Zulum Congratulates Daniel Bwala on Appointment as Special Adviser to the President

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has congratulated Barrister Daniel Bwala on his appointment as the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication.

Governor Zulum described the appointment as well-deserved, noting that Barrister Bwala has distinguished himself not only in the legal profession but also in the fields of public relations and communication.

The governor expressed confidence that Bwala will leverage his extensive experience to effectively manage the media image of the president, especially at this critical period of the nation’s history.

As a proud indigene of Borno State, Governor Zulum emphasized his belief that Barrister Bwala will contribute significantly to projecting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and advancing the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

In his statement, Governor Zulum said: “Bwala is an inspiration to many young people in Nigeria. He is frank, cerebral, and has immensely contributed to the advancement of our democracy through his constant public engagements in the media space. This is indeed a well-deserved appointment.”

Governor Zulum extended his best wishes to Barrister Daniel Bwala for a successful tenure in office as he takes on this important national role.

EU Says It’s Interested in Stable, United, Prosperous Nigeria

…Inaugurates 25 Young People into Youth Sounding Board

By: Michael Mike

The European Union (EU) has explained that its main interest in Nigeria is to help in building a stable, united, prosperous, and sustainable future.

It made this revelation at the inauguration of the second cohort of the Youth Sounding Board (YSB) Nigeria, comprising 25 young people drawn from across the country.

Through the YSB Nigeria, the European Union provides a platform for young people to have an influence on the policies and programmes by the EU Delegation in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the European Union Ambassador-designate to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, explained that through the programme, the EU hopes to enable active engagement and exchanges between young people and decision-makers.

He further stated that the YSB has been advising the EU Delegation on youth participation and empowerment across a broad range of topics, such as employment, education, environment and climate change, human rights and democracy, peace and security, digitalisation, technology, gender, and social inclusion.

He said: “Sometimes, the EU is asked what its interest, purpose, and objective are in cooperating with Nigeria. Our main interest is to help this country build a stable, united, prosperous, and sustainable future. This is also in our interest.

“Young people are the future. Now, there is a stronger inter-generational gap. This is because society has changed, technology has changed, and there are, perhaps, more differences between how young people are living their formative years compared to older generations,” he said.

Mignot further noted that the YSB was created to influence the EU Delegation’s interventions and its impact on local communities across Nigeria. “Only young people know what other young people expect, need, and yearn for. That is why the voice of young people is so important,” he added.

Speaking about the expectations for the new cohort of the YSB, he said, “Today, we welcome another group of 25 remarkable young Nigerians who remind us of the vast potential inherent within this country. The selection process started in May 2024. We received over 3,000 applications from young people across Nigeria. It was a very selective process, and we conducted three rounds of selection to identify the 25 individuals who now form this second cohort.

“Each of these 25 young people has a strong passion for youth inclusion and I am very hopeful that over the course of their tenure as members of the Youth Sounding Board, they will build on the results achieved by the first cohort and make their own mark in ensuring that the European Union’s interventions are increasingly youth-inclusive.”

Iswat Badmus, a youth development and engagement expert and a member of the pioneer cohort of the YSB Nigeria, said, “Being a YSB member has been eye-opening for me because, through my work as a Youth and Policy Advisor with the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, I was able to understand the workings of the EU in Nigeria and also understand the struggles of young people in Nigeria when it comes to getting their voices heard and participating in decision-making processes.

“So far, my key contribution as a YSB member is amplifying the voices of young people—that is, acting as an intermediary between young people and the EU. I let the EU know what young people clamour for and how they can fully protect their interests when it comes to projects, policies, and programmes.

“To the incoming YSB members, I say congratulations to you. One key piece of advice I will give is to come in with huge energy, fresh perspectives, and innovations, and work as a team. Your team spirit is what will help you move forward and faster.”

EU Says It’s Interested in Stable, United, Prosperous Nigeria

CISLAC Asks for Transparency and Openness in Handling Rebirth of Nigeria’s Mining Companies

By: Michael Mike

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), has expressed concerns over potential irregularities in the procurement process for selecting a Transaction Adviser to revitalize the Ajaokuta Steel Complex Limited (ASCL) and the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) in Itakpe.

CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), in a signed statement, said in two separate letters addressed to the Minister of Steel Development and the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, urged the government to ensure transparency and adherence to legal standards in the ongoing procurement process.

According to CISLAC, the strategic economic significance of ASCL and NIOMCO necessitates a rigorous and transparent process in selecting a qualified adviser.

The organisation emphasized that the process should uphold public trust by strictly adhering to due process to ensure the selection of the most competent adviser.
However, CISLAC pointed out that the Request for Proposal (RFP) failed to specify the weight assigned to quality and cost factors, as required by Section 51(1) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, thus undermining fairness in the selection process.

CISLAC also noted that the technical scores of bidders were not disclosed before opening financial proposals, which violates Section 51(4) of the Act.

The absence of explicit evaluation criteria in the RFP also contravenes Section 46 (1)(e), potentially allowing arbitrary scoring.

CISLAC also highlighted that Sections 23-24 of the Act mandate the transparent publication of bid opportunities and contracts awarded, a standard that has not been met in this case.

CISLAC Asks for Transparency and Openness in Handling Rebirth of Nigeria’s Mining Companies