Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday departed Nigeria to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 3rd Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum in Beijing, China, holding from October 16 to 18.

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

Mr Nkwocha said that Mr Shettima would join world leaders from over 130 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America to deliberate on the theme, “High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity.”

According to him, the vice president is expected to avail Nigeria of the platform provided by the forum to woo investors for more developmental projects.

Mr Nkwocha added that the vice president would hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to promote Nigeria’s trade and investment relations in line with the economic development agenda of the Tinubu administration.

“The 2023 edition of the BRI will mark the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) championed by the President of China, Xi Jinping, as an initiative for global infrastructure development strategy.

“Adopted and launched by the government of the Peoples Republic of China in 2013.

“The initiative seeks international action to enhance cooperation and promote infrastructure investment in nearly 70 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe through land and maritime routes.”

He recalled that in 2018, former president Muhammadu Buhari, on behalf of Nigeria, signed the Belt and Road cooperation agreement with China.

“Nigeria and other partner-countries across the world are to benefit from the initiative in areas of infrastructure investments such as ports, skyscrapers, railroads, roads, bridges, airports, dams and coal-fired power stations.”

Mr Nkwocha said that the delegation of the vice president to the forum includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite; and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.

Others are Minister Of Works, David Umahi; Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali; Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, and Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Michael Ohiani.

In a related development, Mr Nkwocha said in pursuance of the food security and diversification policy of the Tinubu administration, the vice president will, from China, depart for the United States.

“While in US as the special guest, Shettima will deliver a keynote address at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and World Food Prize – facilitated Norman E.Borlaug International Dialogue slated to commence on October 24th, 2023.

“Also, he will join other African international leaders, Heads of State and Government who in the past have delivered keynote addresses at the Borlaug Dialogue.

“They include former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan; World Food Prize Laureates; Ghana President, John Kufuor, AfDB President, Akinwunmi Adeshina and former President Olusegun Obasanjo and others.”

The media aide also stated that Mr Shettima was expected to highlight reforms being instituted in the Nigerian Agrifood sector by the Tinubu administration.

“The vice president will engage several stakeholders, partners and investors in opportunities for investments in Nigeria.

“Several meetings and engagements have been slated for the vice president who is expected to be back to the country after his commitments in the US.”

Chioma Nziwu, a 16-years-old pupil of St John’s the Apostle High School, Odakpu, Onitsha, has emerged winner of the second edition of the Igbo Spelling Bee competition, also known as ‘Oka Nsupe Igbo’, in Anambra.

Miss Nziwu, a Senior Secondary School (SSS 2) pupil was adjudged the best in the three areas of the Igbo language in which the candidates were tested in the finals decided in Onitsha on Friday.

Kosiso Ojukwu and Chiagozie Ekemere, both of Mater Christi Group of Schools, Awada, finished second and third places in the very educating and keenly contested competition.

The winners won case prizes of N150,000, N100,000 and N50,000 respectively as rewards.

The Igbo Spelling Bee ‘Oka Nsupe Igbo’ competition is a programme of the Onitsha Business School, Onitsha, the organisers of Onitsha City Marathon.

Chinemelum Nsobundu, Programme Manager of the competition, said about 15 secondary schools from across Anambra entered for the competition while only three made it to the final stage.

Mr Nsobundu said the judges were Igbo scholars from the university and seasoned teachers of the language.

Also speaking, Chinedu Aniagboso, the Director of the Programme, said Oka Nsupe Igbo was a response to the fear that some indigenous languages, including Igbo, would go extinct if conscious efforts were not made to preserve them.

Mr Aniagboso said the competition had increased the interest of teachers and students in Igbo language since the first edition was held in May last year.

He expressed satisfaction with the quality of the competition as shown in the proficient manner the students answered the questions.

Prof. Olusegun Sogbesan, the Director General of Onitsha Business School, called on traditional institutions, schools and businesses to key into the programme and support it for greater outcomes.

Mr Sogbesan said beyond spelling and writing Igbo, stakeholders should reincarnate lost words and develop new ones to enable people to communicate fluently in the language without injecting foreign words.

He commended students and teachers of the schools that took part and called on others to endeavour to participate in subsequent editions.

Oluebube Ogbonna, a 14-year-old student of Divine Rays British School, Obosi, in Idemili North LGA, was the winner of the first edition of the competition.

American actress and talk show host, Jada Pinkett Smith has revealed that she never wanted to get married to her husband, Will Smith.

Recalls that the celebrity couple got married at the Cloisters Castle in Baltimore, Maryland in 1997.

But speaking during her talk show, Red Table Talk, Pinkett said it was never her intention to marry Smith, stressing that her mum pressured her into the marriage because she got pregnant.

She said, “I was so upset that I had to have a wedding. I was so pissed. I was crying. I cried the whole wedding.

“I really didn’t want to get married. I was under so much pressure being a young actress and pregnant. I didn’t know what to do. But I knew I never wanted to be married.

“The wedding was horrible. I was three-month pregnant at the wedding.”

DAILY POST reported that Pinkett recently disclosed in a clip from her forthcoming NBC News primetime special with Hoda Kotb that she and her husband, Will Smith have been living separately since 2016.

Bayer Leverkusen forward, Victor Boniface has scooped the Bundesliga Rookie of the Month award again.

The Nigeria international also won the award in August.

The 22-year-old striker scored four times and recorded one assist for Bayer Leverkusen in September.

Boniface beat RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons and Maximilian Beier of TSG Hoffenheim to the individual accolade.

He is also in line to win a second straight Bundesliga Player of the Month for September.

Boniface joined Bayer Leverkusen from Belgian Pro League outfit, Union St. Gilloise this summer.

Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro claimed his team is braced up for a tough 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

The three-time African champions will face hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in Group A.

Peseiro reckoned the Super Eagles must be ready to face the best teams on the continent if they want to win the competition.

“If we want to win the AFCON we must be ready to face any team. Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau are good teams.

“If we want to win the competition, we have to win the group,” Peseiro told reporters after the Super Eagles friendly against Saudi Arabia on Friday night in Portimao, Portugal.

“It is not going to be easy because in a tournament anything can happen. You need to put a lot of things in place. You need focus in a short tournament like this.

“We want to win this group and qualify for the next phase. But first we have to play Lesotho and Zimbabwe. We must be at the next World Cup.”

The Super Eagles will open their campaign at the 2023 AFCON finals against Equatorial Guinea at the Alhassan Quattara Stadium, Ebimpe on January 14, 2024.

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy, has asserted that women think opposite of reality most of the time.

He made the assertion while speaking on the inspiration behind his hit song ‘City Boys’ in a recent interview with Kiss FM London, United Kingdom.

He said being a ‘City Boy’ means putting yourself first in relationship with the female folk.

Burna Boy said, “City Boy is every guy that puts himself first. I mean about relationships between us and females. It’s not about putting yourself first in the grand scheme of things.

“Me being a City Boy, right? If I say you know what? I’m going take everyone here shopping right now. We all go and you all get what you want. Why did I do that? I did that simply because it was some fly sh*t to do. And I feel fly about it. You get me? That’s City Boy’s feeling. It wasn’t about you. It was really about me doing some fly sh*t.

“Women think the opposite of what things really are most of the time. If it was a city girl, she would tell you the opposite. She wouldn’t get the logic. She would feel like, Oh… After you guys have gone shopping, she might feel like you are finenessed. That’s city girl.”

Former minister, Senator Bello Maitama Yusuf, has died aged 76.

Yusuf, a former Senator from 1999-2007, died in the early hours of Friday at his residence in Kano after a brief illness.

A family member, Alhaji Hussani Dalhatu, confirmed his death to newsmen.He said the late Sardauna of Dutse’s funeral prayer would take place after Jumu’at prayer at the Emir of Kano’s palace.

Yusuf was born in Gwaram, Jigawa State, in 1947.

He was Minister of Interior in 1981 and Minister of Commerce in 1982.

A prominent Italian journalist has been found guilty of libel after insulting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in a television interview.

Roberto Saviano used a swear word to describe Ms Meloni while attacking her stance on migration in December 2020.

He has been handed a suspended fine of 1,000 euros (£864).

Though he will only have to pay it if he repeats the offence, campaigners said the verdict sent a “chilling message” about press freedom.

Speaking to reporters outside the court, Mr Saviano said Ms Meloni’s government had sought to “intimidate” him for calling out “lies” about migrants, news agency AFP reported.

Ms Meloni’s lawyer said his words were an “insult”, not criticism, accusing him of “excessive, vulgar and aggressive language”, the agency added.

The incident happened in a December 2020 television interview, before Ms Meloni became prime minister.

In the interview, Mr Saviano criticised Ms Meloni and fellow right-wing leader Matteo Salvini for their comments on migrant rescue charity vessels.

As opposition leader, Ms Meloni had said that boats carrying rescued migrants ought to be sunk.

The Pen International writers’ association had urged the prime minister to drop the case, but Ms Meloni said she saw no reason to, adding that it was up to the judges to decide.

The association said the judgement was an “alarming setback for free speech” and sent a “dangerous warning to writers and journalists across the country”.

Mr Saviano’s lawyer said he would appeal the verdict.Under Italian law, some defamation cases can be criminal and carry a custodial sentence up to three years in jail.

Ms Meloni has filed similar lawsuits in the past, including against the editors of Domani newspaper, for alleging she had tried to help an MP from her own party win a government contract to procure face masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that she is also suing Placebo singer Brian Molko for defamation, after he called her a fascist and racist during a gig in Turin.

An Garda Síochána (Irish police) are expected to accept new recruits up to the age of 50 years old.

The Irish Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris believe the entry requirement age “should be changed in advance of the next garda recruitment campaign to give as many people as possible the opportunity to apply”.

Currently, the maximum age to join the force is 35.Ms McEntee is set to bring proposals to increase the application age limit to the Irish government for approval shortly.

The garda fitness test will also be adapted in line with the current age-related graduated system.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ reports that the Irish government has committed to bring staff resources up to 15,000, and after a group of 126 graduate at a ceremony at the garda college at Templemore on Friday, there will be a total of 14,032 gardaí.

The new age limit will be announced at the ceremony, the Irish Department of Justice said.

Budget 2024 made funding available for the recruitment of up to 1,000 new members, but last year’s target of 800 was not reached.

The fitness test is currently age and gender graded with different levels for males and females and for those aged up to 25 and those up to 35.

There is to be another graded fitness standard for those up to 50, but they will still qualify as a junior garda and be expected to do the same work as everyone else.

This will include 12-hour night shifts and post duty in inclement weather.

There has been no change to the retirement age of 60, which means a limited pension after 10 years of service.

Ms McEntee has held discussions with the Irish Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe on the matter, her department said.

Earlier this year, the Labour Court ruled that the age limit of 35 was discriminatory.

RTÉ reports that the court made the determination after ordering An Garda Síochána to pay €25,400 (£21,942) in compensation – or €12,700 (£10,966) each – to unsuccessful job applicants, Ronald Boyle and Brian Fitzpatrick, after finding they were discriminated against on age grounds.

The entry age limit of 35 has been in place since 2004, when it was increased from 26.

Seven people have died after a crowded minivan driven by a suspected people-smuggler overturned, say German police.

More than 20 migrants, including some children, are thought to have been in the van.

The driver attempted to evade police at a road check before losing control near Ampfing in Bavaria, authorities say.

The accident happened amid a rise in people-smuggling which has led several Central and Eastern European countries to impose border checks.

Police say they tried to intercept the Mercedes Vito van at around 03:00 (01:00 GMT) on Friday.

The driver of the vehicle, which had an Austrian licence plate, accelerated before rolling over several times at a junction on the A94 motorway, between the Austrian border and Munich.

There have been a number of crashes involving people-smugglers in European countries in recent weeks.

A car with French licence plates thought to be smuggling migrants overturned in Hungary on Thursday, leaving two dead and six injured.

Last week, a vehicle crashed in the town of Burghausen, on the German-Austrian border, around 50km from the site of Friday’s accident, injuring four people.

Several EU countries, including Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic have re-imposed border checks in recent weeks as a result of an increase in smuggling incidents.

Polish authorities say the heightened checks have succeeded in reducing the number of migrant crossings.

The A94 motorway in south-eastern Germany is considered a regular route for people-smugglers crossing the border from Austria.

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said the tragic crash highlighted the need to strengthen border controls to stop smugglers from entering Germany.

First-time asylum requests in Germany rose by 78% in the first seven months of 2023. Police say the passage of around a quarter of migrants into Germany is facilitated by smugglers.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that the foreign exchange restrictions placed on 43 items in 2015 under Godwin Emefiele’s leadership have been lifted.

CBN’s spokesperson, Isa Abdulmumin, made this known on Thursday in Marrakech, where he restated the apex bank’s commitment to boosting liquidity in the FX market.

“Importers of all the 43 items previously restricted by the 2015 Circular referenced TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/010, and its addendums are now allowed to purchase foreign exchange in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market,” he said.

He said the apex bank would continue to promote orderliness and professional conduct by all participants in the market.According to him, the idea is to ensure that market forces determine exchange rates on a “Willing Buyer-Willing Seller” principle.

“The CBN reiterates that the prevailing FX rates should be referenced from platforms such as the CBN website, FMDQ, and other recognised or appointed trading systems.

“This is to promote price discovery, transparency, and credibility in the FX rates,” he said.

The director said that as part of its responsibility to ensure price stability, the apex bank would boost liquidity in the Nigerian FX market by interventions from time to time.

“As market liquidity improves, these CBN interventions will gradually decrease.

“The CBN is committed to accelerating efforts to clear the FX backlog with existing participants and will continue dialogue with stakeholders to address the issue.

“The CBN has set as one of its goals the attainment of a single FX market. Consultation is ongoing with market participants to achieve this goal, ” he said.

The bank had placed foreign exchange restrictions on margarine, meat and processed meat products, rice, cement, palm kernel, vegetable oil, iron rods and reinforcing bars, roofing sheets, head pan, and wheelbarrows, among others.

The House of Representatives has tasked the federal government to strive to enrol out-of-school girls by introducing free and compulsory education across the country.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Rep. Kafilat Ogbara (APC-Lagos) on the floor of the House in Abuja on Thursday.

The motion was on the commemoration of the 2023 International Day of the Girl Child.

She said the last survey by UNICEF revealed that 18.5 million children were out of school in Nigeria, 60 per cent of which were girls.

Ms Ogbara said adolescent girls had the right to a safe, educated and healthy life, adding that investing in girls’ leadership included creating space and platforms for girls to raise their voices at every policy-making level.

“The International Day of the Girl Child acknowledges the importance, power and potential of adolescent girls around the world by spotlighting other issues such as poor learning opportunities,” he said.

These, according to her, included discrimination, tackling issues posed by stereotypes and exclusion of children with disabilities and those living in marginalised communities.

Ms Ogbara expressed concern over the high number of out-of-school girls engaged in drug abuse and other vices in Nigeria.

She said investment in critical steps, such as the Girls Rights under the Convention of the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), would help to fast-track the SDG goals.

The lawmaker added that the current trend in Nigeria revealed that young girls their parents and guardians sexually abused returned to the same house after police intervention.

The House urged government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) saddled with the responsibility of training and empowerment to ensure compulsory vocational skills for the girl child.

The House mandated its Committee on Women Affairs to engage with all relevant MDAs to ensure compliance.

Eight United Nations (UN) peacekeepers stationed in Beni, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, have been arrested in connection with reports of alleged sexual exploitation and acts of violence.

According to internal documents obtained by AFP from the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), an officer was also suspended over the development.

AFP reported that the UN Mission made an announcement on Wednesday regarding “strong measures” taken against peacekeepers who are under suspicion of “serious misconduct”.

According to the documents obtained by AFP, the peacekeepers were arrested on October 1 while the officer was suspended a week later.

The concerned individuals are part of the South African contingent of the UN Force and may be linked to a “systematic widespread violation” of UN regulations, as described in internal reports.

In a statement released late Wednesday, MONUSCO stated, “The Office of Internal Oversight Services has been informed, and precautionary measures have already been implemented in line with the UN Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy.

“These measures include the suspension, detention, and confinement of the peacekeepers involved, with a strong condemnation of such behavior as “unworthy of UN personnel”.

One of the internal documents indicates that establishments with names like ‘Soweto’, ‘Bloemfontein’, and ‘Cape Town’, mirroring South African towns, have emerged near the MONUSCO base at Mavivi, near Beni.

A preliminary report also mentions that the officer in question “intimidated and verbally threatened UN personnel” following the arrest of the peacekeepers.

Since May, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has been urging SADC (Southern African Development Community) countries, including South Africa, to deploy troops in support of the Congolese army, particularly in response to the M23 rebels who have captured significant portions of North Kivu province.

Furthermore, the DRC government has been advocating for an “accelerated” withdrawal of the UN Force by December, accusing it of failing to quell violence perpetrated by armed groups during its 25-year presence.

The management of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Jalingo, in Taraba State, has denied claims that its medical experts were negligent in the treatment of a 400-level student of the State University, TSU.

The hospital was recently accused of not being proactive when the 400-level student whose life was cut short by a hit-and-run driver was brought in as an emergency case to the hospital.

Denying the allegations in a press statement on Thursday, the FMC management in Jalingo, urged the public to disregard the report, describing it as misleading.

The hospital, through the Head of the Public Relations Unit, Agev Joseph Terlumun, claimed the author of the allegations did not balance the report before going to the press.”

The online news jumped to conclusions that the medical team of the hospital neglected to urgently attend to Joseph Afara upon presentation leading to his demise.

“Joseph Afara was presented to our facility by members of the Federal Road Safety Commission in their ambulance. He was wheeled into the accident and emergency unit of the hospital at a busy period with several patients presenting various emergency cases.” The hospital stated.

”The late student was promptly attended to by the casualty doctor on duty and the orthopaedic team on call.

He explained that the patient, after examination by the casualty officer, was assessed to have sustained multiple frictional burns, head injury, and an avulsion injury on the right thigh and was in shock.

The FMC then appealed to the press to always verify their sources before reaching out to the public

Former Liverpool ace, Danny Murphy believes Chelsea made a mistake by not including a buy-back clause in defender Marc Guehi’s contract before allowing the player to leave the club.

Guehi is maturing into a top-class centre-back since leaving Chelsea for Crystal Palace in 2021.

The 23-year-old has earned a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.He even started England’s last two matches, against Ukraine and Scotland, respectively.

He even started England’s last two matches, against Ukraine and Scotland, respectively.

Guehi is expected to keep his place for England’s upcoming games against Australia and Italy over the next week.

He is now attracting attention from some of the top clubs in the Premier League, with the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham both linked with moves over the summer.

“I think it’s always difficult when players are on a certain journey that doesn’t align with the club,” Murphy told talkSPORT.

“And what I mean by that is he wanted to play every week, he was probably at Chelsea at a time where players ahead of him were rightly ahead of him.

“And although you might see this potential and this emerging talent for a year or two years down the line, if he’s completely unsettled and there’s a value to get him gone and take the money for him and let him go, you [do that].

“I mean, they should have put a buy-back clause in of a reasonable amount maybe.”

Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc (DSR) says it has drilled no fewer than 50 boreholes across the five local government areas in the host communities as part of its corporate social responsibility.

Ngozi Ngene, the refinery’s spokeswoman, told journalists in the corporate headquarters of the sugar facility located in Numan Local Government Area.

She said the refinery had recently embarked on the renovation of health clinics and many schools across the five LGAs of Numan, Shellang, Lamurde, Guyuk and Demsa.

According to her, the factory has also provided scholarships to 200 indigent students from the local communities as part of its efforts to promote education in the area.

She added that 100 indigenes were recently trained in vocational skills and provided with starter packs to enable them to achieve self-sustainability.”

They received a three-month vocational training at the Sani Abacha skills acquisition centre in Kano.”

We selected 20 participants from each of the five LGAs that constitute the host community of the facility”, she added.

Dangote Sugar, alongside BUA and Flour Mills, has intensified production in the region, hoping to increase the country’s overall output for self-sustenance in the crucial commodity

By the powers vested in President Bola Tinubu as established in section 2 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, that “the Chairman and members of the Commission, other than ex-officio members, shall be appointed by the President,”

President Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Ola Olukoyede to serve as the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a renewable term of four years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.

Mr. Ola Olukoyede is a lawyer with over twenty-two (22) years of experience as a regulatory compliance consultant and specialist in fraud management and corporate intelligence.

He has extensive experience in the operations of the EFCC, having previously served as Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman (2016-2018) and Secretary to the Commission (2018-2023).

As such, he fulfils the statutory requirement for appointment as Chairman of the EFCC.

Mr. Olukoyede’s appointment follows the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.

Furthermore, President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda to serve as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a renewable term of five years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.

Mr. Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda is a public administrator with extensive experience in public finance management who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maiduguri and a Masters in Business Administration from the same university.

He began his career as a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi. From there, he went into banking, including successful stints at the defunct Allied Bank and Standard Trust Bank.

President Bola Tinubu tasks the new leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to justify the confidence given to them in this important national assignment as a newly invigorated war on corruption undertaken through a reformed institutional architecture in the anti-corruption sector remains a central pillar of the President’s Renewed Hope agenda.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President(Media & Publicity)

October 12, 2023