News

PDP Mourns Ex-Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is grief-stricken by the death of our former National Legal Adviser, Barr. Victor Kwon, describing the death as a huge blow not only to the PDP but also the nation, particularly in the struggle for the entrenchment of justice and rule of law in our nation.

Barr. Victor Kwon was an exceptionally patriotic Nigerian; a very energetic democrat, who gave his best towards the unity, stability and fight for good governance in our country.
As the National Legal Adviser of our party, Barr. Victor Kwon displayed an extra-ordinary commitment and brilliance in the legal practice and led the party in solving many knotty legal issues.
Even after his tenure as the Legal Adviser, Barr. Kwon remained very active in giving legal advice towards the growth and stability of our party as well as exhibiting uncommon loyalty and commitment to the ideals of the PDP to the very end.

The PDP is greatly saddened that Barr. Victor Kwon left the state at the time our party and indeed the nation at large, need his patriotism and wealth of experience the most.
Our party deeply commiserates with the Kwon family and the Plateau state chapter of our party praying to God to grant us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

admin
News

Republic of Benin is not Aspiring to be Part Of Nigeria

PRESS RELEASE
No: MFA/PR/2021/
REPUBLIC OF BENIN IS NOT ASPIRING TO BE PART OF NIGERIA
The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to misleading reports in the media that the Republic of Benin is aspiring to be the 37 State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama in the presence of his counterpart from the Republic of Benin granted a Press Interview after a very fruitful meeting between Ministerial delegations from both countries and stated therein “… the President of Benin Republic said he would like the relations between the two countries to be so close as if Benin was the 37th State of Nigeria”.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria has no territorial ambition and has never aspired to make Benin or any country as part of Nigeria.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs was therefore quoted out of context and the general public should kindly disregard the wrong information.

Signed
Ferdinand Nwonye
Spokesperson
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja
Saturday, 20 February, 2021

admin
News

NSIP: Be diligent in your responsibilities, FG charges Independent monitors

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, has charged the 83 Independent Monitors of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) in Delta State to carry out their responsibilities with utmost diligence and sincerity.

Hajiya Farouk gave the charge on Thursday while declaring open, the training/onboarding of the Independent Monitors for the NSIP at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba.

The Minister who was represented by Mrs. Memunat Idris, said the Independent Monitors were expected to carry out their tasks with a sense of patriotism as the nation works towards actualizing the vision of President Mohammadu Buhari to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.

She disclosed that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development would not hesitate to disengage any Independent Monitor off the programme if found violating the terms of engagement.

While saying that her Ministry was, also, working with security agencies, EFCC and the ICPC to monitor the programme, Hajiya Farouk warned that any of the Independent Monitors found engaging in any form of malpractice or fraud would be handed over to the security agencies for investigation and possible prosecution.

According to her, the National Social Investment Programme was created by President Mohammadu Buhari in 2016 with the mandate of lifting citizens out of poverty through a number of social interventions which included Job Creation Programme (N-Power), National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCT) and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).

“Today (Thursday), we are training 83 Independent Monitors that will monitor the programme at the community level in Delta State.

“The Independent Monitors will be assigned to monitor programme beneficiaries within their locality in schools, households and market clusters with the focus of ensuring that the primary objectives of the programmes are achieved,” the minister added.

Earlier in her welcome address, the state focal person of the National Social Investment Programme, Barr. Bridget Anyafulu said the NSIP was a flagship programme of the federal government designed to provide succour to vulnerable citizens while at the same time, addressing the problem of abject poverty, inequality and unemployment.

Barr. Anyafulu who is, also, an Executive Assistant to Delta State governor on Special Duties, added that the Independent Monitors were vested with the role and responsibility of tracking and assessing the implementation in terms of process outcome of the various components of the NSIP.

She, therefore, urged participants at the training to give their keen and maximum attention to the facilitators throughout the period of the training course, even as she harped on the need for them to shun all forms of malpractices and endeavour to carry out their tasks with the highest sense of patriotism, responsibility, integrity and probity by the time they assumed duty.

In his remarks during the ceremony, the Acting State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Chris Anyabuine told the Independent Monitors that the task before them was a call to duty, adding that they should render accurate report that would be useful to the programme.

admin
Entertainment Health News Politics World News

ACBF marks 30 years of capacity building in Africa

ACBF marks 30 years of capacity building in Africa With the vision of “An Africa Capable of Achieving Its Own Development,” the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), African Union’s specialized Agency for Capacity Development marks 30 years of capacity building in Africa.

ACBF was founded on February 9, 1991 by African countries and their development partners. The Foundation was given the mandate to build strategic partnerships, offer technical support, and provide access to relevant knowledge related to capacity building in Africa.

According to a press release signed by Ntsiuoa Sekete, ACBF’s Senior Communication Officer, to date, the Foundation has empowered Governments, Parliaments, Civil Society Organizations, Private Sector and Institutions of higher learning in over 48 African countries and eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs). The Foundation supports capacity development through skills and institutional development, technical assistance and advisory support, funds administration, project management and knowledge generation and sharing across Africa.

Having laid several foundations and delivered significant interventions in areas that include science, technology, engineering, economic growth, policy, public service delivery, gender, media excellence, climate change, creation of Think Tanks and strengthening of institutions among others, the Foundation looks forward to contributing more interventions and capacity solutions for the continent.

Reflecting on 30 years of capacity building in Africa, the Executive Secretary of ACBF, Professor Emmanuel Nnadozie said: “For us, 30 years is a great milestone. We look back with absolute pride to the demonstrated achievements we have recorded over the three decades. We continue to serve with a strengthened mandate following African Union’s recognition and endorsement as its specialized agency for capacity development.”

“We remain grateful to all our Member States and technical and financial Partners, for the meaningful support to our continental development journey. We look forward to continued and new partnerships as we redouble our efforts to support Africa’s capacity development agenda. We take this opportunity to again congratulate beneficiaries of the ACBF interventions and call on them to ensure that their gains continue to benefit their communities.”

The Foundation says going forward, its delivery will border on the integration agenda enshrined in the #Agenda2063, which can only be achieved with commitment to the timely planning, technical and financial resources as well as the political will and devotion to the continent’s capacity building agenda.

In celebrating the milestone, ACBF will host a series of activities throughout the year, to share its success story with stakeholders and the rest of the world. The Foundation will also continue to support the capacity building initiatives in Africa, with a focus on emerging stronger from the effects of COVID-19.

admin
News

SANWO-OLU CONGRATULATES AISHA BUHARI AT 50

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, on her 50th birthday celebration.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said Mrs. Buhari, a cosmetologist and beauty therapist, who clocks 50 on Wednesday February 17 has touched the lives of millions of Nigerians, especially women and children, since the assumption of her husband as President of Nigeria in May, 2015.

Governor Sanwo-Olu in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, on Tuesday described the First Lady as a courageous and amiable woman, kindhearted and strong pillar of support for President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said: “On behalf of the good people of Lagos State and my adorable wife, Ibijoke, I heartily congratulate the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari on the occasion of her 50th birthday celebration.

“Our First Lady attaining the age of 50 years in grace, elegance and good health is worth celebrating. Over the years, you have shown your passion for the needy in our country and as a women’s rights activist and child rights advocate, you are a major critic against child marriage.

“As an advocate of women’s and children rights, your campaign for young girls to get primary and secondary school education before getting married has yielded positive results in the country.

“Your passion for women and children made you establish a Pet Project, ‘Future Assured’ an initiative to continue your advocacy work for the health and well-being of women and children through community mobilisation and health promotion. This programme without any iota of doubt has impacted positively on millions of people directly and indirectly.

“On the political turf, your ideas and contributions on national issues are of good use. You have displayed courage and bravery on many occasions to show your passion for a better Nigeria.

“On this landmark occasion of your golden Jubilee celebration, I pray that God will continue to grant you good health to enable you render more service to humanity.”

SIGNED

GBOYEGA AKOSILE

CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY

FEBRUARY 16, 2021

admin
Uncategorized

Shasha crisis: Hon. Segelu sues for peace

A Germany-based Nigerian politician and Chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Oyo State, Hon. Olayinka Oladimeji Segelu, has called on the warring parties in the crisis that erupted last Friday in the Shasha area of Ibadan, Oyo State, to embrace peace and dialogue.

The crisis broke out at the popular Shasha market, Ibadan, after an unresolved brawl between a Hausa cart pusher selling tomatoes and a Yoruba cobbler. The Hausa man was said to have physically assaulted the Yoruba man who later died in the hospital.

In what could be described as a reprisal attack, youths of Yoruba origin grouped to launch an attack on the members of the Hausa community in the area and the Hausa youths equally grouped to resist them. This led to the burning of several shops and houses with casualties from both sides.

Hon. Segelu, in a statement, said peaceful co-existence among Nigerians irrespective of ethnic, religious, political and cultural differences, was the only way Nigeria can remain a united, indivisible and indissoluble entity open for growth and development.

“I feel pained and disturbed about the deaths and quantum of destruction that has been done to the Shasha market located in my constituency (Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency) as a result of a minor misunderstanding between a Hausa man and a Yoruba man. I can’t imagine how a trivial issue that could have been amicably resolved would be allowed to escalate to a full-blown crisis between youths of two different ethnic groups. We really don’t need this kind of crisis. There are too many problems bedeviling us that we have to be united as a people to tackle them in the interest of our dear country. It makes no sense for us to be seen fighting and killing one another when we are supposed to come together to find a way out of the numerous challenges before us hindering our progress. Nigeria’s unity should be paramount in the minds of all Nigerians. Let us live together peacefully to promote unity in diversity and enhance national integration,” Segelu advised.

He urged the warring groups in the area to sheathe their swords and cooperate with the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, in the efforts being made to resolve the conflict and douse the tension caused by the crisis.

admin