THE Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa has sought the support of Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, in providing strategies for the promotion and preservation of literary art in the country. The Minister who paid a courtesy visit at the weekend, to the renowned playwright , who is a visiting Professor at New York University Abu Dhabi, said that the sector needed to tap into the wealth of experience of the literary icon in promoting the rich cultural heritage of the nation. “It is an honor to share my vision for the development of the…
Author: Maimuna Bashir Isa
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GOVERNORS of the 36 states of the federation say they have been introducing different strategies and measures to end the current economic hardship and food crisis in their states. In a report signed by its Acting Head of Media, Halimah Salihu Ahmed, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) said the governors were committed to ending the pain and suffering of citizens in the land. Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had met with the state governors at the Council Chambers of the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, in February, where issues of hike in food prices, economic hardship and others were deliberated…
NIGERIA’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar has called for synergy between Nigeria and Qatar to foster gas diplomacy, energy transition from non-renewable energy and highlighted the key benefits of Nigeria-Qatari relations for Africa and global gas sectors. He made the call while delivering a lecture at the Doha Diplomatic Institute on February 29th, 2024, on the sidelines of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s State visit to the State of Qatar. The Minister posited that Qatar and Nigeria are blessed with hydrocarbon deposits that place them at the center of the new energy equation. He also said that while…
THE Nigerian Communications Commission has reiterated its directive to telecom operators to bar telephone subscribers not linked to their National Identification Numbers on or before February 28, 2024 (Today). The Executive Vice Chairman, National Communication Commission, Dr Aminu Maida, spoke at the NCC’s Special Day during the ongoing 45th Kaduna International Trade Fair on Wednesday. Maida who was represented by Mr Reuben Mouka, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, insisted that as a matter of critical national security, telecom consumers must link their NIN to their SIM. He reaffirmed that the February 28th deadline given to telecom operators to bar subscribers…
– Governor Inuwa Says, Her Triumph Source Of Inspiration GOVERNOR Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya CON, has expressed excitement upon learning the outstanding victory of a young girl from Gombe, Hajara Ibrahim Dan’azumi, at an International Female Quranic Recitation Competition held in the Kingdom of Jordan. Hajara Ibrahim, from Abubakar Siddiq Islamiyya and 200 Level Botany Student at the Gombe State University who was selected to represent Nigeria, emerged the overall winner among other contestants from 39 countries in the 60 Hizb with Tajwid category at the 18th Edition of the Hashemite Jordan International Qur’anic Competition for Female. During the competition which…
AN EXECUTIVE Director of the Dangote Group of Companies, Hajiya Fatima Aliko Dangote, has explained that the Dangote Group of Companies is not responsible for the rising prices of food items being experienced in the country. In an interview with the Hausa Service of the BBC, Hajiya Fatima said the group had sold the food processing company five years ago to Olam Group which processes food and agric-business in Nigeria. She said Olam is now the producer of flour, pasta, semolina, and every flour product in the markets is not produced by the Dangote Group. “In the concession agreement, it…
THE Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy is to work on a framework for financing the development of Nigeria’s creative economy which is targeted at creating twenty million jobs by 2027. The Minister, Hannatu Musa Musawa made this known at an interaction session with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group NESG in Abuja on Wedneday. Musawa expressed her optimismo to work with the NESG on fund generation and capacity building through which the ministry can contribute 100b to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product by 2030. “With the support of NESG, the private sector and the right funding mechanism,…
THE Chairman of Heirs Holdings Group, Transcorp Group and UBA Group, Tony Elumelu, has declared his readiness to support and partner with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated in combating the various economic challenges facing Nigeria. Elumelu made this known at the MOFI Public Wealth Management Conference held on Tuesday in Abuja. He commended the Ministry of Finance for the initiative of bringing together key players and stakeholders in Nigeria’s economic sector. He said it was an effort to chart a course to position MOFI as the strategic institution that will support the Federal Government’s plans to address economic challenges and…
SOCIO-ECONOMIC Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, to “promptly account for and explain the whereabouts of the alleged missing USD$2.04 billion and N164 billion oil revenues.” SERAP in a statement by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare dated February 17, said the allegations are documented in the latest annual report recently published by the Auditor-General of the Federation. The group urged Mr Kyari “to name and shame those responsible for the disappeared oil money, surcharge them for the full amount involved, and hand them over…
THE Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akin Sawyerr said student loans will be disbursed directly to the institutions of applicants to avoid diversion. He also noted that individuals who obtain the loans will be made to repay their loans two years immediately after completion of the mandatory National Youth Service Corps. Sawyerr made this known during a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Chris Maiyaki in Abuja. According to a transcript of the meeting obtained by this newspaper in Abuja, Sawyer said that the sources of NELF funding included; one per cent of…
MINISTER of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa has explained that the successful implementation of the CPIA Bi-lateral Agreement significantly deterred illegal exports of Nigerian antiquities. This was as she expressed her profound gratitude to the United States Embassy in Nigeria and the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) for their unwavering support in preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage. The Minister, according to a statement by her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, stated this while signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Conservation of the Tangible and Intangible Heritage of Sukur Cultural Landscape…
THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has stopped international oil companies from repatriating 100% foreign exchange proceeds to their mother companies overseas at once. The apex bank said international oil companies can repatriate 50% of their proceeds in the first instance and then the other half after 90 days. The Director of Trade and Exchange Department at the apex bank, Hassan Mahmud, made this known in a circular dated February 14, 2024. The CBN said it observed that proceeds of crude oil exports by International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria are transferred offshore to fund parent accounts of the…
THE Benue State Governor, Rev. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia has commended the Founder and President MAAUN Group of Universities, Prof. Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo for his zeal and passion towards the development of education in Nigeria and Africa. The governor made the remarks on Sunday, 11th February, 2024 during a courtesy visit to Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria where he met with the Tiv community residing in Kano. The governor who lauded Prof. Gwarzo, for the feat recorded in the field of education, also described the young Professor as a revolutionary whose contributions would live for generations. “Prof. Gwarzo is…
THE first lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, on Monday announced a sum of N50 million as endowment fund for best graduating student from school of law at the Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, MAAUN. Tinubu made the announcement while commissioning a building named after at the school. The first lady, who unveiled the building, expressed satisfaction with the facilities put in place and thanked the Founder of the University, Prof. Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo for naming the School building after her. She commended the Founder and Chairman Governing Council of MAAUN, Prof. Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo for his contribution towards uplifting…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, said he has received the news of the death of Mr. Herbert Wigwe and Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and members of the Wigwe family with deep shock and distress. In a statement, Tinubu mourned the illustrious citizens. Wigwe, who was the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc and founder of the How Foundation, died alongside his wife, son and Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc. “After receiving an official confirmation of events, President Bola Tinubu receives with shock and deep distress the news of the passing of Mr. Herbert…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has sent some of his cabinet members to the governments of Republic of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso over the trio’s recent move to exit the regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Daily Trust reports. Tinubu’s team, comprising the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru and his counterpart from Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar and other top government functionaries, were led by the President of ECOWAS, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray. This newspaper had reported how Nigeria might be affected in the area of security and economy, according to experts following the exit of the…
THE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar has thrown his weight behind the establishment of Nigeria-Benin Republic permanent Commission. The Minister gave the nod on Wednesday when he received in audience the Nigeria, Advocacy Group for the Establishment of a Permanent Joint Commission between Nigeria and Benin Republic in Abuja. The group was led by Amb. Oguntuase Kayode, Chairman of the group’s Governing board. “This issue of the Nigeria Benin Joint Commission is one that is on the front burner, but it’s also important to note from our records here that in Nigeria Benin Joint Commission does exist it’s…
THE United Nations Children and Education Fund Country Representative in Nigeria, Christiane Mundaute has said that more than 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone Female Genital Mutilation. Mundaute said Nigeria accounts for 10 percent of this figure which is estimated at 19.9 million. Speaking in Ilorin, Kwara state on Tuesday, at a symposium held to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation organised by the office of the First Lady of the State, Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq, Mundaute stated that, the development means that, “Nigeria holds the third-highest number of women and girls who have…
NO fewer than 723 schools are reported to have been closed down in nine states across the country due to insecurity and occupation of the school premises by state and non-state actors, Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, including incidents of flood leading to obstruction of teaching and learning in the affected schools. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Safe School Data,(September 2023) the states affected included Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Imo, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara states. A breakdown of the data indicated that 26 schools were closed in Adamawa State, Benue had 28 of its schools closed, Borno…
THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Saturday said there is no plan to convert $30bn domiciliary deposits to naira. Reports emerged in the media (not in News Point Nigeria) that Federal Government and the apex banks were considering the conversion of foreign currencies in domiciliary accounts of citizens to naira to stabilise Nigeria’s currency, which earlier this week recorded its worst performance in history. However, the apex bank dismissed the report as “fake news” in a statement by its Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mrs Hakama Sidi-Ali, urging the public to disregard such speculations. “No plans to convert $30bn…