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Liberian ex-president, Johnson to keynote 2018 WISCAR leadership & mentoring conference
The immediate past President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will deliver a keynote speech at the 2018 Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) Annual Leadership and Mentoring Conference, November 24 at The MUSON Center, Lagos.
The conference will have in attendance high profiled women from the United Nations and Central Bank of Nigeria while featuring a wide range of speakers and panelists including international diplomats, corporate relations specialist, public administrators, managing directors, chief executive officers, governance consultants; corporate executives and business mentors.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Amina Oyagbola, founder and business mentor at WISCAR said the conference which is themed: “Enriching Lives by Telling Our Own Stories” is aimed at inspiring and empowering younger women in career to help unleash their potentials by navigating careers pathways and nurture dreams.
“This year, we have carefully selected a theme that builds on our core focus on mentorship. The mentor is a storyteller, one who draws on her own life experience as tools and signposts to provide guidance on what to do, what to avoid doing, and ways to do it successfully.
‘We have invited her to share her wealth of experience in governance, mentorship, empowerment and nation building. In many parts of West Africa, the “Griot” is an oral historian, a repository of oral traditions and communal achievements. Ellen Johnson’s role as Keynote Speaker is to be the “Griot” of our political advancement, she added
Oyagbola gave an insightful account of how Elen was able to become the first African female President after undergoing a difficult time in life. “She never even had a degree before getting married. It was later that she went to the university, built a career in accounting and subsequently became a politician,” Oyagbola said.
In addition, Bayo Oyagbola, director at WISCAR opined that there are a few Nigerian women leaders with powerful resume who have occupied political and leadership positions but the Liberian ex-president Elen is found as the best fit and the most qualified to tell Nigerian career women an inspiring story of transcending from nothing to something in the African climate.
He said Ellen was Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Global Icon, and one of only 5 Mo Ibrahim Prize Winners will deliver the keynote speech at Women in Successful Careers, WISCAR’s 2018 Annual Leadership and Mentoring.
He recalled the leadership of Ellen improved in every single category and sub-category of the Ibrahim Index of African Governance. Since leaving office in 2017, “she has become a highly acclaimed motivator and advocate for peace and justice, and continues to be a force for meaningful change and progress in Africa,” Oyagbola said.
“During this pivotal moment in our nation’s history, and in keeping with this year’s theme, we seek to have our lives enriched by actively listening to her stories and wisdom. All Nigerians have a lot to learn from her as an African leader, a successful politician, and as a stateswoman,” he said.
WISCAR was established with the sole purpose of building capacity through leadership training, mentorship, and advocacy for the empowerment of women for nation-building. The NGO believes that educating, mentoring and empowering women in Nigeria is the catalyst required to match the rapid socio-economic growth witnessed by other nations across the world.
According to Oyagbola, WISCAR is a non-profit 12-month structured mentoring Programme focused on empowering and developing professional women in diverse careers in the formal & informal economy to contribute to nation-building in Nigeria.
In her remarks, Fabia Ogunmekan, WISCAR’s executive secretary said the conference is expected to spur change in women and for women and improve the level of participation and contribution of 50% of Nigeria’s population to the extent required for Nigeria to become a first world country.
“We expect the stories our mentees hear to enrich them enough for them to become changemakers for their families, their communities and the nation at large. The positive changes we sow will surely be reaped in a brighter, more peaceful and more progressive future for Nigeria and Africa at large,” Ogunmekan said.
A District Court in Finland has handed down a six-year prison sentence to Simon Ekpa, a self-declared leader of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, following his conviction on terrorism-related charges.
Ekpa was arrested on November 21, 2024, by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), triggering a broad inquiry into his alleged activities, including incitement of violence via social media and involvement in unrest across Nigeria’s southeastern region.
According to the court ruling, Ekpa was found guilty of public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent and for supporting a terrorist organization. His conduct, which spanned from August 2021 to November 2024, included the provision of weapons, explosives, and ammunition to armed groups, along with using his social media platforms to mobilize violence.
Adding to his conviction, Ekpa was found guilty of aggravated tax fraud and violations of attorneys’ regulations, further compounding the severity of the charges.
This verdict marks a significant move by Finnish and international authorities to counter separatist agitation linked to the Biafra independence movement, underscoring the criminality of inciting violence across borders.
In the light of recent insinuations, half-truths and fake information being circulated, we find it expedient to make it abundantly clear that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has been guided, at all times, by the principles of fairness, justice, and equity in the distribution of federal government projects, appointments, and opportunities across all six geopolitical zones of our country.
Contrary to the perception being pushed in some quarters, this administration has demonstrated uncommon commitment to balanced development and inclusivity since assuming office.
The distribution of capital projects under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is equitable. No region is playing a second fiddle or ignored. In addition to projects by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, all six regions now have Regional Development Commissions to re-kickstart development efforts.
While the Coastal Highway courses through the South, the Badagry–Sokoto Highway, under construction, traverses majorly the North. This sense of balance runs through all the major infrastructure projects being implemented today.
Major infrastructural interventions are simultaneously ongoing across the federation—from highways and bridges to rail and power projects.
The administration has secured funding for light rail projects in Kano and Kaduna states to the tune of ₦150 billion and ₦100 billion, respectively.
The metroline projects in Lagos and Ogun States form part of the government’s effort to develop Nigeria’s light rail infrastructure. Collectively, these projects are expected to create over 250,000 jobs nationwide.
There is also a renewed push for the rehabilitation of the Eastern Corridor of the rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. In addition, over 1,000 primary health care centres have been rehabilitated across the country, underscoring the administration’s commitment to human capital and social infrastructure.
From verifiable data, the actual distribution of projects shows the Northwest as the biggest beneficiary:
• Northwest: ₦5.97 trillion (over 40% of approvals)
• South South: ₦2.41 trillion
• North Central: ₦1.13 trillion
• South East: ₦407 billion
• North East: ₦400 billion
• South West (excluding Lagos): ₦604 billion
Legacy Road Projects under President Tinubu:
1. Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway (750 km): 175 km ongoing in Lagos, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States.
2. Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway (1,068 km): 378 km ongoing in Kebbi and Sokoto sections.
3. Trans-Sahara Highway (465 km): 118 km ongoing in Ebonyi State.
4. Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road (439 km): Being redesigned from flexible to rigid pavement for durability.
Out of the total length of these projects, the North accounts for 52% and the South for 48%.
Other Major Projects in the North:
• Sokoto–Gusau–Funtua–Zaria Road (275 km dualised, ₦824bn).
• Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road (350 km dualised, ₦764bn).
• BUA Tax Credit Road in Jigawa, Katsina, Kano (256 km dualised).
• Zaria–Hunkuyi Road (156 km).
• Kano Northern Bypass (49 km).
• Kano–Maiduguri Road (100.9 km).
• Bama and Dikwa Roads in Borno (100 km).
• Damaturu–Maiduguri Road (110 km).
• Malando Road in Kebbi (76 km).
• Benue–9th Mile Road (250 km dualised, $958m).
• Lokoja–Okene Dualisation (86 km).
• Kaduna–Katsina Roads (Sections 1 and 2, ₦150bn).
Major Projects in the South:
• Lagos–Ibadan (8.5 km, ₦33bn).
• Lagos–Sagamu (12 km dualised).
• Oyo–Ogbomoso–Ilorin (₦146bn).
• Rehabilitation of Carter, Third Mainland, and Eko Bridges (₦120bn).
South East:
• Enugu–Onitsha Road (107 km, ₦202bn via MTN Tax Credit).
• Enugu–Onitsha Road (72 km, ₦150bn via CBC).
• Enugu–Abakaliki Road (36 km).
• 2nd Niger Bridge Access Road (17.5 km dualised, ₦175bn).
• Lokpanta–Enugu Road (61 km dualised, ₦100bn).
South South:
• Eleme–Onne Road (30 km, ₦156bn).
• Eket Bypass (9.7 km dualised, ₦76bn).
• East–West Road Section 2 (₦186bn).
• Nembe–Brass Road (₦150bn).
• Lokoja–Benin Dualisation (₦167bn).
• 2nd Niger Bridge Access Road in Delta (17 km dualised, ₦146bn).
• Bodo–Bonny Road in Rivers (35 km with 12 bridges, ₦200bn).
Beyond roads and rail, this administration has also revived the 255MW Kaduna Power Plant, advanced the AKK Gas Project, and expanded oil and gas exploration in the North with the drilling of three oil wells in the Kolmani region of Bauchi and Gombe States. Kano-Maradi rail line, inherited at 5% has received huge funding support from the government making it attain 67% within a short time.
President Tinubu is building national infrastructure, not local trophies. Lagos is rightly upgraded as Nigeria’s commercial hub, but the Northwest holds the lion’s share of approvals. This proves that all regions are receiving fair consideration.
Equity is also evident in federal appointments. President Tinubu has consistently appointed capable Nigerians from every part of the country, guided by competence and inclusivity rather than sectional considerations.
Inclusivity lies at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda. The establishment of five new Regional Development Commissions and the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development further illustrate the President’s determination to address Nigeria’s unique developmental needs in a manner that benefits all sections of the country.
On the whole, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not only kept faith with Nigerians but has proven himself to be a fair, pragmatic, and consequential reformer.
His leadership is inclusive, his vision is unifying, and his commitment to equity and justice is unwavering.
Nigerians can rest assured that under his watch, no part of this country will be left behind.
The Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) has received with deep shock and sadness the news of the passing of Mallam Bashir Chedi, a distinguished member of the Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), who died at the age of 65.
In a statement issued by PRCAN, the Association described the late Chedi as an accomplished professional, a consummate communicator, and a pillar of integrity whose contributions to the growth of public relations in Nigeria will remain indelible.
“Mallam Bashir Chedi was a respected voice in our profession, a mentor to many, and an advocate of ethical practice. His departure is not only a great loss to the NIPR family but also to the larger communication and public relations community in Nigeria,” PRCAN said.
The Association extended its condolences to Dr. Ike Neliaku, President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the NIPR Council, the family of the deceased, and the entire PR community, praying that Almighty God grants them the strength to bear the loss.
“While we mourn his passing, we take solace in the impactful legacy he has left behind, one that will continue to inspire present and future generations of PR practitioners,” the statement added.
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