Real Madrid forward, Kylian Mbappe, is set to miss playing for the next three weeks due to a thigh injury, ruling him out of Sunday’s highly anticipated Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid.

The 25-year-old French international sustained the injury during Madrid’s 3-2 La Liga victory over Alaves on Tuesday.

Mbappe, who netted his seventh goal of the season just before half-time, was substituted in the 80th minute, with Arda Guler coming on to replace him.

At the time of his exit, Madrid were leading 3-0, but two late goals from Alaves made for a tense finish.

Following the match, Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti reassured fans about Mbappe’s condition, stating, “He’s fine, he’s fine, a little bit (over) loaded. He asked me to change to avoid problems.”

However, a medical assessment on Wednesday revealed that Mbappe has sustained “an injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg,” according to a statement from the club.

The forward is now expected to be sidelined until mid-October.

This injury not only rules Mbappe out of the Madrid derby but also puts him in doubt for Real Madrid’s Champions League clash against Lille on October 2.

This would have marked Mbappe’s first return to France at club level since his summer move from Paris Saint-Germain to the Spanish capital.

Real Madrid have faced several injury setbacks this season, with Brahim Diaz and Dani Ceballos still out of action.

However, the club received a boost with the news that Eduardo Camavinga is set to return to first-team training on Thursday and could be available for the match.

[Leadership]

Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri has gotten its 9th substantive Rector in the person of Dr.Basillia Igbokwe who has been successfully inaugurated as the 9th Rector of the institution.

In her inaugural speech, Igbokwe expressed deep appreciation for the overwhelming support she has received from the staff, students, the entire polytechnic community, the leadership of the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, and the Federal Ministry of Education,

The new Rector assured of her preparedness to reach out to her colleagues who contested with her for the office of the Rector of the institution, adding that she would strive for a harmonious working relationship with the Academic and Non-academic staff, labour leaders, student union government, and indeed, the entire polytechnic community.

Dr Igbokwe reiterated her resolve to vigorously pursue the vision of the founding fathers of the institution but added that such would only be possible with unity of purpose and the support of all stakeholders.

She listed some of the agenda for transforming the institution to include, prioritisation of staff welfare, commitment to fighting malpractices, extortion, lateness to duty, absenteeism, cultism, indecent dressing and other vices on campus.

Igbokwe vowed to restore environmental cleanliness in the institution; to run an open-door policy, to promote ICT and consolidate the Smart Campus Initiative.

Other issues top on the agenda of the new Rector include improving the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR and funding of the institution, to revive the institution’s tissue and table water production factories, as well as revive the polytechnic’s fishery and poultry.

She promised to link the institution to the national grid for improved power supply, to do more in the area of corporate social responsibility, CSR, and to ensure linkages or exchange programmes, among others.

Earlier, the Chairman of the 15th Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic Nekede,
Henry Ikoro expressed delight at the huge success recorded by the event, noting that it was God’s divine making.

Ikoro also expressed optimism that their team would move the polytechnic to new heights. He congratulated all those who ran elections with the new Rector describing them as eminently qualified, but reminded that only one person would lead at any point in time.

In her speech, Imo Deputy Governor, Chinyere Ekomaru who represented Governor Hope Uzodinma, urged the new Rector to be firm and pursue only those programmes that would reposition and transform the institution as a premier polytechnic in Nigeria.

The Imo number two citizen reminded Dr Igbokwe that the future of the institution rests on her shoulders for the next five years, stressing the need to bring innovations in vocational and technical education, to ensure a cordial relationship with the polytechnic community, and to eradicate examination malpractices and cultism as well as encourage research.

The leadership of various unions in the institution including the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, students union, and departmental heads, among others, pledged support to the new Rector while urging her to prioritise the welfare of staff and learning environment of the students.

[DailyPost]

The presidency has confirmed that a cabinet reshuffle is imminent.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this to journalists at the State House on Wednesday, September 25.

Onanuga, who spoke at a press briefing, along with Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital and New Media, O’tega Ogra, said there is no timeline as to when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will reshuffle his cabinet.

It is worth noting that President Tinubu appointed his ministers in August of last year.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has instructed his ministers to actively promote the accomplishments of his administration.

According to Onanuga, Tinubu urged the ministers to “go out there and publicize the administration’s successes”.

 He noted that some ministers were hesitant to speak publicly, adding, “Many Nigerians believe the president isn’t doing much, while the government is actually making significant strides.”

Tinubu emphasized that his ministers should focus more on communicating these achievements to the public.

Details shortly…

The long-awaited 2024 Edo State governorship election was held as scheduled on Saturday, September 21, 2024. At the end of the exercise, the Returning Officer for the election Prof Faruk Kuta who is also the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress winner of the election with 291,667 votes. He defeated 17 other candidates among whom is his arch-rival, PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes. Out of the 18 local government areas in the state, APC outright won 10, while PDP secured eight. Not that it mattered because the two conditions to be met are twenty-five per cent of votes in two-thirds of the local governments in the state as well as a majority of valid votes cast.

I was a member of the Election Day Data Room Faculty of Kimpact Development Initiative, one of the INEC’s accredited Domestic Observers for the election. I arrived in Benin City on Thursday, September 19, and left on September 22, 2024. I had the opportunity to assess the pre-election day environment before the D-day last Saturday. KDI established an Election Security Early Warning System in the 18 LGA of Edo state assessing the pre-election environment to identify early warning and deployed 45 long-term security and campaign finance observers. KDI deployed 431 trained observers for last Saturday’s poll.

Last Friday, the organisation held a press conference to share thoughts on its observations and recommendations. Suffice to say that some of the projections of KDI were spot on. For instance, the organisation was on point when it predicted a high turnout of 24% and a low turnout of 20%. The turnout was 22%. It also predicted through simple weather forecasts that INEC and security agencies should prepare for rain because it might affect turnout and, at the same time, increase rejected votes.  The rain came affected turnout in some places and rejected votes increased compared with 2020. Thirdly, it prophetically predicted that the margin of lead would be low and close. KDI interventions also assisted in promoting peaceful and non-violent polls.

I have read many accounts of the election from civil society organisations, media, and political parties. I dare say it’s like an account of an elephant led by six blind men. They are all right in their observations, depending on what they were looking out for. As an accredited observer, the following things were commendable: First, the election was largely peaceful with no death recorded as against the fear of a bloodbath that was envisaged. It means the 43,000 policemen and other security agencies that were deployed worked. There was effective restriction of movement which turned out to be a double-edged sword as this may have been partially responsible for the low turnout of voters as many could not go the long distance to places where they registered.

The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System device worked optimally. Thus, cases of impersonation and multiple voting were made impossible. There was also no account of underage voting.  Poll Officials were well-trained and performed their role professionally. Sorting, counting, and announcing of results at the polling units also went well. Presiding Officers complied with the electoral guidelines and scanned the Form EC8A; Polling Units Result Sheets, using the BVAS, and uploaded the same on the INEC Result Viewing Portal. By 10 pm last Saturday, about 96 per cent of the Polling Units Results had been uploaded on IREV.  This enabled CSOs and Political Parties Situation Room to be able to do an independent tallying of results.

On the flip side, the perennial challenge of the late commencement of voting reared its ugly head. According to YIAGA Africa, one of the accredited observer groups, as of 7:30 am Poll Officials have only arrived in 41 per cent of the Polling Units. As of 8:30 am when accreditation and voting should have started, only 17 per cent of the PUs were open by that time. One hour after the official time of opening, the election had only started in only 64 per cent of the Polling Units. My experience at Agbado Primary School, Akpakpava Road in Oredo LGA of Benin City, which is a Registration Area Centre and also served as Polling Station for about 11 PUs, was that there were inadequate buses to transport Poll Workers and materials to their PUs, while there was also no security personnel on the ground to escort the vehicles.

It was at this venue that I was a guest of Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television for two hours as we ran a commentary on the opening hours of the poll from 7 – 9am. It is unclear whether INEC did not hire enough buses for election day logistics or it was the members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers that reneged on the MoU they signed with INEC to provide adequate buses.

There were reported incidences of vote buying with YIAGA Africa documenting that as much as N10,000 was paid per vote in Igueben, Akoko Edo, Esan West, Owan West, Ikpoba / Okha and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas. This is why the Labour Party candidate, Olumide Akpata SAN, said what happened last Saturday was not an election but a transaction. Unfortunately, vote buying is not a ground for the nullification of elections. There was also palpable low voter turnout with INEC putting the figure at 22.5 per cent. Factors that may have aided this included, Late commencement of polling; restriction of movement; rainfall on election day; perceived lack of dividends of democracy; rising cost of living; voting is also not mandatory but voluntary in Nigeria.

Ahead of the poll, it is disheartening that about five political parties decided to step down and endorse the APC candidate a few days before the poll. This was done in clear breach of the provision of S. 31 of the Electoral Act 2022, which makes a withdrawal from the race to be done not later than 90 days to the election. It is within the right of the Peoples Democratic Party to reject the outcome of the poll and go to the Election Petition Tribunal― that is a good thing to do rather than resort to self-help. After all, it was that act of courage that Adams Oshiomhole took in 2007 that led to his electoral victory at the court in 2008. That is why Edo State and seven other states are having their gubernatorial election on a different date from the rest.

My overall impression of the poll is that it was not a flawless and hitch-free exercise. However, it is the court that has the right to determine if the poll was held in substantial compliance with the electoral law and guidelines. Section 135. (1) says “An election shall not be liable to be invalidated by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of this Act if it appears to the Election Tribunal or Court that the election was conducted substantially in accordance with the principles of this Act and that the non-compliance did not affect substantially the result of the election.”

For Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Governor-Elect of Edo State, I congratulate him and pray he will succeed in delivering dividends of democracy to his people. I do not envy him for the many political IOUs he has garnered. I pray his tenure in office shall be peaceful, prosperous, and positively impactful. Good luck!

President Bola Tinubu says extracting raw minerals from Africa for refining by developed countries has worsened underdevelopment on the continent.

Tinubu spoke on Tuesday at an event organised by the Africa Minerals Strategy Group on the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

In his keynote address, Tinubu, who was represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, said the scenario is lamentable.

Tinubu said there is a need for a new era of commercial partnerships, diplomatic relations, and economic collaboration between Africa and the rest of the world.

The president added that prior to colonisation, Africans and their European counterparts were “friends, business allies and mutual sovereigns”.

“A situation in which the raw minerals are extracted from our countries, exported, refined and sold to us as finished products merely consolidates the foundations of our misery and pushes us further down the depths of underdevelopment,” he said.

“Before Africa was plundered and overpowered with the technological innovation of the gun, our ancestors and their counterparts from Europe were friends, business allies and mutual sovereigns.

“Until the visitors became greedy and upset the cordial harmony by unleashing the trans-atlantic slave trade, the most devastating depopulation that mankind has ever witnessed.”

Tinubu urged fellow leaders to call for a new deal where all are equal partners and share benefits equitably.

In his speech, Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, criticised what he described as historical exploitation of Africa’s mineral resources, which has primarily benefited foreign nations while leaving local economies impoverished.

Alake said there is a need for a paradigm shift in which the entire mineral value chain — from extraction to processing — is localised.

Africa’s youthful energy is driving economic and social progress with its innovative ideas and entrepreneurial drive. With 40 percent of the population under the age of fifteen, and another 100 million children expected by 2050, Africa is projected to have the youngest and largest workforce globally by 2035. This presents the continent, and the world, with an unprecedented opportunity to increase food security, improve health, heal our planet, and create jobs. But it hinges on a critical factor: harnessing the full energy and talents of young women and girls across Africa.

The Mastercard Foundation’s new report, “Young Women in Africa: Agents of Economic Growth and Transformation by 2030,” forecasts that accelerating young women’s economic productivity can unlock an estimated $287 billion in economic value in Africa—equivalent to a 5 percent increase in GDP —and create 23 million jobs on the continent by 2030. What would it take to achieve this? Several factors. First and foremost, we must ensure that girls and young women have access to education and stay in school.

Right now, 34 million adolescent girls of secondary school age are not in school. Only 26 percent of young women in Sub-Saharan Africa complete secondary education. About 8 percent are enrolled in tertiary education. This translates into staggering losses in life-time productivity and earnings equivalent to a $10 billion loss in GDP across the continent.

The Mastercard Foundation is guided by our vision of a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. We have worked with extraordinary organizations over the past decade to support girls’ education and increase women’s participation in the workforce. Substantial progress has been made, thanks to the dedication and grassroots efforts of our partners.

To date, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has enabled over 45,000 young women and men to access quality education and develop their leadership capabilities, working with more than 40 education partners. Additionally, we work with young ed-tech entrepreneurs to deliver education via digital platforms to two million young people. About 70 percent of them are young women.

Much more remains to be done.

We are scaling successful programs to advance access to secondary education and improve post-secondary school pathways, including tertiary education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and work opportunities. These will enable girls and young women to access and complete their education. Over the next seven years, the Foundation will significantly expand our long-standing partnerships with CAMFED and the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) with $360 million – to support over 70,400 young women and girls who live in economically disadvantaged communities to complete their education, start their own businesses or access employment.

Take the example of Juliana: Born into a family of seven in the Northeast Region of Ghana, Juliana’s journey to becoming a qualified nurse was fraught with challenges. Her parents, who are farmers, struggled to pay for her school fees and learning materials. Through our partnership with CAMFED, she completed her secondary education and went on to study nursing at Central University in Ghana. Today, she not only serves her community as a Nursing Officer, but also leads a social enterprise, the Sumwaana Shea Butter Processing and Marketing Co-operative, which is providing employment for over 100 women in her region. Juliana is a powerful illustration of how access to education and support transforms lives and communities.

Working with CAMFED and FAWE, we will deepen our collaboration with ministries of education across 10 African countries, over 500 universities and tertiary institutions and more than 1,400 secondary schools, to ensure education systems are responsive to the needs of girls and young women. Through these partnerships, we will continue to foster collaboration with government entities, schools, and community stakeholders to integrate important program components such as implementing re-entry policies for young mothers and promoting equitable allocation of education budgets. These programs will provide in-school mentorship to enable girls to access and complete secondary education. Additionally, they provide opportunities for those who left school to transition to tertiary education. These systems-level initiatives are expected to reach close to 3 million young people.

Education is the bedrock for realizing and sustaining Africa’s economic growth. As you’ll see in our report, integrating women into the workforce and enabling them to succeed as employees and entrepreneurs requires more than education. We also need policies that ensure young women have access to affordable capital, land, equipment, as well as business networks and markets.

Importantly, we must understand and respect the unique roles many women play in their families and provide them with the right support. For example, many young mothers need affordable childcare options, transportation, and flexible work arrangements. This essential footing will enable them to pursue higher-paying jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities, driving both innovation and economic diversification.

At the upcoming UN General Assembly, we are convening leaders and practitioners who play an influential and impactful role in girls’ education and women’s economic empowerment in Africa. This exchange of ideas is focused on insights of successful programs and how they can be expanded.

The economic future of Africa depends on the empowerment of all young people, especially girls and young women playing a full and meaningful role. Through education, economic integration, and a shift in mindsets, we can build a future where every girl can learn and every woman can earn, lead, and thrive.

This is not just a vision; it is an imperative to create a prosperous and sustainable Africa.

Roy is the president and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday addressed the 79th session of the United Nations general assembly in New York.

Below is the full text of his speech.

Mr. President,

As you assume the leadership of this august Assembly, our world is confronted by profound moral questions that will require more than the habitual remarks from this elevated podium to resolve. There are questions about the ultimate purpose of our Organisation, the United Nations itself, and how it can remain relevant and resilient.

2. It is with these sentiments that I convey to you the warm and fraternal greetings of my countrymen and women, and to congratulate you on your assumption of the Presidency of this Assembly. Let me assure you of the full cooperation of my delegation in discharging your onerous responsibilities during your tenure. In the same vein, I wish to extend my appreciation to your predecessor, His Excellency, Dennis Francis, for the many remarkable achievements recorded during his stewardship.

3. It gives me particular pleasure to commend His Excellency, António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, for his commitment to the cause of peace and development, and the democratisation of the United Nations to reflect the need to correct the historical injustice that has been done to Africa. I am also delighted to note the steadfast support given to the Secretary-General by our own sister and compatriot, Amina Mohammad, Deputy Secretary-General, while sharing the burden of responsibility in leading a complex organisation like the United Nations.
Mr. President,

4. The theme of this year’s General Assembly leaves us in no doubt that there is still work to be done to bridge the gap between aspirations and the realities confronting our world today. It also underscores the need to remind ourselves that the United Nations stands for inclusiveness – anchored on the tripod of peace, sustainable development and human rights.

5. Today, these pillars of our organisation are threatened. They risk being broken by the relentless pursuit of individual national priorities rather than the collective needs of the nations that are assembled here today. While commitment to multilateralism offers us the surest guarantee of global action to address the existential challenges we face, singularity and nationalism are undermining the aspirations towards the peaceful and collective resolution of such challenges.

6. From last year’s summit, and indeed from previous years, we have carried over the numerous challenges of terrorism, armed conflict, inequality, poverty, racial discrimination, human rights abuses, food crises, hunger, irregular migration, piracy, global pandemics, hyper-inflation, nuclear proliferation, grinding debt burden, climate change, and a host of other vexations. The continued manifestation of these challenges testifies to our failings rather than to any lofty achievements on our part. Billions of dollars are being committed to the prosecution of wars and the fanning of the embers of conflict.

7. Yet, we always recoil from bringing out the resources we need to build peace and to deliver life’s necessities to people. The question of governance is at the heart of our problems – and also the solution to them. We recognised this in Nigeria when on 12th June this year, we celebrated a quarter of a century of unbroken democratic rule. We are no less proud of this achievement than the fact that during the last two decades, a sustained process of democratisation has swept over Africa.

8. However, the return of unconstitutional changes of government and forceful military take overs in some countries of the Sahel underscore the fragility of democracy when it is not backed by economic development and sustained peace and security. It is this fragility, rather than the milestones that democratic governance has achieved in Africa, that should matter most in our deliberations at this and other High-Level Segments of the 79th Session of the General Assembly. While we abhor all forceful changes of government, we can also recognise the impatience in cities and villages at the sometimes slow and grinding turn of the wheel of democracy.

9. Our people need employment. They need decent livelihoods. They desire good and affordable education and healthcare for their children and families. They need to live in healthy, safe and secure environments. They need hope and they need opportunity. They desire to live in peace and tranquillity, to pursue whatever gives them happiness and contentment. When governments fail to deliver, the people are bound to question the utility of democracy and other ideals, like rule of law.

10. The global debt burden undermines the capacity of countries and governments to meet the needs of their citizens. Creeping trade barriers and protectionist policies are destroying the hopes for prosperity of peoples and nations. Unbridled competition rather than cooperation is discouraging incentives and driving away investments.

11. Above all, general insecurity is driving people into unprecedented hardship and misery that in turn, affect the people’s confidence in democracy. It is the duty of the international community to bring back confidence in democratic rule and constitutional order, by paying more attention to the needs and aspirations of the people, rather than paying lip service to human rights, sustainable development and peace. We need the substance of democracy, not just the form.

Mr President,

12. We cannot build durable societies with the threat of terrorism, banditry and insurgency growing in our countries and regions. Indeed, violent extremism remains an existential threat to both national and international peace, security and development. We are making concerted efforts to contain and rollback this threat. The High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting hosted by Nigeria in April 2024 and its outcome – “The Abuja Declaration” – promises to provide solutions to the challenges presented by terrorists and insurgents.

Mr. President,

13. Climate change is a driver of insecurity, which also poses a veritable challenge to sustainable development. A few weeks ago, large areas of my country were inundated by seasonal flood waters, including one of our largest cities, Maiduguri, in the North-East. Other parts of Nigeria also experienced similar tragedies, occasioning the loss of lives and property.

14. We need not remind ourselves to remain faithful to the implementation of the commitments that we all gave voluntarily at the various COP Meetings. Failure to do so is merely to postpone the inevitable. No country is immune from the effects of climate change.

15. It is better that we cooperate and collaborate to meet this ever-increasing challenge rather than remaining in our shells, waiting for the inevitable to happen. A common challenge requires a common solution. Nigeria stands ready to meet her obligations in terms of mitigation and adaptation measures nationally and regionally, with the active participation of other countries and international partners.

Mr. President,

16. Conflict prevention is the main reason why the UN exists. But the task of prevention becomes all the more difficult when conflict becomes normalised, when even the condemnation of violence and civilian casualties, and calls for a ceasefire, are somehow regarded as controversial.

17. As we emphasised at the Abuja High-Level Ministerial meeting, we must renew our focus on conflict prevention. Indeed, addressing the root causes of conflicts is often the first step towards providing long-term solutions. Clearly, some of the root causes of conflicts are social in nature, including poverty, hunger, ignorance, inequality and exclusion, as well as other forms of injustice. In Sudan, other parts of our continent and further afield, foreign actors are exacerbating those tensions to prolong conflict and deepen the suffering of innocent people.

18. Today, we are all witnesses to the heart-wrenching situation in Gaza and other Palestinian Territories. We cannot discuss war and peace, conflicts and reconciliation or humanitarian imperatives today without reflecting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has been raging since 7th October last year.

19. Of course, the conflict predates this period and has been simmering for a better part of half a century. What this tells us is that the international community has failed to live up to the spirit and aspirations of the United Nations to rid the world of inequality, violence and domination of one people by another. Justice is antithetical to revenge.

20. Freedom is an inalienable right and a natural entitlement that cannot be denied to any people. The Palestinian people deserve their independence. They deserve to have a home of their own on territories already recognised by this very Assembly and by international law, which is being routinely ignored. Nigeria continues to urge efforts to bring back on track the ‘two state solution’ that offers the prospect for a new beginning for the region.

21. Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to supporting United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. We recognise the need for Africa to build strong and professional armies to meet the multiple challenges we face. Consequently, we reiterate the call for international support to operationalise the African Standby Force, in addition to the provision of requisite support and resources to ensure the upgrade, take-off and effectiveness of a Centre of Excellence on issues of counter-terrorism in Africa.

Mr. President,

22. Reform of the Security Council is critical if the UN is to strengthen its relevance and credibility in our rapidly changing world. Some permanent members of United Nations Security Council have offered encouraging if tentative indications of support on the issue of reform of the Council. We welcome the change in tone and urge an acceleration in momentum to the process.

23. The Security Council should be expanded, in the permanent and non-permanent member categories, to reflect the diversity and plurality of the world. We fully support the efforts of Secretary-General Guterres in this regard.

24. Africa must be accorded the respect that it deserves in the Security Council. Our Continent deserves a place in the permanent members category of the Security Council, with the same rights and responsibilities as other Permanent Members.

Mr. President,

25. Your assumption of stewardship of the General Assembly presupposes that you will be seized with the progress of the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. We note that most developing countries are significantly behind in the achievement of these Goals, largely due to a lack of resources available to finance their implementation and the burden of unsustainable external debt.

26. It is our expectation that the adoption of the “Pact for the Future” will change the narrative, reposition economies and translate into concrete measures that provide solutions to the challenges faced by developing and least developed countries. This is particularly significant in our region and the Sahel, where human development indices are low and depressing.

27. It is for this and other reasons that we reiterate the call by countries, especially of the global South, for reform of the international financial architecture and promotion of a rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable and transparent multilateral trading system.

28. We are aware of the debilitating impacts of corruption on global prosperity and national progress. Proceeds of corruption and illicit financial flows constitute a huge chunk of resources needed for sustainable development. The recovery and return of such funds to States of origin is a fundamental principle of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

29. Therefore, the international community must promote practical measures to strengthen international cooperation to recover and return stolen assets and to eradicate safe havens that facilitate illicit flows of funds from developing countries to the developed economies.

30. There is also the urgent need to promote fair and inclusive tax regimes in the world. Nigeria helped introduce the resolution on “Promotion of inclusive and effective international tax cooperation at the UN”. We acknowledge the progress made in the adoption of the terms of reference of the UN Framework Convention on Tax Cooperation. We should deepen this initiative and work towards a UN Framework Convention on Tax Cooperation.

31. Similarly, we must ensure that any reform of the international financial system includes comprehensive debt relief measures, to enable sustainable financing for development. Countries of the global South cannot make meaningful economic progress without special concessions and a review of their current debt burden.

32. My government pays due regard to the imperatives of creating a conducive national environment for investment and the ease of doing business. Last year, I signed four Executive Orders to curb double taxation. I also established the Presidential Taskforce on Review of Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform. These measures are geared towards not only boosting investor confidence in Nigeria, but also to ensure investors make reasonable profit from their investments.

Mr. President,

33. While the world is transitioning into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Africa remains energy deficient. The push for the accelerated implementation of SDG 7: “Affordable and Clean Energy”, therefore, must take into account Africa’s precarious situation. Nigeria believes that natural gas remains central to the search for solutions to the energy challenges that Africa and the international community face. Access to affordable, reliable, cleaner sources of energy is more than an environmental or developmental issue. It is a key factor in social peace and international security.

Mr. President,

34. Nigeria remains unwavering in its commitment to SDG 13: Climate Action, including the net zero ambition and transition from fossil fuel energy to clean energy. As a demonstration of this commitment, I established the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economy Solutions and appointed a Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action.

35. We will redouble our efforts to address the challenges posed by climate change, including the urgent need to transition from fossil fuel energy. Yet such commitments must be juxtaposed with the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and the relevant provisions of the Paris Climate Agreement back in 2015. The Paris Agreement provided for developed countries to take the lead in the quest to achieve net zero and to offer support, including finance, to developing countries for the actualisation of the climate change goal.

36. Worthy of note is the ‘loss and damage funding for vulnerable countries’ secured at COP 27 in Egypt and expanded in COP 28 in the United Arab Emirates. It is our expectation that this year’s 79th Session of the UN General Assembly and the upcoming COP 29 in Azerbaijan this November, will go a step further by providing developing countries, especially African countries, with access to the loss and damage funds, including the 100 billion dollars pledged by developed countries to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.

Mr. President,

37. In this age of digital innovation, we must address the emerging divide between the Global South and the Global North, which, with the evolution of artificial intelligence, risks becoming wider still. The UN should work towards eliminating barriers to digital economy in Africa, such as high costs of Internet services and intellectual property rights.

38. Moreso, there is a need to work towards common global standards to regulate crypto-currency trading platforms. This is the most effective way to provide confidence in these new markets and limit the potential for instability. Our own experience in Nigeria, as in other countries, shows that new technologies, when not properly regulated, can facilitate organised crime, violent extremism and human trafficking. In our own case, the trading of crypto-currency helped fuel speculation and undermined macro-economic reforms.

39. Separately, we have also witnessed, in rich and poor countries alike, the corrosive impact of unfiltered hate speech and fake news across social media. There is much more that we could and should do, together, to strengthen those guard rails that will help release the most progressive elements of the new technologies shaping our world – and curb those more destructive tendencies.

Mr. President,

40. We are particularly mindful of the imperatives of achieving the advancement of youth and women as a factor in national development, peace and security. Nigeria has developed its own National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, as well as a National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security, to ensure the participation of both women and youth in the peace and security sector.

41. The “Summit of the Future” cannot be deemed successful without setting clear, ambitious and achievable developmental goals to address the various challenges facing our youth. In line with this aspiration, my government will continue to invest in Nigerian youth through initiatives like the revitalisation of the National Youth Investment Fund for 2024, focused on youth empowerment and entrepreneurship.

Mr. President,

42. As much as the global family still grapples with the crippling consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the greatest lesson that we have learnt is never again to take any health situation with levity. In line with SDG 3, we must continue to work together to ensure the good health and well-being of all. There is no disease that should be relegated to the background due to some perceived classification of their seriousness or importance.

Mr. President,

43. Migration is a complex and polarising issue that impacts on rich and poor countries alike. Nigeria is a country of origin, transit and destination. We are a major stakeholder in the global migration dynamic, and understand the challenges and benefits it brings. Accordingly, I wish to reiterate our support for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The GCM, which all of us should continue to support, represents our collective efforts at providing major safeguards for the treatment of migrants.
Mr. President,

44. I will conclude by reaffirming Nigeria’s steadfast commitment to the deepening of multilateralism, just as we did sixty-five years ago on this podium when we joined the United Nations as the 99th Member-State. We remain committed to that “desire to remain friendly with all nations and participate actively in the works of the United Nations”, as expressed by our founding Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

45. It is my hope that our deliberations this year will result in solutions that would address our collective challenges and accelerate the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the advancement of peace and human dignity for the sake of present and future generations.

I thank you.

Binance, the largest crypto exchange in the industry has helped Indian authorities trace $47.6 million from a trending game project which scammed its players.

Binance announced this development stating how it helped India’s Enforcement Directorate recover millions from an online gaming platform Fiewin.

The investigation and detection of the loot was carried out by Binance’s Financial Intelligence Unit which provided crucial information that led to the crackdown on the culprits and the arrest of four of them.

The Online game in question is known as Fiewin an Android application that allows users to play wagering games and earn cash.

Binance in its announcement explained the ulterior motive of the people behind the game and how they used it to scam people.

“The Fiewin app lured users into online gambling and gaming with false promises of easy profits”,  Binance said.

Binance’s team in their investigation found that the flow of funds was distributed to various crypto-wallets linked to a global crypto exchange.

At the moment it has not been revealed whether the traced $47.6 million has been recovered or not.

Binance explained that the case was still ongoing and that they would continue to assist the Indian Enforcement Directorate in tracking down the broader criminal network behind the fraud.

India’s Enforcement Directorate Reacts  

The Indian Enforcement Directorate reacted to the statement by Binance explaining the importance of the public and private sectors working together to combat Financial crime.

A spokesperson for the Indian Agency admitted that Binance’s role was crucial in untangling the complex network behind the Fiewin scam.

The Fiewin Scam  

Fiewin is an online gaming app where users can play mini-games and earn money in return. The platform was initially promoted as a legitimate project until players noticed that once their earnings reached a certain amount their accounts would be frozen making them unable to withdraw funds.

Several victims of the gaming app reported to the police which took the case to India’s Enforcement Directorate after receiving multiple complaints.

A thorough investigation by the ED revealed that Fiewin was part of a much larger international crime network that orchestrated the movement of illicit funds through various methods. The international crime syndicate uses bank accounts and crypto wallets to move money which accumulates in a complex web of difficult-to-trace transactions.

What to Know  

• Binance Ltd and Indian authorities were involved in a Spat earlier this year which led to Binance being ordered to pay a fine. The renewed collaboration between both parties spells an amended relationship between Binance and Indian Authorities.
• In May 2024, The ED and Binance’s FIU also managed to uncover the E-Nugget scam, a digital investment fraud that used a gaming platform to lure in victims.

[Nairametrics]