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Lagos 2027: Group Tells Seyi Tinubu To Quash Ambition, Say No Room For Non-Lagos Indigene

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

 

Days ago, a Group under the aegis of Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, CONYL, had endorsed Seyi Tinubu, Son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next Governor of the State. But a Youth Group under the auspices of the Coalition of Lagos Indigenous Youths has rejected the endorsement.

 

The Group said the dream of the younger Tinubu of becoming the Executive Governor of the Centre of Excellence is a tall ambition that cannot come to reality. He should Quash the idea, they warned him.

 

It stressed that Tinubu is from Osun State, but the magnanimity of Lagosians and Indigenes paved way for his Father to be a two- term Governor of Lagos State. At the moment, they said,  there is no room for a non-Lagos Indigene to be on the seat of Power in Alausa.

 

The coalition made this declaration in a release signed by its President, Abdul Kareem Whyte.

 

Part of the statement reads:

 

“Our attention has been drawn to the recent endorsement of Seyi Tinubu for Lagos Governor by a group known as Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders (CONYL) and the group is described as the the umbrella body of all the youth groups drawn across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

 

“The said Coalition sat in Owerri, Imo State, and publicly issued the statement on endorsement, While we know Mr Seyi Tinubu has his democratic rights as a Nigerian, we condemn the ill-fated endorsement and describe it as anti-democracy and a deliberate move by some faceless individuals to deny indigenes of Lagos State right to govern themselves in 2027.

 

“As for us, there is no vacancy for non-indigenes in Lagos State in 2027. The marginalization is too much and the marginalization has led to the underdevelopment in the State.

 

“It’s unbelievable that since 1999, our hinterlands are not developed, no good roads, Lagos State living on debt and our traditional system distorted by successive Governments.”

 

The coalition, therefore, enjoined the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Osuolale Akiolu, to beware of persons who would soon seek indigeneship of Lagos State because of 2027.

“Return Home, We Will Provide A Secured Environment For Xmas” – Military Assures South Easterners

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Mohammed Abubakar Badaru - Minister of Defence

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Residents of the South East zone of the country have been assured of the provision of adequate security of lives and properties, as well as a conducive atmosphere for the conduct of their business activities.

On a working visit to Enugu  and other parts of the security- challenged Region, Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru, informed that the Federal Government has put every machinery in place to enhance security in the Region.

A statement on Saturday, November 23, 2024, from the Ministry’s  spokesperson Henshaw Ogubike, said the Minister gave the assurance while addressing Officers and men of the 82 Division and Joint Taskforce  South East Operation code named “Operation Udoka in Enugu”.

The Defence Minister emphasized the imperativeness of a secured environment for the thriving of business activities.

He called on the troops to re-double their efforts towards stamping out all forms of criminal and terrorist activities in the region, and noted that a secured environment is a necessary prerequisite for  business growth and prosperity.

Badaru,stated that peace and development will definitely take a flight from an unsecured atmosphere, adding that the Federal Government is more than committed to halting all forms of insecurity in every part of Nigeria.

“There is a renewed determination to intensify our efforts against all forms of insecurity under President Tinubu’s leadership”, he said.

The General Officer Commanding, GOC, the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army Enugu, Hassan Dada, a Major General, announced the readiness of troops in the region to provide an enabling environment for a hitch free Christmas festivities in the region.

According to him, the Army is presently executing some robust strategies aimed at shoring up security ,and ensuring adequate protection of lives and properties .

He noted that the primary target is to secure the environment, build people’s confidence with a view to encouraging holiday seekers to return home.

The Source reports that the Defence Minister’s visit coincides with the arrest and arraignment, in Finland, of one of the perceived drivers of insecurity in the South East, Simon Ekpa.

On same Thursday when Badaru commenced his two day working tour ,the Finnish police announced the arrest and arraignment of Ekpa and four other promoters of the murderous faction of the IPOB on charges bordering on terrorism..

His Autopilots’ ruthlessness is believed to be at the root of the spate of violent attacks, destruction of properties  and killings that have been rocking the region for months on end.

President Tinubu To Senate: “Confirm Lt General Oluyede as COAS”

By
Adesina Soyooye
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President Tinubu with General Oluyede

By Adesina Soyooye

Barely one week after the funeral of late Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, Bola Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has forwarded the name of his replacement to the Senate for confirmation.

It is no surprise that the mantle fell on  Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, the man Tinubu appointed as the Acting COAS, and promoted to be of equal rank with Lagbaja – Lt General – even before Lagbaja died.

Oluyede has been described by a number of people as capable and disciplined and tough.

Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Communications, in a statement, confirmed that President Tinubu’s letter to the Senate, which sought for Oluyede’s confirmation, was forwarded on Friday.

He said the President’s  action was in accordance with Section 218(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act.

Oluyede was appointed Acting Chief of Army Staff on October 30, following the illness of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who passed away on November 5.

The statement said President Tinubu expressed confidence in “Oluyede’s leadership qualities, professional integrity, and extensive experience, which he believes will help lead the army and ensure national security and stability.”

Oluyede, a member of the 39th Regular Course, served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992 and promoted to Major-General in September 2020.

Oluyede has held numerous command positions throughout his career, including Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer in the Guards Brigade, and Commandant of the Amphibious Training School.

He, said the statement, had participated in several operations –  Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East, where he commanded the 27 Task Force.

He is, also, a recipient of several awards. They  include the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, the Field Command Medal, the Field Command Medal of Honour, the Field Training Medal, and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.

Before Lagbaja’s death, the late COAS had recommended Oluyede to the President for a National Award.

Ifeanyi Ubah Goes In Blaze of Glory Despite Threats From Biafra Liberation Army

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Senator Ifeanyi Ubah
Late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

By Akinwale Kasali

Politician. Philanthropist. Businessman. Serial entrepreneur. Senator Ifeanyi Ubah was everything rolled in one.

On Friday, November 22, Ubah, a Senator of the Federal Republic, who broke many hearts when he passed on July 27, was buried in his Otolo, Nnewi, Anambra State.

And what a send-off from Mother-earth it was. The funeral was emotional but fit for a king, for a warrior, a go-getter that his people said he was.

The threats by the Biafra Liberation Army which through a spokesperson warned against bringing his body back to Nnewi held no water. It was an empty threat, roundly ignored by everybody – the poor, the rich, men, women and even children.

Nobody could even have tried anything because security was tight.

The Biafra Liberation Army had threatened to disrupt the funeral and reduce Nnewi to Somali, if Ubah’s body was brought home for burial. They said if buried, his body would be exhumed and thrown into the evil forest.

Reason: A false propaganda that not only did Senator Ubah give IPOB Leader Nnamdi Kanu away to the Federal Government which enabled his rendition from Nairobi, Kenya, to Nigeria, that his private jet was used to transport Kanu to Nigeria.

Ubah’s constant vehement denial cut no ice with those who wanted to nail him.

But on Friday, their threat was defied  as the remains of the late Senator  Ubah was interred within his sprawling compound in his hometown  Umuanuka, Otolo Nnewi, Anambra State.

A mammoth crowd of sympathisers, families, colleagues and associates  accompanied his body. If weeping and wailing from the hundreds of the indigent all of whom he was taking care of could wake him up, thar would have been easy.

They cried, wept and wailed as they watched his casket. To many of them, the unbelievable just sank.

Nigerians emptied into Nnewi to pay their last respects to the late Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Capital Oil and gas.

Tears cascaded the cheeks of hundreds of people that stormed the burial ceremony.

His remains was first brought to his hometown in Umuanuka, Otolo Nnewi, before being taken to St. Peter Clever Parish for a funeral Mass.

As his body arrived at his estate, many of his dependents, including indigent locals, gathered at the gate, wailing in grief.

The late politician passed away on July 27, 2024 in the United Kingdom while attending his daughter’s graduation.

Known for renowned philanthropic gesture, he was instrumental in improving the lives of many people in Nnewi and Anambra through his charitable works and businesses, which also provided employment for many.

The Biafra Liberation Army through one of its members, IPOB Eze had warned against the burying of Ubah in Nnewi, rather, suggesting that he should be buried in the South West or the North.

The Homily was said by no less a person than His Most Grace,

Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke, who praised Ubah’s philanthropic life, urging others to live with the same selflessness and dedication to others.

Jigawa: Gov Namadi Sends Technicians To China For Specialized Agricultural Training

By
Ayodele Oni
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Umar Namadi - Governor of Jigawa State

By Ayodele Oni

Jigawa State is set to boost agriculture to enhance higher revenue as Governor Umar Namadi flagged off the departure of 30 newly recruited Master Technicians to China for specialized training in Agricultural Mechanization.

The programme is part of the state’s broader strategy to modernize agriculture and boost productivity through advanced technology and capacity building.

Speaking at the farewell event at the Government House in Dutse, Governor Namadi described the initiative as a landmark moment in the state’s agricultural history.

He added that the 30 technicians traveling to China will undergo six to eight weeks of training in agricultural equipment maintenance and operation.

The governor stated that the beneficiaries, who are graduates with engineering and agricultural engineering backgrounds, are expected to return as master technicians equipped to manage the service centers and maintain the machinery.

He reiterated that agriculture remains the foundation of Jigawa State’s economy and stressed the government’s commitment to mechanizing farming practices to enhance efficiency and reduce manual labor.

Namadi pointed out that to facilitate this transformation, 60 service centers have been established across the state, along with the appointment of a managing director for the Jigawa State Farm Mechanization Programme, a fully independent company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, (CAC).

He further explained that the company will oversee the deployment of farm machinery and ensure its maintenance and operational sustainability.

According to him, the state government has already made substantial progress in this regard, including the procurement of 300 tractors, 60 combine harvesters, disc ploughs, sprayers, and other essential farm implements.

He explained that, 65 percent of the payment for the machinery has been made, with the remaining 35 percent expected to be completed by the end of next month.

The governor noted that deliveries of the equipment are anticipated to begin by late December 2024 or early January 2025,

Namadi promised that the machines will be made accessible to farmers across the state through the service centers, where farmers can be able to hire tractors and other equipment at heavily subsidized rates, ensuring affordability and sustainability of the programme.

“Our goal is to ensure the mechanization of agriculture, making these tractors available to all farmers in the state.

“All farmers have to do is visit any of the service centres, request a tractor, and the tractor will be delivered to their farms to render services.”

I No Longer Trust Tinubu, We Will Not Support Him In 2027 – Jesutega Onokpasa

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Jesutega Onokpasa

By Akinwale Kasali

“Asiwaju is disconnected and dislocated from reality”

Jesutega Onokpasa, a Lawyer, is still angry. He is still angry with President Bola Tinubu over the President’s appointment  of Daniel Bwala, a Lawyer like him as Special Adviser Policy Communication.

Less than 48 hours after Bwala’s appointment, Onokpasa recorded an angry video message where  he said that by Bwala’s appointment, Mr President has humiliated his loyalists. He said Mr President has betrayed them. He said Mr President has stabbed them on the back. He said God would pay the President in kind. That video recording went viral on Social Media.

Onokpasa’s beef with Bwala’s Presidential appointment stems from what the President suffered in the hands of Bwala in the months running to the 2023 Presidential Election.

A member of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Bwala resigned from the APC and decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over Tinubu’s choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate. Both men are Muslims, and Bwala said that a Muslim-Muslim ticket was an insult, a slap on the face of Christians. A humiliation and a sacrilege, almost.

On decampment to the PDP, he was immediately appointed the Spokesperson for the Party’s Presidential Campaign Council. It was a job he did so well by calling then Candidate Bola Tinubu all kinds of names. A fraud. Fake. Drug Dealer. Drug Baron. Convict. Certificate forger. And more. And, he continued even after Tinubu won and was sworn-in.

Bwala called Tinubu’s mandate a stolen mandate. He said the election was rigged. And, he said Tinubu was so incompetent that even if he spends 30 years in office, he still would get nothing right.

If not a few Nigerians were shocked when Bwala suddenly made a u-turn and began to hotly romance the President, they were more shocked that the President, a few days ago, appointed Bwala his Special Adviser.

Onokpasa’s immediate reaction was like a bomb thrown at the President and Bwala. Many thought he would have calmed down a bit. But Onokpasa anger is still boiling to high heavens as confirmed by the interview he granted Arise Television’s Charles Aniagolu.

In the interview, a boiling Onokpasa dismissed Bwala’s appointment as stupid. He took a look at most of the President’s appointments and said the President’s Government is for the people of Osun and Lagos, the two States, he pointed out, where the President lost at the polls. He said the President has ignored the North, the South-south and the South- east in appointments.

He summed his anger up by saying the President can no longer be trusted, and thar those his loyalists who he has shocked by Bwala’s appointment, including himself, will never support his second term bid in 2027.

Following, parts of Onokpasa’s interview with Aniagolu on Arise Television.

“My President just behave like he can stab anybody in the back, disgrace anyone and humiliate anyone.

I don’t trust him anymore. I am sorry.

“He is clearly and totally misguided, he just believes he is doing what will help him in 2027.

“Somebody said that it is a strategy, but I said NO, it is stupidity.

“Bwala helped Atiku Abubakar to fail in 2003, and he will help Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fail in 2027. That is my prediction unless he (Tinubu) changes”.

Asked if he felt like a fool  by Bwala’s appointment  Onokpasa answered:

“Not only for me, but for all us, our Party. We won in Ekiti, we won in Ondo and Ogun State, where are those people. You form a government of Lagos and Osun, where you lost at the 2023 Presidential Election. What an Insult.

“My President thinks he has conquered everywhere and also conquered everyone. We shall see what will happen in 2027.”

Asked if the President’s policies are helping the poor, Onokpasa answered in  the negative.

“At all. This is the strange part. In fact, Asiwaju is confusing us. Now, you form a government and prices keep increasing, our citizens can hardly afford to buy food. What was our plan?  We massively planned to produce food for Nigerians. We buy cars N250 million, we put on wrist watches worth N200 million, and we can’t afford to take tractors to villages.

They called us “Agbadorians” during the Election. Okay, you call us Agbadorians, and we eat the Agbado, are you not Agbadorians like us?

“No plan, absolutely nothing. I don’t know what the two guys in the Ministry of Agriculture are doing. They have no plans to feed anybody, perhaps, other than themselves.

“Infact, it is a disgrace. I don’t understand Asiwaju anymore. Asiwaju seems to have been disconnected and dislocated from reality.

“So, is it during the second term he will take us seriously? We are not going to support him in 2027.”

Ondo: 13 Candidates Seek Inclusion In Aiyedatiwa’s Administration

By
Ayodele Oni
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Aiyedatiwa campaign

By Ayodele Oni

Thirteen Political Parties which participated in last Saturday’s Governorship election in Ondo state have sought for inclusion in the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, that won the election.

Aiyedatiwa had polled 366,781 votes, with his closest runner up, Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) scored 117,835.

Candidates of the 13 political parties which participated governorship election also pledged their support for the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The candidates, alongside the chairmen of their political parties, met with the Governor at the Government House in Akure on Friday.

The political parties represented at the meeting, said they have accepted the outcome of the election.

Speaking one after the other, the candidates said now that the election is over, they are ready to work with the governor for the development of the State.

The political parties represented at the meeting were Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), New Nigeria People’s Party ( NNPP), and All People’s Party (APP),

Others are African Democratic Party (ADP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party (LP), Youth Party (YP), Young People’s Party (YPP), Boot Party (BP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Responding, Aiyedatiwa thanked the candidates and party chairmen for pledging to support his administration.

The Governor said it has become a collective duty for all to come together and contribute meaningfully towards the development of the State.

He promised that his administration will continue to run an inclusive governance that will not discriminate against any political party.

PDP and its candidate have vowed to challenge the outcome of the election at the Tribunal.

Imo Govt Seals Pact With Hilton Group On Concorde Hotel Takeover

By
The Source
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Governor Hope Uzodimma and Lady Chinyere Ekomaru,
L-R: Deputy Governor of Imo State, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, Hilton Group Senior Director Development for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Ms. Nida Sozugecer and Governor Hope Uzodimma when Hilton Group and Imo State Government signed MOU on the management of Concorde Hotel Owerri by the Hilton Group at Government House Owerri..

Baring any unforeseen circumstances, the keys to the completely rebuilt and furnished Imo Concorde Hotel, Owerri, to international standard, will be handed over to the global chain hotel manager, Hilton Group, to manage as the latter and the Imo State government have entered into a pact for that purpose.

Hilton Group Senior Director Development for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Ms. Nida Sozugecer was in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Friday, November 22, to sign the necessary documents contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Imo State government for the handover of the management of Concorde Hotel to her team.

Governor Hope Uzodimma signed for the Imo State government in the presence of the Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, the Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Chief Cosmas Iwu, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, the Commissioner for Tourism, Barr. Jerry Egemba, the Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Declan Emelumba, the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Mrs. Irene Chima and other top government officials.

Earlier before the dotted lines in the MOU were signed off by both parties, Ms Sozugecer and the Governor, accompanied by other government officials, had inspected the ongoing renovation work at the Concorde Hotel Owerri built in 1979.

The contractors, Roycon Engineering, took them round the edifice and entertained queries from the Hilton Group representative on everything they are doing.

At the Governor’s Conference Room in Government House where the MOU was signed, Uzodimma regretted that the Concorde Hotel was criminally ran down by successive governments in Imo State, a situation that necessitated the complete rebuilding of the edifice.

Governor Uzodimma who said the project will cost about N19 billion noted that 30 per cent down payment had already been made and that by next week, another 30 per cent payment would be effected.

Though he said the original projection was for the hotel to be fully rebuilt in 12 months, the Governor hinted that the contractors have promised to hands off from the project in nine months.

Governor Uzodimma who said he was proud to sign the MOU on behalf of the government, because he wants to nurture the project to fruition, added that he will be prepared to take full responsibility for what he signed.

He thanked Sozugecer for taking the pains to personally visit Imo State for the signing of the MOU and expressed gratitude to the Hilton Group for considering Imo State as one of their business destinations.

The Governor further expressed confidence that the coming of Hilton Group to Imo, and in competition with Marriott, will boost economic activities in the State, help create employment opportunities and enhance tourism potential which Imo is already a pace setter in the country.

Governor Uzodimma is optimistic that the coming of the Hilton Group and Marriott will fill the gap created by the absence of hotels of global standards in Imo for which most oil companies doing business in the State in particular, and Nigeria in general, complain are not always available for their use.

Earlier in her brief remarks at the inspection of the ongoing renovation work and during the MOU signing, Sozugecer said that the Hilton Group is excited to be in Owerri, Imo State and could not wait to reap from the benefits which doing business in this part of the country portends.

Zenith Bank Tech Fair: Hackathon Winners Get N77.5m

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Zenith Tech Fair 4.0

A whopping N77.5 million in prize money was won at the end of a keenly contested hackathon session at the Fourth Edition of the Zenith Tech Fair, themed “Future Forward 4.0: Embedded Finance, Cybersecurity & Growth Imperatives – The Impact of AI “, which held on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The prize money was shared among ten finalists who emerged from the over 1,700 contestants that took part in the hackathon, with JumpnPass, a self-checkout technology solution reshaping the retail landscape in Africa emerging as the overall winner and taking home the grand prize of N25 million. This is in addition to a six-week mentorship and incubation program designed to help them grow and scale effectively, which will run from December 2024 to February 2025.

The first runner-up, CreditChek , a credit and verification service provider which leverages AI and open banking to streamline income and credit history verification for financial institutions, won N20 million and a mentorship programme, while the second runner-up, Salad Africa, a start-up which offers seamless integration of credit products for digital platforms and software companies won N15 million as well as a mentorship programme. Other finalists who took home N2.5million each include Regxta, CashAfrica, Middleman, Messenger, Pocketfood, Famasi Africa, Kitovu.

Earlier during the programme, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, in her welcome address expressed her appreciation to the Founder & Chairman, Dr Jim Ovia, CFR, for birthing the idea that led to the establishment of the Tech Fair initiative 5 years ago, she thanked him for his vision and foresight in utilizing technology to revolutionize the world of business and banking.

Commenting on the Hackathon, she said, “This prestigious annual event was created to empower and nurture young fertile minds. We hope to produce the likes of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs and Elon Musk from the Zenith Bank Hackathons in the nearest future. According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, 70% of Nigeria’s population are youths which is an economic asset when properly harnessed. This is part of the reason why Zenith Bank is hosting this event to support the development of technology startups. Their success not only fosters innovation and growth in Nigeria, but it also plays a vital role in creating employment opportunities for our youth.” She also stressed on the importance of innovation and embedded finance in ensuring strong and enduring institutions. According to her, “it is paramount that we adapt and adopt technology to stay ahead of the curve. We have seen various cases of companies that failed because of their lack of innovation. It is quite obvious that when companies fail to innovate; they can easily be displaced, so this is not the time to be orthodox, innovation should be a top priority for us.”

In his goodwill message, The Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu called for a global approach to doing business in the country. According to him, “What we need to do is to be able to enhance our product and services in order to compete in the world. We can’t continue to act local, we need to think global. Anything that we’re doing now, we need to be able to know that we are not just serving a local market, we actually want to serve the global market, and that’s why I’m glad that consistently, for the past four years, I have kept up with the Zenith Tech Fair. I am sure 5.0 should be bigger and better than what we have today, but for us as a government, what we need to do is to continue to use platforms like this to reassure you of our readiness to provide an enabling environment for your ideas and innovative solutions.”

Described as a huge success by participants, the Fair featured the launch of the bank’s digital wallet, EazyByZenith, which will help to support the bank’s retail and financial inclusion strategy. The fair also included presentations on the leading technological innovations that cut across different aspects of life, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Risk Management, Compliance, Financial Intelligence, Cloud Computing and Communication Technologies, with the keynote address, “Banking Transformation in a Digital World”, delivered by Robin Speculand, a renowned Strategy & Digital Implementation Specialist.

The event also featured goodwill messages by Jim Ovia, CFR, Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank; His Excellency, Hon. Kashim Shettima, GCON, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (represented by Dr. Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to the Presidency on Economic Matters). Other eminent IT practitioners from top global brands who also made presentations include; Robin Speculand, renowned Strategy & Digital Implementation Specialist; Danilo McGarry, Global Expert on Digital Transformation and AI; Jania Okwechime, Partner, Africa, AI & Data Leader, Deloitte; Rupert Nicolay, Director, Microsoft Worldwide Financial Services.

The panel session had Wole Odeyele, Client Technology Lead for Microsoft Inc. as its host, and featured six discussants including Ada Jabaru, Founder & Director, Nistad Limited; Funke Opeke, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, MainOne; Guy Futi, Chief Executive Officer, Orda; Dr Auwal Adam Sa’ad, Founder, ZamzamPay; Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General/Chief Executive Officer, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

The Zenith Bank startup pitch competition and incubation program seeks to identify and fast-track the growth of high-potential Nigerian startups innovating in key sectors, including Embedded Finance, Cybersecurity, Fintech, HealthTech, Agritech, E-commerce, and more. The program provides an ideal platform for startups to showcase their groundbreaking ideas and gain access to invaluable resources to scale their businesses.

FG Says Sustained Diplomatic Pressure Led To Arrest Of Simon Ekpa In Finland

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Simon Ekpa Arrest

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government has shed light on the arrest of Simon Ekpa, an estranged member of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, (IPOB) by the FinnishPolice on Thursday. The FG said his arrest followed sustained diplomatic pressure by the Nigerian government on Finland to take action against his activities, linked to violence and instability in the South-East of Nigeria.

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Interior explained that the request for action featured during high-level engagements between the two countries.

This was disclosed in a statement by Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Acting Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Friday in Abuja while confirming the arrest of Mr Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen and violent agitator for the separation of the South East  Region from Nigeria.

He said that Ekpa was arrested on charges of inciting terrorism and promoting violence.

Ekpa, a Finnish politician and Biafran political activist, was reported to have in 2022 declared activation of Republic of Biafra in exile and himself, Prime Minister of the Government in Exile in 2023.

“The Ministry wishes to confirm the arrest of Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen and prominent leader of the proscribed IPOB, by Finnish authorities on Thursday, Nov. 21.

“He was charged with inciting terrorism and promoting violence. The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme ruled to detain him on probable cause for publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent.

“The Finnish authorities alleged that Ekpa used social media platforms to spread separatist propaganda, incite violence and encourage illegal actions, which had caused significant disruptions in the South-East of Nigeria.

“Finnish investigators had also linked him to incidents of violence in Nigeria, which were believed to have been fueled by his online activities.

“The arrest of Ekpa follows sustained diplomatic pressure by the Nigerian government on Finland, to take action against his activities, linked to violence and instability in the South-East of Nigeria.”

The statement described  Ekpa’s arrest as a significant development in tackling the activities of IPOB and neutralising the influence of transnational actors, and their impact on national security.

He added: “The ministry will continue to monitor the legal proceedings and provide further updates as the case progresses.”

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