Huawei Awards Nigerian Students For Excellence, Launches 2019 ICT Global Competition

July 5, 2019

Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited awarded some Nigerian students for Excellence on their remarkable performance at the Huawei Global ICT Competition held in China.

At a ceremony held at Sheraton Abuja, the company also launched and signed an MoU with National Information Technology Development Agency for the 2019/2020 edition.

The award and launching ceremony was attended by the Vice Chancellors of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and representatives from 30 Nigerian universities, Ministry of Communication and the Ambassador of the People Republic of China to Nigeria.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami commended Huawei Technologies saying “I would like to express our gratitude to Huawei Technologies for your commitment in promoting ICT development in Nigeria. This initiative aligns well with one of our seven pillars – the capacity building pillar which is in line with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.”

Nigeria, at the heart of development, is playing a key role in representing Africa on the global scale of ICT knowledge and capacity building. With a growing youth population and rapid advancement in innovation and technology, Nigeria scales high and is noticeably being positioned on the world map for its ICT talents.

In May, three Nigerian students emerged among the top three winners in the Global Final of the Huawei ICT Competition, held at the company’s headquarters in Dongguan, China, competing with 49 other teams and a total of 147 students representing 30 countries racing for the global trophy.

Signing the MoU between Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited and National Information Technology Development Agency for the 2019/2020 next edition, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, expressed the need for a renewed partnership saying “We look forward to a new relationship and partnership between NITDA and Huawei that will foster ICT for inclusive sustainable national development in Nigeria.”

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, M.F. Istifanus, represented by the Director of ICT, Federal Ministry of Communications, Dr. Moni Udoh, applauded Huawei Technologies for increased partnerships with universities and colleges across Nigeria in the last twelve months which has resulted to “more than 55 MoUs signed with partners to be Huawei ICT Academies and giving more than 13,000 students opportunities to participate in the recently concluded Huawei 2018 – 2019 ICT Competition.”

“We appreciate the attention Huawei has paid to this program, by focusing not only on the students but also, building the skills and capacities of our Universities and lecturers. We strongly believe that the skills transferred through this programme will enhance the quality of our educational system and provide economic opportunities to individuals as well as the broader economic development of not only Nigeria but the whole of Africa.” She said on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, M.F. Istifanus.

The Ambassador of the People Republic of China to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, observed the growth Nigeria has experienced in the past 20 years since Huawei Technologies came into Nigeria. He said “twenty years ago, there were 27 thousand mobile phone owners in Nigeria. Today, that number soars to 17o million. Twenty years ago, for one minute talk in

Nigeria, it would cost 1 US dollar, today, that same call costs 2 US cents. Twenty years ago, Huawei began knocking the door of Nigeria, today, Huawei grows with Nigeria as a most reliable business partner in Nigeria. We are proud of the Chinese Huawei, the Nigerian Huawei and the global Huawei.”

Tank Li, Managing Director of Huawei Technologies (Abuja Office), Nigeria, said “this year marks the 20th Year of Huawei operating in Nigeria, within that period, Huawei has made progressive achievements through both collaboration with the public and private sector in Nigeria.”

“Huawei through its many CSR programs have strived to reach many lives in Nigeria, especially the education sector. Some of these programs also include the Seeds for the future Program, where we send 10 students are sent to China for 2 weeks, all expenses covered by Huawei, which we have done for the past 2 years.”

“Huawei will continue to invest in this collaboration with universities, this number is expected to increase greatly within the coming months, and continuously supply excellent candidates to Huawei’s ICT talent eco-system.Huawei’s vision in Nigeria is to create an ICT talent Ecosystem that will form the foundation in the digitalization plan for the nearest future.”

Huawei launched its global ICT competition in 2015, and Nigeria joined in 2018. In Nigeria, the competition had over 13,000 students from more than 30 universities who participated. Overall, the 2018/19 event attracted more than 1,000 universities in over 50 countries around the world under the slogan “Connection, Glory and Future”. The total number of students participating globally was 80,000 including 28, 000 students from Sub-Saharan Africa.

APC Approves Indirect Primaries For Kogi Governorship Contest

Greenbarge Reporters

July 5, 2019

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has approved Indirect Primaries to elect the party’s candidate for the November Kogi Governorship election.

The approval was given after a meeting of the NWC today, July 5 where a formal request from the Kogi State executive and stakeholders in preference for the Indirect Primary was considered and deliberated on.

Recall that the APC Constitution which was reemphasized by a decision of National Executive Committee (NEC) provides for three mode of primary election to elect party candidates. They are indirect, direct primaries and consensus, depending on the peculiarities of the state and preferences of the stakeholders in respective elections.

A statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, hinted that the timetable for the sales of forms and conduct of primaries will be announced in due course.

Presidential Legal Battle: Atiku Tenders 26,175 Exhibits, Buhari Objects

Editorial staff

July 5, 2019

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic (PDP), and the PDP have tendered a total of 26,175 exhibits against the February 23, 2019 election that produced President Muhammadu Buhari as President.

This was even as the Counsel to President Buhari, Mike Igbokwe (SAN), as well as that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Yunus Ustaz Usman, and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Charles Edosomwan (SAN) objected to the admissibility of the documents. They informed the tribunal that reasons for their objections would be made at the address stage of hearing in the Petition.

At the hearing of Atiku’s petition today, July 5, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, the party and its candidate presented the exhibits in support of their petition seeking nullification of the election on grounds of fraud, election malpractices and non qualification of Buhari to stand for the poll.

The documents were tendered through Atiku’s lead counsel, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN).

Atiku had, yesterday, Thursday, kick-started hearing of his petition before Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba led tribunal when he tendered a total of 5,196 documents as part of efforts to establish fraud and malpractices in the February 23 election that produced Buhari.

The documents tendered yesterday comprised mainly result sheets from polling units, wards and local governments in eight states, while receipts for certification of documents from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were tendered and admitted as exhibits along with the result sheets.

The eight states where the documents emanated from are Katsina, Kebbi, Borno, Jigawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Kaduna and partly Kano.

The breakdown of the documents indicated that 3,378 came from Katsina; 2,106 came from Kebbi; 3,472 from Borno; 3,162 from Jigawa; 1,912 from Gombe; 3,539 from Bauchi; 3,335 from Kaduna and 5,271 came from Kano.

Atiku’s lawyer, while tendering the documents, told the tribunal that the remaining ones from Kano state would be brought on Monday, the adjourned date.

Atiku’s lawyer, Uzoukwu, also told the tribunal that his team will begin to call witnesses at the end of tendering of documents by the team.

The tribunal adjourned further hearing in the petition to Monday, July 8.

Leave Sentiments Out Of Judicial Pronouncements, Presidency Cautions Atiku

Editorial staff

July 5, 2019

The Presidency has taken exception to the reaction of the Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar to the Supreme Court’s judgment on Osun State governorship case and advised him to leave sentiments out of judicial pronouncements anywhere in the country.

Quoting part of Atiku’s statement in which he said: “I urge the nation’s judiciary to take a pulse of the nation and reflect it. In their hands, God has placed a great responsibility. The duty to ensure that justice is done, irrespective of the pressure to do otherwise, by the powers that be,” the Presidency said that it is an attempt to browbeat the judiciary, thus causing it to entertain sentiment in the ongoing petition on the presidential election before the tribunal.

A statement today, July 5 by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, described Atiku’s reaction to the supreme court judgment today as “very ridiculous, and even comical,” adding that most of his thoughts flew in the face of logic, reason, and legality.

“Alhaji Abubakar urged the judiciary to reflect the pulse of the nation in their judgments. Learned people know that the judiciary comes to conclusions drawing from matters of law placed before it, and not sentiments, or so-called “pulse of the nation.”

“A pertinent question is: how does the judiciary gauge the pulse of the nation? Is it even positioned to do such? Is the judiciary established for that purpose, or to dispense justice, even if the Heavens fall?

“Again, there is insinuation of inducement in the statement, when the PDP candidate said the judiciary should ensure justice is done, “irrespective of the pressure to do otherwise, by the powers that be.”

“If anybody has the tendency or proclivity to put pressure on the judiciary, Nigerians know where the finger points, and it is definitely not at President Muhammadu Buhari. This was a man who had thrice taken his electoral challenges to the judiciary, up to the Supreme Court. And not once was he accused of trying to influence the process, or put pressure on the courts.

“When the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost Zamfara and Rivers States, arising from judicial proclamations, then, there was no “pressure to do otherwise, by the powers that be.” But now that the victory of the party in Osun was upheld, there is insinuation of pressure from those who have never learnt to play straight.

“President Buhari has always been committed to fair play, which was clearly evident in the last general elections. He remains committed to even-handedness and justice always.”

10,000 Additional Police Not Enough For Nation’s Security, Governors Complain

Editorial staff

July 5, 2019

Governors of the 36 states of the federation have complained that the additional 10,000 Nigerians approved by President Muhammadu Buhari to be recruited into the existing number of police men and women will not be enough for the kind of security challenges facing the country.

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), who doubles as Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi told news men today, July 5, after a closed door meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja: “we (the governors) feel in our humble opinion that 10,000 policemen and women are not enough to add to the police in tackling the dearth of security agents in the country.”

He said that there is urgent need to figure out a way to increase that number, “either out of the N-Power cadets who are coming to the end of their service year having spent two years, or Youth Service Corps members, or any of the other institutions that will enable us to boost the manpower of the Nigerian police force.”

Governor Fayemi appreciated the community policing arrangement which the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu had announced publicly as his own way of effective response to security challenges across the board.

He said another point he raised with President Buhari was the issue of coordination between governors and security chiefs within the six zones as well as the recruitment into the law enforcement agencies.

The Governor said that he briefed the President on the outcome of the security committee of the National Economic Council (NEC) which has just met to review concerns, issues around security and our proposed reactions on those.

“This was a meeting that had in its membership the governors from the six zones, the Inspector General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff and the National Security Adviser.

“It was the outcome of the last Economic Council meeting which focused exclusively on security; that committee has just met a couple of days ago and I was asked to brief both the Vice President who chairs the National Economic Council and the president as well on the aspect of the work of the sub-committee of NEC that will require the Commander-in-Chief’s support.”

Buhari Signs FCT Budget Of N243 Billion For 2019, Okays 2 Polytechnics

Editorial staff

July 5, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari hasassented to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Appropriation Act, 2019 in the sum of N243, 374,511.077, even as he also signed into law, the establishment of two polytechnics, one in Gombe and another in Katsina State.

Speaking to news men today, July shortly after the Presidential assent to the bills, the Presidential Liaison to the National Assembly (Senate), Senator (Dr.) Ita Enang said that out of the FCT’s budget of N243, 374,511.077, the sum of N130.7 billion is for capital expenditure while the balance is for recurrent.

Senator Enang said that this amount is from the Statutory Revenue Allocation due to the Federal Capital Territory, in addition to the budgetary provision of N23, 023, 593, 146for Capital Expenditure made in the 2019 National Budget earlier assented to by the President on May 27, 2019.

“Also, as part of his desire to improve and expand admission opportunities for children in tertiary institutions in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari assented to Bills for the establishment of two Federal polytechnics in Nigeria, namely:

He said that the laws establishing the named Polytechnics is standard with the Laws establishing all other Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria.

PDP Suspends Elumelu Over Minority Leadership Crisis In House Of Reps

Editorial staff

July 5, 2019

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended Ndudi Elumelu and other members of the party involved in a leadership crisis surrounding the minority leadership of the House of Representatives.

The decision was taken at the NWC held in Abuja today, July 5. In a statement after its meeting, the NWC condemned the roles played by the suspended members which resulted in Gbajabiamila reading another list for minority leadership other than the list submitted to him by the party.

It listed the members suspended as Ndudi Elumelu, Wole Oke, Lynda Ikpeazu, Anayo Edwin, Gideon Gwadi, Toby Okechukwu and Adekoya Abdul-Majid.

“After preliminary examination by the NWC, it was evident that the roles played by the above-mentioned members, bordered on indiscipline, insubordination and disobedience of party directives contrary to Section 58 (1)(b)(c)(f)(h) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), which provides that:

‘Subject to the provision of this Constitution, the Party shall have power to discipline any member who says or does anything likely to bring the party into disrepute, hatred or contempt; disobeys or neglects to carry out lawful directives of the party or any organ or officer of the party; engages in anti-party activities; or engages in any conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the party or is likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the party.

“Consequent upon this, the above-mentioned members of our party are hereby suspended for one month and this matter is hereby referred to the National Disciplinary Committee of our party, in keeping with Section 57(3) of the PDP Constitution,” the party said.

Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila had on Wednesday announced Elumelu as minority leader in place of Kingsley Chinda favoured by the opposition PDP.

Gbajabiamila also named Toby Okechukwu as deputy minority leader, Gideon Gwani as minority whip and Adesegun Adekoya as deputy minority whip.

Buhari Re-Appoints Boss Mustapha As SGF, Abba Kyari As Chief Of Staff

Editorial staff

July 5, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the re-appointment of Boss Mustapha as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and Malam Abba Kyari as Chief of Staff (COS) to the President.

A statement today, July 5 by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said the appointments take effect from May 29.

Others who have been reappointed by President Buhari are Mohammed Sarki Abba as Senior Special Assistant to the President (Household and Social Events): Ya’u Shehu Darazo as Senior Special Assistant to the President (Special Duties): Dr. Suhayb Sanusi Rafindadi as Personal Physician to the President and Ambassador Lawal A. Kazaure as State Chief of Protocol

Others are Sabiu Yusuf as Special Assistant (Office of the President): Saley Yuguda as Special Assistant (House Keeping): Ahmed Muhammed Mayo as Special Assistant (Finance & Administration): Mohammed Hamisu Sani as Special Assistant (Special Duties): Friday Bethel as Personal Assistant (General Duties): Sunday Aghaeze as Personal Assistant (State Photographer) and Bayo Omoboriowo as Personal Assistant (Presidential Photographer).

Gombe Gov Vows To Defy Presidential Suspension: “We’re Going Ahead With Ruga”

Editorial staff

July 5, 2019

Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya has vowed to continue implementing Ruga settlement policy despite the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended it.

“Uptil now, I don’t agreed that the pilot scheme is being suspended. We are going to continue with it, because to us it is a very good initiative.

“Considering the hardship our brothers and sisters (Herdsmen), are now facing, we need to find a lasting solution to their plights aimed at saving their lives because they are Nigerians.”

Responding to reporters’ questions today, July 5, shortly after an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Governor Inuwa said that already, 200,000 hectares of land has been earmarked for the project in his state.

“On the issue of Ruga pilot scheme, I said in Gombe, we have more than 200,000 hectres set aside for herdsmen use.

“So, if other States rejected the pilot scheme, we have no reason to reject it. We are even demanding for its implementation.”

The governor made it clear that Gombe State is ready to key into any policy federal government initiates, adding that federal government policies are meant for the development of the country.

Buhari Goes To Niamey, Niger For African Union Summit

Editorial staff

July 5, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has been scheduled to leave for Niamey, Niger Republic tomorrow, July 6, to attend the African Union (AU) Summit, scheduled to hold on July 7.

A statement by the special adviser to the President of on media and publicity, Femi Adesina said that the President will participate in the 12th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the First Mid-Year Coordination meeting of the AU and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Niamey.

The statement said that the extraordinary session of the Assembly of the Union is expected to launch the operational instruments of the Agreement establishing AfCFTA.

It listed instruments include AfCFTA Rules of Origin, Tariff Concession Portals, Portal on Monitoring and Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers, Digital Payments and Clearing Systems and African Trade and Observatory Dashboard.

The statement said that ahead of the Summit, the Buhari Administration had embarked on extensive consultations with stakeholders, culminating in the submission of the report by the Presidential Committee to Assess Impact and Readiness of Nigeria to join the AfCFTA.

It said that the committee had recommended that Nigeria should sign the Agreement which aims to boost intra-African trade.

It said that President Buhari will sign the AfCFTA Agreement on the margins of the AU meeting in Niamey.

The statement quoted President Buhari while formally accepting the report on June 27, as saying: ”for AfCFTA to succeed, we must develop policies that promote African production, among other benefits.

”Africa, therefore, needs not only a trade policy but also a continental manufacturing agenda. Our vision for intra-African trade is for the free movement of ‘made in Africa goods.’ That is, goods and services made locally with dominant African content in terms of raw materials and value addition.”

Femi Adesina said that President Buhari will be accompanied to Niamey by the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, Governors Babagana Zulum, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and Aminu Bello Masari of Borno, Kebbi and Katsina States, respectively.

Other top government officials include: Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Mustapha Suleiman; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Sunday Akpan; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Nuratu Batagarawa; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mahmoud Isa-Dutse; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; and Director-General, National Office for Trade Negotiations, Amb. Chinedu Osakwe.

The President will return to Abuja at the conclusion of the Summit.

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