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“$1 billion approved by NEC to fight insecurity in Nigeria” – Femi Adesina

Excerpts:

It is two and a half years into President Buhari’s administration. As the spokesperson, how do you assess the government?

I would rather that you had asked an impartial person that question because he can then answer it dispassionately. But if you ask an insider to assess the government in which he serves, naturally, he will rate the government well because he is serving in that government. But an impartial observer will be more neutral, more dispassionate. So, let’s leave the assessment of the government to those impartial observers. But all I would just say is that this government came in at a very difficult time in the history of this country. It has done its best in many areas. The times are still very difficult but the work continues.

Continue reading ““$1 billion approved by NEC to fight insecurity in Nigeria” – Femi Adesina”

Global Diplomatic News: Week 35, 2019

Nigeria-Indonesia Trade Volume Increases By 10%

The Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Usra Hendra Harahap, says the trade volume of both countries saw a 10.7 percent increase last year (2018).

Ambassador Harahap, who spoke during the country 74th anniversary celebration reception in held Abuja, said:

“The total bilateral trade recorded in 2018 reached up to USD 2.9 billion compared to the previous year which only recorded $1.6 billion – which is 10.7 per cent increase.

Nigeria is not only a friend of Indonesia, but also an important partner on the fields of politics economy, cultural exchange, education, science and technology.”

According to him, the Indonesian government is targeting economic growth between 5.2 and 5.3 per cent.

Chinelo Anohu Appointed by AfDB As Head and Senior Director of Africa Investment Forum

Chinelo Anohu, an international corporate lawyer,has been appointed by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) as head and senior Director of Africa Investment Forum.

The appointment which took effect on the 1st of September was disclosed by the AfDB President Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina.

Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina stated:

“Anohu is joining us as the Head, and Senior Director of Africa Investment Forum. Her can-do-attitude, leadership, hands-on experience in working with global pension funds and institutional investors and extensive global networks among institutional investors will significantly position and help the African Investment Forum to drive its global agenda to attract more investment to Africa.”

Chinelo Anohu’s profile: Anohu is a member of the London Stock Exchange Africa Advisory Board. She has served as Director General of the National Pension Commission of Nigeria (PenCom) for five years.

Under her leadership as Director General ofPenCom, the number of pension contributors rose from 5 million to close to 8 million, while assets under management grew from $19.3 billion to a record $42 billion. She also introduced micro pension structures that created opportunities for informal sector workers to be included in the contributory pension scheme.

She also created the first ever World Pension Summit Africa, which was held in Africa three years in a row, and convened global financial experts across the pension industry.

Anuohu began her professional career as an Attorney with the global oil conglomerate, Chevron, Nigeria. She worked in legal and financial services firms in Nigeria and the United Kingdom before joining the Nigerian Bureau of Public Enterprises, the implementation agency for the reform and privatization of state-owned enterprises.

As a consultant assigned by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), she helped to restructure and privatize the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited, Nicon Hilton Hotel and AfriBank, among several others.

Anuohu holds a Bachelor of Law Degree (LLB) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Master’s degree in Computer and Communications Law from the London School of Economics in 2000. She has studied at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA and the Insead Business School, France.

Continue reading “Global Diplomatic News: Week 35, 2019”

Global Diplomatic News: Week 23, 2019

Tijjani Muhammad-Bande Emerge UNGA 74th President

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly on the 4th of June 2019 in New York elected Nigerian Professor, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande as the President of the 74th Session of the Assembly.

Mr. Muhammad-Bande, who has had an outstanding career as a scholar and diplomat, has a B.Sc (Political Science) from the Ahmadu Bello University, MA (Political Science), Boston University and Ph.D (Political Science), University of Toronto, Canada.

A press statement from the UN said Mr Muhammad-Bande started at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, rising from Graduate Assistant in 1980 to full Professor in 1998, and ultimately to Vice-Chancellor, in 2004, a position he held for five years.

The statement added that, he served as the Director-General of Le Centre Africain de Formation et de Recherche Administratives pour le Dèveloppement (CAFRAD), in Tangier, Morocco between 2000-2004.

He held the position of Director-General of Nigeria’s National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, the country’s most reputable policy institution for training leaders from the public and private sectors, including high echelon officials of Nigeria’s Armed Forces from 2010 to 2016.

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Global Diplomatic News: Week 21, 2019

Nigeria and BAGASOO Sign MoU On Aviation Safety

The federal government of Nigeria has signed a hosting agreement with Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO), to enhance aviation safety among member states.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama signed the agreement on behalf of the federal government of Nigeria, while the Executive Director BAGASOO, Capt. Tidiane Bah, signed on behalf of the organisation.

BAGASOO is an aviation safety oversight organisation responsible for the enhancement of safety in seven member countries which includes, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Cape Verde and Sierra Leone.

Mr. Onyeama explained that federal government accorded importance to the issue of aviation safety in the country and in the West African region.

Continue reading “Global Diplomatic News: Week 21, 2019”