President Tinubu approves Dayo Mobereola as NIMASA DG

By Favour Nnabugwu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Dayo Mobereola to serve as the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for a renewable term of four years.
Making this known to the media is by the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement.
The appointment follows the exit of Mr. Bashir Jamoh, whose tenure recently expired.
He was the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) from 2003 to 2015 and was also the Commissioner for Transportation in Lagos State from 2015 to 2016.
Mobereola holds a Ph.D., and an M.Sc in Transport Economics from the University of Wales, United Kingdom.
He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport, in England, and a fellow of the same institute in Nigeria
In the private sector, he was Deputy Managing Director and Project Development Director at AFM Consulting Plc, London. He was also a Senior Economist at British Petroleum Shipping Limited, London.
The President expects the new Director-General to bring his vast experience to bear in his new role and to achieve the mandate of NIMASA in providing world-leading standards of maritime safety administration, maritime labour regulation, marine pollution prevention and control, search and rescue, cabotage enforcement, shipping development and ship registration, in accordance with the policies and programmes of the Renewed Hope Agenda for the sector as ably guided by the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola.” the statement also read
Faces at the Burial of The Ewe of Okpe Kingdom, Chief Daniel Walker Enamiriewan in Jeddo

The burial ceremony of the Ewe of Okpe Kingdom, Chief Daniel Walker Emiriewan who died at the age of 96 on December 18, 2023 and was laid to rest from March 5th to March 10th, 2024 in Jeddo, Delta State

CAPTIONS

L- Erumu Enamiriewan, Omoriode Aruna. Omomerere Enaimiriewan, Betty Daniels, Gladys Areago and Obaye Enaimiriewan, all children of the deceased during the ceremony

The Chiefs in Okpe Kingdom who come to grace the occasion

L- A cousin of the children of the Enaimiriewan, ,Mrs Elizabeth Osumah, Mrs Gladys Areago, Betty Daniels and ,Otomewo Enamiriewan

L- Mrs Omoriode Aruna, Ms Betty Daniels, Omomerere Enaimiriewan and Mrs Gladys Areago, all of the children of late Chief Enamiriewan at the occasion

Betty Daniels and Mrs Gladys Areago both children of the diseased

 

 

IWD 2024: Increased need for investment in women, girls to accelerate gender equality, social change

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

 

As Nigeria joins the global movement in commemorating International Women’s Day 2024, under the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress, we believe the Day serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the imperative to prioritize the rights and well-being of women and girls worldwide.

This year’s theme underscores the urgent need to invest in women as catalysts for progress in all spheres of society.

This 2024 IWD coincides with the successful conclusion and continuation of efforts to advance childbirth spacing/family planning and inclusive programming supported by The Challenge Initiative (TCI) Nigeria supported training for journalists in eight states across Nigeria, on this 2024 International Women’s Day. These trainings, were aimed to equip journalists with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively report on issues related to family planning, reproductive health, and other related women’s rights issues across the country.

The concluded trainings in eight states have expanded TCI media advocacy support from 13 to 21 states, to further amplify the voices of women and girls and drive positive social change.  This is in addition to efforts on public understanding of science and public health issues across Africa and past efforts built on the concluded Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI).

Dr. Taiwo Johnson, the Chief of Party of TCI Nigeria, says “access to comprehensive family planning services and inclusive health research is essential for women to make informed decisions about their bodies, health, and futures. By increasing investments in these areas, we can empower women to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives and contribute to sustainable development.These need to be championed locally from local, state and national levels.”

As we commemorate International Women’s Day 2024, DevComs Network calls on governments, policymakers, civil society organizations, stakeholders and individuals in the eight states (Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Borno, Jigawa, Kwara, Osun, Sokoto and Yobe) to prioritize investments in women and girls, with a specific focus on family planning and inclusive health research.

By doing so, we can accelerate progress towards achieving gender equality and building a more equitable world for all Nigerians. State-based media organizations in the 8 states and the other mediums in 13 other states will commemorate series of public awareness activities to mark this year’s IWD.

Staff training, catalyst to effective service-delivery in Public Service – TAC DG, Buba Yakub

By Favour Nnabugwu
Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Dr. Yusuf Buba Yakub, has described staff training and re-training as the lifewire of effective performance in both the public and private sectors.
Buba, who stressed the importance of the abov on Monday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a capacity-building training for officers of the Protocol Department of NTAC, said the role of the Department was such a strategic one in realizing the institutional goals and mandates of the Agency in the years ahead.
Represented by the Director of Administration at the Corps,Amb.Ahmed Abdullahi,the TAC boss challenged participants at the training exercise to make the best use of their time, emphasizing that,in spite of paucity of funds and challenges of the time,the Tinubu Administration has put the overall betterment and interests of Nigerian workers in the centre of his Renewed Hope Agenda.
While thanking the Management of NTAC for their collaboration constantly aimed at scaling up the skills of their workforce,the MD/CEO of CSO Media,Chief Dominic Ogakwu,said the involvement in the training exercise of their group,known, usually ,for quality results, underscores the commitment of NTAC to staff development and overall quality output in the Agency.He thanked the Management and staff of the Corps for the opportunity of their partnership.
Earlier,while presenting an opening remark,Lawandy Bala, Special Assistant to the Director General on Protocol Matters,expressed gratitude to the DG and members of his team for the opportunity of the training exercise.He pledged the focus and commitment of officers of the Department to actualizing the goals of the programme.
President Tinubu hails the Super Eagles’ great resilience, talent of the Nigerian people

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

 

President Bola Tinubu salutes the Super Eagles of Nigeria for their tenacious performance in the final of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.

President Tinubu commends the team, the coach, the crew, and the entire management team for their hard work, assiduity, and sacrifice to come this far in the tournament, acknowledging the hurdles they consistently surpassed with steadily improving performance as they pulled through to the finals.

The President urges Nigerians to be of good cheer, emphasizing that we won a great victory in the hearts of Africa and the world by our grit, rigour, and determination in the field of play.


“Let this passing event not dispirit us, but bring us together to work harder. We are a great nation bound as one by the green-white-green banner of resilience, joy, hope, duty, and untiring love. To those cherished Nigerian youths expressing their gifts in communities, drawing lines in the sand as they play football in their humble rectangles of play, you can be our heroes tomorrow, do not relent in your pursuit. My administration is here to make dreams come true,” the President says.

 

President Tinubu mourns CEO of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe, former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, others

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

 

After receiving an official confirmation of events, President Bola Tinubu receives with shock and deep distress the news of the passing of Mr. Herbert Wigwe, top banker and entrepreneur, and Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, along with members of the Wigwe family.

Mr. Herbert Wigwe, was the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc and founder of the How Foundation.

President Tinubu mourns these exceptional Nigerian business leaders and describes their passing as “an overwhelming tragedy that is shocking beyond comprehension.”

The President condoles with the Wigwe and Ogunbanjo families, the business community, and all those impacted by this harrowing incident.

President Tinubu prays for the peaceful repose of the departed and asks God Almighty to comfort the multitude of Nigerians who are grieving and the families of the deceased at this deeply agonizing moment.

Access Holdings confirms passing away of MD, Herbert Wigwe, wife, & son

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

The Board of Directors, Access Holdings Plc  has confirmed the passing of Dr. Herbert Wigwe, CFR, the Company’s founding Group Chief Executive Officer and former Group Managing Director of its flagship subsidiary, Access Bank Plc.

Dr. Wigwe died alongside his wife and son on Friday, February 9, 2024, in a helicopter accident in the United States of America.

The entire Access Family mourns the loss of Herbert, Doreen and Chizi. We extend our deep and sincere sympathies to his family and loved ones. Dr. Wigwe was a key driving force and a larger-than-life personality who brought his remarkable passion, energy, and experience to the transformation of the Access franchise since joining the Bank in 2002.

Commenting on the passage of Dr. Wigwe, Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, Chairman of Access Holdings said:

“The Access Family has suffered a major loss with the passing of Dr. Wigwe who was a great friend and fine gentleman. He had a prodigious intellect, admirable personal qualities, and vast business experience which he brought to bear on the Access Family and for which we owe him a debt of gratitude.

We remain confident that the Access Group will build further on Dr. Wigwe’s legacy of growth and operational excellence.”

Dr. Wigwe was instrumental in the growth of Access Bank, which he co-founded with his friend and business partner Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede. He took over as Access Bank Group CEO in 2014, focusing on the Bank’s expansion in Nigeria and Africa before taking the helm at Access Holdings in 2022. Under his leadership, Access Bank drove its African strategy to become Sub Saharan Africa’s largest retail bank by customer base.

Dr. Wigwe was a member of the Access Bank UK board as well as the board of the Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCAA). He has long been an advocate for the eradication of malaria in Africa, working with the Corporate Alliance on Malaria to support this objective.

He also sat on the board of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company and Friends Africa and was an honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Institute of Credit Administration.

A two-time winner of the African Banker of the Year award from the African Banker Awards, Dr. Wigwe was a passionate advocate of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which form the bedrock of Access Holdings’ growth strategy.

His academic credentials include a degree in Accounting from the University of Nigeria, an MA in Banking and Finance from the University College of North Wales (now Bangor University), and an MSc in Financial Economics from the University of London. He also completed the Harvard Business School Executive Management Program.

Dr. Wigwe recently founded Wigwe University, Africa’s first ivy league institution dedicated to providing a world-class education and raising the next generation of fearless leaders.

President Tinubu commends sacrifices of the Arm Forces, exalts continous protection of Nigeria’s Territorial Integrity

By Favour Nnabugwu 
President Bola Tinubu has commended the sacrifices of the country’s the armed forces and their continuous protection of  Nigeria’s territorial integrity against all threats.
Speaking at an event marking the Diamond Jubilee of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, on Saturday, the President assured the military of his administration’s commitment to its welfare, as well as unflagging support in the discharge of its duties.
The NDA was established about six decades ago, on February 5, 1964. The institution has undergone various stages of transformation in its quest to fulfill its mandate of training officers for the Nigerian Armed Forces. Before obtaining independence from Britain, Nigeria’s first set of officers were trained in Ghana and subsequently at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, England. But by January 1964, four years after independence, the first batch of 64 army and navy cadets commenced training at the NDA.
President Tinubu highlighted some of the milestones recorded during the transformation of the NDA to include the subsequent addition and training of Air Force cadets, the successful reunification of the country after the Civil War in 1967 as well as the various short-service military training programmes instituted to fill the manpower needs caused by the Civil War.
Other noteworthy achievements he accented include the upgrade of the NDA from a non-degree awarding institution to a full-fledged degree-awarding university in 1985, thereby phasing out the Nigerian Defence Academy Certificate of Education hitherto awarded to cadets.
“The government is also pleased to note that the curriculum approved by the National Universities Commission, the regulatory body is sufficiently robust and broad-based to enable the cadets to acquire the knowledge, skills, values, character, and discipline required for effective and efficient service in the Nigerian Armed forces in peace times and in times of crises.
“I understand that other giants’ strides recorded in the NDA include the establishment of post-graduate programs, the creation of research centres and centres of excellence to facilitate research and enable cross fertilization of ideas.
“The consistent academic calendar devoid of industrial disputes and strikes should make the NDA postgraduate school an institution of first choice not only for Nigerian students but also for students across the globe”
” I therefore charge the academic staff both military and nonmilitary to transform the NDA into ‘Nigeria’s Silicon Valley,’ a hub for startups where ideas are not only incubated but also actualized,” the President said.
President Tinubu commended the past and present leadership of the NDA for the quality of military and academic training, which has continued to attract clientele from other African nations.
He said with the quality of training at the Academy, the military is capable of bringing to an end all acts of banditry, insurgency, and criminality that have ravaged the country.
“Let me also add that although the war against the enemies of Nigeria is not over, it is fair to state that relative peace has been recorded across the major flash points. These successes have come at a price for the government and the populace. We remember our fallen heroes and those out in the trenches for the sake of our fatherland. Let us also celebrate their resilience and sacrifice at this diamond jubilee.
 “I urge you to continue to play your constitutional role of safeguarding the territorial integrity of Nigeria, our fatherland. You must shun any acts that are inimical to the well-being of our nation and acts which can destroy the gains of democracy which we have enjoyed in the last 20 years.
“The government is fully aware of the service and sacrifices that members of the Nigerian Armed Forces have continued to render across the length and breadth of this country, especially in the face of daunting challenges. We, as a government, will continue to accord priority to the needs of the armed forces to enable the military to play its constitutional role without let or hindrance.
“Let me reiterate the urgency to upscale the fight against insecurity, which has robbed us of peace and progress. While the relative peace you have been able to secure is worth celebrating, you must remember that the war is not yet over until every parcel of land held by the enemy is flying the flag of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the President said.
Access Bank GMD, Herbert Wigwe, Wife, Son, NGX Chairman, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, others feared dead In Helicopter Crash

CAPTION:

Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe and Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo,

 

 

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

 

The wife and son of the Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe, and himself have reportedly been involved in a helicopter crash in the United States of America.

According to TheWill, the Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo, was also in the helicopter during the crash

It was gathered that Wigwe, his wife and son were in the helicopter, which was headed to Las Vegas when it crashed near a border city between Nevada and California on Friday night.

According to TheWill, the Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo, was also in the helicopter during the crash.

Also, it was learned that six people were feared dead after the horrific helicopter crash in California, marking the state’s second fatal accident in under a week
Officials said the helicopter crashed near Nipton on the edge of the Mojave Desert late on Friday evening.

The helicopter, a Eurocopter EC 130, had been carrying six people onboard at the time of the incident.

It comes just days after a Navy chopper carrying five troops crashed during a routine training flight in Pine Valley, California.
The helicopter carrying six people crashed in San Bernardino County overnight, with authorities saying they have been unable to locate any survivors

AFCON 2023: Nigeria overpower South Africa 4-2 on penalties to reach Cup Final

By  Favour Nnabugwu 

 

 

Nigeria stepped gingerly into the Championship Match of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations after a turgid 120 minutes battle with South Africa that eventually went into a nail-biting penalty shootout in Cote d’Ivoire’s second city, Bouake on Wednesday.

The game ended 1-1 after extra time and the Super Eagles triumphed 4-2 after penalties.

It was dubbed the “Ampiano Derby’ but there was so much piggybacking on the game, and as the players stepped onto the turf of the Stade de la Paix, it was obvious that they were determined to fight a ‘war’.

Sphephelo Sithole got his leg to a through ball as the Bafana Bafana poured forward in the quarter-hour, but Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali would never be beaten that way. Minutes later, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman combined to pull something out of the chestnut, but the defenceline of Teboho Mokoena, Aubrey Mobida and Siyanda Xulu was very much on the alert.

Nwabali was again on the alert in the 28th minute to break the heart of Percy Tau, and nine minutes later, Alex Iwobi’s shot from the edge of the box was too feeble to rattle goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams.

In the 39th minute, Nwabali again denied Tau as the forward concocted a chip. At the other end, Osimhen failed to direct his header well when Ola Aina sped down the left and heaved the ball into the opposition box.

Osimhen again failed to direct his header properly in the 57th minute. Eight minutes later, Nigeria earned a penalty after the tireless Osimhen was upended in the box as he went on a sharp solo. William Ekong made no mistake from the spot.

In the 72nd minute, the combination of Osimhen, substitute Chukwueze and Lookman had the Bafana defence flat-footed, only for Osimhen to get too much purchase on the ball when he tried to find Lookman for the final delivery.

Evidence Magkopa got behind the Nigeria defence in the 75th minute and watched his fierce shot roll aimlessly away. For a response, Chukwueze and Aribo combined to set Lookman free in the middle, but the striker was checkmated.

With five minutes left, the Eagles broke forward in a sweeping team move. The irrepressible Lookman sped away from the middle and found Bright Osayi-Samuel on the right, and the defender’s cross screened goalkeeper Williams to allow Osimhen a simple tap-in. After ruling it a goal, Egyptian referee Amin Mohamed Omar’s attention was called to an earlier incident in the Nigerian box, and he instead awarded a penalty to South Africa, converted by Teboho Mokoena.

In extra time, Lookman watched his shot parried by Williams, who then saved a shot by Osimhen. Osimhen headed just slightly over the bar as Nigeria searched for a means to end the encounter without going into penalty shootout.

In the ensuing penalty shootout, Williams, who had saved four in the shootout against Cape Verde that saw the Bafana Bafana reach the last four, could not stop any of Nigeria’s kicks. Only Ola Aina booted his kick over the sticks. Terem Moffi, Kenneth Omeruo, Ekong and Kelechi Iheanacho all scored, while Nwabali saved two of South Africa’s kicks and was duly named Man of the Match.

In the event, Nigeria will play in the Final of the continent’s flagship football competition for the eighth time.

The Super Eagles will take on tournament surprise team and hosts Cote d’Ivoire in the Final on Sunday night at the 60,000 – capacity Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe, outside Abidjan.