FG launches initiative to provide 5m eye glasses to visually impaired Nigerians

President Bola Tinubu has thrown his full support behind a groundbreaking collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Health’s National Eye Health Programme and the Peek Vision Foundation. This partnership seeks to deliver over five million pairs of eyeglasses to Nigerians with vision impairments. Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, issued a statement on Friday confirming President Tinubu’s commitment to the initiative after a courtesy visit by Prof. Andrew Bastawrous, the Founder and CEO of Peek Vision Foundation and Co-Founder of the Vision Catalyst Fund. President Tinubu shared a personal connection to the cause, recounting how his mother’s eye health issue inspired his dedication to mass provision of eye care services. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that all Nigerians, especially those who may not have someone to advocate for them, have access to proper eye care. The President reminisced about the positive impact of free eye screenings and surgeries in Lagos during his tenure as Governor and pledged his support to expanding such efforts nationwide. He further expressed concern for the more than 24 million Nigerians facing varying degrees of vision impairments, emphasizing the critical role of sight in economic development, whilst citing his visionary “Jigi Bola” program initiated during his governorship tenure, which set the standard for proactive eye care initiatives in West Africa. “My first experience was with my mother of blessed memory. She was ill and she could not recognise me. When I intervened, she was treated and given a pair of glasses. The next question she asked me was: ‘I have you, and you are able to do this for me. What about those other women and their children who may not have somebody like you to intervene for them? “So, I made a promise to her that I will pursue the mass provision of eye care vigorously and that I would provide free eye screenings and surgeries to people because of that question my mother asked me and because of her passion to see others healed. “We eventually impacted the eye health of millions of people in Lagos, and you could see their joy over the immediate sight enhancements when they were given a pair of glasses,” the President fondly recalled. Prof. Bastawrous, sharing his own transformative experience with vision care, stressed that good vision unlocks human potential and improves earning, learning, and overall wellness. He highlighted the chronic underfunding of eye care in many countries, including Nigeria, where a mere 0.0002 percent of the health budget is allocated to eye health. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, presented a National Policy Document on Eye Health to President Tinubu. He praised the President’s dedicated team in the health sector and welcomed Peek Vision’s methodology and platform to unlock resources for eye health in Nigeria. Prof. Bastawrous mentioned that similar initiatives had unlocked substantial funds in other countries. The initiative aims to provide five million eyeglasses to Nigerians with vision impairments, representing a significant step toward improved eye health and enhanced opportunities for individuals and communities across Nigeria.

2023 UNGA: Tinubu to address global leaders Sept 19

President Bola Tinubu will address the 78th Session of the high-level General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, September 19. Tinubu, in his first outing to the Assembly, will be addressing world leaders in the evening of that day. The Nigerian President would be the fifth African leader to speak on day one of the gathering, according to the speakers list from the Office of the General Assembly President, According to the list, Tinubu will be the 14th speaker out of 20 leaders slated to speak on the first day. The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the 10th speaker, will be the first African leader to speak in the morning session of the Assembly. In the Afternoon session, five African leaders are expected to address the gathering. The Nigerian president would deliver his statement around 6pm (11pm Nigerian time) to the world leaders during the afternoon session. The President of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune will be the first African leader to speak at the afternoon session, followed by the Moroccan leader, Aziz Akhannouch and Mozambique President, Filipe Nyusi. The President of Senegal, Macky Sall will be the firth African speaker to address the gathering and the last leader on the first day. The President of Brazil, Luiz da Sliva would be the first world leader to present his address to the 78th session as it is tradition, followed by the U.S. President, Joe Biden, the traditional second speaker, being the host country. The 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) will open on Tuesday, Sept 5. with the inauguration of a new President, Dennis Francis of Trinidad and Tobago, who will take on the mantle for the next 12 months The high-level General Debate will be held from   September 19 and to September 29. The Theme of the General Assembly including the general debate will be rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its sustainable development goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all. 

Tinubu mourns designer of Nigeria’s national flag, Pa Akinkunmi

President Bola Tinubu has conveyed his sympathy to the family of Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, who designed the national flag in 1958, following his passing into glory at the age of 87. This is contained in a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Wednesday in Abuja. Tinubu condoled with friends and associates of the retired civil servant, who dedicated his life to the service of the nation, sharing knowledge and experience with old and young, and inspiring many to think and act patriotically. The President affirmed that the Green and White flag is a legacy that has consistently reflected the fruitfulness, resilience, and harmony enjoyed by the nation. He said that it represented the boldness and uniqueness with which Nigerians characteristically reach for and achieve success around the world. The President believed Pa Akinkunmi lived and worked for the greatness of the country, with a generational legacy and a place of honour in Nigeria. Born Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi in Ibadan, the older of a set of twins, he lived with his father until he was eight years old before he relocated to the Northern part of Nigeria. He began his early education in the North and after his father’s retirement, he came down to the West and was re-enrolled at Baptist Day School, Idi-Ikan in Ibadan. He was a Nigerian civil servant who was best known for designing Nigeria’s national flag. He was commonly referred to as Mr Flag Man. 

Tinubu appoints new NDDC Board, Management

In a significant move aimed at revitalizing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given his approval for the appointment of a fresh Board and Management team. In a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) on Tuesday, the newly constituted team will steer the NDDC towards a new phase of effective governance, aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda. The appointed members of the Board and Management team are as follows: 1. Mr. Chiedu Ebie – Chairman – Delta 2. Dr. Samuel Ogbuku – Managing Director / CEO – Bayelsa 3. Mr. Boma Iyaye – Executive Director (Finance and Admin) – Rivers 4. Mr. Victor Antai – Executive Director (Projects) – Akwa-Ibom 5. Ifedayo Abegunde – Executive Director (Corporate Services) – Ondo 6. Sen. Dimaro Denyanbofa – State Representative – Bayelsa 7. Mr. Abasi Ndikan Nkono – State Representative – Akwa Ibom 8. Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya – State Representative – Delta  9. Chief Tony Okocha – State Representative – Rivers 10. Hon Patrick Aisowieren – State Representative – Edo 11. Mr. Kyrian Uchegbu – State Representative – Imo 12. Victor Kolade Akinjo – State Representative – Ondo 13. Chief Dimgba Eruba – State Representative – Abia 14. Mr. Asu Oku Okang – State Representative – Cross River 15. Hon. Nick Wende – Zonal Representative – North Central 16. Hon. Namdas Abdulrazak – Zonal Representative – North East 17. Sen. Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir – Zonal Representative – North West According to the statement, “the President’s intention is to foster a renewed era of successful administration within the NDDC, as part of his vision for the region. “These appointments, effective immediately, are seen as a crucial step in advancing development and progress in the Niger Delta region.”

Tinubu won’t hesitate to sack underperforming ministers, says Ngelale

Senior Adviser to the President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale on Monday said that his principal will not spare any minister who fails to perform his or her duties satisfactorily. Ngelale, who said that following the aftermath of Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 election, he had meticulously outlined his objectives for various sectors within the country, added that the President’s uncompromising stance on failure is evident as he inaugurated new ministers, making it clear that underperformance will not be tolerated, according to The presidential spokesman emphasized these sentiments during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily which was monitored by NIGERIAN ANCHOR. He highlighted Tinubu’s resolute approach to enforcing standards, drawing parallels with his tenure as the governor of Lagos State, where he was unafraid to take disciplinary action when necessary. The stakes are high, as Ngelale underscored, “He is not somebody that is afraid to levy quick sanctions to ensure that they get the results that he wants because, ultimately, if this administration fails, they will not say a minister failed or a set of ministers failed. They will say President Bola Tinubu failed, and he will not accept failure.” Ngelale explained that during the transition period between Tinubu’s election and his inauguration on May 29, the President was proactive in forming “a series of reform committees across all the sectors.” Ngelale pointed out, “[Tinubu] basically looked at exactly what His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari has achieved and said, ‘This is what we want to do to build on all these achievements.” A structured approach has been adopted. Ngelale elaborated, “We’re going to effectively implement a plan within a certain amount of time based on time-based benchmarks that when a minister has come in, we would be able to measure their performance against.” In a groundbreaking departure from historical norms, Ngelale noted, “Every minister coming in absolutely knows what they have to achieve within the time frame that’s been given to them by the President, and that’s something in the history of Nigerian governance we’ve never seen before.”

Tinubu chairs inaugural Federal Executive Council Meeting

President Bola Tinubu is currently presiding over the inaugural session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting commenced shortly after noon on Monday and is attended by prominent officials, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Sen. George Akume, and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan. Other participants comprise Chief of State to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, new ministers, and key government functionaries. The Federal Executive Council is established under the Ministers’ Statutory Powers and Duties Act, functioning as an advisory body to the President, who holds the position of the FEC’s chairman. Its role involves providing guidance to the President to determine the strategic course of the government. While the President remains the ultimate authority in executive decision-making, the FEC plays a crucial role in shaping the government’s direction. Serving as the federal government’s cabinet, the FEC is an integral part of the executive branch. Its members are appointed by and are accountable to the President. This gathering follows the recent inauguration of 45 ministers by President Tinubu, as they take up their roles in his administration.

A new Nigeria needs cooperation of all and sundry -Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has stated that to achieve a new Nigeria his administration promised there must be co-operation of all sundry. The president maintained that a new, secured, peaceful and prosperity Nigeria desired by all would remain elusive unless Nigerians consciously change their mindset about the past and their leaders. Tinubu who noted that a new Nigeria is possible with his renewed hope, said the bold steps his administration is taking to find lasting solutions to the myriads of challenges confronting the country call only yield desired results with the cooperation of all and sundry. He was speaking at the opening of the 63 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja, which has as theme Getting it Right: Charting the Course for Nigeria’s Nation Building. “I am not cynical, I am factual”, he said, “the critical and bold initiatives embarked upon collaboration and cooperation of the private sector. “We are so blessed and we are still lacking, change of mindset is what we need. “We accused our previous leaders, we complain too much about the past, it is not the solution, we must look forward, God has given us creative mind and will”, he said. Tinubu while noting that poverty ought not to be a shameful thing, stressed it must not be tolerated but banished, lamenting that with all the resources in the country millions of homes in the country do not have electricity. Calling for an interrogation of how the country arrived at its current deplorable state, the president stressed that the country cannot “continue to service external debt with about 90% of its revenue”, hence the hard decision his administration is making. “If we must achieve greatness as a nation, we must take bold decisions”, he said though painful in the interim, adding that he might make some mistakes in the process but Nigerians should correct him in such instances. While commending the NBA for the theme which he noted is timely, the president who wooed the bar to give his administration maximum support in order to succeed, told the lawyers, “I want to learn. “Remind me of what I’m doing right, I will continue, whatever I am doing wrong, tell me, and I will change. Earlier in his keynote address, the Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa and Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr Tony Elumelu remarked that at the heart of the gathering was the unity of one ambition and one duty which is nation building. “There is no one in this distinguished gathering, that does not want the best for Nigeria. Whether my learned friends of the Bar or our distinguished leaders present. We know the potential of Nigeria. “We know the resources, human and natural, that Nigeria has at her disposal. § We champion the successes of Nigerians globally – in international leadership positions at the WTO, at the UN, at the African Development Bank, at the Afreximbank, in technology, in music and entertainment, in business, in arts and in media, in film, in sports. Indeed, in virtually every human endeavour, Nigerians excel. “We live in a world, where the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade grew up in Lagos and the United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, was born in Ibadan. “n business, the Nigerian private sector is showing globally our capability, our ingenuity, our institutionalisation. “We have global businesses with Nigerian origins: Let me name one – UBA, the United Bank for Africa, the only African Bank that operates in the USA as a deposit taking bank. We are now in Dubai, Paris, and London – and just as importantly 20 other countries in Africa – who would have thought 20 years ago, that Nigeria would be home to Africa’s global bank! “But these successes, these role models are too few, too rare. “We know too well the reality of Nigeria at home. “We know our energy deficits, we experience the disillusionment of our youth, manifest in the tragic loss of talent, as our young, at times, and at great risk to themselves, seek opportunities abroad. “Opportunities that our fertile, bountiful country should supply. “We see the plundering of our commonwealth through oil theft and pipeline destruction in broad daylight! “We experience every day the impact of climate change. “We see our loved ones kidnapped and killed. “Insecurity breeds disorder, feeds intolerance and destroys opportunity. “Our country has experienced division – unnecessary division and the squandering of heritage. “Nation building is a call to arms – a vital task – a necessity”, he said.

Tinubu appoints NELMCO boss, Dekalu-Thomas

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mrs Mojoyinoluwa Dekalu-Thomas as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO). A statement by Mr Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, at the weekend in Abuja, said the appointment was for a term of four years. Dekalu-Thomas has served as the acting MD/CEO of NELMCO since the tenure of pioneer NELMCO MD/CEO, Mr Adebayo Fagbemi, ended on May 8. Ngelale said that her new appointment has created a vacancy at her previous position of Executive Director, Liability Management. He said that the President has, therefore, approved the appointment of Mr Dimla Nchinney to serve in NELMCO as the substantive Executive Director, Liability Management. The presidential spokesman said that the appointments took immediate effect.

Tinubu pledges comprehensive overhaul of criminal justice reform

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering dedication to implementing an extensive revamp of the criminal justice system. This commitment was expressed as he met with the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), headed by its president, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday. In a statement released on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, it was disclosed that President Tinubu emphasized the importance of reevaluating the compensation provided to judicial officers across the nation, especially in the context of the ongoing battle against corruption. The President recognized that addressing this issue requires careful consideration of both salaries and allowances, drawing from his significant achievements in reforming the justice and administration sectors during his tenure as the governor of Lagos State. “We cannot truly combat corruption within the Judiciary without addressing the revision of remuneration. We will assess the costs and consequences of this endeavour,” President Tinubu responded to a request made by the NBA president. Furthermore, President Tinubu acknowledged the necessity of resolving existing vacancies within the Supreme Court. He stressed that these obligations must be met in accordance with recommendations from the National Judicial Council, stating, “Once the majority of them return from their current vacation, we will thoroughly evaluate their recommendations and proceed to fill the vacancies. This is an essential obligation we intend to fulfill.” The President expressed gratitude for the invitation extended by the NBA to inaugurate the association’s 63rd Annual General Conference (AGC), scheduled to take place in Abuja from August 25 to September 1. He expressed satisfaction in having legal experts as close advisors, including Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, State Chief of Protocol Victor Adeleke, and his Principal Private Secretary, Prince Damilotun Aderemi. In his remarks, the NBA president lauded President Tinubu for appointing esteemed members of the bar to his cabinet, specifically highlighting Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. The upcoming annual NBA conference, themed “Getting It Right, Charting the Course for Nigeria’s Nation Building,” will convene legal professionals, experts, and stakeholders to engage in discussions concerning critical issues pertaining to Nigeria’s national development.

Nigeria’s unemployment rate drops 4.1% -NBS

Nigeria’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.1 percent in the first quarter of 2023 from 5.3 percent in the fourth of 2022. Mr Adeniran Adeyemi, the Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said this during the inauguration of the New Nigeria Labour Force Survey (NLFS) in Abuja. Adeniran said that the drop in NLFS from 33.3 percent in the Fourth quarter 2020 to its present rate was based on change in methodology adopted and not government performance. The new NLFS unveils a set of labour force indicators designed to provide unparalleled insights into the dynamics of the workforce in Nigeria. The NLFS was conducted by the NBS in collaboration with the World Bank (WB) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in response to the labour market dynamics Adeniran said “let me at this point clearly state that this methodology review has nothing to do with whitewashing the image of any government or political party. “This process is routine for any responsible statistical office, and we have no reason to continue to ignore the adoption of new methods, when the evidence clearly indicates the need for it. “As a national statistical office, our responsibility is to provide government and all users with accurate data for evidence-based decision making, adhering to the highest possible standards, and our commitment in this regard is unwavering.” According to Adeniran, the new method which indicates that not less than 73 per cent of Nigerians are engaged in one form of work, recognises all forms of engagements from which individuals earn income. He said using the new ILO definition, the survey showed that the unemployment rate for the fourth quarter of 2022 stood at 5.3 per cent and 4.1 per cent for the first quarter of 2023. “This figure aligns perfectly with neighbouring countries around Nigeria. Ghana (3.9per cent), Niger (0.5 per cent), Chad (1.4per cent), Cameroon (4.0per cent), Togo (4.1per cent), Benin Republic (1.7per cent) amongst others. “In responding to the shifting global landscape and the ever-changing data ecosystem, it is imperative for us to continuously adapt the way in which we collect and analyse data. “This is to ensure that we are producing data that reflects reality and the experiences of Nigerians. “These changes also include a revision to the design and methodology applied in the conduct of the actual survey. “Which is the survey that produces commonly known headline Unemployment and Underemployment rates, as well as other labour market indicators that guide policymakers, researchers, and other users,” he said. According to him, the results indicate a scarcity of Wage-employment, as the share of those employed in Wage-employment during the reference quarters was 13.4 per cent in Q4 2022 and 11.8 per cent in Q1 2023. Adeniran said that the working age population which was defined previously as persons aged 15-64, is now defined as persons aged 15 and above. He said this was a very important change particularly in the Nigerian context as it recognises the labour contributions of persons above the age of 64 which was not done previously. The NBS boss said the unemployed appeared to be the most controversial amongst the changes announced under the review. According to him, the new standard defines the unemployed as persons within the Labour force, who within the reference period did not work for pay or profit for a minimum of 1 hour. “In the real sense, nobody works 1 hour a week and then sits down and does nothing else when there are opportunities for more hours of work. “The statistics show that only 7.1 per cent of those working, work between 1 – 19 hours per week. So, 1 hour is just a benchmark and nothing more than that,” he said. The survey revealed that about three quarters of Nigerians in the working age population, 73.6 per cent in Q4 2022 and 76.7 per cent in Q1 2023 were engaged in some form of work for pay or profit in the quarters under review. Earlier, the World Bank’s Country Director, Shubham Chaudhuri pledged the continued support of the bank to ensure a robust, regular national LFS data for the country. Chaudhuri said a reliable data provided the government with knowledge about the nation’s welfare and ensured the right intervention and programs needed to address it’s challenges. The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, said data was key to national planning and development. According to Bagudu, President Bola Tinubu believes in reliable data for planning and will support anything that will lead to production of appropriate data. “To create jobs for youths, we need this kind of data, a lot needs to be done to address the high rate of unemployment in the country. The President is desirous of reducing unemployment. “Nigeria is one of the countries with absorptive capacity, so what we need is to provide better environment and more incentives,” he said. While commending efforts of NBS and its partners in revising the methodology, Bagudu said the ministry would from 2024 use of the revised data more practically. Meanwhile, the Acting CBN Governor, Mohammed Tumala said labour statistics was one of the most important inputs to economic policy and business decisions. Tumula said labour was the most important of the factors of production and determined both the quantity and quality of utility of other factors. While commending efforts of the NBS, he stressed the need for synergy with communication experts to ensure proper linkage and dissemination of data to the public. Similarly, Prof. Mike Obadan, Non-Executive Director and member MPC, CBN also reiterated the need for NBS to ensure robust strategy for communicating its survey findings to the public in simple language. Abuja-Kaduna Road project to be completed by Q1 2024, says Umahi The Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi,has again given the assurance that the reconstruction work on the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway will be completed by the first quarter of 2024. Umahi made this known while inspecting the project on Thursday to assess the progress made so far by