General
Femi Gbajabiamila, Blessing to Nigeria—Lagos ÁPC Leader
An All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in Lagos State, Mr Adedoyin Adeyinka, has described the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, as a blessing to the country, urging Nigerians to support him to become Speaker in June.
Mr Adeyinka, who spoke on Monday at the 2019 Alaka Children’s Day Celebration in Lagos, praised the member representing Surulere Constituency 1 for meeting the expectations of his constituents.
“Allow me Mr Chairman to state a few general positions. The Face of Alaka 2019 Children’s Day Celebration, Femi Gbajabiamila, is a man of integrity, honour, purpose and foresight. Femi Gbajabiamila is a pride to Nigeria and a living testimony to the unlimited capacity of the black man. Femi Gbajabiamila is Surulere’s gift to the world. He is a Nigerian leader, a national leader. Femi Gbajabiamila knows the basic things. He has the will and the drive. He has the basic understanding of what the people need.”
To Mr Adeyinka, the lawmaker, in his first, second, third and fourth term in the House of Representatives, carved an enviable reputation for himself as a firm, principled and visionary legislator.
“Femi Gbajabiamila contributed greatly to the socio-economic growth of the country. Specifically, the member representing Surulere Constituency 1 in the House of Representatives helped to put the country on the path to socio-economic and political re-discovery. He attracted jobs, political appointments and federal projects to Surulere,” the politician said at the event.
He commended Mr Gbajabiamila for his vision and selfless service to mankind, saying, “Femi Gbajabiamila demonstrated his philanthropic gesture by distributing no fewer than 501 computer tablets to secondary school students, 30 new buses, 25 tricycles and 160 motorcycles to his constituents. He sanitized and stabilized democracy in Nigeria.
“He contributed greatly to the death of the Third Term Debate. He brought governance closer to the people. He improved the quality of education in schools through ICT tools. He established various programmes to improve the lives of his primary constituents.”
He disclosed that Mr Gbajabiamila was named Femi Gbajabiamila the Face of 2019 Alaka Children’s Day celebration because of his outstanding legislative performance and the empowerment of the people.
“Hon Femi Gbajabiamila was chosen because of his achievements in the holistic development of Nigeria, his consistency in the course that seeks to prime humanity to loftier heights and his passion for issues concerning Nigeria. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila was also selected because of his role in community development, capacity building and the invocation of the doctrine of necessity.”
Mr Adeyinka said the former US-based lawyer was voted in 2019 to touch the lives of the wonderful people of Surulere, attract the biggest and the greatest amount of attention to the good people of Surulere and attract the attention of the government to the plight of Nigerians.
He said the 9th Assembly needed seasoned and well trained presiding officers to advance the country’s interests.
“We want a House of Representatives that will consider Bills that will help to give legal backing to many of the reform institutions, structures and programmes of the President Muhammadu Buhari led APC administration. We want him to continue to pursue noble goals for the betterment of society and of the whole human race. We want him to promote accountability in governance, basic human needs, steady electricity supply and inter-modal transportation. We want him to encourage good educational system and culture of constitutionalism.”
Mr Adeyinka, a strong supporter of Mr Gbajabiamila, said Nigerians want the representative of Surulere Constituency 1 to ensure the independence of the National Assembly and collaboration among all the arms of government.
“We want him to support the current fight against corruption. We want him to develop the youth and ensure that peace and prosperity reign at all times. We want him to handle the issue of constitution of standing committees. We want him to help build a viable nation and restore public confidence in the National Assembly as an institution.”
The APC leader whose speech was intermittently punctuated with songs of praises said the people want Mr Gbajabiamila to improve the living conditions of Nigerians, provide basic infrastructure and great jobs.
“We want our children go to school. We want him to ensure that the National Assembly responsibility which is law-making is carried out with the best procedure, the best practice. It is in the best interests of Nigerians, home and abroad, to ensure the birth of Gbajabiamila’s speakership in June because nothing else is comparable to it as an effective way of protecting the interests of all.”
Mr Adeyinka, however, complained about those opposing the speakership bid of Mr Gbajabiamila, saying they are not wishing Nigeria well.
“They may actually be wolves in sheep’s skin who want all legacies of the President Muhammadu Buhari led APC administration to be wiped off the face of this earth. We must reject such people. They do not mean well for Nigeria.”
“We move that Femi Gbajabiamila , a model of good political etiquette, renowned for solving the most complicated political problems and a man who served his people with integrity, head held high and staying faithful to the call and responsibilities the people have laid on him, do take the chair of the House of Representatives as Speaker in June.”
He also appealed to young Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of integrity to move the nation forward.
“As we celebrate Children’s Day, let us think very seriously about our future. Let us continue to hold our heads up and high.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening human capital development and institutional collaboration in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Patience Oyekunle, during a familiarisation and courtesy visit to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) in Abuja on Monday, described the organisation as a strategic institution within Nigeria’s petroleum sector architecture.
According to her, the organisation’s mandate to develop indigenous human capacity for the oil and gas industry remains critical to the long-term sustainability, competitiveness and technological advancement of the sector.
She lauded the body for its contributions to manpower development through its Overseas and In-Country Scholarship Schemes, which have supported the training of thousands of Nigerian professionals in petroleum and energy-related disciplines over the past two decades.
The senior government official noted that many beneficiaries of the programmes now contribute meaningfully across Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, regulatory institutions, academia and research establishments, thereby strengthening the country’s technical competence and knowledge base in the sector.
Mrs Oyekunle further reiterated that the ministry remains committed to advancing sector reforms and the strategic priorities of the federal government.
She stressed that the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s petroleum industry following the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) places renewed emphasis on efficiency, transparency, institutional effectiveness and the strengthening of indigenous technical capacity across the sector’s value chain.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Mr Ahmed Galadima Aminu, reaffirmed the fund’s commitment to supporting the policy direction of the federal government and working closely with the ministry to further strengthen Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom government has welcomed a surge in Nigerian-led business expansion across Britain, as banks, fintech firms and creative enterprises commit millions in new investments and job creation, further strengthening bilateral economic ties between both countries.
According to a statement from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), this reinforces the UK’s appeal as a global hub for innovation, capital access and regulatory stability and comes as President Bola Tinubu is set to commence a state visit on Wednesday, March 18, for the first time in 37 years.
It noted that the expansion means hundreds of new jobs are set to be created as Nigerian banks, fintech innovators and creative industry businesses scale up their operations.
“The move will see millions invested, reinforcing the UK’s position as a leading global business hub, backed by world‑class talent, strong access to capital, and a stable regulatory environment – while showcasing Nigeria’s expanding role as a key source of innovation and investment into the UK, growing both economies,” the statement said.
Speaking at a reception held at Kensington Palace on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said the UK’s Trade and Industrial Strategies, combined with commitments made through the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), mean the government is attracting investment into key growth sectors, including financial services, technology, education and advanced manufacturing.
“The UK and Nigeria’s Strategic Partnership is bringing momentum and opportunity to innovators in both our countries. We are reducing barriers, creating jobs and opening new pathways for growth. Growth is the core mission of this government, and it underpins our relationship with Nigeria. I am deeply proud that the cultural and commercial bonds between our nations are thriving and that both our businesses and people are feeling the benefits of that.”
On his part, Business and Trade Secretary, Mr Peter Kyle said, “The UK and Nigeria share a belief in the power of enterprise, innovation and education to transform lives, and today’s commitments show exactly that. With Nigerian firms creating jobs across the UK and British businesses expanding into one of the world’s fastest growing markets, our partnership is strengthening both economies and delivering real benefits for people in both countries.”
Zenith Bank, one of Nigeria’s largest financial institutions, has opened its Manchester branch with the capacity to create up to 30 new direct jobs in a boost for the Northwest economy.
The bank is also exploring a 2027 London Stock Exchange listing to deepen its UK market presence and unlock long-term funding for UK-Africa growth.
The chief executive of Zenith Bank, Ms Adaora Umeoji, said, “The United Kingdom remains a key global financial centre. The opening of Zenith Bank, Manchester, therefore, marks another important milestone in our international expansion strategy, enabling us to deepen relationships with our customers, support trade and investments, and connect businesses between Africa and the UK more effectively.”
Fidelity Bank’s acquisition and rebrand of Union Bank UK into FidBank UK plans to double its 62‑person workforce in 2026 and add new capital, while the Fidelity Group makes London its global hub.
FCMB has also selected the UK as the first international destination for its digital cross-border payments platform, boosting trade and investment flows between Africa and the rest of the world.
The statement revealed that seven Nigerian banks now operate in the UK, supporting at least 1,000 jobs in total.
Nigerian fintech investment is also accelerating rapidly with LemFi planning to invest £100 million over the next five years as it designates London its global headquarters, Moniepoint plans to grow its London based team to 100 employees in 2026, building the infrastructure that supports millions of African users worldwide, and Kuda Bank is strengthening its UK headquarters as the base for global expansion and plans to double its UK footprint in 2026.
On the creative end, EbonyLife, one of Nigeria’s leading creative industry brands, will launch EbonyLife Place London, creating up to 40 new jobs and strengthening the UK’s role as a home for African storytelling and creative talent.
The SCALE Creative Entrepreneur Award Programme, developed by the British Council and supported by the Department for Business and Trade, will support young Nigerian and UK creative entrepreneurs to grow internationally and build lasting ties to benefit both the UK and Nigerian creative economies.
The UK Advertising Exports Group is due to announce a strategic partnership with the Nigerian advertising sector. This will include a UK-Nigeria Advertising Summit taking place later this year and a talent exchange scheme which will deepen bilateral engagement.
The British Council and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy in Nigeria will deliver the UK/Nigeria Season of Culture in 2028, involving a range of innovative initiatives and events designed by UK and Nigeria creative organisations.
A Creative Industries Roundtable at Lancaster House will bring together alumni, Chevening scholars and creative leaders from both countries.
Also, the partnership will also see British businesses benefit, including Twining’s Ovaltine launching a £24 million manufacturing facility in Lagos, its first in Africa, creating over 100 direct jobs and boosting the company’s exports across West Africa.
British fintech Wise will receive approval for its first Nigerian licence, enabling it to expand in a remittances market valued at up to £39.9 million and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has signed an agreement with Asset Green Ltd to explore a large-scale integrated dairy project that will strengthen Nigeria’s dairy value chain, reduce reliance on imports and improve nutrition.
Leading UK universities are also expanding into Nigeria, helping train the next generation of Nigerian and British scientists, technologists and innovators. Nigeria is a key education partner and a priority country for the UK’s International Education Strategy.
The University of Birmingham and the University of Lagos have signed a new agreement to deliver programmes in Applied AI, Digital Communications and Global Surgery. The London School of Economics (LSE) has launched a new Data Science partnership with Nile University of Nigeria, alongside the University of the West of England, opening a dedicated office in Lagos.
Wellington College International Lagos will open in 2027, offering places for 1,500 students – becoming one of West Africa’s flagship British curriculum schools and EStars, a UK‑owned educational esports and technology company, will partner with the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to deliver esports‑based digital learning programmes to around three million students.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The security chiefs have been directed by President Bola Tinubu to relocate to Maiduguri, Borno State, after suicide bombers unleashed terror on residents on Monday evening.
There were multiple attacks in the Borno State capital yesterday, as confirmed by the police command in the state.
In a statement on Tuesday, President Tinubu commiserated “with the Borno people over recent terror strikes,” describing the incidents as “profoundly upsetting.”
“I have directed security chiefs to move to Maiduguri to take charge of the situation. I have also directed the emergency agencies to provide proper care for the injured,” he was quoted as saying in the statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.
Mr Tinubu mourned the fatal victims of the attacks and sympathised with the injured, stressing that “these acts of terror are the final desperate and frantic attempts by criminals and terrorist elements trying to instil and spread fear, as they are under constant pressure from our brave armed forces and security agencies operating in various theatres.”
“We will continue to intensify our efforts against all criminal elements, wherever they may be,” the President assured.
“The Monday attacks were desperate acts of the evil-minded terrorist groups. Our gallant military and civilian task forces will curtail and put them down.
“Just last weekend, during a security meeting with leaders of security and intelligence agencies, I approved additional equipment and operational support to enhance their capabilities. This effort is already in progress.
“There is no place in Nigeria where terrorists will find safety. We will locate them, confront them, and completely defeat them,” he stated.
President Tinubu praised the troops for their “courage and fighting spirit.”
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