Connect with us

News

PROFILE: Meet Tinubu’s Ministerial Nominees

Before the end of the 60 days deadline after the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, he submitted a 28-man ministerial nomination list to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

This exceeded the 56 days period that the last administration took to unveil its ministerial list.

The Senate has fixed next week Monday to commence the screening of the ministerial nominees forwarded to it by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

So far, the ministerial nominees include four ex-governors, seven women, one Senior Advocate of Nigeria, present and past lawmakers, technocrats, politicians and party loyalists picked from 25 out of 36 states in Nigeria.

This article x-rays their public track records and portfolios.

Abubakar Momoh is from Etsako East LGA of Edo State. A civil engineer, and a two-time member of the house of representatives for Edo North senatorial district. He was the leader of the mass defection from PDP to APC in 2019 elections.

NYSC Ondo Boss Sends Strong Message To Corps members

 Mohammed Dangiwa, a Nigerian politician and chieftain of Kankian Katsina. He has over 30 years of experience in real estate, infrastructure development, and management. He has held positions as Managing Partner of AM Design Consult and in Jarlo International Nig. Ldt. Dangiwa is a professional architect, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Executives of Nigeria, and an Associate Member of the American Institute of Architects. He holds an MSc and MBA from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and is an alumnus of Wharton University, Pennsylvania. Mr Dangiwa contested in the APC governorship primary election in Katsina State in May 2022.

Hanatu Musawa, F, is a lawyer, a newspaper columnist, and the Deputy Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC). She is the current Special Adviser on Culture and Entertainment to President Bola Tinubu. She holds a degree in law from the University of Buckingham, UK, and took a Postgraduate master’s Degree in the Legal Aspects of Marine Affairs from the University of Cardiff, Wales. She also has a Postgraduate master’s Degree in Oil and Gas Law from the University of Aberdeen. She is completing a Doctorate, which she has been doing part-time.

Yusuf Maitama Tugar: a Nigerian politician and diplomat, has been the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany since 2017. Born in 1967, Tukur served as a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, representing Gamawa and twice running for Bauchi State Governor. He was involved in the 23rd Session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and facilitated German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s state visit to Nigeria. In 2020, he attended a meeting with Siemens in Germany over Nigerian power sector projects but tested negative for COVID-19.

Uche Nnaji, a businessman and politician from Enugu State, was born into a coal-city family. Nnaji was a one-time senatorial aspirant in the Enugu East Senatorial Zone. He Won the senatorial ticket of the AD in 1999 but later stepped down for the former governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo. He was the governorship candidate of the APC in the state for the 2023 election. He lost to Peter Mbah of the PDP.

Betta Edu, F, 36, is the current national women leader of All Progressive Congress. She was Cross River State Commissioner for Health until her resignation in 2022. She was also National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum. In 2015, Betta Edu became the youngest person to be appointed Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Cross River State Benedict Ayade on Community and Primary Healthcare. The 36-year-old politician is a Fellow of the Royal School of Public Health and the African Institute of Public Health Professionals.

Doris Aniche Uzoka, F, is the current Imo State Commissioner for Finance. She has also served as the SA Presidential Policy Advisory Council (National Economy). Uzoka is said to have had decades of political and professional affinity with Lagos and was an easy pick for Tinubu because of her background in the finance sector.

David Nweze Umahi CON, M, born 25 July 1963 is a Nigerian politician, senator currently representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District since 2023. He previously served as the governor of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2023, and as deputy governor from 2011 to 2015. David Umahi, who served as the Governor of Ebonyi State and represents Ebonyi South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, is getting ready to step down from his position as a senator.

Ezenwo Nyesom Wike CON, M, a member of the People’s Democratic Party, was born December 13, 1967 in Obio-Akpor, Rivers State, Nigeria. Wike began his political career as the Executive Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers in 1999, a position he held until 2007. In 2007, he was appointed as the chief of staff to the governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi. In July 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him as the Minister of State for Education and was promoted to Federal Minister of Education in September 2013. From 2015 to 2023, he served as the governor of Rivers State.

Mohamed Badaru: Mohamed Badaru served as governor of Jigawa from 2015 to 2023. The 60-year-old graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he obtained a B.Sc Accounting degree. After his graduation, he established his business, the Talamiz Group, a conglomerate with diverse interests in automobiles, manufacturing, agriculture and animal husbandry, as well as commodity distribution. He appointed Alhaji Hameem Nuhu Sunusi as the new Emir of Dutse after the death of his father. He also led the Jigawa APC campaign council during the last elections.

 Nasir El-Rufai, 63, served as minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007 and also served as Kaduna governor from 2015 to 2013. As governor of Kaduna, Rufai introduced a school feeding programme to encourage thousands of Children to attend school. In 2008, El-Rufai went into self-imposed exile and became a vocal critic of the Umaru Yar’Adua administration.

Ekperikpe Ekpo was senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District in the last 2023 general elections. He lost his senatorial bid to the current Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Nkiru Onyejiocha, F is from Abia State. She graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She was one of the longest-serving members of the House of Representatives until 2023. She was first elected a member of the House of Representatives in 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), then Nigeria’s ruling party. She defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2018 and won her re-election bid for a fourth term in the house of representatives in 2019. She lost her reelection bid to Chief Amobi Ogah of the Labour Party (LP) in the just concluded 2023 general election.

Under Renewed Pressure, Naira Weakens In Black Market

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, M, was born 1 May 1982. He is a Nigerian politician, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is a member of the House of Representatives (Nigeria), representing Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State. He is the Chairman of the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).He is currently serving his first term in the National Assembly (Nigeria) having been elected in March 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Stella Okotete, F, graduated from Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, where she majored in International Studies and Diplomacy. She was appointed the Executive Director (Business Development) at the Nigeria Export and Import Bank( NEXIM) by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022. Between 2011 and 2015, she served as the Special Assistant and Adviser to the Executive Governor of Delta State on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye was the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s only female presidential candidate but later withdrew to back President Bola Tinubu. She is a legal practitioner and businesswoman based in Abuja.

Bello Mohammed Goroyo was the former Commissioner of Information and Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the PDP Gubernatorial Campaign Council before he defected to the ruling party, APC in 2019 alongside 7400 others. He considers Sen. Wamakko, his respected father.

Dele Alake was born 6 October 1956. He has been a journalist, activist and technocrat. He was the communication advisor and confidant of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola- the winner of the annulled June 12 1993 presidential election in Nigeria. He was a former commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State between 1999–2007 under the then Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. In 2010, Alake revealed intentions to contest the senatorial seat of Ekiti Central but was hindered by an intra-party crisis which made him quit the senatorial race. In 2014, he became director of Media and Communication of the Buhari Campaign Organisation to help Nigeria’s former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari to victory in the presidential election in Nigeria in February 2015.

Lateef Fagbemi is a Senior Advocate of Nigerian (SAN) from Ijagbo, Kwara State. Born on June 22, 1956, the legal luminary who has been involved in some high-profile cases in the country, served as a counsel in the law firm of Gani Fawehinmi & Co before founding his own. The ministerial nominee is the APC’s team lead attorney defending the 2023 presidential election result in Court. Also the counsel to the All Progressive Congress during Governor Oyetola versus Adeleke’s election tribunal hearing appeal. And the legal counsel to Former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu who is being prosecuted by the EFCC for financial crimes.

Mohammed Idris (Malagi) is a media entrepreneur, Publisher, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Blueprint newspaper. He is a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), philanthropist, political leader and public relations expert. The 57-year-old native of Niger State holds a Master’s Degree in English from Bayero University, Kano State. The Former 2022, Niger state gubernatorial aspirant, donated Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign office in Minna.

Olawale Edun is an astute financial and banking expert born in 1967. He served as a two-term as commissioner of finance from 1999 to 2007, under the then Lagos Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He was nominated by Tinubu as a member of the Presidential Transition Council (PTC) after his declaration as winner of the 2023 presidential elections. In February, 2023, he was also a member of the Governing Council, Board of Directors and the Executive Management Team of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MoFI) with a charge to raise the value of its portfolio from the current N18 trillion to N100 trillion ($233m) by 2033. Tinubu penned his name as a potential vice-presidential candidate for Former President Buhari alongside Professor Yemi Osibajo and Yemi Cordozo.

Waheed Adebayo Adelabu, born September 28, 1970, is a former deputy governor, Operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He was the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2019 election in Oyo State but lost to Seyi Makinde of the PDP. Prior to 2023, Adelabu dumped APC to contest again on the platform of Accord Party but lost to Seyi, the incumbent governor.

Iman Suleiman Ibrahim, F, was educated at the University of Abuja with a degree in sociology. She was the Director-general of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) between 2020 and 2021. In 2021, she was redeployed as the Honourable Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ali Pate, a Harvard professor of medicine, is a former Minister of State (Health) in the defunct Jonathan Administration. Muhammad Ali Pate CON, born 6 September 1968, formerly served at the World Bank. He resigned as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health effective 24 July 2013 to take up the position of Professor in Duke University’s Global Health Institute, USA. Professor Mohammed Ali Pate was the gubernatorial candidate of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Bauchi State, after losing his bid for the ticket under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Actress, Juliana Olayode Recounts Encounter With Ritualists

Joseph Utsev, an academic, politician, philanthropist, entrepreneur and administrator. Born into the Utsev Akaa family of Mbaakura, Mbagen in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State. Utsev was appointed Deputy Director and later confirmed as full Director in the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi from 2013 – 2017. He became Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Water Resources and Environment Benue State where he was instrumental to the design of the Idye Basin Phase II (Police Zone 4 – Mobile Barracks) drainage. In 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari approved his appointment as the Executive Director Engineering, Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority Makurdi. Within his short stay at the Authority, he led the engineering team and supervised the construction of many dams, bridges, roads, boreholes, drainages, amongst other engineering projects. He is currently the pioneer Rector, Federal Polytechnic Wannune, Benue State

Abubakar Kyari, 60, was the senator representing Borno North Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly (2015 until his resignation in April 2022). He is currently the Acting National Chairman of the APC. In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander Of The Order Of The Niger (CON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

John Enoh, M, Enoh was a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2015 representing the Central Senatorial District of Cross River State in the 8th Assembly of the Senate. He was a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) up until May 2017 when he defected to the ruling All progressive Congress (APC) and contested for governorship and lost to incumbent governor Ben Ayade. Enoh runs a philanthropy including founding a foundation tagged JOE (John Owan Enoh) Foundation where he provides help for people living with diabetes in Nigeria.

Abubakar Sani Danladi, a member of the All Progressives Congress party was born on May 20, 1967 in Bachama, Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State. Danladi began his political career in 2006 when he served as the Local Government Chairman of Karim Lamido LGA, Taraba State. In 2011, he became the deputy governor of Danbaba Suntai in the Taraba State. In 2014, he became the acting governor of Taraba because Danbaba took ill after being involved in an air crash. Also, in 2015, he won the Taraba North Senatorial seat on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party. However, the Supreme Court sacked him as a Senator on June 23, 2017. Eventually, he defected to the All Progressives Congress, ran for Taraba State governor in 2019 but was again defeated by PDP candidate Darius Ishaku.

(Tribune)

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit .

GWG whatsapp and instagram

News

FAKE NEWS ALERT: Herbert Wigwe’s Father Did Not Slump

Sources have confirmed that Herbert Wigwe’s father, Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, did not slump during the funeral of his late son.

Some sections of the media, not Lifestyle Nigeria had published that the father of the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, collapsed during his son’s funeral service at Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers state.

The sections of the media reported that Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, who is in his 80s, was slumped following the shock of his billionaire son, Wigwe; daughter-in-law, Chizoba, and grandson, Chizzy. They died in a helicopter crash in the US on Saturday, March 9.

However, a credible police source who spoke to VANGUARD dismissed the wild news outrightly, saying that Wigwe’s father was “Hale and hearty”.

The source added, “Even the Senate President (Godswill Akpabio) met and prayed for him.

“The story of Pa Wigwe’s collapse is totally false. We should allow the family to mourn its dead and not add to the pain by writing false stories.”

The remains of the deceased have been interred at a private cemetery within the Wigwe University premises in Isiokpo.

Continue Reading

News

Group Launches Fact-Checking Platform To Counter Fake News 

Lifestyle Nigeria gathered that a group concerned with socioeconomic development in Africa has launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered fact-checking platform to counter the spread of misinformation and disinformation on the continent.

Speaking at the unveiling of the AI-powered platform, named, ‘MyAIFactChecker’ on Monday in Ilorin, the Global Director of a Nigeria-based non-profit organization, Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), Abideen Olasupo, said that FactCheck Africa, an initiative of the BBYDI, was launched in 2022 as an independent, non-partisan and non-profit fact-checking platform for Africans.

“MyAIFactChecker was a product of months of dedicated effort and research, with support from BECERA and the US State Department, noting that the initiative would revolutionise how Africans verify news and other online information.

“MyAIFactChecker is a demonstration of our organization’s unwavering commitment to combating the scourge of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news, thereby safeguarding the integrity of information. This platform leverages cutting-edge AI technology, is user-friendly, and allows you to verify the authenticity of news, social media posts, and other online content quickly and conveniently.”

Olasupo also said that the innovative platform would provide users with a range of functionalities, including a chatbot interface, feedback mechanism, and voice search capability that is available in English, Swahili, French, Arabic, and several popular local languages in Nigeria.

According to him, the launch of MyAIFactChecker comes at a critical time, as the proliferation of disinformation and harmful content continues to pose significant threats to the integrity of elections, democracy, public health, and stability in African nations.

The BBDYI global director, who said the impact of fake news and disinformation on elections could not be waved, expressed optimism that his organisation’s newly introduced AI fact-checking would help combat the spread of disinformation in African nations preparing to hold elections this year.

“It is worthy to note that 2024 is a year of elections in Africa as about 24 countries on the continent will hold elections this year.

During electioneering periods, there is always a proliferation of fake news, and its attendant consequences could negatively impact the electoral process.

With the launch of MyAIFactChecker, we are poised to curb the spread of misinformation and disinformation before, during, and after elections in these affected countries.

“We believe that access to accurate information is a fundamental right, and we are dedicated to empowering individuals with the tools to discern truth from falsehood in this digital age. We will continue to promote media literacy and critical thinking across Africa,” he said.

Olasupo, who said that he attended the 2024 United Nations ECOSOC Youth Forum held in New York last week, added that he spoke on ‘The ethical use of AI and its implications for education in Africa’, saying that his organisation would continue to push for policies around the ethical use of AI in Nigeria and Africa as a whole to maximise its benefits and mitigate its risks.

He lauded Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, for spearheading the initiative to deliver a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the country, stressing that such endeavour was crucial in positioning Nigeria to effectively leverage AI for national development.

“In recognition of the immense potential of AI in addressing societal challenges, BBYDI will continue to advocate for policies and ethical frameworks to guide the deployment of AI technologies across Africa. It is imperative that we harness the power of AI for the collective good of our society,” he noted.

Earlier in his address, the Head of Programmes at FactCheck Africa, Habeeb Adisa, said the introduction of the innovative AI solution “represents a significant advancement in our stride to fight the dissemination of fake news that continues to undermine societal trust and cause discord among people.

“Our platform is designed to cater for a diverse linguistic landscape across the continent. Users can simply enter a new query, and our platform will provide them with an assessment of the article’s authenticity. It will also let them know if it’s credible, partially credible, or unreliable.”

He also disclosed that FactCheck Africa had launched a 3-month AI Journalism Fellowship for journalists in West Africa. According to him, the fellowship is a comprehensive training programme that will equip selected journalists with the knowledge, skills, and ethical considerations needed to navigate AI in journalism.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of BBYDI, Nura Jimoh, stated that the unveiling of MyAIFactChecker reinforced the commitment of their organisation to leverage tech solutions and digital tools to address societal challenges.

She recalled that BBYDI last year, in collaboration with Christian Aid, organised the first CivicTech Hackathon in Nigeria to address voter apathy and encourage increased citizens’ participation in the electoral process.

“We also launched evit.ng to track and report violence pre and post-election. We also unveiled conflictreport.org to curb the farmer-herders crisis in the northern part of the country.

“Additionally, we introduced KnowCovid19NG with support from the US Embassy to flatten the curve and provide psychosocial support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two years before the 2023 general elections, we launched Yvotenaija.org to promote civic education across grassroots communities and on various social media platforms,” Jimoh remarked.

Continue Reading

News

How 17-Year-Old Hacker Stuns EFCC Chairman With Impressive IT Skills 

 

Lifestyle Nigeria gathered that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, narrated an incident where a 17-year-old successfully hacked into his personal computer and bank account while being interrogated at his office in Lagos.

The anti-graft agency chairman made this known in a chat with editors at the EFCC Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, last Tuesday.

Olukoyede recounted inviting the 17-year-old for questioning at his own office, only to witness the young hacker effortlessly bypass the security measures of his locked computer right before his eyes.

He said, “I brought into my Lagos office a seventeen-year-old boy who is studying History and Anthropology. He is in the 200 level. He is not doing anything science-related. The guy sat in my office in Lagos and demonstrated some things to me on my laptop.

“He asked for my number, I gave him my number and through my number, he got my BVN. He then mentioned the name of my account number to me at the bank. I didn’t tell him anything.”

According to him, the country must take all necessary measures to discourage these young individuals, as their actions could lead to imprisonment or even fatal consequences.

“The problem is, I see crime in that, and I also see opportunities in it. So, if you leave these guys, we don’t make them know that what they are doing is wrong, if you leave them, they will continue to see it as a way of life to make money.”

He mentioned that due to their young ages, the EFCC would administer light sentences to punish youths for the cybercrimes they committed, while also focusing on helping them change their orientation.

“We plead for light sentences so that we can reorientate them and that’s part of what we’re doing. What joy will I derive from sending a 17-year-old boy to jail? You have destroyed his future. You have destroyed his career.

“Sometimes they give them options of fines and all of that conviction, so we bring them in, lecture them and talk to them.”

In a bold demonstration of his skills, the boy confidently informed Olukoyede that he could transfer up to 10 million naira from any account in a single transaction.

He said the 17-year-old boy, when he was done, said, “Look, oga, I can make 10 million now. I will demonstrate it to you. I will move money from your account to mine.

“I said no, don’t do that in my office and he was ready to do that. When he opened my laptop, I didn’t give him the key to my laptop and he had access.

When questioned about his involvement in cybercrime, the boy explained that his parents, who are both farmers, were unable to work on their farm due to security concerns.

“He has two younger ones. One is in JSS2 and the other is in SSS2. He is the one feeding his parents and responsible for the payment of tuition for his younger ones.

“I saw a Bill Gates in that guy.”

Olukoyede, however, assured the boy that he would take responsibility for his schooling if he was able to stop the criminal act.

“I told my family, we are going to do that.

“I spoke to one of my friends who is also ready to help take up the schooling of the SSS 2 guy. So I’m still looking for someone who will take up the one for the JSS 2 sibling.”

This is not the first time the EFCC chairman has revealed the anti-graft agency’s plan to rehabilitate convicted internet fraudsters with reduced sentences.

Addressing a delegation of the National Association of University Students in March 2024, he said “when you think deeply, that tag ‘ex-convict’ is not a good thing. You can never tell where you will find yourself tomorrow, and they will want to profile you and discover that you are an ex-convict.”

“So, it is even in the interest of the youth that the EFCC is doing what it is doing to prevent them from indulging in the heinous act of cybercrime.”

Continue Reading

Most Popular