National News
FG Tells Foreign Service Officers To Ensure Nigeria’s Image Remains Untainted

FG Tells Foreign Service Officers To Ensure Nigeria’s Image Remains Untainted
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government (FG) has expressed the imperative of those in the Foreign Service of the country to ensure that the image of the country remained untainted.
The FG made the call on Thursday while tasking the participants of the 25th Regular Course of the Foreign Service Academy (FSA) not to soil Nigeria’s image abroad.
The call was made even as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adamu Lamuwa, charged the graduating foreign service officers to always remember that their ultimate mandate is to defend, advance and protect the national interest.

Lamuwa, who spoke at the Graduation of the 25th Regular Course of the Foreign Service Academy (FSA), at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, also asked the graduands to go out there and give back to the system what it gave to them.
The former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi, said, foreign service is a sacred duty, and a call to holiness.
Uhomoibhi, who was former President of the United Nations Human Rights Council, told the graduands to consider themselves lucky, as only few are privileged to fly Nigeria’s flag, outside the shores of the country.
The retired Nigerian Ambassador, said that to be amongst the elite civil servants is not only a privilege but also, a huge responsibility.
He said: “Please don’t soil our image, you are there to promote, project, protect and defend the Nigeria’s interest, not your own interest. It is a sacred duty, it is a call to holiness and it is uncompromisable. You can’t be a drunk and be a diplomat, and expect to be respected. You cannot be a vagabond and expect to be respected.
It is a sacred duty, a call to holiness. To be a diplomat and a flyer of Nigeria flag, you must be unblemished. It is also a call to excellence, you must read books to excel as a diplomat.
“Knowledge is key, because you cannot give what you do not have. If you puts a buffoon in office, you gets buffoonery, you can pray from now till next year and God will feel insulted. So, as a representative of Nigeria you must seek knowledge, you must know. You must know God, you must apply God in your work. God should not take second place in your life, even as a diplomat, faith is powerful”.
Uhomoibhi, while admonishing the new foreign service officers to be empathetic to Nigerians abroad, said, “you are representing Nigeria, you must listen to Nigerians outside the shores of this country who come to you. It does not always have to be money. If you don’t have money you can receive or be nice to them, empathy not sympathy. You must put yourself in the shoes of stranded Nigerians who have no other relation out there except you”.
The Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, said, training and retraining of staff brings out the best in them, hence her interest in capacity building.
Yemi-Esan, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, charged the graduating foreign service officers to acquaint selves with the civil service rules, as that will guide them throughout their career.
The Director General, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Abubakar, represented by Director Training NIA, Ambassador Chituru Chendo, encouraged the graduands to make use of emotional intelligence at all time.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Head, Foreign Service Academy, Amb. Franklin Oguyemi, said, the 25th Regular Course of the Foreign Service Academy (FSA), was significant as it marks the implemention of the new foreign service academy curriculum.
He said the aim of the new curriculum is to produce diplomats who are physically, mentally and intellectually prepared to navigate the ever-changing world of diplomacy including possessing the necessary knowledge and skills to project, advance and protect Nigeria’s interest beyond its borders.
He noted that to achieve these objectives, the participants were thoroughly trained in various subjects such as international law, diplomacy, Nigeria’s history, public service and bureaucracy, critical issues in international affairs, multilateral and bilateral diplomacy, Nigeria’s relation with other countries, protocol etiquette, life at diplomatic post and public presentation amongst others.
He further noted that these efforts were aimed at developing diplomats who can effectively and efficiently function in the 21 century.
FG Tells Foreign Service Officers To Ensure Nigeria’s Image Remains Untainted
National News
VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution

VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution
By: Michael Mike
Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep grief over the passing of prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, saying the nation has lost an irreplaceable institution.
The late Dantata, an uncle of Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, passed away at the age of 94 in Abu Dhabi in the early hours of Saturday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Mustapha Abdullahi Junaid, his Personal Private Secretary (PPS), who confirmed the death.
In a condolence message, Vice President Shettima praised the late businessman for his lifetime of service, describing him as “a living bridge that connected us to our past.
“We have not just lost a leader; we have lost an irreplaceable institution,” Senator Shettima said, describing Dantata as “one of the greatest titans in Nigeria’s philosophical history” whose departure marks the end of a vital chapter in the country’s economic and democratic evolution.
“In African tradition, when such an elderly person transitions, a vital chapter of our history departs with them. He was indeed among the great titans, a living bridge that connected us to our past,” VP Shettima added.
The Vice President extended heartfelt condolences to the Dantata family, expressing hopes that they would “find the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” even as he prayed that Almighty Allah would grant the deceased Jannatul Firdaus.
Born into the legendary Dantata family of Kano, Alhaji Aminu built on his father’s commercial legacy to become one of Nigeria’s most influential business figures. His empire spans construction, manufacturing, banking, agriculture, and the oil and gas sectors.
Beyond business, Dantata was renowned for his extensive philanthropic work, funding schools, mosques, health centres, and supporting widows and the underprivileged across Nigeria.
VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution
National News
Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Meet in Abuja to Prepare for Upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting

Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Meet in Abuja to Prepare for Upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting
By: Michael Mike
The Senior Officials Meeting between Nigeria and the European Union (EU) will be held on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd July 2025 in Abuja to prepare for the upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting and to explore areas of cooperation.
A statement on Saturday by the Press Officer, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Modestus Chukwulaka, read: “The Delegation of European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS wishes to inform that the Senior Officials Meeting between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) will be held on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd July 2025 in Abuja.
“The agenda of the very important meeting is to prepare for the upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting and to explore areas of cooperation.”
According to the statement, the Senior Officials Meeting will be co-chaired by the Regions, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria, Ambassador Janet Olisa, Director, and the Deputy Managing Director for Africa Department, European External Action Service, European Union, Mr Mathieu Briens.
The statement revealed that the agenda of the meeting is expected to entail wide-ranging discussions that would focus on various aspects of the Nigeria – EU partnership, such as: Cooperation on multilateral and regional issues; Peace, Security and Governance; Humanitarian situation; Trade and Investment; Human Development: Health, Education, Social Protection; Science, technology, innovation and digital transition; Migration; Energy, climate change and green economy transition among others.
Nigeria and the European Union share a deep, long-standing partnership inspired by mutual values and interests as well as support for multilateralism and rule-based international order, the statement said.
Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Meet in Abuja to Prepare for Upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting
National News
Farida Waziri Tasks Benue Leaders to Unite, Act and Save Their People

Farida Waziri Tasks Benue Leaders to Unite, Act and Save Their People
…. Donates relief materials to displaced persons in Yelwata, IDP camp
By: Michael Mike
Former Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri has charged former governors, legislators, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in Benue state to set aside rivalry, unite and act with urgency to save their people from incessant attacks and killings.
Waziri, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police and Principal Partner, Brookfield Chambers Abuja stated this on Saturday 28th June 2025 while donating relief materials to victims of the recent gunmen attacks in Yelwata community and displaced persons at the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.
Some of the items donated under the banner of Women, Youth, Children and Crime Organisation (WYCCO), a non-governmental organization founded by her, include: bags of rice, sugar, tubers of yam and other household items.

She said: “This is no time for division. It is no time for political squabbling or ego-driven manoeuvring. Among us are men and women who have led this state — former governors, legislators, traditional rulers — individuals with influence and authority. The time has come to set aside our differences and stand united, for the sake of the ordinary Benue man, woman, and child.
“That is why I stand here today to make this urgent and heartfelt appeal to our leaders: cast aside rivalry, unite, and act. Act with urgency. Act with purpose. Because what we face now increasingly resembles a deliberate, coordinated effort to erase our people and our heritage.
“We must take heed of the words of Sir Winston Churchill, who once said:
‘Our difficulties and dangers will not be removed by closing our eyes to them.’
Another of Churchill’s warnings is just as relevant to our present predicament:
‘If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed… you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival.”
Waziri, while stating that her call was a build up to the earlier proposal by President Bola Tinubu during his recent visit Beforehand Benue, noted that meetings alone would not solve the problem, urging that: “But let us be sincere: peace will not come from meetings alone. To end the cycle of violence, we must confront its roots. Before the Yelwata massacre, communities in Gwer West, Apa, and Guma had already endured weeks of killings, kidnappings, and raids. These horrors did not emerge in a vacuum; they are symptoms of deeper issues.
“We must therefore confront the real causes — ethnic and religious tensions, unchecked banditry, and the rise of cultism as well as the abuse of illicit drugs. These forces must be tackled, along with the herder-farmer conflict, with honesty and courage. We cannot afford to keep going in circles. And there is no room for blame games. Our leaders — and indeed, all of us — must be pragmatic. So today, let us commit, as one people, to healing our wounds, reclaiming our land, and ensuring that never again will a child in Benue grow up in a camp instead of a home”
She said the development in Benue must be of “concern to all sons and daughters of Benue regardless of whether we live within its borders or far away in the diaspora to find out the root cause of these attacks with a view to proferring solutions that will bring an end to these barbaric acts”
Farida Waziri Tasks Benue Leaders to Unite, Act and Save Their People
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