more Nigerians trapped in poverty.


“We have remained a net import nation and are spending most of our resources serving debt and running the government instead of improving basic infrastructures that will improve the standard of living in the country,” said Anthony.

The APGA candidate for Imo East lamented that Nigeria as a nation is sailing in the wrong direction while calling all and sundry to look more at developmental issues rather than pedestrian and mundane matters of state.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) senatorial candidate for Imo East in the 2023 general election, Mr Chyma Anthony, has called on the people of the South East to focus their attention on producing more members of the National Assembly through APGA in next year’s election.

Anthony was reacting to the failure of the major political parties in the country to zone their presidential tickets to the South East, saying that the region still has an opportunity of uniting under one party to elect members of parliament from the zone.

He was speaking at a media briefing with journalists in Abuja, yesterday , saying the South East still have a window of presenting itself as a formidable force in the National Assembly by adopting its traditional party, APGA to speak for the region in parliament.

He said by coming together, the people of the region will have a stronger negotiating power in Abuja and can push for more dividends of democracy for the region other than going there on different platforms.

“The decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to look other ways other than zoning the presidency to the South East is painful especially considering the fact that the South East has been the cornerstone of the PDP since
1999.


“There is no need dissipating energies on the actions of the APC and PDP as regards the South East, rather our people should look out for the National Assembly and come in as a block through the platform of
our traditional party APGA to make our voice loud and clear in the 10th National Assembly.

“Prior to the PDP presidential primaries, I advised the Nigerian electorates to reject the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), if they fail to zone their presidential ticket to the South East; my position on this matter still stands.

“I am sure the current situation we find ourselves today is quite excruciating, but you don't desire handouts, but you want a government that works for you, a government whose priority is the provision of an environment that ensures every child in Nigeria has a decent shot at life, and the doors of opportunity remain open to all,” said Anthony.

The APGA candidate said that politics has no rhyme or reason and it is the survival of the fittest, a contest of popularity and an exercise where the will of the majority prevails.

He stressed that power will not be given to the region on a platter of gold hence the need for all political forces in the region to come together and fight for their common interest.