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INDEPENDENCE LECTURE:YOUR SACRIFICES WON’T BE IN VAIN, VP SHETTIMA TELLS NIGERIANS
INDEPENDENCE LECTURE:
YOUR SACRIFICES WON’T BE IN VAIN, VP SHETTIMA TELLS NIGERIANS
By: Our Reporter
Nigeria’s Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, has assured Nigerians that their sacrifices will not be in vain, saying the promises made by the Tinubu administration will be fulfilled.
Sen. Shettima made the remarks on Thursday at a public lecture to commemorate Nigeria’s 63rd Independence anniversary at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.
He said President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to building a country where the economic independence of each citizen is guaranteed, and where none of them has to depend on unspecified handouts to earn a living.
“Today, we gather to honour Nigeria’s journey to redefine its destiny. Today, we stand on the precipice of history to reflect upon a nation that has defied the predictions of doomsayers, a nation that has become the metaphor of resilience.
“Over the past 63 years, we have not only survived but thrived because of our collective resolve, our commitment to progress, and the enduring spirit of unity that binds us together from Aba, down through Ogbomosho to Zaria, despite the conspiracies of minor vested interests,” the Vice President said.
According to him, while this anniversary offers Nigeria another opportunity to acknowledge the cross-regional bonds that have kept the country standing as Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, “we are here to remind ourselves that the future we promised Nigerians isn’t an empty performance for electoral favours.”
The Vice President noted that the future of a great nation is not determined by the occurrence of a socio-economic challenge, but by the intention, sincerity, and innovative ideas of its leaders, and their commitment to implementing them.
He said: “We cannot renew the hope of the nation unless we deliver on our promise to drive food security and eradicate poverty. We cannot foster economic growth and nurture job creation unless we facilitate access to capital, enhance national security, and optimize the business environment for our enterprises.
“We are going to uphold the rule of law and fight corruption to design the Nigeria of our dream. We can’t achieve any of these unless each citizen remains a strategic partner in pursuit of our ultimate national interests.”
Reflecting on the recent COVID-19 pandemic, Vice President Shettima pointed out that “the tragedy reminded us that viruses do not discriminate based on ethnicity or religion, and that our strength as a nation is driven by our collective faith in the ideals that define us and in the moral character of our leaders.”
The VP then emphasized the crucial role of leadership in shaping a nation’s destiny, stating that “the future of a great nation rests on the intention, sincerity, and innovative ideas of its leaders and their commitment to implementing them.”
The Vice President also recognized the sacrifices made by Nigerians over the years, noting that such solidarity has inspired the government to focus on diverse sectors, from agriculture to digital technology, from healthcare to education.
He said: “We knew from the starting point of this race to serve the people that the track would not be without its holes and thorns. We knew that challenges would arise, and obstacles would test our resolve. But, as our history has shown, Nigerians are too ambitious to be broken by a temporary setback. We are going to emerge from this phase of our reforms stronger, each of us with renewed hope.”
With unwavering determination, Sen. Shettima asserted, “at 63, we recognize that what has sustained us and propelled us forward is our collective belief that overcoming the challenges we’ve inherited necessitates sacrifices.”
He reiterated that these sacrifices are investments in a brighter future, one that will secure the well-being of current and future generations.
VP Shettima reminded the nation: “As we work together towards a future where opportunity knows no bounds, let’s remember that our most potent weapon is the overriding resolve of the majority to choose unity over chaos and democracy over anarchy.”
Earlier in his address, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, called on the Federal Government to consider increasing the salary of workers to mitigate the current economic situation in the country.
He advised the administration to build on the existing synergy among the different arms of government to provide the much needed democracy dividends to Nigerians.
Also speaking on Tinubu administration’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda in a lecture themed, “Actualizing the vision of Renewed Hope for socio-economic development through effective leadership”, the guest speaker, Dr Goke Adegoroye, commended President Tinubu for the steps taken so far in repositioning governance and resetting the economy.
He however urged the administration to prioritise key aspects of the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda with a view to ensuring that the impact is felt across different sectors of the economy.
Present at the event were Secretary to Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume; Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Esan; Ministers of Information, Mr Mohammed Idris; Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev; FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike; Budget and Economic Planning, Alh. Atiku Bagudu; Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar; Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake; Police Affairs, Alh Ibrahim Gaidam; Steel Development, Mr Shuaibu Audu, and Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali, among others.
Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as some members of the diplomatic community also attended the event.
INDEPENDENCE LECTURE:
YOUR SACRIFICES WON’T BE IN VAIN, VP SHETTIMA TELLS NIGERIANS
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Akpeme’s Suspension Of Delta State NAPPS Exco Is Illegal -Young
Akpeme’s Suspension Of Delta State NAPPS Exco Is Illegal -Young
The Chairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Delta State Wing, Deaconess (Mrs.) Young P.N, has said that Dr. Ochuko Akpeme lacks powers to suspend the state executive.
She said this during a phone conversation with Oasis Magazine on Monday night.
Recall that online media reports on Monday quoted Dr. Akpeme declaring the Young-led executive suspended in Asaba during a press conference.
Reacting, Deacon Young, added that he simply wants to remain a life president.
Her words: “He claims to be the South South Vice President and we do not recognize him as so and we have no dealings with him. He just wants to cause confusion. He and other NAPPS members he picked from Asaba who he said her regional executive members are impersonators and we will deal with him and his accomplices legally if he continues in this direction,” saying that the suspension pronounced on them by Akpeme and his cohorts is illegal, null and void.
According to her, just last week, a letter of caution was sent to him warning him to desist from parading himself round the chapters in the state as the Vice President, South South, adding that they also reminded him in the said letter that they were sworn-in with the 2017 constitution and not that of 2023.
She continued: “What he did today is unacceptable. He should look for his loyalists and work with them and not my excos.”
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Furthermore, she called on NAPPS members in the state to be calm and resolute, saying that they are on the matter and that there was no cause for alarm.
She said further: “We are not under Akpeme, our NVP is Hon Ekhosuehi Rueben Ikponwwmen Dr. Hajia Samari as our National President. He wants to force Delta NAPPS to join him in his group. He is recruiting young people who are new in the association and have little knowledge about the issues. We did not vote for him as he claims.”
Continuing, she hinted that the state exco has held an online emergency meeting and they have agreed that will remain where they are and that they will not change their minds on not supporting Akpeme.
Meanwhile, she said the state general meeting for Wednesday scheduled to hold in Sapele will still hold, just as she disclosed that he has not been attending their meetings and they are not expecting him, while threatening to arrest him if he shows up at the venue.
Akpeme’s Suspension Of Delta State NAPPS Exco Is Illegal -Young
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Singer Market Inferno: FG, APC Govs Donate N8bn To Kano Traders
Singer Market Inferno: FG, APC Govs Donate N8bn To Kano Traders
As VP Shettima receives Yusuf into APC, says governor’s place in party is second to none
By: Our Reporter
The Federal Government has approved the sum of N5 billion as intervention fund for traders affected by the fire outbreak that razed large sections of the popular Singer Market in Kano.
This is just as state governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the aegis of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), also donated N3 billion to victims of the inferno, totalling N8 billion to provide relief to hundreds of affected traders.

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, who announced the donations on Monday when he led a Federal Government delegation to condole with traders at the market on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, sympathized with the traders, praying Almighty God to prevent future occurrence of fire disaster in the market.
Senator Shettima also formally received Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State and his teeming supporters into the APC fold on behalf of the President.

Speaking during the grand reception to welcome Governor Yusuf to the APC at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, the Vice President reiterated President Tinubu’s assurance that the governor’s place in the governing party was second to none.
He noted that the governor’s decision to join the governing party has strengthened the collective resolve of the Tinubu administration and the party to build a more inclusive and prosperous nation.ll

“Your Excellency, we have watched the transformation that Kano has undergone under your leadership. We have seen a commitment to people-centred governance and a respect for the mandate of history. Today, we are proud to welcome you aboard the All Progressives Congress train.
“We welcome you with open hands and open hearts. His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made it abundantly clear that your place in this party is second to none and that your presence strengthens our collective resolve to build a more inclusive and prosperous Nigeria,” the VP stated.
Describing Kano as “an eloquent expression of Nigeria’s cosmopolitan soul” and a state that “welcomes every Nigerian, absorbs every accent, accommodates every ambition, and turns diversity into destiny,” VP Shettima acknowledged the state’s contributions to Nigeria, which he said “stretch far beyond the arithmetic of elections.

“In commerce, Kano has been the heartbeat of enterprise and trade. In scholarship, it has produced minds that interrogate power and redefine ideas. In politics, in culture, in faith, in industry, Kano has consistently offered Nigeria more than it has ever demanded in return. This is a state whose influence transcends geography and whose legacy outgrows any single political moment,” he maintained.
The Vice President recalled that Kano had gifted Nigeria “towering figures who reshaped” the nation’s “political philosophy and moral imagination,” citing prominent politicians like the late Alhaji Maitama Sule and Alhaji Aminu Kano as examples.
Welcoming Governor Yusuf to the APC, Senator Shettima described the governor as “another visionary son of Kano,” observing that the governor and his supporters are on “a political journey that speaks to the future of” Nigeria.
“His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, may be a man of few words, but his principles speak loudly. They speak in the language of conviction. They speak in the language of discipline. They speak in the language of service. They speak in a tone that cannot be doubted because they are anchored in consistency and guided by purpose,” he stated.
On behalf of the Federal Government, the VP sympathised with Governor Yusuf over the fire outbreak at Singer Market, assuring that the government at the centre will work collaboratively with the state “to ensure that support is extended to all those affected and that recovery efforts are swift and effective.”
Also, Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, noted that with the governor’s defection to the APC, Kano was now in the main stream of Nigerian politics and will benefit more from the government at the centre.
“What this means is that Kano will begin to benefit more from the national government. We will have more infrastructure and healthcare delivery as well as all other facets of development. When you (Governor Yusuf) complete your eight years, Kano will become an eldorado,” he said.
On his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas, said the coming of Governor Yusuf into the APC was very important and strategic for the party.
“Kano is the powerhouse of our democracy, and today, Allah has made it possible for the governor to move and this will be the beginning of the coming of so many good things to Kano. The future of Kano will be brighter under him,” the Speaker assured.
For his part, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the Governor has made the right move by joining the APC, and the state is set to reap the benefits of the decision.
He praised the infrastructural development witnessed by the state under the governor, assuring that the party will support him to do more for the State.
Prof Yilwatda handed over the symbolic APC flag to the Governor and some federal legislators who also decamped to the APC
Also, Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, described Governor Yusuf as an original breed of the APC who “only went on sabbatical and has returned home.”
Uzodinma urged supporters and local government chairmen in the state to work hard to ensure victory for APC, saying President Tinubu is happy with the political development in Kano.
Thanking Vice President and the APC entourage for the grand reception, Governor Yusuf said his official entry into the APC was a very important occasion and a defining moment for the state, noting that “the reason for politics should always be to serve the people.”
The governor said he decided to join the APC family in order to deliver results for the people of Kano, adding that all the decisions he has taken as a governor were guided by the need to better the lot of the people.
Explaining why he dump the NNPP, Governor Yusuf said his former party was not providing the cohesion and stability required for the development of the state.
“Kano is too large and too important to be disconnected from the government at the centre,” he added, even as he pledged his support and loyalty to President Bola Tinubu.
Also, former National Chairman of APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, noted that Governor Yusuf’s defection has not only increased the numerical strength of the APC in Kano State but also consolidated the position of the party in the state.
“This move of the governor is a compound of party followers that will continue to think, act, plan and move together to ensure an all round development of Kano State,” he said.
Singer Market Inferno: FG, APC Govs Donate N8bn To Kano Traders
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NCSP DG Salutes China on Spring Festival, Unveils Push for Export-Driven Economic Reset
NCSP DG Salutes China on Spring Festival, Unveils Push for Export-Driven Economic Reset
By: Michael Mike
The Director-General of the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Joseph Tegbe, has congratulated the government and people of China on the Spring Festival, describing the celebration as symbolic of a renewed and more ambitious phase in Nigeria–China economic relations.
In a statement marking the Lunar New Year, Tegbe noted that this year’s festivities coincide with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Nigeria and China, established in 1971. He said the milestone reflects a resilient partnership that has grown from formal diplomatic engagement into one of Africa’s most consequential economic relationships.
According to him, the relationship—now elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership—has expanded beyond trade to encompass infrastructure financing, industrial investment, technology cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.
He said China remains Nigeria’s largest trading partner and a major contributor to strategic infrastructure projects spanning rail, ports, power and industrial parks.
Tegbe, however, stressed that the next chapter of engagement must go beyond infrastructure development to focus on value addition, manufacturing and export competitiveness.
He described the Zero-Tariff initiative introduced by the Chinese government for qualifying African exports as a potential game-changer for Nigeria’s non-oil sector. The policy, he said, opens a pathway for Nigerian producers to access one of the world’s largest consumer markets under preferential trade terms.
“The Zero-Tariff arrangement provides Nigerian businesses with an unprecedented opportunity to scale exports, deepen industrial processing and create jobs at home,” Tegbe stated. “But access alone is not enough—success will depend on quality standards, efficient logistics and strong collaboration between government and the private sector.”
He disclosed that the NCSP is engaging stakeholders across manufacturing, agriculture and export promotion agencies to ensure Nigeria maximises the preferential trade window and translates diplomatic goodwill into measurable economic gains.
Tegbe added that as both countries commemorate 55 years of diplomatic engagement, the symbolism of the Spring Festival—renewal, growth and prosperity—mirrors what he described as a strategic recalibration of bilateral ties toward sustainable development and shared prosperity.
“With deliberate execution and policy discipline, this next phase of Nigeria–China relations can redefine our export landscape and strengthen industrial capacity,” he said.
Observers say the renewed emphasis on export diversification signals a broader shift in Nigeria’s foreign economic strategy, positioning China not just as an infrastructure partner but as a gateway for industrial expansion and global market access.
NCSP DG Salutes China on Spring Festival, Unveils Push for Export-Driven Economic Reset
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