Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

By Tunde Rahman To say the economy of the Republic of South Korea is a developed and strong economy is to say the obvious. South Korea’s economy had been vastly developed, and its economic structure radically transformed since after World War II in 1945 and the Korean War in 1953. The Korean War was a war of attrition between two brother-nations – North and South Koreas – accentuated by the Cold War era, and would appear not to have fully abated up till now. However, South Korea is not just a developed nation today; it is also a regional power.…

The United States and Nigeria have strengthened collaboration to fight terrorism in the West Africa country and in neighbouring countries troubled by the scourge This was one of the major discussions taken at the just concluded two-day 6th edition of the US- Nigeria Binational Commission (BNC) in Abuja on Tuesday, 30 April, 2024, where both countries also made commitments to increase bilateral trade, invest in energy, agriculture and technology including Artificial Intelligence (AI). Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, told a news conference during the closing ceremony that the country has made significant progress in degrading the Boko…

Federal Ministry of Justice, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), and other stakeholders in the nation’s judiciary have made far reaching recommendations that will address the issues of judicial appointment process, funding and eradicating delays in the administration of justice in Nigeria, at the just concluded two-day National Summit on Justice 2024. The event was organised by the Federal Government in collaboration with the European Union funded RoLAC II Programme of the International IDEA. In a communique issued at the end of the summit at the weekend, it was noted that the National Policy on Justice 2024…

Dufil Prima Foods, makers of Indomie instant noodles, in partnership with the Human Rights and Grassroots Development Society, extended its goodwill to the shores of Abeokuta, Ogun state, at a product distribution event on Tuesday 24 April, where cartons of Indomie noodles were distributed to the underprivileged, as part of its ongoing efforts to support families worst hit by the ongoing economic hardship. The event which saw a thousand vulnerable families go home with a carton of Indomie each, individuals present were also provided with cooked noodles to help relieve their immediate hunger. The outreach had in attendance members of…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Gas 360, Emmanuel Uwandu on Friday, 26 April, 2024 revealed that over 98,000 Nigerian women die annually from the use of firewood and charcoal. Uwandu added that about 21,000 women die annually from the usage in the Niger Delta. He stated this in his keynote presentation during the 20,000 metric tonnes of Liquified Petroleum Gas Depot Project ceremony organised by Windek Energy Limited held at Atabrikang Aquaha Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. According to him, cooking with firewood and charcoal is equivalent to smoking 20 packages of…

In its ongoing commitment to establish factoring as a viable financing solution for Africa’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), thus bolstering their participation in intra-regional trade and industrialisation, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) and FCI recently held a two-day factoring conference in Harare. Centred on the overarching theme of “Empowering Economic Growth Through Innovative Factoring and Receivables Finance Solutions” and the sub-theme of “How factoring can serve as a catalyst for the financial inclusion of SMEs,” the two day workshop that was held on April 22 – 23, focused on the pivotal role SMEs are poised to play in…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Delta State Police Commissioner, Abaniwonda Olufemi on Thursday, 25 April, 2024 presented a cheque of N47.827 million to the family of deceased police officers in Asaba, the headquarters of the command. Olufemi said that the welfare of both serving and late officers is part of the primary interest of the Inspector General of Police “On behalf of the Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, I present cheques of N47,827,529 to 22 families of deceased officers who died while in active service. “The cheques were issued to the next of kin of the deceased officers and are…

In a significant step to advance food security in Kenya, the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (https://apo-opa.co/3W642uA) has launched a project that will help deliver nearly 8,000 tons of fertilizers to 100,000 smallholder farmers, boosting harvests and incomes. Through its Fertilizer Financing for Sustainable Agriculture Management Project (https://apo-opa.co/3QfyVsr), the Mechanism will provide a $2 million partial trade credit guarantee and a grant of $219,000 to Apollo Agriculture Limited (https://www.ApolloAgriculture.com/), a Kenyan corporation, to facilitate the company’s fertilizer sales. The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, through a contribution of $10.15 million to the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism, is also supporting the project, which was launched…

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA, on Thursday, 25 April, 2024 paid a thank you visit to the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi over the fast pace of work on the 34-km Ikorodu-Itokin Road which is currently being rehabilitated. The road was constructed in 1975 by Messr. Taylor Woodrow, under the regime of General Yakubu Gowon and General Mobolaji Johnson. It will be recalled that in April 2021, Senator Abiru moved a motion on the floor…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Military commander of an army camp located at Sabon Garin Dan’Ali, in Danmusa local government area of Katsina state has reportedly been killed in an ambush. Sources said the incident happened on the evening of Thursday, 24 April, 2024 and the corpse of the deceased, a major in the army, was deposited at a hospital in Katsina. It was gathered from reliable sources that the commander, (name withheld), was ambushed at Malali village in Kankara local government area, where he was called to provide reinforcement to repel an attack on the village. “As you know, Malali is along…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Gunmen on Friday, 25 April, 2024 invaded Maradun town, the headquarters of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State killing two people and abducting several others. An indigene of the area, Faruku Shehu said, the bandits who stormed the town early Friday shooting sporadically and ransacking houses. Shehu said that although the number of the abducted persons was yet to be ascertained, the bandits could have abducted 30 persons. Shehu, whose house was among the houses ransacked by the bandits, expressed dismay over the high level of insecurity in the town. “It was to my hearing the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike This certainly good times for the Nigerian Exchange Limited, NGX, as it returned to positive sentiment as investors gained N26 billion on Thursday, 25 April, 2024. Accordingly, the market capitalization, which opened at N55.494 trillion, gained N26 billion or 0.05 per cent to close at N55.520 trillion. This is as the All-Share Index also rose by 0.05 per cent or 48 points to close at 98,169.30, compared to 98,121.30 recorded on Wednesday. As a result, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return rose to 31.29 per cent. Market breadth closed negative with 24 declined equities and 16 advanced others on…

The Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, has underscored the importance of maintaining a clean environment, to combat the spread of malaria. He said this in a statement marking this year’s World Malaria Day, themed: ‘Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world’. The World Health Organization (WHO), had noted that approximately 249 million cases of malaria were reported worldwide in 2022, with an estimated 608,000 deaths, occurring mostly in tropical and sub-tropical regions, and remaining a major global challenge. He said that while malaria was primarily transmitted through the bite of infected…

The Chinese Embassy in its efforts at collaborating with Nigerian government towards improved education has upgraded the facilities at a China -assisted Model Primary School in Nyanya, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Speaking at the occasion of the formal commissioning of the upgraded school facilities, the Charge D Affairs of the Chinese Embassy, Mr, Zhang Yi said a lot of Chinese companies have invested and work with Nigerian colleagues to build infrastructure project and support education as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. He said that the upgraded facilities provided by the China Road and…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Second Republic lawmaker and veteran Journalist, Sidi Ali, died on the evening of Thursday, 25 April, 2024 at the age of 86 in Kano State. His death came few hours the demise of another ex-member of the Red Chamber, and also a former journalist, Senator Ayogu Eze. Ali’s death was disclosed to the Punch On line by a family member on Friday, 26 April, 2024. The elder statesman, who is also the father of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s acting Director, Corporate Communication Department, Hakama Sidi Ali was devoted to the service of the nation, particularly in…

Aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress under the aegis of Ondo APC youths on Thursday protested the outcome of Saturday’s primary election that produced Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the winner at the party secretariat in Abuja. The young demonstrators, who came in four luxury buses, were however dispersed by security operatives mounted at the entrance of the national headquarters. Barely an hour later, the defiant young protesters regrouped a few blocks from the secretariat by the popular Barcelona Hotel, shouting ‘Aluta Continua.’ While displaying placards and banners that read ‘Ondo APC rejects Kangaroo primary election’, ‘No primary held in…

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations has kicked against the increasing media trial of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, saying the development is “grossly unprofessional and uncalled for.” The No Corruption Coalition, at a press conference on Thursday in Lagos, said it decided to add its voice to call for the respect of the rule of law, owing to the growing concern about the recent avoidable crisis between the Commission and the Governor. The activists said the outburst of the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, which revealed that no formal letter of…

Recent events have thrust the American International School in Abuja into a whirlwind of controversy, tarnishing its esteemed reputation for academic excellence. Allegations surrounding the school’s governance, tasked with safeguarding the interests of parents, teachers, and students, have ignited a firestorm of concern and demand for accountability. At the heart of this scandal is former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, alleged to have made substantial payments covering years of tuition fees for his children and wards. Questions about the timing and method of these payments have sparked accusations of misconduct, prompting an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike An Iranian Court has sentenced a rapper, Toomaj Salehi, to death for supporting anti-hijab protests. Salehi has been jailed for more than a year and half over his backing of the wave of demonstrations sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, who died days after she was arrested for wearing an “improper” hijab in 2022. His attorney, Amir Raisian on Wednesday, 24 April, 2024 said, “Branch 1 of Isfahan Revolutionary Court… sentenced Toomaj Salehi to death on the charge of corruption on Earth.” Salehi was arrested in October 2022 after publicly supporting the anti-hijab protests. The Revolutionary Court…