Business
Jonathan Inaugurates Fund For Distressed Communities
President Goodluck
Jonathan has in Abuja inaugurated the Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund meant to revitalise the economies of communities affected by conflicts and disasters in the country.
The Fund, according to the Tony Elumelu Foundation, managers of the fund, will be used to transform economies ravaged by natural disasters and conflicts, such as those in Jos and Niger Delta.
At the launch of the fund, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Jonathan thanked the founder, Mr Tony Elumelu, and the fund’s board for their vision and sense of responsibility toward the needy.
The President, who announced a N250-million donation to the fund, pledged the “full support and cooperation” of the Federal Government to the initiative.
He said: “I am pleased to join you for the launch of the Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund.
“From what I gathered, the fund will provide interventions focused on the medium and long term needs of post-conflict and post-disaster communities.
“This will be achieved by revitalising their socio-economic and environmental fabric as it relates to the four core pillars of social welfare, enterprenurship, reconstruction and environmental management.
“I believe that through carefully selected Nigerians and international partnerships, the fund will bring economic opportunities, sustainable development and empowerment to communities.”
The President also thanked Elumelu and other partners for their contributions to the victims support fund which he launched in July to provide succour for insurgency victims in the North east.
He said that the gesture was a clear demonstration of how much the private and public sectors could achieve in working together for national transformation.
The President added that “no doubt, the Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fundý is a welcome partner organisation to compliment and follow-up from the immediate relief efforts of the Federal Government, relevant ministries, departments and other agencies and relief organisations.
“As they partner with others to revive and create sustainable programmes in benefiting communities across our country, it is my fervent prayer that this will help to rebuild peace in the heart of our people.
“I also believe that such efforts should help to restore hope for a brighter future for families and communities.
“This will re-enforce our collective determination to sustain the unity and progress of this great country.”
In his speech, Elumelu said that the fund was inspired by the President’s leadership on the road to post-conflict recovery through the creation of the victims support fund.
According to him, Jonathan has demonstrated foresight in recognising that in the 21st century, government and private sector collaboration is key to achieving progress in society.
“Be it in the power, agriculture or health sector, Jonathan has made it a priority to partner with the private sector to achieve real and lasting results.
“As government executes domestic humanitarian intervention, relief and rehabilitation efforts in adversely impacted areas, he also reached out to the private sector.
“While none of us wishes to have a reason to donate to a natural disaster or post-conflict situation, we cannot ignore that these tragedies exist in our homeland.”
He said the fund was created out of the N2.5 billion donated by the Tony Elumelu Foundation and Heirs Holdings Companies.
Elumelu explained that N1 billion was disbursed out of the money to the victim support fund, while the remaining N1.5 billion would now serve as the seeding for the fund.
He called for support from well-meaning individuals, groups and corporate bodies to the fund.
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), the country’s satellite operator, has called for immediate promolgation of policy action that will enable the country to harness the potentials of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
NIGCOMSAT, also warned that Nigeria risks missing out on Africa’s projected $1.2trillion share of the global AI economy by 2030.
Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this in a statement issued at the weekend following her participation in the Meeting of the National Council for Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, economies, and societies worldwide, with projections that it will contribute up to $15.7trillion to the global economy by 2030. Africa stands to gain $1.2trillion of this if the right policies and innovations are in place”, Idehen said, citing a PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
The NIGCOMSAT MD underscored the transformative potential of AI in agriculture, highlighting its applicability in Benue State, widely regarded as Nigeria’s “food basket.”
According to her, machine learning tools could revolutionize agricultural practices by improving pest detection and optimizing planting schedules using satellite imagery.
“AI offers us the chance to not only flourish economically but also to achieve food security. However, we must ask ourselves if we are prepared to manage this technology responsibly”, she added.
Idehen also noted that internet access remains a significant barrier to AI adoption in Nigeria.
“For AI tools to be effective, basic digital infrastructure is essential. Addressing this gap must be a priority.
“AI is happening. We have the opportunity to manage this technology revolution responsibly, both in Africa and globally, through innovation and governance”, she said.
In August 2024, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy released a draft National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, aiming to position Nigeria as a global leader in AI.
Corlins Walter
The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Chief David Omereji, has said the council has so far spent over N1 billion for the electrification of communities in the area.
Omereji said this while addressing staff of the council at the council headquarters recently.
He said the move was part of his administration’s resolve to ensure peace and development of the LGA.
According to him, the Council spent about N29 million on monthly basis for the maintenance of the Emohua Local Vigilante group known as OSPAC, with each member being paid a stipend of N100, 000 monthly.
He diaclosed that 11 out of the 14 wards are currently enjoying electricity, while efforts are on to light-up the remaining ones.
“I also want to use this opportunity to inform the political class for purposes of records and for the understanding of the people that the Council under my watch have done more than enough”, he said .
The Emolga boss explained that all that have been achieved were through the personal effort of the Council, without support from anybody as rumoured in some quarters.
Omereji further reaveled that a number of other projects, including roads, fencing of schools, hospitals, courts premises, and reconstruction of some abandoned buildings at the Council Headquarters are being undertaken by his administration.
He enjoined the people of the area to support his administration’s drive to bring purposeful development to the LGA.
The Emohua Council boss, who reiterated his hatred for noise making, stated that his works would speak for him, and solicited the support of staff of the council and the entire people of the area.
He noted the fact that some people may not be happy with his achievements, saying that he would remain focused, while advising critics of his government to do so constructively with facts and figures.
King Onunwor
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has raised some ethical questions over a Financial and Technical Services Agreement (FTSA) between Sahara Energy and West African Gas Limited (WAGL), an affiliate of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
MOSOP said the agreement was not done in good faith, not in the interest of the Nigerian people, and did not follow due process.
Foremost Ogoni born activist and MOSOP leader, Fegalo Nsuke, who made this known in Abuja, weekend, described the Sahara-WAGL deal as fraudulent, deceptive and an insult on the intelligence and integrity of the Nigerian nation.
Nsuke called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cancel that FTSA between Sahara Energy and WAGL, noting that the agreement is fraught with irregularities and deceptive.
“What Sahara and the NNPC did in the FTSA between Sahara and WAGL is shameful and depicts high level corruption in public service of our country.
“WAGL is an affiliate of Sahara and the NNPC. How then can Sahara go into an agreement with its own affiliate? It’s as good as going into an agreement with itself. This is deceptive and fraudulent”, Nsuke said.
He continued that “Sahara Energy is certainly not a company the Ogoni people want on their soil and we are calling on Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to terminate any deal between the NNPC and Sahara Energy over OML 11, and to allow for an inclusive arrangement that considers a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in the distribution of revenues from natural resource extraction on Ogoni soil.
“The last Ogoni Congress has been unequivocal on the Ogoni demand for justice and has given a clear path to resolve the three decade old conflict between all critical parties.
“It will be good to explore this path to peace and development for Ogoni and for our country”.
Nsuke accused Sahara Energy and the NNPC of frustrating the progress made by MOSOP to achieve a permanent solution to the Ogoni problem.
He urged a presidential intervention with deep consideration for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in order to permanently address the problem.
He noted that Sahara Energy should give up on the Ogoni area to allow for an engagement in the interest of the country and the people.
Recall that MOSOP and Sagara Energy have recently been engaged in a row in what MOSOP describes as an unholy relationship between Sahara Energy and the NNPC over OML 11.
MOSOP expressly rejected Sahara Energy and called for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in natural resource extraction in Ogoni.
It noted that Ogoni people, led by MOSOP, paid the sacrifice to take the oil from Shell, hence “the position of MOSOP must be taken into consideration in decisions relating to resumption of oil production in Ogoni”.