Tinubu celebrates Ooni of Ife’s 50th birthday 

President Bola Tinubu proudly joins Nigerians, the people and chiefs of Ile-Ife, and the global Yoruba community in commemorating the 50th birthday of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, the Ojaja II. The President notes Ooni’s extraordinary leadership and maturity since ascending the throne at 41, emphasising his significant role in preserving the rich traditions of the Yoruba people in the ancient city known as The Source. President Tinubu acknowledges Oba Ogunwusi’s deep sense of duty, wisdom, and knowledge as he fulfils his responsibilities as both the traditional ruler of Ile-Ife, Osun State, and the revered spiritual leader of the Yoruba people. The President also recognises Ooni’s critical contributions as Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, where he serves as a unifying figure, a steadfast supporter of government policies, and a passionate advocate for religious tolerance, peace, and the unification of our nation. President Tinubu commends Oba Ogunwusi’s tireless advocacy for women and youth empowerment through education and entrepreneurship, underscoring his admirable philanthropy and unwavering commitment to uplifting those in need throughout Nigeria and beyond. With heartfelt optimism and support, the President pays tribute to the Ooni for exemplifying the traditional Yoruba values of humility, peace, and generosity while also honouring the dignity and integrity of his exalted throne. As the esteemed Yoruba monarch celebrates this significant milestone, President Tinubu offers his sincere prayers for the continued success and prosperity of His Imperial Majesty’s reign, which will undoubtedly benefit the people of Ife and the nation at large.

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Shettima embarks on 2-day visit to Sweden

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, will depart Abuja for Sweden on a 2-day visit to represent Nigeria in bilateral engagements with the Scandinavian nation. At the instance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Vice President, during the working visit, will engage in high-level bilateral talks with key government officials, including a meeting with Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and the Swedish Prime Minister. Senator Shettima will use the visit to explore opportunities for strengthened collaboration between Nigeria and Sweden in areas such as ICT, innovation, education, digitalisation, sustainable transport, mining, and agriculture. He will also meet with key stakeholders in both the Government and Private Sector. The Vice President will also meet with Norrsken, a Stockholm-based venture capital impact investor, which recently launched Norrsken22, a USD 205 million tech investment fund for Africa. Norrsken22 is a technology growth fund, backed by over 30 prominent unicorn founders, partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs building Africa’s next tech giants. The meeting with Norrsken will provide insights into how Nigerian entrepreneurs can benefit from this fund and further strengthen the technology ecosystem in Nigeria. Notably, 40% of the investments from Norrsken22 are expected to be allocated to Nigerian technology entrepreneurs. Twelve (12) Nigerian private sector companies that are doing business with Sweden are going independently as a private sector bloc. While in Sweden, VP Shettima is also expected to articulate Nigeria’s economic vision and the reforms being undertaken by the administration to create a business-friendly environment in Nigeria for investors. The myriad of opportunities that abound in Africa’s largest economy will also be showcased. The Vice President is expected back in the country on Saturday.

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Peter Obi donates 32-seater bus to College of Nursing Sciences

Former Presidential Candidate of Labour Party Mr Peter Obi has donated a 32-seater bus and the sun of N5million to Grimard College of Nursing Sciences, Anyigba, Kogi State.  The former Anambra State Governor made the presentation at the College premises on Wednesday.  According to him; “Yesterday, I returned to Grimard College of Nursing Sciences in Anyigba, Kogi State, to honour a pledge I had earlier made three months ago. “I had, in my earlier visit to the College, donated ₦10 million to support learning. “Both the Proprietor and the Rector informed me then that their most urgent need for accreditation was a 32-seater coaster bus for the student’s clinical experience visits.  “In my further discussion with the Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Adaji, he mentioned that since a brand-new bus now costs over ₦100 million, a fairly used one costing between ₦20 million and ₦30 million would suffice. “Today, I returned to the College to present a fairly used bus within the range mentioned by the Proprietor, to assist the students in their critical clinical experience assignments.  “Additionally, I donated ₦5 million to cover the cost of registration, insurance, and other expenses for one year. “I extend my sincere thanks to the Proprietor, Management, and staff of the institution for their warm reception and commend their tireless efforts in contributing to the betterment of humanity through education and health apostolate. “I assured them that I would continue to support them in my modest  way as we work together towards a new Nigeria that is POssible.”

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Herbert Wigwe’s father denies 20% of late son’s estate 

Shyngle Wigwe, father of the late Herbert Wigwe, former Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, has denied reports alleging that he sought a portion of his late son’s estate. An online publication claimed that Pastor Shyngle and other family members filed a caveat at the Probate Registry to contest the distribution of Herbert’s estate as outlined in his will. The publication reported that the caveat was filed under Pastor Shyngle’s direction, backed by an affidavit from Christian Chukwuka Wigwe, who identifies as Herbert’s cousin. This legal action was said to aim at altering the directives specified by the deceased regarding the management of his estate. Further allegations included claims that Pastor Shyngle requested 20 per cent of Herbert’s estate, a demand that allegedly contradicts the will’s stipulation to distribute his wealth solely among his children. Herbert’s will had been lodged at the Ikeja Probate Court prior to his untimely death. In a statement issued by Emeka Wigwe on behalf of the family, Pastor Shyngle refuted these claims, stating, “At no point has Pastor Shyngle Wigwe requested 20 per cent of the estate of the late Herbert Wigwe. “Neither has there been any such request by other family members. The article’s claim that this demand contradicts Herbert’s will is entirely false and misleading. “The facts regarding the estate are already publicly available in the Probate Registry, where an affidavit clearly outlines the correct details. A simple search by your reporters would have revealed this truth.” Pastor Shyngle further urged the publication to correct the inaccuracies in their report and to practice greater diligence in fact-checking future stories. He emphasised, “During this painful time of grief, our family remains united, focusing on healing and growing stronger together. “We have no intention of engaging in a public defence because there are no sides to take. The only truth is that we are navigating this immense loss and will continue to do so with dignity.” “Herbert Wigwe’s legacy as a visionary banker and entrepreneur is paramount, according to the family. He is remembered for transforming Access Bank into a national leader and for his commitment to empowering others through initiatives such as The HOW Foundation, which focused on education and healthcare. “The family concluded that these values should take precedence over “unfounded speculation.” Tragically, Herbert Wigwe, along with his wife, Chizoba, and son, lost their lives in a helicopter crash on February 9, 2024, near a border town in California, USA.

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Two-storey building collapses in Lagos

A two-storey building has collapsed in the Orile-Iganmu area of Lagos. The incident occurred at about 8am on Monday. Social media footage showed the moment the building caved in as people in the vicinity scampered for safety. Nosa Okunbor, head of public affairs unit of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASEMA), said there were no casualties from the incident. “LASEMA Response Teams in Search & Rescue Operation at a self-collapsed building on Amusu Street, Baale Bus Stop, Orile Iganmu,” he said. “Incident summary: Transmitted at 08:54am; No Casualties.” Okunbor said the agency would share more information in the coming hours.

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Pilot dies on Turkish Airlines flight

A plane was forced to make an emergency landing after its pilot died on board. The Turkish Airlines flight from Seattle to Istanbul was diverted to New York after the man lost consciousness shortly after take-off. The crew gave the 59-year-old emergency treatment on board and tried to revive him, but he died before the aircraft landed. It is believed the co-pilot safely landed the plane. Flight tracking data showed the Airbus A350 took off from Seattle on Tuesday night before flying north over Canada. However, it then abruptly diverted south and landed at John F Kennedy International Airport just before 6am local time on Wednesday. The airline named the captain as Ilcehin Pehlivan. Spokesperson Yahya Ustun said he had worked at the airline since 2007 and had no known health problems. He also passed a medical earlier this year. Mr Üstün added: “We wish God’s mercy to our captain and patience to all his colleagues and loved ones, especially his grieving family.” Arrangements are being made for the passengers to continue their journey from New York, the airline confirmed.

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NLC condemns increase in petroleum pump price 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd).  NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajero stated this in a statement issued on Wednesday.  The statement reads; “We are dismayed by the latest increase in the pump price of petrol.  “It looks like the only thing this government is known for is increase in the pump price of petrol without commensurate capacity of Nigerians or mitigatory measures. “Even following the logic of market forces , we find it an aberration that a private company (NNPCL) is the one fixing prices and projecting itself as a hegemonic monopoly. “We challenge the government to go to the drawing board and present us with a blueprint for an inclusive economic growth and national development instead of this spasmodic ad hocism and palliative policy. “It needs no stating the fact that the latest wave of increase has grossly altered the calculations of Nigerians once again at a time they were reluctantly coming to terms with their new realities. “It will further deepen poverty as production capacities dip, more jobs lost with multidimensional negative effects. “In light of this, we urge the government to immediately reverse this rate hike as previous increases did not produce any good result. People only got poorer. “But more fundamentally, the government should be bold enough to tell Nigerians in advance the destination it wants to take the country.” The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) on Wednesday increased the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as Petrol of fuel from N855 to N998 per litre. It was gathered that the increment has been initiated across all NNPC Ltd filling stations. The new development is a 12.7% or N113 increase from the initial price.

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FG launches portal for youth access 2000 CNG tricycles

Federal Government has launched the Portal to enable youth access the 2,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tricycles to improve transportation infrastructure and foster economic growth. The Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande unveiled  the Porter   in collaboration with the Presidential CNG Initiative (PI-CNG) and National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners & Riders Association (NATOMORAS) at his office in Abuja. While launching the Portal, Comrade Olawande explained that  it is dedicated to fostering transparency in the enrollment of youth into the Presidential CNG Initiative within the transportation sector.  He explained that the portal empowers youth from all regions of Nigeria to register and be connected with aggregators or owners who are directly involved in the programme.  The Minister said; “this aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for all government programmes and initiatives to provide equal opportunities to people of all backgrounds, regardless of wealth or social status.” He stressed that young individuals in the country will not require any influential connections to benefit from the Ministry of Youth Development’s programmes, adding that the launching of the Youth portal  reaffirms the commitment to ensuring that all the initiatives and programmes are equally accessible to everyone.  The Minister encouraged all young people working in the commercial transportation sector or those interested in joining the sector to take advantage of the benefits provided through the Presidential Initiative on CNG, noting that the initiative is a significant component of the President’s palliative programme. The Minister further explained that there are two ways to accessing the CNG Portal for tricycles; youthcng.ng, pci.gov.ng/tricycle. The Representative of the Presidential CNG Initiatives, Mr. Tosin Coker, in his remarks disclosed that partnering with the Ministry and NATOMORAS will create opportunities for many youths. He stated that the youth have the chance to gain employment by becoming partners with aggregators through the launched scheme. He added that they will have the option to own these tricycles if they desire.  He expressed his appreciation to the Ministry for taking the lead and to the aggregators for supporting the initiative. Earlier, the Chairman of NATOMORAS, Alhaji Sani Hassan, noted that the launch of the portal is historic for their association and its members across the country. He expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to witness and participate in the launch of the important portal, which he said will provide opportunities for all members.  He assured the Minister of the Association ‘s full commitment to mobilize and educate their members to be actively involved in the programme and to ensure that they make the most of the opportunity.

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