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Vice President Shettima to Market Nigeria to Global Audience at Davos- Tuggar
Vice President Shettima to Market Nigeria to Global Audience at Davos- Tuggar
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria’s Vice President is expected to market the country to global audience at the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum presently holding in Davos, Switzerland.
The Forum started on Monday 15th January and it is expected to end on Friday, 19th January, with series of meetings lined up for the leader of the Nigeria’s delegation, Vice President Kashim Shettima.
A statement by the Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar on Monday, said Nigeria’s resilient business climate resonates with the agenda of the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum; the 2024 edition with the theme Rebuilding Trust.
The statement which was signed by the spokesman of the Minister, Alkasim Abdulkadir noting that the intention of the meeting held annually in Davos, Switzerland, is to provide a crucial space that offers solutions to global challenges facing countries, especially transiting countries, said: “This year, the organizers of WEF have taken a step back and focused on the fundamental principles of driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability. All these soundly resonate with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is propelled by a commitment to unleashing the country’s full economic potential through focusing on job creation, access to capital for small and large businesses, inclusivity and, most importantly, the rule of law which underpins WEF’s theme for this year.”
Tuggar revealed that Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, alongside 52 other Heads of State, including Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, as well as over 1,500 CEOs and Chairpersons of the largest companies in the world, are expected at the global event.
He said the Vice President during the weeklong Forum is expected to engage with top global investors at the Meeting and participate in a series of programmes designed for Nigeria, including a Country Strategy Dialogue on Nigeria.
He added that the Nigeria’s delegation at Davos will be part of the Country Strategy Dialogue on Nigeria, which s a roundtable that will be chaired by Vice President Shettima – with the expected participation of 60 global CEOs/Chairs.
The Minister also said Nigeria is expected to have a stakeholder dialogue entitled “Transforming Energy Demand” to discuss what companies and governments can do to enable economic growth with less energy, where Minister of Petroleum Resources will be on the panel of discussants representing the Vice President.
The Vice President is also scheduled to hold a private meeting with Dolf van den Brink, Global Chief Executive Officer, Heineken to discuss areas of partnerships and collaboration and later in the same day attend another stakeholder dialogue entitled “Treating Soil as a Precious Resource to discuss ways of tackling the trilemma of food access and affordability, nutrition and health, as well as nature and climate, where he would be represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, according to Tuggar.
Foreign Affairs Minister said the Vice President will privately meet James Quincey, Global Executive Chief Officer of Coca-Cola Company, with the engagement ending with a private dinner with Klaus and Hilde Schwab; noting that the dinner brings together Heads of State, Government, and International Organisations as well as members of the Board of Trustees, the International Business Council, and Strategic Partners.
Tuggar also revealed that the Vice President is scheduled to have a private breakfast entitled Driving Action Under the African Continental Free Trade Area, where the Forum Friends of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) coalition brings together heads of state, ministers, chief executives, and heads of international organisations to support the implementation of the AfCFTA agreement through public-private collaboration, and at noon, the Vice President will be represented at a private lunch event entitled “IGWEL: Lunch-Restoring Faith in the Global System” by himself (the Minister of Foreign Affairs).
Tuggar explained that this Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders (IGWEL) convenes policymakers and business leaders to discuss what an effective multilateral system can look like and how to strengthen faith in global cooperation, adding that equally, the Vice President will host a private country-focused session entitled “Country Strategy Dialogue on Nigeria,” which will delve into the priorities of the Nigerian government and engage in a dialogue about the country’s economic path. He disclosed that the Nigeria Reception is a cultural and entertainment event to be hosted by Vice President Shettima and the ministerial delegation. It will feature Nigerian food, music, national ethos and culture. An estimated 600 participants are expected at the event.
Tuggar further stated that Nigeria’s participation at the Forum’s Annual Meeting provides an opportunity for Vice President Shettima to woo foreign investors to Nigeria. He also expressed optimism that Nigeria’s attendance holds great economic benefits for the country.
The World Economic Forum was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and the Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agenda.
Vice President Shettima to Market Nigeria to Global Audience at Davos- Tuggar
NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It
By: Michael Mike
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO) of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr. Yemisi Asagbra debunked some allegations level against the agency by some non governmental organisations (NGOs) concerning negligence and compromise.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Asagbra said: “The negative statements circulating are misleading and lack credible scientific backing. The agency asks these organisations to present verifiable scientific evidence for their claims and we relies on sound scientific research and internationally recognized protocols to make informed decisions. It is part of the Cartagena Protocol with over 180 parties, our mandate is to protect the health of Nigerians and the environment. It will not compromise on this as it is an agency of integrity.
She added that: “The agency is transparent and accountable in its operations. It invites review of its processes and rigorous evaluations of GMO products. We are confident in our procedures that it’s meet global standards and it is a leader in effective regulation in Africa”.
On the source of the allegations, she said “over the years they have been advocating to have their presence in the board where all these products coming will be thoroughly Investigated, but it hasn’t been given. Most times we rely on the information given by Nigeria Custom Service to furnish them with needed information, which most time is not always easy if they have other things doing.
The Head planning, research and statistics National Biosafety Management Agency Mrs. Bello Scholastica said the agency is concerned with safety to our health and safety to our environment.
She further reiterated that what NBMA stands for is to establish first regulation from identification of the gene of interest, “of what you are interested in, from then till commercialization, and even after commercialization, they still follow suit to make sure that the approvals they gave hasn’t caused any harm, or those that were given approval to that they stay put to what they were asked to do”.
She further explained that the agency has put in effort to promote environmental conservation and biosafety in Nigeria.
NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It
House of Reps Assures on Passage of Human Rights Defenders Bill
By: Michael Mike
The House of Representatives has revealed that it is interested in the passage of the Human Rights Defenders Bill into law, saying that the bill has already passed the first reading and will soon be subjected to second reading.
The House also promised to take the necessary steps to ensure an improvement in the 2025 budget of the NHRC, pointing out that the N5 billion approved for it in the 2024 budget is inadequate considering the myriad of human rights violations in the country.
The Chairman House Committee on Human Rights, Hon. Abiola Makinde made this disclosure during the oversight visit of Committee to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The Chairman, who was represented at the occasion by his Deputy, Hon. Mudashiru Lukeman assured the NHRC that the Committee would continue to advance the course of human rights in Nigeria by ensuring that the House of Representatives passes critical bills on human rights issues as well as makes adequate budgetary provisions to ease the work of the Commission.
Makinde also stated that in a bid to improve some aspects of Civil and Political Rights, the House of Representatives had ensured the establishment of human rights desks in all police formations and Headquarters across the 36 States of the Federation.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu who received the lawmakers with his management staff told the Human Rights Committee that the Commission relies heavily on them for the enactment of human rights friendly laws and enhanced budgetary provisions to discharge it broad mandate of promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights in the country.
He used the opportunity to commend the legislators for their role in the amendment of the NHRC Act 2010 as well as the support of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila in the payment of compensation to victims of human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police Force.
He equally informed the legislators who were on oversight visit about the recent report released by the Commission following the findings of the Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations in the North East Nigeria , which he noted has saved the country from possible invitation by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
He noted that the aforementioned wide spread allegations of human rights infractions against some government institutions could result in the ICC extending invitations to some of the leaders to respond to the allegations, but the Commission has done the needful in compliance with the international principles of omplementarity.
He thanked the Committee for promising to improve the budgetary allocation of the Commission in the 2025 fiscal year.
House of Reps Assures on Passage of Human Rights Defenders Bill
FG Confirms Arrest of Simon Ekpa
By: Michael Mike
The arrest of Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa in Finland has been confirmed by the federal government.
A statement on Friday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Nigerian-Finnish citizen and prominent leader of the proscribed Indigenous People
of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested by Finnish authorities on Thursday.
According to the statement, Ekpa was
charged with inciting terrorism and promoting violence.
The Finnish District Court of
Päijät-Häme ruled to detain him on probable cause for publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent.
The Finnish authorities alleged that Mr. Ekpa used social media platforms to spread
separatist propaganda, incite violence and encourage illegal actions, which had caused
significant disruptions in the South-East of Nigeria. Finnish investigators had also linked
him to incidents of violence in Nigeria, which were believed to had been fueled by his
online activities.
The statement said “the arrest of Mr. Simon Njoku Ekpa follows sustained diplomatic
pressure by the Nigerian government on Finland, to take action against his activities,
which were linked to violence and instability in the South-East of Nigeria. The request
for action featured during high level engagements between countries.”
The Ministry stated that the arrest of Ekpa, is a significant development in addressing the activities of IPOB, and also neutralizing the influence of transnational actors and “their impact on our national security.”
The Ministry promised to continue to monitor the legal proceedings and provide further updates as the case progresses.
FG Confirms Arrest of Simon Ekpa
NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It
Nigerian lawyers Ask to Collaborate with Chinese Colleagues in Law Relating to Investment and Dispute Resolution
House of Reps Assures on Passage of Human Rights Defenders Bill
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