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Tinubu Welcomes Multi-sectoral Agreements with Qatar

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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President Bola Tinubu and Emir of the State of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, On Sunday in Doha, witnessed the signing of historic agreements between the two countries.

These agreements open the door to maximising the potential of mutual cooperation in key areas such as education, youth empowerment, enterprise development, investment promotion, mining, tourism, and sports.

The President of Nigeria assured his host that his country was ready to welcome investors, citing ongoing reforms that support innovation, return on investment, and multiculturalism. This was stated in a statement signed by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, prior to the signing ceremony at the Qatar Presidential Palace.

“Our greatest strength is our people. Our strength lies in the capacity of Nigerian youths. They have energy, talent, and self-belief. They are quality partners for Qatari industry. They are educated and reliable, and they are proactively seeking to add value wherever they are. A few cannot give a bad name to the many. Nigerian youths are ready to be unleashed for the mutual benefit of both nations.

“We have seen clearly the rapid pace and thorough quality of Qatar’s development process. It is impossible not to be moved by what you have accomplished. The leadership in the country has proven its mettle, and we are here to gain deeper insight.

“There is nowhere in the world where you will find return on investment at the level of what you will see in Nigeria. A massive market of over 200 million skilled Nigerians, always industrious and ready to work.

“We face some short-term turbulence at the moment, but we have a government today that reflects the dynamism and talent of the Nigerian people. We are implementing the right solutions. This team works collaboratively with each other and our partners. Nigeria is ready for serious business,” he stated.

The Emir of the State of Qatar, His Highness, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, emphasized that Qatar is open to President Tinubu’s investment push, recalling that he traveled to Nigeria in 2019 owing to his belief that Nigeria is an important and strategic ally on its own and within the context of its role in regional affairs.

“I have no doubt about the great capacity of the Nigerian people. Everywhere in the world, they are known for their brilliance and hard work. We only need to ensure that this is happening inside of Nigeria rather than outside. The investments we have made around the world have been very fruitful. This is because we take our time and study opportunities before we invest the common wealth of our people. It is not my money. The money we invest belongs to the future generations of Qatar.

“Mr. President, I am very encouraged by your actions and your passion to create new opportunities. We are very open to this, and follow-up is everything at this point. The will is there for both of us, but we must follow up. I will send a team of officials to Nigeria after Ramadan, and we will advance discussions on what some of the actionable investment opportunities are,” he said.

Tinubu’s Qatar Visit Is To Strengthen Ties – Presidency

President Tinubu immediately named the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun as the team leader of the government team that will interface with Qatari authorities in investment identification and implementation moving forward.

Furthermore, during the bilateral deliberations, President Tinubu enabled a brief presentation to the Emir by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, who spoke in detail about the high-grade of several minerals, including lithium, immediately derivable across the country with an emphasis on imminent opportunities for local mineral processing and value-additive industry in the sector.

The bilateral engagement was followed by a closed-door meeting between the two Heads of State before they proceeded to the signing ceremony for seven bilateral agreeements across multiple sectors.

The seven agreements signed are: cooperation agreement in the field of education; regulation of employment of workers with the Government of Qatar; establishment of a joint business council (JBC) between the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA); in addition to a cooperation agreement in the field of youths and sports.

The other agreements are: cooperation in the field of tourism and business events, and a memorandum of understanding combating illicit trade in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The documents were signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and relevant officials in the Government of the State of Qatar, Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Minister of Education and Higher Education; Ahmad Hassen Al-Hammadi, Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Khalifa Bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry (QCCI), and Abdullah bin Khalaf bin Hattab Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior (MOI).

Nigerian ministers who were present at the ceremony were: Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Edun; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Alake; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate; Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite; and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperipe

Also at the meeting were the National Security Adviser,  Nuhu Ribadu, and Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen.

FG Sets Aside N75bn to Support Local Manufacturers

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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As part of efforts to tackle the present cost of living by Nigerians, the Federal Government has set aside N75bn to support the manufacturing enterprises.

This was disclosed Saturday evening by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Barrister Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha on the occasion of NDE’s special day at the ongoing 45th Kaduna International Trade Fair.

The Minister represented by her Special Assistant, Administration, Barrister, Paul Abuluba affirmed that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had embarked on urgent actions to reverse the poor trend of the economy.

Rising Costs Pose Threat To Manufacturers- MAN

According to the Minister, “President is hinged on the commitment to explore the full potential of the Nigerian economy by focusing on job creation, access to capital for macro, small and large businesses, the rule of law and the fight against hunger, poverty, and corruption.”

The minister also noted; “The President is not unmindful of the hardships most Nigerians are enmeshed in, however, the difficult times are indeed temporary but the benefit will be permanent.

To this end, she said in recent times, the Federal Government had engagements with economic stakeholders especially manufacturers and entrepreneurs across Nigeria.  

“I am happy to let you know that we are tackling, with unprecedented boldness and decisiveness, each and every one of the issues. The government’s focus on foreign exchange is to abolish the unwieldy and much-abused rate regime, setting the foundation for transparent price discovery and all other elements required to attract substantial inflow into a properly run official market.

“The President has ordered the creation of a new single-digit interest-rate fund to provide N75 billion to support manufacturing enterprises, among other targeted financial interventions. The Central Bank, now under new management, is back to prioritizing its core mandates of inflation management and exchange rate stability.”

CBN to sell N1.6trn Treasury Bill in Q2 2024

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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The Central Bank of Nigeria has said it would sell N1.64trn worth of treasury bills, for the second quarter of 2024.

The apex bank made this known in the Treasury Bills Issue programme released on Friday.

Treasury bills are short-term (less than one year) debt instruments used by the CBN to borrow money from the public on behalf of the Federal Government.

The CBN also uses TBs to control money supply in the economy.

CBN To Issue N1.21trn Treasury Bills in Q4

The TB issue programme commences on March 7 and ends on May 23, 2024.

During the period, the apex bank will issue TBs worth N414.29bn on 91 days tenor, N43.74bn on 182 days and N1.18trn on 364 days.

A breakdown of the programme revealed that in March, the apex bank plans to sell N660.62bn worth of TBs, comprising N32.73bn worth of 91 days bills, N12.97bn worth of 182 days bills and N614.92bn worth of 364 bills.

In April, the apex bank plans to sell N292.17bn worth of TBs, comprising N10.61bn worth of 91 days bills, N15.97bn worth of 182 days bills, and N265.59bn worth of 364 days bills.

In May, the CBN plans to sell N688.3bn worth of TBs comprising N362.9bn worth of 91 days bills, N14.7bn worth of 182 days bills and N302.67bn worth of 384 days bills.

Akwa United Return To Uyo, To Face Enyimba FC At Nest Of Champions On Monday

By
Emenike Agu
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Akwa United Football Club have received approval from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) board to play its home matches in Uyo.

Recall that the Promise Keepers temporarily moved to the Eket City Stadium from week four of the 2023/2024 NPFL season due to a congested fixture schedule at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

Following a poor run of form that has left the 2021 NPFL champions neck-deep in a relegation fight, the club has applied for and received approval to return to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

On matchday 23, Akwa United FC will welcome reigning NPFL champions, Enyimba FC, to Uyo, hoping to get a positive result and launch a revival.

Fans of the club will look to get behind the team to halt a run of three straight defeats, the last two being a 0-1 home loss against Bayelsa United FC and Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat against Sporting Lagos FC.

As of the time of this report, there are no updates regarding tickets for the Akwa United vs Enyimba FC clash on Monday, March 4, 2024, indicating that gates will be thrown open for fans to watch the match.

Nigeria’s Sports Ministry Approves D’Tigers 2025 Afrobasket Qualifiers Participation

By
Emenike Agu
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In a dramatic U-turn which will put smile on the faces of basketball followers in Nigeria, the Nigeria senior male national basketball team, D’Tigers, is set to compete in the 2025 Afrobasket qualifiers, commencing this Friday in Monastir, Tunisia, following the green light from the sports ministry.

Nigeria was set to miss the 2025 Afrobasket qualifiers due to lack of funds.

This was announced on the D’Tigers social media handle and generated criticism, with Nigerians saying it will be an ’embarassment’ if the team misses the qualifiers.

In swift response, Senator John Owan Enoh, the Honourable Minister for Sports Development, has given his consent for the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) leadership to ensure D’Tigers’ involvement in the qualifiers.

Assuring that necessary funds will be approved and released within the next three weeks, the Minister pledged support for covering flight tickets, allowances, and other logistical needs for the qualifiers.

Consequently, D’Tigers are now en route to Tunisia and are expected to arrive just in time for their matches.

Expressing gratitude to the Sports Ministry and the Honourable Minister for their support, NBBF President Engr Ahmadu Musa Kida thanked the Ministry’s efforts in ensuring the team’s participation, albeit on short notice.

Kida acknowledged that despite the delayed decision, it was crucial to avoid potential embarrassment both locally and internationally.

The swift action by the Ministry has alleviated concerns from FIBA and skeptics, who may not fully grasp the financial challenges facing the NBBF, including outstanding outsourcing liabilities dating back to 2019.

Commenting on the development, Kida expressed relief that D’Tigers would finally compete in the qualifiers, thanking the Minister for averting a potential FIBA ban and preserving the country’s reputation.

“Yes, even though this is coming late, it is heart-warming that our boys would eventually take part in the qualifiers for the 2025 Afrobasket championship,” Kida remarked.

“The board of the NBBF is deeply grateful to the Honorable Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh, for coming good with his timely support and of course, saving the country from disgrace, and another FIBA ban,” he said.

Looking ahead to the upcoming games, the NBBF assured Nigerian basketball fans that despite the rushed preparations, D’Tigers would strive to excel and secure qualification, aiming to make the nation proud once again on the continental stage.

Frank Onyeka Stars With Assist As Brentford Share Spoils With Chelsea

By
Emenike Agu
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Nigerian midfielder, Frank Onyeka starred wth an assist for Brentford as they shared the spoils with Chelsea FC following a 2-2 draw in the Premier League.

In an exciting Premier League matchup between Brentford and Chelsea at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, March 2, 2024, the two teams battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw.

Despite Brentford’s efforts, they were denied victory by Chelsea, although they managed to secure a point thanks in part to a stunning goal from Yoane Wissa, assisted by Frank Onyeka.

Frank Onyeka, continuing his fine form from the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, put in another impressive performance for Brentford, playing a significant role in the midfield for 77 minutes.

His contribution was highlighted by his assist for Yoane Wissa’s sensational bicycle kick goal, which electrified the crowd.

Despite the draw, Brentford can take pride in their performance against a formidable opponent like Chelsea, with Onyeka’s presence in midfield once again proving crucial to their efforts.

As the season progresses, Onyeka’s consistency and impact on the pitch will be essential for Brentford as they aim to secure positive results and climb the Premier League table.

Joe Aribo Is A Brilliant Player – Southampthon Manager Rusell Martins 

By
Emenike Agu
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Rusell Martins Hails Super Eagles Star After Match-Winner

Southampton manager Russell Martin has labeled Joe Aribo a “brilliant player” following the midfielder’s match-winning display at Birmingham City on Saturday, March 2, 2024.

Aribo netted the winning goal for the Saints deep into stoppage time to seal a 4-3 English Championship win.

The 27-year-old pounced from a corner to slot home in the 96th minute, boosting Southampton’s promotion bid.

“The lads love him (Aribo), the fans love him. Hopefully, everyone’s really seeing what he has to offer,” Martin told the club’s official website after the game.

“He was amazing on Wednesday [against Liverpool], he probably deserved to play, but he hadn’t played 90 minutes for a long time and was absolutely hanging on Thursday.

“He’s a brilliant player and an even better character, and for him to score the goal – I said to him there’ll be a chance for you at some point.

“I was completely guessing, but I hoped, and it’s fallen to him and he’s tucked it away.”

Aribo has now scored three goals in 24 league appearances for Southampton this season.

Southampton sit in fourth position on the table with 70 points from 35 games.

Boniface, Ndidi Near Full Fitness

By
Emenike Agu
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Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has revealed that Victor Boniface is edging closer to returning after an injury that has kept him out of action for three months.

Boniface has been outstanding for Bayer Leverkusen since he joined from Belgian club Royale Union SG last summer.

Following his injury, he had to undergo surgery, and that has kept him out of action since the turn of the year. Since his surgery, Boniface has frequently shared pictures of himself during physiotherapy sessions.

Similarly, Leicester City’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, has revealed that Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, is nearing full fitness after picking up an injury in December, 

“Wilf is still out and that is all. He has already started to do some sessions with us, but part of the session, not all. Hopefully next week he can complete the session with us, which means he starts to be available. Hopefully, we can have Wilf back because, as you know, he is an important player for us,” the Italian manager said.

Chelsea To Pay 130m Euros Release Clause For Osimhen

By
Emenike Agu
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0

Napoli have told Premier League club Chelsea they will have to pay the full release clause of about 130 Million Euros to sign Victor Osimhen in the summer.

The Standard reported that Napoli are demanding the full amount on the release clause for the 25-year-old striker.

Other big admirers of the Super Eagles striker like PSG and Arsenal will also have to pay the price to get their man.

Osimhen has made it clear he will quit the Serie A champions this summer and Napoli themselves are prepared for his exit, but at a huge price.

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis said this week there is a release clause in the new contract that Osimhen signed recently.

Dangote Advocates Knowledge-Based Economy In Nigeria

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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Africa’s billionaire, Aliko Dangote has advocated the need for Nigeria to transition from resource-based economy to knowledge-based economy in order to join industrialised nations.

The President of Dangote Conglomerate and Kano born Industrialist made the call while delivering a paper titled “Role of the private sector in building a sustainable knowledge economy in Nigeria” at the 38th Convocation lecture of the Bayero University Kano, North West Nigeria.

Represented by Engr. Mansir Ahmed, Dangote said, countries like South Korea, India, China and the Asian tigers who institutionalised knowledge economy are now reaping the benefits of such initiatives.

According to him, “Given the tremendous benefits that knowledge economy offers, it is vital that Nigeria makes the transition from a resource – based economy to knowledge – base economy.

Dangote noted that, “the World Bank states that for Nigeria to make the transition to knowledge economy, it must pay attention to the business environment, education and skills, innovation systems and information communication infrastructure.

“A major challenge in transitioning to knowledge economy for Nigeria is the quality of the Nigerian worker. The quality of human assets matters a lot in the operations of a firm. Our educational system which produces most of the human assets working  in various firms in Nigeria needs to be modified to yield the desired results.

The system as presently constituted produces graduates who may have excellent qualifications but lack the necessary skills to perform optimally. We have thousand of graduates on a yearly basis but selecting those with the required skills is often a tough task. The educational system should incorporate findings from the research institutions in their programmes as well as relevant management skills that would equip students for excellence after studies.

“Our universities in partnership with private sector players, and necessary support from government should establish innovation or technology hubs. BUK for instance, can collaborate with private sector (KAPEDI) with the full support of the Kano State government to upgrade and formalise the informal telephone market at the farm centre in Kano into a real technology entrepreneurship hub – as the Lagos State Government is reported to be doing with the Ikeja computer village.”

Aliko Dangote said, as part of his contribution to the growth of knowledge economy in Nigeria, Dangote Group  established the Aliko Dangote Foundation with an endowment of $1.25 billion to contribute to socio-economic development especially in the areas of education, health and empowerment, and currently working on a partnership arrangement with the Kano State government to upgrade and equip the state owned Aliko Dangote Modern Skills acquisition centre to train youths in various vocations while plans were underway to establish a state of art of the university of technology as well as a specialist hospital.

The Vice Chancellor Bayero University Kano BUK, Prof. Sagir Abbas said, the establishment of Dangote school in the institution has added a lot of value to BUK as it has produced thousands of Post Graduate.

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