Jobs/Appointments
Google Pledges N1.2bn for Nigeria’s One Million Digital Jobs Initiative
By Adedapo Adesanya
Vice President Kashim Shettima has lauded Google’s N1.2 billion grant to the federal government’s one million jobs scheme.
In a statement from Mr Olusola Abiola, the Director of Information at the Office of the Vice President, the announcement of a grant of N1.2 billion to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu’s digital jobs initiative was commendable and worthy of emulation by other companies as he received some executives of Google at the Presidential Villa on Monday.
“Let’s think outside the box and create more job opportunities. We need to walk the talk. It is easy to pontificate but very difficult to bring all of the ideas to fruition. I want to assure you, this administration is ready to partner with you.
“Nigeria is ready for business. The President that we have now wants to leave a legacy that Nigerians will be proud of many years after,” the VP explained.
Speaking about the potentials of Nigeria’s young population, Mr Shettima said “we have a unique opportunity to harness the potentials of our huge youth population to create millions of jobs in the digital sector.
“We have more English-speaking people than many countries in Africa and beyond. We missed the agricultural age, we missed the industrial age, and we are now in the knowledge-driven post-industrial age. We have the potential and a unique opportunity to fill the anticipated global talent deficit.”
“Access Bank is doing a lot in terms of digital skills, training 1000 youths in digital skills to create employment opportunities. We are working with Wema Bank, the Bank of Industry and other partners on this project. We are willing to partner with Google; we will work closely with you for the good of our nation,” he added.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director of Google West Africa, Mr Olumide Balogun, said the company was excited about the Tinubu administration’s vision of creating one million digital jobs and was committing over N1.2 billion in grants to support the initiative.
He said the company, through the programme, would provide digital skills to over 20,000 youths and women to enhance and improve their lives and livelihoods and also enable several startups to grow and create thousands of jobs in the sector.
On his part, Google Africa’s Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, Mr Charles Murito, said the company remains committed to investing in digital infrastructure across Africa, noting that digital transformation in the continent can be the driver of the targeted technology jobs.
He spoke about the potential in Africa, noting that “Google cannot achieve its vision and objectives if it doesn’t cover Nigeria effectively.”
The Google initiative is designed to train 20,000 Nigerian women and youth in digital skills. The programme is facilitated through a grant from Google’s philanthropic arm to “Mind the Gap” in partnership with Data Science Nigeria and the Creative Industry Initiative for Africa.
The initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to increasing the participation of young Nigerians in the digital economy by creating 1 million digital jobs.
The delegation from Google also included the Programme Manager, Google Africa, Ms Oluwatamilore Oni; the Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager, Mr Adewolu Adene and Communications and Public Affairs Manager for Google West Africa, Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, among others.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Anthony Ikemefuna Idigbe, has been appointed to the board of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc as an independent non-executive director.
A regulatory notice to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited by the company disclosed that the appointment of Mr Idigbe took effect from Thursday, March 27, 2025.
However, this appointment, according to the statement signed by the company secretary, ALSEC Nominees Limited, is subject to ratification at the next Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the organisation.
The appointee, a Senior Partner at PUNUKA Attorneys and Solicitors, has over 40 years of experience in corporate governance, insolvency, business restructuring, arbitration, dispute resolution, privatization, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and oil and gas.
The graduate of Law from the University of Ife in 1982, was elevated to SAN in July 2000.
He is a member of the Board of Directors (Trustees) of the Canadian Association of Nigerian Lawyers (CANL); Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dominican University, Ibadan; Fellow of the Institute of Directors Nigeria (IOD), INSOL International, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London, the Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN) and the International Bar Association (IBA).
In addition, he is a member of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA); Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA), International Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria (ICCN), American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) and International Insolvency Institute (III).
Mr Idigbe chaired Capital Hotel Plc from 2017 to 2022 and currently chairs Ikeja Hotel Plc and The Tourist Company of Nigeria Plc, all listed on the NGX, until two were delisted, according to business strategy.
He is a director of Royal Exchange Plc, listed on NGX and chaired the Statutory Audit Committee of Seplat Energy Plc from 2015 to 2023, which is listed on NGX and the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
The new board member was elected the President of the Asaba Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ASACCIMA) in 2022, and President of the Delta Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (DACCIMA) on 12 December 2022.
He was appointed the National Legal Adviser for the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) in May 2023.
He established the Capital Market Solicitors Association (CMSA) and chaired the 2017 Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Legal Profession Regulation Review Committee, which reviewed the regulation of the legal profession in Nigeria.
In 2013, he was appointed the National Coordinator for Nigeria, World Bank Global Forum of Law, Justice, and Development Project on Treatment of Shareholders’ Rights in Insolvency of Companies (2013 to 2014); and in 2012 a Member of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force set up by President Goodluck Jonathan.
In addition, he chaired the Technical Drafting Committee for the Bill that became the Investment and Securities Act 2007. He recently chaired the review committee for the same law, resulting in the Investment and Securities Bill now Act. As a consultant to the Bureau of Public Enterprises, he and the now Hon Justice Nnamdi Dimgba drafted the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Bill now Act relating to anti-trust and competition law in Nigeria.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mr Nasir Naeem Abdulsalam as the Managing Director of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, Kogi State.
A statement from Mr Segun Imohiosen, the Director of Information and Public Relations on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr George Akume, disclosed the appointment took effect from Thursday, April 3, 2025, and is in accordance with the provisions of the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2008 as amended.
Mr Abdulsalam, according to statement, has been tasked by Mr Tinubu to leverage his wealth of experience in the steel industry in his new assignment in revolutionising the company to generate important upstream and downstream industrial and economic activities that will position the nation as the industrial hub of Africa in line with the diversification drive of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Until his appointment, the appointee served as the Technical Adviser to the Minister of Steel Development, Mr Dele Alake, as well as the Special Assistant on Academics to Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The chief executive of SAO Group, Mr Ayo Sotirin, has been appointed by President Bola Tinubu as the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA).
A statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that the appointment is with immediate effect.
In the notice released on Friday, Mr Onanuga said the new BoA chief brings a diverse and extensive background in the private and public sectors to his new role.
He disclosed that Mr Sotinrin’s appointment aligns with the strategy of the administration of Presient Tinubu to revitalise Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“Mr Sotinrin’s proven ability to mobilise capital, innovate in agribusiness, and collaborate across sectors will be instrumental in repositioning the Bank of Agriculture as a catalyst for food security, sovereignty and rural prosperity,” Mr Tinubu was quoted to have said.
While at SAO Group, an agribusiness company, the appointee’s leadership was marked by groundbreaking agricultural initiatives, including developing a 20,000-hectare oil palm plantation and large-scale poultry, aquaculture, maize, and cassava operations in Ondo State.
He also led SAO Capital, raising over $750 million in infrastructure and development finance, including the landmark $200 million Akure Water Supply Project.
In the public sector, he served as Special Adviser on Environment and Urban Development to the Minister of State FCT from 2011 to 2015.
He had consulted extensively for global development partners such as the World Bank, AfDB, DFID, and USAID and played key advisory roles on federal and state-level projects. His international background includes roles at the Royal Bank of Scotland International, Deutsche Bank, and the UK Environment Agency.
Mr Sotinrin holds an Executive MBA from Said Business School, Oxford University; an Advanced Diploma in Environmental Conservation; and a Master’s in Engineering Business Management from Warwick University.
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