Olusola Abiola, Director, Information Office of the vice president in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said the vice president received some chief executives of DFIs on a courtesy visit to him at the Presidential Villa.

Shettima acknowledged the critical roles played by the DFIs in the growth of the MSMEs sector and sought their cooperation for the actualisation of the agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

“I commend your unwavering commitment and support for the MSMEs space in Nigeria over the years.

“Governance is a continuum and be rest assured that we will partner with you as we continue in this effort of improving the environment for MSMEs to thrive in our country.

“You are the people that will provide the quick wins for this administration in its first 100 days in office.

“So, we will work with you; we will collaborate with you but we need to synergise because opportunities abound for us to create more jobs for our youths especially in the digital world,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officers of Bank of Industry (BOI) Kayode Pitan, Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Tony Okpanachi, NEXIM Bank, Abba Bello, Access Bank, Roosevelt Ogbonna, and Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni, spoke on their institutions’ interventions for MSMEs.

They pledged their commitments to the programmes of the present administration toward the growth of the sector.

The post Shettima seeks more support for MSMEs appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Olusola Abiola, Director (Information), Office of the Vice President, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said the vice president said this when he received a delegation from Hadeija Emirate Council in Jigawa.

The delegation was led by Alhaji Adamu Maje, Emir of Hadeija and Chairman, Jigawa Traditional Council.

Shettima said that Kano and Jigawa States had been largely peaceful.

The vice president commended the Hadeija Emirate Council for a strong support to the Tinubu/Shettima administration.

He also lauded the emirate for its developmental strides.

“As at the time we went to Hadeija, we were not in power and Maje was unequivocal in his support to us.

“It was a huge support and was anchored on the fact that our team was the best for the nation.

“When I traveled from Kano to Hadeija, it was one of my happiest moment.

“I saw development coming up; I saw universities springing up; I saw a rice mill by Aliko Dangote; I saw so many development efforts.”

On the incessant flooding being experienced in Jigawa, the vice president said that the Federal Government would soon address the challenge because of its negative impact on agriculture and food production.

He also spoke on measures aimed at boosting food production in the state.

“I want to convey to you the message from President Bola Tinubu that the challenges of the place will be adequately captured in the next budget.

“In the next programme, we want to cultivate a minimum of 100,000 hectares in the wheat belt, so nearly 50,000 hectares will be devoted to Jigawa as it is one of the few states which grow wheat in the belt comprising Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Yobe and to Borno.

“I think Jigawa is our food basket,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, Maje congratulated President Tinubu and Shettima on their successful inauguration and promised continued support for the government.

The traditional ruler thanked the vice president for the appointment of one of Jigawa’s sons as the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President and prayed for God’s guidance and direction for the new administration.

Members of the 10th National Assembly from Hadeija and other prominent title holders of the council were part of the delegation.

The post Peace critical for national development – Shettima appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Shettima made the call on Wednesday in his message to mark this year’s Eid-ul-Adha celebration.

The vice president had earlier observed the Eid prayers at the National Eid ground, Abuja alongside Speaker House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin.

“This sacred day is an occasion to reflect on the mercy of Allah, as revealed through the gracious blessings bestowed upon Prophet Abraham and his son, Prophet Isma’il.

“These timeless lessons served as a guiding light to humanity across generations, reminding us of the limitless trials our Creator presents to us in our path to redemption; in embracing these teachings, we find the moral inspiration to be the best versions of ourselves.

“May Allah accept our prayers and sacrifices and forgive our shortcomings.

“May Allah heal us from whatever afflicts us in our private lives and as a nation, and may this day bring forth enduring unity and progress to our beloved country,” he said.

The post Eid-ul-Adha: Shettima sues for national unity, sacrifice, forgiveness appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Shettima gave this assurance at a meeting with the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Aliko Dangote Foundation on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The focus of the meeting was healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

The vice president said that the government was countering the conspiracy theories and ensuring that every Nigerian child had access to quality primary healthcare.

“We are gathered here today because we do not wish to fail to respond to the deaths brought to us by a virus and we can guarantee such a picture easily if the occupants of this room can promise to work with President Bola Tinubu and invest in this grand vision of a healthy nation.

“If we were not united in fighting the wild polio virus, we would not have defeated it in 2016.

“This is why we are committed to eradicating the variant polio virus before the end of this year and ensuring that every Nigerian child is covered in our routine immunisation campaigns.

“But to achieve this, we must identify the threats ahead of us; it is not yet Uhuru; it is not yet time to celebrate.”

Shettima said that the pentavalent vaccine coverage had improved from 33 per cent in 2016 to 57 per cent in 2021.

He said that the stakeholders deserved commendation as the variant polio virus had declined in Nigeria by 84 per cent from 2021 falling to less than 200 cases in 2022.

“Thanks to you, the states that achieved high category immunisation coverage which is between 60 and 80 per cent of the target demographics have expanded from 12 to 21 states in five years.

“We are well aware of the setbacks and what we must do to build a healthier nation.

“The growing integrity of the data collected by our field workers, some of whom lost their lives or were injured in the line of duty has facilitated investments in our healthcare delivery system.

“I witnessed the sacrifices made by our field workers who dedicated their lives to promoting routine immunisation firsthand when I was the governor of Borno State.

“So, thank our generous guests here, our friends and allies; they stood with us even in the midst of conflict to ensure that children in partially accessible settlements were not forgotten,” the vice president said.

Shettima applauded the governors of Borno, Zamfara and Sokoto States for their passionate efforts at addressing the core challenges.

According to him, the virus is largely restricted to three states—Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi.

“I am quite glad that two of the governors are here with us; and they have shown that commitment, zeal, and passion of frontally addressing our challenges.

“So, this gathering is not only a celebration of our progressive synergy to end vaccine preventable diseases and poverty; it is also a triumph over disinformation and skepticism that have plagued the campaign to build a healthier nation.

“We are not only fighting diseases but also countering the conspiracy theories of those committed to hijacking our interventions, our inspirations.

“I want to assure that the government recognises the pivotal role you have played in our collective role to offer our nation medical and nutritional support at no cost to them,” Shettima said.

He said the government would not slow down until it delivered on its promise to eradicate the polio virus by the end of 2023.

The vice president reiterated government’s commitment at building a robust framework to ease access to vaccines and palliatives.

“We won’t stop until we ensure that the resources deployed by our partners and our counterpart funding are disbursed for the intended purpose.

“We won’t stop until we ensure that the children in our remotest villages have access to primary healthcare and nutrition like their peers in our cities,” he said.

On his part, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman, Aliko Dangote Foundation, said his foundation had been partnering with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for several years.

Dangote said that partnership had been to support efforts at eradicating polio and improving routine immunisation, nutrition and primary healthcare.

“Since Bill’s visit in 2018, we have supported government’s efforts on human capital development.

“We genuinely believe that the National Economic Council (NEC) and the decisions that you will make together over the next four years will determine whether Nigeria has strong economic growth, keeps its citizens healthy and contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“To achieve all that, as you begin to think about what topics to prioritise at the NEC and the Nigerian Governors Forum, I will like to call on all of you to put human capital development on top of your list,” Dangote said.

Earlier in his remarks, Bill Gates, Co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said his foundation recently announced the intention to commit seven billion dollars to Africa in the next four years.

He said that the fund was to support routine immunisation in Nigeria and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in Northern Nigeria.

The NGF Chairman, Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq of Kwara State, and some other governors also spoke at the meeting.

The post Nigeria committed to eradicating variant polio virus by 2023 – Shettima appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The president also approved the return of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to the Office of the Vice President.

Mr Olusola Abiola, Director, Information, Office of the Vice President, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Moreso, Tinubu approved a formal structure for the Office of the Vice President as well as an appropriate number of technical and administrative aides that would work with the vice president in the discharge of his responsibilities.

The post Tinubu approves return of NEMA, Hajj Commission to VP’s office appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Mr Olusola Abiola, Director of Information, Office of the Vice-President, stated in Abuja that the vice-president’s remarks were taken out context.

The vice-president met with senators campaigning for the emergence of Sen. Godswill Akpabio and Sen. Barau Jibrin to lead the 10th Senate on Sunday.

Shettima said at the interactive session that the nation’s current political structure demanded the emergence of a southern Christian and a northern Muslim as the fairest balance to promote inclusivity at the centre.

“Shettima’s statement was motivated by a profound awareness of the divisive factors within our great nation and was in harmony with the governing party’s pledge to ensure inclusivity across all regions and among all groups.

“President Bola Tinubu has wholeheartedly reassured the country of his dedication to providing every group with equal representation, which has resonated with the vice-president who shares the same commitment to this honourable endeavour.

“Unfortunately, the vice-president’s remarks have been stripped of context and mischievously circulated as an attempt to minimise the suitability of Muslim contestants in the race for the Senate leadership.

“The remarks have not only been taken out of context, but also misinterpreted to suit an agenda that sabotages our collective bid for unity,” Abiola stated.

He stressed that what Shettima advocated was the choice of a non-Muslim contestant, even if it was against a more qualified Muslim option, to achieve balance, since the president and the vice-president are Muslims.

Abiola added that it was alarming that such unambiguous plea was unfairly misconstrued to imply that the vice-president said the most incompetent Christian candidate was superior to a Muslim candidate.

“The vice-president’s position reflects the stance of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“APC assigned the leadership of the House of Representatives to the Northwest and designated the position of Deputy Senate President to the same region.

“At the time the vice-president made his remarks, three contenders for the Speakership race had withdrawn their candidacy to support the candidate from the Northwest.

“This well-considered balancing strategy aimed to mitigate the potential for crisis within the country, particularly by those anticipating the domination of leadership from the same religious faith in all branches of government.

“It will be illogical for the vice-president, a Muslim to second-guess the competence of fellow Muslims in a nation headed by a Muslim president.

“The president has demonstrated unmatched leadership qualities on the strength of which he and his deputy were elected in February,’’ he stated.

Abiola added that the vice-president wished to distance himself from the wrong and dangerous inferences drawn by a section of the public on his remarks.

He noted that while some inferences were made innocently and without mischief, there were entities that had seized on the story to cause further chaos that transcended the realm of power politics.

“Before the media interface, the vice-president was aware that some entities and individuals were covertly pushing for Muslim leadership of the National Assembly to use the instance to legitimise their grievances against the Nigerian state.

“They were doing this to prove to their communities that they had been marginalised and must rise to cause chaos.

“This is a paradoxical situation where lawmakers who opposed a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket are actively campaigning for political arrangements that would result in Muslims occupying the topmost four or five positions in the country.

“The covert intent of their actions is evident to astute observers of our politics.

“This is the dimension to which our politics have descended; a dimension that does not align with President Tinubu’s and the APC’s vision of a Nigeria for all.

“It is the vision and promise that propelled this government to power even when some interest groups attempted to mischaracterise the APC ticket,” Abiola stated.

He added that senators who met with the vice-president were known as the Stability Group, a group of 77 patriots who had signed up for the Akpabio/Barau ticket.

Senators in the Stability Group believe the pair would represent the interests of the nation and the party, he stated.

According to Abiola, the group is neither ethnic nor religious, but a collection of well-intentioned senators with a convincing solution to Nigeria’s stability dilemma, as its name implies.

“The vice-president remains grateful to media outlets that have seen through the mischaracterisation and have been able to provide context for those who missed it.

“We are at a critical point in our nation and cannot afford to lose our focus because of mischief-makers obsessed with starting a fire where there is none.

“Shettima remains grateful to those who have read beyond newspaper click bait and those who have given him the benefit of the doubt and remain allies for the betterment of Nigeria,” Abiola stressed.

The post Presidency clarifies V-P Shettima’s remarks on Senate presidency appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Balogun died on May 19 in London at the age of 89.

Osinbajo’s personal tribute to the late Balogun was made available to newsmen on Saturday in Abuja.

The vice president said Balogun was an outstanding legal mind, and a doyen of the Nigerian capital market and investment banking.

“The tribe of true nobility and greatness is diminished by one!
“Olori Omo Oba Subomi Balogun, noble in word and deed, outstanding legal mind, doyen of the Nigerian capital market and investment banking, deep, wise, forthright, kind to all, and God-fearing.

“Remembered with much affection, respect and admiration.

“We pray that the Lord will comfort aunty (Olori), our dear brothers and the entire family in Jesus’ name. Amen,” he prayed.

The post Late FCMB founder, noble in word, deed — Osinbajo appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Mamora disclosed this on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while featuring in the State House briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team.

The minister said that his ministry had also made significant achievements in food processing and fabrication of equipment to boost food production.

“In the area of medicare and health of Nigerians, of course a lot of these came to the from burner during the COVID era; so many things were developed from our indigenous companies under our various agencies like the disinfectant towel, sanitisers, solar-powered smart hand washing machine.

“Nigeria has a very large population of sickle cell disease patients and carriers; to that effect, I can tell that we have able to develop products from plants that combat or they are anti-sickening in nature and therefore reduce the number of attacks that usually result from sickle cell anemia.

“We have also been able to develop anti-hypertensive drinks from local herbs and materials.

“Then one important drug that is very expensive—Lovastatin—a drug that reduces cholesterol; cholesterol is injurious when it is above the limit of normal; this has been developed from oyster mushroom.

Of course, we must also look at what it common to us; tuberculosis, ebola, hepatitis—these are common diseases that we have around us.

“I can say that through our molecular diagnostic laboratories, we have been able to develop mode of identifying or making diagnosis because the first step in the management of a patient is to make the right diagnosis; if you don’t make the right diagnosis, you cannot treat what you don’t know.

“So, that is why this ability to make diagnosis is very important which some of our agencies have been able to do in terms of discovery.”

On agriculture, he said that a recent document—Nigeria 2050 Agenda– estimated that Nigeria’s population would be about 350 million by 2050 while the current estimate is 200 million.

According to him, with such population, food remains critical in order to eliminate poverty.

He said that attention was focused on how to improve food output to ensure that there was food security.

“That’s one of the things that we are trying to achieve.

“So, that’s what we have what is called Tacca (false yam) for the production of starch and glucose syrup which reduce the pressure on yam, cassava and maize for the production of industrial raw materials.

“We have also been able to develop the extraction of glucose syrup and ethanol from sweet sorghum.

“We have been able to boost agricultural programmes through the development of improved seeds and seedlings that are distributed to farmers—these include cowpea, rice, ginger, banana, plantain, cassava, sugar among others.”

The minister said that Nigeria had previously recorded post-harvest loses; hence the ministry through its agencies, developed seeds that were resistance to pests and flooding.

Mamora said that the ministry was able to put in place, methods of preserving harvests to avoid rots and boost yields.

He said that the ministry and its agencies had produced equipment for processing of food and preservation of raw materials.

“We have the fabrication of standard processing machines to process onions and garlic into flakes thereby preserving them.

“The ministry through Raw Material Research and Development Council has been able to increase the daily milk yield of our cows from meager one litre/1.5 litres of milk per cow to over 15 litres of milk per cow daily.

“We have also been able to develop moringa fortified livestock feed for fish, aquaculture and environmentally friendly insecticide.

“We have been to develop some ready to use protein based therapeutic foods.

“One of the agencies, National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, has been able to develop Nitrogen Urea fertiliser.

“Through Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, we have been able to develop rice thresher and destoning machine –to remove a lot of stones from rice; coconut oil extraction machine, yam pounding machine among others,” he said.

The minister said that his ministry had performed creditably in research and innovation in areas of education, defence and security, capacity building, space, energy and power, manufacturing, business among others.

The post We’ve developed diagnosis, drugs for sickle cell, others – Science Minister appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Recently, in Nairobi, Kenya, prominent Africa’s political and business leaders, civil society organisations, multilateral and regional institutions and Africa’s international partners gathered to brainstorm on issues vital to Africa’s interest on the global scene.

The event tagged, “Ibrahim Governance Weekend (IGW), came under the aegis of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

During the three-day event, in which Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, and President William Ruto of Kenya featured conspicuously, discussions focused on: “Global Africa.”

At the forum, Africa’s potential and deliverables in a world confronted by multifaceted challenges such as climate change, pandemics, conflicts, under stress global financial architecture were put in the front burner.

Speaking at the event on the theme “Africa in the World: Multiple Assets”, Osinbajo it was imperative for Africa to develop an education curriculum that relevant to the dynamics of a changing world.

The vice-president participated in the session alongside Donald Kaberuka, AU Special Envoy and former President of African Development Bank and Hafou Toure, Deputy Director of Cabinet for the Minister in charge of promoting Small and Medium Enterprises in Côte d’Ivoire.

Osinbajo said the creative industry remained one area that African countries can tap into to boost job and wealth creation without much intervention from government.

“The creative industry in Africa was a phenomenon that many would say happened without government.

“I think that in many ways what is important is to see how the creative industry can be supported.

“It is evident that there is a huge amount of talents and it’s evident also that the regulatory environment favours it because there are no impediments.

“One would say that, as much as possible, what we should seek to do is to see how we can expand that space and to support with credit where that is possible and infrastructure that will be helpful,” he said.

He said that in Nigeria, the National Theatre as an entertainment hub had shown great promise in supporting the industry.

He said there was the need to strike a balance between government’s intervention in the industry and the desire to allow it to function on its own without government’s meddling.

“I would say that we should be cautious in not interfering too much; at the same time, we need to provide infrastructure, we need to provide credit with such an exposure that they may need”, he said.

According to him, there is need to have a clarity of vision on where Africa is headed in terms of education.

“So understanding what such of educational programmes we need to put in place and even the vision for that programme you have to understand that we are dealing with several demographics.

“We are in a new place where the world has changed so dramatically and particularly in the past 10 years; where we have robotic, artificial intelligence; what sort of education makes sense to create job opportunities today?

“This is the time to think through the educational curriculum.

It is the time to decide how this curriculum will be relevant and would deliver the sort of persons that we want and create the sort of opportunities that we require,” he said.

Earlier, Mo Ibrahim, who is also the founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, said it had become urgent for Africa to adjust to the fast-paced world.

“The world is changing; I think everybody knows that; all the previous assumptions are being broken; we see different powers rising; tensions, camps being formed, where exactly is Africa’s place.

“Things are really changing around us and where are we? What is our relationship with these people?

“We need to understand and define our relationship with rest of the world; what does Africa offer the world and what does the world offer Africa?” he asked.

As part of activities lined up for event, the Osinbajo also participated in the Africa Europe Foundation (AEF) themed “Earthshot 2023 Milestone.”

At the event he posited that Africa had the potential to change the narrative and become the solution to the net zero ambitions of the world.

“I think that agenda is important—the Climate Positive Growth Agenda…

“For me, the next steps are crucial; first, we need to get African governments and Heads of State around this agenda and that is crucial because it is one climate positive that is a win-win situation for Africa and the rest of the world,” he said.

The Osinbajo said there was need to present to each government, where the benefits and trade-offs might lie so that consensus could be reached quickly and effectively.

He said Africa should be clear about what it wants from the rest of the world, adding that African leaders needed to take a common stance on climate change.

In his submission at a session with Ibrahim and Ruto, he argued that the global financial system was struggling to respond the challenges of the time.

“The whole system was focused on prescriptions from the World Bank, IMF and other institutions and most times, the prescriptions went the wrong way.

“There wasn’t room for emerging frontier, new ideas on how to finance development; and as a result, you find out that the system has not responded to frontier economies, emerging economies”, he said.

“While it is true that you can get overseas development assistance at 0.5 per cent; concessional facilities at 0.5; but when you need real development resources, you want to run your own development the way know how, you end up with 10 per cent 15 per cent, 20 per cent.

“Which means that the current financial architecture, to put it bluntly, is rigged against those of us in the global South.

This is because we cannot meaningfully address our development need using the financial resources from this architecture,” he said.

Stakeholders are of the view that Africa’s common interest can only gain traction in international discourse if there is a concerted pursuit of the continent’s interest by African governments.

The post Mo Ibrahim Foundation: Osinbajo and quest for Africa’s interest on global arena appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, briefed State House correspondents on Wednesday after the FEC meeting presided over Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Shehu listed the airports as: Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Port Harcourt International Airport and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

Others are: The airports in Owerri, Imo, Benin, Edo, Enugu, Enugu State, Maiduguri, Borno, Yola, Adamawa and Calabar.

The rest are those in Calabar, Ilorin Sokoto, Ibadan, Jos, Akure and Katsina.

Shehu said that the council also approved post-contract consultancy amounting to N3.4 billion for the construction of the second runway and associated facilities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The presidential aide said that contracts were also approved for the Ogoni remediation in Rivers.

Shehu said: ‘Two major contracts were approved for Ogoniland, Rivers, and you know, Ogoni is one of the flagships of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“There are water projects that have been awarded under the second phase amounting to N22.8 billion.

“Approval was also given for award of contract for the remediation of newly identified hydrocarbon impacted sites along the shoreline of Ogoniland for N107 billion.”

Shehu said that the FCT also got quite a number of approvals including contract for the full scope development of the Shehu Shagari Way for N91 billion.

He added: “Another one is for the rehabilitation of the Rubochi township roads and the rehabilitation of Rubochi-Gwagwalada in FCT for about N5.7 billion.

“Council also approved contract for the construction of 3.2 kilometre road to Kwali Bridge in Kwalli Area Council of the FCT for about N1.6 billion.

“Another FCT contract is for the revised estimated cost of the contract for the provision of engineering infrastructure at Guzape District lot 11 in the FCT and the contract sum is N28 billion.

“And the fifth approval for FCT is for revised estimated total cost/augmentation of the contract for the provision of access road to Kabusa Garden Estate, Dako District in FCT and this is for N6.6 billion.”

Shehu said that approvals were also made for the Ministry of Works for the rehabilitation of several roads across the country.

He said that the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning also had approval for the construction of the FIRS multi-storey office complex at Agidingbi Training School, Ikeja, Lagos, for N10.3 billion.

Shehu said: “Finance Ministry also had approval for the construction of Zone B Headquarters of the Nigeria Customs in Mando and Afaka in Kaduna.”

More so, he said that the Ministry of Interior also got approval for the establishment of the National Institute for Domestic Security at Irogbo-Ilesha, Osun.

“This is for research and capacity development of paramilitary agencies and other relevant stakeholders both within and Nigeria.

“This is to guarantee a peaceful and secure nation, with a budgetary provision of N285 million in 2022 budget and N360 million in 2023 budget,” he said.

The post FEC approves N449.9m for masterplan of 17 airports appeared first on NEWSVERGE.