President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. held a meeting today with President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola at the White House. The leaders discussed avenues to deepen the relationship between the two countries, exploring areas of future collaboration while addressing regional and global challenges. A focal point of the discussions was the substantial U.S. economic investment in Angola, notably through the President’s flagship Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) in the Lobito Corridor. This initiative has seen over a billion dollars in U.S. financing committed this year alone, supporting various projects such as the construction of over 180 rural…
Author: Editor Francis
On the sidelines of the Third International Conference on Public Health in Africa in Lusaka, Zambia, the United States government and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced a Joint Action Plan aimed at advancing a shared vision to enhance public health systems and achieve improved health outcomes in Africa. The Joint Action Plan, disclosed on November 28, delineates key activities fostering collaboration between the U.S. government and Africa CDC to realize the objectives outlined in the Memorandum of Cooperation to Promote Public Health Partnership. This memorandum was signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and…
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized that the time is ripe for Nigerian youth to take the reins of governance, stating that if they don’t seize the opportunity now, they may not have it again. Speaking at the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship programme organized by the Bridge Foundation in Abuja on Thursday, Obasanjo encouraged the youth to be “positively disruptive” to effect the change needed to assume leadership roles from the older generation. Addressing the participants, Obasanjo declared, “You are the leaders of today; if you don’t take it now, you will never get it. You have to be positively…
The trial of Nigerian singer, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, continued on Thursday, November 30, 2023, as the 10th prosecution witness (PW10), Dein Whyte, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), provided insights into the case. Naira Marley is facing 11-count charges bordering on conspiracy and credit card fraud brought against him by the EFCC. Whyte, led by the prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, detailed how a forensic analysis of a device belonging to the singer revealed malicious programs used for the illegal acquisition of credit card information. The investigator informed the court that these programs…
The G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union issued a joint statement welcoming the release of some hostages seized on October 7 by Hamas and other terrorist organisations in Israel and Gaza. They also acknowledged the recent pause in hostilities, enabling increased humanitarian assistance to reach Palestinian civilians in Gaza. In the statement, the G7 urged the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and called for the facilitated departure of all foreign nationals. Emphasising Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance…
The Nigerian House of Representatives has successfully passed the 2024 budget totaling N27.5 trillion for its second reading. The appropriations bill was approved on Thursday, marking a crucial step in the legislative process. During the debate on the general principles of the budget, House Leader Julius Ihonvbere commended President Bola Tinubu for the proposed budget. Ihonvbere highlighted the significant allocations to national security and education, expressing optimism that their implementation would enhance these critical sectors. He stated, “Nigeria will be more secure with the allocation to defence and security. As a teacher, I am impressed by the emphasis on basic…
FMDQ Exchange, Nigeria’s prominent securities and exchange market, has revealed that its secondary market turnover for October reached N21.70 trillion. The disclosure was part of FMDQ’s latest markets monthly report for October. The reported turnover for October indicates a month-on-month (MoM) decline of 6.75 percent (N1.57 trillion). However, it marks a substantial year-on-year (YoY) increase of 60.27 percent (N8.16 trillion) compared to October 2022. Breaking down the figures, the total turnover for the Spot and Derivatives Market stood at N20.48 trillion and N1.22 trillion, respectively, for October 2023. Within the Spot FX Market, the turnover was $4.66 billion (N3.66 trillion),…
The Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa assumed the role of presiding officer over a State Executive Council meeting in Akure, Ondo State, on Thursday. This occurrence follows months of strained relations between the executive and legislative branches in the state. The prolonged political discord had been fueled by conflicts between the deputy governor and loyalists of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. The governor’s extended absence from the state due to health reasons had exacerbated the situation. The State Executive Council meeting, presided over by Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa, marked a significant departure from the previous tensions. The meeting’s convening underscores the deputy governor’s capacity…
The Honourable Minister of State for Youth Development has affirmed the commitment of the federal government to enhance the conditions of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps across the country. The minister made this commitment during an unscheduled visit to the NYSC orientation camp in Yikpata, Kwara State, on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Expressing concern over the deplorable state of some NYSC camps nationwide, Hon. Olawande pledged to collaborate with relevant authorities to revamp the Kwara State orientation camp and others throughout the country. During the visit, Mr. Olawande apologized to corps members for the unacceptable condition of their…
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria engaged in a significant meeting with King Charles III of England during the ongoing COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai. Both leaders, participants in the global conference featuring representatives from over 198 countries, convened to discuss climate advocacy and strengthen the partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. President Tinubu shared the news of the meeting on his X account, praising King Charles III as a passionate climate advocate. He expressed optimism about the positive impact of joint efforts between Nigeria and the United Kingdom on the planet’s future, emphasizing the importance of setting an equitable…
Kenyan basketball experiences a transformative moment with the inauguration of the National Basketball Association (NBA) office in Nairobi. Distinguished figures, including five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, NBA Africa Chief Executive Officer Victor Williams, and Basketball Africa League (Bal) President Amadou Gallo Fall, graced the event held Wednesday evening at Sankara Hotel in Nairobi. The attendance also featured NBA Kenya Senior Director and Country Operations Lead Michael Finley, NBA Africa Head of Basketball Operations Frank Traore, and Kenya Basketball Federation President Paul Otula. Earlier in the day, Ron Harper paid a courtesy visit to President William Ruto at State House in…
More than a million people have been displaced by flooding caused by heavy rains that have been affecting Somalia for several weeks, the Somali president announced on Wednesday evening. The Horn of Africa is facing torrential rains and floods linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon, which have claimed dozens of lives and caused large-scale displacement, particularly in Somalia, where the massive rains have destroyed bridges and flooded residential areas. “Our country is in a critical state and our people have been affected by the floods everywhere,” President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said in an address, adding that the floods had…