The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, says it will be important for the future of the country that Nigerians do not let their differences divide them.

According to her, legally established process for resolving challenges to the election should be allowed to take its course

In an Op-ED titled: The Elections of February 25, Leonard said that the people of Nigeria demonstrated their dedication to democracy on Feb. 25.

However, that there were many angry and frustrated Nigerians just as there were many celebrating victories they believed were hard-fought and well-earned.

In the coming days, it will be important for the future of this country that Nigerians not let their differences divide them.

And that the legally established process for resolving challenges to the election be allowed to take its course.

We commend Mr Obi and Mr Abubakar for their recent statements committing to take this path, and Mr Tinubu, who INEC declared the president-elect under Nigerias electoral framework, for acknowledging their right to do so.

The United States is no stranger to election-related controversy and conflict.

As much as it can be unsatisfying to end an electoral process in a courtroom, in a constitutional democracy bound by the rule of law, that is where electoral conflicts may appropriately conclude.

She said it was clear that the electoral process as a whole on Feb. 25 failed to meet Nigerians expectations.

As I said numerous times prior to the elections, Nigeria has accomplished much in just the two-plus decades since the return to democracy, and a gradual improvement in the quality of its elections in that time constitutes one of those accomplishments.

We recognise that Nigerians want that positive trend to continue, including through the use of new technology intended to make the process of reporting results more transparent.

We, thus, reiterate our call on INEC to address promptly the challenges that can be resolved ahead of the March 11 gubernatorial elections.

And to undertake a broader review of the problems that transpired during the last elections and what can be done to fix them.

In all cases, INEC should share with the Nigerian public information about the actions it is taking.

She highlighted some of the remarkable results from the past election that showed how Nigerias political landscape was indisputably changing.

In more than half of the states 20 the winning candidate represented a different party than that of the incumbent governor.

Twelve of these states are led by APC governors. For the first time, four presidential candidates won at least one state, and the top three each won 12 states based on these initial results.

In the National Assembly elections, even with results still incomplete, we already know that changes are afoot.

Seven sitting governors lost in their attempts to win election to the Assembly; the Labor Party has won at least seven seats in the Senate; the NNPP has won at least 11 seats in the House of Representatives.

She said that the Nigerian people had made clear their desire for responsive and inclusive governance, and that the U.S. strongly supported the ability to express that desire.

The United States and Nigeria are the two largest presidential democracies in the world, and longtime partners.

As Nigeria goes through these next weeks and months, we stand with you, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng.

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Source: NAN News

NDE logo

By Ibrahim Kado

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) on Monday commenced a five-day training for 1,235 graduates under the NDE-Enterprise and Finance Counseling Clinic (NDE-efcc).

Malam Abubakar Fikpo, Director General, NDE, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the training in Yola.

Fikpo, represented by Mr Nuhu Bello, Acting Adamawa State Coordinator, said the training was simultaneously taking place in Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Plateau, Sokoto and Taraba states.

In all, a total of 1,235 participants have been selected from 18 states at the rate of 65 participants per state.

The concept of the NDE-efcc was borne out of the desire to provide opportunity for business persons facing challenges to obtain solutions through experience sharing with other businessmen.

Or through counseling sessions with the established business persons that are part of the facilitators of the training, he said.

According to him, the clinic also seeks to guide them in solid business management.

He called on the participants to take advantage of the opportunity before them to succeed in life, as there were several persons without white collar jobs.

Ms Chikodi Ike, Head, Small Scale Enterprise, NDE Abuja said, the training developed as part of the effort of the NDE to equip unemployed graduates of tertiary institutions.

Ike, represented by Ms Aishatu Aliyu, Enterprise Development Officer (EDO) of the scheme, said that the training would enhance their capacity to succeed in the chosen businesses.

Mrs Naamar Jonnah, HOD Small Scale Enterprise, NDE Adamawa, congratulated the beneficiaries and advised them to actively participate throughout the training to acquired business skills.

She encouraged them to also be entrepreneurs and contribute to the socio-economic development of the state and county at large.

Mr Bello Ishaq, who spoke on behalf of the participants, appreciated the Federal Government for the opportunity, and gave assurance that they would do their best and be employers of labour in their communities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the participants were also counseled on the dangers of drug abuse by NDLEA. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Deborah Coker/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

Prof. Olalekan Akinbo

By Sylvester Thompson

Prof. Olalekan Akinbo, Expert Supervisor at Centre for Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) says STI hold key solutions to curbing poverty and economic development challenges.

Akinbo spoke on the role of STI to national development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

STI have been central in the progress and development of virtually all the nations of the world, contributing immensely to all sectors of the economy.

STI are intimately connected with development because they have a historical record of bringing advances that have led to healthier, longer, wealthier and more productive lives.

They are key ingredients to solutions to the most serious poverty alleviation and economic development challenges that we currently face and are likely to face in the future, he said.

According to him, STI has been central in the progress made till date in the fight against poverty and in stimulating economic growth.

Akinbo said that advances in STI were in many ways the ultimate global for good public use, adding, because once discovered, their benefits could be extended to additional users at little or no marginal costs.

He said in most basic and critical areas of human needs, STI have made significant progress till date, and that they hold the best prospects for continued progress, particularly in respect to agriculture, health, energy among others.

Underscoring STIs role in agriculture, the NEPAD Expert said advances in STI had facilitated higher yields, greater efficiency and nutritional content in the worlds food supply.

He added: Food production, however, must double in the coming decades to meet rising demand and challenges entailed in inter alia improving resistance to drought, pests, salinity and temperature extremes.

Akinbo also mentioned raising the nutritional content and reducing post-harvest losses all in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner.

At the same time, the regulatory challenges of assuring safety in food production and consumption will increase exponentially, he said.

Accordingly, he said that although the necessary technology for increasing agricultural output was available in many developing countries including Nigeria, certain requisites were to be met.

Akinbo said these requisites were the will to advance economically, opportunity and organisation to use technology, elimination of political, social and economic obstacles to development, among others.

Explaining further, he said in the area of food security, advances in STI provided the foundation for the green revolution, and also allowed food prices to remain at historical lows for the past decades.

He stated that improved knowledge of plant biology and breeding techniques led to better seeds and cultivation practices that drastically increased yields.

In the area of economic growth and rural development, Akinbo said STI were tragically important.

He said for many years, policy makers had suspected a close link between economic growth and productive investment in STI, and that now mounting evidence supported this.

He said firstly, since the industrial revolution, developed countries have had the most STI capacity and have been the ones to grow fastest.

From 1870 to the present, scientifically and technologically advanced countries have become increasingly wealthy, and their rates of growth have not diminished over the years.

Second, returns to rural development have been shown to be consistently positive and high in countries where science and technology were properly established, Akinbo said.

He added that in such cases, there was always a correlation between innovation and growth. (NAN)()

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

Tinubu and Jack-Rich

By Emmanuel Afonne

Oil mogul, Tein Jack-Rich, has congratulated Sen. Bola Tinubu, the President-elect and vice-president elect, Sen. Kashim Shettima, over their victory at the 2023 presidential polls.

Jack-Rich, a frontline aspirant during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary that produced Tinubu as the partys flag bearer, said this in a congratulatory message on Saturday in Abuja.

The philanthropist who is the Deputy Director of the Councils Fundraising Committee of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), described Tinubus victory as well deserved.

I write on behalf of my wife, Mrs Elizabeth Jack-Rich, members of the PCC from Rivers State, and the entire APC family in the state, to felicitate with you and the Vice President-elect over your victory.

It is a well-deserved victory and it was a keenly contested presidential election, he said.

Jack-Rich also the President/Founder of Belemaoil Producing Ltd., said that Tinubu and Shettima presidency would usher in a new dawn for the country and promote inclusivity in governance for national good.

He expressed optimism that Tinubu would preside over a peaceful and prosperous country given his enviable track record of hard work, devotion and dedication to duties.

Jack-Rich, however, called for the cooperation and support of all Nigerians, including candidates that contested the presidential election, to join hands with him to build an egalitarian country that would work for all and sundry.

According to him, now is the time to build bridges for the good of the country and not plot to tear it apart. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined leaders and members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in celebrating the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on his 81st birthday.

In a congratulatory message by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, on Thursday in Abuja, Buhari rejoiced with the religious leader, who left his academic career to fully commit to serving the Lord.

The president equally felicitated family, friendsand other church leaderswithin and outside the country, thankful for Adeboyes positive influence on people and institutions, with a focus on expanding the kingdom of God on earth.

While recalling the visits and prayers, especially when he was ill and recuperating, Buhari said he remained grateful for the friendliness and wise counsels of the General Overseer over many years.

The president prayed that the God would continue to bless and guide Adeboye and his family.

In a similar development, President Buhari shared the joy of the milestone with renowned journalist, Alhaji Liad Tella, who turns 75 March 3, 2023.

The president noted that over five decades, Tella had invested in journalism, rising to the top of his career as Deputy Editor of National Concord, and Editor-in-Chief of The Monitor Newspapers.

He also celebrated Tellas contribution to knowledge as Senior Research Fellow, Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin, and his commitment to Islam.

Tella was one of the founding fathers of Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), and a Federal Commissioner at the National Hajj Commission, for many years.

Buhari rejoiced with the Tella family, the media community, especially the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).

He wished the Asiwaju Musulumi of Iwo land longer life in good health, to further serve God, society, and humanity at large. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Saturday leave for the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LCDs) in Doha, the capital city of Qatar.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents spokesman in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said this development followed an invitation by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The conference, which is from March 5 to 9, under the theme: holds once in a decade.

It provides an opportunity to garner the support of the international community for accelerating sustainable development in the LDCs as well as assist them make progress towards achieving prosperity.

According to Shehu, while in Doha, Buhari will reinforce Nigerias commitment to support the most vulnerable countries to meet their development challenges.

The presidential aide revealed that the president would also highlight areas through which the Nigerian government had provided them with various forms of assistance over time.

As most of these countries struggle to find sustainable solutions to challenges of poverty, adverse effects of climate change, food and energy crisis as well as high-debt burden among others, the Nigerian leader will vigorously reiterate the need for sustainable solutions for countries facing these severe challenges.

The Summit will be attended by world leaders, the private sector, civil society and youth organisations.

It aims to share developmental ideas and mobilise political will, solidarity, action and solutions to transform the LDCs, by finding sustainable solutions to the challenges of poverty, food insecurity, hunger and weak or non-existent infrastructure.

The summit will also address the challenges of inadequate health facilities, climate change among others as they struggle to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The presidents delegation includes some ministers and top government officials who are expected to use the opportunity of the visit to sign some agreements and Memoranda of Understanding with the Qatari government.

The Nigerian leader is expected to return to the country on Monday.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

NYSC members

By Olatunde Ajayi

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Coordinator in Oyo State, Mr Abel Odoba, says the development and unity of Nigeria rests heavily on the youth of the country.

Odoba spoke on Thursday, in Ibadan, at the passing out ceremony of the 2022 Batch A Stream II corps members.

He reminded the corps members that nation building remained the core mandate of the one-year mandatory national service they have undergone.

The coordinator commended them for their meaningful contributions to their host communities and their initiatives of executing various community-oriented projects and making positive impact.

Odoba charged them not to be deterred by the current situation of the country, but to take up leadership roles that would enhance the advancement of the nation.

You must be disciplined and always exhibit such, because without discipline, you cant be good leaders, he said.

The coordinator also advised them to utilise the training they had received through NYSC to change the narratives of disunity among members of the diverse ethnic groups.
He implored them to make the unity of the country their priority and duty wherever they found themselves after their disengagement from service.

Odoba, while encouraging them on entrepreneurship and self actualisation, said that the world had become more entrepreneurial, making white collar jobs less attractive.

NYSC places emphasis on self-reliance and wealth creation; I therefore urge the outgoing corps members to put into practice all they have learnt.

They should explore all the facilities available to them for start-up capital from various financial institutions the NYSC is partnering with through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme, he said.

The coordinator advised the outgoing corps members to apply necessary acumen, right ideals and stay focused in their chosen career, business or other human endeavours.

Odoba said this was necessary to propel them to greater heights in the interest of the nation and themselves.

He enjoined them to be good ambassadors of the scheme, their families, and their various institutions of learning.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Local Government Inspector, Ibadan North, Mrs Kolade Comfort, said that most of the outgoing corps members performed excellently and deserved the Certification of National Service. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Oluwole Sogunle

Source: NAN News

Flying Eagles celebrating their defeat of Uganda at Under-20 AFCON

By Babatunde Ogunrinde

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria on Thursday in Ismailia beat Uganda 1-0 to qualify for the semi-finals of the ongoing FIFA Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

The Nigerian under-20 male national football team also in the process qualified for the 23rd FIFA Under-20 World Cup finals scheduled for Indonesia from May 20 to June 12.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the second quarter-final match of the 17th Under-20 AFCON, the Flying Eagles had to battle hard all throughout the game.

They were rewarded with an own goal scored by Ugandan midfielder Ibrahim Juma in the 30th minute of the game at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium.

Goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso, who captained in the absence of the suspended Daniel Bameyi, did well to keep his team in the game before and after the goal.

As early as in the 10th minute, he had to enact a reflex save to stop a bullet header from a corner-kick.

Both teams continued to frisk for opportunities, with Nigerias Ibrahim Muhammad and Haliru Sarki probing deep.

But they were undone mostly by inaccurate passes and poor ball-holding in the final quarter of the game.

However, Muhammad who scored one of the goals which sank Mozambique on the final day of Group A helped his team to get it right by the half hour.

He latched onto a long ball on the left flank from the defence, controlled well and fired, an effort which saw the ball hitting the near post behind the goalkeeper.

The balls return into the goal area saw it richochetting off defender Juma into his own net for the only goal of the match.

Muhammad should have made it two to give Nigeria a cruise only four minutes after the restart, but he put too much power behind his turn and shot.

On the hour mark and seven minutes after, Aniagboso, however, saved point-blank efforts to sustain Nigerias lead.

Also, in the 80th minute, Samson Lawal pushed the ball away from goal from a free-kick 22 yards away.

NAN reports that victory has now earned Nigeria a slot in Mondays semi-finals as well as a ticket to Indonesia.

The Flying Eagles will take on the winners of the clash between Congo and Tunisia, scheduled for the Cairo International Stadium on Friday. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olawale Alabi

Source: NAN News

NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero

By Esenvosa Izah

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will continue to get involved in politics in order to bring matters surrounding the welfare of workers to the front burner of programmes and policies of government.

The NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, made the assertion during courtesy visits to some labour unions in Lagos on Thursday.

The unions include National Union of Electricity Employees; National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions, as well as Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers.

Ajaero said that the labour movement owned the Labour Party (LP).

According to him, LP is a party that has the ideology of the working class movement with its charter of workers demands.

We have an era that we are entering: era of politics, and we will not shy away.

The Nigeria Labour Congress will be involved in politics; we are already involved in politics; NLC had a political party: the Labour Party (LP), and LP participated in the recent elections.

Nigeria must exist before we practice our unionism; anybody, who emerges as the President of Nigeria will work with us, and the rights and privileges of the workers must be guaranteed.

The current wage system, casualisation policy, and outsourcing are anti-worker; with such policies, we cant be our brothers keepers, he said.

The labour leader encouraged union members to show interest in politics, saying, we have not been managing it by ourselves; we have been allowing people from outside to now answer LP.

He urged members to continue enlightening workers in the country about the LP.

That is what we are going to impose on them; even the ones that have emerged as senators or House of Representatives members, they must, as a necessity, meet with us and we will give them our programmes.

That is the whole essence of thinking of LP in the first place; so that their actions, inactions, and utterances will reflect the affairs of the labour movement, and there should be no pretences about it.

We are not saying that people cannot belong to any party of their choice, but we have a party where whatever we discuss here, we take it there as workers.

Where, if we want new minimum wage, we take it to the people that represent us there; all these issues concern the workers, and we should no longer shy away from it, Ajaero said.

In his remarks, the President, NUEE, Mr Martin Uzoegwu, said that the decision of the NLC president to undertake the courtesy visit could not have come at a better time.

Uzoegwu said: Within a few days of your assumption of office as NLC president, your impact resonates across the nation through your unequivocal position on the ongoing Nigeria national elections, emphasising against subverting the will of the people; serious engagement of state governments who have denied workers their rights and the release of locked congress secretariat in a state, just to mention a few. (NAN)

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Source: NAN News

By Obinna Unaeze

Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger has inaugurated the N779million Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) 160 housing units for flood victims in the state.

Bello, at the event in Mokwa and Edati Local Government Areas of the state on Friday, said that the victims in Muregi and Ketso communities would be the beneficiaries of the scheme.

The state government in conjunction with the local governments will setup a committee that will be saddled with the responsibility of relocating victims in the two communities as soon as this project is completed.

Efforts like this will guarantee the safety of lives and properties in our communities.

It is my hope that this project will be completed within the shortest possible time so that efforts will be made to relocate the flood victims in Muregi and Ketso, he said.

He assured the people that the state government would provide access roads to the two communities to ease movement of goods and services in the areas.

The Governor said that the electrification project of the communities would soon be completed and inaugurated to boost socio-economic activities in the areas.

Similarly, Alhaji Abubakar Yelwa, Managing Director, HYPPADEC said that, each of this housing units is estimated at the cost of N4,870,161.14.

Following intensive needs assessment and professional survey by HYPPADEC, the commission decided to construct 120 housing units in Muregi town of Mokwa local government area and 40 housing units in Ketso village of Edati local government area.

Yelwa said that each of the housing unit has two bedrooms, one sitting room, one convenience, one kitchen and one veranda.

He said that each housing unit shall occupy half of the plot size allocated to it, while the remaining half shall be left for future expansions.

The Managing Director said that to ensure accessibility to the buildings and prevent flooding, the commission would construct access roads and earth drainages at the site.

He said that the entire project would be carried out using efficient and sustainable construction materials, under the supervision of the commissions Directorate of Engineering and Technical Services.

He said that each of the housing unit would be occupied by persons that have been facing intermittent displacement as a result of floods and other ecological disasters.

Yelwa explained that the choice of Muregi and Ketso for the project was predicated on the fact that the communities have suffered frequent flooding since 2015.

He said that the project would be completed within three months as the contractor had been mobilised.

The Managing Director appreciated the state government, governing council and management of the commission for their support in realising the project.

Also, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the state council of traditional rulers, promised the support of the traditional institution to enable the project succeed.

Earlier, Alhaji Abdullahi Muregi, Chairman Mokwa local government area, commended the state government and HYPPADEC for the gesture.

Muregi appealed to the state government to find a way of settling the crisis ravaging Zakagi community in council to prevent the loss of lives and properties.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the housing resettlement scheme would cover the six HYPPADEC states of Benue, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Niger and Plateau.

NAN also reports that the HYPPADEC was established by an Act of the National Assembly in 2010 to address ecological challenges from the operations of hydroelectric dams.(NAN) ()

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

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