Nigeria Congratulates Trump on inauguration as 47th President of US

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Republic of Nigeria has congratulated President Donald Trump following his successful inauguration as the 47th President of the United States of America.

The Nigerian government in a statement by acting spokesperson of the ministry of foreign affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa said: “Nigeria and the United States of America have enjoyed cooperation in diverse areas of mutual interest, especially in the promotion of good governance, sustainable development, and the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.”

The statement added that: “Nigeria therefore looks forward to further strengthening our historic, strong, and vibrant strategic partnership for the benefit of all our people.”

Nigeria Congratulates Trump on inauguration as 47th President of US

Saudi Arabia Sponsors 20 Nigerian on Pilgrimage

By: Michael Mike

Twenty Nigerians are being sponsored by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Programme for Umrah 2025.

They are expected to perform the lesser hajj (Umrah) in Saudi Arabia fully sponsored by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A press statement on Tuesday in Abuja by the Embassy of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Abuja read: “As part of its dedication to promoting Islamic unity and facilitating access to Islam’s most sacred sites for Muslims around the world, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in Abuja hosted a grand farewell ceremony for 20 Nigerian pilgrims selected for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Programme for Umrah 2025.

“The ceremony held under the leadership of His Excellency Faisal bin Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi, Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, highlighted the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to supporting Muslims and fostering spiritual connections through pilgrimage.

“The programme, initiated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, provides Muslims from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to perform Umrah with full sponsorship, symbolising Saudi Arabia’s role as the spiritual heart of the Islamic world.”

In his keynote address, Ambassador Al-Ghamdi expressed profound gratitude to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their steadfast dedication to Islam’s holy sites.

He praised their exceptional leadership in enhancing the services provided to pilgrims and ensuring that their journey to the sacred sites is both spiritually fulfilling and logistically seamless.

He said: “The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince have prioritised the well-being of pilgrims, viewing it as a sacred duty and an immense honor. Through this programme and other initiatives, Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen bonds of brotherhood among Muslims while ensuring their comfort and safety during their spiritual journey.”

Ambassador Al-Ghamdi revealed that the Kingdom had invested over $100 billion in the recent expansion and modernisation of the Two Holy Mosques. According to him, these ambitious projects, encompassing state-of-the-art infrastructure, advanced crowd management systems, and cutting-edge technology, reflect Saudi Arabia’s commitment to accommodating the increasing number of pilgrims visiting Mecca and Medina each year.

He added that the Kingdom spares no effort in mobilising resources to improve the pilgrimage experience for all Muslims.
He also emphasized the importance of adhering to the Kingdom’s laws and regulations, designed to maintain order and ensure the safety and comfort of all pilgrims.

“The leadership of Saudi Arabia remains fully committed to serving the guests of God. This is a responsibility we hold dear, and we continuously strive to enhance the spiritual and logistical aspects of the pilgrimage experience,” he said.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Programme has become a symbol of the Kingdom’s efforts to unite Muslims worldwide and facilitate access to the holiest sites in Islam. Each year, the initiative provides thousands of pilgrims with the opportunity to perform Umrah, covering all costs, including travel, accommodation, and other logistics.

The guests expressed their sincere thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect him, for this generous hospitality provided by the Kingdom’s leadership in serving Islam and Muslims and serving the House of God and the Holy Land.

Saudi Arabia Sponsors 20 Nigerian on Pilgrimage

Zulum Decorated With Peace Studies Society Fellowship

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has been decorated with the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) fellowship.

The decoration on Monday at the Government House in Maiduguri by the society’s president, Nathaniel Awuapila, assisted by Professor Isaac Albert, who represented the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Zulum is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE), and the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA). He has received honorary fellowships from the National Postgraduate Medical College and the Environmental Management Association of Nigeria (EMAN).

Responding, Governor Babagana Zulum expressed his gratitude for the honour and assured his commitment to partnering with the society to achieve sustainable peace and development in the region.

He noted that the non-kinetic measures adopted by the government had yielded positive results, highlighting that over 200,000 repentant insurgents and their families had surrendered to the authorities.

The brief occasion was attended by the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Dr. Bukar Tijani; the Head of Services, Barrister Mallam Fannami; Deputy Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor, Dr. Babagana Malumbe; the Vice President of the SPSP, Professor Jude Momodu; the Secretary General of the SPSP, Dr. Lanre Yusuf; members of the Borno State Executive Council; and Senior Government officials, among others.

Meanwhile, the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) has announced a plan to commission a study on the positive impact of the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum.

The President of the Society, Nathaniel Awuapila, stated this earlier during the visit to the Governor in Maiduguri.

He said: “Your Excellency is no exaggeration by any means when we speak on behalf of SPSP to say that around the Sahel, you are a model. A model in post-conflict reconstruction, a model in managing post-conflict societies. A model in peacebuilding and development. These are qualities that we have seen demonstrated as we observed what has happened in Borno over the years and even in infrastructural development.”

He also stated that “the society has decided to commission a study. We have asked the question, How is this possible? Those questions are on the lips of people who get to know what is happening in Borno. We will commission a study to see how your contribution impacted the people and could become a model for people to study around the Sahel and indeed globally.”

Speaking earlier, Professor Albert commended Zulum for the laudable projects he executed across parts of Borno. He said, “We are not here, sir, really to honour you but to honour ourselves, to attach ourselves to some of the things you have achieved, and to say that we are proud of you.”

He added, “We have gone around the state and seen some of the projects that you have done. This is not the first time we have seen this project. We saw them in magazines and newspapers, and we physically saw the projects; we touched them.”

Zulum Decorated With Peace Studies Society Fellowship