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Shettima Says Innovation Key to Putting Nigeria in Rightful Position on World Map

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Shettima Says Innovation Key to Putting Nigeria in Rightful Position on World Map

By: Michael Mike

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has said that innovation is essential to attainment of Nigeria’s dream of becoming one of the top countries in the world, urging Nigerians to bring up innovative ideas and actions to advance the ongoing transformation agenda in the country.

Speaking at the third i-FAIR cohorts graduation ceremony of the nine-month mentorship programme for budding innovators and entrepreneurs on Thursday in Abuja, the Vice President implored Nigerians to support the Israel-Nigeria Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (i-FAIR) initiative to advance the transformation agenda in the country.

Shettima who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs in the Office of the Vice-President, Mr Tope Fasua, commendded the graduands for boosting the Nigerian population efforts to achieve the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

He said: “We live in a kinetically dynamic and digital world, where we are seeing today’s reality and tomorrow’s innovation by power of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, internet and others.

“We commend the Innov8Hub for what it has been doing so far amongst our youth and the innovative at heart.

“We have seen numerous innovative display, many of which have been commercialized and are having impact on Nigeria and beyond.

“We believe this is merely the beginning, I appeal to all and sundry to show maximal support to the idea behind the hub, as it is indeed transformative.

“Our very survival in a fast paced world depends on it.”

The Ambassador of Israel to Nigeria Michael Freeman, on his part, said the programme comprised twelve components spanning health, climate change, and agriculture, and embodies the spirit of innovation and resilience.

“I-FAIR was established by the Israeli embassy in collaboration with the Nigerian government; this initiative epitomizes the collaboration and innovation pivotal to the Israel-Nigeria relationship.

“President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda resonates deeply with the ethos of the i-FAIR programme in championing empowerment, growth, and prosperity for Nigeria.

“This is with a focus on nurturing the talents of our youth, this programme aligns seamlessly with President Tinubu’s vision of propelling Nigeria towards excellence, notably in digital economy where job creation is paramount.”

He attributed success so far achieved to invaluable partnership by the embassy with TetFund, Air Peace and Zell Innov8 and other collaborators, whose unwavering support has been instrumental in shaping the transformative journey.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, represented by Ambassador Bolaji Akinremi, Director, Economic, Trade and Investment at the ministry, traced the success of the programme to the partnership between Israel and Nigeria.

Tuggar said, “This is evidence of innovation. We have no doubt this government and the administration standout as the most innovative government Nigeria ever had.

“It is pertinent to mention that the idea of I-FAIR is predicated on the need to overcome domestic challenges with innovative made in-Nigeria solutions tailored around inspiring Nigeria to become a start-up nation.”

Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said it was important to prioritise transformation agenda to achieve meaningful growth.

He said:We must prioritise the complete deployment of fibre active network which Nigeria must achieve in the next two-three years and we have backing of the President.

“Also, for AI, every developed country in the world is freaking out about development in AI. For the reality, they do not have the workforce to power it.

“If we do not take advantage of being part of the AI, even if it is just to provide the workforce, we are wasting time.

“In the two to three years, AI will prompt how you think and what you do. AI will prompt development,” he said.

Shettima Says Innovation Key to Putting Nigeria in Rightful Position on World Map

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NIDCOM Says 163 Trafficked Victims Rescued from Ghana in Five Months

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NIDCOM Says 163 Trafficked Victims Rescued from Ghana in Five Months

By: Michael Mike

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) alongside other stakeholders have rescued another set of 13 trafficked Nigerian girls from Ghana, thus bringing the total number of those repatriated from the same country to the nation within the last five months to 163.

According to a statement on Friday signed by the spokesman of NIDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the rescued operation was as a result of the combined and coordinated efforts of the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police , The Rescue live foundation International, and NIDO Ghana working in collaboration with NIDCOM.

Speaking on the latest efforts, Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa expressed her gratitude to the First Lady , Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru for their support in facilitating the safe return of the girls back to the country.

She also commended the vital roles played by the BOT Chairman (Rescue live foundation International/NIDO Ghana),
Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, and the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police Unit in bringing the traffickers to justice.

She reiterated NiDCOM’s commitment to protecting Nigerians in the diaspora under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which gave priority to combating human trafficking and safeguarding the rights of Nigerian citizens at home and in the Diaspora.

The statement revealed that the rescued young girls, ages 19 to 30 years, are from Ebonyi, Benue, Kaduna and Rivers states.

According to the statement, they were lured to Ghana under the false promises of employment but were instead forced into exploitative situations and bound by an oath of secrecy, while the traffickers are making money off the dastardly act.

NiDCOM representative, Mr Akinboye Akinsola, who accompanied the ladies back to Nigeria, where they were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for rehabilitation and reintegration said these set of ladies surrendered themselves willingly , having heard of the ealier operation conducted in Kpone Katamanso and Tema.

Elozieuwa said with Rescue live Foundation International/NIDO Ghana’s assistance, the ladies were provided shelter for some days after they all willingly indicated their interest to come back home.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr Valentine Okike Uzo, thanked the Governor for his willingness to bring the ladies back home which in line with his efforts to care for all Ebonyi indigenes both home and in the Diaspora.

He assured that all efforts are in place to ensure a proper rehabilitation for the victims from Ebonyi state.

NIDCOM Says 163 Trafficked Victims Rescued from Ghana in Five Months

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ECOWAS Court Dismisses Application for Default Judgment in Case Against Nigeria

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ECOWAS Court Dismisses Application for Default Judgment in Case Against Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has delivered a judgment in the case of Chukwuemeka Edeh v. Federal Republic of Nigeria, dismissing the Applicant’s request for a default judgment.

The Applicant, Chukwuemeka Edeh, a Nigerian citizen from Enugu State, filed his application against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, alleging unlawful detention and torture by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The Applicant claimed that SARS operatives subjected him to acts of physical abuse, including spraying of tear gas into his eyes, beatings, and forced confession, in violation of his human rights as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other international instruments to which Nigeria is a party. Mr. Edeh sought compensation of N5 million for his suffering.

Following the failure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to submit a defense, Mr. Edeh applied for a default judgment. In the Judgment delivered by Justice Edward Amoako Asante, the Judge Rapporteur, the Court held that it had jurisdiction over the matter and that application was admissible, having complied relevant requirements in the Protocol of the Court. However, after examining the Applicant’s submissions and evidence, the Court found that the Applicant’s claims were not substantiated by sufficient evidence to warrant a default judgment. Therefore, it dismissed the application for a default judgment.

The three-member panel of the Court were Honourable Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves(presiding judge), Honorable Justice Dupe Atoki (panel member), and Honorable Justice Edward Amoako Asante (judge rapporteur).

ECOWAS Court Dismisses Application for Default Judgment in Case Against Nigeria

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ECOWAS Court finds Sierra Leone guilty of human rights violations during Makeni protests

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ECOWAS Court finds Sierra Leone guilty of human rights violations during Makeni protests

By: Michael Mike

The ECOWAS Court of Justice, has delivered its decision in the case of Hassan Kargbo and seven others against the State of Sierra Leone.

The applicants brought an action before the ECOWAS Court of Justice against the State of Sierra Leone for serious violations of their fundamental rights during the tragic events that took place in Makeni in July 2020, particularly the violations of the right to security of the person, the right to life and the right to an effective remedy.

The events leading to this case took place on 17 and 18 July 2020, when a demonstration by young people was violently quelled by the Sierra Leone law enforcement.

According to the applicants, the army and police used live ammunition and tear gas against the demonstrators, causing deaths and serious injuries among unarmed civilians. Several victims, including Foday Kargbo, Mohamed Sillah and Alusine Sesay, died as a result of this crackdown.

The State of Sierra Leone neither appeared nor presented a defence. The Court delivered its judgment by default.

In the judgment delivered on Thursday by Justice Gbéri-bè Ouattara, Judge-Rapporteur, the Court found that the State of Sierra Leone had violated the right to security of the applicants Hassan Kargbo and Mohamed Fornah. Nonetheless, the Court found that the State had neither violated the right to life of the applicants, who were still alive, nor their right to an effective remedy.

As for the unarmed civilians who had lost their lives in the violence, the claim of the applicants who had presented themselves as their rightful heirs was declared inadmissible for failure to provide proof of their death and of their kinship with the victims.

Furthermore, the Court found that the State had failed in its obligation to conduct investigations into the events at Makeni.
As compensation for these violations, it ordered the State to pay USD 15,000 in damages to each of the applicants Hassan Kargbo and Mohamed Fornah for violation of their right to security. It also enjoined the State to take measures to prevent the excessive use of force during peaceful demonstrations and to conduct an investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible for the violence.

The three-member panel of the Court were Honorable Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves (presiding judge), Honorable Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara (judge-rapporteur) and Honorable Justice Edward Amoako Asante (panel member).

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