Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Caroline Ameh

Nelson Mandela Day:Group Calls for Continuation of His Legacies

In commemoration of the 2024 Nelson Mandela Day, His Imperial Highness, Prince Estifanos Matewos, President of the United Africa Royal Assembly (UARA) has called for the continuation of legacies of the late Nelson Mandela, reflecting on the enduring legacy of a man whose unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and freedom continues to inspire millions .

This was contained in a statement personally signed by him and made available to newsmen.

He stated that, as they remember Madiba’s profound impact, they are reminded that the long walk to freedom he embarked on is far from complete; making it incumbent to advance the late leader’s legacies with collective action, resilience, and a steadfast dedication to his principles.

“The United Africa Royal Assembly recently congratulated His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa on his re-election as President of South Africa. The historical government of national unity under President Ramaphosa’s leadership then committed to uphold principles of non-racialism, non-sexism and justice. We must not lose sight of these promises and the gains of the revolution that Madiba and many of our great African liberators sacrificed their lives for.”

“Mandela once wisely noted, “After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” In the face of shared socio-political challenges across our continent, we must draw strength from his enduring spirit, approaching these challenges with courage and vision”.

“The United Africa Royal Assembly is committed to supporting this journey by enhancing the role of traditional leadership in addressing poverty, unemployment, and inequality”.

“Madiba’s post-apartheid government established formal institutions for traditional leaders, creating a platform for their meaningful contributions to governance. In this spirit, we strive to continue his legacy, collaborating with governments and all stakeholders to transform freedom, justice, and equality into lived realities for all Africans”.

“Together, let us honor Nelson Mandela by persevering in the long walk to freedom he initiated”, the statement added.

07/17/2024
Women in Taxation Highlight Diversity, Inclusion for Business Growth …laud Grant Thornton’s Women in Business Report

By Doris Israel Ijeoma

The Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT) Lagos chapter emphasized the critical role of diversity and inclusion in business growth during a recent visit to Grant Thornton Nigeria.

The delegation praised the firm’s Women in Business Report for its two decades of insights and consistency.

SWIT Lagos, led by President Sandra Momah, highlighted the importance of including women in leadership roles to drive national development.

Mrs. Momah commended the report for showcasing progress among women in mid-market leadership and stressed that women-led SMEs significantly contribute to Nigeria’s GDP, citing National Bureau of Statistics data.

Dr. Ngozi Ogwo, Managing Partner/CEO of Grant Thornton Nigeria, noted that the firm’s research has consistently addressed gender imbalances and provided actionable solutions.

She highlighted that women’s representation in senior management in the mid-market has increased from 19.4% to 33.5% over 20 years, but stressed the need for continued effort towards gender parity.

The SWIT delegation included officials such as Yetunde Olowofoyeku, Fumilayo Oguntoyibo, Olabisi Idowu, Ede Nkiruka, and Kike Kola-Fashanu.

They were welcomed by Grant Thornton executives, including Mr. Orji Okpechi and Mr. Victor Usifo.

Dr. Ogwo pledged Grant Thornton’s support for SWIT’s activities and announced the nomination of a SWIT ambassador within the firm to coordinate with the organization’s local chapter.

SWIT, founded in 2010, aims to empower women in taxation through professional development, advocacy, and networking, contributing to the socio-economic development of women in Nigeria.

07/17/2024
Gov Yusuf Appoints Three Second-Class Emirs in Kano State

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has approved the appointment of three second-class Emirs for the state’s Rano, Gaya and Karaye Emirates.

A statement issued by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Mr Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said the new Emirates is to serve as second with Kano as first-class Emirate.

It gave the names of the newly-appointed Emirs as Alhaji Muhammad Mahraz Karaye, Emir of Karaye (who until his appointment was the District Head of Rogo), Alhaji Muhammad Isa Umar, Emir of Rano (who until his appointment, was the District Head of Bunkure) and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir Gaya, Emir of Gaya (who was the Emir of the defunct Gaya Emirate).

While congratulating the newly-appointed Emirs, Governor Yusuf urged them to be custodians of culture, peace and unity of the people of their respective Emirates.

It will be recalled that the Governor had on July 16, 2024, signed into law a bill creating three second-class Emirates in the state with Rano covering only Rano, Kibiya and Bunkure Local Government areas, Gaya covering only Gaya, Ajingi and Albasu Local Government areas and Karaye covering only Karaye and Rogo Local Government areas.

“The appointments are with immediate effect”, the statement added.

07/17/2024
Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno Named New Senate Chief Whip, Succeeding Ali Ndume

The Nigerian Senate has appointed Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno to replace Ali Ndume as Chief Whip.

The decision was prompted by a formal complaint from the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which was presented during a plenary session chaired by Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The complaint, conveyed in a letter signed by APC’s National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and National Secretary Senator Surajudeen Bashir, cited concerns over Ndume’s public statements which were deemed detrimental to national interests.

Specifically, Ndume’s comments in a media interview where he criticized the administration and made allegations against prominent figures within the party were highlighted as reasons for his replacement.

Following the reading of the letter by Senator Akpabio, the Senate conducted a voice vote to confirm Senator Monguno as the new Chief Whip of the Senate.

07/17/2024
Court restores Philip Shuaibu as Edo State Deputy Governor

By Vivian Michael, Abuja

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Wednesday, nullified the removal of Phillip Shuaibu as Edo State Deputy Governor.

The court, in a judgement held that Shuaibu’s impeachment and subsequent removal violated the provisions of the law.

Having declared the removal as unlawful, the court subsequently ordered his instatement as deputy governor of the state.

Besides, the court ordered the Inspector General of Police to restore his security details as deputy governor.

Consequently, the Court ordered that his salaries, allowances should be paid to him from April.

Details later.

07/17/2024
BREAKING: Tinubu effectively kicks off student loan scheme in Aso Rock

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

Following a mild amendment to the Student Loan Scheme, the Federal Government has effectively commenced the programme.

As of the time of filing this brief report, the President, Bola Tinubu is currently inaugurating a presidential committee to drive the Scheme at the State House, Abuja.

To kick start the programme, the President had recently approved ₦35 billion to be disbursed through specific criteria by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFund, targeting 70,000 initial applicants.

Jim Ovia who was appointed by Tinubu to Chair the Governing Board of NELFund had approved the disbursement of loans to successful applicants during its inaugural meeting in Abuja last month.

At the inauguration currently taking place in the Villa, Tinubu is expected to give the implementation team terms of reference to ensure the scheme does not derail from its mandate.

Details later…

07/17/2024
Tinubu mourns Labour Party lawmaker

President Bola Tinubu has commiserated with the National Assembly and the Kaduna State Government over the passing of Honourable Ekene Abubakar Adams, a lawmaker representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State in the House of Representatives.

The President also extended his condolences to the family and friends of the late lawmaker, urging them to find solace in the Almighty and in the legacy of the deceased.

President Tinubu prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed lawmaker and strength to his family.

Ekene died on Tuesday morning after battling an unknown illness.

He was 39 years old.

07/16/2024
No plan to handover Public Varsities to Private Investors, FG

The Federal Government says there is no plan to hand over public universities to private investors.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, made the clarification at the Second Quarterly Engagement of the ministry with Heads of units and chief executive officers of parastatals and agencies under the ministry.

NAN reports that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the federal government of plans to hand over federal universities to investors through public-private partnerships.

”There is no plan to sell off universities to investors,” he said, noting that the policy of the government allowed for transnational education.

According to him, transnational education is a policy on what this government is doing to open up tertiary education by taking people from the rest of the world to come and invest in our tertiary system.

“Some people are carrying information that the federal government is selling off to private investors its universities. This is absolute lie and completely false.

“This government believes in our public institutions. However, as we all know this government has reforms that this country needs.

“The private sector will play a major role in the provision of tertiary education, as there are more private universities in Nigeria than public universities combined.

“What this government has done is to open up the tertiary education level, in particular the universities, for global competitiveness,” he said.

The minister stressed the need to allow those who operate universities at the international level to come into the country and set up institutions either for themselves or in collaboration with our local universities.

He said that this was in no way to sell its institutions, noting that guidelines on transnational education had been in place.

Mamman said the country must take a cue from what is obtainable in other countries so as to benefit from the advantage of transnational education.

“In other parts of the world, like Asia, they have benefited immensely of having international institutions in those countries.

“They have taken standards to those countries and also for the exchange and bringing money to those countries,” he said.

He further said that the engagement with heads of agencies as parastatals was to review the progress, challenges and reaffirmed commitment toward educational landscape of the country.

07/16/2024
190 Nigerians Repatriated From UAE, Land in Abuja Amid Suspension of Travel Ban

The Nigerian government has confirmed the repatriation of 190 Nigerians from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) which made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Zonal Director NEMA North Central, Bashir Idris Garga.

He said the returnees were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 6am on Tuesday by a combined team of government officials led by NEMA.

According to NEMA, “The returnees were profiled and documented by the relevant agencies and sensitised to behave with decorum and responsibility on their return to Nigeria.

“The federal government urges all Nigerians, wherever they may be, to act as exemplary ambassadors of their country, upholding the fundamental values of patriotism, rule of law, decency, and integrity.”

This comes as the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government on Monday announced that the UAE had lifted its visa ban on Nigerians.

The Nigerian government had said it reached an agreement with the UAE that would enable Nigerians to access UAE visas.

They had previously imposed a visa restriction on Nigerian citizens in October 2022. Additionally, the Emirates Airlines had suspended its flight operations to Nigeria in November 2022.

07/16/2024
Elon Musk pledges $45 million a month to electing Trump

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

Tech billionaire Elon Musk said he plans to commit roughly $45 million each month to a new fund backing Donald Trump for US president, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Musk’s donations will go to a political group dubbed America PAC, which will focus on promoting voter registration, early voting and mail-in ballots among residents in swing states ahead of the November general election, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Musk is one of several major backers of the new fund, with others reportedly including Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, former US ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft and cryptocurrency investors Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.

The Tesla founder formally endorsed Trump’s candidacy for US president on Saturday after the former president survived a shooting at a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

“I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk wrote on the social media platform X, which he acquired in 2022.

Musk, the wealthiest man in the world with an estimated net worth of $250 billion, has grown increasingly friendly with Trump over the course of the 2024 US election.

In March, the two met in person during a donor breakfast hosted at the Florida residence of billionaire Nelson Peltz.

Though individual campaign donations in the United States are capped at $3,300 per person, loopholes in the campaign finance system allow political mega donors to contribute to funds known as political action committees or “PACs,” which support candidates.

Trump previously decried mail and absentee voting, but has backtracked on his criticisms after it became clear Democrats had an edge among mail voters.

07/16/2024