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.

Buni consoles Kalli over his wife’s demise

By: Yahaya Wakili

Governor Mai Mala Buni CON of Yobe state has condoled with the family of Alhaji Kashim Kalli Tijjani, permanent secretary protocol, over the passing of his wife Hajiya Hadiza.

Governor Buni described the death of Hajiya Hadiza as a sad and great loss to the family and the community.

“She will be remembered as a humble wife, a great mother, and a dedicated civil servant who handled all responsibilities assigned to her with diligence.”

Similarly, Governor Mai Mala Buni commiserated with the family of Alhaji Larema Baktama, who died recently in Damaturu.

The governor further condoled with the Mai Sanda family over the death of their mother and grandmother, Hajiya Ya-Kolo Lawan.

He prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive their shortcomings and grant them eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdausi.

“May Allah (SWT) admit their souls into Aljannatul Firdaus.

“May He grant members of their families the fortitude to bear the sad loss of their loved ones.

Buni consoles Kalli over his wife’s demise

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